I started the Couch to 5k Running Program again. 

(I started but didn't finish it last year.)

(Shut up, you didn't finish it either!)

If you want to follow my progress (or learn about the program) click on the link in the sidebar. 

(Over there —>)

July 14 was my two year blogoversary. 

Last year for my first blogoversary I wrote a really boring post about my blogging history (yawn!).  That was WAY too much work, so this year I'm going to give you a few of my favorite blog tag lines, some favorite photos I've found on blogs, and some funny (at least to me) blog quotes.

Top 3 Favorite Blog Tag Lines…

1. Miss Zoot - "If You're Looking for Wisdom, Move Along" 
2. Cheeky Lotus - "Does This Blog Make My Butt Look Big?"
3. Dooce - "All About My Stupid, Boring Life"
4. Miss Zoot - "Pretend I Said Something Funny"

(Apparently I can't count to 3.)

Top 3 Favorite Blog Kid Pictures (These photos are worth the extra click!)

1. Mandagirl's "Rock Mustache" photo of her son Isaac.
2. Kickyboot's "Runneth Over" photo of her daughter Avelyn. (Be sure to check out the waistband of Avelyn's pants.)
3. Adventures in the 100 Acre Wood's "You Can Never Be Too Prepared… For Dinner?" photo of her son Nolan. (Don't you wonder what goes on at their house at dinner time?)

Top 3 Random Funny Blog Quotes

1. "Many of the surprises that come with motherhood smell bad and are hard to remove from your upholstery." - Daring Young Mom
2. (After finding a snake in the yard and asking husband to take care of it…) "Unless loud shrill screeching and hand wringing will lead to the demise of a snake, my presence will be of no use."   - Fiddledeedee
3. "Note from the first trimester: I can taste my teeth."   - Mighty Girl  (Ah, first trimester of pregnancy… good times, at least for those of us with morning sickness.)

Top 3 Favorite Photos of My Kids Taken in the Last Month (all were taken either by Rogene or his brother Riccoh).

1.

2.

3.

And last of all three funny photos from the Fail Blog.  (Worth the click, I promise!)

1. Air Conditioning Fail
2. Strawberry Milkshake Fail (Photo only, video is long and not very funny)
3. Christmas Fail  (Um, I'll pass on the presents this year Santa.  Thanks anyway.)

It has been a great two years.

JMom over at Lots of Scotts wrote a post today that really explains how I feel a lot of the time.  It is called "Barren" and here is a quote…

I rarely talk about my infertility because I am not a wallower. I don't advocate living in the past. I like to move on. I do, however, think it is necessary to periodically revisit the places where God has delivered you from, if for no other reason than to fully appreciate the gifts we have been given. God eventually answered my prayer for offspring–and He answered it abundantly. This family that exhausts me and pushes me to my limits is nothing short of a God-given miracle.

But what if He hadn't answered me the way I wanted? God does not answer every prayer specifically as requested like some sort of Divine short order cook. I must be careful to not equate His goodness with how large my bank account of blessings is (or isn't). He is who He is. He does what He does and He is the same God in times of plenty and in times of want.

If you've ever been infertile, known someone infertile or just are curious go read the post here.

Rogene:  I didn't sleep very well last night.  I was cold.  You stole the blankets again, and you lie diagonally across the bed. 

Me:  You snore.  Loud.

Rogene:  I wouldn't snore if you didn't steal the blankets.  I snore because I'm cold!

Someone call the AMA, we've discovered the cause of snoring!

I wanted the peanut butter that comes with the bottom of the glass jar still attached. 

(P.S.  Don't walk in the garage without shoes for a while!)

We were, um, too lazy busy to make cookies for the neighbors this year at Christmas time. 

Pioneer Woman inspired me to get off my behind and make her yummy cinnamon roll recipe as a New Year's gift for the neighbors instead.  (Check out her recipe!  It has step by step instructions with pictures.)

After making dough from scratch (!) we rolled it out, poured on melted butter, sugar and cinnamon…

then we rolled it up and cut it into cinnamon roll sized pieces.

Next we baked them…

and frosted them with awesome maple frosting.

Dear Neighbors,

Happy New Year!

I hope you enjoy the cinnamon rolls as much as Tessa enjoyed delivering them to you.  Also, please don't expect them every year because I will probably never again go to the work required to make dough from scratch. 

Have a great 2008!

Love,

Laughing Mommy

We celebrated our Christmas morning on December 23 since we were leaving for our surprise trip to Canada on December 24 and we didn't want to transport all our presents.  (Note to self:  next trip to Canada, save the gifts for the real Christmas morning.)

We had our traditional Christmas breakfast, put some nice music on and opened gifts.  The kids had a blast.

Favorite gifts…

Emma - Hug-n-Sniff CareBear, Baby bottles (that go with the doll she got)

Tessa - Hug-n-Sniff CareBear, Bella Dancerella High School Musical

Staci - New cell phone

Rogene - Watch with 2GB USB drive

Bella Dancerella High School Musical

Hug-n-Sniff CareBears

"Mama HALP!"

Thank you Auntie Shanell for sending me the Olivia book.  Emma says thank you for the "Bear Stays Up for Christmas" book.  (They are two of Mommy's new favorite Christmas books to read.)

Thank you Auntie Stacie for the Strawberry Shortcake DVD!  We've watched it several times already.

Photo not taken Christmas morning.  (Pajamas are the dress code for our gift opening… hahaha!)

You're still the one

that makes me laugh

Still the one

that's my better half

We're still having fun

And you're still the one

Broken screen!  THIRD time!  (Bad picture, sorry.)

Luckily, Rogene is very patient and understanding. 

Also, eBay sells replacement parts.

Dear Pink Razr,

Please don't slip out of my hand (or pocket) anymore.  Also, no more swimming in the toilet.  I grow weary of replacing your parts.

Sincerely,

Your Owner

I was inspired to start the Couch-to-5K program by Swistle (and a bunch of other great girls who read her blog).  If you want to check up on how things are going, click on "Couch-to-5K" under the "Pages" heading in my sidebar.  Leave me a comment if you are going to start running too… it is motivating to have running partners!