I have a blog?

Well lookie what we have here!  I was so busy being anti-Facebook, that I forgot all about my blog.  For 2 years... ish.  Do people still blog about normal life, or am I the only person left without a Facebook account?  (As previously mentioned I rebelled - deactivated my account and never looked back.)  In any case, how about a recap?

2011 (or the last half, anyway)

Makayla Started 4th grade & Rendan Started 1st

We re-visited Disneyland!  Most of the time, it was a big hit.  Stitch = Big hit!

Tower of Terror = Big Hit!  (really!)

Mostly a big hit... in this moment,  not so much.  Apparently Makayla decided that she was far too mature to ride in little pillbug bumper cars.  She was a good sport... kinda.

After all the fun & games, we stopped in Vegas on the way back home - swimming at Grandma's house is a great way to wind down from a vacation.


I'm wrapping it up for now, but will try to get to part 2 sometime within the next two years...

Update, Schmupdate

Ok, fine.  So I haven't updated since September.  Seeing as I wasn't exactly proficient at updating before, I'm sure people are used to it.. and most likely didn't notice.  :)  Besides, I have a job now!  See?  I've been busy!  I'm actually at work right now... and should be working right now.  I'll call this a break.  I probably should call this break finished, and get back to work.  I will try to post something useful-ish in the near future.  Something with photos & the like - ok?

Another Questions List....

I have to say that I didn't find this list very entertaining to fill out.  But it's late.  And I'm bored.


1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?   Hmmm... really don't think so.  When I was little, I thought my dad gave me my middle name because of our neighbor named Lynn - still wonder sometimes.  It sounds like something he would have done.

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?  That's specific... I choke up over pretty stupid things these days, so I've lost track.  (You know... kids cartoons, movies, etc.) 

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?  Depends on the day.  Most of the time it's alright, but I can get pretty sloppy.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?   Anything from the Honey Baked Ham store.  So good.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?  Yes - two.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?  I'd like to think so - 

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?   I would say that I use it the most when I'm feeling irritable.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS?  Yep

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?  Right now, I'd say no.  I'm not big on heights.

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?   Probably Honey Bunches of Oats (with almonds) or Crispex loaded with sugar...

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?  No... and I should... but I don't. 

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?   Physically?  I don't think I'd really describe myself as strong... probably average.      

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?  Love cookies & cream 

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?   Do people really notice one particular thing up front?... If someone has a feature that stands out... nice eyes, smile, etc, I guess that's what I would notice.  Well maybe there is my answer - I notice pretty eyes and nice smiles!  I also notice bad teeth.  Not nice, but I do!

15. RED OR PINK?  Definitely Red - I tolerate very little pink.

16. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?   Personally or physically?  Actually, I'll leave physically out of it and go for personally - I wish I were more patient with my kids.  Hoping that comes with age...

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?   Probably my mom - but I guess I miss her less than I wish she were here.  She's been gone a very long time.  Would have loved for her to know her grandkids.   

18. WHAT COLOR SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?   Bare feet! 

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?   A little teeny tiny piece of a chocolate chip cookie.

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?   Whatever Todd is watching in the other room - right now it's a Geico commerical with a Pig in it.

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?   Who comes up with these?  What color of crayon?... Who'd want to be one color, anyway?

23. FAVORITE SMELLS?  Horses, cedar wood, pine, rain. 

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?   My mother in law - love her!  :)

25. MOUNTAIN HIDEAWAY OR BEACH HOUSE?  That's a tough one!  I love the mountains more than the sand, but I'd love the warm of the beach!  Probably the mountain hideaway... so many cozy possibilities.

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?   Well, I really only watch two... neither of them passionately... it would be between MMA & Basketball.  Used to love watching football in high school, but I just don't have the patience for sports on tv.

27. HAIR COLOR?  Dark brown

28. EYE COLOR?  Also brown

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?  No, but I probably should look into it. 

30. FAVORITE FOOD?  Love fresh strawberries & raspberries.  

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?  Happy endings - I hate crappy endings that make you sorry you ever watched the stupid show.

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?   Watched The Princess & the Frog last night w/ my kids - just became available to stream on Netflix.  Probably would have watched it by myself if they weren't around, though :)

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?   White

34. SUMMER OR WINTER?   Such a dumb question to ask me... definitely summer.

35. HUGS OR KISSES?  Depends on my mood and with who - I don't do kissing outside of Todd & my kids.  But, come on... boy/girl wise, is there really anything better than a good kiss?  I think not.

36. FAVORITE DESSERT?   Chocolate dipped strawberries OR chocolate lava muffins.   

37. STRENGTH TRAINING OR CARDIO?   Um... doing dishes?  Wii balance board?... no?

38. COMPUTER OR TELEVISION?   Computer - I rarely watch TV when I'm home alone... usually just at night for background noise.  

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?   Mockingjay

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?  A picture of an old mouse - I think I've had this thing for 10 years.

42. FAVORITE SOUND?   That's kind of hard - lots of things sound nice.  The mountains in the early morning, rain, frogs chirping at night, little babbling brooks - so, mostly nature related sounds. 

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?   Neither are really my thing.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME?   Cancun

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?   Hmmm... nothing "special" comes to mind - there are things I am good at, but I don't know if they'd qualify as special.

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?  Provo

47. WHERE ARE YOU LIVING NOW?   In my house ;) 

48. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR HOUSE?   um... beige? 

49. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR CAR?  White 

Stupid Camera

I have decided that I hate my camera.  Seriously.  For two reasons.  First, I have pictures I would really like to post of Rendan's birthday - that is, if they weren't ALL blurry.  There might be one in there I can use, but nothing that wonderful.  I have some of Kayla's party too, but they're not that great either.  Second - all of the pictures of me look like crap.  Now, I don't know why, but I seem to have had this problem with just about any camera I've owned so far... weird, right?  What's weirder is that this same phenomenon seems to effect any camera currently taking my picture.  For the most part, I have given up on pictures of me and end up behind the camera most of the time anyway.  So maybe someday I'll end up in one of the pictures on here, but it isn't likely to happen soon at the rate things are going.

So - being ticked off at most of the pictures I've taken lately, I decided to post an old one.  I love looking at older pictures of the kids, family, etc.  - especially the kids, though.  It's so fun to remember how teeny they used to be, but kind of sad at the same time.  Maybe I'm too nostalgic, but I guess that's ok too.  

This picture is from 2005 - Rendan is around 8 or 9 months here, which means Kayla is almost 3 years old.  It's not the best picture of him because he slid down in that little wooden highchair, couldn't get back up and was pretty unhappy.  I had been taking pictures of him stuck in his chair because, being the great mom that I am, I decided to take pictures of him rather than rescue him.  Kayla walked in on me and, apparently, was not amused.

But you must admit, it was pretty darn funny.

Goodbye Max...

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later.  Our first and favorite puppy, Max, has gone on to that big meadow in the sky.  His activity had slowed dramatically, and his old body decided it had had enough.  We'll miss you old boy & we love you.

List of things about me...

Stole this from my cousins blog... and I'm bored... so here you go!

4 shows I like to watch:

1. Lost (kinda glad it's ending though, so I can find out what it is actually about!)
2. The Office (This one is Stefanie's fault - I can't watch any of the new ones yet, as I'm catching up with her DVD sets)
3. Good Eats
4. Scrubs... I guess.  Really, I just don't have that many regular shows... American Idol would usually have taken that spot, but I'm not really liking it this year.

4 things I am passionate about:

1. Being an organized person, someday...
2. My family
3. Continually learning new things... cooking takes up most of this category, as I like learning new recipes, etc.
4. Making it to heaven someday - though that would be better categorized under "hopeful". 

4 words or phrases I say often:

1. No
2. Don't cram your mouth so full - you look like a piggie
3. I love you
4. Be safe

4 things I have learned from the past:

1. What doesn't kill us, or make us insane, makes us stronger... eventually
2. Motion sickness medication is no longer optional
3. Sticking up for yourself is a good thing & generally does not trample on the feelings of others, but does help them realize when they're treading on yours. 
4. Let the little things go & focus on the big picture.

4 places I would love to go:

1. A warm sunny beach somewhere 
2. The National Archives in Washington DC (along w/ many other historical landmarks in the area)
3. Nauvoo temple
4. Jerusalem

4 things I did yesterday:

1. Slept in very late, according to the new time. 
2. Missed church - see #1.
3. Made chicken pot pie out of our 2 roosters (mwa ha ha!!)
4. Watched a movie with the family.

4 things you are looking forward to:

1. SUMMER!!!!
2. Having grass & a fence some day
3. The release of The Mockingjay this fall
4. A vacation!  Any vacation!!!

4 things I love about winter:

1. Seriously???
2. Um... it ends?
3. No flies in the house
4. Two holidays made for making a complete glutton out of yourself (and being w/ family too!)

4 things on my wish list:

1. Um... a yard & a fence... I know it's already on the list, but it deserves two spots
2. Horses... someday!
3. A flat stomach (coupled with liking food just a little bit less than I do)
4. Get my sister to move out here (oh, with her family too! :)

Bad blogger...

I don't have many readers... I probably had more back when I blogged a little more actively.  I have to admit, I've been pretty much AWOL with all things blogging for like... 6 months?  I haven't checked blogs, haven't blogged, and even deleted my Facebook account (which I do not plan on re-activating).  I have, however, decided again that I like my blog & will no longer pretend it doesn't exist.  So - for those of you nice people who actually follow this (mostly family that I call & make read it when I update) - I'll try to do a little better!  Probably no one really cares if I blog or not... but pretend, k?  :)