"Birdhouse In Your Soul" - TMBG

Peanut reminded me this morning. . . . .

Peanut:  Mom, your birthday is coming soon, right?
Me:  I'm pretty sure I told you twice yesterday to start shopping.
Peanut:  So, ummmmm, how old are you going to be again?  24?
Me:  Ahhhhh, it appears, you figured out who Santa is.
Peanut:  okay, so really how old are you?
Me: [doing the math . . . ] ugggg, thirty-freaking-five
Peanut:  No.    way.    seriously?!

Ya, seriously.

That was my thought as I got ready this morning as I slathered on three different promising creams that I paid way too much for.  All promising me a "youthful glow" and "firmer, tighter skin".

What's a "glow" anyway?

This year has been:

incredible
insane
challenging
amazing
roller coaster-like
character building
intense
freaking. awesome.

Some times I think back to earlier times when things seemed simpler, less complex, less stressful & less demanding.

I'll.  keep.  today.
I'll.  keep.  these.  "glow-less" wrinkles.
And
my washboard forehead.

And in a few minutes........I'll be picking Peanut up from school with "Birdhouse In Your Soul" blaring .........She'll look at  me like I'm completely ridiculous......then we will dance the whole half mile home & I'll see a smile come across her face that can pretty much RIGHT anything wrong in the world.

And I'll remember once again, that thirty five years goes by pretty freaking fast . . .  If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. [thanks Farris]

[ Birdhouse in your soul ] - be ready to dance.

Happy. Freaking. Friday.

Don't worry - - Be happy

All dressed bright and [super] early this morning.

Hope you all enjoy the looooooooooooooooong weekend.

I'm planning on doing everything this video mentions.
 [Click here]

With waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better music though.  ;)

I am . . .

. . . . thankful for my niece Emma today.  Happy 10th Birthday!
. . . . grateful Peanut gets moments like this with the Pita.

 . . . most "worry free" when I'm doing this:

not racing . . . just running. 

 . . . . Happy my friend is home from her 3 week vacation.
. . . . Happy I get to have lunch with "happy" today.
. . . . thrilled Peanut is [finally] loving volleyball.

. . . . a woman who has been challenged beyond what I thought I was capable of handling.  I may be a little stronger than I thought after all. ;)
. . . . always more content after I've had my morning chat/visit with Peanut.

. . . . happy that I have brother & sisters.
. . . . sad that Peanut doesn't.
. . . . Blessed to have my Peanut.
. . . . getting a [super] sweet arm band from "Q".  awesome.  I'm sending him Rhubarb pie.  Pretty sure he's getting the raw end of that deal.
. . . . stoked that I won/was right [as usual] ; ) and that the Pita lost the bet and had to bring in all the Costco carts, in two rows which equaled 3 trips . . . . looking like he was an employee [minus the sweet beeping mechanical machine]

. . . . happy he doesn't read my blog.
. . . . hoping my pace partner for my Top of Utah Marathon doesn't back out on me!!  Come on W!  Crank it up!
 . . . . loving my new kicks

I'm sure [sarc-mark] they'll do great things for my running form and core.

Happy Hump Day.  I love Wednesday's.

loy·al

loy·al - unswerving in allegiance.

I consider myself a loyal person.

I am absolutely loyal to my Hubby [Pita].

I am loyal to my daughter.  My awesome family.  My friends.  My church.  My "ED" Treadmill.  Saucony shoes.  My Thorlo socks.  My Muscle Milk.  Heck, even my Charmin.  Yes, Charmin [toilet paper].

You know . . .

Executives at T.P. companies gather in big, fancy, glassy conference rooms to figure out how they can keep us coming back to the store for their version of the fluffy soft stuff wrapped around a little cardboard roll.

We learn loyalty to some extent growing up.  I remember shopping with my Mom.  I'd bring back Colgate tooth paste but we were buying "AIM".   I didn't ask why, I just went and got the AIM. 

I'd say, Political parties are definitely [a brand] statement of loyalty - and for me and my super-conservative house.  We were republicans.  So, I supported the Republican party when I was ohhh probably 8 years old. 

Current events can change one's loyalty too.  BP anyone?  And how many of you went running for some chili at Wendy's after the "finger" incident?!  yummy.

But for today, I am so thankful to my loyal "followers".  This blogging journey has done so much for me.  Sorry to make it all about me.  "Princess" who? [that's a whole other post]. ;)

Thank you for sharing this journey of life, of living, of running, of doing, of blogging with me.

Emz

same = same

  

1 Hardee's monster thickburger   =   710 stalks of celery
3 tsp   =   1 TBSP
1 jello mold   =   1 nearby LDS party
1 TBSP peanut butter given to [dog] Chuy = 1 hour of laughing to tears for the rest of us
1 hour of laughing at dog   =   no abs workout for the rest of the week
3 psychologists   =   1 psychaitrist
1 psychiatrist   =   1 psychiatrist too many
Ja Ja   =   Ha ha to Aunt Happy
long run done today   =   happy me
A+++++   =   the only grade Tiff ever sees on her report card
1 pair of running shoes  =   400 miles
400 miles   =  9/10 weeks
9-10 weeks   =   I mow my lawn
Happy me   =   Happy home
Happy home  =   date night
!   =   wowza
!!   =  OMGosh wow
!!!   =  [ok, sorry - note to self two "!!" is enough]
47 texts   =   1 email
1 email   =   1 phone call
1 phone call  =  is way too effecient me [not going to happen]
1 blog from Brooke   =   2 weeks
2 weeks   =   too long
2 Winter Olympics   =   1 Summer Olympics
Dutch skater losing gold due to coach error   =   1 major lesson in forgiveness
1  "I'd be happy to"   =   3 "no problem's"
33 - "no problem's"   =   1 [for sure] problem
44 photos   =   1 video
1 video   =   1 movie night
1 movie night   =  Friday/Saturday night
Friday night   =   Family Time
FT   =  the best time

Happy Friday!!

funny & happy - happy - happy!

Thought this was hilarious . . .

Wait ----- where are my 2010 chonies in this picture?!

*  *  *  *  *  *

And this sister of mine who [big huge huff] looks younger than me:

She's running the 1/2 marathon [kindof with me - same course] tomorrow!!

awesome.  happy. happy. happy.

The next one [the big one] - we run together!  A "biological sister-hood" run!

Now, if we could just get mom and dad to call in "sick" to work at the temple... hmmmmmmmm

She's made this a Christmas to remember

[Have always loved that song "Christmas to remember" Kenny & Dolly.]

So - my uber crafty / super talented / insanely driven / loves a challenge ... mother of mine. Made us the sweetest aprons ever for Christmas [just us girls - sorry to my brother but I'm sure after the red velvet cake thing - - Ang will let you borrow/HAVE hers. - love you Ang ;) ]

Christmas Eve was just Nana/Papa, Happy/Dave and Fam, and my crew. The other 3 siblings apparently had better places to be, whatever.

Each apron came with a "Apron Poem" of sorts [explaining the "uses" of the apron]. It was sweet but left a lot to our blond imaginations. Leave it to Happy and I do destroy a heart melting moment. Happy had declared we should take turns reading paragraphs [which sent me to giggling tears - what, are we in 4th grade again?] So she read while I laughed. I started with paragraph two, as instructed, then paused [as if to catch my breath/keep from crying] wiped my eyes then wham -- the laughter flowed again. [cracked me up they thought I was getting teary]. So [I think] we made it through the poem.

Then it was photo time.

Wish I could explain the crudeness of these 3-4 minutes. It was hilarious. Papa was even laughing though [so we must have been "ok"].

Happy's came with popcorn ball inserts [odd].

Thanks Mom for the sweet aprons, my even sweeter [much] older sister & making me the best apron of all.

I am the favorite after all.

Evie, don't comment. ;)

**If you are looking to BUY a sweet apron - check out hers. Love them.**

That "happy".

She is a funny little tart. So my Mom sent a "here's what each of you ungrateful children [other than EMZ] need to bring to contribute for Thanksgiving dinner" email. First you must know - I come from a family of "reply all's"......why would they just reply to Mom when they can "reply to all" and we can all see how willing they are to make/help/contribute?!

I was thinking just this as I read Happy's email but then I noticed my contributions had been jacked.

I went from Emz: soup, dessert & salad

to this: soup, dessert, salad, 7 homemade pies, more potatoes [Happy may not bring enough], your amazing brownies JIC someone doesn't want pie, green pistachio salad that Dave likes, green bean casserole & olives for our fingers.

Bring on the Holiday's! Can't wait until Happy gets my "reply all" email.

How many sisters [& brother-in-laws]. .

. . . . would think to bring you and your family one of these:

[for Peanut to decorate {check} and enjoy {check} for 2 days - since we will be missing Halloween this year]

And way too much [who am I kidding ;) ] of this:

And a WHOLE one of these:

[Rhubarb pie]

because your Hubby's Nana passed away?

Mine!

Thanks "Happy" & Dave for making us feel loved, cared for, adored, special & spoiled - - - you guys are wonderful.