Vacation is rough...

Check out Cooper this morning. I had showered and already made coffee before he started to stir. He gets awfully cozy under the covers and I literally have to drag him out of bed...what a tough life.

Happy Holidays!

Since Friday around 4pm, my days have been filled with family, friends, Cooper and most of all gifts and food. Friday evening Erin, Jeff, my parents and I opened some of our gifts. Sam was home with a sitter for a little while. Then we all reconvened for homemade pizza.

Sam was a good little guy and we read books, listened to stories and opened presents. He was in a great mood and smiley, which makes our time so much more special! He's a real joy when he's feeling well.

Erin and I got some good laughs later in the evening after Sam fell asleep like a little angel in Grandpa's arms. Anyone remember the game for 6-year-olds called "Guess Who?" Well, Erin and I used to play this at the cabin when it was rainy, she bought it for me for Christmas this year and we had a great time. She played to win, I played to get her to laugh hard enough so water shot out of her nose (it worked too!) Good times with a simple game. I can't remember the last time I'd seen her laugh so hard. It was great.

Also had the chance to catch up with some friends over the weekend. It's fun to have people come home for the holidays...wish many of them would just stick around! But it makes our time together that much more special.

Happy Holidays everyone...I am so blessed with a loving family and wonderful friends.

pics of the zoo

The first picture is of my living room upstairs, the others are of the remodeled lower level completed earlier this fall

Alright, alright....

Okay, here goes a post full of uneventful happenings from the last couple of months. Today's post was prompted by emails and face-to-face harassment by "loved ones."

Work continues to fill most of my time and it is going pretty well. I am looking forward to some days off over Christmas though. If anything, I hope to catch up on some reading and some paperwork. Nothing like "working" during "vacation."

My weekends have been filled with movies, game nights and volleyball. Yep, volleyball. I am once again pretending to be physical. Our kickball season was sort of a flop and full of some drama and thus far volleyball hasn't been filled with any drama, so no complaints. Though, it is quite clear that I am more competitive each game. I have the altered thinking that perhaps I am the only person on the team and want to "float" all over the court in order to prevent other people from screwing up. Now, this would be an okay plan if I were as good as I think I might be in my head. Are you following?
So, our team has some skills, I think we have great potential. Of course there are a few players that seem to have an 'off-night' almost every night we play, but the spirits are high and team morale is carrying us through the season. I have high expectations for this evening as we strategized a whole lot after last weeks piss-poor showing. Let's go O-Fer's!

Sam and I also had birthdays, he's five now and I am twenty-(gulp) eight, since I last posted and my dad's birthday is on Monday. Sam had about 100 more people at his party than I did at mine! But my family went out for dinner for mine and Erin and Jeff had a sitter for Sam so got to eat in peace too.

My uncle Ken, aunt Carol and cousin Kristi were here for Thanksgiving...oh, here's a good story. Kristi planned her shopping "attack" for BLACK FRIDAY and I told her she was crazy and that I'd stay home with our dogs. Well, our dogs whined continually throughout the night and once Kristi's alarm went off, I hopped out of bed, threw open her door and said "Get your butt out of bed because I'd rather shop that deal with these whiny dogs any longer!" We were at Best Buy by 5:30a.m. and stood outside for about 25 minutes before even getting into the store. I made it until around 12:30pm that day and was looking to get out of the chaos of the "door-busters."
Anyway, it's always fun to see the Olson's and I'm glad Kristi made the trip down too.

Okay, that's all folks. I am looking forward to Christmas and to spend time with my family...

It's Fall now

Well, I see by all of the bags of leaves that my parents have raked up from my yard over the last week or so that it is indeed Fall. My favorite season, the season where I can wear jeans and a sweatshirt again.
I have been 'under the weather' for the last week or so and even took a sick day from work Thursday.
Last weekend though, before I got sick I was in LaCrosse, Wisconsin visiting my college roommate and celebrating OktoberFest. It was a great time and I had a lot of good beer and remember the whole weekend! I am getting too old to drink to forget the happenings! I am not so good at hangovers anymore.
September was a busy month. School was in full swing and my job is going well. I have some days where I question why the hell I do what I do, but I always go back the next day. I also have all new carpet on my main and lower levels of my house. It is wonderful and the house feels more like 'mine' now. My mom went on shopping frenzies and is helping to decorate room by room. It's a lot of frickin' work and I have been priming the wood panneling downstairs today and will look for some color samples tomorrow.
Kickball also wrapped up in September and our team made it through the season and we are all still friends.

Well, that's about it for now. Not much else new. I will post more when something exciting happens or when I get some photos of the redecoration!

Been a long time

Well, it's been a really long time since I updated. Since I wrote last I have made a trip to the Cabin and loved being there with family. From there I went on to St. Paul, MN and met up with a friend I met at the Element meet in St. Louis. Made for a nice little vacation!
School has started and with that comes full time work hours. I am getting used to getting up with the sun now. Yuck.
Been playing kickball for the last few weeks too. We have weekly games and we're actually pretty good! We've had to forfeit a few games due to too few players, but we've gotten to play each game anyway.
Last weekend I went camping with Craig, Alison, Adam and Iris. The weather was beautiful and we spent some time in the lake as well as sitting around the campsite. It was a fun weekend and probably the last hoorah for camping this summer.
Here are some random pictures to get caught up.
Probably will be pretty slow posting from here on...since life is only about school/work anymore. Ugh, would love to retire!!

Not much to report really...

Another week has gone by, but not a whole lot to report. Had our first kickball game on Wednesday night. Unfortunatly, we had to forfeit because we didn't have enough players. The other team agreed to play anyway, and the crappy thing is: we won. So, our first game, we played well, won and it doesn't matter. But it has given us some confidence and momentum for next week (pray we have enough players). It was hot...this whole week has been miserably hot. Today and yesterday both I think was over 100 degrees. The dog doesn't want to be outside even!
So, our day today has consisted of much of this:

Kayak Poker Run Oakwood Lakes State Park

Loaded the kayaks and headed north for a kayak/canoe poker run sponsered by the Game, Fish and Parks Department. Oakwood Lakes State Park is located near Bruce, SD.
We launched about 1:45 and had to head to five boxes located throughout the couple of lakes. Once at the boxes, Adam and Craig got a playing card. (Ali and I nominated them to get in and out of their kayaks instead of us)
Then we bucked some wind and headed back to shore about 3:15. The sun was shining and the weather was perfect for this fun event.
This was the 28th Annual kayak/canoe Poker Run and it seemed that those in attendance had been there for most of them! I hope we'll go back next year.
Then we had a little swim in the lake as we waited for the hands to be tallyed.
Adam and I won a sweet keychain...however, he did all the work gathering the cards. Thanks.
Team Perception came out on top!

Adam

The Edens

Me

Ali prepared lunch...what a great 'mom'


Action shot of Adam and Craig

More Pics from the Poker Run

EOC Pictures

Please note, The wetness below my left breast was from those that had gone into the pool about an hour earlier...I promise!

EOC Pictures

Made it there and back!

Well, I can say that I made it to my first Element Owners Club National Meet...and I can say I made it home.
I don't know where to begin, you see I didn't know what to expect. However, within the first 10 minutes of registering with the founders, I knew I was in for something great. It was really a great time. The people were so friendly and nice, real quality type folks. We have the same car...some more tricked out than others, but the main connection is the love of our car.
I can also say I managed to spend an entire evening in a parking lot. I headed down the the parking lot party around 10:30pm on Friday evening and got back to my room the next morning around 9 to take a shower. I didn't sleep! I slept on Saturday for about 2 hours before more fun was had.
It was a great adventure...well worth the trip and the sweltering St. Louis heat.
I will post pictures tomorrow, now am hoping to get some sleep! I need to recover, I am not as young as I used to be!

T-minus and counting

Well, tomorrow is the day I take off to meet fifty or so strangers. Strangers in the sense that I know their screen names and the kind of car they drive. You see I am 06NBPEXAUTO and another person may be 05RRLXMT, but we know what that means. I am taking an adventure that I never thought I would...a nine hour road trip to mingle with people who are crazy about their Honda Elements.
STL here I come...how do I prepare for this?

This is my 06NBPEXAUTO (2006 NighthawkBlackPearl, EX edition, Automatic Transmission)

The Route


An activity

Disappointing...

Today I went to a charity dog walk. It was put on by our indoor football team and it was LAME. The charities were good causes, Children's Care Hospital and School and an animal rescue shelter. There were about 20 people in all...lame. The only good thing was that Cooper got to ride in a bus. A real bus ride for the dog!

Post-Sesquicentennial and other weekend happenings...

Well, it took a little while to recover from the sesquicentennial...I might have had a little too much to drink. Lesson learned, no wine after midnight.
So, Saturday was pretty laid back and I putzed most of the day away. Went to the dog park and the dog sat under the picnic table while my albino skin was exposed to the hot July sun. Smart dog. Then over to my parents for an evening meal. Wonderful steak and potatoes, bread and watermelon. Then I went to a Jo Dee Messina concert at our Fairgrounds, it was last minute, but enjoyable.
Sunday I mowed the lawn then attempted to wash my beloved Element by hand. What the heck? I can't remember the last time I washed a car by hand. Well, it doesn't look that great in the sun, but I also washed the entire inside and the floors look sparkly again. I also installed a bug deflector on the hood. She's getting ready for the National 'E'vent. I am such a dork.
Then another stop to the dog park on Sunday evening before coming home and vegging in front of the TV.

Monday I helped a couple of friends with some babysitting before heading off on yet another kayaking adventure. We went to Lake Alvin, about 20-25 minutes south of SF. I went with my same 3 kayaking-cronies and had a great time. The weather was PERFECT and the sun was shining. I didn't get sunburned!!
Then out for dinner with two friends and to 'Superman Returns'. I wasted $8...I thought the movie was 'Super-Lame.'

Now today, Independence Day, I have washed my sandals from the murky-urky smell they acquired at the lake yesterday, played with the Coopster in the yard, and have been reading off and on all day. What a life...
Happy 4th of July to all...

Pic of new grille and bug deflector on StElla

Happy 150th

Tonight I attended the sesquicentennial of my city. Wow, let me tell you, it took some alcohol to get through this whole deal. The attendees were interesting and I was the youngest by about 2O years. That's okay, it was fun, and I even attempted to 'cut a rug.'
My city is 150 years old. Congratulations.
I do, however, hope this is the only event I attend that celebrates the sesquicentennial.

Happy birthday city! I wore a dress for you.

Sleepy Puppy...

Cooper and I spent some time at the dog park this evening. Cooper is very sleepy now! He's soo cute when he's asleep.