Thursday Thoughts

I'm sooo not ready for snow! When I said I was looking forward to Fall, I didn't mean a short one! Last year was perfect. Halloween was warm and great for trick or treating. I was hoping it would be the same this year, but I should know better. After all I live in Utah. Last night I couldn't believe my eyes. I was astounded as I looked out the kitchen window sure that the snow turned into rain when to my surprise there were huge flakes falling slowly. The kind you wish for on Christmas Day and then I thought to myself, "Christmas? I'm really not ready for that either!"

So my sister, Tina, is taking me for lunch tomorrow for my birthday. I know, I know, it's passed, but she is very busy and I have been as of late. I chose to go to the Macaroni Grill, it's close to where I work, and they have a dish called Skinny Chicken that I want to try. Can't wait! Tina has always been so generous to me and I appreciate and love her so I'm looking forward to some sister time. It seems she and I don't get together much, so it is much needed.

Today was weigh in....I reached my 25 lb goal! Can you believe it? I can't. 26.2 lbs gone! Wow, that seems like a lot, almost as much as Savannah weighs! How did I ever let myself gain so much??

So we bought some hot dogs and got the larger ones cause Charlie was craving a quarter pound cheese and chili dog from 7-11, well Savannah pulls them out of the freezer, holds them up looks at both of us with big eyes and says, "BIG hog-oggs!" and then neatly places them back where they were. It was hysterical! When she sees all the Halloween decorations in the neighborhood she'll say, "Spoooooky." I think Halloween is her favorite holiday so far. We'll see. She is entering that age of realization so maybe her favorite will change as they come about. I think kids love all holidays, didn't you?

I'm hoping Michael makes it to graduation. He seems to have lost his ambition and drive for keeping his grades up like he did last year. And now he's also changing his mind about the Army, which I don't know if he can really do since he had a verbal agreement with the recruiter to join. I don't know that kids are really ready to grow up at 18, I think it takes a lot longer than that to decide what you want to do in life and how to do it. Who made the legal adult age 18 anyway?

It's been great having Jake back at home again. Since football ended, it seems there is a lot more life around the house now. I never realized how much he made a difference in our family's interaction. Plus, he's the only one in our house besides me that will sit down and play toys with Savannah. She loves it. She calls out when he gets home, "My Jacob, my Jacob!"

Oh, and one more thought....I want to make note, what kind of person steals an electric Jack O'Lantern off your porch when it's about the only decoration you have? And why would they leave their mop in place of it? Probably neighborhood kids I tell ya. Aargh!

Annual Pumpkinland visit.

So we've been going to this little nursey for the past 4 years to visit Pumpkinlnad. It's located in a small town that has the nicest people you'll ever meet and they've really done a lot of additions this year for the kids. Savannah had a lot of fun and she wanted to buy every pumpkin there was!

Need a job?

My supervisor quit a month ago, one of the Financial Analysts' last day is Friday, and two more will be leaving in a week. Hence the lack of comments, reading, and writing on my part. No one has been replaced as of yet and the work is really starting to pile on. Anyone need a job?

We're back!

Phew! Well we're home now from our fun filled four days in St. George and Mesquite. I gotta say Cats was a great performance and no better way than to have it in the red rocks of warm and sunny southern Utah. We were lucky that it didn't rain and started to pour, and I mean pour, at the very moment the show ended, so thank goodness. We also went to a wildlife museum, bowling, and had all you can eat seafood buffet. (Hmmmm...didn't count my points of course.)

I can't believe how well Savannah did on this trip. I don't think she's been on an extensive trip since she was a baby, so this is something we didn't know how she'd take to. The first couple of days she kept asking if we could go home, but on the way home today she said, "No, go bye bye." It was great, and I wish I could write more now, but I'm raked for time.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes, I can't believe you all remembered!

Here are some fun shots of the 4 day weekend:

What fun!

Thank you to my sister and her husband for the nice time Saturday night and the cute birthday gift! I love it! How'd she know I love candles? I got a ceramic pumpkin with a scented candle inside and a cute card that sang to me! After dinner we saw Open Season, it was hilarous. The time went by too fast though. I think next time we should plan a double "day" date.

The day off today has been nice, but boy did my house need cleaning! I guess that's what I get for putting off doing it knowing I had the day off. It's been fun being at home with Savannah today. Love three day weekends!

Quick entry.

Jake's pretty much done with football now. Next week is his last game, so it will be nice to get back to simple Saturdays where we don't have to rush out the door to get to the game or grab something to eat while we are our errand running.

So we're going out on a double date with my sister and her husband tonight. She lives two hours away, but we've been talking about doing this since last February. Funny how now it's finally happening. Guess that's the way it is when life is busy and people are so far apart. We're meeting at Famous Dave's. I'm sure it's more the men's choice than us women's, but that's okay. Maybe we'll get to pick the movie - a chick flick at that!

TGIF

Thank God it's Friday AND it's a 3 day weekend for me. Sometimes I just have to revel in working for the government. Not even the public schools get Columbus day off. (Ahhh....) last year I got Savannah's portraits taken, but this year I think I'll catch up on housework, spend time at home, and of course go out for lunch with my mom on my birthday. It will be good cause I'll also have time to prepare for our getaway on Thursday.

I'm starting to get antsy about next week and not just from all the fun we'll have in Mesquite and St. George, but with all the dining out we'll be doing. I can't wait to go. I'm even preparing what I'll eat as I can to help prevent spur of the moment decisions I may later regret. I really need to make myself a note to pack my food guide and point tracker so I can at least try to stay OP.

Sure hope the weather will be nice down there, nice enough to swim at least. I'm starting to get tire of the rain. I can't wait! Hee!

Interesting facts about my birthday...

Found at: Birthday Calculator for 11 October 1972

Your date of conception was on or about 19 January 1972 which was a Wednesday.

You were born on a Wednesday under the astrological sign Libra.

The year 1972 was a leap year.

Your Native American Zodiac sign is Raven; your plant is Ivy.

As of 10/4/2006 11:43:55 AM EDT
You are 33 years old.
You are 408 months old.
You are 1,773 weeks old.
You are 12,411 days old.
You are 297,875 hours old.
You are 17,872,543 minutes old.
You are 1,072,352,635 seconds old.

Celebrities who share your birthday:
Michelle Wie (1989) Michelle Trachtenberg (1985) Artie Lange (1967) Luke Perry (1966) Joan Cusack (1962) Steve Young (1961) Dawn French (1957) Elmore Leonard (1925) Art Blakey (1919) Jerome Robbins (1918) Eleanor Roosevelt (1884) Henry John Heinz (1844)

Top songs of 1972
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack Alone Again (Naturally) by Gilbert O'Sullivan
American Pie by Don McLean Without You by Nilsson
I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash A Horse with No Name by America
Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me by Mac Davis Me and Mrs. Jones by BillyPaul
The Candy Man by Sammy Davis, Jr. Lean On Me by Bill Withers

Your age is the equivalent of a dog that is 4.85753424657534 years old. (You're still chasing cats!)

There are 7 days till your next birthday on which your cake will have 34 candles.

Those 34 candles produce 34 BTUs, or 8,568 calories of heat (that's only 8.5680 food Calories!) .
You can boil 3.89 US ounces of water with that many candles.

In 1972 there were approximately 3.7 million births in the US. The population was approximately 203,302,031 people, 57.4 persons per square mile. There were approximately 2,158,802 marriages (10.6%) and 708,000 divorces (3.5%). There were approximately 1,921,000 deaths (9.5 per 1000.) In the US a new person is born approximately every 8 seconds and one person dies approximately every 12 seconds.

Your birthstone is Tourmaline. The Mystical properties of Tourmaline: Pink Tourmaline promotes female balance and protection. Green Toumaline promotes male balance.

Some lists consider these stones to be your birthstone, (Birthstone lists come from Jewelers, Tibet, Ayurvedic Indian medicine, and other sources) Opal, Jasper

Your birth tree is Rowan, the Sensitivity, full of charm, cheerful, gifted, without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company, does not forgive.

The moon's phase on the day you were born was waxing crescent.

Excerpts from a two year old...

When Charlie started the shower the other night to warm the water, Savannah informed us, "It's Raining!"

When her brothers enter her bedroom, our bedroom, Jake's bedroom, or any bedroom, Savannah instantly tells them, "Get out of my room!" I think she's gone into the boys' rooms uninvited one to many times to learn this one.

Popsicles are "Pockles."

Dragon Tales training pants are "Dragonflies."

Savannah tells everyone to "Have a good day!" or "See you marnow," when saying goodbye.

When I put on my tennis shoes, Savannah asks, "Walk mommy? Walk?" And when I turn off the treadmill it's, "Done Mommy? Done?"

More to come, I'm sure...

Oh Baby!

Then & Now: 1973 & 2006 Baby Alive

Is it really so wrong to live your childhood through your kids?

I remember wanting a Baby Alive for Christmas one year, so bad I can still taste it. But when I didn't get one, I stopped believing in Santa and never really asked for anything specific again.

So we were starting some early Christmas shopping the other night when my eyes came across the new box. My mouth dropped in awe from being so excited that Charlie said I had to get it for Savannah. That's how much of an impression I made on him I guess. The doll is for ages 3 and up and by Christmas time Savannah will be almost 3. So it's not too far out of her league, right? Besides she really liked it from the aisle to the Layaway department, but most of all I'm so happy to found it! I always wondered when they were going to bring her back! See this link.