Live from the salt mines: a week in my life!

fold laundry.

wash dishes.

Reporting to you live from 9M! Ok, ok, so it is not really fair to call this adorable little boutique the salt mines. It's not like I have to do any back breaking labor or anything. Or even get up off my butt if I don't want to. Or even clean anything, because I did a stellar job of that yesterday. Or even unpack any new stuff, enter it into the system, and steam it (it's Saturday=no deliveries).

But, I am a little bored!

So, you, my dear blog reader, get to hear the exciting news of a week in my life.

(warning: it is not really exciting.)

Monday:

woke up with Jane. We made her crib into a toddler bed on Sunday (Friday?). Well, some day before Monday. At any rate, she has done pretty well staying in her bed. In fact, all day she gets in and out pretending like she's going to sleep. Pretty cute, right? But, come morning she just screams for me still. She must forget that she can get out by herself?

do laundry. pay bills. wash dishes.

wish Carson a Happy birthday.

Tuesday:

Wake up early to work out. Decide to swim. However, lighting threatens my life (being in that big vat of electro-conducive H2O). Seriously peeved at the weather for being electric, tired because it is now 5:45 am, annoyed that I am dripping wet and didn't even get a workout in - maybe a 500 free! stand in the YMCA shower for 15 minutes trying to get warm.

do laundry. clean dishes.

wish Burt, Delaney & Emelyn a happy birthday.

MOPS mom's night out at Chevy's! Thwart all exercise benefits with a Corona and chicken fajitas.... and a million of those deliciously thin and salty chips. totally fun to talk with the ladies.

Wednesday:

work out at the Y (forgo the attempt at swimming due to the tsunami/tornado outside)

get serious about potty training Jane and go through 5 pairs of "big girl underwear" and pants during our shopping excursion to Baby Branch and Michaels.

do laundry.

Thursday:

wake up to my favorite time of the year: trip to the Dentist!! woo-hoo!! I LOVE clean teeth.

come home and babysit 4 kids of friends for a couple hours. much easier than one might think. lovin hanging out with Wyatt & Adrienne and Bonnie when they pick up their kids.

watch one episode of my new season 5 of Desperate Housewives. those crazy ladies sure make me feel more normal and grounded!

do laundry. wash dishes.

Friday:

dropped jane off at the babysitter. As we pull up to Jacey's house, Jane starts singing "jacey's house, jacey's house! Bye Mom!" this is all before I even open the door from the car! What the heck? Aren't you sad to leave me, kid?

work at the store today. have a lot of fun talking with new and repeat customers. receive new shipments from Bebe au Lait, 9 Seed, and Maternal America. I love getting in new stuff!

blaine brought me a cinn-dulce latte to ease a little caffine-addiction headache I was suffering from. how sweet. so is blaine.

go home, eat a fantastic dinner, visit with frances when she comes over to return my sewing machine, do homework, and watch top-quality-movie-entertainment in 'Stepbrothers'. Man, that was a lot of f-bombs to endure. But, some really funny parts.

Now that it is Saturday, I will have to rest up for another upcoming week of fun, excitement, and laundry!

Love ya like a sista,

S-dub

New Year's Resolutions

The Wilsons 12-31-09

(that's me on the right, if you don't recognize that girl with the fluffy hair)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yes, yes, I realize it is now the 12th of January. I just got to thinking that I would like to commit to "paper" some things I have been thinking about for myself. I am generally pretty selfish, so I do a lot of thinking about myself.

So, resolution #1 (no, this is not a top ten list) - be equally as selfish as I was in 2009. Or even more so.

Hear me out on this one. First, I think this is pretty realistic. Second, being selfish keeps me waking up at 5am to go workout: so I can look good. Third, I think that if I spend more time worried about doing stuff I like doing, I will obsess less about that same thing that Blaine doesn't like doing. Therefore, I will be happier, nicer, and a better wife. Does that make any sense? It might not, but in my head it totally does.

Resolution #2 - run another 1/2 marathon.

Saturday, August 14th, to be exact. The Salinas Valley Half Marathon. I know some peeps who are planners/coordinators/lucky volunteers. I am totally in. I guess that means I actually have to run more! Yikes! (but, in line with resolution #1 to be more selfish/look good).

Resolution #3 - complete the Dynamic Marriage class at church.

Be nicer. Learn how to be a better wife. Start using kind words. Act loving. Give compliments. Be appreciative. Remember stuff. Don't fold laundry when Blaine wants to go to sleep. Put the toothpaste lid on (just kidding on that one, folks. It just sounds soooo typical).

Well, I've never really written down a resolution before. I've already got three. Whew. Oh wait....

Resolution #4 - keep on scrapbooking.

I totally love the artsy/designing part. It makes me happy to re-live memories. I am taking a class online with Cousin P. I feel like I am a modern historian, a biographer, and like I am doing something good for Jane and my future grandkids to know what I am/was all about. This shouldn't be too hard, as I just did these three last night/today :)

P.S. all three of these scrapbook pages are about my dad. So, you might want to have a tissue handy. I'm just sayin'.

Ok. I think this list is doable. I mean, it's not like I'm really gonna cure cancer this year or anything. I'm really just going to keep being me.

A better, stronger, nicer me.

Love,

the future fabulous me

SATURDAY TOP TEN: The Crossman Hawaiian Wedding

I spent January 1-7 in Waikiki in order to attend my sister, Kylie, 's wedding to Jason Crossman. She decided to marry on Tuesday, January 5th to honor my dad, Jim Cheatham, who passed away in March 2009: it would have been his 68th birthday. It was a great time to honor old memories, and celebrate the making of new ones.

Here's my top ten photos from the trip:

1. Perfectly warm, breezy, and beautiful evenings. I took this shot of a sunset cruise from our dinner table at Duke's. Amanda & I had dinner with Aunt Janny & Uncle Mike the night before the wedding. (Thank God we didn't go to the Luau!)

2. Seeing Amy's house (on far right). I have never been to any house Amy has lived in as an adult. (USAF housing, Nebraska, Japan, and now Hawaii). It was wonderful to see her home, and interact with her family: LOVE THEM!

p.s. Brad is hilarious. Seriously. Always making me laugh with sly comments/dry humour.

3. Well we were there for the wedding, of course! I really enjoyed seeing Jason hang out with his friends and family. They were all really great, and a great testament to how fantastic Jason is! Way to go, Kylie!

4. Please don't get angry at me for posting this photo, Kylie. You may have an interesting expression on your face, but that's only because the sun popped out of the all-day cloud cover just for your wedding! Your hair is flowing amazingly, along with your fabulous veil, and perfect dress.

You look amazing.

And happy.

And my camera's battery died immediately after this photo, so I couldn't take any more photos :(

5. Jocelyn. I needed to hug a two-year old. Ok, I admit it! I used her to get some good ol' mama lovin' from a little girl because I missed Jane. And Jocelyn is just so sweet. She would cuddle and be so darn GOOD! (See Amy's facebook for photos of Sam sitting quietly for hours). Love them!

6. Really this should be number one. All I want to do on vacation is lounge by the (infinity) pool, sipping a cocktail/beer, and soaking up some cosmic rays.

7. Getting to hang out with these lovely ladies for most of the trip! From left: Amanda deDampierre, Karen Jimeson, Amanda Cheatham Evans, and Noelle Collins.

8. Seeing the look on Chel's face when describing the effort and time he put into picking out the best suit to wear to walk Kylie down the aisle. (insert fist shake here in the direction of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Luau food-poisoning team).

9. Waking up early (although NEVER my first choice) to get prime snorkeling time in on our last morning in Hawaii. Check out this bay! It is called the Hanauma Bay, and it is a protected State Park or something. It was breathtaking.

10. Gazing up through amazingly strong and tall palm trees into the bluest, clearest, most fantastic sky ever.

Had a great time, and can't wait to fill up my Aloha spirit again soon.

Really soon!

Mahalo,

Stacey

'Twas the night of Wilson Christmas

and all through the house

all the creatures were stirring

but that noise had better not be a mouse

(cause that would totally be gross)

When out in the great room there arose such a clatter

when Papa posed like a cheerleader, we wondered what was the matter

when what to Jane's wondering eyes did appear?

but a funny new bike made with wood and no gears!

With my eyes all a bleary from just arising from bed

and Jane's hair crazy sticking out from her head

With Blaine in his camo; me in my new shirt

came this huge diamond necklace that made my heart hurt

When I saw this gift, I covered my nose

to wipe away tears; from my eyes they arose

(I mean, seriously - that's pretty beautiful, right?)

with Jane looking nasty, her mood turning quite quick

I knew in a moment she won't get Saint Nick

the presents may number the new fallen dew

but, people, remember - this girl is just two

So hear me exclaim as my eyes loose their sight

HAPPY Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!

SW

WEDNESDAY TOP TEN! recent scrapbook pages

and by recent, I mean most recently created. The dates of the photos are from early spring. But, I have been in a scrapbooking funk since moving. I just realized that my scrap magazines must still be sent to my old address, for I have yet to receive one here. Maybe I'll remember to do something about that after Christmas, New Years Eve, and my trip to Hawaii!

Anyhow, I just completed a few layouts last night and this morning. My scrapbook was out of chronological order (sorry Big Picture Scrapbookers, but I function better this way!), so I had to get out my new book, fill in a bunch of pages, and insert my stack of recently completed layouts.

I love looking through my scrapbooks. It takes me forever! I pour over each photo; marvel at the changes in Jane; and laugh at the great memories I've documented.

Of course, I then decided to share some of my faves.

(I think the photo will get bigger if you just click on it)

So, I just wrote this "CONTENT" page this morning... along with a few others.

Now I'm "caught - up" through May '09.

Enjoy!

Ess-Dub

Never.

"What about you? What are some of your nevers? And what do your nevers say about you, for better or for worse? Leave a comment, or blog it yourself. It's a great journaling jump start."
- Cathy Zielske on her blog



So, I'm going to list all my "never"s. I'll see how I do.



I will never be an only child.

I've never been to New York.



I've never been able to calm myself down when I get all worked up.

I never want to hurt someone.

I've never been on time.

I've never watched my dad's memorial video without crying.

I never pass up an offer to go to Starbucks. Cinnamon Dulce Latte, please.


I never understand cancer.

I will never get a tatoo, or get my ears pierced.

I thought I would never be a girl that does my hair and make up. on the same day.

I will never forget the moment I laid eyes on my daughter. On the ultrasound screen, first. Then her real face on December 19, 2007. Amazing.

I can never take back mean words that come out of my mouth.

I never stop regretting those words.

I never thought I would live in Salinas again.

I never thought I would live in Soledad!
(p.s. I got this photo online from a story about the WORST housing market in 2008. Seriously. In the nation. The worst was Soledad!)

I have never flown an airplane.

I never choose chocolate.

I never in a million years could have guessed what my life would look like by now.

I never knew 30 was so young!

I never knew running could be so fun.

I never thought I would say running is fun.

I never say never. :)

MONDAY TOP TEN: my brother's fantastic wedding

Burt & Markie Cheatham

December 5, 2009

Pretty danged adorable, if you ask me.

Also, ask me who the photographer was....

ok, it was me!

The wedding was a late afternoon ceremony, taking place on the patio of the Bayonet-Blackhorse Golf Course in Seaside. The reception was held right inside the clubhouse with panoramic views of the two golf courses and the bay.

I was so pleased to be able to photograph this wedding for many reasons, but I'll limit my comments to the TOP TEN for now.

And, as usual, in no particular order...

MONDAY TOP TEN: the Cheatham wedding.

1. These two were simply made for one another. Burt comes from a crazy and loud family, and Markie is so calm and collected: hardly ever getting her 'feathers ruffled'.

2. Burt made us all proud by offering a toast to both of their fathers. Markie's dad passed away in late 2006, and of course our dad passed away in March 2009.

3. Markie is a striking beauty. Truly.

(this is my FAVORITE photo from the day)

4. Burt & Markie have been together for over two years, and have grown closer and really helped each other through the times.

5. How adorable were these wedding favors?

6. Cousin Patty & Brother-in-Law Dean assisted in the photography. This exit from the ceremony photo is from Cousin Patty.

7. I really love the angle on these ladder shots. Blaine & I are pretty peeved that it got stolen from where he stashed it under our car.

8. I didn't even know two of the groomsmen before this day. But I was so impressed by their character and brotherly love for Burt.

9. I also didn't really know Markie that well before the wedding festivities. I only saw her when she was probably super overwhelmed by the onslaught of Cheatham sister energy. She impressed me so much throughout the day: I loved seeing her interact with her friends, love my brother unconditionally, and remain calm through some un-planned occurances. She was the opitome (sp?) of grace.

10. It was a beautiful day for a beautiful ceremony joining this beautiful couple. Welcome to the family Markie! We love you guys!