And here we have Idaho

Winning her way to fame. When I was a young gun, my family would take our usual family vacation which was to Pocatello/Blackfoot to visit grandparents. Not to the beach or even near any sort of body of water that was above 40 degrees. No, we went to the coldest and windiest part of the state. Not the point. So on our family vacations my dad would always honk a song rhythm and we 'the kids' would have to try and guess which song it was. The one song I always knew he had in his arsenal and I knew he would ALWAYS honk was the state song of Idaho. I being the youngest was pumped when I even got to put my two cents in but when I guessed the song before anyone else?? Pure heaven. Once the honked song was guessed usually the most popular part of the song was sung and then we'd move on. The funny thing about when the Idaho song was 'honked' the whole car broke into chorus with parts, harmonies, and some kind of hand gestures waving about the car. Needless to say, the song has been stuck in my head for a few days now because I am in Eagle, Idaho as I type.

My mom is the best! She had a free ticket she was going to lose if she didn't use it by the end of last year so she gave it to me! It has been really fun here in the great state of Idaho because I have gotten to see all of my family. We have had quite the schedule since I arrived. Did I say my mom was the best? She had a huge family dinner on Sunday night (you know, fried chicken, beefy potatoes, and all the trimmings) and all the Seamons and Drzayich's-that are in the country-came to the party. There were about 20 people at the dinner and it was a riot. My dad was a bit sleep deprived which consists of him getting loony and repeating stuff about three times. Then sometimes he throws in a casual cuss which makes my brothers giggle like school girls. I only spit the truth.

These two pictures are right after dinner. Paige was singing me the ABC's and Sophie was working on her 12th piece of candy.

And Landon can walk. What??

I am so pumped for Thursday-ling ling night-and I shall be posting with I know some good stuff after that debacle. Hopefully not anything too revealing eh Lester?? Word.

Our New Digs

We moved.  All of my boys have been asking for pictures of our new place, so I shall deliver like I always do.  see below-

This kitchen is the best thing that has happened to me since I beat Coach Pete in the 5k last year.  I feel like I am some kind of queen when I turn on the flat top stove and then cut directly on the counter top because they are granite (I would cut on it anyway but at least this way I feel good about it)

Self portrait in the kitchen.

This is our living area.  We were able to sell our two ton TV that we had in our other place the DAY before we moved.  That thing was a BEAST!!! 

This right here is proof that I have my dad's blood in my thumbs... and oh yes, the color of the blood is green.  With the help of Michelle, I was able to put this professional arrangement together.  I almost fell off the balcony while putting the thing up there.  I nervously giggled all the way back inside after it was finished. 

This picture is for one purpose only.  That purpose is for some couple that I might know extremely well that plays tennis to get their behinds down here to visit us.  C'mon!  The courts are right outside my door Holly (cough) and Lane (cough cough).  

Yesterday I was privileged to watch one of the CUTEST kids ever.  This is Rebekah Jones.  Michelle asked if I would watch her as she got her hair did.  Like I could ever turn down that.  The bad thing was is that Jaitz bit her.......(just kidding Michelle).  But for real the bad thing was is that she only got to hang out with me for like 45 minutes.  Jaitz LOVED her and kept taking his toys to her because he was sure that she would play with him.  He also kept trying to steal Rebekah's toys and couldn't figure out why I wouldn't let him gnaw on them.  My baby voice and my dog voice are the same voice so Jaitz kept thinking I was praising him the entire time and Rebekah just kept smiling the entire time so it was a win win!  I think I will talk to everyone in that voice from now on because the results here were good!  She is the sweetest little girl and it made me miss my little nieces (Sophie and Paige of course).  In the end, I am super glad we moved and I really like our new place--plus we have free A/C which is killer!

Head tilt....priceless.

Its Been a Year Now

Its been one year since we lost one of the best. Emil Jr.-Zac's dad-passed away one year ago and I can hardly believe it. I think it is important to remember those who have passed on, especially when they are as good as Butchie.

Peggy decided as a family we should do something and with us all scattered about we decided we should all go to the temple at the same time. So on Saturday Zac and I woke up at 5:00 a.m. so we could make it to the 7:00 session (I don't move to fast with the busted leg). We got all ready, I double checked the temple schedule to make sure nothing was going on like a Tongan session or something, and we headed off. We arrive at the temple and the parking lot is empty. I immediately think "sweet! we are the first ones here. That has never happened to me before!" Zac dropped me off and I started to crutch towards the door when I notice all the lights are off and nobody is around. The gardener was near by and she came up to me and told me the temple is closed for maintenance. I looked at her with a "nice try" look and proceeded to tell her I checked the schedule twice and there is nothing scheduled for this date. She looked at me with a "are you mental" look and told me whatever the schedule said, it was closed. So I crutched back to Zac with a "great, the temple is closed" look and immediately whipped out my pocket schedule to prove this gardener wrong. I scan the dates and show Zac that seriously--I am not going crazy. That is when Zac turns the schedule over and shows me that I am looking at the 2008 schedule. Nice one eh? We felt like we needed to do something so both of our first thoughts were "We need to get to a baseball field."

Now it was a rainy and brisk morning....I would even venture to say chilly as we headed out to find a field. I knew in Mesa there is a Chicago Cubs spring training facility so we started to hunt for that. Luckily I saw a sign that said stadium this way and we followed it. So we got to the stadium and began to drive around it. It was sealed up as tight as a jam jar. I would have totally shimmied over the fence but with a busted leg and skirt that wasn't about to happen. Just then we saw a garbage truck enter the stadium and the garbage man had to open the gate. So Zac B-lined it to the garbage man to ask him if we could get in. He rolled down the window as the garbage man was finishing up and asked "Can we go in and look at the field for five minutes or so?" (doesn't hurt to ask right?) I'd like to think this garbage man's name was Juan so that is what I will call him. Juan said "I don't even work here so I don't think I can let you in." Zac comes back at him with "You can go and we will lock the gate when we are done." Juan says "Okay....but I don't know nothin'." I think Juan thought Zac was the mafia because he was in his black suit and black tie with his jet black hair.

Side note-I love sports. I have since I was a wee girl. I have never been a huge fan of baseball....that is until I married into the Drzayich family. I have a huge respect for the game and it has been really fun to get to learn it.--end of Side note. If any of you out there haven't been to a major league baseball field it is quite the site. So we weave our way through the stands and bust out upon one of the most BEAutiful fields. It was so GREEN especially contrasting against the grey sky. We talked for a little bit about dad and some of our memories about him. As we were getting ready to leave I noticed the flag in center field....it was blowing out just like Butchie likes it.

We all miss Emil very much. I see his kindness in Zac's eyes everyday and I feel so blessed to have known him. All you back in Idaho, please keep checking on my Mom D. She is a trooper and it is hard to be away from her when she is going through so much. I love you Mom D.

"The key to successful relationships, and ultimately all things good, is to realize and value the importance of the good pursuits of all people. Doing this builds mutual respect among people and grows the unconditional love of Jesus Christ within us. This love is the cornerstone of the eternal family." --Emil Drzayich

Story Time

This is happening-- So grab some popcorn and pop and enjoy a short story from Kristen.

I ask again...is Suzy Garrett in the house??

Man that Bruschetta was Good.

There's a thing with tomatoes.  I know that isn't a complete sentence but I really wanted it to stand out like a sore thumb.  I used to HATE tomatoes.  I thought it was a vile weed growing from the depths of the earths crust....okay not that bad.  The thing is, I have always loved tomato products i.e. ketchup, tomato sauce (includes all spaghetti and pizza products), even tomato juice, and cooked tomatoes.  However, if one seed of a fresh tomato was found in my salad--ruined.  I came to a point in my life when I decided "I am going to try liking fresh tomatoes."  This was a serious turn point in my life....I even wrote it in my journal.  My dad grows tomatoes every year in his garden and he is always eating them like apples.  I think they look so good but alas I am fooled every time.  I want to like tomatoes.  So I began to eat tomatoes on cheese burgers and I really had to convince my mind that I liked this.  On one of the first tries of this feat after taking a bite of burger, one of the tomato skins was too thick and I proceeded to pull the rest of the tomato off.  I kept it dangling from my mouth and started running in place while waving my arms in a "I'm about to puke" dance before spitting the dang thing out. Set back.  It took me a while before trying again but you know what they say--the ones who truly fail never try. (I might have just made that up)  I got back on the wagon (what does that even mean) and I began to try tomatoes on burgers again.  It took me a little bit of time and convincing my mind that I was more powerful than this tomato, but I began to like tomatoes on cheese burgers.  For real!

Can you start to see the progression?  Cheese burgers turn to regular burgers, regular burgers turn to chicken burgers, chicken burgers (everything sounds better with burger after it) turn to chicken burger wraps and so on and so on.  My taste buds were beginning to change and I was on my way to enjoying tomatoes.  One unseasonably warm St. Patrick's Day in Boise, I went with my dearest friend Holly to Bittercreek--one of the best restaurants in B-Town.  She proceeded to order Bruschetta and since she knows way more about fashion, food, and happenings than me, I just went with it.  I was suprised to say the least when I found out that Bruschetta was a plate full of bread with tomatoes covering them.  Now these tomatoes weren't just lightly place upon the bread...no, no they were suffocating it.  The true test was about to begin.  My palms began to sweat as I watched Holly basically make out with this appetizer and told me how ridiculously delicious it was.  I went to my happy place in my mind and told myself that a)I could do anything b) they weren't tomatoes, but they were burgers and c) I trust Holly.

So I grasped one of those crusty breads with little burgers on top and shoved it in my mouth.  To my utmost surprise, I actually liked it.  I took the fork from my hand that I was ready to shove into Holly's leg if I projectile vomited in the restaurant (it was going to be her fault and she needed to pay) and I proceeded to eat two more.  Now  I tell this story to show how far I have come.  

This is Natalie and Dave Todd or as I like to call them "the Todds."  They are some of the BEST people around and we have heaps of fun together.  Natalie was the first person here in the AZ to reach out and befriend me.  I had pretty much forgotten how to make friends so I appreciate you doing all of the work Natalie! You're the best. We decided to go to Oregano's for dinner since I had never been there yet and I heard great things.  We proceeded to order the whole menu since there were so many things we wanted to try and I eat like a man.  One of those blessed things Natalie insisted we order was the pesto Bruschetta.  Mind you, I have come a long way since the burger disaster but my mind for a split second said 'tomatoes ew, tomatoes ew' so I punched myself in the head to shut it up.  I played it off like a bug flew in my hair so the Todds didn't think I was mental.  So the food started to arrive and I took one look at that Bruschetta and said to myself "this is what Italy must be like."  And then I ate it.  HOLY CRAP!!!!  That was one of the best dang things I have ever had in my life.  I have come a long way when I can say that the tomato is not my enemy anymore but my ally instead.

Natalie is one of the most sincere people around AND she has good taste in music.  She is also in young women's with me so we get to see a lot of each other.  Dave and Natalie are such a good match!  I never know how serious to take Dave because he is alway kidding which is great!

And here is the other part of the pair.....you can see who would be more socially accepted can't you.  I am so glad that we have such good friends who are willing to eat way to much food and talk about the WEIRDEST subjects (the girl that lost her feet on the amusement park in Kentucky) for hours on end!  All in all, it was a great night.

Suzy Garrett in the house??

And The Public Apology Goes To...

In the last blog posting I may or may not have called out a dear friend of mine.  You see, instead of just getting a wicked sprain with sick purple bruising all over, I did in fact break my leg.  No this is no joke, no silly april fools joke that I am milking for 2 weeks.  In fact I did break my leg from the below story (please see previous blog entry for story of how the break happened).  I have been walking around on it for a week now with it being broken.  It turns out I tore two ligaments in my ankle completely and possibly tore the ligament that goes in between the bones in my legs.  While doing this, a spiral fracture occurred in my fibula from the stress of the 'biff'.  I possibly have a small fracture in my ankle (or it could be a previous injury that hasn't healed correctly) and a small fracture in my pinkie toe area.  Basically I messed myself up pretty good.  I am in a soft cast/boot thing for 4-6 weeks with crutches and then 4 weeks more in the boot w/o crutches.  My pits hurt real bad already.

So the public apology part....Well it is quite good because my bud Michelle (who happens to be a nurse) said it could be broken even though I was walking around on it.  I shrugged her off since I am a doctor in my spare time and bluntly told her 'no way did I break it.' I even put that same shrug off in the previous blog post!  So on Friday after a day and a half of worsening pain, I went to a minor emergency place.  Yes they told me it was broken and I giggled and giggled (I am not sure why but I did giggle).  So there I was stranded at the doc in the box with a fatty splint on my foot making driving impossible.  So who do I decide to call?  I ate a piece of humble pie-which is sick- and called Michelle asking her if she could come pick me up because I was unable to drive.  I was expecting a good ol' 'told you so' and I was bracing to take the verbal beating.  Instead she says to me 'you must be tough or have a high pain tolerance, and I will be right there.'  So dear dear Michelle.  I am sorry I didn't believe you when you said it could be broken.  I am sorry that I blogged that I didn't believe you.  And thank you for taking care of me!

For my boys out there that don't know who Michelle is, this is my beautiful friend.  She is one of the kindest people around, soooo hilarious, and we have had the church giggles a couple times already.  Story: the other day in church Michelle was eating a jolly rancher.  During the prayer she decided to straight up chomp it which sounded like a tooth fell out.  I popped one eye open to see if someone lost a molar and at the same time she popped her eye open to see if anyone heard her and our eyes met during the middle of the prayer.  BIG MISTAKE.  I was shaking so hard in my seat that I began to scoot off of it and was heading for the floor.  She was crying whilst trying to stifle the giggles.  The bad thing is that we are the leaders in young women's (she is the president) and we couldn't control ourselves.  It was great. She thinks we moved to Arizona for the simple fact that I am here to entertain her.  I have already accidently texted her phone line probably ten times and then accidently invited her to dinner (not to mention the above apology) but for some reason she still wants to be my friend! We are going to be the YCL leaders for stake camp this year and I am pumped. So there you go. I think I should make you a mix CD now Michelle.  Thanks for being my buddy. 

 

Don't mind flat stanley.  And if you don't know who flat stanley is, ask any third grader.  This is my splint right after I found out it was broken.  

These two gems were taken just the other night.  My nephew Garrett will be getting a copy of these pictures for his class in a few days (because of the flat Stanley assignment).  I got to ride around in one of the rider carts at the grocery store.  They had an Idaho potato balloon so I made Zac get a picture with it.  NICE!  Richelle (my sis) is going to be pumped because I am basically stuck inside because we live on the third floor and it is a clinic to get down those stairs.  Anyway she is pumped because I will probably be blogging a little more so I don't lose my mind.  Love you sister!

This is what happens when.....

So I thought it would be a good thing to train for a half marathon....why?  I answer thee why not!  I have been having a really good time with my two sprint triathlons so I figured why not a half marathon.  I came to this decision when on a "cool" December day when the crisp not so winter wind was blowing and I just got out of the swimming pool and shivered all the way to my locker (yes the pool is outside) and decided "I do not like to swim or bike when there is a chilled southern wind about".  So making this decision was somewhat easy because I do not mind running in the chilled air.  So I have begun to "train" (train is in quotes because I hope everyone who reads this...the three of you...will put your two fingered dance fingers in the air and pump them up and down and say train with a sarcastic look on your face).  So like I was saying I have been "train"ing and decided I needed to go farther than my farthest run which up to that point had been seven miles (since I will be running 13.1).  On Thursday I had a bit of time between my activities and decided I was going to go farther than 7 miles.  So I began....

Now any one of my three followers that happen to run might know what 'runner's trots' are.  I say this because 50% of runners get the runner trots so 1.5 of you will know what I mean.  In no way am I trying to be disgusting but basically and very suddenly you feel as though you might poop your pants.  This happens to me occasionally and I have to sit and breath deeply, possibly pass some gas, and punch myself in the stomach.  So needless to say I get the trots about 1.5 miles into my 8 or so mile run and have to do the above mentioned.  Now I have never proceeded  farther after having an episode.  I usually head straight back home and mad because I had to sit for 5-10 minutes and my running time sucks.  So I decided to do an experiment and see if they would simply just disappear after resting for a bit-- I should have just ran home. Don't worry, I did not poop my pants--I didn't even come close.  

So there I go....I pass the 3rd mile turn around (that meaning I would be running 6 miles--3 there, 3 back)  I just keep on going past the 4th mile.  Now I am in uncharted territory.  I have only ridden my bike this far never on foot.  I keep on going past the 5th and to towards the 6th mile!  I am clear by ASU campus and Tempe Town Lake at this point.  I stop and take a few minutes to get me pumped to run 6 miles back home to make it a 12 miler!  It has been about an hour now--Mind you-- all this time  I have been listening to my ipod with Jimmy Eat World and Thursday in my ears not to mention my brain talking to me.  I am starting my seffanth (7th) mile when above my head from Sky Harbor, a Southwest jet is taking off and is still accenting into the sky.  It is still low and my brain begins to wonder "I wonder where these people are goi......" and that is when it happened.

I stepped just right on the side walk to cause my right foot to crumble beneath me and rolled it real nice like on both sides of my foot.  Now this happened in a split second so I couldn't continue my though about where all those people in the airplane were going which would have killed at least three minutes on the run.  I landed in a heap scraping up my left knee and arm and scratching up my ipod.  I thought it was broken at first because I obviously didn't hear, but I felt some nasty nasty stuff happen in my foot.  I am not ashamed to say I cried and I did not swear although I thought it would be allowed if I did.  So I rolled around on the sidewalk/sand and looked around to see if anyone saw that magnificent sight, but neigh there was no one really close.  So I picked myself up and did the test of standing on it which in my book means it's not broken (I still don't believe you Michelle).  So I hobbled to the shade and wiped my tears away along with the sand/dirt and then thought "What the crap am I to do.  I am as FAR away from home as possible and I don't have my cell phone"  I did have my mace though just in case someone wanted to steal my camel back.  So I hobbled up the trail to a group of girls that were playing sand volleyball by the "lake" (remember to see above about the quotes).  One girl let me borrow the phone and I called Zac.  Thank HEAVENS he answered because I don't know anyone else's number by heart here in the AZ.  I would have called my mom but well......  I freaked him out by saying "I got hurt real bad" as the first words out of my mouth on a cell phone number he didn't recognize.  So he got real worked up and was ready to kill someone until I explained the above.  So he rushed out of work and I hobbled another 1/2 mile to the road and sat and waited for him.  He was so sweet.  He bought me a lunch and then carried me out of the car and up the third floor.  (I felt like I was ten)

Here it is again.  It puffed up real bad and I have been a MR.F (arrested development anyone??) since the experience happened.  I am walking better now though.

This is my sad face.

This is Jaitz's sad face.......We were scolding him until he looked sad so we could take this picture.  I think he was just feeling sorry for me though.

So to tie back in to my posting header....This is what happens when you.... look at an airplane in the sky while running on a sidewalk that slowly curves to the left.  I should have just learned from the past and ran back home after those blasted trots.  But I guess the trots never came back so take that science!