Ride A Bike, Look Good Naked

This is from Lou...I totally forgot about this conversation...

So...I have a few shirts from when I worked at Tri Sport. My particular favorite says "Ride A Bike, Look Good Naked" on the back.

Jackson :"Daddy, I can read that",

Lou: "It just means that your body will look good if you work out, son."

Jackson: "Then why do they use THAT word?"

Lou: I don't know buddy, they just did."

Jackson: "Dad, that's hideous."

...I laughed really, really hard.

We Lie To Our Dogs Regularly

We have two dogs, and they are very much a part of our family. Anyone who knows us knows that we love our dogs very much. Sometimes we even do crazy things for our dogs (like throw them birthday parties).

This is Benji...She hates having her picture taken, but occasionally you get a funny one. Jackson actually took these with his camera. The quality is not great, but he does capture some good pictures.

This is Simon...He is "the bad one." He is so sweet, but boy does he get into trouble. He's a pain in the butt most of the time, but we do love him. He absolutely loves Jackson these days and usually wanders into Jackson's room and cries when he's not here.

Our dogs are inside dogs, and anytime we go anywhere we kennel them. The picture below is of our old house (they used to be kennelled in the kitchen), but now that we've moved they are kennelled in the hallway and laundry room. When I first met Lou (Benji was his dog), Benji was kenneled in a little tiny cage type kennel. She went right into it when we left to go anywhere. Simon (was my dog) and was used to being kenneled in the kitchen. When we first merged and brought the dogs together we didn't kennel them at all. It wasn't too bad at first, but Simon ate a (two actually) couches while we were out and so we had to decide quick how we were going to kennel them.

For the most part, they don't mind it. But when we leave we always tell them, "We'll be right back!" It's just what we say. Anyway, the other day Lou, Jackson and I were leaving and we kennelled our dogs like usual. Lou said, "Okay, we'll be right back." and we left. We went to a friend's house and so we didn't come "right" back. We were gone a few hours. When we got home, Jackson said, "Dogs I'm so sorry daddy lied to you. We weren't really coming 'right' back."

The next time we left and one of us said, "We'll be right back." Jackson said, "They're lying to you."

Confession Time

You know you like to watch. You do it alone. In the dark. You don't talk about it with your friends. No one has to know. Well today I’m confessing. Here you go….

Hi, my name is Shannon and I watch "The Hills." I am a reality TV whore. It's my total guilty pleasure. I still love marathons of the Real World, The Bachelor, The Real Housewives of Orange County (not so into New York, but Atlanta was fabulous too). I loved Tori & Dean Inn Love (and Home Sweet Hollywood)…Wish they would do another season. I watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The City, High School Reunion, and Oh My Gosh…”The Hills.”

All the drama…Lauren, Audrina, Justin Bobby, Brody, and Spiedi! I love watching the train wreck relationships unfold, those “long” days at work (seriously who gets jobs like that…Teen Vogue and People’s Revolution…Really?), and those impromptu trips to Mexico and Hawaii….Oh forgot to mention after this blog Lou and I are hoping on a plane to Cabo for the weekend. Yeah…everybody does that right!?

Okay! Okay! These “reality” shows are NOTHING like reality. I totally know that they are manipulated and probably scripted, but who cares…It’s my guilty little pleasure. So for right now…Monday nights in the dark with my dogs (Simon and Benji watch “The Hills” too…I can’t seem to stop them) I’ll be watching “The Hills”. I know some of you will be watching too, even if you'll never admit it...you know who you are.

It’s my job to Freak-Out

Note: This post should really be dated 4/28/09

The other day Jackson brought home a book to read as part of his homework. He has been bringing books home everyday to read for homework since the second week of kindergarten. Well, he’s getting quite good REALLY good at reading and sometimes he brings home books that are too easy. So the other day was one of those days, and Lou and I both said, “Don’t bring this book home again for reading…It’s too easy.” Well, tonight Jackson brought home THAT book. Lou freaked out (not really freaked, but it goes with the story)! I didn’t really make a big deal about it because my mother-in-law had already told me that Jackson read to her today, and so in my mind the reading part of the homework was done. I didn’t really care that he brought that easy book home. Well, Jackson got to giggling about the whole thing and said, “I brought it home so that Shannon would freak out.” I said, “Well Dad is the one that freaked out about it this time.” And Jackson said, “Dad, why did you steal Shannon’s job?”

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Well, Jackson started T-Ball again! We have already had three games and this year his team is actually pretty good. He's on the Athletics and he gets to wear his favorite color...Yeah that's how he picks teams. Here he is in action...Sticking his tongue out helps make that ball go just a bit further I think. Actually Lou used to do the same thing as a kid...Lou's coaching again this year...Here they are playing outfield. My friend (and former roommate), Kelly's sons are on Jackson's team this year. Here is Jackson and Jacob in the outfield....And here are the three boys after the game. It's been fun having them on the team because that means Kelly and I get to sit on the sidelines and catch up a bunch. And the Laing boys...

We have a cute cheering section...

And of course what game wouldn't be the same without Aunt Brittany. She's been to every game. Jackson just loves having her there. Anyway, next week is the official picture week...so I'll try to take more.

Uncle Bobby and the Color Changing Hot Wheels

Jackson got these cool Color changing Hot Wheels for Easter. They are really neat...when you put them in hot water the color changes and then we put them in ice cold water and they change back. Well Uncle Bobby (my brother) came over last night and Jackson wanted to show him how they worked. They had a great time making designs with the two different colors and even managing to have a little water fight.

Some time through the course of their playing they both picked up nicknames...The Bob and The Jacks is what they were calling each other for the rest of the night.

Bobby, thanks for coming and playing...Jackson was still talking about that today. He thought is was just so cool that you had never seen those cars before.

Having fun with the camera

A Prince sized bed aka Twin Size

Today Jackson is sick. He has had a fever since I got home from work yesterday. His spirits are up, but that's just Jackson. He rarely acts sick...In fact there were times when he was much smaller that we had no idea he was sick until his eardrum ruptured or he came down with a fever. Even last night with a 102.2* temperature, I asked him if he felt crappy, and in a stuffy voice he just said, "kind of."

So we decided to stay home today. He slept very well through the night, but this morning he woke up with a slight fever and I just didn't want to push it. The first thing he said when he woke up today was, "I'm so excited for my first T-ball game tonight." Lou and I just looked at each other and smiled. We had already told Jackson that if he still had a fever he might have to miss his first T-ball game of the season. He then asked for the "thermoditor" and we took his temperature. He's been laying in my bed for about an hour and a half now and I think he has taken his temperature about 32 times. He has convinced himself that if he can keep his temperature down, he can go to T-ball. We'll see.

So while we are laying in my bed watching Disney XD this morning Jackson says how happy he is that I have a King or a Queen (it's a Queen) size bed so that we can lay together and the dogs can even lay with us. He said, "We just don't all fit in my Prince sized bed." And he is right...we don't all fit. Simon is such a Bed Hog!

Gotta go...the thermometer is beeping for the 33rd time this morning.

Happy Easter

We finally have our camera up and running again (our new battery charger came in the mail yesterday)....So that means...We have PICTURES!

Today was a nice day. Jackson was so eager to get into his Easter basket.

After we checked out the Easter basket, we started coloring eggs. Concentrating...He wears the same shirt every year...It's one of Lou's old shirts. We never wash it so it is full of Easter egg dye from each year. Lou and Jackson coloring eggs...He got a coloring book with the Easter egg dye kit. He is working hard on a maze....After speding some time together (just the family), we went to our friends, Jeff and Jamie's, house for some more Easter fun! Their nephew, Chance was there too...
Thanks Jeff and Jamie for having us over this morning. We had a nice time. Jackson was so happy to see you guys. And he loves this airplane gun thing you guys got him. He told us he has big plans for that thing in our "new" backyard.
Overall, a nice morning. It was good to see some of our friends. It had been way too long since we saw them last. Hope everyone is having a Happy Easter!

Let's Go Fishing

I stole this picture from Luna. She took it while she and the kids were here visiting back in January. Kiah, Eli and Jackson are playing Let's Go Fishing at our kitchen table.

Side Note: I have not had a camera lately because I lost my battery charger and my camera battery is so DEAD. I am going to order a new one soon so I can start taking pictures again and putting stuff up on the blog...because you know a blog entry just isn't any good without pictures.

My friend, Luna, is doing this thing where she takes a picture a day. I don't know if she is still doing this, but I went and looked at some of her pictures and she has quite a few great shots so far. Just candid sweet pictures that capture that particular day. So on 1-24-09...They were at my house playing Let's Go Fishing...and various other things. Lu, you should have taken a picture of my living room after Eli dumped the box of cars all over the floor. Because we know that most of the time they were not sitting and playing quietly that day. Let's Go Fishing was a very cute moment though...Remember Kiah and Jackson were getting fish and Eli was putting them back in?

Anyway, as soon as my camera is up and running I am going to start taking a picture a day. And occasionally I'll post them on here.

Lou's New Car

We bought THIS yesterday! My husband is so happy. He finally got a new car. We have been talking about getting him a new car for a while now...and we finally did yesterday. We had a great experience too...Totally stress-free. It was a really good day. Lou is REALLY Happy. I love you honey! Xoxoxo

Peeing Ballet

Today Jackson let Simon outside in the backyard. He was watching him from the back sliding door and all of a sudden I hear Jackson say, "Oh my gosh! Simon's peeing ballet." I go to see what he's talking about and he goes, "He's lifting his leg up like ballet." Cracked me up!

Tour of California

Today is such a BIG day! The Amgen Tour of California is finishing Stage 4 in Clovis! When Lou and I first started dating he told me he was into cycling, but I really had NO idea just how into cycling Lou was until July rolled around and we were watching Le Tour de France for 21 days straight (early in the morning...like 5 am...before work). That was the year Lance Armstrong had his 7th consecutive win...It was exciting to watch...I mostly looked in the crowds for Sheryl Crow (she and Lance were dating that year)...but I did get wrapped up in the drama of cycling too.
And boy is there drama...with the worker bees (they don't call them that, but I haven't brushed up on my cycling lingo lately...so that's what I'm calling them)...Oh!...Domestiques (that's what they are called). Anyway, there is always one guy that each team wants to win...the worker bees just chase down the other racers and help the Queen bee (or King) to win.

I know I shouldn't be comparing them to bees, but that is just how it works out in my head.

Anyway, after 4 Le Tour de France's, several thousand miles Lou's racked up on his own bike, and one nasty accident (that was me...not him)...I've grown to love cycling too.

Today, The Tour of California finishes a stage in Clovis, and my cycling lover husband is going to be smack dab in the middle of Livestrong Alley. He went and gave blood and got a shirt (one of 1500) to stand in Livestrong Alley. I wish I could be there with him just to see his excitement.

Levi Leipheimer (he's in the yellow jersey now...that means he's in first place...for all you non cyclists) will be wizzing by, George Hincapie, Christian Vande Velde, Ivan Basso...all the greats that we've been watching on tv for years...THEY'RE ALL going to be here. And let's not forget...LANCE ARMSTRONG!!!!! Oh yes! But he's a worker bee (the #2 guy) in the race...so don't be expecting him to win. You see, He and Levi are both on Team Astana and there is never two Queen Bee's on the same team. Levi's won this race 2 years in a row now..."This is his race."

And yes...that's a quote...by my husband (my personal cycling expert).

Anyway, honey...I love you. I hope you see everyone you want to see, and maybe even get to snap a picture of Lance wizzing by at 40 mph. I will be thinking about you today. I hope it's a great day for you. Don't hurry home! We'll see you tonight.

Daddy For President

The other morning Jackson wandered into my room while I was getting ready for work and Good Morning America was on. He's been doing this a lot lately and is actually kind of enjoying the news I think. Anyway, this morning President Obama and the First Lady were talking to a group of second graders, and since Jackson is a fan of President Obama he was quite interested. Jackson was watching and paying close attention to what the children were asking the President.

One of the kids asked what the White House was like and if they liked living there. Michelle Obama answered..."We have a bowling alley, and a movie theater, and a candy shop..."

Jackson blurts out, "Oh I hope they pick Dad to be the next President!"

I didn't have the heart to tell him it doesn't quite work that way.

Two Peas and a iPod

The other day I was putting clothes away in Jackson's room and he was on his bed with Simon. He said, "Look at me and Simon." and I said, "Just like two peas in a pod." Well I guess Jackson never had heard that expression.

Before I knew it he was organizing this:

Jackson is the iPod

Shannon and Simon are two peas

We are squished together on his bed.

"Dad, come here." Lou comes in the room. "Look, two peas and a ipod."