UNEMPLOYED

That's right. Right now I have no job.

Oh. Don't feel sorry for me. I didn't have a good job to begin with.

Oh sure I had been there for 4.5 years. But it was time for me to go. It was no longer a healthy environment to be in. Not healthy at all. For anyone really.

Let me tell you it wasn't pretty.

But I am much better off because I deserve better.

Right now better is in my parent's pool with Tilly.

Something about Summer

Summer is back and the only way I can tell is because our AC is on the fritz at the office. I am waiting for the boss to say we can come in cut-offs and flip flops tomorrow. A girl can dream. I miss those long summer days as a kid. I wish I could take back every utterance of "Mom, I am bored." What was I thinking.

So far this "summer" (it isn't official by the calendar's standards) Carl and I have gone to Stephenville, TX for my cousin's wedding. You may know Stephenville as the place where Jewel and her hubby Ty live or you may know it as the town that was abducted by aliens a few years back. I didn't get any pictures of the wedding but I did get pictures of the Dublin, TX Dr. Pepper Plant and Dino Valley in Glenrose, TX. If you are in the area I suggest you go to both. It's fun and CHEAP!

Carl wanted to know if he could keep him.

Yup. That is an actual dinosaur track. Really. Really.

This was my gift to Carl for our 2nd anniversary. No, I didn't get him a huge DP. I got him tickets to go on the plant tour (actually my uncle Randy ended up paying for everyone) and buy anything he wanted at Doc's Soda Shop!

The only other big event for the summer SO FAR...was BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL! Again. I didn't bring a camera. I had to be at work at 10 AM but I did manage to eat blueberry pancakes and scope out the festival before going in to work. I went with the usual suspects: Kelly, Ryan, Andrew, Britney and Cullen. They stayed long enough to be swimming in their own sweat.

Here is Drew! Isn't he so big?

I am amazed EVERYDAY at his ability to sponge EVERYTHING.

Here is a small list of his latest "tricks":

• He can show you his muscles and make a face of one who is lifting something heavy
• He can say: Mama, Dada, Bubble, Bok (block), Ba (ball), Bath, Buh Bye....he loves 'b' words
• He will "swim" on command.
• When you ask him where his nose is he will point to his ear.
• He thinks he's really good a the fake cry. It makes people laugh.
• He says 'hi' and 'buh bye' to ANYONE.
• He loves to dance.
• He will kick his legs in a fit of excitement for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
• He can growl, blow kisses, wave hi and bye, attempt to blow bubbles in the pool, flirt.

And that's just all I can think of right now. Cool Kid.

Finally I can't forget about my Tilly. I had to add this picture of her after a long day of digging.

I tried to tell her that the dirt on her nose really gives it away!

Two Years!

Carl and I have completed year two of holy matrimony!

I can't believe it! Like many things it feels like forever and yesterday we were at our wedding day. What a year it has been. Just some of the highlights I can remember:

• 1st Anniversary celebration in Austin Texas
• Going to Memphis to see Dave Matthew's Band, Graceland, Rock and Soul Museum and eating ribs at Rendezvous
• Carl's first Hallmark Family Reunion in Texas Hill Country
• Carl graduating from SFASU
• Carl getting a job with Boy Scouts of America.

It's been a sweet ride. It has been an amazing journey! I am so proud of the man I married. (As I type he is cleaning out his "Man Room" I mean who is this new graduated grown up guy?!?!) Can't wait to see what year 3 brings!

Oh PS. He even did good on the anniversary gift! Check it out below! She is my new favorite designer. I first saw her on cfhsuband.blogspot.com and I fell in love. Now I have my own necklace! Check her out at lisaleonardonline.com!She has awesome promotions where part of her sales benefits a family in need.
Can't get much better than that!

Easter in Pictures. Very bad pictures....

Finally...Photos!

Here are highlights of my last week in picture!

I did laundry.

I saw old friends! I can't wait to see Lauren a lot more often (wink, wink)!

I saw new friends. (These pretty girls belong to Clint and Amber Smith)

We ate lemons! (Andrew loves lemons)

Merry Christmas from Tilly

I got my new camera. Just in time for Christmas! Merry Christmas Everyone!

Tilly is at Gramma's and Granpa's

This is the email my mom sent me this morning:


Subject: Tilly is being a good girl!
Jean DeFord (XXXXXX@someinternet.com)


Attached is a visual of what your baby has been doing since daylight.....

Asks to go out.

Runs after animals.

Comes back in.

Uno Attack anyone?

This past weekend Carl and I went back to Dallas to spend time with my mom's side of the family. It was as usual a great time. We arrived on Friday night and were greeted not only by my parents and brother but also by my Uncle Randy, Aunt Kathy, Uncle Mark, Aunt Lisa and cousins Tyler and Rachel. Not nessicarrilly in that order.

This is where it starts to get funny....

Tyler was playing his Nintendo DS. Mark and Randy were intensley working on a puzzle. (see pictures) The rest of us decided to play a mean game of UNO Attack! It was fun! The best part had really nothing to do with the game.

Tilly has certian rights as the Grand-dog-der that no one else has with my father. She is able to sit in my dad's lap at the kitchen table! Now you know why my dog is spoiled! Well Dad was enjoying his nightly dessert (he says he never has dessert) but anyway he was enjoying his chocolate pie while Tilly was trying her hardest to enjoy it too!

Check out the pictures!

Ready for Halloween

Thanks Mom and Dad for the wonderful Halloween package. It inspired me to decorate the house. Tilly loves her snakes!!! Just check out the pictures below.

Cold Front. Coming Through!

Yeah for the cooler weather. Tilly looks so adorable in her pink hoodie. She loves to wear it too!

The Only Mole I like is the One that Starts with Guaca!

Being a homeowner is proving to be a challenge. I miss those days when you can call the landlord to fix it. Here is a list of the homeowner issues we have faced since May 2007.

1. Moles

2. Water Heater Burst (the day we moved in)

3. Roaches

4. Moles

5. New Lawn Mower broke

6. Weeds

7. both toilets need gutting (Cassie and I have fixed one....one to go)

8. Garage door randomly goes up

9. Moles

10. Short in electrical system

11. Giant hole in the ceiling of the garage

12. Moles

Do you see the reoccurring problem here. Moles. Tilly loves them but they are tearing the heck out of our backyard! At least Tilly is getting exercise!!!

Even in all these challanges being a homeowner really is much better than being a renter. At least when something goes wrong and it doesn't get fixed I can only be mad at myself instead of a crappy landlord.

Side Note: I never even thought I would be married or a homeowner by the time I was 25!!!! Sure we are poor but it is all worth it!

Marriage

I can't believe it. Carl and I have been married for almost 5 months! Some days it's my biggest challenge and others it feels like we've been married for years.

Marriage is certianly an adjustment! I have heard that the first year is the hardest. Well, we are almost half way through and it has been challenging.

Since Carl is still in school are schedules don't allow us for a lot of one on one time. I usually scramble to get home to make dinner in time for Carl to go to Wesley. We have also had to adjust to sleeping in the same bed. He likes to roll himself in the comforter and I like the topsheet (something Carl had never seen before) with a fan directed at my face. He blames me for cronic sore throat due to the fan being in his face. This is the worst of it folks so it's not bad at all. In fact it's rather lovely.

I love cooking for someone. We have both GREATLY reduced our fast food intake. I haven't lost any weight but I feel better. I am even cooking Carl red meat!!!! That has been interesting. I have only really screwed up once. I used stew meat for stir fry....I didn't know that stew meat was the toughest part of the cow!!!! Carl was a trooper and ate it up the first night...however the leftovers never made it to his belly.

I love having Carl here. Once we got engaged it was SO hard to say goodnight. I hated that he had to leave me. Don't get me wrong I am capable of being home by myself but it's nice to have him at home. I don't have to worry so much.

I am finally used to Hanke. That was very surreal to write for the first 4 months. Now it is habit. I don't even think twice while I sign checks. It is still a little weird though. A name you had for 25 years is now gone. Weird.

All in all I totally reccommend marriage to anyone who desires it. It rocks!

By the way Tilly is going to be Snow White for Halloween.....