Top Ten Today

-Thanks to my visitng teaching ladies for a super visit on Friday! Loved it and can't wait to do another group gathering with games. Maybe it will involve American Idol and a show-down, Anna B?

-Had fun family game time tonight: I got onto my itunes and played "Name that tune". I can't believe how much my kids' MP3 players promote literacy. They knew almost all artists AND names of songs! I think I've brainwashed them into loving my 80's faves: Baby Judy-Hawaiian Pups, 99 Luftballons-Nena, One Night in Bangkok- Murray Head, All U2, Sting, Jason Mraz, and the list goes on. Good times.

-My favorite trilogy: Bourne Identity, Supremacy & Ultimatum. I've watched the series since I DVR'd Ultimatum the other day. TBS put the other two on (edited:) so I have the complete trilogy now. Will there be a fourth in the series?

FYI: Never been into action movies, except "Pirates", yet I can't get enough of this cerebral set.

Favorite line: "How can I forget you? You're the only person I know."- J. B.

-Keane's album, Under the Iron Sea. Wow. And Christina Aguilera's album, Back to the Basics. I don't care what genre she's in: the girl's got pipes! Great album that is mostly decent, and a beautiful "hat off" to classic soul artists.

-Oh, and my real most embarrassing moment involved a broken zipper in a very slinky dress that I had to go on stage with anyway to sing a big solo love song my senior year in the production of Anything Goes. Just in-case you wanted to know ;) Love, Jess

Bro Jo

Happy birthday, Jody. You've always been a mentor in music, all things horror and the spiritual side of life. Thanks for all of the killer massages. That sounds weird coming from a little sis, doesn't it? :)

I love who we are today. You are sweet, generous and hilarious. Today I dedicate my favorite Jack Handey to you and Leonardo di Chihuahua (even though you made me that scone one time with cat food in it)

I hope if dogs ever take over the world, and they choose a king, they don't just go by size, because I bet there are some Chihuahuas with some good ideas.

Senator Chris Buttars, An Honest Man

To you this may be a state Senator, but to me he's been a neighbor, Singles' Ward Bishop, Boss and teddy bear! He makes the news every-so-often with the things he says, yes, I'll agree sometimes out of place, but always passionate about what he stands for. He passed around a letter to his neighbors that I felt was insightful and I'll share it here for anyone who wants to read it.

Chris was the director of the Utah Boys Ranch for many years and I worked with him for 7. When he said he's going to raise 'X amount' of dollars for the boys, he went out and raised more. He stands for family values and condems anything that goes against the 10 commandments.

He made the annual Scarecrow Festival the profitable event that it was and we ran a fantastic boys program because of his dilligence and drive. Chris, I salute you and all others willing to speak out and defend our rights, and hope the best for you during these difficult times.

Here's the letter:

Dear Friends and Constituents,

You've heard a lot from the media an special-interest groups about a recent statement I made on the Senate floor. These sound bites are attention-grabbing, but they don't tell the whole story. I'd like you to know exactly what happened.

The comments in question were made while SB48, informally known as the Equalization Bill, was being debated on the Senate floor. The bill had many flaws and my comments that day reflected concerns about its impact.

Senator Michael Waddoups was the first to refer to the bill as a "baby," and others expanded on the metaphor. Senator Howard A Stephenson said, "I rise in support of what I call the ugly baby bill. Senator Eastman has been likened to Solomon in bringing this [bill] forward but he is holding an ugly baby and about to cut it in half." I then stood to speak, and in the heat of the moment mixed my metaphors, substituting the word "baby" for "bill." Addressing Senator Stephenson, I said, "This baby is black, it is a dark and ugly thing." This was never meant as a racial slur, as it has been portrayed. My intent was to express concerns about the possible consequences of the Equalization Bill.

During the recess that followed my statement, President John L. Valentine informed me that Senator Ross I. Romero had lodged complaint. Recognizing how my words could be misconstrued, I immediately requested the opportunity to formally apologize. You can view my apology and the full debate at http://www.le.state.ut.us/asp/audio/index.asp?Sess=2008GS&Day=23&Bill=&House=S.

Finally, I want to express my appreciation to the many hundreds of people who have contacted me to express their continued support. Through this difficult time, I remain honored and energized by the opportunity to serve you.

To All the Girls I've Loved Before...and Now

Sending all of my bestest blogging buddies a valentine straight from MY heart. You've brought cheer into my life with your comments and tutoring on the blog. Thanks and you know who you all are: the Annas, Kati, Christina, Pickle, Karen and all of my other girlfriends here.

These pictures put me instantly in-love! One of my favorite books as well as flicks. Especially love the angry shouting match in the rain. Just thought you ought to be reminded of such beauty. Oh, and how could I forget the phenomonal music in Pride & Prejudice?!

Thought for the Day

I've been wanting to put a Deep Thought by Jack Handy on my blog for a while now. Here is todays:

The face of a child can say it all. Especially the mouth part of the face.

Then I see Christina's site today and see she has a Sunday Spiritual thought on her blog. Sweet.
And then I ask myself why I'm not naturally this precious. And then I say to myself, "Why fight it, self. All I can be is goofy, intense, irreverent me." That'll do for the day.

Me and My Pal

Here we are, me and my sister, Juliet in our favorite "engagement" style photos that Dad took while we were at Bailey's party at McDonalds.
We're goofs and we love it. All we have to say is "April 29th" (our day) to make one another laugh and to connect. Love you, Sis. Listen to the music, there are plenty of dedications for you including "Sweet Child of Mine". J
Gorrilla Glue? What UP?

Chop, Chop

Here I am with Kristin. She cut my hair today, (uh, hem and apparently some other minor unmentioned maintenance). She's good and she's a doll. I like the 'after' shot a bit better. View below

Pretty fun, eh? So I'm playing with Ivy and realize I did the mommy and daughter matching hair. I still love it. And does it count that I copied her and didn't have her copy me?

I ask Ivy to take a picture with me because we have the same hairdo and it took 4 shots to get it right.

She's cracking me up!

Seriously now, Ivy.

Thank you ! "Am I your princess, Mommy?" "Yes, Ivy. You're my princess." Love you.

Something Out of a Horror Flick

"Just a routine x-ray", they said and of course, now we have 2 boys seeing the orthodontist. Yesterday's cleanings and check-up turned out to be more something out of a horror movie I saw in middle school rather than a "routine" day. Donovan has extra teeth wanting to come in, but his baby teeth won't leave- duh, duh, duh, dum. And then, Harrison, they thought after Donovan they'd just see what was up for H and without intervention, he'd have a canine come in at a 45 degree angle. He also has wisdom teeth starting. It runs in my family, I tell you. All of it. Oh, well. Just material for my parents to smile and have a tad bit of self-satisfaction. The stuff they hoped would happen for me way back when.

Thanks for the braces, Ma & Pop. Oh, and thanks for bailing me out with money while at college and thanks for coming to take care of me when I was hit from behind and couldn't work for a week, and also... You get the picture. I can TOTALLY appreciate you now. Emotionally, fincancially, comically, etc. Love you tons, Corky and DaleAnn (see picture below).

Feedback, Please

This would be my parents, Corky and DaleAnn with my kiddos. Read the above post and look at them and love them:)

Just wondering how the music thing is going. Is it working for all of you with high-speed? I am in the prehistoric land of dial-up so not quite sure how it goes for others. Perhaps lady fortune well smile on me and I'll get comments like some of my professional blogger friends:) J

Sampling Food Storage and Hidden Mysteries

What did I get done today, you ask? Ivy stayed home from school again because of the wicked, croupy cough that's cycling through our neighborhood. Mean, I tell you. She gets running around and coughing then til she throws-up and everyone gets mad cause they had to hear it. Almost amusing, but disturbing at the same time.
I got a chiropractic adjustment and a bit of p.t. from a cool place called Integrated Wellness, Dr. Scott Froggley. Neat solutions to tension, headaches and nutritional needs. Beautiful people.
Then Rob and I had some quality time together...he loves me:) I guess I love him a lot too. We had fun. Lunch at Zupas- I rate it a 6 because of the pureed soup, common! I want cauliflower in my cheesy cauliflower soup, and for some silly reason Rob would have loved to have lobster in his lobster soup. The panini sandwiches were dry (I guess that's better than totally greasy, but nice try), but the atmosphere was a clean, hip place with a real rush after 11:05a.m. Next time, if there is one, I'll try a salad- they looked beautiful.

Then for the hilarious part: The 25 min. run in the wind. It just about killed me (ha, ha, Taryn) running into the wind, then running back with it pushing me all of the way. I'm sore now, even after the 20 minute bath with jets. Serves me right.

I cracked open some of our fun 72 hr kits for snack time after school. I've had these kits I made during enrichment April 2003 and wanted to have us all taste-test what has lasted (and have the kids tell me what was gross too :) These are the cadillacs of eating kits: the ward mass-purchased awesome snacks, drinks and essentials from Costco, then we went around the room assembling our own bags according to what we ordered. Now that it's been so long I wanted to see what was rancid and what is still edible. I guess when we're stuck, just about everything is edible;0 Anyway, the fruit leather from Costco made it with flying colors. So did drinks. Not so great were spicy beef sticks (tasted like they were straight off of a tree:) , goldfish crackers and planters nuts in plastic wrapping. I was impressed with the smuckers kits of crackers with pb&j etc. Also, candy and gum rock in the pkgs like that.

I recommend giving your food storage the taste test and see if it passes with the kids. I want to hear the comments, ladies;)

This picture contains two mysteries, one I'll dispell and the other, keep you guessing:

I'm the mysterious purple bonnet-sporting pioneer in the front. Now for the juice; who is the woman being slung over her husband's shoulder at Trek 2007? Give you a clue...she showed her sister's glamour shot last week on-line. She might even deserve this. Just checking to see if you check my blog enough ;)

These cars will be all-the-rage in the US soon, from what we hear. The Smart Car. I took this photo in Nuremburg, Germany because they were freaking me out. They're so tiny, can get up so close to you and look like Fred Flinstone should be in there pedaling. Just thought I'd use this site as the latest car fasion show. Want one?

Ok, H is so cute here and the colors match his personality- calm, as constant as the waves in the ocean and never afraid to pose for mom. He wants to tell the blogging world that, "life is wonderful! My mom's great and I love my family". See what I mean? You can usually only pay kids to say that!

This photo reminds me of Ivy's real mature spirit- not the cooky one y'all usually see, but the genuine, caring and loveable sister that she is. Yummy!

'D'- beautiful, photogenic, tough (but mostly sensitive), best babysitter ever, and ball-player extrordinaire. He laughs and says to all bloggers, "blah, blah, blah" about 10 times. Goof!