I think I'll go to Boston

Since Mark started working for his sister, we knew he would be venturing to Boston with his company for a conference at the end of July. I was bummed and jokingly, said I would love to go (wishful thinking). A few weekends ago, Mark worked late and let me know he had something up his sleeve. For those that know me, I don't do well with surprises. I kept nagging and nagging and eventually (maybe for a week) forgot about it. Well, I started asking again earlier this week and Mark's response was "I'll tell you" and when I asked again he said "Yeah, I said I would tell you but not when I would tell you". So the frustration grew- finally Mark asks "give me your best guess of what you think it is". My best guess- I was thinking a one nighter at his sister's condo or maybe even someone hired to paint the basement. So the deal went down like this- my incessant nagging would end if I could get Mc to say "tell me". This being no easy task, every time I would say "tell daddy 'tell me'" she would lean in and give us each a smooch (obviously confused). After a few minutes, the golden words poured from my toddlers mouth "tell me" and the secret was about to be revealed. Mark then tells me...WE ARE GOING TO BOSTON! He had booked my flights, hotel and had asked my mom months ago to babysit. I am beyond excited. Not only is this the first vaca we have taken for more than a night without Mc but we are going to be in Boston people!!! That is seriously off the hook cool! I leave in 11 days to spend 5 more days cruising the streets of Bean Town! Can't wait! And yep, to brag a little more, I have the best husband of all time! This seriously takes the cake!

One of these things is not like the other

What a great LONG weekend! We have had excellent weather in Utah and that has made it really nice to be outside. We have been swimming, done some yard work and overall, just enjoyed being with family. It still baffles me that we are already in July!

To get all you peeps up to speed- here are the haps with the Williamsons:

1) We sold our house in Mesa! Yep- it only took nine months but it is sold! I assume the new people have moved in and from what I am told they are expecting a baby which always makes buying a new house that much more fun. I remember bringing Mc home from the hospital to that house....that seems like a whole other life ago. It was a bittersweet day- glad the stressful part is over but sad that now, that chapter of our life is really closed for good.

2) Our basement is almost complete! We need paint, carpet and hardwood and we are done! I can't wait!

3) Jamba Juice- Orange Dream Machine....seriously. I have a problem. I can't not have one! They are delicious and since I am trying to cut out "sweets" (cakes, dunford donuts, cookies, candy, cupcakes- basically everything that is worth living for), the Jamba Juice is a substitute. If you haven't had one, I recommend NOT. It will call for you in the middle of the night. Promise.

4) Grocery lists- this is how it goes @ our house(hence the title of the blog). As you can see, Mark wanted to remind me that we were out of toilet paper.

5) Mckinley is IN LOVE with all things Toy Story. We recently added Buzz and Woody ("wooh ee") to our house and Mc is infatuated. I think over the last month, I have probably seen Toy Story 1 and 2, about 1,000 times. I am convinced that Disney is like crack for children. They know exactly what kids want...and not even just "WANT", I mean, they HAVE to have it and ask for it ALL day long. (see above referenced Jamba Juice, same thing).


Not much else really to report. Work is going well for both Mark and I. We are truly blessed and are eternally grateful for the happiness in our lives.

You can learn a lot of things from the flowers

Nothing beats walking out the front door and tripping over a ProFlowers box. I love you, Mark!

Chalk it up to a great weekend!

This was a very eventful weekend! Friday night, my sweet little sis Britty, was nice enough to come and spend the night so Mark and I could go out on the town. We headed to the Gateway to the Chalk Festival first. It was awesome! We walked down the promenade that started with younger artists and as you went further in, the older more experienced artists took over. There were some truly amazing pieces of art that you almost forgot it was chalk and almost had to be sad because the first rainstorm will wash the beauty away. We then ate some delicious calamari and pad Thai @ Typhoon and did some shopping. Since we had a sitter, we thought we would try to catch a movie. We hit the Jordan Commons and saw "A-Team". Never watched the TV series so it wasn't as thrilling for me as those who did watch but still, entertaining. We also had a celebrity siting- Thurl Bailey (for those of you who don't know, think retired Jazz player).

One of my favorite chalk pieces- Audrey Hepburn.

Saturday morning I headed out early for a run (the mornings in Utah are cool and breezy which I have missed) and then I hit some yard sales. I scored another metal chair for my porch for $5 and the antique apple red color is awesome! My cousin Sunni had her MS Charity Boutique this weekend- family, Mormon handicraft and charity. Great times. Came home, all three of us took naps and then we headed to my parents house to celebrate Father's Day. Played some Bocci ball, ate life sized marshmallows and reminded my dad, "if he acted his age, he would die".

Tonight we went to G and Chris's for the Williamson Father's Day. We have so many nieces that are out of school for the summer and still @ the point in adolescence where you wish you could change places with them for a day- no work, sleeping in until noon, already sun tan from being outside all day and just "carefree" (although they don't think so).

Always a good to be back in the same state as family and able to share in the day with our dads who have taught us so much and who we love! Happy Dad's Day!

I think I'll go for a walk outside now, the summer sun's callin my name

FINALLY! We have hit summer weather! Quite ironic that I am wishing for warmer weather as right now in our lovely Mesa town, all you poor peeps are sweating it out in the 100's. I am not asking for anything crazy, just like 80's so Mc could go without socks and a jacket in June!

This past weekend we headed down with our BFF's the Blackhurts for a little mini-vacation to St. George. We had a great time. Saturday we headed to this crazy red rock formation where you could shimmy all the way up to the top. Seeing as how one member of our party was with child (NOT ME!!!!), one was claustrophobic (also not me), one is a little bustier than others (me on this one) and we had two small kids, we were content looking @ the "hieroglyphics" and taking pictures. We then headed to a place I remember quite fondly as a kid...the good old Fiesta Fun! We didn't think we would have as much fun with a toddler but Mc rode the bumper boats like a champ, "raced" the kiddie karts and played in the bounce house with her friend Kate. Mark and I also got a chance to race the go-karts. We had a tasty lunch @ Brick Oven and then headed to a Dinosaur museum. It was actually pretty interesting- discovered by mistake and full of dinosaur tracks. We had dinner, hit the outlets and played some fiercely competitive Uno. All in all a great trip with great friends.

Today, my cousin Ashlee and I took our kids out for a little trip to the mall to ride the train. Ash and I are only three months apart age wise and most of my childhood memories include her. It is pretty fun that we have kids that are so close in age. She is quite the amazing lady- she has twins and was on time, looked cute, hair done, kids dressed fancy and was ready to go. Love her! It was all of our kid's first ride on the carousel and that was fun. We also took them on the little train that circles the mall and aside from being a tight squeeze for two adults, the kidlets loved it!

It is a beautiful day outside. My screen door is open letting the breeze in, Mc is napping and my basement is almost done being dry walled. Going to be a good week! Here is to summer!

Take me back....

Just had a weird reminiscent moment. My first car was a 1988 gray Subaru coupe (above...a strong likeness). Her name was "The Blur" and I loved her. She was my ticket to freedom. My parents purchased her from a Dentist in our ward for probably $1500. She smelled of oil, anti-freeze and peach pine tree air freshener. She rattled on the freeway (when Tyler tricked me into getting on the 215) and the back seat wore a blanket to hide the tears. I couldn't afford to fix the flat tire so inevitably, I had to pump up the tire anytime I went somewhere and hoped it held the air long enough to either 1) get me to a gas station with free air or 2) back home to the air compressor.

I was driving down 7200 South today, a/c blasting, radio on and Mc nodding off in the back. It brought my back to the summer of 1999. I was a Junior in high school. I could feel my back, sweaty and sticking to the back of the seat and the radio blaring- probably STYX. The windows were rolled down, my hair sticking in my chapstick as it whipped from the breeze. I felt so important. So grown up. I felt cool- I was driving a rusty, stinky car but it didn't matter as long as everyone around could hear my stereo and I had some place to go.

Now, 11 years later, I have a brand new car, a car seat in the back and an IPOD. I don't feel so "cool" or as "free"..something about those summers in a heap-o-junk car that make summers never feel the same. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my 2009 car with a/c for anything but I firmly believe that Subaru built a huge piece of my character. Just saying.

A to the ngry

BeWaRe. This post isn't going to be fluffy, sugary or even nice. I just needed a quick outlet to vent about today. Yes today. June 3, 2010. First off, today wouldn't have been such a bad day had the scheduled U2 concert actually taken place (mind you, I have had tickets since FEBRUARY!!!). We were slated to have the dry wallers come to start the last major step in completion of the basement. Here it is 4:00 PM and no dry waller. No call. No returning of messages. Nothing.

Thirdly (if you are keeping track of today's tragedies) Rue Mclanahan died. Most of you know I am a rabid "Golden Girls" fan. Sad day. Poor Betty White the last of the girls. Thank you for being a friend, Blanche. And, thank you WETV for 24 hour reruns.

Fourth...just found out that someone stole pieces from my air conditioner on my house in Arizona. The crappiest part about that, we paid to have it charged and tuned prior to leaving and now we get to fork out more money to hand over our house to someone for $100,000 less than we paid for it. Awesome! Seriously, you stole pieces from a 10 year old air conditioner. I hope it was worth it. God Bless Dan Larsen for bailing us out on this one.

Fifth- Mckinley so craftily and sneakily 1) poured bubble solution all over my fabric couch and 2) drew on herself, her microfiber chair and the "Grouchy Lady Bug" book with a gel pen.

Seriously. My hair is frizzy. My legs are iridescent. I need a pedi. Ididn't get in a run this morning. I still have to vaccuum.

Bonus- today is almost over.