MY LETTER TO THE EDITOR!

I wanted to write about the symbolism of Christmas. You know, what the candy cane represents; why we have Christmas trees and wreaths. Unfortunately, that will have to wait. There is a pressing matter that needs to be addressed immediately!

Okay. Here it is. Be kind to people who push snow! I'm not talking about the city, although conscience dictates you ought to be nice to them too.

Let me tell you a little story. My sweet husband works for K2 Construction. They do underground utilities i.e. water mains, gas lines etc. As I'm sure you can imagine, when it snows, they have to find something else to do. Instead of sitting dormant all winter, they help clean up Lincoln when it snows.

Now I'll admit, before I met Tyler I was the first in line to bawl out those lazy guys who barely scraped the parking lot at work. Why do they have to put the snow in a parking stall? That's two stalls close to the door that we can't use! Why can't they scrape it so I can see the lines? Why aren't the sidewalks scooped and salted at 7:00 am? Come on guys! I have to go to work and I don't want to even SEE a flake of snow on the pavement when I get there!

Let me tell you how it really works. On Sunday night, we got a call from Tyler's boss. "Be at the shop at 2:00" That's right, 2:00. Not the next day either. 2:00 in the MORNING!!! He went out that morning and didn't return home until about 1:00pm. That's almost 12 hours!

I know what you're thinking, "they're in those warm machines all day just going along blocking in cars!" NOT so! My poor hubby was pushing a shovel. That's right! You heard me. A shovel. For those of you who have shoveled your own driveways and sidewalks, you know that one driveway can take hours in this kind of weather.

The next day, he was out at 9:00am but only because his crew leader didn't call him. He was out until 6:00pm. Still longer than banker's hours. So he's out all day in the snow and wind trying to stay on top of things. Never mind that 20 minutes after clearing an area, it's snowed over again. It NEVER stopped snowing that day.

He came home and went straight to bed. Why? Because he had to go out at 1:00AM. 1:00!!!! That means he had to get up at 11:30 so he could get his truck out to go to the shop. Then he proceeded to push snow until 6:00PM Wednesday! That's like 18 hours!!

People need to understand how BIG those machines are. You can't just turn on a dime. Sometimes, that makes it hard to be picky about where to pile the snow. Also, a word of advice, please don't follow a back hoe and then just stop behind them so you can let your wife out to shop and wait until she gets back to move. If you trap them, they can't finish their job! Don't watch them plow a few spots and then park where they haven't plowed. Hello? How are they supposed to plow where you're at. If you are going to do that, don't get mad when they HAVE to plow around you or they don't get to go home! Especially when they try their hardest not to plow you in.

Don't make rude gestures. Don't complain that the snow is in theese three parking stalls instead of the ones 6ft from those spots. Oh, and especially don't come out and casually ask 12ft high, 6ft wide piles to be moved after someone has spent 5 hours plowing your lot and putting the snow where you asked them to put it, even though they knew it wouldn't work. Oh yeah, and if you work on a crew, don't just sit there sleeping in the truck while one person does all the work. Ridiculous!

Please remember that your lot isn't the only one it town. Remember that those boys have been up since before you went to sleep the night before. They are allowed a few mess ups or inconveniences on your part. It's not the end of the world if you have to park somewhere else. It's not the end of the world if you have to wait a bit to get in to the lot. Just remember the world doesn't revolve around you and it won't hurt you to be nice to the working class, especially when they've been out in the snow for 18 hours so your acrylic-nailed self won't have to break a nail on a shovel.

Whew! What a rant.

Mary...

I'm having issues with my blog. Please tell me if you can see the whole background on your computer because I can't on mine.

I love Christmas. I love it more this year because of my little one. I get to sing Christmas carols to her instead of traditional lullabies. We got her First Christmas ornament and she helped Daddy hang it on the tree. We also got the dog some reindeer antlers, I'm not sure how that will go.

Now it's snowing. Tyler says there are about 2-3 inches on the ground. By the middle of the week, we could have a foot. Maybe I'd better stock up at the grocery store. I love the snow. It's beautiful and pure and peaceful. I love the crisp, clean feeling in the air. I love how even the dirtiest streets look clean and sparkly. At least until people muck it up.

It's not just the lights, ornaments, music and snow that make this season so special. It's the reason for the season that makes this time of year so special. This year more than ever, the account of the Nativity carries a special message. One of my favorite Christmas songs is Mary, did you know?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy

Would someday walk on water?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered

Will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will give sight to a blind man?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will calm the storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy

Has walked where angels trod?

When you kiss your little baby

You've kissed the face of God.

The blind will see

The deaf will hear

The dead will live again

The lame will leap

The dumb will speak

The praises of the Lamb

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know

That your baby boy

Will one day rule the nations?

Did you know

That your baby boy

Is heaven's perfect Lamb?

This sleeping child you're holding

Is the Great I Am.

Imagine if you were her. Imagine what the would've been like. I look at my little girl and I see perfection. No, it's not that I'm a biased mother. She really is perfect. She can't lie, cheat, or steal. She can't swear or manipulate. She is incapable of sin. At least for the moment. It's not hard to look at her and imagine the impossible. But to look at your child and KNOW that he would be the savior of the world. What and amazing, overwhelming feeling.

It brings a knot to my throat to think of the responsibility she faced; to think of the pain and sacrifice she would have to endure. As a new mother, I am only beginning to understand some of what she must have felt. While I will never understand it all, I can have an inkling, a brief glimpse into what she experienced. I am so grateful that she chose to accept her calling in life. That she did her best and succeeded in helping her Father's plan move forward.

For me, Christmas brings with it such a visceral reaction. The feelings of Faith, Family and Traditions help to bring me back down to earth. The chaos and temporal demands of the rest of the year disappear and I am reminded of what is really important.

Merry Christmas.

More Blessings!

This post is all about the in-laws.

When Elsie was born, my mom was in Italy. She tried to get back but couldn't make it until we were home from the hospital. My mother-in-law stepped in and played the roll of my mother while we were in the hospital. We weren't prepared. We thought we were just going in to be monitored and then sent home. I didn't have anything. No clothes, no toothbrush, no deodorant, no nursing bras/pads, nothing. Tina took care of EVERYTHING. She even brought me Popsicles and cleaned my house! She came to visit every morning before she went to work to make sure everything was okay and that we didn't need anything, and to see Elsie, of course! She has been nothing but supportive from day one. She has welcomed me into her family with open arms. She is easy to talk to and has opened up to me as well. I love listening to her talk about her family. It is very important to me to learn all I can about Tyler's side of the family so that I can teach Elsie where she comes from. I want her to know that I appreciate everything she has done and continues to do for our family. I love her very much!

--------------------------------------Nana Tina and Elsie---------------------------------------

My father-in-law, Burt, is a wonderful person. He is so calm and gentle. I love watching him interact with Elsie. She is so tiny and he is so tall. It's a definitely a sight too see. I am grateful to him for being such a wonderful father and such a hard worker. He is very intelligent and talented. He can build things, fix things and gives great hugs! I'm so glad Tyler had a good example to follow. It gives me reassurance of the kind of father he will be. Burt raised Tyler to have a good work ethic and to stick with his responsibilities. I know that because of Burt, our family will be stable and strong. I love him too!
------------------------------------Grandpa Burt and Elsie---------------------------------------
My brother-in-law, Clay, is something else! I haven't spent much time with him. He works on a custom harvest crew and is gone for over half of the year. The time I have spent with him has not been dull! He is intelligent and funny. I'm not sure if he knows he's funny. He's always so serious. He is very strong willed and will gladly share his opinion with you about anything! It's kind of refreshing to meet someone who is just who he is; no apologies and no sugar coating! He hasn't met Elsie yet and I am excited to see his reaction.

I am also grateful for all of my new aunts and uncles.

Tina's family:

Joel and Deb Warren: Deb has always been so polite and smiley. I've only met her a few times but each time has been very pleasant. I appreciate Joel's pioneer spirit. He is always trying something new. I love that he is not content to just be. He likes to experience new things and has interesting stories to tell. He recently graduated truck driving school and went on the road. At a party to celebrate his accomplishment, I watched how he treated his grandson. He was so respectful and positive with him. I admire him for that.

Bo Bo: I LOVE Bo Bo. She has such a sweet spirit. She accepted me as part of the family before I was part of the family! She is very talented. She crocheted Elsie a beautiful blanket. She is thoughtful and fun to talk to. She is a very spiritual person and I love that she feels comfortable talking to me about her beliefs.

Barbie: Aunt Barb is such a strong person. She has gone through so much and whenever I see her, she has a hug and a smile for me. She loves talking to Elsie and Elsie tells her stories I've never heard before! She has such a great sense of humor :) She came and helped Tina get my apartment in order before we came home with the baby. She loves her children and her grandchildren and she is a SURVIVOR!

Scott and Tammy: Scott is such a big kid! He is always joking and smiling. He brings a funny dynamic to all of the family gatherings. Tammy is a very strong willed person. She treats me like I've always been a part of the family and I appreciate that. Their kids, Andy and Ethan, are some of the nicest boys I've ever met. Ethan even officially welcomed me to the family at our wedding and gave me a hug. It was so sweet. Andy was a groomsman and he so well spoken especially considering he's a teenager. He out spoke all the 'adult' groomsmen hands down.

Burt's family:

Grandpa Buck: You can really tell that all of his children love him so much. I know he loves them too. He came to visit us out of the blue shortly after Elsie was born. It meant so much that he would drive all the way up from Table Rock to see us. He held Elsie the whole time he was here. He was so happy. I am also grateful for the father he was to Burt. If it weren't for that, Tyler wouldn't be who he is.

---------------------------------Great Grandpa Buck and Elsie---------------------------------

Julie and Ned: Julie has come to everything I've ever invited her to. She brought us food after Elsie was born. That meant a lot to me. She has two boys so I know she enjoys Elsie when we visit. I don't know Ned very well but I do know that he has a good sense of humor. He came with Julie to visit us at the hospital. I appreciated that they took the time to come visit us.

Bev and Barb: Bev is always so warm and welcoming. She makes family gatherings a lot of fun. Barb is always smiling. There is something about her countenance that draws people to her.

Roger and Carla: Roger is pretty quite but you can tell he really cares about his family. I appreciate the relationship he has with Tyler. Carla is so sweet. She makes it a point to come talk to me and include me. Both Roger and Carla came out for Elsie's baby blessing at church. It meant a lot that they took the time to share that moment with us.

As you can see, we have quite the support system. I'm not used to having extended family in the same state. I have really enjoyed the family get together. I am excited that Elsie will be able to have that experienced. I am quite blessed to have all of these wonderful people in my life. I wish I had pictures of everybody. Nana Tina has them on here camera :)

Don't forget to comment with something that you're grateful for!!!

Count Your Many Blessings!

Some recent happenings with friends and family have got me thinking how grateful I am for my life and for my many blessings. I've decided to post a series of blogs on what I'm grateful for. this blog is about my family. When you're done reading, please comment with one or two of the things you are most grateful for in your life!

I am grateful for my husband, Tyler. He works so hard so I can stay home with our daughter. He provides a good home and always makes sure we have what we need. He is my best friend. He listens to me when I'm upset and when I'm happy and that's no small feet. I'm quite the talker and I have a wealth of emotions that require his attention. He is a wonderful father. He does everything in his power to make sure that Elsie is happy. She knows he loves her and misses him when he is gone. He is honest, trustworthy and has good family values. He's so big, he makes me feel safe. I know he makes Elsie feel that way too. Sometimes, all he has to do is pick her up and she relaxes and starts smiling. He is my helper. He works 10 to 12 hour days and still comes home to help me fix super, give the baby a bath, put her to sleep, change diapers, help with the laundry and anything else I ask him to do. It amazes me that he doesn't get tired of all my "Sweetheart, please's". Most of all he respects me as a wife and mother. He respects my faith even though he does not share it. It means so much to me that he is supportive of how I want to raise our family. He is the leader of our home and makes his decisions with us at heart. I love him very much. ----------------------------------------My Sweetheart

I am grateful for my baby. She is the greatest gift I could ever receive. She makes me smile when all I want to do is cry. She makes me cry when she smiles. She's a peacemaker, an entertainer, a reality check, a motivator and a beautiful child of God. She is so innocent and pure and I pray daily that I will be able to help her stay that way. I pray that I will be able to help her develop her talents. I pray that we will have a good relationship and that I can use my experiences in a way that will help her be better person. She is also a somber responsibility. It is up to me and her father to set her feet on a path that will lead her back to her Heavenly Father. I know there will be times when we clash. She'll want to be awake when I want to sleep. She'll want to grow up when I want her to stay little. She'll want to go out when I need to keep her home. She inspires such a dichotomy of emotions. I'm so excited to see what kind of young woman she will become but there is a tinge of reluctance to see her become less and less of a baby. I am so grateful for her health. She was born at 37 weeks. She was perfect. The nurses and doctors kept saying how perfect she was considering she was early and only 5lbs 6oz. The sun rises and sets on every little coo, smile and funny face. Some people will tell you the mother is the glue that holds the family together, I disagree. Elsie has strengthened our family exponentially. We are kinder to each other because of her. We are more peaceful because of the sweet spirit she brings to our home. She makes us want to be better people and has inspired several changes for the better. I love my little girl more than anything else in the world. She has been such a blessing to our family!--------------------------------------- Sweet Little Girl
I am so grateful for my parents. They have supported me through so many trials. I know I have broken their hearts a time or two but they love me unconditionally. They have taught me to love unconditionally. I have learned the importance of family, hard work and honesty. All of the good qualities I have come from them. I am thankful for the way I was raised. They chose to raise us in the country and we attended a small school. Being raised outside of town gave all of us a handle on life that is not usually gained by city living. The circle of life was a part of our everyday existence. I learned about birth and death by watching our animals. I learned that sometimes it seams like life is taken before it's time. I also learned that, even though we may not understand it, its all a part of God's plan. Learning all of this at a young age helped me deal with loss later in life. The foundation I received from my parents has helped me through many dark places. My mothers cheerie attitude always saying, "Smile, Desi!", "I'm so excited for you!" and of course, "Keep your nose clean". Her little motos have stuck with me through the years. She is a rock and my hero.
------------------------------------------My Mom :)

My dad is so supportive. He is patient and understanding. He is dependable. I know that if I need him, he will be there. He is a wonderful speaker. I love listening to his stories and he has a way of tailoring them to apply to his audience. Even if it's just a 15 year old girl. He taught me to drive when I was probably 5. He taught me to take pride in my work. He shows me that what I have to say is worth listening to. No father could have better taught his daughter about individual worth. I love him very much.

-------------------------------------------- My Dad

I love my sisters and brother. Cheyenne is so supportive and is willing to help me with anything. I can talk to her about parenting questions, craft ideas, she helps me plan events. She helped to make my wedding day so special. When we were young, she protected me, played with me, taught me things she had learned in school. I have always looked up to her and she has never failed to set a good example. Ian and I were the middle children. I think that bonded us in a special way. He is a very intelligent person and I love discussing his different views. He is a good father and husband and his boys are some of the cutest in existence. Growing up, he was someone I could talk to like a friend. Savanna is something else! She is a wonderful person. I look up to her so much. She isn't afraid to be her goofy self and I love it! I have rarely heard a cross word come out of her mouth. She is a true example of selfless love and acceptance. She listens to me when I need to talk and I love that she feels comfortable calling me when she needs to talk. I love her so much. I love all my siblings very much and feel blessed to have such a wonderful family.
--------------------------------------- Ian and Triston

-------------------------------------- Cheyenne and Elsie

----------------------------------------Savanna and Me

I am grateful for my family! Stay tuned for more of my list of blessings!!! Don't forget to post your blessings!

Back On Line

Okay, not exactly. I'm at my mom's house so I thought I would post an update.

On July 18th at 2:23am, little miss Elsie Maline Harris made her debut. Here's her story...

On Thursday, July 16th, I had a doctor's appointment - just a regular check up, nothing big. Tyler wasn't supposed to be able to go with me but through a lucky twist of fate, he was there. The doctor showed some concern for my blood pressure - it had been high through most of my third trimester but it was starting to get a little out of control. He also noticed some signs of pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy related problem that causes blood pressure to sky rocket. It can eventually harm your kidneys - serious stuff. The only 'cure' for it is to deliver the baby. So the doctor asked me some questions - was I having headaches etc? I hadn't been having any headaches worth mentioning. Then he had me go to a lab to run some tests to see if I indeed had pre-eclampsia.

Fast forward to Friday the 17th. I felt tired all day but just assumed it was part of being pregnant. Tyler came home from work and while he was telling me about his day. I didn't have much to say about mine since I had been on bed rest for about a week at this point. While he was talking, he noticed me rubbing my forehead. He asked if I had a headache. I did but it was just a little one, hardly worth mentioning. He said he thought we should call the doctor. I didn't want to because I thought my headache was from not wearing my glasses that day or something like that. He persisted. I told him no, if I still had a headache the next day, then we would call. He decided he would call anyway. The on call doctor told him to take my blood pressure and if it was over 150 or so on top, to go into the hospital for monitoring.
Tyler's mom brought in an electronic blood pressure cuff and we took my BP. The screen kept erroring out. It would work on Tyler and on Tina but not on me. Tyler said that was probably because my BP was too high to register. I just figured it was broken or something. So we went in search of a BP machine, like the ones at the supermarkets. We couldn't find one any where. Finally, Tyler said we should just go to the hospital and have them take it. Then, if it was too high, they could admit me and if it was fine, they could send me home. I caved and away we went.
When we got to the hospital, the took me back to triage to check my BP. The nurse left the room and when she came back she said they were going to go ahead and admit me because I'd be there a while. I asked why. She said because my blood pressure was 230/130 or something close to that. That is stroke and seizure level! And to think, I wouldn't have even called the doctor if it weren't for Tyler. I'm very lucky to have a hubby that pays attention to me that closely.
The nurse went to call the doctor to see what needed to be done and then came back in and said they were going to have to induce me. My lab that I mentioned early had come back showing a bad case of pre-eclampsia and they needed me to deliver so they could get my BP back to a safe level. I told them they couldn't induce me until my dad got to the hospital to give me a blessing. I called and called and couldn't get a hold of him. Mom, of course, was in Italy so I couldn't call her. I called Cheyenne and she said she would continue calling Dad until he answered. I think she enlisted Savanna's help in calling as well. In the meantime, the doctor was getting impatient. I decided I better have a back up plan. Savanna's in-laws lived in Lincoln at the time. Her father-in-law was a bishop. I decided to call him and see if he could come give me a blessing. Tyler finally got a hold of him and he agreed to come to the hospital. We waited and waited for him to get there all the while the doctor was getting more impatient. Finally, he arrived with his son. It turns out, the had gone to the wrong hospital :)
While all of this was going on, we took drastic measure on the Dad front. I called our neighbor to see if she could go over to Dad's to see if he was sleeping or something but I couldn't get a hold of her. Finally, Tyler's dad decided to drive out to Milford to see what he could figure out. When he got to Dad's, the car was in the driveway. He knocked but no one answered. He went inside and hollered and it turns out Dad was downstairs watching a movie and he had left his phone upstairs on the kitchen counter and couldn't hear it ring. So Dad and Burt high tailed it back to Lincoln.
It worked out that Dad arrived about 10 minutes after the Lake's. So, Bishop Bob and Dad gave me a blessing and the nurse induced me. She said it would probably be at least a two day labor so everyone should go home and get some sleep.
About 20 minutes after everyone left, the nurse came in and said she had talked to the doctor and they were going to have to do a c-section. The baby's heart beat was dipping every time I had a contraction and the doctor didn't think she would handle the stress of a two day labor. Had I been closer to my due date, or dilated a bit more, things probably would've been okay. But, since I was no where near physically ready to have the baby, they decided it would be best for all involved to do a c-section. I asked how much time we had. The nurse said about a half hour to 45 minutes. I asked if that was until they started or until the baby was here. It turned out to be that latter. So, we called everyone back to the hospital and they rolled me away!
The rest is pretty much a blur. Mostly because I didn't see any of it. They had a big blue sheet blocking my view. Tyler could describe the inside of my mid section to you in detail. Then, before I knew it, I heard a little cry! Tyler immediately went over to her and started talking to her and helping the nurses clean her up. He cut her cord and then tried to bring her to show me but I was too nauseous from the anesthetic to turn my head. I got my first look at her in the recovery room but I felt to shaky to hold her.
Finally, when we got back to our room, I held my baby girl for the first time. She was so sweet and so tiny. She was 5lbs 6oz and 18 3/4 inches long. More importantly, she was perfectly healthy, aside from a little touch of jaundice (no lights/blankets necessary).
It took quite a while for my BP to return to normal. In fact, it was still quite out of whack when we left the hospital. They actually kept us an extra day to monitor me.
So, there's the story of Elsie Maline. Now we're home and enjoying life. Every day is something new and exciting and she is growing and changing so fast I'm not sure I can keep up!


Okay - the photos were supposed to be at the end of the story but I'm tired of trying to figure this out. Plus the connection is kind of slow so it's taking forever to load - for more photos - go to my facebook page. There's a whole bunch there.

Too-da-loo!
Don't know when I'll be able to post next so savor this one!

Quick Update

Hi Everyone!

I still don't have internet access but I wanted to give you a few updates. First, I got married on March 7th. It was a perfect day, thanks to my wonderful friends and family - especially Cheyenne & Savanna. I don't have pictures to post yet but I think Cheyenne is planning on posting some soon. Second, Tyler & I are going to have a baby in August! We're super excited. It's a little girl and as of now, her name will be Elsie Maline. Needless to say, those two major life events have pretty much occupied my life the last few months. And that's not a bad thing. It's been fun. I'd like to say I'll post again soon but I don't know when I'll have time and internet access simultaniously so we'll have to play it by ear.
Love you all!
Desiree

Temporary Hiatus

Hi! My roommate moved out and took the computer with her. I'm actually posting this from her new house. I don't know when I'll be able to post again - not sure if Tyler & I will get internet in our new apartment or not. We're not moving for another 2 weeks anyway so it will at least be that long before I post.

Just an FYI - Within 3 or 4 days of reading the first book in the Twilight saga, I had finshed books 2 and 3. I just got book 4 the other day so I'm not quite done with that yet. I'll let you know when I'm finished and then we can discuss it at will without fear of spoiler alerts!

Love you all! Talk to you soon!

Des

I Did It!

Okay, so I finally got around to reading Twilight. I started Christmas Day and finished yesterday. I don't know who's bright idea it was to put a chapter from the next book in the back of the first book but now I'm going crazy. I have to read the 2nd book! I'm borrowing them from Mom and I told her to get the 2nd one to me ASAP! But I can't wait! So today, I went to Wal-Mart to see if they had it - they don't. They have the 1st and the 3rd. A lot of good that does me. So here I am, twiddling my thumbs, posting a blog when I could be doing something much more important; READING BOOK 2!!!

Hope your holidays were merry!

BYE!

It's Time For A New Post!

Guess what?!?!?!





I'M ENGAGED!!!!

Once you've finsished reading this post, you can scroll down to a post from early this year entitled, You Asked, I Delivered! Actually, Steff Is The Only One Who Asked So You All Get a Freebie :), and you'll see the lucky guy! :)

For those of you who don't know, his name is Tyler. He proposed to me on Friday. We were out singing karaoke. We usually sing a few songs together so when the DJ called us up there, I didn't really think too much of it. When we got up to the front, I noticed the screen said George Strait. I asked if he was sure I was singing with him because we never sing George together - he doesn't have any duets. He said yes so I picked up the mic. When he picked up his mic, he said, "Okay, I lied. I'm going to sing this one by myself. But before I do, I just want you to know I love you. I've loved you since I met you and I will always love you. (insert more mushy stuff I can't remember)."
Then he got down on one knee, opened the ring box and said, "I have a question for you. Will you marry me?"
I said yes but I don't think he heard me. I was crying. He stood up and said, into the mic, "I think that's a yes."
The whole bar was hootin' and hollerin'. People we didn't know were coming up and huggin us. It was really neat. Tyler's mom was there & she got pictures of it. If I get copies, I'll post them.
I also tried to take a picture of the ring but my camera batteries are dead and the camera in my phone doesn't take good pictures. Plus, it doesn't format them right so I couldn't post it anyway. I'll get batteries and post a picture of the ring, it's beautiful! My favorite out of all the ones I've had! LOL

That's all for now, I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about now that something interesting is going on. I probably won't have time to though :) Funny how that works.

Halloween - It's Not Just For Little People :)

Okay - the pictures are in the wrong order but I'm tired of messing with this thing so you'll just have to deal with it :)

I was Dorothy for Halloween and Katie was a Vampiress.

Check out my Ruby Slippers :)

Attack!

We made amends :)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

It's Neither Here Nor There

It's been a while since I've posted anything. Mostly because I have nothing to say - I know, a shocker! I'm home by myself tonight so I thought I would start rambling and see if anything interesting comes out :)

I hurt my back. I'm not sure how but boy did I hurt it. Last Sunday, I was cleaning out our fish tank (there's no fish in it, just a bunch of algae). It had gotten to the point that you could barely see the rocks and plastic plant thingys. So, I got a bee in my bonnet and scrubbed it out. The problem is, the fish tank is almost as tall as me. It's one of those big hexagon shaped ones. So I had to stretch to get my arm down to the bottom to clean the sides of the tank. As near as I can tell, that's what did it. I think it just stretched it. On a normal person, this wouldn't have been a big deal. For me, it's darn near debilitating. I don't suppose it helps that I sit in a crummy chair for 9 hours a day in front of a computer and have horrible posture while typing. At any rate, my lower back has exploded in pain. I've laid on an ice pack almost every night this past week. It seemed to be helping until last night. I slept on my stomach - bad choice. Not that I had much of a choice - Cheyenne & Savanna can attest to my chaotic sleep habits. I tend to move quite a bit and usually wake up looking like Albert Einstein. So today, I could barely move. It's starting to loosen up a bit now. I took a hot shower and now I'm icing it again. I think I'll try a little heat before I go to bed.

What else can I ramble about... Tyler and I have been dating, on and off, for a year. I can't believe it's been that long already! I'm super excited for all of you (family) to meet him. Baring anything out of the ordinary, he plans to come to the next Rex Reunion with me! Our parents met for the first time about 2 or 3 weeks ago. It went really well. They are such nice people and I feel so at home with them. I've never really dated anyone with a functional family :) I usually go for the lost puppy type. Not this time (yay me!)

I did some math the other day - again, shocking! It has been nothing but weddings for me since 2001. Thanks for starting that off Tiff :) **Tiff, Steff, Cheyenne, Ian, me, Savanna, Kellie (old roommate), Tammy (Katie's cousin - see lady bug cake blog), Wynter (co-worker & the recipient of the squiggly cake), and now my bestest friends in the whole world, or at leat Nebraska; Katie and Jasmine. They're not married yet but were right in the thick of preparations. Katie gets married in August of 2009 and Jasmine in May. So, when all is said and done, it'll be about 8 years of weddings. I don't mind telling you, I'm about sick of them. They are wonderful, beautiful, exciting days but I've never been a fan of bridal showers, bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, dress fittings, etc. I do enjoy making cakes and I'll get to do that again for Jasmine. My maid of honor duties preclude me from making a cake for Katie but I'm going to come up with something really neat for her bridal shower. Jasmine's cake is going to be one of the most unique that I've made so far. I'll be sure and post pictures but you'll have to wait 7 months to see them :)
** sorry if I left anyone off the list :)

Okay - I think that's enough babbling for one night. Here's a few random pictures to round out the hodge podge of thoughts in this post :)

Random snake that was by my apartment

This is me & my friend Nicole :)

The quintessential Katie & Des picture

Chance - one of my favorite people :)

Me & Karmin at work - it's what we do

Mom & Triston

Jess, Keegan & Me

Olivia being super cute as usual

Me & Tyler - I gave him a hair cut :)

Before and After

Okay, it's not really before and after, it's more like before and half way. BUT you guys wanted to see pictures so I thought I'd give you something to compare.....

Take note of the classic double chin and puffy cheeks! Ignore the crazy hair :)

Where'd the chin go?!?!? Are those eyes above my cheeks??? Who knew I had such big brown eyes?!?!?

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the result of a little bit of hard work, some yummy vegetables and I suppose the boyfriend didn't hurt either. It's funny...when you're with someone who is superficial or makes you feel bad about the way you look, it's so hard to change it. When you're with someone who loves you regardless of your weight or chunky cheeks that only belong on a two year old, it's so much easier!

Weight Loss Update

My last weight related blog was posted on March 29th. I figure it's time for an update. I have chosen not to keep track of pounds - it just depresses me or makes me feel like I've failed if I go a week or two without losing anything. I did write down my starting weight (I'm not telling) so that I could see my progress long term.
A few weeks ago, I got to see that progress. We had a free health screening at work and, of course, they weighed me. I have lost almost 30 pounds!!!!! That's not even what I'm most excited about. When I started this little journey, I was wearing a size 24! I know, I know, I carry it well :) Guess what size I'm wearing right now?!?!? A 16!!!!! That's one size away from what I was when I was in high-school! I'm excited because that's kind of my half way point. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I had another fun surprise this morning. When I was 16, my dad bought me a diamond ring for my birthday. We had it sized to fit my middle finger. Now, I haven't been able to wear it on my middle finger since I was about 20 because my fingers are too fat. I picked it up this morning and put it on. Guess what finger it's on?!!?!? That's right! My middle finger!!!!
The neat thing is, it's not that hard. Yes, it takes a conscious effort and it does require some change and adjustment but it's not hard. I don't know that I'll ever give up my morning Mt Dew. I still go out to eat with friends. I still eat buttered popcorn at the movies. And every once in a while, when I feel like it, I'll stop by Mickey D's or Runza (if you're not from Nebraska you won't understand) on my way home. I almost NEVER snack. BUT, I don't eat it as often and I don't eat as much at a time. I think one of the biggest things is just adding more fruits and vegetables, then you don't have room for that other junk.
I haven't adopted an exhausting exercise regime. I just walk when I have time. I clean more and move around more when I'm at home. Little things have a HUGE impact.
See? Easy peasy lemon squeezy!

Stay tuned for more updates in another 7 months :) Maybe by then, I'll be a size 8! Who am I kidding, I'd settle for 10 or 12 :)

The Only Interesting Thing I've Done Lately

So I haven't posted in forever. Mostly because I have nothing to write about. I'm still in training at work. For those of you keeping track, I've been there since June 2nd and I'm tired of it. We only have about 2 or 3 weeks left - wohoo!

Just about the only thing of consequence that I have done in the last few weeks is go to see Poison while they were at the Qwest Center in Omaha. Now I was raised on country music and oldies so I am only recently discovering my love for 80's hair bands and rock. It's not so much that I've never been exposed to it, just not well versed. Turns out, I really like Poison. Sebastian Bach opened for them. If you don't know who he his, he was the lead singer for Skid Row. Turns out I like their music too.

So, here are a few pictures from that night. Hopefully these few paragraphs have enlightened you and clued you into a side of me you weren't aware of. Maybe they will sustain you until the next time something interesting happens to me. Until then.......see ya!

Sebastian Bach

Brett Michaels of POISON!

Kristy Hunsaker - This One's For You....

I do remember you! I tried to go to your blog and leave you a message but apparently, I have not been granted permission :) I'd love to get caught up! I saw you requested me as a friend on facebook but I'm not too fond of facebook so that's not really the best way to find out what's going on in my wild and crazy life......


Hope to talk to you soon!

Muwah Ha Ha Ha (evil laugh) Three Posts In One Day - Beat That!

Actually this one is just to let you know I have a new slide show of Olivia down at the bottom of my page. It's from when we were in Utah. She's sooo cute!!!!!! Check it out!



Maybe tomorrow I'll post the cousin pictures, maybe not. You'll just have to wait and see.

Family Reunion Fun

Okay, so I owe some people an apology. I may have made a comment in one of my previous blog tirades complaining about the length of the reunion. It's really to bad none of you Utah cousins got to spend much time with me growing up. If you had, you would know I have a tendency of planting my foot firmly in my mouth on a regular basis. Tiffers, Steffie and maybe Jennie know what I'm talking about. Cheyenne and Savanna were obviously in the front row spectators.
Anyway, I just wanted to rescind my comment. I really enjoyed my time in Utah and even though the reunion didn't last a full weekend, I had a blast. Probably the best time I've had in years. I wish I had pictures but, like the smart chickie I am, I brought my camera across 3 states only to leave it in the car and forget about it.

So THANK YOU to those of you who had a hand in planning and executing this year's Rex Round Up. And THANK YOU to all you cousins who came and made it such a fun time. I can't wait to see you all next year!

Can't Think Of A Creative Name For This Post So It Will Remain Un-Named

So apparently, two girls (one of whom is a notorious camera criminal *see 'A Little Left of Center'), a camera and a long wait at the SLC airport is a combustible combination. Ah Savanna, there is never a dull moment with you.

We were obviously not on the same page for this picture

The matching sunglasses are purely coincidental

Savanna and her 100 megawatt smile

Glub Glub Glub

You are sexy face

It's Coming!

Okay, I promise to post more soon. I really need to go to bed right now though so you'll all just have to wait (with baited breath I'm sure).

Coming soon:

Pics from my trip to Utah including Twinkle Toes, Olivia's B-day (sort of) and whatever else in on my camera.

Hang in there, it won't be too long :)

ummm

So I've been staring at my computer for 10 minutes trying to figure out what to write about. I just don't have as much going on as all you other bloggers :) I guess I could give you a brief synopsis of my Fourth of July holiday.....(Steff, I'm copying your set up :)

Wednesday:
The beginning of a long weekend. I'm not even sure I could tell you what I did. Oh yes, that's right, I went down to Louisville (super small town on the way from Lincoln to Omaha) to have supper with Tyler & his parents.

Thursday:
NO WORK!!! YAY!!! Because I'm in training and don't technically factor into the workload management, they gave us the option to take of the 3rd. I don't think I've ever had a four day Fourth of July weekend! I thought I would sleep all day but no dice. Up at 6am! Crazy. I really didn't do much during the day - just kind of poked around, cleaned a bit and watched movies. It was nice. Then I made pasta salad to take to Milford on Friday..

Friday:
Tyler came with me out to Mom & Dad's. We just hung out with them for a while and then went up to Seward with Mom. They have a big Fourth of July festival every year. There are always some neat craft booths and a parade. Then we went back to Milford for supper. It was fun. Tyler really enjoyed himself. He's a country boy at heart and being out there with the horses and the open space is like Christmas for him.

Saturday:
SLEEP IN DAY! Loved every minute of it. I got up late, ate lunch, slept more. Then I had a BBQ to go to at a friend's house. We played some ladder ball.

Sunday:
Back to Louisville I go. I went to see Tyler & his parents. We were hoping to go jet skiing but that didn't happen. Oh well, better luck next time. Instead, we watched movies & got ice cream.

Then back to work on Monday. I am one tired Chickie. I just keep telling myself a few more days and then its off to Utah I go!

So I guess I have a little more going on than I thought - just not quite as interesting as all you moms out there :) Or at least not as important :)

To all you Utahinites :) I'll see you Saturday! I hope, if not, shame on you. I'm driving clear from Nebraska, you all better be there :)

Bye!

Slide Show

Hi everybody!

I posted a slide show down by my music thingy check it out!

Jenny Sue Where Are You?

So this little note is specifically for Jenny. Why can't I access your blog? For some reason it says that you can't publicly view it? Anyway, I wanted to comment back. I miss those reunion days too. I haven't seen you for years! I've never been to Washington that I can remember, maybe I'll have to save up :) I write a lot of insurance in Walla Walla & always think about Erin every time I see that name :) Talk to you later!



P.S. for all those who are wondering, yes, I will be at the reunion. I'm coming out with Mom & Dad. I think we leave the 11th and will head home on the 17th so I think I'll be out there when Olivia is. YAY! See you all in a few weeks. Except for Jenny Sue, who knows when I'll see you....hey that rhymed.

BYE

You Asked, I Delivered! Actually, Steff Is The Only One Who Asked So You All Get a Freebie :)

So this is Tyler & me. We were on our way out the door to go see a movie & I snapped this super quick. He doesn't like pictures much which is okay because neither do I. There's not much to tell except that we've been dating officially for a little over a month & unofficially since October (I think).

I met him at a friends house. I was actually pretty brazen, surprise surprise. I was sitting on the couch & he was walking by. Without thinking, I reached out & grabbed his belt buckle (I know, I'm a hussy) and asked him if he had earned it. It's a team roping belt buckle. After I realized what I had done, I decided I'd better introduce myself. We've been semi inseparable ever since. Actually, that's not true. I'd hang out with him for a week or two and then flip a 180 on him & avoid him for a while. I guess he saw something worth getting dragged through the mud over & stuck around.

That's about all I have to say about that. Anything else you wanted to know but were afraid to ask?

No News Is Good News, Right?

Yeah, I got nothin. Life in my neck of the woods has been pretty uneventful. Aside from the weekly tornado warnings, things have been pretty quiet. I'm in my 4th week of training at my 'new' job. It's going okay. I'll be glad when it's over.
I guess there is one exciting thing going on.....my roommate and best friend is getting MARRIED!!! Her boyfriend of 5ish years proposed to her 2 weeks ago. The date is August 1, 2009. I get to be the Maid of Honor. If you all know me even a little bit, you'll know I'm going to be a terrible Maid of Honor. BUT it's the thought that counts, right?
Oh, and I guess I should mention that I'm seeing a guy. His name is Tyler & he's a super sweet redneck, right up my ally. We're spending the 4th of July together so maybe I'll get some cute pics & post them in my next blog. I guess if you want to know more than that, you'll have to call & ask, although there's no guarantee that I'll answer :)
Until next time......

Nationwide Is On Your Side?

For those of you who don't know, I started a new job last week. I still work for Nationwide Insurance but instead of working commercial accounts, I now processes personal accounts. That means, if you had Nationwide, anytime you send in a request to update/change your policy, I put it into the computer. I left the commercial department because they are eventually going to move all commercial operations to Des Monies. Lincoln will still be considered a growth site for personal lines so maybe I'll have some opportunities there. I'm a bit sad about the change though. I loved my job & the people I work with.
I'm in training right now so it'll be about 15 weeks before I actually get out on the floor and fly on my own. I gotta be honest, I'm none too excited about this new position. It's not as challenging as my old job. I don't know, maybe it'll pan out, it's only been about a week. My hours changed from 8:15-4:30 to 7:00-3:15. It's nice to get off early but I haven't been up that early since high school!
Other than that, nothing new on this end of the line. Super excited to see everyone at the reunion! My roomie Katie might come with. It should be a good time. Although, and I know I'm preaching to the choir right now, I'm a little miffed that it's only one day. I drive 14 (give or take) hours to see my family & have to take off more time from work just to drive to & from that any of them do just to be there. Not cool. 28 hours to drive so I can hang out Friday night & Saturday day? I suppose time must run differently in Nebraska since it seams that it's 'easier' for me to make time for these things. That might have been a bit harsh but oh well. It's only the Internet, not like anyone will see it :)

I Love Stormy Weather

Check it out - this is what we've been experiencing the last few weeks! Yesterday, the sirens went off in Lincoln (that hasn't happened since I moved here forever ago). For you westerners that don't know the joys of severe weather, a siren only happens when we are in a tornado warning (a warning means take cover now! A watch just means conditions are favorable. Warnings can be pretty serious).
So I'm driving home from the southwest side of town to where I live in northeast Lincoln. It's nice & sunny, albeit cloudy (figure that one out), and I look to the north - dark as night! I flipped on the radio to see what was going on. The DJ said we were in a tornado warning. The most dangerous part of that warning? Northeast Lincoln - right by my apartments!
Then, I hear the sirens. That's almost a guarantee that a tornado is on the ground. I start to drive a bit faster. I called Dad to make sure he was aware of the situation, he never pays attention to these things & the warning stretched all the way to Milford. While I'm calling him, I get a whole bunch of text messages and voice mails.
Then Kate, my roommate, beeped in on the call waiting. When I answered, she said, 'I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do.' I said, 'You're fine, I'll be home soon.' She said, 'Everyone is out in the hall, what do I do?' I told her to grab a blanket & go into the hall with everyone & I'd find her when I got home. We don't have a basement or storm shelter in our apartment building & Katie & I are on the 3rd floor.
Back to driving. I was actually pretty nervous. To get home, I had to turn off of what seemed like a safe road & head directly into the storm. I had goosebumps and the hair on the back of my neck was standing straight up. I kept thinking, 'Oh my gosh! How will I react if a tornado drops down right in front of me?!?' So what did I do? The same thing I always do when I get that kind of ominous feeling. I sing 'A Child's Prayer' at the top of my lungs over and over until I get out of the situation. I'm sure the people at the stop lights thought I was crazy! That's okay.
As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, & got out of my truck, the rain and wind started. It went from being perfectly still to torrential down pours. The winds were blowing in circles so the rain was horizontal & kept switching directions. I walked into the 1st floor hallway to find Katie & she wasn't there. My blanket was sitting on the floor so I thought, man that must have been a super selective twister to suck her up & not touch the building :) A nice girl that lives on the first floor let a few of the people in the hallway into her apartment.
So, we sat there until the warning expired. I kept walking out the porch door to look at the clouds. There were some amazing shapes I'd never seen before. I can't even describe it. The warning expired at about 9:30 so we went back upstairs. The night was far from over. There was an amazing lightning storm, the likes of which I have NEVER seen in my ENTIRE life. Katie & I sat on our balcony and watched it. The storm was only lightning & a little bit of rain. It stayed right on top of us for about an hour. That's pretty unusual for a storm. The usually move on their merry way.
We got lucky, no tornadoes in Lincoln last night, at least not any that actually touched down. There were a few in the towns around us though.
Tonight, we were supposed to be in for one of the worst storms in Lincoln's history, according to Katie. I'm pretty sure it moved to the northeast of us & will mostly miss us. However, it is super cloudy, muggy & dark so you never know. We're in a tornado watch until 1 am (see explanation above). It should be pretty cool to see what we're in store for. While your waiting for my weather updates, check out these photos!

Lightning around Seward County (where Mom lives)

This is crazy! This is a tornado that went through

Kearny last week (where we had our last Nebraska reunion)

These clouds were actually right near my

apartment last night!

This is what went on ALL night last night!

Amazing!

More Lincoln skies.

Just makes you feel a bit awed and maybe kind of small :) I love it! I'll keep you posted all through the summer!

Judgement Day Synopsis

Alright so not much happened at the WWE Pay Per View. No titles changed hands, no one was injured. But all in all, it was a fun time. We saw a steel cage match, always exciting. There was a super cute little boy sitting kity corner behind me. After about five minutes, I wanted to rip his legs out of his sockets! Quit kicking my chair!! Then, there were the super cute, super drunk college boys behind us that kept making fun of the wrestlers, they were actually pretty entertaining. Then, Katies cousin, bless his heart, sat two people away from here, one of those two being me. It was constand, "Katie, Katie! What do you think.....Who do you think....Which do you think.....?" Binoculars being shoved at me while I'm trying to take pictures, spit flying in my face, you name it. It was a blast! :) After the show was over, we went to the car to leave. It took us like an hour to get out of the parking lot! Some 'de duh de' in front of us kept letting people in front of us. Now I'm all for being courteous but this guy was letting cars in that had cut in front of people & didn't deserve to be catered to. THEN, we were starving so we stopped at McDonald's. The most Ghetto Micky D's I have ever been to. We had to wait for ev ver to order & about 5 minutes into waiting for our food, the power went out! It was out for a few minutes & then came back on. The incompetent, albeit cute & flirty, employees couldn't figure out how to get the computers to come on or how to stop that infernal beeping! It was a disaster! I didn't think it would ever end.

So there ya go sports fans, that's Judgement day in a nut shell.

Until next time!

Judgement Day Baby!

So it's Judgement Day in the WWE. The clan & I are headed to Omaha to watch. This is the first time I've been to a pay per view live. I've been to Monday Night Raw a few times and some un-televised events in Lincoln but never a pay per view. I know this probably doesn't mean much to you guys but pick your favorite sports team or music group & imagine seeing them live. I'll make sure & give you a full recap & pictures when we get back.

Other than that, there's nothing exciting going on. I start my new job (same company) on June 2ND. I'm not very excited about it. It'll be nice to have job security and be able to keep my benefits & of course, meet new people. BUT, I really like what I do now. I love the people I work with in the office, they're some of my closest friends. We have a really unique office dynamic. I've never worked in a place that was so social. I'm going to miss some of the underwriters too. There's one that lives out in Pennsylvania & he almost made me cry the other day. He just such a sweet guy. It's nice to know I've had an influence on some of the people I work with.

OOOO! I almost forgot! The pool in our apartment complex opened yesterday! I'm super excited to go swimming! I got a cute new swim suit (a few sizes smaller than last year!) and I can't wait to break it in!

Alright kids, off to Omaha I go. Talk to you later!

New "Mug Shots"

A Little Left of Center

This picture has been strategically placed 'left of center'. I'll give you three guesses why.

Any of you who know Savanna know never to leave her alone with your camera. Or, in this case, your camera phone. My phone is quite literally plastered with pictures along this line. One is my background, another my screen saver & still others caller ID.

If you happen to see this woman, immediately move your cameras and phones to a safe place. She is beleived to be dangerous when within reach of any photographic equipment. She was last seen in Rexburg, Idaho but could be anywhere. If you see someone matching her description, call your local photocryme stoppers immediately. Her weapons of choice include digital cameras, disposable cameras, Polaroids, camera phones and even blackberries.

If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, please call 1-800-mix-a-lot and help us keep our streets safe.

WWE for President?

So I'm home sick today & you all get to listen to my discombobulated thoughts.

So I know you all laugh at the fact that I'm a WWE fan but apparently the WWE has become a respected political forum. That's right, the presidential candidates made a visit to Monday Night Raw. Hilary Clinton, Barack Yermamma & McCain addressed the WWE fans complete with wrestling lingo and all ("Can you smell what Barack is cookin'") Yeah, I'm serious. It didn't end there. Later on in the night, the actually had a match between Hilary & Obama. Or at least people dressed up like them. Bill even made an appearance in the match. So I haven't decided if having the candidates on Raw is a mockery of the WWE or of the presidential elections. After listening to their incredible orations, I'm more confused than ever about who to vote for; dumb dumber or dumberer. I think we should all write in John Wayne :)

So I'm off work the rest of the week! Yay! I'm going to Idaho with Mom & Dad for Savanna & Daven's graduation. I'm kind of excited. I've never been to that part of Idaho. It'll be fun to see where she's been & what she's been up to these past few years. Yeah, so that's about it - I better go finish packing.
Laters!