My Dog the Bully

Remember that sweet little puppy we got a bit ago... while still sweet he got big and fast!
Tonight my Aunt left her little dog here while she went to a concert, and Daxter really threw his newly acquired weight around. Little dog Boston was fine, and having fun. He was actually really aggressive, I don't think he knows how little he is!

Transition

"We will live next door to each other." It wasn't exactly a promise, more of an assumption. It just made sense, it was supposed to be that way. So we didn't make an official plan, but we hoped. As we grew up, I guess I figured we might not live next door, but at least near by.
"Our kids will be close in age. We will sit on a porch swing and watch them get into all kinds of trouble like we did."
Well , not all of our plans are working out. Life happened. And things that we thought would didn't.

My sister is moving to Arizona. My best friend. I know, I know. It's not that far. We might be moving too. This shouldn't be that big of a deal. But try telling that to the huge lump in the back of my throat.
I have four older sisters, and while they are all wonderful in their own ways, there is just always been something about Lisa. Something about the sister who taught me how to shave my legs, and would drive me anywhere at anytime.The sister who would fast forward to then end of "I Still Know What You Did Last Summer" so that I could make sure (spoiler alert) Freddy Prince Jr. didn't die before I would watch the whole movie.

Lisa, I feel like you have been sharing your kids with us until we have our own. Last time you left them here Gracie kept calling me "mommy Jessica" we are really going to miss them. Soccer games, dance recitals,  and the everyday kind of stuff.
 I am dreading the  first time I am at family thing and all those sisters we have ( you know, the ones that live in the same city, have kids the same age that go to the same school and play on the same teams) start talking about teachers and coaches and people I don't know. I'll look for you out of habit and you won't be there.
I will bawl my eyes out when we pack you up and send you on your way. But I know I will see that spark in your eyes, because you have always been hungry for adventure. It doesn't surprise me at all that you are the first one of us to venture out on your own. You have always been brave like that.
Life rarely goes the way we plan. Fighting it doesn't work, so instead, we transition. We talk on the phone, a lot, and I mean a lot a lot.  I start looking forward to when I can brag to friends in the dead of winter that I will be going to see my sister in Arizona. We focus on how exciting it will be when you come back for Christmas, and I will teach your kids how to build forts in the snow they don't get to play in at home. Before you know it we will be used to the distance. At least that is what I will be telling myself. I feel pretty lucky I have a sister that I will miss this much.
Life rarely goes the way we planned,  but it usually goes much better.

We will make the most of these last couple weeks! Get ready for some awesome late nights and packing parties.
In our family we don't say this enough, in fact we hardly ever say it, but I love you Lisa. You are a wonderful sister and friend. Make sure you have enough floor space in your new place for us to come crash.

Aging just a little

About a week ago Parker came home with an early birthday present. He had figured out how to get all of my pictures off a ruined hard drive. All of my pictures from London, that I thought I had lost forever. I was so excited! And I will always back up my hard drives from now on!
 London was a hard time for us, being apart for that long. But it was such a wonderful experience for me and those pictures are priceless.
Anyway... I guess we just stuck with that theme. I had a blow out British Birthday Party. And it was the greatest.
The night went down like this: fish and chips, face paint, football, a dance party under a canopy of blue and red ribbon, an intense FOUR rounds of Fugitive, and delicious Nutella Pie.
It was amazing. Don't believe me?Take a look for yourself.

 

Whenever we play games as a family, Parker and I have to be on opposite teams because all of the kids fight over us. It makes us feel pretty cool. 

Sarah and I had a bit of a collision. 

This is my niece Maddie. She is growing up so fast I can't believe it. We were on a team for a few rounds of fugitive.( A super fun night game that involves running all over the neighborhood. )And I couldn't believe how fast she is! 

Trying to get all of the kids in a picture is a mess. Everyone fights over where they are standing, who is touching them, and everyone is complaining, they do not want to be in a picture. However.... 

Tell them to make a funny face, and they are more than happy to be in front of the camera. 

Parker made me a Nutella pie with a peanut butter crust. It was so GOOD! He worked so hard to pull this whole thing off for me. Thanks again Parker. 

Trick Candles... took me a while to get them out. 

It was so much fun! Thanks to all who came and celebrated with us! 

Sunday (my actual birthday) was much more low key. We had a yummy brunch with the Hustons. When we came home we retreated to the cold basement where we had a little read-a-thon. (my very favorite) 

Parker and I are reading the same series right now, and I am a couple books ahead. We spent a few hours wrapped up in the same characters and stories with Parker every so often putting down his book and asking me what was going to happen next. 

 We ended the night watching the season finale of Bach that I have been so excited for. 

 It was a perfect day with my best friend. It was quiet and calm, giving me time to feel an overwhelming gratitude for everything, and everyone I have in my life. 

(Did you notice I cut my hair? 8 1/2 inches!) 

Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

You and me both kid.
Did anyone watch this movie or read this book back in the day? I sure did. And I think about it whenever I have a bad day.
Remember how he went to sleep with gum in his mouth and woke up with gum in his hair. And after dropping his sweater in the sink while the water was running he just knew it was going to be a terrible horrible no good very bad day.
I didn't wake up with gum in my hair... but from the time I woke up today I knew it was going to a rough one.
And to be honest it turned out to be worse than I thought.
All Day all I have wanted to do was crawl back in bed... and now it's late and I can't sleep. Figures.
Somedays are just like that. Even in Australia.
But today Parker stepped up to the plate for me and it made me feel really good. It is nice to know I married someone who will always have my back. Silver lining.
So in honor of my bad day I thought I would just post some things that cheer me up... no matter what:

This old song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcyS90pdcuw

This sweet post (that is now more than a year old) from a wonderful friend http://nicoleslifeasacollegecougar.blogspot.com/2011/06/june-4thfinally.html

These inspiring words http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2008/10/come-what-may-and-love-it?lang=eng

And this old photo of a man in a chicken costume on a very rainy day. About 7 years ago Lisa and I snapped this as we drove past this poor guy. We wanted it so we could always remember that no matter how bad it gets at least we are not dressed up as a chicken standing in the rain.

I think the real reason this picture always cheers me up is it makes me remember how hard we were laughing as we drove past this chicken about 10 times to get a good picture. And how mad it made him.  Or her... I don't know why we always assumed it was a guy.



***If you don't know about Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day check it out next time you're down, you can watch it on youtube.