Here Fishy

Miles and I are in Arizona for a bit whilst Dave slaves away with school and work in Minnesota. We are having a great time, riding the bike every morning, enjoying some nice weather, playing outside and even a little In-N-Out. It smells the same every time. Mmm mmm good.

It seemed like Dave was able to spend a bit more time with us for a few days before we left, so it was sad to say goodbye and we miss Dave. He's such a wiz of a handsome husband. That's what someone told me long ago, anyway. Dave... always stealing hearts.

Before we left we went to the Zoo and Conservatory right by our place since it was 30 or something and so warm. So, here's some pictures from that day of being together and to wishing life was void of responsibility and we could all just vacation together all the time and that Dave was here.

My views:

Dave's views:

I love all these iPod pictures of Miles. And I snapped my finger flesh in the stroller clip thing. We miss Dave. Bye.

A Lovely Valentine's Day

To start off, the state in which we live have given us some downright warm weather.

We are talking 30s! Yesterday was 40s-- it was beautiful.

Within the state in which we live, I have these guys. Miles is pretty annoying to me lately/right now AKA bed time, but Dave is always a winner.

What more could I ask for on Valentine's Day? I got "warm" weather and good company that doesn't have any homework! Maybe I could ask for a game of Boggle... P.S. This is the face Miles makes when you tell him to smile. P.P.S. These pictures were taken at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. They have ice sculptures and I honestly couldn't tell you what else. It was really cold on this day that we went, pretty crowded and we weren't really sold on "The Coolest Celebration on Earth." Maybe we missed something.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ultimate Random

Speaking of random, did you see that Dave updated the blog? I was like, "Whaaaat?!?" I felt so special. And that video of Miles is one of my all time favorites. So perfectly Miles.

I was meandering through some pictures and stumbled upon some that I'm not particularly proud of, but felt like sharing anyway. And I live here so if you don't like it, move out.

Random item of business #1:

We live in a city. A big city. Or two of them, kinda. I'm definitely a city mouse. I love the energy, the opportunities, the exploring, the learning, the walking, the looking, the people watching, the culture, the food... I love being so close to a big city.

The underside of one of my more favorite-ish Minneapolis bridges.

The Mississippi looking like she got a cold from being frozen and got a stream of snot...

Nighttime Minneapolis.

The Mississippi all frozen over and cold and a blue freeway.

P.S. These pictures are all of Minneapolis, but I think I like downtown St. Paul better. Maybe. For now, because I know it better.

Random item of business #2:

We went and saw Sesame Street LIVE.

We were a little late and got there after the show started and Miles literally did not crack a smile until he saw the number 1 toward the end of the show. I think he was feeling leery that it was dark and he didn't get to check/scope out/observe his surroundings and get settled in first. So I guess it made him feel safer to not smile.

Random item of business #3:

I've been told a number of times that I come off as a snob. I get it. I totally get it. I think there are a few main points/flaws in my personality that contribute to this.

1. Tunnel vision. If I have work to be done or a task to accomplish I get major tunnel vision. Kind of like how I don't think I told my friend Melissa how pretty her little baby was because I was there to take pictures and I was focused on accomplishing that very task. If Miles has to pee at church and someone tries to stop me in the hall to say "hi," I have to first realize that someone just said something to me and then say hi back over my shoulder as I've already passed them by. Tunnel vision.

2. Non-social. First off, I have been so much better. Since moving out here I've been much more social and friendly and outgoing. I like to be friendly and outgoing. I can be friendly and outgoing. It's not outside my comfort zone. Before Dave and I got married I was a major social butterfly and way too flirty for my own good. My problem is sometimes I just don't care to put in the time or effort. I'm pretty darn comfortable in my own skin and I'm happy in my life, so I guess there hasn't been much of a force driving my sociability in the last few years. But, again, I've been way better. So this one only half counts right now, but it's definitely a culprit from the past.

3. My face. No joke. I think I just have a grouchy look. So sad to be me! This one I don't even think about, it's just natural. I took some pictures because I wondered just how stuck up and snobbish I look when I'm just sitting there and...

Yowza! When I saw this picture I first gasped and then I said to my self, "Homegirl, please don't tell me that's how mean you look...." And I willed my face to look nicer but true.

But it never got better than this. Wah.

But it's just not realistic for me to look like this all the time. I can't fake it. I don't like it when other people fake it. Why should I? I guess I'll just have to settle. Ashley the snob (but not really-- I promise).

That concludes all random items of business. Besos.

Heaven

There are a lot of pregnant women in my life right now. I can think of 7 with my eyes closed and my brain shut off. A friend of mine recently had her baby and let me take some pictures. I don't know if I ever really told her what a pretty little baby Jane is. Or that she made their home feel like heaven.

Nothing in the world can bring the special feeling that a little baby does.

Random Thoughts and Dancing Time

A couple weekends ago, I was invited to attend a young professionals fundraising event for the American Cancer Society. The health system I work for received a couple tickets for sponsoring the event and I was the lucky one they chose to give them to. The event took place at a cool restaurant at Target Field (where the Twins play) which was "transformed" into a James Bond themed location. Ash was my Pussy Galore as we partook in the festivities, ate some good food, made some good friends, and drank far too many cherry cokes from the full open bar.

If you love people watching, which is top on our list of fun things to do, then you missed a great event. Plenty of guys trying to impress the scantily clad women (including Miss Minnesota). Plenty of girls in their mid to late 20's clinging to ugly rich guys with goofy hair styles trying to hide their receding hairlines. As the night went on, everyone got more intoxicated and everyone had more fun. All for the support of raising funds to fight cancer. It was a great night out and we loved getting away from Miles for a couple of hours. Proof we were there:

On another note, Ash is out right now doing some stuff with the younger girls that attend our church. She had separated a giant party-sized bag of M&M's into separate colors for some reason (couldn't tell you why...women go a little overboard with these little things). Well, she forgot them when she left so she had to come back and get them. I ran them out to her and when I got back inside I didn't see Miles downstairs. I then heard the toilet flush upstairs.
My thoughts,
Great! Miles pee'd by himself, no help! He's a pro.

What do I find?
Miles washing his hands while giving a proud smile of accomplishment.
What else do I find?
A big puddle, wet legs, and soaked socks. He forgot to stand on the stool. You see, his wiener is about an inch lower than the edge of the toilet bowl. Better luck next time stud.

This brings me to my last point. I'm never home. Never ever. I wish I was. I never see Miles and Ash. I miss them both all the time. I'm sure it's why I've been in such a rut over the last few months.
Ash does a heck of a job raising Miles while being stuck in our tiny apartment all day. I have the car so that leaves her only the option to go walk around outside with Miles...but we live in Minnesota. Walking outside is fun for about one minute and then your boogers are frozen.

Ash does an amazing job trying to keep sanity while teaching Miles a number of things and keeping him occupied without turning to the TV. I don't know how she does it. She's amazing and I love her. She's funny, happy, supportive, my best friend, and sexy. What more could I ask for?

Well, I had the great joy of being with Miles tonight and he started going wild. It was quite fun. He was throwing toys everywhere, running up and down the stairs, and dancing. Here's the tail end of the fun and a worn out Miles:

To sum it all up, I love my family. They are the best. I wish I could spend more time with them but that day will eventually come. Retirement is only another 40 years away.

Cheer

Well Dave is off gallivanting with his homework after working a 9 hour day and coming home for about an hour. I thought he might like to see a little something from Miles to cheer him up. Enjoy.

Laugh from DAM FAM on Vimeo.

This one might do the trick too:

The Speed Demon from DAM FAM on Vimeo.

Snow, snow and more snow!

Have you seen Grumpy Old Men? First off, I highly recommend it. Secondly, "snow, snow and more snow!" comes from that. Thirdly, it's staged and filmed in Minnesota. Fourthly, it's what Walter Matthau says in response to the weather man saying "snow, snow and more snow!" that makes it one of our favorite quotes. We've used it a lot out here.

Since it's so cold here the snow is really fluffy. It almost looks like the fake stuff. You can practically blow it off your car with your mouth.

I've been doing a bit of the shoveling lately, so I always take Miles out to play while I shovel. I wish I had my camera all those times, but it would just really be in the way whilst I shoveled. He tromps all over in that snow-- with it up to his knees and he just flops down on his belly and lays in it. It seems he definitely has a tolerance for that cold because he had snow in his boot and down his sleeves and he didn't mind. He would have stayed all day if I'd let him. He loves it. Watching him go around kind of makes me think about the back yard I had as a kid and how fun it was to go play outside and explore and be a kid. Aside from the rattle snakes, coyotes, and an occasional bobcat, it was every kid's dream yard. And I don't think I ever noticed that it was 100 degrees. Ah, to be a kid again.... Until then, here we are in Minnesota with lots of snow. The end.