Girls Night

Joy and Emilie came over to watch the Presidential Debate. It quickly turned into a Debate Pajama Pizza Party. We made mini wheat dough pizzas. Yummy!

Emilie and me on the stairs.

Me, the lone Democrat. GO OBAMA!!! Joy, practicing for her Pantene commercial audition. She already knows she is voting for McCain.
Emilie, also a Republican voter. (I didn't get the memo to wear green. I never get the memo!)
Me and Joy, getting our debate dance groove on. If you happened to look out your window around 8 you would have seen this: And this: I totally kicked trash at Hand Up Stands Up (with the help of Joy). Why did we get together again? Oh yeah, the debate. Just a few more weeks until November 4th! Obama/Biden 08!

Until next time! Love you guys!

Jen and Zach

A friend of mine, Kira, dedicated a beautiful post to another friend, Jen, and it has inspired me to do the same. I have this amazing friend Jen who wants to be a mother. Actually, "wants" doesn't quite cover it. Jen, and her amazing husband Zach, have been trying to become parents for years and recently decided to adopt. Everything Jen and Zach do revolves around the knowledge that someday they will be parents. And I mean literally everything. From which kind or dog to get to Zach making sure he has a job that can support his family. I know it hasn’t always been easy for these two. But I am constantly amazed at the faith and love they have for our Father in Heaven. They have served the Lord wholeheartedly in every calling asked of them. I’ve seen them with a class full of Sunbeams who love them and want nothing other than to be with them. Trust me, I know. I’ve subbed for these guys and you wouldn’t be able to find a more disappointed group of 3-4 years old kids when they realized Jen and Zach wouldn’t be there.
You would think the frustration would make them bitter. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am constantly amazed at how positive Jen and Zach are in the face of such a trial. Most people, when they decide to start a family, get pregnant and 9 months later they have a family. With infertility and adoption there is not a time frame. In the face of this unknown, Jen and Zach have been nothing but upbeat and hopeful; trusting in the Lord to bless them.
I consider Jen one of my best friends. I would do anything for her. Not a day goes by that my prayers don’t include a silent plea for her to have a chance to be a mom. As Kira stated in her blog, word of mouth will only help Jen and Zach’s dream of children. Please help my friend and spread the word! The child that is lucky enough to be adopted by these two will be blessed beyond measure.

Zach and Jen at their "second home" in Bear Lake.

Click on Jen and Zach's pic to be find out more about them! I've also added a link to them on my sidebar to help spread the word. If you feel comfortable, I urge you to do the same!

Game Night

Joy and Chris came over and we played some games. Well, we tried to, at least. We played a game called Illuminati that had pages and PAGES of rules. He ate that entire bag of goldfish by the way. Way to go! Collin and me, hanging out.
Joy, going through the rules, trying to determine if Chris is just making them up as he goes...
Chris, probably making up rules as he goes...
Collin, pretty sure Chris just made up a rule so that he wouldn't win...
Me, not caring if he's making them up. I knew I'd find a way to win anyway (which I totally did!).
Marley, falling asleep after she finally realized no one was going to give her any more popcorn... made up rules or not.

Thanks for coming over guys! It was a blast.

Tagged

Megan tagged me! Thanks Megan!

~ Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks of yours.
~ Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them.

1~ I love reading. Unspectacular, right? But I do. I love reading even when I hate what I am reading. I can think a book is utterly ridiculous and horribly written but I’ll just keep reading it until I finish it. This quirk is how I was able to finish reading Breaking Dawn.

2~ I like to be balanced. My mom said that when I was a kid if I had a toy in one hand I had to have one in the other. She said I was kind of OCD about it. I can see it still in the things I do. It would be a whole lot easier if I were ambidextrous. I’d feel much better.

3~ This one might be related to #2 because it also sounds kind of OCD, but I can’t step on cracks or lines in the sidewalk. I myself did not realize this quirk until I was in college walking on campus with my friend Kathleen and she pointed it out. It was a real turning point for me.

4~ I like to correct grammar, spelling, and word usage. It really bothers me when people use a word they don’t know the meaning of or when they use the wrong to/too. I can usually look the other way on those. But when someone says something incorrectly, like “me and her” or “I’m doing good” I’ll correct them. I try not to do this with people I don’t know well but sometimes it slips. I’ve been known to correct 4 year olds. I also think people use commas way too often.

5~ Needles give me the creeps. I can’t stand them. When I get my blood drawn I have to be prescribed Valium. And when I get my allergy shots (every 3 weeks) I have to give my self a little pep talk. The thing that scares me the most about eventually getting pregnant is the epidural. I hear it’s a really big needle. (Shudder).

6- I like my house to be really clean. And for the most part it usually is. I deep clean every other week and I spot clean the rest of the time. But (for those “Friends” fans out there) I have a “Monica closet.” One of our extra rooms is a horrible mess. I just throw stuff in there as if the room were some kind of black hole that sucked up everything we don’t use but don’t want to throw away. Then I shut the door. Out of sight out of mind, right?

Now I tag Jen G., Joy, Jessica, Emilie, Dana, and Missy. Go forth and be tagged!

Where I Got My Awesome Stamp

http://www.blooming-babies.com/custom-self-inking-stamps.html

I chose the "nicholas" design but was this close to choosing "maegan," "gillian," or "gabby." It was a toss up, really. Maybe I'll collect them and eventually have all 4. I stamped EVERY BOOK I own in my house. I even got a little carried away and stamped some of Collin's books. He didn't like that. Oh well. "What's yours is mine," right?

These Are a Few of My (most recent) Favorite Things

Calling all borrowed books! I know you're out there. I have lent so many of my books out I couldn't possibly remember who has what. I should keep a list or something. In an effort to keep my books from becoming part of other's libraries I bought this neat stamp and stamped all the books currently in my house. If you have a book of mine and aren't done with it, I'd love to just come over and stamp it. It would make me feel complete.

Yet another project made possible by Gretchen's company Vinyl Vixens. The first picture is to show you where I put it, the second is a close up. She does such a great job. Neither picture is true to the color of my wall. It's not as orange as the first picture or dark as the second.

My little sister brought her baby, Alex, over while both our husbands were at school. We laid him on the floor and let him roll around. Oso (who I just realized is looking kind of neglected, not just because of Alex but because he really needs a haircut) loved Alex's toes.

This was the closest Marely got to Alex. She was interested but seemed to realize that although Alex was about her size and on the floor, she was not allowed to play with him. Bummer.

We Swat Flies

Who blogs about swatting flies? Me, apparently. Today Collin grilled some chicken on the grill. He was going in and out the back door to check on it. In doing so he let in quite a few flies. So for the next half hour we were passing the fly swatter back and forth swatting flies. He said "who needs an X Box? Just open the door for a while and have fun swatting flies." We aren't big gamers, but I think I'd rather play a little Guitar Hero over swatting flies. I think he was being sarcastic. He is funny like that.

DIY Photos of the Week

These two switches are not just switches. They are a sign. A sign that soon our basement will be done.

A sign that we won't have to watch TV in the kitchen perched on one of these:
Or curled up here: (I took a picture of the bed unmade to prove a point)A sign that my books will have a home here: (imagine built in book shelves) and will no longer be piled in the laundry room on this bench:
or on my piano:And I can show off the neat craft Jen and I did last night (we stamped the edges of old books we found at the DI, neat huh?)
Those switches are a sign of the ceiling fan that will hang here: (they actually ARE the switches to the ceiling fan)
Possibly my favorite sign is that those switches mean we are one step closer to buying curtain rods for these awesome curtains.
I am so excited to have this room done!

Prison Break

I really wish I could say that I've been a fan of Prison Break since the beginning. But alas, it wasn't until halfway through the second season that this show even registered on my television viewing radar. So, after watching a few episodes randomly, I was hooked. Collin and I rented all of season one and watched them in one weekend (best weekend ever! I love you Wentworth). Then we read recaps of the part of season two we missed. We've been fans since.

Last night was a TWO hour season premier. This is what I started thinking about halfway through: Um, they aren't in prison. Not even Sona. Nothing. It should really be called "Prison Broke" or "We Broke Out, Now What?" or "Sara and Michael Variety Hour" or" How Many Times Can We Get the Same Group of Random Cons Together to Fight For a Common Goal and Make it Believable?" The last one is my favorite. It's a litte long so we can just call it "HMTCWGSGRCTFFCG?"

I am still going to watch this show. The same annoying neurosis I have that forces me to finish books I don't like won't allow me to give up on this show. That's why I went and saw the X-File's movie twice even though I thought it kind of sucked (and I'll buy it and watch it again). It's the same reason I read through the end of Breaking Dawn as well as EVERY Jane Austen book this summer (don't get me wrong, I love Jane Austen; but after the fourth book I was ready for something new).

So Scofield and the Gang have at least one dedicated viewer. That is until Fox realizes how dried up this show has become and cancels it. What do you guys think? Has Prison Break jumped the shark?

Game Night With Joy and Chris

The other night one of my oldest and best friends, Joy, and her husband, Chris, invited Collin and me over for a game night. We had so much fun! Love you Joy! Chris and Joy, looking happily married (8 months! Way to go!) Me and Collin. Yes, those are poker chips. It's all good. We didn't play with $$. Joy, checking to see if her flush beat Chris' 3 of a kind.

Thanks, guys! Our house next time! And no, we won't play Apples to Apples.

DIY photo of the week (with the help of Gretchen)

When I got the latest issue of Better Homes and Gardens I saw this picture of house numbers on a front door and thought it would look neat on my front door. So I called Gretchen (check out her company Vinyl Vixens). She does such a great job!

Here is the No. part. Next time you are out and about check it out! It's not very often that you can do something seen in Better Homes and Gardens for less than $10!

Bear Lake

Last weekend Jen and Zach invited us to Bear Lake. Jen's family has a neat little place up there right on the shore. We had such a great time.

After a day of bike riding and playing in the water (Zach saved a bee from drowning) we played Ticket to Ride.

Collin, waiting for everyone to get it together and come play. Jen and Zach, losing gracefully.

And here I am, kicking some Ticket to Ride trash. I love this game. Everytime we play I win. What's not to love about that? Don't you love the coat? I'd forgotten to bring one. This is Jen's grandpa Leo's coat. Thanks Leo!

Sprinkler Magic

Picture courtesy of Flickr

My friend Jessica and I were out and about riding our bikes. The bike ride must have released our inner 8 year olds because we found ourselves daring each other to ride through some sprinklers. So we did.

DIY Photo of the Week

When we were looking at the types of wood for the banister, we decided on the standard oak thinking that when we moved in we would paint it white. As it grew closer to paint time, I started thinking black might look neat. So we went with black. I love painting things.

Another Family Reunion

Collin and I are on a roll with the family reunions. This past weekend Collin's parents took the whole family to Park City. The grandkids (and a few adults) went on the Alpine slide and the coaster. It was a lot of fun. Again, we got to see family members we hadn't seen for a long time. While there, we got a a caricature drawn of us. I think the artist really did a good job of capturing Collin. What do you think?

Family Reunion

Last week we spent some quality time with my dad's side of the family. I got to see some cousins that I havne't seen for a couple years, so that was nice. We spent the first day in one of the banquet rooms at Cabela's. We had a bluegrass band come and a cowboy poet. We watched a few home movies and then spent time getting to know what has happened since the last time we saw each other (they should get blogs!). The second day we spent in my grandma's backyard while my uncles and grandparents talked to us about family history.

The Family Photo. (Only 2 uncles, an aunt, 2 cousins, and a fiance were missing)

Once you turn your back, we get a little crazy.

Breaking Dawn

I finished it. For those of you who haven't finished it, no spoilers here. I will say, though, that I am dissapointed. I didn't hate it but it was my least favorite of all 4 books. Halfway through I felt the same kind of restlessness I'd felt when I read The Host. I had that feeling of "come on already, get to the story, enough rambling." I half expected Wanda to show up and start going on about how if the aliens took over there wouldn't be any vampires because vampires are bad and then Bella would start in on how some vampires were good and then Wanda would takeover Bella's body and fall in love with Edward... and Jacob.
I loved the story and I think she's a great story teller, she just takes way too long to tell her story.
And for the 3 people who voted for Jacob, we can still be friends.

UPDATE: There has been some talk that I skipped church to read Breaking Dawn. I missed church due to the second day of a family reunion. I'll post pictures once my cousin sends them to me if you don't believe me.

X-Files

So, as many of you either know or don't know, I've been an X-Files fan since the show began back in 1993. Yes, my mother let her 11 year old daughter watch X-Files, crazy, huh? Well, as a long time fan I was excited to go see the movie last weekend. I bought tickets the second they were available, got there early "just in case", and actually clapped when they started playing the signature X-Files theme. I didn't love it, but it was a good movie. Not the X-Files I grew up with, but it was still good. I went a second time last night just to make sure. I took Collin, my mom, and my step-dad and they really liked it. So I guess fans of the show just can't be pleased while non fans (most people) really like it. Oh well, I'm waiting for the next movie when the aliens start to colonize the earth and Mulder and Scully have to save the world. That's the X-Files I love.