tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50087916764848770912024-03-05T06:46:52.404-08:00Rathvon Familydaily (or weekly) musings from a wannabe writer wasting a perfectly good journalism degree cooking and cleaning house insteadbryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-61171146897283479622009-03-11T15:41:00.000-07:002009-03-11T16:24:33.140-07:00Before and After<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibliOvPJWNKfUGsuFVRvPqMNujEJUFdfhUMCKBgN-WAG0-st9LJlFXXt4wngJ_VuMSLT3qkpJzWGCv_JSOfIN_rUnJNdSQ1HDOAFJF_vpNpVYm51Qz9C5na895dZShkGbQJPcGsy_7p1c/s1600-h/IMG_1996.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibliOvPJWNKfUGsuFVRvPqMNujEJUFdfhUMCKBgN-WAG0-st9LJlFXXt4wngJ_VuMSLT3qkpJzWGCv_JSOfIN_rUnJNdSQ1HDOAFJF_vpNpVYm51Qz9C5na895dZShkGbQJPcGsy_7p1c/s320/IMG_1996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073854901326386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm17JnYU18VnK-ZPLGJ_PhnaNIvHJI6YbiV5bSiAbV3tyMzkdDk4NR9pEgI1prNRZ8e7tv4HYn5fVJqnHEW0Tws8PGuufSlbF6mtpmvOy0W5r1rwq2aMBQvcCZ0y8TTzbj8dgJznTPV1s/s1600-h/IMG_1994.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm17JnYU18VnK-ZPLGJ_PhnaNIvHJI6YbiV5bSiAbV3tyMzkdDk4NR9pEgI1prNRZ8e7tv4HYn5fVJqnHEW0Tws8PGuufSlbF6mtpmvOy0W5r1rwq2aMBQvcCZ0y8TTzbj8dgJznTPV1s/s320/IMG_1994.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073850305528706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPvyNVE7y4iIqNJ2CnCnJR-9McI_vQ5eBJ4NXjuCLC0qhgeMIIZ-rscc2mCLMQRgeqayqxMjL6gjx1lovn4RWXgdV0qk4P0BKqsKyTmFXXTDk8FzRjUfa5LnsIMzM57DXninASqCMlCk/s1600-h/IMG_1999.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPvyNVE7y4iIqNJ2CnCnJR-9McI_vQ5eBJ4NXjuCLC0qhgeMIIZ-rscc2mCLMQRgeqayqxMjL6gjx1lovn4RWXgdV0qk4P0BKqsKyTmFXXTDk8FzRjUfa5LnsIMzM57DXninASqCMlCk/s320/IMG_1999.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073845987572306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnFGyJXudKJXMjk7Ma7xmJbbWzF0wpOMBrgpVO9fxIkJjF7dIYibEQUlCO1mhL2a6_xd8Q32toeMYuhIctlGZzdqy5yMo1MU5PqLWJyx2h7cBurns2xqwb6tdgN_Zy4e41EiNw5GZ_dk/s1600-h/IMG_2002.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEnFGyJXudKJXMjk7Ma7xmJbbWzF0wpOMBrgpVO9fxIkJjF7dIYibEQUlCO1mhL2a6_xd8Q32toeMYuhIctlGZzdqy5yMo1MU5PqLWJyx2h7cBurns2xqwb6tdgN_Zy4e41EiNw5GZ_dk/s320/IMG_2002.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312073844639793218" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Life has been busy. I'm working a lot more and days off are spent putting the house back together and running errands. I've been thinking a lot lately, especially today, about doing some redecorating. Our poor little kitchen is in desperate need of a face lift and I think now would be the perfect time to do it. It seems like decorating the house is usually the last thing on the list, but I'm making an executive decision and putting it higher on our list of priorities. <div> <div>So, I'll start in the kitchen and work my way down through the rest of the house. The biggest thing for the kitchen would be the counter tops. I am willing to give up food and alcohol in order to get new counter tops (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">summer is coming up; two birds, one stone</span>). They are a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">HUGE</span> eyesore, not to mention a hazard to small people of a certain height (owen????) due to the fact that several tiles have fallen off at random points throughout our time in this house. By the way, I would like to take a minute to point out to my husband that all of these plans will be far less expensive than purchasing a new house. Therefore, in the event that the current economic situation forces us to remain in our house for the foreseeable future, I suggest we do some minor surgery, on the inside for a change, and in return I promise to make your life a lot easier.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are not the neatest people so one thing is for certain: We need to make a commitment to being more organized and picking up after ourselves and our son. Its a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">joint </span>effort and one that I will gladly spearhead into fruition. I'm off work for the next three days while Brooke takes a much needed vacation to Colorado so I plan to research exactly what I want to do for the kitchen and start making a long list for spring cleaning. Helen will be here for Owen's birthday at the end of the month and I just know she will be ready and willing to help me, regardless of whether its decorating or cleaning. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">how do you feel about baseboards Nana? You and Owen can do it together .... you'll have so much fun, promise. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The boys got haircuts the other day and they look so cute. I must say I was pleasantly surprised at the wonderful job JJ did on Owen's hair. Its salon quality if you ask me.</span></div><div>Here's an early birthday shout out for Uncle Adam. Can't wait to celebrate when you get out here.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">****</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">Happy Birthday!!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-large;">*****</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-58037703382633380022009-02-11T13:59:00.000-08:002009-02-12T14:06:08.552-08:00About time, right?<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcPjagtIqAMJWVk4dpgc1hc_2qI7TN-PHqRvQpq108z45cCRphUb7avpG5YEZeqKftzLe94UnqWnSgrCMge8Y-xr6p9iMyoBZb0SxzqSjzuUSL7F0MUZKXx1w5jNCGVvlDYl48RxF9iE/s1600-h/IMG_1895.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcPjagtIqAMJWVk4dpgc1hc_2qI7TN-PHqRvQpq108z45cCRphUb7avpG5YEZeqKftzLe94UnqWnSgrCMge8Y-xr6p9iMyoBZb0SxzqSjzuUSL7F0MUZKXx1w5jNCGVvlDYl48RxF9iE/s320/IMG_1895.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301666399949723826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqQrsqdy637ulduDwIPp_HZa-kc1PS1BuU2ZJsrPotPRLRX5A9APs_EVjFdpeYfk9_EfTxINadSjJHEUsV4GSKOMRCQkiA7zVzxxCaaGLxE1wq7pcmSKIeXiur4aJFwQicTboWnO6wgg/s1600-h/IMG_1892.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqQrsqdy637ulduDwIPp_HZa-kc1PS1BuU2ZJsrPotPRLRX5A9APs_EVjFdpeYfk9_EfTxINadSjJHEUsV4GSKOMRCQkiA7zVzxxCaaGLxE1wq7pcmSKIeXiur4aJFwQicTboWnO6wgg/s320/IMG_1892.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301666396554431010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLfn8DfuQDPARSIjW-3Kc14bzLXWDNo2Rbpdde1LO6uisqc_qcPyVImDS3F2MU_9CJh2x7tAAqSn7Q4Muz-Ajrpc6xynw0IQzQKus0YmEjsxnzkxxLooqrtv_kWVrTawO_OukAZ27c-k/s1600-h/IMG_1898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLfn8DfuQDPARSIjW-3Kc14bzLXWDNo2Rbpdde1LO6uisqc_qcPyVImDS3F2MU_9CJh2x7tAAqSn7Q4Muz-Ajrpc6xynw0IQzQKus0YmEjsxnzkxxLooqrtv_kWVrTawO_OukAZ27c-k/s320/IMG_1898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301666393913690578" /></a><div><br /></div><div>I have not been very good about updating lately. <div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sorry.....</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>I went to San Diego this past weekend and had a really good time. It was an old friend's birthday and it was nice to see everyone and catch up. </div><div>I get a good feeling in California. I think I'm secretly meant to live there.</div><div>When I got home I started pestering JJ immediately about the possibility of us moving there. I even found the perfect house, but, unfortunately, its just not in the cards right now. </div><div>I'll have to make due with frequent vacations instead. I'll also be keeping my fingers crossed for a honeywell aerospace division to open up. That's the only thing holding us back, I think. Or, he could always try for a job at Boeing. He has family ties.... that counts for something right???</div><div><br /></div><div>Owen is beginning to enter his terrible twos stage and I'm scared. He's normally really good but he's been acting up a bit lately. We chalk it up to teeth, but I think he's beginning to develop some bad habits and perhaps its time to lay out some ground rules for discipline. He's acting like an only child. Does that mean its time to have another?</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm going to start working more and we've talked Auntie into being our nanny. It works out for all of us and we get to keep Owen out of daycare and for that, I'm grateful. I do think he would benefit from being around other kids, but it won't be long before he's in preschool a few days a week and that's good enough for us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a few pictures from Owen and JJ's recent trip to the fire station. They're both firemen at heart ;)</div><div>Hope everyone has a great Valentine's day!!!!</div><div><br /></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-8152169739530172012009-01-27T08:34:00.000-08:002009-01-27T08:38:48.894-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL9mKWFiVqAQRtMvryuC0I8Wigmln-sxsPYWKH9_BEcn8wAuaiv_Wgo7I75J_b5E5DWSA1akxLDlhf-j988qfPA2nzJsrU0IWWALH8Gkh_sCl_fGxdCbIxBd9XzwoQKOlVX1NCFFmTy4/s1600-h/IMG_1909.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVL9mKWFiVqAQRtMvryuC0I8Wigmln-sxsPYWKH9_BEcn8wAuaiv_Wgo7I75J_b5E5DWSA1akxLDlhf-j988qfPA2nzJsrU0IWWALH8Gkh_sCl_fGxdCbIxBd9XzwoQKOlVX1NCFFmTy4/s320/IMG_1909.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296013656289640978" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Owen must have been tired this morning. <div><br /></div><div>He fell asleep in his high chair while eating breakfast.... something he has NEVER done before.</div><div>But he looks soooo cute.</div><div><br /></div><div>He's still sleeping out there. I don't have the heart to wake him up.</div><div><br /></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-20539944226544637372009-01-07T19:40:00.000-08:002009-01-07T20:04:13.249-08:002009I cannot believe it's already the seventh of January!! I have let so many days pass in this new year without an update and for that I am truly sorry. Life has been busy... we've had a lot on our plates in recent weeks. <div><br /><div>And now....... </div><div><br /></div><div>Its just over.</div><div><br /></div><div>No more holiday planning or rushing around. It came and went just like it does every other year, but there was something about the speed involved in this one. It was different. </div><div>So here's a quick recap.... </div><div>We spent Christmas Eve at my mom's house and there were so many presents for the children that neither one of them was interested in opening a single present on the actual morning of Christmas. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JJ</span> and I ended up returning several presents we bought for Owen that were left unopened.. We spent the entire day in our pajamas and ate leftover ham sandwiches and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">chex</span> mix. It was pretty great.</div><div><br /></div><div>New Year's eve was spent with friends at a small house party. It was fun, but impossible to find a cab home. I think we ended up waiting for almost two hours before <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">JJ</span> decided to borrow a car and drive us home. We made it home safely.</div><div>Owen had his first slumber party with Gram and I think they had a really good time. They watched movies and went for walks. Since she lives so close, I'm thinking we should definitely do that more often. We'll see.....</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">JJ's</span> brother has been here the past few days and its been fun to spend some time with him. We went to the zoo this week (thanks for the membership Nana!) and he took Owen to the children's museum today while I was at work. But, sadly, he's leaving tomorrow. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to say when Owen wakes up in the morning calling his name.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope everyone had a safe and happy new year!! Can't wait for all the exciting times in '09!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-43339289589545352702008-12-27T15:08:00.000-08:002008-12-27T15:15:35.787-08:00Happy Birthday Nana!!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As per your request, here are some pictures from Christmas Eve.... We missed you guys!!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPVilesvU0YxUii3icgDDGR011sJPimpB_hpkhQIVe6Z2kOQZl5VcCSSnkZQmI8vMR1eEiZt5j62R67Fi5FLj96QvhheOTWlKa6-y1vUktsMIcuQrpkDKUULvZYmPb561zfw0lSKKxnQ/s1600-h/IMG_1835.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPVilesvU0YxUii3icgDDGR011sJPimpB_hpkhQIVe6Z2kOQZl5VcCSSnkZQmI8vMR1eEiZt5j62R67Fi5FLj96QvhheOTWlKa6-y1vUktsMIcuQrpkDKUULvZYmPb561zfw0lSKKxnQ/s320/IMG_1835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284612063146360338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cnSY8aJN1tjrD_wVcjhrFApbGKIphB8IA5aBpDYiqKH9Op6DhV6pK3KOSj3wT8NH6F0UIL5r7XbMLPtLFPPF8uuoZXWu0Qf1MduUIOWJ5eLSe3nPptopurHO7Rrcn3zom8yimmQSuiU/s1600-h/IMG_1831.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cnSY8aJN1tjrD_wVcjhrFApbGKIphB8IA5aBpDYiqKH9Op6DhV6pK3KOSj3wT8NH6F0UIL5r7XbMLPtLFPPF8uuoZXWu0Qf1MduUIOWJ5eLSe3nPptopurHO7Rrcn3zom8yimmQSuiU/s320/IMG_1831.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284612056340912514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovCpJ5lPT0GOnh3eHbaN2uxzt8c3enQHBIYc8CB51OVh8J7msKZ60luBZ1PvVBEwEOrjwjIzKxwt5eKELOz3krZN-tni7P9DDOfDJySUbL8zOCdQiXViQKJKk4zV8V2qAaaVzRRbnSIM/s1600-h/IMG_1829.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovCpJ5lPT0GOnh3eHbaN2uxzt8c3enQHBIYc8CB51OVh8J7msKZ60luBZ1PvVBEwEOrjwjIzKxwt5eKELOz3krZN-tni7P9DDOfDJySUbL8zOCdQiXViQKJKk4zV8V2qAaaVzRRbnSIM/s320/IMG_1829.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284612045997863746" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5wt1pqILlqCUBYug68vE1mPeCU6hoKWTUC7JJ8Zaxl6PovxIFNIvD2WYwwBBF-IaNO34YcNuGYlAH57qDVAkwueY1HsG9gKk3iw5PZ71-FJ31D9DDYYrcE6qt8gOOOD8LCovX75_zzQ/s1600-h/IMG_1826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5wt1pqILlqCUBYug68vE1mPeCU6hoKWTUC7JJ8Zaxl6PovxIFNIvD2WYwwBBF-IaNO34YcNuGYlAH57qDVAkwueY1HsG9gKk3iw5PZ71-FJ31D9DDYYrcE6qt8gOOOD8LCovX75_zzQ/s320/IMG_1826.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284612038116045266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb9VmMNfmBorJjGCLpDXLD1oBtko-Sy8haHqDE9dUhizCAX8llS3KqjlJdEPUofIcqvLj7H-o-KvfTzA_OgZchBOgp16TYy0wFta_rP1v1QtQ4AcExmnhNHpAoRUQxsqzP9NDImWNA1I/s1600-h/IMG_1820.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYb9VmMNfmBorJjGCLpDXLD1oBtko-Sy8haHqDE9dUhizCAX8llS3KqjlJdEPUofIcqvLj7H-o-KvfTzA_OgZchBOgp16TYy0wFta_rP1v1QtQ4AcExmnhNHpAoRUQxsqzP9NDImWNA1I/s320/IMG_1820.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284612034370296754" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-12299654950964312582008-12-11T13:07:00.000-08:002008-12-11T13:22:53.317-08:00Scary Santa's<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWD4CCJg2pNm6AmUohIBfAlrVMvA6TwBTaFXzNwwIGbp8HF5cfRHX5XXrZWC6fTvkMyymMSp6Fx1NrcxjlcfK_wrV4Kzr_iIW_0sGyxnn1G3_lVDctzSlzErCF-P4h2ovZLwgK2bndZQ/s1600-h/santa_0002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWD4CCJg2pNm6AmUohIBfAlrVMvA6TwBTaFXzNwwIGbp8HF5cfRHX5XXrZWC6fTvkMyymMSp6Fx1NrcxjlcfK_wrV4Kzr_iIW_0sGyxnn1G3_lVDctzSlzErCF-P4h2ovZLwgK2bndZQ/s320/santa_0002.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278644181531939330" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Owen's picture last year</div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfJBrSo96Mz_rAmXIoIaGtysx0rDrdqQEd02LkHkWb1NQOUVReztjFNvq4r_9cOGgVp3KCvjTQf1bGtBPVFhxlYYinDItfu5ZyVrjFqjr3n9ihjzXBnNSNEMB1dpiTzA3RecCcItbNMs/s1600-h/santa_0001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfJBrSo96Mz_rAmXIoIaGtysx0rDrdqQEd02LkHkWb1NQOUVReztjFNvq4r_9cOGgVp3KCvjTQf1bGtBPVFhxlYYinDItfu5ZyVrjFqjr3n9ihjzXBnNSNEMB1dpiTzA3RecCcItbNMs/s320/santa_0001.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278644149642211778" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">A little nervous this year. Nana had to sit with him.</div><div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbXhyawEnPevTBhCiCU0lF_ymtVG3wIRfy4EMxUkCYja0TIVuIdvG8HFJa-YP4j4kLDIrsksE6mKeNKplIRL_FS57e6BqIJl_iPKPg0DZKeksm7Fo69zUYt0PmV_jOJRBFOIYJBDMfE4/s1600-h/santa.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVbXhyawEnPevTBhCiCU0lF_ymtVG3wIRfy4EMxUkCYja0TIVuIdvG8HFJa-YP4j4kLDIrsksE6mKeNKplIRL_FS57e6BqIJl_iPKPg0DZKeksm7Fo69zUYt0PmV_jOJRBFOIYJBDMfE4/s320/santa.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278644143072997650" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;">This year ..... take two</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I will do anything to avoid my household responsibilities. This includes figuring out how to use my new scanner and sharing with everyone the adorable holiday tradition shared by millions of people. The picture with Santa. Later on in life we will look back and remember exactly where we were when these were taken. I love seeing how much he has grown between this year and last year. </div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-58166277535653678102008-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:002008-12-10T20:48:48.324-08:00Frosty the Snowman<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXwID6ADzngQec1bmck9TdZBd0QN-WwXlOIAlEPi8aUpD74rsLBiqN9CoCkbpNYDA8jUyxhu5NKyrCN6FIsAv4DqsNC3MEovXhLH0dbwR-y80X3LytzjC8vK_sZ_dNBfG8JARQV6RGxI/s1600-h/IMG_1751.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrXwID6ADzngQec1bmck9TdZBd0QN-WwXlOIAlEPi8aUpD74rsLBiqN9CoCkbpNYDA8jUyxhu5NKyrCN6FIsAv4DqsNC3MEovXhLH0dbwR-y80X3LytzjC8vK_sZ_dNBfG8JARQV6RGxI/s320/IMG_1751.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278389536242130418" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOi2DEjGY_ISx2MnG4_EzkefiV5_SpbB6trksqtxWYkoB_bHIfVXsJgEcAM1cDGuKHI5VGOfCas8se04cO8gwR6oD6wDNtB8aSkFKd8UmizQvkaGW4LobpQApzdCjacrisyD1s2QKBsc/s1600-h/IMG_1768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOi2DEjGY_ISx2MnG4_EzkefiV5_SpbB6trksqtxWYkoB_bHIfVXsJgEcAM1cDGuKHI5VGOfCas8se04cO8gwR6oD6wDNtB8aSkFKd8UmizQvkaGW4LobpQApzdCjacrisyD1s2QKBsc/s320/IMG_1768.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278389529926868130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlts12cx9odJdLOQ48xAh8pKoRCymEE6Hq4A9n7KQiwoohsIKcT883YO_h_4RBRCCIXdJVdhJqpWWLcIk6PBXatjC8qZmkCFzu57ij1YR6oAKT7X01jeEDwc6zWm-jjxvg8YpyVaC6VI/s1600-h/IMG_1748.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlts12cx9odJdLOQ48xAh8pKoRCymEE6Hq4A9n7KQiwoohsIKcT883YO_h_4RBRCCIXdJVdhJqpWWLcIk6PBXatjC8qZmkCFzu57ij1YR6oAKT7X01jeEDwc6zWm-jjxvg8YpyVaC6VI/s320/IMG_1748.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278389522999658354" /></a><br />Owen's new favorite holiday song. He sings it everyday and we also have to watch the old cartoon on youtube. He knows it's on the computer and not the tv. He's incredibly perceptive. He's also inclined to belt out Jingle Bells every now and then as well. One of these days I'll try to record it and post it on here. It's pretty funny.<div><br /><div>I can't believe it's already the tenth of December. Last year around this time, we were preparing to spend two weeks in Fiji. Wouldn't that be nice to look forward to right about now?? I would love to be at the villa in Pacific Harbor.</div><div><br /></div><div>Last weekend was Mandy's first annual Gaudy Christmas party. A fun time was had by all and although it was a small, intimate gathering, it was spent with friends and a lot of laughter was shared (at my expense, but I'm over it). </div><div><br /></div><div>Christmas is right around the corner, and shortly after that we will be celebrating the start of another new year. Why do they all seem to go by so fast these days? I've been thinking about some serious resolutions and the one I think I'm going to focus on the most is graduate school. I've been talking about it for years, but its high time I actually make something happen. My child is old enough to benefit from spending some time around other kids. My husband and I have no plans to add to our brood anytime soon, therefore, why not further educate myself and spend my time a bit more productively? </div><div><br /></div><div>BTW, funny story. Last week, while watching frosty on youtube with my sister, something upset Owen and he began crying hysterically. Still, to this day, we don't know what upset him, but it was almost like he was in pain. While he was crying so hard he also began coughing. I was trying my best to calm him down, but he wasn't being comforted by anything I did. And then ....... he threw up. It wasn't small (he just had a juice box) and it was projectile. His aim was amazing. Directly down the front of my v-neck shirt. I've never seen anything like it. </div><div>Once I had him settled down and with my sister, I took my clothes off to get in the shower. There, right above my belly button, was a grape stuck to my stomach.</div><div>That's the funny part. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-35862552077377385192008-12-02T13:18:00.001-08:002008-12-02T13:34:05.354-08:00Happy Holidays!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWhZ6r-etxPa_GEFNdKaE5bsyRI6hgeP_jOlrNiC0MK6iVTvTiByIjjFjgjy7vBBzh3IPWOLm75qvsFtvEhAqJxigTMcauQzqvdbpsRdX3hgD-ngeDWAXvrRwV8x00A4efdXgg4stIik/s1600-h/IMG_1732.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzWhZ6r-etxPa_GEFNdKaE5bsyRI6hgeP_jOlrNiC0MK6iVTvTiByIjjFjgjy7vBBzh3IPWOLm75qvsFtvEhAqJxigTMcauQzqvdbpsRdX3hgD-ngeDWAXvrRwV8x00A4efdXgg4stIik/s320/IMG_1732.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275308835676638498" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Owen showing some school spirit<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwUI1SHtHrj-KD7Qw5mbTDB22QiqY9GgVqPC3425gCZda35_q94aEhupPbuz5Ch2wfdF2v_SuOEX2eHJ2kyGluSY5HTA9okaeTdHpi8c9OYQKKDpSS0oXIOC_5bCDLiZQrCJ2Rjlfvmw/s1600-h/IMG_1739.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwUI1SHtHrj-KD7Qw5mbTDB22QiqY9GgVqPC3425gCZda35_q94aEhupPbuz5Ch2wfdF2v_SuOEX2eHJ2kyGluSY5HTA9okaeTdHpi8c9OYQKKDpSS0oXIOC_5bCDLiZQrCJ2Rjlfvmw/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275308832261278546" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEbrJI-eTgYSc1A6pFk9Tj_YUCW_OhR9t5jdDITgvJeDz_Mkqxg0FyOha9yhwz3kVwaSVMU7oVKdbkfFy9lvYnYsHDFgfsWorOdhlE-b7GIiOrk4U58wxTrvyXgfZ5E5UfSj2X4KNVfU/s1600-h/IMG_1742.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSEbrJI-eTgYSc1A6pFk9Tj_YUCW_OhR9t5jdDITgvJeDz_Mkqxg0FyOha9yhwz3kVwaSVMU7oVKdbkfFy9lvYnYsHDFgfsWorOdhlE-b7GIiOrk4U58wxTrvyXgfZ5E5UfSj2X4KNVfU/s320/IMG_1742.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275308820035858850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">All the kids on Thanksgiving<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><blockquote></blockquote>We had a great Thanksgiving. It started out with a surprise visit from Nana. She was able to come down for a few days before leaving to go back to Germany. It was nice to have her here and she helped me tremendously by getting the raw turkey ready for roasting. And by that I mean pulling out all the stuff they put inside, yuck!! <div> <div>It was a really nice holiday, probably one of my favorites. Alika got the results from his scan back and he is cancer FREE!! We are so excited and couldn't be more thankful for this wonderful news. The only bad part is that means he will be getting the green light to go home soon and we have really enjoyed having him here. It wasn't always hospitals and chemotherapy. We had some fun and games mixed in as well and we'll miss him dearly. But, we wish him luck back in Hawaii and we can't wait to visit.</div><div><br /></div><div>Patricia threw an adorable baby shower for Malia on Saturday. I forgot how cute newborn clothes are. It almost, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">almost, </span>made me want to have another baby. If Patricia has one, I'll have one.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still recovering from a very busy, fun filled weekend. We were barely home and I've been doing everything in my power to avoid vacuuming, but alas, it must be done. Hope everyone had a great holiday!!<blockquote></blockquote></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-8511279585834663252008-11-21T13:16:00.000-08:002008-11-22T10:45:31.985-08:00The wait is finally over<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Last night when I went to work there was a huge line on the second floor. It wrapped all around the entire food court and it took me a few minutes to realize what they were all waiting for..... Twilight.<br /></div></div><div><br /><div>I read the books -- all four of them. I think it was a total of some 2,000 pages, at least. I will probably go see the movie and, this is the first time I have ever said this, but I really, really hope the movie is better than the book.</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean to be a hater. I just (for lack of a better word) hated the books. I can't help it. I thought they were completely unrealistic and I'm not even talking about the storyline (hello?? vampires and werewolves???). I'm talking about the relationship built between the two main characters. </div><div><br /></div><div>First off, and I don't mean any offense, but I'm not a huge fan of the main character, Bella. I actually started the book and put it down because I couldn't get past her pointless thoughts in the first chapter. Ugh....<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Second, the dialogue that takes place between the two of them is totally far fetched. Not only do teenagers <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">not</span> talk to each other like that, but I think it gives young women the wrong idea about young men. </div><div><br /></div><div>That's probably my biggest complaint. I cringe at the thought of all the impressionable, young girls out there reading these books and just imagining that there is actually someone who will treat them like Edward Cullen treats his Bella. It is all a fantasy and not anywhere close to a reality.</div><div><br /></div><div>The reality is, most men think about three things: Sports, Cars, and you know what (this is a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">family blog) FOOD</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"> hee hee</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:10px;"><br /></span></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-2790265366750898492008-11-19T15:24:00.000-08:002008-11-19T16:00:27.953-08:00<div style="text-align: left;">I have decided I hate the colors the rooms are painted in my house. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of repainting, however, I would prefer to pack up and move to a new house. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> I painted them almost four years ago and I didn't do a very good job picking out the colors, or keeping the edges straight and it is really beginning to drive me crazy. <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Why didn't I pick more neutral colors??</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-57444949606010031632008-11-17T12:43:00.000-08:002008-11-19T15:59:19.862-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05tblsBACB3rzEAoaORPMWg4DA5KfVsps1-KBku-BVjVQWshiL72mkblYgRJpm8NExWZH9H5TLPdukqyfOI1RR41LfgneA-wz8l1FoAJCv2li8_UYqEhMDQsFVqUls22NddMMEgjX50/s1600-h/IMG_1717.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC05tblsBACB3rzEAoaORPMWg4DA5KfVsps1-KBku-BVjVQWshiL72mkblYgRJpm8NExWZH9H5TLPdukqyfOI1RR41LfgneA-wz8l1FoAJCv2li8_UYqEhMDQsFVqUls22NddMMEgjX50/s320/IMG_1717.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269735469680597362" /></a><br />I have a greater appreciation now for wireless internet than I did in the past. As I write this, I am sitting at my dining room table staring at a pile of laundry I have yet to fold. My thought is this: perhaps if its directly in front of me, it has a better chance of being folded if I can continue to see it out of the corner of my eye. We'll see how that works out.<div>Tahnie's younger brother got married this weekend. Its been awhile since JJ and I have been to a wedding. It was a lovely sunset ceremony and it made me want to get married again. I think my favorite part about weddings are the flowers. And the cake. I love cake.</div><div>Thanksgiving is coming up and, as usual, there are about 30 people coming over to my dad's house for dinner. I've volunteered for the first time, ever, to make a turkey (one of three) and I'm a little nervous as to how it will turn out. I found a good recipe in Food and Wine magazine that doesn't look too complicated..... so I'm going to give it a shot. From what other people have told me, the turkey is the easiest part. My plan is to make my other two dishes the day before so I can give this turkey my full, undivided attention. I'm a little stressed about it, but the saving grace is that there's two other turkeys, and a ham, so if mine's not edible, at least we won't starve.</div><div>Owen's been really into taking bubble baths lately. I tried to look for kid friendly bubbles at the store the other day, but they all smell like bubble gum, grape or watermelon. So I've been using bath and body works shower gel and he always smells so good. Even in the morning, when he wakes up, you can still smell it on his hair. I love that.</div><div><br /></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-87944181858363715862008-11-06T13:44:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:55:14.273-08:00Planet Unicorn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFcMWU6G9wynfw7H_kKecy8A2Kvr8_xnP-WJKnzTGWvwYZRxMiAHp5uxxdvHBugv3zeiw4Sc7BzaqopJrtq9PAfUGkEQsmXAQCW0tDH3JiGzUZsUSi42aztbUEaTfvzj4NRLgQ1jHQ2E/s1600-h/Haloween+08+077.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFcMWU6G9wynfw7H_kKecy8A2Kvr8_xnP-WJKnzTGWvwYZRxMiAHp5uxxdvHBugv3zeiw4Sc7BzaqopJrtq9PAfUGkEQsmXAQCW0tDH3JiGzUZsUSi42aztbUEaTfvzj4NRLgQ1jHQ2E/s320/Haloween+08+077.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265664334922845074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXj4WzMPLHjyQ9imKVzZoSqeynIbcroE8o_bjdKMpECCBe9CTxOPLHOIRKKSgIjXcOBFlFYXh3gHU0R18auY1GwLj3mAV79iuKzBeQgLEm0OSTgQBEJBvINw4umLng5RA8009P0sULLI/s1600-h/Haloween+08+075-1.JPG"><img src="http://www.planetunicorn.tv/images/tomcruise.jpg" /><img src="http://www.planetunicorn.tv/images/feathers.jpg" /><img src="http://www.planetunicorn.tv/images/cadillac.jpg" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXj4WzMPLHjyQ9imKVzZoSqeynIbcroE8o_bjdKMpECCBe9CTxOPLHOIRKKSgIjXcOBFlFYXh3gHU0R18auY1GwLj3mAV79iuKzBeQgLEm0OSTgQBEJBvINw4umLng5RA8009P0sULLI/s320/Haloween+08+075-1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265664325683006146" /></a><div><br /><br /><div>I will never spray my hair like that again. My scalp was pink for days afterwards......</div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-69162147757723563642008-11-04T13:28:00.001-08:002008-11-04T14:42:22.868-08:00Give it up for White Blood Cells!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzbq4s9sUxv27oQVmhrSFCDyvlhEhCKRbbwVSNHhh0DdCimnzau4AzGuLHuvQL3Kj-IhdYrORSMAENkpvl0x8itl3EL5BMht0ShVmBXz-BrgVFZ1PJ4Kw0-e79Qp_Y1tmt5eM7FhIg-s/s1600-h/IMG_1715.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzbq4s9sUxv27oQVmhrSFCDyvlhEhCKRbbwVSNHhh0DdCimnzau4AzGuLHuvQL3Kj-IhdYrORSMAENkpvl0x8itl3EL5BMht0ShVmBXz-BrgVFZ1PJ4Kw0-e79Qp_Y1tmt5eM7FhIg-s/s320/IMG_1715.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264936027224631282" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll6Hm0e79C4tvkmjuEuoAPxe_V3J3rSg7tSGYNFarJ92IjHLrz_GOconMdxvXW9SakhSGXRDcRgwtG4fQV-6G3zaqUSAet6nePnErpkv4qNQ0DSzeOjhk4Orpeb0vqgT7JNuRXtDiUI8/s1600-h/IMG_1711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll6Hm0e79C4tvkmjuEuoAPxe_V3J3rSg7tSGYNFarJ92IjHLrz_GOconMdxvXW9SakhSGXRDcRgwtG4fQV-6G3zaqUSAet6nePnErpkv4qNQ0DSzeOjhk4Orpeb0vqgT7JNuRXtDiUI8/s320/IMG_1711.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264936023673051154" /></a><br /><div><div>Halloween was a huge success on all accounts. Owen was able to grasp the concept of trick or treating rather quickly. He and JJ went out for awhile and I stayed home to pass out candy. They came back to call it a night and Owen decided he wasn't quite done yet, and they went around the block again. We had a fun time for Cody's last big birthday bash. Our costumes were so much fun and very creative as far as I was concerned. The only bad part about the entire night was when a certain someone, who shall remain nameless, wouldn't let me play the cd's that I specifically made for Cody and his birthday. How rude is that? This certain person was trying to play the cd's that he made for him instead. In my mind I was thinking, ok, I've known him since I was 13 and I think I have a pretty good handle on what kind of music he likes and what would make him laugh on his birthday. I didn't want to cause more drama than what was already being created, so I kept my mouth shut and let him play his lame cd's. Boo!!</div><div><br /></div><div>When I woke up this morning, I knew it was going to be a good day. I got out of bed early, before JJ went to work, so I could vote without having a toddler in tow. When I drove up to our polling place, there was a line out the door and halfway through the parking lot. So, I went home, hoping to make it back there at a time a little less crowded. And I did. I think my husband was secretly hoping I wouldn't be able to vote today, either because of my child, or my lack of patience, but I did it and I feel good about my contribution to this election. Unfortunately, because I had Owen with me, I was only able to vote on the issues that I found the most important. I sat him down, underneath the table I used to fill out my ballot, and let him play with my wallet. This usually keeps him occupied for at least five solid minutes. He was being so good and quiet....I should have known something was up. I looked down and he wasn't there anymore. He was on his way out -- halfway to the parking lot to be exact. I grabbed my ballot and the credit cards that were scattered underneath the table and went after him. Somebody actually called after me to tell me I needed to leave my ballot there and I couldn't take it outside. I was a little miffed. I mean, I want to vote, but my priority is obviously to keep my child out of harms way at all times. </div><div><br /></div><div>I also knew it was going to be a good day when I spoke to my dad this morning and he told me that Alika's white blood cell count went from 130 yesterday to a staggering 1100 today!! For those of you who are not up to speed, Alika has been in the hospital for the past three weeks and after undergoing a near fatal dose of chemotherapy, he is finally on the cusp of recovery. As long as his count stays above 500 for the next three days, he can be released on Friday. We are ecstatic!! I have had the opportunity to visit him a few times while in the hospital, and it was difficult, to say the least, to watch him during this transformation. He went from being his usual jovial self, joking about the food and watching the Broncos loose, to practically incoherent due to all the medication being pumped into his system. It was the first time, throughout this whole experience, that I have actually seen him exhibit physical signs of his illness. My heart goes out to you, Alika. You are an inspiration to everyone in this family, as well as to all your friends. I truly hope this is the end of the unfortunate relationship created between you and this disease. Get that slugger ready.....by the end of the year we will be organizing a celebratory trip somewhere in honor of you beating this cancer and coming through a champ. How does Vegas sound? We just have to get you past Debbie first :)</div><div><br /></div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-75828404858607201992008-10-28T15:24:00.001-07:002008-10-28T15:48:29.608-07:00Happy Birthday Codes!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT6E0kOh0a6SLdwXG3peN7Nv2jAtkOnhBK-n41krl30eZolI-cUfQegPNqMk3lMMuZ_jgQpFfscHbFk3hGhD8N6N4E7vQeZNBeel1NY_TN4RT8SPd_5ZmbO1pZpvCPgm5nxKcAIiFhBU/s1600-h/bday.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262339200701406386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT6E0kOh0a6SLdwXG3peN7Nv2jAtkOnhBK-n41krl30eZolI-cUfQegPNqMk3lMMuZ_jgQpFfscHbFk3hGhD8N6N4E7vQeZNBeel1NY_TN4RT8SPd_5ZmbO1pZpvCPgm5nxKcAIiFhBU/s320/bday.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTV6lAD6peUAcQzjle4NUgLa63jXduoXZ86ZFBEvu3roeGi5Py5_THlLaFcMRYfdq4xdGA8zghKkdqjD72TrLiMcvtpUl13NSQUw9CXPHyoEG4hP0vbzPzF0cO1BH0gCvdzdNn5Ya11Q/s1600-h/bdaycake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262337521432383570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTV6lAD6peUAcQzjle4NUgLa63jXduoXZ86ZFBEvu3roeGi5Py5_THlLaFcMRYfdq4xdGA8zghKkdqjD72TrLiMcvtpUl13NSQUw9CXPHyoEG4hP0vbzPzF0cO1BH0gCvdzdNn5Ya11Q/s320/bdaycake.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqq1PPs7iwj7P4Jcp-iOVwNYkGx9KUxn4_364pKrEuRZfxUDh9plbM61U-y5y5LkkRZOjgVBJiKzpkuLOtfzi1QINJuwF1jtCZUkBayFYpHMFMDEmu-cGAsgIUwZ2vzO1KlK_RDKZA80/s1600-h/bday2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262337514119473170" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqq1PPs7iwj7P4Jcp-iOVwNYkGx9KUxn4_364pKrEuRZfxUDh9plbM61U-y5y5LkkRZOjgVBJiKzpkuLOtfzi1QINJuwF1jtCZUkBayFYpHMFMDEmu-cGAsgIUwZ2vzO1KlK_RDKZA80/s320/bday2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Today we are trick or treating early because my mom and Ruben are spending Halloween in Cabo. Yeah, I feel bad for them too. Maybe one of these days we'll make it back there again.</div><div></div><div align="left">We spent the morning at Desert Ridge. We went there to meet up with a friend of mine and let the kids play. It was fun.....until Owen discovered the splash pad water fountain and got soaked. He was having the best time laughing and playing all by himself. It was cute, but he was wet.<br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left">Sunday was spent at Cody's Birthday Brunch. The first of several parties planned to celebrate the big 3-0. Crystal put on a really great party. It was good food, good people, and overall a lot of fun. Its always nice to meet and hang out with his "other" friends. He doesn't usually bring them around that often, but we will all be together again for his next party on Friday night. We decided to play a mean trick on him and shove his face in the cake. I don't think he thought it was that funny, but the rest of us did. Its nice to make fun of yourself every once in awhile and I think he realized that once he got over the initial shock of the whole thing. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Helen and Hal sent a nice Halloween package to Owen the other day. It included a wonderful police motorcycle that he pushes around the house and it also has a button that when pushed blares a police siren. It also says "Stop! Police!" in German. That has been his number one toy for the past two days and I'm about to hide it. I need a break from the siren. They also sent a quiet toy in the form of a soccer ball and he's been kicking that around the backyard. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Malia will be here this weekend along with her ever expanding baby bump. She found out on Monday she's having a boy and she's excited, although she really thought it was a girl. I think she thought maybe they made a mistake. We're going to get her registered this weekend and I hope she's not too overwhelmed. We'll see.....<br /></div><div align="left">Happy Halloween!!</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="center"></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-79346573260941544642008-10-21T15:55:00.000-07:002008-10-21T16:04:27.315-07:00My most pressing problems of the past week have been solved. I bought a flight suit for Owen at a thrift store in Pinetop last July and completely forgot about it until Brooke found it in the back of his closet. He's going to be a pilot for Halloween and he loves it. If he's happy.....I'm happy.<br /><br />After continued correspondence with a very nice and polite woman who, of all things, custom makes horns and masks from her home in Oregon, she has agreed to make me three unicorn horns in a color that isn't even offered on her website. She promised to finish them this weekend and send them out priority mail on Monday, which was yesterday. So, I'm happy to say that they should be arriving any day and they did NOT cost an arm and a leg.<br /><br />The only thing I have yet to accomplish is my new computer. Believe me, its driving me crazy.bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-15942411982329081422008-10-14T13:47:00.000-07:002008-10-14T14:13:12.886-07:00I need a unicorn horn!!I know, I know.....I've been way behind on my posts. October has just been such a busy month for us. And November is going to be even worse. <br />The weather is finally starting to change out here. It's been so nice and super comfortable outside. There is definitely a sense of fall in the air. Wherever we go, we are bombarded with Halloween decorations as well as pumpkins and other fall related items. It reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner and then all the wind is promptly knocked out of me. Another year gone by already.....almost anyway. I don't remember the years going by this fast when I was younger. It's probably because I was in such a hurry to grow up.<br /><br />I have been going back and forth about what Owen should be for Halloween. At first, I wanted him to be a turtle, but then the costume looked a little too babyish for him. I mean, he's a big boy now, right? So, I found him the cutest little cowboy costume and he wants nothing to do with it. And I mean nothing....I tried to put it on him to make sure it fit and he was literally kicking and screaming the whole time and yelling "NO NO NO". He keeps saying he wants to be a monkey, which is what he was last year. I know he has a good memory, but I seriously doubt he remembers he was a monkey for Halloween. Who knows....stranger things have happened I guess. He is really excited to trick or treat. I think we'll just take him over to Uncle Kevin's and Gram and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tata's</span> house and maybe the next door neighbor's. But he already knows what he's supposed to say on Halloween and he knows this holiday has something to do with scary stuff. We carved a pumpkin last night (sorry Crystal), and now this pumpkin has become his best friend. We haven't put it outside yet. Its actually sitting on the kitchen table. So he sees his pumpkin when he eats and he says hi to it periodically throughout the day. The pumpkin patch we went to is right off the 51 and Lincoln. It was really nice and they had a huge selection. Its a church that's raising money for people to go to Mexico and build houses for the needy. Anyway, we got there at about five minutes to seven and they close at seven. The woman running the place (quite clearly volunteering) was nice enough to let us take our time and pick out the perfect pumpkin, as well as take pictures, etc. When we went to pay for it, she told us that a few minutes before we got there, a man came through and bought a pumpkin and he paid for it with a counterfeit fifty dollar bill!! He bought a four dollar pumpkin and she gave him $46 dollars change. Isn't that horrible??!! Can you believe someone would do that to a church fundraiser? That man just bought himself a one way ticket straight to Hell.<br />Cody is celebrating his birthday on Halloween so I have to come up with a really good costume. I think I'm going to be a unicorn, but the horn I wanted is sold out. If anyone has any idea how to make a unicorn horn, I'm desperate for suggestions.<br /><br />I've been reading the Twilight series and I have to say, I don't know what all the hype is about. I mean, they're good books, don't get me wrong, but I'm not sure I would recommend them to other people my age. I'm not sure I would recommend them to my teenage cousins either, for that matter. I have about two hundred pages left in the last book so I guess I should reserve my comments for my formal write up.<br /><br />Today is the big day for the new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">macbooks</span>. We're going to take a trip to the apple store after dinner and hopefully my next post will be from our new computer. Keep your fingers crossed!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-66707344044432238342008-09-25T13:26:00.000-07:002008-09-25T13:54:04.029-07:00Paka thinks he is so funny<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhP9FLjztsxBOOZt92RRcCVBlhOTCsjNesZY6U80XsOKvJKZKSIvK187IDY4zrtyUfyh-dxlSRldYgSdLxdwpZ2A5AEtoJCUiFiKzPt3_llivGzyCYlNarn7yJ3w4aj3HnNOcLkodaJI/s1600-h/IMG_3696.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250064024515496178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjhP9FLjztsxBOOZt92RRcCVBlhOTCsjNesZY6U80XsOKvJKZKSIvK187IDY4zrtyUfyh-dxlSRldYgSdLxdwpZ2A5AEtoJCUiFiKzPt3_llivGzyCYlNarn7yJ3w4aj3HnNOcLkodaJI/s320/IMG_3696.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2av0RGMved1RWw09WSevGNbfNcHYSkEOIZHBtdENxYUqY3N0-2J4hSxF-T2z5bFbgroNallL-Sbl-kJwBr6vaN1t43yDQ166LeMAHXcl4DR0wnV0TjTHJWCZPXHi5J_4Qlw5Tbd9ejM/s1600-h/IMG_3694.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250064035941368690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju2av0RGMved1RWw09WSevGNbfNcHYSkEOIZHBtdENxYUqY3N0-2J4hSxF-T2z5bFbgroNallL-Sbl-kJwBr6vaN1t43yDQ166LeMAHXcl4DR0wnV0TjTHJWCZPXHi5J_4Qlw5Tbd9ejM/s320/IMG_3694.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We had lunch at Dad's house the other day and he thought it would be a wonderful idea to give his grandson a temporary tattoo. He did this almost a week ago and it still looks brand new. I have soaped him and lathered him and even scrubbed his arm and its not going anywhere. In case you can't read what it says ( in jailhouse cursive writing) underneath the elegant bouquet of roses, it says "Freedom". At first, I thought it said "Rebel" so Owen was walking around the house saying "I'm a rebel!" and pointing to his arm. I have to admit, it was funny, for the first couple of days or at least through the weekend. Now, I'm ready for it to disappear. And, yes, that is a sword that the flowers and ribbon are wrapped around.....ugh!!</div><br /><div>We have been very busy lately. Owen started his music class and it is soooo hippie-ish. It's a group of about ten parents and children that come together and sing songs and play some instruments. I felt a bit uncomfortable at first with all the adult participation, but its getting a little easier. There are some people in the class that are definitely having more fun than their children. I think they signed up for themselves and not their kids. We do have to sing and dance along, which I don't mind, but there is one mother in the class that is using this time to practice for her American Idol audition. She's a total Whitney Houston wannabe. Needless to say, she's one of the people having more fun with the class than her son. JJ was working from home this morning, so I made him go with me. He was totally uncomfortable the whole time. I loved it!!</div><br /><div>We've been having a lot of fun with Alika lately. Its been nice having him here and he's slept on our couch for the past two weekends. But he did get some bad news in that he has to have another week of chemo starting on Monday. We were hoping he could get right down to the bone marrow transplant, but he'll have to wait and see after next week. Stay strong, Alika xxoo!!</div><div> </div><div>Thanks to everyone who made it to our end of summer pool party on Saturday. As usual, a good time was had by all. I only have one bruise left on my arm, but its fading fast. I can't remember if I got it during the cannonball contest, or when I was practicing my dolphin kick like Michael Phelps......</div><br /><div></div>bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-37421455580536424392008-09-12T11:19:00.000-07:002008-09-12T15:30:32.776-07:00auf Wiedersehen! (that's goodbye in German for those of you who don't watch Project Runway)We had a lovely visit with Helen this past weekend. She got here Saturday night and was able to stay until Tuesday evening. She left from here and was going straight to Germany. I'm not sure when we'll see her again :( Maybe Christmas? I know she won't be able to stay away from Owen for long. She arrived just in time to babysit while I went to see Hall & Oates in concert Saturday night. Let's just say it was less than stellar. I was actually quite disappointed in their performance. I was really looking forward to it and it was a total let down. They didn't play a lot of songs I knew (while I was there -- we skipped out early), but the part of their performance I did see seemed to lack energy. It just wasn't what I was expecting. But a warm, heartfelt thanks goes out to Joanna for getting us the tickets!!<br />Everyone came over for dinner at our house on Sunday and Helen made curry. It was <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">soooo</span> good and Patricia was nice enough to point out that my curry doesn't taste anything like Helen's. I'm not taking it personally..... I've only made it once, as opposed to once a week for years and years. I definitely need some practice, though, and I'm not giving up.<br />I finished reading <em>The Innocent Man</em> by John <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Grisham</span>. It's a gripping true story about a man falsely imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of the injustices that occur within our judicial system on a daily basis. But the whole life story of this man is tragic and its not just about his false imprisonment, but the horrible hand he was dealt in life. This is not a feel good story with a happy ending, but one I would <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">recommend</span> none the less.<br />My son has decided that he no longer likes to have his diaper changed. He's 18 months old and I thought, fine, we'll just have to start with the potty training. But, no, he is not fond of the potty I bought for him and he refuses to sit on a regular toilet. He does love to flush, but we can't spend all day flushing the toilet, can we? Suggestions, please!!?? He is kicking and screaming when I try to put him on his changing table and holding onto me for dear life. I've also tried the "time out" route (when he behaves like that), but he thinks it's funny and has since started putting himself in time-out periodically throughout the day.<br />Helen, we loved having you. We hope you guys are getting settled and we'll talk to you soon!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-56907553226498684242008-09-03T15:09:00.000-07:002008-09-03T15:26:50.211-07:00Dad, I am so sorry! I know you have been bugging me about not updating and I feel really bad about being behind lately. Its been a pretty busy week or two and we had a very full weekend as well. Saturday was Princess Gigi's first birthday and I have never seen anything like it. Patricia has totally outdone herself, as usual, but all the decorations were adorable and all the kids had a really good time.<br />I just finished reading <em>The Other Boleyn Girl </em>by Philippa Gregory. That's probably why I haven't updated in so long. It was really good. Sort of like a juicy, gossip filled, soap opera set in the fifteen hundreds. I couldn't put it down and now I really want to see the movie. <br />The rest of our weekend was pretty uneventful. JJ played golf on Sunday and Brooke and Tahnie came over for margaritas by the pool. Monday was spent running errands and picking up the house. We did end up at Dad's house for dinner and a cut throat tournament in Wii bowling. Alika won, of course. I think he's had some extra time to practice. Mariocart was way better, but I officially came in last every single time we raced.<br />Owen has his first ear infection. The other day he just wasn't acting like himself.....very upset, crying, etc. Then he started pointing to his ear. We went to the doctor yesterday and, sure enough, it's infected. He's going to be on antibiotics for the next ten days, but I think he's already starting to feel better. <br />For some reason, I have no energy this week. I'm tired and I don't want to do anything but read (even though I just finished my book and I have yet to start another one). I think maybe it has something to do with the weather. I'm ready for it to cool off so Owen and I can start riding our bike again in the mornings. <br />I'm excited for this weekend. I think Helen will be paying us a visit before she makes her move over the pond. Owen can't wait to see his Nana!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-64977255674857222662008-08-19T20:39:00.000-07:002008-08-19T22:35:56.413-07:00Happy Birthday to us!!My cry for help has finally been answered. Due to some serious <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">generosity</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">JJ</span> and I are the proud owners of a new Mac laptop!! I will never own a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pc</span> again. The day after we replaced the hard drive it was already infected with viruses.<br />We had a pretty busy weekend. Malia was here and it was great to see her, but right now she's a little under the weather. Baby <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">McCabe</span> is making her feel a little down in the dumps. There wasn't a day I saw her that she wasn't feeling either tired or <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">nauseous</span>. It gets better .... I promise.<br />Dad and Debbie had a big birthday BBQ for all of us at their house Saturday night. It was nice to get everyone together and we had a lot of fun. It's on occasions such as this that I'm grateful my family gets along, and by that I mean my parents. All of them. Dad, Debbie, Mom and Ruben. Not everyone is as lucky as we are to have two <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">separate</span> sets of parents that are friendly and can function around each other. My dad and Ruben are playing golf together this weekend and I know my mom and Debbie have spoken on the phone recently. It's a huge relief, if you ask me. They are finally acting like adults.<br />I got the go ahead from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">JJ</span> to go back to work. The question I'm asking myself now is, what am I going to do?? I have a feeling graduate school is in my near future instead of a job. Hopefully I can get the green light for that too.<br />I'm desperate for a new book to read. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know asap!!<br />BTW, I re-read <em>I Know this Much is True </em>by Wally Lamb. I loved it. Don't be afraid of the 900 page length because it goes by fast and the story is gut wrenching. He is excellent at character development as well as plot direction. The amount of research that went in to writing this book is astounding. It probably took him years.<br />I'm currently reading a collection of short (true) stories by the guy who wrote <em>Fight Club</em> and I'm not impressed. I'm actually extremely bored. Let's hope it gets better.bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-39778323835881583972008-08-15T14:46:00.000-07:002008-08-16T14:42:30.391-07:00ughSo .... we have purchased and installed a new hard drive. Yay! The bad news is .... I have no idea when I will be able to post pictures because my computer no longer recognizes my camera and I can't download anything. Unfortunately, you will all have to be satisfied by my quick wit instead.<br /><br />JJ and I are both a year older. His birthday was the 7th and mine the 10th. I seriously cannot get any older! This absolutely has to stop. Not that I'm into my 30's yet or anything ... I still have a few more years before that big milestone. We did, however, have an excellent birthday dinner and maybe someday I will be able to post pictures.<br /><br />We've been back from Seattle for almost two weeks and its been pretty non stop. Owen started his swim lessons again and, I swear, you'd think he'd never set foot in a pool before. We basically have to start all over. Hopefully, it won't take him too much longer to feel comfortable in the water again.<br /><br />I've been pretty addicted to the Olympics since they started about a week ago. I used to watch them when I was a kid, but I was always more interested in the winter Olympics. Maybe my addiction has something to do with all the record breaking, historic events that are taking place in the water cube. I think I need to stop watching, though, because my obsession with swimming is beginning to make me feel completely inactive. It also makes me wish I was capable of winning a gold medal in something ..... ANYTHING!! (JJ, don't bother with the "<em>If drinking wine were an</em> <em>olympic sport</em>....." joke because I'm not laughing) Why couldn't I have become an Olympic swimmer? I am a natural athlete, but it might be a little late for me to start my Olympic career. These people are so athletic and my butt is getting bigger by the second because I can't stop watching them. I'm glad swimming is almost over because I have no interest in watching track and field, and I can finally peel myself away from the constant coverage.<br /><br />Hope everyone in Seattle is doing well and we miss you guys!!<br /><br />**upon further research, I have discovered that I am suffering from the "Phelps" effect and its not just me, but millions of other adults and children across the country. Attendence in aquatic centers and clubs across the country is up a staggering 23% since the Olympics started!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-36188795431175339352008-08-06T12:33:00.000-07:002008-08-06T12:45:28.599-07:00I'm backI know many of you are anxiously awaiting my next entertaining and informative blog post, but unfortunately our computer is still broken .... please keep your fingers crossed because if it stays broken maybe I can talk my wonderful, generous husband into the Mac that's been on my mind for a while now. I have so many pictures and stories I want to share from our recent travels and, hopefully, I will know in the next few days if we can save it or not. It wouldn't be the end of the world. I've had that computer since college so I think I got my money's worth. I'm at my dad's right now, visiting with Alika and Tutu now that they're back from Hawaii. Things seem to be progressing smoothly at the Mayo clinic and they seem happy with the facility as well as the quality care he's been receiving. More updates and pics soon!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-51082993556684142532008-07-22T19:24:00.001-07:002008-07-22T19:32:06.367-07:00Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Owen and I spent a week in Detroit Lakes, MN and my grandmother is still on dial up out there. It took forever for this website to load up .....<em> </em>I wasn't about to try to post anything. When we came home I discovered our computer was broken so I'm doing this quickly on JJ's work laptop. We leave on Thursday for Seattle and I can't wait. It will be nice to see JJ's parents and we love the pacific northwest. I'll try to update while I'm out there, but I'm not making any promises. <br />Please pray for my brother, Alika. He'll be moving out here shortly to continue his treatments at the Mayo clinic. We love him and he is always in our thoughts.bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-23649664863287968442008-07-07T15:04:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:58:13.762-08:00Holiday!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSl258NVgSd1DuRnPZ1GUdsjUv_LGFjtkQLvhL-nR0MlNtzHsvLU0euAvWeko-0LvgQ_FPHGP2nSQG0mHOueHKnlxn3LLN6cwissy36r2T6qQCxzuPjPp7JNscPdtjMWIniQ5kD1r_LQ/s1600-h/Picture+200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSl258NVgSd1DuRnPZ1GUdsjUv_LGFjtkQLvhL-nR0MlNtzHsvLU0euAvWeko-0LvgQ_FPHGP2nSQG0mHOueHKnlxn3LLN6cwissy36r2T6qQCxzuPjPp7JNscPdtjMWIniQ5kD1r_LQ/s320/Picture+200.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220404659761758082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXEjT_WLNXQAADO6iRRjYOo4ftmW0h1lSdotqJU6rN5WR_WQCe7AUe0GWDzh_-ZcJ9oNsrTAjZTN9rxyJbWS5fUM7d5vHu-pI1rngjN_hX40HJ3t1rvS7VaFKs9k1FmOFVOqKFxnxGlc/s1600-h/Picture+197.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXEjT_WLNXQAADO6iRRjYOo4ftmW0h1lSdotqJU6rN5WR_WQCe7AUe0GWDzh_-ZcJ9oNsrTAjZTN9rxyJbWS5fUM7d5vHu-pI1rngjN_hX40HJ3t1rvS7VaFKs9k1FmOFVOqKFxnxGlc/s320/Picture+197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220404676067937346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJW-toMcXnFXGFc0D6mjZhE3VSpkKxndSD6cma5505aBm0AWFQMxKcqhzC341JEFlv6cg99LkOP47YYhfOXbFHLPoc9Am-7vmV0U36yVV03liDylytc_it5hVgwAnB94BzTSUgzIpBKw/s1600-h/Picture+210.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJW-toMcXnFXGFc0D6mjZhE3VSpkKxndSD6cma5505aBm0AWFQMxKcqhzC341JEFlv6cg99LkOP47YYhfOXbFHLPoc9Am-7vmV0U36yVV03liDylytc_it5hVgwAnB94BzTSUgzIpBKw/s320/Picture+210.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220404683103186402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-QCHsNmJcnAGwoOcOgRtRtHo4LQ6SHffQxSAo0dWdvXhzBDcGMYGo8GEZTduiPM1ihiUtKXf1VWvIeJbzs1LQYQfVGrcLeuRP5HBusIVMH6yY9YTVM0zkrH7bfBDz-uRlx2U54ZJEPU/s1600-h/Picture+205.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-QCHsNmJcnAGwoOcOgRtRtHo4LQ6SHffQxSAo0dWdvXhzBDcGMYGo8GEZTduiPM1ihiUtKXf1VWvIeJbzs1LQYQfVGrcLeuRP5HBusIVMH6yY9YTVM0zkrH7bfBDz-uRlx2U54ZJEPU/s320/Picture+205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220404685314658818" border="0" /></a><br />We certainly had a busy holiday weekend. JJ was lucky enough to be off Thursday and Friday last week so I took advantage of that and worked all day on Thursday. I'm going to be traveling for almost a month, and my sister will be gone for three weeks so I'm really trying to work when I can.<br />We had a really nice, mellow 4th of July. Just a few friends came over and there was a little bit of swimming, and maybe a few margaritas as well. Andy and JJ climbed up on the roof to look for fireworks but it was too cloudy. We had to settle for listening to them instead.<br />The next day we woke up and decided to fulfill our adventurous spirits. We packed up the car, dogs, and the baby and high tailed it out of the heat. We drove up to Payson and went hiking!! Crazy huh? We didn't have a lot going on and we decided to be spontaneous and I'm kind of proud of us for that. It was actually a pretty good time. We got a little bit of a late start, but we weren't in a rush. But the hike that my lovely husband picked out was a small disaster. We went to Tonto Natural Bridge and if any of you have ever been there, you probably know what I mean. It was nice, don't get me wrong, but it was very busy, steep, and slippery, and we had our baby and our dogs. Oh ...... and, we weren't allowed to have our dogs on the trail. I can't tell you how many times I asked JJ if he was sure dogs were allowed. They were allowed alright ..... in the parking lot!! Not on any of the trails. We just went ahead and ignored that little bit of information and took them anyway. It would have been fine too, had we not run into Mr. Park Ranger on our way back out. He was kind enough to let us off on a warning, but had he decided to give us the full punishment, it would have included tickets, fines, and having our dogs quarantined. I think next time we decide to go hiking, I'll be picking the trails. After that, we stopped at a park with a lake and Owen fed some ducks and played for a little while before we made our decent back down to the valley.<br />I'm going to be busy this week getting ready for Minnesota. Me, Owen, and Sally are all going to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa Paul. We'll be there for a week and I'm understanding its considerably cooler so that's a bonus. I just hope we don't get eaten alive by mosquitos . After that we leave for Seattle so the next month will be a busy one.bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5008791676484877091.post-75620784898360636262008-07-01T13:13:00.000-07:002008-12-08T15:58:14.406-08:00story time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWnBQP3velbwiIDhGKaa-GUMLC-9hjrUISfK_0Beny8mBXlh6F0O3sXGgNJNQLBev3HrTOM2jC8BNcurwiSvHhEhUzetmy5RyvWvC9JTRFeYZVcRQEOt_8qDqhVYiOGxLLIV0wIbUxk0/s1600-h/Picture+184.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWnBQP3velbwiIDhGKaa-GUMLC-9hjrUISfK_0Beny8mBXlh6F0O3sXGgNJNQLBev3HrTOM2jC8BNcurwiSvHhEhUzetmy5RyvWvC9JTRFeYZVcRQEOt_8qDqhVYiOGxLLIV0wIbUxk0/s320/Picture+184.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218143012788339394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoG9JmLVY3i2nVShhBuCEz5kwm7gEqZ5AhyJIf8vTM_YJpnWshehObaQAIFD36oql2xKNQCF3dnHR1UYCqfW_O0wULh3eM-oDa9nA4STfUtHXyXxqsysF95fnXmz2JcTmcVGOvYf66zk/s1600-h/Picture+180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJoG9JmLVY3i2nVShhBuCEz5kwm7gEqZ5AhyJIf8vTM_YJpnWshehObaQAIFD36oql2xKNQCF3dnHR1UYCqfW_O0wULh3eM-oDa9nA4STfUtHXyXxqsysF95fnXmz2JcTmcVGOvYf66zk/s320/Picture+180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218143022402180114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIqgBTsCDTSNdQxsHbvm-kCyiFQyPF4r_HlPgGKYVgZ_TUOgO8cwhy0eMFH-Wiqo_Xy8elVqh3pNADxaHAzlJY5IT3QfX3R66KPNQtRiQfJV_MPn1UhUDSz55gr-aATLa0Z4xvizO4cU/s1600-h/Picture+186.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIqgBTsCDTSNdQxsHbvm-kCyiFQyPF4r_HlPgGKYVgZ_TUOgO8cwhy0eMFH-Wiqo_Xy8elVqh3pNADxaHAzlJY5IT3QfX3R66KPNQtRiQfJV_MPn1UhUDSz55gr-aATLa0Z4xvizO4cU/s320/Picture+186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218143024976264786" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1atfJzfJntxpuTccmOMaOZbjm4Gaqk9sL5-y278gFVxMSVT35ARJT1wJngi6YW2XLYtaJL81fTG_XCEWw738HSiQjSZuEui2vgjM2ayDdfvljgB_UpYVaX6NTqNB5b0CQCNh4dcLrtvA/s1600-h/Picture+188.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1atfJzfJntxpuTccmOMaOZbjm4Gaqk9sL5-y278gFVxMSVT35ARJT1wJngi6YW2XLYtaJL81fTG_XCEWw738HSiQjSZuEui2vgjM2ayDdfvljgB_UpYVaX6NTqNB5b0CQCNh4dcLrtvA/s320/Picture+188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218143036249016114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafYQXVZCtAAlGp5ztstnwgLwHmCUC8n6l961EzRtUFMEeZHQD9tgiSG45mk5ndbz0dpZbl20tPz4-VdefKghlZJJpOQJG80jyqhzGuzOFRdp_WfUSLsFB1Dcr9WEfCxCZoXTJB4_miJU/s1600-h/Picture+191.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafYQXVZCtAAlGp5ztstnwgLwHmCUC8n6l961EzRtUFMEeZHQD9tgiSG45mk5ndbz0dpZbl20tPz4-VdefKghlZJJpOQJG80jyqhzGuzOFRdp_WfUSLsFB1Dcr9WEfCxCZoXTJB4_miJU/s320/Picture+191.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218143045294486626" border="0" /></a><br />Story time takes place a few times a week at the borders bookstore by our house, and it is a really good indoor activity. Today we met Mandy and Marigold for some fun with books and then we all had lunch together. I think it's official: Owen and Marigold belong together. They absolutely adore one another and they were best friends. There were a few tears when Marigold ran up to him and gave him a hug and then they both went crashing to the ground, but it only lasted a few seconds and all was soon forgotten. It's true love!!bryn rathvonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14389715452142310343noreply@blogger.com3