Sending my Love

I just heard about something that breaks my heart. If you're reading this, and you KNOW who you are...I LOVE you and I'm sending my prayers your way!!

Where Did this Child Come From??

Oh, me?? No.....I was a PERFECT angel growing up!! *laughing evilly*
I have just about had it today with my child!! He's been nothing but grumpy and ornery ALL day long!! It didn't matter WHAT little Baby J did, he would smack him, push him over, or just be a mean little punk to him! We had a marathon time-out session, in which the child threw garbage EVERYWHERE, threw a newspaper at my head, and basically screamed and let me know he was NOT happy!!
What can I do??
All I have to say is that it's a good thing that I love the boy, or he would NOT be alive!

Free For All Friday

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answers

Lisa M. said...
I'm wondering what your favorite recipe is?

What do you hate to cook?

What do you cook the most often.

Lisa:

My favorite recipe is a toss-up between my jello pretzel salad and can't leave 'em alone bars. I've posted both on here before, but here's the link and link! ;)

I HATE to cook period! I know, not something you normally hear from people, but it's true. If I can get away with never cooking again for the rest of my life, I'd do whatever it took, just short of murder and being a criminal!

Sadly, the thing I cook most often is hot dogs. Not because I LOVE them, but because my son LOVES them, and it's one of the FEW things the kid will eat if I cook it!

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Thoroughly Mormon Millie said...
How long are your fingernails?

Millie:

Right now, my nails are stubs! STUBS! For the last two weeks, I had beautiful, longer, NATURAL nails. Unfortunately, two weeks is the max for me on pretty fingernails. They will be pretty for so long, and then it's almost like they decide to just break for no good reason. Breaking off or making nice little splinters on the ends so I snag EVERYTHING I touch.

If you want the FULL length of my fingernails (from the top to the cuticle) then they're, on average, about 3/4 of an inch long. Thankfully, I have ancestors who had LONG fingers, and HUGE fingernails...which in the end, has resulted in my pretty fingernails!

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CareBearMommy said...
When was the last time you wore lipstick? (I know you're totally not a lipstick sort of gal)

Carrie:

I honestly CAN'T remember the last time I WORE lipstick. I do know that it was within the last YEAR, but yeah, I don't wear lipstick...I'm more of a gloss or chapstick kind of gal! ;)

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One Scrappy Gal said...
Can you sing the ABCs backwards?

Have you ever picked food up off the floor and eaten it?

Any gift suggestions for a little girl that will soon turn 4?

Scrappy:

My great-grandma H LOVED to sing the ABC's backward....in fact, she did it as fast as she possibly could. I SO admired that about her, that I learned to do it too! (Now my goal is to someday be as QUICK as she was!)

I picked up some food just today that was on the ground (NOT JUST THE FLOOR) and I ate it....but come on, it was cookie pudding....you CAN'T let that go to waste!! ;)

My gift suggestion would be a dolly, or a pretend make up kit. Girls LOVE things that are all about making us look GORGEOUS, so if you can find some little cutsie make up or jewelry (cheap, of course) then GO FOR IT! Good luck!

I YAM Who I YAM!!

While at this retreat this last weekend, I met many online friends. (Okay, so it was an ALL online friend meet-up.) The thing is that I was voted the one who "Was exactly like we thought you would be." I guess that's either a comfort to you, or utter fear, but what it boils down to is that I represent who I am online VERY well.

The fun thing about meeting up with these women is the feeling that we already knew one another. We didn't have to sit and say, "Okay, so my name is Dawnyel, and I have weird quirks." These women ALREADY knew!! So when I wore my bra on my head, they didn't care!! ;) It's nice to finally know who I am, and not worry that I won't be loved for being me! No, this is NOT my bra.....but I thought it would be hilarious to put it where it would do the most "coverage...." IF you know what I'm talking about! ;)

Where Have I Been??

I'm home from an exhaustive weekend. I met up with a BUNCH of ladies, and I DO mean a "bunch!" We talked and laughed into the wee hours of the morning. I literally didn't get more than 13 hours of sleep in a three day time period!
Let me just say that I HIGHLY recommend going on a women's retreat...at ANY cost!! :)

And just for fun, here's a pic of me with some "rubba undies!"

Rating Me....

Guess I'm STILL a goodie-goodie!! :D

How Much Can I Fit Into One Day??

Since I'm leaving town tomorrow, today is my last day to get chores, meetings, and appointments in for this week. It's CRAZY time at my house!!! On top of this, we're still looking at houses, and the search is VERY hard.

The house that I LOVED online is NOT the same in real life!! The outside is cute, but the inside should have been ripped out YEARS and YEARS ago!!! There were points where Steve couldn't even stand up straight!! The floor was uneven, and things JUST weren't pretty!!

Today we have a meeting with our housing people, a Primary water party, Steve's shift at work, a home inspection, and in between all of that, we have cleaning to do! :(

Then to make sure that things are ready for me to leave tomorrow, I've got laundry, packing, and organizing to do! UGH!!

Shhh...Be VERY VERY Quiet....We're House Hunting

I've had it with my apartment life....I'm on the hunt for a house of my own. Steve and I have been looking for YEARS, but not really finding anything. Well, this week we're doing something about it!!

On Friday we looked at a CUTE house, but we weren't really thrilled about the amount of work it would take to make it a home. (Although, of the houses we've seen, it's my favorite!)

And after that adventure, we were OFF to find our home. My requirements are QUITE specific, and I WON'T budge!! It MUST have either a basement OR a garage, both would be nice, but I want a place where I can store my junk....NOT at a storage place. It must have room for 3 or more bedrooms. When I move into my house, I don't want to move....EVER again!! And it must be under our allotted amount.

So far, I've found a few possibilities, and I'm pretty excited to call the woman who's willing to help us out. There's one house I looked at online and it looks AMAZING for the price that's being asked. I'm not hoping for TOO much, but I think I've already fallen in love with this house.

Wish us luck! :)

I'm SO Glad I'm a Grown Up!

It's interesting the people we run into and have conversations with....

Case in point: I went on a fun "date" with Steve to the Temple. It had been closed for weeks, and we'd heard about the new updates and we were anxious to see them for ourselves (they're GORGEOUS, by the way...)

While on my way to the dressing room, I ran into my old high school science teacher, Miss Jordan.

When I had Miss Jordan, I was a self-centered, snobby teen. To my mind, Miss Jordan was a million years old, and would NEVER change her ways. She was known for wearing a bun (ALWAYS) and for wearing her springy key-ring around her upper arm. And she was a "Miss." She taught school FOREVER, had a very monotone voice (for a woman) and was VERY particular with our assignments. We had to fold our assignments lengthwise, and write our name and class period on the OUTSIDE of the paper. Her love in science was with ROCKS! The woman would lecture forEVER on rocks, tectonic plates, and the different layers of the Earth. Yes, I have many memories of this woman...none of them are happy or with me being very kind to her.

Back to today, she stopped and looked at me, and I kindly said, "Hi, you probably don't remember me, but you taught me a LONG time ago." She smiled, her wrinkly smile, and said, "You look familiar...."

We went on to talk for a few minutes. It was a VERY nice time. This woman, who I was so RUDE to, was interested in my life. She asked about my family, and even, get this one, JOKED with me!!

I guess time is a good thing....and I'm so glad that people don't hold my past against me! (I'm afraid I would have NO friends if that was the case!)

Friday....You Know What That Means!!

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!
If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

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And as a quick mention, Harry Potter, Order of the Phoenix was AWESOME!! I really can't wait to see it again!! (When I flip through channels on TV, and see the preview, or an interview I can't help but stop and watch!! I HIGHLY recommend it for ANY and ALL Harry Potter fans!)

Did You REALLY Wanna Know!?

Elena Manwaring said...
Oh what do you do in the summertime, when all the grass is green? (Is it grass or world?)

Elena:

It's "world!"

And my summertime plans are varied:

Stay at home in front of my box fan....WISHING I had air conditioning.

Play dates at the park (usually my Thursdays are FILLED with this ONE activity!)

Running around in my van...with the a/c BLOWING in my face!

Family reunions....family reunions....family reunions!

Hanging out at my parents' house where there is air conditioning blowing CONSTANTLY!

My dream is to sleep in, but I've yet to fully do that yet this summer....

Other than that, I play on the computer...like I do in the autumn time, wintertime, springtime....

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CareBearMommy said...
Do you take Driver's Ed, or stay home in bed, and watch all the soaps all day?.... sorry, I had to add on to Elena's question (with John Bytheway's words, of course!)

ANYway, do you prefer hot dogs, hamburgers, or a big juicy steak?

Carrie:

I took driver's ed (a LONG time ago), I WISH I could stay home in bed....and I don't like soaps! :P

To answer your PRESSING question, *snicker snicker* I guess it depends on my mood. Right now, I'd LOVE a grilled hamburger, but there are days when I'd love a steak, and then there are those RARE days when I do want a wiener!

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Anne/kq said...
Do you hate me because I think the new HP movie, from what I see in promos and hear from my friends, is going to suck and make me mad? So I'm not seeing it in the theater, and am planning to Netflix it instead?

Also, if you were a Harry Potter character, who would you be? What if you had to date one, who would you date? (Any character, not just the main ones!)

Anne:

I would NEVER hate anyone for not loving the same things I do. Isn't that's what great about the human-race...we can all love different things, and still be friends! :) (The theaters can be SO overrated....especially where YOU live!)

If I were a Harry Potter character I THINK I'd be a Hermione. I CAN be pretty brainy and I like to stick with the rules, but I don't think I could have HER memory for spells. (I think I would relate a bit more with Hagrid though! ;)

You know, if I could date any HP character (which I WOULDN'T for oh, so many reasons....) I would LOVE to go out with Ron. I think it's his nature that draws me to him, but he just seems like the kind of guy I'd like to be having fun with.

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Suzanne said...
Do you find it odd that Daniel Radcliff is going to do a naked scene next year in the play Equus? Hmph! I guess Harry Potter is all grown up now!

Suzanne:

Daniel Radcliff already did that play. I watched his interview with Larry King from the other night, and I GUESS he has already done it. The question from Larry King was asking him how he handled the embarrassment from being nude in front of a LARGE crowd....Daniel's answer, "After the first night, it wasn't so bad, I could do it in front of loads!"

Honestly, I don't EVER think there is a point in any movie, play or television show where nudity is required. There are just SOME things that are better kept to yourself!

That's What's On My Mind

I'm getting excited to go see the newest installment of Harry Potter on Wednesday. Steve, thanks to the many plays he likes to do, made a connection with a guy who works for a local radio station. This is one of the many stations who will book an entire theater and fill it with their listeners. We don't have to do anything, but show up. :) I can't wait, the only downer is that I'm going to have to hurry back from day camp to make it in time.
Speaking of day camp, I'm stressing out!! I've never been, but I hear that it's SO well run, that I won't have to really do anything. But I did dream about it all night long! The annoying thing is that I have a TON of forms to fill out so we CAN go. I HATE paperwork!! But it's all taken care of, and I have nothing to worry about, right!? ;)
I want to shoot my neighbor kids....last night they lit off fireworks. First off, fireworks are officially illegal after midnight on the 5th of July. Second, they lit the flying ones off, IN OUR ALLEY!! I watched them bounce off two cars parked back there, and watched as they nearly flew into my bedroom window.....I screamed at them to "Knock it off." And the ruckus stopped, but if there's ANY more tonight, I'm calling the cops!!
And on a "hmmmm....that's random" note, my parents FINALLY kicked my younger, druggie brother out of their house. Not that they don't love him, but they've had it with the stuff he's pulled. The man is 26, and it was TIME for him to grow up and move out! I just hope he cleans up his act quickly. When my dad informed him of the decision, he packed his things, throwing them around the room he's been sharing with my OTHER brother, threw his luggage around, and slammed many doors. I will DEFINITELY keep that kid in my prayers!!

While Strolling Through the Park One Day...

*singing WAY off-tune* "While strolling through the park one day.....in the merry, merry month of July....."

Our little family took a trip to see my in-laws today. It wasn't something that I had advertised, but something I'm VERY glad I did!!

We helped Steve's parents hang some pictures in their apartment (helping it feel more like a "home") and moved some of their furniture around. We then met up with his brother and his girlfriend and had a picnic in the park to "celebrate" Steve's dad's birthday. (It was really our excuse to get to know his girlfriend a bit more, and find out their plans with this baby coming...)

While sitting at the picnic table, talking with the family, Cameron and Grandpa off to the swings, I felt a tap on my shoulder and someone say, "Dawnyel?" I turned and found a DEAR friend, who I finally met for the first time!

I was THRILLED, we chatted like we have known one another for YEARS!! (I LOVE it when that happens!) And I was so excited just to meet someone who I've "known" intimately through her blog, but never in real life. She's just as fun and sweet as she seems on her blog! We had a ball talking and just giggling! And I'm very suspicious of the circumstances that brought us together. She lives in Utah, and I live in Idaho. We didn't know we'd BOTH be in the same place, but we were, and not only that, but to meet in this particular park (which is HUGE....) I'm just a bit wary of calling it coincidence!! I think Someone ELSE had a hand in us meeting, and I'm SO glad!! :)

After saying good-bye to my friend, I was more energized, and talked a TON with my in-laws and my (hopefully, someday) soon-to-be-sister-in-law. (It's just convincing her that marriage is a GOOD thing!) We talked and talked and just had a ball!!

I LOVE days like today! I hope they happen more often!

These last two pics are kinda funny....Steve's brother is pulling a funny face, and seeing it, Cam had to do the SAME thing...what a geek!! LOL

Is it Friday ALREADY!?

It's time for Free-For-All Friday!

If you want to ask me a question -- and anything goes -- here's your chance. You can ask about whatever you wish, no holds barred. I'll either answer honestly, or I'll tell you that I won't answer.

Answering the Ponderable

One Scrappy Gal said...
Everyone says Casper is such a friendly ghost... but people...he's still a ghost! I look at him and all I can think is that he's a little boy that died!Oh...uhm.. question time.

There is this girl I've known for a long time that drives me insane and that I've grown apart from. She keeps wanting to get together and is not getting my subtle hints about how we've grown apart and I have better things to do with my time... like floss...than hang out with her. I know I need to be more direct... but I can be really evil and don't want to go that route. Suggestions? Ever been in that boat? How do you break up with someone that won't let you go?!

Scrappy:

I have a hard time with this kind of thing too. I'm REALLY passive-aggressive. If someone bothers me, I just ignore them!

I think what WE should do is tell them, "I'm glad you're my friend, but we've seemed to have grown apart, and I think I really need to spend more time with my family right now. Please email me and keep in touch, but I am just too busy right now to just hang out with you anymore." (If this doesn't work, DON'T get mad at me....cuz I REALLY don't know what to do!)

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CareBearMommy said...
Single-ply TP or double-ply?

Carrie:

If it's NOT Charmin, 2-ply, but I LOVE the Charmin GIANT roll single ply. It lasts FOREVER!! (And it's soft enough that it doesn't hurt to wipe!)

CareBearMommy said...
Okay... seriously now... what happened to Froggy's blog? Email me about it if ya need to! And answer my TP question, too, cuz I'm curious.

Carrie: You've got mail!! ;)

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Thoroughly Mormon Millie said...
How annoying is Gilbert Gottfried?

Millie:

What are you talking about??? He's my secret boyfriend....his voice lulls me to sleep nightly....he's a MANLY man!! *snicker*

Really though, he doesn't bother me....in fact, as long as I only get his voice in small increments, I'm fine! :)

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Suzanne said...
Hmm...what do you like best about being in charge of Scouts? What do you like least? If you have an afternoon completely free, how do you like to spend it? :D

Suzanne:

The best thing about being in charge of scouts is being able to attend adult classes on Sundays. The thing I like least, is pretty much everything right now....I totally screwed everything up last month...we did NOTHING!! The first meeting was cancelled because of rain, the second was cancelled because no one showed up, then I THOUGHT we were having pack meeting, but it wasn't until the NEXT week. I had hoped to go to Day Camp last Wednesday, but being new, and very DENSE, I didn't sign us up until that MONDAY!! Guess what, it was full!! *doh* So we postponed day camp until NEXT week, but we did have pack meeting the next Thursday. I'm hoping that this month will go better. I lost one partner (she was the ACTUAL scout leader, I was her assistant) but now I have a new one, and because she's new, I'm the "leader" instead of assistant! It's going to be rough, but I can do it!! :) (Oh, and it helps that BOTH my parents, who I see often, are both assistants for cub scouts in their ward....I steal ideas from them!)

If I have an afternoon COMPLETELY free, I'm usually online or napping. (Gee, that's pretty boring, I need a new hobby!)

My Favorite Holiday

I've been thinking about it, and I've decided that my favorite holiday is Independence Day. Sure, Christmas is fun....Halloween can even be a riot. But there's just something about remembering those who have given their lives for me, allowing me the life that I have today, that just gets to me.

On Saturday our little family took a quick trip to a local field that had been transformed into a flag display. In this field there are 1776 flags that they encourage you to walk through. Just the sacred feeling of being surrounded by ALL of those flags was amazing!! I was nearly in tears a few times.

I can't even begin to describe the feelings I feel when I see "Old Glory." There's such a swell of pride. This time of year I also turn to my favorite patriotic songs. My ABSOLUTE favorite is Lee Greenwood's God Bless the USA. I could listen to that song over and over again. The song just makes me want to cry in gratitude for this GREAT country and all the blessings I have because I live here.

I am so SO very grateful to those Founding Fathers who worked SO hard to give us the liberties that we now enjoy. I actually watched a movie today called A More Perfect Union. It was made many years ago by BYU, but was VERY historically accurate. I found myself SO into it, that I was nodding off. Yes, it was SUPER boring, but very historically important. I MADE myself watch it just so I could say that I did. And since watching THAT show, I have a greater appreciation for those men who fought for our Constitution, and the freedoms that they SO wanted, and we now enjoy!

Then today, I opened up my email, and what did I find?? A quote about the Declaration of Independence: "The Declaration of Independence was to set forth the moral justification of a rebellion against a long-recognized political tradition--the divine right of kings. At issue was the fundamental question of whether men's rights were God-given or whether these rights were to be dispensed by governments to their subjects. This document proclaimed that all men have certain inalienable rights. In other words, these rights came from God." (That came from Ezra Taft Benson.)

And then I also found a quote by George Washington that really hit me hard: "Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens....Let it simply be asked, where is the security for prosperity, for reputation, for life, if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education...reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle." HOLY COW, isn't that EXACTLY where we're headed?? And it's just amazing to me that these men, SO long ago, KNEW exactly who was in charge of setting up this country...the One who led them to do what they did. How can our country continue without it's support and blessing from God??

I am grateful for a loving Creator who gave these men this knowledge and fervent drive to make this land, a land of freedoms. A land where we can enjoy our God-given rights to worship, think, act, and to simply be free.

And now to quote the Declaration of Independence, (but just a bit!) "We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

How can we, who freely enjoy these liberties, simply forget those who gave it to us? It is my deepest hope to instill this love of country, and patriotism into my son's life, as well as any others I may come in contact with.