Mandy tagged me so here it goes.
8 Favorite TV Shows
1. Bones
2. Project Runway
3. Top Chef
4. Amazing Race
5. Big Bang Theory
6. Mythbusters
7. Scrubs
8. Two and a Half Men
8 Things I Did Yesterday
1. Walked to work in -16 F temperatures
2. Listened to the Dom & Jane show
3. Worked at the computer
4. Visited Facebook
5. Read a book
6. Watched Bones
7. Cooked dinner
8. Comforted a fussy baby
8 Things I am Looking Forward To
1. Seeing my family (I don't know when, but I'm looking forward nonetheless)
2. Taking a nap during my lunch hour
3. Seeing the new Harry Potter movie
4. Seeing the new Twilight movie
5. My anniversary (date night)
6. Brekken sleeping through the night consistently
7. Tax refund
8. Finishing my project at work
8 Favorite Restaurants
1. El Jimador
2. Applebee's
3. Burger King
4. Taco Bell
5. Olive Garden
6. Red Lobster
7. Chilis
8. Sonic
8 Things on My Wish List
1. Living closer to family
2. Aaron gets a big raise OR
3. Aaron quits his job to be stay-at-home dad
4. Something big to celebrate our 10th anniversary
5. Preston stopping the bedtime battles
6. Winning the lottery (a little difficult, since I don't buy tickets)
7. Shopping spree on Amazon.com
8. Everyone in the family to stay healthy for a change!
If you read this, you've been tagged. You're it!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Wi-brerry
Haley likes to try and help Preston practice the words they learn on shows like Dora the Explorer. After they hear a new word in Spanish, Haley will repeat it. Then she turns to Preston and says: "Now you say it. {word} Good job!" It's quite a routine with them.
So last night, I picked the kids up from daycare and we ran to the library to return some books. The kids had a good time picking out their new books and movies to borrow. As we drove home, Preston said happily: "I wuv the wi-brerry." Trying to model the correct pronunciation without correcting him, I agreed: "Yes, it's fun to visit the library."
Preston immediately informed me I was saying it wrong: "No, wi-brerry, Mommy. Now you say it. Wi-brerry."
I said: "Library."
Preston: "No mommy, WI-BRERRY!"
Me: "Wi-brerry?"
Preston: "Yay! You did it, Mommy! Good job!"
I guess he taught me...
So last night, I picked the kids up from daycare and we ran to the library to return some books. The kids had a good time picking out their new books and movies to borrow. As we drove home, Preston said happily: "I wuv the wi-brerry." Trying to model the correct pronunciation without correcting him, I agreed: "Yes, it's fun to visit the library."
Preston immediately informed me I was saying it wrong: "No, wi-brerry, Mommy. Now you say it. Wi-brerry."
I said: "Library."
Preston: "No mommy, WI-BRERRY!"
Me: "Wi-brerry?"
Preston: "Yay! You did it, Mommy! Good job!"
I guess he taught me...
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Christmas
We really enjoyed our Christmas. The kids let us sleep in until 7:30 - although they had actually promised us 9:30. Oh well; in another year or so, I'm sure we'll be fondly remembering "sleeping in" like that on Christmas morning!
Santa left some fun things for the kids. Their favorite thing by far is the roller coaster. They have been riding it nonstop since yesterday morning!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
They also had lots of fun opening their gifts. Haley has been doing a lot with the craft kit from Grandma & Grandpa Shields and Preston really likes the fire truck they gave him. Grandma & Grandpa Schurz gave all the kids puzzles of their names, and they've all really liked playing with those, too. Though, to be fair, Brekken just chews on his.
We have also been having fun with the Wii - we're still figuring it out, though!
Haley got a sticker kit and immediately plastered them all over her face.
Preston after a successful run on the coaster.
Brekken opening a present.
There are more Christmas pictures at www.dropshots.com/taradon if you want to see.
Hope you all had a merry Christmas, too!
Santa left some fun things for the kids. Their favorite thing by far is the roller coaster. They have been riding it nonstop since yesterday morning!
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing
They also had lots of fun opening their gifts. Haley has been doing a lot with the craft kit from Grandma & Grandpa Shields and Preston really likes the fire truck they gave him. Grandma & Grandpa Schurz gave all the kids puzzles of their names, and they've all really liked playing with those, too. Though, to be fair, Brekken just chews on his.
We have also been having fun with the Wii - we're still figuring it out, though!
Haley got a sticker kit and immediately plastered them all over her face.
Preston after a successful run on the coaster.
Brekken opening a present.
There are more Christmas pictures at www.dropshots.com/taradon if you want to see.
Hope you all had a merry Christmas, too!
Missing Mom
I was home with Brekken today because he was sick. I took advantage of being home to take time to call and talk to my mom. It's one of those things I always mean to do, and then it gets put off because life gets in the way. Before I know it, a couple of weeks have gone by and we haven't spoken. So even though the kids would be mad if they knew I talked to Grandma and they weren't here to get their turn, I called just to chat.
It was nice to talk to her just about random stuff going on. It reminded me how much I love my mom and wish we lived closer! I love living here for many reasons - I have a good job, great friends, we like our neighborhood and our ward, even the weather for the most part (today being the exception). The only problem is that our families are on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. The weather during the winter is so bad across the Rockies that it feels like we never see our families between about October and May.
I wish we could visit more often. I wish they could visit more often. I wish we all had enough money that we could fly over for a quick visit. Until then, I guess I'll focus on being glad that I can just pick up the phone and call when I'm missing my Mom.
It was nice to talk to her just about random stuff going on. It reminded me how much I love my mom and wish we lived closer! I love living here for many reasons - I have a good job, great friends, we like our neighborhood and our ward, even the weather for the most part (today being the exception). The only problem is that our families are on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. The weather during the winter is so bad across the Rockies that it feels like we never see our families between about October and May.
I wish we could visit more often. I wish they could visit more often. I wish we all had enough money that we could fly over for a quick visit. Until then, I guess I'll focus on being glad that I can just pick up the phone and call when I'm missing my Mom.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Feeling Crafty
When I went to Christmas brunch at Melissa Howell's (Firestone) a few weeks ago, she showed us how she made some very cute pendants. Basically, you take a Scrabble tile and cut a piece of scrapbook paper to just the right size to cover the tile. Then mod-podge the scrapbook paper onto the tile to hold it in place, add a coating of diamond glaze to give it a smooth and shiny finish, and glue on a bail (the thing the chain goes through). Pretty simple, but certainly nothing I would have ever come up with if Melissa hadn't shown me how!
Well, Haley and I decided to be crafty and make these pendants to give out as party favors at her birthday party this weekend. We had lots of fun with the project. It started with a trip to Michael's craft store where Haley and Preston picked out the paper, a glittery mod-pdge glue and the other project supplies. (BTW, Melissa - they have a diamond glaze at the Michael's in Brighton!) Haley was in heaven at Michael's. She just loves craft projects, and here is a whole store full of projects waiting to happen!
When we started the project, Haley very carefully selected just the right portions of the scrapbook paper patterns to make into her necklaces. She helped cut and glue and brush on the mod-podge, too. Preston helped make the favors to give to the boys at the party - same basic steps, but we glued a magnet to the back instead of making it into a necklace.
I think they turned out great! Here's a couple of the necklaces...
Well, Haley and I decided to be crafty and make these pendants to give out as party favors at her birthday party this weekend. We had lots of fun with the project. It started with a trip to Michael's craft store where Haley and Preston picked out the paper, a glittery mod-pdge glue and the other project supplies. (BTW, Melissa - they have a diamond glaze at the Michael's in Brighton!) Haley was in heaven at Michael's. She just loves craft projects, and here is a whole store full of projects waiting to happen!
When we started the project, Haley very carefully selected just the right portions of the scrapbook paper patterns to make into her necklaces. She helped cut and glue and brush on the mod-podge, too. Preston helped make the favors to give to the boys at the party - same basic steps, but we glued a magnet to the back instead of making it into a necklace.
I think they turned out great! Here's a couple of the necklaces...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Just Venting...
Okay, this blog entry is really just a rant so that I can vent and get out some frustration with my day. If you don't feel like reading it, feel free to skip it! I just need to get it all off my chest...
I had to spend today in company diversity training. It was a horrible, horrible experience. I understand that we serve a lot of different populations in the work we do and it's important to be culturally sensitive, so I'm all for information on that. But the way this training was delivered was awful. I hated the model the trainers used for discussion. It basically said that everything in life is based on stimulus-response patterns. If you react negatively to something today, it can all be traced back to something that happened to you in your childhood. And the thing that really triggered me was when she said you can't blame anyone for their reactions. I beg to differ! You can't blame anyone for their emotions, but everyone can certainly control how they decide to react to a given situation. Personal responsibility for your actions didn't seem to be any part of this model. On top of that, the training perpetuated the image of white males as evil oppressors. I really hate that. White males are not responsible for all the bad things in the world. You'd certainly never know that based on my classes today, though. It's really unfortunate. I went into the workshops this morning liking everyone I worked with – or at least not having any negative feelings towards anyone. By the end of the day, I did have very negative feelings for some of my co-workers. Hopefully those will fade with a little bit of time. The day was seriously so horrible that when a car ran a stop sign and almost hit me on my drive home, I regretted it a little. I seriously had the thought that if the car had hit me and I'd maybe broken an arm or leg, at least I would be able to skip the 2nd day of diversity training scheduled for tomorrow.
I had to spend today in company diversity training. It was a horrible, horrible experience. I understand that we serve a lot of different populations in the work we do and it's important to be culturally sensitive, so I'm all for information on that. But the way this training was delivered was awful. I hated the model the trainers used for discussion. It basically said that everything in life is based on stimulus-response patterns. If you react negatively to something today, it can all be traced back to something that happened to you in your childhood. And the thing that really triggered me was when she said you can't blame anyone for their reactions. I beg to differ! You can't blame anyone for their emotions, but everyone can certainly control how they decide to react to a given situation. Personal responsibility for your actions didn't seem to be any part of this model. On top of that, the training perpetuated the image of white males as evil oppressors. I really hate that. White males are not responsible for all the bad things in the world. You'd certainly never know that based on my classes today, though. It's really unfortunate. I went into the workshops this morning liking everyone I worked with – or at least not having any negative feelings towards anyone. By the end of the day, I did have very negative feelings for some of my co-workers. Hopefully those will fade with a little bit of time. The day was seriously so horrible that when a car ran a stop sign and almost hit me on my drive home, I regretted it a little. I seriously had the thought that if the car had hit me and I'd maybe broken an arm or leg, at least I would be able to skip the 2nd day of diversity training scheduled for tomorrow.
Thankful Thursday
Today I'm feeling thankful for music. I love music - torch songs to swing to classical to Broadway to pop/rock to Christian to hymns. Even some heavy metal, R&B and rap. I like to listen to music, to sing music, to play it on the piano... Listening to the right music can be a huge boost to a bad mood, calming on an anxious day, soothing to a cranky child.
What brought this to my mind this week was the beautiful piece that was played during President Obama's inauguration ceremony. "Air and Simple Gifts" arranged by John Williams. It was such a wonderful piece of music.
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com/yt/swf/cps-vfl82884.swf&video_id=02Ao9jyq5Vk&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i1.ytimg.com/vi/02Ao9jyq5Vk/hqdefault.jpg&sk=6FnIll1WEIF0ws1ptDNeBzxGuwLOEP_0C&fs=1&hl=en&cr=US&avg_rating=4.94392523364&length_seconds=324&allow_ratings=1&title=%27Air%20and%20Simple%20Gifts%27%20John%20Williams%20at%20Obama%20I...
What brought this to my mind this week was the beautiful piece that was played during President Obama's inauguration ceremony. "Air and Simple Gifts" arranged by John Williams. It was such a wonderful piece of music.
http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com/yt/swf/cps-vfl82884.swf&video_id=02Ao9jyq5Vk&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i1.ytimg.com/vi/02Ao9jyq5Vk/hqdefault.jpg&sk=6FnIll1WEIF0ws1ptDNeBzxGuwLOEP_0C&fs=1&hl=en&cr=US&avg_rating=4.94392523364&length_seconds=324&allow_ratings=1&title=%27Air%20and%20Simple%20Gifts%27%20John%20Williams%20at%20Obama%20I...
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