Don’t you wish that you had a check engine light on your forehead? Or maybe in a less conspicuous place like your arm? One of your friends could walk by, notice that your “engine” needs some tuning and send you to the dealer (aka the spa or just a night out) for a tuneup. Maybe the light could come in different colors – one for when your engine just needs a rest and another for when you’re sick. Then someone could make you some chicken-noodle-soup and rub your feet for you so you could get some actual rest.

Oh well… until we come with glowing lights in our arms we’ll just have to be content with Visiting Teachers! They’re probably better anyway.

My friend Vanessa has entered the Iron Cupcake competition and has submitted a DELICIOUS cupcake recipe. Go vote for her! We want her to win!

Yes, I have tried this cupcake. It’s more than awesomely fantastic!!

Here’s the link to go vote: http://mkecupcakequeen.blogspot.com/

Hers is The Vanessa Contessa (like the 4th one from the bottom of the list).

VOTE!

I hate shopping for new pants, especially since I got married and put on, almost literally, a ton of weight. Based on some of my postings I suppose it’s not hard to tell how THAT happened.

I’ve had the same jeans for the past 2 years. Four pair of them:

Pair #1: Too short and too big. I have to buy them long or else they fit into the “Noah” category. Noah built an ark – I buy my pants too short. We’re both getting ready for a flood. I also bought these ones a size bigger than the others so that just in case I got fatter I could still fit in something. I never got big enough to truly fit in these jeans (thank goodness) but I wear them anyway when the others are dirty.

Pair #2: Also too short but fit just fine. These ones look fine with a pair of flip-flops but with regular tennis-shoes they look ridiculous. There’s a line in a movie called Hard Ball that is fitting for my “too short” jeans. It went something like, “Why don’t you invite your pants down to your shoes so they can have a party?” Every time I put a pair of jeans on that’s too short that line goes through my head.

Pair #3: Also too short (they were seriously the only ones I could find at the time) but fit just fine. They also have these strange pockets on the back that used to snap shut. They got left a little too long in the washing machine once and the snaps stained the jeans with rust. One of the snaps fell off and the other one is bent beyond being usable. No idea how that happened?? I still wear them. I don’t really have a choice. And they do fit pretty well.

Pair #4: These jeans are long enough, almost too long, but too big. Whenever I wear them I look like I’m, as my mom would have put it in my teenage years, carrying a load in my pants. I don’t know how they got to be so big. They used to fit just fine. I even started putting them in the dryer (which I NEVER do with jeans) so that they would shrink down just a bit so I could wear them. They fit fine in the morning when I put them on, but by lunch I’m constantly pulling them up and wishing I had worn something else.

I’ve been putting up with these jeans for far too long. It wasn’t an issue until a couple of weeks ago when I took a new position at work that requires that I go out and check the production lines to quality check the product being made. I’m not going to wear nice clothes to do that. Not to mention the fact that a pair of nice dress pants looks pretty silly with a pair of sneakers. I’m not going to even apologize to anyone reading this who might dress that way. There’s nothing you can tell me that will convince me that sneakers worn with slacks is acceptable. Ug.

ANYWAY… I went to WalMart today to buy some new jeans. Ironically, WalMart is the only place in the entire country so far where I’ve been able to find pants that are (1) long enough and (2) not cut for someone with a waist the size of Texas and hips the size of New Hampshire. Don’t retailers know by now that women usually have smaller waists than hips? Or maybe it’s just me…

Gosh, again, ANYWAY… I pulled three pair from the rack, or stack, whatever. I pulled two in the size that I wanted to fit into (because they’re a size smaller than the ones I already do) and 1 pair that I thought was going to be the one I would have to buy. Then I wandered around looking at other things, putting off the inevitable encounter with the “fat mirror” that lives in every single dressing room in America. I finally went into the stall and tried on the slip I’d picked up. It fit. And there was no more time to put it off any longer. I grabbed the first pair of jeans and yanked. Or rather gently pulled. SERIOUSLY?! They totally fit! I was so shocked I just stood there contemplating whether to tell the crabby dressing-room-attendant to call 911 because I was surely hallucinating.

I waited for a couple of minutes, double checked the tag and when I was sure I was really seeing what I thought I was seeing, I took them off and pulled on the other pair. Surely this was just a fluke. HOLY SMOKES! TWO IN ONE DAY?! What are the chances?! I didn’t want to find out what the odds actually were. I quickly pulled them off and ran to the checkout, then out to my car, sped home and stuck them safely in the laundry hoping that they still fit when them come out.

I WENT DOWN A JEAN SIZE!!! WOOHOO!!!

(I know you can’t see me, but I’m jumping up and down!)

I’ve been procrastinating this on purpose. Partly because I didn’t want to spoil it for EmaLee and Elizabeth and partly because I didn’t have words for how I felt about the way this story “ended.”

The short version of the way I feel about the ending is: I LOVED IT.

The longer version goes something like this…

First off, I agree that it could have been done in two books. It felt rushed and like there was so much that needed to be crammed into one “short” book. However, having read or heard her say somewhere that it was a fight with the publisher to be able to get a 4th book in the series, I can understand and tolerate the need to get all that was in there, in there.

Second, I wasn’t surprised by the pregnancy. I predicted that some time ago and new that the Volturi would come for the child. (Tangent: Volturi, Voldemort… close.) I didn’t fully understand why they would come for it but I new that they would.

Third, and I feel totally stupid for even saying this, but when Jacob imprinted on Nessie I was so shocked I had to stop reading to process. I should have seen that coming. It was so obvious and so in my face.

Shape shifters? Now’s a fine time…

I can’t say that I’m surprised by the amount of self control that Bella had once she was changed. That’s really been the only thing that she’s ever really had going for her. She new how to control her emotions, her appetites, her desires – all of it. I think that’s why nobody could get in. She had control over it all. It was said that becoming a vampire doesn’t change those things, it only makes them stronger. Plus the shield thing wasn’t too big a surprise because she was also always protective of those that she loved. She protected her mother all those years and took care of her. Then she moved in with Charlie and did the same for him. She cooked and cared for her dad to protect him from himself. Again, the vampire thing only made what she already had stronger. No surprise there.

I was surprised by the ending but not disappointed. I was surprised that there was no show down that ripped my heart out in the process. I’m proud of Ms. Meyer for having the courage to point out that violence isn’t always needed. To show that a battle against truth is a losing one. To prove that what is right cannot be disputed, argued, or changed. She showed that if people will only stop to listen, they will learn all they need to know before jumping to conclusions and prejudging someone based on possible false information.

I think that too often in this world people do just that – they jump to their own conclusions without getting the full story and have no idea what they’re talking about but are too stuck on the attention being given to them to shut their mouths before they’ve said or done too much. Sometimes it takes an army to stop them because by the time they’ve said all they’ve had to say, lots of people are involved and emotionally trapped in the moment. All that happens so fast. Just ask Irina.

I applaud the courage that it took to end the book with the way things should be.

I knew today was going to be tough pretty early. I’m sure we’ve all had days where we look back and think that it would have been better had we stayed in bed all day. Even if nothing was accomplished. Today has been like that. I should have known. There were plenty of signs. I’m wondering which one I should have taken the hint from…

Perhaps it was when I woke up late.

Or it could have been that I woke up feeling sick.

Maybe it was when nothing I had at home sounded good to eat for breakfast. I couldn’t even think about eating any of it. It made me want to hurl. And if you know anything about me, you know that a hungry Abi is a crabby Abi. The only thing that sounded good was a Peanut Butter Moo’d from Jamba Juice, without the peanut butter.

It could have been when I got to Jamba Juice and there was one of Oceanside’s finest leaning up against his squad car in the parking lot staring at the place. “Goin’ to Jamba Juice?” he asked me.

“Yep.”

“Good luck with that. I’ve been here for about 15 minutes and they’re not open yet. Strange too considering there’s a car here with a warm engine and the lights are on. The doors are locked though. Not sure what’s going on. Maybe if you go knock again someone will open the doors.”

So, of course, I knocked. Nothing else sounded even remotely like I could swallow it, let alone keep it down. No answer. I was already running late for work (hm, another clue?) so I left. The cop didn’t even budge.

The only other thing between me and work was Carl’s Jr. Yuk. No choice. Headache coming. Must stop. I pulled up to the microphone thing to order breakfast and nothing looked or sounded good. I ordered French toast sticks and hashbrowns with milk. “I don’t have no milk this morning. I have coffee, orange juice and soda.” (HUGE clue. I don’t do well without my milk.) I knew orange juice would immediately give me heartburn which would put me over this morning so I ordered a soda. Squirt. It’s close, right? Not when it’s nothing by SODA WATER. Ug!!

Maybe the last straw should have been when I burned my tongue on the first French toast stick and then about threw up the cold soda water I tried to put the fire out with.

Or maybe it was the stomach ache breakfast gave me.

All I know for sure at this point is that I should have paid closer attention to the signs and gone back to bed. The day isn’t over yet though so I’m still optimistic. Things could be worse. They could still get better.

This has probably been one of the longest weeks EVER. I started a new position on Monday – surprise! I knew it was coming but I certainly wasn’t prepared for it to happen on Monday. I had to move my office literally from one corner of the building (upstairs) to the opposite corner (downstairs in the lab) on Monday afternoon. Tuesday and Wednesday were full of on-the-job training opportunities as well as helping on the production line to get everything out for month end. I’ve been running around like crazy. I spent little time in my office (the new one) and lots of time filling bottles, twisting caps, checking for codes and boxing product.

And after all that… Seminary Teacher Training. From 7-9 Tuesday, Wednesday and tonight. Book Club on Tuesday (thanks everyone for staying). I left training early last night because of a migraine and went to bed at 9. One more night to go, with tomorrow off to hang out with my sisters. Yay!!

I’ve heard seminary called this before, as I’m sure everyone else has. When I saw the title of this book I had to read it. I loved it. I can’t explain why exactly, I just did.

It’s set in Arkansas and is about a kid named Kevin. He’s sitting in Sunday School one day and the Bishop comes in to tell them that they now have enough youth in the area to have an early morning seminary class. Their teacher is a volunteer for a group called the Granite Girls and does rubbing’s of gravestones in local cemeteries. She takes the class on field trips and has them help.

Deseret Book’s description: As if living in a funeral home isn’t bad enough, Kevin Kirk’s parents insist on driving a car with a “My Other Car Is a Hearse” bumper sticker plastered on the back. And now it looks like Kevin has been reluctantly “volunteered” to help remodel the old house across the street for Marcy and Marshall, the couple who helps run the Paramount funeral home. Since their baby came along, there just isn’t enough room for them in the apartment over the garage–especially now that Marcy’s mother, Ruby, has shown up.
It’s been twelve years since Marcy has seen her mother. For Kevin, the reunion could have waited another twelve years. To him, there’s something not quite right about Ruby. She always acts syrupy sweet to Kevin when others are around. But when they are alone, it’s a much different story. How can he get anyone else to see that this is a woman who would steal from a church?

Hang on tight as you grow up with Kevin Kirk in this charming tale that shows what it really means to be family.

Apparently, this is the third book in a four book series. I’ve ordered the other three from Amazon so I can read the rest of the series. I haven’t pin-pointed what it is exactly that draws me to these books, but I’m glad I picked it up. I’m bummed to see that they’re out of print though.

Ellie and Zoe are as different as, well, as cats and dogs. While Ellie loves pretty much everyone she comes in contact with, Zoe is very antisocial. Ellie is outgoing and curious. Zoe already knows everything so she doesn’t have anything left to be curious about and really thinks that it’s annoying that Ellie is always getting into new things. Zoe especially disapproves when strangers come into HER home. She’ll allow it, but visitors should expect that she will not be part of whatever shenanigans they have going. If she does decide to grace said visitors with her presence, it will be with much yawning and other such signs of obvious boredom.

Ellie is always ready to play. She loves to fetch. We have an old flying squirrel toy that Jon used to play fetch with Copper. Copper is a huge (seriously gigantic) chocolate lab that we dog-sat for about 7 months last year. The flying squirrel is almost as big as Ellie. She loves to fetch it though. She’ll grab it and shake it like she’s tough and then she’ll trip over it trying to bring it back so you can throw it again. Our moms both taught us not to throw balls in the house. Ellie has taught us that as long as we throw them low we won’t break anything.

Zoe will only play with strings and hair ties. She likes the ones with feathers on them the most. Sometimes she’ll throw a ball up and catch it again, but nobody is allowed to play with her. She just does this to show you that she doesn’t need you to have a good time.

When we got back from Utah, Ellie was, of course, thrilled. She’s always happy to see someone she recognizes. Zoe, on the other hand, usually couldn’t care any less. This time though, when we got home from Utah, Zoe seemed… glad. She doesn’t get excited about anything but she actually came down and hung out with us that night. For two days whenever we were home she would be wherever we were. I think she might have actually missed us. Who’da thunk?

Jon and I were lucky enough to be able to go to Utah this weekend for EmaLee and Brian’s sealing. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I’ll share the trip that way.

I forgot the camera was zoomed in on this one. I kinda like it though. Doesn’t show all my chins.

The ceremony was so touching. The sealer (Dene) was such a sweet and humble man.

My Grandpa is serving a service mission at the Conference Center and gives tours there. Here’s a picture of him in action. My Grandpa, the Tour Guide.

Em and Brian were staying at my mom’s so we stayed at my aunt’s house. They have 2 pug’s – one they’ve had for about 8 or 9 years and the other they’ve only had for about a month. Scooter (or Studer, as she’s affectionately known around their house) is the girl on the left, and Stanley (or Fat Stanley, as he’s affectionately known by me) is the one on the right. They’re helping him get back down to a healthier weight. Both pugs are super sweet cuddlers and love everyone.

The day we were at the temple was beautiful!

I love downtown Salt Lake. I love that it’s somewhat small but still has everything it needs.

I love the houses up in the Avenues. I’m sure this one is the favorite of a lot of people. I’ve always loved just looking at it.

On Sunday we were able to attend the blessing of our new nephew, William. I have some of the cutest pictures of him, Hannah and Bella. I can’t put any of them here, but some will certainly be framed and hung in our house. We had a great time that day with Jon’s family. Bella was so happy to see us that she spent most of the day giving us hugs and making us smile. She’s such a sweetheart! Hannah was busy running around visiting all of the people she knew – she had three sets of grandparents and various aunts and uncles there that she had to keep entertained. William just kinda hung out. Not like he coulda done anything else. 🙂

We had a great time. Many thanks to all who made it possible. A special thanks to Vanessa and Jon for watching Ellie for us. She took an AWESOME picture of Ellie that I absolutely LOVE! She posted it on her blog.

We are happy to be home, but we miss all of our family up in Utah. We were lucky enough to see as many people as we could. I wish we could have spent more time up there, but we were out of vacation time. WE LOVE YOU ALL!!!!

So a couple of weeks ago, we had Banks sitting with us during sacrament meeting at church. He was playing with Jon’s phone and was looking at all the pictures that were on it. He wanted to take a picture of himself so we pointed the camera at us and pushed the button. Didn’t realize the flash was on, as was the camera-noise that the phone makes. Oops!