Summer Swimming Doggy Style

We taught Madi how to swim this summer. When getting in the pool, she doesn't just step in. She jumps in. Every time. And it's hilarious.

My Sister is Getting Married!

Today, my wonderful big sister Stacey gets to marry the love of her life Jared Gerbrandt. It is amazing how perfect they are for each other and how God brought them together.

Care Free Living

Some days, I wish I could live life carefree.

I'm a Bad Aunt

I married into a large family.

Hubs has 4 siblings and 4 step siblings. There are 7 of them, including Blake, who still live in the area. Needless to say, family functions, when all kids are there with their spouses with their kids, can be fun, but insane.

Take Christmas for example...32 people. All immediate family.

I have 13 nieces and nephews that are out of the womb and walking, 2 more baking in the oven, and who knows how many more in the works.

I can't keep track of birthdays. Since we have been married, I haven't sent a birthday card.

I'm pretty sure that makes me the. worst. aunt. ever. There are worse things in life, right? Probably not to kids under 8! Maybe I should get on that one...

DC in the Winter

Hubs and I headed to the East Coast for a friends wedding and some r&r at the beginning of March. It was cold, but we had a blast hanging out with old friends and making new ones! One of the highlights of the trip was going to the White House...we even got to see Obama!

Grandparents

On December 27th, 1940, my grandma and the man she was going to marry got in a truck, each of their oldest siblings and spouses in tow, and went to the preachers house. When they arrived at his home, he was on his way into the barn to feed his pigs, wearing overalls of course. Once they got the preacher out from the barn, he came inside, and 8 of them stood in a room and my Grandparent's committed their lives to each other before God. Once they were married, the 6 of them drove to Birmingham to have dinner at a hotel.

No fancy wedding ceremony, no fancy reception. They stood before God with a few people they loved dearly.

They had an honest, God fearing marriage. My Grandpa went home to be with the Lord when I was only 2. I look at pictures of him and wonder what it would have been like to know him here on this earth. All I can live by are the stories Grandma tells me about him, about his childhood, about how hard he worked as a farmer to provide. And it makes me proud to be his granddaughter.

I can't wait to meet him in heaven.

Dressing up our Dogs

Just because we can :)

A Two Dog Family

Last Saturday, we got another puppy. Sammy is a lab mix, which we have discovered that he is mixed with Great Dane (he is a big boy). We thought it would be good for Sammy to have a friend at home. It has been an interesting transition, but overall we think he likes her.

Maddi is also a lab mix, but she is part terrier. I am glad that she is not going to be as big as Sammy, but right now, she is tiny compared to him.

Eating (right) Too weak....I mean 2 weeks

From my dad.....

Hi. My name is……………. not too sure anymore. Hershey, Baby Ruth, Junior Mints, all are familiar but somehow don't seem quite right.

I am a carboholic.

It's been 1 and 2 days since my last carb (do 24 sweet potato fries and 30, maybe 92 potato chips really count). I have given up on getting that one year button and have set my sights on the 32 count box of Skinny Cow. My body now has sugar GPS. I can sniff out a Baskin Robbins or Coldstones blindfolded.

Tonight is weigh-in and it is weighing heavily on my mind and of course, still on the rest of my body. I fear that the desired outcome of two weaks (sic) of changed eating habits and barbaric exercise (walking ) will not be realized. The goal is to lose at least as many pounds as the week before so as not to have to endure a longer death march each night. If only Sue would not make me carry the sandbags when we walk, maybe I could walk farther than two blocks.

If I see my shadow tonight at weigh-in, it will be two more weeks of phase 1 of eating right. Hopefully 6 down, 10 (or as much as I can hold out for until I succumb to a low blood sugar coma) to go.

More soon, unless Sue keeps twisting my arm to walk and I am unable to type due to having another rotator cuff surgery.

Your's in carbs,
Brent (carb whisperer)

Eating (right) 1 weak

This is from my father:

Hi. My name is Gary (name changed to avoid repercussions at home) and I am a Carboholic.

One weak and one day has passed since I was mislead about diet and exercise. It has been 4 days since my last carb. Will I ever get that darn one year ice cream…..errrr, I mean button.

Another forced march last night. This time we went to the north and west so that we would be in the shade. Who knew that neighborhood had a ban on trees? How do I explain my sunburn to the dermatologist tomorrow? Sue is a ruthless tyrant.

I fear that lack of carbs is keeping me from lasting through the day.

Again weakness is playing a big part in my ability to function. I was unable to get out of my chair at work. After repeated attempts, I realized that I was sitting to close to my desk and the reason I needed to loose weight was preventing me from getting up. With great effort, I amassed all the strength left in my weakened state and pushed my chair back, thus allowing me to call for help to assist me out of my chair. Decided not to get up after all. Need to save my strength to be able to go home after work.

One weak weigh-in last night. Only lost 3 pounds. I could have done better with an exacta knife and my shop vac while eating Cold Stone's.

Sue assures me that things will improve. I will lose more weight, feel better, and my internal organs will not hurt from wearing clothes that are too tight.

More soon, if I can just remember what's going on in my weakened state.

Your's in carbs,
Brent

Having Family Over

On Monday night, my brother and sister in law, Garrett and Becka, and their family came over for dinner. They drove all the way up from Exeter. We had a great time with them. Ate some great food. Played some RockBand. They have 2 small kids and a baby. We weren't really prepared in the toy section. Blake did have a bunch of old stuffed animals that he kept "for the nieces and nephews", which he had never had a chance to use, until Monday night. Tomorrow at The Bridge Community Yardsale, we are going to look for some toys.

When they first got out of the car, my niece, Bethany, gave me this

which is proudly sitting on our ledge in our kitchen. It was a super sweet idea (thanks Becka and Bethany!)

My Sister...

Graduated from USC on Friday. She now has a Masters in Physicians Assistant. She has the boards in June, and I know she will pass with flying colors.

Looking forward to free medical advice the rest of my life! :)

Growing Up...

When I was younger, I couldn't wait to be in jr high. When I was in Jr High, I couldn't wait to be able to drive. When I was in High School, I couldn't wait to be in college. When I was in college, I couldn't wait to have a job.

Essentially, as we are growing up, we are being taught what it means to be a grown up. How to be responsible. How to act. How to function in the "real world"

I am in the stage of life where all of this is coming into play....

I am out of college. I have a job. I am engaged to the most wonderful man. In just about a week I am going to have a mortgage payment.

And apparently, now I am adult. Except, I don't feel like an adult. I mean, I am responsible, with my time, money, belongings, etc. I know how to take care of myself. I know how to function in the "real world". But I still don't feel like an adult.

And I am not sure if I ever will.

And I think that might just be ok.

One thing is for sure...if Blake and I can raise our kids (years from now) half as well as my parents raised me, I think we will have done a darn good job.

1st Annual Ridgeway German Gingerbread House Buildoff

Earlier in the week, Blake and I realized that we had nothing going on the evening of Christmas. So we decided to come up with something to do (because heaven forbid we actually just rest and do nothing). I was talking about the fact that I had not made a gingerbread house since I was in kindergarten. Problem solved. And of course, we had to make it a competition. So we drug my parents into it. We went to Trader Joes earlier in the week, bought us and my parents a gingerbread kit.

Christmas evening, we built our houses. And since we made it a competition, we need somebody to judge. Below are pictures of the 2 houses. Cast your vote as to which house you like best!

House #1

House #2

The houses side by side....

Christmas Eve Eve

Last year we started a new tradition...Christmas Eve Eve: Dinner and Bowling. All of my family always complains about bowling, but once we are there, they have a blast. My dad has to bowl with his left hand since his right shoulder is shot, my mom just doesn't know how to bowl (I have to explain each time), Blake was really bad the first time we went bowling, so of course he doesn't want to bowl again, and my sister, well, she was just complaining.



Needless to say, we had a blast. Blake did really good. Stacey had fun. My dad didn't fall over when bowling. My mom actually knocked some pins over!














I'll let you know if I can convince them to go bowling again next year!

Mexican Food for lunch...Fajita Fiesta

Having worked at a restaurant, I am usually a little more lenient with the waiter when the restaurant is packed and they have a lot of tables. When it is the other way around, not so much.

Today at lunch, I ate at Fajita Fiesta with my mom, dad, and sister. What could be better than Mexican food for lunch on a Tuesday? In an hour, I would soon find out.

The restaurant was practically empty, even during the lunch time rush. It took 10 minutes for somebody to come greet us, give us chips and salsa and get us drinks. We ordered our food, and it took 25 minutes to get it. At that, mine and my dad's food was wrong. Overall, the food wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible. And our drinks were empty most of the time.

By the time we were done with our meal, we were all extremely frustrated. I think it is going to be a very long time before I go to Fajita Fiesta again, that is, if I ever do go back. I think I may just stick to Sal's...can't beat what tastes good and what you know.

Pumpkin Carving Master

Last Monday night, Blake and I carved pumpkins. I LOVE carving pumpkins. I am not sure why. I think that I like making a big ol' mess when I clean out it out. Every year growing up, we carved pumpkins. I discovered a new love for pumpkin carving my junior year of college. I have had many years of pumpkin carving experience. Blake, on the other hand, has not. Prior to Monday night, he had only carved one pumpkin....I could hardly believe it. (Blake had his first banana split a couple of weeks too...its like I am opening up a whole new world for him!)

After we scrapped all the goop out of the inside of the pumpkin, Blake was finished carving his pumpkin in about 3 minutes...I had just started the carving out the eyes when Blake was done.

My family is...

awesome. That is pretty much it. I love being around them. It seems like we are constantly laughing...partly because we (mostly me) make fun of my mom, but she's a good sport. The truth is we all make fun of each other.

My sister said something that threw me for a loop the other day...on Friday she actually said that she wished I was coming to dinner with her, my mom, and dad. I asked her why, and she said because we have fun together, and because she loves watching me jack with mom. I thought for sure she wouldn't say she wanted me there, especially since we had spent the last 3 hours together, 2 of those in Target where she seemed constantly annoyed with me... That comment pretty much made my day.

Goodbye to the 70's style kitchen...

Here are pictures, from the beginning of the remodel to now, with everything except changed hardware and the new refrigerator...

Before....

After....