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...