{scene and heard}

Me: Hello?
Her: Hey, what's up?
Me: Nothin, working from home, watching episodes of the old 90120 on mute.
Her: Which one is it?
Me: I have no idea, it's weird cuz David, Steve, Kelly and Donna are in the desert or something, but they're really young and...
Her: (totally cutting me off) PALM SPRINGS! David cancels his Magic Mountain trip! It's the one in Palm Springs.
Me: Um...let me check. Yep. Palm Springs. You're freakin sick. I'll bet a thousand dollars you're standing up punching your hand into the air...
Her: Er...I gotta go.
Me: Yeah, let me know when you get to 2009.

{cold}

You guys, it's cold. 12" of snow and a power outage later...yep, still cold. Oh and did you know that the power repeatedly going off and on all night causes your computer to delete everthing including the operating system? Goodness.

Good Things Utah, Easley Edition

If you're not from Utah, you won't get the reference. (Good Things Utah is a show on tv in the mornings here, which features a bunch of really thin, heavily make-up'd, jewelery adorned, boob jobbed women talking in thick Utah accents about things that are good. Kind of like Martha Stewart...Utah style)

Anyway, Mike and I are always on the lookout for things that we enjoy, things that go overlooked, things that don't make it onto the shelves of Vons or that get tons of traffic, things that are locally grown/made or imported. Mike used to drink coffee, his mom made it every morning, it was just part of life, and I will totally admit that coffee is one of my favorite flavors. While we both love it, we also have taken that "oath", and that means no coffee. A couple of years ago, while trying to find an alternative for him, I discovered Drinking Chocolates, and fell in love. While difficult to find, we still began to try different brands, most often buying them online. So the other night, while we were shopping in Sugarhouse, we found the most amazing thing... People. Honestly. Heaven in a cup. We make it with milk, but in a pinch, it can be made with water. We've even used soy milk, and it STILL tastes amazing. If you like dark chocolates, try the higher numbered additions, but we fell in love with (click!) Allegro's Organic Peruvian 68. Not too sweet, it smells just as good as it tastes, and while it is bold in it's real chocolate flavor, it's still subtle. IT's not thick, or dark, it's really light. Kind of weird because when you order hot chocolate from Starbucks or wherever, it's always thick and really syrupy sweet. This is light and nothing like that.

Anyway, we use about 2 Tbsp. for each 1 cup of hot milk, but if you want it stronger, you can use 1/2 the milk and it's almost like a chocolate espresso. You can order it online, but since it's now at Whole Foods, we can get it everytime we shop now! It retails for about $12 per box, but it lasts a loooong time. It kicks "Stephens" right square in the butt.





Another thing that I love is sugar cookies. I'm probably the most picky person when it comes to the right "recipe" and I think my sisters/cousins are the same way. I rarely find a store bought version that I like at all, as a matter of fact. Anyway, while shopping the other night, Harper grabbed a box of something he called "Princess Cookies"





and tossed them into the cart. It was 10:00 at night and I was just too dang tired to argue, so I purchased the pink, purple and white sugared hearts. We got home and unloaded our grocery bags and I popped one of these tiny cookies into my mouth and stopped in my tracks. Guys, we had to hide the box. Not because they were terrible, but because they were heartbreaking. I died. So. Effing. Good. K, so not only are they thick, but they are iced and then sprinkled with HUGE sugar granules. And the fact that they are pink and purple and white!, just makes me happy. Oh and they're organic/all natural. Sooooooooooo, I justify eating 5 of them because I pretend they're good for me. Go see all the yummy stuff they sell at the (click for the online store) online store (Gianna's!!!) or you can probably go into your Whole Foods and see if they carry them there. I bet they do! Oh and they're called Sweet Hearts. (how apropos, right?)

Now...I'm going to make myself a cup of chocolate and eat the last cookie before my people wake up and start the craziness of a typical "Sunday Morning".

Stolen from Kristen B!!!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:00
2. Have you brushed your hair yet today? um yes, it's night time
3. What is the name of the last song you listened to? Mykonos
4. Do you like to text? oh my heavens, constantly
5. Facebook or My Space? facebook, please.  Myspace is trash.
6. Where is your favorite place to go? Disneyland.  Duh.
7. Do you have a passport? NO!
8. Are you in love? heck yes I am
9. Have you ever had a broken heart? I think so.
10. When was the last time you "laughed your head off"? today.  Three words.  Wall. Of. Cats. (see these facebook photos for explanation)
11. When was the last time you cried? This morning
12. What is the best gift you have ever gotten? my husband.
13. What was the best day of your life? 6 way tie, the days that each of my kids and Mike came into my life.
14. What was the worst day of your life? When my dad had his heart attack.
15. Pepsi or Coke? Coke baby.
16. Are you wearing socks? Never
17. Did you like high school? Nyet.
18. Where is the last place you went out to eat? The Dodo
19. What is your biggest accomplishment in the past year? hmm...I'm still working on it but, I'd have to say battling health issues.
20. What is one random fact about you? I wish I had sextuplets that look like Harper, so basically, I wish I could adopt the Gosselin babies.

K, I tag Eliza, Kj, Kim, Karisa and Rachel

{fancy hunnawear}

Look who's a big boy...

He got Buzz Lightyear underwear and some Cars, Incredibles etc. ones at the store, and he wanted to put them on today, and so far so good (it's 3 pm) Potty training is kind of a commitment, one I am reluctant to make, but diapers cost forty thousand dollars a day, so...he's 2.5 years old, and it's time.

By the way, he calls them "Harper's hunnaweah".  He's only 35" tall, so these underwear are about the size of a big apple.  TEENY!  They won't even fit on Mike's head.  When he's 18, he's going to love that I showed his naked self to the internet.  

{the definition of sick and tired}

Sick and tired: (sik n tīrd) adj. -

1. when all of your kids are projectile vomiting
2. when the mother who usually works and takes care of sick children is also vomiting
3. when the mother who is vomiting also has a procedure done at the "girl" doctor to finally nip this 3 month problem in the butt (pardon the pun)

Good news!  It snowed again last night!  can you sense my sarcasm? It is beautiful outside, but we're freezing.  Are humans supposed to live where it snows?  In my world, everyone will live in San Diego.  

Also, I need new running shoes, anyone have any suggestions for someone with flat/wide feet? (other than "stop talking about your gross feet")

{hey there}

If you're still reading/checking, we're back.  We didn't really go private, we just turned our blog off for a few months.  Sometimes you just need a break from blogging, and Mike and I have been blogging since 2003.  It was about time.

Anyway, we're here, semi healthy and exhausted, but we're here.

Here's a video I put together of my most memorable moments of the last year or so that are related to family.  Music:  Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal and The Shins - Sleeping Lessons:

New Blog

Things That Are Poison

fo yo safety.

Disneyland Updates for Last Week

The fries wagon is gone for GOOD???!?!?! :(

...but a new (and long whispered about) ARIEL RIDE! is about to get under way!

The Orange Stinger will be a Silly Symphonies swing ride, the Maliboomer is gone...

...and a sneak peek at the already decorated Disneyland Christmas Tree!!!

- Read more here -

Oh and wanna see a cool idea for your house? I'm totally doing this next year.

One last thing, if you want to see some renderings of what the DCA makeover will be like, go

HERE


That is all.

Thought I'd Better Blog Before It Had Been A Month

annnnnnnnd with a Tag. You can thank ELIZA for that.

That being said (and I'll blog again later, just not this second, try tonight, or later this afternoon, ok thanks)

THE HUSBAND

1. Where did you meet your husband? Online. Yep, said it, own it, proud of it.

2. How long did you date before you married? Crap, well that's another story, but we knew eachother for 3 years, and I desperately needed him but couldn't have him for a zillion reasons and finally, one day, the legal system worked and I was free. So "real" dating, 5 months. How's that for an answer? By the way, I love this font! Eliza, where did you get it?

3. How long have you been married? 3 years last September

4. What does he do that surprises you? Well it's more of a feeling that he induces that suprises me. I wake up every day to him smiling at me, and I feel butterflies when he calls me and when it's 30 minutes before he gets home from work every single day, I start to count the minutes. So he surprises me by proving to me what love is, and what marriage is supposed to be.

5. What is his favorite feature? I like his hands. They are always warm and soft. (ditto Liza)

6. What is his favorite quality? I love his sense of humor and that he is a hard worker and he is dedicated. To me, to our family, to the church. (um scary Liza, same as you AGAIN)

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Babe.

8. What is his favorite food? He is a lover of all food, just ask him, he has no favorite. (um Mike and Curtis are different people right? Jeez Liza, we're jinxin on all of these)

9. What is his favorite sport? Curling (click!)

10. When & where was your first kiss? In the parking lot of the Redlands Mall. I was standing on a cement parking block so I could reach him and he gave me 100 tiny little baby kisses. I know, sick but just so "him". He's a sweet-thang.

11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We like to dvr our shows and watch them when the kids are in bed sitting in bed, or pick a themed country and rent 3-4 films from that country. Example, we loooooooooooove asian films, those crazy Japanese people know how to make a horror film, and the French do the best romance, and don't even get me started on Korean action. Crazy.

12. Do you have any children? 2 girls and 3 boys

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He can fall asleep in 2 minutes, snore like a grizzly, and he does the best robot in the world.

14. How old is he? 31, just turned. (hellz yeah, I robbed the cradle. Go ME!)

15. Who said I love you first? I can not remember. Stupid!

16. What is his favorite music? He loooooooves Fiona Apple, the Fiery Furnaces, Radiohead and Autechre (his most favorite, click to get an example) (I dare you to sit through all 3:55 of that song. Seriously, I dare ya. Then you can understand what I listen to when we go anywhere in his car since this cd is STUCK IN HIS CD PLAYER FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS)

17. What do you admire most about him? His quiet ability to take over when I get crazy, and his gentleness, and his patience with me, and his absolute ability to make me feel loved every single night before I go to sleep.

18. What is his favorite color? I have no idea. He is an artist, and is an artist for a living, so it changes daily.

19. Will he read this? If I tell him too.

20. Who do you tag? Rachel, Karisa, Sarah D. (and anyone who would like to.... TAG! YOU'RE IT TOO!)

{update}

Mike is doing extremely well! He reads all of your well wishes, and checks in for comments to lift his spirits. The planning is going well, and I'm feeling quite helpless being here, but there have been things to keep me busy that have to do with the funeral. Mike's sister is taking this the hardest, and I totally understand, I can't even think about losing my dad. Seriously, not even THINK about it. Anyway, the kids and I are making the trip on Friday, and we won't be back until Weds or Thurs. Thanks for your support, lovely comments and friendships, it means a lot to us, and even those friends of mine out there who have shown your love to Mike even if you haven't met him, I want you to know you're appreciated more than anything. We are blessed.

And now, to lighten things up, I wanted to remind you that tomorrow is the great day I've celebrated this day since it began 6 years ago, and have watched it grow to massive proportions!

Prepare yourself, use the translator and remember to TALK LIKE A PIRATE! As one great man once said "Arrrrgh, the blood of it!" - Eric Nelson circa 1980.

{simplicity}

I got this from The Simple Woman. I thought I'd share since I'm heading in this direction in my life...

For Today...

Outside my Window...a 100 foot blue spruce that reminds me of the smell of my summers spent visiting my grandparents here in Salt Lake

I am thinking..."Have I forgotten anything I can sell?"

From the learning rooms...Jonah doing an autobiography of a dime. Don't ask.

I am thankful for...the lady from the neighborhood who stopped by today to introduce herself and bring me fresh tomatoes from her garden.

From the kitchen...grilled cheese sandwiches with swiss cheese and extra thick bakery sourdough, dipped in homemade tomato bisque. {recipe here}

I am wearing...blue pajama pants and a black tshirt

I am reading..."Duma Key"

I am hoping...for peace and quiet and a restful sleep for my sister-in-law

I am creating...a recipe in my mind that will use the huge amounts of wild spearmint growing in my backyard

I am hearing...Harper asking me to read him a story

Around the house...a bit of tidying, atleast 2 loads of laundry, dishes are done, kids are winding down

One of my favorite things...is the night time, when I can relax with Mike.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week...Sell some things, fill my car with children and gas, bury my Father-in-law...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you...rocky road ice cream, fresh strawberries from the sidewalk stand down the street, whipped cream the lazy way (from a can!) and homemade pound cake. Enjoy something like this every once in a while, that's an order.