Happiness at Home: February 2009

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Winner of the biggest loser contest

Some people have given me the excuse that "It just wasn't meant to be" or "She already knew some many more people!" or "It is probably better this way." or "It was probably really close only a vote or two." or maybe "People probably just picked the top person on the list." or the one that keeps replaying in my mind "I'm sure there was something wrong with the vote counter . . ."
But the fact of the matter is, I lost!
I can console myself with all these excuses (and many more) but losing just stinks. It is almost exactly the same as how it felt when I wasn't voted in for student council in 6th grade. I guess I forgot why I hadn't run for anything since then. I guess it will be another 16 years until I get crazy enough to think that people might actually vote me in to an office.
I felt like I put my all into the election, so I have no regrets, but putting your all into something is even more discouraging when you don't get it, because then you don't have the excuses like, "If I would've tried harder or campaigned more or . . ." It just boils down to more people liked her than liked me . . .
And it's true. The girl I lost to will do a great job and I will serve in a committee and be perfectly happy next year, but on the day I lost I can still be sad and feel a bit rejected, right?
Thanks for your kind words and support. Thanks for listening to me vent!

Monday, February 23, 2009

The Bully in Town

“I cannot go to play with others,”
Said Baby Jackson to his mother

“People say there is a bully on the loose,
He’s mean, he’s lean and doesn’t take a truce.

He chases after other boys,
When he catches them he steals their toys.

He sucks on cell phones when no one is looking,
Knocks dinner on the floor just to see what’s cooking.

They say not even family is safe,
He pinched his cousin on the face.

Girls are no different, though they are calm and kind
He plowed down a dame and didn't seem to mind.

Right off her feet he pulled her socks
Bit her nose and tugged on her locks

And a kid three times his age and size
Cowering in his mother’s skirt cries,

'Stop it! stop it! Leave me alone'
But does he? No, he’s bad to the bone.

When others try to hit him back,
He laughs and mocks the strength they lack.

You see, I’m scared of this bully,
I can’t go out or I might just be . . .

What? What’s that I see?
Who do I see is the bully?

The bully . . . is me?!?!
Heeheehee, you better learn to flee . . .”

This poem is based on actual events . . .unfortunately.
(Similar to Shel Silverstein's poem "Sick")

Working out to dominate his next victim . . .watch out!

Lawful Shoplifting

My goal in all of my shopping for deals is to someday walk out of the store with more money than I walked into it with. I almost did that on Saturday, but DAVE came in with me and remembered he had to buy candy for his Sunday School class, so we ended up spending $1.36 on all this:

Here are some cool things that I am learning. Many of you know this, but if not . . .First off BOGO means Buy One Get One free. If you have 2 coupons you can use both of them-even if the one item is already FREE! For example, I bought Revlon makeup for $6.99 and got the other one free. I had two $1 off coupons, so the total was $4.99 for 2 name brand makeups. This one I just learned . . .IF the store is selling an item BOGO and you have a BOGO coupon? Then you get BOTH items completely free! That is why I bought 2 chocolate bars that I usually wouldn’t spend money on since we are poor college students. But who couldn’t use free chocolate?
Rite Aid and Walgreens have coupons every once in a while for $5 off a $20 purchase, etc. That includes any items you buy that you are getting a rebate for! If you are ever interested, let me know!

Calcium pills BOGO $8.19

Colgate Toothpaste BOGO $2.79- $2 in coupons

Revlon makeup BOGO $6.99 - $2 in coupons- $1 rebate

Hershey’s candy bar BOGO $.88 - .88 coupon BOGO

Hershey’s chocolate BOGO $3.79 (DAVE’s purchase- not the greatest deal!)

Halls Cough drops .99 - $.50 coupon

Soft soap $.99 -. $.50 coupon

Paper towels $2.99 -.35 coupon

Huggies diapers $12.49 - $1.50 coupon- $2 rebate

I used a $10 off of a $30 purchase coupon from riteaid. Then I had a gift certificate for $20 that RiteAid gave me for shopping there in December (mostly for items I got free after rebate). They only charged tax on the amount left to pay so I paid $.36 in tax.

I know I am crazy, but I get such a thrill out of getting a good deal!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Stuff lately

Life seems very busy as a political canidate (Just kidding!) If you know anything about me, you know that when I choose to do something I do it all the way. Thus I have been pretty wrapped up in making a flyer and trying to deliver them and now I am on to thinking of a speech. Here is my flyer (it is a tri-fold design and 1/2 a page so sorry you are seeing double)

Dave and I went snowshoeing for Presidents day. It was so beautiful (and nice to show that I am more in shape than Dave :) I love to be with him.

Jackson in the mean time turned 7 months old. The latest game he learned (which is so fun!) is "runaway". He's figured out that we chase him. So when we acts like barking dogs (yep, we are wierdos!) he starts panting and tries to crawl too fast and face plants. It is hilarious! He is like a little puppy dog (only his parents can say this about him.) He loves panting fast (the speed of the pant tells you how excited he is) and sticks his tongue out non-stop. He almost even has a wagging tail when he crawls! He is also really fun to play the "Come to me" game with because he usually wants to be with and look at the person who is NOT holding him. He will just go back and forth, back and forth.

And here is he starting to walk. His balance and stiffness is highly lacking, so I don't see him learning to walk anytime soon, but he enjoys being upright. When he pulls up he stands on the front side of his feet and then flips them over to the bottom . . . just try to imagine standing on the tops of your feet . . .youch!

Ummm, be honest, is this one of the worst pictures you've seen? Is this abuse, or could it be considered "preparing him for the future of media"?

I just noticed that Jacks pants are usually off in the video I have of him. I really do put pants on all the time, but his skinny little body crawls out of them and that is when I think to take video because it really shows his skills.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Goin' Fishin'

I have decided to run for a position in the Presidency of the spouses association at BYU (basically a wives' club). I really enjoy all the activities and events that being a member of the association has provided and would love the opportunity to make a difference in the group next year. So, here is where you come in. I know what I perceive as my own strengths and weaknesses, but I would love to hear an outsiders point of view on what would make me a good leader (and if you have weaknesses you'd like to point out, I could handle that, too . . .) So I'm fishing for your comments. I have to come up with the reasons I am qualified by Friday night, so I would love your input ASAP. Thanks for being my blog friends :) love you all :)

Monday, February 9, 2009

Up, Down, Movin' all around

Video of Jackson doing what he does best . . .MOVING! I am on constant duty. Yesterday I let him play in the back of the primary room and he stood up on the carrier and fell over. He also found a big wad of paper perfect for his mouth . . .scary! Especially when he gets a determined look in his eye, I know he is going for something he shouldn't (notice the purse in the video). He seems a little young to be pulling up so skillfully, but nothing can stop him, not even flat walls, rocking carriers, people's knees, There ain't no mountain high enough that he can't climb.

I know that videos of babies aren't always that entertaining, so I jazzed it up a bit . . . try it, you'll like it!

Wake up! It's Monday morning!

Today started off with taking Dave to the bus stop like normal, but as I was driving home, I saw 5 blocks of snow fall off the telephone wire and fall down all at once. I thought, “Hey that’s cool, I didn’t know it all fell down at the same time!” As I drove the final 2 blocks to my house, I noticed a van in our neighbors yard! I once again thought, “That is crazy that someone got in an accident during the night!” Then I noticed the lights were still on, and I looked in and there were people in the van.

At this point I finally realized that I was the first person on the scene of a crazy accident! Both teenagers in the car seemed to be all right. The driver pulled off his shoe and dumped his entire window of glass out. He kept saying he was going to call 911, but he wasn’t doing it (I think he was in shock). Finally, I realized I should be doing something and I called 911. I let them in my house to clean up before 2 fire engines, an ambulance and several police cars showed up. I think the kids will be fine, but the car is totaled. An hour later our block lost electricity and I have been trying to come up with things to do in the dark (thank goodness for laptops and cell phones!) I played games with our upstairs neighbor since they had more light streaming in than I did. Situations like this make me grateful for all the blessings I have, temporally and physically. It makes me appreciate the little things (like a car) much more.