Sometimes it's hard to be married to me...

and sometimes it totally rocks. All in all I hope it evens out for Jeff. I have felt a bit bad for Jeff recently as some of my comments on a non-relief society sponsored site, (yup, no matter what someone may say to make themselves look better, it was never set up as a relief society web site.) has riled many in the ward. Not that I should know that cause no one has actually said something to me and start a discussion, they all prefer to tattle to the Relief Society Presidency and have the comments deleted in an Iranian move of censorship.

ANYWAY, I mentioned to Jeff that I felt sorry for the tension he had to feel on Sunday. He reminded me that he didn't notice anything cause this ward totally ignores him anyway so he was just worried for me. He is so supportive.

But yesterday I totally rocked. Jeff and I had arranged to take Max to Toy Story 3. Jeff got off work early and I arranged babysitting for Mae and we went to the 4:50 showing. Only despite what it said online, this time had been moved back an hour for this day only to accommodate the midnight showing of twilight. Whatever, except that what to do now.I asked the teenage attendant to just charge me the matinee price to the 6:15 showing. She blinked, then told me she couldn't do that. I asked for the manager. I explained to her that this put me in a difficult position babysitting wise and it helped that Max was almost in tears confused as to why we weren't going in. So I nicely, yes I can be nice, asked her what she could do for us to keep us from going to the Malco for now on. Well she gave us free tickets!!! And now I will think twice before going to the Malco, even though it is cleaner, and has stadium seating, and you can't hear the movie in the other theater.

We went and got super yummy deep dish pizza with the money we "saved." Special shout out to Meg for watching Mae even with the delay. I liked the film, not as much as number 2, but still a lot. I mean it had a Totoro cameo for peet' sake! Poor Jeff, I'm like totally screaming Totoro Totoro! in the theater.

Fear

So I try very hard to overcome my fears. There are many things in life I can't control but some things I can. I am afraid of deep dark water. I really don't see any cruises in my future. I often have dreams about being adrift in the Fort battle scene in the Pirates of The Caribbean RIDE at Disneyland. It's dark and I am usually in a small boat or box. I usually try to swim in the deep end of a pool to get over this fear, but it isn't working yet. Now one of the other fears I have is putting out a candle with my fingers. I have seen people extinguish candles often by snuffing the fire in their fingers. This idea totally freaks me out and I just don't think I will ever overcome this one. Now you may all be thinking, this is so stupid and trivial. Well it is, but I feel like stupid and trivial right now. Really isn't that what blogs are for? What small or big thing do you fear? Can you snuff a candle with your fingers?

It Was Gonna Happen Eventually

So I'm in the bedroom with Max and and Mae folding laundry. Max took a basket of clean clothes and dumped them on the floor right in front of me laughing maniacally. I told him I wasn't happy with this incident and he looked me in the face and said, "Mae did it."

B&D Farewell Party

So with the end of the school year came the end of my babysitting gig. We were very sad for this time to end. The kids and I adored them and I think they liked us too. To send them off in style, I took Max and the boys to the animal safari. If you ever have the chance to go to an animal safari, you really should it is a really cool experience. The boys were disappointed that the monkey didn't climb on our car, but in the back of my mind I was thinking, "does my insurance cover monkey?"

Looking Out For His Sister

The Kids and I were driving to the pool yesterday when I made a sharp right turn because some dirtbag was on my tail. (This was onto Kingsland, for the local readers.) As I proceed to go up this very steep hill I hear Max call out from the back, "OH NO MAE!" That can't be good. I turn around and see that the seatbelt, while on, had not locked during the turn and Mae's car seat was turned on its side. Due to the hill, the turns, and the dirtbag still on my tail, there wasn't much I could do in that instant. I then hear Max again, "It's okay Mae, I'll hold your hand, you're okay." HEART MELT. What a guy.

Sunshine in June

So, this hasn't been monthly as planned, but hey, periodically is better then never. Happy Father's Day Dad. My father is an superb father. It seems fitting that I am having a difficult time coming up with the right words for a man of few words. When I was a kid it was clear that I was a momma's girl, or more then that, I was just a baby who needed the apron strings cut. I am pretty sure my family would be happy to go the rest of their lives without hearing me call out MAOOOMMM. But dad has always been a favorite person. I knew that I could always turn to him for spiritual guidance. To this day I have a special fondness for the story of Joseph in Israel, since that is the first lesson my dad gave as my CTR A teacher. My favorite memory of my dad comes from my early years. I was coloring and I asked my dad to draw a picture of me, he obliged and drew me, but he drew me with a mustache! Oh this made me so mad! Around the fourth grade I got it into my head that my dad was sad he never had a son, so I tried to get into football, basketball, and baseball. Luckily my dad could have cared less about having a son. He never made us feel like disappointments. He sure does love having grandsons though. It was easy to pick a middle name for Max, cause me dad is such an excellent example and role model for him. He has a special greeting for them on the phone. You can always tell when it is him on the phone cause you can hear this HELLOOOO MAAAAX coming out of the receiver. We talk to him all the time and I find myself always getting the best advice from him. He helped me solve my dog problem, so that there is enough to qualify him for sainthood in my book. I do hate shopping for my dad though. I love my dad, but I NEVER know what to get him. I do believe the hardest years of my life are when he worked for Hastings Video cause that took all books, music, and video's out of the running. Actually things weren't much better when he then went to work for Lowes. My mother has made it quite clear that I am forbidden from ever buying him a tie. But that's okay cause she does do a good job. My dad's Sunday gettup is always class act all the way. My mom is sooooo easy to shop for, but my dad is super hard. He always answers "Socks and Underware" when you ask him what he wants. How am I supposed to work with that? There is one thing I know he wants and as soon as I win Powerball I am buying my dad a Honda Shadow Motorcycle. I Love my Dad.

Favorites

Well long story short, facebook and I have different ideas about privacy and other things, so my info pages on facebook are pretty bare. Therefore I have decided to take a few min. and post my favorites here. Cause I can, and I wanted to post something happy.

Favorite Movies: Dan in Real Life, The Blues Brothers, Mulan, Desk Set, Woman of the Year, Jane Eyre, Darby O' Gil and the Little People

Favorite TV: DARIA, Gilmore Girls, Lost, Burn Notice, Roseanne

Favorite Books: The Thursday Next Series, Howl's Moving Castle, Lighten Up, A Room With a View

Favorite Stores: Banana Republic, Anthropologie, William Sonoma, Gymboree, the Walmart Associate Store.

Favorite Music: U2, Dixie Chicks, Alanis Morisette, No Doubt, really most anything on the radio

Favortie Activities: hanging with friends and family, singing in Primary, dying my hair or painting my nails.

Favorite Websites: Well the ones linked on here of course, and the stores listed on here. I also like entertainment weekly's, sister share, and the New York Times. I also read the Desert News..I don't know why, but I do.

Hobbies: Baking, gardening, reading, organizing, decorating

Vices: swearing, over eating, gossiping

Sign: Taurus the bull

Left handed

MISC: I follow College football, it got started when I was in college and I just kept it up.

I just recently stopped watching the Young and the Restless after almost 20 years of viewing, I realized that I really hated all the people on there.

I don't buy the forever stamps because there is something so special about the other ones.

I don't usually get sad or depressed I just get mad. I am frequently angry.

I am always tired.

Mae's room is my favorite room in the house.

I frequently daydream about winning the lottery. I have very detailed plans about what I will do depending upon how much money I win. One of my favorite ideas being that if I win big, like over 200 million big, donating money to BYU to turn the Y lot by the Law Library into a parking garage for undergrads. I would have them name it after my mom, cause she graduated from there, and I don't feel that they have enough buildings named after women. So if you have any requests then I suggest you submit them now in the comments section so that when I do win you won't seem like money-grubbers.

Have Fun Grandma!

This one is for my mom who is in Utah this week attending a workshop on writing children's literature. Have fun mom!

"Get Out of My Dreams. Get Into My Car."

Out with the old and in with the new. With the departure of Daisy we now say hello to Willa. Meet Willa. Willa is a 2007 Mazda 5. For those of you unfamiliar with the Mazada 5 it is basically a micro-van. It seats six and drives like a car. We really had no intention of actually buying a car for a few months until everything with the other house was settled (that story is coming soon!) But I figured we could start window shopping the find the best fit for our family. Thursday night coming off the high of getting rid of Daisy, we went and looked at the big tamale- the Honda Odyssey. That is almost as good as a car from Pimp My Ride. Have you been in a mini-van since the 80's? I hadn't. Those suckers are like transformers. Custom made for moms. But the were waaay to big and WAAAY to expensive.

Incase you're wondering there are two seats behind the kids that are folded down in this picture.



So I did some homework and found the Mazda 5. Friday night for our 7 year anniversary we went to look at them. Again we did not intend to buy at all. We test drove the 2010 Grand Touring model and it was nice and priced for around 25,000 (as opposed to the odyssey 40,000.) We looked at some of the used but most of them were the basic sport model and if I was gonna get a cheaper car I wanted to spring for the deluxe Grand Touring Model. I have a thing for leather. There was one Grand Touring and we were told it was 14,000 but it had a lot of miles. Too many to consider. As we were about to leave the manager came over to "seal the deal/ say hello." This guy was WAAAAY to Creepy to be selling cars. I almost wanted to say I would buy anything if that guy would just leave and never talk to me again. But then he said we could have the car for 9,000. Well much to Jeff's surprise I was like, I wanna see it again. You should have seen Jeff's face...priceless. Well long story short (too late) we came back Saturday, got a warranty and actually got the price dropped a bit, and drove it away. I am in love! So much room but you don't feel like your driving a tank. Jeff is also happy to not have to bum rides to work anymore. We are a very very happy family this week!

Ding Dong the Dog is Gone!

So about 5 years ago we had moved into our first house in Bella Vista, AR which had a big clear flat back yard, (a rarity it Bella Vista.) Jeff decided it would be great for a dog. Now as many of you know I have never been a dog person. They were okay in my mind. We even had one for like a week before my parents got rid of it because it whined at night, (RIP Ginger.) So my most recent experience had been my in laws golden retriever Sandy who was a nice dog, but would jump up on you all the time cause she had too much energy for her situation. So not a lover but really not a hater. Jeff had grown up with dogs. He told me how he always took care of his dog and it would not be a problem. So he went to the shelter and got Daisy. A husky mix, Daisy is a beautiful dog. We always got stopped by admirers when we walked her, which was fairly often before we had kids. She got to come inside frequently despite her shedding problem. The only major downside is she pooped in my garage! Yuck! So flash forward five years and two kids and one new house later, daisy was all but forgotten daily and while not suffering I would say she did not have the best quality of life. I finally wore Jeff down and we decided to get rid of Daisy. We tried Craigslist, no go. Did you know you can't list pets in the free section? Whats up with that? The shelter lady basically told me she would kill the dog and that I was a miserable human being for trying them. So we were stuck. I kept begging my friends and church officials to just pick her up and drop her off in a big farm or something. No takers. (Perhaps they thought I was kidding...I wasn't!) So after a tearful call to my dad for guidance, (cause my dad always has all the answers,) we posted her one more time on craigslist. Before it was quickly taken down we had a taker. A fireman from Gravette, (a small farm community a few miles west of here,) had promised his 11 year old daughter a husky if she met her goals this semester. The family lives on an actual farm! They have another dog and lots of older kids. When the came to meet Daisy it was love at first sight. I felt like I was watching the reunion of long lost family members. The immediate chemistry was actually a bit odd, (I mean I know we weren't the best caretakers, but she was taken care of. We didn't beat her or anything.) Daisy left and all parties were happy. Jeff is a bit sad, but more at the failed idea then actual situation. And I am sure he takes solace each night in knowing that I will not ask him as soon as he gets into bed if he has fed and watered the dog. So let this be a lesson to all you readers....the MOM is the actual caretaker of any family pet no matter how old or responsible your children are. (My mother in law will be happy to know that Jeff has now realized with appreciation the time and effort she always put into taking care of the family dogs.)

Additions

I have added a few new blogs. My sister has re done her blog and included pictures! So check out the Alexander Family. Also added are the Waffleizer, Stuff My Kids Ruined, and Boozecats. The Waffleizer is for my cooking inspiration. I am very excited to try the smores one soon. The other two are for laughs but I must caution that the language in both can be a bit offensive so you've now been warned. Also please do not worry about the lack of music, I am on it, and hope to have it back soon. I am sorry to say do to my crappy internet speed there will not be any videos added to Maxed Out. Now as for the above picture, is it just me or do I remind you all of Firestarter?

Hamming it Up

While at Sam's Club yesterday I was pushing the cart with Mae in the front seat. I had accepted a sample of a ham sandwich and was pushing on towards the milk when I look down and see Mae attempting to eat the sandwich in my hand. I guess she is ready to eat more solid food.

If Only I'd Known...

Oh if only I had known in college that I was skinny. But on the plus side, with lots of hard work I have lost 10 pounds in three weeks! Only 40 more to go.

Concert Review

I haven't been to many concerts, I didn't even go to one until college. Some have been good, some miserable with a few in between. Here is a quick run down of the experience.

First Concert

Guster 2001

Rain Rain Rain

The concert was in a leaky tent at some club in SLC. The ticket was free and the music was good, but the fact that the band looked like they were going to be electrocuted at any minuet was a but scary.

U2/No Doubt 2001

AWESOME! By far my favorite of the group. I went to the Delta Center with my roommate Jen. and our tickets were for standing in front of the stage, (which did get a bit long, but really who wants to sit to No Doubt and U2?) I was super excited that No Doubt was opening for U2 two great bands for one low price. I was totally embarrassed though that the idiots of Utah didn't seem that interested in No Doubt. The band did not get much love, which was sad cause they were superb. U2 was excellent. This was the Beautiful Day Tour so the songs were particularly good. good good good.

Tori Amos 2001

Me and every lesbian in the state of Utah. I like Tori but some, okay a lot, of her stuff is weird and sad for me she only played weird stuff that night.

Guster 2002

This time on a lovely June day in Deer Valley. This also where I picked up my favorite t-shirt ever. John Mayer also played this concert and he had a potty mouth! I think I was the only person there for Guster.

Weird AL 2003

What we do for love. This was at the Utah State Fair and the geek-o-meter was turned up a notch by so many of the fans dressed up in Jedi Costumes. I actually damaged my ear at this concert. I sure do love you Jeff.

Cake 2009

Well you've all read the post on this last year. Rain, smokers, and good music.

REO Speedwagon/Barenaked Ladies 2010

Fun and Free.

So not many, but I hope for more in the future.

"I just can't fight this feeling anymore."

After 6 summers in Arkansas we have finally attended out first Walmart Shareholders Concert. Last night Jeff and I went down to Fayetteville to see REO Speedwagon and The Barenaked Ladies. We really just went for the Ladies but the Wagon wasn't too shabby. The best part about this whole thing is that it was FREE! Each year for the shareholders there are usually 2-3 nights of concerts. One night is usually devoted to country. This year was Tim Mcgraw. In the past they have had Journey, Fall Out Boys, Jewel, The Eagles, Three Doors Down. We wanted to go see the Eagles a few years ago but the babysitting fell through. This year a friend of ours came over and watched the kiddos. We left late in the afternoon and stopped by my favorite place Rick's Bakery. I got a Strawberry Margarita Cupcake and it was amazing. Strawberry frosting on a white cake with Key Lime filling. YUM! We did have to wait in line for and hour, correction Jeff waited in line for an hour while I sat off to the side in the shade. (What a great guy!) Just before going inside we ran into some friends and sat with them. I don't think I have ever had that much fun while in the presence of a member of my bishopric. While seated in fairly good seats they had a guys shooting off t-shirt at everyone which just reminds me of the Simpsons and Maude's early demise. The funny thing about shareholders is that people from all over the world come and wear coordinating outfits based on what country they came from. Before the show idiots would take turns running their flag around for cheers. Did Canada and England really think they would get any cheers from US? REO Speedwagon was good. Not my nostalgia, but they gave a good show and I recognized a few songs. It did get a bit long and so I was very excited when the Barenaked Ladies came on. (One of the ladies came on early to shoot T-shirts. (Cause really who wouldn't want to shoot that thing?) Jeff and I had wanted to see the Ladies for some time. We had both heard that they did a fun live show and we were not disappointed. They played all their hits which were just as good live. They had a lot of fun dancing and joking about Walmart. They sang my favorite of their songs, "It's All Been Done." Cause who doesn't like a song with woo hoo hoo's in it? It was a good concert. I have had some unpleasant concert experiences so I am always really happy when one goes well. Wonder who they will have next year.

A special thanks to Katie for the picture and the company. Although I will have to hurt you if you don't take that awful picture of me off of facebook.