Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Four Things

4 Jobs I've Had
Assistant Loan Officer
Cheerleading Coach
Deposit Verification Specialist
Teller

4 Movies Watched Over and Over
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
10 Things I Hate About You
Armageddeon
Pacifier

4 Places I've Lived
W*t*rt*wn
M*d*s*n
F*rg*
Br*tt*n

4 Shows I Watch
Friends
Big Brother
Survivor
ER

4 Places I've Been
Orlando, FL (four times)
Las Vegas, NV (twice)
Olympia, WA (twice)
Nashville, TN

4 People Who Email Me Regularly
Jenn
Kari
Jessica
Laura

4 Favorite Things To Eat
Cheesecake
Pizza
French dip sandwiches
Cheese sticks with marinara sauce

4 Places I'd Rather Be
Hot, sunny beach
Hot, sunny beach
Hot, sunny beach
Hot, sunny beach

4 Things I Look Forward To This Year
Our annual 4th of July trip to Wisconsin
My sister's wedding in July
A weekend getaway with Kari to my first Supercross Race
A hot, sunny summer

4 People To Tag
Anyone
Who
Enjoys
Memes

Monday, January 21, 2008

We Were On the Go!

Last Thursday, the kids and I went to SF to stay overnight at the Ramada. (I ended up seeing approximately eight deer running in a field not too far from the road! YIKES!) We made one quick stop at Kohls, grabbed some pizza, checked into our hotel, ate pizza, and then the kids played at the water park for about 2 1/2 hours!!! I was busy snapping pics and catching up on reading my magazines - I didn't get very far - still have many more to go!


We got up EARLY Friday morning because the kids had dentist appointments at 7:30. They go to a pediatric dentist who they love! My hubby would prefer they go to a dentist in W but I enjoy the pediatric dentist too much to change. (Also, I had a bad experience with my childhood dentist - more on that another time.) Plus it gives me an excuse to go to SF. And the kids and I have looked forward to these mini vacations twice year for the last four years! NO CAVITIES!!! Then we grabbed breakfast and we were on our way home. Although the kids didn't have school, I had to work. :(

Saturday was another big day of traveling.

9:15 The kids and I were on the road to the good ole town of M - where we previously lived.

10:15 First Stop - I dropped the kids off at The Swensons, our old neighbors. Kelly so graciously offered to take the kids for the day. My original plans were to visit them as our last stop of the day. Our kids often played together in the neighborhood.

10:30 - 12:45 Second Stop - My good friend, Julie, was hosting a l*ia so*phia party! I walked away with too much jewelry! Just ask my hubby! :) I can't wait until it arrives!! Also, I finally got to see baby, Treyton and big girl, Alonna! They were so precious! Alonna quickly became my friend. And let me tell you, she is one fashionable girl. She was into all the jewelry. She kept playing with it and calling it her "pretties".

12:45 - 3:15 Third Stop - Lunch with my good friend, Maria, and her son, Jordan, at the best Chinese place - Ch*na Moon! YUMMY!! Then we headed back to Maria's house to chat for a bit more. Jordan sure is growing up into one handsome man!

3:15 - 5:30 Fourth Stop - I chatted with The Swensons while the kids continued to play. They put on an awesome costume parade for us with many costume changes.

5:30 Fifth (and Final) Stop - The gas station and then on our way home! However, while filling up with gas, I proceeded to read my fortune from my fortune cookie that I had received at lunch. I wish I wouldn't have! It read, "Today you should be a passenger. Stay close to a driver for a day." I was freaked out! Normally I'm not superstitious but come on. Here I was doing all this driving and now I get this fortune!! Nice! Needless to say, the drive home was a tense one! Even more so - I hate driving in the dark! I only saw one deer on the side of the road but luckily it wasn't a stupid one - it ran AWAY from me rather than TOWARDS me!

It was such a COLD weekend that I would have rather spent it indoors but at least it was just cold (REALLY COLD) - there were no ice or snow storms!! All in all, it was a really fun weekend!

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Hayley is Stylin'

Shortly before Christmas Hayley mentioned that she wasn't seeing as clearly as she used to. So we did what any good parents would do, we took her to the eye doctor and sure enough - she needs glasses. She only needs a very slight correction but it makes her see better.

At first she thought she'd be getting contacts. Then I had to burst her bubble. There is NO WAY she is responsible enough for contacts. I told her maybe in another year or two she may be ready but she's definitely not ready now.

So her back-up plan was to find a pair of pink glasses. Although there were many pairs of pink glasses we just couldn't find the "right" pair. So then I found a purple pair. She put them on and we both said, these are "it". So here's the result! (The frames are Adi*das in a medium purple color on the arms and tops of the while the bottom of the lenses are rimless.)






Wednesday, January 02, 2008

So What Have We Been Up To, You Ask?

I'm so glad you asked. Let me tell you! (Sorry it's so long!)

Let's start with Christmas. On Sunday the 23rd, my sister, Shar, from SF came to town. We pretty much played games all day on Sunday & Monday (Christmas Eve). On Sunday afternoon, my sister, Kelly & her 3 kids came over to exchange gifts and have cider and Christmas goodies with us.

Kelly's kids - Taylor, Brianna, & Alec / My sister, Shar


My dad arrived on Monday. We went to 5:30 church. I really enjoy Christmas Eve service. It's fun singing all the Christmas songs. After church, we drove around and looked at Christmas lights (a family tradition). When we finally starving, we came home and cooked pizza from P*p* M*rphy's. YUM!

Christmas morning festivities began at 8 am. I'm sure the kids were up/awake much earlier! But I, on the other hand, enjoy and need my sleep! :) The kids were thrilled with their presents - mainly the PS*2 and Gu*itar H*r* that they received from us! We basically played that all day! I cooked a big meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, yams, green bean casserole, stuffing, pistachio salad, strawberry pretzel salad, cranberries, olives, pickles, buns, and of course, dessert - Milk Chocolate Cheesecake, for my dad & sister. Usually I also have my other two sisters, Kelly (and boyfriend & 3 kids) & Jodi (and boyfriend), to feed but they made other plans this year. Hopefully I'll have them back next year! It just didn't feel the same! We ended the night with a movie, I N*ow Pron*ounce Y*ou Ch*uck & La*rry, which we found out 10 minutes into the movie that it is NOT a kids' movie so the kids were sent off to watch something else! YIKES!!!


My Two Best Presents - My Kids


The Guitar Hero was a BIG hit!

My sister, Shar & Tanner

Hayley & I


Tanner & I
(Yes, I won!)


Dean & I

(I'm objecting to Dean winning! I was positive I did!)


Dean reacting to his win over me!

(Acting like a dork!)

Me imitating the dork!

The day after Christmas was depressing. I had to work. The last four years I have not worked but instead attended college full-time. I got used to having 4 to 5 weeks of vacation this time of year! That is the ONLY thing I miss about college! And of course, the summers off, too! I know, poor me! It's rough to be a grown-up! :) I'm definitely taking all of Christmas week off for upcoming Christmases!

Dean's sister, Jodi, her husband and their two kids (including the new baby, Campbell, who was born 3 days before Thanksgiving) were in town. We were invited over to Dean's mom's for pizza and visiting. Campbell is SO cute! I really enjoyed holding him.

This past Sunday, we took the kids sledding and snowboarding at St. Anne's Hill. I was SO cold! But the weather didn't seem to bother the kids. I bundled up as much as I could and we stopped by the gas station and I got the biggest hot chocolate I could buy but I was still frozen and miserable! Seriously, I have issues! (I sleep in flannel pjs with 10 blankets on my side of the bed - NO JOKE!)

Tanner on his new snowboard


Hayley taking her turn on Tan's snowboard



Now onto New Year's! This is the first time in a LONG time that we've actually had New Year's Eve plans. I guess last year we did get invited to Dean's sister, Leah, who lives in town (we were living in a hotel at the time). However, we were back at the hotel and in bed by 10:30 so I don't think that really counts! :)

This year, my department at work decided to get together. The party started about 7:30 at my co-worker's house at the lake. We had lots of munchies, drinks, and games! LOTS of FUN! We got home about 2 am and went straight to bed. However, my sleeping problems decided to rear it's ugly head. Although I was in bed at 2 am (way past my normal bedtime) and had been up since 6:30 am the day before (I had to work), I just couldn't fall asleep. I had drank caffeine-free pop all night at the party. I finally fell asleep about 4:30 am! Only to wake up at 7:30 am and could not fall back to sleep. I finally rolled out of bed at 9:45 because I figured I was not going to fall asleep. It was a VERY long day yesterday! Three hours of sleep is NOT enough! Last night I went to bed at 9:00, fell asleep about 9:30 and didn't awake until 6:00 am but then fell back to sleep off & on again until my alarm went off at 7:00 am! It felt GREAT to get a good night's sleep but I'm still tired today. It's crazy, people! Really! Who can't fall asleep after being awake for 20 hours?!?! Who can't fall back to sleep after ONLY 3 hours of sleep!

Isabel & Hayley playing a game of Twister



Dean & I


Collin & Jen
(They hosted the party)


Nick & Amy

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!

HAPPY
NEW
YEAR
Hoping 2008 is a healthy & happy year for you and your loved ones!