How to plot...

Another week closer to spring. We've had a bit of a rapid start as the winds and the lack of moisture has made it a perfect storm for fires. We haven't been in any danger but Grace's house and family were a bit too close for comfort to the flames. Nike wasn't happy with me because I wouldn't allow the window to be open because the smell of smoke was filling the house.

Nike's had a bit of a rough week. Matt ended up taking her into the vet's office. She's been a bit off and we hope it's nothing serious and all fluke. We have decided this may be the year that Nike meets a groomer, which may help us all. The other rough spot of the week for her and her other two amigos was we had a bath night for the trio. No one was real impressed. Lola hated it...cried the whole time and attempted a few jump outs. TonyDanza took it the best but I wasn't too surprised about all of that. Matt would give the baths and then I would do the drying. One of the first times that Nike has really cuddled with me.

The week drug by but we packed as much as we could into the weekend. Friday night we had an anniversary party for the Bismarck Aero Center, which had a great turnout and I stayed up to visit with house guests who crashed at our house Friday night. I made breakfast the next morning while Matt went out to fill in for my dad regarding chores. It's nice that he can and is able to help out in that way so my dad has a bit of freedom.

Saturday didn't stop there, we took in the Garden Show, where Matt had a yard and grass class and I scoured the show and took home a tiki torch bird/junker style from Thomas Ironworks. He caught my eye the first time I walked in and I had to take him home! Janice would call this a "ToMe, FromMe, LoveMe" gift.

That afternoon we did a bit of housecleaning and Matt made pizza so we could have company over. We were a little nervous to have Jared and Lex over as they are vegans and I don't have much experience cooking without meat but also cooking without eggs, dairy, cheese, etc. It went really well, Matt made two types of pizza and we purchased vegan cheese. They said it was so good and were happy to take home the leftovers! They brought over an apple tart, which if I wouldn't have known it was vegan, I wouldn't have been able to tell! It was a fun night and good to meet a new couple. They said that we were the first people to cook for them/invite them over since they'd gone vegan. That made us feel good to decide to invite them over.

Sunday, we had a pleasure of being Randy and Michele's escape point. They had to get out of the house for a bit, so took a drive down to have lunch with us and see the progress on the house. They'll have a bit more of a break this weekend and I'm so glad Kevin and Co. are making it happen!

We finished the day on Sunday starting a few projects around the house, including plotting out the garden, flower beds, seed starting, and more. It was a good weekend.

Best meal: Matt's pizza was better than normal.....we did the standard pep but we also added some veggies on...probably won't be the last time we go in that direction.

Walking into the garden show.
See a booth of the renovated junk art.
At the same time ALR: Ohhhhh!!!!! MJR: Ughhhhhh!!
ALR: Why did you make that noise? Aren't they beautiful?
MJR: It's all metal scraps.
ALR: Isn't it fun!!!! Come look with me.
MJR: (blank stare)

 Someone has figured out how to open the drawer to get our his "milk" treats. The sad part was, it didn't take him hardly any time at all and gave me the saddest face of all time when I took them away, put them back in the drawer, and closed it again. 

How to sell Scentsy OR How to organize a garage

It's been an interesting week and by interesting I mean, busy.

We had a pregnant Tiffy over for dinner, where I presented her with handmade burp clothes, with bunnies on them. We've been having her over regularly for dinner to catch up on life and prove that living close means that we actually can see each other.

Matt worked on shelving in the garage because it's been OUT of CONTROL for a bit. However was my favorite was after listening to Nike wail for 10 minutes at the garage door because she can't be with her true love, I got up to watch her and convince her to shut up. Meanwhile, Matt opened the door to grab something inside and she sneaked out. This elicited an outburst from Matthew, "Nike! You get back inside!" This caused her to lightning bolt from under the Maz directly into the house, all the while I watch and snickered. She didn't come back downstairs to wail again that night. That night.

For the weekend, Matt and I took off in different directions. He stayed home to work more on the garage and start to mentally become obsessed with golf again for the season, complete with watching the Masters and going for his first round. I took off to Dickinson to help BettyJo with a Scentsy show. It was the Home Show and a two day event. We did quite a bit of sales, but not what we were hoping for. It was a long two days of standing on concrete, but glad to see the new product line and serve a new group of clientele. I picked out a few summer scents for myself too that I'm looking forward to enjoying to celebrate the on-coming of spring.

While I was in Dickinson, I really utilized my time. Spent time with the Petroffs, who are always good to put me up, even when their basement is tore up. Got to catch up with both BettyJo and Darin while we discussed show details. Had breakfast with a mentor, Deb, and caught up on personal and professional happenings. And got to say goodbye to a phenomenal woman who is starting a big adventure. Becca, is moving to Texas. She's been one of those friends that allow you to come and go in life and always pick up with memories and fun happenings. Was good to meet the man that is making her smile and will keep her on the straight in narrow, I think they'll find they compliment each other nicely. Through all of this, I think the time zone change and the late nights will take some adjusting back to as Monday came too soon.

Best Meal: this week's meals were a blur. I think Shantelle put together a nice spread with appetizers contributions from everyone. Was fun to visit, eat, and laugh.

ALR & MJR leaving Walmart with shopping cart full.
Both pull up to pick-up truck.
ALR begins to group bags together for MJR to load into vehicle.
ALR picks up one particular bag and begins to hand to MJR.
ALR: These are the eggs....
As ALR lets go based off assumption of MJR's grip, bag descends.
MJR and ALR look at bag on pavement.
ALR and MJR look at each other.
ALR: And to think, we brag about the communication in our marriage. We may want to reconsider that.
Ten minutes later.
MJR snickers
ALR: What?
MJR: I can't believe how fast the eggs fell to the ground.
ALR rolls eyes: Yeah, funny thing about gravity.

How to find an egg...

There’s something about the Easter holiday that lets you know that you have made it through winter. While I’ve been actively scanning the trees for budding to occur, I have lost count of my robins, but then again I hear it’s currently a bit snoweyish outside and we haven’t completely put away our shovels for the year. Do I think we’ve got another big one in the making for us, probably but only because it’s the trend. I’m antsy to pull out the patio set, start putting up the décor and we’ve already picked a spot for the garden and the wedding arbor. It’s just the doing that needs to come.

This past weekend was two holidays…Alaina’s birthday and Easter. This being said, I got to celebrate her birthday with her at Denise’s house and had turkey, ham, and more. We partook in the seasonal activities of watching the egg hunt and kite flying with the family. It’s interesting to remember that at one time there was almost 13 egg hunters actively listening to some aunt/mother yell “I see an egg.” Now we watch my cousin’s kids huff across the yard for the masses of eggs that are available to find.

Other highlights for the week include organizing the office, where we stumbled upon old videos and pictures from our past. Matt watched his younger days play out….I know that many times our paths crossed in various places but watching him twelve years ago makes me wonder if I’d have fallen for the same man. He did have advice he wished to give his younger self, but then again, don’t we all.

We also experienced a new bar. We went to 510.2, the speakeasy in Bismarck. The door really isn’t a door but a hidden place in the wall that you push open. The atmosphere was the old, steampunk-feel, that made you feel prohibition like. The drinks were anything but old…the menu was smart, fun, and playful with a level of complexity and science that we could appreciate as part of the experience. It’s not one that we’ll go to every weekend, but it was something different, social, and we both said we’d go back.

We also had lunch with Michele on Monday. Am so glad that she's able to have a little personal time because of the help that they were able to line up to Grandma-sit.

Best meal: Matt and I both really liked the turkey that we had on Easter…add to that mashed potatoes, salad, sweet potatoes, and angel food cake with strawberries and whip. It was a good meal!

Watching video from 2003. 
Scene is in the fraternity house.
ALR: SO let me get this straight. Weren’t you just wearing that shirt like 4 days ago, according to the time on the video.
MJR: Yeah, it was a great shirt.I still have that shirt.
ALR: And you play the same three songs?
MJR: Yes.
ALR: Was that your bed? A Futon?
MJR: Yes.
More watching.
MJR: Ahhh, to be back there again. Those were the days.
ALR: (Stares at him)

How to watch hockey...

This week we are mourning the loss of Kevin, he went back to California. Was nice to see him and catch up. He even took Matt out one night with the curlers to see the game and have Matt try his luck. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a formal goodbye from him, it’s my own fault. I have been a bit hectic with work, I even made a day trip to Grand Forks for a meeting. There and Back. One day. Ewww.
We had some big things happen this past week, we started seriously unpacking. Not the packing that we had been doing – which was organic and on a whim, but a serious concentrated effort. The office, the guest rooms, it’s all fair game. I even convinced Matt to hang some pics with me. And when I say, “with me” what I mean is I point to the picture, then point to the wall, he does the math and the calculations and hammers the nail.

He’s also very excited as UND men’s hockey made it into the final four in Boston. I know if I gave the go-ahead, we’d be buying Boston tickets and heading out there, but this year he’ll be watching it from here. He had a few friends over to watch the game and it’s amazing how tradition and ritual can inspire the most interesting behaviors. Three grown men doing party poppers after a score occurs. If we could only use the power of sports for good…..I’m ready for playoffs and basketball to come to a close as we have had a lot of sports on our television.

The weather has been phenomenal. 70’s and sunny and makes me think we are so close to spring. The lake even opened up. The association has had work done to the dock this past week but it didn’t stop us from taking a peek and also planning to get a nice paddle boat as an anniversary gift to each other. We also had our first meal on the deck. Buffalo chicken sandwiches. Nike was not impressed.

Best meal: We had my parents over for supper and enjoyed sausage, potatoes, and spaghetti squash. Was the first go we’ve had with the sausage that we made this year.

On the phone…
MJR: Hello?
ALR: OMG, if we ever have kids, I’m going to be the worst mother ever.
MJR: 
ALR: So Kay wants to have this Elsa cake for Sissy’s birthday.
MJR: Elsa?
ALR: Yeah, Elsa. Frozen. You know. I told her she should just make one. Why spend the money on buying a sheetcake? After all you can just make a cake and shove an Elsa figurine into the top of the cake.
MJR: Ahhh, Queen Elsa of Arendelle, also known as the Snow Queen, is the deuteragonist of Disne…..
ALR: What? Did you google Elsa?
MJR: I had to know what you are talking about.
ALR: (sigh)