Dribble Liberties

Okay, Okay

2008-09-09T13:29:00.000-07:00

Our new blog, Dallasandkrista.blogspot.com, is now open to the public. Happy reading!

Privacy Please

2008-04-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a long time...

I haven't posted due to a mixture of laziness, business, and hesitance. However, after all of this not-posting, I am realizing that this really is just a good way to keep in touch with a few of you that don't get to see some of the important pieces of my life in the flesh very often. Therefore- we are starting a new blog- DallasandKrista.blogspot.com and it will be for available for private viewing only. Leave an email address in my comments if you think that I don't have your address already.

See you soon :)

Bigger Boys

2008-02-10T21:52:00.001-08:00

The boys have been growing and it is so fun to finally see them interacting a little bit more. They love to watch each other and laugh at each other and mostly Krew likes to absolutely SMOTHER his baby brother. Really, he does- he loves to just lay on top of him and squish him. Luckily Cash is a big boy and loves any attention he gets from Krew so this doesn't seem to bother him too much. They are lots of fun, and lots of work... we are having fun over here (usually).

Looking Forward

2008-01-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

A couple of things we are looking forward to in the new year:

A new blog- Dallas says that if I make a new "cool blog" with music and cool colors then he would be more likely to make a guest appearance here and there. I like the prospect of funny blog entries from my very funny husband, so I am thinking that this will work out. We'll see... I will let you know when it is up and running.

A big move- Well not that big. We are only moving like 5 miles. None the less I am incredibly excited to purge of all things old and start fresh and new. I am giving things away like crazy. Come to my house and you can receive free things almost daily... Plus the new house will just be new and shiny and spit up free (well at least for a little while) and that just feels SO good to just think about!

No Pregnancies- With any luck there will be no surprises this year. Don't get me wrong- the little people make the world worth living in, they are truly the best thing ever, but my body needs a break and I need to catch up on sleep. Instead I will be hoping for new babies coming from a couple of girls that I love (you know who you are...) Get workin' ladies!

Picking up a book- I have been on a reading hiatus because when I try to read I simply fall asleep. This year I am looking forward to picking up a few books from my ever growing pile of "Books to Read" and finishing a few. I am starting with A Thousand Splendid Suns, and then I think I will move on to The Faeries of Dreamdark.

Chick Flicks- There are a lot of good ones coming out- I intend to see them all!

Camera Tricks- The hubs got me a great camera for Christmas. I am hoping to really learn to use my camera (I will probably bug Britt to death in the meantime) and maybe I can grace you with a little beauty every once in a while.

Growing- There will be lots of growing going on a round here. The boys will keep growing, and they are the most fun to watch grow. And with any luck, or more likely some dedication, hopefully Dallas and I can grow as parents, followers of the Lord, lovers, and friends.

To the new...

Our future destination:

Baby Boys

2007-12-29T08:36:00.001-08:00

I put this on so you can see Cash's classic sneeze. Every time he sneezes he yells first. Sometimes he yells so loud that he looses the sneeze! It is so funny. He has done it since the day he was born and I hope he does it until he is an old man!

Dancing Elves

2007-12-28T22:17:00.001-08:00

This is the funniest video of Krew. I don't know if any of you got elfed this Christmas, but it was pretty funny. Our friends sent us our pictures on dancing elf bodies and Krew seriously thought it was the coolest thing ever! He danced, and danced, and danced until he got so hot that he wanted to keep dancing, but in the buck! He still points at the computer because he wants to dance with it again. I had to go through like 10 videos and debate which one to put on because all of them had their own outstanding moment... my favorite was the one that he is half undressed in and he ends the whole show with a screaming sommersault (spelling?). Incredibly funny... but it was really dark so I went with this one instead. He moves so fast that the camera can't even stay focused on him! We have since retired the dancing elves and (hopefully!) started to move on!

Merry Merry

2007-12-28T21:55:00.000-08:00

So things are crazy these days but I wanted to give you these little updates. So here are pictures of my boys all dressed up for church in their Christmas attire. Who says that boys aren't fun to dress?? These pictures don't even do justice. I couldn't get enough of them in their little tiny man- wear!

The Fam

Handsome little fatty

The happiest picture we could get of our tired boy!

And Cash in his bumbo! Hooray!

Choppin' (UH!) Broccoli!

2007-12-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

That title is for my siblings, who will know just what I mean and exactly how to say that phrase! Anyway, I did the "I just had a baby" thing and I chopped off my hair. I LOVE it, it feels so wonderful to have it be healthy and short... it has been so long since I cut it short. (Hubby prefers it long... he is yet to even know that I cut it as I post this now!)

Thank you to my hair stylists most lovely assistant- Mrs Allison Reber Judd- whom I love dearly. Thank you for scrubbing my head so wonderfully (felt so good!), and for blowing my hair dry, and for baby sitting in the midst of it all!

And another huge thank you to my brother in law Rocky who baby sat Krew for me so I could actually enjoy my appointment! He took him out to lunch and bought him his own little meal and everything, isn't that cute?

I am thinking next time I may even go a little bit shorter- I guess I'll have to see if it is manageable in babyland first! I may want to curse myself for cutting the bangs (as long as they may be) in the next couple of weeks...

Picture Book

2007-12-04T13:02:00.001-08:00

Here is our life in pictures because I don't really have time to write. Me time is very limited these days!!

Thanksgiving was spent in Hawaii with the entire Tanner Family. All Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and babies of cousins were there. A serious thanks to Grandma Hazel and Keith. We had so much fun! Hawaii is not quite the same when you have two babies... it was less of a "vacation" and more of a "trip". Despite my lack of tan lines, and Dallas's lack of putts made on the golf course- we were happy just to be together.

Krew loved the beach

So did Cash!

My Boys

The Whole Fam at a Luau

The flight home was terrifying and the time change has been hard on everybody. We have been spending as much time as possible in bed since then...

Hope that your holidays are happy and bright! We are loving this time of the year, not to mention the wonderful shift in weather! Life has been so busy, but that means that it is happy too.

Smiles

2007-11-11T20:04:00.000-08:00

He smiles, folks! So fun.

Brothers lovin' on each other.

Two Sweet Boys

2007-11-07T13:14:00.000-08:00

It is time to make that depressing post move on down the line- so how about I replace that post with one of sheer and utter joy!

I have two sweet boys
One for each of my arms
They are arms with scabs from little boy tickles that are too hard
They are arms that act as a cradle to rock sweet ones to sleep
My arms end with busy hands
Hands that hold, wipe, pat, and tickle back
They tickle more gently than the tiny tickling hands do
My arms go to my chest where the sweet boys rest their heads
Into my back that is strong from picking up toys, and wiping up spills
A strong back that supports my body as it cuddles around the two sweet boys
My body is held up by legs that are constantly on the go
They bend down to bring me to the boys point of view
They stand tall to show the boys how to be strong
Even when you don't feel like being strong anymore
My legs are stubbed by feet that are dirty from the backyard
They are rough and worn and are a good seat for little boys to bounce upon
They house toes that help to pick things up when my back can't take it anymore
And at the top of this body that is starting to feel old when I am still so young
I hold my head as high as I can with a smile in my eyes and kisses worn on my lips
Escaping from my mouth there are whispers and laughs
To let these sweet boys know how deep a mothers love runs
To really show them that it runs through every inch and cranny of a Mommys body
There is not one peice of me that isn't constantly giving to them
To remind them always how irrevocably treasured Mommys two sweet boys are

My Krew Bug at 17 months

Mr Man- Cash at 6 weeks

Deep Breaths

2007-10-22T11:04:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday Cash wasn't feeling well so I took him to the doctor. At the appointment my Dr told me that if his fever reached over 100.4 then I needed to take himto the ER immediately. As she tells me this Krew falls off of a rolling stool flat onto his face. I pick him up immediately and there is already blood all over his face- gushing out of his mouth and pouring out of his immediately swollen nose. The toughest kid I know is crying harder than I have ever seen him cry. I would categorize this as a very bad Dr's appointment.

Deep Breath.

Cash cried through the entire night. Krew joined him for 4 hours of whining and screaming. The night ended with Krew falling asleep at about 4:30 am and me taking Cash to the ER with a fever of 101.

Deep Breath.

Within ten minutes of arriving at the ER they were poking and prodding my baby. "This will move fast. There will be lots of people testing lots of things to make sure that your baby is okay. Don't be nervous", she told me. I cry as they put an IV in my babies arms and poke his spine with a needle. I cry even harder each timemy baby cries out in pain. I am sleep deprived and emotional- a bad combination.

Deep Breath.

We stay in the hospital for 3 days as they run tests on the baby. He is hooked up to an IV and they are constantly waking him and poking him and stripping him down. They are taking good care of him, but it still gets frustrating at times. Meanwhile Krew is being passed off from person to person. Grandma to Brooke, to Dad and back again. I miss him so badly, but I know where I need to be right now. All I can hear are crying babies through the vents 24 hours a day as I try to sleep on my fold out seat.

Deep Breath.

On Friday we find out that everything is okay. No meningitis, no RSV, no pnemonia, no urinary tract infection, no nothing. Just a cold virus.

Deepest of Breaths.
Prayers answered.
Hearts swollen with gratitude.

We have had to take many deep breaths throughout this past week. Breaths of fear, breaths of hope, breaths of thanks, and breaths of love for each other. Thank you so much to all of you who prayed for us and called with warm hearts. Your support was not unoticed in the midst of the havoc. We are just happy that everyone is healthy (minus coughs, colds, scrapes, and swollen noses) but those we can deal with by simply breathing.

The only picture that I took to remember the dreaded occasion!

To Die For

2007-10-14T21:49:00.000-07:00

3 Things:

This Restaurant:
City Hall in Scottsdale. It's spendy but worth every penny and I have never had any dessert like their Butter Cake. Absolutely to die for. If you live in the valley, it is really worth going.

This Quote:
It was in this months Oprah magazine and it caught my eye so I put it on my bulletin board. I am loving it even though i think that is as far as I got in the magazine. Sorry Oprah.
“ I must learn to love the fool in me- the one who feels too much, talks too much, takes too many chances, wins sometimes and loses often, lacks self-control, loves and hates, hurts and gets hurt, promises and breaks promises, laughs and cries. It alone protects me against that utterly self-controlled masterful tyrant whom I also harbor and who would rob me of human aliveness, humility, and dignity but for my fool.”
Theodore I Rubin, MD

This Picture:

I know that I am biased because I am his mom, but I could just die over him. This is capturing him sleeping through his first Dbacks game.

The Mom Song Sung to William Tell Overture with Lyrics

2007-10-13T10:10:00.001-07:00

This is too funny. My Mom sent me this like two weeks ago and I have watched it almost every day since then. I want to learn it!

Meatball Loves Dapper

2007-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Here are a few things you might not know about my Hubby:

He can impersonate almost anyone in near perfection
He is the funniest person that I know
We know how to agree to disagree
His hair is truly black and his eyes are bright blue- such a perfect combination- I love it
He spoils me
Most of the time I eat more than He does, and for sure I do on dessert
He is a good singer but won't really admit it
He loves history- in another life his dream job would be to be a History college professor
He pays attention to politics
He reads the news every day
He is a bad listener- there's too much chatter going on in his head
He has a car fettish
He is the greatest Dad
He always tells me that he loves me
He thinks I am a backseat driver- I think he's a bad driver so he's probably right
He likes to give people nick names
He is very particular about all of his clothes being soft
He can admit when he is wrong
He always talks way too loudly but hardly ever yells in anger
He makes up words to songs if he doesn't know them- they always turn out funny, whitty, and they even rhyme
He could eat Mexican food for every meal
He is healthy and takes good care of himself but he also knows when to just let loose
He is increadiblly honest, loyal, and generous, all of that makes him a superb friend to have
He is a country clubber
He loves all sports
He is a good man that will raise good sons
He knows when to appologize and usually is the first one to do so
He is a mans man...
But he still has a better fashion sense than I do
He is my best friend
He is the love of my life

Today is our 4 year anneversary. Life has flown by since He has been in my life- I know it is because He makes life fun. I don't ever give him enough credit for the wonderful person that He is, all the good that He does, and the rock that He is in my life both emotionally and spiritually. I am married to a good man and that is what truly makes my life so amazingly good. And really, it's a very good life. Love you today and everday, Dap.

Pumpkins and Stuff

2007-10-10T11:35:00.000-07:00

On Monday we went to this cute Pumkin Patch that is down the street. We had so much fun. Krew tried to touch or throw every single pumpkin and he would not look at me long enough for me to get a picture of anything but the side of his head. Stimulation overload I suppose. It was so fun- we all picked our own pumpkin to carve (including a tiny one for Cash) and we took the boys on a tractor ride and we tried to coax Krew into the bounce house but he was hesitant for the first time in his entire life. There were baby chicks, sheep, and goats. It was Baby Einstein come to life.

My Mom was laughing so hard at me because for some reason I thought it would actually feel like fall here simply because we were doing a fall activity. I was sad in my realization that going to the pumpkin patch did not make fall appear. So here is why she was laughing at me- I had to meet Dal and my mom at the patch and when I packed up the kids I also packed an extra blanket for Cash who was already wearing footie PJs and a sweatshirt for Krew. I almost grabbed a thermos for hot cocoa but I was rushed so I skipped that part. When I pulled up to the pumpkin patch my car said that it was 89 degrees. I kept thinking, that must be wrong- it's fall, we are going to the pumpkin patch, its dusk, it must be colder than that. But low and behold I got out of the car and the temperature gage had not lied, it was in fact 89 degrees. There was no need for sweatshirts, or blankets or any type of hot beverage.

Despite the lack of fall in the air, and Dal being a bit of a girly man and leaving before we went on the tractor ride due to his allergy to hay, we had fun at the pumpkin patch. And if this is as close to fall as I can get, I'll take it. There was still that fall feeling in the air, even if the air was 89 degrees!

The Fam

The Pumpkin Peddler

Grammie & Krew on the tractor ride. I love how he is holding on to her... He loves his Grammie so much!

Life These Days

2007-10-05T14:17:00.001-07:00

Days and nights melt together. There is a lot of pooping going on. Two sweet boys give me lots of love. The bags under my eyes are actually making my eye balls hurt. I went to Bunko and got a prize for losing the most... very typical of my luck. At least I got a prize! I would starve if it weren't for my Mom. I am finding out what a joy it is to have an angel baby- #1 was SOOO much harder. Bathing, cleaning, paying bills, teething, growing like weeds, turning less yellow (Cash has jaundice), taking an hour to get things together enough to get out of the house, wishing I could go outside more to enjoy the shift in weather... are all daily happenings. Getting a bit stir crazy. Trying to learn words (sooner rather than later, please!). Pumpkin delights. Halloween decorations are making the fall feel more apparent ( we kind of skip that whole seaon in AZ).

There is not very much happening, and at the same time- there is so much happening that I need to be getting things done instead of napping the way I would like to! But I am going to ignore all that stuff and take a nap anyway as soon as I am done posting this. Here are some pictures of life these days...

Krewser is finding new ways to keep himself busy.

This is how he escapes from the house! In and out all day long...

Here is Lil Dap looking a bit yellow but Oh, so handsome!

Mr independant taking out the garbage. This killed me because he is actually carrying one of those little garbage bags that you put in your bathroom garbage but it looks normal sized on him. I was laughing so hard watching him do this!

Realizing that taking out the garbage is hard work!

A very tired Mommy taking her first picture with her new boy (isn't that totally depressing? I downloaded all my pics only to realize I did not have any pictures of me and my son together yet! Minus the gross ones from point two seconds after he emerged from my belly. So I ran and took one right away!)

This may be disturbing and gross to some of you, but I thought it was hillarious. Krew escaped from the bath and went to play outside. I, being exhausted just let him stay out there for a while till I was ready to take on the battle of the PJs. When I finally went to grab him and get a diaper on him, his bum was dirty and I realized he had pooped somewhere. This is where I found it. I laughed so hard that I drooled all over the ground outside. (that bit of gross info is for my siblings... I'm sure you will love that part of the story!)

Kisses from my boy- he was feeling a little left out that I was only taking pictures with Cash.

What we lovingly refer to as "The Sausage" or, "The Poop Log". Folks, this is only TWO DAYS of dirty diapers from my kids. Wow.

Introducing... {Drum Roll Please}

2007-09-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Mr. Cash Hudson Tanner

We are increadibly grateful for and absolutely smitten by our sweet new boy. He was born on September 21st at 6 Lbs 9 Oz. We couldn't be happier or more thankful for him! Everyone is adjusting wonderfully (Especially Krew- He is so sweet with his baby brother!) and both mom and babe are healthy and well. More to come! (Maybe when I am feeling a little less sleep deprived!)

Roller Coasters and Such

2007-09-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

This is my niece Tommy.

She is wonderful, funny and athletic. She is smart, sweet, and a little bit moody sometimes. I love her. I really, really, really love her. She is my friend. Tommy has Autism. I would love to tell her story but my sister Brooke tells her story so much better. She just wrote an amazing blog about their families journey with Autism. It has been a roller coaster experience for them. Please read it if you have a moment because right now we have an opportunity to help this cause so close to our families heart. Last year Brooke and I ran a 5k race for Autism. This year I sadly won't be joining her since I am about to pop (nice call on that one last year Brooke!) but she will still be running. Please take a moment to find out more about this great cause and please help if you can.

Speaking of roller coasters- I am currenty on one. My energy is fluctuating like you wouldn't believe and my emotions are doing a bit of the same (I don't think I am too crazy though... mostly really chatty ALL THE TIME!) I am ready to pop any day now. On Wednesday the Dr. told me that I am 3 cm dilated and 80% efaced. So really- any day now. So I have finally started to tie up the lose ends that I was purposfully leaving undone to prolongate this pregnancy and I have finally packed myself a bag for the hospital just in case the moment comes quickley. I also spent the morning WD 40-ing all the joints in my doors so they won't squeek then using the Magic Eraser to scrub every mark off of every door. Pregnancy at it's fullest? I think so.

And... speaking of roller coasters... lets hope that the big moment doesn't come quickly because my Husband is currently on a plane to Ohio to go to Cedar Point to litterally ride some of the best roller coasters ever. I am excited for him, yet bitter on all kinds of levels. I am so jealous- I LOVE to ride roller coasters! I have wanted to go to Cedar Point for as long as I can remember. My mom said she will take me when I am done being pregnant- maybe I will hold her up to that! I am trying to be cool about him going (Please, spare me the why didn't you MAKE him stay home speech- He's a big enough boy to make his own decisions and live with the consequences. Plus he somehow manages to pull these things off spot free anyway!) and while I am cool with him being gone for only 36 hours, I am also scared that I am going to go into labor and have to do it all by myself! Then again- it would be a good lesson for him to learn, but I'm not sure this is how I would like it to be learned! Not with it affecting me so greatly- no thanks! And this whole thing just kind of reminds me how men really have NO CLUE about pregnancy. How real it is, how we have to live with it every moment of every day for 9 months, and how there is no way out at the end accept for one way- pushing the baby out. No avoiding it, no planning how the experience will pan out, no nothin. They just don't always get these things, those boys. Have fun on the rides Hubby, I love you. Oh, and don't bother coming home if I give birth without you by my side! :)

Hence, roller coasters and such.

Surprise!

2007-09-09T21:27:00.000-07:00

My most darling friend Vanessa threw me a little surprise shower yesterday. It was so nice to celebrate this new person coming into my life- something I feel like I haven't done enough of. Not to mention it was really fun to see all of the girlies that I sometimes just don't see enough of. We had brunch at yummy CRACKERS and followed the amazing meal up with pedicures at my favorite little place. Since I didn't know there was going to be a party for me I sadly have no pictures. However, I got a few snapshots of Krewser Man stealing my balloons the moment that I walked in the door. It was so funny. He was so happy when I got home and even happier that I was carrying balloons. I thought he was running up to give me a hug but instead he ran up and took the balloons and bolted down the hall and into his bedroom to claim them for himself. So thanks for the balloons Sally! He loved them! And thanks to all the girls that came for making it a special day for me.

The Get Away

The Celebration of Sweet Victory- Yes I know he is very dirty and not quite matching. Daddy had him all day and did a GREAT job as always. Thanks Daddy, for letting me get out with the girls!

And thank you to my most wonderful little friend Vanessa for making me feel loved and special. I am a lame girl that craves moral support, so I really needed the day to celebrate this little guy and not feel like He is just the second boy who will live in his big brothers shadow while wearing hand-me-downs. We are so excited for him to get here in the next few weeks. I just need to finish my nesting first! And find a double stroller- any suggestions?

Stylin'

2007-09-06T14:14:00.001-07:00

"Style may be on the surface, but you can be deep and still have some." Clarissa Gough

I came across this quote in my day planner the other day and it totally made me laugh. I have to say- I absolutely agree. I have had experiences in my life in which this judgement has plainly been made on me. "She cares about her clothes- she must be shallow." And while to some degree that can be a true statement towards a few people who tend to get a little too caught up in the whole ordeal... who's to say that because somebody cares about their appearance, that automtically makes them shallow?

My sister called me for some style advice this morning, is this because I am the shallow sister? I think not. I think it's because I have fun with style, and i have a little style, and I care about details in styling. My stylish friends are not my most shallow friends, nor are my not so stylish friends any deeper than the others.

I will admit, it can be a lame interest considering that it is pretty much altogether unimportant in the grand scheme of life, but so are a lot of things that we don't care any less about. Have any of you felt like people have judged you as "shallow" because you care about how you look?

Party Pooper

2007-09-04T20:25:00.000-07:00

Both of my Brother-in-law's, David and Jake, turned 35 within the past week or so. Congrats to both of the old farts! I remember when you guys first showed up, I had a crush on David, and and Jakes beard kind of freaked me out (mind you I was only like 10!). David, sorry I no longer have a crush on you- and Jake, I don't think there is one scary thing about you so I am glad that we are all growing up and coming to some realizations in this world.

Anyway, on Sunday we celebrated Davids birthday and Brooke put on a good lil' party just like she always does. The kiddos gathered round their old Pops and we sang happy birthday in the true Reeve fashion (yelling it more than singing it) and then we ate cake. My sister was nice enough to litterally let my child dig into the yummy cake and go wild! He was loving life and we have the photos to prove it (below)! Dal and I keep laughing at something our neice Tommy said. The baby finally got the go ahead to dig into the whole cake with a spoon and a spatula and as he was digging in Tommy goes, "Oh no! Krew ruined the party!" It was so funny. She just kept shaking her head in disappointment at his behavior saying, "Krew, no, you ruined it. You ruined the party." She is a funny girl, that one. Happy birthday to you both!

You can see Tommy in all her disappointment in the background.

This mind as well be a picture of me as a baby because He is covering up his Tanner feratures with his tiny hand (that has long fingers just like his Dads) This is just what I looked like as a little person.

Simply a Good Life

2007-08-30T19:41:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I have a day in which I actually get things together. A day where the dishes are done and put away, the laundry is folded in our drawers and hung in our closets, the beds are made, the counters are clean, errands are run, dinner is actaully planned and followed through with followed by some fresh baked banana bread, and baths are had then the night turns quiet. Every so often I can get it together enough to have this day. It isn't once a week, and maybe not even once a month but when these days do occur I can't help but think- Okay, this is a good life. It is simple and low key and that is precisely how I like it to be. On days like this I realize how much I love my job as mom and wife and on days like this I feel like I am actually doing somewhat of a good job at it. I am acknowleging this today because of the simple fact that I have no idea when I will have a day like this again. With the baby coming I have a full knkowing of the tiredness and hard work that are ahead of me. This time I know whats coming and it is wonderful but also hard. Some people thrive on the newborn stage- I was not so much one of those people. I am the one that can't even find the time to put on clothes or eat properly or shower, little lone attempt to dry my hair. So I am red flagging this day as a good one, just in case that I forget the fact that things do get easier when I am in the throws of post pardom. I want to remember days like this one today.

On a side note, I had my first experience with Craigs List today! I couldn't believe what a rush it was to actually sell something for good money that I had no use for anymore. I might be addidcted. I have heard of the ebay addiction, but don't you think that craigs list is even more instantly gratifying for our greedy little generation? You put it on there, get an email that night, and the next day you have a wad of cash in your hot little hand. It felt great to make some money off of something that I didn't want anymore. Very fun. If you have never tried Craigs list- I suggest that you do- it's pretty cool!

California Dreamin'

2007-08-21T16:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, okay- I am back. And trust me on this- the reality of my life is weighing very heaviliy these days. So vacation has been wonderful and now my real life is looking pretty crazy these days so I am thrice times grateful that I just got to lounge at the beach for a week and a half.

First I got to see my girls which was a wonderful thing in my life. It is so important to have girl friends- if you don't have some, you should get some! My lovely Ali has returned from her mission in Argentina only to be even more wonderful than she already was, if that is possible. She is beautiful, smart, well rounded, so fun, and increadibly acheived for her ripe young age of 23 which she just turned this week. Happy birthday to my Pete. If you are a single amazing man and looking for the most wonderful woman on earth, you may want to track down Ali. She would be worth the embarassment of saying that you fell in love with her from my blog. So the girls thing was a blast. We talked a lot, and shopped just about as much and ate even more than the other two combined- or was that just me? Maybe so... Anyway, I love these girls desperately.

Love them. That's all.

Then on Sunday my sweet Hubby and Baby Boy came to join me for a week of fun in the sun. We went to the beach every day, spent a day at Sea World, went to the horse races at Del Mar, and caught up with family and friends. The week was peaceful and happy. Plus I got the chance to read Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer which I have been so anxious to do! I think I may have been bad company for Dal durring the time it took me to finish... sorry babe... but you know how I just love vampires and such! The boys loved the beach and my darling boy was surprisingly great at Sea World. He loved the walruses and seals, but most of all he loved the gift shop that had 900,000 stuffed penguins. The kid thought he was in heaven- he just ran around with his hands above his head screaming in joy. It was too funny.

This is his "Woah Mom! Did you just see that walrus swim right in front of my face?! Look... PRICELESS

Boys will be Boys

Big Mama and her Baby for now

So now we are back- counting down days till the arrival of the new little guy- switching bedroom, organizing, nesting, and having dreams about having contractions and going into labor. Oh Joy!

Friday Night Boredom

2007-08-03T21:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, can you tell that my Hubby is out of town on a Friday night or what?

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2007-08-03T21:27:00.001-07:00

51%

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Moments

2007-08-02T22:08:00.000-07:00

Today I finally stopped to take a moment with my Son. After busy errands and sweating from the movement of simply breathing I decided that we needed to just stop for a second and enjoy each other. We went to the good old Mesa Fro Yo where my darling boy and I sat to enjoy a cold treat and to just stop. It was such a bittersweet moment for me.

The sweetness was in the ice cream, it was in the look on his face as we just sat and smiled at each other, it was in his joy as he simply babbled to me and had my utmost attention. The sweetness was in the gummy bears, as much as it was in the fact that He has the amazing ability to turn a moment into a memory with a glance. It was sweet, indeed.

The bitterness lay underneath all of this glorious happiness in my worries and my subconscious. Are our moments numbered by mere weeks until there is another baby? How could this come to an end when these moments just became a reality? How will I balance it all, how will He know that he is so deeply loved and adored? How do I love another the way that I love Him? While I realize that these things just tend to work themselves out, and that there will still be moments to come, and that I will have the capacity to love even more than I already do- I can't help but let part of me mourn... simply mourn the fact that I have not taken more moments to stop life, to just slow down, and to truly enjoy every tiny piece of this child that bears witness of everything that is important and everything that is worth living for.

I am determined to let there be more moments. Isn't there a saying that goes something like, life is just a bunch of moments... some wall hanging or pillow that told me this secret long ago? Why didn't I pay more attention to that little pillow? I am thankful for every moment that I share with the ones that I love. Especially the ones I share with my boys. Each and every time I am with them I feel the sheer joy of my life- and I am thankful for those moments that make life truly sweet.

Yet more sweet moments- Lately he loves to climb up in his chair and just sit with his bear- I often find him like this. It makes him feel like such a big boy to accomplish that all by himself... he sure is turning into Mr. Independant!

The {Not So} Honorable Mention

2007-07-24T17:12:00.002-07:00

D has been dying for me to post pictures of the UFC fight that he attended on my blog. So as much as I would usually try not to post pictures of voluptuous women on my blog- please don't be offeneded- it is after all, just their job to look that way. Haha! Anyway, here is how the story goes... D and his friend Jeff were talking about UFC fights and somehow (if you know my husband at all then you know how...) the converstaion turned from lets pay-per-view the fight into lets get on a jet in the afternoon, take a limo to the fight, sit on the floor, and then take the jet back to Montana that night. Nobody could actually pull that off accept for my enthusiastic Hubby. So that's what they did. And here are the pictures to remember it all. Does anybody out there agree with me when I say that I think UFC fighting is so incredibly barbaric and gross? Not to mention I can't handle seeing that much cauliflower ear in one night. Yuck!

The Fight Club

The Actual Fighters

And of course- the girls that come with the fight...

Lazy Blogger Days

2007-07-24T16:18:00.001-07:00

I have been so lazy with my blogging lately. Has anyone noticed? I came home from vacation and I have still been vacationing on the inside because for some reason I have lost all zeal for any normal day to day activities. Things such as laundry, dishes, cooking dinner, nap time, and yes- even blogging have all lost their shiny appeal. Instead of doing these things, I make up fake errands to run and barge in on my sister unannounced to eat the cookies that she has dilligently made for her darling children. I don't know what it's going to take to get me back in the groove of daily life... maybe the birth of number 2 will do it for me- it's coming so fast. Only 9 more weeks... yikes. I am totally NOT prepared at all for any of that whole ordeal. What is my problem? I am even starting to bug myself with my lack of self discipline.

Anyway, vacation was wonderful. We spent about 10 days in Montana at Flathead Lake- our choice place in the summer. We spent the 4th of July there which is always such a blast. We spent the rest of our lazy days reading, out on the boat, jet skiing, taking walks, excersizing, playing games, watching movies, and eating lots and lots of good food. The baby loved being able to play outside all the time- he is such a boy, always wanting to splash in the water and eat rocks. I wish I could give him that kind of life all of the time!

Gathering his 4th of July Goodies

4th of July Volleyball at the Brimhalls

Look at those cutest puckered lips!

My darling sis in law Krystal... I just LOVE her! What more can I say?

Our growing Fam and my growing Belly

Daddy teaching the Toonsie how to drive a boat

Then D and I left the baby with Grandma Winnie and we spent 5 days at Lake Tahoe, CA with our friends Todd & Ashley. The boys did a lot of golfing- Ashley and I did a bunch of sleeping in without our babies around and a lot of tagging along with the boys! We had a lot of fun, met some cool people, and saw some great shows including Dana Carvey who was HILLARIOUS and Michael Cavanaugh who was ridiculously talented (he mind as well be Billy Joels reincarnation!). Sorry I forgot my camera for this whole thing... maybe I can get some pics from Ashley sometime.

Thanks for taking such good care of me Winnie!

Summer has been so fun- I am once again reminded why it is my favorite season, even if I do have to endure most of it in this stinky weather here in AZ... Life could get much worse.

Tagged!

2007-07-16T16:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks Sally! I feel so loved- not to mention I miss you!

Jobs I've Had:
1. Hollister with all the Ho's :)
2. Wake Designs office manager (I think I just threw up in my mouth!)
3. Empire- Accounting a good job but so not my style
4. Landmark Interiors- Finally something I loved

Places for a Weekend Getaway:
1. Carmel
2. Southern Cali
3. Everywhere else takes me longer than a weekend!

Movies I can watch over & over:
1. Pride & Prejudice (The new one)
2. Zoolander
3. Hitch
4. The Count of Monte Cristo

Guilty Pleasures:
1. Ignoring my life & diving into a good book
2. Pizookies
3. Shoes
4. Fake Internet Shopping (You know you do it- put everything that you want in the cart and then "x" out of the whole thing... not a good habit)

Places I've Lived:
1. Boston MA
2. Alamo CA
3. London UK
4. Gilbert AZ

What I thought when I first saw my significant other:
1. Wow he is full of himself
2. What a nice muscular back
3. Does he really like his car that much?
4. This guy is seriously hillarious
CLARIFICATION: Okay, so my very first impression was obviously not that great but after 24 hours of digging a little deeper I already knew that I could love this man and that my first impression was so terribly judgemental and wrong. Still sorry about that, Babe.

Places I've been on vacation:
1. Virgin Islands
2. Tahiti
3. Italy
4. Mexico

Favorite Foods:
1. Brownies
2. Steak
3. Steamed artichokes
4. Chicken Pot Pie

If in a "jam" with spouse, tactics used to get out of the doghouse:
1. Appologize
2. Make him laugh
3. Use my very best logic- he appreciates that.
4. Put on something sexy

Websites I visit daily:
1. Gmail
2. Blogs
3. That's about it

First Kiss Loactions:
1. The park
2. His apartment
3. The car
4. My Parents House

Places I'd rather be:
1. Nowhere- I am in Montana with my Hubby and Baby- Heaven.

People I tag:
1. Alli Judd
2. Jenny
3. Krystal
4. Caleb

Alive & Well

2007-07-13T23:35:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to let you all know that yes, I am alive, and yes, I am well! We have been on our very long summer trip to escape the Phoenix heat. I know that my Hubby really loves me because he got me out of that place for a whole month during the summer death heat while I am 7 months pregnant! Anyway, there will be many an update and many a picture when I get home and get settled again. Hope you are all well and enjoying your summer as much as I am!

Ode to Bubby

2007-06-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Ode to my Bubs who is exactly 4 years and 364 days older than me. Happy birthday to my sweet brother Caleb today. He is turning the ripe age of 28 and it's crazy to me that he is such a man. Thanks for making me not such a girly girl and for being the boy in my life. You are a wonderful son, brother, uncle, and friend. MMmmmmKay? Love you with all my heart...

Big Daddies

2007-06-18T10:38:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful for fathers. I really could celebrate them at least twice a year. Maybe I should just be more proactive about celebrating the men in my life on a daily basis, because they are truly good men. I have a wonderful husband that cares about making me happy and cares about being a truly wonderful Dad. What more could you ask for? It brings joy to me daily to see him help raise our son and I am grateful that I can hope and pray that our boys turn out just like their Daddy, because that would mean that they have become good men. I have a wonderful Dad who has been supportive and wonderfully doting. He is a man that is not affraid to tell you just how much he loves you without reservation, and what more could any child need than a constant reminder that they are truly and unconditionally loved? I have a brother who's heart knows no limit, and who is going to be one of the best Dads in the world, and there is no doubt in my mind about that. Little people are just drawn to him... there must be a reason for that, don't you think? I have a Father-in-law that loves his wife in one of the most beautiful ways that I have ever witnessed. What a blessing to watch their love still growing stronger every day after all of these years. What a blessing that my husband grew up seeing his Dad love his Mom in that way. I have a handful of Brothers-in law that are smart, and fun. They are my friends and most importantly (to me), they are good to my sisters, and they bring joy to their lives, filling them each daily. I know a whole list of good men that I see acting as good husbands and fathers to women that I love and to children that I adore. I am grateful for them today too.

How lucky I am to know so many good men when there seems to be such a lack of them in this twisted world. How lucky I am that they have been my guides, my influences, my providers, my friends, and my teachers. I hope you know that I love you each dearly, today and all days. Happy Fathers Day!

Last But not least- Krews gift to Daddy for Fathers Day... So fun.

Firsts

2007-06-12T08:42:00.000-07:00

The little guy had lots of firsts this past weekend. Saturday was his FIRST BIRTHDAY! I can hardly believe it, time has gone by so fast, and I always figured he would be such a big boy at one, but he is still just my tiny man. We had a fun birthday party for him with a colorful ball theme and I think he had a lot of fun despite the fact that he has no idea that any of it was for him! I did my best to simply survive the day due to the fact that I got food poisoning from an Italian Sausage that I ate the night before at the D-backs game. Not good. Throwing up from 9:30 PM till 7:00 AM the next morning. Luckily, I have great friends that were so helpful and a hubby that really understood just how bad the night before had been- they all pulled the party off for me and by the end I was able to actually enjoy it a little bit. First birthday- I just can hardly believe it. Wow.

The Dads had more fun playing with the balls in the pool than the kids did! There were a few injuries once the balls started flying- nothing too bad.

He just wanted to eat all of the gumballs on top of the cupcakes...

What do you want me to do with that stick on fire?

Mmmmm... I get it now.

Thanks for the fun presents!

That night He had his first haircut! I am a bad mom and forgot to take pictures of the whole ordeal, but we just gave him a little buzz and to my utter dismay we took off his lone curl on the back of his head. It was for the best though because it was starting to look pretty trashy. He looks oh so handsome and he did a great job- minus the point when he turned on the water (He was sitting in the sink you see) and i didn't realize it was the hot water until he was screaming and trying to crawl out of the sink! Sad. Bad mom moment number 1029384.

Then on Monday morning we went to movie days togther! They play older movies at like 9:45 in the morning and you can bring your kid for like $2.00. My friend had an extra ticket and The Toonsie Boy decided to sleep in for the first time in his life so we gave it a shot. The movie was Over The Hedge and He did so great for the first little while. He was totally watching the movie and eating licorice and popcorn... loving life. Then there was one little distraction and it was all over folks. But he made it through about 45 minutes which I thought was pretty darn good for a first timer. He was having so much fun. (I was sad I had to miss the rest of the movie, it was pretty cute!)

So happy to be at the movies!

Thanks for bringing me, Mom! (Possibly my new favorite picture ever)

Mmmm.. chewy red stick- I like it.

Here's to all the firsts we get to have together. It just couldn't be more fun... and neither could he!

Hey Baby!

2007-06-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

Here is sweet baby boy number two who is yet to be named... Any ideas? Hubby is sure that he has a name picked but I am not on board quite yet... I'll probobly get there though. It feels like he will be here before we know it which is a scary feeling because I have done so very little to prepare. The doctor said he weighs a little over one pound now and that he has really long legs just like his Daddy! We feel so lucky to have him on the way!

He looks like such a person already! It is so amazing how fast it all happens!

For all of you who have been asking to see a preggers picture... Here I am at 24 weeks with my cute boyo who was baffled by the flash.

Two Cookies

2007-06-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, here are the two last weeks of cookie panel. I like to clump them together because it saves time on the posting... sorry to all of you who dilligently look forward to the recipes!

First, we had Karens cookies. They were really yummy, flat and almost crinckley looking, dough was pretty good, ect. I think that we accumutively decided that these were not our favorite cookies, but that they could be someones absolute favorite cookie. They are delicious and cravable and really chocolatey. In fact they are so chocolatey that the recipe actually calls for more chocolate chips than it calls for flour! Wow! Needless to say, I ended up putting a whole cup less of choco chips than the recipe actually calls for nd they were still REALLY chocolate filled. These are yummy for sure. I would suggest trying them, because they could end up being your favorite!

This week we had Sally's Oatmeal Chocolate Chips Cookies. These were fun and different. It took me a long time to try this recipe because it calls for mini choclate chips and for some reason my grocery store never seems to have those. So I stopped by a new store and found them so we finally got to try these ones. We decided that these were a great "mix it up" cookie. If you are tired of your normal favorite chocolate chip cookie then these are great to make because they offer a little variety. The recipe calls for coconut, mini choclate chips, and cinnamon... plus they have oatmeal, which I like. These would be a good crowd pleaser cookie because they are sweet and not over zealous. Just good cookies. Also a recipe worth trying... again, it could be someones favorite.

Enjoy!

Karen's Chocolate Chip Cookies

cream:
1 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1/2 c white sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla

add:
2 1/4 c flour
1 tsp b soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 c choclate chips (i used 2)

bake @ 350 for 10- 12 minutes.

Sally's Oatmeal CCC's

2 sticks butter, softened
1 c white sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
2 tsp b powder
1 tsp b soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
2 c quick oats
1 c mini chocolate chips
1 c coconut

cream butter & sugar. mix in eggs & vanilla. add dry ingredients. Add oatmeal, choco chips & coconut. roll into wallnut sized balls. bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Shout Out

2007-06-04T22:18:00.000-07:00

Shout out to my girl Vanessa on her birthday! You are the best and you are really the most fun ever, even though you are an old woman and stuff! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You know I love you.

(Sorry about the preggers picture, it's the most recent one I had of us! Pathetic!)

Also, if you want to see a seriously funny clip of our husbands doing piruettes in Hawaii than you will want to see this. Dal comes in at the end and his landing is to die for! Love you Hubs!

Steppin' & Smoochin'

2007-05-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

The Toonsie took His very first steps today ALL BY HIMSELF! We practice with him almost every night before bed- walking back and forth to Mommy & Daddy, but usually He gets impatient and mad- but not tonight! Tonight, He was a big boy and He braved off into this big world alone. ALL ALONE! Well, with Mom & Dad on both sides, but you can humor me, right? Then he finished the night off with some smoochin'. He loves to kiss. Watch out Mamas- He's a lady killer for sure, and he likes to use the tongue! I have already witnessed him kissing two different girls at church and one long lip lock session with Berkley this afternoon. They were sitting in the corner of the dressing room of Forever 21! Scandelous I tell you! I am so proud of him taking his first steps- Way to go Dude!

Ode to My Love

2007-05-29T20:17:00.000-07:00

My Big D turned 27 yesterday! It was a fun birthday and because it fell on Memorial Day this year so a bunch of fun people were able to gather round this beloved boy to celebrate His 27 years that have been spent spinning around down here... and doing some other good stuff too!

We started the morning slow. D had a nice work out while the baby and I made him Cream Cheese Filled Blueberry Muffins and a Strawberry Soy Shake. Mmmm.

We spent the rest of the day taking naps, going to lunch, and looking at some beach cruisers. But the real fun came at night durring Hubby's Bowling Birthday Bash! We went with many of our beloved to bowl a few games and finished the night off at our house with cake and ice cream... and an ice cream cake too, by special request from the birthday boy himself. It was a lot of fun- thanks to everyone who joined us for the fun!

Happy birthday my love. Sorry that you got me Chocolate and I got you nothing. I know that you love me anyway, that's (part of) what makes you so good!

Grateful Friday

2007-05-25T09:56:00.000-07:00

We have had a wonderful spring this year. Here are some things I am grateful for as Summer approaches...

Strawberry Freezer Jam (Natures Candy + Lots of Sugar= You Can't Go Wrong!)
Mild Summer Nights Thus Far
Swimming with my Baby
Sunscreen
Montana on the 4th of July
Colorful Flowers Blooming
A Hubby that works hard so that i can spend my days hanging with my baby at the pool and making jam
Spring Cleaning
Mesa Fro Yo
Skinny Cow Mini Chocolate Fudge Bars (Cold, Chocolatey and only 50 Calories!)
Air Conditioning
Eating Outdoors
BBQs
Summer Birthdays (There are SO MANY in May & June!)
Long Mornings
A Good Summer Read
Monsoons (Please come soon!)
Cotton Skirts

Cookie Panel- Ghirardelli vs Toll House

2007-05-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

I waited to post the cookie panel from last time so I could partner it up with this weeks cookie panel. The great comparision- Ghirardelli vs Toll House. I used the Clementine's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe given by Ghirardelli (via Tori!) and I used the Toll House recipe given on the back of the bag on their semi sweet chocolate chips. No comparison here folks. Lets refer to them as "G" and "TH" of the sake of my sanity and continue...

G had a more "out of the box" recipe per say incorporating spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon- giving these cookies more of an earthy taste i guess you could call it. The cookie dough wasn't my favorite because it wasn't sweet like you want cookie dough to be when you crave it, because of all of its spices. The cookies were generally good, but not great either. Better warm in my opinion. And for some reason my cookies turned out all skiddie-whompus. How do you spell that made up word anyway? One would flatten out nicely while the one just next to it would bake into a puff ball cookie. I have no idea why this happened- that was a first for me. In short, they were okay cookies- but not the recipe I would choose. I think the whole panel was in agreeance here.

TH had a wonderful classic cookie. These cookies were pretty, they were consistant, they were easy, and they tasted just how you would expect a good ole' chocolate chip cookie to taste. Nothing particularly special about them, and nothing wrong with them at all. Good dunked in milk, good warm or cold, good smooth creamy dough. These would be my vote for the best cookie to explore with. You could add all kinds of different things- different morsels, different spices... whatever. My sisters friend said that she used this recipe to make cookies with wheat flour- so if that's what your into... In my opinion, if you are going halfway fatening, you mind as way go the whole way and really enjoy it! So these were good cookies, I think that most anyone would enjoy them- and if you are wanting to go out on a limb to try and add a few different kinds of things- I would use this recipe for sure.

So between G and TH- sorry I pick TH. I still love you G- really I do. Just not so much for cookies!

See what i mean by all different sizes?
The Ghirardelli recipe can be found here.

The Toll House recipe can be found here.

Aha

2007-05-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

One of my dearest and oldest friends sent this sweet thing to me in the mail the other day. I opened it up and loved it with my all of my heart immediately. One reason being that it was given to me with such love- gifts sent at random moments definatley mean that someone is loving you and thinking of you, even though they might be far away. Another reason that I loved it was because it gave me such an "Aha" moment. I saw it and for the first time since I have been preganant it hit me and I realized that this is really happening and that we will have another boy making us smile and filling us with love not too long from now. And this child was most definately "Heaven Sent" seeing as that we weren't quite planning on this. What a blessing to have something so special sent straight to you from God simply because He knew that right now is the right time for this, even though we may not have known, or even been asking what He thought. So thank you my sweet and ever giving friend. Thank you for this meaningful gift. This one truly touched my heart.

Aloha!

2007-05-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

Aloha from beautiful Maui! We are loving every minute of the sun and relaxation here. I can't upload pictures while we are here, but Sarah can- so if you want to see how much fun we are having (Wish You Were Here!) check out her blog- not to mention the pictures of all of our Hubbys with their brand new mohawks... hardcore. Haha. And happy late Moms day to all you you wonderful mothers that I know- you each inspire me in different ways. Huki Lau!

Going Going, Back Back, to Cali Cali

2007-05-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

It is always a wonderful time when I get to visit my hometown in California. My parents are welcoming and warm. They make me dinner, clean up after me, and spoil me with so much love and kindness! I spent my days helping my mom shop for furniture, roaming around in the beautiful garden, watching my sweet Dad play with my boy, and eating lots of Brass Bear sandwiches. Just the best sandwhiches ever- in case you were wondering. I got to hit a few of my favorite spots, including a beach day in Santa Cruz, and some realxing down-time in Carmel. I got to see my sister Kara's new home in California and I got so jealous. It is wonderful- location, Location, LOCATION! I think the only thing that I missed was San Francisco- which was sad because I found this darling bakery online that I really wanted to visit, but I will just have to save that adventure for next time.

Grandpa loving on His boys!

Exploring Grammies Garden

Bath Time! Happy play time for kids, and happy almost bed time for moms!

Doing the stand-up trick. He was being so funny, crossing his arms & biting them! Nervous reaction? Who knows!

Carmel... Ahhhh Carmel.

By the way- check this out if you have a moment. My Mom is doing a garden tour called Personal Sanctuaries to benefit UCSF breast cancer research. Good job, Mom! You can check off S- Support a Worthy Cause.

The Overdue Cookie Panel

2007-05-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

Sorry about the total lapse of time in the Cookie Panel. I know that some of you really look forward to it, but as I have already described, life has been BUSY! I skipped one week while I was in California visiting my parents and then last week I didn't hold the panel until Friday because I was waiting for all of my siblings to arrive. Five opinions are even better than three, right?

Brittany & Caleb fighting over the last cookie. Nice acting, guys!

Last weeks cookies were a hit. We tried Bonnies CCC's and they were to die for. This recipe is fairly different from any of the others that have been tried thus far for two reasons- One, there is vanilla pudding in the recipe (YUM!). Two- the whole recipe is mixed by hand as opposed to in a mixer. All in all, everyone loved them. In fact, everyone liked them so much that we forgot to stop to take pictures, and by the time that I remembered there was only one lonesome cookie left- so please excuse the one-cookie beauty shot. Sadly, it wasn't even one of the prettier ones, but you will get the drift. These cookies are great warm or cold. They are fluffy, yet dense. They are moist, and just the right mix of well... everything. I would highly suggest trying this one out.

Bonnie's CCC's

2 Eggs
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 c Butter, Softened
3/4 c Brown Sugar
1/4 c White Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Small Box of Vanilla Instant Pudding
2 1/4 c Flour
2 c Chocolate Chips, Or to Taste

Cream the eggs, vanilla, & butter. Add the sugars and mix. Add baking soda, and pudding- Mix. Add 2 cups of flour and mix. Coat your chocolate chips with the remaining 1/4 c of flour & add. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. (In my oven it took a little bit longer... just watch them.) Eat as many as possible!

Hunting

2007-05-08T10:45:00.000-07:00

During our recent sibling reunion- the night before we went to The Prom- we did this ridiculous spur of the moment thing and we went on a hunt. I started with a bit of a bad attitude, but by the end of the hunt I couldn't help from smiling, laughing, and inevitably getting involved! For you Twilight readers- we went to find Bellas house in Scottsdale (Yes, it really exists, just how she dedscribed it!) and we went to find the infamous dance studio where she runs into the dreaded James! It was so fun singing our hearts out (yes, we are that family that all sing LOUD and we harmonize as we dance in our seats!), driving FAST (Sorry about the ticket Brookie!) down the freeway and laughing our hearts out. We are pretty fun, you know. Here are some pics of the night. For more photos and a better description visit Britts Blog.

The Dance Conservatory- it was so similar to how I saw it in my head!

Bellas House

The Drive

M.I.A.

2007-05-07T14:41:00.000-07:00

It has been a BUSY couple of weeks. There will be many details to come, but it may take me a while to get my life back to normal. For you cookie followers, yes, a cookie panel will be reavealed shortly. I know I let a couple weeks pass so- Sorry. I was "Babysitting" my brother and sister-in-law for 10 days, then flew to California to visit the hometown gang (My parents, and Kara's Family) for 5 days, then Kara flew home with me for 6 days where each and everyone of my wonderful siblings met together and we went to The Prom. Either you know what I mean by now, or you don't. So here are as many details as I can fit into one blog entry...

"Babysitting" for Beau & Alex is more like being on the look out for making out teenagers. They are 13 and 14 and both darlin, fun and wonderful and they both are "going out" with people. Alex insists she isn't kissing this beautiful little blonde boy Kyle (But I watched for it anyway) and Beau readily admits that he stealing as many kisses from Cloey as he can. So for 10 days I basically did nothing and watched out for kissing kids.

California was great. It was too short, as it always is. I didn't see or call any of my friends accept for the 10 minute visit and frozen yogurt that I made Allie Berding buy for me. (Thanks again! Gummy bears... Mmmm.) So, sorry to all of you that I missed- I promise that I still love you. We went to my parents house in Carmel for the weekend which is always a dream come true and we endured the worst 2 hour car ride home with two 10 month olds that you can imagine. I wanted to jump out of the moving vehicle! My moms garden was spectacular as she is geting it ready for her Personal Snactuaries Garden Tour benefiting breast cancer, and my Boy was just obsessed with my Dad. It was so fun to watch them together- my Dad is such a great Grandpa.

Sibling week was a blast. My house was full of lots of little people, and laughter, and fun! We played games, went swimming, watched movies, and who knows what else but I definatley know that we were constantly busy. Our little guys woke each other up every morning at 5 am so days were long and enjoyed just the same. Kara and I were ready for some sleep by the end.

The Prom, I am so sorry to say, was a let down. And in true Reeve fashion (well for a few of us I guess) we arrived late and we actually MISSED Stephanie Meyer's reading of the chapter from Eclipse. Heart breaking isn't it? But we heard that you couldn't hear it anyway so we tried not to be too sad and laughed at our ridiculous attire and moved on with the wonderful evening. It was a blast.

And the last but not least detail of my past few weeks is that we found out that we are having another BOY! It's Irish twins for us. We are really excited for these two little guys to be buds and I have informed my husband that he is in charge of breaking up all brawls that will innevitably occur in our home. He thinks he has died and gone to heaven as he is imagining his sons and all the fun that they will have together.

So there it is! Now I will spend the next few days unpacking and re-packing to head off to Hawaii with the Hubby for a whole week!! He is graudating with his Masters in Real Estate and Development THIS WEEK (HOORAY!!) and so in celebration we are going on a getaway with some freinds for some needed R&R. Baby free and all! Congratulations to my wonderful, smart, hard working husband... I know that everything you do, you do for us- and I LOVE YOU! I am so proud of you!

Cookie Panel- Again

2007-04-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

This week for Wednsdays Cookie Panel (sorry for you religious followers, as I am a day late) we munched on some delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from a recipe submitted by Laurel. Two main differences in these cookies were that #1 there was Crisco in the recipe and #2 the way you add the ingredients. But I have to say... SO EASY. Caleb graced us this week with an official score sheet. It was amazing I must say, and when we are all done with this, I will post the results here for you all to see, compare, contrast, and examine.

Anyway, this weeks cookies did good accross the board, scoring numbers mostly in the 7's and 8's. Nice size, texture, visualy appealing... The dough was good normal cookie dough, and they were good plain or with milk. The one thing about these cookies is that they were much better warm right out of the oven. So at the panel we tried them normal, and then heated them up in the microwave for about 10 seconds and everyone agreed- better warm. Comparing these to the other oatmeal recipe that we have already tested (Maury's Famous Sunday Cookies) they were both good and about on the same playing feild, accept that these ones were much easier and less finicky to make. Three cheers for Laurels cookies. Try them for yourself!

Laurels Famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2c Flour
1c Sugar
1c Light Brown Sugar
1 tsp B Soda
1 tsp Salt
1/2c Crisco
1/2c Butter
2 Eggs
2c Otamel
1c Semi-Sweet Choc Chips

Add all of the ingredients from the top to the bottom (which is kind of backwards, but pay no attention to that!) Dump it and mix it without mixing the wet ingredients together first. I added the oats and the choc chips after mixing the rest. Bake at 375 for 10-11 minutes.

Trouble

2007-04-19T11:43:00.000-07:00

I have a little trouble maker on my hands. Every day around here there is some kind of episode. Whether it is pulling the moss out of my planter pots and eating the dirt, or pulling out the dirty laundry and throwing it all over the room, or dipping hands in the toilet, or unrolling the whole roll of toilet paper, or eating dog food, or rubbing poop on the windows (my favorite scandal of all)... we have episodes... and I have trouble! Here are some quick pics of what my day consists of... watching out for, and cleaning up after trouble!

Commiting the crime...

Fleaing the scene!

Caught red handed...

Aren't I so funny Mom?

Sentencing himself to death by electricution as punishment!

Good thing He is so dang cute or I would lose my mind!

Cookie Wednedsay

2007-04-11T15:52:00.000-07:00

The Panel met today for a tasting of "The World's Best Chocolate Chip Cookie". The recipe was submitted by Holly. First of all, a major difference in this recipe is that you use milk chocolate chips as opposed to semi sweet. For Brooke, this was a pro. For me, this was a con. Just depends on what you like. First of all, I must say that so far this is number 1 in the "Best Cookie Dough" category. I could have eaten all of the dough if I could fit it all inside my belly because it was so delicious and smooth! These cookies are flat and dense. I tried some with less flour than the recipe called for (As per Holly's suggestion) and some with all of the flour. I didn't notice too much of a difference other than the ones with less flour were a little more dense and more gooey, but only slightly. These cookies were best dunked in milk- it just made them way better. Caleb ate one cookie dunked in milk, then tried one plain and by the time he was 1/2 done with the milkless cookie, he ressumed his dunking. They were yummy, like any chocolate chip cookie, but we agreed as a panel that there was nothing in paticular that really set these ones above the rest. To us, this was a good plain ole Chocolate Chip Cookie (C-C-C). Happy Dunking!

I am such a cheese ball

The World Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter softened
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
Cream then add:
3/4 tsp. B soda
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tbls. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 bag Ghiradeli Milk Choc. chips

Bake at 350 for 11 min. No more, no less.

Hoppy Easter

2007-04-11T15:21:00.000-07:00

We had fun on Easter this year. The Baby got his first Easter basket. It wasn't a very exciting basket, but he loved the grass.

We went to brunch with the Tanner family at the Ritz Carlton, (Bad, I know... I think this year may have been our last year in attendance.) where the buddy got to meet the Easter Bunny and go to a real live petting zoo full of chickens, bunnies, pot bellied pigs, sheep, and there may have been a couple of other critters there that I didn't notice. I took a paticular liking to this little white bunny that had one floppy ear and one that stood straight up. He was so cute!

We spent the second half of Easter eating dinner at my sisters house. She made a delicious meal and we lounged around topping the day off with brownies. (My Fave!) It was a fun day and my little guy was just too cute! His newest word is "Na Na" which I have discovered means Jelly Bean. He is obsessed with them! Anytime he sees them all you hear is a whiney "Na Na! Na Na!" Too funny.

A Few of My Favorite Things...

2007-04-07T11:24:00.000-07:00

...Well material favorite things that is. I was pretending that my camera was a digital rebel- which it so obviously isn't and taking pictures of a couple of the vain things that i love on one of those days where everything just makes you happy. I love days like that. So here are a few of my favorite vain things...

Bumble & Bumble hair products. I just love them. They work in my hair and I appreciate that- plus thy smell really good. The pink bottle of hairspray is probobly one of the best hair products to ever grace my hair. If you hate having a helmet head when you use hairspray and if you hate that crusty hairspray smell- then you will love this because it is the opposite! Find the whole line at Drugstore.com.

My 3 favorite make up products. #1 Sugar by Fresh. It's a mix between chapstick and gloss. (Find it online at Fresh.com ) It's is the best ever. #2 Neutrogena's Moisture Shine Gloss. That describes it just about right. Not too sticky or too thick. (Find it at your local drugstore or at Drugstore.com) #3 Anastasia's eye brow pencil. It makes my eyebrows look more even since half of my hairs are blond and half are black! This one is just for blondes but they have them for most hair colors. I thank Krystal for the introduction to this wonderful product. (Find it at Nordstrom )

My favorite earings. Balls of fun. They go with everything. I love navy blue. Wearing them just makes me happy.

Helen Ficalora. Enough said about that, her neckalces are just to die for- find her at Helenficalora.com

Tops from Forever21 . Thank you for making bright colors and cheap stuff to hide my growing belly! This shirt puts me in a good mood. D always whispers, "Taste the Rainbow..." to me when I am wearing it.

The Official Cookie Pannel

2007-04-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

I don't make chocolate chip cookies very often. I didn't even realize that until last week and I wondered why I don't make a delicacy as fine as chocolate chip cookies more often? Then I realized- too many choices- too little time. There are just too many recipes and they are all pretty good so I usually just wait until someone else makes them and then I feast! So I decided to hold a cookie panel.

Every Wednesday Brooke, Caleb and I get together for sibling lunch. This is to ensure that we see each other at least once a week since we are practically neighbors and yet sometimes it just doesn’t happen. So, for as many Wednesdays as there are until I run out of recipes we will be having chocolate chip cookie tasting. This is a very difficult task. In order to be on the panel you must be able to use discretion, you must be a chocolate lover, and you must have cookie loving in your DNA. So as you could imagine, the panel was hard to pick, but I think I did a good job. We will be assessing all kinds of different things. Size, beauty, density, dunk-ability, edibility, best flat cookie, best fluffy cookie, best recipe including oatmeal, best recipe for pizookies, recipe complicity- so you see- you must be highly qualified to do our job. It’s not an easy one.

We started last week (yes it has taken me a whole week to post this) with a famous recipe from back home in Alamo. Martha’s cookies. We found these cookies to be wonderful. They were gooey, and totally crave-able. You wanted to eat 12 but they were too rich. I stopped at 2 and I think Caleb pushed himself all the way to 6. Something to be admired indeed. I was still full from those 2 cookies by dinnertime. They were so dense they didn’t sop up milk very well. For you that like a chocolate chip cookie on the lighter side, these were a bit heavy for Brooke. “Too rich”, she judged. These would make an amazing pizookie. They have the perfect amount of gooey-ness to them. The kids all loved them too!

This week we continued with MR’s Famous Sunday Cookies. This recipe includes oatmeal and is a Tanner family pleaser. I may be in betrayal to the family in saying this, but I liked last weeks better- don’t get mad! Caleb agreed with me only eating 2 cookies this week. (I think.) Brooke preferred these ones because they weren’t so rich. They were better to dunk with milk- a good absorption rate- and they were crispier as opposed to gooey. This recipe is also a bit more finicky- you have to follow a precise procedure to get the best end result. However, if you are into cookie eating for sport, you could eat a lot more of these ones- I know I have had many Sundays full from overdosing on these.

Please feel free to join us every Wednesday to be a part of the cookie panel. I will post all recipes (This week and last weeks are below) and if any of you think that you have a really good chocolate chip cookie recipe then please pass me the recipe so I can try it out one week. We would like to be eating lots of cookies for many Wednesdays to come!

Martha’s Cookies

1 lb. real butter
1 lb. C&H dark brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. salt
6 cups flour
4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugars, and eggs together. Then add the remaining
ingredients. Bake at 350 for 10-11 minutes.

Just a little Martha hint. Don't pack the flour....kind of sift around
the flour and then get a loose cup full of flour.

MR’s Famous Sunday Cookies

Cream:
1 lb. butter (softened)
2c Brown Sugar
2c White Sugar

Add:
4 Eggs (Room Temp)
Add one egg at a time mixing in between

Add:
2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
Mix together.

Add 1 cup at a time, alternating ingredients:
5c Oats
4c Flour

Add:
1-2c semi sweet chocolate chips (or to taste)

Bake at 400 for about 11 minutes until edges are turning gold brown (These will continue to cook a bit after taking them out- I think because of the oatmeal?)

Bad Day Gone Good

2007-03-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

I had kind of a wacky day today. I have weird days more than the avergae person, I think. The Baby was up for hours last night- who on earth knows why, and I had to wake him up from his nap this morning to do something for a friend that ended up not needing to be done... So then, since He was up, we ran some errands, which included dropping off the dry cleaning. By the time we left the dry cleaners the baby had a stinky diaper so I changed it in the front seat of my car while He played with my keys. After that, I threw the keys onto the middle console and shut the door to put Him in his carseat. Low and behold, he had hit the lock button and i was locked out of the car, where everything was. Cell phone, wallet... most imporatanly Keys. So I borrowed the cleaners phone and summoned my sister Brooke to come rescue me. She did so as a dilgent sister would do and by the time she got there to pick me up, I was laughing so hard- sitting on my lone metal chair that they placed outside for me to wait on by myslef in front of the cleaners- that I was crying. I just thought it was so funny because these things DO happen to me- so often! Anyway, Brooke saved the day and drove me home to pick up my extra keys. After that she brought me back to my car and we decided to go to lunch where we enjoyed hours of lauging, talking, good weather, a funny baby, and mushy talk about our love for Edward. (You Twilight readers, you know what I am talking about here!) After that we made a few pit stops. One into this beautiful grocery store AJ's that makes you want to become a master chef because the food is so beautiful, where we laughed at sticky notes for longer than we should have and bought some sugar and nuts. Then onto Rolfs where I finally found my over-priced Bumble & Bumble products that I have been desperately searching for. Then after that onto Barnes & Noble where she picked up a couple new copies of Twilight & New Moon. While we were checking out there was another Twilight obsessive buying New Moon at the counter and we talked about our rediculous love for the books and made a date to see eachother at the Eclipse Prom! (Again, you Twilight people know what I am talking about!) So funny. So could a kind of unlucky girl be any luckier than to end up with a most wonderful sister and friend like that? You know, those kind that can make you laugh so hard just by seeing them that you cry, and the kind that can talk about fictional characters for hours like they are real, and the kind that can make your stinky day turn into totally and utterly happy one? This lucky girl has 3 of those.

The Zoo

2007-03-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

Last week on the ONLY rainy day that we will see for months, Jillian and I decided to go to the Zoo. Bad planning on our part. Anyway, it was pure insanity because I had the little guy and Ava, my friends baby. Jillian had her 3 nieces plus Berkley, her baby. It was pouring when we got there and then we had about 30 minutes to see all the animals that we could before we had to take shelter under a tent while it poured again. Afterwhich, we promptly returned to the car and by the time we got home- EVERYONE was asleep. Kind of a nightmare, but a memorable one. Plus, Jillian did meet a cool guy there...

The Whole Bunch

My Personal Favorite- Jillian and her boyfriend. This weirdo stalked her and finally got the nerve to see if she would take a picture with him. Very funny.

The little couple. They were so excited to be at the zoo- can you tell?

Weekend In Review

2007-03-26T14:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend was fairly lame considereing that Hubby was still out of town in Boston. He didn't get home until late Saturday night. It is so nice to have him home. I don't know how I would do life without him! So here is my dull weekend in review by pictures... the pictures make it seem a little more exciting than it actually was!

There was lots and lots of drool from my teething boy.

Followed by the miraculous break-through of his 4th tooth that you can't see very well in this picture- but believe you me- it is there! This picture really cracks me up... it doesn't even look like him!

I got summoned for Jury Duty... again. I ignored the first one- apparently it didn't work!

My friend delivered a wonderful array of our "Fat Clothes" that she is done with since she had her darling baby Noah- and they are now sadly hanging in my closet- waiting for my belly to grow and grow and grow.

I made these deliciious looking brownies that are called S'more Brownies. I got the recipe from the Food Network Website because I saw the picture and couln't help myself! Sadly they look much prettier than they taste. They weren't bad- they just weren't worth the work. Too many tastes going on. Brownies are good alone, and s'mores are good alone. No thanks for the combo.

Here are the remainders of the talk that I satyed up until 1 AM on Friday preparing for chruch on Sunday. Thanks to all of you who gave me imput- it really helped!

The movies that I occupied my nights with while Hubby was gone. I only liked one of them- The Holiday. Please let me beg of you- never, NEVER watch Marie Antoinette- such a disappointment!

And Finally- A sippie cup that Baby Boy will drink from. He still won't hold it by himself, but he will drink from it. Hey, that's something! Thanks for the tip Sally.

Baby #2

2007-03-19T15:34:00.000-07:00

I had my first ultra sound of this pregnancy today, and since Daddy is out of town for the week I figured I would put our first pictures of the newest member of our family up so he could see the little person. Isn't it cute, babe? Well, the pictures kind of stink but it was way better in real life and I was so shocked to see how much of a person is already in there. Nothing was missing. Fingers, toes, nose, belly, eyes... all of it. I forgot how fast it all happens. Such a miracle- beyond belief. What a blessing.

When I saw the very first ulta sound of our first baby I knew right away that he was a boy- I could just tell because his profile just looked like such a boy- and he still does just look all boy. I couldn't tell with this one though... but it may have your nose, Babe. Not sure, but I thought I saw a little glimpse of you there.

The baby is looking at us in this one. That is the front of its face and the front of its belly... and two arms on the sides.

This one is a profile shot. i wish you could see it better- I could see it so well on the screen. Fun, huh?

And for those of you who have been asking- I am 13 weeks along now and due in the end of September.

Back to Reality

2007-03-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

We spent the last wonderful week of our lives Spring Breaking in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. It was so fun and realaxing. The Toonsie Boy is such a water baby and actually got a tan which is so funny! All of his little cracks and crevices are still white- I love that! We laid by the pool, went to the beach, slept, conquered Sudoku, and ate so much mexican food that I don't care if I have any more for many months to come. I can only handle eating the same ingerdients prepared slightly differently for so long...

He LOVES his Daddy. He is attatched at the hip after this last week together.

The sand was a new fun thing to him- until he realized he couldn't get it off of his hands easily.

Pre-tan, lathered in LOTS of 50 SPF and eyeballing the lazy river- his favorite.

So now we are back to reality. My house is a mess and is in dire need of spring cleaning. But I think we missed spring while we were out of town because we came back to 90 degree weather... yes thats right folks, in March. Yuck. Hubby will be off to Boston on a school trip to visit MIT and meet big wig developers and I will be lonely and losing my Mommy mind- no doubt. Teething is no fun! Anyway, I think that if I manifest the things that I want to accomplish and put them out there into the blogiverse that I might accomplish more of my goals that have gone ignored for way too long now. So here they are. (Sorry, bare with me- this is purely for me!)

-Have the flange of Moms pillows redone at the work room
-Get mom a b-day gift & send it
-Send Karas b-day gift
-Hang things up in my room that have been sitting on the ground since painting... months ago
-De-Clutter the house in general (that might take a while- i have really let things pile up this time)
-Get Babys clothes organized and pack away the ones that don't fit anymore
-Send antique kitchen items to Britt
-Fill all empty picture frames
-Get all the pictures into the baby book

Okay, so that looks like a lame list I realize, but those are all things I have just put off and it is time to just get them done for heavens sake!

100 Things About Us

2007-03-05T13:17:00.000-08:00

1. We were married October 11th
2. He has 4 brothers, one sister, She has 3 sisters, one brother
3. He grew up in AZ, She grew up in CA
4. We both know we will probably never leave AZ, even if we may secretly want otherwise (mostly She)
5. We love to travel
6. We don't like to have "plans" when we are vacationing
7. Our first date was a Nelly concert
8. She kissed Him on the first date
7. And She was happy She did it
8. We both just got released from the Primary, where we have both been for 2 years!
9. He always knows how to make people laugh
10. She thinks He is the funniest person that She has ever known
11. We like to work out
12. We were married in Oakland, CA
13. We both love family more than anything else
14. We both want 4 or 5 kiddies
15. We already have one and another on the way... 1/2 way there!
16. We really want to plan a trip to Holland
17. We both love our baby boy more than life itself
18. We love any town that has a beach
19. We will probably never spend a 4th of July anywhere but Montana
20. We both believe in God
21. We are 4 years apart in age
22. We are all gemini's
23. He will only play Scrabble, Risk, or Settlers of Katan- She will play anything... Accept for Risk
24. She is musical, He thinks He isn't, but He is
25. We are best friends
26. We both own our own businesses
27. We both want to live in a house that doesn't look like it is in the desert
28. He is a morning person, She is a retired night owl
29. We can both go to bed with dirty dishes in the sink
30. We rarely want to eat the same thing
31. She hogs most of the dessert
32. We have both lived abroad- He, Holland & Spain- She, England
33. We both think that we grew up in the best place ever, even though those places are different
34. We both like plants, but don't like yardwork
35. We love to be on the lake in MT when it's 10:30 PM and it should be dark, but it's not
36. We like to ride jet skis
37. We are pretty good runners
38. Niether of us enjoy the cold for very long... Snow is good to visit
39. We both like to be spooned, so we take turns being in the back
40. He eats more saltines that She does while She's pregnant
41. We both love yellow cake with chocolate frosting and a tall glass of milk, and often make it for no occasion accept that we feel like eating it
42. Thriftys ice cream is our favorite
43. We both love to spend time with family
44. He wants a litter of boys, She wants at least one girl
45. We both rather eat at home
46. We love the movies
47. We don't really like watching movies more than once
48. She knows the words to most songs, He makes all the words up
49. Someday we want a lake house in Montana
50. We dated for over a year
51. We found out we were pregnant on our 2 year anneversary
52. Baby 1 was due on Her birthday, but came a little early
53. We found out we were pregnant with Baby 2 on His brothers (Rocky & Krystal) 2 year anneversary
54. We don't watch scary movies
55. We both love dogs, now that we have our own
56. His hair is thick and black, her hair is thin and blonde
57. We both bite our nails
58. She is a hopeless romantic, He is a realist
59. We are all loud
60. Neither of us drink soda, but He likes to cheat... a lot
61. He has a Go-ped to ride around the block, She thinks that is cute
62. We both have our own MACs and our own iPods because we don't like to share
63. We root for the same teams (most of the time)
64. He is getting a Masters from ASU
65. We will both be happy when He is done
66. Niether of us like school very much
67. He likes to read about politics and history, she will read almost anything
68. She likes to scrapbook
69. He loves to have pictures all around the house
70. Our opinions differ on what should go up on the fridge
71. We enjoy the same peoples company
72. He is good at making friends
73. We like to watch Lost, The Office, and Rob & Big
74. We both listen to "The Heart" on XM radio
75. We sat next to Nicholas Cage two nights in a row in Las Vegas. Both nights he was wearing a snake skin suit and sunglasses... Amazing.
76. We love to watch old show seasons on DVD
77. He loves MASH
78. She likes bright colors, and refuses to live in an all brown home- He is okay with that
79. We got engaged on the 2 year anneversary of his return from his mission
80. He woke up at sunrise every morning on our honeymoon- She would have slept all day if He let her
81. We like to eat breakfast for dinner
82. He eats chips on Sundays
83. She is half neat freak, half utter chaos
84. He likes to shave his head, She likes it long. She likes to cut her hair short, He likes it long.
85. We all have blue eyes
86. The boys both have longer eye lashes than She does
87. We both love Thin Mints
88. He has an extremely long memory, She has a very short one.
89. He prefers ice cream, She prefers baked goods
90. We both have good friends
91. We both like to go to the horse races
92. We both like to host get togethers for any occasion
93. He likes to sleep on the couch sometimes
94. He's a yellow/red, She's a yellow/blue
95. We are pretty sure we could win the Amazing Race
96. Once He actually sent an audition tape into Survivor
97. He said "I Love You" first
98. She was wearing a bikini both when he first said "I Love You" and when he proposed- Hmm...
99. We got engaged in the hot tub, now dubbed the "Love Tub" There were fireworks, real ones over the lake, because I said "Yes"
100. We both feel lucky to have each other

Big Boy

2007-03-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted any pictures of The Babe in a while because I have been slacking off. Amazing how this pregnancy has completely debiliated me... Anyway, since I am aware that the reason that most of you come here is to see Him anyway- here you go! Some of my most recent favorites...

Getting to work around the house with Daddy. He wants to be big so bad!

Our first attempt at any kind of hairstyle... this was supposed to be a mohawk... i think it may take us some time to get there, or anywhere with the hair issue for that matter!

His new favortie spot to find mischeif- UNDER the excersaucer. He thinks it is so cool that he can get under there all by himself!

Wearing his very first tie to church with his smoldering father.

Oooooh, i just love my boys to death!

Another One Bites the Dust

2007-02-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

So I have been lost once again for the past 24 hours reading Stephenie Meyer's second book, New Moon. I read yet another 500 page novel in about 24 hours. Picked up the book from the book store on Monday night, finished the book by Tuesday night. I OFFICIALLY have issues. Not to mention a crush on a vampire. I just had to finish so I could come back to reality for good. I am safe now, at least until her third book is released in the late summer. Now I am spending a day coming down off my bubble, often catching myself daydreaming about different lines, phrases, and imagining scenes in my head. This is why sometimes I just shouldn't even start reading. I create all these addictive behaviors and all of the sudden I am lost somewhere in my mind, not to mention utterly anti-social. It was good though and if you take my advice and read the first book, then you should definaltey read the second as well. I found myself myself sobbing through parts of the book. Maybe that's the pregnancy kicking in there... I hope so. We all knew I was a shmuck already, but this has gotten out of hand!

Submerged

2007-02-26T08:05:00.000-08:00

For the past two days I have been totally and utterly submerged. I was bloggie browsing sometime last week when I can upon blog entries from Rachel and Laurel that sparked my interst. They had both read the same book and raved about it. I have to admit I was incredibly skeptical. Vampires? For real? But knowing how much these two read and trusting them I decided if they loved it that much I would give it a shot since I would be bored "babysitting" my brother-in -law and sister-in law (ages 13 & 14) while their parents were away. I didn't start reading Twilight until Saturday afternoon and I finished reading the 500 page novel last night. Yes, that would be Sunday Night. So as you can see, I have been completely submerged. I hardly wanted to eat or sleep (which is mostly all I do these days.) It was an inconvenience to be doing anything other than reading.

Don't you love it when you find a book that does this to you? I recently read Nora Ephrons I Feel Bad About My Neck in which she writes a whole chapter "On Rapture", in which she exlpains wonderfully exactly how I have been feeling about this book. She explains, "There's something called the rapture of the deep, and it refers to what happens when a deep sea diver spends too much time at the bottom of the ocean and can't tell which way is up. When he surfaces, he's liable to have a condition called the bends, where the body can't adapt to the oxygen levels in the atmosphere. All this happens to me when I surface from a great book." Thanks for the words Nora, that explains it well enough.

My hubby was so annoyed at my lack of attention to him (and to food). He kept teasing me with things like, "He hon, I just ordered you some new tall black Dr. Martens with spikes on them." He thinks I am finding a new love for the gothic lifestyle now that I so utterly enjoyed a book about Vampires. But seriously, you should read it. Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Hopelessly romantic and engaging. I wanted to be there, to be them. I was so sad when I was done, but my family is glad to have me back to reality!

Meme Monday: Four Things

2007-02-17T09:11:00.000-08:00

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Hollister (Yuck)
2. Jeff Landry Design
3. Landmark Interiors
4. Business Owner, Fine` Designs

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Pride & Prejudice
2. Cluesless (an icon of my era)
3. French Kiss
4. Oceans 11

Four places you have lived:
1. Massachusettes
2. California (My Favorite)
3. Utah
4. Arizona

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Greys Anatomy (What the heck about this weeks episode??)
2. Gilmore Girls (Also what the heck?)
3. Top Design/ Project Runway/ Top Chef (All the same idea during different TV seasons)
4. The Office

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Italy
2. Tahiti
3. Virgin Gorda
4. Guatemala

Four favorite foods:
(I am not answering pregnant foods because you would be so grossed out!)
1. Steak
2. Fruit
3. Pretty much any baked good (Namely Pazookies!)
4. Pees

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. The beach
2. The mountains
3. Europe (why not?)
4. In Bed... i could sleep all day if you let me these days...

My McBaby

2007-01-30T22:10:00.000-08:00

This is my babys newest face. He scrunches his face and breathes really fast and loud through his nose when he gets excited or impatient. I wish I could show you a video of it- it's the funniest thing ever. He is my McBaby, because he is so dreamy!

Positively 1,2,3...4

2007-01-30T13:14:00.000-08:00

So, one of my New years Resolutions was insipred by Boho Girl this year. She decided to rediscover her sexualtiy. I thought that this was a wonderful resolution. Not to give too much information, but what marriage couldn't use a little more sexuality, spontinaity, and passion? I decided to go for it.

So, our new journey for the new year began- days came and went wonderfully, and all of the sudden I realized, I had lost track of days. What day of the week is it? What is the date today? Until one day... it became crucial to know what day it was. I will positivley remember this day. January 22... I am positive.

Seriously... I litterally mean positive! So, SURPRISE! Surprise to us, surprise to you. Surprise, there is going to be a baby number 2! We are happy, and nervous, and lovingly awaiting this arrival that may come a bit quickley, but until then, we are pacing ourselves. Baby number one has no idea that he is becoming a big brother to baby number two because he understands very little at this point, being only 8 months old, but he is excited because he can tell that we are excited.

And,yes this shirt is huge on him because the smallest size it comes in is a 2T. I don't think that the T-shirt makers expect people to be pulling a "Britney Spears", but hey, we did. And we are excited about it. So here is to New Years Resolutions. And here is to 1, 2, 3...4 and a dog. Even if 3 and 4 are only 15 months apart (YIKES!) and even if I will be a mother of 2 at the ripe young age of 23 (DOUBLE YIKES!). So in preparation, I am trying to convince myself that if anyone has the energy for two tiny people so close in age, that it is me, right? Right. And I already know that I got the best Daddy around who doesn't mind helping and getting involved and loves babies to death, so He will be my saving grace through all if this. We will positivley make a fabulous 4, I am sure.

Finally! A Nursery at 8 Months!

2007-01-27T14:54:00.000-08:00

It only took me until he was almost 8 months old to actually finish his room, but horray! The long awaited room is finally done! (I was waiting on my chair you see...) So here it is, I am really happy with it. Now all I need to do is put more exciting stuff on his bulletin boards and fill the rest of the picture frames. It is cozy, and soft, and boyish and sweet, just like I wanted it to be and just like my boy!

Please Notice the picture of my cute boy in his Daddys arms in this one. Oh, it is to die for- he was such a tiny man.

Oh, and by the way, my paint isn't messed up- it is striped in glossy & flat paint...

Dribbles

2007-01-24T22:15:00.000-08:00

Has anyone noticed how long I have been reading The Audacity of Hope? Yeah, thats cause I never make the time to actually sit down and read it.

Is anyone else having problems posting blogs because youget too busy reading everyone elses and then by the time you are going to write something you are too tired and figure you should just cute your losses and go to bed?

Did anyone else eat dinner after 9 PM because it was just that kind of day?

I finished (FINALLY) the baby's room today and I love, love, love it! When he isn't sleeping in it I will take some pictures to show it off because i am so happy with how it turned out.

Have you ever been so busy that you can't find enough time to finish anything but at te same time you are so utterly bored?

Does anyone elses husband still play Xbox? Seriously? Seriously... I am so over it. I can only hear him say, "Medic, I need a medic..." so many more times...

If you are like me and reading everyone elses blog, then you should read my friend Marys blog, especially the entry "picture my tree." I really liked it a lot.

Is anyone else having issues being effeicient recently? I don't know what my problem is.

Em- are those really pictures of your closets on the header of your blog? I am DYING to know.

Has anyone ever sold anything on Craigs list before? What do you do when the buyer wants to come see the item? I find that creepy and haven't replied for days... even though it makes perfect sense that they would want to see the chair before they buy it. Hmmm...

Does anyone know of a really good carpet cleaner? It was one of those kinds of mornings the other day and my baby threw his book and the sqaure thing just rolled and rolled until it hit my protein shake and knocked the whole thing over. That really ticked me off because I really wanted to drink it, and that is so my luck that a sqaure item would roll so far. Anyway, now I am ticked because my carpet really smells bad and it is brownish and crusty. Any ideas anyone? I need something here...

Just some dribbles of my thoughts.

Night.

Slip Away

2007-01-21T19:49:00.000-08:00

There are a few places in which I can slip away. Places of fantasy and delight. Places where the baby isn't crying, and I am not sitting on the ground unshowered, and the dirty dishes are no longer sitting in the sink. I love to slip into these places. My husband loves to make fun of me when I "slip". You see, these places are all romatic places, with riveting love stories, and characters that you really feel like you are friends with. Okay so now you get to laugh, because yes, my romantic slip away places are indeed certain movies or TV shows... but who gives? I love to feel things. (Please note: I finally figured out how to do italics on this computer! Hooray for me!) And if I have to slip away into some characters frame of mind to really feel that pain, love, suffering, humiliation, awkwardenss, fear, shear joy... whatever the emotion, then who really cares? I just don't have all of those emotions in my day to day life (believe me, I am not complaining!) but every once in a while I still want to just feel them. So I slip away into my moments of fantasy.

Some of my favorite places to find fantasy? Grey's Anatomy, The Office (you laugh, I know, but nobody can make you feel more embarassed than our dear Michael Scott), Pride & Prejudice, my fellow bloggies, Tuesdays With Maurie bu Mitch Albom. The Hubby was laughing at a conversation that I had with my sister the other day about Isaiah Washington and his recent controversy with T.R. Knight. Should he be kicked off of Grey's? But wait, I like his character! Needless to say, we talked about him as if we truly have some influence on the outcome. We don't, but it is all part of the fantasy.

And can I just end with a note that most of the time feeling other peoples emotions is so much more fun than feeling your own? Not necessarily more beneficial, but definately more fun.

I Have An Idea...

2007-01-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

I am just going to post some fun pictures because I hvae been gone, none of you have gotten to see my darling boy recently. Here he is...

Just my favorite picture of all time. He was in the bouncer jumping like crazy and just decided to give me the most perfect happy face ever!

Playing with all of his Christmas loot!

Looking like such a boy. Thanks for the shoes Uncle Rocky & Aunt Krystal!

Playing tickle with Daddy. Couldn't you just eat him up? I do it all the time!

So there is my bright idea. If you want to see more bright ideas go to the Sunday Scribbling website, which I would link you to if I knew how to do so on my Mac, but I don't... Grrrr... Such a Love/ Hate relationship!

The Best Beauty Tip Ever

2007-01-11T20:29:00.000-08:00

I have this friend and she is great. She is my best friend and she always keeps me up to date. She recently shared with me one of (I think) the best kept beauty secrets of all time. This tip is so incredibly wonderful that I think that if you don't know it, then you definitely should! Okay, so if you are anything like me then sometimes you get a little lazy and you just don't feel like going through the whole hair process on a daily basis, but also if you are anything like me, then the day after you just washed and did you hair it is already looking yucky and greasy. Solution? Baby Powder. Just put some baby powder on your hands and run it through your hair at the roots. Do as much or al little as you want and concentrate it onto the particularly greasy looking parts and tada! Your hair looks ten times better, less greasy, and is also more pliable. It is wonderful! For those of you who need the "real thing", you can buy a product made for this purpose made by Bumble and Bumble (sold only at certain hair salons I think...) and they make it colored specifically for blondes, brunettes, or red heads. However, beware because my friend that taught me the trick said that she tried it and then went to the gym and she was sweating brunette and it looked like dirt... Yuck! Anyway, a highly effective technique that I would suggest to anyone, and most of us mommys just have it lying around anyway. Good luck, hope you like it as much as I do!

Absent!

2007-01-10T21:17:00.000-08:00

Wow. How I miss my little bloggie community! Here are 20 reasons that I have been absent from the bloggie world.
1. Christmas
2. Traveling to NH to see my lovely sister and her darling family
3. Traveling to MT for Christmas
4. Traveling to UT for weddings
5. Christmas Cards... these beautiful cursed things... let me explain. When I went to my sisters house and she has a company, Cottage Road Designs, so we made these glorious cards for Christmas and worked really hard on them so I could take them home with me and get them out in time for Christmas. The card includes a DVD slideshow of pictures. So fun right? Right. But then I didn't get the slideshow done before I went out of town and I fooled myself into thinking that I would get it done while I was gone. Yeah, that didn't happen. And then I got an iMAC for Christmas which is amazing, but if you are not used to it, it takes some getting used to. So it took me like 6 days to figure out how to work iMovie HD. Confusing... and I would like to think of myself as semi- computer savvy. Anyway, My cards still haven't gone out because I am currently...
6. Burning 80 copies of my DVDs for my 80 cards!! Never Again! If you ever decided to do a DVD in your Christmas card I would suggest keeping your list decently short so you do not have to spend eons burning disks. Then again that is unless you are extremely efficient with a stop watch like my sister Brooke!
7. Figuring out the computer
8. Trying to get my house organized
9. Arranging and re-arranging furniture in my freshly painted mater bedroom and my babies room. They look cute in case you are wondering- or at least they will whenever I can figure out exactly how I want the furniture and I get everything up on the walls!
10. Catching up on bills
11. Trying to get back to the gym
12. Waiting in hour long lines at the post office
13. Reading Nora Ephrons I Feel bad About My Neck and Other toughts on Being a Woman- hilarious in case you were wondering. A truly funny woman is a scarce thing to find.
14. Thinking about getting RE tested for ADD for my recent inability to be efficient. Yikes. It's bad. They said that I didn't have ADD but I am starting to wonder...
15. Still figuring out my computer- does anyone know how to blog in italics on a MAC? That easy little button just isn't there anymore... whats with that?
16. Taking care of my baby (7 Months is the best age ever! Did you know that? I can't take my eyes off of that cute thing!) and even more so taking care of my Hubby
17. Introducing Solids... which sounded so fun, until I did it and realized it is just time consuming and very messy.
18. Figure out my computer still... How do you link on a MAC? That button is missing too! This stinks!
19. A recent infatuation with the Food Network. Does anybody love Giada as much as I do?
20. Making lots of dinners... Why does it feel like I have been making so many dinners lately? Hmmm. Maybe it is the influence of the Food Network...

Miss you all! Hopefully I will be back soon to tell you of my adventures and to show you pictures of my darling boy.

Arch Nemesis

2006-12-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

I have really had to think about this prompt for a while. You would think that it wouldn't be so hard to figure out who your mortal enemy is. And one day, sitting in my house it suddenly came to me and it began with a simple phone call.

Thurday 8:45 PM
"Hi, may I speak with the head of the household please?"
"He's not in right now."
"Is your mother home?"
"Nope, she is gone as well." (They don't know that I am the mother in the household.)
"We will try back later." (Click.)

Soliciters. I can't stand these people. Don't bother putting up a "No Solicitng" sign, or signing up for the "Do Not Call" list, there is no way to escape this evil. It will haunt you and come to your door when you are trying to get in the shower. It will interupt you right in the middle of your family dinner. The never ending phone calls will wake your baby into the night. Why, why? Why do you seek to destroy all that is pleasant and good in the world? And why do you try to sound so cheery while you are doing it?

If you can't tell, I have had some bad experiences with soliciters. Let's face it, I am a sucker who can't say no. I don't like to be mean or rude. I hate to shut the door on someone, or to hang up on a real human being mid sentence. So that makes me their target audience, just ask my Husband. For my own protection, I am no longer allowed to open the door for these people because I will simply end up doing something stupid. Would you like 20 magazines for 20 dollars for 20 years? Yes please! Would you like one DVD each month for 32 months for the low and fair price of just 39.99 a each month? Yes please! (For your information, these are real sales pitches that to my Husbands utter dismay I have actually fallen for.) Just don't tell me that I have to pay 40 dollars for each magazine next month. And don't give me a chance to do the math to suddenly realize that maybe buying one DVD for 39.99 every month for 32 months really isn't a good deal. $1200.00 for 32 DVDs is not a good deal, right? I don't like these people. I don't like how they intend to take advantage of my good nature. I don't like their manipulation and scare tactics. Mostly because they work on softies like me!

So I finally had it. About 5 weeks after I had my baby he was finally taking a nap. People say that babies just sleep all day, they LOVE to sleep. I did not have one of those kinds of babies. My baby needed some training. So he was finally sleeping, and this was my chance- it was my chance to do something amazing and wonderful- it was my chance to shower! I was ready, the shower is on, it's getting steamy, the clothes are coming off. DING DONG! Who is here? Was I expecting someone? I throw some milk stained clothes on quickly, and run to the door. I peek through my window. Two men. Do I know them? Dang, they saw me. I open the door. "Hi, are you Mrs. So and So?" Yup, unfortunaltely thats me. One things leads to another and then another and all of the sudden the guy is asking me for the name of an Interior Designer in Utah and they are trying to come into my kitchen and cook a meal for me. I have been trying to get them to go away for a while now- why won't they just leave? The clock is ticking rapidly, who knows how long this nap will last. My anxiety is growing- they are making me feel claustrophobic. My mind is churning, "Please, this shower, I desperately NEED this shower for my sanity." The only way I could finally get them to leave was by making an appointment with them so they could come back to try to sell me their crappy frozen food again some other time. They leave. My cell phone rings, it's Bubby. I yell at my brother on the phone as he asks me where I am and "Are yo u coming for lunch?" "Yes I am coming! After I can get in the shower! Is that so much to ask for!? A shower!?" He is lost. Why is she yelling? Should we be worried about her? Yes, you should be worried, I have lost my mind all because of a relentless soliciter wearing a COUGARS hat. Kill me now.

So later that day my brother gave me great advice. He told me not to be there when they come back. To leave a note on the door that says, "You wasted my time, and now I am wasting yours." And I actually did it. These people got in my head and brought out the worst in me, and I lowered myself to their level and I manipulated, and took advantage, and did something mean.

I dread these people to this day. I don't even put the phone to my ear to actually hear who's voice it is that I am hanging up on. And I don't care if they see me look right at them through my window, only proceeding to lock my door and walk away. You are my Arch Nememsis you loathsome heathens.

Here Comes Santa Clause

2006-11-30T20:53:00.000-08:00

Today my friend Jillian and I went to this fun little thing. There are some cute stores on the main street in town and they were having a little benefit to help raise money to find a cure for children's Diabetes. There were crafts for the kiddies, (obviously our little ones did not partake!) and there was watery hot cocoa, and Margaritas (Man those hit the spot..ha ha). Anyway- the part that we really went for was Santa- "Arizonas Best Santa" to be precise! My little man just loved Santa- well mostly he just wanted to pull on his beard- but he looked pretty darn cute doing it- and Santa didn't seem to mind either.

My Little Man Smiling for Santa
He has been a good boy this year- well, at least the half of it that he has been alive for!

They are totally into it- can't you tell?

Sorry about the bad quality of the picture- they took the pictures for us, and they were not very good quality to begin with and then I topped it off with the good ole' scanner... After all- We weren't there for quality pictures- we were there for charity. Right, Jill?

3-Day Fall

2006-11-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

Fall is such a beautiful season. It's definitely one of my favorite seasons. Fall comes and when it does, it enwraps the life around it. Fall brings so many things for us. New beginnings- nature becomes bare, to take a break and to later blossom and bare fruit for us once again in the spring. Fall brings the cold- a time to bundle up and become a home body. Time to drink cocoa and cider, time to snuggle up in blankets, and time to start wearing socks again. Fall brings excitement. The nostalgia of the upcoming holidays. School children get back into the swing of things and they will all too soon be ready for another break. The fall is such a wonderful time. Sometimes it brings the first snow. It usually has that one last hot day- the one that came out of no where- summer peeking in again, reminding us to look forward to next year, and it's new summer journeys. The fall symbolizes a full circle for me.

As I already wrote, over Thanksgiving we went home to California. When I left Arizona, it was 80 degrees. It was becoming annoying and I was so ready for my beloved fall to come. When I came back on Sunday it was all of a sudden cold- in the 50's. (That is cold for here folks.) And yesterday as I left Safeway with a Starbucks peppermint hot cocoa in my hand, I suddenly realized that I missed it. I missed the fall. Fall is always too short here, but this year was a whole different story. We must have had a 3-Day Fall, and it was on the 3 days that I was absent. The leaves never fell, they don't do that here- and the colors didn't change- that doesn't happen here either. I am trying to adjust to those details... But I always get that cooling- the refreshment from the sun, and here, that is our own little way of coming into the fall. Aparently this year it happened without me, and all in just 3 lousy days. So all of the sudden, here I am- tossed into the winter without one bit of preparation. I am truly saddened by this.

I did however get glimpses of other peoples fall this year. I saw the Baltimore leaves at the end of their change, all the people were walking around in their new winter coats. And I saw Northern California's beautiful roots. I do know one thing- nobody knows how to celebrate the fall in all of it's beauty as my mother does- look for yourself. So cheers to you fall. Sorry I missed you this year... Please stay longer next time.

The Baby Enjoying Baltimore

My Moms Living Room

My Moms Family Room

City Boy

2006-11-26T20:43:00.000-08:00

This weekend while visiting my parents in California we went into the city- our city- the city by the bay. San Francisco. Can I just say, I love that city? I do. I love the BART. I love the feel. I love the vendors, the cutures, the hills. I love most things about the city.

My sisters kids were desperatley needing an outing. Any outing- just to get out of the house. So we rode the BART into the city (also Hubby's first ride on BART- I hadn't realized he had never been on it!)

First we hit the Metreon. A huge movie theatre with arcades and virtual bowling. The baby was on overload. His game of choice? Wheel of Fortune!

Next we hit good old Blondies pizza- a great bit of nostalgia- and we even ran into old friends there. After that we went to Union Square to check out the Christmas tree.

I was so proud of my boy. He is a city boy indeed. He did so well! He took a nap on the BART- the best way to ride it, and he just soaked up the city! We were there way past his bedtime but he was such a good boy- because he is a city boy! Always moving, so curious to see this new world. He didn't mind the cold- he is like my dad, always warm.

He loved the Christmas tree in Union Square and he EVEN loved Blondies pizza! He kept eating my crust- licking it up as fast as he could. My boy is a city boy- and I couldn't be happier about it. I love the city too...

Thankful

2006-11-26T20:23:00.000-08:00

Having just utterly indulged in a most delicious Thanksgiving dinner, and having seen wonderful family, and wonderful friends, in a wonderful place- I thought that I should be Thankful.

Thankful for Family
Thankful for a Loving Hubby
Thankful for a Sweet Child
Thankful for Eating a First Food on a First Thanksgiving
Thankful for Friends
Thankful for A Puppy
Thankful for Friends Willing to Take Care of a Puppy
Thankful for God
Thankful for my Country
Thankful for Religion
Thankful for Love
Thankful for the Upcoming Holidays
Thankful for Cheer
Thankful for Delicious Food
Thankful for Personal Growth
Thankful for Always Learning
Thankful for a Home
Thankful for My Earth
Thankful for So Much Happiness

Hero

2006-11-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

My Hero is a man
Far greater than myself
A friend unconditional
A Savior to us all

He walked the earth
Down trodden paths
He spoke soft, gentle words
Followers listened still

He taught of love
He taught of life
He taught of forgivness
From our father up above

You too can be heros
He told these normal people
Just listen to my words
And pray for help each day

Heros leave hope
Heros give dreams
Heros perform miracles
Sometimes Heros have to leave us
to do it on our own

I hold a Hero in my heart
I hold one in my mind
I sing about a Hero divine
I speak to him all the time

To read of others Hero's, Click here.

16 So Soon?

2006-11-18T20:45:00.000-08:00

I can see the future in this picture. I see my son as a 16-year old kid. He is saying, "Mom! Dad! Get off me, you are smothering me!"

I never want this day to come... I never want him to make me stop kissing and goobering all over him. I hope that he lets me hold his hand till he is completely grown and long after that. I hope that he lets me hug him as long as I want to forever. I hope that he always looks at me in the same sweet way that he does now.

Is it scary? Is it hard to let them grow up? Is it sad? It happens so fast, I know! Oh, this boy. How do you express love like this? Can anyone tell me? I am not sure that it is possible.

SPC: Glam- POP!

2006-11-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

Glam-POP! Too Hot to Touch.

Um- Excuse me- No Paparazzi Please!

Did you think that I got all glammed up and took my little dog out to go shopping with me just so you could take pictures of me? Oh, Please!

Glam-POP! Didi Didi Bop- Funky, Funky.

Disclaimer: This character is no way shape or form represents my party or it's affiliates. This is an alter- ego, glam-pop sister, diva- donna. Captioning made availible by the maker of the following product... Please stay tuned for more.

For more Glamour, Click here.

What Part is Me?

2006-10-29T20:55:00.000-08:00

Do any of you watch Gilmore Girls? I do. For all of you Oprah watchers and to put it in slightly polite terms, my Husband likes to call it my Va-J-J show. And it is. I find myself wishing that I could talk that fast and that inteligently at the same time! These girls are a riot. I wish they existed and if they did exist I wish they would be my friends.

Anyway, let's get to the point, shall we? I was watching the show a couple of weeks ago and Loralai started to talk about such a true and intersting topic. (For you non- watchers, Loralai is a single mom of daughter Rory and she is whitty, and quick, and extremely funny.) She is questioning herself. She has a strained reolationship with her all too polite and feminine mother and she asks herself- How much of me is because that is who I am, and how much of me is because I didn't want to be who she wanted me to be. So is this making sense? Anyway, it got me thinking. How much of me is because that is just who I am, and how much of me is because of all of the people around me?

Dad- I got your sensitivity, your organizational skills, your temper that is too quick sometimes ( I can only say that because I do it too!), and your legs!

Mom- I got your zest for life, the perfectionist (nothing we do will ever be good enough for ourselves), and your tiny bones.

Brooke- I got the YELLOW in you, and so many things, who knows? Because you were my best friend and I wanted to be JUST LIKE YOU at a very maleable age! I copied your favorite colors, your music, and your boys. You must know that I truly loved Scott- and Mason too!

Britt- I got your creativity, but in a whole different way. AKA the not quite as good way, but it will do, way! I got your sleeping in habits in high school and the hopeless romantic side of you. I think I love Romeo and Juliet all because of you. Thank you for that. Oh, why, why were they star- crossed?

Kara- I got your athletisiscm toned way down, and I always wanted to be active like you were. I was never as good, or quite as fast, but I can thank my tom boy side to you- and I love that side, so thanks. I like that I understand football, and that going to pro sporting events is my idea of fun and that sometimes I can hold my own with the boys.

Caleb- I got your poetic side and your hyper side. You know Mom got me tested for ADD because we are two peas in a pod, and man do we know how to laugh and have a good time!

And I still try to be more like you guys every single day. So, how much of me is really ME? Truth be known- I have no idea, and I don't really care. I am just glad I got all of these peices of each of you. If I hadn't, maybe I wouldn't have ever danced, or cheered so hard at a game, or been quite as social, or read through Shakespeare. There are too many things that I got from my Mom and Dad to even really go into that- I am who I am because of them. And there is the answer to my question. I am all of them, good and bad, bundled into one ball, and there is a bunch of just pure me in there too I think. The best part though, is that i am happy that I am all of them and unlike Loralai- the part of me that is them makes me happy! Love, love, love you all!

Life is Good

2006-10-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

Life is good
Went to the dog park today with the baby in the front pack
He loved watching all the dogs
The weather is getting so nice
Had lunch with my Hubby
It was a gross sandwich, but I didn't mind
I was with Him
Dishes are done
Baby is aleep
He looks so sweet sleeping on his side like that
Still waiting for hubby to come home from a long day at school
I get bored when he's not here
That's a good thing
It means that everything is better with him
Dutch sleeps next to me while I type
He is loyal and smelly and sweet
Halloween decorations are up
I love white pumpkins and warty gourdes
House smells like pumpkin spice
The temperature is just right to open my windows tonight
I can hear the Beatles in the background
Classic
Blackbird- My favorite
Caught up with old friends on the phone today
They are good friends
Peace is here
I am blessed to have so much good
Life is good

Bad Luck Charm

2006-10-19T20:38:00.000-07:00

Okay. Are you ready for some football? Any of you gals that have a husband that watches ESPN even half as much as mine does will know that song. Yeah, I don't really think that some country singer playing a tune singing about football really makes any sense either... but you have to admit it's a catchy one.

I have been to two Monday night football games in the past couple of weeks. Both times the team that I was cheering for fell short... and lost. It is so sad to root for a team when they don't win. It's like you wish you could have been on the feild helping... cause you know I could make such a big difference to those 400 pound linemen- Right? Anyway, so both of my teams lost. Maybe I am a bad luck charm. I don't think that whole "Lady Luck" thing applies to me. I have just one more football game to go to this season. I will let you know how that one goes. I am hoping for a win.

On the bright side- I had so much fun at the Broncos vs Ravens game in Denver with my sister and brother-in-law. Have I mentioned how cool they are? It's so nice when you have those kinds of friends that you can just say or do anything and they won't be like, "Huh??" (i.e. "Dallas, No.") It's even better when those friends happen to be family. So we went to the game and it was cold- but it was okay because my sister brought a thermos with hot cocoa in it and it was quite tastey and "warmed my insides". And it was rainy but it was okay because Kara and Chris made sure that we were bundled tight with all the fixings- beanies, gloves, sweatshirts, coats, ponchos. And my feet were soaking wet, but I was in good company. We had so much fun. I think you can almost tell just how much fun we had from this picture.

Almost.

The Disappearing Memory

2006-10-14T17:23:00.000-07:00

Could it be possible that I am losing my memory already? I go through my days experienceing and seeing things thinking- Oh! I will blog about that- that will be great! And now here I am with a spare moment (finally) and not a darn thought on my mind. No memory of all of those great ideas... just...blank. So sad.

My (Oh So) Vain Self

2006-10-11T22:58:00.000-07:00

I thought I would show you my (Oh So) Vain self for this months Self Portrait Challenge. VAIN adj 1: Of no real value. Could this definition be more right on? As I am sitting here about to write to you about my vast collection of shoes and lip gloss I am thinking of this gloriously true definition. And yet, the (Oh So) vain part of me does not care that these things have no value. That's why I can truly call myself vain (Synonyms: IDLE, WORTHLESS) about this topic. It is true. One of the truly imperfect parts of me is my love for these ridiculous things. I can tell myself that they are ridiculous, and I can tell myself that these things are "Of no real value", but it still won't matter. I will still love them. And that my friends, I believe would put me in the category of VAIN.

What a terrible word that is. VAIN. I am cringing while writing this because I just don't want to believe it. But my closet will tell you otherwise.

I love my shoes. I don't think I could ever have enough. Red, Blue, Pink, Brown, Yellow. Pumps, Flats, Flip Flops, Slippers, Wedges. Cork, Leather, Canvas, Suede. There is no end to how these boxed treasures can make you feel. Frumpy, Comfy, Sexy, Sporty, Classy, Trendy, Funky, Lovely, Preppie, Grumpy (Those are usually the ones that cause blisters). I just love them. And if that makes me vain- so be it, I guess. My two most recent additions are a pair of black and white hounds tooth wedges courtesy of a gift certificate from Kara for my birthday (Thank You!) and some long wanted UGGS courtesy of my hubby for our anniversary. He really knows how to make a girl smile.

My other (Oh So) vain self exists in my bathroom.

I was getting ready for the day about a week ago standing there blow drying my hair with like 4 products, with Crest Whitening Strips on my teeth (They work in case you were wondering) and Jergens lotion that is supposed to help you look more tan awaiting me. (That doesn't really work in case you were wondering.) I just had to laugh at myself. Is any of this stuff really working? Probably not. Well the Whitening Strips were- but was it really working? I wish I could just be one of those girls that has natural waves and a dark complexion to save myself the grief of the word VAIN, but I'm not.

But at the end of the day, the hair gets messed up, the make up comes off, the teeth get brushed because they smell, and I sit on the couch Al Fresco with my hubby (no shoes allowed). We laugh, and talk about our day, and we eat ice cream late at night, and we share love. Those are the moments when I feel the most beautiful. He allows the best me to be utterly and entirely imperfect in all of my vanity.

Trashtalker

2006-10-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

In His Contemplations of what is real, Plato uttered:

"If a baby talks trash in the crib, and nobody is there to hear, did the baby really talk trash?"

450 BC, Greece, Diaposium

Gift

2006-09-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

"You have a gift that only you can give the world- that's the whole reason that you're on the planet. Use your precious energy to build a magnificent life that really is attainable. The miracle of your existence calls for celebration every day."
Oprah Winfrey

I need this posted up somewhere in my house. How come it is so hard to remember that you are a gift? I do have a precious energy. I think that I got it from my Mom. She has it too. And I do feel like I have used it to build a magnificent life- maybe not in the eyes of some people, but it is to me. "You are only 22?" They ask. Yes, and I am married with a child... at the tender age of 22, and I am happy about that. "Oh," they say, "Well what was your major in college?" Well I graduated from a trade school in interior design. "Oh, so is that even like a real degree?" Kind of. I try not to act annoyed at this moment. It was enough to start my own business with. "So who watches the baby while you work?" Nobody. I am not doing too much right now. Just things here and there that I fit in while he is napping. Any of you that I talk to know that those moments are few and far between! "Oh, I see..." What do you see exactly? Do you see failure? Do you see a girl who is one day bound to regret that she didn't ever really "LIVE"? Let me ask you, if this isn't "LIVING" what exactly is? What could be more alive than a fire between a man and a wife? What is more alive than love- A love that works every day. Love that at the end of a good or bad day can say, "I love you." If a child isn't "LIVING" please tell me, what could be more alive? Each breath, each smile, each laugh, each cry is alive in both of us. So do you see failure? Because I see no failure here.

We may not all choose the same path, but we can all "build a magnificent life that really is attainable" in our own way that brings us joy."

I do think that I could be better about celebrating myself every day though. I think tomorrow I will bake a cake, simply to celebrate me! At least it's a good excuse to eat some cake!

Night Owl

2006-09-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

The other day when D and I were house sitting, one of the little girls went to put my baby down for a nap. When I went to get him after he had woken up, he was on his back, which is unusual because he will only sleep on his tummy. "It's a miracle!" I thought- "he actually slept on his back!" After another nap later that day I came to the realization that my little man had learned a new trick- he rolls over! "How Fun!" I was thinking. "This is so cute!" Watching him try to do it is so funny. He kicks his tiny chunky leg back and groans, 'OOOHHHHEEUU' with all his might and he finally makes it on to his side where sometimes gravity kicks in and helps him get onto his back, and sometimes he hasn't quite made it far enough and he ends up back where he started. Only to try try again. It is so funny to watch. I was so happy and excited.

Later that night I came to find out, much to my dismay, that this thing that I had thought was so cute and fun may actually send me into total sleep deprivation. That night I was up twice every hour helping my little groaning, whining, exhausted son back onto his belly because as we already knew- he won't sleep on his back. He is this little wiggly person with so much ambition- who knew a three month old could be ambitious?? So he rolls and rolls an rolls and I wake up time after time after time to help him back to the other side.

So we came home from house sitting and some things were waiting at my door that I had ordered from Old Navy. Among them were these cute jammies- camo with "NIGHT OWL" printed on them in orange. So fitting for the moment. So I put him in them and put the little guy down for what I hoped would be a more peaceful night than the one before. Needless to say, it wasn't. And here I am this grumpy old woman (when did I get so old?) waking up hour after hour thinking, "This boy may drive me insane." But how do you stay mad when you go in the room and there he is on his back giving you this little grin like, "Hey Mommy! I knew you would come! Look what I can do! Aren't I the cutest?"

Yes. Yes you are my little night owl.

Sleep Child, Sleep

2006-09-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

I am starting to figure out how much we truly never change. How when you are too tired, it's even harder to fall asleep. How air in your tummy still hurts. How throwing up out of your nose can really scare a person (and sting too). How a lack of food in your belly makes a person grumpy. How bad dreams make you want to cry. How seeing people you love makes you smile. How sometmies you just need to be held by somebody. How it is not always easy to depend on someone else. How hard it is to learn something new. How hard old habits are to break. How taking a bath is relxing- you always feel better when you are clean.

I am starting to figure out how much we have truly forgotten. How lovely each new day is. How you should always be good to the people that mean the most to you. How if you are having a bad day it's still okay to let a smile out.

And don't you wish you could just tell them what you have learned over the years? You will feel so much better once the air is out of your belly. I know it's not easy to try this, but it will get easier. You can do it. They are just dreams, don't be scared. Sleep child, sleep.

And don't you just wish that they could tell us all that they have not forgotten? It's okay, it will all be okay. Smile, today is a gift. Love everybody- don't you see how easy it is? Sleep Mommy, sleep.

What A Gal

2006-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

This picture just kills me. I was recently at home in California to go to a wedding and to visit my parents. After the wedding I stayed a while to help my ever collecting Mom to tidy up the closet space in her house. I have to say I had a lot of fun. It was just great to be able to trap her in the house and laugh with her. She was in utter dismay about getting rid of each Cabbage Patch Kid, and stuffed bunny. “I shouldn’t have watched Toy Story!” She said. Bad timing- she had happened to watch both 1 & 2 the weekend before with my sisters kids. I could see her heart break each time I told her, “Mom, that one is really gross, I wouldn’t let my baby play with that doll.” And we would place it in the big white bag. I don’t know how many times I had to explain that these dolls would go to other kids who would play with them and love them and that the dolls would have new happy lives- not sitting in the corner of my old bedroom. I am so glad that my Mother taught me that everything has a spirit. Whether doll, or tree, or book. They all enwrap life.

This picture kills me. As I cleaned, my mom was by my side. When I turned around to see what my baby was doing- this was how I found him. Grammy let him sit in the swing- all bundled up- surrounded by colorful fuzzy toys that I am sure she had stuck in his mouth before she placed them on his lap so he could know the taste and smell of each creature who would be joining him on his swing. What a woman. How can you not love her?

Things I never want to forget? “In your backyard? In your stomach? In your NOSE?”
Krista: “Do you want to see jean?”
Mom: “What is a see jean?”
Dad: “She was going to tell you about the C Gene- in the genetic code.”

SBC: With Someone

2006-09-06T10:27:00.000-07:00

This somebody is a piece of me. Not just figuratively but in utter physicality. He is my ultimate somebody. Made up of a little of Daddy and a little of Mommy and whole lot of Krew- he is my tiny man. I love this boy and he knows it. This boy loves me- I can see it in his eyes when he looks at me. There is so much love in his face. He cries and doesn’t always sleep perfectly and he takes a lot of attention and work- but these are all things I have grown to love about him. My favorite time with him is in the early morning- a time that I used to dread. He makes funny faces that make me laugh. He is so animated, just like his Daddy. He has changed my life just as much as I have given him his. So this is love. I love myself with my someone.

Sunday Scribblings: Who Else Can I Still Be?

2006-08-14T12:35:00.000-07:00

I never did the prompt about "Who I Might Have Been". There is just too much there to touch. I might have been anybody. I might have been a star. I might have been wildly successful in my industry. I might have gone to Parsons. I might have recorded in a studio. I might have not wed, and dated too many to count. I might have read more, or studied harder. I might have been better in every way, to every person. However- Thankfully, I didn't. Had I done all of those things, I would not have what I do today. And I have so much.

Today I have a family. I have a son that to me, is more beautiful than anything I could have ever imagined. I have a marriage that is perfect in it's imperfections, a marriage that will hold me and ground me and wrap me up. I have a home that to me exudes peace. It's away from this world and it has peices of the ones I love. I have sisters and brothers that all love each other. We support one another- we protect one another- we have love. I have mothers and fathers that provide. They provide love, leadership, opportunity, wisdom, endurance, and they are unconditional. I have faith and knowledge of who I am, where I came from. I know where I am going and I know why I am here. I have friends that are a tribe around me. They will be there when I am in need and they will be there to share lots of laughs along the way. I have talents- none that would blow anybody away- but they are talents that help me to enjoy each day. Because of my talents I enjoy music and movement. I enjoy colors and shapes. I enojoy nature. I enjoy details and lines. I love beauty and I see it in the most unexpected places.

So- Who else can I still be? I can be me. I can grow day by day and love every moment of this life. I can be a better person and I can acheive all that I want- except that when I acheive today, I have even more love and support surrounding me than I had yesterday. That is the most beautiful part of life to me. The unexpected. The ability that we have to change and mold. The fact that who I was then, and who I am now, is not who I will be later. That is a gift with endless possibily. Who else can I still be? I can be a wife and a mother. I can be a daughter and a sister. I can be a friend and a giver. I can be a soul searcher, a dancer, a singer, a lover, an artist, a dreamer, a doer, a planner, a shoe lover. I can be all the things that I am today and then some. I am in harmony with Brittany when she says, "Here's to full cirlcles." What could be more beutiful than that?

Grateful Friday

2006-08-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

Matching Without Planning It

Big Smiles

Firsts- In This Case, Krew's First Visit to the Beach

Tender Moments

Getting Away From it All- Three Cheers for No Cell Coverage at the Beach!

Truly Wonderful Naps

Friends You Can be Yourself With

Tiny Spirited Girls- I Know Lots of Them!

Pictures That Say a Thousand Words

SBC: Enclosed Spaces

2006-08-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

The lifeless desert holds me captive. I seem to be enclosed in a wide open space. It is so hot, so dead, so dirty. While everyone else is outside playing in the summer, worshipping the sun, I stay indoors trapped under my own rooftop. How is one supposed to enjoy the summer (what used to be my favorite season) when all it seems to bring with it is sweat in every Orpheus? How may you suggest that I enjoy a dip in the pool, when the pool brings absolutely no refreshment as it has been warped by this lands devilish sun.

I ask myself- How can one be held captive in nature. Isn't it supposed to set me free? I long for a canopy of leaves and sponge soft grass. Even my dog feels the pressure of this heat, as I walk him to get the mail he bounds from one roofs shade to the next. I am trying to find love for this place, but at the end of each day I just feel stuck. Stuck inside. Clothes stuck to my hot body. Stuck wishing for something else, somewhere else. Stuck needing some fresh air. Stuck looking for the good in this place. Stuck living here for the rest of my life. Stuck to this hard earth, this ravenous desert that won't even let me sleep at night. Stuck rolling in the tumble weed blowing down my street! Please tell me how one feels closed in when I am in such a big beautiful world?

I guess we can't have it all. And I guess that just means that I need to work harder to find beauty around me. And I guess I will love every beautiful place even more when I am there, knowing that I will not always abide in those places. And I guess we do have some pretty sunsets here and there. And I guess maybe... Someday I will learn to love this land for what it offers. And I guess I do love the monsoons, and I cherish every drop of rain that I see. And I guess that maybe this land is really just teaching me how much I should love this earth for all that it gives- and I guess that maybe this sweet mother that I live on doesn't want me to feel so stuck.

Just the Four of Us

2006-08-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

Mom, Dad, and Krew

Mom, Krew, and Dutch

This is my family. Just 3 sweet boys and a girl. We have fun together and we fill eachothers lives. We like to be loud, we like to relax, we like to laugh, we like to go on walks to the mailbox, we like to play tug-o-war (well, Dutch mostly), and we like just being together. If one of us is missing life is never quite as beautiful, but together we are happy- just the four of us. Meet my Family. My love. My Rock. My peace. My happiness. My challenge. My joy. My everything.

My sister Brittany has a lovely blog too.