This Morning

Tobin loves our down comforter. We rarely allow him on the bed (so as to sidestep the spit-up, sticky finger, excrement catastrophes that have plagued our former comforters), but whenever we do allow him on our bed, he is in downy soft heaven. Since we have our duvet cover in the wash right now, I decided to indulge the kids and let them play on the bed for a while. I grabbed my camera and thought I would capture the moment with breathtaking shots.

Here is what I envisioned: Tobin, in all ecstatic innocence, wrapped in fluffy white down and smiling with his whole heart. Something like this--

I had already picked out, in my mind, the frames I would use to display the pictures in every room in the house. Our walls would sing with the photographic delights that would be these pictures!

My timing was impeccable-- right before nap time. Tobin was already cranky. When I stripped off his messy clothes and then refused him the honor of playing with the digital camera, he lost all composure. Our "breathtaking, ecstatic" photo shoot consisted of me holding him down and forcing him to pose for the camera, all the while trying to keep him from taking the four foot plunge to the ground. I don't know why I didn't throw in the chips-- I just kept taking more and more pictures. I refused to let my photographic dream die!

Enjoy!

Zoie was a bit more cooperative.

I will try this again at some point. Feel free to wait with bated breath for more pictures.

Day at the Park

I love this picture.

Kira's Results-- Though Totally Inaccurate

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Livin' On a Prayer"

You believe the best things in life are mostly forgotten, and you're definitely more than a little nostalgic . You're likely to still like the same foods, fashions, and music as you did when you were a teenager. You have a knack for knowing what elements of pop culture people have missed, without them even realizing it. It's great to remember the past, but don't forget that not everyone is as stuck in it as you are. You might also sing: "Pour Some Sugar on Me," "Rapper's Delight," and "Cherry Pie" Stay away from people who sing: "Toxic"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Lance's Results

Your Karaoke Theme Song is "Baby Got Back"

You're a total show off who is willing to risk looking like a fool to get a few laughs. In fact, you'll go for the cheap laugh if you need to... because it's better than no reaction! Your friends can count on you to get a party started, and you'll party hard until you can't remember their names. You're charismatic, charming, and a total character. With or without a few drinks in you. You might also sing: "I Touch Myself," "Oops I Did it Again," or "My Humps" Stay away from people who sing: "Candle in the Wind"

What's Your Karaoke Theme Song?

Thirsty in Tampa

Seeing as February is a short month, I overindulged on my Diet Coke intake. Somehow I thought that with two less days in the month, I could have as much Diet Coke as I wished and it would not run out. My logic was flawed. My 24 can allowance has all but been exhausted.

On February 17th, I had only one can left. I know that if I am faced with the reality of no more Diet Cokes for nearly two weeks, I will panic and my throat will seize up and feel as dry as the Sahara. So, I have left the one can in the fridge. It symbolizes hope. Granted, the last few days have been difficult, but as long as I have the one can left, I will survive.



The "Diet Coke Shelf" is being overrun with water bottles. It looks like a Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid scenario-- Poor Diet Coke knows it has no hope against the healthier, but decidedly less delicious beverage. And yet, it will not give up. Backup is less than 10 days away... Hang in there, DC. I will if you will.

Triple Date

For Valentine's Day this year, we spent the day with our good friends at Busch Gardens. I have posted before about the fun we have when we spend the day there with the kids, but we have a blast when we can hit the park sans the offspring.

Seeing as how between our three families, we have six kids, this date was about a year in the making... totally worth it! We were like kids running from ride to ride, skipping, and playing games. Thanks to Aunt Heidi for watching our kids and dogs all day!

Some highlights from our day:

Montu: We had to hit this one twice

Kumba: Lance nearly lost his lunch on this one

Phoenix: One of those "state fair" pendulum boat rides.
Despite its lack of technology (maybe because of its lack of technology), is always one of the scariest rides in the park.

Congo River Rapids: Classic amusement park ride. There are people above the river who are trying to squirt you with giant hoses. When they missed me, I got caught up in the moment and shouted "Ha Ha, Suckers!" I assumed we were out of range. We were not. They took great pleasure in soaking me through.

Sheikra: We rode this one three times in a row. One of the best rides ever! The middle of the ride features a 200 foot, 90 degree free-fall. Its awesome.

What is better than a Valentine's Day that involves roller coasters and friends.. and Chilis? Okay, so not necessarily your traditional romantic celebration of love, but so much more fun!

The ULTIMATE Guilty Pleasure

I dedicated my last post to Guilty Pleasures (see below), but I left out the greatest, most delicious pleasure imaginable-- Granny B's Pink Sugar Cookie.
These are manufactured in Utah and sold in gas stations and vending machines all over the west coast, so I haven't come face to face with one in several years. It is for the best. I do not eat sugar or starchy foods, but the very thought of one of these sinful sugar cookies breaks down all willpower and gets me salivating every time.

For those of you unfamiliar with this particular treat, it is a sugar cookie with a layer of pink frosting thicker than the cookie itself. Until you have tried a Granny B's sugar cookie, you have not experienced a true sugar cookie (or true love, for that matter).

I salute you, Granny B.

Guilty Pleasures

From Wikipedia: A guilty pleasure is known as a something one considers pleasurable despite it being mainly received negatively or looked down on by a majority of society.

My friend Jen posted a blog about a few of her guilty pleasures and it got me thinking of my own. Now, by its very definition, some of these are uber- embarassing.

• Trashy Celebrity magazines (particularly US Weekly)
• Checker's burgers and fries
• Danielle Steele romance novels
• Afternoon naps
• Generic 90's rap (Young MC, Salt n' Peppa, etc..)
• Monster Ballads
• Cheerleaders: Making the Team (a reality show where girls try out to be Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders-- so stupid, I know!)
  
• Long bubble baths
• Swiss Cake Rolls
  

Don't judge me! Everyone has a few, so... what are yours?

Husband Tag!

This is my first "blog tag". Yay! I'm glad its about my husband. I don't say enough about him on this blog.

Stats: Lance grew up in Alpine, Utah and hence loves big trucks and extreme sports. Poor Lance has missed snowboarding, mountain biking,rock climbing, hiking and camping since we have moved to Florida. He loves painting, music, muscle cars, working out, and his kids (oh yeah-- and his wife!) Lance works in residential construction and has served in the Elder's Quorum Presidency for the last 3 years.

Us: I met Lance while working as a hostess at Chili's in Orem, Utah. I turned a corner, looked up and saw him-- tall, tan, green eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off him all night. He was different than any other guy I had dated. He was a constant challenge and I was determined to make him fall in love with me-- never would have dreamed we'd get married...

Inside Info: Seems gruff on the outside, but is a big softy underneath it all. He doesn't have an insincere bone in his body. He is honest to a fault. I have to admit it hurts to hear the truth to certain questions- (Do these jeans make me look fat?) But it is a trait that I have grown to love. Now I have no patience for insincerity in others. Lance makes me laugh harder than anyone and makes even the most mundane activities so fun. He truly is my best friend. I tell him anything and everything (ad nauseum).

What is his name? Lance

How long have you been married? 7 years this summer

How long did you date? a year and a half

How old is he? 30!

Who eats more? Lance-- but I'm close second

Who said "I love you" first? Lance (it was during a fight and he practically yelled it)

Who is taller? Lance (He's 6'4 so I can finally wear heels!)

Who sings better? Probably me-- but Lance has been known to do a decent Thom York

Who is smarter? I have the book smarts (31 on my A.C.T.- thank you very much!), but Lance DEFINITELY wastes me on common-sense and "street" smarts

Whose temper is worse? LANCE!

Who does the laundry? Me

Who does the dishes? Me

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Lance

Who pays the bills? Me

Who mows the lawn? Lance

Who cooks dinner? Me

Who drives when you are together? almost always Lance

Who is more stubborn? Its an ugly tie

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me

Whose parents do you see the most? We probably won't see mine for another 2 1/2 years-- We see Lance's like once a year.

Who proposed? Lance

Who has more friends? Lance has more, but I am closer with my friends

Who has more siblings? Lance

Who wears the pants? Lance (I spoil him rotten)

Okay-- I tag Jamie, Valli, and Jen Porter (ha!)

The Joys of a Cookie

As a treat for being good at the grocery store (yes, I'm one of those Moms), I bought Zoie and Tobin cookies made to look like characters from the movie Cars. It never occurred to me that the food coloring may cause "mess" issues.

Here you can see Tobin enjoying his cookie.

Enjoying it VERY much.

And once the clean-freak side of me (yes, I do have one!) took over, I had no choice but to take the cookie away-- which prompted this: