Thursday, April 30, 2009

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful Wayne is on his way home from his ten day China trip. Ten days...count 'em. The last time he was away this long, I was with him. The time just flew by. This time it dragged like an old bumper falling off a car! I'll see my guy in 5 hours!!! HAPPY DANCE!

I'm thankful the swine flu is not in China.... (Wayne didn't go to Mexico this time.)

I'm thankful that I only gained four pounds while Wayne was away and not five. What's up with me?

I'm thankful for Spring like weather....although this also means yard work is just around the corner, and I don't like yard work....I'm more the indoorsy type.

I'm thankful that Addison's eye operation went well and he's recovering nicely....the Lortab definitely help. He needs to be good enough to drive to Yellowstone on Saturday. Wish us luck!

I'm thankful for Laila and her cute Jungle Book Show. She is a kick. Her lines are very enthusiastic and filled with meaning and gestures. She is a great advertiser too. She made fliers, passed them out and called her little friends to come and watch her....she needs an audience. She is very RED! Love this girl of mine.

I'm thankful I'm leaving for St. George next week....more teacher time and testing students, but sun and fun also!

I'm thankful

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Si's fault!

I had one hour today of actually thinking about exercise and eating good food.....it passed quite quickly.

I set my alarm clock to get to the gym before six.... I then hit the snooze, did not go to the gym and slept til seven....so much for thinking thin.
I didn't get up and go because I didn't have any one to get up and go with.
Si is sick.
As a result I'm blaming Si for my chubbiness. It's okay, I called and told her that she was responsible for my chub....she's good with it.

We are trying for an early morning gym experience on Wed.....I find that knowing someone is out side in a cold car waiting for me, good motivation to get out of bed and go.

I did get on the scale this morning.. I haven't done that since March. I didn't scream too loudly at my expected weight gain.

I know, I know... it takes exercise and conscious eating, oh , and positive self talk....

I'll think about it tomorrow.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Deep Thought

I can't seem to "think" let alone "think thin" lately.
I find it interesting that there is only one letter that separates these two words. The letter "k."
Maybe being and staying THIN really does have a lot to do with THINKing.
Kay?

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Chubbiness Explained

Why I'm Chubby...

1. Too much Food
2. No exercise

The End.

PS-- While Wayne's eating pig brain in China.....I'm eating everything here

Friday, April 24, 2009

Addison's eye and Summer Stock

I am waiting for Addison while he has an operation on his eye this Friday morning.

He has a tumor in his right eye lid. We have had it removed two other times, but it just keeps growing back. It puffs up and blurs his vision and is painful. When it’s puffy, he looks like Quasimoto….he just needs to ring a bell and hunch a bit.

We are trying to get him healthy and ready to send away this summer to West Yellowstone. He gets to go and be in 3 musicals at the Playmill theatre for 4 months. He’ll be in Guys and Dolls, Footloose and the Secret Garden.

I did summer stock theatre for the two summers I was waiting for Wayne to get back from Argentina, and LOVED it. It's a challenge to keep the lines from three different shows straight and in your head all at the same time.

"Who am I tonight?"

"What show are we doing?"

I remember my feet aching, hurting like they never have before or since. It was rough being in character and tap shoes all day…dance, dance, dancing. I would hobble to and from the rehearsal hall…but when I got on stage the pain went away and the excitement and joy began.

One summer I was thin, thin, thin….and the next I couldn’t stop eating. The costumer was mad at me because my costumes all had to be let out, or added to by the middle of the run.

Maybe that's what I need now....a personal costumer to let my clothes in and out....hmmmm?

It really is so awesome to have entire days consumed by theatre….something I love….and Addison shares this love.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Thankful Thursday—

1. I'm thankful for alarm clocks. When Wayne is out of town, I'm the one who sleeps by and runs the alarm clock. Sometimes I wake up before the alarm clock goes off for fear that I will miss it and then the entire families schedule is upset for the day. I'm so glad when I sleep soundly all night, and then the sweet music of the alarm clock wakes me up at 6:30. I would probably be more thankful if I could just sleep in ….but alas, I have stuff to do. I guess I'm thankful I have stuff to do, too.

2. I'm thankful for stretchy pants…..they always fit !

3. I'm thankful for neighbors who help me with my Laila. They help by getting her off to school in the morning, or letting her hang out at their homes. It's so great to live in a happy and safe place.

4. I'm thankful for McDonald's drive through and Diet Coke at 8am to get me through the school testing days.

5. I'm thankful that there are Angels among us.

6. I'm thankful for modern day conveniences like microwaves, cell phones and "women" supplies.

7. I'm thankful none of my children are sick right now, knock on wood….maybe I've jinxed them all now, just by acknowledging it…..yikes….pretend like I didn't even write this.

8. I'm thankful for the Special Mutual's annual production. I just got back from watching my sweet-sister-in-law Holly be a Lady Bug in this wonderful show. I cry every year, and count my blessings, and cry some more. What a blessing to have such wonderful people- angels- who help us all be more Christ like. It's so inspiring when there is a stage full of special spirits singing , "I am a Child of God."

9. I'm thankful


 

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Oh, to be 17 again!


I officially declare that I'm in "celebrity love" with Zach Efron..
..or atleast the character he plays in his new movie, "17 Again!"
When Matthew Perry goes back in time and becomes Zach Efron.....I'm hooked from, well... , let's just say, he had me at "hello."

I was wondering why I didn't see it before. All the young girls just adore him. Oh he's cute and all, but sooo immature....but in this movie he's cute and all and soooo mature.

The "adult" talk that comes out of his mouth just completes the package.

He is espousing safe sex and abstinence until marriage and having self respect and not bullying people and hard work and getting an education.......LOVE IT!
All of this wisdom coming out of a yummy face.....you just can't beat it.

I'm officially a cougar......and I don't mean BYU!

Teacher Trouble

I've been busy with testing and had a really weird experience that left me wondering about life, about trust, and the power of the "word."

My school director actually had to approach me and ask me a very uncomfortable question. A mother had come up to her and said her 6th grade daughter had reported that I said, to the twenty-four 6th graders that I was testing,

"All you girls have very large bo obs."

WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

I, of course, didn't say that.
Hey, I didn't even think it.
BUT
I could have been in big trouble, never the less.

I did ask what BOOKS every one had brought to read.... maybe I didn't enunciate clearly enough.

It's difficult being a teacher now a days. Any slip up, or in this case, alleged slip up, can get you in serious trouble, put on probation, in the news, sued, fired....you name it.

I'm just glad I have a relationship with my director and when she asked me the question, I could say in all honestly... "No, I would never say that," and she believed me.

PS.....The mom thinks the girl might of dreamed it now, and has her reality and fantasy all jumbled up.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

SB Phenomenon

Gaining and Losing weight is always on my mind. It's hard not to think about it, with the society we share.

Why was the Susan Boyle –Britain's Got Talent story, even newsworthy?

Why have 65 million people around the world watched the video?

Why are we thrilled when the audience and judges change from skepticism and derision to acceptance?

Because Shabby, overweight, style-less people shouldn't succeed….. but this one does.

Susan represents all of us--- all of the lack luster underdogs.

How can an "ugly" person be a good singer?

That's really what we are saying. If Susan Boyle had on an up to date outfit, if she looked "good "and wore makeup , she would just be another talented person. No story here.

It's interesting what we value in our society and how we make soooo many snap judgments because of appearance. But that's exactly what we do….. I make judgments about people I meet and see every day, whether I want to or not; whether I want to admit it or not.

The Susan Boyle phenomenon has really got me……….. thinking.

If you haven't seen the performance yet (because you have been in a coma for the past week) check it out on You tube.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Hard Job?

Caution: The following should not be read by any Full-time-outside -of-the-home working mother. It will only make you mad at me. I warned you......

I am in the “hard” part of my job…if there is a hard part. As an online school teacher, We are busy with end of level testing. We have 1,000 students who are part of this online school . They are scattered all across the state. We have 4 areas of testing that takes up 12 full days, from Ogden to St. George. It’s crazy when I’m so used to being home all day, checking on the computer and answering emails…calling on the phone, etc….to now be up and dressed and out the door by 7:30am and not home until 5:00.

It’s tough on me.

I don’t know how mother’s who work outside of the home do it. Many things have to slide. I don’t know how I’m going to fit exercise into these testing days…. I guess I’ll have to work out at night, if I’m not too exhausted.

It’s a good thing I’ve trained my family not to expect dinner…so this is no hardship for them. It’s a good thing they do their own laundry and drive their own cars. The only one I have to remember that I’m a mother to, is my Laila. (Please help me remember that I have a seven year old-- please help me remember!!!!....I'm really serious about this.)

I love my job. I feel so blessed to have landed here. It’s great to be in charge of my own schedule most of the time…and to work all day in my exercise clothes, if I want to. It’s great to work with other ladies that I love and have fun with. It’s great to help families and children. It's great and ……

it’s hard…..


PS-- I should have told "Spring" off weeks ago...the weather is lovely now. I didn't realize I had such power....you can all thank me later.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Another Laila Book


My Dad and Mom
Written by Laila Welch
Illustrated by Laila Welch
( I took the liberty to take out the darling phonetic spelling, but it really is cute how she thinks some words are spelled.)

This is my dad and my dad is so funny and he is a tickle monster and he tickles me so much I laugh so hard and he is married to my mom, Melinda.
My dad does a lot of things and he goes to his job every day except ( Laila spelling: itss ept) Sunday and I love my dad.
So we are going to talk about my mom.
So we are talking about my mom.
My mom is so funny too and so hilarious (hlaereeis)
So I laugh so hard my head could roll off and my mom goes to her job and she is a teacher at the high school ( hice schooll) and she is a dancer too.
She is in a play right now and every night I watch her do the show and she is always good.
The end

There you have it....
Just in case you ever wondered what Wayne and I did...do....just ask Laila and she can show you the book.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring?

Dear Spring in Utah.,

You are killing me!

Make up your mind….one day your cold the next day your hot. One minute your snowing and I’m searching for my corn bag to heat up in the microwave and the next minute, I’m trying to locate my sandals and stripping off my sweater.….

You are like a menopausal woman…. Not that I really know about this yet, but I’ve been hanging around with Si…and that’s what she tells me. You'er hot, You're cold. You're Hot. You're Cold. Sheesh

Get with the program…it’s spring!

We should be able to have little kid soccer games…. We have had three out of the last four Thursday games cancelled because that’s the day you like to snow and rain the most ….

We should be able to be at baseball games and not be in our winter coats and under a blanket..

Spring, I ask you, are you suffering from an identity crisis?

Do you not remember who you are?

Is some seasonal counseling necessary?

All I want is 60 to 70 degree weather , bulbs coming up and buds on trees with a little blue sky now and then.... oh, and NICE april showers....not torrential rain and snow!

Is that too much to ask?

I love you, but you’ve really disappointed me, so far this year.

I’m going to have to continue with calling Summer my favorite season, unless you get your act together! If this sounds like a threat, it's because it is!

Love-- your once adoring fan,

ME

Thankful Thursday....


My Landon got in a really terrible car accident on Wednesday. This is the picture of his car that the police took , as they came upon the scene.

Landon was traveling to Arizona for spring break. He was alone, driving outside of Orderville, Utah. It was snowing and there was black ice on the road. Landon said he was going about 45 mph. He hit a patch of black ice and his car went in 3 circles, then launched itself 12 feet off of the freeway and landed on its roof. Landon had his seat belt on. He said as his car started spinning, he started praying, like he has never prayed before. Landon walked away from this accident with only a scratch on his arm and ear. Miracles happen. I can’t believe how lucky he is. I can’t believe how blessed he is.

When Landon called to tell me about this…his voice was calm and he said friends were picking him up and he was continuing on with his spring break plans. I have a “yellow” son.

Landon’s car is totaled. It’s really sad for him because he needs a car to get to work, and he just moved out of our home last month to finally be on his own. Pray for him.

Landon needs to figure out how to get to work , how to get a second job, perhaps, and how to get money together to buy another car…..some times life stinks….but most of the time,

life is a miracle.

I am thankful!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Motto

Keep Calm and Carry On

I love this slogan....this is what I try to live by.
Just keep moving forward...I say that all the time.
The calm part is the added element I was missing.
I LOVE THIS!
I wanted to share it....
so here goes.....

During the spring of 1939 and the war with Germany almost inevitable, the British Government’s Ministry of Information commissioned a number of propaganda posters to be displayed throughout the country upon the outbreak of war. The plan for the posters was to relay a message from King George VI to his people that all capable measures to defend the Country were being taken.

Using the crown of King George VI as the only graphic element it simply read, ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. Although some of the posters did make it onto walls (one of which can be seen above), the poster was never officially issued and so remained almost unseen by the general public. That is until a copy turned up over 50 years later within a pile of dusty old books bought from an auction.

Sadly, we do not have any record of who originally came up with the slogan. However, the reproduction is a tribute to that unknown person who created it. People across the world are still fining reassurance in its wonderful and handsome design with the very special attitude of mind that it managed to convey.

(picture and history from keepcalmandcarryon.com)

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Thinking Thin revisited

My Thinking Thin approach isn't working so far.
I posted rules one and two on my fridge, for awhile, but they got covered over with school papers and wedding invites. (1. When eating focus on the food. 2. Let hunger happen.) One day I'll do more than just post the rules.....I'll actually remember them and live by them.
I'm going to do better at this some day, maybe this week?, or maybe even today?

The next set of rules:

3. Indulge - deliberately
4. Slow down

I'm usually deliberately indulgent-- just not in food. I eat randomly and quickly so as not to notice how much I'm consuming. Rule 4 is all about slowing down and being aware of what's going in my mouth.

Both good ideas.
I know thin people eat and think this way, whether they know it or not.

I've been on my food and weight roller coaster for years now......one day I will get off of this thrill ride.
I'm posting.....the rules.
I'm re-upping for another week.
8 weeks to swim suit weather!
I can do it!!!!

Monday, April 13, 2009

Candy stupor....again


I'm in a candy stupor!
It is rivaling my annual Halloween Candy coma.
What happened?
I remember being really tired coming off of the sleepless choir trip.
I remember going to the grocery store in a fog with Wayne and Laila.
I remember Wayne putting bag after easter candy bag in our shopping cart.
I remember filling plastic eggs with candy.
I remember hiding and finding the eggs.....
I remember dumping the rest of the candy into a large candy bowl....10 bags worth.
This is where it gets a bit blurry.....
I'm looking at the candy bowl now with just crumblies and a few wrappers left in it....
I'm asking myself....
"Did I do that?"
OH my stomach!!!

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Choir trip

I just got back from chaperoning my 5th choir trip in the past 6 years....it was exhausting.
Bountiful High A'capella Choir went to San Diego and Anaheim to sing and play. We had two buses filled with crazy, screaming kids.

Going to California I thought I was going to have to poke my eyes out... or maybe poking my ears out would have been a better option.... I was in so much sleepless pain. I couldn't get comfortable. I needed ear plugs or another pillow to drown out the bus noise... We had a few noisey kids who couldn't sleep so they delighted in making sure all those around them couldn't sleep either. Plus stopping every 2 hours for the bus drivers and potty....means I slept just like a baby- up every two hours and crying!!!

I don't remember caring so much about my sleep before.....I must be getting old.

We had amazing weather and San Diego was just awesome. I got to be with my Truman. I got a great farmer's tan at Sea World and seeing Shamu was great fun as well. I got to be on this trip with my good friend Laura-- we shared many laughs. I got to eat great food in Old Town and the kids were mostly good.

At this point, I had forgiven them all from my sleepless first night.

The choir sang in a workshop at Nazarene University and sang in many a cathedral and church....it was lovely. I cried. The resonance and rebounding acoustics made them sound triple their size. It was so fun to be there.

We zoomed up to Anaheim and had 3 more nights in Anaheim. The choir got to sing on a Disney land stage and then have a workshop with a Disney vocal coach. It was a great experience.

Then...terrorists happened...actually 8 choir boys with t shirts over their faces and fake indian accents. (My son included.) Can you say high school prank gone bad. They covered themselves up and had a key to the room of boys next door, and sneaked in at 2 in the morning with shaving cream...all was funny, until the cops happened to be in the parking lot and looked up to to the 4th floor of the motel and saw some crazy masked men descending on a room....
Well the boys were busted by 7 cops.
Guns were pulled and hands ordered on heads with pockets emptied out....the director was called and the boys chewed out... The only real thing they did, when all was said and undone, was they left their room after curfew.... curfew breakers.

Oh, it was a non-beautiful thing to be told about this the next morning. I could have killed Tru.
These boys became the lepers on the trip . No one wanted to have any guilt by association at this point, so pretty much no one was hanging out with them.

It was truly bad luck that the cops were in the parking lot at that exact time....bad timing.

It was truly sad for Tru.

Well, the trip was mostly great. The weather was fabulous. And all would have been grand had not the shaving cream terrorists shown up.

I'm just glad to be home and look forward to being in my own bed after another sleepless bus ride.
Choir trips are crazy!!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Spring Break Pedis!!

I love a good pedicure. I actually never had one until I was over 40-- now I can't get enough!! I love getting my callouses off and my legs and feet rubbed and scrubbed and new polish....man, I always end up singing, "I enjoy being a girl!" at the top of my lungs.

I had a pedicure on Sat in preparation for my California choir trip extravaganza. I went with my Laila, Laura and her 3 daughters. My, my, my ...... we were a loud and noisy group. The girls all wanted to chat up the nice Vietnamese people working on our tootsies.

I now present,
Things said at Sparkling Nails:

"I'm so sorry my legs are hairy...I had no idea we were doing this."

"Don't look at my legs, I haven't shaved in a week.....no I mean it don't look at my legs.....you, boyfriend ( said to the Vietnamese brother) stay over there."

"I love Asian food.....Panda Express is my favorite!"

"I so sorry, we are all out of hot water...we will heat some in the microwave."

"The water is freezing?...don't be such a baby mom...stick your feet in, you'll get used to it"

"Ugh!.....You don't want that color, it's too normal-- go for the neon, go for the neon!"

"We will give you a free parafin wax to warm up your feet because we only have cold water"

" I don't want to be touched....do not rub my feet or legs."

"Rub her. She likes it."

"What a cute flower...Two colors. I would never have thought of that."

"Don't look at my legs...I mean it."

"I spill your purse. So sorry."

"That was great...You are all so nice. What's for dinner?"

Good times.
Life with the Belnap girls is always filled with excitement.
We enjoy being girls!

Friday, April 3, 2009

Food Storage

I found this on a blog by Lorinda...

over at iamlow.com.

and just loved it!

I had to share....you'll get a kick out of this one, and want to move to Georgia with me. ENJOY!

HOW I STORE FOOD

Without a doubt, food storage is important. And if you didn’t believe it before, do you not believe it now? With our economy in such a mess and a debt that will take a scary amount of years to pay off?
.
Oy and vey. Know what I’m sayin‘?

.*sigh*

.So two days ago, on my anniversary, my husband and I picked up some food storage items.

.Here is my favorite place to acquire food storage-

2smartcookies Guest Post: Lorinda

And here are my two favorite cookies to store from Two Smart Cookies-
Their Chocolate Chip Cookie-

 Guest Post: Lorinda

And their Sugar Cookie-

 Guest Post: Lorinda

Their seasonal Sugar Cookies never disappoint. Gorgeous every time.

But just because you don’t live in Georgia doesn’t mean you can’t store this local delicacy. You can order these food storage items online!

.Just go here- http://www.twosmartcookies.com/

.
You may not have realized that you can store cookies- but you can!!


And here is where…..

bigbooty1 Guest Post: Lorinda

Bam!

And here-

bigbooty2 Guest Post: LorindaBam!

.
And you’ll have to store here too-

bigbooty3 Guest Post: Lorinda

When those places fill, you can store here.

bigbooty4 Guest Post: Lorinda

Some people may find it rude to flaunt your food storage, but hey… you can’t apologize for preparedness and obedience.

.Oh!Oh! Don’t forget- to rotate, you need to consume the cookies often.

And remember, if we ever have a famine, the skinny chics go first.

Ha!

And those that have stored cookies will get to suffer longer.

Hey, wait a minute…..

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Thankful Thursday in April

1. I'm thankful April Fools day came and went without too many pranks fallen for or feelings hurt. I tried to "get" Laila by putting some food coloring in the bottom of her cereal bowl, then when she poured the milk over , it would turn everything blue. The problem was, she chose Cocoa Krispies, which turn the milk brown anyway...so we ended up with a grayish brown color...no surprise there. I was disappointed and turned to the oldest trick in the book. I screamed...."There's a spider!" Laila jumped as fast as I have ever seen her right on top of the table. Then when I hollered, "April Fools!" she started to cry. Not funny....oh well.
I had plans to make a spaghetti dinner and serve it straight on the table, no plates or silver ware....but we ran away to see a movie instead.
Monsters and Aliens was supposed to begin at 7:50--- actually it was 7:30 ( My eyes are getting bad) so we were late and decided to get hamburgers instead. The switched movie time was a pretty good April Fools trick on me. The boyfriends and Laila were mucho disappointed...good thing 5 guys Burger and fries made up for it.

2. I'm thankful I'm not pregnant. I was hanging out with my preggo friend yesterday...I'm so excited for her and she makes a darling pregnant lady....but I'm glad I'm done with that part of my life. Laila has been wanting a little sister lately.
I told her, " I am too old to have any more kids, and we will just have to wait for grand babies. "
She told me,
"You're not too old. What about that lady in the Bible? She was over 100!!"
Poor Sarah......

3. I'm thankful I don't have a pierced navel.

4. I'm thankful for Pajama Church....Conference weekend is coming, and I'm sooooo looking forward to it.

5. I'm thankful.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

I did it......

I did it....
I was sick of Truman having all of the fun....you know, the chalk festival and all....
So I went out and did something wild.
Something crazy.
My "dirty little secret."
Wayne is out of town, and I was having a wild jaunt in the city and just happened to see this sign and .....so......
I love it and I don't care who knows it.
The piercing only hurt a little bit.
I hope Wayne likes it.