Mundane.

I'm back.

Back to working.

Or rather- back to being AT work but not necessarily working.

Back to cleaning.

Back to cooking.

Back to blogging and FB-ing.

Back to having a schedule.

Back to realizing how much money we actually spent.

Back to my crappy car.

Back to no beach.

Back to no sound of the ocean to lull me to sleep.

Back to no palm trees.

Back to my beautiful daughter who I missed way too much.

Back to my sweet mom who watched my beautiful daughter.

Back to Judge brownies.

I will post a bunch of pictures soon. But for now, here's a preview.

This is the sandbar at Kaneohe Bay in Oahu. If you think it looks like a little piece of heaven, well, you'd be right. It was.

Vacation is awesome. You should all go.

Seven years.

Saturday will be the celebration of the 7th year of my marriage. With my husband.

Seven years. Some good. Some bad. Some incredible. Some flat out hell-ish.

Seven years of school (cumulative). Seven times of moving. 7 Christmases. 7 Halloweens. 1 beautiful little girl to take care of.


They say there's a 7 year itch. [Oh- and by the way, I'd like to know who these "They" people are. They seem to say a lot of things.] But I think that for us it was a 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 year itch.

Lucky for us, we have become really good at scratching our itches. And I think that we've finally learned to be itch-free. Or rather- we've learned to apply anti-itch cream right away.

He has finally learned that the best phrase to use when my monthly visitor is in town is "yes, dear."


And I have learned that boys will be boys. And even if I find his potty humor totally immature and stupid, it's part of his cute boy-ish charm.

We've learned to communicate. Like when I'm all pissed off at him because he is being a dumb boy now I actually tell him I'm bugged instead of just stomping around the house waiting for him to take the hint and either (a) say to me "Oh, what's wrong, honey? Can I rub your feet?", or better yet (b) just fix it because he should know what's wrong since he's the one who caused the problem, dammit! But that was the old itchy me.

We both try to be less selfish. Try.

He has learned that sometimes women need to talk. And talk. And rant. And talk. And all he needs to do is listen. Which doesn't involve advice-giving.

And for this 7th anniversary, now that we finally get along, we are doing something special. Like going to Hawaii. So we will be celebrating this momentous occasion on the warm sandy beaches of Oahu and Kauai. Where there is no itchiness involved.

I love you, J.
I'm glad we never gave up.

Kennedyisms

Stupid laundry fairy never showed up. So I ended up having to do all of it myself. Lame, huh?

Whatevs. Anyway, here are the latest Kennedyisms. As promised.

[Background: I had made her dinner and she didn't want to eat it. Her choices were to eat it now, or go to bed and eat it in the morning. She wouldn't choose so I told her she'd have to eat it in the morning. As I was carrying her to bed, this was her cry:]
K: I'M DOOMED!!!
A: ... you're doomed?
K: *sob* *sniff* Yes!! *sniff* I'm... DOOOOOOMED!!


"Boogers just keep growing in my nose. That means I gotta pick 'em!"

[Getting ready to show me a new dress]:
K: This will freakin' KNOCK your FEET off!!


A: Grandma Alli is going to come sleep at our new house.
K: But she might be afraid of our pet alligator.
A: Alligator?....
K: Yeah. We're going to get one for our new house. And it's going to have a baby.
A: I see. And where are they going to live?
K: In a fish tank. With our pet baby sharks.

"I am the princess of the United States!"

"I shrunk in the swamp of sadness" [as she throws herself dramatically to the floor]

K: I love you more than ice cream.
A: I love your more than Disneyland.
K: I love you more than Harley.
A: I love you more than flowers.
K: I love you more than ALLLLL the world.
A: Wow. That's a lot. I love you more than the universe.
K: I love you more than my bike. Well, no- I love you the same as my bike.


[She loves to make up songs to sing to me. Here is one she recently made up]:
"... Your nooose....is your favorite nose.... and your mouuuth.... has teeeeeth... and liiiiips.... and a uvula.... "

"When I turn into 35, I will be in charge of you! And taller than you!!"

More backyard fun

In case there was any question on the matter, not that there would be, I will now clarify it for you: I am a bit of a nerd. I know you're probably shocked at my assessment. However, I have learned to accept it and, with time, hopefully you will be able to as well.

Why am I a nerd? I am borderline [completely] obsessed with the numerous varieties of flora adorning my back yard. And front yard. Whenever I discover there is a new blossom or a new green growth or whatnot, I call my mother (because Justin has a hard time pretending to care) and squeal with excitement at my discoveries. And I will now share them with you.

This is my Kwanzan Flowering Cherry.


I mean just LOOK at these babies!!! Oh my gosh I think I'm in love.


And yes, you've seen this before. But not like THIS. My Japanese maple. Fully leafed and proud of it.

Ok and yes. You've seen this before, too. BUT not close up. And it's just so adorable that it makes the front page of my blog twice this spring. (The Aubretia growing on my waterfall.)


And my most recent discovery made me squeal in a mousey-like voice saying "OH MY GOSH THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!!!"

I think they are crocuses. They're a bit taller than ones I have seen, but I can't think of what else they would be. Any thoughts?

All I know is that if I wasn't completely in love before, I sure as hell am, now.


And if that isn't enough excitement for one day, here's more. Kennedy is learning how to roller blade. My sweet grandmother let Kennedy take a pair home from her house and so we went out yesterday and she tried them out. She had a blast.

It's finally been warm enough outside to actually enjoy it! I love springtime.

p.s. I have a whole bunch of Kennedyisms ready to come your way. If the laundry fairy comes to my house maybe I'll have time to do it this weekend. Oh- the laundry fairy had better call the bathroom fairy and the floor-cleaning fairy, too. Hm...