Downer of a day... sort of

It's rainy and cold. Blah.
I found out that I will not be getting paid for substituting the other day because the substitute office is whack. Boo.
I finally made it to give blood and my iron level was .1 too low. Lame.
I made plans with multiple friends today and either I messed them up or something else came up or they fell through. Shame.
BUT the husband is getting off early and we are going to the temple. Who needs sunshine, money, proper iron levels and friends (I don't really mean that, but it fits with what I am saying here) when one can go to the temple with ones husband?!
Seriously, life is so good.

Lost in Austen & My New Favorite Hottie

Just discovered a super fun film - Lost in Austen. If you love Pride and Prejudice you will love this movie. I laughed so hard. Christian said he enjoyed watching me watch it because he enjoyed how much it made me laugh. It's so full of wonderful things that you would never get unless you had, I don't know, maybe watched P&P religiously every week with one roommate or another (not that I know of anyone who may have done anything so girly, silly or hopelessly romantic).

Not only is the story brilliant, but it stars my new favorite hottie: check out Tom Riley. Just say "yum."

(warning: this was a mini-series so it is 3 hours. DO NOT expect husbands, boyfriends or any straight man to watch this with you.)

"Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho...

To 1st Grade we will go, to laugh and learn and play all day. Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho!!"

This was Sarah's Kindergarten graduation song and today was the first day of 1st Grade. She was SOOOO excited. She layed out her uniform on Saturday night. Friday she decided she wanted school to start on Saturday. She loves school and I love that she loves school! Her reading improved SO much this summer. She loves to read, but she does not like it when I tell her to go have 15 minutes of reading on her own. I will find her in her room sometimes, surrounded by books and she hates it if we don't have time to read a book at night before bedtime, but she "hates reading!!!" if Christian or I tell her to go read for her fifteen minutes that day. It's quite humorous, especially when she doesn't come back after her time in up because she's so engrossed in her book. We have to giggle.

Last night was humorous (and yet, not). She was "so, so, so excited for 1st Grade" and, almost literally, bouncing off the walls. Well, with all the energy she used getting all excited she was wasted by about 6:30 and could hardly make it through brushing her teeth to get ready for bed. She was beyond exhausted, poor girl. Then I had to wake her up this morning (NEVER HAPPENS) in order to get her ready and out the door in time to catch the bus -- she LOVES to ride the bus!!

Despite the tired night and the rushed morning Sarah Lynn had a great first day of 1st Grade. She was so excited to tell me about the hole in her desk where she gets to keep things (even I can remember the first desk I had to keep all my things in). She told Christian that there's a very nice boy in her class, but... she can't remember his name. I love to hear the things she has to report. Best of all, just after I've kissed her goodnight and called her my big 1st Grader and just as I'm leaving her room tonight she says "Mommy! 2nd." And I say "2nd??" And she replies, "Tomorrow is my 2nd day of 1st Grade. Goodnight mommy." Now, if that don't just make you smile. :)

I deem today

Taylor Swift Day.
Don't ask me. I hardly even know who this girl is. I have just had her music in my head all morning; now Christian and Sarah can deal with it too. (insert evil laugh)
I just love "Tear Drops on My Guitar" and "Love Story."
My guess is either Bekah or Nora gave me the songs that I actually own because I don't really have any idea where they came from. Thank you ladies for filling my head with bubbly, silly songs.
Any other Taylor Swift suggestions? These songs may get old fast... but then again, maybe that's a good thing! haha
(I am inserting a picture of her because I didn't even have any idea what she looked like before I decided to deem this her day, and holy cow, she is adorable!!)

Just a small change

So I don't know if it makes a difference, but I finally changed the email address associated with my blog - clarissaschrader@gmail.com

If you have a blog that I've already been reading or one that you haven't shared with me, can you send me that info so I can update it in my new blogger?

Thanks!

(2 posts in less than 24 hours. crazy!)

Can I have your PIANO when you are dead?!

So, it's officially been forever since I blogged and I have been getting so much flack for it. Sadly, my journal writing may even be further behind that. Now here I am writing just a quickie.
THE PIANO HAS ARRIVED, MY FRIENDS!!
Story goes something like this:
I grew up playing this piano, taking lessons here and there. I never really got all that good at it because, let's face it, like everything else, I just never applied myself. I really love playing the piano, it's practicing that comes so hard.
So, anyway... the joke has always been that I would get the piano when my mother died. SHE HAS NOT DIED, but I got the piano anyhow. I liked to tease my mom about "my piano" and now it really is mine. When the big fire rolled through Heber I only asked that my parents save "my piano!" tee hee I am such a brat, but being a brat apparently pays off - I think they just got sick of my whining (or they wanted to free up the space in the room where it lay dormant, begging for someone to stroke its keys every once in a while...)
Dad hauled it all the way out here from AZ in the back of the suburban, we suckered a couple friends into dragging it inside (Christian mutilated his arm in the process), I polished it up a bit, we're going to get it tuned and then I am going to attempt to teach Sarah how to play. And yes, I already ordered a Jim Brickman Easy Piano book for myself, thank you very much.

And now... I have blogged. I'll try to get back into this. I have so many great stories from this summer with Sarah - I'm sad I didn't share. School starts up again on Monday, so we'll see how much time I have on my hands whilst I BEG for someone to give me a job; I just want to teach the little rascals!!

Sometimes you just have to smile

(I am quite aware that my last post was a total downer, so I really wanted to share my smiles. First of all, thanks to everyone for your kind comments and awesome encouragement. We made it though Spring Break and, I think I can speak for Sarah Lynn as well, we actually had a really good time. I just might make it through this whole mom thing.)

I've been so very, very happy lately, so I just thought I'd share just a few of the things that really make me smile. (In no particular order)

1. One super spunky six-year-old who loves, loves, loves her new PINK cowgirl boots from her grandma. Who wears them with everything - including bright-striped tights and cutie little dresses. And having same six-year-old keep losing her teeth. I keep telling her she won't have any left. It's so funny to look at her cute, little gapped smile. She is probably my source of my biggest smiles and giggles. She, quite simply, keeps me rolling almost non-stop.
Her newest tricks? She's learning to blow bubbles with her gum and she has a pretty killer english accent. We have to play Harry Potter, sing the "Puppet Show" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4) and then pick and speak like all our characters. We have a grand time ol' chaps! It's so hilarious!!
2. Arrested Development. Watch it for 5 minutes and see if you don't just laugh until your face hurts.
3. Getting emails, blog comments, random phone calls or text messages or "friend requests" on Facebook from seemingly long-lost friends.
4. Having the warm sun spill across my face.
5. Knowing that no matter how crazy I may act, no matter how whacked I may seem, I have a husband who has dealt with people who are one thousand times more cooky than myself and he will always love, adore and take care of me.
6. Previews for 17again -- May I just say I love Zac Efron and I cannot wait to see this movie.
7. Realizing that all the laundry is washed, dried and put away. This REALLY makes me smile. tee hee
8. Looking at the picture on my phone -- it is currently a photo of my nephew, Caleb, with his tongue hanging out -- it's the funniest and cutest thing.
9. Just knowing that I am going to hear David Phelps again this weekend. Really, if you STILL have not heard him, you better!! (http://www.davidphelps.com)
10. Getting pumped for an awesome week of fun in AZ. Getting to see my family. Getting to see my friends. Having a BIG OL' Party with everyone I love.
11. And please don't forget, my favorite joke right now (it never seems to get old):
Q: "What does Snoop Dog use to get his whites their brightest?"
A: "Bleeee ach!"
**I'm giggling just writing this. hahahahhaha
My favorite part is when this really gets Christian and I talking "gangsta." It's the shizzle my dizzles. Oh, I am such a dork. But it's my bizaz. bah! ;)