My Saturday Project

Gutters! I just decided that I was sick of my flowerbeds being eaten up by the rain/water that comes from the gutters. Well after climbing up on the ladder to take a look I can see why now. They were so full. I just had to take a picture to remind myself to never let them get this way again. Naturally Markus said he would clean them, but I decided I didn't want to wait anymore. I mean my poor flowerbeds were suffering from the laziness. Who knows when the last time was they were cleaned out. We certainly haven't done it since we bought the house in September.

It's Official! I have an announcement...

Pottery Barn is coming and soon.  I actually saw it in the mall.  They aren't going in the Boulevard.  It will be right at the main entrance to the mall though.  They even had a we're hiring advertisement.  I'm soooo... tempted.  Maybe for Christmas.  My boss would kill me if she knew I wanted to get a second job.  Hey maybe I'd get a raise (now that's just wishful thinking).   Of course I wouldn't work there for the money.  I would work there to go broke of course.  Just want everyone to know it's coming summer of 2008.  So the first official day of summer is June 20th.  I hope it's open by then.  Oh and the Williams-Sonoma across the way from PB is like the biggest thing I have ever seen.  Whoa.  And did I mention how excited I was?!?

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

He would have been 60 today.  Big 60.  That would be a fun party.  I love this man.  He was always the light of the party.  This picture was taken in 2003, the last time we went to  New Orleans (I didn't even have a digital camera then).  He'd always request to visit his grandma's house and this time he insisted on taking this picture.  He would have a story to tell every street we went down in the Quarter.  His mind was amazing when it came to telling stories.  As his health failed him, his memory did too.  But his stories live on forever as I remember his Birthday.  May 27.  My favorite number 27.

I remember his laugh and how loud it was and how often he laughed at the dumbest things.  I remember his sneeze and how much of an impact it made when you heard it and how you would get annoyed to hear it.  I remember his snore and how funny it was (especially as a child).  I remember his hair and how soft it was and how I wished mine were like his.  I remember his poor taste in clothes and how he'd put the funniest things together.  I remember his silly jokes like, "you can call me jay or you can call me ray, but don't call me late for dinner".  Like how funny can that really be??  I remember the pink shirt he loved to wear and only when it wasn't cool anymore.  I remember he always had a camera in his hand and that camera is now in my hands.  I remember, I remember.... I mean gosh I could go on for hours.  That is not what this is about.

But I miss him and I am happy he will know my babies before I do.  I guess I couldn't ask for anything more.  Happy Birthday Daddy.  I would be the first to call you today if I could.

A Day of Memorial

You ask anyone who was in the military and they could probably talk your head off for hours about their service.  They have all witnessed death firsthand.  That is one thing most of us probably haven't and won't in our lifetime.  On this day as I get ready to go to work (Boo) I'm just grateful that I even have a job, but more importantly that I live in a country that people are willing to fight and even die for it.  Not that that is what they planned to do when they entered the service.  I'm proud of this land that I live in and just want to remember the families who are suffering and missing the loss of a loved one who gave up their life for this great country we live in.  More and more as the days go on, I'm truly blessed to be an American and what a great land we live in.

IN YOUR FACE

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord blesses a couple with a child.  It's such a beautiful thing.  Something I wanted (and still do) for so long.  As a matter of fact, that is all I would talk about, especially if I would see a baby in sight.  I think it started when I was working at Gap.  I worked on the Gap Kids/Baby Gap side for years.  I loved every minute of it.  I wanted a child and wasn't even married.  Oh and when I got married... Well I just knew it would come and quickly.  I secretly hoped that anyway.  

Almost 3 years later Markus and I don't have any children.  That is shocking to a lot of LDS couples/people.  I can't even begin to count how often we are asked that ALL the time.  It's almost like that is the only thing people talk about when you get married and don't start on a family right away.  As written in a previous blog, I have come to grips and peace with the reality of not having kids or any on the way.  I'm happy with what I have now... a husband and a wonderful marriage.  Who could ask for more??

I'm reminded of the reality of no kids, none in my belly or on the way anytime soon by one person, well 2 persons in my life.  They are a couple.  Happy I think.  At least you would think so.  She has 2 kids, stays at home with the kids.  He has a job it pays pretty well and they get along ok.  They feel the need to constantly throw this in my face.  Things like... you don't have kids so you wouldn't understand, or you think you're busy, try having 2 kids, I could go on.  These comments used to all be pointed towards me because that was all I truly wanted, until they realized (I guess) that I'm quite happy with my life right now KIDLESS (if that's even a word).  Then they started on Markus.  I just don't get it.  I told Markus the other day that it was bothering me.   It just doesn't stop.  I can't imagine them purposely wanting to hurt us.  I guess I just wanted to get confirmation from Markus that I wasn't being hyper-sensitive.  I tend to get that way when it comes to children.  I can get REALLY defensive.  But with good reason... I want kids!  I mean I could have a few right now if that was how it was supposed to be.  DUH!  Markus agreed with me.  He had noticed it more too from them, but why?  

Well I guess I'll never know.   But for now, I will just sit back and take it, which isn't like me at all.  I just haven't gotten made enough to explode yet.  I guess when I have twins then I can throw in their face that they just don't understand.  I don't know about the twins thing, they just tend to run in my family and don't skip generations.  My family thinks I'll be the one to have the twins.  Yikes!  We shall see.

The Shreveport Weekend Matchup

Well Markus had to play quite the guessing game when putting his team on the court and didn't do so well the first day we were there (Fri) and they lost both matches.  They had to win at least 3 courts per match (if that makes sense) and it just wasn't happening.  Saturday was a little better, but not much.  Nonetheless, I'm still very proud that him and his team got to the

State Tournament.  

We really had fun.  It was so nice to get away from the office.  Pete's friend Rocky took the whole team out in his RV to Bossier City, Louisiana Boardwalk to eat on the river.  Let me tell you that place is gorgeous and I really want to go back.  It's not really somewhere you would go have a vaca or something, but it's beautiful and I wish we had one in BR.  Oh well.  Silly me didn't bring the camera so I of course have no pics to show if off.

I did get some cool shots of Markus playing tennis that I will share.  He is so cute.  I'm glad he's not a professional tennis player, because he seems to be playing in a tournament just about every month.  

Markus and his killer serve.  The look on his face cracks me up.  He ended up losing this game and had 8 deuces.  

Markus was playing doubles here.  He made a great shot.

Just about to serve.  I was peaking through the fence on this match.

Another serve.

Shreveport Here we come...

It's almost here.  The tournament Markus has been looking forward to, the State Tennis Tournament in Shreveport, La.  We leave tomorrow and frankly I'm so happy to finally take a "vacation" day from work.  Who better to be with than my wonderful husband and his parents.  Markus has been working so hard for this and has hit a few bumps during this Spring League, but he made it.  He has been having shoulder trouble lately and started to demo a couple rackets to see which one he likes.  He found one that actually relieved his shoulder pain.  I know right??  As far as I was concerned if it meant him not being in pain and belly-aching I was desperate to do it.  So we got him 2 new tennis rackets that so far he still loves after almost 1 week with them.  I can't wait to see how the tournament goes.

A few pics of the last tourney he played in.  My MIL finally sent us some pictures... yes that's right somehow I managed to leave my camera at home.  How could I?

The Highland Open

Here is Markus and his partner who won it all for the Men's Doubles 3.0