Mug Shots

Once upon a time, (10 years ago, this Christmas) there was this heroine. We'll call her Trish and her super human older brother, we will call Peej. During the course of events that transpired that year they became the most unlikely roommates while attending college. I say unlikely because their lives were pretty different. I...I mean she, was pining over a recently returned missionary, haphazardly attempting to stay focused on school while he honed in on his skill for internal motivation that kept him focused and productive in his studies.

This brother and sister team had rather different schedules but sometimes were able to stop and chat over late night cups of chocolate milk and Oreos or dig into their aunt's painstakingly prepared tuna casserole designated solely for an office party the next day. By the time they would end the evening it was almost certain that the bag of Oreos was completely consumed or that delicious tuna delight was mostly scarfed down.


When Christmas came that year, they found themselves surrounded by dearly loved cousins, aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents at the annual family party. Their sweet grandma, never, ever allowing anyone at the party to go without a present from Santa's sack, gave each person a gift. As fate would have it, that year, Peej received the gift that keeps on giving. Longer than fruitcake, more durable than a necktie, he got a mug. It was filled with hot chocolate packets.

Okay, enough with the third person.

I remember mentioning something about how it was 'cute'...not that I wanted to take it home with me but it was certainly a thoughtful gift for a guy who could, I don't know, hold it in his hands as he waited at the bus stop to keep them warm...or keep it with him at school, just in case he got thirsty and a few sips at the drinking fountain just weren't enough.

Much to my utter surprise that Christmas morning many moons ago, I discovered the Mug among my gifts. The rest has been made hazy with time. For just about every major event the mug has been passed back and forth to herald happy tidings of whatever good fortune gave us cause to celebrate.

He perpetrated a whammy when we drove up to Seattle. Peej and his wife were studying an opera and we met them for the weekend. It was an amazingly delightful trip. Sometime between Pike Place Market and the exploration of downtown the thought crossed my mind that he would try to pull a fast one on me, but I brushed it aside thinking he wouldn't be hard core enough to actually take the mug on vacation with him. Alas, I took my eyes of my opponent and as we drove home I reached down to pick something up, there it was. Mug. In all it's Christmasy, happy little penguin glory.

Another time I received a delightful package in the mail from the "Spot Spots Company". Who me? A package? How wonderful! Could it be stamps for scrap booking? Some delicious chocolate decorated in polka dots? Nope. It was the mug, coming at me when I least expected it. "Spot Spots" was a pseudo name for "genius older brother".

Most recently, on a lovely April evening, we were entertaining guests...which I love to do. We were fully immersed in conversation when the doorbell rang. Not wanting to blow off our guests, it took a minute to get to the door. When I did, the MUG was there again. I had just gotten rid of the thing!! The amazing feat of freakish brilliance was that Peej was across the country....probably laughing maniacally at that moment. After wrapping my brain around the fact that my brother was an evil genius, I came to the conclusion that he has strategically placed operatives planted around me. Hmmmm. Two can play at this game.

That is when I decided to pull of a well made plan of my own.

He was relocating to another school across the country (closer to us this time). How brilliant would it be to pull of gathering intel for my covert mission?! I started asking questions like, "So what's your boss's name" and "What department are you working in"? He took the bait. After ever so casually gaining top security classified information, I was ready to make my first strike.

I emailed his boss. I was so scared. My cover could be blown with one false move. Lucky for me, his future co-wokers were all willing to help. I began emailing those who were connected to the plan. I sent his office the mug. It was now in their possession, ready to be presented to him as a "Welcome Home" gift for his new work place. There were nights I lost sleep from anticipation and excitement. Oh! If only I could have been a fly on the wall.

The week Peej started work, I was anxious, knowing the call could come at any time. After a few days, it finally did. I picked up the receiver and heard the words, "What is wrong with you?!" He was totally caught off his guard and knock off his King-of-Mug-Hijinks throne. I perpetuated a huge whammy! I am terrible about keeping happy secrets like this because I'm so excited I just burst...but I actually kept my lips zipped this time.

Who knows where we will be when the mug pops up next. All I know is it's going to take a lot to top my mad-scientist like plan. So, to my fabulous brother, Peej, bring it on! To all of my blogging friends, a toast of sparkling cider. Bottoms up!

100 Facts about Me....

My sister-in-law posted this on her blog and I was delighted by all the facts she shared. I thought I would dust-off my mental memory box and do the same....

1. I woke up at 5 this morning to go running with a friend. She couldn't make it so I went to Walmart.

2. The guy in front of me in the checkout line was buying a bunch of junk food, a box of donuts and a bottle of Pepto Bismal. I bought thank you cards (for my dentist/uncle) and a pineapple.

3. I was born at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. S.D. is still one of those magical places I love to visit.

4. I have 4 brothers. I'm second in line.

5. When I was a little girl, I wanted an Easy Bake Oven and Strawberry Shortcake dolls. I never got either.

6. I found Rainbow Brite to be seriously disturbing...I know, I know. It's kind of an oxy-moron for me.

7. When I was 16, I was given the fateful promise that my family would never do anything to hurt me or lead me in the wrong direction.

8. My brothers' wives and I share similar physical features. I'm often asked if we are biological sisters.

9. My sister-in-law, Jamie is my best girl friend. My other sisters-in-law are close seconds.

10. My husband, children, brothers and sisters are the most important people to me on the planet.

11. I haven't seen one of my brothers in over 7 years.

12. I miss him so much it hurts my heart sometimes.

13. Luckily, we are planning a family reunion soon. It makes me cry to even think about it.

14. I was a cheerleader in high school.

15. I was a really big dork too but I like to think I hid it well.

16. I "played the oboe" in band for 3 years. I lettered in band all three years and have a state champion pin. They are hollow victories because I can't read music and never practiced. My teacher told me to just pretend to play during performances.

17. During my senior year I revolted against my parents and refused to "play" the oboe anymore. I joined the choir instead.

18. I still couldn't read music but could sing. My trio got 1- at state solo ensemble. The other two singers, Kristina and Jamie are still very good friends of mine.

19. I met my husband when we were 15. I bought him an ice cream cone the day I met him and walked him to his one day of football practice. His dad, a lawyer, made him quit the team the next day.

20. I 'Dear-Johned" my husband while he was serving a mission in England for the LDS church. Due to a postal glitch it was the first letter he received from anyone...3 months into his mission.

21. I still feel badly about that one.

22. As an adult, I developed a serious allergy to wheat gluten. I go into anaphylactic shock and must carry an epi-pen when I eat anything with wheat in it.

23. I miss donuts.

24. I really miss bread.

25. I love my husband and children more than I thought I could possibly love someone.

26. I love my Savior even more.

27. When I was 17, my parents' best friends asked me to dog-sit for them while they went on a 5-day vacation. I forgot about it. I remembered the day before they got back. I ran over to their home to rescue a very sad Cocker Spaniel. She survived but their brand new carpet did not. They didn't talk to me for a while after that.

28. I got dumped by my date at my junior prom and walked home. There was something so beautiful about the moon and the night sky that night so I didn't mind the star gazing stroll so much. I felt like a princess in my sparkly dress and actually relished it.

29. I also got dumped the next year by my boyfriend at his prom...I was six hours away from home and surrounded by people I didn't know. I had to stay at his house for another 2 days until my ride was ready to go home. Serves me right for dating my future husband's best friend. I'm sure, if we ever got to talk, we would have a good laugh about it now.

30. I gravitate toward anything pink, shimmery and colorful.

31. I am a recovering clash queen.

32. If I had my way in the fashion world, I would make it perfectly acceptable to be covered head to toe in sequins.

33. I want to buy stock in companies that produce glitter.

34. When I was in Junior High, after spending the morning complaining and gossiping, my best friend told me I was too negative. That really bugged and I decided to change. I wanted to be happy.

35. One of my heroes is Sharlene Wells Hawkes, Miss America 1985. Her motto was "Fake it, 'till you make it".

36. I faked it until I was happy and determined to stay that way. Sometimes it's a fight, but well worth the battle.

37. I'm afraid of commitment.

38. This morning I finally opened the bottle of my medication. I have been carrying it around for days feeling better just because I knew it would make me better when I actually took it. I have been afraid of the commitment of going on this medicine because of the possible side effects, withdrawal symptoms and the fact that I had to follow through with it.

39. Someday I will be a published author.

40. I had a paid gig as a writer for my husband's grad school newspaper.

41. I ran 20 miles in the Hood to Coast relay.

42. In 2005 I received treatment for an eating disorder.

43. I had it for 11 years.

44. Although it's not a subject I bring up to many people, I am not ashamed of it anymore. It has made me a better person and I am more conscious of my family's eating habits.

45. It is for that reason, among so many others, that my children saved my life.

46. My husband is the funniest person I know. My brothers, Peej and Joe are close seconds.

47. I'm a closet slob who masks this by being a clean freak.

48. If no one is sitting on my couch, my throw and pillows must be straight.

49. A couple of years ago, one of my best friends from high school asked me if I was still as fragile as I used to be.

50. I wasn't sure how to answer that one.

51. Sometimes the fact that I am emotional and apologetic is viewed as a weakness.

52. It's not. It's a strength in many instances.

53. One of my very favorite foods is hummus.

54. I crave salad.

55. I have OCD.

56. It's a blessing and a curse.

57. My first official job was working at KFC. My first night on the job, I slipped on a puddle of grease, gashed my arm and whacked my head on a towel dispenser. My trainer laughed at me. (I do now, too) I had a huge nasty bruise and a goose egg on my forward for a while after that.

58. My first car was named "Franchesca".

59. My current car is named "Ophelia".

60. We name our cars after Shakespearean heroine.

61. I haven't read the Twilight series.

62. I'm afraid of the dark.

63. I have an unreasonable fear of virtually indestructible things chasing me...like the Terminator and back taxes.

64. When I was a little girl, my dad showed me a movie about a vampire killing a bunch of college kids. It scared the begebes out of me. Vampires have sacred me ever since.

65. I love books by Jane Austen.

66. My favorite books are "Pride and Prejudice", "To Kill A Mockingbird", "The Hiding Place" and "The Princess Bride".

67. My least favorite book is "Lord of the Flies".

68. I wholeheartedly believe in happy endings.

69. Even though I can't eat most of the food I make, I love to cook. It is one way I show people I love them.

70. I wear my heart on my sleeve and have no poker face.

71. I don't even know how to play poker.

72. I am really good at basic math.

73. I'm smarter than I gave myself credit for.

74. When I was a senior in high school, a friend of mine was goofing off and accidentally tripped me in the hallway. A male teacher started yelling at her for doing something like that to a 'fully developed young woman' who could have fallen 'out of her shirt'. He then went one to talk about my well endowed chest. Both my friend and I were humiliated.

75. I have never smoked cigarettes but tried to be cool by smoking a tumbleweed. It really hurt.

76. I have never been good at being a rebel. I just come off looking like a jerk.

77. I have no desire to be a jerk.

78. My husband and I back-packed through Paris, danced in the rain and ate baguettes with cheese under a French awning. It was one of the most romantic days of my life.

79. I love my husband's facial hair. It is very handsome on his face.

80. I cry at the gates of Disneyland.

81. I long to be at the beach.

82. I am very sleepy right now.

83. The moment I knew I was pregnant with my first baby, I knew my baby was a girl.

84. I am a terrible saleswoman.

85. I "sell" Scentsy.

86. I'd rather give it to my loved ones for free.

87. My favorite Scentsy smells are Watermelon Patch and Tahiti Pear. They make me feel like frolicking in a meadow somewhere.

88. I love Christmas and start playing Christmas music on November 1.

89. I hate shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I refuse to involve myself in that day's shopping craze because I don't want to think badly about anyone, lose faith in people or get in the middle of a shopping rage incident.

90. I want to have a candy-less Halloween but have been overruled every year.

91. I love Vegetarian Thanksgivings.

92. My favorite colors are pink, purple and yellow.

93. Sunshine, my oldest, is the happiest, most forgiving child I have ever met.

94. Bunny is the funniest, most compassionate child I have ever met.

95. Button Nose is the smartest baby (and currently the smelliest) baby I know.

96. All three of my children light up my life and never make it boring.

97. I hate apricots.

98. I love olives stuffed with garlic. I could eat a whole jar in one sitting.

99. I love opera.

100. I aspire to live until I am 100 years old.

He-Man, the coolest guy on the planet....

I woke up grumpy this morning....Ug. I think it has to do with the fact that I ate way too much chocolate souffle cake last night. It was a gluten free cake so I got to eat some (way too much). The evening ended with a stomach ache. Plus I found myself in a really frustrating situation. You know, the ones where you feel like because of the color of your hair, the way you dress, your personality or some other element that makes you, well, you, that you're considered inferior and weak. Whether or not that is the reality, it is still really uncomfortable. Needless to say, I am a bit grumpy this morning and I'm trying to snap out of it.

I've decided to do this by talking about one of my favorite subjects; one that will certainly perk me right up, it is the glorious reason why I ate the super chocolatey, fudge-like cake in the first place. Several more that 25 years ago, He-Man graced the world with his presence. That's right, he and I are now the same age.

He-Man is the light of my life. It would be funny to go back to my 15 year old self and tell me when I met him, "Keep an eye on this one...he's THE keeper!" and ask "Do you really want to go with that other guy to the prom when He-Man asked first?" I'm sure I would have looked cross-eyed at my 30 something year old self and said, "Who, him? He's my best friend and that would be weird. By the way, why are your hips wider and who are those little kids running circles around you?!"

The 1,000 calorie a bite chocolate souffle cake that must be DESTROYED!

For his birthday, our amazing family pitched our funds together to give him something he has wanted since we were married...a good set of kitchen knives. I have always hesitated because they are so...so, well, sharp and I happen to be a gigantic klutz. I swallowed that worry and unreasonable fear of every vegetable slicing mishap my colorful but overactive imagination could conjure up and found a great place to buy them. My sister in law steered me to a local family owned shop and I saw exactly what we were looking for. They're a great little company plus I get to help the local economy...yeah! Everyone is happy!

Happy he was! He-Man has shown every guest his new knives and find every reason to use them. He even used the mondo-Chef knife to cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He is like a little boy on Christmas morning except the toys are sharper.

Needless to say, I am so proud of my husband for his hard work, dedication and overall person. I'm so lucky that he was magnanimously forgiving to the previously mentioned 15 year old. He is a rock but at the same time, the sweetest, kindest man I have ever met. Some people may think he is all business and straight-faced, but don't let him fool you!

Thank you, He-Man for all you do. You really light up my life and brighten my day! See it worked. I'm not so grumpy anymore!

First day of second grade and a walk down memory lane...

Sunshine's first day of second grade!


Today was Sunshine's first day of second grade. She was bouncing off the walls with excitement. She decided a while ago that summer vacation was too long and wanted to hit the books again.

As I helped her get ready for the day I couldn't help but reflect on the adventure it has been to be her mommy. I am the luckiest. Her nickname fits her because of the light she brings into my life. She reminds me of a little blonde girl I remember seeing in the mirror about 24 years ago...yet she is way cooler. Thinking about being a kid reminded me of a mortifyingly funny memory I have from my childhood and I thought I would share it.

Bunny plays with shaving cream during Cousin Camp.


(Screen hazes at the edges) We find ourselves in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on a cold December afternoon many, many moons ago...

The bus drops my brothers and I off at our corner and we ritualistically saunter home from school. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until we caught sight of our house. In the dead of winter every single window and door was wide open as if it were in the middle of a heated summer day. It was an unusual sight. Had mom actually lost it this time?

Our wonderment had quickly turned to disgusted enlightenment when a most pungent and offensive odor shrouded our home in stink. Our home had been hit by a skunk, who by the smell of it, had a bone to pick with us and unfortunate dead-on aim.

I don't remember the events that unfolded that evening or what my brothers and I did to draw vicious ire from my parents but the next day they made us get on the bus for school. Seriously, by that time our noses probably had gotten so use to the stench that we didn't noticed that we wreaked to high heaven.

The first of a series of unfortunate events of that day was being in a confined space, such as a magical school bus. Trust me when I say, skunk smell fills small areas rather quickly. Luckily, most of us aren't born with the understanding of a brain surgeon so we were able to get on the bus without people figuring out it was when we entered that the skunk smell proliferated the vehicle.

Mercifully, the trip ended as we pulled up to school and we made our hasty escapes. Perhaps if we separated ourselves, the stink would lessen significantly...Nope, no such luck. We walked around the halls of the school like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown.

Everywhere I went that day, I kept hearing "Ugh! What stinks?!" and "Why does it smell like skunk in here?!" Again, because of the brain surgeon thing, it took the kids in my class all morning to figure out where the odoriferous scent was originating from. When they actually put the puzzle together the full level of my embarrassment was realized.

My sweet, well meaning teacher, who was very young and a bit of a greenie in the educational field handled it the best she could. She grabbed the air freshener packet from her car and pinned it to my shirt, "to help with the smell". It was Pine scented. So to add the the experience, I was some under class man wearing a car air freshener as a fashion accessory that made me smell like a Christmas tree with really bad karma for not keeping a skunk family with all their little skunk babies warm on a frigid winter night. I found myself wondering if my brothers were fairing any better.

The world revolves quickly and even when you meet the wrong end of a skunk, someone mercifully pushes you from the headlines to page six. That someone was a fellow fifth grade boy who had an accident in his pants...(yet even more embarrassing than meeting a psycho skunk). The whispers and shock weren't for me. I was old news. They were for him. (The kids in my class were threatened within an inch of their lives if they so much as breathed an insult in his direction.)

So today, as my daughter goes out to take the second grade world by storm, I salute you, Billy or George or Samuel, whatever your name is. Thank you for taking one for the team. You really saved what was left of the few shreds of my dignity that day. And to that skunk who so gracefully made his presence known, may your little skunk babies be born without their stink.

Good luck, Sunny, I hope this year is even better than first grade!

Every Super Hero has a kryptonite...

Perhaps this post will reveal how twisted my sense of humor is. Or maybe it's just my way of dealing with really disgusting situations....WARNING! This blog entry is not for the squeamish.

A very common theme of this blog is superheroes. I think this is, in large part, due to the fact that I am surrounded by them at all sides. My husband, kids, siblings, family, my amazing friends, each of them ought to have a superhero name. That will come in another blog.

He-Man, the eradicator of eight-legged freaks, cracker of backs and healer of gaping wounds has a kryptonite. Shocking, I know. But he does. (We must be careful with dispelling this information because certain nemeses can use this to their advantage.) His kryptonite is one of the most toxic substances on the earth and we were faced with a heaping dose of it beginning on Sunday evening. This knee buckling, head spinning substance is none other than vomit.

He-Man and I had just put our kids to bed. They had all been read to, prayers said and hugs with kisses dispensed. We were enjoying the fresh evening air outside and preparing for our Gospel study when we heard thunderous foot steps coming towards us. Sunshine, in a panic proclaimed, "Button Nose is screaming her head off and she is covered in throw up!" "Uh, oh!" I thought, looking over at my now almost green husband. Obviously this was going to take a haz-mat team, not just a casual street sweeper.

Up the stairs we went, readying ourselves for the battle. Half way down the hall the unforgettable odor wafted through the air. In deed, Button Nose was covered from head to toe and a look of complete and utter frustration was on her face. Choking down the dry heaves, He-Man hosed her down in the de-con chamber while I did damage control in the bedroom. Bunny and Sunshine served as observant bystanders pointing out those things we were missing, "Uh, Momma, there is a huge chunk on her cheek." and "Oh, you're are going to want to wash that."

Once everything settled down, we lined beds with towels and each child was bestowed a special token for the evening: a 'throw-up bowl'. Button Nose, just getting started decided this was no time for sleeping and found her spot on her daddy's lap. He too, held a 'throw-up bowl'. I couldn't be sure if it was for Button or for him. We may never know.

The incidences subsided and just when I thought we were safe I had been gone for a meeting and returned. The first thing I saw when I walked through the door was my shirtless husband wearing jeans sitting on our couch with a diapered miserable looking baby and a 'throw-up' bowl. He looked positively ill. Immediately I knew, he wasn't sitting shirtless on our couch to look sexy.

What a guy! Even facing his weakness he will comfort a little one who only wants him to hold her. Superman lifted an entire kryptonite mountain but that is nothing compared to the feat of strength He-Man accomplished. Who knew my husband was such a pillar of gastrointestinal strength?

And so it goes. It's quite humorous really. However, I am left pondering a few issues of interest.

1. Just how much vomit can come out of a baby?

2. Who, on earth, invented shag carpet?! Obviously, they didn't have kids. I really, really pity the person who will be ripping that up from our floors someday.

Mysteries of my own little Cosmos...

The word 'Cosmos' can be defined as "...a complete, orderly, harmonious system". While sometimes not quite orderly nor harmonious for the most part, my little world somehow, magically works. It is almost like a dance...however ungraceful it may be, (Many of you know me and have seen me dance.) I am, I admit, a bit of a klutz. BUT somehow I navigate myself through each day often completely mystified by how I actually did it. The following are several mysteries I am currently trying to solve. If anyone has the key to these puzzles, please feel free to enlighten me...

This mystery may be for DNA experts: Who munched on the end the shoe lace on my running shoe? I got dressed for a run this morning and discovered that the tip of my shoelace had been mangled beyond recognition. Plus, there was a bite taken out of a candle on our coffee table. We're not talking a little nibble here or there. This is a full on, unadulterated bite that was obviously enjoyed because there was no left over wax refuse anywhere. (Well, it does smell like a cool Caribbean slushie of some sort.)

Who unrolled that roll of toilet paper in the bathroom and why are there holes in it?

How is it that the guy I have a sleepover party with every night never gets boring? Seriously, nearly 10 years later I still think he is the funniest person around...even after watching reruns of M.A.S.H. with him over and over and over again.

What are the karmic ramifications of letting your daughter stay up until after dark to pretend that we are flying outside in the yard, probably waking up the neighbors? How bad is that on the "Irresponsible Parent List"?

How much ice cream am I allowed to eat?

Have I left any out? Please, do share!

He-Man and his brothas

My husband says he is the short, fat one of the family.

I love these pics because it shows how serious they aren't...they really are great boys!

It takes some real confidence for manly men to wear skirts.

I'm going to be HAPPY even if it kills me, gosh darn it!!

This entire summer has been a tough one. An internal battle (all out war) has raged within me. Sometimes the antagonist wins, sometimes the protagonist (hey, that's me!) wins. Sometimes, it's a draw. I have identified myself as the hero so now you may wonder what the antagonist is. It's a tricky, formidable opponent that I would perhaps respect if it weren't for the havoc it has wreaked in my days this past while...actually probably not.

It has sneaked into my life occasionally before, but I have always been able to vomit sunshine onto it and it goes away. Maybe that is my superhero power...to vomit sparkles and sunshine on all the villians....hmmm, that is quite the visual. Oops, I have digressed. The villian in this case is despair. At some point in the past little while I let despair creep into my heart. Often, the seeds of it can be choked out but, for some reason, I have let them take root and become stronger than they should have. Last week, my nemesis won the battle. It all came to a head on Sunday afternoon. I was so angry and sad. I wasn't even mad at anyone. I was just miserable. I couldn't stop crying and my poor, super hero husband was trying everything to help me be happy again by helping me do what despair wouldn't want me to do: count the many blessings in my life. UG! I wanted to punch him in his lovely face.

I was so mad I wanted to scream. I was mad that He-man works 80 hours a week to pay our bills. I was mad that I was exhausted from being a mommy to kids 24/7. I was mad that the world doesn't know how great of a doctor my husband is. I was mad that there was toothpaste globbed all over the bathroom sink I scrubbed right before I went to bed the night before. I was mad that I couldn't eat a glorious cream filled doughnut. I was mad that sometimes there is something stuck in my teeth when I go out in public. Ug! I was just so mad!

After talking to He-Man, I realized that those things don't matter as much as the fact that I allowed myself to get so angry that I would let toothpaste irritate me so much. Yeah, some of the things we have had to deal with this year have been rough. Honestly, most doctors who open their own practice deal with the same scenario. Eventually, they make it and they are better people for going through what they went through because of it.

Things have been rough but I think it snowballed when He-Man didn't get the job in Hawaii. It wasn't a big shocker that he didn't...he was not very qualified, but I sure wanted it. BUT Since when does wanting something mean I'm going to get it?

That afternoon, I remembered that I can't let despair win. I'm stronger than that. I'm a happy person. I was born to vomit sparkles and sunshine everywhere however obnoxious it can be sometimes. My kids and husband need me to be happy. I need me to be happy. So that is what I am going to be. I know things will get better. Someday, He-Man will be able to help so many people with his skill for healing. Someday I will be a published author who gets to tell children stories with lots of sparkles and sunshine. Funny thing is, the internal struggle to always be happy will be there. We will find ourselves in different settings. The cast will be added to and there will be different struggles BUT I am going to win.

Top Things that have made me happy lately:

Button Nose is taking her first steps!

I ripped out the cupboards in our kitchenette (thanks to a certain brother-in-law), painted with a beautiful textured paint and paid homage to the Oregon beaches I miss so much, by creating a beach themed breakfast nook. We didn't get to move to an exciting beachfront property but I can eat my breakfast and pretend I can taste the sea spray. I even have a candle burning called "Skinny Dippin'". I just don't think our neighbors would appreciate it if we actually did go sans clothing. Shucks, I probably wouldn't have the guts anyway.

I got caught in a torrential rainstorm while running a week ago. It was GLORIOUS! It's been so long since I have played in the rain. It's a really good thing that I wasn't wearing a white tee-shirt.

He-Man and I talked for hours listening to the crickets chirping on Sunday night. Part of the time we even laid out on the grass watching the stars come out...until the critters started biting.

Sunshine and I finished the second Harry Potter. Although I read it years before, we were both so riveted we couldn't put it down and read through the morning.

Bunny thanked me for being her mommy and asked that if her cousins' houses got crunched by a giant who stepped on it, they could come live with us since Cortney and Jarom are her best friends. She was delighted when I assured her that would be just fine.

I cranked up the music after my kids went to sleep (because they will sleep through just about anything) and danced like a spazz in my living room.