Help. I think I am starting to lose perspective. We started a compost pile yesterday. A COMPOST PILE. What exactly is that saying about us? Go ahead. I can take it.

I was getting in the car after work and I was parked far down the line of cars on this particular day. I saw this HUGE bug on the fence and I just had to go investigate. Have you ever had one of those moments when you realize that someone could quite possibly be videotaping you for some montage that they'll slap together and put on YouTube? It's a dang popsicle stick and pipe cleaners! How embarrassing.

This is the only picture I managed to take this weekend. Eric and Paola and Bride came up for the long weekend. We had fun, well, I did anyway. We didn't do a whole lot. We fit in a trip to Flying Pie. We took Eric and Paola there last time they came and we just recently discovered how much they liked it. Russell was excited to hear about that since Eric gives him a quick call just to let him know what he's doing every time he's driving through at In-N-Out. We went to the market on Saturday. There was this donut stand - mini donuts - ask Bridget, they were to die for. She took a picture with her phone. You have to see it. Russ and I bought some honey with the honeycomb in the jar. Eric and Russell both bought some buffalo brats, you'll have to ask him how they were, I didn't try. We went to Hyde Park and walked around - Russell found a cool old puzzle made of wood. It was laid back but I had a good time. I hope they did, too. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about the picture. Russ and Eric went fishing and Bride and Paola and I watched The Wedding Singer. This was the closing credits, you know, Video Killed the Radio Star.

Question: Is it a sign that you have lived in Boise too long when your husband calls you after "work" and tells you that he managed to catch two fish with a homemade stick fishing pole at some point during the day?

Ah, Photo Booth. Some good good times to be had. I love it when Russell laughs this hard, it's sort of contagious.

It's only Tuesday and I can't wait for the dang weekend! Memorial Day and Eric and Paola are coming up to visit. We don't have plans. We're just hanging out. I don't know if they are bringing Max but I just have this vision of Otis going in and out the doggie door and Max not being able to. This dog... Forget dog, think bear.

I am going to my favorite store today, Cost Plus. I'm sure I won't be able to leave without something. Maybe that will give me something interesting to blog about...

Ah, Sunday. Summer Sunday. BBQ brisket and corn on the cob for dinner. A delicious strawberry tart for dessert. It was a quick week. I hardly got a thing done at work, I've been so excited about school (good thing I don't have too much to do). There are a bunch of little things I have to do before this fall. A physical, a TB test, a blood draw, and I have to buy a watch. It's not normal that someone should be so excited about these things. I think it's just about summer here in Boise. It isn't that warm yet - maybe it's just because school is out. Is it just me or am I rambling? Russell is watching a fly fishing video from the library. I think I feel a nap coming on...

Good news...

I love iPhoto.

I love Food Everyday magazine. Every time I go to the grocery store and I see a new one, I try to look through it really quickly and if I see three recipes that I might try, I buy it. Last month a bought it and I have tried a ton of new stuff! They have this section every month called "Have you tried?" and they tell you a few facts and include a couple recipes for the featured ingredient. This time it was bulgar. It is the wheat berry that has been steamed, dried and cracked and it is used a lot in Middle Eastern cuisine. I am in love. They included a recipe for breakfast bulgar porridge - it's sort of a cross between oatmeal and rice. You cook it like a hot cereal and then serve strawberries over it. It is really good and I am totally hooked. I've had it two mornings in a row and now I'm out of strawberries... If my grocery store in Boise has it, yours will too.

When I was younger, I used to spend a lot of time worrying. I worried that we didn't practice a fire escape plan and I would have to use that rope ladder hanging out my bedroom window. I worried because we didn't recycle. I also used to worry that, as my Mom would frequently caution me, my brothers may some day grow to be bigger and (gulp) stronger than me. You know those lists of "the things you wish you knew back then" or whatever? I hate those lists they are dumb and cheesy and dumb. I do wish, however, that I would have considered my future husband's role in this possibility. Hello?! I don't need to be stronger than my younger brothers anymore! I have a husband now (and yes, he could take you). Ah, one less thing to worry about. Doesn't that feel good?

P.S. I swear I wasn't a bully or anything...

We finally finished painting the front room! It is going to be impossible to get a good picture with my camera, this is the best I could do. While I was painting, I was having some very serious doubts but now that it's done, I'm really liking it. The hallway is up next and that will be green (Happy Camper to be exact) and then my bedroom is next, that is going to be Lagoon. I can't wait to get the bedroom done.

We cut a hole in our back door this weekend. I took a picture to show you but I accidentally erased it. We cut the hole to put in a doggie door but I wasn't going to tell you that right away. Otis is afraid of the flap. It's sad. And when I say sad, I mean pathetic.

We also bought the ugliest couch you've ever seen for the basement (for the projector). The camp chairs were killing me! It's ugly but at least I can lay down now...

Just in case you happen to hear a rumor that Russell and I were under the impression that this Sunday was Mother's Day, don't be fooled. We just thought our mothers would like to hear how much we love them on any old day.

You guys, this popcorn is awesome! It tastes just like a rice crispy treat. Try it. Try it!

I've been waiting to post anything until the front room is painted because I've promised pictures I don't know how many times. Sorry. It's still not painted. I'm not going to say when I'll have it done this time. We'll see if I have better luck accomplishing something that way.

We planted a few things in our garden this week. We bought two raspberry bushes, one black raspberries and one red. We also planted tomatoes, spinach, zucchini, and serrano chilies. We transplanted our potted herbs outside, too. So far, the basil looks the best. I can't wait to start cooking with it.

We took a little drive over to Rexburg on Saturday to see the newest addition to the Todd fam. She's really cute. She looks a lot like Sadie to me and she was so tiny. I could never get tired of holding her. Sadie was pretty dang cute, too. I love the way she says my name. Caitlin is kind of a hard one for them.

I tried a couple new recipes recently and thought I would share them. This Vegetable Chowder turned out to be really good. I wasn't sure because I don't like red bell peppers that much but it was really tasty. We also tried Orzo with Chicken, Corn and Green Beans. This one was really easy and quick. I made it once with one of those rotisserie chickens but the second time I quickly cooked a couple chicken breasts in the oven and I think it turned out better.

Oh, and just so you can stop worrying, Russell fixed my car (is there anything he can't fix?). The leak was coming from the oil plug. He got it off and it looks like Jiffy Lube stripped a few threads from the inside, not the bolt. Luckily it wan't too bad and he fixed it with some teflon tape. Also, we have recently joked about buying a boat instead of any more furniture. Just wanted to let you guys know so you won't be completely shocked if it happens. We might not have any place for you to sit when you come to visit but we'll have a practical movie theater in the basement and Lucky Peak Reservoir is just 30 minutes from here.

I hate the feeling you get when you know something is wrong with your car but it hasn't yet been diagnosed. Terrible, terrible feeling in the pit of your stomach. I took Otis for a walk this morning. This is something that I haven't done since we moved. I parked in the back by the garage. Also something I never do. Russell parks back there, he didn't yesterday because our baseboards were delivered. I was walking back and I noticed a big puddle under my car, you know, the car with the big FOR SALE sign in the back window. I get down and dip my finger in the puddle. Oh, crap. I check the oil - it's off the stick. I walked down to the gas station and bought a couple quarts of oil and it seems like everything is okay - I have a huge leak but it's still running. Man I'm glad I went to church this week...

So, I planned on painting this weekend. Russell wants to put the baseboards in first. They get here Monday and we are doing it Monday! It's going to look really awesome. At least I picked the paint color - it's Squash.

This is what we did instead and the fact that Russell actually smiled for the picture should tell you how excited he is. He got a projector! He's been talking about this for a long time. Otis is the only one not very excited about hanging out in the basement.

Ah, I can't tell you how good it feels to get my tv off the top of a box. We found this awesome funky entertainment center. It closes all the way up so we can pretend like we do better things with our time than watch tv.

Russell and I walked down through Ann Morrison park last night - almost the whole way to school (how awesome is that!?). Then after, we went to the library. Russell checked out a couple fly fishing videos and I checked out a book about a kid who was a conjoined twin and was separated and survived - the other twin didn't. Also, I have committed to walking a half marathon with a couple of ladies from work in a month - a month.

I'm painting this weekend and our new baseboards will be here Monday. Yay!

I have a confession to make. Prepare yourself. I have not yet begun training for the half marathon. Well, actually, I've begun a couple times. Usually Monday and Tuesday and then that's it. I'm hoping that the comments of disgust that I am sure are to follow this post will motivate me to maybe do something tonight. Can I just say for a second though... It's too hard. I don't want to. Okay, okay that's enough.

This blog is cracking me up.

"Boys don't make passes at girls that pass gasses."

Ah, Sunday afternoon. Don't you love it? I do. I went to my new ward today. It's pretty small but everyone was very friendly. The clerk caught up with me right after Sunday school - pretty good, huh? First week. Anyway, when I told him that we bought our first house, he literally shook me and repeated what I said. Apparently, there are quite a few apartments in this ward. So, who wants to take bets, how long will it be before I have a calling?

You want to know another thing I love? I love going out to eat on Saturday night and then eating your leftovers for lunch on Sunday. I also love getting a new pair of jeans and a new pair of shoes (two other things I did this weekend).

Has it been a while or is it just me? Man. Not too too much going on here. We bought a funky rug for our front room and Russell had to snap another picture of the dog. He was so excited to have something other than the hardwood to lay on. It was pretty funny. Sorry, sorry. Off track - what do you think of the rug? I can't decide. It may be a little too granny-ish. Help me out will ya?

It has been pretty chilly here this week and this afternoon we're supposed to have thunderstorms but it was delightful at lunchtime today. I tried repeatedly to snap a little self portrait and this was the last one before I gave up. It's been too long since I posted a picture of an actual person so I figure this is better than nothing.

I gave blood today at work. I think the guy was new and he had a little trouble finding my vein. It's a crappy picture but this is about 4 hours later, a little bruise. I've been thinking about bruises ever since Kimberly mentioned them on her blog. I'm going to have to agree with her. I like them. Is that weird? Whatever, you are.

I know this is a little random but this is the tree in our backyard. I like it, I think. It's just started to get green the last couple weeks and I'm wondering if it'll flower. I have no idea what kind of tree it is. Anyway, this isn't the point. The power lines to our house go through the tree. Hello? Scary to anyone else? Thank you! I keep wondering how we're going to trim it and Russell keeps trying to assure me that it will be no problem. I guess we'll see. It doesn't matter. It's not a project for this weekend - rain in the forecast. I think we're going to paint the kitchen cabinet doors.