Paul Bunyan Log Flume

They're just a little scared. Was it wrong of me to think it was so funny?

Spongebob Rollercoaster Shot

Family Picture with Spongebob Squarepants

Uniqua

List, Listage, List-a-rama, List-alicious

Why I Liked My Trip to Minnesota

1. My new sister in law, Tara, is AWESOME.
2. Card games, card games, and did I mention the card games?
3. New Sony cybershot camera with 15X zoom, with remote. It even plays music when you do a slide show, like it wasn't awesome enough already. Chaaa!
4. New Spongebob ride at the Mall of America, Nickelodeon Universe. Riding it over and over with my little brother Taylor, and his wife, while regretting the Mexican and Chinese we ate for lunch. AWESOME.
5. Terrifying my kids on the log ride. Ha, ha!(Picture later)
6. Thinking that 20 degrees feels warm.
7. Helping Mom prepare meals.
8. My four year old did not have any potty accidents. Not one!
9. Not crashing on the way to Minnesota.
10. Spending time with my Mom and Dad.

We Are Alive

We are in Minnesota. The drive was quite hairy. We only almost crashed once. We lost count of the cars we passed that were in the median. I would guess in the 50 or 60 range. We passed two jackknifed semis. I only cried once.


Now we are watching the BYU bowl game.

What I should be doing....

is getting ready to drive to Minnesota by packing, running a few errands, and doing a little last minute cleaning.

What I'm actually doing is wasting time on this computer.

Anyone got any motivation to share?

The Sibs

I have three brothers and one sister.

Here we are in 1997 at Grandma and Grandpa Whitney's 60th wedding anniversary. From L to R: Ronie(she and my brother are divorced), Trenton, Dallon, Lisa, Leslie(ME!), and Tay-luh also known as Traylor. Okay, his name is Taylor.

1999? In front of the Salt Lake Temple. Look, little Tay-luh grew up!

2005? When Taylor came home from his Mission. Can you tell who the pregnant one is? No? Okay, I'll give you a hint. It's not me. I'm just fat in this picture.

May 2008 at Trent's Wedding. And again, I'm not the one who is preggers.

This Morning....

I fished a train out of a toilet that had not yet been refreshed after use. I gagged.


That is all.

The Post Where I Forget To Title Cleverly

Lets do bullets for a change, shall we?

• My husband has completed his first semester of college. Holy cow! I NEVER thought I would say that. Way to go husband!
• I have a final tonight, Wednesday night, and one more on Thursday. Don't call me.
• My Christmas decor is up.
• Have you ever reached into your freezer to get some ice, and the ice cuts you? No? Am I the only one? Ah, well, I've also cut my finger on my own big toe nail, and yes, as my cousin Meeka pointed out to me, that could have been prevented.
• My daughter's remaining front tooth is hanging on for dear life. She has a plan. The plan is to lose her tooth at school. She wants to loose her tooth at school so she can go to the nurse's office to clean up the blood and to get a little treasure box to put the tooth in. That's a good solid plan. I like girls with a plan.
• Plan is a funny word. It rhymes with flan.
• Oh yeah, I accepted a calling at church yesterday. What? Really? You did? Why did you do that? Yeah, I don't know. I do know that I did take some heavy duty cold medicine before church. After that is a little fuzzy.
• My college algebra professor so reminds me of my sister. Every time I go to class, I get the urge to tell my prof. that. But then I don't.
• I have been up since 4 am. The cold medicine wore off, I had to pee, and then my little boy came in my room. It was all over after that. So I got up and ate something and went to workout. I'm tired.
• My little collection of cheap looking miniature nativities from Wal-mart has grown! Every year, I wait for them to go on clearance and get one. They are so tacky but don't cost me more that $3.00, marked down from $5. I don't think I could stand to pay that extra $2 dollars. I'm just not gonna do it. Just like I'm not gonna pay more than $1 for a Totinos frozen pizza. Nope, not gonna do it.
• I need to study. You should go away now.

Jealous??

MyHeritage - free family trees, genealogy and face recognition">
I look like Britney Spears and Yasmine Bleeth*? Dude, does that mean I'm hot too? Could I get a job on Baywatch also? Maybe I should make a music video? After all, I do have mad lipsynching skills. Better than Britney even, if I do say so myself.





*This is where I strategically leave out the part that I look 51% like Donald Trump.

Happy Birthday Dad!

This is me with my Dad.
I never believed I looked like my Dad even though I had been told I do by many people. Then I saw this picture and I became a believer.


This is why my Dad is awesome:

1. He always keeps his cool.
2. He works really hard.
3. He has always honored his priesthood.
4. When I was a teenager, I would wake up on Valentines day to a card and a little heart shaped box of chocolates at my bedroom door.
5. He turns on his blinker a good mile before he finally makes his turn. (Ha, ha, Dad, just kidding...sort of.)
6. I've only heard him say a swear word once and I was like 24 or 25 or something. I bet none of you can say that.
7. He used to do the maintenance on the car I drove.
8. He would spray the basement with pesticide every time I saw a huge spider.
9. He fell out of the attic onto the dryer door that wouldn't stay shut once and after that it was fixed. Magic.
10. He used to make pancakes or waffles on Conference Sundays.
11. He helps with the dishes.
12. He's a trooper and keeps up with us on outings even though his knees are hurting very badly.
13. He is always willing to help out and never makes you feel bad about it.
14. He was in a band in college. There is a picture of him and his band mates in shinny jackets. Awesome. If you ask, he'll show you the spot where the picture was taken at the Tacoma Mall.

Happy Birthday Dad!! We love you! We appreciate you! And we hope to have you around for many, many more birthdays.

Love your favorite daughter,

Leslie Marie

Before and After

Before

After

I Like Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is about giving thanks, but it is important to remember it is also about sharing and helping too. So help your Mom do the dishes already!

This is my family in 1984.(At least that's what I figure. Taylor is a baby, he looks about 8 months here right?) I actually think this might be Christmas Eve, but it looks Thanksgiving-ish right? The turkey, rolls, sweet potatoes. Mom sure knew how to make the holidays special, we didn't always have extended family around to celebrate with, but she went all out anyway.

Yesterday, I made the traditional frozen German's Sweet Chocolate Pie. I am spending Thanksgiving with my husband's family this year, but I am pretty sure I am not the only Whitney who is going to eat this best ever chocolate pie today.

My List of things I am thankful for:

1. My van
2. My house
3. My family
4. I get to go to school.
5. My husband gets to go to school
6. Jazzercise
7. I grew up in the LDS church.
8. My friends in Gardner and round about.
9. Books
10. My country and the quality of life I enjoy here.
11. My 4yr old's pre-school teacher. (She's a genius, I tell you!)
12. Gail
13. Buffalo Chicken
14. My friends, Val and Em in Utah.
15. My blogging buddies.
16. Modern technology

Not necessarily in that order, and especially number 13.

I'm sure I will think of many more things throughout the day!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble!!!

Just a couple of things...

So, before Charliejo has a heart attack from waiting so long,(just kidding, Em!) this is what I thought about the movie Twilight. I liked it. I thought that Jacob was too pretty. And I wished they could have showed the other vampires more, maybe explained Carlisle and the Volturi. As it was, the Cullen's just came off really weird. But the movie did a great job showing the relationship between Bella and Edward, and that is the essence of the story, right? It's not like I left the theater swooning or anything. But I enjoyed it, even if I did want more vampire.

I spent a couple hours at my 4 yr old's school today. I had a meeting with his teacher to discuss his learning goals, then I stayed to eat lunch with him. This little boy just blew me away today. He ate all his food, washed his hands without yelling, called all his classmates by their first and last names, and ran circle time like he was the teacher. It was hysterical! He totally sat in the teachers chair with the remote to the PowerPoint presentation. He said everything the teacher says word for word and took them through songs and activities with just minimal help from the teacher. At one point, he had the kids sit in his lap to sing the name-o song. It was priceless. It is so rewarding to see him do so well in a school environment. I am overflowing with pride for my little boy!

My Obligatory Twilight Movie Post

I've read a bunch already, including this one on Seriously So Blessed . And I'm pretty sure it's about my sister. (Ha ha get it Lisa? Eyes are twitchin! Ha, ha.) Anyway, I just got my ticket for the noon showing tomorrow. The ticket agent at the theater was really super annoyed too. He made sure that I knew that it wasn't me that annoyed him though. He said he didn't understand if you wanted to see a movie, why do you have to go with twenty other people? I just laughed because I knew exactly what he was talking about. people are going to this movie in packs, or better yet, covens. I'm just going with Mary and Dan. I'm excited. This will be fun!

To further illustrate the excited-ness, here are a couple pictures that demonstrate my love for Twilight.

This is when my Breaking Dawn arrived in the mail.This was on my birthday when we went to get our books signed by Stephenie Meyer.

And that my friends, is my obligatory Twilight Movie Post. Why haven't you done yours yet?

Coleslaw

I'm not sure when it started. Maybe a month ago. But one thing is for sure, it's getting out of hand. I WANT COLESLAW AND I WANT IT NOW!!! No seriously. NOW. Last night I said to my husband, "You know what would be good to eat right now? Coleslaw or Twix." He said, "What is it with the coleslaw anyway?" To which I replied, "I don't know, I just want coleslaw."

I dream about it too. Last night, in my dream, I was at a deli. I ordered coleslaw. But they did not give me coleslaw, they gave me a chicken pita sandwich. Then I got mad and I said, "I didn't order a chicken pita sandwich, I ordered coleslaw." The girl said, "Sorry! That will be $9 dollars." To which I replied, "But I want coleslaw!! I'm not paying $9 for a chicken pita sandwich!" But she would not give me the coleslaw. So I went and found the manager and I explained that I didn't order a chicken pita sandwich, I ordered coleslaw and could he please fix my problem. Then I look down at the chicken pita sandwich in my hand and realize that there is a big bite taken out of it. I then look over to my husband and he gives me a guilty look and shrugs. Then the dream turned into a Sconecutter dream where I was frying scones in the back and marveling at the new machine that cuts the scones for you and thinking that I wished they had that when I worked there in 1998. Then I woke up to the sound of Napoleon Dynamite's voice because I was listening to the sound track yesterday on my ipod and forgot to change the music back to something more soothing to wake up to.

Play by Play

This morning I got out of bed and the TV downstairs was on. But everyone was still in their beds. Hmmm. I fed the kids and made them brush their teeth. I watched my daughter make a run for the bus. Then my little boy decided it was fun to play in the street. When I went to fetch him out of the road, he dropped and wouldn't move. I dragged him to the sidewalk and made him get up. Then the bus pulled up and he dropped again. The bus aide came and picked him up off the ground and he latched on to her and gave me the evil eye. He didn't even wave goodbye to me today. That's fine. After that my husband came in to get his phone that he forgot to take with him this morning. I then made myself an egg in the microwave and put it on toast with mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Lots of pepper. Fresh ground pepper, from my prized black pepper grinder. Yum. After consuming my egg sandwich, I dressed to exercise. I got my towel, my ice water and got in my car. And nothing. My van wouldn't turn over. I popped the hood, and tried to wiggle the battery cables, still my van would not start. I thought to myself, I'll call Steph! I rushed inside and miraculously remembered her number, I almost hung up because I am sure she already left. But she answered. Are you going to Jazzercise this morning? Yes I am leaving right this second. Will you come get me? My car won't start. Yes! I'll be there in a minute. Aww, thanks Steph. Bye. I wait for Steph out in the cold and I think about how wonderful the crisp air feels in my lungs. Then I shift my belongings in my hand to warm my fingers. Steph pulls up and I jump in the front passenger seat. As we drive to Jazzercise we have a conversation about Stake Conference and new converts to the church. I sign in at the front desk and initial my incentive program sheet. I decide my partner and I are right where we need to be. Jen has her Chiefs Jazzercise sweatshirt on from her halftime performance yesterday. I tell her I saw Krista on the TV during the game and then complain that most of the jazzercisers left the game after the half time show. Lame. Betsy is the instructor today. We do my favorite routine, Grapevine right, grapevine left. Four wide marches up, four hip walks. I sweat. We drove home in Steph's car, her son hands me his soggy sucker stick. I put it in the garbage sack by my legs. Oh! Sorry Leslie! No it's okay, it's just a little spit. Thanks for the last minute ride Steph! Anytime, let me know if you need a ride tomorrow! Okay, Thanks! Bye! I unlock my door, remove my coat and sit at the computer, completely relaxed after my workout. I don't know what to write about today on my blog. How about a play by play of my morning? Sounds boring, but play by play it is!

And how about a random picture:

Taggy McTagtag

Megan Tagged me and I thought I would be nice and do it.

8 TV shows I like to watch:

1. The deadliest catch (Captain Sig Hansen, oh baby!)
2. General hospital
3. The Office
4. SNL
5. King of the Hill
6. Rock of Love Charm School (slutty girls are funny, plus Sharon Osborn is trying to teach ettiquete....right.)
7. Parking Wars ( I don't know why but i think this show is hilarious, maybe something about people not getting the whole break rule= consequence thing.)
8. I don't know....Good Morning America?

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. Saw Joleene's new baby at jazzercise!
2. Babysat Abby, 3, watched her favorite movie: Transformers
3. Completed Accounting homework
4. My little boy ran off the bus into my arms yelling "Mommy!"
5. Got after little neighbor girl for being a snot nose.
6. Got heartburn from the hamburger helper.
7. Book I had been waiting for at the library FINALLY arrived. FINALLY.
8. Flipped a U-ey(how the heck do you spell that) so i wouldn't have to wait forever for a train in the dark in the middle of nowhere(it only seems that way)on the way home from school.

8 Favorite Places to Eat

1. Granite City
2. Blazer Burger
3. Pizza Street
4. Mi Ranchito
5. Sconecutter
6. Molca Salsa
7. Chili's
8. Arby's

8 Things I look forward to:

1. My little boy being completely potty trained.
2. Christmas in Minnesota.
3. Being done with school.
4. Getting a new camera.
5. harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Movie
6. Storm Glass by Maria V. Snyder
7. Having Money
8. Sleep

8 things on my wishlist:

1. Paper for my printer
2. a new camera
3. Signed copy of Fablehaven
4. Trip to Disneyworld
5. Rice Steamer
6. money
7. Concert Tickets
8. To see Valerie

8 people I tag:

1. Lisa, ha! double tagged!
2. Emily R.
3. Mary, again
4. Meeka
5. Dallon, I don't even know if you read my blog or not
6. Joleene
7. Kristen W
8. Dorothy

Do it or don't whatever!

Vintage

Old family photo. Everyone but Trent. Taken in Virginia City, Nevada. Good times.

Awesome Day!

Today was just an awesome day. Here is why:

1. I am an Aunt again! Sami Taylor Whitney was born this morning to my brother Dallon and his amazing wife Emili in their home in St. George, Utah. I am in awe of what it takes to do that without drugs. That is something I would never do willingly. Sami is named after two of her Uncles. Sam is Emili's youngest brother and Taylor is my youngest brother. I am just tickled pink over my newest nieces name. Too cool!! I now have 6 nieces and 4 nephews. One more nephew has yet to make his debut.
2. My ward split today. I don't know all the details but I am excited for the change. I believe change is good.
3. I was unexpectedly given a ticket to go to a big Jazzercise event up at Crown Center in Kansas City featuring Tim Roberts. Tim is a choreographer for Jazzercise, but I believe he has also choreographed for people like Janet Jackson. He is very impressive. First,we previewed a new Jazzercise format called Jazz to the Max. It was 45min of pure heart pumping, sweat drippin Jazzercise with weight and leg routines mixed in. Whew!! Then after a short break, Tim Roberts took the stage and taught us a fun swing inspired dance routine. I was able to jam to my Barry Manilow with several hundred other Jazzercisers. The highlight was when Tim picked out a woman in her 60's and had her do the dance for everyone with a few other women. She rocked!! I can only hope to be able to move like that when I'm that age. It was just pure Jazzercise awesomeness all around.
4. After returning home after the Jazzercise event, I asked my husband how the Chiefs did today. He said he couldn't find the game and he didn't know. So I made him change the station to CBS where, low and behold, the Chiefs game was just starting. You mean I didn't miss the Chiefs game after all? SWEET!!! It was a good game with another heartbreaking loss. We get closer every time, one of these games we are gonna finish! But I have to say that Coach Herm Edwards is a class act. He never seems to get ruffled over anything. And I am absolutely positive I drive my husband and kids crazy by screaming and yelling at the TV. Hey, what can I say? I take after my Mom.

Ode To My House

I love my house, or town home, whatever you want to call it. Mostly I call it home.

We have lived here for a little over two years. For five years before that, we lived in a bonafide rat hole.

Most of the time, my house is messy and cluttered. But when it is clean and the sun is shinning , my home sings!(No really it does!)

My kitchen is large enough for more than one person to be in it at a time. I love it when my Mom cooks in my kitchen. I have more than enough cupboard space. Some of the cupboards are holding just random stuff like bubbles and Cd's. And maybe some candy that I have hidden away Grandma Whitney style. But my most favorite thing about my kitchen?

Yep. The dishwasher. (But the flat top stove that my awesome husband insisted I upgrade to, is pretty sweet too.)

We have a great neighborhood here too. At the rat hole, we had watched neighbors being pulled out of their homes by the police more than twice, a bomb scare complete with those bomb squad robot things, one block to the east. And the first murder in Gardner in ten years, two blocks to the west. (Let's not talk about the trains, please.)

But here, we have great neighbors. Kelly, the one with the cheesy grin, once ran across the street like a little girl to eat cupcakes with my parents and I for my daughter's birthday. She regaled us with her breast implant story(s). The look on my Dad's face was awesome. (My husband did traumatize Mary, our closest neighbor to the west, our first morning here, but that is a story for another post.)

But what I love the absolute most about my house has nothing to do with the house it's self, but what's in the house. My family is just so cool!

(And in case you were wondering if my little boy ever wears pants, the answer is no, not very often.)

My Apologies to Tyler Thigpen

I would like to take this opportunity to formally take back the nickname I had previously given Tyler Thigpen in a previous post, that can be viewed HERE. I take it back for two reasons:

1. A new friend of mine who works in financial advising has formed somewhat of a friendship with Tyler and she says he is a really nice guy. So how can I go on calling him Pigpen like he was just a number on a field when someone I know, knows him? He is now a real person to me, not just a name and number.
2. Tyler Thigpen has really stepped up to the plate (ha, ha, I used a baseball reference while talking football) in the last couple of games. I mean really, he held his own against Brett Favre. For a rookie, that's pretty dang impressive. And, oh my gosh, that boy can run! That is a skill that not all quarterbacks can claim.

So if Tyler Thigpen keeps playing the way he has the last two previous games, we might actually pull out some wins this season. Hey, a girl can hope....GO CHIEFS!!!!!!

Blah, Blah, Blah

1. Okay, where have I been? Coldplay is awesome! If you want to be my friend, you can burn me a copy of your Coldplay CD's.
2. I'm not one to discuss politics, but I will say this, I will always side with compassion. And since everyone seems to be throwing around these words, this means I lean more towards socialism than capitalism. I think it is odd that everyone seems to think socialism is a dirty word. To me, true capitalism is fundamentally flawed. It doesn't account for the sick, disabled or elderly. Nor does it take into consideration how self serving and dishonest humans are in nature.
3. Halloween was fine, it was warm. We have a ton of candy. Seriously, a TON. Mostly chocolate too. No pictures though. Sorry.
4. I hit 150 classes for this year at Jazzercise last week. Yep, that pretty much means I am awesome.
5. Okay, it's November now. I can like fall again. Here is the back story: My first October here in Kansas, I was pregnant, but didn't know it yet. I felt yucky and didn't know why. So now I just associate October/fall weather with feeling yucky.
6. Ewwww! Yuck!!! A pumpkin puked in my driveway!!! Ha, ha, my husband carved a pumpkin that is throwing up. Original, I know.
7. The kids are out of school today. If anyone has any xanax they want to share with me today, come on over! I'm just kidding.....mostly.

This Is For Megan

This is me at six. As much as it pains me to admit it, my daughter actually looks a lot like my husband's baby sister, mostly in the mouth and chin area. She is the one in the front, in the picture below. She has blond hair and blue eyes too, but has a rounder face than I do. I think my daughter has my eye shape though.

That's my Girl

Here is my Six year old's school picture. It's not horrible. I forgot which background I had picked for my little boys picture, so they don't match. And as you can see, I went all out on her hairdo this year. Stylin. Since this picture was taken, I have cut her bangs so she can see and her front tooth came out.

My Daughter's Camera

I just unloaded my daughter's Fisherprice Camera all over my poor, overworked, noisy PC. Besides the poor picture quality, there are some real gems. Check her out!

The Boy Of My Dreams

When I was a teenager, I wrote in my journal. I wrote about the boy of my dreams.

My journal says that the boy of my dreams has blond hair, blue eyes, and plays the guitar.

I am so peeing my pants right now!

This was sent to me via email by a rather close freind. Man! That old lady with athritic hips made my night!
http://www.cnnbcvideo.com/index.html?nid=f6wo3pu5bZBuuq_ROLexSjEyMzkzNQ--&id=

DISCLAIMER: I am in now way telling you who to vote for. I could care less. Maybe that's why my friend sent me this video. Hmmm.....

My Kids Are Awesome

My Four year old is basically a parrot. He will repeat about anything he hears. I find it to be extremely entertaining. Yesterday while I cleaned out my trashcan, or mini-van, whatever you want to call it, he came out wearing a dress up hat that belongs to my daughter. This hat has a wide brim and it is pink with sequins and it has a big pink feather.

Me: Are you a pimp?
Him: Pimp!
Me: Ba, ha, ha, ha, ha! Husband, did you hear that? Ba, ha, ha! He said pimp! (Never mind, he only said it because I did.)
My daughter, seeing me laugh, comes to get in on the action.

Her, to her brother: Hey, are you a pimple?
Him: Pimple!
Me: Ba, ha, ha, haaaa!!
Her: yeah, you're a pimple!
Him: Pimple!
Me: Haa, ha, haaa. Baa, haa, ha!!!!

And that is why my kids are completely awesome.

Should You Ask?

I've been thinking about this for awhile now. I am kind of weird about linking people to my blog. I have my family linked and a few really good friends. But should I link people if they are just a general acquaintance? Is there such thing as blog etiquette? I'm not sure exactly, but I have a few opinions on the matter.

This is my criteria for linking blogs:

1. I comment on your blog, and you comment on my blog. This will earn you a spot on my blog roll.
2. You are my family or super duper close friend. Hi Lisa, Emili, Meeka, and Emily H. This would be your category. I feel like I have some sort of "claim" on you.
3. I want to link you, and I asked your permission.

I think it is kind of weird when people have like a hundred people on their blog list that aren't their family. I mean really, do you really KNOW all these people or are they more like acquaintances? And seriously, can you really keep up with that many blogs? Who has the time? It's kind of like on facebook, which I am new at. Some people I have noticed have several hundred friends. Do they really keep in contact with several hundred people, or is it a status thing to see how many "friends" you can accumulate? What is the point of that? At least on facebook, you are required to ask before you can be someones friend.

I guess my point is, should you ask the person before you link them to your blog? I think, yes. What do you think?

That's My Boy!

I just got back my four year old's school pictures. I think it captures just how sweet he is, cowlick and all. And, you can hardly see the boogers in his nose. Getting this boy to take a good picture is not very easy. I love this picture.

Another List?

Yeah, deal with it.

1. My husbands buddy called this morning at 5:45. He gets up that early to go to work, he just called to chat. My husband talked to him like normal and then came back to bed. Weird. If anyone called me that early, SOMEONE BETTER BE FREAKIN DEAD.
2. I have gone to eat lunch with my daughter four times, and my son 2 times. They think I go to see them. Really, I go because I LOVE school cafeteria food. Yum, yum. It must be all the love those fat ugly lunch ladies make the food with.
3. So, my whole family got together in Utah last weekend and this weekend. Everyone but me:(
4. I asked my husband to pick up a little bit in the living room. He ended up picking up, vacuuming, AND he cleaned out the whole garage so as now we can actually fit two cars in our two car garage. I wonder what he would do if I asked him to clean the bathroom?
5. I loaned my friend my DVD of Howl's Moving Castle because I found out she had read the book over the summer. It's Studio Ghibli, Japanese Anime. It is awesome and my most favorite movie ever. Most people think Japanese anime is weird, so I was happy for the chance to share this movie with her. I have a small collection of Studio Ghibli movies. I also recommend, Spirited Away, and My Neighbor Totoro.
   
6. Can anyone enlighten me on how to use the self cleaning feature on my oven? I'm too lazy to find my owner's manual.
7. My friend Donnica gave me a Pumpkin Pancake recipe and it was delish.

2 cups biscuit/baking mix

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 can evaporated milk (I used whole milk and it turned out fine)

1/2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin

2 tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a bowl, combine the baking mix, brown sugar, and cinnamon. In another bowl, combine the eggs, milk, pumpkin, oil and vanilla; stir into the dry ingredients and mix well.

Substitute!

Today in my College Algebra class, we had a substitute. I'm pretty sure we drove her crazy. I'm sure you are picturing smart ass comments and paper flying in the air, lots of noise. But, no. We drove her crazy with silence. I'm not kidding either. Two times she stopped the lecture. The first time she said, "This is how you sit in class with your teacher? You just sit there and she talks at you?(silence) Huh?" Then she looked at me, and I nodded. "Really? You say nothing?" I'm trying not to laugh, why isn't anyone saying anything? I don't know. So she turns around and people are like looking at each other and making confused faces at each other. This goes on for a while longer and then she stops again, "I've never taught a class like this. I would walk out. It's like talking to statues. You don't move! A pin could drop and I would hear it." I'm just thinking that she would not hear a pin drop, because she didn't notice when I very loudly spilled my bag of pretzels on the floor and swore under my breath. (And wouldn't you know the best part, the extra salt on the bottom spilled all over the carpet. Dang.) So, I don't know. It was just weird. Who knew you could drive a professor crazy with silence? It just seems counter-intuitive.

In My Daughter's Eyes

Does anyone else cry like a baby when they hear this song by Martina McBride? I sure as heck do.

In My Daughter's Eyes

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light
and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me
gives me strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes
I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see
how happy she made me
For I'll be there In my daughter's eyes

Recent Conversations With my Husband

Having a serious conversation with my husband is nearly impossible. He always says something non-serious or outrageous. Sometimes it is really hard to deal with, other times it can be quite entertaining. Here are two examples. There are more but I can't remember them all.

#1
Him: I wonder how many wall street guys have committed suicide. I mean that's what they all do right?
Me: Yeah, they all do.
Him: Yep, and then they just bring in new ones.

#2
Me: Why does it bug me so bad when people get all emotional over church stuff?
Him: Because the light of Christ within you is almost completely snuffed out.
Me: (shocked and then laughing) Whaaa????

And then there's always the same old response when I ask him what he is going to be doing. He'll list off some stuff and then without fail he will add, "And then, I'm gonna go bang some heroin." Real funny, honey.

7 Quirky Things as Requested by my Favorite Sistah

1. Every time I get in the car, I am pretty certain that I AM GOING TO DIE.
2. I'm convinced I will die of cancer. Seems like everyone in my family has.
3. The most pleasurable thing on this earth to me is taking a swallow of perfectly cold water. Ahhh! Sorry Jason.
4. I am a highly emotional person, that's not the quirk. I cried when Jared Allen was traded to the Vikings, and if I am tired enough, I might even cry over burnt toast or something stupid. Okay, here's the quirk, the only thing I won't get emotional about is religion.
5. This is how my brain works: Say it's Friday. I can't clean the house today, I have a test on Tuesday. What one has to do with the other, I don't know. But my brain can't wrap it's head around the one, till the other is accomplished.
6. I can't watch violence on TV or in the Movies because my head replays everything I see for a couple of days.
7. I think I have written about this before. I don't want to hug you. It's not you, it's me.

Should I tag someone? Ummmm.....okay. I tag Mary S. and Emily H. Or anyone. I don't care.

My New Background

I am not a fan of cutest blog on the block. Now don't get all self conscious about it, you can pick whatever background you want. Leelou is along the same lines but I think it is slightly less evil, so here is my new background. Too trendy for Leslie? Maybe, but I don't care at the moment.

Blogger Block

I don't know what to write about. Anyone have any ideas? Questions? Opinions?

This is Me in a Bad Mood

1. I hate fall. It's cold.
2. My six year took 25 min. to eat one poptart. Grrr.
3. My husband is failing out of comp. 1, even though he completes all his assignments and attends class. He's not the only one either. They are dropping like flies in this class, it's totally the old matronly professor who thinks she is teaching at an ivy league college instead of a community college in Kansas. Grrrr.
4. I tested out of intermediate algebra right into college algebra because I thought I was smart. Now I'm gonna wreck my 4.0. Grrr.
5. I hate fall.
6. My kitchen smells, but I have to study so...grrr.
7. I feel like I haven't had a decent night sleep since 1982.
8. I want to change our last name to Hawk so I don't have to be associated with my husbands family anymore. Leslie Hawk. Doesn't that sound awesome?
9. One year later, my husbands Grandpa acts like he didn't know I was going to school. Pay attention people! Grrr.
10. Did I mention I hate fall?

    Update: My husband just went and spoke to a counselor at the college and he said that he has been hearing the same thing from other students about this professor. So the class got dropped, no penalties, sweet relief!

I believe in the Herm!

K-did anyone besides me watch the Chiefs game? Anyone? Anyone? Well, it was wicked awesome.

You know that part in Pete's Dragon when Doc Terminus just rolls into Passamaqade and sings that sweet song and all of a sudden that lady in the front starts waving her money and yelling, "I believe in the Doctor!" Well, that lady is me and I'm yelling, "I believe in the Herm!" That's Herman Edwards the coach of the Chiefs. The sweet song was the Chief's winning yesterday, and for the first time this season, I see what Herm sees. Herman is trying to build a winning team with a lot of rookies. He helped Tony Dungy(Superbowl winning coach of the Colts) do it in Tampa much the same way in the ninety's (so I've read). I wasn't so sure before, but this could work!

It was sweet too. I mean so what if I watched the first half of the game from a little room in the E.R. while my four year old got a breathing treatment. So what that I was starving like a marvin and I didn't have the proper change for the vending machine, and my head hurt because I got no sleep the night before. That game was beautiful! (Don't worry, he's fine. He has a chest cold from hell and just needed a little extra help yesterday.)

I also think it is no coincidence that Damon Huard was playing Quarterback instead of Thigpen, who I have nicknamed Pigpen because he stinks! Huard did not give up the ball for an interception once, not once! As a veteran, it must be hard for Huard to watch little rookies like Pigpen play like a monkey. I know he is young, I know he is still learning and Herm is trying to groom him and blah, blah, blah, I just can't stand the pigpen.

I don't expect the Chiefs to win every game now. No, we are still a team in the building, but yesterdays game gives me reason to believe. I believe in the Herm! So, yes, I just compared NFL football to a Disney movie. I'm all crazy like that.

In Memory Of...

We have come here today to mourn the loss of Leslie's teenage fantasy come true. It was a sweet ride but, like all things in this world, it had to come to an end. We should not be sad. Oh no! We are blessed that we have all the happy memories that this beautiful mane has left behind! So here's to you, you long, sexy, and fabulous hair! We will miss, but never forget you. Let us pray....Dear God, When we are all resurrected to our perfect bodies, please let my husband have his long hair back. It's only fair, you and Jesus have long hair too. Amen.

Now anyone who wishes to share their memories about the hair with everyone, may do so now. This family thanks everyone for their support in being here today.

I Like Lists

1. Yesterday while waiting for my College Algebra class, I was sitting in the hallway. Across from me on the floor was a kid in my class. I gained a whole new respect for this goofy fat kid. First, a way cute girl walks by, he yells, "Hey!" She totally stops and like grills him on what he is doing, he flirts, she leaves. Thirty seconds later, another way cute girl stops, she says "Hey! What are you doing? You told me you didn't go here. Why'd you do that?" He just shrugs, gives her a winning smile and says, "I don't know." She totally just giggled, flirted and walked away. So know I'm thinking this kid is a play-ah. Then, two women dressed in middle-eastern attire come walking down the hallway, he totally greets them in some middle eastern language, and has a huge conversation with them. While this is happening, Benjamin Franklin gets off the elevator and walks down the hallway. I'm not kidding either. I thought it was the weirdest, most entertaining day waiting for class ever.

2. I got a B on my Algebra test. Don't celebrate, that's the lowest math test score I have EVER gotten. On the other hand, my husband got a B on his Industrial safety class test, and he had the highest score in the class. Woohoo! I'm so proud of him! Obviously, I have different expectations for myself, than I do for him:)

3. Have you ever seen the show Charlie and Lola on the Disney channel? we checked out a DVD from the library. My four year old is speech delayed. He watched that DVD over and over. Now he does a perfect impression of Lola, complete with a perfect English accent. He says, "No, Cha-lee", and after I say, "I can do anything and everything" he says "On my owwwwn." I have him say it a hundred times a day, and I laugh like it's the funniest thing I've ever heard, every time.

4. ladies and Gentleman! Boys and Girls! I have finally caught up on laundry! It wasn't easy, the piles of clothes were colossal. But I did it!

5. My husband came home from walmart with a new filter for the air conditioner thingy and some sort of air freshener that blows through the vents. Here is how our conversation went.
Him: See this, it will make our house smell good.
Me: Oh! So our house won't smell like poop anymore.
Him: Right.
Now I can smell that nice flowery scent right when I pull into the garage.

6. My friend Melanie has read every book ever printed. However, I totally found a book she hadn't read and was able to recommend it to her. I felt like I had accomplished something. The book is Sorcery and Cecelia. (It's on my list to the side if you want more info like the author or whatever) If you like Pride and Prejudice, or Emma or just anything from that time period, you will enjoy this book. But also on that note...

7. I read The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull. Total genius. The moral of the story: Don't take candy from a stranger. Classic. Hey Meeka, tell Camdon that I loved it and I am totally jealous he got to meet Brandon Mull. He is on my list of authors I want to sign my books!

8. Ahh, the Chiefs. Sundays game was painful to watch. we lost to the Raiders. THE RAIDERS! Are you kidding me? We are Raider Haters! We're supposed to kick their trash, especially since it was a home game. I think I would have been able to watch a better football game at the local High school. Bahhh! I guess I never had high expectations for this season, but I didn't think it would be this bad.

So, that's it. That's all. I'm done til later.

My Lucky Blue Underwear

While browsing the Internet, I found a website that had quizzes to put on your blog. I'm not usually into them, but.....well, of course the one about panties caught my attention. (Those of you who know me well, know that my love affair with panties goes way back....)

Your Lucky Underwear is Blue

You are caring and extroverted. You've made relationships your number one focus, and your lucky blue underwear can bring some balance to them. You thrive in one-on-one situations. You are a good listener and a natural born therapist. Sometimes you let the concerns of others become too important in your life, leading to stress and worry. If you want more balance, put on your blue underpants. They'll help you take care of yourself first.

What Color Is Your Lucky Underwear?

And....if you must know, that is a picture of me....right:)

Today's the Day

The day for what, you ask? Well......I'll just let the pictures do the talking.

K-the back.
Now the side.
K-smile!

k-Cousin It.

"You must have some Indian in you, with hair like that. You should go to Haskell University"

Hey! What's he doin?Get a load of the size of these scissors!"Why is Mommy crying?" Highlights. AND they were FREE.James Brown sat under this dryer too."My turn. I. Want. Haircut!"Haircut by Gary Garrett, at the Garrett Salon, on Mur-Len and Santa Fe. He did a fabulous job.