Name That Movie Monday

Combine the holidays with my new calling in Primary and I'll admit that I'm having trouble keeping up with my blog. There just seems to be so much to get done! But, the holiday decorations are coming down in a day or two. And once we get the new year started in Primary my husband assures me we'll settle into a good routine and things will get easier.

In the meantime Movie Monday and Flashback Friday may be all you get for a week or two. Wait, that's all that I've been doing for a week or two, or three, anyway....

Today's movie I only saw for the first time on Christmas day. Well, we actually had to watch it in parts since the power went off in the middle of the movie and didn't come back on for about 7 hours. (Have you ever tried cooking Christmas dinner with no power? At least all the new toys were battery powered so they kept working!) It may be a movie that many of you haven't seen. But if you give it some serious thought I think that from the quote you should be able to guess it, even if you've never seen it. So give it a try!

I gotta get this spec up to the top of Mount Nool ASAP. Whatever that means. Probably Act Swiftly Awesome Pachyderm.

Give it a guess!

Here is your code to reward your guessing efforts: 545DZ9

Happy Monday!

Flashback Friday

Many of you have asked to hear more about how I fell in love with the wrong guy. Okay, not really. Nobody has asked. But, it all started a fateful New Year's Eve. And since we are nearing the New Year I thought I'd share that story today for Flashback Friday.

I dug out my old journal (the one I used to keep before I had kids. It's been years since I actually wrote it in!) and I'm just going to quote it verbatum, since it tells the story so nicely. Remember, when I wrote this I had only been home from my mission for a month and a half, and had high ambitions of a successful career as a news reporter before I even thought about "settling down."

Monday, January 1, 2002

Boy troubles. Yes, already! So, I think I am starting to have a crush on Mike. Bad news. We've emailed since I've been home, and talked on the phone a few times. My first clue that a crush was beginning to develop was that I noticed that each time I checked my email I would hold my breath, hoping that there was a message from him. And the first time he called me on the phone we talked for nearly two hours! But it gets better. Oh yes!

So, I sent him an email telling him that Andria wanted me to go to the single branch's dance and that I thought I would rather have a root canal. (side note, it was the dance I didn't want to attend, spending time with Andria somewhere other than a single's dance is defiantly better than a root canal!)

So-he called me Sunday Night and said he and Riley were going to plan something and did I want to come over.

So honestly my first thought was hey, I haven't seen Riley for a long time. This would be a perfect time to remind him how cool I am and get him to fall madly in love with me.

But my plan backfired, because I found myself having girly butterfly feelings in my stomach whenever I looked at Mike. Laughing a little louder at his jokes, walking a little closer to him. At times I had to remind myself that I was supposed to be flirting with Riley.

Then at one point we were writing down our New Year's resolutions to be burned on a big steel wheel (the symbolism escapes me) so I write something really shallow-loose 15 lbs. Well, Mike, after much coaxing, shared his. To stop chasing money and start chasing happiness. So I felt lame!

Then we were working out way through a wall of people and Mike is leader and he turns and grabs my coat sleeve so I don't get lost. My stomach did somersaults. Crazy! And several times during the night he would put his hand on the small of my back to guide me in front, and I would lose it every time.

Oh, I forgot to mention, we went to First Night downtown. And Mike bought my admission button and refused to let me pay him back and he paid for my dinner despite my insistence otherwise.

I think my New Year's Resolution should be to NOT fall in love!!!

Nicety or Necessity

I've already admitted that remembering people's birthdays is not a strong point of mine. I want to be a nice person. Really I do. But so often I fall short.

Christmas seems to be no different. I often fall short of all my good intentions.

Two years ago I was behind on getting out my Christmas cards, so I sent out New Years cards.

Last year cards didn't go out at all.

I likely won't be sending out any this year, either.

And I feel bad. There are people I think of and care about and want to let them know that I care about them and think of them. But just can't bring myself to stress about sending out Christmas cards. Because I feel obligated to write something personal on each card. And send pictures. Which most people will probably just throw away anyway. So I just don't bother.

I don't take gifts to my neighbors, either.

The year we moved into our home two of the neighbors who live on our street brought us treats. I thought that was kind, considering we'd only lived here 2 months and didn't know them well. But I was overwhelmed by a new house, new mortgage, and a baby on the way so I didn't reciprocate.

The following year a few more neighbors brought gifts. I still took nothing in return, thinking that maybe if I let enough years pass without taking something they'd just stop bringing us stuff and then I'd be off the hook.

That was 5 years ago. This year we got more gifts and goodies than ever before from our wonderful neighbors. In fact, the treats just keep piling in. 4 plates of goodies just tonight! It seems the less gifts I take out the more popular we become.

And my guilt is now really starting to get the best of me! I know I SHOULD send cards to long lost friends. I know I SHOULD take something to all my neighbors who have so kindly remembered us for all these years. I know I SHOULD have more of the spirit of giving.

But I just don't have the energy. Or the creativity. Or the sanity. Or the money.

My mother taught me better. Truly she did. She taught me to be kind and thoughtful and thankful and grateful.

So please tell me, how much is required when Christmas rolls around? What things are absolute necessities and what things are merely niceties? How do I keep the season simple while still letting others know I am thinking of them?

Name that Movie Monday

I know everybody has holiday traditions to get back to, so I'll make this short and sweet today. For your holiday movie guessing pleasure guess this movie quote:

Son: How do reindeer fly? They don't have any wings.

Dad: Fairy dust

Son: That's from Peter Pan dad.

Dad: Horns?

Son: Antlers!

Dad: Whatever. Their antlers give them, er there's a slip stream effect....the air going....if they move back...they're weightless!

Son: But if Santa is so fat how does he get down the chimneys?

Dad: He sucks it in like grandpa.

Son: What about people who don't have fireplaces, how does he get into their houses?

Dad: Sometimes believing in something means, means you just believe in it. Santa uses reindeer to fly because that's how he has to get around.

Son: But you believe in Santa, right dad?

Dad: Of course I believe in Santa, now please go to sleep.

Son: Dad, maybe you better leave some cookies and milk out. Just in case, okay.

Dad: Great, I'll just go preheat the oven.

Son: And don't forget the fire extinguisher.

Okay, so that wasn't short, but it is sweet.

And, my gift to you, a free movie code: EC22KP

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!


p.s.

In honor of last week's movie quote, do you want to see how Ralphie grew up?

Flashback Friday

I was feeling festive today and wanted to do a Christmas memory for today's installment of Flashback Friday. But I also wanted to let me dear husband off the hook, since he groans when Friday rolls around, wondering how I'm going to embarrass him this time.

So today I'm sharing pictures from Christmas 2000. This Christmas is significant because I spent it in Oroville, Washington as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I LOVE Christmas on the mission! What better way to spend the holiday season than serving Him whose birth we celebrate!

I think getting new pajamas for Christmas is pretty traditional for most people. My mom kept that tradition alive by sending my companion, Kristin Lewis, and me matching pajamas.



Of course, this was my days of 35mm, and no view screen so I have lots of pictures of me with my eyes closed. Such is life!

Here is our Advent Calendar, all the doors open showing that it's finally Christmas Eve!



Here is me with all my loot. The church members in the area REALLY spoiled us!!!



All our Christmas cards. Wow, I felt loved!!!



Here is the aftermath Christmas morning. Lewis it talking on the phone to her family, basking in the warmth of Christmas (and Hot Chocolate)



Pretty furniture, eh?

These are the aprons and stockings made for us by Ethleen Timm. Our names our embroidered on the aprons, too.



I still wear the apron. And the stocking still hangs alongside the kid's stocking on our banister each Christmas.

And this is ALL THE FOOD we got.



I'm not sure if you can tell, but I've stuffed couch pillows in the front and the back of my pajamas to show what I was going to look like when I finished eating all that food.

Merry Christmas to you all!!!! May the true spirit of the season visit you each during this special time of the year.

Name that Movie Monday

Today I thought I'd give ya'll a break and do a totally obvious movie. Which means I am expecting a lot of responses. Ready?

You'll shoot your eye out.

I know you know it!

So to reward you for your movie knowledge here is your free movie code: 47J2L8

And, in unrelated movie news I saw The Dark Night this week and it was fantastically horrific. I had heard from several separate sources how truly terribly dark and evil Heath Ledger was as The Joker. But I still wasn't prepared for just how terrifying he was. If you like Batman you will love this movie! But don't let your young kids watch it!!!!

Flashback Friday

Today has been CRAZY as I try to get some Christmas shopping done. I even braved Toys R Us. Not my brightest idea.

So this will be short and sweet today-but I didn't want to let my faithful follower down.

Feast your eyes on this picture from Christmas the year Mike and I were engaged.



You can tell we're not married yet by the way we are looking at each other all googly-eyed. Ah, those were the days.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Thing the first: I just looked out my back window and was surprised to see red Christmas balls hanging from the tree. Until I realized that they were really apples that we never got around to picking.

Thing the second: I have never been able to figure out why "My Favorite Things" is a Christmas song. What do raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens have to do with yuletide? I'm also always confused by 3 ships sailing into Bethlehem on Christmas day in the morning.

To sum up: Not all that glitters is gold, and sometimes red is really just a rotten apple. And as much as we all love Julie Andrews we think the Von Trapp children are even more annoying than the Osmonds.

Tricky

So, where you all tricked by yesterday's Name that Movie Monday? I have a confession to make. It was supposed to be tricky. It's not actually from a major motion picture. It's from a work out DVD. Because I was trying to be funny. Did it work? Am I funny?

The line is from Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred workout. For those of you who don't know who Jillian is (because I didn't) she is one of the trainers on NBC's The Biggest Loser. I've never watched the show but I hear from those that do that Jillian is the mean trainer. And after doing her workout I can believe it.

It's really a fabulous workout. Of course I hate it the entire time I'm doing it. But then again, my favorite part of any workout is the end.

Here is just a little taste of what you can expect if you train with Jillian.





So, there you have it. Go enjoy all your holiday treats now, if you can. Jillian will be waiting to make you a visit come January when it's time for all those New Year's resolutions. :)

Name that Movie Monday

It's a good thing I don't blog for a living. I'd never meet all my deadlines. I realized late Saturday night that I never wrote a Flashback Friday post last week. The day just sort of got away from me. We had a primary activity that was on my mind and that I was preparing for. Then afterward Adam insisted we put up the Christmas decorations. Blogging was the last thing on my mind. Thus you will have to wait until Friday for another trip down memory lane.

But today is Monday. And I have been diligent about my movie quotes. So let's get right to it, shall we?

For those of you at home who are looking for a modified version of a jumping jack, look elsewhere. I'm not gonna give that to you because I know you can handle it. I've got 400 lb people who can do jumping jacks, so can you.

Tricky, eh?

In other movie news, we did watch all 3 Pirate of the Caribbean movies last week. And I still don't like the ending of the 3rd one. Just for the record. But I do think that my favorite part of all 3 is the 3-way sword fight between Jack, Will, and Norrington in movie 2. Brilliant scene! I knew you would want to know.

AND, it's my dear Husband's birthday. He's 30 today. So if anybody has a fantasic movie to recommend I'm all ears.

Oh, and here is your code: 23MJT7

Now I have to change the laundry and wrap gifts.

Too sad, too true.

To all my bloggy friends....you know it's true!