We are going to find the end of the Rainbow

Just so you all know, we are leaving today to go to Ireland. Well, technically we are going to London for a couple days and then to Ireland - but the ultimate destination is Ireland. I am not sure yet how things will be working out - Internet wise or other - but I wanted to let you know why I may not post for a while.

We fly out today - the 8 year anniversary of when we were endowed. We will be in London a couple days and then in Ireland through our SECOND anniversary (Leap Day)- then back to London for a couple more days. We fly in Saturday night (on March 8th, my Mom's birthday - Happy Birthday!). So, don't expect too much while we are gone - but expect to see TONS of pictures when we return.

By the way, did I mention that I have never been out of the US and Canada? Well, this IS exciting.

Don't worry, Bryce has his passport ;)

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Here is our cute little stinker, Eva. She was eating watermelon one day (obviously) and she was so happy about it that I had to take a picture.

Several nights ago, Bryce was reading Winnie the Pooh to the girls and it was so sweet that I had to take a picture. Eva had to look as it started flashing and sorta ruined the mood. I bet you wouldn't guess that about 45 seconds prior to this pic, Eva was screaming and throwing a fit about not going to bed. Then about 45 seconds after this picture she was mad again because she wanted to play with the camera. Oops. I guess I ruined the peaceful moment by thinking it was sweet. Sheesh.

Today is my darling husband's birthday. Let me share with you my attempts at making this day special. (One of the reasons I wanted to make it special is that we had our first date on his birthday 9 years ago...)

For one, we stayed up late talking (after I got home at 12:30...). I told Bryce that I would get up with Isobel AND walk her to the bus stop. I occasionally get up with Isobel and help her get ready then wake Bryce up to walk her to the bus. That was nice of me;) Then I did some laundry and made him breakfast (which I NEVER do). That turned out good, too. I told Bryce he could go skiing and I'd take care of Eva while I work. I left around 11 am for Albuquerque and Bryce was gonna leave soon, too. In ABQ, I dropped Eva at my brother's house while I went to an appointment. While waiting for the appointment to start, I got a text from Bryce asking if I could talk for a minute. I called him and he informed me that I had his ski boots in my trunk! Oh, NO! So he said he'd just go for a motorcycle ride because it was a beautiful day.

I was planning on being home in time to meet Isobel - but the appointment got delayed and it took me a long time to get home... So Bryce made sure he was home in time for Isobel. Then, I got a great idea about Bryce's birthday cake. He said to make the cake easy and he wanted really good ice cream. So, I thought, Ice Cream Cake! That's super easy for me and if I get it at Baskin Robbins or something, the ice cream will be good. Well, the cakes they had were filled with lame chocolate chip or cookies and cream. That would not do. So I asked if they could make one... yeah, in 24 hours...or so...it's nearing Valentine's Day. I was so ticked! There goes good idea number 1. Well, I conceeded to buying some good ice cream at the grocery store and making a cake. So I got some phish food - which is Bryce's favorite - which we never buy. Luckily it was on sale;)

I was going to make pork chops and potatoes - but since my appointment took so long - I couldn't even start dinner til after 6 and my kids aren't very patient. I made burritos. Sheesh.

I got ready to make the cake and looked at the ingredients...no eggs in the fridge. Sheesh! This is getting rediculous. So I decided to put only 3 candles in Bryce's pint (he's 33 today). Then...yeah, it get's better...it took us 20 minutes to find the matches. We rummaged thru our storage closet forever, then found them in one of the piles in the kitchen. Sheesh.

So, here is my pathetic attempt at making this birthday cake thing special. Here we are, celebrating with Daddy. Eva is enjoying the phish food and Isobel and I are trying to look cute. We sure love that man.
Isobel took this picture of Bryce a few days ago. Isn't he cute? He is reading his motorcycle manual for his little 110. That girl really knows how to make him smile.
After all my failed attempts at making this day fabulous, Bryce didn't care. He loved the phish food, honestly doesn't really like cake, and he enjoyed having a free day without babysitting. And, he really likes burritos. So, even though it didn't live up to my expectations, He did. He is so grateful and has really enjoyed his day. Did I mention that he and Isobel went to the hot tub while I was taking too long? He made the most of his day. Thank goodness.

I am so thankful that he wanted to spend his birthday with me 9 years ago. That day was the day that I thought to myself, "this boy is so fun. He enjoys me just the way I am. He thinks I'm funny. I can say anything and not feel embarassed. I can truely be myself with him. I think he could be my best friend." I am so thankful that he is and will be for eternity.

I love you. Thank you for being my best friend. Happy Birthday, Bryce!

I'm the Man!

So, I did this funny thing I saw on Hilary's blog (angryyoungwoman). For some reason, I match more men than women. It must be my masculine glasses.
Enjoy!

By the way, I tried several other pictures, and this was the only one that gave me three females. In all those pictures my best match was Matthew Perry. It even included Larry King and "Newman" from Seinfeld. Sheesh. I need to get some better pictures taken :)

No Hair, For My Hairbrush

So, you may have noticed in the Christmas post that we really needed hair cuts. Eva's bangs were down to her chin - and I had about the dumbest hair ever! So, while mom was here, I made her cut our hair. Here is Eva and I right after our chopping - and Mom in the mirror taking the picture:)

I couldn't find a good picture of Isobel's hair - this was the next best thing. (On the way home we stopped at this random hamburger joint on Highway 14 and the girls fell in love with the santa.)

So, I think Eva might be bipolar. See the picture of Eva and I? About two seconds later, when I got her clothes on, she made this face when I tried to take a picture.

This was a few days later at Grandma Polly's house. We went there since we sold our house. I just put this picture in because she is so silly. It's not a very clear picture - but I do like her hair do. I think she may be a Princess Leia wannabe. What an innocent face. How could she ever do anything wrong?

Christmas Wrap-Up

So, I have not yet done a post about our Christmas. I did tell you, briefly, where we went and with whom. I thought I probably ought to share some of our pictures. (Some of you may have seen some of them already on Katie's blog - but these are my take on some of those experiences.)

(PS -this is us freezing in a gazebo one night in downtown Santa Fe)

This was Christmas morning. I think this little clip really captures the essence of the morning. Isobel running around getting presents for herself and others, Eva just being thrilled with each present, and me just laughing at their excitement!

Christmas night we drove to Gordon and Katie's in Albuquerque (sometimes I like to type the full word because I am so proud that I can spell it correctly;). We stayed the night so we could get up early to drive down to Carlsbad. We stopped a couple times along the way. Our first main stop was here - at Billy the Kid's grave. And because I wanted to show you how absent minded I can be at times - here's a video, too.

So, then it was off to Roswell to see some aliens. I didn't get a great view of a flying saucer - but I did get Share a T-shirt with a nice fuzzy picture of one;) My favorite part about Roswell was the enthusiasm of the town in support of alien stuff. The Wal-Mart even had aliens on it and a cheap gift shop. Best of all - by far - were the lampposts! Check these out.

I didn't take any pictures of Carlsbad Caverns - because Katie and Dad took so many - that and I think I'm lazy;) But check out Katie's blog for some pics of us. After we got back from the caves, we went to see Petryoglyph National Monument. I don't remember which day...

But here we are having a good - cold time looking at ancient graffiti. Man, it was a cold day. What kind of mom lets her daughter go out on such a cold day in a dress, I ask you? (Anyone else have a daughter who really doesn't like to wear pants?) Can you spot the bunny in the picture with both the girls? They were so thrilled!

I think this post has been long enough. So, I hope you enjoyed our vacation as much as we did :D

From the Mouths of Babes

I know, I haven't posted in a while. So, briefly I'll tell you why. My mom and dad came for Christmas and we had a wonderful time visiting here in Santa Fe, my brother in Albuquerque, and Carlsbad Caverns. Then, after a food-filled New Years Eve party at Karen's (that ended at 4ish am) we drove to Utah for about a week. We arrived home late Monday night and in the last 4 days I have worked 41 hours - whew! So, before I start the laundry we've dirtied the last 2 weeks - or cleaning the house from vacation and Christmas stuff - I thought I'd tell you a couple cute things my kids said the last 2 days.

Yesterday, Eva asked her daddy to make her lunch. She specifically requested "Cheese Girl."

(That's Grilled Cheese to you and me;)

Tonight, I have been a bit moody. Besides the messy house and the excess work - I'm a girl. You know what I mean? So, at dinner tonight, Isobel said the prayer and specifically requested to "please bless Mom that she won't be so ornery tomorrow night."

Isobel's Christmas song

Guest blogger: DH

Hey kids,

This is a sneak preview of the song the primary is going to sing at church tomorrow morning.

Eva burst into song today, once again choosing a song that sounded only vaguely familiar to me, and Isobel filled in the gaps. But you'll notice Isobel's version has a few gaps, too.

That's because Eva was spinning a little plastic record on a curvy straw, and when it would stop spinning, Isobel would have to stop singing. (Too bad I only have audio and not video, eh?) She eventually made it through.

Here you go.

Just in case there's any doubt about who's doing the singing, Eva just sings the first line then instructs Isobel, who takes it from there.

Merry Christmas.