Classic.

My sweet little "Swiggles" is learning her back bend in tumbling. Lately, that's all she does around the house. The girls came bouncing into our bedroom early Sunday morning to put on a tumbling show. Big sis decided to trip little sis during her back bend. Here goes the scolding:

"Keagan!! You wuined my back bend and now you wuined my whole entire life!" (insert the slamming of her bedroom door).

- Swayze

... Because I can never let a good quote go to waste.

Great Little Valentine's Day Card Idea...

I found this card idea through this sweet girl who found it through this talented girl. How do these people come up with this stuff?? It's beyond me. Amazing. Thanks for helping a sister out Nicole!

A Child's Prayer...

My poppa and I (circa 1978ish).

Now that my baby is a Sunbeam, she gets to do 'big kid stuff. Last Sunday she was asked to say the closing prayer in Primary. Tommy and I were a little worried, because lately in her prayers, she has been praying a lot about Santa. Praying that we'll be good for Santa, that he'll come find us etc. I knew ahead of time (the perks of being Primary secretary) that she'd be giving the prayer, so we kind of practiced and I told her she couldn't pray about Santa. She's also been praying very hard for her Grandpa Perrett these days and she prays that the doctors will "feel" (heal) him (now, that, I can't correct her, I think it's just too cute).

Anyhoo, long story short, it's the moment we've all been waiting for (Tommy even came into Sharing Time to join in on the excitement). Swayze gets up to say the closing prayer and one of the councelors got up to help her. She, in her oh-so-bossy way said, "I don't need any help." Let me just say, this chick was over the top thrilled to talk in the microphone. Her prayer lasted about 2 minutes. She prayed for everything under the sun. She even prayed twice for Tag and Keagan. Then she started saying, "And please bless my mom and dad..." then.... silence. I peeked my eyes open to find the other teachers peeking also waiting, and waiting. This is a parent's worst nightmare. What was she going to say?? "Please bless that my mom and dad won't fight? Won't cuss? Will get to church on time? Will stop watching reality t.v.? The possiblities were endless. Luckily, my friend, the councelor got up to stop her.

After church, Tommy told her he needed to know what she was going to say. I guess we'll never know. Her overbitten lips are sealed.

A Blog About Blogging...

I read a post on this gal's blog last week about the faux pas of blogging about blogging. Apparently one of her readers posted a nasty comment about her. I think we've all had this happen at some point or another. At least I have, anyway. So I decided I would write down a few reasons why I blog.

I've never been good at journaling. We recently moved and I came upon an old journal of mine. It had a whopping 6 entries. SIX. I'm talking, "Today was good. Went to the Stake dance. Brandon Bowers asked me to dance. I was so nervous. He's so hot!" Lame 15 year-old entries.

I was talking with a friend once who said she started a blog because, years from now, she wants people to know who she was. What kind of person she was. Not just another name on the Family Tree, you know?

I hesitated about starting a blog. I didn't know if I would have anything to blog about. I'm pretty boring. That's when Tommy told me I should just start one and make it funny. I can do funny.

We all have our reasons for blogging. Accomplishments, failures, loss of loved ones, finding great recipes, photography, learning new ideas and the list goes on and on. Everyone has their own style of blogging. I enjoy reading the ins and outs of everyone's daily lives (sounds a little creepy). Mine just happens to be a little sarcastic. I don't do sappy, I'm not crafty. I suck at taking pictures. But I love being reconnected with old friends and making new ones through the wonderful world of bloggerdom.

So why am I writing all of this? An old family friend of mine (I'll call her T.A.), someone who I've known, loved and respected for 26 years, seems to be saying not-so-kind things about my blog. Over and over. If I could furrow my brow right now, trust me, I would. But my forehead is stiff for the next 5 months. I'm sorry that you don't seem to like my blogging style, (I didn't realize their was a blogging handbook) but I make no apologies for it. I happen to find yours quite boring, but I've kept that to myself. I wish you would do the same (apparently not much has changed since the days of ratting me out for sneaking boys over to my house and changing into my Daisy Dukes at school). If I choose to post about my 11 year old catching Tommy and I doing the deed, I will. If I want to post a video of Tommy bottomless barefoot skiing at the lake, I will. There are only 2 people I care about offending when I post. My dad and Tommy. Well, maybe not always Tommy (wink). Just keepin' it real folks.

Stepping off my soap box now.

{Re}Joining The Club...

I feel a tad bit like the 'boy who cried wolf. I made my blog private a year ago and thought it was such a pain, I "unprivated" myself shortly after. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, and think it's time to go private, and keep it that way. No turning back. So, I'm asking for email addresses once again. I'll switch over at the end of next week.

My Birthday Boy.

There's really no rhyme or reason why I'm posting this particular picture, I just happen to get a chuckle every time I see it. Ok, ok. Fine, I'll admit it. I get a little turned on too. So, what do you get the guy who has everything? After all, he has me, right?

I'm really wishing I could post a picture of his best present of all. The server at Spinato's had a little fun writing Tommy a 'special birthday message on his dessert plate.

Happy Birthday, my Studly Love Muffin.

The Gift That Keeps Giving...

Well, that is, for the next 4-6 months or so. Log cabin forehead be gone! Thank you Santa. Thank you very much.

Grouchy face.

Startled face.

Santa's little helper was mighty generous this year.

It's Time.

So... without going into too much detail, let's just say I think I need a better lock on my door. Tag busted in our room last night and may or may not have seen something that may or may not have been traumatizing to any child. It takes me back to a time when I was about 10 years old and my parents' room was next to mine. I heard them making out and thought it was the sickest thing I've ever heard. Luckily, the air conditioner soon turned on an drowned out the dreaded noise.

I know it's time to have "the talk" with Tag. I've been putting it off for way too long. But hey, if a 12 year old girl (being me) can explain the birds and the bees to her much older 17 year old sister (that would be Kim), I guess anyone can do it?

H-U-M-"E"-R-O-U-S...

Tag made it to the school spelling bee again this year. I'm not kidding - I think I get more nervous that he does. He did great. 8th place out of 20 isn't too shabby. He was a little disappointed, though. He figured that since he's in the 5th grade now (he got 3rd place last year) his chances would be better this time around. He didn't realize just how smart the 4th graders are. Bummer. Anyhoo, Tommy's mom came to lend some support, and after it was all said and done, she felt so bad for the poor kid, she sent him this card. Pretty funny.

Deer Tag,

I thing you're a good speler. Doon't let it git you dowen iff you mised won. Spelering is herd. After al... you is the beest, the besst, the beset, THE BEST!

Lov,

Grundmaa

New Year's Resolution Gone Bad.

It's that time of year again, folks. Time for me to get back to the gym. But before I make the big trek back, I figured I'd have one last hurrah. So tonight I sent Tommy and Tag to the grocery store to get some crackers to go with my delicious cheese ball we won at the Halls' annual Christmas party. I was also having a little craving for some salt and vinegar chips. So I texted Tommy after he had left for the store, and here the texting conversation goes:

Me: I would love it if you brought me some salt and vinegar chips.

Tommy: It's the new years. We are going to be healthy.

Me: Gee, thanks.

Then, my sweet, ever-so doting hubby proceeded to send this picture from the chip aisle (because, in Tommy's mind, these are the kind of people that eat chips).

Tommy: Found the chips.

Me: You're so lame.

Tommy: I'm not making this up.

Me: Yeah, but you're trying to make a condescending point in typical Tommy fashion, kinda like the way you do with Zach.

Tommy: We got your chips and they look delicious.

Apparently Tommy's not a real fan of his wifey sporting a little "junk in the trunk."

**Disclaimer** If the folks in the picture above are any of my readers' brother/sister/cousin etc., I'm pointing the finger at Tommy. Please don't tell them where I live.