Pictures from our Trip to Portland

Jaylee was very close to throwing Treena the normal 3 year old smile she's been so good at lately.

I love him. After 12 years of being together, 10 of those being married years, I just really really like him.


I can't get enough of her cheeks. Love 'em.
It only looks like Alison was drinking Josh's coffee, she wasn't really. I promise. We're going to wait til she's at least a year before we get her addicted to that. :)

Thinking about placing a call to Jeff Foxworthy

Last weekend we attempted to get more done on our fence. Yeah, we're still not done with that project. Josh likes to wear him some overalls when he does work outside. He looks mighty cute in them.

I went outside and he has one strap just hanging. It reminded me of junior high when it was cool to only strap one side of your overalls. Yes, I'm reminded how that wasn't too long ago but it does feel like a lifetime.

I wanted to make fun of him but before I could he showed me that the thing had broke and wouldn't stay clipped.

Then a lightbulb went off in his little head and off he went to his shop.

Where he proceeded to weld his overalls together. While he was still wearing them.

Seriously, folks.

Our redneckishness doesn't end there. Oh, how I wish it did.

This last Saturday I was really wanting some quality time with my man. I didn't get it in the form I wanted it (no children) but we still managed to have fun. As a side note, let me just say, I do love my children but there are times where I don't want to cut up pieces of food, wipe noses, remind about manners and how it's rude to interrupt and please won't you just learn how to fend for yourself.

Side note over.

So.

It's about 6:30 on Saturday night we head to Safeway, ravenously hungry (not a good idea, peeps, not a good idea) we proceed to spend $73.42 on one meal.

I kid you not.

In my head I'm thinking for 73 smacks I coulda had someone make the food for me and then clean up after me but oh this will be so fun to go home and make a mess of my nice clean kitchen and then I get to make the yummy food and clean again.

*jumping up and down clapping like a moron*

But the husband, oh, the husband. "I think we should just stay home and not go out. If we go out we'll just spend a bunch of money. We should just stay home and not spend money."

Silly man.

Okay, back to our redneckishness. Stay with me folks.

Finally, finally it's time to eat. The husband wants to make it all romantic. Candlelight romantic if you will. However we have no way to light said candles.

Again, a lightbulb goes off for the husband.

So, we ate by bugzapperlight. Uh huh, a bug zapper. In my kitchen.

Oh, the romantic glow.

That really sets the mood.

Sometimes I'm the one in need of a swift kick

My husband has the day off today.

Isn't that great?! Um, no.

He's not spending it with me. I know, poor me, huh? You could dish out some sympathy ya know?

Since he's been gone today, I decided to have a huge party in my honor. I'm sorry you weren't invited but I didn't know how many would really want to attend my Pity Party.

Seriously folks, I've moped all day long, because we know how much moping gets accomplished. I've been feeling sorry for myself that I never get a day off. That I don't get to call in sick. Poor me, blah blah blah.

Such is the life I've chosen for myself being a SAHMama. Most days except those that end in Y I really don't mind my "job". Most days I'm glad I'm home with these heathenblessings. Days like today though, days that I've chosen to be a snot, are days I'm resentful, days that I get absolutely nothing done because I figure if he's not workin' I'm not workin' either.

So neener neener.

I'm so grown up. I'm sure I make my mother proud.

Okay, so I'm bitter that he's taken this day off to spend elsewhere. We won't discuss that he's actually working very hard up in the mountains chopping wood for our home to be warm this winter, we're going to pretend he's off racing cars and drinking beer and talkin' boy talk with his manly friends.

Yep, that's what I've made up in my mind as to what he's doing.

I want him to take a day off to spend with *gasp* ME. What a concept, huh? I want. I want. I want.

What have you done for him recently?

Ignoring that still small voice. Not really in the mood to hear Him.

What have you done for Me recently?

Oh, sure, bust out Your big guns. I see how You roll.

I'm here, aren't I?! He has clean clothes, food on the table, and my beautiful smiling face, what more could the man ask for?!

You're willingness.

But I don't wanna.

And that ended my conversation with Him.

For the moment.

Then I read this post and I'm having a bit of an attitude adjustment. Just a bit. Maybe if I gave my husband his desires, he'd take a day off to spend with me. Maybe not, but maybe so.

Like Jess says, I can only change me.

And some diapers too...

What might make my headache better

Totally kidding, of course. I know that these wouldn't make my headache better, in fact by morning, I'm sure I'd feel worse.

But for the moment, it sounds delightful! :)

This was a picture my would be/could be BFF, Ericka took the night of the reunion. No worries, I didn't drink either one. But it was mighty tempting, you know, if I liked Budweiser and red wine. Which I don't, so bummer for me!

The end of Summer

Ahhh. It's peaceful in my house at the moment. Duct tape works wonders when you want your children to be quiet.

It's chilly here this morning. It feels refreshing. Anyone who knows me will tell you I'm almost always cold. I like to be warm. A perfect day to me would be like 87 degrees. I think it's in the 50's at the moment.

I do like to be warm but I am very ready for Fall. We didn't have a very hot Summer but the heat we did have seemed to last longer than normal.

With summer coming to an end so are evenings like the one I witnessed last week.

Jaylee asked her daddy to swing her. "Not you, Mommy. You hold Ali, okay?" Sigh..."okay." Josh was busy. He's trying to get stuff done outside. But he never denies her requests for some playtime. He's never too busy for her.

I look outside from our large front window. I have a perfect view of that ugly swingset he built for her. They're holding hands. They both look very serious. He buckles her in. She's holding on tight. A smile starts to play across her face.

And she's up. Up into the trees.

He swings her so high it scares me. But she won't allow me to swing her because I can't put her in the trees. She loves it.

I wander into the kitchen, cleaning up here and there. A few minutes later I head back to the window. She's no longer in the trees but in her daddy's lap. Her little arms are wrapped around his neck, her long legs dangling. She's nuzzling into his neck. His back is to me but I can feel him smiling and see that his eyes are closed as he savors these sweet moments with her.

So, our summer evenings may be coming to an end but that moment will be in my heart forever.

I could not have asked the Lord for a more amazing daddy for my girls than Joshua. At his busiest, he has all the time in the world for them.

A link I don't really care to give.

My weigh in for the week is over here.

You really don't have to go over there.

Really.

It's just some bad bad news.

Tonka Trucks are easier to dress than babies

This just in...

The husband comes out holding the youngest child like a sack of potatoes.

I asked him to change her diaper and then told him she needed her jammies.

"I didn't play will dolls growing up, I played with Tonka Trucks! You don't have to dress Tonka Trucks!"

I'm cracking up, so is Alison.

He did a fine job.

An offer we weren't expecting

Josh has been going to the dentist quite a bit lately. He has some deep cleaning issues to resolve.

I'm sure you've seen in some of our pictures that Josh has some fake teeth. Some people have fake teeth and you'd never know it. Not the case for my husband.

His fake teeth drive his dentist crazy. The reason, because he can fix them. It'd just cost us a coupla grand. Yeah, not in the budget.

Today he goes in for some cleaning and Dr. Volz comes in. Tells him they have an offer for him.

He'll fix Josh's teeth in exchange for before and after pictures.

No money out of our pocket AT ALL.

My husband's response:

"I'm gonna have to ask my wife, she likes my teeth."

And I do. It's all I've ever known. I don't even notice it anymore yet I couldn't imagine him with perfect teeth in front. I told him it's up to him. His mouth, his teeth, his decision.

It'll just be really weird if he chooses to have them fixed.

Some shots that really show Josh's teeth:

Josh and his sister.
The class reunion
On our way to El Gaucho

What would you do?

Dear Diary Entry 7

Dear Diary,

I'm too busy to write today. I have lots to do and I need to manage my time wisely.

For once.

The Class Reunion

It was fine.

Since I have a fear of front doors and going into places I've never been to we carpooled to the reunion with Megan and Trevor. Megan is a new friend, Trevor is...an old friend. Yeah, that's it. (actually he's the boyfriend Melissa stole!)

Sweet sweet Megan. We get to their house, I'm nervous as can be to go to this shindig (hindsight, oh hindsight) and she pats me and tells me I look great and that I'll be fine. I really like her!!!

We get to the winery. There's some wine tasting going on. And let me just tell you, wine tasting...ha! It's more like sniffing. They don't put enough in your glass to taste. I'm given my glass and I'm thinkin' "really? 'cause at my house, when I pour a glass of wine, it's brim full!"

I didn't forget names of any classmates. I think Trevor wanted me along just so he didn't forget names. He asked me a few and it was really funny the time he was wrong. I can see how he misplaced the guy but still...

While people were still showing up and introducing spouses, the four of us were together. So, I couldn't have an evening without an embarrassing moment. And I really can't believe I'm going to share this...anyway, I can't even remember who I was talking to, but I said,

"this is my husband, Josh."

next to me...is Trevor.

Josh had been standing behind me.

Bugger.

Even worse, I didn't realize it til Josh stepped forward to shake the guys' hand.

Enough of the embarrassing moment.

It made me laugh how everyone kinda found the clique they'd been in in high school. One guy who was extremely shy in school, obviously came out of his shell. He came out of his shell, others came out...of the closet. One girl was absoutely beautiful. I thought she was pretty in school but holy heck she's gorgeous now. It amazed me how little some people had changed. I had been worried that I'd look silly for not having left the valley to "make a name for myself" so to speak. Some of those that left...well, all they've made of themselves were spectacles.

So many people have said your 10 year reunion is still too much like high school, that the 20 year is sooo much better. Guess I'll wait and see.

Never could find a good pair of flip flops to go with my cut-offs and bra strap showin' tank top, so I went in this instead.

Monday Weigh In

So, I decided kinda spur o' the moment to start a new blog dedicated to this weight loss journey of mine.

If you wanna head over there, feel free. Just know that it's still just a baby blog and I'm sure I'll change it a trillion times.

I present to you:

Junk Outta the Trunk

That Blasted Tortilla

A few of you had asked about the tortilla and if I ended up needing it afterall. Pffft to you guys that asked.

The answer of course, is no.

No, I didn't need to be miffed at Josh for eating one. And the Lord always has a way of providing more than we need because not only did I not need that one tortilla that Josh ate, I also had one leftover.

I'd like to say he was smug about it but he wasn't. He doesn't roll quite like I do.

Okay, well, I'm off to figure out which pair of shoes I'm wearing to the ol' 10 year class reunion tonight. Gotta figure out which flip flops will look best with my cut-offs and bra strap showin' tank top.

This chick's gonna be smokin' fer sher!

The one where I respond to my comments section

Okay, peeps. Let's have a serious discussion. For once.

First, let me tell you-I love you. All of you, the ones who comment, the ones who lurk and those who comment anonymously.

Second, this is my blog. My blog about me, my family and our junk. My junk. And lately it's been about my junk in my trunk.

I was left an anonymous comment on that post:

Anonymous said...
Um... 134 lbs is my goal weight. what's wrong with 134 lbs??? Who am I kidding, 150 would be nice too.Good luck. Just check your motives for wanting to loose it and do what is God honoring and glorifying.

So, to anonymous and those who had the same response as him/her:

What's wrong with 134 lbs? Maybe nothing for you. My 134 lbs is about me. My body and my overweightness. Since it's my blog, I can talk about me and make up words. 134 lbs. on my 5'2" frame isn't cute. But moreover, it isn't healthy. A couple of stats I found on being overweight...


diabetes,
heart disease,
stroke,
hypertension,
gallbladder disease,
osteoarthritis (degeneration of cartilage and bone of joints),
sleep apnea and other breathing problems, and
some forms of cancer (uterine, breast, colorectal, kidney, and gallbladder)

Um, been there, done that. Had the cancer. I'm not saying I got it because I was overweight but I'm sure that it didn't help matters. I'm not saying YOU are going to get cancer if you are overweight, because I wasn't talking about anyone else and their weight. Just me and my junk.

And also, Anonymous and anonymous thinkers alike, I've never met a woman who didn't want to be thin. To look her best. To feel good every time she looked in the mirror.

But, I haven't met every woman.

I want to look good for my husband. 12 years ago, when we had just met and were dating, when I knew he was on his way to pick me up I tried on every outfit I owned, did my hair and my make up, I wanted him to be proud to have me with him. I wanted him to enjoy how I looked. I wanted him to know I did it for him.

12 years later, I still feel that way. I've just complained and not done anything about it for far too long. It's time I changed that.

Melissa, a friend of mine from high school (the one who stole my boyfriend) (I'm over it, really) loaned me a book awhile back. A book I highly recommend to all women. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn. In the book Mrs. Feldhahn has surveyed around 800 men. Some churchgoers, some not. Chapter 8, was a chapter I needed to read. Before I give an excerpt of that chapter, please know that at the beginning of that chapter she encourages us as women to pray first. Because the things she's going to talk about are hard. And for someone who is already thin, that girl may take the chapter wrong and think she has to lose weight. That's not what the chapter is about. It's about a priority for our husbands that he's not comfortable talking to us about.

Here's an excerpt that hit home for me.

Here, she is talking to a professional man, she's known for many years.

"There's something I need to mention to you," Ted said, looking uncomfortable. "I think women have a blind spot in an area that they really need to understand." Taking a deep breath, he spilled the beans.
"I don't think women know how important it is to take care of themselves and not to look like a slouch around their husbands."
"You mean, not to be overweight...?" I ventured.
"That's part of it, but that's not really it," Ted continued intently. "It doesn't mean you have to be a size 3. The bigger issue is that your husband sees that you are putting forth the effort to take care of yourself, for him. See, my wife is 115 pounds, but her weight isn't really the issue. It's not about being tiny. If she doesn't take care of herself, dresses sloppily around me all the time, never exercises, and has no energy to go out and do things together, I feel like she's choosing not to do something that she should know is important to me. And then it becomes a real issue because it affects her ability to do things and her self-worth and desire-and then it affects me."


He goes on to say,

"...I just want to see that my wife cares enough about me to make an effort."



Ted's wife's weight wasn't the issue. But her effort was. I want my husband to see that I'm trying. And for the last three years I really haven't been. I've just been complaining about this roll here and that roll there. Ted says "it affects her ability to do things and her self-worth and desire-and then that affects me," I may be treading on some TMI here...but the other night my husband and I were talking about $ex. We had a very open and honest talk. And so, I'll be honest with you all...my desire has been almost nil. I love him, I desire him but I don't desire having my clothes off. And because of this, it's affecting him.

I don't want to hurt him. I want him to know I care. About him, about my appearance. When I feel good about myself it's easier for me to accept his desire for me. He loves me and my rolls. He does. But I know that he knows I feel better when I don't have them.

My motives for wanting to lose my weight are pure. I don't believe it's vain to want to look my best.

My accountability post was not at all intended to make anyone feel bad about their weight. The post was about me, about where I am in my weight loss journey and my desire for people to keep me accountable.

Who needs marriage counseling when you have cupholders and heated seats

It's official.

I'm the proud of owner of a minivan.

She has cupholders. We all know how much I love me some cupholders!

Life is complete. I have two kids, a golden retriever, a minivan and did I mention...CUPHOLDERS!!!

The husband understood my need of cupholders and thus bought me a van.

I think I'll keep him another 10 years.

Accountability

Am I really gonna do this?

bugger.

Here's the deal.

Last night I went to Weight Watchers for the first time. It was fine. Not at all what I was expecting.

In my head it was going to be like The Biggest Loser and my weight would be projected for all of the hotel occupants to see.

Not the case.

I stepped on a scale and the lady in front of me wrote down my weight on a little thingy and gave it back to me.

I paid her to tell me I'm fat.

How wrong is that?!

So many men and women have lost weight with Weight Watchers. I've seen family and friends succeed with WW. Good job, you guys!

However, I don't think it's for me. Part of it is because I don't want to pay to lose weight. About six years ago I was 30 lbs overweight. I lost the weight. Without paying anyone, without counting points, without exercising my brains out.

Not that exercising is bad...I think it's great. I just really enjoyed not having to.

Then I had Jaylee...and gaining over 50 lbs while I was pregnant was just wrong! I lost almost 30 of it.

Then I had Alison...

So, I know in my head that I can lose this 20 lbs. The main reason I wanted to join Weight Watchers was for the accountability.

I've decided to humiliate myself more than I thought possible and have you as my accountability peeps. Have no fear, I won't be calling you in the middle of the night to tell you that I'm going to eat the entire pan of peanut butter bars if you don't talk me through it.

Each Monday I'm going to tell you how much I weigh. Did I really just say that? EW! YUCK! OH MY HECK!!! I hate the idea of it. I really really really do. So, I'm hoping I hate it so much that I try harder to lose it so that each Monday my number is smaller.

I'm sure you're thrilled. Just thrilled. I know I am.

I have 19 lbs to lose.

I weighed 134 this morning. My goal is 115.

I can do this. I will do this.

Dear Diary Entry 6

Dear Diary,

In three days is my 10 year class reunion.

Wowzers.

First, I can't believe it's been ten years.

Second, I can't believe I'm going...

without Amber.

It's taken me the better part of two weeks to get excited for this. I've had some serious hesitations. Most of which I've heard from several people who've had their class reunions already.

I'm not as skinny as I was in high school (thanks to my two children and love for all things chocolately and peanut buttery).

I'm scared I'm going to forget the names of my classmates.

I'm scared they'll forget mine.

And then I wonder how they could, I mean seriously, who could forget me?! :)

The biggest concern of mine has been that after high school...I didn't go anywhere. Didn't do anything.

I've been living 8 miles from the school I graduated from for the last nine years. I didn't go to college. I didn't want to but that's not the point. Many of my classmates have gone/are going. My dream has always been to be a wife and mama. I've achieved that dream. And while I'm proud of it, I know that being a wife and mama isn't always found so glamorous. In just the last few days I've decided to be proud of who I am and where I am...not my address but where I am in my life.

So...I didn't go off to college. I didn't move out of the state or even out of the county. I live in the town just over from where I graduated from. I am wife to Joshua for the last 10 years and mama to two of the sweetest little girls, ever.

And man, I'm finally okay with that.

Thank goodness, 'cause I'm about 75 hours from seeing my old friends and am hoping to make some new.

Time to Slow 'er Down

Ahhhhhhhh.

That's me, breathing a sigh of relief. Life is settling down.

Somewhat.

This was the first weekend in five weeks that we've been home. We've been go go go like crazy. And while we love that, it feels good to be here. And it felt great to be in church yesterday.

A brief (yeah right) recap of the last month:

We started off August going to Josh's aunt's house. The next weekend was Mt. Rainier. The weekend after that we moved my sister back to Washington, BFF's birthday and then we went to Portland, OR to visit Josh's sister.

Folks, that weekend in Portland was the best four days I've had in years.

Fer sher.

It was non-stop but in a relaxing kinda way. We watched our nieces for a few hours while their parents went out to dinner and then the next night they gave us a gift card to a fancy shmancy blow-your-month's-grocery-budget-in-one-dinner kind of restaurant.

Amazing. Incredible. Service was great, food was great. Dessert...unstinkin'real. We left there and almost vomited because how much we'd eaten. I want to go back for more.

Treena took some fun family pictures of the four of us and then some cool ones of just Josh and me. I'll post some if she would so kindly email a few...hint...hint... ;)

Sunday we picked up my great friend Melissa and then headed to Pacific City for some beach fun. The weather was excellent, the ride home was...well, it was full of random music. My BIL is hilarious when it comes to his taste in music. (Love ya, Chad) But I think we had some Dolly Parton, Beach Boys, Alanis Morrissette, and many many others. Quite the eventful trip back to Portland.

Monday, Labor Day, we went on a bike ride before heading for home. So fun. Love the pathway that we get to ride on.

I didn't want to come home. I could have stayed another week. I enjoyed all the activities but I think my favorite part of the trip was the two hours I had alone with my 12 year old niece. Incredible girl. She's so mature for her age in so many ways, yet she's also very 12. I adore her.

Fer sher.

This weekend, amazingly...we were home. Well, we were in the valley. We went to Prosser so Josh could help some friends. I was only there for the food. :) Sunday was church and a birthday party for my youngest nephew. There were eight children, three and under in one room.

We didn't stay long. Holy moly. That's a whole lotta kids. And a whole lotta noise. I had a headache before we got there. Needless to say, it was intensified. It was fun to have all the kids together.

But it was also fun to go home. :)

So, now we're caught up to present day. Monday.

I went to my friend Janie's house today. We were to begin an exercise dealie-0. It's the Christian alternative to yoga. It was fun but it's not easy with 3 year olds and babies and bodies that haven't moved like that since...well...years ago. We also went blackberry picking because Janie is going to teach me to make jam. We're out a'pickin' away and shots are fired.

SHOTS. ARE. FIRED.

at me.

AT. ME!!!

Seriously. I had something whiz passed my ear and the first thing I wanted to do was take cover but instead I screamed.

Like a girl.

Janie and I were dying. We were getting stabbed with blackberry thorns and then someone tried to take my head off.

That's not all. I found the world's largest spider. Exaggerating? You think I am?! I am not!!! Janie is going to get a picture of him and I shall show you. I almost walked into it. Had I, I don't think I'd be here to tell the story to you.

Holy moly. We left shortly after. I'm not sure we picked enough berries for jam but it was fun.

Jaylee and I both have war wounds to prove the fun.

There's more I want to write about. Stuff that's been on my heart, stuff I feel the Lord has shown me. I'll save that for later.

Right now I have a diaper to change.

Dear Diary Entry 5

Dear Diary,

Next time I'm headed out into public, please remind me to put on fresh, clean clothes, preferrably a regular bra instead of a sports bra. Maybe remind me to put on some make up. Oh, and deodorant. And to maybe have a boob lift, too, seeing as how mine are hanging down to my belly button in this picture.

Yes, please remind me of these few, but very important details should I EVER show my face in public again.

Lucky me, well...sorta

Last month I subscribed to our town's newspaper. In doing so I was entered in for a $50 grocery gift card. I didn't give it a second thought because I just won the crock pot in July. I never thought I could win two things in one year!

Yesterday I get a call from Debbie at the newspaper congratulating me because my name was drawn! Woo hoo, thank You, Lord!

Everyone knows that 50 bucks in groceries is much needed!

We had company coming over last night, I was making tacos for dinner, and I notice my husband is gnawing on a tortilla. A tortilla that should have been for dinner. Grrr. I know it was only one tortilla but it was the first time this family was coming for dinner and I didn't know how much they'd eat, so I was pretty sure that one tortilla would mean we didn't have enough food. So, I decided to run to the newspaper for my gift card and then run to the store which is right across the street from the newspaper.

On my way, I look in my rear view mirror and realize...I haven't showered today. I have company coming in about 15 minutes. I have no make up on (not that I wear it often anyway) and I'm pretty sure I'm wearing the same shirt I wore to bed.

Then it hits me.

The lovely givers of the gift card are going to want to take my picture!!!!

Sure enough.

I'm sure it's going to be the most uh-mazing picture ever. I coulda died. If I didn't need that gift card so badly I would have passed up the card and picture taking. But I couldn't do it, I needed tortillas!

Don't you worry, not only will our town see me in my non-showered, no make up, pajama glory, I will share the picture with you when I get the paper.

The things I do for you.

Sigh.

Birthday Girl

The birthday girl...and her BFF of course.Alison put on a show for everyone at Red Robin. She knows what to do when the camera is out!
In deep thought at Starbucks. It's where we do our best thinking...our only thinking. Return of the windblown.
A little less windblown.
By the pictures you'd think it was just Amber, Alison and me. But no. There were husbands there. Ours in fact. They were too busy chatting amongst themselves to notice us. But I will say this for my husband, he's very good about taking our picture whenever/wherever the mood strikes us. There are more pictures, just waiting for some girl to send me the rest....