Friday Five Faves - vol. 3

It's been an off-week for me. On one hand I've got so much to be thankful for. On the other, some things have been a struggle. Like my professional life this week. I kinda feel bad about focusing a little on the negative because I hate watching the news or reading some article about how the sky has been falling. I don't want this to be a place people come and have their smile get turned upside down.

I'm really struggling. I'm not going to go into details, but I'm experiencing some professional stresses that would have made me quit prior jobs. I love what I do and I believe in what our office is doing, I just am struggling with certain aspects of things right now. Things that make me dread coming into the office. That keep me up at night. That make the pit of my stomach hurt from stress.

I only know to pray about it. Which is the best thing for these types of things, but I'm human, so my emotions tend to be a little wonky because of it. I'm really hoping to check those at the door this afternoon because I have some partying to do.

Namely with a certain 2 year old and some of her friends. Which is my #1 this week. I'm totally stoked about the party. Not to give too much away, but we have a hot dog/german sausage feed with salads and chips, game time for the kids to include a small basketball hoop, a bean bag toss and a seed planting station. Then the cake is the shape of a butterfly because it totally matches the Garden Party theme. The centerpieces are adorable. I'll post pictures of them after the party.

2) Dinner with family tonight. D & E will be with us the weekend for the festivities. Tonight N's sister and her family are coming over for some food, fellowship and Wii. It'll be nice to visit with them and just enjoy our time together.

3) Zoe's new cowboy boots. Her G.G. sent them from Austin for her birthday. Aren't they adorable? She'll be line dancin' and two steppin' in no time.


4) My amazing husband. N has been helping out around the house this week extra because of how hard things have been for me. I come home to a clean house, clean laundry and a phone call telling me all kinds of sweet lovey-dovey things. He's made this week better. I'm so thankful that he is a husband who can sense my frustrations and my stresses and does what he can to be supportive. He is truly a demonstration of God's grace in my life.

5) Early bed times. Last night at 8 o'clock Zoe brought me her bedtime book and we read it. Then she ran into the kitchen while she asked for a bottle. At 8 o'clock. That is a whole hour before her normal bedtime. When I told her we needed to get ready for bed, you'd think I just told her I killed her puppy. Because she cried and cried and cried. Alligator tears ensued.

After her bottle, she got into her comfy position on my lap, turned her head toward me, blew me a kiss and was asleep. That little gesture there brought a slew of tears and made my week's stresses vanish.

Then I got to watch The Office. Even though it was a rerun, it was new to me.

It was like the perfect evening. Especially since I lost this week. After eating more food this weekend than I should in a week because, hello, celebrating a birthday! Whatever fries she didn't eat, I couldn't let those go to waste. They were birthday fries. We all know those taste better.

Have a great Friday all.

My favorite sound

We finally got a pony

I took yesterday off to celebrate Zoe's birthday. We woke up late, cuddled and played most of the day. It was perfect. Even the Disney Channel must've known it was her birthday because they played her favorite Mickey Mouse episode. When she realized it, she squealed and started dancing.

We went to dinner at Grandma's house. Of course she made Zoe's favorite. Chicken nuggets, green beans and rice. Then she even got a HUGE piece of chocolate cake. To say it was a perfect day is putting it mildly!

It was a perfect day for me too. For months I've been trying to get her hair into a ponytail. Her hair has a mind all its own. There is even a large cowlick in the back that make any kind of style difficult.

However yesterday I was successful. She looked adorable.

And more like a toddler than I have ever noticed.

She is TWOrific

Today we are celebrating a milestone. Zoe turns 2. On one hand I cannot believe this day is here. On the other its an age we've been waiting for since the day she was born.

When you have a preemie, most of the developmental or physical delays go away when the child reaches the age of 2. Zoe, true to form, follows this rule.

She is the same size as her peers, talks and plays like them. She even can climb and run like they do. It's a milestone that creeped up on me, but still amazes me daily.

Zoe,

When I first saw you on the ultrasound, I knew we would have a special bond. At the time I had no idea what God had in store for us, but I'm so glad we are both here to celebrate you.

You were so small, yet so alert and sweet. I know we didn't officially meet until you were 2 days old, but that moment of touching your soft skin and singing to you was one of the best days of my life.


The I got to hold you and I really felt like I was your mommy. I sang "Jesus Loves Me" to you while you searched to see my face. You knew my voice.

Now I get to sing to you every night. I love that you are beginning to sing with me.

I love that you will dance, twirl and even help me type x gfffv zsAFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF GMKWEQIJHY XSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSXSX4

on the blog.

You have the sweetest heart. You share all your toys, your food and you freely give kisses and hugs.

I love to watch you discover. You say almost 2 new words a day. You can now draw circles and you're better at working the television remotes than I am.

You love to put on pretend make-up, brush your own hair and teeth. You are getting more independent every day. Yet you still want me or daddy to put you to bed and give you lovies.

Your are funny and easy to smile. You often make your daddy and me laugh out loud during the day.

We have been blessed beyond anything we thought possible these last two years.

Thank you for being our baby girl, now our toddler. We thank God for the 2 pound miracle of you. It has been a blessing to be your mommy and daddy.

Some are born great

Some achieve greatness

and some have greatness thrust upon them.

~Twelfth Night

Zoe, you are made of TWOrific greatness. I love you too the moon and back Doodlebug.

Just for smiles

Does this mean we'll be having a kegger?

We got a letter in the mail from N's school. Usually when we get letters from them it's about his course not having enough people in it and they're evaluating if the night program will continue, etc. It's never good.

Until this week.

The letter commended N on his grades (he finished the first quarter with a 3.9). It's the first time I've totally agreed with the letter. Because of his grades, not only is he potentially on the Dean's List, he's also invited to join a fraternity.

I can't remember the name of it, but I think it has a Kappa, a Gamma and some other equally confusing Greek letter. Perhaps a Chi, Phi or Delta.

Anyway he can rush next month.

He totally got invited to join the academic fraternity. At the age of 31.

I think he's still deciding whether or not to pledge. The frat didn't mention anything about free Harleys or Mt. Dew keggers, so it's debatable if he'll join.

Friday Five Faves - vol. 2

So I've cooled down a bit about the whole IRS thing. By cooled down I mean I'm not shaking my fist in the air and I'm not dwelling on it. I truly believe what goes around comes around. That actually makes me feel sorry for the IRS.

It's not like we don't get a refund, it's just not what I was expecting. Then again, to think I could retire to the beaches of O'ahu at 32 isn't exactly realistic either. Thank you IRS for giving me a reality check.

This week has actually been good, minus the IRS fist fight I was in. Here's why:

1) Date nights. N and I are going on a date tonight. We are doing the whole dinner and a movie thing. I'm beyond excited. Our dates nights provide us with an opportunity to reconnect. When we start to miscommunicate or get irritated with each other, we know it's time for a date. I think we're going to see Valkyrie. Although I'm not positive it's still playing. If it's not, I'm sure we'll go see the new Underworld movie.

2) The History Channel. We've had an on-again/off-again relationship over the years. Right now, we're on-again. I watched a documentary on MLK that was awesome. I cannot even fathom segregation or feeling superior to someone because of skin color. What he did for civil rights was impressive and totally humbling.

I also watched a documentary on Valkyrie. I saw Tom Cruise on some morning show talking about how dramatic the actual story was and it intrigued me. What I loved about the documentary on The History Channel (not Tom) is the only WWII memorial in Berlin is dedicated to the 5 men who lost their lives trying to eliminate Hitler. Kinda makes me want to see the movie.

3) Roaster Ovens. For Christmas my sister-in-law got me a roaster oven. At first I was unsure how I would use it because it seemed a little like large crock pot. Then I did a little research and I can cook anything in it. Like whole chickens, a small turkey, veggies, brownies. It's in less time than a crock pot. Then I can take it somewhere to share the food. How cool is that?

4) Make-up brushes. Yesterday I spent a gift card I got for Christmas on some new make up. I've been having terrible break-outs and decided to go back to mineral make-up. Because it's all powder, it goes on with a brush. Last night I was at the table, getting all my make-up sorted and packed for the gym this morning. Zoe was up at the table with me, totally into the brushes. I showed her what to do with them. For the rest of the evening, she insisted on applying some pretend blush on her cheeks and mine. It was a moment that I realized how much fun having a girl is. We're entering the dress-up, play make-up stage. I cannot wait. It was one of the things I loved about growing up. I think she will too.

5) The scale. That's right, it was another good week for me. A 2.6 pound loss. That's a total of 4 pounds in the last two weeks. A 2.6 loss is really setting the bar high for next week, but I'm in the groove. I've got my meal plan down. I've got my working out down. I'm already starting to see the benefits of those. I have more energy at night with Zoe. My attitude is better. My eyes are a little red, but I've got new make-up to take care of that!

I hope your week has been as great as mine. Sans any kind of government rule that makes no sense!

Have a fabulous Friday.

I'm all kinds of fired up today

Each year about this time I sit down to do our taxes. While I don't have all our tax information yet, I've started with the preliminary stuff.

I've actually been itching to get our taxes done since November 21st. That was the day the house in Puyallup closed and we had MUCHO losses to report.

Only one problem.

You don't report losses on residential home sales. Only on investment property. If we had a renter in there for even just one month, we could claim this loss.

However, our HOA wouldn't allow that to happen, so this house sat empty for the entire part of 2008 that it was in our name. When we sold it, we had to come up with the difference.

A difference almost equal to my salary. My annual salary.

Now the IRS is telling me, sorry, that sucks, but we don't want to hear about it.

If I had sold it for a gain, the IRS would be all up in my business wondering where their cut of the money was.

They'll take, but they won't give.

What else is sad with this story? We would've been better off going into foreclosure in 2007 when we moved.

Our credit wouldn't have been better off nor would our conscience, but our financial situation would've been. Our tax return would've been the same.

Tell me how that makes sense?

I'm so mad I could just...could just...raise my fist, grit my teeth and say "IRS" like it's a bad word.

Word of the day

For the last month, Zoe has had a new word of the day. She is learning so much so fast that I have a hard time keeping up with her. One day I'm going to wake up and she'll be talking in complete sentences. Then I'll wonder where my baby went and realize we're only a couple more years away from the teenage years, a driver's license, graduation, marriage, etc.

I'm sure I'm overreacting, but the time. It keeps on ticking.

When I got home a few evenings ago, she was all excited to tell me some story. While I have no idea what the lead up was, the story ended with her pinching her nose and saying, "p.u."

I asked what made her say "p.u." She replied, "dad."

She will totally rat you out without a second thought.

While she's getting bigger and learning so much, there are moments when she's still my little baby. She will cuddle with me before bedtime, wrap her arm around my neck and pull me in for a kiss.

There are no words that can describe that.

Got hope?

A few weeks ago a pastor spoke at our church on the subject of hope. It got me thinking about our country and where our hope really comes from.

During the last part of 2008 I saw many ads and posters that said "hope" with the picture of our new president on them. There were even shirts like the old "got milk?" ads that said "got hope?" For some reason I was always bothered by these things, but couldn't quite figure it out.

In November, when the election was over, a certain talk-show host, who shall remain nameless said, "it feels like hope won." Then it hit me.

Our nation's hope was associated with a human. A politician. I'm not here to get political because he is our new president and I will respect him while he holds that position. What I am concerned about is our nation. Specifically where our hope lies.

Are we really to a point in this country where our hope lies in some politician? Or some celebrity? Because last I checked these people are human. I'm not sure about you, but I don't like putting my hope in someone who is so fallible. As all humans are.

It's like being in high school and having a crush on a boy who likes the head cheerleader. That kind of crush leads to some heart break and tears. Maybe that was just me.

I fear, with this mis-directed hope, that's where this country is going. I fear we're in store for some heart break and tears. I'm concerned that our nation has turned its focus from the One who is infallible. The One who won't break our trust. The One who does provide hope.

We are missing our Shepherd. When that happens, we place our hope in the temporary.

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

My hope for this nation isn't in the Oval Office. Isn't in the media. Isn't in a person. My hope is in God to do great things through those and in those. Without Him there is no hope.

The moose and the cookie

So you all know I'm on this new diet/exercise regime. I'm not going to sugar coat it. This is tough. I would've given my right arm last night for a big bowl of cookie dough. My dear friend April gave me a quote from The Biggest Loser, "thin feels better than food tastes."

I'm pretty sure they're right. Although cookie dough tastes pretty good.

Since I don't want to talk too much about cookie dough this morning, I thought I would share a story with you about a little moose.

With all this snow that we've gotten big game animals, such as moose, wondering around neighborhoods and in places you wouldn't see normally see them. On the way to the store last weekend there was a moose about a block away from our house.

One on hand that's a totally cool, grab the camera thing. On the other, it's a bit scary because moose are big. Really big.

Which is what one couple in our city learned.

There is a section of the city that I grew up in. The houses are all the 1940's WWII type homes. Ranchers, about 1,500 sq. feet, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, big yards, unfinished basements, single car garages. It's all pretty standard and they all look about the same.

A young couple, who live in this neighborhood, are expecting their first child. In anticipation of this blessed event, they have been working to finish their basement. About a month ago they finished the basement bedroom. New drywall, new carpet, new window. It's lovely.

Until a mother moose and her two calves wondered into their neighborhood looking for food.

The male calf fell into the window well leading into their basement. He couldn't get out, so he knocked in the window. They came downstairs to a moose in their newly finished bedroom.

The cops came and called the wildlife department. Fortunately the young calf was tranquilized and just layed down to sleep. Not before he left MANY unwanted gifts for the new couple.

It took 6-7 men to get this 375 pound calf up the single flight of stairs.

Can you imagine that insurance claim? Wildlife and snow are fun!

Friday Five Faves, vol. 1

I’m back on the Friday Five Faves because it’s a new year (hence the start over in numbering)and well I really like Top 5 lists of all kinds. Which is probably why I’m also a huge fan of the movie High Fidelity. Not Rick Dees though. I only like Top 5 lists without immature jokes and comments. Technically his lists include the Top 40 or Top 100 or something like that, which require way too much commitment for me.

Onto the things I love about this week:

1. Zoe’s new birthday outfit. It looks so garden-like with all the daisies. It’ll be perfect for her butterfly/garden party.

I know I really sound like that mom who takes things WAY over the top with having a theme and everything matching. I probably am. Birthdays were always such a special day for me as a child. I had big parties with all my friends and my mom always made me feel so special. I want the same for Zoe. Besides, she’s my only child, so she gets all my neurotic mothering.


2. The Office. Yesterday Zoe did not take a nap. She spent the entire day chasing daddy or climbing all over grandma’s couches. By 7:00, on our way home, she was asleep in the car with some blue, M&M drool coming out the side of her mouth. By 7:30 I had gotten her changed for bed, made a bottle and she hadn’t budged. She actually snored a little. I had two free hours to myself.

You guessed it, I watched The Office. Hilarious. I don’t get to watch it much because 9:00 is Zoe’s bed time, but last night was reason why we need DVR. I’ll be laughing at the speed radar scene all weekend. “31. That’s my new number. Beat that.” If you want a really great recap, go to BooMama’s blog for great quotes.

3. Steamer Bags. Did you know that one of those sandwich bag companies makes steamer bags? You can steam veggies, fish, chicken in your microwave. Maybe I’m new to this, but so convenient. I am queen of convenience cooking. Not to mention delicious. No more broccoli stems with no fronds. Is that even the right terminology?

4. Disney Playhouse Live. They are coming here! On Friday, February 13th! It’ll be like an early Valentine date with Zoe! N and I are so excited! If you couldn’t tell from all the exclamation points! Seriously I can’t stop.

Taking Zoe to these types of things has been one reason I’m excited she’s growing up. This will be her first experience going to the theater. She’ll get to see all the Hundred Acre Wood gang, the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse crew, Handy Manny and the tools and the Little Einsteins. I realize we may be setting the bar high for all future trips to the theater, but I’m excited to see how she’ll do. Some of her first works were Tigger and Pooh, so I think we’ll be good. Now she says “cheers” along with the Clubhouse gang. I think it will be fun for her. Going to the children’s theater when I was little was one of my favorite things EVER, so I hope to continue the tradition with her.

5. The moment of truth – how has this week on my challenge gone? GREAT! FANTASTIC! MUCHO WONDERFULO! (Like my attempt at Spanish? I need to watch more Handy Manny.) I lost 1.4 pounds this week and made it to the gym all the days I could. I’m setting the bar kinda high for the gym appearances. However, I work out with a lady who kinda gives you a guilt trip if she doesn’t see you. I totally need that. Now if I could just get a recording of her for every time I opened the bread cabinet, we’d be set. We’re starting off strong, but not overly so. I keep telling myself, “marathon, not a sprint.”

Which has kinda been my motto behind the FFF posts apparently because they've been MIA. I'm back and ready for action.

Have a great weekend all.

But bacons tastes so good. On everything.

I'm usually not a big resolution girl. The thought of having to stick to something for a full 365 days is such a daunting task. It freaks me out. If I vow to give up desserts, it becomes all I crave and then I eat the sweets for the meal because technically it wouldn't be dessert. Because you know, it was the whole meal. I'm very good at making excuses as to why I cannot follow through with my resolution. Instead of starting out the year on that note, I just don't make resolutions.

Basically I want to be a better version of me by the end of the year than I was on January 1st, but it's broad and not so overwhelming. Besides I know there are LOTS of areas where God can mold me more into who He wants me to be, so I give it to Him to determine the area that needs the most work.

I've got to be honest, it's much more difficult than eating dessert as a meal, but the outcome is much better. Last year God was obviously working on my faith. It was bumpy, VERY BUMPY, but I do have a different outlook on life now than I did January 1, 2008. I have a deeper faith because of it. Resolution accomplished. Thank you God.

This year is different. I'm still going to let God work on me and determine where and how I need to be the person He has designed for me to be. I've also thrown in a little resolution of my own. Which is why I'm here today.

One week ago today I started a weight-loss challenge. It's a pretty intense 12-week program that requires a diet and exercise regime 6 days a week. The exercise part of it is easy. I love the gym. I would go twice a day if I could. I have no idea why. It's one of my happy places. In fact, for the last week I've been losing 90 minutes of sleep to get there. Surprisingly, I'm not cranky. Which makes N happy.

It's the diet side that I don't really do well at. I like bread. I like pasta. Apparently I eat enough of those for two people. I have what they call a portion control problem. If I like it, I eat it. Lots of it.

I'm writing this because I need accountability from all three of you who read this blog. I'm going to post an update every Friday with my stats as one of my Friday Five Faves. I'm hoping by putting on the Friday Five FAVES, it will be that I lost something I hope to never find again. It's that brain trickery I'm so good at.

I know I need to do this and to be successful. I want to be the mother who shows her daughter healthy habits. I want to be able to keep up with her. Shoot, I want to be able to keep up with N. Just walking beside him wears me out. Not to mention all the cute, spring fashion. My wardrobe needs an overhaul (this is where N starts to get light-headed).

While I know God is working on and holding me accountable, I am using this blog here to hold me accountable to that resolution.

I'm off to have some egg whites and low-fat cheese while I pretend it tastes like bacon.

It turned out TWOrific

I finally finished the invites for Zoe's TWOrific birthday party. I have been kicking around the idea of this butterfly/garden party for months now. I've purchased all the decor and plates. I settled on the card design in December.

I'm really good at having a vision. I know exactly what I want, even if I've never seen it before. Just ask my mom about the joy of my wedding reception centerpieces. She's more of a pattern girl. I'm more off-the-cuff.

Which is probably why I have so much fun planning Zoe's birthday parties. Ask N about the joy of months of talking, talking, talking about how great, oh how great and fun, lots of fun this party will be. How cute she'll be with all her little friends and the butterflies and the games, oh the games we'll play.

Imagine my frustration when I sat down to do the invites, only to discover the idea of the flowers that came from my new card making book, were hard. REALLY HARD. Like origami sometimes doesn't make sense when you put it into written directions hard. Fortunately N thinks like those people who write origami instructions and whipped out the first little petal as my template.

Then had to show me 5 more times "how do you that again?"

Without further ado, the finished product.

With 8 little 1.5" x 1.5" pieces of origami. Per invite. Times that by 20. That's 160 of those little bad boys. Pretty soon I'll be packing leftovers for N's lunch in foil shapes to keep up on my new origami skillz.

All the frustration and folding, hours of folding, were totally worth it. It's going to be a great time with all her little friends and the games and the food and the cake, shaped like a butterfly.

Sometimes I just can't stop myself.

The family who crafts together stays together

Zoe will be turning 2 in 13 days. We are having a garden party. I'm think I'm actually more excited about it than Zoe. Then again she has no real understanding of birthday parties, so I'm cutting myself some slack.

In my overzealous attempt to be Mother of the Year, I decided to make her invitations. Did I pick something easy and fast like last year? No. I picked a design I've never done before and it required origami.

Apparently I was drinking when I made the design.

I also decided to wait until the last minute to begin the mass production of cards. That means instead of having a couple weekends to make the cards while Zoe napped, I had to do them yesterday while she was awake.

If you've ever tried to do something that looks fascinating and interesting, then you know I had a helper.

After a couple meltdowns about not getting to play with the machine RIGHT NOW, we learned a good lesson on taking turns. She got a couple tries to use the machine and then mommy got a couple tries. Without help.





I love that she helped with her birthday invitations. I think this will be a tradition from now on. Although I will be sober when picking a design.

Now if I could get her to do laundry and the ironing we'd be set.

The newest Imagination Mover

Yesterday, while we were getting paper out to make her birthday invitations, she found my helmet. Inside were N's night driving glasses.

Instantly Zoe was in love. She felt like one of the Imagination Movers.

She's trying to make Wobble Goggles the newest trend.

I think she makes them look good.



You can only wear the Wobble Goggles for so long. They do have special powers. I think she puts them on her head so I won't put any hair accessories in. She is very clever.



And very stylish.

She has friends in low places

Zoe is a very social girl. She loves to be out among people. Last night was the rescheduled Christmas program from my nephews. Beforehand we grabbed some dinner. On the way into the restuarant, there was a teenage boy sitting outside. Zoe walked closer to him, tilted her head and just looked at him. Oh, the flirting starts young.

I am a little nervous about preschool. I caught a glimpse of it with Connor's class last night. Connor got to be an angel. His preschool class did a set of 5 songs, some with bells, some with hand motions. One little girl in particular led the group. Through the chorus of Jingle Bells. 3 times. The teacher finally had to "sing" louder than the girl to get them on track or the song might've looped for the entire evening. It was adorable.

My older nephews, T-Dog and MJ, do a musical. They both had speaking parts. MJ played a jock. T-Dog played a kid who lost the first round of the spelling bee. Which is ironic because he is an excellent speller. However, I think he was some kind of surfer dude because his word was Yahway. He kept saying "yah" "wAAAAy." Much like the turtles in Finding Nemo. Then they both turned into wise men for the nativity at the end.

T-Dog is a little shy, but Zoe is totally in love with him. When he was on stage, she would scream. That's why we were in the foyer for the show!

When we went up to MJ after the show to tell him how great he was, he was hanging out with his older friends. Namely girls. We totally wrecked his game. When I whispered to him that I was impressed he was dating 6th grade girls, the blush on his cheeks was priceless.

Instead of continuing to ruin MJ's game with the cougars of his school, we decided to head home. All that running and screaming in the foyer really made me tired. Not to mention Zoe's running and screaming.

I was not too tired to hear about Zoe's day with grandma. They went to the mall, where Zoe flirted with the security guard. He apparently had no idea that was what she was doing, so Zoe started screaming at him. Fearful of being escorted out of the mall, grandma took Zoe to the department store to look at some appliances.

As they were walking the aisle Zoe stopped dead in her tracks. She had met a friend. A little girl. Looking back at her from the new front loading dryer window. Amazingly she looked exactly like Zoe.

Not one to make that reflection lonely, Zoe went up and kissed her new friend.

Apparently she doensn't need a sibling. Just a mirror.

And some santitizers. For those times you have to kiss that baby in the dryer on display at the mall.

Obi Won Cuff-Nobi

For about 6 months I've experienced some slight soreness in my shoulder. It would come and go, so I didn't think too much about it. I mostly felt it while cradling Zoe before bed. I just assumed it was because she's growing and I still hold her like I did when she was 3 pounds. That's bound to cause some pain. I wasn't willing to give up the cuddles for a little shoulder pain.

However, over the holidays I was home more due to snow and we played the Wii. Namely Lightsaber Duels. It's a game where you're Star Wars characters and you fight it out. You have to use a controller in each hand. Which I totally stink at. One hand in your lightsaber, the other is The Force. In my ignorance, I totally beat N. The force was with me!

The shoulder paid dearly for my Jedi ways. It has been hurting constantly for three weeks. So much that I can't sleep on that side anymore. Aleve is too weak and they don't make wireless heating pads. So I called the doctor.

Official diagnosis: impingement syndrome.

Basically the muscles and tendons in my rotator cuff are inflammed. Because the rotator cuff is surrounded by bone, that inflammation has no where to go. So it causes an intense burning sensation all. the. time.

Apparently when you're a Jedi Master, such as myself, you feel the force.

Through your rotator cuff.

Now I have to go to physical therapy to learn proper Jedi techniques. Because the Force will rise again.

Daddy's little girl

Dancing with daddy at Amber's and Chris's wedding.

We're going streaking

Last night N was home because all the colleges in town were cancelled. After 40 or so roof collapses, they decided to cancel all schools. Apparently for the two weeks of Christmas break no one could get on the roof of the college to clear the snow. Whatev.

Anyway, he was home with Zoe and I last night. I love to watch them play. She laughs harder, she remains close to him, she looks to him when she thinks something is funny to see if he's laughing too. She will chase him, imitate him and sneak up on him to scare him. She loves her daddy and her playmate.

We were all on the floor and having a pillow fight. Technically I was getting pelted with the pillow and N and Zoe were laughing hysterically. As Zoe took a moment to catch her breath and watch a little of the news, N pants her.

Within 2 seconds flat she was on the floor stripping out of them. Within another 2 seconds she was holding her shirt saying "off." I had no idea she felt so restricted in her clothing. As she ran around the house I fully expected to hear "we're going streaking!"

Thankfully it was bath night and I just started the bath water a little earlier than normal.

I just hope she doesn't get any ideas while she's in the nursery at church.

Or at the store.

Old Man Winter is giving me gray hair

Dear Mr. Al Gore,

I know you partially won a Nobel Prize for your movie "An Inconvenient Truth" about global warming. However I would like to show you my inconvenient truth.

It's continuing to pile up in my front yard. And on my roof.

At the rate of an inch per hour.

I would love it if you could get on our roof and remove some of the snow. It might give you a little better perspective on global warming for us near the 49th parallel.

Unless you're too busy sunning yourself, er I mean measuring erosion off the coast of Mexico.

Or creating something better and equally as cool as the internet.

Then I totally understand.

Sincerely,
Kelly

Welcome 2009 & welcome snow

I truly thought 2009 would be a little different. Yesterday we experienced some melting and even saw the sun! We even started to get some puddles. I would say we lost probably 6 or so inches in the melt. It was a glorious New Year's Eve.

To celebrate the melting, N and I had some mongolian for dinner and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I highly recommend it.

Our 2009 started with some sleeping in and some snow fall. By the time I went outside to shovel at 10:30 we had about 4 inches.

Since 5 feet of snow is hard to comprehend, we decided to take some pictures of our house for reference.

Below N is holding his tape measure and we have a solid 61 inches lining our driveway.

The outhouse across the street is not really functional right now.

N waving from our driveway. It's like playing Where's Waldo!

The view from across the street. We still have some Christmas trees with lights by the front window, but you can't see them anymore.

The Lady Shoveler of the house enjoying her throne. Those Narnia kids would be totally jealous. It's a bit chilly, but when you can't feel your muscles after a good shoveling you don't really notice it.

Happy New Year. May 2009 be full of many blessings, less snow and your very own snowed-in outhouse.