My First Tattoo

This year for my birthday I wanted a tattoo.  David was on board, and supportive.  Ok, he's been beyond on board and supportive.  He is the one who washed it for me, put the icky sticky goo on for the first three days and then the lotion after.  My sister, Sara, introduced us to the amazing artist that did her tattoo and the rest is history!  So here is it, part one, healed and ready for part two (shading and color):

Art and tattoo by the amazing Alena Chun at Icon Tattoo in Portland, Oregon

More pics will come after part two has healed up, so sometime after Thanksgiving. :)

October Bend Trip

I will update this more soon-just wanted to get the pictures up :)

Bauman's Farm, 2011

This year David and I got to share the farm with my parents.  It was their first visit, and hopefully not their last.  My sister Melanie and her family were able to join us this year.  This was not their first visit, but it had been awhile since they had been there and a lot had changed.  Ben and Sara were going to join us, but Sara was getting over a cold so they met up with us after for lunch and visiting.  It was a lovely day.  Here are some pictures from the farm.  I have to say, I loved seeing all the things through the eyes of W and Peanut. I can't wait to see how they tackle things next year!

Getting ready for the fun!

A word of encouragement and she's off!

Waiting for apple canon fun

Figuring out the fort

W has things figured out!

Crazy, in the crazy cage!

<3

I kind of look huge, but aren't we cute?

I'm the apple of someone's eye!

Duck...

Duck...duck...

GOOSE!

W had a lot of fun with the peddle cars!

It's about time to head home for lunch!

Thank you Bauman's, for another fun way to celebrate fall!

Hopefully this is something we can all do again next year.  It was nice to hang out as a family and watch the kids go down slides and eat apple cider donuts.  Thanks everyone for coming down and hanging out with us at one of our favorite places!

Piece of Candy, Go For a Ride?

So I have been hearing “Trunk or Treat” and even saw a sign in a church parking lot for a “Trunk or Treat.”  I thought it was a typo because, come on, we’ve all had it happen and just sort of run with it at least once (my blog is proof of my embracing mine).  Today being Halloween I was thinking about this “Trunk or Treat” business and decided to google it.  

I like to go to Wikipedia for my answers.  Wikipedia: Trunk or Treat 

The Wiki Answer to “What is Trunk or Treat?” is:

“Picture this: a huge parking lot with the back ends of vans and trucks decorated in a variety of fun themes; complete with games and treats. Maybe in one section of the lot there is an inflatable bounce house and in another section there is a puppet show. From babies on up to grandpas and grandmas, there is something for everyone. What a fun way to spend the evening as a family!  In many communities churches sponsor the fun event and families plan their own theme for their vehicle. Sometimes elementary schools, sororities, and large neighborhoods sponsor one as well. The best part of Trunk-or-Treating is that the parking lot is roped off, freeing kids to skip or stroll from place to place.” 

And lastly, here are pictures. 

WTF??!!?  

Who really thought it would be a good idea to encourage children to go up to decorated trunks for candy?  What is stopping some total creepo from doing just that and nabbing your child?  Come one, seriously.  We complain about all the bad poop going on, but aren’t we just making it happen by doing totally stupid crap like this?

It’s just great how the churches are putting these “lets give small children the idea that it’s okay to take candy from strangers with decorated cars/vans” ideas (vans?  really?  Nothing creepy about that, right?  *eye roll*).  What is so hard about going door to door with a parent/older sibling/approved adult?  Or what about going to a party?  

It’s a sad world we live in if walking door to door for free candy has become an inconvenience.  I get that some people don't live near people, but when I was growing up those people went and trick or treated in a friends neighborhood or went to a Halloween party.  If you don’t want to do the door to door, there are parties or fall festivities to be enjoyed.  Try that, instead of activities that only help bad people steal and molest your children. 

Hello Blog

I miss blogging.  I'm trying to get back into it.  I'm lacking brain power and motivation.  The cat is curled up on the foot stool with her back to me, an intended gesture I'm sure.  I found her under the blankets on my side of the bed this morning and removed her.  She was not happy about that, and has been giving me looks all day.  I'm trying not to let it get to me.  I can handle the cold...butt?... from the cat.  I'm just gonna sit her and watch Resident Evil: Apocalypse.  Yup.  Not letting it get to me.

Time Sure Flies!

11 years.  That is how long I have been married to the love of my life.  It may not seem like a long time, and to others it may seem like too long.  Well, I’m of the school that there is never enough time with the one you love.  Never.  And to me, 11 years is a pretty big deal. 

In the 11 years we have been together we have watched other marries fall apart.  We have experienced losses together, something not all couples can survive.  We have experienced disappointment, our immediate family consists of the two of us and a cat who only tolerates us on the third Tuesday in months that don’t end Y, H, T and R.  We have experienced fights (more of them my fault than I’d care to admit) but we don’t go to bed mad (often).  And David has put up with more than his share of my crazy train.  

In the 11 years we have been together we have watched our extended family grow.  We get to be the Uncle and Aunt to some pretty amazing kids.  We have faced every one of the things in the above paragraph that could of pushed us apart and only grown closer together.  We have a cat.  We enjoy our time together going to places we both enjoy and doing things we both enjoy (beer).  We have laughed more than we have fought (at ourselves and some of the really stupid things we have seen).  And I know what the shit comes down (Zombie Apocalypse) David is going to be there for me 100%.  

In the 11 years we have been together I have learned a lot.  Marriage is not easy.  Marriage is worth it.  The best things in life, you really do have to work for.  It’s like this intricate song you don’t get the sheet music for, you have to figure out the notes as you go.  Sometimes you are going to hit a wrong not or miss a note.  You just have to keep playing and work out those runs/cords.  You can’t get caught up on the small stuff, you have to play through the tough stuff and most importantly DON’T GIVE UP.  When you take a moment, like I am now, to look back you don’t remember all the wrong notes and mistakes.  You see this beautiful body of music you contributed to.  That part that sounded strangely like Bjork was mine, sorry.

For the last 11 years I have been incredibly lucky.  I am proud of all we have worked through and experienced together.  I’m lucky that I have a husband who is in this for the long haul and sees what we have is something worth all the work.  Thank you for the 11 years of love, security, growing and incredible memories.  Here is to more years of our funky song and hopefully some head-bites.  I love you sweetheart!

~Emily (quack)

Family

While my sweetheart was away, my sister came down to keep me company and brought her munchkins with her.  Here are some snapshots of the afternoon!

"Why yes, I am pretty!"

W was copying Peanut, but she didn't seem to mind!

Sorry Melanie, I had fun being goofy with you and while we might look a little medically altered (which we are not) you still have a great smile :D

"And this is my pony... and this one..."

That scary pink nappy thing W is holding is a snugglebum.  Anyone remember those creepy things?

~Emily