I know I bag on Memphis alot, but there are several things I really like about it too. I really like how people are very religious, and very open about religion! When going through the checkout line, instead of the cashier saying "how are you today", often times they say "Are you having a blessed day?" So, a couple weeks ago I was finishing my grocery shopping at target and a cute little girl who was about 8 or 9 handed me this little paper (above). She had written a whole stack of them in her note book, tore them out and brought them to target (her mom was grocery shopping) to hand them out! I was so grateful for her simple little act (with great courage.) It was just such a special thing to do, and It made me feel so happy! I keep this on my fridge so I can see it every day to remember what is so important. so, I pass this onto you... I hope you know, jesus loves you too!

killer kudzu 5k

This last weekend we went down to Mississippi to run the "killer kudzu 5k"- it was in a town, "Holly Springs" that I'm certain inspired the town that "Cars" takes place in! So strange to take a step back into time as you enter this town!

Josh has been working hard getting back into shape. He was 2nd but with a pretty good time, so that's positive! This was only his 2nd race since August.

I on the other hand had my "Baby Jogger Debut" I ran 2.6 miles of the race pushing this little (crying) girl. After Josh finished he came and got her so I could "kick it in"... I must admit, with a stroller, I was proud of my 4th place 22:59! (1st in my age group though, ha ha)

Besides being buckled down in the stroller for 23 min. mill had a blast... she loved climbing all over the steps of the old city hall, and gourged her self on watermellon and juice boxes (from the post-race food)

BUT- this was the best part of our trip. There were some way "bayou" (my term for run down, falling apart, overgrown, swampy) houses. They were all of course being lived in. This was the best one, we couldn't resist slowing down to grab a picture. The owner- standing on his porch- probabally didn't appreciate that. woops!

Lin's Visit

My little sis. Lindsey came for a visit... It was fun to see her and to go and do some of the fun stuff around town!
We went to Collierville town sq.- a darling little block of antique shops, old hardware stores, and the village toymaker etc- when you go it feels like you've stepped back in time just a bit.

Old (authentic) cabin in the town sq.

We went downtown and visited some of the sights:

Peabody hotel, way nice old hotel downtown known for their ducks (these ducks live in their grand fountain in the foyer, each morning they put out a red carpet and march the ducks to the fountain) this is mill looking into the gift shop window.

When it gets dark these cinderella carriages will light up and can take you on a little tour of downtown memphis

Of course we had to have some BBQ, so we stopped at Rendevous. It's a (total tourrist trap) restaurant downtown, food's ok but atmosphere is way fun. You have to enter through a back alleyway, when you get inside it's just a classic memphis BBQ experience (good bbq nachos)

Like many kiddos, mill doesn't do meat, but LOVED the baked beans :)

We checked out Beal of course, and stopped in some joints to hear some Memphis blues

And yes, Graceland was also on the list. This was the first time I'd gone. I'll admit, I didn't really care much for elvis but after visiting graceland I have a greater appreciation for him, and the icon that he was.

If you ever end up at Graceland, you'll probabally find you are surprised by the size. It is actually not so huge as I thought... kinda just a normal sized house...although he does have alot of land with stables, a recording studio like building, a buidling he turned into a race track, and a nice pool etc. You see Elvis bought graceland at the age of 22, bought it from a dr. who's wife's name was grace and he'd named it after her, Elvis thought that was sweet, so he kept the name. I was really fun to check it all out!

No flash photography inside so excuse the quality... this is his billiard room- walls and ceeling covered in fabric.

I thought his T.V. room was way fun- love the little white monkey. Not pictured (because the room was to dark to get a good photo) is the "jungle room" you know in the (amazing) song Walking In Memphis it says "But there's a pretty little thing Waiting for the King Down in the Jungle Room"- that's what they're talking about!!! a room at graceland!

His Pink Caddy!

fun times... thanks for comming lin, we had a great time with ya!

when in memphis...

really, who needs a swimming pool? this is how we do it in the south.

Utah Trip

We were really excited to visit Utah last week! We got to see kelly's cute baby Ollie, and see tracy b/f she left to Germany for the summer (to follow tracy's adventures in germany, click on her link on the right collumn of my blog) SOO nice to be back in the mountains! Out here I often feel the opposite of claustrophobia with the complete lack of the mountains! I loved:

• Running up the canyon

• My walk on the trail on BYU camps,
• Smelling the plum trees that were in blossoms!!!
• Eating Zupas, Los Hermanos, Brick oven and "Bens Cookies"

• Gardner village with "the girls" (and ollie)

• hangin' out in parents back yard and family BBQ

Millie Loved:

Feeding ducks at gardner village

playing in the dirt

• being spoiled by grandma (who lets her do most things she wants to do, like playing in the stream at garnder v.)

Animals at the zoo (but was often upset that she couldn't climb into the cages with the animals)

She warmed up to ollie after a while, but one time she got really mad at him for no reason and shook her finger and him and yelled "no way, no way!"

Thanks fam for a great trip!

Happy Birthday Grandpa C.

Happy Birthday Grandpa! Sorry we couldn't be there but hope it's a good one!

(As you can see millie worked really hard on the sign- p.s. notice the pig tails?)

What we love these days...

Our weather is mostly 70's and 80's now but we still have a few cold days and lots of rainy days! Mill loves her rain puddles, her quick little legs always make a B-line for the big muddy puddle that collects at the end of the driveway. We've had to change many outfits from the times we weren't on the ball enough to get to her before she got to the puddle... these cute rain boots have helped with that problem She loves to just wander around in her rain boots, always carying around a little doll, and loves to wear hats...

Below: Josh's birthday was last week and we splurged on this ice cream cake. I must admit, I felt the same way about it as millie did, it just really hit the spot. Mill would get SOO excited when we'd pull out the cake. Josh was cutting the cake and millie was on a chair next to the counter, and we look down and there she was, face in cake. Guess she just couldn't wait any longer!

Photo Tag

So my sis. Kelly tagged me for this Terrible post- Apparently whoever i tag is supposed to take pics of the below things exactly as they are...no cheating and cleaning up. (this is embarassing)

my closet

Favorite shoes

oh, these shoes are just so great. Every year I say it'll be the last I wear these shoes, but I just can't throw them away. Just look at em', can ya blame me?

Laundry room

yes, it really is this digustng.

Our Bathroom

Favorite room

Love this antique highchair I found at a garrage sale (they have excellent garage sales here!)


Kitchen Sink

Fridge

What Kid(s) are doing now

you guessed it, watching a "show" (and eating a doll)

Self Portrait

I was obviously just doing this one to be dumb but wasn't really going to use it and then josh peeped around the corner (see him in the back ground?) and i thought that made it funny. can you do this with your lips? It really is a special talent i think.

***I Tag Melanie, Megan, Roseanne, Jami, and Both Jennas (Jenna R. and Jenna J.)

And now I'm an Asian...

I read on a friends blog about this site where you can find your celeb. Doppelganger (look alike). Hers worked out really well and it chose an accurate look alike. Several years ago (back when I used to shower, and do my hair and make-up) LOTS of people told me I looked like Kate Bosworth. So, I went to this sight http://celebrity.myheritage.com/FP/Company/try-face-recognition.php uploaded my photo and prepaired/hoped to be flattered... But no such luck, the results... I'm an Asian, Sammy Cheng.

I entered in a different photo but didn't realize I'd accidently checked the box saying that I was a male. So, my male look alike, Clarke Gable. Tell me it's not true!! sad : (

Spring Break

We kinda had to multi-task for Josh's spring break this year. He had to go to a Dr. apt. in Indianapolis (about the running injury he's been having) so we decided to make a little trip of it. Besides Millie taking 3 hours to go to sleep each night and waking up 3-5 times during the night we had alot of fun!

We stopped in Nashville on our way up to meet some friends at a DELICIOUS place called the Pancake Pantry. I got pecan pancakes with cinnamon syrup and josh got sweet potatoe pancakes with carmel syrup. Try it if you're in the area.

We love chocolate (naturally) so we looked up some places and heard about a store/factory called, "The Best Chocolate in Town" it was SO AMAZING! they had a cute little shop where you could watch the confectioners making truffels, and they had amazing flavors like: Asian spice, wasabi ginger, cinnamon basil, amaretto, malt ball, cheesecake, and even one with gouda cheese. I got the Cinnamon basil and had to savor every bite- strange combination but tasted just like christmas would taste if it were a flavor!

Next we hit a local toy store. A place I would have gone nuts over when I was a kid! all the nice toy brands like kathe kruse (german toy maker) and those bears that stephanie from full house had etc. (Kelly- you would have DIED.) oh to have a store like that near me... We had to pick up this amazing little guy for millie (made out of material like a ball, so he's bouncy and fun) I couldn't resist this kathe kruse tooth fairy doll. (I use to collect dolls when I was little, I think i'll take it up again!)



We had to hit the local spaghetti fac.- I have a goal of visiting ALL locations. (love their creamy pest, vinagrette, and spamoni!)
We also went shoping at H&M. Lucky me because Josh is always encouraging me to get what ever I want and to go shopping etc? (crazy huh?)

Indy has a GREAT childrens museam that just happened to be free the afternoon that we visited it. Millie of course didn't want to leave... neither did I for that matter. 4 LARGE levels of different exibits.

we couldn't get millie away from the dino exibit! must get that from Grandpa C.

Ceeling in the basement was filled with different blown glass containers- you could lay back on this revolving chair thing and gaze.