So This is Love

18 Months ALREADY?

It's hard to believe that this handsome little "man" came to live with us 18 months ago.  Where has the time gone?  And seriously, what is NOT to love about that little stinkpot face?

Dear Max,

You came to live with our little family on 10-20-2008....Welcome to the world little 8 lb. man.  You came out perfect in every way.  You even slept through the entire first night.  Your mama thanked you.

Being my sweetness at 1 week.                           Workin the church look at 2 months
I was so unsure how I would react to a little boy. But, you grabbed my heart from that first moment, and you've never let go.  You are my sunshine every day!

You have been very tolerant of your sissy from the start.  She likes to sit on, lay on, squish, pinch, "love" her little brother.  Now, you're nearly as big as her, so you can hold your own.

When you were 5 months you got to "play" the part of Baby Jesus at the Easter Pageant.  You did NOT enjoy your 5 minutes of "fame" every night and would scream your gutts out on stage.  In your defense, I usually woke you up to go, AND, it was cold, AND you are a total Mamas boy.

You have LOVED to eat from the start.  There has not ever really been anything that you didn't, or wouldn't eat.  You especially love pizza, cheese sticks, fruit snacks, apple juice and grapes.  At 18 months you weigh 31 lbs. and look like a linebacker. Oh, and you feel like  a linebacker, it's definitely getting harder to lug you around.  Good thing you're so mobile.

You have a real skill for getting yourself into trouble, and tight squeezes.  When you want something, you will go for it, no matter the cost or consequence.  No, means absolutely nothing to you.  In fact, you think it's "Cute" and usually just smile at me when i say it.

Here, you're "paying" for one of your explorations.  You fell between the table and the wall while trying to get something you wanted.

You really love to play the piano and ask everyday to play on it.

You were a champion commando crawler and ruined many an outfit scooting your way through the world.  You walked right at one year and have never looked back.  I can't let you out front because you will RACE to the street, lauhing all the way.  It's actually hard for me to catch you sometimes.

You are FEARLESS!  You LOVE to play in the dogwater outside and then roll around in it, or blow bubbles on the concrete.  You will climb anything and go down anything as well.  Unfortunately, your fearlessness has led to quite a few of these:

You have had more black eyes than i can count.  More split skin, split lips, bruises, scratches, scrapes, etc.  Maggie never suffered these issues, in al her dainty princess ways.  You have certainly given us some scares.  But mostly, you're just busy proving you are ALL BOY!

Except for when you're in touch with your feminine side.  You LOVE sissys flowers and Mommies shoes.  You insist on putting the flowers in your hair any time you see one.

Your first 9 months of life were spent with chronic ear infections.  Luckily, you are one tough cookie and never complained of the problem.  At 9 months you got tubes put in your ears and were a real champ.  You've had yucky deep coughs a few times and we had to use breathing treatments to get you through.  But overall, you're a pretty healthy kid.

At 6 months I was pretty sure the GerberBaby had moved into our house.  You are blessed with the most perfectly round head and big blue eyes.  Your happy smiles and silly faces keep us laughing.

Everyone says you look JUST like your Daddy.  Which, you really do, just blonder.  We're thankful, 'cause he's pretty cute himself.

When we moved you to your crib, it was a pretty tough transition for awhile.  You kept getting your legs stuck in the slats, almost nightly.  You're much better now and sleeping completely through the night with no intertuptions.

We moved into our new neighborhood when you were 9 months old.  You have LOVED it here as much as us.  Meeting the neighbors, going on walks, going to carnivals, trick or treating, etc.  You're popular for your cuteness, though you generally won't let anyone else hold you.  BOO on that!

For your first birthday Gramma Peg and Aunt Julie got you party stuff in a fireman theme.  We had a little party in the backyard with all our family.  Gramma made you a big, delicious chocolate cake, and you loved it.  You were spoiled by all your Aunts,Uncles, Grandparents and cousins.

You LOVE gwasses, frucks, cars, BALLS, playing with your sissy, kissing her baby dolls, giving kisses, throwing anything, running, swinging, climbing, shopping, pushing the water dispenser til there is a flood, reading, JUMPING, driving anything, spinning, and talking.  Man oh man can you talk.  You have a very large vocabulary and can pretty much tell me anything.

The picture on your left explains your relationship.  Maggie is always trying to be your "mommy" and you don't appreciate it.  You are busy and independent.  But mostly ADORABLE!  You always try to play along with what Sissy is doing.  Even in the car, you chime in on the "car game" we play.  Telling us proudly "I GOT IT."

At church, though you ar rather LOUD and speak your mind, at least people know you are polite.  You will say thank you for everything, even in the midst of crying.  You ask please when you want something, and NEVER fail to say thank you.  If anyone every burps, toots or sneezes, we can count on a big "bwess you" or "scuse you" from you.  And, you'll even say "scuse me" when you make burps.  You also have no time for prayers.  Once a prayer is started, you immediately start yelling at full voice, AMEN, AMEN!

Whenever you see a camera you immediately start repeating "Smile" or "Cheeese".  You are my good little poser, and then love to look at yourself in the pictures.  You recognize everyone and will tell me who they are in pictures.

When you want something, you WANT it.  You will cry or use your intensely piercing scream until you get it, or we figure out what it is you need.

You LOVE brushing your teeth, though I am not so good at doing it all the time.

You still take naps every day, though we're mostly down to one nap in the afternoon.

I can ask you to do things for me and you understand how to go and do them.  You are a good helper and like to "sing" the clean up song when it comes time to pick up the toys.  You can also sing parts of wheels on the bus, with actions, I Love to See the Temple and Child of God.  You will also fold your arms for prayer, MUCH better than your sister can say for herself.

Mostly sweet boy, we are so greatful EVERY DAY that you chose to come live with us.  Thank you for being sweet, happy, beautiful, smart, funny, strong, mischevious, busy, loving, strong willed and WONDERFUL in every way!

Can't wait to see what the next 18 months brings us.

Love with ALL my heart,

Mommy

Thirty Years is A LONG TIME!

Highschool, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times:

Witness the awesomeness of my hair.  It was big people, and BIG was in!  I WISH I had a scanner so you could actually see this picture better.  Or could see the next pictures AT ALL.  But, what ya gonna do.

What made highschool good, or fun, or bareable for you?  For me, it was my friends AND choir.  I loved choir, it was my place.  I was a good singer, it was a safe place.  There were cute boys that I had secret crushes on. AND, there were these hideous dresses.  Which, for the record were NOT what made highschool bareable.

A shot of Honor Choir (our top choir) circa 1990.  These tragic dresses made of the worlds clingiest material, and their cowell neck were first worn my Jr. year.  They kept these same dresses for at least 10 years after this.  Oh the humanity.

This is the most "elite" group, called "Madrigals."  We got to wear formals, it was so "cool."  But apparently, noone gave me the memo that everyone would have pink or light colored dresses.  So, there I am rockin the junebug green number.

Whatever, you only WISH you had hair and dresses as cool as this.  That girl in front is totally my friend Crystal, she had awesome hair for sure!  You should see how beautiful she is now!

I loved choir, I really did.  It was fun.  We got to go on fun trips, and play at Disneyland or Magic Mountain.  We got to perform at random places.  I got to develop my talent.  I made lifelong friends.  It is one of the places that shaped me for my future.


I was lucky enough to be good, really good. I got many solos, I was known for having one of the better voices. So I have many wonderful memories of my time in Honor Choir. Sitting next to my friends and constanly talking and laughing. We drove the poor man crazy. And yet, he was able to get greatness out of us. However, it is here that I share one of my most embarrassing moments in LIFE, which happened to be in choir, on stage.


Picture with me if you will......

Senior year, ALL SCHOOL Assembly. Auditorium is PACKED! Keeping in mind, good voice or not, I was still totally the chubby chick, therefore, some self - esteem issues were to be had. Anyway, I have a big ol' solo to start this song. I'm down there, I rock the house, it's totally awesome. The crowd is loving me. I finish my solo.

As I begin my ascent up the risers to my spot, things take a terrible turn, and somehow, I find myself hurtling face first towards the drumset. Yeah, ASS (big one)_ to the audience and I'm flying towards the drums. I somehow manage to miss the drumset, pick myself up and step very nonchallantly into my place with my group. Of course the audience is a buzz. Is she hurt, is she ok? That was the funniest damn thing ever....etc. I finished the song like nothing had happened. But, people just could NOT leave it alone. I must have been asked a billion times by the whole freaking school if I was ok. I was fine, however my pride, she was not. What made it WORSE? Two things.


1. One day after the concert when I wasn't ther for some reason, Mr. Harris had a video of the concert, and they rewound and watched my fall SIX times! Not cool Jeffo, NOT COOL!

2. The whole next year, my poor younger sister would get. "Oh, it was YOUR sister that fell huh?"

Seriously! Not my most shining moment. But hey, at least I made a lasting impression.

But, all good things must come to an end sometime.  And the time has come for our community to say goodbye to the best choir director around.



Last night I had an amazing opportunity to take part in a surprise alumni reunion choir in honor of our choir directors retirement after THIRTY YEARS as director at my  highschool.  They had their annual Spring Sing/pops concert and at the end, the directors daughter took the stage and told him there were "some people" that wanted to say something, or rather sing something for him.  At that point, 300+ people stood and began making their way to the stage.  To say he was surprised and stunned would be an understatement.  It was very emotional to watch him weep as he recognized so many and realized the impact he had made.  We stood and sang as he directed, for his final time there, his favorite song.  It was emotional and exhilirating to say the least.  He truly is a phenomenal musician, teacher and director.  His choirs are not just good, but REALLY good. 

Mr. Harris and his first inkling that something was "going on".

As he looked around and recognized students, and the magnitude of the situation, the tears flowed.

This is only one side of the stage.  There were people all across the front and covering the other half of the stage as well.  It must have looked and sounded amazing from the audience.

Just proving that I was up there.  Can you see me?

Just a totally random shot of some girls back.  I'm showing you the Reunion shirt.  This was serious peeps, there was a secret committe for everything.  It could NOT have been a better pulled off surprise.

After the concert, when my younger brother and his friends were all crowded around Mr. Harris, reliving the memories, I jokingly said, "please, stop trying to be his favorites."  They laughed and he said, "but 1994 really was a special year."  To which I reminded him..."Puh lease, you ain't NEVER had a better group do "Lord if I gots my ticket" EVER!"  Then he got a look of happy recognition on his face and said, "it's true."  We sang that at a national choral convention in my totally awesome senior year of 1990.  We were so good that a college group slated to sing that same song refused to sing it after us.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  And to that I replied.."I rest my case."  Then I looked at my brother and his puny friends and said: "SUCK ON THAT."  Ok, I didn't really say that to them.  For goodness sake, his year did produce a sort of redonkulous amount of gifted and talented singers.  But, I did feel smugly validated!

Jeffy, as we sometimes like to refer to our fearless choral leader, was talented beyond even his own understanding.  Truly, the man should have been a soloist somewhere, anywhere in the world.  His voice was/is one of the most beautiful tenor voices I've ever heard.  And yet, he only shared it with a bunch of punky high school kids.  I would literally "pray" that he would sing, just for a chance to hear the glory.  On top of that, he could whistle more beautifully than anyone I've ver heard.  That IS a skill people.  My senior year we did a song that called for whistling, a real tune, and a lot of it.  He saved the sorry boys and their lack of whistling skills.  Even facing away from the audience, you could hear it louder than all the boys facing out.

He built a fabulous and respectable program at a school that has often been looked upon as "ghetto."  Shoot, even when my sister was in highschool, WAY BACK in 1982-84 (sorry Dana) she was like, "Eww Westwood is so ghetto."  What she didn't realize is that the people around here that aren't ghetto like are truly some of the greatest EVER!  The saying goes...our blood runs deep orange.  And it does.  The root are deep and thick and people like to come back here and are now raising their kids to have the Warrior pride.  So, while it isn't in the most "affluent" area, and could possibly have some ghettoey aspects, the choir has ALWAYS been cool.  It has always been great.  Football jocks stood next to drama geeks and basketball stars right along side others deemed "not so cool" in the pain that is highschool.  Choir was a place to be united in one thing, making beautiful music.


So thank you Jeff Harris for 30 years of greatness!  Thanks for the music and the memories!  We're gonna miss ya old friend.

Big hair and Big goodbyes,

Allyson




This is part of his biography that I found on the schools website.  Is this "maestro" picture killing you like it is me?"  So awesome!

Biography

Under his direction, the Honor Choir has appeared before the Arizona Music Educators In-Service Conference in 1991, 1994, and 1997, 2000 and 2003. The Honor Choir has been appeared before the Western Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association in Los Angeles (1988)(my brothers year), Fresno, California (1990) (THAT'S ME YA'LL), Sacramento, California (1994)(other brothers year), and Reno, Nevada in 1998.

Mr. Harris is a past-president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association and the Choral Section of the Arizona Music Educators Association. He also serves as Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Mesa and is the founding conductor of the Sonoran Desert Chorale, a community adult choir based in Mesa. Mr. Harris was named Arizona Music Educator of the Year in 2008 by the Arizona Music Educators Association.

If at first you don't succeed.....Tri, TRI AGAIN!

***WARNING, WARNING!!!  There are pictures that very well could make your eyes bleed!  I'm sorry for the floppy, flabby arms, the belly with it's own zipcode and the legs.  You try losing 200 lbs., then having 2 babies, losing weight again and tell me what it does for the ol' bod.  Confirmation number 1 billion, being food is so NOT worth it. Just know you have been WARNED!***


Yeah, if you're on to my clever word play, you get that this post is all about my 2nd annual Triathlon. 

Last year there was so much build up to it on the blog here.  I trained and challeneged and trained and was oh so ready!  I had people waiting with baited breath to read about the results.  This year, not so much. I've been a bit low key.  However, I did train (not as vigorously) and I did do it!  And I will report.....it was MUCH better than last years  which shall heretofore be known as "The Tragic Tri".  If you're new and want to know why the name, go take a peeksy, I'm tellin ya, it was a doozy of a story.

So, as I was sitting here at 10:30 last night on facebook, my friend Karen chimed in and said, "WHAT are you doing up, you have to get up so early?"  Frankly, I had no idea what time it was.  I was gettin ready for the big day, had bills to pay, etc.  So, I finally dragged myself into bed at 11:15, ONLY to remember, I hadn't shaved.  SERIOUSLY?  I had to pull myself out of bed and get in the tub and shave a roo all my parts for the big race.  What?  I do have a teeny modicum of pride sometimes.

Here is my stuff all set up and ready to go for the morning.  How cute is this bucket?  My friend Juliana brought this over with gatorade and candy.  How adorable!  All us girls of the 85201 represented.


5:10 a.m. the alarm rudely blared.  I seriously layed in bed and had this conversation....
"Are you REALLY doing this today?"  "Why are you doing this?"  "Are you sure you want to do this?"  "I'm tired." 
To which my stronger self apparently replied:

"Eh shudup already you big pansie, get the hell outta  bed and get goin!"

Apparently my stronger self sounds like a burly gangster from Brooklyn.

A quick self shot after I'd lathered on the sunscreen and got all dressed and ready for the big event.  I also ate the prescribed breakfast of an ensure, a banana and a piece of toast.  I couldn't finish any of those items.  I was nervous.

Dixie and Lana showed up, we got my bike loaded and my heavy ass bucket in the car and Lana took my pic.  You know, full body must be seen.  Please note I fully wore my blingy flips to the tri.  I AM a girl.

Once again, Dixie is giddy as a school girl with her first crush, whilst Lana is trying not to doodle in her pants, or cry, whatev.  I was, as I've mentioned, nervous and my tummy was screaming out for a toity.  What, doesn't EVERYONE need a toilet when they're extra nervous?  No?  Just me?  Oh well.

NOTE:  You have been warned, first bleeding eye picture just below.  I apologize now for the flab.

Jenny, Lana, Dixie,Diane (friend who I shall discuss later), Dana, Me

This picture pains me on so many levels, it's almost more than I can bare. Not the least of which is, how is it that I weigh within TWO pounds of what I did last year at this event and yet look about fifty heavier.  So gross!  But, not nearly as disturbing as the next pic.  But, in the spirit of FULL DISCLOSURE, I am showing it. 

Here I am running out of the swim.  If you learn nothing else from this, learn this....ANYONE can do a tri.  I have this hot bod and still did it.  So, the swim this year was a little strange.  I had a mini pannick attack right at the beginning of the swim.  For whatever reason, I could NOT get my breath.  Try as I might it was like I was not breathing at all.  I flipped on my back for just a second, got my barings and then got under way.  And you know what, I did pretty dang good.  I passed people from two waves in front of me.  I got out of the water before some of my friends from the wave IN FRONT of me. So, I had nothing to be ashamed of there.  I ran into the transition for my bike.  It took me a little longer 'cause I had to put bandaids on my heels, so as to not repeat last years heinous blister incident.  Once I was dressed, I hit the road for the bike portion. 

I look so "awesome."

I can't begin to tell you what a different and fabulous experience this was this year.  To actually be IN the race this year, instead of the tragic END of the race.  So fun to have family and friends and lots of spectators out on the side of the road cheering me on.  I rode my sister Jenny's bike and it was soooo great!  I only wish I'd done some more road training, cause the hills on this course nearly killed me.  I was certainly not setting any speed records, that is for SURE!  It's always awesome when 63 year olds are flying past you.  Whatev, all that matters is, NO FLAT TIRES!

After making it in from the bike, I jumped off, threw on my hat and actually ran out of transition into the run portion.  Again, so GREAT not to be last.  I did not feel quite as patronized this year, though there was still some of that going on.  I mean really, why do people feel it necessary as they're passing you to "encourage" you in the way of, "you can do it."  Because I'm the fat girl?  Trust me, they were not all yelling that at eachother for good times.  Just to the chubbys out there. Whatev, I kicked your butt in the swim.

So, here's the deal....my lesson learned from this year:

A triathlon comes down to ONE THING.  The run!  If you don't run, it doesn't matter how well you do anywhere else.  Apparently, if you walk, even briskly, and everyone else runs, no matter how far behind they were, they will pass you.  Who knew?!

How irritating was it for me to be out on the run course (where if you must know I would run in very SHORT spurts and then just speek walk the rest) and see 25 year olds, 21 year olds, 30, 33, 58, 60, 45 year olds, etc. start passing you.  What that means is, people that left 2 waves BEFORE me, a full 12 minutes BEFORE me, I had passed in my swim/bike, but now they caught up and passed me in my run.  And the older women, people that had left 4 minutes BEHIND me were now catchhing me and passing on the run.  So, now to Diane (HI DIANE) (she's one of my secret, quiet readers).  Diane is my sister Danas best friend and neighbor.  She saw Dana do this last year and was so inspired, she decided to start training and do it.  She has worked hard this year, and totally become a running fool.  So, I was well ahead of her  from my swim and bike.  Even in the run I was ahead.  Because at the very near end, just before the hill to go up and onto Mill Ave. Bridge, she joggled up behind me.  I hear "yay Allyson."  I KNEW she would catch me.  So, I turned to her and said, "DANGIT, I KNEW you and your running would catch me.  Now I'm pissed (with a smile of course)."  She laughed and said "barely" and then scooted right on past me.  She ended up finishing a few minutes ahead of me.  So THAT was not my favorite part.  Watching all these people pass me.

But, I hate running.  I really do.  It's hard, and not enjoyable.  I have what I'd like to call a wide load there in the booty region.  You trying jogging about with that kind of badunka dunk.  It's awkward and sometimes painful.  But, I do know that it's all excuses.  I CAN do it, I just have to put my mind to it.  So, I've decided that clearly, all i need to do to train for next year is, start running now.  Not just piddling around here and there on the treadmill, but for reals figuring out how to get stronger and run longer.

Here I am running into the finish line.  By the way, my shorts getting hiked up in my fat inner thigh, SU-OO-UPER HOT!

See, that is A LOT of junk in the trunk.  Well, mostly hips for days.  But hey, I beat that chick in, so I can't be THAT bad.

 A quick shot of all of us at the finish line.  Well, we rudely didn't wait for Dana, as she wasn't quite in yet.  But, Livy jumped right in and took care of her place for us.  In the end, Lana survived the swim, did well in the rest.  Dixie rocked the house with a 40 something finish out of 600+ women.  Jenny did awesome, improving her time overall.  And well, I did good too.  I finished in 2 hrs. 13 minutes.  That is decent enough.  My goal next year, besides running more than point nothing miles, is to finish under 2 hours.  Oh YES, there will be a next year.  This is a fun event, good to work toward and fun to do! So, I'll throw the challenge out AGAIN!  Who is in for NEXT YEAR?

These are my cute Aunts and cousin.  From Left to Right:

Kim (my cousin), Jenny my sis and my Aunts Lucy and Laura.  How adorable are they for showing up and cheering us all on.  Love it!

I don't have any pics, but my cousin in law Kim did the race too, after watching us all do it last year she decided she was in.  Thanks ladies for coming and supporting!

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to get to do this race with my family and friends.  Mostly i'm grateful that I'm even capable and able to do it.  Thanks to any and all who have given me words of encouragement and support.

Until next year:

THE END

I'm mostly just laughing at Maggies bum to the world here (that cute pink plaid on up there on top).  All the little cousins had such a great time playing and waiting for us to all come in.

Kids Bedroom Makeover.....because I feel UTTERLY lazy and unmotivated to be whitty and clever right now. And also, it's super cute and I never showed the before and afters properly.

What can I say?  I've been a bit BLAH the last two days.  I'm not sure why, but sometimes, that cloud comes a crowdin ove your head and it just is what it is.  However, I have this redonkulous problem of checking everyones blogs and then feeling like I should have something new on mine.  Really, I have a PROBLEM.  The worst part is...I have too many ideas in my head, which then translates into, not writing any of them.  RETARDED!

Anywho, when we found this house, it was of course completely painted in awful not quite white.  I had NO idea what I was going to do for the kids room.  I LOVED Maggies room that i did in the old apartment, but I couldn't transfer that to this because the room was now a boy/girl room.

Really, I loved everything about this room.  The colors that were so not typical little girl, the high chair rail I added, the throw away dresser my sister had in her garage and I painted black.  Even the non matching brown dresser, because it was handmade by Jeres Grandpa.  And I truly LOVE my beautiful black crib.  But, as you can see, it was girl bedding, and I wasn't gonna go add a chair rail in our rental house and it was just time for something new.  Just WHAT that new was, was a mystery to me.  But all things I've decorated are.  I NEVER have an idea what I'm doing.  Some piece will catch my eye, and then I go from there.

So this:

The new house happened to come with a white crib.  I planned on giving it to my Bro., but he ended up not wanting it.  So, I said, "meh, I'll keep it and make it work."  Then I remembered this adorable blanket that my friend Melissa had made for me when she first found out I was pregnant, with a boy.  And there it was....the inspiration for my room.  I was going to paint the room in a deconstructed plaid, to match the blanket.  No one got my vision.  They pretty much thought I was retarded or daft.  But, I knew it could work.  It took 4 different paints and painting times, a lot of tape and A LOT of patience, but I have to say, in the end, it was exactly what I wanted.  Then, I decided that the black dresser would just HAVE to work, and you know what, it does.  Finally, I had my beloved Carson make me some bedskirts and a window valance all out of white muslin. I did all of those for probably 30 bucks, with the ribbon trim included.  I even put blue ribbon around the lamp shade.  All in all, I'm pretty pleased with the turn out.


Became this:

Feel free to disregard the HIDEOUS and pink bed guard there.  However, we thank Gramma Peg, because it has actually saved Maggie a time or 12 from falling out of the bed.  That girl is a mad, crazy sleeper.  Also, hanging on the wall there is her blessing dress.  I think they make great decoration, and don't believe they should be hidden in some box or closet.

Please note my inspiration blanket.  Isn't it so the cutest? I heart Melissa so for making it and picking the cutest fabric ever.  Especially because this is the FIRST thing she ever sewed.  Do you see my wall inspiration now?  See, I'm NOT retarded, or daft.

I painted this bed white.  Total freebee from Auntie Julie.  Thank goodness.  I'm not sure that I'm done with the bedding, but it was at least a start.  I'd like to find some pillows to tie it in, but just haven't seem them yet.  I was happy to be able to reuse many of the elements from Maggies last room, including her name and the green polka dot ribbon.

I also reused the mirrors (there used to be 3 more smaller ones, she broke them) and the flowers, just changing out the red for the blue.  And the stackable boxes were an awesome find the first time around at Home Goods.  I told you, I lurve that place.

The solid blue stripe was a hideous beast to paint, simply for the fact that the cielings in this place are completely crooked.  So, we used a laser level and everything, but low an behold as we rounded this corner by the door, the wall above the cribs blue line was now like six inches higher than the rest.  So, after alot of refiguring, we just eyeballed it and called it good.  Mostly, you don't notice.  But, if you're a crazy perfectionist, don't ever look too closely at anything Ive painted.

So, there you have it. Kid room decorating by yours truly.  And yes Mom, I never intended to have green and blue everywhere, but somehow the bathroom became a much more vibrant version of their room.  Oh well, it works nicely.  Now all I'm missing is something to go over Max's crib and his name.  Any ideas?  I've been stumped on that one for, well, 9 months.

Polka dots and plaid,

Allyson

A Bathroom "makeover" with no paint and even less money.

So, after 9 months of living with my little guest bathroom looking like this:

Blah, boring, bland, blah-zay, vanilla....UGLY. I decided to do something about it.  But, let me first say this.  I do NOT paint bathrooms, because there are all kinds of cracks and crevices and difficult things to paint around, AND, that grosses me out.  Doesn't matter how clean you are, behind the toilet is just the scariest, most disgusting place in the world.  No, don't try and change my mind, it just IS!  So, when we moved in, I just chose to ignore the bathrooms, 'cause they were gonna have to be fine.

For whatever reason, the other day  whilst perusing the merchandise at IKEA I got a super wild hair up my metaphorical A** and decided it was time for a change-a-roo.  I spied a black, round bath mat, and a black garbage can and decided I'd do black with some splash of color.  I had NO plan, no idea where I was going with this.

Just so uninspiring, all the way around.  As is my photography on this project.  Seriously though, how DO those home shows get such great pictures or camera angles in those spaces that are the size of a shoebox?  'Cause I could NOT get an angle in my teeny tiny little bathroom.

On Monday I went to Target and some little pails caught my eye, and an idea began to form.  Then we mosied over to HomeGoods (oh Homegoods how i heart thee, with a giant sparkling llike diamonds heart).  After searching around I found a frame and some candels and this:

I know right? What does THAT have to do with anything?  But, I saw it and thought it would look good hanging on the wall, except it totally needed to be black!  So, after a stop at Costco, I shlepped all three kids into ONE MORE STORE.  We ran into Home Depot for some spray paint.
Got the kids home and in bed and started my little project.  Sorry, totally forgot to take pictures of the "in process" project.  But,  in the end, it looked more like this:

Totally impossible to see.  Just trust me, it looks much better now.

Then, after another run to Target this afternoon for the rest of the "pull together" I think I'm pretty pleased with the results.  Let it be known, I have spent less than a HUNDRED dollars to do this.

So, here is my finished product, well almost.  After looking at it, my friend Jenny (the one with more followers than me, hee hee) said that I should paint the mirror to match which is just brilliant.

Aren't the colors fabulous?  There is so much pop going on.  That makes me happy.  The candles and frame and tray on wall are from HomeGoods.  The little pail and magazine holder are from Targets dollar bin.  Towells and shower curtain also from Target.

I love this shower curtain, especially because it only cost me 10 bucks.  SWEET!

Little pails from Target dollar spot.  Please note mirror...which, in my defense I had nothing to do with.  It was in the house when we got here, and we rent, so what ya gonna do?  Anyway, I'm gonna paint it, and then when we move, I'll paint it black, and it'll look grand.  Meantime....you all need to vote.  What color should I paint it?

Hot Green or
Hot Blue. 

Do let me know.  Because Jenny is right, that side o' the room needs a pop of color, and it'll pull it all together.

Parting shot of my itsy bitsy space.  I really do enjoy the fun bright colors.  I think it works well as the kids bathroom, but also as the guest space.  No comments on the downright hideous linoleum going on there.  Again, I had no control.

So, there you have it.  I hope it is as fun as I think.  But, if it's not, just play nice and tell me it is.  My emotions are fragile today.


That said...I MUST go to bed, 'cause I'm riding the tri course in the morning.  Wish me luck, 'cause I'm gonna NEED it!

Lime green and jello pops,

Allyson

A challenge I just CAN'T get behind!

The other night we had a lovely opportunity to go out with some friends for a "birthday" celebration.  We were celebrating Jasons big day.

Frankly, that is not the best pic of Jason, but it's so adorable of his cute wife Jeanie.  Just look at how she's looking at him.  I love it.

But I digress.  So, it was decided that we'd all go to Toby Kieths for dinner.  Ummmm, who knew.  Arizona peeps, this place is HOPPIN, and the food is really quite tastey.  Learn something new everyday.

Ok, there is a party of 10, and they proceed to put us at the worlds most RETARDED table.

See, there is everyone...Craig, Kat, Jeanie, Jason, Chris and Angelee.  Hmmmm, where are jere and Al you ask?  We are literally in our own Siberia.  See that space next to Craig, that is a 40 ft. long gap between he and I, because that is the ledge of the booth we're in, so no chair could go there.  No really, it was ridiculous.  We were yelling at them all night to be heard, and using ear amplifiers to HEAR them. 

Dear Toby Kieths:

Large parties happen.  Please plan accordingly and make tables that actally ENCOURAGE conversation for ALL.

I thank you.

Conversationally challeneged,
Allyson

I'm making a sad face for the fact that we were our own little island.  And Yes, i took the picture myself Kat, 'cause I do that sort of thing. hahahaha  But how adorable does Jere look?  I venture to say, DAMN adorable.


ANY-WAY....Toby Kieths has this challenge.  It is a redonkulous and disturbing challenge at best.  You eat 100 oz. of food and you get a $15.00 gift card.  Frankly, a $15.00 giftcard is so not worth even completing a 40 oz. challenge.  Fifteen MEASELY dollars, puhlease!  However, Jason was intrigued enough and apparently in all his SKINNY bummedness he can pack away the food.  I hate people like that, for the record.  So, he ponied up the THIRTY DOLLARS for the meal and we waited expectantly for it to arrive.

I'm not sure you're even prepared to witness what appeared at our table. No really, it was food at disturbig levels.

I give you.....

Oh hey Jason, what's up?

32, that is THIRTY TWO oz. of beef made into the worlds largest and most vomit inducing hamburger.
A bun the size of a large dinner plate
An entire head of lettuce and probably 2 whole tomatos to garnish.
A PILE of pickles, like easily 8 pickles
And a TON o' frys.

To win the challenge you and you alone must eat every single last bite of food on that plate.  Already we had a problem, Jason hates pickles.  BUT, he's a fighter and he was gonna go for it.

Are you grasping the nasty yet?  That is only HALF of mammoth burger.  His mouth had to unhinge to even take a bite.  But, he tried, he really tried.  He ate that one whole half, a couple of the pickles and some frys.  But in the end, the challenge was too much.  Thank goodness, because I'm fairly sure if anyone EVER finished it (which no one has) they would need to have medical personell on the premises to pump their exploding stomachs or drill through their grease clogged arteries.  It's not right I tell you, NOT RIGHT!

However, after surviving that much and a crappy waiter, we retreated to kat and Craigs for our second annual porch party.  What's that?  Well, that's just where we sit on chairs on their cute porch unil all hours of the morning talking and laughing and laughing and being rockus.  It was super fun.  Have I mentioned how much I love my neighborhood lately?



In other random and unrelated news....church at 1:00 SUCKS!  Here is why...putting kids down for their afternoon nap at 4:15 is NO BUENO!  The kidlets didn't wake up until 6:40 p.m.  This is especially tragic since normal bedtime is 7:30.  Needless to say we went and visited our favorite landlord family and let the kids play until 9:00.  Then, we came home and put them to bed.  BUT, they didn't think bed was a necessity.  Maggie was especially angry about her pajamas and some imagined slight they were giving her, so there was much screaming and hysterics behind her door.  They then talked, played, laughed, sang, whatever until ELEVEN.THIRTY.  Note to self, NO naps on Sunday.

Monday morning Maggie came meandering into our room completely naked from the waist down.  When Jere asked where her pants and diaper were, she said "They were BUGGING me."  So he asked if she'd slept like that...she said that yeppers indeed, she had slept in the buff.  Did she pee in the bed?  NOPE!  At least there is that.

Also happening in our neck of the woods....we got a fabulous new block fence put in this week.  It is AWESOME!  I feel so much safer, secure and P-rivate.

And finally...Saturday I did my first official road ride on the bike.  What the HELL as i thinking?  I guess I was thinking that I had more time.  This tri has sort of snuck right up on me.  Needless to say, it gave my wee waw a beating it did NOT appreciate.  I did 12 miles and survived, but barely.  I'm skeered for Saturday.  I rode again this morning, and it was ok, but still rather bruisy and painful in the unmentionables.  Why the torture, WHY?

Must go to the chiropractor now, 'cause mamas neck is in all sorts of pain.


Carnivores and exhibitionists,

Allyson

Me, REALLY? Awww shucks!

I would like to thank the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for this honor?  Oh no, what?  Wait...this isn't my Golden Globe I'm accepting (please you all know the Globes are WAY cooler and more fun than the Oscars), it's my FIRST EVER blogging award. 

I know, I know, probably a silly thing to get all veklempt about and excited.  But c'mon, this came from someone who is NOT my real life friend or relative.  THIS is from ...Kelli a delightful blogger who found me somehow on this bloggy world and likes me, she really likes me. Thanks Kelli,  you are now officially my Bloggy BFF.  Whatever, you also all know that blog love can be bought.  But in seriousness, it was just so nice to get an outside validation from someone that they think I'm funny.  You all know what I mean, someone not already a lifelong friend or a family member who is REQUIRED to think I'm funny.

So anyway, here it is:

To make it an even better award, it's totally a Gerber Daisy....My FAVORITE!  And, it's orange, which is Jeres signature color. hehe

Alrighty, so recieving awards brings some responsability.  And it is thus...

“The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world.”

Of course, awards come with rules…

1. Put the logo on your blog and/or within your post.

2. Pass the award on to twelve bloggers.

3. Link to the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and the link to the person from whom you received this award

The really fun part of this is- I get to pass it on!

The difficult part here is, TWELVE bloggers, but I'll do my best to fulfill my duty.

Here are my BLOGGIDY, SUNSHINEY award recipients:

1. Reva @ One Brick Shy

2.  Kelly @ My Dear Trash

3. Tammy @ The Adams Family

4. Dixie @ The Dayton-Dixon Line

5. Summer @ The Driggs Family

6. Melissa @ Keeping Up with Miss O and Miss Ice

7. Julie @ Something Fischy is going On

8. Taylor @ Taking Note

9. Melia @ One Unpretentious Blog

10. Lana @ Arizona's Hot

11. Jenny D. @ Denton Sanitorium

12. Minky @ Dial M for Minky

Phew, that took a lot of thought.  And please, don't feel bad if you weren't included.  I have a lot of blogs over there on the side, and more in my follow pile.  Just know, I love you all, and I check ALL regularly.

Reva or Princess Reva - I have known her since Diaryland days.  She has even had the "distinct pleasure" of seeing me perform, In.A.Show. LIVE!  And I, in return saw her violin recital. I love her honesty, her wackyness, her ridiculous talent, and her cute kids.  You MUST check her out and find the youtube video she posted of her daughter doing Yellow Submarine.  Hysterical!

Kelly at My dear Trash - She's just sort of A LOT genius with how she literally buys things for A DOLLAR and then turns them into gorgeous pieces and sells them on Craigslist of other places.  No really, I heart her a whole bunch!  Plus, she's really nice, and I've met her in person.

Tammy aka Trixie - She is one of my FAVORITE people on the planet.  She has a TRUE gift of sarcasm, snark and whit!  She is currently on an IVF journey and has chronicled the last few months.  HAPPY results, as she is pregnant.  AND, she is the one who taught me very first how to put pictures on this blog.

Dixie -  She is totally my youngest sister, and TOTALLY a genius blogger.  You MUST go over and read her stuff.  Ok, you'll have to go back a little ways, 'cause she sort of took a little hiatus.  But I promise, you'll fall in love with her.  She can say so much in so few words.  I on the other hand, lack that skill.  Anyway, best personal trainer, best website out there....www.racedaytraining.com, and GREAT blog!

Summer - She takes AMAZING pictures, creates ridiculous digital scrapbook pages, for free, and is just all around awesome.  I even had the privelage of living with her and her husband and daughter at one point.  That's a crazy story worth sharing sometime.

Melissa - I just love her and appreciate her friendship.  She also has two of the cutest daughters EVER that really just make me happy, like magicaly happy.

Julie - Another one of my favorite people.  Ridiculously talented on the piano, hilariously funny and a voice of an angel.  Now, if only she'd get to updating more.  HINT HINT!

Taylor -  Oh people, he's the BEST!  Genuinely nice, adorable, funny, TALENTED!  He's my rockstar friend and this is his blog of his travels.  I literally feel like I'm traveling with him, which is good, since I'm sure I won't be traveling the world any time in this lifetime.

Melia - Ok seriously, I've known her since we were five years old.  She is WICKED funny and redonkulously smart and talented!  I also wish she'd write more, but what she has written, totally worth the read.  Oh, and also, no matter WHAT is going on in her life, good or bad, if you ask her how she is, her response will always be "just peachy" with a big smile.  I love her for that.

Lana - My sis. in law, there are no words for her hilarity.  For reals, she is Kristen Weig funny.  AND, her "star" pedigree is awesome!  Would you like to know...her highschool boyfriend was totally Michael Urie (that would be Mark on Ugly Betty).  One of her best friends Moms, INVENTED Barney (the hideous purple dinosaur).  I kid you not people! So, she's a funny read.  AND, I love her so much as my friend too.

Jenny D. - Even though she's already been given this award by someone else, she didn't follow the rules apparently.  AND, she's totally winning the follower race we're having (ok, I made it up in my head, and she's not necissarly in a race, but whatev) so she doesn't need anymore recogintion.  But here's the deal, hers is one of my FAVORITE blogs to read EVER!  I check it constantly.  She's wise, funny, insightful and a GREAT Mom and one of my real friends.

Minky - She is far to "famous" in the blog world for me to be bothering her with such things.  But for reals, I love her.  She is so funny, and she has a son named Max, who is beyond adorable.  Hello, what more is there?

Well, thanks again for the recognition.  Now, the rest of yous, go check out these blog friends of mine, 'cause I promise, I don't waste my time on no crap.

Pageant waves and air kisses,

Allyson