Should they be allowed to marry?

No, I'm not talking about homosexuals. I just read this short article -- can you believe what this person is doing with his time? I do not even have any interest in comic books or anime.

There is more strange and funny news here.

23 Months Old Today

My 23-month-old girl's current favorite things to say are:

• Uh-oh, what happen? (What happened?)
  
• What happeen? (What's happening?)
  
• Wheh ah you (usually it is, out of nowhere, Noni, wheh ah you?)
• Up the stairs, down the stairs, up the hill, or down the hill (depending on which one she's doing at the moment)
  
• Da wheel haun? (This is her asking me to sing the wheel song from nursery -- the wheels on the bus go round and round)
• She's also started saying peanut butter and pasta; she likes them both.
  

She loves to climb onto our bed and get under the covers to hide. But when I'm with her and we pretend we're sleeping, she doesn't understand that she needs to close her eyes. She laughs when I make fake snoring sounds, and she likes to be tickled. There have been times when I've asked her where something is and she has answered, "In the daddy room." Even though I call it mommy and daddy's room.

The other day I showed her one of my junior high drawings. I asked her, "Do you like the picture mommy drew?" She answered, "I lite the pitter mommy bawed." Bawed is the past tense of baw. Here she is bawing.

She calls Aunt Erika "ta" and Uncle Caleb "Taywub" and pronounces robot "whoa-bit."

She shows an imagination that I don't think she had a month ago. She makes a stuffed animal sit on her Elmo seat (on top of the toilet). She also helps one of them to lie down on the floor, puts a "blanket" on it and says something like "go to weep." One time the blanket was her jacket; another time it was a dryer sheet that was with the clean laundry. Those were completely her own ideas.

About a week ago we were walking around the neighborhood (no stroller, just letting her explore). She picked up a pinecone and said "pineapple." She's gotten it right since then, though.

Now I have a few more pictures to share -- we take tons of them. Shboogoo picked at her bandaid-less owie enough that it bled. It is finally almost 100% healed.

On October 11 she came with me to my cousin Jonathan's wedding


and at the luncheon she made a friend named Elsa


and got to help me eat this.

No more 3 in the morning

As many of you know, that is how late my husband was working nearly every Friday and some Saturdays. Ten years after he was hired by Domino's, he has quit, sort of; I'll explain. He has been a server at The Old Spaghetti Factory since the end of September. The two weeknights that he works there are sometimes slower or they just have him on call, but the Friday and Saturday tips make up for that.

I said he only sort of quit because his boss is having a hard time finding people to close, so D has been going over there from about 10:30 until 3 AM (after his other job). He will be working both jobs on the same day every other Friday, not every Friday. Less 3 in the morning. It's also nice that sometimes Domino's can use him for at least a couple of hours on the nights that the Spaghetti Factory doesn't need him. There's your update on our little family! Thanks for caring. :)

P.S. Do you know anyone who would want to buy a 2-door 1994 Honda Civic? It's burgundy and has a manual transmission.

More Tags: Random & Lists of 8

I was tagged by my friend Sheree R.

1. The sound of my husband rubbing his eyeball(s) is fingernails-on-the-chalkboard annoying to me! It sounds so gross I have to cover my ears immediately. I actually don't know if other people's eyes make the same sound; mine do not.

2. I have an oval-shaped scar under my left eye from when I had chickenpox at age 4.

3. When I was a teenager I accidentally chipped one of my top front teeth.

4. I enjoy amusement parks but haven't been to Disneyland since I was 11.

5. Sometimes I miss being in musicals. I was usually in the chorus (not a speaking part), which is really fun because they get to sing in nearly every scene. I have played three different roles in The Sound of Music: Gretl, a nun, and Louisa.

6. I've never been to Antelope Island.

7. I recently threw away this little bowl I made when I was in third grade.




How would I really tag 7 "random" people? If you like doing this sort of thing, you can do it, and/or the one below (my sister Elisa tagged me).

8 T.V. shows I love to watch
(I had to think about this one for a while! We mostly watch movies.)
The Office
Lost
The Biggest Loser
American Idol
20/20
Studio 5
Ellen
The Brady Bunch

8 Favorite Restaurants
Wasatch Broiler and Grill
Thai Garden
little taco cart on State
The Old Spaghetti Factory
Macaroni Grill
Chili's
Texas Roadhouse
Sweet Tomatoes

8 Things that happened yesterday
We all slept in
Walked with a friend at a high school track
Wore a new shirt
Bought some groceries
Took out trash
Folded and put away laundry
Had dinner and watched the presidential debate at Mom Marilyn's
Watched some of Hello Dolly - first time watching it

8 Things I am looking forward to
Sleeping tonight
Finishing a sewing project
A vacation
Going to Bodyworlds
Moving into our first house
My husband being done with school
Selling our older car
Not having acne anymore

8 things I love about Fall
It means the hot summer is over
My birthday is near the start of fall
The red/orange/yellow/brown of the leaves
The leaves crunch when I step on them
Wearing layers
Thanksgiving
Cool mornings and perfect afternoons
Pumpkin pie

8 Things on my wish list
(hmm, this seems a lot like the things I'm looking forward to . . .)
Know my neighbors better
All kids will like to read
No more headaches
My Beehive and less-active Miamaid will come on Sundays
Putting up our Lack wall shelf will be easy
A grand (or baby grand) piano
A new bed
People will understand each other and not be mean

Shelfari vs. Goodreads

One of the Susans (the youngest one) in my ward told me about a website that has different virtual bookshelves to show what a person has read, is reading now, etc. I thought it sounded really interesting. Later I couldn't remember the name of it exactly; duh, I should have just called her. I was thinking it was "shelfinar" but that wasn't right. My Google search lead me to Goodreads. I signed up, and a few of you use it. Then I saw on someone's blog that she liked Shelfari so I signed up for that, too, knowing it was the one Susan recommended.

After comparing the two for a while I decided that because . . .
it lets you switch back and forth between a list view and a bookshelf view
it automatically includes the shelves Favorites, Own, and Wishlist
the book covers in the bookshelf view have three sizes to choose from
there are different ways to sort, such as by date added or by rating
you can create tags (instead of having tons of "bookshelves")
the more books with that tag, the bigger the words of the tag are
hovering over one of your books creates a window where you can make changes
and it seems easier to use and much more appealing visually
. . . I prefer Shelfari.

{be my friend on there! I use my gmail address}

Scripture Sunday

I love Elder David A. Bednar. I still think of him as President Bednar and will always remember the times I was able to talk one-on-one with him or his wife. The group family home evenings that they lead were very special. At the beginning of Tuesday devotionals he would always say, "Are you ready?" and have everyone hold up their scriptures. (If you click on "President Bednar" above there is an article that says more about this.) I also will never forget the Spirit and comfort that came from the devotional on September 11, 2001, just a few hours after we knew what had happened. We sang some hymns, including Be Still, My Soul.

I found a scripture he shared in general conference last week. It is Doctrine and Covenants 59:21.

21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in al things, and obey not his commandments.

This shows just how important it is to express thanks to our maker. It seems that our failure to acknowledge His hand in our life offends Him more than anything else does. (Now that I think about it, I wouldn't be happy if my daughter were to say I hadn't done anything for her.) Elder Bednar said that one way to make prayer -- communication from a child to his or her Father -- more meaningful is to "express heartfelt gratitude." Prayer, gratitude, and spending time in nature were three themes that stood out to me as they were mentioned by several different speakers during this conference. Different things stand out to different people and for various reasons. I think it's so neat that people feel certain messages are spoken right to them to give them guidance for their unique circumstances at the moment. I was definitely uplifted by this conference!

Have you . . . ?

I got this idea from Lindsay's blog. You just copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done. By the way, yes, there are 99 things, not 100.


1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma [I wish I could!]
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (just a toe; but I have dislocated my elbow)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

High School Tag

I remembered that Camille tagged everyone (so that includes me) for this a long time ago. Sorry, although Camille's was fun with photos, I am too lazy to get out the external hard drive, where we have pre-2005 photos stored. I guess later if I'm not feeling lazy I could do a separate post showing some pictures of my high school dances.

1. Did you date someone from your school?
Yes. I dated Derick, for a couple of months; then D (now my husband) on and off during my junior and senior years.

2. What kind of car did you drive?
The black 1991 Nissan Stanza I bought my senior year. We gave it to my sister before we got married and I can't believe it still works.

3.Were you a party animal?
No.

4.Were you considered a flirt?
No.

5.Were you in band, orchestra or choir?
Choir for all 3 years, plus bell choir senior year.

6.Were you a nerd?
I don't know, but probably! I did dress up as a nerd for the Halloween dance my senior year.

7.Were you on any varsity teams?
No.

8.Did you get suspended/expelled?
No.

9.Can you still sing the fight song?
No. I don't recall any part of it at all. (But I like the cheer that says 'hey you, in the orange . . . ' and I still know it.)

10.Who were your favorite teachers?
My 3 favorites were my English/Lit Mag teacher, my choir teacher, and my Science teacher. The seminary teachers were great, too; I loved Bro. Grossen and Sis. Terry.

11.Where did you sit during lunch?
With my friends, at a table or on the floor kind of near the swimming pool. I guess since D and the guys and I sometimes went to Taco Bell, we would have sat in a car.

12.What was your school's full name?
I am not answering this one because my blog is not private. You probably already know, anyway.

13.What was your school's mascot?
Same as #12.

14. Did you go to homecoming and who with?
I went during my junior year. My date was Eric P., whom I hardly knew, so it was awkward.

15. If you could go back and do it again, would you?
No, not if I were the same as I was when I was 15. But maybe I would if I could go back knowing what I know now (teenagers make dumb decisions because their brains aren't fully developed yet).

16. What do you remember most about graduation?
I remember having to walk in and sit next to a boy I didn't know at all. I remember annoying people (graduates) throwing pennies, and a student ending his speech with "choose the right." Also, I was surprised that so many of my classmates weren't actually graduating.

17. Where did you go Senior Skip Day?
I'm not sure about that day specifically, but I remember around that time (maybe the last day of school, after signing yearbooks) we ate at The Panda Mongolian Barbecue.

18. Were you in any clubs?
I was in Key Club for a while, and FHA. If these count as clubs, I was in the school musical sophomore and senior years, and Lit Mag junior and senior years.

19.Have you gained some weight since then?
Yes, I gained 10 or 12 pounds during my freshman year of college, and lost it. I gained weight with my pregnancy, obviously. Now I am maybe 2 pounds heavier than I was when I finished high school. I've been blessed with good metabolism, but if I didn't work out I would definitely be flabbier.

20.Who was your prom date?
My job -- because I didn't get asked. Why didn't D ask me? I don't remember, but maybe I was hoping I could go with someone in my grade.

21.Are you planning on going to your 10 year reunion?
Yeah, I think so. I'm much more interested in reunions than my husband is. We didn't go to his 5-year, which was the year before mine. I did go to mine, while he was, as I like to say, "in the other hemisphere."

I tag all who would like to participate!

"Don't Take Me!"

My daughter likes to say that after I have already picked her up. I wanted to write it here so I wouldn't forget.

Also, after she takes a bath, she has recently started saying "I don't like my towel." She must be going through a phase. She doesn't try to take off her clothes/diaper/underwear, fortunately. But she doesn't want her hooded towel on her even if I don't put the hood on. I tell her the towel helps her get dry and warm, and I very quickly dry her with it.

My favorite thing she says now -- about a hundred times a day -- is "otay." And the emphasis is usually on the tay. It's very cute. In fact, tonight after her bath and rejection of the aforementioned towel, she lined up her rubber ducks one by one against the wall. As she placed each duck she said to it, "Right dere [there], otay?" Her voice is especially cute today because she's got a cold. (It reminds me of a Friends episode. Click HERE.)

P.S. If you use my last name on your blog, please take it off and just use my first name. Also, you can vote in the poll on the right side of this blog. :)