my night - WED PM - abbreviated

Wednesday = family night at my place.

Last night we did a little questionnaire to figure out how much we "knew" about each other [aka the ones we "love" most].  awesome night.  tears of laughter by all.  One question was to name your favorite sports league.  Meaning we had to write down our favorite [like NFL, NHL, etc - these were each explained [we thought] to Peanut] then write down what we thought the other's answers would be.  So - -  fast forward to Peanut's answers:

Me [Ellie]:  TCIB - the commercials in between [yes, to a 9 year old{and me some days } inbetween is 2 words]

Mom:  ADW - anything Dad watches

Dad:  AWAB - anything with a ball

Sorry Dad, I'll be working with her on this after school today.

So grateful we have these crazy fun family nights.

Is it already THAT time of year again??!

Man - how time flies!!?

Seems like just a few months ago I was sneaking off to get this bathingsuit[less] porn from my dear mail-woman.  However, today I drove up as she entered my driveway. 

Me: Hi Mrs. A how are you?
Mrs A:  oh I am good, thank you.  You guys get a lot of magazines.
Me: Yes, I know - work, work, work [thinking celeb mag/celeb mag/celeb mag - got to KNOW what they are wearing!! yes, really for WORK!]
Mrs A: sooooooo what's this one for? [proudly holds up "SI swim issue"]
Me: [not even going to write what I said but we laughed so hard we were tearing up]
Mrs A:  oh tell the big guy I think you look like the girl on pg 74.
Me: Oh Mrs A, we only give $$ gifts to our mail person at Christmas time [referring to the butt kissing comment]
Mrs A: [not even going to write what SHE said]
Me: okay come by tomorrow for cupcakes [trust me, she will].

Marched right inside.  took a photo [I do it for my 13 followers ;) ].  marched it right back outside - into the blue bin it went.

Does this make me a bad wife?  If I had the time [and could be bothered] I'd put my face on each of them for the Pita for Valentine's Day.

but heck ya, of course I looked at page 74 before I recycled.

1,2,3,4

I just love that song by Feist. [note: the video is  a w e s o m e - r]

Things that have made my day [even at 10:10am - trust me, it IS "made"]
1,2,3,4 --- ok 10.

1. That my toothbrush has been set out for me [with toothpaste] 3 times in 7 days [who's counting?!] by my loving Pita.  Don't even care that he keeps loading up the one I use to clean my ring.  My ring is looking fabulous.

2.  That I found this on my computer/office desk - we'll talk later about the "text style" writing.  hmmmm who is she learning that from? .... Nana!!

3.  Then there was a pain free run!  The best.

4.  Then I received confirmation on a Valentine's get-a-way trip. yea! [Thanks Mom for watching the kid-O]

5.  Then I saw this new addition to Peanut's door.  hilarious.

[it reads: "don't come in! UNLESS I let you come in or if I'm really mad DO come in to *(calm me down)* CMD - calm me down"] awesome - I want one on my door too.

6.  Turned on my computer to see I had been paid for this.  "selling" and getting "paid" are two VERY different things.

7.  Realized I had actually [ok the Pita had actually] made something grow [indoors] that looked amazing.

8.  That I don't have to go to this until next year.  Plenty of warning.  I like appreciate that.  Mostly, I like that he wants to go with me.

9.  That I woke up to this [nicely arranged clothing] that I may or may not have thrown [um ya sorry, the $4k dresses too] on the floor in a stressed/emotional moment last night - when I wished I was 4 people [5 would be fine too though]. [Maybe I need that sign off Peanut's door, just in case?!].  Thanks Pita.

10.  That Peanut will ask me really hard / gutt wrenching questions.  I soooooo dig her straight forwardness [hoping that's a word].

w a i t . . .

11.  I appreciate your comments you are about to leave too.  It will somehow make my day even better!

To MY Mom

Dear MY Mom,

Happy "xx" Birthday!

I love you. [sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much].

Been thinking about this post for weeks. 

I love the photo above.  Mostly, I love how calm you look.  I love how beautiful you look without make-up.  I love the chair [just a few years too late].  I love the [tupperware] cup I am holding.  [sorry I made you give them up to DI.]  I love that you made time for me - to sit with me.

This is a new favorite photo of mine.

I love that you were there to support me. On a "Sunday".  Believe it or not, I love it that we have the same "smile" lines by our eyes.  I love that you gave me blue eyes.

I love it when you hug me.

Here are a few ;) other thing I love/love remembering:

• 
  
  Puerto Vallarta
• Volleyball tournaments
• Sleeping on your floor [dad may not "love" this one so much though]
• The morning you dropped me off for my 1st marathon in Utah
• Scrabble games [it's your birthday so I won't say you cheat sometimes]
• you always being my biggest cheerleader - in anything I do
• The make-a-mix dance night in the Westover's backyard
• Girl's camp
• crossword puzzles
• shaved ice as bribery to keep you awake
• making hot [yummy] breakfasts for us 5 times a week [did you ever eat breakfast?]
• seeing Peanut being born
• Aerobics at church . . . with soup can weights
• supermarket sweep with Madeline & Shauna
• Easter dresses
• EAT & BE MEAN - I mean LEAN
• The BAD fish night
• Bran muffins
• Bleach stories
• The year of the PUFF paint Christmas - yep the one where YOU said "damn"
• Driving to Colorado - just you and your insanely scared daughter
• summer library trips
• teaching me how to work
• Peanut adores you [more than she adores me, by far] - I guessing this is probably okay
• That you love my hubby.  He knows it and that makes me happy.
• That you have my back.
• You know [A LOT of] what I could do better and you don't pester me
• You read and even sometimes comment on my blog
• I know you'd do anything for me
• You put up with me during some VERY rough times in my life [I'm thinking mostly 11, 16, 18, 24 & 30]
• You were there for me when the 30 minutes to Glendale to see my old friends seemed like 300.

I treasure our relationship Mom.  I know how blessed I am to have you as MY MOM.

ET Designs

2 old shirts

1 random swatch of fabric

1 borrowed [from me] mannequin

4 hotel style thread/button "repair kits"

1 Sunday night

3 [creepy quiet] hours

and she walks out and shows me this:

b a c k

serious gathering.

this kid is 9.

I'll post the "finished product" tomorrow.

i heart art

I loved starting my computer today to see it was one of my most favorite artist's birthday.

norman rockwell.

If I didn't love my job so much [no sarcasm here] - I would go back to school to get a major in art history. 

I heart art. 

I love the stories art tells.  I love knowing what inspires other people to create what they create.

I'll never forget what I learned about him in Art History 101. 

He once said, "commonplaces never become tiresome.  It is we who become tired when we cease to become curious and appreciative."

So true.
For today, I am loving this:

The thing I love most?  The old woman's wrinkled hands with the simple gold wedding band.

I'd love 5 minutes to chat with her .... I'm curious about her story.

yes / no

Desert Classic - January 30, 2010

Was it cold?   Yes.

Does Aunt A look way too cute when she runs?   Yes.

Do we Eliason girls look happy when we run or what?   Yes.

Could she have run the marathon?  YES!

Were the other runners the most supportive group of runners I've ever run with? Yes.

Did Peanut run the mile [she was hoping to] with me?  No.

Is this the best sight to see when running?  Yes.

Did I make the time I needed to for NYC?  No.

Was I still happy? [See above mile 25 - got the tears out at 24.]

Is my husband the most supportive ever? Y E S !

Did I qualify for Boston .... again?  Yes.

Did I love having my new sweet [but make me look like a "puller"] sunglasses? YES.

Did my time get posted correctly? No.

Am I happy with my [correct] time?  [believe it or not] Yes!

Did I win as the first female finisher? Yes.

Do I know why I am standing in 2nd position [ballet]? No.

Did Peanut think this made me the sweetest Mom ever?  Heck Ya.

Am I bummed?  More like devastated.  I know I can do it. 

Bring on the [insanely F L A T] Rock N Roll course in 2011!

Will we Eliason girls run a marathon together?  Just tell me when ladies!