The original Parent Trap is one of my favorite movies of all time... This made me smile today so I thought I'd share :)

My grandma Alice passed away on Monday. This morning I was flooded with memories of what an amazing woman and grandma she was during her life.



I can think back to some of my earlier memories of her:
-Living at her house with my family and making scrambled eggs with her in the morning.
-Her rigging one of her old swimsuits together so I could go swimming with the neighborhood kids.
-Going on adventures: such as her taking us on a trail through the woods to get to Kmart.
-Letting us play with her make-up and taking pictures of us in her mirror in the bathroom.
-Organizing woofleball games in her backyard.
-Sleep-overs at grandma's house...with all of my girl cousins

Some of my more recent memories:
-Dice night at her house every week - she would cook for all of us and we would hang out all night.
-My grandma always calling me Alsi (what my sister Allayna called me as a baby) until she started to lose her memory.
-The way she loved to flirt with men - mostly to entertain us and herself (she loved sneaking up on my husband Ryan and giving him a big kiss).
-Her always telling me I was the best one (even though I know she told a lot of other people the same thing).

Things I'll miss the most:
-Her laugh
-Her stories
-Her singing
-The way she loved people

I'll miss her very much. She was a blessing to so many, especially me.

This weekend we went down to Nashville and visited our friends Rob, Elaine and Harper. Ryan had the opportunity to speak at their church and tell a little bit of his story. One of Ava's favorite parts of the visit was a new set of princess lip glosses.



The child had at least 2 in her hands at all times and if not was trying to find them (or have me find them).

As we headed to church on Sunday morning, we decided it would probably be best for Ava to leave them in the car. Taking a two year olds' new most prized possession away is not easy so I did what I do best I came up for a reason to leave them in the car...

Me: Ava we need to leave these in the car.
Ava: NOoooooo (whine)
Me: Ava, there's a little girl at church that is like Swiper and she likes to swipe other kids things so we better leave them in the car.
Ava: (stops whining and thinks about the situation)I'll leave them in the car.



Ava then continues to say, repeatedly..."there's a little girl at church like Swiper and she likes to swipe things," all the way until the church service starts.

The kids all stay for the worship (at least 30minutes) and then are dismissed to kids church. As I carried Ava downstairs to kids church she starts repeating, ..."there's a little girl at church like Swiper and she likes to swipe things." I could not stop laughing...She talked about it in the car later on that day, on our drive home later on that night, and even a little bit the next day.

I feel bad because she's slightly traumatized and because every time she says it I can't help but laugh. But it's a real fear that we all have isn't it?? That someone is going to come in and swipe away something very dear to our heart...hmmm, poor Ava.

It's been a long time since I've posted anything. I don't have any excuses besides the fact that I've felt totally unmotivated to write or do much of anything.

Probably the most exciting (yet tiring) thing that has been going on is that we are pregnant with bambino #2. I'm 13 weeks along so I'm almost through my 1st trimester and I'm through my bouts of morning sickness.

I was looking through videos and pictures from the last two months and this video was just too cute not to post. Ava is already a performer...although somewhat un-ladylike at times (you'll see), she does have a good stage presence...even when Harrison her best buddy distracts her.


Ava sings her ABC's from Ryan Detzel on Vimeo.

At work on Wednesday we all decided that we were going to get two $5 pizzas from Little Ceasars with a $10 bill Jill(one of my co-workers) found in the office when she was cleaning out her desk...very nice of her to share. Friday morning I picked up doughnuts for everyone and I thought...doughnuts for breakfast...pizza for lunch...I'm so healthy. I got into work, Jill J. #1 said she was going to take a half day...Jill J. #2's husband showed up to take her out to lunch, and I made plans to grab lunch with my mom and sister since my mom had just gotten back from being out of town. This leaves Scott...he always packs and was ready for his pizza. However, he didn't say anything...he ate a doughnut at lunch time and some leftover cake from the wedding. He mentioned something right before I left for lunch...I felt super guilty and super brain dead.

We wrote pizza down for Wednesday...we'll see what happens. It only took me 1 hour from the time I thought about it to forget it...

What have you forgotten lately?? (Don't worry mom I won't talk about all the times you forgot me) :)

It's been a busy and productive week...

On Thursday I decided I was in need of a change. Sometimes I move around furniture...sometimes I color my hair...this time I took on the project of repainting our living room/dining room.

It all started when I received a Container Store Catalog in the mail. One of the pages had a room with a lattice/diamond pattern on the wall. I thought about it, had dreams about it, and decided I had to have it.

So Thursday, I went to the store, picked out a paint color, bought tape and some new rollers and went home to get started. I knew if I thought about it too long I might change my mind.

Here is the before picture...



I had to paint the wall I wanted the lattice pattern on white first and then we put the new wall color up - which didn't take to long. Actually, by the end of the day Thursday we had all walls but the lattice pattern wall completely painted.

Then came the most tedious task of all, taping off the walls for the pattern:


We got a little bit done Friday and Saturday- but we were both busy with work...Last night the reality hit us that we had to get it done before Monday night because we have about 20 people over for dinner...

We finished the taping, painted over it, and then removed it to create our pattern...








Me likey...it's more bright and cheery, and a little funky.

Are you working on anything at your house??

Every couple of months there comes a time in a dog owner's life where they have to replace the batteries on their dog's invisible fence collars. Now is one of those times...what were the clues that it was time you might ask...hmmm...let me think about it.

#1 Harlan chased my car all the way down the driveway and into the street

At least this time he didn't bolt right into the side of my car like he did a few months ago...(he's not the smartest dog out there and he's a little blind too). I was ready to bust out in song...dumb dog, why are you following me...dumb dog, you're just as dumb as can be...dumb dog, dumber than they come dog... If you know where this song comes from you're cool and you're a fellow musical lover :)

#2 I called Ryan to tell him that Harlan chased me down the driveway...which he replied calmly- yeah, Amy just called me and Saul is up at her house. My cousins live at the top of our street and any time the Saul's collar goes out he always ends up there


We need to get this problem fixed today or we might have a trick or treat disaster :)