it took the wind out of my sails...

1) My friend Mrs. G informed me that Slurpees, in fact, have corbonation. What the what? How unfair is that?! Do you even know how much I love Slurpees? It's really going to be a test of character to see if I can live without that frozen beverage whenever I return to Zion. Especially in the summer time. UGH!

2) I'm back to work after my week-long sabbatical to the land of my inheritance, which is a good thing. I talked to all my clients' parents to tell 'em, "I'll be at work all the livelong day" and also, "I know it's a holiday; shall I plan on seeing you on President's Day?" They all said, "Yes." But do you wanna know what? Out of 9 clients, only 4 showed up; 2 canceled, and 3 (count them, THREE!) no-showed. No-shows really annoy me, so you know. I mean, they really annoy me.

Getting over it and moving on...

The rest of my trip homeward was terrific. Seriously, it was the breath of fresh air I needed. I spent some quality time with everyone in my family (minus Brent, the scholar at BYUI). I got to hold some babies (Thing Two, JanieBug, and Lindsay's adorable and squishy Stella). I ate the culinary delights of my mom's home-cookin'. I played with My Boys some more (Jackson, Marshall and Seth). And I watched one of the greatest made-for-TV chick-flicks of all time with my momma.

I also learned it's detrimental to "play dead" with 3-year-olds. Marshall and I were playing a game where he was chasing me with a toy airplane. When he tapped my bum with the plane, I was to fall to the ground and play dead. At this point, Marshall picked up my arms and let them fall (to make sure I was dead, see?). I don't mind indulging the boy; he's really a riot to play with, so we played. After lifting my arms and legs and letting them crash to the ground, I heard Marshall say (somewhere near my legs), "Let's see if she's dead!" This was his mantra throughout the entire game, mind you, so I thought nothing of it. Quite suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my gut; Marshall had stabbed me with the pointy nose of the airplane to see what I might do. I. Am. So. Dumb. I kept on playing dead. So Marshall repeated the process of stabbing his Auntie Gina in the gut in exactly the same spot as before...at which point, the game ended. Rather abruptly. Because seriously, when it happened, I got up and felt for an open wound or something; I was certain my flesh had been torn open. Alas, there was nothing. Not even a bruise. It sure felt like internal bleeding (or what I would imagine internal bleeding to feel like; I really wouldn't know.)

Now here I am, 5 or 6 days post-puncture, and any time I tense my stomach muscles, it hurts where I was stabbed. Isn't that curious?

Oh, but the story doesn't end there. This ginabean is a glutton for punishment, or something like unto it...

On Saturday, Mom and I babysat Jackson, Seth and Jane while Aaron&Amy and Vance&Abby went on a double date for Valentine's Day. Good times were had, to be sure! At some point during the afternoon, Seth and I were playing when he informed me that I was dead. So I collapsed on the couch and Seth crawled on me. And then he gave me a puppy kiss. You get the idea, right? He licked me. Across the face. Sure, it was just Seth spit, but it was rather unexpected. Somehow.

So now I know: don't play dead against the 3-year-olds. (Write these words of wisdom down, will ya?)

What else can I tell you of?

Oh yes. The greatest made-for-TV movie ever? It's called North and South, and I'm currently reading the same book by Elizabeth Gaskell. I discovered that Abby's sister Mandy owns the movie, and Mandy was gracious enough to let me and Ma borrow it last Thursday. We watched all 4 hour-long episodes that night. All. Four. Because I don't think Mom can start a good movie and not finish it. Plus, this movie was right up her alley; very Pride and Prejudice-esque, you know? And it totally helps that Richard Armitage (aka Mr. John Thornton) is a total hottie. Squared. (I love him.)

My heart bleeds for Mr. Thornton.
(Please don't call me pathetic)

Aaaand here are some more pictures from my week in BC:

Papa and Jane
(Isn't she delicious?!)

Puppy Seth lounging on the couch...

Mr. Marshall

Also I discovered that not all sweetheart candies are nasty!
(Fuzzy picture, I know. But buy the bag that has blue hearts in it. I'm tellin' ya!)

Oh yeah. I met Lisa in SLC for dinner and the Joseph Smith movie.
(It was a good time; I miss my Lisa!)