Cryin' over Leno...

What the hell is wrong with me. Last night Matt and I were watching Jay Leno's last Tonight Show and it totally got to me. I started crying. Now granted, when I think about things that are important in my life, or things that I consider to be part of my Top Ten favorite things in life, I would have never thought about adding the Tonight Show as one of them, but in the past four years, Jay Leno and I have developed a sort of relationship. Let me explain....

I never watched Leno in high school. My parents never watched Leno unless it was on a few and far between occassions that they actually stayed up past 10:00 pm. I never watched him in college, never had time. But, when I first got married, Matt worked away from home and I was teaching school. I had piles and piles of papers to correct at night and I would watch Leno and finish my piles. He kept me company in a much too quiet house when I was all alone. Then, when Matt was home, we would watch tv in bed and it was always Leno. It actually used to piss me off because I was trying to sleep and wanted the tv off, but Matt likes the noise so he would snore away and I would wait until he was asleep enough to sneak over and turn off the tv. In the meantime, I would listen to his banter and jokes and be completely entertained.

I think that Cameron must have a thing for Jay as well, because she was a terrible sleeper when she was a baby and I'm sure she had to hear his voice, every night before she would go to sleep. Sometimes moving on to the Late, Late Show and even on occassion watching the infomercials after, but always, always, Leno.

Now the kids are asleep....most of the time....but Matt and I still unwind in bed to Leno. He has stemmed some great conversations, some great laughs, some great "Hey babe, you gotta come watch this part", and some great "after Leno" romance.....

Like I say....didn't realize it until he said goodbye last night.....didn't realize I was that attached...but I guess it's just one of the little things that you take for granted until, oh my gosh, it's over. I also swore last night that when Conan says goodbye in a few ten years or so, I will NEVER cry over him. He drives me freakin' crazy. Matt just laughed at me as all guys do when they're trying to figure out why their women are crying...again...and said he's sure I will. We will see.....

Book Worms Run Rampat In My House

I know how most people feel about books, and I know that I am basically labeling myself as a "nerd", but I'm okay with that because I am truly, madly, and deeply in love with most all books. It is a love affair that I have had since I was little. I don't remember learning how to read, I just did. I do remember my first chapter book on a family drive to Idaho when I was in 2nd grade, and I was hooked from there. I finished it and my Dad bought me another one on the way back, which I also finished. I spent hours reading everything I could get my hands on in school. I would sit with a book in my lap while the teacher was teaching because it was all I wanted to do. Even today, there is no better way to spend a day than curled up with a good book and a glass of red wine.

In college, I worked at Waldenbooks and I was their top seller because I had read so many of the books that were on the best seller list. I had to quit, however, because most of my paycheck was going to that store or the Maurices that was across the Mall. The only thing worse for me that books is shopping for clothes.

Then of course, I took my love of books into the classroom when I taught. I looked forward to read aloud time more than the kids and I ordered more from the book orders every month than they did. Needless to say, when Cameron came along, she had a fully stocked book shelf and I would read a pile of books to her when she was too little to process. But it was fun. So now that she is old enough to choose her own books, I am loving her choices and it is so fun to try a new one together. And Tucker is always right beside us listening as well. They both love to read and I am so thankful! I just hope it's something that sticks with them because I think school is a lot easier if you can read a book and enjoy it. Here are some of my favorite photos of Cameron reading one of her favorites, Olivia.

I know the book is upside down, but she's actually "reading" this to Tucker who is sitting in front of her. That's the funniest part, is she will "read" to Tucker from memory, and it's amazing how much she remembers.

This next one I just love, but it's probably the "nerd in me" because Matt doesn't like it at all.

Just to round out the week....

This is Cameron on "Hat Day" at preschool. We worked for quite awhile to make the perfect "princess" hat, and she was sure it needed a huge rose right on the top. It is quite the beautiful hat!

Happy Friday!

Tucker got up at 5:45 this morning yelling about balloons. It must be what little kids have nightmares about. Anyways, he wouldn't go back to sleep, so we laid on the couch and watched Baby Einstein until 8:00. I slept in and out. Thank goodness for repeat play on those dvd's.

Anyways, at 8:00, Cameron came out to join us and so it was time to get off the couch and fix some breakfast. We had KIX since I wasn't in the mood of scrambling eggs or making pancakes, which Cameron will not eat UNLESS they are in the shape of a butterfly. Seriously....

I stayed up too late watching the 2 hour tivo'd Grey's Anatomy so it was after midnight when I finally went to sleep and this day is going to drag since I had to get up so early. I've decided to go shopping. What I really need to be doing is spring cleaning or atleast basic every day cleaning, but my neice is getting baptized in the morning and I am supposed to bring a fruit salad so I guess we'll go to Winco and get some fruit so we don't pay $80 for a fruit salad here in town.

I have been working on some typing for the school district, which is pretty boring, but atleast I'm semi-using my degree....if typing is involved in elementary education. Basically, I have about 500 pages in a binder that are the Language Arts Curriculum for K-12 and I am putting it into a format to go online. When I am finished with that binder, I believe I get to do the Math K-12 curriculum as well. This is probably the nerdiest thing I have said, but I love words like "fluency" and "vowels". I guess it's a good thing I majored in reading and I teach. Even just typing this stuff makes me excited.

Yesterday Cameron was in the shower with me and she was trying to reach the shampoo bottle and she couldn't. She asked me when she would be old enough to reach the "Poo bottle". I told her when she was a grown up. Later that morning she came in and had her baby doll. She said, "Mom, I have a baby now and I'm grown up like you so now I want to reach for the Poo and put Poo in my hair." Gotta love it!

You Almost Had Me

Dallie Anne Buck. This is my first neice and she is just about 4 1/2 months old. You almost had me Dallie....I figured when youcame along, it would make me want another one....so cute and sweet in yourpink Easter dress....but no.....the late nights, the incessant nursing....you almost had me, but no.....this is the first summer in four years that I have not been pregnant or nursing and I am enjoying every second of it. So Dallie, you can be just as cute as can be and I will ooohh and ahhh over every little cute pink thing you are wearing, but in the long run, you can go home with Mommy and I will see you another day. I'm going to go to sleep and sleep all night....finally!

A Camping we will go.

We are going camping today. Matt had a bass tournament at CJ Strike, which is out by Mountain Home. Cameron is extremely excited and is "helping" to pack. I am "helping" by taking most things back to her bedroom. I have washed every single piece of bedding and towel and rug in the trailer, as we seemed to have a mouse infestation this winter. It was disgusting and I kept expecting to turn over a nest of babies, but so far, so good.

Anyways, we are planning to leave at noon and it is 9:35. I haven't even gotten in the shower. The kids are dressed. Atleast they were when I came up here to check my e-mail. Cameron has decided that she will just go ahead and potty train Tucker and she keeps taking all of his clothes off and he squeals as he runs past me naked. Hopefully she has some luck with that....I for one, hate potty training.

Looking forward to a relaxing weekend at CJ Strike.

Off to the Circus

This shot isn't from the circus, but I thought I'd add it in because I always like to read blogs that have photos.....

Last night we went to the circus at the Idaho Center. I have to admit I was a little dissappointed in what was there. They had two elephants, some shetland ponies, and some poorly trained dogs. That was it. The majority of the rest of the circus consisted of 5 girls who were possibly ex strippers doing some crazy ass dances while the elephants performed, while the clowns performed, and between acts. It was quite the show. Cameron loved it. Tucker just wanted to run up and down the aisles. It was a great family event.

Happy National Scrapbook Day!

I am so excited! This scrapbook room "Ribbon holder/drawer shelf (is that what it's called?) is normally $100 and I found it online at twopeasinabucket.com for $25 and if your order was over $50, there was free shipping. So, knowing that my friend, Bonnie would also want to be part of this deal, I went ahead and ordered two of them and got the free shipping. They showed up the other day on my step and I can't wait to hang it on the wall with all of my ribbons and put cute pictures in the frames. Yay!

I also went shopping today with my friend Aimee and her daughter, Mary. Mary is Cameron's good friend and us girls hit Archivers, Michael's, Craft Warehouse, and Paper Cottage. Tucker stayed home with my Grandma, as he is disaster in craft stores. It was great fun and they were having some great deals for National Scrapbook Weekend. Tomorrow, while Matt is Prefishing, I plan on using some of my new supplies to make some cards and pages. I hope to post some of them.

I also bought my first package of copic markers and they arrived on my step today, so I am excited to try and make my stamped images look as professional as some that I have seen. I will let you know how I do.