You Know That Song

Shortly after a reunion of college roomates in the Baltimore airport

Amanda: So. I keep thinking about this song. I think you guys would really like it. .....Do you know what song I'm talking about???
Katie: What? No. Not based on that description.
Amanda: Well. It could be a line dance or it could be played at a rave. I can really see Jenna dancing to it. Do you know what song I'm talking about????
All of us: No. Definitely not. Try to sing some of it.
Amanda: Da. daaa.  I can't really think of the tune. You know! It could be at a rave OR a line dance!
All of us: We have no idea.
Zach: (starts searching for top forty songs on his phone and randomly calling off names)
Amanda: I think its a girl that sings it. It could be at a rave or a line dance. 

Two days later driving down red dirt roads in Georgia:

Ginny: Hey, I think this is the song Amanda was talking about!

And it was.

Post Wedding Trantrum

Me: Ok, Katie. It's time to leave. The wedding is over and our shuttle is leaving.

Katie: I don't want to leave. I want to keep dancing!

Me: Yeah. I know. But we're leaving. Come on.

Katie: I just want everyone to know that I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS DECISION!

back at the cabin.

Katie: I want to keep partying! I want to dance!

Me/Ginny: We'll stay up and hang out. But I'm pretty sure we're done partying.

Katie: I want to party! You guys are lame!

Me: I think you're being a little dramatic.

Katie: I want to be dramatic! I AM BEING DRAMATIC LIKE AUBREY!

Me: You've got to be kidding me (walks away into bathroom)

Katie: Oh fine! Walk away from me! You're lame!

Katie: They are having a party at the cabin next door. I'm going to go over there with those cool people!

Me: Bye Katie!

Ginny: Are you going to let her go there?

Me: She'll be back in five minutes.

...less than five minutes later

Katie: I did not fit in to that party. 

...Katie, we love you! Also, you know you're in a good place when you're legitimately comparing yourself to a three year old. 

Spirit Animal

Server: Hi, My name is Brandon. I'm going to be your server today.
Ingrid: What is your middle name Brandon
Brandon: Umm, people don't usually ask that. It's Joseph
Ingrid: That is solid
Brandon: Most of my friends call me BJ. You know, Brandon Joseph
Me: They do not call you BJ! Do you know that that means?!
Jolene: I'm pretty sure he knows what it means
BJ: Yeah. I like it. It's a good nickname. 
Ingrid: Ok. BJ.....what is your spirit animal?
BJ: My spirit animal...
Me: I'm thinking maybe Falcon
Ingrid: No, he's definitely a meerkat. I definitely see meerkat. Don't you?
BJ: Ummm.... I guess I could be a meerkat.

End of meal. At this point we know a lot about BJ. His nickname. College major. Dream job. Dream place to live. That he's the best man in his brother's wedding. That he likes to play mud volleyball while drinking. That he is 24. That he despises dark chocolate. Probably a few other things that I don't remember at this point.

BJ: Ok, with your bill I'm going to put a little survey card. You can go online and complete the survey. There are some questions about me also. I put my name on the back of the card. I actually put BJ. Normally I put Brandon because I don't usually get so personal with my guests. 

Grand Central

Amanda: I thought the station was a little bit farther up the street so I was walking and I came to this beautiful building and I was like, what is this beautiful building? Then I realized I'm an idiot and it was Grand Central Station
Me: I had the exact opposite experience looking for my train station. I was expecting it to look like Grand Central Station so every nice building I saw I was like 'is this it?' Turns out it looked like every other train station, a platform with a track on either side. 

Age Appropriate

A phone conversation between Martin and myself circa 9:45 AM Sunday Morning.

Me: It was a really age appropriate birthday. We drank a lot of wine and made gnocchi from scratch. And then eventually we went to the bar for a couple of drinks. Today I feel like I'm going to die. I'm sweating. My whole body hurts.
Martin: Yep. That sounds like a hangover. Clear diagnosis. 

Lots of pauses in conversation.

Martin: Well, you're just blowing me away with your talkativeness. I'll talk to you later, love!

...

A text message from Amanda during said conversation. She's in her room. Less than 6 feet from me, in the living room.

Amanda: I'm dying


...

A conversation between Amanda and myself, minutes later

Me: I can't even function. I was talking to Martin on the phone and I felt like we had been talking forever, I couldn't even say anything. Then when I hung up I realized it had been three minutes and twenty eight seconds. 


I'm pretty sure this is what old feels like.

Appearances

Me:  I am so excited we got that salsa as a regular item. The hot is delicious!

Coworker: Yeah. I actually had it with my dinner last night and it was really good.

Me: I just really wish it wasn't organic. 

Coworker: Why? Who cares?

Me: I don't believe in organic products. 

Coworker: Well, I don't specifically shop for organic but I don't have a problem buying it.

Me: You don't understand. In the circles I run in, I can't have organic products in my pantry.

Coworker: Well.....maybe just pour it in a bowl before people come over. 

Consider this my public disclaimer when you find organic salsa in my cupboard. It's delicious, not because it's organic, because the recipe is fantastic. 

Birthday Adventures

I can't believe Aubrey turns three on Sunday!!! Complete craziness! In honor of this monumental event, Martin and I spent the day with Aubrey on Monday, taking her to the Strong Museum of Play.

Martin's looking way too concentrated to be racing with an *almost* three year old

It's clearly necessary to have ALL the balls at once (of course, this action was largely coaxed by daddy)

It's a real possibility that Martin and I had more fun in the "little diggers" building section than Aubrey did.

Putting that sign on the wall was like asking Martin to build a higher tower. His immediate reaction was: Challenge Accepted!

Martin: I think you're going to have to block me. That lady has her eye on me. She's going to shut me down. You might have to provide a distraction. I need to work quickly. 

The "I built a chair!" face and then the "It doesn't support my daughter face!"

 

First time on a merry-go-round. Pure excitement.

 Martin: I would love to be the CEO of this place. I bet that guy is just sitting in his office, smoking a cigar and laughing.
Me: Why's that.
Martin: He's like....those suckers. I'm going to put a merry-go-round at door that way kids can beg their parents' to ride it on the way in AND on the way out.

Insta-dump

My sister-in-law/one of my best friend, Ingrid, is in Afghanistan. Thanks to the internet, we get to talk quite often, but not nearly at our normal pace of 1-2 times a day.

On Thursday, Ingrid sent me this message:

Post more instagram pics!!!!!!

So, I obliged and got a little obsessed with posting pictures over the last few days.

Helping me change the sheets

Quiet time

 

Follow along here, if you'd like!

Woodchucks

Another woodchuck story. Fortunately, not involving our living situation this time.

Tucker: So, has any ever been to ....(names a specific town)? When I was a little kid we went to something up there and my mom told me that the people there were woodchucks. So while I was standing in line to get some food with my dad I decided it would be a good time to tell everyone around me that my mom says they are woodchucks ... Yeah. ....that didn't go over well. 

Tristan: you know, woodchuck is a pretty good description!

Serendipity

When you're in the midst of new love everything is amazing. Colors are brighter. Food tastes better. People are friendlier. And most importantly, almost everything is serendipitous.

Caton: Guess what? Mike and I have the same initials only backwards. Mine are CM and his are MC. Isn't that crazy?!
Me: Uh....yeah...crazy?!
Martin: God works in mysterious ways.

...

Me: Do you want some coffee?
Caton: I would love some!
Me: Do you think Mike wants coffee?
Caton: Mike LOVES coffee. We both love coffee!

...

Caton: Did I tell you that Mike loves Tim Hortons.
Mike: Well, I went there once it was good. I think Caton loves Tim Hortons. But I love it too, in solidarity.

...

Caton: That is NOT a T-Rex. Right Mike, that is not a T-Rex is it?
Mike: Solidarity......Nope. Not a T-Rex.
Me: This is not fair. I can't compete with solidarity.

You Had to be There

Setup: First stop on a wine tour. Caton and Mike have just finished telling a story. I am laughing hysterically. At this point I can't remember the actual story, but I definitely remember thinking it was funny at the time.

Mike: Well, you sort of had to be there.
Caton: You can't say you had to be there unless no one is laughing. Jenna is cracking up.

Mike: (starting to tell another story): You kind of had to be there for this story.
Caton: Stop saying that! You can't say that at the beginning of a story. You need to wait until the end.

...

Setup: second stop on a wine tour.
Caton: Ryan, this is Jenna. This is her actual voice. She doesn't have an indoor voice.

...

Setup: I'm a prepared person
Me: I'm going to buy a bottle of wine for us to drink at the next winery. And I brought food. I have fruit and carrots and chips and salsa.
Judy: Wow, you are prepared. I was just happy I remembered to bring my toothbrush home.

At the second winery.

Caton: I think I'm going to buy this bottle of wine. Do you think they'll let us use our wine glasses if we drink it here?
Me:  I have plastic cups in my car if they don't.

Caton: Yeah, we're going to drink a bottle here outside. They sell food here. Natalie and Katie are getting some.
Me: They're buying food? I have food! I have fruit and chips and salsa and carrots.
Caton: We got it. You have a Mary Poppins car or something.
Me: What can I say, I'm a mom.

...

Setup: We pull into a parking lot of a winery and sort of stop our cars in a circle to decide if we should stop/have time to stop and still make it to the winery we want to go to before closing. We decide to go into the winery. Martin, being the inside car in the circle and the car the furthest from being parked in a reasonable fashion places the car into park.
Caton: Are you seriously going to park like that.
Martin: Yes, of course!

Handyman

Setup: I love our house, but like any old house, there are some really annoying things about it. Like the basement door that sticks and rarely opens. Yesterday I was caught yanking on the basement door by Martin who quickly put a stop to my method.

Martin: Whoa. Whoa. Whoa! Don't do that. Let me show you. If the door doesn't open put your hand like this and apply even pressure here and just like that you can slowly pull it open.
Me: (looking at him dubiously as I know this is a method I will probably not be able to recreate) Ok.
Martin: Because if you do what you're doing one of these days your going to break off the bottom hinge and you know I'm not going to fix it and then....well that's it, you know I'm not going to fix it.

Point well taken. As evidenced by the door to our recycling cupboard which Aubrey leaned on and knocked out of the wall within the first couple months of living in this home.....We still have a doorless cupboard.

But. There was the lightswitch he replaced back in the spring.

Matt: Take a picture so you can remember Martin doing home repairs.

Oh Matt, you know my husband so well!

It Will Be a Conversation

Michelle: So your blog is all conversations now?
Me: Yeah.
Michelle: Why?
Me: Well, I was just feeling really uninspired to write other posts, and the conversations are my favorite part anyway.
Martin: So, what are you going to do when something really inappropriate happens in our marriage and you want to post about it.
Me: Oh, it will be a conversation.
Michelle: Yeah, she'll be posting the conversation before you have it.

Continue Watching

Amanda: Don't you hate how Netflix pops up with that continue watching button after a few episodes? It's like, yes, I'm still here doing nothing and I still want to keep watching.
Martin: I know, it's like they're really rubbing it in your face that you're not doing anything productive. 'Don't worry - I'm still here. Not mowing the lawn'
Me: The only time it's really useful is when you've fallen asleep. You know, so you don't miss a bunch of episodes.


Oh laziness!

There's Two?

Sometimes, it takes a special occasion like a wedding to realize just how long it's been since you've seen or talked to or even just shared the slightest bits of information with people you used to see on a daily basis.

Ranatta: So, does your mom have the kid?
Me: Yeah, they're with my mom.
Ranatta: Wait....THEY?
Me: Yeah. I have two girls.
Ranatta: When did that happen?


And to think, almost exactly three years ago I stood up in her gorgeous wedding. I need to keep in better touch with my friends!

Petit Four and Risque

As mentioned, Matt and Judy hosted an amazing wedding! And, almost as much fun as the wedding was the reunion of college friends on Friday night. As we all came into town to celebrate Matt and Judy's love for each other, we met up (we were all sleeping in the same house) and hunkered down for a just our style game night.

We started the evening with Catchphrase were a few of us really showed our intelligence off.

Me: (hits the next button)
Kristin: What are you doing? You can't skip.
Me: I have never even heard of this word. It's risk but spelled R-I-S-Q-U-E
Caton: That's risqué
Me: Oooooh. Right!

Max: Ok. It's a small size.
(various guesses from crowd)
Max: Not 3, not 5 but...
(various guesses from crowd)
Max: Two plus two is...
(various guesses, including four, from crowd)
Max: Ok, a small one of those.
(puzzled looks)
TIME'S UP.
Max: It was petite four.
Crowd: Do you mean petit four? Like from a tea party.
Max: Well, how was I supposed to know that? I've never had a tea party!

....
Then we moved on to King's Cup, which invariably, the best part is never have I ever.

Kristin: Hmm. Well I used to say never have I ever had a White Russian but then I had one.
Max: (thinking she was talking about people and not the drink) But that's almost all the Russians!

Max: I've never been camping
James: What?! What did you do in high school??? Where did you drink?


nothing like a good game night to make you miss college all over again.

Capitalizing

On Saturday afternoon, we had the honor of attending the wedding of my (second family) best friend's younger sister, Kerri McKenna. And the wedding was held at a pond. Highlights for Aubrey most definitely included wrestling in the grass with Karalyn, using the port-a-potty 7 times, spending way too much time hanging out by the photobooth (and breaking the wicker chair), sweet corn, two bowls of chocolate ice cream, and watching boys play basketball. One highlight for me (other than the obvious appreciation for true love) was seeing a baby turtle. Like a real baby, just hatched out of the egg, still connected to the yolk, shell laying by it's side, size of a nickel baby turtle. Unfortunately, I didn't have my phone on me at the time and didn't get a picture.

Caton wasn't with me when I encountered this baby turtle on the water's edge with Aubrey because she was busy with maid of honor-type duties. Aubrey and I were some of the first people to see the turtle and a steady group of kids surrounded the area on a pretty consistent basis after our departure.

Caton: So apparently there was a baby turtle at the pond.
Me: Oh yeah! Aubrey and I were one of the first people to see him. It was a real baby. The yolk was still attached. I've never seen one that young! Did you see him?
Caton: No. Some boy I didn't know was charging $1 to see him.
Me: What?!
Caton: He came up to me and asked if I wanted to see a baby turtle and I got excited. He said, 'It's $1' I couldn't believe it and I responded, 'Are you kidding?!' He was just like, 'It's $2 if you want to take a picture'. So I didn't see it.
Caton: Way to capitalize on the birth of a turtle. But I saw this cool frog when I was taking down lights the next day. Want to see a picture?!

Slacking

Ingrid: You know, you're kind of slacking at blogging lately.
Me: I know! ....I'm sorry.
Ingrid: Well as long as you know and you're sorry.

Storm

Martin: Whoa, come look at the sky! Doesn't that look like a tornado forming way out there?
Caton: Oh my! Yes! Oh no, we better get into the house.

in the house, Caton is quickly working herself into a small panic.

Caton: Do you think we should go in the basement?
Martin: Nah, we've got homeowner's insurance.


the above picture was taken from a different storm last night, but the sky still looks pretty ominous.

Forgetful

Caton: I've been so forgetful lately. I can't remember if I've already told a story or if I just thought in my head that I wanted to say something so I end up saying things like 6 times. Also, did I mention that Chuck might be coming?
Me: Yes. You've said that about six times tonight.
Caton: See what I mean?!

...

Caton: Chuck, did you say happy birthday to Jenna?
Chuck: I didn't know it was her birthday.
Me: You told us six times Chuck was coming but you didn't tell Chuck once it was my birthday?!
Caton: I told you I can't remember things!

...

Caton: Did I tell you the story about playing can jam last night?
Me: No. I haven't seen you since last night. I am just seeing you now.
Caton: Wait. I saw you last night?
Me: No! Your story happened last night.
Caton: Oh. Right. I can't remember anything!