I So Want a Miniature Donkey

Wondering

2009-11-11T23:15:00.001-07:00

So...I'm wondering (again) just how wonderful Facebook is. I love seeing old friends/family/classmates, catching up on their lives and seeing the offspring! My only problem is when I find out little details from photos that make me sad. Or when I realize that a high school friend hates my religion. Or any number of other facts that people post about themselves without thinking about just who their audience is. Hmmm. Can't decide if ignorance really is bliss.

Hello again!

2009-08-03T14:13:00.002-06:00

It has been FOREVER since I've blogged...and I really wish I hadn't taken a "blogcation" because I've missed so much that friends have blogged about. Especially the ones who are living in exotic locations. Every day here seems so much the same. My biggest happening for the morning is on Tuesdays and Thursdays...a.k.a. swim days. I have quite the system of packing the swim bag. The only exictement came a few weeks ago when I forgot to pack a bra. Not good.
So, I'm sure that no one will benefit from my personal blog, but I certainly enjoy reading about every else. Keep up the reports on your lives! It gives me a little joy to know how many cool people I have become friends with in my life.

Funerals

2009-05-01T11:15:00.002-06:00

Have you ever noticed that the word "FUN" starts out the word "FUNERAL" and seems to me to be kind of ironic. We went to a funeral recently for my great uncle Clark and it actually was (dare I say) kind of fun. Of course, he was 96 years old and very happy to be reunited with his wife (my super-awesome great aunt Veda), so for me, the funeral was a celebration of his life. Now, today I am going to the funeral for my seminary teacher, Larry Wilde. He was only 52 years old and though he suffered terribly (cancer), I don't know how it will seem like a celebration of his life. Larry is happy to be reunited with his family and friends on the other side of the veil, it's just us here that will cry and wish that we could be with him. I know that Larry is where he should be...and I'm thankful for his example. To know Larry was to love him.

Eli is so little!

2009-04-22T11:31:00.001-06:00

I'm thinking of getting a second opinion on Eli's weight. The doctor keeps talking about celiac disease and cystic fibrosis...I really think that Eli is just a small kid and very active and healthy. Does my "girth" make the doctor believe that I was a 90 lb. baby and would therefore have a 90 lb. baby of my own? Really? So, after cold turkey quitting the whole breastfeeding thing (more painful than imaginable), Eli is eating more solid food and SHOULD be gaining weight. Hopefully.

To blog or facebook?

2009-04-01T00:02:00.002-06:00

Why is it so easy to sit down for a few minutes in front of the computer...innocently searching for a friend on Facebook, and then look at the time and it is literally tomorrow? I think I waste good sleeping time. The issue is that it is easier to be on the computer when Eli is asleep (almost never!) than when he is trying out his own typing skills.

The day after

2009-03-18T17:52:00.004-06:00

I've decided that a horrible birthday is maybe good in a way. Now I don't have to worry about what it would be like...I know and there is power in knowing! Not much could go wrong next year that would surprise me. It was a good day in that many friends sent birthday wishes on Facebook, etc. and I did have a beautiful, yummy cake made by my personal birthday pastry chef, Shanna Henderson. I have some of the best friends in the universe! Love all of you!

The day

2009-03-18T17:52:00.001-06:00

Old

2009-03-17T13:27:00.000-06:00

So, I'm officially 39 years old today. As if that isn't bad enough, I have a cold, Eli has a cold, Rex has a bad back, Mom is sick as a dog and Dad is grumpy. Oh, and Angus the cat threw up all over the piano. Sounds like a fun day, huh?

I hate my hair!

2009-03-10T00:06:00.002-06:00

Yes, I need some help. I was stupid enough to ask my husband if he liked my hair short or long...duh. That was months ago and my growing hair is at the stage where I'm tempted by any sharp object I see. "Oh, I could just snip a few strands here and there and ta-da...bangs" and other bizarre ideas float through my cerebral cortex. (Where?) So, I should go and have "it" trimmed, shaped, called to attention, whatever you want to call it. But no, I, being the cheapest person in the known universe, will continue to suffer in silence until I am tempted beyond all reason. Next time you see me, I might just look like Donald Trump.

Hawai"i

2009-02-27T14:14:00.003-07:00

I loved our trip to Hawai'i...and I love being home. Vacations make home seem wonderful, even with a blizzard roaring outside. Our trip was splendid. Rex caught a big fish, I threw up like no tomorrow (deep sea fishing is not for the wimpy!), and Eli ate sand off the beach for extra fiber. We got to go to church on Sunday and then take a family photo in front of the temple. My aunt and uncle are the best! Mom and Dad had a few health problems...Mom threw up on me as soon as we got to Uncle Bob's house (yes, white carpet and all) and Dad had to go see a doctor for his shoulder injury that came from where? But, we all had a blast and made "lemonade out of lemons" ...

You'll never guess!

2009-01-15T15:32:00.002-07:00

Of all the people in the world to take a vacation in Hawaii, you'd never in a million years guess that it would be Rex, Eli and myself...but it is!!! We are going to the Big Island to visit Uncle Bob and Tovi in February for a week. I'm so excited I could have kittens! We get to tag along with my mom and dad and were lucky enough to find some great prices on airfare. Now, how do I keep Eli entertained for the entire day of traveling on my lap? Aunt Clara suggested dosing him with a little whiskey...huh?

New Year...and a bad cough

2009-01-07T17:43:00.002-07:00

So, even though a whole Sacrament meeting was dedicated to setting goals recently...I haven't even considered such a preposterous idea. Goals? Planning? I'm lucky if I can get my clothes to match lately, let alone improve myself! Eli has 5 teeth now and one that's just almost breaking through. Rex has bronchitis...fun for him. I'm starting to feel crappy and cough like there's no tomorrow. New Year? Maybe by February I will start something.
Eli starts more "Aquatots" on Monday morning. I think he enjoys swim lessons almost as much as I enjoy taking him. I 'm dreading his 12 month checkup because he hasn't gained the weight that the doctor wants him to pack on. He acts like he might be weaning himself and I don't know how I feel about that. My baby is growing up and I seem to want more "baby" time. I'm such a sap!

My First Time

2008-12-24T23:18:00.001-07:00

Can I tell you how excited I was to...put "Santa's Gifts" out for little Eli for his very first Christmas? Talk about finally feeling like a parent. Christmas
Eve is my mom's birthday (#78!) and we had a lovely "light buffet" of steak and lobster. Num Yummy! I just barely got Eli to sleep...Rex has been asleep for hours...and now I can enjoy the satisfaction of being Santa for my own little elf. Can't wait to tell Eli all about the baby Jesus and the manger and have him understand just what a blessing it is to have a loving Heavenly Father who sent us His Son. Santa is fun and all, but the Savior is the reason for the season.

Wassup?

2008-12-18T21:56:00.002-07:00

I just wrote all sorts of funny and exciting stuff and then I hit the wrong button and it's ALL GONE! I'm sure my recap won't be near as exciting. Here goes nothing...

I baked the best ham for Thanksgiving. Best this side of the Mississippi. It rocked.
I found out that my friend used to work as a secret service agent...gun and all. Never thought that would've been her career before becoming a swim-mommy.
I chased Eli with wet wipes as he "crawled and crapped" his naked rear into the kitchen. Fun.
I'm still alive and slowly preparing for Christmas. How in the world has it snuck up on me yet again?
I'm confused as to how I lost my last post.
I saw "Mamma Mia" last night. Now I am a blonde, Swedish singing sensation, at least in my own mind. Where was the song "Fernando" in that movie? It's the best.

Adopted a dog

2008-11-24T21:38:00.002-07:00

I really should have a picture of our new dog, Bode. Rottweiler, felon, sweetheart. He's a felon because he's been locked up 7 times! He told me that he was innocent. Bode (pronounced Bo-dee) is a sweetheart with Eli. This morning when Eli wanted Bode's new toy, the sweet dog went and got another toy to play with. He shares better that the average 3 year old. We really miss Jiro, but I'm glad that we could save a "hardened criminal" (he was locked up for running away, nothing violent) and give him the love he deserves.

shopping

2008-11-16T22:24:00.002-07:00

I spent Friday and Saturday shopping in the big metropolis of Idaho Falls and I have learned something about myself. I am definitely under the influence of wanting what I see other people have. For example...anyone who knows me knows that I'm fond of leopard print anything. Furniture, purses, bed sheets...you name the leopard print item and I love it. So, the evil geniuses in marketing have now come out with giraffe print this and that...and I love it. I went to the Mini Bazaar on Saturday and saw the most beautiful giraffe print purse with red trim and I fell in love with it. Now my question to myself is do I really love the giraffe print purse because it is intrinsically beautiful or do I love it because I saw other women coveting it? Am I the only female shopper that has wondered about this?

And finally...

2008-11-13T11:47:00.003-07:00

Proof that we were at the Denver Zoo...we even hit "Free Day", unfortunately. Everyone in the western hemisphere was there with us, trying to see the animals...trying to see over everyone else in the western hemisphere trying to see the animals. We had much fun and merriment anyway.

Can you name the baby?

2008-11-13T11:45:00.000-07:00

Quick, what kind of primate baby is this?

Tadaa, again!!!

2008-11-13T11:43:00.001-07:00

For some reason I'm not able to get my blogging act together and post these pictures all in one post...sorry. Eli is still adorable showing off his "haul" from the trunk-or-treat.

Tadaa!!!

2008-11-13T11:39:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween in November!

Scared of my camera

2008-11-13T10:23:00.002-07:00

So, I keep thinking that I can't post anything until I get some pictures of Halloween and the quick trip to Denver on the computer...and then I realize that I can't quite remember how to do that tiny bit of technical wizadry with the new-to-me-camera I purchased from my brother. If I keep waiting, I'll never post again, and life would be that much duller (ha-ha) for the 2 or 3 people that read this.
I will report that Eli was the cutest penguin in history, that the Denver Zoo rocks and that my father actually bought me a nifty giraffe print bag ($16.99) at the hospital gift shop just because I opened my big mouth and said something like "I want THAT bag." Wow. And now, I must go because my computer really wants to shut down for some kind of updating thing. I will work on getting those pictures!

I can do it!

2008-10-28T21:42:00.003-06:00

Tonight I (hopefully) ordered an oil filter, air filter and special 36mm socket to do an oil change on my Mini Cooper S...don't worry, Rex will be changing the oil. It should be interesting when the stuff is delivered. Did I order the right stuff? I love my Mini, but it is a pain as far as getting parts and service. Plus, did you know that it costs us $900 to replace the tires? Ouch. I so want to keep this car and pass it on to Eli...since he gets his middle name from our little yellow car of fun. I wonder if he will think that his mother is a nut for naming him after a car? We considered naming him Max...after the cat. I think a boy would rather be named after a car, rather than a cat. I don't want Eli getting beat up on the school grounds because of me.

swim buddies

2008-10-23T11:33:00.001-06:00

Here's a great photo from Aqua Tots...and that other handsome young man is Cache with his mom, Melanie. We are so sad that there are only 2 lessons left. Eli loves swim classes and I'm even getting better at modestly changing clothes in the locker room. Maybe when we go to Denver in November we can go swimming at the hotel. Oh, by the way, we are going to Denver in November. My mom has a checkup at the National Jewish Medical Research Hospital and maybe we can squeeze in a bit of fun.

Splish-Splash

2008-10-21T14:13:00.002-06:00

Today's swim lesson was quite interesting. Three students and utter chaos. Eli decided that he should splash his hands in the water violently throughout the lesson, Cache (12 months old) decided to swim to me, which then caused Eli to swim to Cache's mom, Melanie, and meanwhile...Katie (9 1/2 months old) decided to scream and cry. Fun for everyone!
Today Eli is 9 months old and I can't ever remember what life was like without him.
At "movie night" last night we watched "Kenny"...and mockumentary about a portapotty man in Australia. Hilarious. Now I need to watch it again with the subtitles, because I know I missed a whole lot of funny because of my deafness!

You tagged me where?

2008-10-17T14:43:00.002-06:00

This is my first time attempting to respond to being tagged...here goes

8 TV shows I love to watch:

CSI
Fringe
House
Ugly Betty
The Mentalist
NCIS
Masterpiece Theater
Top Gear (on BBCAmerica)

8 Favorite restaurants

Papa Kelsey's
Tom's Burgers and Gyros
Olive Garden
New Hong Kong
IHOP
Mangy Moose
Ruby River Steak House
SmorgaBob's (I just love the name!)

8 Things that happened yesterday

I ate a bagel at a new-to-me deli
I had a V-8!
I window shopped in Jackson
swim lessons for Eli went swimmingly, as usual
Rex and I didn't go on our date night
laundry!
drove to town twice
helped Eli eat half of a grape

8 Things that I'm looking forward to

bedtime
sleep
nap
rest
retirement
the Millenium
more sleep
living in one house and one town throughout the week

8 Friends I am tagging:

I don't have 8 friends :(

My husband is how old?

2008-10-17T14:32:00.003-06:00

This will prove how tired and sleep deprived I am right now...I couldn't correctly recall my husband's age. Duh! Of course, I tried to figure it how last night (this morning?) at 3...I couldn't quite get my head clear enough to realize that Rex is 42 and not 41. How embarrassing.
Other than that, I just haven't felt very "bloggy" at all. Maybe it is the weather, maybe the lack of sleep or maybe even the fact that stress doesn't make me feel much like anyone else would want to hear about my life. Speaking of stress...is there any way to negotiate the holidays without offending inlaws/outlaws and spouses? There has to be some way to enjoy the holidays.
Eli has his 9 month checkup next Wednesday...I'll have to lie about what that young man has been eating. "Of course his favorite food ISN'T ice cream, Doctor...I don't know what that sticky stuff is on his cheeks."

Eli's wardrobe

2008-10-13T22:59:00.003-06:00

I finally got brave enough to try and sort through Eli's wardrobe...he needs his own closet because I seem to have an issue with buying him clothing! I tried to hold onto the wiggly little guy long enough to try on some things to see how well they fit. Finally, I gave up and decided to just put everything smaller than 3/6 months in the "too small" box...I know, he is half way to 9 months old and can still fit in such tiny things. I wish that I would have bought certain items in several different sizes. How was I to know how great the orange polo shirt would be and that those Walmart khaki pants would be so awesome? I'm enjoying the daily morning decision as to what Eli should wear. What will I do when he gets old enough to want to make that decision himself? Wait a minute...Rex is 41 and still lets me dress him occaisionally. Cool.

First snow

2008-10-09T10:52:00.002-06:00

It is snowing outside...am I ready for winter? I guess so. I think winter is good because I can layer my clothing and no one really knows how much of me there is under all those layers! In the summer heat I can't hide anything under a turtleneck or two. Perhaps I should start wearing a muu-muu and call myself an 8 cow wife? Anyway...I realized that I need to show everyone why I so want a miniature donkey. Look at it. Isn't that the cutest thing ever? This picture was taken at Thanksgiving Point and the sign on the gate said "I bite"...awesome!

Eli is almost mobile...eek!

2008-10-07T17:57:00.002-06:00

So, any second now Eli will be crawling. He sits on his behind and rocks back and forth and then tips over and gets up on his hands and almost gets his feet under him...and somehow he ends up going backwards! Life is a journey not a destination, I guess. Swim lessons were good this morning. I'm glad that Eli does so well, but embarrassed that he is the Teacher's Pet Supreme! Now, if we can just get back to our normal schedule and get Eli sleeping in his crib again. He thinks that when he sleeps with us it gives him permission to treat me as an all-night diner! Ah, the joys of breastfeeding!

Furniture Fun

2008-10-03T10:07:00.003-06:00

Yippee! I get to leave "work" early today so I can pick up the rest of the furniture that my Mom and sister-in-law bought on Wednesday...definitely go to the back room at Sofa Mart (Furniture Row). I bought a cool little clicky couch thing that folds down into a bed. Much cooler than a futon...I know, Patty did something cool? Hard to believe. Anywho, I also get to do some case lot shopping at Broulims...also fun. I feel like I'm really accomplishing things when I buy in bulk.
So, now everyone has a reason to come see me at home...the new clicky couch curiosity will overpower you and you will not be satisfied without a firsthand witness to its coolness.

Sad moosey

2008-10-02T18:12:00.003-06:00

I'm heart broken because the mama moose that I wrote about a few days ago was hit and killed on the highway. Now there are 2 orphan calves. I can't imagine how someone couldn't slow down enough to miss a moose the size of a pickup. Probably some soccer mom with a cell phone in one hand and a coffee mug in the other. (don't know how they steer) I hope I never meet a moose in my Mini...that would be very bad.

Intentional Lodging

2008-09-30T21:34:00.003-06:00

So, this is where we stayed after sleeping in the dirt. I thought for sure that we wouldn't have any problems finding a room in Richfield, Utah...but I had no idea that they were having the ATV Jamboree. We were told to try getting a room at an older motel. My first thought was that any guys spending the week in Richfield would be using their money on beer and not a fancy-shmancy hotel. So we drove to the new Fairfield/Marriott and got a room without even asking the price. The manager gave us a smoking deal after hearing about our ridiculous camping the night before in Arizona. Eli really liked the pool and the awesome breakfast buffet. If you go to Richfield...stay at this hotel. It saved my marriage!

unintentional camping

2008-09-29T09:42:00.003-06:00

This is a nice photo of our night in Page, AZ and what happens when tent poles aren't properly replaced in your camping equipment and also the joys of not having batteries for your new air mattress...but mostly what happens when there is no room at the inn.

weekend woes

2008-09-29T09:16:00.002-06:00

The really bummer part of only going to your home on the weekends is that no matter how little or much you do, when you get back to work on Monday morning you have a hangover without ever having partied it up. (Not that I know what a real hangover is like...I can just imagine what it feels like.) I would understand if I had set the world on fire with overly ambitious house cleaning (our Ririe house is a pit of debris!) or had recreated like crazy. No, I mostly hung out, fed Eli, bickered with Rex and watched television...I have a sudden urge to catch up on 5 seasons of NCIS. So, here it is the next to last day of the month and I have no desire to work and a whole month's worth of tickets to put in the computer so I can send out statements tomorrow afternoon. Dang, I'm so not wanting to be awake right now. Eli is taking a nap and I wish I could move him over and crawl in the crib for a bit of shut-eye.

Superstar Aquatot

2008-09-25T21:53:00.002-06:00

Today was Eli's second swim lesson of the Fall and can I just tell you how much he rocked! At just barely 8 months old, he is truly a little fish. His teacher, who just happened to be my swim teacher when I was in elementary school, used him as the class example on how to do everything. Then all of the other swim mommies would ooh and ahh over how talented and cute Eli was...my son is definitely more popular than I'll ever be. So...I may not exactly fit in with the yuppy swim mommies and their 3 carat diamond rings, pilates and cocktail partiness, but at least my son is the Michael Phelps of Aquatots!

Here, moosey-moosey!

2008-09-24T10:29:00.002-06:00

This morning Eli and I got to watch a mama moose trying to control her two rambuncious calves playing in the park across the street. The 2 little darlings would chase each other and mama would get nervous whenever they would get too far from her. All 3 moose (why not meeses?) were hanging out by the jungle gym equipment and wouldn't you know it, when I went to get my camera...they headed back into the willows. Dang! Eli had fun though...and Grandpa May enjoyed sharing it with him. Who needs to drive to Yellowstone?

Locker Room question

2008-09-23T18:16:00.001-06:00

Okay, so what in the crap is up with old ladies walking around naked in public swimming pool locker rooms? Today was Eli's( 8 month old cutie) swimming lesson at Teton Co. Rec Center and he was assaulted with multiple views of saggy old lady parts! I try to be modest...why can't they?

Howdy

2008-09-22T15:01:00.001-06:00

Here I am venturing into the world of blogging...dragging my feet a little. This will probably take me all of a week to fail at. I'm always at least 2-3 years behind everyone else...so, here goes nothing.

I first want to thank Mich for tutoring me a bit and encouraging me to not be a wimp. Mich rocks and the rest of us just wish we could. Did you notice how I just spoke for the rest of humanity? Hope you all don't mind.