Happy Birthday Sonnett

Today my longest friend (of 20 years) turns 30!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SONNETT

Don't you love the picture. It's Sonnett and me in 5th grade. (Yes, my maiden name is Alyson Ingebretsen)

So here are 30 things that you probably didn't know about Sonnett, (well a lot of people who read my blog don't really know anything about this awesome lady, so you'll find this extra fascinating!)

1) Sonnett's mother went into labor while watching Monty Python... that really says it all--but I'll go on.
2) I was in third grade the first time I met Sonnett and I thought her name was "Socket". (I had never heard of a sonnet before) and I thought that was a really weird name.
3) When I found out her real name I still thought it was weird and I never dreamed she was someone that would be my friend
4) I was violently jealous of her in third grade because she had a larger barbie doll collection than me, (I had the most of all my friends before she moved in)
5) In fifth grade we sat by each other because we didn't know anyone else in class. That's was the start of a beautiful friendship and the best year of school of my life!
6) During that year we co-wrote our first novel together, (about 100 pages)
7) Her house was so cool because it had a wall that opened up into a secret room.
8) We wanted to be Rock Stars. Our band's name was "The Florescents"
9) Sonnett always has been, and always will be one of my all time favorite singers. Her voice is incredible!
10)She has the most beautiful hands and finger nails of anyone I have ever known.
11) She has stunning large brown eyes, and because of her I think blond hair and brown eyes is the most beautiful combination ever.
12) We were nerds in fifth grade. (She wore a head-gear and glasses) It was awesome.
13) She can do a cool little twitch with her nose that pushes her glasses up when they fall.
14) So far, our most bitter fight happened in fifth grade. No one will ever understand the torment either one of us experienced over this issue, nor the passion with how strongly we felt it. The fight was over fairies, and whether or not they wear clothing.
15)She is an amazing reader.
16) All the great music I love was introduced to me by her.
17) She moved to California in sixth grade, but our friendship survived all these years through letters, phone calls, and lengthy visits.
18) We are very similar and so, at times, we drive each other crazy, but in the end we are always best friends.
19) We will sometimes go months without contact and then we can pick right up as if time had stood still.
20)The summer before eighth grade she started writing a novel, (which ended up being over 1,000 pages) Wanting to be just like her I did the same.
21) She has elegant handwriting
22) She is an amazing artist (as I have already ranted and raved about)
23) She is the oldest of four children
24) She has Bohemian-gypsy bones in her.
25) She understand my love with food, and understands completely if I say the words, M&M cookies, Carmel popcorn, Cocoa Krispies, French Bread and Sparkling Apple Cider
26) Everyone in her family is an amazing singer, her mother even has a CD out (Gypsy Bones)
27) We went to college together, but weren't as close during that time as we have been at other times in our life.
28) She understands my love affair with two-dimensional, fictional characters, especially those of Anime origin.
29) She spins her own yarn, knits, sews, and I just recently learned she sculpts too!
30)Last, but not least, she agrees with me that Broadway stars are way cooler than Pop stars!

Thanks for being such a great friend for the past 20 years. Here's to another twenty more. Love you a lot, have a wonderful 30th birthday.

The Case of the Missing Crest

About two days ago I lost my toothpaste. Perhaps lost isn’t the right word. My toothpaste was swiped right under my nose by my sticky fingered one-year-old. No problem, I thought. He can’t go too far and there are only so many places a tube of toothpaste can hide in this house.

Two days of desperate searching and nothing. I had been forced to endure my husband’s toothpaste. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy his toothpaste as much as the next toothpaste. In fact his even tastes better than mine. But having ultra sensitive teeth, two days of not using my sensitive toothpaste and I began to really appreciate and miss it.

I looked everywhere—in the drawer where we keep the sippy cups, in the laundry basket, in the playroom, the bed room, even the bathroom—nothing! I combed through the garbage can, just in case if he thought it would be fun to throw it away, and every time I asked him, “Where’s mama’s toothpaste” he grinned and pointed to daddy’s toothpaste. Stinker! I swear he knew he was playing me. Determined to find it, I refused to add “toothpaste” to my grocery shopping list. It had to be somewhere in the house, and I would find it!

So today, I went to mow my lawn. As always I do a quick visual sweep to search for anything that might not enjoyed being mowed—play jewelry that might have been taken outside, left behind flip-flops, sidewalk chalk. You know, that kind of stuff. And low and behold what do I find in an unused corner of the yard? A silvery tube sticking up above the grass. Yup, upon further examination it was my lost tube of toothpaste. Of course it would be in the grass. Why didn’t I think of that before? (I say that with sarcasm dripping from my voice)

Perhaps I’m really wasteful, perhaps I’m a little O.C.D., but not knowing what kind of creepy crawlies might have tasted my minty sensitive delight, and leaving it to my imagination, there was no way I could bring myself to take it inside and use it. Into the garbage it went and I promptly went inside and added “toothpaste” to my shopping list.

Top of his class

Perhaps it is prideful to be proud of your husband, but if I’ve ever been in a position to boast it’s now. As of today he is officially done with classes for doctoral school.

YEAH!!! (Huge sigh of relief!)

Not only that, but he will graduate top of his class with a 4.0.

So, can he be called Dr. King yet? No. Unfortunately we still have a long road ahead of us. In the Fall he will have three months of comprehensive exams, and then in January he will start his dissertation. (Well, he’s already started, but this is when he will be working on it more intensely) We estimate about a year on the dissertation. So hopefully January of 2010 he will officially be Dr. Jason King. (Wow, that sounds so far away)

But we are done with classes. Done with grueling hours of homework and long papers to write and thick heavy books to read. Well, at least I hope so. He just discovered a couple of graduate certificates he can’t wait to get his hands on.

Anyone wondering about his degree, he is getting his doctorate in Counseling, and he is one kick-butt counselor at that, especially with teenagers! If you would like any more information you can visit his web site, or call his cell phone at 801-404-8733 (Don’t you love my shameless plug for him.)

Congratulations Jason! I’m so proud of you.

Out of control busy

I know this describes just about everyone, however it has been even more so for me lately, so I just wanted to apologize to everyone if I haven't gotten back with you. I've not even been checking my emails, none-the-less responding. Reading, checking blogs, chatting... HA! Yeah right....

Things should calm down soon. :)

Happy Birthday, Daughter of a King

Eight years ago my life changed forever. I became a mother. I strongly believe there is nothing more difficult, more rewarding, more challenging, more beautiful, more emotional, or more wonderful than being a mother. I feel so blessed to be one. Being a mother has changed me, and continues to change me every day. I have grown, and learned so much, and as difficult as it has been—at times it has seemed impossible to deal with—I would not change the experience for anything else this world could offer. I love my parents, I love my friends, I love my husband, but nothing can match the unconditional love, the intense heart wrenching love, I feel for each one of my beautiful children.

Today I celebrate not only eight years of motherhood, but my precious daughter’s eighth birthday.

Happy Birthday Janae. I love you!

Here are eight unique, wonderful things about my daughter:

1. The biggest trial we have struggled with is her delay in speech. Hours of effort, and time, and tears of frusteration have gone into working with her, helping her, loving her and encouraging her. Because of it she has learned not only to communicate with emotions but she has become very sensitive to those around her. She is so quick to help someone who is hurt or sad, to offer her seat to one in need, to reach out to one who is troubled. She is quick to know when I am hurting inside, no matter how hard I try to hide it. She is always the first one to put her arms around me, assure me how much she loves me, and how wonderful she thinks I am. I could not ask for a better comforter than my daughter.

2. When she was four years old she had six hospital stays over a six month period. One was for major surgery, one was for dehydration and one was because she broke her arm and they needed to put her under to reposition the bones. As a result she has absolutely no fear of shots anymore.

3. At an early age she started drawing, and we discovered she had a gift of expressing herself through pictures when words eluded her. She is a great artist and she hopes to develop that talent.

4. She is better than me at playing Mario Cart on Nintendo. How did that happen?!!

5. She is dynamic. When she was one she did not want to come home from a cousin’s house. We had to strap her into the car and drive 30 min with her screaming. Once we got out of the car she wiggled out of my arms and darted up the street. By the time I caught her she was two blocks away. (By the time she was one she was a faster runner than me too.)

6. She is the most money conscious member of the family, more so than either me or my husband. Whenever we go to the store she is very clear to ask what my budget is before I buy anything, and for every item I grab making sure it is on the list or that we have money for it. (She always catches me when I try to sneak in those extra treats)

7. It drives her crazy when the house is messy and she is meticulous about cleaning and organizing. However she has to do it herself. If I try to force, push or even suggest she cleans than it will never happen. But the moment the idea comes to her on her own she will clean better than me.

8. She wants to travel the world and hopes to go to Egypt and see the mummies.

What a blessing she is to me. I’m so glad that, for now, she is still my little girl, and I’m amazed as she grows and matures what a remarkable woman she will one day become.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Austenland by Shannon Hale Now in Paperback

If you're looking for a fun quick book to read this is an absolute! Besides having a darling cover, the paperback is affordable and easy to carry around.

I love this book!I read the whole thing in about four hours, and it is one of the few books that I laughed out loud and left a review on Amazon. Here is my review

This book was an absolute pleasure to read - a guilty pleasure - like chocolate on a diet. Satisfying in an almost sinful way. Shannon Hale has an incredible ability to create realistic characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Her narrative is beautiful, romantic, and oh so witty. (I laughed out loud several times, "The man deserved to be spited. Or spitted. Or both." HA! Austenland pg. 83) This is a perfect read for all of us Mr. Darcy fans that need a quick fix. The book can be read in about the time it takes to watch the BBC version and is equally, (dare I say) if not more enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for Jane Austen, a great sense of humor, and a need for a fun romantic get away!

Also check out her new graphic novel Rapunzel's Revenge. The cover alone looks awesome! (Can you tell I love Ms. Hale. If there is one writer I want to be like it is her!)