School? For real?

Wow, I really don't update this very often. It's not for lack of time, it's more of lack of creativity. I'm not sure if anyone even reads my blogs anymore. Oh well. So what's been up? Well, my friend Mandy, and I decided that we needed to go back to school. Sort of. We signed up for this fiction writing class that the Canyon's School district is doing. One of those continuing education classes. Our first class was on Tuesday. Our teachers name is Brenda and she is such a character. She read some of the stuff she has written, and it's awesome! She told us about a trip she took when she was in her 20's. She bought a moped and toured Europe! Holy crap! She was gone for 3-4 months, and she said she only spend a few thousand dollars. So, anyway... the teacher is interesting. Our class is designed to get us up and going on writing a novel. We have loads of homework already which I think is sort of hilarious. In two weeks we have to pretty much have the whole premise for a novel drawn up. Yeah, okay. I don't know where to start! Most of the stuff she talked about dealt with fantasy type novels. What if you just want to write about stuff that might really happen or could happen? Both Mandy and I felt pretty overwhelmed when we left the class. It should be pretty interesting. We have a speaker next week and Brenda said that we will just be mesmerized by him. Hopefully he'll be that kick in the butt inspiration I need to getting working on something. I'll let you know!

Sled 1, Mel 0.... Sled wins!

I swear I'm going to have two black eyes tomorrow. I was trying to throw the kids sled up the hill, since I was thigh-deep in snow, and out of no where, the sled decided that it didn't want to be thrown, it wanted to try and break my nose instead. Luckily my nose isn't broken, the sled hit a little too high, but yeah, maybe black eyes. As painful as it was, it was also hilarious. I am a self-proclaimed klutz, so it wasn't a shocker that a sled connected with my face. And, another non-shock, a half hour before, I was trying to stop Merrick from sledding out into the road, and my crouch stance to block him, landed me on my ass. Bumps and bruises aside, I had a blast sledding with my kids! I haven't been in a really long time, and as much as I don't like being cold, I was surprisingly warm and I felt like I could've been out there for hours. I forgot how much I like being outside in sunny-snowy weather. Merrick was content to eat as much fresh snow as possible, and I couldn't help but laugh at him, head to toe in winter wear. He could be the new Randy from 'A Christmas Story'. Rowan was just happy to be outside (and to have someone else carry her nose-cracking sled up the hill for her).
I got to drive a 4-wheeler for the first time over the weekend, so that was a blast! My only memory of 4-wheeling as a kid, was being dragged by one on a sled, driven by a neighbor kid, through our neighborhood. You had to make sure you had some major 'leaning' skills, because there was always the fear that you would go around a corner and skid right underneath a parked car, and be decapitated. And, that is not something you can't put a band-aid on... Needless to say, driving one is funner than being dragged by one. I can see how people get addicted to buying toys like that.
So, even though it was the dreaded V-Day this weekend, it was a blast!

We All Fall Down...

“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always be worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.” So true. This year is one for the history books. Not only for our country, but for me, personally. It's amazing what one person can do to change the course of history. How things can be altered in the smallest amount of time. I've been on a rollercoaster of emotions since this spring. It's a miracle that I'm still in one piece after 2008! I've had my share of ups and downs this past year and for sure, my fair share of life changing events. I've done some things to be proud of, and some, not so much. I'm thankful my friends still allow me to be their friend, even when my evil twin shows up. I'm also thankful that they and my family have been there for me and my occasional meltdown and were always there to lend an ear. I'm also thankful for medication. :) -- Things have to get better. I'm excited for 2009! My New Year's Resolution: treasure every moment with my kids, learn to live, and be happy!

What is THIS?...

Right now things are crazy... I've been trying to declutter my mom's house. There were 3 rooms packed full of crafts, odds and ends and a few sentimental items. My sister and I filled up countless garbage and recycling cans with 'stuff'. We found a magazine amongst the mayhem from 1983! Most of the things are going to be sold this weekend and next week in a massive garage sale. Hopefully not a whole lot will be put back in their house, but we'll see. I think my mom started 'hording' to fill a void after my brother and I moved out. She held onto things that she can't even explain. It's been really emotional for my whole family for me to come in and turn their house into a disaster area, more than it was, trying to help get them get rid of years of junk. It's amazing how attached people get to possessions and objects. Personally I would rather have photo albums of friends and family and memories that we've made then a bunch of rooms filled to the brim with stuff. But, their house was a fire hazard waiting to happen. We are halfway there, and should have the majority of it done by this weekend. There will be lots of crafts, Mary Kay, furniture, Stampin' Up, glassware ... you name it! So, PLEASE come to my mom's garage sale...post if you would like the address.

Gooooo Real...

My sister's good friend, Judge, invited us to come cheer on the Real, at their match on Saturday, against Chivas. I have never been to a Real match, or even in their new stadium. It was so awesome! Before the game, we tailgated in the parking lot. Next time I'll for sure bring something to share!Our seats were right behind the south goal, in the front row. The weather was amazing, considering it was the first day of November! Real scored the only goal in the last minute of the game and our huge cheering section erupted! Apparently Judge, and all of his friends are the main supporters of the Real, they even have their own scarves and shirts! We had a blast! Thanks Judge for letting us into your elite group of devoted fans!

Candy, candy, candy...

Ah, October! I love this time of year. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday! Dressing up and begging for candy? Funny how it seems that our food banks are always low, but neighbors seem so willing to hand out candy to greedy kids they don't know. Anyways... It's still my favorite! I never dressed up in anything too creative. I know I have been my fair share of black cats, punk rockers, witches and vampires. One year, me and 3 of my friends dressed up as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I was Raphael. The costumes were cheap. Green sweats and sweatshirts, and bandanas. Classic. One year I was Sabrina the Teenage Witch, but no one knew since it wasn't a whole lot different than my normal look. I remember in 2nd grade my mom came to my school to help me get ready for the 'parade' and she ratted my hair so bad and huge that I almost refused to leave the girls bathroom. It was a fire hazard waiting to happen.She probably used a whole can of Aqua Net. Here's a pic of me and my brother, as Frankenstein. I think he had marshmallows glued to his neck, for bolts. When we lived out in West Jordan, we had this girl come to our house trick-or-treating, and she was dressed as Princess Leia. She had a white robe on, and bagels tied across the top of her head as her signature 'buns'. Still, that was the best costume I have ever seen. I will never understand the kids that dressed up as hobos or bums. That is just disrespectful. There were always the kids that were Spiderman or Batman, that just seemed too comfortable in their costumes and it made you wonder if they dressed up like that at home just because it was, Tuesday? I did dress up as Tinkerbell and my friend Mandy was Mary Catherine Gallagher - Superstar! Oh, and there was the time I was Trinity from the Matrix. That was fun! Yeah, I'm a 12 year old child trapped in a 31 year old's body... Still, I love Halloween!

A follow up on my guts...

I got my biopsy results back from my endoscopy and everything was negative. Wahoo!! Apparently stress, has caused me to produce more stomach acid, which is irritating some 'erosions' in my stomach lining, and thus making me feel like crap all day, every day, for the last couple of months. I'm sure you are all excited for those details... My doc put me on some meds, and he told my mom to have me take 4 pills a day. Come to find out, I was only supposed to take 2 a day. Now that I'm on the correct dosage, I am starting to feel much better. If I could only mellow out a little, I will be great! And, I know that I should be taking it easy on what I consume, but I have missed my coffee and Coke, like you wouldn't believe! Bring on the caffiene!