To Marcus- a webcam substitute

Here's when we were talking a just a few minutes ago....

My new toes and "updated" Chaco lines...

The reason why my sister has her toes professionally done...*

and last but not least- Bradie not caring for my explanation that the Village People were comprised of men only. To her credit, she does have those boots on the right feet! :)**

*I would like everyone to take note that that is my right thumb pictured. This required I hold the camera in left hand. I was also talking on the phone. Yes, I am bragging.

**Minutes after this photo, I hear the end of the Veggie Tales DVD and Bradie calling out MOMMY... I go to see and she is half way off the bed and the diaper is gone :)

I miss you daddy!

I love to finger paint with watercolors

Summer is here. You can't tell but my locks are very greasy from the sunblock that mommy slathered on me.

Pride and Prejudice

*sigh* And that is all. That would be enough. A cliche for you this evening would be "hook, line and sinker". What a wonderful movie. I was totally engaged for all five hours. Yes, five hours! Not that you can really compare them, but this blew Sense & Sensibility clean out of the water.

I intend to force Bradie to watch this movie every year starting at age 10, or upon the onset of puberty :)

The most striking thing to me was this: grace. Now forgive my ignorance, I haven't studied the original literary work, but the grace in the face of a rigid, unforgiving social climate is breathtaking. And romantic.

Okay, John Eldridge, you win. All your mumbo jumbo about the Great Story and the Lover and the Arrows... well its not mumbo jumbo. True love IS real. God is able to inspire His children to great lengths to showcase Himself. To give up oneself, aware of the cost and dangers, to lay down one's very life so that others may have it...wow.

Forgive my waxing (as Marcus' I'm sure will remind me) but I cannot help it. And now I join the ranks of my sweet friend Deena and clutch my own chest and sigh.

Cheers! (hey I am a little English, so its not a stretch)

Sense and Sensibility- a reviewette by Sara

I just finished Sense and Sensibility. When I told Deena I had not seen this movie, she clutched her chest and gasped, while grabbing it from her DVD library. She then set it on top of the Veggie Tales I was borrowing.

By the very near end of this film, I was clutching my own chest. I found I was instantly wooed by the sing-song proper English and the beautiful countrysides, as well as the stories of Ms. Dashwood and her impassioned sister Marianne. It spoke to much of my little girl heart I apparently forgot about as I sniffed back tears throughout. Now this is romantic stuff! I'll admit, I REALLY wanted Edward to grab Elinor and totally make out with her, but that sort of impropriety would ruin the tone. Don't worry, I told myself, I am sure that those two had some steamy interactions (after their vows of course!) that would make the cast of Grey's Anatomy blush...but alas I regress to the sort of depravity that would find me caste into "penniless" thought society :)

What a great movie! Can't wait to start the epic Pride and Prejudice...maybe someday I'll actually read these books *blushing* I know I know! A travesty! I will read them...if only I knew someone that would lend me a copy ;)

It was fun to see Hugh Laurie (House) and Mr. Snipes as well. Laurie got a fist pump in the air while I lay on the couch, and the Colonel got an excited hiss, "Sssnipes!" :)

Oh and Marcus finally has a REAL blog! I will update the link as soon as I post this. Enjoy!

In the wee house of last night, Bradie tossed her cookies. So from about 2 am until 7am I had my little daughter in my bed with me. I've never shared a bed with Bradie purposely, but its almost a treat when I do. Though, she has no bed manners. She's like a little walrus, throwing her body to and fro, flopping into different positions. The longest "nap" of the night resulted from the butt-in-air position, which became a sweet cuddle to the mattress. I actually had a dream then. Definitely precious but not how I want to spend tonight. *crosses fingers*

Here you go, honey. A blog for you. No wise or witty words...I am a little tapped out for anything of that nature. We miss you.

There are so many life affirming things to be found on the internet. Here's a real gem:

So, we had this great 10 year old cat named Jack who just recently died. Jack was a great cat and the kids would carry him around and sit on him and nothing ever bothered him. He used to hang out and nap all day long on this mat in our bathroom.

Well we have 3 kids and at the time of this story they were 4 years old, 3 years old and 1 year old. The middle one is Eli. Eli really loves chapstick. LOVES it. He kept asking to use my chapstick and then losing it. So finally one day I showed him where in the bathroom I keep my chapstick and how he could use it whenever he wanted to but he needed to put it right back in the drawer when he was done.

Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and try to get ready for Church with everyone crying and carrying on. My two boys are fighting over the toy in the cereal box. I am trying to nurse my little one at the same time I am putting on my makeup. Everything is a mess and everyone has long forgotten that this is a wonderful day to honor me and the amazing job that is motherhood.

We finally have the older one and the baby loaded in the car and I am looking for Eli. I have searched everywhere and I finally round the corner to go into the bathroom. And there was Eli. He was applying my chapstick very carefully to Jack's . . . rear end. Eli looked right into my eyes and said "chapped." Now if you have a cat, you know that he is right--their little butts do look pretty chapped. And, frankly, Jack didn't seem to mind.

And the only question to really ask at that point was whether it was the FIRST time Eli had done that to the cat's behind or the hundredth. And THAT is my favorite Mother's Day moment ever because it reminds us that no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures, there will always be that day when you realize they've been using your chapstick on the cat's butt.

Mother's day afternoon down in Edmonds. It was LOVELY! Bradie loves sand. I'm pretty sure we could have stayed for hours.

Marcus got to do some male bonding/hiking/beef jerkey eating with Beau and Josh. Here's Beau and Marcus perched on a boulder in....drum roll....Boulder River. I think people that name crap in nature get bored.

A cool blessing. This photo was taken April 25th 2004 after Marcus had an accident with a Jeep that didn't obey "yield when turning left on green" By the grace of God, Marcus was not hurt at all and our car was a total loss. We were struggling with our car payments/poor decision making from even purchasing this brand new vehicle. Adding to the debacle, Marcus hit an uninsured driver. Well, we finally got the hundred buck deductible back! Praise the Lord! This little check couldn't arrived any sooner!

ETA: BEAU COLLINS IS OUR HERO!

versatility

Bradie has, as they say, "mad hops". Now there are pictures to prove it. I will also be using these pictures to send to Nebraska or UW as incentive for their volleyball teams. Or basketball. Or field hockey. What ev.

And she's georgous. Just look at her! Also, brilliant...a few days ago she actually started mommy. Just in time for Mother's Day even! This officially makes Bradie Ann a triple threat. Watch out world!

I recommend the merlot

How about some wine? Or rather "whine". Pictured is the fun part of Bradie's latest tricks...this is the cheese. The "whine" is not quite as cute but a part of life nonetheless. Sometimes I utter a short prayer under my breath, between no's and redirection. It goes like this: "Lord, bless these boundaries"

...anything less than your best is a felony

The retreat was really nice. I actually spent about three hours all by myself sitting near a serene lake. I also confess to a nap, but at near 140k a year, I think one is in order! (see Ellen's blog :)

My time at LBC did leave me thirsty for my near past...I miss my old ministry, its retreats and camps, the people for sure. Don't feel pity for my longing, its a good thing to be thankful to God for things we've experienced. I found myself quite tempted to pick up my flatware in the dining hall, drum loudly on the tables and call out "we want the pits" but I know I would have been met with blank stares...I miss YL!

I learned a sweet new way to look at the Bible...focus on the verbs! Very interesting.

Oh and you can thank the poet Rob Van Winkle for today's blog title...you may remember him as Vanilla Ice."Will it ever stop? Yo! I don't know. Turn off the lights and I'll glow."
Genius.