voting to victory

So E's brother entered a picture that E took in a photo contest. He's in the final round, but is currently sitting in last place. So go here to vote for E's picture. It's the one of a dirt biker. You can vote for as many as you like. He probably won't win first place, but he's currently in last place, so we've got to remedy that. But you can only vote for one picture once. Does that make sense? So get out there and vote!

Making an announcement

Yes. We are pregnant (way to pick up on that, Mrs. Smith!). We are currently 14 weeks and 1 day. So as my sister would say: round up! So, 5 months sounds about right. :) no really 14 weeks. Everything has gone well so far. We had an ultrasound at 8 weeks and could still hear a heartbeat at 12 weeks. I was sick, but not too sick and now i'm into the second trimester and feeling great (until i overdo it and then i feel not so great, but ya know, that's life). So we are due April 14, or 10, or 15, i've been told all of those days by different members of the staff at my dr.'s office. I say April 14th. So we will have a Christmas baby and an Easter baby. Lots of fun.

All a misunderstanding

So E and I have been toying with the idea of moving N out of her toddler princess bed to a twin bed so we can use the mattress from the toddler bed for the crib again. So we decided to get the canopy bed that I had when I was younger (okay I was totally a teenager when I got it, but it was the fulfillment of a life dream) and use it for N. Well the other night N told Mr.E that she didn't want her princess bed anymore, she wanted a "queen" bed. Great! What better bed for a "queen" bed than a canopy bed? "This transition will be a snap," we thought. Arrangements were made for the canopy to be brought here. Then I started talking to N about the new "queen" bed. She was sooo excited and then she started talking about the bed's eyes, and the red and how she could drive it...huh??? Oh, no. She doesn't want a "queen" bed she wants a "Mcqueen" bed. Like Lightning Mcqueen from cars. Geesh. I just can't win!

autumn mix medley

"Heigh Ride"

let's go for a hay ride, let's go for a hay ride (musical interlude)

outside the leaves are falling and pumpkins calling you, too.

the day was lovely(?) weather for a hay ride together with you!

chugga vroom, chugga vroom, chugga vroom let's go, let's look at things grow

we're riding along in the chill of a blustery autumn-land.

"To Grandmother's House"

up the canal banks and through the mud to grandmother's house we go,

grandpa knows the way to drive all the hay before it starts to snow! oh!

"Autumn Wonderland"

Leaves rustling, are you listening?

in the yard, pumpkins glistening

a beautiful sight, we're happy to ride,

smiling in an autumn wonderland

what if it was my family? what if it was yours?

this story breaks my heart. there's some info. about an upcoming fundraiser and on the first link and then more about the story on the second. i don't personally know this family, but it hits close to home. take a look and decide if there is anything you can do. even if you just post these links on your blog then that would help. www.miraclefortegan.blogspot.com
www.teganlyn.blogspot.com
(sorry, for some reason i can't get the direct link to work, you'll have to copy and paste.)

5 years, really?

So Thursday afternoon while driving back from bobcat territory i talked on the phone with my husband who was rushing from job to job to campus and round and round. again changing our plans for next 72 hours with the new influx of situations and what not. in the midst of all this chaos my husband says to me, "Well, i was planning on taking you out to dinner tomorrow night."
To which i replied with a dumbfounded, "What?... er, i mean, really?... Why?" Not that i wasn't completely gushing inside, but (taking the phone away from my face to check the number on the screen) was this my husband i was talking to?
"For our anniversary. " He says.
We got married in February, he's way off, should i tell him the truth or go along with it to get a "free dinner"?
"anniversary?... for wha-- oh, when we got engaged!" What a sweetheart. So we went out to dinner and i thought for posterity's sake i better get our engagement story written down.
Aaand it goes a little somethin' like this--hit it!
Place: San Diego, CA
Date: August 21, 2004
Who: Mr. E and the lovely Miss L
We took a trip to So Cal with E's parents for his dad's high school reunion. we dropped them off at the reunion and then our plan was to go to San Diego, walk around the temple and then the beach (i had never watched to sunset on the beach). the catch was that we had to make it there and back before the reunion got over. So as we are heading down to San Diego we are hitting major traffic. Dang. no biggie, i thought. but as the sun got closer to the horizon and we weren't get much closer to our destination E got more and more upset. wow. does this guy have some anger issues that are now just surfacing? what's the big deal? i was more excited about walking around that castle-like temple, the looks of it had always made it my favorite. it wouldn't be a big deal to me if we didn't go to the beach. we got to the temple and we only had a few moments before we would have to turn back around and go pick up the parents. we got out and walked around the temple. it is sooo beautiful. i was there with the man i was in love with. i was almost crying i was so happy. then we sat down and i told him how happy i was. "really?" he asked. "really, really happy?" he asked again. "yes." i choked out, almost crying. then he got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. so of course then i did start crying. how perfect for us. it all made sense now. he had gotten so upset because he wanted to propose at sunset on the beach. well, i guess since that mystery was solved i could in good conscience say "yes."

Essay: What i did this summer in 20 posts or less continued

so i had all of this on one gigantic post, almost finished after nearly 1.5 hrs of blood, sweat, and tears and then lost all but the first part! (which you see as part I) GRRRRRRR! but that's okay, i've slept it off, and have committed to not let this foreign language of blogging get the best of me. i shall prevail!

so after our 2 weeks of swim lessons were over i would have loved to sign up dear N for another session, but the entire next week i would be gone to: GIRLS' CAMP!
So okay, that's not me on that buckin' bronc'. i did it the day before when there weren't any cameras, or helmets or pads. needless to say, i got a little bruised up, but i got a lot of respect...? Mr. E designed the logo for our shirts, by the way. coolest girls' camp shirts ever, right?

We have gone swimming here and here .

Last weekend we also went here for grandpa d's work party. here's some pictures of the "wild life."


The other night at my house 5 teenage girls came to watch "wipe-out" but it wasn't on until later, so we watched this instead. and cried and cried.

i signed N up for some dance lessons. so we promptly (even though we still have several weeks before class starts, but who can wait?) went to get these (and of course i got them bogo 50% plus used a coupon for an extra 20% off!):


I have to say that these dance shoes have been the source of many proud mommy moments! (notice how in the second picture her knee is turned out to the side instead of forward? and her toe is pointed? she has been doing it without holding onto anything, she just was holding the chair in this picture, and notice the nicely rounded arm and relaxed hand, and...) she wears her slippers ALL the time now. I ...i mean, WE are so excited for dance to start!

Oh, and in case you couldn't tell in the pictures- aunt j cut N's hair for us. way cute, huh?