The House Mouse

You know how I feel about bats?  Well it doesn't get any better when it comes to mice.  Nothing makes my blood run cold faster than the sight of mouse poops.  Or the sound of bags rustling in my pantry when no one is awake but ME!  The first night I heard the sneaky little vermin in my pantry Jed was at basketball.  When he got home I was on a kitchen stool with the broom, marooned all alone in the middle of a sea of linoleum,  paralyzed with fear.  We explored.  Found the tell all signs of a mouse, and took appropriate measures-I called my pop-the man with a pest control company.  He gave me the most effective mouse trap I have ever had the courtesy to  lay eyes on. I made Jed coat that bad boy in peanut butter and I waited.  Next morning the deed was done.  After Jed had gone to work.  Oh yes, that was fun.  I had to strap on a pair 
of gloves (yeah and those other things too) and dispose.  I still shiver.  I also felt like I had put a hit out on Mrs. Frisby.  Tell me you read Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH and made up your own sequels too.

Fast forward a couple of weeks, my neighbor's house is being invaded by a mouse and I start to think my problem has gone away.  Only to hear another intruder, the next night.  I lay my trap.  I wait.  I can't sleep.  I become irrational and start to consider rubbing down our room with garlic and hanging crosses complete with a shrine to the Virgin Mary (just as an extra precaution) but Jed reminds me this will only keep away vampires.  I tell him mice will bite you and suck your blood so really, they are about as real as it gets when it comes to vampires.  He talks me down, for about a second.  Next I tell him I am going to buy four cats and tie one to each of my bed posts.  Jed tells me I am not an Egyptian pharaoh.  He really puts a damper on things.  

Wish me luck, the war is still raging.  Wish Jed luck, I might go crazy.  

A Day in the Life...

It's busy being Elise...

First thing in the morning she has to take a little walk with her friend the Cap'n.  Elise and the Cap'n make it happen.  A dolly in the stroller-please-that's for babies.

Organizing the canned goods.  She came up with this game entirely on her own and then Jack went along with it because of the sheer joy cream of mushroom lined up on the piano brings to small children.  For about thirty minutes they pulled out all of the canned food, displayed it on the piano and then took it back to the pantry.  One can at a time.  If we never eat this it will have been money put to good use.

Elise also went through and "counted" all of the soup, she was missing a 2010 tomato soup vintage.  And didn't Jack hear about it.

TREATS.  I am so glad she learned this word.  Yup, screaming it at the dinner table treat and refusing to eat vegetables is very convenient.  In this picture she is demonstrating what happens if you cannot get the crazy, super, strong plastic eggs open quickly enough.

Life would be so boring without you Elise.    

Desert Springs

In case you ever need to kill some time while your husband works on a Saturday, check out the Desert Springs Preserve

 They teach you about water conservation (irony) in the Vegas Valley 

They provide dining options.  Although it is "bring your own cheerios"

And they have a fun outdoor kiddie park.  Just don't go in July or August. Or actually any month but January. kidding. kind-a

There is also a train replica, a mini-desert zoo, 'cause you know it's fun to see a kangaroo rat up close, shows (we watched South American animals)and an ever-changing exhibit hall. 

Workin'

Occasionally we accompany Jed to work... 

Good thing we have 4X4

ok

Good thing Jed has a brother with a monster truck.  Thank you Ryan for pulling us out.

Lesson learned: don't drive in debri basins.  They may look dry.  They are not.  Also, conference Saturday is the same as a Sabbath, not a day for work or the lake (also learned that the hard way.)  

All-in-all it was a good day.  A day for listening to conference in the desert over the radio, digging in the sand, and having a little picnic.  Jed's face was smiling the whole time he was a diggin'.  He really does miss digging holes for punishment/fun. I love that most things don't frazzle him.  Me on the other hand...I may or may not have been cursing.  

Nine is a Good Number

Cats have nine lives.  Graduation was double nines.  My mother is the 9th child of her family.  Three groups of three is nine, And...

I've been married nine years.

I read a quote today and would like to share...

"When I was getting ready to marry my husband, my mother told me that I would fall in and out of love during my marriage.  It was normal and I should stick with it.  Always fall back in love with your husband.  Sometimes the cycle is short-hours or minutes-and sometimes it is weeks or months.  But I have found this to be so true; I always fall back in love with my husband!  Thirty-two years and seven kids later." -Julie Goodman

There have certainly been times in nine years when I have loved Jed more than others.  For example: every time I have a newborn and Jed awakes to see me ominously glaring at him through one sleep-deprived eye plotting his demise.  However, the "in-love" moments greatly outnumber the "plotting his demise" moments.  The last month we have been on a roller coaster of housing fun and amid one of my outbursts of frustration Jed reminded me, "It's okay, you still have me."  It's true.  I have him and that is what makes everything all right.  The most important thing in life is still mine. Jed is my protector, supporter, confidant and friend.  I am grateful to have him.  I can be crazy angry with him and still sleep as close to him as I can get.  That is how much I love him-his evil presence is comforting-even in battle.

Thank you Jed for...
-bringing me flowers because it's "friday and holy crap we survived the week"
-handing over the chocolate
-changing all of the week o' stomach plague diapers
-listening to my long and (mostly) crazy tirades, ideas and reminders
-supporting my opinions even when they may or may not be reasonable
-blessing my children
-being fun
-making me laugh even when "$%#& gets real" (your words, not mine, I'm innocent)
-agreeing with me when I tell you how lucky you are to have me
-understanding me
AND
-all of those man chores: smearing pb on the mouse trap, driving in the snow, smashing hairy spiders, lighting the pilot light,  hanging off of the roof to hang the Christmas lights, sticking your hand down the garbage disposal, reassuring my over-active imagination during the night and the many more things I am incapable or refuse to do.

Happy anniversary to us.  On to a decade.