I should be packing and cleaning...

I should be getting ready to drive back to Idaho, or taking a nap, but seeing as how it will be a little while before I post again, I decided to indulge myself in some ME time. Looking through everyone's blogs, I discovered I had been tagged! (sorry it took me so long Marcie.) So here we go:

3 Joys:
1. Spending time with Jason and Walker. It doesn't matter what we do as long as it's together.
2. Reading. This usually gets me tired, so I should say reading/sleeping.
3. Seeing the looks in peoples eyes after doing service for them.

3 Fears:
1. Feeling Alone. I always like to know I can call anyone, anytime.
2. Car Accidents.
3. I am afraid of not living up to my own expectations. I set my standards, and must meet them.

3 Obsessions:
1. Jason would shoot me if I didn't put down Laundry and Dishes. He is not allowed to fold laundry because I like it done a certain way and he always puts the dishes in the wrong place! Like one time, I went to make dinner and was looking and looking for my blue casserole dish. I could not for the life of me find it, until the last cupboard door opened and on the very top in the furthest corner, lay my best cooking buddy. Since Jason put it all the way up there, I called him into the kitchen (he now has the "what did I do" look on his face) and just pointed to it for him to fetch down.
2. Jason and I have moved so many times that I have packing down to an art. There is a magical way to make everything fit into so many suitcases.
3. I have to get ready in the same order every day: Shower, get dressed, breakfast, makeup, hair.
(I'm sure there are more obsessions, but I think these are the most obvious)

3 Surprising Facts:
1. Both Jason and I have had plastic surgery. He on his nose and me on my thumb.
2. We have moved 10 times in the less than four years we've been married.
3. Well, it's not a SUPRISING fact, but a fact nonetheless. I love my family very much!

Passing the torch:
Star Wiley
Jodie Borg
Jentri King

I am turning into my Mother...

For those of you who don't know my mother, Andrea, I will let you in on what I am becoming. My Mom has her Associates Degree in Accounting/Bookkeeping, but also has always been very proficient in grammar and proof-reading. While living at home as a teenager I would always hear her correct my brother, "Mike and I", instead of "me and Mike". Or if I answered the phone, "this is her", she would quietly correct me, "this is she". I could go on and on for hours on proper grammar, but I know I would lose your interest.
For the past three and a half months we have been living with the Standlee family. Their daughter, Sariah, is only five years old and has the grammar of...well...a five year old. I constantly find myself correcting her. Hearing phrases like, " he takded that away", "her brought this for me" and "I gotted a new toy" are making me cringe. Of course her mom and I correct her as much as possible, but there are just too many hours in the day to do that. It makes me realize how much I appreciate the (for lack of a better word) Nagging my Mom did in order to save her ears and to help me at least sound more intelligent.

Thanks Mom!

The Scores...

Walker-2 Sarah-0
Haven't we seen this before? Let me think...Ahh! Yes!









I believe it was when Walker was eight months old! Now I understand why sometimes I can't get him to listen....He has so many Q-tips shoved into his ears!

A New Stage....

Different parts of our family are at different stages in their lives...

Jason has been waiting and waiting for that first flutter that he can feel in my belly. He can't feel it yet, but I'm sure it won't be long before he wishes he couldn't feel those kicks to his back in the middle of the night. He is so happy and is working so hard for our family.

I am anxiously awaiting the end of summer. I have little activities spaced throughout the summer that I use as mile stones. One of those events was seeing my sister, Annie, last week. About a month ago she found out she would be coming to Chicago for a Pampered Chef convention and asked if I wanted to do something. Last year I missed the opportunity to go see the play, "Wicked", and did not want to make the same mistake this year! Her hotel was about a mile from the theatre, so I couldn't miss the chance. My friend, Andria, and I rode the tram into town. (I mean, we almost MISSED the tram into town). Her husband and Jason met the three of us gals at the hotel and we all walked to Navy Pier for dinner. Earlier, I had chosen Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. to eat, knowing it was close...and that's what I started craving. MY BAD! Note to self: Do not plan on a fast meal at a restaurant that sits at the front of the line of the "Batman" Imax Premiere event!

There was plenty of walking after dinner. It is a good mile or so from the pier to the theatre. I was pooped! The play was amazing! I love musical theatre and I am so glad I could share something special with Annie. She and I both played the cello in high school, and I have deepened my love for music in singing. This was the perfect play to take her to. My only regret is not being able to sit closer. I recommend it to anyone with a young heart.

During Intermission is when I learned of Walker's new stage. I sent a text to my babysitter asking how things were going. This is what I got back...
"Ha, yeah great! Your son has officially learned to crawl out of his crib."
Greeeeeeaaaaaat! I felt so bad for her. She said it only took him four trips back to the crib to figure out that she wasn't playing. So this is our new stage: Walker is ready for a toddler bed and we leave back to Idaho in a few weeks. This should be fun....

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

Our 4th of July was a BLAST! Spending most of the afternoon at Taste of Chicago was exactly what made the whole family happy. The majority of the time was spent standing in line, but after ice cream cones, it was well worth it. We only bought two ice cream cones, and I was unfortunate enough that mine was the only cone Walker wanted.
After most of our food ventures, we spent some time letting Walker run around in the 'Stadium' at Millennium Park. That was his favorite part-running AWAY from me. Another lady who was watching said, "That's one fast boy!" I asked her if that meant I was a fast mom...she laughed and said, "absolutely".
At first sight of the fireworks, Walker was scared to death. Jason tried to get him to watch, but as you can see, that didn't work really well. Walker stayed hidden for the whole ten minute show. For some strange reason, on the way home, he wanted 'more' (fireworks that is). With eyes shut tight, head against his car seat, he said, "Momma". As I reply, I look over at him only to see his two little hands signing for 'more'. He did that quite a few times on the way home, and still, a few days later when we drive in the car, asks for more fireworks!

Our Wacky Week of Fun!

Well, this little outing was the week before last, but I thought I would include it. All the salesman and their wives got together in Lisle for the weekly Saturday night dinner. We had a really yummy barbeque by the pool, swimming, and games.
Last Saturday, 'the office' (as we wives like to put it) did not go out all together as we usually do. The family that we live with, the Standlees had already planned to go to Chuck E Cheese. Lately, Walker has gotten so used to having the other family around that when they leave without him he cries like he is going to die. "Auntie, Eeeee, Sissy!" Short for Andria, Eli, and Sariah. To avoid all this drama, I decided that we would go with them. ( Which is usually the case). Much to my pleasant surprise, the play area at Chuck E Cheese is FREE! Walker occupied himself (well, Jason did play with him a lot) for a good two hours! How Awesome is THAT!?
Later that evening Jason and I went to see Wall-E, and we both loved it. It appeals to such a large audience and has a lot of simple humor.

Sunday after church, Jason secretly planned an all day 'stroll' to Burr Ridge. Our strolls have always consisted of looking at houses. The one he showed me blows all of them out of the water! I couldn't even fit the whole house in one camera shot.











I had no word when I saw this!








So the rest of the week has been spent at the Splash Park, taking Walker to see Alvin and the Chipmunks for the dollar special at the theatre, going to the zoo for FREE and having a wonderful time!


So this is for my husband (or anyone else reading this) I DO NOT sit on the couch at home all day eating Bon-Bons!

Things I Love about my Wife.

As life blows past me, I often get caught up in the little things that aren't that important. I realized a couple of days ago, I have been so busy in the daily grind, that I haven't expressed my love and appreciation to Sarah very well. So here is a list of things that I love and appreciate about my beautiful bride.

She is a great cook. - she follows the example of her dad (or so she says) about using 'some of this and some of that' in her recipes. She likes to make stuff up, and she does a great job with it. Or she will find some sort of recipe and modify it to my liking. Oh, and I am fairly picky about stuff like that.

She is patient. Ok, so most of the time she is patient. She is great with Walker. She takes him on walks, plays with him, etc.

She's crafty. (Not the Beastie Boys style of craft.) She makes all kinds of decorations for our home. She made a clock that looks great, many pictures, etc. She is also good with doing flowers for weddings, hair or prom. How many of you have been on the receiving end of one of her crafts or flower arrangements?

She is a loyal friend. I don't have any stories or anything for this one. She just is.

She is quick to forgive. Like when I slip up and tell people that she is pregnant before I am supposed to. Or when I say something to offend her. When I do or say something that I shouldn't, she doesn't hold a grudge against me.

She is clean. Walker and I can tear a house apart in 2 minutes flat. Enough said.

She doesn't let me do the dishes. Apparently I put them in the wrong place. So I am no longer aloud to do them. Darn it.

She likes to vacuum. (ok, that is a joke. We have a roomba that does all of the vacuuming for us.)

She is very musically talented. She is a great singer.

I could probably go on, but you get the idea. Sweetie, when you read this, Just remember how much I love you. Thanks for choo-choo-choosing me!
Jason