Happiness

Welcome leaves, Falling down Like bits of Heaven, Star crusted in Flakes Of dark red, orange and yellow. Welcome jack-o-laterns, Smiling at me from t-shirts, Porches and the Prairie Home Companion. Welcome cool, crisp apples, Ready to be dipped in warm melted Carmel and enjoyed. Welcome clean new Preschool Calendar, Dotted with tiny orange pumpkins And announcing a field trip to The Pumpking Patch and a Pizza Party. Welcome Martha's Stewart's Halloween Central, Kids changing their minds on what to be that magical Night: a vampire bride turned into a butterfly fairy, Things 1 and 2 become Mummies and a Spiderman lurks in the distance. Welcome, Fall, with your cooler temperatures, Your textured sweaters, your promises of snow In the near future. I welcome you. Even though I am not in California, where the Fall barely exists or in Utah, where the leaves change colors on Mountainsides. I am in Maryland, where Fall Foliage and no humidity Means a time for...

I have been trying to make it to the temple all this month. Things kept happening to make it not happen- Josh had to work, we decided to go camping before the weather turned cold this past weekend, etc. I complained to my friend that I would not make it this month. She generously offered to watch Asher while I went to the Temple. I drove down to the D.C. Temple, which is a 25 minute drive door-to-door. That is unless you go on Tuesday morning and with traffic, it is about a 35 minute drive door to babysitters door to Temple door. I've been sleeping crazily. Sunday Night, after Dinner, at 5:45 pm, I went to bed and fell asleep right away, only to awaken at 8:15 pm to the sounds of Josh singing GoodNight hymns to the kids. What a good way to wake up. (We just started doing this officially btw. When your 8 year old starts singing along with the hymns it may be a sign you started too late- oh, well!) The kitchen was sparkling, the left-overs put away (which were just Spaghetti- which i...

Got married this summer and had a big Wedding Party to Celebrate? That's right- Josh's little brother Ben and Barbara! I stole these pics from Barbara's Facebook page- hope she doesn't mind, but I had to share such gorgeousness! I love her 50's era dress she designed herself, complete with perfect shoes and accessories. And from said pictures, it looks like it was the Celebration of the Decade! Wish we could have been there! Don't you just love the last one with Ben and his 4 yr. old niece? So cute!!! Now on to the weddings of the Nieces and Nephews on the Abbott side of the family which hopefully won't happen for at least a good six years. Hear that, Kristen? I know, I know. It's crazy! This is my blog. My name is Megan A.

The Argylesweater.com Enjoy! This is my blog. My name is Megan A.

A warm Asiago (my fav) Bagel, cut in two, from Einstein Bagels (I had a coupon for a free bagel on Friday morning! Thank you sales inserts!) I brought it home, nuked it and spread it with whipped cream cheese. Divine! -Sweet Peas in Ranch Dressing. Sams Club sells two bags of these babies for $4.99- $2.50 a pop and I LOVE them! I feed them to the kids as a snack before dinner and they aren't too full to not eat. I munch on them for lunch, snack and anytime in between! Yesterday, at Book Club, we ate them with a Ranch Dressing. Divine! -Candy Corn. Who can say no to this sweet little treat? I put mine on brownies, in my cranberry-walnut oatmeal and anything else that is warm and will melt it into a gooey sweetness. If you haven't tried warm salty popcorn sprinkled with cold sweet candy corn, you are missing out. My favorite by far! Have to have a movie night with hubby and do that sometime soon! Before they are all gone! -Mini Brownies, made in my new mini muffin tin, with mini ...

When you give three boys a set of Bathroom crayons, this is what happens! Jonah Ethan This is my blog. My name is Megan A.

Monday Night at our house is Family Home Evening Night, or Family Night, as some may say. Sometimes Josh has to work and we don't do it until Tuesday or wait until the next week. Sometimes I do it on my own. Not usually though. And this is why... I was sitting on the piano bench, having just played " I love to see the Temple " and the opening prayer had just been said, when Asher, our 4 year old, leans over to me, hands me something small and dark and says "What is this?" Then two things happen almost simultaneously. He said "It smells like poo..." I brought it to my nose and smelled it. Let me tell you, if a 4 year old hands you something that looks like chocolate, odds are it is definitely NOT chocolate. I screamed and dropped the "item" onto the floor. Josh gave me the look of death like "What in the world?!" I stammered out something like "Poo...it's poo..." Then, I asked my little innocent one calmly "Where d...

Dear Josh, Hey, if we ever move from the East, that is if the value of our home ever appreciates instead of depreciates and you happen to find a job that you absolutely love and it includes international communications regulation, such as you are doing now, please, please, please, pick somewhere that is within driving distance to a Cafe Rio which Nie Nie now informs me is taking orders online now! Or near an In N Out - they have them in Utah now! Although, if you made me choose one or the other, I wouldn't be able to decide! Between In N Out, which is pure California, of my hometown homie, and Cafe Rio, who I fell in love with around the same time I fell in love with you, it's a tough call. Better play it safe and pick a place that has BOTH! Oh, and if it is near a TJ's as well, I wouldn't protest! Love, Your darling wife, Megan Rose

Well, it's that time of the year again! The time when everyone you know seems to be pregnant! Okay. Maybe it's just me. Maybe when you are trying, everyone and their daughter is pregnant! Not usually everyone and their daughter, but sometimes that's the case! Let me start off with a drum roll. Bwa-tat-ta-tat---- (editor's note: the majority of the following people have already publicly announced their stork news- all except one and the last one doesn't have very many connections with anyone that reads my blog, so I feel okay with adding her to the list.) -Molly L, my twin sister- who I am so excited for, because her youngest one at home will be six by the time the baby is due and babies really liven up the house! She's due March 2011, hoping for a boy, thinking of the name Dane (I can also say this because she doesn't read my blog very often so she probably won't know I told you!) -MaryRuth T., who I am also very excited for because she is a great, fun ...

Elizabeth was baptized last Saturday, Sept. 18th, at 5 pm in the Montgomery Village Ward building. It was beautiful, lovely and wonderful all at the same time. I felt the Spirit very specifically on two separate occasions and will always remember that day with joy and gladness. As with all big events, there were a few things that went awry, one of those being the fact that the batteries on my camera went dead. I had Josh and Elizabeth lined up in the hallway, to take exact picture that was taken of me and my Dad and Mom and twin sister over twenty four years ago. Josh was dressed in white, Elizabeth was wearing the Abbott family heirloom dress- the dress that Josh's Mom Judy made for their oldest daughter Jen some 30 odd years ago and five other daughters and three granddaughters have gone on to wear as well. It is so cute and classic too, so it was just right for the occassion. Well, back to my story. Josh and Elizabeth were side to side, the boys were goofing off since we had lef...

Normally I don't feel very strongly concerning my blog posts that I write. The post entitled "On Motherhood" and this one that I am about to write, I feel very strongly about. This subject "On Motherhood, part 2" arose from a conversation that I had with two Mothers at school, while we were waiting for the bell to ring and our children be released to us. As some of you know, I was recently voted in as Vice President of the PTA. These two Mothers do some volunteer work with the PTA, and although they are not on the board, they contribute and help out at the school often. My new position has lead me into new friendships (which I am so excited about) and these two Mothers are some of these new friends I made. The conversation started out with "I didn't know you had twins!" When they had introduced me to the Parents at Back to School Night, they also said how many kids we had and which classes they were in. The same Mom continued "I always just sa...

I started blogging one warm October day in 2006. I didn't even remember that it's been that long! It's almost been four years! Crazy, huh? I should do an anniversary post on the 16th of October! Yay for blogging! I love it! Here it is, in it's unaltered, unedited form. Off the top of my head. Why oh why did I use the word "heck?" It was because I was 28 years old and I have lived in Utah since I was 18. That's why. I don't use that word anymore. It's been stricken from my vocabulary. Mostly. Oh, my heck! What a first blog post! Hee hee! Monday, October 16, 2006 What the heck does “pinkpanda” mean? Pink Panda. Where does the title Pink Panda come from? Well… it all started when I realized that my favorite color is pink. I always thought it was kind of weak and too girly to have you...

Okay, so it took me awhile to decide which pictures I wanted to use and then it took me even longer to decide on the song for this. I finally found one I liked but didn't want to pay to go premium to use it. Elizabeth is having a few friends over this afternoon for a movie and pizza. What more could a girl ask for? What, American Girl things? Ok, so maybe she could ask for something a little more! I'm so sad and happy at the same time that Elizabeth is growing up! It's so neat to see that she is getting baptized and that she understands everything that that means. It's hard to see her grow up, because I know that she will leave our nest one day and be on her own and that surely will be a bittersweet day for me as well. I told her the other day "You are still my baby." She replied "I'll always be your baby, right? Even when I'm grown up?" "Yes, Elizabeth, you will always be my baby- even when you are grown up." Here's to eight wo...

I recently got my hair cut- what do you think? Elizabeth took this picture of me, outside our home in Maryland, one September day. I have a lot on my mind lately- -Wanting to re-post my first blog post ever. Not even knowing where that post is exactly, since I started out at www.pinkpanda.blogger.com sometime in 2007 and then switched over to here and haven't looked back since. Maybe I'll find it next week online and post it. A-trip-down-memory-lane. -Teaching piano lessons and loving it more than I ever thought possible. -Wanting to get pregnant again, but nervous that I may miscarry again and end up in the hospital, again. Not wanting that, but wanting to move on with my life. -Being bipolar, which involves waking up at 4 am, when no sleep meds are taken, and being completely and overwhelming depressed, burning that off by 6 am and doing the essentials: scripture study, lunches, dress, breakfast, lunches (I do it in shifts since I'm busy like that), getting kids dressed,...

How about a little arm candy? Before the school rush began once again, I met up with a friend and her four children, ages almost as same as mine and made a trip to Wheaton, Maryland, to their Brookside Gardens. They hold a butterfly exhibit there every year from May until Sept. and wetry to make it out there every year to check out these little creatures with "Wings of Fancy". At one time, one lighted upon my arm and the head of my sweet friend M. Lovely. We got to see butterflies that had just emerged from their cocoons, wet and sticky. And watch as the children laughed and played among the flower blossoms and delicate little creatures. At one point, I let each of my children hold my camera and try to capture their beauty and grace. What a beautiful summer day, to spend time in a butterfly garden with friends, surrounded by beauty, peace, love and laughter. Thanks for a wonderful time! We had a blast! This is my blog. My name is Megan A.

I voted early this year, in an effort not to have to drag all four kids along with me. Turns out the day I chose to vote early was Rosh Hashanah and all the kids were off school. I totally forgot. Oops. They've been having days off school now left and right. Monday for Labor Day, Thursday Rosh Hasanah and now today for Voting Day. Primary Elections. Whatever you call it. Highlights from my voting day experience -forgetting to research the candidates, being the busy Mother that I am- okay, so I was blogging instead of researching- I repent, I'll do better come November! -Accepting any and all fliers the candidates gave me and realizing upon entering the building they were all democrats and I couldn't vote for them anyway since it was a Primary election. -The nice older lady telling me that I could now teach my posterity about the virtues of voting and how it was done and then immediately state "the system will shut down in two minutes after you insert your voting car...

Picture of a sculpture taken at the Washington D.C. Temple Visitors Center, not to be used for commercial purposes Just a small poem for you this lovely day, written when I was set apart as a Missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and a representative of Jesus Christ. Come, Follow Me by Hermana Hulihan The Lord said, "Come, Follow me." Forsake all, Your family, Your friends, Your favorite sins, And I will make you A fisher of men. I will mold you And shape you- No matter How it hurts- The softer Your heart is- The better. I will make An instrument With my hands Out of you. If you are so willing, If you so choose, I will push and Tug and pull And make Another me. This is my blog. My name is Megan A.

Footage of the World Trade Center Crash on 9/11 from YouTube On 9/11? I know where I was. I can still hear the words coming from the soft radio as I made my daily commute, a 40 minute drive, from Provo, Utah past the hill to Riverton where I taught 3rd grade year round. It was my first year teaching and I had been married for barely over a month. I was still basking in that just married glow when I heard the stark news "A plane has crashed into the first World Tower." I did not know what was going on. First of all, I grew up in California, never watching a lot of tv and knew very little about New York City or what it contained. I don't even know if I knew about the existance of the World Towers before 9/11. Now I do. All I knew, early that morning on my way to work, was that something was wrong. I thought the news reporters on the radio air waves were joking. I thought it was a joke. America was so strong and secure that I didn't even think such a thing was possible,...

I have often found that some people can say exactly what I want to say, in fewer words no less, and say them with much more grace and agility than I ever could. It is on those days, when I find something that speaks to my heart, a pure gem, you may say, that instead of writing what I was planning to write, I put it off for another day and let someone else speak in my stead. Today is one of those days. Family planning: It's none of THEIR business! I agree. Now that I have been on both sides of fertility- being able to conceive children very fast (four kids 3 yrs old and under) and not always a way we would choose (twins 20 months after our first baby while Josh was in Law School and another one due right around when he was taking the bar exam) and now our youngest is four years old and there is no new baby coming. Yet. Despite our desires and our will. It is the Lord's will what may happen. It is not about me. Or us. It is about Him. And I am grateful for all that He has gi...

Happiness From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Happy" and "Happily" redirect here. For other uses, see Happy (disambiguation). "Jolly" redirects here. For other uses, see Jolly (disambiguation). The smiley face is a well-known symbol of happiness "Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.[1] A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources. While direct measurement of happiness presents challenges, tools such as The Oxford Happiness Questionnaire have been developed by researchers. Positive psychology researchers use theoretical models that include describing happiness as consisting of positive emotions and positive activities, or that describe three kinds of happiness: pleasure, engagement, and meaning. Research has identified a number of attributes that correlate with happiness: relationships an...

This is my very first cooking blog post. Well, at least the first one that I can ever remember, so I think that counts. Guess what I am making today in my kitchen, on my IKEA island? Wait for it... wait for it.... TRAIL MIX! Ta-da! If I am excited about cooking something it is usually sweet: my favorite go to's are chocolate chip cookies, banana bread with a lemon glaze, cinnamon rolls when I have the patience to wait the full 2 1/2 hours they take to make and anything chocolate. Follow the above pictures and you will get a yummy snack in no time. Recipe: Go to Sams Club, buy plain m and m's and a can of peanuts (next time don't choose the salty ones- too much salt), since you already have some almonds and raisins. Put 3 equal cups of each, or add one more of your favorite, into a 9 x 13 pan. Mix with your hands to your hearts content. Scoop seven cups into your cute Ikea tupperware and place the rest in a big plastic bag and then into your car in the glove department whe...

Ethan Asher Elizabeth Josh and Elizabeth Me! BYU won this past weekend! On top of Sugarloaf Mountain: Ethan, Elizabeth, Me, Asher and Jonah This weekend was a blast! Saturday Josh had to work all day, but I took the kids to the Monarch Butterly Festival at Black Hills Regional park. We went there last year so this may become a yearly tradition. The weather was cooler and windier than last year, but we got to fly Ethan's kite that he got at the dollar store a long time ago. He had fun swooping it up and down and we enjoyed the view of the lake nearby. On Sunday I went to an amazing Parenting Fireside given by Richard and Linda Eyre. They have 9 kids and have written many books on Parenting, head spear Joy School and have given seminars in over 40 countries across the globe. I learned some amazing things and hope to share those with you later! Monday, Labor Day, Josh mowed the lawn on very little sleep, while I napped since I had been up very early that morning. What an amazing man I...

I woke up at 2:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep until 10 to 7 am. Need I say more? This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Pink Cupcake Vintage, everything vintage, love the candy button paper chain, may have to do that one for Elizabeth's birthday party! Writers block , a blog with cute ideas on how to overcome writers block. Love it! Everything golden , I like how I have no idea what any of that gold costs, since it's in pounds! Etsy and Lulu , I love this because it's cheap and cute and you can't not link to something etsy. Etsy is just too awesome to be forgotten. Feel free to buy me one of these chic cards and send it to me in the mail. :) You can thank me for all the pre-dawn hours I spent doing research for this one blog post. Yep, I should get paid for reading blogs! Or at the very least, for blogging! I think I'll go take a nap now! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

Check out this bi-polar site! I love it! This is my blog. My name is Megan Abbott.

All growing up we called my brother David, David. Somewhere along the road it got switched to Dave. Probably by some college friends shortening to a quick "Hey, Dave, how are you?" Fast forward several years and Dave meets Amber. They date, get engaged and get married. Amber has mostly known David as Dave, so it stuck. And I'm good with that. I'm just glad it's not Davey. Bleh. My other brother, Tommy, has always gone by Tommy. Fast forward to when he is a grown man. He reunites with my little sister's best friend, they get married, have several gorgeous kids and he becomes Thomas. I'm gonna have to keep calling him Tommy though. That's who he will always be in my mind- Tommy. I guess if President Thomas S. Monson, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, was my brother, I would still be calling him Tommy. I think some people still do. This past week Dave, or David, who is 7 and 1/2 years younger than me and his sweeter-than-anything wife Am...

I told them all to say something like "school". That word does funny things with your mouth! I should have said "Say cheese!" (notice Asher with a backpack on? No, he isn't going to school- yet!!!) Welcome, September! What new adventures will you take us on this month??? I am so excited for September! My oldest daughter, Elizabeth, is turning eight years old this month and is getting baptized! We've looked forward to this event for a long time and we are so excited that it is finally here and that she gets the chance to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and also get the gift of the Holy Ghost (www.lds.org, baptism). She is excited too and we have been teaching out of the Preach My Gospel manual to teach her more about the Church and the basic principles of the Gospel. The date is set- Sat., the 18th, the building is reserved and we're planning to go out to eat at Cici's Pizza afterwards to celebrate. Last night Josh a...