Say Something

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Okay, people, we need to have a talk. My reader base has grown, according to my stat counter. There are many of you from far away places, and I'm not sure I know you. And that's great. But leave me a comment, already. Tell me who you are. Let's be friends. If you blog, let me peek {you know, I've shown you mine, now you show me yours}.

Those of you who I do know, leave me a comment. Right now. You have become a blog stalker. And I still love you. But let your presence be known every once in a while. Tell me you think I'm an idiot, or a bad blogger/writer, or that my favorite movies are lame, or that you hate the color pink, whatever. Or, more preferably, tell me how great I am, what an awesome mama/wife I am, how cute my girlies are, how much you hate BYU, anything.

The truth is, as I've learned from the professional bloggers, you should technically leave a comment every time you view a blog. Even if it's just a hello. Now, because I have not been so great in this area myself, I'm going to give you all a break. I will do better. And, therefore, I expect better. So, if anything, at least leave a comment today. Seriously, don't be rude--it's not very becoming {and by the way, if I know you are looking, and I do know, and you don't comment, that is very bad for you}. I fully expect to bring at least one lurker out of hiding. And I will love you for it, I promise.

Let's Talk About Me

My cutest, most favorite cousin, Natalie, tagged me. And because I'm so glad that she has finally joined the bloggin ranks, and because we have begged her for like eternity to update the thing, and because she finally did, I'm going to do as requested.

{Okay, before we have a war, I don't actually have a FAVORITE cousin, I love them all. We are lucky to have each other and are lucky to have been brought up so close. But, I have always had a soft spot for Nat. I remember when she was born, and how adorable she was with the best head of dark hair you've ever seen on a tot. I have probably always been the "too-old-to-be-fun-or-cool" cousin to her, but she has at least humored me from time to time. Oh, and for tagging me, you get the privelege of having your picture posted. Hope that's okay. Now, go write something, already.}
And now for more info than you ever wanted to know about me, especially after this...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? No, but I'm sure there will be many future girlies named AFTER me...
2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last night, while watching a chick flick.
3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It's a love/hate relationship. I won't write in my scrapbooks.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Turkey. Does pepperoni count...?
5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? 2 perfect little girly girls.
6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? For sure. I've grown out of the brat stage--now I'm loads o' fun.
7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Too much--I almost lost an uncle to it.
8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? That's a positive.
9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? 10 years ago, yes. Now, probably not. Age has weakened me.
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs. But I only have one box at Christmas time.
11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Never thought about it but no.
12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? The strongest Partridge girl, but no, not really.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM? Not a big ice cream fan. Vanilla, I guess.
14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? If they look nice or snotty.
15. RED OR PINK? Both.
16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? My love of food.
17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Rachael.
18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? I don't even know what that means.
19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Grey running shorts and blue running shoes.
20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Special K bar--yummy!
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The lawnmower outside.
22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Purple.
23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Gasoline {truly}, and cologne mixed with cigarette smell {and apparantly I worked with dirty old lumber men way too long}, spray starch
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Shane
25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO TAGGED YOU? Yes, very much so
26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? College football, hands down.
27. HAIR COLOR? Dark Brown
28. EYE COLOR? green
29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Not anymore, thank you LASIK
30. FAVORITE FOOD? Chinese food, really anything but Mexican
31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I love anything lovey, romantic and chick flickish, happy ending or not
32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? The Holiday {I know, I'm about 2 years behind}
33. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Blue
34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Neither, really
35. HUGS OR KISSES? Depends on the giver
36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Chocolate, anything with lots o' calories. And fruit doesn't count as dessert.
37. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? The Thirteenth Tale
38. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? The mouse
39. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? Dancing With the Stars, The Bachelor
40. FAVORITE MUSIC? I'm a Country Chick
41. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Stones. The Beatles cause me to have convulsions
42. WHAT IS THE FURTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? England and France
43. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can annoy my husband like nobody's business.

Are You a Chick?

Yesterday, as I read through my google reader, there were so many of you that were excited to talk about the new Twilight movie trailer that just came out. So many of you had it posted on your blogs, saying that you had watched it over and over, and that you were literally jumping for joy. So I watched. And if you haven't seen it yet, you can watch it here.

Now, some of you know that I was skeptical of reading this series. In fact, I first read Twilight a couple of years after all of you. {If you missed my very professional book review, check it out here}. I also read New Moon {review here}. Then I got a little bored/disappointed. I have yet to read Eclipse, but I'm sure that I'll get the itch back when everybody starts getting excited about the next of the series coming out in August {?}.

So, anyway, back to the movie trailer. Oh. My. Goodness. Am I the only one that thinks this looks totally dumb? I can't get over the characters--what I had envisioned in my head as the oh so beautiful Cullen family has been totally screwed up. These actors are so not what I expected. This guy is not cute, and I can't stand his voice already. Shockingly, I'm almost wondering if this will be a "wait until dvd" kind of flick for me. Unless, of course, it's part of a girls night out that also includes something like dinner, then I'm totally there!

Sweet, Sweet Dancing Feet

People's 100 Most Beautiful issue is out. My Dancing with the Stars main man Jason Taylor {he plays football for the Miami Dolphins} has made the cut. Can't say I disagree. I just may have to rethink my controversial "top 5 list" {see here}.

I love his sense of humor--when interviewed about the mag he said "I would never really classify myself as beautiful. I mean, I know I'm not as ugly as the guys I see in the locker room..." I'm guessing he was talking about John Beck. {kidding, Cougars, kidding--okay, maybe not}.

I Need a Baby Mama

My cute next door neighbor just had a darling little baby girl last week. I took some dinner over, and got to hold her and cuddle her and smell her. I'll admit, it made me baby jealous. She was so tiny--and I couldn't even remember the last time I got to hold a baby that tiny. I didn't want to leave. But, eventually, I did. And as I walked home I had a fabulous idea.

Here's how it will work. You, {any of you}, have a baby. You do the throwing up pregnancy part, and the staying up at night part. In return, I will bring you dinner, hold your little bundle of joy, do the mommy bounce with them, cuddle with them and smell them, babysit them, even feed and burp them. Then, when they get to be about 8 months old, I'll leave you alone to enjoy one another, and I'll find a new baby mama. It's genius. And I can't wait. Who's first?

Friends in Low Places

Today, as I was enduring time on the treadmill and watching CMT, my girl Sara Evans reminded me of my last post {you know, the one about the P word}. Obviously, she totally agrees with me. To see why, click here.

Talk Dirty to Me

With all the talks we endure at church meetings about the dangers of pornography, I have to say I'll make an exception for this. It's my kind of eye-candy. Guys {and by that I mean Shane}, take note. There is nothing hotter. Trust me. And if this isn't your cup o' tea, then try this little scenario...

Or this one might just do the trick...
So there you have it {Shane}. I'm happy to help {Shane}. I promise it works {Shane}. You won't be disappointed {Shane}.

As for talking dirty, we can talk floors, windows, walls...take your pick, it's all good.

Coffee Talk

So I let Shane talk me into going to the Blue and White scrimmage at BYU today {I know, I know, wife of the year award to me}.

Saw several pair of these...

Even more of these...
Way too many of these...
Probably a million of these...
And this guy's entire family tree...

And golly gee willickers, now I'm already wishing spring and summer away in excitement for the fall and all the football fun!

My Little Carly

I posted Ashlyn's birthday pictures and realized that I never put Carly's on. I have no idea why they are smaller, and I'm too computer dumb to know how to fix it, but here they are.

Carly is my best little friend during the day. Alot of moms have to get out of the house and socialize, but I love just being with her. I love cuddling on the couch and doing nothing but reading or watching one of her favorite shows. I love this time that I get to have with her, and although it will be nice when she starts pre-school 3 times a week next year, I do have to say that I will miss her!

Carly loves to be outside, anything that Ashlyn is doing, watching Dora or anything that is Princess, tending and taking care of her babies, and wearing pjs or dress-ups. She really is such a happy little person and she is always telling me that she loves me. I am so grateful for this little girl in my life!

Those who know Carly well know that she is always smiling and gets excited over the smallest things. One of my favorite things is surprising her with something she loves and watching her clap her hands and jump up and down with excitement. Carly tells me alot that she never wants to get big and that she wants to stay and live with me forever. Although I am excited for her to grow and experience lots of fun things, I do have to say that in a way I wish I could keep her forever, too!

Holding Them a Little Tighter

I have been saddened by the news this week of a little 7 year old Salt Lake City girl who was abducted on Monday afternoon. I have been watching news breaks for the last couple of days trying to imagine how somebody could take a child away from home and possibly harm her. I have also been watching in sorrow trying to imagine what it would feel like as a parent to have no idea where your child was or if they were being harmed. I think my social work mind comes out and I become obsessed with stories such as this one. I can't think about anything else and I try to sort out all kinds of solutions to these problems.

I was devastated last night as I heard that they had found this little girls body. It had been just a little over 24 hours, and she was literally just next door. I was sick to my stomach and angry that this has happened again. I can't believe that we have no way of searching homes/apartments when a child goes missing. I know it's a big deal to people to have their privacy etc. etc., but when it's a child's life at stake I have no problem with immediate searches. If a child in my neighborhood was missing I would only feel it appropriate to have my home searched. If there is something you are trying to hide, you probably shouldn't be doing it anyway, right? I know that some of you political minds out there may think otherwise about our "rights", but my mind works a little bit differently.

I couldn't sleep last night. I kept thinking about my own girls and what I can do to better protect them. It is frustrating for me because I don't think there is much more we can do to protect them. We have to send them to school, we can't keep them inside all of the time, and let's face it, sometimes we don't watch them as well as we should. I have often been teased about being an over-protective parent, and at times like these I don't care. I want my children to be afraid of strangers, and I want them to know that it is dangerous for them to wander away from home. This little girl was literally in her front yard when she was taken.

I don't want to dwell on the negative, but I do hope that we all learn a little something from this. I have been talking to my girls about "stranger danger" and for the next couple of days I will be giving them extra tight hugs--just to remind me how lucky we are that we have today, and hopefully tomorrow.