Happy 15th Austin!

I cannot believe how the time has flown. I met my nephew, in 1998 when I first starting dating Justin. He is Justin's brother, Jason's, son. My first memory is pulling up to Justin and Jason's parent's house (I was in my metro) and having this adorable little boy come running up to the car. He looked in the backseat, saw Jill and said, "Oh, you brought me a friend!" That was it. The 2 became the best of buds...

What do I love about Austin?

HE IS KIND

HE HAS A CATCHING SMILE

HIS HAIR IS AWESOME


HE BLUSHES EASILY

I HAVE NEVER SEEN HIM MAD

HE LOVES HIS FAMILY

HE HAS A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR


HE GIVES THE BEST HUGS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUSTIN, I LOVE YOU.

Aunt Jenn

More SPK - R Rated

Reese's Pieces?

When Jill was about 4 years old, her and I were in Albertsons picking up some groceries. She knew that if she behaved in the store, she would be allowed to pick out a treat while we were waiting in line. She was looking for her treat and I was standing in line with 2 or 3 people ahead of me. She looks up and says, "Mom, do you want me to pick out a treat for you too?" I told her that would be nice and then she yells, "Mom, how about some Reese's Penises, 'cause I know you like those!" Oh boy was I embarrassed! The people ahead of me were having a good laugh though.

I get her in the car and I tell her that the candy I like are Reese's Pieces and then I ask her, "Jillian, do you know what a penis is?" She tells me that she does not. I try and use her Uncle Nathan (who was the same age and her best bud at the time) as an example. Like what the difference is between them and what a penis is used for. I guess she was still confused because she then says, "Eeewww... How can you eat those things?" I could not stop laughing. It still makes me giggle even writing about it.

Top Websites

OK, this post is lame and I know it. I think my body is chuck full of tryptophan from the butt load of turkey I have consumed this week. Here are my top funny websites. When life is getting me down, this is where I go for a quick pick me up...

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/

http://failblog.org/

ENJOY!

Happy 7th Anniversary Justin

Justin and I met at a bar. I was 29 and he was... well never mind. This was 1998. Now we did not meet at a bar, like he saw me and bought me a drink or something romantic like that. We met because he was a bartender and I was a waitress. His first words to me I believe were, "Hey why don't you get some dishes done b****h?" To which I replied, "Why don't you do your own dishes b****h?" He wet towel whipped me and I thought he was an ass.

Over the course of the next few weeks his charm and wit kind of started to grow on me and it led to many late nights (like 3 am) that we would close up the bar and just sit and talk.

I remember one time my friends were going up to the canyon, I had my daughter with me who was 6 at the time. Justin followed me out and hung out with us for the afternoon. He colored with Jill and I remember thinking maybe he wasn't such a big ass after all.

Justin has an amazing sense of humor and I think that is why I initially fell in love with him. He was always making me laugh. He was also awesome with my daughter. I went to Tennessee on a business trip (this was before we were married) and he called Jill's dad to see if he could pick her up and take her to one of his family's parties.

Another memory I have of him is this major make-out session we were having on my dad's upstairs couch. WOW. I got a bloody nose at some point and remember dripping all over his face. Can you imagine the embarrassment? He still called me the next day.

I also remember watching a movie with him in my dad's basement and getting up and running down the hall because I had to unleash a little gas. He heard me and of course had to comment about it. He still called me the next day.

This guy wasn't going anywhere and for that I am thankful.

He proposed to me at his apartment. I don't remember what month (my bad) but I believe it was in the spring. I really had no idea. The ring was set in a nest in this beautiful flower arrangement.

On November 27th, 2002 we were finally married. We had a small ceremony in my home and then honeymooned in Las Vegas.


Now here we are 11 years later, 3 wonderful kids and I am just as in love with him now as I was then.

I love you Justin and look forward to another 11 years together.

Nothing but Thanks

OK, 853 is my favorite number. How this came to be will be a blog for another day. I could probably give you 853 things that I am thankful for but I would be up all night and then a grouch tomorrow. Instead I give you...

53 Things I am thankful for...

1. A loving, forgiving, merciful God that always seems to make sure I have plenty to be thankful for
   
2. My loving, forgiving husband Justin
3. My beautiful, sweet, low maintenance daughter Jill
4. My charming, witty son Dax
5. My darling, cuddly son Jace
6. My mom who I become more and more like each day (I don't mind at all, she's great)
   
7. My dad who has always loved me unconditionally
   
8. My step-mom Pauline who is one of the most generous people I know
   
9. My brother Matt who has been my best friend since birth and I am proud of and who challenged me to write
   
10. My brother Nathan for being himself and who I would really like to get to know better
    
11. My in-laws, Dave & Marie and Ray & Shelley who always make family time fun and enjoyable
    
12. My sister-in-laws Kristy (she is a natural beauty, inside and out) & Leslee (makes me feel like I have always had a sister and keeps me informed) & Katie (for always telling it like it is) & Kallie (for being herself and genuine) & Liz (for always making a point to play with my boys) & Tara (for liking the water just a little more than I do)
    
13. My brother-in-laws Jason (for always making me laugh and coming up with words that ARE NOT in the dictionary) & Royce (for also making me laugh and being a great dad) & Tim (for introducing me to LOST and always talking to me at family gatherings)
    
14. My nephews Logan(who is adorable and SO SMART) & Austin (who is a stud and doesn't really mind me embarrassing him and has great hair)
    
15. My nieces Tiffany (who is beautiful and happy all the time), Taysha (who doesn't mind playing with Dax and has great taste in clothes) & Zoe (who will try anything, is sweet as pie and demands hugs and kisses from her cousin)
    
16. My friend Melissa (such a beautiful person and the only person I tell EVERYTHING to)
17. My friend Holly (for liking Chaladas and golf and for keeping an eye out for me)
    
18. My friend Jill (aside from Coke, she is my soul sister)
    
19. My co-workers, Warren (a first born I can relate to in many ways), Nev ( for being so artistic), Brad (for having the love of reading in common), Kathy(for being constant and calm) & Steve (who knows something about everything)
20. Ketchup
21. My cute home
    
22. My health (this week)
23. My family's health
    
24. Being able to eat 3 turkey dinners in 5 days
25. Food in general
    
26. Fall (colorful leaves, the smell, the weather, the sunrise and sunsets)
    
27. Movies
    
28. Clean smelling towels
    
29. I can cover my grey
30. I don't look 41... hopefully when I am 50
    
31. Golf
32. Mascara and lip gloss
    
33. Chaladas - 1, 2, 3
    
34. Dishwashers
    
35. I can drink water from a tap
36. Pumpkin carving
37. Cameras to record memories
    
38. Razors to keep me smooth
    
39. Tweezers to keep my beard under control
    
40. The Internet
41. My faithful blog followers
42. The Bubble Game
43. Heat
44. Air conditioning
45. My toothbrush
    
46. Diet Cherry Pepsi
47. Facebook for keeping me in touch with family and friends
    
48. My Aunt Margo's calendars
49. Book stores
50. Frodo, Dusty Bottoms, Ned, Lucky Day and Gary
    
51. Flowers
52. My hairdresser
53. Fireworks
    
54. Memories of my Grandma and Grandpa and Pappou and Yiayia
55. Growing up in Edmonton, AB Canada
56. Rain, thunder and lightning
57. Music
58. Straight, tasteful Christmas lights
59. Sleep
60. Disposable diapers
61. TP
62. Comet
63. Clothing
64. Happy pills
65. Phones
66. Not having to deal with spiders 5 months out of the year

Ok, ok, so once I started I couldn't stop.

Busted, in the Wind

Here is a funny story about a boy, Derrick, and a girl, Jennifer. Derrick and Jennifer were friends although Derrick always wished there was more to it. Derrick was a self-proclaimed musician and poet. Here is a love letter that Derrick wrote Jennifer, they were both 17 years.

Dearest Jennifer,
You are my best friend and confidant. You inspire me to write my poetry and lyrics. This is what I wrote for you, my one true friend.

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind

Don't hang on, nothing lasts forever but the earth and sky
It slips away, and all your money won't another minute buy.

Dust in the wind, all we are is dust in the wind
Dust in the wind, everything is dust in the wind.

Yours forever, Derrick

SERIOUSLY FOLKS, WHO IS THIS GUY KIDDING? Yes, this was a love letter written to me by one of my friends. You can now see the quality of guys I used to hang around with in high school. At least he took the time out of his busy musician's schedule to plagiarize a song for me! I still have this letter...

Best Disney Movies & a Stinker

Can you believe Disney has made 282 movies? I have only seen 98 of them and these are my top ten and the only stinker I can think of. They are not in any particular order and it would seem that I am not as fond of the classics as I am the newer ones.

THE BEST

UP - This movie is wonderful. I saw the film in 3D with my whole family. Mr. Fredricksen reminded me of my grandpa.

The Emperor's New Groove - The whole movie had me laughing. Favorite scene?
Pacha: Where'd you come from, little guy?
Kuzco: No... touchy.
Pacha: Demon llama!
Kuzco: Demon llama? Where?
[Turns around and sees Misty, a real llama]
Misty: Maaah.
Kuzco: Aaah!


Holes - Not many great books can become great movies. This is the exception.










Lilo & Stitch - Love it! I would love to have a "dog" like Stitch and Lilo is just adorable. Favorite part?
Lilo: You know, you wreck everything you touch. Why not try and make something for a change?
[Stitch builds a city out of what he finds in Lilos room]
Lilo: Wow. San Francisco.
[Stitch begins to destroy the city like the monster in "Eath vs. the Spider", picking up a toy car]
Stitch: [as car passengers] "Eeeeeek! Save me!"
Lilo: No more caffeine for you.

Cars - I have watched this movie so many times in the last month. My boys love it. So many scenes I love but my favorite has to be when Mater is showing McQueen how well he drives backwards. Mater is the best.





Finding Nemo - Adoryble Ellen Degeneres!
Dory: Hey, what's wrong?
Marlin: What's wrong? While they're busy doing their little impressions, I'm miles from home with a fish who can't even remember her name.
Dory: Boy, I bet that's frustrating.
Marlin: Meanwhile, my son is missing
Dory: Your son Chico?
Marlin: Nemo.
Dory: Right. Got it.

Aladdin - THE HOTTEST character.












Monsters, Inc - The ending to this movie makes me cry every time.
Sulley: Boo?
Boo: Kitty!







Nightmare Before Christmas - Brilliantly written and the soundtrack is amazing. One of my favorite scenes is when the Mayor goes to visit Jack, keeps switching faces as he becomes more concerned Jack is not at home. Then he proceeds to fall down the stairs.





Remember the Titans - I think this is my all time favorite. I can watch this over and over. Denzil Washington is one of my favorite actors.








Toy Story - I went to see this in the theater with my daughter and my Aunt Lisa. I wasn't interested in it at all and I remember thinking there must be better movies to see. Obviously I was wrong. I love all the characters but I would have to say Buzz is my favorite. When he is gasping for air after Woody opens his helmet... too funny.







STINKER ALERT

Bridge to Terabithia - This is 96 minutes of my life I will never get back. If you have never seen it, don't. If you have seen it and you liked it, I can't be your friend anymore. After Jill and I dried our tears at the saddest part of the movie, we continued drying tears for a very different reason. This movie was torture, but we watched it until the end because we were led to believe the story was going somewhere. NOT.

Sour Patch Kid

When Jill was a baby she did not like long car trips. Before moving to the US, I had to make several trips to the consulate in Calgary. This was 3+ hours away from Edmonton. To keep her quiet, I had to sing songs to her. The songs ranged from, "The Brady Bunch" to "You are My Sunshine".

I continued to do this until Jill turned about 2 then one day while singing in the car I turned around to see her sticking her fingers in her ears. I asked her what the problem was and she said, "Mommy, make it stop." Stop I did.

Lucky for me, Jill inherited my singing voice (or lack thereof) and I can now enjoy singing in the car again. She often joins in and eventually we are in a fit of giggles at how horribly off key we both are. Fun.

Grandma Anhder's Sweet & Sour Chicken

My grandma and I had many things in common but nothing like our love for food. Over the next year I will be sharing my most favorite recipes...

Sweet & Sour Chicken
1-2 lbs. chicken breast
1 egg
1 cup cornstarch
garlic salt
1 tbsp. butter

Beat egg; dip chicken in egg and then in cornstarch. Sprinkle garlic salt on. Brown in butter. When chicken is brown, put it in a casserole dish (13").

Mix together:
1 cup vinegar
3 tbsp. ketchup
2 tbsp. soy sauce
1 cup sugar

Pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, turning once in sauce when half done. Enjoy over rice with a vegetable of your choice.

My Dad

Happy 65th Birthday Dad!

Do you remember?

• putting me over your knee and spanking me when I was 15?
  

• taking long naps together?

• caring for me after Jill was born?

• the long drives from Edmonton to Logan with Matt and I in the back making fun of your music?

• being afraid when I was at the wheel?

• taking Mindy and I to Saturday night dances and then having to pick us up at 2 a.m. because we couldn't get home?

• skating at Mayfair park?

• slurpies?

• living together in the apartment in Clareview?

• playing in the snow?

• listening to me practice playing the oboe and bass clarinet?

• making dolmathes?

• cooking Saturday morning breakfast (Greek eggs, roly polies, and cantalope)?

• camping?

• consoling me after break-ups and sending me flowers?

• taking hundreds of pictures of me when I was young and making me pose for every one of them?

• singing "It Ain't Gonna Rain No More, No More" and "Neena Nina" to me?

• the times I permed your hair?

• watching Matt and I put on dance recitals?

• Christmas at my apartment?

• my HORRIBLE teenage years?

• always beating me at card games?

• Trans-Siberian concerts?

• watching "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly?

• listening to Prince?

• taking me to the hospital to have my foot stitched up?

I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with you. I just want you to know that I love you and I will always be your little girl...

Jeeju

And the award for the ugliest dog goes to...

FRODO

Justin and I bought Jill a dog in 2001. We rescued him from an animal shelter in Riverdale. Actually we rescued him from some very scary woman that just so happened to rescue stray animals. We were looking for a Chihuahua and I saw his picture on the web and immediately fell in love with him. Let's just say he takes very good pictures. Kidding Jill...

Frodo is part Chihuahua and we think maybe Dachshund or Boston Terrier. He has been a very nice addition to our family if you don't take in to account the following: he is scared of things smaller than him like mice and flies (yes, you read that right), and then ordinary things like fly swatters, clapping, cats, kids, feet, water, being lonely, knocking, firecrackers and the list goes on. He also has a very weak stomach and will puke up almost anything that he eats other than his dog food. He like to dine with the family and make as much noise doing it that he can. He snores and moans and grunts and groans. He cries when his nails are clipped and he has lost most of his teeth which might be why his breath always smells like a swamp. He also has "little dog syndrome", he loves to chase and square off with dogs much larger than he is.

I guess it is a good thing that he is the first dog that I have ever owned and I have nothing to compare him too.

We think he was probably about 2 years when we got him which would put him at 77 dog years.

Wow, he is old, now I feel bad...

Honestly though, I love Frodo and he has been a great dog for my kids, especially Jill. If she is not home he sits and whines and looks out the windows and waits for her.

She packs him around in her purse and takes him on bike rides in the summer. When we first got him, we loved to dress him up for the holidays...

For me, there is nothing like looking into his incredible, brown, bug eyes and knowing that he loves me unconditionally.

Girls Night Out

Over the years I have been blessed with many girl friends but no one like my best friend Melissa. Tonight we were able to spend some time together.

We ate at Cafe Sabor and talked about our crazy last 2 weeks. This particular restaurant has wonderful Mexican food but is typically freezing cold. We asked to be seated somewhere warm and they put us in their covered patio with metal chairs. What the? They probably remember us from last time and wanted to limit our 3 hour visit to just the 1 1/2 hours we were there, freezing out butts off. Since we were not even close to done visiting we debated on what to do next...

Walmart? Yes. She had something she needed to buy and I wanted to get my dad's birthday present and a card. What 2 other women can spend close to 3 hours browsing Walmart?

It was fun and while I don't think our attire would warrant us to be posted on the popular "thepeopleofwalmart.com", our behavior might. We browsed the holiday, cosmetic, cd and appliance aisles. We stopped to look at the birthday cards (reminds me of another 3 hours spent on the floor in Hallmark) and sniffed every possible ScentSational fragrance cube. It was a blast!

How lucky I am to have a beautiful friend like Melissa.


Melissa and her son, Kaleb

More B&W

OVER BEANS & WIENERS




Daxton had just gotten out of the tub and was looking for warm pj's in the dryer (he was in the nude). I hear a great big "brrrraaaattttzzzsss" and he looks over and says, "Now that was a man fart."

What is it about boys and farting? Jace is only 1 1/2 years and he "man farts" all the time. He always smiles afterward and says, "Bart".

Jill has Dax convinced that girls don't fart and even if they did, it would smell like roses. Are we the only family out there where fart is a household word?

Fun with my brother Matt

OK, so here I am pushing the envelope again, but for good reason. My brother Matt and I had "sibling time" together tonight. Thanks to my hubby, Justin, and my daughter, Jill, for making it possible for me to spend some quality time with my bro.

By quality time I mean, video games and reminiscing about our childhood. I put my 2 young boys in bed tonight at 8:30, put on my pj's, grabbed the large container of family photos and headed over to Matt's place. IT WAS AWESOME. We haven't spent time together like that in years... I miss it.

Going through our childhood pictures was fun. We were 2 of the cutest kids! It amazes me how much my boys look like Matt did when he was young. Matt pulled a lot of pictures to use in his future blogs and I realized I have many stories to tell about growing up. I also realized that he has the ability to totally embarrass me! Ah, what goes around, comes around...

After we finished looking at pictures, we started in on the Atari games. My very favorite was Space Invaders. Oddly enough, not many of the games were 2 players (family time must not have been a priority in the early development of gaming) and I think that is why that one was my favorite. Matt and I both on the same team, much like growing up together.

I played a little Pitfall, Joust, Donkey Kong and Ms. PacMan and to finish the evening off, Matt kicked my butt at Ice Hockey.

Thanks Matt for a fun evening and let's not go another 10 years before we do that again.

10 Ten Reasons I Love to Farm

1) I can do it any time of the day
2) It is hard to kill my crops, my animals or my flowers
3) It lets me be creative
4) Creates a bond with my farmer friends
5) I get to wear pigtails
6) I have a huge farm bank account (over 600,000 coins)
7) I can hire people to harvest and plow
8) I can plant almost anything
9) I get gifts everyday
10) It gave me something to blog about

Immortal Beloved

The movie "Immortal Beloved" ranks in my top 10 list of great movies. It stars Gary Oldman, one of my top 10 favorite actors, playing my most favorite composer, Ludwig Van Beethoven.

After Beethoven died in 1827, 3 love letters were discovered in his desk. The person the letters addressed is unknown although there is some speculation. This movie follows his life and death and his secretary and biographer's search for Beethoven's "Immortal Beloved".

"My angel, my all, my very self - Only a few words today and at that with pencil (with yours) - Not till tomorrow will my lodgings be definitely determined upon - what a useless waste of time - Why this deep sorrow when necessity speaks - can our love endure except through sacrifices, through not demanding everything from one another; can you change the fact that you are not wholly mine, I not wholly thine -"

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Nothing gets me more in the mood for Thanksgiving and Christmas than the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Rock opera... You have probably heard some pieces and don't even know it. Check out my side-bar to listen to some of their music while reading my blog.

Since I was very small, my dad has exposed me to a variety of peculiar music. I am sure that he would say the same thing about me! I usually make fun of it initially, then I end up asking him if I can borrow a copy because it has grown on me. One year he copied TSO's, The Lost Christmas Eve and I instantly became a fan. I went out and purchased the other 3 albums. Beethoven's Last Night is THE BEST. Listen to track #5 for a taste.

My dad's birthday is November 21st and it just so happens that TSO comes to Salt Lake every November. In 2005 I surprised my him with tickets. I didn't tell him where we were going, just that I would pick him up early and he would be spending the evening with me. I think it was a couple of days before his birthday so he knew something was up. We headed to the E-Center where I sprung the tickets on him. We were a little early and found a wonderful fast-food, greek restaurant (Greek Souvlaki) where we were able to enjoy spanakopita and dolmathes before the concert.

The concert was fantastic, more than I could have imagined. The storyline was awesome, the voices were incredible and oh boy can this one girl play the violin. The light and fire show was spectacular... If you can just imagine Christmas carols with a heavy metal, rock & roll twist. WOW.

My dad and I went again the following year and then the year after that we brought Pauline (his wife), Nathan (my younger brother), Matt and Kristy (brother and sister-in-law) and my daughter Jill. I don't think they had nearly the same experience we did, but it was fun anyway. If I could afford to go every year and take every one I know, I would.

You can check out their website at http://www.trans-siberian.com/...

Enjoy the magic!