❤ SHAMU VS. PONY ❤

Usually Hally has to sleep with two stuffed animals. A stuffed Shamu and a stuffed My Little Pony. Recently I have noticed, when I go to check on her before I go to bed, the Shamu is out of her bed and across the room in the rocking chair. 

This was our conversation yesterday.

ME: Hally, how come you don't like to sleep with Shamu anymore?

HALLY: Shamu is being mean to pony.

ME: Why is Shamu being mean?

HALLY: Shamu keeps trying to eat pony.

ME: Why does Shamu try to eat your pony?

HALLY: Cause Pony won't go to sleep.

I love the imaginations of my children. I just hope she wasn't truly afraid of Shamu. No one wants their kids to be scared when you put them to bed. I guess Shamu will be banished to the downstairs toy closet for such bad behavior.

❤ TIM & THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY ❤

Here is a picture story:

On Wednesday Tim did this.

When he was done his pockets looked like this.

These were nowhere to be found. 

This

and this were locked inside the car.

He bummed a ride on this to the nearest gas station.

Where he used this to call me.

I had to borrow this from my sweet neighbor to pick Tim up.

We then went here to see what our options were. They gave us the key code and told us to go:

here. It was closed.

We went home and Tim bummed a ride to work the next morning from another great neighbor.

During this lovely person's (my mom) lunch break she: 

went here to pick up our newly cut from code keys:

then went here to pick Tim up from work:

and then drove Tim here to get our poor stranded car...

...the keys didn't work.

Mom drove Tim back to here.

I called these people and they told me they "accidentally" cut the key wrong. GGGRRRR!!!!

My sweet neighbor let me borrow this.

I picked Tim up from here.

We went back here.

Drove back here.

Prayed the whole way that the keys would work.

With an uneasy stomach, Tim stuck the key in the lock and....

...it worked!!!

Then we did this.

THE END

Lessons Learned

1. Always have a spare key.
2. Always zip up your pockets.
3. Buy a second car.
4. We're VERY thankful for good moms and neighbors!

VALENTINE'S DAY BOWLING SCORE

Hally - 95

Tim - 85

Addi - 76

Steff - 75

We went bowling on Valentine's Day and the kid's loved it, especially Hally. After everyone's turn she would say, "Go dad!" or "Go mom!" and then give everyone a high five. After her turn she would do a little dance on the way back. She knows she's good. Besides the bumpers, the kids did it all by themselves and I'm tellin' ya, Tim and I weren't taking it easy so the kids could win. Next time I will take my camera.

EMMA SMITH

This is a great book. I highly recommend it.

LIVESTRONG CHALLENGE

fI would like to introduce everyone whom reads this blog to an amazing person. His name is Chris Wightman. Chris is my cousin and he is one of the coolest people I've ever known. I could talk about Chris and his qualities for hours. Chris is a "doer". It seems like most people sit and think about what they could do in the world to make it a better place. To help someone else. Or to even strengthen themselves. But how many people actually DO those things they think about. I know that I am very rarely a "doer". Chris can and will do anything he sets his mind to and my friends, he has set out to do something pretty incredible.

~I love this picture because it's so Chris. He loves to the outdoors and he took me on a river rafting trip once, which was one of the coolest experiences of my life.~

Here is what Chris has to say:

"I’m not a hater. There are very, very few things in this world that I hate. There are a lot of things that annoy me, some things that I strongly dislike…but not many that I hate. Cancer is one of those things that I hate. I HATE cancer. I hate how many people it takes from this world. I hate how many people it has taken from my life. I hate how it goes about taking those people. I hate what it puts people through who survive it. I hate what it puts people through who do not survive it. I hate what it put my mom through. I hate that it took a friend and mentor from my family and friends. I hate that it took my mom’s brother, my uncle. I hate that it took two of my mom’s sister in laws, my aunts. I hate what it is currently putting my cousin, his wife and their kids through. I hate what it is putting another cousin through. I hate that today it is causing so much pain and fear for a very close friend and co-worker whose mother was recently diagnosed and starts chemotherapy next week. I hate that it took another friend and co-workers mother. I hate that it is indiscriminate in who it afflicts, in fact the people in my life who have had it are some of the most caring, giving, and courageous people I have ever known. I hate what it’s putting Elden, his wife and their children through. I hate what it puts friends and family of people who have it through. I hate the pain it’s caused in so many of my family, friends and co workers lives. Many times I don’t mind crying all that much, but right now I hate tharudt I’m crying, hard, because of cancer. I just hate it. "

I think all of us have had cancer affect our lives, whether it be a friend, family member or even ourselves. It is estimated that in the year 2009 alone, 12 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer. We have come along way in trying to find a cure, but we have ALONG way to go. My dear cousin Chris is participating in the LIVESTRONG Challenge and has committed to raising $5,000. All the money will be donated to the Livestrong Foundation. In addition to raising this money, he has also committed to ride in the 100 mile Livestrong Challenge race on June 21st in Seattle. Yes, you read that correctly, 100 miles!!!!! Craziness!!!!

Chris, you're amazing! Thank you for doing this. Thank you for being a "doer". If we ourselves feel that we cannot be "doers", then lets at least help other people in this feat. So fellow bloggers, I am asking you to come one come all and help someone incredible in this good cause. Your donations do not have to be large, even a couple dollars will help. If you would like to donate to this amazing cause please click here. I have also included the link on the sidebar of this blog. Thank you.

SADDEST FACE

This was Hally's face last night after the altercation we had over her not wanting to eat her dinner. She is such a stubborn little girl. If she makes up her mind about something there is NO changing it. How can you be mad at that cute little sad face though?

"MUST-HAVE" MONDAY

I have taken a liking to black nail polish. Remember back in the day it would probably be considered "gothic" to have your fingernails painted black? Well, now a days it seems like everyone has their nails painted black (okay not everyone, but quite a few people) and I love it. Some of you may still consider it "gothic", but for me it is chic. What do you think? Chic or not chic?