Not So Fly

Wow! I never knew that a fly could create a reaction so terrifying and intense in someone as the buzzy little nuisances have in my daughter, Phoenix. Imagine the biological effects one might experience when seeing a giant pit-bull running at full speed, jaws open, teeth glaring, eyes centered on your throat... your heart is racing, your head is hot and sweaty, and all you want to do is run straight up a tree and cling on for dear life, right? That is exactly how Phoenix reacts when she so much as senses or hears a fly in the room. A FLY! I kid you not! Her heart beats so hard and so fast that I swear she is going to go into full cardiac arrest! What do I do? There is no convincing her that flies are not scary, that flies wouldn't hurt... a fly! She grabs around your neck and pulls herself so close that I swear she would crawl right up inside of me if it were possible. I'm not exactly the most patient parent, I must admit, so the first couple of times I tried to roll my eyes and tell her that flies are good and flies are our friends... she didn't buy it. Then, I tried the cuddle and baby her approach, which seemed to make her trust me a little more, but no dice on getting over the fear. How do you help a kid overcome the fear of something so common and so gentle as the household fly? I mean, they're everywhere and I don't see an extinction of the Arthropods coming anytime soon.

The solution we've come up with for the time being?

A fly swatter. Pretty ingenious, if you ask me. My mother-in-law came up with it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that it has done the trick... as we speak, I think I hear little footsteps barrelling up the stairs and short, panicky breaths flying (excuse the pun) in my direction... Suddenly, flies or not so fly in my book!

Pay It Forward

One of my favorite movies of all-time is not one that has all the glam and glitz of special effects and mega-hot super stars. It had big names (Helen Hunt, Haley Joel Osmond, Kevin Spacey) but the characters they played were as everyday as they come. Some would call this movie depressing and drab, but I see it as impressive and inventive. The movie is called Pay It Forward. It's premise is that of a boy who is given a school project aimed at changing the world. The little boy takes a project that was meant just to get students to think, and he carries it to a level that is far beyond most comprehension. He decides to implement a pyramid scheme where one person does something BIG and life changing for 3 seperate individuals with the hope that those 3 individuals will pay it forward to 3 other individuals and then those to 3 more... the numbers get huge... the outreach spreads like wildfire. The movie is sad, depressing, BUT inspiring!!! I think about it often and aspire to live it!


The idea below is not at all life-changing, but I thought that it sounded fun and who doesn't like getting a little something handmade in the mail these days?

The first three people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice--for you!

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make NO guarantees that you will LIKE what I make! (I can only hope)
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It WILL be done this year.
4. You have no CLUE what it’s going to be … it may be cards, a bookmark, something delicious or a complete surprise to you (and me!) … who knows?
5. Most importantly, you MUST offer the same deal on your blog - the first 3 people to comment on your blog get something made by YOU! (you may surprise even yourself how creative you can be when the pressure is on)

Family Pics 2009!!!

Seriously, I don't know what we would have done had our photographer not been so amazing and had she not brought along another amazing and experienced photographer with her. Of course our kids decided to be, how do I put it nicely... complicated? for the much anticipated photo shoot! I was so excited and normally Phoenix is such a poser but of course, in true Phoenix manner, she decided to shut down and do her baby talk and "disappearing" hand motions in front of her face. I usually don't care so much, but when you're spending a good chunk of cash on some money shots, you really tend to get ANNOYED at your kids!

But, our photographer was INCREDIBLE, and caught some great shots... and I've only seen a small sneak peek! I've got all of her contact info if anyone wants to use her! She is great with kids and has such a fantastic talent for finding great shots, backgrounds, and poses. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Amy Hill Photography!!!

Shoot me now!

Holy crap, I am MORTIFIED!!! Apparently, my last post "*A*M*E*C Christmas Party 2008" (which I have changed to Christmas Party 2008) got Dave a lot of razzing at work because stupid me didn't realize that someone does a google blog check every day for the company. Guess whose blog shows up #2 on the list? This is a HUGE company, guys! HUGE! International!!! In fact, headquarters in London found it and was concerned that the Phoenix office was blowing a bunch of money on lavish parties. If that weren't embarrassing enough, there had to be some commenting on how my idea of a "posh" party really was not very posh at all. You can take that two ways: 1) I'm an exaggerater OR 2) I'm really small town. Okay, guys, for a couple from IDAHO,any party where they don't serve jello salad and wienies in a blanket is a pretty fancy party! Especially for my man whose idea of dressing up is putting on a polo shirt with his basketball shorts. I want to dig myself a hole and put my head in it!!! haha! Hopefully they look past the bad blog post and get captivated by the cute kids. Forgive me, Dave!!!

Christmas Party 2008

So, we actually went to a high-end art gallery this year for Dave's company Christmas party. It was an open bar and three different food stations throughout. I was amazed at the money this company puts out!!! We had a good time and I wish we got better pics, but here are the ones of us at Heather's house just before we left. Wow, Dave has dressed up twice this year! It's a new record! Yay me!!!

Ms. Evey, Me, Kendall, and Jessica

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with some very good friends, Jessica and Gavin. Gavin cooked the entire meal and it was DELICIOUS! I have to say this was the best Thanksgiving we've had in a long time. If we couldn't be with family then the Fieldings were the next best thing. Thank you, Gavin and Jessica! And thank you Kendall for letting my little monsters play with all of your toys! This year I'm thankful for good friends, a happy family, and for good health. It's been a long time.

Nobody tagged me, but I saw this on someone else's blog and thought it would be a fun little post that I don't have to be too creative with. Not a lot of time this week, but this looks fun. Here you go:

10 years ago I was:
I was a freshman in college and begging my family to let me move away to Salt Lake City with my big sis, Heidi. I wanted to get away from an old boyfriend sooooo bad!!! I think I was working at Great American Video, which I was fired from a few weeks later for deciding to go on a trip to Tokyo, Japan over the Christmas holiday rather than staying and working for them. Who knew that honesty wasn't the best policy in the moving renting business? I should've just told them I wasn't going anymore and then quit the week before, I guess. Uh, I was still actively mormon... although also actively avoiding going. Ten years ago, I was very confused, very frustrated, and starting a part of my life that would change who I am and who I thought I was FOREVER.

5 things on my to do list today:
Spray paint my wood letters and frames
Decoupage
Drink Coffee
Start sewing projects
Drink more Coffee

5 snacks I enjoy:
Chips and Salsa
Triscuits (Rosemary and Olive Oil or Cracked Pepper)
Soybeans
Carrots
Soft Pretzels

5 things I would do if I was a millionaire:
Pay off ALL my debt and loan all of my family and close friends money to pay off their debt without interest rates.
BUY A HOUSE!!!
Go on a trip to Europe, Africa, and especially BRAZIL!
Set up savings accounts for myself, my kids, my neices and nephews.
Set up a family reunion fund for all of my brothers, sisters and their kids so that money is no longer an issue for getting together once a year.
AND, since I'm a millionaire I get ONE more...
I would invest a set amount of money into something that I know will acrue over time and then donate the profit to a different chairity WITHIN this country every year. The U.S. needs to help our own lost children, too, you know?

5 places I've lived:
Pocatello, Idaho
Salt Lake City, Utah
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Phoenix, Arizona
more to come, I'm sure

5 jobs I've had:
After School Program teacher for School District 25 and for ISU's Early Learning Center in Pocatello, ID
Great American Vido clerk (first job) in Pocatello, ID
File Clerk for L.D. Fitzgerald, a Bankrupcy lawyer in Poctello, ID
Front Desk clerk and Summer Camp counselor at Snowbird Canyon Racquet Club in SLC, UT
Pottery Barn sales associate in Scottsdale, Arizona


I tag: whoever feels like it.