April Awareness

While I don't think I will ever TRULY understand their day to day [life] struggles.  I DO know how much I adore & love,  each one of the "K Clan".

I was able to have lunch with ALL of my sisters on the 24th.  The best.  While the day was certainly "Aunt A's Day".  I loved hearing a couple of other stories from my other sisters as well.

The one I went home sharing - - - was without a doubt the story "Y-von" shared with us about recent events at Ethan's school.  While we [and she] were able to laugh at the humor of it.  I know it's not always easy [or appropriate] to laugh.

The "K Clan" [as he'll explain further] don't blog too often. . . . so when he does . .  we all know it's got to be good. [Thanks for the heads-up on the post Mom].

Please take the time to read this.  You'll be grateful you did.

I love you Ethan.

Habitat Build

As told in photos.

6:45am - arrival

7am - I find the best. hat. ever.

7:30am-1:30pm --- workin', workin', workin'

Tiff and Troy . . . love you guys!  Thanks so much for coming out to help!!

My handsome nephew.

The hydration specialist. Yep, I caught her in the act of removing all the labels off the Powerade bottles.  Why?  "Well, why should we advertise for them?  We had to buy these."  - - I have no idea where she gets this. [The PitaWhat?]

Happiness is ..... not needing a ladder.

By the end of the day we went from foundation to all exterior walls.  Awesome day.

Want to sign up in your area? Click here.

really? for me?

So this amazing fruit bouquet arrived at my door this morning[ish].  I have never received one of these before.

a w e s o m e.

Such a thoughtful friend.

Thanks Angela!!

I'm thinking . . .

 . . .

Sounds intriguing doesn't it?  But I'm loving the idea of this right now.

Well, that is, if I don't get into this.

Who's coming with me?

Happy Friday!

what can I do vs. doing

When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it. - Edward W. Howe 

This is my do-er friend Ashley.

The one on the right.  At my surprise party.  She threw for me.  [The candy ---- that's a whole other blog post.]

No, today is not her birthday.  No, she doesn't even know I have a blog.  [I know, seriously, how come I don't advertise this awesome thing.] ;)  I'm just lazy and have just now gotten around to posting this.

She is a "do-er". 

I met up with her for lunch last week [as I do most weeks].  We usually talk about her [way younger than me] life as it is ALWAYS changing & eventful.  So exciting.  We got a little side tracked last week.  I was having a little less than perfect day [no biggie / no tears].   

What's on my door-step 4 hours later?  These:

[sorry, still not too fab with my camera]

And a note.  One of the best "friendship" notes I have ever received.  You'd think I'd have know this girl since birth.  I've known her two years.  We only started getting together more often in the last 4 months.


It's the little things to me.  The little things make me love/adore/appreciate people big time.

Thanks Ash.  Going to miss you come August.  Chicago or New York?  Which ever you two choose ----- I'm coming to visit.

To "Baby E" / A.E.B

I'm so happy it's your day.  No, not even because it makes you one year older than me.  It's because I get to sit here this morning and reflect on you, on your day. 

Being that you are "X" years older than me [never mind that you look younger - whatever].   I'm amazed at how much I do remember about growing up with you.  Sure, some things were told to me . . . but a lot of the memories are right from this little brain of mine.

Nope, I don't remember this:

Or this:

What I do know is at a very difficult time in my life......you were the only one who could comfort me in the way I needed it.  I will never fully be able to express [in words] how much this meant to me.

You have always been there for me.

I have been told you would wake up with me at night so mom could sleep.  seriously?!  How many pre-teens would do that?  And as I'm told --- you'd sing to me when you'd get up with me.  [ahhhh, here come the tears]

I'm amazed.  often.  with you.  by you.  because of you.

Have you ever realized all you have done? All you do?  All you've accomplished?  All the trials you've come out "on top" of?  Things you do each and every day that are amazing?

Here's a few I can think of:

• Having 5 children
• The female college grad of the family
• Did I mention a Master's degree too?
• Eric
• Running
• Church callings
• listening
• forgiving [think tithing story]
• flying home to be with your crazy little 10 year old sister
• waiting [sorry don't remember exactly how many 7?] years to have a biological child
• your children in all their sports
• inviting me over to dinner when it was just you, R & Freddy
• kissing R after dinner prayer - I use your example every day now too ;)
• you had four kids - and you look like you've had none
• you working from home [on top of all the mom/wife work]
• dealing with that crazy dog of yours on Friday's ;)
• attending EXTRA family events
• you are a peacemaker
• you see the good in others
• you don't gossip
• texting me back
• texting me back fast
• always saying yes to me when I'm in a pinch
• always saying yes to most people
• you are kind
• you are emotional
• you are sensitive to other's needs/feelings
• letting me help [ha - is food helping?!] when I know something's going on [that's a big "KNOW" - as I usually would never know] ...which brings me to....
• you don't complain
• running a 1/2 marathon with less than 10 days notice
• patient.  you are the most patient person I know

Happy Birthday To MY Sister.

I love you.

I'm pretty sure

I'm pretty sure the quote goes like this, "A family that shoots togther stays together."

No?

Oh well.

So, how'd it go?  WE ALL had a freaking blast!

Here's a few photos from Saturday.

The lesson:

My lesson [took about 5 minutes longer than Peanuts]:

Peanuts pose:

Now, in action:

Her "hit":

My in action pose:

My "hit"[take that little glass cleaning lady]:

The best family outing in a while [minus the 20 minute bladder busting 4X4 ride to get there].

I would have included a photo of the Pita in action but his gun . . . well let's just say it looks a little agressive for a family blog post [semi-auto anyone?!].  It [the pita's new "this is what I got for putting up with her running gun"] IS awesome to fire.  Even I gave it a whirl.  Can't turn my head to the left but ehhhh it was soooo worth it.

full disclosure

I'm not as grown-up as you think I am.  I'm not as grown-up as I pretend to be.

I don't lay awake at night fretting over my IRA.  I don't even wonder how my bank account looks.  If it's [$$] there great!  If not, I better get working harder.  My dreams at night are nothing like the "real" world.  They aren't even like "me". 

I don't always wonder what's going on in the Middle East [as I most likely should].  And did I mention I don't even know my blood type? Truly.  Never can remember.  But I am guilty of signing up for an extra life insurance policy just because I felt like at my ripe old age - I should be "worth" more.

What makes me laugh?  Modern Family.  The Office.  The Flight Of The Conchords.  Funniest Home Videos.  The Soup.  What will I never get?  Mr. Bean & CNBC.  I dislike war/history movies.  My nine year old daughter knows more about WWII than me.  I'm fine with it.

Lately, I've been wearing a lot of this:

+ Orange nail polish.  [Even though the Pita's Mum said I should "stay away" from Oranges and yellows - as they "don't suit me"].  I embrace the opportunity to hang on to my early 20's.  It makes me look younger & "with it" right?  Well, it makes me feel younger.  I could pay for cosmetic surgery, botox, youth serums or I can wear freaky, funky nail polish.  I choose $5 nails.

Don't get me wrong.  I actually do know when I need to be a big girl and play "big girl" dress up.  I can do it.......just give me a good reason why it's needed.  I see my [huff] 30's as my decade to make my mark to be true to me.  So far, 30's to me, seem to be a double edge sword.  Balancing the amusement of yesterday with the tenacious impression of tomorrow.  Which leaves me with today.  OPI Lincoln Park After Dark [purple/black polish].  Today, I want nothing to do with tenacious.

little / big

I saw this quote today on a car parked at the post office.  I needed to read this. today.  I need to remember this. everyday.

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." -Robert Brault

20 things you may [or may not] know about me.

There are a few "falsies".  Can you spot them?

1. I am fluent in text language
2. I use my poker face when playing "sorry"
3. I have one year of college left for my BA.
4. I love watches.  I want this one next.

   5.  Our last "proper" family photo was when Peanut was 3.5 years old.
   6.  The Pita and I have never had a "professional" photo taken of just the two of us.

   7.  I love surprises.
   8.  I clean my feet 4-5 times per day.
   9.  I use 5-6 hand [sweat] towels on my long run days.
 10.  I consider my pets family.
 11.  I have 14 nephews and 4 nieces [just on my side of the family]
 12.  I've never seen "Gone With The Wind".
 13.  I went to the Ostrich Festival.  It was the first time I've been away from the Pita [on a weekend night for more than 1.5 hours] in 10 years.

 14.  I love college basketball.
 15.  I think toes are the grossest part of the human body.
 16.  I've been stung by a scorpion.
 17.  I love my name [first and last].
 18.  I own 32 pairs of jeans.
 19.  The Pita has a bigger shoe obsession than me.
 20.  I speak Na'vi.

Milky Minutes

I've long been a fan of AT&T commercials - l o n g  before my carrier became AT&T.  The Mom in the commercials ---- love her.  Her little finger wiggling side to side [no, no, no] when the "minutes" were somehow put outside for a [gasp] a yard sale.  awesome.

But my favorite commercial by far is this one:
Don, the husband, spills milk on rollover minutes, represented as little orange clocks. The wife yells at him for throwing them away.


"You know my sister doesn't have AT&T. Guess what happens to her old minutes?"


"She loses them," the husband says.


"She loses them. So I'm sure she'd be happy with those milky minutes."


"Isn't your sister lactose intolerant?"
 
Awesome.

Only now that I have AT&T do I really understand this whole "milky minutes" thing. 

Six months ago I purchased my beloved iPhone.  The only thing NOT so loved about it was the price for the minutes [packages].  I had 1500 minutes with verizon and consistently used about 1350.  That same package at AT&T $149.  Not going to happen.  So I held my breath and signed up for the "lesser" 950 minute package with the UNLIMITED TEXTING. [Can you hear the trumpets playing?!] 

And the rest is history.  A texting "queen" was born.  However, I never expected to have this problem . . . . . . TOO MANY MINUTES!

So you say, now Emz, can you really have too many minutes?  Well you tell me.  Is 2,000 rollover minutes in 6 months too many?  3,000?  4,000? [please keep in mind I've had this phone for only 6 months, calls to the Pita & My sweet Mom who are both on AT&T too - therefore no minutes used].

As of today I have . . . 4,474 minutes.  ROLLOVER MINUTES.  Did I mention I get another 950 minutes on the 20th?

SO WHY DON'T I call people?  I have a few theories but mostly because I'm a spewer [I know spew is a word so I'm making spewer a word].  People call about ..... let's say . . . having Peanut walk home with their daughter [we'll say "Chloe"].  Then before you know it I'm talking office visits, what shoes I'm wearing, how I've lost three toe nails this week, how she is wearing a weighted vest [while driving to burn more calories], I forget to breath when talking, she's laughing ---- so I keep talking, she misfires with some SUPER horrible turtleneck comment and now I have a bad mental picture, I'm crying with laughter about her odd nurse events AND I DON'T EVEN REMEMBER WHY SHE CALLED?  Ummmm, either does she as I've just done and "A to Z" "A to WHAT THE HECK" in about ohhhh only 3 minutes. 

I don't stand a chance at using these flipping minutes.  milky or not.

Singing in the rain

Things I've loved since Sunday night . . .

Rain.  been raining on and off since Sunday. which = happy me.

This is the view from my back patio.  heaven to me. 

Talking [wait for it ... wait for it....] on the phone to my friend this morning.  even though she won't tell me what her [maybe] sadness/problem/dilemma is [I shouldn't take that personally right?!].

rain.

Seeing another friend's face light up.  to see little ole me. when I walked into her office this morning.  for her birthday.  a Tucson girl transplant.  first birthday in the BIG city. ;)

rain.

Peanut telling me this morning that she "prays for me" to be happy each day when she first sits down at her school desk.  random . .yes.  love it . . yes.

rain.

understanding sisters.  understanding mom.  and friends who try.

rain.

the human body.  incredible to think of all it does without us doing a thing.  incredible to think of all it does when we push it to do hard things.

rain.

Maybe I should move to Seattle when Brooke does?  This rain stuff is incredible.

rain is all that saved me from an even huge-r [my word - I like it] panic attack on Sunday night from the "ones" I try to avoid, like the plague. {see second bullet}

Oscar night.  with Peanut.  being dress judges.  my favorite:

Least favorite: [by far....]

Did you watch?

regrets for today

That I let my daughter wear her hair like this today.

Well, this isn't so bad.

The back kinda freaks me out.

The side view though --- the worst by far.

But seriously, what is a mom to do when her child walks out thinking, "I'm so totally rocking this look".  "Mom, doesn't this look awesome?"

[Now, I believe in being nice but I also believe in being honest.]

Me: Well, it's not my favorite look but we don't have to agree on everything.  If you love it.  Go for it.

Peanut:  How can you not love it Mom?  I look awesome.

Love this kid-o.

I swear she is just getting back at me for seeing this amazing "do" in my photo album.

Well - there's so much more wrong with this photo than JUST my aqua net hair.  Yes, the octagon-ish [yes, I know there are only 5 sides] earrings - they still should have screamed, "S T O P".  Yes, Chrystler did pay me to wear them.  Two dollar San Diego necklace from staying with the Pierson's - love it.  Braces?  Hey, I have straight teeth now. 

But yes, the hair . . . .  regretable.

Enjoy [ing] the silence

"We have so much in common, we both love soup and snow peas, we love the outdoors, and talking and not talking. We could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about. - Best In Show

Last night was quiet.  weirdly quiet.  the best quiet. 

I remember [very] few bits of marital advice I have been given.  Some was requested others were in no way requested.  Either way . . . the one I think of often, is the one told to me by the man who performed our [1 of 2] ceremonies. two days before our wedding.  in his backyard.  we'll call him, "Bob" ; ). 

Bob said, "The one thing I will tell you to do & do often is to be together.  If that means he's golfing [thank goodness the Pita doesn't] go with him [but I insert shooting guns or basketballs].  If she's reading a book/magazine on the couch, sit by her.  If he's off to run an errand, you go too." 

I always have loved this comment.  Of course, it's not always do-able.  However, last night it happened.  quiet.  no tv.  a sleeping Peanut.  my running magazine.  a couch.  an approaching Pita.  a sitting Pita.  a sitting reading consumer reports, BY me - Pita.  quiet. 

I loved the [few and far between] moment of quiet.  no dishes, laundry, lunches for the next day.  just the comfortable, stress free moment where we don't talk about anything.  no daily nuggets of info to chat about.  not that I don't have them.  trust me.  I can talk for hours about [well] just about anything.  Our conversations flow freely - but last night wasn't about that.  it just felt good amazing to sit and experience the moment without saying a word.  a lot was said by being unsaid.  Because there isn't much that's unsaid.  it's all out there. 

I'm thankful for this moment [even though, I'm certain, he doesn't have a clue the "moment" even happened].  I felt good about myself and US.  I genuinely enjoyed his company.  without saying a word.

Are you there God? It's me Emz

Hi-
Yep, it's me [again].  even though I checked "in" last night, I thought I'd check "in" again being that my morning routine with you is less than optimal.  I'm doing very well.  I am trying harder each day to be more aware of what you have blessed me with.  little & big alike.  I'm trying to do better at enjoying each station this train of life makes me stop at.  Honestly, I don't like some of the stops.  Any chance of a "pass this stop [trial]" pass?  {figured it was worth trying}  You know, the ones where I'm forced to disembark the vessel for a quest I know I signed up for.  But, sometimes I find the picture to be slightly less breath-taking than the brochure alluded to, no offence.  However, each time I hop back on - I find the ride even more enjoyable?! [hmmm]

I just wanted to thank you for the new people you've placed in my journey lately.  I had been feeling a bit of negativity from a few people [who were probably just having a bad day themselves].  It's not that I give credence to what they say it's just that I'm sensitive [you know that], so the remarks feel like a mosquito bite where there is already a scab trying to heal.  Anyway - - thank you for the new friends I've made [even though 4 of them, I've never met . . . they do/are bringing happiness to my life].

Please continue to help me in my attempts to be a better me.  A better wife.  A better mom.  A better daughter.  A better friend.  A better neighbor.  A better person.  In little ways.  Each day.  Please help remind me - I can make someone have a better day, hour, minute by doing something, possibly something very, very small.

Can I beg a little patience off you today while I'm at it?  I jumped at Peanut yesterday.  As it turned out - a one minute hug fixed everything.  I was [possibly on purpose] clamoring dishes upon my return from achievement days last night when I found they had been left for me to do [not his words but rather my thoughts].  As it turned out he was on the computer trying to get things together for work tomorrow --- not aimlessly surfing the web for tactical gear.

Thanks for the texts from my family last night [even though they were about my dog].  I felt loved.  Thanks for the call from my Dad.  On his cell phone.  Thanks for helping him learn how to use it.  Thanks for reminding him to actually carry it some days.  Thanks for letting my parents think dinner I brought them was nice.  because it was tacky.  Chicken in a bag & a baguette of [albeit yummy] bread.  Thanks for helping/letting them lie when it's okay by you.

Well, thanks for the chat.  Time to get back to doin.  I hear my name being screamed from a porcelain throne, of sorts.  I'm grabbing my bag o' patience and getting on board.

Love,
Emz

I'll get you, my pretty, & your little dog too.

4:47 [am]

Seriously.  this is what time my fun began today. [where can I get one of those sarcmark things?]

Picture this:

[with less make-up and big bags under my eyes].  Figured - why even try so I got up to run.  As most mornings, I am greeted by Chuy.  Decided to let the poor little guy out to relieve himself before I started up the treadmill.

Now, anyone who knows me knows --- I'm not too good [actually really bad] at remembering to let this dog back in.  Which I've heard is pretty important.  But this dog, I couldn't pay him to runaway.  trust me.  I tried.

But this morning was different.  I let him out . . walked in to get things ready and it was like I was being blasted on the head by a 2 X 4 - - "go get Chuy" . . "go get Chuy". . "go get Ch____[ok, you get it] but I think I have a full-on bruise.

I open the door to see Chuy IN as in INSIDE a coyotes mouth. 

And no it didn't look like this:

It looked like this:

with an added $x,xxx dog in it's mouth.

What did I do, you ask?  Grabbed Peanut's rain boots outside the front door. {yet another blessing - my daughter wears rain boots - when it's not raining.  often.} and began to swat [air] with these purple camo rain boots.

So right now.  Chuy thinks I'm pretty great.  I can swing a mean boot.

Now, if I could just get him to pee outside since the little altercation, I could actually leave to run the errands I need to.

Anyone want to give him a bath? [smelling very "nature-y"]

Tuesday; the day of the week between Monday & Wednesday

And for me . . . the day I get to learn more about you!

1.  If I was stranded on a desert island I'd take: ___________________, ____________________ & _______________________________.

2.  If I could medal in any Olympic event I'd choose_______________.

3.  __________________ are/is the thing I fear the most.

4.  I'd rather ________________ everyday, than _______________ everyday.

5.  I am excited about_____________________________________.

6.  I really should be _____________________________________.

7.  One of my favorite things in the world is ____________________.

It's just what kids do

I'm reminded [pretty much daily] how awesome children are by the one [and only one] I currently am raising.

What is she teaching me?

"Mom, I bet if you smiled at the lady . . . . she wouldn't look so grumpy."

"Mom, that girl lives close to us but doesn't go to my school.  We are friends now."  [me] "Of course you are - you've known her for 45 seconds."

"Wait for me Mom.  Wait here." she leaves me in the card aisle at Hallmark [literally runs to the door] and opens it for a gentleman holding way too many boxes.

In grocery store:  "I like your shoes." Thanks Pean.... [then realize she's not talking to me but rather to a teenager buying gum].

"Mom, have a quarter?"  [I give it to her.  She says she'll be right back.  I watch.  Gets dropped into the Haiti Relief Fund jar.

the next one is the best [if I can write it] why am I so freaking emotional?!

To woman crying in Basha's [in card aisle] on Saturday.  "Are the cards sad?"  [Me] "Umm, I'm so sorry.  Ellie come over here."
Woman says, "No, please don't.  Yes, the cards can be sad...but I am sad because my 4 month pregnant daughter lost her baby today."  Ellie looks into her eyes, "That happened to my mom last year too.  It sucks*.  I'm sorry."

Lady looks at me.  I thinking [man why do I let her use that word [sucks]?]  Lady says, "Thank you.  That was the most heart felt offering of sympathy I think I have ever felt."  Peanut hugs her waist [?!?] and there are now three people crying in Basha's.

Today.

I'm trying. 

To be more like my nine year old.

*After talking with Peanut [about how awesome that was and why she used the words "sucks"].  She reminded me of what I had told others was probably the best thing someone did/said to make me feel better during this time.  It was a "this sucks" gift from two dear friends.  "this sucks" slice of carrot cake and tulips.  a big "this sucks" hug.  and "this sucks" card.  I think "sucks" is/was totally fitting.