Happiness

I believe when the sun sets on one dream, it rises on another. This belief has helped me get through the last couple of weeks. I am sad about the divorce. Sad doesn't really adequately describe it. Inspite of the sadness, I am optimistic for our future. Over the last few weeks, I have thought a lot about my life and my blessings.


15 Things I am thankful for

1. My heavenly father
2. My testimony and faith in the gospel
3. My family
4. My friends
5. The power of prayer
6. My boys: Logan and Jonah
7. A husband who, inspite of our divorce is fair and reasonable
8. My sweet neighbors
9. My boss, who is the best ever
10. The knowledge that I am a child of God
11. The fact that we have almost no debt
12. My ability to write/be able to support my family.
13. The prayers of my friends and family
14. trials
15. The knowledge that life goes on and sunshine will find me again.

Weirdness Defined

I was talking to one of my good friends the other day, and we were laughing about some of the weird hang-ups that I have with food. It was funny enough that I thought I would share.

1. When it comes to non chocolate candy...I will only eat the pretty colors (IE red, pink, purple) I throw the rest away.

I know what you're saying. "There are starving kids in China." Well, I'm certain they don't want the ugly colored starburst either!

2. I have a method for eating banana bread. First you cut a slice and put butter on it. Then you cut off a small sliver of bread off and eat it. Repeat until the slice is gone.

The most tragic thing is that I cannot eat banana bread any other way.

3. I can't eat a day old chocolate chip cookie without putting a little butter on top and warming it in the microwave (It makes it taste like it's freshly made)



4. I love grilled cheese sandwiches, but I like them with raspberry jam on top
(if there is no jam available, I like pickles on my grilled cheese, but they can't be grilled into the sandwich because that makes them warm and gross. I separate the sandwich after it's cooked and put them on.)


5. I hate bananas because they feel gross in my mouth. (I can't stand the dry sliminess)


6. I don't really like carbonation. I don't like the burn of it.


7. I love lemonade, but will not drink pink lemonade (Have you ever seen a pink lemon? I haven't!)

8. I can't eat chicken in a restaurant. (ew, gross!) I have this fear of biting into slimey salmonella chicken.


9. When I go out, my tip is based on the number of drink refills I am offered.


10. I love shrimp, but when I eat it...looking at the tail grosses me out.


Yeah, I know, I'm pretty much a freak!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!

Most people know, I love taking photos and I love my camera. A few weeks ago, It started acting weird. I'd have to turn it off and on about 3 times before it would work. I thought it was just the batteries, though it's never done that before. I just got new batteries and came downstairs to take some photos. The lense came out...but it went black...and now it won't go back in. It's officially dead! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??? AAAAAAAAAAAGH!

My day

7:15 am leaving for school


3:15 p.m. on the way home from school (gas prices $3.99! I had to take a picture)


3:22 p.m. pulling into the driveway


My hibiscus in full bloom


Layton waiting for me at the door with a nerf gun


This was Logan's face when I told him I had to go to work


Jonah pulled the chair over to the piano so he could play!

The fire department closed 1800 North to get donations or something. (Annoying! Hello! People have council meetings to attend!)

Dinner.


Council meeting


My jeans I got in trouble for wearing (at school)


I'm a dork!

I PASSED

I finished my first section of my Graphic Design Applications class. I finally passed the test with a 90%. Most of my classes I have breezed through. This section was a 20 hour section...and it took me almost the whole time.
Overall, I'm kind of frustrated with class. I have been working on the same section for 7 hours today. I couldn't get CS3 to do what the book said it should do. I asked my teacher around lunch time for help and she said "Keep practicing, there's a big learning curve for CS3."
That's great, but it's kinda pointless to practice something that doesn't work! So, I've re-read the section about 158 times. I've redone the project about 15 times. I was ready to go sign up to ride the short bus to school! Then, I found out that CS3 isn't loaded on this computer right. The program wasn't responding because of that...not because I'm retarded. It made me feel a little better, but I have just lost 7 hours of my life!

Ode to Scott (the brain leakage edition)

First off, after I posted the Lisa edition, I told Scott that he was going to be next. He told me if I said anything about him on this...whether it was true or not, he would sue me for libel. (That's my brother!) He then said it would be ok if I shared a direct quote. Here it is:

"Bloggers are dorks." (Scott)

Well, last night, we went to visit my parents as we do every Sunday. Scott sat me down and played this for me. (I think he was trying to un-dorkify me)



This is Lauralee, signing off for this special edition.
Have a great afternoon fellow dorks. :)

Double Post

So I forgot to mention this...so I'm double posting...
A few days ago, Jonah discovered how to climb out of his crib. He fell and knocked himself out. To make a long story short...he got a new toddler bed that day. (He's fine) Ever since, he's been a booger to go to sleep. He gets up 2-3 times a night. (He falls out at least once a night) I am exhausted. He's exhauted. Not only that, but he's gone from 2-3 naps a day to 1 (If I'm lucky) Does anybody have any suggestions?

*NURSERY!*

So we got a call a couple of days ago from brother Beckman (he's in our bishopric). He asked if he could come and meet with Layton and I today. I must say that because I don't have a calling in our ward, I WAS SO ANXIOUS!!!! Well we got our calling...don't know if I can really say anything until Sunday...Oh, what the heck...I'M IN NURSERY! (SO EXCITED!!!) Just thought I'd share.

SCARY SCARY THINGS

OK, to start off, I always joke that I live in the ghetto. Not that we actually do, but we live in an older neighborhood. All of the homes were built in the 40s. It's actually quite a charming little neighborhood. I love my ward and friends here. My neighbor on the other hand...well, drives me crazy. It seems like the police are always over there. (ALWAYS) and he and his "wife" are always fighting, screaming the F bomb etc. (which is why the police are always there)
Well, two nights ago, I noticed the police there in force. That's not unusual. Once I saw 8-10 US Marshalls lining the fence. Two days ago, there were a lot of people out in the street talking etc. WEIRD. (especially for 11 p.m.) Sadly, I didn't think anything of it because it's the norm. I didn't think anything of it until A crime scene clean up truck pulled up yesterday and they guy started pulling out couches and carpet and things. He was in there for hours cleaning up something. I looked on the police blotter for the night previous. That night at 11 there were 3 police cars in front of my neighbors house at the time a dead body was found in the city.

That's all I know, the police department won't talk to me. SO SCARY!!!!

Weirdest thing I've ever eaten

I must admit I am a bit of an adventurer when it comes to food. The weirder the food, the more likely it is I'll like it (I did actually just can a whole batch of Apricot Jalepeno Jelly, seriously.) Well, today, I ate the weirdest thing I've ever eaten, completely by accident. I was putting a load of dishes away and I opened the cupboard to have a crystal candle stick fall out on me. I am a screamer (and it startled me) so I let out a good scream. The glass shattered as I screamed (delayed response I guess) So a little piece of glass shot into my mouth. It actually went with such force, it went down my throat before I could catch it. So...I swallowed broken glass...brilliant.

Looking For Inspiration

Many writers get their inspiration from different places. I am out of ideas so I thought I'd ask...does anyone know about anything interesting or unusual that is going on? It could be inspiring or just fun. Let me know!

(you can email me at monkeylauralee@hotmail.com)

What a RELIEF!

I had a late night last night. My boys were boogers. I was up twice with Jonah before 3. At 5:30 it was Logan't turn. So, when the lady from the scholarship office from my college called at 8:30, I was sound asleep. When I answered the phone...I probably sounded terrible. It's ok, I'm only kind of embarrassed. It doesn't really matter because I got a scholarship!!!!

On the news front, Jonah is talking. He is using word combinations often (Most common is "What's up" or in Jonah talk "Wup" He also tells the dogs to "shut up" It's king of funny. Whenever they bark, he bangs on the window and yells "Shup"
He's such a cute little man. He has this little toy Ipod that he holds up to his ear and bobs his head back and forth. When it plays this song about jumping he gets all excited and says "Jump!" (He's still not walking) but he's SO cute.