The Results are in

It looks like nobody listened to Riley's advice about Damien being the name of the anti-Christ, since it still tied for first place. I was thinking that once I saw people voting I would realize which name I liked (and vote for it 20 times so I could say that I listened to the people). But alas, I am still undecided and all of the names pretty much got the same amount of votes.

All We Need Is Love (but not hugs)

Is it ever good to have bronchitis? Well, I didn't think so until yesterday. I've been stricken with a pretty bad case of it and I have been miserably coughing my head off. I finally decided to drag myself into work yesterday (only to leave three hours later). But for a brief moment I was incredibly grateful for my obvious illness. Explanation to come soon.

I hate hugs, most people know this about me. Everyone likes to joke and put their arms out when I walk by and it is all sooooo funny, but I really don't like to hug people. Don't take offense, it isn't a personal thing, it is a personal-space thing. I like my space and I would rather not hug you most of the time. Of course there are exceptions. I hug my Grandmas every time I see them. I will hug you at your wedding, if I haven't seen you in a really long time, if you are dying, etc. I also hug my kids and my nieces and nephews all the time. Kid hugs are safe, adult hugs are not.

So I was leaving work yesterday and I ran into a former co-worker. We were never friends, never really talked that much. She saw me and said the words I dread to hear... "I need a hug." I only had a few seconds to think as she crossed the lobby to hug me. Then my hand involuntarily went up in front of me, blocking her. Crap, what do I say now? I just hug-blocked her and she is going to get her feelings hurt. Then I realized that I had a perfectly legitamite reason for not hugging her. "Oh, don't come near me, I'm so sick and I don't want to give it to you." It worked! She backed up and we parted with no hug. It was close. Thank you bronchitis.

So here is my question. Is it rude to refuse a hug? Just because someone else "needs a hug" should I comply because I feel socially obligated? Is there any nice way to say "No thanks, although you need a hug, I do not. But how about a nice high-five?"

**I think it goes without saying that I like to hug my husband, seeing as how I'm pregnant for the third time and all.

Hi! My Name is...What?

That's right people, it's an Eminem lyric. I can't fight the song titles, they just come to me.

But seriously, I am having the hardest time naming this kid I am going to have. With the other two we just decided and that was that. This one is tricky. Sylvia, remember how my nickname was Tricky in elementary school? I was thinking about that the other day and I can't remember why, do you? But I digress. The name thing=hard.

With a last name like Bruno, you have to be careful. It isn't as bad as Schaugaard, but still. Maybe we shouldn't fight the whole "I wear gold chains and slick my hair back and I will cut off your fingers if you cross me" thing. We could name him Vinnie or Tony and he would be set with a life in organized crime. We liked the name Max, but it still sounds a little too tough. Like his friends could say, "Hey, stop or I will get Max Bruno to beat you up."

So... help! I have narrowed it down to a few that Rand and I like, please vote or if you hate all of the options you can give me any suggestions. If you don't help he could be called Junior for the rest of his life. Nobody wants that.

And a Partridge in a Pear Tree

Sometimes my mind wanders to the small things that change when you have kids...so I was cleaning out my purse last night and thinking of the time when I had things in there I actually needed. Now I have fun things in there that just appear out of nowhere.

A small plastic horse: naturally.

A fake apple: I got really excited because I thought it was real. I guess the fact that it was the size of a gumball should have given it away.

Spiderman band aids: Don't lie, you would still rather have a band aid with a cartoon character on it than a plain one. I have seen your face light up when you asked me for a band aid and you got one with Barbie on it. You know who you are.

Chapstick: Not unusual, I know. Except that I have various brands of lip balm and each one either has a bite out of it or has been licked by a certain 2 year old boy. I guess they shouldn't make them bright colors with flavors like strawberry banana and vanilla. I am tempted sometimes too. Nobody is ever going to ask to borrow my Chapstick again are they?

Tootsie pops, M & M's and Smarties: Before I had kids I used to say I wouldn't give them candy to shut them up. I was funny.

A pocket calendar: It has drawings of people (most likely Sally) over most of the months.

10 gum wrappers and an empty pack of gum: I'm going to find that gum later.

A yellow ninja: Not a real ninja, just a really tiny one. This was my favorite. Everyone should have a yellow ninja on them at all times.

Maybe I don't miss the time when I had boring things in my purse. My purse is fun and if I get stuck waiting somewhere I have toys and candy. I'm set.

Another One Bites the Dust...

Another year is gone. My post titles continue to be song titles. So it goes.

I had 2 weeks off of work and a merciful boss who let me take enough time to get healthy again. I had a great time playing barbies and building train tracks and sleeping in and laying around in my pajamas all day. I had a long list of things to do over the Christmas break, but I didn't get to most of it. I should have written "Try to cover every square inch of floor in my house with toys, clothes, and garbage." That one I accomplished. Anyway, here are some highlights from the holidays.Maura's first dance recital. She was scared to get up in front of everyone until she found out she got to wear a tiara.
We got to go on the Polar Express. For a little boy obsessed with trains, it was a dream come true. He had more fun just staring at the trains while waiting to get on than he did actually being on it.This is how he spends hours a day at our house. He has named all of the trains and has different voices for each of them. A little scary.

We found a great home for our Sophie. A lady here in Lehi gave it to her son for Christmas and we hope she is happy. She even gave Maura a white stuffed bunny because she felt bad for taking her pet on Christmas. Maura did pretty good but Collin had a hard time. Right after she was gone we found him on the front room floor with his head in his hands and he said "Sophie is lost. I can't find her."


Santa came through with trains for Collin and a Unicorn for Maura. Maura also got a tattoo kit and nobody left Grandma and Grandpa Bruno's house without one, whether they wanted it or not. We encourage her dream of becoming a tattoo artist. I'm afraid that pretty soon airbrushing tattoos won't be enough and she will want to give everyone real ones.

The kids had a blast and were thoroughly spoiled by all of their Grandparents. Next year I will have three kids to spoil. Yikes.