Hoboville

Remember yesterday when I posted a picture of myself trying to look hot? Well, it was a joke. Why don't you get my jokes? Stop hating me because I am so beautiful.

What I failed to explain is the biggest joke of the Florida weekend was about me and how homeless I looked..

Before traveling to Key West, we imagined it would be a tropical paradise. It was beautiful, but nothing like we pictured in our minds. The Keys seem pretty run-down and podunk. The locals looked more like rednecks from Alabama than uppity island dwellers. When we arrived in Key Largo (2 hours later than we expected... we'd missed our snorkeling tour and we were super hungry) we asked a few locals where the yummiest restaurant was located. Everyone said, "You must go to HOBO's and try their Award Winning Wings." So to Hobo's we went.

It was super crowded, and after all the great recommendations from everyone, we were surprised to see that it was a total dump. (although the name itself should have tipped us off.) The prices weren't cheap, but we figured we needed to try the Award Winning Wings while we had the chance. They were good, but we weren't jumping out of our seats or anything. When we finished our meal and asked for the check, our waitress was shocked that we didn't want to take the famous wings with us. We were going straight on a boat to snorkel and didn't want to lug them around. But she insisted. She packed them up in a box and we were forced to carry them out the door.

Later that night, while relaxing by the pool, I grabbed something out of our beach bag and realized the entire bag smelled like BBQ sauce. We had forgotten about the Award Winning Wings!! I pulled them out and we ate them by the pool. We were exhausted and really giddy (this is where we practiced our fake laughs for the airport the next morning.) Maybe it was because we were laying by the pool and didn't care if we got really messy, but they tasted SO much better than they had hours earlier. I am so grateful our waitress forced them upon us. She must have known they would taste better after sitting in a styrofoam box.

We decided that Hobo's was not only our new favorite restaurant, but the word HOBO itself was our new favorite term. Instead of saying something is lame/retarded/gay/stupid, we now will refer to it as hobo. If someone cuts us off on the road or makes a mean comment on my blog (about how vain I am) then they are referred to as a hobo.

Now back to me and what I looked like during the trip. Try swimming in the ocean and then jumping in a convertible and see what it does to your hair (and your self-esteem.) Hobo was the only word to describe me. I honestly looked like I had spent the last 6 months in a styrofoam box. On our way out of the Keys, I took a quick video to capture my new look. And this was actually pretty mild because I had a hat to cover some of the mess.

What makes this clip even more funny is that about an hour after this car ride to the airport, I was interviewed by a reporter and my mug (and gorgeous hairdo) was broadcast on the news... Lucky for us (and our egos) we'd been listening to music all weekend that told us we were too sexy for our shirts, our car and Hobo-central. Ain't nothing that could have convinced us otherwise.

PS. Wanna know what I'm not sexy enough for? Running. After our run this morning I am convinced I am not cut out for it. 13 miles might just kill me.

vacation soundtrack

One of the best things I did in preparation for our anniversary getaway was make a SOUNDTRACK for our trip. I knew we were going to be spending lots of time in the car and so I planned accordingly. One of the most annoying things about visiting a new city is finding radio stations with good music. Aaron is an excellent driver (except when he gets lost) and I take my co-pilot position VERY seriously. If you're sitting in the passenger seat, you have to be in charge of two things: the map and the music. I didn't do very well with the map (gps system) but I was ALL OVER the music. We may have been lost, but we were partying like rockstars while trying to find the right highway. And that's all that really matters.

I was also in charge of documenting our drive on the water. It was SO BEAUTIFUL to be on a little strip of land across the ocean. Unfortunately, the sound is really bad on some of these videos (it was a bit windy) so I had to put music over what we're saying-- which wasn't important anyway. The first song on our soundtrack was Natasha Bettingfield's Love Like This and it became the theme song of the entire vacation. What I wouldn't give to be back in that car with that guy drinking slurpies... you're the only one that knows me, love it when you hold me, I'll never find a love like this.

I can testify {with all my heart} that organizing your music BEFORE you go on vacation is totally worth it. Ipods and playlists should make it that much easier. I had two different CD's ready to roll in our convertible. One was specifically party music-- we blasted it all day. The other was our favorite love songs, which we played when the sun was setting.. oh so cheesy and perfect! By the end of the trip, we had all the songs memorized. Now whenever I am feeling down or discouraged about having to clean the house, all I have to do is listen to our "convertible music" and I am instantaneously happy.

This is the short list of the songs that will forever remind me of our 10th anniversary getaway. Most of them are NOT allowed for little kid ears... that's exactly why they were on our list for this particular trip. Many of them made us laugh-- like "I'm too sexy". Not only did we sing the songs, but we used several lines from the song throughout the weekend. One of our faves was "Ring-a-ling" by Black Eyed Peas... it's a booty-call song with such an outrageous beat. We used lines from it all weekend-- who knew I could impersonate Fergie so well? "Honey... I-I-I-I-I-I, I got something for you, baby."

And I had to take a picture of myself in the convertible because I knew my man would never think to pick up a camera and document anything..
This is exactly what I looked like the ENTIRE weekend.
I titled the picture: she's like the wind
We were fantasizing about how magical it would be to buy a convertible and use it as our DATE CAR. While I was driving, Aaron said, "Yeah... you look great behind that wheel, but you're just as cute driving a minivan."
take his word for it.

mortuary party-favors

I forgot to mention a couple of things about our visit to the mortuary. When we first arrived, we were taken to a planning room. This is a small place with a simple desk and chairs where they explain the funeral services with a family soon after a death. Cindy and I were enthralled with the information they were dishing out. Ben and Luke were mildly interested. Zack and Simon were bored out of their minds. The nice funeral director offered Zack a mint to keep him from doing cartwheels. He was happy about the candy and gulped it down in one second. No, literally... he swallowed it whole and almost chocked to death. I cracked a joke about how it was a great place to die (if any) and nobody laughed but me.

At the end, we ended up chatting with these awesome mortuary owners. They wanted to know all about the family that Cindy and I were raised in. The boys were given nifty mortuary pens and paper to keep them quiet.... which they were thrilled about. After 20 minutes of chatting, one of the ladies sat down next to the boys and asked them what they were writing. Ben looked and her, shrugged her shoulders and said, "Nothing much, really. Luke and I are just creating word searches and trading them with each other." She was highly impressed. Zack was drawing pictures of his girl friend, Sylvia... but made it clear that she is NOT his girl friend.

A couple of days later, I was cleaning out the car and found a sticky note from the mortuary. It was written in Luke's handwriting. I read it and felt so grateful that it didn't get lost in the shuffle or crinkled up by a 20-pound babymonster. I was able to keep it long enough to scan it in and preserve it forever.

It reads: "Simon, if you want to be my buddy, grab this paper."
I love Luke for so many reasons.

the dead center of town

Our field trip to the mortuary was killer! I called several mortuaries that were close to us. Almost all of them were shocked that I wanted to bring my kids in for a tour, but many of them agreed. We decided to go to a small, local one because they are just the down the street from our house and because it was owned and operated by two females who seemed very excited and accommodating. When I set up the appointment, the funeral director asked, "How much do you want to see?" and I said, "Whatever you'd be willing to show us."

It's against the law for them to show any dead bodies... but they were there, alright. We weren't allowed to see what was inside the big refrigerator (which can comfortably fit up to 6 bodies) or open the lid of a casket sitting in the back room. The kids weren't the LEAST bit freaked out by anything. All in all, it was a totally successful and informative field trip. I took a pic of Cindy filming... behind her is the "big fridge".

We went in hoping to find out how much funeral directors, embalmers, and owners of mortuaries make each year (ballpark salaries) and see their day-to-day responsibilities. But we came out with so much more information. In fact, it was very enlightening. During the tour, we heard about the kind of caskets available and I asked the kids what kind they would like, if they got to choose. Laura, the funeral director, seemed a bit surprised that I would ask such a question. She liked Zack's enthusiasm as he shouted for a RED METAL one (it's all about Iron Man these days.) But then she commended me for being so open and realistic with my children about death. Unfortunately it happens, and many of us are too afraid to talk about it-- which leaves us in a terrible bind when we have to face it. She encourages EVERYONE to talk about death, funeral arrangements, caskets. Those decisions will have to be made eventually, and it's better to talk about it and know what our loved ones want before we have decide during the most emotional time in our lives.

We also learned that bodies are shipped to and from cities on everyday aircrafts. They are boxed up and shipped with the luggage. I had no idea! She said it's SAME DAY service for about $200-$400. The kids found this fascinating, and the day after our field trip, Zack pointed to an airplane in the sky and said, "Hey! A dead body might be on that airplane!" This may be the only bit of information that sticks with my 4 year old..

One of the most interesting things I learned on our excursion was that embalming is bad for the environment. When the blood is removed, it's replaced with a toxic liquid called Formaldehyde. This preserves the body and keeps it from decaying. Many people who choose to have open caskets are embalmed. What we don't hear about is what formaldehyde does to the plants and animals under the ground. It's deadly and toxic. And it's expensive.... so why are we doing it? Tradition. She said that many LDS religions are still doing it, but most other religions have done away with it because it's such an unnecessary ritual. But many funeral homes don't discourage it because they make good $$ on embalming.

I came away thinking that cremation is the way to go! Really... it seems easiest, inexpensive and so logical. I guess Vegas has a very high rate of cremation... I guess people who live here aren't afraid of the heat. I know it's not exactly "encouraged" in our religion, but I want to donate as much of my body as I can and cremate the rest. I am going to sit down and talk with Aaron about it.... we need to discuss where to be buried, etc. So many people have wills in order for after their death, but don't talk about the actual arrangements of their funeral. Why are we so afraid to talk about it?

PS. for those of you who live here in Vegas, I asked if we could come back as a big group and they were more than willing to do another field trip. I thought we could set something up this summer... they said they can accommodate up to 40 people. Let me know if you wanna go... if you don't live here, call around and find a mortuary who will give you a tour.

PPS. Ben was able to tell his famous "Where do mashed potatoes go when they die?" joke and they loved it.. We need to send it into laffy taffy one of these days. Answer: "The Gravy-yard"

no audition video..

that's right, people. I didn't finish my video. I spent all day Wednesday and Thursday filming... when I sat down to edit it Thursday night at 11 pm, I knew that no matter how hard I tried, it wasn't going to be what I wanted it to be. We filmed at several field trip locations, but the main highlight was our excursion to the mortuary. It was awesome and we learned a lot... but after watching our footage several times, I realized that in order for it to be effective, everyone needed mics. I wasn't going to spend my time editing clips that were hard to hear. The shots of me explaining my idea for a show were funny-- but only funny if you knew me. After all that work, I threw in the towel because I thought it would hurt my chances of getting chosen, not help them. What I filmed was sad. I mean, it's great home video footage, but it's not worthy of pitching a show.. It makes my idea look amateur, and I know with the right equipment (ei. a television crew) the show could be awesome.

So here's my idea in a nutshell. I auditioned for an educational reality show. This is what I pitched to the producers last weekend:

Like everyone auditioning for this contest, I've always known I was going to change the world. As a little girl, I honestly thought I was going to be the first female President of the United States. When I got married and had children, I realized that the greatest contribution I could make to society, the best way I could literally change the world, was by raising responsible, educated, caring children.

I have spent the last 5+ years homeschooling my kids. I am NOT auditioning for a homeschooling show-- I know it's not for everybody. Homeschoolers are crazy (they either start out that way, or they quickly become so.) But I do believe I can inspire parents to become more involved in their children's education. We need to take responsibility for what our children learn, we can't blame the school system or government.

Education is a very controversial subject in this country right now. Class sizes are getting bigger, summer is getting shorter. Kids are sitting in their desks for longer periods of time, and many electives are being eliminated. Because of the No Child Left Behind Act, Nevada schools only have ONE 15-minute recess for elementary school aged kids. I believe education is moving in the wrong direction. Kids need to get their hands dirty. They need to spend most of their time playing, not sitting. Education needs to be fun, exciting and experimental. Schools aren't going to be able to offer this to our kids, so as parents, we must step in and supplement and give them some hands-on learning.

What is tragic about our educational system, is not necessarily the amount of time we sit in desks, but how unprepared we are for the real world when we get out. We spend 12-16 years of our life in school and when we graduate, only a small minority of students actually know what they want to be when they grow up. And even if the do know what they want to be, they don't have experience in that career whatsoever. School isn't preparing us for the rest of our lives.. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans spend their entire adult-life stuck in a career they don't enjoy. I want my kids to be passionate about what they do! I don't care if they spend their lives as a garbage man or a door-to-door salesman... as long as they are happy about it.

What I want for my family (and I believe this is something we can do whether or not a television crew is following us) is to spend a year living in an RV traveling the country. I want to leave everything behind--- our house, tv, video games, furniture, etc. and hit the road. There is so much to do and so much to see and our kids are going to be grown before we know it. The main idea of the television show would be to inspire parents to get out and do more. We would NOT be going to the big tourist spots of the nation... Disneyworld wouldn't be on our radar. Instead, we would explore everyday kind of field trips, things that are in every city, and places that don't cost a lot of money. I would want to spend a day with a shrimp boat captain and a lighthouse operator. What do they do everyday? How did they become what they are? Do they enjoy it? What do they get paid? etc, etc. Doesn't it sound fascinating? I think so. These would be the kind of field trips that every classroom should take... but can't because of time, space, resources, money. And yes, it would be a show for kids, but I hope it would inspire parents to talk more with their kids about everyday kind of things. A field trip to the post office or grocery store should be exciting. The world is our classroom and learning can happen outside the school walls.

I believe I am the perfect kind of host for a show like this because I am learning right along with my kids. I received a college degree, but I don't think I necessarily got an education. Unlike thousands of others who are trying out for their own talk shows, I am not interested in a big salary. I don't want a makeup artist and I don't care to be famous. I am already living my dream job. I get to teach, inspire and be with my children everyday.

And that was my pitch. I think it's something different and exciting. I think I have the personality to make it fun. I know my husband and kids would be entertaining to watch. One of the casting directors hinted that they were looking for a show for inside the studio. If that's the case, I said we could always bring the field trips to us... but it's not the same kind of feel. It's a total shot in the dark, but it was a lot of fun to go for it. I don't regret making the trip down to L.A. to audition. It meant so much to have my family with me.. it was just one of our many field trips-- I kept telling my kids, "If you ever want to try out for a tv show, this is what you have to do." and they were a big part of my audition (meaning, I know I got called back to the studio for a second interview because my family was there and I was living what I was preaching.) It was awesome because so many people wanted to meet my husband and take pictures with the kids. It was such a fun, crazy weekend! (and having Cindy there was an added bonus! She didn't know what she was signing up for this summer by coming to live with us!)

Anyway, that's the audition explanation. This may or may not be "in the stars" for me and my family. If I don't hear anything back from the Oprah audition, I may just contact TLC or another station... Obviously, we can travel whether or not we have cameras on us, but it would be radical to have someone else pay for it.. and we might as well take America along for the ride, dontcha think?

crazy clouds and belly flops

the clouds were super funky the other day. Cindy took pictures of them with my phone. Looks like someone needs to wash their minivan windows.

I was worried that Simon would ruin our pool fun this summer. But he has joined the party with much gusto. He could sit in his baby floaty all day (and sometimes does). When he gets excited, his arms go wild and he splashes everywhere. It's hilarious because water gets in his eyes and up his nose, and then he's mad at whoever is holding him. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy, and we don't even know it.

Once he's partied in the pool and had enough water, he crashes hard. I've told you before that he has mad cuddling skillz and I meant it. Who knew that sleeping in a stroller could be so comfortable?

This is a clip of everyone in the pool.. except for me because I am behind the camera. There is, however, a video on my private blog with footage of me. In fact, there's a lot more of me than you'll ever care to see... Consider yourself warned.

a rainbow of video clips

I don't have time to write about what's going on lately, but I can post videos! The first one is Simon's FIRST laugh-- so glad it was caught on film. These are all short and basically explain themselves.

feeling foolish...

so, I've been really frustrated with my camera situation. In my normal, everyday life I am lost without a camera-- but to not have it for our anniversary getaway and our crazy fun trip to California (not to mention trying to make an audition video!) has sent me over the edge. We've been waiting for two weeks for a FedEx box to be delivered and there's been no sign.

We finally called them to chew them out this morning... "YOU'RE RUINING MY LIFE!!!" They kindly stated that they dropped off our camera in our garage TWO WEEKS ago. Confused, I walked out to my garage and found a little brown box waiting patiently for me to open. Either my garage is super messy or I am a complete idiot (and I can tell you right now that my garage is not super messy...)

PS. Did you have a problem logging onto my blog this morning? I did. I couldn't access my email or anything else on my google account. Apparently, I got a hacker trying to change my passwords and access my blog. I believe I got everything restored and back to normal, but maybe this being famous thing isn't going to work out so well. We might need to go into hiding for a few months....

Mark Burnett, call me!

We're home after a long, crazy weekend in Californ-I-A. It was a whirlwind of a weekend and it almost seems like it didn't happen. Did I really do a live audition for my own TV show? What would possess me to be so crazy? Why did my husband (and kids) go along with it? I can't believe I actually walked into Mark Burnett's Production studio this morning. The whole thing is a little surreal... and it was such a FUN experience.

Today's interview was a lot different than Saturday. They say over two thousand people showed for the live audition. It was fun, crazy, exciting, loud, chaotic, and bizarre. I loved every minute of it.

This morning, the mood was very different in the production studio. We were told that we could NOT introduce ourselves to anyone else in the waiting room. We couldn't talk about the show or our ideas. In fact, the official instruction was not to SPEAK to anyone else. There were only a handful of people. I think we all felt the pressure. It was still exciting, but way more intense. I think I did well. It was nothing like my audition on Saturday, but I still felt confident and relaxed. On the drive home, I thought about a million other things I should have said, but it is what it is. I have no control over whether they pick me as a finalist. I think if they are looking for a white, Mormon, stay-at-home mom then I am their girl. I did my best and we'll have to leave it at that. No regrets.

I am not sure exactly how many were given a second interview, but the producer I met with pinched his fingers together and said "this many" got call backs. A handful of people in LA, but they did live auditions in four cities and there are thousands of people uploading their ideas on Oprah's website. I am thinking that I may still whip together a video and post it before the deadline (the 26th.) It can't hurt-- and I should do what I can to make my case heard. I am already this far in, I might as well give it everything I've got.

Aaron, Cindy and the kids waited outside in the courtyard during my audition. I could see them from the waiting room window and it meant the world to me. After such a crazy weekend, I am grateful to come home with the people I love. I know there are so many out there who were auditioning for their "dream" job. They will be crushed to find out they didn't make it. I knew that I was not like so many who auditioned. Sure- a television show would be fun... but no matter what the outcome, I am lucky enough to be living my dream as a wife and a mother. I would feel ungrateful to ask for anything more-- but I won't turn it down if the opportunity presents itself! If I make it to the next level, they will call me in two weeks. If I don't, I won't hear anything..

So here's to closing out June and welcoming the first day of SUMMER tomorrow. I think we'll celebrate in style at the pool. Happy Father's Day, y'all.

fame, here I come...

blogging from line at the Oprah audition...Cindy and I arrived at 6 am. Thousands of people are auditioning with me. I have already LOVED meeting the other crazies here. I have no idea what my chances are, but I can tell you right now that I'm ten times more talented and better looking than anyone else in line..

I'll keep you posted.. Wish me luck.

airbrush tanning

Yesterday at the pool, I ran into a friend (more like a sister of a friend, but same diff). She does airbrush tanning at home. I've done the spray-on tan at the salon, but never airbrush-- where someone applies it personally to every inch of your body. Considering the big audition I have tomorrow, I decided to head over to her house and get it done. Without freaking out too much, let me say that I am A HUGE fan. For more information, go HERE. It's a new company that does air brush tanning parties! What fun!! My fingers and toes look awesome. I would never, ever be able to get a tan like this, no matter how long I spent out in the sun. And this tan comes with zero added wrinkles. I'm sold.

This was taken after a long, hot, terrible run this morning. Our half marathon is less than a month away and training absolutely sucks. No really-- I hate it. This is the WORST possible time of year to be running outside in Las Vegas. If you want to know what it feels like, try getting your heart rate up in a coal-burning, dry heat sauna. I have the option of running on a treadmill inside, but I can't help but look down and my mileage every 4 seconds, which makes 4 miles seem like an eternity. I honestly don't think I am going to be prepared for 13 miles. But I will not drop out. I can do this, even if it kills me.

And because the pictures above don't give an accurate account of how I look in real life (what can I say, the camera loves me?) Let me post a shot of my whole body. This is me in all my squishy glory. I am still hanging on to my baby weight. I think I've lost 10 pounds since Simon was birthed 7 months ago... I've got at least 20 to go. Super frustrating. My closet doesn't give me a lot of options even when I am skinny-- so to still be two sizes bigger really limits my already limited wardrobe. And the last thing I want to do is go and buy clothes. Anyway, I know it will come off eventually. It has always taken me longer and I don't know why I expect this time to be different. Everyone has their own kind of trials. I think I would pick being squishy over hardships that others are dealing with right now..

PS. I want to host an airbrush tanning party soon. I was thinking early August in SALT LAKE CITY and either July or September in LAS VEGAS. Are you interested in coming? If so, let me know!

leaving the kids for a bit of romance.

Everywhere we went in Florida people would ask if we were on our honeymoon. It was a lot of fun to say, "NO! We've been married ten years and we have FOUR kids at home!" This seemed to strike up great conversation with other tourists and several people we sat next to on our flights. One man in particular literally dropped his chin when we told him we had four kids at home. He kept saying, "No way! You two are babies yourselves!" Then he congratulated us and said that he and his wife let their marriage fall apart when the kids came along. He shook his head as he said, "We were putting the kids first, always. But when our marriage fell apart, we realized that the kids were the ones who suffered the most." As parents we need to realize that by putting your spouse FIRST, you are setting the foundation for a solid family-- and this is always best for the kids. It may be hard for the kids to know they come second, but it's so good for them.

With that said-- it was really, really difficult leaving my baby behind. The older kids were fine (and I knew that) but Simon is still so little. I was devastated when our family vaca to Detroit/Chicago was canceled. I really wanted to get away, but I didn't want to leave the kids. Aaron and I have very different ideas of what is classified as a vacation. He thinks taking the kids anywhere (but especially a big city) is not relaxing or fun. I disagree, but I can see his point. When we ended up canceling, I decided to "give in" and go along with Aaron's plan. Driving to the Florida Keys in a convertible was all his idea. Of course, Simon could have flown free with us, but everything on the agenda in Florida wasn't exactly baby-friendly. Simon is the first baby I stopped nursing before 12 months AND my sister just so happened to be living with us. Knowing they would be in good hands (and considering the fact that Simon would still be able to sleep in his crib) I hopped on board. And I am SO glad I did.

We were supposed to fly out Thursday evening. Simon was particularly tired that night and went to bed early. I was upset because he fell asleep without allowing me to say goodbye properly! I wanted to rock him to sleep and cuddle him for a while, and was so sad when I left the house. I peeked in on him as we left for the airport and honestly I felt like sobbing. When we arrived at the airport and saw all the chaos, we booked flights for the following morning. I was absolutely thrilled to be going back home. I came back, scooped Simon up in my arms and cuddled with him all night. Leaving him early the next morning was a little easier after I filled up my baby canteen.

We were gone a total of four days. Simon was happy to be home with his brothers and didn't seem to miss me at all. Cindy was awesome with him and I knew he would be okay. But EVERY time I saw a baby in Florida, I felt like someone had stabbed me in the heart. Aaron would joke with me and block me from seeing cute babies in restaurants... He missed the kids too, but I think it's easier to say goodbye when you're not with them every minute of every day.

Before the trip started I told myself that I was going to make the entire weekend about Aaron-- and not be a baby about missing my baby. So, we played this game where we pretended we didn't have kids. We did call them at night and made sure everything was okay, but when it was just the two of us, we didn't mention the kids-- at ALL. This trip wasn't about them and we wanted to make the best of our time alone.. Sometimes we would say things like, "If we had kids, they would totally love this." Or "When we have kids, we should...." I knew it was a game, but it really did help me remember where to keep my focus. And by doing things that weren't kid-friendly, I felt better about leaving them behind.

I also made a conscious effort to doll-up this weekend. There were some days I showered, curled my hair and put on makeup TWICE.. and that is so not like me. I brought all the jewelry I owned, tried to show lots of cleavage (not easy to do with my wardrobe) and I know that Aaron knew that I was giving it my best shot. This trip was all about him and even though he knew I was aching for the kids, I was going to enjoy ALL our time together. Because these days, alone time is hard to come by.

As women and mothers I believe it's really difficult to put our husbands first. The kids are around us all day, tugging on our legs, asking for help and begging to be hugged. They NEED us and we know it. But the truth is, our husbands NEED us just as much, if not more. They may not be verbally asking for some attention, but they are begging for it. If we step back and realize that by putting our men first, we are actually doing the kids a HUGE favor, then it makes it easier. Say NO TO THE KIDS and YES TO YOUR MAN! This is my message for today (and one I need to remember more often.) Go buy and new piece of lingerie, put the kids to bed early and surprise your man tonight!

para sweet sailing

Believe it or not, I am afraid of heights. But I live for a good thrill. Parasailing wasn't as scary as I hoped it would be. You are totally buckled in and secure. It's just like being up on a really high swing... A swing that's about 800 feet in the air.

Before we went, I had a brilliant idea to bring one of our disposable cameras up with us and take a few pictures while in the sky. After we took the shots, I wrapped the camera in a plastic bag and put it inside my life jacket. They aren't great quality and the coloring is pretty funky, but it's so fun to have these:

The ride was more exciting if you let go and flew.. We were daring each other not to hold on to the straps the entire time, but 15 minutes in the air was much longer than we thought it would be and we both needed to hold on for dear life at some point.

The only time I got really freaked out was when I leaned forward and looked over my feet. It was at this time I wished I had gotten a pedicure before the trip-- or at least touched up my polish a bit. Live and learn.

We were screaming and laughing our guts out. The BEST part of it all was getting dipped back and forth in the water at the end of the ride. The boat would slow down, we would fall in the ocean and then it would speed up fast again and we were yanked back in the air. It was awesome. A couple of people on our boat went up in the air but didn't do the whole water dunking... what a waste of money! That was (by far) the most exciting part of it all.

(The one above was obviously taken by someone in the boat.) As another couple was about to go up in the air, I yelled at the wife and asked for her camera so I could take pictures of them. She yelled back, "The battery died!" So I yelled to her, "Would you like me to take some and email them to you?" And she said, "PLEASE!" As I was snapping pictures of them, Aaron was making fun of me. He doesn't understand the importance of documenting. While on a ride like this, he's bothered that he has to stop for a picture rather than enjoy what he's doing. I told him that one day, when he's older, he would understand why it's so important. Right now he might roll his eyes, but someday he'll thank me for it. And really, why would you pay good money to do something if you're just going to forget it ever happened? No. Memories like this need to be captured. I think this shot will be enlarged and go up in our bedroom... isn't it romantic?

Anniversary Overkill

I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a lot to say about our trip, life at home, birthday projects going on, a big audition this weekend (I am trying out for my own show on the Oprah Network in California...) and I need at least FIVE of me to get everything done. I would be an absolute mess without my sister living with us. I need to write about how much I love her. How we would never have been able to have such an awesome getaway without her.. how she took all four of my kids to church, at 8 am! How we came home to a SPOTLESS house, even clean sheets on our bed. But I will have to save that for next week.

Today is our actual anniversary. It would be overkill to write more (aren't you so sick of how much I love my husband?) but I came across this picture and just had to post it.


The first time I knew I loved Aaron was about two months after we met. I didn't know that it was the I-want-to-marry-you-and-have-your-babies kind of love. But it was LOVE alright. We were away with a group of friends spending a weekend on a dairy farm in Idaho. I was inside the house helping some of the women with dinner. I was washing a head of lettuce in the sink and happened to look out the window overlooking the grassy backyard.

And there he was. A tall, lanky 21 year old guy playing soccer with a bunch of kids. He was the only adult and there were kids all over the place. He was in control of the ball and no one could get it from him. I watched all the kids faces--- how much fun they were all having. And then I saw Aaron pick up a little boy (about 4 years old) put him over his shoulder and spank him. All of the kids were screaming and wanted a turn, but Aaron was running away from them and they couldn't catch up. The poor kid wanted to get down, but Aaron wouldn't let him. He kept him over his shoulder and continued to play soccer. I smiled looking out the window and I remember thinking to myself that whoever marries this guy is a lucky girl. I honestly did NOT think that girl would be me, but lucky I am.

I've spent the last ten years watching that same tall, lanky guy play soccer with MY kids. On this particular day, he had a baby on his hip and three little boys trying their best to get the ball away from him. I grabbed my disposable kodak cam and took one shot (hoping it would turn out okay..) and then ran out on the grass to help my kids score at least ONE goal against their daddy. I don't think we were successful, but we had a great time. The last ten years have been filled with lots of joy... lots of playing, spanking and laughing. They've also been filled with hard work, frustrations, disagreements and adjustments. We've moved more times than I want to count.. but we've always been happy to be together and I know that's what matters in the end. I am happy. My life isn't perfect, but I am lucky to spend it with the people I love most. This is what I am celebrating today. We will have a quiet dinner at home and maybe play a game of Go Fish before bedtime. And, in my opinion, no trip to paradise is better than that.

PS. Zack has said so many cute things these past few weeks, but I just can't write them down fast enough. When we got home from our vacation, our boys ran to us and gave us big hugs. I picked up Zack and said, "HI! I missed you! Did you miss me?" He smiled and said, "NO!" When I asked why he didn't miss me, he said, "Because I always never miss you!" I always never want to forget how cute his face is.

5 seconds of fame (and misery)

no, seriously-- I have a lot to write about and I would rather have our anniversary highlights at the top of my blog page rather than this... but a few people have asked for the link of me on the news so here it is.

http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21001425127056/

I was interviewed for about 10 minutes, while Aaron was working his magic booking flights on another airline. They also got footage of Aaron and I together, but this all I can find online right now. It shows me for about 6 seconds at the 1 minute mark.. and that's my voice at the end "They're not treating their employees right and they treat their customers like crap. So how are they going to stay in business?" That was mild compared to what I said to the Spirit exects at the airport. Aaron had to hold me back.

We were literally in the airport ALL DAY Monday-- three different connecting flights to get home to our babies. Anyway, we laughed so hard about this little video ditty. First of all, I turned into a HOBO on this trip... humidity + hours of driving in a convertible converts you into a slob. And I want to live that way forever. Second of all, they aired me saying "AS IF!" If I can't look like an uppity Clueless snob, at least I can talk like one.

I will explain more about our "experience" with Spirit Airlines later. It's a great story and made our 10 year anniversary that much more memorable. All I can say is if you're ever stuck somewhere, make it be with someone you love. We had an awesome day. It could have been terrible, miserable, stressful. But instead we spent hours making up the most annoying fake laughs and trying them out on strangers... We talked to news reporters, booked new flights on another airline, spent way too much time watching people in the airport making up stories about them, made plans for our future.. We window shopped cities from the airports: St. Louis, Austin, El Paso.. and had a great time doing it. It doesn't matter if I am on the beach, parasailing, snorkeling or hanging out in the airport with my man. I will go wherever he goes and do whatever he does. He's THAT cool and I honestly had a great time. But I was so glad to finally get home to our kids..

More Spirit talk later. Now I must feed my baby. I love that I still have a baby! And an adorable one at that!

Celebrating 10 years

I just returned from an unbelievably fabulous weekend in Florida with my man. Since the day we got married, Aaron and I have been talking about flying into Miami, renting a convertible and driving the Ocean highway to the Florida Keys. I kid you not-- I've had a picture in my head of the two of us doing it. This past weekend, all my dreams came true. Exactly as I had imagined..

There are not words to describe the kind of vacation we had... romantic + relaxing + exhilarating, don't quite sum it up. The only thing I can say about it is that is was as good (if not better) than the 10 days we spent in Hawaii in 2007. And to say THAT means it was some of the best days of my life. I could write 20 separate posts for these bullet points, so when I have the time, I will. My husband requested that most of them are posted on my private blog. I love him and will do anything he tells me to. For now, these TOP TEN lists of our Tenth Anniversary will have to do:

TOP TEN HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR VACATION:

10. Staying at a hotel that was literally steps away from the ocean.

9. Sneaking into the pool and hot tub after hours. shh!

8. Sleeping in, showering and getting ready together without having to worry about the kids.

7. Swimming in the warm ocean at midnight.

6. Spending all our free time next to the pool-- we laughed so much and had some serious bubble gum blowing contests, which I definitely won.

5. Jogging along the beach at sunrise.

4. Parasailing. I could have stayed up there ALL DAY LONG.

3. Snorkeling and being just a few feet away from a reef shark. Aaron thinks it was about 7-8 ft long. I think it was HUMONGOUS.

2. Driving in a convertible over the Atlantic Ocean with my handsome husband. Sunsets were always the best.

1. Coming home with a man I love, to a life we've created together and seeing four of the cutest boys on the planet. (Ben not pictured because he's sitting on my lap.) Simon was asleep when we got home, but I just HAD to wake him up.

The DOWNSIDE...
or the TEN WORST moments of the weekend.
10. Spending 4 days there instead of 14.
9. Straightening my hair only to have it curl and frizz ten minutes later.
8. Getting lost on the way to (and from) the Keys.
7. Realizing that everyone who lives in the Florida Keys is a HOBO. Trust me.
6. Not buying a $20 underwater camera before I realized we would run into a shark.
5. Eating a salad at a fancy restaurant, only to find a big dead fly mixed in with the tomatoes and dressing.
4. Getting sand in the camera and breaking the lens.
3. Leaving my new phone in Aaron's swimsuit pocket while snorkeling.
2. Missing the kids. It was painful just thinking about my baby!
1. Booking our flights on SPIRIT AIR. Their pilots were on strike the very days of our vaca. More on this later.

Must get sleep now.
Can't wait to wake up and be a MOM tomorrow!!!!!

the Hoopty

Aaron and I were young and poor when we got hitched. We were crazy to marry under such circumstances, but love is blind and oblivious. Our plan was to spend the week after our wedding vacationing in Vail, CO. Only problem-- neither of us had a working car. I knew my dad would let us take one of his for the honeymoon, but lucky for us, we didn't have to ask to borrow anything. Let me introduce you to THE HOOPTY.


This beautiful 1983 Buick Le Sabre was Aaron's grandpa's car and it became our new baby!!! I didn't even know about it until our wedding day. When Aaron told me we would be driving it to Vail, I was stoaked! It was a boat... so it was kind of like going on a cruise and a vacation at the same time. Seriously, it was a radical car. It was decorated at our reception and we drove off with "Just Married" written in shoe polish on the back windshield. I think a lot of our friends were teasing us, but honestly I did not care. I was happy to be married to such a great guy and the car was gravy. I am totally laughing now that I was so thrilled about it. But thrilled, I was.

Our drive to Vail was suh-weet. The Hoopty is the most comfortable car in the entire world. It had two long couches for seats and they were so cushy! Somewhere in the mountains between Utah and Colorado, we got stuck in terrible traffic. There was a bad accident in one of the canyons and we were literally at a stand-still for about two hours. For others on the road, it was probably frustrating, but Aaron and I were as chill as chill could be. We turned off the car, pulled out a honeymoon basket given to us by my aunt (thanks Karen!) and kicked up our feet. We had a week-long honeymoon to look forward to, lots of cash in our pockets and not a care in the world. We rolled down the windows, read cards from the reception, tried to peg each other in the face with caramel popcorn (something that was in the basket) and talked about how perfect our wedding day was.

When we finally were able to get out of the canyon, we were in desperate need of gas (the gas gage didn't work, so we were kind of paranoid!) We made it to a gas station and filled up. While we were there, a man approached Aaron at the gas tank and started talking to him. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I saw that he shook Aaron's hand and wished him good luck. Aaron came back to the car smiling. He said that the guy slipped him a $20 bill while shaking his hand.. How nice! We laughed so hard that he saw our car and the "Just Married" sign and knew we needed some help. So awesome.

*One big discrepancy we have with this story is the length of the generous man's hair. I swear, he had a long braid down his back. Aaron says no possible way. Ten years later, both of us are sticking by our story.

We have many fond memories with the Hoopty. It was such a good car to us and never gave us any problems... (aside from the occasional empty gas tank.) We drove it for 9 months before we were able to save enough money to pay cash for our Honda Accord. I was fortunate enough to land a great job public speaking in front of large corporations. I traveled all over Utah County in the Hoopty and was proud of my boat. I got paid 50 cents for every mile I drove in that thing-- a small reimbursement for gas and "maintenance" on the vehicle. After driving it around all day long everyday, we made some serious money on that car!

Many of my co-workers made fun of me, but my boss loved that I was ghetto-fabulous. I worked for United Way of Utah County, which is a non-profit organization. I would often take the CEO of these large corporations out to lunch to discuss the company's donation to United Way and I would drive them to and from the restaurant in the famous Hoopty-mobile.

One particular afternoon, I drove a nice middle-aged business man and his partner (a female) to a benefit luncheon. He sat next to me on the bench seat and said, "Wow. Your clock is really big." (it was an old school clock built in the dash-- it was the size of a softball.) I laughed and told him I have no excuse to ever be late. And then I turned around to the woman and said, "You could probably fit up here on this bench with us if you want to." When I got back to the office, my boss pulled me into his office and closed the door. I thought I was about to get in trouble for being so casual with big clients. He sat me in front of his desk and played aloud a message on his voice mail. I smiled as I heard the CEO and his partner thank United Way for a delightful lunch. They specifically mentioned the "limo service" to and from the benefit and said that it was refreshing to know that all the money they were about to donate wasn't going to the employees paychecks. After we listened to the message I was asked to stay on full-time... and I owed it all to the rockin' grandpa car. It will always have a special place in my heart. May it rest in peace!

the wedding luncheon...

After our early morning wedding, we had a catered luncheon at my church. It is the one thing I would change about my wedding day, if I could change anything. I liked having all my family and friends together for a nice meal. I really loved the "program" where our parents and each of our siblings stood up and told funny stories about us. But if I could do it all over again, I would never do it on the actual wedding day. I would have a nice dinner the evening before and let the wedding day be just that. But it is what it is. We have our entire wedding luncheon recorded (thanks to Colby Holt) and I love watching it and listening to the stories.

One memory that isn't written down but I think of often happened just before the luncheon began. Aaron and I stayed on the temple grounds longer than everyone else so we could do the whole picture-posing thing. When we arrived at the luncheon, I was in a simple green dress, but Aaron was still wearing his tux from the wedding. He brought an outfit to wear for the luncheon and went into the men's bathroom to change. I was waiting out in the hall because I didn't want to make my big entrance into the luncheon without my husband. As I was standing out there in the hall by myself, I thought... "Hey! He's my husband now and I can watch him take off his clothes if I want to!" So I straightened my shoulders and walked into the men's bathroom. Aaron laughed when he saw me and asked what I thought I was doing. I told him that I just came in to watch him change just because I was a married woman now. It's amazing how long you wait for such privileges and then all of the sudden after a 15 minute ceremony, nothing is off limits! Some people might have a hard time making that transition so quickly... but I certainly did not.

I remember most of the stories and appreciated all the things we received from our siblings and parents at our luncheon... we still use the beach towels Deb gave us and the nice framed Greg Olson painting from Greg and Annette still hangs on our wall. But one thing I had forgotten was the message given from my grandma Roma on the day of my wedding. I was able to play it back today and my eyes filled up with tears and I listened to what she had to say. I only wish I could post it here, but the sound is terrible. This is what she said (in a nutshell.) "I wanted to say something to the bride on her special day. I am only a few years older than she is. I have learned true friendship and true love from Janet and her family. There's no girl like Janet. So Aaron, I hope I don't have to use THIS (raising her walking cane in the air) on you. You better treat her well!" Even though Roma's not around anymore to protect me, she would be happy to know that he has treated me superb for ten solid years. That cane must have scared him into shape!

that beautiful day in June

Our wedding day was perfect. Everything they say about being a June bride is true! The weather was gorgeous, the tulips were in bloom and there was a summer breeze in the air. Most importantly, we had all of our loved ones surrounding us. For the past two years, Aaron and I have been trying to decide which wedding photo to enlarge for our bedroom. The frame has been hanging on the wall empty-- just waiting for us to make a decision. A couple of months ago, I realized that no picture is more important to me than this one..


When I look at this picture, I am reminded how much love and support Aaron and I have been given. We were both fortune enough to be raised by goodly parents who mean the world to us. Each one of our amazing siblings was at the temple and that's pretty incredible. Our closest friends, many who flew long distances to celebrate with us are in this picture and I just love looking at all their smiling faces. I was such a happy bride and I felt so much love and support.


On the way to the temple, Aaron's parents were following us (and were driving with our marriage license and recommends). Somewhere along the way, they took a wrong turn and got lost. We made it to the temple and crossed our fingers that they would find their way. (the days before cell phones were so frustrating!) We sat for about 20 minutes in the waiting room of the temple and then decided to go outside to find them. Just as we hit the elevator, Aaron parents came walking out. His mom was crying, holding our temple bags and recommends. I couldn't tell if she was frustrated or happy to finally make it-- but I think it was a mixture of emotions. Having sons of my own, I can slightly imagine how emotional it would be to walk into the temple on their wedding day. I can guarantee you I will be crying-- either out of happiness or frustration (depending solely on the bride they chose to marry.) I love my inlaws so much and I am crossing my fingers that Aaron looks as great as his dad in 30 years... something tells me he will.


Getting ready in the bride's room was special. I believe there were 120 brides at the temple on June 16. But because my wedding was so early, I was the only one around. The wrinkly temple attendants made me feel so special and beautiful. It was a quiet morning in the temple and I was getting anxious to see Aaron. We finally were able to spend time together in the Celestial room before the ceremony. I was hoping my anxiousness would subside when I sat down next to him, but it didn't. I had a lump in my throat and I felt sick to my stomach. Aaron was smiling at me so sweetly and whispered something to me about how pretty I looked. I smiled back at him and said, "I think I am going to throw up." He responded with, "I will untie the back of your dress and pretend you didn't just say that to me." True love, it was.

romance at JB's

Dating at an LDS school in Rexburg, ID doesn't exactly give you the "opportunity" to create a lot of romantic moments. Not that we were going to do anything crazy, but we really didn't have the freedom to be alone. Many people (my mother in law, for instance) would say this is a great thing because it keeps you chaste, but I disagree. People who want to have sex will find a way... all I wanted was a quiet place to talk! Aaron and I lived four hours apart and when we finally got to see each other, it was frustrating that there were so many people around! My roommates (love them to death) were party animals... and there was never a quiet moment at home, so we had to go elsewhere.

On February 4th, we found a more romantic setting than where we were the night before. One step up from the Clark building on campus was JB's restaurant. We didn't want to go to one of the "happening" spots in Rexburg-- we wanted to be left alone. We made ourselves comfortable in a booth at JB's and our waitress quickly realized that we were going to be there for a while. The night before was a serious conversation, but this was a whole new ball game. This is where we had the mother of all serious discussions.

Our DTR included changing summer plans, wedding dates, birth control, how many kids we wanted, where to go to school, where to live, career paths, financial matters, future goals.... you name it. By the time we left this restaurant, I believe we had covered all the bases (without leaving first base, if you know what I mean.) Sitting inside the restaurant discussing such important issues should have freaked me out, but it didn't. I let my guard down... and I was very comfortable, completely at ease. As anti-marriage as I was (especially at my young, fragile age) Aaron was the right guy and I knew it was going to be okay.

During dinner, Tim MacGraw's "My Best Friend" played three times and it became our song. Neither of us are huge country fans, but it fit and ten years later when I hear that song, I think of our booth at JB's. Who knew JB's could be so romantic? Out in the parking lot, the sparks flew. Before he opened my car door, Aaron kissed me and I felt it all the way in my toes. After the kiss, he put his forehead to mine and I said, "I'm going to marry you." Aaron smiled and said, "Not if I marry you first." I was officially swept off my feet.

first kiss

Aaron kissed me for the first time on Feb 3, 2000. (Our #2 son, Luke, was born exactly 3 years later.. ahhh.) It wasn't a typical environment or place for a first kiss. It was a Thursday night about 9 pm. I had to go on campus to prepare for something the next morning and we were sitting on a bench in the hall of the Clark building. I'm not sure how long we were there talking, but probably a couple of hours. Up until that point, Aaron and I had always been comfortable talking... but this night was different. I would never have admitted it at the time, but I was really nervous. Not necessarily to kiss him, but because I knew everything was going to change and I wasn't sure how I felt about it. Somewhere in the middle of our discussion, I said to him, "How long are you going to wait to kiss me?" Although Aaron wasn't shocked by the fact that I said what I was thinking, he didn't think it was the most romantic setting. But he planted one on me anyway. Fireworks didn't go off, but there was plenty of time for that to happen later.

I remember one very significant part of the conversation that night and it had nothing to do with our first kiss. While sitting there in that hallway on that uncomfortable bench, Aaron pulled out his wallet and showed me a picture he'd been carrying around since he was twelve. It was a worn baseball picture of his friend, Patrick. Aaron moved around a lot when he was younger. About every two years, his family picked up and moved... typically it was to a new state. Aaron talked about how hard that was for him, how hard it was to make friends. In 1989 his family moved to Texas and the first friend he made was Patrick. They were in the same class at school and attended church together. Patrick was also new to the area. He and Aaron had the same goofy sense of humor and they instantly became best friends. Patrick's dad owned (or managed) a local hotel and on the weekends, Aaron and Patrick got a room all to themselves to hang out and watch movies. One particular Friday night, Aaron packed his bag after talking with Patrick on the phone... they were heading to the hotel later that night and Aaron was looking forward to it. But just after the phone call, Patrick was hit by a truck while riding his dirt-bike in front of his house. Aaron's dad was available to give Patrick a priesthood blessing after the accident, but it was too late. They believe he was killed on contact.

This was a really significant event in Aaron's childhood. Going back to scouts, church and school was extremely difficult for Aaron after Patrick's death. He remembers the first day he went back to school after the funeral. He sat down in his desk and looked over at Patrick's empty desk and just started sobbing. Thankfully the teacher changed the seating chart the next day. Aaron kept Patrick's picture in his wallet and has never taken it out. It is still there today... When Simon was born, we struggled coming up with a middle name for him. After talking about it for a couple of days, we knew that Simon Patrick sounded just right. After Simon was born, I asked Aaron if he wouldn't mind writing about Patrick so we could have it for Simon's baby book... he may eventually get around to it, but even after 20+ years, it's still too emotional for him.

So today, I am writing my version of the story... the first time I heard about Patrick. It happened to be on the night of our first kiss, but it was also the first night that I realized I loved my husband. Listening to him talk about such a difficult time in his life was really special for me. We had been friends for a long time and during that time, Aaron had seen me cry a dozen times. But this was a side of Aaron I had never seen before. And I liked it. The more I got to know him, the more I wanted to know him better.

anniversary countdown

I had this great idea to do a TOP TEN countdown of funny, memorable stories from the dating/newlywed archives of Janet and Aaron. We're about to celebrate our ten year anniversary and I wanted to share stories that I love, but ones that aren't significant enough to be written in my journal. I was going to start on June 6th and post one story every day until our anniversary. Well, June 6th came and went and now it's only 8 days until our big day. Maybe I will do a top 8. Maybe I will do a top 3. Hopefully this won't be the only one.

This past week, I had one of my most embarrassing moments ever. My cheeks are flushed and my heart is beating faster just thinking about it. I would write about it here, but I just can't. It's too soon... and I would ruin my impeccable reputation. What I will say is that I was on the phone with my husband seconds after it happened. I tell him anything & everything. He laughs at me, but he doesn't judge me. We have a good thing going, he and I.

From the first second I met Aaron, I felt incredibly comfortable around him. In fact, I probably felt too comfortable. It took me a long time to realize what we had was LOVE because it was nothing like I had read about in books or seen on movies, and it was far from anything I had experienced from dating relationships in the past. I never felt nervous around Aaron. I didn't need to impress or try to be someone I wasn't. I believe that I fell in love with him gradually, until one day I realized that being with him meant that I was the best version of myself. I could talk to him about anything.. and honestly, this was the #1 reason I was afraid to take our friendship to the next level. I needed him in my life and I would have been devastated if I jeopardized our relationship for a 2-week romance.

One thing that set Aaron apart from any other guy on campus was the random conversations we had in between classes. We never had a class together and didn't really meet up to study or hang out-- but we ran into each other often. I loved randomly bumping into him. He never had books or a back pack. He usually had a pen behind his ear and he wandered around without a care in the world.. (some things never change.) But from the beginning, our small chat was never small chat. We didn't shoot the breeze talking about the weather. We got into the habit of sharing random bits of information that, if pieced together, would never make sense to anyone else. I grew accustomed to expecting the unexpected from him and he made it easy for me to express my random thoughts.

Although there are hundreds experiences to share (many of them written down because we emailed often) one random meeting sticks out in my mind. I had known Aaron for a few short weeks when I ran into him off campus. It was a crisp afternoon in the fall of 1998. I was on the way home from a jog and he was hitting the tennis courts just behind my apartment. I saw him across a busy street and he motioned for me to slow down. I waited for him to cross and I thought to myself that there was no way I had a crush on this guy... if I did, I would be stressed about my sweaty hair, my grungy outfit and my lack of makeup. But I wasn't. I was genuinely happy to run into him and I could tell he was happy to see me too.

As I jogged in place, I remember Aaron telling me how much he loved tennis and how he wished he could do it for a living. This led to him talking about his high school experience on the tennis team, which led to the time he was 12 (or so) living in Texas where he met a kid named Sparky. I still can picture the expression on his face as he told me about how he and his friends would stay up all hours of the night playing ping-pong until they could play no longer... and they would drink so much Tang that they would make themselves sick... and then they would lay down and listen to the Tang swish back and forth in their bellies. I have no idea what I said in response to this information, but I distinctly remember jogging away from the tennis courts, waving goodbye and shaking my head in bewilderment. I was smiling as I said to myself, "WHO is this guy and why on Earth did he just tell me that story?"

Years later, I find myself listening to random stories by this same weird guy. Sometimes we are jogging next to each other. Sometimes it's while at the park with our kids. Sometimes it's next to him in bed-- and it's SO ridiculously late that I curse him for being a night owl. Sometimes it's over dinner at a quiet restaurant. Sometimes it's while loading the dishwasher together. Most recently it was on the way home from a fun, spontaneous road trip. Oh how I love taking road trips with him-- it's hours of guaranteed good conversation.

Ten years of random stories can really teach you something about someone. The more I learn about him, the more I love. He continues to surprise me and he always goes the extra mile to get a reaction out of me. I often find myself shaking my head in bewilderment and asking myself, "WHO is this guy and how did I end up with him?" And then I smile because I know that I'm so lucky I did.

fun with Cindy Lou

Summer has officially arrived... and we are having way too much fun in the sun. Cindy has been here for a week and we've been busy playing games, cooking, watching movies, swimming, hitting our favorite museums, etc. I've said before that the reason why I blog so often is because I am lonely-- it's my way of reaching out to my family members who live so far away. But with a sister here, I don't feel so lonely anymore. Aaron had a busy week at work and called a few times to say, "I'm sorry... I won't be home until late." And I reply happily, "What do I care? Cindy is here to keep me company!" We'll see how long it will take before she gets sick of us.