Wake me up before you go go

Happy Tuesday! Again, I have neglected the blog for longer than I had planned but there are some valuable updates ahead! We have been in Utah a whole month! Can you believe it?!?! We can't! It has been really good to be back and we have really enjoyed spending time with family, going out with friends and just being back in Zion. Still no word on our house in AZ, our realtor said there has been a lot of action this week which is good and we are planning on raising the asking price (even better). I am uber excited to be back in AZ in April for the Pat Tillman run...warm weather and good friends.

We have had a busy couple of weeks. We are done painting the upstairs which means we are making the move to demo the basement. That is going to be when the REAL work sets in- we set a completion date of 7/4/2010...BBQ, family and friends over....should be manageable. This is the kitchen AFTER- still not quite all the way done but in comparison to the before...a MAJOR improvement.



















Mark is enjoying his job. It is still so weird to send him off every morning and I stay home to spend my days @ the aquarium or doing laundry. He is doing a good job and I am so glad that he likes it. Our new ward seems pretty cool. We are also super excited because we got conference tickets for the Sunday morning session. I haven't been to conference in 6 years so we are pretty excited.



Mc loved the aquarium! Consequently, she has learned what an "ish" does and we now have a good place to let her run on colder days. I couldn't believe the sting rays. They are flapping out of the water to let you touch them. It was awesome!
You can also see we have ventured to fancy hair. She doesn't leave it in very long (usually nap time consists of her yanking out her hair, her earrings and taking off her socks/pants/ all of the above). Still cute!

Cold and Colds

Another week down! Mark and I both were sick this week. Sad to say, I would much rather be sick in Utah than AZ. At least in Utah, you get a cold when it is COLD outside. It was an excuse to put on extra layers, make a crock pot of soup and snuggle up on the couch. I believe the last time I was sick was in August and it was 112 outside. We didn't get ANY painting done but we were both feeling crappy enough to read. We are reading the "Hunger Games"- Mark book one and I just finished book two. Can't wait for the third. I will say, being home has given me more of a chance to read. I have missed that. During naps, during laundry loads....it keeps the brain fresh :)

This picture has nothing to do with this post. I just really liked it. I think I need to read Harry Potter again.

Mullets and fancy things

Hello! It has been a while since I posted...well, not THAT long, but unlike the last two or three posts, this one will have pictures. I have before pictures but those will be appropriately placed with the "after" pictures that will be soon to follow. My house is still trashed so the "after" pictures, will undoubtedly, resemble a messy "before".

Things in Utah are getting better everyday. Yep, I said it. Better. Mark is really enjoying work. And for me, staying @ home, though different and low paced, isn't so horrible. I have made dinner every night this week including homemade Mac and Cheese. We had grilled cheese on Grandma Sycamore bread one night too (Jen, forgot how tasty those were!!). Mc and I have ventured to Tai Pan, Quilted Bear and tomorrow, we will be going to lunch with my grandparents. It is pretty fun to get to spend ALL day with her. She has learned to say "go", she counts "1,2,3" (probably has no clue what she is saying but still darn cute) and she also now says "no no" which we are especially grateful for.


Mark and I have been painting every night this week. I am very pleased with color and it will look really nice when it is done. There is still plenty to do and we are looking forward to the
finished product.







Here are some pictures that I would share for now. This is the beauty known as Mc's mullet. I just can't bring myself to cut it...look how blond and luscious. It does make for great piggy tails though.

This is a picture of the SWEET entry way ceiling light. Circa 1974. And here is the paint. To the left is the new...Sandstone by Eddie Bauer and to the right the white.

Happy Valentines Day My Love

I just wanted to let my love know how much she means to me on this Valentines Day. Let me explain why I love Tisha.

Tisha is cool! She has a coolness about her that is wonderful. She has her own opinions and things she likes no matter what anyone else thinks of them. People want her for a friend and want to hang out with us. I think my coolness factor has been increased 100 times by association.

Tisha is Beautiful! I will never forget how beautiful she was looking into my eyes across the alter when we were married and how bright her smile was the first time she said I Love You to me.

Tisha is funny! She always has a funny story to tell or a comment to give that makes me laugh. She has a very quick wit and can always throw in a jab here or there.

Tisha is smart. She always knows interesting facts about people or places. She has opinions on current events and knows and sees what is going on in the world around her. She has a college degree and a wealth of knowledge to share with our family

Tisha is thoughtful. She remembers what I like and takes interest in my hobbies. She remembers peoples birthdays and cares what is happening to my friends and family. She sends "Thank You" notes to people that have been kind to us.

Tisha is independent. She can hold her own in the world and can contribute in every way to our family. She does not need my approval for every thing in her life. I know if something happens to me she can take care of our family and she will be fine.

Tisha is my best friend. I love to hang out with her and talk to her and have fun and laugh with her. I never get sick of being around her.

Tisha is a great Mom! I am so happy that she will be able to spend more time with Mckinley. She has so much to teach her and I know she will make a great stay at home Mom. She gave me the cutest baby in the world

I am the luckiest man in the world to have found a wife who has everything I wanted in a companion who loves me as much as I love her. I look forward to many years of fun and experiences with you my love and I promise I will love you for eternity. You are a great wife and a great mom and I am blessed to have you in my life.

Mr Brightside

My friend Ashley had this on her blog, I had done it once before (different questions) but the best way to get out of a funk (I am convinced the word "funk" is never used enough) is to be reminded of things we love. My love, my life, Mr Mark Williamson.

1.Where did you meet? We met at Utah State. I actually saw him @ church looking pretty good in his blue church shirt and his manicured facial hair. I didn't like him all that much @ first but eventually, we fell in love.
2. How long did you date before you got married?9 months
3. How long have you been married? Almost 7 years!
4. What does he do that surprises you? Mark has a super power, really, he is inhumanly patient. He holds it together for all of us. He is also crafty and meticulous- two things any woman would kill for!
5. What is your favorite feature of his? His facial hair. Really. I love it.
6. What is your favorite quality of his? The Williamson in him- that encompasses hard work, diligence, perseverance and above all strength.
7. Does he have a nickname for you? Sweetie Peetie...no clue.
8. What is his favorite color?Black
9. What is his favorite food? Crab Legs of the king variety.
10. What is his favorite sport? Motorcycle racing.
11. When and where was your first kiss? My room @ USU in front of my roommate's tarantula.
12. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We love spending time together. We love to try new places to eat and go to concerts.
13. Do you have any children? Our baby Mac.
14. Does he have a hidden talent? That boy can sing!
15. How old is he? Just turned 31.
16. Who said I love you first? Me
17. What's his favorite music?90's classics ("that girl is poyyy-son")
18. What do you admire most about him?His silent confidence that allows him to say things no one else can say and still make you feel good.
19. Do you think he will read this? Probably eventually.
Love you sweetness. Happy Hearts Day!

Take me away, a great escape

This post is coming to you live from Utah! We made it. Now that last statement ended in a period rather than an exclamation point because both Mark and I have decided wholeheartedly that this seems like a rather long, rather horrible vacation that just isn't going to end. For starters, we think our new house hates us. We moved in to scratched counter tops, our thermostat broke the first night leaving a "warm" Utah welcome of 58 degrees in the morning (try getting out of bed, and your sockless toes touching the hardwood that hasn't felt heat for a day), my dresser took a plunge from the moving truck, Mckinley got sick the first day here, our dishwasher decided to leak into the basement and ruin ALL the drywall in the laundry room and to top it off, I washed my IPOD last night. We have been attempting to unpack and have found space a little more limited and that most everything has had to be moved and re-moved. Refer to the last post on what a day in hell would be like and then see above...I think this supersedes!
We are grateful for all our family and friends that have been more than willing to step in and assist. (thanks especially to all those that have seen me @ my finest WITCHY self and even got to see me have a meltdown...you know who you are).

I just put Mc down for a nap. Mark is @ Home Depot- our 2nd home for the next year and I am typing away in our "office" think concrete floors and a card table. We really took for granted how nice our home was in AZ. I know this house will be nice eventually too- you can see the potential amidst all the chaos.

I have lots of pictures to post but cannot find the USB for the camera presently. Stay tuned for those.

Happy 31 to my sweetie yesterday- sorry it wasn't the best birthday on record and for me, turning 28 today, just like any other day except I am living out of boxes, it is 11:00 and I still haven't showered and my feet are freezing. Sorry this post wasn't it's normal cheery self..back on track soon I can feel it!

Going the distance.

This post is going to be quite lengthy so settle in :) Here it is, Tuesday morning, 9:12. I woke up @ my usual early morning hour to begin packing the kitchen. Mark and I have decided if you go to hell for being a bad person, the three things you will be forced to suffer with for eternity will be:
1) Car shopping
2) House/Apt/Condo shopping
3) Packing/Moving/Unpacking

The kitchen is the worst. I hate the newspaper and the way it feels on your hands as you push it into glasses and bowls. It is almost as bad as nails on a chalkboard. We are almost there. Of course we didn't have enough boxes so Mark is off to get more and is making a D.I. run this morning as well.

Yesterday was my last day @ UOP. I had a wonderful "last supper" (only it was breakfast) with my team. They all made a page in a scrapbook for me (even the boys) and it will be something to always remember them by. There were tearful goodbyes but I know what we are doing is right. It felt so weird walking out of that building and driving home for the last time.

Last night was "The Bachelor". Horribly good TV, but alas, anyone in Utah that doesn't have anything else @ 9:00 on Monday night, come on over. You will be glad you did! Before we watched, Heidi had made me a sweet video of our lives in AZ. I had already been crying most of the day and that didn't help. She also had to put U2 songs in the background and that made it worse!! :) We really have been blessed with good friends. It just makes me sad I didn't make these connections 3 years ago. I guess that might have made it even harder to leave though.

I also wanted to throw in a little tidbit about the 1/2 marathon last Saturday. Heidi and I got there @ 6:45. Froze to death (Annette was wearing shorts and a t shirt but I am sure she was glad she didn't have to tie her jacket around her waist like me). And started the race @ 8:00 that we have been training for since July. I wanted to finish in 2 hours 30 min. and I finished in 2:31. It felt awesome! It was for a good cause too and @ every 1/2 mile mark there was a picture of little kids that had gone through chemo with no hair saying, "you think running is hard, try having cancer". It was so great to be outside, one last time in AZ running.

I fly out Thursday night and Mark will be driving into Utah town on Friday afternoon. I can't believe it is already here and that AZ is going to be a thing of the past in two days. I will post some pictures of the marathon later. Back to packing!