GILMORE GIRLS

I just happened to stumble upon this little gem of a show when I was folding laundry a few months ago and I've since developed a slight addiction. Why am I so pulled in by dry sarcasm and wit? Ryan doesn't get it but it's my guilty pleasure when I'm folding laundry or doing some other mundane domesticity. I don't pretend to understand his fascination with Fight Quest or Gangland so I don't see why he should understand my fascination with the Gilmore Girls. Fair enough. Oh, and if Stars Hollow really exists, I want to live there. That will tell you something about me. I love small towns...the kind you see in the middle of snow globes at Christmas and wonder if they really still exist. That's where I want to live. Again, another manifestation of my slightly skewed version of reality.

I AM EMMA and ELINOR

Take the Quiz here!

I stole this from Em's blog(brilliant post). I was actually surprised as well. I took it twice with the other answers that could fit as well for me and I was Elinor. Interesting. Makes me want to have an Austen Extravagana party with the girls!

TRADITION

I've been thinking a lot about traditions lately. It all spurred from an episode of Jon & Kate plus Eight (which I am fascinated with; it's on the DVR list) that I watched recently. It was a Christmas episode and Kate said something that really made me think. She said that it was very important to her that she start their own family traditions as soon as possible with their children so that as far back as their kids can remember, they will remember Christmas a certain way. One thing their family does is Christmas morning all the kids open their stocking gifts first, then they go and have breakfast, which is sticky buns every year, and then they go and open the rest of their gifts. It got me thinking about starting some of our very own traditions.
Incidentally, today Ryan had the day off and we partook in an annual Loveless family tradition...attending some of the state high school basketball playoff games in Ogden. I'm not entirely sure why or how this became tradition since there is no one in the family that has or has had any children participating in the games in at least a decade or so, but nonetheless, most of Ryan's family as well as his Uncle Boyd's family all meets up at Weber State each year to watch some high school hoops. This was our first year to to take Max. He endured 4 1/2 hours very well. Concessions and Grandma's snacks were mostly to thank for that. Ryan looks forward to it every year and even though I didn't grow up here and don't know much about the high schools, I look forward to it too. I suppose it's because, well, it's tradition.

Homecoming

Yeah, my husband has returned! Ryan was in the Phillippines for another week and this time it seemed like forever, much longer than a week. While he was gone I:
1. hurt my back holding in a sneeze; i couldn't run for the entire week. never hold your sneezes in. it can damage some serious lower back muscles.
2. made several trips to Home Depot and finally found the perfect shade of mocha green for my painting project
3. sucessfully painted a select portion of my home including the upper hallway; it turned out better than i anticipated and i love it.
4. young womens, young womens, young womens...with a 14 month old. enough said.
5. watched a Celine Dion concert from the comforts of my living room.
6. Oh, and Max decided that walking is better than crawling in the week Ryan was gone. He is about 90% walk, 10% crawl these days and 100% into everything and climb on everything.
All of the above denote both pros and cons of Ryan's travel. Never do I take on major home projects when he's home. No, for some reason, I feel the need to wait until I'm all alone with a toddler who is very very mobile to bust out painting undertakings.
I realize it makes no sense at all. I also realize that many more things in my life these days make no sense. Children I suppose create a different kind of reality for you. So be it. At least my walls look good.

CALL ME CRAZY

call me crazy, but I was actually very happy to look down in our family room tonight and find this...

...my husband playing XBOX. while i know that this little box can be the source of many arguements in some marriages, i was actually very pleased to see Ryan playing tonight because since he got the darn thing 3 years ago, he's maybe sat down and played a total of 10 or so times. of course now he says the thing is nearly obselete since the 360 has come out, but none the less, it still provides an outlet for him every once in a while...and i don't mind. he deserves it. he works so hard at work, and when he's not out serving in his calling, he is home helping me with max or studying for the CPA or spending time with me. so yes, i was happy to see him indulge a little tonight. now as for the 360 that he keeps mentioning...i say wait another year and it will probably be obselete too.

MAP MY RUN

TODAY'S RUN: 7.1 MILES

THIS IS WHAT IS MAPPING THE LOVELESS FAMILY RUNS DURING THESE COLD WINTER MONTHS. I HAVE A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH IT. WHILE I HATE THE EYE-SORE THAT IT IS, I LOVE THAT I DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE GYM. IT WAS MY MOTHER'S DAY PRESENT LAST YEAR AND RYAN THINKS WE'VE PUT BETWEEN 300 AND 400 MILES ON IT. I WOULD AGREE AS IT IS STARTING TO MAKE SQUEAKY NOISES AND PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE SERVICED SOON.

NOTE THE CHILD GATE SURROUNDING THE TREADMILL...MAX HAS A FACINATION WITH CLIMBING IT. THIS WAS OUR REMEDY. DON'T NOTE THE SPLASHES OF SWEAT ON THE RED WALL. I LIKE TO CALL IT "OUR WALL OF PAIN & GAIN". JUST WARN ME BEFORE YOU COME OVER; NOT EVERY ONE NEEDS TO SEE OUR SWEAT AND TEARS, LITERALLY.

A Warm and Welcome 40 Degrees

It is supposed to be in the 40's this weekend...Take a look at this video from last Sunday and you will know why we all have reason to celebrate in Utah!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY RY!

In my blogging absence, something that comes along only once a year came and went last Tuesday. My darling husband turned 31 and deserves a shout out on the blog...I love you!

Just Be A Little Better

Every so often, you have one of those moments, one of those days, one of those weeks that is just full of reflection, insight, retrospect, and foresight. So was my week. I suppose it was the passing of our dear prophet followed by a week of reflecting on who he was as a person, as a son, as a husband, as a father, as a missionary, as an employee, as a leader and personally, as my prophet, that has just enveloped my thoughts and my emotions this week. Aside from being the leader of our church and the Lord's mouthpiece on the earth today, I was particularly touched with the man that he was and his ability to see the road that lead him to where he was, to acknowledge that road and those that traveled that road with him. It made me reflect on my road and my fellow passengers.
The culmination of all the media attention was the center of our home this Saturday as I sat with my own husband and child and watched the funeral and burial of our beloved President Hinckley. I felt blessed to live so close to the events, as we were able to be a part of the services within our home. Ryan and I were truely touched by the services. I couldn't help the emotions that caught hold of me. I cried tears of joy and sorrow. President Hinckley was the prophet for nearly half of my life, and the prophet of my most formidable years. And I love him and I cried as I realized how I will miss seeing him and hearing him admonish us all to be a little better, a little kinder, a little truer.
On the Monday following his passing, Ryan and I read his message from the last Priesthood session of confrence. He said he could not remember a time in his marriage when he ever had a serious quarrel with his sweet wife. It touched Ryan and I...an angerless marriage. What an awesome relationship and sweet reunion he has experienced. Again, I reflected on my own relationships, on my own habits.
I am still missing my prophet a week later. As I watched his bio today, tears again filled my eyes. I told Ryan yesterday as his funeral concluded that I suppose I felt somewhat like the early saints, when they lost their dear prophet Joseph, for our President Hinckley was certainly a prophet of the poeple as well. And like the early Saints, while we mourn his passing, we take comfort in knowing that the Lord's work will go forward, and that the Church will go forward as well.
I suppose the greatest way in which I can pay tribute, respect and honor to President Hinckley is simpley to Stand a Little Taller and be a little better.