Make NEW Friends but Keep the OLD

Just like many of you, I enjoy unwinding at the end of the day by watching a little bit of brainless entertainment known as TV! I have my favorites every season and so does Wade. If you know us at all as a couple than you know that we are complete opposites. That includes what types of prime time shows we watch. So about year 2 in our marriage we realized that we could easily spend a hours weekly in separate rooms in the evening. We decided that we needed to find some shows that we both like so we can wind down TOGETHER at the end of the day. This was hard to do until last year. We suddenly found a couple of shows that we both really like is both fall/spring and summer/winter seasons.

Goodbye to our old friends from the Summer season, but most will be back in the winter!

We Loved, Loved, Loved this show. We even watched season one online all summer. This is a really cool show and totally keeps you wanting for more. A not to mention great eye candy for the men or women! ;) So goodbye old friend, but no worries you have been picked up for the Winter Season. We will miss you most!

OK, Wade could have cared less about this show but I got sucked in. I am so over all the sex and gruesome nature of all those "other" drama shows. This show in on Lifetime and it really does talk about real life problems, mainly of that in the military. It's just about the lives of 5 innocent ARMY wives (Plus 1 army hubby). Check it out if you haven't watched it!

Monk is an oldie but goodie! This show and Stargate SG1 were the first shows that Wade and I could watch together! I didn't watch it in the beginning b/c I didn't get the Title. I mean who wants to watch a show about a monk. But it's really quirky and no disgusting blood and guts like those other detective shows. It just funny!

Why Hello my NEW friends of the Fall Line up!

Wade and I got all into this last season. It will totally fill the void in our prime time hearts that Burn Notice has left us. Chuck is actually more humorous! We all have a soft place in our hearts for the Geek next store. But, I totally think he's a cutie too! Is you didn't see it last season, YOU HAVE to watch it on NBC.

Last, but not least! Pushing Daisies! All I can say is that I love how last season started a trend of good hearted, upbeat programming! No sex, drugs, & rock and roll here. Wade and I thought this was such an original concept. The main character can bring people to life by touching them, find out how they died (or were killed), and them put them back to sleep by touching them again. The love interest was dead, he touched her, feel in love at first sight, and never touched her again so she could stay alive. So they are in love but can't touch each other. And in the end they catch bad guys with lots of other quirky stuff in the plot! It's fun! Watch it.

So, Now I ask you...What shows are you looking foward to this fall season???

Table and Cars

I started another hobby recently! We have a small table in our kitchenette that was left in the house when we bought it. It wasn't in the best of shape but we didn't have another table to put there. I told Wade we should keep and I would refinish it and save us some money! So I finally did it. It took me a little longer than I expected and it still doesn't quite meet my perfectionist standards but i had to be done with it. I learned a lot with this project so the next piece of furniture I "fix" should be even better! What do ya think?

Before

During

After

Also, for those of you wondering what new car I got...I'll tell ya! We bought a Volvo XC-90. If you knew me when I lived in Bama then you know I was obsessed with this car a year ago. I finally got it and at a great deal. It is a 2006 and only had 13,000 miles on it. I think it was a program car or something. Anyway, we felt is was a good used car that will last us forever. Literally, I will be driving this car FOREVER!!

The funny thing is that last year we bought wade a Volvo off the "lemon Lot" on the AF Base. Again, great deal from another couple that was desperate to get ride of an extra car payment. Anyway, his car is the same color as mine. Inside and out. So we joke that we have "His and Her's" cars. We should tell people we did it on purpose! Aren't we CUTE!

What A Long Strange Trip it Was!

Sorry, it's a long story! But worth the read...I think!

Well, we went to Myrtle beach last week and had a fun, but interesting time. We piled into the good ole Passat and and headed out on our 17 hour (probably more like 20 with kids) trip. We didn't leave until 5 pm that day and our goal was Birmingham. Which was going to be at least 8 hours. The good news there was that we planned on staying with my BFF from the good ole days, Libby! Love ya Lib, thanks! Anyway, we were both doing so good until about 1 am and then we were done, we just wanted to stop driving. We were in the middle of Mississippi and there was nowhere to stay. We pulled off on an exit and the one motel was full. Then we headed up to another exit about 20 miles up the long and lonely road. Well that exit claimed to have a motel but it must have been in another dimensions or something. By the time we found one we were only about 40 minutes from B'ham. So we pushed forward and arrived at Libs house about 3 am. Well, my pregnant friend was up and awake so of course we had to chit chat and catch up which put me to bed about 5am! At least Audrey let me sleep until a whopping 7am! ;) Nothing like traveling in a small car with 2 kids and 2 hours of sleep. It was going to be a great day.

Well, then about an hour out of B'ham I noticed we weren't on I-20. I know we took the exit for it what happened??? All I know is that I wasn't the driver so I won't go there!! But, Nora really needs to learn how to use a road map! ;) So anyway, we had to take a side road about 45 minutes to get back to I-20. So, we're finally back on track. Well, for like 3 seconds! Next thing we know the Passat decides to quite moving! So, there in Anniston, AL we broke down on the side of the freeway on a hot and humid summer day. And to add insult in injury I stepped in a HUGE fire ant pile...TWICE!!! Anyway, long story short it had to be sent to the good car gone bad graveyard. Good news, I get a new car! Bad news is, WHERE??? We just decide to rent a car and drive on to Myrtle beach.

Thanks goodness for the Campbell's. They are great friends! They met us in Anniston and drove with us to Myrtle beach. Then Sweet Diana watches all the kids while Joey takes us looking for a new car to buy. What a great first day of Vacay at the Beach! ;) Well, we get a great deal on an AWESOME car (will post details on that in the future). So the next couple of days went great and were loads of fun!

The drive on the way back went smoothly in our smooth car. To make the trip totally worth while we got to stay with our old friends the Scofield's in Alanta! They are a wonderful family and it was so great to see ya'll!

So now we are at home. No buyers remorse just a car payment to swallow after being car note free. Gross! I created a slideshow for your viewing pleasure since I took so many pictures. Sorry Lib and Scofield's...I didn't take any pics during our short stay...what was I thinking! ;(

Awake, Arise, and Come unto Christ

So, I wanted to share a talk that was emailed to me by a friend. It is a truly inspiring and spiritually uplifting talk given by Sheri Dew. For those of you who are not familiar with her, she is president and CEO of Deseret Books and has held worldwide leadership positions within our church. She is a woman who has never married or had children despite her desire to do so; and yet she is still a huge advocate of the importance of family and of motherhood. In this talk she pleas with the Daughters of God to turn away from the world and turn to the Lord. She talks about the misconception in today's world of Successful Women. Rather than striving to impress man we should strive to impress God. The fact of the matter is, as daughters of our Heavenly Father, we are given the most divine role in nurturing, teaching, and raising His children so that they may return to him one day. That is the true measure of success!!

If you are a woman/mother...no matter what denomination. Her talk will touch and inspire you!

Please watch!

Here's the link:

http://www.byub.org/findatalk/opentalk.asp?TalkID=5770&talk=http://byubwmv.byu.edu/wconf/2008/dew.wmv

The Big 3-0, and the girl's still got it! ;)

Well, yesterday was my 3-0 Birthday!! Above are some pictures of some of my friends and the nights festivities! I can't help but wonder, if 40 is the new 30, then does that mean I am the new 20?! I must say it wasn't a bad day at all! Wade and the girls woke me up with Krispy Kreme donuts and then we just ran some errands and had a yummy lunch! Wade and my friend Kimberlee planned a little party for me but, it was somewhat a surprise. I didn't know what we were gonna do but I was excited. Turns out they planned a get together at a local restaurant that had a live band. We ate, had cake, danced, and yes I even sang. It wasn't Karaoke, but that didn't stop me!!

The band that was there was called "Chatter Box"! No, that wasn't planned, I guess it was fate to have such an appropriate name for the likes of me! ;) Anyway, my friend Kimberlee knew I loved Karaoke so she asked them if I could sing with them. Well, they asked me what song I wanted to sing. I had NO idea, I was kind of shocked and just then...FLASHBACK!!!! If any of my college friends are reading this than you know what I'm talking about. Suddenly I was back in college at the Pi Kapp house jumping on stage and singing with the bad. What was the song I sang....."Ramblin Man" by the Almond brother's bad. I actually think I sang that song with a couple different band throughout my college experience. So that is what I sang on my big 30th Birthday!!! Just to prove that I still got it!! I'm just as cool and crazy I was back in the day of no responsibilities.

Want proof?? Wade recorded the Band and I having a groove session after the song was over. Warning: I do look a little LAME, but cut me some slack...I'm 30!!!

Sole Sisters Run For A Child

On Labor Day I ran a 5K!!!! Yep, pretty dang proud of myself. I ran with a group of gals I've met through church and whom we've dubbed ourselves "Sole Sisters"! Some ran a 10K and others ran or walked a 5K. I'm not sure of my time but I ran the whole way!!

I can't say I love to run, but I loved the whole atmosphere and camaraderie of it all! There was huge support from the group I ran with as well as all the Volunteers at the event! I have 2 favorites: 1. All the volunteers on the corners directing us where to go. They would clap and cheer us on and they made me feel like I was Rocky Balboa and I was accomplishing something MAJOR! But, boo to you, people on the few corners that didn't cheer me on! ;) 2. I loves all the freebies. We got a a t-shirt and a backpack full of coupons and goodies. And then there were all these tents with even more goodies like every kind of granola bar invented, a lot of Burt's bee's products, Betty Crocker warm delights (a personal fav.), Clorox wipes (another personal fav). Anyway, you get the picture!

I may not be running in a marathon anytime soon but I could definitely do this again...maybe next time the 10K!

The Sole Sisters!

OK, this isn't at the race, but I wanted to show off my new Ipod (Thanks Mom and Dad for the B-day present)! It totally helped to make the run easier, ESPECIALLY the ginormous hill I had to run up half way through trail!!!

Me getting ready and posing for my proud hubby!

And we're off!!

Crossing the finish line!! First place I think!!! lol

PS...I was gonna put a cute picture of Nora playing with all her new friends on the inflatables they had there, but I chose to be completely narcissistic and make this blog all about me...oh, and the "Sole Sisters", that's right them too!!

Sleep where you fall!!

Since child # 2 came around I guess I have lost my place in the running for the "Mother of the Year" award! Not only does Nora not get the attention that she so desires but apparently neither does Audrey. I had to sneak a couple pictures of her just falling asleep where ever she was b/c Mommy didn't pay attention to her whining and "telling me" that she is ready for her nap!! I guess I either loose track of time and/or just get used to hearing my kids whine and have learned to tune it out a little!! Which reminds me of when we were childless and I didn't understand how moms could tolerate their children yelling and whining in the car. My friend would say, "Oh! You get used to it" and I would think, "not me, NEVER" Well, apparently never has arrived! This is what happens when you have a couple children...they must sleep where ever they fall!!

Audrey asleep in her Excersaucer!!

Audrey, once again, had to fall asleep while using one of her toys!

This video is just for kicks! It looks as though Audrey may crawl sooner than expected. And, I believe, I actually got her to her crib for a nap on this particular day.