SPRING-Y SATURDAY

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Today is the official, first day of spring. It is certainly starting to feel like it outside. This is what my tulips looked like under today's sunny skies.

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Andrew got dressed this morning with plans to do some winter clean-up in our yard. Holy Hannah. He is such a stud. There's something about those work boots and his flannel shirt that gets me every time. I would compare him to those rugged Marlboro men, except that those guys advertise cigarettes.

And smoking is icky..

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{Hands off ladies.}

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Anyways, thanks to his hard work, our yard is now as prepared as we are for spring to come forth in full force! The grass is still brown, but as you can see...no snow!.
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I would have loved to join him, but I had hours worth of work of my own to get done. Although, I did get to work on our sunny front stoop...with a great view of my man in action.

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Later, as if to honor the first day of spring, Andrew found this little guy hiding in our backyard. It's official. Easter is just around the corner!

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Andrew was so funny about it. He asked me for a carrot and a box, and set them up in the yard. I think he has plans to catch our furry friend..
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But Andrew must REALLY be ready for warmer weather (or really bored), because the next time I looked out our kitchen window, I saw him setting up some tiki torches. As far as I know, we have zero plans for throwing a luau anytime soon.

I still need to ask him about this strange behavior...

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Well, everyone, happy Saturday and happy spring! Think lots of warm thoughts, and who knows, maybe you'll find a luau invitation in the mail soon...

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OH. MY. GOSH.

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I just read through yesterday's post, and I must apologize. I was annoyed with the whiny-ness myself by the time I was finished. So, in order to bring this blog around to a happier tone, I thought I would share this:

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Kids in my class typed on the computer today. The assignment? Answer the following question:

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"How can the country be improved? Write a letter to the president to share
your ideas."

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This little gal's response rendered me speechless.

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Do I have a little Paris Hilton in training, on my hands?

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CLASSROOM TALK

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I so enjoy overhearing kids talk all day. Usually, what makes what they say so darn funny is the fact that it is said with such serious sincerity...as if they were little adults. I especially love it when they don't know I'm listening in. At these times, they aren't trying to be silly or just "putting on a show"...their cute personalities are simply coming out in their purest, sweetest forms. A few recent examples:

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1. Two boys were busily working on a craft together. As I casually walked by, I heard one ask the other:
"Do you believe in Santa Claus?"

"Yes," was the confident reply.
"You do?"

(sounding surprised and even hopeful)

"Do you?" the other boy asked sheepishly.

"Yes... (hesitating) but I

don't believe in the Easter Bunny."

"Me either (very decidedly)."

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2. It is yet another inside recess before school, for below zero temperatures. Two boys are hanging up their coats and backpacks while I work at my desk.
"Do you know what frostbite is?"

(this kid is our constant stream of random trivia)

When his friend didn't answer, he proclaimed:

"It's when your skin is dead and it won't ever grow back. If that happens to your fingers you'd have to chop them off!"

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This last statement hooked the other boy's attention. He looked thoughtful for a moment before saying,

"Not if we drink hot chocolate. It will go through your nerves and to your fingers and make everything alright. It will warm them all up!"
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3. I walked by a boy, full of personality, who was deeply absorbed in his assignment. Sitting at his desk, he talked to himself as he worked. He suddenly stopped, stared at his paper, and exclaimed in a whisper, yet full of exasperation:

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"Dang flabbit!"

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I smiled as I walked by, his page ferociously being attacked by an eraser.

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*The silly things students say will have to become a regular installment of this blog. I have so many of them..

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WACKY WEDNESDAY

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Probably my favorite day of the entire school year

I may or may not have spent an entire hour putting this outfit together.
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A student asked me if I was supposed to be Tocahanna.

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What do you mean? I asked him.

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Well, you're part Chinese, part Vampire, part Hawaiian was his response.

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I laughed heartily...

but I'm still not exactly sure what he meant.

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Another zero-degree thermometer reading brought us inside for morning recess. Later, I overheard, between two boys, the following conversation in class:

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"If you could go anywhere in the entire world,

where would you go?"

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"Hawaii."

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"Me too, my friend. Me too..."

(shaking his head with a sigh)

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I love these cute kids talking like little adults...so serious like. But I have to say, I wanted to respond with an, "Amen, little brother." Just a few days ago, I drove to the grocery store with the window down. It was my way of celebrating an incredible 47 degrees outside.

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I REALLY DO LIKE TOAST.

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Press that little play button and take a minute to listen to this. How could a song about toast, accompanied by a banging toaster, be a disappointment? I promise it won't be. If this silliness doesn't make you grin for even a second, I'll send you 20 bucks.

I'm tellin' ya. Funny stuff.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AURORA!

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My little sister is turning six years old today. As we live sixteen hours away from said sister, we had to get creative in the way we celebrated it. Aurora Babe, this is for you. It's not supposed to be funny, so don't you dare crack a smile. As for the rest of you...please don't watch this unless you plan to feel extremely embarrassed for the both of us.

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TRUE LOVE

We make a good team, Andrew and me.

Despite our challenges learning to live with each other.

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For example, Andrew is NEVER to TOUCH ME while I'm applying eye makeup (Very important to his physical safety). And I am not to deem Andrew's stinky toots: the end of the world. (They may be even slightly funny--believe me, I've come a long way).

Because, I don't think we could ever NOT live with each other.

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Without him, my cell phone would never get charged.

(I can hardly ever find my phone, let alone keep it charged.)

And without me, the lint trap in the dryer would never get emptied.

(I swear, our dryer will one day explode on us)

And besides, who else would eat all the bugs from his hair?

You see? A Perfect match. We need each other.

Happy Heart Day, my love!

GROSS.

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The Wal-Mart in town?

Totally Ghetto.

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But there is no excuse for the

mind behind this arrangement:

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The donut shelf touching

the live, goldfish tank?!

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I never thought the sight of Ho-Ho's could make me gag.

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THE TALE OF TWO BRAINS

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Andrew was assigned to watch this video for his Family Relations class. He enjoyed it so much, he called me in to watch it with him that evening. Basically, I laughed til I cried. I recommend watching this with your spouse if they're around. It'll make it even funnier.

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I love the way this dude illustrates what goes on in my head with the buzzing, emotional strings...connected...to...EVERY-THING! I couldn't have explained it better myself. It's impossible for me to stop all the buzzing and connecting and emoting going on ALL THE TIME! I swear, being a girl is utterly...exhausting!

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As for Andrew and this "nothing box," I'm not so sure. He goes stark crazy doing "nothing." If he has nothing to do, Andrew'll start pacing the house like a caged animal. But as for the boxes not touching each other...holy cow. My man is definitely a one-track-mind kind of guy. He'll become obsessed with one idea until it is resolved and put away forever. Whereas for me, because everything is so interconnected, I don't think I could focus on only one thing, like, ever. I tried once. My brain nearly exploded.

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Can anyone relate?

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*If you're interested, check out the other clips by this guy on YouTube.

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Once upon a time, Andrew and Rachel Ashmore left their kingdom, traveling to the snowy mountains in search of a Christmas tree.

It was very, very cold. But Rachel kept warm, burrowed deep inside her thick velvet cloak, hooded and trimmed with sable fur.

Wild swans, floating on the icy river, spoke of a particularly pretty tree nearby

And so they traveled in search of it while bald eagles, high overhead, kept watch for witches, woodsmen, and wicked step-mothers.

Soon, the beautiful tree was spotted, and Andrew gallantly marked it, so it was not lost among the others in the forest.

After the tree was cut, happy little forest creatures transported it over the snow with a song. And Andrew and Rachel were happy.



But suddenly, a pack of ravenous wolves, sent by an evil snow queen, attacked the little band! She was jealous of their happiness and sought to steal the tree and burn it maliciously into coals! *cue evil laughter* Her devilish plot would have succeeded were it not for Andrew's masculine strength *sigh* and the magic of friendly wood fairies. The magic caused the wolves to become confused and they ran over the edge of a deep chasm to their deaths (This is only fair, as they were being very bad).

Under the continued magical protection of the fairies, the couple journeyed safely through the woods with their Christmas tree...while the sun smiled down on them from above...

...the sun's rays warming the snowy mountain considerably. *snort*

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At the edge of the forest, the two travelers bid farewell to their animal friends. Then, they continued on, only stopping to rest themselves at an enchanting little delicatessan called...ahem...Frostop.

(no. really. if ever in ashton, id, the burgers and fries here rock my world.)

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Finally, the pair and their lovely tree arrived at their castle home. Princess *cough* Becca, visited to help adorn the tree with sparkly jewels imported from the far away land of Wal-Mart...all while a roaring fire blazed on the big screen TV.

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When they had finished, it was spoken of by the entire kingdom as the fairest Christmas tree in the land.
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THE END.

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MADE ME LAUGH

MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE LAKE...

Friends and family are enjoying a relaxing, peaceful day in the sun: swimming, splashing, and playing on the water toys. When suddenly...

...Everyone gangs up and decides that Bodey needs to be shoved from the tramp.

A few brave souls make the first tentative moves!

But to no avail! Bodey is much too powerful for their compounded strength!

But then, what is this?

His attackers lash out with a combined ferocity that can not be matched...even by Bodey's massive fortitude!

His enemies celebrate their triumph!

And scorn him from their stronghold.

But the struggle is soon forgotten. All are too worn out and sun burnt.

And besides, Bodey is a pretty cool guy to have around.

DUNES

We went on another drive. This time around the sand dunes. Andrew wanted to check out the top of this one, so we pulled over for a sec.

"I think I can, I think I can..."

"Almost there!"

"C'mon...Think SPIDERMAN!"

"...Gotta...catch...my...breath..."

"Oh man...that was a workout."




Off to explore

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"Crap. Now how do I get down?"

"Well...here goes nothin'!"

"COWA-BUNGA dude!"

"Don't die, Don't die, Don't die..."


"Oh yea! I hope someone was watching that."

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It sure was beautiful out there at sunset! Check out a few more pictures from our drive right HERE. (There are some good ones!)

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We Almost Died this Weekend

A bunch of the family met up in Utah to make the 5 hour drive down to St. George, Utah. My cousin, David, was having his Homecoming. We all squooshed into Grandpa's van for a horrifying journey in a vehicle that among other things, swayed back and forth as if we were in an ocean storm. Probably the only thing that saved us was that Grandpa wasn't driving.

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Uncle Rob drove while he and Grandpa Brown spent the entire 10 hours that we were on the road heatedly debating business and politics. My cousin Janaya read her books while Aunt Joy (the only person I know with the ability to whip up 3-course meals in a swaying 15 passenger van) laughed at all of Andrew's jokes.

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The van's A/C was also a little sketchy, so the rest of us stewed on the back benches.

(Andrew takes care of church business over the phone, Tikla folds origami flowers that will soon decorate her wedding reception, and Karsten...makes us all laugh.)

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My cousin Davin beautifully displays the general mood of the van:

hot, tired, and uncomfortable.

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This is my miserable self. Wouldn't you know it...I woke up the morning that we left with a fever and sore throat.

Despite it all, whether you believe me or not, we really did have a good time.
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Once we arrived, I met up with people like mi madre and the lil' sis. They drove all the way up from A-Z.

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Cousin Tikla:

Sickeningly in-love with Austin Fife, tan and sexy islander, loads of fun to have around


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My mom and my husband's handsome GQ pose.




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The happy climax was seeing my sweet, David friend again. Here I am with David and Heather after his Homecoming talk. I loved living with these two cousins while I attended Dixie College. Good times.

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