Sunday

Today is one of those Sundays that just seems to last forever. I'm loving it.


Mark is upstairs sleeping... he's sick, so I feel bad for him, but the house is so quiet. Evan is playing wonderfully by himself, and I am just enjoying not having to rush around cleaning.



Tonight is book club. It was my turn to choose, and after the dooseys we've had the last few months, I tried to pick a good one. Everyone I've talked to raves about The Secret Life of Bees, so this afternoon, I sat down and made some bookmarks for the group. When we first started, we always had something fun and simple to introduce the new title, but over the holidays we sort of got away from it... I thought it would be fun to start it back up again... plus it gave me a reason to pull out some scrap stuff and get my hands dirty!



This weekend has been a great crafting weekend... Yesterday, Mark took Evan out riding and fishing, so I had the whole house to myself. That meant that cleaning went lickity split, AND I had time to do a project. I had promised a quilt for my friends little girl, and finally had time to sit down and work on it. It's just a basic patch quilt so it went really fast, and I finished the quilt top in just a few hours. I decided to do something a little different on the quilting part of it, and I'm quilting huge flowers into it, randomly. So far, I'm really liking it. I'll post a picture when it's done.

The Zoo

My parents came to visit for a few days, and we took a trip to the zoo.

Evan made a friend. This little meerkat was QUITE the copy cat. He mimicked everything that Evan would do... when Evan stood with his hands over his head, so did he, when he pressed his nose to the glass, so did he. It was adorable.

My other favorite was the "King Kongs" There was a huge bust of an ape outside the building, and it took some persuading to get Evan inside, because "King Kongs are SCARY, and they will EAT you!!" (Or so Evan told us.)

Once inside, there was a GREAT BIG orangutan that was swinging away on a tire swing. That warmed Evan up quite a bit... next was a little tiny baby orangutan that had Evan in stitches as she hung upside down, and threw hay all over the place.

The BEST part though was the gorilla. He had quite the attitude, and well, this is what he kept showing us!

He would turn his head, and look at us, then wiggle his rear! It was hilarious, and Evan definatly overcame his fear of "King Kongs"!

The Scale.

It's been a rough couple of months, and I **KNOW** I'm an emotional eater. The scale reminded me of that this morning.

It's time to recommit. I WILL eat healthier choices. I WILL limit my splurges. I WILL exercise each day. I WILL snack on veggies, not chips.

Okay... here I go!

I created!!

All of my craft stuff has been packed up for months. For my birthday, I treated myself to a VERY messy house, and buried my kitchen table in scrapbook supplies. Of course, I had to shop too!

I've been wanting to do a perpetual calendar, and had an idea to use envelopes so that when I made that perfect card for so and so, I could keep it with the calendar.

Anyway, here are a few pictures!

I still have to bind it... but I'm just using D Ring.

Here's a shot of the pocket, with cards inside. I used just plain clasp envelopes, then cut off the clasping end. I sort of wish I had used white ones now, but you only notice it when you open them, so it's not a big deal.



And a sample page. The paper is a mix of Wild Asparagus, My Mind's Eye, and ummm, something else. The primas were a gift from my friend Jenn, who has now officially gotten me hooked on them... but I'm still not as addicted as she is!!

I had a dream.

I woke up early this morning with a start. I told myself that I had to get up and get packing. We only had a few short weeks to get moved out of the house. The offer was great, but they were in a time crunch and wanted to move in ASAP. As I looked at the clock, which was mocking me with a lovely, bright red 4:00 am, reality started to seep in.

We didn't have an offer on the house.

There was no need to pack up boxes.

All was good, I could stay in the nice warm blankets... yet it had been SOOOOOOO real.

I couldn't fall back asleep, and soon a little 4 year old snuggle bunny was curled up beside me and we watched early morning re-runs of Star Trek.

Jay (the realtor) called me at 10. The people who had done a walk through of the house last night fell in love. They called him at 9:30 last night and made an offer. He waited to call us until he had the official fax in hand. And the buyers do, indeed, have a time crunch on their hands. We will be closing in just under 3 weeks if all goes well.

Maybe they talked about making the offer as they walked into my bedroom... maybe some sort of excited energy lingered in my room. I don't remember an actual dream where we were selling the house... I just woke up with the impression that we HAD sold the house.

I sold my house today.

CRAP I'VE GOT NO PLACE TO LIVE!!!!!!

Hiccup.... CWWUUUUPPPPP!

Evan is walking around with the hiccups... for real. But following each spasm is a loud, exaggerated, and oh so very cute "CWWWWUUUUPPPP... EXCUSE ME, I got the hicwups!!!"

Counter Offers and Cold Feet

Well, two weeks ago, I thought Mark would be starting his new job in Blanding today. Just to sum it up, Mark went to work this morning at the same job he’s been going to for the last 8 years.

Now that the suspense is out of the way, here’s how it happened.

Remember how I said that we were tired of settling for something just so-so, and that we wanted something better? Remember how I said that I didn’t think that would happen, no matter how much sweat and tears we put into our current situation??

Well, when someone else puts in the sweat and tears, it makes the just so-so into something a whole lot better. Mark’s company counter offered, and we turned them down. The countered again, and we turned them down… they offered a third, amazing offer, and we said we’d think about it… and then they piled more on the top, and that changed our mind.

The offer includes, not only a raise, but a lot of things corrected that led Mark to look for a different job. Just to name a few: more time with his family (not having to work 60-80 hours a week), and the offer to some telecommuting (which means we can move out of the city).

Our house went on the market last week: http://www.utahrealestate.com/677741

And we started looking for one in a new area, closer to the thing we love about Utah: the OUTDOORS!

On Thursday, the day after we signed the house papers, Mark started to have cold feet, and we went through a couple of days of going back and forth, working through the pros and cons. It came down to what would happen in the next 2-5 years with each offer… and how that would affect the next 5 plus years. Staying with the current job got us much closer to where we want to be in 5 or 10 or 20 years, so we’re staying.

Fishing

Evan’s first fishing trip was a success!!

We decided to take a break this weekend and get out of Salt Lake. It’s been a tough few weeks, and after finally coming to a FINAL decision (which I will post in a few), we needed some relaxing family time.

We hit Cabellas on the way out of the city, and picked up a rod and reel for Evan. Then we headed down to Scofield.

Nothing was biting, but Evan had blast just reeling his little bobbing line in.


As the sun was setting, Mark got a bite, and quickly handed the pole over to Evan to reel in. He was squealing with delight the whole time as the little trout pulled on his line.


As it got within sight, it started splashing and jumping, which sent Evan into absolute hysterical laughter, and he handed the pole back to Mark so he could watch the fish.


As Mark took the hook out, Evan was finally persuaded to touch the squirming, slimy thing before it went back into the reservoir.

I was tagged.

Three Things That Scare Me:
1. Sharks
2. ATV’s and Dirt Bikes
3. ummmmmmmmmm…

Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
1. Shane
2. Sara
3. Evan

Three Things I Love:
1. My Boys
2. The great outdoors, especially when my boys are there with me
3. The smell of fresh cut grass

Three Things I Hate:
1. Moths
2. Stupid people who ask annoying questions (especially if they are chewing on something like a cow while asking.)
3. Pineapple

Three Things I Don’t Understand:
1. Keeping up with the Jones
2. Fake French Tip Nails… especially TOE nails.
3. People that get up at the butt crack of dawn to buy crap at Garage Sales

Three Things On My Desk:
1. Water
2. Applications
3. Coke Lids

Three Things I’m Doing Right Now:
1. Pretending to Work
2. Tapping my foot
3. Talking to my friend Amber

Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
1. Go to Ireland
2. I guess I don’t have goals.
3.

Three Things I Can Do:
1. Quilt
2. Speak Klingon
3. Make yummy bread

Three Things I Can’t Do:
1. Ride a Unicycle
2. Calculus
3. Say the word burglary

Three Things I Think You Should Listen To:
1. uhhhhh…hhhhhhh…
2. Me, and my brilliant ideas and hilarious jokes.
3.

Three Things You Should Never Listen To:
1. The voices in your head
2. Other people's conversations
3.

Three Things I’d Like To Learn:
1. Much to Mark’s disdain… more crafts!!
2. To speak a language that normal, not geeky, people will understand
3. How to pronounce the word burglary

Three Favorite Foods:
1. Café Rio Barbacoa Pork Salad, mmmmmmmm
2. Strawberries
3. Dark Chocolate

Three Shows I Watched As A Kid:
1. Dukes of Hazard
2. MacGyver
3. Simon and Simon

Garage Sales

I haven't done a garage sale in ages. I haven't shopped at a garage sale in ages.

PEOPLE ARE CRAZY at garage sales!!

My sister and her friend invited me to be part of multi-family garage sale. So I packed up some stuff, and headed out at 7:30 this morning. When I arrived, there were EASILY 50 people already there, and everyone was still unloading the sale items.

People bought the junkiest things without question, and then, on the nice items with the good deals, they acted like you were committing highway robbery. One lady bought $5 worth of rusted knives... seriously, they were rusty, but then didn't want to pay $20 for a working copy/fax/printer that was less than 2 years old.

I had a TON of DVDs, all marked a dollar. These were not crappy DVDs, mind you, they were GOOD movies. Things like the Italian Job and Oceans 11. Some guy came up to me with 11, and said "Will you take $3 for these?" I counted the ones in his hand, out loud, and said, "No, but I'll take $11." Then he walked away. He later came back and asked if I would take $5. I again said, "No, but I'll take $11!" He replied with, "But they're USED." and I said, "Yeah, that's why I'm not charging the $19.99 that's on the original sales sticker right there for each of them."

He paid me $11.

Now I remember why I never go through the hassle of doing a garage sale, but load of the truck to take to charity!

Yet Another Chapter in "Evan Stories"

Evan, my pure, sweet, innocent boy.

I was talking on the phone a few nights ago, wandering the house, when I turned and saw Evan standing with his back to the front window... which was open, and faces the street. Why is that odd? you may be thinking.

Well, he also had his bum hanging OUT the window, with his PANTS AROUND HIS ANKLES!!!

I screamed, "EVAN WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING??????????"

To which, he matter of factly replied, "I'm showing that lady my bum!"

Yes, one of the neighbors was walking their dog down the street.

Good thing we're moving!

Birthday Boy!!

If you ask Evan how old he is, he informs you that he is THREE today, but will be FOUR tomorrow. He's been saying that for several days, and, alas, tomorrow has yet to come!

I know everyone says it, but I honestly cannot believe he's already FOUR! I remember being pregnant with him, I remember looking at my HUGE baby and wondering how he fit inside my stomach.

I mostly remember the firsts. I don't really have any memory of the lasts... which may be why it seems impossible that he's 4. I remember the first time I held him, but not the last time I rocked him to sleep. I remember the first time he walked, but not the last time he crawled. I remember the first time he laughed, and smiled, and spoke, but I don't remember the last time he made those adorable baby gurgles. It must be a trick of the mind, because as I try and remember when he grew up, it makes me a little heartsick.


The big difference this year was the gifts. He knew what they were. He didn't need any help ripping the paper off, he didn't need any encouragement to put the newly opened toy down, and move onto the next. In years past, opening just 3 or 4 gifts has taken hours. This time, it was done in just a few precious moments.

Another big difference this year was he KNEW exactly what he wanted, and HOW. When we would ask him what he wanted for his birthday, it was always the same "I want a BLUE present with RED stickers." When we would ask what he wanted inside his blue present with red stickers, it was always "Woody". When asked what he wanted to eat, "Chocolate Chips with white ice cream." No cake, just chocolate chips (which means cookies) with WHITE ice cream.

Bane of my Weekends

I hate to iron. Laundry in general is one of my least favorite chores, however, the ironing part is what I hate the most.

Mark recently bought a pair of dockers that, to me, are the most miraculous articles of clothing ever created.

You spritz them with water, and any wrinkles that may have found their way into the material magically disappear with the swipe of your hand. (AND the water just beads up and is whisk away with the wrinkles leaving just a fleeting memory that it, or the wrinkles, ever existed in the first place.)

Why aren't all clothes made like this?? The material feels normal. It's not scratchy, or heavy, or smelly or any other adjective you don't want associated with your clothing. They didn't cost any more than any of the other dockers, so it can't be that the technology is so expensive it's ludicrous to make everyday clothing out of it.

I'm not asking that ALL clothing be wrinkle free, but it sure would be nice if the majority of the clothes either were SUPPOSE to be wrinkled, or were as easy to make wrinkle free.

I guess I better go finish ironing so we have clothes to wear tomorrow.

Settlin'

I love the group, Sugarland. They have a song called Settlin' that I was just singing along too the other day, and I realized the chorus pretty much sums up how Mark and feel about our lives right now. For those of you who've never heard of Sugarland, here's the chorus:

I ain't settling for just getting by
I've had enough so so for the rest of my life
Tired of shooting too low, so raise the bar high
Just enough ain't enough this time
I ain't settling for anything less than everything

We've been "settling". Mark's job is great... if you squint and tilt your head to the right. That sort of blurs out the background and all the crap he puts up with.

Life in Salt Lake is good, but it's not great. A good friend of mine informed me that she's always known that Mark and I are "Small Town" folks. We don't love the city, we just live here. Every chance we get, we LEAVE the city.

We've hit the high point of life here, right now, but like the song says, it just ain't enough this time. Maybe in a few years, we'll find out that Blanding is no longer the best fit for us, and we'll try something different, but right now, it's a step in the direction we want to go. This opportunity came along and really opened our eyes... no more squinting to blur out the stuff we don't like about our life. It's time to make changes.

It's official.

That said, I know that Blanding is not the end all, cure all of our life. It's a different set of challenges in a different setting. BUT it's worth working at... the things we struggle with here are not going to change, no matter how much sweat and tears we throw into it.

Anyway, we've have an idea of how the next little bit will play out and I'm sure it'll change a lot over the next two weeks, so I won't bore you all with the details just yet. I promise to keep you posted!!