Monday, July 5, 2010

Whoops

I haven't been updating this site. Wanna know why? Our new site is just so much cooler, I completely forgot about this one!!

So from here on out, I'm no longer posting here. Please change your bookmarks and favorites to http://changingtheuniverseblog.com.

See ya over there!

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Dad fail

Read about Timmy's Dad Fail at the new blog: http://changingtheuniverseblog.com/2010/06/dad-fail/

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

What a Wonderful Feeling

This weekend we were visiting my mom and step-dad for Father’s Day, and my grandma was playing with Aric while I was gushing about all the cool things that he was learning how to do. Then she asked the question that I’ve been asked a million times: “Isn’t this so much fun?”

...Read the rest at the new blog:  http://changingtheuniverseblog.com/2010/06/what-a-wonderful-feeling/

Monday, June 21, 2010

We've moved!!

Hey there! We are officially live over at http://changingtheuniverseblog.com! We made the switch to WordPress and bought a domain name. I'll be posting over there from now on, but for a week or so, I'll throw the first paragraph on this site with a link to the post at the new site so help you remember.

So update your feed settings to http://changingtheuniverseblog.com/feed and change your book marks! And THANK YOU for being such loyal fans to make it worthwhile enough to purchase a domain :)

And here's the first post over at the new blog: http://changingtheuniverseblog.com/2010/06/were-live/

Saturday, June 19, 2010

To the man whom I adore

My dearest Timmy-

Usually these letters are written to Aric, or perhaps to inanimate objects, but just for today, this letter is for you.

You are simply amazing. And I'm not just saying that because it's Father's Day! :) You truly are. Not a day that goes by do I not thank God for your existence.

You have shown me what being a true parent is all about. You have taught me how to be calm with Aric and how to accept things as they are. You have shown me the true meaning of the word "father."

The day you became a father, oh, that was an amazing day. I don't remember much about the day Aric was born, but I do remember this: I have never seen you happier. They only things I could hear as I was being put back together was Aric's cries and your comforting words. I am honored that you were the first one of us to hold him, look at him, love him.

When things got hard for me, you didn't falter a bit. You picked up my broken pieces, put them back together, and went about your day like it was no big deal. You have constantly been my partner throughout all of this. You have taken care of me in a way that no one else has.

Every day you do something else to amaze me, whether it's doing the dishes all by yourself, or picking up the toys, or starting the laundry, or sweeping me off my feet with a kiss ... or a smack on the ass :)

And your love for Aric, oh God is that love deep. I see the look you get in your eyes just looking at a picture of him or talking about him! You are so proud of our little man! You are happy when he's happy, and you hurt when he's hurt.

I could go on a on describing my adoration of you, instead I'll share some of my favorite pictures of our favorite boy and his favorite Daddy:
Click the image to view larger

There is no one else on this earth that I want to be the father of my child more than you. I love you, Timmy! Happy Father's Day!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Greatest Day EVAH!



Hello and welcome! Sit down, grab a cup of coffee, and join me as I relive our wedding day, one of the best days of my life! Click on any of the images you see for a larger view :)

Our wedding was amazing. Simply wonderful.

March 29, 2008 started off with my mom making me scrambled eggs with cheese, my good luck breakfast.

My girls and I headed to the salon to get our hair and my make-up done. Thank goodness my friend Gabe was along to take photos!


From top left going clockwise, my good friend Heidi, my hair with borrowed hair clippies, sister Emmi, sister Lindsay, Mom, sister/Maid of Honor Molly, and me getting the massive bump in place.

It was seriously so much fun getting dolled up and fawned over. Even a couple of the girls at the salon had tears in their eyes. They were all so excited to be a part of the Big Day! We piled into the van and headed off to the church.

Our waiting room would be the church's nursery, so there was no shortage of toys ... or mini toilets

Sorry, Gabe, this picture is too funny NOT to include!!
We spent the morning chatting, snacking, and just generally having a great time. All the while I kept thinking about Timmy and how he must have been feeling.


Apparently, the room that was promised for Tim and his men to hang out in was locked. Our uncoordinated coordinator supplied by the church? She didn't have the key. So the men folk hung out in the hallway. Tim had to hide in the bathroom every time I had to walk by.

From left to right: Tim's friend Dave, brother/Best Man Jesse, Tim, his friend Aaron 
(Photo credit: Photography by McCartney)

There were tons of pictures. Tons of waiting. And then ... it was time.

Pachelbel's Canon in D began to play. My good friend from high school, Ann and Rachel, were my musicians. It was time for the wedding party to walk down the aisle. But wait! Why weren't they going? What was going on?

Ah, the uncoordinated coordinator struck again, telling the wedding party that that wasn't the song they were supposed to walk down to, despite protests from my sister who helped me pick the dang music out! But finally, they were on their way.

It was my turn. I stood at the top of the aisle and looked down and saw Tim. The man I was about to marry. I couldn't get down there fast enough! And then, oh, and then .... the string quartet began. My one single piece of my dream wedding that I so badly wanted but didn't think we could afford. It was a surprise wedding gift from my parents. My dream wedding had come true.


For the record, that was the best kiss of my life. It has yet to be topped :)

Since this was a Catholic ceremony, and Catholics have a reputation for long wedding ceremonies, our guests had settled in for the long haul. Only, Tim is Lutheran and so his his family. So we didn't have the full mass, just the wedding ceremony! So when, after about 15-20 minutes, Tim and I and the rest of the wedding party started walking down the aisle, the crowd looked confused. They didn't know what was going on! After all, this was a Catholic service, we still had at LEAST an hour to go! But my grandpa figured out what was going on soon enough and he stood up and started clapping, which everyone else did soon after.
And when Tim and I reached the end of the aisle ..... the uncoordinated coordinator struck again. The doors to the Sanctuary were shut. Not just shut. Locked. Thankfully she managed to find her way back to us to let us out :)

After the ceremony, there were more pictures. More laughter. More fun. We headed down to a place Tim and I had scoped out earlier as a great place for some fun, outdoors pictures. Too bad it was 40 degrees and WINDY!!

Photo credits: Photography by McCartney 
Bonus points if you can tell us WTF Molly is doing in the pic in the upper left.

Then it was off to the Hilton Hotel for the grandest wedding reception I have ever attended in my life. There was a social hour in the hallway outside the ballroom where we had our receiving line and took shots of Anisette, an Italian wedding tradition.


Then, after a grand march that included surprise plastic baseball bats, it was off to a scrumptious dinner. My father, step-dad and Tim's dad all gave wonderful speeches. Molly's speech moved me to tears, as did Jesse's, only his was from laughter. It was beautiful.

And then there was dancing. And drinking. And overall merriment. Our first dance was to "Hard to Concentrate" by The Red Hot Chili Peppers.


At the end, we were exhausted, but so, so happy. I truly did marry my best friend, and I'm so excited to be able to spend the rest of my life with him!

I've had thoughts running through my head...

Not bad thoughts, mind you, sewing thoughts.

Lots, and LOTS of sewing thoughts.

Tim took me to the library a couple days ago (remind me to post why I hate going to the library alone and why I hate library cards. That's a hilarious story!) and I picked up FIVE sewing books. Including The Idiot's Guide to Sewing.

I have a sewing machine. I've had it for 3.5 years. I've made a total of 2 things on it. One of which is Aric's lovey, which he cannot sleep at night without. (At least that's what I'm telling myself, and it makes me feel cool that something I made helps Aric sleep, but I digress)

I don't know what I want to make. I've always wanted to try my hand at window treatments (seeing as how there are still three windows that remain unaltered since we moved in 1.5 years ago). I loved making Aric's lovey, so maybe I could make more as gifts. My mom wants me to take quilting classes with her. I fear that quilting is FAR too much work for one project, granted the final product is gorgeous. I could even make small purses or grocery bags or something.

I've even been thinking about ::GASP:: starting an Etsy shop!!!

Ok, ok, I admit, an Etsy shop is a looooooong way off. And knowing my habit of picking up a craft, then dropping it like a hot potato two weeks later, this is likey something that won't actually come to fruition.

But I will admit I've been starting to look at fabrics and styles of things I want to try. And maybe some patterns. Even though they don't make a lick of sense to me right now. I guess that's where the Idiot's Guide comes in handy, eh?

At least I'm getting excited about a hobby again. I like this feeling :)


Since I never heard from the first winner of the Thymes body lotion set, I was forced to draw again. Before I share with you the winner, I HAVE to tell you this hilarious story!

My mother is terribly allergic to any scented thing EVER! I wasn't ever really allowed to have Bath and Body Works stuff when I was living at home. Not to say that I didn't have any, but I couldn't wear much if I was going to be anywhere near her.

So, she entered my giveaway, joking that she'd end up winning the body lotion. On Friday before the giveaway was closed, I did a "practice" draw, just to see who would win if I did the drawing right then and there. Well, my mother won the smelly shit (as she likes to call any scented lotions, etc.). We laughed it off, joking that Random.org got it out of their system before the REAL drawing.

The morning of the real drawing came. I drew. She won. I re-drew (at her wish). SHE WON AGAIN!! I'm seriously close to forcing her to enter every Modern Bird giveaway EVER! Her odds are clearly awesome! I told her if she won again, I was forcing her to keep it.

Well, she didn't win. But unfortunately, the winner did not step forward, so I had to draw again. And guess what?

SHE FREAKING WON AGAIN!!!!!

Seriously, Mother. That's just plain ridiculous.

But I did pick again (she really is THAT allergic) and the actual second chance winner is Shazia!

Congrats and I'm running to email you now :)

And please email me back. I cannot fathom drawing again and having my mom with AGAIN!