Miracle Worker

Richard Simmons: Dance Your Pants Off!!!!

Not only exhilarating and whimsical, but he fills your head with images of butterflies and fairies... oh wait, that's him... but really, its a very practical tape... you learn that running around in circles clapping your hands and singing (with the occasional reverse) not only drops pounds, but tones those muscles!!!! ahahah... it was so fun though!! Totally not something you do to "feel the burn", but just something you do for the experience (usually when you're in an extremely bored or crazy mood; and even then you can only take so much...)
The best part was that two guys from our ward stopped by when we were about 5 mins into our "Celebration" song and dance... lol we haven't seen them since.. poor guys, I think we scared them.

These are some of the sweet moves we learned from him:
This is us getting our game face on ...

We took the challenge, you should too, here are our results to help inspire and motivate you!!:

Before:
from another angle...

After

Us gone crazy after 15 mins of Richard and his shinnangins

Some normal pictures so you don't have the last ones be the last ones you remember and think of when someone says our names. :)

Stoned

We're not talking "throw a rock at the retarded kids" kind of stoned, or the Bob Marley high... but kidney stones. I had a really bad stomach pain the Sunday of the long weekend that lasted from 5:30 ish until after midnight and included chills, throwing up and pain... lots of pain. I thought it was just a weird thing, maybe something I ate, but it returned wed at 2:30 in the morning... so i just laid in bed for about an hour until I had to get up for work and then it subsided some during work but came back around 10 that morning. That's when I decided I should go to the health care center and see what was going on. After a few tests, including getting my blood drawn, twice because the first time the girl went through my vein... sheesh. but hey that way I got two Tasmanian Devil band aids... one for each arm! The doctor concluded I had an infection and put me on antibiotics, and said there was a possibility of a kidney stone, and if the pains didn't stop by Friday then to call back and they'd set up a CT scan. Well the pain came pretty much every morning and sometimes twice a day, and so I called back and set up an appointment for Monday. I wasn't sure if I was going to get a scan done because it is just kind of like "oh yep, we were right... now wait it out and drink a lot of fluids" Theres really nothing they can do about it... but Sat I was in pain pretty much all day and figured I should get the scan so I knew a) if it even was kidney stones, b) how many c) how big, and therefore about how long until it would all be over.
So today I had the scan, and this time the girl didn't let the needle "thread" with my vein...? I'm guessing that means, oh I hit it, but didn't think I did, so I took it out to soon... then the lady who actually would be giving me the scan asked if she wanted her to do it while the other lady asked the questions... so she went on the other arm and hit the vein the first time.. yay!! oh, but then forgot to put the cap on because she couldn't find where she put it. Turns out it was in her hand! So I'm asking questions, then all of a sudden the nurse is like, oh, I'm sorry, here put your arm over here, we're making a mess. I look down and there are is a delta of streams of blood running down my arm and dripping all over the table and floor. Man you'd think after all they make nursing majors go through that they'd know how to put a needle in a vein! and the best part is that each one of them told me before they started how nice my veins were.
Anyway, that's not the point of this entry... So I get a few scans done and find out I have a bunch of stones in both kidneys, luckily they are in the kidneys, and they usually don't bug while they are up there, its only when they start to fall that they kill. So pretty much they can all start falling one after the other, or it could be years till they give me trouble again, or they could never move. So glad I got the scan, that cleared everything up so much! :) But pretty much, I think I already got rid of the one that was giving me trouble, and hopefully the rest of the little buggers will stay put.

Paint Ballooning!!!

Have I got an activity for you!!! Paint ballooning! So pretty much you fill water balloons (or regular) up with paint and water, then go to a paintball course and have a war!! You can wear white shirts, and have each person or team be a color, and then whoever has the most of that color on their shirts, that color team wins.

This was the assembly line the night before making the balloons. McCall would hand me a balloon, I'd fill it with paint, pass it on to Jordan who'd fill it with water, then Durkin and her Mom would tie them. It was so cold that night!! Our fingers were absolutely numb, there was water and paint everywhere because we couldn't control or feel them!! lol




Nikki manned the hose; she'd turn on and off the water for Jordan...







The next morning... at the battle grounds. This is a before shot... while we were all still smiling and friends.







At our stations, ready for the attack.







A three way sneak attack.





I was crying because Durkin sucker punched me... then she felt bad and tried to comfort me... haha, no what really happened is I was getting her so bad that she squirted me in the eyes with paint water, then while I couldn't see she came over and attacked!!!! It's true, look at the left hand... Cheap.




We used the extra paint after all the balloons were gone... that's fun too. Just put them in the plastic ketchup and mustard dispensers and squirt them at each other.






The aftermath....

EFY interview

So I decided to apply to be an efy counselor over the summer, and had my interview a few weeks ago. Lets just say I don't think it went to hott :). So first off it's a group interview which makes everything 10x more nerve racking because now you not only sound stupid and inexperienced in front of the interviewers, but you are comparing yourself to the other applicants the whole time, hoping for their failure so you don't look half as bad! lol - ya that's a good process, I mean that's what efy is all about anyway, putting others down to boost yourself up right? It's right up there with stripping away your self-confidence and looking to others for acceptance. sheesh! lol Well, anyhow, the interview consisted of 9 people, and 2 interviewers, and we introduced ourselves (name, home state, what we are doing - ie school job etc- why we want to be a counselor - the money? No, actually I just like to scream and get no sleep- and where we want to do our sessions) then they asked us two questions each... yup your entire summer hangs on these two questions... no pressure! you'll do great! :) So one of them was a scenario question that one of your kids could ask you. Mine was "So there is a cafe down the street from my school and they play music there, and stuff, so my friends and I go there after school, and all my friends drink coffee, but I just get decaf, is that okay?" I mean what do you say to that?? Then the second question went even better! I actually forgot the question as I was answering it!!! hahaha So needless to say I just rambled on until I remembered the question and hoped that it all combined into a suitable answer. lol. There is an up side to all this however, my friends from Idaho came down because they interviewed as well, so I got to play with them all weekend!!!

Tortilla Soup!!!

Looking for a recipe that will warm your soul and defrost your nose hairs?! Well have I got one for you!!! Its easy and delicious! If you can open a can then you can make this mouth watering delight! So go grab a pen and paper and lets get started!!

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 cans chicken broth
2 cans stewed, diced tomatoes
2c salsa
2 chicken bouillon cubes
1 can diced green chilies
1 can corn (drained)
1 can ranch style beans
1 pkg ranch dressing mix

season w/ pepper, basil, cumin

(optional) serve with tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream

Cook chicken (bake or boil) and combine all other ingredients in crock pot (add chicken once its cooked). Cook until hot.

* makes A LOT!!!! so if its just two of you, maybe 1/2 it... or you can have it for the rest of the week! :) either way... hope you enjoy!

New Years

So I decided, New Years isn't my favorite holiday... its pretty lame actually... if you don't drink, and you don't have a significant other, its boring. I remember when we were little how much I loved it! Mom and Dad would go out, and we could have a friend over, and we would watch movies and eat candy and popcorn, and make decorations such as home made confetti, from ripped up construction paper, for midnight. We would get out the pots and pans, and set them up like a drum set, and when 12:00 rolled around we would bang on the pots and pans, scream HAPPY NEW YEAR at the top of our lungs and dance around!
Ahh, the bliss of innocence! Unfortunately, the art of a good dance party has been lost, so that option's out... all there is left is to go to dinner, then come back and watch a movie...
This New Years, I had no plans - not because of lack of trying mind you- I was home alone, and it was coming up on 10:30, so I had just sat down to put in the Bourne Identity and watch it (hahaha, man I am so lame)... when Alex called me to go hang out with him, Kristin and Matt. It ended up being a lot of fun... we went up to Centennial and watched the fireworks from the top of the press box! It was so fun!!!! It was FREEZING though!!! It brought back good memories of track and xc, and midnight madness!! :) The fireworks were pretty cool too, all of the casinos synchronize them, and they went for like 10-15 mins! (I think... I'm not the best estimator!!)
Then we hit up the Mitchell's house for breakfast then it was home for some sleep!!!

Christmas Break!!!

So I know it was a LONG time ago, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to write about the two glorious weeks known as Christmas Break! Oh man, it was a beautiful thing. I got out of school on the 20th, and rode home with Nicole, Alma, and Jagger. That was fun, Alma and I talked, rocked out, and demolished the puppy chow mix I made while Nicole and Jagger slept in the back.

If I had to choose three words to describe my vacation the would be: sleep, eat, friends/family. Or in one word: HAPPINESS!! I pretty much slept over 8-9 hours every night, and ate like I would never see, smell or taste food again, and got to see and catch up with my family and High school friends. So the few days leading up to Christmas included shopping, eating, movies, wrestling (and slaughtering) Alma! :) We also had some great devotionals and conversations about Christ and this special season. Christmas Eve we had a music program that went through the Christmas story and had a delectable ham and funeral potato dinner followed by some games. Christmas day started with Sweet Rolls!!!! then on to presents, followed by more sweet rolls then some soccer to make room for yet more sweet rolls. Soccer in the backyard was so fun, yet so hard!!! I think the sweet rolls were taking over every major functioning organ of my body, I couldn't breath, my blood was pumping a million miles a minute, and my legs were tuckered! then we hit the five-minute mark! :) It wasn't quite that bad, but boy it really was! We were sliding all over the grass and tripping on the 1/2 inflated ball, etc. it was great. Nicole was kicking some trash out there, (along with punching some face and pulling some clothes.. I never said she played fair, just well! )


















The next day we got to talk to Alicia, and that was so fun! She was a little tired... okay a lot tired, but she is still her same old self!!! She seemed to have the language down very well and was excited and ready for her actual mission to begin! I know she's going to be awesome!!!!

It was so fun to see my friends as well. I went on a "father-daughter bonding dinner" w/ Dirk, Audrey, Claire, Fernando, Donally, and some others. We went to Cafe BaBa Reeba... oh mamma it was delicious!!!

I also ran in the first annual Alumni Cross Country race at Centennial!!! lol that was a brilliant idea, lets get a bunch of fat, out of shape people, who used to run, and make them run 3 miles!! haha... no it really was so fun though... and it served its purpose.. it has shamed me back into shape! Next year, I'll get em! :)

Nikki, Durkin, D, Alex and I continued the tradition of a Chilies night!!


Me and my girls!! Half of them anyway... at Laurel's Lunch!

Other activities included soccer w/ Dirk and Audrey Saturday morning, bowling with Cat, Court, and others, running w/ Nikki and Durkin, chill fests w/ Kristin, Alex, Erin, and Kelly, and oh so much more!!!
I love Break!! I love Christmas!! I love family and friends!!! I love Home!!!!!!!

6 things

I got tagged from my sister Nicole...even though she has not done this tag herself. Basically I am supposed to write 6 things people don't know about me. So here it goes:

1. I single hiccup. Usually after I eat, but sometimes in the middle of class, in the library, or whenever.. there's no controlling when they strike! They aren't too loud or noticeable unless I get caught off guard and my mouth is open... then they echo and cause everyone's head to turn at a sound that resembles a strangled hampster squeaking for air.

2. I have a rib in my shoulder. No explanation.

3. I get "complicated migraines". That's what the doctor has labeled them as. Symptoms include going numb, going blind, and doing and saying absolutely crazy things. For instance: When they start coming on, I cannot do simple things like addition, dial a phone number, remember words, or read instructions on the back of my medicine bottle. I try to pull it off like everything is okay, but end up doing ridiculous things that's cannot hide it. One night I went upstairs and took my contacts out. Instead of pouring solution into my case over my contacts, I grabbed the toothpaste and squirted away. My sister Alicia was staring at me and cried, "Monique!! What are you doing?!!!" All I could say was, "oh, oops" and started laughing. That was that. Then I went to go to bed and told my mom I needed my armor on. My mom and Alicia knew by this point I was having one of my 'Migraine Moments.' I meant to tell them I needed my alarm on. So if I'm ever around you and am just not making sense, we'll call it a complicated migraine whether it is actually one or not. :)

4. At work I use a vacuum that has a face and named him Eugene. However, with about 3 weeks left in the semester he had a heart attack. I came to work and he just wouldn't turn on. I think he was as sick of waking up early as I was! Unfortunately I still had to go and just use a replacement while Eugene was in the hospital. Come to find out, his motor blew and they have to get a new one. Poor Eugene... get well soon!!

5. I walk pigeon-toed in high heels

6. I stuck my fingers in a light socket when I was about two... so if there's something a little off about me, now you know.

Shout Out!

I just wanted to say thanks to my amazing sister and roommate for starting this wonderful blog for me, and I can't wait to read what I'll do next!!!! No, I wish they would keep it up for me, my life sounds so much more interesting when they write about it; but I will try to do my best to give you an interesting read.