Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
The best birthday EV-AR
So yesterday was the day of my birth. 31 years ago.
No matter what age I turn, I love my birthday. I love getting older. My twenties were for learning from my mistakes. I'm really hoping my thirties teach me something about the person I want to become.
Here's a glimpse of my day. Since I'm know you're all dying to see what possibly can be the best birthday EVAR to a 31 year old.
Because I'm not as spry as a 20 year old, you start the day off at Starbucks with someone special in your life. For me, that's my hubs, N. All decked out in biker attire because I got to ride on his bike. For. The. Very-first. Time.
Because it's cold out in the morning, you get a hot drink to warm your hands.
Then we went to lunch at Red Robin after church with the family. Zoe is mastering straw art. It's a skill that requires total concentration.
My nephew Micah even came to lunch with his parents. When I told him how old I was he was in shock. Because I don't look anywhere near that ancient.
Then I rode off into the afternoon heat with N. He told me that I was the Sandy to his T-Bird life. He apparently reads the blog.
Thanks everyone for making my birthday so awesome. I am truly blessed.
No matter what age I turn, I love my birthday. I love getting older. My twenties were for learning from my mistakes. I'm really hoping my thirties teach me something about the person I want to become.
Here's a glimpse of my day. Since I'm know you're all dying to see what possibly can be the best birthday EVAR to a 31 year old.
Because I'm not as spry as a 20 year old, you start the day off at Starbucks with someone special in your life. For me, that's my hubs, N. All decked out in biker attire because I got to ride on his bike. For. The. Very-first. Time.
Because it's cold out in the morning, you get a hot drink to warm your hands.
Then we went to lunch at Red Robin after church with the family. Zoe is mastering straw art. It's a skill that requires total concentration.
My nephew Micah even came to lunch with his parents. When I told him how old I was he was in shock. Because I don't look anywhere near that ancient.
Then I rode off into the afternoon heat with N. He told me that I was the Sandy to his T-Bird life. He apparently reads the blog.
Thanks everyone for making my birthday so awesome. I am truly blessed.Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday Five Faves times 20 - vol. 13
I actually hit my 100th post yesterday. Who knew I had so much to say?
Alright, no one is really that shocked.
In honor of doing 100 posts, I thought I would include 101 facts about me. Or, if you're a math wizard, it's like 20 five fave posts in one. Plus a bonus.
1. I was born in Spokane, Washington in 1977.
2. It will always be home to me. The city, not the year.
3. My mom is a single mother, who always had time to play with me, read to me and be a leader for every group I was in.
4. She is my hero. I know we all turn into our mothers. I'm extremely excited about that. She doesn't require much sleep and I will need that skill later on in life.
5. I watched Grease as often as possible and could recite the entire movie by age 4.
6. When not watching the movie, I would listen to the soundtrack on record for hours.
7. I had no idea then what that movie was about. I just knew it would be so cool to be Sandy and make Danny fall in love with her. Then sing about it.
8. It was probably the only girly thing I did while growing up. Besides tap class and wearing make-up to the recital.
9. I much preferred He-Man to Barbie and mud pies to playing house.
10. Although I hated when my hands got dirty. I would need a hose close by while making mud pies to wash my hands off immediately.
11. I still hate dirty hands.
12. I have some of the same close friends today as I did in Kindergarten.
13. There is a group of about 12 of us that went through school together. Anytime we see each other, it's like a day hasn't passed.
14. I was a Camp Fire girl for most of my childhood.
15. Our group was almost like the movie "Troop Beverly Hills." We didn't camp well. We were the only group with a griddle for pancakes in the mornings at campouts.
16. These were the only times I didn't sleep at home.
17. My grandparents lived close to us while growing up. I would spend my summer days at their house while my mom worked.
18. They had a pool table in their basement and a flower bed in the backyard that they kept empty for my mud pie factory.
19. My grandma would take me to bingo with her and my grandpa would let me put make-up on him. They were saints.
20. They also let me play with steel-headed, lawn darts and hand-held weed wackers. My grandpa would give me the keys to the Buick so I could turn the wheel while pretending to drive.
21. I got away with murder at their house.
22. I always threw that in my mom's face when she wouldn't make me pancakes on a weekend morning the size of a quarter. With it's own little dab of butter.
23. She's planning on getting me back for that.
24. I've always been a bit of a late bloomer.
25. I didn't really start enjoying the social aspect of school until 6th grade.
26. I was on drill team, student government, the volleyball team, a summer softball team, AWANA and Camp Fire.
27. Then I went to junior high.
28. I still can't see that school without getting queazy.
29. Although God is good. They put me in a full-year art class rather than a half-year art class in7th grade. So I missed out on P.E. my first year of junior high.
30. Then when I did get P.E. for the rest of my school years, it was always the last period of the day or the one right before lunch. Which is like gold.
31. My one year of tap-ballet combo at age 8 served me well in high school. I was placed on the tap line of a musical they did my freshman year.
32. It was the only thing I enjoyed about my freshman year.
33. We moved far away from my friends, but my mom lied about our address so I could go to the same high school.
34. That meant an extra 10 miles one-way to school that she had to figure out transportation.
35. Getting my license at 16 was not only "totally awesome" for me, but for my mom, my personal taxi.
36. I spent most of my high school time with the youth group rather than school friends.
37. That's where I met N.
38. He was a geeky band guy who had a major crush on me.
39. We went to some dances, but it totally freaked me out when his parents and his sister told me we would get married and have cute babies.
40. Then we went on a real date to the movie "The River Wild." He insisted on holding both my hands.
41. Then he kissed me!
42. I broke up with him the next day.
43. Have I mentioned that I was a late bloomer?
44. Then, my senior year, I got a supporting role in the year's biggest musical number, The Doll Shop.
45. Our school did this production every three years. I was lucky to do it my freshman year and my senior year.
46. My senior year I played young Betty. She was a hussy. She kissed a boy on stage and slapped that boy.
47. My mom told them initially that I wouldn't do it because of the kiss.
48. That's one of the reasons I accepted.
49. Andrew Gibson was the boy. He was so sweet. I still feel bad about all the slapping.
50. And the inexperienced kiss.
51. I went to Western Baptist College in Salem, OR.
52. While I loved the thought of college, I had more rules there than I did at my house.
53. However, the boy I had a crush on for most of my high school life came to the same college.
54. I really thought it was a sign from God that we were meant to be together.
55. I was crushed when he left school half-way through our freshman year because of school politics. I thought my college years would be totally unbearable without any chance of my happily ever after with him.
56. Then I met Steph. She invited me on a trip to PetSmart to return a fish that had committed suicide. He was under warranty for 30 days.
57. Then I met Jamie. She was against the rules of college like I was.
58. It turns out that, while college wasn't the experience I had hoped for, I did make some really amazing friends.
59. Then I moved back home for my first real job.
60. I was a service person in the retirement industry. I made $27,000 a year. That was like handing me the key to the mint.
61. My first purchase was a leather peacoat. Which I still have.
62. My second purchase was season tickets to Spokane Chiefs Hockey.
63. I sat with my sister and her family.
64. She let me be very active with my nephews. Due to some medical issues, it would be hard for me to have children of my own. Spending time with these, wonderful boys allowed me the opportunity to deal with my own issues and have a relationship with some really cool boys.
65. I have four nephews on that side of the family. Three are here with us, one is in heaven waiting for us.
66. While my sister isn't a blood relative, she's the only person in my life that has ever treated me like a sister. I love her like one. She's one of the strongest, most amazing women I know.
67. On a rare, lunch time trip to Macy's, I ran into Bev (my future sister-in-law). She invited me to dinner at her house because N was in town.
68. I found out his parents were going to be there too. I had flashbacks to high school comments about "making cute babies together" that I lied and said I had to work late and wouldn't make it to dinner.
69. I ate some Honey Nut Cheerios for dinner that night in hopes it would give me courage to get through the night.
70. Then I saw N as I walked through the door and my first thought was, "he's hot."
71. A day later I tricked him into asking me out. The rest is history as they say.
72. He is the only boy I've ever loved.
73. I moved to Tacoma to be with him in newlywed bliss.
74. I got a job with Russell Investments, which turned out to be the first job that I ever truly had passion for.
75. We decided to try for kids right away due to the fact that I would probably have a hard time getting pregnant.
76. 3 months into trying, we were expecting. So much for medical science.
77. N has two daughters already, so I was really hoping for a boy since that's the one thing I could give him that he didn't already have.
78. Apparently God only planned on him having girls.
79. He wanted to name her Zoe. That's not my first choice. We settled on a family name for her.
80. Because I have fears about her real name being on this blog, N gets his wish to call her Zoe. If only just in cyber world.
81. A month before she was due, we went to Hawaii for New Years with N's family.
82. She was really active while we were there. It's the first time I could tell where her head was because it practically jumped out of my stomach.
83. Little did I know I was contracting.
84. A month later I would be in the hospital, gravely ill and Zoe would be in the NICU struggling to survive.
85. The NICU staff referred to her as "2 pounds of attitude." I think that could still describe her.
86. Holding her for the first time was the best and most terrifying experience of my life up until that point.
87. Two weeks later I would be in an operating room having a chest tube put in. I would code on the table and feel myself suffocating to death. The only thing I could think to do was to pray to God to take care of her. Then it's like He kissed me and breath returned to my body.
88. That was the most terrifying experience of my life.
89. 7 and a half weeks later she came home. My life has been complete ever since.
90. She cracks me up on a daily basis.
91. There are times when I can see myself in her and times when I can only see N. Then there are times when she's just her. Completely sassy and sweet.
92. I love to see her with her sisters. It's a bond that I never had growing up and I'm so thankful that she will have that experience.
93. Being a step-parent is one of the most rewarding and most politically difficult roles to play in life. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
94. I now have a job that I love the most. I'm passionate about what I do. I love the people I work with.
95. I also have time to scrapbook. Which has also become a passion of mine.
96. I hope when Zoe takes her first tap-ballet combo class, I can take an adult tap class too.
97. I also hope to run a marathon before I die.
98. I'll have to get an iPod and load it with The Beatles, Metallica, Linkin Park, Usher, Justin Timberlake, old school DC Talk and anything else that has a beat.
99. My music and movie stylings are very diverse. I prefer independent films to others. Although I'm still a sucker for a comedic chick flick.
100. I love shows like The Hills, Fabulous Life Of..., I Love the 80's/90's on VH1 and Inside the Actor's Studio.
101. I seriously think once my acting career takes off, I could be sitting with James Lipton. I do practice his famous questions.
Alright, no one is really that shocked.
In honor of doing 100 posts, I thought I would include 101 facts about me. Or, if you're a math wizard, it's like 20 five fave posts in one. Plus a bonus.
1. I was born in Spokane, Washington in 1977.
2. It will always be home to me. The city, not the year.
3. My mom is a single mother, who always had time to play with me, read to me and be a leader for every group I was in.
4. She is my hero. I know we all turn into our mothers. I'm extremely excited about that. She doesn't require much sleep and I will need that skill later on in life.
5. I watched Grease as often as possible and could recite the entire movie by age 4.
6. When not watching the movie, I would listen to the soundtrack on record for hours.
7. I had no idea then what that movie was about. I just knew it would be so cool to be Sandy and make Danny fall in love with her. Then sing about it.
8. It was probably the only girly thing I did while growing up. Besides tap class and wearing make-up to the recital.
9. I much preferred He-Man to Barbie and mud pies to playing house.
10. Although I hated when my hands got dirty. I would need a hose close by while making mud pies to wash my hands off immediately.
11. I still hate dirty hands.
12. I have some of the same close friends today as I did in Kindergarten.
13. There is a group of about 12 of us that went through school together. Anytime we see each other, it's like a day hasn't passed.
14. I was a Camp Fire girl for most of my childhood.
15. Our group was almost like the movie "Troop Beverly Hills." We didn't camp well. We were the only group with a griddle for pancakes in the mornings at campouts.
16. These were the only times I didn't sleep at home.
17. My grandparents lived close to us while growing up. I would spend my summer days at their house while my mom worked.
18. They had a pool table in their basement and a flower bed in the backyard that they kept empty for my mud pie factory.
19. My grandma would take me to bingo with her and my grandpa would let me put make-up on him. They were saints.
20. They also let me play with steel-headed, lawn darts and hand-held weed wackers. My grandpa would give me the keys to the Buick so I could turn the wheel while pretending to drive.
21. I got away with murder at their house.
22. I always threw that in my mom's face when she wouldn't make me pancakes on a weekend morning the size of a quarter. With it's own little dab of butter.
23. She's planning on getting me back for that.
24. I've always been a bit of a late bloomer.
25. I didn't really start enjoying the social aspect of school until 6th grade.
26. I was on drill team, student government, the volleyball team, a summer softball team, AWANA and Camp Fire.
27. Then I went to junior high.
28. I still can't see that school without getting queazy.
29. Although God is good. They put me in a full-year art class rather than a half-year art class in7th grade. So I missed out on P.E. my first year of junior high.
30. Then when I did get P.E. for the rest of my school years, it was always the last period of the day or the one right before lunch. Which is like gold.
31. My one year of tap-ballet combo at age 8 served me well in high school. I was placed on the tap line of a musical they did my freshman year.
32. It was the only thing I enjoyed about my freshman year.
33. We moved far away from my friends, but my mom lied about our address so I could go to the same high school.
34. That meant an extra 10 miles one-way to school that she had to figure out transportation.
35. Getting my license at 16 was not only "totally awesome" for me, but for my mom, my personal taxi.
36. I spent most of my high school time with the youth group rather than school friends.
37. That's where I met N.
38. He was a geeky band guy who had a major crush on me.
39. We went to some dances, but it totally freaked me out when his parents and his sister told me we would get married and have cute babies.
40. Then we went on a real date to the movie "The River Wild." He insisted on holding both my hands.
41. Then he kissed me!
42. I broke up with him the next day.
43. Have I mentioned that I was a late bloomer?
44. Then, my senior year, I got a supporting role in the year's biggest musical number, The Doll Shop.
45. Our school did this production every three years. I was lucky to do it my freshman year and my senior year.
46. My senior year I played young Betty. She was a hussy. She kissed a boy on stage and slapped that boy.
47. My mom told them initially that I wouldn't do it because of the kiss.
48. That's one of the reasons I accepted.
49. Andrew Gibson was the boy. He was so sweet. I still feel bad about all the slapping.
50. And the inexperienced kiss.
51. I went to Western Baptist College in Salem, OR.
52. While I loved the thought of college, I had more rules there than I did at my house.
53. However, the boy I had a crush on for most of my high school life came to the same college.
54. I really thought it was a sign from God that we were meant to be together.
55. I was crushed when he left school half-way through our freshman year because of school politics. I thought my college years would be totally unbearable without any chance of my happily ever after with him.
56. Then I met Steph. She invited me on a trip to PetSmart to return a fish that had committed suicide. He was under warranty for 30 days.
57. Then I met Jamie. She was against the rules of college like I was.
58. It turns out that, while college wasn't the experience I had hoped for, I did make some really amazing friends.
59. Then I moved back home for my first real job.
60. I was a service person in the retirement industry. I made $27,000 a year. That was like handing me the key to the mint.
61. My first purchase was a leather peacoat. Which I still have.
62. My second purchase was season tickets to Spokane Chiefs Hockey.
63. I sat with my sister and her family.
64. She let me be very active with my nephews. Due to some medical issues, it would be hard for me to have children of my own. Spending time with these, wonderful boys allowed me the opportunity to deal with my own issues and have a relationship with some really cool boys.
65. I have four nephews on that side of the family. Three are here with us, one is in heaven waiting for us.
66. While my sister isn't a blood relative, she's the only person in my life that has ever treated me like a sister. I love her like one. She's one of the strongest, most amazing women I know.
67. On a rare, lunch time trip to Macy's, I ran into Bev (my future sister-in-law). She invited me to dinner at her house because N was in town.
68. I found out his parents were going to be there too. I had flashbacks to high school comments about "making cute babies together" that I lied and said I had to work late and wouldn't make it to dinner.
69. I ate some Honey Nut Cheerios for dinner that night in hopes it would give me courage to get through the night.
70. Then I saw N as I walked through the door and my first thought was, "he's hot."
71. A day later I tricked him into asking me out. The rest is history as they say.
72. He is the only boy I've ever loved.
73. I moved to Tacoma to be with him in newlywed bliss.
74. I got a job with Russell Investments, which turned out to be the first job that I ever truly had passion for.
75. We decided to try for kids right away due to the fact that I would probably have a hard time getting pregnant.
76. 3 months into trying, we were expecting. So much for medical science.
77. N has two daughters already, so I was really hoping for a boy since that's the one thing I could give him that he didn't already have.
78. Apparently God only planned on him having girls.
79. He wanted to name her Zoe. That's not my first choice. We settled on a family name for her.
80. Because I have fears about her real name being on this blog, N gets his wish to call her Zoe. If only just in cyber world.
81. A month before she was due, we went to Hawaii for New Years with N's family.
82. She was really active while we were there. It's the first time I could tell where her head was because it practically jumped out of my stomach.
83. Little did I know I was contracting.
84. A month later I would be in the hospital, gravely ill and Zoe would be in the NICU struggling to survive.
85. The NICU staff referred to her as "2 pounds of attitude." I think that could still describe her.
86. Holding her for the first time was the best and most terrifying experience of my life up until that point.
87. Two weeks later I would be in an operating room having a chest tube put in. I would code on the table and feel myself suffocating to death. The only thing I could think to do was to pray to God to take care of her. Then it's like He kissed me and breath returned to my body.
88. That was the most terrifying experience of my life.
89. 7 and a half weeks later she came home. My life has been complete ever since.
90. She cracks me up on a daily basis.
91. There are times when I can see myself in her and times when I can only see N. Then there are times when she's just her. Completely sassy and sweet.
92. I love to see her with her sisters. It's a bond that I never had growing up and I'm so thankful that she will have that experience.
93. Being a step-parent is one of the most rewarding and most politically difficult roles to play in life. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
94. I now have a job that I love the most. I'm passionate about what I do. I love the people I work with.
95. I also have time to scrapbook. Which has also become a passion of mine.
96. I hope when Zoe takes her first tap-ballet combo class, I can take an adult tap class too.
97. I also hope to run a marathon before I die.
98. I'll have to get an iPod and load it with The Beatles, Metallica, Linkin Park, Usher, Justin Timberlake, old school DC Talk and anything else that has a beat.
99. My music and movie stylings are very diverse. I prefer independent films to others. Although I'm still a sucker for a comedic chick flick.
100. I love shows like The Hills, Fabulous Life Of..., I Love the 80's/90's on VH1 and Inside the Actor's Studio.
101. I seriously think once my acting career takes off, I could be sitting with James Lipton. I do practice his famous questions.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Water Baby
As you know Zoe and I spent some time swimming at the YMCA this summer. She loved all the singing and the noodle. She wasn't so interested in trying to climb out of the pool, kicking, blowing bubbles or putting her face in the water. She almost took on a DeNiro-like attitude about it. It was as if she was telling the teacher, "you lookin' at me?"
It's because Zoe doesn't like structure. She'll kick and blow bubbles when she's good and ready.
Apparently Hermiston is the perfect location to showcase her mad swimming skills.
Where it's just her, mommy and the open water. That was just above freezing at -30 degrees. Kicking wasn't just fun, it was a life-saving measure.
She showcased all of the things we learned at the Shrimp/Kipper class this summer. She put her whole face in the water. She kicked. She demanded grandma watch her jump in for the 573rd time. She was apparently getting ready to be a diver in the 2024 Olympics.
It's because Zoe doesn't like structure. She'll kick and blow bubbles when she's good and ready.
Apparently Hermiston is the perfect location to showcase her mad swimming skills.
Where it's just her, mommy and the open water. That was just above freezing at -30 degrees. Kicking wasn't just fun, it was a life-saving measure.
She showcased all of the things we learned at the Shrimp/Kipper class this summer. She put her whole face in the water. She kicked. She demanded grandma watch her jump in for the 573rd time. She was apparently getting ready to be a diver in the 2024 Olympics.
I have no doubt she'll be amazing.
Although I think she already is.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
E = MC2
Yesterday began a new chapter in our life. We will have piles of books, notebooks, pencils, new calculators and we'll be packing lunches.
N started college yesterday. I'm so proud of him. School is not his favorite pasttime. This will be a little different. Instead of history, chemistry and economics, he has machine tools, machine theory and applied math.
I think there may even be a blueprint class in there too. I may be getting ahead of myself on that one.
Here he is on the first day of school.
Knock 'em dead my love.
N started college yesterday. I'm so proud of him. School is not his favorite pasttime. This will be a little different. Instead of history, chemistry and economics, he has machine tools, machine theory and applied math.
I think there may even be a blueprint class in there too. I may be getting ahead of myself on that one.
Here he is on the first day of school.
Knock 'em dead my love.
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Pink Baby Shower
This weekend Zoe, my mom and I all went to my friend Steph's baby shower. In Hermiston, OR. The land of watermelons.
Although in all the times I've visited Hermiston, I've never seen a watermelon.
Enough about fruit.
I haven't seen Steph since my wedding. Even though it's been three years, it's like we never missed a day. Apparenly we've both been busy in the last three years.
Can I just tell you, she's the cutest pregnant lady I've ever seen. I couldn't stop touching her belly. Don't worry, I'm not normally a "toucher." I called her the day before the shower to warn her. Fortunately I was on the "okay toucher" list. I think it's like the VIP list at a club, but I'm just guessing. I've never been on one of those lists.
Her mom and future sister-in-law put on an awesome shower. It's was a pink baby theme. We had cute place settings, great food and to-die-for strawberry cupcakes. We even took a walking tour of Hermiston's adorable boutiques.
I got to visit with some college friends.
It was the best time.
Zoe was an angel. She wasn't into everything, was charming and didn't make Steph worried about the future challenges of motherhood.
Without further ado, pictures.
Back row: Heidi, Jody, Lindsay, Steph, Zoe and Me.
Although in all the times I've visited Hermiston, I've never seen a watermelon.
Enough about fruit.
I haven't seen Steph since my wedding. Even though it's been three years, it's like we never missed a day. Apparenly we've both been busy in the last three years.
Can I just tell you, she's the cutest pregnant lady I've ever seen. I couldn't stop touching her belly. Don't worry, I'm not normally a "toucher." I called her the day before the shower to warn her. Fortunately I was on the "okay toucher" list. I think it's like the VIP list at a club, but I'm just guessing. I've never been on one of those lists.
Her mom and future sister-in-law put on an awesome shower. It's was a pink baby theme. We had cute place settings, great food and to-die-for strawberry cupcakes. We even took a walking tour of Hermiston's adorable boutiques.
I got to visit with some college friends.
It was the best time.
Zoe was an angel. She wasn't into everything, was charming and didn't make Steph worried about the future challenges of motherhood.
Without further ado, pictures.
Back row: Heidi, Jody, Lindsay, Steph, Zoe and Me.Front row: Emily, Ashley, and Holly
I like to call this one: "what do you think this is, the head or the rump?"
With the quilt for Finley's tummy time. My mom and I made it. Zoe played on it. She's our tester.
Steph, we got married around the same time and now we're mommies at the same time. Both with girls too. Your friendship has been a genuine blessing in my life. I'm so glad we can continue to share our lives. Finley will be truly blessed to have you for her mommy. I know you'll be fabulous. Love you friend.
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