Shazam!

Found out today that I officially have gallstones after having an ultrasound. I am meeting with my doctor on Thursday to discuss my "options." However, since this whole process has involved me diagnosing myself, and my treatment, and the medical professionals just confirming what I already knew, I googled my "options" this evening, and through the search found some freaky pictures of gallstones. Now, I am not sure how large my three stones are, but good lord, they are going to put my kidney stones to shame if they look like these suckers. SHAZAM!

And a little cartoon as a tribute to all my stones I have had in the last six months.

A day in the yard

Dalan and I bought a wide variety of flowers today to plant in our front garden, and around the little tree in our yard. It was the perfect day for planting, and now the yard looks so cute. Dalan did most of the work, because we only own one shovel, and because I don't really like to get dirty. He is a good husband. We brought Piper out with us, and she watched/chased birds the whole time. The dog is totally full-on obsessed now with the idea of catching and killing birds. She was tied up to the little tree, so she did not get very far, well except the time she chased a bird, got caught up on her leash, rolled about seven times in the parking lot, slipped out of her collar, and then stopped. I was nervous we were never going to see her again after that move, but hey, it all worked out. I am so glad it is spring and we now have some May flowers!

Dalan working hard in the yard.

Piper on the hunt for things to eat...birds, plants, whatever.

Piper waiting and watching for birds.

Flowers!

More flowers!

Flowers around the small tree.

Dalan was tired after all his hard work.

So was Piper!

Mini-putt putt and the batting cages

Last night Dalan and I took advantage of the nice weather (well, except for the wind) and went over to Mulligans to play some mini-golf, and hit some pitches in the batting cages. This is one of our favorite summer activities, and I am so glad that summer is finally upon us. There was a group of eight people three groups in front of us while playing mini-golf, that really slowed the whole process down, so there was a lot of time for pictures between holes. I totally beat Dalan in golf, 57 to 60. Ha! Take that! He totally thought I would not stay focused the whole game (as per usual Jessi behavior), but I kept my eye on the prize and won! The batting cages were fun, although I did not do as well I would have liked. I think I was swinging too fast. Dalan totally dominated in the cages.

Waiting at the first hole.

It was windy, but I was still totally psyched!

Dalan's awesome moves!

Our love balls.
They kept ending up right next to each other, which was totally a symbol of our love, and not just a consequence of how the course is set up.

The mill and me!

Kissing in the cave!

Waiting to tee off!

A picture for my baseball card.

Dalan's baseball card!

Bird mouth strikes again

Yesterday, was a teacher work day, so I only had to work a half day. It was nice, because I was home in time to join Piper and Dalan on their daily walk. Piper and I headed out to the front porch while Dalan did something quickly inside. While we were waiting Piper was sniffing around on the front lawn, then just as Dalan comes out to the front yard, Piper comes trotting up to us with a very dead bird in her mouth. Dalan got her to drop it and leave it, but GROSS! At least this time, she did not kill it as it was obvious it had been dead for a while, but still, I hate this new bird retriever skill of hers. The rest of the walk she was doing that dog smile/pant, because she was so pleased with herself. Then on the walk we encountered a baby/teenage bird that was hopping along the path, and was not smart enough or did not have the ability to fly away. It took all my strength to keep Piper from eating that one too. Piper! And her stupid bird mouth!

My secret identity revealed....

Hanger Hands

As Hanger Hands I have amazing abilities, including giving excellent massages and back scratches!

As Hanger Hands I can almost pick up a glass!

As Hanger Hands people around me get excited about what I may do next!
(They have also described it as nervous...but nervous, anxious, excited are all basically the same emotion.)

As Hanger Hands my skills rival all the greats, Edward Scissor Hands, Captain Hook, etc. with objects instead of hands!

Next time you need assistance from someone with hangers as hands, give HANGER HANDS a call.

Happy Birthday, Brother!

Today is Cole's 27th birthday!

Cole is a wonderful brother and friend! He is very generous, hard-working, and hilarious. Cole and I were the best of friends, (and the worst of enemies at times) while growing up, but now we are just super close. It is the kind of closeness that you only get from knowing someone your entire life, and I feel very grateful to have that type of relationship with him. He gets me and I get him.

My very first memories in life are about Cole's birth. (I remember getting a little people's barn from my nana, and a diet sprite from my mama.) This means I cannot remember life without Cole. I remember him being a beautiful baby, a wild little boy, a quiet teenager, and a laugh out loud funny and caring man.

Tonight we celebrated in typical Carlson style with dinner, presents, and icecream at my parents' house. I forgot my camera again, so I will have to get pictures from them from our night. We had a great evening and it was a lot of fun.

Happy Birthday Cole!

Piper Jean Carsellers, Bird Dog

Piper caught and killed a big, beautiful robin while at my parents' house tonight. Sad and disgusting, right? Ali, McKay, and I were sitting at the kitchen table playing Scrabble Slam (which is fun, fun, fun), when McKay noticed Piper acting strangely in the corner of the yard. He called her name, and she came running with the poor thing in mouth....feathers were everywhere. I shouted for her to drop it. (All while thinking do I have my camera? Could I get a picture of this really quickly?) She dropped it, and then promptly picked it back up. I told her drop it again, and to come, which she did. In hindsight, I think it is a miracle we did not end up with a bird in the house.

McKay went out to pick up the bird. I was hoping a cat had killed it, and Piper had just come across it or something like that. However, upon further investigation McKay was almost positive it was very freshly killed. She also would not open her mouth for me at this point, so I was convinced she had a leg or something in there. Hopefully, she did not swallow much of the bird, and McKay was then nice enough to wipe to inside of her mouth out for me.

Piper then spent the rest of the evening going to the back door to scratch and whine to be let out, despite me reassuring her she had killed it and it was gone now, or smiling from ear to ear about her kill. We have let Piper chase birds on our walks while she is on a leash, and she never even comes close to getting them. I think we may have to end this little habit of hers. After all, my parents would like some nature in their yard, and I don't want my dog to have bird mouth every week. GROSS!