Ever have those times??????

When you want to tell people exactly what you think and let them know in exactly what way they are being an idiot or doing things wrong? Perspective is so much clearer from the outside, I think. I guess that's why we have agency though, because we must make all choices for ourselves and can't force anyone to do things in the way we think is better. Couple of acquaintances online that I want to smack upside the head and say "DUH!!!!!!!" Not very nice of me, huh? lol They just keep doing and then complaining about the same things and never doing anything really to change what is "wrong" in their lives. I don't get it.

Eleven years ago today......

Erik and I went to the Temple together to take out our endowments. Saturday is our 11th wedding anniversary. In some ways I can't believe it's been *that* long (in denial of my age, lol!) and in other ways it seems so short a time because it feels like we've been together forever already. :) In October, we'll have known each other for 15 years....and I guess that is nearly half my life!!! Wow.....time flies!

Missionaries and neighbors........

Sunday afternoon we get a knock on our front door. It's the missionaries. Erik opens the door....."Oh Brother Simper! We didn't realize this was your house!" Guess they forgot where they were at for dinner on the 12th. lol They were out tracting and happened to knock on our door to share the Gospel. ;) We thought it was pretty funny. Then late yesterday aftertoon Alex comes in and says that the Elders just came out of our next door neighbors' house. Erik went outside to say hi and found out that when they knocked on our door, they had also knocked on our neighbors' door and they are now reading the BoM and taking the discussions. I'm embarrassed to admit, I don't know them. Everyone in our neighborhood sort of keeps to themselves. They don't have small kids and are rarely outside. I've talked to him on several occasions. He is very nice. He is always worried if his Harley is too loud and if it's disturbing us. lol But, I've only ever caught glimpses of her. I know she's from Scotland, as he moved in and told us he was waiting for her to come......but she is *never* outside and I'm not the door knocking type. *blush* Anyway....I think it's cool that our neighbors are having the missionaries. But, it's also made me very aware of how little I know my neigbors, not just them and I'm a little embarrassed. But, how do you get to know people you never even see??? Christmas and taking neighbors plates of cookies is a ways off.

All registered for school......

We went to register just a bit ago. The boys get a brand new elementary school this year, Cielo Azul (translates to "Blue Sky") Elementary School. We didn't get to see a whole lot yet, as it is *still* under construction. What we saw is VERY nice though! :) Alex will start at the new school on the 18th, with the 3rd, 4th and 5th graders as their "wing" at the new school is complete. Aidan will start on the 18th with the K through 2nd grades at their old school and will move over during fall break in October, when the construction is completed. Nice and confusing, huh? lol Should be interesting! This is the first time we've gotten up close to the school so I took a pic of the front! :) The boys were too excited to get inside and wouldn't hold still for the picture.

A day for me!

Well, not really the whole day, but a few hours. Going to leave the house in maybe an hour and a half or so. Going to the bank, then I'm heading to the mall. Going to get my hair cut and my eyebrows waxed. After, I'll grab something quick at the food court for lunch and then sneak it in with me to see Mamma Mia! :) I've been really good about not running around just to run around so I save on gas. But, that means I've been home A LOT and of course with lots of kids....either just mine or mine and more. I need a break and to do something nice for me and TODAY is the day! :) DH went and saw Dark Knight yesterday after work/before he came home. Thank Heaven, we purchased his ticket on Fandango the day before. He said the lines were incredible and most shows were sold out. He wouldn't have had a chance getting in for an early showing (his was the last matinee of the day) had he waited to buy the ticket when he got there. If anyone is going to see it this weekend, I'd suggest buying from Fandango! He said the movie was AWESOME, btw. Wonder if anyone is going to be sitting in Mamma Mia with me? *laugh*

My baby niece Madison Rae at 5 months.....could you just eat her up???

My sis in law, Caity, sent me this pic on my phone yesterday (hence the photo quality). Isn't she so cute and fat? I love healthy rolls on a baby! :D Maddi turned 5 months old last week and is looking more and more like her Mama. :)

Mmmmmmm..... Indian food for dinner tonight!

I'm sitting here with a MAJOR craving for Indian food. No idea where that came from, but it's BAD!!! lol Don't have all the stuff to fix things here at home and I'm the only one who really likes it in our house anyway. So, I don't want to go to the trouble of going to the store to pick up the ingredients and then making it, which is somewhat time consuming, only to have no one appreciate the deliciousness of it all but me. ;) Erik will pass by the closest Indian restaurant to us on his way home from work, so he's going to pick up the order I call in for me. I tried convincing him, without success, to eat with me so I can order one of the meals for two and have a variety of stuff. So, I guess it will be an order of chicken tikka masala, basmati rice and naan for me. mmmmmmmmm...... My mouth is watering. :) Erik is great to stop and pick it up for me after a long day, even if he wants nothing to do with it. :)

Will we or won't we?

Get paid tonight/tomorrow? It is time for Erik's first pay"check" from the new company. They sent an email earlier in the week saying that Friday (tomorrow) is their first payday. But, that we will know by today (you know, a whole day before payday) whether or not the direct deposit system is working or if they will have to issue paper checks. Um, hello? Headquarters is in CA, not here. Which means if they have to print paper checks that we have to wait for printing, and the entire mailing process from getting stuffed in envelopes to arriving in our mailbox. How long would *that* take? It's not like we will die if the check isn't direct deposited tonight or tomorrow (not sure if they deposit so pay is available on the payday or if it's deposited the night of payday) because we just received his last check from the previous company on Monday night. It's the principle, tomorrow is payday and we should have the money in our "hands." Why on earth would they wait till the day before to see whether or not it's going to work? They've had everyone's bank info for well over a month now....before they actually took over. They could've done a dry run and deposited as little as a penny in everyone's account to make sure it all worked right. You know, how paypal verifies bank accounts. Who knows, maybe they have paper checks all ready to mail, should the DD not work and it'll only be a couple of days....irritating, but better than waiting a week or so. This isn't a new company. They have contracted workers for other companies/agencies too. It's not like this is all new for them. It shouldn't be an issue at all. I'm really not digging the whole changeover and all the little mistakes here and there. Like the vision insurance having Erik's middle initial wrong and also our health insurance cards are incorrect too, because they put the wrong group/company name on the cards and sent them out....not sure if that's the fault of the new company or a screw up at Blue Cross Blue Shield. *sigh* I guess we shall see.

HOT DATE TONIGHT!!!!

Woohoooo!!!! Erik and I are going on our first real date in many months, tonight! It's not that we never go out, but usually it's a family affair. Got paid last night, so I called Erik at work and asked if he wanted to go on a date with me tonight. Well, who could refuse such an irresistable offer? ;) I called Liesel (who the boys love) and asked if she had any plans and if she was up for watching the boys tonight and she agreed. So, it's ON!!! I will meet with him in Albuquerque. His bus gets to the mall right about 5 and it makes no sense for him to drive all the way home just to get me. The round trip would take an hour and the movie we are going to starts at 7:20. We'll go somewhere right around there for dinner and then to the movie. Which will probably be Get Smart. I don't even know the last time the two of us went to the movie together....and I'm not counting taking the kids a couple of weeks ago to see Wall-E. lol I'm so excited!!! :)

If Erik were home, I'd smack him upside the head!

;) I just called him laughing because I entered myself in the radio station drawing for New Kids on the Block tickets. ::laugh:: He asks who I'll take if I win them and I said, "Oh, probably Rachael or Julie, if they were fans back in the day." :)Followed that by saying I highly doubted he'd want to go. He then says sarcastically, "Yeah, I really want to spend an evening surrounded by crazy, middle aged women screaming for NKOTB." Wo there, OUCH!!! Did he just call *ME* middle aged. *YIKES* I'm THIRTY TWO for crying out loud! I think I have a few years till I earn the title of "middle aged!" I set him straight on that thought right away. :P

Darn global warming!

Or is that "global climate change?" This weather is so strange. Our normal weather this time of year is mid to upper 90s. Current temp is 72 degrees. The highest I saw today was 75, but the temp is dropping as a storm is approaching. Don't get me wrong, the temp is actually pretty close to perfect. But, it's just strangely cooler than normal. Wonder what good ole Al Gore would say about this? ;) Maybe this could be seen as "concerning" since it's untypical....but heck the lower temps and the rain we are getting can only be seen as good in my book for the dry drought conditions we've been having.....lessens the risk of fire danger. So, whatever it is....I'm not complaining! :)

Kids are clueless....

Just had to tell about something that my oldest just did. The sister of the Mom of the kids I watch (following me? lol) moved to town at the end of May. Alex became fast friends with her boys ages 9 and 11. They have spent the last month with their Dad in KS and all the boys have been counting the days till they could play together again. Very sweet. :) So, they got back to town on Saturday evening and were all ready to play together first thing this morning. They live in our neighborhood a couple of streets over. Kate(the Mom) invited Alex to come into town with them, go to some stores, get lunch etc. and I let him go. A little bit ago, Alex calls me on Kate's cell phone and asks me for the directions to El Pinto, a restaurant in Albuquerque. I ask him why and he says, "Well some of us want burgers and the rest want Mexican and El Pinto has both!" so I say, "So, you suggested El Pinto to Kate? "Yep." "Alex, put Kate on the phone." I then explain to Kate that while yes, El Pinto does have both Mexican (mainly) and burgers (kids menu) that El Pinto is actually a quite pricey restaurant. Alex probably doesn't realize this because of course it is not him paying the bill! lol El Pinto is a very nice Mexican restaurant, that has played "host" to the President on several occasions while he's been in the city. :D I'm so glad they called, I think I would have died had Kate gotten there and then realized this. I then directed her to a fast food chain that does both Mexican and burgers and she thanked me. ;)

The high and mighty....

Okay....this is just a little vent. It can apply in "real" life but this is really about a recent event on an online bb I visit. I am not the most spiritual person on the planet. I have many faults and am not perfect, but I try. One thing I *cannot* stand is people who act so high and mighty, like they are so wise and are as close to perfection as it gets on earth. I have to really try hard not to point out the error of this belief and bring them down a notch. Who knows, maybe this is a flaw of mine. Now, I have ZERO problem with people who are actual spiritual giants. There is a woman I revere as such. She was in my old ward in WA. Sister Gilchrist. She is amazing and you truly see the light of Christ in her eyes. She has such deep insight and can express her beliefs in a loving manner and teach without condescension and a conceited pride, that is so evident in others. Others, who think they are like this and are not. But, don't tell them that.....they'd never believe you anyway. Now, I will give them, that they try really hard. But, trying doesn't equate actual achievement. This sort of achievement that they will never have until they truly humble themselves. You cannot fake true humility. When a spiritual person is truly humble, you know they have reached that place. It's not something I can describe, but can only point to the Prophet and general authorities as an example. Those who can teach and even scold....while still resonating love and withholding judgement. They would never walk off in a huff from a situation (even a cyber situation) and pat themselves on the back for how good they are and stop just short of outright saying others are "bad" and they are better than them. The actual words may have not been said, but the implication was absolutely there. Attitudes like this are "dangerous." These are the attitudes that will drive people who are struggling spiritually off from the Church. I have seen it. Also, how can one expect to be able to bring those who are different than we are into the Church if you cannot accept differences in people with a Christlike love and charity?
Getting off my soapbox now. Had to get it off my chest. Better to vent here than go off on someone there! *sigh*

Mommy where do babies come from?

Is the question my sweet 3 year old asked me on the way home from Costco yesterday. *GASP* I said, laughing and in shock, "Connor, you are too young to be asking me questions like that!" lol I then proceeded to turn the question back on him, thinking that would be the safest answering option. ;) So, I asked, "Well, where do *you* think babies come from?" "Bellies!" He answered. I then asked him how he thought they got there and he says as he's pointing in demonstration on his own body, "Well, first you swallow it and then it goes down to your belly!" :D All I said was "OH!" I figured it's safe to leave him believing that for a few more years. ;) Heaven, help me! lol

Aidan serenading Isabel...

We just had the missionaries over for dinner. Aidan started talking to them about Isabel and made Alex spontaneously burst into tears. :( We all miss her so much. Well, Aidan thought it was funny the reaction he got out of his brother and after the Elders left, he kept talking about her trying to get him to cry again. The little turkey. ;) Well, I guess he got to feeling a little sentimental as well and started singing about Isabel. He was being quite dramatic about it and Erik told me to grab the camera and I did. Pardon the shaking, I was laughing so hard, I had tears rolling down my cheeks and cut the video off when I could no longer contain myself! He is just way too funny! :)

Pics from the 4th.....