Run For the Border

Your mother's so fat that when she walked into Taco Bell, everyone said, "Run for the Border!" (I just had to bring back a joke from the good old days!)

So, this is unlike most of my blog entries, but I HAVE to share. I've learned the secret of an AMAZING taco. You know what I mean. All of you have had a taco that is American-ized. All greasy, and limp and all the ingredients run together until you're not sure if you're eating a taco or goo-losh. And even when you make the best taco in the world, there still seems to be something missing. Well, my friends, search no more!

For an authentic tasting taco, squeeze a fresh lemon or lime on top of your taco; the meat, the veggies, the cheese, the shell. All of it! And watch out! YUMMY TACO coming your way!

Try it! You'll love it! And just as a side note, corn shells taste much more authentic than flour shells. But that's just my personal opinion. (My husband would disagree...so to each there own.) When we went to Mexico, they always used corn, not flour.... You really can't roll a corn shell. You just use a fork or you hold it like a hard shell taco, with the sides together.

There's your Taco tip for the remainder of my blogging days. Hope you enjoyed it Paco! Ha ha....get it! Paco, Taco,.....never mind.

Our Mothers Knew It

I was reading the account in the Book of Mormon today about the Stripling Warriors. I've always loved the verse in Alma 56:48 where they say, "We do not doubt our mothers knew it." Today I think I've read that scripture right for the first time. I use to read it as if there was a comma, making the scripture read, "We do not doubt, our mothers knew it." But, if you read it correctly, the scripture has a whole new meaning. I realized today that the scripture is saying they they did not doubt their mothers had a testimony.

As a mother, I can think of no greater thing for my children to say about me, the fact that I have a testimony and believe and live it with all my heart. Isn't it true that we teach best by example? I hope I can be an example of the believer to my children so that they too can say, "We did not doubt our mother knew it." And from that example, I can plant a seed in their hearts making their testimonies begin to grow, so that someday they may also say of themselves, "We knew it!"

And just because I know my mom reads my blog....Mom, I want you to know that I can say "I do not doubt my mother knew it." You have always been the perfect example of faith and testimony in my life. Thank you for your strength. I love you.

Olympic Spirit

My family and I have been thoroughly enjoying watching the Winter Olympics. It's always a fun time for us. Our kids even get into the action. In fact, my son this morning had on his superhero mask, snow gloves and two poles in his hands and was jumping off couches and skiing around the living room. It was really adorable to watch. He really admires the athletes that compete. As I think we all do. What stamina!

Watching the Olympics always fascinates me. These athletes have dedicated so much of their life to their sport. It's incredible! I can't comprehend it. As I watched yesterday, the scripture about "overcoming the natural man" came to mind. I don't know about you, but my natural man tells me anything but to exercise. It really takes self control and determination to be so dedicated to a sport.

So, with all that in mind, I have determined, A) I want and need to be in better shape and B) I can do it. So...I'm going to be in the upcoming Summer Olympics. Yes, that's right. I'm going to be on the USA swim team for 2012. I thought it would be a lot harder to get into the Olympics, but come to find out the US swim team was short a few people and when I called them up to ask how to get on the team, they welcomed me with open arms, tearful smiles, and thanksgiving.

Okay...so not really...BUT...I am going to run a Half Marathon with my sister!!! And training begins...tomorrow. Ha ha Of course not tomorrow! It begins today! I heard someone say, "It's amazing when the human mind and body realizes you can change TODAY. You don't have to wait until Monday or until next year or next month. You can change TODAY. And that's power."

So, TODAY, I begin my training. I will keep you posted. I also want to dedicate my training and my run (already) to my niece Preslee, and to my children. They are my inspiration.

GO TEAM MOM!!!!!

She's a Big Girl Now

My little baby is turning ONE!! Can you believe that? She truly is our ray of sunshine, cuddle bug, Mom's little helper and Daddy's Girl. So, in honor of her, here are some of her memories from the last year.

My Boyfriend

Well, the day has come. I knew it would come someday, and it's here, Folks. This afternoon, over a spoonful of chocolate chip cookie dough, my daughter announced to me, "Mom, I'm almost as old as you. And when I am I'll get married. I'm going to marry Daddy because I love him and he's my boyfriend, and I'm his girly-girl."

I should have been crazy jealous I suppose, but instead I just gave her a hug and smiled. Happy Valentine's Week to my Boyfriend and to my daughter's as well. You're one lucky man. *wink*

Just When You Thought You Were Safe...

I bought the Brite Music Tapes as soon as I knew I was expecting a baby. (Here's a link to it in case anyone is interested or has no clue what I'm talking about.) http://www.britemusic.com/ It's cute music for kids, and literally, I sang to the tapes everyday as a child. I LOVE THEM!!! SO fun! They teach your kids good morals, manners, self-esteem...all that good stuff.

Yesterday, my children and I were the American family driving down the road. The two kiddos were sitting in the backseat of the car singing along to the Brite songs while the baby sat in the middle clapping along. I was happily listening with a smile on my face and the wind blowing in my hair. I had two thoughts. First, how I love to hear my children sing. Secondly, I was thinking how wonderful it was that my children were listening and enjoying good wholesome, music. "I really am a good mom," I thought to myself.

I was interrupted in my thoughts by my daughter saying, "Mom, I don't ever say the word 'pee'." I quickly looked in the rear view mirror at her and said, "What?!" She said, "The guy in the song says that he goes pee." In our home, "pee" is a bad word and so, I was confused for a moment as to what the heck she was talking about. Then I understood. The song on the CD was "I'm a V.I.P." (Teaching kids about how they are Very Important People.) I smiled to myself and said, "No, no Sweetheart. It's not saying, "pee", like going potty. It's saying the letter "P". I explained a little more and she seemed to understand, and went back to singing the song.

Literally, three minutes later, she pipes up from the backseat and says, "Mom, this girl has panties." I laughed, knowing immediately what she had misunderstood this time. I said, "Sweetie. This song doesn't say, "panties" it says, "pennies", like a piece of money."
"Oh," she said and kept right on singing.

I chuckled to myself. So much for my "good, wholesome music!"

Off To See the Groundhog?

"You better get on your hats and booties cause it's cold out there today. It's GROUNDHOG DAY!!!!"

Happy Groundhog Day to all you people who care about the small, furry rodent whose job is possibly less than desirable. And in honor of this blessed holiday that we all so indulge in, here are just a few unforgettable moments from the only movie that will ever allow weathermen to have "their day in the spotlight." (If you think about it, that's really all Groundhog Day is; A glorified day for weather reporting! So, technically speaking, Happy Weatherman Forecasting Absolutely Random Nonsense That Makes As Much Sense As A Groundhog Looking For His Shadow Day.)

10. She makes sounds like a chipmunk when she gets really excited. Well, you do!
9. NED??!!
8. For your information, Hairdo, there's a major network interested in me.
7. Because you can never have too much insurance. Am I right or am I right? Right? Right? Right?!
5. This day's never gonna end as long as that rodent keeps seeing his shadow. He's got to be stopped. And I'm the one to stop him.
4. I'll give you a forecast. It's gonna be dark and cold and it's gonna last you the rest of your life.
3. There wouldn't be any hot water TODAY!
2. Don't drive angry! Don't drive angry!
1. Are the satellites down? Is it snowing in space?

And one more....
1. Don't you have a line for emergencies or celebrities? I'm both! I'm a celebrity in an emergency!!!


OH! And just one more...
1. What if there is no tomorrow??? There wasn't one TODAY!!!!


OH! And one more.....

1. I MAKE THE WEATHER!!!
(spoken like a true weatherman that truly has a weather complex.)

Happy Groundhog Day!

Live Laugh Love

Today, I made a new goal. It started by listening to the Brite CD's with my kids, which are a favorite of our family. (A must have, in my opinion.) In one of the songs, it talks about how you are unique: you're walk, you're smile, even your laugh. My son said, "Mom, what does my laugh sound like?" I wished at that moment that I could have whipped out a tape of his laugh and played it for him because it's such a magic sound....the laugh of a child. And have you ever noticed how a child's laugh changes? The true, pure, childlike laughter doesn't stay around forever. In the book Peter Pan, it says, "When the first child laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies." I believe it. A child's laughter truly is magic, like fairies and flying and pixie dust.

I made a goal to make my children laugh everyday. To truly make them laugh and have enough time to laugh with them and to capture that sound in my mind and heart forever. Because, as Peter Pan would say, "I don't wanna grow up."