It's true... I'm pregnant!

The rumors are true. Crystal and Kyle are pregnant. Well, mostly Crystal. I'm at week 12 and I've had morning sickness since week 6 (although I strongly recommend society modify that title to "all-day sickness").

Kyle and I told his parents last week by putting an "I'm a big brother" t-shirt on Spaz -- since he already IS a big brother to Sparkz -- and an "I'm going to be a big brother 2!" t-shirt on Sparkz. Bill's jaw-dropping face was priceless. Connie was focused on making dinner so she was the second one to see the shirts. Hugs all around.

So we then flew out to Portland to tell my mom and dad. My mom screamed and my dad just sat in shock. Hmmm. Three shocks and one scream. No one was expecting this news!

Kyle and I went off to tell our sisters. Ronda (my 22-year-old sister) cried, and so did Kara (Kyle's sister). She said she had to reapply her make-up before heading to work. We thought it was odd that our sisters cried but our parents had that deer-in-the-headlights look. To top it off, Angela (my 19-year-old sister) just looked at us like we were crazy until she realized that was probably a rude thing to do, so she congratulated us. Oh well. What can you expect from a girl focused on boys and college and more boys...?

We know everyone is excited, but I think they were all more in shock when we told them. See, we've positioned ourselves as being on the "5 year plan." But, our purpose in doing that was so if we decided to take 5 years before having kids no one would be disappointed. Then, if we decided to have kids before that 5 year span was over everyone would be happy.

I think Kyle is more excited than anyone, though. He bought "Mozart's top 100 songs" so he can place headphones on my little, what I call "pooch." How cute. Here are a few photos of the dogs' announcement t-shirts...

Oh yeah, our kitchen is about 95% complete at this point... but who cares about that now anyway? Kidding. You can kind of see where we're at in one of the t-shirt photos Kyle took. Yay kitchen almost done!

Stilts & Cabinets

Every day I come home something changes in our kitchen. One day, I came home to a circus - well, a man on stilts plastering drywall. The next day, our living room was full of wood. Pieced together wood. Cabinets...

Today, I was happily surprised with the cabinets suspended in mid air, placed in their new home. Yay. We are almost half-way done. (Don't worry, we're staining them a dark, dark brown to match our existing trim throughout the house -- don't lie, you were worried).

Then, we proceeded to look for and test MORE paint samples. We have finally nailed down two colors we like. You'll get to see our masterpiece hues when we're all done.

The last photo is just a random photo from the World Championship Softball games. Wimgo.com, one of my company's products, sponsored the tournament. These are the alien-ish girls who worked for us to help promote the website throughout the USA vs. Italy game. Yes, they look bizarre. Get used to it. Weird IS my life recently.

Kitchen Be Gone!

Ok, here are a few updated photos from the past week, where our contractor took out our crappy old cabinets, put up a wall to separate the laundry room from the kitchen and started to sheetrock everything. Then, you'll see our lovely paint sampling... Our house is mighty dusty at this point, and we've stayed off-site the past three nights to get away from it all. We are totally having a blast with this remodel, though, and can't wait to do it to more houses in the future!

Piece out sucky cabinets!


Hello two-by-fours


It's magic -- white walls appear out of nowhere!


Trying out paint colors. Disliked the puke green we thought would be, um, fun. So, back to Lowe's it is!

Days Like Today

Days like today are few and far between. Where we consciously realize we're in the midst of our lives. It's real. It's raw. It's life.

Days like today...

Started out wonderful.
Got bad news from doctor.
Not so wonderful.
Make appointment to see doctor again, under the knife.

Moved past the dark moment.
Wondering where it's headed.
Moments becomes stressful.
Loaded with papers, emails and phone calls.

Take a breath.
It will go fast.
Take it all in.
Because it could be my last.

Focus on lunch.
Food in helps the brain work.
Finish reading stuff.
Realize what still needs to be done.

Meet with people.
Laugh at a joke.
Make some decisions.
Sometimes I wish I smoked.

Take a breath.
It will go fast.
Take it all in.
Because it could be my last.

No time to go pee.
Makes my head hurt.
Move on to next to do.
I need my own cohort.

Day swoops to an end.
Where did it go?
To meetings, phone calls, emails and sort.

I think about the future.
To make sure I'm on the right path.
But who can say?
Only I can do the math.

Take a deep breath.
It will go fast.
Take it all in.
Because it might be my last.

Hearts & Hands.... & Tweets

I've never met a more inspirational person. His name is Ken Surritte and he and his wife started Hearts & Hands International (HHII) (http://heartsandhandsinternational.org/) as well as Water is Live (http://waterislife.com/).

We are currently counting down the days - 7 to go! - until we unveil Ken's Hearts & Hands new identity, brand and website, as well as with a few promotions to help spread the word (yes, including Twitter promotions).

HHII is a non-profit organization that travels around the world helping children at risk. The organization is desperately seeking individuals with any range of skills such as; electricians, plumbers, doctors, dentists, surgeons, nurses, general contractors, nursery attendants, people to teach English, and so much more.

HHIII also sells coffee to help save lives. If you already drink your daily cup of Joe then switch to Kenyan AA Blue Mountain Coffee. Proceeds from just one bag of coffee provide a Kenyan child the simple necessities we take for granted on a daily basis such as food, clean water, shelter, and clothing for one month.

Next, through WaterIsLife.com, Ken created a live-saving filtration straw, allowing those with poor water sources to drink clean water. WaterIsLife.com wishes to touch children, one by one, to save their lives from waterborne disease and work with partners to provide a sustainable long term water solution.

The straw Ken created is incredible. This straw actually filters any type of water for those who do not have the ability to drink clean water. Think dirty stream water with cows, feces...etc. These straws are a temporary solution, however, until his team can come back to these impoverished villages with enough manpower and finances to drill a water well- bringing fresh water to the village for the rest of it's existence.

These two organizations have inspired so many people to get up off their behinds and help those less fortunate. Please follow along as Ken, his wife and countless volunteers travel the world, continue to revolutionize solutions, bring hope to those who have none, and save lives.

All Hail Dave Ramsey

Not really...

Let me start out by saying that I like Dave Ramsey. He genuinely cares about America, our economy and the overall financial security of our nation's citizens.

I wasn't able to make it to the live, nationwide Dave Ramsey Town Hall for Hope webcast tonight. However, I was still able to get the same advice I would have received if I had gone, watched or logged on.

Yes, my friends, I found a secret. A secret that may blow your mind. Everything Dave Ramsey spoke about, other than his personal opinions, have secretly been stored in my head this whole time!

Why didn't I think of that? Oh, wait. I have! I just chose to ignore it. That particularly annoying sidebar of thoughts we call Common Sense is truly a magical human wonder. Just think. If I had listened in church, if I had payed attention in my finance classes, if I just didn't sign up for that shamanistic credit card once I was accepted into college - I would never be in the position I'm in: In debt!

This all reminds me of a book I read only 2.5 pages into: "He's Just Not That Into You." WOW. Chicks needed a book to tell them when a guy is ignoring them? How amusing.

Here's the funny part. When we all choose to ignore our CS detector we tend to value the advice and admire those who chose to obey theirs! We got ourselves in this crummy situation. Stop trying to blame other people. If you just worked hard, spent less than you made and didn't gorge yourself on super-sized McDonald's fries, no one would be committing suicide, or killing their families over money.

How much more clear should it have been for you when you first started really spending money and ignoring your brain? Don't tell me you didn't get that pit in your stomach when you signed the papers for a mortgage clearly over your head and ignored the red flags. Red flags like your salary barely covering the cost of your home, bills, motorcycle, baby formula, cool flat screen (on credit might I add)...etc.

The sooner people stop pointing fingers, take responsibility and own up to their own stupidity, the sooner the people who DO simply follow their CS detector can stop making money for telling us what we already know.

It was so sad to see Dave Ramsey as one of the most searched topics this evening on Twitter. The best part is that he doesn't follow anyone! Nope, not one person. He also has yet to post at the date of this blog's publishing. Does Dave really care about how he's affecting your life? Does he care about the other "free" tools online that could help you become financially secure? Or, just his book and DVD series? Just something to think about.

I actually admire Dave. He's one of the most honest guys in public speaking, he's a disciple of the Lord and he isn't ashamed to be fearless in a world full of incapable people. He saw a weakness 95% of our citizens and took advantage of the most obvious opportunity. Telling people how to listen to themselves. Miraculous.

Weekends are like Bowling with Beer

Weekends are like a really bad game of bowling because you drank beer. Just like any other game involving alcohol like pool, darts and cards, bowling gets worse the more you drink. 1st to 2nd beer: You get really excited at first because you knock down some pins and it looks like you're going to score a 280, maybe even a 300. 3rd to 4th beer: You bright ball gets acquainted with the gutter and you can't keep a spare streak. 5th-6th beer: You better have a ride home because screw even trying to hit the pins, you're just trying to not crush your toe, let go of the ball on your backswing or bowl in your neighbors lane.

Basically, this is how I view weekends.

I never cease to amaze myself with my time idiocy. Leading up to the weekend I always make a mental list of what I'd like to accomplish come Saturday. Considering my weekdays never allow time for the usual laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc., I leave those to my "boo" weekend to-do list and include other "fun" activities I need to do to keep my sanity during the work week. This is my first level of excitement (my 1-2 beers).

Saturday morning rituals include Kyle and I enjoying breakfast out at some rinky-dink diner, unless we have other plans. If all else fails and we can't decide on a random new place, IHOP or Beverly's Pancake House it is. By the time we arrive home, clean the house, pay bills, get some work done, catch up on emails, do laundry and so forth, it's 6pm before I get to what I longed to do on the weekend in the first place. My usual weekend excitement quickly diminishes once I look at the clock on my stove. (3 to 4 beer level of reality setting in). It's like I went to work today and just got home! NOOOOO!! Time for dinner, more emails, more painful loads of laundry and so on.

No more reading the new book(s) I bought, now collecting dust next to my nightstand; No more heading out to the lake to rollerblade, bike or run (something different than my usual yoga routine); No more joyrides looking at new real estate (a pricy hobby of mine). My night is fast approaching so I better take a shower (yes, if you see me on a Saturday afternoon I'm usually not fresh, sorry to disappoint).

If you were wondering what we spend our Sunday's doing, it's no surprise there. Work, work and more work. Sometimes, if it's a "really good weekend," we'll catch an early afternoon movie. (Here's the 5-6 beer step in the process because I just realized I have to get up and my workweek starts all over again).

This is why I think weekend excitement parallels that of beer drinking games. First, excitement of the never-ending weekend awaits you. Then, reality sets in and down you go as your weekend starts slipping away. Finally, you're waisted, mentally and physically because the weekend was supposed to refresh you, not kick your ass.

Oh well. Life goes on...

This analogy probably only makes sense to me, and that's okay. I'm cool with that.

Taxes are our friends

Hello April 15! Tax Day. Ooohhh, that icky feeling just crept back in my stomach just thinking about how Uncle Sam is shaking his head at me right now...

My day started out fairly calm until noon when I quickly tried to log in to my TurboTax account online in the hopes of filing a last minute extension. Before I really get into this (for those who filed back in January- I admit my life seems a bit backward. I freak about deadlines at work, but procrastinate with the government. Something's not right with my head, I already know this, thanks).

Back to TurboTax.com. I failed to remember my username, password, email account assigned to the site and then couldn't, for the life of me, remember the name of my first pet, car, favorite color, where I was born and all other security questions. My childhood must have NEVER happened. So, my account locked up. Fail #1.

Then, I Googled "tax extension." H+R Block popped up. I signed up for a 7pm appointment at a temporary taxing office 5 blocks from my house. Amazed at the convenience of online appointment-setting on a day like today. Email Kyle with the time/location...etc.

Kyle picks me up after work (that's another story in itself- the whole "car" situation). Go get dinner at Panera, otherwise we'll be 45 minutes early to H+R Block and I'm starving. Forget to pick up tax paperwork at home before heading to our appointment (fail #2).

Sit in nice little temporary H+R Block office and wait.... Twitter. Text. Play "Pocket God" iPhone app game, stare in amazement at the 90-yr-old receptionist who looks like she's going to keel over at any moment. Tax advisor greets us with glee- no, not really. But he's nice. Sits us down and by the end of our conversation he tells me that 1) I no longer exist in the IRS eyes because after getting married my label is now "Spouse," 2) Kyle has until 2011 to file his delinquent 2007 tax return and 3) We can still make it to the post office downtown and postmark our extension!

Kyle and I rush home, spend a good hour trying to figure out how much we would like to "estimate" owing the government (call H+R Block to confirm we didn't listen the first time on how to fill out the form- (fail #3)). Finish the file, grab a stamp and run out the door. Thinking we can wing-it by hitting up the Fed-Ex near our home didn't cut it (they can't postmark your envelopes at 9:30pm at night) (fail #4).

Alas, we hurry downtown and throw it in the mail. YIPPEE - we make the deadline. We cross our fingers the whole way home hoping the box of receipts stacked to the ceiling in our bedroom will make up for anything we DO owe the government. (We're convinced this is the future fail #5).

Then, realized I could have actually filed immediately at H+R Block if I had skipped a growling stomach steering me to Panera and swung by the house to pick up our paperwork. (Major fail #6).

I need to stop talking about taxes, now, or I'll be sick.

This photo depicts how I feel after recapturing the essence of tax-time. Yes, this is a photo I actually took and will explain later.

Been a while

So, it's been a while since my last post. I apologize. In fact, I've probably lost all my followers as a result. For that, I need to apologize to myself, I guess.

We are still at the "finally took down the walls" phase in our home remodel excursion. However, we've managed to maintain our composure despite the absence of "real" furniture, a kitchen we can cook in and the office (instead of bedroom) that we sleep in.

As we approach one full year in this lovely home, Kyle and I have discussed our plan moving forward.... Which is- "Just get it done already!"

Our remodel continued to be postponed because we were too busy. Literally. Kyle works full-time on our EIGHTDAY Studio business (www.eightdaystudio.com if you haven't already checked us out); Work, school and working on the sidelines for our company with Kyle has been keeping me busy. Now, after our first year anniversary, maybe we can start focus on finishing it rather than ignoring it.

First year anniversary, you say? Ah yes. That was a delight. Kyle surprised me by taking me back to the Skirvin Hotel (where we had our 2nd wedding reception). We stayed in another honeymoon suite, at chocolate covered strawberries, watched "Marley and Me," drank champagne, meandered over to Red Prime Steakhouse for dinner and laid in bed forever. It was delightful. But, now back to work...

So, the picture in this post has absolutely NOTHING to do with our remodel but is a reminder for me of how lucky I am to have married my best friend.

Hopefully next time, you'll see something happening on our home. But, I can't promise anything until my contractor calls me back!