It's a Jungle In There!!

Well, let me just first say....that I am officially crazy. No, no....it's true. Whichever mad woman came up with the insane idea to paint zebra stripes on her daughter's bedroom walls needs a padded room. Did you know that people with OCD (even mild forms) should not....I repeat....should not paint zebra stripes?

Did you know it causes them to obsess over every minute detail and text their family and friends a million times asking their opinion?
I am happy to say that I like the way it turned out very much. I also think it looks better in person. Poor Jo! She has to wait for her birthday to get her fabulous new bedding.
Until then she took the twin bed from the guest room and put it in her room....just for now. Sorry, Steph!! You'll be sleeping on the floor. tehehehe

You can tell that every picture is just a little different. There is just something about standing in a room starring at stripes all day that makes a woman a little nutty. Pretty soon I was adding a thicker stripe here and a swirl of black there. I tell ya, I just don't know how Michael Angelo did it. Years....I so couldn't do it....craziness....
So there is the temporary bed....under all the too-big-for-it bedding. If she is happy.....I am happy. You should come see it. It is amazing....ish

While The Cat's Away...

Yes, while the cat's away the mice will.....paint. That's right, you guessed it. Jim is in Chicago...again. But oh, the fun we have!! Jo has been wanting her room painted ever since we moved in (2 years...wow...time flies). But we have never been able to compromise on a color palette....until now. In the last semester of her freshman year (yikes) she took a design class. One of her assignments was to design her "dream" bedroom. To my surprise, she didn't pick anything with skulls or weirdness. As a theme she went with a cute (very bright) purple and zebra stripe bedding set. She did a really good job and even asked for the bedding as a birthday gift. huh...So I started mulling it over in my tired, little brain. Sure...we could do that....zebra stripes....yeah...So as soon as Jim left on Wednesday we started to move out the furniture.

We had to stash some in the bathroom too. Man this kid has a lot of junk!! And then we had to paint all the walls a bright shade of white. It was 3 coats worth of "Are we done yet?" and "I hate painting"...well duh, guys....I don't love it either....well, maybe I do!! tehehehe
I don't love the taping, though...ick.
Kev had to use a hammer to get this curtain rod down. Some idiot used 4 inch nails to secure it to the wall!! Now, that's what I call kid proof!!
Ah, white paint. Next post...the stripes...

Odds And Ends

So here are just a few of the summer time activities that I have been enjoying that I haven't had time (or I was just to lazy) to blog about.Not only did my Dad feed the geese....he was the goose whisperer. tehehe It was really cute. These baby geese were very happy to be fed and treated so kindly.
These are the baby cormorants. These white birds have such cute babies!! But MAN are they loud!! I didn't even notice that there were babies in those nests until......SQUAWK!!!
We went to the temple in Bismarck with Kevin. Cool. Yep.

Tea for Ten...the unofficial party for my birthday. I invited my little girlfriends and their Moms. We had fabulous lemonade and yummy cookies and lemon cupcakes with delectable pink frosting. We had a beautiful sun shiny day to hang out. There was some sidewalk chalking and giggling and a little time for visiting.
Of course my best little (non-related) girlfriend was there. Miss Kamiryn even wore her tea party finest. She really is fabulous. I'm sure we were friends before we were born.
My favorite related little girlfriends were here in June and July. Man I miss these girls....and their Moms. On a family note....say a prayer for my brother. I just got a message from my sister. Travis is in Seattle today waiting for a risky surgery. They started it once today and something went wrong and they had to stop. So now we get to wait for the docs to figure what went wrong and they will try again tomorrow. STRESS!!!
Brook and Lacey and Jo are the 3 amigos!! Such funny girls!
This is the Palmer family. Ms. Jackie and I have been friends for years. She decided that since I seem to spend all my time with my sisters when I visit Idaho....she would come to MN. We had a fabulous visit for an entire week!! I love her (and her family) so much. I so appreciate her driving all that way to come visit little ole me.

A Girl Named Lacey

A little back story on Lacey. When she was born, her Mama was working and not because she liked her boss...zippy. So guess who was living only a mile away?? You guessed it...Aunt Larry (of course I had yet to earn that moniker). I got to babysit my sweet baby Lacey. She became my little buddy. Jo was in kindergarten so in the morning Lace and I did all sorts of fun things. I was VP of the PTA at Kevin's school (across the street from our house) and Lacey was our unofficial mascot.
She went with me every where. A lot of people thought I must have had another kid. Close...but better. This one went home most nights. I treasure the time Lacey and I got to spend together. But just like all good things...it came to an end. Miss Kim decided to move her little family to Victor, ID. It felt like a million miles away. I missed both of them so much.
I have a pretty close relationship with Lacey. She is ten now and I definitely have spent the most time with her over my other nieces and nephews. I miss her...and I am so happy that she is old enough to come with Grandpa when he makes his way this direction.
She had never been this close to geese before and wasn't too sure she wanted to be that close at all. We walked around the lake and showed her the turtles and the baby geese and ducks.
We had fun feeding them and visiting. She is very sweet. It is fun having her around. She always wants to help out. And if there is anyone wanting to play a board or card game all they have to do is find her. She is always up for it. So, I guess what I am trying to say is....everyone needs a Lacey. I don't know how you all manage without her. I know I can't.

Flowers

I am sending some flowers to my sisters. Why? Is there any special reason? No. I just felt like they might need a reminder of how fabulous they are. They are each facing personal struggles this week. Michelle is back at work....and her new baby is at Miss Connie's. As far as daycare/pre-school providers go Miss Connie is the bomb.com. But I have a feeling Michelle would rather be home with her precious kidletts than any place on earth.Kim is dealing with another lifestyle change. One that is giving her much grief. I just want her to know that I love her and I pray for her every day.
Both of my sisters are very special women. They are strong and independent. They are as unique as these flowers and just as beautiful. I am lucky to have sisters for my best friends. I thought that every set of sisters shared the same intense bond that we have. Unfortunately that isn't the case. I now know that our friendship is as unique as each one of us.

Our Mom did something right. Somehow she gave us the glue that has cemented us together for eternity. I am truly blessed.

Another Class

Just to let you all know....I am still alive. I am still sore...more than ever. But this morning I got out of bed and went to class. Not only did I show up....I worked out. I still used weights and I still tried to look like I wasn't actually dying. My good friends keep telling me that it will get better. I really hope so. I know it will all be worth it in a month or two. I just have to stick with it. Not something I am known for. But luckily for me I am pretty stubborn when I want to be. I don't want ANYBODY to be able to say..."I knew you wouldn't keep going". I am going to try to use humor to stay motivated and keep things in perspective. I can do this. I can.

A Chicken in the Kitchen

Yes, I do decorate with chickens. I find their rustic qualities quite charming. But today I thought you all would appreciate a good belly laugh at my expense. I thought I was probably a bit out of shape. I can go at a fair clip on the elliptical for a solid 30 minutes. I can walk at a steady pace on hilly terrain for an hour or so without whining. So I thought this new exercise class would make me a bit sore and then I would be fine. Well, today I am reduced to pecking at the key board with a straw because I can no longer use any of the muscles in my arms or legs without severe pain. I am talking about pain that I have never experienced in all of my 35 plus years. To get into my car this morning to drive to the gyno was more than I could handle without a couple of mild expletives. And when she (Dr. Gyno) asked me to scoot a bit toward her on the table...I just wanted to laugh....and then cry. I tell you...I am embarrassed at the state I have let this mortal body decline to. And at this moment in time I am silently praying that Heavenly Father will just take it back as punishment. But...I think he knows that a better consequence will be for me to have to endure this pain and the anguish of getting this body back into the shape it was meant to be in all along. Rats. I really do hate natural consequences. So as you go about your day today...slip in a little vigorous exercise....maybe a few sets of lunges. Trust me....you don't want to look like a chicken with a coke habit pecking at the key board. ouch