The Story Behind the Picture

Imagine being 5-years old, building Lego Star Wars Battleships, playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii, watching Luke Skywalker discover his father is Darth Vader over and over again, and re-enacting Jedi Knight light saber fight scenes with your 3-year old brother.

Then, one day, your Graphic Design father realizes he has the greatest idea in the world...design a Star Wars family Christmas card. All you can think is...COOL!!!

Now you just have to convince mom...hmmm...

Mom is very skeptical about the idea and not sure if it is "Christmas" appropriate, but is eventually convinced when dad tells her he will do the light saber colors in red and green.

You had always wondered what it would be like to live in space, fight with a real glowing light saber, and be friends with a talking robot.

Once the card is finished, you spend hours looking at the card and imagining your life as a real Jedi Knight.

Mom still can't believe we sent them out to our friends and family, for real, but deep down thinks it's pretty cool too!

You have the coolest dad in the entire world!

Blogging Back To Life

About 4 months ago, I sat down at the computer to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired, 30-Something Birthday Party (courtesy of my adorable hubby). I got distracted, returned to post, and discovered my picture cartridge was missing! It had been sitting right next to the computer and when I returned, it was gone! I figured it would show up and I would post about my birthday when it did. However, it has never re-appeared! So, all I have to show for my birthday are these two pictures taken from my cell phone.

It's really a bummer! You'll have to imagine me decked out and dressed for the 80's in hot pink leopard pants, crimped hair, giant hoop earrings, blue eye shadow, netted gloves, and a shirt that says "Like Fer Shur!"
Besides Edward, we had other special visitors for the occasion....Michael and Anne! I'm sure you can imagine Michael's lovely eye rolls and sarcastic chuckles as we clicked pictures of me next to Edward, listened to the New Moon soundtrack, and ate my delicious Edward cake (courtesy of my wonderful hubby...a.k.a, Devon) and yes, it was delicious!!

Michael enjoys teasing me about my little obsession with the Twilight books. With this in mind, a few weeks ago my cousin Christie posted about a sweet video on YouTube about wives and their obsession with Twilight. Immediately, Michael texted me and asked me if I had read her blog for the day or not. I asked why and he said "because it is soooo you." Automatically I was intrigued and went to view her blog, watched the video, and laughed so hard!

Watching this video made me realize that I needed to get back to blogging. More over, I needed to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired 30-Something Birthday party and share this video with all of you Twilight Junkies too!

So, here's to great birthdays, being 30-something, and enjoying fun little thrills in life!!!

Blake the Caveman!

Being the mother of two boys is ALWAYS exciting! There is definitely never a dull moment around our house...

From wrestling to mud pies, crossing streams in the toilet to nekkid time, spitting to playing with electricity, and much, much more...I thought there were no surprises left...I was wrong!

Yesterday, Grandma offered to watch the kids while I taught my 3rd class at the gym.

When I arrived home she approached me with a funny grin on her face and told me she had to tell me something.

That evening, as she was walking past the front-entry way, she noticed a little Blakey with his pants down peeing in her in-door tree.

Yep! Not the toilet, the tree!!!

I don't know what his obsession is with peeing on mother-nature, but just the other day he started pulling his pants down, outside the post office, to pee on the grass...luckily, I caught him in time and we ran to the restroom.

Evidently, after he finished relieving himself...Grandma kindly sat him down and discussed with him where we do and don't pee and the only times we are allowed to pee on mother-nature.

I'm sure his little brain was just laughing at her as she spoke to him and immediately began scheming plans for his next target...ha ha!

Like I said, never a dull moment around here!

2 Adults, 3 Kids, + 1...

A few weeks ago we took the kids to the fair. It was probably one of the grimiest and creepiest fairs I have ever been too. Most of the carnival workers looked like they had spent most of their life strung out on Meth!

In their most husky voices, they would shout out invitations to play "throw the dart at the balloon" or "throw the ping pong ball in the fish bowl" and then give you the best toothless grin you can imagine!

Anyway.

We decided to let the kids take a couple of shots at throwing the ping pong ball in the fish bowl. After 50 throws, one ball finally landed in the bowl and our prize was 3 Gold Fish...yippee!!

You would have thought the gold fish were actual GOLD...that's how excited the kids were. Devon and I just looked at each other, like, "oh great," now what?

We rushed our 3 fish home and dumped them in a fish bowl (thanks to Grandma).

The next morning...one fish was dead...the tears over this poor fish were excruciating!

The kids blamed us for not having any food to feed them and made us promise to buy some food at Wal-Mart (stupid fish!)

We bought some food and a air thingy for the tank.

Kids were happy, 2 fish were still alive...all was good!

The next morning...

"Mom, my fish is sleeping with only one eye open and we can't find the other fish..."

As I approached the bowl, I noticed that the fish was floating strangely in the water and realized it, too, was dead.

As I announced it was dead, tears began to flood from Taylors face..."oh, no, poor fishy."

I was extremely confused when I couldn't find the other fish, but figured I would let Devon figure that one out later.

Moments later, Luke shouts "I found the other fish...it's on the floor...and IT'S dead!"

More tears!!!

All 3 fish died. Stupid Fair. Stupid Fish!

So. Now we have a new fish. A lazy, blue, beta (named Feather) who is, 2 weeks later, still alive. Luke comments every morning how he can't believe our fish is still alive.

I can't either!

Perfection

I am far from being perfect...

I have a scar on my right cheek from having the chicken pox when I was a kid...

I eat way too much chocolate (in fact, I ate 10 Oreos yeterday...YIKES)...

I get my kicks out of watching Daytime Soaps and find myself wondering, during the day, when Jessica's stalker will strike next...ugh!...

When I'm frustrated I occasionally let a few "D" and "S" words slip out of my mouth...you know it's bad when one of your children asks you what "oh ship" means...

BUT, there are days when I experience moments of PERFECTION!!

A perfect day, like today (so far) for me is...

Starting the morning with a really hard, sweat dripping from my forehead-down my legs and arms kind of workout at 6 am...

Getting all 3 children off to school without ANY fighting...

Watching two of the three getting on the bus holding hands...so sweet...

Driving home, ALONE, and getting to listen to whatever kind of music I want...

Cleaning to my favorite tunes...

Admiring newly cleaned counter tops, loaded dishwasher, vacuumed floors, and laundry that is folded AND put away...

Quiet.....aaaaahhhhhh!

I just love it when moments of PERFECTION happen. It's not all of the time, but every now and again it happens and I LOVE IT!

The Truth About Devon...

Deception has never come easy for me...

However, this game of Truth or Lies was a piece of cake...I had most of you fooled!

So. Here is the TRUTH!

1. TRUE! Devon was seen on TV holding a "Bo Knows Ballet" sign at Angels Stadium. It was later talked about in the LA Times and Sports Illustrated.
2. TRUE! He frequently visited the Indian Reservation to play Keno. I'm sure all the change is what paid for many of our dates.
3. TRUE! He has never been to a PRO FOOTBALL Game!
4. LIE! He loves Sushi (Big SURPRISE!), but hates FRUIT!
5. TRUE! He met the man who invented Roller Blades at Tri City Park. The man was test-driving his pair around the park and Devon thought his skates looked really strange and asked him about them.
6. TRUE! To impress his friends he took his Dad's car for a Joy Ride while his parents were out of town.
   
7. LIE! He never entered the Iron County Fair, but he did have a Rabbit.
8. TRUE! While under peer pressure (so he says) he pushed the pedal to the medal on the 55 FRWY and reached 140 mph. Luckily, he didn't get caught!
9. TRUE! He has never taken a sip of alcohol...what a good boy!
10. LIE! Perfect Seminary Attendance...6am Seminary...yeah, right!
11. LIE! His first time in snow was was at age 14....not 19.
12. LIE! Devon was devastated when I suggested dating other people...that's another story...he claims "we were on a break."
13. TRUE! While riding bikes, with his mom, he crossed in front of her without looking and she went flying over her handlebars, landed on the pavement, and broke both of her arms at the same time!
14. LIE! He hates amusement rides...especially roller coasters!
15. TRUE! He really, for truly, wanted to name Blake, Diego!
16. TRUE! His ear rang for weeks after my brother, Michael, popped a pop rock in his ear.
17. TRUE! Sad, but true, his favorite song in Middle School was sung by Richard Marx.
18. LIE! His second car was a 1988 Honda Prelude. His fist car was a Buick SkyHawk.
19. LIE! He was never in Choir.
20. LIE! He thought he might die when a spider (non-poisonous) bit his foot and we rushed to Insta-Care...but it was never life-threatening.

Thanks for Playing our game of Truth and Lies and for all your Happy Birthday Wishes!

We have two winners...I thought I would spread the Birthday Love and send one to Darci (Devon's sister...she had it in the bag) and one to a non-family member...Carol! Thanks for playing girls, I'll be in touch!

Birthday Truth or Lies

Since today is Devon's birthday, let's honor him with a game of Truth or Lies...

The person who guesses the most truths about Devon's life will win a Vinyl Wall Lettering decal up to 46 inches in length...you choose the phrase!

So. Let Birthday Games Begin...

Truth or Lie

1. Devon was seen on TV holding a "Bo Knows Ballet" sign at Angels Stadium.
2. He frequently visited the Indian Reservation, in High School, to play Keno.
3. He has never been to a Pro Football game.
4. His favorite meal is a California Roll (spicy) with a side of strawberries and whip cream for dessert.
5. Met the man who invented Roller Blades at Tri-City Park.
6. Took his Dad's car for a joy-ride when he was 15.
7. His Rabbit, named Carmel, won the blue ribbon at the Iron County Fair when he was 12.
8. In High School he drove 140 mph on the 55 Freeway in Orange County.
9. He has never taken a sip of alcohol.
10. He was awarded with perfect Seminary Attendance for all 4 years of High School.
11. The first time he experienced being in the snow was at age 19.
12. Devon broke up with me at the end of our Senior Year so he could date other people while I was away at College.
13. He was responsible for breaking both of his moms arms at the same time.
14. Montazuma's revenge is his favorite ride at Knotts Berry Farm
15. He wanted to name Blake, Diego
16. Michael, my brother, popped a pop rock in his ear.
17. His favorite song in Middle School was "Right here waiting for you," by Richard Marx
18. His first car was a 1988 Honda Prelude
19. He was awarded "Most Improved" in 6th grade Choir.
20. He had a near death experience when a poisonous spider bit his foot and landed him in the E.R.

You have until Friday to enter and play. Have fun and Good Luck!

Happy, Happy Birthday Devo!!!