Just two days ago I mentioned to Justin that I was surprised that our crocus hadn't started blooming. So I stepped out our front door this morning, and lo and behold the miniature yellow and purple flowers have made their appearance. All cheery and happy and the like. A couple of our daffodils are just days away from showing off their yellow petals, and the tulips are finally starting to bust their shoots through the dingy, brown-gray earth. Spring! I may even take the winter coats to the dry cleaners next week, though I don't want to push my luck too far!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Shout! Shout it Out!
Just two days ago I mentioned to Justin that I was surprised that our crocus hadn't started blooming. So I stepped out our front door this morning, and lo and behold the miniature yellow and purple flowers have made their appearance. All cheery and happy and the like. A couple of our daffodils are just days away from showing off their yellow petals, and the tulips are finally starting to bust their shoots through the dingy, brown-gray earth. Spring! I may even take the winter coats to the dry cleaners next week, though I don't want to push my luck too far!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Addicted
Every so often, a website called MacHeist is updated with a new bundle of Mac software that is a huge discount for what is provided. I bought it last year, and bought it again this year. I use The Hit List and Espresso pretty much every day. -- A side note -- The Hit List has an awesome easter egg in it: When you check a task as done it plays a little chime. I had a task called "Send package to Luke", reminding me to send something to my brother, and when I checked it as done, it played a little Star Wars song instead, because I had the word "Luke" in the task. It also plays a Super Mario Brothers song for tasks with Mario or Luigi in the name. --
I am also encouraging Julie to start using Delicious Library to account for our DVD's and books, since we tend to lend things out and forget who has what, and Sous Chef for her recipes.
Anyways, one of the apps in the bundle is called "World of Goo". It's a fun little game where you try to get these little "Goo Balls" moved around, and different species of Goo Balls have different properties. Julie is now officially addicted. I laugh every time she yells at the computer because something goes wrong :)
I am also encouraging Julie to start using Delicious Library to account for our DVD's and books, since we tend to lend things out and forget who has what, and Sous Chef for her recipes.
Anyways, one of the apps in the bundle is called "World of Goo". It's a fun little game where you try to get these little "Goo Balls" moved around, and different species of Goo Balls have different properties. Julie is now officially addicted. I laugh every time she yells at the computer because something goes wrong :)
Monday, April 6, 2009
A Big Day.
Seven years ago today Justin and I took that monumental step of tying the knot. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny spring day, and for the most part, everything went off without a hitch. Church? Check. Flowers? Check. Dresses and Tuxes? Check and Check. Photographer and Cake? Check and yummy Check. Rings? Check. Friends and Family? Double Check. Each other? Forever Check.
The day went by quickly, but I think reflected who we are - fun and laid back. Definitely gave and received more hugs that day than probably in the seven years since. Gosh, I loved those bridesmaids' dresses. I wish I could have worn one! Well, except that I got to wear the wedding dress, which wasn't half bad. I also love how well the photographs came out. 
It was great to look through the proof album and see the shots that we could never have noticed were happening. This shot of Justin's grandmother Gigi and my Grandma always makes me smile, and gets me choked up at the same time.
While time may have passed by and we've grown up and experienced life a bit more, I love Justin, and am ridiculously thankful that we walked down that aisle seven years ago.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Justin's Motiviation
Justin has found some new resolve to exercise. He has set up a monitor and his XBox on a cabinet in front of treadmill, and while he plays Call of Duty with his brothers he walks. I felt like this was a decision that may land him in the hospital, but so far so good. He gets to kill a bunch of Nazis, talk with Trav and Luke, and burn calories all at the same time. I stand at the ready with the phone and the camera - the phone in case 9-1-1 is needed, and the camera to document the fiasco.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Pacific Ocean
When Julie and I were in Seattle, we took a drive to the Pacific ocean. It's a longer drive than you might think, at least a couple of hours.
The beach itself isn't much of a "lay out and get a sun tan" beach. The water itself is very cold and very dangerous, so there wasn't any swimming or anything like that. We found this guy and took his picture. He had some weird contraption made out of PVC that he used to suck sand in and then "spit" it back out. Apparently a particular type of shrimp burrows into the sand when the tide goes out and he was collecting them in the jar. He knew where they were since they still had to breath, so there were tiny little air bubbles on the surface of the sand.
We spent some time walking on the beach watching people fly kites. Apparently this is a popular thing to do. A couple of them were so big they actually had to be attached to the trailer hitches on people's trucks.
After we walked around on the beach, we stopped at a Mexican restaurant and then headed home.
The beach itself isn't much of a "lay out and get a sun tan" beach. The water itself is very cold and very dangerous, so there wasn't any swimming or anything like that. We found this guy and took his picture. He had some weird contraption made out of PVC that he used to suck sand in and then "spit" it back out. Apparently a particular type of shrimp burrows into the sand when the tide goes out and he was collecting them in the jar. He knew where they were since they still had to breath, so there were tiny little air bubbles on the surface of the sand.
We spent some time walking on the beach watching people fly kites. Apparently this is a popular thing to do. A couple of them were so big they actually had to be attached to the trailer hitches on people's trucks.
After we walked around on the beach, we stopped at a Mexican restaurant and then headed home.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Cheep!
So today's baking experiment was to attempt to copy these ridiculously cute cake pops by Bakerella. Miraculously, I was able to find all the necessary components within Stevens Point - mainly the candy sprinkles to use for the feet and beak and wings. So this afternoon I set to the task before me. I had made a cake and some frosting ahead of time, so all I had left was all the putzy things. Forming and freezing the cake balls, melting the candy discs, 
inserting the lollipop stick and dipping the balls (NO - that's NOT what she said!), then attaching the feet, beaks and wings, and finally drawing on two little eyes. And hooray! They actually came pretty close! They are crazy cute and tasty to boot! Madie showed no mercy to this little chick...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Family Visit to Seattle
So, while Julie and I were living in Seattle, Dad, Trav, and Luke came to visit. We did the "touristy" stuff, like go downtown, the Space Needle, and the Experience Music Project:.
We also ate waaaay too much Chinese food one nigh at our favorite take out place. While we were out and about, Trav proceeded to make his "stupid" face in every picture we took. Click on each one to get the full effect :)
If you've ever been down by the Space Needle, you soon realize it's kind of a weird place. The Space Needle is front and center, but the Experience Music Project is right next to it, with the monorail that always catches on fire going through it (the picture of Trav and Luke above is them braving the monorail ride); there's a weird carnival with kiddie roller coasters, the Key Arena where the Supersonics play, and the "International Fountain", which is always a crowd pleaser. It's a giant fountain that shoots water in time with music. Very cool. Plus a picture to prove that Trav isn't the only joker in the family.
We also ate waaaay too much Chinese food one nigh at our favorite take out place. While we were out and about, Trav proceeded to make his "stupid" face in every picture we took. Click on each one to get the full effect :)
If you've ever been down by the Space Needle, you soon realize it's kind of a weird place. The Space Needle is front and center, but the Experience Music Project is right next to it, with the monorail that always catches on fire going through it (the picture of Trav and Luke above is them braving the monorail ride); there's a weird carnival with kiddie roller coasters, the Key Arena where the Supersonics play, and the "International Fountain", which is always a crowd pleaser. It's a giant fountain that shoots water in time with music. Very cool. Plus a picture to prove that Trav isn't the only joker in the family.
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