BUNNY WINGS

Several little rabbits received their angel wings last night on the way home from Sunday dinner at Ma and Pa Loveless' home last night. As the front seat passenger, I was quietly minding my own business on the way home, perusing my Education Week catalog, when I felt a hard thump under the car, followed by the laughing of three Loveless brothers in the car. Rabbit #1. This continued on with a few others, spreading carnage all over the road. Granted, it didn't seem like we were the only ones who had been sending these creatures out of this world and they were a little coma-cazi. But every time I would see a little cottontail dart out I would hold my breath and cover my eyes. Ryan asked me the other day, "When did you become such a girl?" I have to agree with him. Before I was married, I was pretty tough. But somewhere in my wedded bliss, I will admit I have turned into somewhat of a wimp. My pain thresh hold has significantly decreased, I have to have him check the house for any creatures (although I am still better with spiders than he is), and sending innocent bunnies (and other animals) out of this world makes me a little sad now. There was a time (and I hate to admit this) that I sent a few rabbits out of this world myself, and not involuntarily nor by automobile. The fact is, I've turned into somewhat of a girly girl. The first step to recovery is admitting though, right? That's it. I'm giving this sissy thing up. It's gone too far- for cryin' out loud-- in 5 months I am going to be delivering a child from within the womb!

Village children in Haiti where our orphanage is located.

"The noblest aim in life is to strive to live to make other lives better and happier." --David O. Mckay

MY NEWEST FRIENDS

I have some new friends that I would like you all to meet. They are all so cute and I have to say that the best quality they have is that they always let you know what they are thinking. If they don't like you for the moment, there is no guesswork. They are very comfortable around you to. They don't mind eating, burping, sleeping, or using the bathroom in your presence. It's great.

So with that, I would like to introduce you to Grace. I met Grace last month when we went to Nebraska. Grace is always happy. That's what I love about her. And she smells like lavender.

Here is Miss Gracie with her parents Trinity and Dave whom I adore. They are some of the best people I know. Trin and I were best friends in high school and we went to Ricks College together. I didn't think she could get any better. Then she married Dave. We loved seeing them in Omaha and it doesn't take a genious to see where this little girl gets her good looks from!

This is another new friend and another old friend. Let me introduce you to Jhett Hamblin. I haven't met Jhett yet because he lives in Texas at the moment. This is his dad Bryce. Bryce I do know well and love him to death. Like Trin, it seems like I have known Bryce my whole life, even though we only go as far back as high school. It's hard to believe we are all having kids now. It seems like just yesterday we were all hanging out at Round Valley High.

And last but not least, this is Miss Alivia Grace. She is only one week old and lives in San Jose so I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her yet, although I did talk with her when she was in utero. Isn't she darling? She already knows how to accessorize! For some reason, this thing won't let me upload the picture of her beautiful parents, Mike and Emily, but take my word for it, her good looks don't come by chance. Emily is going to be such great mom and Mike is like a big kid, so Alivia is in for the ride of her life. Hopefully they will be moving back to UT soon so we can go "buggy-ing" together.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THESE NEW MOMS AND DADS ON A JOB WELL DONE! I LOVE MY NEW FRIENDS ALL READY!

WHAT AWAITS US...



LOVELESS #1 REQUESTED A NEW POST TO THE BLOG, SO AS TO NOT HAVE TO LOOK AT THE MOUSE EVERYDAY. I APOLOGIZE FOR MY LACK OF POSTING, BUT I HAVE BEEN STUDYING FOR MY SSW EXAM WHICH I TOOK YESTERDAY AND PASSED! YEAH! SO NOW I CAN RETURN TO MY NORMAL LIFE OF WORKING, PLAYING, POSTING, AND PREPARING FOR BABY, WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY NEXT THOUGHT.

THIS IS THE CHILD I KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE BECAUSE MY MOTHER, MY BROTHER, MY SISTERS, OKAY, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE I KNOW HAS PUT THE CURSE ON ME. "WHAT CURSE?", YOU MIGHT ASK. THE CURSE. THE CURSE THAT I WILL HAVE A CHILD JUST LIKE I WAS ONE DAY. I THINK THE CURSE WAS FIRST SPELLED UPON ME EVEN EARLIER THAN I HAVE RECOLLECTION OF. APPARENTLY, I WAS A DIFFICULT CHILD. I KNOW, HARD TO IMAGINE. SO MAYBE I WAS SOMEWHAT SPOILED. I WAS THE YOUNGEST CHILD FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS. OR MAYBE I DEVOLPED ALL THOSE DEFENSE MECHANISMS BECAUSE MY BROTHER AND TWO OLDER SISTERS CONSTRUED AN AWEFUL STORY ABOUT ME. I COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 3 YEARS OLD WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT I WASN'T REALLY A PART OF THE FAMILY. JIM TOLD ME THAT MOM FOUND ME OUT BY THE DUMPSTER WITH A BURNED HAND AND SHE BROUGHT ME IN OUT OF PITY. OKAY...WHO WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUES AFTER THAT? I MAY HAVE BEEN A MOUTHY CHILD AND TESTY LITTLE GIRL, BUT AT LEAST I DIDN'T TELL MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS THAT THEY WERE DUMPSTER CHILDREN! SORRY RYAN....I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CURSE. JUST BUCKLE UP AND GET READY FOR THE RIDE.

HOME REMOVE-MENTS WEEKENDThis past weekend started out full of promises. Ryan and I decided that this was the weekend for home improvements. We were finally going to get to all of those looming projects like caulking the countertops, priming, painting, hanging doors and putting together the office. Ryan worked like a tazmanian devil on Friday evening, cleaning and doing yardwork so that Saturday after his long run we could get to work. But Saturday morning presented a different plan for our weekend. An aweful one. Ryan went running and I woke up to start folding all the loads of laundry he had so graciously done the night before. I poured myself a bowl of cereal and headed downstairs only to be alarmed when my foot sunk into a wet spot at the bottom of the carpet. I ate my ceral and decided not to worry about it until Ryan came home. Turns out that the water from the a/c hasn't been draining into the drain hole, but underneath the furnace, under the wall, and now under our carpet. 3 hours later we had the carpet pulled up and part of the pad cut out and laying outside to dry out. We sat there staring with glazy eyes at the wreckage in our family room and getting more and more depressed as we realized that our weekend dreams of an orgainizing the office were gone. If only it could have ended there....

We came home from church the next day and I was cleaning up a bit around the kitchen sink when I noticed all this white stuff on the counter. I asked Ryan what it could be. He immediately looked up and of course so did I but only long enough to know that I didn't want to know what it was that I saw in the corner of the window. A mouse had crawled up the window and got it's head stuck between corner of the window and the blinds. Ryan sent me to our room and told me not to come down for a while. He called Mark to come down with gloves and the removal process began...luckily without having to decapitate the dead rodent. I have been squeemish ever since. I have seen dead mice before, you know, in corners, in mousetraps, in the garage or under the sink or storage space. But to have a mouse hanging from your kitchen window, it's going to take some time for me to recover from that... needless to say, our home improvement projects have shifted some serious gears.

WORLD CUP HEADBUTTING

Tired of being bullied around? Just do what the French do.

Check it out...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js0vOgjBfD8&feature=favorites&page=1&t=t&f=b

AFTER DINNER CONVERSATION
So Jolea had us over for a nice Sunday dinner last night, except for that it was Wednesday, but the food was Sunday dinner-ish and wonderful. Baked ham, cheesy potatoes, salad. Yummy. Two of her husband's sisters showed up a little later and we were enjoying some after dinner conversation with them. We were soon all gabbing about acrylic nails and about how often you have to have them done, the best and cheapest places to get them done at, and then conversation took a turn for the worse. For confidentiality purposes I won't reveal names. One woman commented that acrylic nails were good to have because it keeps her from biting her own nails. Okay. Another pointed out that they keep her from picking the dry skin off her heels. Weird, but understandable. Then another said that they are great to have for popping zits. What? Open a whole new realm of discussion. I learned in last night's dinner conversation that their are people in this world who like to pop other people's zits and who also like to have other people pop their zits. Disgusting. But not as disgusting as the story woman "B" shared about having her husband pop what she thought was a zit...I'll just end it there. I feel my gag reflex starting to kick in.

FOUR JOBS I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE
1. Cotton Chopper (you chop the weeds, not the cotton)
2. Writing Tutor
3. I made plaster molds of the prophets one summer
4. Foster Care and Adoption Caseworker

MOVIES I'D WATCH AGAIN & AGAIN
1. Man from Snowy River 2. Hoosiers
3. Pride and Prejudice (Collin Firth)
4. Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland)
5. White Christmas (Bing Crosby)
6.While You Were Sleeping

FOUR PLACES I'VE LIVED
1. Idaho 2. West Texas 3. Arizona 4. Utah

FOUR T.V. SHOWS I LOVE TO WATCH:
1. Everybody Loves Raymond 2. The Amazing Race
3. Paula Deen's Home Cookin' (food network) 4. American Idol

FOUR WEBSITES I VISIT DAILY:
1. www.myfamily.com 2. www.yahoo.com
3. Where Flowers Bloom (MV's blog) 4. msn.com

FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS:
1. My Gram's Burritos 2. GorgonzolaCheese and Pear Salad
3. Texas BB-Q Brisket 4. My mom's breakfasts

FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW:
1. shopping 2. Hawaii 3. New York City 4. a cabin in the Mountains

What Women Want Their Men to Wear...

...and it's not this. Yesterday I ran across a fabulous article on msn.com. Several staffers from 3 different women's magazines took a poll about fashion as it pertains to the men in their lives. I found it intriguing and quickly sent it to my adorable husband to read. Did you know that most women prefer a man's legs in Levis and that the most flattering color a guy can wear is blue? The most common male fashion crime witnessed on a regular basis brought in a tie: wearing athletic socks with dress shoes and wearing a suit that is too big (a point of discussion for me and my hubby on our commute home from work). Of particular interest to me though was the category of "The one thing about my man's style I would change would be..." The winner didn't surprise me: "I'd give away his double pleated pants and buy him flat fronts." I call it the "Frank Barone look". As much as my husband adores Frank Barone, I keep telling him that the double pleated pants are not only unflattering, but they might be pushing faux pas status. Now before there is a serious outlash from some very comfortable pleat wearers...let me explain. I have yet to meet someone whose figure was flattered by pleated pants. They just don’t look that good on anyone. The reason? The pleated section in the front part of the pants tend to bubble out, making you look bigger than you really are. Now I know that dress pants often come pleated, but if you peruse the mensware, you can usually find flat fronts in the same style. And if they don’t come in flat front, don’t buy them. Now I know that there is something to be said for comfort. No one is asking that you buy tight flat front pants. In fact, please don't. But at one time we all thought hammer pants should should stick around because they were comfortable too. All I am saying is that a moo-moo and koolots are more comfortable than most things in my closet but top the "things I never want my wife to wear" list. However, if you look your are going for is the Frank Barone, go ahead and do your thing. He has no doubt mastered the look of the pleated pants.

4 MONTHS & COUNTING....

Well, I had my four month (16 week) check-up yesterday and all is well. It was good to hear the baby's heartbeat again as I haven't felt any movement yet, but was assured that that I will in the next month. The doctor said that the baby had a "perfect heartbeat". Perhaps it is going to be a runner too! I'm feeling pretty good most days, a definate change from the first trimester. And while my friends, family, and co-workers still say that I still don't look a bit pregnant, I have noticed a very obvious way in the way my clothes are beginning to fit. I still don't need maternity clothes yet, which both Ryan and I are grateful for-- me because I can still wear my everyday clothes and Ryan because we don't have to start spending money on a new wardrobe yet!! Our next appointment is August 3rd and we will be finding out if we will be having a little Calli or a little Ryan. Feel free to post a comment with your guess!

A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

My friend Aaron sent me this adorable picture and it reminded me of my nephews Seth and Easton. Seth is the only person that I know who in every prayer, including his meal prayers, still asks Heavenly Father to bless all those who were in the tsunami, the earthquakes, the hurricanes, and the war. He is 6 years old. It's sobering to realize that in his short life he has already seen so much damage, but encouraging to know that he understands that there exists a loving God who can help make things right, who can make sure he has good dreams at night and that he is safe and not scared. He is always the first one at the table to remind everyone that the blessing hasn't been said yet. Ryan and I got a good laugh one afternoon while we were visiting Jolea's family. Seth and Easton had got in trouble for something and were sent to their room for 15 minutes of time out. After about 5 minutes we saw them slowly making their way out of their room and down the hallway. Jolea saw them too and was quick to point out that they had only been in their room for 5 minutes and told them they needed to go back. To that, they both quickly replied, almost in unison..."But mom, we said a prayer that we could get out!" It took all Ryan and I had not to bust up laughing. Pretty sweet, huh.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EASTON!!

Happy 4th birthday big guy! Easton is one of our favorite 4 year- olds for several reasons. Easton loves acrobatics. He has a killer summer-sault punch move and is pretty good with anykind of roundhouse-type-kick-thing. He also has some serious dance moves. Easton loves everything boy and is honestly the most fearless child I have ever known. He laughs in the face of danger. He's pretty funny too. He does this thing with his puppy dog eyes that makes ya want to melt. Yup--we sure do love this little one and can't wait for the big Pirate party tonight. ARRRGHHH!

Mara, Sarah, & my Elizabeth

These girls feel like home to me. Probably because I spent a good portion of my young life with them and at their house. Elizabeth (right) came to town for the 4th and I love it when she visits. She reminds me of all things that we loved growing up and being around her always brings back a flood of memories from those wretched teen years to our college days together and everything in between. Though a native Texan, she has relocated to New York and brings with her all the sass. I was reminded of just how much of a New Yorker in mind and spirit she has really always been with her great sense of creativity and style. Who'd have ever matched us up when we were younger? Me, a country girl and jock with her, a city girl with a eye for style and sophistication. Thank goodness we got together though-- 15 years later it's easy to see that her love of the arts and style has thankfully rubbed off on me a little. And I must take credit where it's due-- she has a love for country music and can tolerate watching most sports! We are older and our lives may be completly different, but that's how our lives have always been and it's refreshing. Some things never change.

Stadium of Liar

That's right. Stadium of Fire proved to be more than disappointing this year. Last year Mark took us up on the roof of the hospital adjunct where he works and it made for great seats and a good show. So naturally this year, a group of us packed our folding chairs and blankets and made the great climb again only to be sorely disappointed. There we sat, watching and waiting for the grand finale, semi-mocking those who were packing up and heading down. "Oh, it's coming, it's coming", we mused. Then the stadium lights were turned on and we realized the joke was on us. I don't even know if the show was 30 minutes in it's entirety. The neighborhood boys could have competed with that. Perhaps they had to cut into the fireworks budget to get all those big names to come and perform this year...I mean really, can one put a price on getting Taylor Hicks from American Idol to perform?