Miracle

I do not like to clean. I am a natural slob. Growing up, I never minded being surrounded by messes. I just didn't notice them.

That changed when I married Lance-- a natural born neat-freak. Now I have trouble relaxing until I am in a clean (well-- at least "straightened") environment. I am a pro at straightening my house. I do it all day long. But actual cleaning? Blech...

Then today, I purchased this:I love Windex. I do everything with Windex. My Mom and I are like the family on My Big Fat Greek Wedding-- Windex is the solution to any problem. Now that they make a "Multi- Surface" Windex I don't have to feel embarrassed about my gratuitous use of the cleaning solution.

So I came home from the store and cleaned my kitchen with it. I was so impressed that I proceeded to clean all of my appliances and then my bathrooms... and then the laundry room, even the ceramic tile throughout my house has been doused in the stuff. I actually found myself saying out loud, "What else can I clean?"

I am fairly certain that with that statement Hell froze over and pigs began to fly.

SC Johnson: My husband thanks you.

Now I am off to soak all my laundry in Windex and then maybe a Windex facial...

Birthday

"Solitude is painful when one is young, but delightful when one is more mature. "
Albert Einstein

I must be very mature, then. For my birthday, a friend took the kids for the whole day and I got to run errands by myself! It was amazing. I took a ridiculous amount of pictures to document the fun of my day. I was going to post them all... but its just a bunch of pictures of me. And let's face it-- no one wants to see that.

But there was a lot of this
And this

And a huge grin on my face in every picture

Lance took me out for some shoe shopping and dinner that eveningThe kids came home and we celebrated with cupcakes
It may not look like much-- but it was absolutely perfect to me!

The next day, Heidi and Jen surprised me with a dessert/Eclipse night with some friends. After consuming cheesecake, we went to see the midnight showing of Eclipse at a theater that a friend had rented out for the occasion. It was awesome to walk by all the long lines and slip into the theater just as the movie began. Such a fun night. Thanks again, guys.

When I Was Young...

Before I turned 30, I never

1. Used products whose labels contained words like "regenerate" or "rejuvenize"
2. Worried if I could still pull off pigtail braids
3. Dyed my hair just so I could cover grays
4. Felt self-conscious in my beloved graphic tees
5. Felt old while attending the premier of this movie:

Now I'm 31 and its all downhill from here....

Goodbye Old NavyHello Ann Taylor and Chico's.

Scuba

On Saturday Lance and I completed our PADI scuba certification with a couple of open water dives in the Gulf of Mexico.It was AMAZING! We set off from the coast and went about 20 miles out. On just the boat ride out there we saw dolphins, a sea turtle, and a manta ray. I am just so grateful that our little section of the Gulf is, thus far, untouched by any oil.We went about 50 feet underwater by a natural reef. We saw hundreds of fish, coral, sea spiders, huge crabs, an eel, and a giant loggerhead sea turtle swam right by us-- so close I could have wrapped my arms around its huge, graceful body (but I refrained).All underwater photos are stock-- courtesy of Google Images.

Now that we are certified, we are already planning future local dives. So get certified-- here is a picture of our brilliant (and patient) scuba instructor. Thanks Rob!

Heidi and Harry

We have been playing host to Heidi and her dog Harry this week. They are moving back from Prague and their home won't be ready until this weekend.

Lance and I picked Harry up from the Orlando Airport a few weeks ago. We were happy to do it-- until it became clear that poor little Harry had developed an upset stomach somewhere between Frankfurt, Germany and Orlando, Florida. Without too much detail-- the fluffy white dog came to us in the form of a wet, brown dog. It was a very long ride home. Harry endured several bathing sessions (notice Lance wearing a mask and gloves for the initial bath)-- but Harry quickly regained his happy disposition (and pleasant smell).Picking Heidi up from the airport was an easier experience-- even if it was at 1:30 am. Heidi is bunking with the kids (literally-- she is on the bottom bunk). They love it. They are convinced that she is one of them. They don't understand why she gets to stay up later than them and why she doesn't have to take a nap each day. She has been a great source of entertainment for them (and a great help for me)-- at the beach, at church, in the car, etc.She will probably be very relieved to move out later this week. Here's a picture of a little get together we had to welcome Heidi back to the good ol' U.S. of A.

Grumpy Bear

This past Sunday we were in a Skype (webcam) session with my family in Prague. As Chase was glaring at the computer screen, my Mom asked- "Is he a happy baby?" Lance and I in unison- "No."

Its not that Chase is an unhappy kid, its just not the first word one would use to describe him. Looking back at baby pictures of Tobin, all the kid did was flash a cheesy grin. Chase has less of a cheesy grin and more of a threatening glower. I am always embarrassed when strangers at the store try to talk to Chase. He just stares at them like he wants to fight them until they back away awkwardly.He does smile and laugh often. But in between giggles he will yell at us. If he is annoyed or hungry or just bored-- he will yell. Not cry or whimper. Yell. Loud. This kid will make himself heard all throughout his life. My friend gave a talk last Sunday and was sitting on the stand and said that she could hear Chase "singing" from our seat on the back row of the Chapel. Awesome.

These are not complaints-- Chase just has a very amusing, one-of-a-kind personality. I do love this age (9 months). He crawls and plays in the toy room and watches cartoons with the others. He is our last kid and will inevitably be spoiled throughout his life... and already seems to be taking advantage of that fact.

Premonition

Spring 2000:Lance and I had been casually dating for just a few months when he asked me to Sunday dinner with his family (whom I had never met). At this dinner, there was a family visiting from St. George. Lance was playing with all the little kids, and I distinctly remember him holding a little three year-old girl and popping candy in her mouth (despite her mother's orders). I looked at him and got this really strong impression that Lance would be an amazing father. This was a very weird thought for me to have. I was only twenty and was definitely NOT in a marriage/ family state of mind.

Ten years later:
Turns out-- I was right. Lance is an amazing father.
(This is the only picture I managed to capture on Father's Day. Zoie is making Lance close his eyes while she leads him to the dinner table-- where we indulge in Sour Cream Enchiladas and spoil Lance with gifts.)