A-Wanderin' We Go

We went for a short walk with some friends recently. Our trips included the library and Arctic Circle for ice cream cones all around. Mason rode his bike, and with the huge hill that comes off the walking path to the sidewalk, it felt a little more like hiking; Ashlyn found some flowers to blow. I'm glad we weren't by our already-infested yard! And Claire talked to the friendly animals dangling from her car seat/stroller.

In the end, Mason was exhausted, and came home toting only about half of the 12 library books he selected. Heather got to snuggle with Claire (and was spit up on, thus being inducted into "the circle") for a while. Mom got out of the house for some fresh air and sunshine. Overall, I would say it was a hit.

The Monkey Goes to the Jungle

I've been so remiss in blogging lately, please forgive me. We took a trip to Jungle Jim's with some good friends of ours a couple of weeks ago. Mason had a really fun time. He especially loves to play with her son, Ethan. Not to mention, she is a total coupon/bargain shopper and I love that she always finds economical things for us to do, which is no small feat when we have four children between the two of us. Also, I'm still giggling that she got in the airplane ride with her youngest son; I'm not calling her short by any means, but I have been too tall to ride stuff like that for a long time and sometimes it makes me not a very fun mom!

Two Little Monkeys at the Zoo Again

One other bonus of the cooler weather (beyond what I've already mentioned loving about fall!) was another trip to the zoo. We are such regulars I'm considering getting us a membership for next year.

This was also our first experience with the new carousel. I wasn't aware that a supervising parent rode for free, so I purchased two tickets, which meant I had one extra ride to hold over Mason as a good-behavior reward. Or to lord over him as an incentive to be good, take your pick. The first time, he rode on a non-moving giraffe and I don't think he enjoyed that so much. But the second ride, on a tiger that went up and down, was a big hit. I'll post the video of him saying "Weee!" when I have a chance to make sure it won't make someone ill from all the motion.

It was a whole different experience being there in the afternoon. The crowd cleared out around 1500 hrs (3:00 pm for those of you who have not been overrun by a 24 hour clock), and the animals were more active for the most part (especially the adorable baby Spider monkey who hopped around like a kangaroo.) This guy, on the other hand, was all about the afternoon doze.

I also got in a most excellent workout lugging the wagon around again. This time, I put it on the scale designed to see if I was pulling two kids or a baby elephant. You can't read the numbers as well as I hoped, but I swear it's telling you I pulled 93 lbs. uphill and downhill and all through the town.

We got right on the carousel and the train without a wait, and as a reward for their wonderful manners, we let the kids each pick an overpriced toy out from the gift shop. Mason picked a semi-truck (I know, I was genuinely surprised too) that has given me the joy of re-hooking the trailer and cab back together at least a hundred times already in the last two days. Ashlyn picked a purple skunk that has overruled her life and her mom's life. I feel, by purchasing it for her, I have secured my place as her honorary aunt who gets to buy annoying toys. I think she wants a saxophone for Christmas.

My friend Becca

My friend Becca recently started her own blog, and I was so glad to have what might be a flow of information about her family. She has three little kids and we are so busy between the two of us that we don't talk as often as we might want. Unfortunately, we haven't chatted any more online than we do in real life!

Becca and I first met at some point in junior high school. I can't remember exactly when, but my earliest memory of knowing her was at another friend, Natalie's, birthday party when we were around 14 0r 15 years old. She had lived in my neighborhood previously and become friends with the girls I later became friends with. By the time I came around, she had already moved.

We spent the better part of at least one summer together when she invited me to her house for a whole week, just because. It was there I learned you could put blue food coloring in Top Ramen and it was still edible and how to make Muddy Buddies. It was through her, that on New Years Eve 1996-97 that I met my husband at a church dance. I was so embarrassed when she corrected the wrong phone number I had given him (on purpose).

Becca is the friend you never forget. We get silly and giggle together over nothing. We can spend hours talking about anything, whether it be our kids and husbands or some totally random subject. Plus, her mom has always been super nice to me, too. She is also the friend you lose touch with, find again, and you know exactly what you were missing.

My Friend Ashlee

In addition to Amber, I recently also sucked my friend Ashlee (with the help of her sister) into the blogosphere. Ha, ha!

So Ashlee and I have been friends for coming up on ten years. I forget exactly how long, but I do know I met her during my very first "real" job as a hostess for Bennett's Barbeque. It was a crappy job, but I was so excited to start at $8/hour, and I soon met a few people like Ashlee, all of whom were perfect friends for me because we are all completely crazy. Ashlee soon became the only one that really stuck, though. She is still the only person from there I've stayed in touch with.

Ashlee and I had a lot of fun at Bennett's, and usually left behind a trail of bewildered co-workers. I distinctly remember making a "server sandwich" during one pre-shift meeting. The General Manager was introducing the new folks to their trainers, and I don't think he was really thrilled about the fact that we were stacked three laps high in one chair. I think he was equally displeased with our totally sober bar dance at the company Christmas party, but we had lots of fun in both instances.

My favorite times with Ashlee when we still worked at Bennett's were when, no matter who was doing the late-night cash balancing, we would both be there. We would wait until both of us were finished working and hop (or skip, depending on our mood, quite possibly through rain puddles) across the parking lot to the Village Inn. We would get milkshakes and leave an obscenely huge tip for the poor guy who almost always seemed to end up waiting on us in all our obnoxiousness. We sprayed milkshake out our noses on Ashlee's friend's date one night and never saw him again after that. We made a bet that Ashlee couldn't drink the most awful concoction Alan and I, as well as her 'date', could come up with. She surely did it, I think because she has an older brother. I'm not sure I could list all the ingredients, but there was strawberry milkshake, pancake, syrup, mustard, ranch dressing, and probably at least six other things. It was so gross that I gagged right along with her. I hope it was worth the one gold dollar and assortment of change adding up to no more than $2.45. I think that was the same night we went 'booth climbing'. Don't ask, it only ended in minor injury.

Ashlee and I have stuck together through stalkers and jerky boyfriends (one of her exes STILL better be hoping he doesn't ever meet me in a dark alley), and have both ended up with a couple of great guys. Ashlee's husband has become our very good friend in his own right. We took a vacation with them last summer that was so much fun. We went wine tasting in Sonoma County, CA. Thanks to Brian and Ashlee in combination with Alan, I'm learning how to golf as a result of that trip.

Ashlee is an all-star basketball player, teacher, and coach. She has hinted (not very delicately) about getting Mason into basketball instead of hockey. If anyone could do it, it would be Ashlee. She has serious enthusiasm for that sport. Ashlee is also a major competitor at Trivial Pursuit of any kind. She's the kind of friend who can either cheer you up or make you forget serious problems for a while. She's the kind of friend I have always needed in my life, and I'm so grateful for her.

My friend Joey

I would be remiss if I did all these posts about my close friends and didn't mention Joey . I don't remember exactly how Joey and I became the friends that plan activities together all the time, except to say that we met through our scrapbooking group and mutual friends, Laura and Kristi.



Joey is an all-star mom and friend. If she likes you enough (and that is usually the case) she will do anything to help you out of a bind. Joey really stepped up and helped me out with Mason when my work was being poopy and I had to work full-time until Mason was six months old to keep my job (and Amber, who had been also fantastic, was too pregnant with her son to even help herself). She was there on short notice when Alan's schedule would change, and has also been there so I can have a sanity check in the form of a pedicure or a haircut. She also trusts me enough to let me return the favor by watching her own wonderful children. I have long thought if you trust someone with your children, you are trusting them with your life. I trust her that much, and I am so flattered that she trusts me the same way.



We also do many of our kid-friendly activities together. Our boys are about a year apart, but very much enjoy each other's company and many of the same things. They both love anything that moves (trucks and trains especially). We have killed many afternoons at the zoo, at the park, or at Farm Country/Thanksgiving Point. We share a love of Leatherby's ice cream, Coldstone, Kneaders, and Village Baker. She was also resposible for recently kick-starting my dormant addiction to $5 pizza and Crazy Bread.



Joey is super mom and you can always ask her for advice. With all the pharmaceutical experience in their household (and it was legal, I'm not trying to imply anything, but she and her husband both work in a pharmacy by trade), you can call her for any medication dose that recommends you call your doctor. Her son has had enough allergies, scrapes, bumps and bruises, that she can also recommend the best product for the job. She is always ready and more than willing to help in this way.



We trade recipes, favorite websites, children's book information, and (though mostly one way because Nate is older) clothes for our kids. We both understand workaholic dads, and those weeks where you almost feel like a single mom because you are home alone with the kid(s) for so long you can't remember what your husband looks like. I can call her for anything--to vent, to gloat, to worry, and to cry. She will listen and offer support, advice, and help in any combination necessary. There is nothing I can say that would thank her for everything over the last couple of years, but the best part of our friendship is I like to think I don't need to, because I'm always here for her in the same ways.

My Friend Laura

So my friends have been relatively fruitful when it comes to blogging. Most of us are stay at home moms in some capacity, and I think this is the only way we can manage to stay in touch with the outside world and something perhaps resembling sane. Right!

I recently found out my friend Laura has a blog. In order to make myself worthy of a link on her blog, I thought I would add a small post about her.

I met Laura just shy of my 21st birthday when I started working at the bank. I remember going in to interview and seeing the pretty girl in the corner who was so well-dressed and poised. The voice inside my head kind of snorted and said "Uh-huh. If those are the people they hire, you are never going to get this job." Which was a bad attitude, because I was pretty desperate for employment at the time.

So anyway, imagine my surprise when Laura and I became instant friends. She just seemed so cool I wasn't sure I could relate, but I soon found out I totally could. She put a sign up outside encouraging customers to honk for my 21st birthday, and spearheaded the outlandish decorating of my desk. We spent many a night after the bank lobby was closed sharing dessert from Chili's -- which I believe we still hold the world record in consumption with speed for eating (timed by our husbands at less than a minute from plate drop to licking the last bit of chocolate off) -- and making up words to the insanely bad Christmas Muzak. Just in case they post that stuff on their website, I'm not even making a link. That's how much I love anyone who reads my blog. It's. that. bad. Oh, the other thing we were doing is realizing that we could play six degrees of separation and, like, never find the same connection twice between us. We are eerily connected and it's so weird we didn't meet sooner.

Laura soon had hooked me into scrapbooking (I don't know if I've ever properly thanked her for this by the way) and inappropriately salacious conversations about boys. We had so much fun working together until the stupid bank transferred her to another branch. And then she trained me for her old job by phone because the stupid bank had no training program, or the personnel qualified to do it, in place. It was a good time.

Now, we are both moms instead of tellers, and the job demands are much different. It's not possible to get your training over the phone because, as has been pointed out to me, kids don't come with manuals (stop laughing, MOM. I know you're the one who told me they don't, and I still don't appreciate the chuckle in your voice when you said it ;) ). We don't get to Chili's for dessert any more because the chance to consume 2500 calories each in a sitting is not outweighed by the consequence of a toddler or two loose in public. But we still talk every now and again when we have a minute, and it's like no time has passed at all in many respects. She and her family support Alan and me every year by coming out to Guns N Hoses, and they politely ignore my swearing during the game (I'm trying to tone it down for the children's sake). Plus, she has some absolutely adorable children and a fun husband who tried to teach us the most confusing card game ever (but also let us play electronic darts once). What more do you need in a friend?

My Friend Amber

When I first started my blog, I did a little post to introduce my friend Nicol (even though she has an impressive blog of her own) and just say a little about what she means to me. As I'm finding more friends who blog, I feel inclined to share more about those friendships as well. I'm not always the most trusting person, and the people I have become friends with over time are the most important people to me. They have all contributed in very real ways to who I have become today.

So I introduce Amber as my friend. Amber and I met in high school and got to be friends quickly because neither of us typically fare well with other girls. Especially girls in high school, who can be so caddy and mean. We were both a little more laissez-faire than that. Our friendship really kicked into high gear after high school, though. We have managed to lean on each other through some pretty fun and interesting times.

I don't know exactly why I recalled this, but I distinctly remember one of my first doorbell ditching experiences with Amber and her sister, Jamie. We were so very bored, and I believe paper snakes or something of that nature were involved. While I don't remember the immature specifics, I do remember that it was a) harmless for the others involved, although I'm sure completely bewildering, and b) so fun we laughed until we were almost sick. Amber, do you remember this at all?

My other favorite Amber memory is a $50 bill. She and I were both waitresses during college (at different restaurants), and we had a $50 bill that made its way back and forth several times as a tip. I don't remember exactly what happened to it, but I'm pretty sure we spent it together when we both got out of the horrible profession that is food service. At least I hope we did.

Also, thanks for never making fun of me for that time I locked my keys in the car (while it was running, with the headlights on, and the windshield wipers going full speed) outside Spencer's house in the rain. You let me inside with a straight face, and I don't think I can ever repay you for that.

Amber is fun, sometimes crazy, happy even when she isn't, sarcastic, and a good friend. I'm so proud to say she is my friend and that we have stayed in touch through weddings (please let me know if you ever find those pictures. Jamie and I could get into trouble if they fell in the wrong hands.), moves, and children. I hope we will manage to keep in touch, however sporadically or via repeated phone taggings, for many years to come.

Creepy Crawly Boy Fun

We had the pleasure of having Nate over to our house to play. Since it was such a lovely (albeit warm) day outside, we spent most of our time in the front yard. We rode bikes, kicked balls, drew with sidewalk chalk, and drove trucks.

Mason's bright idea? "I want to climb a tree!"

Mom's luck out? There were potato bugs nearby. Mason has enjoyed my fascination with these things, but Nate wasn't so sure. In the end, though, we went on a digging expedition after my barely-accepted explanations for why potato bugs live in the dirt. I don't know if I'm ready to have a three year old yet because the questions that come with them are too smart!

Two Little Monkeys Go to the Zoo

We took advantage of the sunny, warmer weather yesterday by taking our first trip of the season to the zoo with Joey, Nate, and Alex. The big hit of the day was the playground, where Mason successfully made it up the rope climb for the first time. Otherwise, the zoo wasn't quite ready for the influx of people dying to get outdoors. Several of the monkeys were still inside for the winter, as were the zebras (which was a huge a disappointment). They are working on adding a large carousel, which will be open later this spring, and it's location means we also couldn't see the tortoises or kangaroos, much to the general dismay. For just $5000 or more, you too can sponsor an animal on the carousel complete with your name on a plaque at their feet. Let's get all these sponsored so we can have the kangaroos back!

Mason's favorite part of the day was monkey-watching. I think he was trying to come up with ideas to emulate later. The orangutans made a huge mess out of their cage with large paper bags (I'm sure they had tons of fun doing it), and that was what he later chose to report to dad about the outing ("Monkeys make a mess. Yeah, a big mess."). He was also fascinated with the spider monkey, which I'm sure is carryover in part from the spider he discovered on the kitchen floor the other day and eventually harrassed into a safe hiding place. He's all over anything including the term "spider" these days. Tacking on "monkey" just makes it all the more attention worthy.

In other news, I learned it's a pretty good workout to lug a toddler-loaded wagon up and down all the hills at the zoo. We're talking somewhere around the 65 lb. mark overall. Mad props to Joey who occasionally did stroller duty and assisted with the wagon-ing.

I also learned that I need to watch my language a little more closely in the car. This lesson was received about the time I had a toddler chanting "Dirtbag! Dirtbag!" in the backseat after a near miss with a non-looking lane-changing other vehicle.

I sure hope that other kid climbed off the bottom of the slide already. Otherwise, my feet are coming to get him.

Man, I have THAT much more to go?!

Come on Mase... let me help you. We can do this faster than we have been.

My Friend Nicol

So Nicol invited me to do something she did on her blog where I pick five things in my house and explain how they represent who I am. Boy is that going to take some thought! If anyone has any suggestions, let me know.

As I was looking at her page, I started thinking back a little bit. Nicol and I have been friends for a long, long time. We are probably only in touch thanks to her efforts at communication. It isn't that I don't want to stay friends with her, it's that she is SO good at keeping in touch while I am... just not.

It was at Nicol's house that I first locked my keys in my car while it was running. It was at Nicol's house that I learned how much antagonism an older brother was truly capable of. We navigated through years of glasses, braces, and awkwardness (especially where boys we concerned) together. I think we both turned out okay! And I *heart* the pictures of Olivia. I can't believe it's been that long since we went out to dinner, but she has just gotten so big and more beautiful!!!

In retrospect...

...we were previously more interesting than we are at this very moment. The picture posted to your right is from our first visit of the season to Farm Country at Thanksgiving Point. Mason really likes it down there, especially when we go with my friend Joey and her kids Nate and Alex. Mason is especially fond of the play area because there are little-kid sized buildings for him to climb in and out of. I wasn't so crazy about that plan when it involved jumping out the window. I just sighed and grabbed my camera.