Motivation (or lack thereof) and HAPPY BDAY WHITFACE!!!

I'm normally a very motivated person. I like "doing stuff", like, you know...stuff. As of lately my "stuff" has consisted of watching old Hitchcock movies with A when I get home from work and eating. A lot of eating.

1. work
2. watching old Hitchcock movies
3. eating

Now while those are very appropriate and important things to do, some more than others, I am in need of something to tickle my fancy again. Normally shopping does that but when there are no funds left over for pretty little things I'm out of luck. I did go running last week but my Spring workouts were cut short by Mother Nature's very inappropriate sense of humor. Snow again, really? Thanks a bunch.

Since we've been here in the Cleve I've done a lot of thinking. Today has been no exception. Here are my conclusions:

1. I'm not made for the Cleve. The autumn is fabulous but no matter how much Vit. D I take I can't handle these grey, freezing winters. I'm bored.
2. I miss my family and I miss my friends. I don't have a whole lot of friends but goodness, I miss you guys.
3. Hot Rod is an inspirational movie. faux mustache, check. punch dancing, check. stunts, double check.
4. I need some goals, or a goal would be a good start.
5. I'm a food snob. I know many of you will disagree with me on this one but I'm just going to put it out there...Olive Garden is mediocre at best.
6. Dancing to Britney Spears in my skivvies is a wonderful workout and makes me feel like I'm in high school again.
7. I LOVE Utah and it's sunny, warm winters, gorgeous but all too short autumns and perfectly fun summers.
8. Family history is totally awesome. I'm from Sweden, Denmark, England, Switzerland and a tad bit of Scottish thrown in there for luck. or is that Irish for luck? hmmm     go HERE to find out where you come from.
9. I always forget to put gas in the car. sorry sweetie :)
10. Kipling is probably the cutest dog in the world, hands down. THE END.

On another note...

Happy Birthday Whitney!!!

yes, she was born on April Fools and yes, she is totally awesome.

Whitney and I have known each other since we were 2. We were in nursery together, kindergarten, all the way to high school. We became besties when we were 12 (probably because we were both beyond awkward) and pretty much inseperable ever since. We've done so many things together that I can't even begin to list them all. We have been there for each other through thick and thin. We have thousands of inside jokes that are only funny to us. She has such a wonderful heart, is a fabulous cook, taught me how to do laundry, always makes me laugh and I love her!!!

xoxo BFF

the great cupcake disaster & portrait of a bulldog

Last night I brought A home a gorgeous, rich, decedant, gigantic, chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and chocolate shavings on top from the Nordstrom Cafe. (as seen above)

He had been begging me to bring one home for him ever since I got one from our Kids' Wear painting party a month ago. If you don't know about Nordie's cupcakes...they are the best. cupcakes. ever. My mouth is watering just thinking about it and it's 8:16 am. So long story short, A went to take a shower so he could savor in his cupcake with a clean body, I went to check my email and K...no one cared what he was doing until we found him hiding behind a chair, decadent chocolate remains covering his wrinkly face.

No photo sorry, A is still getting over the loss.

Before K destroyed all of A's hopes and dreams I took some photos of him yesterday. He's getting huge and isn't such a puppy anymore. sad face.

 droopy lips



 stocky legs

puppy eyes

wrinkles

nubby tail

K

I just found this one, I call it "Crash"

Thank you, all photos are available for purchase.

Spring Break baby

These last two weeks have been wonderful. A and I went to visit my Gpa, Aunt Valerie and Uncle Joe in Maui over Spring Break.

Can I get a HALLELUJAH!?

he knows what I'm talkin about

Maui just does something to people's minds. There is no time there, it doesn't matter if it's 10 am or 10 pm, Friday or Monday... who cares? It's all good baby, you're in Maui.
It feels like a time space continuum (whatever that means). I didn't think about work or responsibility the entire time and it was a-MAZ-ing! We went to Lappert's and got ice cream everyday, strolled along the boardwalk in Lahaina, swam, snorkled, boogie boarded, ate like kings (thanks to Gpa) and got our tan on.



One day we rented a Harley and rode upcountry to Paia where we ate at Cafe Mambo...so good, shopped in Makawo, rode the Hana highway and went on a little hike/swim at Twin Falls.

then dun...dun...dun...a huge 8.9 earthquake rocked Japan. A and I couldn't take our eyes off of the news. CNN.com has the best coverage that I've found. We keep praying for the people affected. Oh how this breaks my heart.

We were actually told that we needed to evacuate bc of the tsunami warning but we decided to stick it out and watch the news for updates. Luckily the tsunami was only a few feet and didn't cause any significant issues throughout the islands. But we were prepared just in case with candy and POG and we brought in the patio furniture just to be safe.

Now we are back and ready to tackle the last month and a half of the semester (well, A is, I'm just here for the ride).

Margi, sweet Margi, at the last second took Kipling for us while we were gone. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! You are fabulous and I think K already misses his best friend Dodge!

I am going back to work tomorrow, hopefully my jet lag isn't too bad. A is passed out on the couch because he didn't sleep a wink on the red eye. Oh and btw, I totally saw Joey Fatone from NSync at LAX, no big. Just how I roll.

Oh and good news! The first yak baby was born this weekend, when I asked what his (the baby yak's) name was Dennis said "Top Dollar". I would have gone with Blackie or Oreo but that's just me.

Happy Daylight Savings! Spring forward. 

It's almost Spring...please...hurry...I can't make it much longeeeeerrrrrr....

I thought this was funny and a little too similar to how I'm feeling right now.

loves

A and I had a slightly belated yet fun Vday. I got A sick so we postponed our celebrations until he could taste food.  He surprised me with gorgeous roses, chocolates and dinner at a fabulous Brazilian place downtown.

He also slipped the host a Benjamin to get the nicest table in the joint. That's how we roll. 

Don't worry, this photo has nothing to do with Vday...Saturday morning we woke up with no power so this is what our candlelit living room looks like. A is in the chair by the windows. Can't see him? Oh me neither. It felt kind of romantic and a little like a scene in a horror movie. I wouldn't have done well before electricity.  

Don't fret, we are all powered up now. I've never been so happy to flip on a lightswitch.

Then on Sunday Mother Nature delivered a present. Lucky Cleve. She sure does have a sense of humor. 50 degrees one day then BAM, back down to 0. She's just reminding us of who's the boss around here.
At least it was gorgeous. Everything was covered in ice. (including our car, not so cool) The trees all have little icicles and at night they sparkle. Just gorgeous darling.

In one week we will be soaking up some rays though. Which I most definitely prefer.

I am nostalgic

After I put the video up of A and K wrestling last week I decided to go through our videos just to see what we have. I suddenly got slightly weepy and nostalgic. When did you get so big buddy? humph.



and then this was the dagger to the heart...

Other than the fact that I need another puppy nothing is new. I got really sick last week and then immediately gave it to A. I am transferring departments at Nordy's and will be in Kids.

It's a heat wave today (40 degrees, whoo hoo!) so K and I played outside in the sun this afternoon.

Vitamin D never felt so good.

Happy 20th Lil'Enny!

It is my younger brother's birthday today! Whoo hoo! Party time!
Aaron is one of my best friends. He is crazy, funny, an adrenaline junkie, talented, smart, one of the hardest workers that I know, has the best heart and is a fabulous brother. He forced my parents to make us "play" the silent game at least a few times a day when we were growing up. (he always lost) He watched The Rescuers Down Under and Peter Pan almost every day when we were little. He gave me half of his go cart for my 12th birthday. He has sushi boardshorts. He's an eagle scout. He's gone lobster diving, has his pilot's license and is a total stud. He has a white fang dog. He took care of our mom everyday while she was sick for almost a year. He always has at least 2 motorcycles. He loves adventures. He can husk a coconut on a rebar. He's the funny one in the family. He calls me just to say hi. He is the BEST younger brother a girl could ask for.

This is Andrew: Aaron is kind. Everybody knows it. Sometimes I wish he wasn't so kind because then I wouldn't feel as bad beating him up. Aaron enjoys making others happy--especially his family. He is a calming spirit. He loves life and has an enduring obsession with the next "big thing", be it planes, puppies, or motorcycles. Women be forewarned--you might be in his way of the something far bigger. He is, afterall, a renaissance man (and men with talents can't be distracted). He loves dogs, horses, and shooting muskrats at the ranch. Aaron, you are a butthead.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AARON!!!

WE LOVE YOU!!!

this doesn't have a whole lot to do with Aaron's birthday

other than I told him I'd show him some footage of Kipling's fury.

waddya think?

This morning I am stranded at the castle while A is at school. (not like I have anything to do) I decided to use my entire morning creating a header for this thing. waddya think? I probably should have just said "a blog for our bulldog" but I don't want to come across as too obsessed...

What did it look like down our street yesterday?

grey, ice and snow

(at least the sun has shown it's glorious face today. Yipee for Vitamin D!!!)

K and I have major cabin fever. Luckily he has his heater, his toys and his bed.

All he needs is a box of bon bons and some soapies.

Once in a while we'll go outside and run around but let me just tell you, K was not made for the snow...

or running.

after a few minutes he's ready to go inside back to his bon bons and soapies.



When I got home from work last night K was ultra sick so A had confined him to the kitchen so he wouldn't throw up on our rugs. Poor baby.

He hasn't thrown up yet today, cross your fingers for my rugs' sake.

Tonight is a farewell dinner at DiBella's with Bryan and Laura and their sweet little Lola.

We're sure going to miss them!

be still my soul