Here it is! My favorite post of the year, It was quite an adventure that's for sure!
January
Anybody out there eBay savvy? I've got some stuff I wanna sell. Old collector-y stuff that needs a wider audience than a local online yard sale
I miss listening to Christmas music. Now all I hear while I drive is the potentially expensive noises that my car makes.
I'm pretty sure that anxiety is the glue that holds me together. Get rid of my anxiety and what am I but a puddle of atoms?
I've been here for 18 seconds, it's dark and I can hardly see it but I LoVe IT! (Savannah, GA)
Thank you, DoubleTree for the free cookie. Sometimes a girl needs a free cookie.
Spent the afternoon at Tybee Island. It was windy, it was cold. But it was a beach. I'll take it any day! I watched the ships come in.
February
Friday's highlight was getting to play the 103 year old #steinway at the First African Baptist Church. I really did play it. By the time she started recording I was just dinking around. I thought she was taking a photo. Haha!
To honor the passing of Hollywood legend, Kirk Douglas, I'm watching 20,000 leagues Under the Sea. Thank you Disney+
I just realized I have not left my house since Sunday.
Hey all. My BFF is an author who is coming to the Boise Barnes & Noble to do a book signing on Feb 24-25. She would like to set up some school presentations while she's here. Do you know anyone at your schools who could make it happen? They are middle grade books, aimed at about 10-12 years old.
Sing with me! If you're single and OK with it, Clap your hands...
Got to church today just in time to watch everyone drive away...
Denver, prepare thyself. For 'tis but a month ere I cometh.
I've caulked two bathtubs and fixed a vacuum. I think I'm ready for my own home improvement show!
Stole the boys and ran away to Oregon... Because it's there! We ate lunch and discussed the world's best root beer, got free cupcakes, saw Sonic and ate ice cream. They accidentally made one blizzard too big, hence the angry look on big brother's face.
March
Okaaaay.... Maybe I won't be going to Denver next week.
PSA: Darby O'Gill and the little people is on Disney plus. BUT It is not the original audio. I guess American audiences couldn't understand the Irish brogue so they had to dub It.
Had a fun night with the kids so their parents could have an anniversary date. Our walk through the neighborhood was determined by heads or tails. We colored my poor blank driveway and had a hula hoop contest!
). The longer ago it was, the more fun the answers will be! It takes 5 minutes, so let’s have some fun!! 
April
And just like that I have a LOT more time on my hands.
All my friends... all faiths... even if you don't believe, let's join together as a global community for just one day.
I've wrapped up my James Marsden marathon. Now Pixar.
2000 piece puzzle. Average 4 pieces a day. 1 year 11 months to finish.
Its getting serious guys. I got so bored yesterday I almost signed up for a dating website
We had a fun afternoon in art class. We learned how to make puffy sidewalk chalk. @tjbaker08 and I mixed it up and the kids went crazy.
For #earthday we went out and cleaned up the trash in the neighborhood.
I repotted all my plants from my dad's funeral and my "Nonie tree" and I finally got my planter filled with some color! Taking bets now to see how soon they all die.
Tonight's fun: We made a restaurant for the kids! The hostess (me) asked for the reservation and showed them to their table. The server JaNeil, took orders. While they waited for chef Trav to prepare food, they got some live entertainment (which they did not enjoy 
) when they got the bill they had to pay up in hugs and kisses. The kitchen staff was happy when it was over.
May
Channeling my inner #mariekondo today and going through boxes from 20ish years ago. Found some awesome stuff... Cried as I threw some of it away. The pearl necklace was from my friend's wedding. The best friend necklaces...? Anyone have the other halves?
Today we had kindergarten graduation! And for the last day of school we partied it up with a movie night!
It's been a busy, fun, crazy week. I borrowed all the kids, piled them in the car and took them to grandma's for a week. We've played. We've picnicked. They took turns mowing grandma's lawn while the peanut gallery watched. Made home made corn dogs. And there have been some timeouts and some sweet cuddles. And that was only through Tuesday!
Our adventure today took us to #RossPark where the rock slides are the same as when I was a kid. I (yes, *I*) took the #niecephews on a "hike".
When a regular ol' card game causes you to say 4 letter words you don't normally say... You know it's past bedtime. Sorry, mom.
Holy wind, Pocatello! I about had a Mary Poppins moment chasing my mom's patio umbrella over the neighbor's fence!
June
There seems to be a Muppet shaped gap in my nephews' education. I must come to the rescue!
I spent 3 hours weeding along the back fence today. The weeds were as high as the big lily. I also found a few squatters. Some of them got to stay, some got evicted.
Tagged along on the little family's adventure to Jump Creek. My kind of hike- about 5 minutes of hike ending in natural falls.
The rule for auntie sleepovers is that we have to watch a movie the kid has never seen. Introduced the kid to the Court Jester and he loved it! Thank Heaven!! We also played Atari... That one he wasn't so impressed with.
I can't bring myself to delete my Marco Polo conversation with my dad. Sitting here listening to our pointless silliness... it sure is good to hear his voice. Happy Father's Day
Is it 3 a.m? Yes it is. Am I still up? Yes I am. See what covid has done to me !? I need to get back to work so I can be on a regular schedule!!
A few weeks ago I found MASH on Hulu and set a goal to watch all 11 seasons before going back to work next week. That goal has been met... But now I have another month off... What to binge this time...
Watching documentaries about cats... With cats. So this is what life has become...
If I ever had a nanny, I would want it to be Julie Andrews.
July
I've never been a fan of R&B and rap so I've avoided Hamilton despite the rave reviews and recommendations of friends. I didn't want to spend a million dollars to see a show I would hate... So Disney kindly televised it and I have only one word. Genius.
This hollyhock at my mom's house is out of control! To put it in perspective, I am 6 feet tall!
I can say I saw the comet. Not well... But I well enough.
I GET to go back to work!!!
August
Back to work observation... I have a Pavlovian response to goldfish crackers. I used to munch on them at work and did not eat a single goldfish during pandemic vacation. Now that I'm back to work I'm craving goldfish like crazy! #weirdthingsIprobablyshouldnttellpeople
Happy #internationalcatday to the two cutest, laziest, sweetest monsters I know.
It was an awesome day. My sister Valeri was a beautiful bride!! And very unpleasant surprise... I caught the bouquet. I really really really didn't mean to.
I keep my house so cool that my kitty takes her daily naps in the hot, stifling garage.
Very grateful to my family who helped me lay down weed barrier, soil and all those bricks. This backyard may turn into something yet. Also, I had one more very late bloomer. Such a happy little guy. And my miracle plant: A branch of my bleeding heart broke off and so to be funny I stuck it in the dirt and said "grow!" Four months later I went to throw the stick away and found it had sprouted!
September
Parts of the fam went camping for the weekend. Mom and I drove up for dinner and shenanigans. I can't believe I am Pocatello born and raised and I've never been up #scoutmountain
Wrapped up in two blankets and fuzzy socks... But I still refuse to turn the heat on before Oct 1!!
That feeling you get when all your laundry is clean... But then you realize you live alone and no one else is going to fold it and put it away
An impromptu Halloween party in the middle of September?? Sure, why not? We put together costumes for a reindeer on summer vacation, a boxing Mickey clown, and a unicorn princess. Followed by crafts, witch movies and caramel apples.
The best part of living alone is that I can go sleep in Spare Oom while the unfolded laundry sleeps in my bed. 
Seriously, if they don't have bagpipes in heaven, I don't want to go!
Work meeting this week- we had a Disney Trivia contest and I beat 50 people! 'Bout time all that useless knowledge paid off!
Well... I found my lost pair of jeans. #laundryday #AllMyWhitesAreNowMyLightBlues
When I hear a weird noise I often look at my cats. If they carry on like nothing has happened, I know all is well. But when they get up and investigate the noise, it makes me paranoid because that means the noise was real!
I am Idaho born and raised. I've lived in West Idaho for over a year... And somehow this is still my first visit to the #boisetemple
You know I love a good Hallmark movie... But sometimes it's ok to be ambitious and live in the big city. You don't always have to opt for the small town and your high school crush. There is nothing wrong with having goals to see the world.
October
Had lots of family fun at #linderfarms tonight. So much we didnt get pictures of everyone! Beautiful night! Thank you @do_work_realty for the fun times!
Is this a safe space? Can I admit that though this movie is nearly 30 (!!!) years old I've never seen it? Taking care of that now...
Nothing ruins a Friday faster than realizing it's only Tuesday.
Going to church for the first time in months!
I'm to the age where I can do my own home improvements, leave for a few days, and come home and be totally surprised! 
I knocked another Idaho temple off my list today. One more to go!
Feeling some anxiety tonight so I wanted to read something funny... *I * think I'm funny so I went to my blog to read some old posts and came across this instead. Still grateful for all these things.
Some movies you have to watch once just so you know to never watch it again.
Some days are just pie-for-breakfast kind of days. Happy Friday, y'all.
Someone turned #niftyfifty so we had a surprise sock hop! Happy birthday Kim! welcome to the 50s!
Two weeks of church in a row?! It's a Rona miracle! Also, teaching this kid to play #villainous was fun!
Voted today. No fanfare. No stickers. Just a ballot, a box and me.
November
I like being tall. I smile on the inside when some random stranger at the store asks me to get something down for them. #30daysofgratitude
I marvel at the miracle of the night sky. Our universe is incredible. I could look at stars forever.
There are so many songs I love. But this song from the Carousel of Progress is one of my all-time Disney faves! There's a great big, beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.
In college I designed a scratch ticket and it was distributed by the Idaho lottery. Still pretty proud of that.
I love the smell of a cooking roast beef. How comforting and nostalgic is that smell? It smells like coming home to mom's house after sitting through a long lesson at church. Mmmmm.....
This girl. This girl right here makes me smile. She gives the best hugs and kisses. She has the most infectious giggle and just exudes pure joy.
The moment I had my house keys in my hand. Best. Day. Ever!
I love that when I moved in I didn't have to paint or change a thing. My little house is perfect as is.
I am awfully grateful for this sweet girl. Only the lucky people get to have an angel in their family. True Christlike love and pure joy.
Today I am grateful for goldfish crackers. 2020 has been the year of goldfish. They keep me awake at work and make me popular with the littles. I'll take whatever edge I can get.
To those who served, thank you for your service . To those who stayed behind and worried, thank you for your sacrifice. 
I don't excel at many things... But I do make really good chocolate chip cookies.
I'm cheating and saying two. I love my silly, awesome brothers, Randy and Travis. I'm so grateful for them!
I look forward to winter solstice when daylight will start lasting longer. I hate it when it gets dark so early.
Housework is so much more enjoyable if you wear a tiara.
Not part of my gratitude calendar, but extra grateful for furry critters who woke me up this morning after I failed to set my alarms. Even More grateful that they somehow know the weekends from weekdays because they don't wake me up on weekends, but weekdays they're like, “Servant, you've slept long enough. Wake the heck up!“
I don't know if she realizes just how much I admire her- and though I can look her straight in the eyes, I quite look up to her. Jona, , how does being a hero feel?
I am grateful that I was taught tolerance. I don't care what race, religion/lack of religion, orientation or culture you claim, if you're nice, I like you. If you're not nice, buzz off.
I'm quite a fan of electricity. Sure candlelight has its charms, but I enjoy light. And AC. and my electric toothbrush. And ice machines. And...
Anxiety is the *best*!
-no one ever
I am grateful for fun, silly coworkers. Yesterday I showed up to a meeting wearing my tiara and instead of making me feel like a weirdo, a bunch of them put on their tiaras or mickey ears to join in. 
Shaking and shaking and shaking the pepper shaker wondering why no pepper is coming out... Only to realize it's the salt shaker... Which works very well, indeed. 
I am grateful for the gift of memories. I can keep happy moments alive even though they may be long past.
If you've ever met me, you know I love to celebrate everything! Christmas? Of course! St Patrick's day? Fer sher! National Unicorn Day? All over it! Sneak some zucchini onto your neighbor's porch night! Aww yeah!
Diving for watermelons with JaNeil makes me laugh till I die! Grateful for funny moments. #givethanks
Fold all the clean laundry or sleep in SpareOom? Yeah. Like that's even a debate. Grateful for clean clothes and machines that wash and dry them for me. #givethanks also grateful for a second bedroom.
After a few rough nights' sleep (as only a single, childless person can experience 
) today I'm grateful for naps. Naps are nice. I look forward to my next one.
Water is the elixir of life and honestly my all time favorite beverage. I luvs wadda
I am grateful for the book A Monster Like Me. Not only was it written by my BFF
I'm grateful for my mama. You know how awesome she is, so no need to elaborate.
I know I mentioned the other day that I am grateful for drinking water. But water in general is a miracle to me. I love to drink it, watch it, listen to it, sit in it, swim in it, float on top of it, stand under it, chew on it... I even like it when it falls from the sky (not such a fan of driving in it). It's beautiful yet deadly.
Thanksgiving with these weirdos. It was small. Maybe the first time ever we've all been at the same table for a holiday. But it was nice. 
Most of the time dads aren't involved in Christmas shopping for the kids- so the year my dad ventured out and bought me a Nook... Perfect gift. Made me cry.
Whenever one of my niecephews randomly quotes a Disney movie, it gives me hope for the next generation of Disnerds. 
Someone once told me my eyes were so beautiful they could get lost staring at them... It was an 80 year old woman ... But I guess ya gotta take compliments where ya can. 
On this last one... I am passionate about the proper usage of pronouns. It is NOT "Her and her friends went to the movies." It's "SHE and her friends..." It's not "my husband and I's first date..." it's "my husband'S and MY first date..." Also, sometimes it's OK to say "me" in a sentence. "Mom took Kim and me to the movie." The rule is, take the other person out of the sentence and if it doesn't make sense, change the pronoun. "Brad and I danced all night" see? That sounds better than "me danced all night", but so many people are afraid to use me that they always use I... Now go enjoy the rest of your day. Grateful for my education. #givethanks
December
The temple brings me peace. I can't wait till it opens fully once again.
It's 8:30. Do you know where your children are? After her unapproved walkabout, Elfie was starving and Nessa let her know how badly she was missed. Don't do it again! Naughty kitty!
My favorite scene from The Christ Child is when the Wisemen finally find him. The look of relief on his face after years of faith and searching, to finally behold the Christ. What an amazing day that will be.
I'm really tired. I should go to bed. But I can't find the remote to turn my TV off. I don't know how to do it manually. I've looked all over. And don't go giving me logical solutions like unplugging it.
I sat down to read my book, got all comfy and realized I didn't bring my book with me. Guess it's naptime instead. #lazygirlproblems
Sometimes the universe aligns and the Polar Express Hot Chocolate song comes on just as you sit down with your hot, frothy beverage.
Chapter 23Mondays are Mondays. There's no helping that. But when it starts out by stepping in a puddle 8 seconds after you put on warm socks? Sigh...
JaNeil and I tried our hand at candy making tonight. It was not without adult supervision though. Thank you for talking us through it, mom.
I don't have a star on my tree. I have an angel. And when I think of angels, I think of my Heather Lindsay Barlow. She is a peacemaker; far kinder than most people deserve and quite an example to me.
Most random fb request of the day: does anyone in Idaho have a marble slab I can borrow?
To those who have brought me Christmas treats, thank you! I promise they ARE going to waist! 
I miss going to the TabChoir Christmas concert. Last year was the first one I'd missed in like, 8 years. The one I missed is, of course when they sang my favorite-est Christmas song. #BirthdayOfAKing
Clocking out from work to begin the holiday week like:
Having our #christmasadam party a few days early. There was spaghetti, cookies, games, sillies and #thestarofbethlehem #auntielife #niecephews
I'm not very home improvement-y... But even I know this combination of screws is wrong to hang a door. No wonder my door was falling off its hinges! If you're gonna flip a house, take pride in your work and do it right!
