When There's No Where Else To Run...

Grab some candy, folks. The Freak Show is about to begin.

I love living in the Midwest, but something happens when you cross that state border. It's like a time warp/holding ground for white trash. I did my best to fit in.
In the 200 mile stretch of "Misery" as the GPS likes to call MO, there are like 25 "Adult Entertainment" venues. After the first 5 or so, we decided to make a photomentary.
First we have the Pleasure Zone. This seems to be a local favorite, because there were several along this particular stretch of the highway.

This one was called, Mary's Curious Corner
But wait! There's more..
Luckily, being in the Bible Belt provides it's own, higher level of spirituality to combat the filth on the highway. I highly doubt any of the individuals headed to the XXX Toyland, have experienced a change of heart when they saw the ENORMOUS "Jesus" billboard. It doesn't say anything else. Just JESUS in big green and white letters. There were a few of these freckled between the advertisements for "Secret Corner, Playtime, and the eXXXtreme Video stores.

One has to wonder what kind of people are looming at the gas stations when such questionable entertainment is available nearby. Why don't I show you?
Here we have the woman who approached people in their cars, to bum some gas money. We kept the windows up until she'd successfully suckered someone else into helping her out. I'd also like to point out he nice section of stomach hanging out the side of her shirt.
By the end of the transaction, she and the good samaritan that helped her out were kindred spirits.
Ladies and Gentleman, we have a fanny pack.
A personal favorite. Naptime in the park guy. We had the pleasure of watching this gentleman out our window as we ate lunch. Mmmmm Appetizing. Every few minutes he would lift up his shirt and rub his nipples.
I feel for this little girl. I sported that "christmas tree" haircut for years as a child. As for the mom, well there's just no excuse for that scrunchie, skinny plastic headband, or matching red cotton shorts.

Also taken from our lunchtime window. Question. If YOU were a cabdriver, would YOU stop to pick up a guy in an orange jumpsuit, and give him a ride? We imagine he asked the driver how much it would cost to get him across the border when he got in the van.
The sampling of individuals just would not be complete or accurate without a little high waisted jeans paired with a tie dye shirt.
Hope you enjoyed the show. We certainly did!
Why the rush home? Front row seats to this...
Stay tuned.

PS-there are 100 days until Christmas. Yippee Ding Dong!

Oh. GR8.

The yummy bagels we ate for breakfast Friday did not hold us over for long. After spending the morning in the St. Louis Temple, we were STARVING and went on a quest to get some Max & Erma's Tortilla Soup in us. We headed downtown to the St. Louis Gateway Arch Riverfront. I called the restaurants to ask for the best (best meaning closest, because it was only 1:30, but I had eaten more candy than a fat kid on Halloween, and was in serious need of real food) location to park.

Lady on the Phone: HELL-o Max'nermas. (all her words blend into one)
Me: Yes, where is the best place to park if we are coming in today for lunch?
Lady: The Stadium Parking Lot
Me: Great, thanks. Do you validate parking?
Lady: Yes.
Me: Ok, thank you, we should be in la-no use finishing, since she'd already hung up on me. rude!

We pulled into the St. Louis Cardinals Parking Garage and circled around and around looking for an empty space. We finally parked on Level 8. The garage was HUGE! 5 years ago I lost my car in a Disneyland parking garage, and learned my lesson. Before we hopped on the elevator, I took this picture and made a mental rhyme (grey+8=great!) to help myself remember where we were parked.
We were so starving by the time we got there, I was ready to eat the menu.
My friends are rude!
Luckily, it wasn't long before this came...
Along with some soft pretzel sticks that I ate before thinking to take a picture. And finally, the real deal. I swear these cookies are the reason I found happiness when we lived in Green Bay...


over an hour enjoying our yummy yummy yummy food, and mocked passers by out the window, we asked to have our parking validated.

Our hairy armpited, gold toothed waitress let us know that "there's no way she'd never be workin' here if her manager didn't pay for her parking...but they don't do that for customers."

Looks like our smart plan to park in the ridiculously expensive ballpark garage wasn't so smart after all! Our waitress did offer to have "her nephew come over and meet us at the garage. She said she's sure he'd be able to get us outta there without paying." Several things about that scenario sounded questionable, so we thanked her, and opted to just pay for the parking space ourselves and go wander around the river front for a bit.
Although the history behind Old Courthouse is incredible, I found that the 100+ year old staircase provided more entertainment.

When we returned to the parking garage we were relieved not to find Shawna's cousin there to meet us. We were NOT relieved to discover the elevator was broken! We just HAD to park on the 8th floor! It was quite a hike back up!
Needless to say, we missed you Rachelle! You're in way better shape than the rest of us and probably could have sprinted up to the top, and brought the car down for us in 2 minutes.
On the drive down, we felt like we were in one of those Little People car garages that spin the cars around in 10 circles then shoot them out the bottom.

Time Out

I went to Time Out For Women this weekend with some girlfriends... so this week the blog will be filled to posts and pics of our fabulous time, and the fabulous places we ate (would you expect anything different?) Be sure to check out Kasey and Sarah's blogs to see what else we did this weekend.

I'd thought the highlight of the road trip would be the inspirational speakers, that would somehow speak directly to me, through the crowd of women, giving answers to prayers and pressing questions in my mind. Though I loved the talks that were given and enjoyed most of the music, I wasn't spiritually and emotionally fed in the way I'd expected to be at TOFW.

The 2008 theme for Time Out was Living a JOYful Life. I thought, "Great! Awesome! Who doesn't need more Joy in their life? This will be a perfect way for me to lighten up a little and enjoy the brighter side of womanhood." On the contrary, I found that the overall theme of the conference to be "don't give up" and "hang in there, there's hope". I am SURE there were many women in the room at the end of their rope that needed to heard these exact words, as most of them were crying tears of newfound peace by the end of the day...but in general, I personally found the talks to be kind of depressing.

As I looked around, I tried not to judge all the teary eyed women (except the one's wearing denim jumpers...stay tuned for that post) because we all have had our moments of total despair, myself included. But I started to wonder if I am dead inside or something, for not being touched in a similar way-as I had been touched before when I attended TOFW 5 years ago with my mom and sisters.

It was at this moment that I found the joy I had been seeking this weekend. I recognize that I honestly am happy with myself and the life I have. Yes, there are things I would like to change, but for the most part, I love my life. I love my husband, my children, my home, my friends, and I really do love what I do every day.

I find joy in gratitude that I was not one of the sisters hanging onto a thread of hope that tomorrow will be a better day. I find joy in knowing that, for now at least, I can handle everything that I've been asked to do, and still find joy in doing it. Of course, this weekend was a nice break, but I really do find joy in wiping sticky faces, giving bubble baths, painting walls, buying groceries, planning a menu, keeping a budget, cooking, playing, reading, teaching, serving, and giving all that I have to my faith, my family and my friends. I feel like I've been placed on this earth to serve others, and learn a few things along the way, and I am grateful that I am not too burnt out, bitter, or exhausted to still be happy, and have peace in the process. I tend to be hard on myself, and I often push the limits of my energy (at the sake of my sanity), but after a great weekend full of so much laughter my face is still hurting...I feel ready to return to doing what I love, and loving what I do, everyday.

Anticipation...

I can't wait for this...

and this...

and of course, these...

delivered right to your table, hot and fresh out of the oven. EVERY time.

Oooh and I'm gonna need some soft pretzel sticks too-with cheese dip. YUM.

RELAX! Get To It!

Frankie was right...and Sheena, I want that shirt. Maybe I should start my own Good Mail list.
About 10 months out of the year you can find me wearing slippers around my house. I purchase a fresh, new pair every fall, and by January they are trashed (yes, I wear them outside to get my mail, gather firewood, push my kids on the swing set, etc). So Aaron buys me a new pair for Valentine's Day. That pair usually wears out sometime in early summer, and by June, they are so gross I throw them away, leaving myself slipper-less the remaining months of summer. This is fine, since it is too hot for slippers in the summer anyway. One year, Emily bought me a pair of flip flop slippers so my feet wouldn't get hot. Those were fantastic, and I wore them out, too...but there's just something about a fresh new pair of pink fuzzy slippers that makes me feel like ignoring dishes and taking a nap. I often tend to get into "go-go-go" swings and forget to take time to sit, relax, and do nothing productive. It just doesn't count if you "schedule" sitting and reading on your "to do list". Especially if you "plan" to read scriptures or a parenting book.
This year my slippers were trashed by May, due to an encounter with some nasty subfloor/30 year old toilet wax residue that I don't want to talk about. There's just no coming back from that. (who washes slippers? not me.) But you can't just run out and buy fuzzy pink slippers in late spring, so I've been left slipper-less ALL SUMMER. It's probably the real reason I'm getting so much done on my house. I'm just not as lazy without them on my feet.

In fact, toward the end of my pregnancy with Quincy I was supposed to be on bed rest. I found that to be impossible with a 2 year old running around. One particular day, I was serving in the Cub Scouts (another post, another time...could be summed up with one word-horrible) and helped seven 9 year old boys build toolboxes and carried Reese (who refused to be put down-I don't blame her...seven 9 year olds running around with hammers is pretty scary, even for an adult) around the whole time. I had about 3 other things that HAD to be done that day, a kid that needed her soggy pants changed, and 5 people on visiting teaching route to visit over the next 2 days. My phone rang and I was asked to take someone dinner that night. The night before I had been so stressed out that I'd passed out while organizing a closet in the spare bedroom. (luckily, I'd been sitting on the floor, so I wasn't hurt at all...I just woke up very confused) At that moment, all I could think was, "who's going to make ME dinner?" I got us both some take out, dropped everything else on my list, and bought myself my first pair of hot pink slippers. I promised myself that if I was tired, I would put them on...and if I had them on I would say, "no" to anyone who asked me to do anything for them that I didn't want to do. It worked like a charm and I quit having problems with preterm labor.
I said, "No" to having "Yes-Disease". I still really enjoy serving others, but I don't let it take over my life like it used to. I've tried really hard, this year, to balance the different parts of my life better, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of it.
Tomorrow, I'm leaving for a weekend away with some gal pals. We're going to Time Out For Women, and taking a little Time Out, ourselves. 2 nights in a hotel with 3 fun friends and no kids, no diapers, no cooking, no laundry, NO REMODELING, no bills, no responsibilities. I really DO love what I do every day, and I consider myself VERY blessed that I get to do what I love. But even those who love their job need a little time off. This weekend, I'm cashing in my vacation time, eating OUT and sleeping IN.

In anticipation, I went on a search for a new pair of slippers...worried that it might not be "slipper season" yet. Imagine my excitement when I found these babies tonight!
Just in time for my relaxing weekend, too! They are already packed, along with my other road trip essentials:

mint chocolate pirouettes

cheeze-its

music (including a CD one of the young women at church made for my trip-cute, huh?)

jammies -because even though we're friends, they probably won't appreciate me
sleepin' in my chonies like I do at home.

Maps to every Culvers and Max & Erma's along our way

new journal-for all the great talks at Time Out...plus my old one is almost full

running shoes-because even though it's vacation, I'm still on a program...and Amy and Melinda kicking my trash for distance right now. Maybe the treadmill at the hotel will lie to me and help me out a little in the mileage dept.

or maybe I'll skip the run and sleep instead.

What are YOUR road trip essentials? and ...What do YOU need to RELAX?

Sorry if that song is stuck in your head. If I had one of those (super-annoying-when-they- turn on-by-themselves to a song you can't stand, and restart the same song EVERY time you visit the site) playlist thingies, you'd be listening to Frankie Goes to Hollywood right now.

If You Give A Quincy Cheese...

"I want cheese, Mommy."

I hear this sentence about 30 times a day. If someone opens the frig...Quincy comes running.

"I want cheese, I want cheese, I want cheese." (as fast as she can)

She can hoover a cheese stick before you've even made it over to the trash can to throw away the wrapper.

And then she asks for more.

"I want cheese, Mommy"

"Quincy, do you want some applesauce?"

"I want cheese."

"baby you just had some cheese. How about some applesauce?"

"I want Chee-EESE" (in two syllables now. She leans forward and speaks slowly...like I didn't understand her before. It's hysterical)

"Quin-CY. you. just. ate. your. cheese. do. you. want. applesauce?"

"Applesauce? ...uuuuuuh... hmmm....

...no."

Then she turns and runs off into the other room, but not without pursing her lips and giving me a look that clearly says "you idiot. Can't you tell the difference between applesauce and cheese?"

Usually within 5 minutes someone walks into the kitchen and we begin the process over again.
"...hey. Hey Mommy? I want cheese."

I'm Thankful For My Ears

Inspired by Quin's nursery lesson, I thought I'd make a little gratitude list of my own. I don't do this nearly enough, and encourage anyone else who wants to participate to create and post a list of their own. Some are big, life changing things, and some are silly, but they are all things I am thankful for, this morning. Here we go:

Things I am thankful for:

Color. As much as I love black and white, what kind of world would it be without hot pink or orange?

Aaron's new job.

Digiorno Cheese Stuffed Crust frozen pizza. A must have on the weekend at the Willy's.

the Pink Care Bear that Reese currently takes to bed.

Quincy's squishy booty...gotta squeeze those cheeks at least once a day. Poor kid is going to grow up with so many issues.

Hot Fuss and Sams Town. The Killers are a recent discovery for me (thank you Rock Band, Kasey, and Dan for getting me hooked) and I am LOVING some new tunes.

Pulled pork and cobbler from Smokin' Joes.

Great friends you know who you are.

Gilmore Girls season 7 for giving me a great excuse to hang with great friends

Primary Workers. What a wonderful service you provide each week! May you be blessed for all you do.

I'm thankful for my Swivel Sweeper (thank you Lynda, and thank you infomercials).

Reese's Deep Thoughts. That girl makes me laugh.

Waverly Essence Onyx fabric. It's everywhere in my home and I love it.

My calling. I have learned a lot through serving the Young Women this year, and it feels good to know I am actually making a difference in some of their lives.

I'm thankful that my girls are friends. I hope it lasts.

Preschool.

Aaron's great sense of humor. It's quirky and dry, but I totally get it.

That's what she said.

(Did I mention Aaron's sense of humor? I think it's starting to rub off on me.

That's wh...ok I'm going to stop. This blog is supposed to be PG.

a great afternoon nap.

The great gals I visit teach. I don't think they read my blog, but they are great.

Bath n Body Works Flowering Herb lotion. It smells like ME.

The glass container I just bought to hold my laundry detergent. It was really cheap, and it makes me happy to do laundry. (thanks for the idea, HolleeAnn...you are SO creative!)

Healthy kids.
Maria's Chips and Salsa

I'm thankful for where I live. It is beautiful.

Baby wipes. Honestly, what would we do without them?

I'm thankful for Lists. I organize my too-many-thoughts with To Do Lists, To Buy Lists, To Call Lists, To Go Lists, To Change Lists. And when I travel...definitely a To Eat List.

The scriptures. It's been a year since I (finally) got my act together and started reading every day. It made good days better, and bad days manageable. During the past 365 days, I found Inspiration to mend a relationship, Peace during a very difficult situation, and Courage to not care so much about what everyone thinks or says about me.

Colgate Luminous Toothpaste. It's been discontinued, but I have 4 tubes of it left and I am thankful for that every time I brush.

I'm thankful for my Rocket Dog shoes...even though they're falling apart, my feel have never been happier.

Thank you, Flylady.net

I'm thankful for good health and energy to play with my kids.

Reese's little piggies.

visitors! My parents are coming in a few weeks. We LOVE company!

running. It's a love/hate thing. But I'm thankful for the endorphine rush that goes from working out. I'm also thankful for Amy, Mark, and Melinda (siblings) for helping me "get going". Amy I am so proud of you for all the changes you're making (she ran 10K in an hour...puts my 5K to shame shame) especially in Hollister, with all that good food around. You're a hero.

my paper towel holder...trust me, it's REALLY cute.

Ok, I could go on and on...and maybe I will in future posts.

What are YOU thankful for today?