Boo Hoo Hoo Poor Me!

Tittled as such because that's seems to be how I feel lately.  While cleaning today I thought of some creative story to express my feelings and concerns but like the hundred bags of trash those thoughts went down the shoot or somewhere...because for some reason all I can think about is poor me....not really poor me, but more I am so not a patient person and I really don't feel like I can handle much more or for much longer, if I haven't already hit my breaking point, which I just might have like a few months ago.  But some how like the sun I get up each morning, and do my best to "shine." 

But shining is really hard to do when you are emotionally and physically exhausted.

My right arm has been killing me for a few weeks and it seems to be getting worse, to the point that last night it woke me up several times with numb prickly pain...its throbbing now, and my guess is I have a pinched nerve somewhere.  Though a lovely nurse today mentioned that it could be a sign of a heart problem, and that it sounds like the symptom another nurse was having before she had a stroke...left me comforted today.  Though a few weeks ago I did go to the ER with chest pains and they sent me home saying its an ulcer and probably Irital Bowels Syndrome....anyway so needless to say I need to find a good doctor.  I can't afford to get sicker but I can't afford to pay to get better either.

Speaking of paying, I am grateful to be working and bringing some money in but its not much and I really need to figure out how to get a higher paying job.

The restaurant is hanging in there, we appreciate ALL the support and customers, and amazing employees and an amazing hard working partner.  But its not to a point (which I didn't expect it to be there yet) where we can get a return on our investments, in fact we have had to take our personal money lately to help pay bills, and its just getting hard for us as a family to survive, as we keep investing money and not seeing a return on it...someday.

Speaking of someday, I dream of the time when I can feel at complete peace.  Because right now though when I begin to freak out about things, like the debt of the above mentioned investment, or no insurance, or car payments, or rent or kids getting sick, or my own health, I get a calm feeling that "it will all be ok."  but that lasts a few minutes before I get a letter or a call or my arm goes numb (like it is right now) and I get all frazzled again.....maybe I just need to realize (cuz I just don't feel like it is) its normal, and this is what my life is suppose to be....but then again, maybe I am just suppose to find my own peace and contentment with the direction my life has lead me, and then it will change? 

Because isn't that what is a life given, that the only thing constant is change?

Maybe I need to become content,.....thinking content thoughts, thinking content thoughts! Because really the more I think of it, I do love my house! I have a wonderful loving husband! I have fun, energetic, beautiful children! I have a job that most days I enjoy--take away the low pay but it is some pay!  I have great friends, that I wish I could see more. I have wonderful extended family that have gone above and beyond in helping and supporting us.  I have a church support system. 

I am blessed.....and I am tried...and in the end of it all I am rich and will only become a richer person,  maybe not in monetary value but in much more values and strengths......


and on another note JUNE  a group of gals and I are going to a cabin in Yellowstone for a little away time and I am so excited!

Well Hello John Stockton

Every year we women have the great...ok not great...and probably not every year.....opportunity to visit the doctor for what we hope to be "you are doing great see you next year visit."

Yesterday I showed up at my doctor's office and met my mom, who took all four of my children, so I could enjoy this experience in peace, enjoy is probably not the correct adjective but you know what I mean.

So I sat in peace in the waiting room, taking in deep breaths, so my blood pressure will be normal, not my normal but normal normal. I didn't wait long until my name was called back.

"Hop on the scale." Not too bad, not the number I'd like to see but not the numbers I fear to see either.

"Sit, lets see how your blood pressure is doing, I will prick your finger while we are waiting to check your iron." Ok not too bad.

"Lets go to the office." All the standard questions are asked. I answer, laughing and joking like I normally do.

Doctor comes in, we talk. I tell her a bit of my history. Mention to her that for some reason my body keeps producing lumps. She and I talk about that. Then she has me assume the position. I look up and low and behold staring above me John Stockton...what the heck? So I mentioned to the doctor that I have never had a professional ball player in the room for this. I am trying to make light conversation and joke while I hold back the tears of uncomfortableness.

"Does this hurt."

"uh uh."

"I will stop."

"Thanks."

She then hands me a box of tissue. Ok thanks I guess.

"We need to do a belly scan, I feel a large mass."

"It couldn't be a baby could it?"

"No, its too hard." Relief flooded over me. I am not sure if that is the right response, a mass is more comforting to me than a baby right now?

I went to the sonogram room, and lay down on the table, and asked her if I could get a DVD...I laughed, and she said "Well if it is a baby I will turn it on for you."

"Thanks, I really hope its not a baby, I guess there could be worse things."

The screen fills with black and grey blobs and she is clicking and measuring, and at the bottom of the screen I see "mass" and measurements.

I asked "do you see what she felt?"

"Yes there is a tumor."


So here I sit, with no John Stockton passing to Malone to look at, and wonder what the heck is going on in my body. First the chest than my face and now my uterus. She wants me to call my insurance and see if they will pay for a CT Scan.

Honestly, is my fourth quarter of problems up yet?? Can I pass the ball to someone? I feel like a ball player holding the ball and being guarded by the whole other team and no one to pass the ball to...I am about to double dribble here.

Corrine Needs...what do you need??

Here are the rules...go to google, and type in your name followed by needs....see what you get....

Share your first ten NEEDS!

Here is what I got!

Very funny and some so very true!!

Corinne needs to be refashioned in a more demure British "garb..(amen to that!)

Corrine is in desperate need of nursing care in her home. (at least a nanny and a maid)...

Corrine needs to be dedicated to clearing her house of fleas and this could take anything from one go to doing it to many, many times. (luckily no fleas but just life clutter mostly)

Corrine needs no more excuse than Dutch getting splashed with coffee by a suspect for them to "celebrate"

Corrine needs a f*****g band

CORRINE NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE AT THE REUNION

Corrine needs a wake up call about life. (i think I don't need anymore wake up calls)

Corrine needs a home! SO TRUE!!
To adopt Corrine, contact Animal Aid, www.animalaidpdx.org

Corrine Needs Your Help! (i so do!)

Corrine needs to pay up. (not sure to whom or how?)

Holy Moly--400th POST

I know holy moly guacamole! wipe the green off your face...the green of envy that is! Pull up a chair, grab some chips and dip in! Cuz ladies...are there any gentlemen that read my blog?...you are in for a real treat.

Actually I have been in hiding for almost a week...did you notice? did you miss me? Well I have been stewing over this post. I even thought about going back and highlighting some of my favorite posts...I might....but life has been crazy, and to be totally honest, between sick kids, hub with no job, being with out my own things and place had sent me into a down spiraling spin, and heaven knows you all come around to get a good laugh and not a good cry, though probably some days a good cry does us well.

So as part of my 400th post I thought I would include forty things about me, I thought about doing 400 and then realized y'all would be bored around ten, so I narrowed it down a bit. Believe me you, I could do 400...oh is that a challenge??

On to the 40 things:

1. I don't like to do laundry, so I put as much of whatever can possibly fit in the washing machine, put it on cold and hope the clothes come clean. Kids and spots and stains don't do well in my house....I never get the clothes looking great, but at least my dryer sheets make them smell good.
2. Speaking of laundry, I can't stand folding and putting the laundry away.
3. I have lived in three different states in less than a year! that would be this year....well 2008 2009 and have driven over 3000 miles in a month and a half (straight driving) not calculating the day to day stuff, though I haven't been driving much.
4. I love road trips as long as I don't have crying children around.
5. Potty training is for the birds, as well as changing diapers and anything having to do with bodily functions.
6. I ignore the cries from the bathroom "come wipe my bottom" for about two minutes, hold my breath and then head in.
7. Some people think picking your nose is gross and I am not one of them.
8. I have always thought I was pretty darn cool because I have an older sister, an older brother and a younger sister and a younger brother, not many people can say that. I guess it is my way of looking at the glass half full on being the middle child.
9. I think being the middle child has actually helped me to find a place among people anywhere. Or maybe it is just my sparkling personality.
10. I have never thought of ten as a real number. It really is only a one and a zero. Really are there really more numbers than just 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, I mean you don't find a ten on a keyboard.
11. As a child my dad would take us to seven eleven to get slurpees and I would always no fail get brain freeze.
12. When I was twelve I got straight A's in six grade and my dad told me if I kept up that A average until my sophomore year of high school he would buy me a convertible cabriolet (rabbit Volkswagen). Ummm yeah didn't even do that my first semester of seventh grade.
13. Thirteen years ago I turned 22 on my mission in Brazil. And the sweetest family, that lived in a 10x10 hut they made out of sticks and mud from the near by river...no really...made me a bunt cake on their camping stove and invited several neighbors over and threw me a surprise birthday party. One of the best birthday's ever.
14. When I was 14 I went to Belgium as an "exchange student" it was only for a few weeks in the summer. I cried every night by myself, until I fell asleep. Though I had a wonderful time on the trip and saw some really amazing things and became really good friends with Shala. I changed a lot that summer for the better.
15. I am not sure if many people liked me from the time I was ten until 14. I had some friends, but I sure didn't like myself much then, and really felt like my mom didn't like me much either. The summer I went to Belgium for some reason I realized what a great person I am, and that my parents, especially my mom, really did love me and liked me too.
16. I thought that when I turned sixteen---in our family you couldn't date until then...my kids its going to be 18 :)...I thought boys would be lined up to ask me out. I don't think any guys ever liked me in high school.
17. I had a bunch of crushes in high school but never really was boy crazy, ok who am I kidding...I could name a few boys I really liked and really wanted to go out with and a few that did go out with me, but over all I focused my time on friends, family, swimming and other activities...and didn't worry too much about boys.
18. It took me until really late in life to think I was pretty and still question that a lot, but like myself and am comfortable in my skin, other than the few well forty pounds I need to take off.
19. I joined weight watchers last year, and failed miserably,,,,since I am about ten pounds heavier than when I started last year,,,yikes!
20. Weight is a huge issue in my family, I remember as a child going over to my grandfathers and him asking me how much I weighed now, and would pull out a scale to have me weigh. Weight was the first question asked after how are you doing!! I remember going on my first diet at 9.
21. I fear I will instill weight fears and issues into my own kids.
22. I love to swim. I could spend hours on end in the swimming pool.
23. I love to go under the water and open my eyes and look up at the sky.
24. I don't plug my nose with my hands, but with my own lips when I do somersaults so I am hands free.
25. Sometimes I suck my lip up too close to my nose and then can't release it and feel like I am going to drowned myself.
26. I get funky little toe cramps in my second toes when I do the frog kick with my breast stroke.
27. I told my coach in high school I had bad knees so I wouldn't have to swim the breast stroke, one because of the toe thing and two I couldn't hardly move anywhere doing that stroke and I felt silly having others pass me as I basically treaded in the water.
28. When speaking to others about things, I rarely ever lie and really can't lie very well and that was one of the biggest lies ever.
29. Other than the one where I went cruising on the El Camino Real with Carmel, Kate, and Kristy and April and road on some guy's motorcycle and burnt my leg getting off the exhaust pipe. I told my mom I burnt it on the stove door....wonder if she believed that.
30. I was driving once with my radio on, about a month or so after getting my licence and my mom tried to get my attention by honking and stuff...she thought it took me forever to pull over so she grounded me from my music in the car for the next month, and I didn't play any music for that full month.
31. Jen C and I used to drive around for hours in my little sky blue Volkswagen bug listening to love sappy music.
32. I had a blast in high school with my friends and having them come over and hang out in the hot tub and talk and LAUGH for hours.
33. As an adult I miss hanging out with girls and just laughing and talking. Kids take up way too much time, not that its a bad thing, just different time of life.
34. I have no idea what my kids are doing right now, but they are giggling!
35. I miss owning our own home. I loved our first home in Del Valle, I loved the friends I made there and the hanging out and just talking. I wished we had done more adult alone things and I really wish we had put in a hot tub for girls night outs.
36. I miss HAWAII! I love being here near family but I really miss being outside every day and going for walks and swimming and the beach and the friends I made there.
37. I have loved living everywhere I have lived. I think one of my favorite places was Los Gatos, CA I really loved high school. I loved college. And even though I haven't posted many college memories, for some reason my mind has pulled further back than that.
38. I had some crazy and wonderful roommates. I keep in touch with a few of them.
39. I often wonder where people from my past are and what they are doing and wonder what they have become. I really love facebook for that reason.
40. In my writing classes I was told never to start your sentences with I and avoid using to be verbs...but I have a hard time with both those rules....maybe that is why I am not published.

SideNOTE: will be doing a drawing for the pay it forward later this week, when things calm down so if you still want to enter go for it!

1000 Word Thursday: All About ME!

Cheaper than Therapy's 1000 Word Thursday: All about ME! For more 1000 Word Thursday's Visit HERE

Did you know February is Corrine Awareness month? I bet you didn't. But you should know, it is the month to think about your beloved Corrine and learn all about her :)

No not really just answering the questions for my birthday quiz. Man I need to go and see how y'all did don't I?

1. What is my favorite color?

Yellow and blue make : GREEN ok so that was a trick question because I have three favorite colors...depends on the day and my mood. So anyone of these is right.

2. How many brothers and sisters do I have?

Can you find me in this picture with my cousins and siblings?

2 sisters & 2 brothers. So there are five children in my family but I only have four siblings. I have a plaid skirt, my younger sister has a plaid skirt and blond hair, my older sister and brother are on the bottom left and my little brother is on top of me and my cousin with long hair.

3. What sport did I play in high school?

I was a swimmer. I did swim team from 8th grade until I graduated from High school. I almost walked on to the college team but decided I was done competing.

4. What if any instrument do I play? What music lessons did I take as a child?

Another kind of trick question here, I don't play any instruments. I don't have a musical bone in my body, whatsoever! Though I did take piano lessons for a few years as well as flute lessons in school. You know where you go to a music class and they pass out instruments and you pick one you think would be cool to play. You get to take it home to never practice.

5. If I could be anything what would I be?

Yeah I fooled y'all on this one, see I really would love to be a writer and publish a book, and I'd like to go back to school to get my RN, and I do love taking photos and would love to make some money doing it BUT I really really want to be an extra on Law and Order and be the one that is walking with my friend, leaving a night club and stumble upon the dead body. You know those people that really can't even act and you wonder who they know that got them that part? yeah I want to be that person. I want to be able to call my friends and say hurry turn on Law and Order and watch the first two minutes....or even be the dead person on one of those shows. I think that would be the coolest thing ever.

6. What color eyes do I have?

Come on people, just to the side bar is a picture of my eyes :) You got this one right Yvonne Green. :)

They look blue here but they are not.

7. What would I say is my best talent?

Ok what would I say is my best talent? I'd say I really don't have any talents. I am ok at a lot of things, but not great at any one thing. Except for wasting time on the internet. But if I had to list one, it would be making friends. I can pretty much go anywhere and make a friend. I am shy at first and don't do so hot in large crowds but I seem to make friends rather easy. And I think I am a pretty good friend. As far as an art talent, I am really good at coordinating colors and finding fabrics and such that go well together, for decorating and scrapbooking, that is, I am not so good with clothes.

8. What is my favorite hobby/past time?

This is a toss up. I love to blog, I love to write, and I love to take pictures and love putting all of that together in books.

9. What type of books do I like to read? Do I read???

I haven't read for awhile, but I love a good murder mystery.

10. What is my middle name?

I was not given one at birth (Jessica got that) but now my maiden name is my legal middle name.

This time 35 years ago.....

I was born! Yeppers its my birthday! I just can't believe that I am 35...

it was like what 20 years ago that I was in high school!!Ok so this isn't a high school picture, but freshman year of college close enough :) I still look the same don't I?? You know which one is me of course.

And that just seems like yesterday, I can't be much older than that right???

Holy Moly, where does the time go? Probably just passes me by on the Internet or something.

And since I have so much time on my hands, and well just can't sleep because life is crazy, lets play a little game.

How well do you know Corrine?

Here are ten questions and the one who gets the most right, wins a cool present from me! And if there is a tie, names will be drawn and a winner picked. Ready to play???

1. What is my favorite color?

2. How many brothers and sisters do I have?

3. What sport did I play in high school?


4. What if any instrument do I play? What music lessons did I take as a child?

5. If I could be anything what would I be?

6. What color eyes do I have?

7. What would I say is my best talent?

8. What is my favorite hobby/past time?

9. What type of books do I like to read? Do I read???

10. What is my middle name?



Ok start your answers and birthday wishes too!!

Have a great day on one of the greatest days of the year!

My birthday!!!

My Alter Egos

To find your ROCK STAR NAME take your first pet & current car: Snuffy Ford.

To find your GANGSTA NAME take your favorite ice cream flavor and your favorite cookie: Mint Chocolate Chip Thin Mint Cookie

YOUR DETECTIVE NAME? Your favorite color and favorite animal: Yellow Dolphin.

Want to know your SUPERHERO NAME? Just add the word "The" plus your 2nd favorite color, and your favorite drink: The Blue Diet Lime Coke.

Your NASCAR NAME. Take the first names of your grandfathers: Stanley Robert.

If I ever go into WITNESS PROTECTION you can find me with this name. Your mother & father’s middle names: Nelson Paul

TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME? Just take your 5th grade teacher’s last name and add a major city that starts with the same letter: Kelly Kansas City.

Of course, if you find me in witness protection I will assume it was because you were using your SPY NAME. Add your favorite season/holiday to your favorite flower: Summer Yellow Roses.

Find your CARTOON NAME by taking your favorite fruit, and an article of clothing you’re wearing right now, then add "ie" or "y": Pineapple Jeansie.

Your ROCKSTAR TOUR is heading across the northeast...it's called "The” + Your fave hobby/craft, your fave weather element + the word “Tour”: The Phototaking Wind Tour.

Your PORN STAR name! Take the name of your first pet and the first street you lived on:
Tawny Snowbank....that is a little embarrassing...and kinky!

Let me know if you decide to play...I can't wait to see all of your fabulous names! Happy Monday

Summin' It Up Sunday and Awards

So how was your week? How would you sum up your week in seven words? Me?? I know you want to know because well this is the coolest bloggin' idea to hit the web since wordless wednesday, in my humble opinion.


My week:



Birthday Partying, snow sledding, school starting fun!



Now I have been awarded several awards over the last few months and I have been a total blog flake on posting them, mostly because I agonize over to whom I should award them to. I always feel like, well I can't leave them out or her out...oh and can't forget her. But anyway thanks for the awards and if I forgot to mention an award I received I apologize because I can only recall the two I got in the last few days and one from awhile ago.....So feel free to try to award me again :)





Ok this first award, The Best Blog 2008 I received from April over at Delta Kids. Thanks April. And the cool thing about this award is I didn't see any rules and restrictions.

And I give this award to my sisters Jae, Mandy, Marion and Alyson.

Then I received this Honest Scrap Award from Michelle at There Must be more than Laundry and dishes (did I just slaughter your title?). This one has a few rules.

The rules of this award include listing 7 random things about yourself and passing it onto 7 honest bloggers.

So seven random facts about me:

1. I like to read Postsecrets.com every sunday and wish I had been clever enough to have people mail me their secrets via postcards...how do people come up with these things.

2. I have always thought it would be fun to be a truck driver and drive around the US delivering things and visiting different cities, and think it would be really cool to be able to pull the horns and scare the bejeez out of little sudans in front of me. And it'd be awesome to sleep in the back of them.

3. I went scuba diving with Eric on his birthday, and we saw some sharks, and though now I think it is really cool to say I swam with sharks, I couldn't swim backwards fast enough to get away from them. And I probably wouldn't ever go scuba diving again, I didn't like not being able to see off to the sides and not being able to talk and hear people talking. But it was cool.

4. I do not like to talk on the phone. Or rather do not like making calls.

5. Shopping is one of my least favorite activities, I'd rather swim with sharks than go shopping. Any kind of shopping. I wouldn't even ever want to win a shopping spree.

6. I can curl my tongue, and Eric can't.

7. I won several photography awards in high school, and didn't get into the photography program in college, but have always loved taking pictures and have thousands upon thousands of photos and can't seem to delete any of them. So they just take up space in boxes or space on the computer.

And this award goes to the last seven commenters....figured that is the easiest for me :) I am lazy that way....just being honest....

So the winners are:
Yvonne
Katherine
Anna
Jess
Mimi
Marci
Lorie

I also was tagged by JUST JENN to go into my fourth folder and post my fourth picture. So here you go on that one.

Ok so I totally wanted to cheat on this one, but I didn't. This is the kids and I at the PCC luau in Hawaii. Good fun times.

I tag all my friends that haven't commented in the last few days and have a ton of digital pictures on their computer.

The Long Awaited Arrival of my Answers to Your Questions!

Whatever that titles means...I don't know but it just sounded good at the moment I wrote it. So a million and a half years ago...well not that long but it sure feels like that long ago, I celebrated my blog anniversary....and several asked some questions...actually only a few of you did...geez am I not cool or what?? I guess y'all know too much about me already :) haha...anyway so on to answering my questions, cuz I have procrastinated long enough:

Andrea said...Let's see...oh, I know. How did you meet your husband? Sorry if you've already told that story--I haven't been reading for the whole year! ;)

Eric and I met on what I like to call a farsighted date, not quite a blind date, because I had seen him at a dance a few months earlier, and he pretends not to remember but he was drooling all over me and asking my friends all about that "hot girl in the black pants"....he did.

Also my little sister while at BYU-Hawaii, was floor mates with his little sister, and my little sister met him and she wrote me while I was on my mission in Brazil and told me all about him and how she thought I'd like him.

Then there were a couple of times I went to his house, though he wasn't around....anyway long story short he needed a date and called his brother and his wife said he should ask me out. So he did. I said yes and well a few months later we were married and it has been nothing but marital bliss mingled with some not so fun life moments...but who cares to remember those :)

Monday, December 29, 2008 Melinda said...Happy Blogiversary!!! I'm pretty boring with my questions, been reading a lot of PW Cooks :) - do you like to cook? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Oh cooking! To cook or not to cook that is the question isn't it. I don't like to cook. Not a bit. Well maybe a little bit. I think the problem lies in the fact that I don't like to plan, and shop, and therefore I really don't like to cook. I do love to bake. Yummy, chocolate chip cookies. Kind of all I really like to bake, now that I think about it.

I like to eat well cooked meals. And one of my favorite foods is a nice juicy hamburger. Gotta have my red meat. I love people cooking for me. Which is why I think I married Eric, he likes to cook and makes most of our meals. Though more and more I am cooking for our family, but very rarely look at a cook book or follow any type of recipe.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Yvonne said...Did you enjoy participating in sports in high school?Is there a day in your life you'd like to re-live?Happy Blogiversary--365 posts wow!!!

I loved participating in sports and was actually a decent athlete, not the best but up there in the top rungs with the best of them. In sixth grade I beat a 20 year record on the fifty yard dash. I know exciting and all but I was quite a sprinter. I did track and field, and softball and swimming in Junior high and tried out for basketball and messed up my ankle really bad on the first day of tryouts, so didn't go back and then tired out and didn't make the volleyball team which I felt so bad about....but got over it.

I skipped softball tryouts in high school, which I am not sure why I did that because I think I would have had fun doing that. Also decided not to do track, though wish I had, like running though can't seem to motivate my bum to do it these days....I ended up just swimming in high school and did fairly well. My problem is I am not very competitive.

As far as a day in my life I'd like to relive?? I think and this may sound totally funny, is the day I had TWO, I had an option to have a V-Back or a C-section, and I chose to have a c-section to be done in thirty minutes vs. several possible hours. If I could go back then, I'd have chosen the v-bac, I don't know how it would have changed things for me, but I wouldn't have broken out in a severe allergic rash and other complications due to surgery.

Not sure why that popped into my head, but I guess its the only thing I could think of changing....but that isn't what you asked, it was relive..wasn't it....oh I some days would love to just relive, the day each of my children were born. I love those tender hours of them just laying on my chest, and its just me and them and their dad.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Tonya said...Happy Bloggiversary!! I want to have my blog made into a book or something as well. You'll have to tell me how you're doing it. Okay, now for a question: Were you born and raised in the church and when/how did you gain your own testimony?

You (as in my faithful readers) may not know, but I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And yes Tonya I was born in the church. My father joined the church when in high school and my mother is from Pioneer stock, not sure where that line began.

As far as my testimony, I think it has been an on going growing thing. I don't think I ever had one of those huge ah-ha moments, but its just the little things in life that have testified to me, that Jesus is our Christ, that I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who truly loves me and each of us. As a youth I had a very powerful, tender moment, when I knelt down to pray, to speak, to cry to my Heavenly Father, and at the moment of deep grief and loneliness, I felt a warm embrace, a comfort feeling I hadn't felt, and I knew I was loved beyond what my self absorbed teenage mind would allow me.

The great thing, like knowledge, a testimony keeps growing. It is the little things in life that just testify of the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is amazing that when we stop, and look around us, even in what seems to be the worst of times, we are being blessed.

Tuesday, December 30, 2008 Marci said...i'm proud to admitt i've read every single word on your blog...AND laughed most of the time. your blog makes me smile. my question for you is..........................what is up with your book? what is the title? what is it about? and how much will it cost me to buy my way into the book as one of the characters? when will the blockbuster hit be released into theaters?

Well Marci, I pride myself in knowing that you have been around to stay up with my mostly pathetic, sometimes funny, life :) As far as my book goes, man that is hard thing to answer, see right now I have four that I am nibbling on, and well one I have gotten fairly far into but am not liking it much, if anyone would like to read it, I'd be happy to send it your way. That's about a young woman struggling to find peace after a horrific accident...yeah the accident happened and I don't know how to turn her life around :)

The other which, you of course will be portrayed in is having a hard time leaving my head and hitting the word. But you can anticipate she will be witty, charming and beautiful and eating deviled eggs at a church party. This is what I call my fictional memoir, only that it is based on my life, but names and things have been changed and my own twist on people to make the story more exciting has occurred....though I'd have to say I don't have to do too much twisting, I have lead a very interesting life :)

However, once it reaches the cinema level, I believe Julia Roberts (or insert your favorite actress here, I don't know actresses names and that was the first one to come to my mind...)will be playing you, though by the time I finish she may be to old for your part...we will have to see.

The other two are children's books and just not sure anyone really would like to illustrate them or read them or publish them....And I am still waiting for my 403 signatures on the I'm Flattered me an author post, and so it just may be a long while....though I am working on it....though finding time between kids running around and me having to read other blogs...well you get the picture... I will let you know.


So that's it for all the questions, aren't you sad you didn't ask anything, or are you sad these gals asked these things? I am always open to answering questions, please feel free to ask away...In my next life, I want to be a Dear Abby. Maybe I should start a blog...oh wait already did that....I think its been too long since I have had a working computer and Internet and sleep for that matter. Good Night!

PS...I finally got this to work...knock on wood and its Bee's Birthday so don't forget to wish her a happy one (in the previous post titled Happy Birthday Bee....creative I know)

Pictures of me and kids??

One of my friends from Austin came into town to help her grandmother in a singing competition. And yesterday she had some free time, and so the kids and I "kidnapped" her all day, taking her around the north shore, passing by BYU and the temple grounds (so beautiful there), we hit the Dole Plantation for some really yummy Dole Whip and then we headed to Teddy's Bigger Burger for yes some of the best gosh darn big burgers. After the older kids got home we hit the beach. Jennifer was so wonderful and took pictures of me and the kids, something that rarely happens, since I am always behind the camera. And after seeing me in the photos I know why I hide. But besides my dislike of seeing me the pictures turned out really cute, if I do say so myself.

Jennifer thanks for taking these and thanks for hanging out with us. It was a lot of fun to get reacquainted after so many years. We made her go back to our house and have dinner and go swimming in the pool, well more like sitting in the hot tub and saving little T-Rex from jumping into the dark cold well not that cold pool.

Six things You Never Knew about me And Always wanted to know!

My sister Alyson, tagged me like several million years ago, and then someone else tagged me right around that time, and I believe some one else, and here I sit today and decided to finally do the tag because I'd rather write than make deviled egg salad for my kids. Kind of fun listening to them in the kitchen...think I am going to regret this decision in a bit....ok be right back you won't even notice I am gone, I promise.

See you didn't miss me did you :)

So on to the Six Things You Never Knew About Me, Six Random Facts, Six things that will help you sleep better at night knowing, well maybe not quite:

1. My favorite color is yellow and blue which makes green. And I know it should say my favorite colors are...but I prefer sometimes to write in improper grammar for the heck of it. Yeah so which is the random fact here?
2. My Mom is the third child, I am the third child, Eric is the third child, Two is our third child and I wanted to name her Tracy (tres three in spanish) but Eric said we couldn't because Tracy is sometimes a boy name....I was like whatever but we decided on naming her after the Labor and Delivery nurse. (so is that more of a random fact about Two than me?)
3. I have never read Harry Potter books, not because I really didn't want to but more because I love the "OH my Gosh!" factor when people hear I haven't read them. I also have had no desire to read them, and even less when people tell me I should. Probably a little of my rebellious side shining through. Maybe one day I will read them.
4. I like to look at people, watch them and make up stories in my head about them. For instance I see a guy driving- kind of in a hurry and imagine he just got a call from his wife saying she just has had it and needs him to come home so she can go out and get her nails and hair done. So he is quickly trying to come to her rescue....maybe that's just a little fantasy of mine.
5. As a small child, I collected snails and slugs in buckets and pulled them around in the wagon. I'd leave them in the buckets over night and be so sad in the morning because the only ones left were the ones that got smooshed in the bottom by their friends trying to escape (or by me, pushing them down and in the bucket to fill it with more....we had a lot of snails). Then I'd make graves for the ones that didn't make it out.
6. I am an imperfect impatient perfectionist. I often don't do things because I know I can't do them perfectly in the amount of time I have to do it, so I don't. And if I try to do something, and am in a hurry I rush and then try not to care. It really is a crazy personality trait, and doesn't make much sense.

**Side note: T-Rex is in trouble!!! He just threw my camera in the phone! not the phone the Toilet! I am tired and I have been up since 4 AM and my parents are coming to town tomorrow, and we have no groceries...though The house is mostly clean but we still have a day to destroy it again. So we are headed to the beach this morning while Eric works.

10 or So Things I learned about myself while traveling

So its a long title and well just not too sure how to sum up my latest adventure of traveling. I feel so behind and feel like there is so much to write and tell, but man who wants all the boring details. So here is the list of things, and as usual in no particular order other than what pops into my mind, and hopefully I will be able to finish this time with out a Realtor saying they are coming over to see the house, which is what happened to me earlier this morning and lets just say I had some cleaning up to do and sometimes 30 minutes isn't enough time, I mean I have four kids! And I am tired and lazy :), ok and totally distracted. So here you go:

1. I would not make a great single parent.

2. I really don't like visiting people, well that isn't phrased just right, but I really don't like driving to different houses everyday and hanging out at different homes everyday.

3. I am a home body, would rather have people come visit me.

4. I am a little bit of a medium, not size though people did comment on my "smaller" size, but you may remember a blog awhile back about those dreams I was having of driving my car and not being able to stop...well yeah that is what my car wreck was like. I saw the gal turn left in front of me, and I slammed on my brakes as hard as I could and just couldn't stop. I saw her little red car, her daughter in the back seat, and just prayed they would be ok and that they would be able to speed up and out of my way. But nope I hit them and they did a 180. But luckily everyone is ok, other than the bump on the back of Emily's head and the fact that the car took almost two weeks to be fixed.

5. I still don't like going to the dentist even if it is my brother in law and he doesn't yell at me for not having a big mouth.

6. I don't like the drive from Texas to Utah, not in a car, nor in a bus, or in a train. I do not like it!

7. My memory is warped: hotels are not fun!

8. I love my family but sometimes a little distance is nice.

9. My kids are wonderful my parenting just sucks!

10. I can live off of little to no sleep and am not too horrible of a person to be around.

11. I come from a wonderfully quirky amazing perfect family.

12. There are a lot of rabbits on the highways between New Mexico and Texas, and I enjoyed seeing every single one.

13. I love Air Supply and forgot that they were my favorite band, and still know all the words to all their songs...."the beating of my heart is a drum and its lost and looking for a rhythm like you..."

14. I don't like it when other people change the music or radio station in my car.

15. I am not very talkative.

16. I'd really like to live in Utah near family but maybe in like St. George or Moab.

17. I stress too much staying in someone else's house and got more rest driving straight for 26 hours than I did for the two weeks staying with my parents.

Looking for a best friend.....Apply here!

I know you really really want to be my best friend so I thought I'd come up with a few things that you might like to try in order to be my best friend.

I have lots of good friends, even though some days I feel all alone and like no bodies likes me and that I need to go eat some worms, or possibly move to Australia. But I do have great friends, I have always been blessed to have a circle of wonderful friends.

Well I don't know if you have had this problem since being married, and if you aren't married you may not relate, but its hard enough to make a friend but you kind of have to make two friends when you are married. If that makes sense. You know the hubbies have to get a long as well as the wives, and that is not always an easy feet (thats not the right spelling for the connotation that I want to use.... I don't think).

Anyway, so recently I decided (since to be honest I am kind of selfish and self centered, most my thoughts revolve around me and my happiness...yeah I spend my days tending to and being mindful of the needs of others around me but when it comes down to it, its all about me. Pretty sure everyone is like that because really, we spend the most time with ourselves....anyway a whole other tangent which I might get to later, maybe I should book an appointment with a shrink to discuss my nepotism (is that the right word, I need a thesaurus).

So I was saying I have decided forget my husband having friends, I need them. And by golly how hard is it for couples to get together and just have the guys sit around and kind of nod, grunt and scratch or pretend to be totally interested in the football game. I totally think guys watch sports to just zone out the world around them, again another subject for another time.

So onto my search for friends, really it isn't hard and I will be taking applications until the position is filled. Here are a few requirements in no particular order:

1. When my name pops into your mind, when you get a fleeting thought about me, just call me or shoot me an email and say hi.

2. While shopping and you see that cute little something that reminds you of me, buy it and drop it by.

3. Just stop by and hang out with me and talk while I clean out a closet.

4. Call and say "hey I have to run to the.......want to come with me?"

5. Accept my offer to do something nice for you, like watch your kids or clean your bathroom.

6. Don't be offended if I am over at your house and start picking things up and cleaning. I don't know why I do that, because its not like I do that at my own house all the time. I think some days I should be a maid and have a maid, because for some odd reason I like cleaning other people's houses....though I haven't done it for awhile cuz I haven't really hung out at anyone's house lately...just stuck here in my mess with no compulsion to clean.

7. Tell me how wonderful I am (hahah) no really :)

8. Read my blog and leave comments.

9. Some nights girls just need a girls night out, and even if you haven't seen your husband all week because he has been working so hard, you decide you need a break and need to get out and so you call and we head out.

10. Always come to everything I plan and invite you to! Well not always and everything! But if you don't come to five things in a row, you get bumped down big time off my friend's list and its hard to get back up at that point. :)

My Interview

1) tell me about one of your favorite moments before marriage/kids. tell me about one of your favorite moments since marriage/kids.

This is a really hard question- to pinpoint one favorite moment...I think I will pinpoint one of my favorite times-Sunday dinners growing up around my house, were more than a pot roast and potatoes, we would sit at the table for literally hours and just talk, play zilch ( mom kept six dice in her drawer.) When Eric and I were first dating he was amazed at how long we all sat at the dinner table and just talked, no more eating just chatting. We had many good laughs that way.

I also loved college and our late night frozen food aisle runs to get cheese sticks and chicken nuggets and french fries....sounds like what my kids always want to eat. But we would run to Food 4 Less, by the junk food and cook it and sit up and talk and eat it. It'd be 2 or 3 in the morning and we'd always regret it the next day and plan on going to bed by 10 but for some reason it was always 4 before we were hitting the sack. I also remember same room mates sitting by the piano and one of my talented piano playing roommates would play and we (mostly I) would make up songs and we'd just sing.

Since marriage, and this may sound rather trite, but its every day, I have a favorite moment, I think the most amazing moments were the births of each and every child.

And also I think my wedding day, the limo ride to the reception. Need I say more!

But even though I pretend I can't stand not getting enough sleep and hate those little feet in my head, my favorite thing is to wake up with my little brood all around me, they may not know by the way I usually react, I am not a very pleasant person when woken up several times a night, but I love that my kids love me and want to be near me, because I love them very much! And if it really bothered me I think I would have been locking my door at night so they couldn't join me.

2) what attracts you to another friend? and what do you like to do with your friends?

As you probably can tell I just enjoy sitting around and talking with my friends. I like to have people over and just hang out. I have always been good at being satisfied and content with little or no entertainment because I feel that I am pretty good at making it. As far as what attracts me to friends, that's harder....I think I am pretty good (use that word a lot) at being friends with anyone.

I have a five attempt rule though, that is if a friend doesn't reciprocate the friendship after my five attempts I give up and don't try to be a friend anymore. Not that I am rude or not nice to the person, at least I don't think I am but I just don't make an effort to be overly friendly and invite them to do stuff with me. I figure if they weren't interested in being my friend, its their loss and I need not try anymore. I like people who just call me randomly to say hi, and invite me to do stuff.

I often find myself as the party planning friend and I get tired of doing it. I go through waves, where I finally realize things aren't going to happen if I don't do anything so I will start planning things. And most likely people are doing things but with out me. And I am ok with that mostly, I'd just hope I am a good enough friend to be included. But I have always been the friend that invites and includes all my circles, I don't like to leave anyone out.

It is difficult also for me to have a "best friend" I have never liked using that term because I don't like to isolate myself to one person. I love all my friends and they all have different things to offer how can you have a favorite?

3) eric has taken the kids, all of them, even little T, on an outing and will be gone all day. what would you do with your corrine time?

Honestly, I 'd stay home and clean the house then climb in bed and read a book and drink a diet coke. Check my email, read some blogs, maybe make a few phone calls. Pretty simple. Though one day I'd like to go get my nails done, but if Eric had all the kids, I'd stay home like I said above. He is pretty good about doing that for a couple of hours every Saturday.

4) what are you passionate about lately?

hmmmmmmmmmm...... I think blogging :) I am also very much into making storybooks, memory books...and I am hopefully going to become passionate again about swimming and exercising.

5) what differences do you see in your life since you started
writing an online blog journal?

I feel like I have opened a creative side of me that I had hidden for a long time...my writing. I also am opening my eyes more to the fun little happy moments that happen each day. I am also making new friends and learning more and more how fun and normal everyone is and at the same time how unique we each are. I love reading friend's blogs because many times there are things I never knew about them that I don't think I'd ever know about them had I never read their blogs, not that they wouldn't tell me but that it never most likely would have come up.