Home Depot

I have a love relationship with Home Depot. I really do. I get so giddy when I get to go there. I can spend hours walking up and down isles. I love building new things, painting, updating things around the house, and finding things to change. I could go on but I won't. This week on my way home, I decided I need a positive in the midst of all this negative, so I decided to paint my room a new color. I wanted something more light. The color I selected was, Rain. It's a light gray. I'm super excited about it and started priming the moment I got home. Have I mentioned that I love to paint? I am super excited to get it all done this weekend! =)

Casa de Josh Groban

Being the concert connoisseurs we are, we purchased tickets to Josh Groban back in May. I had seen him in his first tour back in 2002 up in Ames and it was a completely different experience then most. I have been to my fair share of concerts, but they are usually more up beat where you can dance around like a fool and sing the songs at the top of your lungs. Josh, well, he is more of a sit down and enjoy type of guy.

After a very emotional and mentally exhausted day, okay, past few weeks, we headed out to dinner. We decided to go to the Drake Diner because a good ole burger just sounded amazing. We still had about an hour before concert time so we found a spot on the street (for free!) right near Wells and went for a walk. It was so beautiful outside and it was nice to just have some quiet. We were heading back up to the venue when we noticed our surroundings a little more. One, we were passing everyone on the side walk and we were walking at a slow pace for us. Two, there were a lot of older people around. We got to the stop light and that is when I took my first glance. I felt like we were smack in the middle of a retirement community. I would say 75% of the concert attendees were over 55+ and ordering off the Senior Citizen menu, 23% were woman 19-30 with their moms or grandmas, and the rest of the 2% were, well people 30 and under. We just took it in stride. The venue may have been full of depends and smelled like Ben Gay but none the less it was a good concert.

The opening act was ELEW. He as phenomenal. I can't express into words how talented this man is. I'm a sucker for piano music. It's so soothing and comforting. ELEW, well it was more, knock your socks off then soothing. He gives a new vibe and feel to rock music on the piano. He did covers of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', 'Teenage Dream', a medley that including The Young and The Restless theme, Charlie Brown theme, The Nutcracker, and a few other TV shows. He then did a rendition of "Clocks" by Coldplay. Now, Chris Martin is amazing. So much in fact that I would never try to re-create his work. He started playing and I think he surpassed Coldplay. It took my breath away. His talent is beyond words. A few times we could play with his right hand and then strum the inside strings of the piano with his left hand. It created a guitar/piano vibe. I will definitely need to look him up on iTunes when I get the chance. Here is ELEW in action:

Now onto Josh. He was amazing. It was a concert that I sort of needed. A sit down, non-sing-along, that you can just close your eyes and join. His voice is so on point, there is no difference between CD and live. I was sort of sketchy about it because, well, his music isn't the get up and dance, and you can't really sing along to it (unless you were the girl right behind us...ugh) but it was a completely different then I thought it would be. He is quite hilarious. He made so many jokes and was really into talking with the crowd. He interviewed random concert goers, and of course out of the thousands there, he asks one girl what she does and she responded "we breed rabbits", he didn't let that go throughout the whole concert. There was a proposal on stage, which she probably felt liable to say yes, but she did. At once point he built a Casa De Groban with inflatable couches and pulled a long time married couple and two single girls to sit on state for a few songs. He gave them wine, and then realized the girls were not 21, so he gave them milk. The provocative dancers were replaced an amazing orchestra and Josh showed his talents on the piano and drums. I did get emotional when he sang "War at Home" but who wouldn't, and he did close the concert with "You Raise Me Up" which holds dear to my heart. All around it was a great evening, with great company, and a fantastic show. Here are some photos, they are taken with Michael's phone...lol. We didn't bring a camera in.

ELEW

Josh Groban

Thankful

I'm not going into detail but this past month as been a dozy on us and continues to do so. You always think people are invincible and something then reminds you that we are all breakable. I have to say though my friends (which does include a lot of family) have been completely amazing. Being able to rely on them for strength, encouragement, prayer, and just being able to be catch me when I fall, is something that I cannot be more thankful for. It astonishes me how you say one thing and people are so willing to give up so much and be so selfless. The walks, the talks, the texts, the emails, the IM's, the laughter, the advice, the list can go on. It's odd, just when I seem to be at a breaking point, I will mysteriously get a text message or an email. It's makes me feel like it's God's way of saying "it's okay". this morning, on my way to work after dropping the boys off at day care, there were clouds in the sky and the cool breeze was coming through my windows and sunroof. A song came on my iPod that emotionally did me in at that time. I looked up, and there it was, a rainbow. Peaking through the darkness. It was so random because it was dark and cloudy and only to the north could you see the beauty of the sun rising in a pink sky. I know there is a scientific explanation for it but in that moment, I felt that was my promise He was showing me. That no matter what happens, He will take care of and it's in His plans. Not mine. This of course caused me to pull off HWY 141 and have a good cry in the Kum & Go parking lot. (Sorry to the man in the truck that kept starring at me thinking I was losing my mind.) It wasn't really tears of sadness, stress, or hopelessness, it was more a realization that no matter what, the support system we have is so strong and is there to catch us. Knowing there are so many people there to call, ask for prayer, and just spend time with. I am so grateful for them all. I can't express into words the appreciation. The laughter has been something that I never knew would help so much. The random things that my friends do and happen to have done to them, it just astonishes me. But honestly, who I am to talk? I have had some odd things happen to me. I know there may be some tough times ahead, but no matter what side streets we are taken on, we are on the path He has planned.

iTunes Festival

Currently iTunes has a special promo out there. You can watch some of your favorite bands in concert. I am in love. This is a limited time only but so far I have been very impressed. I listened to Adele while doing laundry this weekend, re-lived Coldplay while cooking up a storm Sunday, and tonight we listened to My Chemical Romance while deep cleaning the kitchen and downstairs. There are still a few more I want to listen or even watch. I'm going to have to scroll through the list again!

Yet another milestone

Last night, I was awaken by a very unhappy baby. He would sleep only if I held him. I finally filled up his mesh ring with a piece of ice and that seemed to help. Sure enough, there are now 2 teeth where only a day ago, were plain gums. Bring on the steak!

***This is a mommy post and there will be talk of cute chubby babies.


Jax will be 8 months in a few weeks. That is beyond crazy to even think about. He still weighs around 22lbs if not more. I boxed up a lot of his 6-12 month clothes last weekend. He now needs mom to go shopping. He is slacking in the 18 month department. He is crawling everywhere and in the last week has learned to stand up on everything. He can pull himself up onto any surface and of course does it on things he shouldn't. The other day, Michael was suppose to be watching the boys, and I found Jax in the drawer underneath the oven. He was playing with the pots and pans. You also cannot give him a bath without him getting out of the bathtub. I cannot get him to stay still. If he sits on your lap, he is jumping. If he is on the floor, he is crawling or getting into everything. He has quickly learned the word "No" but unlike Jake, completely ignores it. Jake was super baby. He never put anything into his mouth, didn't go places he shouldn't, we baby proofed and he took it all off but never touched it. It was heaven. Jax....not so much. His chunky self is in everything and loves to be the rebel of the family. Jake tries to put him in time out all the time. It's hilarious. Sadly, last night, he went another step further. He fed himself. He always missed his mouth or put the food to far below in his hand. Last night, he got it. He then would start talking and doing his excited legs every time he did it. I was so happy for him, but yet, so sad. Something as small as him putting a noddle in his mouth, almost brought me to tears. I feel that we only have a few more key points until he is at Jake level. He even utters the word "Dada" when he sees Michael. This I am fine with because Jake said "Mama" first. He is working on standing no his own. He will let go for a second and then grab whatever he was holding onto. Help me if he starts walking anytime soon! I just can't believe how quick this is all going! I still haven't grasped that I have a 4 year old.

It has been a while, I know. Things have been extremely crazy around here. We had a weekend in Omaha with Michael's family to celebrate his moms 60th birthday. It was quite an adventurous one at that. We had the zoo, dinner, a lot of family time, drag queens (long story), and sickness. We had to leave early due to a little baby that was sick. Jax had a rough night followed by a few rough days. He had one nasty cold. I stayed home with him Monday and Tuesday and he finally got his energy back. Mr Happy didn't smile for almost 24 hours, it was so heartbreaking. He was back to his happy crazy self before we knew it. I only ended up going to work for one day that week. I had already scheduled off Thursday and Friday so the work week was a complete bust. Harry Potter week came in full force after that! We started off by watching a few of the old movies. Thursday we decorated, cooked, and watched 5 & 6. When everyone got there, we ate dinner, which was amazing! Shepherds pie, Yorkshire pudding, chicken, it was fabulous. We then watched the first part of 7 while munching on desserts and popcorn. Rumor had it, the theater was already filling up with people so we headed over. Sure enough, there was a giant line outside the theater. We played a card came while we waited but they started letting everyone in at a pretty decent hour. I will say though, sitting in a theater for 2 hours before your movie even starts, gets sort of old. Especially when you have annoying, immature high school students all around you. We had some costumes but not amazing like I have seen from others. The movie...amazing. I still can't find words to describe it. I laughed, I cried, cheered, and I was very sad when the credits started to role. No more HP. Slightly upsetting. I cannot wait for it to be released on DVD. I have not bought a single HP movie, so you bet I will spent the money on the box set. Someone did give me the Half Blood Prince, which of course is the worst one.

We just have a lot going on and we are trying to figure things out. Always a joy! Sick of the nasty heat that will not leave.