Super Duper Slacker

I am a superhero, and my alter-ego's name is "Super Duper Slacker". It has been a whole month since my last post, and not just any month - a very busy one. A month that included a family vacation to Myrtle Beach, my birthday, Afton's Preschool Christmas party and then Christmas!

I have very few pictures to document the last month - and I know that I will regret it later (I'm already starting to regret it, actually). But here's the rundown of what we did...

We took a mini-vacation to Myrtle Beach the first weekend in December. We left Saturday morning and came back on Sunday afternoon. We went with my boss's family (Ashley, Troy, their daughter Jordan and one of her friends) and we got a great deal at a hotel called The Captain's Quarters. We had a 2-room Suite with a kitchenette and a balocony that (sort of) looked over the beach. They had an indoor pool, indoor lazy river, indoor hot tub/sauna and the entire 6th floor was a bowling alley & arcade. We had only one serious meltdown from Afton, and the rest of the weekend was wonderful! We didn't do any shopping, and only left the hotel for dinner and breakfast. We did stop by Ripley's Aquarium on the way home. Afton loved it! They had a moving sidewalk through the shark tank, she rode it 3 ties with me and at least mre with her dad - we couldn't get her off for anything in the world! I even bribed her with ice cream (at 10:30 in the morning) - no go. Before we left she did get up the nerve to put her hand in the stingray tank. What a brave little monkey! It was so nice just to get away for a day or two!

The weekend after that was my birthday (one year older & wiser, too - well maybe not so much!). Joe and I went back to Myrtle Beach, just the two of us. We stayed at the Marriot @ Broadway at the Beach (thanks for the hook-up Edward!) and did A LOT of shopping at the Outlets on Saturday. He surprised me on Saturday and took me to a great Japanese Teppanyaki restaraunt for dinner. It was so yummy! Afton got to spend the weekend with Grandma, she helped make Christmas cookies...

and went to the ward Christmas party where she sang with the Primary kids (even though she's still only in Nursery, and in a whole different ward!);

(that's her on middle row, 2nd one in - she got to stand next to her cousin, Dylan. I think that made them both happy)

and she thought that she wanted to sit on Santa's lap, but when it actually came down to do or don't, well, she don't...

That wraps up the first two weeks of December...I'll have to do the last two weeks tomorrow, my nice clean sheets and fluffy pillows are calling. I must be getting old - I can remember staying up all night to watch the ball drop and now I can't even make it to 11pm! I seriously doubt that I will be watching 2009 come in! I hope everybody had a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!!

Thanksgiving Madness

As much as I love Thanksgiving...the friends, the family, the food, the good company, the beginning of the Christmas season, the food, did I mention the food?...this year was crazy! Somehow the decision was made to have Thanksgiving dinner at our house. Heather reminded me at some point that I actually begged for this opportunity, but I stand by my declaration that I must have been drugged; because nobody in their right mind would actually ask for this kind of madness! We had 17 people at our house for dinner that night. We had to borrow tables and chairs from the church and we still didn't have enough seats! There was more food than any of us knew what to do with...fried turkey, smoked ham, smoked venison, mac & cheese, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, broccoli & cheese, corn, cheesecake, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chocolate chip cookies...and all Afton would eat was Easy Mac!! Although it was crowded and hectic - I really did enjoy myself. We had good friends, some new friends, the missionaries, and family join us and it was a great night.

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Mike's Farm for dinner and a hayride. They have one of the best southern dinners of anyplace around, and it's all served family style. They just kept bringing out the platters of fried chicken, mac & cheese and mashed potatoes - more good food! And the hayride is always spectacular. They decorate acre upon acre of land with Christmas lights and have a soundtrack that goes with it...it makes you feel like the Christmas season is truly here...complete with fake snow! I didn't get many pictures because I was too busy watching the kids enjoy themselves...maybe next year!

And I certainly don't want to leave out how exciting it was to have Brian and Andi here with us. I miss my younger brother more than I can say when he's at school - and I enjoyed meeting Andi so much! To have them both here to share Thanksgiving with us was such a treat!

The items in bold are things I have done, the rest, I haven't, but I have now begun a very long To Do List! Thanks for letting me steal this Amber – it was fun!
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band ....at school (I guess 5th grade orchestra counts?)
4. Visited Hawaii (sort of – if I remember correctly, our plane stopped there to refuel on the way back to the states.)
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland /world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (it’s a topic that is discussed from time to time though)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (personally, I'm shocked that my SIL Amber has done this!)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (I so hope Ashley Danko isn’t reading this!!)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke (really badly)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa (but one day I will!!)
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class (see, once there was this really cute boy & he was taking classes, so then I started taking classes – well, then he moved & I quit. End of story)
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving (definitely on my list of “things to do”!)
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (embarrassing, but true)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job (again; embarrassing, but true)
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle (just don’t tell my parents! I’ll be grounded forever!)
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (ran right up to the edge, almost gave my dad a heart attack - or so I'm told)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (this one is on my list of “things NOT to do”)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!

Yep, you read right...it snowed today...here...in Southeastern, Coastal North Carolina. Now, I know that it was only a couple flurries, and nothing stuck to anything; but don't bother me with technicalities and details - it was snow!! I love that the weather is turning, and the leaves are changing, and I can leave my windows open during the day to let in the brisk, fall air. I love that I can start playing Christmas music, and cussing at a tangled strand of tree lights. I can start buying Christmas presents and wrapping paper. It means hot chocolate first thing in the morning and last thing at night, cozy sweaters and cute tights for little girls, snuggly blankets and soups & chili for dinner, cold noses and pink cheeks, I even went to Toys R Us tonite and didn't murmer under my breath when the cashier couldn't figure out how to ring in a coupon...it must be Christmas!!

Jill made me do it!

This was lots of fun...thanks, Jill!!

8 favorite tv shows
We don't have cable anymore, so I'm not really sure...but I have always loved:
House
CSI
Veggie Tales (on Sat mornings)
Numbers
One Life to Live
General Hospital

I'm am recently addicted to:
Lost
The Mentalist

8 favorite restaurants
Macaroni Grill
The Cheesecake Factory
Roly Poly
Old Chicago
Oceanic
Port City Java (they have the best Chocolate Chip Muffins!!)
Chick - Fil - A (b/c we can take Afton and eat while she plays)
San Felipe

8 things that happened yesterday
I dropped my bagel in the driveway
I was late for work
Afton was chosen to go to the 4 year old preschool class for Literacy & Reading (think AIG for preschoolers...you go girl!!)

I worked late

I played Super Mario Bros 3 on the Wii with Afton
Read 4 books to Afton before bed
Afton went to sleep in her own bed without a fight
Went to bed (relatively) early

8 things that I'm looking forward to
My dad coming for Thanksgiving
My little brother and his girlfriend coming for Thanksgiving
A weekend in Myrtle Beach - just Joe and I
Piggies and Paws Party on Friday night
Having a happy, healthy family
Having more happy, healthy kids
Christmas shopping
Losing 10 more lbs

8 things I love about fall
Cooler air
Hot Chocolate
Cozy blankets
Soups and Stews for dinner
Dinner and hayride at Mike's Farms
Sweaters and blue jeans
The leaves changing colors
Leaving the windows open to let in some fresh air

8 things on my wishlist
Seeing a Broadway show
Traveling to Ireland
African Safari
...hey, it's called a wishlist right?...
Losing 20 more pounds
That the dog and Afton would quit fighting
Getting rid of a lingering sinus infection
A maid
Family pictures where we all look nice and nobody is blinking or sneezing or crying

8 people I tag
Well, we all know I don't know that many people with a blog, so I'll tag the ones I do know...
Amber B.
Laura B.
Toni W.
Rebekah H.

Have fun girls!!

Happy Halloween!!

This Halloween was so much fun!! I think it was the first Halloween that Afton really got into the whole pumpkin-carving, spider-web manipulating, scary-music-playing joy of it. She picked out her very own costume for the first time this year too. She was (and I quote) "a blue butterfly fairy". She was very put-out if anybody called her a princess or just a fairy. She would get this very exasperated tone in her voice and say "I'm not a princess, I'm a blue butterfly fairy". Occasionally it ended with a stomped foot.

Here's a rundown of the week's events:

Pumpkin Carving With My Home Skillet

Joe has been working a lot of nights this past week (a bank downtown flooded last week, 5 floors of fire alarms have to be replaced and tested), so Afton and I decided to carve a pumpkin together...she loved "scooping". She has a little song that went something like this: "Mommy scrapes and Afton scoops and Mommy scrapes and Afton scoops..." As it turns out, we're not to bad at the pumpkin-carving thing - a picture of our witch pumpkin is further down. And isn't Afton too cool in her shades?

Partyin' With The Preschoolers

Afton's preschool class had their Halloween party on Friday. They had so much fun! They danced the Hokey Pokey, did a conga line ('cause let's be honest, it just isn't a Halloween Party without a conga line), ate enough junk food to choke a horse and watched a Halloween cartoon. I think it was every 3 year-old's idea of Heaven on earth.

Trunk or Treat!

These are from the Trunk or Treat held at the Stake Center on Halloween night. We chose to do this rather than go door to door in our own neighborhood, because it didn't look to promising here. Afton loved the "sparkles" on her face and said they matched the ones in her skirt. You can't really tell in the second photo; because she was dancing, but there are tiny lights in her skirt that blinked on and off - she was so proud of them! And I have to thank the Yankeys, they parked next to us and provided the best music for her to dance the night away!

I was pretty proud of how our trunk turned out - considering I'm still missing one whole box of Halloween decorations. Joe put dry ice in the cauldrons, he blew fire extinguishers under the front of the van, so there was smoke billowing out from underneath the back - the kids loved it! The little blue pumpkin is one that Afton did all by herself, since she wasn't able to carve one; and the one with the stickers she did in Preschool. And once it got dark we lit the witch up...

All in all, it was a really great Halloween, and I'm glad that I have 360 days until I have to do it all over again!

Fort Fisher & Becoming a Better Me

I spent a couple hours at Fort Fisher yesterday. It's a rare treat, to be able to spend some time by myself - with just my camera for company; so to speak. I often feel like there are so many other things I should be doing, I'm sure a lot of mothers and wives feel the same way. But I'm so glad I took the time to go out there...it was amazing! The tide was high and the surf was crashing against the rocks, it was beautiful. Here are some of the pictures I took while I was there...

I am such an amateur, I know the pictures don't do the ocean justice, but I hope you can feel how majestic and powerful it was. The ocean re-energizes me and gives me new focus. I remember hearing a talk once; (Relief Society Lesson? Conference? Time Out For Women? I can't remember), it spoke of how as wives and mothers, we tend to put ourselves last - thinking that we have to do and be everything to everybody before we can do anything for ourselves. The speaker went on to say that this was flawed thinking, we can only be at our best for everybody else when we feel our best about ourselves. I understand this to mean that we have to take time for ourselves, to do those things that mean something to us and give us the chance to center, meditate, find peace or whatever you want to call it, and that in doing so we can come back to our responsibilities, families and lives with a renewed sense of purpose. For some this could mean painting, or running, or reading...for me it's taking my camera out and photographing (is that a real word?) something beautiful. I have made myself a promise that each week I will find a few stolen hours that are all mine...hopefully in doing so I will not only become a better mother and wife, but maybe a better photographer as well.

I'm a Twilight dork!

Ok, I love everything "Twilight"... I saw this on my sister-in-law's blog and it looked like fun...


Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

also...thanks for the peek at the new trailer, Jill!!

Thank you technology!!

So, this week I joined Facebook. Some of my friends were already there, as well as family - so I thought...it's about time. I started to search for people that I had known way back when and stumbled across one of my dearest friends...Rebekah. I haven't seen Rebekah for almost 10 years, and that was only briefly (so briefly that she readily admits to not remembering seeing me at all)...so I guess you could say it's been probably 15 years or more since we talked. Once we reconnected, we messaged until almost 2am, trying to catch up quickly...but there is still so much to learn about each other. She was my "super best friend" when I lived in Alabama. We were joined at the hip. My mother never asked "are you going to see Rebekah this weekend?" it was always "is she coming here or are you going there?". We shared clothes, lip gloss, possibly even boys. She was my confidant, my fortune teller, my everything. I cannot believe how long it has been, I cannot believe how much time has gone by, I cannot believe she has 4 adorable girls, but mostly I cannot believe that I found her. Thank you 21st century!!

I am SO buying an "I love Edward Cullen" t-shirt!!

And if you find that you are asking yourself "Who in the world is Edward Cullen" please do not take offense when I reply "Have you been living under a rock?!"

I just recently finished the Twilight series (it took me a week and a day; my sister, Heather; finished all 4 books in 5 days!) I am trying now to convince her that we should take a trip to the Hoh rainforest just outside Forks, Washington. The place is gorgeous!! It is exactly what I pictured it would be when I was reading the books:

I've heard people say that the books bring up some very deep and personal questions, and that they have been the launching point for some very insightful conversations. Whatever. I just love Edward. I could have been reading the phone book as long as Edward was in it.

Oh, and I'm serious about the t-shirt. It'll be my reward - 10 more lbs and it's all mine!!!

Just because...

So, I haven't been scrapbooking lately - mostly because I haven't had the time. But I seem to have gotten my days and nights mixed up, thanks to a late afternoon nap the other day; and I've gotten a lot done the last few days (ummm, nights?) so I thought I would share some of them with you...

From Afton:

afton


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XCGJM.ZXCNK/GHYGIJTFKMDER.HIO]'GRIJS]CNCEDIEOIJK

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This song rocks!!

This is a song written and sung by Natalie Grant (although I do a fine rendition in the shower, if I do say so myself). I have just recently stumbled across it and am obsessed with it now - so much so that Joe keeps turning the volume down...I'm gonna have to break his adorable fingers. Check it out...

Home, Sweet Home

So, I promised pictures of our new home and here they (finally) are...

So, this is it...1250 feet of "I am LOVIN' it!!"

This is the view from our entryway - to the left is the Entertainment Center and to the right is the hallway to the bedrooms. The kitchen is off the Living Room to the right (in the back)

This is Afton's bedroom - it's small, but she loves it. There is a killer shelving system in her closet which is just perfect for her, since we are trying to teach her to get her own shoes and clothes in the mornings, and it makes finding everything easier when she doesn't have to dig through a dresser. The very first night we spent here she woke up the next morning and shouted "Mommy, Daddy - there is grass outside my window!!" It was then that I realized that for pretty much as long as she could remember, she had only seen a parking lot when she looked out her window. What a shame!

This is the playroom that is hardly ever used, because Afton and all her toys always end up here...

This is part of our very loverly backyard - about half of it actually, there is more off to the right that I couldn't get in the photo. Afton and Wookie (not to mention Joe & I) spend about 85% of our time out here. Keep scrolling for the flora and fauna...

Magnolia? Azalea? I don't know, but it sure is pretty!


We have a whole family (herd? flock? possie?) of bumblebees that live in one of our potted plants. They really are quite friendly.

One of the many butterflies we get in "our garden" as Afton calls it.

I believe this is in the Black-Eyed Susan family. The colors are beautiful!

Again, I don't know what this is, but I think it's stunning!

Who can resist a girl & her puppy?

Hydrangea - my all time favorite flower; and this one is the most stunning shade of pale blue!

Stopping to sniff the, uh, impatiens?

Here leezard, leezard, leezard.

Another butterfly.

Well, that's pretty much it, hope you enjoyed the tour - have a safe trip home, and remember to tip your cabbies, it's not a hobbie!

Addicted to the Bloglist..

Ok, I think I can say that I am addicted to Bloglist. I admit that I have a problem and that I need help. Isn't that the first step? So, I have decided to limit myself to lists that can only bring a positive change in my life and influence me and those around me to do good and take steps towards world peace and a greener tomorrow....so, anybody buying this? I didn't think so, but it was worth a shot right? Okay, so here is the newest Bloglist, and let me tell you friends - it is hysterical!

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) – Rowdy Sedona
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) – Chocolate Chocolate Chip
3. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) –Blue Cat
4. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -BruMi
5. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) -The Yellow Fanta
6.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) –Marie Arthur
7. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a place you’d like to vacation) –McMillian Greece
8. SPY NAME/BOND GIRL: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) –Winter Hydrangea
9. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now) Strawberry FlipFlop
10. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) – Chocolate Magnolia
11. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) -The Digital Scrapbooking Snow Tour

I've been tagged (again!!)

Thanks to Jill for tagging me...I love being tagged, it makes me feel important! So here goes...oh, see letter "T" to see if you've been tagged...

The ABC's of Me:
A. ATTACHED OR SINGLE? Attached
B. BEST FRIEND? My mom, Afton and Joe (not necessarily in that order)
C. CAKE OR PIE? Cake - I don't eat pie, I know, it's completely unAmerican, but I have texture issues with pie crust.
D. DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday - it's the day we can devote to hanging out as a family together
E. ESSENTIAL ITEMS? My cell phone, A juice box & fruit snacks for Afton, Change for the soda machine (I'm addicted to Orange soda)
F. FAVORITE COLOR? Blue, but not just any blue, it's a very specific shade of blueish-green...it's the color of the ocean in the Bahamas
G. GUMMY BEARS OR WORMS? Depends - gummy bears if I'm at the movies, worms if I'm just eating them for fun
H. HOMETOWN? That's more difficult, I grew up in a bunch of different places, but if I had to pick one I'd say Huntsville, Alabama
I. INDULGENCE? Purses, Shoes and Candy
J. JANUARY OR JULY? Without a doubt January - I don't like the heat in July; it makes me cranky
K. KIDS? 1 gorgeous little girl, we'd love at least one more
L. LIFE ISN'T COMPLETE WITHOUT? Snuggling on the couch sharing a bowl of ice cream with Afton
M. MARRIAGE DATE? November 3rd
N. NUMBER OF BROTHERS AND SISTERS? Are you ready? 5 brothers, 5 sisters
O. ORANGES OR APPLES? Apples are easier to eat, and really yummy with caramel!
P. PHOBIAS OR FEARS? Cockroaches, clowns and losing somebody I love
Q. QUOTE? I'm a quote fanatic - but one of my new favorites is "I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be; If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me." From the primary song "If the Savior Stood Beside Me"
R. REASONS TO SMILE? Afton, Joe, fresh flowers, a beautiful backyard first thing in the morning, watching my preschool class "get it", hot chocolate, the smell of snow, Christmas lights, finding the perfect pair of jeans, finding the perfect Christmas or birthday gift, PAYDAY!!
S. SUPERMAN OR WONDER WOMAN? Wonder Woman
T. TAG 3 PEOPLE? Toni Walker, Laura Brunjes, Amber Brunjes
UNKNOWN FACT ABOUT ME? I love (LOVE) scary movies - but I'm too much of a chicken to watch them!
V. VEGETABLES? Do French Fries count? No, really - Stir fried broccoli, bean sprouts, cabbage, carrots & zucchini
W. WORST HABIT? separating my m&ms by color and then eating them alphabetically (the blue ones first, then brown, then green...you get the picture)
X. X-RAY OR ULTRASOUND? I'm dying for the chance to have another ultrasound!
Y. YOUR FAVORITE FOOD? This one is difficult...burritoes, popcorn cake, spaghetti, chicken enchiladas - do I have to choose just one?
Z. ZODIAC SIGN? Saggitarius

Yay Afton!!!!

I cried again today, but for a completely different reason...when I picked Afton up after preschool this morning there was a note in her cubby that said "Caught "bee-ing" good!" It was a little certificate that said that Afton was being recognized for the best coloring and manners!! MY CHILD?!?!?! I knew she had mad coloring skills, but manners too? Who knew? She also got a sticker that said "Wow!" I was elated and couldn't stop the waterworks. I didn't blubber in front of everybody and make a fool out of myself, but there were some tears. It would seem as if the brain-washing worked! It probably doesn't hurt that she went to bed on time and her teacher is uber-patient! It was such an exciting moment so I took her out for an ice cream cone. I am so proud of our little girl, and I can't wait Joe to get home so that he can congratulate her, too! Super Nanny may be good, but she's got nothin' on me!!

PS - Don't buy packing tape at The Dollar Store...just a tip.

Not off to a great start.

So, I have been struggling with something for the last day or so, and to some it may seem like a small thing, but to me it feels like the weight of the world. Yesterday was Afton's first day back to preschool. She has been with me all summer in our Preschool Summer Camp program, and I wondered if the transition would be hard for her - turns out it was. Miss Candy (her teacher) sent a note home with Afton that said she needs to work on not screaming when she doesn't get her way, as well as hitting and throwing toys. Well - not exactly what every mom wants to hear on the very first day of school. I think it goes without saying that I cried. I want Afton to have friends, I want her to be a joy in the classroom. As a preschool teacher I can tell you that when parents tell us their child will be absent for a day or two, sometimes we do a little happy dance. I don't want Afton to be that child! I toyed with calling in Super Nanny (no, I'm not kidding - I downloaded the application yesterday). In all fairness to her teacher, Afton is a strong-willed child, she knows her own mind and she knows what she wants. These things will serve her well if channeled in the right direction. But she is also a happy little girl who is a social butterfly and just a joy to be around, except at school apparently. In her defense, Afton's life has been pretty crazy lately. Her home has been turned upside down because of all the packing; her daddy's been out of town on business a lot the past few weeks; we spent quite a bit of time at the Preschool Center this weekend trying to finish the renovations and she hasn't been to bed on time in probably 4 days. This does not make for a happy Afton. However, we have been working really hard at home for the last 24 hours explaining how big girls act (no hitting or screaming, we don't throw our toys - that kind of thing). We have been talking about it in the car, during dinner, when we say our prayers - I even came up with a "Big Girls Don't Hit" song and dance routine (American's Got Talent - look out!) Some might call it brainwashing...but hey, whatever works; right?! She is also going to bed 30 minutes early tonight to ensure that we don't have a cranky girl in the morning. Between that and my fervent prayers that I will have the inspiration I need to teach her the things she needs to know - including how to be a good friend, how to be a good listener, and how to express her feelings appropriately - I hope we will not have to resort to the Super Nanny. But I'm keeping the application on file, just in case.

Caution: This post contains pictures of half-naked babies at their cutest!

I must be the world's worst mommy. I've been slowly (very slowly) sorting through and organizing the tons of pictures and photo cds that we have, and I came across a cd of pictures that I had completely forgotten about! These were pictures taken at Portrait Innovations (I love them!!) in October of 2005 of Afton and her cousins from the Brunjes side. I've spent the last couple days scrapping some of them, and wanted to share them with you...

This is Will, Colby and Afton - aren't they adorable! I love half-naked babies!

Colby and Afton; this is one of my favorite pictures of the two of them.

And of course this is Afton.

I've got tons left to scrap! I'll be posting more pages as I get them done.

Afton's First Haircut

Well, we did it! After 3 years Afton got her first haircut! Joe's mom (MeMe Sharon) cut it for us. She took off 4 inches of Afton's baby hair, but we think she is just as adorable as ever! It's been cut for a couple months, but I just got around to scrapping it - here's the page...

Whaddya' think...pretty darn cute, huh?!

What a mess!!

Our apartment is such a disaster! I'm not talking "there are a few dishes that need to be done" or "the laundry needs to be folded"; I mean "the Health Department is going to come in and shut us down because we live in filth and squallor like a bunch of dirty pigs" dirty! We're in the middle of packing what we want to keep and purging what we don't (we had an entire Rubbermaid tote full of empty cd cases - no cds, just the cases?!) while still trying to do everyday cleaning, cooking, laundry, taking care of Afton, grocery shopping, working, our church callings, plus with the start of another preschool year I have a bunch of parent meetings and inservices I have to attend...have I mention that our house is dirty? It just makes me want to scream! Well, now that I got that off my chest...I recieved this in an email and it looked like fun - but it truly was a challenge, being that I am not a girl of few words (in case you hadn't noticed). So here are the rules: you have to answer each question completely with ONLY one word. No equivications or explanations...just one word. So here's mine...



1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Your significant other? Chair
3. Your hair is...? Ugh
4. Your mother is...? Wonderful
5. Your father is...? Fantastic
6. What is your favorite thing? Nutella
7. Your dream last night was...? Bizarre
8. What is your favorite drink? Water
9. What is your dream/goal? Motherhood
10. What is your greatest fear? Failure
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Teacher
12. Where were you last night? Home
13. What you’re not? Socialite
14. Muffins or Cupcakes? Cupcakes
15. One of your wish list items? Vacation
16. Where did you grow up? Globally
17. What is the last thing you did? Bedtime
18. What are you wearing? PJ's
19. What's on your TV? Documentary
20. Your pets are...? Needy
21. Your computer is...? Full
22. Your life is...? Full
23. Your mood is...? Stressed
24. Are you missing someone? Nope
25. Your car is...? Dirty
26. Something you’re not wearing? Heels
27. Your favorite store is...? Walmart
28. Your summer is...? Over
29. The last time you laughed? Tonight
30. The last time you cried? Monday

Well, that's all for me - the dishes will not clean themselves! Neither will the laundry, or the bathrooms, or the living room......

A mouse, a man & their monkey

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

Tag! You're it!

I've been tagged! Thanks to my sweet sister-in-law, Jill; you will get to know some great random tidbits about me. I have to list 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current collections or obsessions and 3 random or surprising facts, and then I have to tag 5 people (I don't even think I know 5 people with blogs - so that should be interesting). Well, without further ado...here goes:

Joys
1) My daughter and my husband, without a doubt!
2) My faith in and testimony of Jesus Christ. Although I am not great at sharing it with others, it is there, and I feel it so deeply.
3) Massage - they are too few and far between, but when I get that one hour to myself - it is pure bliss!

Fears
1) That I will not teach Afton everything she needs to know to be a strong, level-headed, brave young woman.
2) Cockroaches - waterbugs, palmetto bugs - whatever you call them...ugh! I am DEATHLY afraid of them! My stomach turns and my skin crawls at the mere thought of one!
3) I have a pathological fear of clowns. Even worse than with the roaches. There is something really creepy about a grown man putting on makeup and cramming into a Volkswagen Beetle with 5 other grown men in makeup and a poodle.

Goals
1) I desperately want more children!
2) To get back into the shape I was in during my twenties...that would probably be considered a "long term goal".
3) To scuba dive off the coast of Greece, the Turks & Caicos, and the Florida Keys.

Obsessions
1) Photography - My adorable husband bought me a sweet new camera for Christmas, and I can't seem to put it down! I tried reading the manuel, but it just confused me so I bought "Photography for Dummies" and that's right up my alley.
2) Digital Scrapbooking - Ask Joe - I'm truly addicted.
3) Nutella - yeah, it's that good!

Random or Surprising Facts
1) I was reading by the time I was 3 years old
2) I have two rows of eyelashes on top and bottom of each eye (yup - that's 4 rows of eyelashes per eye)
3) I desperately want to go skydiving, but Joe says there is no good reason to jump out of a perfectly safe airplane. Maybe for my birthday?

Okay - so if nothing else, I hope you were at least entertained.

Tag - you're it: Amber Brunjes, Laura Brunjes, Toni Walker, yep, that's pretty much the entire list of people that I know with blogs (other than Jill, but since she already tagged me that would be a bit redundant, wouldn't it?) I can't wait to read yours!

Good-bye Apartment Living!

We are putting the security deposit down on our new house this week...well, I guess technically it's not ours since we're renting - but you know what I mean. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath with a laundry room, cathedral ceilings and a one car garage.It's in a really great neighborhood with a GREAT pool (very important), a large playground (also important) and a FANTASTIC backyard (the most important!). It has a 6 foot wood privacy fence, the lot is probably 1/2 acre and it's so beautifully landscaped with plants that are kid and dog friendly. It's amazing that the current owners (who happen to be members of our ward) picked all the same plants that I would have chosen - hydrangeas, black-eyed susans, cone flowers, lantana, hibiscus...I can't wait to see how many butterflies and hummingbirds we get! Afton and Wookie are going to love it! I'm already planning on getting Afton tons of outdoor toys for Christmas and her birthday . The owners are asking us to sign a one-year lease, and maybe renew with the option to buy if we're happy. Joe and I have been talking about it, and we can definitely see ourselves there for a while. It's in a part of town that is growing pretty rapidly - and although we'll only be a few minutes from everything, we won't be right in the thick of it. There is a soccer field and playground just a few minutes away, the church is a couple minutes up the road, and I think we'll be zoned for the new elementary school they'll start building next year. All in all, pretty good stuff. We move in Sept 1st, so I'll post some pictures then.

Kids say the darndest things!

We took Afton to the pool today - she LOVES the water (again - no fear)! She's learning how to swim, and doing a really great job; so I bought her a kickboard. Today was the first day she had tried to use it, and she was having a difficult time. Joe and I were talking about it and decided it probably had to do with her having a hard time keeping her balance. I didn't think she was paying much attention...little did I know. A little while later Afton slipped on one of the steps and fell. Thank goodness she was ok! After I checked her over, I asked her if she was hurt - but she was crying so hard she couldn't answer; so I started to rephrase the question..."Did you hurt your arm?" "Did you hurt your foot?" "Did you hurt your leg?" She looked at me, and through all her tears said "No mommy, I hurt my balance!" We tried so hard
not to laugh at her, because she was trying so hard to be grown up...but it was really funny!

This is a picture from earlier this summer - she almost always refuses to wear her jacket anymore. But look at that smile - my girl loves the pool!

Here we go!!

So, here we go...I've decided to join all my friends and family in the 21st century and have a blog. I don't know what I'll write, I don't know that you'll find it particularly interesting - but we'll see what happens.

First - the title, "A Mouse, a man & their monkey" - when I was growing up (and even sometimes today) my dad's pet name for me was "Mouse", it is something very dear to me - I even collected mice figurines for a little while. Joe is the "man" - he doesn't really have a nickname, and I couldn't think of one that fit (sorry babe!); obviously the "monkey" is Afton. This child has no fear of anything - people, heights, dogs, water...nothing. And she climbs on EVERYTHING - hence "the monkey". She is the absolute joy of our lives.