Happy Birthday Brett!

Unfortunately Brett is on a river trip for his birthday this year. He is not here to have the cake which I will inevitably bake and devour for him in his absence, so I thought that I'd post some love for him on my blog, should he happen to look at it upon his return. (And, should he live past the tumultuous rapids and ferocious bears that I in my paranoia have imagined to be summing up his existence even as I type!)

Brett, here are 31 things I love about you Babe...

1. You have the sexiest smile. I remember how you looked at me when we first met and mmm...that smile... You also took great pride in your fabulous teeth and even carried a toothbrush with you in the cargo pocket of your pants. You might actually be a little vain about your beautiful smile after all huh!?!

2. I love that you will always do the dishes. I have them waiting in the kitchen for you right now. Okay, maybe for your birthday I'll give you a vacation from the kids AND I'll do the dishes!

3. You are the world's best Daddy. You are so sweet with our children and much more patient than I am. You take the time to listen to them, to wrestle with them, to snuggle them, and, of course, to read Moo Who? and I Will Never, Ever Eat a Tomato over and over and over...

4. I love that you encourage me to do things just for me and you're proud of my accomplishments. I love that you are proud of me for going to Jazzercise (we both know that I need major validation here!). I love that you take the time to look at each scrapbook page I make, and that you are always willing to take over when I need to get away from the kids, even if it means that you're stuck with three little grumps while I'm relaxing in a hot bubble bath. You validate my needs as a wife and it makes me proud that I was smart enough to land a guy like you!

5. You are a jack of all trades-you can do ANYTHING and you're never afraid to try something new. Have you given gourmet cooking any thought???

6. I love that you always have to have a project. Sure, this can be expensive, but you are always going, always thinking, always creating...if the rapids and bears don't get you, and of course, if you can escape heart disease, then you will live forever with full mental capacity like your Grandfather who still skiis and designs webpages at 93!

7. You have a very easygoing, easy to like personality. You like pretty much everybody and can get along with anybody regardless of how different they are from you.

8. You are optimistic. You think positively and you ground me when I start getting down on something.

9. You share in my affinity for a good movie, a greasy pizza, and a Big Gulp. There may be a discrepancy on the definition of "good movie" but we both know that the Super Big Gulp is an essential part of any balanced weekend.

10. I love it when you build me things. Not cakes, which I do like, but whenever I see shelves or a table in a Pottery Barn catalog you're happy to make it for me for far less, and I'm happy to brag about what a handy man I've married.

11. I love your two gray hairs. I'm only in my twenties so I don't know what it's like going gray, but I love how well you've aged Brett, you look distinquished. You make the thirties look good!

12. I love what a history buff you are. If we chose teams for Trivial Pursuit (you know, if we had friends to play board games with) then I'd definately chose you on my team because you know all the presidents, when all the wars were, what the battles were called, who lived when and where and what they all did...you know a lot of history. And you know that if we were playing Cranium, well then, I'm your girl-as long as I don't have to do the humming questions.

13. I love that you love to take drives, especially in the fall. I love that you'll stop every ten feet on drives through the canyons so I can grab leaves to press too.

14. I love you in a sweater, mustard yellow or any other color.

15. I love that you can make a joke and lighten up tense situations. This usually works, unless I'm angry with you, in which case your jokes all of a sudden aren't so much funny as they are a feable attempt to dig yourself out of the hole you've created.

16. I love that when the jokes aren't working, you finally come around and say your sorry-it works everytime.

17. I love your Swan Dance

18. I love that I'm the english minor, and yet anytime I challenge a word you've used it's always in the dictionary. Lucky. I challenge you to a game of Scrabble anyway.

19. I love what a geek you are. You are always looking at things from an engineer's perspective, thinking about how a structure is made or how different mechanisms work. Me, I'm just glad there are people like you who understand it and make it all possible!

20. I love it when your foot reaches over and rubs mine in the night. It's an "I love you" without words.

21. I love that you'll play The Newlywed Game over and over with any group of people even though we usually always lose. But I know your toothbrush is blue and you know mine is green, everything else just doesn't even matter!

22. I love that you let me be myself and you don't have an agenda of what you expect of me. I'd love it if you came up with a "to do" list for me though...that'd be pretty funny!

23. I love that you support my staying at home to raise our children. Even when money is tight, you know that I'd rather be here to hear all the cute little things our kiddos say and to witness them rolling over and starting to walk and talk-that those things are more important than having a nice boat, designer clothes or furniture that isn't second hand. I appreciate the opportunity you afford me to stay home. Plus, the Brown Trout is a killer boat and you know it! It's vintage Baby!

24. I love that you love nuts. Because when someone makes the mistake of buying us an assorted box of See's candies, I know that half of them don't have to go to waste, you actually prefer those nutty guys!

25. I love that you love bacon and cheese and all things fried. Were we made for each other or what!?!

26. I love that we know each other well enough that we can interpret one another's thoughts from what is said. Like when we're on a dirt road on a mountain and there is an alternate route, when you say "I wonder where that road goes?" I know it really means, "I don't know where that road goes, do you mind if we drive it for the next two hours?" Or when you ask where something is and I say, "I don't know," you know that what I'm really saying is, "I might know, but we both know I'm too lazy to go get it."

27. I think Jemaine said it best: "Brett, you've got it go-in' o-o-on!"

28. I love that you're a hard worker. Anything you do you put your all into it and you don't stop until it's finished.

29. I love that you're assertive, you get your point across and get your way but you're polite about it.

30. I love that you are the best man I know, AND that you're mine. Unless you think the thing you and Reid have is worth a shot. He he he.

31. I love that you're in your thirties and I'm in my twenties. You're an old man Brett!!!

I love you Babe! I hope you know that, even if I'm a crappy gift giver and the best idea I've ever come up with on my own was a Dwight Schrute bobblehead doll! I hope you have/had a great birthday. Now I'm off to make your cake for me to eat later...

Happy Birthday Ariann!

I am usually embarrassed every year when I call Ariann for her birthday and realize that I've called a month early, only to forget to call or send a card the following month. I'm crappy when it comes to birthdays, but I never let go of a good friend, and this is one girl worth celebrating, even if I'm a month, or a few days off... (it really is May 21st isn't it???)
Happy Birthday Ariann!!! I'm posting birthday wishes to you for a special day. I'd like to write a few of my favorite things about my good ol' girl, thirty of them as she is 30 this year! Here it goes...

1. Ariann has been my best friend since junior high/high school-my "go to girl" who I call with all my BIG stuff, and who I can call about all the little stuff too. (it's rare to find these kinds of girlfriends, I know, I've looked!)
2. Ariann is judgemental, in a motherly protective cougar sort of way and she will claw the eyes out of anyone who crosses someone she loves.
3. Ariann will tell you when you have a zit ready to burst or a dangling nose monkey-she doesn't want you to be embarrassed, and she doesn't wanna look at the thing and pretend it's not there-it's not her style!
4. Ariann knows a good deal when she sees one. One year she bought me a skirt and when I opened the gift she said something to the effect of, "yeah, it's cute huh? I only paid 3 bucks for it on clearance, now will you wear it tomorrow so I can steal it?" She also steals clothes, but I've never loved that so it doesn't get it's own number.
5. Ariann sometimes returns clothes. You do have to go to her house and dig whatever you want back out from under a pile however.
6. Ariann always lets me cry on her shoulder, even if it's wasted tears over some stupid guy who she knows is stupid. She will also then tell you how stupid said guy is. (Pretty much my whole junior year she was running to get me tissue!)
7. Stove Top stuffing with sour cream, need I say more?
8. Ariann, my diabetic friend, has been known to smuggle cadbury creme eggs home in her bra so her Mom wouldn't find out. (Diane, if you're reading this, it wasn't my idea!)
9. Ariann will dress up in ridiculous clothing and shamelessly strut her stuff in public. I'd post pictures but it would draw too much attention!
10. Ariann isn't shy when it comes to buying bras with high fiber content, the more padded the better!
11. Ariann has an infectious laugh, a laugh that makes you laugh just hearing it.
12. Some of my fondest memories of high school are of my best friend and I lying around on the floor of my bedroom just talking and laughing, talking and laughing all night long.
13. Ariann knows my deep dark secrets and loves me anyway.
14. Ariann and I used to have secret meetings in the library otherwise known as "doctor appointments" to the attendance lady, where we'd try to read exerpts from steamy novels aloud to each other without laughing and we'd end up cracking up, peeing our pants a little bit, and getting seriously dirty looks from the librarian. We nearly got banned from the public library. Ariann, you're trouble!
15. strawberry daquiris in Pam's laundry room and harrassing Chris Miller. Yeah, you remember!
16.Ariann has always stood up for me, even if what someone else was saying was true and it just wasn't nice of them.
17. Ariann has always had a firm testimony of the gospel and has held me up with her faith when mine was lacking. I remember what amazing letters you'd write me during our freshman year Ariann, you'd write just what I needed to hear and you supported me from hundreds of miles away. I know that God loves me because he provided you in my life to help me through some really bad times, and to laugh with me during the good times too. I remember one time when you asked how I knew that there is a God, you are my answer. Your friendship is proof that God exists.
18.you aren't afraid to tell someone if what they're wearing makes them look fat.
19. also, you'll say what alot of people think but don't say. Sometimes you say it a little too loudly, but it's funny nonetheless!
20. you love cheesy love music. Your iPod is probably full of Air Supply, Chicago, and Eric Carmen isn't it?
21. you know how to recycle your paper, Grandma Dot would be so proud!
22. you tell good stories, even if you REALLY REALLY exaggerate.
23. you like to make people feel good...
by telling them that some hot guy is staring at them, only to find out later that said hot guy's friend thought I was constantly checking him out. Yes, remember when you unwittingly made me John Franklin's stalker??? Yeah, that 7th grade crush is hard to break huh? It's okay, we both know he's really gay, a guy that good looking HAS to be gay!
24. You're willing to admit that you had a crush on John Franklin. I never did. Never.
25. You flew back to go to our reunion with me and the best part of the whole thing was just being with you.
26.You know what you want. Yes Travis, if you're reading this, she knew she wanted to marry you since senior Prom night, since Senior Prom night!!! And you get what you want don't you Ariann! You go girl! (P.S. way to go with the iPod Travis, I think Ariann's post shamed many a husband!)
27. Ariann, you are someone who I can be myself with, you don't put on any fronts and you're so fun and easy to be with.
28.you get crazy about funny things, like not going in your yard because a snake might come after you, or wanting to flee Florida for fear that a gator will eat your babies. I think I get this nutty paranoia from you! (this week Brett is going on a river rafting trip and I'm afraid a bear will eat him, I even added into the clause of him going that his travel companions would have to find me a replacement husband should mine meet an untimely death!)
29. I love that you are still my same friend after all these years. Our families may change, our state of residence too, but I am always just a phone call away from someone who loves me. (Hopefully I'll make that call on time this year eh?)
30. I love that you are in your thirties and I'm still in my twenties. You're a freakin' old woman Ariann!!!
I love you Girl! I hope you have a special day!
-Wendy

April Highlights

I'm glad April is over as I just realized, it's monthly highlight time! With that said, it is also time to pay the mortgage as well. Caralee, if you're reading this, email me later and remind me to do that will ya?

Probably the most recent excitement at our house has been the new swingset we bought last weekend, a little advance purchase on that economic stimulus package! This is it, it's huge, and now I finally have something within the fenced yard to keep the kids from escaping! The only problem now, is that my kids require additional friends to enjoy said swingset with. I'd better get stocked up on Otter Pops.

I posted this picture because sadly, it's the only decoration I have to display between now and, well, fall, but it doesn't matter, Spring is here!!! We'll be outside so much now that it's time to focus on the yard instead of what's going on inside...

Two weeks ago we went shopping for shrubs and bushes for the yard. While I went back to the car to calm Quinn and feed the baby, Brett and Anna continued shopping. They came back with a pair of these hanging flower baskets. Aren't they beautiful!?! Okay, this picture is a poor representation, but I wanted to post my tulips for Mom. I've been so proud each time a daffodil and tulip opened over the past several weeks. I'm just amazed that something I planted actually grew! Maybe there's hope for that garden after all!
This is Quinner and his new hammer. Our ward is sponsoring a pinewood derby open to everyone and Anna and Q worked with Daddy this week to design their cars.
What a proud little boy!
Izzy is growing before our eyes. This month she rolled over for the first time and she grabs at and chews on anything she can. She is still just the easiest sweetest baby ever, I don't know how I got so lucky!

Here is Anna at Baby Animal Days attempting to pet Wilbur.
Ah yes, Brett couldn't stand the sight of his boy riding a pink and purple tricycle so he got the little guy a big boy bike. Aight he cute? Yeah, he still rides the pink bike most of the time though, don't tell his Daddy!
"Somebody's been sleeping in my bed." Here is my little Goldilocks. Quinner has been sneaking out of his bed at night and climbing into mine. A couple of nights a week we find him like this when we head to bed. He's hard to resist snuggling up with and Brett often cuddles in with him until I pull him away and return him to his room.
I remember convening in my parents' bed on Saturday mornings as a kid to snuggle in and watch cartoons. Yep, I even remember all those "mice" that would squeak out under the bed too. We don't have mice, but there are some barking spiders. Two little cuddlebugs.

Little Known Facts

Sometimes Brett asks me to tell him something about me that he doesn't know, it's led to some interesting story telling... you really have to dig after knowing each other for nine years! Did you know that one time Brett rode a horse in a parade wearing nothing but a loin cloth and an indian headdress? Uh huh! That's right!

Yeah, here is some personal trivia on me, maybe not as incriminating as his:

Quite often when I see random people in public I try to come up with who they are a mix of... for example: I look like a mix of Geena Davis, Sally, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, and Pheobe from Friends. Also, Daron Williams on the Jazz team looks like a mix of my brothers Carson and David-a perfect blend of the two, it's true. Brett laughs when I do this but I'll tell ya, I'm pretty right on every time!

I've had several nicknames: When, Wendy Pie, Gwendolyn, The Mailman (not for the same reasons as Karl Malone), Woodstock(I wore every hand-me-down Jill gave me), Wheredy Clipshaw, Hot Mom (I'm conditioning Quinn to call me this when he wants something-it makes me laugh and it makes me happy to help the little guy!), also Weiner (Erin Hopper's Mom called me that-yet another reason to dislike Erin!) and Babe-how Brett usually gets my attention.

I can walk away from a movie or from reading a book when I'm already halfway in the middle. If it sucks it sucks you know!?!

I sometimes judge a book by it's cover. I've read several books just because I liked the jacket.

I hate housecleaning. Hate it. I usually only thoroughly clean if someone is coming over to stay the night. This applies to washing dishes as well. In fact, I hate washing dishes so much that I do them SO SLOW...I carry this from childhood. My Mom and I would fight over why the dishes weren't done, then I'd clean them, but I'd mope and do them ever so slow. Brett usually takes over at our house, he'd rather do them himself than watch me wash like a slug. He usually does all the dishes every night, I'm a very lucky woman!

I lie. I do. I tell lies when someone asks, "Do I look fat in this?" if they really do I'm not saying! It's benevolent so I feel fine about it. P.S. Don't ask me to go shopping with you because I won't tell you what I think. Now if you have a nose monkey or a big nasty zit that needs popping I'll let you in on that, that's for your benefit too! Also, I like to embellish when I tell stories or relay an incident that happened. I exaggerate, but I tell a good story!

So? What don't I know about you?

What do you do for you?

In February I started a Jazzercise class so I could start working my baby gut off. Also, and maybe more pressing, I needed to get out of the house and do something just for me, I needed some time off from being "Mom" and more time being Wendy, that girl I was before I had kids. Aside from Jazzercise, I don't have too many things that I do just for me. Occasionally I have a hot soak, mostly when I'm sick though, and I usually have a novel I read in the evenings before bed. I suppose I bake alot, which is for me because I need chocolate, which also results in my needing the exercise class! I'd like to say that I scrapbook regularly, but I rarely have the energy to get my supplies out. Okay, okay, Brett might read this, so yes, I do sometimes watch Oprah too. So I have: Jazzercise, baked treats, baths, and Oprah. And a craft room that I have hopes of making use of one of these days. Maybe today...

So I'm curious, what do you do to keep yourself going? What do you do when you have a little time to yourself?