GO RAMS!!!!

If the pillows on my sofa make it through this game....I'll be thankful.
My boys are tough on a pillow in times of basketball stress!

GO VCU GO!!!

what is this, asparagus??

We had turkey burgers last night and I stopped on my way home to pick up the ingredients. Ground turkey, an egg, mustard powder and green onions.

I was in the check out line and the cashier picked up my green onions and said,
"what is this....asparagus?"

Sigh.
Kids these days.

I've officially turned 80.

Just to be sure, I said to Cooper....
"Hey buddy, what are these?"



His answer?
"Um, tiny green onions"


Whew- my faith is restored!!
Happy Hump Day-

*since I didn't have any asparagus pictures handy, I visited this site and took advantage of their stock photos- neat!

Early Morning Exchange (or, Men are from Mars)

I've debated on whether to post this....I don't want to give anyone the wrong idea about my sweet hubs...and it does sort of call into question his humanitarian qualities. He really does have lots of them.

But, if you can instead focus on the difference between how men and women communicate and think about things, it may shed some light on questions that roll around in your head on any given day. I know it did for me.

And, it made me laugh for a good 10 hours.

I was ironing my clothes when I got this message.

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 06:51 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: (none)

a strange car pulled into the house next door with the old woman....he appeared quickly, got out of the car and headed towards her house.
have you seen any activity?

WHAT???
I responded back with this-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 06:53 AM
To: Jon
Subject: (none)

It was the paper man. He delivers to her door.

And then I read the message again.
And again.
And I started to laugh.
I read it again...and kept laughing.
And it dawned on me that we were speaking two different languages (again).
And so I send this message to him.

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 7:21 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Re: (none)

Honey- do you find anything mildly hilarious about your message?? I cannot stop laughing!


And this is what I got back-

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 7:54 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

uh not off the top of my head....I thought she might be dead



Are you kidding me?? You thought she might be dead???
For the love...
My reply-

From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 8:38 AM
To: Jon
Subject: RE: (non)

honey- do you mean that you thought she have already died and the man in the strange car was coming to check on her??

because the way I read it was....

hey- i saw a strange car and a man outside of her house and I'm hoping that he hasn't gone in and killed her....and I noticed it but I was in a hurry to get to work and didn't have time to stop so I'm checking with you to see what the status is......hopefully he didn't come next door and get you and coop too.

I do LOVE YOU!


From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 08:43 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

Now that is funny....as I re-read it that is the way it sounded!


From: Carolyn
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 8:46 AM
To: Jon
Subject: Re: (none)

Seriously- you are a riot.
I am snorting.


And the very next message I got.....

From: Jon
Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 9:04 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: (none)

Is anyone you know there a notary? We need to have that form notarized and send it back in.


Just like that, we're onto a new topic.

So, a few things about the above.

1) Our neighbor is quite elderly and rarely leaves her house. She's had a few incidents where the rescue squad has come to help her, but she seems to be doing well as of late.

2) If you're one of the two neighbors who does read my blog...I promise, if you needed help, Jon would be the 1st one to save the day (as long as it wouldn't make him late to school. In that case, you'd need to rely on me!)

3) This explains a ton about the differences in women and men- A TON. It reminds me that I shouldn't read so much into some of the things that Jon says- he's truly not thinking the same way that I do.

4) One of the things that I adore most about my hubs is that he does make me laugh SO MUCH. He can put a smile on my face for the entire day with a simple sentence.

5) If he thought that someone was really trying to hurt his family, he'd do anything and everything to keep us safe. This story wouldn't be nearly as funny if I didn't believe that with every ounce of my being.

Anywhoo- men are from Mars.
No doubt about it.

Happy Monday!

Early Morning Exchange (or, Cooper loves Nubs)

Meet Nubs-



Cooper is obsessed with a book about a dog named Nubs that he checked out of the library this week. It's called Nubs, The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle and it's a wonderful story. You can click here to visit Nubs' website. The story is a must read and appropriate for any animal loving child (although it does touch on the war in Iraq, so be ready for a conversation)

Anywhooo.....the child is obsessed and will talk to anyone who will listen about the book.

Enter the following e-mail exchange that I had yesterday morning with Jon.

From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 6:53 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: Phone books

Hey do you mind if I donate our existing phone books to the school....The Peace Club is collecting phone books to recycle and they get money for them. I don't know the last time you used a phone book but for me its been at least 3 years. Plus it would open up new space for us.

****************

From: Carolyn
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9:53 AM
To: Jon
Subject: RE: Phone books

Sure honey, that's fine. I feel like I've used one pretty recently, but if it will help the Peace Club- I think I'll make it. What ever will we do with all the space created by giving away our phone books???

Oh and PS- You're funny!


********************
I wasn't expecting this to be his response....exactly how he wrote it (excluding the quotation marks).


From: Jon
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9:58 AM
To: Carolyn
Subject: RE: Phone books

I'll tell you who's funny is our kid....

I told him I would try to read his book during practice last night. When he got back in the car to drive home, he said,

"so daddy did you get a chance to read any of the book?"

I said, "yea I read the first eight pages (I was lying) but I want you to read it to me tonight."

And he said, "That's sort of funny. How did you know you were on page 8? There aren't numbers on the pages." (So busted!)

***************

When is my silly Neb going to realize that our kid is one smart cookie- and isn't easily outsmarted by his dad!

(which reminds me about the time that Cooper pulled a fast one with Jon and some math homework that he didn't want to do...but that's a story for another day!!)

Bottom line- read the book, warm your heart, and carry on Cooper's love for Nubs!

S & W- Engagement Party

The festivities have begun....

The "hold the date" magnet is on the refrigerator.
The reception site has been chosen.
The dress has been purchased.
Katie & some of Wade's good friends planned a party- woohoo!!


What a great sister....can't you feel the love!

No question about the love on this shot....


Here's to the happy couple!



We had so much fun....everyone did.



It makes me laugh to remember (well, except for one part where I was trying to get the shot of the century and I fell off a stool and caused a bit of a scene- I've got some bruises and felt like an idiot- otherwise, I'm fine!).



One of Wade's sweet friends had a few beers and asked to use my camera so I could be in some pictures. I was hesitant at first- but these shots make me so happy, it was totally worth it!!



Thanks Harper-



I owe you one!



We can hardly wait for the wedding.

Feedback taken

This is Tim.
He looks this way because I haven't been posting often enough for his liking.
(Katie doesn't really care about my blog- she's more concerned with making healthy eating choices!)

He's right though....I've been slack.

I've had good reasons....sort of.
I'm working on it.

My hope is that Tim will soon look like this.....




I know, I know....
You doubt me.

So does Katie.



I think I can do it.
And then Tim and Katie will look like this....



Love you guys......and love the fun we had this weekend!!
Thanks for making me laugh- hope I returned the favor.

The Cleanse

I've been thinking for a while about making a change...I couldn't do it on my own, so I enlisted the help of some friends and this book!



The plan was to get together after work for some good wine, yummy food and fashion advice. I was ready for the brutal truth...regardless of what it left me with at the end.

Before they came, I did a little cleaning on my own.



I thought I was thorough....I purged the things that I knew were wrong and some that I was pretty sure about even though I didn't want to admit it.

Evidently, I was a little off. This is where we ended up!



And instead of feeling deflated, or stressed and overwhelmed because I have little left in my closet....I felt great!

This was the message I sent to update some friends who were waiting anxiously for an update-

*******
The purge has been completed. It was brutal, hilarious, alarming and freeing.
I LOVED IT.

And to give you an idea of how the night went....these were some of the comments:

"Um, NO."
"Absolutely not"
"See, look- you just instantly lost 15 lbs!"
"I love those…..they are the most flattering pants you've had on tonight" (this after I had already tried on 16 pairs of pants)

Me- Diana- I like this, do you think it really has to go?
Her- It does. Blocked prints have been out for years.

"Have you ever worn this? Please tell me you haven't." (I had...many times!)

"You can wear that……..but you have to wear flats with those pants" (this was said this repeatedly……evidently ALL of my pants are too short)

And my favorite quote of the night-

"You need to stop wearing blue. It makes you look like a sailor"

I felt energized, free and excited about the possibilities!
Next stop- shopping to fill in the gaps that exist AND to get some longer pants.

********************************

I love my friends, I love their honesty, I love that they're willing to help me out in my time of need and I love that we can laugh hysterically about bad fashion and poor color choices.

It's spring, a time for starting again- to tackle a change that you've been meaning to make and to get a fresh start.

The cleanse....hope it helps you too!!

One Season Ends....

Coop had fun, learned a ton and was dubbed the "Stealth Bomber" by his coach!








But Baseball is just around the corner....

I can't wait!!!