The Loch.. as in Nessie here I come.

Wow, do I have a lot to say about this read. Ye might want to grab ye self a glass o' Scotch, it'll be a long one. This is Bell's book and a recommended read due to the fact that we will be on Loch Ness in a few short months.

Book Check:
541 pages
Published in 2005
3rd book for June
Bell's book
Main character: Zachary
Fiction but with lots of Scotland history and geography.
There are actual experts from real sightings in between chapters.
Darwin is quoted in the book and his ideas.
Notes to the Tower of London; we will be there too!
I could be content hunting Nessie for the rest of my life.

Loch Notes, Thoughts and Ideas:
There are at least 10,000 known reported sightings at Loch Ness, but less than a third of these are actually recorded. -Dr. Roy Mackall

Loch means Lake

First sighting was 1400 years ago.

Quotes:
"There's only one way to develop the mind and that's to read."

"There are two theories in arguing with a woman and neither of 'em work."

"The Loch's not known for giving up her dead."

"Ducks and swans don't mate."

Recommending to: Ian

Life in the slow lane.

I promise that I did get a new camera and that she is taking the most beautiful photos that I have ever seen. Sometimes I feel I could just pee my pants with delight they are so amazing.

However, I usually don't.

Things around the Dake household are at an all time snail pace...

And this momma bear is loving it!

We have been getting out of the house for karate (on Wednesday) and a trip to the library yesterday, and all without infants in tow. We are spending our days inside due to an insanely hot weather which is so hot, that the only term on our weather forecast is "awfully hot." Now that is some descriptive meteorologist lingo. Ugh. It's only 8 a.m. and it is already yucky out.

Today brings another hour and 45 minutes at karate. Jacques sold our snow blower, because, let's face it, we will most likely never live in Iowa or Kansas again. Neither of us want to be away from where we are or should I say trapped back where we have once been.

This weekend we need to get a night table for my side of the bed, a new alarm clock, tennis shoes for PT, sunglasses for me. We have 80 minutes at karate. Jason was promised a "small" new toy, from his father.

Jacques: "Do you have coffee made?"

Me: "Always. Coffee runs through my veins like Edward."

Odds and ends and quirks.

I still squirt ketchup and mustard in a "W" on my burgers after a six year sentence at Wendy's.

I do not buy generic paper towels.

I have texture issues with food.

I can not grow long and pretty fingernails, but I keep my toes painted always.

Bell has been my best friend for 14 years. That's a lot.

I refuse to grow old gracefully. If it is in my power and checkbook, I will get it fixed, nipped or tucked. I lather up in Olay numerous times a day and even through out the night. SPF is my friend and so are huge floppy sun hats.

I don't bother shaving my legs. Maybe once a month. I am married. It doesn't matter.

I have obsessive compulsive behavior issues.

I would buy a Nikon just because Ashton Kutcher does a great job of promoting it. However, I am only a Canon girl.

I am currently reading 2 to 3 novels a month. I am on my 3rd for June already.

I love thrift stores, diet coke, glitter and Bruce Willis.

I will eventually go on a honeymoon with my hubby, once our kids are bigger. This October will be our 8th wedding anniversary. He blames Bell for having to put off our trip.

I am double jointed, have never broken a bone, still have my wisdom teeth, 6 tattoos, and occasionally I want my nose pierced.

I used to have my tongue pierced.

I was an honor roll student in high school.

I love Cliffhanger, Armageddon, Urban Cowboy, The Punisher and Robin Hood.I could list a thousand favorites in this section.

I am obsessed with George Strait, Edward, House MD, anything pink and toe socks. And lately, the Loch Ness monster has become something I am interested in. This would be something that I can blame Bell for ; )

I had a mole removed from my belly. It was painful. And I enjoy skinny dipping.

I saw Titanic and Twilight twice in the theater and I Sudoku.

Skinnier Me.

These are some photos that I took in May to see my weight loss. While I am still no toothpick, I feel great that I can and have actually lost weight. I really had given up and thought I would be heavy forever.

That was at 28 pounds lost in the green and at 32 in the pink. I may look and feel even better if I would buy some clothes now that actually fit. These are the same clothes that I was wearing when I still had the extra 32 pounds. The clothes are big and hang on me and do not make me feel any better about myself. Ugh. However, the skirt is 4 sizes smaller than I was wearing in January.

I started dieting on January 29th to get ready for Scotland. I have lost 32 pounds so far and am still going. I have lost 6.5" off my hips and 5.5" around my waist.

We love electricity and toaster waffles.

Hello, to a wet Wednesday morning. Last night it rained hard for about half an hour and took out our electricity for 2.5 hours. Thank goodness for book lights and bedtimes. The kids played Go Fish and read under their lights. Ryan went straight to bed and Zachary, ohhh Zachary, was just a mess. He was tired, grouchy and full of late night naughtiness. He was up till after 10:30 and Jacques and I were miserable without lights or tv that late. I got Ryan into bed shortly after 8 and was hoping Zach would go quickly too.. I wanted to join the kids on the couch with my own book and light. Nope.

Back to this morning and being positive. Bulletproof Positive as Kal would say. Breakfast was toaster waffles, toast and black coffee. A pot of it. For me. All me. Today includes 1 hr and 45 minutes at karate with two kids participating and me and two babies on the sideline. It should be fun or total chaos. Maybe both. Hugs, M

Karate Kid Two.

This is what love looks like today..

And I am only slightly less happy than when the doctors handed me each one of my kids for the first time. The Rebel T1i 15.1 mega pixels. This is the newest model from Canon and is two models better than my XTi. It is on sale this week and I said I would only get it if I could sale my Canon. And it was just a thought when I was in Kansas reading the paper with Grandma. I said, "If I can sell mine, I will get this one." I had two people who wanted it.

Today is Tuesday and it finds me with a big fat SOLD sign on my camera and $400 fresh dollars burning a hole in my pocket for the her. Today she will be mine. She is already waiting happily at customer service with my name on the box.

Oh yes, she will be mine.


And I will call her Nessie.

Lincoln Love.

I wish I had an amazing photo to share of my little Lincoln, but the dog is harder to photograph than kids full of caffeine. Lincoln has his monthly check up at the vet today and I am amazed that at just 4 months, he weighs 24 pounds. A month and a half ago, he was just over 10 pounds. He got 4 more vaccines today and a huge rabies tag for his collar. Not really his style, but it's illegal to not have it on the Mutt. I like to call him Mutt, but he is no mutt.

We have the Petsmart wellness plan, so we pay a flat $21 dollars a month, every month and that covers all the visits, shots and exams. Plus is we just randomly bring him in, say a child mistakes him for a chair, it's covered. It will also cover his neutering and hospital stays. Today I saw that the plan has saved us, and this is just since mid April, $457.70 in average vet costs. Cha-Ching! Hello, Wellness Plan, I think I love you! And it is good at any Petsmart in the US so say during travel, I can take him to any vet there for any concerns.

He passed all the tests today with flying colors and will go back next month for another visit. We are looking at having him cut right after he is 6 months. He will also get a microchip then too, as he will already be under.

Last Week Recap.

Monday June 10
Home from Kansas
Jordyn is here
Supper at Olive Garden

Tuesday
Outside play
Speech for Jason

Wednesday
Babies 18 month check up
Trip to the Zoo
Ice cream treats at Sonic
Spaghetti

Thursday
Library
Yard work
Indiana Jones.... again

Friday
Jason's blue belt ceremony
Goodwill
Yard work
Scrapbooking!

Saturday
Pool Party : ) in Elgin, SC
Yard work
Walmart for groceries
PIZZA

Sunday June 14
Lazy Day.
Friends came by
Jacques to the Home Depot
Mandy to Michaels
Steaks, tatos, corn on the cob, garlic bread

Spoken.

Me: "Do you love me?"
Jacques: "You're not getting Botox."