Mama's memory!

About a week ago, I asked Dalan if he remembered what day we got engaged on last year. He had no clue, and the best we could remember, it was after Valentine's Day, but before his birthday. I was curious and even went so far to ask Ali if she remembered, but she did not. So I called it good, and pushed it out of my mind.

So, tonight I go over to my parents' house for dinner and the Oscars, and my mother wishes me a happy anniversary. I quickly thought of the date thinking maybe it was our four month wedding anniversary, but then could not figure out what in the world she was talking about. She then informed me that it was a year ago today that we got engaged. Way to go, Mama Carlson, and your awesome, super memory! I had to let her know that I was so bad at remembering these things that she might need to give me a heads up for our wedding anniversary as well!

I know I already have posted this picture, but it is cute and was apparently taken exactly one year ago. Maybe this post will help me remember the date for future reference!

Medicine and meat time!

Every night I have to give Piper her two different types of medicine. One is in a liquid form, which I shoot down her throat with a syringe and one is in a pill form, which I wrap in lunch meat and give to her as "treat". She hates getting the liquid medicine, but goes nuts for the pill one if I pull out the meat. So to get her even more excited, I have made up a song. It is called "It's Medicine and Meat Time". Basically, I just shout those five words over and over again in an enthusiastic sing-song voice and she goes crazy. We love medicine and meat time in our family!

I have this many....

I went to buy a sprite before my ESL class at the 7-Eleven this afternoon (not a diet coke, although it was tempting) and realized I had no cash. Not wanting to use my debit card for $1.16, I scrounged through my car for change. I found two quarter, seven dimes, and three nickels. I put the change in my pants' pocket and got my beverage. When I went to pay the cashier, my mind kind of froze as I looked at the pile of shiny coins in my hand. I had to hand him the two quarters first, and say there is fifty cents. Then I counted out five dimes, and said that makes a dollar. And after that I counted out two more dimes, and said there is $1.20. I felt like a five year-old, holding out her pile of pennies to buy candy and saying I have this many, only to let the cashier count out the correct amount.

Speaking of 7-Eleven and pennies, have you ever heard the story of how I saved Cole from molestation or death once upon a time? We were probably about nine (me) and six (Cole) years-old at the time. We had ridden our bikes up to the neighborhood 7-Eleven to get slurpees, candy, and baseball cards (Cole got the cards, not me).

As we were preparing to ride home, Cole starting shouting, "Who wants my pennies? I have free pennies!"

A grown man sitting in his big rig replied, "I will take your pennies."

Now tell me what kind of man takes pennies from a child in the first place. A creepy one. Cole said something like, here or you can have them.

To which the grown man replied, "Climb into my truck and hand them to me."

Now tell me what kind of man says that to a six year-old boy. A super creepy one. So, Cole climbed up into this truck and gave the man his pennies. I was telling him to get out of the truck, all while memorizing all the information I possibly could about the man and his truck. Luckily, that is all that happened, but it just goes to show you what a wild little boy Cole was/is, and what a wonderful big sister I was/am.

However, don't ask me to recount how two-year old Cole ended up needing stitches after "falling" into the toy box.....that is another story, and one that I don't end up in such a positive light!

A typical afternoon at the Carsellers

Twas a typical afternoon at the Carsellers' household....

Dalan was cooking....meatloaf, potatoes, and green beans!

Jessi was on the computer....checking her facebook and "keeping up" (aka spying) on blogs!

While, Piper was trying to eat the buttons off of Jessi's shirt!

My faux nephew

My faux nephew, Drake R. Barrett, was born on January 26, 2009. I got a chance to talk and catch up with his mother last night. Aubrey and I have been super close friends since 1983 when our parents moved next door to one another, despite the fact we have lived in different states than each other for more time than we ever lived in the same state.

I was so excited to get the scoop on little Drake. He is perfectly healthy and happy, but feisty. He fights being swaddled, being in his sling, and even being feed. In fact, he has already rolled from his tummy to his back twice. Take that tummy time! The whole time we were on the phone he was squeaking and squawking in that adorable way that only newborns do....it made my ovaries hurt big time.

Dalan and I are hopefully going out there this summer to visit with him, and his parents too! I am so excited to see him!

Dalan delivers....again!

At school, each class was assigned another class as their secret buddies for the month of February. We are suppose to do nice things for the other class as part of the community of caring we are promoting at school. Today, my class went down to the first grade classroom we were assigned to give them the Valentines we had made for them, and on the way back another teacher stopped me and told me I had a surprise in my classroom. She would not tell me what. My students were convinced that our secret buddies had come at the exact same time as we left, however, I pretty sure that was not it, because we have opposite recess schedules as our buddies, so we can do it all secretly. We walked back into our classroom to see a giant, gorgeous bouquet of flowers on my desk.
One of my kids then asked, "Our secret buddies brought us flowers?"
I replied, "I am pretty sure they are for me."
The another student asked, "Our secret buddies gave you flowers?"
So, I suggested we read the card and they were, of course from Dalan. The kids all ohhhhed and awed at how sweet the gift was from my husband.
One of the kids then exclaimed, "Wow! Dalan must really love you!"
AWWWWWWE! They are right, you know! He does love me, he really loves me!

Dalan delivers!

Well, it turns out Piper is cancer-free! The vet left Dalan a message saying that they did not find any cancer or other strange diseases in her bone morrow/blood test, so...

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

The plan for now is to follow up on her seizure meds and then do more blood work in the upcoming months. I am so relieved and happy. It ended up being a whole lot of worry and money, but at least it is over with now. I am so happy that Dalan was able to "give" me my Valentine's Day gift of a cancer-free Piper! He really is the best!

Look how excited Piper is about the news too!