Let the democratic process begin...

Since it's been a slow week on the blog, I'm posting my decorating dilemma. I've been wrestling over which baby bedding to make or buy for several weeks now. What I really want just doesn't exist, so I'm compromising... I'd like to do a space - rocket - alien theme, but incorporate a chocolate brown as well. I know, I'm difficult. No cute novelty fabrics to be found. With either set, I will probably have some artwork painted that matches, and paint the walls a light blue, and have light blue crib sheets. Here are the top two choices: the first is called "spa", the second is "zen". Vote as you will, but please justify your motivations behind the vote.

Sign of the Times

I was at the Walmart and as I was returning to my truck, I could not help but notice the white minivan parked next to me. I saw a few rainbow flag stickers (which isn't a rarity), but then I noticed one of those family stickers that some people apply to the back of their cars' window.

Here is what I saw...

The prettiest blossoms in our yard

A Minor Distraction.

Sometimes Addie gets distracted when we try to take her picture. Here she was looking at the camera, but became more intrigued by the words being typed.

Hey, Len! Where you been?

I got a nice post card from an old friend the other day. Len Tuckwillow is doing well up on the Oregon coast where he goes out each day, collects some sand-sanded pieces of driftwood and makes them into small baskets. They are actually available from a number of catalogs--and we seem to get a lot of them. I am thinking of making a catalog basket and sending it to Len. If you are interested, leave me out of it. Please.

Valentine's Day Secrets

So I decided that it would be fun to take Nathan (not big nathan) along with me to go and get Robyn a Valentine... Tuesday morning, I asked Nathan to come with me to get her gift. We set out for See's Candies in downtown Scottsdale, and I explained that we were going to the "chocolate store" to get her a box of chocolates. Nathan was great, even though the store was both packed and understaffed, undermining my hopes of getting in and out quickly. We ultimately selected the perfect heart-shaped box of chocolates for Robyn, ate some free samples, and even bought a bag of chocolate gold coins (treasure) that Nathan had spent the entire time in the store hiding and finding in the hood of his rain jacket.

On the way home, I emphasized how important it would be to keep the gift a secret because we would not give her the chocolates until the morning of Valentine's Day. Nathan agreed and promised not to tell mom about the present. Here is the discussion that took place later that afternoon:

Robyn (to the boys): Let's all go to the store and get Daddy a Valentine's Day Gift!

Nathan: Are we going to the chocolate store?

Volvo be gone!

We sadly, but happily announce the sale of the old Volvo. It was time. It took a week or so and we are fans of Craig's List as a way to unload all kinds of stuff. No more nifty turning radius, no more wondering if it will run another few miles. No more insurance! Hey, this is not all that bad after all.

Go in peace. To Tucson with you! Go!

I guess I will save this for another day....

The Donald shares his secrets

I received four of these in the mail yesterday so I officially have 8, count 'em, 8 passes to this conference. Early bird gets the chance to learn The Donald's secrets. If that's not enough of a lure, they're giving you a free lunch and a free book if mine eyes don't deceive me. If it wasn't on a Wednesday, I'd go just to meet George.

Location: Pointe South Mountain Resort, Phoenix - 7777 S. Pointe Parkway

Date: Wednesday, March 7

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This was also my test on our new color scanner. Now I can post scans instead of blurry pictures taken by my cell phone.

Slaying the Dragon

Good thing our little knight Nathan has slain that dragon - he looks pretty scary! Seriously, such a cute idea and treasure map!

Click HERE...believe me.

Everyone loves a chocolate festival.

This weekend is the Glendale Chocolate Affaire. It's just one more reason to be a fan of SRP, who presents and sponsors it. Has anyone been to it? It sounds really fun.

I'd like to see this "largest chocolate Valentine's heart" they're going to have. Plus "Families with children will enjoy a myriad of activities, including hands-on arts and crafts, face-painting and a rock-climbing wall. Horse-drawn carriage rides will be available throughout the weekend to take couples or families on a scenic, charming ride through the historic Catlin Court district."

More info can be found here. I'll be there with chocolate bells on.

It's a Boy!!!

Baby Names

Shellie, I found a great site with the meaning of names....you should consider some for the little Joshua's middle name.

P.S. Don't the blog colors change tonight at midnight?

Woot off

Not that I want to draw more attention to it, but there is a woot off today on woot.com Good luck!

More Free Stuff

I have two tickets to the FBR Open today if anyone could use them - they're VIP passes and come with complimentary food & drink.

The absolute worst!

I was touched by the Ding-Dong story referred to in Aubrey's blog and my mind wandered back to the 1950's when Grandpa had an entire barrell of these

awful little morsels in his store. I tried to like these things but they are about as nasty as a candy as ever crossed the Little Colorado River and into our town. The memory still haunts me. Years later, we took the kids to SLC and took a tour of Brigham Young's home and they offered horehound drops to the tourists as a "treat from the past." I put on my game face and slipped one into my mouth. The taste had not improved in over 40 years. I ran outside and spit it into a place where about a hundred tourists had just spit theirs. NOBODY likes them. Why make them? It seems to be a good waste of stuff if they still produced. They would, however, be good as "trick candy". Hey, it worked on me. By the way, we still have the barrell!

Jesterz Freebie

For those of you who haven't seen the Jesterz, they're a comedy troupe at Theater 168, an improv/comedy club owned by an LDS couple, located at Scottsdale Rd. & McDowell. It's a really fun, clean comedy show and if any of you can attend, there is a free student showcase this Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

This is the info that was in the email they sent me:

Student Showcase
Thursday - January 25 - 7:30
Student Showcase - Improv 201 - advanced students in the jester'z "Performance Prep" class, are putting on a showcase and we need an audience. This is the 1st of 4 showcases that this class will perform in over the next 12 weeks.
Come enjoy 60 minutes of hilarity with the up & comers of Theater 168. No reservations are necessary. We begin seating at 7:20. Theater 168 is located at 7117 E. McDowell Rd. Scottsdale 85257
Admission for ALL ages: FREE

Look what I found...

and yes...Little Nathan is sleeping in the closet.

Marshmallow Gun Montage

**The author of this post is Nick, and not Robyn**

I can't take credit for the title of this post. Shellie brilliantly coined the phrase while sending me these pictures. I am a little disturbed by these seemingly harmless toys. If we are supplying our children with these sugary confection propellants at age four, then what values are we reinforcing? And just exactly what are the li'l Nathan's next descending steps into the dark abyss?

Age 6 - potato launcher
Age 8 - BB gun
Age 12 - .22 rifle (after competing firearm safety training, of course)
Age 14 - 30-30 rifle
Age 15 - The severed, stuffed head of Bambi's father mounted on Cam & Robyn's living room wall!
Age 16 - Card carrying member of the NRA!
Age 17 - Seen milling aimlessly wearing camouflage at the AZ fair grounds! (aka the Veterans Memorial Coliseum and The Madhouse on McDowell)!


What disturbs me even are the examples set by his parents and least favourite uncle (big Nathan). They cavalierly brandished the guns on Christmas morning and did not exercise any restraint in shooting unsuspecting onlookers. I myself was struck in the face - the cheek, which I calmly turned as to expose the other, if they desired it for a target! I suggest we "Change the Play", as recommended by Pope Benedict XVI. If we don't, then we shall reap what we sow! Watch out for that first step, it's a slippery slope!