Merry Christmas!

Reindeer

There is a group of guys who come down from Alaska to sell Christmas Trees every year. With the, they bring a group of Santa's Reindeer.

Evan thought it was the COOLEST thing EVER. Santa let him feed Tinker, who is Rudolph's granddaughter.

The ***NEW** Bluetooth model

It started out as a eye patch for Captian Jack Sparrow. Then it became Evan's "Blueteeth". He talks to people on it all day.

Evan's First Funeral

Okay, both Mark and I thought he was too young to go to funeral, but we gave in at the request of Mark's Grandmother (it was her mother that had died).



We didn't realize it, but the time we were given for the funeral to start was actually the start of the viewing/family service. Evan is DEFINATLY to young for a viewing. So we sat at the very back, were the heads of all of the Aunts and Uncles blocked Evan's view of the open casket.



Near the end of the service, someone moved, and Evan saw the open casket, and his Grandma "Francie" (as he called her) laying there. Of course he asked what she was doing there.



Mark explained that the casket was a special bed where people slept when they died. He bought that. But, being 4, more questions followed.

"Why is Grandma dead?"

I thought for a second, and then said, "Well, Grandma was very tired and very sick, so she went to sleep and is now with Baby Jesus."

He got this shocked look on his face, and declared in a VERY loud voice...

"BABY JESUS SHOT GRANDMA FRANCIE???????"

Because evidently, the only reason people die, according to my son, is if someone shoots you.

Christmas Tree Hunting

Here's the deal (or so we've told Evan).

Santa has a lot of Elves. Some make toys, some take care of the reindeer, some help Santa watch little boys and girls and make sure they are being good, and SOME sneak into the Crunchy Mountains (Evan has called the area where our land is the "Crunch Mountains since he was very little) and plant Christmas Trees.

They make sure the trees grow big and beautiful, and when it's time, they let us see them. BUT we have to go and find them. It's called the Christmas Tree Hunt (because Mark has been talking about the Elk and Deer hunt for the last few months).

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went Hunting.

Evan fell asleep, in the cold, sitting on my lap in the Razor. He even slept through the chainsaw. When he woke up, we had a tree tied to the back of the Razor. It was perfect. We told him a little elf had stopped us, and asked us if he had been a good boy. We told him yes, and he agreed to show us were one of his most beautiful trees was growing.

Evan sleeping in the Razor with the tree in the back.

Evan decorating our tree. It's a little thin, but it's a wonderful shape, an when the lights are out, and the tree is lit, it's just beautiful!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Turkey

Someone needs to explain to me how on earth it is possible to buy enough turkey to feed 15 people (with leftovers) for cheaper than I can buy a SINGLE steak.

Yep. Today at the grocery store, I bought a 16 lb bird for $6.

I thought maybe a nice grilled steak dinner for tonight... nope. A 10 oz package of rib-eye (two very nice looking steaks) was $13.

I know, I know, cows need more room and more food and blah blah blah. BUT STILL!

Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer.

Evan is really into the whole Christmas thing this year. Every night we lay on my bed and sing Christmas songs and read Christmas stories. He wrote his letter to Santa already, and will tell anyone who listens what Santa is bringing.

At school, they have been learning Rudolf for their Christmas Program. Just imagine a sweet little 4 year old boy singing the following:

"Ru-lof the red nose reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever sawed it
you would even say it BLOWED"

Oh, and you have to keep a straight face while he sings it OVER and OVER and OVER again.

Last night he was laying on the bed between Mark and I, singing his "Program" (it consists of Rudolf, Jingle Bells, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Oh Christmas Tree, all sung with various wrong words). When he got to Rudolf, and belted out "BLOWS" Mark lost it. He started to giggle, then cough, then I started coughing and giggling, and soon, we had both been reduced to complete fits of hysteria.

At least Evan thought it was funny, and kept on singing for us!

Disaster Averted

Well, I decided to take my day off and do a mad shopping spree for Christmas gifts. Sure, it's early, I've got more than a month left, but I just wanted to get things started.

I left my house this morning feeling smug in the fact that I was beating the rush.

HOLY CRAP THERE ARE NO TOYS LEFT!!!!!

Seriously. 2 Toys R Us, 4 Wal-Marts, 2 Targets, 1 Shopko, and 1 K-Mart, and not ONE of the ONE toy my son is fixated on in stock. Yep. Optimus Prime is popular this year. Oh, and none of them had the OTHER Transformers, Star Wars or Cars toys he picked out of the ads either.

I talked to a very frazzled man stocking the barren shelves at the last Wal-Mart and was told that they had 50 Optimus Prime figures on back order, and they THOUGHT they might get at least half of them before Christmas Eve. No one else had any idea if they would get anything.

CRAP CRAP CRAPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's only the second week of NOVEMBER!! They can't be out of toys! This is also the first year that Evan has actually ASKED for something specific. He walks around telling everyone that the "Elves are making me a Optimus Prime."

Okay, well, I knew where one more K-Mart was located, and had 45 minutes left before I had to pick Evan up from daycare. I talked myself into the fact that it was promising because it was located in a lower income part of the valley, and was rather rundown with a brand spanking new Wal-Mart 5 minutes away. If they didn't have it, I was going to have to pay blood money on EBay for it.

CRAP!!!

So I walk into the store (which smelled VERY badly, SCORE! another point in my favor)... Find the 3 aisle of toys (seriously, I've never seen a smaller toy department in a box store!)

Lo and behold, on the very top shelf, hiding behind one of those stupid Power Rangers, I could just make out the Autobot symbol.

I begged for some help from an employee over in Automotive (who didn't speak any English), and he pulls down OPTIMUS!!! Not only was it a transformer, it was the one I needed! He was rather confused as I started jumping up and down, ripped it from his hands and threw my arms around him!

Sigh.

This is it. The last weekend of summer.

WAIT... It's NOVEMBER.

It seems like ages ago that we had our first snow (in the beginning of OCTOBER). We've been in the 50-70's for the last 4-5 weeks. I know that's not exactly "summer" temps, but it's still warm enough that we're working in the mountains... it's still warm enough that my grass is green... and there are still flowers blooming in flower beds (not mine, because I didn't plant flowers yet).

Halloween

I've never been a huge Halloween fan.

Maybe it was trudging through snow with coats, hats and mittens covering our costumes to houses that sat miles away from each other to get a tootsie roll as a kid that did it. I've just never been in love with the holiday.

I must admit though, the last two Halloweens have been a lot of fun.

This year Evan totally understood the concept of Trick-or-Treating. Our neighborhood is mostly "under-construction"; however, turn the corner, and there is a full fledged neighborhood, with lots of kids... and LOTS of Halloween spirit.

We met up with one of our few neighbors (which includes a little boy Evan's age) and roamed the streets. Evan ran for door to door so excited, and shouting "HAPPY HALLOWEEN" to everyone. It was so much fun to watch him enjoying a special childhood moment.

After trick-or-treating, we went to visit our good friends Celina and Cecila. My sister, Sara, had spent the evening with them, so Evan got to show off his costume to her as well.

This is Gio (Spiderman) and Evan (The Red Power Ranger) showing off their moves.

They were sooooo adorable!

Labels

It's amazing how kids pick things up without us realizing it.

For example, when a light turns green, my son yells, "Come ON! It's GREEN!!!!" I have NOOOO idea where he learned that.

Well, last night Evan's school pictures came in. The package included a class picture. As we were stopped in traffic, I handed it to him, and asked who all the kids were.

He started running through the names.

"This is Anna, Anna is my friend. "

"This is Preston. Preston is a HITTER. No one plays with Preston 'cause he's a hitter."

"This is Tyler F, he's the "nice" Tyler. He likes Nascar."

"This is Tyler C, he's not the nice Tyler, he's a Hitter, he's not my friend. But Preston is the BIGGEST hitter."

"This is Edmond. Edmond's Mommy isn't his real Mommy."

"This is Jackson. Jackson is my friend."

This went through 20 kids. Some were hitters, some were biters, some friends, some weren't.

It made me a little sad. Who told my son that someone was a "Hitter"? I don't think he could have made that term up.

And who labeled Tyler C as not nice?

And poor Edmond, my son said it like it was dirty, not his REAL Mommy.

How can a Pre-K class already have cliques???

GOOD LUCK PEAS!!!

My beautiful friend Peasy (Jennifer) is running in the Nike Women's marathon in San Francisco today in honor of her mother. I obviously can't be in Cali to cheer her on, so I'm doing it "cyber-style".

Sending all my energy to you, Peas!

**hugs**

Weekends.

My husband can't sit still. I can't either.

I can entertain myself. My husband can't.

This is why I love crafts. I can sit on the couch and watch a movie, while working on a quilt, or crocheting, or knitting, or cutting out random things for a scrapbook page, or, well, you get the point. My husband chews his fingernails and channel surfs out of boredom.

I sit in my living room and I **see** things that need to be done... like sweeping or vacuuming, or what not, and if I don't feel like sitting on the couch anymore, I get up and do them. My husband, who likes a clean house just as much as I do, doesn't seem to see those things as things that can be accomplished, but just as things that make the house dirty... The dots don't connect.

So, weekends that are too cold to play outside go like this:
Saturday, Mark gets up at the crack of dawn and does something productive like balance the check book.

I try to ignore the small four year old that is pulling on the blankets. and I finally get up and start cleaning.

Mark surfs the web until he's bored.

I do laundry.

Mark's still surfing, even though he's bored.

I start a craft project.

Mark is surfing the web and the channels now at the same time.

Dinner comes around, and I'm ready to relax and sit and watch a movie.

Mark feels as if the whole day has been a waste, and is bored out of his mind. And we still have Sunday to go.

Appetite

I seem to have misplaced mine.


It's really strange.


I am an emotional eater. Happy, sad, depressed, angry, you name it, food is the answer (soooo very healthy, eh?), and obviously, considering that I'm not a small girl, I normally have a healthy desire for food.


I realized today... I have eaten cantaloupe. Like maybe two wedges worth. And had coffee. It's almost two in the afternoon, I should be starving!!


I'm not complaining, I'm just confused.


Yesterday, I had some oatmeal for breakfast, 1/2 a turkey sandwich for lunch, and an English muffin with laughing cow cheese on it for dinner. What is that, like 600 calories??


As much as I like the thought of a huge calorie deficit translating into a smaller waist, I'm pretty sure this is not healthy. But I just don't WANT anything to eat. I look in the fridge, and nothing says "Eat me!"


hmph.

Cozy.

That's how I feel today.

It's snowing. The house is warm, the light is soft, and the smell of chili is filling the house thanks to the crock pot. I wish you could bottle this feeling.

Seriously...

who has been teaching my son this stuff???

Yesterday, as we were once again driving home (it's close to an hour commute, so we have a lot of time to chat). I reached into my purse and pulled out some chap stick.

Evan: MOM! That's not lipstick.

Me: I know.

E: BUT MOM, you have to wear lipstick.

M: Why?

E: Cause moms have to wear lipstick to kiss daddies so they're pretty. AND they have to wear those ear things. Mama, where are your ear things? (He actually can't say "th" sounds, and says "fings" instead of "things" just so you know.)

M: I don't have any today.

E: MAMA! HOW are you gonna look pretty for DADDY???

This morning, he picked out my earrings for me, and watched while I put on my lipstick (which made my chapped lips look even MORE painful.)

Wait, I've got to go check the Calendar.

I SWEAR there are several holidays between now and Christmas. I've grabbed the calendar to prove it.

Yep. Thought so.

October has HALLOWEEN... and the lesser celebrated Columbus Day (which I celebrate by SLEEPING IN, man, I love being a state employee) and let's not forget Leif Erikson Day. (On a side note, had it not been for those two men, we would be living in crowded flats in Europe and dentistry as we know it would be an unknown. I say we should a LEAST put out little boat decorations or something).

November has freaking THANKSGIVING and Veteran's Day.

So why, oh WHY, when I walked into the store today was I assaulted with little dancing snowmen and Santa's shaking their plastic rears to Christmas music??

What about the ghost and goblin crap? Maybe a turkey or pilgrims shaking their rear. Yeah, there was a whole aisle full of orange and black bagged candy, and yes, there were pumpkins for sale. BUT HONESTLY.

I see nothing wrong with starting to PLAN for Christmas. I've started rolling ideas around in my head, budgeting, you know, stuff like that. I have NOT however pulled the Christmas decor out of boxes, I have NOT started blaring "Jingle Bells" out of the stereo, and I DO NOT want to buy any Christmas crap right now. That's what you do in DECEMBER (and in our house, not until 1/2 way THROUGH December).

A 4 Year Old's Thought Process

So, on our commute home today, Evan asks me why Montana is so far away. And I try to come up with an answer that is truthful, easy to understand, AND will convince a 4 year old that I know what I'm talking about. No small feat in rush hour, stop and go traffic.

Me: Well, there's Utah, and it's pretty big, and then next is Idaho, and it's pretty big, and THEN you get to Montana.

Evan: What is Ig-ah-do?

M: Idaho is a place where people live, like you live in Utah.

E: Who lives in Idaho?

M: Remember Aunt Sara's friend Jessica? Jessica's sister Paige lives in Idaho.

E: Oh. *pause* Is Paige a girl or a boy?

M: Girl

E: Well, does a boy live in Idaho to kiss her?

It's a VEGETABLE!!!

So, yeah. I went grocery shopping today, and Harmons had their spoon roasts out and on sale. And you just can't pass THOSE up. So I rearranged my dinner menu for the week, and picked one up. And you can't have a roast without potatoes and, in our house, parsnips and rutabagas. All three items found their way into my cart.

As I was being rung up, the cashier pulls the rutabaga out of the cart. "What's this?" I was expecting it, I get that question a lot. I told her. "What do you do with it?" I roast them. "Oh, so it's like a meat??" No, it's a vegetable. "Oh."

A bag of carrots and a bag of onions later, the parsnips show up. "Are these Okra?" Umm, no... again, I was expecting to get asked what they were but I didn't ever think a long, white carrot- like thing would be mistaken for okra, but I kindly said, Parsnips. "Oh, those are those white crunchy things in Chinese food, right?" Umm, no, those are water chestnuts. "Oh, well what's a parsnip taste like?" I tell her it's kind of like a cross between a potato and a turnip, but sweet like a carrot. "Ohhhh, I like cherry turnips a lot, maybe I'll try one of these."

Um huh. And she wasn't even blond.

Time.

Seriously. Where does it go?

I wake up in the morning at 5:30. I exercise... sometimes, at least for a few minutes, but not nearly as long as I should be, I brush my teeth, shower, dress, hair, makeup... Somewhere in there, I make coffee, wake up Evan, cook breakfast, inhale my own breakfast while running in circles trying to get Evan's teeth brushed, Evan dressed, Evan AWAKE, Evan to eat, make Mark lunch, grab my own "whatever" for lunch. I leave the house for work at 7.

I drop Evan at daycare. I start work at 8. What I do for the next several hours has no bearing on my "life" other than it provides me and my family with insurance... oh, and a paycheck. I leave work at 4:30.

I get home at 5:30, if I'm lucky and traffic isn't too bad. I make dinner, I clean, I do laundry, I run errands (library, Wal-Mart, groceries, blah blah blah blah) all between 5:30 and 8. 8 means getting the boy ready for bed... that means brushing teeth, bath/shower, pjs, story, song, drink of water. In bed by 9. Then I get myself ready for bed... brushing teeth, washing my face, making the bed (yes, I make my bed at night), pjs, and asleep by 10 (if I'm lucky).

That's where my time goes.

When do I have time for doing the things I actually WANT to do... or NEED to do even?

Not that I don't want to sing Evan to sleep. I dread the day when that stops.

But I really want to read the new Harry Potter. I don't want to finish it, I don't want to grab snippets of minutes when I can read one page. I want to sit and be engrossed.

I need to finish two baby quilts, and one scrapbook. I've promised them to people. I am LATE.

I want to actually clean my scrap area... organize it. Get it out of the boxes. TOUCH and SMELL my supplies (and yes, maybe sniff the adhesive just a little!)

I need to make Evan a Halloween costume. It's "Tradition". (And I need at least 30 minutes to sit down and figure out how to MAKE it.)

I WANT to connect with all of my friends again. I seem to have been spinning out of control, and in a desperate need to simplify/SURVIVE, I have lost track of people I care about.

I NEED to clean CLEAN my house. Like hands and knees with a toothbrush clean. Not just quickly wipe things down and move on to the next chore.

I want to just PLAY with my son. I want to not look at him and see more work, I want to look at him and see someone I enjoy spending time with. Same goes for my husband.

Family Reunion... of Sorts.

Well, it was a gathering of family... some of which I see often, some I had never met.

This is everyone:

From left to right, starting on the back row: Wade, Johanna (my sister-in-law) and Shawn (her husband and my half brother), Shane, James; Me, Grandpa Arthur, Nancy (my mom), Steve (my Dad); Mary, Evan and Sara.

As usual at family get together, a lot of the time was spent playing various games (rummy, poker, Ticket to Ride, Cranium, and a few choice others). We found out that Grandpa Arthur is a card shark! He took all the boys for all their chips in a game of poker, and totally smoked Johanna and Dad in rummy.

Random pictures: (Okay, all the random pictures include Evan,)

Evan and I playing Power Rangers SPD (you can't forget the "spd" part, cause that totally makes a difference, or so Evan says).

Evan and his Aunt Sara during the "Great Underwear Fight".

Wade and Evan chillin' ... Wade is reading and Evan is playing with James PSP.

Evan and Uncle Shawn getting down and dirty.

Evan playing "golf".

It gets me everytime.

I guess that's good, it means I remember. But you would think after 6 years, I would not burst into uncontrollable tears every time I hear it.

There is a radio station here that plays the same tribute to Sept 11th victims every year. I can usually hold my own through the Alan Jackson song "Where were you when the world stopped turning" The tears start to form when they play Diamond Rio's "One more day" and the kids talk about the parents they lost... and then... There is a part of it where the Operator who took Todd Beamer's phone call is retelling her, and his, story. That's the part I completely loose it. Just the thought that there are people in this world that knowingly give their own life for the safety of people they don't know causes that lump to form in my throat, and my eyes to completely blur over with tears.

I know there were other people that day that did what they didn't think they could do... that gave all that they could... that lost everything. Todd Beamer is a face/name that represents so many of those people, because their are so many.

To grow up or not to grow up, that is the question.

Evan is having a dilemma. He's not sure if he wants to grow up.

The last week, this has been the conversation on our commute to school/work:

Evan: Mama, when I get big I'm gonna drive a FORD! (or whatever the vehicle fascination of the day is)

M: Really?? That what color?

E: But Mama, I'm not getting bigger.

M: Well, you get a little bit bigger everyday.

E: But Mama, I don't want to get bigger (queue the tears), I gotta stay little. But then I can't drive my ford.

M: Sweetie, it's okay, you can stay little as long as you like.

E: (Still crying) But I just gotta stay little.

(Then I have to try and figure out how to hold his hand, in the backseat, and maneuver through traffic without becoming part of the traffic report.)

Then this morning, I set him up at the table with chocolate milk and waffles. A cartoon on, and we have a fun breakfast. He asked if it was a school day, and I said NOPE! It's a play day. Just Mama and Evan (Mark had to run down to Fairview). He then announced that "Cartoons are for little kids, I'm DONE with watching this cartoon. Let's go play."

Roughin It.

Okay, want to know the truth? We don't rough it when we camp.

We have a camp trailer... with working "facilities". And running water. And electricity. Hell, my husband rigged up a solar panel to keep the batteries charged for life.

Mostly we camp to get away from the concrete covered city. We don't want to get away from toliets and showers.... and... well.... The TV keeps the babies happy when it's storming outside.

YES... that is a LCD FLAT SCREEN TV in our camper.

You have to understand... we normally watch movies at night on Mark's laptop (which, even though we're miles from everything still picks up wireless internet from somewhere). But, Mark got sick of the small screen, and the dark screen if you're not postioned just right... So on the way down this last weekend, knowing it was suppose to rain at least part of the weekend, he decided to stop at Wal-Mart. They were actually SOLD OUT of all the small NORMAL tvs, so my husband, who has wanted a new tv for our bedroom decided to go with the HighDef flat screen and swap it with the one in our bedroom after we got home.

I guess next weekend, when we take the crappy tv down, that will be roughin it.

Patience and Coals.

One of my favorite parts of camping is cooking. I'm not talking about hotdogs on a stick (however, those are mighty tasty), I'm talking about real food. I love using my dutch, my cast iron pans, and well, whatever else I think will work to make a wonderful meal for whoever shows up at our campsite. I've actually gained quite the reputation!!

I have to start the fire around noon to have enough coals to start cooking by two... and then I spend the whole afternoon shoveling coals, and stoking the fire. (Granted, when it was 90 out, that wasn't the high point, but I still had fun.)

Next to the fire pit, I have two large flat stones that are my base. (I threw my back out this summer moving the second stone into place, but I just needed the extra room. ) Coals go down on the stones, then the pans full of food (or just the food) then more coals. Then I shuffle and crack lids, and replace coal, and shuffle some more, add water, stir, replace coals, shuffle pans, etc etc etc, until dark. Then it's dinner time.

I can't imagine having to cook like that every day, but it sure is fun when I have no other worries!!

My Inner Bitch Rears It's Head

I have never tried to hide the fact that I have an inner bitch. (Sorry, Dad, if you're reading this.)

I explained to Mark when we had been dating for just a few months that it was there, and that I wasn't a COMPLETE bitch, but it was down inside, and sometimes, it must come out.

Today, it came screaming to the surface.

She deserved it... the lady I let it loose on. She is continually an idiot. I don't know her name, but she has one very bad habit that I have calmly addressed before.

Let me give you some background.

Evan's school has a really cramped parking lot. I drive a BIG truck. These two things don't mix well, but I have a couple of tricks after going there for a year and half. There are 6 spots right in front of the building. Two of which I can part in without having a car one side or the other. If those two spots are full, I drive to the BACK of the lot, at the BACK of the building, and back into a spot, which makes it easier to get out if someone parks next to me.

Now, people have a bad habit of parking in place that arn't actually parking spots. This usually causes a headache for those of us that actually care about rules, and realize that by following the rules we are allowing others to access and leave the parking lot at their own pace, and therefore, not make them late for work.

Others like to park behind the row of spots at the front of the building rather than walk the extra 15 feet from the parking spots at the back. This has caused no less than 6 accidents that I have witnessed myself from people backing into the stupid, selfish people's cars.

Now, I, again, drive a big truck. In order for me to back out of one of the front spots, I barely have clearance if no one is parked there. If someone is parked there, I simply cannot get out.

Back to the lady who deserved it. I have told her several times as she pulls into that spot that I can't get out if she parks there. She continues to do so.

Today, she pulled up as I was opening my door.

I said, "That's not a parking space, and if you park there, I can't get out."

She said okay. I got in my truck. She gets her kid out of her car and starts to walk in the school.

I get out of my truck and said, "Excuse me, you're blocking me, I can't get out."

She said, and this was her downfall, "How is that my problem??"

Inner Bitch said, "It's your problem because you are parked illegally. So move your car or I'll back over it. You choose."

She implied that I was a bitch, and I needed to get over myself. (I came to the conclusion that she didn't mind swearing in front of her kid so I didn't mind either.)

To which IB replied, "How selfish do you have to be to make ME late for work so you don't have to walk your fat ass 15 extra feet? Move the f*ing car, or I will move it for you."

She moved the car.

Smells

Lately, smells have been getting me (and NO I AM NOT PREGNANT).

So imagine my horror when I walk outside my house last Friday to what smells like a dead body in the vicinity.

I don't try to locate it. I figured the foxes in the field found a cat or something, and left their leftovers close by.

The next day, after baking in the hot Utah sun, the stench is nearly unbearable.

By Sunday, you can't go outside and breathe at the same time.

Then I find out the source:

My husband comes home and smells it. He says, "Whoa, that sure got ripe!"

I look at him in shock... he KNOWS there's a dead body near our house?????

Turns out, it's not a dead body. He had brought home the deer's head to have the antlers mounted (AS IF they were going to hang in my house!), then changed his mind.

So he put it in the black trash bin. The black trash bin that acts like an oven in the Utah heat.

It's a goooooood thing we don't have neighbors!

Road Rage

I think most people would agree that people who think only of themselves are pretty damn irritating.



You arn't one of those people, are you?



Do you ever make up your own lane of traffic just to get ahead??



Maybe you ignore that universal traffic sign, or even the flashing arrows that tells you your lane is ending just because you can skip a head a few cars and force your way in between the PEOPLE WHO WAITED THEIR TURN. (This is often combined with example #1, making it twice as irritating.)



Do you ever cross the solid line as you enter the freeway because the car in front of you isn't going faster than you want them too (even though they ARE going the speed limit), therefore blocking THEIR merge and causing THEM to slow down because you couldn't wait 5 seconds?



Do you try and squeeze through on that yellow light because the 3 cars in front of you did too?



Do you drive 1/2 the block in the turn lane??



These are the self centered people that irritate me the most. Why? Because. The rules are simple enough that Evan understands them.



Lane lines are not just suggestions.



People who wait for the last minute to merge because the through lane is soooooo long, and moving soooooo slow ARE THE REASON THE LINE IS SO LONG AND SO SLOW.



Yellow means get ready to stop, NOT slam on the gas.



Turn lanes are called TURN lanes for a reason.

If you do these things, I am lumping you into the same category as that person at the office who talks non stop about things you could care less about, the lady at the grocery store with the overflowing shopping cart in the express lane, the people who never thank you for going out of your way and actually get annoyed when you don't, and all of the other really annoying, self centered people people of the world.

The Hunt.

WARNING!!


If you don't want to see a dead deer, don't scroll all the way down.


Okay, you've been warned.



Now. On with the Hunt.

Saturday was opening day for the Deer Bow Hunt. Of course, my husband, the great bow hunter, was in place at the crack of dawn, ready to shoot.


The place this year was Manti Canyon, and Rick, Robin and Trevor were going to share a campsite with us. Evan and I showed up late in the afternoon on Saturday, and while the boys were out playing, we explored the campsite. It was an area called Elderberry, and it had a GREAT nature made jungle gym. (Okay, the tire swing was NOT made by nature, but was a great additive.

It's a little hard to tell in the picture, but there are about 4 fallen trees, that are caught, and being held up by others. The really thick one, across the top, is about 2 feet in diameter, and it's actually still alive. The roots didn't pull completely from the ground when it fell, so the trunk is just bent.

It took a LOT of coaxing, but I finally got Evan to walk on the logs without holding my hands... and even to sit on the tree while I stood back and took some pictures.

While we're looking at Evan, did you notice his very fashionable attire?? Just in case you missed it:

DISCLAIMER: HE PICKED IT OUT HIMSELF!

Okay, well, I MAY have suggested the fleece... over the Tigger (bib) shorts. AND I brought the galoshes because the mud up Manti canyon is VERY thick, black, sticky mud. And I figured they would be the best option if it was muddy, but it wasn't... and he wanted to wear them anyway.

Okay, remember the warning?? The next picture is it. It's my first "carnage" picture. I'm not sure how to scrap it, but I know Mark will be hurt if I don't. I love the look on Evan's face. He was SO intrigued by the deer. It was a learning experience, that's for sure.

This is how the conversation went:

Evan: Daddy, why is the deer sleeping?

Mark: He's not sleeping, he's dead.

E: Daddy, why is he dead?

M: Cause he has a hole in him.

E: Daddy, why is there blood on him?

M: Cause he has a hole in him.

E: Daddy, why does he have a hole in him?

M: Because Daddy's arrow hit him.

E: When will the deer be alive?

M: He won't, when something is dead, it can't wake up anymore.

E: Oh.

He actually took it very well, even when he accidentally wandered on Mark and Rick skinning and quartering it. He only got a little upset when he saw the head was gone. Anyway....

This is your last warning!!!

Seriously, Dead Deer is next.

As in, just below this:

"Get My Boss On"

I don't know where Evan learned it, and I almost snorted coffee through my nose the first time I heard it, but my dear son, when he gets upset at me, for example, because I tell him to pick up his toys or get his pj's on, gets this look on his face:



And tells me, "Mom, I'm gonna get my boss on you!" in a very, very stern voice. He doesn't like it that I laughed.

Bear

There has been a new addition to our family.

Bear.

Bear is a freaking HUGE stuffed animal.

Bear must eat cereal in the morning.




Bear must ride the police man bike with Evan. (After many screams of frustrations, Mom went and found a "seatbelt" for Bear... it's one of Mark's old belts strapping Evan and Bear together.)

Bear MUST help make cookies... and test the dough.

Grass, Pools, and other stuff.

TAAAADDDDAAAA! The gravel/weed pit that WAS our front yard is no more.

Mark and I, along with a few helping hands, laid sod for the front and side yards yesterday. My shoulders and back don't agree with the term "instant", but we did go from a dirt to grass in one day, so that's pretty instant!

We still need trees and bedding plants... and the curbing guy is suppose to show up any day now, but the front yard is now recognicable as a yard!

While laying the sod yesterday, Evan decided he wanted to "swim". He ran into the house, put on his shorts, and ran through the spray of the hose. This entertained him for several hours... then he decided he needed to wash his wagon. Lo and Behold, a wagon holds water. He pronounced it his "pool" and climbed right in to splash away.

(Grandma helped keep the pool full!)

On to other stuff... When I was taking pictures yesterday, I couldn't quite figure out why my memory card was so full. So I started flipping though pictures and found these:

There are about 30 pictures of Evan, and his cars. I have to admit, for a four year old, he got some pretty cute pictures. When I asked him if he was playing with mama's camera, he pulled the same cute, big brown eyes out, and said, "Regular told me I could!"

Regular has become a bit of a problem. I'm not sure how to encourage his imagination, but also teach him that lying (and blaming Regular for all the bad stuff he does) is wrong.

Anyway... I also snapped some pictures of my little man earlier in the week. He was climbing on the piles of top soil we had delivered, and the sun was setting, and in the semi darkness, seeing just the shape of his body, I realized how BIG he is really getting.

Hopes Dashed.

When we first walked through our new home, I noticed these:

What is it? The toilet paper holder. I thought, MY GOD, this was designed for a man. They don't have to do anything but pull off the old roll and slip on the new. There are no interlocking parts, no removable pieces, just slip off, slip on.

I'm not saying it was a SELLING point, I was just excited about not having a roll of toilet paper sitting on the back of the toilet because it was too much of a hassle to remove the empty roll. (Or, as my husband enjoyed doing, balancing the old roll on the empty roll so that when you accidentally bumped it, it fell in the trash can.)

Alas, it was a good idea... well thought out, executed with a little style, but unfortunately, the final piece of the equation was left in the hands of men... more specifically, my husband.

You guessed it. When I went into the bathroom this morning, there was a roll of tp on the back of the toilet.

We are making progress... the empty roll had been removed from the toilet paper holder.

Meeting Baby Gracie

Gracie is Mark's brother Brian's little girl. She was born in April, and is Evan's only 1st cousin.

Sunday was our first chance to meet the little doll face! I couldn't believe how much like Evan she was... very very strong, and very physically advanced for her age, and just a BIG, healthy baby! Must come from the Daddies!! She looks so much like her Mom and Dad, and has the sweetest temperament. She let everyone hold her, and reacted very well to Grandma's full, noisy house.

This is my favorite picture of her and Evan... I know it's not perfect, but the expression on their faces is just to adorable!

And "Uncle" Mark and Gracie...

Huh.

You Are 86% Creative

You are an incredibly creative person. For you, there are no bounds or limits to your creativity. Your next creation could be something very great... Or at least very cool!

Channeling Leslie.

al·ter /ˈɔltər/ [awl-ter]

to make different in some particular, as size, style, course, or the like; modify: to alter a coat; to alter a will; to alter course.


Leslie is my altering hero. She may not know this, but she is. (See"my spots" for a link to her blog... and pictures of her work... and you'll understand.)

Earlier this week, I was at a restaurant with a friend eating lunch. I was flipping the little flip menu that was on the table, and I knew I had to have it. My purse wasn't big enough, so my friend Ricci slipped it in. (We left a HUGE tip to make up for it, I swear!). I wanted it so I could make an adorable little counter top flip scrapbook. Like this: http://my-ocean-view.blogspot.com/2007/04/i-love-to-alter.html .

Then today, I came downstairs to work on some Christmas Cards, and instead find my hands covered in mod podge because the brush was just to annoying. (I'm making a piggy bank for Evan out of an old oatmeal container.)

Oh, and not only can she alter... she has an amazing eye for scrapping. Her pages always have just the right touch... not to little, not to much, just enough. I don't know how she does it!

Seriously, she is an artist.

Days of 47

For those of you NOT from Utah (and not Mormon), July 24th is a BIG deal here. It used to be known as "Pioneer Day" but for PC reasons, it's slowly become the "Days of 47". It's the day the Pioneers entered the valley in 1847. And it's bigger than the 4th of July.

They close off downtown pretty much entirely, and there is a marathon, followed by a MASSIVE parade. HUGE fireworks shows, and parties EVERYWHERE. Oh, and most people have the day off.

That most definitely includes state employees.

So, since Mark had to work (his company is based out of Vegas... they don't care about Pioneer Day), Evan and I planned a Mom and Son day.

First thing this morning, we went to the theater. It's great to live in a town where matinees start at 9:30 in the morning!! We saw Transformers. I was tempted by Harry Potter, but my childhood love of the really bad cartoon won out. The show was GREAT! Evan walked out saying it was "Better than SUPERMAN". When I told him how much Uncle Shane and I LOVED the cartoon when we were kids, he HAD to talk to Umple Shane immediately.

I know it's a marketing ploy... bring back the popular shows from when the parents were kids and they will take their kids to see it (TMNT, the Dukes of Hazzard, etc), and you BET I fell hook line and sinker for it. It was FREAKING TRANSFORMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, after the movie, we were going to go for a swimming lesson, but thanks to a minor mix up, and the big dark thunder clouds that were forming, that was bagged. We had a lunch date, and then roamed IKEA. Evan had a blast walking through all the displays, opening all the cupboards and sitting on all the chairs. We picked up some little things and finally made the leap and bought curtains for the front room.

Then we came home and hung the curtains, and watched the massive storm roll through the valley.

All in all, it was a great day off... too bad I have to back to work tomorrow!

Transformers

Ahhhh, now THIS is what I remember. Not that the new and improved CG is bad, just differant... in a not so cheesey way (but just a little "not so cheesey".

When Evan Grows Up.

On the drive home tonight, this is how the conversation went:

Evan: Mom, when I grow up, I'm gonna build a house.

Me: Can you make a room for me?

E: Yep, and room is gonna be SO COOL.

M: Really?

E: Yep, it'll be brown and white like ICE CREAM! And you can eat ice cream ALL the time.

M: COOL! When are you going to build your house?

E: I'm not gonna get big for a long time, okay?

M: That's okay with me!

Fire

This is within miles of our cabin property.

Swim Lessons

Chris is a swimmer, and when he heard that I was trying to get Evan into lessons, he offered to give them to him!


I couldn't have been more excited. Not only is Chris an awesome swimmer, with medals to prove it, he's also one of the nicest guys I know. Evan can learn more than swimming from him!

Sara (my sister) helped "Umple" Chris (Evan can't say Uncle) with the lesson, since I don't have a suit yet (see below).

Anyway, last night was the first one. Chris more or less was just seeing where Evan was, BUT we learned the kid can kick! And he's pretty relaxed when floating supported. SOOOOO, now we have some "homework" and the next lesson will be in a week or so.

For our homework, Evan and I are going SWIMMING!! That means I need to go buy a swim suit... something I haven't done since, um... 1997?? lol Oh, that is sad.

I went to Target today, and all they had were two pieces, and NO tankinis either... I'm talking REAL two pieces. Uh huh, that's not happening!

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

I was SOOOOOO happy when Cecilia picked this book. I almost picked it last month, but it was checked out of all the local libraries (which takes a LOT since there are at least 10 county libraries and 10 city libraries within a 30 minute radius of my house).

I know it's suppose to be a classic, and that a lot of people read it in school, but I went to a Baptist HS, so I read things like Pilgrims Progress, and other religious propaganda (which is all good, in it's own respect, don't get me wrong).

I LOVED this book. If you haven't read it, I highly suggest you do. It made me feel lucky to be born when I was. It made me feel lucky to have grown up in a not exactly "well off" family, but it also made me realize my family may not have had a whole lot, but we had more than enough. And it gave me a whole lot of respect for those who came before us, and made it possible for us not to have to live like they did by making sure each generation was just a little better off.

Again, I HIGHLY recommend you read this book. It's amazing.

EEEEKKKKKK!!! My leg is gonna fall off!

I was in the mountains, minding my own buisness, and all of the sudden I felt something on my leg. I looked down and saw a huge ass FLY. AND it BIT ME!

Mark says it laid eggs under my skin (which I only sort of don't believe).

My boss drew a line around it and said that I needed to go to the doctor if it got bigger than the line. (She's a Nurse Pratitioner, and taught nursing for almost 20 years, so I sort of believe her, but don't want to.)

I'll spare you the gross picture that I WANT to take of it, cause it's really gross.

If I wake up in the morning though, and my leg has fallen off, I'm gonna wish I had taken that picture.

Evan's Room

While my son was in Montana, Mark and I devised a plan to decorate his room. Before he left, all the room had in it was his bed, dresser, and a pile of toys on the floor. (We want the majority of his toys to stay downstairs in the playroom area, so his bookcase, toy box, and toy bins are all downstairs.)

Sara and Chris introduced me to IKEA, and we found him this great desk, It's egg shaped, and since Evan's favorite color is red, of course we went with RED legs. We got him two little stools... one for him, and one for a guest.)

I made the letters that spell out his name with some chipboard playing up the primary color scheme of his quilt. Under the letters is a really great wire "curtain" rod that IKEA has. I turned it to an art gallery.

I then went and dug out my old cork board, painted the frame white, and hung it (along with a new chore chart and some of my favorite preschool pieces and Evan's "crunchy mountain" photos that he has been toting around.)

Under the cork board, I made a pouch for his paper and coloring books with a thin piece of wood and some fabric that was left over from his quilt.

And for the desk, I took a clear paint can, added a little patterned paper, and made this cute (if I do say so myself) pencil/crayon/marker box.

We also got this bookcase at IKEA. The three wooden boxes for odd toys came from Lowes, on clearance. And some family pictures on the top!

And here's the bed... just so you get the whole picture!

Above the bookcase, is a legde from the high ceilings, I took all my Star Trek autographs, and my big pewter ships out of boxes, and set them up there. They're out of his reach, but at least he can still enjoy them.

When he got home last night, he walked into his room, stopped in the doorway, and said "WHAT THE HECK!!!!" Then he ran right over to his desk, and started playing office. He's been playing office all morning. I think that means he likes it!

I was tagged.

Instructions: These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. My first crush was in the second grade. I was in love with a guy named Donnie (I think that was his name anyway, lol). He was in the same grade as my brother. He had perfectly feathered hair and wore a brown leather jacket. I thought he looked like a movie star.

2. I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was a kid. Then I got to high school and realized math and chemistry would play a big roll in that, and since I hated both, I decided to do nothing instead. (Well, not nothing, I just didn't really have a "dream" anymore, and look where THAT got me, lol!)

3. My brother James and I have the same exact birthmarks. How odd is that??

4. I've convinced my son I'm a "Pretty Pretty Princess" so now when we play pretend, I get to be Princess Fiona or Princess Leah. Score for me!

5. I hate most citrus fruit, especially pineapple. It gives me blisters in my mouth. HOWEVER, when I pregnant with Evan, I craved oranges like none other during the 7th month. In fact , that's just about all I could keep down, and I ate them nonstop. I still like them, even if they do tear up my mouth.

6. I'm afraid of sharks. In the ocean, in lakes, in swimming pools. Anyone who reads my blog knows this. It's completely random. I don't know why. I think making fun of myself for it will help me cure it. I hope at least.

7. I'm right handed, but do anything athletic with my left. Who knows. I thought I was just really really bad with all things sports until someone had me do a cartwheel like a lefty, and all the sudden, it all came together.

And.... I'm a bad tagger... I won't tag 7 people... BUT... I do tag:

Kathy, Shari, Parkie and Donna!

Conquering Fears

When I was 11 or 12, a girl that lived across the street from us was killed when the three wheeler she was riding rolled over on her. She was a year or two younger than me, and I can’t even say that we were friends; we had that “elementary school” dislike for each other. I can honestly say had it not been for her death, I wouldn’t remember her. I know she had a sister, but I can’t for the life of me remember her name, or even her face. Yet, after all these years, I remember Sarah in shocking detail.

I grew up in a rural town in Alaska. You were just as likely to see a three wheeler or snow machine coming down the road as you were to see a car. I grew up around these machines. We had three wheelers, snow machines, a dune buggy, and even a ski machine (it looked like a snow machine cut down the middle, one ski and half a tred). About the time of the accident, we had moved to a new house, and the machines had started to disappear. We moved into town, and then to Montana, and the frequency of seeing, let alone the opportunity to ride a ATV, dwindled.

That is, until I met Mark. Mark had grown up in rural Utah. He had spent his childhood riding in the mountains that surrounded Manti. He knew every curve and every hill. He didn’t own an ATV when we met, but shortly into our relationship, he told me he wanted to get a bike… one that was street legal, but also allowed for off roading, it was called an enduro.

It’s hard to explain what happened next. It started as a huge weight in my stomach, and slowly grew until I felt as if it was choking me. I have experienced panic attacks before, but I never expected that the mention of a motorbike would bring on one. Okay, it was more than the mention of it. It was the thought of someone I loved being ON one. I didn’t realize how much the fear had grown until that moment.

In my mind, I started to rationalize what had happened all those years ago. Things I already knew, but they weren’t connecting. I knew that Big Red 3 wheelers were notorious for their instability; in fact they had been taken off the market because of it. I knew that a 10 year old, especially a small 10 year old like Sarah, had no hope of controlling the huge machine. I knew that a helmet could have possibly saved her life. I KNEW these things, but I couldn’t get the image of my brother’s best friend lifting the machine off her body that afternoon.

Slowly, after several years of marriage, I was able to come to grips with at least part of my fear, and no longer freaked out at the thought of my husband (and new born son) on a motor bike. I knew he could handle it, he was responsible, and had the experience to keep himself safe. A bike was purchased. I trusted him beyond doubt with my son, and so as soon as Evan could hold on, he was enjoying rides with his father.

I, however, still had that image pop up in my mind whenever I climbed on, and would spend the short trips with my head buried in my husband’s shoulder fighting back the panic. Soon, that became easier, and I started to loosen a little, but the panic was still there.

I have irrational fears (like sharks in swimming pools) that cause panic attacks, but this one just annoys the hell out of me. I can’t laugh about it, like the sharks. I can’t seem to shake it either.

Every summer has brought the talk of purchasing a 4 wheeler, I knew that once we bought the property it would only be a matter of time. Each year it has been sort of half hearted on the part of my husband, but this year was different. His office was getting rid of one that was rarely used. They were going to give him a great deal. I couldn’t say no. I knew that I trusted him. I knew that it was different than the Big Red that had killed Sarah. It was something he really wanted. So we got it.

The bike had been different, it weighed to much for me ride, and I could barely move the thing. The four wheeler didn’t tip if you lifted the kickstand (okay, it didn’t have a kickstand). My excuse was that Mark and Evan could ride it, I didn’t mind sitting at the fire making dinner as long as they were having fun.

And then there were TWO four wheelers, a gift of a salvaged machine that Mark was going to rebuild, and then was no excuse, except my irrational fear.

So, to make an already long story short, Mark started teaching me to ride. Scared out of my mind, a few weeks ago, we took a trip up the mountain. I did okay, the panic was there, and barely contained, but I got through it.

This weekend, Mark took me on a more difficult ride, one with not just rolling hills and little bumps, but steep climbs over rocky fields. Again, the panic was there, but I made it to the top of Skyline. I wouldn’t say I had fun, but I wasn’t terrified the whole time.

There’s that whole cliché about getting back on the horse… in this case, it took me over 15 years, but I got back on, and standing on the top of that ridge, looking back at the trail I had just conquered, made me incredible proud and satisfied.

My First Baby

1. Was your first pregnancy planned? Nope
2. Were you married at the time? Yep
3. What were your reactions at first? I cried for two weeks, then I had an U/S and I started to finally feel okay about it.
4. Was abortion an option? Nope
5. How old were you at the time? 25
6. How did you find out you were pregnant? Home test... about 6 of them.
7. Who did you tell first? Mark... and then my friend Shari.
8. Did you want to find out the sex? Yes
9. Due Date? It changed several times, but the Doc said the most accurate (which I NEVER used because it was LONGER than any of them) was April 16.
10. Did you deliver on time/early/late? He was born 14 days early from the "official" date, 10 early from the date according to my calculations, and only 4 days early from the earliest date they gave me (the beloved, and ever popular April 6).
11. Did you have morning sickness? Hell yes. For awhile I was throwing up 20-30 times a day. Then around month #7, I slowed down to just 4 or 5!
12. What did you need most during delivery? Food. I was starving.
13. Who irritated you the most? The stupid nurse that replaced the nice sweet one I had for the first half of my labor.
14. What was your first child's gender? Male
15. Did you wish you had the opposite gender? Nope, not on your life.
16. How many pounds did you gain during your pregnancy? about 35
17. Did you have a baby shower? Yes
18. Was it a surprise or did you know? I knew about the shower, but my sister flew my mom down as a surprise!
19. Did you have any complications during labor? Yes, thus the reason my first will be my last.
20. Where did you give birth? St Marks
21. How may hours were you in labor? Just over 11 of pit induced hell.
22.Who drove you to the hospital? I drove myself
23.Who watched? Mark and my Mom
24.Was it natural or c-section? Natural
25.Did you take medicine to ease the pain? ummm, yeah, I AM sane.
26. How much did the baby way? 9lb 15.5ozs. Let's call him a 10.
27.Did your baby have any complications? During the actually delivery, yes, but he came out just perfect.
28.What did you name him? Evan Sern
29. How old is your first born? 4

Randomness

1. Evan will only talk to me on the phone for three seconds. He talked to his dad yesterday for 2 hours (okay, that may be an exaggeration).

Our conversation this morning went like this:

Evan: I'm eating bacon.

Me: Mmmmm, that sounds like a good breakfast. Did Grandma make you eggs too?

Evan: Mom, that's too much talking. Bye.

Okay, it was a little longer than that, but mostly, that was it. He did tell me he was going to "kick my butt" and that he was going to go feed the ducks.

2. Night before last, I spent the evening with my friend Cecila and her daughter Celina, and Celina's two children. We went to dinner, and shopping at IKEA, and then came back to my house. Little Cecila gave us a violin recital. It was sooooo fun to watch a little 8 year old create music that I recognized!

3. Celina just changed jobs. Her new job is promoting a triathlon for novices (that means SLOWER and SMALLER). My friend Ricci and I are going to do it! I just need to talk Mark into it now. He was a runner AND a cyclist before we met, so I don't think it will take much. I wonder if Sara (my sister) will do it too?? Hmmmm.

4. I came home tonight and ran on the treadmill. Okay, I jogged. For 4 minutes. And I thought I might die. BUT I didn't stop, well, I stopped jogging after 4 minutes, but I walked REALLY fast for 15 more minutes. I figure I will slowly work my way up to jogging for 15 mins... that's my goal for the next week. My plan to reach that is to be on the treadmill for 20 minutes twice a day, and just keep pushing harder. I think once I reach 15 mins, it will get easier... At least that's what I tell myself! HA!

Montana

I haven't made the drive in the summer in a LONG time, and I forgot how beautiful areas of the state are.

It's just shy of 600 miles from my house to my parents house in Great Falls. This view is just about 40 miles away from my parents house... it's called Tower Rocks. You can't see it in the pictures (sorry about the piecing, but you have see the whole vista to get even an idea of it's beauty), but the Missouri River runs through this area... just behind the first peaks.

Evan and I drove up this weekend... and I drove back alone. He's sending his first summer with Grandma and Grandpa. Well, not the whole summer, just two weeks.

We left really early in the morning, and got there by noon... as soon as I had unloaded his things from the truck, he told me it was time for me to go back home!

"And Stuff"

I should know better.

This is how it went:

Evan: MOM!! Can I take off my shirt and stuff and play hulk???

Me: Sure. (I was distracted by the 4 foot pile of laundry I was folding.)

5 minutes later, I walk into the living room and find my son, without shirt... or pants... or underwear... stomping around and growling.

Next time I need to inquire as to what "and stuff" means I think. Lesson learned.

Fridgulators

That's how Evan says "refrigerator".

I realized while reading my friend Parkie's blog that I never told you the wonderful story of our fridge.

The new house did not come with one, so after staying up all night moving and unpacking, Mark and I got up early and went fridge shopping (with a 4 year old who wants to help, **snort**).

After wandering two stores (which I had scoped out a few weeks ago to discover the best deals), and him being much more picky than I, we found one we (he) liked.

We then found out delivery was 3 days out. We have no fridge in the house, and we weren't about to live off fast food and things that fit in the cooler AND take a day off work in order to have it delivered.

So we hauled it home. Hell, we own a big ass truck for a reason!

We got it OUT of the big ass truck and Mark measured the box, then the door, then the box. Yep. To big.

We wrestled it out of the box, Mark measured. Mark said it would fit.

Pushed it up the steps, hit the door.

Mark forgot to figure in the bow in the handles, so back down it came.

Mark measured it again, and decided it would fit if we turned it. Pushed the sucker back up.

Yep, still doesn't fit.


Mark swears.

I stand there thinking my legs are gonna fall off.

He tries to figure out how to get the doors off the fridge... too complicated he says. So he takes the doors to the house off the hinges. Says that will work.

I push.

It doesn't fit.

Back down it comes. (By this time, even the "back down", with gravity on my side, is killing me. That sucker was HEAVY and gravity was working a little TOOOOOOO much on my side!

He goes and measures the front door. Nope, same size. The sliding glass doors around back? Nope, Smaller.

I pull out the manual, and we (I) figure out how to get the god damn doors off.

I push. It fits.


I'm ready to crawl into the big garden tub and die.

We go camping instead.

My Superman.

Flannel Superman PJs, Green Goloshes, and a homemade cape (or suitcase as Evan likes to call it).

He even hums the theme song as he runs along.

(Oh, and notice my beautifully landscaped yard? I selected the placement of the weeds myself.)

My love story.

Okay, someone lectured me for not posting enough about my husband. So here's a little about US.

Mark and I met on a blind date. Before the actual date, which was scheduled for October 14, 2000, we talked online for a few minutes, but that was it.

Then the evening of the 14th came, and I got all dolled up, and I waited patiently by the door. Bastard never showed up. He didn't call. Nothing.

I ended up watching a movie with a neighbor who I can't remember, other than he had really bad teeth and he kept chewing on this piece of black plastic, and it drove me nuts.

The next morning, I got up, checked my email, and discovered my blind date had lost my #, and tried to email to let me know he had to work late, but asked to reschedule for Sunday (the 15th). Hmmmmm.... I could watch another movie with bad teeth boy, or I could go out to dinner with someone who stood me up. I figured I didn't have much to loose, because if I had one more "date" with Mr. Teeth, he might think we were a couple.

Mark showed up at my door late, but he had called me this time, so I was expecting it. I remember how he sort of ducked his head as he came in... and right there, I just knew this guy was different. I don't know if I would say "love at first sight" but there was definitely chemistry at first site!

He took me to Chili's... he had a club sandwich, and I had a diet coke. We talked and talked, and then we went back to his place to watch a movie, but we ended up talking until about 2am instead.

He called me the next day, and we made plans for the coming weekend... after that, we were together almost every night.

In January, he was looking at taking a job in Seattle, and he asked me if I would go with him. Of course I said yes. I had to go to Montana at the end of the month to help my mom after my dad had some serious surgery, and it was over the same week as his interview. I was driving my dad home from the hospital when he called. They had offered him the job. Mark asked to speak with my dad, and popped the question as to whether or not my dad would mind if I moved to Washington with him. My dad said he wasn't sure how he felt about that, and Mark responded with, "Sir, I was hoping to take her as a D****, not a L***** (my maiden name)." That was how he proposed... over the phone. My romantic husband!

Anyway, another day, I will tell you more.

Vacuum

You may be wondering why I am so excited that I am posting about what appears to be a "just" a vacuum.

I'm 30 years old. I have lived on my own since I was 18.

I have never once owned a brand new vacuum.

When I first moved out, my roommates always had one... and then Mark had one... they were all used and old.

I threw out Mark's antique Eureaka when we moved. No way was I bringing that dirt infested thing into my new house.

I borrowed a friends spare when we first moved in, again, USED.

Today, I went and bought myself a BRAND SPANKING NEW one. It's almost as cool as a brand new car... wait, I've never had a brand new car, so I don't know what that feels like.

Miracle Baby

Our very good friends have been trying to have a child for 10 years. Last summer, they announced a little baby was going to be joining their family.

In December we found out that it would be a little boy.

Last night we got to meet little Trevor for the first time. He's just six weeks old, and just a precious as can be. He looks just like his Daddy, and has the sweetest temperament.

Even Mark could not let the night end without giving joining in on the cuddling. Please excuse the quality, I was trying to grab a picture before my husband realized what I was doing!

House Pictures... Finally, I know.

Okay, well, not a LOT of house pictures, but here are a few.

First, my kitchen. My kitchen is in working order, and probably as decorated as it will ever be. I do want to get a small herb garden to go on my window sill, so just imagine fresh basil and parsley growing in a beautiful pot, okay? Oh, and I want to find a pretty iron antique to go above the window, rather than a valence since we have plantation shutters to install this weekend in the actual window.

And one of my very favorite parts of my kitchen:

This sucker is about 9 foot deep. I have room for sooooo much!!

Next, Mark's domain, the office:

Mark gets to decorate this room to his heart's content. My guess is it will look EXACTLY like this in 5 years. (I might break down and hang our New York pictures in here just to help with the echo.)

And the only decorated room in the house, the guest bathroom:

Okay, it's not totally decorated, but it at least has pretty things IN it that arn't in boxes AND it has a theme... BLUE and glass! Any ideas on what I should put on the back of the toilet??? I also need to hang something above the towel rack you can see in the mirror and on the wall that you can't see next to the sink (above the hand towel). Haven't figured that out yet.

One of my FAVORITE places in the house:

This sucker takes the whole water heater to fill. I love it. I have some candles in a box somewhere that will look perfect in the corners.

And one of my least favorite places:

In exchange for that beautiful garden tub, there is no closet in the master bath, so everything, for now, is on the counter top. I will be getting some organization somethings to go in the cupboard under the sink to help with the clutter soon!

Next, the living room, okay, just one part.... don't you think we need a bigger tv???

And last, my wonderful friend Cecila brought me these beautiful roses as a house warming gift! They smell DIVINE!!