Brain Overload

I'm not sure the exact number of bones and bone markings in the human skull. But I do know it is more than 59, since I don't have to memorize them all for my first anatomy lab test. Phew. Thank goodness they cut back (can you hear the heavy sarcasm?).

But that's not all folks. I haven't even counted the other bones and bone markings in the body. Take for example the scapula - 15 markings. The humerus? 14 markings. Pelvis? 22. Hand? 28. Foot? 27. There are also 82 muscles I have to memorize and the actions they perform. And yet, that is still not all. Anatomic terminology. Histology. The integument. And all their respective components.

I figure there are well over 300 things to know. Do you know what the worst part is? The test is only 60 question! I have to memorize 300 things and I am only tested on 1/5 of them.

So, in case you are wondering where the external acoustic meatus of the temporal bone is, or the intercondylar fossa of the femur, you better ask me soon. Because once I take this test, I'm letting all this information leave my short term memory - hopefully I retain some of it!

I have 10 days to get it all down. 10 DAYS!! Why am I blogging? I needed a little sympathy, that's why. Okay, enough complaining, gotta get back to work.

Things I Love

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, here are 25 things (not people) that I love -
in no specific order:

1. Hot, hot, melt the skin off your back showers.
2. Pizza - seriously, I could eat it at least twice a week, every week.
3. Baking bread.
4. Having a clean home - I can't truly relax if my house is a mess.
   
5. ALL four seasons - call me crazy, but it makes me so happy right now to look out my window and see the snow falling.
6. Fruit - except cantaloupe. Peaches and oranges are tied for 1st.
7. A girls' night out.
8. Movies that make me cry.
9. Pottery - even though I don't get to do it nowadays. There is nothing more relaxing and therapeutic. Someday I will have my own wheel...someday.
10. Holding one of my babies while they sleep.
11. Planning a party.
12. My electric blanket - while I do love all four seasons, I don't like being cold.
13. Pedicures.
14. THE mountains - meaning my Utah mountains, the ones I have looked at almost every day for almost 30 years.
15. A clean car - it was ALWAYS clean before I had kids.
16. Sleep.
17. Family vacations
18. Laughing until it hurts.
19. Chillin' around a campfire, roasting a mellow.
20. Candy - I once went for 3 1/2 years without any...what was I thinking?!
21. Reading a good book.
22. Plays.
23. Fresh flowers - but not on Valentine's Day; too much $$$.
24. Sunsets - there is nothing better.
25. Handmade gifts - both the ones I have given away and the ones I have recieved. Priceless.

Happy ♥ Day everyone! Spread a little love, give someone a hug, or simply enjoy a few of the things that you love most.

Weird.

So, after I posted that I was going private, I got an email from Brian Smiley - but not my husband. He said he was from Dallas and he came across my blog while searching for his sister-in-law's blog, who apparently also has a son named Trent. He said that he had added me to his goggle reader and wanted to be added to my private list.

Um, I don't think so.

Now, maybe he is a nice guy. And then again, you just never know. His real name might not even be Brian Smiley. Who can you really trust in this world? His email pretty much confirmed my desire to go private. I just want family and friends that I know personally to be viewing the details of my life and family. The idea that someone who I don't know has been reading all about my family, just because of a few similarities in names, well that just makes me a little uncomfortable. Like I said, it may all be innocent and he may be a nice guy, but I just don't think I can be too safe when it comes to my kids and the internet.

Poll: Am I overreacting? Would you have added "Brian Smiley" to your private list?

I know that private blogs are just not as convenient as those open to the public, so thank you for your patience and support.

I hope you continue to read Smiley headlines :)

Last Chance!

Okay, I am going private for real this time. I don't know why I even attempted to go private so close to Christmas - what was I thinking? As if I didn't have enough on my plate during the holidays. And then for some strange reason, I felt the need to get all caught up on my blog before going private.?. Well folks, now the time has finally come.

If you have already sent me your email address, no need to do so again. But, if you haven't yet requested an invite, and you still want to read the happenings of the Smiley's, you'd better let me know. I will be going private in ONE WEEK! Seriously. I'm not kidding.

*Comment moderation has been enabled :)

The Dark Side of Higher Education

There are only two things about going to school that I hate. First, it costs way too much $$$!! Second, it takes me away from my family. When I have class during the day, Ashlyn gets to go to preschool, and Trent gets a play date with Maya (Thanks Mindy!). When I have class at night, Brian gets to play "Mr. Mom". On one such night, Brian was busily trying to juggle all the needs and wants of the two kids. He was in the middle of fixing dinner, and could hear Trent in the next room crying and repeatedly saying, "Mommmyyyyy!" Brian did his best to console him from afar.

Brian: Bud, Mommy's at school.
Trent: Mommmyyyyy!
Brian: It's okay Trent.
Trent: Mommmyyyyy!

After several minutes of trying but getting nowhere, Brian poked his head around the corner and found this:

Now if that doesn't pull at your heart strings, then you might want to check your pulse.

ABC & 123

Ashlyn started preschool earlier this month. I really wasn't planning on her starting so early - she is still two! But, Mindy called me one day last fall and said that a lady in her neighborhood was starting up a preschool. She has an early childhood development degree and had done a preschool before. It is just two days a week for two hours each day, so we decided to give it a go. Plus, it works out so that Ashlyn goes to preschool while I go to school - BONUS! Needless to say, I am so glad I put her in, because she LOVES it!! She looks forward to it each week, and she loves to tell me what they did each day when I pick her up. It is so fun to see how much she is learning, but it is also hard to believe she is so grown-up!

Madi and Ashlyn on the first day! I was a little worried about them being in a class together (Ashlyn + Madi = trouble!), but they have done really well together - at least that is what the teacher says :)

On the first day of school, each child was given a blank paper doll to take home and decorate to look like themself. As you can see, Ashlyn was more interested in decorating herself than the doll - what a clown! I guess she has a couple years to learn to take her homework seriously ;)

A Well Balanced Meal

A carrot in one hand and a sucker in the other. I am such a good mom ;0)