Stupid Blogger.

Am I retarded, or is there some tricky way to leave a comment on posts that I'm not bright enough to figure out?

I was going to say to Fats that I don't think Joan's post was about you being selfish and we don't want you to keep what stresses you out to yourself. I think she was just trying to say that as a sibling sometimes we're asked to do service that we may be hesitant to do (b/c of time restriction, inconvenience, cost or whatever) but you never know when you may need something and that's what we're here for, to try and help the best we can. I'm sure Joan LOVED having an extra child for 8 months back in '04, but I appreciate it more that she'll ever know. You never know when you're the answer to someone's prayers!

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. We were going to have dinner @ our house with some friends, but her parent's flew in at the last minute, so we decided to do our own thing. We saw the new "Muppets" movie. It was cute and nostalgic. Bridgette kept saying "where's Cookie Monster?" I totally understand, I kept waiting for Elmo to pop in. Then we just went to dinner later in the afternoon. It was good, nothing fancy, but nice that we could spend it together (and no dishes!!)

It was kind of sad not to be going to Mom & Dad's though. It still hasn't sunk in that we're so far from everyone, and that we're permanently. Our ward is nice, and I try to go to all the activities, but I still haven't really made any friends or anything, so I get kind of lonely.

I try to go to the gym 4 days a week, but lately Bridgette really gets pissed when I bring her to the daycare. She covers her eyes the entire time she's in there! I asked her today why she doesn't like daycare, and she said "because get away from me." But she wasn't telling me to get away, it was like she was saying someone said that to her. That made me really sad to think that kids that small say things like that, especially b/c I know they've probably heard their parents say it. Hopefully she will get over it soon... And hopefully kids are nicer than that normally.

On a lighter note, I can't believe it's almost Christmas! We were going to Colorado, but decided to save the money & driving time, and just stay here. We bought a real Christmas tree last weekend, I haven't had a real one in such a long time! It smells so good, and it's so much prettier than the crap fake one we've used since we got married. I also put a 3ft tree up in Bridgy's room in hopes that she'd be so into that one, she'd leave the big tree alone. We've also been super excited about buying pressies for her. Dan's going nuts; he bought like 4 board games, an xbox game and Barbie doll for her, and he's still going strong. I keep telling him, "look, she doesn't care, just spend all your money on me."  : )

Well, I think this post is going on...and on... I could go on all day about nonsense. I really need to just do better about writing in a journal.

I hope you're all doing ok & that Haley didn't get engaged (ANNE, did she?) b/c I think she's still got some fun single things she needs to do.

BYE! Love you gals!

I should be doing math.... history ....
but instead I am learning how to dance the DOUGIE and the SPONGE BOB.
I'm awesome!
(@ looking like a dancing monkey. haha)

Bons... I totally understand.
I think everyone lives and learns though.
sometimes family members take advantage - when they don't know they are taking advantage.
I don't think he is trying to take advantage - I think they are struggling.
I understand you wanting vacation time with family.
I see my family on the weekends... that's about the only quality time we have.
I think that all of us have - at one point or another - taken advantage of other family member's time & talents & financial ability w/o meaning to "take advantage".  It's a learning experience.
I am not trying to chastise, I'm just trying to say that we can all empathize w/ Danny's situation.  I think he is trying to make the best of their situation.  He has a darling wife & 3 little one's he is trying to provide for.  I think maybe he is just swimming to stay above water, like we have all done.
I can empathize w/ you also though.....  I understand the "family time".
I think we grew up w/ dad who would have dropped anything to help anyone while on vacation or even when on his "death bed"....  and so maybe we assume sometimes that everyone in our family would push vacation aside to help a family member.
I understand it is a lot of time and $, but sometimes you have to eat up $ to help family.
(I'm not saying at all that you should rush over and do his whole house for free.....  just saying that have a little sympathy for Danny. he could use it right now, just like 90% of us could.)
Just use this as a lesson.... if you are feeling like you are being taken advantage of, it's a good lesson to learn.  I have felt that way, and I know I have taken undo advantage of others before - and I regret it.

Have fun at moms!
love her cooking!!!!
love being w/ her and dad!
their home has a lovely feeling that I miss.....

Charity??

So I got a text the other night from Daniel asking if Shane would help him (do it for him) put carpet in their new house while we're there for Thanksgiving. Now, I'm all for helping family, but this is a vacation that we never get. And it would be so hard to take all of Shane's tools down (they take up the whole back seat of his truck).

Not to mention, I have said many times how many hours Shane works and that is the last thing he wants to do on a vacation. Well, when I nicely said that Shane really wanted to have this be a vacation and Daniel put me on quite the guilt trip. Then I asked him how big the space is --- it's the entire house: 5 rooms and 2 closets. When Shane figured out the size, it would take him literally, about 12-15 hours to do. That's a whole full day of our vacation.

When I said that, his response was that he didn't want to pay someone to come do it. This job would be about $500 dollars for Shane to do just as a regular job. And I'M NOT SAYING WE'RE NOT WILLING TO HELP FAMILY, but that is a lot of time and work to just do [on your vacation] to be nice.

Then Danny said "well can he give me some pointers on how to do it then? It can't be too hard to lay carpet, I've just never done it before". Is it just me, or is that kind of a mean thing to say - like if Shane can do it, then he definitely can.

Sorry - I just have to vent. I don't want to complain to Mom because I know she doesn't love hearing the kids complain about each other, but am I totally over reacting? We never mind helping family, but if someone was coming for a vacation, with no prior knowledge of this situation, would you ask them to spend one FULL day helping you out?

Then, to top if off - a comment was made on Facebook by Andrea about how hard Danny's been working on their new house - getting only 4 hours of sleep - blah blah blah.... I'm so bothered by this. I know it shouldn't bug me and obviously I will not say a thing to anyone outside of this blog - you all know how much I LOVE confrontation. And I know that Daniel is still going to guilt trip us down there and I'm worried its going to affect the whole trip.

I'm not saying that we don't like to help family, but usually it's something that is planned - we've done the carpet for other family members, but the trips were always for that specific purpose and we knew ahead of time what we were getting in to - totally different situation (so Anne, don't start thinking that I'm referring to you :P)

Anyway, I'm glad I remembered about this site. I'm sorry if my ranting offends any of you, but I am really protective of the little time that Shane actually gets to rest and enjoy himself. I feel so bad that this happened, but with the time and space it takes just to even bring his tools, we would need to make this a trip JUST for the carpet. GAH!! I don't like getting so worked up about it. And now I'm so worried about Thanksgiving just being awkward. Advice? Please? Sympathy even....??

too busy!!

I really should not be doing this because Shane is about to wake up and I still don't have his lunch made or clothes but away or floor swept or diaper bag packed for tomorrow... But... I guess I need to check in with the world.

We have been beyond busy - what else is new? Work, work, work, house upkeep, HALLOWEEN! Thank goodness that is over. Chloe loved it. She was a little fairy princess.

Anyway, the land thing is on hold. We didn't realize that you had to have such a huge down payment. We do not have a dime to spare for something like that. We were both really disappointed but we can't come up with $30,000+ anytime soon!!

I'm still having a hard time finding time to "work out". And sorry everyone - I'm not the kind of person who can do videos or work out at home. That's why I am IN this predicament! I don't have the will power. Going to the gym and being ashamed and embarrassed by getting off the treadmill too soon or not running enough - that's the only thing that works at this point in time. It's hard. Very hard. THAT is our struggle right now.

We are looking at SUV's right now. We actually did buy a lemon a couple weeks ago. But the dealer was so amazing that they paid off the load we had taken out and gave our car back. So that was a learning experience. There's one that we're going to look at tomorrow. We shall see --- hoping to have something by Thanksgiving to drive down to Mom's. Gotta have something comfy for all of us (that includes our dogs!!)

I just a new position at work. Well, I won't start it for a few weeks, but it will be nice. No more customer service and a nice little pay raise :)

Anyway, life is hectic - don't get to see my kids enough - never see my husband - getting fat - behind on chores - work work work. Same old, same old...

Nellie.
You always make me laugh.


I forgot about the chicken!  I don't blame you!  


We have been so busy.  Miss Sydney has done a pretty good job staying drama free @ the Jr. High, however she has been having some "sad" days...  She thought she finally had found a friend close by that she could consider calling a great friend... but to her dismay, this friend doesn't treat miss Sydney like she should treat a friend.  So - the sad days of Jr High are kicking in.  On the bright side, I hear a lot about boys, who she refuses to "crush on" ...  but "they're so hot!".    And... she was asked by one to dance @ the Halloween dance!!!! SERIOUS!  I mean, isn't that like just totally amazing!  ....  :)
I love my girl.


I have been doing ok.
I am excited for Thanksgiving break.
I am thinking of going into Special Education.  At the moment UVU does not have this program, which is crazy because they are becoming "known" for their elementary education school...  ????  We shall see.


This is short.  However, I really need to go and study.  or sleep.  both.  
I feel as if every day -- another mental breakdown is on the horizon.
So sleep is probably something I should consider doing more of, right?


Love my sisters!