Otherwise known as the Green River. Unless you are Karlee. And then it's just the plain old Geen Ivuh...
Anyway, I had the pleasure of watching my sister's kids this week while they were on a fishing trip with Brock's family. That is hard work. So mothers, don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. I knew it would be crazy, but I didn't know how crazy.
Here are a few examples:
Sunday--the belch known around the world. I took the kids to my single's ward. Oh my. Tommy and Brett sure got a kick out of Karlee and Kade. Until Kade spit marshmallows out on Tommy's lap and started yelling for milk prior to the Sacrament service. And it only got better when he let out a serious belch right after the prayer. Those kinds of things aren't heard very often in that place.
Monday--Despite my waking up every hour on the hour, the kids slept til 8:20. So I thought this was going to be a great day. Until after breakfast when Kaden started screaming bloody murder from upstairs. I thought he had stubbed his toe or something because of the way he was standing. Nope. Worse. I got a whiff of something terrible and so I tried to change his diaper and it wasn't pretty. The poor kid couldn't get anything to come out. Now I realize that this is graphic, but not as graphic as what good ol' Kelsey advised me to do...the unmentionable. Fortunately, with a little back rub and some apple juice, I didn't have to "help him".
Tuesday--The weather was awful so we were trapped inside all day long. I never in my life have craved adult conversation like I did on this day. Countless hours of Boomerang can do that to you. Popeye, the Pink Panther, Scooby Doo, Smurfs, and everything else that was on. When Kade went down for his nap, Karlee informed me that she was tired. When I asked her if she wanted to go take a nap, she told me no. She didn't want a nap. Just a yest (rest). So she cuddled up next to me on the couch and then got a little choked up and told me that she missed her mommy and wanted her to come home from the Geen Ivuh. It was so cute.
We had pizza for dinner that night and Tyra and Brock came home much earlier than they'd planned on. The kids were so surprised to see their mom sneak up on them and probably relieved, more than anything, that they didn't have to deal with Missy anymore...
It was fun though. Thank goodness those kids are around to help keep me occupied and entertained. I love them...but I guess it just goes to show that there is no way to prepare for motherhood!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Jazz Game
Saturday night I scored some tickets to the Jazz game so Shad, Linz, and I drove to Salt Lake to meet up with my friend at PF Changs for dinner. Last time I ate there was before heading into Energy Solutions arena as well--for the Faith Hill & Tim McGraw concert. And yum. I remembered why I love their lettuce wraps. This time, I ventured out of my usual fried rice and honey chicken and we had some steak, Chang's chicken, orange chicken, and the Lo-Mein Noodles. My mouth is watering just thinking about it...
After dinner, we met Tyra and Brock at will call to pick up our tickets. They couldn't come to dinner because they had to drop off their kids at Ya Ya's house (Brock's mom). So they were starving when we got to the game and they grabbed the usual snack bar food--hot dogs I think.
As another similarity with the concert, our tickets were on the VERY top row. Tyra said that the bright side was that no one would be able to spill their beer down our backs. The bad thing was that it left her light headed and sick to her stomach--or maybe that was the hot dog.
The first quarter was great. But after that it was a wreck. So during the second quarter, Linz and I went out to get T.D. a yogurt from the Red Mango. What is that you ask? Well let me tell you...it is the best thing since sliced bread. It is delectable, tasty, and good for you! I got a big one for T and I to share with mango and raspberries on it. Oh yum. Maybe it was the combination of the sweetness of the yogurt to compliment the dinner I'd just eaten, but it was the best part of the Jazz game that night. Perhaps because the Jazz were like 1-27 in the 3rd quarter alone and Kobe Bryant was 26-27. Yuck. But regardless, it was a great time. Maybe it was Brock yelling "Come on ref! What? Did Kobe buy you a pink diamond too?"--among other things while being high-fived by our fellow fans in the nosebleeds--or if it was just nice to get out and get my mind off things...
Anyway, there's always next year. Right Jazz fans?!
Our View
The Gang
After dinner, we met Tyra and Brock at will call to pick up our tickets. They couldn't come to dinner because they had to drop off their kids at Ya Ya's house (Brock's mom). So they were starving when we got to the game and they grabbed the usual snack bar food--hot dogs I think.
As another similarity with the concert, our tickets were on the VERY top row. Tyra said that the bright side was that no one would be able to spill their beer down our backs. The bad thing was that it left her light headed and sick to her stomach--or maybe that was the hot dog.
The first quarter was great. But after that it was a wreck. So during the second quarter, Linz and I went out to get T.D. a yogurt from the Red Mango. What is that you ask? Well let me tell you...it is the best thing since sliced bread. It is delectable, tasty, and good for you! I got a big one for T and I to share with mango and raspberries on it. Oh yum. Maybe it was the combination of the sweetness of the yogurt to compliment the dinner I'd just eaten, but it was the best part of the Jazz game that night. Perhaps because the Jazz were like 1-27 in the 3rd quarter alone and Kobe Bryant was 26-27. Yuck. But regardless, it was a great time. Maybe it was Brock yelling "Come on ref! What? Did Kobe buy you a pink diamond too?"--among other things while being high-fived by our fellow fans in the nosebleeds--or if it was just nice to get out and get my mind off things...
Anyway, there's always next year. Right Jazz fans?!
Our View
The GangSaturday, April 25, 2009
The 3 Amigos
It has been a rough week--especially considering Wednesday morning and all of it's glory. So I took off to Preston and spent some much-needed time with my family. Tyra was up there with her kids for a play date with Kelsey and her rugrats, so they convinced me to come join them. We spent a lot of time goofing off and some time learning about Kelsey's Body Bugg--the coolest thing ever--which has now shot straight to the top of my wishlist.
While my mom was busy that night decorating for the Gold and Green Ball, my brother, dad, and I occupied ourselves with a Jazz win and an Office episode. My dad also was able to give me a blessing and thank heavens for that...
We spent Friday lounging around and then we started talking about the big stake dance that night. My mom got asked to help out with this activity and her committee decided that the Gold and Green Ball theme was going to be like a red carpet. If you came dressed as a character from a movie, you wouldn't have to dress in nice clothes. Tyra and Kelsey decided it would be fun for the three of us to go, but I only brought sweats and flip flops so my options were very limited. We started brainstorming and decided that we should be the 3 Amigos. A classic film.
So off we went to figure out where we could come up with the sombreros and costumes. Tyra, in all of her creativity, went and bought some red silky material to make us some sashes and ties out of. We all wore black pants with a duct tape stripe down the sides. It was hilarious. Until we got to the church and realized that the Spanish branch was also going to be there. Hopefully, we didn't offend anyone--it would be hard not to get our joke if you saw us all together, but when we were walking around individually, it could have been questionable...
Anyway, what a great time. We danced the night away and the kids loved it!! Kennedy went as Cinderella, Karlee as The Little Mermaid, Mason as Indiana Jones, and Kade as a cowboy. My mom is so talented--her decorations and refreshments were awesome. I hope everyone appreciated how much work went into that! I know we did. And just remember, wherever there is suffering, you will find us. Whenever there is injustice, we'll be there. We will not die like dogs, we will fight like lions!! For we are...the three amigos!
While my mom was busy that night decorating for the Gold and Green Ball, my brother, dad, and I occupied ourselves with a Jazz win and an Office episode. My dad also was able to give me a blessing and thank heavens for that...
We spent Friday lounging around and then we started talking about the big stake dance that night. My mom got asked to help out with this activity and her committee decided that the Gold and Green Ball theme was going to be like a red carpet. If you came dressed as a character from a movie, you wouldn't have to dress in nice clothes. Tyra and Kelsey decided it would be fun for the three of us to go, but I only brought sweats and flip flops so my options were very limited. We started brainstorming and decided that we should be the 3 Amigos. A classic film.
So off we went to figure out where we could come up with the sombreros and costumes. Tyra, in all of her creativity, went and bought some red silky material to make us some sashes and ties out of. We all wore black pants with a duct tape stripe down the sides. It was hilarious. Until we got to the church and realized that the Spanish branch was also going to be there. Hopefully, we didn't offend anyone--it would be hard not to get our joke if you saw us all together, but when we were walking around individually, it could have been questionable...
Anyway, what a great time. We danced the night away and the kids loved it!! Kennedy went as Cinderella, Karlee as The Little Mermaid, Mason as Indiana Jones, and Kade as a cowboy. My mom is so talented--her decorations and refreshments were awesome. I hope everyone appreciated how much work went into that! I know we did. And just remember, wherever there is suffering, you will find us. Whenever there is injustice, we'll be there. We will not die like dogs, we will fight like lions!! For we are...the three amigos!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
a little bit of everything
Where to begin? Let's see...
How bout with March 17th? It's been a rough climb ever since that night, but I'm trying to make it to the next hill as my Dad has advised. That conference talk I mentioned earlier has helped, but every day brings different emotions. Sometimes I'm hurt, sometimes I'm angry, and sometimes I'm so confused. But I've been through this before and despite all of the tears, I know I can get through it again.
Spring ball began with our first tournament on March 28th. We weren't particularly impressive but followed that up with a tournament win at UVU on April 11th. We've made some changes to our defense and they seem to be paying off. We wrap up the spring with a match against Western Wyoming tomorrow night at 6pm.
I am playing in an Ogden City women's rec league right now. My team rocks. Jody, Jaynee, Kaycee, Laura, Jen, and I. Only Jaynee hasn't been playing because she had a serious ankle sprain right before the league started. So guess what had to happen to me? Yep. An ankle sprain. It was athleticism at its finest. So that has put a damper on the 5K training program to say the least.
I also joined a Bunco group. We had our inaugural meeting last week and it was a blast. It's fun to get together for a girl's night out every now and then. We've tried to start doing this with all the former volleyball players from WSU also. Unfortunately, that hasn't quite turned out as good as we'd like. I sent out 31 invitations for the get-together we're having tonight and 3 people are actually coming. Disappointing.
Easter was a great time this year. I missed out on my family's celebration at Tyra and Brock's on the 11th, but I did make it back in time that evening for ham and funeral potatoes. Sunday afternoon, I went over to the 4th Annual Mimnaugh Adult Easter Egg Hunt. I scored a $10 bill and a Home Depot gift card. And lots of candy. It was fun as usual!!
The volleyball class that I'm teaching is winding up and I will be eternally grateful when the semester is over. I'm a little burnt out on the teaching side of things for some reason this year and am welcoming the summer break with open arms!
We are moving our volleyball offices from the Dee Event Center to the Stadium in two weeks. I'm not looking forward to packing up everything that has been collecting in my office the past 5 years...Yuck. It makes me sick to think about it. I will miss the Dee for several reasons: it's private and away from all the gossip. My office is much bigger currently than it will be in a few weeks. And I will be giving up this haven for what we consider gossip central. Not to mention that I'll have to see some people that it would be best to avoid at this point...
I had to pay the IRS a mere $3600 bucks this year due to what we shall refer to as a minor hangup on my W-4 this year. But I learned my lesson and that shall NEVER EVER EVER happen again. Yuck.
Anyway, that's pretty much the last few weeks in a nutshell. The weather stinks and I'm sick of the rain and snow and ready for the sun!!!
How bout with March 17th? It's been a rough climb ever since that night, but I'm trying to make it to the next hill as my Dad has advised. That conference talk I mentioned earlier has helped, but every day brings different emotions. Sometimes I'm hurt, sometimes I'm angry, and sometimes I'm so confused. But I've been through this before and despite all of the tears, I know I can get through it again.
Spring ball began with our first tournament on March 28th. We weren't particularly impressive but followed that up with a tournament win at UVU on April 11th. We've made some changes to our defense and they seem to be paying off. We wrap up the spring with a match against Western Wyoming tomorrow night at 6pm.
I am playing in an Ogden City women's rec league right now. My team rocks. Jody, Jaynee, Kaycee, Laura, Jen, and I. Only Jaynee hasn't been playing because she had a serious ankle sprain right before the league started. So guess what had to happen to me? Yep. An ankle sprain. It was athleticism at its finest. So that has put a damper on the 5K training program to say the least.
I also joined a Bunco group. We had our inaugural meeting last week and it was a blast. It's fun to get together for a girl's night out every now and then. We've tried to start doing this with all the former volleyball players from WSU also. Unfortunately, that hasn't quite turned out as good as we'd like. I sent out 31 invitations for the get-together we're having tonight and 3 people are actually coming. Disappointing.
Easter was a great time this year. I missed out on my family's celebration at Tyra and Brock's on the 11th, but I did make it back in time that evening for ham and funeral potatoes. Sunday afternoon, I went over to the 4th Annual Mimnaugh Adult Easter Egg Hunt. I scored a $10 bill and a Home Depot gift card. And lots of candy. It was fun as usual!!
The volleyball class that I'm teaching is winding up and I will be eternally grateful when the semester is over. I'm a little burnt out on the teaching side of things for some reason this year and am welcoming the summer break with open arms!
We are moving our volleyball offices from the Dee Event Center to the Stadium in two weeks. I'm not looking forward to packing up everything that has been collecting in my office the past 5 years...Yuck. It makes me sick to think about it. I will miss the Dee for several reasons: it's private and away from all the gossip. My office is much bigger currently than it will be in a few weeks. And I will be giving up this haven for what we consider gossip central. Not to mention that I'll have to see some people that it would be best to avoid at this point...
I had to pay the IRS a mere $3600 bucks this year due to what we shall refer to as a minor hangup on my W-4 this year. But I learned my lesson and that shall NEVER EVER EVER happen again. Yuck.
Anyway, that's pretty much the last few weeks in a nutshell. The weather stinks and I'm sick of the rain and snow and ready for the sun!!!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Ogden 5K
Today I made one small step for mankind but one giant step for Melissa Leonard. I signed up--with the support of a few good women--for the Ogden Marathon's 5K. I've never run a race before, so I'm definitely not trying to win or anything. And I realize it is only 3.1 miles--which I have run before, but never with any sort of enthusiasm. I'm hoping this race does the trick and really gets me over the hump of despising running and over to the "I love running" side of the hill. We'll see...And thanks to E'lise, Heather, Linz, and Steph for trudging along with me for the ride! We'll all see you on May 16th at the finish line!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
"Choose to live by faith, not fear."
I was unable to listen to Saturday morning's conference session because I was in Salt Lake recruiting, but, this year, I watched all of the other 3 sessions. My favorite talk, by far, was given by Kevin W. Pearson of the Quorum of the Seventy. He spoke on Saturday afternoon about faith.
I really believe this talk was meant for me. Even though I'm not always the most faithful member of the church, I had no doubt on Saturday afternoon that Heavenly Father has not forgotten me & that he is aware of my personal trials and struggles and wants me to succeed.
I really believe this talk was meant for me. Even though I'm not always the most faithful member of the church, I had no doubt on Saturday afternoon that Heavenly Father has not forgotten me & that he is aware of my personal trials and struggles and wants me to succeed.
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