Water Play

You can't take a trip to Florida without getting wet. We had a great time in the pool and at the beach.Cole showed everyone his new swimming lesson skills and was the happiest in the water.I'll just say it's a good thing we don't have a pool or he would want to be in it every day all day.Maybe he's going to be a surfer like his Uncle Mathis. We were grateful that our excursion didn't last fifteen minutes like last year. Cole was not a fan of the beach yet at only four months old.We had a great time burying Chad and making him into a mermaid. If there is one thing both Brian and I wish Utah had...it's the ocean.

Fiesta Success-sort of

Yesterday we had our monthly friendship dinner. After last week's fiasco of calling people on the ward list and inviting others off of the street, some of us were not very optimistic (Brian).

MORE than expected showed up!

Mind you, I spilled food on the floor, burned myself, did not have anything laid out yet, and we had to set up another table...it still worked out okay. I recruited the guests as my slaves and we only started 45 minutes late. At least the food tasted great.

It's a good thing this isn't my career; because I would be fired:)

Florida Part Dos

Our brother-in-law Bill is one of those scary smart people. He is employed with a company contracted with NASA and works on the space shuttle. While we were in Florida, there was an employee open house. They have not had one for a long time and this is the last one as the shuttle program is ending with the introduction of the next generation vehicle. It was an opportunity of a lifetime. We got to go where the public is not allowed and to tour with someone that knew exactly what they were doing was mind opening.

We've been to Kennedy Space Center before, but this was behind-the-scenes. That huge building you see on television is called the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB). It is larger than eight empire state buildings. I hurt my neck trying to look up at the ceiling. A semi can do a U-Turn inside.

We had the rare opportunity to see two shuttles on the pad at the same time, Atlantis and Endeavour. It hardly ever happens and we actually got to be really close. We couldn't get out of the car for obvious reasons, but seeing both of those shuttles there as symbols of science and progress and worlds beyond ours was incredible. It made me feel very patriotic. Spiritual too, when you consider space and everything we don't know.

We had a great time and it was very educational. Thanks again for taking us!

Strike Two

Really?

If you recall this incident, I had a repeat on Friday. Enrichment was held at my house. Yep, no one showed. Mind you, people signed up to come, I was expecting around twenty. It's kind of like the RSVP thing last time. I am beginning to get the drift that commitment is just not taken seriously in this new town of mine. I need Grandma Edna Lou to come an give a guest lecture on etiquette.Or perhaps someone made an announcement in Relief Society that I am in cahoots with convicts. I murdered someone by poisoning their food, but the jury could never prove it. That would explain a lot...

Sisters

Oh, Iowa. The land of fields, corn...and not much else! It kind of reminds me of Rupert.

My visit with Kate was just what I needed. This is the only picture I got of us the entire time.We did nothing spectacular which is exactly what I wanted. No bells and whistles, just a little sista time. We watched movies, ate and shopped (of course). I read six books. Let me tell you, I was a happy camper. Except when the neighbors upstairs would start yelling around 6:30 am. One day we planted flowers in grand family tradition.
So here's to fried oreos, lounging and trashy television. Thanks for being the hostess with the mostess!

Florida-Part 1

We had a great time on our vacation. We came home sunburned and happy. That's when you know it was good.

There were so many adventures that I have to break them up. Brian and I let Cole hang out with Aunt Keri and cousin Katherine while we went with Jim and Diane to Sea World. I know, I'm strange...but I liked Sea World better than Disney Land as a kid. This is coming from a girl who aspired to be a marine biologist veterinarian. I wanted to be Shamu's vet, in fact.I still love the place. I am now going to open myself up for pity and tell you that I cried at the dolphin show. Who does that?! I think I am the only person in America that cries when I go to Sea World, but I can't help it. There...mock me.

We went back another day and hit the new water park Sea World has to offer, Aquatica. It's not a place to go and seek thrills but I really enjoyed it. So clean and really well landscaped. Busch is known for their lush parks, but I have never seen a water park that had so many plants and flowers! I even got to see the dolphins swim by me on one of the slides...very cool.

We took a tour of the best seafood places in Brevard County. I am a total seafood addict when it is fresh. Brian, for those who know him-not so much. I can't believe that someone who grew up a block and a half away from the ocean doesn't eat seafood! I am working on him though, he will order salmon on his own, so that is a step forward from when I met him :)

We got to spend some time at the zoo with our friends.There was a great water play area that Cole loved and we had a great time just catching up. Here's a picture of Missy and I doing what we do best-chatting.There is more to tell, so stayed tuned.....

Waterworks

There are some people that cry at anything. One of my favorite people ever, Sherma, does this. She cries when she's happy, she cries when she's sad...she even cries when someone else is happy. Her voice gets high and squeaky and you roll with it. It's just who she is.

For those who know me personally, you are aware that I am not one to spout tears or get overly emotional. Or at least I didn't used to.

It all started back in the day. One of my best friends that I had grown up with my entire life passed away. There were tears, lots of them. I then vowed to my dramatic 14 year-old self that I would never cry again-and I didn't, for a really long time. If I was mad or sad, I usually got really quiet. Still do; just ask Brian. It's actually a genetic thing, most of my siblings also do this. Yet, rarely did I have a good cry. Possibly it had something to do with the tremendous headache I have afterward if I start "leaking" (name that movie).

Then I got pregnant.

I need not inform you of how ones body undergoes an enormous change when carrying a child. You were in health class in junior high and had to attend maturation day, same as me. You were most likely stunned into awkward silence when watching the pancake video, same as me; but this post is not a science lecture.

I would cry at anything while pregnant. Commercials, baby clothes, practically anything would get me welled up with tears. Just turning the television on was a set up for disaster. The news, A Baby Story, Disney...it was like an invitation to bring out the Kleenex. I also could not stop it no matter how much I wanted to. Take for example the conversation my boss and the HR rep had with me the day before I was going home for Thanksgiving and possibly to tell my dying grandmother good-bye for the last time. The Reader's Digest version went something like, "We're down sizing and we need you to pack up your desk and not come back". At that moment I started crying and couldn't stop for the life of me. I am usually really good under pressure and it takes weeks for things to even hit me full force emotionally (such as my baby being in the hospital or having heart surgery). That day, not so much. I was a blubbering mess. An angry blubbering, snot-dripping mess.

Things have gotten better since giving birth to the little boy. Yet, there are still things that set me off. It's the weird, little stuff that makes me well up now. Extreme Home Makeover does it every time. Put on a documentary about Hawaii and I am sobbing-practically anything about Hawaii will make me teary. Still, if I am angry or stressed I don't let it all out. You think I would take my own advice after telling people how to express themselves as my profession.

I say to all of you-let it all out.

Thank you, that will be $50.

So if you are ever contemplating being a parent or if you are one right now. I'll tell you this, invest in tissue. Costco has it in bulk. Because you're in for it. But with the tears also comes joy. Pure. Sweet. Joy.

Oh crap, I'm crying.

Talent

The Next American Idol?

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

This original composition was brought to you courtesy of Dilaudid (really strong pain medication). It's not even a quarter of the show. We all realize that she is in an altered state; but what can I say, she has a gift! I wish that I was this creative (I'm serious).

Cris, you are SO GOOD! I love you.

The quality of this video has been affected due to extreme fits of laughter by the videographer, Ashley B.

Whirlwind

Things have been so crazy lately. I promise that I will get to our Florida trip eventually but it seems like I don't even have time to wash my hair anymore! The doctors found inflammation around my heart and so I have been on steroids lately. It made me kind of edgy and tired, plus-my pants don't fit anymore, but at least I am done with the prescription. Last week I was out of the house every night. I can't remember the last time that has happened.

It was exhausting but a lot of fun. It started Saturday when people actually showed up to the indoor picnic. A small boost to my crushed friendship dinner hopes after last month. Sunday my new little nieceCharlie Kate was introduced into the world...almost in the parking lot. I had another Dr's appt on Mon and then ran off to see my brother-in-law, Travis, in his new play Treasure Island. It was really well done and the set design was incredible! Pirates falling into real water and lots of sword fights. Tues Brian was in school so Cole and I went out with one of my friend's to celebrate my birthday. Wed was the big day. I don't feel any older or wiser, just a step closer to the big 3-0. Cris made me a FABULOUS cake!Vanilla chiffon cake with strawberry simple syrup and Swiss chocolate buttercream fillings with a Swiss chocolate buttercream frosting. It was divine! You'll have to ask her how a Swiss buttercream is different than a regular buttercream...I just remember that the explanation made it sound labor intensive. I took Cole to the Tulip Festival with some friends during the day. I had no idea those gardens were so big!I strongly recommend it for all of those who live in the area. That night Brian took me to Tucanos where I had at least eight slices of grilled pineapple and then we saw Wicked.I have wanted to see this show for so long and all of my expectations were met and then exceeded. We had a great time. Thurs night we ran to the temple (I know, the last day of the month but hey...at least we went). Fri I headed to St George with two of my girlfriend's Lisa and Carrie for a much needed retreat.It ended up being a little more like a circus side-show than the relaxing spa atmosphere I wanted to create but we had fun. We ate, swam, watched movies, painted our toes, shopped and just enjoyed being together. No children or husbands were allowed so Cole got to hang out with his Dad.

We'll see how this week turns out. So far it's not looking good. Cole is teething again and was up from 2:00 to 5:30 am this morning. Why don't children come with an instruction manual when they're born??

Klutz

Nothing like blood thinners to prove just how un-coordinated you are. I used to be able to endure the moment of shame/pain and then move on. Now I have people asking, "What happened to your arm?" or "What happened to your leg?" Constant visual reminders of why I failed skipping in kindergarten and really shouldn't be allowed to dance in public.I have several beauties spread all over my body from injuries of unknown origin. Bumping into things, tripping over toys, assumed fifteen-month-old-inflicted ones, etc. Hair brushes and board books can be dangerous.

The bruises just pop up like wildflowers.

Others are from known origin; perhaps received by falling down the stairs at my parents house, perhaps not. I guess that you could ask Lisa why she was laughing hysterically while I was crumpled on the bottom landing. Maybe she is just morbid and she gets real joy out of watching me fall. She seems to witness the best of them. If you recall this episode, she did the exact same thing.