Fire pit

July 16, 2013
For nine years, we've neglected one corner of our yard. It was dubbed the "flower experiment bed" because we would plant random starts or flowers we didn't really want anywhere else there. Basically just a pile of dirt.

Until one night when I was walking the dog and had a vision of what to do with it. I came home and told Jeff my brilliant plan to build a small fire pit. I braced myself for his reaction that he didn't want a fire pit there. But instead he was totally game for it! He even upped my fire pit vision with a new paver seating area and sitting walls to make a flower bed.

And thus began the work.

Hundreds of shovels of dirt and wheelbarrow trips as we moved all the dirt. Then truck load after truck load of bedding sand to get the area prepped. Only one more load of bedding sand to go then it's sand, pavers, and then a smores party!

Teeny, tiny level

July 15, 2013
This is NOT a pregnancy test.

It's a level. A teeny, tiny level.

Brownie party

July 14, 2013
Fern and I made a batch of brownies today. Which you can see was followed by licking the beaters. And bowl.

Then we took those brownies (and some vanilla ice cream) and invited ourselves over to the neighbors for an impromptu summer party. Oh, and invited a few other neighbors over to our neighbors without asking them first. I'm sure it was the highlight of their entire summer.

Aren't you glad we don't live by you!?

Spike

July 13, 2013
Meet Spike the bearded dragon.

Our friends in the neighborhood are lizard-sitting him for a few weeks.

It took all my strength to not squeal and jump when they insisted I hold him. I sort of lump all lizard like creatures into the snake category which I am deathly afraid of.

Pearl and Jeff on the other hand where more than happy to hold, pet, and love Spike. I pray they don't bring one home someday.

Lunch date

July 12, 2013
I had a hot lunch date today.

No, literally. We ordered the spicy chicken tenders. From Popeyes... best fried chicken ever.

I may suck at gift giving, but I do know what my man likes for our wedding anniversary. Hot, spicy chicken from Popeyes... only an hour out of my way but totally worth the drive to see his smile.

That and the drive gave me an excuse to go spend all of my money on some new clothes.

7-11

July 11, 2013
Not many people get to celebrate their 11th anniversary on 7-11 with free Slurpees from 7-11.

Eleven years. That's a long time!

Like father like son

July 10, 2013
Like father like son.

(And for those who are curious, yes, Jeff made me push him around the yard in his new wheelbarrow.)

Boys

July 9, 2013
Yes, this is my child.

Yes, this is my neighbor's flowers. 

And yes, he has discovered the advantages of being a boy when you have to pee.

Birthday cake surprise

July 8, 2013
I really suck at gift giving. Especially for Jeff.

Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, random holidays. Jeff always has a nice, thoughtful gift for me. Somehow he manages to listen to random things I say, "oh it would be nice to have (fill in the blank)" that I soon forget. Not sure how he manages to listen to these random tidbits of conversation when he can tune me out when I want to talk about something important. Like our eternal salvation.

Any-hoo. He's just a better gift giver than me.

In my defense though, the man is hard to buy for. I don't have an Aggie apparel store down the street and that's all he seems to want. Or I get chicken with buying him things I think he'd really want because I'm afraid to one, spend that much money (he always wants expensive stuff) and two, pick out said expensive item without him.

So as usual his birthday came and I didn't have a present. We'd also been in Bear Lake all weekend before his birthday making gift buying extremely difficult.

But I did have one surprise up my sleeves.

A cake. And not just any cake. A spice cake with cream cheese frosting made with love by Sandy.

Sandy is a lady who works with Jeff. Sandy is an amazing baker. Sandy can do no wrong when it comes to delectable, sweet treats. Sandy has forever ruined any and all baking attempts by myself because everything I make is compared to Sandy's homemade Reese's or Sandy's cakes or Sandy's cookies or Sandy's... well you get the idea.

Well I called Sandy and asked her to make Jeff a birthday cake and surprise him at work with it. He was in birthday cake heaven (I might have had my share of cake heaven too).

Who's the worst gift giver now?

Chuckit!

July 7, 2013
I guess if the dog won't fetch the Chuckit, then the boy might as well have fun with it.

Homeward bound

July 6, 2013
The gorgeous sunset that greeted us as we drove out of Sardine Canyon and pulled onto the freeway was a small consolation prize for having to leave the lake.

And coming home to loads of stinky laundry.

Serves me right

July 5, 2013
When I was a little girl, my aunts decided they were going to play beauty parlor with me. You know, do my hair, paint my nails, put makeup on me.

It sounds heavenly.

The only problem was I was NOT a willing participant. I was kind of a tomboy and now regret my screaming, flailing, and stubbornness because they won't play beauty parlor with me anymore.

Fast forward to today when the roles are reversed and I'm the aunt. I saw my two-month-old niece's teeny, tiny piggy toes and just knew they needed a coat of bright orange polish. But as soon as I grabbed her little foot, she started screaming and kicking.

She carried on like I was going to give her a heel prick!

I could barely swipe a coat of that cute fingernail polish on her toenails. Hence, the crappy job with polish all over her toes and not even a full coverage on most of them. 

I sent this picture to my aunts and they laughed and laughed and laughed. 

Serves me right I guess.

Bear Lake

July 4, 2013
Guess where I'm spending the 4th of July?

Guilty

July 3, 2013
I just know I'm going to come home to something eaten through, dug up, or destroyed. Look at that face. It just screams guilty!!! And she hasn't even done anything yet.

Strep

July 2, 2013
Every few months I get a horrible sore throat and eventually lose my voice. The first time it happened, the doctor said it was just a virus. So I'd tough it out for a few weeks until my voice came back and my throat felt better. 

I figured this time was no different. And I'm tougher (or too stubborn to admit defeat) than a virus.

But after a few days of whining that my throat hurt really, really bad, Jeff told me I better get it checked or I couldn't go to Bear Lake. Plus, the guilt of getting my sweet new niece Anberlin was weighing heavily on my mind.

Diagnosis? Strep throat. The first time ever in my entire life.

And wouldn't you know it, I was able to share in my pain with two of my coworkers, my niece, and brother.

I don't know why they're whining. Three pills later and I feel fine.

Popsicles for Dinner

July 1, 2013
Do you think Jeff will approve of Popsicles for dinner?

Sigh

June 30, 2013
Is it bad that I still breathe a heavy sigh every time we walk past our dream lot in our dream neighborhood where we dreamed of building our dream house? But instead decided to stay in our 100+ year old house and get a 15-year mortgage to be more financially secure?

I know the right answer but it sure doesn't make me feel better sometimes. 

Blu-zo

June 29, 2013
Blu-zo as she is lovingly called now by Cole and Jeff, has officially survived her first year of life (as of June 14 to be precise)! Which is a big feat considering the destruction she's caused at times. It's a good thing she's super sweet and well behaved 95% of the time. Oh, and her soft ears don't hurt either.

15-year lunch

June 28, 2013
I figured that if we just signed away our first born child to refinance our house for a 15-year mortgage, Jeff could fork out another $20 to buy us lunch. Thanks babe!

Melted snacks

June 27, 2013
I have a feeling the kids won't take the news that I forgot to take their gummy bears and fruit snacks out of the truck - and now they're a big blob of melted mess - very well.

Lemon cupcake

June 26, 2013
Have I mentioned that I work with the most amazing people? Well, let this lemon cupcake with butter cream frosting serve as a reminder that my friends at work are better than yours!

Time for a trim

June 25, 2013
I think it's time for a hair cut.

Even if Fern-boy is pretty happy to have spiky hair and "look like Dad."

Sex Talk

June 24, 2013
I didn't think I'd have to have the sex talk with my kids because "two fire bugs are kissing."

Sad Puppy

June 23, 2013
I think Blu is going to be even more sad than me to go home.

Family Picture

June 22, 2013
Here's to yet another traditional family picture on the 4 wheeler rock... I'm yelling at everyone to look at the camera, Pearl's mad about getting her picture taken, dog is slobbering all over my leg, Cole's saying "cheese!", and Jeff is grabbing my boob.

My Happy Place

June 21, 2013
Ahhhh... Bear Lake. My happy place.

Play-doh

June 20, 2013
I was a nice mom today.

I let Cole get out all of the Play-doh and smash, squish, and strewn it all over the table, floor, and chairs.

Team Building

June 19, 2013
I work with the best people ever.

I mean, who else learns to make balloon swords and flowers at their staff meetings?

Peas

June 18, 2013
Oh delicious garden peas, I can't tell you how happy I am to see you!

Frumpy like Me

June 17, 2013
Cole was excited to find some new hand-me-down flannel pajama pants. Paired with an old Aggie shirt, he was thrilled to look just like mommy does at bedtime... or as Jeff pointed out, frumpy.

Drill, Doughnuts, and Duct Tape

June 16, 2013
What dad wouldn't want a drill, doughnuts, and duct tape for Father's Day?

And yes, that's three boxes of doughnuts. Three ugly ties equals three boxes of FREE doughnuts!

Rock throwing boy

June 15, 2013
Luckily he's not peeing. Just throwing rocks... at the dog, me, his sister, the trees, road, pretty much everything he casts his eyes one.

I don't think I'll ever understand boys.

The Lizard

June 14, 2013
Pearl gave her friends a goodie bag as a thank you for coming to her birthday party, which included a little, plastic lizard.

Unfortunately not all of the lizards found their way to a new home. Unless you count the three I found clinging to various items in my "unmentionables" drawer today.

I have a feeling Jeff and I will be playing this game of lizard hide-and-seek for a long time to come.

Girls

June 13, 2013
Man, I love these girls. They make all my worries melt away for a few hours. They can even make me forget about your dumb dog who decided to dig a hole right next to the water line in the backyard and then shake mud over every surface in the garage, on the garage, shed, fence, patio, and patio furniture while you were at Girls Camp.

Hotel Motel

June 12, 2013
Cole didn't believe me when I told him this house wasn't a hotel-motel like he thought.

Girls Camp

June 11, 2013
Week in Baltimore... check.

Laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning... check.

Soccer games... check.

Soccer pictures... check.

Swimming at Cherry Hill... check.

Family BBQ... check.

25 creature power suits, birthday cake, decorations, and goodie bags... check.

More children and parents than I can remember cramming into the scant amount of shade available for a birthday party... check.

Cleaning up mess from birthday party... check.

Packing for girls camp at midnight... check.

Picking up girls, gear, and driving to Camp Zarahemla... check.

Praying that I survive (and stay awake) the next few days with a smile on my face... to be determined.

Wild Kratts

June 10, 2013
If I wasn't crazy enough running to three soccer games, Cherry Hill, and family BBQ hours after getting back from a week-long work trip across the country, a friend birthday party for Pearl certainly could send me over the edge.

We spent all day yesterday (and all of my money) prepping for the Wild Kratts party.

I wasn't going to do a friends birthday party this year, but after getting so many invites to other parties and knowing this was the last time Pearl would be with the kids she's practically grown up with in daycare, I caved.

Luckily, Jeff has mad crafting skills and helped me cut and glue 25 creature power suits (in a variety of colors) for the celebration.

A few of his closest friends

June 9, 2013
Cole invited a few of his closest friends over for breakfast this morning.

Patience

June 8, 2013
My patience was stretched to the limit this morning. Not only was I totally messed up with coming back home after being on Eastern Standard Time for a week, staying up all night doing laundry, grocery shopping, and getting the house back in order, but Pearl's soccer team (which I coach) had a double header this morning bright and early AND team pictures.

Ugh.

It wouldn't have been so bad if our rec league was actually organized. It was a total disaster with pictures. First of all, they never told my team when our pictures were. Then they just let everyone show up when they wanted and stand in a ridiculous line of mass chaos as parents filled out order forms, asked the same questions over and over again, and tried to keep their squirmy and bored teams together. Oh, and if the league had actually scheduled our double header games right, as in telling the other team to actually show up.

I seriously was about ready to pull my hair out and scream!

But it gets better.

After Pearl's games and pictures, we didn't have enough time to go home before starting the entire process all over again with Cole. I was so freaking mad at Cole's coach! He waited an hour after the scheduled time for their team pictures, just in case anyone else was coming. If you can't get there on time or even within a 10 minute window of being on time, then your kid doesn't get a picture. Simple concept.

Plus, it was hot. And with a cranky, tired, impatient mom, kids, and Dad, I pert near didn't make it through the morning and on to the next adventure of the day... Cherry Hill and a BBQ with my family.

Why do I do this to myself?

Popeye's

June 7, 2013
After flying solo for a week with the kids (and furry, four-legged child), I knew I had to fulfill Jeff's only request of me coming home.

Picking up some Popeye's chicken at the airport.

Even if it meant lugging my laptop, purse, and incredibly awkward to carry poster tube to the absolute furthest terminal possible, then back again carrying all of the previously mentioned plus a bag of chicken and a Dr. Pepper.

It was well worth watching the luggage attendant laugh at me, nearly dropping everything in my hands, and the smile from Jeff when I handed him his long-awaited dinner.

Inner Harbor at Night

June 6, 2013
I still prefer my mountains out West, but I've got to say, Inner Harbor is beautiful. Especially at night. 

Early

June 5, 2013
It's far too early (especially when you stayed up far too late watching Duck Dynasty) to be sitting in meetings all day.

Historic Ships

June 4, 2013
My brilliant plan to see Fort McHenry (birthplace of the Star Spangled Banner) fell through today when I missed the last water taxis out there. I was totally bummed.

To console myself, I took a tour of two of Inner Harbor's historic ships. The USS Constellation (aka, "Old Iron Sides") and the USS Torsk. The USS Constellation was a Civil War ship built in 1854 and used to stop slave ships. It is a beautiful, old, wooden ship. The USS Torsk was a World War II submarine which sunk the last enemy ship of the war in 1945.

I can tell you after ducking my head to walk up and down the stairs of the USS Constellation, and ducking to walk through the doors of each section of the USS Torsk, I was not cut out for sea legs. I can't imagine living on either one of these historic ships. It would be absolutely terrifying with the creaks of the wooden planks or steam and bombs sitting right under your bunk.

I definitely have a new respect for Navy men.

Jellyfish Exhibit

June 3, 2013
The last time I went to Baltimore I didn't make the time to do much exploring. So this time around, I had a plan.

See Fort McHenry, go to the National Lacrosse Museum and brag to my brother, and get the kids something cool at the National Aquarium.

Oh, and force myself to eat something "fishy."

I must say the aquarium's jellyfish exhibit alone was worth the $35 admission price. Completely fascinating and eerily beautiful.

Advantages

June 2, 2013
I may or may not have had a slight nervous breakdown yesterday and the day before and the day before that.

You see, I got sent to Baltimore for work for a week. Leaving Jeff home alone with two kids, a dog that ticks him off most days, and a busy week of work himself.

Indescribable mom guilt. If you haven't been there and done that, so to speak, you wouldn't understand. I spent the better half of the night crying and begging anyone who happened to pick up the phone to come help Jeff with the kids while I was gone. (Thank you Kimmy and Jeff's parents!)

But the plane leaves with or without you and come this morning, I was on my way to a week of meetings across the country.

Now I'll be honest. A week of meetings does have its advantages. Like getting to watch cable T.V. shows (that we don't watch at home... we refuse to pay for cable) as late as I want.

Duck Dynasty. Completely hilarious.... "It don't matta if she a lil' bit homely, as long as she can cook." Classic. 

All My Money

June 1, 2013
Any guesses for what three crumpled dollar bills will buy you?

Melts My Heart

May 31, 2013
Gads this little boy drives me completely crazy some days.

But all it takes is that little grin to melt my heart.

Brothers

May 30, 2013
I love my brothers.

This might just be my all time favorite picture of them. Sure I could have picked a nice picture of me and Kurtis at his graduation ceremony but nope, I picked a picture that makes me laugh. And remember how much fun we had together. Jesse thought he was photo bombing me taking a picture of Kurtis, but in fact, it was he who got photo bombed.

We are so funny.