Today was Becca and my second outing… and power outage. We woke up to no power this morning. There was power when the guys left for work, but when us girls got up a couple hours later, nothing, nada, zilch!

Becca got dressed and went outside to check the breaker box. They were all flipped to the ‘on’ side. She used her cell phone to call Jariah and see if he had any ideas. He just told her to turn them all off and then back on. It was a miracle and came back on… for a few minutes, then shut back off again. I don’t understand it, because we didn’t plug anything new in, but, I guess that’s what you get with wiring like there is on this fine, fine home.

Becca went back out and tried again, nothing. She called Jariah back, and he told her to check some weird plug thing in our hallway. We changed all 4 of those plugs, and then Becca headed back outside to try the breaker again. Nothing. So she called Jariah yet again and he just said he would come home and check it out. Becca and I headed out to get Brandon something to eat because he was starving and not very accepting about the fact that we couldn’t make him anything.

When we came back, Jariah had already figured it out and got the power back on for us. There is actually a whole other power box up above the one Becca kept messing with that controls everything else. We were just going to come back in and stay at home, however, there was a vagabond/gangster looking guy standing across the street watching the whole proceeding, so we jumped back in the car and took off the same time as Jariah.

We went to Olive Garden for salad, breadsticks and of course some Bellini Iced Tea!!! Then we headed back to our house because Brandon was ready for a nap. When we got back to where the house is, there was a group of about 6 shady looking characters hanging out right in front of our fence, so we decided to drive around the block, and wait them out. When we came back by about 10 minutes later, there was no one around, so we got the gate unlocked and got into the house safe and sound. No other incidents to report at this time. I’ll keep you posted. =)

On Friday, Becca and I had our first girls only (plus Brandon) outing since Jess and Ness were here months ago!!! We had to go to the bank, and then we went to the mall for a while before heading off to Wal-mart to get some much needed items. The day started out with Jariah not being able to find his keys, which meant that the guys had to drive Zion’s black car (with its expired Ohio plates…) so I would have my car. Jariah looked everywhere for his keys before he and Zion absolutely HAD to leave for work, then Becca looked for about 2 more hours before giving up and we were ready to go.

Just before Becca and I headed out the door, I double checked my purse to make sure I had put my credit card back, (it was out the night before to purchase airplane tickets…) and what did I see? JARIAH’s KEYS were in MY purse!!! Weird, right? I thought so, too, and said to Becca…. “Hey, here are Jariah’s keys right here in my purse, I wonder how they…” and mid-sentence, I saw that Brandon was trying to shove a Veggie-Tales video into my purse…!!!! Mystery solved!!!!!!!!

Okay, so we walk outside (which is always a bit nerve-racking…) Becca with both sets of keys so she can get the stroller from her car and put it in mine, and me with Brandon, the diaper bag and my purse, and Becca opens her trunk, grabs the stroller, hands me her keys and uses my keys to open my trunk, drops the stroller AND my keys into the trunk of my car, and shuts it up!! ACK!!! Okay, so now we figure that we are probably gonna just have to take her car and not have a stroller, but luck is on my side and Zion had left the driver side door unlocked, so we just had to remove the car seat from the back, and Becca had to crawl though into the trunk with a flashlight and grab the keys.

Meanwhile, since it took both of us to get the car seat undone, (it’s the newer one that we keep in my car, and we haven’t ever moved it since Jariah installed it, so it took us a couple tries…) Brandon was sitting in the dirt (affectionately known as our ‘yard’) playing with some plastic cookie container that must have fallen out of the trashcan when the guys took it outside the gate. We picked him up, dusted him off and hopped in the car and were off!!.... to open the gate….!!! We finally got on our way, and once we were away, everything was smooth sailing!! We got everything done that we needed to do and we even had some fun!!!

All in all, we did a snap-dog-job!!! (That’s my new expression...)

ZION AND JARIAH GOT THEIR TICKETS!!!!!!!!! They get to come to Ohio for Christmas, too!!! (Zion is beyond thrilled...) We're SO excited!!!!!! It's gonna be GREAT!!!!!!!! I Can't wait!!!!!! I think I should go pack now...... hehe, just kidding....... or am I?!!

YIPPIE- KY- YI- YEAY, and quadruple w00t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, the 14th, we all went up Mt. Lemon and spent the day hiking and enjoying the views. It was actually kind of cold, we needed jackets or sweatshirts, but I was the only one who had thought ahead and brought one. I kept trying to use it to cover Brandon with, but he wanted nothing to do with it!! (Too girlie, I guess...)

Anyway, we had fun and here are some pictures...

Some pictures of the display cases and other stuff that is going into the new Love and Learn store at Levis Commons in Toledo, Ohio. It looks to me like the finished product will be amazing, and this store will do awesome!! I can hardly wait to see it all in person!!!

Today after church we went to Reid Park for a picnic lunch and when we got there we decided to go ahead and go to the zoo, too. Becca and I were a bit hesitant because our first experience there was, shall we say, gross. This time, however, it was much less smelly, and not so kill-me-now hot, so that was good. Brandon loved seeing all the animals!! He actually knew what most of them were and can say many of them, too!! (Holsapple kids are cool, too!!)

I can hardly believe it, but Zion and I have been married for 6 years today!!! And we haven't killed each other yet!! It has gone by so fast!!! Happy Anniversary, Zion!! I love you!!!

And Happy Birthday to Ember!!!

It only took us one try to get this song just right for you, are we a talented quartet or what?! Hope you have a great day, mom, we love you. =)

PUSH PLAY, THEN READ!!!!

I'm GOING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS!!!!! Woot!!!!!!!! WooHoo, Yayay, and hip-hip hurray!!!!!!!! Becca and I both have our tickets to go to Ohio for 5 weeks surrounding Christmas (of course Becca will be in Canada with her family for 3 of those weeks, but I get to go to Ohio for 5 whole weeks!!!) Double w00t!!!!!!!! I will be helping my mom in her new store and most likely helping out in the old store and just hangin' out with my whole family! I'm so excited!!! Zion and Jariah will be coming the Friday before Christmas and staying until Tuesday after Christmas, (hopefully) we don't havtheirer tickets bought yet, but we are going to try to get them soon!!!

Well, I have now ‘lived’ in Arizona for about 6 months, and I really don’t know how much longer I can stand it. I long for our old trailer (which I have a sneaking suspicion we could buy back without too much hassle) with its nice carpet, 2 full bathrooms, convenient closeness to everything and the beautiful trees and grass in the yard. We even had flowers that I planted and maintained myself. My mums are no doubt in full bloom right now and looking absolutely gorgeous!!

I miss my job and my old friends from the Holiday Inn and all my friends from church and of course my family! I miss being able to wear something other than flip-flops and t-shirts. (I can wear other things here, too, if I don’t mind feeling faint from the heat)

Right now in Ohio it is my absolute favorite season, all the leaves are starting to change to the oranges, reds, and yellows they always become before falling off the trees, the corn is all a wonderful golden color for a few weeks before the farmers harvest it, and the air is crisp and cool, just right to get you into that holiday spirit! It’s the perfect time of year to have a hayride, or go to the property for a bonfire, complete with my cute, clunky, brown leather shoes, a comfy sweater and s’mores!! It’s also the perfect time to be drinking hot apple cider, making caramel apples, (and eating them) going to a football game with friends and having a tailgating party before the football game using all our beautiful Longaberger baskets for transport. (with people who actually know what a Longaberger Basket is…)

I miss being only 4 minutes away from everything! (Here it takes 4 minutes just to get the gate unlocked, pull the car out and lock up again.) I miss having a house that has enough insulation that when a neighbor has annoying music playing, at least you can’t hear the words. I really miss breathing. I used to be able to breath, for years I have taken it for granted that I could breathe, but since moving, it is always a challenge just to get a decent breath. (must be the dirt) Also, I miss having a smooth complexion; I have been so broke out since moving that I look like I have had a severe case of the chicken pox for the past 5+ months, and excuse me, but, been there done that!!

McDonalds in Arizona doesn’t even have hot chocolate, so that should give you an idea of how lame this entire state really is. Plus, if you think about it, their big claim to fame is a giant hole in the ground, which I now believe after living here for some time was most likely someone detonating a bomb in order to destroy this entire mistake of a state, but they didn’t calculate the size of the bomb correctly and The Grand Canyon is what they ended up with. The genius behind it was probably killed in the explosion and that’s why he never came back to finish the job. Poor guy.

So basically, I still really want to go back ‘home’, as do Jariah and Becca; but of course, none of us can do that unless the guys get completely awesome jobs in Ohio, in the computer related field. (And before Zion would think of moving back, it would have to be like a dream job of a lifetime where he could play video games for $100 an hour or something equally impossible to find like that.)

Now, how ‘bout them apples?!

Ok, I have nothing new to report, so here's some jokes about two of my favorite Bro- In- Laws!!!


You Know You Need A New Lawyer When...

* When the prosecutors see who your lawyer is, they high-five each other.

* During your initial consultation he tries to sell you Amway.

* He tells you that his last good case was a "Budweiser."

* He picks the jury by playing "duck-duck-goose."

* During the trial you catch him playing his Gameboy.

* He asks a hostile witness to "pull my finger."

* Every couple of minutes he yells, "I call Jack Daniels to the stand!" and proceeds to drink a shot.

* He frequently gives juror No. 4 the finger.

* He places a large "No Refunds" sign on the defense table.


Lawyer Jokes

What do lawyers use for birth control?
Their personalities.
___________________________

What is the difference between a tick and a lawyer?
A tick falls off of you when you die.
___________________________

What do you have when 100 lawyers are buried up to their neck in
sand?
Not enough sand.
___________________________

What's the difference between a dead dog in the road and a dead
lawyer
in the road?
There are skid marks in front of the dog.
___________________________

What is black and brown and looks good on a lawyer?
A Doberman.
___________________________

Why are lawyers like nuclear weapons?
If one side has one, the other side has to get one. Once launched,
they cannot be recalled. When they land, they screw up everything
forever.
___________________________

Did you hear that the Post Office just recalled their latest stamps?
They had pictures of lawyers on them ... and people couldn't figure
out which side to spit on.
___________________________

Lawyer's creed: A man is innocent until proven broke.
___________________________

What's the difference between a female lawyer and a pit bull?
Lipstick.

Oh, and here's a little brain teaser for you.

Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow's sister? Why or why not?