A day in the life

I only worked for 5 hours yesterday (so nice) but those 5 hours were pretty eventful. If you didn't know, I work in a grocery store - mostly as a cashier. I had an older male customer start talking about being a police officer (he was NOT a police officer!!). He was talking about all of the crazy things he has seen as an officer. Next thing I know he pulls out his wallet and starts flashing it at me (like one might show off one's badge), saying "shhh - look out, be careful" and winking at me like it was our little secret that he was some kind of undercover cop. The only problem was there wasn't a badge or ID or anything. I just went along with it and was happy when he walked out the door.

About a half hour later he comes back in and started pacing back and forth by the registers looking around like he was making sure everything was ok. When he came near me he would flash his wallet and do the winking/shh-ing thing. For a minute I thought I might have to call the manager to escort him out but luckily he finished his patrol and left on his own.

I also had a customer yesterday who came thru my line with Trader Joe bags. I was so excited when I asked her if there was one near by. I figured there could be one in Sydney. When we lived near Chicago we would drive a half hour for Trader Joe's peanut butter and free balloons for the kids. Turns out there is NOT a Trader Joes here. She got them when she lived in California for grad school. Just made me miss home a little.

I had a few customers ask me yesterday if I was from Canada, which isn't uncommon. I get more people asking if I am from Canada than from the US. It doesn't bother me at all. But I had 2 different women tell me that they didn't guess America because I have a very "soft" accent. I have no idea what that means. I just thought it was funny that 2 women said the exact same thing.

The Beach

Last weekend we got to go to the beach. Nate had a writing workshop at a retreat owned by his school from Monday through Wednesday but they booked the place the weekend before so people could go up early. We were really excited to get away and have some fun together.

The drive there was about 3 hours but it was so pretty. This part of the drive reminded us of California. We felt like we were on our way to Gilroy!



This is the view of the ocean from our house. I couldn't wait to get down there!


There was another family there with us. They have boys ages 4 and 2 so it was perfect. Liam and his friend Jem walking to the beach.


There were flies EVERYWHERE. For most of us they would fly around our faces bugging us but they would just hang out on our friend James' back! He joked that he is a fly magnet. No kidding.


The beach had the softest sand I think I have ever felt. It was so relaxing to be by the water and playing in the sand.



There were also some rocks with little tide pools so we went poking around. We didn't get to go in the water much because it was windy and there were tons of blue bottles washed up on the shore. If you step on them they sting. With the boys it was easier just to stay away from the water anyways.


This was my favorite family picture we took. Every time I look at it I crack up. Yes, both of my children are running around without pants on! Our friend taking the picture was telling her son to stand by her and make faces to get Liam and Jonas to look at the camera. I think Liam misunderstood.

Before and After: Mattress

After sleeping on an air mattress for a couple weeks we decided that we would have to get a real mattress. The best deal we could find was this mattress we saw online. We were a little skeptical of the "mattress in a box" idea but it got good reviews so we gave it a try. So far no complaints! Especially now that its off the floor.

Before:

After:

I tried to upload a video but it was taking way too long and I am not that patient!

When all is quiet

All parents have those moments when they realize they haven't heard their kids making any noise for a while. Its usually in those moments that you find them doing something they know they shouldn't be doing. Like just a couple weeks ago when we found Jonas sitting on the vanity counter in our room using a brand new toothbrush to rub Vaseline all over the mirror. Or when a couple mornings ago when we found Jonas writing with permanent marker all over the brick floor (don't worry, it came out).

So the other day when the boys were completely quiet I was sure I was going to find them destroying/making a mess. Instead I found them sitting quietly in the living room reading books!

100 things about ME

So I have seen a few people do this and while reading theirs I wondered if I could come up with 100 things about me. Here is my attempt:

1. I am 27
2. I have been married for almost 7 years (in December)
3. I was married in the Oakland, California temple
4. I have moved 12 times in 7 years
5. I have lived in 5 states (CA, ID, UT, MO, IL)
6. I have lived in 2 countries
7. I went to Scotland for my 1st anniversary
8. I have 2 sons
9. I work as a cashier at a grocery store
10. My favorite color is red
11. I love chick flicks
12. My favorite chick flick right now is North & South
13. I don't like cooking when I am expected to
14. But I pretty much have to make dinner every day
15. I have 1 brother
16. I have 2 nieces
17. I had a tubal pregnancy in 2003
18. I live in Australia
19. I love chocolate
20. I love cheese
21. My favorite kind of food is Mexican
22. I love sewing
23. Mostly I love making quilts
24. I love scrapbooking
25. I try to make all cards I send/give
26. I have become kind of obsessed with blogs
27. I spend way too much time reading blogs of people I don't even know
28. I graduated from BYU Idaho with my associates and have no idea what to do with it
29. I really want to go back to school (when Nate is done of course)
30. I am really interested in health science - mostly nutrition
31. When I moved to Australia I sold/gave away almost everything I own
32. We did ship 6 boxes and my parents let us keep a bunch of stuff at their house (thanks mom and dad!!)
33. I will probably live in Australia for another 4 years
34. I am not sure if I will be able to go back to the US in those 4 years (but I hope I can)
35. One of my favorite things to do is read to my kids
36. I love watching my kids play and laugh together (when they are getting along)
37. A Jehovah's Witness just came to my door and gave me a pamphlet
38. I didn't know they had Jehovah's Witnesses in Australia
39. I am sick of the elections and can't wait for them to be over
40. I grew up in California
41. I am shy
42. It takes me a while to warm up to people before I am not shy around them
43. I used to play baseball
44. I was the only girl on the team
45. I played softball too (with all girls)
46. I don't like playing sports competitively
47. Its not fun to me anymore when sports become competitive
48. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 18
49. Roundabouts make me nervous
50. I am scared of the dark (mostly just walking around in the dark alone, inside or out)
51. I love going out to eat
52. I love the feel of sand on my bare feet
53. Fair type rides make me sick
54. I am doing even worse at this than I thought, am I really only on #54?
55. I am LDS
56. I have never colored my hair
57. I need a hair cut REALLY bad
58. Plucking my eyebrows makes me sneeze (seriously, every time)
59. I am allergic to nickel
60. I have never been a "purse girl" but all of a sudden I want to buy lots of handbags
61. I want to take photography classes
62. My favorite chore is vacuuming
63. I hate doing the dishes
64. I especially hate cleaning up if I just did the cooking
65. I wish I liked to cook more
66. I still watch Smallville even though after every episode I moan about how dumb it was
67. I love the Office
68. I really want to do some kind of craft project
69. I get lost all the time when driving, even to places I have been before
70. I have had a headache (off and on, but mostly on) for 3 weeks
71. My doctor thinks its stress, I think its sinuses
72. I parked by a tree at work and now there is sap all over my car
73. I can't wash my car because there is a water shortage
74. I didn't drive in Australia for a month because I was too scared
75. My favorite restaurant of all time is Johnny Carinos
76. I love butterflies
77. I am really bad at keeping in touch with old friends
78. I did not like high school - mostly my own fault
79. I never actually did my hair in high school (I just let it air dry after I showered-not cute)
80. I am kind of embarrassed about it now
81. I can't wait to own a house and decorate it
82. I love getting into a hot car on a cold day
83. I love wearing sweaters
84. I don't leave home without mascara on
85. I love mascara!
86. I love aerobics
87. I love dancing with Nate and the kids
88. I have never liked bananas
89. But I eat at least one a day
90. I love the feeling of clean sheets after a hot shower
91. Too bad I always shower in the morning
92. I love warming up/de-wrinkling my clothes in the dryer before putting them on (in the winter of course)
93. I don't have a dryer
94. I love stealing other people's crafty ideas
95. I love hot fudge sundaes
96. Some day I want to live in California again
97. I love getting real emails
98. I love getting real mail even more
99. I love fall leaves, colors in the fall
100. I am feeling very self centered after all of those "I"s.

Whew, that was actually even harder than I thought it would be.

i am bored

The kids are asleep and Nate is away until Wednesday at a writing workshop. I have the house to myself and I am bored! This is crazy. There is nothing on tv, I am sick of facebook, I can't blog about our awesome weekend at the beach because Nate has the camera (and all of the pictures) with him, I don't have any fabric (it is $22 a meter), I didn't bring any of my scrapbook/card supplies and everyone I know is asleep right now. Oh yeah, and I am sick. I wish I could curl up with Nate on the couch like we normally do after the kids go to bed and watch an episode of Fringe. I guess I'll just go watch North & South for the hundredth time instead!

Take the Quiz here!

You are Elinor Dashwood of Sense & Sensibility! You are practical, circumspect, and discreet. Though you are tremendously sensible and allow your head to rule, you have a deep, emotional side that few people often see.