Eddie Bauer fulfilled a life long dream of mine

What was that dream, you ask?

To own a pair of knee high leather boots.

Nothing much to most of the world. In fact, you probably have owned several pairs throughout your lifetime. Not me. Even when I was a size 6 (yep, that is how I started college), I couldn't fit into knee-high boots because of my calves. I always "explain" my big calves as resulting from my years and years of dancing. Jack always corrects me and "explains" it is a result of my short and stubby father. Fine. Either way...

But this weekend Eddie Bauer did for me what no other store ever has--got me into a pair of black leather boots. Thank you, wide calf leather. You have changed my life.

Next dream: to find wide calf rain boots that actually fit my man calves...

Toddlers and Tiaras and Newspaper Ads

I succumbed to the pressure to post a throwback pic of me on facebook. While I was looking I stumbled across this gem. Since I couldn't fit it on FB, thought I would post it here.

Beth, my dreams of fame ended here.

PS-Could this get-up be any shorter?

A little slice of home

Yesterday I was working on a project that required some family photos and so I spent several hours going through old pictures to find "that gem" of a photograph. While I never really found the one I was looking for, I did find this...

and I LOVE it!

I love it because:

• it is perfectly classic Jack


• it shows my in-laws' house that everyone just loves (and misses as they currently serve a mission in India)


• if you could cut a slice of life pie, this feels like it represents our flavor.

Yep, I remember that...what about this?

A new year means new memories.

Remember walking down the street to buy candy at the gas station (Minute Man) when you were like 8 and you didn't think twice about being kidnapped or molested?

Remember eating candy ALL the time?

Remember bobbing for cherry tomatoes in the backyard kiddie pool?

Remember watching Tootie and secretly wishing you lived in a girl's home with her?

Remember swinging on the playground and declaring whoever got the highest was going to be adopted by Michael Jackson?

Remember playing Barbies for so long and so elaborately you made props with paper and blocks and begged your mom to let you keep it up over night so play could continue in the morning?

Remember "Well, you're no Miss America yourself!"?

Remember trolling the Heart of the Burg and watching people try to parallel park?

Remember when Gillies sold Hagen Daaz ice cream?

Remember laser tag in the mansion and Diane, Jiane?

Remember the trampoline at my grandparents late one night (yes, you remember ladies!)?

Remember going shopping Saturday night to buy a new dress for church, almost every week?

Remember Ben Folds 5 and Echo and the Bunnymen at the Zephyr?

Remember Swedish feet and a 32 oz Dr Pepper?

What do you remember?
-thanks Beth!

Hokie Hokie Hokie High

We got tickets to a Hokie basketball game for Christmas. Turns out the boys will last through either half time, or 40 points, whichever comes first. Still some good times. It was our once a year sporting event with players past puberty. Sorry to Summer and Dustin who had to leave early with us.