Shmoopy time, anyone?

I fully admit two things. 1) I listen to some country music. Really, I listen to whatever catches my ear, I'm not picky. 2) I have a shmoopy streak. What's shmoopy? Shmoopy is cheesy love songs, over the top romantic gestures, PDA, all that stuff we all gag at publicly but secretly kinda wish it was us.
The problem is, CJ is not shmoopy. He just doesn't thought-process like that, which is so fine. It's obviously not a deal breaker for me, I mean, I obviously married him anyways. And he does have his moments, like when I turned 20. He'd just left on his mission (as in *just* left, 13 days earlier) and I was feeling so sorry for myself. I walked into the house and there, sitting on the kitchen table, was a vase filled with 20 beautiful, perfect white roses. He'd ordered them before he left, and I had no idea.
We're a great example of how opposites attract. I love hanging out with other people and doing things as a group, CJ could be alone in the mountains for weeks and be perfectly fine. He loves sports, I didn't until we got married. CJ falls asleep early, I'm a nightowl. I love working with computers and programs, CJ... well, he's not good at it. He loves horror movies, I do NOT. Point taken? But we work, dunno why.
We didn't have an easy courtship for a bunch of factors that I won't get all long winded about plus I don't need them floating around the internet. We started dating almost 10 years ago, before his mission. I knew two months in to dating him that I wanted to marry him, but I really didn't think it would happen. How often do people date before missions and swear they're going to get married when the guy comes back, and they don't, for whatever reason? Ask Jesse or Mandy, I was sure it would never work out. I moved back to Canada, he went on his mission, I taught at a summer camp in Maine, I moved to Scotland... life happened. I even stopped writing him, for a variety of reasons that had nothing to do with him. He came back from his mission, and I was playing on the internet with some friends while in Scotland, and found him listed at BYU. Shock to the system. I ended up writing him a letter apologizing for how things happened, and I felt at peace with whatever happened. And then I got a phone call, asking me if I knew who it was. Like I could forget his voice. We long-distance dated until I flew home in March and he came to visit me at my parents house, and it was all over. We got engaged in May and married in August. Haven't looked back since.
Back to my confessions. I was listening to the top music songs on iTunes and "Love Story" by Taylor Swift came up. It's at the bottom of my music playlist in my sidebar, to the left. I fell in love with it. I love the lyrics, it makes me think of some of the things that CJ and I have been through in the times we've been together, some of them I've never told most people about. Especially the line "this love is difficult, but it's real. don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess. it's a love story, baby just say yes". I just love well written songs, no matter what genre they fit into. Anyways, I finally opened up my PhotoShop and did a page about it, I don't think I've ever scrapped about CJ and how I feel. It usually has to do with the kids and him. Excuse me if it's too shmoopy for you, trust me, I could have gotten even more shmoopy on you.

So here's to my unRomeo. I'm so very glad I said yes.

Youth is Wasted on the Young.

I'm 29 today. Well, tonight, at 9:36 PM to be exact, I believe. But that's not my point. I always pshawed when people would talk about what a downer turning 29 was, but now that I'm here, I see their point. "Pish tosh, young one!" some of you may be saying. Well, I'm hormonal, so suck it up, princesses, you get to read my age related rambling.

I woke up this morning feeling very sorry for myself, but there's really no good reason, other than another birthday bites the dust. No big celebrations, that's one of the side effects of having a birthday that always falls on General Conference whenever I get lucky enough to have it on the weekend. Plus let's be real, what would I do even if it weren't General Conference? I've cheered up as the day's gone on, especially when I got a call from my in laws singing Happy Birthday to me, and then another one from my mum singing too. Plus some nice emails, and of course who doesn't appreciate happy birthday wishes on Facebook? Whoop! (Sorry, MaryBeth, no cake today. But swing by tomorrow, I'm so going to get me a big fat cake from Safeway) Life ain't so bad, I guess. Plus I just had M come in half nekkid and shake her butt at me and then run away giggling, who wouldn't crack a smile at a good mooning? Reminds me of my uncle Neil... that's a story for another day.

I should make a list of 29 things I want to do before I turn 30... no, that requires motivation. I don't have much of that. Although I did dust the ceiling fan off today, that was gross. That's what I get for having it on for most of the summer, I suppose. But now that it's fall, and the weather is freaking perfect, we have the AC off and the windows open, and it's heeeeeaven. (And nice on the pocketbook too) That's one thing I love about my birthday, fall is my favorite season. If we were east coast, it'd be even better. I love the changing colors, the leaves crunching underfoot, going apple picking... here, well, cactus don't really change colors. Or have leaves, come to think of it.

See, there goes the rambling. How many trains of thought did I hit up there?

MaryBeth was kind enough to tag me too (what a great birthday present! Better than any expensive bag or perfume)

I was tagged! Six weird and random things about me! (like that's hard.)

The rules are:
*Link to the person who tagged you (MaryBeth)
*Post the rules on your blog
*Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
*Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them
*Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
*Let the tagger know when your entry is posted

So, here they are...
1. I still have a huge crush on Joey from New Kids On The Block. Huuuuge crush. He's totally gotten better with age. I still love their songs too.
2. I cry really easily, even at cheesy, stupid commercials that I'll make fun of while crying.
3. I have pack rat tendencies, which clash with CJ's cleaning overdrive.
4. I love surfing Etsy and finding all sorts of random stuff.
5. I'm a crunchy wannabe.
6. I secretly love teaching my kids bad things to say.


I tag Amber, Mary Lynn, De Ana, Melanie, Renee, and Staci.

An addiction

Okay, I love bags. Diaper bags mostly, at least right now, but I'll admit to drooling over some Coach bags and the likes. Anyways, there's a new site launching, Handbag Planet, and to celebrate the October 15 launch they're giving away a free handbag every hour for 24 hours on the day of the launch. I signed up. You should too. Do it. C'mon, do it.

Because, Just Because.

Okay, I'm a follower. Mary Beth did one, so I am too. Here's my results, scroll down for my opinion on the quiz. Don't pretend like you don't want to know.

You Belong in 1955

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Well... about half right. I definitely love fun, and have romantic tendecies, but not really innocent. Anyways, here's the quiz, my thoughts/comments/sarcastic drippings are in red. Enjooooooy!

What TV show are you most likely to veg out to?
Family Ties
I Love Lucy
Mork & Mindy
The Brady Bunch
90210
Come on. These are great shows, but the only one you can really veg to, I mean really just completely veg, is 90210. Mork & Mindy and I Love Lucy are too freaking hilarious, Family Ties too sitcom classic, and The Brady Bunch too mind-numbingly... well, mind numbing. (sorry to all the Marsha fans.)

When you think of a classically beautiful woman, you would have to choose:
Marilyn Monroe
Cheryl Tiegs
Cindy Crawford
Twiggy
Christy Brinkley
Freak. These are all classically beautiful women! (Except I'll admit I'm not really sure who Cheryl Tiegs is...) Anyone could pick any of these women, age regardless.

And the coolest guy?
Dennis Hopper
John Travolta
Cary Grant
Brad Pitt
David Hasselhoff
Who wouldn't pick The Hoff? He's a shoe in. (or is it shoo in...)

What's your pet cause?
Fair trade
Women's rights
The environment
Peace
Hygiene
Save the whales. And then wash your face, you dirty bird.

Favorite movie?
The Godfather
Casablanca
Say Anything
The Graduate
Forrest Gump
Why is High School Musical not an option...

What type of music do you prefer?
Swing
Alternative
Pop
Oldies
Classic Rock
Where does Imagination Movers and Ralph's World fall in here. Alternative? Because they're an alternative choice, right? I prefer broadway, just for the record.

What's your ideal first date?
Hanging out at the latest dance club, all dressed up
Skipping the date and going straight to the hookup
Dinner and a movie - dutch
Taking off to a rock festival
Sharing a milkshake and fries at a diner
Straight to the hookup. No problem answering this one. Wait, I mean--

You're cruising down a costal highway... what car are you driving?
A b!tchin' Camero
A classic Caddy
A convertible BMW
A new model VW Beetle
A sweet cherry red Mustang
Again, my actual preference is missing. Give me the big red car, please. Wiggles optional. If they're up for it, come on down. As long as they sing. I doubt the big red car has a radio.

What's your favorite comfort food?
Meatloaf
Pop Tarts
Mac N Cheese
Red bull and vodka
Fondue
All of the above? Check! (minus the vodka. no thanks)

Finally, how was this quiz?
All that and a bag a chips
What a trip!
Awesome
Far out!
A total blast
What about "totally tubular, dude! Rock on!"


Peace out, homies.

Ready for a Vent?

I'm slacking on uploading pictures, avoiding cleaning {who wants to clean at night}, and there's nothing I want to watch on TV, so I'm going to tell you all about the train of thought that keeps chugging into my brain lately. Try not to get too excited, if you bounce in your seat too much you can't read the screen.

I have an issue with Disney, specifically their cartoons. While I love most of their movies, some friends and I have been talking about Disney's tendency to the dramatic, borderline depressing bylines in their plots. Look at Dumbo. I'm sorry, but I can NOT watch that movie. I start sobbing from the very beginning, and just keep on working my way through that tissue box. That movie will never live on our movie shelves, no sirree. Same with Bambi. Nope, not gonna happen. Fox and The Hound? Yet again with the parentless storylines!

And don't give me the "well, it's an old movie" line. Look at how Finding Nemo starts! And the absolute worst Disney movie to watch in my presence is Tarzan. I guarantee I will use your sleeve as a tissue if you watch this movie with me. And yes, I absolutely love this movie, it's one of my favorite Disney movies ever, just cut out the beginning. I can't deal with it at all. I could barely deal with it before I had children, and now... see, I'm tearing up just thinking about it.

Hercules, taken away from his loving parents {and don't get me started about how Disney TOTALLY messed with the actual Greek myth. Hera as his loving mother? Puh-leeeeze.}. Brother Bear, whose brother dies and the mommy bear dies. The Rescuers, that poor little girl is so alone! The Hunchback... well, we'll give them a pass on that, based on how much more depressing the actual book is. Ariel's Beginning {the new Little Mermaid movie}, SAAAD.

Anyways, you see my point? Disney, while making some amazingly endearing and enchanting movies, also definitely has a dark side. Boo to that! Cheer me up, get me daydreaming about how sweet cartoon life would be, make me root for the good guys and snarl at the bad guys! Don't make me think, for heavens sake! I use you to escape reality, not to think about how bad life can be! Bring on the popcorn. I feel like watching The Incredibles.


**disclaimer: I am no Disney hater, in case anyone tries to think that. I am a Disney lover, both cartoon and "live" movies. In fact, I just succumbed and signed up for the Disney Movie Club. So 6 Disney movies are headed to my house as we speak. Bring on the tissues, baby. I'm gonna need them.**

Mary Beth.

I'm avoiding the kitchen and the half-cracked job I've done in deep cleaning it, so I'm going to post about someone who is amazazing. {name that movie, suckas}

There's this girl, and she kinda rocks. She makes walking the halls during sacrament so much more bearable than it usually is, because she always makes me laugh. She's also kinda evil like me, so it's nice to know I'm not the only evilly-inclined mormon in this town. Not evil in a Voldemorty way, but evil in a devious thinking, just-might-be-headed-downward-in-a-handbasket way. Get my drift? {probably not, but it's all good, because chances are most of you are nodding your head thinking "yeah, that pretty much describes Laurie".} She also has the most amazing strength I've ever seen, and not just because of her Wii Fit. Which she's offered to let me play with, that only increases the adoration on my part. I mean, lots of people will share their Wii in order to kick your tushie at something like MarioKart, but not many want to share their exercising with it. Purdy cool. She has stories of embarassment that rival mine, and she has no problem telling them. I'm sure we've gotten a few looks in the lobby at church from laughing so hard. Basically, all around, she rocks. Plus her kids are adorable, and her husband is pretty freaking funny on his own.

Anyways, Mary Beth, you and your stalking make me laugh. Maybe I should just hang out in the Target/Fry's parking lot and wait for you, because that's always where we "run into" eachother. Not literally of course. Unless you want it that way. I mean, the insurance money might be nice... no, just kidding. I love my car too much to do that.

But if someone wants to take out CJ's Snot Rocket car, feel free. Then I can have the garage to myself and my van again. Two car garages aren't actually *meant* for two cars, in my humble opinion.

Let's See...

what's going on in our lives. Oh, I know. Lots!

M started clogging classes once a week. Loooooves it. *when I signed her up I totally thought of you, Jesse!* One of the songs they dance to is a bumblebee song, watching her and the other girls "buzz" about is so CUTE! She also is doing great in school, aaaannnndddd.... *drumroll*...

IS POTTY TRAINING!!!!!

She's been in underwear during the day since Tuesday, and has only had one accident, which was my fault for not taking her straight to the bathroom when we got home from being at Target for awhile. I wish I could take credit, but alas, it was Miss Bonnie. On Tuesday she came home from school in underwear with a note saying that she'd started asking for new pull ups so they tried putting her in underwear and she did great! So the next day was her day off from school and we got an egg timer out and set it to go off every 25 minutes. We call it the peepee clock, and every time it goes off she runs to the bathroom and "does her business". She's so pleased with herself, and I can't blame her. Now, if only it would rub off on P. Knocking two (mostly) out of diapers would be so nice... but I take what I can get!

I got a Thomas tricycle on clearance at Target for P, he's blissed out. He got so excited when he woke up from a rare nap today and found the tricycle in the living room. He's having to fight off J though, J is fascinated with it. Good thing he's not walking yet, there might be trouble then. P is constantly asking to go to Target to see the halloween stuff. Most of it scares him, but he finds it funny at the same time. There's one thing where a skeleton hand comes out of a mailbox that totally freaks him out, but then he loves the dog skeleton that cracks jokes. Go figure, boys, right? Totally love that kid though, he notices anytime I'm feeling down or sick or crying about some stupid commercial. He comes up, pats my face and says "mummy? mummy, what's wrong? mummy, are you crying? why are you crying?" So sweet.

J... my little man. I wish I could say his PT was going well, but I don't know if he's going through a growth spurt or something, but he's looking pretty crooked lately. Got to get more exercises in I guess. He's such a funny kid, he's starting to be a lot like P in that he just cracks himself up. His favorite game is when I go in another room and he crawls after me and I play peekaboo. He screeches and laughs and then crawls some more towards me, and we repeat. I can't believe he's almost 11 months old, time is just flying. His eczema is looking a lot better, especially on his cheek, the patch is almost gone.

CJ's doing great, still loves his job. Sleeps lots, though. Of course, it's a pretty wearing job, so it's understandable. I'm tired, and have some nasty allergies going on, but that's dealable. Would love a getaway sans enfants, but not in the cards, as always. Someday...

Well, it's almost 11:30 on a Sunday night, and a House marathon is on, so I best be going. But I'll post some pictures soon, hopefully. Memory willing.

Because I Love These...

I admit it. I love tags and these cheesy things. Don't know why, but I think it's kind of fun to fill them out, think of funny answers, remember things in the past. So here you go again. Enjoooooooooy!!!!!!!!!

Ten years ago I
1. Had just started my second year at Southern Virginia College.
2. Worked at the stables on campus.
3. Didn't have a drivers license.
4. Was much skinnier than now, yet stupidly thought I was fat.
5. Had just gotten a stepdad.

My "to do" list
1. Make sure M sits on the potty every 20 minutes.
2. Clean something.
3. Get ready for Visit Teaching Conference tonight.
4. Play at Target.
5. Figure out why the printer isn't working/get all the crumbs out of it. (hm... maybe that's why.)

Favorite Snackies
1. Coca-Cola
2. Chips, especially ones from Canada
3. Mini carrots
4. Anything from Chili's
5. Rainbow Sherbet (Baskin Robbins is the best, with hot fudge on it. mmmm.)

If I had a million dollars
1. Pay all our debt
2. Get a bigger house
3. Take the kids on a trip to Canada (Toronto or Alberta, not sure which)
4. Buy out Gymboree
5. Get a pimped out laptop

Places I've lived
1. London England
2. Toronto ONT Canada
3. Lethbridge ALB Canada
4. Provo UT
5. Aberdeen Scotland

My jobs
1. Campaigner for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario
2. Cashier at the University of Toronto Bookstore
3. Pretty much everything at Tim Hortons
4. Student worker at Hayfield Riding Center in Aberdeen
5. Emergency Essentials sucker


I'm going to tag..... Ashley Wheeler, Amber Flint, and Shila Ingram.

waiting...

My Very Own Personal Comedian

P wearing a cupcake:

P cracks me up. He's definitely my sidekick, he and I can have a blast together for a much longer period of time than M or J are interested in. I think it's because he's so much like me, he really reminds me of myself as a kid. Tonight after his bath we were laughing because he would stand about 4 feet away, and I'd whip his legs with a towel, making his knees buckle and he'd fall, and he just thought it was SO funny. A lot of the time I wasn't even getting him right, but he'd fall down faking it. Love that kid. Later, after I'd put him and M to bed, I walked by their room and heard him talking. I peeked in and he was sitting on the floor, with a toy microphone up to his mouth, and singing the Thomas song without words. I ran to get my camera but he'd stopped when I got back, but I asked him to sing again and this is what I got:

I think he thinks I'm his paparazzi. I have this similar video from M's birthday dinner at Peter Piper Pizza:

Love that kid.