Counting

Tessa counts all the time now. The numbers aren't always in order, but they are for the most part. I'm impressed. Here she's perusing the Reader's Digest and counting. Talk about multi tasking.

We found a bike! -in our budget, tall enough, and even new. That deserves a hurray. We found the bike on Craigslist. We met this guy Eddy at a storage unit filled with brand new bikes. He's taking off for Puerto Rico after all the bikes are sold. Hmmmkay. It LOOKED like we were in some alley paying for hot items, but it didn't feel that way. He was actually a nice guy who tuned up the bike for me and told me about a great place to eat while Tessa ran in circles around a fire hydrant. Looks like a family bike ride for Labor Dabor.

Demon Crockpot

Never thought I'd see those two words together.

I had the strangest streak of bad luck with crockpot the other day. After the kids and I got back from the library, I thought I'd be all on top of it and get dinner going in the trusty crockpot. As I was getting it out of the cupboard, the glass top fell from my hands and shattered into a bajillion pieces on the floor. I scrambled as quickly as I could to get it cleaned up before the T and H knew anything had happened. I figured I could order another cheap lid to fit online. I just used aluminum foil for the time being. Well, fast forward the day. Jake was home and I went to see if dinner was finished. I didn't even pause. I lifted up the foil and immediately seared my left thumb with steam. O.U.C.H. It's better now, but it actually blistered. Jake went to work being helpful and getting the rest of dinner taken care of while I ran cold water over the burn. He put the ceramic part of the crockpot in the sink after he pulled the food out. I pushed the tap to the other side of the sink...water got into the ceramic bowl, and cccrrrraaaccckkk. Good bye forever, crockpot. The temperatures didn't like each other. Blah. Ah well. At least dinner was good.

We don't usually have dessert unless someone else is over. However, we decided that in honor of the crockpot and my thumb that we should have mini s'mores. (Don't look for a logical connection.) We roasted mini marshmellows over a tea light with a fruit fondue fork. Then we took out the ever popular Teddy Grahams, put two chocolate chips on the roasted mallow, and VOILA!

I went climbing that night for the ward youth activity and not only climbed for the first time, I also learned to belay. Fun. If I can keep trying to get over my stupid fear of heights, I'd like to climb more.

First Day of School

This is what WE were doing. Ha!
Our friend Anna joined in the fun. Anna just became a big sister. Congratulations Fitz. fam!

Keepin' It Real

So Kelley tagged me. I had to take pictures of things as they were right when I received the tag (including my appearance), not after I cleaned things up. That was the rule. I took the pictures yesterday right I after I read Kel's message... I don't know about this tag. Here you go:

The Toilet

uh, I'm pretty sure this will be the first and last time I take a picture of my toilet --unless an alligator comes up through it or something.

The Kitchen Sink complete with nasty sponge and washcloth

The Refrigerator.
Where Kel lacks in milk, I obviously make up for it.

The Laundry Room
or in our case, the laundry cubby

The Closet

Jake's side vs. Maren's side

My Favorite Shoes

I've already shown you the birthday heels before. Those poor Teva flip flops have just about had it. But, oh, the comfort.

Me.

Whatever.

We were in the middle of cleaning, so that explains the shower curtain. I spared you the brown skirt I had on with the gray t-shirt. We had come from a baptism that morning, and I had yet to change out of half my "Sunday clothes".

Favorite Room in the House

I couldn't really think of a favorite room. However, this is definitely the best seat in the house. The perfect reading chair.

What the Kid was Doing as I took the pictures

I was not about to wake her up by trying to take a photo of her sleeping.

And there you go. Call me Good Sport. I tag Adrienne, Ally B., and Jenny J. --AND I don't even feel sorry about it.

Update

Ok, so here is a picture from Lake Lavon on Friday night taken by my cell phone. Thanks to my aunt Marilyn for the tip.

Week in Review

* I've got to tell you something you might appreciate. I got a good laugh out of it. Last week after church, Jake had to run back in to where the Elder's Quorum meets. I took Tessa aside in the hallway next to that room's door in a sort of cubby area so we could stay out people's way. I had something I needed to get back to a friend who I knew was still in the building. It was in my way-too-big church bag. I crouched down to find it, and when Tessa saw me get down like that, she figured it was horsey time. She immediately started climbing on to me, and since my skirt was a restricting kinda skirt, I fell over. From that point it just wouldn't end. I was attempting to get up with Tessa grabbing at my head when the EQ door opened on me and whacked me in the behind --twice. From what I understand, the poor man trying to get out was confused, saw a grown woman in a twisted heap on the floor, and decided to use an alternative route. I heard two people laughing but couldn't get myself into a position to see who it was, or my hair or child out of my face. Jake then opened the door, whacking me again. He wanted to know what I was doing on the floor. I finally was able to sit up, laugh with the laughers and attempt to explain myself. I couldn't believe how quickly it had all happened. The timing on the door knocking me back three times could not have been better. My friend walked up in time to see me get up from the floor and join in the "What is your problem, spaz?" fun. I retrieved what I needed to get back to her.

*One of the fun things we did this weekend was have a dinner picnic at Lake Lavon with some friends. It was really nice to get outside to play in the water. Hooray for triple digit death making an exit. I forgot the camera, as usual. This pic was just one of the lake online. Jake took some pictures with his phone camera of Tessa getting muddy and throwing rocks in the water, but we don't have a clue as to how to get phone pics onto the computer. The clay mud was insanely gooey, and Tessa almost lost a shoe to it. But the water felt good and the sunset was beautiful.

*I took the camera out the other day to get a recent picture of Tessa up for the grandparents. She can't have advance notice of the camera. She thinks her face has to be up in it do any good, and she wants to see the result of the picture without having taken any. So there's a bulbous nose for you.*The Reeds gave us a bike they didn't need anymore. This is one happy camper. She can't figure out how to get it going, but she's pleased as peaches to just be on it for now. Thanks so much, Reeds!
Now I need to get a bike. I've been saving up. We've been looking. Turns out nice bike shops aren't the place to look if your budget is as limited as mine. My cheap and practical cruiser is out there. I think the words cheap and practical might show up on my grave. Please don't let that happen. At least make it sound fun....like chinchy and pragmatic. "Here lies that one chinchy and pragmatic lady. Woowee, did she know how to have a good time!"

And I leave you with my chatty baby. She's growing so fast.

Last night

Jake was giving Tessa a good night kiss before I took her off to bed. He said, "Nigh night. Love you!"

She responded with, "Ove ooh, Gake," ....as in "Love you, Jake." Hee hee. We had a good laugh about it after I put her down. She must have picked up his first name from listening to me. She said it again tonight. I wonder how long it will last. Too funny.

Here's a flashback pic --I think it's when she was about two weeks old.

Since I'm talking about him anyway, I think this is as good a time as any to announce that Jake accepted an offer with the law firm where he was interning earlier in the summer. It's a good place with good people, and we are both excited. What a blessing to have a job set a year before graduation.

Crazy Eights

Tagged by Christie!

8 things that I am passionate about
Family
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
Books -mainly a great story
Dance (good music always helps)
Learning
People
Exchanging ideas
Order

8 books I've read and enjoyed (Only 8?!) - okay, fiction that made me think...
The Poisonwood Bible -Barbara Kingsolver
The Grapes of Wrath -John Steinbeck
Out of the Dust -Karen Hesse
Milkweed -Jerry Spinelli
Ender's Game -Orson Scott Card
A Tale of Two Cities -Charles Dickens
The Outsiders -S.E. Hinton
Animal Farm -George Orwell

8 words/phrases that I say often
Really?!
Seriously?!
That's probably not a good idea (most recently when Tessa tried to eat eye shadow)
Jake, get your finger out of your nose. (Hee hee. Just kidding ...mostly)
There you go.
Does that make sense?
Very cool
I don't know

8 things that I want to do before I die
Travel the world!
Go on a mission
Get a master's degree
Learn to play a musical instrument
Write a book
Get a clue
Have grandkids
Speak a foreign language

8 Things that I've learned over the past
You can't change anyone else, only yourself
You get out of an experience what you put in
Life is too short to spend it flipping out over stupid things
If you are feeling down, the best way to take care of it is to do something good for someone else.
Honesty is SO the best policy
People don't always remember what you said, but they do remember how you made them feel
I can pretend all I want, but I really don't know anything
Specifics are what get you to a goal -not generalities.

8 places I want to see
Thailand
Rome
Ireland
Brasilia
Jerusalem
St. Thomas
Jane's school
My dad's cabin

8 things that I currently want/need
grocery shopping done
my church lesson prepared
my kid to take a serious interest in the potty
a basic cruiser bicycle
3 Musketeers mint with dark chocolate (definitely a want, not a need)
My wood floors cleaned
a garden
a dance class

8 people I want to TAG
I tag anyone with 8 letters either in your first name or in your last name, or if you just feel like it.

Go USA!

I hope Phelps keeps raking in those gold medals. Incredible. World records busted right and left.We've really enjoyed watching the gymnastics, and you'd better believe I'll be tuning in on Monday to watch the synchronized swimming. It's insane. You can think it's cheesy all you want, but have you ever TRIED to do any of the stuff they do? ...and not just the Martin Short version of it? :)

I'll stick with turkey sandwiches

Spicy food is not for me. Tessa and I went to Chipotle for lunch today because we received a free burrito coupon in the mail. This was an offer I thought would be foolish to pass up. Plus, I thought it would be fun to go to lunch with my daughter. I ordered their standard chicken burrito (the pork was marked as spicy, so I stayed on the safe side), and when asked if I wanted medium or hot salsa, I thought, "What happened to the mild? Are they out? There's not even a place for it." No mild. We do live in Texas after all. I decided maybe I had gotten a little better as far as spices go in the last couple years and asked for just a little bit of the medium salsa in the burrito. (I got a quesadilla for Tessa in case she didn't like what I was eating. Thank heavens. Saved the child.) I took a couple of bites and immediately my nose started to run. This was not a good sign. My mouth was in pain. No amount of lemonade was going to help. Why, oh why, didn't I ask for extra sour cream?! But, since I was hungry and do not let food go to waste unless I absolutely have to, and I am not the smartest person in the world, I munched down most of that burrito. The eatery was packed with people enjoying their pepper in a tortilla. This is a popular place. What is wrong with me? Tessa smiled and happily ate her quesadilla, and I kept stoking the fire below my nose. I saw myself putting black beans into my mouth, but I couldn't taste them. I read on the drink side that Chipotle buys more Tabasco seasoning than any other restaurant in the U.S.. Well there you go. It's simply a place for people who like it hot. I get ribbed sometimes for not liking spicy food (or sea food). It's not that I haven't tried. My taste buds come from the Idaho side of the family or something. They like bland food. At least you can taste it.

On a different note, we finally got the connecting piece we needed to hook up the bike trailer to Jake's bike. He has been so excited. Our nicest neighbor gave us the trailer and Jake has been looking forward to using it for a couple months. Daddy and daughter have gone out a few times when the temperature dips a bit. Tessa LOVES it and talks about the bike and what she saw on the ride when she gets home. I'm getting closer to getting a bike for myself, just a cruiser, so I can join the easy riders. We'll be the ultimate biker gang. Watch out.

So You Think You Can Dance? finale on tonight! Who's going to win?