I've now gone from feeling paranoid about stalkers on my blog to feeling paranoid that someone isn't reading because they're embarrassed to email me for permission....

Since I use sitemeter regularly, which allows me to know where people are visiting from and how long they're staying, it's easy for me to see when people are just accidentally finding me and then moving on. So as long as I can identify the people who are staying and actually reading - I don't really mind being public! And just think what that means for my lovely family and friends keeping up with me -- no more log-ins & hello Google Reader again!

But before I make the switch, I want to do a quick "roll call". I have 25 readers with permission, but I don't know where all of you are living anymore! So please drop a line to me by commenting or emailing (abigailbhanson at gmail dot com -- does that really deter people searching from finding me? to type it out that way??) to let me know where you are if I don't list it below. And then once I go public again, I may just post a quick blog here and there when I see someone visiting from somewhere I'm unfamiliar with, asking them to identify themselves!!! Hopefully nobody'll be shy. :) We'll see how it goes.

And if you're concerned about having your name linked to your location, please let me know and I'll make sure to take it down before I switch back to public.

And kudos to the first person that can name the movie this post title comes from.

Hodges -- UT (is your new house in Orem?)
Jenni C -- still in Wymount? What's next?
Jennifer W. -- Kansas for now, but later TX (what cities in both?)

This past week I bought new running shoes and am so happy with them. I love them! I think this picture makes them look a little clunky and boyish. I guess I'll have to take a picture of me wearing them to really do them justice.


And in my effort to make them last longer and follow proper "shoe etiquette" if there is such a thing, I'm trying to find a pair of casual brown shoes that I can wear everyday. I've been everywhere and even looked online but haven't been able to find anything until I stumbled over these Privo Spangles.

Oh how I want these shoes! But why, why, why, must they be EIGHTY-FOUR DOLLARS??!

*sigh*

We had a great Christmas (yeah, I know, a tad late here). Here are some pictures from our time in Texas with Eric's family and my sister's family. Anna put some great ones up here too.

Looks like this'll take a few different posts since my computers being slow and I because I get easily frustrated with the way Blogger loads the pictures into the blog. Anyone else have that problem? They're always backwards from the order I entered them. I've tried to account for that, but I still mess up, especially if I'm doing more than the allotted five per upload and trying to keep them in order.

Post Present Opening Daze (and Autumn & Heidi are already in their princess dresses from Santa Claus)

Audrey Hepburn (getting ready for family pictures)


Autumn posing

Every time I listen to this CD, I have to play track 11 at least two times. This song makes me smile and I find it impossible to stay in a bad mood after hearing it. So, without further adieu, give it up for InsideOut's Peanut Butter and Jelly!

If you didn't catch it, and because I just love it, after the intro these are the lyrics:

I'm Peanut Butter and you are Jelly
And we're so happy on our little piece of bread.
I remember the first time I saw you
Sitting 'cross the cupboard with your other jelly friends.

Chorus:
And you're so sweet, and I am chunky
You're low fat--well I'm workin' on that
'Cause I'm Peanut Butter and you are Jelly
And we're so happy on our little piece of bread.

I met Grape and Strawberry.
But you're Raspberry and that's my favorite kind.
Please forgive me for my stint with Honey
I looked on the label and not at what was inside.

Chorus

I'm so glad that I discovered you in the cupboard,
I hope you're glad, too.
From now on, we'll be stuck together,
But what could be better, than being stuck with you?

I keep waiting to blog because first I needed our Christmas pictures from Eric's computer and our network wasn't working right. But once that was taken care of, there were just too many pictures for my overloaded brain to choose from. And then I had some pictures from my own camera that I wanted to put up, but I can't find my cable. And then I waited because I wanted my posts to be in order (yeah, I know I can change that...but I didn't want people to miss stuff because it wasn't at the top as the newest stuff...) I'm sensing a pattern here. And I'm sounding like my daughters on a "whine trip". Time to go see the shrink about my procrastination problem!

Today I went shopping for four hours with Esther and Heidi in tow and they did SO great! They were real troopers. I had a big list and several stores to hit, so I'm really proud of them for how well they did.

After all the walking today, I'm amazed that I only bought one thing. How is it that when you're ready to buy something, you can't find it? But when you're not, it's everywhere?? Of course, then there was the issue of finding what I wanted but not wanting to pay the price...

Here's a run-down of my crazy shopping day:
I went to Old Navy to use my Christmas Gift Card from Rae (you're awesome dear!) but I didn't like anything they had!!! It was really sad too because they were having a massive sale. Anything marked down with an orange sticker, you could chop another 50% off of. There were sweaters for $4.00! How could I NOT like them?? I tried. I really did. It seemed such a waste to not get anything. But then...what's the point if you're just buying to buy but never to wear?

After that I hit Bed Bath & Beyond which was right next door, hoping to find curtains for our french style (sort of) doors that lead to our patio. I found the ones I wanted....but I didn't want the price.

Next we went to the mall (and I have to add that I had snacks in tow and that really helped the girls. I also brought my double stroller, which I haven't done for a long time.) and I got fitted for running shoes. No, not for running. I don't run. Not yet anyway. Aside from that one strangely euphoric walk/run I had a month or two ago. But running shoes are really best for walking or jogging regularly anyway. And I'm sure everyone already knew that. If not, consider yourself informed now. There. I discovered that I love the feel of extra insoles! If you pull out the ones that come with the shoe and put in better ones, it's amazing!

I went into every shoe-type store at the mall to see what kind of deals they had on running shoes but didn't see anything to make me excited. I went to JCPenney too hoping to spend a giftcard from my sister Liz (I have AWESOME sisters!) but couldn't find what I wanted.

THEN...I went to Kohl's and hit pay-dirt. Finally. Running shoes I love. Prices I love. Still no curtains or brown casual shoes (forgot to mention I was searching for those too), but hey, at least I can check off running shoes. Now to get me some of those inserts.

And as if that wasn't enough (of course as I type it, it doesn't sound like much at all...until you add loading and unloading two kids and a stroller and attending to them while shopping....), I stopped at Ross on the way home thinking I'd finally find curtains. Nope. Not there either.

I think I've exhausted my resources with the curtains. Even Wal-Mart didn't have what I was looking for. I am now going to search online and am beating myself for not thinking of that earlier. :)

So....all three girls are in bed and we had a fairly uneventful evening after a packed afternoon. And now, I'm going to go read a book (after I go see about those curtains...).

After a long break, I'm posting to say that diapers and toilets serve the same purpose and bathtubs can never take their place. Enough said, right?

And I have lots and lots of pictures and things to say about our Christmas Break but that'll come in the next few days.