I thought it was safe

...but it wasn't!

I needed a book to help pass the time while Bob is away, so, after the kids were long asleep, and I didn't want to lay in bed listening for prowlers or scaring myself with every creek, crack, or movement of the house, I picked up Nicholas Spark's novel, Dear John. I must admit, his novels aren't usually my first choice for a read, but I thought it would be light, quick, easy and harmless. By harmless, I mean, it wouldn't have an effect on me. Because you see, I have been known to get too involved emotionally with a book. I get attached to the characters and actually feel their pain. That sounds ridiculous, and it is. A perfect example is that after reading, The Glass Castle, by Jeannette Walls, I cried for three straight days...pathetic, I know.

So, Nicholas Spark's books are pretty predictable. They're a little cliche as well. You know, the sweet, innocent girl meets the rough, rebellious guy, they fall in love and everything is great until some giant obstacle comes between them and their relationship. Dear John followed suit, but as I turned the pages, reading away.......I could't stop reading. I was HOOKED! I found myself really liking the characters, and even though the romance was a bit cheesy, it was exciting too. I must give credit because I think he does a fine job capturing just how giddy and nervous we all are when we fall in love, when we find that certain person who makes us weak, flushed, and incredibly happy. I loved reading about this young couple doing just that, and enjoyed thinking back at my own life, reflecting on the fun and excitement I experienced while falling in love.

So, I finished the book last night and it happened. I layed in my bed and cried. DAMNIT! I didn't want it to get to me, but it did. The book was sad and didn't end the way I wanted it to, but at the same time, it ended perfectly. I loved how the characters were so good, how they loved each other so deeply that they were completely un-selfish, which is so rare. I loved that book for the very reason that it reminded me once again that nothing in this world, materially, matters. It is only the relationships we have in this life that will bring us real joy. So, to work on them and devote ourselves to our loved ones (family, friends, neighbors, etc. ), should be our only concern.

This reminder was good for me. I needed it.......and it is something .......I really want to work on! I think I started too, because today on the phone Robert asked me why I was being so nice to him. I didn't tell him it was because of the sappy, romance novel I just read, which heightened my feelings for him and reminded me how lucky I was to be in love.

....but I think he knows!

We Out'

Well, it isn't the Bahamas, and it is probably colder than it is here, but it is a little trip away. We are headed to Salt Lake City in just a few hours. I can't wait to come upon the Wasatch mountains. When they are snow capped......simply amazing! Mason, Robert's nephew has a hockey tournament there. Since they live in Denver, and we rarely get to see him play, we are excited for the opportunity. My kids have been anxiously waiting all week, "When do we get to go to Mason's hockey!?" Avery even included it in her prayers last night! So, if we can survive the 6 hour drive with the kids, I know we are going to have a screaming good time cheering for Mason and his team! Most of the McBride clan is coming to support him, even Danette is flying in from Michigan. We're happy to get to see her too! Oh, but I don't know, a bunch of us competitive, intense, rowdy, family members at a hockey game for one of OUR OWN.......it could get ugly! Hopefully there won't be any fights broken up off the ice!

Good times to be had.....

Me's Busy

My life is a bit overwhelming at the moment, and I am sure you can ALL relate. It's up at 6 to run, go all day long keeping up with the house, laundry, kids, pre-school, piano, swimming, soccer, dinner, and bed-time routines, and everything else life is throwing at me. Then it's on the computer, up late, working away........ Avery, who thinks my camera is a toy, snapped this photo. It is the epitome of my life right now........

SERIOUS MULTI-TASKING AND COMPLETE DISARRAY!Oh, and mother nature isn't making things a whole lot better either. Here in Boise, the weather is bitter cold, and we've had quite a bit of snow lately too. Spring and warm weather would sure make things nice around here. So, I was browsing through old photos last night and found these. I couldn't help but to think, "How utterly fantastic would it be to be there right now?!"In the Virgin Islands, on St. Thomas, with him....Enjoying those views....Napping here, on a warm, white, sandy beach...

Breathing in fresh, floral scents...

Hanging out there....

Golfing here...or should I say, having fun driving the golf cart and losing a LOT of balls in the ocean!

Watching and enjoying romantic sunsets there....
Basking in the warm sun and cooling off in the picturesque pool here.... Chowing on delicious, tropical food and sipping on lots and lots of virgin pina coladas and strawberry daiquiri's!

Doing a little island shopping there....

Wandering, oh so aimlessly here....Having fun dressing like fools there.... (Winning a monetary prize, I might add, for the best costumes! Obviously the competition wasn't too stiff!)All because he worked hard and won a big award! Oh, I can promise you.......There isn't a trip like that planned in our near future. I do have a few lucky friends who are on their way to Hawaii this month. All I have to say is, "Hooray for you, Angie and Steph!"

....because even though this girl LOVES her life and wouldn't trade it for the world,

She's currently....

BUSY, COLD AND SO WANTING A VACATION!

Paying my debts

I did it. Today I payed my debts. I thought I could continue to take the kids to story time, craft time afterwards, and let them play on the computers too, and they would be satisfied with our visits to the library. Nope. They wanted books. Each and every time they begged for books. Well, books would be great too, but their mama had a big, fat, gigantic late fee she was avoiding. I avoided it for almost a year. Then I decided today I was going to be clean free of that debt. It wasn't going to be weighing on my shoulders like a monkey on my back any longer. So, I did it. I payed the outrageous late fee and one lost book fee and the kids were ecstatic checking out there many, many, many books. This is a new day. This is a new me. There will be no late fees, and I am holding myself to it!

Oh, and if you haven't read Enemy Pie to your kids, it's a great one! We seem to be going through "friend" issuses here in our household, so this was very fitting for our second grader.

Sick

I'm sick. So sick .......my head aches, eyes are hurting, nose is running, throat is burning, SICK. I've blown my nose so much the ends are red, swollen and raw. I must not be looking fabulous either because Robert keeps saying, "Man, you're sick. You look awful."......and that makes me even more sick. So, sickness is surrounding me. I am a little, tiny parcel in a giant tornado of SICK.

But, you know what was even more sick, the sickest of all, by far? The season finale of The Bachelor. Did you see it? Are you disgusted with a capital D? Hmmmm........I would love to go off right now on how upset it made me and how ridiculous it was, but you know what, I am not devoting any more of my time to THAT show. I am done with you, yup, just like all your contestants are done with who they choose. You think you can just throw people to the curb because your feelings change? Well, guess what, my feelings have changed too, from a fun form of entertainment, to just plain........YOU MAKE ME SICK!

Adios, The Bachelor.

She's Having a Baby!

Karrie Jo and Aaron are having a baby boy in the next few weeks. It is their first baby, and we couldn't be any more excited for them. Karrie is my sister-in-law, but has been, since Robert and I started dating, one of my close friends. She is one of the most adventurous girls I know, and by far one of the "coolest!" Baby Beckham is one lucky, little dude. He'll enter the world soon, fortunate to have Karrie and Aaron as his peeps! So, with his arrival soon upon us, Mikkel and I threw Karrie a family baby shower. Great Grandma McBride, who has the perfect party house, allowed us to gather for the festivities in her home. We chowed on delicious food and enjoyed these silly but scrumptious cupcakes. For those of you Tip Junkie blog admirers, like myself, yes, I found this idea on the blog itself!We played a few fun games.
.....and had some excited winners!

Karrie was given soooo many great gifts. This onesie is one of my personal faves.

....and this onesie is hers!

It is always fun to have a reason to get all the girls together and party. Thanks Karrie, for giving us that reason! Beckham will be here before we know it, and oh, how your life will change.......for the absolute better, that is! We ALL couldn't be more anxious for his arrival, and we know he is going to be one OVERLY adored, if that's possible, BABY BOY!

Dreaming Big

When Bob and I were first married our good friend Sy had a boat. We spent the summer on the reservoir with all our college buddies tubing, skiing and swimming. Oh, those were good times! Then we went to Redfish lake and crashed the Buck family reunion. We spent a weekend on the lake having an absolute blast on their boats and wave runners. After that..... We were hooked. We realized what a fun activity boating was for the whole family. I mean, everyone can do it, and who doesn't like basking in the sun and playing in the water on a hot summer day?

So, we saved our hard earned pennies we both earned waiting tables and bought us a boat of our own. Oh, what a shame it is that I don't have a pic. of our PONY. That 1970's, red neck, loud, smoking, metallic blue, boat ROCKED! We had some crazy fun times on that boat. Unfortunately it started to cost more fixing it than it did to buy it, so about 5 years ago, we sadly sold it.

Since then, Robert dreams of owning another boat. He looks and looks, searches and researches, and wants and wants, oh, how he wants. But, his taste in boats has changed. If it was a matter of purchasing another PONY, we might just be able to go out today and get it! So, I made him a deal.......if he saves half the money, he can buy a boat. Ya, we haven't purchased one yet, and I don't know if we ever will. Lucky for us, our family and close friends own boats and invite us to come along. But, looking back at these pics. makes me WANT.......WANT......and WANT some more!

So, this is my humble plea....................

IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WANTING TO GET RID OF THEIR BOAT.....WE'LL TAKE IT FOR FREE!

ANY TAKERS.... OR GIVERS I SHOULD ASK?

Ya, I didn't think so...................

I Hate It When He's Right

......and it happens way too often around here!

We had grandma McBride's lasagna last night for dinner. It is my favorite lasagna recipe and one of our family's favorite meals. When Bob and I were cleaning up the kitchen we wondered what we were going to do with the extras. I told Bob to put it in the fridge and the kids and I would eat it for lunch tomorrow. "Ya, right"....he laughed.

You see, I am terrible at eating left overs. I have big intentions, but it NEVER happens. Robert cleans out the fridge and gets so irritated with me. Every time he asks,
"Why in the world do you save anything?!" But, this time was different.......I love that lasagna, so I promised, insisted, swore up and down, affirmed, and guaranteed the fact that the kids and I were going to eat that lasagna for lunch tomorrow!

Ya, we just had lunch. I forgot to even open the fridge. I pulled out the bean and ham soup and now lunch is over. I just put away the milk and saw the lasagna sitting there.

Dang it! Once again, he's right. He wins....and I don't like to lose!

Keep with it Pay...

KEEP WITH IT!

My grandma and grandpa Hales bought my parents a piano when I was in grade school. Both Stan and I took lessons for about three years. I remember hating piano. My practices were always on Wed. which was the same day the school did a three times a year skating party at Deleta. I was never able to go. For this reason and more.....I remember hating piano. Oh, how I cringed at the words, the dreaded, simple request to, "Practice the piano!"

After a few years Stan didn't take lessons anymore. I was still practicing, missing skating parties, attending recitals, and plunking away at the keys. I begged and begged my parents to let me quit. Of course, they knew the benefits and wanted me to play, especially since grandma and grandpa wanted it too and gave us a piano for that very purpose.

I remember my dad sitting down with me one evening and his piano proposition. "Kristi", he said, "I tell ya what.....if you will stick with piano until you are 18, I will give you $2,000 in cash to do whatever you want with. And, if at that time, you can look me in the eye with every ounce of honesty you obtain and can tell me you regret it, I will give you $1,000 more." Hmmmm.....right now, today, that sounds completely enticing. However, when I was in the fourth grade, and had no concept of money, it didn't tempt me for a minute. I think I stuck with piano another three months after that proposal, and then......I officially quit.

The reason I am rehashing old memories is because I now have grandma and grandpa Hales' piano in my home. After we all moved out of the house and it sat underplayed for years, merely a piece of furniture collecting dust in my parents' living room, I asked if I could have it so my kids could learn to play. Payton started piano this fall and has done well. She likes it, but it is a normal 8 year old child who doesn't always want to practice. She's also frustrated when she has new songs and they are difficult to learn.

This morning before Pay left for school we sat at the piano bench together, practicing away. She was irritable and a bit frustrated, and I began to worry. I thought to myself, "How am I going to get her to stick with this?" "What demands will I have for her?" "Will I bribe her like my dad did me?" I honestly have no clue! At this point I just think I'll make her and that is it. Oh, come on....how naive is that?

All I know is that I want her to keep with it. I know she will not regret it and will thank me later. You bet I regret quitting and really wish my parents had demanded I stick with it. But I can't blame them for not making me, absolutely not. We choose our battles, and listening to their ornery child complain, whine, fret,moan, and detest, wasn't theirs.

I sit baffled sometimes, that it seems like only yesterday I was the child protesting, and now I am the mother dealing with it first hand. Getting Payton to stick with it isn't going to be easy, but what is these days? The challenge will only make it all the more rewarding, right?! Oh, I'll just keep telling myself that........at least!

Shout Out...

Here's a b-day shout out to my good friend, Kerri! Isn't she so fine at 29?! Oh, boy am I envious that she is still in her 20's! You bet I will give her serious grief on her birthday next year!
She hit the town with her man to celebrate, but we had them over afterwards for a little dessert. She had some mighty big help blowing out her candles and making her birthday wish.

You know, I don't have a sister. You would think I have longed for one, but honestly, I never have. Those of you who have a sister are probably thinking I am really missing out. Maybe I am. All I know is that I have always attributed the "no need for a sister" to the fact that I have truly been blessed with such good friends all throughout my life. Sure, Bob is my best friend (best friend with benefits.....best kind...), but I am telling ya, "I don't know what I would do without my LADY friends!" So, thanks Kerri, and all my dear girlfriends, who continue to feel my sister void, gratify and enrich my life.......every day.

Me loves ya!