Bragadocious....

I clipped this from the Chicago Sun Times, well, obviously... I said, "see, this is why you should always smile, because you look like you're going 'darn tape - phooey'".

Help!

Okay, so here it is - Ethan is finally in the bathtub, I mean IN it, not in his infant tub inside the tub, or the blow-up infant-to-toddler duck tub inside the tub, but IN the tub. He has been for a while now, but he slides all over the place. I have been on this mad search everywhere for the non-skid tub pads. I have a certain type in mind, and if you know me - you know I do not accept substitutes, however, I'm at that point. I have tried a few things - which are NOT working. I guess it's because the bottom of the tub is NOT smooth it has these so called (I'm doing air quotes) decorative ridges - blech! I want something cute and decorative (Ethan's bathroom is frogs), and something that Ethan will actually be attracted to and not freaked out by (If he thinks something is weird, he reacts the way I do - he sneers, squishes up his face, turns up his nose and slowly backs away). I currently have these suction cup puffy frogs. He says "bit bit", pulls them up with very little effort and throws them overboard. I have tried a full mat, but once the water is in, the suction cups release and the mat basically floats. I have also tried the very flat stickers that are bumpy, but it sort of scrapes his tush. I don't want anything that is permanently sticky because I don't want dirt and yuck to get under it, or even the thought that there could be body oils under there. Ick! I have been everywhere: Target, Babies R Us, Wal Mart, Home Depot, Lowes, and nothing, I check wherever I am. Whether it's the CVS pharmacy, or the convenience stores, I find I am obsessed. Maybe someone could help me? Also, I have no patience, so I do not want to order on-line. There has seriously got to be something I can buy IN a store...

I know this may seem a little irreverant and vain, but it is not meant to be. In about 40 seconds into this video, you'll see my very handsome husband. He is the one taking down the yellow 'caution' tape. I have always liked a man in uniform...

You may have heard about the recent tragedy on February 14th, 2008 at NIU (Northern Illinois University): http://www.niu.edu/

This is a sad and scary time for us, the students, and the staff for myriad of reasons. It hits especially close to home, since Larry is a State Police Sgt out there, in charge of the emergency planning. It speaks volume for the Chief of Police, him, and his staff responding so immediately. This makes me feel grateful for my friends and family and for the sharing. Love to you all!

Girls Night Out!

And boy, was it a night, or morning... "oh yes, it's ladies night, and the feelings right. If you hear any noise, it ain't the boys, it's ladies night".

Wow! So, my very fun and close friends and I went "out" doing up Chicago nice and right last Saturday. Let me just say first - we are not 25 anymore girls, even though we think we can still party like it's 1999!

Carla, Debbie (Debbie's friend Jessica), Stacie, and I went dancing at Manor Chicago. We had decided that is had been far too long since we all went out together (I think we decided at least 3 years - am I right?). We had so much fun! I am so grateful to these girls!


Me and Stacie

Hugs all around

Awesome Graphics at pYzam.com

Happy Birthday to me ~

So... it's my birthday - oh, in about 20 minutes CST. Can you believe it, 35? Thirty-frickin'-five?! Holy poop! Feel free to call, email, or text me birthday wishes. Just kidding. But my Aunt Dawnette (Dad's older sister) always does this scrapbook page for her siblings: "On This Day..." This is a picture of me, on the roof top of the orphanage in Korea the adoption agency took to send to Mom and Dad before they actually adopted me. The second picture, which I love, is with Great Grandpa Cazier when Tami and I were being sealed. And the third is to date (well, November, but recent enough).

Sisters... in-laws...

I have to say - I really do love my sister-in-laws. Not to say, I don't love my brother-in-laws, I do - I adore them. I feel like they are definitely part of the family: they are involved in the insanity, part of the chaos, and sometimes the cause of it. But that's what makes us 'family' right? Each for different reasons, Kate, Andrea, and Rhonda each add something to my life in which it is better. Love y'all!

Rhonda is much like Larry, very even and smooth. She doesn't let much get to her, and she is a good example of patience. Rhonda has also invested a lot time and mileage in visitng us, and we are very grateful for that.

Kate is also so patient, but I am so grateful that she has adopted Mom and Dad as her parents too - they all have such a close relationship that I am often envious of the time they all spend together. Kate is my example of devotion. Tyler and Kate have uprooted their lives, with Mom and Dad from Utah were Tyler was born to Las Vegas and now to Reno in a few short years, but always so willing.

And Andrea... my little Andie (she said I may call her that, but only me). I am so grateful for the relationship she has with Todd and in turn with me. I think it has been difficult at times for Todd and Tyler to bring home girls with such a judgmental and opinionated sister. Andrea has taken it all in stride. I have always wanted someone that would look out after my brother and love him as much, or at least try, as I do. Andrea does.

Current Family Photos

Severe Weather

Can you believe this frickin' weather?

I was browsing around and found some of these photos & to show today's forecast - it has been like this since last week!

Cleaning Service...

We have tried a couple different services - Merry Maids, ServiceMaster, Molly Maids. But none compare to the one we have just retained. He does everything: he'll vaccum, sweep the floors, dust under everything, organize your cupboards, clean out the fridge, take out the trash, and he even cleans the toilets... he does more than just the ordinary day-to-day stuff, he will feed your cats with cornstarch, and empty your suitcase when you return...

Super Bowl

It's all anyone can talk about - the Super Bowl. However, for me, it's different. Some of you Midwesterner's know how bad the snow was last night. We went to our good friend's, the Gramley's to partake in the festivities along with some of our and their close friends. For us "girls" it was chasing kids - even though there were only 3. I have Ethan, 16 mos but acts like he's already 3 and Stacie's two boys: Dylan, 4 and Connor 1 1/2 yrs. Boys will definitely be boys. I didn't get to see so much of the game, but heard it while running up and down stairs... but the best Super Bowl ever. One thing though. At half time, I decided to leave because the snow was really coming down, and I had to get Ethan to bed and ready for the next day and week. I, of course, wore heels on very fashionable boots (not designed for the snow, mind you). Now, I always watch the forecast because - hello - I have to know what to wear! No mention of this much snow, only flurries and rain. So, I was surprised and anxious when it was so thick and heavy. As I was leaving the house, I slipped with Ethan in tow. I started laughing as Ethan patted me on the shoulder. I got up and took 2 steps and fell again. This time, Ethan growled at me. Needless to say, my back is killing, I've had a headache all day, and my phone was somewhere buried under inches of snow in the Gramley's driveway, only to be discovered very early this morning, when Chris went to snowblow his drive! Believe it or not, it survived all night in the snow and freezing cold!

This is Ethan and Connor - Playing...

Tagged...

A. The rules of this game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the question about themselves.
C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, and then leaves a comment on their blog letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog to get the directions.
10 years ago: For the love... who can remember yesterday, let alone 10 years ago? Good grief. Well, I was nowhere near being married - or wanting to be, for that matter. But Larry and I were dating - long distance. I think I was working at Rodizio Grill at Trolley Square, but I can't be certain, it may have been Outback Steakhouse in Sandy. I seriously don't remember. I was living across the street from the Capital in some really nasty, old, but very cheap apartments. Ick.
5 Things On My List Of Things To Do Today: 1) Take my car in for an oil change and get new break pads. 2) Fold laundry 3) pictures 4) Take out the trash 5) clean the litter box... really there is an endless list of tedious and very mundane things to be done, but since I only really have the weekends, it all piles up - and it's mountainous.
3 of My Bad Habits: There are oh so many... but let's see if I can't narrow it down. Facial Expressions - I cannot hide my reaction to what people are saying, or wearing and it's not good many times. Heavy sighing and rolling my eyes - this is very annoying for most people, while I don't really recognize that I do it, Ethan is now doing it, and Larry says he gets it from me. And in retrospect, my mom used to tell me not to do it either. Plucking - I am so obsessed with plucking my eyebrows and picking my face, that I get really distracted to the point where I'll have to run Ethan's bath twice because I either couldn't be interrupted to cool down or warm up the water, or because I overfilled it and I can literally spend 30 to 40 minutes in the bathroom with my face right up in the mirror, perched on the counter with my cat, Kita.
Places I Have Lived: Provo, Orem, Bountiful, Midvale, Salt Lake City, Sandy, Chicago, Aurora, Naperville, Sugar Grove, Lynchburg - where else? I feel like there are more, I moved around A LOT!
Things Most People Don't Know About Me: I'm pretty open whether anyone likes it or not, so this is difficult. Here are some things that people may already know, but have forgotten... I have OCD and an abandonment phobia, I am goofy and silly, I don't really care whether people like me or not, I am very sentimental, I have a stupidity complex, I clog (I loved it so much, I tried finding a club or group here in the Chicagoland area), play the piano and clarinet. Tasha and I used to put on "Tolman Spectaculars" for our family at Christmas - yearly - of course, starring all the siblings. Oh, sadly, there is proof. I have never had any broken bones (save an undetected upfront hairline fracture rollerblading down Capitol Hill in SLC) OR stitches. Tami and I used to HATE each other in HS and barely even spoke to one another unless it was yelling and now look at us - she is my best friend. Who, coincidentally is now tagged: Tami Tran, Andrea Tolman, Kate Tolman, Mom, Sally Chuntz

"Our Little Boy Is All Grows'd Up"

The family all has webcams, and we communicate via Skype, which is awesome - I thank Tyler for that - and while we're all over the Nation it's awesome to keep up. Ethan actually gets to know his cousins without taking the very tedious and expensive flights, which I have no patience for. I can't sit for more than 2 hours, I can't expect a 16 month old! My Gosh! So, I called Ryan, my now, 13 year-old nephew. He was not entertained. Instead, searched the web pretending to pay attention and left the room with his friend. Thank goodness Allee was there and we can have a conversation. I remember when Ryan used to LOVE me coming over and talking to me... boo hoo! I used to ask Ryan if he could stay little, and he would say "okay Aunt Toe-y". I would tell him he was so cute I wanted to eat him. So, I would ask "may I have a bite?" and he would say: "Toe-y, no". Then I would plead, 'please, just a little bite?" After which, he would concede, "Awight, dus' a littwe nibbow". And he would tilt his head and smirk. And even after I moved away and Ryan was getting older - he was always excited to see me. I miss those days, and I am not looking forward to Ethan being this age, when your 'old' Aunt it a nuisance - especially in front of your friends...