Dear Ann,

Dear Ann,

Saturday night I dreamed that I was at Sweet Tomatoes with my sweetheart (this is a leftover from the fact that we DID go to Sweet Tomatoes on Friday), and there was a lovely woman sitting right across from me (behind him). I kept thinking, "How do I know her?" And then (we're still in my dream here) this lovely woman walked up to me and said, "Are you Aundrea?" When I answered in the affirmative she said, "I'm Ann Cannon."

I was so excited! I proceeded to tell Spencer all the wonderful things I know about you. Of course, I don't really know that much. She writes all kinds of stuff, including novels and columns. She teaches and mentors other authors. And children. And she loves cupcakes. And she knows other authors. And she works at a fabulous bookstore.

I woke up thinking, "Poor Ann! -- She doesn't even know me, but I love her. Poor Ann! -- Someday I will walk up to her and treat her like she ought to know me, and she will be completely baffled. Poor Ann! -- She probably gets this all the time." Yikes! I'm a groupie (or something)!

And then you posted a comment on my last, very uninteresting blog. And you called me "Friend." So, the way I see it, you are either clueless or a real glutton for punishment. OR--maybe it would be OK for us to meet sometime. I'll let you know the next time I'm going to Sweet Tomatoes.

Let's Discuss Friday the 13th

Nah, let's not. Let's just say that I was glad for the weekend to begin. Here's our weekend:


This is Taylor with his date, Lindsay Bird, as they are leaving for the Sadie Hawkins dance. Awww...!

Here is Spencer, who used amazing talent, skill, and positive energy to create this pot for one of his teachers.

This is the view out our front door this morning.

This is what I've looked like every Sunday for three weeks (except sometimes without the smile). My cold is better, but Bri had a terrible case of the flu Thursday and Friday. The bishop invited us to keep our family home today and get better. While I'm getting lots of little projects done, it sure doesn't feel like a Sunday. *sigh*

And tomorrow I will head back to work, where I will hope that Monday the 16th is better than Friday the 13th was.

Better Than Payday

I love my job. Have I ever mentioned that? I work with some of the greatest people ever.

When I REALLY love my job is when I get the little paybacks. Those of you who are parents will understand that sometimes the best things that happen are the little things, like spontaneous child hugs, or hearing from someone else about a wonderful choice your child made, or having your child give you some of the credit when they accomplish something. That is true at my work, too.

This morning has been crazy busy:

• I've had a couple of different people come to my desk saying, "I know you will know the answer to this." I love it when I really do know the answer and can help them.
• My boss called from off campus. He said, "You are the only one I can count on to work." (I laughed and said, "Yeah, if my kids aren't sick.")
• After an emergency at one of the buildings last night, my boss needed a memo to the director within 10 minutes. I had the ICS people here working on my phone. I had someone here needing petty cash. I had a shop employee who needed direction on a project. The phone rang three times. I finished the memo, made a few adjustments, and printed it for his review. I answered the phone, took care of the petty cash, and placed my new headset on my ear. And Dave said, "Great! Send it. I don't know what I'd do without you."

It's almost better than payday to hear things like that. Almost.

Happy Veteran's Day!

Click here.

And thank you, all you veterans and current soldiers. You are a blessing to all of us!

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things

Last week Amy emailed me to say we was thinking about maybe going for a walk around Temple Square, maybe around 1:00 ish. Woot! Here I am with our Thomas. He and his mommy let me squeeze him and hug him and kiss him. They let me take off his socks and munch on his toes if I want to. This time I even got to babysit him while his mommy had a meeting with Karleen (our dear friend, pictured here with us). I love this boy! (Thanks for sharing, Amy!)

Beautiful, Happy Fall!

Happenings:

Briana got a hairCUT! Isn't it adorable? She loves it, too. AND she won't have to pull her hair up to give massages.

Spencer and Briana finished their first quarter of school with flying colors! We are thrilled with how smart Briana is. And finding her niche is a huge, wonderful thing.

Jenny and Heather came over for massages this week. Jenny pronounced Bri's massage as the best she's ever had. Woot!

This is National Novel Month (or something like that). Tay's only assignment for the month of November in his creative writing class is to write a 50,000 novel. Don't do that math--it's 100 pages. He's busy. He's also a very good writer, so I'm anxious to read the finished product.

West Jordan High School's production of "Aida" is in two weeks. Ashtyn is busy.

As a family, we spent two hours doing yard work yesterday. We mowed the back lawn; poop-scooped; put away the trampoline; cut back the irises, mum, and climatis; blew all the leaves out of the gutters and planters; raked and bagged the leaves; weeded out some areas; and washed three of the four cars (Bri did hers earlier this week). Spence and the kids took Bella across the street to play with the wolves (she was worn out the rest of the day). Then gave shaved her and gave her a bath. I got groceries at Macey's and "stuff" at Walmart (including some items to work on Christmas gifts). We did lots and lots of laundry. Since winter is scheduled to come on Thursday, it felt really good to get all of this done. However, more than half the leaves are still on the Hauptfleisch's oak tree, so we'll be doing more...

I have had one doozy of a cold. I feel OK, but my nose is running like crazy and I have a terrible, terrible cough. I opted to stay home from church again today (2 weeks in a row!). Jen called this morning to see if I could sub in the nursery. Bummer!

Briana and I are being sustained as new Relief Society teachers today. We will team teach once a month. Doesn't that sound fun? She is my visiting teaching companion, too--my favorite I've ever had!

It's a beautiful time of year!

My Favorite Holiday

Click here.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends!

Bitter. Sweet.

First thing this morning I had a conversation with a co-worker (keep in mind that I have worked with him for 2 1/2 years) about the time that we spent living in Peoa, Utah. His eyebrows went up, and he said, "My wife grew up in Peoa. I think she may be older than you." When he told me her name I screamed with joy. This woman was 2 years older than I, and she was WONDERFUL. We sang together in Tapestry. We marched together in drill team. We did stuff together in YW. And when she was a senior and I was a sophomore we became good friends. That was when I moved to California, and I haven't seen her since. That was 25 years ago.

Today I learned that she and her husband, who adores her, have 6 children and live in Riverton. Their home is paid off, and they bought a small home in Randolph, which they hope to move to someday. She has a huge garden, a wonderful family of 3 boys and 3 girls, and a husband who thinks she is as wonderful as they come.

I adore Pam, and I'm so, so grateful to learn that she has had a happy life (her husband mentioned that her younger sister--my age in school--has had it more difficult). It brought tears of joy to my eyes as he showed me pictures of her and their beautiful family through the years. Their oldest is an RM; they have a daughter in college. The other two girls are teenagers. The boys are 8 (almost) and 4. They are beautiful, and I swear, Pam has not changed a bit. I smiled for so long my cheeks ached! Life is wonderful, and I hope that I will hear from her in the near future.

SWEET!

At the end of the day my friend Karleen yelled "Noooo!" from her office. She came out to my desk, her head hanging down and said, "I just got an email from Amy. She's gotten another opportunity, and she is not coming back." While I was sort of prepared for this (because what new mommy doesn't look for something that will allow her to be home with her family?), my heart is breaking. Except this is my sister-friend who I love deeply, so I am so happy for her to have this wonderful opportunity. Except I feel completely abandoned. Except it's better that I'm abandoned than her son, right? Yeah, right. Except my heart hurts.

I called Spencer to have my little cry at work. He said (rightly, I might add), "Well, Babe, you have gotten a friend for life out of this." I know. But it still makes me sad. Does that make me a bad person?

Rotten. All the way around.

Then I came home and got dinner started when Bri called from school. They needed their holsters for their class finals. And then Spencer said his teacher was wondering if, when I came, I could stay and have a massage (cuz they have an odd number in their classes). Oh, twist my arm!

So I got a wonderful Swedish massage for 50 minutes. From Rianna. For free. Gotta love it.

Sweet!

Take a deep breath. Tomorrow is coming.

This is Fantastic

I dare you to try to watch this without grinning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmDGntpZC3I

Best. Halloween. Ever

I do not like Halloween. Each year I resent having to buy stupid costumes (or at least accessories). I hate the creepy, scary teenagers who come trick or treating after I should be in bed. I hate the blood, guts, gore, and scariness. I hate the sugered-up kids (especially our own) who need no reason to inhale that much sugar in such a short amount of time. I seriously hate Halloween.

Now I am the activities committee chairman. Can you say "Simplify?"

We put orange plastic on the serving tables. We put purple plastic on the eating tables. We set out cups, bowls, spoons, knives, napkins, water, margarine, and salt and pepper. The young women set out a few scarecrows. People brought either chili or rolls. Not even any dessert, because really? Who needs more of something sweet on Halloween?

Then we played pop-the-balloon, crab walk, and fill-the-cup-with-candy-corn relays with the kids.

I wore Taylor's referee shirt and whistle, which was great for getting everyone's attention.

We threw everything away. Everyone took their dishes home. We put all the "stuff" back in the closet. We swept the gym floor thoroughly. We put tables and chairs back. We locked the church. We were home by 6:00.

Briana went to a friends' home. Taylor and Ashtyn went to a choir party. Landon and a friend went trick or treating. Spencer went to the temple.

I did not do makeup. I did not have to go out in the cold or snow (which we only have on my years to go trick-or-treating. This year, of course, warm and glorious). I answered the doorbell about 4 times. I didn't have to hide candy from our kids. At 8:00 I turned the lights out upstairs and went to the basement to read.

You can call me a humbug, and I won't even care. It was peaceful and lovely. And I didn't have to take anyone trick-or-treating for the first time in 18 years. It's a beautiful thing.