On My iPod

I may not agree with their politics, but I sure do love their latest album. (Who knew this hankering for country music was hidden inside of me?) I definitely struggled with my conscience when deciding whether or not to purchase this well-known liberal band's new tunes. Boy am I glad that I did. Easy Silence is quite possibly one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. Lullaby is really pretty, too. So hop on over to iTunes (or wherever you legally download your music) and decide for yourself.

Panic in the Potty

We don't have a home phone. Because we are hip and so 21st century we just use my super cool pink RAZR instead. This situation worked really well until yesterday afternoon when I bent down to clean up Oliver's little potty. He had just finished filling it like a good boy when my phone sailed out of my front shirt pocket and dropped directly into the nearly full bowl. I panicked. I screamed. I suddenly thought of hundreds of people that I desperately needed to call. But my phone was dead. And wet. With a quick rinse, a few swipes of antibacterial wipes, a brief blow dry, and several hours of drying time, I was surprised to see that it was as good as new. So if you happen to be at my house and you need to borrow a phone, you are welcome to use mine. Just try not to think about where it has been. Because that might be gross.

Happy Boxing Day!

I'm Weird, too

I think I am normal and everyone else is weird. (Not a bad weird, just a different weird.) But I have compiled the following list to show that sometimes I am a little bit weird, too.

I do my best thinking while I am flossing my teeth.

I refuse to use our heater this winter. (It is currently 63 degrees in our house.)

I clean the kitchen while I am cooking dinner.

Dr Pepper makes me crazy but I still drink it sometimes.

Mike and I can't take a serious Christmas card picture.

Merry Christmas!

Months and Months

Ever since we joined Blockbuster online months ago (I highly recommend it, by the way), Mabel has been waiting for this movie to come in the mail. Since we only get two movies a month, she has been waiting for a very long time. Nearly every day she would run out to the mailbox to see if Spirit had come. Well, today is her yucky day (as Oliver would say), Spirit came! She is currently sitting on the floor, with a popcorn bowl in hand, looking at the tv with rapt attention. I am sure we won't be sending this one back any time soon.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Welcome to our home this Christmas.
Please enjoy our decorations.

Here is our (hopefully) soon to be painted front door.
Imagine that it is a glossy black and the lovely carvings magically disappear.

Christmas trees always look prettier in real life.
Ours has red and silver balls, with just a few sentimental ornaments.
We haven't collected too many ornaments so far in our marriage.

We used to have a mantel, but it was ugly.
So our stockings are sort of dangling in space.

This is my favorite decoration- a pretty silver bowl filled with shiny ornaments.
It currently resides on our table.

Thanks for visiting.
Now it's your turn. We all want to see your decorated homes.

One More Reason to Love Target

Target has great commercials. They feature excellent music and beautiful scenes. But my favorite thing about them right now is that they say "Merry Christmas"! This one is the best. It seems like now a days people are too afraid to say "Merry Christmas". They don't want to offend anyone. That is fine. I don't like to offend people, either. But I am so tired of hearing "Happy Holidays". I am glad that a huge corporation like Target can acknowledge the reason we are celebrating this fabulous season. Maybe I should spend more of Mike's hard earned cash there this week, just to show my appreciation.

We Love Wii

Here are Mabel and Mike playing a friendly game of golf.

Does it look like them?

Something Out of Nothing

ball of yarn + scraps of felt = a cute scarf for Mabel.

I finished it just in time for Zoolights at the Phoenix Zoo.
It was fun. Thanks Nana and Grampa!

Here is Mabel not wearing the scarf I worked hours on,
but notice she is wearing pants.
I was able to convince her that it was just too cold for a dress.

Underweeir

Potty training Oliver has been easier than I thought it would be. I have always heard that boys are harder to train than girls, but so far he is pretty great at it. I just love seeing his squishy middle hang over the waistband of his "underweeir".

Arizona Pride

Dearest Arizona,

I always knew that you were my destiny. As soon as I fell in love with one of your boys, I knew my future was with you. Even though I did my best to ignore you with Disneyland passes, afternoons spent at the beach, the nearness of my parents, and the extremely pleasant summer temperatures that I enjoyed in my native Orange County, I knew I couldn't avoid you forever. Every trip we made to Nana and Grampa's house only cemented a little more the feeling that we belonged together.

That is why, nearly one year ago today, when things were falling apart for us in California, with nary a second thought, we started packing up our over priced condo and looking for a home here.

We were lucky. We saw our future in a 1978 ranch house and went for it. Now some people might look at our town and just see the glaring desert heat emanating from the asphalt, or the check cashing shops on every corner, or the illegal immigrants lining the streets waiting for work, or the street people who beg for money at the gas stations or drive thru lines, but I see diversity. I see a good, family centered community where my children can grow up without thinking that everyone needs to drive a new car or have more than their neighbors. I see a place where good, normal people work hard for what they have and teach their children good values.

I love my neighborhood. I love our quarter square mile ward boundaries. I love being so close to my inlaws. I love my humongous backyard. I love that my childrens' elementary school will be out our back gate. I love my life in Arizona.

So thank you, dear Arizona, for accepting me despite my silly Orange County ways, and for making me a kinder, more generous, and more grateful person.

Stephanie

Mike Just Can't Pass Up a Good Deal

We play The Grocery Game at our house. Mike thinks it is a very fun game. It saves us lots of money while helping us stock our pantry. This cat food was on this week's list for free. A good deal, right? If only we had a cat.

This is just more evidence to the fact that my husband loves a deal.

Better Late Than Never

Yourself: normal
Your Partner: brilliant
Your Hair: staticky
Your Mother: generous
Your Father: patient
Your Favorite Item: mychildren
Your Dream Last Night: forgettable
Your Favorite Drink: drpepper
Your Dream Car: nice
Your Dream Home: stylish
The Room You Are In: den
Your Ex: short
Your Fear: dying
Where You Want to be in Ten Years: here
Who You Hung Out With Last Night: hubby
What You’re Not: tall
Muffins: yum
One of Your Wish List Items: music
Time: early
The Last Thing You Did: sleep
What You Are Wearing: poojies
Your Favorite Weather: warm
Your Favorite Book: austen
Last Thing You Ate: dinner
Your Life: perfect
Your Mood: regular
Your Best Friends: far
What Are You Thinking About Right Now: pottytraining
Your Car: safe
What Are You Doing At The Moment: this
Your Summer: HOT
Relationship Status: ideal
What Is On Your TV: thomas
What Is The Weather Like: brisk
When Is The Last Time You Laughed: yesterday

I Just Wasn't in the Mood

I know this might sound crazy to some of you, but I just haven't felt like blogging lately.

I will pause here for a moment to let you recover from your shock.

Lest you were beginning to worry about me, please don't. I'm back, and with a week in review to boot. (It was a pretty boring week. That might be the real reason behind my lack of blogging desire.)

Monday Night
fun at the Temple lights

Tuesday Afternoon
fun at Mike's office

Every Afternoon
naps in my bed

In other news:
Mike is learning how to put up Christmas lights.
Mabel is learning how to read.
And Oliver is learning how to use the potty.

Big things are happening here. Stay tuned for some updates.