Hehe Woops....

All this talk of blogs and I completely forget I even made one... LOL >sigh<

So, over a year later, lets see if i can nut-shell it :)

Iowa State cut the program I was going into, go figure, with the economy squirming its way to the drain. So instead of spending what could possibly be years in as a labeled undecided, I took a break from it. Yes, again. But, looking at the bright side, I think I may have found my niche. :D A friend of mine works at a radio station and he got me into voice overs and such for their commercials. So, guess who's goin back to college just as soon its possible? Muahaha that's right, yours truely! :D Journalism; Broadcast Radio. Actually its called something else, but that just sonds so much cooler.

Brookie is ... holy shmoly ... gonna be 3 in August. She's spending some quality time with Nana and Papi (my parents) in Colorado, and I'm spending some quality time rearranging her room, cleaning my house, sprawling on my bed, writing my book, and lots of uninterrupted WoW time (guilty pleasure, ... I never denied my nerd-dom) and LOTS of spare time to miss her horribly :(. But she's having a blast, went to the North Pole, parks galore, a FENCED backyard to run like a crazy lil bug if she wants to, so I guess this will just become somewhat of a annual thing lol.

So with the ... rediscovered blog that I forgot I had, perhaps I'll get a little better with updating it :)

Muahahaha, off to fight me some dragons and search the darkness of the Lornai...

P.S. ... thats not WoW :P

Flashes of Moments... in a jar... ?

Ok, wow. I actually forgot I had this blog! lol.

But, this is the perfect day to update it. I'm stuck at home today with whatever mutation of the flu bug someone was kind enough to share with me. No Physical Anthropology today. No Russian today, just pillows and quilts. I'm alright with that today. :)

As for the updates.. where to begin.

Well, the Brookinator is 17 months next month. Which means... NURSERY FOR BROOKIE! (You can't see it, but I'm dancin the happy dance!!!) She looks like her daddy (as you can see) but everything is her mom. I know, right? Look out, here she comes!

Ha!

Overall we spent 2 and half years in California. Which, if you ask me, is 2 and a half years too long. California is overrated, over populated... and not enough people speak english. So as soon as Rodney got his current job, I went straight to the computer and looked at every single place he could possibly transfer to. Ball is HUGE. If he wanted to, (he's not convinced ... yet...) he could transfer to Europe. Which, if you know me even a little, I would LOVE, but to each his own.

To make a long story short, we decided that it was about time one of us got back into school. Jobs are scarce for those with no education. So, we researched every town in the U.S. that he could transfer to. Affordability, Good School, Small town. And that's how we landed in Ames, Iowa. Which I would have to say, though I am a bit partial, ROCKS. Except for the cold. Well, even that's bearable compared to the 114 degree weather of the desert. I, for one, love the snow. Brookie loves it! (much more than I thought she would.) and Rodney seems to like it too. And just for anyone who's curious, Iowa State University is a really great school. (I made the Dean's List... seriously!)

Since there are things, a great many things, that we want to do with our lives, music unfortunately is going to have to take a back seat. Unless my talents exceed that of Liberace, with they certainly do NOT, or Pavarotti, which once again, they do NOT, then taking a degree in Piano Performance is just not practical. (Holy cow, since when have I EVER thought practical, right?) So instead, I get to go where not a lot of people have gone... or will go... before. Linguistics and Russian. What do they do, you ask, the best thing I can say to that, wikipedia it. lol That conversation can go on and on and on and on.

Anywho, I'm working on writing a book, or maybe a series of books. It really depends on how the first one turns out :) I was able to get a new program to help me keep all my notes together AND organized. Which for me, is a genius invention. SO, with any luck and a good editor and publisher, you'll see my books on a shelf near you!! SWEET!! lol.

So, with that small update, maybe, JUST maybe, I can remember to keep posting this time around! ;)

Until then,

Adrienne & Rodney & the Brookinator

Ugh. I Hate Being Sick!!!

Is that not the most peaceful kiddo you've ever seen??

Ya know... there was once a time that seems SO far away where I never got sick. EVER! I don't think I missed more than 3 days of school my whole life. So much for that. :( And now, Theraflu and Nyquil and Vicks Vapors are my best friends. YUCK!!!

I haven't been able to get Brookie's Christmas Pics taken yet. She had shots yesterday and was NOT a happy camper. So I figured she could use the rest. This time wasn't really too bad though. She wailed when they gave her the shot for about 10 minutes, and then was fine. But, her Grandma here had to watch her while I ran to the grocery store and without mommy or daddy she was miserable! My poor little Brookie!

I finally figured out what to get my parents for Christmas! YAY!!! Took me long enough. But its really something they can use. My mom's cool. AND I think I've gotten all of Rodney's gifts figured out, all I have to do is buy them while he's at work and get 'em wrapped and under the tree.




So anyway... I better get goin. I have to go down to Orange County...some hour and a half away... to look at a new vehicle. We don't fit in our truck any more. :( I love my truck!! Maybe we can get a bigger one, or at least a small SUV. One could hope.

Anywho, Talk laters!

;) Me

Goodness gracious! Its been an Eternity since I was able to write last! It almost feels like I have to teach myself to get on the computer all over again! I've been so caught up in this holiday craziness I've nearly lost track of time!

I would have to admit the holidays aren't quite the same being away from snow and Colorado. >>sigh<<>

Its starting to get chilly here. I still have no need for a jacket yet, and the everyone in the house thinks I'm nuts! But what can I say? I was born & raised in my snowy Colorado. They were raised in sunny California! Oh well.

I'm so proud of myself! I only have three people left to buy for! WOO HOO!! AND I'm only making two gifts by hand this year. (and I'm drowning in those!) lol. I did most of our shopping online this year. So everyone SHOULD get their gifts on time. No promises, but I certainly did my darnedest! I still need to take Brookie's Christmas Picture! AGH!! I'll have to do that tomorrow while Rod's off so we can get those printed and sent out!

I'm so behind on our first ever Christmas letter.I thought it would be so much more personable. So much for thinking! The stationary is still in its packaging!

We were a little late getting Christams decorations up this year. Finding the time was difficult. Four of the seven vehicles here are undriveable. So of course, since I work from home, priority was given to those who work outside. No biggie. Gave me time to "visualize" where everything would go. lol. But its finally all up. We couldn't use my tree as its broken. Its actually a little heartbreaking! That tree's been up every year since I can remember. I don't remember having any other tree! Oh well. Gives me a chance to buy a new one!

On to Brookie!!!

She's such a little ham, isn't she!! (She SOOO takes after me!) This month has been quite a milestone for her! She holds on her her rattle and shakes it... she's even coordinated enough to switch hands without much concentration! Woo!

She used to hate tummy time. She just couldn't get the hang of using her arms to push herself up. Now, however... is a WHOLE new parade! She pushes herself up and checks everything out... giggles, and then tries to roll herself over. (Which she has almost mastered.)

I've never been too enthused about teaching Brookie sign language... which I guess is the "new" thing. But we certainly have our own little language! When she's hungry, her cry is this... "uhnnnnngeeee!" When she wants her daddy, she goes "ooh ooh ooh ooh!" And when she wants to go to sleep she just wails at the top of her lungs. lol. Give her a binkie and she's out in less than a minute. She just hates to lay flat when she's awake. She prefers to stand to sitting and for whatever reason, she thinks that whistling is the funniest thing in the world. That and duck sounds. Weird kid LOVES the song "Kansas City" from Oklahoma. I was singing it the other day and she just listened. When I stopped, she cried. When I sang any other song, she cried. So I sang that song for twenty minutes. Kept her happy, so who can argue with Rogers and Hammerstein?

Speaking of music... I've been playing a lot of piano for church. No choral stuff, just instrumental stuff. Feels good to be playing for an audience again. Even being my own worst critic, it does feel rather good. It wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. Phew!!

Anywho, I better get to running or I'll never get anything done today!!

Until Laters!!

;) Adrienne

Icky Baby Shots

This morning, once again... we had one VERY happy baby!! She was trying so hard to laugh it was adorable. And then as parents we had to be evil.. :( Brookie had to have her 2 month shots today. Heart breaking!! She's just lying there looking around with a big smile on her face and then... poke. Followed by a look of "what's going on?!?" and then the most heart breaking wail you've ever heard! She was okay as soon as she was being held. Boy was she mad at daddy though... (daddy had to hold her arms down...) wouldn't let him hold her for a while. She was fine until she woke up from her afternoon nap. She was miserable for a while.

But, tonight she was happy again while we were watching numbers. Smiles were back and all! Yay for smiles!

We are now all packed and ready to go for our vacation! All we have to do is go! WOO HOO!! So, at least until the November 13th... I shall sign off. Have a Happy Haloween, be safe!!

Until Then...
;) Me

We had HBS all day today!!! (Happy Baby Syndrome) Took Brookie all around today, and let me tell everyone and their animals... she LOVED every minute of it! She didn't really attempt to giggle today, but the smiles were everywhere! Her Grandma Lundeen bought her a pumpkin costume today for Haloween. Total Cutieness. She's such a Ham anyway, now she has a reason to be! (Oh boy... am I in trouble now!) She has her own little fan club wherever so goes. Now she even has a fan club at the WalMart. She's a people magnet. Big time. Can't take this kiddo anywhere! Lol.

I decided today was a good day to get Grandma W. out of the house today. Took her to Big Bear. I got to listen to 50 miles worth of "Its pretty up here, but I would never live here. Its too closed in." And "It's too dirty to live up here."

Seriously? Too dirty? As opposed to the dirt heap of a desert we live in? Really? >Sigh<>

I understand Alzheimer's, really I do. But, Patience is a virtue. My attention span is too short for Patience.

Anywho... back to kiddo!! She is SO spoiled already!!! I tried to put her to be HOURS ago! I swear I laid there in bed with her forever trying to get her to sleep, but NOTHING would work. I tried rocking her, singing to her, gave her a binkie, gave her warm milk... everything. But she would wake up everytime she was just about out. Changed her diaper, tried letting her bore herself to sleep. Nothing. I turned the lights off, and BAM. Out in TEN minutes. I should have tried that first! Lol. So I'm still not quite packed. Got all of her clothes and stuff packed... just need to get mine together. And BOY do I have a full day ahead of me tomorrow!

Rodney's fever finally broke today. He feel so much better. He called during his break and he's laughing again, he sounds like he actually has energy. Its amazing!! lol. Of course that energy volunteered me to bake 5 dozen cookies for tomorrow night. lol. Not that I mind. It'll give me good practice. I'm selling gift baskets filled with baked goodies during the holiday season. (Thank you, Mrs. Fields for your inspiration!) Gotta make "dough" some how! Bada Tsh! lol... ah I crack myself up!!

So... lets see. Tomorrow I have to go to Babies R Us to get that security device taken off of Brookie's Christmas outfit... I have to take my jeans BACK to Walmart so I can get the right size, (I really need to stop looking at the hangers for the sizes...) Get packed and ready to go... bake cookies or make fudge, I haven't decided which yet... and all before 3:30 tomorrow afternoon. WOO!! I Love busy days. They go by quicker. The quicker the next few days go... the sooner I get to go on VACATION!!! YAY!!

Anyhow... I need to go to bed while my little Brookie is asleep. Lucky Me!! YAY SLEEP!!!

Until Tomorrow...

;) ME

Ah, the Beginning!

And to start off what I hope to be a very successful blog... (keep your fingers crossed) I will open by saying... I'm going on vacation. Lol. SO... I will be here and available for blogging purposes for this week only for a whole MONTH! I leave for a very relaxing month back home in Colorado this upcoming Saturday. And I would have to say that I am TERRIFIED that I won't want to come back!!!

Mom has started the countdown. Ok, really. Who am I kidding? She (and I) started the countdown a whole month ago. Six days left. Although I would have to give the obsessive award to my mom... she even has the hours! ( ;) Love Ya!)

This past month has been a little hectic. At least with my husband's family. (Just a side note to those who DON'T know, I live with my in-laws at the moment. So we're right in the middle of the chaos.) (and... my hubby has a gi-humongous family, so if you can't keep track of all the siblings, don't feel bad. I can't either.) Lets see... one brother is having a physical health issue, another a mental health issue, one sister is pregnant, another is dramatic, and the list goes on. I will try to find a way to "discretely" blog about them without offending any of them, but there are so many, who knows who we can keep happy? One may be offended if I talk about them, while another will feel neglected if I don't. And who knows who will be what! Oy. I'm making my own head hurt.

On to other ... not so migrain inducing topics. ;)

I'm am the QUEEN of unfinished projects. I have a book that I have been dying to write. The story, which I would have to say I am partial in saying is rather good, is giving me issues getting it down on paper. Maybe it has more to do with my head and the millions of things going on in there... and procrastination. That, at the moment, is my main priority. Especially now that I have my little Brookie to help me with my inspiration. She's an amazing little assistant with my book... being 7 weeks old. Lol.

My little Brookie discovered her feet this week. Lol. She has inherited her daddy's feet, which are rather HUGE! She just stared hard at them with her eyes SO wide... then.... she moved them. And scared herself and jumped. Arms flying out and everything. She did it again, and scared herself again... making herself cry. "Mommy!! My Monstrous feet are sooooo scary!!!" So Adorable!

Anywho.. gotta run, my little kiddo is rather hungry and all of China is aware of every detail by now!

Until Tomorrow... we hope!
;) Me