September 30, 2015 at 12:44PM

I was just looking online at what Disney stuff is available at WalMart. In the middle of everything what do I see? The Pretty Woman DVD. Remember how that's a Disney movie? via Facebook

September 29, 2015 at 09:42PM

Is Dr Pepper seriously NOT available at Disneyland?!?!?!?! via Facebook

September 29, 2015 at 06:28PM

Brilliant quote of the night "My face is like your face because we both have faces." Kate Southern via Facebook

September 29, 2015 at 06:25PM

Another DISNEYLAND question: Friends how use serious cameras? What do you do with the camera? When we went to Lagoon I just sucked it up and left the camera at home. But somehow people get nice pics at Disneyland using more than their phones!!!! Take the camera for a few hours and shoot a bunch, then hide it away in safety? Leave it home? Something safely between??? I don't see the point in having a good camera and the ability to use it if I leave it at home, but I also am loath to risk it. via Facebook

September 28, 2015 at 05:04PM

Question for all my friends who do the "Disneyland" thing: would our Fall Break be a decent time to visit? via Facebook

September 27, 2015 at 08:30PM

I have my camera out on a tripod taking photos of the moon. Lizzie stepped right in front of my camera trying to photobomb. I was trying to explain why the picture wouldn't work: I'm set on manual for the illumination and distance of the moon. Being me, I said "that's not going to come out because first of all, you're not bright." via Facebook

September 25, 2015 at 10:36PM

Did you know: there is a component found in chocolate that will actually bind to excess hormones, allowing them to be cleared from the body more easily? That's why so many hormonal individuals find comfort that way. #totallymadeupscience via Facebook

September 25, 2015 at 02:07PM

If something can go wrong today, it will. Regardless of what more goes wrong you are still likely to find me hiding somewhere in tears. What a wreck! Miscommunication on the time for a photo shoot at M's work; tech issue submitting a homework assignment for NON-online schooling class; no bread to make sandwiches for sack lunches; a daughter with hurt feelings from some people lacking education (and tact) in terms of online schooling; more mix ups with the photos because I ran there in a crazy rush yesterday to take care of people who would be gone today only to find out another person is gone today now, which means another day I'll have to lug all my lighting gear back down for 20 seconds of shooting time since I forgot and hauled it all home. Then the gas tank was empty but of course the pump I pulled to was busted and kept popping, saying my tank was full (Note: my minivan does not go from fumes to full on $3 of gas, sadly); issues with my lens leaving most of the photos just a *touch* soft; Oh, and the pharmacy sent me a message that they can't refill my migraine meds because they think they need new insurance information. Never mind they filled a prescription two days ago for me, and no, it's not even close to time for a new card. Then the whole scheduling debacle started because at least Michael was going to take us to lunch after the photos... but had a mess at work and had to clean that up instead. I did stop for a large Dr Pepper (both in terms of comfort and the pending migraine I have no meds for) on the way home, and fortunately I have most of a lovely Godiva bar here that Michael brought me after being out of town Monday and Tuesday. Gahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If you need me, I'll be hiding from the world. via Facebook

September 24, 2015 at 08:42AM Hospicesoft Office Prank: 40+ Black Balloons

Here it is! The post about Michael's birthday celebration at work for his 40th last summer:

September 22, 2015 at 02:57PM

I feel so motherly today. I have dinner ready to go in the oven when we're ready AND I made cookies! ( Lorilee - this might be the 2nd batch of Almond Joy cookies since you sent the recipe. I kinda blame you and kinda love you ;) ) Inside I'm not a lovely mother today. Woke up with worse than usual pain and enjoyed a migraine as well. I'll pay for it quadruple tomorrow, but at least it was distracting today. Also: Cookies! And chicken enchiladas. via Facebook

September 21, 2015 at 10:42AM

School photos :) (Anyone around here who has school photos taken by Lifetouch, I paid online and entered the code SHARE to get a the low res digital download for free. Yay!) via Facebook

September 19, 2015 at 02:09PM

Part of the stream of consciousness rambling just caught my ear -- something about undershirts, underpants, and socks. Clearly socks ought to be called undershoes. via Facebook

September 19, 2015 at 02:06PM

Good heavens, a couple of my kids were dosed at least twice with the gift of gab! I don't think she's even stopped for a breath in the last 30 minutes through at least that many topics. My introverted side is totally overwhelmed. via Facebook

September 18, 2015 at 05:25PM Here’s Why Math is Taught Differently Now

Excellent video! If the "new" methods of teaching math are driving you nuts, WATCH THIS! I was first introduced to this new method when I was in college. And yeah, at first we all whined and complained and thought it was stupid. It didn't take long to figure out how useful this is, though! I am 100% behind understanding-based math versus "do it because I said to do it" math. I lost my enjoyment in math around 4th or 5th grade. It just wasn't clicking for me any more. More and more algorithms were thrown at me and I'm the type of person who needs to know why something works. So math no longer made sense. It was just a lot of tricks and hoops to jump through for some magical answer. I learned more about math as a whole during two semesters of learning to teach math this way than I had through the previous decade of math classes. I taught Investigations Math for a year in 4th grade. I watched that light-bulb click over kids when suddenly what they'd been doing made sense! AND they learned how to talk about it. We have all done math these ways, we just never learned how to talk about it. How many of us reach for a calculator or piece of paper every time we need to figure out a math problem? Most of us have created methods of doing these in our minds. The difference is that kids are taught these methods, learn how to improve these methods, and know how to discuss them. If I ask you to add 20+50 there are several ways to figure that out. I personally would say that I know 2+5=7, then add the 0 to put them in the tens place. Others might work it differently. Learning that those tricks I'd started using in my mind were not only okay, but were important and could be improved was like a revelation! The biggest problem with this change in teaching math is that kids listen to their teachers and parents. Teachers who are used to just telling kids how to complete an algorithm and have never had to discuss math and how it works have a hard time. Parents who don't understand why this is useful have a hard time. The kids pick up on the complaining and use it as an excuse for why they don't need to apply themselves. We need kids learning from teachers who are enthusiastic about the program and who aren't undermined at home. Yes, straight algorithms worked for some kids, and most of us created methods for it to work for us too, but this reaches SO many more students and works with the way we all live now -- most of us with a calculator in our pockets!

September 17, 2015 at 09:19PM

Pizzeggrolls and Pizzontons. For when regular pizza just sounds too healthy. ;) They're worth it, trust me via Instagram http://ift.tt/1KuA1sL

September 17, 2015 at 11:56AM

My new goal, which WILL also be my childrens' goal, is to make it ONE WEEK without an "emergency" trip to the school. Today's "emergency" was broken flip-flops. I've also done a benadryl run for some light hives, forgotten lunches, heading to the doctor, printing out an essay, etc. etc. etc. and it's only a few weeks into the year!!!!!! Just one week of no running back and forth, please?!?!?! (Yes, I fully intend to then get greedy and hope for 2 in a row) via Facebook

September 17, 2015 at 10:20AM MountainStar Healthcare Star Athletes of Week 4

Check out the featured Boy's Cross Country star! Eric Lambert is rather fantastic. (And also one my nephew, but clearly bias has nothing to do with that declaration). His brother, Jensen Lambert is mentioned in the paragraph as well. It was a pretty amazing photo finish with those brothers clearing the field. Way to go, Eric! You're an awesome kid in so many ways, and your dedication and efforts / leadership in cross country is just one. Love you! {Squishy, obnoxious, ugly lipstick smooch on your cheek! Because I'm your auntie so I'm supposed to.}

September 15, 2015 at 04:18PM

So proud of my Lizzie and her hard work at school! Two years ago Kate got to serve on student council. They met weekly, did a lot of activities, helped plan stuff, etc. This year Lizzie was hoping to do the same thing. They've totally changed how it works, though. Instead of 6 members of Student Council there are 16 O.O The kids who were interested in serving submitted applications a week or so ago. Teachers went through and created a short list of students they thought would do well. Lizzie was chosen as one of 24 students to continue on. Yesterday each of the hopefuls brought a "campaign" poster to school, then today they each gave a 2 minute speech (their application essay, basically) to the 4th - 6th graders, then all that audience voted for their 3 favorites. Lizzie did an awesome job on her speech. From what I can understand of the differences this year, the principal chose 8 students first to serve in a new committee that works more behind the scenes. I don't know the name of this group yet, or what exactly they do, but Lizzie was chosen as one of those 8 kids. The other kids will have some sort of ranking in Student Council according to the other student votes. They're only meeting monthly this year and will have a lot fewer responsibilities since there are so many of them. All in all it sounds like a great way to get more kids involved. I think Lizzie will do very well working on whatever projects the principal needs help with. I think they will be meeting weekly. It is also nice that she gets to serve there with a couple of good friends. All in all, a great success! via Facebook

September 14, 2015 at 07:29PM

I love getting to watch Daddy-Daughter moments :) Tonight Michael is watching the BYU-Boise game from a couple of days ago with Kate and teaching her all about football. We're not a sportsing family, but I'm glad she has a chance to learn about it. via Facebook

September 12, 2015 at 03:58PM

Sabrina says she wants to watch "'The Door-knob and the Broom', or whatever it's called" "You mean 'Bed-knobs and Broomsticks?" "Yeah, that's the one." via Facebook

September 10, 2015 at 09:41PM

Watching "Maze Runner". "Quick! Everybody hide!" And they run and hide. In the dark. With a torch in their hands. via Facebook

September 10, 2015 at 09:57AM Click here to support Help fix Wyatt's wheelchair van by Justin Roberts

If any of you can spare a bit... This boy is SUCH a ray of sunshine! And a wonderful family. If we weren't buried bo so many medical bills ourselves I'd jump on this myself. I hope that by sharing I can do what I want through other wonderful friends who can chip in. You, maybe? :)

September 08, 2015 at 05:56PM

Someone who will be unnamed is making dinner (yay!). He* just very nearly dumped 1/4 cup of cinnamon over the ground beef instead of taco seasoning. That would have been a REALLY exciting meal! That's what happens when you pull the cinnamon from in front of the taco seasoning and the costco sized containers are sitting side-by-side on the cupboard. Oops! I gotta admit, even cinnamon tacos would have been exciting since I wasn't the one making it. He has been awesome about that recently :) (*"He" is totally neutral because Michael is no longer the only male in the household. Kate's guinea pig, Bugzy, is also male.) via Facebook

September 07, 2015 at 08:38PM

Totally weirded out! Kate pulled out a box of old formal dresses I had packed away. Besides being several inches too short she is almost the same size I was in my formal-wear days O.o Isn't she still a wee little one?! via Facebook

September 05, 2015 at 01:02PM HELP ME! This food is rotten!

September 05, 2015 at 12:49PM

Apparently it's one of *those* Saturdays. I haven't gathered enough guts to ask why the bathroom is getting a makeover. All I know is the day was scheduled to start with repairing a house bib. This doesn't look good. via Instagram http://ift.tt/1QguO8v

September 01, 2015 at 11:11AM

For those of us who take "Fantasy" all too seriously -- today would be James Serius Potter's (Harry Potter's son's) first day at Hogwarts. There must be a photo of him in front of his front door for the occasion. Anybody want to comment with their own version? ;) via Facebook