Wiggin Out

I get another sister this weekend!

Sarena is marrying Jared's brother, Nathan

(Sorry Sarena, I gave you fair warning)

Ha!! Love you!



Sarena and me partying hardy at the bachelorette party!
(Yes, I am a closet poet)



Lovely Locks

Sophia and I have really been enjoying our afternoons together while the young'ns are napping...



Sophia worked her magic once again!




Camera ready




Picture perfect



Ready for a date with my little man

He reeeeallly liked my hair... I'm not kidding. He wanted to eat it.

Me and my personal hair dresser

(And by the way, Sophia took a lot of these photos. Not bad for a 3 year old!)

Hair School for SAHMs

Many of you know that I have a particular interest in hair cutting, but never got the chance to be formally trained. I have been lucky enough to practice on willing family members though. For Mother's Day, Jared gave me a haircutting DVD training series. Here are the results of my first cut...

Before

After

Before- side view

After- side view

Side view

Back view

Back/side view

Ten Year Plan

I got tagged from Erin.

10 Years Ago

1.) How old were you? 16
2.) Where did you go to school? Homeschooled. Went to a homeschool co-op.

3.) Where did you work? Papa Murphy's Pizza

5.) Where did you hang out? At Abby's house

6.) Did you wear glasses? Nope!

7.) Who was your best friend(s)? Abby, Hannah, Megan
8.) How many tattoos did you have? Zero

9.) How many piercings did you have? double pierced in each ear

10.) What car did you drive? A huge blue, full size Ford van called The Blue Whale

11.) Had you ever been to a real party? Yeah right
12.) Had your heart broken? That would mean I would have to talk to a boy, so no! (Don't let the prom picture deceive you. I didn't really talk to Nate much at all. I held my bouquet of wrapped flowers so I wouldn't have to hold his hand in the picture. Yeah, I ruined his senior prom I'm sure.)

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Very single

5 years ago

1.) How old were you? 21

2.) Where did you go to school? Already graduated from Winona with a A.A. in Liberal Arts

3.) Where did you work? A Montessori

5.) Where did you hang out? with Abby & Ben, our house

6.) Did you wear glasses? No

7.) Who was your best friend(s)? Abby, Megan, Jared

8.) Who was your crush? My huz, Jared

9.) How many tattoos did you have? None

10.) How many piercings did you have? 3 in each ear, nose, and belly button

11.) What car did you drive? 1996 Mazda 626

12.) Had you had your heart broken? Hmm, not really.

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter: Just married!!

December 2009

1.) How old are you? 26
2.) Where do you work? At home, caring for my two beautiful baby girl
4.) Where do you hang out? At home and my mom's

5.) Who is your best friend? Jared

6.) Do you talk to your old friends? Yes! Most of my "old" friends are my current friends, with a few additions!

7.) How many piercings do you have? One more added to the left ear, minus the belly button

8.) How many tattoos? Still none

9.) What kind of car do you have? A Mom-mobile-- 2003 Dodge caravan

10.) Has your heart been broken? Nope, happier than ever!

11.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced/Bitter? Happily married to the best man ever

Forever Brainless

What do you do with a woman who has lost her mind? What do I do with myself? I learned that you loose brain cells when you have children, but seriously?? I have just gotten DUMB. Am I the only one? I thought that 10 months post-birth, I might regain some brain function. Wrong. A few examples...

I constantly put things places (that don't make sense even in my mind) and later when Jared asks me where I put it, I adamantly deny even moving it in the first place. When the item is found a week later, my brain fires dimly, and I vaguely remember placing said item in random spot... sometimes.

I get sweaty and nervous when Jared asks me where I put his car keys. (See above.)

Jared asks me if I changed Sophia's poopy diaper. I confidently tell him no. He commences to remove her diaper to find it clean and dry. When told that I did indeed change her already, I wonder to myself when I did it.

After a long five hours at the WA County Fair, we return to our van, and the door is wide open. I was the last one near the car, using that door. You can draw conclusions. Oops.


Sigh.

I'm Sorry...

...if you got a chunk of fingernail in your diced lettuce. (Thank you Lord, for fingernails.)

We Tried Really Hard (to get a nice photo)

And then we gave up.

Love Letter

Oh my sweet seduction. Your heavenly scent intoxicates me. Come to me that I may taste the sweet nectar that pours from your lip. Frigid rock. Noon. I'll bring the straw. Together we will paddle through bliss...








Seriously. Check out these flavors. Join us. We'll make it a party. Starting at $1.99 at your local Cold Stone.

Mr. and Mrs.

This past weekend, Sophia and I had the honor of participating in Scott and Megan's wedding in Tulsa, OK!

Mr. and Mrs. Mackey

The adorable flower girls

Celebrating with the newlyweds

Flower girl and bridesmaid

Congratulations Scott & Megan!!!

Pathetic

Jared and I are a pitiful pair. I pulled a muscle in my shoulder and can't hold anything heavy. Jared sprained his foot and is limping.



Did I mention that Gary got a Wii this week?

New Year's Resolution

One night, a couple of weeks ago, we were laying in bed talking before falling asleep. The things that are said in those before-bed conversations can be dangerous! I mentioned to my darling husband how I had secretly always wanted to dye my hair blue, just for fun, but had never had the guts to follow through. He let out a little laugh and said, "If you dye your hair blue, I'll bic my head." (Came to find out later he didn't think I'd actually do it! And yes, it turned out purple, not blue. Good enough. I'm not trying again.)

I Got Tagged

Ten Years Ago: I was fourteen, going to homeschool co-op, playing with friends, loving up my 3-year-old sister, trying to navigate through that bumpy pubecent year. Fourteen was my worst "transition" year.

My To Do List Today:
-Run a load to storage
-Do laundry
-List junk on Craig's List
-Look at Baby Names
-Start a sewing project
-Call Andy

Snacks That I Enjoy:
-Oreos and ice cold milk
-Ripple Chips and french onion dip
-Apples and peanut butter

Things I would do with a Million Dollars:
-Tithe
-Pay off all our debt
-Buy a house (with a huge garage, a workshop for Jared, a big yard, and a double bathroom sink)
-Set up college funds for all our kids
-Put a lot into savings

Much Needed Girl Time

Game on!

Playing silly games

Janna won!

Lioness and her cub

I love all these girlies!

Friends for almost 13 years!?

Best friends since 1910(jab, why are you like a foot taller than me!?)

A Day to Remember

I woke up this morning feeling happy and refreshed after an amazing date day yesterday with my dearest hub. We started the day by meeting our newest miracle, Poppy, along with both of our parents, my sister, and the proud big sister, Sophia, who was the only one allowed to look when the sonographer viewed Poppy's nether-regions. But I'm sorry, she's not telling. She is very good at keeping secrets.

After the ultrasound, Anna babysat Sophia while we enjoyed an amazing breakfast at IHOP (one of our favorites)!! With bellies full, we made a quick stop at McD's for our favorite caramel iced coffee drink to share, then to Victoria's Secret to pick out a new strapless bra to replace the one I've worn since I was 18. Jared was quite the man walking around in VS by himself with my purse slung over his shoulder, while I was in the dressing room. I like him;)

We returned home to Sophia, and the three of us spent the afternoon playing outside. For dinner, we had grilled steaks, corn-on-the-cob, and coleslaw. (YUMMYYYY.) After dinner, we went on a nice long walk in the warm evening. We closed the day by watching Top Chef together (one of my favorites).

It was an amazing day that was much needed. We have been so busy lately that we hardly have time to say hello to each other. I love my husband so much, and love spending as much time with him as I can!

Didn't Your Mother Teach You ANY Manners??

This morning I went to the post office to mail two medium size boxes. I got out of the car, and stopped to try to figure out how I should juggle the two boxes, Sophia, and the two letters I had to mail. After assessing the situation, I stuck the letters in my jacket pocket, grabbed the carseat with Sophia is tow (heavy!), and then somehow managed to balance one box on the other and teetered up the sidewalk, while a man of about 65 watched in amusement.

As I approached the door, a new challange arose. How would I open it? Aha! Just my luck! A man of about 45 was just exiting the building, and since it was quite obvious I was struggling, I was sure he would hold the door for me. No such luck. He looked at me as I stumbled by and went on his merry way. I pushed my way into the building, slightly annoyed at the lack of courtesy. I quickly walked to the mail-it-yourself machine since the line was a mile long, set Sophia down, and dropped the packages. As soon as I did so, I reached for my wallet. No wallet. SHOOOOOOOT! It was out in the car still. I scanned my options, or lack thereof: I can't leave Sophia in here while I go grab it. I can't leave the packages either, people will think it's a bomb. Crap.

Somehow I managed my balancing act once again, retreived the wallet and stormed up the sidewalk, agitated. Here, the story repeats itself. This time, a man of about 40 was walking one step in front of me as I struggled and stumbled, and he let the doors close in my face. Sweet.

I stormed full speed ahead at the package machine, and noticed a moment later with a slight bit of satisfaction that the inconsiderate man was standing behind me in line to use the machine.

I took my sweet old time.

Lost it

My mind went on vacation today.

I decided this morning that it was a perfect day for Sophia and me to go visit Jared at work. Sophia's first field trip! We got ready, and headed out the door at 9:30. The plan was to surprise Jared with one of those fancy new gourmet coffees from McDonald's and some sandwhiches. I got about five minutes down the road, when I realized I didn't have the stroller. I was not going to carry Miss Sophie all day! She is getting heavy! I turned around and got the stroller. By 9:55, we were back on the road again. When I looked at the clock I thought, Perfect! McD's stops serving breakfast at 10am. I want a double cheeseburger, not a breakfast sandwhich.

I entered the freeway, and quickly weighed out my options. 494? Or 35E to 7th St? I will go 494, the traffic shouldn't be bad this time of day.

About twenty minutes later, it hit me that McDonald's is on 7th St. I had no clue if or where there is a McD's on 494. Arg. I scanned to my left and right for the remainder of the trip, but did not spot a McDonald's anywhere. Grrr.

As I approached the airport, I tried to remember which exit Jared told me to take. He said to take the Humphrey Terminal exit. Got it. As the green road signs flew overhead, I read them carefully. I came upon one that was right in front of the airport that read "34 Ave Terminals." Well, that can't be it. It says nothing about Humph.... Oh. There is the Humphrey sign, halfway down the exit. So I got off on the next exit, got stuck on a one way street for awhile, finally got turned around and made it safely to the airport at 10:35, without any coffee or sandwhiches.

Whew.

I'm Tired

I am tired.

Sophia, Poppy and I are all contributing to my fatigue.

Sophia= Sicky bear. She has been having a rough couple of days (and nights), and has been my Little Miss Crankypuss. She frequently awakens at night. Yesterday, she was fighting off her cold big time and ended up sleeping ALL DAY, and so last night was playtime. :(

Poppy= Need I even explain how Poppy is contributing? I am growing a human. Enough said.

Me= We are moving. In two days. I have been staying up all night with Sophia. Packing. Organizing. Labeling. Cooking. Cleaning. Blogging. It takes a lot out of ya.

I am very excited to move, and be done with it. I look forward to being settled in at Gary's for the year, and not having to think about packing anymore! I hate moving. It is a lot of work. Especially while also caring for a 4 month old, and brewin' another. So, yes, I am tired. Caffeine would be my best friend, but not Poppy's, and my devotion lies with me kids.

Okay. I am done whining.

Thankfully, Cara and Josh are stocking us up on boxes, and Mom and Dad are coming to help us pack this weekend. Yipee! Thank goodness for friends and family!