My little stinker

6 is the number of days that I have left with my Stinker. He only comes 3 days a week and summer program has 2 weeks left. I'll probably cry. Remember the sumo wrestler? Well, it's safe to say that he's in love with me. I've only been his official staff once this summer because of the other participant I work with, but that hasn't stopped his love for me. We have the most hilarious relationship and yesterday I realized it was deeper than just being silly, having 'who can tickle the last' wars, stealing my water bottle, chasing down the halls and teasing each other. We have different vehicles that we take the kids in on our activities. My little friend decided to erase my participant's name and put himself on my vehicle instead. It was hilarious. I can't post a picture because of the names listed and for confidentiality issues, but it's SO obvious that his name and my participants name wasn't written by a staff. Sadly, he had to go on the other van, but I give him props for trying.

Then, as we were waiting for his mom to pick him up, he got really excited and ran to get a piece of paper. He laughed, pointed at me, and shouted a few times, "It's you!" He turned around and carefully looked at the board and began to write. The final product? This.

I am absolutely smitten by my pal.

Home

This post has been a long time coming and it's more of a post for myself than for people to actually read. However, since I'm posting it on my blog, feel free to read.

When we were in Provo for the 4th of July something hit me. Provo isn't my home. It was weird. I love Provo and there have been times where I've wanted to stay there forever, but not anymore. I don't know that place. It's changed so much in the three years that I've been gone. Everything from the color of some of my favorite houses to the movie theater by University Mall. It just doesn't feel the same. I guess it's all a part of growing up and leaving 'the nest', but I have very few ties to that city anymore. {and know that if you are one of those ties, you still rock.} Which leads me to this...

I love Cache Valley. Funny, right? If I would have been having this conversation two years ago it would have been completely different. I hated Logan when I first moved here. However, it's grown on me a lot over the years. In many ways it's just like Provo, but it has so many things that Provo doesn't have. Now, not to put down my old stomping grounds, but seriously! You think BYU fans have pride? Have you ever met an Aggie fan? There's a feeling in this little valley that you can't find anywhere else. I love it!

I think one of the reasons why Logan feels so much like home to me is because it's where I met and fell in love with Josh. I have very interesting memories of our year at Pine View, and many mixed feelings, but all and all I loved getting to know Josh there. I love seeing him on campus crossing the quad, I love where we took our engagements, I love our little apartment. I love driving through the canyon with him on spontaneous "we need to get out of Logan" trips and I love how beautiful this valley is in the summer.

We went on a walk yesterday and walked about 8 blocks on Main Street. It's amazing how fast you can zoom by and not notice your surroundings. Logan has such an old fashioned feel to it. I feel a little more in love with it last night. {not to mention that now we're getting a WalGreens that I'll be able to walk to from our apartment. Woo!}

There will be a time, I'm sure, when we'll leave Cache valley. I'll miss driving down 4th north from campus and only being able to stare at the temple. I'll miss seeing so many cars from Malad/Preston that you'd think we were in Idaho. I'll miss how pretty this place is most of the year {sorry, I hate the winters up here...} I'll miss my home.

100th post

I realized this morning that my blog has reached a milestone. 100 posts. Remember when I didn't think I'd write on this thing? Apparently I've grown more fond on this trend than anticipated, and have become slightly addicted. My blog and I have seen some good times and bad times. I've vented, informed, questioned, and told stories on it, but never have I written a list of things I love. So, I've decided to write down {in no particular order} 100 things I love. Here I go.

Josh, The Gospel, family, Temples, friends, Logan, walking on warm sidewalks barefoot, summer nights, Aggie sweatpants, cameras-especially this one, my phone, participants at work, beauty, scriptures, my bath robe {that I should use more}, fresh cut grass, make up , red couches, bowling , cudding with Josh, family vacations, Mimi's cafe, the 4th of July, making dinner with Josh, dance, my new battery for my laptop, Jim Henson, missionaries {speaking of missions, my next post will be about Jared.}, baby lotion, red nail polish, burying my toes in sand, snow angels , Josh's smile, feeling the spirit, road trips, the yellow house on center street in logan, happy blogs, engagement pictures, saying hello to strangers {I'm getting much less awkward at this one}, fro's old barbie house, the last day of school at Provost, seeing those I love happy, this mascara, swimming in my grandparents pool in California, reading old journals, catching up with old friends, Costa Vida {thanks Amy}, the fact that I still have all my beanie babies, cache valley in the spring, summer, and fall {notice I left out winter}, veggie soup, the color blue, cut off shorts, pearl earrings, my dishes, spontaneous trips to odgen, the university mall, lessons my job has taught me, solo dance parties in the kitchen, friends that you don't need at 'catch up' with because you're that close already, first dam, Regina Spektor's lyrics, technology, prayer, my aviator sunglasses, pioneers, burberry london, full length mirrors, blueberries, cookie dough, spoon me, books, popsicles, the priesthood, looking at stars, black and white photographs, letting my hair air dry, sunday walks, sunday naps, thinking, going to the movies when the theater is empty, firefox, i-tunes, ladybugs, submitting homework online, cucumbers, drives through the canyon, seeing my participant at work happy, the word 'stinker', memories of my childhood, happy endings, the internet, rock canyon park, grandma herdman's cooking, freckles, flip flops, harry potter, Old Main, josh coming home from work early, the smell of popcorn, Stanley {my i-pod}, brasc's mini bus, the prophet, piggy back rides from Josh.

There, I think that's 100. If not, oh well. :) Just know that I'm very happy with life and I'm glad I have this blog to express it.

I don't understand...

Why people call it "the DI". As in, "I got this shirt at the DI." You got that shirt at the Deseret Industries? THE Deseret Industries? I got my shirt at the Ross and my pants at the American Eagle.

Now, I don't mean to offend because some of my closest friends (including my husband) have said this before. I've held my confused tongue, but now, after reading it typed in a blog, must publicly pose the question. I just don't get it. It's never made much sense to me.

Also, the Duggars are hanging out with Dolly Parton on this week's episode of 18 kids and counting. That's funny.

Josh's little brother, Jared leaves for the MTC in Argentina tomorrow. We'll get to see him as he walks past security in the SLC airport tomorrow morning and then it's only letters for two years. Crazy! It will be really strange not having him around the Mangelson's house, but I know he'll do a great job. We went to his farewell on Sunday and he gave a great talk along with a powerful testimony. We'll miss him, but it will also be interesting to hear about his adventures and see his growth from his time in Uruguay.

Another happening is that Josh and I splurged for a blu-ray player last night. We figure while we have a few extra pennies this summer, we might as well buy what we want because we'll be super poor in a few months. That's responsible, right? Who cares about saving for rainy days when you can buy a blu-ray on sale for $100?! We also bought Coraline! It came with the blu-ray, dvd, and 4 pairs of 3D glasses. Holy cow I love this movie and if you live in Logan or travel up here, you are welcome to come over and watch it. It's {as Lacy would say} g-mazing.

I think I'll to go to the DI and check out their latest selection of books tomorrow. I love the DI.

B.

Now for a happy post.

I love this guy...


He cleaned the entire apartment while I was watching Harry Potter with some co-workers. Isn't he cute? I'm super lucky.

One more grumpy post and then I'll get happy again. Promise.

I love my job. It doesn't pay well and I really only get substantial hours in the summer, but I absolutely love it. (even when I get punched in the jaw I can still say I like it...) My job has given me a whole new respect for people with disabilities and the people who take care of them. Patience, kindness, and finding joy in simple things are just a few things I've learned. However, the biggest thing that my job has taught me is pure Christ-like love. The kids I work with don't care if you're ugly, fat, smelly, short, tall, etc. They just want you to be happy. These guys are straight from Heaven (well most of them...ha) and they'll stay that way forever. They never loose their 'child-like' attitude. I love it.

Now, for the grumps. Why are non-disabled people so lame? We take the kids out into the community at least 3 days a week and I'm SO disgusted by the stares, whisperings, and terrified looks that we get. I have two examples (from dozens and dozens) that have made me loose a lot of faith in humanity.

1. A few days ago we went to the American West Heritage Center. The kids were thrilled! Pony rides, cookies, chickens and pigs running around, it was great. My participant doesn't physically look disabled at all, but if you spend more than 10 seconds around him, you realize that he is the definition of autism. He got really excited when he found out there were pony rides and he started running up to everyone he saw, asking there where they were. One lady completely ignored him, another guy swore at him and everyone else around just stared. It broke my heart as I tried to get him back over to me because he was crushed. I'll admit, it would be weird to see a teenage boy run up in a high pitched voice asked about ponies, but why be rude? Why not just say something like, "I don't know, you'll have to look at the map!" or something like that? My little guy walked away with his head down low. I wanted to cry and punch everyone around me.

2. We went to Logan's summerfest back in June and a co-worker and I counted in an hour, 6 people staring at us and I heard 2 people whisper about our group (one boy in particular). My intimidating looking co-worker didn't hold anything back and started pointing and staring right back. I was uncomfortable, they were uncomfortable, but hopefully (but doubtfully) they learned a lesson.

We have kids in wheelchairs, helmets, and others with obvious disabilities, but who cares? I don't understand why people are such jerks. I can't stand the staring, pointing, and making fun my kids. Over the past year the participants have become mine. I love them and seriously want to spit on those who make fun. Now, I realize that retaliation isn't Christ-like at all, but we all have room to grow, right? Like I said, these kids are straight from Heavenly Father. Why do people make fun of them? Why are people afraid?

So next time you see someone with a disibility, don't stare. If they talk to you, talk back and don't be afraid. If they were really that scary or violent, they wouldn't be in public. I'm tired of trying to explain to my kids why the "mainstream people" (as some of them call non-disabled people) don't want to talk to them.

I promise with all my heart that I will not be a grump in my next post.

This one might be grumpy...

Ok, if you know me, you know I can complain. I've tried to keep this blog cheerful, but I reached a breaking point today and now must vent.

Nursery. Sure, it sounds like a great calling, right? Hardly. It's now only Josh and I in there with 13 screaming 2 year olds. Well they aren't all screaming, but let me tell you what they do. One boy cries so hard his face turns purple. Hee barely takes breaks to breathe. Another girl bites, pulls hair, throws/steals toys. Another girl uses the toy stroller as a club, but freaks out when you take it away. We have two boys who are really cute, but always jumping off tables and chairs, and crashing into other kids. We have a few kids who for the most part like to be there, but if one child is crying, they get freaked out too. A few kids have wet their pants, and the last few constantly want to sit on our laps. Fun, right? I don't know what to do. I feel bad for no liking a calling so much, but I miss real church. We get nothing out of it at all. We can hardly have a lesson with the kids because they're constantly running around or fighting. We miss Relief Society/Priesthood and Sunday School. We miss church. We've been in there or 6 months and aren't getting released for another 6 months. We were told that we would get some reinforcement soon, but nobody has been called.

Sunday is supposed to be a restful day, but it's not the break from the week that we need. I feel like I'm at work again. I find myself saying the same things like, "you need to stay calm" or, "that is not appropriate", "we don't act like that in nursery", all the time. It's pathetic. I love my job and love little kids, but being around teens with disabilities who act like two year olds 5 days a week and then getting dumped into a room with 13 two year olds is burning me out.

And people wonder why we're not having kids yet... :)

Also, I'm morally opposed to people getting on facebook while on their honeymoon. Seriously people, do something else.

Ok, I've got my grumps out. Thanks for listening. We made Costa Vida sweet pork and I'm going to go stuff my face.

Happy Sunday
B.

lazy saturday mornings

I spent the morning catching up on missed episodes of The View and taking a bubble bath. I think I'll now go watch Funny Face instead of folding laundry. Saturday mornings are the greatest cure for crazy weeks at work. This week almost killed me and I'm very glad it's over.

p.s. The concert was awesome. Sadly, we didn't get any pictures. I did get to see the subject of July 7th and it was a great. Will blog about happy things soon. For now, I'm being mega lazy and not thinking about anything.

B.

Came and went

July 7, 2009 came and went. I heard it was wonderful via text message and I can't wait to hear the juicy details from the queen herself. I would call now, but I assume you're catching up. I love you HAW and I better be invited to the wedding... ;)

p.s. Ask Lacy, I almost started to cry on the way back from our walk to the park. I had butterflies ALL day long. I love love and love that you are in love.

p.p.s. Tomorrow is the Bon Iver/Jenny Lewis concert. Excitement fills my happy soul!