Januarys and Mondays

Isn't January just like some great, big, looming Monday?  We start our weeks with Monday and our years with January.  What makes them so darn tough to make it through?  My husband's birthday is in January, and even he dislikes it.  I'm relieved to say hello to February.  There will still be plenty of snow hanging around (Utah anyway) until March at least I'm sure, but something about Valentine's Day just reminds you to hold on tight, spring is coming. 

Even though we have a lot to be grateful for in our life right now, it just seems like we've hit a rough patch since September.  I have been hoping 2013 would start us off right, but January is always a little tough.  So, 2013, I won't judge you by January.  February and I have hope for you yet.

It's amazing how in tune dogs can be to your emotions.  I am sure glad I've got this smelly puppy to sit next to me and rest his head on my leg when he knows I need it.  Lately he'll find an occasion to gently rest his head on my tummy and I think he knows something big is going down around here soon. 

We're going to hunker down on the couch to watch the super bowl (meaning Lee is watching the game, I am perusing the internets and waiting for the 'much anticipated commercials') while eating marshmallow popcorn until we're sick.

And if you're into that sort of thing, here's a quote which brought me a little cheer when I read it at church today...

“My young friends, there is an opportunity for you to become great—just as great as you wish to be. In starting out in life you may set your hearts upon things very difficult to attain to, but possibly within your reach. In your first efforts to gratify your desires you may fail, and your continued efforts may not prove what may be termed a success. But inasmuch as your efforts were honest efforts, and inasmuch as your desires were founded in righteousness, the experience you obtain while pursuing your hearts’ desires must necessarily be profitable to you, and even your mistakes, if mistakes you make, will be turned to your advantage.”  

^{President Lorenzo Snow (President of the LDS church from 1898- 1901)}

 
PS: Wish me luck at the dentist tomorrow! I'm really hoping to keep up with my cavity free streak despite the baby in my belly leaching away all of the good nutrients and calcium! Yikes!

fun

When I first started thinking, "what will I take a photo of today that is fun?" I automatically thought of running, but I talk about that enough. Then I thought of my birthday lunch celebration with my BFF coworkers today, but I didn't want to ask them if I could post a picture of them on my blog. Then I thought about how much fun I have teaching every day, but I can't post photos of that because of my students.

I was stumped.

 I almost took a photo of the "Fun." CD I bought a few weeks ago, but when I walked through the door after getting home from work and my dog grunted, whined, jumped around, jumped on me, wagged his tail, and was generally acting like a lunatic from excitement to see me I realized I didn't have to be the one having fun in the photo.

The best (and most fun) part of my dog's day is...

going for a walk.

He loves walks so much that we can't even say the word, "walk" in our house without him going insane thinking he gets to go on one. Lee and I spell it to each other if we are discussing it.

Me: Should we take Biff for a W-A-L-K?
If we decide to go we then say, "go for a walk?" and Biff runs around like a maniac jumping on and off couches and circling the house.

We have recently tried to replace the word "walk" with "disneyland" to try to get Biff to respond with excitement when we say, "go to disneyland?" just because we think it would be a riot, but so far no luck.

I hope you had some fun today.

good-bye february

good-bye to this month for lovers

 goodbye lovely magnets from the antique treasures mall...
on second thought maybe you can stay a while longer

good-bye snowboarding adventure, we probably won't make it out again this year

goodbye silly postcard, time for you to go into my secret shoe box of treasures

I guess boys do listen (sometimes) when you tell them your hopes and wishes

the best part of this sweet card is the back.

There is a message (in cursive) that says: 

Dear Hazle,

How are you feeling?

I just passed into the last part of 

the Third Grade.

GOOD By-

from, Francess

Biff wants to say good-bye to our new throw pillows,which he shows me when he spends ten minutes trying to get them off that chair because (in his mind) that is his spot and the pillows are in the way.

They are something we won't be saying good-bye to.

good-bye flowers

dear lee: you are right, they are too expensive, and they don't last very long,

 but my memory will last forever.

 thanks.

The last thing we said good-bye to this month was my sweet grandpa.  I remember there was a time during my high school years when I lived under the same roof as this grandfather.  I can recall many times when he would ask where his loving companion (my grandmother) was.  We would sadly remind him that she was no longer with us.  I believe they are together again now.  How appropriate for them to be reunited in this month for lovers. 

Do you believe that those you have loved will be with you after passing?
I do.  This is why.

success

 Who would have thought that reading this...

 could help me turn this....

 into this...?

 I finally achieved success and learned how to work my new sewing machine!


Merry Christmas to me!

I think I also got some help from that big chill,


<-----this guy,


and the Meg Ryan movie I was watching.

lately

What have I been doing lately?  Oh ya know, just making bread with my amazing new kitchen aid mixer.  Thanks to Lee's parents for our much too generous Christmas gift.  Homemade bread (and rolls) are my favorite.  I am excited to try out my favorite cookie recipe without the motor burning up on our old hand mixer. 
I've also been spending my time daydreaming about cardigans, scarves and shirts with ruffles.
I know, you do that too, right?

And of course, I've been taking great photos of Biff doing his famous pose/face known around these parts as the "half smile." Doesn't looking at it just make your day? 

that time I almost died OR that time I watched too many episodes of unsolved mysteries as a child?

the time I nearly died...

OR

the time my imagination ran wild...

you decide...

PS: look at that photo again and smile about Biff's paw being in it.
Did you do that?
Alright, I guess I can tell you the story now.

but FIRST push play on this video and listen to the music so you will be sufficiently ready to be creeped out.

Our story begins with me deciding to go running at the high school track by myself. I have done this quite a few times now and have never worried for my own safety.

I ran a mile as two gals ran up and down the bleachers.
I ran another mile barefooted on the grass and the two girls leave.
I went to put my shoes back on for the next 2-3 miles on the track and into our story enters a shady figure.

An older (50-60 years old) gentleman walks toward the track wearing jeans and and buttoned up long sleeved denim shirt. From a distance he looked like he could have been a custodian, so at first his presence seemed a little odd, but not too out of the ordinary.

As he approaches the track the weirdness begins and he unbuttons his long sleeved shirt to reveal his bare chest.

The man then begins to walk laps around the track holding his shirt in his hand.

At this moment I am thinking: a little strange, but whatever. He wants some exercise, he wants some sun.

As I (jogging) pass him, I notice he has something in his hand, but can't see what.
On my second and third lap since he arrived I can see that it looks like he is tossing the thing around in his hands, switching hands and doing bicep curls.

On my fourth lap I see that thing in his hand is a rock with about a five inch diameter.
With each lap I jog he seems creepier, until I have imagined him as a Ted Bundy like attacker and when I realize he is holding a giant rock I imagine he will soon be using it to bash me on the head.

This is where I book it to the car, decide it is time to go, and leave my workout early driving all the way to the gym to finish.

So here is where you decide. I cannot trust myself because I truly did watch too many episodes of unsolved mysteries as a child.

Did I almost die?

Or is it time for me to be diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic?

Now that my friends is an unsolved mystery...

For no reason at all please enjoy a picture of Biff's blue tongue,
because your dog's tongue is not blue.

doggies on the couch

How many dogs could I fit on this couch with me?

At least two

Currently dogsitting;
currently two dogs are sitting on me.

insert creative title---> here

today I don't love

1. filing taxes
2. 1-800 numbers & it's impossible to understand the employee's accent
3. ants! gah! the bane of my existence
   
4. I forgot to buy HP 7 on blu ray today
5. trying to mop the floor daily w/vinegar in an attempt to ward off ants w/o chemicals
6. the smell of vinegar; apparently the thing I have in common with ants
7. kids playing where cars drive
   
8. goofy 6 year old who said, "we don't like dogs peeing on our lawn" to me
   

today I love

1. fresh salad with sunflower seeds on top
2. exercise; does a body good
3. lee reading Harry Potter (first time ever) {he's on goblet of fire}
   
4. wandering AF DI w/my mom looking at plates
   
5. oreos!
   
6. lee! biff!
7. crazy accented 1-800 number employee calling me back and helping me
   
8. goofy 6 year old who said, "we don't like dogs peeing on our lawn" to me

PS: Not loving Will Ferrell; hows about you?

sunday snuggles & thoughts about nothing

biff only gives out snuggles in the morning hours.

glad to be home during the early hours for a few weeks

ps: these photos feature our current free couches

Lee and I BOTH get to have Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday off together. Praise the heavens -exclamation point- This sort of thing never happens. So I have a question for you people who don't have 45 minute commutes twice daily, or aren't working full time while working on a master's degree. You people that actually go out and do fun things. What shall we do instead of pretending like going to the gym and watching the Biggest Loser is a great night (let's be honest that IS a great night, but that's just Tuesday). What type of fun should we have? Suggestions welcome, right there in the comment section {you know right down there below this} go ahead, click it.

Meanwhile, after Lee goes back to work I just might employ such shameful entertainment as watching the office from season 1 or rereading twilight.

Speaking of the office, you should know that I full on cried when Michael Scott proposed to Holly because it was just so right. Amen.

Now, when I say, "full on cried" I mean a few glistening tears, not bawling. I have SOME pride. It is interesting to note though, that I did not cry -glistening tears- or otherwise during my own proposal or wedding. This of course, is by no fault of Lee's. I think my primary emotion was excitement and excitement just does not elicit tears.

Although, if someone made a film of those moments in my life with great lighting, hair, makeup, and background music: watching that would most likely make me cry because frankly, Lee is the peanut butter to my jelly and seriously everyone knows peanut butter is better than jelly (I personally don't even like jelly; I use jam) so jelly is really lucky here guys! And that my friends, was the longest and most poorly engineered sentence in the history of blog. Also the subject has been changed repeatedly throughout this post.

It must be noted that the point of this tirade is something along the lines of how hollywood/media gives us unrealistic expectations about love and how
true love is more about holding hands and being best friends who sometimes annoy each other, but decide to stick together no matter what instead of flowers (as much as I BEG Lee for flowers every time a holiday permits) and violin music playing while you kiss.
Which leads me to tell you my all time favorite movie is called The Mirror Has Two Faces and starring in it is my all time favorite (musical) person, Jewish or otherwise, Barbara Streisand. You should watch it.

I have yet to watch the newest episode of the office because I am afraid of both HATING and LOVING Will Ferrill. So what's to be done? At the moment, I am avoiding it and pretending that Michael Scott will never leave. Maybe we could do a petition?

Just in case you are wondering, my laundry still hasn't been put away.

poop post & pledge

{I love how dogs are surprised by their own farts.
When a dog farts he looks around like what was that?}

Lately, I have noticed there is just too much poop on the internet; by poop I really mean poop, you know feces. At the end of this post I will pledge to keep poops off of my blog forever! Even after I have babies people! Poop has been all over the internet these days. Whether people are talking about disastrous diapers or puppy accidents it is everywhere I turn (even NieNie, so don't feel bad if you're guilty). I must admit that I have already alluded to Biff's bowels on this blog just a few posts ago; so before we make this blog doo doo free I have one story that you would be truly disappointed about if I did not share it.

First we begin with our heroin, let's call her terrible t. Terrible t is just minding her own business as she takes her sweet doggy out to do his business. Now terrible t hates cleaning up dog business so instead of cleaning up the doo like many (with a bag around their hand..eww) she uses a kitty litter scoop/shovel and a grocery sack. One might think that it is difficult for terrible t to walk down the sidewalk with a 50 lb dog pulling her along and holding the clean up supplies and it is. So terrible t takes that sweet doggy back inside before she does the cleaning up every time. Now, I understand dog poo is gross and no one wants to step in it. I get it! That is why I clean it up. BUT on this particular day this sweet doggy is sniffing around in preparation to do his dirty business and suddenly a neighbor comes outside to watch.
Let's call this neighbor, Doug (just because said neighbor resembles Doug Heffernan; and that's my second King of Queens reference).
So Doug comes out to watch the show. Before we go on with our story you must know that terrible t and Doug have never met. They have lived a few doors down for several months or maybe even a year, but they have never met. Terrible t is a terrible neighbor after all. So Doug comes out to watch the grass getting soiled.
Then, you know, feces happens.
So, terrible t, having never met Doug, ignores him and begins to take sweet doggy inside so she'll be ready for poop collecting with ease. As terrible t turns and takes her first step, Doug opens his mouth....

Without so much as a, "Hi, I'm Doug, nice to meet you." Doug proceeds to lecture terrible t about cleaning up the doodies and how his child is constantly finding poopers in the grass.
All terrible t can say is that she always cleans the business, but hello! terrible t is not the only dog owner around.

Conclusion: Awkward

Thanks Doug!

PS: Terrible t forgives Doug, even though they've never talked since the incident (2 years?), she's trying to be like Jesus after all.
But that's the best poop story I got.

Poop Pledge:

I, terrible t, pledge never to publish a single post, facebook status, or photo about poop from here on out. Whether the poop is Biff's, a future baby's or mine (who are we kidding here I am just far too beautiful or delicate for that... girls don't poop!) poo poos will not grace the web published by me from this point forward.

Take the pledge. Just say no to you know what.

wednesday stats

miles I drove: at least 100
time I left the house: 6:30 AM
time I got home: 8:45 PM
MPH I drove over the speed limit in i-15 construction: same as your mom
bowls of oatmeal eaten: 2
number of string cheese(s) eaten: 4
number of times I filled up my tire: 3
money I paid to fill my tire: 50 cents
number of times I changed the channel b/c I didn't want to hear the new britney song: 4
loud toots in my classroom when the only other noise was my voice: 1
number of giggles afterward: 0!!
students I need to test their reading level by Friday: 9
most reading levels improved by one kid in my class since August: 5!!! reading 30 min/night works people!
number of cadbury mini eggs (purchased last week) left in my teacher desk: 0
miles I usually run every day: 5
miles I ran today: 0 :(
questions missed on praxis practice test: 6
questions right on praxis pratice test: 18
times biff wagged his tail when I walked in the door: 123487098237408912374

Sunday Morning

and that's a wrap

Dog Day Out

If you are me and you have a Tuesday off what do you do with your day? Take your dog (and your hubby) on a walk and then later go see True Grit with Christmas gift cards. Don't you just love gift cards? The following photos are deceiving! The weather looked great, but it was FREEZING!
This is me trying to get Biff to pose for a photo, I guess he is just as impossible to photograph as Lee and I.

This is what we look like while walking, notice the tight leash! People in my neighborhood always say to me, "Who is walking who here?" Very clever, people like I have never heard that one before! Why don't you teach my dog to heel if it is so ding dong simple!

I thought this photo would be cute, Lee thought it would be cheesy, but then I got the hilarious one below and it was worth it!We met this horse, and Biff wanted to get up close and personal. The husby kept telling me to pull him out or the horse would smash him with his hoove. Delores the horse would never do that would she? Biff loves meeting animals.

Aww... Best Friends

And we're home! Biff is always pooped after a walk.

I can't believe the Biffer is three years old it seems like just yesterday Lee brought him home for me as a surprise. I had been begging Lee to get a dog for about a year before we got one. We had chosen the breed together and found a breeder, but one day I text Lee while I was at work and asked him to call the breeder about the puppies. Lee informed me that all of the shar pei puppers were spoken for which was a big disappointment. It had been hard to find the type of pup we wanted, at the best price we could find, and within driving distance. It turns out it was all a lie so that he could surprise me.