What is Your Opinion...on Opinions?

Something I've noticed about blogging, or with blogs in general, is that sometimes people (and i'm being general here b/c i'm sure i've done this too) leave comments to a blog that have NOTHING to do with the actual post. Now, don't get me wrong, i'm THRILLED when people leave me a comment. Even if you were to leave me a "I like puppy dogs!" I'd be like "hurray! someone commented" but it just makes me wonder why people leave irrelevant comments to a post. For instance, if say, you had a post about your vacation to malibu and one of your friends left you a comment that said "hey! let's go out for ice cream tonight!" wouldn't that have been better off said in an email? I just notice that when I read other people's blogs and then leave a comment and then naturally read the other comments left I sometimes see this phenomenon. It's just started to bug me a bit. So really? what's the etiquette on this one? Should your comment pertain to the post? I personally think it should. Since if you really need to get something out in a comment that has nothing to do with the post, well, that's what email is still for. Thanks, I'll get off my soapbox now :D

Evan's Picture Taking Skills

Like most parents out there, I like to brag about my kids now and then, show off their skills, say they knew the alphabet by age 1, could do a handstand on their own at age 2, wrote a symphony at age 3 etc. (all made up accomplishments people!). anyways, today, I am highlighting Evan's photography skills. View the following photos and enjoy Evan's unique and I'm sure, award winning photography ability!

hello camera!

our tv room in the abstract

jenn-this foot pic is for you!

is it me or a just a dream?

electric blue eyes under fan blades

thanks jenn for inspiring this blog!

What is Going On in This Picture??

Sometimes you just stand there and snap pictures without much thought as to what you are really going for. I think this picture is a perfect example of that. It's just such a random snapshot of our life. Of course, Justin and his amazing binkie are pretty priceless!

From Couch to 5k!

so, i've known for awhile, if we're gonna try for kid 3 anytime soon, i need to try to whip this butt into semi-shape. now mind you, i'm not hoping for in-shape, just any kind of shape will do besides the current one i am in. i felt a little overwhelmed by the task however and was not sure i could walk up a large hill let alone do my old exercise routine from years past that consisted of an hour of my time and lots of enduring of pain. lo and behold though, right when i need it, a friend suggests this program called from couch to 5k, which consists of a program that takes you from couch potato to "running" 3 miles in 2 months. i've never been a runner, but the couch potato part sounded right and the 2 months sounded good and the half hour 3 times a week sounded even better. i felt like, i think this might work for me! all's you have to do is stretch, do a 5 min. warm up walk and then the first week you jog for 60 seconds then walk for 90 seconds and alternate that for 20 min. so far i've made it through week one and am actually ENJOYING the program. go figure. but for those of you who feel you might be feeling like you are in the same boat as me, go to this link http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml and we'll see who makes it to 3 miles first! woot!

DISAPPOINTMENT

don't read on if you don't feel like being depressed with me right now. every time steve and i have something big planned something blows up at a wells fargo and he has to go fix it. of course, it's always last minute to make it as stressful and horrible as possible. such is the case right now. instead of being at the deervalley resort right now listening to the mormon tabernacle choir concert with the utah symphony with my husband for our anniversary i am writing this blog. steve had to go to nephi. i tried to find someone to go to the concert with me, but no one could go last minute. and the thought of going by myself, that far away, to a place i'd never been before and then having to drive home in the dark by myself too seemed too much to take (i hate driving which compounds that problem). so, instead i am venting here.

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Today is Steve and I's 8th wedding anniversary. Go us! Of course, to commemorate this wonderful occassion, Steve had lots of tickets come in and will be working all day. Pooh! Well, it's not all bad, I did get a call today letting me know

You Are Winner of 2 Tix from Classical 89 to Utah Symphony & Mormon Tab Choir Concert - Aug 15 - Deer Valley Amphitheatre!!!

cool, huh? See, it's a very special moment for me because the last time I won anything it was a gerbil when I was 6 (which ended up going back to the pet store after my inability to properly care for the creature was discovered. pooh.). So this beats the gerbil hands down! Yippee!!

My Family's Favorite Things

I think it's kind of fun to look back and see how our interests have changed over time. Some things my family liked a few years ago they still like today, but I thought I would take a moment to document what we are all "into" right now.

ME:
1. Getting haircuts. I used to get my haircut once a year and called it good. Now, I've decided I care again. Also, I absolutely loathe plucking my eyebrows. WAY too much work considering mine fully grown would put Brooke Shield's to shame. So, no matter how poor we are I still pay someone to do the plucking for me.
2. Reading. Reading. And more reading. Life doesn't feel complete if I'm not reading a good book.
3. Gardening. It's so much easier this year to do since I'm not pregnant. Plus, taking Evan outside before bedtime to kill time with some weeding reminds me of all the evenings I spent outside with my Dad gardening growing up.

Steve:
1. Video Games. This one will NEVER change. and i'm ok with that. The older he gets, the more of a collector than a player he is anyways.
2. Work. he's a workaholic. something I never would have imagined a few years ago!
3. Books. Once again, he collects them more than he reads them, but lately he's been plowing through some pretty lengthy ones (world without end--over 1000 pages!!) and i've been impressed.

Evan:
1. Pipes. Some parents can't get out of a store without buying their kids a toy. I can't leave Lowe's without buying Evan a pipe. Does anyone know a plumber who could use a 4 year old apprentice??
2. Pill Bugs. I suppose every boy has a bug phase and at least it's not a gross bug he's interested in. We talk about pill bugs so much now that we got a book exclusively about pill bugs at the library b/c i got tired of making stuff up about the lives of pill bugs! lol! if anyone needs any advice on building a bug habitat, just let us know :)
3. Avatar: The Last Airbender. Luckily, I love this Nick cartoon a lot too. Evan's even got a crush on Ty-Lee. However, some of the themes are a bit above and beyond a 4 year old's understanding so I get to explain A LOT. Like, what does surrender mean and why is zuko mean?

Justin:
1. His Binky. Enough said.
2. Water. This kid could splash for hours, and does if I let him!
3. "Baby Crackers" aka puffs. Mandatory first finger food for babies. He's gotten the hang of eating them and can now consume his weight in them every day if i'd let him. lol.

I Had Clones

We didn't really start to take digital camera pics of Evan until he was 8-9 months old, and so it' only been recently that I've been able to stare at Evan and Justin's baby pics side by side. So, what did I learn from this? That I had clones! Me in the red shirt is with Evan at 9 months and me in the teal shirt is Justin at 9 months. I kind of always made fun of those moms that had cookie cutter kids, and well, now I am one. Serves me right I guess! lol!

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

I really enjoy the section of my friend carrie's blog entitled "lessons learned" and it has to do with her children, things like, "never turn your back on an open jar of peanut butter". Seemingly innocent things that, at the time, you don't think will lead to trouble, but in hindsight you think, I should have seen that one coming! Anyways, I thought of posting something similar, but having to do with my own personal mistakes. And just this week, wouldn't ya know it! I have 2 to add to the list!

#1 NEVER try to apply sunscreen to your own back! (and think you did a good job...)
(i had my hubby take this pic, so hopefully it's tasteful enough..., i made it small hoping that would help...)




#2 Never think it's a good idea to drink a couple of italian sodas in a row at 10:30pm (while eating nothing)

Stay tuned for more future lessons!