Midnight Visitor

I have to admit one thing: if we are going to have disturbances in the night due to unexpected visitors, I think I'd rather have it be mysterious criminals escaping the law than vermin. Unfortuately, the pond behind our house is a haven for both, so once in a while we get the latter sort (they don't even have the courtesy to knock on the door and give us a chance to grab the gun...they come in from under the oven and scare us out of our wits). We managed to grab a picture of our univited guest last night before we dispatched him to the dumpster where he'll hopefully be a happier rodent.

If you know Adam, you know that even though he is a strapping man who is afraid of very few things, mice get the best of him. He has my utter respect, though, because I am even more freaked out by the creepy, crawly creatures and could never muster enough courage/gall to stick my head under the oven and remove the trap. While I'm undecided on whether I prefer live or fatal traps, one thing is certain: I prefer visitors of the human persuasion!

I've Been Tagged: Six of My Many Quirks

My sister-in-law, Amy, tagged me, so here are six quirks:

1. My closet is organized by item type and color and in a very specific order. It drives me crazy to have an item out of place, not hanging the right direction, falling halfway off the hanger, etc.

2. I feel naked if I go for a run or walk by myself or without a stoller holding at least one child.

3. I'm a showering and shaving obsessor. Sometimes I shower four times a day, and frequently I've shaved my legs twice in one day. I have to shower and shave everything from my neck down every morning or I can't function; I'd shave my head and eyebrows, too, if I wouldn't look like a space freak. Body hair of any kind makes me absolutely sick, as does "bed smell".

4. I also have a very specific plan for items that go in the dishwasher (like Amy) and get really irritated if someone else loads the dishes the "wrong" way.

5. My toenails and fingernails must be as short as possible at all times; any white extension makes me feel dirty and bothers me tremendously!

6. I'm a bit of a kitchen snob; I love to use the best pans, knives, tools, appliances, and ingredients that I can and I treat my batterie de cuisine better than most of my posessions (hand washing, careful drying and placement in cabinets, etc.).

Leslie, Stephanie, Becky W., Adam, Jeanette, and Lindsey...you're it!

Happy Birthday, Karli!

I can't believe little Karli is already two years old! We had a fun weekend celebrating her birthday and finished it off with a big slice of Mike last night (Karli is obsessed with the movie Monsters, Inc., so I tried my hand at a monster cake). Derrick and Leslie came over to join the party and brought Karli an adorable Nemo bubble-blowing machine that Amber loves to "borrow".

Along with her pierced ears and new fuzzy blankie from her family, Grandma and Grandpa Liljenquist sent Karli a cute package full of fun surprises: hair barettes, movies, money for treats from the ice cream truck, princess jammies, a cover-up, and an adorable Ariel swimming suit. Grandma and Grandpa Clark gave Karli some money to use for a shopping spree where she found a cute baby doll that coos and giggles, another movie, Curious George panties, a bubble tumbler, and some new shirts. Great Grandma and Grandpa Rydalch sent her $5 to buy a new Barney book. Karli really cleaned up this year; thank you so much for all of your generosity and kindness! :)

False Alarm (the good kind)

Just to let everyone know, we are going to stay in Lansing until July 18th. That means we get a few more weeks of playgroup, the Trace Adkins concert for my birthday (yay!) and more time with Adam! :) We'll see you in Utah in three weeks!