dear greg,

Thanks for scaring me half to death last night in our dark hallway. I'm sure I would have wet myself if I hadn't just exited the bathroom. I guess seeing you laugh that hard at me screaming and slapping your chest and then crying from laughter was worth it. The story may have been different had I peed my pants. That doesn't change my need for payback, however...

pop!

Confession: I have been in love with Bubble Wrap my whole life. It's just satisfying to hear those little bubbles pop. I know I'm not alone here...

Growing up with a salesman Dad meant receiving lots of samples in big boxes = Bubble Wrap. Growing up with 5 brothers meant we occasionally fought over who got the Bubble Wrap. I usually won. When I was feeling nice I shared with my little brother. I may not have felt nice as often as I should.

I would lay the Bubble Wrap carefully on the floor and run up and down the sheet until the 'popping' stopped. Then, I would methodically scan each row for unpopped bubbles to squish with my fingers.

That being said, you must understand why I need this calendar:

A bubble to pop for every day of the year? Genius.

I'm contemplating making my own. Now I just need Bubble Wrap. Who drew my name for Christmas again?

Isn't sealed air great?

london, france, underpants

Changing into workout clothes in the locker room is significantly more awkward when you wear garments.

Let's just say I recently had a close call at my work gym with a co-worker who doesn't share my religious preference and it was uncomfortable.

Anyone else had this experience?

brrrrrr

Welcome winter. I'm sitting at my desk (at work) with my coat on. I could really used a space heater right now, or at least a darker brown coat. I feel silly wearing tan pants and a tan coat at the same time. That's what I get for refusing to wear my black coat with my brown shirt/shoes combo today.

I'm a slave to fashion?

finally

This was originally going to be a multi-part post explaining why it's taken so long to show a picture of my Halloween costume. But I'm too tired (Lazy?) for that so here's the short version:

I was the designated photographer for the Halloween costume contest event and it didn't occur to me until almost too late that I didn't have any pictures taken of me. I realized this when I went to visit Greg's work in all their Halloween glory. Trust me when I say these people go all out with their yearly themes...

2009: Zombies
2008: The Wizard of Oz
2007: The Addams Family
2006: Pirates

So I had Greg snap a picture of me with his phone.

Then there was the need to transfer the photo from phone to computer and upload said photo to blog. This gets tricky when you don't have access to the internet at home.

Then I got the lovely flu. You would think with all that time at home I could have managed to accomplish this task. Wait, Greg's phone was with him at work so that doesn't work. Not to mention heating myself a bowl of chicken noodle soup was almost asking too much let alone photo transferring.

Then what I thought was a toothache was actually a sinus infection.

Now I have some other kind of cold/cough/walking pneumonia/cancer.

Ok, that last one was a bit of a stretch but you get my point. I'm tired and lazy and will probably spend my day off Friday sleeping - which is all I seem to be doing these days.

This is the short version?!?

Without further ado, I give you my white trash version of the Fly Guy:

Sadly the photo doesn't capture the awesomeness that was my hair
(It was all red and twisty).

costume revisited

I promise a photo is coming...

guernsey

I know this book is old news but there's bound to be someone out there who hasn't read it yet. The waiting list at the library was so long I finally caved in and bought it this week.


I started reading last night and had to pull myself away (after several hours of reading) so I could say I accomplished something before Greg got home from school (which doesn't happen until almost nine o'clock). Catch my drift? I haven't been swept up in a book like this for a while. I got a pit in my stomach when the main character did. I got butterflies when she did too. It's a definite must read.

Mom, you can borrow my copy.

Thanks for the tip all-of-blogdom.

costume

Want a sneak peek of my costume for work today?...



We call him the Fly Guy. Just wait until you see my version.

hairs 2

And now for the (poorly lit and awkwardly taken) reveal:

Before...

After...

O

k, someone has officially thought of everything. Don't you love a good drop cap? I know I do.


Random scale: 9

hairs

My hair got a bit of a chop this weekend. I'll post pictures later :)

boo

I had some fun with a little spooky decorating this week.

The piano is coming in handy and even adds to the look with its 'covers' off.

balloon(s)

This is why I had birthdays on the brain:

She couldn't open the door when she got to work because of the balloons.

Don't worry, we had a portable air compressor that did most of the work.

That boy in the background? That's another story.
(It's actually Luke Skywalker wearing a different t-shirt...and face.)

oprah

You've probably already heard (I know how things work in this blogosphere) that
Nie is going to be on Oprah tomorrow!
We all saw it coming after her cryptic post about going to Chicago.

Just making sure you aren't out of the loop ;)

birthdays

I have birthdays on the brain today (I'll post about that next week when I have pictures). I realized I never posted pictures from my birthday this year, even after I said I would. So, here they are:

(*If you didn't watch The Office last season you probably won't understand why I about wet myself when I walked into work on my birthday and saw this.)

They left the period off the sign but I gave them some slack considering the card said I could choose between a one-hour nap and one hour of watching TV at work. And there was a slice of cake with a Chiclet on it.

Best birthday ever.

*Totally clueless about this? You need to watch Lecture Circuit Part 2 from Season 5

Elder Bob

We (Mom, Dad and I) took our Bob to the MTC yesterday.

Curb-side drop off is ideal.
I no longer harbor resentment towards the MTC.

So proud of my baby brother, although he's being a goon in this picture.
Typical. But the power tie makes up for it.

Say hello to 'Winston' in the background.
He's Dad's English Bulldog (I'll probably get corrected on that) yard sale find who now takes a prominent place in the living room.

Love you Dad.

don't mess.

true story

There are moments in life when you feel like you're living in a movie. This was one of those moments and boy do I wish someone had been filming the outcome.

Tuesday August 11th, 2009 found Greg and I sunning and swimming in Cozumel. It was lovely. I mean to say, it was lovely until Greg realized he had lost his wedding ring. While swimming. In the ocean. He raised his left hand out of the water to show his naked finger and the only response I could muster was, "You're kidding." Unfortunately he wasn't kidding in the slightest. We decided to not let the situation ruin our vacation and planned on buying a new one when we returned home. [Note: It's safe to say this wouldn't have been my reaction had the lost ring been mine. Remember this?]

Let it be know that Greg was the ring-wearer in our relationship prior to our engagement. He already wore two rings (one of the CTR variety and another made by a jeweler in his mission to the Philippines) before I placed his wedding band on THE finger. He is also the one that rarely removes said wedding ring. (I'm paranoid about ruining my ring so I take it off when I wash my hands, etc.) SO, he felt pretty awkward without his ring.

Two days later we rented snorkeling equipment from the resort dive shop to explore the water nearby. At some point during our excursion, I commented how crazy it would be if we found the ring. We decided to swim over to the area where we realized the ring was lost figuring we might as well check out more fish. I came upon a rock I knew we had been climbing on two days prior when I saw a really pretty tiny purple fish. I followed the fish as it swam over the rock when what should enter my view but the ring. There it was, sitting a few feet under the water on top of the rock. I think I stopped breathing for a moment as I reached forward fully expecting to grab nothing but a handful of salt water, as the ring I was seeing couldn't be real. Once the ring was safely in my grasp I emerged from the water screaming hysterically. Greg was swimming far enough away he only heard the muffled sound of my celebration. He pulled his head out of the water to the great surprise of my find. Needless to say, he was very happy. And relieved. And didn't even care about the people staring at us from the shore.

X marks the spot of the discovery. ish.

[photo]

Dear Allie,

You will be so proud of me. I have spent most of the last two work days sorting through and GETTING RID OF old, useless papers/stuff in my "office". I am almost done with the last drawer of the file cabinet next to my desk which contained nothing worth keeping. Literally. I found a thank you letter from 1990. I found duplicate copies of e-mail correspondence from 2001 in which the sender asked if the receiver would help at such-and-such event and the receiver replied with yes. Why would you print that? Twice? Needless to say, the recycling bin is full to the brim today.

Aren't you proud?

If only I could take this organizing enthusiasm home with me.

Love, DUB

vacation

After at least a week long struggle with Photobucket (pictures showing up different sizes than they claimed to be-ugh), here are a few pictures of our trip to Cozumel...

View of the back of the resort. The large hut-like structure was where we ate breakfast and lunch. They strung rows of string along the open back to deter birds from flying in. They flew in from the other ends anyways and every few minutes you would hear the waiters clapping their hands to get the birds to fly out. The small orange building to the right is the "activities center" (pick up towels, rent water sports equipment, workout room, pool tables, etc.).



Another view of the back of the resort with Greg standing on the pier. Apparently a woman fell into the water here the day we left when she leaned over too far to look at the fish. I wish we would have seen it... The white house you see a glimpse of on the left was the governor's, come to find out. We caught a peek inside the gates and I think I may have dared Greg to go in.



The water to the left is the calm, clear water behind our resort. It was really interesting to see a distinct line of the change underwater when we snorkeled.



Fish you could see while standing on the pier. I wish we had an underwater camera to capture the really pretty ones we saw.



View from the beach chairs in the shade. A great place to relax with a good book. I loved the look/texture of these "umbrellas."



Beach chairs. Love the color and repetition of shape when they're all lined up.



View from the hammock.



LOVELY gear for our bike tour. Check out that bike! Greg's didn't have handlebar plugs and another lady that went with us had her chain fall off twice (sweet Greg fixed it for her).



Can you spot the iguana?



Squinty eyes from too many margaritas? I did mention our resort was all-inclusive, right?



We got a kick out of the lunch menu. Macarron and cheese? Delicious.



Greg teeing up for a round of mini-golf. Watch out for hole 12-it's a doozy!



How cute is he? Dinner at the resort restaurant.

bowed heads

From the mouths of babes. This stuff gets me every time...

A few weeks ago at church, during the passing of the Sacrament, the boy (4 years old-ish) sitting in front of us said (not in his 12" whisper) to his mom, "Everyone is sleeping!" After a whispered explanation from mom he exclaimed, "Oh, they think about Jesus by bowing their heads!"

I supressed a giggle but I think it's safe to say that child will bow his head the next time he thinks about Jesus. I realized I witnessed the planting of a seed of faith in that young boy. Small miracles.

leap

Last night marked the beginning of our grand new adventure called Graduate School. As I sent Greg off with a kiss, pb&j, and string cheese for the road, I had a "mom moment." At least I think that's what it was. I'm not a mom so I can't be completely sure, but it felt like other moments I've had...my nursery kids getting excited about going to the bathroom all by themselves or my cub scouts grinning proudly because they've hammered together a lopsided wooden toolbox. I felt like I should have been taking pictures as he drove down our driveway.

I was proud.

He's mine. He's taking the next big leap into his (our) future. I was reminded of the scene in Little Women when Laurie is leaving for college and Jo says, "You'll come back knowing all sorts of things I don't know and then I'll hate you." I certainly won't hate Greg for the things he learns but I don't want to be left behind. I guess you could say...

I'm hoping to leap with him.

I'm formulating my own "Graduate School" of sorts to be completed while Greg does his. I don't want to look back 14 months from now (fingers crossed it will only take that long) at Greg's graduation and wonder what I've been doing. Some of the things I've added to my list are mundane tasks like creating organizational systems for virtually every aspect of my existence, while others are more challenging like finally learning to play the guitar. Greg will walk away with a diploma, experience and opportunity. I'm hoping to walk away with something too.

What would be on your list?

odds

If your husband's wedding ring gets lost while swimming in the ocean, what are the chances you will find it while snorkeling
two days later?

Yes, we got home late Saturday night from our vacation in Cozumel, Mexico.

Yes, I really did find Greg's ring sitting on a rock 18" under the ocean surface two days after it was lost.

Yes, I will post pictures.

Yes, I realize I haven't posted in over a month.

Have we been busy? Yes.

proof

I prepped Greg pretty well for the first time he was to meet my family (December 2007). Love you fam, but you can be a bit intimidating to the outsider. Don't get me wrong, I knew they would love Greg, but with five very unshy brothers and the Dad to match, I wanted to be sure Greg knew what he might experience. No worries, it took all of two minutes for him to be laughing and joking with the crew.

I really love this about my man.

He loves my crazy family just like I do and always looks forward to spending time with them. He is often the one to suggest we make a trip (it's really only 20 minutes away) to visit Mom and Dad. Want proof?

Actual e-mail received by me, from Greg last Thursday at work:

Subject: I need a nap

And I really want to play Xbox with Bob right now too.

Funny eh?

The next night found Greg and Bob playing Xbox until I fell asleep on the couch.

chicken little

The sky may very well be falling.

I had a reasonably important work presentation at noon yesterday for which I had planned to finish preparing that morning. I should have known that would mean we would be having campus-wide computer problems when I got to work. My computer not working = I literally can't work on anything. The problem was sorted out at 11:30 and I scrambled to get things together for my presentation. The meeting went well (to my great relief), but what should happen as soon as I returned to my office? The power went out. It was almost as if someone was trying to keep me from accomplishing anything. Or maybe they were trying to win me a day off...

The power eventually turned back on, but when it went off again while I was in the middle of composing this post, I decided to call it a day. Home and a popsicle cure all ills.

rat

My boss asked me to tease her hair yesterday. I'm pretty sure that's not in my job description. Good thing too, because I'm not that great at it. I blame it on a lack of experience. (You may have noticed my hair has yet to reach the stratosphere.)

I obliged. The poor woman had surgery two weeks ago that left her right arm in a sling.

I later helped her carry her lunch from the cafeteria.

Should I be asking for a raise? Ok, I admit, she did buy me a slice of carrot cake.

I love my job.

compare

I needed a cord to connect our camcorder to my laptop.


Best buy: Didn't carry the right cord


RadioShack: $40.someridiculousamount


RadioShack.com: $23.99


Newegg.com: $4.98 (including shipping)


Sorry brick and mortar, a girl's gotta eat.

arrival

It's here.

I just received word that the dreaded hiney flu is sweeping through a department in my building at my place of employment.

Maybe I'll catch it. Maybe I won't.

Stay tuned for the hysteria.

empty

*Updated with better after photo*

This is why you don't pull a prank on me. (Especially when you're going to be gone for a week and I have a key to your office.)

BEFORE:







AFTER:

The sticky note on the computer says:

IT, Please move this computer to the [another location at my work].

bob

Video coming soon of Bob (my not so little, anymore, brother)

opening his LDS mission call to...

the Canada Edmonton Mission

He's ecstatic.

And not just because we have family in Edmonton that will make sure he's well fed :)

So proud of you my little Bobby-poo (How embarrassing :)

camp

Camp Kiesel. Let's just say I slept really well (last) Wednesday night. Chasing 12 eight and nine year olds around all day in the (Finally!) summer will do that to a person.

POST-EVENT EVALUATION:

Overall, I consider the venture a success. Two cubs were scraped up (knees and elbows) and bleeding within the first ten minutes, we only thought we lost the same cub twice, one cub lost a hat his grandparents brought back from Israel, one cub freaked when he got "out" in dodge ball, oh, and we left 30 minutes late.

BUT-the cubs participated in all the stations (with the exception of one cub who opted out of the canoeing due to a severe fear of water) and I even heard one remark, "This is the best day of my life!" That made it all worth it.

Working on a leather arrowhead with "semi-precious gemstones"

Traversing the "monkey bridge" in the obstacle course

Strategizing before a game of dodge ball

(Yes, you heard me right)

away

I'm off on a blog sabbatical.

Regular programming will continue Wednesday July (?!?) 1st.

reveal

Here is my Kimball in all his glory. He's obviously missing his "covers" in these photos but it's fun to see the guts. (Wow, that sentence is funny out of context.) You can see we have a lot of work ahead of us, thus the lovely floral "drop cloth."

A peek under Kimball's lid reveals... (we will leave this intact)

Did I mention Kimball didn't come with a bench? Enter improv:

kiesel

I'm at Camp Kiesel with my cubs today. I may not survive the experience. If I don't, I leave my scrapbooking stuff to Allie, my clothes to the needy, and my piggy bank collection to Malan and Jane (I hear they like pigs - see comments). Greg, I leave you all my love and whatever funds you get from hawking my stuff. Kimball, I wish we could have had more time together. I would have changed you from the ugly girl to the hot girl who was actually the ugly girl without her glasses.



Here's hoping no one shoots their eye out!

kimball

Our 1969* Kimball piano made it safely home last night. No pictures yet; our camera batteries were dead. The previous owner had started to strip the finish for an update so we have a big project ahead of us. It needs to be tuned but is still playable and has one key that sticks. Overall, not too shabby.

I thoroughly enjoyed playing it last night although I need to snag more of my old piano books from Mom's stash :)

Thanks Greg, Dad, Bob, and Mom for your help getting my baby home.



*This is my best estimate with the research I've done so far.

time off

It's so nice to not worry about make-up. Maybe a little concealer for the trouble spots and powder for the t-zone and call it quits. My lashes and lids love the break.

Today is one of those days. Ahhhhh. I could throw-in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Marley and Me without fear of a smudge.

I guess it's practice for camping this weekend in the Uintas. Can't wait for that mountain air.

retraction

Dear KSL Classifieds,

Maybe you're not so bad after all. The guy with the free piano just called and said he still has it. Until tonight that is. When I pick it up. Ok, my husband, dad and brother will really be the ones hefting the thing, but I will be there for support :)

I think I love you KSL Classifieds. That may or may not be contingent on the piano's condition.

xoxoxo,
Wendy

june

I'm worried about June. I know I shouldn't say such things but I think she might have bipolar disorder. Ever since she came for her yearly visit it's been a yo-yo game of crying, cheering, sobbing, smiling, weeping, dancing, etc. There have been moments of audible grumbling which lead to full-on sparks. Other times she seems cheery enough to approach but her outlook changes in a flash leaving me standing in the run-off of her tears.

I've told her there's no need to bathe herself in her own tears; we can handle the spike in our water bill. She didn't think that was very funny.

Today is looking good so far but you just never know when June comes for a visit. She came to work with me today and let's just say I packed an umbrella, just in case.

Cheer up dear June, July will visit soon.

rodent

Dear KSL Classifieds,

We have a real love/hate thing going, don't we? I love you when you get things sold fast (like Greg's wakeboard) or when you let me buy things for a reasonable price (like my road bike). I hate, however, when you tease me with a free piano that I really want and it appears I won't get. Now I have no choice but to buy a baby chinchilla to cheer myself up. Thanks a lot KSL Classifieds.

Love/Hate,

Wendy

luck

Sometimes I say "lucky" when I should say "blessed." It's not that I don't know it wasn't me that made something good happen, and it's not that I'm afraid to admit it, so what is it?

Greg rode his bike to work this morning. This means he got there early as compared to when he waits to ride (in the car) with me and ends up getting there, well, not early. I was in the process (trust me, it's a process) of doing my hair when I realized my keys and phone were both in the car. Seeing as we are in the habit of locking our car, I panicked. It's just a pain to walk to the neighbors' and borrow their phone to call Greg who then must borrow someone's vehicle to bring me his keys to open the door to the car so I can get my keys (That sounds like a pain, right?). I stopped mid-flat iron stroke hoping against hope that Greg hadn't locked the car doors after he backed it out of the garage for me (a story for another day).

The doors were open.

[Text to Greg] We are lucky today! I just realized my keys and phone are in the car and, luckily, you hadn't locked the door.

[Greg's reply] Wow. That is lucky

[My reply] No joke.

(Sidenote: Yes, I punctuate like that in text messages.)

As soon as I hit send on the last message, I thought, "Come on Wendy, you know that wasn't luck." I do know it wasn't "luck" and I didn't really mean it when I typed it. Why didn't I say what I knew it was? Blessed.

I knelt in prayer.

steps

I ran (Correction: JOGGED, verrrry slooooowly) 1/2 mile Saturday morning and 3/4 mile yesterday without pain in my knee. It's kind of a big deal. I guess good things can happen when you do what your doctor says :)

As for today? I'm taking the day off.

I guess this is how a slug feels.

two

It's going to be a long two days (Greg is at scout camp). I already miss him. Pathetic? We usually e-mail back and forth a bit throughout the day at work and it always makes the day go by faster. I tell him something funny a coworker said, he sends me a link to a ridiculous news story. I send him a quote from Kung Fu Panda, he replies with one from The Office. That's true love for you folks.

How do I console myself under such conditions? I already treated myself to lunch (Mexican, of course, since Greg won't touch it) and I plan on taking a long bubble bath tonight while I continue a re-read of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (refresher before the movie). Maybe this isn't so bad after all...

oink

What happened to the swine flu hysteria? Is it bad that I honestly hoped someone I knew would get it? Just for bragging rights, of course. I've been waiting my whole life to see a pig fly and all for naught :) What can I say?-I have always had a thing for pigs, or so my piggy bank collection would reveal.

My favorite part of this epidemic was the World Health Organization trying to get people to call the flu by its "real name": Influenza A(H1N1) or H1N1 for short. H1N1? As my ever so clever younger brother pointed out, doesn't that look like it spells "hiney?" I'm pretty sure no one will admit to having the "hiney flu"...

Oh the irony - I just picked up today's paper (Standard-Examiner) and the top article is about swine flu.

pills

I don't like pills very much. The result is I'm not good at taking them. It's not the remembering to take them part I have a problem with but the actual swallowing part. I think the dislike stems from several things: watching other athletes in high school become completely dependent on pills, hearing about a friend overdosing on pills (on purpose), and viewing first-hand the results of a parent of a friend abusing prescription drugs. I want none of that. On a less serious note, I just like to chew things. It's almost as if my throat refuses to swallow without chewing first. I don't do well with lollipops as you might have guessed. I fear I will never learn how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop.

The one pill I regularly take is really tiny and I considered it an accomplishment when I mastered taking it with only water. (My Mom will attest to the fact that this is simply amazing.) Now I take another pill and it's big. It's an anti-inflammatory for my left knee that's giving me problems after five pain-free years. It doesn't help that I almost cry everytime I have to take it with the reminder that I haven't been able to run for the last three weeks. There goes my summer racing plans! Don't remind me :(

The moral of the story is, taking pills usually means there's something wrong with me and who wants that? My throat hurts.

islands

As I type this my Greg is taking the next step to big boydom. The GMAT. When he's done, I'm taking him to lunch and then it's off the Layton to turn in his application for business school. The big boy business school. The one where they give you an MBA. If you're good. If you're not good I think you get a lollipop. I recently bought a five-pound bag of lollipops so Greg wouldn't be tempted by the offer.

He's been studying his brains big for weeks and (pardon the cheese) I'm really proud of him. I know good and well he's not doing this just for him but rather for what it will do for us and our future (we would like it to be a good one).

This is where you come in. You see, Greg going to school full-time + working full-time will mean we won't get much "free" time together. So we've decided to go on a fun trip before the madness begins. We're thinking of a cruise since neither of us have been and everyone loves all-you-can-eat. I need input from anyone who has been on a cruise. Where should we go? Which cruise line should we go on? ETC.

Thank you in advance for your much appreciated input. (I work in Marketing, remember?)

Back by popular demand

Yes Allie, I am alive.
I have at least four drafts of really excellent posts sitting in my queue (several date back to March *gasp*). Why haven't I finished and posted any of them? I have a problem. I get grand ideas that require lots of time to flesh out to their full potential (aka "post worthiness"). The result? As far as you can tell, nothing. The reality? I obsess over the best way to say what I'm thinking/feeling/experiencing until I burst from over-analyzation (more about this later). Then, when I regain strength to revisit the idea, I've lost the fire for its blogific presentation.

So, what's a girl to do? Lower my expectations? Give up altogether? Maybe I can have neither. And so, I present Wendy's Blog Bits (working title). This means forcing, when necessary, myself to post something about what I'm obsessing over. Be it the beginning of an idea or a complete thought, you'll find it here. Scary, right?

Let me warn you in advance, I have lots of bits to expose. That wasn't meant to be provocative, unless you're my husband. Sorry Mom-I know you're reading this.

Nursery III + Cub Scouting

I'm feeling so hot right now.

One of my nursery kids came to class last week (his mother dragging him through the door) but obviously wasn't very happy to be there. His mom didn't know what had happened because all he had talked about that morning was going to nursery and playing with Sister Willis. "He even put on cologne just for you," she said. I was flattered.

And...

My newest adventure is Cub Scouting. Yes, I'm experiencing children related church calling overload. Last week a boy I hadn't met showed up at den meeting. I overheard him say to another Bear, "Our new teacher's cute." I pretended not to hear it though I chuckled inside. Greg's response: "Oh, they don't stand a chance."

Nursery II

Conversation with nursery child whose mother is pregnant...

Me: Are you going to have a new baby in your family?
Nursery child: Uh-huh.
Me: Is it a girl or a boy?
Nursery child: [blank stare]
Nursery child: It's in mommy's tummy!
Me: You're right, the baby is in your mommy's tummy.
Nursery child: Do you have a baby in your tummy?
Me: No, I don't.
Nursery child: Why?
Me: Ummm

I'm now accepting suggestions of an explanation I could have shared that wouldn't elicit further questioning from a 3 year old...

Nursery

A few weeks ago in Nursery:

I was giving the lesson about "Sunday." Why it's a special day, what we do on Sunday, etc. We talked about going to church on Sundays and that our church building is a special place.

Me: Do you know what else is a special place?
Nursery child: The home!
Me: (Impressed by the child's response since it was to be my next comment) Did you read the lesson manual?
Child: (Nods) Uh-huh.
Me thinking: This is why I love being in the nursery. Even if some weeks are really hard.

Just tell it like it is.

Bob's 15 seconds of fame.

P.S. You're awesome. Maybe Hope Woodside will be on the scene next time (just to make Dad jealous).

After these mess-a-ges, we'll be riiiiiiiiight back!

[How's that for a time warp back to your childhood?]

Stay tuned for evidence of what has been coined "The best Wendy birthday of all-time" AND "Humility vs. Humiliation; A Brief Study of the Pedometer."

Meanwhile (back at the ranch) [I couldn't help getting another childhood memory in here], enjoy a little luck of the Irish! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my youngest of the older brothers, Andrew Rex!

February Conundrum

Background: I was walking past the reception desk and came across a student (who looked really lost).

Student: Do you know where a calendar is I could look at?
Me: I have one at my desk if you walk over here.
[We walk to my "office" down the hall]
Me: Here you go. [I hand him my desk calendar]
Student: Oh, it only goes to 28 this month?
Me: [Pause] Yup.
Student: Ok, thanks. [Walks out the door]

Yes folks, it only goes to 28 this month. Sometimes it goes to 29. Don't worry about that until 2012.

Laffy Taffy

What kind of birds always stick together?

Vel crows.

Thank you Gisselle B, Bridgeton, DE

[photo]

I'm not listening.

Is it possible for a person to have watched every episode of The Office too many times? I mean, I understand there are relatively few people that have an Office quote for EVERY situation but that doesn't mean I can't. Right? Did you even see last week's episode? I was laughing so hard I almost fell off the treadmill.

Discuss.

P.S. Greg also possesses the aforementioned "ability." I would say it's in the top 20 reasons I love him so much. [If Greg were here, he would say something like, "Oh yeah? It's in my top 3; so suck it." The Fire, Season 2]

To my Daddy,

I love you!

Christian Nielson on x96

Christian Nielson (aka Nie's husband) was featured on x96's "Ask A..." morning show feature today. I hope they will post the audio so anyone who missed it can take a listen.

I didn't hear all of it but would recommend it to anyone who has followed the Nielson's story.

I am that woman

Which comedian makes the joke about women that remember everything, including the date of the first time their significant other kissed them in a Jiffy Lube? Jim Gaffigan? Demetri Martin? That other guy? Well, I am that woman. Honestly, I think it scares Greg a little bit. I mention this because today is the 1-year anniversary of our official engagement (we had our date set at the Temple for almost two weeks before I actually said "yes"). Granted this event is of obviously greater importance than a kiss at any Jiffy Lube. Unless, of course, that is where you were proposed to. (please say that has never happened to anyone) Regardless, when my wedding ring went missing last week, Greg held me as I sobbed into his shoulder and said, "I didn't even make it one year without losing my ring."

Today I'm happy to say that I'm wearing that ring and I am that woman - the one Greg picked.

Clarification: The aforementioned comedian does actually make the joke about Jiffy Lube; I'm not trying to say I remember the first time Greg kissed me at Jiffy Lube. Besides, we're more of the Pep Boys type.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my nephew Xander who turns 1 today!

Atta boy!

My eyes hurt. Why? Because I've been crying for the last two days straight over the losing of my most prized physical possession. My wedding ring.

You lost your wedding ring? What kind of a wife are you? Do you have any idea how much Greg paid for that? And let's not forget the immensity of the sentimental value!

And that's why I've been crying so hard. That's what my "shoulder devil" has been saying.

HOURS of searching. Searching under the bed. Searching through the trash. Searching through the trash again. Flashlights beaming down drains. The retracing of steps. Multiple trips back and forth to work. I even looked in the breaker box AND the peanut butter jar.

MANY prayers were sent to heaven. Prayers of pleading.

Desperation.

So, I sent an e-mail to everyone at work, just in case. I've never felt so loved by co-workers. People I don't even know were asking if I'd found it yet. Sympathy came from everyone who had lost their wedding ring at some point too. (One guy told of going to the store where his wedding ring had been purchased soaking wet after searching through a reservoir for 2 hours for his. He thought he could dupe his wife by buying a new one before going home. Inevitably, they didn't make that ring style anymore.)

Even more HOURS of searching. I was physically ill. I wasn't even hungry, and that is saying something. When I did eat, a beloved cucumber was the only thing that sounded edible. (Note: not uncommon for me)

And then, inspiration.

Greg was just tall enough and standing at just the right angle to see it. There is was, glittering on a shelf in our downstairs bathroom. I rarely use that bathroom but had been in there cleaning in preparation for an overnight visit from our good friend Scott. It blended in with the metal shelf and was too high for my line of sight.

I cried even more.

Greg: "You don't need to cry anymore, we found it!"
Wendy: "But I'm just so happy you found it!"

Celebration!

And I was hungry again! But only for french vanilla ice cream covered in Reese's Pieces.

My boss told me this morning that she couldn't sleep last night because she was worried about me. Another co-worker said that Greg deserves an "Atta boy!" for finding it.

My eyes still hurt. I can't stop looking at the beautiful ring on my finger and the sparkly diamonds are blinding me.

Atta boy Greg. Atta boy.

April 12, 2008

Photos

A few lovelies not to be forgotten but gone unposted up to now.

None other than Greg feeding bread to ducks at WSU.

Yes, he is holding the bread in his lips.

Yes, the ducks took it.

Yes, one duck got a little lip action. (ouch.)

Getting ready for a night on the town with friends.

(Still loving the red coat courtesy of Christmas presents from Greg. Thanks!)

Ok, i'm impressed.

Are facial tissues (KLEENEX) always 3-ply? Maybe I just hadn't thought about it before but I'm impressed. I think my being impressed stems from this confession: When I went to Russia (summer 2003 for a track thing, to be succinct, for those that didn't know), my biggest fear was there would be no 2-ply toilet paper. I guess "biggest fear" is a bit dramatic but there were several conversations before the trip about the topic.

Back me up on this one Allie.

Best quote of the day (so far)

"Any time's a good time for a burrito," said my co-worker as she walked down the hall past my desk at 9:12 this morning, freshly microwaved burrito in tow.

I'm going to have to disagree on this one.

Thoughts?

Snowshoes

I've been watching the snow fall today thinking: Oh man, these shoes + that snow aren't going to be much fun come time to go home from work today. My apprehension was confirmed when a co-worker (also needing to make copies) just said, "Oh, you can't wear those shoes today. I hope you brought another pair to go outside in." Actually, no, I didn't bring another pair. Oops! I guess that's what I get for not having a newspaper or tv to tell me there was going to be a blizzard today. Nice.

On the upside, my shoes are super cute. Thanks to my handsome husband for buying them for me last week :)

That one guy

I've been a huge blog slacker. Maybe this will spice things up a bit:

At church yesterday a little boy approached the podium to bear his testimony. He happens to be the son of one of the members of the bishopbric in our ward. He began with the usual "I'd like to bear (which always sounds more like "bury" when little kids say it) my testimony. I know the church is true..." Then he continued with, "I know that (LOOOOOONG PAUSE) that one guy buried the plates made of brass." I, along with most of the congregation, couldn't hold in my amusement at hearing that statement. I was laughing so hard that I doubled over and missed seeing him turn around to ask his dad what "that one guy's" name is. I tuned back in just in time to hear him say, "Moroni" and conclude his testimony.

Classic. Kudos to that kid for giving Moroni a shout out in fast and testimony meeting - I don't think that happens often.

Stay tuned for more funny stories about kids in our ward. AKA I recently got called to be a nursery leader...