Reminiscing Con't...

Long Before Darrin and I had children, we lived in England for two years (2001-2003). Despite the challenges we encountered, we grew, learned a lot, visited some of the beautiful and historical places in the world. (I just love Western Europe history.)

The Cotswolds (England) The Cotswolds is some of the most gorgeous villages in all of England. We stayed in a B&B in Stowe on the Wold. If only everyone could see how lovely this area of England is-unbelievable.

Toledo, Spain

London-standing in front of the London Eye (sort of)

Brighton, England

Reminiscing

Yesterday, I helped my mom sort and distribute Grandmother and Granddad's photos. Some of their photo albums date well back before I was born...before some of their own children were born. As soon as I can get my scanner back working-my scanner helper boy is not answering his cell phone-I will post some really fun photos. Well, it was surely fun to run down memory lane with several of them. This was the Ford Clan almost 30 years ago. This is one of the few and rare photos of my dad with brown hair and then Marion's haircut is actually back in style, scary! From the look on Adam's face, he was thrilled to be there... For all those who wonder where Megan gets her hair, see! Before I had children, my hair was naturally blond.

This picture has nothing to do with the Nelson Grandparents. This is Grandpa Ford (my dad's dad) with Adam, Dan, Corrine, Grandpa Ford holding me, and my dad. This is the very last time we (OK me) saw him alive. He died shortly after of throat cancer. Both my dad's parents died in the 60s (young, I think). I really wish he lived longer so that I could have grown up with him. I would have especially loved for Jack to have known him. Fortunately, I still have my dad around to be the perfect Grandfather to him.

Happy Birthday Darrin!

Happy 34th Birthday, Handsome! Darrin happens to be spending the week in Seattle-attending a Microsoft tech conference. He's having a blast, I am sure, but we surely miss him here at home, especially on a special day, like today.

We celebrated his birthday before he left-chocolate torte with whipping cream and raspberries-and fun presents. Jack and Megan seemed to have enjoyed that part the most. In fact, we gave him his 2 "large" gifts a whole week ago. They just loved the idea of getting to surprise their dad. (We bought him a new fancy drill and hand sander. Of course, he also received new clothes and stuff, but that isn't too exciting...) Well, we will be thinking of you today. We love you and miss you! Happy Birthday.

My Day Off

Darrin's parents invited him and the children to go 4 wheeling with them in Park City today. Darrin gave me the choice to stay home and do whatever I wanted sans les enfants... Talk about every mother's dream. So this is my day:

We all woke up around 8am (though got a phone call from the in-laws around 7:30, but I thought: "What the hey, I am going to sleep in since I don't actually have to get up). Back track here-yesterday was Pioneer Day and so we were all up late at our neighborhood BBQ and fireworks till about 10:30pm. So the children were plenty tired. Jack also woke up around 3am with growing pains. So with Tylenol and rubbing, he fell asleep in my bed next to me. Somewhere around 6am-no actual clue, as I was exhausted, Megan crawled into bed with us. So all 4 of us, woke up in my bed around 8am. Jack just couldn't sleep any longer, knowing he was going 4 wheeling, though I am not sure he really knew what that was.

So they all take off around 8:30am. I head out the door shortly after to head over to the gym to enjoy a long run without the weight of my children in the daycare. (The daycare is fabulous, don't get me wrong. Jack and Megan are just getting a little tired of it. I admit that they go almost every day.) So I was able to watch Fox News without any worries and without any time constraints!

After my nice run (6 miles in about 55 minutes), I took a shower, got ready, and headed out to Costco-my favorite store. I was able to shop, buy everything on my list (no "extra" items b/c the children are screaming for them), and drink my Diet Coke peacefully as I roamed the store, chatting with my mom. Upon returning home, I unloaded the car, fixed lunch, and watched "House" without interruptions, fighting, or crying. Amazing!

Once my show was over (thank goodness for DVRs), I cleaned all my bathrooms in one afternoon. Man, I forget how quickly I can clean bathrooms (takes about an hour) when I don't have children bugging me. On a normal day (meaning the children are home with me), it takes most of the morning to clean all my bathrooms. For some of you, I LOVE to clean bathrooms. I love to get on my hands and knees and scrub around the toilets, the floors, the tubs, vanity, etc... and truly deep clean them. I love the lemony pinesol smell and the sparkling toilet, sinks, and mirror. I am truly happy when I know my bathrooms are clean. I know, I am utterly weird.

Darrin and the children still weren't home yet and so I thought I would attempt to make Darrin's birthday: "La Bete Noire" (The Black Beast) out of my Gourmet magazine. I did make it, but we'll see tomorrow... Darrin is going to be in Seattle for his birthday and so we are celebrating it tomorrow night. I cleaned up my mess and the family walked in. I can't remember the last time I spent an afternoon alone, yet alone a whole day. Talk about my perfect day.

A Day 4-Wheelin' in Park City

Grandma and Grandpa Allred invited Darrin and the children to spend a day with them 4-Wheelin' in Park City. (I was given the opportunity to "take the day off" so to speak.) Jack and Megan were just so excited to spend the day with their Grandparents, but also given the freedom to get dirty...and enjoy it. B & L-thanks for taking them.

Darrin with Jack and Megan
My three most prized possessions!

This is where they stopped for lunch. Grandma brought hoagies and s'mores to fix on the campfire. Yes, they actually built a campfire! (Darrin, I am so impressed that your Eagle Scout skills are coming in handy.) Talk about the perfect summer day. Jack and Megan couldn't have had more fun.

Megan actually feel asleep with her Grandma!

Here's to you, Jana!

4 Places I visit over and over.
1. Costco-oh I love that store way too much.
2. The Gym
3. Harmon's (always needing something...)
4. The swimming pool-definitely with days like today (100F!!!)

4 People who call/Text/Email me regularly
1. Darrin
2. Andrea-neighbor
3. Jana-neighbor
4. Mom

4 Favorite food
1. Pizza
2. Cafe Rio Salad
3. A good steak-Amen Jana!
4. Hamburger and French fries-good 'ol American girl

4 Places I'd rather be
1. Hawaii-visiting my sister
2. England-visiting my BFF (Verity and James)
3. I like being home, watching some good old movies
4. Seattle

4 Movies I'd watch over and over
1. Family Man
2. Sweet Home Alabama
3. Calendar Girls
4. Steel Magnolias

4 Bands/Groups I love to listen to...
1. Daughtry
2. Erasure
3. Pet Shop Boys
4. Cars Soundtrack-not necessarily by choice, but that's in the car and that's what the children love to listen to, over and over again!!!

The 4 People I am tagging are....
1. Corrine
2. Kiersten
3. Mandy
4. Cheryl
And who ever. If no one wants to that's fine. I thought It was fun! Just a way to get to know everyone!

My Month

July 23, 2008-I have to apologize for my lack of posts these past few weeks. As I always say to my close friends: "I have been busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest!" And I have surely felt that way this summer. The summer just always happens to be a busy time of year with BBQs, birthdays, holidays, swimming, yard work, late nights chatting with neighbors-you name it! Even tomorrow night, we are having an neighborhood BBQ and "Peak of Fire" fireworks display down the street. (Thanks ahead of time Adam, Steve, and Aaron. Or should I be thanking Sarah, Heidi, and Jenny Anne? :):) Oh, and my lemon bars should win! hehehe)

Any who, Darrin's company needed some part time with their M&S (maintenance and support) contracts and their new software. Since college, I have always managed to work in contract administration. That's how I met Darrin, in fact. I was doing the M&S contracts at NexPage. Well I agreed to take on this "little project" as long as I could do it at home. Well what was supposed to be a little project, has turned into daily conference calls, time tracking, e-mails, spreadsheets, new software, training, contract reviews, etc... Needless to say, it has taken up most of my time and then any free time I have available, I have been trying to spend it with my neglected children. Hence the lack of blogging and scrapbooking for me these past few weeks. Then finally my cute neighbor across the street, Jana, asked me today if I was ever going to update my blog. This is for you Jana! Hey Jana, we need a 44ouncer, along with two chairs and children running in the sprinkers kind of day, so that we can have a proper chat.

What happened to my sweet Angel?

July 16, 2008-After Megan's tubby each night, I try to do her hair. Most mornings, the "hair do" is still a success. Well on this one particular morning, I wasn't as successful. To make matters worse, I just had to take a picture. Megan DOES NOT like her picture taken, don't ask why, but she doesn't. She has already well passed the terrible twos and hit the devil year. So this was kind of funny to Darrin and myself, only b/c it depicts her personality to a T. (Mind you-these pony tails started closer to her head and on the side of it.)

The 4th of July

4th of July 2008

We invited both our families over to celebrate the 4th of July at our house. We were thrilled with the turnout. We had all the Ford's (Aly's family) and almost all Darrin's brothers (minus Charlie and Spencer [and family]). Brad and Lee even drove Grandma Swensen to join in the festivities. We took everyone swimming at our neighborhood pool and then BBQ'd. The rest of the evening was chatting, eating, more chatting, and plenty of Guitar Hero. In fact, Darrin bought a second guitar just a couple days before so that the boys could "rock out." As much as Darrin has been practicing, his brother, Alex, creamed him. Like that's a shocker! Once it started getting dark, we lit the mongo box of fireworks we bought at Costco and watched them go off. The highlight of the night was watching the excitement and thrill from Jack and Megan.

Our Tea Party

The Tea Party
As we have been fixing up Megan's room-pictures to come-as well as finishing our basement, I have been going through and cleaning up all my "old" stuff. Well, Megan came across this Alice in Wonderland glass tea set. (For those who don't know me well enough, I have been collecting Alice in Wonderland "stuff" since I was a little girl [for as long as I can remember in fact].) Darrin actually saw this tea set at Costco our very first Christmas married and bought for it as a surprise. Wasn't that sweet!

Any who, the children got a hold of it and decided to have a tea party-instead of going to bed-in Jack's room. In order for me to convince them that it was time for bed, I said we would have a tea party the next day (July 2nd). And that's just what we did for lunch the very next day. Jack and Megan wanted the tea party in my room-pardon the sheets off the bed (washing day). We all stayed in our PJ's that morning-ok this was lunch time and we were still in our PJs-and enjoyed tea sandwiches, chips, and carrots, along with our lemon "tea." While eating our lunch, I thought it would be fun to watch "Alice in Wonderland." The children seemed to be enjoying themselves. I know I surely did! I will never forget this and hopefully, they never will either.
July 1-2, 2008

Need I say more...

Vote Republican!