I think I was at least a 7 when I was in my Prime

OK, it's 11:30 and I should really be in bed but I had to check my e-mail and Ben had forwarded this video to me. Apparently, it's comedian Dwayne Perkins doing stand-up and then someone has made this little animation to go with it. The animation is cute and all, but the stand-up is awesome. Watch for yourself:

I especially love the part about going to the store. Whenever you go out looking like death warmed over, you just want to tell people as you walk by, "I can look hot when I want to. I really can! Look! Here's a picture!" Or maybe I am just the vainest person on the planet.

The Trauma and Drama

My kids were talking about this today. I thought I would share it again for those of you who weren't around two years ago when it happened.

Because we are still talking about it, I assume we are still traumatized, and rightly so! Although Mila seems to disagree. She said this morning, "That was so awesome." I said, "Hmm, I remember you screaming like a little 5-year old girl!" But then again, so was I...

Stalking Santa

I have been waiting to see this movie for three years. Seriously. Two of my good friends, Chris and Lisa (who happen to be husband and wife), star in it, and when I say "good friends," I don't mean like minor acquaintances or a friend of my cousin's brother's wife sort of thing. We actually watch TV together and gossip and braid each other's hair! Anyway, there are going to be FREE screenings of the movie before it is released on DVD in Salt Lake, LA, and New York. Go to www.stalkingsanta.com for more info on the screenings. You better believe I'll be at the Utah one on Nov. 5th at 7 pm. If you come I might even introduce you to the stars, aka my friends. And if you can't come, show a little Christmas spirit and buy the DVD already! (Now I'll know for sure if Chris ever checks my blog, because he can't resist commenting on subjects about HIMSELF...but hey, I'm the same way!)

I'm IT

I don't usually play "tag," because I'm a bad runner, but I'm going to indulge my sister-in-law Jenni (www.hootieshowl.blogspot.com), because I think she's awesome and because I'm about 5 loads away from catching up with my laundry (a veritable miracle, I tell you!) So here are the rules:

1-Link to your tagger (like I did with Jenni) , and also post these rules on your blog
2-Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird
3-Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs
4- Let them know they are TAGGED by leaving a comment on their blog

OK, here goes...


1. I can be an extremely impatient driver. I may even exhibit acute symptoms of a condition known as ROAD RAGE.

2. I know I am the ONLY woman in America who feels this way, but I found the movie "The Notebook" offensive. So sorry.

3. I am addicted to OJ (calcium-enriched, of course!) I have it every morning, and if I don't, I can get cranky.

4. A little part of me dies inside if I ever have to pay FULL PRICE for something.

5. I like to eat lunch all by MYSELF (or with my friend TIVO.)

6. I studied FRENCH for ten years and I still have never set foot on French soil.

7. I have seen STING in concert three times and I will be seeing him a fourth time next month when I attend--wait for it-- the Police concert in Boston! I cried when a friend of mine told me he shook her hand at the Winter Olympics. I was so surprised at myself that I cried when she told me that, that I cried even more about crying. Seriously, what is wrong with me?

So embarassing. Now comes the part I don't like. I'm supposed to "tag" other people. But it's hard for me because I like to be the one who is pursued. And Jenni already picked everyone I am related to, so I am just going to have to pick from the rest of my three readers and people who need to update their blogs! Aargh! The anxiety! What if I get rejected?

1. Rachel (or Travis)- http://www.travisandrachel.blogspot.com/
2. Lisa- http://ohjudy.blogspot.com/
3. Kelly- http://diversifiedbeeson.blogspot.com/
4. Josh (or Petie)- http://singlepot.blogspot.com/
5. Angie- http://blondemama98.blogspot.com/
6. Matt- http://fatbluetuesday.blogspot.com/
7. Christa- http://1ststar.blogspot.com/

Done and done.

The Life of a Warrior

Ethan: I'm going to be a warrior when I grow up.

Me: What does a warrior do?

Ethan: Um, follow the Prophet and work.

Me: Cool. Are you going to have a wife and kids?

Ethan: Yes!

Me: Is your wife going to be nice to me?

Ethan: You're going to be my wife! We will have 1 million kids!

Me: I can't take care of that many kids.

Ethan: I will help you lots!

Me: Will one be named Hailey?

Ethan: Yes--you can take care of that one.

I love that he thinks I'm the ideal woman (capable of raising a million kids!) I wonder how many years before this sentiment wears off...

Sunday Best

The Painted Veil

Wow. We watched this movie last night and I can't stop thinking about it. It was a heart-wrenching, beautiful love story. The people who write lame romantic comedies could take a lesson from the screenwriters of this. In my opinion, they depicted two flawed people falling in love very realistically. The acting was incredible. Maybe I want to be Naomi Watts just a little bit too much (I think we have the same teeth-does that count?) And I might be in love with Edward Norton now. The music was awesome. Now I know why you gave me the soundtrack, Mom! So, just my two cents about a movie nobody saw last year. Watch it and tell me what you think. But just a warning-you sort of need to have a high tolerance for scenes showing cholera patients--yikes!

Also, if anyone knows the meaning behind the title, let me know because Ben and I never really figured it out. Maybe I should read the book...

My Peeps

Maybe I am writing this post because I am having a particularly grumpy day. Mila had picture re-takes today and she said she brought home some form to fill out for them like a million years ago. Well, since I am so organized and on top of things, I went over to my ginormous stack of papers that I "need," and started to go through them. Since we were already running late to pick up a neighbor for carpool, the rummaging turned into throwing and high-class drama. Ethan went and tattled on me to Ben right as I was yelling at Mila, "Just tell the photographer your mom is crazy and has four kids and she doesn't know where to put stupid forms that come home from school! Wait...no, don't say that for reals!" It was that kind of a morning.

So, I am reminding myself today that I am a very lucky person. Not only do I have a great family and a great job (said without a hint of sarcasm, seriously), but I get to go out at night and "play" with my friends. My improv troupe, the Thrillionaires, got to perform recently at the opening Gala of the Covey Arts Center in Provo. It was a thrill (no pun intended) to perform for the Who's-Who of Provo and even get to meet some of them. Lavell Edwards came up and sort of stood next to my friend Brett with his arm on his shoulder like he just wanted to "hang." Then I met the Mayor without knowing he was the Mayor. When I did find out who he was, my friend Matt went over and asked him if he could have the key to the city, because Matt can get away with saying stuff like that. He declined the key, but promised us a pothole. Many people told us we were the highlight of the show, which included other acts such as the Utah Ballet, Utah Lyrical Opera, the Utah County Symphony, and the Wasatch Chorale. So we fit right in with that group! (What the heck were we doing there?) If you don't believe me about all this, just read what it said in the paper the next morning:

"A cultural buffet of violins, ballerinas and beautiful voices christened the theater of the new Covey Center for the Arts in downtown Provo on Thursday night — including a surprise appearance by pianist James O'Neil Miner.

The Provo Arts Council offered a sampling of coming attractions at the Grand Opening Gala, and a Utah Valley society-page audience roared with laughter at an improvisational play that lampooned center namesakes Steven R. and Sandra M. Covey, who donated $2 million.

An audience member suggested the name "Seven Habits" for the spontaneous musical by the improv group Thrillionaires, who did not disappoint.

"I want to sharpen your saw," the lovesick loser of a protagonist told his chosen after changing for the better in the wake of reading Steven Covey's "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People."

One of the biggest laughs came after the young man asked the girl to be his and she swooned, "I've been waiting for a proactive question like that my whole life."

The quartet and pianist did so well that Steven Covey stood at the end and signaled a touchdown."

He did, indeed!

I can't say enough about how much I love performing with these people. They are all as kind, generous, and loyal as they are talented and hilarious. Thanks for brightening up my crazy life, guys! OK, I'm so over the love-fest now. Back to diapers!

P.S. We are doing a Western show on October 22nd featuring Nashville band Jane Deere. On the 29th, we have our second annual Halloween show(my first, considering last year I was GREAT with childs), featuring live accompaniment by the incomparable Dave Tinney. I will be in both shows. See you there!

Thoughts on my trip to California

-If someone created a candle called "Disneyland Smell," I would totally buy it.

-October is not actually a good time to go to Disneyland as I previously had been led to believe. Not when the entire states of Utah and Arizona are there together for Fall Break. Next time, I am going to try February. If that doesn't work, I will go back on Presidential Election Day in 2008. I went on Nov. 2 in 2004 and the place was a ghost town.

-Space Mountain still makes me giggle. It made Ethan cry and Mila hyperactive. Thanks, Kelly, for the Fastpasses!

-Twins are a BIG deal in every state EXCEPT Utah.

-Chinese tourists love twins the MOST.

-When people say: "You've got your hands full!" they really mean: "You crazy lady, why are you in public?"

-When a waitress says to you, "Wow! I can't believe you have four!" and your friend replies, "Yeah, she gets it a lot here," and the waitress thinks she means something else, it is pretty funny. Scandalous, but funny.

-My favorite frozen yogurt place in the world is called 21 Choices and is in my hometown of Claremont, CA. On Friday night I dragged all the kids there and experienced ten minutes of heaven as I downed a small half banana cream pie/half organic strawberry with fresh strawberries on top. I'm crying a little right now just thinking of it. Why can't anyone else figure out how to make frozen yogurt right?

-Grandparents are the best. So are parents. Thank you for the star treatment, Dad and Janine!

-I am so sad I missed seeing my friend Christa and her new baby. Dang LA traffic!

-Driving ten hours with four kids by yourself is do-able. Not advisable, but definitely do-able.

-I am happy to be home. Not so happy to see my laundry piles.

So here are some pics: (Notice how my children are sometimes depressed at Disneyland. Wha?)

I write like a boy!

I really do! That's why, if you go here, you'll see pictures of my girls but one of them has the wrong name! (Unless it's been fixed already...) Seriously, worst handwriting ever...