GIVEAWAY: If it were more interesting, I would have a better title!

Eyes are the window's to our soul! Or that is what people say...I say that they are just plain beautiful...blue, green, hazel, or brown! I love this picture of my daughter's eyes...

But I also love GIVEAWAY'S...so after checking out CandidCarrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta...then come back...K?

I have hit another of those precious landmarks that I never thought possible! I can't believe there are more and more of you that are reading my junk! It makes me extremely happy and helps me to feel more important than really possible...which helps my ego...which in turns makes me push myself to do even more, okay most of the time I just stand there dumbfounded...I pick the dry boogers from my nose and contemplate the big issues of the world...like what I did to make you want to read my blog!

Never coming up with an answer...I just try to do what is the next best thing...which is to bribe you to keep being my friend, coming to visit my blog, and in turn helping me be a person with a VERY big head.

People that see me in real life don't realize how very important I am becoming...I am thinking of getting a tattoo on my head to advertise my new found fame...lol...okay I kid, but people do that you know, put tattoo's on their forehead to advertise for people in exchange for money...

In case any of you are contemplating that...let me just remind you that it is PERMANENT...and that even if you tried to get it removed, that it will still be a faded scar of what it once was! So I suggest...not doing that...

Now that I have warned you and did my good deed for the day...let me think where I was going with this?...oh yes BRIBERY...

I am off to go camping during this lovely Labor Day weekend...they don't have internet where I am going...jerks...and I procrastinated my blog pre-writing...so I am doing a GIVEAWAY to bribe you to stay with me and THANK YOU for upping my numbers that I check daily, like I pee in the morning without fail after I wake-up!!!

Yea for my procrastination right? Right! So while I suffer in the elements of nature this weekend...I want to see how many comments and LURKERS I can get to come out of the closet!

That's right...you know who you are...rub my ego a little and write a comment...and guess what? You can win a prize! I don't want a flimsy comment(check out definition number 2!) like "HI"...totally lame. I want a comment with substance (check out definition number 4!)...

So in order to win the prize of this particular giveaway you need to answer the following question:

If you could hang out with ANYONE in the blogosphere...who would it be and why?

Crazy question right? I just am interested...you see, I blog stalk, read a lot and I find myself thinking...man I would really like to be able to call that person and have their kids play with mine...talk to them, laugh with them, cry with them. I would like to just watch them, one day, go throughout their day...see if they are as interesting in person as they seem to be on their blog!

To be honest...if I had to pick just ONE person...there are many...but just ONE person...it would probably be The Pioneer Woman...her blog was one of the FIRST blogs I came upon that I went back to consistently...laughed at her wittiness, cried when she lost her dog, fell in love with her photography, and just plain like how honest she is and what a go getter she seems to be--okay all that AND there is a BIG FACTOR that she lives on a Ranch and has lots of horses...and I love horses...engrossed by them is to humble a word...to the point that I am awed in their presence! lol...it's like I use to go to my friends house for her computer when I was in second grade...I loved playing the game Family Feud...so I would go over to her house and after a minute of pretending to think about what we should do...I would say, "Oh I know...we should play your computer and play the Family Feud game!"...

So tell me who you would hang out with, link to them if possible, and ONE lucky person will win a $50.00 gift card to AMAZON.com!!! I know...love it, embrace it, and comment! You have until Tuesday Noon time (MST)! Let's start small...let's see if I can get 20 comments, or 30, or we could be wild and crazy and hit 35!!! WHOOOHOOO!!!

Have a good Labor Day!

Shelle

UPDATE: 26 comments people? I thought I'd come back from the weekend and have like...ummmm...100! Wow you should see my head right now...totally deflated...oh well--the lucky winner will have me doing an impression of them,and let's face it, who wouldn't want that! lol! Can't wait for you guys to read my post about this weekend...let's just say, my love for camping hasn't grown at all! :)...STAY TUNED!!!

I love Daddy More...Mommy!

I have baby on the mind...These pics were taken and edited by my sister-in-law's twin sister Mikki...Captured by Mikki is her website and she is an incredible photographer!

But anyway...I have baby on the mind. Not that I particularly want one right now...it's just I love to be reminded of how they smell, what quirky faces they pull when they are trying to awake from their breastmilk induced state...it's priceless, they are priceless.

It's great because I get to see my new little niece quite a bit because they have to come over to the house to use the computer! So I get to get my baby fix.

But it also reminds me of how sweet MY little ones were...

for crying out loud...

why does it ever have to go from sweet smelling, love with out end in their eyes because you changed their diaper, or gave them food..you know, contentment...

to this conversation yesterday...

ME: "PeePs, I love you. You know that?"

PeePs: "No....I no love you Mom...I love Daddy!"

Me: "You can love both Mommy and Daddy...and I love you!"

PeePs: "No"...with a smile, "I love Daddy Mommy...I no love you."
Okay I know she probably doesn't mean it...but being the mature mother that I am...I decided to make sure she learned something from this "TALK" we were having...

Me: "Fine...then I'm not taking you to pre-school anymore." Totally mature...I know.

PeePs: "Moooommm...you no take me to Pre-School then I cry at home!" in a whiny voice.

Me: "Well when you love ME then I will take you to Pre-School."

PeePs: "Okay, Daddy take me to Pre-School!" in a excited...I've figured it out voice! "I love Daddy...I no love you Mommy, OKay?"

Me: "Okay, you don't have to love me, PeePs...but when we go to the store today...I can't get you that treat I promised because I only get it for those kids that LOVE me...so I'll have to take DCar with me so I can get him a treat..." Bribery is always OKAY as long as it is for a good cause!

PeePs: Silence..."Mommy, I love you...I just kidding"...Laughs..."I come with you to store and get treat...okay?"

Me: "Oh good...I was hoping you would come around!" I smiled...victory was Mine again! Even if her love was forced!!!

And then I remembered this commercial--and seeing how babies are the theme of this post, sort of, but not really...I thought you might get your laugh of the day from it...ENJOY!

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I model...it's what I do...

INTERRUPTION: I won another award!!! Seriously it's about time :)

I get to nominate others...So real fast...I want to nominate people's blogs I really do love to read and have them on my Google Reader...so here they are: Life Changes--my lil' sista's blog! Abritdifferent because she has a scotish word of the day and I'm obsessed, Barbalootsuit one other person wittier than me, Happy Mormon he's sugary sweet for his wife, Shannon at the Nuthouse because she reminds me of me, and Natalie she has an incredible voice, and last but not least...Navel Gazing at it's finest because Sue makes me laugh with each post!!!

OKAY NOW WE CAN GO BACK TO THE REGULAR POST:

I woke up, as I do everyday, and thought, "Man, it's hard being me." I live with my parents...not a models dream, but it's what I do until I have saved enough and "grown up" enough to be on my own.

You probably didn't know this about me, my parents don't even know this about me, but I model. Its what I do, what I feel, is the only thing I'm really good at.

I know, I know, shocking! I bet you didn't think I would do that...first of all, keep it from my parents as long as I have, and also that I would feel that, that is one of the only things that I am truly blessed with...the talent of giving off JUST the right angles...knowing where to look while the photographer snaps away. Again...it's what I do.

I didn't start out thinking I would be a model...it wasn't one of those things that I worked on or tried to perfect...it just comes natural, I can't help being who I am...if this is my lot in life, then I will take it and appreciate what I have been given.

The first pictures ever taken of me where actually nude photos...but they were done without my knowledge and I was in a foreign place and didn't know quite how to speak the language of the land yet, and therefore, didn't know what I was getting into.

As I got use to the camera and began to learn the language and what the photographers wanted...I became a self-proclaimed star...

Just recently I posed in my swimming suit...something I had only done in the privacy of my own home with usually my Mom taking the pictures...I mean, I always wanted to be respected as a model first before I started showing skin...but this day was different.

I walked into the shoot excited and somewhat giddy. They had asked me to bring my own bathing suit because frankly, they didn't have the budget, nor did they have my size amongst the ones they had there. They wanted to do it outside with the natural sunlight. I was surprised when other people were there with their swimming suits also, but was confident in my skills, and knew that if I had to prove it, I could win, hands down.

I slipped my two piece on...white with accents of flowers and hot pink trim--scrunched slightly on the sides, as is the style this year. I walked outside with confidence. I was ready...this is the next step in my career...the photographer was familiar...

The photo shoot was set up so that we could just play around and the photographer could get action shots, real shots, candid shots...but when it was my turn to do what I do best...I didn't let them down...I was really surprised how they turned out...although the red head in the shoot gave me a run for my money...and she had an IN with the photographer (it was the photographers daughter)...you KNOW what I mean!

Tell me what you think...



Thanks for taking the time to tell me your opinion...

Sincerely,

PeePs

P.S. My sister-in-law sent me these yesterday...and I was rolling on the ground...especially from the first picture! What the heck? Where did she learn THAT from? Should I be worried?

Oh and the "nude" pictures she is referring too...would be at her birth...just in case you didn't pick that up and you thought I went around doing stuff like that!

Letter to Lady with Witch Nose...

Dear Lady with a Witch Nose and a British Accent:

After traveling through the night on the red eye flight to JFK from the West, I dragged myself over to the Gate that would lead us on the plane that would fly us over to London. I sat down...there was only I (because my Mom and Husband had to go to the restroom), and you, and your Husband. Our backs where to each other. I smiled to myself because I loved hearing that wonderful British Accent...I could not pick up everything because you were talking so fast...and for some reason...the British Accent is hard for me to understand at such a pace as you were speaking.

My husband came over and it was finally my turn to head to the bathroom and grab some breakfast. At that same moment you got up...and I saw...and being the RUDE, stupid person that I am, I stared (remember that annoying habit that I talked about in this post?)
Your nose was one I had NEVER seen before...not even on TV...it was the best and realist witch nose I had ever seen. It was as magnificent as what I had imagined in my mind on any book that had a witch and described such a nose. It's (the nose) was very LONG (when I say long I mean Pinocchio size after just one lie...so maybe about two itches) and THIN and just slightly crooked. There was something on the edge of it...I assumed a mole because it befits the look, but to be honest, you might have just had a booger just picked or something? I don't know.

When I stared you looked me straight in the eye and smiled.

What I loved most...is the nose, on you, looked not out of place. It fit you...it fit your face I mean...since I don't know you personally.

You are so supremely confident of yourself. I loved it...in fact I was fascinated by it. Your husband couldn't get enough of you (the PDA was a little over board...but I get it, I do)...you have two really cute sons, who I could tell after the two hours of stalk-watching you through lowered eyes, adored the living heck out of you (or put on a really good show...but for whom? I wouldn't know).

Your voice had such a great lilt to it...your accent almost more old school...very proper.

I went to the bathroom, it was uneventful...I'm not sure what happened from the time I left you...with the confidence of a queen, getting mauled by your boyfriend/husband/lover, and your two boys hanging on your every word...

To the lady/witch I came back to...but that smile you had for me...was gone.

That nice lilting accent was turned into a screechy, whiny, and unpleasant voice.

I decided to sit down again with my back toward you after you caught me standing like a statue watching you speak, watching the tip of your nose move while your face was scowling and your lip was slightly curled, and you gave me an icy stare...in your eyes I read--"What you lookin' at Witch? (but with a "B")."

This is the part where you will lose all faith in me...the part where I show my true colors...because after I sat down...

I smiled...laughed a little...

Because the way your voice sounded and the way you looked at me...combined with your nose...you truly where living up to the reputation the nose bore for you.

Again it was magnificent...and I couldn't hold anything against you...I was the one staring, caught off-guard by the Halloween-too-real-ness of it...I deserved the icy stare.

But if you only knew why I was staring...not in judgement or contempt or to be truly mean...I was staring because I was in awe, you would have given me the smile instead...I am sure of it!

Thanks for that...thanks for keeping me occupied for the two hour lay over we had in JFK...even though you weren't doing anything but being yourself.

If I would have been stronger or cooler I would have gone over to you and talked with you, asked your name, and gotten to know the person behind the nose, maybe even taken a picture with you. But I didn't...I chickened out and created in my mind what I thought suited you...

and it kept me entertained...

Your friend,

Shelle

P.S. If you read this recognize this as you...I just wanted to say, you are welcome at my home anytime you visit the states again! I hear people love where I live...that I don't appreciate the beauty of it...so your welcome anytime...we always have an extra room! But your boys will have to sleep on the tramp outside!

Don't get me wrong...the lady seemed really nice...I was half drugged on sleeping pills, so who knows what I saw was REALLY what I saw, but my Mom was there and confirmed the look of it, but she was also drugged by sleeping pills...hmmm...

I had to write the "blog letter" because it was truly one of the best things about my trip... But to be honest, maybe she didn't even really exist? Maybe I'm making her up or my mind was? I have tried not to take those things again...I felt really whacked out!

...but if she was real... I wish I had at least talked to her!

Or maybe that's the sleeping pills talking! :)

Have a good Tuesday!

What is about me and teeth?

Just Real Fast: Shannon over at the NutHouse...gave me a sweet reward...and I just wanted to publicly thank her...check here to see what the award is...I want to reward it to others so here is how they say to choose the 5 people it should go to:

Do you know any bloggers that kick a#$? Maybe they've got incredible, original content. Or they're overflowing with creativity. Is it someone that helps you become a better blogger? Or a bloggy friend you know you can count on? Or maybe it's someone who simply inspires you to be a better person... or someone else who sends you to the floor, laughing your (butt) off.

So thanks Shannon...you're the best! And I'm giving the reward to Binks: Because she is hilarious and not enough people know about her! Mrs.B-because she is a witch...literally(I think that falls into the overflowing with creativity category)! Candid Carrie-because she lets me participate in Friday Foto Finish Fiesta and Field trips and we google chat...which is totally awesome! Such the Spot: Because I blog stalk her and she doesn't even know it...oh hey, if you are visiting, Hi...I blog stalk you! Finally--Insane Mama and her live-in boyfriend Pee in the Wind...because Insane Mama's stuff is raw and written extremely well...and Pee in the Wind because he's just real...tells it like it is!--I probably won't tell them I gave them this award...because they don't even really know me...well her boyfriend doesn't...so if you know them...and want to pass on the news...that would be appreciated! lol!

Also T-over here gave me the Brillant Blog award again and I wanted to give her a public shout out also...seriously guys...I'm glad somebody realizes my true star potential! :) Okay back to the regular scheduled programming! :)

I'm sorry it's another tooth post...this one does NOT have to do with my co-workers (thank goodness)...

I am so obsessed to the point of psychotic when it comes to teeth...I don't know what it is, but I feel teeth are a very distinguishing factor of anyone!

I cringe when I see yellow teeth...they make me somewhat sick to my stomach...if that makes me shallow...then don't dive in me, because I am just that shallow! I'm sorry but it's true.

What makes it all worse...is that I don't have ridiculously perfect teeth like most of my family members...(I'm not gonna lie here or sugar coat anything, but most of them received this perfection through braces...except for one, my older brother, Traveler...his are natural and I hate him for it!)...anyway, I have spaces in my teeth, but they are white and clean and I take them to the Dentist to get worked on and prettied up...but they are not perfect by any means...

yet I judge...it's a true fact...and if I can't be honest here, on my blog, then I'm lost...so here is my total human state for you to condem and judge...it's okay, I have broad shoulders, just remember this picture?

Anyhow, I should have been a dentist or a Hygenist or something, except I would vomit all over any patient who had abbhorent teeth...and then I would be fired with no really good references and then where would I be? So, I didn't go that route...

Being a Mom you have to deal with some pretty nasty stuff...like poop, and vomit, and boogers...and the list goes on. I'm okay with that stuff...except for the smell of vomit, it makes me vomit, so maybe cross vomit of my list of stuff I can handle as a mom...so just make it poop and boogers...but give me that any day then having to deal with this...

A tooth falling out and leaving a redneck space in the middle of his nice set of teeth! I know...sick right? I'm silently dry heaving in my mouth while looking at this picture...Besides yellow teeth, I have found I HATE loose teeth on kids. They shake and shimmy and play with it until it falls out and it just plain makes me squirm...and my kid knows it...

This is all I asked for...a pleasant smile, kinda hide the sick part of the gross, empty, redneck space in your tooth, so we can document this and I can lay down and find my balance again, because the sight of it was making me sick!

What a good little man...

and weird...I'll be the first to admit...I have strange children. I'm sure part of that stems from me and my crazy raising of them...but part of that is natural, and scary...yet I love it...does that make me strange or normal?

I mean, my daughter sat and begged for me to take pictures of her reaction to DCar's space in his once perfect, beautiful, set of 6-year old teeth...

She wanted to show you guys what my face looked like when DCar showed me his yuck dead tooth...(I think she came pretty close)

And how I looked when he showed me the space in his mouth...(I think I was a little more like "ewww" faced...but this was her thing...and who was I to argue?)

Then she had to show us DCar's reaction to making me squirm and getting me all sicked out! Sweet of her right?
But then DCar had to do this...He said that is how I truly looked when I saw his mouth...he thinks it's hilarious that I am so sicked out by it...he would constantly say, "Hey Mom...look!" and I would look over and he would push his tooth out with his tongue...GROSS!!!

Well he is really proud of himself. He walked to school with extra excitement in his step...couldn't wait to show all his new grill...or lack thereof!

I must have some surpressed memory with my own teeth and falling out and being yellow and such.

So what do you think it is? I need to know? What is it with me and teeth?

Putting life into perspective--The Last Lecture

I'm sure a lot of you have already seen this...but for me, yesterday after visiting HIS blog, I was reminded of where my perspective needed to be! I actually hate those slaps in the face...so parallel to the saying, "Misery loves company"...well the guilty also "loves" company :)

Even though the thought of death can be sad, I feel it is only for those of us left behind who mourn, because I believe the world we return to, if we have lived our life well and with goodness, is joyful and incredible beyond measure.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch's lecture is uplifting and makes you think, he even makes you laugh, but at the end, he also makes you cry.

If you have 10 minutes...take the time to watch this if you haven't...this is his condensed version when he appeared on Oprah...


And if you have time to watch his ORIGINAL lecture, it's about an hour or so long...Here is what the person on You Tube wrote about it:
Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals. For more, visit www.cmu.edu/randyslecture.

Hope all have a good Saturday!

Shelle

Looks AND personality!

I have been looking through some pictures and have come to realize that my BOY looks more like me than I first thought...poor guy! His personality is totally is Dad's though.

I know this might come as a shocker to some of you but I'm an outgoing and in-your-face kind of gal...my husband and son are not. They are shy in nature, reserved, quiet...but have a way of making people feel good about themselves...wanted and loved. They will talk if talked to...and can carry on quite intelligent conversations...

Where I tend to ramble and say whatever is on my mind! It can be somewhat disconcerting for some people...

But I guess that is why my husband and I match up so well...we are virtually polar opposites. I like a lot of people around, he doesn't...I like to talk, he doesn't...I want to entertain and hang out with friends and family...he's a homebody!

But my looks where given to my son...most of his looks are mine.

Here is my mean, somewhat bugged face...

Here's my son's...

Here's my pleasant...I'll humor you face...

Here's my son's...
I know, creepy right? Although, my son does like to be the comedian when he gets the chance...maybe that is my part of his personality? Who knows...


But my daughter...has the pretty looks from her Dad and is MY personality all the way! :)

She looks so carefree in this picture and it is why I LOVE it so much and have chosen it for FRIDAY FOTO FINISH FIESTA...those where the days, when you worried about yourself and everyone adored you even if you were sassy, whiny, or overbearing...

Now people just think you are mean, ridiculous, and...overbearing!

If you want to join Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta...just click here!

You want to say something? I have a song for it!

It's that time again where I tell you, BLOG friends, of another annoying or endearing habit of mine. A few weeks ago I introduced to you that I stare. And I loved that you guys were honest with me in your comments. Some of you said how much you hated that...and others admitted to the habit. I loved it.

Well if you don't already know...I grew up in the "dance" world. My mother had her own studio and I started taking at the ripe ol' age of 3...but I started watching long before that. With dancing comes music...and it has also been an extremely HUGE part of my life. Which means I know a lot of songs. Maybe not all the right lyrics and maybe not the WHOLE songs...but I know a lot of choruses of songs and they stick in my head to be used later.

One of those other annoying (maybe endearing) habits that I have picked up is: when I am talking with someone...if their words, or mine, trigger a memory of a song I start singing the song right out! Or if a song stays in my head...I'll find myself singing, in the grocery store, at the library, during class in college and high school...church...it was crazy, and sometimes very embarrassing!

Remember when Ace of Base came out with "The Sign"...

there were many moments where I found people laughing at me because I would be singing, "I saw the sign, and I opened up my eyes I saw the sign...". No one that hung out with me for even a few minutes could get away with saying "sign" out of any context and me not break out into chorus!

IN high school...someone said "Friends" or "I'll tell you what I want"...forget it, I would break out in this song: "Wannabe" by Spice Girls

In the present day and age...my co-workers suffer daily with my weird and annoying habit. When the song "I kissed a Girl" by Katy Perry, came out I continued for well over a week singing that song every morning because I couldn't get it out of my head.

It was in my "WORKOUT" play list and I would listen to it during my Cardio workout because it has great "timing" to run to...and then I would dress and go to work.

The co-worker that sits in the cubbie right next to me would yell at me and tell me to stop singing (which I didn't know I was doing it out loud) I would then get it into her head...after a week or so, I just would quietly sing it and then listen for her from behind my cubbie to all of a sudden very silently start singing it and then grunt with frustration and yell, "Shelle, I swear I am going to kill you"... I would always just laugh and say, "or kiss me with your Cherry Chapstick!"

Just the other day I was talking with my other co-worker and he stupidly said, "I need to do more sit-ups" or something like that. I broke out into, "My anaconda don't want none unless you got buns hun...you can do side bends or sit ups...but please don't lose that butt..." I'll spare you from quoting the rest because I know that whole song...but you catch my drift.

So there you go...I have laid myself open to all your condemnation to judge as you please.

Again I ask...is there anything you need to tell me?

Let me just leave you with another song that I had in my head for quite a while when I was in college...and yes I knew every word and when it said H-E-double tooth picks I would say, "heck". Anytime someone said "super" or "star" or "superstar" they were in for it! :)

First day of school...and my Brand New Niece!

There comes a day in every parent's life where they see their child get ready with their Brand New school clothes (unless you are my kids and don't want MOM to buy you any NEW clothes because you have "plenty at home".), eat a healthy breakfast to start their day (Cereal), brush their teeth (thank goodness, don't want them to be known as the Stinky Breath Kid), Take their picture...


That's right guy...you're a stud...



And walk them to school for their first day of FIRST GRADE...(unless you're my son who said, "Moooommmm" in a almost embarrassed voice, "I'm fine...I know where my school is and I can walk myself up there...I'm big now, I don't need my Mom to hold my hand" my response, "Sorry guy, you're only in first grade and you are not going to take this away from me, I'm walking you to school. Don't worry...I'll stop when you get to college! Now let me put my camera back inside and we will get you to school!". He smiled. I rushed in and set my camera down and rushed back outside, only to find my son half way up the street already! I thought this whole embarrassed by your parent thing started at a later age? What the...?)

But my little girl...PeePs...
She let me take her picture...

Begged me to take her to school...where you confidently walked in and took her reign as queen of Sass...(Don't worry...I paid my payment, just in case you were worried by looking at the picture above :))

Then....then...

I had 2 and 1/2 hours of blissful peace ALL.TO.MYSELF! That's right...I partied back in my bed and read Breaking Dawn...I finished it by the way! Because all of this happened last week! Anyone want to chat about it...there is stuff I'm dying to discuss!

Now meet my niece...I'm a BRAND NEW AUNTIE...AGAIN...


She has my side of the families fingers...long...
She can almost wrap my thumb with her long monkey fingers...
I didn't get a pic of me holding the sweet beautiful little girl...because I was holding her duh! But I stuck in this picture of my lil' sis, Suns Fan #2, so you could imagine me holding her...Just add freckles...a little more weight...little less beauty...and spaces in her teeth... and you will see me! Awesome...oh and we have the same size breasts...so that doesn't change...hers are just more perky...Dang!

Do you feel that YOU as a Mormon woman get treated well?

"Do you feel that YOU as a Mormon woman get treated well?" I turned around with a quizzical look to my co-worker, what the heck was he talking about now. He randomly comes over to my cubbie and asks or talks about the most RANDOM things. His questions are mostly entertaining and he is usually a nice break from the hum drum of my job.

"What do you mean 'do I get treated well? Like by my husband?'"

He said, "Yea, by your husband and male leaders of your church?"

Still confused, "Like do I get treated well how? Like not getting the calling I want?...or like are they rude, arrogant, and controlling? Yea that's my husband...but no one else." I said laughing and jokingly. He wasn't smiling.

He continued, "I have asked other women who have said that they feel controlled by the men in the Mormon religion. That men are looked at as higher up...given more."

"Wow" I said truly shocked, "I don't know who you have been talking to but that is totally NOT how I feel. I have never been more treasured as a women. We are nurtured, loved, and revered as women in our religion...especially by the leaders of our church and if you have a good man in your life and are lucky like me to marry them...then you are nurtured, loved, and revered by them."

He smiled and said something to this effect, "I had a feeling you wouldn't feel the same way. You are to outgoing and self confident to be controlled by anybody."

For those of you who don't quite understand the LDS church (Mormons), I want to give you my perspective on this myth, which it is, in my eyes anyway, because I can only speak for myself...

I thought it a silly question and one that I have never been approached about personally. You get the normal funny questions when people find out you are LDS...like, "Do you really have horns? Where do you hide your hooves? Do you give ALL your money to your prophet? Do you really believe a young boy saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father?" My answers are always, no, I don't have any, (although sometimes I feel they would come in handy), no, and yes.

I guess a lot of people think that "Mormon" women (women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) are controlled, restricted, and robots when it comes to being a women member of our church. Let me just say, on this side of things and in my perspective, it couldn't be farther from the truth.

One of the things I love most about our religion is that it is guaranteed when we have our General Conferences that one if not MANY of our men leaders of our church say something to the effect of what this man, M. Russell Ballard said, "While women live in homes under many different circumstances—married, single, widowed, or divorced, some with children and some without—all are beloved of God, and He has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessings of eternity...I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood."

As in the quote from above they highly respect our ability to bear children and live in the role we seem to have been made for...motherhood...but they also respect our individual choice and right to become and do what we feel is best for us and what we discuss with our Father in Heaven...

Just to prove my point with one last quote from one of our beloved Apostles showing that we are loved and revered in our church...(What it Means to be Daughter of God--President James E. Faust,Second Counselor in the First Presidency)

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Eve. In the Garden of Eden, she and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, they were also reminded, “Thou mayest choose for thyself.” 9 The choice was really between a continuation of their comfortable existence in Eden, where they would never progress, or a momentous exit into mortality with its opposites: pain, trials, and physical death in contrast to joy, growth, and the potential for eternal life. In contemplating this choice, we are told, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, … and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” 10 And thus began their earthly probation and parenthood.

After the choice was made, Adam voiced this grateful expression: “Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.” 11

Eve made an even greater statement of visionary wisdom after leaving the Garden of Eden: “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” 12 If it hadn’t been for Eve, none of us would be here...As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you. Surely the secret citadel of women’s inner strength is spirituality. In this you equal and even surpass men, as you do in faith, morality, and commitment when truly converted to the gospel. You have “more trust in the Lord [and] more hope in his word.” 15 This inner spiritual sense seems to give you a certain resilience to cope with sorrow, trouble, and uncertainty.

You cannot imagine the gifts and talents each of you has. All women have appealing features. I do not refer to model-type appeal, but rather that which comes from your personality, your attitude, and your expressions. I urge you to enhance the natural, God-given, feminine gifts with which you have been so richly blessed. None of you should be so content that you cease to care about how you look or act. In his day, President Brigham Young encouraged women to get an education. This is still good counsel, but I hasten to add: in all your getting, do not lose your sweet femininity.

You sisters do not know the full extent of your influence. You sisters enrich all of humanity. All human life begins with you. Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. You will not need to worry, “Do I look all right?” “Do I sound OK?” “What do people think of me?” A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.

I wonder if you sisters can fully appreciate the innate gifts, blessings, and endowments you have simply because you are daughters of God. It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.

So my answer is NO I do not fell any less a woman because of my religion...if anything I feel empowered and strengthened from it.

I couldn't be more blessed as a human being...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not a religion I follow blindly...I have searched and questioned as any human being together with its soul will do...I know, love, and respect the truth of what I have found in this Church and am thankful for the life I have lead because of its influence and power in my life.

I hope all of you feel love and respected no matter what you choose to believe. That you have hope and feel happy with the life you live and lead.

In my rare moments of seriousness...I am glad that I can tell you of something I love and am very passionate about...

All funny and light-heartedness will continue tomorrow...carry on! :)

Love Shelle

There's something vibrating in my luggage! FRIDAY FOTO FINISH FIESTA!

I have to tell you today of a funny story...or something I find funny, but not everyone has my humor!

We were on our way back from London..(.if you haven't been here before you can just scroll down and see my recent adventures across seas)...and we were at the JFK airport.

First off, we were stuck on the Tarmac for 20 minutes because they didn't have a parking space for our airplane when we landed. Then they decided to transport us to the gate by a "passenger bus"...never heard of it before that day...but we unloaded from the back of the plane and this "bus" for lack of a better word drove us to a gate where we unloaded into the JFK airport.

We then were corralled into a line, extremely SLOW line, because the escalator stairs to customs was broken and they could only allow a certain amount of people to walk down them at a time for safety...blah blah blah...it sucked!

So after about a 1/2 hour we get down the broken escalator stairs to see a LONG, (I'm not talking Disneyland spring break LONG line...I'm talking WORSE)...to await our allowance back into the United States.

I sighed and slumped my shoulders to wait.

Then a lady yelled at us speaking extremely fast...(I think she was speaking English with a light Latino accent but I couldn't quite understand her). My husband did and he said with some excitement, "Oh! Those people already U.S. Citizens get to go in this other line"...I looked over to see a VERY SHORT line...I jumped with joy and headed over to that line.

(I don't blame all those non U.S. Citizens for trying to vacation in the United States...heck they get double for their money...I would do the same thing if I were them! At least Europeans do...)

We get through that line and walk into the next room to hit ANOTHER line. This line was for those who missed their connecting flights or who didn't have a boarding pass to get them on their next flight.

That would be us...Dang!

So I'm standing there with my hands on my checked luggage...waiting, waiting, waiting...when I feel a vibration. I didn't think much of it at first...assumed it was the building or something...I don't know!

Then I just casually turn to Mountain Sport Man and say, "Do you feel that vibration?"

MSM: "No."

Me: Look at him weird, "What? How can you not feel that! The ground's vibrating".

MSM: Pauses for a sec to feel something then says, "No it's not".

Me: "Seriously? You can't feel that?" Then I feel my luggage...then I feel his luggage. No vibration. Then I feel my luggage again, the only CHECKED bag we had. Vibration. Then in somewhat a shaky, sort of laughing, kind of voice I say, "Ummm...hon, there is something vibrating in my luggage!"

MSM: He feels it. Then he looks at me. Then he goes to open the zipper!

Me: "Stop!...what are you doing?"

MSM: "I'm checking out what's vibrating in your bag!" in a duh...stop the theatrics kind of voice.

Me: "Let's stop and think for a minute...is there anything we brought that would cause my luggage to vibrate? Because unless you are surprising me with a gift...we left that stuff at home! So I have NO idea what would be vibrating! This is the only piece of luggage that has been out of our sight at ALL..." then I whisper..."what if it's a bomb? Ticking down the minutes...maybe seconds...If you open it, it could set everything off!!!"

MSM: He think about that for only a mini-second...probably to humor me...then goes to unzip the bag. I look at him and mouth I LOVE YOU...just in case this was our last seconds together (okay I didn't, but that would have been funny right?)...He rummages around and gets into my Toiletry bag. Where he pulls out...

My VENUS VIBRANCE RAZOR!!!


I start laughing so hard my tears are rolling down my cheeks...while my heart starts to calm down to a regular rhythm...then I say, "WOW...that razor has some power behind it!"
Then I give him this apologetic look and all was right again in the world.

(Besides the fact that we had to go through another security line and then were stuck out on the tarmac for take off for 4 and 1/2 hours because of a Ground Stop issued for weather).

If you want to join Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta it's easy just click on the link...read the instructions...and join it!

The one thing I learned about my ancestor's that hit home...

Now here is the tour of why I went to England in the first place. To find out where I come from...see where my roots stem, sort of thing. To trace my ancestors...see where they lived and worked...see their life before they joined the LDS church and packed up everything for the hope of a better life in a wild and rough America or to just be close to other saints who had also joined the LDS church...to be close to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

It was interesting I'll admit. There is love and tragedy and heartache in my ancestor's story. It was great to meet long lost cousins. They were from the part of the family that didn't join the church...that didn't sail to America...that stayed in England. They were hilarious...funny...witty... and just plain fun to get to know and I am so glad that I did it, that I went to England and that I saw and heard what I did about my ancestors and their great Legacy...and that I got to meet my British cousins.

But...

The best part of this whole trip...

The somewhat sick and twisted part of this trip...yet the best part still...

Is that I found out something VERY important...

Something I should have known before I was married...something crucial in my husbands and I relationship...(okay maybe not crucial...and maybe not really THAT important)


Okay here it is...the gruesome fact that my husband's Great-Great-Grandfather could have very well killed my Great-Great-Grandpa! That's right.


Gory, twisted, gruesome, and so so sad that I laughed OUT LOUD during the solemn presentation at our family reunion!

Does it surprise you that I find that funny...I hope not.

I think you know me well enough now to not be surprised that when they said my Great-Great-Grandfather was attacked and killed by a Ute Indian tribe while on his way to Salt Lake City to meet his 3 sons that he hadn't seen in YEARS and the only other members of his family to join and come out there to meet him (including his wife...who stayed behind in England), that I laughed...and everyone looked at me awkward, becaue it definitely wasn't a FUNNY moment...it was tragic and sad and the end to an incredible struggle on my Great-Great-Grandfather's part.

But you see...

My husband's Great-Great-Grandmother was full blooded Navaho, but was stolen by the Ute tribe when she was a young girl and raised Ute...so she was considered a part of the Ute tribe family. The indians that attacked and killed my Great-Great-Grandfather lived in the very vicinity that my husband's Great-Great-Grandfather's tribe lived and roamed.

Now we don't know for sure, I'm definitely going to start and do some research to see...but it all came together at that moment and I laughed, like and idiot, because it struck me as a funny. concept!

So here are some of the pics of some of the stuff I learned...I'll make it short and sweet...

Here we are at the Museum Science of Industry in Manchester listening to a wonderful tour guide who did a lot of research for us so that she would be prepared to tie in our ancestors story with how it related to the Industrial Revolution.

I learned that some of my ancestors where of the working class. Mechanics who kept the machines running and where very important to the warehouses (or so the tour guide said)...and some of my ancestors where sew-ers or seamstress people or something like that...they also worked with iron and rubber and stuff like that...

But the living conditions where horrendous...I kept thanking heaven above that I didn't have to live in that time...and be working class...because if my position today in life is any premonition to what and where I would have been back then...I would have HAD to live in those horrendous conditions...so sad, made my heart break. Although my ancestors where NOT poor...they had their own homes and were very lucky...it was just sad that ANYBODY had to live like some of those poor people had to live...

I was pretending to wait for the train...besides my Mom rushing me to get in the picture...all other human looking people are Plastic...

So some of my ancestors owned and ran a pub...This was the pub...still standing today. It was drizzling and miserable outside so i stayed my lazy butt on the bus and took a picture...so sorry for the distortion!
This is where some of my more affluent ancestors lived. This was their home and they owned TONS of land. I think this particular home had 4 levels and 28 bedrooms...I kept looking up to Heaven and wondered "What went wrong? Where in the line of my ancestors did someone screw up the money tree and marry for love?"

We got to visit some of their graves. I guess you can tell if they had money or not by their grave stones. These ancestors had money...just look at the graves behind...these went on and on and on...
This is a drawing done back in the 17 th century I believe...and what the church would've looked like where my ancestors were married...
This is part of the original medievel section of that same church...still standing...and the only part original to the design.
I just thought this was cool...inside the church...they still had this podium which was made in the medeviel age...
The original fireplace from the medievel part of the church... And the original stain glass window...you haven't toured Britian or Europe for that matter if you haven't visited a Catholic church and seen a stained glass window...it just isn't done! :)

It was beautiful...

Now, do you think I should make my husband spend a lifetime making up for his Great-Great-Grandfather's murder of my Great-Great-Grandfather?

Like the Deliciously wicked kind of making up?

I agree...nothing better than making up right?

Peace out!

Shelle

FINALE SYTYCD my opinion...uhhh a little late!

Okay...I watched the FINALE of SO You Think You Can Dance...

Wow...Josh?

....Josh?

Okay, I get that...but hmmm...

Let's just say that a Hip Hop dancer or "untrained" as they kept saying over and over and over again...(we get it, they were "untrained"...even though in Josh's memoir or final talk with Cat he had a picture of him in ballet class (?)...I guess that means he was "untrained"?)...whatever. It was somewhat predictable that someone like that was going to win!

Let's review...

Season 1...best dancer of that season, contemporary/jazz dancer...male--Blake (Caucasian).
Season 2...best performer, but not best dancer...(that would've been Allison or Travis), male (Caucasian)--Ben-BALLROOM dancer.
Season 3...all around dancer, but not best...(that would've been Travis adopted Brother Danny), female--Sabre-- (African American) contemporary/jazz and little training

So season 4 had to be a "less trained" dancer or a different genre and most likely NOT caucasian. So that was Katee only she was a contemporary dancer so to close to Sabre, so she was out, Courtney didn't have a chance, so it was going to be one of the male's. So are you surprised it was the one that could do a double turn?

I'm not...

yet...

I was rooting for Twitch myself. I hate being wrong...

Oh well...

I'm definitely driving down to Vegas to see "BELIEVE" with Wade Robson as the choreographer, (it's also a magic show and cirque de solei sort of thing)...are you kidding? That was sick...and I mean that in a good way! Seriously, if you missed the danced (the homage to bunnies) then no worries...I have snatched it from YouTube for your pleasure because I believe you would have loved it as much as me...well if you like the quirky and weird!!!



I always like when they pick their favorite dances...especially when I agree with them! But I forgot about this one because it didn't stick out to me when I had to watch 9 other dances with it and it was first! So here was my favorite for the Finale Show--Katee and Josh in "No Air":



Alright, Alright...I enjoyed watching that kiss at the first of this routine also...it was much better and cleaner this time then it was the first time they performed it...so here it is for your viewing pleasure... "Mercy" by Duffy



Nice right? Go ahead...watch it again...sexy right? It gives me the quirky butterflies in the stomach...so raw! Love it! Makes you wish you danced right? It does me, wish I could dance like that still!!! At least partner dance!

All in all...they were good this year, but if we put Blake, Danny, Travis, and even Neil against any of these...well they wouldn't even come close...just one person's opinion

let's face it...I matter! ha!

Shelle

P.S. still no Breaking Dawn...so keep quiet!

Finally I'm Back!!! Spread the word...

WOW! Let me just start off first by saying England is one of the most Beautiful countries I've ever seen. Flying into London looked like a patchwork quilt pattern...it was breathtaking!

But...

It is SO good to be home. It's funny how you start off a trip and can't WAIT to get out of town...break free from your mundane life. Then you go on your trip and when it is finally time to come home...it's like you can't wait to get back to the mundane-ness of if all!

I absolutely missed and went through a lot of blog withdrawal! I have a TON of blog "letters" to write to all sorts of people I saw during my travels but internet doesn't come FREE there in London and only at McDonalds in Manchester...it was insane!!! They wanted me to pay 15 pounds which is equal to roughly $30 for 24 hours of internet service...and since I don't pay even that for a month of service at home I decided to hold all blog entries until I came back! So sorry but I needed those extra pounds to eat actual food...no pun intended!

So here is a brief summary of my London Vac-ay--There is hundreds more pics but I chose only those to tell the short story! :)


Well this is my Mom and I waiting to get on the flight to London...at that airport I saw my first blog letter I'm going to write...to the woman with the REAL witch nose...it was crazy! I decided not to take a pic of it because I thought it might be rude...but I have to write the letter!


This is MountainSport Man and I at the Marble Arch...to be honest...I forgot this even existed until we went there and my cousin was like...'hey do you want me to take a pic of you guys in front of it?' I'm like...'uh sure...'--Don't worry through all the tours I finally figured out the historical importance of it!


If any of you have read historical romance novels...this park is mentioned quite a bit! I spent some time day dreaming while waiting for our Hop on-Hop off tour bus at this park...

I was THE thing for my coming out that season...All the dashing young rogue's wanted me...I had fair skin...no freckles because i never saw the sun...and I had money, lots of it, or my dad did. I dreamed I had many men escorting me through Hyde Park...and kissing me in secret coves or in their rich carriages...or we would simply have witty banter while we took a ride on our thorough bred horses...

Then my husband would slap my butt and tell me to hurry or we were going to miss the Tour Bus...

Here's the group of us...minus the one taking the pic (Marlene) who went to England together!


Here's our tour guide for the Hop-on Hop-off Tour...even he sounded charming with that British accent...gotta give it to them, it is a great accent!

MSM and I on the bus tour...it was spritzing or "raining" as they call it in London. It felt like a spritz and it was annoying...so I had my hoody on most of this day!

We hopped of the bus tour and took pics at "Big BEN"... why is that clock famous again? Other than Back to the Future?

These people I guess live across the street from Big Ben and Westminster Abbey protesting the war...I couldn't believe they let them do that...actually live right there on the street...they were silent though, and very respectful protester's when they came out of their tent!
Had to take a pic of the Police woman there. All of their uniforms are kinda silly...sorry it had to be said..

This picture of this statue...which will remain unnamed because I didn't take note of which one it was...will be a representative of ALL the statue's I saw in London, because they have lots...lots and lots and lots...all over.

Trafalgar square.
Entrance of Westminster Abbey...I didn't take the tour inside because...i didn't care to and it cost money...what about a visitor center people? Can't we tell the history of the Abbey for free? I decided I would Google it and be good with what it told me! I walked around it and felt awe inspired from that. It is beautiful...so much detail in the architecture!

MSM and I waiting for my Mom and cousin to get out of the tour at Westminster Abbey...

We finally ditched them after an 1 and 1/2 wait and went on the boat tour down the River Thames...it almost put me to sleep because it was rocking back and forth ever so slightly...so didn't make me sick, just sleepy...oh and the sun came out for a bit!

Here is under the London Bridge, because honestly the bridge isn't all that and not even the ORIGINAL...the original one is in the United States!

This is the famous Tower Bridge...and it was awesome...the clouds came back again...they never can quite make up their minds... rain, don't rain, drizzle, don't drizzle...

I had to take a pic of this because it is a REAL pirate ship...real...

MSM and I at the Tower of London...this had to be my favorite part of the WHOLE trip...I was so intrigued with the structure and the castle. There is so much history in this one area and I soaked it all up...LOVED IT...

It was a castle and then a prison or ALSO a prison...they renamed this gate Traitor's Gate when it became the prison for traitor's and people waiting to get their heads cut off!

I looked around me while we were waiting for our YEOMAN WARDEN to take us on a tour of the Tower of London when I realized MSM was no where to be found. Not unsual since he wanders all the time...but I looked around to see if I could spot him when all of a sudden I hear a "psst"...I look over and see his face through this little hole in this midget size tower...it was funny...

Here was our tour guide...a yeoman warden...did you know there has been a yeomen warden's at the Tower of London for over 900 years...as part of their jobs now they are tour guides...and hilarious ones at that...but they also LIVE their at the Castle and still guard it along with the Crown Jewels! Crazy right?

Did any of you EVER remember the series "FEAR" on MTV? Well they live it everyday because they live their...creepy...yet cool all wrapped up in one.
This is the inner Castle part of the Tower of London...can't right now remember what or who it holds...because I am still having extreme jet lag...but I love the old look...seriously love it!

The Palace state rooms at Buckingham Palace was open...so we paid and went inside.

Before we went inside we wanted to see and tease the Changing of the Guards. But guess what? They only do it every other day and on the opposite side of where we were...so DUMB...so I didn't get to tease anybody...but I stared at this Man above...standing right in front of him for a VERY long time...and I saw him look sideways...twitch his thumb...and look sideways again...I am going to report him, if only I knew his name...hmmmmm

This is the gates to the square at Buckingham Palace...on the Green Park side. Green Park is GORGEOUS BTW...I just liked the gate...so we took a picture!

We got through the state rooms and I'll just tell you, once you seen one of them, you've seen them all...it all starts to look like spray on gold and they just change colors for each state room. Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room...blah, blah, blah...waist of good money if you ask me!

The history is rich and that part I liked...I also liked the Ball Room area...very rich. The statue's were also incredible along with some of the older paintings! I just was expecting something more...if you know what I mean...probably would feel the same way if I went to the White House!

Here's the back of the Palace...it's big...but I did find out that the Queen does not like living their...she prefers Windsor Castle...wouldn't it be nice to have a choice?

This is MSM and I waiting to listen about my ancestors at the Museum of Science Of Industry in Manchester England and where I'll end my picture tour for today!

London was great...you could still tell the difference between those who had money and those who didn't...people still put a lot of importance behind MONEY...the way they dressed and decorated. There was a lot of individuality though...which I expected and loved...and the people of London are nice and eager to helped lost souls. There did seem to be an abundance of Muslims living there and I found myself wanting to wrap my head in the beautiful silk these ladies wore...and they were gorgeous...

I am, however, writing a blog letter to the men...they just don't seem to understand how lucky they are to have the women they do...these women were SOOOO beautiful and nice.

Anyhow...more to come...glad to be back. After our 7 hour and 18 minute flight home to the states, landing in JFK airport...we missed our connection because our plane didn't have a place to park and we had to get bussed to the gate area...then we had to re-go through security after we got through customs...then we get on the next flight to our home destination only to get stuck on the tarmack for 4 hours because JFK had a weather GROUND STOP!

But I'm home...that is all that matters...

Shelle

P.S. NO! I have not read Breaking Dawn yet so DON'T SPOIL it for me...and those that won my give away--your books are in the mail TOMORROW.

P.S.S NO! I have not seen the FINALE to SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE...so don't spoil it for me...and YEA I will have a few words to say about it when I find out who won!

P.S.S.S. Did I tell you I missed ya yet? Well I did...and I'm happy to be back :)