Stupid Zhu Zhu Pets!

I'm sure everyone has heard about Zhu Zhu pets by now, the little hamsters that are supposed to be like real ones. Well, here is my rant. Yes, I can see how little ones would like them, but why all the hype? Why can't they make more? Are we really that out of ideas that this toy is the hottest toy of the year? Now, here is my story of woe.
In October, before I had ever heard about the stupid Zhu Zhu pets, my mother in law called and told me she was at Toys R US and was holding a hamster toy. She said all the other women there told her to buy it because it was so popular. She tried to explain it to me but I told her I had no idea what it was. In my mind I was thinking it was a Furby and I wondered why people would be excited about furbies? 2 weeks later she was at ShopKo and called again with two hamster toys in her cart. Once again, there were other grandmothers and employees telling her to buy them because they sell so fast. I told her, "I just don't know what they are, and I don't think my girls would play with them." So she put them back. 2 weeks after that my sister was telling me about the hottest toy of the year....the Zhu Zhu pets. I looked them up on UTube and thought Haylie Jo might actually like them. I figured I'd look and if I couldn't find any right now, I could get one for her birthday in March. We were at Wal-Mart when Haylie Jo told me, "Mom, I want a Zhu Zhu pet. I'm going to ask for one from Santa." Yikes! By now all the pets were sold out in stores and going for $50 online. I saw a few accessories but wanted the hamster first. My mom got a little overexcited and bought one for $45 on ebay! I heard yesterday they would have hamsters at ToysRus in the morning. I got up at 4:30, put on all my winter clothes, and waited in line for 1 hour 15 minutes in the wind and bitter cold for a stinking hamster, and they were sold out of accessories. I drove all over town and found that all the accessories were now gone too! WHY ME? I missed so many opportunities to buy those stupid pets and accessories when I had the chance.

I can't be good all of the time!

Those of you who know me, knows that I am a reformed, in-your-face, brat. When I was a angst-ridden teenager I had no trouble telling you how it was and setting you right. I was exactly as I said, an in-your-face, brat! I'm not proud of this, in fact, I get embarrassed when I remember those times and how immature I was. Now, I'm reformed. I tip-toe around everyone in hopes that I will never offend anyone. I have realized that I want everyone to love me instantly, and I get really uncomfortable when I feel like I've said something wrong. As a result of this new found attitude, I feel much better about myself and my relationships with others. I pride myself on being able to talk to anyone and form a friendship. I smile at people in the halls at school, I strike up a conversation with the next customer in line at the grocery store, I find something good in everyone. However, there are still a few times that I wish I had a little of that spunk I had as a teen. I'm afraid of the spunk, tell it as it is, person I was and have gone the opposite way. Every once in a while I wish I didn't hold my tongue and let that spunky old me take over.
Well, it happened tonight. My two nephews had wrestling meets tonight (they are 7 and 4). I have found that the only time that spunk comes back is at sporting events. There have been many times when I couldn't hold my tongue at Josh's soccer games. I just get so riled up and can't seem to picture the other team as being friendly, I always think of them as "the others". Wrestling is even worse. There is so much pressure on 1 person. If you lose, your team doesn't lose, you do! This makes it ultra-competitive. Well, tonight my nephew was wrestling and long story short, the mom of the other wrestler was saying negative things about my family. After the meet I told her in a calm manner, "That is my family you're talking about and I'd appreciate it if you could stop talking about them like that." She of course had a rebuttal and from there the spunky me came out something fierce. We traded words for a few minutes and went on our way. I was slightly proud of defending my family's honor but felt like I let the immaturity slip back into me. I only allow myself to watch my nephews wrestle a few times a year because it just brings out the worst in me. I guess that the spunk isn't gone for good. I can keep it in check most of the time. But mess with my family....and the fierce mama bear comes out! I just can't be good all of the time!

You know it's time to finish college when...

10 - Your window seals have 5 years of dust on them
9 - You plan your life in semesters
8 - You don't believe anything the professors say anymore
7 - Instead of doing laundry, you go out and buy new underwear (only once)
6 - Financial Aid won't give you anymore money....you've maxed out
5 - You dream of taking a final in a class you've never attended and need to pass to graduate
4 - You think of getting a wheelie back pack
3 - Your kids pray for you to be able to finish your homework
2 - You can't have a normal conversation without bringing something up you learned in class the other day
1 - When you see the new freshman on campus you feel that slight pang letting you know you're way too old and too mature to still be there. But that feeling passes soon and all you want to do is yell "Suckas! I'm done. Peace Out!"

Halloween with the Grandparents

Grandma and Grandpa Berry with the girls.


Haylie Jo with her stash


Jozlyn got lots of candy too!


The girls at Grandma Gay Lyn's. I'm not sure why Jordyn is holding a candle :)

Trunk or Treating

The last few years we have gone to my sister's ward for trunk or treat. Our neighborhood doesn't really do trick or treat, they all go where the good candy is...in Stonebrook! Anyway, it's a lot of fun. The cousins get to hang out and so do the guys. Josh and Roudy got a little too cozy last night. First they handed out candy together at trunk or treat, then they went to get a soda after dropping the rest of us off to go trick or treating. The highlight of the night was the two of them, in the minivan, with the music turned way up, dancing to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus (Roudy's favorite song). The kids had fun too! My sister, Mindy, is a die-hard trick or treater. She makes the kids go until they either can't hold their bag anymore or they have blisters on their feet. Growing up we only got to go to a few houses, so I guess she's making up for all that lost candy. Jozlyn, my little girly-girl, would tell everyone who gave her candy, "Thank you, Happy Halloween!" Oh, and in case you can't tell...Jozlyn was a mermaid (a generic one, NOT the little mermaid), and Haylie Jo was Alice in Wonderland. Here's some good pics of the night.

The kids, Trason was a storm trooper, Haylie Jo was Alice in Wonderland, Jozlyn was a mermaid, Jordyn was a midnight fairy, and Jaxon was Darth Vader. They lined themselves up like that. I couldn't help thinking, "More bars in more places."


Josh and Roudy rocking the trunk or treat


The girls passing out candy at trunk or treat. They ran the whole way and finished way too early. They thought they were big.

School Halloween Costume Parade

This is how I feel after Halloween too!