Curly Grass

Attention Bock grandchildren!! Do you remember this??

Aaron and I bought some of this at Menard's the other day when we were buying exterior house paint. Once we got it home and used some of it, the smell immediately reminded me of playing in Grammie and Papa's basement. My grandpa had some soap just like this at the basement bathroom sink. We always liked using it as kids, because it has pumice in it, so it was totally cool and different.

It's amazing how strongly scent can be tied to memories.

Solar Lights

This week has been very challenging for me...

In the last few years, I have put on a substantial amount of weight. Now, most people tell me that I'm crazy and that I'm still super skinny. I'll admit that I may have been on the "too skinny" side of the scale before, but my "badonka-donk butt" and "thunder thighs" are really starting to flourish!!

Previously, I had been able to tell myself that I was just too busy with school, work, wedding plans, etc... Since I haven't found a job yet, I'm only working 20 hours a week at Gateway. So this week, I decided that I no longer had any excuse not to get my butt in gear. I have been counting my calories all week and was initially disgusted by how many I was eating in a day. But by the end of the week, I've already whittled my calories down and discovered some very tasty, low calorie snacks. I have also spent quite a bit of time being hungry :-D

I (we've...I love my supportive husband!!) been trying to be more active as well. Taking the dogs on walks and bike rides. Tonight, we went on a five mile bike ride. After how lazy we've been over the last few months, 5 miles was quite a distance. Especially considering that the last half was against the wind. The walk down the stairs to let the dogs out when we got home almost had me falling flat on my face.

Here's hoping that my willpower holds up and the donut around my middle disappears!!

Calorie Counter

"A Few Reasons Why I Love my Husband."
by Blakely Mortvedt

1) When we're going somewhere special together, he tries to coordinate outfits with me.

2) He refers to the tie he's wearing in this pictures as his "polka-square" tie, because he wore it the same day I wore my "polka-dot" dress.

3) Instead of complaining when I want to watch "Extreme Makeover Home Edition" for two hours, he just retreats to the basement and watches his shows while he irons.

4) I miss him when he's gone.

5) He's an awesome TV-watching-cuddler.

6) He makes me smile.

7) He makes the best popcorn ever!!

Rose bushes

We tried to have a "doggie sleepover" last night. Normally, the boys sleep in their kennels overnight. It's as easy as saying, "Bedtime boys!!" and they run downstairs and into their kennels. With it being so easy, you might ask, why would we try anything different?? Well, because 1) Steve was being so cute, just laying on his pillow, begging us with his eyes to let him stay. 2) The dogs have us wrapped around their little paws. 3) We're kind of lazy sometimes, and the basement seemed to far away.

After last night, I can say that it was a one time event. I think they tried to be good, but the mix of dog paws and hardwood floors isn't a good one. Plus, we had the windows open, so they kept reacting to everything they heard outside. And they always have to know what's going on with mom and the guy, so if we moved around on the bed, chances are, they had to come over and see what was going on.

Lesson learned. Doggie sleepovers are not fun.

R.I.P. Mark, a.k.a Mark-o Polo

I passed!! I'm an official College Grad!!

After work tonight, Aaron and I went to Fareway and bought 16 meals worth of meat for only $39!! We got:

• 3 huge flat iron steaks ,which we'll just split, so that's 3 meals
• 4 chicken cordon bleu's, for another 2 meals
• a rack of baby back ribs for 1 meal, and
• a 10 pound tube of 93% lean ground beef, for at least 10 meals

Yay for Fareway, coupons and having a deep freeze!!

Jelly Belly

I can read!! (for fun!!) On Monday, I stopped at the library and checked out a couple books. They're probably not the kind of books that the many speakers at Graduation were recommending that we read, but they're for fun books!! It's not assigned reading and the text isn't trying to teach me anything. It's absolutely wonderful!!

Dying Watermelon Plant

May Day Tulips

Are you serious?!? That's all I can say about this.