Potty training sucks

I absolutely hate it.

I mostly hate it because I have no control over it. None. I can try to convince him, try and to encourage him.

We have tried everything. Candy. Temporary tattoos. Cars. Money. Stickers. Games. Food.

No dice.

It works for a little while. But nothing seems to make it stick. The one thing that has worked the longest for us is bubble gum. When he pees, he gets a bubble gum. (Which I buy in a bag from the dollar store.)

Right now, we've got a potty road. After the 1st 10 pottys in the toilet, he gets a prize. Then it's 10, then 15, then 20, and 25. He gets a prize or something special. And every 5 he gets a temporary tattoo. (He LOVES showing off his tattoos.)

I made the potty road the day after he peed on my chair and then peed on the floor, within 15 minutes. I exploded on him and he got sent to bed.

I am sooooo frustrated with all of it. I have been working so hard at not getting angry. But it's hard. My anger bubble is near the surface, as they say. My initial gut reaction is anger and frustration. I think I've been getting better, but it's so so hard.

I got a new book, The Soft Spoken Parent by H. Wallace Goddard. (I love every single book of his.) On the first page it says :

" In fact, those of us who are most vulnerable to anger may be those who have stronger emotions of all kinds. We love more passionately, we live more joyously. That is a blessing. But it must needs be that there is an opposite in all things. Along with the gift of fire (enthusiasm, passion, gusto, zeal), we have the challenge of channeling, managing, and training our fire. "

That's the first page! Needless to say, I am super excited about this book.

We have also been listening to hymns during the day. It has been such a wonderful spirit in the house lately. It has helped me to laugh it off rather than yell.

No matter how we approach it, potty training still sucks. It's not fun. But we're trying to make it fun. We have working on it for so long, I'm just tired of the whole thing. He is so close, so I know I can't.

It's hard. I get frustrated. I'm kind of an angry person. I desperately do NOT want my boys to be angry people. I have a quote on my mirror : The boys are watching everything you do. Be who you want them to see.

I'm working on it. And he's working on it.

We'll let you know how it goes.

Thursday WHOA

Ok, so I know, I didn't post yesterday during his nap. I have a reason, not an excuse.

I was driving.

Shark's car died yesterday morning on his way to work.

I was driving down to pick him up and get things sorted out with the car.

And in order to get down there by the time he was off work : I had to leave at 4. So Danger slept in the car. While I battled traffic.

Now this is the Focus. The Focus that has done this before, has died, has fallen apart.... Yeah....

But this car is beat up. Shark drives it an hour to work and then an hour home 3 to 4 days a week. So yeah, if I had to do that, I'd die every now and then.

I'm tired of this car, but in reality, this car has been a trooper. It's been a blessing to us. We've had it for over a year and a half. It's a champ.

So I really am grateful for this car.

But I'm hoping Shark gets his motorcycle working again.

Anyways - so my nerves were shot yesterday.

I tried to take a tow dolly down - but I have never towed anything. Ever. So it freaked me out, and I was already nervous about driving down in traffic. So add a bouncy noisy dolly on top of a headache and rush hour traffic - and I was done before I even got started. I ended up calling the insurance company and taking the dolly back. The insurance company was kinda helpful. We at least got the car towed to a service center and off the road. But it's still far away, so Shark is getting a trailer today to tow it home.

It's just been kind of a big headache. Shark and I have both been in a mood lately.... It's been kinda crazy.

It always seems like, as soon as things start to work out, that's when everything falls apart.

Now, I know, it's not everything that's fallen apart, it's just the car thing. But it has potential to mess up all of our budget plans, and money plans. And we all know, once the budget is messed up, nothing else can flow properly.

So yeah - it's been that kind of day/days.

Here's to silver linings. :)

Survival Guide

Alright, so I've seen a few people have written "Survival Guides" for being married, having babies, moving, nursery callings.... You know... So I have decided to write my survival guide to my monster. This is how I have survived. (You're ways of survival might, and probably are, different. I understand not all methods work for all people, I'm not saying THIS IS HOW IT'S DONE, I'm saying, this is how I'm doing it. This is what works for me.)

This post is going to be revealing, there is probably going to be some things said about myself that you didn't know and probably never ever wanted to know. Be warned.

1. Always get dressed. I've never been in favor of getting "dropped in on" while I'm in my PJ's. I always get dressed in the morning, It makes me ready for my day, makes me do my hair (sorta), it makes me put deodorant on, it makes me brush my teeth. I always put my contacts in, I can't wear my glasses for very long without getting a bad headache.

My reason for getting dressed is so that I'm ready for everywehre my day takes me. So that I'm ready for random errands. But my main reason for getting dressed is : I feel better about myself when I get dressed. I feel like I've already accomplished something. And that is a GREAT feeling to start the day with. :)

2. Have a hobby If there's something you love to do, don't drop it because you have a life change. You have to find time to keep up your hobby. I crochet and do all manner of crafts. After baby has gone to bed, I watch tv and crochet. Sometimes I blog. But I always try to find time to do something I love.

3. Have some YOU time. Whether it's a bubble bath, getting your hair done, nails done, reading a book, taking a drive, or even going shopping : make sure you make some time for YOU. Remember you have to have some alone time. You need some time for your mind to reconstruct itself.

4. Have goals. I always try to make a To Do list each day. Now, with my jobs I try really hard to keep my list small. Only a few things. Keep the list obtainable and normal tasks. Like laundry (yes, laundry is a goal, and it is obtainable!), cooking dinner, giving baby a bath, cleaning the living room, wash the dog, start a project, finish a project, make a grocery list.

Trust me, I've tried goal lists in the past, look to the left sidebar if you want proof, and let's face it, some of my goals were unobtainable. Remember to push yourself and reach for the stars, but make sure you can see the stars you're reaching for!

5. Don't just sit there. While baby is playing in the living room, throwing toys around, and Sesame Street is playing for the 3rd time, you can't just sit on the couch and veg. You can't just be a couch potato, that ust leads down the road to depression.... My mind is always working, the gears are always turning, my hands are always doing something. I can't just sit and watch TV, if I just sit there I chew my nails, and I hate it when I do that! It's better for me personally to always be doing something. So like I said previously, I'm always crocheting while watching TV. I fold laundry, I pick up toys, I pay bills, I plan meals, I make grocery lists, I draw up projects. If I'm not in a making/doing mood, I sit there on my phone and pin things on Pinterest, or play games on my phone.

6. Date night. Whether it's once a week or once a month, make sure you get out with your honey. If you have kids, find a babysitter, ask grandma and grandpa. Make sure you're making time for the two of you. You have to feel like newlyweds again!! You have to spend time to reconnect. There are tons of cheap date ideas, groupon, tickets to games, stargazing. cereal in the park, feeding ducks, there are all kinds of cheap things!!

7. Baby & daddy time. This also falls under YOU time, but make sure your baby and your husband hang out some times. They need bonding time, hang time. Plus, it's awful cute to see them together. Whether it means he's got the baby downstairs while you're chilling upstairs or he gives baby a bath.

(Also I understand there are stay-at-home dad's, this isn't just aimed at moms. It's for people who have had maor life changes,)

Yeah this is my survival guide. Oh, and chocolate milk. Chocolate milk gets me thru the day. I'm sure there are more things to how I survive, but these are the ones I can think of now. :)

Enjoy life!

memory lane

So Shark and I were going thru boxes today.ok so we were really cleaning out 'The Den' for this weekend. (We're planning on having all the kids go upstairs to 'The Den' and watch Tv, after Danger's blessing.)

So we cleared out the whole Den, boxes and guns and bullets and papers were in there. We threw out lots of stuff, so when we were going thru some papers, I came across a journal from high school. Ugh. I flipped open to a page, and was flooded with memories and thoughts, and regrets. {I wasn't a nice person in high school.} So, Shark and I were talking about it, and I told him, I wanted to burn the journal. It's not something I want my kids reading, my husband reading, or even me reading again. I had pushed those memories away, and they came back so vividly and suddenly - I wasn't expecting it at all. I found myself embarrassed about who I was.

I have changed so much since high school. I am not the same person, I don't have the same priorities, same dreams, same plans. I have turned a complete 180. My life has changed so much, and I have so much to be grateful for. I have been so blessed.

I understand the trials and choices I've gone thru and made have brought me to where I am right now. I have learned from the mistakes I've made. I realized where my life was going and I changed it. I found someone to love me for who I was and am. I am so grateful for him. We were married in the Salt Lake Temple, of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have a son, one who is THE cutest little guy ever! I never thought any of this was possible, not with who I was. I am so very blessed, and I am grateful to see it.

So, I had a short walk down memory lane, and I hated it. I am grateful for the expirences I've had, but more grateful for how things turned out. :)

At least out house is clean! Yayayayayay!

about today

So today has been a crazy run around day! It's been fun and crazy.

So Shark got home today and I took him to school then headed out to run my errands. First I ran to Smith's. I hot gas for the car, plus there was a deal on energy drinks. {Shark takes them to work and drinks them when he's super tired. He hates how they taste, and prefers that they taste terrible so he doesn't start liking them and drinking them for fun}

Next I ran to Best Buy. Shark's phone finally gave up the ghost. Won't turn on, won't do anything. So I picked him up some random pay as you go phone, since we don't want to renew our contract with our current carrier, and we only have to hold out for a few more months. I also got an invisi-shield for my Kindle, and I got an Amazon gift card.

Next was Walmart, where I almost lost my wallet, but cashed a check for Shark's holiday pay from his previous employer. Then picked up some more food and stuff.

Then Danger and I ran to JoAnn's for some flannel for a baby blanket. Danger started fighting me at JoAnn's and we got home so I could feed him.

After feeding him, we went to the library and picked up a bunch of audiobooks because our external hard drive just bit the dust. Then, we made it in time to pick Shark up from school.

We got home and Danger took a nap, while I sewed patches on Shark's pants. Then I made dinner. I found it somehow, and it's from Martha. It's called Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-dried Tomatoes. I fudged the recipe a little, but it was so dang tasty!!

Danger grabbed one of his link toys today. It was the one that makes the music start. He was playing and all the sudden the music started, and I was like, What?! It was pretty cute.

We've been trying to get him to sleep in his crib lately. It's been working, I close the door completely, and then turn the baby monitor down low so I don't twitch over ever squeak. Today he even went to sleep on his own, he cried for about 5 minutes then was out! Yippee!!

how bad

So how freaking bad am I?

We just, {like seriously YESTERDAY!} started our "fat-off" diet/get healthy thing. And of course you know I've signed up for every single free birthday coupon under the sun.

Chili's sent me a free Red Velvet Molten Lava cake coupon.

Texas Roadhouse sent me a free appetizer OR free sidekick of ribs coupon.

Krispy Kreme has free donuts on your birthday.

Applebees sent me a coupon.

How freaking bad would I be if I went to all of these places and just chowed down?



Did I mention Shark's family is taking me to Rodizio Grill tonight for my birthday?

I'm terrible.

wanna know something

So, this past Sunday (the 17th) my heart went back into atrial flutter.

{the top ventricals were beating faster than the bottom ventricals...}

Monday I went down to SLC for an EKG. They called, told me I was back in flutter, they ordered a prescription of Lovenox shots.

I started taking the Lovenox shots Monday night. yaaay.... :(

Wednesday they scheduled an appointment with my cardiologist. They called back 15 minutes later saying doctor wanted to try cardio verting me, again. {just like Mother's Day}

Shark didn't have to work yesterday, so we went down to SLC, got there, they did another EKG, I was still in flutter.

They hooked me all up, the big HUGE 6" shock pads on the front and back. Then started putting in the anstesia. {I warned the nurse this time, saying I get really mouthy and funny when I go under.}

Next thing I remember, is the doctor walking out the door and the clock on the wall still moving like the Price is Right wheel. {true to my word, the nurse and Shark said I was a talker, and I was hilarious.}

The shock worked, I am out of atrial flutter but back in junction rythum. No harm done to me {besides 6" sticky pad marks on front and back} or to Little Man {pretty sure he kicked me the entire time.}

The doctor said I slipped back into flutter because I forgot to take me meds {big NO NO, and it won't happen again} and because of the stressful week I had before.

So no more stress and way more pills.

I'm telling everyone now, because this week was not supposed to be my week. My sister-in-law was supposed to find out what they're having this time, the doctor couldn't tell. My friend Sammi was supposed to find out what she's having : a boy!

I didn't want to take away from their day with everybody asking about me. Shark and I weren't really stressed or worried about heading to the hospital. There were plenty of prayers on our behalf, and everything worked out fine.

Love to all ♥

opening up

Ok, so I have come to realize that I'm outgoing-ish and kind of a nerd. I'm a follower, but I've always known that. Here is why I am the way I am.

I was born in 1987, with a heart condition. Transposition of the great arteries. Here's the easiest way to tell people so they understand. My heart was born backwards. In normal functioning hearts : the function of the right side of the heart  is to pump the de-oxygenated blood from the body into the lungs. The left side pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs into the out to the body.
In my heart, the roles are reversed. The left side pumps the blood to the lungs and the right side pumps the blood to the body. Meaning my right side is doing really hard work it's not made for.

When I was 2 years old, (1989) the doctors went in and performed a Mustard procedure via open heart surgery. They created little traffic tunnels for my blood to flow thru so I would get the right amount of oxygenated blood to my body.

I went to the doctor's every year from then on. I always went to the Pediatric Cardiologist, there were no adult doctors for patients with my condition, because there were no adult patients with my condition.

Now, I'm 2nd oldest os 6 kids. I was born and raised in Wisconsin. We were raised in the LDS Church, and had come to enjoy going. In middle school, I kinda fell off the wagon, I guess you could say. I had no idea what I wanted to be or who I really was. I struggled for a long time. In high school, I had some good friends, but again, I was a follower. I did whatever they wanted me to. I had so much fun going out with them and staying out all night and drinking. In high school, I had figured out I wanted to work with computers, not just work with, but be a drafter. I dated a few guys who I thought I was in love with and who I thought was in love with me. (They proved me wrong, on both sides, BIG TIME.) I got my first tattoo just after I turned 18.

In 2005 I headed out West to go to BYU-ID, which I failed at horribly. I was asked to leave beacuse I didn't follow the Honor Code at all, due to drinking and boys. After getting kicked out, I moved in with my aunt in Utah for a few months. I got my 2nd tattoo while staying with her. Moved out to some of those month-to-month rent places until my car died in fall of 2006. I moved back home to WI.

In Spring of 2007, I got a job offer back in Utah. I drove back out West. I felt like I needed to be there. Like I was going home. I started going back to church. I knew I needed to change/fix things. I met a boy on a blind date. I thought we fell in love. Until I revealed my past to him, told him I wasn't ready to get married.

Summer 2007 : I started going to a single's ward, and met the boy who would forever change me for the better. We were night hiking (I don't hike, see heart condition above) and he went to the activity because a date cancelled on him. He has one of those personalities where you can't tell if the people around him are good people or if they're good people because they are around him. I wanted to a good people, so I started hanging out with him. One day at church, he jumped in my truck and asked for a ride home (2 blocks away). We exchanged numbers and started dating.

Early 2008, we went snowboarding (which I am still not good at) and he asked me to marry him. In November of 2007, I had my first Temple trip in over 4 years. I was ready to marry him. I said yes. He knew everything about me. I told him right away about my tattoos and how I was working on going back to the temple. He understood, and held my hand and gave me a hug. He said he loved me for me, for everything I was and everything I am.

In June of 2008, we were marriend for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake Temple (every out-of-Utah Mormon girl's dream is to get married in that temple), surrounded my his family and mine.

In Fall of 2008, 3 months after getting married, I went in to the doctor's because I had had a migraine for a solid month. I wanted to figure out what was going on. They did a bubble study (where they shoot a tiny amount of tiny bubbles into your vein to see how they flow thru your heart) some of the bubbles went one way and a few went a different way. That's how they discovered I had a hole in my heart.

In early 2009, I went in for my 2nd open heart surgery. I didn't have a 3 CM hole like the doctor's thought. The hole ended up being about a 2 IN gap in between the chambers of my heat. (So, NO blood was NOT pumping to the rest of my insides.) They fixed it.

In March 2011, we found out I'm pregnant with our first child. After a little bit of a heart scare in May (atrial flutter, resulting in a electric shock of my heart the day before Mother's Day) everything is perfect. My heart is fine, baby boy is doing good.

Yesterday was our 3 year anniversary. Everything we have gone thru, all my medical issues and past mistakes on both sides, we have such a strong relationship. I could not imagine being where I am right now, if I had married anybody else. He is my everything and I need him.

You know how people always say "I don't know where I'd be today if I didn't have the gospel." I know exactly where I'd be. I'd be sitting in a bar, my mom would be watching my kids, and I'd still be searching for someone to really love me. I know exactly how my life would have turned out.

I believe in second chances (or 3rd or even 4th!) because that is what I got. I believe in having to figure out what makes you happy first and formost, before you can even think about making someone else happy. You have to love yourself before you can love anybody else. The easiest way to be happy and love yourself is to know that the Saviour loves you, no matter what. I found the path I'm supposed to be on, and I'm grateful that Shark is on this path with me. I believe in me.

So there, that's me opening up. That's my story. That's why I am the way I am.

Love to all who have their own story! ♥

What a week

Ok, so for the past week or so we've been watching a friend's dog. Bandit has been so excited all week! All they do it play.

It's been absolutely crazy. If we thought Bandit was sneaky and smart, he is nothing compared to this new one. Daisy snuck out no matter how hard we tried to keep them in.

Daisy came with a kennel. And when Daisy started climbing on Bandit's bed, Bandit climbed into the kennel.

They were pretty cute.

Shark put in the garage door this week. It's been a pretty crazy week. It's been raining and windy all week. But the doggies have been cute and somewhat good.

Today I was driving around town and stopped at WinCo food, I got some bulk food, which is awesome because it's cheap and I get tons of food!!! Right around the corner from WinCo is this vinyl place. I've been meaning to stop in and check out their vinyl. I got tons of scraps.

I got all this for $20. Freaking awesome! I put my shoe in there so you could see just how awesome it is.

Bad Day

So, today started out going good. I got to sleep in. :) Then as I was preparing for my day to really start (meaning, I had places to go!) I hit a bump, I sat in front of the computer ripping CD's so I could take the book back to the library. Yeah, my bad! Then, I got ready and in the truck, pulled into the library parking lot and turned to grab my bag of books. No books. Ugh! I decided to make my run for Jo-Ann's anyways, well, I ended up stopping at home first to get the books, I figured I'd hit the library on my way back home. I hit up Wal-Mart first, and wandered thru their Valentine's candy and the ridulously marked down aisles. I was crouching down looking at folders (10 cents!!) and I stood up too fast and was standing on my purse. Snapped the strap off! O-F-F!

My birthday purse!! I then went into Jo-Ann's, what I wanted was NOT on sale, boo. Then as I was driving past the library, my final stop! I heard a whole bunch of popping, snapping, clicking or something coming from under the passenger side of the truck (I thought it was gunshots! Silly me!) and I parked teh truck, got out to look. Only to find that my front passenger tire was leaking, I could hear it, and there was this thick metal wire in the tire!! Flat tire!!

So, I called Shark, he said my best bet was to try to drive it home since it was a sort of slow leak. Well, I took the scenic route home! Good heavens, I did NOT know that many streets did not connect thru! Well, I made it home, walked to scouts (2 blocks away) and my awesome amazing husband picked me up! I went in the house, to find my dog in the trash! Caught him!! Today hasn't been all bad, but it hasn't been all good either. One good thing for today is, we're having FHE tonight, since it hasn't worked any other night this week!

Ooh! We payed off a credit card last month!! Woohoo!! And by next month we'll have a paid off another one!! Yeah!!

Love to those who see the silver lining and to those who are the silver lining!

Addicted...

So, I'm only pretty sure I'm addicted to the Netflix on our Wii... Facebook... and Blogger. Yeah. But only pretty sure. I was sitting there, watching the 2nd season of Cake Boss, when I got a text on my phone. {I knew it was a text cuz Optimus Prime told me to "Roll out!"} Well, it wasn't just any text, it was a Facebook notification. Saying a friend from CO {Jess!} posted something on her wall. It was a link to an article. About a non-Mormon lady who reads {well, can't stop reading!} Mormon Mommy blogs. Here is the link to salon.com for the article. And I of course started to read all the blogs she has named in her article. And I now cannot stop reading those blogs. Now I follow each of those blogs, plus my "usual" 20 blogs. Yeah... Too bad I'm not funny or really crafty. I mean I make stuff, but it's not really my idea... I did buy something today at IKEA, that IF my idea works, it'll be pretty awesome... Here's hoping!!

Ok, now if you need a laugh. Watch this. {Just remember to pause the music on the right-hand side!}

Even Shark laughed. Mostly at the Diversity part and the 18, clueless and baby-hungry part.

But my weekends have been pretty awesome. My Pack is 2 games away from the Super Bowl, and the Pats are out. Come on, Rodgers!! Woot woot!

Love to all who just have to go out and buy something, and all those who bleed green and gold! ♥

Cliff Hanger!!

So at the end of my last post, I realize I left everybody hanging. It would have been better if I had blogged as planned, but I did not. Yeah... My bad..

Anyways, Shark I have been discussing our "Random Room" lately. What we want to do with it, make out of it, burn it... Things like that. Here's the room again, in case you forgot. (On the bottom picture, it's that weird wall on the right side, with that odd blue siding.)

So, Shark has been brainstorming, getting all kinds of great ideas. And Sunday he finally just started doing. (My only condition to doing anything with that room was : It had to wait until after Christmas, when things weren't so dang crazy! Sunday was the 26th.....)

Well, Shark cleaned out that entire room, which was pretty awesome itself. That room is where we put all the boxes and I was supposed to slowly clean out that room, but somehow never got around to it. Also, I bet it didn't help that when I needed something, I tore apart every box in that room, and made it a complete mess! Yeah... So, my freaking awesome husband took that whole room and put it in the rooms the stuff needed to be in. I'm not gonna lie, lots went down to the dungeon. Anywho, when he tore up the carpet, THIS amazingness was underneath.

Yeah... I wonder why they carpeted over it... Well, Shark just kept going. Once the carpet was torn up (and rolled up and put in the dungeon.) He started on the wall. Yes, THE WALL!

There is a door from the dining room that now goes into the garage, not outside. He then framed a wall between that odd siding and the brick on the house.

And he has even framed another wall, to close off the garage. (So I can have a big pantry and tons of shelves!!)

Speaking of shelves. Shark's dad came over to help him on Monday, and his dad went up to my craft room/office and made these awesome shelves!!

I'm so excited!! So really, that's what been going on. Sorry to get you all excited. I love having lots of shelves!! Woot woot! Now to organize them, and find a way to keep them organized. We'll just have to see. Thank you so much, Shark for making all these things for me, and thank you to your dad too!

POTD: Bandit at the top of the stairs. No one to play with...

Love to all who have big plans for this next year!! I know we sure do! ♥

Strip to fit

So, a while back, like when I moved back to WI, after my failed attempt at college and failed attempt at life out in Utah, I bought Carmen Electra's Strip to Fit. I remember, I was with my friend Heather and I bought disc 1 and she bought disc 2. Well, this Strip to Fit DVD has been with me everywhere, every house I moved to, every state change. Well, when I moved to Utah the 2nd time, after I got my first CAD job out here, I had started to go thru the routines. I had to time it just right, I'm not exactly a pro, and it would have been so embarassing to have my roommate walk in to find me in my sweats attempting to strip... No one sees me when I do this, no one sees me when I excercise, I look like a dork, or at least I think I do... But a while ago, I made a list of goals, and on my list was : 4. Get into shape (self confidence). Well, what better way to get into shape than to start striping (for personal use ONLY!!) and doing the strip to fit, helps my confidence tons!! (Well, staring at Carmen Electra for an hour doesn't help, but feeling like I'm doing something really good does help!) I can honestly say, that I am out of shape (don't shake your head, it's true!!) and I feel good lately cuz I've been trying to work out and trying to be be healthy. Plus, this DVD I bought is 100% husband approved! He doesn't mind at all!! :) I just bought the entire set, on Amazon for $20! Plus, with me still out of the job, I have all the time in the world for excercise. So this kinda shady fitness DVD will finally get some use. I switch it up, the Strip DVD and the Wii Fit.... both do a good job in getting me to hurt.

Anyways, I must have done a "hip flick" with too much oomph, cuz seriously, the muscle that is my butt hurts so bad!! That means, it's working, right? Shark tells me, it's just a sacrifice for the good in life. Ha! I can say, the routines work every muscle! I was planning on walking the dog today, but it got cloudy... I might still go, after our craft-day, but I've got to find a sweatshirt.

POTD : is the picture above, my Wii Fit Plus and my Carmen Electra Stip to Fit DVD 1! Cuz I wouldn't hurt so much if I didn't have them... ;)

Love to all who have ambitions.... or alterior motives....

ColoROTTEN!!

Shark and I have been planning to move back to Utah for a while now. We were originally planning on making the "big move" when our lease is officially up at the end of June, but today we where forced to make a decision. I got laid-off from my job this afternoon. So we have decided to move back to Utah earlier than expected. It really caught me off guard, I really wasn't expecting anything like this happening. The week started off with Shark getting called into an emergency company-wide meeting. His boss had made the decision to issue a company-wide paycut. So, the week didn't start out going good, plus, I've been having horrible headaches, so I scheduled a whole bunch of appointments for my head and I also checked up when my cardio check up a year after my open heart surgery. Well, those 4 appointments are all scheduled in February. Those appointments will now have to be cancelled, because my benefits and insurance have now been cancelled. So, this has been a pretty trying time so far. Just unexpected, and it caught me completely unawares. I had no idea it was coming, and it honestly, the last thing I was expecting when I walked into work this morning. I have learned alot from that job, and appreciate the opportunity, but at the same time, it really was not expected! So yes, we are moving to Utah. No point in sticking around if all my benefits are gone. Plus, Shark hasn't very good luck so far in Colorado, he's had to pay alot of money to the state or while in the state. So, in Shark's words "goodbye horrible state that is Colorado." So - Utah here we come. We'll be back around the 1st of March. Sorry the news is so random and sudden, trust me, it hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm just letting everybody {who reads this, at least} about the change to come.

love always,

Book to Movie

Ok, so, I went to the Twilight movie with a bunch of girlfriends. We have bunko every 3rd Thursday night, and it just so happened that the midnight showing of Twilight fell on our bunko night. So, yes, I went to the midnight showing of Twilight. It happened again this year, the midnight showing of New Moon falls on bunko night (tonight). So I will be going to the midnight showing with the same group of girls. I am NOT a Twi-hard. I really didn't the books, Edward is too whining and he can't make up his mind, he's not my type of guy, now Emmet....Emmet has a sense of humor, is a big hunky dude, and he likes his big Jeep! That's Mark! Anyways, I think that the lady that wrote the books needs to grow up, she's not 17, nor will she be 17 ever ever again. But, I will be going to the midnight showing, I have read all the books (even the awful and disappointing 4th book!), I have all the audio books (but only made it thru 1 & 2, 3 got really sappy and mopey and just made me want to gag, there are only so many times I can hear, "He is so beautiful, his face is beautiful." in 10 minutes, and boys should NOT be beautiful!!), and I bought my ticket for New Moon about a month and half ago. I am going to the midnight showing to hang out with my girls. I work all day and never get to see them, any amount of time that I get to spend with them, I am there!! Oh, you're making a craft I made yesterday, ok, what time and what do you need me to bring? I have already expressed my need of friends, so to me, it's not going to go see the most crazed about movie over (the pre-sale tickets have just reached the #1 spot, doubling the pre-sale take in from Dark Knight!) to me, it is just a night hanging with girls, enjoying the night out! So, don't be mad if I am not as responsive on Friday or if my eyelids droop, I will be bunko-ing from 7-11 and then New Moon-ing from 12-2!! Friday will be the crash day for me and I'd say, 75% of the female population. So just watch out on the roads a little more on Fridayand take note that production will be down.

But for those of you who will die unless they see New Moon, here's a link to Twilight stuff. It invaded my daily blog walk through, Twilight was everywhere!! OnePrettyThing has tons of New Moon stuff, printables, book marks, party ideas. Go for it, knock yourself out.

Oh, and don't think I'm making it hard on Mark, his brother Kurt and his Dad are coming into town tonight (while I am bunko-ing) because they are heading to Nebraska tomorrow for hunting. He's doing fine with it, and knows that I don't go cuz I need some "Edward Time" - I go cuz I need some girl time!

Love-bry and mark

Sleep Study and Flu Shots

So, people have been asking me about the sleep study, and what the results are. Well - I do not know. They haven't released my results to me yet, but I have heard they sent them to my doctor. I think if it were really serious, my doctor would call me in and let me know. I have a follow up appointment with the sleep study guys scheduled for January (it's really not that far away!) So, I will keep everyone posted as I learn more.

I finally got my flu shot! I am now not in fear of the Swine Flu! yay!! I went Saturday morning, and stood in line, and passed my papers to the shooter, and BAM! I got a good shot to the arm (it still hurts, just so everyone knows!) But, it wasn't bad, and it was free! SO Yay!

AND - I have been missing out on my days of Thankful, but I have a very good reason! We haven't had a working computer for a few days! The computer we work on at home is the one I use for work (I haul it back and forth to and from work every day, I can't leave it at work, or I will get in trouble) well, this computer got a virus this weekend. And I took it into IT first thing Monday morning, and they said they would work on it. I just got it back about an hour ago. So they worked on it all day Monday and all of Tuesday morning. But I have it back now, so I can finally get caught up on my Thankful-ness and my budget. (Mark and I are now in the process of scoping out a computer for us at home. With all the holiday deals, it shouldn't be too hard to find a really awesome deal!!) So, there is the latest news. I will post things tonight. :)

Love to all - bry and mark

there are hair cuts then there are hair massacres

So, I got my haircut today. The place I like to go closed. TODAY, in fact! So, I ended up going to one of those chains like Cost Cutters or Fantastic Sam's (they are not so FANTASTIC!) I even brought in a picture! And I still got a crappy cut! Here are the pictures I wanted to look like. (Somewhere between the two, I wanted it cute like that!) BUT NO!! This is what I got! I have no idea what the lady was doing! If you look at the top left most picture on the collage of me, my hair is completely lopsided, it's like she had one leg shorter than the other or her eyes are lopsided or something! And I can't switch sides or it puffs out on the one side. Good grief! I hope I can do something with it tomorrow for church! Ugh! I've got product and some little clips I'm going to try, but really! All I wanted was hair cut! I asked for an A-line, that was pieced out! (I can't get straight cuts, my hair mushrooms out cuz it's so thick!) And this is what I got. I really hope I can get something to work with it before work, the guys don't know when to stop. Yeah.... Here's hoping.... Mark is still in Nebraska, I told him I was going to get my hair cut, I even sent him a picture. I have such a good husband, he said he liked it! I told him when I left the salon, I looked like one of the blonde twins from the old-school Parent Trap movie. (Let's get together, yeah yeah!) It was horrible. But I flatironed it, so it should be workable! (SHOULD BE!) Good thing my hair grows about an inch a month, it'll be grown out a bit before Turkey day and Christmas.


PS: with my glasses on, I look like I belong in the band Weezer!! LOL! If you want to detroy my sweater.....


Love to all - bry and mark

Door knobs and escape routes

So, lately we have had to be pretty creative on keeping the puppy out of the living room, and now the house. We shut him out of the house Thursday and Friday (it was like 75 both days, so it didn't kill him or anything!) But as I was leaving Friday, he was jumping up on the back door (his paw prints are ALL over it!) and I noticed the latch door knob we have, was turning!! So I locked it. And we lock the front door too. We usually come in the back door, so we can pet our little doggie first thing! So, I get home, and he's so dang excited, so excited ini fact, that has chewed Mark's bowstring making string into a big knot! So, he was jumpy. But I get in, pet him, and then start looking at my keys for the house key.... No house key! Dang it! Mark had just called me, he had an emergency with work, some lady called with snakeS in her house, out in Boulder. So, I was stuck! But them I remembered, the window! (Mark had to climb in this window a few times before, when I lock all the doors. Once when I had gotten home from the hospital, all the doors were locked, and I really couldn't go thru the window (even though I am the first choice) I had just gotten home from open heart surgery!) So, I went in the thru window! Bandit was so confused! But he soon figured it out, when I came thru the back door to get my laptop and purse. Yup, one adventure after the other. What's that saying about : for every action there is an equal reaction? Oh wait here it is, from The Sword in the Stone!

Left and right
Like day and night
That's what makes the world go round
In and out
Thin and stout
That's what makes the world go round
For every up there is a down
For every square there is a round
For every high there is a low
For every to there is a fro
To and fro Stop and go
That's what makes the world go round
You must set your sights upon the heights
Don't be a mediocrity
Don't just wait and trust to fate
And say, "That's how it's meant to be.
"It's up to you how far you go
If you don't try you'll never know
And so my lad as I've explained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
You see my boy it's nature's way
Upon the weak the strong ones prey
The human life it's also true
The strong will try to conquer you
That is what you must expect
Unless you use your intellect
Brains and brawn, weak and strong
That's what makes the world go round

Love to all - bry and mark

Would you porch that for me? NOW!?

So, this project that Mark and I have been losing sleep over is not really a project at all. It was a paper route. And we were thinking it was an early morning, nothing overly exerting, just a paper route. HA! It was nothing like that, it was not easy, it was not early morning, it was middle of the dang night and it sucked!! It was not me or Mark on a bike with those double shoulder bags with loads of papers rolled up with rubber bands. No musical or singing people working with us, wearing newsboy caps, they weren't even friendly. I was at least hoping for Christian Bale, but nope, my Newsie dreams were shot down when I realized the only music we would hear would be AC/DC or Journey from the radio or from the guy who raps to music in his head on Sundays. Yeah that was about it. But wait, there is really more!! Not only was it not early morning, we were thinking it would be at 4 or something that it, and they would drop the papers off at our house, heck, we just thought they would count the papers first! NOPE! We had to get up at 1:30 AM-2:00 AM, and go to the warehouse (here in Brighton) and then fold the papers, and then go throw the papers. We had to be done throwing our papers by 5:30 AM weekdays, and by 7:00 AM weekends. Paper count? M-W : 143, TH-F : 215, SAT : 270, SUN : 343. Now, really that's not too bad, but we had the 2nd largest route in the district, and we covered 3 large neighborhoods. So, it's not like every house got a paper, some places only have one house on a street that gets one. Usually, Monday-Wednesday we can throw the route in an hour, or an hour and a half or so. Sundays, it takes 4 hours, 1.5 to fold and the rest we throw. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the dang porch requests. (Mark has sworn to me, that even if he is hobbled up so bad he can hardly walk to the garage, he will still hobble his old bones out to the driveway to get his paper, if we get one.) Because for most the porches, we have to stop the truck, get out, throw the paper on the porch and then get going. And then there are the occaisional roof throws, Mark climbed up there and got the paper down, we only had 2 of these.

Then there was the crazy stuff we saw. In the past weeek, we've seen 2 vehicles that were destroyed. Not just totalled but destroyed!! It seriously looked like a T-Rex had done thru the neighborhood and torn into 2 cars.

We did get a bunch of free stuff which was pretty cool. We got a cooler, some frames for my crafting, some end tables with magazine racks, a world map that's huge, and a washer for some friends. It was pretty awesome that we got first pick of the FREE stuff.

We started the route on the 17th of August, and tried it out for 2 weeks, but Mark had already signed the contract, so in order to get out of it, we had to hand in a 30 days notice, so that 30 days is today! Yayay! But it sucked so bad. Mark and I have been losing sleep, losing friends (we need all the ones we can get!) and getting sick! It's been awful! And at least 3 times, the managers have been like, We're trying to get someone in here to take over your route. It always falls thru, and this last time, we showed up on Monday and Tuesday to throw the route, and one manager said, "I wasn't expecting you two to show up, I thought you assumed the route got covered, I was going to throw the route for the rest of the time." Now, really? Why would we assume the route had gotten covered, nothing was said to us, we were told it fell thru and no one was able to take the route this week, so we figured we'd just come in until the date on our 3o day notice. UNLESS - You wanted to charge us the $250 early termination fee as stated in the contract! UGH! Really?!

I talked Mark into signing the contract and taking the route, however, I only had to say that I wanted to quit ONCE and he was on board! I figured we'd take the route, get the $450 every 2 weeks (that's SO not what we got paid!) and pay off the debt we've got. Pretty much, all the pay from the route took care of was the gas to throw the route, Bandit's puppy class, and our family pictures. Which really is not too bad.

We're very excited to be done with the route, it means we get our friends back, and we can stay up and watch late night football, without having to worry about going to bed at 8 so we can wake up at 2am. I think it was a good learning expireince, it taught us to be grateful for what we have, and that things could always be worse. I'm very grateful that we don't NEED that job, and that it was just for extra money. It also taught us that budgeting is so very needed and it finally pushed me into budgeting everything, which is what I have been wanting so bad! We're also glad because we can spend more time with the puppy, which means he won't be starved for attention and won't tear up the house like he did on Wednesday. :) Thank you to everyone who put up with all of this paper route nonsense. We didn't tell everyone, I wasn't sure how my work would take it, so I decided to tell them after I had quit. Better to be safe than sorry. :) IT'S FINALLY OVER!! Woot woot!

Love to all - Bry and Mark

BBQ and a bruisin'

mark and I decided we would try to have a really awesome Memorial Day. So we bought a bunch of burgers, brats, hot dogs and ribs and grilled them for some of our friends! It was the best Memorial Day I have ever had!! There was tons of food, and we played games. It was all around a pretty awesome day! It did almost rain us out, but the rain held off until after we were done eating, so we got to enjoy being outside! Up top we have a picture of the food (mmhmm!) then we have Ryker blowing bubbles (yes those are Angie's sexy legs!!) and then we have Lauren with a cute cheesy smile!
Anyways, so today, I was checking out the garden (it seriously has been raining for the past 3 days straight) and I decided to run back to the house. We have a puppy, he likes to play chase, so yeah, I ran. Well, the sidewalk turns to the left, Bandit was on my left, he went straight, I made the turn, and we collided! (see Map below) And seeing how I am bigger than he is (Yes, I really am!!) I survived without a scratch, and Bandit got the injury. He has a scrape above his right eye, and Mark described it as scraped knee, like when you fall off your bike. But on Bandit it looks so much worse, cuz of all his hair that is missing. (See above picture) Plus he has the sad eyes anyways, so sad eyes + big scrape = I feel awful!! He hollered so bad at first that I thought I rolled over and broke his leg! He wasn't limping, he was just crouching down to the ground and howling! It looks pretty bad, but he's still jumping around, playing, gnawing on ya, he's till playful. I just feel so bad every time I look at him now.... I was cooking dinner (and he has a this cute habit of just wanting to sit in the room with you and watch you) and so he was just sitting there, watching me, like my own personal poltergeist. We're hoping he looks a little better before we take him the vet for his next shots on Saturday... please.... But he's still cute and he still chases me and follows me everywhere. :)



Lots of love, bry & mark