Eye Appt

So today I had my free consultation for LASIK. For those of you who don't know, yes I'm blind. I cannot function without either glasses or contacts. I'm very nearsighted. So I am never ever without my glasses or contacts. I actually pack an extra pair of contacts anytime I go out of town - just in case.

James has been wanting LASIK for a long time. And I want it to. So I had my consult today and he has his tomorrow. His vision isn't nearly as bad.

A few things I learned from the appointment. One that I was right. It is still pretty expensive. For me it is $2220 PER EYE!!! Yikes. I want it but that is a lot of money. So we are going to look into insurance and flex plans and all that to see what we can do.

Another thing I learned. Having your eyes dilated REALLY stinks!! I don't remember when I had this done before. I think it was over 10 years ago. So I didn't really remember what it was like. Not only was I sensitive to light. I had the hardest time focusing. It made me a little nauseous after a while. Yuck!

So hopefully James' won't be so expensive. We'll see. I'm not sure if we will both do it right away or just one of us. Ahh if only we were millionaires!

Cutting hair

So when James and I first got married, he worked for months trying to convince me to cut his hair. I just didn't want to do it. I thought I would mess it up and it seemed to hard. Well we were budgeting and we had already cut back everywhere we could except there. So I finally gave in to save money. Then I started cutting my dad's hair too. So I've been doing both of their hair cuts for a while now. Then last Friday I cut my friend Rob's hair. It is nice to be able to do this for people. Now don't get your hopes up-- I can only handle simple guys hair.

But after cutting my dad's this last week, we got to sit and chat for a bit. He just wanted me to catch him up on things in my life. Really there wasn't much. But it was nice to just be with him for a while, just the two of us. When we lived with them, my dad and I would always have our late night chats. After the TV show was over, we'd just sit and talk. Usually until the wee hours of the morning when we just had to drag ourselves upstairs. I LOVED it. My dad is amazing. He is full of knowledge and insight and I treasure our talks one on one.

I always learn about my Heavenly Father from my earthly father. He is just such a good example. I was just going to leave after cutting his hair and I went in to say good bye and he just said sit, let's talk, it has been a while since we've gotten to talk. And he just cared so much to know how my life was. I know that is how God is with us. Many times I carry on and just leave without really talking to him. But he says sit, let's talk, it has been a while. Heavenly Father just like my dad really cares to know how my life is going. I cherish this simple lesson that my daddy taught me that night.

Hair cut/Thanks Kiera!

Okay so for weeks now I've been wanting to cut my hair. I was just sick of it and ready for a real change. I decided I wanted to go super short. I didn't tell James exactly how short until he saw it. So he is still adjusting. (Really I don't think he likes it that much.) Sariah wasn't sure it was me when I came to pick her up. Sort of like when you wear glasses or a hat. She knows it is you but isn't fully sure. So I'm sure not everyone will like it because it is pretty extreme. But I like it and I'm definately glad I did it.

I do have to give props to Kiera. Thanks for recommending Josh. He was awesome!!!

Here is my drab before picture:

And here is the new cut..............

James Juggling on Halloween

So here are the videos from Halloween with James' juggling. He called this morning to see if I could hurry up and get them on my blog. I think maybe he should start his own blog!! ;) hehehe Just kidding! Love you honey!

Great DEAL!!

Okay so I know not everyone is an Oprah fan, but I have to let you in on this deal. She is teaming up with Peter Walsh to help people clean and declutter their homes. So as part of this they talked about taking pictures of your kids artwork and then putting them into on of Snapfish's bound books.

Well.....here's the good deal. You can get a book for free!!! If you go to Oprah.com and follow and look at the Peter stuff and then click get the free gift from Snapfish. The catch is time. It is only allowed for two days since the show which was today. And you have to finish and order your book by Sunday. But still it is a good deal. (I do think you have to pay shipping for it, but still a great deal!!)

Also you can get a coupon for 20% off at the Container Store. Not quite as good as free but still good. This one is good for a week.

So get to it and make a book! Let me know what you make it of!

The Nine

I know I should be happy about the nine that came. But I should clarify maybe a bit. This wasn't one of the monthly groups. This was our quarterly ward enrichment. The one that the whole ward should be coming to. If it were one of the monthly groups I would have been jumping up and down dancing for joy. But since we had more people at a small monthly group (the home decor) than the activity that is supposed to have everyone there it is a lot harder to be happy with nine. But it is good motivation for me. My goal next quarter is 30 people. Wish me luck!

Tagged again

So Kelli got me this time. And tonight I'm in the mood to humor her.


Five things i love:
1) Chocolate
2) Sleeping in
3) A really hot long shower
4) Lip balm
5) My Iphone (I know this sounds so material, but I love it)


Five things on my to-do list:
Just five??

1) Go into work and do filing
2) Call someone to give them their photos from their reception
3) Get my hair cut
4) Finish Sariah's curtains
5) Finish my painting in my bedroom

Five favorite snacks:
1) Chocolate
2) Chocolate with peanut butter--- Reese's, peanut m&ms, anything that involves this combo
3) Cold cereal
4) Potato Skins (although I think these are a meal not just a snack)
5) Pears

Five things you may not know about me:
1) I want to go skydiving
2) I get motion sick pretty easily
3) My desk is always messy.
4) I have two sisters that I don't look anything like.
5) I am training for a marathon

Five quirky things about me:
1) I put on lip balm every night before going to bed- no exceptions
2) My second toe is super long- like as long as my pinky
3) I clench my jaw when I'm stressed
4) My comfort foods are hamburger soup and rice and chicken and dumplings
5) I don't wear my wedding ring to bed.


Five places i have lived:
1) My parents house- Kansas City, MO
2) Columbia, MO during college (I moved 3 times around the city)
3) Apartment in the River market when I was first married- Kansas City, MO
4) My parents house again while James and I saved for our own home
5) My home- Kansas City, MO

What can I say, I haven't lived in very many places. I love Kansas City!

Pictures from Dallas

So here is a more upbeat post! :) These are some pictures from my recent trip to TX.

This is my dad and two of his siblings. Right to left: Hays (dad), (Aunt)Bev, (Uncle) Frank.

Here is everyone. My dad, my sis and her husband and me. My aunt and her family (most of) and my uncle and his.

My sister wanted to point out that she now knows that Sariah gets her scrunchy nose look from me! :)

My dad and me with Sariah:

Sariah LOVED her umm I think he is her cousin in some way. He is my cousin's son. Not sure how that works. Anyways. Seth is 3 and he was so sweet with her.

A hug from Seth:My sister Meg with George the dog. He was just so sweet. And quite the 70 pound lap dog! hehehe



In the hotel room, the closet had a full mirror for a door. Sariah loves playing in the mirror. I think we took like 300 pictures of this, but here are just a few:


Giving the baby in the mirror a kiss!

Look I can fit the whole duck head in my mouth! Yumm.... duck!!


My aunt took us out the harbor. This is just one of the beautiful shots. It was a perfect night. Just the right weather and gorgeous!

Life's Rough

Well, life is rough. There are always ups and downs, but sometimes you hit some rough spots and then when you think they are getting better they get rougher. Not that you can't over come, but it is rough.

The past three days Sariah has been throwing up. Sunday, she threw up everything. Monday, about half of everything. And today just lunch mostly. James was sort of sick all weekend and stayed home Monday to help me and Sariah. Then came home early today because he was back to nausea. I was sick Sunday just upset stomach and then Monday slept most of the day. Today I'm back to normally. Sariah seemed to be getting back to normal tonight so I have high hopes for tomorrow. But it is just the pits when you are all sick. So I'm cleaning up from Sariah being sick trying really hard not to add to the mess. Ugh. I was glad to be good today. And I did take her to the doctor today and she said she was okay. That she wasn't dehydrated. That we were doing all the things we should. So that was a $20 copay- that I felt was totally worth it just to help my stress level.

Some other rough spots:

Last week was my ward enrichment. So those of you who don't know, I'm the ward enrichment leader. And I thought I had a great idea to do one of finances. I have a really good friend who was James' branch president when he was in the singles ward. He gave us really worth while advice when we got married that we have used everyday since. So I asked him to come and speak. I was very excited and nervous. And afterwards really frustrated. I thought he did an EXCELLENT job. I was so glad I asked him. But I was beyond disappointed in the turn out. We had 9 people. (And that is including me!) 9!! 9!! I mean really only 9!!??!! We have had more people turn out for the home decor group. I don't know what happened. What I could have done better. I just don't know where to start to motivate people to come. Was it the topic? Did we not get the word really out? Ugh! Okay I'm trying to move on!

The rest of the roughness is just my life right now. I'm not sure I want to publically share it. Part of me thinks that I do. To just get it out. But the more dominant part just isn't sure it is a public topic. So if your curiosity is getting the best of you, call me and maybe I'll tell you. But really it is just hard. I have just felt overwhelmed with things. I almost want too many things. I know I can't have the perfect life, but it doesn't stop me from wanting it.

Okay enough of a rant. I will make another post with pictures or happy thoughts or something! :)

A pet peeve

Okay so I have found a pet peeve. That is when people confuse Missouri and Kansas. It is like they just consider them one state! Ugh!! So I wrote a vendor and asked him to change our billing address to the Missouri office. I saw that when he forwarded this request to someone to have them do it, he wrote ~"I guess their billing office is in Kansas." So how do you go from Missouri to Kansas. I didn't even say Kansas City, just that we were in Missouri and then listed the address. But somehow he thinks we are in Kansas. And I get this all the time. It isn't like I confuse them and think they are in New Mexico instead of Arizona. I just don't get it!! I know this isn't a big deal, but it just rubbed me the wrong way this morning!

Whirlwind

So my life has been...exciting, crazy, eventful...not sure what the right word is. Last Friday was our Halloween party. It was such a blast!! We had great food, and great company!! Thanks to call who came. James did in fact juggle his lit torches. The kids LOVED it!! I dare say the cutest thing was when Ammon said, "Guys be quiet....he has to concentrate!" I cracked up!! I will try to get some of the video up soon.

A little while before the party, I found out that my (paternal) grandpa had passed away. I knew that his health had declined and that he was in a lot of pain. So I'm glad that he has a release from his blind eyes, somewhat deaf ears, and pain filled body. But I still miss him. He was a wonderful man. Sariah and I flew down to Dallas, TX Sunday with my dad and sister and her husband. Where we were met by my uncle and his family who live in TX, and my aunt and her family who all flew in. It was wonderful to see family. And also meet some family for the first time. My uncle's pastor gave a wonderful memorial. First they played a slide show which really captured my grandpa. The first song was I did it my way. Which is probably the best thing he taught me. That you should be your own person and do what you feel strongly about. Everyone loved seeing Sariah. And she even let other people hold her! We then flew back Tuesday. So it is Thursday,but I still feel tired from the trip. (My sister has all the pictures, so I will get them and post them soon.)

My dad has been in chemo for a while now. And it is a battle. The trip to TX was really hard on him. With the chemo, he has been getting fevers. That means going to the hospital. Because while it could just be a side effect, it could also be more than that. So if we hadn't been in TX, he would have been at the hospital. He is a strong man. And I love him for it!

I did get to come home to a super clean house!! Thank thanks thanks to James. He cleaned up all the things from the party and had it looking awesome for me!

And now it is back to real life. Getting caught up at work. I have Enrichment tonight that I'm in charge of. Hopefully, we have a good turn out. A close friend is coming to speak so I hope it goes well. But really I just want to spend a day in bed- don't think I will get that though! hehehehe