Mmmm, it's always better when we're together. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7361698636900561933&q=Jack+Johnson+Better+Together&hl=en

DVR has taken over our life.
When we moved into our new home in March we purchased the Dish. Dish offers a sweet little something known as DVR, their version of TiVo for you cable people. So we bought it... and it is taking over our lives. Why? Let me tell you.

Scenario #1. Right in the middle of watching a reality favorite, The Biggest Loser (don't ask, we just find it amusing), there is a knock at the door. It is Sister Smith from the ward. This could be a while, so what do we do? Oh, we just push pause and then when Sister Smith has finsihed her hour visit, we can resume our show and fast forward through all the commercials.

Scenario #2: What happens when The Unit is on at the same time as the results show of Dancing With the Stars? Well, I watch the results show while Ryan mows the lawn, meanwhile recording The Unit, and everyone is happy.

Scenario #3: We have favorites that either come on in the day while we are both at work or in the evenings when we have other plans. No worries, we can record Oprah, Dateline, The Amazing Race, and 60 Minutes every day. If it's something we want to watch, we can do it later, commercial free.

Scenario #4: One of us is inevitably going to have to go to the bathroom during an episode of ER. Not a problem. I'll just push record and then rewind it when he is finished with his business.

And so, DVR is ruining our lives. We've added to our "favorites" list and now that we can watch them whenever we want and commerical free, we're catchin' episodes of ER, Dateline, and Oprah. We're avid fans of The Unit, The Biggest Loser, and The Amazing Race. We're recording football games. I'm going to have to draw the line when Ryan starts recording the food network challenges. Is there group therapy for this sort of thing?

GAG REFLEX

Here's the thing. I have somewhat of a gag reflex. But not for all things gross. I usually don't gag when I see blood, or those medical shows that come on the Discovery channel where they are rebuilding someone's entire face. Granted I might have to turn my head, but I usually don't gag. Bad odors sometimes get me, but it has to be pretty repulsive and pungent (sometimes the Mink farm by our house catches me off gaurd).
There are a few things that will get me everytime though. There is this story Mark tells about a cake. That one for some reason makes me gag everytime. And the one that got me last night, and will usually always get me is the sound of someone else gaging or throwing up. It's a problem. Last night Ryan might have had to belch (not uncommon) after eating a late night snack. Except he sort of, well, in his words "threw up in [my] mouth". I heard it come up and then the more I thought about it, I started gaging. Ryan for some reason thinks it's hillarious when this happens to me. He just sits there a laughs and laughs. He was laughing so hard last night that it brought tears to his eyes. No love. The problem though is that once I start gaging, my mind keeps thinking about the thing that is making me gag, in this case, Ryan throwing up in his mouth. And then I can't stop the gagging. I have to really concentrate, which is difficult with all the cackling going on in the background.

Last night Ryan and I started our Lamaze class. Initially Ryan was not too thrilled, mainly because he found out that it is a 2 1/2 hour class. To my surprise though, he seemed to be enjoying the class as the time went by, mostly because of Joni. Joni is our teacher. She is hillarious. She is middle aged, spunky, and full of wit (not always good for a room full of pregos with full bladders!) We were told to bring two pillows to class. I didn't exactly know what we were going to be doing with the pillows but after learning about all kinds of interesting facts, we got to the "pillow part" of the lecture. Joni told us all to find a spot on the floor and get comfortable -sitting, leaning, laying- whichever we wanted. So Ryan and I claimed our spot on the floor and lay down on our backs beside eachother. Joni dimmed the lights and put on soft music. She was beginning the Relaxation and Breathing part of the class. For the the next 15 to 20 minutes she took us through a series of relaxation and breathing techniques. Everyone in the room seemed to be in a zombie like state, everyone execpt for me that is. I have a cold. The entire time I was trying to hold in my sneezes so as not to disturb everyones' serinity. Do you know how hard it is to relax when you are holding in sneezes? Do you know how hard it is to breathe "in through your nose" when you have a cold? In addition, my snot rag was out of reach and I started dripping. Oh, and I had the biggest air bubble in my abdomen so I couldn't breathe in very deeply and of course, just like at home, the minute I lay down to relax, the kid starts kicking. I looked over at Ryan in my misery and I could have sworn he was dead asleep. He was loving it, that is until I could no longer hold in my sneezes and the comotion began. Yup, I was that lady last night. The one everyone was talking about when they left. The lady who ruined the quiet atmosphere for everyone else. Oh, well. At least I didn't loose control of my bladder. It could always be worse. Until next Wednesday...

On our way home from Rexburg last night, I realized a few things.

First I realized that Ryan handles most of his frustrations well. I don't remember the last time we were in traffic that required you to turn the engine off. At about 9:30 last night, there we were, on I-15 in North Ogden, with nothing but the sound of the Mo Tab CD in the back ground. I think we got through the entire CD sitting there. Most people aren't able to detect when someting is bothering him, but I know his subtle changes in body language or attitude and he likewise knows mine. I am grateful that I know him so well and likewise, he knows me equally well. There's something very comforting in that.

Secondly I realized that my life was truely shaped by the choices I've been making for a long, long time. Opportunites are often times limited because of choices people make. When I look at where I am and who I am, I am grateful for the choices I not only made in my youth, but the choices I continue to make each day. Those choices are continuing to shape my life, and more importantly, will shape the life of my children.
Wouldn't it be great if as 14 year olds, everyone understood this?

26.something miles

ryan, stacey & jeff ran their first marathon in logan this weekend and they all did a great job. it was an awesome thing to see them finish. 26.something miles is a long, long way and i'm convinced that one has to be just a little bit crazy to do something like this.

"Mommy look...We found kittens."

The Ricardos Slept in Separate Beds

Ryan and I both woke up with bags under our eyes this morning due to an awful night's rest. Ryan is usually pretty subtle when he gives criticism but this morning, however, there was nothing subtle about his critique of our current sleeping arrangements. It's possible that we both woke up about 5 times each during the course of the night. Here was his take on it:

Problem #1: The Darth Vader

He says that I sleep with my mouth open and sometimes I breathe really loudly, not snoring per say, but more like the Darth Vader effect. I can't dispute it. I wish I didn't but he knows as well as I do that it's not my fault-it's genetic. Every Hassman sleeps with their mouth open and he even made the comment that it has been genetically passed down to some of the nieces and nephews. The other issue is that I have broke my nose twice, so if I am sick or really tired, the Darth Vader effect comes out in full force sometimes. I always wanted to be a "pretty sleeper", like the women you see in movies whose husbands lay there and admire them in all their flawless beauty, sleeping. It's never going to happen. However, even Ryan would say that I am not a snorer. And neither is he, thank goodness.

Problem #2: Middle of the Bed Syndrome

We have a queen size bed. I tried to convince him when we were buying it that everyone who gets a queen always ends up wanting a king, so we should just get a king. Well, he won that one and now he might be paying for it. The problem is that I have this thing where I like to sleep in the middle of the bed, which unfortunately for him, means right up next to him. And apparently last night, on his pillow, with my mouth open. Oops. I don't start out in the middle of the bed. I just somehow end up there.

Here are the other problems:

Temps: He sleeps with nothing more than a sheet. I like to have a heavy blanket. We don't share covers. However, I like to have some air circulating the room via fan, open window, A/C, and he doesn't which means either he is going to inevitably get cold during the night or I am going to get hot. It's a problem.

The doors: He has to sleep with all the doors closed and most locked. I don't know why. I think it's weird, but it's this routine he has, which is why I feel like I need some air circulating the entrapped room. This morning at about 4:00 I got up to use the facilities and I apparently didn't fully close the door behind me. I got back into bed and not even a minute had gone by and he got out of bed to close the door to the bathroom.

But perhaps the biggest problem of all right now is that I am pregnant. I reminded him of this after his not so subtle critique this morning. I have to turn and adjust probably once an hour now and I can no longer hold my bladder throughout the night. I've got all kinds of weight pressing down on my diaphragm now which only contributes to the Darth Vader effect of which I have no control over. So we revisited an idea we have considered before...sleeping in separate beds. It wasn't sounding so bad this morning after we looked at our bag-ladden eyes. Lucy and Ricky did it & I found out that Grandma and Grandpa Loveless slept in separate beds too. I still think we should have got the King...that's like having two beds anyway. I should have fought harder for that one. Oh, well. Here's to a good night's sleep.

First of all, I have to say that I personally love the fact that summer is coming to an end and that I have to wear a jacket out in the mornings and evenings now. I LOVE FALL! I love it when the sun is still shining but the air is crisp. I love watching the leaves change colors and how everyone suddenly feels the need to change the wreath hanging on their door and set out some sort of pumpkin display. If there was one season I wish we could slow down and draw out it would be Fall.
PROJECT LOVELESS UPDATE
Project Loveless is just about completed. Well, Project #1 that is. Our beautiful new carpet came yesterday and now I want it throughout the house. I was told to get that thought out of my head for a while. We just need to finish off the closet, install a light, smoke detector and plate covers and we can officially say that we have finished Project Loveless #1. I have to make some special mentions here. We couldn't have done it without the help of Mark and Jeff. Thanks you guys! It looks great. Mark not only put in countless hours, but he also came through with a miter saw. We hope to return the favor for the both of you someday (like next spring when Project YardWork gets underway). Now...for Project Loveless #2... does anyone know anything about installing beadboard?

CHEERLEADING IS A CONTACT SPORT

I might have happend to watch a little snip-it from the Today Show this morning and one thought went through my mind--Why in the world did Mom ever let us (and by us I mean Jolea, Carrie, and I) ever participate in Cheerleading? Perhaps it was because she was the Deming High School Mascot in her day. I think she was supposed to be a WildCat but something went very wrong with her costume and she looked like a cross between the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man and something from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Mom, was that cat head made out of paper mache? I will definately have to retrieve that picture from home next time we are in Rexburg. It's worthy of a blog entry by itself.
Anyway, for all of you who don't believe that cheerleading is a contact sport, watch this chic make some contact: http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=19789FA7-47AD-41AD-A966-B12C3CD2AC31&t=c86&f=06/64&p=Source_Today%20Show&GT1=8506

PROJECT LOVELESS

Project Loveless is well underway. Ryan has primed and painted the entire spare bedroom downstairs & we've ordered carpet to be installed on Monday. The step inbetween these 2 is what has me concerned. Here's why. Baseboards equals carpentry. Neither Ryan nor I have any finish carpentry skills. You should have seen us in Home Depot yesterday, roaming aimlessly around, looking for someone to assist us (which is another topic for another day, but let me just say that the H.D. doesn't get my marks for customer service). So after about 30 minutes we were walking out with four 12 foot moulding strips. We got the painting thing down, that won't be a problem. It's the cutting and the installing. We figure it can't be that hard. Do we know anything about miter cuts? No. And what the %#*$ is a backcut or coping saw? We don't know, but Mark is borrowing a miter saw tomorrow and the boys are determined to figure it out. I'm all for it. Once they learn how to miter and cope and backcut I have lots of projects for them to do...window casings, chair rails, wainscotting...It can't be that difficult, right? This bedroom will be ready for the grandma's to come and stay in no time.

The Madness Has Begun

If we look wet, we are. BYU looked really good against Tulsa Saturday at Lavell Edwards Stadium. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good. It started out a blazing 80 something degrees in the first half. By the third quarter it was gray and by the fourth quarter we were sitting in the middle of a downpour. Good thing Ryan brought that hat. Well, good for me.

Also, diagonal stripes don't look good when wet. They only accentuate the bump. Thanks Michelle for once again coming through as the historian! I can always count on you to have the camera on hand! And just in case any of you are wondering where Jeff is, he's under the bleachers keeping dry.

RECAP

Here is a little recap of last night with the Loveless duo...just for kicks.

1. Temple night for Calli & Ryan. I didn't pass out this time. Very enjoyable. Talked to mom. She wants us to come and help her next weekend with Eli. It is his first formal dance. She is kind of out of the fashion/styling loop.
2. Conversation with Jolea at about 8:00 p.m. More like a venting session for her. She wasn't happy that it was now dark and they hadn't left for Bear Lake yet. She was even more unhappy that her other half was outside pokin' around with the dog kennels while she was inside with crying children who were under the impression they would have been at Bear Lake before sundown.
3. Conversation with Carrie. Not happy about the fact that her mother-in-law to be and her mother-in-law's best friend have taken over the reception planning. Carrie doesn't want a white on white wedding with green ivy draped all over everything. She wants a fall wedding with her colors. I told her to speak up. She says it's touchy. I told her if she doesn't speak up and get what she wants, she will regret it the rest of her life. She reminded me that she is currently living with her soon to be in-laws. I am grateful today for the in-laws that I have.
4. 9:00 p.m. Another conversation with Jolea. Apparently they won't be leaving for Bear Lake and she was going to bed. I told her to call Carrie; we have a takeover to plan.
5. Established the fact that I don't like the Steelers. I don't like watching them, or their wife-cheating coach, either. And that one dude really needs a haircut. He's not Sampson, despite what he might think.
6. !0:00 p.m. Visit from Michelle! Yeah! We discussed the new purchases, the finishing of the bedroom downstairs, the "red" wall, beadboard, the "house" in Blackfoot, and single life.
7. Conversation about single life lead to a discussion about the word "butthole". Ryan determined that it is a gross word and he wanted me to share that with everyone.
8. 11:30 to bed. We've established the fact that my belly has about doubled in size within one month. Crazy. Hoping the belly button doesn't pop. So far so good.

NESTING

I am told that in your final weeks of pregnancy you go through what is called the "nesting phase", a phase described as a time when soon to be mothers try and keep themselves as busy as possible, finishing up last minute projects, cleaning, arranging, you know making sure everything is just right to pass the time. The problem that I see with this is why would you wait until your final weeks to do all this. In my final weeks, I want to be passing the time by curling up with my chenille blanket and spiced cider in hand and finally watching the 24 series that everyone keeps raving about. I want to have my house projects done, my christmas shopping done, my laundry done. Which is exactly why I put my poor husband to work throughout the labor day weekend and just about every night since. We have begun the window cleaning, spare bedroom finishing, house decorating extravaganza. Ryan and Mark graciously spent all weekend priming and painting the "blue" room downstairs. Now for some carpet, baseboards, door trim, closet doors and rod, a light fixture & presto...we're in business. I spent the weekend cleaning windows, caulking, and wedding shopping with my little sister. We bought a crib, the baby bedding and few other decor items that Ryan doesn't think we need, and we are well on our way to knockin' all this "stuff" out. Project Loveless is officially underway and with a bridal shower, baby showers, a wedding in I.F., BYU football games, a baby blessing in Idaho, hand surgery, Harvest Fest II, Jolea's Halloween Party, my birthday, our 2nd anniversary, a marathon in Logan, Thanksgiving in New Mexico, oh and full time jobs...I don't think we started a minute too soon.

SWISS DAYS

Jolea and I started a little tradition a few years ago. It wasn't one of those things that you plan to become a tradition, but somehow it just does. A few years back she introduced me to a little event called Swiss Days held in Middway, and today we loaded the stroller, a one year old, and our purses and headed up once again.

There's a parade (of which we have never gone to), lots of celtic music and yodeling, sauerkraut, a Little Miss Swiss pageant, scones, and all the other foods you would expect at such an event, but with the title "Swiss" in front of it. Just in case you were wondering, a "Swiss" Navajo taco is no different than a regular Navajo taco. As we found out today, a "Swiss" hamburger is no different than any other hamburger, except for the fact that they apparently don't cook the meat as long. Note to self.

But we girls don't go for the the food, we go for the boutiques. And so does everyone else apparently, because, well, there are tons of them. It's total chaos. You're constantly pushing your way into crowded booths, trying to get that wreath before the lady with the lipliner half way up to her nose snatches it first, just like she did the giant jack-o-lantern on a stick.

I always feel guilty when we leave because Jolea is the queen of "put-it-back" and I never do. However, I can justify at least 2 of my 3 purchases by saying that they were both things that I would have had to buy eventually for our home and I had been on the look out for them. It just so happens that I found them both today, at Swiss Days. The third one might have been a little bit of a splurge ( a darling clock for the baby boy's room), but Jolea talked me into it, so I guess I can claim peer pressure on that one. She only bought one thing--a pair of darling shoes for the one year old. It's a good thing I am not having a girl. That is all I can say. I would have spent way more money today( see, look at the postive Honey).

So once again, Swiss Days didn't disappoint. Well, except for the pink hamburger and the fact that Ryan wasn't there to enjoy all the yodeling.