>Meet the Parents

>No, I am not talking about the Ben Stiller flick. I really can't stand Ben Stiller (tangent) and I think he is the most annoying actor out there. So. Not. Funny.

Anyway, I promised a few weeks ago to write about the time B met my parents. It is rather humorus and comes up at table conversation every once in awhile.

Remember the night B told me to be his girlfriend? Well, after staying up all night kissing talking and kissing some more, we were interupted at 5am by a shallow knock on the door from my mother announcing that "breakfast is ready."

We froze and stared at each other before I answered, "Okay, be up in a minute."

I am pretty sure that I dug my face into B's chest from embarrassment before asking him if he okay?

The look on his face was priceless. He was petrified. That was it. I gave him a quick kiss and tried to convince him that my parents are awesome.

Back up a bit and here is my dad's side of the story:
He woke up around 4:30 to go to the bathroom and heard voices coming from my room. He woke my mom up and said, "S's friend is still here. What are you going to do about it?" My mom rolled over and said, "Going back to sleep. What else?" My dad was frustrated by her lack of concern (hello!? I'm 22 and can have a boy over if I want to!). Well, since he woke her up and got her mind rolling, she was convinced that making breakfast would solve the problem (I'm sorry, I missed where my having a boy over, that I am clearly talking to, is a problem?).

B and I made the asend up the stairs slower than normal. I held his hand and whispered that everything would be okay and I was secretly screaming at God to not let this ruin anything that had just happened. (Thank you GOD!!)

It didn't. My mom knew the way to a man's heart was through his stomach and made pancakes, eggs, and bacon. B was so wonderful and showed no signs of nervousness. My parents were not daunting or rude and welcomed him right into our family before the sun was up.

B left after we ate and I went back to bed. Not until one month before the wedding did my mom tell me that she knew I would marry B the morning she met him. My mother, ladies and gentlemen, has the best intuition of anyone I know. And I love her for it.

My meeting B's parents was not nearly as exciting and really does not even need a blog to say more about it just being perfect. His parents are amazing and I am very used to calling them "Mom" and "Dad" now.

>Whatever happend to red fire engines?

>YUCK! My last post was so boring. I am so sorry and will just refrain from writing unless I know for sure it will be something work commenting on.

On Thursday night, hubs and his bromance Brad played beer pong at a country bar in town. It was by far the most entertainment I have seen with those two. Not only are they just bad ass in general, but they swept every team there! Their team name is "In One Ear and Our Her Mother". It makes no sense and that is why it is so funny! They won $100 bucks!! Talk about a worth while evening.

Friday night I finally had a great nights sleep and continued to sleep half of today away until I had to come into work. It was wonderful. I feel a little under the weather, but think it just might be my body trying to catch up on sleep. I took a shower and it really helped me wake up and had enough energy to paint my nails fire engine red (although, I have not seen a red fire engine in a long time). It should be called "Dirty Sexy Money" like the TV show, that I have never seen.

The superbowl is tomorrow and I have to work. Don't fret, my loves, I will still be able to watch the game and have some fun (minus the alcohol). I won't have to wear my uniform, which is a HUGE plus and I love everyone who lives here so no complaints there.

I know I said this in the last post, but we have our Cabo tickets and I am so thrilled! We can't wait to get out of the country and sit on a beach and drink margs. Ahhh the life! Less than three months. I think I will go find one of those ticker things so you can live vicariously through me. HA!

>1. Sleep: I have not slept good for three nights. Now I have a headache and fear I will get sick if something does not change.

2. Family: It has been over a month now since I have talked to my brother. I know I have not said anything on here at the situation and I still won't, but pray for forgiveness, understanding and strength. It's starting to hurt more.

I am going to a hockey game tonight with my dad, thanks to B! His boss gave him extra tickets and B will be working the camera so I get to go to work with B! Can't wait.

My in-laws are amazing. My mother in law is easily one of my most favorite people and so loving. My father in law is so kind and smart. Him and his fiance got us a time share in Cabo and yesterday we bought our airfare so Cabo, here we come!! We can't wait.

3. Doggies: The best. I love them so much and Tulo has just been a little lover! He finally respects me and sees me as one of his masters. He used to ignore me whenever I tried to call him or punish him. He usually has an iron stomach, but apparently sugar cookies are his weakness. B accidently left them out on the kitchen table and Tulo ate more than a dozen. He has been paying for it the last two days. Poor guy! Butte is wonderful as always and can't wait to spend the evening with my mom while we're gone.

Time for a nap. Sorry this is so dull today. Blame the lack of sleep.

>Laughter Lives Tuesday (on Wednesday)

>Check out this cool little thing on Abby's Page.

On the topic of Love.

I tell my husband several times a day that I love him.

I tell my dogs several times a day that I love them.

B tells me and shows me all the time how much he loves me.

Rarely, I just hear him, rather than listen.

Oops.

Early in our marriage (like, oh, 4 months ago), this conversation took place while watching TV:

Mumbles from B: "Blah blah blah" was all I heard.

Me: "But I think we should have communicated about that sooner. Oh well."
I thought he had been talking about how our schedules had clashed that day and ended up leaving our doggies alone for 7 hours (something we HATE doing and avoid if at all possible). He did not say anything back to me and when I finally found his eyes, he was just staring at me and burst out laughing.

Me: "What is so funny about that? I hate leaving the dogs alone that long."

B: "All I said was 'I love you' and you did not even hear me."

Of course, my hubs is so understanding that he was not offended and we had a great laugh about it.

I love him so much!

>music to my ears

>The best early am musical therapy is from non other than pandora.com. You like chick singers with piano beats and smooth rhythms? Type in A Fine Frenzy (best groves-ever!) and let your soul be happy. Seriously. It will perk you up more than you could have thought. That play list also has the song "Colorblind" by Counting Crows re sung by a female artist that is escaping my mind at the moment. Have fun.

>Unrecognized.

>Do you ever feel like, no matter how hard you work at your job, proper recognition is not delivered? I know that sounds vain and maybe a little trite too, but I have been feeling that way lately.

I love my job. That has not and will not change. Working with elderly people has been the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Let me back up to last year: I was a paraprofessional at a high school for a student who had not one, but two traumatic brain injuries. That means he sustained two injuries outside of birth and natural causes to where he had little to no short term memory, was resentful towards life and the accident, which he did remember bits and pieces of, was in foster care for a laundry list of reasons and separated from his other siblings, needed assistance with studies, tests, and school work in general, all while hating me with a dying passion. I hope someday he might see that I was a huge asset to his educational start in high school, but that may never happen. This was the most challenging thing I had ever done. This time last year, right after the new year, he was in talks of going back home and for some reason, that caused his hatred for me to grow and caused me to take my work home with me everyday, rather than every other day. I was a mess, to say the least. But I had an incredible team of teachers who were all supporting me in what I was doing and while it was hard, it was still rewarding. I am sure that experience will catch up with me once I get my teaching license someday and will, regardless, be forever grateful for the experiences I had there.

Fast forward to the here and now: I love my job. I know I already said that. But I do and it is important to repeat that because there are less than two things that could change that and I don't even know what they are.

I have been working here for over 8 months and last night was great when the big boss from corporate not only remembered who I am (he comes like, every 3 months or so...) but also realized that I had been with the company for quite some time. Awesome. That is always a good feeling with someone who manages numerous companies can start remembering employees at different branches withing 8 months of employment. This is not why I am writing this.

I want to move up. I want to show everyone here that I am not just going to be the front desk reception for the next 10 years. I have potential and need to do something more. But I will wait.

Patiently.

I came into work today at 5am because there was no night shift to cover the desk and that is when the newspapers are delivered, people wake up and walk their dogs, and other employees start arriving. Someone had to be here and since I was here last night for the fiasco that went down and since corporate is still here, it did not feel right to just say, "Oh well", sleep another 2.5 hours and come in at 8am. I will most likely be here until 4pm today. That is an 11 hour shift and while I do love my job, my body might not always agree with me.

Pray for alertness, a happy attitude, and smiles all around. Smiling is important. Even on the phone. It makes you sound happier. So I will practice those things.

But will I be recognized for coming in 3 hours early? Will someone pat me on the back? Will it earn me that golden "Employee of the Month" ticket?

Maybe, maybe not.

While it is hard for me to say that I don't care, because it really is not that big of a deal, I would be sort of lying. I want to be EOTM. Who doesn't? Either way, it does not matter. I will still love my job and still show up early because that is what I do. If others see that, great. If not, whatever. Someday, it will happen. Whether it is here or somewhere else.

My coffee is getting cold. Time for a refill. Have a splendid day.

>the easier excuse to write a list of 100 things about myself

>If you play along, leave me a comment so I can see your list. Bold whatever you have done.
(I stole (not borrowed, because I won't give it back) this from Adventures in Babymaking.)

1. Started your own blog. (here you have it)
2. Slept under the stars. (4th of July 1999-and any other camping trip you may want to include)
3. Played in a band. (I sang in a band for church.)
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower. (Kind of-I saw Haley's Comet when I was 12 or 13)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. ( I wish)
7. Been to Disneyland. (Disneyworld)
8. Climbed a mountain. (several)
9. Held a praying mantis. (For some reason they always end up in our garage.)
10. Sang a solo. (You wouldn't want me to)
11. Bungee jumped. (not gonna happen-ever)
12. Visited Paris. (maybe someday)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea. (4th of July 2006 on the Jersey Shore. It was incredible.)
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. (Water color)
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables. (When I was a kid, I loved Squash)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. (I suppose if I had visited Paris I would have done this as well...)
20. Slept on an overnight train. (even if I tried, it would not work out too well)
21. Had a pillow fight. (UNC tried to break the world record for the largest pillow fight and no, I did not go. They did not break thre record...probably because I didn't go.)
22. Hitch hiked. (NEVER!!)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not sick. (Who hasn't??)
24. Built a snow fort. (In 6th grade, we made full blown Iglues. It was awesome.)
25. Held a lamb. (Yes, I am a Lambkin, you know.)
26. Gone skinny dipping. (In my younger, less wise years.)
27. Run a marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse. (part of one...it takes a good hour and when it is 3am and 10 degrees, it is hard to stay out all night watching it)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. (Over both oceans, too)
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen and Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (I took 5 years of Espanol)
37. Had enough money to truly be satisfied.
38. Seen the leaning tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (Both indoor and outdoor)
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (Silly game)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. (When I was young)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. (One of my favorite things to do with the kiddos in NJ)
46. Been transported in an ambulance.(I passed out in the dinning hall at school.)
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. (Will be snorkeling here in about 3 months!)
52. Kissed in the rain. (Once or twice)
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. (ALL the time. It's 5 minutes from my house)
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served in a soup kitchen. (Mission trip in Seatle)
61. Sold Girl Scout cookies. (I was a Brownie)
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason. (B is good at this)
64. Donated blood, platelets, or plasma. (I would die if I did this)
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp.
67. Bounced a check. (Shame here)
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. (I can't get rid of a lot of things, so I decided to keep them for my kids someday)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square. (Very surreal feeling)
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job. (Of course, it was not my fault)
76. Seen the changing of the guards in London. (Coolest thing ever, especially after being awake for over 40 hours.)
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Been to the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car. (Just passed 52000 miles)
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the paper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had Chicken pox. (And Shingles)
89. Saved someone's life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous. (The entire cast of Malcome in the Middle)
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day. (The Nanny Diaries)

>Shopping 101

>Today was the best grocery shopping trip yet! B and I are loyal to a store down the street from us (literally) and they offer great savings as memebers. No, it is not Sam's. If we bought in bulk, everything would spoil. Anyway, I went alone today. B is really good at making sure we get the best deal and, last time, we only saved 15% on our purchase. He (we) strive for at least 20% in savings, of course.

Anyway, the store was rockin' with 10 for 10 this and 10 for 10 that. I got 6 bags of shredded cheese for $9!! Amazing.

After using coupons and our membership card, the total came to $77. I was a little bummed, as I was aiming for a $50 budget. Oh well.

Then I looked at the recepit and I saved 28%! Awesome!

So, we have a fully stocked kitchen and two happy people to cook in it. YAY!

>The Proposal

>November 28th, 2007 (the Wednesday after Thanksgiving)

The coolest part of this story took place the day B bought my ring, which was exactly one week prior to his proposal. His brother, Kyle, had also been preparing to propose to Martha and without planning it, they both bought our rings for us on the same day. CRAZY!

I was working at LHS at the time and Wednesday's were early release days and as staff, if there was nothing going on that we were needed for, we could leave early so I had plans to meet B at Sculpture park once leaving school. We planned to have lunch together before I went to my other job later that afternoon.

If there was any indication that my day was going to be any different from other days, it was when my dad told me to tell B "Hi" for him. While I knew that my dad loved B, it was rather out out of character for him to pass on verbal well wishes. I noted it, but did not think anything of it once my day at school began.

When I got to the park, B was there before me but had been walking our dogs around the pond. I saw him coming around the corner. It was a beautiful, cold day. There were no clouds in the sky and the air was crisp. I was wearing gloves and a heavy coat. I could see my breath.

We greeted each other the same way we always did: hug and kiss and an "I love you, how are you?" I offered to lead us around the other side of the pond before we left for lunch. B had other plans. He asked for us to just sit on the bench near by to talk and figure out where we wanted to have lunch.

As I sat down, he did not join me. I looked up at him and quickly realized he was no longer up, but down on one knee, balancing a ring box in his hand while wrangling the dogs as well. It was a sight to see, I'm sure.

My breath was taken away and while I cannot recall the exact words that poured off B's lips, I knew he was asking me to be his wife and I instantly said yes! He took my glove off and slipped the engagement ring on. It was a perfect fit. No resizing needed. I stood up and we hugged and, while I always thought I would be a blubbering fool the day I was proposed to, I couldn't stop laughing and screaming! I am sure the dogs were confused by our hesterics.

We gathered ourselves and decided to go to this hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaruant where I called my mom and she met us. She had to see the ring, of course. Over our meal, I learned how B asked my dad two days prior at Old C's over a couple of beers to take his daughter's hand in marriage. Thank you daddy!

It was a great day, to say the least.

>In The Beginning...(part 3)

>B and I had arranged to meet up on Friday around 1pm to head to Denver. I was going to drive, since I was the one to offer plans up, plus my car gets AMAZING gas milage. I was very nervous that he would not show up and I later found out that he too was nervous that I would not show up. How cute. :) I think that we had both been burned in the past and were just hoping that it would work out.

It did.

We talked the whole way to Denver and shared our likes and dislikes in music, movies, and activities. Found out our tastes in music are VERY opposite. Even to this day. When we got to Denver, we went to my bank first and he waited patiently for me. Afterwards, we found a parking garage near the 16th Street Mall and started our adventure. Where to? No clue, but we just let our feet lead us. We ended up near the Pavilion and thought about going to a movie, but there weren't any show times for awhile. On the third deck is an awesome bowling ally and we both knew that would be fun.

I am not a great bowler, but little did I know that B is right up there with me. It was perfect because we were our own competition and that was when we learned how competitive both of us are. My memory is failing me as to how many games we ended up playing, but I do know that we each won once. After the games we enjoyed a beer in the lounge and then moved our evening elsewhere. 

B had never been to the ESPN Zone and, though I am not a huge sports fan, I love the place. Good food, drinks and fun. B bought a play card so we were able to play some bubble hockey, a game I learned he was very fond of and quite good at himself. Once the money ran out, we sat down for dinner and before I the server had come to ask us what we wanted to drink, B said something first:

"I want to kiss you."

"Okay" and with that, he leaned over the table and kissed me. It was perfect! My heart was jumping our of my chest and my stomach was doing flips. Definitely fireworks.

Our dinner was great. There was no more kissing until later that evening when we had headed back home and I went over to his house in Greeley. It was wonderful! I got home late and was giddy telling my mom about it the next day.

That night B had to work so he was not done until 10:30 and I had invited him to hang out with me at my house. We ended up staying up all night talking and that was when Mr. Bold said something else:

"I want you to be my girlfriend."

There was no asking involved. B knew what he wanted and apparently it was me.

"I would love to be your girlfriend." And some more kissing ensued.  

That was the beginning of our wonderful friendship and love and it has only grown stronger and more fun over the last two years. Wow.

Next up: How B met my parents. Best story ever!

>Depressing

>I love reading everyone's blogs on here and, in case you didn't notice, I love blogs about families and babies because we will have a full blown family someday. But oh man, there are some depressing stories out there! Babies dying, husbands dying, sick babies, the whole nine yards. I want to support and share my prayers with those people but today, it is really getting to me. I feel so broken down from all the sad news I just want to cry--and I don't even know you! Crazy. Anyway, I just want to say that while these are sad blogs, they are blogs that find the happy ending and ways to let God help them through their sorrow and I pray that they can only give me strength so that I do not fear the lose of a loved one, but embrace the time we have now and realize that the comfort of our Lord is unfailing. This is hard for me to write. I have a lot of fear and anxiety about those kind of things and I think that if I read about them then I might bring the negative energy into my heart and I don't want that. I also fear having children because I don't want to think about losing something I don't have, but want so badly. I am just going on and on and thanks for reading thus far, if you did. Prayers for comfort and peace would be wonderful. Thank you.

>Big Boy Tulo

>
Like baby blogs, I need to update you on my children, Butte and Tulo. However, tonight I am going to focus on Tulo. He had a vet visit yesterday to have a check up and get his rabies and distemper shots. First of all, he has no fear of this place that he has been to a hand full of times. Butte, remembers the vet better than any other place and starts retreating the moment she jumps out of the car and lands on the gravel. She must smell all the doggie markings everywhere. Tulo, on the other hand, just wants to go inside to see if he can find any treats.

As we open the door, the house cat is sitting on the bench and I really don't think there is another dog out there that loves cats more than Tulo does. He would love more than anything to have his own kitten for Christmas, but B is far from a cat person and I hate cleaning the litter box. He went right up to the huge cat, who sat their gracefully, and gave big kisses. Bigger kisses than Mr. Cat was expecting and decided to tear off behind the counter to safety.

Tulo walked right up onto the scale and weighs a perfect (vet's words!) 67 pounds. Where he keeps all that, I don't know. We were then shuffled into the waiting room. B and I messed around and tried to get him to sit up for treats. This is a feat that is still, well, a feat to say the least. I am not sure if it is because he is just so oddly shaped and his weight is distributed in weird places that he has no sense of balance. Maybe he will get it someday. Either way, he loved all the one on one attention (we left Butte at home).

Before the vet came in, we tried to see if he could jump up onto the table. It was about 3 1/3-4 feet tall (taller than him, barely) and he hopped right up there without a running start or anything! Mama so proud!

The visit went great! We learned all about how greyhounds are vet students best friends because they are thin-skinned. Tulo was able to show off several scars and one recent wound, just a display of how rough he and Butte really play together. He was impressed, to say the least, and he things Tulo is a great dog.

We had a positive report and just love our T dog so much!!

>In The Beginning....(part 2)

>After the day I gave B a ride home from the frozen world, we saw each other again in class the following Thursday (this was a Tuesday/Thursday class). I told him I was going to be bringing my dog Butte with me in the morning and that we could come over and hang out after my writing class (yes, folks, I totally invited myself over...). He said that would be nice so I was a little excited the next morning and picked out my clothing carefully and curled my hair (something which I never did for an 8am class-ever).

I arrived around 9am with Butte behind me and he was looking mighty fine in jeans and a tee and from what I could tell, had actually cleaned up a bit. I had no idea what it had looked like prior, but after we started dating it was okay for me to see how he really lived. How sweet. We sat on his bed and played with Butte, who took a huge dump in his apartment before leaving (a nervous habit she has since gotten over, but was very prone to in new places as a puppy). We talked about everything-family, school, dreams, funny stories-everything. Once it was about 10:45am I offered to give him a ride up to his 11am class and of course, he said yes. As he was getting out of the car, he asked if I wanted to "get coffee" sometime and I smiled and agreed that would be nice. I distinctly remember being "on cloud 9" when he asked me that and drove the whole way home bouncing up and down in my seat.

The following Tuesday we made plans to meet to get coffee once I was off of work, which, due to the timing, turned into dinner. How convenient. We went to On The Boarder and, while the food sucked, the conversation was awesome and we never ran out of anything to say. It was the best date I had ever been on and I was screaming like a little school girl on the inside. He was just so darn cute and I could not believe he was interested in me. As he walked me to my car, we hugged good night and I caught him going in for kiss and let him miss. I had a strict rule of no kissing on the first date and was not about to let him get away with that one (and I am sooo glad I made him wait it out...).

Two days later on Thursday, after our class and after he had walked me to my car (it was a warmer day and he was off his crutches by then), I spontaneously asked B if we wanted to go to Denver with me. I had to go to my bank and wanted to make the trip more worthwhile and surprisingly, I think for both of us, he said yes!!

More to come next time!!

>Lonely Wife, Here

>Is it shameful that, while my husband is working hard to pay the bills, I am at home watching a chain of television shows that are meaningless and mind-draining? Uh...I feel so lonely without B here, even if we were still watching the same shows. Still, I hate when I have a three day weekend and he has to work each one of those days. That is the end of my vent. Short and sweet.

I worked out today and it was great, thanks to Ellen! She was on at 3, as always, and I elipticalled (lol) a whole 25 minutes without stopping! I know for some of you that might sound not so great, but if you knew how hard it is to get me to the gym, you would be dancing right along with Ellen. Oh yeah.

And that's all for now.

>In the Beginning... (part 1)

>Fall Semester 2005

B and I met unofficially in a film class. I started to notice him more when he spoke up in class. "Wow, what a smart guy. He knows his stuff," I thought. Our professor was brilliant, but a hard ass to say the least. Remember that episode of Full House where Walter kept following Stephanie around with "duck lips"? When our prof would pause in thought or was listening to film critique, he would put his hand up to his chin and out came the "duck lips". B talked often and while I had a friend in the class I chatted with often (a male friend, who was engaged but B did not know this which is why he never made a move). I noticed that B would wear a scally cap and often had a skate board with him. I only recollected these memories after B and I started dating, almost two years ago.

Spring Semester 2007

I was a senior and finishing up the few classes I needed to walk away with a college degree in May. I vowed to take a fun class the last semester in college and it just so happened to be my senior seminar class. I had been dreading that class for years because, while you may not think it, I hated speaking up in class unless I was 100% sure of myself. College was so subjective, especially with English classes, that it was not often when my confidence spoke out. The class was Short Stories with a prof who was said to be one of the best, easiest to please, and open to anything. 

I knew a few other people in the class and B was not hard to miss. For the first month of class, he moved around on crutches with a boot on his foot (ask me which one and I couldn't tell ya). We did not have assigned seating (and yes, some profs did assign seats...) and so I never sat with the same people, but I noticed when a girl I had known for awhile, who usually sat with me, had talked B into sitting with us. Our table talk perked up and if we had not read the story, we helped each other out and that was when B started noticing me.

He had been dating said girl at my table for a few weeks and all of a sudden she just stopped coming to class, but B stayed at my table. We started to talk more about ourselves and less about the stories.

Exactly two years ago, I won lift tickets off the radio to Aspen for the weekend of the Winter X Games. I went with bestie J and we had an amazing time. When I was back in class the following week, I tried to butter B up with my interest in winter sports (which is totally genuine--I love watching downhill and half pipe!). He was impressed.

That day, it was barely 10 degrees outside and as I was pulling out of the parking lot, I saw B crossing the lot covered in snow and ice on his crutches. I pulled up next to him, rolled down the window, and asked if he wanted a ride home.

"Hell yeah!" His enthusiasm, while appropriate, took me off guard and I smiled as he directed me towards his house a few blocks away. We sat in the car and laughed about the conversations from the class and before he got out, asked for my number. He gave me his as well and that was the start of this flame of a relationship.

To be continued...

>Drumroll please...

>

Before...

After!!

>"You and me, we're through. You're rearranged."

>Really quickly I have to share that the tainted room in our small little basement that was supposed to be an office but turned into a storage room finally bit my last nerve and I had enough. I woke up, took a shower, and proceeded to pull everything out of that office that didn't belong there. B fixed the shed door so as I pulled items out, he carried everything up stairs and into the shed. Once that was all done, I made piles of trash and emptied a storage bin to put things in that we still needed to keep. I organized the shelves, the closet and office desk. We now have an office and gained another 200 square feet! Pictures up later tonight!

The song is "Rearranged" by Lim Bizkit.

>How Articulate Can I Be?

>Let's see... using only one word to answer.

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your significant other? B-dog
3. Your hair? straight
4. Your mother? beautiful
5. Your father? hero
6. Your favorite thing? cuddles
7. Your dream last night? martha
t8. Your favorite drink? wine
9. Your dream/goal? author
10. The room you're in? lobby
11. Your fear? infertility
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? mother
13. Where were you last night? home
14. What you're not? dishonest
15. Muffins? yum
16. One of your wish list items? shoes
17. Where you grew up? steamboat
18. The last thing you did? eat
19. What are you wearing? uniform
20. Your favorite TV show? mondays
21. Your pet? dogs
23. Your life? blessed
24. Your mood? sleepy
25. Missing someone? hubs
26. Your car/truck? parked
27. Something you're not wearing? pants
28. Favorite Store? cheap
29. Your summer? married
30. Your favorite color? yellow
31. When is the last time you laughed? yesterday
32. Last time you cried? unknown
THREE PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER: work, home, park
THREE OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: pasta, salad, soup
PLACE I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: held

>The Dawn of Twilight: Mom Style

>

My mother has *gasp* finally been bitten by Twilight and I am beside myself with joy. I have been begging her to read the series ever since I finished the first three books last summer and even still, this summer after Breaking Dawn came out. We will go see the movie once she is finished, which should be this week sometime. Seriously, if you have not read it yet, get off your arse and get to it! Do you like love stories? Do you like suspence? Do you like chemistry between two people who really should not be into each other? Well....what the eff are you waiting for!?

In other news, I will be creating another blog soon. It will cover the journey B and I will be taking to write a children's book series. Are you thinking what I'm thinking, that we have A LOT going on right now? Weird, I guess it is just how we role.

>We were told to procreate and now that I'm married, we should.

>After careful prayer and thought, B and I have decided to read the Bible in one year. There are several links on line that help guide you through the process and you read a little bit each day from three different books. This morning we started with Luke, Genesis, and Psalms. Let me just say that already, it feels like something we should have been doing together a long time ago. B has been a lot more open lately about his feelings on spirituality, which is HUGE, and so he watched The Last Temptation of Christ and really enjoyed it. It is not that B is not a Christian or anything like that, because he is. He was raised Catholic and I was raised Methodist and the dynamics of both are very different, even though the basis is the same. Methodists are very open and welcoming of all people, regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, or spiritual background. Catholics just have more rules, which is something I am getting used to. However, despite those differences, we have a common ground in our marriage and a clear understanding as to how we want our household to run spiritually. I am learning the Rosary and prayers that are special to Catholics, and B is enjoying the lackadaisical side of Methodism.
The feeling of peace and comfort I have knowing that my husband loves his Savior as much as I do is one of the greatest rewards a wife can feel. Best part is: we've only been married 5 months! Now we both feel that reading the Bible and praying together will give us the most perfect foundation for our household when we bring new life into it later on down the road (and yes, H, MUCH later...like a year. lol). AMEN!

On a lighter note and super tangent, I was the victim of a true rumor. I avoided these at all costs while in school and it did me good. Little did I know the worst kind of rumor would be spread by my own family! And when I say worst, it really is not bad. But it would be under different circumstances. Anyway, on New Years Eve I was not feeling well. I had the head ache and nausea and dizziness that comes with being pregnant, aka hormones. I thought nothing of it, but relayed this on a post on Facebook and H texted me right away:
"Are you pregnant!?"
"Um...No". So then I counted days... "Hum...I don't know, actually." Weird, I never, and I mean NEVER lose track of my body. Ever. And here I was, almost becoming the pregnant lady that does not know she is prego until the kid pops out. WTF?!
So then she proceeded to beg me to take a test and I was busy packing for our wedding weekend so I put it off and did not tell hubs anything until the next day. But back up to me and H texting and then my mother in law calling and asking how I am feeling (how she found out I was feeling yucky is beyond me...). I tell her that yeah, a couple girls have had a tummy bug at work, but that I had not been around them much and finally she asks me, "Do you think you're pregnant?" GAWWWW!! Seriously?? "No...I am not." So that led to B and I need to drive separately to NM so that I would not get Kyle sick if in fact it was just sick (which I was! that was just all it amounted to...).
Kyle must have told Martha that I was not feeling well and she then started to text me and ask me what was going on and in turn most likely was the one to tell her sisters who, when we walked in the door upon our arrival after a 7 hour drive, pulled me aside and gave me that keen smile and nod saying "so, what do you think?" to which I reply, "I think I don't know how you know what is going on and no, I am not pregos."
Long story long, (yes, not intended though, sorry) I stopped all rumors the next day when it was confirmed that no, I was not prego but none other than mother nature herself. Thank You very much.
The moral of this story is: Do not tell ANYONE within a 500 mile radius who knows you that you feel ill of symptoms similar to pregnancy. Better luck next time!

'Night, loves.

>60 degrees and still waiting for snow

>you heard me. it is gorgeous outside and while it is hard to complain about the spring-like day outside...where the heck is the snow? We do live in CO, right? And it is still January, right? I don't get it. 

we took the dogs to the dog park and they loved it! we used butte's new xmas toy which is a baseball bat with a scoop on the end. tulo loved the two other greyhounds that were there and didn't not start any fights. thank you, mr. soprano.

the national championship for college football is on tonight and am none other than a SOONER fan! go OU!! so b an i are making pizza tonight with a friend and watching the Sooners kill the gators. Sorry, someone has to do it.

i just discovered the other day how to find blogs with similar interests. yeah, i am slow. and so far, what i have found i like!

so in closing, if everyone could pray for snow, that would be great! i want a serious snow. not a flurry. i am talking about 2-4 feet of that white fluffy stuff and a serious snow day. k, thanks.

>"Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?"

>

A weekend update in photos:

The morning we left to come home it was snowing in NM, of all places.

Official Sister-in-Laws

Hell yeah!

He looks like he is up to something...

I just love the lighting in this picture.

Almost that time!

Yes, that is whipped cream on the hotel mirror.

Death by chocolate, literally. No one could fall asleep the night before the wedding.

Practice makes perfect.

What you didn't see:

The amazing enchiladas we had Thursday night at Martha's mother's house. It was amazing!

The sweet king size bed we had at our hotel the first night, thanks to B's mom. We normally sleep in a double bed. The King had us reaching for each other in the night.

Our awesome GPS, Georgia (yes, she has a name of course and is female. duh.). I plugged in a bagel place for breakfast with intentions of going to Wal-Mart, the hair salon and grocery store in the same trip. All of which ended up in the same shopping block. Thank you, Georgia.

B's before pic of his hair. It was getting long and unruly. Short and sexy now.

The Christmas sales at Wal-Mart--ridicules. If only we had more money.

The mirror after we set up the gift bag in the honeymoon suite. I went back after the 

ceremony with some of Martha's items and it looked like white paint. It melted....oh well.

The beautiful video and photo montage of K and M as little kids and together now. Tears all around.

The number of 7 and 7's I had the night before the wedding. I lost count.

B teaching the groomsmen how to play Yuker.

The look on my dad's face when he tried the green chili at El Patio. Priceless and by far, the best Mexican restaurant we have ever been to.

The speed racer mode we kicked into high gear to make it to the church on time because lunch ran a little late. I have never curled my hair so fast without burning myself.

Watching B get all dressed up in a tux and the nervousness he felt looking oh so handsome.

Martha "shaking like a leaf" before walking down the aisle. Ice cubes, granola bars and soda did little to calm her nerves.

The vows going off with very little tears from both bride and groom.

The size of my feet after dancing on carpet (carpet?!). They barely fit into my already tight heals.

My wasted hubs telling me at 8pm that he is "going down hill" and no quicker recovering to "wow, I am so wasted! here is how much I have had to drink...".

Driving home in snow most of the way home and greeting our very distressed doggies.

No more road trips for awhile....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!