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Don't forget about the ADOPTION AWARENESS CHALLENGE

It's Adoption Awareness Month!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Really, if you have read my blog for any period of time you know how much I love this month. Adoption is one of the most important causes in my life, and to have a whole month dedicated to celebrating it... I can't even express my joy! SQUEEL!!! It makes me giddy! For the last few years I have taken a challenge to blog about adoption every day of November. This year I don't know if I'm going to make it. Life is getting in the way far too often lately, and I can't make any promises. I will say, however that you will be reading a LOT about adoption here this month, and I am going to do my very best to make it every day.

That being said, I would love it if you could help me out with this challenge, and I am therefore issuing a challenge to you. This month, I challenge each of you to do something for adoption. I am willing to bet that adoption has touched your life, or the life of someone you love in some way or another. It may be that you have adopted, you might be adopted, some of you have been birth parents (Bless You!) you may have a friend who is trying to adopt, or a sister who is struggling with fertility issues, and considering adoption. You may have a co-worker who has a bad opinion of adoption, or you might have watched late night MTV and been worried about the "Teen Mom" situation. Whatever your story, adoption is all around you. Think about it this month, and find one thing that you could do to support adoption. Wonder what little old you could do? I have ideas, my friend. Many, many ideas. I will include a small list at the end of this post, but if none of those satisfy you, let me know, because I have hundreds of suggestions.

So that's part 1 - accepting the challenge. (If you do, please leave me a note in the comment section so I can add you to the list on my sidebar.)

Part 2 is even funner. Make a plan, put it into action, and then let me know what you did, and how it turned out. (it might not go well, that's alright. I want to hear about it anyway) Shoot me an e-mail,(eberling2@msn.com) or leave a comment and I will post about your experience. This is a great way to spread awareness, as well as give my other readers some ideas. It doesn't have to be a long story, or an earth changing thing. It just has to be one little effort. One little ripple, if you will.

Part 3 is the best. Because I went private this year, I don't think I am going to do the "Adoption Q&A" contest that I have held for the past two years. (This isn't written in stone yet, and I would love to hear your opinion on the matter, If you love it, I will bring it back, but for now it doesn't look like it is going to work) So instead this will take it's place. I will put the name of everyone who makes the commitment on a hat, and an additional name for everyone who reports back to me on what they did, and draw out a winner of a FABULOUS prize, by a company who supports adoption. (more on the prize later)

So here are a few ideas to get you going:

1. Go into a Wendy's restaurant and put your spare change into the

Give A Little, Change A Lot canister that supports the Dave Thomas Foundation helping children in foster care find families to adopt them.

2. Share our adoption story with a friend or post the link on your blog

3. Share an adoption story with someone. Ask me for one, I have TONS!

4. Wear a white ribbon to symbolize supporting adoption.

5. Get more educated about adoption.

6. Post about Adoption Awareness Month on your blog.

7. Add a Button to your blog. (You are welcome to steal mine from my sidebar, I share. In fact I stole it too:)

8. Mention something about taking the challenge on Facebook, twitter, etc.

9. Hand out pass along cards for a family who is hoping to adopt (Ask me about it, I have connections.)

10. Christmas is right around the corner. Shop online from someone supporting adoption. Like THIS ONE, (or ask me for more, I have a list.)

11. Post an adoption profile (or several) on your blog. (Ask me, I can help)

12. Do your own version of "Adoption Q&A" I can help you answer the questions.

13. Link to Ask A Birth Mom

14. Link to Matching Mondays

15. Mention your support of adoption to someone you know. You will be surprised at the connections you can make.

16 Do a FHE on Adoption.

17. Read a book to your kids about adoption. Google one, ask the librarian, or ask me.

As I said, I have many more ideas. If none of these get your creative juices flowing, email me and we will figure something out. Thanks for taking the challenge (Notice the way I worded that, it is no longer an option, I just KNOW you are going to do it!:) Don't forget to let me know that you have accepted the challenge, and how it works for you. And above all, enjoy National Adoption Month.

Happy Halloween!

It's The Simple Things

I am the best mom ever according to my kids. I'm super popular, and and they can't stop hugging me. Want to know what I did? It took a ton of effort and sacrifice. Not everyone can achieve it, but I'll let you in on the secret in case you want to try. Here goes, are you ready?...

1. I went out of town for a whole weekend and left them home. They actually missed me, and now they are super nice to me.

2. When I came back I brought them something special... Flintstones Gummie Vitamins (with added choline to support healthy brain function - yeah, I'm cool like that:) I'm not even kidding. They think it's the best thing ever!

See, it isn't easy to be as cool as me. What can I say, I have mad skillz!

(just a side note, I'm super NOT cool, I'm a total geek because even just spelling skills with a z like that is giving me some major anxiety. I might have to go back and change it. Lame, I totally know!)

Ya, know what I love?

Pizza Hut on a Tuesday night. Not because I am really that fond of Pizza Hut-at all- but because it isn't crowded on Tuesday night. I'm not sure why, but it's nice and quiet, only a few people here and there, no big rushes, or loud people. That matters a lot when you have a son like Ethan. He isn't terrible, but when you get him in a situation with lots of people, lots of noise, and lots of smells, it is a total sensory overload for the little guy. Then you tell him to sit still, and be quiet, and have manners, and chew with his mouth closed, it's pretty much a guaranteed melt down waiting to happen. So we like quiet restaurants. Like Pizza Hut on a Tuesday. That's where we found ourselves tonight. Ethan did great in school (confirmed by Mr. Allen who called to say that when he gave Ethan his score of a 5 on his agenda-the highest score available- Ethan said, "you better call my mom because she is NEVER going to believe this!" And being the total sweetie he is, he actually did call, even though he has a million better things to do with his time. What a good teacher, right? We are so spoiled!) So he earned something special, and he chose to go out to eat.

You know what I DON'T love? When you are enjoying a quiet meal at a place specifically chosen for it's lack of people, and a BUS full of LOUD HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS shows up and wrecks the peace and quiet, and sends Ethan into a cover-his-head-with-his-jacket-and-duck-under-the-table-where-he-precedes-to-rock-back-and-forth-and-talk-to-himself attack. Yeah that totally ruins the night, I'll tell you.

You know what I do love though? When the high school boys, all on their own, with no guidance from their coach, notice Ethan having his little melt down, ask what is going on, and then do their very best to keep their voices down, and be respectful to Ethan and the situation. They also talked to him about football after he calmed down, and winked at Adia, who thought they were all dreamy. They didn't have to do that, they weren't being out of control or anything, they were just being regular loud high school boys. But they were respectful enough to do it anyway. It's really nice when kids act responsibly, and think outside of themselves. It's especially nice when they do it on their own instead of being asked. It's refreshing, and I was quite impressed and very grateful for these young men who helped make our night enjoyable. Ahhh, nice people really are out there somewhere.

PS: does this post make me sound like my grandma??? When did I get so old?

With Friends Like These...

I love my friends. Like, really, when I make a friend I keep them FOREVER! I still have friends that I have known since I was born. I am a very loyal friend. Once we are friends, I've got your back. Friends are really important to me. I love how a real friend can read your thoughts. I love how you can be your really real self around your friends, and they love you anyway. I love how real friends don't judge your parenting, the way you look, or the cleanliness of your house. I love how real friends help you even when you don't ask, and when you do ask, -for something totally unreasonable, they always come through, no questions asked. I love how with real friends you become more like family that just friends (though I'm blessed that many of my friends ARE family) I mean, think about it, when your world falls apart, who do you call? When the most exciting thing EVER happens, who do you call? Your friends. They are the ones that help you through life. Without my friends, I wouldn't be able to make it. My friends have been the ones who have carried me through the toughest part of my life, when I couldn't stand on my own, and the ones that screamed and jumped up and down and did the crazy dance with me at those moments when life is the best. I take my friendships very seriously. It takes some extra effort, but it is worth it in the end, because it matters that much to me.

I have been really blessed that several of my good friends married people that I have become really good friends with as well. (You know how sometimes you have a friend, but you CANT STAND her husband, so you never do things with their family? Yeah, that isn't my problem.) It's rare, but I actually love their spouses as much (if not more sometimes;) than the original friend. That is the case with Levi and Jeremy. I have been friends with them since I was in 8th grade. (that's a LOOOONG time, people, I'm getting old here!) Jeremy was like the big brother I never had, and Levi was my very best friend in high school. I love those guys. And then they went and got married. That was a little scary, because you never know how the wife is going to feel about some crazy lady hanging around their husband. But these ladies are amazing. They don't mind me and my intense family coming in and crashing the party. Stacy doesn't mind that I practically lived at her house all summer, and brought my kids over to eat all of her pudding. In fact, she keeps inviting us back. Cassie doesn't mind that I call her husband at crazy hours of the night to talk about nothing, in fact she often joins in on the conversation. (She's usually the one that keeps us under control, she's the "grown up", we need her) I am so lucky to have these ladies in my life. I don't even know how I functioned without them. They really are two of my very best friends. When we were desperately fighting our adoption battle, who fasted and prayed and cried with us? And who was sitting right there next to us as we were sealed as a family in the temple? Who stayed late and cleaned up the after party following the sealing celebration? Who was right beside me when my smart mouth nearly got us raped and plundered by that cop in Mexico? And just a few months ago, when my life turned completely upside down in the blink of an eye, and I didn't know if I was going to survive it, who did I call to tell me that everything was going to be alright? See, these ladies are my rock. I need them. Those two boys I love so much were really smart (and super lucky) when they picked these girls to be their wives. They are great. Everyone should be so lucky as me, to have them in my life.

That being said, they are also very committed to helping me find a new husband. They keep me in mind all the time, and are constantly on the look out for husband #2. Just a couple of weeks ago I was at Levi and Cassie's for movie night when the subject of finding me a man came up once again. Cassie said that she saw an ad in the newspaper of a single man with two children seeking a wife. Of course she instantly thought of me! What a good friend, right?

Then last Saturday we were at the community potato patch, helping with the harvest, when a nice older gentleman stopped by handing out pamphlets for his son who is running for county sheriff. Stacy, being the great friend that she is, takes one look at his picture, and pipes up (Loud enough for the ENTIRE COMMUNITY to hear, I might add!) "Hey, he's good looking! Is he single? Because KATIE over here is looking for a husband!" Sadly, he is already married, so I guess I'm out of luck. But wasn't she nice to ask? I'm really lucky to have these good friends who have my back. And though, I don't think I'm quite as desperate as they apparently think I am, it really is reassuring to know that somebody out there cares about my future happiness. So, thanks girls. Keep up the good work. I hope you know how much I love you both:)

Smelling something

I have been fighting off a cold for the last week, so I have been rubbing oregano, peppermint, and eucalyptus oil on my neck and chest every night and morning. It stinks, I know it, but it helps, so I keep doing it anyway. This morning after doing that I was helping Adia get dressed. She took a big sniff and said "Oh, Mom, your perfume has mixed with your toothpaste, and it smells delightful!"

I'm glad to know that I smelled delightful, but it makes me worried about what my regular perfume smells like. If she thinks that all of that stink smelled like my perfume-yuck! So please, if you are around me and you can tell I stink, Please, do a girl a favor, and let me know. I won't be offended, I will just switch to a different perfume. And to all of you who have been thinking for years, "boy that lady smells like a medicine cabinet" and didn't tell me, I don't think we can be friends anymore. This is me breaking up with you!

Clouded Vision

A few weeks ago Ethan came home from school with a paper from the district health nurse. Evidently he didn't pass his vision screening. He thought he needed glasses, and he was EXCITED! (I have no idea why) This isn't the first time that Ethan hasn't passed an eye exam. He has a hard time staying focused, so several times he would be looking at something other than the eye chart, and they would say "Can you see this" well, No, he couldn't because he wasn't looking at it, therefore, he would fail the screening. Usually his teacher takes notice of this and lets me know, and I don't worry too much about it. This year, however, the teacher wasn't there, and the nurse assured me that he really was trying, he just couldn't see the chart. So I made an appointment with the eye doctor in Moab. It took three weeks to get it, that's the joy of having few options, you wait until they are ready for you.

So a week later, as we are still waiting for our eye appointment we go to the pediatrician. Out of the blue as he is examining Ethan he asks, "have you gotten his eyes checked lately?" I start to panic, could there be a serious problem? What would make the pediatrician ask about eyes? He never has before? What's going on? I tell the doctor about Ethan not passing the school eye exam. Ethan excitedly tells him that he needs glasses. I ask what the heck he means by asking about eyes,-he isn't an eye doctor! Just what is he getting at here? (My pediatrician loves me, can you tell?:) He answers that it is nothing, he was just asking, and quit analyzing every little thing he says. (See, it's love) But here's something that you might not know. It's a little known fact, but in my extensive experience with all kinds of doctors over the last five years, I finally cracked the code, and learned this secret. I'm going to share it with you now, are you ready? Listen carefully... Not all doctors tell you the whole truth All the time. SHHH! Don't tell! But, it's true, especially if they have hard news to give you, and they know that you are seeing a specialist concerning the same problem. Sometimes they think you might be an overemotional parent or something, and if they know that you are going to hear it from someone else very soon, they dodge the bullet and let the other guy deal with it. (I don't know why anyone would think I am overly emotional, I'm not, I'm just passionate. I'm just saying that some doctors might misjudge the situation or something:)

So here I am FREAKING out, um, I mean, feeling very passionate about the subject of Ethan's vision... FOR TWO MORE WEEKS!!! until I can get in to see the blasted eye doctor who I'm sure is going to tell me that Ethan is going blind. Can you imagine Ethan not being able to see. He can't even walk across a flat floor without tripping, how on earth is he going to navigate this crazy world without being able to see anything. He's going to end up one of those kids who have to wear a helmet. And I would never be able to let him out of my sight again. And I am already pretty busy... and I never sleep... and that's starting to make me slightly crazy as it is... and how is he going to get a date to prom if he can't see and has to wear a helmet... and the helmet is going to make him bald, and then everyone will be able to see the dent in his head... and I just barely got him to put aside his dreams of being the guy who sells cotton candy at the circus for bigger dreams of being a "cow doctor" and how the heck is he going to do either one of those jobs if he can't see... and he's allergic to dogs, so he won't even be able to use a seeing eye dog... I am NEVER going to be able to die, I HAVE TO LIVE FOREVER!... (You can see how things can get slightly out of control for a passionate person like myself:)

So finally the day comes when we go to see the eye doctor. I am nearly hyperventilating by the time we walk into the office - why in the heck did I take the afternoon appointment instead of the morning appointment? Who the heck cares if he misses READING? When are you going to use that in real life?:) The doctor checks him out. Ethan tells him that he needs glasses. The doctor tells Ethan that he gets to decide that. He asks Ethan over and over if he knows his letters. We assure him he does. He tells Ethan a few times that he needs to tell the truth. He does all kinds of tests, we are there for almost two hours. I am about to have a panic attack. Finally he says that Ethan has a small astigmatism (where the eye is slightly oval shaped instead of round) That might make things a little fuzzy, but shouldn't effect him too much, and certainly isn't anything to worry about. But here is the real problem... Are you ready?... Ethan really wants glasses and lied about not being able to see the chart. I know. His recommendation: get him some cheap frames with no lenses that he can wear around whenever he wants. My recommendation: Beat that little stinker...uh, I mean, talk to him about the importance of telling the truth to doctors and his mother.:)

So I call the pediatrician and tell him that there was nothing to worry about. He answers that he knows, he really had been just asking, this is about the age that you need to start getting things like that checked out.

So, that's the story. But it got me thinking about my life lately. Have you ever had something that you wanted so badly that it clouded your judgement from what was real? I think I have been doing that. In my heart I know that something isn't right. It isn't wrong exactly, it just isn't right for me right now. But I want it so badly that I keep telling myself it is right until I almost have myself and the people around me convinced that it's true. It isn't that big of a deal, and if I pretend long enough there's a good chance it will be true. But it's just like Ethan's glasses. He doesn't need them, but if he were to get them it wouldn't hurt anybody else, so maybe it isn't that big a deal. But after a while it will start hurting his eyes. It might even damage his vision so he actually DOES need glasses. He needs to just be honest about it, even though it might be hard, and maybe a little disappointing, in the long run it will save him a lot of pain. I think that's where I am. I need to make the decision to save myself some pain. It's just making myself give up on the thing I really want that's the hard part. Have you ever been here? Have you ever REALLY wanted glasses?

Doves

Image courtisey of client safari

None of the doves I have been in contact with recently would make a very good picture

So something totally bad is happening. I think it's a sign, and not a good one! Let me explain, and tell me what you think.

I have a big bay window in my room, and when I first moved here I was standing in the window, looking out, and a dove flew right into it. Right next to where my head was. It hit hard too. It splattered... stuff... all over the window, and left a bird shaped smudge of the glass. (really, you could see the head, the wings, everything, and it was totally hard to get off!) It died. I was traumatized.

A few weeks later Ethan ran a bird over with his bike. He didn't mean to, it was just sitting there, and didn't move, and his "brain forgot to tell his legs to stop pedaling" Guess what kind of bird it was... yeah, it was totally a dove.

A few weeks after that the kids and I were going outside. I opened the door, and a dove flew straight at me, hitting the brick next to the door frame, and knocking it out for a second. I stood there looking at it, wondering what to do, when it all of a sudden came alive and flew under the couch. We weren't really sure what to do. It took some coaxing, but finally I moved the couch, and the kids made a mad dash for it. Ethan caught it, and threw it out the door, and nothing got "doved" on, but it was really strange. And pretty freaky.

Then today I was driving down the road on my way to take Ethan to an appointment in Monticello. A group of birds flew right in front of my car, and I hit one. Oops! So I drive all the way to Monticello. As I drive through town I see several people I know, and wave to them. Everyone gives me kind of funny looks though. I know that I have been gossiped about by a few people, lately, and I think it might have something to do with that, so I try not to get my feelings hurt, and keep driving. We stop at the hospital and get out, and then I see it. That "bird" I hit earlier happened to be a dove, and it got it's little head stuck in my grill, and it's lifeless body had been bouncing around on the front of my car all the way from La Sal. Nice right? I had to pry it out with a stick, and then some mean guy yelled at me about not leaving it there in the hospital parking lot. (I pretended I didn't hear him, and left it there anyway. What was I supposed to do with it, stick it in my purse until I found a garbage can?)

So here is the thing. I am getting a little self-conscious. It would be one thing if it was several kinds of birds, but it isn't. It's always a dove. I am trying to figure it out, but the only thing that keeps coming to me is the fact that a dove is the sign of

Peace

and love,

and I keep KILLING IT!!!

This is not a great thing for my life right now. I want love. I want peace.

I don't want to be a "murderer of love!"

(From one of my all time favorite movies - name it!)

So give me a few ideas here. I totally believe in signs, and this totally is one. So what does it mean? I would prefer ideas that are nicer than "murderer of love" but truth would work too:). Let me know what you think. I know several of you love analyzing things like this, so I am expecting some responses here people.

Oh, and here is a little update. I just found out that this kind of dove is called a Mourning Dove. NOT "Morning" like I had always thought. NOT like the happy, sunshiny, fresh start- kind of dove! More like the pain, misery, deep sense of loss- kind of dove! Nice! This can't be good, can it?)

Best Vacation EVER!!!

That is how we are going to describe our Labor Day weekend. We all had plans, the kids were going with their dad, and I was going to be alone... blissfully, silently, remarkably alone... sigh... But, plans sometimes change, and it's a totally good thing that it did. Otherwise we would have missed the Best Vacation EVER! (From now on to be referred to as BVE'10) First of all we really needed to swim. We just needed it, I can't explain it. We couldn't go far because I had to be back on Sunday for Primary, we had to do a "staycation" So we were talking about where to go, and the kids remembered seeing a motel with a WATERSLIDE. in. MOAB! This place has been around for pretty much my whole life- probably longer, but they updated the pool area a few years ago, and it looks pretty nice from the outside, so I decided we better give it a try. When the kids got out of school we took off. We walked into the rooms, and realized immediately that the majority of the remodel money had indeed been spent on the pool area, not the rooms. Still, it was clean, and nice, (and one of the few vacancies left in town for the weekend) so we were happy to stay. The kids went around the room checking things out and then Adia went into the bathroom. I heard a shriek of joy, and she yelled "Mom, come here quick! This is the coolest bathroom EVER!"
This is it. Pea Green. No need to adjust your screen, it's true. Right there in all of it's awesomeness. (Not sure it's even on the top ten list of the coolest bathrooms I have ever seen, but who can argue with Adia? Not me!)

Once we had thoroughly explored the room, opened our side of the door that adjoins our room to the next one, and been yelled at by a grumpy German man, and we had each had a turn to P.E.E. in the P.E.A.-colored potty, we hit the pool. The water slide really was fun. In fact, according to Adia it was "the Best Waterslide EVER!" And it got you going FAST! The only problem with it was that it dropped off in the deep end of the pool, and the kids still aren't the best at swimming, so most of the time I waited at the bottom of the slide and caught the kids as they rocketed down into the water. I ended up with a slightly swollen right eye, a fat lip and EXTREMELY sore leg and arm muscles, but it was a blast! We swam for three hours straight before I insisted we go get some dinner. (mostly to give my body a rest) We walked a few blocks to "the Diner", one of our favorite little places to eat in Moab, where we had the "Best Dinner EVER!". They have the best ice cream in town, and we totally splurged and got shakes even though we didn't finish all of our dinner. -It's just what you do when you are on the "Best Vacation EVER!" Then we hit the pool again for a couple more hours until it got too cold. Then we took long hot showers in the "Coolest Bathtub EVER" and the kids settled down to watch the Disney Premier of Camp Rock 2 (Best Camp Rock EVER, by the way) while I studied for an Anthropology quiz. We had brought our favorite snacks with us, one of them being Caramel Microwave popcorn. We didn't bring a bowl, and part of the process is to melt the caramel chunk over the popped popcorn. The only thing I could find was the ice bucket, but I figured it would work, right? Nope! Note to self, the ice bucket is not microwave friendly, and it results in an $8 charge to your card when you cook a hole in the bottom of it... But it was the "coolest thing I've ever seen" according to Ethan. By midnight we were pooped.
This is the position they rolled over into after falling asleep during family prayers. And they stayed there until 4 AM when they woke up ready to swim!

The next day we wanted to do some hiking. I haven't been to Canyonlands for years, and my kids never have been, so that was our destination. On the way there we stopped by Newspaper Rock so Ethan could do a a mini report for school. (Bless Mr. Allen for understanding how it feels when dad's can't make it, and giving Ethan a special assignment to give the weekend a purpose.)


All day long the bugs just wouldn't leave poor Ethan alone. This is the only picture of the 9 I took here that was the least obvious that he was swatting mosquitoes.
All day long the tourists wouldn't leave Adia alone. She is making this face because a crazy Frenchman is behind me winking at her. After taking the picture he and his wife offered to take her back to France and love her forever. Cute... or creepy, not sure which. She did have a nice conversation with them all about school and the "BVE'10". They called her "enchanting" She called them smelly. We had to leave then.

Look at the landscape pictures throughout this post. Yeah, I know! I totally live here! LUCKY!

We stopped to take pictures along the way, but guess who forgot her tripod? We had to set the camera on the hood of the car, and this is the best one we could get. Oh, well, at least we tried.

When we finally got to the park we took a little short hike, about a half a mile to see an Indian Granary.

I took a picture of the kids.

And the scenery

And some lady from Georgia who loved Adia and wanted to "Eat her with butter!" (Not sure...) took this picture of the three of us. She had an adoption connection. She placed her son twenty something years ago, and just reconnected with him last year. She had a very touching story that I might share during adoption awareness month. The son is single and VERY handsome... She could give me his number if I was interested...

Our next hike was a couple of miles and took us past a spring where the cowboys used to camp, and before that so did the Indians...

We saw about 900 lizards. They were EVERYWHERE!

Ethan took a picture of Adia and I

I took another picture of them (They look a little more tired than in the last picture)

Adia took a picture of Ethan and I.

We stopped in the shade to have a snack. The bugs are still after Ethan...

We went on another hike that was about three miles, and at the end you can get a view of Wooden Shoe Arch (above Ethan's shoulder, and just to the right) By then they were ready to head home. It was a pretty hot day, but we did have a really good time.

That night we went to the tailings pile to take pictures of the bears that had been coming down to eat on the bloated cows for a report I was writing for Integrated Life Science. There were 4 or 5 cinnamon bear that had been coming out to eat, but of course on the day I took my camera they didn't show up... I did get a cute picture of my dad and Ethan looking for them though.

And a couple of good ones of the landscape and sunset. This is like two miles from my house. I'm totally lucky right?

The next day after church we headed back to Moab. The motel with the water slide was booked (Kinda happy at that point) so we had to stay at a different motel, with a beautiful view of the river. We swam for hours there too. The bathroom wasn't nearly as cool, abut the beds and TV were bigger, and it had a "chair that was made out of a cow skin! Sweet!" "Best cow skin chair EVER!" We ate dinner at the only chineese place in town. NOT the best chineese food ever. Really not. But the motel had a vending machine, and we got ice because we hadn't melted the ice bucket... And breakfast the next morning was super tasty, (Best motel breakfast EVER!) and the family from Australia who sat at the table next to us were amazed by Adia's beautiful eyes, and told her that she looked just like her mother. Hee Hee Hee, I just giggled and said thank you. Of course I forgot to take one single picture, but I'm still getting that back, and I have to ease into it again.

So there you have it, a recap of BVE'10! (Makes me kinda wish we saved our money instead of all those Disneyland vacations, trips to Mexico, resorts in Park City, and camping in the Tetons. We totally could have gotten a room in a motel across town and it would have been every bit as good.)