Thursday

Guest post: COLLIN!

Have you ever heard the radio station advertise some easy way to win tickets or cash and thought I could do that, only to tell yourself nahhhhh there's no way.  Maybe you even tried once and couldn't even get past a busy signal.  Until today that was me.  Now be prepared for my EASY 10 Step Plan to winning a Free give-away near you.

1.  Wake-up like normal and say your prayers then head to work.  On your way tune in to the radio station that plays music because you're sick of people talking and remember that at 7:10 they will be giving the first cash code: Caldwell. 

2.  Teach Spanish to your students until you remember at about 11:05am that you probably need to tune into the station again to catch the second cash code.  At this point you get on the internet and see if you can listen to the music from there because you don't have a radio.  This is your first time trying this and they do, and you click on Listen live just in time to catch the code:  Lucky. 

3.  When your students complain because it's the first time they have heard music in English in your class you ignore them, but then explain you're trying to win $1000 from a station they've never heard of.  Then you say forget it, it's better you don't know so you'll have less competition. 

4.  Try to get out of your responsibilities in time for the last cash code at 3:10, but the assistant principal won't let you out of being the lead panelist in your class for a senior project.  She chuckles and thinks you're joking about hearing the third cash code, but you're serious and even right now she still thinks you're joking.  So have the radio barely audible playing in the background while some senior presents about an obscure law that protects victims of crimes, and don't really pay attention for the first 5 minutes because you can faintly hear the noise in the background. 

5.  Scoot your desk slowly back to get closer, and then when you hear the cash register noise, you somehow catch the last code: Kuna.  At this point you can listen to the presentation with your full attention and grade the student.  It looks like he's going to graduate. 

6.  On your way home draft the text you'll be sending at around 5pm so it's ready. 

7.  At 4:45 turn the station back on again, once again from a computer this time at home.  Your daughter might be getting a little hungry at this point, but you've prepared her with some snacks so it's going to be alright.
 
8.  5:02 pm the moment you've been waiting for has arrived, they tell you to send in the codes now.  You send the first one, and then the draft says blank once you've sent it.  So you have to find the sent messages, and forward it, again, and again, for a few minutes.  Your daughter tries to take the phone, cries for your attention so you hold her with one arm and continue to fire away.  She might distract you a little, but just try to get one more in.  You do and the song ends after 3-4 minutes.  You've done enough.  It's in someone else's hands.  

9.  Turn up your ringer on your phone to not miss the call back to tell you you've won!!  A call mysteriously arrives from a 465 number you've never seen, could it be?????  You answer and a guy starts asking you questions.  You fall for it and think it is just a formality cause you sent a text, How many cash codes did you send?  Three- what can that get you? $1000.  Sir you are the 96th caller, you've won $1000!  - What, no way are you serious, I did.  You jump up and down, head out into the backyard cause your wife is teaching piano and her students parents have just arrived and now think you're weird.  When your wife comes over you tell her you just won $1000 and the guy from the radio station is chuckling at your excitement. 

10.  They ask you when you can come get your check, for some reason that's harder than you think because you're a slave to your job as an underpaid teacher which is why you are thinking you should call in and win the money in the first place, so they say they'll call you back.  At this point you might lose hope because it could have been a joke, but they do call back and you arrange to get it tomorrow around 4pm.  You get your picture taken with a big check and they give you cash, it's no big thing.  You learn at this point that you were actually the 97th person, but number 96 didn't answer their phone (They forgot Step 9).  When he asks what you'll spend it on you say something boring like paying off a debt from an adoption made a year ago.  And then you remember what you did it all for.  YOUR little girl.  And she's crying now, because she's really hungry and needs more attention.  So life goes on. 

WARNING- These details might vary from town to town and from family to family
Dad- Ashlynn, I just won $1000!!!
Ashlynn-  Heeee, Heeee, Heee, Heeee Dada.

Wednesday

Never want to see a computer again

I have spent SOOOOO much time on the computer lately. I have HATED it! Here is the story: About a year ago I purchased some digital scrapbooking software--it's called "Scrapbook Factory." Because really, I knew I would never get around to actually old-school scrapbooking my kids' pictures, but I also didn't want to not do anything cute with them. So, that software was the answer. My goal was to get Ashlyn's first year scrapbook done by her first birthday....but I got so behind that obviously didn't happen (plus I realized that would be stupid because I wanted her birthday to be part of the scrapbook, duh). But I really have been chipping away at the scrapbooking thing for a looong time. For a year now. Anyway, a few weeks ago I acquired a discount code for a photo book publishing website, yahoo! So I thought that would be motivation to get the dang scrapbook done already! And I spent most every spare moment I had (Collin can attest to how ridiculous it was) working on that thing! But I did it! I finished about a week and a half ago. You would think it would all be well over and done by now. NOPE! I ran into PROBLEM after *&^@# PROBLEM!!!!!! I have about thrown my dang laptop against the wall MANY TIMES over the last week!!!! First, I found out that the publisher I wanted to use (with the discount) doesn't accept the files my software has. I never even thought to check before I busted my BUM to get the stuff done! So, then I saw that I could import it to the website as PDF so I spent like 3 days going through every single file (there are 70! 7-0!) and converting it to PDF. Well, then of course I got back on to load up my PDFs thinking I could finally publish the thing, and turns out that it has to be a SPECIAL kind of PDF, some PDF/x-3 or some crap I spent hours googling help about and came to realize I couldn't do it. SOOOO I was really about to lose it at that point! I gave up for like 5 days and then a few days ago decided to give it another crack. So I finally figured out that I could export the files from my scrapbook software as jpegs, HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!! I am talking, seriousl hallelujahs for that people. But you know what that means, I had to AGAIN go through every single freaking file and export it. So, after that and when I loaded them all onto the website, again foolishly thinking I was almost done, (and after hours of tedious work mind you) every freaking page had a RESOLUTION WARNING! AHHH! &$*%!!! I hadn't changed the PPI (yes I have now learned fancy computer crap like that) OR the JPEG resolution. SO, I AGAAAAIIIIN had to go back through every single dang file and re-export it but this time making sure to fix the ppi and resolution. At this point (2 nights ago) I was really about to scream and cry and about everything else. Mainly give up. But I didn't! So this morning I thought I was going to really get it done (ha HA) I went through and there was still half of the pages that has resolution warning. Turns out that for some reason some of my re-exporting with the better settings hadn't worked. So AGAIN I had to re-do like 35 of the pages. That is what I spent the last 2 hours doing. So, for real, just when I had FINALLY gotten done, (I know, by now it is just a huge joke) I hit "publish my book" and . . . . an error report came up! They said "Sorry, we cannot publish your book at this time." Do I even need to type out the explitives that were going through my mind at this time?!?!?! I tried for half an hour to get that thing to publish and was really about to give up and just pray to the heavens that it would work tomorrow, when on my last attempt it WORKED!!!!! So, praises, I am done! It is ordered! WITH the discount! (good thing, it expires in 5 days!!) I am worried about how good it will look since I had that resolution warnings, even though I resolved them . . . but at this point I really feel like I could care less. I hope my hard work looks at least ok. Mostly I want to have a nice scrapbook for my little sweetie! SO, there is a super long, boring story about what has pretty much consumed my life for the last few weeks. grr grr grr. And I uploaded just a couple examples for you to see.... they are not some of the best ones but like I just said, I COULD CARE LESS right now!!!! :)   


Tuesday

Easter in the Sick House

Ashlyn's recovery from whatever hit her the week before Easter was S-L-O-W!! In the past she has always bounced back pretty quick after getting sick, but it was really like, the smallest improvements each day with this one. I thought I was going to lose it a few times. Anyway, Easter came, and she was a little better but still pretty out of it. She got a fun little Easter basket with some books, a little bunny, a rubber duck, and a bunch of plastic grass. Guess what she liked the best? Yep, the grass. Not that she was that thrilled with any of it, as you can see: (p.s.- Grandma, yes some of the stuff was from you! So thanks for the contributions to her basket! She actually really likes that book!)
Yeah!! Grass to eat!

Somehow I didn't even take a picture of Ashlyn's basket. But I did take one of Collin's. What a great mom I am. Anyway, I wasn't planning for Collin and I to do Easter baskets this year, but I found out about a book that I knew he would LOVE so I got it for him and used Easter Baskets as an excuse! Plus we hadn't had any Mini Eggs all Easter Season (which was probably a good thing because I love them SO much!) so why not throw some of those in there too?


I had mentioned to Collin that I was going to do an easter basket with * hints * of him doing one for me! Well, Saturday night at like midnight I reminded him not to go out in the kitchen since I had put his basket out there. And he got this look of sheer panic on his face! ha ha. I knew right then that he had completely forgotten all about getting me anything! Sure enough, the next morning he confessed! I didn't care since it's not like it was a big thing. It was just funny. Sometimes I just think GUYS--well, you know.

But anyway, I went to stake conference while he stayed home with the little Chicken Nugget and when I got home, this was waiting for me:

He had put something he *loves* about me in each egg. It was so cute. Better than if he had actually remembered and bought me some candy! Although the whole "homemade" thing went a little far when he actually gave me half of the candy I had put in his basket! uh, thanks!



Later that day we went out for a walk to enjoy the beautiful weather! Ashlyn had a great time cruising in the stroller. I just love this picture.

And then later that evening we took her out on the tramp! She had a great time! It was nice to see her smile back after missing it for so long.



And I thought I'd put up a picture of our white trash "screen door." It was so hot in our house but I couldn't bring myself to turn on the AC, so this was part of the solution. Ashlyn thought it was great. I was glad that not many people we know drive through our culdesac. Ha ha.

And then of course we had the token temper tantrum when it was time to go to bed and stop playing with the gate.



Buuuut, over all it was a pretty great Easter! I love having the time to spend as a family. And I especially love the chance to remember the real meaning of this holiday, which is the atonement and resurrection of our Savior.

March MADNESS!

Every year since we have been married Collin and I have filled out March Madness brackets. We always make up some fun bet where one of us gets something out of it if we win. And I'm pretty sure that every year I get on here and complain about how I am never doing it again, because I lose every year, which is not surprising because I could really care less about NCAA basketball while a certain someone I'm married to follows it closely and of course always has a huge advantage.

WEEELLLLL.... this year, I wasn't even going to bet. I really could care less, like I said. And it's annoying to lose every year! Even though, most years Collin has been nice enough to not really follow through with whatever the bet was.. probably because he realizes it's a rigged game. So I told Collin I wasn't even going to fill one out! Which, he didn't really care about anyway. But then he left for St. Louis and left me a bunch of cute little notes hidden in different places all over the house. (did I mention how cute he is?!) And the first one was attached to an empty bracket! It was the day before the MADNESS started and he said, QUOTE: "Let's fill these out for fun, if I lose I will clean the bathrooms for a month." So, since I didn't even have anything riding on the bet this time (I know that makes me sound like a jerk and well, I have no defense.) I went ahead and filled mine out. Totally random, as usual. Although I usually pick more upsets than him and usually that is my downfall . . . BUT NOT THIS YEAR BABY! As any of you who did March Madness know, it was an insane tournament! A bunch of 1-seeds were out the first round! And I have them to thank for..... WINNING! My first time, ever! I beat Collin, and by a lot! It was awesome. I was glad I filled it out, even though, I know, I was kinda lame about it.

And, Collin cleaned the bathrooms (for THE FIRST time in our marriage, not kidding here) last Saturday. It took him 1.5 hours. I would have teased him but it was so nice of him I didn't. I am planning on cleaning them this week so I am not really going to make him carry out his full punishment, but still it was pretty great! I should have gotten a picture of him with the toilet brush in hand (to document since it will probably never happen again) but didn't. Oh well. And that is the tale of March Madness!

Aw

Collin got a wonderful email from a former wrestler, who is now halfway through his mission for the LDS Church. Coach would absolutely kill me if he knew I posted this on here, so don't tell him! :) It brought a few tears to my eyes as I read it, just because Collin is really so wonderful at his job and he really has a special calling to make a difference in these boys' lives. The funny thing is, Collin probably wrote a note like this almost verbatim to his coach at one point in his life because if there is one thing he has as a "mantra" it is that wrestling is not just a sport but it teaches you invaluable lessons about life and dealing with life in general! ... I hope that when our kids grow up they learn to thank the influences in their lives like this, because it made such a difference to Collin.

"Coach,
I just wanted to drop you a line and tell you how greatful i am for you and wrestling. Everything i know about life, i learned in the wrestling room. How to push through stuff that sucks, how to get what i want out of life, how to be reliable, how to acomplish the goals that i set. I have applied the things that you taught me in the mat room at Centennial to my missionary work and to the gospel and i have found something: that you werent only teaching me how to wrestle but how to come closer to Christ. Because of you i can roll with what comes and be happy about it. I Can look at the daunting responsibility that being a member of Christ church can be and be willing to go through whatever it takes to get back to God. Because of what you taught me i can face temptation without fear and i know i can overcome. " how far can you go?" i think to myself and the answer is clear, at least one step further. thanks for the push. i got to tell you the biggest regret of my life is not wrestling my junior year. thanks for taking me back the next."

Friday

Apple of my Eye

Ashlyn is really the apple of my eye! I always thought that little saying sounded so ridiculous, but having a kid now I know it's true! I admit sometimes I mourn not having time to myself, but having this sweet little spirit to spend my days with far outweighs any negativity about it!






She has been sick 4 times since she turned 1! Super ridiculous. I was wondering if it was because of the whole switch to whole milk thing, but it wasn't like, allergy symptoms and it would go away and she'd be fine. When I thought about it more, I realized that right when wrestling ended (which was right around her birthday) I started working out regularly again, which means I have been taking her to the daycare at Idaho Athletic 2-3 times a week. And yeah that place is a cesspool and yeah I clean her off really well when we get home, but I think that's what's behind this. We haven't been much lately, mostly because she's been sick so much, but also because the weather is nice once in a while so we can get out for a run outside. I'm not kidding when I say ever since her 1st birthday it has literally been ok one week, sick the next, then ok, then sick the next.... every single week! It got so old so fast.






The first 3 illnesses were all just colds, with nothing we could do but put the humidifier in her room at night and hold her lots and lots since she was considerably more grouchy (which, if you have spent time around her you know is rare!). But this last one, this week, was worse! Tuesday she had a scorching fever of 103-104 all day and night, even with ibuprofen. This of course led to very much interrupted sleeping and even a barfing episode (my first as a parent! so awesome.) that night. So Wednesday I took her in to the doctor and he figured she had developed a respiratory infection due to the lingering cough from her last cold. It has been a looong last 3 days, this is the sickest she has ever been! She is never, ever very clingy or snuggly unless she is sick and she has been the extreme of both of those. Like, won't even let me set her down. For anything. She has been sitting on the floot right next to me when I go to the bathroom even. Fun fun! Yesterday, even though it was her 2nd day on antibiotics, she was the most miserable. She really just slept off and on and watched movies All. Day. Which leads me to my next point . . . if I hear the music from any of our Baby Einstein movies again I think I am going to scream!!






Here she is so sad yesterday, usually she would jump off the couch in a second but she really just sat and watched. All she will drink is milk. Thankfully she is marginally better today and way less feverish, so I am hoping the worst is over. Although she just started crying again so looks like the fun isn't over yet . . .






Anyway, on to funner things.



We went to Utah last week during Spring Break! We were there Wednesday through Friday. I think I will post more about Spring Break in a separate post. But while we were there Ashlyn and I went to visit my parents, sisters, and cousin at their hotel in Sandy, and Ashlyn got to go swimming for the first time. (Maybe this is what got her sick?!)






She looooves bathtime, so I had assumed she would love swimming. Not so! She was so freaked out. It might have been how loud it was there with other kids around, or whatever, but she was NOT into it at first, at all!




See how she is like, eyeing the water! Don't you dare put me in that!

She would cry even when water touched her feet. Weird! So, we sat on the side of the pool and watched my awesome sisters swim around for a while.

And by the way, seeing how nasty white I am in these is discouraging because I now realize that no matter HOW tan I manage to get I am always going to look super white compared to my daughter. Oh well.

She finally warmed up, and ended up discovering the fun of SPLASHING! She did this for like half an hour. This meaning splashing me in the face.






If you zoom in on this pic you can see that I have serious mascara-nasty all over my face. Hmm, maybe because I was getting water up the face for 30 minutes?! She also got some goggles from Grandma and was having a good time with those. (thanks for taking these pictures, by the way, Megan!)





Snuggling with Grandma after drying off! so cute.
Other cute things about this little one


She loves TV. I only let her watch it as a special treat because she would sit there for hours if it is on. I always set her as far away from it as possible because little by little she will get closer and closer.... until she is this close!

(watching the MoTab during conference!)



Her favorite thing lately is to climb up and stand clinging to my (or Collin's) legs and whine until we pick her up. But how can you resist this cute little face?


Playing with Daddy.... lots of fun. Even though it looks like it, he is not teaching her to wrestle! And it will never happen! :)At Nana's house I was fixing her some breakfast in the kitchen and when I came back out to the living room she had discovered a basket of easter grass! The mess went far beyond what this picture can show! I hadn't ever thought about how much work it is to pick up a hundred million individual pieces of plastic grass.





She also had a good time hanging out with Uncle Tyler. We don't get to see him that much but we did get to this trip! It was fun.



She loves, loves "reading." I don't know where this came from, I mean we have always read her stories before nap/bedtime, but that's about it. These days, if I don't put a couple of books in her bed with her she will cry until she figures out how to grab some out of the basket next to her crib, or I come back in and give her some. And lots of mornings when I come in to get her up she is just sitting quietly in her crib looking at books. I have to say it is super adorable. I also just barely had the revelation to give her books in the car, and it is AWESOME!


Watching NCAA Bball with DAd (more to come on March Madness soon!)


I know this is petty but there is a downside to her love of books. This!

I will find her in her room surrounded by tons of books she has dumped out all over the floor. This happens like, every time she goes into her room. I have always resolved not to be a mom who is more concerned with keeping things clean than letting her kids live, but I also hate messes so I just have to look away to keep from cleaning it up 5 times a day! I know I know, it is just going to be worse someday. But I don't care it's my blog so I can complain about this little problem! :)




"reading"


We had our little friend Ellie over for a few hours a couple of weeks ago. These girls are 3 months apart and about the same size, both crawling, etc. etc. etc. They are so adorable together. This was the best picture I could get with them both in the picture, even though it is by no means a good one! At least one of them is looking! Ashlyn was eating cheerios and every so often would hand a couple down to Ellie. It was so funny.
Ashlyn is now bottle free! The dr. had told me it would be easier to get rid of them sooner than later, so we made the switch this past month. It was super easy, really. She LOOVES these little sippy cups. I don't know why because I have tried to drink out of one and you have to bite down on the straw just to get anything to come out which I find super awkward, but then again I'm not 13 months old. And they don't spill which is awesome. We finally gave up bottles totally just a week ago right before our Utah trip. I was just so fed up with still having to wash bottles and nipples even though she was just having one a day. So I just put them all away and that was that! I don't think she even noticed. And now we wash sippy cups all the time! But that's ok!!!




She is really into this "Cheese" smile. She'll do it whenever I (or most other people) smile at her. It's so funny. I know this isn't a great shot of it, she always stops the second she sees the camera.



Other fun things she's doing:

Playing Peekaboo

Blowing kisses, giving high-fives

Saying "da da" "woof woof" (for a dog), and "ba ba" for drink, "nah" for no--complete with the shake of the head and pushing me away.

Playing patty cake

Clapping whenever someone says "yay!"

Playing copy-cat, with sticking out your tongue or making funny noises

She is still a major "blanket" girl, has to have it to calm down/sleep.

Jabbering away and telling me lots of really long stories

Dancing whenever she hears music (often including head bopping!)

Eating more "big people" food....finally! She really likes scrambled eggs, french toast, cheese, pancakes, berries, bananas, peaches, pears, frozen peas, wheat bread, pb & j, toast with jam, quesadillas, and how could I forget, her all time favorite mandarin oranges! She can go through a can of those in one sitting!!


Not so fun things she's doing:

Being impossible during diaper changing!

Throwing a fit when it's time to get out of the bath tub

Also throwing a fit when I close the dishwasher or fridge before she gets a chance to play in them. I never let her so I always think why is this a big deal? Then I realize I'm trying to reason with a 13 month old.

The whole saying "no" thing as listed above!


That's really it. She is such a cheerful sweetie. She is so much fun right now (minus the being sick), I feel so lucky to get to spend my time with her. We are so lucky. Love our little muffin!

Thursday

Way late post



Back in February we threw a baby shower for my sister in law, Megan! She and Sam are expecting a baby next month! Wahoo! Ashlyn's first cousin on my side of the family! Anyway, it was really fun. I didn't take any pictures for some reason but I ended up putting together most of the food and luckily Tara had a picture of it I could steal. Too bad the sugar cookies (shaped like onesies, strollers and rocking horses--thanks Chandra!) and the strawberry fudge (compliments of Tara) and yogurt pretzels are still under their covers. Oh well. Just so you know, it was cool. Except for the marshmallow pops, those kindof bombed due to my poor choice of using some green icing. I know.








It was a fun shower, although I ended up spending most of my time keeping Ashlyn from getting into everything and of course she was uncharacteristically grouchy during that time as well. But whatev. It was fun to see a bunch of my cousins and aunts and get to celebrate cute prego Megan and the soon to appear babycakes!








....Later that day Mom and I drove to Poky (Dad came a little later) to watch STAAAATE! The PATS got 3rd, even though they scored over 50 points higher than they EVER HAVE! Wha?! I know. It was sad. Buuuut, still fun to see so many of the guys win!








Later the "Cafe Rio" incident happened, I will (or might not) explain later. But let's just say I will never go to the IF Cafe Rio again! no joke! I even complained (never done that before!) and they sent me a free meal card! Not really worth all the ridiculousness a certain employee caused, but still. I will at least use it at my trusty Boise location!