My Art Project

ADVISORY: there are a couple GRAPHIC pictures. If you are squeamish, don't blame me for getting queasy. (there are only 2 or 3)

I know that some of you have been dying to see this, so I figured I would post it. We had a final art project to do for my class, and I worked on it (i.e. took pictures) while we were on the cruise. I know that Julia has been on the edge of her seat waiting to see it.
The message that I was trying to get across was that art and beauty can be found in everyday things. We just need to take the time to look for them. Which pictures and song do you like the best?
(Jason)

The new G

So, after such a long wait, I finally have the new car that I bought. It has taken me about a week to get some pictures, but I finally did. Now, many of you may not care, but I will give you some of the specs on it. If you wish to read, go ahead. If you don't care, just skip the rest of this post!! I will have a few pics at the bottom.

It is a 2006 Infiniti G35, with the sport package. That means it has a modified suspension to corner faster and increase control. It also includes the spoiler. I have upgraded 18 inch tires wheels, and the previous owner must have really liked going fast, because he has upgraded performance tires. (Rated to go up to 150, as opposed to the normal, rated up to 85 MPH) The top end speed, from what I hear, is 154. I have yet to test that out. I will let you know when I do.
It goes from 0-60 in 6.1 seconds, which is pretty fast. That beats all but 1 mustang off the line. (Take that Justin) There are just under 300 hp.
Now, I should also tell you that Sarah has a few things that she really likes about the new car as well. It has heated seats, for those really cold mornings, and it has a sunroof, for warm sunny days.
The best part about it, is that Pointe is making the payments for me!! That's right. All of this wonderful, and I don't even pay for it. Pretty sweet deal, huh?
That is all that I can think of for now. If you want to see more pics, or want to know anything else about it, just let me know.

"Uuuuugh, uuuugh!" These are the sounds I hear from Walker as he pulls my hand to walk me to what he wants. In this case it was the stroller. It was close enough to Walker's nap time on Thursday, but still too early to put him down. So, Walker and I went for a walk in the late morning. The weather was FREEZING cold and since Jason has recently taught Walker to say "BRRR" every time he goes outside, that was the first thing he said as we stepped out. I was only able to stand the cold for so long and Walker can only stand being bundled up for so long, we went around the complex twice. (That's not very far). Coming in the door to our building, I see the sign welcoming all residents to the 2nd floor for a nice quiet study area and some hot chocolate. "Sounds good to me! Walker do you want to get some cocoa?" We headed up the elevator and Walker was excited to round the corner where the microwave, jug of water and hot chocolate mixes were. He started pointing excitedly and said the magic word. "COCOA", as he did the sign language for 'pretty please'. One hand across his chest is just 'please', but two hands going out across his chest is 'pretty please'. He was such a good little boy waiting patiently while I warmed up the water. We enjoyed our cocoa and headed back home for a nap.
As you mothers know there is an 'unloading' that happens the second you walk in the door. While I was unloading, Walker was trying to put away the stroller chanting, "cocoa, cocoa". What else was I supposed to do but grab the camera!

Just thought I would share our family pictures.

Things to Remember On Our Cruise

No work for a week. Sleeping in. Flying without a stroller, seven pieces of luggage and a baby. Old friends having layovers as the same time as us. Ship safety drills. Running into the couple from Boise who sold us our love seat, during the safety drill. Ventriloquist act. Sparkling lights on the ceiling of the Vista Lounge. A Five course meal with dessert. Being sea sick the rest of the night. Having absolutely no light creep into our bedroom at night. Breakfast in bed. Viewing art to be auctioned off for thousands of dollars. Sunbathing while reading on the Sun Deck. Looking at older people in their bathing suits thinking, "This makes me feel so much better about my body." Gazing at Dolphins jumping out of the water at the side of the ship. Dressing up. Another five course meal with dessert. Singing karaoke and losing to a 40 year old woman singing "Jump, Jump" by Kriss Kross. (I should have sang "Baby Got Back"!). Sleeping in. Breakfast in Bed. Exercising with a view to the ocean. Lunch Buffet. Swimming in one of four swimming pools. Hot tubbing. Making Hibiscus flowers out of crape paper. Painting ceramics. Comedian Act. The Newlywed, Not so Newlywed game. Seeing Byron and Brett sing Karaoke in blonde wigs. Breakfast in bed again. Visiting Puerto Vallarta. Bartering down a tour guide to $50 a van for 10 people for all day. Seeing where "Predator" was filmed. Riding zip-lines one hundred feet above the canopy. Bumpy cobblestone streets. A small drug bust at the side of the road. Papantla Flyers. Statues on the beach. Vendors following you around. "How much you want to Pay". Blue sunglasses. Another five course meal with dessert. Breakfast in bed again. Visiting Mazatlan. Taxi go-carts. Scooters. El Cid Hotel. Lounging at the pool. "Cliff" jumping. Eli breaking his foot on the kiddie slide. Eli parasailing not knowing his foot was broken. A hole-in-the-wall resturaunt with GREAT carne asado tostadas. An hour long massage for $30. Endless night events. Another five course meal with dessert. Breakfast in bed again. Visiting Cabo San Lucas. Walking down busy streets. CaboWabo. Walking on the beach. Finding the perfect red shawl. Eating next to the beach. Water Taxis. Bartering for fair prices. (this is harder when it's done in English instead of Spanish). Getting Roses delivered to the room. Manicure and Pedicure at the Lotus Spa. Dressing up. Wearing that perfect red shawl. Another five course meal with dessert. Breakfast Buffet. Wearing a swimsuit all day. Having a cold last day. Reading inside...all day. Another five course meal...not with just any dessert. An Alaskan style, vanilla merengue cake. Mmmmm. Another Comedy Act. Midnight room service. Getting off the ship. Customs. Flying back home without a stroller, seven pieces of luggage and a baby. Having luggage not arrive with us.(It wasn't just ours. The whole plane was missing luggage. It all got sent to Reno because someone forgot that our gate changed. I'm just glad it happened at the end of our trip.) Coming back home to a reality where dishes have to be done, laundry is piling up, and there certainly won't be any more five course meals with dessert. We had a great time!

An Event worth going to

Ladies!? How many of you wouldn't just LOVE this bag? Michelle, this is what you have to look forward to when Kyle gets home.



















Every year, Eclipse does an end of the year banquet for all the sales reps. They give awards, trophies and gifts out. These bags were given to the wives of managers for their devotedness to their honeys who are so dedicated to this company. They also do the "cash cannon", shooting droves of $1, $5, $10, and $20 bills into the air for all in attendance to frantically run around, push and shove people out of the way to get as much money as they can. In years past, (being either way to pregnant to mention or baby in arm) I have been able to scrounge up $3-$5. I only got $1 this year, but I really wasn't trying. This one just fell onto the table next to me. So I snatched it up before five other people could dive across the table only to realize that all they could get was a napkin or tablecloth.
There are also lots of prizes for raffle. It is rumored that the raffles are somewhat 'fixed'. Some people get more raffle tickets than others, but this night changed my mind about that. The prize being raffled was an Elliptical Excercise machine. The m.c. started reading the numbers: "6-9-8..."
"Oh good! We still have a chance"
"7-4..."
"I know it's here somewhere"(having previously arranged our tickets, I knew we had some numbers that were close)
"0..."
"Looking, looking"
"Going once! Going twice"
"We have it, we have it! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
Of the hundred something people there, probably only 4 would really appreciate this prize. I was one of them.
Walking up to take a picture with my new best friend, I realized "This box is almost as tall as I am...Is it even going to fit in the car?" Nope. Thank goodness for friends with big cars! Justin lugged the HUGE BOHEIMOTH of a box into his Mountaineer and is bringing it up with him when he comes for Thanksgiving. Such suspense!
Pictures to come

Little things that tell you, "You're doing a great job"

Walker has recently been folding his arms for "prayer time". It took me a while to get it transferred from the camera, but it's better late than never.