Halloween Humor

Hope everyone has a fun and safe HALLOWEEN!!!

A NEW adventure and how it ALL began!

I have been addicted to scrapbooking since the day my best friend Emily introduced me to it back in 8th grade. I have almost everything you can imagine from paper, stamps, accessories, to a fun cricuit machine! I love scrapbooking, taking pictures and journaling, (it's pretty obvious as I blog and take pictures of almost everything and then scrapbook it too!)

I love scrapbooking and recording stories so much in fact, that in the summer of 2006, I tried to use that passion and make my own business doing other people's scrapbooks while making money on the side. So I came up with a business to do just that, where I would met with a customer and look over their family/personal pictures, record their stories about each picture, and get their vision of what they wanted. After gathering as much information as I could, I then would use my creative skills to make them a beautiful scrapbook of all their most treasured memories! I had a layouts, prices, flyers and many other things ready to go! But I just could never get it started with one thing popping up after another...(life is just crazy sometimes!) Yet, that dream was always in the back of my mind hoping one day to emerge! So I am totally EXCITED to say that that DAY is HERE!!!

Last week a friend of mine invited me to a heritage party, I had no idea then, that I would fall COMPLETELY in love that night! (Don't worry, I didn't fall in love with some second cousin or something, I still love Ryan...haha). My friend, Cristi had mentioned Heritage Makers back in August, but I didn't really understand it. I was intrigued but just thought I would keep doing what I was already doing. Even before I was introduced to Heritage Makers, I was feeling something exciting stir within me as I walked in and saw all the beautiful display of family books bound together in all sizes with memories from everything you can imagine! There were books, cards, posters, calendars and scrapbooking pages showing generations of family stories, photos, and memories. I never thought I would enjoy digital scrapbooking as much because I have always been a glue stick, scissors type person, but I am really excited to do more digital scrapbooking, but also deciding to be a consultant. So wish me luck as I start this NEW adventure in my life! (If anyone wants to learn more click the link on the side -Heritage Makers).

Updates and PICTURES for Grandparents!

I haven't posted pictures in awhile of the kids for the grandparents, so here are several pictures of what the kids have been up to lately!

Madi and Avery playing around...

Avery's not so sure of the snow... (yes we got snow last week! About two inches!)

I bet you can't guess what Madi is doing here!?

She wanted me to tie the belt around her so she could have a dinosaur tail like an Ankylosaurus. Pretty scary!!
Hmm...Where's Avery?!

Madi has been playing with flashlights a lot lately too. (This picture is pretty blurry, but you get the point!)

Avery being a Lil' Punk...

The next Pablo Picasso...Madi Style!

Avery's and Madi's many silly faces...(Madi always posing as a some sort of animal, this is obviously a vicious velociraptor pose!) This picture makes me laugh! What silly kids!


And lastly Madi finally earned her bike! (She had to go poop ten times in the toilet, and for those that know Madi she has always had problems with this, so she has improved her performance...haha and is on her way to conquering the toilet!) It took her two days to learn to ride her bike and now you can't stop her.
She loves her new bike!

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

I have been totally spoiled by my husband this past week... having a girls night out Wednesday night, Thursday having a scrapbooking night with some other girl friends, then Friday afternoon I had the chance to go to Boise with my mom and hang out all weekend with some of my best friends! Staying up late or should I say early morning hours talking and laughing like giggly teenage girls with no responsiblity! It has been non-stop girl time the entire week! So fun! Ryan took care of our girls and the house while I was away! Thanks babe!

This is my best friend, Kimberly who I haven't seen in almost 5 years! (and it looks as though my hair was on fire, or a bad highlighting job!) It was so great to see her and spend hours catching up! She is living in Oklahoma now with her husband and their three CUTE, CUTE kids! She is also pregnant with number 4 and it's a girl! Below is a picture of her
cute little boy, Parker. He looks like he is starting track early.... Ready-Set-GO!!! He is such a cute boy!

Saturday morning I went out to breakfast with my beautiful friend, Joanna! We had such a good time together as we always do and got lots of strange looks at the mall, as we
laughed our heads off while shopping together. Isn't she beautiful?!  Thanks Joanna for an awesome afternoon! I am so glad I got to see you!

I also got to spend some quality time with my best friends that I have known since middle school, Emily and Krista!!! It's been almost two years since I have seen Emily! We all have so much in common and yet are different in so many ways, but our friendship goes deep and I know we will always be friends! I love these girls!

Emily's family grows grapes in their backyard and when we were young we used to eat (more like swallow) them all the time during this time of year. So while I was there I got to enjoy some delicious sweet grapes! It brought back so many memories!

Kim, Krista and I got together late Saturday night and just had the greatest time! We tried over and over again to get a good picture, but kept laughing and making faces, finally I think we got a few!

I LOVE YOU GIRLS! Thanks for the fun and crazy weekend!

Latest Addiction and Recent Reads

The past two or three months (maybe longer) I have been addicted to reading. I have always enjoyed reading a good book, but haven't been as big of a reader after getting married and having kids... until recently! I find that I get addicted to something for a while and can't stop! Where all my free time is spent doing just that, whether it's scrapbooking, going shopping(which my husband gets nervous when that addiction springs up from time to time!), baking, blogging, reading blogs or whatever it is I get addicted to at the time, I only want to do THAT and not much else... Like last year I got into making cards, and got so excited about it that I made them day in and day out for almost three months! Yet, I haven't made cards since! And even blogging, I became utterly addicted to that too, which now I don't feel the need or desire to do it as much as I did just a few short weeks ago. I think, why can't I space things out?? You know... read a little here, do a little baking there, maybe get a couple of scrapbooking pages done today... but no, I find myself just wanting to do whatever it is that I am craving at the time. So, like I said, I have become addicted to reading. As fun as it is to read, the craving to read will probably pass soon just like everything else, but I really hope it doesn't! I wish I could manage my time better to include more things. I just need more hours in a day! Don't we all though?! :)

Anyway, I thought I would share some of the books that I have read recently. I know some of you are always looking for a good book and I recommend these...

The Peacegiver by James E. Ferrell. I read this about two months ago and absoluetly LOVED it! Life Changing!! It's one of those books that should be read at least once a year!

The Great and Terrible- The Brothers, by Chris Stewart. It is one of 6 books I believe, and it was great! It's about a family and their struggles with the decisions that were going on in Heaven before we came to this earth and how Satan through deception was able to take 1/3 of the souls of Heaven with him. I can't wait to get my hands on the next 6 books in the series!
The Five People You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom. I actually read this book a long time ago, but couldn't remember a lot of it, so I read it again. I have read a few other books by this author and have really liked them. I like the way he writes. This particular book was pretty good, not my favorite by him, but its a quick read, makes you think a lot about how important each life is on the earth and how all of us can effect each other.

Angels and Demons by Dan Brown and all I have to say is, wow! I read the Di Vinci Code a while back and loved it, and heard this one was just as good or even better. And it was! It kept me reading till early morning and late hours! Great book! I also just finished Digital Fortress yesterday which is by the same author, but I didn't like it very much at all!

I read The Writing On The Wall, by Dean Hughes. He wrote five books before this which many of you probably have heard of, Children of the Promise. These are called Hearts of the Children. I really enjoyed this book. It is the first volume of six. I just started reading volume two, Troubled Waters today and I really find myself engrossed with the characters and the story line! So far so good!

And of course the Twilight Series were really fun to read! So if you haven't read those yet, you should!

Can dogs pray?

I wanted to share a conversation we had at lunch today because it made me laugh so hard! Most days Ryan gets to comes home for lunch. As we sat down to eat lunch and like everybody else we take turns saying the prayer.

Ryan: Who's turn is it to say the prayer?

Me: I believe it's Madi's turn. I said the prayer at breakfast, so I think it's your turn Madi.

Ryan: Ok, Madi will you say the prayer?

After a few moments Madi looks up at us while using her hands like paws and says, "But I can't say it....I am a dog! And dogs only say, RUFF!!"

This is a picture I found on the internet...cute huh? Looks like this dog can pray, I better show Madi that even dogs can pray!

PROP 8 AND PRESERVING MARRIAGE

My husband's best friend, Alan Lindsay wrote this and posted it on his blog, which I provided a link at the bottom. Along with him and his wife, Cristi, and thousands of people, I also feel passionately about this issue and what's going on in California right now so I wanted to share what he has written about it with you.

Gay Marriage and Society

Elections are nearing and people all over the nation are discussing the California proposition to amend its constitution making marriage legal only between a man and a woman. This is an issue that without question has significant media coverage much of which is good and much of which is distortion. If careful and thoughtful attention is given to the consequences of this decision it is clear that gay marriage is not beneficial to society. For reasons set forth below my position is that gay marriage, not gays, is in fact a detriment to society.

Disclaimer

Let me be clear up front that I do not antagonize gays and nothing said here should be construed in that way. My gay colleagues receive the same respect I give to my straight colleagues. The issue here is about the societal institution of marriage, not a personal decision of sexual orientation. Therefore I will correctly confine my writing likewise.

Net Gain

Decisions of this magnitude should not be made in haste. They must be carefully weighed and measured. All points should be considered and legitimately thought through. What is more, the full consequences of these decisions must be considered. In many cases there will be both good and bad consequences. The question almost always becomes:

"What is the net gain of this decision?"

After careful consideration of the issue from legal, societal, natural and religious viewpoints I must now draw the line in the sand. There is no net gain of gay marriage, there is loss.

Legal Considerations – A Battle of Rights?

I have heard the legal arguments from both sides. As is often the case I was undecided when first approaching the issue. Only after respectful and diligent research did I conclude that gay marriage is not in society’s best interest. I was fortunate enough to watch the advocates for both sides make their oral arguments before the California Supreme Court (see http://www.calchannel.com/MEDIA/0304A.asx).

Interestingly the issue here is about the title “marriage” and nothing more.

Currently in the state of California gay domestic partnerships are legally recognized and receive the same protections, rights and benefits as marriages. (See the California Family Code § 297.5 - http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=fam&group=00001-01000&file=297-297.5)

That means one thing and one thing only:

The only right gays do not have is the right to call their union a “marriage”.

They have the right to enter contracts, to create wills and trusts, to make medical decisions for their partners, to take out mortgages and car loans together, to have joint bank accounts and divide assets when dissolving their partnership and every other right that a married couple has under California law. (The case refers to extremely slight technical differences between domestic partnerships and marriages. These negligible technicalities were so minute they were not relied on. The determining factor rested exclusively on use of the title of “marriage”.)

Some media, corporations, entities and uneducated individuals portray the issue of gay marriage as a significant rights issue in which gays are deprived of substantial rights. There have been comparisons of the gay marriage issue to the civil rights movement. Despite the overwhelming media distortion and indeed the misunderstanding and miseducation of some of the population these allegations are not factually founded.

As the case and law shows, the issue has nothing to do with a body of rights, but rather the one right to use the term “marriage”. Unlike the civil rights issues gays do not have to sit on the back of the bus or drink from different water fountains. Neither are they deprived of the rights of married couples other than the use of the term “marriage”.

(See http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1352578267?bctid=1784553601 for the distinctions between the gay marriage issue and civil rights movement. Note that there are religious views expressed in this video which are not applicable to the legal argument.)

Ultimately what gays seek to do is change the meaning of the term marriage as it stands in the law. This change of meaning will offer little benefit to the gay community. Conversely it will infringe on those who are not gay. The law will require that gay marriage be taught in public schools.

In the end I do not agree that the title change merits imposing gay beliefs on a society that has already establish law otherwise.

Societal Considerations

Secondly, irrespective of the law society itself doesn’t benefit from gay marriage. Ultimately the adoption of gay marriage diminishes the meaning of marriage altogether. It begs the question, How is it that we define marriage? How do we define families? How do we define society? Where exactly do we draw the line? If we take away the clearly established and time tested boundaries we are left with a net loss and the demise of society.

There is considerable empirical evidence to show that children are benefited most when raised by a father and a mother. The gift of social science has from years of research shown that children suffer when they are deprived of a parent. Additionally, the varying influences of male and female parents, that is having two parents of different sex, contributes to the positive social development of a child. Interestingly the influence of fathers contributes to sexual identity in children.

In single family homes often the case is that children know they are missing certain beneficial experiences that would help them in life. This knowledge isn’t founded exclusively in the number of parents, but also in the number of sexes. What more can I say other than that thousands of years of recorded history offer no support that gay families help societal progress. The evidence is to the contrary, history has proven that societies that institute marriage between a man and a woman function extremely well. This holds true regardless of religion, race, culture or nationality. Marriage in its traditional form works and it works well enough to be instituted across all of humanity.

As society propagates from generation to generation we seek to improve it. By depriving the rising generation of the valuable parenting experiences that can only come from marriage between a man and a women we cripple it from the very start. The result is that society as a whole is weakened with each generation that is deprived of the pattern that is most beneficial, traditional marriage.

Natural Considerations

From a mere Darwinist perspective it goes without saying that gay populations cannot survive independently. By definition they are incapable of reproduction. Although medical science has made reproduction possible without sexual intercourse it still requires the use of both sexes and can hardly be classified as a natural process. This is a very powerful pattern for humanity. Our species requires both sexes for existence and our bodies provide clear evidence as to how this reproduction takes place. Indeed the reproductive instinct needed to carry on the population is innate in humans.

I am compelled by nature’s design to support what clearly is meant to be. Men and women are meant for each other. This pattern is exhibited in nearly every species on the planet. Species that don’t use male-female reproduction propagate asexually. Some rare species are even able to switch between sexual and asexual reproduction. Yet despite this interesting variety no species on earth propagates homosexually. I find this evidence compelling, particularly because marriage is intimately linked with human propagation.

Religious Considerations

Lastly I turn to religious considerations. I must reiterate that I do not antagonize gays and nothing said here should be construed to demean or belittle gay people.

Religious views generally consider gay behavior sinful. This view separates the behavior from the person seeking to uplift the person and destroy the behavior simultaneously. Under Christianity each person is considered an invaluable child of God, equal with all others. As I am Christian (Mormon) I believe this whole heartedly.

I now put away the logical reasoning, the fact finding, the evidence gathering and literary devices to conclude with my pure testimony of what I know in my heart to be true.

I considered the issue of gay marriage very seriously over sleepless nights because I love all people and wanted to make sure that my vote was cast in a direction that was pleasing to God, who also loves all people with a love beyond comprehension. I am confident with my decision that gay marriage is not appropriate.

Gay behavior is an addiction and trap like any other addiction and trap we pass through. One who practices gay behavior is no different from one who practices any other sinful behavior. Both are loved by God who seeks to teach them how to achieve the greatest happiness possible. Gay behavior, like other sin, will ultimately lead to sorrow. It is my prayer that humanity will return to God and experience the greatest joys possible. Gay marriage will only detract from that end.For these reasons I vote yes on proposition 8.

Alan's Blog:http://alanclindsay.blogspot.com/2008/10/gay-marriage-and-society.html

Additional Info: http://preservingmarriage.org/ and http://protectmarriage.com/

Fishing Line

Since Ryan and I received our fish, Happy, from the Moores, after their fish, Allstate died, we thought it only fitting to pass on this tradition and give someone else a fish and all the stuff that they had given us... the net, rocks, fish food and fish tank-jar-thingy... (Unless the Moores' want it back!) So I know those that are not living in Pocatello are deeply sadden by this news as we are not going to send a fish in the mail, but you will get over it I am sure. ;) But those friends that are living here in Pocatello, if any of you would like a fish for your child to take care of, leave a comment letting us know. If by some miracle we have more than one friend/comment we will toss for a winner! So "cast" us a line for you could be the next in the "Fishing Line"! haha...ha?

Happy ain't so happy anymore...

At around 8:45 in the morning I went over to feed Happy. Right when I saw him, I was surprised to see he wasn't alive. "He checked out" or "Bought the farm" as Ryan would say. Ryan said he fed him that morning before he went to school and he was still kickin' around... so sometime between 7:25 and 8:45 am, Happy took his last breath...(or gulped his last gulp??) Thanks to Aaron and Amy for letting us have a chance to raise Happy. Happy was a bright fish and had a memory capacity of 8 seconds at a time. He lived a long-happy four months and 3 days with us...

Madi was sad but we told her Happy is now with Heavenly Father. She said, "Are we going to get another fish?" I told her no, probably not. She then said, " Are we getting a dog or a sheep then?" haha...No, sorry Madi.

Farewell Happy!! Then Madi flushed him down. As you can see Avery, too, was surprised by his sudden passing...

A trip to the store, a few groceries and one GIGANTIC headache later!

I could just post this picture and call it good as this picture (except for the dog this lady is walking and the crazy sausage hair she has going on-mine actually looked good... that sounds conceited, but I was having a good hair day and that doesn't happen often!), pretty much sums up how I felt and probably looked to on-lookers, even dropping a few things along the way when I decided to take a quick trip to the store for a few things... (I always have good intentions going into the store for a few things, but I usually come out with a whole cart load of stuff, like today! Oops, how did all that get in there?) "...No, honey I didn't buy the whole store..."

AND is it ever really quick with kids!? There's the loading and then the unloading from their car seats, and once you’re in the store, little arms automatically start swinging about, fingers trying to touch everything in sight; telling them to sit down a dozen times, and the sporadic crying throughout the aisles... music to my ears! And today especially, it seemed once I got one child calmed down, the other started wailing.... it's a conspiracy, I think! Most of the time my girls are actually quite well behaved in the store, (and I am not sugar-coating that at all, it's probably just because Madi is shy and Avery is still pretty young, or that I become a drill sergeant. In any case, I am hoping this episode was just a fluke and their good behavior in the store continues... ) But for some reason this trip they were out of control! (Ok, my version of "out-of-control" might be a little different than most. I tend to be kind of strict, my husband would say too strict with the kids. Even the slightest wiggling about, gets my nerves going! My husband is a lot more laid back. He has taught me how to relax a lot. (Wow, you sure get a lot of info about our family in that little paragraph!)

Anyway, as we get to the check out and start loading the groceries on the conveyer belt thingy, the cashier drops the gallon of milk on the floor and it starts gushing milk everywhere! Three Wal-Mart employees gather around just staring at it as it is just flowing out all over the place, all three waiting for one of the other two to pick it up. I was carrying Avery in my arms at the time and just kept thinking why are they all just staring at it gush out...Finally one of the girls, (sad to say they were all girls!) reaches down and picks it up before the last cup of milk spills out! They close down the lane and start cleaning it up around us. I put Avery back in the cart to pay for my things, and I can't find my debt card anywhere. I get frantic searching through my purse, my pockets and the diaper bag, flustered as I had just used it over at the mall, I hear this guy behind me telling the cashier that someone dropped their debit card. I look over and see my face on a card being passed from him to her, and instincly(is that a word?) yell, "THAT'S MINE!" Tired, irritated and blushing now, I profusely thank the guy, realizing I was holding it in my hand, as I was transferring Avery from my hip to the shopping cart and it must have fell. (Luckily for me, the guy hadn't noticed that the lane was closed and in the process saw my debit card!) Out of the corner of my eye, I realize the shopping cart is no longer next to me or my kids in it, they were gone!! I look around while yelling, WHERE'S MY KIDS?!?" Then this Wal-Mart employee calls to me from about 10 feet away telling me she has them. What a terrible mom I am! I was so worried about the milk, and my card being lost that someone could have rode off with my kids and I wouldn't have even noticed! Since the milk was everywhere they had to move my cart, to clean it up, in the process taking my kids without telling me! As if they couldn't see that I was having a break down already!!!

While loading the groceries in the car I had a mixture of emotions going on...gratitude for the guy who found my card, frustrated with Wal-Mart employees, and worn out being a drill sergeant with my kids. Thinking about everything that had happened, tears started streaming over and down my face. (It was just an emotional day!) But just as this is happening, I look over and see a mom coming down the parking lot with a cart full of kids. At first glance I saw three kids and I thought, oh bless her! But when she was pushing her cart and passing me by, I noticed that I had miscounted, there were four! (Not that four is a huge number for a family, but to go shopping with! I don't know how many kids we are going to have, but I think I would rather go shopping at 4 in the morning then to take all my kids on a grocery run! That would be frightening!) There was one child in the baby seat, one in the cart, one cute little boy holding her hand and another child stuffed underneath the cart laying belly down on the bottom rack... and you know what I did?

I laughed and then cried some more! I don't know if I was crying for myself or more for her, probably her. To think my headache was big, I can't imagine the amount of Excedrin she is going to need!

I survived... (barely)

This story that I am sharing is a true story.

Rated: E, for everyone

Warning: This post is the longest post I have ever written, so before proceeding you might want to use the restroom, maybe grab some chips and of course make yourself as comfy as usual.

This post also contains the following:

-No profanity

-Mild "mean" words, ex: dumb, stupid

-Mild exaggeration

-Moderate amounts of bad jokes

-Moderate graphic images

-Heavy sarcasm

-Heavy attempt at humor...

After posting that "embarrassing" picture of my cute girls' bums next to the bathtub, my friend, Andrea, shared an idea with me that I should start a TAG where each person tagged has to share an embarrassing story of themselves. (I know, you are all just jumping for joy, right?) Since I am starting this TAG, it would be only fair for me to share one myself, plus I said earlier I would share one, sometime. (What was I thinking then...? I have no idea!) I have many embarrassing stories, as many of you probably do too. I will share just one, (if that's possible as many of my embarrassing moments mingle together with others). This is not something I wish I had "many" of. I can laugh about it all now, but I mean, why couldn't I have had, "many" of something else growing up...like, "many" tennis championships (or at least one!), or "many" HOT dates, or even better, "many" talents! I had a friend once tell me I should compile a book with all my embarrassing moments. I know I am not the "sharpest tool in the shed" or whatever, but please, I want to be left with some dignity, if after posting this I have any left at all! jk! ;)

To set the stage for the story I have to share a few facts first. I was 13 years old...ok, maybe 15, but who's counting! ;) This sadly, would have made me a sophmore in HIGH school. My sister, April was then around the age of 10. We were shopping with my mom at the local Albertson's near our home. April and I were complaining and whining as we thought we were just going to the store for a few things. Of course my mom's over-bulging coupon book and zest for sales always had a different plan. April and I (ok, mostly me) were getting restless and impatience walking up and down the aisles looking for the exact brand name pictured on the coupon, which seemed to me a waste of time, as it only saved 10 cents in the end, but as my mom would say, "ten cents over hundreds of times can save you thousands of dollars!" That was exactly how my mom would state things. (Yes, I understood that concept, but was a common selfish teenager, and I just wanted to get home. Now as I have grown up and hopefully I have become a bit more mature; and as a parent living off student loans, and trying to provide for my family in this crazy economy, I am so grateful for her lessons on thriftiness! Thanks mom!) Savings. That word alone, makes my mom most excited, watching the total amount of the bill plummeting lower and lower as each coupon is scanned and if something happened to ring up a penny more than the sale price in the paper, Albertson's policy being, you get that item for FREE! SO you bet my mom would be intensely watching the price of every scanned item, to make sure it was right. And if it rang up wrong she would practically jump on the cashier, chanting the correct price and beaming with utter delight, as if she had just won a trip to Disney World, rather than a box of noodles. Then racing home all too excited in anticipation to get my dad to guess at how many FREE items she got and the total amount that she saved for our family...!! Priceless.

Yet, this particular shopping trip, I guess you could say I was being a pain in the bum! Yes, that's right. Aggravating my mom enough, she told me to take my sister and go out to the car as it was still unlocked and wait for her there. At the time my parents owned the oldest and ugliest cars in all Boise! This made life a bit interesting for me and my siblings as we would constantly duck behind bushes or hide behind buildings if we ever saw one of them approaching. Then as casually as we could without drawing any attention to us, we would literary jump through the side door, while sliding down in between the seats hoping no one saw us while yelling at my mom or dad to step on it! Of course if my parents had a motto in life while raising us, it would have been one of two things:

OR

What was even more embarrassing was seeing how proud my dad was of his '84 Bright Blue Chevy Suburban. My mom drove a '89 Plymouth sky-blue minivan (as seen below) that came all-included with a nice shade of bluish-gray smoke that when the engine was turned on, the surrounding fresh air would be perfumed with a burning oil scent and covered in this thick bluish-gray fog. All this would be coming from a 2-inch exhaust pipe, shooting out a BIG gust of this fog every time you hit the gas or had to stop. (It produced as much smoke as a drag racing car, but without all the bells and whistles of a fast, nice, and expensive "race" car).

Whenever I was in the minivan, I just prayed that the approaching traffic light would remain green because if we had to stop, it felt like every pair of eyes within a 1/2 miles radius would be staring directly at ME and those that weren't, yet, were in the process of searching for the "dumb" people and their "dumb" car that was making so much pollution and stinking up their own cars! (But my parents had a way of reminding us daily of, "how good we have it").

**Ok so now that I have given you a brief history of my family, I will again proceed to telling you my story... (sorry I get pretty worked up! haha)

Leading the way to our dreadful minivan, April initiated shotgun before me, leaving me in the back seat alone with my sulking thoughts. After sitting there in silence for a few minutes just impatient to get home, I noticed a package of hundreds of minature size stickers laying on the floor by the back seat. I picked them up and gradually starting peeling the stickers off, one by one, sticking them all over the back of the seat of the row in front of me. I continued to pull off each sticker and place it strategically on the leather bound seat until they were all gone. (I can't tell you what drove me or motivated me into doing this, but did it nonetheless). As there were no more stickers to contribute to my masterpiece; as it was covered and decorated in little stars, smiley faces and miscellaneous thingamajigs, I sat back marveling my creation. Just then my sister, who I almost forgot was in the car with me, quietly but with confusion in her voice said, "Christy, when did mom start drinking Coke and Pepsi?"

The question took a moment to register in mind, as I was still is a daze, remembering where I was exactly, while the guilt started sweeping over me as I realized what I had just done to the back of the now decorated seat. After what seemed to be hours instead of seconds, I answered a little more annoyed then I should have, "What do you mean? You know mom and dad don’t drink that stuff." As soon as the words slipped out, I remember cringing as it always seemed that my mouth was quicker than my mind. Trying to cover myself I blurted out, "Why?!"

After a long pause,"Well," April starts... "It's just that there are five empty bottles of Coke and Pepsi on the floor up here by the driver's seat..."

At that moment without giving my body permission, it flew into the air, jumping over the middle seat. I sat up and stared down at the Coke products and other items that drew my attention. April and I looked around the car only for a moment both realizing the same thing at the exact same moment, and in a second we were both yelling, "OH MY GOSH! THIS ISN'T OUR CAR!!!" (In my defense, I couldn't tell the difference as there was no bluish-gray smoke covering the sky around the vehicle). We quickly jump out and shut the doors as nonchalantly as we possibly could, not wanting to draw any attention to us, (it seemed I was having bad luck with that).

We looked across the parking lot and spotted another sky-blue minivan knowing sure enough that was our dreadful minivan. We both raced toward it and as soon the doors are closed, a roar of laughter emerged from us and we started rolling in our seats. As we were laughing about what just happened, we were a little nervous as we noticed a family coming out of the store, heading straight for the minivan we were just occupying. More than ever before, I wished it was my mom coming out of the store instead. As we are crouched low in the seats of our minivan, April and I took sneak peeks out the window, and watched them load their van with groceries. At first, everything was going fine. They didn't suspect anything. What a relief! Then we saw the mom and obviously her fine looking son (roughly around the age of 16 or 17) start talking to each other with confused looks on their faces. They both then proceeded to turn 360 degrees around in their spot with intense searching eyes. As if caught in the headlights the boy spotted our minivan and me staring right back at him. He gestured to his mom and she nodded.

"OH NO! Tell me this isn't happening?!"

Right then, a flood of emotions, from panicking to humiliating washed over me. I tried to act as cool and as normal as I could. I pretended not to notice that he was walking over and when this cute boy came over to our van, knocked on the passanger window where I was sitting, I looked up with as much surprise on my face as I could possibly muster, slowly opening the door, and very politely said, "Can I help you?"

He stared back in astonishment, (from the look on his cute face he was probably thinking, not only was I the most awkward teenager he had ever seen, but confirming his suspicions' as he knows full well that I was pretending not to know why he is there, as I am a terrible liar) he asked, "Were you just in our car?" already knowing the answer, I was sure!

"Uh, ir..ya, I am sorry....You see my sister, thought it was our van, she gets confused a lot."

He looked puzzled for a moment then walked away. April chewed me out for making her look bad, which she had every right to, but seeing as how cute he was and me being just a year or two younger, I didn't want to look bad, and I thought she could afford to look bad as she was only ten. (I was a terrible, no good sister, I know! Sorry Apes!)

April and I sat there nervously laughing at each other. I wish I could say that the story stops there, and my mom gets to the car and we leave! Yet, not even two minutes later this cute boy started walking back to our van. He again knocked on the window, and not having much time to compose myself, awkwardly said, "Yes?"

He reached out to grab my hand and automatically my heart rate increased, (I must have been expecting something else, what that was, I have no idea!) then he put in my cupped hand a huge wad of sticky paper. "These must be yours," he said. It hit me like a ton of bricks, the stickers! Ugh! I am so stupid!!! What I really wanted to say was, "Actually they are yours...and do you want to take me out on a date when I turn 16?" Ha, fat chance of that happening.

As embarrassing as that was, I am glad April and I can look back at this and many other embarrassing and funny memories together and laugh. I survived through my awkward teenager years as the rest of us have too. We all have embarrassing moments and awkward times. I still have an occasional flashback of those, though they are fewer in number. ;) But that's what makes life so fun and interesting!

Now with all joking and sarcasm aside, I also want to say, (if I haven't said enough already! haha!) that I think my parents are amazing! My parents have taught me so much and are truly my best friends. I hope I can be half the parent/person they are to my own kids. They constantly make me laugh, are always there for me and really truly care about me and everyone. They always go above and beyond the call of duty in everything they are involved in. They have helped countless people, many of which have no clue as they both love to leave things anonymously at door steps or in the mail. :) I love that my dad is more than willing to take time to hang out with us and laugh with us. He has such a sense of humor and was also the guy that always stopped for those that were broken down on the side of the road. My mom, she is so selfless. I honestly can't recall her ever needing anything or buying anything for herself. She always puts everyone first. I love my mom and dad so much!

Again, sorry for such a long story and lengthy post, I did warn you! I am not going to TAG anyone, as many of you don't like to do tags and that's just fine. If, however, you feel the inclination to share one of your embarrassing moments, I would LOVE to read about it!!! I love a good laugh! So please let me know!