Aaron and Ashley WalkerFeb 11, 2012 10:18 PM
My husband loves their music! It would be fun to surprise him with a CD and DVD of theirs.
Congratulations Ashley!!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Celtic Woman Winner!
Thanks to all who entered my contest! As you can see, the winner of the Celtic Woman DVD and CD set is #6:
Congratulations Ashley!!
Congratulations Ashley!!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Celtic Woman Giveaway
You all know how much I love music, so I was very excited to have the opportunity to review the music of Celtic Woman! After listening to the CD and watching the DVD I am definitely a fan. These four women are amazingly talented and beautiful. The blend of their voices is amazing. I am excited to get to see them live in Salt Lake in April.If you're not familiar with them, Celtic Woman is an all-female singing sensation featuring vocalists Chloë Agnew, Lisa Kelly, Lisa Lambe and Celtic violinist Máiréad Nesbitt. They perform classic Irish songs (“The Water Is Wide,” “Green Grow the Rushes"), timeless pop anthems (“Bridge Over Troubled Water"), and inspirational songs (“You’ll Never Walk Alone,” “Ave Maria”) with their signature Celtic Woman twist.
You can check out the music here:
"Teir Abdhaile Riu":http://soundcloud.com/
You can buy the recently released CD and DVD's here:
Believe DVD: http://amzn.to/
And check out when they're coming to your town here:
Or, you can WIN your own copy of the DVD and CD here!!
* Just leave a comment here of why you would like to win your own copy of the Celtic Woman CD and DVD by Feb. 13 at midnight MST.
Good luck!
* I received one copy of the CD and DVD to review and will receive two tickets to the Celtic Woman concert. No other compensation was received and all opinions are my own.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Baby Ache
Yes, yes, the Mom Nerd is still alive. I haven't written since blogger changed their look and set up. I guess I've just been out of the blogging mood. But today, I actually felt like writing. So here I am.
Up for discussion today.....more babies, or no more babies? I'd love to hear what you think.
So lately, since shortly before Christmas, off and on, I've had the baby ache. Very, very badly I might add. I think of a baby in my arms, and I ache inside so much I almost can't stand it. The other day I had my youngest, 4 1/2 year old Winnie, in my lap. He always wants me to rub his tummy so he laid down with his feet up by my face. His feet are still pretty little, and still pretty cute, so I did one of my favorite mommy things and played with his feet. But then when I kissed them.....
Peee-ew! Yucky stinky little boy feet. So yeah, right then again the ache came. For soft, sweet baby feet.
I used to ache for a baby girl, but at this point I don't even care if it's a boy or a girl. And I think that's what scares me the most.
You see, analytically, these are the reasons why I am done having babies:
1. My twins are almost FIVE! They will be starting Kindergarten next year. ALL of my kids will be in school.
2. I have a part time teaching job that I LOVE! And knowing myself if I had another baby the job would definitely be the first thing to go. And that makes me sad.
3. It has been almost a year since I've had any kids in diapers. Need I say more?
4. We're still trying to buy a house, and really are not in good financial place to have another baby.
5. I really need to lose weight. And yeah, even though I lose when I'm pregnant, I always gain back when nursing.
6. I don't want my last baby to be lonesome with more than 5 years between them and the twins.
7. I don't want to have twins again. Really not sure I could handle that.
8. Do I really want more than 4 kids? I mean really?
9. My twins are starting to get themselves dressed, their own shoes on, helping clean up, etc.
10. I'm getting old. I'm about to enter an entirely new era in my life. Do I want to start all that again?
But then, what if there is a little spirit up there waiting for me? Waiting for my family?
And is that why the ache won't go away?
For now, I'll look at some pictures of my babies, maybe try to talk some friends into letting me play with their babies, and hope the ache goes away.
But what do you think? Baby or no baby? That is the question.
Up for discussion today.....more babies, or no more babies? I'd love to hear what you think.
So lately, since shortly before Christmas, off and on, I've had the baby ache. Very, very badly I might add. I think of a baby in my arms, and I ache inside so much I almost can't stand it. The other day I had my youngest, 4 1/2 year old Winnie, in my lap. He always wants me to rub his tummy so he laid down with his feet up by my face. His feet are still pretty little, and still pretty cute, so I did one of my favorite mommy things and played with his feet. But then when I kissed them.....
 |
| These are kissable feet! |
I used to ache for a baby girl, but at this point I don't even care if it's a boy or a girl. And I think that's what scares me the most.
You see, analytically, these are the reasons why I am done having babies:
2. I have a part time teaching job that I LOVE! And knowing myself if I had another baby the job would definitely be the first thing to go. And that makes me sad.
3. It has been almost a year since I've had any kids in diapers. Need I say more?
4. We're still trying to buy a house, and really are not in good financial place to have another baby.5. I really need to lose weight. And yeah, even though I lose when I'm pregnant, I always gain back when nursing.
6. I don't want my last baby to be lonesome with more than 5 years between them and the twins.
7. I don't want to have twins again. Really not sure I could handle that.
8. Do I really want more than 4 kids? I mean really?
9. My twins are starting to get themselves dressed, their own shoes on, helping clean up, etc.
10. I'm getting old. I'm about to enter an entirely new era in my life. Do I want to start all that again?
But then, what if there is a little spirit up there waiting for me? Waiting for my family?
And is that why the ache won't go away?
For now, I'll look at some pictures of my babies, maybe try to talk some friends into letting me play with their babies, and hope the ache goes away.
But what do you think? Baby or no baby? That is the question.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Love love love Gardner Village!
So I had heard about Gardner Village, and I actually even tried to find it once, but we finally went tonight and I am in LOVE with that place! I can't wait to go see what they have for every season. Right now, they have it all decked out for Halloween, and it is so fun!
We were lucky enough to be sent four tickets to Ride to a Witch at Gardner Village as part of their Witch Fest. We got our tickets (which just happened to be BUGS!) And then went on a hay ride to their special little witch village with real live witches!
We were greeted by this lovely witch, much to the embarrassment of my growing 10 year old. lol
We were able to explore her adorable little house.
We busted some moves in the groovy witch cabin.
Helped one witch stir up some witchy (and smelly) brew.
Heard some spooky nursery rhymes, and had a very serious graveside service for Fred, the dead cockroach.
Overall, we had a blast! Make sure you get there and check out everything they have before Halloween is over! You will not be disappointed.Now I just can't wait to go back without the kids so I can really relax and enjoy it.
(Shh, don't tell)
But aren't they adorable? Happy Halloween!Thursday, August 11, 2011
Sigh.
This was going to be a nice relaxing summer. No new jobs. No moving. Just chillin' and relaxin' to get ready for the new school year.
And it basically was. For most of the summer that flew by. Now Eldon and I both start back to work next week, and this weekend, we get to move again. Yay!!!
Now, I really don't have time to write right now. And I need to get to bed. But just to fill ya'll in, I'm going to share some facebook posts from the last few weeks. And yes, I admit, I am kind of a whiner.......
And it basically was. For most of the summer that flew by. Now Eldon and I both start back to work next week, and this weekend, we get to move again. Yay!!!
Now, I really don't have time to write right now. And I need to get to bed. But just to fill ya'll in, I'm going to share some facebook posts from the last few weeks. And yes, I admit, I am kind of a whiner.......
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Letter to Me
The envelope says
To: Sharla Merryweather
read on November 16, 1997.
To: Sharla Merryweather
read on November 16, 1997.
January 2, 1997
Dear Sharla,
Hello. Well, happy 18th Birthday! Now, as you read this I want you to look at your life as it is and if you aren't where you're supposed to be, get there quick!
Okay, this is what I expect of you. First of all, you better have a good attitude and be smiling a lot. It's your senior year but don't get stressed and overwhelmed. You should be going to church and seminary regularly and I expect your testimony to be stronger than ever. You better not have a boyfriend, or have had a boyfriend, and I hope you've been dating (group or double) good young men who are members with the same standards as you. You better not have made any big mistakes, either.
You better have gotten good grades your junior year if you want to go to BYU. I expect your GPA to be a 3.5 or higher. Preferrably higher.
I hope you're still striving for a temple marriage because that is the ONLY way you can fully be happy. Okay? And pray about it, a lot, before you make the big decision.
Now, when that time comes I expect you to raise a family and be sure to ask for council from your Father in Heaven and the leaders around you. Heed to the prophets teachings. Don't forget to go back and read your patriarchal blessing.
Sharla, look around you at who your friends are and their influence on you. Make sure they are good friends that will uplift you. And remember to be a good friend. Okay?
Sharla, you are a daughter of God and you know it. Yet be humble and every grateful to your Father in Heaven. He has given you so much!! Stay strong.
Love, You
Yep, that was me. Word for word, typos and all. Do I sound self righteous? There is a lot of advice I gave myself that is still really good advice. And I'm happy to say for the most part I did listen to myself. I just thought this was so funny I had to share. It's good to remember who I was, especially when I evaluate who I am today.
Hello. Well, happy 18th Birthday! Now, as you read this I want you to look at your life as it is and if you aren't where you're supposed to be, get there quick!
Okay, this is what I expect of you. First of all, you better have a good attitude and be smiling a lot. It's your senior year but don't get stressed and overwhelmed. You should be going to church and seminary regularly and I expect your testimony to be stronger than ever. You better not have a boyfriend, or have had a boyfriend, and I hope you've been dating (group or double) good young men who are members with the same standards as you. You better not have made any big mistakes, either.
You better have gotten good grades your junior year if you want to go to BYU. I expect your GPA to be a 3.5 or higher. Preferrably higher.
I hope you're still striving for a temple marriage because that is the ONLY way you can fully be happy. Okay? And pray about it, a lot, before you make the big decision.
Now, when that time comes I expect you to raise a family and be sure to ask for council from your Father in Heaven and the leaders around you. Heed to the prophets teachings. Don't forget to go back and read your patriarchal blessing.
Sharla, look around you at who your friends are and their influence on you. Make sure they are good friends that will uplift you. And remember to be a good friend. Okay?
Sharla, you are a daughter of God and you know it. Yet be humble and every grateful to your Father in Heaven. He has given you so much!! Stay strong.
Love, You
Yep, that was me. Word for word, typos and all. Do I sound self righteous? There is a lot of advice I gave myself that is still really good advice. And I'm happy to say for the most part I did listen to myself. I just thought this was so funny I had to share. It's good to remember who I was, especially when I evaluate who I am today.
The Box
Wow, I just realized it’s ten minutes to five in the morning and here I sit, less sleepy than I was hours ago. I tried falling asleep but my mind wouldn’t shut down. That to do list of mine just didn’t want to lay to rest. So I decided to get up and keep cleaning and organizing. After a few minutes I reach for a largish shoebox that is taped up, no markings to be seen. I thought it was full of old cassette tapes, but realize it’s too light for that. So I open it up…….
and take one giant leap into the past. This box is filled with letters. Most of them from 1998-1999, the year I graduated from High School, and my first year of college/the year I got married. Right away I see letters from old beaus, and determine right then that I will throw those away without reading them. Seriously, I should not have these after 12 years of marriage.
That part was pretty easy to do, although one hilarious letter jumps out at me. One of the missionaries I was “writing” gives me some pointers on marriage. I love it. My favorite is “Don’t put your bed in the front room of your house just to watch TV laying down.” So funny. I guess he got lots of pointers in Mexico about what married people should NOT do.
As I’ve sat here for obviously the last two hours I am transported back to those years. I can see myself at the crossroads. I read letters from my sister and Mom to me at college; I read letters from my brother on his mission, before life seemed to come between us. I read letters from wonderful friends. I find a letter to myself to open when I turned 18. I remember that I did read it, although a few weeks late. I find an old Stake Dance Card, my driver’s permit, old school awards.
But what I rediscover is myself. I can remember that youthful joy and excitement that I felt at that time. Looking forward to a future where I am married in the temple to the man I love with a family of my own. I knew that once I was there it was all smooth sailing.
And I realize, this silly little box that has followed us around for 13 moves will be taped back up, and will follow us for as many more moves as we may yet have.
And maybe in 12 more years I’ll discover it again.
And realize once again that the young girl I once was really did get everything she ever dreamed of.
And for the record, I’m totally going to cash in on the “coupon” from my sister saying that she’ll make my bed for me anytime.
Who says a trip down memory lane can’t be useful?
and take one giant leap into the past. This box is filled with letters. Most of them from 1998-1999, the year I graduated from High School, and my first year of college/the year I got married. Right away I see letters from old beaus, and determine right then that I will throw those away without reading them. Seriously, I should not have these after 12 years of marriage.
That part was pretty easy to do, although one hilarious letter jumps out at me. One of the missionaries I was “writing” gives me some pointers on marriage. I love it. My favorite is “Don’t put your bed in the front room of your house just to watch TV laying down.” So funny. I guess he got lots of pointers in Mexico about what married people should NOT do.
As I’ve sat here for obviously the last two hours I am transported back to those years. I can see myself at the crossroads. I read letters from my sister and Mom to me at college; I read letters from my brother on his mission, before life seemed to come between us. I read letters from wonderful friends. I find a letter to myself to open when I turned 18. I remember that I did read it, although a few weeks late. I find an old Stake Dance Card, my driver’s permit, old school awards.
But what I rediscover is myself. I can remember that youthful joy and excitement that I felt at that time. Looking forward to a future where I am married in the temple to the man I love with a family of my own. I knew that once I was there it was all smooth sailing.
And I realize, this silly little box that has followed us around for 13 moves will be taped back up, and will follow us for as many more moves as we may yet have.
And maybe in 12 more years I’ll discover it again.
And realize once again that the young girl I once was really did get everything she ever dreamed of.
And for the record, I’m totally going to cash in on the “coupon” from my sister saying that she’ll make my bed for me anytime.
Who says a trip down memory lane can’t be useful?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Anniversary Trip to the Twilight Zone Pt. 2
Continued from this post.......
I look out the curtain, but do not see a cop car. Okay, it's official. This girl is seriously freaked or crazy. Or both. We stay in there with her for about 20 more minutes, but we can't convince her to leave. It was now like 9:00 and we still hadn't eaten or done anything else we had planned, so we gather up all our stuff and tell her that we need to get out and that we'll drive around and look for her friend that's supposed to be coming. (Which is seriously looking doubtful.) Part of me is thinking that we'll just call the office of the motel, tell them she's in there and that we're checking out. But we drive around, don't see the guy matching the description, and so I call her at the motel to see if he has shown up. She says no and asks if we can go to his house and see if he's coming. We manage to find it and drive up to the ghetto white trash house of the year. This ornery girl is outside with a sneer on her face, so keeping the doors locked we roll down the window and ask if he's there. After interrogating us she goes and gets him.
The upstanding citizen comes out, and after explaining who we are he tells us that he came on his bike earlier, saw people "watching" at the motel, and came back home because it wasn't safe. He won't come with us to get her, and tells us that he'll be there in 20 minutes. So we go eat, then call her again and he's not there after yet another hour. We know, as we knew hours before, that he's not coming. We had been debating the entire time about whether she was trying to con us, especially since she happened to mention that $100 would get her to her dad's and fed. Yeah, we're not giving you money honey. So we decide that we'll buy her flip flops and either take her to a Womens' shelter or the police.
So we head back to the Motel but leave our stuff in the car just in case. We're in there for not even five minutes, have only had time to give her some flip-flops, when there's a BANG BANG BANG at the door. At that moment, more than any other, I literally felt like I was in a movie. This girl starts absolutely freaking out, crying and begging us to not open the door. Anybody that's ever seen a movie or TV show would know without a doubt that a knock like that was the police. Eldon and I look at each other, and say practically at the same time that there is no way we're not going to answer the door.
I was closer, sitting at the desk by the window, but I ask Eldon to get it. She flies out from behind the bed and tries to stop him from opening the door. And once again, BANG BANG BANG on the door. Eldon opens the door and sure enough, there stand two uniformed police officers and one plain clothes police officer. They ask if they can come in and we say yes, but they continue to stand there until one officer has to ask Eldon to move out from holding the door. Shame on him for holding the door! Okay, yeah, I get that they have to see that he's not holding a weapon.
Right away they approach her and ask if her if her name is________. (I can't remember exactly what they said and do want to keep her name private anyway.) She denies it very smoothly and gives them a false name. I move over by Eldon against the wall and we stand there watching as they ask her questions and she tells lie after lie. We know it, they know it. Seriously girl. I really think she was hoping that we'd pretend she was a pal of ours or something. After a couple of minutes one of the uniformed police men asks me if I can come outside and answer a few questions, which I readily agree to do.
Now, a little side note. This was my first time being "interviewed" by a policeman but in the past, the couple of times I have been pulled over, I completely freaked out. I started blabbering and acting like an idiot. And a very guilty one at that. (Although I still have never gotten a ticket.:) One thing I realized looking back on this experience was that I was able to stay very calm. I know the spirit was with me, keeping me calm so that I could be articulate and concise. It was awesome and I am so grateful for that.
Anyway, I explain to him our situation, he asks a few questions and then goes back inside. It was funny because I really thought he was going to question Eldon to see if our stories matched, but it turns out they weren't worried. Yeah, I guess I have read too many books and seen too many movies. I never told them her name, but I still felt like a snitch because as soon as they walked back in they told her to stand up and checked her for weapons. She was crying and begging them to not put her in jail, which they assure her they won't do. Shortly after they took her outside, apologized to us for disturbing our weekend, and told us she wouldn't be bothering us again.
When the door shuts the craziness of the night hits us. We turn on the TV to drown out the voices outside our door and then notice that the show on TV is Cops. And suddenly we can't stop laughing. Nothing like that has every happened to us, and I hope it never will again, but it really made me realize how grateful I am for my life, and that the problems that I face are really so insignificant.
So thank you random girl. And good luck. You helped us realize that love and life is so sweet. I hope you can find the peace and joy that I have found.
I look out the curtain, but do not see a cop car. Okay, it's official. This girl is seriously freaked or crazy. Or both. We stay in there with her for about 20 more minutes, but we can't convince her to leave. It was now like 9:00 and we still hadn't eaten or done anything else we had planned, so we gather up all our stuff and tell her that we need to get out and that we'll drive around and look for her friend that's supposed to be coming. (Which is seriously looking doubtful.) Part of me is thinking that we'll just call the office of the motel, tell them she's in there and that we're checking out. But we drive around, don't see the guy matching the description, and so I call her at the motel to see if he has shown up. She says no and asks if we can go to his house and see if he's coming. We manage to find it and drive up to the ghetto white trash house of the year. This ornery girl is outside with a sneer on her face, so keeping the doors locked we roll down the window and ask if he's there. After interrogating us she goes and gets him.
The upstanding citizen comes out, and after explaining who we are he tells us that he came on his bike earlier, saw people "watching" at the motel, and came back home because it wasn't safe. He won't come with us to get her, and tells us that he'll be there in 20 minutes. So we go eat, then call her again and he's not there after yet another hour. We know, as we knew hours before, that he's not coming. We had been debating the entire time about whether she was trying to con us, especially since she happened to mention that $100 would get her to her dad's and fed. Yeah, we're not giving you money honey. So we decide that we'll buy her flip flops and either take her to a Womens' shelter or the police.
So we head back to the Motel but leave our stuff in the car just in case. We're in there for not even five minutes, have only had time to give her some flip-flops, when there's a BANG BANG BANG at the door. At that moment, more than any other, I literally felt like I was in a movie. This girl starts absolutely freaking out, crying and begging us to not open the door. Anybody that's ever seen a movie or TV show would know without a doubt that a knock like that was the police. Eldon and I look at each other, and say practically at the same time that there is no way we're not going to answer the door.
I was closer, sitting at the desk by the window, but I ask Eldon to get it. She flies out from behind the bed and tries to stop him from opening the door. And once again, BANG BANG BANG on the door. Eldon opens the door and sure enough, there stand two uniformed police officers and one plain clothes police officer. They ask if they can come in and we say yes, but they continue to stand there until one officer has to ask Eldon to move out from holding the door. Shame on him for holding the door! Okay, yeah, I get that they have to see that he's not holding a weapon.
Right away they approach her and ask if her if her name is________. (I can't remember exactly what they said and do want to keep her name private anyway.) She denies it very smoothly and gives them a false name. I move over by Eldon against the wall and we stand there watching as they ask her questions and she tells lie after lie. We know it, they know it. Seriously girl. I really think she was hoping that we'd pretend she was a pal of ours or something. After a couple of minutes one of the uniformed police men asks me if I can come outside and answer a few questions, which I readily agree to do.
Now, a little side note. This was my first time being "interviewed" by a policeman but in the past, the couple of times I have been pulled over, I completely freaked out. I started blabbering and acting like an idiot. And a very guilty one at that. (Although I still have never gotten a ticket.:) One thing I realized looking back on this experience was that I was able to stay very calm. I know the spirit was with me, keeping me calm so that I could be articulate and concise. It was awesome and I am so grateful for that.
Anyway, I explain to him our situation, he asks a few questions and then goes back inside. It was funny because I really thought he was going to question Eldon to see if our stories matched, but it turns out they weren't worried. Yeah, I guess I have read too many books and seen too many movies. I never told them her name, but I still felt like a snitch because as soon as they walked back in they told her to stand up and checked her for weapons. She was crying and begging them to not put her in jail, which they assure her they won't do. Shortly after they took her outside, apologized to us for disturbing our weekend, and told us she wouldn't be bothering us again.
When the door shuts the craziness of the night hits us. We turn on the TV to drown out the voices outside our door and then notice that the show on TV is Cops. And suddenly we can't stop laughing. Nothing like that has every happened to us, and I hope it never will again, but it really made me realize how grateful I am for my life, and that the problems that I face are really so insignificant.
So thank you random girl. And good luck. You helped us realize that love and life is so sweet. I hope you can find the peace and joy that I have found.
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