Happy Belated 50th Birthday Mom!!!!

Ok, so please don't think that I'm a terrible daughter. My mom, Dawn Denise Armstrong, turned 50 February 27th, 2009. I am posting this blog about a month late.... and for that I must apologize. Dave posted blogs on both his parent's actual birthdays.... I am slacking for my madre. Please know that this does not in any way reflect a lack of love for my mom. Extenuating circumstances, involving ridiculous school responsibilities, and planning her birthday extravaganza kept me busy. In all honesty, I was so busy that day and the days before that it didn't even cross my mind to blog. Please, please forgive me.

My mom is awesome. And don't you ever forget that. I will compile a random sampling of why she is just so awesome below:
-she was a great sport at her party... and wore the old lady boa with medicine attached to it, a flashing pin, tiara, and used the walker i had tricked out with bows, ribbons, glitter, etc! (gotta find a picture of that... because it was awesome!)
-she was a HOTTIE on her big 50 day... sporting black skinny jeans, a flowy white tunic, layered gold jewelry, and some sweet flats. uhm... can i be that cute please?
-she gives the world's greatest hugs
-she will try anything once
-she has become an awesome cook... and makes family dinners every sunday night with inventive new recipes... that are 99% really good! (beet brownies have been an exception)
-she will drop anything to help anyone
-she is selfless
-she devotes 110% of herself to anything she does (including her new CAbi business adventure)
-she helps those in need... for awhile she was buying grocery boxes from a local church twice monthly to support a family she knew who simply needed a hand
-she is super stylish! ;) (i wish we wore the same size shoes...)
-she always made the best peanut butter and syrup waffles for me when i was sick
-she just always makes you feel better when you're feeling sick
-i can text her that i am in need of "mommy time" and she will always make me feel better
-she is so fun to shop with/run errands with
-she gives stellar advice
-she walks with the Lord
-she truly has a heart of gold
-she has "Full House" moments in everyday conversations (dave and i have coined this term, meaning she brings a note of sentiment, albeit overtly sweet most times but altogether wonderful, and makes learning lessons of everyday events)
-she is constantly adopting "family"... extra sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, etc. did you all know my uncle ray and aunt dee are full blooded Hispanic and look nothing like any of us?
-she sews, quilts, bakes, scrapbooks, oh and don't worry she can change a car's oil and replace the brake pads... what can the woman not do?
-she used to tickle my back every night when i couldn't sleep
-she is a great example of how to eat healthy and exercise
-she's always a good shoulder to cry on
-she supports me and my husband no matter what
-she brought casa corona snacks to our hotel room on my bachelorette party. amazing.
-she can't wait to be a "go go grandma"... and she will be really good at it. but she knows it's not time yet.
-she loves my brother, dad, husband, and myself unconditionally and never lets us forget it!
-she is a shining example of how a wife and mother should be

ps- example #2 of how wonderful of a daughter i am... i had 0 pictures of just my mom and i in my iphoto. however, the most recent picture in my iphoto is also from new years eve 2009. i'm just a little behind. i just never take my pictures. that is all dave's job.... plus this is a skill i picked up from my mom. she is not the best at remembering to take pictures as well. so again, i'm sorry.

Daft Punk fan video = Creative

I just wanted to share this crazy video because I think it is very creative and that it must have taken such a long time to make. Think of all the planning that must have gone into it. I wish I could come up with someting crazy like this. Enjoy...and make sure you watch at least half the video, because it starts out a little slow, but it does pick up.
-Dave

Monster and Rhett

These two crazy/ridiculously good looking kids are getting married in May. SO SOON!!! And of course, all engaged couples must start their blog together. So I just wanted to introduce you to my friends over at something good aka Rhett and Monica soon to be Billen. Monica is one of my funniest friends. We met one day freshman year of high school.... and she's been cracking us all up since.

So go check out their blog. And give them some love. http://ya-like-that.blogspot.com/


Because we sure love them!

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Well, I'm assuming my dad saw this coming since his birthday is just a week after my moms. However, I still thought it might be a fun little surprise for him. A lot that was said about my mom rings true for my dad as well. We really appreciate him and love him a lot. He has always been there to support us with our crazy ideas or extra curricular activities. He may have even supported us a little bit more with our crazy ideas, simply because he was the one that would show us weird stuff. While Mom was supportive and protective of us, Dad was supportive and well, more like Bill Nye the science guy. My dad wasn't afraid to be a little kid and he still is to this day, which I think is awesome. He'll make goofy faces or tell "Hale jokes" which everyone else knows as groaners. But you know what? I wouldn't change that at all.

He's the type of dad that would bring us over anytime he was fixing something on the house, yard, or car. He wouldn't make us do the work, but he wanted us to be able to see how to do it, just in case. I remember my dad showing me how to graphite a key hole, thinking to myself, "When will I ever need to do this?" Sure enough, when I moved in with Jess, the keys wouldn't slide in and out of the door easily. Well they do now. Jessica always wonders how I know how to do random things in the house and I say, "I don't know...my dad must have taught me." Thanks dad! Like mom, I want to thank you for being such a positive role model as a father. It's a nice feeling knowing that you're always going to be around, that you love mom and would never hurt her, that you would protect your family at all costs, and that you're MY dad.

I love that you taught us what true camping is (No premade campsite people...just pick a spot that looks good and set up. Also, no toilets or showers; you're in mother natures house now), that we went hiking on a seven day hike to Mount Whitney, that we went boogie boarding, that you always make sure that we were prepared for anything (Got your first-aid kit, luggage tag, snow clothes, EXTRA BATTERIES, that we watched the Three Stooges, Little Rascals, and other classic black and whites, that you have a first-aid kit larger than most carry-on luggage, and many more. Thanks for being you Dad and for being the other tool that shaped us into who we are today. Oh, also olives...my dad loves olives and anything else weird/interesting to eat like rice candy, honeycomb, or ginger candy.

And though he may not like to admit, I know my Dad is the type of guy that is really in touch with his feelings and empathetic to others. He always wanted to show others, especially his parents, that he loved them. So with that in mind, I just wanted to say that I love you Dad and I think you're great! "Looking Good Dad, Feeling Good Dad" Happy Birthday! OLD GUYS RULE!

Thank You Uncle Sam!

So we just got our tax refund.... which came directly deposited into our account! I love it... that is great! Is this a new thing this year? Or am I just really far behind the times? But for any reason, we got it. And i love it.

Most people aren't happy with our government/economic situation these days. Myself included. However, getting married and the poor stock market sure does wonders for tax returns! I will take it!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Today is my mothers 25th birthday...how many times she has celebrated it, I will not divulge. I just wanted to take the time to tell her how much we appreciate and love her. She is amazing! We can go to her for anything: From a simple spelling question or recipe advice, to marriage advice, proper etiquette rules, to life lessons. She always has some wisdom for the subject. I guess we have finally come to the age where we know that we don't know everything, and contradictory to what we thought in the past...our parents are a lot smarter than us. Thanks for always being there for us mom and for keeping us out of trouble. We may not have understood why you did some things in the past, but we are better people for it now. Thanks for also being such a devoted mother and wife. We are so blessed to have grown up in a house where parents not only got along with each other, but loved each other. What a great example. I want to also thank you for being the type of mom that wasn't afraid to go camping at Convict Lake, who will camp out overnight at Chick-Fil-A, who made us wear long pants every Sunday to church, who would make homemade strawberry jam and mac-n-cheese, a mom that supported us through sports, band, choir, or anything crazy like dodge ball that we set our hopes on. Thank you for sacrificing yourself and things that would spoil you, just so we might feel happy. Thanks Mom. I love you! Happy "25th" Birthday!

Sign of the Times: Fail

This post is dedicated to my brother and his enjoyment of "funny fail photos."