If you have pent up anger...

Go ahead and sock the left side of my mouth as hard as you can. It's totally numb. Top, bottom, tongue, cheek, jaw, and everything in between.

Now that you've released your anger, can we discuss the ridiculousness of dental insurance? Why did I pay 1200 bucks for dental insurance for the last year only to have to pay 370 more to get the work done that I needed? Seriously. Aggravating. Grrr.

And while I'm complaining, my tongue is going to hurt bad when the numbness wears off and I feel the bruise I've caused by accidentally biting it repeatedly.

And I would just like to ask that dentists everywhere pay more attention to their patients' lips. Only half of mine were numb and she kept pushing on my lips or pulling them too hard over my teeth. It hurt. Bad. Dental work has got to be bad for the skin. I shouldn't rub my eyes because that will encourage wrinkles. What about stretching my mouth wide enough for like 3 hands to get in there? Won't that cause a few wrinkles too?

The ironic part of this is that I usually anticipate a horrible experience, but this time I tried going in with a good attitude. Lot of good that did me, 5 cavities later. Hmpf.


I hate dentists.


I hate cavities.


I'm hungry...

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

Floss people! To avoid unwanted wrinkles, bruises, and bills floss daily.

The Mother of all Posts! -or- Still feelin bloggy!

I've hit 100! Me and this bloggy blog have had 100 little conversations with you! In honor of this milestone, I give you

My hundredth post extravaganza!

(this is either going to come off as very narcissistic, or kinda fun and yes it does require some participation...would you expect anything less from me? Please participate! I'm needin some comment lurve!)

First up, vote for your fav post from the last 100 posts. Here are the nominees (nominated by me, of course. Titles below are links and write ins allowed in the comments to this post):

Jesus' little Sunbeams

I did it!

The puffy blue coat

St. Paddy's Day Limericks

Letter to Elbow Grease

(Another option, leave title in comment section)

Vote to the left! (I warned you this would be narcisstic. Just humor me, okay people?)

And now here are some blog stats:

• Number of Posts: 100
• Number of labels/tags: 25


• Label/tag with most posts: Happenings


• Number of posts with ellipses in the title: 25 (love ellipses...don't know how to use em)


• Number of posts with exclamation points in the title: 24 (love exclamation points, know how to use em!)


• Number of posts with question mark in the title: 8


• Number of posts without a picture: 43


• Number of posts ending in a question to the reader: 22 (obviously I care deeply for your thoughts and opinions)


• Number of children ignored while Mom spends valuable time thinking/writing/creating blog posts: 2 (at least... maybe 3 if I included the hubster)

And lastly, to bring on some more rhetoric Carrie style, and to rid my brain of its severe writer's block, any topics you'd like to see in a post here at L.I.C (Stands for Lost in Colorado. Who's a clever girl, eh?)? Any ideas for post one hundred and one?

Don't forget to vote...

Thanks for humoring me.

Today's a 2-fer!

Easter pics. I know we're all gonna get bored of seeing each other's kids dying eggs, hunting for eggs, and dressing up, but I can't help myself! (don't forget to check out the links I posted earlier today...they are gems!)

Happy Easter!

To uplift...

Need a boost today? Some words far more beautiful than anything I could write (click lines for links):

On Easter and perfect endings.

Might be about adoption in the beginning, but read it's entirety and you'll find some nuggets of amazing wisdom. I promise.

Letter to you, me, and young moms everywhere.

Don't ask how I came across the last two. I don't even remember. The first is from Pursuits of Happiness, link to the right. I shed a few little tears with each and wanted to lift my dear, sweet friends, if they needed it. Discuss your thoughts, if you wish!

And a little post script...

I love you all. I can't tell you how much I feel loved by your comments from my last post. You are amazing strong and faithful women who inspire me! My husband is also very much in love with you, as well, since you all agreed with him. Only 2 more weeks till the casts come off. I feel like we're on the home stretch! My last word on the subject- I bet if you were here, you'd be able to tell that we're fine. Feeling a bit like I've found strength and patience beyond my own these last 4 weeks. Grateful for prayers on our behalf. We were talking about ancestors and extended family in YWs yesterday and it reminded me that I come from a long line of tough women who have done hard things. In the words of Sister Parkin,

"Life is hard, but you can do hard things."

and one of my faves

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do,

not that the nature of the thing has changed,

but our capacity to do has increased."

Compassionate Service

apparently now includes pedicures. One of my sweetest of sweet Mia Maids and her mom bought me one and babysat so I could do something nice for my feet. Meals, babysitting, driving Tyler or Lainey to school/work, now pedicures and get this- the YW Pres. told me she would come iron Tyler's shirts when I told her I was sick of doing it. I told you before, people have been offering to do the strangest things for me. I've gotta quit complaining out loud! I'm running out of ways to say 'Thank you, but not necessary.' I feel loved by many and that is a great feeling.

It has also sparked some controversy at our house. Controversy not about the love, but the service. I've been thanking people for offering meals and such, but have declined all but 3 meals (which actually sounds like quite a lot of meals...so maybe this whole post isn't necessary.) We got 1 the day we went to the dr. and weren't home till after 6 or something like that, right Heather? One the next day when I was kinda a basket case while they built the ramp in the garage, and one from a good friend who literally would not take no for an answer. Tyler's dad was here for almost 2 weeks and we really didn't need any more help for that amount of time. And this week has been Spring Break so we've had less on the calendar than usual. But now that we're on our own and our schedule is set to resume next week, getting dinner on the table requires more organization and planning than usual since I am Tyler's chauffeur to, from, and during work hours as well as a mostly single mom to our kiddos. But really, its all stuff I can handle.

Tyler's not so sure.

But I think I AM handling it.

Tyler thinks we should let friends bring in meals.

I still say no.

Tyler says I'm prideful.

I say I won't take help unless I need it and I'm just not there yet.

Tyler says they're all offering to do ANYTHING to help and I should just let them help.

I say I've been called to take a meal and/or babysit, know what it's like, and don't want to be a burden to my friends. (not that I always consider making meals or babysitting a burden, but no one can deny that these things can sometimes be a bit stressful)

Tyler says maybe I wouldn't be so stressed out if I just accepted help.

I say maybe so, but my stress is all in my head. Since I obviously have time to write a blog post my life can't be that out of control.

Tyler says if that is the case then why did I spend half of church hiding in a bathroom stall (the one by the baptismal font that has the bench to sit on) crying. (before you feel bad that I was crying, quickly continue)

I say if you were PMSing and feeling the spirit with minimal sleep the night before because you chose to stay up late and read instead of go to bed at a decent time, then you might be a little closer to tears than usual too. (Did you see those 3 letters up there- PMS, isn't that reason alone enough to justify a little 'letting it all out' session? Mine just happened to occur at an inconvenient place and time. I'm actually embarrassed about the whole thing... I was majorly overreacting)

Tyler says I need to be more humble.

I say he needs to be more self-reliant and not accept handouts just because he can.

And now, what do you say?

And what would you do? Just in case what you say is different than what you'd do. Pretty sure it would be for me if this was happening to someone else.

St. Paddy's Limericks

Love a limerick. Here are a few Miller style.

There once was a guy with broken feet.
And as such was getting some heat
From a wife so tired
She didn't care if she was fired
An odd pair if you ever did meet.

There once was a girl with a bob
Who really knew how to sob.
She cried loads and loads
Till her tears turned to toads.
Curiousity brought a mob.

There was a boy near two

Who didn't know to use the loo.

His diapers would sag

Like a big garbage bag

And they stunk to the heavens, too!

We have a love for blarney.
We'd fit right in in Killarney.
We'd drink in a pub
And bath in a tub
And have an uncle called Arnie.

Luck o' the Irish to ye!

Happy St. Pat's Day!

Whip out your own limerick in my lovely comment section, please!

Rachel Ray better watch out!

Because when she's like 50, Lainey is totally stealing her lime light. Not only is Lainey cuter than Rachel Ray, she also has some serious baking skills. Today, the next Rachel Ray and I made some delish cinnamon rolls. Here's the recipe and some of Lainey's tips for happy baking(in yellow) and since we don't like books without pictures, there are some to go with this recipe, too!

(Yes, Megan this is your fabulous recipe. So good we gotta share it with the world!)

Step 1: Read your recipe carefully.
Ingredients:

Rolls--
1 1/4 oz package active dry yeast
1 cup warm milk (105-110 degrees)
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup margrine melted
4 cups all purpose flour

Filling--
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine softened


Icing--
8 tablespoons (1 stick) margarine softened
1 1/2 cups powered sugar
1/4 cup (2 oz) cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 salt

Step 2: Dissolve yeast in the warm milk in a large mixing bowl. Don't be afraid of the loud mixer!
Step 3: Add the sugar, margarine, salt, eggs, and flour, and mix well. Don't forget to stop and pose with some flour on your nose for Mom's blog, too!Step 4: Knead the dough into a large ball, using your hands dusted lightly with flour. Put in bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled.

Step 5: Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough flat until it is approximately 21 inches long and 16 inches wide. It should be about 1/4 inch thick. Let Mom measure, because if you're like me, you don't know how to use a ruler.
Step 6: Preheat oven to 400 degrees.


Step 7: For the filling, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Spread the softened margarine evenly over the surface of the dough, and then sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar evenly over the surface.

And don't underestimate the power of the tongue sticking outage. Helps your yeast rise and your brown sugar spread.
Step 8: Working carefully from the top (a 21-inch side), roll the dough into a roll.

Step 9: Cut the rolled dough into 1 3/4-inch slices and place 6 at a time evenly spaced in a lightly greased baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes or until light brown on top.

Step 10: While the rolls bake, combine the icing ingredients. Beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy. When the rolls come out of the oven, coat each generously with icing.

ENJOY!!

As if life wasn't already kickin my tooshie...

Hoo is keepin me up at night? Someone related to this guy:

Which is how you scare away these guys:

But apparently our owl isn't very frightening, because my house pecking friend pecks away bright and early. Not a pleasant wake up call. Tyler swears this is not where woodpeckers live, I say tell that to the guy/thing pounding on my house every morning.

And it wakes up my kids.

Help!

Tomorrow...

is the big day.

Who will be next to be 'auf'ed?

Can Jillian survive the stress?

Will Christian impress the judges once again?

Can Rami pull the win from his heiny?

My predictons: Yes, No, No. Obviously I'm Jillian's #1 fan. She pretty much rocks. A lot.

No idea what I'm talking about? Click here. Too bad I'm gonna have to stay up till midnight to watch it... On the off chance I don't make it till midnight, don't tell me who wins!

See you on the Runway!

GO JILLIAN!