Hello children!

Well, look at me, blogging again.

I just can't stay away.

Also, I've had many a request for a new blog.

Apparently, ya'll can't stay away either!

(Yes, I said ya'll, I live in Texas and my parents are from Tennessee! Don't judge.)

So as some of you may know, last week I got to go to my little hometown of Federal Way, Washington!

It was a delightful trip, even though I had to leave my Husby behind.

We survived; thank you for your concern.

Like I said, the trip was super amazing. We did a whole lot of shopping, went walking round the block, took partial family photos (partial because Stephen wasn't there), went to Rachael's graduation, ate way too much food at Mongolian Grill, and basically just spent a whole lot of time together.

I love my family. They are amazing people and I wish that Stephen and I did not live so far away from them.

However, I feel completely blessed that I was able to spend 6 days with them (and I am VERY grateful that my parents paid for my plane ticket; without that, I would not have been able to go).

Still, it was not all fun and games. I had some pretty trying moments also. And because my downfalls are usually very amusing, I will choose to share one of these moments with you!

We took partial family photos in a little park near downtown Seattle. It was a beautiful day: 70 degrees, sunny, a few wispy clouds, a gentle breeze- basically the perfect Seattle summer day.

Stupidly, I wore heels.

This may not seem that stupid, but keep in mind that we were in a PARK!

And also, it's been several months since I've worn heels and I am not practiced in wearing heels.

So the photographer found this really cool looking, low-branched tree for us to pose under, and I was having a hard time balancing on my heels.

Then, as I headed to the tree to pose for my pictures, I was looking at the ground to try and step lightly, and my heel went all crooked.

In my haste, I over-compensated and ran head-first into a low-hanging tree branch.

I saw those little stars flying round my head, like in the cartoons.

A lump formed almost immediately.

I cried.

And laughed a little too.

And feel verrrrrrry sheepish.

So that is my story. It doesn't sound as funny told in blog form, but I'm sure ya'll chuckled a little anyway.

I miss my fam a ton already. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will live close enough so that we can see each other every few days instead of every 6 months or so.

The End.

(maybe I'll be back)

I have the attention span of a... OH! Glitter!

My attention span has greatly shortened since my graduation from SBU.

I could blame this on my husband, but I think the blame lies with Texas.

And I thought I had a short attention span in college.

It's true. I did my fair share of procrastinating. I focused in classes pretty well, I think. Unless it was choir with Dr. Campbell. Oops.

But my attention is diverted so quickly now! And I think it's because I have been bored so often. While Stephen is at work, I search for jobs and play on FB. That's about it.

Sure, I clean up the apt, but it doesn't get too messy when I'm cleaning it 2 or 3 times a day...

We don't do a big breakfast or lunch, so I don't have much to do for or after those meals.

I've read all the books in my personal library since we moved here. But it took me DAYS to finish some books. Which is just silly, cause I used to be able to sit and read for hours! Just this week, I started reading The Great Gatsby, which is one of my favorites. I've had to stop after every chapter and do something else. I just can't get hooked. Maybe it's cause I've read it so many times?

Stephen's attention span has decreased too, but I don't think he is as bad as me yet. We sometimes watch a movie with or after dinner, but in the last 2 weeks we haven't made it straight through any of them. We pause them and do other things. Tonight we watched X-Men III: The Last Stand, and I think we paused it about 8 times. To make dinner, to get seconds, to refill our water, to clean up after dinner, to go to the bathroom, to frost a cake I made earlier today (strawberry with chocolate frosting! YUM.), to play on FB. And it's been this way for weeks.

When did I put up the post about our super secret project? Um, like a month ago?? Yeah, it's still not done. I think we work on it maybe every other day... Maybe. We sit down to work on it and end up having staring contests or with Stephen asking for a back rub or me asking him to scratch my back...

I try to listen to music... but I always feel like I need to do something with my hands or sing really really loudly. I usually opt for sing really really loudly, until I fear people 6 blocks away can hear me. But I tend to view this like a child: if I can't see them, they can't hear me.

The last 2 or 3 days, I haven't even had the focus to write a full blog post for all of you! I'd be so distracted that it would be 11:30 before I'd remember I hadn't blogged and then I'd type some silly little nothing just so I could say I blogged... I apologize, loyal fans. I apologize.

And I know what you are thinking, "Today is Saturday! Where is my super favorite Weekend Listing??" Well, I am so attention-diverted that I didn't realize I should be typing a Weekend Listing till I hit enter after that last paragraph... Boo.

Ok, Weekend Listing, Weekend Listing... What can I list??

Got it! Here are the top five places I wish I could go out to eat:
5. Panera
4. Chipotle
3. Red Robin
2. Coldstone Creamery
And the number one place: Outback Steakhouse!

I know, that was like the lamest WL ever, but you all love me! So it's ok.

And now I must leave.

Turtle!
Umbrella!
Whiskey!

P.S. A special shout-out to my super awesome sister, Sarah, who has been GBWE-ing (Golden Birthday Weekend Extravaganza) it up this weekend (and will continue tomorrow) in honor of her 25th birthday! Sister, tomorrow I will have a very special Weekend Listing-Sunday style- in honor of you! Check it out!

Weekend listing-- Easter edition!

Happy Easter!

Today's Easter listing is provided by my lovely and amazing friend, Janna Laugherty.

She happened to write me a list on facebook about how carrots mean Easter and I loved it so much, I asked her if I could share it with you!

Of course, she obliged, because she is so great.

So , to quote Janna:

"I am going to tell you how carrots mean Easter.
[clears throat here]

*Carrots are the food that rabbits eat
*Rabbits have a lot of babies
*Lots of babies means new life
*New life means somebody had to die
*Jesus died
*And came back to life
*To give us life
*Just like the baby rabbits have life
*Because their parents eat carrots.

And that my friend, is how carrots means Easter."

I feel super blessed to be spending Easter with my amazing husband. We went to church this morning, came home and cooked an Easter feast (it was good; included carrots!), and took an Easter nap.

TONIGHT!!!!!! Tonight, we are going to Colombus Avenue Baptist to see an African children's choir! I am so excited! At SBU, my favorite chapels were the ones with the children's choirs.
If they sing my favorite song tonight, I might just take one home.

Then, my loving husby will bring me home where we have a delicious strawberry cheesecake awaiting us in the refridgerator! What an Easter!

I hope you have a blessed Easter with your family and loved ones!

And now you know...

Tonight, I want to talk to you about something that is very close to my heart.

Jello.

J-E-L-L-O!!
It's aliiive! (You know you sang that in your head, or maybe out loud if you are Stephen Cowden or Sarah Lewis.)

I love jello. I can't explain it. We have a very special relationship.

I mean, what is not to love?
It's jiggly, it's tasty (basically colored sugar), and it's fun.

Jello is just fun.

There is no occasion when jello is not appropriate. I dare you think of a time when jello is inappropriate.

You can't!

Birthdays = good! Parties = good! Lunchtime = good! Dessert = good!
Thanksgiving = good!! Christmas = good!! Arbor Day = good!!
Weddings = good! Bat mitzvahs = good! Funerals = good!

There is no type of jello that is inappropriate. I dare you to think of a type of jello that is not appropriate.

It can't be done!

Plain jello, jello jigglers, jello with whipped cream, jello with fruit in it, jello with ice cream, jello and graham crackers, peanut butter and jello sandwiches!

Ok, the sandwich might be pushing it.... But still. You get my point.

Jello is delicious. Whether you're sick or healthy, old or young, tall or short.
In the summer, winter, spring or fall.

Jello is, and will always be, the universal unifier.

I have spoken.

Weekend listing- Saturday edition

Hello ladies and gentlemen! Happy Saturday, and welcome to today's issue of Weekend listing!

Today's list is going be simple: Here is a basic list of the meals I make for dinner. I am getting bored with them and I think Stephen is too.

Your job is to give suggestions for new (cheap) yummy meals I can add to my repertoire.

Chicken and dumplings w/carrots

Pasta (in many variations) w/ veggies

Enchiladas and rice and tomatoes

Burritos and rice w/ veggies

Chicken stir-fry and rice

Zesty Italian chicken and baked potatoes w/ veggies

Fish and chips w/ veggies

Quesadillas w/ veggies

Broccoli cheese soup

Taco soup

Teriyaki chicken and rice w/ veggies

And that is about it. After rotating through these, some are getting boring. And some of the meals will be way too wrong for summer (like the soups).

This isn't a funny post, I"m sorry. But I think I could use some help here. And go!

Thanks!

(Tune in tomorrow for something funnier, I promise)