Busy busy busy as a bee.

Except I am my own queen to report to and I don't have attendants. Which is probably a good thing as I would like to do a bit more with my life than act as a brood mare. But I digress.

Planning a cruise to the Mediterranean this spring t

o celebrate my friend's birthday as well as my own. Going out of my twenties in style! Plane tickets are a bit of a bother but I guess it would be too good to be true to get everything we wanted at a fabulous price. Geocaches here we come!

Also attempting to buy a new car. Financing is good this month and I've had my eye on a Forester for a while now. Waiting to hear back from the internet dealer now. Hopefully because it is the end of the month they will be willing to make me a deal that I can live with happily. The whole idea just makes me want to vomit though. I feel greasy just being in the same room as a car salesman. Gah!

The other big ticket item on my agenda is moving apartments - again. My old, fabulous view, hardwood floor, dear to my heart apartment is up for lease and my manager is willing to give it to me for pretty cheap. So I'm taking her up on the deal and in two weeks should be able to run naked from my bathroom to bedroom without fear of being seen, even if I have all the blinds open. Yippee! Right now I'm on street level and it creeps me out a LOT. I don't like it when people can just glance as they are walking a long and see into your living room. But I would wither like a plant deprived of sunlight if I kept the windows/blinds closed all the time.

Went snowshoeing last weekend and it felt great! It felt great until I woke up two days later and couldn't move. Actually took Monday off because everything hurt too much. Couldn't really bend or lean over. That's the last time I try to keep up with the pace of a marathoner. Tuesday actually got worse because my hip flexor decided to flare up. I honestly couldn't pick up my own leg. Made putting pants on in the morning very interesting. My co-worker literally laughed at me all day whenever she saw me walking or trying to move in a way that previously was not an issue. NOT FUNNY! Okay, maybe a little. But your own pain isn't that hilarious. Now I'm going to have to do pilates twice a week to make up for the ones I missed and that could be my

undoing. Brutal class I tell you, brutal. But I keep going back for more - what does that say about me?

Found my "Cullen Vampire Baseball League" t-shirt and busted it out to feel geeky and giggle a little every time I thought of the fabulous, real (book version) Edward. The movies really are rubbish. So sad that it has given the books such bad press.

The teeny boppers are still buying so at least the author is doing well for herself.

I took on a sewing project for my friend's puppy. To test out the alterations I tried it out on Sugs. She kept trying to run away from me when I was putting it on her which was hilarious because the little hood it has was blinding her. Eventually I was able to fold that back and snap this pic:

After she could see again and felt resigned at being caught in the costume she lay down and just stared at me. Typical cat reaction for having something tied around their middle. Funny though!

Excited to test out my new cookbook "America's Test Kitchen Baking Book". There is a recipe in there for quick cinnamon rolls that looks delicious. On the table in less than an hour. Can't beat that! So I'm off to find powdered buttermilk. Easier to store and scored just below real buttermilk and way above soured milk. Breakfast tomorrow is going to be awesome!

Breathing bliss.

That's right, my nose and sinuses are my own again AND I can taste food. Totally awesome. Missed a week due to busy-ness but as my life isn't too terribly exciting I doubt anyone noticed.

Highlights from over a week ago... geocache galore for last weekend. Got really dirty scrambling up sandy, wet slopes but success! Found a travel coin one day and the next I helped to send it on its way to another park (its mission). More caches in new areas so I deemed the weekend a success. Am looking to get myself involved with more official geocache events so I can get coins without having to pay for them outright. There's one coming up in summer but that's a ways away yet.

Shaun of the Dead. Best zombie flick ever. In case you were wondering. :) There's a theater around here that shows older movies for cheap on the big screen with a full service menu. Too neat! You can actually order piggies in a blanket. For some reason that cracks me up!

Got tupperware back from mom. Seems when I dropped off some stuff while ill I neglected to see the nice, clean pile of borrowed dishes waiting for me on the kitchen table. So I've been scrambling since new year's to put away food without any dishes. Lots of saran wrap was involved.

Overdue work party was held. Whiny department didn't show despite my planning and RSVP efforts so that was annoying. Plus side was that I got to play Rockband at work. Always a nice way to end the week.

Every time I brag about Sugs using the new litter box she reverts to leaving the solids just outside of it. Since I'm not willing to poo on anything of hers to counter attack I think she might win this battle. But so long as I can borrow mom's carpet cleaner and the mild discolorations continue to wash out I'm not finished yet!

Xmas porch goose does not have any weights yet. The only place I have found to place it where it doesn't fall over (it really does need something to weigh the bottom down) is on top of a filing cabinet that is dented a bit on top. Which causes my mackintosh-clad tchotchke to hold a prominent place in my big picture window. The yellow slicker is visible from at least a hundred yards. Makes me giggle every time I see it when I'm walking up.

The opera strikes again! It seems I am determined to foil my evil plot to enjoy opera. The first of the season I thought it would be a good idea to eat dessert with a glass of champagne before the show. BAD idea. Was so sleepy I actually did the head bob. Music to La Traviata was amazing though. I do remember that. This time it was Il Trovatore and I was struck with food poisoning. I had hoped to have a nice, relaxing sleep in (maybe some laundry thrown in for good measure) before heading off to the show. But no. My day started at 2:30 am with some serious GI distress. I had to give myself a pep talk just to go to the show. Almost walked out before intermission but decided to stick it out and ignore the discomfort. And wouldn't you know, I wanted to die a little for approximately two hours fifty-five minutes. Literally the last five minutes my stomach takes a sigh of relief and decides to feel better. Grrr.

I am happy to report that I get to have my sleep in tomorrow thanks to the holiday. Will try to make the most of it. Maybe I'll get to some of the baby present projects finished. Finally got a hold of pinking shears to help prevent fabric disarray in the washing machine.

Ooh yes, I got a hold of a friend's copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Can't wait to finish up the original before starting in on the spoof. Supposed to be pretty good too!

Gotta love that book cover! Totally after my heart!

Almost forgot!

I love this picture - feeding yourself is so hard!

Fun with Lauren

First up, mom:



Lauren knows some signs from a super video series called My Baby Can Talk. Totally awesome.



Next up, dad:



So much fun! Again! Again!

Trampolines are fun no matter the season!

Christmas in Colorado!
I had a very pleasant trip down to CO, flight delayed only slightly. Came inside and immediately started wrapping presents for my operation Shock & Awe the next morning. As I was wrapping Nathan's light saber Lauren woke up (she was sick and not sleeping very well) and came to the living room for a short visit. She sees the light saber and immediately says, "Pchew, pchew". That's my girl. No complete sentences yet but I know my Star Wars noises. Awesome.

Look at all those presents!

Ashlyn looking very pleased with her kid's digital camera (princess edition!). Unfortunately it did not work and had to be returned. Instead of getting something else for Xmas from me she opted for a real camera that would count as this Xmas and her next birthday present from me. It's in the mail and it's purple! Thank you Costco!

BEHOLD the light saber! Sheer joy. This is why I love giving presents.

Me rockin' the polka dot cupcake pajama pants with Lauren and her polka dot art smock. She didn't seem too interested in the color wonder markers that were also her present but I think they will grow on her. She likes to color anything and everything. Permanent markers are her favorite which is why the color wonder markers were requested as a gift by mom. They only show up on color wonder paper! For several days she was sporting some ink on her midriff leftover from some past, unsupervised coloring.
Megan investigates the light up maracas. Thorough taste inspection is mandatory for all objects.

Upon emptying her stocking, Ashlyn encounters pop rocks for the first time. Really entertaining to watch this discovery.

Nathan shows off knitted presents from Oma.

Lauren takes a break from presents to take a ride on mom's legs. Wee! So much fun.

Megan enjoys the flavor of her fingers.

Christmas is also Nathan's birthday and he always gets to pick his birthday dinner. For Christmas day dinner we had....

... mac & cheese with lil smokies! Broiled a bit too long but we'll just call it blackened and pretend we're Cajun. Very tasty! Excellent choice Nathan.

Onwards to dessert!
Decorating the birthday cupcakes.

After dessert comes the birthday presents for Nathan!

The ensemble is now complete and Nathan shows off his Jedi face.

And Erika is off and running with the thank you cards, made herself! The kids were very good about signing themselves (Ashlyn & Nathan for now) and drawing pictures on each thank you note.

It was then decided that we should play in the snow. Due to Lauren being sick the destination was the backyard. And there I found bunny tracks in the snow! Though most likely a boy the kids named the bunny Alicia. I saw Alicia a few times crisscrossing the backyard during my stay.

Uh-oh! Look out! Luckily the zoom on my camera was more powerful than Nathan's throwing arm.
Wee! Swing sets are fun any time of year!

And here the pictures end. This is about the time that everyone in the house took turns getting and then staying sick. The highlight was when Nathan was trying to figure out how to best utilize a barf bucket. He was told that if he felt sick while in bed that he should hold the bucket to his face and puke into it as opposed to on himself or the blankets. He took this very literally and while still laying down held the bucket above his face and vomited. Gravity was not kind.

While I was napping in the guest bedroom in the basement, trying to stave off my own illness unsuccessfully, I heard a weird sploosh noise. I was a bit out of it and assumed it was one of the kids upstairs using the bathroom. Soon after Ashlyn comes down to tell me that Lauren is awake and that there is a water spill that she stepped in. I thought it was a juice cup spill or something. Nope. That sploosh was the sewer backing up in to the basement. Yuck. Thank goodness for plumbers! One came out within the hour to chew up some tree roots that apparently had clogged up the line. Then the clean-up began. Luckily the carpet on the floor was all remnant and could be disposed of quickly and the spill wasn't too bad. Still not a nice post-Christmas gift.

On the up side, sissy and I had some craft craziness. I am now stocked up for baby presents. I made some really sweet burp cloths and a play thing called a taggy. Basically, a taggy is a piece of fleece with ribbon loops sticking out of it on all sides. Babies like to grab onto it for full oral inspection of all brightly colored ribbon-type things. There's also a taggy ball that you can put bells in the middle. Haven't made the ball yet but, due to pregnancies lasting as long as they do, I have some time yet.

The day I left CO was the worst day of the cold so far. I went to an urgent care doctor, called my insurance nurse call line, and despite it all suffered greatly. I have never before cried because of a cold. So much pain. Sore throat doesn't even being to explain it. I was very close to going to the ER because I couldn't even swallow for a few hours. Had to spit out saliva which doesn't really help the "push fluids" advice of the doctor. I was amused calling the nurse because she was most concerned with the appearance of hives and asked me (trying to determine if I was going through anaphylaxis) if I was having trouble breathing or swallowing. Well yes, of course I am. I have an upper respiratory tract infection.

The doctor even gave me a note stating that I was not to travel that day due to illness in case it would have some sway with the airlines if I chose not to fly. I flew anyway, assuming that I hadn't been through the worst of it yet. And it is better to be sick at home than anywhere else. Luckily, no burst ear drums during the descent! And the weather gods were with me as I relied on public transportation to get home. Wet ground but nothing falling from the sky. First time on the light rail! Worked like a charm and no scary people despite the holiday and the late hour.

I purchased a humidifier yesterday and was disappointed that you have to soak this one filter thing for 24 hours before use. Here's hoping that tonight is more restful when I can actually use it! Today my goal is to buy some good lotion tissues for my poor nose. And to rest. And eat spicy soup.

Hopefully by tomorrow I will be well enough to trek down south to get Sugar. She's happy playing with Cleo at Ray's. With luck I will be well enough to go to work Monday but I'm doubtful at the moment. Thank goodness for sick time!

All told it was still a good trip. The kids are too cute and I was able to bring lots of smiles so I consider it successful. I helped out mom & dad with some basement organization and got to play with some power tools under the guise of assisting Rick with some shelf construction for the backyard shed. I can't wait to have a bit more space for things like tools and food storage. Oh to have a pantry and back-up freezer!

For now I will revel in my ability to nap and shower for as long as I want and hope it does more than for me than ring up the utility bills.