Thanksgiving Rocks!!

Thanksgiving, the precursor to the one of the best times of the year! What I great day we had! I started off with the Human Race 5k in Draper. It was wet but fantastic! Last year it was 21 degrees so I will take the rain and 40 degrees! I took a van full of buddies and we rocked that race!! I was shooting for a personal best. That fastest I've gone on a 5k is about 30 mins. This time I did it in 28 mins and 15 secs.!!! I was so excited to know I did that!! It made me giddy!! I saw some friends there, too! Richel was there with her sister and brother and I saw a friend from the Logan days- brad and his wife Liz and a friend from my childhood, Erika! It's so great to see old friends! Some of my Running Peeps- Erin, Amy, me, and Alison! This was Erin's first 5k and she did awesome! Alison kicked all our trash with 26 mins.! Go Alison!!We had to get a pic with the big turkey-do you think he knows we are going to eat his cousins later?? MAHAHAHA

Later, that day we went to my parents for some good eats! All my brother's were there, that live here so it was a lot of fun! I love hanging with my family! They are some of the funniest and greatest people I know!!

Lily wasn't feeling so hot so she just laid in my lap. She had a fever from an ear infection, I think. Poor baby!!

Audrey with her cousin buddies! They just love each other!!

Ben, Jacob and Audrey.

One have my handsome and talented brothers, Mike and his daughter Allison. He is much happier than he looks!:) Cute, little baldy!!
This is Lily AFTER we found some Tylenol for her! She was much happier!

It was a great day! The food was AWESOME and the company even awesomer! There is nothing like starting off the day with great friends doing something you love and finishing the day with family and food! I hope your Thanksgiving was just as great! If you feel like it, share what you did!!

BEWARE of too much turkey and pie- this could happen to you!!!!

No, it's all about ME ME ME!!!!

I was tagged by the lovely Rachel so the deal is I have to share 8 things about me for your reading pleasure (or boredom, or sleeping aid, whatever you use my blog for). So, let it begin....

1-I love non-sugary cereals like Grape-nuts and Puffed Rice! I know, it's like eating Styrofoam but I love it! When we were growing up we never had cold cereal except for the one box we get the night before Christmas-we each got WHATEVER kind we wanted! My bro.s were getting Cookie Crisp or Sugar Bombs or some other disgusting sugary muck and I picked Puffed Rice! Also, the first 'solid' thing I ate after having my wisdom teeth out was a bowl of Grape-nuts...dumb idea! I hurt my mouth so bad since I hadn't been chewing ANYTHING for 3 days! If you have never had Grape-nuts, they are probably they hardest cereal out there! It's like chewing gravel! Oh, how I love it! I thought I was going to die!!!

2- When I was a kid, my older male cousin thought it would be wicked-cool to get a perm. We were at some family thing, a baptism maybe, and he walked in with this silly perm and just as I pointed at him and said, "who let that girl in!?!", a lady I didn't know walked in right in front of him and looked at me like I was talking to her! That is still one of my more humiliating and stupid moments of my life!

3- I think Xanadu is one of the greatest movies EVER!! Michael Beck in short short skating with only one button fastened on that awesome Hawaiian shirt is HOT!!! I really do think it's one of the greatest!

4-I am a treasure chest of useless information! I have a photographic memory for all things unimportant and stupid! Try to get me to memorize a scripture or important facts and you've lost me but I can play "6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon" with the best of them! Or give you a description of Michael Beck's (who knew that guys name but the one and only Mindi!!) awesome outfit in Xanadu in the "I Take The Fall" skating scene!

5- I love exercise! Yes, there are days when I have to talk myself into it but I love it! I would exercise vigorously for 2 hours a day if I could! I don't do so well on the eating part all the time but I do love to move it!

6- I love novels! I am a novel junkie! I'll read most anything but novels are my fave! I don't know what I would do without a novel around-in fact I am in that position now and I feel very naked and afraid without something to read!!!

7- I have always been active in the church, some times not so into it and I have made some really dumb choices but I have never really faltered on what I know to be true and I plan on keeping that way-even if taking 3 kids under 7 sucks right now! If I can make it through this I can probably make it through any faith shattering event...maybe I shouldn't say that out loud...

8- My mom was a health nut when we were growing up before it was 'cool' to be one. I mean that woman was up at the crack of dawn till she went to bed cooking and preparing food, grinding wheat, making bread, pasta, we never ate real candy or soda and we never had a frozen dinner or cold cereal as already mentioned. My aunt and uncle thought that was bad parenting and took it upon themselves to show me and my 3 older brothers what we were missing. While my parents were on a CES Jerusalem tour, Aunt Connie and Uncle Karl took us to Yellowstone and let us eat anything our little hearts desired! Each and every one of us ended up "marking our territory" with vomit throughout Yellowstone! I am pretty sure that when my parents found out about that, they had a nice chuckle over it!

The 8 people I tag are: Ruth, Jana, Heather, Carlee, Tristan, Stephanie, Tamara, and Brooke! If you've already done this or you just don't wanna, no worries but I had to come up with 8 or the Blogging Gods would make my water taste like chlorine and set a mouse loose in my house....oh, wait that's already happened..well whatever! Enjoy!!

"Climb Every Mountain!"

EEK!! We have offcially entered the climbing stage!!! Woe is me!! It was nice knowing you all, I am now too busy pulling Lily off of chairs, tables, the computer, the toilet, the end table, and soon I am sure it will be the ceiling fans!! Remember me, talk of me, send me chocolate and Diet Coke at the Funny Farm. I will either be going there or I will need to ductape Lily to the wall just to keep my sanity!!! Heaven, save us all!!!

"I knew I could fit here!!"

"HELP! I am so stuck!!"

I wonder who is in charge at this house?!?!

"Do you mind, I'm working here!!"

This is me at the end of the day. Don't ask me about the hand...I don't have an answer except maybe it's comfy!? Will you buy that?!?

The Top 50 Things Mindi is Grateful For

I thought it would be appropriate to do a gratitude list since it is Thanksgiving soon! So, I am grateful for.....

1. My family.

2. Birth control.

3. Mousetraps.

4. Being a stay-at-home mom.

5. GIRL'S NIGHTS!!

6. Friends.

7. The Gospel along with the perspective it gives.

8. Temples.

9. Things that make me laugh.

10. Memories.

11. Pain medication!!

12. Oprah-what would we do without her?!?!

13. A rockin' husband who thinks I'm the hottest thing ever!!

14. Squats and lunges (please see previous "Nice Booty" post!!)

15. My cellphone.

16. Rosie O'Donnell cuz without her how would we know what crazy is?!

17. Chocolate and Diet Coke.

18. TV because it I didn't have 'reality TV', 'Grey's', superheroes, who else would I live vicariously through??

19. Awesome parents who love me no matter how stupid I can be!

20. My 5 awesome brothers!

21. My 5 awesome sisters(in-law) who were brave enough to marry my 5 awesome brothers!

22. Sign language.

23. Naps.

24. King-size beds!

25. Living in Zion...I am mean Utah..*oops*...

26. Beaches.

27. Animals-they taste soooo good!

28. Education.

29. Music

30. A great book.

31. A Living Prophet.

32. Cheese-it makes anything taste good!!

33. Sunny days.

34. A great rain storm.

35. A baby laughing.

36. The fact that I don't have 3 eyes cuz that would just be embarrassing and how do you get fitted for glasses like that?!?!

37. Randomness.

38. Fiber.

39. Running-nothing clears your head like running!!

40. Any reason to eat!

41. Spelchek! Their is nothing wurs then mispelt wurds!!!

42. That there are people who are good at math so I don't have to be!

43. The Internet-what else would I do all day? Take care of kids, clean?!?! Now, that's just SILLY!!!

44. Al Gore who invented the Internet and global warming...

45. Girls who are brave enough to go through pregnancy and give their babies up for adoption!

46. Lots of hair on my head! It covers up the freakishly largeness of it and all those crazy lumps! If I were bald the Mother ship might find me and take me back to my planet!!!

47. Indoor plumbing.

48. Hot showers!

49. Lazy mornings.

50. I am a Child of God!!!

So, what are you grateful for?!?!

CURSE YOU, FACEBOOK!!!

It feels dirty and wrong that I haven't been on here for awhile. I have gotten involved with Facebook and I can't leave it alone!! Help me!! I have an addictive personality (SHOCKER) and this is just a new addiction! It's been so fun finding old friends and people from my mission and such! I never thought I'd be the kind of person who would spend their day at the computer but here I am, every moment I can spare, checking to see who is on, stalking... I mean looking for people to ask to be my friend. That's another thing! I feel like I am back in high school hoping to be in the "in crowd", sending a note to someone across the room, "Will you be my BFF? Check a box- [YES] [NO] [MAYBE]" I told myself I wasn't going to send friend invites anymore and I am really trying hard not to but tonight was one of my best finds! The first person I officially taught on my mission and was baptized was on there and I found out about her sweet family and what they are up to. I'm pretty sure she and her family are the only ones who are still active. Maybe that is pessimistic of me but there you go, I can't find any of the others to find out. Anyway that was awesome! Plus, it's just another way for me and my BFF to talk. Our husbands may leave us one day for it but we keep each other sane and laugh a lot. She keeps threatening to deactivate (she's done it once or twice already) because she has an addiction problem, too. It's okay, at least we'll be in Facebook Rehab together!

Just, Oh, I don't Know, Whatever!

Okay! So I am totally "Jonesin'" for some blogging! I've been watching everyone else going to town on their's and I haven't done anything all week. I didn't know what to blog about and then I've been a little consumed with reading a book for school and writing for it. I finally have a moment and a couple of thoughts to share so, yeah, me!

We celebrated Audrey's Birthday this week. We did so by going bowling and going anywhere she wants for dinner. You guessed it, McDonald's! I was hoping for Famous Dave's but, hey, it's not my birthday. Bowling was fun-my kids kicked my trash and ElRey kept asking me if I wanted the bumpers, too. I told him what he could do with his comment. So, they all got over 100 and I think I ended up with 65 or something. But I'm pretty sure I look pretty hot earning every point! Yeah, that's right! I said it!

So, after that family goodness, we had cake and ice cream with mine and ElRey's family at our mansion in the west wing-there's much more room in that wing. We surprised her with a new bike which she was very excited about! It's so stinkin' cute and she just had to ride it to school the next day! I was so proud of myself and my frugality! I found it on KSL.com for almost a quarter of the price and it looks almost brand new! Yeah, me!!
We, of course, had a High School Musical cake-it wasn't much, just a sugar sticker on a cake I baked but she was very happy with it! We had a great time celebrating her and Annie was super sweet to her all day! I think it was one of her better birthdays! It's always nice to take a break from friend parties!

So, if you didn't guess who these dolls are yet it's Gabriella and Troy and, no, they aren't mine (though, I wish they were!)! My parents gave them to Audrey and they were a hit. They made me realize something, though. I don't think I would want to be made into a doll. These two have been naked (said 'neked') more often than dressed since they moved in (I swear it's not me doing it!!)! I know we would all probably enjoy a little bit of naked Zac Efron (or Vanessa for all you men) but the other day when I was dressing him for the umpteenth time I thought, I am dressing Zac Efron. I wonder if he is somewhere feeling very violated. Annie was playing with them all day the other day and she started giggling and said, "Mom, Gabriella's necklace is in Troy's pants!" I busted up because of all the images that statement brought to my mind. So, Zac and Vanessa, I am so sorry for what is going on with your plastic selves in my house! I swear it is just innocent play by a couple of cute little girls. And maybe a little by a bored house wife...only a little...

Random Annie moments

So, the other morning I woke up before the sun to Annie petting my face and then she whispered: "Mom, your snoring sounds like a werewolf! It scared me!"

This morning Audrey and Annie were watching Backyardigans Super Spy. You might only understand this if you've seen it but Audrey started laughing at something and Annie said, "Audrey, it's not nice to laugh at someone." Then Audrey said, "I don't like the "Pink Lady" (Uniqua is the bad guy in this spy drama, that's her name, "Pink Lady") then Annie said, "She just wants chocolate milk!" How compassionate and empathetic she is!

Man, I love that kid, she adds such great spice to our life! Each of my kids add something but for Annie, her sense of humor and her random kindness and those oh so cute dimples keeps her alive! She goes back to preschool tomorrow and we are both excited!

P.S. We finally caught our mouse! Let us all hope it is the only one!!!

Hairdo

Today I did something that's kinda scary to me. I tried a new hair stylist and I am very happy about it! My sweet little Carlee moved to Pittsburgh and that is just too far to drive for a haircut (she is coming out for Christmas and I will be taking advantage of that ;)).Cassie Poulsen referred me to her cousin Alicia and Herriman is not as bad of a commute. I really like what she did and her shop is super cute! Anyway, there is nothing like a nice haircut to make you feel good! I thought I'd put up a picture just so you don't have to look at my arse every time you pull up my blog cuz I know you are doing that at least 7 times a day, right?

K, I know I look totally psycho here, there were 8 kids running around my house when I took this.

Nice Booty!

Okay, there is a perfectly good explanation for me taking pictures of my own butt at 11:10 at night, on timer no less! 1-Look at that thing! It's so hot you could fry an egg on it! I could crack walnuts with it and that's all by 9AM! 2- I work hard on that tushy and I may as well let all enjoy it! 3-I bought some new pants yesterday and we have officially gone down a size so I'm feeling a little cocky. 4-This will all end in the morning when I realize what I have done by posting this and I will cry until I finally crack open a cold one and chase down the embarrASSment with some Halloween candy and reruns of "The Biggest Loser". Point is, I keep staying up way too late and then I get all punch-drunk and do silly things and then giggle at myself. So, bask in my butt glory and remember its not your butt on the Internet for all to see.

P.S. If you haven't watched "Get Smart" yet go rent, no, buy it now! I cackled so much last night, I think ElRey thinks I'm nuts! Maybe I had too much chamomile tea. See, I'm giggling again..I can't stop...

We have witnessed History!

What an amazing day! No matter how you voted today you have to admit that it is a profound and amazing day! To think that only decades ago schools were segregated, whites and blacks had separate bathrooms, drinking fountains, sitting areas in restaurants and buses. Today an African-American man was elected President of our country! God Bless America!! I am humbled and amazed and I hope for the best for not only our country, but for the Obama family and what they have ahead of them! I know I seem very back and forth, there is just this gnawing nervousness in my gut about this man but I am also excited to know I just saw history in the making! Let's hope the next 4 years are just as historical in a good way! I love democracy and our awesome country! Even if it wasn't "your man" who won today, sorry, Mr. McCain, celebrate the pure awesomeness of such a historical event and especially, and most importantly, IT'S NOT HILLARY CLINTON!!! Let's hear another-GOD BLESS AMERICA and a HALLELUJAH for that one!!!!

"Who are you voting for?"

We were driving to my mom's house last night when out of the blue Audrey asked ElRey and I who we were voting for.
ElRey said: "Mitt Romney"
Audrey said: "No, for President-Barack Obama (siad very cutely but I can't duplicate) or John McCain?"
Mindi: "We will probably be voting for McCain just because he seems to have more of our same values."(Honestly, its been tough and I feel like we just have to choose between the lessor of to evils, so to speak)
Audrey: "McCain will save you money."
ElRey and Mindi's jaws drop and stare at each other...
ElRey: "What will Obama do?"
Audrey: "Obama will stop the war and all the bad people and put up a different flag"
Parental jaws dragging on the floor of the van, mom runs into Maverick for some happiness out of a fountain, returns. We talked about it a little more after that but she got that all from school. I think they had a lesson about democracy and voting for our leaders and one of the kids said that about the canidates. She didn't hear any of that from us. It was a profound moment and made me realize she is growing up and we should take more oppotunities to teach her these things. Regardless of what they say they will do, I don't think either of them know how to do what they claim they will. If a certain canidate wins I have a feeling that after we carry him down the mountain (this is a metaphor so stick with me) he will strick like a rattlesnake and as we lay dying we'll say "You promised you wouldn't bite" and he'll say "You knew what I was when you picked me up!" I won't mention any names but I just know we'll survive the next 4 years no matter who it is....I hope...
*Rattlesnake metaphor/parable/analogy from Boyd K. Packer-not about the canidates!:)

Little Tidbits

So, I did the unimaginable today. I quit my high paying job!!! YEAH!!! For those of you who don't know I am a crossing guard. I sub for other crossing guards so I never know when I am going to work. It really is a great part time job but I was so tired of trying to figure out the situation with my kids and when I wasn't working I realized how much I liked not working. It has taken me weeks to muster up the courage to do this-I have the nicest and most easiest boss to work with so I didn't want to let her down but I realized why am I doing something that I don't really want to be doing if I don't have to? My work ethic? I have enough work to prove my good work ethic and its okay to let go of one of the things on my plate. I'm working till Thanksgiving but after that I will be a slightly more free woman!! Yeah!!

ElRey went down to our basement bathroom, found the floor wet, which we thought we had fixed, and the cursed mouse sitting in the corner!!! We haven't had anything in our traps yet but I haven't seen any mouse poop either so I thought maybe it just went away but there he was....grrrr... Now I have to tackle our 'storage room'(bedroom where we have started throwing things to get out of the way) just to make sure its clean under all the stuff....wah....

Which brings me to another subject. This will be the last official apology I will ever give on the subject so spread the word to all since I am going to try to not apologize again for it. I am sorry that my house is rarely clean!! I feel like whenever someone comes to my home I need to apologize for it. For the record 2 things-1. I am not a good housekeeper! I like my home to be clean but I don't like to do it. I keep blaming the "cleaning fairies" for drinking in the morning and that's why its not done-its their fault!! 2. I am almost always trying to get it to a happy clean place but as I go along I am cleaning the 14 messes Annie makes and the 3 or 4 everyone else makes along the way. So to all that may one day enter my home-I am sorry, I try! And we will just leave it at that! I wonder if I ever had a bigger house if it would be easier to keep it clean. Those of you who have moved to bigger and better will need to let me know if my theory is sound. That would make me smile.

Lastly, there is a word I think needs to come back and I am going to try to use in my daily vocab. I am sure I will have many opportunities to do so. The insult "What a maroon" needs to come back! Remember when Bugs Bunny would say that about Elmer Fudd or Wiley E. Coyote, Super Genius after he had foiled them once again. Just think of it, you're driving along, someone cuts you off and you say "What a maroon!" Classic!! I am totally bringing that back, you watch!!

P.S. Don't forget to vote, tomorrow! Good Luck CA. on Prop 8, let's hope many in favor of it go to the polls!!!