pass the helmet please

so apparently i'm a skiier. well, i don't know if i would call what i do "skiing" just yet. it all started in october when we ventured out to the fairgrounds during the annual ski swap. andy and i had decided that this is my year, mostly because i'm sick of sitting at home while he has all the fun for hours on end. speaking of, i'm going to digress a little bit here...what is it with men's activities? is it a law that they have to take a minimum of 4 hours? golf-5 hours, skiing-7 or 8 hours, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, hunting...need i go on? a woman can go out to lunch for maybe an hour and a half and who is texting or calling every 5 minutes to see where she is? yeah, the "man of the house." ridiculous what we have to put up with. anyway, back to me overcoming the odds and joining the 4 hour plus activity crowd. i'm pretty sure i deserve a medal or at least a cherry cordial for that. so i got myself all outfitted with all-mountain skis (which are pretty sweet by the way), pants, jacket, boots, gloves, even a helmet or should i say especially a helmet. those of you that know me, should not be surprised by that. so, the last month or so i've been "hitting the slopes" as they say. i figure use of the jargin gets me halfway there. i've had a couple lessons from 18 year old boys and i must admit that i have the pizza down pat. that's when you point your skis together like all the tiny kids that get awesome by the time they're 5. i "ride" the bunny hill like a champ and i've moved on to the ever-challenging blue square hill...where there are still kids that barely come up to my waist forging down the hill like it was their backyard. all in all its been a pretty fun ride. i've actually gotten to the point where i can make it down the hill without wanting to stop, cry, and walk the rest of the way down. it feels good to actually get past the point of pure frustration...which is where i still am with golf and about every other sport on the planet. that's okay though, i just figure that i'll go on to become one of those helicopter parents that lives their lives through their children. or i'll just keep doin what i do and just force my kids to get proficient at at least one thing before they get to be 28 and snow-plowing. i guess only time will tell.

merry christmas! my bad

as i was pondering walking into the bedroom to find my workout clothes, (yes, that was a shamless plug to make you all think that i exercise on a regular basis) i noticed the screensaver on my computer. it was flashing pictures from temple square in salt lake city, ut during christmastime. it was my first time to see the lights. andy was kind enough to show me around even though that the was the destination of many a cheap date back in his single days...i thought about inserting the word "player" in there, but come on....we all know andy is not a player--ha ha. sorry, the thought is pretty hilarious, am i right? anyway, here are some pictures from christmas...and so soon too, right? man, am i pathetic. that's okay, though. knowing is half the battle, right? could i possibly say the word right anymore? especially since no one out there in cyberspace is going to answer me anytime soon. wow...anyway, here's the pics...already :)

yay...i'm fancy!

now i'm not trying to toot my horn or anything...who says that? i'm just stoked because i actually made this thing look semi-cool. thanks to my good buddy, camille, i now have entered the not traditional blog background club. i know it doesn't really exist, but humor me would ya? anyway, i'm excited, you're excited, luke's excited...does life get any better than this?

happy birthday luke!

so technically, well not even technically...these are just really late and there is no excuse. they are, however, finally here and well worth the wait i'm sure. i like to think that even though i'm a shameless procrastinator, i'm not a never-finisher. sometimes it just takes several months...or years. anyway, this time it was only 5 months overdue and if i look at that number and say, well it wasn't 5 years, that right there is a success story. yay me!

a preview of things to come

so i realized that i haven't mentioned the tiny little holiday that happens at the end of december and involves a tree and some random family members...christmas!! anyway, i've got the pictures and they will posted soon. here's a small glimpse

life's too short to be an 80's music genius

for some reason, i became profoundly aware of the fact that i haven't written a worthwhile blog in quite some time. by worthwhile, i mean one that had some humor and some actual substance to it. i'm sorry to all of you out there that i have failed in my lack of being creative. i think i'm creatively challenged. i really do. one of my friends (a rather "long-distance" friend...you know who you are ahem rachel) wrote a blog about the fact that somehow projects that we have the greatest intentions of finishing or hobbies that we really want to become dynamos at...just don't get accomplished. mind you, there are those of you out there (larissa and rachel even though somehow you don't think so)who are able to pull out a scrapbook and fill it with cuteness and creative juices in like 8 seconds...or is that how long you can stay on a bull? anyway, how you all do it, i have no idea. i'm pretty sure i've mentioned before how i'm pretty sure i just wasn't born with the gene or i'm just not motivated. dangit, its probably the latter...maybe i just don't have enough ocd to really accomplish something fabulous without getting add and focusing on something else. that's got to be it. i just have add. not really of course, just a lot of excuses. i am making the effort to make strides, however. i got a sewing machine for christmas--thank you mom--i don't know the first thing about it, but i got one. all of my pictures are on the computer just waiting patiently to become a digital scrapbook...could i be anymore lame? i can't even do a digital scrapbook, let alone a fabulous real one...wow. anyway, i just want to let you all know that because you have told me at one time or another that you love me just the way i are (had to slip in a little timbland in there for some reason), its your fault that i suck at everything. hello?? where was the encouragement or the actual pushing to force me into a talent that i could show off to people at church functions? thanks a lot. okay, okay, so i'm kidding of course. i thought i could get away with it for a second there. someday i'll find a hobbie that's worthy of me. maybe i'll invent something like best commercial jingle singer or 80's music genius. ya think? probably not, right? mostly because there are still people that can even kick my trash at those things. oh well, i guess i'll just have to stick to playing with my kid and laughing hysterically when he sticks marshmallow in his hair. life's much too short.

viva mexico...how's that for cheesy?

well, here it is...the moment you've all been waiting for--or not, i'm sure its really just me that is celebrating because i actually posted the pictures from the big trip. ps no i'm not pregnant, just disregard the large picture of me in front of the boat in the polka-dot shirt. unfortunately, i suffer from unphotogenicness every once in awhile...sad, but true. enjoy

here we go again

so, i'm totally sorry for dangling the idea of me coming back with pictures way back on dec 20th and then not following through. i could say i've been busy, but i guess what i've really been is absent. we were in utah for a week and a half and instead of blogging, i was going out to eat to all the places i have to go in salt lake before returning to washington state and olive garden. i was also shamefully addicted to the strawberry shortcake game my niece got for christmas for the nintendo ds (i beat it in a week by the way...that really probably shouldn't have been shared). one thing i will admit with at least some diginity is that i was pretty busy chasing luke around because he is officially walking on two legs all over the place. holy cow that kid is fast! dang, whoever decided that kids should be so independent so soon did not ask me first. i definitly would have kept the reins on the mobility a little longer. anyway, after utah we set sail on a cruise ship down to acapulco, mexico. i know what you're thinking...sweet, i can't wait to see those pictures. don't come running back to your computer screen too quickly. not only do i suck at keeping in touch or writing a simple daily blog, but i also suck at remembering to take pictures when the opportunities arise. there are a few and they will hopefully be posted here shortly. i will make no promises, however, since on top of everything else, i don't want to be known as a liar as well :) so instead of promising to be back soon, i'll just say i "hope" to see you all soon. that works, right? here we go! the long awaited pictures and just because i know you've been waiting oh so patiently...i threw in video as well. nobody tell andy that luke's favorite christmas present was the pink stroller that his GIRL cousin received. good times :)

we're still alive

hello--so its been awhile. i'm currently in utah to have christmas with andy's family. i don't really have anything to say, but i felt like i needed to post something so you would know we're still alive and kickin here in good ol spo-compton. i'll be back really soon with pictures. good times...for all of you of course :)

almost a disaster

so i set out to post a blog entitled "technical difficulties, part II" because the last time i downloaded the pictures from my camera onto the computer, they disappeared for what i thought was forever. my first thought was, where is one of those genius computer analyst/hacker people from 24 when you need 'em? it really is almost scary what they can do, but i really could've used their help so luke wouldn't know me as the person that lost a chapter from his childhood. how sad would that be? my second thought....well, i decided to stop thinking about it because it was just too sad. anyway, today i put the newest pictures on the computer and a little box showed up and said it was going to import all of my pictures...and lo and behold, the lost sheep were found! by lost sheep i, of course, mean the pictures that were gone forever. they're not gone! i guess i didn't need a hacker person after all. maybe i'm a technical genius after all. or windows vista is just really smart. we'll go with option 1 for fun and my own ego boost. long story short (or even longer as the case may be), all is well with the world, or at least the last month of luke's little life is safe and sound on my computer's hard drive. its a christmas miracle :)

happy december

wow, i can't believe its already december again. luke is over a year old, andy's almost done with school, and we still live in the ghetto...i mean...oops, did i say that out loud? its really not that horrible. its only semi-ghetto now. we actually cleaned up the place yesterday and actually organized the pantry so that more than my 6 qt crock pot fits in there. who'd a thought?
i got my first very own poinsettia from a girl in the ward who's trying to go to australlia with her choir. why the heck am i helping to send someone else to austraillia? when is my trip to austraillia? am i asking enough questions? sorry about that. i actually wanted to announce that thanks to a friend, i figured out that luke's first birthday pictures have been saved. they will be coming soon, so you all much anxiously wait in anticipation...or just check back soon and you'll see the cake baby :) happy december everyone! yay

bargain shopping

there must be some deal-seeking gene that i wasn't born with. i just don't get it. there are so many times when i compliment someone and they say, "thanks i got it at tj maxx for two bucks!" how the heck did they find tht billion dollar coat for 2 dollars when the only place i saw it at was retailing it for 350? i know what you're thinking, i should just go to tj maxx, right? wrong, unfortunately, i don't get that place either. i walk in and am immediately overwhelmed by the sheer size of it all...i give up after about two racks because i can't handle the pressure. sad tale i know. if i find something i like, its pretty much inevitable that first, its the most expensive thing in the store and b-its going to be completely out of stock by the time it would go on sale...so, then begins the battle in my mind. can i afford it? do i REALLY need it? okay, i usually don't need it, but i've gotten pretty good at convincing myself sometimes...and finally, i really should just get it now because it will be gone later. dangit!!
one of the solutions that i have come up with for my lack of amazing deal finding talent (should that have been hyphenated?) is to just put the blinders on until i get to the back of the store where the "clearance" resides. the deals kind of have a way of finding me that way instead of vice-versa. of course, that awesome shirt or pair of shoes for luke just happen to be right by the clearance rack and i'm back to square one.

baby gap...friend or foe

so, its been awhile...apparently i felt the need to state the obvious. as if you didn't know that i haven't been very good about writing everyday. anyway, onto today's subject--my new addiction...baby gap/children's place. i have become pretty obsessed with dressing my son like a trendy midget. i seriously might have something that borders on unhealthy. i can't stop looking online and checking out the baby section everytime i go somewhere. i guess i used to be obsessed with dressing myself so it seems only natural that the issue would transplant itself into making sure that my son't socks match the layering shirt underneath his sweater. yikes...is this a serious problem? if it is, its a cute one. i mean look at this kid...cutest thing ever, right? well, besides all of your little guys, of course. speaking of the little fashionista, he's sleeping at the moment so i'd better take full advantage and do absolutely nothing...i mean, the laudry and the organizing of course :)

vacation

hey everyone. just wanted to let you all know that i'm stuck in the 20th century at my parent's house where there is no high-speed internet...therefore, i haven't had much chance to post anything on here. i will try and take the opportunity while i'm at one of my brother's houses. luke's great. we're great. all is well :)

first steps

well, the day has arrived. my son is human after all. he really doesn't have to crawl around on all fours forever. yesterday, andy and i sat across from each other and decided it was time to prove that luke really has evolved from the four-legged creatures of the past. he took his first steps (with a little help from mom and dad...but who's counting? way to go luke

happy sunday

i love sundays. i'll admit, its not like i work so hard the rest of the week that i need a day off...its just nice to actually have a reason to not do anything but go for walks, hang out with my family and eat really good food of course.

loose cannon

today i felt like a loose cannon. do you ever have those moments when you really feel like the estrogen that is coarsing through your veins takes on a mind of its own? yeah, i had one of those...and as if the hormonal surge wasn't enough to send me into an emotional rant, add on hunger and fatigue as well as a fat day and you've got a recipe for something very scary. i was going to write volitle or some other intelligent word, but i wan't sure how to spell it and then i just decided to go with the next word that came to mind. anyway, we've been house-hunting lately and i found the home of my dreams...okay, well not really my dreams, i mean i do live in spokane after all people, but it really was wonderful. huge master bedroom with a walk-in closet (i've never been blessed with one), laundry on the main floor, room enough in the kitchen to actually put things away, etc...wow, anyway andy found several things wrong with it, of course and i, in turn, laid into him like there was no tomorrow. after all was said and done, the house was sold before we even looked at it. just goes to show ya, the estrogen rants just aren't worth your time or effort. they do seem to really work at the time that they are happening though. funny how that is...

sometimes its hard to be me

okay so that sounds pretty dramatic, but i really do have quite the dilemma. sometimes i just want to write about my day...you know; i woke up, ate breakfast, changed luke's diaper several times, etc. but there is this tiny little voice inside my head that says "say something funny, be witty." so you see, i can't just keep a harmless little diary when this pesky little writer inside of me won't leave me alone. i guess i shouldn't complain too much since that little voice is going to make me millions when i become a bestselling author in the near future...one can always dream, right?

little mr. independent

not to be mistaken with kelly clarkston's "miss independent" is my son, luke and his new independent phase...sorry for the reduncancy. i just can't think of another word for independent right now at this heinous hour, which actually in the scheme of things isn't quite so heinous because its daylight savings--anyway, the last few days i've been doing the little things that need to be done around the apartment in order to make it bearable for me to continue residing here, only to realize that little lukey isn't hovering around my ankles looking anxiously up at me as if to say, "play with me, pick me up, do something..." instead, he has actually been making his way on his hands and knees to his room and has proceeded to play with his mountain of stuffed animals and little tonka truck by himself. is this kid growing up before my eyes or what? i mean, what's next? his driver's license? one thing's for sure--he will definitly never cease to amaze me...you guessed it, my son's a genius :)

technical difficulties...

so apparenlty i wrote somewhere that i would be posting pictures of the lukeinator swimming in his first birthday cake. yeah, i pretty much suck. sorry guys. remember how i said that the big day kinda snuck up on me...well, one of the casualties of this was that i didn't have the camera with me. i know, i know i'm a horrible mother. who doesn't have their camera when their only child turns 1??!! its disgusting i know. anyway, all was not lost (or so we thought) because we had andy's cell phone which has a 2 megapixel camera and we had just received one of those fancy cards that you can save stuff to and then download onto the computer. i thought i was saved from mommy outer darkness-until i tried to actually put the pics on the little card...you guessed it, tara's luck reared its ugly head yet again...didn't work. so, now we have a bunch of blue cake covered luke on andy's phone and apparently no way to share it with the rest of you anticipating people. don't fear--i haven't totally given up, but i'm not really sure what else to do...so maybe that classifies as me actually giving up...oops. sorry folks. maybe we'll re-enact the fateful day and you can all pretend with me that i was a better mother on october 8th. no? well, you can't say i didn't try, right?