What's Your Beef?

Okay, so what is it that your spouse does that totally irritates you?

Careful now, don't tell them anything that they don't want you to share with the world...I'm looking for incidental irritants...not major character or personality flaws.

Here was one of Jenny's beefs with me from when we first got married...

I had an unhealthy attachment to deodorant cans. I at the time, I used aerosol. And I probably had between 8 and 10 cans with maybe two day's worth of deodorant still in them, at any given moment. You would open up our cabinets or drawers, and just see a sea of green Degree Cans, mostly without lids, because plastic aerosol lids have always been a favorite chew toy for our Lab. Somehow we managed to work through the problem, and I'm happy to tell you that now there is only one stick of solid antiperspirant in my medicine cabinet. Although I'm sure there are countless other minor beefs she could tell you about if you asked...

Here's my beef with Jenny, and it's still going on...

She never finishes a bottle of shampoo. Or conditioner. Most times, she wants her shampoo and conditioner to be the same brand/line. And she doesn't use conditioner every time, so they never get more than halfway used. I started saving them occasionally, thinking if she's using Matrix now and will rotate back through it by year's end, then it'll get used.

But that thinking got me nowhere, except to a place of limited closet space in our bathroom.

She has this concept that she can't use the same shampoo for very long, or her hair won't do what it's supposed to do...so she's constantly switching brands. Seriously, I threw out about eight half-empty bottles yesterday (mostly generic brand, so it wasn't a big cost waste).

We all have things about our personalities that irritate our spouses. So I ask you to share. Lightheartedly, of course.

Happy Wednesday.

Possible Side Business?

I love InDesign. I make stuff with it all of the time.

Most of you know what a roller-coaster it has been over the past year as we lost my sister in-law to Lymphoma. This is a hard time of year for our family, and especially my niece. So clearly we're going to make her birthday this year a time to celebrate. Jenny and I want to do our part to make it special for her, so I took on the task of the invitation. Maybe I should copyright this before I post it. Oh well...if anyone copies it, I guess I'll take it as a compliment.

Have a great day.

Do You Ever Feel Rich?

When we were in Waco, Jenny and I had Dish Network for about a year. We hated it. The signal came and went when the weather changed. And we didn't have Local on the 8's on The Weather Channel (sidenote...now we have ATT U-Verse and love it, but still no Local on the 8's).

I remember saying to Jenny when we went back to cable in Waco and I was able to catch Local on the 8's, "I've never felt more rich!"

So, what makes you feel rich? I'm looking for comments here. Just a thought for your Monday morning. People always joke, "It's the simple things in life...," but I think that really is the case sometimes. Finances are tight for us, and they are for most of our friends. We try to pay attention to what we buy and where we spend our money as best we can. But there are times when you just feel blessed to have that little something extra on hand.

Here are two of my favorite indulgences:

1. A 150 count box of glad drawstring trash bags from Sam's Club, tucked nicely under my kitchen sink. I hate twist ties. I hate any brand but Glad. And I refuse to buy these anywhere but Sam's because of the ridiculous cost per bag, so knowing that I'm well-stocked for the next few months is a beautiful thing.

2. My two foot-tall box of Gain laundry detergent. For the same reasons as the glad bags, I just love knowing I can start a weeked of laundry without running out.

Random, I know. But what does it for you? I'm curious to hear your feedback.

Have a good week.

Hippity, Hoppity, Easter's Come and Gone!

Happy Easter!

We survived a busy, busy weekend at church events and with our families in town. 

Friday afternoon, we took Benjamin to the Peabody to watch his cousin, Abby Lynn, be the honorary Duckmaster. And yes...forgot the camera. However...we did have the video camera, so watch for a clip very soon. Benjamin helped her, and they both got to pick out a duck from the gift shop. 

Friday evening, Todd's grandmother arrived with her sister from Texarkana, and his parents arrived from Jonesboro. We hung out at their hotel for a while and let Benjamin ride the bellhop cart, play behind the curtains, and otherwise entertain everyone. 

Saturday morning, everyone gathered at church for our Children's Celebration and Easter Egg Hunt. 

Benjamin acted like he had been doing this for years...picking up the eggs...

...putting them in the basket...

...and moving on to the next spot. 

We had Todd's grandmother, her sister, Todd's Parents, Jenny's Parents, Todd's older brother, Jenny's older sister, Todd's niece, Abby Lynn, and her Grandparents, Dick and Jenny, who came up for the weekend to watch the fun. 

In addition to all of the fam, Jenny's best friends Katie and Sarah came with their families...Sarah and Todd brought Abby, Ethan, and Emma. Katie and Jason brought Katie's sister and family, Katie's parents, and Jason's parents. We were so glad that so many of our friends got to enjoy the weather and take part in our Easter Egg Hunt. 

This is Katie and Jason's little man, Zack...one of Ben's best buds...and who, apparently, was a little confrontational with another child who snagged an Egg! (Thankfully, no one threw a punch...) Just kidding. Zack's a doll. Just a funny snapshot of him. 

Sunday morning, Ben woke up to a basketful of treats from Mommy, Daddy, Grammy, and Granddad. 

Ben and Daddy investigating the loot. 

After church, and before naptime, Benjamin modeled his Easter outfit for us one more time (notice the window...this was at noon! The weather was terrible today). 

Benjamin and Bunny...Easter 2009 (13 months old today)

Benjamin and Bunny...Easter, 2008 (11 days old)

Sunday afternoon, we had our family lunch at Jenny's aunt's house. Jenny's parents stopped in for some hoops, with the toy basketball goal they brought him for Easter (yes, he has two different socks on). 

Thanks to Pippi, Poppa, Grammy, and Grandad for spending the weekend with us, and for all that you do to make Benjamin's life perfect! We love you!

Saturday Afternoon at Pippi's

Saturday afternoon we headed down to Hazen to hang out with Jenny's parents and have dinner. Pippi and I grilled, and Poppa was delayed in Hot Springs playing golf...so he missed out on an afternoon with the little man. 

The weather was wonderful (my, how it changes...two days later and we're bundled up with the heat blasting) and Ben played outside for a while. 

I had run to Sam's for work one day a couple of months ago, and found several of these little one pieces for 6.00 each. Now that it's warm enough out, he's too tall for them. Oh well...I still love it. 

To all of our friends in Little Rock, Calvary will be hosting a Children's Celebration and Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, April 11, beginning at 10 AM. We'll have an hour of crafts, cookie decorating, games, inflatables, and other fun stuff. At 11:00, we'll head out to the north lawn for our egg hunt. We'll have over 2 thousand filled eggs scattered about, plus a small egg patch for toddlers. 

It's free to the public, so bring your family and friends. 

Have a great week. 

A Great Day for the Zoo

The weather today was perfect for going to the zoo. However, none of the animals decided to show their faces...seriously, the extent of our zoo experience was seeing these sad old turtles...

and this little baby gorilla. 

Ben enjoyed hanging out with his friend Noble who was in from Dallas. They're discussing their disappointment with all of the sleeping animals. 

After the zoo, we headed over to one of our favorite after-zoo spots, but Noble had already fallen asleep in his car, so his mom headed out. 

Tomorrow we're going to a cookout for Todd's cousin Ashley, and then on to Jenny's parents for dinner where Noble and his family will be as well. 

Hope everyone enjoys the great weather this weekend.