And Again....

My cute pirates on Halloween.

Dear Daylight Savings Time,
You are evil.  My kids do not understand and decided to wake up at 5:30.  I have a suggestion.  Don't come back around in April.
Tired mommy

Dear Pottermore,
Step it up please.  The only thing I can do right now is make potions.  I want to duel!  I want to explore Chamber of Secrets!  I want new stuff!
Harry Potter obsessor

Dear Coast Guard.
We have a love/hate relationship right now.  I love that Brett gets to come home almost every night now that he's qualified.  It makes a HUGE difference and we really love having him home so much more.  I hate that you feel like it's not necessary to inform us about whether or not we will be moving yet.  Literally we would want to leave in about 5 weeks.  And we don't know if we're going yet.  Please tell us soon.
Frazzled

Dear Giada de Laurentiis,
You know how men have man crushes?  Well, I've realized that you are my woman crush.  I hope that doesn't make you feel awkward.
Kitchen wench

Dear Brett,
You were the first person that I told about my woman crush.  I hope you know that means that it doesn't change the nature of our relationship and that I still love you as much as ever.  Besides, I've known about your man crush for a long time, and it doesn't bother me.  Russell Crowe is a good actor.  Even if he might not be that nice in real life.
Your wife

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful

Dear Weather,
Thank you so much for finally deciding to be like fall!  With 95% of the trees being evergreens and the mild ocean front climate, I was starting to worry that we might not get a fall Thanksgiving.  Not to mention a cold Christmas!  So rain, clouds and 45 degrees, thank you for finally showing up.
Cold Weather Girl

Dear Coast Guard,
You have been very good to us, so I feel like I shouldn't complain.  But at the same time, why do you feel it necessary to take my husband away for entire weekends?  It's really not very fun.  Especially when I have to teach Sunday School and have no one to hold my baby.
Frustrated Substitute

Dear Noah,
I love you, but you're driving me crazy.  Can you please learn to sleep sometime soon?  I would be much obliged.
Tired Mommy

Dear Thanksgiving,
I'm excited to have you at my house this year!  Although it will be much smaller than usual, I am grateful for Brett's sister Jamie who will be coming to spend the holiday with us.  I'm also grateful for the opportunity to cook a whole meal (minus the turkey, that's Brett's specialty) this year.  Wish me luck!
Thankful Eater

Dear Self,
I'm proud of you!  You have finally discovered the secret to keeping the house clean on a regular basis!  Why did it take 25 years, a husband and 2 kids to figure it out?  At least you have.  Now if only I could figure out what the secret actually is so I could share it with everyone else...
Clean Freak (sort of...)

Tinkle, Tinkle Little Star

Dear New Computer,
Thank you for coming and adding ease to my life.  You don't shut down for no reason.  Your screen doesn't go black for no reason.  Your screen is huge and pretty.  I'm glad you're here.
Girl That's Not Technologically Frustrated Now

Dear Kennedy,
This weekend, you are going to hit your last baby milsetone and will truly be a little girl.  That's right: 3-day potty training starting Friday morning!
Ready to Not Change Two Sets of Diapers Mommy

Dear Weather,
THANK YOU for cooling back down.  We have no A/C, and as such, I really had a hard time with our apartment being in the 80s for 3 days straight.  I love that it is 55 degrees in July.
Cool Weather Lover

Dear Coast Guard,
Thank you for allowing us to eat dinner with Brett every night.  It really helps to be able to see him every day.
Lonely Wife

Dear Pre-Preggo Clothes,
I'm so happy to see you again!  Now that I'm back to my pre-Noah weight I have the real work ahead of me: getting back down to my pre-Kennedy weight!
Glad to Not Be Pregnant

"Sir! Step Away From the Pump!"

Dear Brett,

I am so thrilled that you are coming home tomorrow! I am so ready to have you home with me and not leave for so long again. I miss you like crazy. I'm so glad that we had a week with you before you had to leave again, but a week with you is not enough. I love you so much and can't wait to give you a huge hug tomorrow night!

Your favorite wife

Dear Body,

Please heal. You have too many things wrong with you right now and I really need you to work well for me for the next few weeks. I'll try to take it easy, but I don't know how much of an opportunity I will have for that.

Girl on too many meds

Dear Noah,

Please get on a sleeping schedule. Fast. I know, I know, you're only 3 weeks old, but could you help your mommy out?

Tired mommy

Dear Kennedy,

I can't believe that you're going to be 2 years old on Saturday! I don't remember you ever being as small as Noah is now, although I have pictures that tell me otherwise. You are such a big girl now!

The one who gave birth to you

Dear Oregon,

I can't wait to come and meet you! I waited 8 months to find out that you were the place for us, and now I've been waiting more than a month to move. I'm so excited it's finally here! One thing though, why is it illegal to pump your own gas in Oregon? Lame.

Girl who is more than ready to move

3 Calls, 2 Kitty Battles and 1 Smart Cookie

Dear Brett,

We have been incredibly lucky and blessed with how much you have been able to call! 3 times already and you've only been gone 2.5 weeks. I was happy with the information that you were able to give me today. No one else in your company has been able to call home at all! And even though the last 2 calls were to get me set up on insurance, you did something special to deserve the privilege of calling home the first time. I can't wait for you to tell me what it was that you did in your letter that I will get next week! I'm so proud of you!

Your Loving Wife

Dear Texas Army Bases,

Why must everything be so difficult with you? The first office that is close to me doesn't have any ID cards and gave me 2 numbers for the base in Fort Worth an hour away. It took me 3 hours to get a hold of anyone at all, and when I did, the first appointment available was 2 weeks away! I can't wait that long, so I've been calling the other office with no luck and will probably have to be there at 7:30 tomorrow morning and hope that I don't have to wait 4 hours to get my ID card. Ugh.

Frustrated Military Dependent

Dear Oreo Cakesters,

Why must you be so delicious? I'm trying really hard not to think of you constantly - because if I do I will inevitably eat more. I'm trying really hard. It's not working very well.

Hungry Pregnant Lady

Dear Kennedy,

I cannot believe that you counted to 10 all by yourself yesterday and only skipped the number 5! I don't know when it's normal for kids to be able to count by themselves, but you've been counting up a storm the past 2 days and I am thoroughly impressed.

Proud Mommy

Dear Lost,

You are much too confusing. I still love you though and will be watching next week in hopes of getting more answers. I'm sure they won't come.

Avid Lost Watcher

Dear Kitties,

Stop having kitty battles under my bed in the middle of the night! It sounds horrible and it scares me awake. Please just get used to each other already! Seriously, Lucy's been here for 3 weeks. Deal with it.

Girl Who Wants to Sleep

Last Days in Utah

Dear Noah,

As of tomorrow we are 3/4 of the way done with you being in my tummy. This pregnancy, all in all, has gone much faster than Kennedy's did, but I'm still just about ready for you to be out. I'm not even all that worried about having 2 kids. Sometimes it hits me and I freak out, but I still think it will be nice when you are here.

Your Mommy

Dear Utah,

You have been a very good home for the last 5 years. I graduated from college, met Brett, got married, and had a baby here. I have enjoyed many things about my time here, but we are ready for the adventure ahead. Thanks for being a good home.

Moving Girl

Dear Blog Readers,

Please comment! I know that more people read my posts than actually comment, and I have to say, I think that it will be a big support for me while Brett is gone if I get a lot of comments. I need all the moral support I can get, and blog readers count for that!

Blogger

Dear Kennedy,

Thanks for being a little bit better lately. It has really been a big help and a stress reliever to have you be happier. And thank you for not waking up coughing last night. I think it helped us all to have a better day so far.

Pregnant Mommy

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you all so much for your offers of help for moving. From making us dinners to moving boxes and couches to watching Kennedy. I'm sorry that we can't take you all up on your offers, but we appreciate your show of love nonetheless. We will miss you!

Girl Who is Sad to Leave Friends

No Pictures for Another Few Days

Dear Camera,

Oh how I miss you. We will be buying a better one on Thursday, but that's still not until Thursday and we have to wait for it to get here. Sad. You can bet I will be taking lots of pictures as soon as it arrives!

Picture lady

Dear Kennedy,

Thank you SO much for sleeping until 8:00 this morning! After 4 days of waking up right at 7:00 and then refusing to take a nap it was very welcome. Now, please please please take a nap today. That would make mommy a very happy camper.

Thankful mom

Dear Snow,

You are so pretty! I was wondering when you would get here and now there is plenty to go around. You do make it kind of hard to drive and get around, but I guess we'll deal with that.

Winter lover

Dear Tummy,

Stop being hungry! I am desperately trying to not get as heavy as I did with Kennedy, and you are thwarting all of my efforts. I think I'm still doing alright, but I am starting to get worried.

Lady who can't lose baby weight

Dear Jo,

Thank you so much for buying our piano! We've been trying to sell it for ages to no avail until you came along. We are happy to keep it for another few weeks while you figure out how to move it, but we are just as happy that it is sold. We'll be happier when we receive our money, but for now, I am content. Now we just have to start selling off some other things and make this apartment empty.

Glad not to have to move the piano

Dear Noah,

Thank you for kicking so much and letting me know that you're there. I would, however, appreciate it if you would not always kick me so hard that it hurts. Thanks.

Your mommy

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Dear Holidays,

I love this season! I love fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Yes, I am one of those people who start listening to Christmas music the day after Halloween, and I love it! It puts me in such a good mood. I'm having a great fall and looking forward to the rest of it!

Girl with Holiday Spirit

Dear Goatman Flats,

Thank you for not killing me. I was impressed by how good you were as a haunted house, considering that you were done by a family. I was not pleased with the chainsaw guy, but at least I saw him coming at the group before us, so I got out of his way more quickly. Brett said we went through too fast, but I think it was just right.

Haunted House Amateur

Dear Holiday Baking,

You have officially begun! After getting 4 winning cookie recipes from last year, I am continuing my hunt for traditional Christmas cookies. At Brett's request I will be trying Chocolate Caramel Thumbprints today. I'll let everyone know how they turn out!

Avid Baker

Dear Baby,

I wish you would move a little bit more. Kennedy was more active at this point (I think) and it's driving me nuts that I can't feel you that much! Get big and strong and kick mommy!

Worrier

Dear Stonecrest,

Thank you for finally fixing all of the holes in our walls! I am so glad to have the bathroom cabinets back, and it's nice not to have the light from the bathroom disturb Kennedy's sleep. I hope we never have to deal with leaks like that again!

Glad I'm Not A Homeowner

A BA in Humanities with a Minor in English

Dear New Baby,

I can't wait to be able to feel you move in a few weeks!  Thankfully I'll be able to hear your heartbeat again on Monday, which always makes us mommies feel better.

Your mommy

Dear Weather,

Thank you so much for finally wanting to be fall!  We have to endure 4 more days of 80 degrees, and then it will finally start cooling off, and this time I think for good!  The trees are turning colors on the mountains, and I am so ready to be done with heat.  Plus, I get to buy Kennedy a whole new wardrobe.

Cool weather lover

Dear Self,

Remember that when you roast the chicken tonight, you can't put it directly on the potatoes, because the skin will be gross.  And also, please double check to make sure that you put the chicken in right side up so you don't have an embarrassing incident like last time.

Hostess with the mostess

Dear BYU,

Thank you for FINALLY deciding that I am officially graduated and sending me my diploma.  Yay!  I actually have a degree!

College grad

Dear Kennedy,

I am so happy that your cough has finally decided to go away.  It was so sad to hear you coughing so much for so long.  Thanks for being so patient through it all.

Concerned mommy

Fresh Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dear Camera,

I really wish you wouldn't keep randomly switching settings on me.  The pictures of Kennedy with the chocolatey face all came out blurry.  I was so sad!

Unsavvy camera user

Dear Government,

Please hurry up and give us that waiver!  I really don't think that a baby in the womb should count as a dependent, but whatever.  Just give us a date soon, we are sick of waiting!

Impatient wife

Dear Kennedy,

I really hope that my attempts to switch you over to one nap a day will take.  You have been refusing that second nap, so please take one long nap.  I will love you anyway, but it will make my life easier.

Your mommy

Dear Baby in My Tummy,

Why do you feel it necessary that mom has to sleep so much?  Kennedy wasn't that picky.

Preggo

Dear Timpanogos Hospital,

If I never see you again, it will be too soon.  I have had 4 blood tests and a shot in a little over a week.  I don't want to be poked again any time soon.

Shot hater

I Can Still Barely Move

Dear Kennedy,

I'm so sorry that all of us adults have apparently horrible depth perception and your little finger got caught in the door.  I'm glad it didn't hurt too much, and I promise to be more wary next time you look like you won't make it to the door in time.

Sad Mommy

Dear July 19,

You are the most birthday-ridden date that I know.  4 people that I know have that birthday, which is truly crazy.

Baffled Girl

Dear Maple Canyon,

Thank you for being a cool place for me to go rock climbing outside for the first time.  You were not scary, except for that last route that was a bit higher than I'm used to going and pretty sheer on the top.  All in all, although my muscles have been painful and dead since I left, you were very fun.

Still an Amateur Rock Climber

Dear Blog Readers,

I am giving away another cookbook!  This time it is a copy of Main Dishes from Williams-Sonoma's New Healthy Kitchen line.  A very creative way to make your dinners healthy with lots of great recipes!  Once again, the winner will be randomly selected from the comments on this post.  So comment and hopefully you'll win!  Winner will be chosen at 9 am (mountain time) Wednesday!  Good luck!

Budding Chef

Anxiety and Grilled Pineapple

Dear UVU Nursing Department,

What is taking so long?!  We are dying here waiting for the letter that will decide our fate for the next year.  Please please pretty please send us that letter now!!!

Anxious wife

Dear Kennedy,

Please sleep.  I hate when  you decide you aren't going to sleep during nap time.  It's very frustrating to listen to you cry in there, but I really need you to just sleep.  Please.

Your mommy

Dear Rain,

I have really enjoyed you the past few days.  I do miss actual thunder, but you have brought nice cool weather Provo way.  It has been nice to have cloudy skies and not burn up every time I step out the door.  Especially since I don't have any capris.

Cloud lover

Dear Tucanos,

Yes, we will be visiting you again tonight.  I don't know why Platinum Protection loves you so much that they decide to have almost all of their work functions there.  But I will pig out as always, and Brett will swear he's never going to an all-you-can-eat place ever again when we get home.  Hopefully, we will get that letter today and this will be a celebratory dinner.

Salad bar girl

Dear UP!,

I want to see you so badly!  I am dying for the chance to go.  I think that opportunity will come next week when Brett and I have a date.  I have heard good things and I am so excited!

Disney obsessor

Dear Dan Brown,

Why did you decide to come out with a new book when I have no money to buy it?  I will probably have to get on a ridiculously long waiting list at the library just to read you.  Boo.  At least I check for Catching Fire every few days.  I will NOT be the 100th person on that list!

Library frequenter

Dear Blog Readers,

I have started a new cooking blog!  Instead of posting pictures and recipes here, I will do it on that blog.  I hope that you will check it out!  www.savingtaste.blogspot.com.  I hope you enjoy it!

Chef in the kitchen

Weaning is Death

Dear apartment,

You are much cleaner as of late, and this makes me happy.  Of course, this has nothing to do with you, but rather with me getting my nesting syndrome about a year too late.  It doesn't really matter, as long as it's happening.

Cleaner

Dear sippy cup,

Why can't you be more enticing to Kennedy?  I know she's had a bottle for a long time, but it can't stay forever.  I am determined to get her to drink from you, or even a regular cup, but it's very hard.  How do people do this?  Thank goodness she doesn't take a pacifier.

Distressed mommy

Dear Goodreads,

Thank you so much for introducing me to so many new books that I have loved.  Thank you for motivating me to read so much more than I have the past few years too!  We're only a third of the way through 2009 and I've already read more books than my average for the past few years.

Avid reader

Dear Seattle,

We were sorry to leave you.  We loved you and you are gorgeous.  With any luck, we will be back there for a long time someday, and hopefully with a few friends.

Future planner

Dear Mom and Christine,

Kennedy and I are excited to come and see you in a couple of weeks!  We're going to have a lot of fun and hopefully see some fun animals at the zoo.

Ashley

Dear UVU,

I am so happy that you offered Brett a teacher that he liked and was able to get a good grade in his math class.  Now please, when he applies for the nursing program in a couple weeks, let him in!  This would make everyone very happy, including you, because he will be the best nurse practitioner the world has ever seen.

Supportive wife

School's Out for the Summer, School's Out Forever

Dear School,

While you can be fun, for the moment, I hate you.  My only solace is that after Friday I will never have to deal with you again.  I will probably be breaking out into some Alice Cooper.

Looking forward to Friday,

Tired reader

Dear TV,

Thank you for being there when I need 30 minutes to myself.  I don't feel like reading anymore.  See above.

Re-run watcher

Dear President Obama,

Although I should be interested in your prime time press conference tonight, I really just wish that I could watch American Idol.  So although I will probably tune in to watch and hear what you have to say, whether or not I like it, just know that this would have been better timed on Thursday.

Concerned citizen

Dear Restaurants,

Watch out.  I don't know which one of you I will be hitting on Friday evening when I am officially done with school, but beware.  My meal will be big, fattening, and will include appetizers and desserts.  There will be leftovers for days.

Hungry graduate

Dear Seattle and Noelle's Parents,

I will finally be able to set a date to come and visit now that school is going to be done!!  I am not allowed to set concrete dates until the finals are finished, but rest assured, that will be happening over the huge dinner I will be eating on Friday evening.  I am sooo looking forward to coming!

Desperately wanting to visit Pike Place

Dear Waddoups,

I'm excited you're home!  Thank you for the delicious Sprinkles cupcake mix.  I am very excited to make it.

Your friend

We're Going On A Trip in Our Favorite Rocket Ship

Dear Hair,

Why do you never look as good when I try to style you?  I wish I could have a personal stylist everyday.  Oh well.

Frustrated blow dryer

Dear Sleep,

Why did you feel the need to elude me last night between 2:45 and 6:15?  Especially when you knew that Kennedy would be waking up early.  At least she slept until 8:15.

Tired girl

Dear 101.9 The End,

Thank you for having cool giveaways and for picking people who don't know their movies to play!  I am so excited for our massages and the concert on Friday because we knew the clip was from Gone With the Wind!  Everyone else said Casablanca.  They need help.

Ardent listener

Dear Baby and Little Einstein,

You are my saviors.  Thank you for keeping Kennedy entertained for short periods of time.  Most other shows don't keep her attention very well.  You're awesome.

Happy mom

Dear Library,

Thank you for having an option to put books on hold so I can read them without buying them.  I would rather buy them, but that is not a priority right now.  So even if it takes a while, thanks for letting me have the prospect of reading The Hunger Games.

Reader

Dear Disneyland,

I can't wait to come and visit you next month!  And I can't wait to bring Kennedy so you can meet her.  I just know that she's going to LOVE the Dumbo ride.  She loves being thrown around and having wind in her face, so I'm looking forward to taking pictures!

Disney lover

Getting Ready to Have My Butt Kicked

Dear Rock Climbing Wall,

I am ready to come tackle you again this afternoon!  Although I am a little bit nervous because I don't have an excuse to do the practice walls again, but how can I get better if I don't challenge myself?  I am looking forward to you kicking my butt.

New Climber

Dear Jamie,

Thank you so much for offering to babysit tonight!  I am thrilled to be able to go out to a movie with Brett.

Appreciative sister-in-law

Dear Kennedy,

I cannot believe how big you're getting!  Already starting to cruise around the house at not quite 9 months old is crazy.

Your mommy

Dear Cookbooks,

You are so yummy.  I appreciate the ideas and wonderful new things that you let me try.  I am so excited that I have so many new and awesome cookbooks to flip through and cook with!

Chef in the kitchen

Dear Shower,

Oh how I love you when you are warm and the house is quiet.  That is all.

Water mama

Dear Platinum Protection,

Thank you so much for giving Brett a Gap gift card for a Christmas bonus.  I love my new non-prego jeans.  I feel better about myself and no longer have a donut shaped bulge in my middle from all the extra fabric.

Thankful wife

Lovely Weather for a Sleigh Ride Together with You

Dear Snow,

Why are you so uncooperative?  I wanted you to stick on the ground so that I could take some mega cute pictures of Kennedy.  Please stick next time.

Cold Weather Lover

Dear Kennedy,

I am so proud of you!  Sitting up, crawling (albeit slowly), and eating pieces of banana make you such a big girl.  I love you!

Your Mom

Dear Jazz,

I wish that you didn't always feel like you had to have close games and give my husband a heart attack.  Can you please try to really win next time?

Wife of a Jazz Fan

Dear Christmas,

I am so excited for you to come!  Kennedy is already trying to open the presents under our Christmas bush, so you need to come more quickly, or there won't be any left.

Me

Dear Oven,

You treat me well even though I use you way too much.  Thank you for your patience with my baking endeavors during the Christmas season.

Avid Baker

Dear Blog Readers,

As per the post above, I am a baking maniac.  Please help me choose which cookies to make next by voting in my poll!  Thanks!

Ashley

Complete and Total Plagiarism of Ideas

My friend Noelle keeps up a fantastic blog that I look at everyday to see if there are updates.  She is so creative with her posts, and they are always interesting.  She sometimes does posts in which she writes letters to random people and things, and I am totally stealing her creativeness and doing this myself today.  So thank you to Noelle for her creative spark...I have stolen ideas from you before, and I'm sure I will do so again.

Dear Kennedy,

Please get better.  It breaks my heart to see you sick and sneezing, and to be honest, sucking snot out of your nose is not on my favorites list.  I wish so much that I could explain to you that sleep helps you get better.

Your Mommy

Dear American Visions book,

How I wish that I didn't have to open you yet again to write a paper on Edward Hopper.  At least you have pretty pictures.

A Disgruntled, Ungraduated Student

Dear Lucy,

When are you going to understand that in order for me to throw your foil ball you have to bring it all the way back?  Half way is not going to cut it.  Even if you say please.

Lazy Girl

Dear chocolate cheesecake,

You were so yummy, but now you are gone.  I really don't want to wash that pan.

Chef in the Kitchen

Dear Costco,

I am so excited to go shopping today!  There are some items that we desperately need, and once we buy them from you, it will feel like we will never run out again.  Hallelujah.

Bulk Buyer

Dear Thanksgiving,

I wish you would come sooner.  I want to eat yummy food, make a pumpkin pie, and have people who want to play with Kennedy all the time around.  I want to meet Wyatt and see my family.  Come fast!

Impatient Eater