ramblings

• the reason for no pics lately (and consequently, not many blog entries....bc it's not as fun to blog if i don't get to show the boys off), the motor in my camera lens burnt up....seriously....when did it happen you ask? oh don't worry, i'm gonna tell ya. when my Gabe rode his very FIRST snowmachine by HIMSELF for the FIRST time. i wasn't upset or anything...wink, wink. except i didn't know at the time what was wrong with it. just that it wouldn't take a freakin' picture. and yes, i had my trusty point-and-shoot, but that is so lame after using the big daddy! my camera would only work in manual focus....not even close enough to being good enough to use that feature....sigh! i'm still waiting for the motor to come in.....
• AND if that isn't enough, i start a basic photography class tomorrow night for the next six weeks. can you say timing? yeah, it sucks! it's one of these things i get to cross off my bucket list. super excited to hopefully learn how to use my camera like it's meant to be (ie. maybe even a little dose of manual). i have no desire to be a professional. just want to make my camera purr a little and take a few decent photos of my boys! so i'll go without my 18-55 and instead will be packing my 75-300. not conducive to the class but it will have to do. bring on the fun!
• spring is quickly coming! it was 51 degrees today!! hip hip hooray! the signs are there. giant puddles from on the ground that has yet to thaw and soak it up. i'm sitting here at 9 pm and it's still light out. a little more blue-gray on the mountains each day. four seagulls spotted chillin' on the light posts. a snow free driveway to run and play on. tons of dog poop appearing daily in the backyard as the snow melts away....sorry....couldn't help myself :)! i'm ready to call 1-800-dog-poop bc i have way too many bags already....ugh...gross....i know.....sorry again!
• i save one of jeff's t-shirts when he is gone for his two week hitch. then when i feel like i can't do it anymore i can smell a little of him and it helps me make it through that day/moment/tantrum/crying jag! he didn't know about this until a couple months ago when he came home and found a shirt under his pillow...my secret was out. but secretly, he loved it. he makes a point now to make sure there's a shirt waiting for me in the laundry basket or under his pillow.
• i bought a real pineapple for the first time last week. usually i'm lazy and just buy it already with all the hard work done. the boys thought it was so neat. in fact, as i was cutting it, nick kept pulling the top out of the trash and running around the kitchen with it. the best part though, the sweetness. it was like candy. they would've ate the entire thing that night if i had let them! needless to say, it's on the grocery list for this week!
• aunt janice called friday and asked if she could take gabe for the day bc she had one of the other little cousins already. could she?! most certainly! i'll take a morning of errands with only one little. nick and i were shopping pals. he enjoyed being able to walk by himself holding only a finger. he jibber jabbered in the car like i've never heard him before (prob bc he can't get a word in edgewise when his brother is in there with him). we giggled through a yummy lunch! then we went home and took a naps together (well not in his crib but you get the idea). we woke up, had snacks, read the books he picked out, and played a little tower crashing. i don't ever get a chance to hang with just nick. it was refreshing and just what a momma needed! plus, i think he enjoyed it more than i did!!
• two months from now i will be in the florida sunshine! a little beach and outdoor pool time. bring it on!
• i've gotta figure out how to change my itunes account from my desktop to my laptop. my desktop has been internet deficient for over two months and it wants to wipe out my entire itunes library if i try to do it on my laptop.....technology.....ugh. this must be why my brother boycotts apple.
• my bff gave me a cranberry chicken recipe a while back. i finally had all the ingredients (well kind of ;) to make it last night. oh my good gracious was it deelish! don't know why i waited so long. and even better. super, super easy!! love me an easy, scrumptious recipe!
• as i sit here watching the american country music awards, i realized that one of the biggest things i miss about living in the states is the ability to go to a good concert. we get a few good ones up here every now and then....but not knock your socks off, stomp your feet, leave hoarse with sore hands from clapping kind. i would give anything to have the quick ability to see me a little sugarland, miranda, kenny, or zac brown (to name just a few) in person. bc face it. i'm a country girl at heart. there's no denying it.
• good night friends!