Saturday, September 26, 2009

Attention Husbands of the World...

So if you're a HuSbaNd, and you're leaving your wife for the weekend, and it just happens to be the end of an ExTrEmEly overwhelming week...you know, the kind that leaves the kitchen looking like this:







You might want to be PrOaCtiVe and SmArT about the situation.


For example, you might want to leave your wife a voice mail like this one so she's not surprised that you left her with the T.W.D. (this term was created by my dad: Toxic Waste Dump) you two have created over the course of the week:

"Hi Honey it's me. I just wanted to call before I leave to apologize for the mess that I'm leaving. I feel really sad about it. I can clean on Sunday when I get back and,
hopefully I can make it up to you with a date Sunday night."

Though acknowledging the situation in this way is good, you might not want to assume that a voice mail totally covers your tracks.
It does prepare her for what's to come, but let's be HoNeSt when she walks through the door and sees first hand the MeSs you and she have been trying to IgNoRe all week...and all she really wants to do is ReLaX... and she realizes that you are ReLaXiNg around some GoRgeOuS lake surrounded by trees turning their leaves into the BrIlliAnT shades of AuTuMn...and though the idea of you cleaning on Sunday sounds good, you know that in reality there's no way she could stand herself any longer if she left it until then...

You might also want to leave something like this:

Honey Love,

I miss you already. You are my love. I'm so sorry it's still a TrAsH PiT.
Please forgive me. I'll clean on Sunday. Think about our date on Sunday.


Love,
Grizz

...that way when she sees this:



...She'll MuSteR up a GrAciOuS attitude instead of FrUsTrAtiOn. SmIle and LaUgH instead of RoLl her EyEs and SiGh. She'll probably even forget the about the mess and MiSs you terribly...And who knows...maybe her just knowing that you recognize that she got the CrUmMy end of the deal this time might help her AtTaCk those dishes with GrAtiTuDe and LoVe as she thinks of her SmArT and PrOaCtiVe husband.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Ode to Christopher...

How I LoVe thee my BrOthEr dearest...Let me count the ways...A list of TeN things that make me GrAteFuL to call you BrOtHeR on this day of your birth and every day of the year...

Number 1: You're the only person in the world that I continually catch UnaShAmeDly checking themselves out in the mirror. I can't blame you...you come from a GoOd LoOkIn' family...

Number 2: Even though you sometimes implement ToRtuRe TaCtiCs, you still remain, in my opinion, an InCrEdiBle UnCle. I secretly can't wait to watch you work your MaGiC on my own children one day.
Number 3: You're really CoOl...SeRiOuSly...what were you thinking bringing along your sixth grader sister to the CrAnBeRriEs CoNcErT when you were a college kid? Did you know that was my first concert ever?...I'm glad I get to forever share that memory with you. I never hear DrEaMs without thinking of you my BrOtHeR.

Number 4: One time when I lost a FrIeNd you were the OnE who came to be with me. You put aside your busy schedule to be a BiG BrOtheR. Thanks for just being there. I know others in the family would say the same...

Number 5: As you know FoOd is of the UtmOsT importance in our FaMiLy, and I have to say you do your fair share of CoNtrIbuTiNg to the PaLlaTe PleAsInG meals at our gatherings...give me some of that SwEeT ChiLi !


Number 6: You are the SloWeSt eater on the face of the PlaNeT...I love that I can FoReVeR make fun of you for that :)

Number 7: You picked a RoCkiN' wife...seriously, I'm so thankful you chose ChRiStiNe. She fits in PeRfeCtlY with the Family, and I think she is HiLaRiOuS, CrEaTiVe, FuN, and CaRiNg...all essentials if you ask me.


Number 8: Basically you've always been one of my FaVoRiTe people to HuG. Thanks for putting up with me even in my most AfFeCtiOnAtE of moods.

Number 9: You truly CaRe about and LoVe each member of our family, and you ShoW it. You are one of the best LiSteNeRs I know, and I AdmIrE you for the way you take time to get to know and care about each one of us. You always make sure we have some QuAliTy talk time when we are together. I really VaLuE that time with YoU.

And FiNaLly Number 10: You put up with StuFf like my MaRiaH CaReY AlL I WaNt for ChRisTmaS song and dance...


and ThiS...
...ThIs...



...I can't forget to mention ThiS...



...somehow you're even managing to put up with ThiS...

...ThiS....
and EvEn this...

Yet at the end of the day you somehow manage to LovE us all...you're the BeSt. Thank you for being such an InCreDiBle brother to me throughout the years. I'm grateful for the opportunity to CeLeBraTe you on this day.


I love you Christopher,

Katie Did

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Still in Shock

It's Saturday morning, I wake up, and Dan is already over at church starting his day. I pull myself together just in time to deposit checks at the bank before heading to watch one of my FifTh GrAdeRs bowl.
This weekend happens to be rather full so I'm wondering how I'm going to fit everything in as well as relax, clean the house, grocery shop, make meals, etc.
As I watch fifth graders get BoWliNg scores I will never in my life achieve, the smell of bowling alley food tempts me. Somehow I resist the GrEaSe BoMbaStiC food even though the only thing I can imagine throwing together at home is a microwaved/baked potato with cheese, broccoli and deli ham...TeMpTiNg, I know.
After being a cheerleader for three rounds of bowling, I say goodbye and take my growling stomach to the car and begin not looking forward to my sink full of dirty dishes and my throw whatever we've got on a potato because we haven't been to the store in awhile lunch.
As you can imagine I was thrown into a total state of shock as I walked into our house and smelled something DeLiCioUs...then I remembered we live below Mark and Kora so it was probably their something delicious I was smelling...
Dan was standing at the sink WaShInG the DisHeS that I was dreading only moments ago so I decided to expect the best and ask what he made that smelled SO good. You must understand that Dan's specialties usually include deli sandwiches, BLTs, and breakfast so when he proudly said, "I made a YuMmY ThAi DiSh" my jaw just about dropped to the floor. I couldn't imagine anything I would rather have for lunch at that moment, but I had to see it to believe it...
It turns out he DiD indeed make a yummy Thai dish! Not only did he make lunch, he actually went online and found a recipe for pad Thai and tweaked it a bit because of our lack of groceries...Even as I sit here with a FuLl BeLly I still can't believe it...what a PleAsAnT surprise...even if Dan says it was really more for him than me...I'll still take it.

Friday, September 18, 2009

A Garden Story

Once upon a time there was a LaDy named KaTiE who dreamed of having a GaRdEn in the NeIghBorHoOd CoMpOuNd...

So she talked her husband into digging up the sod with her in their CoMpOuNd yard...

After a bit of SwEaT and ToiL, the plot of land was ready for Dr. BeArD and his TiLleR...

A few days later fellow CoMpoUnDeRs joined the effort...



After a bit of TrEe BeArDiNg...



...AmErIcaN GoThiCinG...


...And yes, PlaNtiNg...


The NeIgHboRhOoD waited in ExPecTatiOn to see what GoD would bring forth from the EaRtH...

Only time would tell if their SoWinG would indeed ReAp a BoUntiFuL HaRveSt...
And this concludes Part I of our GaRdeN story...to be continued soon and very soon...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

I Love Me Some Cassie!

For those of you who don't know... CaSsIe is da BoMb! We met last year at Halloween time so this was our first year to CeLebRaTe our BiRthDaYs together. Aside from having birthdays exactly one week apart, we have a lot in common even though we are a few years apart...I won't say how many :)

Anywho, I love HaNgInG out with my CaSsiE girl on Tuesday nights. She's a girl after my own heart!


She's SuPeR fun to ShOp for!

Plus she knows me well...see what I mean...


I also love that she made me this card in StUdY HaLl...

Cassie, you are so ThOuGhTfUl, CrEaTiVe, and KiNd. I hope that you will have a fabulous year Miss EigHteEn...

Thank you for being a BlEsSiNg to me and many others as you LoVe with the love you have been given. You are BeAutIfuL my friend. May your BeAuTy continue to increase with each year...

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with EvEr-InCrEaSiNg GloRy, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

I love you girl,

Katie

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The other day Dan and I were at the StUpE having ice cream. For those of you who didn't go to WhEaToN, the Stupe is ThE place to go for IcE CrEaM. We decided to stop there and reminisce for a bit after ringing the tower bell (more on that later)...

We forgot that when you say one scoop at the Stupe, it's really the equivalent of three. Neither of us could finish our mound of ice cream, but as our cups were sitting there, Dan decided to use them as an IlLuStRaTiOn of us.

He grabbed the camera and started taking pictures of the cups. I thought he was documenting the ridiculous amount of ice cream left after we had eaten a good amount but, I was wrong. He remarked that looking at our ice cream cups said a lot about us and our differences. I then took a closer look at this:


I've marveled recently at how much easier it seems for Dan to lose weight than it is for myself. So naturally at first glance, I thought he was pointing out that I had ScARFfeD down more ice cream than him. Thus proving the point that I have far less WiLl PoWeR. All of this is true, but it wasn't his point. He directed me to look closer still...

HiS cup...

My cup...

I still can't figure out how this stuff seems to happen to me or better yet how I'm completely OblIvIouS to it, but I'm so grateful I have a perfectly CiViLiseD husband to point out that I'm a ComPleTe SloB!

It's a good thing he also shares in my ApPreCiaTioN for SiTuAtioNaL CoMeDy...Otherwise I don't know how he'd put up with his DiSaStEr of a wife!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

just a thought...

Have you ever been on your way to a friend's house, family get together, church, etc. and gotten into a BiG FiGhT with the husband? I hate when that happens. You get to your destination and put on your HaPpY FaCe for the sake of those around you, but inside you are BuRnInG.

Well, tonight as I watched MrS. ObaMa admire her husband's enterance, I wondered if her and the President ever get into ArGuMenTs on the way to CaPiToL HiLl. It's silly I know, but I know it happens to everyone else so why not the FiRsT LaDy?! I wonder how she does it. How does she watch as the WoRlD admires her husband and goes BoNkErS over the man who quite possibly just got UnDeR her SkIn.

What strength it must take to stay composed as the cameras zoom in on her every expression. I salute you MiCheLle ObAmA for your grace and composure...it's hard enough at church. I don't know how you do it in front of the entire PlaNeT. Just a thought...

Sunday, September 6, 2009

love, LoVe, love my Birthday Weekend...and my Husband...

FrIdaY...



Saturday...

Teasing me with my gifts...so CrUeL...



Sunday...


And since they made a HoLiDaY WeEkeNd to celebrate my birthday....


...Monday...






And last but not least...Birthday CaKe!





















ThE EnD...


...and the BeGiNnInG of what I'm HoPeFuL will be a year of learning, love, laughter, and gratitude. Thank you LoVe for making my birthday so special. You're the BeSt...

Happy Birthday to Me

In honor of my birthday, I've decided to indulge myself with a new playlist. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can see 27 years of music, one song for each year of my life.
I'm the type of person that hears not only a song when it plays but a host of memories that go with it flood my mind. I had so much FuN checking out the billboard charts for each year of my life and choosing my FaVoriTeS. So many memories are evoked as I hear it, and I hope that you will find some JoY in listening to it as well...
Song number one is from 1982, number two is from 1983, etc. There are 28 songs because I've officially begun my 28th year!
Here are some of my memories in the list...can you guess which song goes with which?


  • Riding in the car with DaD
  • Watching MTV with my brothers....when it actually had music videos :)
  • Dancing at my WeDdInG
  • FaVoRiTe movies
  • Making up dances in my BaSeMenT with my childhood BFF
  • The LoVe of my LiFe...DaNieL
  • Working my FiRsT JoB and spending most of the money at AbErCrOmBiE
  • Dancin' it up in my CaR with one of my most favorite people in the world
  • 6th grade end of the year picnic
  • spending hours memorizing LyRiCs with a friend
  • Working out at CaRdInAL FiTnEsS in the beginning of our marriage
  • Mourning the loss of a FriEnD
  • SiNgInG my heart out in the car on my way to school
  • ChErRy CoTtaGe RoOmMaTeS

I could go on, but for now I will leave you to explore the list. I would love to know if any songs stir up memories for you...and I highly recommend this little activity for anyone who's sickeningly NoStaLgIc or just wants an excuse to put songs you would normally not admit to enjoying on your blog! Enjoy!

If you absolutely DeSpIsE 80s/90s music or pop music...please feel free to press pause at the bottom!

Friday, September 4, 2009

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's birthday, and though I do not have her official birthday post completed, I wanted to at least say Happy Birthday! You're the BEST mom in the world, and I will tell everyone why soon...
Love you mom,

Kate