Move Over Tiger....

Dan, Ellie and I went shopping today after I got back from lunch with some of my college friends (Bre, Kim and Jessica). Ellie was fascinated with the golf clubs. When Dan would pick one up and look at it, Ellie did the exact same thing. Like I've said before...she's "little Dan".

Luckily I had my camera on me, and I got some shots of her in the putter area. She asked Dan if she could go golfing with him...that should be fun (hopefully none of the mean, old golfers are waiting behind them), not that I know from experience or anything... ;)

Not Feeling Inspired? Let me inspire you!! ;)

You Are An ENFP

The Inspirer You love being around people, and you are deeply committed to your friends. You are also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, you can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. You use lots of colorful language and expressions. You're quite the storyteller! In love, you are quite the charmer. And you are definitely willing to risk your heart. You often don't follow through with your flirting or professed feelings. And you do break a lot of hearts. At work, you are driven but not a workaholic. You just always seem to enjoy what you do. You would make an excellent entrepreneur, politician, or journalist. How you see yourself: compassionate, unselfish, and understanding When other people don't get you, they see you as: gushy, emotional, and unfocused

What's Your Personality Type?

Moderate...Me?

I wanted to see what I was...I got this off of Ash's blog...

You Are a Moderate Mama

You're not overly political, and your views fall more with the American mainstream. In fact, it may be difficult for you to decide who to vote for at times! Your approach to politics is reasoned and well though out.

Are You a Liberal Lady or a Conservative Chick?

Disney Land it is...

Grandma GiGi and Ellie were counting the money in her piggy bank, and Grandma GiGi asked Ellie what she was going to do with all that money (about $6 worth of pennies, I need to teach her to ask Grandma and Grandpa for bills not coins). She said she was saving up her money to go to Disney Land. Grandma then asked her who she was going to take with her...she listed Grandma and Grandpa, Aaron and Tici, Lucy, Tosh and Maggie, and then said..."I'm going to take ALL the people I love."

I need to keep reminding myself that she is a sweet girl...today she was a TOTAL stinker!! We actually had to leave gymnastics early, because she was being naughty. My sweet, naughty girl is sleeping right now though!! ;)

Ode to Dan

I need to quit visiting Julie's blog...she seems to always have a "tag" of some sort...

So, tag to all you others...

Anyway, back to the task at hand...


Real men wear pink....

Name: Dan

How long have you been married? 4 1/2 years

How long did you date? 5 1/2 months dating, 5 1/2 months engaged

How old is he? 28

Who eats more? Dan...if you looked at us, you wouldn't think so. All he does is eat!! It is SO unfair!!

Who is taller? Dan.

Who sings the best? Dan...when we were dating, we went to Johnny B's. Dan got hypnotized, and sang Firehouse's ballad, "When I look into your Eyes". He even dedicated the song to me!! Now, I didn't marry him necessarily because I thought it was romantic, I just thought it would be a waste of a good tape (I made him buy the tape)...I of course used it in our wedding video!!

Who is smarter? Since he won the eating more...can I have this one?

Who has the worse temper? Probably me, but I'm not satisfied when ONLY I'm mad...I can get him pretty riled up too!! It isn't fun fighting with myself!

Who does the laundry? Dan put one of my skirts in the dryer...yeah, it wasn't supposed to go in the dryer. Ellie uses my old one for dress up now. He had to replace it with an $80 one...I do the laundry.

Who does the dishes? Dan does them most of the time. If I cook, he does them...it's a rule EVERYONE should have!!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Dan, its the closest to the door!

Who pays the bills? Dan earns the money, but I write the check... ;)

Who mows the lawn? Dan, well he weed wacks it...

Who cooks dinner? Numero Uno!!

Who drives when you are together? Dan, he doesn't think I am aggressive enough (whatever that means).

Who is more stubborn? We are equal on this, I believe...he might say me, but he's WRONG!!

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Dan, because I'm always right! :)

Whose parents do you see the most? Mine.

Who proposed? Dan, he had the ring, but he took FOREVER asking!!

Who has more friends? Dan has more that he does stuff with...I look for low maintenance friends, hanging out once a month is good for me!!

Who has more siblings? Dan by a long shot!!

Who wears the pants? Me, silly.

Permission is a TOTAL buzz kill

Yesterday, after we celebrated the February Birthdays (Mom, Aaron and Ben) at P.F. Changs, Dan said we could go shopping (EEK!!). Getting permission to shop is RARE...I usually do it with the intent on apologizing later. My mom taught me that it is easier to ASK forgiveness than permission.

As we were leaving the mall, Ellie said she wanted to go shoe shopping...She really is her mother's daughter!! I did buy Ellie some much needed pants (she went through a massive growth spurt), her current jeans are too short, but the jeans I bought her are still TOO long and TOO big in the waist.

Dan, however; is a shopping princess. He bought several new shirts and a new pair of cleats. I practically had to drag him out of the shoe store (he found some fancy shoes and also a pair of basketball shoes he wanted).

I figure that the permission factor made it impossible for me to find anything for me...There was no thrill to shopping...For me, shopping is the thrill of not getting caught...I practice my techniques on convincing Dan that I bought it months ago. It isn't any fun when he knows about it!!

Hee, Hee, Hee...

You're right Julie...I did want to try it!!

I got this off of Julie's blog...

1. ROCKSTAR NAME (first pet & current car): Flower Element
2. GANGSTA NAME (fav. ice cream flavor, favorite cookie): Mint Pum'kin Choco' Chip
3. Your fly girl/guy name (first initial, first 3 or 4 letters of last name): K-Olso
4. Detective Name (fav. color, fav. animal): Green Monkey
5. Soap Opera Name (middle name & place you were born): Jessen Payson...Maybe Jessie Payson would be better ;)
6. Star Wars name (first 3 letters of last name, and first 2 letters of first): Olska
7. Superhero Name ("the" + 2nd fav. color, favorite Drink): The Blue Squirt
8. Nascar Names (The first names of your grandfathers): Myron Edward
9. Witness Protection Name (Mother and father's middle names): Kristina Craig
10. Weather Anchor Name (5th grade teacher & major city beginning w/same letter): Nelson New Orleans
11. Spy Name/Bond Girl (Favorite season/Holiday, favorite flower): Summer Gerber
12. Cartoon Name (favorite fruit, article of clothing you are wearing right now + "ie" or "y"): Blueberry Turtlenecky
13. Hippy Name (What you ate for breakfast, favorite tree): Trix Palm
14. Rockstar Tour Name ("The" + your favorite hobby/craft, favorite weather element + "tour"): The Shoe Shopping Sunny Day Tour

Happy Birthday...

I just realized as I posted my last post (redundant...I know, sorry), it said February 20th...It is officially my Mom's birthday...

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Katy needs...

I've been wanting to do this for a while (and no time is better than the avoidance of writing a paper and studying for a test...right?)...anyway, you do a google search on your name, and what you need by typing in..."Bozo needs" (just an example, don't type in bozo ;))...

Here is what came up for me...

Katy needs rescue to get out alive (and that's just the bathroom stall). *it really said that*
Katy needs volunteers to teach junior achievement.
Katy needs adjustments.
Katy needs a pony, people. (I do, but I just don't know where I would put it).
Katy needs to get home, and get home soon.
Katy needs a level table or surface to put papermaking equipment on and a source of electricity.
Katy needs a boy.
Katy needs a job.
Katy needs more friends like you.

Now for Dan...

Dan needs a new car. (Luckily this article says a 2001...I think we can manage that!!)
Dan needs a girlfriend. (Rumors have been flying...and yes, we are still married! ;))
Dan needs to overcome himself to win at a men's badmitton championship in China.
Dan needs a snooze.
Dan needs your help to answer tough questions.
Dan neeeds the love too y'all.
Dan needs serious help.

Kiddie Prayers

Ellie was begging to say the prayer tonight before bed...I wasn't too thrilled about it, because the last time she prayed she said a "poop prayer" (don't ask). Anyway, I told her "no", she started crying...so I gave in...this was Ellie's prayer (she didn't start with "our dear Heavenly Father"):

Please bless Awestom (Austin) and Lisa and the kids...
Strength and nourish our bodies...
Bless Lucy and Aaron, and Tici (Leticia)...
Bless Grandma Gigi, and bless Lucy's Grandma (I don't know what one she is referring to)...
Bless all the kids...
Strength and nourish our bodies...
Amen.

I think she's getting the hang of it, hopefully she'll continue to pray and not get dicouraged by mine and Dan's laughing...

Ellie's Room

I've been meaning to post pictures of Ellie's big girl bed for some time now, but I haven't gotten around to it. I just bought her bed spread and sham yesterday at T.J. Maxx...it was a steal of a deal. Ellie loves it too, she told me last night that her bed was comfortable (she's been using the excuse that OUR bed was comfortable and hers wasn't).

Last night around midnight, I had just gotten in bed. Dan was rambling in his sleep, and I guess Ellie had walked in the room. She said, "Scoot over, I'm tired!"

I guess her bed wasn't "that comfortable"!!

The pictures aren't the greatest...I need to charge my camera's battery...thank goodness for Picassa.

Going out with a BANG!!

Lisa emailed these photos to us today, she didn't have all the family's email addresses, so I asked if I could post them here. She said that was fine (until she starts her own blog...hopefully soon!)...

One of Austin's buddies knows a guy that loads bombs on airlplanes in Iraq...he asked him for a favor, and WAHLA!! They will also find out the target for the bombs, and let Lisa and the kids know. We thought it was pretty cool...

"HAPPY VALENTIME'S DAY!!

Ellie has been yelling that since I came home from school. She is on a super duper sugar high.

I wanted to take a minute and reflect (I know...deep right?)....

I feel truly fortunate for the valentimes I have in my life. The last couple weeks have really hit me hard, and made me look at my life and those around me. I have realized I need to be more affectionate, loving, and caring. I also need to not let the little, mundane things get to me. I realize that I need to hug those I love tighter and more often, and I need to express how much they mean to me every opportunity I get.

Dan is such a great husband and father. No one can make me smile bigger, laugh harder, cry harder or yell louder than him. He is so forgiving of my short comings (my cleaning abilities, my sometimes dirty mouth, and my stubborness).

Valentine's Day really needs to be a reminder to daily express the gratitude and love we have for those in our lives.

I'm grateful for the friendships that I have, and the impact they have had on my life. I don't say this much (and I probably won't say it again ;)), but I love you all (I know, lame).

I have learned these last couple of weeks that you REALLY can't tell someone you love them enough.

Hide and Seek

Debra and I were downstairs chatting away when we heard Ellie and Natalie yelling..."Come find us we're hiding!"

We went into my room to find the girls had arranged themselves as pillows on the bed. They are the BESTEST of friends. They always play really well together (besides the occasional "MINE").





I should mention, that yes...Ellie is STILL in her pajamas. We tend not to get ready unless we are going somewhere, and today...we stayed at home!!

We also just found out that Greg and Debra have sold their house...pity party for us...They have been the best neighbors, and even better friends, so needless to say we are REALLY sad for us, but REALLY happy for them. We've told them they can't move too far, we want Ellie and Natalie to remain BFFs.

Can you say distracted?

Today at gymnastics, we had just gotten done jumping on the long trampoline (one of Ellie's favorite things to do). We were following Coach Shane because it was time for stamps. Ellie saw one of her favorite gymnastic coaches (she was working on sizing some bars). Ellie was watching her work, and instead of paying attention...she walked right into one of the uneven bars...she clotheslined herself!! Poor thing, she was pretty embarrassed (and a little hurt), but she didn't even cry!

How do you parent?

I've just figured out how I parent...Ellie is always punishing her babies (I try not to punish her ALL the time ;)). Today after we got home from church, she put her babies on the couch. I then watched her run into the living room, as she passed me she said, "They are hitting each other!"

She walked up to the babies, took one of them aside and said, "We don't hit! Do you understand me?" She then walked the baby she was holding over to the other baby and said, "Say you're sorry." Then she gave both of them a kiss. The funniest thing was that when she walked away she let out a HUGE disappointed sigh!

The Funniest Thing I've Seen in a LONG time!!

Yes Lyns, I stole this from one of your friend's blog, but Dan and I have been laughing about it ALL day!!

"I'll go to bed early..."

This has now become the most frequent thing Ellie tells me when it comes to nap time...

I also hear:

"Let's watch TV so we can have energy for our nap."

"I AM sleeping!"

"Mom, lay down with me."

"Tickle my arm."

"Tickle my back."

"I woke up!"

GRR!!! I miss nap time!! I shouldn't complain, at least she stays in her bed...she just gets SO grumpy by the end of the day!!

Mad Dancing Skills

I don't know if many of you have had the opportunity to witness Dan's stellar moves (that boy shakes what his momma gave him), but he now has a new dance partner who is just as wild and crazy as he is...



Dan went into his iTunes Friday night, and he and Ellie were bustin' out some crazy moves...Ellie was rolling around on the ground, kicking her legs ups (I think she learned these moves in gymnastics).



Her dancing is just one of the many reasons I call her "Little Dan".



They danced a couple slow songs too!!

Chuckie Cheese

Otherwise known as kiddie hell....

Dan and I felt like we had neglected Ellie all week last week. With the hospital, viewing, funeral (which was as awesome as any funeral could be), and spending time with extended family...Ellie was really struggling. Dan and I decided to devote a night to Ellie. We let her pick where she wanted to go (she was obviously watching too much TV and saw a Chuckie Cheese ad).

Ellie of course LOVED it, but I thought the pizza was nasty, and it was WAY too loud (I know, I'm getting old)!! :) It really is like a kid's Las Vegas...sheesh. You know those characters that sing and dance...yeah, they are the exact same characters we had (only now dirty and filthy with loss of movement).

They have the rides that require quarters, you know the kind like at the mall. Anyway, Dan put some in for Ellie, and two kids jumped right on the bird (or whatever it was). Dan nicely tried to tell them it wasn't safe for them to be on there (they were hanging on the front and back). Luckily they dealt with him...I'm not afraid to clock a kid!! ;)

Here's hoping Ellie will forget we ever went!!

Accrosstic Poem

Do you guys remember these?

We were asked to make one in my literacy class with our names, so I thought I would share mine...

Keeper of everything, otherwise known as a hoarder.

Always with family, especially Dan and Ellie.

Too busy,

Yet never ready before noon.

I'm also tagging anyone and everyone that views this to create one of their own...MUAHAHAHA!!

Found it!!

Okay...I found it, I don't know where I was looking! It was in the bathroom downstairs ;).

MISSING!!!

My wedding ring has gone missing...*sigh*...

I always take it off in random spots...by the computer, the bathroom, the kitchen, the end table...I've looked in all of those places, and still nothing!! I think I am going CRAZY!! Here's hoping I find it...