Christmas 2008

Every year we go to Utah to spend Christmas with my family. We always have a blast together! This year I tried to start the tradition of going sledding the day after Christmas, and this year was successful! Every Christmas has to have a story, so here's mine. I call it:
Thank Goodness For Dogs Who Eat Christmas Presents!

My family has a very naughty black lab dog named Jake. Anytime he's alone in the house, he finds whatever he can steal to eat. Counter tops are not off limits in his opinion. We stayed with my family this week and bunked in my brother's room. Well, I forgot about Jake's bad habits and went merrily to the Christmas Eve party thinking all was well. I returned back to my family's home that evening and found that Jake had not only eaten a whole bag of chocolate that was a gift for my step-mom Anjela, but had also demolished a necklace that I had made for her. The chocolate I can understand, but why the necklace? Stupid dog! I was furious! Luckily Jake wasn't harmed by the chocolate, but I was so disappointed about the necklace. I asked my 10yr old sister, Megan, to get out her bead box, so that we could secretly fix the necklace, but she didn't have the right stuff to do it. So, she and I ventured out to Walmart to see if we could get stuff there to fix it, but being Christmas Eve, it was closed. We returned home, with me discouraged. We went back to Megan's bead box, and after much thought, decided to make Anjela a new bracelette with what Megan had in her box, then I could remake the necklace when I got home and mail it. She helped me pick out beads and gave ideas, as we schemed in my brother's room to create a new present. I could tell that she felt so good to be the one to help me out of this unexpected jam. As mad as I was at that dog for ruining something I had worked so hard on, I found myself being grateful that he did it, and gave me the opportunity to bond with my little sister. I moved away from home when she was just 1yr. old, so we didn't have that constant home-bonding thing like I did with my brothers. Anjela loved the bracelette, and I chuckle to think how some of our blessings are brought to us...even through gift eating dogs!

Send To Phone

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Merry Christmas!

Turn off the already streaming music before viewing. Enjoy!

Oh Christmas tree!

One thing I look forward to every year is snuggling up with a blanket and hot cocoa and just staring, mesmerized by my Christmas tree. I look at it like a family member who's looking back at me, reflecting all the years and memories of my life. To the casual Christmas tree putter-upper, this may sound sappy and weird, but in truth, my Christmas tree reminds me of my mom, and I feel close to her when I gaze at it. Ever since I was born, my mom got me a special ornament every Christmas. My most prized bulb is this one from Santa's Workshop at "North Pole" Alaska, from the year that I was born. We also made home-made ornaments together when I was a kid. I remember watching her hand stitch each sequin on the little girl ornament pictured here. When I turned 20 years old and had my own apartment, she sent them all to me. She still continues to get me a special ornament every year. I have added a few of my own, particularly ones that have special meaning. One that stands out is when my ferret, Ricky, who was my pride and joy for 5 years died, and Paul had his little paw prints imprinted on a yellow star, and made it into a keepsake ornament for me.

When I look at my Christmas tree, the ornaments make me think of all the wonderful things that have come in to my life, and I sink into sweet memories that I wish I could stay lost in just a little longer.

Bragitis-Maximus!.....(brag moment)

Everyone need a brag moment, right? So, here's mine. A bunch of other talented ladies, and myself, have been busy preparing for the Christmas craft fair that we will be holding at my house this Saturday from 10:00am-4:00pm. Anyone reading this should consider themselves invited! My addiction to making jewelry is what I will be displaying. I have about 70 pieces! Crazy.

Sweetness Remembered

Today is Sidney's birthday, and I am remembering the love, sweetness, humor, and special life that touched us all. Though we love and miss her dearly, we have been blessed and comforted to know that we will see her, and laugh with her again.

Silly Sid Moments

One day when her and I were playing guitar she told me "My friends say I have sausage-y fingers". I always thought that was funny!

She would hide my flip flops or shoes when I came to visit. Then I'd see her wearing them as I looked all over for them!

She loved deviled eggs! Last Easter she asked if she could ride to Grandma's house in our car. We thought she wanted to hang out with us, but later we learned that she just wanted to get away with eating some of the deviled eggs on the way to Grandma's.

I was always so proud to be her aunt. I think it was because I was impressed by her as a person, her talents and sweet personality, and that she always made me feel special. One thing I always looked forward to on Sundays was seeing Sidney at church, because she would find me and give me a hug.

We love you Sid, thanks for everything!

Halloween 2008

We started our festive evening hanging out with Jeff and Cassie, and promoting tooth decay by giving their kids each whole bags of chocolate. Paul and I dressed up as "vampire rock-stars". I was able to make us some really cool vampire teeth at my office. Ahhh, the perks of working for a dentist! We had "the gang" over for a Rock Band party, and of course topped of the night with a scary movie. I brushed my teeth and was in bed at 3:oo a.m. We had so much fun!

Tag whaa...!?

So I'm officially blaming Darcy for conning me into having to post. I'm a guy. Guys don't post frequently. Don't you know that I have to give myself about six months to recuperate from the last one. Oh wait, it was a video. Here's my list of what makes me weird, besides the obvious.

1. I don't mind the dog licking my feet. Yes, to some this might seem gross, but I gotta cool dog and we've got this bond thing going on. Note: ONLY my feet. Well, sometimes he'll lick my leg or hands or face or... that's about it! Don't judge me 'cause I'm cool!
2. It's necessary for me to smell my deodorant before I use it. I guess I'm doing quality assurance and verifying that what I have hasn't expired. Actually it smells good.
3. I will almost never travel a long distance in a car without first purging the innards of all that makes it filthy. Yes, that means trash. I'm just trying to be fancy with my wording.
4. X-FILE CASE #463: Occasionally Veronica will find dryer lint behind my ear. CASE UNSOLVED.
5. I can be, and Veronica will attest to this, extremely stubborn when I get involved in a project. Particularly one that I have done extensive research on. Sometimes to the point that I prefer to do it by myself. I guess I have this perception that since I know how I want it done, it's hard to express it to others. Obviously I need some working on this one.
   
6. When I smile, there's a piece of cartilage in my nose that turns the tip of it white. Watch out, it's sharp!
7. I must travel as often as possible. Domestically at least twice a year. Internationally at least every 4-5 years (crossing my fingers). Gotta keep on mooovin'!
   

I've been Tagged...Yo!

Here's the Rules:

1. Share 7 random weird or fun facts about yourself.

2. Tag 7 other lucky people at the end of your post to have them share their weirdness. Post a comment on their blog to let them know they've been tagged.

7 Weird Facts About Veronica
(Just wait...Paul's is next!)

1. Surprise, surprise, I can't stand my teeth not feeling clean. I keep a toothbrush in my purse, backpack, car, and first-aid kit, as well as my bathrooms.

2. I really enjoy watching the cartoon "The Emperor's New School", on Saturday mornings while I'm on the treadmill at the gym. Its a spin-off show of the movie. I just think its sooo funny! I wonder if the people there think I'm nuts. I'm not typically into kid's shows.

3. I choose many foods that are "no sugar added" or very low in sugar, but then blow it and feel justified when I eat junk food. I've got a cake that I've eaten 1/2 of in 2 days by myself. Great.

4. I really like to write with fine point pens. Any thicker of a ball point and my writing feels all sloppy.

5. I have a dimple in my right ear that makes people think I've got an extra piercing when they notice it.

6. Speaking of EARS. Sometimes I have the habit of rubbing or twisting my earlobe around in my fingers, without realizing it, and before I know it, someone is asking me "What's wrong with your ear? It's all red." Then I realize that my ear feels really warm from messing with it, and I have to explain that I just have a stupid habit of playing with my ear!

7. I have a real knack for losing lip gloss. When I buy a new one that I really like, I buy 2 or 3 because I know one of them will magically vanish in the first two days of having it. Yes, its pathetic.

So, there it is, and now I'm going to tag: Brandi, Tim, Alicia, Tara, Sarah, Aubony, and Kendra.

"Hey look...I'm in a hub cap!"

I couldn't resist the opportunity to creatively combine two things that I sincerely enjoy; old cars and photography. Last Saturday, Paul and I went to the little car show here in Brighton. I don't really consider myself a "car chick" yet, but there is just something about the 1950's model GMC trucks that I just love, and would really consider getting one someday to restore. My husband might be somehow activating a grease-monkey gene in my blood that I didn't know existed. Hmmm. Anyway, it got me thinking about what we enjoy, and the things that we don't get to do enough of. Sometimes, again when my brain is probably left too long to itself, I start to think to myself, I only get to live this life once. Am I going to look back and wonder why I didn't use more of my time to pursue happiness, life experiances, and other worthy things, instead of worrying about the things in life that can so easily beset us at times? There are times for being down, but I find often that the best pick me up is letting myself , and sometimes forcing myself to do those things which bring a good experiance into my life. Sometimes it's just as simple as getting some good ol' "retail therapy". But more often, its doing the things that remind you of who you really are inside, and enjoying the things that make you, you.

For me, right now I like seeing how many yummy things I can make with pumpkin. I'm wild about pumpkins for whatever reason, and look foreward to going to the pumpkin patch again this year. There's alot more I enjoy, but I don't want to bore everyone!

SO, what do YOU enjoy? Seriously, I'm curious!!

Tamales Anyone?

O.k. So I had a little reality check the other night. Paul and I were joyful to be done with our grocery shopping at Wal-mart, and were weeling our cart load out to the car. Just as we got done unloading a Latino woman comes over smiling, and says, "Hola, Como est as!" I, still on my high from finally being able to leave the store, smiled and said, "Hello, we're doing great tonight!". Then she asked if I would like to buy some tamales. I said, "No thanks", as I handed her my shopping cart. She asked if I was sure, and I assured her I didn't need any as she walked away with my cart. In the 3 seconds it took me to walk back to our car, my mind made an embarasing realization. "Oh my gosh! She doesn't even work here! AND SHE TOOK IT! After I told her I didn't want to buy her stuff! Wow." Paul had fun taunting me the whole way home. In his "goofy" voice, he said over and over, "Hey! Would you like to buy some tameales? No, but you can have my shopping cart!" I don't even know if I like tameales, and I have no idea where my brain was when I did that, but it certainly made me wonder what she must have been thinking. I'm actually kind of in awe of the woman for what she did. It tends to make me want to rethink my ideas of other people, to try to have a softer outlook toward them. I guess I say that because when I see all the things that people in this world are capable of, I tend to let the bad things make me feel defensive. I guess I just need to chill out and maybe try some tamales!....and remember the good things that people are capable of!

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!!

As of today, Paul and I are officially considered "Approved" in our process of adoption. What this means is we are now eligible to be chosen by a birth mother to receive an infant into our home. For those of you who are unfamiliar that we have been in this process, it is a very exciting time for us! Please pass this good news to everyone you know, as many adoption placements happen by word of mouth. If you know of somebody who may be interested in the option of placing their baby for adoption and would feel comfortable recommending us they can find out more information about us by visiting:

itsaboutlove.org

Click on "search adoption profiles". Go to the profile search space and type in: paulandveronica

This is the web site for LDS Family Services, the agency we are adopting through. We appreciate any word of mouth and of course as many prayers as we can get as we look forward to starting our family. Thanks everyone!

4-wheeling in the mud

Here's how I spent a couple of my hours last Saturday:

EEWWWWWW.....yucky!

I came home today and went out to see the prized beauty of my garden, the tomato plant, with voluptuous green fruit all over it just waiting to turn ripe. Lo and Behold! Entire branches were missing, tomatoes half eaten, and another voluptuous green thing caught my eye! This was not desirable. It was the BIGGEST, FATTEST, GREEN WORM I've ever seen in my life! To top it off, it has a big pokey spike on the end of its butt! So, I of course, had to take its portrait, and share it with the world. I don't know what to do with it, so for now its in a jar. I have a hard time killing things, even if they're gross. (except spiders...and ear wigs) This little monster was most excitement I've had all week. Yay!

Update: Paul researched the big guy online and its a Tomato Horn Worm and it makes a coocoon in the dirt and turns into the Five Spotted Hawk Moth. So, we're contemplating a science experiment: filling a big glass bowl with dirt, and making a covered little habitat to see what he does. At least its not in my garden anymore.

I Love Tubing!

If you've never been tubing, you have got to try this! We went up to St. Vrain last Saturday and had a great ol' time! When our friends brought up the idea, Paul immediately went to Petsmart and got Rocko a life jacket! It came in handy, as he took a few nose dives into the water, but he had fun too. He's such a sturdy little dog!


The adventures of Paul!

I'm trying to be like the cool kids!

I got this idea from quite a few other people's blogs...so here goes!


1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you have of me or us together. Just anything. It doesn't have to be anything profound or amazingly commemorative.(Just nice)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. I think its fun to see and share the tid-bits that we hold about each other...at least the pleasant ones!

"Bless you" vs."Excuse me": You Decide 2008

Chew on this. Saying "bless you" came about long ago by a number of ancient legends. One involves the mistaken belief that a person's soul might escape through a sneeze. Saying "God Bless you" wards off Satan while the soul is temporarily vulnerable. On a medical note, in an unenlightened time, people believed that the heart stopped beating during a sneeze. The offering of a "bless you" supposedly set the ol' ticker back in motion. These and a host of other silly notions exist concerning current manners surrounding sneezes, but these facts make me question the etiquette. Did you know that a sneeze travels out of your mouth at over 160 kilometers per hour?! Each sneeze can throw over 100,00 bacteria into the air! If you have a cold or the flu, just imagine how fast those germs would spread! While I understand its just a normal reflex of the body to sneeze, I think it more appropriate to bless the other people in the room! Or, better yet, getting to my main point, for the person sneezing to say "Excuse me". People say "excuse me" all the time for passing gas, yet nobody has ever been infected by foul wind. (At least not that I know of.) I'm somewhat of a germ-a-phobe, mostly in public, so these are the thoughts that creep into my mind when I'm driving or have been by myself too long. However, I still think its nice when someone wants to bless me, even if it is just for sneezing.

4th of July 2008

This weekend rocked! We celebrated our day of independence by exercising our right to drive in bumper to bumper traffic up to beautiful Dillon, Colorado for a hike with our friends. The mosquitoes were in all out attack mode, but that didn't stop us! Later on we hung out around Frisco eating pizza and ice cream and playing cards while waiting for the fireworks to start. Paul fulfilled his summer holiday weekend with a home improvement project which was working on the bookshelves in the loft. He's doing an awesome job. We finished the weekend with some of our own fireworks, and a barbecue with our friends.

Our babies have hatched!

Ok, so three weeks ago I was at Home Depot getting plants for the yard, and I see a sign that says "Praying mantises are here!" So I asked the cashier about it and she presented me with a cocoon pod looking thing in a purple net, and said each pod has about 200 mantises in it. They're good for gardens because they eat bugs you don't want. So we hung the net in our tree and today we were just so lucky so see them just as they all hatched. I'm not typically a bug person, but these things are cool. Even though they're only maybe a 1/4 inch long, you can see them turning their little triangle heads, looking at you as if to say, "What are you looking at?"

Awesome Lightning Storm

"Waahoo!That was totally awesome!", I yelled into the night at my brother Tim after catching some awesome night shots of a lightning storm this week. We went into an open field at the end of my street, and waited with excitement to see what the sky would do during each 15-30 second exposure time. In the words of my nine year old sister, Megan, "It was Epic!" Click on the picture to view full screen. Its much better.

Forrest Gump

My family from Utah came to visit this week. They're always up for anything, so I said , "Hey, lets make a music video!". And for the record, yes, we know we're dorks. Not bad though, for our first low budget film. Enjoy! Oh, and you may want to pause the background music before viewing.

My Pride and Joy of Summer.

To me this is summer! Eating oatmeal on my back deck, looking at the wonder of all the beautiful colors and textures, before I fly out the door to go to work. Enjoying the beauty of our hard work is just a nice calming way to start my morning, or just a nice place to sit on a moss rock and ponder whatever. I love our cancans fir trees because their branches are sparse like the ones I see in the mountains, but with very soft needles. I always think of them as my Charlie Brown Christmas trees. They get pink pine cones every other spring that eventually turn purple then brown. How cool is that!
The other bright spot in our garden is my concord grape vine. I can't wait till its a monster, and yields gobs of grapes....someday!

Friends We Love!

If you don't see your smiling face, e-mail it to us, and we'll plug you in the show.

Deutsch ist kühl

When my family moved from Germany back to the US, I always had a desire to go back and see the places I remembered as little boy. A couple of years I got that chance... and now I'm ready to go back again. There is something about that country that makes me feel at home. Of course it could be because five years of my childhood experiences were created there, but I'd like to think that there might be a different reason. Maybe an inexplicable connection to my ancestors, even though they came from Switzerland. Hmm, it seems I'm trying to create a false sense of reasoning in myself. I wouldn't be surprised, I do find my self consuming candy at an enormous frenzied hyper-gorging rate of speed... sometimes.

Back to Germany. Since I've been back I've wanted to learn German so I could obviously communicate with the locals. Maybe even more than that, so I can do genealogy research on my family's past, specifically following the line of my last name. Sure, members of my extended family have done tons of research but it seems that genealogy reaches a point where you have to do some digging. This digging is going to have to happen in Europe.

I purchased some German language cd's about a year ago and started listening to them a lot. A couple months passed and I had eventually forgotten that the cd's existed at all. Yeah, I'm good, huh?! So that brings me to now, where I had stumbled onto the cd's and have again, begun my immersion into the German language. If all goes well I'll be able to carry a conversation in German before we go back in... 3 years?

Wish me luck!

Life: Passing In and Passing Away

The past couple of weeks have been challenging and in a sense, spiritually rewarding. Veronica and I have seen the passing of her grandfather and our niece. This has given me reason to contemplate life and also view things from a different perspective.

The first passing, of Veronica's grandfather, although saddening, was something we didn't know when it would come, but because of his deteriorating condition, we knew that it would be within the next couple of years. We all know that as the body ages it starts to become more fragile and so it was in this case.

Just a couple of days before he passed away I mentioned to Veronica that we needed to plan a trip to the east and visit all of our relatives that are aging. I've never wanted the feeling that I didn't get to see someone before they passed. Of course in order for me to accomplish this I'd need to go to both the east and west coast. But I want the feeling that I at least tried to make it out to visit them.

The more recent passing of our niece, Sidney, struck us harder. She was traveling on a road trip with the rest of her family and didn't survive a vehicle accident. It completely devastated our family and extended family. How could such and innocent life be taken away from us? Nothing could explain the feelings inside. I then began to contemplate what my brother and his family could be experiencing. This brought me even greater sorrow. I love my brother so much, and to even try to comprehend what he might be going through brought me to tears. These are times that test our faith and who we are.

My wife and I were speaking with my mother last night and there seemed to be a feeling of wanting to be with Sidney. Not so much a feeling of wanting to be dead, but a feeling of holding her in our arms. You could see the fear of dying disappear. No more fear. It became as a stepping stone to what is to come. Not wanting to hasten this life's process but becoming more in tune to the Plan of Salvation. My mother told us that she mentioned wanting to be with Sidney to my father. My father replied, "What about your other grandchildren? What about Alli? What about Max? They need you too. What about me?" It's discussions like this that make you reflect on life. Growing up as a Mormon, we are taught strong family values. In fact you could say that our doctrine surrounds the family in the eternities. Principles that are made available by Jesus Christ.

I feel that Sidney has taught us a valuable lesson in what Heavenly Father has in store for us. Thank you Sidney. We love you very much.

A quote Sidney's father included on the funeral program:

"...I have meditated upon the subject, and asked the question, why it is that infants, innocent children, are taken away from us, especially those that seem to be the most intelligent and interesting. The strongest reasons that present themselves to my mind are these: This world is a very wicked world; and it … grows more wicked and corrupt. … The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning we have reason to rejoice as they are delivered from evil, and we shall soon have them again... Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope.” -Joseph Smith

I spy !

As usual I've been out and about with my camera trying to capture the essence of life!
Actually, I really enjoy capturing the special moments in life that connect people, and make lasting impressions. On a recent visit to be with family, my brother Cody had a new tie. Through my grandma's screen door I found my sweet husband not just tying the tie for him, but teaching him how to do it. Granted, it is a small thing, but as my brother has lost his father, it is moments like these that I am grateful for a husband who is loving, unselfish, and is truley a blessing to my family!

Dandy-Lions?

As I walk to my mailbox down the street, I cant help but to notice the hoards of seeding dandelions growing in many people's lawns. Some of them look like dandelion farms. As I walk and realize that they are all blowing and seeding into my yard, I think to myself, "dandelions aren't very dandy at all". What's so dandy about digging weeds out of your front yard with a screw driver to make sure you get the whole thing? O.k, maybe I find it just a little satisfying when I do get the whole weed, like its some kind of prize, and I showed him who is boss. But there are many things in life that I do find quite dandy. I'm thinking of the little things that we don't always realize we enjoy so much. I love warm fuzzy microfiber blankets. One can often find me wearing them wrapped around myself, like some form of clothing. Sadly, the people who see me most often, must think I live in these blankets like a little hobo. But, I love them so, and since being cold is never an option for me, I will remain a blanket hobo.