May 31, 2011

A CUTE AND TERRIBLE SURPRISE



OUR KITTEN, SPARTA.


Dear Kurt,

On Saturday you came home with a little surprise: a kitten.

Since Inka died and the pregnant cat we were taking care of turned out to have probably miscarried her kittens, you decided to just go get a kitten.

At first I was like "Oh, she is so cute! But I don't want a cat."

But secretly I was thinking she was probably going to suck me in with her cute cuddliness and then I wasn't going to be able to get rid of her.


Then on Sunday I was like "Why doesn't this kitten cuddle! Don't all kitten cuddle? All she does is play and attack! Why won't she lie on my lap and sleep?"

Seriously, this kitten doesn't rest. Ever. I think it is some weird breed of cat that doesn't sleep.

Then today after hours upon hours upon hours of that kitten meowing at the garage door I was like "I am going to kill that thing! I've never heard a more annoying meow in my life. If only it wasn't a creepy no-sleeping kitten then at least it would take a break from hurling itself at the garage door."

Now, I am begging you to get rid of the thing.

I know she is cute and I appreciate you trying to get a little friend for Brooklyn to play with this summer, but I can't take the meowing and the feeling bad for not letting it in and the hair all over my clothes why I try to cuddle it and the scratches on my hands from it attacking me.

So, honey, let's give her to someone else who will love her to pieces.


And because I know you won't give up: make sure the next kitten you bring home is calm and cuddly. And since I'm making requests: can you also make sure it won't shed on my clothes?

I love you. Even though you brought home a crazy kitten without talking to me first, I still love you. I might even love you more for it.

Sincerely, Lori


May 30, 2011

AND THE FLOODS CAME UP



KURT AND I IN "THE GRAND CANYON OF IDAHO"


Dear Kurt,

Eastern Idaho has been flooding.

The snow has been melting off the mountains and causing the rivers, lakes, and streams to reach extreme levels.

Even though other parts of Eastern Idaho are way worse then Idaho Falls, the river running through downtown is still pretty high.

Even parts of the walkway around the Green Belt are under water!

THE GREENBELT. THE WALKWAY ON THE LEFTHAND SIDE IS UNDER WATER.


It is shocking to think I was there not too long ago with Brooklyn feeding the ducks and the water was way lower.

The other day was saw this video on YouTube and so today we decided to head over Kelly Canyon and see the damage for ourselves.

ME IN THE KELLY CANYON PARKING LOT

The water cut right through this once flat parking lot and now it is what we like call "The Grand Canyon of Idaho".

Again, we were there not too long ago going snowboarding!

And you heard that later this week Palisades Dam will be letting out three times the normal amount of water.

We have even heard stories of people having to put up sandbags.

I am a little surprised at how fast water can effect and damage our surroundings!

And to top it all off, I think you are genuinely wondering if you are going to be able to fish this year.

And this week is suppose to be a warmer then it has been. And while I welcome warmer weather I am also a little concerned that it will cause the snow to melt even faster.

They say that one day California will fall into the ocean, but maybe Idaho will become the world's biggest lake first.

Sincerely, Lori



May 29, 2011

STYLING SUNDAY









Dear Kimberly,

You see that jacket I am wearing on Wednesday?

That is the jacket I was convinced didn't fit me but for three bucks at Walmart it was too cute and too good a deal to pass up.... and I thought I could just give it to someone I know.

Also it was the same one that you tried to hide from me so I wouldn't buy it. And then you stole my wallet so I wouldn't buy it.

Well, obviously, I bought it. And I love it. It's my new favorite (besides that dress I'm wearing on Sunday.)

And it turns out that I can squeeze into it if I wear a tank top and not a long sleeve shirt underneath it!

I am now glad that I listened to my inner shopping devil instead of my angel little sister.

Don't feel too bad about that though, the inner shopping devil almost always wins those kinds of arguments.

I love you!

Sincerely, Lori


May 27, 2011

A GIRL NAMED BIZ


BROOKLYN - EASTER, 2011

Dear Brooklyn,

Let's talk about your nickname.

Your dad and I call you Biz.

It all started soon after you were born.

Your dad started calling you Biz-rooklyn. He thought it was gangsta.

He's cool like that.

Biz-rooklyn was a little long and we were a little lazy so we started calling you Biz-rook.

I hated Biz-rook.

So not long after that we shortened it to just Biz.

And it stuck.

People always ask us why we call you Biz. And the story isn't long but it is kind of weird so I don't like telling it but I thought you should know.

Not that I think it will stick...

Your dad and I are still the only ones that call you that.

Everyone else thinks it's weird.

I think it's cool.

So, goodnight Biz. I love you.

Sincerely, Lor Flor (one of my nicknames. And yes, that was your dad's doing.)




May 26, 2011

BATH TIME





Dear Brooklyn,

You love taking a bath. But it can also make you very mad.

You love to get in the bath. You hate to get dressed when you get out.

You love to fill up cups of water and then dump them out. You hate when it's time to turn off the water.

You love to rub soap on your face and belly. You hate when I have to rinse the shampoo out of your hair.

Bath time is full of ups and downs.

But it makes you so much happier then it makes you sad, which is why I can't say no when you go in the bathroom and say "Bath? Bath? Bath?"

Maybe this summer we can spend more time in the water outside of the bath.

Sincerely, Lori








May 25, 2011

A NICE DAY TO PLAY OUTSIDE



Dear Brooklyn,

We spent much of the day outside enjoying the one nice day of weather before the wind starts blowing and the rain starts coming again.

We ate.


We watered the flowers.


And the asphalt.


We hung out on the steps.


You ran around while I mowed the lawn.


Then you hung out at the neighbors while I ran.

I wish everyday could be nice enough to hang out outside.

I wish summer would hurry up and get here!

Sincerely, Lori


HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRITTNEY



Dear Brittney,

Happy Birthday, sister!!!

I hope this next year is amazing.

I love you so much.

Sincerely, Lori




May 23, 2011

YOUR AUNT CHRISTINA




Dear Brooklyn,

Your Aunt Christina is in town for about 36 hours!! Yay!

She loves you. And you love her.

She brought you a huge blow up microphone, which you are a little confused about because why would you sing into something that was almost as big as you are?

This afternoon we went for a 30 second walk... because right when we stepped outside it started raining and then your dad pulled up. It was a very uneventful walk.

And then Christina babysat you while your dad and I went to your Aunt Shania's school play.

And now she will be driving all the way back to California tomorrow.

But don't worry, you might be seeing a lot more of her soon.

Sincerely, Lori


May 22, 2011

STYLING SUNDAY











Dear Everyone,

I am super behind on Styling Sunday.

It didn't help that the past few Sunday's have been crazy busy or I have been out of the state.

I even stopped taking pictures of outfits because I have too many to post.

So here are random outfit pictures from the past several weeks.

This week I plan on taking pictures everyday, so I should have about five to post next week.

And I have two theme weeks in the making, so those should come soon!

Sincerely, Lori




May 19, 2011

KANSAS IN A NUTSHELL.





Dear Kurt,

We are back home from Kansas!

It was awesome. I really wish you could have come with us. After this letter you might feel like you did...


Firstly and most importantly, Richard became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. It was a great graduation ceremony and I am so proud of him. He is amazing.


We also took the kids to an art museum. Of course Brooklyn ran around and screamed and got yelled at by the security guard for trying to climb on the art... I pretended like I didn't know her while grandma took care of that situation.


At the art museum Richard found some stuff for the kids too play with. Thank goodness.


Then we went to a bbq with Richard and Amy's friends to celebrate their graduations.


The kids loved to sing into the "microphones". It was too cute.


When it wasn't cold and windy we played a lot outside. Kansas weather is even more fickle then Idaho weather if you can believe that.


We even went to the lake for a little bit. Mostly we just hung out and skipped rocks.


And found critters. The crawdad was squirmy so the kids didn't want to hold it but the turtle was dead so they fought over who got to hold that one.


And, of course, it wouldn't be a true vacation unless Brooklyn got sick. The day before we left she came down with a fever of 102, which actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise because she ended up sleeping for most of the plane rides home.

So, now we are back home and Brooklyn is feeling better and my bags are almost unpacked and I have become reaquainted with my bathtub, so all is good.

I'm glad to be home but I miss my family. Someday I hope we can all go from occupying four different states to all living in the say city... a girl can dream.

Sincerely, Lori




May 10, 2011

TO ALL FUTURE BOYFRIENDS





Dear all of Brooklyn's future boyfriends,

If you still want to date my daughter after you see this picture then you will be allowed one date.

After that, if you can endure endless questions about your intentions and ten year plans and such, then you can have another date.

And if you don't freak out when her dad threatens to cause bodily harm if you so much as think about doing anything more than kissing her or if you break her heart or if you bring her home even a second late, then you can have a third date.

After that, get lost.

There will no fourth dates until she is 20 and away at college where we will no longer have any say in how many dates she gets to have.

And just in case you think this is a joke, you should know that I would have no problem serving time in jail.

Sincerely, Brooklyn's mom


May 8, 2011

OH HOW I LOVE YOU, MOM






Dear Mom,

I cannot even begin to put into words how much you mean to me.

You are an amazing person that I strive to be like.

I am sorry that I never fully appreciated all that you have done for me until I was grown up.

I can't thank you enough for all the hours and hours you spent helping me type up papers and doing school projects and helping me brainstorm. You are smart and creative and patient, and I hope one day I can be those things for my children too.

I will forever be grateful for the endless support you have given me. I can't think of a single game that you weren't sitting in the bleachers cheering me on. I can't think of a single dream where you weren't asking "how can I help you achieve that?" You always supported me without even a nano seconds worth of hesitation. I know that this is why I grew up with confidence and energy and ambition. This is one part of you that I pray will come naturally to me too.

I thank you for all the love, hugs, kisses, cuddling and embraces you always gave out by the handfuls. I never doubted that I was loved. I never wondered if someone would pick me up when I was down. I still love coming home to visit and curling up next to you and laying my head on your lap. I don't think I will ever get tired of being held by my mommy. I love that, that part of you is instilled in me. I will always be the kind of mom that cuddles up with her kids and kisses and hugs them even when they are old enough to be embarrassed by it.

I love you for a billion reasons, all of which I hope to be able to express throughout my life. I will always be grateful that I was raised by such an amazing woman. You inspire me to try and be a great mom to my children.

I hope you will always be proud to be my mom.

I love you so much.

Sincerely, Lori