Grandma & Grandpa's Wedding Picture

Grandma & Grandpa Nelson's Wedding picture from 1950.   

Larger Image here.

MA: Can you please identify these people?

The To Do List

Since I love my lists and I seem to focus better when I have everything I need to do down on a list, I thought I would post a list on everything I need to before Jessi picks me up on Friday to go to the retreat!!  I'm hoping to get 90% of it done tomorrow.

• Cut up & wash Fruit--Watermelon, Honey Dew, Cantaloupe, Pineapple
• Cup up & wash Veggies--Broccoli, Cauliflower, cucumber, tomato
• Make Veggie Pizza crust
• Put together Veggie Pizza
• Make Salsa
• Boil Potatoes for potato salad
• Boil eggs for potato salad
• Make potato salad
• Make Bread Crust Cuban, and normal loaf
• Make Cinnamon Buns (If I have time and everything here, I think I do.)
• Make Muffins
• Make run to RSC so fridge isn't overflowing--DON'T FORGET FREEZER ITEMS!!!!
• Make one more run to Sam's to get last minute things.  Must do Friday Morning.
• Take Jessi's Thicker Picture
• Find RSC Halloween Picture for Jessi
• Scan Great-Great Baker Grandparents in.
• Scan Grandma & Grandpa's Wedding pictures in along with invite, napkin, etc.
• Order pictures.  Don't forget Cullen pictures and Nancy picture.  Also find a good Bellywing picture.
• Finish Nancy SB page.--Will do at retreat.  It is packed.
• Finish packing SB stuff.  Go through paper.
• Pack clothes for retreat
• Pack bathroom stuff for retreat
• Don't forget to pack Jam and popcorn.
• Paint toenails
• Clean off kitchen table
• Wash dishes
• Put dishes away
• Do load of darks
• Fold laundry
• Clean up area by couch
• Tires checked at 4 p.m. at Fleet Farm Thursday.  Don't forget to look at Pressure Canner, Tiller, and container for cat litter.  
• Deal with glasses issue--start at Pearle--only if I have time.  Might do Monday.
• Sync iPod
• Don't forget Twilight!!!!
• Mail PBS book out
• FIND FAMILY TREE INFO--I put it in a such a safe spot I can't find it now....(Looked in SB room, safe, file cabinet.   If you were my family tree info where would you be?)

Random Thoughts

First, I have to start out with a picture of Cullen. Maybe if I post pictures of him I will get more readers and comments since he is so handsome. ;)



The other day at lunch I actually wrote down some of my random thoughts in between eating and reading my book. Yup, I'm such a multi-tasker there. For your reading pleasure here they are.

• There's just something about sitting down with music cranked loud that just makes my day.
• I never realized how much fun the word Cullen is to write. Certain words make me happy.
• My Ipod cracked me up. It went from "Laughed Until We Cried" by Jason Aldean to "Crazy Bitch" by Buckcherry. My taste in music is eclectic. I like it that way. Never know what's going to come on next.
• It annoys me that some songs are the perfect volume and other sounds go from really loud to really quiet. Grrrr.
• Writing on a pad of paper is really soothing and relaxing to me. Coloring in coloring books with a new set of crayons is also soothing and relaxing to me.
• Loving the Twilight Score that I downloaded. Wonderful music. You should really check it out.
• I'm almost part-time again. YAY!
• It's funny how my writing changes. It goes from almost perfect to really messy. I don't mean to do it either.
• I really want to go and see Jason Aldean in concert again. Heck, I'd love to go to a concert again, it's been way too long.
• "No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems" by Kenny Chesney really puts me in an awesome summer good. The song just says beach and summer all over it. Love it.
• One of the things I miss most while working full-time is being able to nap with Jason.
• So happy that I ordered my laptop! One more thing to check off my lists.
• It's beautiful outside today. Wishing I were there instead of here at work.
• I have some really redneck songs on my ipod, but I love them. A couple of them are "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" by John Denver and "Redneck Girl" by the Bellamy Brothers.
• I have a couple Guitar Hero songs that just make me want to play the game. "Talk Dirty to Me" by Poison, "Slowride" by Foghat and "Hit me with your best shot" by Pat Benetar.
• I like my tall kinda skinny writing best. I have to make an effort to write like that.
• Are you able to speak in lyrics?
• Love me some Taylor Swift songs...."White Horses" and "Love Song" are two of my current favs.
• The song "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band is so country, but I love it. One of my current favs.
• Music sounds the best LOUD.
• Music fuels my cleaning.

Obsessed with water?

Growing up I had a black cat named Sambo. I have the cutest picture of me in huge bubble bath with bubbles on my head and Sambo sitting on the edge of the tub batting at the bubbles and playing in the water. I need to find that picture and scan it in. I think I might have it or it's at Ma's house....anyway!

Cullen is fascinated by the bathroom. In the morning after I shower, before I can even dry off, he is in the bathtub. It's so funny! If I close the shower curtain completely, he sits and meows until I open it up so he can hop on in.



I love this picture of him, he is so cute. Almost reminds me of Puss in Boots from Shrek when he is pouting.



In this next picture, please don't look at the state of our tub/shower as we have really hard water and it hasn't gotten a really good scrubbing for a while. Cullen is obsessed with drinking water that drips from the faucet! He will sit in there and drink it as it comes out. It's so funny. And yes, his water dish is full, we make sure of that.



The other night I took a bubblebath and Cullen was fascinated. I didn't have Jason grab the camera until all the bubbles were gone though. I know bad kitteh mommy. But by the time I was done in the tub, Cullen's paws were soaked and I was sure he was going to jump on in. He didn't, but I think he was really thinking about it!!!

This is where he sat most of the time watching me in the tub.

Cullen and Toys.

Jason and Cullen have are forming a great relationship around cat toys. Jason loves to tease Cullen and make him jump around and play. It's so much fun watching them!

But first, here are some pictures of Cullen and one of his favorite toy fishes. This one Jessi made for him! Cullen loves the 'nip.




Here are some pictures of Jason and Cullen playing. :)









Cullen thinking, I'm such a cool cat. He doesn't like the orange light that my camera makes before the flash goes off and closes his eyes like this. So cute!





And some other random Cullen pictures. :)

Cullen on the computer

Well maybe, on my lap. :)

Cullen really likes it on my lap. If the laptop is actually on my lap he tries to push it off, and if the laptop is sitting in front of me, he doesn't like it when I type. He also likes to walk on the keyboard, which I am trying to discourage before my new laptop arrives. But it's so cute!!!

Cullen's Antics

Since I know that you all are waiting with bated breath to hear all about Cullen some more, I thought I would share some!

He seems to be adjusting well. He is eating and drinking and using his litter box. Today he FINALLY ate a treat and wanted more. Before the treats would have to sit out for a long time and he would just lick it, leave it, then come back and lick it again. This morning he ate one out of my hand and wanted another one. I wonder how long it will be before he knows the sound of the treat jar.

Cullen and Jason get along great! They play and really seem to enjoy each other. Since Jason works overnights, Cullen gets some playtime in then. It will be interesting to see what Cullen does during the day when I am back to part time.

I have a little nest on the couch. I always sit on the same end, and have my laptop there to use. Cullen has decided that he doesn't like the laptop on my lap. He belongs there instead. He also doesn't like it when I type, even one handed when he is on my lap. Both hands belong on him and petting him. I am so owned by the kitteh. :) Speaking of being on my lap, before he would jump up there and stay there for about 2-3 minutes before hopping off. Last night he was on there for a good half hour to 45 minutes before jumping down. It was so relaxing to have him there.

Jason discovered that Cullen can open the bathroom door! The door doesn't close all the way when I have clothes hanging there drying. Cullen can just stick his paw under the door and pull the door open.

I swear he has a fascination with the bathroom. At first he didn't like the sound of water at all. Now he doesn't seem to mind it too much. Yesterday morning after my shower, he was in the bathroom meowing and I thought it was because the shower curtain was closed (it usually is) and he didn't like that. I opened it part way and he jumped right into the bathtub. Whenever we are in the bathroom or if the bathroom door is open, Cullen is in the bathtub exploring in there. Unless a drop of water lands on him, then he goes tearing out of the bathroom. I don't know why he likes that so much.

Last night I took a bubble bath and Cullen hung out in the bathroom most of the time and almost seemed like he wanted to jump right in! He kept getting up on his hind legs and peeking into the tub. He kept almost touching the bubbles and water, but never did.

Cullen is a hoot when you play with him. He jumps all over the place and loves his toys. Specifically anything with catnip in them! (Of course, he is a cat after all). He is starting to play with his toys on his own as well. He loves to tear around from one end of the house to another. You can tell when he does that since the rugs are all askew. He definitely has some personality. Love that about him.

I do have some more pictures on my camera that I need to get uploaded and share. Don't fret, you will see more of him!!

Introducing Cullen

Cullen is our new cat that we got approximately an hour and a half ago.  He was born in June of 2008.  He is just adorable. :)

Here he is on our way home with us!


The first thing he did when we got home was get of the carrier and start exploring. So far he likes the living room the best. He is a bit scared when we get up and move, but he seems to be adjusting fast.

I think that this corner is going to be his favorite hiding spot. It's between the wall and the big couch.



Look at his long whiskers! Aren't they just adorable?



Cullen and a few of his toys.



Jason playing with Cullen.



I'm sure there will be many, many, many new pictures to come. :)

At about a noon today he was already jumping up on my lap and purring. He doesn't stay there long, just enough to get a few kitteh scratches in. :)

Journal Jar {Crush}

I've been trying to blog all morning. Nothing has came to me, and I've tried to get words and form sentences and it just wasn't working. I was complaining about it on Twitter and that solved all my problems. (I <3 Twitter. You all should go join in you aren't members and share your name with me.) Anyway, after I posted the message I rummaged around in my purse (my massive, can just about hold the kitchen sink purse) since I remember I had a journal jar question in there. Not only did I find that, I also found a full size Hershey's Chocolate Bar with Almonds. Score! Now to happily munch on my chocolate and write the blog.

Anyway, let's see about today's question. It reads:

"Describe your first crush. What was the person like?"

My first crush that I actually remember and remember thinking, "Wow, I'm noticing boys" was back in fifth grade. He was in my class. I believe we had Mr. Hogberg as a teacher, I'm not positive though. I will call him "M." M was tall, skinny, and had brown eyes. The best part was that he had a great sense of humor. Plus he was really cute. I don't remember what he looked like back then though. But he would play practical jokes on people and always have something funny to say. Every time he talked to me I would blush like crazy. I was so shy. Nothing ever came of that crush, but I do remember M very well.