Oh Happy Day!

Our internet is still down. I couldn't take it anymore and I am currently at the book store on my laptop to get my fix. My cell phone has allowed me to slip by, but imagine the joy I felt viewing things on a screen bigger than two inches. And my fingers are like happy puppies out for exercise. Run, rascals, run!
I have accomplished the drudgery I came for (online bills, email responsibility, etc.) and now reward myself with a blog post.
It's weird going so many days without mentioning little things. Overall nothing sticks out as I do a backward mental inventory, but I do need to gloat about the blossoming trees (Dad, skip down-the following will cause you severe jealousy).
For those of you who think we are crazy to live in this desert, talk to the hand sucka. I love this place and it's beauty is never dull. Check out the first blooming trees I saw the other day. It's like a hug from Mother Nature of good things to come. Happy February! Spring is pretty much here!

The kids are well and we're preparing for Spring Break in a couple of weeks. We are going to Newport with Scott's family. I think I am more excited to take the kids to Disneyland than they are to go. Is it the joy of them having so much fun that causes that?? Or is it the Churro's? Hm. I'll have to think on this one.
One cool kid thing this week I want to remember....
Lately I have been listening to some music that is light and fun and it's been played in the car often, enough that the kids are requesting songs by singing them to me. Lucas has the magic ears. That kid can hear something once and be singing it later. He's always been a singer but I am constantly surprised by what he picks up. Anyway, this week in the car during one of his requests he started dancing and couldn't hold still. Like he couldn't contain the physical urgency to express the happiness. It was so funny and so cute. He was going all 'Elaine' with kicks and jerks but all laughing.... It reminded me of a story my Mom told me where I reacted the same way to something when I was three. Three!! So you see? I am a wacko music geek and have passed it on to my boy. I already foresee late night chats with him about music as I did with my Mom and it makes me smile.

I love technology

So guess what I am doing... blogging with my phone! Isn't that cool? actually' it's not. My Internet went down this week... Down? More like broke up. Dumped me. Left me with shattered expectations and a bitter heart. So what's a girl to do? Go find someone more handsome, more fun, faster! So my mail- order man (modem) is coming next week. Hang tight, all my six readers! I'll return with nonsense soon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

My Mom's Birthday was yesterday. And yes, even though I did post, I saved the announcement (and embarrassment) for when I returned home and could add a picture. Look at how pretty! She still gets mistaken for my sister. I hope that happens to me in MY fifties...
I love my Mom. She jokes and says that we could have been raised as orphans and turned out fine... and I agreed that we'd be fine but we wouldn't be interesting at all. She has given our family such color and depth and humor. She has overcome tremendous trials, been a great example of a wife and mother, and is most of all so much fun! I love you Mom! Thank you for always being there to talk about everything and nothing, from deep philosophies to shoes. You have given me creativity and.... well, personality. Come to think of it, what did Dad do? (Besides that!)
I hope you had lots of cake and received emails and calls showering you with fondness. I love you!!!!!!!

Tucson

Right now the Tour of California bike race is going on. We went last year with some friends and had a great time. Months ago, Scott scheduled the time off in case we'd be able to swing it this year and it didn't happen. We weren't sure what we were going to do with this long weekend and hadn't committed to any plans until 5 days before. For a while I wanted to go play in the snow, but after being sick, the last thing we needed to do was roll down a mountain and get a ski pole in my eye, so we headed south to some sunshine (I know, we live in a desert and flew to more desert). It has been just what we needed. Lots of R&R and some beautiful scenery.
The flight here is quick, about one hour from Vegas. I sat next to a very sweet old man and we chatted the entire time. He turns 80 this year and you'd never know it. It was a fun way to start the trip. We spent the next two days hanging out in the spa and being bums. The place we are staying is nestled up in the mountains near the city so they have accessible hikes and trails. We've been exploring the city, eating meals at random times, watching sunsets, etc.
Here are some shots of what we have done so far.

Here is the sunset the other night we went shopping. I stood on the bench to take this photo. It was incredible. You can't see it very well in the shot, but there were actual fanned orange rays beaming from behind the mountain. I couldn't see Jesse James on his horse, though....


Here are some pics from the Saguaro National Park. Lesson #1: Say it with me, folks: Sa-WAH-ro. Ges. Put on yourl somblelo and say lik that: sa-wah-ro. Gracias.
They are the coolest cactus. They are everywhere and I like them. They are friendly and wave at you when you look out the weendow. Hola, leetle sahwaro! I wish they would grow in Vegas. Do you know why they don't? Well, I do! They cannot survive sub freezing temps. They also live to be hundreds of years old and... well, you can Google them or read my 8th grade level report called 'The Saguaro and You'.










We went on a little sunset hike last night. The route we took put us on a loop around a mountain, so we missed seeing an actual 'sunset', but it was so beautiful. Here are a couple of pics from that. Awww, here we are a little flushed from the work! See how high we went? See? Si.








Now we are going Mountain Biking. Um, yeah. I haven't done that in a loooong time. We'll see how that goes. Adios!

Happy Valentines Day!

I have a secret admirer. Do you want to know who it is? They are responsible for this beautiful flower arrangement.
I know, you are just dying with suspense.
My admirer wrote a poem that came with them proclaiming his crazy love. I won't disclose all the contents (The first few are body parts.... so original) which said the red reminded him of my passion for baked goods and the pink reminded him of my rosy, strained face after a good workout and the peach was like a beautiful sunset. I was so touched! So who is this rogue of romance? This Knight of honor defending our love? Well, let me tell you... it's.... ME! Yes, I bought some fresh flowers for myself yesterday. And as weird as I may be, I didn't write myself a poem. C'mon now, I'm not crazy! ....and Happy Valentines Day to me!
Fresh flowers are so pretty to have around. This is one area of talent I wish I was better at (arranging flowers) so I usually only give them to myself. Ignorance is bliss.
So in honor of Saint Valentine, I am going to wear a cloth diaper all day and shoot arrows at people. OR.... think about all the people in my life that I love so much and try to tell them. So watch your phone! And if you don't get a phone call, then yes- I don't love you (sheesh).
Anyway, off I go to try and make heart shaped pancakes and serve with patience and love in hopes that it will change the hearts of bickering children. Ahhhh, amoré.

Where's my vespa?

This makes me happy.

Canned Love

Well I don't really have much to report as of late.
I have mostly been busy catching up from being sick last week. There is nothing like doing catch up work to seriously consider picking up a virus again. I mean, what have I been missing? Cleaning sheets? Making dinner? Picking up shoes? As Nacho said: "I lub eet- eets da best!"
But some things aren't so bad. Playing with the kids again has been fun. The weather has been great so we have been outside quite a bit. Nothing like warm weather to get you in the mood for...
PROJECTS!
So two things I have FINALLY tackled. Last Ocbtober (yes, you read that right... OCTOBER) I purchased some magnet boards on the cheap with the intent to hang them in my kitchen area. Well, I hung one. I never hung the other. I also meant to paint them the same color as the wall. Never did that, either. Now that it's February I figured, Hey- why not! It's been 5 months...perhaps some action is in store! oui-oui. So yesterday I primed those boards, painted them said wall color and hung them up. It took me all less than an hour. Wow. I am lame. And they look great. Check!
Project #2: Illustrated here. I am actually not quite done with this one, but it's not one-post worthy so you get the intro here. Again, picked up this fab picture frame from Ikea with some thoughts in mind. I think I need another one to keep black and hang in October for Halloween. No, it is not above me to think that way. But I decided to paint this one white and hang it in Sadie's room. Hooray for spray paint! I love! Though I must say if you plan to attempt this yourself, it was a little more detail oriented than I anticipated. Lots of little swirls and loopdie-loops to cover (Beware of carpel tunnel of the index finger). Now I need to get some kind of 'mirror' paint for the glass. I figure the imperfect reflection will add some cool charm, no?

I also helped the kids with their Valentines today. Sometimes I wish that was still a normal adult thing. Don't all girls love it? Do you remember hoping for an extra scribbled note or something hidden in those over-doiley'd shoe boxes? My elementary crush was on a boy named Mike. Did I ever get a special valentine from him? Heck no. But I really wanted a boy to utilize the seasonal convenience to reveal his secret crush for me. Oh the heartbreak. Did this youthful fantasy ever happen to you? Come, do tell... and break my heart.

Things I am loving:
1) Girl Scout Cookie time! Oh yes, I already ordered some boxes and am not disclosing the quantity. I can't wait for them to come. Go Green!
2) The new REI catalogs. Some mail is fun to get. I haven't camped in years and I still pour over these pages like I'll be going soon. I dare to dream.
3) IKEA. Love it and love that it's in Utah.
4) Music and sunshine. I think there is a formula for listening to something great with a high sun and windows down... maybe a comfy 75 degree temp? Perhaps I am too old to blast my radio. Is that too 17? If so, don't answer.
5) Baking. Trouble, people. My appetite is returning with a vengeance. I've made chocolate cupcakes, apple crisp, brownies, etc. I have more mixes waiting. I can't control myself!

Enough already! I am even tired of seeing that poo-poo post about my flu.
I am feeling better. Praise the heavens. Energy is coming back and so is my spinning head. I knew things were looking up when I couldn't fall immediately to sleep last night. This happens most nights though...I lay there and think think think... For some reason 50% of my ideas and inspiration come to me, here, when I can't find a pen that works or paper to write them down.
So Valentines Day is coming. I know this is everyone's favorite holiday, esp. the men. What cool things you do you for Vday? Anything in particular?
Do you make heart pancakes in an obnoxious ruffly apron and red lipstick? (no other clothes?! Shocking! And...um, this was referring to the women... not the men)
Do you go to dinner somewhere special? (Taco Bell, perhaps?)
Do you do yardwork?
I remember one year my Mom actually made a big whoopdie-do and we had a yummy breakfast and she gave us all a little present. So I think this year I'd like to do something fun to show my family how I ooey-gooey love them. Maybe I'll surprise Scott at work in just a trench coat and heels. Love is in the air! Pop in some Tom Jones and get in the moooooood.

Loves of late:
1) The Holiday forecast from your local supermarket grocer. You know the aisle I mean. The one that has Halloween candy stocked in July (my favorite discovery!) and, like now, Easter candy in Feb.
2) The Little Einsteins theme song.
3) Car washes
4) Design software
5) Open-mindedness and vision. There is so much out there to discover and do! How do people get bored????

I am ever so, really not well

Wow. Happy February to me.
See that little blue-top pill leaning on his big friend? That is what I have felt like for three days. I have been sicker than a dog. It is not fun. I don't get sick very often so I feel like my body makes good use of it when I do and the infection decides to have a party, invite his friends who bring additional symptoms and make a weekend getaway out of it. Up all night parties make my head hurt, the beverage consumption makes my nose runny, the fireworks make me cough.
Fever, achy, chills...the whole bit. Yuck!
I am finally on the mend so hooray for antibiotics. Now I have to get my kids well, fumigate my house, burn our sheets and drink super smoothies. Until then, things I love lately:
1) Health (duh)
2) Otter Pops. Yeah... for a sore throat, it's happiness.
3) Jeannine. Our family friend has been able to fill in as 'mom' while I have been in a fetal position upstairs. What a lifesaver!
4) Emily and Jennie for helping with carpooling. So quick to help. Thanks!
5) Hot showers

Happy February!

Last night Scott and I went to see the Bravery.... in case you can't tell by the HUGE sign behind the band.
I have happy memories listening to their albums during bike rides and road trips. Their style isn't some audio breakthrough, but I love their dancey sound.
They were touring for their second album (I like their first better- Scott disagrees) so we headed down to the House of Blues last night ready to have fun. I had already prepared to humiliate myself because I wanted to be up close, dance like a monkey and yell until my voice was gone. And oh yeah, check off all three of those puppies because I did just that. We were about 6-7 people back from the front and in the center so we had a great view of all the guys. WOW! Forget Botox. You want to feel young again? Go jump up and down with everyone around you as you shout lyrics with hands in the air. I'm still smiling, my neck is sore and my ears still hurt a little. Good times.

I've also been thinking about February and decided it would be fun to smother an already emotionally gooey month with things I love in my posts. So consider yourself warned! It will be similar to the November theme of listing what I was thankful for, but more shallow. I mean, I can't really say I am thankful for cookies, can I?

What I loved today:
1) Having Luke crawl into bed with me this morning when he woke up, smelling his clean hair and kissing his warm cheeks over and over...then I squeeze him until he cries. Sometimes I grit my teeth when I hug my kids. It's like they are so cute I can't handle it. I need a chewing stick.
2) Finding the hiking trail that I lost the other day. I tried to be adventurous and went somewhere new... and I got lost. And yes, as I was telling Scott my tall tale, he was bored because, well, he was looking at me, so how lost could I have been? And how lost can you really get up at Red Rock?... but still, it's never fun. So, I love knowing my way.
3) Scott for going with me to my silly concerts.
4) Sunshine.

Slap Me

Stop me now.
Take my wallet.
J-crack just released their swimwear and, darn them, I like some of it. I never have luck with their swim lines. I get all excited when they show the skinny, tan models flaunting the summery little things in all these playful colors... but when they arrive at my door, it's a dark day. I try on piece after piece and slowly remember the truth! Their suits just don't fit me well. Every year!
So don't let me do it again, because I REALLY REALLY want this bikini. How cool is it? Funky mod print... wide shoulder straps... I am reaching for my visa....
How bad can it be? I will only be wearing it in my back yard.... so.... maybe this year their suits will be kind to me.....maybe? Maybe if I put my hand through my hair like that...