Star Witness

Occasionally,  when I'm out in a public place, I get this feeling I should start taking extra notes as to my surroundings in case something suddenly "goes down" and I am needed to testify in a court case later.   I start making mental notes of makes and models of the cars in the area.  Perhaps I even try to memorize at least one license plate or a "partial plate," as I've heard it referenced on cop shows.  I size up passersby according to height, weight, and other distinguishing features.  I also take note of the time of day (as to-the-minute as possible).

I then picture myself on the witness stand several months down the line testifying in great detail of the things I saw at that moment of [insert heinous crime here].  "Yes, and in the northwest parking lot of the Littleton Target, there was a pearl toned Suzuki XL7.  It was all alone except for the 5'10" man walking toward it with ash blond hair and a slight limp.  It was approximately 2:57pm on Thursday, August 26th 2010."

My amazing attention to detail, of course, places the accused at the scene of the crime at the exact moment he needed to be placed there in order to secure a conviction (Prosecutor: Do you know who it was you saw in that parking lot that day?  Me: Yes....yes, I do.  It was him ::pointing at ash blond man in defendant's chair::).  As a matter of fact, without me, he would have walked out of that courtroom a free man.   [applause]

I wish I were kidding about all of this, but, sadly, I am not.

The Evolution of a Saturday

I remember growing up, Saturdays meant two things....chores and playing.  Chores always coming first, of course.

Then, as a college student, Saturdays could be anything from a study day to watching movies all day with roommates to prepping for a dance that night. 

As a newly wed, Saturdays were "Clean The Apartment" day.  I remember I could clean our apartment top-to-bottom, with a lot of attention to detail, in two hours flat.  I loved the feeling of sitting in a completely clean home.  And, with no kids, it would stay that way well into the next week.

When motherhood came along and we had toddlers and babies, Saturdays were a family day where we usually stayed home and played with the kids and maybe ventured out in the evening to a kid-friendly restaurant, bed by 8:00pm. 

Now that those kids have grown up considerably, Saturdays are spent watching them in their various activities-- and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I love Saturdays at this point in our lives.  I hear some people complain that their "entire Saturday is spent watching this sport and then running another kid to another venue for yet another game, blah blah blah..."  I want to ask them what else they could possibly be wanting to do?  What's better than watching your child perform in something he or she has been working hard at in practice?  This is 80% the reason why I even had kids fhs. 

This brings me to today.  

Jbird's first football game of the season a.k.a. Heaven on Earth for this girl.  ::pointing at self::

That's my boy there with his signature One Finger stance.   He started on offense and defense and played almost the entire game.  He plays tight end on offense and...um, I'll get back to you on his defensive position.  I forgot.

ACTION SHOTS!

Running his route.

(can anyone tell from ^^^ what position that is??)

 NON ACTION SHOTS! 

Gettin' a pep talk from Dad.

I tried to refrain from telling him how freakin' adorable he looked in his uniform but was unsuccessful a couple of times.  It couldn't be helped. 

So excited for all my Saturdays through November (but sooooo sad we will miss next week's game.  Grandma & Grandpa will be here though so that's good).    TBone also started his first season of soccer!  More on that later. 

Tan, Our Obsession With Being

As I'm prepping myself mentally for heading off to Maui next week my mind keeps wandering to a sad place.  I don't go to that place very often.  Actually, I flat out ignore that place. That place involves my skin and its inability to tan.  My skin has other issues too, but failing to be tan is one of its worst faults.


Why is being tan associated with being attractive?  Is it because tan skin hides flaws?  Is brownish skin more slimming than white?  Does it mean you lead a life of luxury, laying by a pool all day...and somehow that's attractive?  Is whiteness associated with severe blood loss and imminent death so people shy away from it?  Does extreme fair skin imply that you never leave the house and are, therefore, lazy?

I don't know the answer.  But I do know, given there are no other differences, I'd much rather look at a tan person than a pasty white one.  And, as a pasty white person, it's infuriating. 

It's particularly annoying when, despite the appearance of having a "healthy glow," being tan is actually horrible for you.  Premature wrinkles being at one end of the spectrum and dying of skin cancer at the other.  No amount of exposure of this reality has seemed to lessen our desire to be a bronze beauty come swimsuit season either.

We need more Nicole Kidmans and less....everyone else.

Good News, Bad News

Good news (maybe):  My blogging is going to become more regular.  More frequent. You'll be learning lots about me (perhaps not the best news there).

Bad news: My blogging is going to be a bit stranger & more random.  My posts might not entail flourishing intros and summaries.  Sometimes my entries might be a paragraph long or go on forever.  I really can't say.  

"Why are you doing this to us?"  I can hear all four of you screaming as you pound your fists on your keyboards.

I'm working on a new project, that's why.  And you'll just have to come along for the ride (by law you have to, srsly).

I'm taking an online workshop by Cathy Zielske.  Back in the day, when I was big into scrapbooking and subscribed to all the magazines, Cathy was one of my all time favorite contributors.  Her style is clean with very few embellishments.  Most of her aesthetics come through how she type sets her words and which fonts she uses.  I loved it.  She's also quite funny, which is always a good thing.  Not cheesy.  And not LDS (I don't know why that makes me like her more, but it does...probably because then she's not cheesy as I mentioned before).  

Anyway, I stumbled upon a workshop she is starting next week called  

Me: The Abridged Version 

She based the workshop on a book called Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.  Take a peek at it here and read Cathy's conception for the workshop here if you're interested.  I just started reading it and I find it hilarious and brilliant.  It's exactly my kind of writing.  She just gives her "take" on little things in her life in a fun & witty way.  And she went ahead and alphabetized them creating an encyclopedia of sorts.  It's perfect.  Truth be told, it's the book I would have loved to have written.

Tangent:  I love the description on the book jacket: I have not survived against all odds. I have not lived to tell. I have not witnessed the extraordinary. This is my story.  Though I have managed to write half of a half of a novel, I fully believe that those that create the best art and literature are those who have experienced amazing things or had exorbitant amounts of pain in their lives (i.e. Sylvia Plath, VanGogh, Eminem, etc).  My life is ordinary, happy and, let's just be honest here, mundane (which is just how I like it, btw).  This book by Mrs. Rosenthal speaks to me.  It's my life.  With a few of the details changed (and a few less F-bombs....not sure why those are even in there but there are a couple). 

So anyway, I'm creating a book of my own similar to Rosenthal's encyclopedia with the help of Cathy Zielske.  No, not for publishing purposes.  But certainly for my own enjoyment and maybe, if they care, my posterity.  I think it will at the very least be a fun exercise in creative writing and make blogging a little more interesting.  

Which brings me back to my original point.... things might get weird around here.  I'm currently in the process of making lists under each letter of subjects I might want to write about.  This book will be all about ME and MY thoughts on things rather than a travelogue or description of the cute things my kids did or said (though they'll probably be mentioned from time to time).   The subject matter will be random and silly and maybe even heartfelt from time-to-time.  Who knows, right?  But I'll be putting it all here on the blog.  I'll then label it with the letter it will be filed under making it easier when the time comes to compile & print my book.  

Does anyone wanna do this with me?  (except you and your bad attitude, Memzy) I think it'd be awesome if a few of us were doing this together and could share things as we went along.  I'm guessing I'll be using a few of my past posts as well (and put them under a letter I'm struggling with).  I think your kids would love it....your husband would probably love it....and I bet you'd love making it if you gave it a shot.  No pressure tho.  Plz?

Photogenetics

What have I been doing this past week?

Taking some senior pictures of some beautiful people, that's what.  Well, two beautiful people anyway.

I've said it before, senior pictures are my absolute favorite to take.  The part I feel bad about is that these guys left it up to me to document this time in their life rather than someone who actually knows what they're doing.   Imagine how fabulous they would have looked with a real photographer.  I mean, right?  Look!  Gorgeous.


First, my beautiful Micah.  One of my Laurels.  She is the sweetest girl on the planet.  And I'm not exaggerating.  You know how I hate exaggerating.  She's always helpful and nice and upbeat and she's a huge fan of GITYD which always helps (::teehee::).   Her mom said she was the "perfect baby & toddler" too which is no surprise.  And look at her...it's like she can't take a bad picture.  Even when she'd look away to "regroup" I'd keep shooting due to her extreme beauty.  Loved spending this time with her one-on-one.

Next up, the ward heart-throb, Dallin.  His mom (CIP) is a good friend of mine so we had fun posing Dallin in uncomfortable ways & making him STOP doing Blue Steel so we could get a few good pictures.  Sorry ladies, he recently changed his FB profile to "in a relationship" so you're outta luck.  I'll keep you posted though, if you're interested.

We Are Family

I know I'm a little slow on the uptake here.  You've all, most likely, visited here and here and here and here to get the overall experience that is the Jeppson Family Reunion in McCall, ID.  This blessed event occurs once every two years and it is not to be missed.  And why would you miss it?  Well, you wouldn't.  That's all I'm saying.  And just like the Jeppson Reunion, I'm gonna pack all of my pictures and witty commentary into one big huge post.  No breaking it up or giving you time to rest.  My dad would be very disappointed if I did.

No doubt you've already heard about the beach front fun.  Boats for skiing or tubing, a lake trampoline, an enclosed dock area for the littles, canoes, kayaks and sailboats.  And, in the case of these guys, minnow catching.  People come from all around the world to catch minnows in Payette Lake.  What?  You were unaware?  Well now you know.

Where were Gty & JBird?  Oh right.  Well, they decided to enter the golf tournament which, basically, made them MIA for about 60% of the reunion.  The other 40% Gty was playing sand volleyball.  So there's that.

There are much better pics on those other sites than my cell phone pic here of the pinewood derby track my Dad made, but are there some of him at the "command center"with dual computers, speakers, and projectors?  No.  So see below.  He ruled this thing (except for a couple of technical difficulties which about put him through the roof, that is).

I really only got my camera out on one day.  That was horseback riding day.  We "safely" and "legally" stuffed secured six kids in the back storage area of the car and headed over to the Yahoo! Corral for some giddy upping and general cowboying action. 

Here's Kimi looking more excited about Beebs' imminent pony ride than Beebs. 

She loved it.  Duh.

Here's my cutemous neice (the current youngest grandchild) Annie and my SIL Blondee.  Annie didn't exactly RIDE, per say, but she liked sitting in the saddle while I took a couple of pics.  She adores me, btw.   As for Blondee, my Uncle Bil mistook her for me one day at dinner.  Like, had a full on conversation and still thought it was me.  And now he's going to China with my aunt on a mission.  How is he going to tell the Chinese people apart, I ask you?  He's not, that's how.

Here's Annie's brother, Sam.  No need for Aunt Kimi to be makin' the excited face to him.  He's got that covered.

Here's my other cousin Jen.  Mistaken for Me Case #2.  This time by my OWN nieces and nephews!  What the?   I guess there is a little bit of a reason here, however, as our Dads are identical twins. But still.  I know she'd love to know this pic was up on the internet somewhere.  She's tooootally giving me the momface. 

There's no mistaking this cowboy (who is old enough to ride on his own horse this year rather than do the lamerz pony ride--don't tell Beebs it's lamerz, k?).  Goldiloxx Tbone.

These guys got to go on the totally "not lamerz" wagon ride while the rest of us headed off into the sunset on our horses.  Blondee is laughing cuz I was able to capture Sam chugging a Diet Coke.  Apparently she didn't really want that captured on film. In the pic taken right before this one (which I'm too lazy to post) she's trying to get it away from him. Oh well.

Here was my view on the horse trial.  I spared you all the views of horses pooping and peeing right in front of me.  Every time my nephew Zach's horse (seen below in the grey hoodie) would poo or pee he'd turn around and yell "In your face!!"   It was awesome.

And, if you've been paying attention, you also know these Pokemon trainers were joined at the hip for the entire three days.  Now if Memzy could only find her webcam they could Skype like we promised they could as they were crying themselves to sleep the first night they were apart. ::ahem::  Please note the wide spectrum of personalities going on there.  And yet, Pokemon knit their hearts together forever.  I think that if everyone liked Pokemon (I'm looking at you Iraq & friends), world peace would commence immediately.

Family photo op!  Memzy (profesh photog) was standing right there, so why not, right?

And here is my loverly family in its almost complete form.  We are missing Kim's three kids and one of RT's.  Otherwise I think we got it.

And here we are in our natural and unposed state. I don't think a more hideous picture of myself exists.  I suggest zooming in. 

Now for a little side note adventure.  

RT had been kind enough to let us take his Expedition up to the reoon.  We were instructed to "ignore the pinging in the engine" and told it was something with the transmission.  No biggie.  On the drive up it was a little loud, but ran great.  No problems.    On the way home, Gty decided to go golfing one last time with Memzy's brother, Nick that morning.  This meant I was driving the two hours back to Boise by myself with the kids.  RT said he had a bad feeling about the car and maybe I should have someone follow me.  So, of course, AV and her empty rental car saved the day by being my escort down the mountain.  Long story short, the car died in Horseshoe Bend.  It had gotten progressively worse on the drive down, wasn't going up hills at more than 20 mph, getting louder, etc.  I'm just glad I was able to coast it into a Chevron just as it died.

I'm also grateful for this awesome lady who immediately went out to the corner & waited to flag down any family member coming by.  Our main concern was catching my Dad as he had room in the boat he was towing for all our stuff and then we could just jump in with AV.  As you can see, she did a fabulous job.  Perfect form actually.

The beauty of having 160+ peeps at the reunion and only a handful of gas stations between McCall and Boise is that you're bound to run into SOMEONE.  And sure enough, a bunch of my cousins had stopped at this Chevron.  The hood of the Expedition was popped and the problem diagnosed in a matter of minutes upon my arrival.   Here is my rescue squad.

Thank goodness we weren't trying to hurry down and catch a flight that day or something.  We did that the next morning after a fun dinner with my immediate family plus AV that night.

Then we returned home to reality on Sunday . . . and about 9 loads of laundry.

I'm so so so glad we made the effort to go this year.  In two years, when I'm thinking about what a pain it is to get there, I need to come re-read this post (minus the last part).   Good good times.

State of Mind Update

Still haven't quite recovered from the fact that it's actually over. 

Update complete.   

That is all.