Handing over the Reigns

So the wife put a gun to my head and told me to type tonight.

So, here it goes, one key at a time.

Today was not a good day for the "Culver Backyard Project." It turned into a messy project when I discovered my "stupid strength" and slammed the post hole digger right into Sunnyside Valley Irrigation's 6" PVC pipe carrying a great deal of water to the wear box in the neighbor's pasture.

Turns out that flood irrigation is not entirely acceptable as proper use of the water these days. Thought I was doing the other neighbor's marijuana plants in the basement a favor. Boy, was I wrong.

So the water got shut off a coupla days earlier than scheduled...hope the next 6 people down the line were done for the year.

Sometimes I think life would be easier if I could go back to the days of my childhood. You know, BMX bikes, sling shots & pet aliens. As an adult, you can't say, "time out." Well, you could, but SVID's still going to send me a bill for the repair.

Well, besides the MINOR setback today, the fence we were building is almost done and looks really good.

Jaylee is doing alright. She had to go to the dr. yesterday, so I met her for the first time...she's old. I felt like we should have been asking her the questions. You know, like, "are you walking by yourself? Do you need assistance?" Well, everything went well, except when they shot her four times. Next time I'm gonna shoot back.

I suppose I have taken up way too much of your time, especially if you read as slow as I write. Goodnight.

Weight a Minute

Oh boy. What have I gotten myself into? I don't know if I can do it. In fact, I don't think I can. Most likely it's impossible. There's no way I'll win. But it's $350!!!!

Sorry...my thoughts are taking over my fingers.

Well, last night my husband and I placed a bet. A ridiculous one. One I'm sure I can't win. And ya'll know I hate to lose. But oh well. A bet's a bet. We shook on it. All's fair in love and war.

And this...is war.

Whoever loses 10 lbs the fastest wins $350!!! His idea. I'm sure it's because for about 16 months now I've been complaining about my "baby" weight. Nothing seems to be gettin' me motivated and he must have thought money would do it. He sure doesn't need to lose any weight but he's already Mr. Hardcore. He ran a mile last night on the treadmill (after he uncovered it from all the dust) and then he ran 2 miles this morning. I, on the other hand, ate. I still lost a lb. and he lost 2. So, he's ahead.

I'm totally psyching myself up to lose the bet but I really wanna win! I figure with his metabolism he could lose 10 lbs by Monday! I wanna cuss!

He asked me last night what my plan of action was. I said, "pffft, like I'm gonna tell you. Do opposing football teams share their strategies, I think not." He laughed. So, of course I had to ask him what his P.O.A was. "Eat less. Run more." I said, "okay, okay. I'll tell you my P.O.A. Eat. Throw up." JUST KIDDING!!! I'm not going to do that, but I wish I could.

Maybe I'll get on the treadmill too. Crazier things have happened...

Panicking

When Jaylee was born I started a journal for her. I haven't written in it everyday but when she was first born I wrote quite often. Telling her our events for the day or marking milestones; first night in her crib, first time rolling over, crawling, teeth, etc. Well, I lost that journal. It's been a couple of months since I've written in it and every time something funny happens or the days that her and her daddy share a sweet moment I think, "oh, I'll remember to write it down when I find that journal."

But I don't remember.

Today my mission was to find that journal and write, write, write! So, I found it. In one of our end tables. It wasn't lost. I had put it in a place that would be easy to get to and because of that I made the searching process more difficult than it needed to be. I looked in dressers, a cedar chest, a box full of her keepsakes, my bookcase, under her crib, on the shelves of her changing table. Why look in the end table next to my chair that I sit in everyday?! Geesh.

So, I wrote. And I wrote some more. I looked back to my entry of October 4, 2005. She was just starting to grab at things in front of her, she was wanting to roll over, she needed to be held to see things because she couldn't sit up on her own yet. October 4, 2006 she's running all over, talking up a storm, she's aware of her surroundings, yet intrigued by everything new, she's asserting her independence...she's becoming a little girl.

I don't know if I'm ready for that. I know that I can't stop it. But I wish to slow it down.

It seems like yesterday she made those little noises that only the newest of babies make. You moms know what noise I'm talking about. While they are awake or even when they sleep, a little squeak, mixed with a sigh, their mouths twitch, eyes flutter...but about 2 months old, it stops. We used to call her Squeaker. Then one day she didn't squeak anymore. I think it was then I realized how fast time was flying by.

I don't mean for this blog to be a downer today. Maybe it's the rain today that has me feeling this way. I don't know...

But tonight, when you're so excited for bedtime because you'll have a few hours to yourself, to be a woman and not just "Mommy", when you lay your little or not so little one(s) down for bed, let that hug last just a lil longer, squeeze a lil tighter. Take a few minutes to praise Jesus for the miracle(s) He's blessed you with and ask Him to help you not take for granted their everyday.

I know I'm going to.

Round Three #@$%

Joshua and his uncle at the top of Half Dome. Uncle Steven's eighth year, Joshua's first. Josh wants us to go back next year so I can climb it, too. "Are you kidding me?" I ask. "You could do it," he says. "You just can't look down." Pfft.

We're still amazed that Jaylee rode almost 2000 miles without fussing too terribly bad. The first 20 minutes of our trip were scary. She cried so hard we considered turning back before we even got started. After that, it was allll good.

@$%&

Dial up and posting pictures do not go hand in hand. Thank you for your cooperation, we regret any inconvenience.
This is at the beach in Bandon. Taken by some random guy.
And a picture at Coit Tower where I slammed my face into the window like a dork. Kinda felt like Ugly Betty, too. Seen the previews for that? Should be called Ugly Sarah.

Vacation Pictures

A recap of our vacation: We headed down to Portland and spent some time with the Patzke family. On Sunday morning we woke up bright and early and headed to Bandon. We went to a Safari park. The Safari park made me realize I need a goat. Yes, need. Not want, need. I loved them. Jaylee loved them. Joshua pretended not to love them, but he did. We went to a little seafood restaurant where we had clams, those are gross. I felt like I was on Fear Factor. Bluuhhck!

We wanted to see the lighthouse at sunset. It was so beautiful! We asked some random people to take our picture. I think they thought we were weird. Pffft...what do they know?....

At Pier 39 in San Francisco, Jaylee and her daddy watched the caraousel before deciding to get on. She was pretty tired but I think she enjoyed herself. We went to Coit Tower where I made a complete fool of myself, I know, you're all shocked at that one. It's totally different to make a fool of yourself on purpose and then to do it by accident. We're at the top of this tower and the windows are all around. Joshua calls me over to look at this roof top garden, I walk over to look out the window and BAM! I smacked right into the window. I felt like a bird slamming into a freshly windexed sliding glass door. I could have died. Uncle Steven told me I didn't have to get that close. Yeah, thanks...

We ate Japanese food, I found out that of the "nese" food, I prefer CHInese. We had Indian, which was quite yummy and inexpensive. Makes it taste even better then! :) And of course, when in California, eat as the Californians...organic. It doesn't taste any different, just has a fancy shmancy label on it.

For the last eight years Uncle Steven has climbed the Half Dome at Yosemite. This year Joshua decided to join him. It took almost 11 hours but they made it. I asked how it was. "The most strenuous thing I've ever done," he tells me. He was pretty wiped out. That night we had to share a sleeping bag so we didn't get much sleep (because there wasn't room to get comfortable, not because...) anyway, we left Yosemite and planned our route home. We figured about 14 hours of straight driving. We chose a road neither of us had been on, we thought it'd be fun to see some new country. Well, that turned out to be a not so good idea. 20 hours ladies and gentlemen. That's right. 9:30 am-5:30 am. Our sweet little girl was so patient. She never fussed. She was such a trooper.

We laid her down and she let us sleep for a couple of hours. The Lord really blessed us with a crazy amount of energy because after only two hours of sleep we were able to clean out our car, do laundry, empty suitcases...it was amazing. For those who know us, you know it's a miracle my suitcases are empty before December. I was proud of us.

All in all our vacation was so great! The Lord blessed us with amazing weather, safety on the road and a great time with family.

Thank you all for wearing your life jackets while we were gone.

Safe and Sound

Well, we made it. Our trip was great. I pick up our 10 rolls of film tonight so I'll have pictures to share later. Just wanted you all to know we're alive and well. (Glad to hear you all are, too.)

Thank you for your prayers for our family.