Matt

His name still brings a smile to my face. I feel so blessed to know him, to have dated him. I was so infatuated, then again, how could you not be by someone who called you his "red-headed pixie-faced yum-yum". We saw or talked to each other every day. I took him to Pocatello and he took me to Toole. He made me giddy. He made me laugh. He looked gruff and yet, he was so gentle. He has his own special place in my heart, always will.

On Monday, his wife shared news that knocked me over, I'm still reeling. When we were together, he always joked about his head being fat. It turns out, it is too fat, it has too much fluid. Due to chronic hydrocephalus, he is expected to develop dementia and loose his memory in as little as 1 to 2 years.

I can't take it in. He is so young. His family is so young. A child was born this year. I can't fathom what they are experiencing. And then, I wonder, how would I do it if LT had the same diagnosis. I can't imagine it. It's unbelievable.

M and A, I am praying for a miracle.

One of these books is not like the other.

One morning, this is how I found Os room. I must say, we are doing our best to geek her out. Can you tell? LT is quite proud she asks for his Trig book.

Blogging

I feel so overwhelmed with all of posts I want to share on my blog. There are more posts than I have time to compose. I want my family and friends to actually know about what's going on with us rather than just see a photo journal of what's shakin'. For some reason, I spend more time being picky about how I want to share things than actually sharing them. SO, I end up months behind and then I get overwhelmed with what I want to share and find myself here. Therefore, instead of giving each topic the proper and intended story, I'm sharing the bare bones just to bring myself and YOU up to date.

Thursdays, Part 3

I have to say, the day at the Smithsonian topped the list of my summer favorites. O was THRILLED to ride the metro to DC and she had a good time at the museum. I laughed when I noticed her reaction to the size of the dinosaurs. We've told her they are HUGE and the book "The Dinosaur in my Backyard" talks about their size too. But she wasn't prepared. She paused walking and said, wide eyed, "Whoa". It was great.

While there we played with microscopes, bugs crawled on us and we watched a tarantula eat. O helped put together a skeleton too. It wore us out and we were ready to get back on the Metro and head home. I already posted the video of me bribing O with a cookie to keep her awake. Check it out again, you'll laugh.

And yes, the Washington Monument is coming out of the top of my head.

The train ride in.

My really cool friend who put it all together.

We are so cute together.

O loving science.

Whoa

At least she's not afraid.

I even got in on the action. That is a cockroach. Yep, I'm brave.

This was in the forensics lab. A very cool place in the museum.

Just worn out.

Thursdays, Part 2

I already mentioned a really cool friend of mine put together Thursday outings for the summer. we had a fun time exploring our new home and the sights around it. I LOVE living in MD. Seriously, I couldn't be happier here. I have been told to hold on to that thought to keep me warm during the winter season, but my guts tell me winter won't change how I feel about living here. Anyway, back to the Thursday outings. On adventure took us to the College Park Aviation Museum. O tried out being a pilot and even made a plane.

Another of the Thursday adventures was a Teddy Bear Picnic. It was a lovely, humid and HOT day, but the kids didn't mind. Their big smiles and red faces tell the story.
We also explored the Goddard Space Center. Truly, O was more interested in climbing on things than looking around.

Yep, she likes to pose.

Lilith Fair 2010

I love music. Not in the casual "I love those pants" kind of way, but in the "my soul has found it's mate" kind of way. I tried once, and it was a sorry attempt, I tried once to describe it and it sounded like a 3rd grade essay. I simply don't know how to capture what I feel and how my world changes for a moment when I am caught up in music. Because of this love, I do my best to see as many concerts as my budget and responsibilities allow. Fortunately, I have a husband who knows and understands this about me and supports me.

This August I was just shy of nirvana when I attended the Lilith Fair. I arrived at the venue in the early afternoon so I could sample ALL of the artist it had to offer. The only one I missed was Corrin Campbell. I was really looking forward to seeing Jesca Hoop, but the lineup changed and Butterfly Boucher played in her place. Sarah Mclachlan came out and sang with her. Pretty cool. After her set I went to the merch table to buy cds and she was there autographing them. I chatted with her a bit and found out she is the bass player in Sarahs band. I didn't tell her I was secretly envious of her hair. Her haircut is the one I've tried to acheive when I've cut my hair super short in the past. My hair is too thick and spiky to pull it off, it ends up being unflattering and unattractive. So, now you know, I've always wanted to have short hair.

Anyway, back to the Lilith Fair, It was a deceptively hot and humid day. I had beer spilled on me twice. The chic on my left was sloshed and entertained me as much as the show. She sang with such emotion and passion during the Indigo Girls set I thought I was going to pee my pants. She insisted on having a picture of us. When her friend took it she was looking up at the ceiling so all you see is my face and her neck. I came home with 3 new CDs. I have a ton of videos. I've uploaded some of them to my youtube account. If you want to see them the name is LMNOHILL. (I'll get to uploading the rest soon).

Nneka was okay, not my kind of music. Beth Orton was cool. Cat Power was having an off night. Missy Higgins was fun to see. The last time I saw her in Austin, she wasn't really into the show so it wasn't her typical performance. She was amazing at Lilith Fair. Her voice blows me away and what she does with it in "Secret" makes my head explode. It's so cool. Court Yard Hounds were cool, Indigo Girls were incredible. I wasn't really looking forward to their set because I've seen them so many times. Well, their stage presence and music is magnetic. The entire crowd was on their feet singing some of their classics. Sarah Mclachlan was great too.

I have to admit, Sara Barellies was my favorite. The weeks leading up to the concert I listened to music from the artists that were going to perform so I could recognize songs they would play and I could decide before hand if I liked their stuff. I downloaded "King of Anything" and it was instant love. Sara was a lot of fun on stage. She is a fun performer. I'm going to see her in a week and I'm really looking forward to hearing a longer set.

Overall , Lilith Fair 2010 was great experience.

Cat Power, below

Lissie

The Lineup

Nneka

Beth Orton

Yours truly and Butterfly Boucher (Yes, that's her real name)

Sarah Mclachlan

Butterflys cool hair.

Missy Higgins

Sara Barellies

Court Yard Hounds

Indigo Girls

Farewell

8 Questions

This is for you T. Sorry it's taken me so long and thanks for your patience.

Here are the rules. Answer the 8 questions you were tagged with and then ask 8 more to 8 friends.

1. What is your guilty pleasure when you are home alone and no one to see?

I practice my telekinesis and levitating skills. (I read, surf, play a game online or sleep.)

2. What is your favorite movie from your kids selection? One you don’t mind sitting to watch with them.

Wow, I think the Little Rascals takes that one.

3. If you could remodel any room in your house and have someone else pay for it what room would it be?

Well, in the home that we currently rent, I would have the laundry room/basement bathroom finished and reorganized. It really bothers me that I can't get clothes in or out of the laundry machines without bumping up against the water heater. grrrr. At least I get some squats in on laundry days.

4. What reality show would you most likely be on?

Dancing with the Stars. I can't really dance, but it would be fun to learn and I would totally rock it!

5. Do you have a go to person that you tell everything to? (other than your husband) Why do you go to that person?

Other than LT, HK is my go to person. She knows so much of my story and I feel safe talking to her. I probably ought to branch out. ha ha ha

6. What is the story/ meaning behind your child’s first name? Or if you don’t have kids, what is a name you have picked out, and

why?

LT and I had the name Piper picked out for a girl and Perrin for a boy. I got the call that O was being born so we knew we were having a girl. While I was on the way to Tucson I got the sense that Piper wasn't her name. We didn't have any back up names so when I was holding her I asked her what her name was. I listed off several of our choices and when I said "Olivia Rose" she lifted up her head and looked at me. And that is how we named her. She picked it herself.

7. How many purses do you own? How often do you change them?

Um, I don't do purses. I have an REI travel day bag. It's green and I like it.

8. What is the most expensive article of clothing you have (other than jewelry) Where do you where it and do you wear it often?

A custom tailored dress I had made in Bangkok. I haven't it worn yet, but I have cool shoes and custom jewelry to go with it. Shoes are second on the list.

Okay, my q's for you.

1. What is the story behind the warrant for your arrest?

2. Would you go skydiving? Why or why not?

3. What would you be/do if there was NOTHING preventing you from doing it?

4. Why don't some people ever leave their home town, not even for a couple of months?

5. What foreign accent do you secretly wish you had?

6. What childrens book have you read the most?

7. How many mountains will I have to climb? (That's for the Oakcrustys out there. ha ha ha)

8. What is your motto?

I tag

Jadi

Bon Bon

Crain

Julia S.

Jodi R

Sarah M

Nanette

Cousin Em (Orange Emily)