Category: fun stuff

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are you crazy too?

I would usually post this sort of thing on our adoption blog, but thought it more fittingly placed here. Adam and I had a four hour psychological evaluation last week. Colombians place psychologists and their adoption evaluations in high importance. As part of our evaluation, we took the MMPI II personality test per Colombia’s request. This is a long true/false 567 question test. The main purpose of this test is to detect which, if any, personal, social, or behavioral problems an individual who is troubled may posess.

Here are a few of our favorites (remember they are t/f statements):

1. I have felt posessed by evil spirits at times.

2.  At times I feel like swearing.

3. Parts of my body often have feelings like burning, tingling, crawling, or like “going to sleep”.

4. I’ve never vomitted blood or coughed up blood.

5. Once a week or oftener I suddenly feel hot all over, for no reason.

6. Someone has been trying to influence my mind.

7. At one or more times in my life, I felt that someone was making me do things by hypnotizing me.

We will get our personal results back at our follow-up consult. The psychologist said not to expect much out of it though (which is supposed to be good). That shows how well he knows us, right? Oh yeah, he also said that we both appear to have strong egos! Maybe he does know us better than we thought. :)

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a week with spencer

Adam and I have been babysitting Brooklynn and Spencer this past week. Their mommy and daddy are due back on Friday. *choirs of angels singing joyously* We’ve really only had Spencer most of the time because Brooke went with Daddy Taber to Arizona for four days. Anyway, here are a few pics for Jaimee and Brian’s sake.  

spencer talking on my phone to mommy and daddy in Tahiti…he loves to hear their voices.

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spencer loves his uncle adam, especially during bath time…

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spencer, aunt rach, and uncle adam on a monday bike ride…it was beautiful and spencer LOVED it. Oh yeah, we did get attacked by a nasty white dog. I talked to Animal Control…I hate that dog.

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spencer and uncle adam “driving” the truck…

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All in all, it’s been a great week. I think these can count for at least four more tiny moments on your blog, Jaimee. Brooklynn doesn’t like pictures and she hasn’t been around. I promise, she’s not locked up in the cold storage room. Hmmm, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea. :) Cheers!

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two weeks and counting

I can’t believe Scrapfest 2008 is only two weeks away. We’ve been talking about doing one for so long. My sisters and a few friends are coming to Logan for an all day Saturday ScrapFest. The Hirschi family is so kind to open their home (once again) so I can celebrate my 32nd birthday doing what I love…scrapping, gabbing, and munching on peanut m&m’s. I have so many girlfriends who are either too pregnant or too new at mommying to make it. I didn’t want to burden them. But I wish they could come.

A special thanks to Jaime (Rob), Lindsey, and Jessica for spending the money and time off work to fly in. A double special thanks to Seth for watching he and Lindsey’s boys so she could come. Yes Seth, it’s still a baby free Saturday! :) And a triple special thanks to Brian who will have to put up with constant woman speak, if he dares to stick around. Maybe he’ll opt to stay at Bear Lake that day. (haha)

All I wanted for my birthday was this (and maybe a massage). I’m already daydreaming about every little detail.

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snowy paradise

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Welcome to our snowy paradise. Check out the icecicles, aren’t they awesome. Church was cancelled today because of the amount of snow that had fallen overnight. Even more than that was the fact that people couldn’t get out of driveways and/or up the hill into our community. The snow has even started to accumulate against our bedroom window. It’s so beautiful. Of course, Adam had to go check on his tent–it’s still holding (see pic below).  He also drove the atv around helping people who needed it. My dear husband said he’s going to sleep in the tent again to compare it to his last experience. Supposedly, it’s warmer now because the snow is insulating it. Whatever. :) Love you, honey! One of my favorite things about the snow here in Logan is seeing the deer tramp through it. They come down to forage and play in our backyards and fields. Amazing!!! Adam and I say, bring on the snow. Oh yeah, I finally scrapped two new layouts. It’s been about a month and I finally feel up to it. I am loving using all my new product. Thanks mom and Adam. I love my Christmas presents.

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Thanks, Jaimee Marie

TEN YEARS AGO…

i was 21 and a junior at BYU gearing up to turn my mission papers in. That was an excellent semester. My family came down to send my brother off on his mission, my roommates and neighbors were to die for, and I thoroughly enjoyed my campus job referring intramural waterpolo and basketball. My dear friend, Jessica, was also at BYU (a freshman in the dorms at the time), which made things even better. We would exercise, tromp to the cadaver lab in the dark snowy hours of the morning, and eat lunch at the WILK.  It was a great semester!!!

FIVE THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST TODAY…

1. Go To Church–well at least think about it…we’re snowed in and church is cancelled

2. Scrapbook–yeah, that still hasn’t happened, and I meant to start yesterday. I must get three layouts done by bedtime.

3. Play Cards–so far I’m kickin` some royal bootie…but there’s still two rounds left. Jaimee and Adam better watch their backs.

4. Update The Blog–check!!!

5. Update Training and Food Log–I’m doing awesome…only 11 more weeks till SLC, baby.

THINGS I ENJOY…

bubble baths, scrapbooking, kissing hubby, blogging, temple dates, massages, yoga, lunch with girlfriends, three layers of butter on my popcorn at the movies…don’t forget the salt, more scrapbooking, more blogging, dreaming of my Colombian babies, talking to my girlfriends, weekend escapes, snow, swimming, moose tracks ice cream, long walks when the stars are out, checking off my lists, more kissing hubby, facials, memorial day weekend, crossing off days on my calendar, friendships that matter, eating out, women’s conference, africa, traveling in general, peanut m&m’s, diet coke…………

THREE BAD HABITS…

1. Never finishing the last of anything i.e. milk jug, ice cream carton, soda can…drives Adam crazy

2. Checking my email twenty times a day to see if there’s any more “adoption” news

3. “Pouting” when I don’t get a back scratch at night

FIVE PLACES I’VE LIVED…

1. Yakima, Washington

2. Provo, Utah

3. Taichung, Taiwan

4. Las Vegas, Nevada

5. Logan, Utah

FIVE JOBS I’VE HAD:

1. intramural official (volleyball, basketball, waterpolo)

2. youth activities coordinator (upward bound, washington)

3. teacher (taiwan, washington, nevada)

4. online rater (holistic scoring for  the praxis, cahsee, and toeic exams)

5. house wife (best job ever!!!)

FIVE THINGS PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME…

Well, I just did this sort of a few months ago so I’m not sure I have much left in me:

1. My first major in college was Dietetics

2. I taught myself to play piano on my grandma’s organ at the age of seven (mom enrolled me in lessons soon after and bought me a piano)

3. I knew the first moment Adam smiled and spoke to me that I could (and would) marry him

4. I LOVE sugar-free kool-aid. I could drink it all day, every day

5. I am currently reading “Eat, Pray, Love” “Forever Lily” and “Handbook to International Adoption”

FIVE PEOPLE I AM TAGGING…

Jaime, Jena, Jessica, Jill, and Valerie!

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adam’s backyard campout

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Adam had his own little campout last week. Just him, his tent, and the backyard. He tried to get me to snuggle with him, but I said, “no way.” Why would I want to trek into the house through the snow to use the bathroom during the night when I could have the king size bed all to myself. So Adam loaded up his arms with flashlight, sleeping bag, and coat. He had a great time. It gave him the chance to try out our new tent–well it’s actually a year old, but had never been set up–and to test out the warmth of his sleeping bag.

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Spencer wanted to get in on the camping action, but alas, he’s a bit too little yet. Adam is sooooooo excited to bring our children home from Colombia. He can’t wait to have little ones to pal around with. He can barely contain his excitement for next year when he’ll have boys to take on campouts and hikes.

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Elk Park

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On Saturday, we went to the Hardware Ranch, a wildlife management area created in 1945 by the state of Utah. Each winter, hundreds of elk gather in the valley to be fed for the winter. In the ’40s, the elk caused too many problems by foraging in people’s yards throughout Cache Valley, so the state created this place to keep them out of trouble.

During the winter, they have sleigh rides through the herd. Our guide told us that the elk are bullies; if deer try to come get the hay, they are summarily forced out! On the way up there, I even saw a moose! (They get kicked out by the elk too.) I never knew there were moose in Utah.

Brooklynn brought her friend and next-door neighbor Braden. He is one of the cutest and most photogenic kids around. Lots of snowballs thrown! All in all, a great Saturday.

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“Rachel, you know…”

I have visited three different doctors over the past six weeks for various baby/adoption reasons and they have all told me the same thing, “Rachel, you know, it would probably be a good thing if you lost some weight. It might help with….(take your pick)” And what am I thinking–**Actually, No, I didn’t know. I thought it was just bloating. Could you tell me again how FAT I’ve become? Could you tell me one more time how my fertility, current health, and future mortality all hinge on this one factor. That would really help my body image and self-esteem (wink, nod). * *

Okay, seriously, here’s the skinny (ha ha). The doctors are right, duh! Hello, I can’t even look at the scale when they weigh me. As far as I know, I’m in good health (except for that whole baby thing)…great blood pressure, blood sugar, and pulse. But I want to keep it that way. If this had been a previous miscarriage, I would’ve fallen back into the ooey gooey chocolatey goodness of ice cream and not come out for a long long long time. But I can’t blame the sadness of the miscarriages anymore. It’s not fair to me, my husband, or my future children.

I did lose a little weight before this last miscarriage. Now it’s time to get back on wagon. So, what to do? What to do? Hmm, I know, I’ll train for the SLC Marathon.

Okay, I’m only doing the 1/2 marathon and I’ll probably walk half of it. But that’s alright with me. It is the perfect goal for me right now. It’s how I kept fit before. And it’s the perfect thing to occupy me as I wait for adoption stuff to happen. THANKS JENA for the idea. She is coming up for it in April. Jena was my workout buddy before Adona and before we moved. I miss going to swim and do yoga with my best bud. She has a friend she is training with in Las Vegas. My hoped for training buddy (who shall remain nameless) informed me that HE doesn’t want to do it *Boo, Hiss*. That leaves me to myself. I can do it. I know I can. I think I’ll post a weekly mileage log here so my dear friends who read this can encourage me. Please encourage me. I NEED IT.

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And they call this vacation?

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Upon arriving in Yakima, I was immediately put to work. After painting the Lee’s laundry room and bathroom, I had a new job – putting up lights. Since I love the lights, I guess it’s a good gig.
Jim (Rach’s dad) had already put a lot of lights out, but this is a year for celebration, so we needed more. By the time we were done, several more trips were made to WalMart, Target, Kmart, and Home Depot – all in search of the “right” lights to complete our holiday festivities. All of it adds up to a beautiful Griswold family Christmas!

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A few frozen fingers and toes later, we had all the bushes covered in lights. New for this year are the lighted candy canes adorning the second story railing and the front tree – but you’ll just have to wait for those pics!

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Soon after this, we were headed to Stevenson, WA for fun with Dan and Jessica. In addition to my first trip to Portland, we returned to the newly named “Davenport Falls” to get some pictures I didn’t get last time due to ummm… technical difficulties — apparently you need these memory card thingies in these new digital cameras — who knew?!

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Who said that?

Over the past several years, I have collected quotes that I have heard — some that are popular or come from famous people, while some are from friends or people speaking in church meetings I have attended. I just finished putting some of them into a database. On the right side of the page, under the pictures, one will be shown. You can see all of the quotes here, or click on the “Quotes” tab at the top of each page.