thanksgiving day bike ride 2011

i guess it was actually labor day last year when we got the bikes out and went for a ride around my parents neighborhood, but either way, we had fun re-creating our photos from that day last year.

i probably should have used the bathroom before we left because i almost peed my pants on at least 3 occasions. From chasing down rogue deer, my inability to kick my bike up like a bad ass 'bmx'er AND my inability to lift a bike up over my head, i came a little too close to having to run into the desert to 'water the cactus'.

here's what we got out of our photo shoot. jeremy's face in the last 4 pictures cracks me up, he was REALLY getting in to the shot. I literally had to pretend i was an actor for the 'over the head' bike pics, i had a job to do and i could not let the crew down by giggling and peeing. guess it helped because i even managed to get the bike over my head AND stand on one leg! ha!

'so i put my right foot on the pedal and my left foot, where? what?'


when you see me start to fold in half like this while i'm laughing, chances are, i'm about to pee.


all right, this works. just like last year!


again with the bike trick, maybe if joshua wedges a rock under my wheel it will work...it didn't.


say cheese...


if you see me fold up into this position, there's no doubt about it, i'm about to pee.


mid fold...consumed with laughter.


heck ya, we did it! jenny gets a super star A for effort. our bikes were insanely heavy.


my inner yogi and jeremy's inner metal dude take over.



***and seester! what a difference a camera makes, huh? so much better than last year!***

February is the shortest month of the year and it certainly felt that way this year, for sure. The holidays are over, my birthday came and went and now February, poof, gone. Luckily, aside from being sick for the umpteenth time this year, February was a really good month.

Espen's school had a mailbox set up in the office the week before Valentine's day where parents could drop off cards or notes to their kids that would hand delivered to the students in their classroom. Here's what I made for Espen. He didn't think it was as cool as I did. Oh well...





I got a wacko idea that I would hand make all 9 of the girls in Espen's class Valentine's and little barrettes. It took me forever, but it was totally worth it, they turned out so cute. The boys in the class just got Bakugan cards and chocolates, sorry boys.







Mom!! Come look at me....Fancy hat, dude.



On a Friday we decided to let Espen take the day off of school so he could join us on a motor home adventure to Quartzsite. I forgot how much fun motor homes are! And the best part (or maybe the worst part) was that I got to bring my laptop/phone and was able to work comfortably at the 'dinette' while flying down the highway. So cool.



After a few hours of driving we finally arrived and my sister and I were unleashed in a giant warehouse filled with all of the stones, gems and jewelry findings you could ever imaging. I found a lovely 'diamond', wouldn't it make such a lovely ring?

While Seester and I scoured the warehouse the kids with Grandma & Grandpa's help stayed busy digging for dinosaurs.



Oh my gosh, such pretty little things are going to be made by Block & Battaglia with all of this loot. Can't wait. I've already made a couple of beautiful drop earrings.



I spent a lot of time in bed with these two guys, not feeling well=naps, naps, naps.



Sunday at the park, probably not the best thing for me...being outside and riding a bike depleted my energy but the boys had fun.





It was SO nice to be able to go for a bike ride, come on Spring, we're waiting!



Man, I snapped this at THE perfect time...love it.



Jeremy & his fake smile, at least he tried and his tongue isn't sticking out.


Au revoir February...it's been fun.

bicycle

Oh my gosh. How I miss riding my bike. It's been a long summer and I am more than ready for the desert to cool off so I can hop back on my bike and ride around town.

This past Sunday, after we finished dinner, Jeremy & I rode some old bikes (my old bike...that I miss) around Yarnell with Jenny & Joshua.

The sunset was incredible so we stopped to snap a few pictures. This is what transpired...


me: Let's take tough bike guy pictures
jeremy: Ya! Go like this!
me: uh....


me: not gonna happen, I can barely touch the ground let alone toss the front of the bike up in the air
meanwhile, Jeremy's still workin' his cool 'trick'


So, I couldn't do the trick, but I could prop myself up on my tip toes and try to look cute.


How about a normal one... but what the heck happened to the sunset?!


There it is.


note: Seester, we need to get you a new camera. Although mine does a similar thing without a flash, what's with the pixely pics.

i love my bike

i love my bike, i love riding it around on satruday morning in the spring.
i love my basket, i love filling my basket with eggs, flour and chocolate, oh and bendy straws.
I love my bike.

another breakfast burrito night.

After work Espen and I took a trip to someone’s house so I could bargain with a seller over a dresser on craigslist. It wasn't very difficult, the seller was actually very cool and we will now have some much needed additional storage in our bedroom on Thursday. I can't wait.  On the way up there Espen was crying his eyes out that he had to 'GO POTTTTY' but what were we supposed to do, we were in the HOV lane on the 51 during rush hour. I told him to hang in there but that didn't stop him from crying all the way to the 101 at Cave Creek. I told him I would pull over as soon as I could and when I pointed out a dirt road to our right he finally calmed down...and then, there we were, pulled over on some dirt road while Espen 'made mud'.
Ugh.

He was so good while we looked at the dresser that when we ran down to QT to get some cash out of the ATM I let him pick out a treat. Espen goes on and on sometimes about wanting to go to Circle K or D's for candy but we hardly ever take him...this time, I told him that he could have any treat that he wanted and he picked his favorite, chocolate milk and an apple, seriously? An apple. All right then Buddy, you get an apple. (I was jumping up and down in my mind with joy, what a good little boy for picking fruit over candy!) I of course got a chocolate covered cherry, yum! 

So, we were done paying for the dresser (well, 1/2 now, half then, and yes I got a receipt and I know where this kid lives...and works, ha!) and on our way home. As I stepped on the gas to hop on the freeway Espen was taking a drink of chocolate milk, the next thing I hear is 'Moooom, look what you did, don't drive like that'. He had chocolate milk ALL OVER HIS FACE, seriously, up to his eyes, all over his cheeks, down his neck. I was cracking up, and am cracking up now just thinking about it. Poor little guy. I love that he told me not to 'drive like that'. haha!  When he handed me the napkin I gave him to wipe his face with it was drenched in milk!

Jeremy had a meeting at work that ran late so I only had to put together something to eat for Espen and I. Easy enough. I was craving fried salami and eggs all day so I fried up some salami and onions, scrambled some eggs, tossed it in a tortilla and voila, super ghetto dinner was served.

{strange picture, I know}

It was SO nice out last night that Espen and I ate on the front porch. We talked about the day and he told me some jokes.

'What did the Tree say to the Mouse? Hey, popcorn, leave me alone, I'm making a drink!'

We laughed about the chocolate milk incident. Espen wasn't really in to eating dinner though, he was itching to play with his new bubble maker that Grandma bought him at Target. This thing is so cool, I'm not sure how or why it works the way it does, but it blows tons of bubbles!

{pantless boy and his bubbles}

I was laughing so hard last night every time Espen would catch a bubble on the wand and say 'look mom, the first living bubble'. What the heck does that mean! hahhaha, but every time it was look at the living bubble. Too funny.

Jeremy got home from his meeting so while he played with Espen I took my bike out for a ride to Fry's to pick up a bottle of wine.  Oh how I love my bike...I don't even mind lugging it up and down stairs every time I want to go for a ride, I love it that much. What I don't love is the people who shop at Fry's. I knew I should've gone the extra mile or so to Safeway. There was a girl in line fully clothed (but not tastefully) except for shoes. Really, you had time to put on PURPLE DRESS SOCKS but not your shoes!! So gross.

It's funny, every time I think about how my day wrapped up so I can finish up writing about it I find that it always ends the same. Well, some details are left out...but basically it goes something like this.

-Cuddle with Espen and tuck him into bed

-30 Min Bike ride/Listen to Norwegian Language lessons (not every night)

-Spend a little time on the computer

-Pour a glass of wine

-Sometimes have a snack

-Watch TV/Movies with Jeremy

That is my official winding down routine. In case anyone cares.

bicycle bicycle

Bicycle, check. Shoes, check. Wicker Basket, check. Want the dress, yes...and the trunksack, heck yes.

Read the little history page on Rivendell Cycle Works site, it makes me want to save up and buy the trunk sack so that Grant won't have to 'fret' about sales. haha. I also just like the idea of stuffing it full of snacks and digging toys for Espen, wine for me & some beers for Jeremy.

Items in this set:
Rosebud Drape Dress, $48
Steve Madden 'Tuxxedo' Flat, $46
Wicker Basket
Rivendell Bicycle Works: Sackville TrunkSack Large