Dogs Vs. Cats

My friend, Kelly, sent me this because she knows I just got a cat. This is so funny because cats really do all of these things. Now I will have to wonder about Cuddles true intent.

DOG DIARY
8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Ran back and forth in the hall! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play tug! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

CAT DIARY
Day 983 of my captivity
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.

In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet. Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am.

They continue to pick me up and handle me, an obvious attempt to subvert me. There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the owner of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.
I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.

The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

Tonight I will again lay on their heads while they sleep and hope to smother them.

Lavender Days, Mona, UT 2008

Run through the Lavender at Young Living Farms in Mona, UT

On the women's 5K I placed 17th out of 67 runners for my age group (30-34) with a time of 30:51.3. Overall I placed 81st out of 368. After I looked up my placement online I felt a lot better. When I am running it seems like everyone is passing me. It also seems like everyone is done running by the time I get to the finish line. Since looking at my placement, I feel a bit better. I was thinking that maybe I could train and work hard and win my division next year. Wishful thinking. The winner of my division ran a time of 23:31.8.

Meet Cuddles

I got a kitten!! Wahoo!! She is so adorable. I was so anxious about getting a house pet, for all of the obvious reasons, but I have wanted a kitten since last summer. I finally decided to bite the bullet and get one, or else I would probably go through the should-I-get-a-kitten-dilemma over and over again. The only way for me to find out if a pet is worth it is to actually try it out.

I am so glad I decided to take the plunge. This kitten is just what I wanted. She truly is the most cuddly kitten ever. And let me tell you, I had quite the search to find the "purfect" kitten. I went to about six different places before I found her. The first two places I went to were downright disappointing. The kittens were wild and when you went to pick them up they would hiss at you and then they would squirm like crazy to get away--not real friendly. This is so what I didn't want. At the second house the guy had a hard time even catching the kittens they were so wild and when he let me hold them they started scratching at me to get away.

I must admit I was getting a bit discouraged. However, when I went to Cuddles previous home, the house was having a huge slumber party. There was about ten 10-year old girls running around. When the girl came running with Cuddles clasped tightly in her hands and all the rest of the girls were yelling and making a ruckus and Cuddles was still purring a midst all the chaos, I knew this was the cat for me. The first time I held her, she curled up peacefully in my arms and did not try to get away and did not scratch me.

And cuddles is the most good natured kitten ever. She purrs all the time. She will be running and hoping all over the room, purring the entire time. Last night we locked her in the master bath, but decided to let her out when we could hear her crying. She zoomed around our room inspecting everything and keeping us awake. Then she jumped up on the bed and curled up with me and fell asleep purring.

I was like a little kid again waiting for Christmas. I was so excited I hardly slept at all last night. I kept petting my new kitten and loving how cuddly and adorable she is. And I didn't want to squish her in the middle of the night, and it was hard to find a comfortable position when she insisted on cuddling up right next to me. I fell asleep around 2 a.m. I was abruptly reminded that Cuddles is just a baby when she woke up around 3:30 a.m. and started zooming around the room again.

Now I have a new friend to keep me company when Jake is at work all day. :) Right now she is curled up in my lap sleeping, as I type this post. How fun is that!

A bit of Nostalgia

I remember using this "chant" when I was growing up. I am pretty sure Kesa taught it to me.

If someone calls you a jerk, say this:

A jerk is a tug.
A tug is a boat.
Boats float on water.
Water is nature.
Nature is beautiful.
Thank you for the compliment.

It is always good to be prepared with a good comeback.

Does anyone else remember this?

Jacob is so not surprised! ;)

Jacob and I have been working on finishing the basement. When Jacob was spray painting the basement, he painted the kitchenette the regular tan that went on all the other walls. Then we decided it would be fun to have the kitchenette and the bathroom be a different color. We chose a light peachy color for the kitchenette (don't worry I think it turned out good, plus it matches well with the hall paint), the bathroom is a dark green. I think it may be a little too dark for a basement, but Jacob insists it looks good. (Really, I just think he doesn't want to repaint it. ;) )

Yesterday Jacob painted the kitchenette while I painted the bathroom. Because the kitchenette had already been painted tan and the peach color is light it definitely needed a second coat of paint. Jacob planned on doing the second coat of paint today along with ward fellowshipping visits, home teaching, writing a paper for his masters program, and reading a hefty 30 page article for class. Oh and did I mention he gets home from work at about 6:30 pm. So poor guy, had his plate overloaded. So I thought I would help lighten the load for him.

So while Jacob was at work, I put on the second coat of paint in the kitchenette. I didn't tell Jacob because I wanted him to be surprised. When Jake got back from all his church stuff, I went along with him as he went downstairs to paint. I was waiting on the edge of my seat to hear his reaction. I had visions of him being so happy and feeling so lucky to have such a sweet thoughtful wife. However, I was a bit disappointed when I heard, "wow, I did a better job than I thought. I don't know if I need to do a second coat after all."

Needless, to say it was pretty anti-climatic when I had to tell Jacob that I already did the second coat of paint.

Outside & Across the Street --My Fav. Hike

I love the Bonneville Shoreline hike across the street from my house.

A few things that make this hike so great:

• Nobody ever uses this hike, so I feel like it is my own private sanctuary.
• It is so beautiful, especially in the spring time with all of the new growth. I tried to take pictures of all the different wild flowers. I just love nature. It makes me so happy and I am so grateful for Heavenly Father creating places like this for us to enjoy.
• It is quite steep, so I feel like I get a good work out just by hiking quickly up the hill.
• Nature has such a calming affect on me. I always feel
• recharged, peaceful, happy, and feel I have gained a better perspective after time in nature.
• It's right across the street. How nice is that. I don't have to drive anywhere and I don't have to plan a time to go. All I have to do is step outside my door and I am there.
• Have I mentioned that it is beautiful. I love looking at all the different flowers.
• In the spring there are many different streams of snow melt to cross.
• I love the earthy fresh smell of trees, water, and good dirt. Also in the spring there is a sweet scent from all of the flowers which I love.
  
• Another pleasant factor about this hike is that it is shaded from the sun for most of the time because it is in a twisting canyon. And the trail is shaded by shrubs/trees.
  

Shan's Spring Break 08

One of the benefits of being a public school teacher is I get an entire week off for spring break. Just one of the many reasons I chose to be a teacher. :)

See the picture where Kesa is holding Navy by the crib. Kesa made the cute blocks on the wall spelling "NAVY." We actually did a craft! Crazy I know. You get married and all of a sudden you find yourself getting all sorts of domestic. We used scrap book paper and modge podged it on the blocks. It is actually harder than it looks. Kesa's turned out really cute. I chose to spell "LOVE" but mine didn't turn out quite as I had hoped so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it.

Kesa had a lot of projects to keep us busy. We put together an entry way table, organized bookmarks on her computer, and created a blog for Kesa. And of course there was the usual staying up late talking. What visit is complete without that? I really enjoyed my visit. It was the perfect break.

I loved seeing Gunner and Payton, they are growing up more and more. (Payton literally) It makes me so happy when they are excited to see me. I talked with them about school and they asked me loads of questions about "I Legend" that they could overhear in their room while Matt, Kesa, and I watched it. They are such good kids.

And I just adore Lunden and Navy. Those girls are so dang cute--I could eat them. (Jake thinks that is a funny thing to say) Lunden would ask me to tell her "scary" stories. At first I was making the stories a bit suspenseful but the characters would always end up okay. Then she would start asking for the characters in the story to get eaten by the witch, monster, etc. At the age of 4 this girl definately thrills for the goulish.

Toting Navy around, telling scary stories to Lunden, tickling the girls and listening to them laugh, reading books, and seeing their huge grins definitely made me baby hungry. Here's hoping, eh.