This one goes out to the one I love...

On Saturday, Dalan turns 30 years old! Hooray for reaching another important milestone! Since, we have so many fun and exciting things going on this weekend, I thought I would take advantage of some free time to celebrate Dalan's birthday. In fact, I am making him the V.I.P. of my blog.

Here are a few of his favorite things:
(I told him I was doing one of those facebook survey things. He was so not into it, but I begged and begged, so he gave in and answered some of my questions.)

Color: clear
Hobby: watching t.v.
Vacation spot: the couch
School subject: the t.v.
Favorite drinks: Gatorade, soda, and slurpees
Animal: Piper
Best bed sheets as a child: Simpson's
Candy: hard candies
Sports teams: Utes, and Ohio State

Here is Dalan at the zoo. Everyone should have a picture of themselves drinking out the lion's mouth!

On the ferry in Canada. He was giving me his "I am not pleased" look. In fact, this is the same look he gave me when I showed him my phone bill this afternoon. ha, ha, ha, ha!

He thinks this look is sexy....seriously!

Happy Birthday, Dalan!

There are so many wonderful things I could write about Dalan. He is the coolest. I can't think of a way to do it without sounding completely cheesey! Here is a quick run-down, in no particular order....he is kind, caring, loving, sexy, smart, thoughtful, helpful, funny, silly, hard-working, etc.

LOVE YOU!

I want my (reality) t.v.

My top picks for reality t.v. shows right now....

1. The Amazing Race- Always one of my favorites. I dream of participating in the race one day. Dalan always blamed my diet coke addiction as a reason I could not be on the show, but now that the monkey is off my back, I see no reason to not go forward with the plan! Plus Phil is so sexy, I would take any opportunity to race back to him and his accent each and every week. This out of all the shows I am about the review, is probably the most legitimate and least trashy, but it is still exciting and worth watching.

2. The Real World: Brooklyn- I used to be the biggest Real World fan ever! I love me some Eric Nies. Then it became lame. It was a bunch of way too skinny people getting drunk and hooking up every week, so I stopped watching. This season, however, when I found out there was a post-op. transsexual and a non-aware gay Mormon from Utah on the show, I was totally all over it. There is still a lot of lame drama, but I love how the transsexual really thought people could not instantly tell she used to be a dude. I also love how Chet, the LDS guy, wears purple pashimas, leggings, and pastel boots, plus makes "just kidding" comments about other guys being cute, but swears up and down that he is not a homosexual. If you have not watched it this season, I suggest doing so.

3. Toddlers and Tiaras- This is a show that features moms and their children that participate in the exciting world of beauty pageants. The show usually showcases two moms that are crazy and obsessive about pageants, and one pretty chill/normal mother. You get to marvel at all the money spent for one pageant, and be shocked at the spray tanning, false eyelashes, and fake teeth that put into their child's mouth, because it is so better that your six year old be tan with a set of an adult teeth than to look like a regular six year old. This is one I would not have thought I would have loved, but it kind of caught me by surprise and I am enjoying it.

4. Rupaul's Drag Race- To be fair, I have only seen this once, but you all know, I love me some drag queens. The make-up, the costumes, and the drama are all fabulous. When I catch this show again, I will watch it fo' sho'.

5. Celebrity Rehab. Sober House- I have learned that when celebrities are trying to get sober that are just as bratty and obnoxious as the kids were at ARTEC, just with access to cooler parties. Just like at ARTEC, there are some people who really want to be sober, and are really trying, and there are some people who want to be sober, but don't have the tools yet. And then there are the people who just don't give an eff and will do what they want when they want, and then expect other people to pick up the pieces and come to the rescue time and time again. I don't know if I would like this so much if I had not worked in a rehab for seven years, but it is something I will watch if I come across it.

6. Jon and Kate plus 8- I started watching it, because who doesn't love six adorable babies, plus the freak show that goes alon with having them all at the same time. I can barely stand to watch it anymore, because Kate is such a controlling and mean person. Yet, I can't look away. I have to watch it every week to have something else to gossip and critique with my peeps who also watch it.

7. The Jessi and Dalan Show- Ok, I obviously made this one up, but I would love to have our own little show. It would be so boring that I think it would work. Plus we have already made up our theme song! The episodes could be things like this week on The Jessi and Dalan Show, Dalan and Jessi go to Chili's for a quesidilla explosion salad. Or this week on The Jessi and Dalan Show, Jessi plans Dalan's 30th birthday party. Or this week on The Jessi and Dalan Show, Jessi thinks she left her flat iron plugged in again, and makes Dalan, get out of the car, go back inside, and make sure it is off. We could even have those very special episodes of The Jessi and Dalan Show in which we teach the kids a lesson, like Jessi teaches why it is important to not put your phone charger on your tongue.

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!