Women's Conference!

Hey-not that you would be surprised-i will be away for a couple of days. My sisters, mother, and I are going to a "Sister Celebration" at Women's Conference at BYU. My darling of a husband is flying solo with the kids, and i am so excited to have a little time away!

Wish you were all here to party with us!

nonstop

I think it must be payback time. Hadland NEVER stops talking. And I really do mean NEVER! Larry looked at me today while Hadland was waxing philosophical about why the Atlantic Ocean is called the Atlantis Ocean (yeah, i don't get it either). Larry just said, "Hadland, you need to get outside and run around."

If only...

We really need to get a trampoline. Then maybe the kids wouldn't use my couch as one. And it could be like a giant hamster wheel but for kids. Maybe they might even get tired enough to go to bed at night. We can always hope, I guess. One of these days we will get some outside equipment, I'm sure. Or maybe we'll just get a padded cell, and the kids and I can take turns in it.

(You probably already figured it out, but I am sure I never stopped talking either. Hence, the payback.)

shock value

william is the master of shock value. he loves to see my head jerk up when he says something bad. tonight it was moron.

or maybe "mean-o mom."

or maybe "poopy pants" (to his sister, not me thank goodness).

i try not to react because he is so blatant about it. i really should be smarter than he is, but most days he's got me beat.

but he sure is cute.

I almost forgot!

Hadland turned nine about two weeks ago! I didn't actually forget his bday, I just forgot to post about it. He was saying to me a few days before his bday that he would love a big family party with Auntie Nikki, Uncle Treas, the brandleys, grandma and grandpa, etc. I quickly told him that they had just been here the weekend before and wouldn't be able to come back. But lo and behold, on Saturday afternoon (about 5 pm), Darla calls and says, "Guess who's coming to town?" I drew a total blank before she said that her parents were on the way from Canada. I couldn't believe it! So I quickly called all the local (and semi-local) family for an impromptu party, headed to Costco for a cake (which Hadland told me later he didn't like), and tried to clean up a little (emphasis on little). It was a total blast to have everyone over, and Hadland was in all his glory. I love those little tender mercies!

Another funny: my mom called H the day after his bday and told him that he was going to get an extra $10 for her being late in sending his bday cash. What is up with that? I just had to laugh and hope H didn't get used to late penalties, cuz he sure won't get any from lil' better-late-than-never ole me!

April is a great time for birthdays!

On Saturday I had a girls' day out. It was GREAT!! Within a five week period, me, my MIL Virginia, and my SILs Shauri and Darla have birthdays (and Hadland, too, but he isn't a girl). So we decided to get pampered. Virginia and Shauri had never had pedicures before, so we wanted them to try something new. I think they liked it (but it was a little weird for them). They were such good sports, and we all have lovely toes now!

And just so no one rats me out, I know darla is technically a may birthday, but she is an honorary April-ee for this year!

Spring

You know the song, "Popcorn popping on the apricot tree?"

I know it isn't rocket science or anything, but I never really got it. I grew up in NorCal, and we didn't really seem to have that spring phenomenon. Or maybe it wasn't so noticeable.

Now, after a LONG winter in Utah, I get it.

I was driving with my kids the other day, and saw several trees that looked exactly like they were dotted with popcorn. I practically drove off the road (well, maybe not, but I felt like it), and I yelled to the backseats, "OH MY GOODNESS, do you guys see the popcorn popping on the apricot trees?"

Since then, we love to yell out the popcorn color, whether it is just beginning, or whatever else we can think of.

HOW COOL!!!! I told Larry about my discovery and deprived childhood, and he just kind of rolled his eyes. He must think that I grew up on a totally different planet. Well, in my defense, it was a different country, eh?

By the way, it also kinda snowed here today, too. I love snow, but I am ready for spring FOR REAL!

scouting

is it for boys or moms?

i never can tell.

when do i get my patch?

maybe i shouldn't say too much more or i will be the one wearing a yellow scout shirt. yikes!

sounds all around

don't you just love being able to sit in your kitchen and hear NOTHING but the refrigerator?

I sure do. I think I had forgotten what that sounds like.

Obviously there is nothing much to say today. Just that I am grateful for silence.

Phew!

I was standing at the kitchen sink getting some leftover spaghetti for lunch. Lauren walked over and said,

"Mom, are you eating all of the spaghetti?"

(I had just dumped the whole ziploc bag on my plate. Then I put back about half of it.)

"No, honey. I am leaving some."

Lauren: "Phew! I thought you were going to eat it all."

HA! Obviously "eating it all" is one of my frequent crimes. Oh well. At least I exercise some of it off. (sometimes) :)

My first 5K!!

So, I decided that on my birthday I would run a 5K.

No, really.

I know, it is kinda crazy.

I will share my logic.

Well, I have been exercising pretty regularly (Curves) 3 times a week for over a year.

Then, in January I started running every other day on the treadmill. I can do 35 minutes without stopping (that is HUGE for me). That ends up being a little over 3 miles per run. So, I thought to myself that I could do a 5K. No problem, right?

OK, true confessions time. My treadmill has a TV. I have hooked up a DVD player to it, so I run while I watch movies. Is that cheating? I don't think so. I still run 3 miles even if it is while I am watching a show.

My sister Nikki and I decided to run on the morning of my birthday. Thanks, Nik, you are a trooper.

Needless to say, it was WAY harder than watching a movie. But I reached my goal. I didn't stop, and I actually ran a little faster than I normally do. I complained a lot too. But I did it.

YAY ME!

Lest you think I am a total wimp, I am actually going to do another one in May.

Wish me luck!

(And send me any mental pointers you can!)

Happy April Fool's Day

This is as close as I am going to get to celebrating April Fool's Day. I just didn't get into it this year. Cherie gave me a great idea about having dessert for breakfast (I am hoping to try that next year!), but the only thing I am going to pass on is this funny story i heard on NPR tonight. I was just puttering around the kitchen, not really paying attention to the radio, but this story had me saying, "No way!" Here it is in my own words:

A couple in AZ were anxiously awaiting their tax refund check. What they got in the mail instead was an air conditioner. It is part of a pilot program with the IRS to stimulate the economy. Instead of hoping that consumers will spend their refund checks on goods or services, the IRS taps into a sophisticated database of where the taxpayers live and details of their lifestyles and chooses some consumer good that matches their location/lifestyle. They interviewed a supervisor at the IRS about the database and what they take into consideration. They also interviewed a Harvard professor about the implications of this program.

As I listened, I thought, boy, I am glad that isn't me. They wouldn't know the first thing about what I would want to spend my refund on. I am so gullible. I remember thinking, is this for real? It couldn't be, right? But the story followed the format of so many others I have heard, and I was really only listening with half an ear, so I suspended my disbelief for a moment.

Then, at the end of the story, the program host said, "Check your calendars, will ya?"

I had to laugh. They got me good. I guess I can check off "April Fool" on my list for the day.

P.S. Here is the link to the story (I got most of it right, ok?)