Posted on

What a Difference a Year Can Make

I know, enough with the pregnant pictures, right? It’s just that last year over my birthday weekend I mostly remember taking a zillion baths in the tub at the house we rented and watching horrible TV because there was a TV in the bathroom next to the foot of the tub. I became very familiar with the Kardashians last year on my birthday.

This year we’re headed to Leavenworth and staying in a place that has no TV, so I most likely won’t be catching up on all things horrible in TV Land; however, the place does have a tub and I plan to again take some toasty baths and revive my birthday tradition of taking a long bath and wearing a cushy robe. We’re also going to get outside in some freezing weather and drink tons tea and hot chocolate.

Yahoo for birthdays!!

Also, two more things:

1. Sydney fell out of bed last night. SERIOUSLY FELL out of bed while sleeping. Once while Syd was staying at my parent’s house my dad wanted to tie some twine to her because they have a high bed. I’m starting to think that might be a brilliant idea. She’s okay, but it was startling.

2. This morning Maggie went in for some major, major pets on Syd’s chubby rolls and Barry had to stop the aggressive pinching. He also refererd to Sydney as THE BIG QUEEN. I think that is an awesome nickname that should stick around. Sydney: The Big Queen.

I’m off to spend some birthday lovin’ with my little tribe.

Hip, hip, hooray!!!

Posted on

Ready, Set, Go!!

Last year around this time I was lumbering thorough life with a hugeish belly wondering if I’d ever be able to move with any type of fluidity again. Now a yearish later I’m starting to move a bit more naturally  and it feels oh-so-wonderful!

I’ve committed to running every other day lately and there are days when that idea just doesn’t sound awesome. I recently had one of those ‘I don’t want to go running’ type of days.

So, I decided to take Sydney with me.

I could feel Barry’s eyes questioning my decision to drag the Chubby Pug out the door, but I secretly hoped that she might slow me down. Bear in mind that I’m already dang slow.

Anyhow, Syd and I headed down the driveway, with Maggie and Barry peeking out the window at us, Barry a bit skeptical at the idea of Syd going ‘running” with me still. The first half of our run I was definitely Top Dog and Syd was dragging behind majorly. I tugged her along not letting her sniff and she pranced along next to me a bit confused as to why I wasn’t giving adequate sniff time.

The second half of our run about did me in. First, we passed where one of Syd’s friends lives and she kicked it into high gear, almost as if she was bragging to her friend that she was out for a ‘run.’ Then, we happened to see a dog up ahead that resembled one of my parent’s dogs and BAM! Syd shot out in front like a cannon, with her ears pinned back  and I was left gasping to keep up with her…my Pug.

Well, we finished super strong with some very fast sprints and both of us entered our house panting and wanting water. All in all, I suppose you could say that I have a new running partner. I can’t say that Syd feels the same way because right now she’s looking uber-pathetic on Barry’s lap and it might take a shovel to move her.

Posted on

Cousin Dinner @ The Hoot House

My cousin Cora lives in Bellingham in an old house that is called The Hoot House. For Christmas Cora invited all the Elvrum cousins/spouses to enjoy a fancy-pants dinner in The Ham at The Hoot House. We donned our dress up clothes and headed up to Bellingham a few weeks ago to get together with everyone. The dinner guests included us, Chach, Phil, Genevieve, and Skrange (a.k.a. Izak). Cora and Chaya are our only cousins on my dad’s side.

It was probably the first time EVER that all the Elvrum cousins have been together without parental or grandparental figures making sure we’re not bickering or doing dangerous stunts. We used some of the time to tell funny stories about our parents and grandparents, which is easy to do if you’ve ever met any of them.

I convinced everyone to play a game that was a version of what Barry and I played at Game Night recently, it turned out to be really fun. Although my brothers tend to keep telling a joke about 9 more sentences beyond the punch line, we all laughed a ton. I think that we need to make the Cousins Dinner more of a regular thing because, like I said, this is the first time EVER that we’ve all been together without those other generations.

Yay for cousins!

P.S. I love the top photo! Too bad Skrange has his eyes closed.