And we are off!

Max and I are headed for a weekend away at the

Renaissance Seattle Hotel

 I can't wait to sleep in, work out without having to deal with the kid...

 And, after enjoying the pool and hottub...joining the other Seattle-lites (sp?) in the Club Lounge for a glass of cabernet!

I am really looking forward to this opportunity to get some real time with my husband as well as re-charging our batteries and getting some peace and quiet!

Its never good...

...when you are at work, at your desk, everyone is quiet, and you laugh out loud.  You get many looks and people wondering how long has she not been working?  What does she actually do?  Does she work here?

Anyway, since I so enjoyed these, I thought I would share... 

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're
going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That's enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and
suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first
saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually
becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting
90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's
laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little
bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the
only one who really, really gets it.

-How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

- I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear
your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to
finish a text.

- A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the
spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

- LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".

- I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

- Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.

- Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart",
all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".

- How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?

- I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

- Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in'
examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete
idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and
said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

- While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and
instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.

- MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

- Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

- I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the
shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty,and you can wear them forever.

- I would like to officially coin the phrase 'catching the swine flu' to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: "Dave caught the swine flu last night."

-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

- Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their
profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!

- Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring
would probably just be completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go
around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything else productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't
want to have to restart my collection.

-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are
going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

- "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people
watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will
they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't
watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and
leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'

-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?
Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and
goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

- I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not
seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she
hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light
internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle,
then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising
speed for pedophiles...

- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still
not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car
keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the
Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze
button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would
happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and
the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they
drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or
Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words,someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating by myself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.

Safely Out!!

My handsome nephew is here.  He arrived safely on January 24th at 12:47PM.  He weighed 8 pounds, 9ounces and has a very large head.  In fact, his head and shoulders were so big it prompted Dr Wong to say, "I am now even more confident of my decision to do a C section!"

Mandy is doing much better now, although they did have a little difficulty stabilizing her blood pressure and stopping the bleeding.  Thank you all for your prayers for my little nephew.

When KayLynn saw the first picture of Jack she said, "That's my baby cousin.  He's at the doctor gettin a sticker!"

We are all in love with the newest member of our family, and so proud of the hard work that Mandy did!

Jack Dylan Grauman

 Grauman Family

 Proud Aunty - he is so beautiful

 KayLynn had to unwrap his toes and tickle them!

When he started crying last night KayLynn said, "maybe we should put his lid on."  She is very much looking forward to tonight because Aunt Mandy said that she could hold baby Jack!

30 Before 30

As you can see on my tabs, I have written a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30(May 2012).  One of the things on my list is to read 1 new book a month - so I need help.  Thats about 18 books.  I want to know what books you like.  I will put them in a list and see how far I can get (that is, of course, if they look interesting to me!!).  I like to read mysteries, love stories, biblical stories, inspiring stories - I have even been known to read a sci-fi book or two.  Pretty much I just love to read.  So, can you help a girl out?

Calling all wine lovers...

Do you like wine?  Do you like talking?  Well then I have a job for you.  I have only two more items left on my organization list for January.  The BASEMENT and my art supplies.  When I type the BASEMENT in bold letters it should come with the dum dum dum theme music! 

So, if you have a few hours to sit around and drink wine while talking to me and watching me work...Let me know!

New Hat

Isn't this color just perfect on her?

Thanks Ali!!

Chopsticks

Since watching Elmo teach her about chopsticks, K has really wanted to use them...

Baby Mason

We got to see Baby Mason again yesterday.  We had them over for lunch.  He is so adorable.

 Max is in love.

What happens when I'm not home

Every once in a while I look at the pictures on my camera and I find pictures that were taken when Rosie was with K - or at least I assume that, because when else would random pictures of my adorable daughter show up?

For those of you praying

My sister Mandy has had another doctor appointment and they have set the date for her C-section for Monday January 24th at 12:15.  However, if she goes in to labor on her own they will help her deliver. 

Please pray for peace for her to understand whatever the Lord does and that all goes well.  Also pray that if it is His will, she will deliver herself!

Thanks!

My Little Conversationalist

The most common comment I get from people, after they ask KayLynn's age, is, "She is really a talker" or some form thereof.  And, yeah.  She is.  The girl talks a lot.  But I can't really blame her.  She came from me!  So, for your amusement (and my memory) I have listed some new KayLynnisms!

KayLynn asked me if I could help her do something and I told her I was too tired.  "Fine Mom, I will do it by myself"  and she said this, not in a snotty voice, but more of a revalation.

In the car on the way home:  "Mom is the moon going follow to us home?"  (Is the moon following us home?)

With her hands on each of my cheeks, "Mommy you are so cute."

When getting ready to help cook, "Mom, I'm gonna need my cookin chair!"

This morning when Rosie showed up, "Mom can you go to work now?"  So Max asked her if he had to go to work.  "Nope"  and then she clarified, "Cause I gonna stay with Rosie"

"Mom, wait to me"

The other day she didn't feel well so I went home to take her temp for Rosie.  She told me, "OK, now you gotta take Rosie home."

"Mom you gotta go to GEO (where we work), and I will come pick you up in my car"

Things that KayLynn has thanked God for in bedtime prayers in the last 2 weeks(except her family members - because that list would be too long to list):  her new pillow (a duck that Aunty Kristin got her); her bed, blankets (all of them, she clarified); mommy's robe; monkey; this (she says while pointing to something); the wall; all the pets from every home - by name.

cute cute cute

When in Seattle we went to my favorite store - Lush.  We bought me some bath bombs and we got K some special bubble baths.  They come in solid bricks, that you just break a piece off and put in your bath.  This particular one was all gold and sparkly and if you know my kid - you know that she is really Kristin's kid and she loves sparkles...

So much going on

Saturday was a busy day - I cannot believe how much I got done! 

We got some more of my organizing list done...K and I pulled everything out of the closet and

 my hope chest and put it onto the bed...KayLynn loved throwing linens around.

 The end products:

 I left the bottom open because K likes to play in there.

 And here are some things that I just don't know what to do with.  I am not a huge fan of place mats.  I have two cream (upper left), two stripped, four circle and once lace.  The lace (or maybe embroidery - I can't remember now) is from Japan, and though beautiful I don't know what to do with it.

 Here is all the stuff that came out and can't go back.  It is either going down tot the basement, to the goodwill, or to call-to-haul.  So glad that's done.

 After I was done with that K and I got ready (Max was working out with his strong-man friends like he does ever Saturday morning).  She was going to see Grandma K and then to see her buddies Wren and Lilia, while Max and I had a date afternoon. 

My daughter is so stinkin' cute!

 Then Max and I went to Seattle for what seemed like all day but ended up just being a few hours...  I fell in love with this baby cauliflower - so cute!

 Then we go the call that my nephew Mason was making his way into the world (not to be confused with my other sister Mandy's baby Jack who has yet to make his entrance).  He is adorable and we enjoyed getting to visit with Aunty Amy and cousin Mason.  We go to see them again Sunday morning and K got to hold Mason - pictures to come when my computer starts following orders.

I know that I am late

But I just found this article by Mark Driscoll.  I love it.  It is all about how they handle the 'Santa thing' in their home and it puts into words exactly how I feel about it.  Just thought I would share in case anyone else was interested!

Monthly Goals for 2011

After reading on A Bowl full of Lemons about her getting organized challenge, I have been inspired.  I have decided to give each month a theme (subject to change depending on family needs).  Then I will spend the month doing things around each theme. 

For instance:  January's theme is organization.  I wrote a list of 15 things in my home that need some serious organizing.  My goal is to have all of them done this month.  This is a better system for me since I sometimes have the desire (and time) to do more than one thing in a day, and sometimes I just need the day off!  So feel free to join me if you would like...

My 15 organizational tasks for January are:
1.    Bathroom Shelves
2.    Art Supplies
3.    Pots and Pans
4.    Bedroom Closet
5.    K's Clothes downstairs
6.    Corner Cabinet in the dining room
7.    Cabinet above the stove
8.    Pantry (if you can call it that)
9.    Linen Closet
10.  Hope Chest
11.  Jewelry Box
12.  Papers for Filing
13.  Kitchen Shelves
14.  Mud Room (or what I refer to as the Mud Room)
15.  Call to Haul!!!

Here are my tentative monthly themes...Some are a little obvious!  Let me know if you can think of anymore for my missing months..

January - organization
February - Romance (this was Max's idea)
March - Scrapbooking...
April - Learning to knit?
May - Painting
June - Flowers and Friends (Taking flowers to friends or Family)
July - Correspondence (writing real hand-written letters to friends)
August - Walks and Parks (try all new walks and parks each week)
September -
October - Sewing
November - Thanksgiving
December - Christ's Birth

Goals for 2011

Resolved to:

FAMILY:
1. Begin consistent family Devotions (we got the book that Sarah recommended and the Wee Sing Bible Songs that I grew up with)
2.  Take a real - time off work-vacation.
3.  Tina quit (out of the home) job


KAYLYNN:
1. Learn letters
2. ?

PERSONAL:
1. Read the Bible through in a year
2. Continue my road to health.
3. Spend more time with girlfriends.