4800

That's how many miles we've put on the minivan already!!!

Ryan and his dad got in on Thursday night after driving our new minivan home from Pennsylvania. We all left here Friday morning to visit Ryan's brother and his family in Reno. Twas fun! More later. Sunday we took Ryan's dad to the airport and sent him back home to Massachusetts. Then Cadi, Ryan and I drove down to Sacramento. We had a short visit with my best friend, Heather while we waited for my family to get home from church. Then we spent the evening with them (my family). Monday morning we went to Ryan's mom's and had fun at the zoo and also later at the Rivercats game. Tuesday morning we loaded up the minivan and drove back home.

Got in at a good time last night - 8:00 so we decided to put together the new bed we got for Acadia from Ryan's mom. That took a little longer than expected and Cadi was finally in bed at 10:30. Since she slept alot on the way home, I just didn't worry about it.

Okay so I have tons of pictures and I will post them, along with more details and fun stories about the trip - even got a few snippets! But first I need to unpack, do laundry, have my Visiting Teachers over, take Cadi to girl scouts, babysit the troop leader's twin 19 month olds while they go on their trip to the recycling center, then have mutual. So, it might be awhile - like maybe some tonight, more likely tomorrow. But even that is pushing it since I've also got to get ready for Acadia's b-day party on Friday.

But I promise I will get to it - eventually!

See Ya On The Flip Side

Ryan and his dad are exiting Idaho and will be here within 5 hours. In the meantime I need to finish packing and then Cadi and I head over to Enrichment.

The YW leaders and graduating Laurels are making the dinner tonight. The Enrichment is all about Summer, classes on summer activities, summer cooking, and summer gardening. So we are doing a picnic dinner. We're doing submarine sandwiches, fruit, and something else (I can't remember). Anyhow, so Cadi and I will be there early to help get dinner ready.

Ryan and his dad will come by the church to pick up Acadia before I'm done. Then tomorrow morning we are heading on down to Reno. I won't be posting for the weekend, but when I'm back I'll make sure to make up for it by posting pictures!

Have a great weekend! And see all y'all down there in Sac real soon!

I am SO Jealous!

Okay, maybe I'm not "so jealous" but I am a little jealous!

Today Ryan called me to tell me two things. 1) They brought the wrong car adapter to recharge the cell phone batteries so they won't call much from now on. And 2) (in a "na na na na na na" voice - ) "I'm in front of Joseph's house."

They are in Nauvoo (or were an hour ago)! He's taking pictures and I wish I was there. But I don't wish to be on their entire trip just to spend a few minutes there. I think I will instead look forward to when we all take a nice long road trip and get to spend real quality time in Nauvoo and at other historical sites.

I checked Yahoo Maps, it says they are 30 hours away. They want to be here by tomorrow night - they can make it. When they first got the car from the dealer, they got stuck in HORRIBLE traffic in Philly! There had been an accident and Ryan says it took them over 2 hours to go only 8 miles!!! This really set them back considering it was the very start of their journey. But the good news is, Ryan was able to break in the new portable DVD player I sent with him and he watched Star Wars while he waited for the traffic to start moving again!

Once it did move again and they got out of Philly, they stopped in Carlisle, PA. Ryan's family lived there a little when he was very young. I believe some of his earliest memories are from there. They went to their old house, to his dad's old work, and ate at a place Dad remembered and used to love - it was still there. They took pictures and Ryan said he was really glad they got to stop there. When we get back home from CA, I'll post some of his pics from his trip - probably some from when we're down with family too.

I am getting my hair done today. Cut, thinned, colored - I will post pictures later. Acadia is talking about getting hers cut again. She wants it to her shoulders and with bangs. I don't know how I feel about bangs. They can be really cute, but then they are a pain when they start to grow out. Do you cut them again? Do you let the grow out? And when you do want to grow them out, it takes forever! We'll see. It isn't happening today so I'll play it by ear, talk with her a little more, make a decision later.

I'm starting to think you may be right...

 

You Know You're Addicted to LotR When...

You start quoting from the movie as part of regular conversation.   - Only sometimes... You like to tell your mom that you are hungry by quoting: "Merry, I'm hungry." You continually ask your parents for second breakfast. All the staff at your local cinema knows you by your first name and even before you open your mouth to speak, they say "Ticket for 'Fellowship of The Ring?'" - No, but there are some people who when they see me talking, know to assume it is about LOTR. You hate Burger King food, butyou ate nothing else for a month to get the toys. - I missed toys?!?  When did Burger King have LOTR toys???  I want some! You've crammed up your computer's memory by downloading every single screensaver from www.LordoftheRings.net - hehehe, not "every single" one... just a few. You refer to parts of your town as parts of Middle-Earth.  - I think I may have done this once - but only once! You sometimes let your hair go curly after a wash, and then run around the house in bare feet yelling "I'm a hobbit!" - LOL, No, but that sounds SO FUNNY! You hate it when Elves are only thought of as 'Santa's little helpers' and have tried to explain the difference between Santa-elves and Syrian Elves to your 5-year old cousins.  - Not 5 year old cousins, but some adults. You refer to regular elephants as oliphaunts. - Guilty While buttering a piece of bread, you suddenly think of Bilbo (remember when he was talking to Gandalf about feeling tired) saying that he felt 'like butter spread over too much bread.' - Or more often refer to myself as feeling "like butter spread over too much bread." You renamed your car the Wraith-mobile.   - Actually, I prefer Shadowfax.  But my car isn't white and that is the only reason shy I haven't actually called it Shadowfax.  But we did name our computer after something on LOTR. You have a replica of The One Ring. - Not one, Try 4! You are beginning to resemble a panda due to the fact that you've stayed up until 2 am reading and re-reading the great books. - Ahem, Uh actually it was only 1 am last night. You actually managed to read the Silmarillion without being tempted to give up on this whole middle earth malarkey.  - Does getting it read to me count? You now have a lifetime fear of black horses! - No, but when I see something resembling what others would think of as a Grim Reaper, I think RingWraith instead. You haven't removed the soundtrack from your CD player since you bought it.  - LOL, So incredibly true!!! You have begun calling your husband / wife / girlfriend/ boyfriend / animal or kid my precioussss. - It's been known to happen. You happily traveled over an hour to the next town to see "it" because that theater has a better sound system than the one 5 minutes down the road. - Well, Ryan did that when we lived in Massachusetts, but it wasn't quite an hour.  Here, we just drove to the next theater over because it is a nice one.  But now watching it at home, the surround sound is a MUST! You have called every theatrical or specialty makeup company in town looking for pointy ear or hairy feet prosthetics. - Yep, and the glue to attach them with!  (Party City had them.) You've worn your plastic "one ring" that came on your Legolas bookmark so much the gold is completely worn off. -No, I only wear the "one ring" while playing LOTR Trivia, LOTR Monopoly, or LOTR Risk. Single ads with the description," short plump and big hairy feet" seem much more appealing. No, but describing my hubby as a "Ranger from the North" is a very good thing. You know The LoTR history better then your family history. - Sad, but probably true. You have a mouse named Frodo, a bird named Gollum, and a dog named Gandalf. And that cat that keeps coming around to be petted is Legolas. - No, we had Simon before LOTR movies were made, however the next pet... Whenever something goes wrong, it's Sauron's fault. - Now that is absurd!  Sometimes it's that "Fool of a Took"'s fault! You know everything about Middle Earth geography, but you can't get someone from your house to the ice cream parlor. Now the nearest movie theater, that is a different story. - "Don't be hasty!" - I can always find a way to the nearest ice cream parlor!!! You have developed your own special Tolkien handwriting. "A firm, flowing script..." - I wish my handwriting was that nice. Words like "Yrch" make sense to you. - Those filthy maggots! You've become strangely obsessed with mushrooms. - Still not "obsessed" with mushrooms, but I confess when I see them I think of hobbits. Whenever you close a door, you say "They have a cave troll!" - Haha, just watched that scene last night! When you come to a dead end you're still convinced that the road goes ever on and on. - And think in my head, "If you do not find a way, no one will." You change your name to a Tolkien character and seriously consider naming your children after LOTR characters. -Don't you think Arwen is a pretty name??? Every time you see birds in the sky you have the urge to say "Fly you fools!" - Heehee, guilty again. When someone knocks on your door you grab them, pull them inside and ask "Are you frightend?... Not nearly frightend enough!" - Not when they knock on my door.  But that saying has crossed my mind in dealing with some people. You cannot see a beer without blurting out "It comes in pints? I'm getting one!" - Not a beer, but have said that refering to other things.  I think ice cream was one of them. You just can't keep yourself from saying "nobody tosses a Dwarf" at inappropriate moments. - I have totally said this! A shadow and a threat is growing in your mind. - Heehee You now referring to your friends as your 'Fellowship' and insist that you have epic adventures. - I'm still trying to recruit my friend to the "Fellowship". You stand in the doorway and tell your cat that he 'Can not pass'. - I have also said this! You wash your face in the sink and expect to see things that are, that have been or that will be.- LOL, and unfortunately it's mostly what "will be". Your wedding band has started to weigh you down with it's evil powers. -  No, I rather think of my wedding ring more like Galadriel's ring of power, Nenya. Spending $35 at the grocery store seems expensive but its Perfectly fine to spend $70 on the Hardcover LOTR book with Alan Lee Illustrations. - Yes, I would like a nice edition of LOTR - but will keep reading the paperback copies so I don't wear out the nice one! You face every difficult decision with the thought "now what would Gandalf advise me to do?" - Not every time.  But often think of the great line he gave Frodo when he (Frodo) said he wished he didn't have to go through what he was facing. "So do all who live to see such evil times.  But it is not for them to decide.  All we have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given us." You know what Entmoot, Ent draught, or an Ent is for that matter - And occasionally speak Entish!  It's great fun, you should try it! You've gained 20 pounds because you've started eating a "Second Breakfast" - Uh, yeah that's the reason! lol  No, but when I do eat in the middle of the day I tell myself it is only "second breakfast". You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends who are addicted to Lord of the Rings.

Okay, and I have a few more to add - I'm guilty to all of the following (lol)...

You've told someone something in confidence and said, "Keep it secret.  Keep it safe."
You've purchased a shirt for your husband that says, "Not all who wander are lost."
You wish you could invite Gandalf to your Fourth of July celebration - he has the best fireworks!
When someone makes you mad, you silently tell them to, "Go now, and die in what way seems best to you."
When you work out on the stairmill at the gym, you imagine you are climbing the winding stair up to Shelob's lair.
Whenever you have stick or other long object in your hand, you dramatically wield it like a sword - the way Aragorn does when he charges into an army of orcs.
You sometimes ask people what their "elf eyes see".
At dinnertime you often say, "Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys!"

It begins

This crazy adventure has begun!

Ryan flew out of Portland EARLY this morning - 12:15 a.m.!!! He and his father are safely in Philadelphia and are picking up the minivan now. Then they begin their long journey across the country. It will seem pretty quick on our end, there is lots to do before we leave from here to Reno/Sacramento. But I'm sure Ryan and his dad won't think it is such a quick trip!

Acadia is such a sweet girl. Last night as we took Ryan to the airport, she started crying - didn't stop until she fell asleep, at least 30 minutes after we got home. She loves her Daddy! She was busy this morning drawing pictures for him and Grandpa for when they get here. First she wanted me to "mail these to them, Mommy!" I had to explain that 1) they are not at any one location and 2) they will be here before mail would reach them anywhere.

She thinks I should draw Daddy a picture too, I'm thinking maybe writing a note will be just as good.

Keep Ryan and Bill in your prayers these next few days!

Catching Up

First of all, I'm very "put out" because my "tab" key is not working on my keyboard!
Okay, so I'm sorry it has been awhile since I blogged.  It has been pretty busy and a little crazy around here!  First with the minivan, then 70's night, then last night I had the Mia Maids over for a movie and ice cream sundaes. 

70's night was fun!  Here are some pictures of people dressed up:







The different lipsincs were great. Here are a couple pictures:


"Staying Alive"


This was "Kung Fu Fighting", actually pretty entertaining.

Here are the YW:






There was my two seconds of fame. I stayed in the bell bottoms because there really wasn't much time to change. I got tons of comments on the outfit, I'm glad I went with it. So I'm really glad I listened to you and changed my mind - Thanks!

Here is me and Cadi - but it's pretty blurred, sorry!






T'was fun!

Yesterday I spent the entire day getting ready for the girls to come over. I bought See's candies and taped them to notes saying "Can't wait to See you tonight!" and dropped them by each girl's house. I also cleaned my much neglected house - I even weeded my rose bushes and clipped a few to put in a vase in the family room. Ooh, here's a photo - it's the top of the entertainment center:



We had fun, but only two of the girls came! Maybe next time will be better - next time we're getting facials!

I need to run - time for church!

Memorial Day (finally)

Acadia did such a good job sharing what we did on Memorial Day that I don't know what else to add. I guess I can tell you a little more, but she has the best photos up on her blog already, so check them out there.

Memorial Day was fun. We were together as a family the whole day and it was very nice. We did a little cleaning around the house and then frosted and decorated the cupcakes that we made for the fire and police departments. Acadia drew a couple of pictures for them too.

When we went to the police station, the lobby was closed. We were somewhat frustrated because this happened when we went there for the holidays once. So we thought about taking the cupcakes to Brother T. who is a police officer in our ward. But just as we were going to leave, two cars pulled into the back so we waited for them to get out and go into the building. They were happy to accept the cupcakes and also the picture. We were glad that we were finally able to give treats to the police officers!

Then we headed over to a fire station. It was quiet there so they invited us in and let Cadi play on the truck. She sat in the driver's seat and got to push a few buttons, making lights go on. Ryan ran to get the camera and when he got back, she was out of the truck. But they stood her up on the front of the truck for pictures. They even gave her a big pick or something to hold. It was cute. After a few minutes we left them to their cupcakes and picture and we went to the barbeque.

The barbeque was very fun! Beckie and Jack's family is a blast! The barbeque was at Beckie's parent's house. They are in our ward. Ryan often goes over to help Brother H. with his computer and geneology work. Beckie's sister and her family were there too. Their kids are older (teenagers) but they were awesome playing with Acadia! They took her to the park, kicked the soccer ball with her, endured her following them around, lol. The food was very good and there was a TON!!! We all took home leftovers. They invited us to spend July 4th with them, so we probably will.

After the BBQ, Ryan and Jack decided to go to the Star Wars movie. Before they left, the neighbors (also in our ward) came home from their weekend trip. We visited for awhile and then Brother M. decided to go with Ryan and Jack. By this time it was getting on in the evening and Acadia was pretty dirty so I took her home for a bath and to throw her in bed!

And that was our Memorial Day! We really liked sharing goodies with the people who serve to protect us now. We might make a tradition of it.

Last night and today I have been putting together furniture I got for Acadia's bedroom. It is a castle. The headboard for her bed looks like a castle and we have two bookcases that look like towers to go on either side of her bed. Then there is a bench to go at the foot that also has the castle look and has a couple cute bins to keep stuff under it. When we're done I'll take pictures.

Now I'm going to work with her getting the room cleaned and organized. As soon as we sell our car I am going to order her captains bed that I'll paint white. That will replace the dresser in there now. I happen to know of a certain very cool item that she is getting for her birthday that will be perfect in her room too - a "princess" mirror.

Ever since Suzie Petunia"bragged" and posted pictures of her daughter's room, I've seriously thought about eventually putting up a shelf all along Cadi's room too. It looks so cute in Suzie's pictures! But that will be a project for another day... I've got too many to work on for now. Besides, I think Cadi's room is still cute without it. Maybe when she's older and will have more things she wants to "display".