Cindy's Birthday

Today is my sister's birthday, so I would like to start this post off by saying Happy Birthday to Cindy!

Last weekend we went to Battle Ground Lake to go camping to celebrate. It was cold, but a lot of fun. We had one short burst of rain, but it was nice and sunny after that. I took Caleb with me, and it was a big adventure.

I wanted to prepare him for camping so I set up our small tent in the back yard and we put a fire in the fire pit. We stayed out in the tent until it got dark and then he went inside to go to bed.

The day before we left, Word World aired a camping episode. As we were watching it, I talked to Caleb about the camping trip that we were going on the next day. In the morning I started packing up everything we were taking with us. Every time I pulled something out of the garage, Caleb would ask, "What are you doing, Mama? What's that, Mama?"

I answered him about each thing individually, telling him what it was, what it did, and why we would need it. He asked where we were going. I told him we were going to the park to sleep in the tent. It was really exciting to him. When Shawn woke up Caleb said, "Dada! We are going to Nana's house to sleep in the tent!" I reminded him that we were going to the park and he got excited all over again exclaiming, "oh yeah!"

I noticed this weekend that Caleb is talking a lot more. He is more clear as well, and so I don't have to translate for him as much anymore. He's just growing up way too fast. Next year, camping will be even more fun!

Not Pregnant

I would like to preface this blog by first saying that I have peed on a very expensive stick, and that stick read, "not pregnant".

I'm 4 days late, I'm exhausted, my hips hurt, I'm naseaus, but I'm not pregnant. I have no idea what all of this means. Am I stressed out? Yes, but not more than I have been and it's never stopped me before.

I don't want to get too personal, but I have never been very regular, but I've also never had such a delay. I'd like nature to just hurry up and take it's course already so I can get on with my life.

I Need a Vacation

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don't know what it is lately, but I am exhausted. I could really use a vacation. Yes, I am going to Sacramento, CA next week for a wedding, but it's not the same. I need the kind of vacation where you just relax and don't do anything. I need the kind of vacation that is a true get away.

I've always imagined that my dream vacation would be on a white, sandy, tropical Florida beach. The kind of beach that is close enough to everything to enjoy local attractions, but far enough away from everything to be a peaceful Oasis. Some place like St. Augustine, Ponte Verda and the Beaches, Florida.

I spent the day looking up vacations in St. Augustine. I think I would like to stay at the St. George Inn. The prices are fair, the view is terrific, and the surrounding attractions look so fun! There are palm trees everywhere, the ocean water is clear blue, and the sand is pure white. Everywhere you turn, it looks like you are standing in a post card!

The website I have been checking out is http://www.romanceliveshere.com/. It's a fitting name if you ask me. What about this picture doesn't look romantic? There is something for everyone at this site. Check it out and you'll see.

Here in Portland, we have the Shanghai Tunnel tours, and they have something similar in St. Augustine. You can take a ghost tour that walks, rides, or even sails on a 72' sail boat. I would love to take the sailing tour. To be out on the water at night, listening to spooky stories and watching out for ghost ships sounds like a cheeky little adventure that is just my style. I'm a huge skeptic, and I love to try to be convinced. Here is a picture taken by one of the guests of the ghost tour. This ghost looks like it has 80's hair.

There is a Museum of weapons and early American history that I think Shawn would like. When we went to Medieval Times, we wanted to go to their Medieval weapons exhibit, but we ran out of time. I wonder if early American weapons are as... errr... creative as Medieval weapons? No better way to find out than to visit the museum, I suppose!

The rest of the time I want to hang in a hammock and have people deliver drinks served in coconut shells. Maybe a little bit of shopping. Breakfast by the pool, lunch by the ocean, and dinner at a fine dining restaurant... if I want. This is the kind of place where I would just wing it every day. No itinerary for me, just leisure; pure and simple.

What more could you expect from a romantic vacation in Florida?

Plants Vs Zombies

I am totally addicted to a game called Plants vs Zombies. This is just my kind of game. It's a little cheeky, a little cheesy, and super cute looking.

This is an RTS, or, Real Time Strategy game. You play as the mastermind to a botany based defense against a Zombie raid on your home. A cartoon lawn is laid out on a grid and Zombies walk from one end to the other trying to invade your house. In order to protect your home, you have to plant different plants that fight them off.

The different vegetation items all do different things. For example, the sunflowers give you sun power and the pea shooters spit out peas that damage the zombies. There are also different kinds of Zombies. A Zombie in an inflatable tube can travel through water, while a Zombie with a bucket on his head will take more fire power to bring down.

You make your decisions on the fly, placing your plants while the zombies are approaching. As you advance through the levels, you unlock new kinds of plants and scenarios. The changes require you to adjust your strategy.

I've been playing this game since I got it on Easter. I love Zombie movies and so this game is really fun for me. I think its hilarious how the Zombies say "we're coming", like in the 1968 Night of the Living Dead. They do a pretty creepy zombie groan and call out for "brraaaiiiinsss". After you beat the game the fist time around, you are treated to a pretty humorous surprise!

It's Not My Fault I Like Melrose Place

The first time Melrose Place was on the air, I didn't watch it. Not one single episode. However Shawn watched every episode. He kept track of who slept with who, and who died, and who pretended to die.

Now that Melrose Place is on TV again, he is back to his old routine. Every week, without fail, he watches Melrose Place. He also fills me in on episodes and characters from yester-year. Since I have been watching the show here and there, I have to say, I am getting interested!

It's weird; it sucks you in. It's like TV crack and I can't help myself. I can't wait to see what sleezy thing someone is going to do next. It's so off the wall and unreal. Art thieves, prostitutes, and murderers, oh my!

Friday is Date Night

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of 20th Century Fox. All opinions are 100% mine.

Have you guys seen the commercials for this new Steve Carell & Tina Fey movie called Date Night? I saw a trailer for the first time 2 days ago and it looks SO funny! I love both Steve Carell and Tina Fey; I'm a big fan of The Office and 30 Rock, so I am super excited to see them together in this movie.

Basically what happens in this Date Night Movie is as follows. The suburban parents of an average family go out on a normal date night. From what I saw on TV, they pretend to be a different couple on the restaurant's wait list so that they can get a table faster. (A la Ferris Bueller's Day Off, perhaps?)Hijinx ensues when they soon learn that the couple they are masquerading as is wanted by a group of underworld criminals.

Here is the short trailer from YouTube.

I think my favorite line from this trailer is, "This phone smells like urine!" Hilarious! Comedy movies are my favorite types of movies to watch in the theater. I don't enjoy paying money to sit in a theater to watch some heart wrenching story that is going to make my make-up and my nose run (way to go, Titanic). Comedies and big block busters with killer special effects, like Avatar, are the types of movies that you will most likely see me watching in theaters.

My husband, Shawn is not a big movie goer. We used to live across the street from the movie theater and went all the time, but recently he hasn't been that into it. He was with me when we saw the Date Night trailer on TV and even he seemed excited about it.

"That looks so funny!" I literally exclaimed

"Yeah, I like Steve Carell and Tina Fey. It looks good." Shawn was moderately interested and I saw an opportunity to go to the movies.

"It comes out Friday, we should totally go!" Again, that is a well deserved exclamation mark.

"Okay."

Yes! Score for me, I am going out on a date with my husband! I think the last movie we saw in theaters together was Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so that tell you how long it has been since we have been. I remember having such a great time, and now every time I watch that movie on DVD I think of the great time that we had together.

The movie comes out this Friday, April 9th. Friday night! What a perfect night for date night! I get off just a little bit earlier than normal this Friday and I am going to ask Shawn out on our own date night to see this movie... and I don't think we'll be the only ones!

Ladies, grab your husbands, boyfriends, crushes - whatever! This movie is going to be a blast and a great way to kick off the weekend. I hope to see everyone there on opening night. Oooh, I better Fandango my tickets now!

I'm Gonna Be Sick

Today, without any reasonable cause, I had several waves of nausea. I know that you're thinking; I thought it, too. We will find out in about 5 days. Until then, I will just be sweating it.

I also had a headache, so maybe I am just getting sick. Not that I don't love babies, I'm just not ready for another one yet. As you know, I have a strong desire to work from home by blogging full time. I wouldn't want to have another baby until I could consider blogging at least a viable part time job.

I don't even know why I am talking about this. It isn't as if I have any choice in the matter. Whatever is happening is already happening and I will just have to roll with the punches. I guess this can be just another lesson that you have to adapt to whatever life throws at you... although I still hope that life is just throwing me a 24 hour flu, and not a 9 month flu! Hehe!