To Eternity and Beyond

May 7, 1993

16 years ago today, I made a very wise decision.

A decision that I would make all over again.

I love you, Jeff.  

Happy Anniversary!

10%

You can't see it right now, but I'm wearing a very pouty face.

And it ain't pretty.

See, I had a party of sorts - a kind of social gathering.  

But only 4 people showed up.

I know at least 40 people got the invitation.  I know because my sitemeter says so.

And only 4 people showed up.  

Amy in Washington, Lori in the next neighborhood over, Amy in Bountiful, and Britni in Minnesota.  Friends who are frequent visitors and people who I like to visit as well.

But that's only 4.  

4 out of 40.  

10%. 

(Pouty face in full force now)

So, here is another pathetic plea to all my friends, family, friendly stalkers, or random passerbyers.

Please claim your dot.  And if you don't know what I mean by "dot" click here and you'll be enlightened.

Please, pretty please, with a strawberry on top? (I don't like cherries) 

(Yes, this still includes you, former college roommate, who lives way up north....M.H.!)

(And who is out there in London?  3 of those invitations went out to you.  My son's name is Brittan - doesn't that connect us somehow?)

The Red Dots

OK class, today we are going to all join in an experiment.  

Please participate (or I will feel very sorry for myself).

{click to enlarge}

I love blogging.  For selfish reasons, I love it for the opportunity to write.  It fulfills my need for personal journaling.  It also fills my need to write for an audience.  No book is published with my name on it (YET) but I can still have a creative outlet that allows me to verbalize my wandering thoughts through written form.

I love reading other people's blogs too.  As a stay at home mom, I sometimes feel isolated and removed from the world.  In the midst of scrubbing toilets and changing stinker bums, I sometimes forget that there is a whole big world out there.  The blogosphere has opened my eyes to the fact that there are multitudes of women out there just like me.  Moms who are doing their best, loving their families, and trying to retain some form of sanity in the sometimes daily drudgery of mundaneness.  I take comfort that I am not alone.

I love checking in on my family and friends to see how their lives are unfolding.  I really do cheer for your successes, sigh when things aren't so good, and laugh at the comedic moments that you share.   And I love, love, love the pictures that you post.  I feel that, even though I am thousands of miles away from some of you, I can still be a part of your lives.  I love that I can see Britni's cute family grow and love life while they are in Milwaukee at dental school.  I'm delighted that I've been able to reconnect with Leslie in Texas and see how similar our girls are. I read about Nellie in Guam.  I love that I can peek through the windows of the web and stay close to Amy in Washington and Melissa and Amy G in Arizona.  And my local friends?  Well your blogs provide lots of things for us to discuss whether it be at church, during our get togethers, or a chance meeting at the grocery store. Blogging?  I'm hooked!

So, here is the experiment part.  I have a handful of "regulars" that frequent my blog.  Friends and family that I know check in from time to time.  I know because they leave comments.  But there are a lot of you out there that I don't know.  See the map up above?  That reflects who is viewing my blog from around the world. The bigger the dot, the more people in that region who are checking out how I'm Coloring Outside the Lines.  Who is out there in the Midwest?  In London?  In California?  In Canada? Washington?  Utah?  I'm curious.  I'm eager to know. 

Last week, a gal left a comment about my Girls' Getaway trip.  A sweet lady from California that I have never met.  It seriously made my day.  I instantly had a connection with a complete stranger who shared my enthusiasm and love for Disneyland.  I checked out her blog and realized we had more than just that in common.  We both belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Instant common ground with somebody who is living states away from me.  It's awesome!

So, PLEASE let me know who you are.  Don't be shy or embarrassed or hesitant.  Even if you're a friend of a friend of a cousin's friend's niece, I'd love to hear from you.  Don't worry if you've been a friendly blog stalker.  I blog stalk too.  But I'm calling you all out.  Stand up and claim your red dot. 

Please leave the following:  1)  where are you from?  2)  how did you find my blog?  

If you haven't signed up for a Google account to leave messages, please realize it's not that big of a deal.  You're not signing your life away.  You won't receive unwanted emails or spam.  All you have to do is remember your user name and password.  That is the tricky part. 

So, please, please, please play along.  Let's put some meaning behind those red dots.  

(Yes, that even means you - former college roommate who lives way up north...you know who you are!)

It's My (Son's) Party and I'll Cry if I Want To

Old Father Time needs to retire.  

Seriously.

Yesterday was Shaw's 1st birthday.  I cried multiple times throughout the day.  Real tears.  I had reflective moments about the past year and the time leading up to his birth. We prayerfully waited a year and a half for news that we were expecting a new bundle of drooly goodness.  The answers to our prayers, in the form of one amazingly mellow, incredibly happy, and simply adorable baby boy has taught us so much.  I know I have a Father in Heaven who loves me and is aware of my heart.  Our Father answers our prayers according to His will. Sometimes we have to be taught patience and lessons in faith.  Thankfully, He blesses us with help and support through those around us.  I'm so grateful for what I have been taught.  

It made his arrival that much sweeter.  

The amount of love that has entered our home since Shaw's arrival has been invaluable.  For once, I am at a loss for words.  How can you describe a love that goes that deep?  I can't formulate a sentence using the right words...

Just know this:  He is one lucky little boy to receive as much love as he does, but we are even luckier to be able to give him that love.  He is our daily gift.  He is the little yummy baldness that has helped us bond even more as a family and has brought us all closer together. I am so thankful for my eternal perspective.

I just wish time would give us more time.  I can't believe he's already 1.  

Here are the highlights of his 1st birthday yesterday.

 {Click to enlarge}

Happy Birthday, Shaw!  

Thanks to G'ma and G'pa Ehman and Mackintosh and  G'pa Gregson for helping celebrate with us.  Thanks to Taiden and Kennedy for decorating for the festivities.  Thanks to Britt for adding an extra dose of enthusiasm to the party.  We also enjoyed a few special surprise guests - cousin Chante and her friend and Julie Beck (my cousin) from California.  Shaw's girlfriend, Cami (13 and our next door neighbor), joined in the fun too.

Da Birthday Boy

5K

The kids ran in the elementary school's 5K last weekend.  It was when I was out of town and I was disappointed that I couldn't run with them.  However, after hearing what amazing times they ran, it's probably a good thing I wasn't here. They would have run circles around me! Good job kiddos!

Taiden also ran the 1K and took first place for his age group.

A Few of Life's Lessons I Learned at Disneyland

Lesson #1:  If you are 5' 9" tall and you go to Disneyland with 5 highly entertaining ladies who are 5 feet nothin' or shorter, you will look like a freak of nature.  You will appear to be the tallest woman in the world.  

Lesson #2:  Even if you slouch down to try and mesh with the group, you will still look gargantuan.  

You'll simply look like a giant who has bad posture.

Lesson #3:  Wanna make the males in your life happy?  Bring them home a cool Star Wars character car.   A surefire winner.  

(I still look massive...even sitting down :(

Lesson #4:  There is nothing more enjoyable than seeing 4 "Tower of Terror Virgins" wait in anticipation for their first ride.  Randee, Summer and Cheryl were terrified but G'ma was quite oblivious to what was about to take place.

Lesson #5:  Never be fooled by a person's size.  My friend, Randee, is itty bitty but sat next to me on Tower of Terror and about broke my arm.  See the joy she has on her face?  She squeezed my arm with the strength of a boa constrictor.  I still have no feeling in my fingers.

Lesson #6:  I should join the circus.  Freak....

Lesson #7:  Huge personalities can be packaged into little people.  Here are Summer and Paige, Randee's sisters.  Summer was our accountant/park navigator/line leader the entire trip.  She talks a mile a minute has a TON of spunk and was loads of fun.  While Paige is more laid back, easy going, and the peacemaker, she is hilarious and has a zest for life.

Lesson #8:  Males of all species are the same.  Even Briar Bear was trying to pick up on a pretty little lady.

Lesson #9:  If you are going to attempt a tricky dance maneuver (because you're consumed by the beat of the music and you have an empty stage), make sure you stretch first.  You might pull a hamstring or groin muscle and end up in pain.  I apologize for not having a picture of the actual dance move described.  Rest assured, it was diva-licious.

Lesson #10:  Avoid standing behind smelly teenagers who want to audition for American Idol while in line.  But, if the need is warranted, sing back at them to put them in their place.  Be aware that it doesn't really give you much street cred and it could possibly shake your future chances of being invited on a Girls' Getaway.  Sorry, Randee.  I will behave next time and keep my broadway musicality to myself.

Lesson #10:  Volcanoes are not just in Hawaii.  They are also found in Downtown Disney.

Lesson #11:  When the new Toy Story ride has a 40 minute wait, just jump in the Single Rider line.  15 minutes and you're on one of the coolest new kids' rides out there.

Lesson #12:  My friend Randee really is my soul sister.   She's even called us twins separated by 10 years.  We have so much in common and are both Disneyland fanatics.  She's dang cool and can rock a Pirate's dew rag. 

Lesson #13:  Snow White had several additional, altered dwarfs that are pictured here with me: Sassy, Zippy, Mellow, Smiley, and Snazzy. 

Lesson #14:  You can NEVER be overenthusiastic!!!!!!!!

Lesson #15:  Apparently I vacationed with a pregnant gangsta'.  Paige, are you flashin' a sign? 

Lesson #16:  You can fall in love with a little, green balding creature.

Lesson #17:  I'm a modern day Annie Oakley.

Lesson # 18:  Disney makes a boatload of money getting people to buy up souvenirs while caught up in the magic of Disneyland.  Imagine waking up the morning after returning home from vacation and thinking, "Where the crap am I going to wear this?"

Lesson #19:  Pregnant women can enjoy Disneyland to its FULLEST!  Paige received the complete and total go ahead from her doctor to go on ANY RIDE SHE WANTED!  17 weeks along and she went on everything.  She was awesome.

Lesson #20:  The musty, damp air of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is good for the soul.  I could breathe it in all day.  Smells can be so nostalgic.

Lesson #21:  When in doubt, buy it.  And if you're on the fence, Cheryl will make sure she pushes you over to the purchasing side.

Lesson #22:  Yoda has my back.

Lesson #23:  I will never travel without these.  They are a life saver.  Winnie the Pooh is not the only one who gets rumbly in his tumbly.

Lesson #24:  You can verbally be adopted by a circle of sisters.  That's exactly what these fun and lively ladies did with me and I appreciate them all.  I had a blast and it was awesome to be surrounded by such diverse personalities and to be included so warmly.  Thanks Randee for the invite and thanks Summer, Paige, Cheryl, and G'ma for letting me tag along.  

Until next time, Punks!

Shaw's Favorite Playground

Please don't judge me by the neatness of my cupboards.

(Disneyland recap will be coming soon...)

I've Got a Date with Mickey

See you Monday.  

Words Cannot Describe...

Go see it.  Even if you have to walk all the way to Broadway to do so.

Call me and Kennedy and I will walk with you.  

We'd love to see it again.

And again.

And again.

And again.