Dr. Leonard Green: What’s new with you?
Rachel: Um… I got TiVo!
Dr. Leonard Green: What’s TiVo?
Phoebe: It’s slang for pregnant. -Friends

Match and I had this grand plan to not tell people about Roo until the doctor confirmed our pregnancy. Well that scheme lasted all of four days until we were both just about to burst. So we agreed that we would only tell our parents and siblings, and then wait for the doctor for everyone else.

I wanted to do something creative, and it was Match who came up with the idea. We took two old tshirts and some puff paint and got to creating.

Mine said Baby on Board with a little arrow pointing to my belly and Match insisted his should say Who’s Your Daddy? We were both wearing the shirts when we called our parents and had them use the Skype web conferencing services with us.

In typical Mom fashion, my mom couldn’t get her side of the video to work, so we could hear her but not see her. I guess the wording on our shirts appeared backwards on her screen, and I could hear her saying, “What’s your shirt say? It’s backwards. What’s that…baby?” Then she screamed at the top of her lungs when she realized what it said. I wish we could have seen her reaction, and I made sure to tease her for it. By the time she got her video working the moment was over, but I still got to see her and my Pops grinning. They’re both so excited to be grandparents for the third time (my brother has two toddlers).

Then it came time to tell the in-laws. This I was so excited for because they will be first time grandparents. They did get the video working right away, but they also had the problem with the image being backwards. My mother in-law was so cute because I think she was afraid it was a joke, or that she’d misread it because she said tentatively, “Are you…are you pregnant?” And then when I nodded and said yes, she clapped her hands and I could see tears in her eyes.

Here’s my mom still trying to figure out the Skype on the “darn computer” she calls it.

and here’s my overjoyed in-laws. I love that I was able to catch that reaction. I know the sunglasses make them look ridiculous, but I like to hide faces when I can. But you had to see that grin!

After we were done talking to our parents, we decided we’d better tell our siblings. This was mostly because my mother-in-law was so anxious for us to tell her daughter that I was afraid she would do it. She had a hard enough time when we said she couldn’t tell her sisters until our doctor’s visit. It’s been killing her these past few weeks, and I know exactly how she feels.

So for the siblings, they didn’t want to skype and neither my brother nor Match’s sis understood why we were pestering them. So I said I was emailing them a picture of the house and to call me as soon as they got it. This is the picture they got instead, and it had our phones blowing up quick!

We had such a blast telling our immediate family. I love that we were able to capture moments of it on camera. Ideally we would have been there in person, but this was the next best thing. The next morning both our moms had emailed us bubbly emails about how excited they were. They each have unique nicknames they want to be called, which I think is so cute. I loved telling the family in our own special way. Next up…how we told our friends!

 Now in the spirit of the holiday season, start shopping! -Krusty, The Simpsons

I can’t believe that the holidays are already upon us. As if the television commercials and radio ads would possibly let us forget. Is it just me or have all of the crazy Christmas ads started way too early this year?

I’ve got a much shorter list this year because I’m trying to simplify Christmas. That and we just bought a house so I think people understand that we can’t swing big gifts. Plus for me Christmas gifts are always about something heartfelt and often homemade.

That said, I will definitely be getting my niece and nephew something store bought, but online. I can’t stand the crowds, so I always opt for the online deals. I am the boring aunt who always gets them practical gifts like clothes because I know they have way too many toys as it is. I’ve been looking for cute   clothes for girls for my little niece and found a bunch of great stuff at Aeropostale. She is so much fun to shop for! Also my sister in-law tends to get her clothes that I think are way too old for her. I like to get her stuff that’s more innocent. She’s only 3!

I wish I could visit my niece and nephew this holiday. Hopefully my brother will make it down next year. It’s tough being far away from them, but hopefully we can skype at Christmas. Have you started shopping for the holidays yet?

Hal: All right, men. Well, I hope you all learned something today, huh?
Malcolm (to the camera): I learned my dad is capable to doing something cool. I’m not saying violence is cool, but that was cool! I always wondered where we got it from. -Malcolm in the Middle

I’m curled up with my cup of tea for my weekly gab sesh with Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn.

There’s still so much to tell you about our trip to Oregon. A lot happens in a week away! Today I’m going to tell you about the things that I learned this trip.

1. Match likes to be comfortable for road trips. Note the buckle.

2. Rainy nights sound amazing in a camp trailer. Waking up to that view is even better.

3. There is nothing quite like kissing in the rain.

4. Four wheeling with your hubby in the rain will get you extremely wet. Hey now! Not like that. Well I don’t know what gets your motor going. I will say that the ATV does vibrate a little.

5. My 8 year old senior dog can keep up with an ATV. We clocked him at around at least 30 MPH!! It was annoying because we were constantly worrying that we’d hit him. It was also damn impressive.

Here’s a little video clip so you can see what it was like. Don’t mind my maniacal laughter. Also this video clip reminds me of Edward running through the trees with Bella. My parent’s woods look a lot like Forks. Except my vampire was spider monkeying on my back while I drove for this particular video.

6. Running all day after a four wheeler will wear a puppy out. So much so that they fall asleep on your slippers and don’t even notice.

7. After all these years I’m still the weird goat girl I was back in middle school 4-H. I guess I will always be part hick.

8. Watching a city boy try to feed goats is funny. They almost pushed him over a couple of times.

9. Initiating my parents into the funny hat club was awesome. I don’t think we’ll stop until every member of our family has one of these! I got my mother in-law an elephant, my mom has a racoon, and my Pops has a buck. We are such dorks!

10. It took moving away for me to truly appreciate how beautiful my hometown is.

“Country roads, take me home. To the place, I belong.” -John Denver

Today I’m off on an Ikea adventure with Tahoe Girl. Then we’re spending the weekend hanging out. It’s her mom’s 60th birthday on Saturday and she invited yours truly to help decorate for it! Tonight we’re going to hit up a happy hour and just kick back. I’m really excited for our little weekend.

But part of me is already daydreamin’ about an upcoming trip I’m taking with Match in November. I mentioned he’s in the middle of a TEN day work week right? Well he’s doing a shift trade so he can score himself ten days off in late October/early November. I can’t wait!

We’re heading to Oregon to visit my family, and the in-laws just may be tagging along. We’re talking about having an early Thanksgiving. I can’t tell you the last time I had Thanksgiving with my family. Sniffle. Also Match hasn’t been home to visit my folks since we got engaged back in December of 2009, almost 2 years ago!!

I can’t wait to go home and wander the beaches.

Go back to the park where he proposed and get a picture during the day. You can’t tell here, but he proposed on a cliff side overlooking the ocean with a full moon. It’s that tiny dot in the picture.

and spend some quality time with my family. Match is such a hoot in Oregon. He runs around like a country boy, chasing the goats and driving like a banshee on the four wheeler. We’re also hoping to make a lot of pit stops on the road trip back and make an adventure out of it.

Look at that shit eating grin. I can already see him buying an SUV with a thule ski rack and moving us to the sticks. That boy belongs in the country!

I’m really looking forward to showing the in-laws around my little town and the house that built me. I couldn’t wait to get away from it when I was a teenager, but now I can’t wait to go back. Funny how getting older does that to you.

Burt: Slow down there Jimmy. Do you even know what the hell you are doing?
Virginia: Of course he knows what he’s doing Burt. It’s a computer, not a condom. -Raising Hope

My parents have been going through a little bit of a hard time due to this recession. I’ve been trying to find ways to help my Pops increase business for his garage door installation service and construction company. Before I started helping, he was just advertising in the yellow pages and the newspaper. I added him to yelp and got his name out there a little bit more on search engines. Eventually I’d like to make him a website and really bring their business into the modern world.

I also think he’d really benefit from going to a trade show. It would be so cool to see him set up a booth and get his name out there for everyone to see. He could even put up a printed logo canopy. He wouldn’t just have to use it for the trade show, but it’d also be great for outdoor events.

He could also get logo mats that he could put out in front of his booth to really draw people in.
Used in trade shows, trade show flooring comes in a variety of styles and shapes. There is even a line of printed flooring, so that end users can add a logo or message to the flooring. Trade show carpet is also available for exhibitors and adds a nice comfortable touch to any exhibit. I’d like to see people lining up on that trade show flooring and trade show carpet ready to sign up for his services. He told me that he’s already getting a bit more business now that people can find his info online. Here’s hoping things pick up for them. I hate to see my family struggle.