Flagstaff, AZ here we come!!!

Lifelong Friends

This last weekend I had the privilege of going up to Wallowa Lake and spending time with some of the coolest girls I know - my girlfriends from college. One of them, Sarah, wrote about our history and connections on her blog here: Anderson Adventures. I don't want to copy her or "steal her thunder" (quick Sarah - what Friends episode is that!) but I do want to share some more pictures and stories about this awesome group of girls. Here we are 8 years ago on the cusp of graduation and entering the Read World. We worried about boys, bodies, and (in Jody's case) bathrooms. Even then we knew we were connected.

(Hailey, Me, Kylee, Sarah, Heather and Jody - May 2002)
Now flash forward to present day. We still are worried about boys (now husbands or soon-to-be), bodies (what the heck happened!?), babies (how did we all procreate so quickly!?) and (in all our cases) bathrooms. We were down in numbers as Hailey and Kelly couldn't join us but don't worry girls - we still felt like you were there. Hailey, you don't know it, but you got up early with me both Saturday and Sunday just like I knew you would and went for an hour long walk with me while the others slept in. And Kelly, you were right beside me as we all laughed at Fabio in the Stubborn Mule.

(Kylee, Me, Heather, Jody and Sarah)

What I love about our friendship is that we have been through a lot together and are always there for each other. I know that if something awful happened in my life I wouldn't even need to call - these girls would be there for me - just as I am there for them. I mean, look at some of the things we have endured.

The Amish Unit: Me and Heather got stuck with these two (who we still talk about and don't worry Jody - I made a copy of this picture and use the original to throw darts at!)

Numerous BBQ's at Sarah's house: Kylee, Me, Hailey and Elizabeth.

Bachelorette parties: Warning: May contain some adult content!!! The first picture is at the Greek Cuisina in Portland and Sarah and I along with Hailey (pink shirt) are getting down with our bad selves.

I'm not even going to say where we are in this picture but I'm telling you - I'll never forget it!

Weddings: I've been married since the cradle so the girls never knew me pre-Mark but we all went to weddings for Sarah, Kylee, Hailey and Heather. Jody and Kelly are next on the list and girls - WE WILL BE THERE!! This pic is from Sarah's wedding.

Baby Showers: We have also been to many of these but since I had been married the longest it was also my job to have the first baby so I did. Sarah, Hailey and Jody all came down for my baby shower and spent the night.

I love to look back on these pictures and think of all the fun we have had, the endless nights of talking and the countless memories we have created. But what I love the absolute most is that while some of the external stuff may change, like addresses and number of babies, the core person in each of us is intact and ever constant. Within a minute of seeing each other it's like we've never been apart. The stories change a little: giving birth, belly buttons, mortgages, in-laws and lifes unexpected twists and turns now dominate our conversations but our friendship never changes. These girls are a large chapter in my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Me and Hailey - Winter 2001

Sarah and I "The Boob Sisters". We are still killing 'em at pool!

Jody and Kylee trying to beat Sarah and I - they've been trying for years - it just ain't gonna happen.

Remember this night girls? Wasn't it fun? There were a lot of pics from this night but I am not going to include them all - you're welcome.

"Friends are the most important ingredient in this recipe of life"

I love you girls!!!

Bad Girl! Bad!

I did a very bad thing today.

I even talked Mark into doing it with me. (I feel you Eve, I do).


It started with a phone call from my best friend who I call my sister who is actually Mark's cousin, Dawn. She calls me sounding ecstatic and practically screams into the phone "I've done it! I've made Harley (her husband) see the light and we are here and I'm calling to see if you want anything!" Her destination you ask? What marvelous place could she possibly be at? Only one of my most favorite places - Costco.


I don't know why I love that store but I do. I walk in and flash my card showing that I belong (of course!) and as I stroll up and down the aisles collecting my free samples, I am always happy. Costco is a happy place for me. Sometimes too happy of a place. It has all kinds of stuff I didn't know I couldn't live without until I see it in Costco. I don't even know where I'll put all the food when I get home but by George I am saving tons of money by buying in bulk so I had better get it. This kind of reasoning is why I have not been in Costco for well over a year. Until today.

Please don't ask me to show you all the food stuffed into the cooler (that we bought at Costco). In my defense Mark wanted the cooler - not me. And I didn't pick out the potato chips or otter pops either - the boys did. Hey! Don't judge me! I was perfectly, wonderfully happy inside the store and I am still floating on a Costco high. And don't ask me how much we spent either. I'm only going to say this. Costco was very happy to see me walk back through the door.

Funny Monkeys

These two monkeys of mine. I can only shake my head sometimes and wipe the tears away. They are usually tears of laughter but Owen does have a gas problem so sometimes we all have tears. The two of them have created a new world order and changed life as we know it. Colors are no longer simply red, brown, green, and blue. They go by new names now. New names that will make you stronger (according to Caleb).
Yellow - Sunny
Orange - Pumpkin Face
Blue - Water
Purple - Grape
Black - Dark Cloud
Green - Grassy
Brown - Chocolate & Dusty
Red - Jelly

Just think - Christmas colors are now Jelly and Grassy. Halloween is full of Pumpkin Face and Dark Cloud with some Grape thrown in. I can already hear the phone ringing and Caleb's kindergarten teacher asking me what in the world have I taught my children.

Funny Monkeys 1: The other day we were all in the car heading up to the pool. I was teasing Mark about getting another job so that I can get a new camera. Caleb piped up from the back and said "Daddy does have two jobs! He's a police and he's SQUAT!"
I, of course, laughed and listened to Mark try to explain to him that it's called SWAT not SQUAT, when Owen throws his two-cents in there. "You're not a swatter Daddy, you're a spanker!".

Funny Monkeys 2: The boys and I were at Safeway using the self-check service. I was all done and Owen was standing in the cart while I placed the groceries around him. The self-checkout machine said something like "take your money from below the scanner". Owen looks at me and asks "Is this lady real?". I told him "Yes. Her name is Sasha and she works inside the machine during the day and fights crime at night."
Owen turns to the machine and says ever so sweetly while pointing "I'm Owen and this is my brother Caleb and this is my mommy Aunt Miriah."
(I later explained about Sasha - don't worry)

Funny Monkeys 3 (and then I'm done, I promise!): Mark had just finished working a graveyard shift and Owen and I were tucking him into bed and asking him about his night. (Caleb was off having an army battle of epic proportions that included war zones in the living room and kitchen). Owen started with "Daddy, how many bad guys did you get?" Mark countered with "Six". Owen said breathlessly "SIX! How did you get so many?" "I went to a party and people were doing things they weren't supposed to". Owen leaned in close to Mark's face, his eyes were huge and he whispered with both disbelief and awe "Did someone pop all the balloons?!"

Summer is...

picking blueberries.

swimming at the pool.

riding horses around the rodeo grounds.

having playdates.

watching movies at the park.

Summer is Caleb & Owen's most favorite thing! (for right now anyway)

Hotties and Booty Battles

Don't they look so sweet? So innocent, so loving towards each other. I remember how they smelled and how their little bodies curled and molded into mine when I held them. I loved those days.

Where in the heck did they go?

Now that Caleb is a "mature" adult at the age of 5 and Owen has graduated to 4 year-old status, the two of them are morphing before my eyes. Mark and I used to get such a tickle out of the things they would say. Wookie for cookie. "That person has raindrops on their cheeks" when someone was crying. They still come up with some really funny stuff but yesterday, I came to the realization that they are definitely hearing some outside influences.

The boys and I were driving out to Pilot Rock and Caleb informed me I was a hottie. He blamed it on my lip gloss. In fact, his exact words were "Mommy, that lip gloss makes you look like a hottie."

While I cleaned up the Dr. Pepper that I had snorted our my nose onto the crotch of my white shorts, I thought "Where did he hear that word hottie?"

"Caleb, where did you hear that word hottie?"

"I don't know."

"What do you think hottie means?"

"It's like when a girl looks nice mom. Like your lip gloss makes you look like your ready to say hi to someone."

I was speechless. I had to whip out my cell phone and make an emergency phone call while driving (don't tell Mark). "Mark, you won't believe what Caleb just said!". I told him the whole story and then he said "You aren't talking on the phone while driving are you?" "Who? Me? Gotta go babe, love ya."

Later that same evening, Owen and I were playing soccer outside. He loves playing soccer. I was starting to get tired but he was going strong. While I bent over to suck in some much needed air I felt his little body come up behind me and something hit my bottom. I looked between my legs and saw that Owen had backed his little bottom right up to mine and was proceeding to hit my bum with his. "Owen, what are doing?"

"We're having a booty battle Mom!"

I could only roll my eyes and proceed with the battle. Needless to say, I won. Outside influences ... what can I say?

Zip - Lining

Zip-Lining is one of those things that you have to try if you ever have the chance. I'm tempted to throw one up in my backyard just so you can see what's it like.
You would get to see lots of neat stuff in my backyard like the garden, the firepit, the kid's play structure, Kye's many contributions to the garden and possibly a squirrel or two. You might not see trees like this but hey, my zip line would be free.

I wouldn't make you wear awesome gear like this either. I couldn't decide what I liked better. It was a toss-up between the hair net and the cinches around my bosoms. Tough call.

Do we look like professionals or what?

Let the record show - I said "awesome" first.