B.Y.O.P.

You know, I am so sick of pooping dogs and children throwing up I thought I would make a little lighthearted fun. It is also funner to complain if you are being silly.

#1. Chinook (dog we were dog sitting) pooped on the floor. Lincoln stepped in it because the power was out, and he couldn't see it. I thought it was so funny. I laughed. I laughed even more when he told me he got out of bed and put a little of my deodorant in his mustache so he could get the smell out of his nose. Funny.

#1.5 Chinook didn't want to poop outside, so he didn't. (No worries Christie, no worries....but it is a part of this story.)

#2. Cyrus got a bad bad bad stomach bug. First he pooped on one of my tops while we were at church. It was the only thing on the floor. Then Lincoln went out of town, and Cyrus got worse. He woke me up at 5 am, to go out. He never does this. Simone was awake so I carried her down stairs with me. Then I stepped in a huge puddle of dog diarrhea. In my pajamas, no contacts, crying baby in arms, hobbling to sink, washing foot, gagging, cleaning, and more cleaning and gagging. I have such a weak stomach. KARMA!

#3. The next night he did it again. In three places on the carpet. Can I just say that Lincoln has a stomach of steel. Really, he can clean anything and it doesn't phase him. I am the totally the opposite. Natalia watched me stare at the mess for 5 minutes. Then she started to cheer me on. "What are you waiting for? Why are you staring at it? Just...bend down Mom. Wipe it like this. Stand right here. Go Mom. Just do it. What are you waiting for? GO!"

#4 . Wyatt got sick. High fevers, and a stomach bug. Lovely. He missed two days of school last week. At least he can make it to the potty.

#5. Simone got it too. She threw up in my bed last night at 4 am.

#6 Natalia woke up with a high fever today. No puke from her YET.

Will it ever end?

Fortunately I know that it will. =)

Goodbye Summer

Goodbye summer hate to see you go
I wasn't ready for autumn wind to blow
So lonely
We had a fine time holding hands in June
Warm in a sunshine watching love in bloom
Where are you now?


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


hello winter, watch the swirling snow
I didn't have a blanket for the cold
So lonely now

My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


I'll be waiting under the poplar tree
anticipating when you'll come back to me
in the spring


Hello summer kiss from my old friend
been such a long time, tell me how you've been
so lonely now


My heart is frozen in this place
waiting for another summer's day
to bring you back my way


Goodbye summer hate to see you go

Summer ~ India Arie

(I'm trying to figure out how to post the song. I love it!)

I have been singing it for weeks, and had this little project in my mind. I just wanted to capture the end of our summer in photographs. I am so sad to see Wyatt go back to school. Summer passed way too quickly. Natalia starts preschool in a few weeks.

I was feeling down the other night. Lincoln was out of town, and I couldn't sleep. I can make videos on my phone, and I watched a bunch of them and it cheered me right up. I had movies of the kids dancing outside Rita's, going down the slide at the park, swinging side by side, petting George, Walking in the fall leaves, Simone smiling in her car seat, catching a lady bug, riding the carousel at the mall....just tiny moments of the last year together recorded.

Anyway, here is my end of summer project....goodbye summer.

Nothing can cheer you up....

like a baby in bunny ears.

Wyatt is getting pretty good with the camera....well sortof. I am not showing the really out of focus ones.


I am feeling better. Still sore, but I can't tell if it is from the previous stones or news ones coming.


I have a new love. It is a bad bad thing. Anthropologie. (Thanks Holly!) It is a clothing store with the cutest clothes and stuff from your home. The prices are crazy, so it is good they have a big sale section! =) Sharon and I went shopping and I got some really cute things, but I made it home with a stupid censor on one of tops. Oh DEAR, I have to go back. =) I also finally went grocery shopping.

"Natalia what should we have for lunch?"

"Don't you remember MOM? We are empty!!" She opens the door of the refrigerator and points to the empty shelves.

Sadly it was like that for a long time. We had some very creative meals.

I went a new store our area, and they have the tiny little shopping carts for kids. Talia loved pushing it around. She looked so cute, and people kept telling her that! She loved it. We sampled strawberries and cantaloupe in the produce section (i love when they do that!), and enjoyed the time to together. When I got home I realized I left our dinner, a rotisserie chicken, there. I also left a big jar of peanut butter and some wild caught salmon. (Lincoln will not eat the farm raised salmon...it's because of the amazing Oregon salmon!) Another place I have to go back. I didn't get out much this week, and now I have to go back to two places! At least I will have a place to wear my new clothes! =)

Quotes and such from my day.....

9:00 "My side really hurts, but I am going to ignore it."

9:15 "Jeri, this is Barbara do you want to go to the park?"

9:16 "We would love to go to the park!"

10:00 "I am dying!"

10:15 "Wyatt don't rub my back your hand is so hot."

10:16 "Sorry Mom, I was trying to give you some comfort."

10:17 "Mommy are you okay? Can you walk? I thought you were going to take us to the park." This ended with Talia crying.

10:18 "Lincoln, I am dying. Can you take me to the doctor."

10:19 "Can you wait an hour?"

10:20 "NO!"

10:25 "Do you need me to take your kids?" (Barbara, Bless her!)

11:15 "Ouch!"-Me
"That is your appendix. Go in for a CT scan to rule out appendicitis." -Doctor

11:35 "You will need an authorization code,and a negative blood pregnancy test before we can do the scan. Can you come in next Thursday?"

11:36 Bawling. "I will die by next Thursday."

12:00 "Lincoln can you get off your (million dollar) call, and drive me to the emergency room?"

12:01 "Can you wait 20 minutes?"

12:01 Shaking head, tears.

12:02 On our way to the emergency room.

2:00 Triage- IV in my hand...so annoying.

2:15 Feed Simone in the waiting room....that IV was so annoying.

2:50 "Look at that giant Texas cinnamon roll!" (Lincoln) I ate a granola bar in the morning, and I was starving. They said I couldn't eat or drink anything. Lincoln thought it was funny to talk about food.

3:00 "I took my friend in to the ER in college. We thought it was her appendix, but it was just gas."-Nurse

3:02 "Please Heavenly Father don't let this be just gas."

3:25 "Does this hurt?"- Doctor punches me in the back.

3:30 "If this is just gas, I am going to tease you about this for the rest of your life. When you are 80 I will still tease you about it."

4:00 "Take a deep breath and hold it."
"You may breath." CT scan machine....aka the big doughnut.

4:50 Feed Simone in ER.

6:30 Nap

6:50 "You are passing two kidney stones. One 5 mm stone, and one 7 mm stone. You have several more stones in both kidneys."

7:00 "I missed my flight to Florida, but I am not going to take a later one."

7:05 "On the way home let's stop at JCW's and get you some food." Still starving...and this is in UTAH! How cruel.

7:15 "Look at my sleeves, they are covered in baby drool." (Lincoln)

8:00 "Thank you for watching my kids all day!" It rained while they were there, so Barbara had to put up with Scaredy Cat Wyatt.

9:00 "I am so full! I am going to die. Thanks for getting us food sweetie!"

Good things about today.

*I didn't have to drink the contrast. That is the dye they have to use to see the appendix. I was told by a nurse that it tastes like rotten skunk. Yummo.

*My kids were so worried about me, and were so cute about it.

* I am grateful that is wasn't just gas.

*I am grateful that Babara called me to go to the park, and was so willing to take my kids for the entire day!

*I am glad Lincoln was home, and got to stay home. Next time he has to fly out, I may be tempted to fake a kidney stone.

*I am glad Chinook (Christie's dog- I am watching) didn't have an accident while we were gone ALL DAY.

*I am glad it wasn't my appendix. That would have been too much right now.

I needed a photograph of all three.

AND I GOT ONE! =)

& a good one of Wyatt to frame.

He looks so big, and so handsome to me here. I love his chin! =)

funny? yes.

A few months ago Lincoln made a bet with a co-worker. (yes, a bet!) They were competing to see which of them could lose weight and make it to 190 lbs. first. The loser had to pay the winner $190 dollars. Lincoln watched what he ate and went to the gym every night. He began to lose weight immediately.

Then we went on vacation and his diet went out the window. Three letters....JCW. (The yummiest hamburgers in Utah.) He still lost, but not as quickly as his opponent...I mean co-worker.

Then Lincoln got the news from his buddy that he was just two pounds away from the goal. That night I got the best idea to send the skinny friend a box of baklava from Harry and David. Where did I get this idea? Well, a year ago his friend sent US some baklava and fruit for our anniversary. (nicest people on the planet.) After we received it he said, "Isn't the baklava the BEST? It is so good, I ate the whole box in ONE day." *insert evil laugh here* We even paid extra for next day delivery.

His friend was walking up the path to his home when he saw and recognized the box on his porch. He began to yell, "Nooooooo, NO, NOOOOOO!" as soon as he saw it! He and his wife couldn't stop laughing after they read the note - "To my friend slim, from Lincoln". He jumped on the scale and he was still .8 pounds away from his goal. He told us he didn't eat any that day. He also wouldn't take the $190 a few days later either, and said the baklava was enough. Silly!



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I forgot to mention that Aug. 1st was the best day ever. I got four tickets to the So You Think You Can Dance tour. I can't tell you how much I love this show, and seeing them preform live is so great! My tickets are so good. They are really close to the stage, but on the side. My seats were not great last year and I don't have good eye sight. I am really looking forward to being able to SEE them! Joshua won the title of "America's Favorite Dance-a" (repeat in Kat's voice), but I voted for Katee as many times as I could! She was my favorite from the beginning. The Pas de Deux with Katee and Will was the most amazing dance on the show, but if you ask me my favorites I probably name them all! I really enjoyed this season. Watching was always the highlight of my week, and Lincoln had to travel a TON in June so I was glad to have sytycd as company! =)

I went to the gym with my new friend Sharon on Friday. She is from Australia and is such a fun person, she loves sytycd too. Anyway, we did the soul grooves class, which is many different dance types turned into a aerobic workout. The teacher did a little African, jazz, salsa, Broadway, and ballet to name a few. I enjoyed it so much. I noticed all these teeth in the mirror, and then I realized they were mine....I was smiling ear to ear the ENTIRE time. The teacher must I have thought I was nuts. =)

good.

On Saturday we took Lincoln to Medieval Times. We had a blast as usual. We really go way to often, but Wyatt thought this would be the best present for his Dad. Lincoln was knighted, and has requested we all call him Sir Dad...(or Sir Lincoln) from now on! I love being married to a knight. =)

We cheered for the black and white knight, and he won (sort of, until he was hit in the back with a lance!). He kissed a flower and tossed it to Natalia! She was trilled. The story is a new one, so it was a nice change! Simone slept in the sling for the first part of the show, and then watched it with us. She never cried...who is this child? She is so happy now. I am so glad!



After we left Medieval Times we went to Books A Million to get Breaking Dawn, and a birthday book for Lincoln. As we were walking to the store I saw ONE book sitting on the stand in the front. I said "Lincoln, RUN!" He laughed at me...and we all walked. I was so excited to get the LAST copy in the store. I really think they had hundreds hidden behind the counter. They probably place one book at a time on the shelf so each woman that claimed that book as her own would overreact like I did. I would like to work at a book store just so I could do that to people.


Here are a few photos from the week.



Lincoln just got home from work. He was playing with the girls, and then realized he was now part of a photo session! Ha HA!






My new blue bed. I used to hate blue. Really, I hated it. It was my least favorite color. After I had Wyatt I started to love blue. It is slowly sneaking its way into my decor, and now it has taken over my bedroom.

We also got a sleep number bed for our anniversary. Do I love it? I have no idea! What is my sleep number? Your guess is as good as mine. I have tried 35....no. I tried 50....okay. I am trying 80...a little better. I guess I just need to sleep in it more.




The power went out....so we had ice cream sundaes for lunch. I know I could have made sandwiches, but now when ever the power goes out my kids will be excited instead of scared. The weather here is crazy. Tons of rain and thunderstorms. Wyatt is terrified, and it is starting to get on my nerves. If he sees ONE rain drop he starts hyperventilating, and whinning. If we are going out the door he says, "But what if it rains while we are gone? What will we do?". Seriously, he gets so worked up. I have told him every calm, sweet, wonderful answer....and I have been blunt too...."We'll get wet Wyatt!"

Do you see this lovely iron? Do you see it? Yep, that is lavender! Lincoln came home with my new iron and new ironing board. (I asked him just to get a new cover, but they didn't have the right size.) He said, "I am mad. I thought I bought the white one." I love it. I have never enjoyed ironing so much. So to all my friends that don't iron...you are ironing with the WRONG iron! =) The best part....automatic shut off. Oh, I didn't mention before, the previous iron was left on for OVER 30 hours. Lucky. Blessed. Whatever you want to call it.

Happy Happy 30th Birthday LINCOLN!

Lincoln turned 30 on Friday! We were going to start his day off with a stack of 30 pankcakes, but he had to be to work early so that didn't happen. We decorated the inside and outside of the house with balloons and banners, and a couple of fancy "30" signs. It is really hard to decorate with little kids, they kept accidentally popping my balloons. Then we tied thirty ribbons around thirty bottles of soda, and made a giant 30 on the ground. We placed a giant party hat on the ground in the foyer that said, "DAD, put this on!"

When Lincoln pulled up we all hid in the stair well....even Cyrus. Simone gave us away by babbling happily! We jumped out and yelled SURPRISE ( I know, not much of a surprise party!), and he was so happy!

Then we all went to the drive in movie theater! We took advantage of Lincoln's rental car, which is a brand new F150! We saw Wall-E again. We bought dinner (hamburgers, wraps, corn dogs, fries) and lot of treats (popcorn, snowballs, homemade lemonade, candies) at the snack bar, and had a really good time. Simone was so quiet the whole time. I was shocked and relieved! Natalia fell asleep, but Wyatt didn't so we had to leave. (The next movie was the Dark Knight.) It was a fun drive in, I recommend it anyone. It is just four miles from Gun Powder Falls state park, so it's close.

Natalia gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him to the book store for a new book.
Wyatt gave Lincoln a note that told him he wanted to take him to Medieval Times. (I post about that later.)
Simone gave Lincoln a note that told him she wanted to take him on a Disney Cruise when she was three years old.
I have Lincoln a note that told him about an upcoming 4 day trip to Florida to stay at the new Marriott near Disney World. We will go this next spring or fall.

I made the cake he requested. His family calls it "yum yum cake", but the rest of the world knows it by a "different" name. I think the real name is the name of several cakes. Our versoin is yellow cake with pineapple, vanilla pudding, whipped cream, and coconut on top. We ate it for breakfast the next day, and we lit 30 candles too.

Happy Birthday Lincoln! We love you so much.