What the.....?

Today Stephen received an email from his work. In the email there was a link to the school's semi-annual BC Magazine. While scrolling through the pages he came across the BEST PAGE EVER!

He thought that there was going to be an article featuring the cafe, but they decided to go for the REAL story and featured him instead.

I wonder if the fame will go to his head and change him?
Probably not. He'll just take it in stride!



If you want to read the article click here and go to page #13.

The Manliest of Men

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it, when the men in my life, do the "men things"

(shoveling snow, taking out the garbage, washing the car, etc.) so I don't have to.

So thank you Sage for manning the snow-blower (in your bowling shoes, minus coat, hat or gloves no less - very manly).

Thank you Lukas for manning the shovel (and being practical and wearing outdoor gear).

And thank you Stephen, for watching over the whole production!

I love you guys!

All About Pike

Father's Day is an awesome day!

This is the day we get to honor those men in our lives who have helped make us who we are. Seeing as my Fabulous Father is miles and miles away, I thought it'd better to wait and celebrate with him and give him is very own Father's Day Celebration when he comes home for the summer. So this June 20, 2010, we focused solely on the father of my children. That awesome man who is always there to teach my kids the important things in life - like baseball, how to fix sprinkler heads, and most important how to LAUGH!

Thanks hon - for being that guy!

Chronic Sclerosing Sialadenitis - Otherwise Known as Neck Balls

As we all know, Stephen stepped into middle age this year. We did it style and made a huge fan fare with his 40th birthday party. I guess that wasn't enough to celebrate, and so Stephen's body decided to grow some super saliva glands that we affectionately refer to as Neck Balls (yes we've heard all the jokes).

Due to previous neck issues that we've experienced I made Stephen go to the doctor's to ease my mind that all he had was swollen glands. At first the doc didn't ease my mind. He made us go get CT contrast scans and X-rays of my husband's lovely neck, then told us he would stay late at the office just to see us when the results were in. It's been my experience that when doctors hurry to get something done, and then offer to stay late at the office, as nice an offer as it seems, that's not a good thing. Doctors are not in the business of quickness. So 3 days later we were back to get results of all the test. Luckily he had good news. Swollen saliva glands, no signs of malignant cells!
Except wait, they were swollen equally on both sides (that's not normal), and hold on a sec they feel like rocks (again not really supposed to be like that). So he suggested we go see a specialist just to make sure everything was copacetic.

Off to the specialist.

When we went to the specialist, Dr. Hunter, and when he came into the room to talk about the scans and X-rays and he said, that everything looked good, but we wanted to examine Stephen's neck (just to be on the safe side). Well, let me tell you, a surprised look on your ENT doctor's face is not look you're going for, but that's what we got. Dr. Hunter had never felt anything like that before, he didn't know why those stupid neck balls were so hard, why they on both side of his neck, and so he decided that a biopsy was in order. A small needle poke, quick, not painful, just a little sting.

Dr. Hunter underestimated the denseness of those neck balls and ended up having to shove that stupid needle into Stephen's neck to get that biopsy. It wasn't all that quick and certainly hurt, but Stephen is Awesome Man, and he made it through.

The only results that were conclusive from the biopsy were that no malignant cells were found. That was the really important news - and really all we cared about - but Dr. Hunter wanted more answers than that and wanted to remove just one, so the pathologist "could have fun with it". And that's just she did. Here is her report.

This histologic appearance is consistent with chronic sclerosing sialadenitis (Kuttner Tumor).
The submandibular gland architecture is mostly maintained though sclerotic. There is prominent lyphoplasmacytic inflammation of the lobules, lobular atrophy, occasional noncaseating granulomatous reaction, and occasional hyperplastic lyphoid follicles--the last in less sclerotic areas of the gland. The lobules are sparated by fibrous bands with vaiable fibroproliferative activity and lyphoplasmacytic inflammation. No sialolithiasis is appreciated. The is no morphologic evidence for lymphoma or other malignancy.

For those who don't have a background in "doctor", this means he had non-cancerous, petrified neck balls.

Isaac thought it would be fun to support is dad!

Off to Surgery and the Awesome Anesthesia

Because he LOVES that knocked-out feeling, and didn't want it to end,
it took Stephen a LOOOOOONG time to wake up

Isn't this the most fun ever?!?!?

Cinderella had the Right Idea....

....when it came to mice.

They were were nice, they talked and they wore clothes.

I am here to tell you that in real life this isn't the case.

A couple of nights ago at about 11pm I heard this very load yowl. Had no idea who or what was making that horrific sound. It kept happening so I finally got out of bed to find out what was going on.

It turned out to be Oprah (our cat, not THE Oprah). Anyway, she was having a fit of some sort and I couldn't figure out why. Then unfortunately I did.
She brought me a dead mouse and wanted me to know it.

I have to say that as thoughtful as it was of her, I really REALLY didn't want it. So I woke up Stephen to take care of it.

(Before you make any assumptions as to my wussy tendencies, let it be known that I made a deal with my husband many, many years ago, that if I changed the diapers then, he would be responsible for cleaning up all animal....whatevers, for the rest of time. Needless to say this fell into that category.)

So on with this tale.

I woke up Stephen, and I guess I didn't do it right. I woke him up with my "somebody's hurt/dead" voice, that I didn't know I had and I've been informed never to do that again. Anyhow, I explained how Oprah had given us this gift and could he please get rid of it? It was making my skin crawl (still does as I write this).

He being the manly man that he is, got right up, got some toilet paper and went to dispose of the little guy.

The little guy was a FAKER!!

He was alive as you and me, and to prove it, as soon as Stephen tried to pick it up, he started running around looking for a place to hide. This was not good. This was freaking me out. This made me squeal like a girl!

The mouse ran this way, and Stephen tried to catch it. The mouse ran that way, and Stephen followed. The mouse got past Stephen and into the hallway (more girly sounds from me) and then into our bedroom and under the hope chest. This caused me to jump on the bed and really make some sounds that I have to say I'm not too proud of, that made Stephen tell me to be quiet and that I wasn't helping the situation. So I shut up, got the broom and started poking it under the hope chest in hopes it would get him to move. It did. Stephen cornered it, picked it up by the tail (with the TP) and took it outside.

My hero!!!

I'm sad to say that this wasn't the end of the story.

At midnight, Oprah started making those horrible yowling sounds again, and I thought "You've got to be kidding!"

Nope, not kidding. She brought it back.

The little guy, no stranger to this room now, went straight for a safe haven in a canvas bag that happened to be on the floor and Oprah went in after it. Not knowing for sure if Oprah was just sad at her last missed opportunity or not, I didn't know if there was actually a mouse back in the house, and with Lukas awake at this point, I told him to look in the Oprah filled bag. He being as wussy as his mother wouldn't do it.

Then Oprah, in a proud and happy moment, backed out the bag, with a mouse tail just hanging out of her mouth. She gave this "Aren't you so impressed?" look, and I told how great she was. Opened the window and gave a push in general direction of the great outdoors. She being the brilliant cat that she is, took the hint (and the mouse) and went outside.

The End.

Finally!!!

Oprah the Wonder Cat

He's A Man! He's 40!!

It was bound to happen. Time alone would see that this was accomplished, and it only took 40 years! Stephen is now officially in middle age!

To celebrate, Stephen was inspired by Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State's football coach. During a press conference where he was defending one of his young players that was being blasted by the press, he uttered these words:

I'm a Man! I'm 40!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjF93E4LjlA

And that's how a party was born. For almost a year we planned for this shindig. And what a fun time we had. So many people came to celebrate with us and it was GREAT!

Stephen used his culinary skills to provide a wonderful buffet of food. Shrimp, meatballs, cocktail franks, fresh fruit and veggies and chips, dips and cheese balls. And the piece de resistance... the Costco Birthday Cake. Yum Yum!

Everyone kept saying what a good wife I was, doing this for my husband, but seriously, he did most of it himself. He helped clean the house, he did the food, I only assisted with the food (just the way I like). I did make the invitations though and addressed and mailed them, but he drove around and delivered them. He made the guest list. It was a collaboration, and we had a good time.

So thanks to everyone who came and showed their support and love for one of the finest human beings I know. Thanks for the gifts (so many cool things, and so many "over the hill" things!) for the time you took out of your busy lives to celebrate. We love you!

They are the Champions!

It has occurred two seasons in a row!
The Hires Big H Softball team won the Fall League Championship!!
This year they went undefeated!
And their captain won the Batting Title with an average of .750!!
Way to go Pike, Schyler, Tim, Jesse, Cody, Rob, Craig, Jason, Steve and Tom. You all did an awesome job and we are super proud to be your fans! :)

This One's for You Jen

What's better that friends, family and food? Nothing!
It's been almost 6 years since we all got together,
but it doesn't feel like more that day!
What fun!!

39 Years

Now, I know some people say that 39 isn't that old. And in perspective it really isn't. But I have never been married to someone who is almost 40 and to me it seems kinda like it is. But, give me a couple a moments and I'll be OK.
To celebrate this momentous occasion we gave him lots of presents and ate a wonderful meal, that we invited his parents and my mom and sister to - my dad would totally have been there, but he was too far away in France :( - and had cake and ice cream. Who could ask for more? Not Stephen I hope.

"Happy Birthday Dad!"

Beverly, Franny, Birthday Boy and Dave

More Anniversary

So I am a total dork. I forgot that I had snaked Stephen's phone at Leatherby's and taken some pictures of him on the sly (hehehehe). What a good sport, or is he just resigned? I take option #1.

Our Anniversary

I am having fun getting to know the ins and outs of the blog world. I am impressing myself with how fast I picking up different techniques.
After looking at the pictures that I have posted so far, it seems as if all I do is kiss Stephen. Much to his dismay this is not the case. I thought that I should add the other pics from our great anniversary day.
After dropping Sage off at EFY, Stephen took me to Olive Garden for lunch, you can never have too much salad and bread sticks! We even had the hostess take our picture (see no kissing!) for posterity's sake. Thank heavens it wasn't busy, or otherwise I might not have gotten Stephen to participate.
After our delicious lunch, I had the great brain-storm of going to the mall (it's been years since I even stepped foot there) and getting our pictures taken in the photo booth. I thought "hey, that used to be fun!" Well, it was fun, even though there is no curtain or door to protect the dignity of the "photoees". Now you can see how much "fun" was had in that little booth. After walking around a bit, I found some earrings that would look fabulous on me, so Stephen got me my anniversary present. I must say I love them! It was a great day. Just hanging out with my honey, since he took the day off work just to be with me.
It's so great that we have kids that are old enough to watch the smaller kids. Sarah didn't think too much of this arrangement, and Isaac called to find out what we were doing rather frequently, but you got to take the good with the bad right? Thank heavens the Olympics are going on and Lukas was fully occupied watching the qualifying heats for Men's Swimming ("Go Michael Phelps!") or otherwise things at home might have been a bit more hectic.
Since Sage's EFY experience is the daily kind, we had to go out to Taylorsville to pick him up at 9pm. We thought that while it was still our anniversary we should go to dinner as well. Make a whole day of not having to cook! So we went to Leatherby's. Now Leatherby's has the best ice-cream on the planet. Hands down! YUMMY! Quite a few years ago they used to have really good food to go along with it. This time not so much. I recommend the desserts and get your food somewhere else. Good thing the company was great, but it was too busy for me to try and get another picture. Too bad, cause we looked great!!! :)

16 Years

Today, right at this moment, Stephen and I have been married for 16 years!! 9:56am! YEAH
Who could believe that time could move so fast?
"Not I," said the dog.
So far it's been the best ride ever. Can't wait to see what the next 16 years bring!!!