Whoa!

I just noticed my work laptop has a webcam.

Now I must play with it and post pictures despite the poor lighting and my post-shower hair which makes me look like a total creepster. So here is a

Quick update on my life...

work webcam style...

I'm watching...

Very clever. My friend loaned me the first two seasons. I don't think it will take me long to get through them.

I'm reading... the new post secret book. And unlike the other three which were gigantic, this one is cute and post card size.

Hanging out with.... My new kitty (and the old one too). Isaac is at my mom's tonight. She was not such a fan of the webcam. Cody flat out refused to come on. Who's surprised about that?

Isaac...

Just so you all know, I am the mother of the most hilarious four year old on the planet. Several times over the past few days I have overheard Isaac singing some pop music which totally cracks me up. In the car I definitely overheard him singing this little diddy by the ubiquitous Miley Cyrus: This one he was singining the bathtub, which I thought was terribly cute ("She's cheer captain and I'm in the bleachers"). This is my personal favorite though, since I have been listening to this album basically non-stop. I have overheard him singing this while he was in his room alone playing with toys. I love the fact that some part of him appreciates electronica, even if it is Top 40.

Wednesday

Happies * The kitty cats are now fixed, introduced, and friends. Pictures to follow. * Cody is definitely less play aggressive towards us now that he has a friend to play with. I think Saffron is a little tired of him though. * She is very sweet and long suffering. Especially considering Isaac's new favorite thing is carrying her around like a baby. * It's not dark now when I wake up for work. Makes it sooo much easier to get up! Crappies * I have a slow leak in my one tire. * The washing machine broke. Booo. * Now that I am heating the house my electric bill is out of control. And I keep forgetting to turn down the thermostat before I leave for work. * I have to buy a cord to charge my camera up. So pictures are (temporarily) down again.

Ugh

How long would you keep going to a ward where absolutely no one ever talked to you, or sat by you or made any effort to get to know you? Where literally the only people who ever, ever even acknowledged you were in the Relief Society presidency? Where you had never been home taught, or approached about having a calling? If it was November first and you had been going since May, and had never even been greeted by someone in the Bishopric a single time, would you want to go back? I'm really struggling to like the ward that I now have to attend...

Five things I Was Doing Five Years Ago

1. Trying to schedule as many classes as I could in this gorgeous building:

2. Trying (half-heartedly) to pass Logic. What on earth posessed me to take that class?

3.. Working out a lot. Sophomore year of college I definitely went to the gym at least once a day. My roommate and other girls on my floor definitely helped keep me motivated.

4. Sleeping on the top bunk. That year we did have bunk beds.

5. I believe that was the year we got into Temptation Island. Trash TV at it's finest.

Five things on my To Do List 1. Organize the office, which still has half unpacked boxes and scrapbook stuff everywhere. 2. Vacuum pretty much the whole house. 3. Finish cleaning the bathroom. All I did was the floors and littler box, still need to do toilet, sink and mirrors.

4. Pay some bills

5. Figure out someone who can fix the washing machine (and figure out how I am going to pay him/her).

Five things I'd do if I was a Millionaire 1. Pay off my school loans and mortgage. 2. Pay for Isaac's college.

3. Buy a newer, nicer car. 4. Go around the world on a big vacation. 5. Have a big party with fancy imported cheeses and other exotic foodstuffs.

Five Things I'd Never Do Again 1. Bottle feed a kitten. It was good while it lasted, but way too much work.

2. Attempt to paint the bathroom on my own again. Unless my painting skills seriously improve. It took my sister, like 24 straight hours of work to fix my mistakes and make the bathroom the fabulous pink it is now.

3. Call a parent (of one of my students) from my home phone. Not that anything bad happened that time, but it is something I would never take a chance on again.

4. Have a fish. Cleaning a fishtank is not my favorite thing.

5. Dramatic Rock Lobster death scenes. In public anyways... I think I'm too old for that now. Even if I do go to the YSA Christmas Dance...

Five Favorite Toys 1. Hmmm. Laptop.

2. My classroom laminator. Nerdy I know. But I do love lamination.

3. Photo printer.

4. Pizza pan. Very into making my own pizza lately.

5. Um.... does hand held vacuum count as a toy? When you live in a three story place, it is pretty critical.

Five Things I've Read Recently 1. Blogs, blogs, blogs.

2. Lawrence's mission letters. To know him, is to love him. He is taking San Diego by storm. 3. I've still not finished The Time Traveler's Wife that I started at the beach. It is a really good book. I just knew once I left the beach I would never finish it. 4. US and PEOPLE magazines that my mom sent over after she was done. I read anything that comes my way. 5. I am supposed to be reading Classroom Instruction that Works and Failure is Not an Option for book studies at my work as part of new teacher induction. Also considering adding The Illusion of Full Inclusion... but that's a different story.

Five People I’m Tagging Whoever is reading this and really wants to do it.

We don't mess around...

Intense under six soccer action...

Taking a breather

A month of non-stop rain = field being a total and complete mudpit = extra hilarity

Four out of six of the purple panthers.

I seriously love under six soccer. I think someone should turn it into a reality show.

Soft Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

The quest for true domesticity continues. I tried to make apple crisp, which was a flop... BUT I made these delicious cookies and they turned out incredible!! I thought I would be 0/2 when I messed up the amount of baking powder. However, I managed to save it by tripling the recipe. So there are cookies galore at my house-- come visit!!

Ingredients:

1 cup canned pumpkin

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional-- I skipped these)

Directions: 1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, and egg. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. Dissolve the baking soda with the milk and stir in. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. 2. Add vanilla, chocolate chips and nuts. 3. Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for approximately 10 minutes or until lightly brown and firm.