Does it have to be raw to be called sushi?

We just celebrated our 5 year anniversary!
--We went to a movie (What Happens In Vegas)Got some sushi...yum...
except we don't get the exotic and well...raw...sushi...we are wimps...and amateurs.
--We swam in the hotel pool like crazy kids
--We got breakfast in bed (I wanted to be like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman - and order one of everything from the menu - which I didn't - but I did order way too much - and so we took a after breakfast nap because we were so full!! ha!
--We even got to go to the mall - yes my hubby actually took me shopping! What an anniversary!

It has been the best years of my life...
--We have lived in 7 different places...guess we like to move?
--We have been the parents to our Aussie dog, Tre, for 3 years now...he was our "tester child" - to see if we could possibly be parents. Little did we know actually BEING a parent was nothing like having a dog you can crate up and leave when you go out on the town.
--We have spontaneously spent money on random items...when really we should be saving...but we justify the purchases...every time...by the fact that we really probably can't live with out that item ...mountain boards...Rock Band (ever played this? It rocks! Yes I just said that)...an Elliptical...I'm sure theirs more...
--We have our beautiful Allikaye that shows us everyday that God can still bless us messed up folks with a real life angel! Oh how sweet!
--We have kept on loving each other - and are excited about the next 5! Hmmm...wonder what they will bring???

We've got enough hair......

.....for TWO ponytails!!
Oh yeah! Check out these pigtails!! Here is Allikaye with her new favorite friend...her cousin Emma Joe.
They had the same dress! Ah - cuteness!
She also LOVED playing with her cousins Addie and Luke!

Quite a Miracle!

"I sought the Lord and He answered me;

He delivered me from all my fears.

Those who look to Him are radiant;

their faces are never covered with shame."

Psalm 34:14-15Grandpa was scheduled for surgery today...brain surgery...this was going to be the second time they had to go in and this time it was going to be much for invasive...and well, serious. They arrived at the hospital at 9...surgery was scheduled for 11...doctor hadn't arrived yet...more waiting...a lady that was waiting for her niece to come out of surgery went over to my grandma and asked if she could pray for them...Grandma said it was a very sweet prayer...they came in and said that the doctor wanted Grandpa to get a CT Scan...before the surgery...Grandpa goes in...more waiting...doctor is getting a second opinion about the CT results...finally comes out and says that the surgery is CANCELED!
"There is no need to operate
on a healthy man!"
The brain is moving rapidly, there isn't any blood that needs drained...doctor says to chalk it up to the POWER OF PRAYER!!
I love you Grandpa!

Wanna play under the stairs??

We are officially living in our new little place...I am loving it! There are a few extra special things that I am especially loving...the first is the "under-the-stairs-storage-area" (not sure why I just used quotations)?! Instead of storage...which we definitely could use...the cute Miss Allikaye trumps boxes and such. Here is her new playroom...Every time she opens the door she gasps! Ha! That's worth it right there...

I ordered the hanging things from Ikea...LOVE IKEA! I got hooked when we lived in Germany - and the closest one to Colorado is...ummm...Arizona, I think? But they have a fabulous catalog! Nothing stops me from shopping! Second fabulous thing about our new place...the first glorious stair...this is according to Miss Thing. She begs to get out of her high chair so she can eat on the first step...takes her books to the first step...and watches her Signing Time from...you guessed it...the first step! And yes, we did have stairs at our other casa, but apparently these are way better! Third, great thing...Allikaye has her own bathroom!! Woohoo for mama...I mean Allie. I bought these cute wall stickers from Glorious Target and really love them! They are removable and reusable! I might have gone a little crazy with the flower-ness - but I like it! I also love baby girl swimsuits - so I bought pink baby hangers and hung all A's pretty pinky suits all over the bathroom...here's one wall (not the best photography)... and daddy-o likes it because I didn't have to spend any money on decorations...
Have a wonderful long weekend! We have a busy one planned! It is our 5 year anniversary tomorrow! Ah! Yay for us! So I will be posting more about my lovey dovey story later! And it's also my Gramp's 80th birthday party tomorrow! Yay for him!! Love to ya!

Reality anyone?

Do you watch reality TV - or are you able to turn it off before you get hooked!? Well, here's one...Farmer Wants A Wife - It's on Wednesdays - on the CW. It's humorous, silly, and quite pointless, but nonetheless, entertaining! I can't help but think back to my summers visiting my fun family in Nebraska...on the farm...and then seeing these "city girls" get all "country" and vie for the affections of the farmer. I'm also excited for this...

I do love to laugh (it's on Thursday)!

Here's another doozie...
And it's the girl that was rejected on the Bachelor...intriguing? Yes.

Not sure about this one...but we will have to see...
Oh, and I am open for suggestions to any reality you may tivo and watch on those late nights when you could be sleeping and dreaming...let me know!

A Fun Little Blog Filler...and a Braid...

Feeling a little down in the dumps in blog world like me? Well try this...a little fill in the blank activity!! Thanks, Little Bit Funky, for the motivation to post!!

You can copy and paste the questions below and fill-in-the-blanks for yourself!

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to _____!
2. _____ reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my _____.
4. _____ and _____ are two things I'd like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons _____.
6. _____ is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Here are my answers...if you are so inclined to learn a tad bit more about me...

1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to miss my fave shows on the tube...don't worry I tivo stuff so I still have quality family time - those of you who may be anti-TV - I watch them when the babe is sleepin'...so there!
2. The smell of freshly cut grass and rain...oh yeah, and my fake tan turning into a real one... reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my mom's help... she's the most amazing, selfless woman....and she's pretty...we love Grandma Pretty!
4. Swimming with dolphins and winning the lottery are two things I'd like to try...really wouldn't mind the second one.
5. When life hands you lemons squirt the juice into an open sore of your nemesis...my hubby helped me with that one!
6. Being coached by my dad in volleyball is my favorite childhood memory. He was and is the smartest person I know (not just with vb)- and took me from vball at the YMCA at 7 years old, all the way to my big time college years! I may have had other coaches...but he was always the "real" coach.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching Farmer Wants A Wife (truly a sucker for all reality...you name it), tomorrow my plans include moving (ah!) and Sunday, I want to go to church and then decorate my new crib!Speaking of reality TV...ya know The Hills??? And I know many of you do...you've told me...don't deny it...Well Lauren has been having this cute braid thing in her hair...so yes...I gave it a try the other morning! It was a fun new look and totally worked!

I've worn it twice now! It's the perfect solution for "not-able-to-shower-because-I-have-a-baby-that-demands-all-of-me"Let me know if you filled in the blanks - and I'll come visit ya!
Also try the braid..you can do it! Love to ya!

Happy Day to Mamas!

This morning in church, they sang the most precious song - to us mamas!
The main verse went like this:

You are changing the world
One little heartbeat at a time.
Making history with every touch and every smile.
You may not see it now,
but I believe that time will tell
That you are changing the world.

Isn't that sweet?? I was going to post about us mamas out there being a light to everyone around us...even if that "everyone around us" is simply our precious babes! And this song just went right along with my thoughts! As Godly women we can shine the Light of Jesus everywhere - at home, at Target...everywhere...and don't ever think that you are just a stay at home mom or even a working mom! Your sphere of influence may not reach thousands and go to the outer reaches of the world...but you are a mama, and a daughter, and a wifey, and a daughter of the King! You ARE changin' the world! You ARE shining your Light. And most importantly you are the world to those blessings that God has given us! I know my mama is the world to me! I love her more than words can say!!
Happy Mother's Day!

"Shine your light and
let the whole world see!
We're singing,
For the Glory.
of the Risen King!"

And now to the gifts I received from my hubby and Miss Allikaye::


Hug a mama today!

Inanimate Objects

First, do you know how hard it is to spell inanimate?
Well, here ya go...Webster's Dictionary defines it as:
not endowed with life or spirit - an inanimate object.
I have a tendency to love so-called spirit-less objects. More specifically...I get very attached to cars. Please say you do too...
Whenever we sell a car I feel a sense of sadness, like the poor dear is going to miss it's family! When my parents got me a cute new car in college, they traded in my old one - before I could even say goodbye! Oh! It's just that they become such a part of your life!
I was thinking of this, because we have recently welcomed a new inanimate darling to our house. Please meet, Tori the Torrent (oh, I failed to mention that I name them also)...

Isn't she cute?
She makes me feel like I have reached real mommy-ness...drivin' in my mid-size SUV...hehe...

However, I feel that we should take a moment of silence for my previous little dears that carried my loved ones to and fro...
The Golf Ball (my hubby's college car...named for the hail damage that so ravaged her poor body one fateful night)
Goldie (I'm sorry I never got to say good-bye to you)
Cherry Seven-Up (you were a true hooptie, you purple car you, I treasured waking up many mornings to find that you had been broken into - those silly thiefs thinking you had a bumpin' system in you...because you did have those tinted windows that screamed "I'm hiding something good in here...break into me!")
Beep the Jeep (although you were more Dad's car - you filed him with joy 4-wheelin)
And last...my dear Pretty...
you went through the scary accident with me...and sadly...I am the only one that walked away...Do have silly pet-names for your cars? I would love to hear...it might make me feel a little less weird about the feelings I have for mine! Love to ya!

Read your heart out!

This is the scene when I walked into Allikaye's room...this is happening when she was supposed to be napping...silly silly! So she looked up at me...then went right back to her independent reading time... I watched for awhile and witnessed first hand how she reaches all these books and pulls them into her crib...

Ummm...mom?...I'm reading here....

Can you close the door on your way out?...This alphabet book is super interesting...

"A home without books is like a body with no soul"
Marcus Tullius Cicero

Tag!

Julie from Joy's Hope (awesome signs) tagged me! Yay - I needed a little bloggin' motivation!

4 Jobs I've had...

1. Barista (fancy word) at a drive-thru coffee shop...big time tips
   
2. Clothes folder and "greeter" at Abercrombie & Fitch (yeah, yeah, I know)
3. Secretary..."Village Square Business Center. This is Ashley. How may I direct your call?"
4. 2nd Grade Teacher (love it)

4 Movies I watch more than once...

1. Baby Signing Time (and now many other editions with even more signs!)
2. Legally Blonde (yeah, I'm really a deep person)
   
3. Clueless (it's sad but true...I can pretty much quote the whole movie)
4. How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (I watched it so many times when we lived in Germany - I think it was my way to feel American?)

4 T.V shows I can't miss (please don't read if you are going to judge)...

1. The Hills (spin off of Laguna Beach - on MTV - I am so addicted - just love it!)
2. Whatever big reality show of the season (Big Brother, Amazing Race, Survivor)
3. Sports Center with my husband (haha)
4. Friday Night Lights (I heard it was being canceled - but now I heard it's not?)

4 Places I've been...

1. Hawaii...honeymoon..heaven
2. Switzerland (my homeland...so beautiful...my fave European country)
3. Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome - so priceless to see the streets where Paul walked)
4. Mexico - a month ago baby!
   

4 Favorite foods...

1. Mashed potatoes
2. French toast
   
3. Desserts of all shapes and sizes...here's a few...cold raspberry soup...gooey chocolate caramel cakey brownie nutty melty something...chocolate fondue...mmmmmm
   
4. Most everything from Chile's...oh...yum

4 Places I'd like to visit...

1. Australia...closest I've got is my Australian Shepard, Tre!
2. New York City
3. Idaho to see my bestest friend...hi, Rhonda!!
   
4. Your mom's house

4 Things I'm looking forward to this year...

1. Allikaye putting all her words into sentences (although her little words are so sweet right now)
2. Watching the amazing blessing of Allikaye learning more and more
3. My hubby finishing his masters...so educated that boy is! And the party to be held at Chuck E. Cheese's...his idea...hahaha!
4. All I can think about is my sweet Allikaye...I just can't get enough of that chick!

Four four four! Hope I wasn't a bore! Did I score? Do you want more? My fingers are sore! Would you like an apple core? Allikaye can roar...ba bye...