The Hiatus is Over

As previously stated, I am not dead, have not fallen off the face of the earth and I am okay. Also, I am not depressed, not pregnant (and not wanting to share), too busy to blog or any other excuses that are plausible for the lack of blogging.  Also, Nathan is still on his mission and I have four letters and many pictures that need posting to prove it.  The big question is: what has happened since I decided not to share?  Well there is a list and it's actually quite long.  I don't think it will be in order.  I think that the idea of "order" may have contributed to the hiatus.  This is a smidge long.....to quote Pinkalicious, "You get what you get and you don't get upset."

• I got a haircut. It was just a trim although, I toyed with the idea of chopping it.  When I approached Ned with the idea he replied, "I don't think that would be a good idea.  I mean, what if you don't look cute with short hair?  After it's cut is not a good time to find that out."  Since my hair hasn't been sort since I was like 2 years old, I decided to stick with what works; a trim and cut my bangs back in.
• On some day, I had a total break down. I think Ned may have come home if I hadn't been able to pull myself together.  I threw away a bunch of clothes that were too small.  Never a great task.  It's one thing to junk stuff that is out of date or just not used, but to toss perfectly good jeans because your butt needs it's own zip code is downright depressing.  I have been asking for, begging really, for a treadmill.  I really just wanted to be able to put my kids to bed at their usual time, 8 o'clock, and go in the basement and run or walk on a treadmill.  In the middle of my rant to Ned he said, "Just go and buy a treadmill.  Seriously.  I think that would really help and would give you an out for a while each day."  No problem, I can do that.  I guess the moral of the story is: if I call and freak out just enough to my husband I get what I want.  Good to know. hehe
• I am now the proud owner of a treadmill.  It's beautiful.  It fits in this great space in the basement and it faces the TV.  It almost didn't make it down the stairs.  Ned and our neighbor Jeremy had to disassemble part of it to get it down there.  We almost bought a bigger one and it's a good thing we didn't because I would have been working out on the back patio - that would have been a treat for the neighbors.  
• I found out that I can run.  Don't drop your computer when you read this, and I am sort of eating my words here, but I don't really hate the running.  Gasp!  I have worked myself up to a couple of miles and that is pretty awesome for the girl who hasn't run since I was required to.  Now, all you marathon people and serious runners, don't get all excited or worked up over this.  Running in the basement is about as good as it gets for this girl. 
• We had a wonderful bridal shower for Sherry.  The shower was given by Grant's family and it was really nice.  It was her first bridal shower and I am so excited for her!  My mom, grandma and I gave her money flowers.  My mom made dollar bills into flowers and then we put them in vase and surrounded them with coins.  It was awesome.  Amanda, Sherry's future sister-in-law, commented on FB, "Money really does grow."  It turned out so cute!

• I found out how much I HATE Old Navy's return policy.  I needed to exchange a top for a different size and I couldn't find my receipt.  Of course I couldn't find it.  They took the top and said they were going to send me an Old Navy check for the amount.  I wanted the shirt, so I had to just re-buy it.  Stupid.  I did yell at the 16 year old behind the counter about how stupid it all was.  Even though I know that it is not her fault, she still got to hear about how STUPID the return policy is.  I just wanted a different size.  A bigger one.  Ugh.
• We went to Ned's nephew's wedding in Idaho Falls.  Abby was super excited about the temple and the temple grounds.  We had a great time hanging with all the cousins, swimming, shopping and catching up. 

• Abby shoplifted for the first time.  While were in Idaho Falls, we hit the mall.  That's how we kill time.  We shop.  I can get you to any mall in any city that I've been to.  It's kind of nice that Ned is good about that too.  We actually really enjoy a bit of shopping....While on this particular shopping excursion, we went into Old Navy. Abby found a Scooby-Doo dog that she really wanted.  We both told her no and she just kept asking and asking.  I went to pay and Ned stepped out into the mall to take a work call. Abby followed him but I could see her through the windows.  Suddenly, she ran into the store, located the dog, grabbed it, and ran back out to Ned.  He yelled, "Did you buy this?"  I told him no and he brought her back into the store and had her put it back. I apologized to another 16 year old behind the counter and off we went.  Once out Old Navy, Abby and I had to have a big talk about stealing, and why we don't do it.  It was one of those proud parent moments. Thievery already? 
• We have started reading Bernstein Bear books every night. I have been collecting the books since I was a kid and I keep them in a tote under my bed.  Weird right?  We read about four a night.  They all have a theme: strangers, gimmies, grandparents, too much junk food and on and on.  This has sparked many conversations with Abby about these topics.  The book about Bad Dreams has made Abby go to bed and after five minutes come out of her room with a fictional bad dream.  Also, whenever we see strangers she yells, "It's a STRANGER"  
• Zoey can now say, "Hi."  She can actually say, "Hi dad."  She waves and says hi to everyone, everywhere we go.  Darling child!  When she does, Abby says, "No Zoey! Those people are STRANGERS!!!!"  Yet, even with all the 'stranger' talk we still had the infamous Micheal's incident: As Abby was not following her own advice and jabbering at a stranger this dilly of a conversation took place: Abby: My name is Abby. What's yours? Lady: Mine's Nancy.  Who's this?  Abby: This is my baby sister Zoey and this is Melanie Wallis, my dad's wife.  Lady to me: So , are you just the wife or the mom too?  That was awkward.  Of course I'm the mom!!
• As we were driving the other day Abby said, "Mom, when Nay Nay comes back if his voice is Spanish we'll have to change it back. Okay?"  I think she thinks he's been reset like Buzz in Toy Story 3.
• • Easter of course.  We dyed eggs.  Although, Abby kept asking if she could "dial eggs."  We did the job quickly and without incident.  The Easter bunny came and brought baskets of goodies and hid eggs all over the house.  Zoey just wanted to shake them and Abby wanted to take anything that Zoey had and put it in her basket.  I didn't get the memo about Easter, but apparently, this was Abby's Easter not Zoey's.  bleh.  It's a good thing Zoey didn't really care.  My mom gave the girls the most beautiful dresses but I don't have a picture of them.  We had runny noses and slightly gooby eyes so they didn't make it to church.  I did have their pictures taken in them, but I don't have one of those yet either.  We had dinner and a party at Ned's parents and then dinner and festivities at my grandma's house.  Happy Easter!!

• I have to admit that I am totally jealous of Abby's hair.  It's long and gorgeous especially when it's curled.  It will even stay curled.  Mine doesn't have a prayer to stay curled.  No amount of product will ever make it stay anything but straight.  It's only been recently that I've decided that I should embrace my straight hair.  

• I got the girls dressed the other day and Abby was wearing this blue dress and Zoey a red one. Abby said, "Mom, I am the ice girl and Zoey is the spring girl."

• I've watched hours of DVRd television.  I don't even regret it. I look forward to it. I am a little ticked at DirecTV because I cannot, even though their commercial says I can, "pause a show in one room and watch it in another - all with one DVR."  I intend to call them and figure out the problem there.  Actually, I intend to talk Ned into doing that.
• There was a royal wedding.  I did watch it. I loved it.  I did.  I didn't get up at o-dark-thirty in the morning on purpose or anything, but I did DVR it.  I was up with Zoey so I almost watched it live.  I loved Princess Di.  I recorded her funeral and purchased the single of Sir Elton John singing, "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral. I am a little invested in the royal family, for reasons I cannot explain.  If you want to watch the wedding and didn't it's still on my DVR.  We can have a royal wedding party. 

• There was also the death of Osama Bin Laden.  I found out about that on FB at about midnight before I went to bed.  Once Ned and I got to watching news coverage the next day we were pretty into it.  Ned especially.  I think he secretly wishes he was either Jason Bourne or a navy seal.  Either way, he has his own stealth-like version of how he thinks the events went down.
• The best quote from FB was from my Aunt Cathy, "A royal wedding and the death of a tyrant in the same weekend- Shakespeare would approve!"  Love it!!  I think that summed up the week pretty well. 
• I changed toothpaste and facial cleanser. Much better. A simple change that wasn't so bad.  
• There are two things that I have been vying for Ned to buy me: a treadmill and a new ring to replace the one that busted and died.  Now that I have the treadmill, I am going to have to come up with some creative ways to get my new ring.  Emailing pictures of what I want to Ned has proven ineffective.  Any ideas?  
• We had dinner some good friends Natalie and Matt.  Sushi and Farr's Fresh.  Always a good time. After our dinner we had to stop by Old Navy and buy that STUPID Scooby-Doo dog for Abby.  Ned inadvertently promised her that we'd have it when we came home.  It's a good thing we did because she was waiting up for us and hit the floor when Ned pretended not to have it.
• I've been watching my brother and sister plan their weddings.  So excited for them both!!  Abby is going to be the flower girl at both and now she thinks that everywhere we go we are shopping for flower girl dresses or accessories.  Their dresses for Sherry's are absolutely beautiful!  She really does have fantastic taste. 
• If you want to feel really good about being a mother watch Pregnant in Heels.  These mom's are crazy!  I watch it once a week and after that, I have a renewed sense of why I am a mom and why I am a good one.  Or at least, better than those weirdos.  
• My wonderful friend Ainsley is about to have a baby girl.  The count down is on for May 11th.  I can't wait to meet that baby girl.  They are naming her Amelia and calling her Mia. How darling is that?  

I am ready to admit that I am working on being happy with me.  I'm trying to remember the last time that I was totally at peace with myself.  I don't know if I've ever been that way.  I don't think you ever do.  I think it's always a process.  We're not supposed to stop evolving and we naturally never will.  I do believe that sometimes you have to have a meltdown and cry your eyes out once in a while in order to feel better.  I also believe that part of my not blogging was because I just couldn't read about anyone else happy, shiny lives for just a little while. Lucky for you, I'm over it. The blogging hiatus is over my friends. I'm BACK!