Surprises let me know she cares!

And Heidi was FULL of surprises!

Heidi was another of my college roommates and the most loyal friend I've ever had.  Can I still call her loyal if we haven't talked in a couple of years?  It's just that she's off on a foreign adventure and time zones make it nearly impossible. 

I was immediately drawn to Heidi for her hilarious sense of humor, her good nature and her infectious laugh...as is everybody.  It's impossible not to love that about Heidi.  But after living with Heidi and developing a deeper relationship, there are so many things I love even more about her. 

Heidi brings out the best in people.  She is compassionate, self-less, in-tune, and a great listener.  Despite her petite size, Heidi is a spiritual giant.  She is a huge nature lover and the most adventurous of all my roommates.  She spent her summers in far off and exciting places; places like Norway, China, Alaska, and Coeur d'Alene.  She has spent the past few years working on her master's degree in England and liked it enough stay after graduating. 

I think it's impossible to find fault in Heidi.  I love her so much.  So much that I thought if I ever had a girl, I'd like to name her Heidi. (Or at least the middle name because I think Spencer thought it was a little funny to name a kid after my roommate.)

The majority of the pictures I have of Heidi are depicting her funny side. For example:

I am happily posing, oblivious to Heidi and Brooke in the background.

I can't tell you what the outfit was about, but I'm pretty sure that was the infamous pan, clearly labeled with Heidi's last name.

 Just for a laugh.

Thanksgiving, freshman year.  Leah, Heidi and Tiffany dressed as Indians. (Excuse my political incorrectness.)

I can't have a Heidi montage without a dog picture.  She loved dogs more than anyone I know.

On a spring break in So. Cal.  Heidi insisted on being buried in the sand.  And Brooke is about to get fresh with mermaid Heidi.

I was surprised how many pictures I have of Heidi, Tammy and I in our Sunday clothes and aprons holding up a dessert we just baked.  Apparently it was a favorite Sunday past time.

 Trying to explain what is going on in this picture wouldn't do it justice.  But I hold this moment as one of my all time favorite college memories.  Leah is on the left and Heidi on the right.  Those girls were a riot together.

Heidi broke the freezer.  And apparently the cupboard in the background. Don't worry, it was Heidi's cupboard. She's the only girl I know to label her stuff with animal pictures.

I think Heidi got these in the mail one day.

Picking wildflowers.   This is one of my favorite pictures.

 

Leah and Heidi.  In braids. 

When Heidi left for her semester teaching English in China I was so sad.  We decided that a pirate party would ease some of the pain.  We even played pin the eye patch on the giant blow-up Heidi that we kept posted on the inside of our pantry door. 

Happy 30th Heidi!  

( a few weeks late)  

Miss you.

Meet George Jetson

I have to say I'm a little disappointed in the 21st century.  Here we are 11 years in and we have yet to be cruising the airways in our flying cars. 

The kids found The Jetsons on DVD at the library last week.  It was fun to watch a little blast from the past (about the future).

My biggest disappointment in the 21st century however, is not the lack of hovering automobiles, but that homes don't come equipped with robot maids.  I could make good use of Rosie.

unpredictable

Sometimes life is unpredictable.

Like when
Gray decided to jump pants-less on the trampoline.  (Gray is full of laugh out loud unpredictability.)

Or when
Reid announced that there was a poop-smear on the back of the toilet that looked like a Valentine heart. (Thanks to whoever left that special one-of-a-kind Valentine's Day surprise.)

Or when
Parker was disappointed when he saw me curling my hair.  Turns out he prefers it spiked.  (I kind of always worry that my kids might think I have boy hair.)

Or when
I came home and found Spencer like this:

 

I laughed myself to tears. 

(Don't worry, his beard grew back and I once again find him very sexy.)

Or when

After 20 months of serving as the ward Primary president, I got called to be the first counselor in the Relief Society presidency.  (Now if all goes well, I'll actually get released from primary too.)

My Funny Valentine

My lover had a late night class on V-Day.  By late night I mean he didn't get home until almost 11pm.  Don't worry about us though...we made time for a little Valentine's romance over the weekend.

I spent the evening with the other boys in my life.

What happens in Ohio when it warms up to 35 degrees?  We play outside without coats.  We're having a heat wave this week.  This is the first time in about 6 weeks that we haven't had snow on the trampoline and the boys have been itching to jump again.  (As much as I enjoy the warmer weather...this is the ugliest time of year in Ohio.  UGLY.)

Then after some heart shaped pizza, I sent the kids to bed, slipped into something more comfortable and spent the rest of the evening figuring out how to do this:

Why yes, that is news paper print on my fingernails.  I saw it somewhere and HAD to try it.  It's the perfect manicure for a nerd like myself.

We Both Kinda Liked It...

Breakfast at Tiffany's that is. 

As I was belting this tune down the freeway the other day in my efforts to drown out whining in the backseat, I had to laugh at the lyrics. 

A couple is falling apart because they have nothing in common.  In an effort to keep from breaking up,  the guy points out that they both kinda liked Breakfast at Tiffany's.  Now there's a strong foundation for a relationship.


Even still, it's one of my favorite songs, ever. 

I'm a child of the 90's.  What can I say?

My boys recently found some tapes that Jeff made me back when I drove a car that only had a tape player.  It included this song and many, many other of my favorite 90's tunes. It's about time I get myself a digital version of what Jeff so appropriately named, "Music That's Not Lame." 

Also included on the tape (and also good for drowning out whining) I'm Gonna Be (500 miles).  I can't write about 90's music without mentioning Cake, Weezer, Bare Naked Ladies. And I went through a ska phase...Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, Buck 'O Nine, Mighty Mighty Bosstones.   Oh shoot.  I don't like to post about music.  I have way to many 90's favorites.  It kills me to leave out so many good songs. 

Ahh the 90's.  What are your favorite 90's tunes?

F-I-V-E

 If you're wondering what five looks like these days...

But if I'm being honest, it probably looks more like this...

 

My favorite is when it looks like this...

It makes me laugh every time.

(ps. If you're wondering what the cake is supposed to be... it's a giant Lego.  I think it's my worst cake to date.)