Happy Half Birthday BoBo!

Mr. Bodey, yesterday you turned six months old.

I cannot believe how quickly the past half year has flown by. You have completed are little family and I love everything that you have given to our family.

You and your brother are certainly best friends. You are completely content just sitting by and watching him play. He loves you so much too. He always gives you kisses and likes to know where you are at all times. Nothing melts Mommy's heart like watching him give you a hug and kiss and say "I wuv you Brutter"

You are a HUGE fan of your daddy. The smiles you give him trump the smiles you give anyone else. Daddy has a hard time warming up to new babies but you are finally crossing the threshhold into the fun age and I imagine that you two, actually all three of you, will be spending plenty of fun time together in the coming months.

You still haven't decided to sleep too well at night. While it's true that I'm totally exhausted, I love our little snuggle sessions in the middle of the night. I do not, however, love the 4:30 wake up calls from you. I am hoping you can work on a more appropriate "up for the day" time.

Last night you had your first bites of cereal. You LOVED chewing on the spoon and were actually trying to self feed just to get that spoon up to those two tiny teeth. Your tongue thrust reflex still needs a little work so we will take it slow. We'll try to get you onto something a little tastier within the next few weeks...

We are heading out today to get your 6 month pictures and I'm very excited. Temps are supposed to be in the mid sixties in DECEMBER so we may even get to take pictures outside. It's actually warmer out today then it was the day we had your three month pics.

You are such a happy baby and a joy to your Mommy and Daddy's hearts. We love you so much. You are a blessing. You and your brother are our everthing.

Hugs and kisses,

Mommy

Fill in the Blank Friday

So - I never finished the 12 days of Christmas Challenge. I suck. I know. Our tree wasn't up yet so I couldn't participate in the decoration day and it was the weekend and I almost never post on the weekend so I just failed. I'm okay with that.

But, since I did feel like doing a little blogging today but really had nothing important to say, I decided to hop on Lauren's "Fill in the Blank Friday"

1. I wish that my pocketbook would align with my fashion sense (currently the inverse is true).

2. Yesterday I almost destroyed my car when the truck infront of me had a full size basketball goal fly out of it while going down the HIGHWAY! .

3. Today I will do a little work and then go hope to prep for the 31 party I am hosting tonight.

4. Tomorrow I will spend the day cuddling the two most adorable boys in the WHOLE. WIDE. WORLD. while their daddy tries to take down Bambi's mom.

5. Maybe I will be able get H & B to nap at the same time and I will join them.

6. Someday both of my boys will sleep through the night AND sleep past 6 AM.

7. I love the way that H will just bust out random words and full sentences that I would never expect to hear from a 22 month old. Some of my favorite words he says include: medicine, Lacey (I don't like that he says it, but it's so cute when he does), chicken, and sucker.

That's about it! Have a Great Weekend y'all!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 11

Day 11 - New Years Resolutions

• Get off my dead ass and do something! Anything! Walk. Clean. Dance around the living room like a maniac with my 2 year old. I can only use the excuse that I'm exhausted with a new baby for another 26 days (it expires at 6 months) so my goal for 2011 is to just be more active.


• Be present - so many times my husband, friend or family member is trying to tell me something and I am so easily distracted and miss half of what they are saying. I want to be able to sit down and have a conversation with them and fully understand and hear what they are saying instead of just nodding aimlessly while consumed in something else.


• Go to Church and build a relationship with God


• Complete the Couch to 5K program


• Save some money

12 Days of Christmas - Day 10

Day 10 - FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONGS

I'm not super obsessed with Christmas music - I don't mind it, but I could take it or leave it to be honest. Yesterday on the way to daycare my oldest was in full on meltdown mode and suddenly "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" came on the radio and I started singing it to him and he immediately calmed down - so perhaps it has some sort of healing power.

Okay, I'm just gonna put this out there - I'm closing in on thirty a lot faster than I want to be but my favorite Christmas song is STILL "Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays" by *NSync. It is just too freaking catchy. I'm gonna run a loop on that video today just to keep myself festive! Listen here.

My favorite Christmas album of all time is Amy Grant's. My favorite song from that album is "Breath of Heaven" which is just so amazingly beautiful. I have been known to well up just listening to it. Listen here.

And - to keep the Christ in Christmas I am gonna throw this one out there too. The Advent Song has always been one of my favorite church hymns and I'm so excited that we are back in the season! Listen here. (I had a hard time finding a good version but this is kind of cute.)

Edited to add "Silent Night" - We had a winter wedding and our organist played the most beautiful version while we lit the unity candle. I would be a total jackass if I didn't list the song.

Some Random Wednesday

Sometimes I really just want to post a thought or memory just to put it out there and I figure that doing it on some random Wednesday is just as good a day as any. It's not a blog carnival or blog roll - just something to keep me motivated to post after all the blog challenges end.

So today - here are some random Wednesday memories.

• I use the term random Wednesday a lot and here's why... I graduated from college on a Friday night six years ago this month. We were driving to a bar afterward to celebrate and I was a little bummed because I just "knew" that Chad was going to propose to me that night - but he didn't. I told him that I thought for sure he was going to do it that night and he said to me "When I propose, I'll do it on a day that is special only for that reason - like some random Wednesday..." The following Wednesday he popped the question!
• One of my favorite memories ever - the day that I brought Bodey home I was a hot mess. Hormonal, emotional and exhausted. We set his infant carrier on the couch and Hunter came over to meet him. Hunter took one look at him, turned around and ran to grab his teddy bear then brought it back and placed it in the carrier. It was the first time we had really ever seen Hunter share and for sure the first time did it on his own accord. I instantly turned into a blubbering idiot. This morning I watched the boys together and that memory came rushing back and I welled up again. Don't know why. Perhaps because I am still a hot mess - hormonal, emotional and exhausted. But I guess that comes with the territory.

Okay - random post over.

12 Days of Christmas - Day 9

Day 9 - FAVORITE HOLIDAY RECIPE

I'll try to keep this one simple!

Take this...

...and put it in one of these... (fill about half way)
...and then top with this. Yes, I'm aware that this isn't Dom...but trust me it will do!



ENJOY! Mimosas are a wonderful holiday treat. We bust them out left and right. Holiday baking? Mimosa! Open house? Mimosa! Chirstmas Morning? Mimosa! And the best part - the work outside of the Holidays as well. Wedding shower? Mimosa! Baby shower? Mimosa! Lunch break at work? Mim...okay, maybe they aren't the answer to everything! One place that they are great is tailgating. They were the best part about the KU/Mizzou game this past weekend! AND - they taste just as good in one of these...

...as they do in a fancy champagne flute.

Careful how many you enjoy though - you may just wind up like this!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 8

It's already day 8 of Aly & Molly's Blog Challenge - I need there to be like 25 days of Chirstmas or something because it's nice to actually have something to blog about!

Day 8: LEAST favorite thing about the Holidays.
If you saw my Black Friday post - it should be perfectly clear what my least favorite thing about the Holidays is. In case you missed it - I. FREAKING. HATE. CROWDS.
The anxiety that I get amidst chaotic crowds is nausiating (and admit it - all Holiday crowds are chaotic). The thought of having to go to Target or Walmart for ANYTHING in the next 4 weeks makes me want to hurl. The fact that anyone could actually enjoy the "hustle and bustle" of the Holidays boggles the mind!
I will probably end up taking a personal day from work and doing all of my Christmas shopping (that I can't do online) then - and it will be some random Wednesday at, like, 8 am because I will not be caught dead doing it on a weekend. I need to adjust our grocery budget for this time of year because if I'm the one going shopping, I'm going to Dillons - where it may be more expensive, but it's also much less crowded than Wally World.
Just thinking about the crowds long enough to write this post kind of makes me dizzy...

12 Days of Christmas - Days 5, 6 and 7 - FAIL!

So - big surprise - I failed at keeping up on Aly & Molly's 12 Days of Christmas. Here it is, day 7 and I am just now getting around to posting my day 5 information. Lame-Oh!

DAY 5: It’s no secret that this is my favorite Holiday movie. My family watches it all the time. My dad finally had to upgrade to the DVD once we finally wore out our VHS. We spend our holiday quoting this movie and actually tend to reference it year round. Last year we gave my dad a “Shitter was Full” t-shirt for Christmas. I’m pretty sure that it was his favorite gift – EVER!

My favorite TV Special isn’t even on any more and that Breaks. My. Heart. I couldn’t even tell you how this grew to be my favorite. I always remember watching Rudolph and Frosty and Charlie Brown – but my favorite was always Garfield. There is a scene in the movie where they light the Christmas tree and everyone makes this great “ohhhhhhhhhh” face. So every year, at some point, my dad will reference that scene. It’s just a fun little memory. My sister and I have been known to break out in our own rendition of “Good Ol’ Fashion Christmas” from that show. It’s a catchy tune!

DAY SIX: What I want for Christmas:

I am super in love with these shoes. One can never own too many Sperry shoes if you ask me - and their women's dress line is really making headway.

My love for Glee is no joke. I also have a warped sense of my own voice and think I am a phenominal singer so this is perect for me!

Okay, so maybe this next gift is lame - but I really need a new vaccum. With two little boys and a rowdy little dauchsund I constantly feel like we are sweeping. The one we have now is loosing suction big time - so why not go for one that isn't supposed to lose suction?

I saw these boots at Dillards last Wednesday and I want them SO BADLY! I want them in every color they come in. I'm so glad that the fashion world has decided do create really cute boots without heels. Yes, I am short and should be wearing heels, but I am also clumsy and and find that fact to trump the other.

Oh, and because this girl cannot get enough shoes - I wouldn't mind finding these in my stocking as well! My husband and I watched a special on the creator of Toms 2+ years ago and ever since then I have wanted a pair. I'll be honest, they aren't exactly the cutest shoes in the world but the story and the message make it worth it. This print is fun and different - just the way I like my foot covers!

DAY SEVEN: Holiday Craft/DIY

I really don't have anything for this one. I am thinking about making some letters to put on the mantle. When both of the boys were born I bought wooden letters from HobLob and then slapped some scrapbook paper on them with some Modge Podge. In both cases they turned out super cute. I am having a really hard time deciding which word I want to do though. I have thought about our last name, HOHOHO, Celebrate or Rejoice. Any suggestions.

Okay, tomorrow's topic is LEAST favorite thing about the Holidays. Should be interesting to see what people come up with!!

12 Days of Christmas Blog Challege - Day 4

Day 4: Tips/Tricks to a Budget Friendly holiday season

I really don’t have much to add here – other than that I am very excited to see what everyone else has to say on the topic because this is an area where I need help! I only have a few tricks that I use…

1. With each paycheck I try to knock at least one gift off of my list starting in October. Now, if I was smart, I would just start a Chirstmas Club account and then I could take it all down at once. Let’s just plan on adding that to my New Years Resolution.

2. Start early. Okay, October is early for me. If I was really smart I would have started in July.

3. Look for deals on wrapping paper and bags. I am a big fan of Big Lots! for this stuff. Same goes for decorations. They have a ton of stuff. Last year I bought two wrapping packs that had four coordinating rolls of paper plus ribbons, bows and tags to match. This worked out great because I used one coordinating pack to wrap our gifts for my side of the family and the other pack for Chad’s. Made it much easier to identify who got what when we were loading up for our holiday travels.

4. I am a big fan of discount websites, especially when it comes to gifts for my little ones. Since my boys are too young to specifically request items, I have been able to find some really great things from babysteals.com or mamabargains.com. Some other great sites to consider are woot.com or steepandcheap.com for the older giftees on the list.

Okay, that’s all I got for this one. I’m excited to see what everyone else has to say though because clearly I need some more advice.

See you tomorrow!

12 Days of Christmas: Day 3

It's Day 3 over at Aly and Molly's 12 Days of Christmas Blog and today's topic is:
Most meaningful gift/best gift you've received
The most memorable gifts I have recieved?
As I read through other blogs I have seen a ton of favorite gifts that I had in common with other bloggers. Here are a few additoinal gifts that I received that I LOVE(D).

My senior year in high school my folks got me one of these badboys. I quickly adorned it with a KU faceplate. Remember when phones were only good for making calls and playing Snake? My, how times have changed


My sister is the BEST gift giver in the world. I still can't believe she actually bought me this!

The following year I tried to keep up and bought her a North Face jacket and felt like I had done so well - until I opened these! She won again.

I gave up on trying to surpass my sister in the gift giving department.

I should tell you now that Chad is NOT a romantic gift giver - he is more of a practical gift giver or picks up on the one random thing that you say you would like to have and that is what you get (why hello Crest White Strips!) so you can imagine my surprise when my Christmas present last year came in this box...

The contents of that box brought tears to my eyes because it was proof that I had finally reached my ultimate goal in life. Though I am sure if you ask Chad - he would just say that he knew it would shut me up!

Have a happy Thanksgiving y'all! Can't wait to tell you all about my favorite Holiday TV Special on Friday. It's a good'en

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

It's Day 2 Over at Aly & Molly's 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge. Hop on over and take a look at what all the awesome posters have to say!

Day 2: Black Friday/General Shopping Tips & Tricks

I must tell you – I am NOT a Black Friday shopper. I would not be caught dead at Toys R Us or Target at 4am throwing ‘bows to get to the last plasma TV. That just isn’t my style – oh, and I FREAKING HATE CROWDS. I am, however, a big fan of cyber Monday. More and more online stores are offering free shipping so I figure – why not? I can usually knock out at least half of my Christmas shopping on that day. So many stores are also offering up great deals on Cyber Monday so it is really a win/win for both my sanity and my pocket book.

Now, don’t get me wrong, if the Gap or Gymboree was having a 90% off Doorbuster at 2am I would be there, but until that happens – I’ll be sleeping while the masses are sweating their way through the stores. Bless your hearts!

Oh Christmas Card - Oh Christmas Card

Oh, the dreaded Christmas card. I have always been horrible about sending them out. Last year I was bound and determined to send one out since it was Hunter’s first Christmas. Never happened. I felt like I never got the ‘perfect picture’ of him to put on a card and I was up to my eyeballs in morning sickness so napping seemed more enjoyable than addressing envelopes. So here it is – a year later – and Hunter is now a big brother and I am bound and determined to get a card out to the masses donning the two most adorable boys this side of the Mason Dixon or the Mississippi or the Rockies or, to be honest – IN. THE. WORLD!

So, I set out to find the perfect Christmas card. I started with the usual big box suspects. Their backgrounds were boring, nothing unique and exciting. Nothing worth writing home about and certainly nothing worthy of displaying the beauty that is my children. (What? You’re tired of hearing how beautiful my babies are? Um, have you seen them?)

Enter Shutterfly. Ohmagoodness-they have some cute cards. Narrowing it down is not going to be easy. Then I found out about this offer and it was as though the stars aligned and bells started ringing and now, my friends, my little ol’ blog about little ol’ me and little ol’ Chad and the WORLD’s CUTEST BABIES is actually going to pay off with some great Holiday cards.

Their photo Christmas cards are adorable and the selection… man-oh-man I’m in photo card heaven. I’m sure you can tell by my ever changing blog header that I’m into the multi picture goodness and Shutterfly has tons of options that are just up my alley. You can check them all out here.

You will have to stay tuned to hear how our Christmas Card saga of 2010 turns out!

12 Days of Christmas - Day 1: Traditions

Aly & Molly's 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challege is upon us. I love this time of year so I am very excited to participate.

Day 1: Christmas/Holiday traditions

We have a few holiday traditions in out family so I will stick to what is probably my favorite one: Holiday Baking & Cookie Exchange

Of all Holiday traditions this is probably the newest one as well. For the last three years all of the ‘Land’ women gather together for a day of goodie baking as well as a cookie exchange. We kick off our day with a great breakfast and then get down to the business at hand. We chat and laugh and get stressed and have fun! I’m especially excited because this will be the first year that we are doing it where I will not be pregnant. Two of the years I was in the throws of morning sickness-and neither time had we yet ‘announced’ our pregnancy so I had to suffer in silence. This year there will be mass mimosas of celebration.

I think my favorite part about this tradition is just the togetherness of our family. Our family has always been fairly close and we ‘cousins’ are close enough to each other in age that we’ve been friends as well but as the older generation has bonded more strongly over the past few years so has our generation. Several of my cousins’ families as well as my sister’s family live in the same town and see each other regularly. We all have young families and sometimes the women don’t get to see nearly as much of each other as the men do so it’s nice to have this time together. When we see each other at Holidays now it’s hard to catch up when you’re chasing toddlers and nursing new ones. (There are seven cousins and between our families we went from having one 3^rd generation member in January 2008 and by January 2011 – there will be NINE!)

Two years ago my aunt made a “toast” as we wrapped up our baking to the fact that her mother (my grandmother, who passed away when I was 11) would be so happy to see all of us Land women taking this time together to build such a wonderful tradition.

I know this post is getting long but I also want to mention a tradition that was my FAVORITE growing up as a child that has had to cease amidst the ‘Sharing Holidays’ that comes with being in a relationship.

There was nothing more special to me than sitting on the couch with my dad and my sister on Christmas Eve while my dad would read us the story of Jesus’ birth from the Book of Luke and then would read “The Night Before Christmas” from the same book that his dad had read to him. The book is tattered and very few of the pages are still connected. The Santa on the front has on a felt coat that has been worn down by the 60 years of rubbing.

The first year that I missed Chirstmas Eve with my parents, my sister and my dad called me so I could listen to him read it. I sobbed. One of the hardest parts about giving up this tradition is knowing how much it meant to my dad. Sure, Jen and I loved it, but it was so evident that my dad loved it – even when we were in our twenties and would still cuddle up next to him like little kids to let him read to us – still his little girls.

We now do Christmas Eve with my inlaws – which I LOVE. The tradition there is wonderful as well and it works wonderfully for celebrating the holiday, but I will always miss those Christmas Eves with Jen and Dad and little baby Jesus and the ancient Santa.

Catching Up!

It has been forever since I’ve blogged. I failed miserably at Katie’s 30 Day Challenge. But, I feel compelled to put something out there! So, here is my life – in bullets.

· Work has been crazy busy. I really really enjoy my job and I’m knee deep in the meat and potatoes of it right now.

· The Bodester had his 4 month Well Child Check last week. The big man weighs in at a staggering 16 lbs 10 oz and is 27 inches tall. He is such a sweet baby and loves to smile and talk. He’s finally getting to that age where Chad isn’t terrified of him.

· The Hunt Dog gets funnier and funnier every freakin’ day. Tomorrow he will be attending his first KU football game with Daddy. They have been practicing their “Touchdown” and “Go Jayhawks!” cheers. Adorable!

· Chad is still Chad. Up to his elbows in concrete (or so he would have me believe). Of course it is hunting season so I am doing my time as a Hunter’s Widow here and there. He has been kind enough to narrow it down to once or twice a weekend and thus far has only made one weekend trip out west. I really wish he would get a deer so that I wouldn’t have to hear about this through rifle season as well.

· I am SUPER excited for this weekend because two of my besties and I are having a Goose Reunion! When we were in college we lived at this bar called The Goose Too (aka, The Deuce or G2). Seriously, we were there 3 nights a week. One of those nights was our Wasted Wednesdays (aka GIRLS NIGHT). I don’t want to even imagine how much money I put into that place. So many awesome memories there though. Chad and I even made a cameo there the night we got engaged to celebrate with our bar-going cohorts! Anywho - the bar changed owners and then changed names (and then changed names again). Our crazy group of gals grew up –got married-started families and our days at the G2 went by the wayside. So – fast forward to a few weeks ago when I see a new sign in front of the bar. The new name? “THE GOOSE AGAIN”. So many of our original gang have moved on to bigger and better things – but the three of us that still call this town home will be reliving our younger years with a trip to the Goose – Again! SO.STINKIN.EXCITED!

· Next week is Thanksgiving which I am super excited about. It’s probably my favorite holiday because I love getting to spend that time with my family. It’s always fun to see all of the babies too since our families 4^th generation (3^rd living) has grown from one kid to eight in the last three years (#9 will be here by Christmas). For some families that may not seem like a lot but or family if fairly small – only 8 cousins (of which at least one (or one’s wife) has been pregnant at any given moment since Fall 2007). So, it’s freakin’ Romper Room when we get together. Can’t wait!

So, there is your super long and unnecessary update. Monday I’ll be starting Aly and Molly’s 12 Days of Christmas Blog Challenge – so you’ll be hearing from me a little more regularly. Fingers crossed I actually finish this one!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 12

I believe…

… c-sections, circumcisions and disposable diapers don’t make me less of a mother.

… marriage is hard work.

… high heels make you look thinner.

… reality TV will, in fact, NOT rot my brain.

… every woman should have: a great lipstick, a favorite wine, and a bunko group.

… I have no control over the expressions my face chooses to make.

… it’s okay to not want to be a stay-at-home-mom.

…that someday in my lifetime – the Royals will win the World Series and the Chiefs will win the Super Bowl.

…there is always room in your heart for more love and in your brain for more memories.

…crying is good for the soul.

…a good moisturizer is the key to looking young.

…I have yet to achieve my full potential.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 11

FAVORITE TV SHOWS

Hands down the funniest show on television
Admit it, you watch it too.

Not quite as funny as Rob & Big - but a decent substitute.


My favorite of all the Real Housewifes trainwrecks. I love all things Bravo!

This one never gets old.

Oh, how I love Jersey Shore. It's my vice. I'm in love with Pauly D. This morning Chad told Hunter he needed to get his jacket on by referring to it as "T-Shirt Time" and when it was time to load up the car we shouted "CAAAAAAAAAAAAAABS AH HEEEEEEEEEERAH". We're AMAZING Parents, no?

I'm a Gleek, my son is a Gleek and my husband is a Gleek (though he'll never admit it).

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 10

Day Ten – Something You’re Afraid Of

The answer to this simple for me:

Something happening to either one of my boys that I can’t “fix.”

I know the truth though – this WILL happen. In some way; big or (hopefully only) small. More than once.

There is something about becoming a mother that makes you so vulnerable and you instantly become a mother to every other baby on the planet. The blog world only magnifies that and you find yourself reading blogs about families struggling with the worst case scenarios and you cry for those babies and you cry for those mothers. And you pray – you pray for those babies, you pray for those families, you pray you never have to become one. You pray your blog never has to take that road.

The strength of the women that tell those stories amazes me! They put all of their faith in God and fight so hard. I am not nearly as God fearing as I need to be. I am weak and overly emotional when it comes to my children and worry that I could not fight as hard as these women do. I do not have a good relationship with God and often feel as though I am praying in vain.

Perhaps my answer isn’t so simple. Maybe my answer should be:

Not being strong enough to handle it should anything ever happen to my boys…

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 9

A PICUTRE OF YOUR FRIENDS

One of my besties got married a few weeks ago and had a photo booth at her wedding. So – all of her besties (who all happen to be my besties) crammed in there for this ridiculous photo shoot. I love these girls so much. Some I have known since junior high but it wasn’t until college that we really got to be close. This picture pretty much sums up what it is like when we all get together - mayhem. Since two of them live out of state and we are all forcing ourselves into adulthood we don’t get to see each other as often as we would like but when we do…WATCH OUT!
And I couldn’t show pictures of my girls without showing one of this girl. My best bud since high school, though we had met many years before that during Y basketball and/or t-ball. She’s the Mary Ann to my Wanda (for you Dixie Chicks fans). The Abbott to my Costello. The Situation to my DJ Pauly D. After high school we both went our separate ways and then last year we both made our way back to our hometown and picked up right where we left off. Together we started a bunko group and survived the planning of our ten year class reunion! This girl does not know a stranger and loves to act ditzy though she is one of the smartest people I have ever met!

I seriously have the best friends a girl could ever ask for!!!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Days 6, 7 and 8

Whoops! Busy weekends tend to equal no time to get on the computer so I am officially an epic fail when it comes to this 30 day blog challenge, but I’m going to post on all thirty topics, though they won’t be on the thirty days they are supposed to be. At least not the ones that fall on the weekend, anyway. Now, onto what I’ve missed.

PICTURE THAT MAKES ME HAPPY:

This is what a typical Saturday morning looks like in our house. We don’t do real clothes unless/until we are planning on leaving to go somewhere (and if that somewhere is Grandma and Grandpa’s, they will probably remain in pjs.) Hunter loves his baby brother and will lay next to him on his play mat and rub his belly while they both watch the musical smiley overhead. I thank God for these sweet moments and treasure each and everyone.

FAVORITE MOVIES: I never saw this movie before I met Chad and he forced me to watch it. Now I have probably seen it more than 50 times and would call it my hands-down-favorite. It is SO. FREAKING. GOOD.

This is another movie that is just really, really good. I could watch it over and over again – it never gets old.

Onto the comedies:This is a family favorite for us. My parents host a holiday open house each year on or around Christmas Eve and we basically keep this show running on a loop. A few years ago my dad finally had to upgrade to the DVD because our VHS was so worn out. I could easily watch it anytime of the year. Last Christmas we gave my dad a “Shitter was Full” t-shirt. I am pretty sure it was his favorite gift…EVER!

“Scotch. Scotch. Scotch. I love Scotch.” There truly are no words to describe how freaking funny this movie is. And the fact that Bill Kurtis narrates the freaking thing makes it that much more spectacular. Those who know me know I L-O-V-E American Justice and all things Bill Kurtis.

A PLACE I HAVE TRAVELED TO:

I don’t really have anything super exciting to put here. The most recent place that I traveled to was Las Vegas. But that was for work and we were so busy that aside from seeing the fountains at the Bellagio, I never really left the hotel.

We went to Jamaica on our honeymoon and I loved it. I have always been a huge Bob Marley fan so visiting Jamaica was on my bucket list. We stayed at an all inclusive resort which is really the only way to go. We would love to go back someday for sure.

Blog Challenge - Day 5

My Sister!

There is this song by Juliana Hatfield called “My Sister” that begins “I hate my sister, she’s such a bitch – she acts as if she doesn’t even know that I exist.” This is how I would describe the “teen years” for Jenny and me. I was the angry teen that rebelled and made my family’s lives pretty crappy – my sister included. While I always looked up to my sister – so pretty and athletic – we weren’t friends. We tried, but it just didn’t happen.
Jenny went to college and I got through high school and when I graduated I joined her at KU where she was working on her masters. I went through recruitment and was offered a bid from my sister’s sorority. When I got off the bus on bid day she was there, now an alum, waiting for me. We hugged and we cried – and from there we became friends. How strange was it that it took sisters becoming “sisters” to turn them into friends?
Though I ended up changing schools after my freshman year and we never got to share all of the Greek excitement, our friendship remained strong and even grew stronger.
Becoming wives and mothers together has been wonderful. We were married less than four months apart (sorry Dad!), each had our first child nine months apart and our second children 10 weeks apart. We talk daily and about anything and everything. I could spend all day just sitting on the couch gossiping with her. We can be weird together and say and do things that only we get. If one of us says or does something ditzy or weird, the other will just pet us gently and say "pretty girl, pretty girl."

I share things with her I could never share with anyone else. I love her and her family so much.

This is her with my favorite little girl in the world - my niece Camryn.

30 Day Blog Challege - Day Four

The topic for day 4 over at Katie's Journey is My Parents…

These guys…. Oh, these guys….

My parents are, hands down, my two favorite people in the world. This picture was taken more than 37 years ago and they are still going strong. They showed me what love is and not to settle for anything else.

Mom – She wears her heart on her sleeve and loves to be a grandma. She has an obsession with QVC and a tendency to mispronounce words. Enjoys her ‘Soaps’ and Birkenstocks. She’s a very loyal person and tends to hold grudges when you do her or her family wrong. I can talk to her about anything and she supports me even when she knows better! (i.e., letting me get a degree in English and never taking a single business course in college). My sister and I pick on her way more than we should. She’s a wonderful mom and friend.

Dad – He’s one heck-of-a-guy. He survived 20+ years in an estrogen den (even our cats were female) but he has since been rewarded with two “sons” (in-law) and three grandsons – though he loves his granddaughter just as much. He spends his days on the links or at the farm. His sense of humor is dry, yet hysterical. My sister and I tend to pick on him way more than we should as well…though not nearly as much as we do our mom.

I could go on and on about all of the amazing things about my parents. They provided me with a wonderful example of how to be a good spouse, a good parent and an all-around good person.

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 3

The topic for day 3 over at Katie's Journey is First Love…

In my life, I have dropped the “L” bomb on 4 guys. That number kind of makes my stomach churn as I read other blogs and they are lucky enough to only have said it to one.

The first time I said it I was fourteen and clearly was not truly in love. It’s what you said when you were that age to feel special. I couldn’t even tell you whatever happened to that guy.

The second time I said it I was sixteen. I really think I thought I meant it then. It was a good relationship, but a short one. It was your typical fun, high school relationship. Looking back now, I believe that God brought us into each others’ lives so that we could help bring other people together. I am so fortunate to say that two of my best friends in the entire world met their husbands (in a round-about way) because of that relationship.

The third time I was seventeen and for the life of me can’t even tell you why I said it. That relationship was long and toxic. It wasn’t love…I don’t know what it was to be honest.

And then there was this guy!

The fourth time was Chad. The love I have for Chad is so different than the love I had ever felt before. It’s the love that makes all previous “love” wind up in quotation marks. I guess that is how we know when someone is “the one.” He is my best friend, my partner in crime and really is my first REAL love!