Did He or Didn't He?

I find myself concerned about all the Tiger drama of late. Now don't get me wrong. If the guy did in fact stick his club in someone else's bag, he should be penalized (more than 2-strokes), disqualified, kicked in his personal Titleist's by my MMA coach (he kicks really-really hard) and castrated. Sorry folks, I couldn't find a golf analogy for cutting ones.................OK I'll stop.

However, I have neither seen nor heard a specific confession from the guy. Well, he said he has not been true to his values and some other unspecific things like that, but he hasn't admitted to getting his head-covers confused (that one was a little bad). When you are Tiger and choose to keep quiet, then you are guilty until proven innocent in our good ol' media world. And, these women that are stepping forward claiming affairs, really seem awfully trashy and have some sordid affairs in their history as well. Maybe if they work really hard on our all too-willing media friends they can get themselves that nice little paycheck from Tiger's next win. Yes, there will be several, I am sure.

As for Elin bashing in the car window, maybe she was trying to help him, maybe she was suffering from PPD and wanted to kill him and he was running for his life (we women can get pretty crazy due to hormones), or maybe she was actually trying to kill him for hitting to the wrong green. Either way, I hope her swing was a awesome as his.

As for my thoughts, I hope they can figure this all out without bowing to the craziness of the guilty media verdict. If he is guilty, he will receive his reward, if he is innocent, or maybe not quite as guilty as we think, I hope the family will prevail. It is far too precious to let others make that choice for us. Hopefully, no matter the truth, a lesson has been hard learned and maybe we will all look for a better lie on our own fairway.

Singing About My Cookin'

Cole's role in all of this is to finish the song! It's even his favorite going to bed jingle.

Family

"Fish On"

We left the house at o'dark-thirty and drove to the Coast to go on our friend Stephens boat for a day of Tuna fishing. Any of you that know me, know that I am scared to death of fish, the worst being the tiny live-bait fish you actually pay good money for before putting out into the big-wide ocean. They creep me out, all wriggly in the net, then you look in the holding tank and there are millions of them circling-waiting to jump out on me. I did survive this part, but no, I never baited my own line or touched any of the little demons. That's what I bring the men for.

So, barely past o'dark-thirty we headed out, over the Columbia River Bar, to sea, where we did find Tuna. They are so beautiful when they swim by the boat with their deep-blue sparkle and strong tail flashing. Now, about that beautiful-strong tail, it creates a problem, especially when you have to be as strong as the 3-6'3"+ guys on the boat. Those suckers can swim, fast and hard. After reeling in the first 2, you practically cry when you feel the tug on your line and hear the line whizzing out of the measly pole in your arms, and are forced to yell, "fish on!" Then you start the fight. Pull, reel, pull, reel, pull reel, getting close, I see it, yell "got color" then the beautiful sparkly thing you worked so hard to see, gets a second wind and dives while you watch helplessly as line goes out making that, now annoying, whizzing sound. Pull, reel, pull, reel, pull, reel. My arms hurt and my stomach is bruised from wedging the pole into it because I don't have big strong biceps like the sweaty burly men beside me. No way will I complain, or ask for a belt though, must "man up" and I do.

Sometimes it really gets fun, when you all have "fish on" and the fish decide to mess with us human types. They start swimming circles around each other, causing me and sweaty-bloody-burly men to do some form of a square dance with poles and invisible fishing line trying not to tangle up. Like I said, this was fun! I am sure if the Tuna didn't have some hook stuck in its throat it would have a great laugh at us do-si-do-ing.

34 times we did this, and for those of you who don't know, that's a great day of fishing. OK, I personally didn't reel in all 34, I am probably responsible for 8ish, but today I feel all 34. If anyone ever needs a really good lower back and bicep workout, get a guide and go out. I highly recommend it. For all the pain, there is nothing like the rush, when you hear a line start whizzing, then another and suddenly you're there in a school of Tuna for a couple of hours near tears, covered in blood and wanting more.

If You're Wondering Why We Love the Lake

That is Austin impersonating Superman and my hubby whirling him into Neverland. And yes, I video'd it.

A Boating We Will Go

We put a boom on our boat creating a ton of fun for the kids. The best part was Isabel water-skiing off it. As long as the water is warm she'll play with us, but the slightest hint of cold air or water and she's out. That little body just doesn't hold any heat in. Taylor struggled getting up on the ski's and learned it's just as much fun to get drug around in the water. Then there is Cole. He loves it all and exhausts us all. The best part is watching him watch Austin wakeboard. He jumps and stands in the same position mimicking his every move. Maybe next weekend we'll see if he can hold onto the boom and ride the kneeboard a bit.

Just Can't Do It

So much fun stuff lately and fun pic's to go along with it all. Want to share, but I am so tired, it's just not happening....yet. Sorry g'mas and friends, I'll do it, I promise!

These Are Not the Parents I Grew-Up With

I am having family association issues!

Who are these people?

I do recognize my uncle on the left, who, by the way, always told me I reminded him of Farrah Fawcett. Thanks Kelly, you always gave me a good ego boost. The couple on the right claim to be my folks, strange......

The Boy

Not too sure about the nakey bum on my blog, but it's too cute to pass up on. Cole is, like his dad, obsessed with waterskiing and boats. We have to drag him everywhere around the house holding onto the rope and boat seen below. Actually that's not true, the rope mysteriously got lost recently. Ooops! He "reads" the boat magazine all the time, while enjoying a nice cold......milk. At the lake he finally got brave with Cousin Au-T and went swimming and we had to strip him after because he couldn't walk with his swollen diaper on. Thus, the nakey water-ski pics. I'm taking bets on who will actually ski first in our family, and my money is on the two-year-old.

You must hold the rope and the boat and the boat must be facing the right way! It was fun the first 100 times.

The best part was watching his little cheeks shiver with the cold air!

Super Seven

The tiny thing that made me whole turned 7 on Friday. She fit perfect then and even more so now. Isabel has this gift of being able to cuddle into you and conform her body to melt into yours. HOWEVER, she is becoming a typical girl. Distracted by anything shiny, talking non-stop, telling stories with no point that last forever. It's awesome and completely exhausting all at the same time. Sister Taylor has been at g'mas for a week and we've never realized how much they play together. Come back, Taylor! Happy 7th Isabel, Love You!

A freak thunderstorm hit the night before Isabel's birthday and with the standard issue hyperness came a whole different wave of crazy. I think the static from the storm went directly to her brain. We thought we would have to sedate her to get her to sleep that night.

Happy Birthday Taylor

Wow!

She made it to 5!

Yes, there was a question at times with that little mood swing of hers. Ironically enough, she is turning out to be the easy child. Taylor is a smart and highly organized little girl. She is developing a love of reading. It's going to be tough getting the girls to bed once they both have their heads buried in a book. I am so excited for Taylor and all the wonderful things she is going to learn this year in kindergarten.

Some pics to show you all how beautiful she is.

Christmas in.......April?

Cole's 2nd Birthday

Two now and all the wonders that go with it!

What I Learned Today

I learned not to try and shake my ass like the amazing Latin gals teaching Zumba. It's just not possible! It was the great Caucasian equalizer in class today. I've taken the class a few times from fellow women, not so beautifully tan, and was still not up to snuff, but with a little practice, and fewer pounds I actually think I could hang with them. Today, NO! For those who know me, you probably know that there was a day (long ago, far away) when I could have at least held my head high, instead of today's keep your head down and drink from your water bottle the whole way out the door so, hopefully, no ones knows it was my uncoordinated-no-shaking-jiggly-not-in-a-good-way-rythymless buttocks out there. Thank goodness the room is packed with other women just like me. I think half-way through we all stopped and just admired what we were supposed to look like. However, I must admit, it was very fun, much better than some treadmill, and I will return. Maybe I need new shoes, they both had fun and sassy colorful shoes on. That's it! Must shop, then shake!

Brawny Should Make a Commercial About That

I am pretty confident in my mom-hood. I think I have good intuition, decent patience, and can almost always come up with an answer to a question (they aren't savvy enough to know when mom is conning them). When it's hungry, you feed it, when it needs cuddles, you cuddle it, when it throws-up you clean it up (then wash your hands), when it poops you change it, or wipe it, if you have a daughter that sits on the potty gagging because she is too grossed-out to do it herself, Lucky Me. However............When it poops in the bathtub, I'm stumped! I'll admit it, I sat there staring at the, we'll, call it Baby Ruth for Caddyshack fans, posing these questions. Do you?

A. Drain the water hoping it dissolves and mostly goes down the drain? No, what if it plugs the drain, then you've got bigger problems

B. Fish it out with some sort of wooden/plastic spoon? Admittedly, I just came up with this idea

C. Grab at it with toilet paper? No, given that it is designed to fall apart in water

D. Ignore it until your husband, who is less likely to gag, comes home and make him do it? Tempting, but very gross

So, I went with a revised version of C and used Paper Towels, hey, it's the quicker-picker-upper, but then I was faced with the dilemma of not being able to flush it down the toilet because Paper Towels are very likely (especially lots of them wrapped around a Baby Ruth) to plug the toilet. Then I would be faced with involving the above mentioned husband since we don't own a plunger. Only a snake will do for the contractor types. Instead I made a drippy mad-dash to the outside garbage.

After thinking this through, I have decided that the correct answer is B. We have a throw-up bowl and now we'll have a poop spoon too!

A Good Start

My new favorite day, OK morning, is Monday. It's the day Ryan, not too gently, kicks me out of bed to go for a run.

Most of you know I do not like to run in the A.M., in fact I generally lay in bed all night stewing about having to get up and run. So, what makes this so great? I get to go at 7 o'clock, not o-dark-thirty. And it's not even the run that is good, although today was spectacular. It started snowing these huge snowflakes and I could literally see that no two snowflakes are the same. Plus, you're actually more awesome (not an English major) when you run in the elements, because that makes you a little more crazy to be out there and people drive by you and think "what a stud." I know this because I drive by, associate with and am basically surrounded by crazy runner types.

Anyway, why Mondays are no longer Manic. Ryan gets the kids ready for school, which translates to, wait for it, I don't have to get the kids ready for school. I KNOW! You hear the angels singing too. I generally get home in time to put Isabel on the bus, and the feeling is euphoric for me. Because, you know how crazy it can get, even on the smooth days, there is still a bit of morning anxiety. But, to show up, kiss and love my kids and send them on their merry way, without the drama, it's good for my soul and hopefully, good for theirs too.

Thanks Ryan!

Going in Circles

Since I was boycotting the gym this week (see "I Love Food") I got my exercise pushing Cole around on the Dora bike, in the garage, in circles. FUN! But it was all worth it, cuz I got to look down on his little pig sausage toes (shoes optional) and there is just nothing more precious than baby feet. He did finally figure out how to manipulate the Big Wheel, but it still wasn't as much fun as mom pushing the big bike.

Different Smiles, Different Styles

How much longer do you think they will be able to share a room?

I Love Food!

Ironically, as I sit and write, I am waiting for Biggest Loser to get far enough along that I can fast-forward through commercials. Who's the loser now?!? Back to my title, I love food! Right now my relationship with my lover is solid and gaining (pun intended) ground. I'm actually content to see how fat I can get. Yes mom, I said the f-word. Tonight's affair was full of rationalization, enjoy this............Ry is gone, which gives me the perfect excuse not to cook, so we went to Pizzacato. Why would I choose overpriced food for me and my kids when I'm just as happy to suck down a five-dollar pizza as a twenty-dollar one? (here is the rationalization part) It was Alberta Rider night and proceeds went to my daughters school. What to do? What to do? If you listen to Oprah (again my mother's jaw drops, she likes O, and I really can't stomach her) you'll learn that eating is a symptom of something else. Will someone please diagnose me!!!!!!! Ms. Oprah has me convinced I have some rare form of food-craving disease cuz I feel great, yes mentally and physically. Maybe my disease stems from my car, I love to eat (OK stuff my face) and drive. I think there also may be something to my Diet Coke consumption, but seriously????? I come from a long line of alcoholics and I've got to be allowed one little weakness, don't I? Oh well, I think I've wasted enough time for Biggest Loser......let's see, chips and salsa, or diet coke and cookie?

Thanks Grandma

Grandma Kathy made the girls new jammies and Coles are on the way, but he doesn't really care what he wears, just run and be happy. The girls jammies touch the floor and apparently "aren't long enough because they don't drag behind me!" according to Miss Isabel. Oh missy!

A Very Dear Woman

Sioux Lehner, a very dear woman, died this week. Sioux was so full of fire, the type of person that made you feel good just to be around her. She called her dance company "Fired Up" and the theme song was "Keep That Fire Burning" which radiated her love of dance and the girls she taught. The upbeat, toe-tapping song always makes me teary only because I think it says it all about life and the struggles we face. Somehow, I know Sioux's fire will burn again. Her life force was too strong to be forever snuffed out!

Thank you, Sioux! Thank you for all the love you showed my daughter, you will always be fondly remembered.

Family Home Evening featuring Kid Rock

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