Mom's Horse Humor

Mom and I were talking about her horse just now, and she came up with a joke instantaneously.  Our conversation went like this:

Mom: She just needed to put her big girl panties on and stop licking the ground.
Me: You just wanted to say the word 'panties'.
Mom: You know what they call them for horses?
Me: No.
Mom: Nickers.

Hahahaha!  Mom just came up with that on her own, and since I am on my computer, it is being immortalized on my blog.  Nice!

This Is Really Happening . . .

I can't believe it, it is FINALLY here - my graduation application!!!

I have been thinking about filling this sucker out for 10 years.  And the time has come.  I get chills thinking about it!  Wahooooooooooo!

When I'm Worried, and I Can't Sleep . . .

Today was one of those Bing-Crosby-White-Christmas-Count-Your-Blessings days.  I have just been dealing with some *slightly* stressful things, and I'm in survival mode.  I'm looking for good things in my life, and I came up with several:

1.  A home
2.  A wonderful family
3.  A job that doesn't kill me with stress
4.  The chance to be in school
5.  A postcard from Chiang Mai, Thailand (thanks, Kit!)
6.  Good friends
7.  The Gospel
8.  A shelf with food on it
9.  A friend visiting from out of town
10.  My health

There are so many more, but I think that covers the basics.  Now these are in no particular order, so don't think I value a postcard more than I do the Gospel. :)

What are you thankful for?

Celebrate Dat Dragon

Dearest Dragon,

Yup.  Happy birthday, Cole!

And Curt added . . .

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy birthday to the best father out there!  Dad, I hope you got my card, it gave me a little laugh when I picked it up.  I'm sure you will be consuming copious amounts of lemon meringue pie and having a delectable dinner with the fam.  Just know that I will be thinking of you, and being a *little* jealous that I'm not there.

I love you, Popsdiddy.

Curt vs. Dart Gun

Got this little gem from Sarah today.  Curt is such a good uncle!

An *Early* Graduation Gift!

So . . . Mom got me a horse.

Yup.  You read that right.  Mom.  Got.  Me.  A.  Horse!

I got a text earlier today, and Mom told me that through a couple of different circumstances, she had gotten Hokey from Tim, the man who owns the barn where she keeps Abby.  Just after that first text, I got another one that said, "And actually, I was asking him thinking about YOU.  You just got a horse, sweetie.  Happy graduation!"

I met Hokey earlier this summer when I was out in Indiana visiting Mom and Dad.

I guess Mom really wants me to move out to Indiana when I'm done.  And boy, does she KNOW her audience!  Hokey was one of the horses the family rode when we went out to the barn at Christmas.  He is a big, docile sweetie, and Mom calls him a 'lap dog'.  If you are at a gate, Hokey is right there, wanting to be pet and loved.  The picture above is when I accidentally put him to sleep because I was rubbing his neck.

Hokey will stay at the barn with Abby, and Mom is going to take care of him.  If I do move out to Indiana when I graduate, at least I won't be bored!

Joe's, Parade of Homes, & Troping With Jess, Andrew, and Vanessa!

So, Vanessa was in town to shoot a wedding, and Jessie and I got to steal her for all of Friday!  Jessie had some great ideas for what to do, and first on the list was a visit to Joe's Cafe.  That place is quickly becoming legendary in Orem, and a tradition for any member or friend of the Isenbarger family.  Vanessa's omelet was as big as her head.  I'm not kidding!  She couldn't finish it, so I took it home, and my roommate made two meals.  Out of the leftovers!

After breakfast we had a little break, and then headed out to the Utah Valley Parade of Homes.  It was my first time going, and I was just flabbergasted!  We only went to about 6 houses, but each of them were just amazing to go through.  We came to a consensus that the big things this year are sliding doors on tracks, slides going from one floor to the next, and teal accents.  This is the living room of Jessie's favorite house.  It was just beautiful!  Oh, and the house had a 'locker room' where the kids could change into their swimming suits before going out to the pool.  It had a shower, a towel and suit drying machine, and a bathroom.  It was crazy!

Here is a link to some photos of one of the fantastic homes!

http://hiyapapaya.com/blog/archives/3388

This was actually my favorite house:

 It was just so classic, and really nice.  My only complaint was that I felt the hallways were going here, there, and everywhere!  It was a little confusing.  But, it had a prep kitchen, a slide from the top floor to the basement, and lots of gorgeous woodwork.

http://hometrendsutah.blogspot.com/2012/07/utah-valley-parade-of-homes-2012-great.html

My favorite 'extra'?  DEFINITELY this:

Yup.  That is a floor completely made out of pennies.  No, really!

Coolest thing ever!

Well, there is something else that comes in a really close second . . . in the first house we went to, they had a door in their pantry that connected to their garage.  So when you come home with groceries, you open the door, shove the bags of groceries in, and then go inside to the pantry to organize.  Isn't that fabulous?!

The Parade of Homes took all afternoon, but we had time to grab a quick dinner, and then Jessie and Andrew took us down to Mona to do some troping.  I sat out, but Vanessa and Jessie both went off the ropes.  They did so well!  I would have been really nervous, but Vanessa got right up there and mastered that trope!

We also saw some kids who were fishing for crawdads.  They tied a bit of hot dog on a string, then let it drop to the bottom of the pond.  The crawdads would just grab on to the bait and not let go.  It was so neat!  There was a little kid (probably around 4) who was there with his sisters, and he was just having a blast telling us what to do and how to get the crawdads.  He was the cutest!  We also found a little next of sleeping field mice, and the little guy decided that they all should be called 'Pepper' because they were all gray.  Each and every one of them was named 'Pepper'.

What a fantastic day!  Definitely worth skipping out on work . . . :)

Strawberry Days!

Have you ever heard of Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days?  It just happens to be the best darn rodeo in Utah!

Andrew, Jessie, Amy, Chris, Marietta, Marshall, Colette, and I all met up at the PG fairgrounds for an evening of food and fun.  Have you ever seen Mutton Busting?  How about Wild Cow Milking or the Cash Cow?  Yeah, it's a lot of fun.

Mutton Busting is an event where kids get a chance to ride a sheep.  Yup.  It's bull riding for the young 'uns. The kids are outfitted with helmets and chest pads, plopped on the back of a sheep, and they try to stay on while the sheep runs around.  It is hilarious.  Sometimes, you even get a sheep that will jump or buck, and the poor kid usually just falls off.  Jessie informed Andrew that their children will have to do it, and I have to admit, that would be something I would like to see.

This kid is amazing!

Wild Cow Milking is when teams of three men have to chase a wild cow around the arena until they corner it, milk her, and run that cup of milk to the judges.  The first team with a full cup wins.  If you look closely at the middle picture on the right, you will see a cow laying down.  She didn't want to be milked, so she just lay down on the ground and wouldn't budge.  It reminded me of Sarah's strategy when Kyle tries to pick her up - she just falls to the ground.  I love it!

The Cash Cow is when kids chase around a cow (or more) that has had money stuck all over its body.  This year, because so many kids have wanted to participate, they had two live cows, and then a poor teenager dressed up as the Chick-Fil-A cow.  Well, the kids figured out pretty quickly that it would be easier to get the money off of the Chick-Fil-A cow, so they swarmed him!  He went down in the middle of a pack of kids, and stayed there until a cowboy ran to the rescue and picked him up and dusted him off.  I felt so badly for the person in the costume!

But the absolute BEST thing about Strawberry Days is the strawberries and cream.  For $1.50, you get a large cup of strawberries just swimming in fresh cream.  I look forward to it each year, and it NEVER disappoints!

Until next year, Strawberry Days!

Cup Runneth O'er

Do you ever have those times when you are just overwhelmed by the kindness of others?  I had one of those experiences the other day.  I was absolutely overwhelmed by how wonderful my parents are.  Even to the point that I got a little light-headed!

Mom and Dad, I just don't think there are words to express how wonderful you are, and how much you have supported and helped me along my way.  I love you so much!

"Look, Ma! Some Back Blogs!"

I back blogged some in April.  I swear to you, my life is pretty boring, but there were some exciting things going on for others.  Check them out!

Memorial Day "Camping"

Yeah, I use that term LOOSELY!

Lindz and Cameron have wanted to camp this summer, and Memorial Day seemed the best time to do it.  Only we didn't book a camp site in time, and it rained a lot in the mountains (even snow!).  Most people would axe the trip.

NOT US!

Cameron's mother invited us to camp in her backyard.  So we packed up some stuff and did a little yard camping!  Cameron dug a fire pit in his mother's freshly tilled garden, and built a roaring fire.  We grilled our dinner on Cameron's Grill Master (for the record, so much better than burnt campfire food!), roasted starbursts, made s'mores, and talked and laughed for hours.  The guys made us breakfast bagels on the grill in the morning, and they were delicious!  I don't mind roughing it in the mountains, but there are some serious advantages to backyard camping:

1.  Not many bugs
2.  No bears or moose running through the campsite
3.  No trails to hike, or explore, or more typically, get lost on
4.  Not having to haul your gear to a remote campsite
5.  No rocks to clear from your tent site
6.  No having to hang your food or garbage in a tree away from critters
7.  No critters (raccoons, possum, mountain lions, foxes, deer, elk, moose, bears, etc)

And most importantly . . .

8.  A BATHROOM!!!  There really is no replacement for a good toilet and shower to use.

Hmmm.  The more I extoll the virtues of backyard camping, the less I want to "rough it"!

The 30s Before 30 Goals

I have come to the realization that I will soon leave my twenties.  Yup.  Me.  I'm gonna be 30.  That seems like a lot of years.  Maybe I should impart to you all the wisdom that I have learned.  Here it goes . . . . . . . . . . It was when I was younger that I learned to . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ummmmmm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . well, I think . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . there was the time when I learned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . you should never . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . yup, I'm out.  I have no wisdom to impart. 

Well, instead of imparting wisdom, I think I will set some goals.  That's always good, right?

I have been thinking, and I want to do a few things before I hit that magical 3-0.  You know, the age when my mother had 5 kids and one on the way.  Oy.  Here are a few of my goals:

1. Lose 30 pounds by the day I turn 30.
2. Try 30 new foods.
3. Make 30 new friends.
4. Learn 30 new things.
5. Read 30 new books.

I thought a lot about this list, and I think I can do these things.  I started on them in the last week, and so far there has been a little progress!  Woo hoo!

Now if I can only remember how to add tabs to my blog so I can keep track of my goals there.  Any help would be stellar!

Have a good day, y'all! 

Wait for it . . .

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaccccccccccckkkkkkkk!  After a long 9 month hiatus, this lady is back in the bloggin' saddle!  Are you ready to handle the lameness that is Lisa Isenbarger's life?  I'm telling you, it is a little boring. Since I really have little memory of the fun times from the last 9 months, I will just blog as they come to mind.

So upward and onward!

Just Another Couple of Firsts!

Todd came in to town for business, and we have been having a blast with him!  For a family dinner, Jess made Thai peanut noodles, and Todd surprised us with a Key Lime Pie from La Jolla Groves.  I have never had either dish before, and they were so delicious!

So, I am adding Thai peanut noodles and key lime pie to my list of 30 before 30.  I'm on my way, and it tastes so good! :)

School Is Out . . .

 . . . and it feels SO good!  I was signed up to take classes this summer (just because I get a free class every semester from UVU since I am an employee), but at the last minute, I decided to drop them and just work.  And *that* has made all the difference for me.

You know you have been stressed out when you read all the Harry Potter series in a week and a half.  I have been devouring every book in my path the last few days because I get to read for pleasure!!!  No textbooks, no homework, no classes, no assignments, no writing deadlines in my calendar, no group projects, no getting up really, really early, no three hours of class, no STRESS!

You also know you have been particularly stressed when your boss comments on how much more chipper you are now that class is out.  She actually said that.  I guess I was wearing my frazzled-ness on my sleeve.

But it's not going to show up for 4 MONTHS (until classes start again, that is).  Yeah, baby!

May the Fourth Be With You!

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things was when Mom would announce we were having a Star Wars marathon and caramel corn.  As Mom was popping the popcorn, the kids would crouch down in the kitchen, and pop up and down like the kernels in the air popper.  Once everything was made up, Mom would turn the caramel  out to cool on brown paper bags, and we would sneak a few pieces early.  Then, as a family, we would watch as many of the movies as we could before falling asleep on the couch.

For the last few years, I decided to celebrate May 4th with a Star Wars marathon and caramel corn.  It's not as good as Mom's, but I make do.  It's a fun excuse to watch great movies and eat a fantastic treat!

May the 4th be with you, everyone! :)

Mom Gets a New Toy!

She's been thinking about it for years, but Mom took the plunge yesterday and adopted a horse.  She is a beautiful mare that Mom has named Abby.

Abby bears a striking resemblance to one of Mom's favorite horses from her childhood, Amy.  Hence the similar name.  Abby is from a local horse rescue, and was badly malnourished when she was rescued.  Her hooves were extremely overgrown, and she is still recovering from it.

I am so excited Mom has a new 'toy'.  She really thought long and hard about adopting Abby, and this horse is pretty much a dream come true for her.  It has been ages since Mom has had a horse, despite being one of the most avid horse lovers I know!  

Mom, enjoy having Abby.  She is beautiful and I know she couldn't ask for a better owner.  Can't wait to meet her over the summer!

Welcome to the Family, Gorgeous Girl!

My new niece, Corinne Abigail Isenbarger, was born today.  I don't know how they did it, but Kyle and Ashley didn't cave into pressure and find out the gender of their baby before it was born.  The suspense would have KILLED me!!!

Last night my roommate asked if she could use my phone because hers was not working.  I don't know why, but I said, "I will need it tomorrow morning.  Kyle and Ashley are going to have their baby".  Yeah.  I had no idea where that came from, but it turned out to be very true!  Kyle called me on the following morning and let me know that they had had a baby girl.  She is a great mix of her sister and brother - Addie in the face, but ALL Braden in the eyes!  Crazy!

I have made plans to visit Florida for her baby blessing.  I can't wait to get my hands on this gorgeous little munchkin!