letters from kimmy

my friend kim has been in brazil visiting family for almost 2 weeks. she's been off track, so i wouldn't normally be seeing her everyday - but typically when she's off track, she's not out of the country. so text messages at any given moment are still allowed, but that hasn't been an option.

we've been emailing back and forth since she's been gone. writing letters, if you will. i miss that form of communication. in this day and age, we're all - and i know i'm more than guilty of this - too immediate. i have realized that i miss the formality or something. [i've even used capital letters - to all those out there that don't think i'm capable. a story for another day, now i basically refuse to punctuate properly out of stubborness.]

maybe i'm just a poor emailer. but i usually don't go through all of the steps of telling what is going on, answering questions asked, and then asking my own questions. but in real life, that's more how you communicate. or i do. i don't just share messages out & wait for a simple response. i want to tell what is going on, i want to find out what else is going on... i've really enjoyed these emails. and to boot - kim is an incredibly funny, witty friend so busting a gut laughing while hearing about brazilian culture and traditions is highly entertaining.

i'm always so thankful for friends. especially smart, dependable, humorous ones. kimmy, if you read this, come home - we need to do dinner or something. and do some more catching up face to face. i miss you. but in the meantime, i'm really enjoying your emails.

why do sundays have to end?

i survived halloween.

i was dressed as granny may from word girl. kids - young kids - thought i was a geisha. how in the world do they even know what a geisha is???

i can't believe it is november. this year has gone so fast.

i love the holidays, especially christmastime. i can't wait for it. time with family, a break from school.

i don't love driving in the snow/ice. i tend to crash.

i'm fighting a cold. my eyes are a little goopy still. my throat keeps getting sore-ish. i'm a little achy. of course, for conferences...

this week is going to be long, stressful, and hopefully successful.

i'm glad halloween is over.

time to break out the mocha choca latta yaya. momma surely does enjoy hot apple cider & mint hot chocolate.

i like asking why questions when trying to keep garrett awake. it's fun. except when he stops playing. guess i better get off the computer & read, so i can fall asleep so he can legally fall asleep. if he falls asleep before me, i'll be bugging him about snoring & that's not fun for him. good night.

vampires and monsters

[photography by hojo. editing done at picnik.com]

i wish...

a few things:

1. that i wasn't dreading the halloween parade tomorrow.
   
2. that i didn't have to dress up tomorrow.
3. we could have our halloween party at the end of the day. instead of before a spelling test.
4. i was more cheerful about halloween. for my husband's sake.

luckily - a mom has organized the party & i don't doubt for one minute it will be great. luckily - i didn't have to plan it, i'm not creative at all. i'll try not to complain too much...

a little about my dad

[picture stolen from hojo's blog]

i'm told not all girls have dad's as amazing as i do. i'm told some dads aren't that interesting, funny or responsive. i wouldn't really know though. my dad has always been entertaining, supportive, and involved.

i know i've said this before, but my dad rocks. i love him. i'm especially grateful for him lately, as he's been taking extra good care of my momma.

about a month ago, my mom's back went out. 2 new herniated disks and arthritis in her spine. she's been flat on her back. she was in the hospital. she's been in miserable pain. she's finally starting to feel a tiny little bit better. she can walk around a little bit. she can sit up for a little while. she can at least be alone during the day.

my dad has cooked, shopped, cleaned - not something he doesn't normally do but i think still deserves a little extra notice, nursed, kept the house in order. basically he's learning what it's like to be wife. all the while, he's been working full time. his attitude has been positive and helpful. usually even cheerful, if not a little sassy. [what's new, right?]

i'm so lucky to have my dad. my mom is so lucky to have my dad. thank you dad, for putting up with all of the girls in your life. and for being an amazing dad. and husband.

and dad, i didn't just post about you today because you've been giving me grief about always talking about how much garrett's my favorite & you're not anymore. you're a safe 2nd .. until i have a kid. hahaha. will you be able to handle 3rd place? mom, can you get him into therapy? not an announcement.

inside days in october?

don't mind us - we're having an inside day due to snow today. sad. momma no likey. too early in the year.

momma likey a productive afternoon

i wish i didn't need a list like this for my friday afternoons. but i do. and i love the feeling of checking things off the list. last friday, i left early. i was tired, i didn't feel well, and i had permission. all week, i've been saving things to do for this week's planning time. aside from this little blog post, i've been very productive. and i'll be here for another half hour or so. 2 more things i want to get done & cross off. the rest will wait til monday morning. ok, i'm back to work.

saturday agenda

*sleep in. which sadly probably won't happen, cause unless we party hardy friday night, i'll still wake up earlier than wanted. or i'll have to pee. *breaky: bacon and eggs. mhmmm. *finish reading my book. it is really good, but i've just been so busy. *treadmill. get a good workout in. i'm motivated for the tready right now. that is a good thing. *working on halloween costumes. i'm reminded why this holiday exhausts me. *lunch: orange chicken and rice. *taking a nap. *cleaning bathrooms. vacuuming & dusting. might "let" garrett help on some of that. *catching up on so you think you can dance. we're still weeks behind. i'm actually enjoying the auditions though. *make caramel corn. that sounds so good to me right now, i'm drooling.*dinner: i don't know. maybe a wrap. maybe i'll "let" garrett take me to dinner.*going to bed early. yes, i realize that a lot of my day revolves around sleep. i'm exhausted today. and i 've got a headache. and all i want to do is relax. it is what is getting me through the day.*also, i can't guarantee the order of events.

look at that duck. look at it.

garrett. my husband. do i have words to describe my feelings for him? not adequately. but i will try. i think i've said it all before. today is his birthday. i hope he has a wonderful day. i never expected to find someone this wonderful. he makes me happier than i thought possible. he is the most genuinely good person i know. sometimes i wonder what he sees in me. he loves children. that makes me love him more. he works hard. that makes me love him more. he treats me so well. i feel like a queen everyday. he supports me. he spoils me. i love his smile. i love his hands. i love smelling him. i love snuggling him. i plain just love being with him. i thank my heavenly father everyday for sharing him with me. he is my favorite person ever. i hope i do him half as good as he does me. i am the luckiest girl in the world. i am the happiest girl in the world. how could i have forgotten that he is the funniest, wittiest, most clever person i know, too. silly me.

happy birthday garrett.
i love you.

smack that a$$

[i love this picture from our wedding reception. it perfectly shows me having fun with one or more of my sisters.]

today is heather's birthday. i see heather least often of my sisters. but that doesn't mean we're not close. heather is one of my favorite people, one of my best friends. we talk on the phone often. i love her; she's good, she's healthy, we're very different -- i realize. but we always have a lot of fun together. i can't wait to go see her at thanksgiving & get to have a few days of laughing with her.

heather, i hope you have had a wonderful birthday today!