Catching up.........

Okay all you lovebirds out there, I feel I must participate in sharing my Valentine's joy with you. A little background...... every year for the President's Day holiday (at least the last couple of years) our family joins the McMurtrey family for a long weekend in Island Park. Jodi's grandparents have a lovely place on Bill's Island that looks out over the reservoir and is perfect for snowmobiling. We love it and it gives me time to bond with my beautisul swend. (Picture is at Relay for Life, in the SUMMER! I'm thinking you can all imagine what snow in Island Park looks like.....)

Anyhoo, as you know Valentine's fell on Saturday of this long weekend this year, so we shared it with the McMurtrey's. We ate too much and laid around too much, but it was great. So, what did Kevin do for me? Well, being the romantic that he is...

.........he got me this.

So, you say---why would Renae want a dirty shower? Here's why. When we moved into our home 3 1/2 years ago, I was giddy over the master bedroom's bathroom. We had been sharing one bathroom with everyone in the family and it was NO FUN. So, the thoughts of having our own was awesome. Then, to add to the joy, the shower in this bathroom had 6 shower heads (sorry, only 4 shown)! I have since found out no one needs 6 shower heads, but at that time I was totally subscribed to "the more the merrier!". Well, after being in our home about 4 months we had a pipe freeze in between the two top "body sprays". As a result, we hadn't used it since. That was more than 3 years ago! So, since the home building market has slowed down, there seemed to be a plumber and a tile guy that wanted some work, and that meant Happy Valentines Renae! Now, I hope you understand why this is a cool gift. Just wait you newly married out there, after (almost) 19 years you too may be giddy over a dirty shower. I'm back to using the 6 shower heads and I'm not looking forward to my next gas bill!!! Praise gluttony!

Now.........in the lives of my children. On January 30th, Nick got braces.

They are just the top teeth for now, but he also has a palate expander that he's cranking with the key every morning. The orthodontist thinks he'll be in these for 2 years and it's setting us back over $4000 dollars. Wow, can you believe that? We wondered if he was really worth it, but then I worried about the chicks he'd attract (I mean really, look who Jeremy got........just kiddin Lace!). So, we've been spending a lot of time at the orthodontist.

Then (just to keep things interesting) last Tuesday, February 10th, we got a call from the school. Apparently Nicholas had "passed out" and hit his head on the linoleum. His dad quizzed him as to whether this was some stunt his friends had put him up to, but he denied such juvenile behavior. We aren't really sure why he passed out, it seems to be a vasovagal event, but it really freaked out his class. The bad thing about it is when he fell, he fell right on his head, so he had a concussion and we ended up in the ER so he could be checked out. He was a little dingy for awhile, but it wasn't long until he was back to his old self. The only thing he was worried about was whether this would keep him from playing football. Well son, all I have to say is NOT YET.

Jacob has been busy learning how to snowboard this winter.

He (we) spent every Saturday in the month of January at Kelly's Canyon while he attended snow board school. Thanks to the Poole's, who lent us the gear, he learned some sweet skills. Or at least now we know we can take him on the ski lift and we don't have to worry about how he's going to get down the mountain. The snow has been great up there this year and the kids have gotten in a lot of boarding time. BTW, this pic was taken with my new iPhone--pretty sweet if I do say so myself.

 

You may notice that I have no update on Brianna. Well, according to her MySpace, her mood is "so in love". That should say it all. She never reads my blog anyway, apparently it's not cool enough...........

  

Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is something of a holiday in the Oswald family and we had the pleasure of hosting this year. We had a great time, and as always, plenty of food!

 

25 random things you may or may not know about Renae..

Okay, Amber tagged me on this and because I feel such a strong need to be the "cool Aunt" I have decided to drum up some facts about me. Enjoy......... (or at least kill a little time!)

1. My favorite quote is by George Bernard Shaw and goes like this :

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

2. I have a birthmark by my knee that I have always thought looked like a lion doing the hula dance.

3. I have a big scar on the same knee that I got when I was 14. I went camping with my friend and we were running down a dirt road with her dog. I tripped over the dog leash and left my flesh behind on the road. Her parents drove me to the hospital in Rexburg but they couldn't sew it up, so I spent a couple of weeks picking rocks out of the hole it left behind. (The birthmark came out unscathed!)

4. My favorite view is in Island Park, looking over the valley, with Sawtelle framing one end and Two Top the other.

5. I cried almost every day when I started 1st grade until my teacher buddied me up with Monique George who took me under her wing and made me her friend.

6. I slept with a special blankie, it's name was Prince, until I was 16.  I still have it if you would like to share it's comfort.

7. I am blessed with great friends that love me even though I suck as a friend.

8. On the Myers-Briggs type indicator (personality test), I am an ENTJ.

9. On the color code (personality test), I am a yellow.

10. I like personality tests.

11. I love to sing, especially primary songs.

12. I am not a good singer.

13. I am currently enrolled in school and by August 31st I will have my Masters in nursing leadership.

14. After August I will be able to have more alphabet soup behind my name: MSN, NHA, BC-NE. (Or something like it)

15. I have the best job in the world, I am a nurse and I love it!

16. I was never formally accepted into the nursing program. It is only by divine intervention that I had the opportunity to be there.

17. The first car that I owned was a 1970 Camero. It had a V8 engine and was far too powerful for a 16 year old. Thanks mom!

18. My dad told me that I would turn into a boy when I turned 8. He tried to assist this metamorphosis by buying me footballs, train sets and race cars. I'm pretty sure it never happened.

19. My favorite show is Project Runway and I've been a fan since season 1!

20. I covet long hair and have had extensions 4 different times. I prefer curly so I can relive the glory days of the 80's.

21. When I was 5 I watched my Grandpa Fuddy kill a rattle snake with a shovel. I hate snakes.

22. When I was a Sr. in high school my Grandpa Fuddy died. I love the Plan of Salvation.

23. I have the best kids in the world and I love them dearly.

24. I believe that I have the hottest husband, especially when he is on his motorcycle---oh yeah.

25. I believe that Metallica is the best band that was ever formed. ( The Red Hot Chili Peppers are close behind, and yes, I have seen them both in concert!)

 

Alright, thanks for letting me share a bit of myself. I will not formally "tag" any of you, but please feel free to play. :)