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!***

8 years ago...

Jeremy,
Please refer to the previous post about our son but swap out the words 'buddy' & 'mom' for lover.
Love,
Christine


Listen, after swimming all day and having not washed my hair for days before I was pretty impressed with my somewhat french twist-like hair do.




That's Tan-tastic. Had to put this picture in for myself, last year I was 16 pounds heavier! Lookin' good little mama.

1 year

I'm going to take a minute and pat myself on the back. I just pulled up my name on the MLS as Listing and Selling member and I was ecstatic to see the results. I quit working my office job on May 12th of last year to pursue a career in real estate. In one year I have 8 (10 if you count a closing on Friday and one next month) closings under my belt and almost $1.2 Million in sales, which for a rookie in this market is pretty good, don't you think. I'm having more fun than I ever thought I could have and I really am proud of myself.

There is also no way in hell I would be able to get to this point if it weren't for some people who I need to mention.

My parents. You both have had my back through good times and bad and to support me through this past year has been incredible. Thank you for all of the help you have given to me and the opportunity that you gave me and my family. I love you.

The Twins. Jenny & Christie, for real, if it weren't for these two ladies I would be sitting here typing, 'holy shit, a year has gone by and I have nothing to show for it.' The support you have given me, gave me every bit of confidence that I needed to make it. I am beyond grateful for everything you have done for me and the confidence you have in me. :-)

Jeremy & Espen. I feel like I have all the time in the world and not nearly enough time for you guys. Thank you for believing in me and giving me hugs when I'd cry about a stressful closing or cheering me along at a successful one. Obviously I love you both to pieces.

So that's it, my back hurts from all of this self-patting. Yeah me!!

easter & a mini road trip

I like easter. I like to sit outside and eat lamb with mint jelly. I like to watch Espen hunt for eggs. I like the weather. Last easter I got sick and ended up throwing up while my dad was over after dinner trying to help me hang a headboard I made while Jeremy was in CA. This year I was healthy, happy and had a great day with my family and a fun night in Tucson with Jeremy.

{acid mothers temple, tucson}

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.

My 32nd Birthday & the year of the CAPE

I turned 32 this past Sunday. I am still having a hard time writing/saying it. 32. 32.

The plan for the weekend was to get dinner with my girlfriends and then head over to Allison's to play on her new Xbox Kinect. Scottsdale was filled with tourists because of some football game and the restaurants were apparently going to be packed so at the last minute we scrapped dinner and decided to head to Allison's a bit earlier and hang out there for the night.

Now I need to include a little back-story. A few days before my birthday, Jeremy and I went to American Apparel to try to find a stripey shirt that I couldn't buy online because they don't accept gift cards (thank you Allison for my Christmas gift, btw). I couldn't find the shirt but I did find an amazing wool cape. I tried  it on and didn't want to take it off, it was so hilariously big on my and intended for way colder climates but I didn't care, I loved it. After twirling around in it in the store I hung it back up on the hanger and snapped a quick picture of it...

I posted it to Facebook and said: Just going to put this out there, my birthday is Sunday if anyone wants to buy me the Amer. Apparel wool cape.

On Saturday night the plan was for Jeremy and Espen to come over to Allison's and when Espen got tired, Jeremy would take him home. So we headed out the door on our way to my birthday party!

It wasn't long before the girls wanted to give me my present. Wrapped in a huge Nordstrom bag was the best gift ever from the best girls & boyfriend ever...

I thought I was going to pass out when I saw what was peeking out from the tissue in the bag. The beautiful woolly cape was mine and oh my god, I was SO EXCITED. For days I had been thinking about how I could save up for the cape, would it still be available, will it be summer time by then...

After modeling my cape we proceeded with drinking wine, smoking cigarettes and talking babies and ever so often we'd go inside and dance with the kinect.

I had a a freakin' blast. I love my friends so much! They are beyond amazing ladies on so many levels. 

The next morning I woke up to pancakes in bed and a hand written birthday card from Espen...

Espen loves my cape too. He got inside and said 'mommy, look. I'm in a valcano!'

Espen and I made spinning art in the morning and blew bubbles as the day went on...

At some point Espen got out the tape and dressed up like 'the Karate Kid' (his words). How hilarious is this photo??

We were starving so by 4:30 we were getting ready to head out the door to have my birthday dinner at Carlsbad Tavern (so delicious, OMG). Before we left we had a little impromptu photo shoot to showcase my most amazing cape. Ha. Obsessed? YES!

...Get ready for some serious cape pictures...

Dinner at Carlsbad was amazing as usual and we finished off dinner with a piece of birthday Key Lime pie. 



{babe}






{making a wish...that i wouldn't look wierd in pictures}


I had a lovely birthday.


thank you to my friends and to jeremy and espen, i love love love you all!