Random--My Brain and This Post

This post will be totally random--simply because that's how I'm feeling:

I have spent the last few days being sick in bed. It started with a sore throat and runny nose and then I ended up getting the flu. Still am not 100% but feel a little better.

Today is Stephen and Daphne's 22nd Anniversary. Happy Anniversary, guys.





















And 22 years later at Daph's 20 year reunion.

















Last week I finished reading "The Fire of the Covenant" (the story of the Willie and Martin Handcart Company) by Gerald Lund. As I read, I was reminded of something I've known for a long time--I would have been a horrible pioneer. Poor Allan would have been wishing he had duck tape on the trail--no, not to fix our handcart but to cover my mouth and keep me from murmuring. I highly recommend reading the book--just make sure you have lots of kleenex.

Because I've been sick I have not been able to exercise for the last few days. I'm so excited to see that the weather next week is going to be fairly mild, which means I will be able to run. I will probably have to do the run a couple of minutes, walk 1, for a few minutes until I get my strength back.

The Olympics are wrapping up--tomorrow will be the closing ceremonies, but they will take place after the highlight for many Canadians--the Gold Medal hockey game that will have the U.S. taking on Canada. It has prompted a poll on our family website. The question: Who do you want to win the Gold Medal in hockey? Tough one for me--I know how much it means to everyone in Canada.

My Recent Challenge

No, not that kind of challenge. I mentioned in my last post that I have been participating in a challenge that began on January 11th and goes through April 4th. There are about 45 women participating in the challenge. It has been hard work, but I have learned a lot, especially about myself, and I love it. The best thing I have learned so far: I can do things I didn't think I could.

Some of the "challenges" have been difficult for me--some have been great learning experiences. There have been ten challenges with a possibility of earning ten points each day. The tough ones:

• Having only one treat per day;
• eating two servings of fruit and three of vegetables every day;
• having the dishes done before I go to bed (which means put everything away and make sure the kitchen is clean). I love that one--it is so nice to wake up in the morning and have the kitchen sparkly ; )

One of the things I have learned: I'm a grazer--I eat all day long. This past week I have been trying really hard to just have 3 meals a day and my treat. I have especially loved the "atta girl" challenge. The original goal read "Because the good I do is often intangible and hard to recognize, I am going to journal each day the way in which I have made a difference today." Some weeks you were to try and accomplish something and when you complete it you say to yourself "atta girl"--that has been a lot of fun and I have accomplished some great things. Right now the goal read: "Contribute in some way each day to change the world. If you would like, journal each day about that contribution - or your hope of a contribution you can/will make to change the world."

Last week because of the Olympics the organizer put us in teams and each team chose some goals. We had the option to use the old "challenges" or pick from the challenges each team issued. I decided I wanted to take it up a notch and I kept some of the ones that were tough for me from the old ones and picked some of the new ones I thought would really be a challenge. The tough ones this week:

• I kept the same one treat per day because I found when I didn't have a limit, I was going CRAZY;
• make dessert for someone each day without eating one bite of it;
• eat a healthy breakfast each day--I'm not always good at that;
• exercise for 60 minutes a day--that's not too hard for me, but it has been a bit of a challenge. I do my Wii (and if it doesn't last 30 minutes, I go on as a guest and do whatever I need to so that it equals 30 minutes, and then join "Bob" in the Biggest Loser 30 minute Cardio Max. One day when my knee was bugging me, I decided to go out for a nice hour long walk;
• I have enjoyed our team's "find and document the gold in every day." The point would be earned for finding something "gold in every day--whether it be a kid's funny comment, a nice gesture...something that made you laugh and journal about it." It has really caused me to be aware of everything throughout the day.

I have enjoyed the challenge so much. The bonus to the whole thing: the one treat and the exercising every day have allowed me to lose 9 pounds so far. Sure hoping I can lose another 13 by June.

It has been a great journey where I have learned a great deal about myself. One of the funny things is I have realized I am definitely a team player--Last week because I have been on a "team" and I really haven't wanted to let my team down, I earned all the points each day. As much as I've wanted to lick the beaters and snatch a nice warm chocolate chip cookie or have a second treat, I knew I needed to earn those 10 points. It was the first week I earned my ten points each day.

I am working on becoming more confident and stronger physically. As well, I have been working on some spiritual goals of my own. Let's hope I can keep it up until April and that I develop some great habits that I will keep up long after the challenge is over.

Sidenote #1: Neal was in the Bay Area for the last couple of days and hooked up with Stephen and Daphne and their family for dinner. I always love when the kids get together. Thanks, Neal for posting the picture.

Sidenote #2: I don't always clean out my aol inbox and it reached 1000 this weekend. I didn't know but it wouldn't go above 1000. So I'm off to clean out my inbox.

Some Days I Love My Mailman

Actually, I have a lady carrier, and she reminds me very much of Nancyface.

Yesterday, I went out to my mailbox and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, I found these sweet little valentines from my little grandson, G-man. And attached to the valentines were delicious sugar cookies and lollipops--one addressed to Grandma Onnie and one for grandpa.

And then from a recent giveaway on Connie's blog, I received this. It will be put to good use as soon as there is no snow on our barbeque--which should be late April ; ) By the way, if you want a great laugh, look at the pictures on her blog post today. Too cute.

Now, next week I'm going to write about the "challenge" I've been involved in since January 11th. One of the goals each day is to "Savor up to one (1) small treat per day". Now anyone who knows me, knows this is a KILLER goal. So when these came in the mail, I thought for sure I was doomed. But I hung in there and enjoyed my cookie. I'm saving the M&M's. By the way, I don't think "one small treat" would be one M&M--do you???? Now shall I just add that I think Macy is trying to sabotage my points (since she is participating in the challenge, too)--I think the cookie she made for me was just too good, and I was very tempted to rip into grandpa's package and eat his, too. BUT, I DIDN'T.

Sidenote #1: I wrote about this on FB, but I have to write it here, so it's saved for posterity in my "journal". My DIL, Daphne, who is due in July just found out she is expecting a girl. We are very excited. It has been 10 years since we have had a granddaughter. I'm most excited about learning how to make those little flower headbands. I think they are so cute. Out to find a tutorial.

Sidenote #2: I wonder, after the a couple of comments on my last post, if people think I don't smile very often. Hey folks, remember my one word resolution was smile and I'm bound and determined to look for the good everywhere I go. I've decided I have a great deal to smile about. I'm changing my philosophy. If people don't like me, I'm sorry, but it's not going to get me down--well, maybe I should say keep me down ; )

HAVE A FABULOUS WEEKEND AND BE SURE AND SMILE.

Onnie-ology

Before I start, let me explain the "Onnie" part. When I was a little girl, my youngest sister could never say "Yvonne" and she used to say "Onnie". That is what my sisters call me. Shortly after Allan and I were married one of my sisters called the house and asked for Onnie and he said, "Sorry, you must have the wrong number" ; ) He knows better now.

Now, let's get started:

Mouthology:
Q: What is your favorite fast food?
A: When I'm here in Winnipeg--Subway; in California In-N-Out; and when I'm in Utah Cafe-Rio (actually not sure that qualifies as a "fast food" restaurant.

Q: What food could you eat every day for 2 weeks and not get sick of?
A: Besides chocolate, I would have to say grapes or cantalopue.

Q: Pizza Toppings of Choice?
A: Mushroom and Cheese

Technology:

Q: What is currently on your computer wallpaper?
A: A picture of Allan and I with our kids in Hawaii.


Q: How many TVs are in your house?
A: Too many--especially considering there are only two of us in the house.

Biology:

Q: Are you a Righty or Lefty?
A: Righty

Q: When was the last time you had a cavity?
A: A few months ago.

Q: Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
A: Yes, when I walked into an airplane wing. I was working at the Naval Air Station in Alameda and was walking through one of the hangars and turned and walked right into a wing. I had two lovely black eyes.

Otherology:

Q: What color do you think looks best on you?
A: Red

Q: Have you ever saved some one's life?
A: Nope.

Q: Has someone saved yours?
A: Absolutely.

Dumbology:

Q: What is in your left pocket?
A: In my bathrobe--nothing in my pocket.

Q: Is Napoleon Dynamite actually a good movie?
A: I think so.
Q: Last run in with the cops?
A: I'd have to say when I got a speeding ticket going 65 km in a 50 km zone--stupid radar guns. But just for fun I have to tell you about the time my sister and I were riding in the car with a couple of guys and got pulled over and questioned BIG TIME. I mean the guys were standing outside of the car with their hands on top of the car (like "put your hands up"). Anyway, I guess a similar car was involved in some kind of trouble and they were just checking us out. Kind of scary.

Lastology:

Q: Last person to call you?
A: Kyle called to talk to his dad.
Q: Last person you hugged?
A: Hubby this morning when he left for a business trip.

Favoritology:

Q: Number?
A: Number 1, of course,--"because if you're not first you're last" ; )

Q: Season?
A: Fall

Currentology:

Q: Mood?
A: Happy.

Q: Listening to?
A: Commentators on the Olympics.

Q: Watching?
A: The Olympics.

Randomology:

Q: First place you went this morning?
A: Same place I go every morning--o the bathroom.

Q: Last movie you saw?
A: "Valentines Day"

Q: Do you smile often?
A: You betcha.

I Don't Know Much About Hockey, but...

Everytime I see this commercial I get excited about watching the Olympic hockey games, and I NEVER watch hockey. My boys didn't play hockey, but you can't help getting excited about it every time I see this.

Enjoy and GO USA and CANADA.

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day--and that it has been a fabulous Valentine's weekend. We went to dinner and a movie on Friday night to celebrate. We went to see Valentine's Day--which was a very cute movie. My favorite part had to be Julia Roberts' line at the end. I got it immediately--it took a few minutes for other people to laugh--so I'm not sure they did. After dinner we went to the mall so I could pick up a pair of these

Heidi and Kyle have a pair but I didn't buy a pair for me, so I was glad to find a pair for ME. On my way through one of the stores, a bunch of people were gathered around a TV in one of the depatment stores where the news was showing the replay of the luge accident. It was so incredibly sad, and I have to say, I wish I hadn't seen the footage.

After the movie, we came home to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. We missed the countries marching into the Stadium, but it is on my DVR, so I'll watch it later. I loved the Opening. I'm tired of people constantly comparing them to the Beijing Opening. I was impressed. I loved when Wayne Gretzky went to light the outdoor cauldron. So cool that people who were not able to be inside the stadium got to experience the whole thing.

Now back to the message of this post. I'm in loveI love the man I married some 27 1/2 years ago. We have enjoyed a great life together and the best part--it keeps getting better. Challenges--sure. I don't know anyone who doesn't have them, but knowing that we are not going through this life alone, makes it a whole lot easier.

Unfortunately, he is in one of our branches up North and will not be home until tomorrow night. We will celebrate with a nice dinner--which he will cook for me. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this--he usually makes our Sunday dinner. He's not always able to do it, but it is something he has tried to do since we were married. (Frankly, the kids loved Sunday dinner--their dad is a great cook ; )

This morning I I was so excited to give him his Valentine's Day gift which I knew he could use when he went on his little trip today--I got him a camera. He was thrilled which always makes me happy. (And speaking of cameras, this spring I'm going to take a photography class. I'm very excited. So, I'll have my 10 K running class and this photography class--won't have time to get bored and miss laundry and dishes ; )

Now, what did you do for Valentine's Day????

Olympic Time

This will probably be the kids during the Opening Ceremonies tomorrow night.

And here is what they will look like after Canada wins the Gold Medal for Men's Hockey ; )

CAN I JUST SAY, I LOVE THESE GUYS. They each have a great sense of humor. Kyle doesn't wear glasses, so I haven't figured that one out yet.

And, by the way, be sure and check out Amber's blog. She won Microsoft's Winter Games Blogging Contest and will be blogging from Vancouver. I wish we didn't live so far away from Vancouver--it would be fun to attend an event.

Life Is Different

The weather has been cold, not too bad though, the snow just seems to keep piling up. The house is quiet and I'm realizing there are many things I'm missing right now. Things are very different, and I continue to try to adjust. But right now, I'm missing:

• Being at school: As I drove past the high school the other day, I realized how much I am missing basketball and volleyball games, band concerts, parent-teacher conferences, newsletters from the school, etc.
• No late nights: Allan and I go to bed fairly early and I think I'm still trying to adjust because it seems like I'm always waking up around midnight--the time Kyle used to come home. It seems weird not waiting up at night for kids to get home.
• Nicer weather: I love being able to run outside and I am so sad that I have been kind of cooped up.
• Call me crazy: but I'm missing laundry and dishes. It just seems so weird to only wash two plates and two glasses. And then laundry gets done in just a few minutes. But, speaking of dishes, we're having the missionaries over for dinner tonight and I'm using my red plates--I love them.
• Seminary--yes, I'm missing getting up early every morning, spending time with the youth, and even preparing lessons.
• Taking pictures--Since the kids left 2 months ago, I have taken pictures on only two different occasions--the day the torch was here and the day we had the beautiful hoar frost. Tonight Allan will be setting apart a missionary so I'll be taking a few pictures, but I rarely post those.
• More to blog about--it's boring when it's just Allan and me to write about ; ) Believe me, we live SUCH AN EXCITING LIFE. So, please keep posting--I may not have much going on, but I know all of you do. I love reading your ideas, your adventures, and seeing what's going on in your lives.

Now I may not be taking pictures, however, let me posts, a couple of cute pictures of my cute kids and grandkids.

I saw this one on my beautiful granddaughter, Kiah's fb page. It is her and her folks and 3 of her siblings.




Kiah and Hannah with the trophy from their recent cheerleading competition.




Stephen and Daphne's children--love the sweatshirts. What are they going to spell when #6 joins the family in July ; )


My little Garrett enjoying riding with his dad. He is such a cutie--his mom takes the cutest pictures of him. I hope you have had the chance to see some of her great pictures on her photography blog.

Sidenote #1: Just a couple of more days until the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Kyle is very excited about watching the Olympics, and he wanted to have some Canadian gear so he could try to show his support of his country. I can't wait to see the picture of all of them wearing their gear and when they send the picture or pictures to me--I'll have something to blog about.

Sidenote #2: I successfully made my first batch of sugar cookies--I can make drop cookies, but I've never been able to cut a cookie right. I saw a recipe on Connie's blog, but I didn't have enough sour cream so decided to try the recipe Macy had used when I was visiting a few years ago. IT WORKED. Wish the kids were here to eat them.

Anniversary

Fourteen years ago today we arrived in Winnipeg. Wow. I had been thinking about this organizing frenzy I have been on and wondering why I have so much clutter. The other day it hit me. We have done a fair amount of moving. Allan and I were married in Oct. 1982. In July 1984, we moved into a new house that we had built. In January 1986 we moved into another house because the builders went bankrupt. In July 1987, we moved to So. California. August 1989 we moved to Charlotte, NC. August 1990 we moved to Canada the first time--which is why Kyle was born in Canada. December 1993 we moved to Reno. November 1994 we moved to Auburn. And then Feb. 6, 1996 we moved to Winnipeg. Each time we moved, I de-cluttered. That explains a lot, doesn't it.

Adjusting to the weather here was my biggest adjustment.We knew we'd miss our pool in Auburn. No sense in having one here.



When we left California it was a nice warm day--when we arrived here IT WAS FREEZING. Poor Kyle was not used to the ice and snow and being a little guy--he was 4, the first thing he did was slip and fall on the ice. All that winter, people kept assuring me that "this winter was not typical". Yeah sure, I heard that the following winter, too. We learned that the trick was to just bundle up. And bundle up we do. It's not about looking good--it's about keeping warm.

Because we had moved so many times, my dream was to get Heidi through high school in Winnipeg. When we got here she was in Grade 7. Then as time moved along, I wanted to get Brent through before we moved. Imagine my surprise when we also got Kyle through high school. All three of them graduated from the same high school. It has been great.

The other big adjustment was being so far away from family. We've made many trips down to the States to visit family throughout the years. There were even a few times that the kids and I made the drive and Allan flew. (This was before the kids could drive and it sure seemed long to me ; ) The kids have always been real troopers when it came to riding in the car. Of course, it was a lot easier once we got a DVD player in the van. I'm so grateful that we have had so many family reunions. I still do not enjoy clearing customs whether it is when I fly or when I drive. I hate having to declare goods that you purchased. It is annoying, but I'm always honest. I particularly hate mailing things to family or friends in the U.S. and have to fill out custom forms. The other day I was mailing Kyle's asthma medicine and you'd think I was "smuggling" drugs.

Let me say I'm so grateful for the telephone, e-mail, FB, and iChat. It sure makes being away a lot easier.

I have no idea how long we will live here. When Allan "retired" back in 2008 and we thought we might be leaving, we were very sad. Although being back in the States would mean we would be closer to family, we didn't feel it was time to leave here. It all worked out and he found a job that allowed us to stay here. When it's time to retire, we are excited about putting in our papers to serve a mission. We had thought that would happen when Kyle goes, but we will more than likely wait until he comes home.

So that means a few more cold winters. And that's okay. I love my house, my friends, and my neighborhood. Canada is a beautiful country. We have had the chance to visit almost every province. We have not visited the Northwest Territories or Nunavut. Here I am at Peggy's Cove and somewhere in BC--may be Whistler, but I'm not sure.

With the Olympics coming up, it's tough for me. I'm proud to be an American. I still cry when I hear the National Anthem and will cheer for the Americans. However, I will cheer for the Canadians as well. When it comes to the hockey game, if the Americans play the Canadians--I will be waving my American flag--even though I'm pretty sure it will be futile.

Sidenote #1: I am putting the word verification thing on my blog because I've had some spam, and it's getting a little annoying.

Love Is In the Air

February is a month that holds a special place in my heart. I've written many times about the loss of my parents and the good fortune my sisters and I had to be taken into the home of two very special people. If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know the story. If you don't know the story, and you are interested, you can read it here.

I also love February because it is a month where we celebrate love. Last February I did a post every day focusing on things I love. This year I'm trying to spend less time on the computer.

So in celebration of this month of love, I'd like to do a post on my ten most romantic movies. Now, keep in mind--these are mine--so they may not be yours. You may not even like mine--that's okay. THEY'RE MINE.

1. An Affair to Remember--I have to admit, I love in Sleepless in Seattle when Rita Wilson describes when Cary Grant realizes why Deborah Kerr did not get off the couch.
2. Ghost--I love it. It is the love we take with us.
3. Pretty Woman--I am touched every time Julia Roberts talks about how much easier it is to believe the bad stuff people say about you.
4. The Princess Bride--That is a movie about "true love"
5. Sleepless in Seattle
6. You've Got Mail
7. Splendor in the Grass--I haven't seen it for years but it was tragic
8. The Way We Were--Thank goodness it is "the laughter we will remember"
9. The Magic of Ordinary Days
10. Dirty Dancing

Now I could add "The Last of the Mohicans", but I think too many would argue it's not exactly a romantic movie. But I love the romance between Daniel Day Lewis and Madeline Stowe.

And I could add many Disney movies--Beauty and The Beast being one of my favorites.

How about you, do you have a favorite romantic movie?

Sidenote: If you watched Lost last night, what did you think?