859

We have been running inot a bit of a problem with all of you Canadians. 859 is our area code. 800, or 888 are telemarketer numbers, but if you see 859 on your phone, it's probably us, so please answer your phone, and in a nice tone of voice too. We aren't trying to sell you something, we are trying to talk to our friends or family.
Thank-you for your support in this matter:)

Matt's wedding

Yesterday was Jeff's very best friends wedding day. Matt met a wonderful girl names Talia, and he got all gushy and totally un-Matt like. I've never seen this side of Matt before, it's like he's happy or something:) Anyway, the wedding was absolutely beautiful and perfect in every way. And I must say that one groomsman in particular looked stunning:)

Happy Anniversary

Sunday August 13 was our one year wedding anniversary. Jeff tricked me yet again. For months now he has pretended he forgot to book anything for our anniversary. I was getting a little perturbed of course. Well the day came and we had our wedding cake with my mom, her husband and Jeff's parents. Then he took me out for dinner at Chianti's and then we went to a movie. While at the theatre I told Jeff that I had bought some bubble bath for the hot tub. His response was "Oh, right, hot tub, sorry honey, no hot tub." Well we pull up to the hotel and I didn't know if I should believe him or not. We get to our room and he had booked the honeymoon suite. There were a dozen white roses, just like what we had at the wedding, and one red rose for our one year. There was champagne, a fireplace and a two person Jacuzzi tub. No hot tub indeed. It was a wonderfully romantic day.

Almost Vacation Time

We are getting very excited. We will be home from August 11-27. So far plans include Jeff going to a bachelor party for Matt Zip the first weekend we are home. And then we get to celebrate our first wedding anniversary right in the same place we got married:) That will be fun.
Then we get to hang out in Saskatoon for a whole week, we are staying at Jeff's parents house, we get to go out for my moms birthday, see some family and friends. Then Matt Zip gets married on August 19.
My brother comes to Saskatoon I think on the 16th or something. My sister gets there on the 21st. Then we are going to Anglin Lake for a night with my mom, and then on to Waskesui for a few nights with my dad.
My sister is having a baby shower on Thursday the 24th, and then we wind up with my cousin Aaron's wedding in Imperial, SK. on the 26th.
We're looking forward to it, but as you can see it will be a busy two weeks.
We hope to see as many people as possible, let us know when we can see you:)

Sweet 16

There is this show on MTV called my super sweet 16. I can not beleive that parents let their kids have parties like this for their 16th birthday. Some of these parties are more fancy than my wedding. I would hate to see what their weddings will be like. They should call this show "Bridezilla's in the Making". I didn't even know it was possible to have a birthday party like this at any point in your life. Craziness I tell you, Craziness.

Canada Day:)

I made a cake for Canada Day and I'm quite proud of it. I've never been successful in decorating a cake before:) Anyway, I hope everyone had a wonderful Canada Day:) Oh and for those Americans that visit this site, I hope you had a happy 4th of July.

Churchill Downs

We've been to Churchill Downs a couple of times in the past few months. It's always fun to go there. They have a nice museum where you can learn all about Derby winners. That's a picture of me and my brother by the 2006 Derby winner Barbaro. Of course I know that is a plastic horse, but the silks of the horse on on it, and the rose thingy in the case is the one they gave him on Derby day.
The last few times we went we took a backside track tour that was nice. You can watch one of the races from the back, and you get a nice view of the twin spires that makes Churchill downs famous.

On the backside track you also get to see the stables, and they always point out the barn where Secretariat was kept. Apparently everyone wants to have this barn on Derby Day. Although I do enjoy a good trip to Churchill Downs, I still like Keeneland more. Keeneland is here in Lexington, but they have a shorter racing season. They open again in October, so if anyone would like to go to the races with us, that's a good time to come visit.

Camping with the dog

I already blogged about camping with my mom, but here are some pictures, Bailey had lots of fun on this trip:)

San Francisco

Jeff and I very much enjoyed our trip to San Francisco. We used Jeff's Hilton points and were able to stay at the Hilton at Fishermans Warf, so we were right down by the ocean and all the fun touristy stuff. We walked a lot, and those hills kill your poor little legs. We only got to see Alcatrez from a distance, apparently you need to book weeks in advance to go out on the boat.




We rented a car one day and drove accross the Bay Bridge, and then we went to the Sonoma Vally and did some wine tasting. We also took turns driving down Lombard Street, the most crooked street in the world.






We are already talking about going back again so we can spend 3 days in Sonoma and Napa, and go to Alcatrez and drive down the number 1 highway to see the mountains. I'll let Jeff blog about the ROBOGAMES, which was the real reason we went:)

Back at it

I'm sure you have all noticed how I have not been keeping up with blogging lately. Well we've been a bit busy. First Jeff's mom came down to visit for a week in May. It was fun, and Jeff's Aunt Trudy was in Louisville for a conference at the same time. So we went up to Louisville for a day, did some shopping and went to Churchill Downs (the race track). We bet on some horses and had a lot of fun. Then I worked for three nights.
And then Jeff and I went up to Champaign, Illinois for a weekend. This is where I grew up. It was nice to show Jeff around, and see a few friends. We went to my old church and I was surprised with how much it felt like home. On the way home we visited with some friends in Indianapolis and then went to Lake Monroe to meet up with some more friends and go in their boat. We saw John Mellencamps house from the lake, and I swam up to the beach and stole a rock. And then I worked for three nights.
Next we went to Brown County park in Indiana and met up with my Mom and her husband Dwayne. It was nice camping, nice shopping, very pretty. And it was Bailey's first camping trip. He did very well and slept in the tent with us. We were right next to Lake Monroe, so we went there again. Well this time when we went by John Mellencamps house there was a big tent set up and people everywhere. So we figured soemthing big was going on. After a few hours of watching, all the guys in the group wanted to leave. Well come to find out, if we had stayed there we would have heard Jon Bon Jovi play for Mellencamps daughters wedding, and Jon Bon Jovi even came down to the lakeshore to say hello to all the boaters. I was mad. And then I worked for 3 nights.
Then my Dad, his wife Chris and my brother Tim came down to visit for a weekend. We went to Churchill Downs again, saw some horse racing, bet on a race or two. We watched game 3 of the Stanley cup finals at my house. We did some shopping, went to the Kentucky Horse Park, and had a good time. Then I worked for 3 nights.
Then Jeff and I went to San Francisco for the ROBOGAMES. Jeff made two robots and everyone liked them very much. His robots were smarted and looked better, but they just weren't as strong. The competitors from Singapore but magnets on their robots to make them stronger and well Jeff just couldn't compete with that. We also drove across the Golden Gate Bridge, went to Sonoma Vally and some wineries, and drove around San Francisco.
Now we are home. I worked 2 nights, I have 2 off, and then I work 4, then we are going camping for Canada Day.

Proud of Edmonton

I watched last nights hockey game from the couch, from the floor, from behind the couch. I was so stressed out I thought I would get an ulcer. For a team who almost didn't make the finals, Edmonton did well, very well. Here'a a story you can read about it.

NHL Playoffs

Oh I'm so excited. The Oilers are one game away from the NHL Stanley Cup finals!!! Some of you may remember how tortured I was during the last Stanley Cup playoffs. You see, of course I couldn't root for Tampa Bay, they don't even know what hockey is down there, so they shouldn't have a team. Well then I have always said either you an Oilers fan or a Flames fan, but you can't be both. And I am an Oilers fan all the way. I could not jump on the Calgary bandwagon, it was against everything I believe in as a hockey fan. Well, now Edmonton is in it and I am so happy. I just wish we could watch more of the games on TV down here. I'm hoping that Buffalo will win their series and then it will be Edmonton and Buffalo. I'd like that. You can read all about the Oilers here www.edmontonoilers.com

Old Navy

Bailey is going to be famous. I entered him into the Old Navy mascot competition. You can look at his entry at www.oldnavy.com Go to the mascot competition, and then go to see the competition. Sort the dogs by location, and make it so 48 dogs show per page. Then go to page 899. I know it's complicated, but he's on there, and he'll be famous:)

The Preakness

Yesterday Jeff and I along with Jeff's mom and his Aunt Trudy went to Churchill downs. Cheryl is here visiting and aunt Trudy had a conference in Louisville. So we went to the races, and the only race anyone could talk about was the Preakness. We bet on some races, but never got around to placing a bet on the Preakness. For those of you who aren't familiar, the PReakness is run in Baltimore and is the second race in the coveted triple crown. The triple crown starts with the Kentucky Derby which was won by Barbaro, and then there is the Preakness and it wraps up with the Belmont. Well by the time of The Preakness we were out shopping and we had heard who won, but nothing else. Well today all anyone can talk about is the very sad story of how Barbaro broke his leg on the track. They are operating right now and not sure if they can save him or not. It's sad. You can read about it here. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,379-2190876,00.html

Night Shift

You know, working nights can present a few dilema's. I hate working day shift because I do my best sleeping from 8-11 in the morning. I just wasn't made to get up early. So I enjoy night shift. However my husband does not work nights and he is out of town a lot. Well, last week I worked Tuesday night and then Jeff was away Wednesday. We had Thursday night together. Then he took the dog and went to Indianapolis for the weekend and I worked. So I was extra lonely. The reason we got the dog was so I wouldn't be lonely when Jeff was gone. So he got back Sunday, and I worked Sunday night. Monday I come home and he had found out he had to leave again. Well he decided to leave Tuesday morning so we could see each other. At least I got to keep the dog this time. He got back on Wednesday and I worked Tuesday/Wednesday. Now I actually have the opportunity to sleep in the same bed as my husband and I can't sleep. Sucks.
I'm planning to enjoy the next two nights before I have to go back to work, hopefully nothing comes up:)

Hiking

Jeff and I went for a nice hike last weekend. We went to Indian Fort Mountain in Berea, Kentucky. It was a nice hike. It was about 3 miles to the top and back, and it was a very nice view from the top. We also took Bailey with us and his little legs did a very good job. We would stop every now and then to give him some water, but he would just jump right over the logs on the path, and climb rocks like they were nothing. We stopped at the top to have a little snack and Bailey took a little nap in the shade on a nice hard rock.



Here's something you will all appreciate. I was walking ahead of Jeff and I almost stepped on a snake. It was little so at first I tried to calm myself thinking that maybe it was a worm or centipede. Well then it started to move, and to me the grossest part of snakes is when they move. So then I started freaking out and of course Jeff is like "what, what, I don't see anything." So I had to point it out to him, then he takes his snake hook and starts moving it, and then he starts taking pictures. Meanwhile I'm holding the dog and I ran about 50 feet away and kept telling Jeff to move the snake away from me so we could keep going. It was gross. Then later on I heard a little rustling in the trees and I saw a little lizard climbing a tree. Once again, I have to point it out to Jeff. Why is it that all the things that I think are gross I see first and have to almost walk right up to and point at them before Jeff see's them? Jeff always asks me how I see these things first, well my answer to that is that I am observant, and well, Jeff. . . . isn't. And I wish it was the other way around because I don't like snakes and lizards.

Tim in Taiwan

My brother Tim is in Taiwan right now visiting his friend Chester. I've been reading both of their blogs the last week or so and it's been quite humorous really. So go check out my brothers blog page and be sure to click on the links for the videos.

Gardening

It was a beautiful day today. It was sunny and in the 20's (that the 70's F). So I went to Lowe's and bought some gardening stuff, and then I came home and Bailey and I spent the afternoon in the backyard gardening. Bailey was very content outside, he would lay down in the sun on his side and fall asleep. Then he would get up and look at me with his little tongue hanging out, so we would go in for a drink, then back outside. I didn't even need to tie him up, he just stayed right on my heels the whole time.
Now we are inside, and he's sacked out on the couch. We watched the basketball game and I'm a little sad that George Mason lost. Now I don't know who to cheer for. I am talking about the NCAA tournament for those of you who don't follow it.
All in all, it's been a wonderful day.

Stupid Taxes

We are working on our taxes today. I hate doing taxes. I'm busy sorting reciepts and Jeff is madly typing away on the computer, and Bailey, well he's lying around looking all cute and relaxed. I'm worn out already.
I think we'll take a break, go to the gym, get groceries and eat supper.

Jeff

For those of you who have ever wondered if my family, especially my brother, get along with Jeff or not, here is a story to put your mind at ease. Today we were driving home from the store and Jeff kept rolling down my window, even though he knows I like my window up. So I would roll it up again, and he would wait until I wasn't paying attention and roll it down again. Those stupid automatic windows, and it makes me upset that he has a button to my window since he's on the drivers side, but I don't have a button to his wondow.
So anyway, then we both remembered a story from our honeymoon in Hawaii. We had rented a mustang convertable to drive all the way around the island of Oahu. So we're going along with the top down and Jeff decided to clean the windshield. Well when he hit the window sprayer, it shot up over the windsheild and I got doused in washer fluid. Well Jeff and I looked at each other, and Jeff got this mischeiveous look on his face and he did it again, and I ducked. And the rest of the trip every time I wasn't paying attention, Jeff would spray me with washer fluid.
When we are home and my brother and brother in law are there, my poor sister and I get picked on the whole time. So see they all get along just fine.