How to contemplate moving...again!

Ok, so I don't really know where to begin...but here goes. I spent the past weekend in the great state of Wisconsin. Ann was going to Minnesota, so I decided to tag-a-long so that I could see my family (apparently they were missing me), so my oldest sister Abby & her family picked me up in Minneapolis & we went to the Como Zoo since it was Becca's first birthday. After an interesting ride to Wisconsin (my 6 year old nephew was playing 20 questions...like why aren't you married? why don't you have kids? you get the point), & driving through tornado weather, we arrived at my parents house & had a very busy weekend, & I left at 7am on Sunday morning to meet Ann for the ride back. It was a fun trip, I got to see my family, I ran into a few guys I went to high school with (it made me realize how old I'm getting), and of course a lunch at the greatest place on earth...Kids Korner Pizza. We grew up on that stuff. I remember it was like a tradition - on Friday nights my dad would always pick up the pizza & we would have a family dinner. So it's kind of a tradition that when I go back we have to eat there.

Ok - so now to the point of the blog title - contemplating moving. I haven't really put any thought into moving since I bought a house (that reminds me, I need to blog about my 'moving' experience about a month ago), & the fact that I have a job & a few friends & with the exception of the weather it's not the worst place to live...but after the phone call I just got I have to decide if I really want to stay in Kansas...or move to Wisconsin as the UNTHINKABLE has happened! Ok - here is the story:

My dad called me up at like 10:10pm - which is unheard of for my dad as he is usually sleeping away in his recliner by this time, so I'm guessing the story tweaked his interest, or my mother started screaming because she was so excited & made him call me. So I answer the phone, honestly thinking that my dad is about to tell me that someone has died or something bad has happened, but the conversation goes like this...Hi Libby! Hi Dad. I just had to call you because you can now move back to Wisconsin. Why can I move back to Wisconsin? Libby, they are building a Sonic in Eau Claire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok Dad. Why does that mean I can move back? Libby, you know the only reason that you don't live in Wisconsin is because they don't have Sonics, & by the end of the year it will be built (he even told me the address). Dad, you do know that the reason I don't live in Wisconsin isn't solely because of Sonic (about 72% though)? No - that is why you don't live here, so you can pack up & move now. Ok Dad. Good night, & I'm not moving back to Wisconsin this year. Bye Libby.

Seriously - I can't say I wouldn't mind living in Wisconsin - it is very tame in the summer! I was actually cold when I was there! I was like where are my jeans & my down jacket? Brr.

Ok - I will leave you with some pictures from my trip to Wisconsin this past weekend. It was good timing because I really needed some updated pictures!

How to admit that you suck at blogging!

I admit it...I am a HORRIBLE blogger! I didn't realize how long it truly has been since I posted a blog. That is going to be something I work on...to blog at least once a week, but we'll see how that goes. I have actually been taking a lot of pictures for posts, but they have just been stuck on my camera...until today. It has been really busy in the state of Kansas, in between thunder storms & tornado watches I have been scrapbooking like crazy! I sent 3 baby books to Texas a few weeks ago, today I sent some books to Kentucky, & this weekend I hope to send the final book that is on my list to Maryland. Woo that totally wore me out! Just thinking about all that I've done lately makes me want to take a nap!

This past weekend was cool. My aunt & uncle from Chi town were in for a visit. We went & saw Bodies Revealed at Union Station (not for the weak stomach people like me), & watching Zach & Alec's reactions was great. Alec kept yelling out that the 'bodies' had 'stuff'...but the best was when we saw the reproductive bodies! Alec yells...Hey, why does that body have stuff, but that body doesn't have stuff? I think I was lacking oxygen from not breathing. Then we went to dinner at Jack Stack's B-B-Q which was delicious, even if Zach & Alec had their hands all up in my food.

Here are some pictures that have been taken in the past week...

How to live out a life long dream you've had since you were 7 & Living on a Prayer

I'm going to try & keep this as simple & short as I can, but if you know me, then you know that I ramble. Back in October I was talking with my sister, & I think we were discussing Christmas presents. She asked what I wanted & I said that I would like to go to see Bon Jovi. Random thought, as the only other concert (besides The Wiggle's) I have attended was Bryan Adams back in 1994 when I was 13, so it's been awhile. For those of you that don't know, I have been a fan of Bon Jovi since I was 7 & Slippery When Wet was released. So after telling that to my sister, I decided that I didn't know if they were doing a tour in the U.S. & that I should check it out. So that is exactly what I did. I do believe this was an act of God, because when I found the results of my google search of Bon Jovi tours, I noticed that the tickets for the next tour that was going to be stopping in Kansas City at the Sprint Center was set for the NEXT day! Now to me this is amazing, & I am totally hyped & decided that I wanted to go & see Bon Jovi, as I have thought about it for many years. The next task that I have to accomplish is finding someone to go with me. My uncle said that my aunt would not go because she is too old & since it was on a week night she would rather go to sleep, & all of the other people that I asked said that they didn't like Bon Jovi. HOW CAN YOU NOT LIKE BON JOVI? Their songs are great, they have been around for many years, & they are hot. There's no way around it. So the next day I didn't go online to get tickets because I didn't want to go by myself. So I'm at my aunt & uncle's the next day because my uncle & I were going to see the Kansas City Chiefs vs. the Denver Broncos, & my aunt asked if I got the tickets. Luckily we were able to get some tickets, but wouldn't you know...after I bought them they opened up another show the Thursday before. So fast forward like 6 months, & it's about that time to go & see Bon Jovi. I actually was given the opportunity to see them on Thursday night & had some nice seats with a good view, so it was great.
Anywho, I must say that I think I had the best time out of anyone there! I knew all but 1 song (which wasn't theirs) & I got to see them on the big screens! Tico & his drums, Dave & his keyboards, Richie, ah Richie...for a guy that's personal life seems to be a huge mess, he sure can change your opinion once he gets on the stage & starts playing that guitar & singing backup. I can't even talk about Jon Bon Jovi. Sigh. I was mesmerized when he came out from below the stage & I just sat & stared at him for the 2 1/2 hours that they played. I was anticipating them playing a lot of the songs from their new album Lost Highway, & I did anticipate the great older songs, but what I was really shocked to hear was In These Arms & Born to Be My Baby - I was not expecting that, especially since they are 2 of my favorites.
The other part about the night that I was excited about was the opening act. It was Daughtry! Thanks to my dear friend Andrea Silverthorne, I was introduced to Chris Daughtry right before he was booted off American Idol, but I did see his Wanted Dead or Alive performance before receiving the boot. I felt it was quite suiting that they 2 were on tour together. I was anxiously awaiting when they would be on stage together, which of course I assumed would be on Wanted Dead or Alive, but I was pleasantly surprised when he emerged from below on Blaze of Glory. That was a great performance. In my opinion, it was the best performance out of Daughtry for the whole night. I think that is because I didn't care much for his band. I loved his voice, & was glad that he sang his popular songs Home, Over You, It Feels Like Tonight, & It's Not Over, however when his band was playing it made it almost unbearable! I was not upset to take a bathroom break at all because it was getting annoying! I said if Bon Jovi comes out like that I'm out of here, but luckily they did not. Jon Bon Jovi did come out with some cheesy dance moves that were great to me though!

So overall, I really enjoyed the concert & was glad that I went & got some great pictures & really just had a ball. The next day my friend Andrea (who prompted me to write this blog since she is sick of looking at my banged up ankle, especially after eating a snack) called me, but luckily then she emailed me since I was at work & not home, but she was telling me how she had seen Chris Daughtry walking into Target as she was walking out. I think I need to mention that Andrea lives in Fargo, ND. I decided that she was wrong - it wasn't him, so I went online & checked out the Bon Jovi tour, & sure enough, they were playing in Fargo the next night. She didn't run up to him like a normal fan would though, so I'm very disappointed in her.

Well, I think this post has gone on long enough! Don't worry though, I have a lot of issues to talk about that have happened the past few weeks - dropping a phone in a cup of water (no it was not the toilet), taking a trip to Abilene, & quite possibly Alec's acting debut.

How to pass the time when you are bored & can't walk...

Ok, so for the past 3 days I have literally done nothing but sit on the couch with my foot elevated with ice on it! Luckily I had my work computer so I have been able to get a TON of work done, since there really wasn't much else that I can do. My ankle is still quite swollen, but today I have noticed that I can at least put some weight on it & get to where I needed to go, but I do try to avoid the stairs at all costs! Tomorrow I'm going to brave leaving the house for the whole day, so we will see how that goes. I think my motivation comes from the fact that I will end my day with yet another trip to the chiropractor for some electric shock therapy...I have to say it's not the most pleasant thing to do, but it does help to make me feel better...but I am still a little annoyed with the Dr. for telling my mom that I'm a cry baby even when I feel perfectly fine (she asked this as he was putting me in immense pain & I was shedding a few tears), but I'm working on it.

How to get hurt at a 4 year old's birthday & keep on trucking!

Ok y'all, so this weekend has been a crazy one! My mom, oldest sister Abby, her 3 kids Kayla, Ethan & Becca along with my younger sister Megan came into town to celebrate our cousin Alec's 4th birthday party at Pump It Up. They arrived last night & I met them at my aunt & uncle's house because Ethan wanted to spend the night with Alec. After hanging out for a bit we were off to the Macaroni Grill for a late dinner, & then it was back to my house so the kids could go to sleep. I was not able to fall asleep, so it was after 1:30 for me, & I was wide awake at 5 a.m. this morning, so I uploaded some pictures for my sister & caught up on some TV that I had been putting off. Then everyone else got up & we got ready & headed over to the party. I was just planning on taking pictures & holding babies, but that soon changed to taking the babies down this massive inflatable slide! That was fun! Then my wonderful aunt said that we just had to go through this obstacle course. I was thinking that I shouldn't go because my 21 year old cousin Lacey had disappeared in there for more than 20 minutes & that didn't sit well with me. However, my sisters & I decided to go for it. It started off by going through a small hole & sliding down. Then you climb up this short wall to get to a...oh I don't know how to explain it, but it reminded me of an obstacle in the final challenge of this old show on N Nickelodeon called Double Dare where they had to squeeze through this thing & slide down. So I did that, & we stopped to take a picture & then we crawl through this tunnel where we come up to this steep wall that you have to climb & then you go down a big slide. I was like oh heck no, but my aunt was telling me it was easy & if she could do it, I could do it. So Megan & I start climbing, & I'm doing really well & I look down at Megan & she says - we should be on American Gladiators! I reached the top, went to put my leg over to the slide, & my legs were not long enough & I went tumbling back down. Of course I had to land on my ankle & I just laid there in this intense pain that I have never before experienced! The worst part was...I had to get out of this inflatable death trap! It took me about 20 minutes to get back through the maze, & then I had the task of getting back over this wall that I had slid down, & luckily my uncle came in to help me get over the wall because I was stuck since I was not able to use my foot at all. So I limp around, get some water, feel like I'm about to pass out, & then my mother gets the great idea that we should go to the chiropractor & have him put the bones back in place - since I could walk & wiggle my toes it was pretty evident that I had not broken anything, just injured it. So I get into the car with my maniac mother as she drives me across town to the chiropractor. It was probably the worst car ride I have experienced to date. So we finally get there, & the chiropractor (God love him) prepared me for what was about to happen. It was not fun, & it hurt, but it relieved a lot of pressure & I felt good. So after convincing my mother that I was ok to drive (left ankle), & a pit stop to Sonic, we headed back to Pump It Up to pick up the family & go to lunch. After a leisurely lunch my family wanted to go shopping at Legend's. I was somewhat against it, but agreed to take them there. So I walked around & shopped, at a very slow pace, but we went everywhere we wanted to go. Then we met my aunt & uncle for dinner at Ruby Tuesday's, & as we were leaving my aunt told me my uncle told her she had to come clean with me....& I didn't know what she was talking about. Well, she precedes to tell me that although she had tried to go through the obstacle course that she had told me she did & how fun it was...she could not get up the wall & gave up & crawled out the opposite side so no one would see her! Boy was I not very happy! After dinner we came back to the house & my wonderful mom & sister went & got me some Icy Hot & some weird brace thing that they put over my swollen & bruised ankle. Then we watched The Game Plan & my niece really wanted to scrapbook, & as much as I was not up to it, when she started crying I had to give in. So then we worked on their notebooks, & currently it's 1:20 in the morning & they are all sleeping soundly upstairs as I lay on the couch hoping that I can fall asleep soon as I have my foot elevated & ice on it. Whew! What a story!

How to spend an evening with nothing to do...(ok ok, nothing you want to do)

The other night I found myself insanely bored & didn't really feel like doing anything. Then a thought popped into my head...my friend Steph had asked me to make some scrapbook pages for her daughter's scrapbook, & since my family is coming here this weekend I felt it would be better to send the pages back then to mail them (I don't trust them not getting bent). So this is what I worked on!

How to scrapbook with a man!

Ok, so last Saturday marked a first for me...my first experience scrapbooking with a man! I ran into my friend Clayton at the gas station on Friday morning, & he asked what I was doing over the weekend & decided that he was coming over. So Saturday morning I arose early to prepare for the day ahead of me. Clayton came over with Starbucks ( no coffee for me of course, but my favorite Carmel Apple Spice with no whipped cream), & we organized pictures & then headed to Archiver's, one of the scrapbook stores in town. After a quick trip to the Hobby Lobby we headed back to the house & started working on Clayton & Dave's 'Cruise' themed scrapbook. I gotta say, we got a lot accomplished (about 1/3 of the book), & it looks great! Clayton is definitely good at this...especially being a first timer. Here is a picture of Clayton scrapbooking, & a picture of how messy my living room can get!