February 28

Today is someone special's birthday!!!  And so, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all about my other amazing sister-in-law, Carrie.

I met Carrie when I was just 12 years old- she and my brother Shane started dating their first weekend in college.  I didn't see her really often for the next few years, as she and Shane went to school in Springfield, but I do remember her making special efforts to make sure I was included when they would visit.  I remember spending the night at her apartment when I was 15, just getting to bond, always having someone to turn to for advice.  I remember spending weekends with her and Shane at her parents house, going out on their boat, having a blast tubing and water skiing.

When I was 17, Shane made the best decision of his life, and asked Carried to be his wife.  Their wedding in Florida was so beautiful and fun, and my first experience being a bridesmaid.  I was so excited to welcome Carrie to our family and have a wonderful big sister!  I can still remember a night or two before the wedding, Carrie and I went looking for seashells to use for the reception and just talked for hours.  I am so blessed to have two sister-in-laws who are not only family, but also close friends.

When I graduated from high school a year later, my favorite graduation gift was from them and Cory and Kristina- a trip to Florida for a week.  My bff Jessica and I had an amazing week staying with them, hanging out on the beach, relaxing at their home, and trying new things (sushi for the first time!).

I was a freshman in college when I heard I was going to be an auntie for the first time.  I was so excited for Carrie and Shane (and myself), and even from far away, Carrie made sure to include all of us in that exciting time- pictures, ultrasounds, and weekly emails about progress.  And, to make sure we were all able to be a part of their growing family, they made the decision to leave the home they loved in Florida and move back to Missouri.

So many great memories have been made since then.  Carrie was also a bridesmaid in my wedding to Blake and I was so thankful for her support and love during planning and on that day.  Carrie and Shane made me an auntie again, and I spent hours on the phone with Carrie looking at baby bedding online:)  We've gotten to spend weekends at Carrie and Shane's house, I've road tripped down to Texas with her and Madera (singing Disney songs at the top of our lungs the whole way down) and here recently, we traveled to Colorado for an amazing ski vacation.

Carrie, I have known you for over half my life, and I love that we have become closer every year.  As I've grown up I've been grateful to have such a wonderful example from which to learn.  For almost eight years I have been so happy to call you my sister, but I'm even more thankful to be able to call you my friend.

Happy Birthday Carrie.  I love you.

Five hours later...

I realized today that my photography website, loricrockett.com, has been unable to receive comments the entire time it's been active.  After a lot of investigating and trying everything I could think of, the only possible solution left was to update my theme to the newest version.  And so, I did.  My comments worked, but, unfortunately, I lost pretty much ALL of the edits I had done on my site style-wise, over the last two months.  Hours, upon hours of work, gone.

When I first started the website, I had about two minutes of programming knowledge- just enough to know I didn't know anything about it, and really had no desire to learn.  However, in an attempt to be cost effective, I attempted to educate myself.  So, what did I learn? 

Everything works together, and it's easy to screw it all up.


Fortunately, the more you do something, the faster you get at it, and the more you understand about how things work together.  Tonight I was able to fix (for the most part) in five hours what took me two weeks to do initially.  And, I actually have some understanding of what I did, rather than just trying 363538 things, finding something I thought worked,  never being able to figure out what I did, and realizing two months later I did it wrong.  I'm not an expert, but more and more, I think I'm learning.


Now if I could just figure out how to program my house to clean itself:)

Our weekend trip to Texas

This past weekend, after the incident, Blake and I ventured down to Texas to visit my brother & sister-in-law and of course, our adorable neice.  We had a few things in mind we wanted to get done besides the obvious (visiting and cuddling). 

1. Get our taxes done (we'd be lost without Kristina)
2. Take Briley's 6 Month Pictures
3. Install Windows 7 on my computer (I've had the update discs since December)

Taxes are done!  Kristina found every possible deduction and qualification and all those other things accountants find and we will be getting a great refund.  This will be very helpful in remedying the incident.  Thank you Kristina!

Briley's pictures went really well.  Cory and Kristina turned out one gorgeous kiddo!  She was in such a good mood all weekend and is so much fun.  She's growing up way too fast, but it's neat to see her progress everytime we see her. 

More pictures here.

I still have more to edit, but #3 on our list is causing a delay.  We got Windows 7 installed on my computer, but we did a fresh install which means I have to reinstall all my software...  Office, Blurb, CS4 etc... then I have to reinstall all of my add-ins for Photoshop- brushes, fonts, actions, patterns- about 35 in all.  Quite the task!  I knew I would have to do this to do a clean install, but I'm ready to have it all done and have a fully functioning computer again. 

What did you do this weekend?

Sometimes I Do Dumb Stuff.

I did something really dumb this morning.  And it's going to cost a lot of money to fix.  It invloved my car, and Blake's truck.  No one is hurt, but my car is pretty smashed.  So is my pride.

I highly reccomend always checking behind you before backing your car out of the garage.

Lesson Learned.

Day of love...

Blake and I don't usually celebrate Valentines, but for fun this year we took this quiz I found at Glamlife Housewife.

What couple from a movie or TV show are you most like?:

Blake: I don't watch enough tv to know.

Lori: Chandler and Monica from Friends. 

What is your song?

Blake:  Don't really have a song.  If I had to pick one, I'd say the song I sang at our reception.

Lori: The song Blake wrote and sang to me at our wedding.  Or "My Everything" by Michael Buble.

First movie you saw together in the theater:
Blake: I think it was Da Vinci Code.

Lori: Da Vinci Code? Pirates of the Caribbean 2?  Whichever one came out first.

Who said I Love You first?

Blake: Me. Fourth of July.

Lori: Blake did. Fourth of July, under the stars and fireworks.

Where do you eat out at most as a couple?
Blake: Wherever there's sushi.

Lori: Any sushi restaurant.

Who is better at handling money?

Blake: Lori does the budgeting, but also the spending.  I'm more conservative.

Lori: Me, until I want something.

What was the first meal that your spouse ever cooked for you?
Blake:  I don't remember what it was, but it was when you lived in that apartment with all those girls.  (Lori- This really narrows it down, as I lived there for a year.  For the record, it was baked salmon.)

Lori: Probably Chicken Bacon Ranch.  Or Hamburger Helper.

How many boyfriends/girlfriends did your spouse have before you?
Blake: 5?

Lori: Blake had about 3 or 4 girlfriends, but dated quite a few others.

What is your idea of a perfect date?
Blake: Fixing a dinner together, having someone else clean up, then going out to a good movie.

Lori: Being surprised, eating good food, and doing something fun together- exploring a new place,  seeing a cool show, or learning something new together.

What physical feature first attracted you to your spouse?
Blake:  Smile

Lori: Eyes, and face overall

Where was your first date?
Blake: Nakato

Lori: Sushi at Nakato.  Pretty much love at first bite.

What is your spouse’s favorite show?
Blake: Biggest Loser, Lost, the Olympics when it's on

Lori: Grey's Anatomy

What is your favorite show?
Blake: Hunting shows

Lori: Grey's Anatomy, Friends

What is your dating anniversary?
Blake: June 6

Lori: June 6

If you could go anywhere on a second honeymoon, where would you go?
Blake: Europe, lots of places in Europe

Lori: Europe or Hawaii

What surprised you about your spouse after marriage?
Blake: That she got prettier every day.

Lori: That he forgot how to open mail.  This is why I pay the bills.

What's the best thing about being married to your spouse?

Blake:  I love having my best friend to do everything with or just nothing at all.  I feel very lucky to have her support through difficult times such as now with pharmacy school.  Because of Lori, my life is full and happy! 

Lori: Having a best friend that also gives me butterflies.  Having someone to dream with, do fun things with, and share the hard times too.  We like a lot of the same things, but also have our own interests and that's ok with both of us.  I love having a true partner.

Cows say...

"I'm kind of shy."

"Excuse me, you're not getting my best side."

"I don't have a best side."

I love cows.

Turning 25...

This past Monday I hit the quarter century mark.  Blake spoiled me the weekend before with breakfast in bed, ice cream, and lots of snuggle time.  I got one of my birthday presents on Thursday night, since we discovered I would be off work the next day.  Blake wanted me to have it early so we could play...

 

Monday night we went out to sushi with friends, so much fun and yummmmy.

 

But my big present, OUR big present, is still to come.  Instead of big presents this year, we're going to...

 

MEXICO!!!

For more birthday dinner pics click here!

Snow

Gus man loved playing in the snow with his new toy.  However, he was very confused about why his toy so cold and disappeared.  Adorable.