25 Random Things

      "Small Wonder" --remember this show? She was a robot... wow.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are suppose to write 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you.  At the end tag 25 more people. (that is way too many so if you want to do this, just do it!

1.  I am obsessed with washing my hands, especially at work.  I wash and wash and wash...and use hand sanitizer over and over.  My hands get red/chapped and crack and bleed in the winter because of this.  So...I get well acquainted with lotions.  The best and most soothing so far is Aveeno (thanks for the suggestion Meg!)

2.  I love to snack on semi-sweet chocolate chips.  So good!  I usually come home from work and take a little handful and eat them little by little.

3.  When I was super young I would have sleepovers at my grandma's house and we would make brownies.  She would let me sit on the counter, and eat the batter off the mixing things.

4.  In middle school and most of high school, I did not want children.  I don't really know exactly why.  They just weren't in my plan.  I think my plan was to be a TV reporter and just work at that.  Man have things changed!

5.  I have listened to the EXACT same CD on the way to work for like a month.  Carrie Underwood "Some Hearts."  But sometimes I begin my drive with #1 off her album "Carnival Ride."  I love that song because it's about a mom and dad having a baby girl.  How can I stand listening to the same stuff over and over? 1- I got sick of Radio From Hell 2- All my CD's I had from high school (hundreds of good ones) got stolen in college and I now have a pretty skimpy collection 3- It's a great CD to sing with 4- I must be crazy or something.

6.  I truly love my kindergartners and cannot believe how much they have grown up.  They are starting to do 1st grade things...so sad.  They came not being able to read or write and now they are doing both on their own...I hate it!

7. I officially believe Taco Bell employees are retarded thieves.  In the past couple weeks, they have short changed me and Jake, Ashley, Jake's dad; and have charged us .94 cents instead of 9.44...But needless to say, we will still continue going there.  Side note: I hated Taco Bell until Jake got me into it.

8.  I put peanut butter AND syrup on my french toast, pancakes, and waffles.  And I like to eat those things for dinner occasionally.

9.  I worked at Golden Swirl down on 1300 East and probably was the cause of their going out of business.  I gave away so much food you could live off of it for years.  So...'you're welcome' to all you Brighton High friends and...'I am very very very sorry' to Golden Swirl.  Oh and Yogurt Stop frozen yogurt with cookie dough replaces Golden Swirl...and is sublime.

10.  Numbers 7, 8, and 9 make me wonder why I am not 400 pounds right now.  

11.  My best friend Jandie and I pretty much hung out with the same group of guys every night through a lot of our college years.  They really were our best friends, because most our best girlfriends either got married or were crazy.  Oh and one of them was my boyfriend on and off for 4 years.  Until one sweet night in May 2005 when Jandie and I both met our husbands...together.  Yes our husbands are best friends too.  I highly recommend our situation!  Oh yeah and then Jandie and I became converts.  Then we both got married within one month of each other. haha crazy stuff.

12.  I am TERRIFIED of the woods at night.  Even when Jake and I go camping in our tent, I get very very scared and kind of cry.  Just a tiny bit.  I cannot wait until the morning.

13.  I love a great fitting pair of jeans.  And comfy sweats.

14.  Jake and I bought new hiking boots and I cannot wait to use them this summer.

15. I can beat all the Marios on Nintendo and Super Nintendo; and the Donky Kongs on Super Nintendo.  But I suck at Rock Band.

16.  I like to clean up immediately after/while I make a mess (like cooking, baking, getting ready) and it drives Jake crazy cause I am always cleaning up..like I don't just do it all at the end.  I do it as I go.

17.  When I was young, I wasn't super in to cartoons.  I liked shows like "Mr. Belvedeer," "Today's Special," "Who's the Boss," "Alf," "Small Wonder" (the one with the robot girl), "Charles in Charge."  Stuff like that.

18.  I still feel 18.  Hopefully that lasts forever!

19.  The one iPod I owned, I ran over with my car on accident.  Right before a road trip to Cali. so sad.

20.  I have ran out of gas probably 5 times, the last time being a few years ago.  But once, I pulled over on 700 east and started walking to a gas station.  There is not one in a large stretch of road.  I noticed this and was obviously desperate, and hitched a ride with a guy named "Red."  He looked like a rock star.  He was actually pretty nice and did not abduct me.

21.  I use to spy on my husband's myspace page to see what girls he talked to! (before we started dating ofcourse..long long ago) Haha come on girls tell me you have done that!

22.  I love my new running shoes.  I even just like to look at them while they sit there on the floor.

23.  I have not colored my hair since 2005.

24.  I have never broken a bone but have had 3 surgeries...all in my abdominal/tummy area. Hence 5 scars.

25.  I have hit 2 people with my car..a walker and a biker.  Both not bad at all, just minor hits I promise!

Give A Little...

I came upon this book in our classroom library the other day and read it to my class.  It has been a long time since I have read it.  What a wonderful book.  I got teary eyed, and I think even my 5 and 6 year olds got the idea.  I think if you haven't read it in a while, you should.  It's sad, but in a good way I think.  The tree is so selfless, and gives gives gives...and that's what makes her happy.  

I just love that all the tree wants is to make the boy happy, and she gives everything she has to him.  She never questions his motives, and she never judges him, she doesn't know where he has been or where he is going.  She doesn't ask "does he deserve this?" "Is he a good person?" "Will he return the favor?"  "What will he do with this?"  He asks. And she gives. That's that. I use to judge homeless people who would beg for money.  Until I read a scripture that talks about giving to those who ask.  I don't think it is our place to judge where and who people are.  Aren't we all beggars?  

In this book, giving is happiness.  The end is sort of sad...I wish the last line wasn't there.   But I think this is one of my new favorite books...aren't children books so great!? 

Stan Stan the White Man!

Ok I know I post way too much about my job, but here is a conversation I and another teacher had with one of my chicaroos today: (We were waiting outside with them while their parents came to pick them up)

teacher: "Who's mom has a white van?"

student:  "My mom has a white man."

teacher: "Your mom has a white MAN, or VAN?"

student: "A white man!"

teacher: "A MMAN or a VVAN?"

student: "A MAN." (getting annoyed)

teacher: "Your mom has a white man??"

student: "yes." 

teacher: smirking, "Ok.. what's his name?"

student: "Stan." (she was totally serious this whole time)

Hahhahaa how random and strange!  Who knows if this is even true! I will never know!  We have been learning short "a" vowel sounds...so...hmmm yeah I don't know.

Barf on the Shoe!

In the past two days I have been back at school, I have been surrounded by 3 different kids who have thrown up.  2 Kindergartners, who were both in the classroom next to me. And one older kid who was in the bathroom when I happened to be in there.  I have a permanent image of Stan and Wendy Testaburger on South Park.  Everytime Stan sees his crush, Wendy, he throws up.

YUCK.

So, needless to say, there are a few things I have learned:

1. Five year olds never make it to the toilet and tend to drag it all over the place.

2. Breathing Lysol all day makes your throat burn.

3. Solution to stepping in it...drench the kid's shoe in lysol.

4. My kids are healthy so far and it better stay that way.  I've never had to clean up someone's puke and am really not prepared for that.

Thankful for a loooong Weekend!

Thanksgiving this year was the best yet!  I am still off track, and Jake decided to take Wednesday off so we had a 5 day weekend together!  It was like a vacation.  We got to eat breakfast and lunch together each day (which never happens) and just hang out non-stop.  I love having all the time in the world with him...it just doesn't get any better than that.  We went Christmas shopping, went out to dinner, and did LOTS of other fun things:

I know this was the week before..We watched the first half of the BYU/Utah Game at Alex's house.  He had two TV's up.  Stated reason:  because the top one has a 180 degree viewing angle. We went to Bill and Jandie's for the 2nd half.  She made the cutest Rice Krispie treats, in the shape of a RED "U"...GO UTES!!
Us at the Jazz game.... Notice the empty seats?! GO JAZZ!
That is my cute mom. Thanksgiving was awesome.  Jake played football (ofcourse) while I baked my yummy homemade apple pie.  It's actually really funny, I have an old recipe from cooking class in HIGH SCHOOL!  But it is so yummy.  The crust is the best pie crust I have ever tasted.  The bad thing is, I still use the exact copy I got from class.  It has apple pie filling smeared on it, and is ripped.  I think it's about time I transferred it to my recipe book, don't ya think?  (scroll down to pic)  Anywho, Jake and I then hung out at my mom's house with family and friends then ate Thanksgiving dinner at Jake's parents'.  His mom's turkey was amazing, with homemade stuffing (I don't even know what is in it, but I love it.)  My mom makes THE best sweet potatoes, and Jake's mom doesn't usually make them, so my sweet sweet mom made me my own pan of them...I am still enjoying them today.

We finished the night with the movie "Into the Wild" which is a very good movie except for the crazy hippie naked parts, which were unexpected.  I just turn to jake and make grossed out faces at him during those parts while they are getting fast forwarded through.
This is my sister. She is 16 and just started driving. Weird I tell ya.
My adorable grandma Gladys.  She and my mom are the ones who got me to love baking.
My puppy Bailey!  Well, she is almost 7 now...so sad.  I love her to death.  She is a chocolate lab..the cutest one you will ever see.
She loves me cause I am her mommy.  She also loves getting her ears rubbed.
Cutting the pie crust.  Pie is ready to bake!


Chris being gay at Fat Cats...but not really.  He is married to a very pretty girl named Jen.  
The follow through...

Tyson and Kyle.
We went bowling at Fat Cats.  I know this sounds lame, but I usually don't bowl when we go...I just hang out at chat with everyone.  Don't get me wrong, I love the atmosphere, and I love hanging out, but for some reason I get bored bowling.  I will throw like 2, then I get bored...then start doing really BAD. So...I just like to cheer on my friends and hubby.
Tyson told me he was the Uni Bomber.  I had to get a pick of the Uni Bomber!
I, am also...The Uni Bomber.  Watch out.
So I substituted at my school a while ago, and as I was driving on the freeway, I drove through spilled WHITE paint!!  Yeah.  Our new DARK colored car had white paint splattered all over it.  Jake and I spent a couple hours cleaning it off.  It is still on two tires but we got it off everything else.  Man that stuff was everywhere.
Nasty recipe.  Good pie.
We went to to a Jazz game for 5 bucks (hence the reason we look like we are directly ABOVE the floor).  We all had a good time and played Uno Attack later with our friend Travis and his girlfriend and also his brother and his girlfriend. I also had a cheese Quesadilla from Taco Bell and highly recommend them.
 

BAD STORY: Late Saturday afternoon, Jake and I were nestled on the couch watching a movie, when Jake asked me if I heard water.  I had heard it a few minutes before he said that but thought it was our landlady's washer.  Well I got up to check....AAAAHHHH it was RAINING in our little laundry/furnace room!  No kidding!  There was water pouring from the ceiling (mainly the heater vents and light fixtures).  It was terrible. "Oh my gosh..JAKE there is water everywhere! I don't even know where to start!"  That was me freaking out.  Our clothes were drying in there, our pots, crock pot, waffle maker, and panini maker were in there...all DRENCHED.  I called our landlady and she said she left the water running in her bathroom sink....Well it must have been running for a long time!! Luckily it slowly stopped and Jake and I worked to clean everything up.  I cleaned every single pot and pan in there.  Freaky Saturday!!

Jake and I bought The Grinch and Home Alone (both the originals).  I love Christmas movies!!  We watched Home Alone...what a great movie.  I laughed out loud at many parts ("look whatcha did...you little JERK!") ("Keep the change, ya filthy animal!") and I got scared at some parts.  Jake and I decided to hold off on the Grinch until Christmas gets closer. 

We also went to see Twlight together..just him and I!  We both liked it, and were pretty entertained.  I felt pretty cool answering his questions about the book! I was surprised he enjoyed it.  He DID laugh out loud at the lame parts.

All in all, our 5 day vacation at home was perfect, and it was really hard to let Jake go to work this morning.  I cannot wait until Christmas...maybe I can convince him to take off another day!

TAG I'm it..

I have been off track for 2 weeks, and have 2 more to go!  Loving it.  The first week I studied for a test I am required to take.  Yeah it really sucked.  But anyway this post is mainly because I got tagged so here it goes! (thanks Ali!)

I am: glad I have time now to exercise as much as I want to.

I think: our times are getting scarier as each year passes.

I know: there is hope. we must have hope!

I want: to pass that test I took....it will take a miracle!

I have: 2 African Dwarf froggies that have been alive for over a year now, who are enjoying their newly upgraded swimming tank.

I dislike: arguers, people with closed minds, and when people don't make an effort to be nice.

I miss: Jake during the long work days....

I fear: the dark, Yogurt Stop closing!! haha

I feel: so good after I run.

I hear: a song from Cinderella playing on my phone, telling me I got a text

I smell: a Ute victory coming on!! (I hope I don't eat my words)

I crave: Mexican food, and frozen yogurt

I usually: clean up the house everyday

I cry: once a month. Things just seem so much worse at that time!

I search: for guidance and answers.

I wonder: what life will be like when Jake is done with school and I have my teaching license

I regret: cutting my hair off...but hey it's still fun. Thanks Meg for my cute hair and bangs...I am happy to have short hair again!

I am happy: when I get to see Jake when he comes home....Home just isn't HOME without him

I wish: Doritos didn't taste so good!

I love: my husband, my family, friends, the temple..the church

I care: about staying in shape. always.

I always: double check our locks before we go to bed.

I worry: about Bailey, my chocolate lab, getting old

I am not: very common sense smart

I remember: fast sunday every month

I believe: there is a big difference between parents who make time to be with their kids and those who don't.

I sing: with everything in the car.  

I argue: with no one.

I write: on a whiteboard with cool markers.

I win: not much!  I get bored at many games so I stop trying.

I lose: respect for people who take advantage of other people

I don't understand: why I like to mix my food...cereal mainly.

I can usually be found: wherever jake is, or at my laptop

I need: to decide what to get others for christmas so I can get it done!

I forget: some things about Bailey when she was a puppy

I tag: whoever wants to do this!

Are YOU Passing Kindergarten?

Well it's that time of the school year: Parent Teacher Conferences.  Which means I spend hours here and hours there doing report cards.  Although it takes time, I enjoy it because I get to spend 10-15 concentrating on each individual student.  Which is really hard to find time for.  But I think there are some basic, important things we learn when we are 5 that hopefully we will never forget or let go of...So are YOU passing grade K??

1.  Do you say please and thank you to everyone?

2. Do you tell others you think their shirt is cute, or their hair is pretty?

3.  Do you tell someone everyday that you love them, and give them a two-armed hug, remembering to squeeze so tight with all your might?

4. Do you write your name in your very best handwriting?

5. Do you ask for help when you need it?

6. Do you admit your mistakes and take advice from other people who really want you to succeed, or may not even know you very well?

7. Do you share? (kindergartners never keep things for themselves...food, money, pencils, compliments)

8. Do you have a quiet mouth and LISTEN to others?

9. Do you love everything about everyday, the weather, the leaves, smiles, hugs, recess?

10.  Do you bring little presents to people that you know are simple but will make them smile?

11. Do you use polite words?

10.  Do you day "I CAN DO IT" everyday?

11. Do you forgive and forget?

There is much more!  But I am pretty tired and would love some sleep! TO be continued.... PS here are some glimpses at our lives lately.  I had never seen a throwing up pumpkin until Ashley did this one.  I got a kick out of it.