Sunday, May 31, 2009

what would you do if you were pregnant with 6?

Many of you that read my blog also know my BIL and SIL, Thomas and Amanda. For those of you who don't know them, they are expecting sextuplets. Yes, that would be six little babies a growin' in her tummy. She is about 14 weeks now, which puts her due date very early December. Of course, she won't make it full term, and they are hoping to make it to October. They just got their own website up and running, as well as a blog. So, if you are interested in following their journey, click on over.

Okay, apparently the website isn't quite live yet, so I can't link it. But it is www.stanseljourney.com

so just copy and paste the link and go and check it out--especially if you want to see pregnant belly and fuzzy ultrasound pics

Saturday, May 30, 2009

t-ball


It's been a long time since I've done a "so what are we up to" type of post. For about two months we spent twice a week doing t-ball. We had a great coach, a good team, and a little boy who was much more excited to play ball than he was last year. In fact, we saw some real improvement in his ball skills. Granted, he's no pro, but he can throw pretty far and somewhat accurately. We also actually had fun watching him play. So here's to our part to support the American pastime.



Thursday, May 28, 2009

Graduation





I had no idea I needed to bring tissues to preschool graduation, but there I found myself, wiping away tears to the point that I thought I might need to sneak off to the bathroom and steal some toilet paper. It's hard when your oldest hits these milestones and you realize how big he is getting. It's also hard when your youngest seems to be growing up. So having an only, made it twice as hard. On the one hand, I really can't believe how much he has grown up and all that he has learned and done in his brief5 1/2 years. But it also makes me so sad to be losing all our little kid time with him. And I admit that it hurts just a bit to not know if we will ever get to go through all these steps again.

But to end happily, Tyler has had the greatest preschool teachers ever.
He has learned how to read and write and play well with others. He has gained 2 inches and 5 pounds. He is prepared for kindergarten. And he is still absolutely adorable.

We are so proud of him, and look forward to all the time we get with him until the next graduation.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Three things

I learned three things today.

1. Push the Save button often.
So I finally decided to create a blog roll. I just never did, because at first I just read a few random blogs. Then as I got to find more and more that I liked, I simply got too many blogs to want to create a list. I finally decided to start with at least friends and family. There were about 40 blogs I was going to put down. Well, at about blog 35, firefox went down. And of course, I hadn't saved anything. Blogger has lulled me into a false sense of security by regularly backing up posts. Darn you Blogger! Perhaps I will try again tomorrow.

2. You really can have clean grout. If you are willing to get this:

and this:

and lots of elbow grease.

You see, we have lived in this house for two and a half years. That is longer than any other house. Not that I am a spectacular housekeeper, but I've just never lived anywhere long enough to build up enough gunk to get gross grout. Well, we sure did here. But today, the parts that I have done actually look clean! Yeah!!

3. You can put together a cute teacher gift very quickly.

Tyler and I went to Target and found all the things we needed for our movie night gift. We just tucked in tags with their names and blockbuster gift cards and we are ready. Tomorrow is his last day of school; we really wanted to say a big thanks to his awesome teachers. I am continually amazed at how well Tyler has done at school this year.

Friday, May 22, 2009

So I went to Pei Wei for lunch...

A wise fortune cookie writer once said:

"Life always gets harder near the summit."

Good golly, I hope that's true.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Before it's too late

Happy Mother's Day to my own wonderful mom


and to my boys, who without them I wouldn't be a mother.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Happy 100th post

Way back when, my friend Camilla had an awesome 100th post: 100 random facts about herself. At the time, I think I had 35 or so posts, and I thought to myself, I am going to do that when I hit 100. I was even going to link to her blog to give her credit for the awesome idea. But she made her blog private just within the last couple weeks, so I am so sorry that you will never get to see her funny post. Instead, you will get mine.

100 Random Facts About Angela
1. My parents named me Angela because I was supposed to be their little angel.
2. I wasn't. I apparently was a terror as a baby and toddler.
3. I was a weird kid. I was always afraid of hurting the feelings of my stuffed animals. I had to take turns sleeping with them.
4. I was a total blankie baby. I still have my baby blanket. It is under my bed.
5. My earliest memory is going to Disneyland when I was about 2.
6. I come from a big extended family, at least on one side. I have 27 cousins on my dad's side, and 2 on my mom's.
7. I love the smell of wet cement.
8. I have a fear of the phone. I don't like calling people I don't know. I would so much rather shoot off an email.
9. I taught English in middle school for 4 years.
10. I always wanted to be a mom, but didn't know how much until it happened.
11. I really enjoy eating. Especially if I don't have to cook it.
12. No holiday is complete without a well-thought out menu. And I have been known to take a photo of the spread before anyone can start dishing up.
13. I have a ginormous sweet tooth.
14. I have always loved to read, from the time I learned how.
15. I secretly wish the world of Harry Potter was real.
16. And maybe the Cullens too.
17. My go to channel (you know, when nothing is on?) is HGTV. Love me some House Hunters.
18. I have two sisters and one brother.
19. I totally have middle child syndrome.
20. We had one pet growing up--our cat Fred.
21. We have no plans on having a pet now.
22. When there is a food I don't like, it is probably because of the texture, not the taste.
23. I still like to color. It's relaxing.
24. I have been in 36 states. I think.
25. I have traveled to 6 different countries.
26. I am a people pleaser--I do not like confrontation or contention.
27. I have been accused of being a brown noser in school. I'm sure it's true.
28. As a result, I always did well in school. I graduated in the top 5% of my class in high school, and the top 10% in college.
29. I like crossword puzzles. Well, not the hard ones.
30. My minor in college was Art History.
31. Loved college. Made some friends there that will be my friends forever.
32. My favorite class in college was Young Adult Literature.
33. I took that class during spring term. That term, I read 8000 pages in 8 weeks.
34. In high school, I was really into my music. I guess most people in high school are.
35. I have only kissed two boys in my life.
36. In high school, I had the lead in Blithe Spirit.
37. For those from Utah, I was the Speech/Drama Sterling Scholar for my high school.
38. I am independent. The first year of marriage was quite a transition, and I still have a hard time asking for help from anyone.
39. When I was four, I broke my arm after falling down the stairs in our house.
40. I had a ruptured appendix when I was 14.
41. Public speaking doesn't scare me. Making small talk with a stranger is much more intimidating.
42. If I could have any super power, I would want to fly.
43. I love to sort. For example, when Tyler got a new lego set, and they suggested sorting all the pieces by color, I was so all over it.
44. I love putting together legos.
45. My dream job is to teach basic writing at a junior college. Maybe I will get my Masters and actually do it one day.
46. I am relatively frugal. I have a hard time spending large sums of money.
47. I have one child and drive a minivan. Odd, I know. But I have actually loved my van.
48. I like to scrapbook.
49. I wish I was an excellent photographer.
50. Loved, loved seeing Wicked on Broadway.
51. I do not remember my dreams. I sometimes wake up feeling mad or sad or happy or whatever emotion was going on in my dream, but rarely can I give you any details.
52. I kept busy as a kid. Over the course of elementary school I was in: gymnastics, ballet, tap, clogging, dance, a singing group, piano lessons.
53. The only thing I stuck with and got any good at was playing the piano.
54. I can play probably about half of the hymns by sight. With practice, about 90%.
55. Primary pianist. Best calling ever.
56. I am shy and have a hard time making friends.
57. I am not easily offended.
58. As a kid, I loved to swim. Now, I am afraid to put my head under water.
59. My dream vacation is on a beach with a good book.
60. I really like Disney vacations.
61. I am not spontaneous.
62. I have been accused (rightfully so) of having to have my own way.
63. Worst household chore: ironing or sweeping.
64. It drives me crazy when things are not organized. But my house is never completely orderly and organized.
65. I read the newspaper almost every day.
66. I check google reader multiple times a day.
67. I met my husband while serving a mission for my church.
68. Was hesitant to date my husband because he was only one inch taller than me. (I know, how shallow was I?)
69. Funny bit of trivia: Dan's inseam is 29/30 inches. Mine is 33/34.
70. First date to wedding day: 5 months and 6 days.
71. In our first 7 years of marriage we had bought 5 houses, but only one car.
72. I secretly love playing Webkinz with, or without, Tyler.
73. Not often, but it has happened: I spend the day goofing off and then bust my tail for one hour before Dan gets home so it looks like I was busy all day.
74. I do not like driving if I don't know where I am going.
75. But I do have mad map skills.
76. I'm an introvert. I recharge my batteries by being alone.
77. My favorite color changes, but my least favorite has always been purple.
78. I have always loved my blue eyes.
79. I feel so grateful that I was blessed with amazing parents.
80. My favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird
81. If I had to choose a last meal, it would be pizza, root beer, and chocolate molten cake.
82. I like the rain, but with stipulations. Only a day or two at a time, and only if I don't have to go out in it.
83. Yoga: my favorite way to spend an hour exercising.
84. I like the gym. Although this is relatively new. I hope it sticks.
85. When we evacuated for the hurricane, I took my family, photos, and computer hard drive.
86. I like to write, but wish I was a better (or at least more consistent) journal writer.
87. If I were to have a cause, it would be literacy and education. (How sad that I don't actually have a cause.)
88. I love taking long showers. Always have. It's my "me time."
89. I have never read a Jane Austen book. (Didn't say I never tried...)
90. The number one played song in my itunes library is Bless the Broken Road.
91. I love to vacuum. I love the lines.
92. I balance my checkbook regularly. I love Quicken.
93. I rely on my faith daily.
94. I am a home body.
95. I probably worry too much about what others think. A huge motivating factor to me is not wanting to disappoint someone.
96. I think everyone should work retail and/or fast food at least once. (I've done both.)
97. My favorite thing in the world to do is be with my family.
98. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, my greatest challenge in life has been dealing with infertility.
99. My greatest accomplishment? A work in progress, my family.
100. I consider myself very blessed.