Heart Punns

My neighbor brought me flowers to plant tonight and they are so beautiful! I cannot wait to enjoy their goodness from the patio! This reminded me that in the midst of my recent influx in well-wishes, the card on the bouquet from my parents read as follows:
"We're thinking a lot about you and you are in our hearts. Love and Prayers, Mom and Dad." My first thought after reading this was, "I think it is the other way around. Your hearts are in me which is why I have this problem" :-)

Yesterday at the cardiologist's office, Bryan insisted on coming to view my echocardiogram, which was pretty awesome, if it belongs to someone else. Knowing that the heart we saw on the screen was mine, and seeing the little valve flapping open and shut grossed me out considerably. However, I said to Bryan later, "At least you can say now that you have really seen into my heart."

Awwwwww....smooches.

P.S. How can anyone argue, after seeing the intricate way that the heart functions with all of the valves and chambers, that a Creator, our God, can not exist? All it takes is a clear look inside your own body as it functions to see that this all could not have evolved from dust.

A Thankful Day

Today was a good day for both Bryan and I. For myself, I got a beautful bouquet of flowers from my mom, who came in to help in the classroom, and I recieved an encouraging email from a long lost friend, and from many other friends as well. I also got another card in the mail which was nice. My kids were also incredibly nice to me today and we had more fun than usual. I heard one report that this was the best day EVER. I would not expect the clouds to lift this soon in our lives, but I can see God working already, just to once again prove me wrong. This is the reason for my blog: I want to blog about positive things and not be so negative! I also want to express my appreciation for all your concerns. I would rather not go through this, but it is a nice reminder of the large support network I have through coworkers, friends, family, friends of family, neighbors and friends from long ago. I am inspired to be a better friend and show you all the love and support you have shown me, whether or not you are having troubles. I do remember the saying that it is wise to be cheerful to all, as every person you meet is dealing with some kind of battle.

As for Bryan, he got an INCREDIBLE deal on a welder that he has been needing to finalize the building of his car...and he got one of the last two on the shelf! He decided on a whim to go today at lunch rather than waiting until Saturday, so he is so very thankful for that. He also has had a recent influx of calls from people needing help on their cars, which is nice after he has experienced a lull in his side job lately. Plus, with the tax situation and the guaranteed ridiculous cost of my stupid heart problem, this could not come at a better time. And, he got his long awaited Honda Tuning magazine and Motor Trend magazine (Both at the same time) in the mail today which he is devouring now as I blog.

However, I do now need to go "make" dinner, which I lovingly refer to as heating up leftovers.
:-)

The Report

So I have mixed feelings about today. In the beginning, the doctor asked me really pointed questions about how often, how much, could it be set on by, yadda yadda yadda. I wasn't ready for that and to be honest I tried to ignore the signs and pass it off as "whatever". I was done being a "hypochondriac" and I just wanted to feel healthy. But I did have a list of concerns that ended up not being relevant to his questions. Though he was nice, he had a very serious face and I could not tell what he was thinking. Then all of a sudden BAM! He tells me "This is what you have. It could be two things." Wait, hold on. I thought you were going to run tests on me first? I thought I was not going to hear the bad news today and so I was not prepared. He wrote down the two possibilities on paper, handed it to me, then said "I am going to send you to another specialist at St. Vincents". He spoke metaphorically, saying he was a "plumber" of the heart and this other specialist was an "electrician" of the heart and he could do a better job with me because I apparently have an electrical issue like my sister, and not a plumbing issue like my two parents and father in law (which, by the way, we served as their afternoon humor as the spawns of three of their best clients. I bet the doctor was chomping at the bit to get his hands on me). The impression I got was that my EKG report was definately unique and these two doctors plus my primary had already conversed (which restores my hope in the medical system).

So what were the two possibilities? One is called Brugada syndrome, which is more serious and often calls for a defribiliator installment. The other is called Wolff Parkinsons White, which also requires a procedure that is less painless and just re-shocks the heart. To be honest, about the time I heard "Parkinsons" my stomach flipped and I lost it because all I could think of was my Dad. But it turns out that is not what it really is (I dont think). I kept trying to focus on anything besides what was happening: the panels on the ceiling, the brand of computer monitor, the color of the uniform the nurse was wearing, sunshine and lollipops, you name it. As soon as the doctor walked out I looked at Bryan and said "Don't talk to me" because I knew the minute he said anything, I would start bawling, which I did and was in the middle of when the nurse came back in to take my blood. Then of course the cool and composed doctor comes back in in the middle of my "episode" and tells me he just got off the phone with the other doctor and there is a very good chance it could be the lesser of the two evils, so that at least made Bryan feel better. If it were up to me, I would rather be on medication than have any sort of "procedure" no matter how big or small, especially when it touches my heart. That just grosses me out and makes my chest hurt thinking about it.

So anyways, I will find out more when I make my appointment with the next specialist ("sooner rather than later is better"). I did have another EKG, which confirmed no error in the first two, though I was still hoping for it to be a mistake, and I have an echocardiogram scheduled for Thursday, where they will just check the foundations of my heart and make sure all the chambers are structured as they should be. So as Bryan says, it is good news but it is not great news. As for me, after this is over, the next time I want to be in a doctor's office with my husband and a machine is when we are pregnant, ten years down the road.

Weekend

Thanks for all the comments on my last few depressing posts. So many thoughts run through my head, and I know you are all right, I just dont know how to respond and thank you.
So this is it.;-) Thanks!

The weekend was much better. It started at 5:45 Friday night when I walked out of my classroom, which for a Friday night was a new world record. We had dinner all planned out and after watching about an hour of E! I was all set to clean my house, knowing the weekend was going to be fun and Bryan wanted to make sure I was busy and out of the apartment all weekend to keep my mind off Tuesday. After cleaning and making some cards I got to bed around midnight and woke up at 8, which feels so nice even though by old standards that is still really early.

My first thing to do was babysit some really cute and well behaved kids who belong to my friend and hairdresser Melissa, as she was moving houses. I took Adeline and baby Jacob with me to the Post Office (be on the lookout for an incoming package, David :-)) and to the library and we ended our morning at the Playplace at McDonalds, where we enjoyed lunch as well. After dropping them off, I headed to Clackamas where I got to try on a beautiful bridesmaid dress for my good friend Melinda's wedding in July, and then I made my way back to Beaverton to pick Bryan up. After a quick stop at the grocery store, we headed over to his sister's house for his mom's 50th birthday party, which was a lot of fun because his sister makes good food and food and family is always fun! After dinner we piled in two cars and headed down to the Rose Quarter where we watched a really funny game with the Harlem Globetrotters. Our favorite part was watching the mascot, Globe (Globe-ie) try to dance.

After being away from home all day I was exhausted! So today we accidentally (truly) slept in and missed church. Instead we watched Transformers in bed and then went on a picnic at the Pittock Mansion. It was a beautiful day to overlook Portland, though it was a little chilly! After Bryan dropped me off at our other car we left at Mom and Dads, I visited with them awhile and talked to my reassuring sister Nicole on the phone, and then I went on a couple errands, most notably to Joanne's, where I picked up some more paper, cardstock, and paper cutters and I signed up for a class with my friend Liz this Saturday morning where we will learn to make really cute Easter cards. So now I just got home at 4:45 and put some clothes in the wash and after blogging I will need to do dinner and my homework for my Tuesday night financial class.

Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts on Tuesday. Hopefully it will be good news, but because we have a class right after I may not be able to e-mail or call right away. I am so glad March is right around the corner and then Texas will only be 3 weeks away! As it gets closer I get more and more excited, although I am more and more bummed that Bryan doesn't get to go. We have been spending a lot of time together lately, which I have really enjoyed since he is still trying to get his new car up and running. He has been to the junkyard twice this weekend getting parts! Even though he stinks (:-)) I do have to say I love him and I am really thankful for him, especially during times like this. He is my light XOXO.

Have a good week!

Empty

Im just putting it out there that I am not in the mood to talk. I discovered this last night when I went to my community group/Bible study. I was so tired of listening to people ramble on and on that I wanted to scream or choke something (Im just being honest). I have noticed lately, and I have been told by others, that I am an easy person to talk to. And I have noticed in the past that I can effortlessly get virtual strangers to unleash all their "issues" on me...even people I meet once and may never meet again. However, following the circumstances of how this week started out, I am no longer emotionally capable of listening to anyone. I do still continue to put on a "front" and smile and socialize with parents at school, co-workers, neighbors and friends but I am running on a thin shred of patience. I do not like being this bitter...I just want to return to my old self, when I only had three problems to think about and not five (I've got a prayer list taped to my monitor). So, anyways, I will hopefully get there. Until then, I do not want to talk, my glass is empty. I want to just focus on shallow joys such as watching a movie and temporarily forget about the bigger issues looming. Of course, I will call you back soon, because that is how I am, just not now.

On another note, why is it when you try to avoid your problems, little reminders rise out of the woodwork? Guess what the front page of MSN is today? Its called "Would you Recognize a Heart Attack?" and of course I read it and now I am even more freaked out. Then today my little brainiac, all on his own, comes up to me and shows me a diagram of a heart he found in a book and proceeds to lecture me about all of its components. Of course, I can't get mad at him because he is so dang smart and cute, but GEEZ!!!

Okay, well that is all. My friend is coming over now to watch a movie with me. Sounds wonderful! And I apologize once again for this blog.

Please Mr. President...

In honor of President's Day, I did our taxes today. Woo hoo!, right? WRONG! All day long, in my head I have been singing the song off the Forest Gump soundtrack called Mr President (Have Pity on the Working Man) by Randy Newman, and no song has rung truer now. I am still numb with shock after discovering that Bryan and I owe thousands in taxes. What can we do? How did this happen? Who knows? And while this makes no difference whatsoever to the national budget, it certainly presents a problem to us. So I ask of the Feds: Why must you ruin our lives? We were tossing around ideas of what to do at dinner and it does not seem right that the two of us, who work really hard and put in long hours, have to get second jobs just to pay this, but that could be a reality very shortly.

And this day was also topped off by news that I have an abnormal heart rythm and I need to visit a cardiologist pronto. With the family history, it is no wonder, but my doctor did very little to conceal her shock and concern after seeing my 2 ekg tests in the office so now I am freaked out by this and the fact that if my heart starts skipping again I have to go straight to the ER.

So basically, I am pretty sure this is what rock bottom feels like. Broke, facing more mounting debt and stuck in a body that already needs a major overhaul at age 24. Forgive me for being pessimistic but I need major prayers. I will do my best to look on the bright side...at least it will only be a four day week with a fun weekend ahead...

Vegas...Baby?

But before I get to that, I was awakened yesterday morning by the sense that I was not alone and things were amiss. Bryan was gone, doing his usual Saturday morning errands somehow involving cars, but yet as I was laying in the middle of my bed I felt little feet moving up and down against my back in a rythmic pattern. I heard soft purring and the comforter was swaying in a rippling motion. The comforter above me in fact was being violated by this: (see above). Keep in mind, this picture is not the comforter on our bed and is not the first one to recieve this odd treatment. At first, we thought he was "nursing" as he would knead his front paws as he puts a piece of the blanket (or jacket, or afghan, or towel or gym bag or whatever is looking partifularily sexy that day) and pulls up and down on it with his teeth. When he started doing this about a year ago, he would be sitting down as in the picture above. However, his patterns have become more vulgar which leads us to believe he is not thinking of his mommy as he does this, and I do not want to post a picture of what it looks like as there might be some kitty porn lovers out there. Does anyone else out there know of a cat that does this, specifically a NEUTERED cat? Anyways, it was really funny because I turned over and just stared at him, humping my comforter with his eyes closed and ears slanted way back, purring to himself in immense concentration and pure pleasure. When he finally realized I was there, (I know I know, how could he not realize? Hello! Its MY bed) our eyes met and he...just kept right on a going for a few more minutes, then finally stopped and got off the bed and sauntered away like the macho male that he is. Dumb cat.

In other news, it has been A BEAUTIFUL weekend. It is actually warm and the groundhog was wrong. Last weekend was our first taste of spring and this weekend was even more so. Lucky for me, its not over, so I have been slowly working my way this weekend through my things to do and trying to enjoy being outside. I love how God times the seasons just right so that even when it is summer, you look forward to the crispness of fall and then after Christmas you look forward to snuggling in warm nights at home, but then the end of February comes around and you get that first smell of Spring and you do not know what you would ever do without it. Yum. I have my windows open right now and the apartment smells so fresh and clean (even though I have YET to clean it!).

Yesterday was spent reading and getting vision exams for our friend/neighbor who is an optometry student. Unfortunately for me, I found out I have crazy eyes but I like to think of them as "Supernatural". Apparently, I have fascinating ranges and I can make two of something when there is only one and vice versa. Her husband just said no, all it was was just failing the eye exam. Whatever. So then later that evening Bryan gave me the other half of my Valentine gift which was dinner atop a building in Portland that overlooks the city. It was romantic but we both felt out of place, so we did what we do best: make jokes about it. However, it was the server getting the last laugh as she handed us the bill. Oh well. One nice dinner every seven years is not so bad (our first nice dinner, and date, was Prom night at the Heathman (I think?)). But anyways, I was very greatful for his sweetness and it was a lot of fun, and something different to do. We just came home and made dessert and watched one of our Netflix movies because we decided we were done spending money after that! Today was spent catching up with Mom and Dad and following Bryan to Napa and Great Clips, and then I worked out as he is in the garage. And we went to church this morning, which was lovely. Tomorrow will be my routine doctor appointment and taxes! (I guess I should not refer to tomorrow as a "Day off" as I never have a day off to do nothing). Hmph.

And now on to Vegas. So, Bryan and I went last year and we had a long list of things to do and see in three blistering hot days. Naturally, Bryan said he never wishes to return again as it was very physically exhausting. However, we recieved the opportunity to go with one of my very good friends whose Dad owns a timeshare on the exact week we went last year. If all 8 people go, we will be spending half as much and staying twice as long. Not to mention, now that we "know the ropes" we can spend a little more time relaxing by four apparently awesome pools, and since we will drive to further cut the cost, we will have a car to visit places like Hoover Dam and some motor speedway. The only bummer is that we did only go last year and there are other places we have yet to visit (like sister Nicole's NEW house in Idaho) and Bryan only gets this paid weeklong vacay and the week in December each year. Bryan has also talked about going to New York City but is not disenchanted by that idea after visiting the city of Seatlle but I am not sure how you can compare the two. So anyways, we are excited for this opportunity (I say "we" because Bryan did approve on the premise that we will have more time to relax and an air-conditioned car to be mobile in) and we wish to also thank Mr. President Bush (a shout out to YOU!) for providing the financial means that will make this trip possible (that, and I can finally maybe get an IPod and a better digital camera).

My next big decision this week will be whether I should stay in first grade, which I am now familiar with, or basically start over in fifth grade next year, which would be a grateful reprieve from consistently tying shoes. Also this week, my 13-week long financial class starts which I am looking forward to even though it is a huge chunk of time but I am hoping it will be a good investment (no punn intended...ha ha).

Have a good week!

I have one more great friend...

So since I slept in today, I am not tired now when it is late, so I am writing my blog in hopes it will somehow tire me out so I can fall asleep and not be late to church for once tomorrow! Bryan is already sound asleep as he had a big day driving to and from Seattle, where he picked up a car from his sister to give to a friend and also to look at a Jeep with another friend. Its like he works 6 days a week. But anyways, so I had a nice day mostly by myself, cleaning the apartment which took forever because I did a thorough job and then running errands, where I picked up some cute shoes and a Vday gift from Fuz to his dad (since Bryan does not want me to get him anything). In case Bryan reads this I do not want to say what it is, but I look forward to posting it later as it is HILARIOUS. I also spent part of the gift card he gave me on more cardmaking items and I bought Fuz some real shampoo made especially for him( it is supposed to be calming). I bought some cute little gift bags and fillers for Valentines Day for my kids at the Dollar Tree, so my plans for tomorrow are to put those together and plan our party. I also look forward to making Vday cards for my family and friends. (It looks like I won't get around to putting pictures in albums, which is one resolution I have yet to touch.) So I am not really in support of Valentines Day, as every day should be a day of love and it makes people who don't have a "True love" feel depressed. I don't like it especially now because it costs me too much time and money. I have NO idea what to do for a party, but since I remember what a big deal it was as a kid, I feel it is my duty to make it a big deal for my kids. But I do look forward to making the cards and going out to dinner with my hubby...

So after my errands tonight I came home, set my stuff down, and went out to dinner with my new and good friend Brittany. She is the kindergarten teacher across the hall at school, and she and I have slowly formed a bond through the year. I had a lot of fun tonight just eating dinner and watching a movie at her apartment. It reminded me a lot of nights in college and we were laughing hysterically at various things, such as a crazy trip to multiple Jamba juice locations, only to find that no store would take the gift cards we had recieved from a family at school, because their "system was down" so we (or I) drank all the free samples to make up for it (don't worry...we still ordered some and paid for them). I feel really blessed to have a solid set of friends from various times in my life (Gillian starting in middle school through college, Liz from high school and then again after college, Melinda from OSU, a couple girls from UofP, and now Brittany from work). Sometimes I miss having a group of friends to hang out with altogether, as I did in college, though now our "group" has dissipated but I still think of them often. I am always excited to meet new people and form new friendships, but I always worry that I am not really that good of a friend, or I would still have all the friends I was once close with and miss. Then again, I have friends like Liz who I lost touch with and then when we reunited it was just like picking up where we left off, except we were both married and had real jobs. I was talking with my mother-in-law about this around the time of Bryan's sister's wedding, and she reassured me that it is normal for friends to come and go as we change through various stages of life, which totally makes sense. But I still haven't figured out why it bothers me so much. Sometimes I think friendships take more energy than marriage, but then again Bryan is my best friend and always will be. I already know that Brittany will be leaving our school at the end of the year and moving to the other side of Portland, but I am hoping she won't be just another good friend who I lose touch with.

Oh and I did decide to take that class, which is opposite of some of the advice I got. I just figure it will be better to say I took the class but wished I didn't rather than saying I did not take the class and wished I had. I can think of many other things I have spent $100 bucks or more on in the past that now seem like a worse investment. There was also no excuse not to, as Brittany is taking the class and her mom offered to help me pay for mine, but I am covered thanks to my own resources :-) (Thanks, by the way). I do love to learn and attend class, and I am excited that this also happens to be one of my resolutions. Speaking of class, my cardmaking class on Monday night was wonderful! I had so much fun and was introduced to so many cool techniques! I am really excited about this and hope my enthusiasm will outshine my frustration at my lack of craftiness!

This past week was also Spirit week, which I think I mentioned. My kids were CRAZY with excitement and it made the week go by fast. I was super tired last night! Only six more weeks of school until Spring Break and San Antonio! (I can hardly wait...Mom and Dad left today and will be home soon...I cannot wait to see all the pictures!). So now this week I just have to get through Valentine's Day, 100s day and Presidents day and we should be smooth sailing after that (except for Easter the week before Spring Break.)

And another anecdote to begin a new week: I sent a little boy (my little genius) to a regional Spelling Bee in Portland on Friday. He came to school in the morning and left at lunch. I asked him as he entered the room in the morning if he had practiced all his words, to which he laughed and said "Oh yeah- I got this on LOCK!" (Which is homie-G talk for he has it down). SO CUTE! I can't wait to hear how it goes. Im sure he kicked some eigth grader's bootie...

Spending money to save money?!?!

So maybe I complain about money a lot. But I worry about it a lot and I know I should not because in the year and a half that Bryan and I have been on our own, God has blessed us to where we have never had a major problem come up where we need lots of money (other than some relatively minor medical stuff) and we have always been able to pay our bills on time. Maybe I am particularily more worried about the debt we have accrued from mostly school loans, and the ridiculous amount of money we will need when we retire. And being in this pivotal point in the year right now, when I am sandwiched between paying for Christmas that I put on my credit card and paying for vacations we will soon be taking, I am hearing that nagging voice in my head more and more.

Nobody understands the term "You've got to spend money to make money" more than Bryan and I. Bryan spends a silly amount of his salary back onto tools he has to buy to keep his salary, and I routinely buy stuff for school year round. However, this question has been probing me today: Should I spend money to learn how to save money? It sounds ridiculous, but I have been offered a class that goes for 2 hours a week for 13 weeks, followed by the Christan principles of a well-known financial guru, and has gotten rave reviews for helping people get on track with their budget and prepare for the future. The catch? It costs $99. At a time when I have 0 dollars for discretionary funds, this will be difficult to pull off. What do you suggest? I have to decide by Friday.

And by the way, yesterday alone I got asked to go on 3 different weekend getaways that all cost $70 and up. And, Im still waiting for the stoplight ticket in the mail and we are also wondering when the management is going to find out about a particular illegal alien who has been inhabiting our apartment and shedding his fur everywhere.

Don't get me wrong: Im not upset because I don't have money. People who make six figures out there feel like they don't have any money. We always want more no matter how much we make (Its not how much we make, its how much we save) I guess we've just got to be smart and thankful for what we've got. I don't know...maybe I don't need to take that class after all?

Part II....Brandon fixed my camera so here are more pics! :-)

Goodbye 'Teggie, Hello Flo Rider

Yesterday Bryan got a new whip (a.k.a. new car). If you know him, this is not news. However, he has been rocking the same beast for almost two years (1st generation Acura Integra, pictured here). Since I knew Bryan before he ever had a license, I have gotten to know his cars and their subsequent duration in his name, and two years is a new record. So, yesterday he got a Honda CRX Car number 9, 10, 11...not sure cause we both have lost count). If you know Bryan, you will also know that we are a Honda family (Acura permitted because it is Honda...thus my future MDX or "Mommy mobile"). I will post pictures later tonight of the whole process, but basically Bryan gutted the Integra of EVERYTHING so that is was basically a shell. In the two years that he had it, he spent a lot of time working on the motor so its name was "Patience" for all the blood, sweat and tears he spent perfecting it into a race car (the car before that, a Civic, was named "Hope" after he attempted to make that a race car but it was a neverending lemon). Bryan took the Integra out to Portland International Raceway once he nearly got it to where he wanted it last summer and ran some pretty good times. He was also featured in a Honda Tuning magazine and is known as the only guy around here who put a something-something into this particular type of car. So after all this, he "traded up" for a car that will perform even better with this particular motor, of which I have no clue what it is called.( its a pretty built gsr motor with tons of type r goodies) Bryan is SUPER excited but I have been called a pessimist because I know he is going to miss the Integra like crazy. But oh well...I will keep you updated on the progress, as he has a timeline for two weeks to have it up and running (which means at least a month.) In the meantime, my Accord is now his and I am back to rocking Mom and Dad's '89 Camry, which has come in handy with its studded tires lately! :-) Right now Bryan is out getting another key made after he so cleverly slung his one and only up on the roof on top of the garage as he was outside on his phone bragging to all of his friends.

So this car deal is one of the many crazy things it feels like are happening in our lives right now. Work is crazy because I had my formal observation, which went really, really well, and we just finished another quarter. So last weekend I had to go in and work on report cards and this past week I began making follow-up phone calls, plus it is the start of a new month and I have to figure out how we are going to celebrate Valentine's Day and the 100th day of school (February 15) which I am not sure why but my kids are SOOOO excited about. On top of this, I had more issues with a mother I call my "problem mother". I thought working in a private school would eliminate this unnecessary stress but I guess the hovering helicopter parents can be anywhere. Another wise mom told me that teaching would be great if it were not for the parents, which I now totally agree with. At least I have 18 other really supportive parents who seem to know their boundaries. And this week is spirit week, which means I can put my boring selection of career clothes on hold and rock my pajamas, '80s garb and LCS spirit clothes! Woo hoo!

My next day off is February 18 and I already have plans: Doctor appointment, creating curtains and selecting plants to decorate our home with, looking for classes I will have to take to keep up my teaching license, and finding better dental insurance for Bryan (major stress). God definately has a sense of humor with the snow thing. Despite wanting to have a Snow day, the only snow that has fallen so far this winter has been on either a weekend day or on report card day, with one measly 2 hour delay on a day with kids. On the plus side, I have also not been sick this whole year except for a minor cold at the beginning of the school year. So, I have truly spent every possible minute with my first graders this year, which has been fun, but come on, who does not enjoy an unplanned day off? A day where you can put aside that list of things to do (which follows me everywhere from school to home) and just RELAX.

So, the snow fell down yesterday morning (a Saturday) and nearly ruined my day of fun planned with my good friend Liz, the one who introduced me and accompanied me on my maiden voyage to IKEA, the land of home designing and decorating goodness. My tip to anyone who has yet to go: do not attempt if you have not had a full night of restful sleep, do not go on a day when it is downpouring and you have to hike a mile from your car to the front door, and ESPECIALLY do not go on the heels of moving into a new apartment, after you have already bought items such as lamps at a rate you thought was decent and now you are broke (moving expenses+Christmas+Spring break airplane ticket= dont even want to think about it), only to find that you could have saved bucos bucks at IKEA. When we do move into a house, I will definately be back for a major overhaul of new furniture. Until then, I am content with buying candles and frames at a super discount rate. I spent $10 and got decos for my wall and a yummy smelling candle. So thanks Liz...it was a day of wonder.

The rest of the weekend was hauling two cars in Brad's truck, eating pizza and watching Mr. Woodcock, going to church, debating and ultimately deciding not to attend a Super Bowl party and instead cooking, cleaning and organizing some more. Fuz is still smelling delicious after his major bath last week, which was decided for him after he starting getting wet food stuck to his fur. This week I built a fort for him out of a drying rack and an afghan which he thoroughly enjoyed, though now I am doing laundry and had to use it to hang my shirts.

Bryan just came in with an early Valentine's gift...such a sweet guy! He got me a rolling Scrapbook carry case (about the size of a carry on) and cardmaking embellishments and a gift certificate to Joanne's to go buy more!!! How cute and attentive he is to my new hobby! Last weekend I went to Michaels and totally became overwhelmed with the variety and the cost of it all, but then I made two greeting cards this week and totally fell in love with making cards!! Now that I think about it, he HAS been asking me a lot of questions, such as when I was looking at a game at Fred Meyer that I wanted and when I was talking to Brad about IPods. He did a really, really good job at surprising me! (Thank you, baby!) He also made reservations for the Portland City Grill for Valentine's Day, which I am looking forward to except for that it is at the top of a skyscraper and I am deathly afraid of elevators...especially long rides! Anyways, he told me not to get him anything but I would feel like too much of a mooch. I don't remember previous years, but are girls expected to get stuff for guys? Hmmm....There is this one book at Barnes and Noble he enjoys...its all about funny pictures of cats with off the wall quotes. We were laughing hysterically at them the other night...hmmm....

Well, to my family and friends, have a great week! I will be attending a scrapbooking/cardmaking class tomorrow night, a baby shower on Tuesday, possibly a Bible study on Wednesday, and an open house for our school on Thursday. Next weekend will hopefully be rest (and making Valentine's day cards:-)) Have a great week!