A List for Tuesday

Five Hilarious Things My Boys Say
(in no particular order)

1. "Phew, close one!" -Dane (age 2 1/2), every time we come home and he closes the door behind us
2. "I can't like that crazy talk." -Dutch (age 5), any time you say something he thinks is weird
3. "What's wrong with you, Mama?" -Dutch, every time I don't understand what the heck he's talking about
4. "Yee-haw, ride 'em cowboy hat!" -Dane, when asked what a cowboy says
5. "Accidents happen." and "Everybody makes mistakes." -both boys when they spill something

And that's why my boys are awesome.

A List for Tuesday

5 Things I Love About December
(in no particular order)

1. Snow. Now my official stance on snow is BOOO!, but I allow it and, perhaps, even love it in December.
2. Christmas. My boys are at a really fun age for Christmas magic and it makes the holiday that much more fun.
3. Glitter and red everywhere!
4. Scarves and coats and hats and boots. I love my accessories.
5. Hot chocolate and fireplaces.

What do you love about December?

A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons Dane is Awesome
(in no particular order)

1. When I try to put him to bed he tells me, "I'm happy!" as if that should change my mind.
2. He says his "f's" with a "p" sound so "fishy" becomes "pishy"
3. "I want to hold you," he says when he wants me to pick him up.
4. He's constantly on the move, always running around or wiggling. He just can't keep still!
5. He loves to read! But he insists on reading to himself, if you try to read to him he'll yell at you.

Why do you think Dane is awesome?

A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons Why Dutch is Awesome

(in no particular order)

1. When you ask him how he's doing he says, "Doing great!"
2. He wants to be a firefighter when he grows up
3. He thinks kindergarten is "AWESOME!"
4. His favorite thing to do is play LEGO
5. Out of nowhere he'll come up to me and give me a hug and say, "I just love you, my mama."

Why do you think Dutch is awesome?

A List for Tuesday

5 Jobs That Would Be Awesome
(in no particular order)

1. Nail polish namer
2. Fashion designer (if I could draw or, you know, sew)
3. Interior designer
4. Greeting card writer
5. Life coach (because it would be so fun to boss someone else around all the time)

Any that I missed?

A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons It's Fun Having Ga-Ga and Pop-Pop Here:

1. Dane has decided that Pop-Pop is his best friend.
2. Pop-Pop will put Legos together for the boys.
3. Ga-Ga makes sure the boys are fed when I forget to.
4. Dane has given up naps and my misery is enjoying the company of others!
5. Every day is an adventure when Ga-Ga and Pop-Pop are here!

A List for Tuesday

Five Things I'm Looking Forward To
(in no particular order)

• Dutch's first day of kindergarten
• Mom and Dad coming to visit
• Our 10th anniversary
• Finishing the first draft of Rona and the Wolves
• Autumn

A List for Tuesday

5 Quotes That Have Really Resonated With Me Lately
(in no particular order)

• Nobody objects to a woman being a good writer or sculptor or geneticist if at the same time she manages to be a good wife, good mother, good-looking, good-tempered, well-groomed and unagressive. -Leslie M. McIntyre
• That's Venus, September thought. She was the goddess of love. It's nice that love comes on first thing in the evening, and goes out last in the morning. Love keeps the light on all night. Whoever thought to call it Venus ought to get full marks. -Catherynne M. Valente, The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There
• When silence is a choice, it is an unnerving presence. When silence is imposed, it is censorship. -Terry Tempest Williams, When Women Were Birds
• She had not known the weight until she felt the freedom. -Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter
• Take your life into your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame. -Erica Jong

What is your favorite quote right now?

A List for Tuesday

5 Songs I've Had Stuck in My Head Recently
(in no particular order)

• Almost Like Being in Love from Brigadoon
• Sway by Rosemary Clooney
• Whatever Lola Wants (Lola Gets) from Damn Yankees
• Serenade in Blue by Frank Sinatra
• Haven't Met You Yet by Michael Buble

What songs are stuck in your head?

A List for Tuesday

FIVE THINGS I WANT TO DO NOW THAT IT'S SUMMER

(in no particular order)

1. Read outside on my hammock (note to self: buy a hammock)
2. Go for walks
3. Teach Dutch how to fish (note to self: learn to fish)
4. Keep my flower garden alive
5. Run through the sprinklers with the boys

What are you going to do this summer?

A List for Tuesday

Trying to see the positive today, so here is a list of 10 Things I'm Grateful For That Aren't People (because that would take up all ten of the slots and that's dumb)

• Working internet.
• A car that runs well and gets me places.
• A silky blankie (even if mine is about two stitches from falling apart completely)
• Markers
• Cameras
• The ability to call my family whenever the mood strikes me.
• Books
• Comfortable couches
• Headphones
• The apps on my phone (specifically Pandora)

What are you grateful for?

A List for Tuesday

A Few Dane-isms

• He jibber-jabbers so much, the best is his little "Please!" followed by "Thank you, Dutch" whether it is Dutch who helped him or not.
• Me: What does a cowboy say?
  Dane: Yeeee-har.
  Me: What does a pirate say?
  Dane: Arrrr, matey. (Though sometimes the "matey" is merely implied.)
• Lego guys are the greatest invention of all time and must be used in every game he plays.
• When you ask him if he wants something he gives you this whispered, 'kay, instead of saying yes.
• Anytime he drops anything, or just wants a little extra attention, he says "Oh no!"
• He is the cutest, sassiest, cry-babiest, little boy in the entire world, and he's the sunshine of my life.

What's your favorite thing about Dane?

A List for Tuesday

Five Things I Did Today That I Haven't Done in a Long Time
(in no particular order)

1. Went for a job interview not really caring whether or not I get the job.
2. Cried at a movie (the Emma mini-series, if you must know).
3. Bought a bladder buster at a gas station.
4. Didn't really know what to do with my hair.
5. Laid down to take a nap and then decided I wasn't tired. (I'm not sure that's EVER happened!

A List for Tuesday

This is a special-edition List for Tuesday because it's coming to you on Thursday! My friend Jenel recently posted a geek girl bucket list on her blog. It inspired me to write my own.

10 Totally Geeky Things I Would Love To Do Before I Die If They Were At All Possible
(in no particular order)
1. Ride in Wonder Woman's invisible plan.
2. Get my hair braided by ewoks. (Star Wars)
3. Have Mal teach me how to shoot a gun. (Firefly)
4. Write an episode for Doctor Who that I then get to be in.
5. Learn to sword-fight from Inigo. (The Princess Bride)
6. Kiss Jack Harkness. (Doctor Who) (Sorry Chris!)
7. Meet Sherlock Holmes and have him tell me all about myself. (Sherlock)
8. Ruffle Chuck's hair. (Chuck)
9. Get my own wand. (Harry Potter)
10. Spend some time in a hobbit hole. (Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit)

What's your geek bucket list?

A List for Tuesday

Since I missed last week there will be two bonus lists this week! Enjoy!

Chris turns 32 today, so this is Five Random Things I Love About My Husband
(in no particular order)

1. He's a really really good dad. So good, in fact, that both of my sons are daddy's boys through and through.
2. When I make him promise not to laugh before I tell him something, he tries really hard not to laugh.
3. When I buy yet another notebook he just smiles and nods.
4. He's one of the only two good-looking red-heads in the entire world.
5. Although he has no interest in YA fairy tales, he's very supportive of my writing career.

Five Things That Suck About Being 30

(in no particular order)

1. I feel old.
2. Because I feel old I notice "old" things about me, like the fact that my face is not as elastic as it once was, and there are hints of wrinkles soon to come.
3. I thought I would have done so much more with my life by now.
4. I had always hoped to be published before I was 30.
5. My back hurts. I don't know if that's because I turned 30 or not, but it's true nonetheless.

Five Things That Rock About Being 30

(in no particular order)

1. The other day someone told me I looked like I was 22. Maybe they were lying, but it was really sweet.
2. I feel like I'm growing into myself.
3. I've accomplished so much in my life!
4. There are so many great experiences coming ahead, and I'm getting more wise and mature by the day.
5. 30 is a lot younger than I thought it was.

Any tips for surviving in my new decade?

A List for Tuesday

5 Things I Don't Have Time to Write a Whole Blog Post About
(in no particular order)

1. I received a promotion at work! I'm going from Sales Associate to Key Holder. More money an hour, more hours a week, more responsibility all over.
2. I wish, as always, that my family lived closer. Especially when I'm looking for babysitters.
3. Chris's Grandpa Davis passed away just after Christmas. His funeral was really beautiful and Chris did a great job dedicating the grave.
4. Dane is 21 months. Terrible Twos here we come.
5. I'm going to start taking a picture of the boys every day to chronicle their changes over the year.

Sorry I don't have time (or the energy) to go more in-depth with all of these.

A List for Tuesday

Today marks the end of my one-month hiatus from internet. I'll blog about that later. As this is the first Tuesday of the new year you are going to get some New Year Resolutions goodness. These are the goals I made last year. I must say that I did pretty well. 1 and 2 were both a complete bust; I totally rocked 3; didn't quite make 4; did pretty well on 5; blew 6 out of the water; 7 is still a work in progress, but I didn't ruin my life over any of them!

My New Year Resolutions for 2013
(in no particular order)

1. Read all the books on my shelves that I own but have never read.
2. Go to every temple in Utah.
3. Send Metta and the Moon-Witch to potential agents. I've given up on The Stone Flower for the time being (which has nothing to do with any rejections).
4. Lose some more weight.
5. Finish another book (this year I'm hoping to finish Rona and the Wolves).
6. Get my office organized.
7. Become a better photographer.
8. Write poetry again.
9. Journal more.

What are your resolutions?

A List for Tuesday

5 Reasons I Love My Job at Paper Source

1. My boss Meg is awesome! She's a fun mix of my sisters Heidi and Heather. (Heidi: when someone says something random she always says, "These potatoes are so creamy" or "Mary mashed 'em.")
2. It's a beautiful place to work. I mean that literally. You walk in and it's bright with lots of color everywhere and it just makes me happy.
3. I'm good at it. I've been working there for less than a month and I'm being considered for a promotion.
4. It's really fun to help people with their projects or wedding invitations, or helping them come up with ideas for gifts.
5. It's nice to have something that's just mine. I don't share it with anyone else. I haven't had that in a long time and I really needed it.

What do you love about your job?

A List for Tuesday

5 Random Things Because I'm in a Random Mood

1. I have a fear of getting prematurely old. I saw a picture of a girl my age (who I went to high school with) and she looked like she was about 40. What if that happens to me?
2. I love my job. Really super-duper love it. And my boss is awesome.
3. I am in full Christmas planning mode and it's fun to make the choices of what to buy the boys. This year we're giving them 4 gifts: something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.
4. I wish I had money for a whole new wardrobe. I'm tired of all my clothes and want to start over from the ground up. Not gonna happen.
5. My boys have been so busy lately, they make me tired just watching them!

Tell me one random thing going on in your head.

A List for Tuesday

Five Reasons I'm in a Funk

1. I was sick last week and my body is still recovering. Seriously, I thought I was going to die, I couldn't even move without being sick. It was horrible. Dutch took such great care of me and both boys were so good for me. At least I think they were. It's all kind of a blur.
2. Reading has not come as easily to me the last couple of months. For every book I finish I start about 5 or 6. I'm tired of having to slog through so much crap before I get to a good one. I can only imagine how editors and agents feel. Life is always harder when I'm not reading a good book.
3. I started a new job. It's only part-time, but it's going to take a little bit of adjustment. So far I have not found the right balance on days I have to work.
4. My writing is going really well. Wait, what? Why, you ask, would that put me in a funk? I'm not exactly sure. I think it has something to do with being afraid of messing it up because it's going so well.
5. Dutch is not sleeping very well and therefore I am not sleeping very well.

Any suggestions to pull me out of my funk?