Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
It's all coming together
Everything is finally starting to fall into place for us. Cami has a job as a Head Start preschool teacher. Matt is studying hard in Dental School. We are feeling like our apartment is more than just a place to live, more like our home.
Getting the den arranged has been a big step in making this happen. It all started when we got the rug for the room. Once we put that fancy rug on the floor, the boxes had to go. For many weeks it was the computer and lots of unopened boxes of books. We didn't want to take the books out without having a place to put them. We finally found some bookcases at Big Lots that we really liked and were in our price range. While we were buying the bookcases we discovered an awesome deal on a leather chair. It was on clearance for a tear on the lower front side, which we didn't mind at all. We took care of that with our furniture pens. Later, we found an ottoman to match. We also found a "bookcase desk" at the Pier One Clearance Center. We're pretty proud of our frugal shopping skills. Now that the den is looking better, we can work on the bedroom. It's pretty pitiful right now. The mattress and dresser are just not going to cut it. Maybe we'll be lucky and find something at the antique auction.
Getting the den arranged has been a big step in making this happen. It all started when we got the rug for the room. Once we put that fancy rug on the floor, the boxes had to go. For many weeks it was the computer and lots of unopened boxes of books. We didn't want to take the books out without having a place to put them. We finally found some bookcases at Big Lots that we really liked and were in our price range. While we were buying the bookcases we discovered an awesome deal on a leather chair. It was on clearance for a tear on the lower front side, which we didn't mind at all. We took care of that with our furniture pens. Later, we found an ottoman to match. We also found a "bookcase desk" at the Pier One Clearance Center. We're pretty proud of our frugal shopping skills. Now that the den is looking better, we can work on the bedroom. It's pretty pitiful right now. The mattress and dresser are just not going to cut it. Maybe we'll be lucky and find something at the antique auction.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Maymont
We went to Maymont with Davis, Linda, Cameron, and Hailey. It is the 100-acre estate of James Henry and Sallie May Dooley that is now property of the city of Richmond.
The estate has everything, including wildlife exhibits, japanese and italian gardens, a children's barn, nature center, tram and carriage rides, an arboretum, herb gardens, and the Dooley's home.
It was really neat. But we weren't prepared for the hot and humid weather and all the walking.
After leaving Maymont, we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
They've got the greasiest fries we've ever seen. They also have peanuts in open boxes that people eat while they're waiting in line. All of the fries are fried in peanut oil which gives them a different taste than all the other fast food restaurants. Their burgers are pretty good too.
Next to Five Guys was a good, old barber shop. This wasn't one of those places that are trying to look old; it really is just a few old guys cutting hair. It was so fun for Matt to get his hair cut there. The two old guys kept on talking over each other. One would bring up some current event or give a "back in my day..." comment and the other would start up about it before the first one was finished. The barbers there cut hair the old fashioned way. Their electric razors weren’t the cute quiet little jobs you’d see at Bikini Cuts, they were big, noisy, and chrome. The cut wasn't complete until the Barber shaved (with a real bladed razor and warm shaving cream) the back of Matt's neck and around his ear, and his head was vacuumed of any stray hairs.
The estate has everything, including wildlife exhibits, japanese and italian gardens, a children's barn, nature center, tram and carriage rides, an arboretum, herb gardens, and the Dooley's home.
It was really neat. But we weren't prepared for the hot and humid weather and all the walking.
After leaving Maymont, we went to Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
They've got the greasiest fries we've ever seen. They also have peanuts in open boxes that people eat while they're waiting in line. All of the fries are fried in peanut oil which gives them a different taste than all the other fast food restaurants. Their burgers are pretty good too.Next to Five Guys was a good, old barber shop. This wasn't one of those places that are trying to look old; it really is just a few old guys cutting hair. It was so fun for Matt to get his hair cut there. The two old guys kept on talking over each other. One would bring up some current event or give a "back in my day..." comment and the other would start up about it before the first one was finished. The barbers there cut hair the old fashioned way. Their electric razors weren’t the cute quiet little jobs you’d see at Bikini Cuts, they were big, noisy, and chrome. The cut wasn't complete until the Barber shaved (with a real bladed razor and warm shaving cream) the back of Matt's neck and around his ear, and his head was vacuumed of any stray hairs.
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Matt is studying
Matt has been studying his little heart out. He has his first test on Monday in his gross anatomy class and he's really worried about it. That leaves me to finding things to do that won't bother him. Reading, doing my embroidery, surfing the internet, and blogging to name a few. Which explains why I'm posting this blog.
Matt was thinking so hard, his muscles started to bulge. Wow, that's some serious studying.
On Friday, we saw Pirates of the Carribean (in between study sessions). It was really cool. The guys on the Flying Dutchman are scary looking. This one was a lot funnier than the first. Matt didn't like the huge cliff hanger ending. He likes closure to his movies. I just thought it was great.
I just hope Matt does good on this test. I don't really enjoy "unhappy matt".
Matt was thinking so hard, his muscles started to bulge. Wow, that's some serious studying.
On Friday, we saw Pirates of the Carribean (in between study sessions). It was really cool. The guys on the Flying Dutchman are scary looking. This one was a lot funnier than the first. Matt didn't like the huge cliff hanger ending. He likes closure to his movies. I just thought it was great.
I just hope Matt does good on this test. I don't really enjoy "unhappy matt".
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Blog Tag...
Well, I suppose that since we have been tagged twice
now by no one in particular (Corey...cough, cough) that we should probably comply. We wouldn't want any bad kharma to come our way. I'm not sure we can get through both of the tags. We'll see how far I get with the second one (it's a little too long to begin with)
Tag #1
The instructions for this tag--
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your LJ/blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
6. Tag five people.
Steph -
"Finally the girl said, in that same strange tone, "I see deer--a great herd of deer, and a man among them with his body painted--they put the antlers on him--oh, he is down, they will kill him--" Her voice trembled and again Viviane passed her hand above the surface of the water, and the ripples passed over the surface. "Enough," she commanded.
Erin -
I asked the guard what they were, and he said, "Them's pigs 'n chickens." I was thinking that I'd had the sense to go on living in that old town I might have just met this prison guard in school and married him and had a parcel of little kids by now. It would be nice, living by the sea with piles of little kids and pigs and chickens, wearing what my gradmother called wash dresses, and sitting about in some kitchen with bright linoleum and fat arms, drinking pots of coffee.
Corey -
Those who had a good look at its head usually reported that it looked like that of a wolf or German shepherd, with pointy ears. The most compelling characteristic, though, was the creature's aggresive stare. They said that the beast made eye contact and almost seemed to be sneering at them.
Matt and Cami -
It wasn't a stone at all, it's a sword-hilt. No, by jove, it's a whole sword; what the rust has left of it. It must have lain here for ages.
The tagging part is a little difficult. Reason being the only person with a blog that we know of is the one that tagged us. Sorry tag, you end here with us.
Tag #1...check
Tag #2
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Matt- Ranch
Cami- Ranch
What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Matt- Street vendors
Cami- Quiznos
What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
Matt- Training Table
Cami- Geckos (mexican restaurant in Utah)
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
Matt- 20%
Cami- 15%
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Matt- Pizza
Cami- Italian
Name three foods you detest above all others.
Matt- mushrooms, olives,
Cami- pickles, mustard, and pickles
What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?
Matt- Orange Chicken
Cami- Sesame Chicken
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Matt- Hawaiian
Cami- Pepperoni
What do you like to put on your toast?
Matt- Butter
Cami- Butter and Jam
What is your favorite type of gum?
Matt- Sugar free
Cami- Spearmint
What is your wallpaper on your computer?
Matt- Buddy (his dog)
Cami- A picture of Parker and Payton
What is your screensaver on your computer?
Matt-
Cami- slide show of pictures
Are there naked pictures saved on your computer?
Matt- Do disected dead people count?
Cami- eeww...gross
How many land line phones do you have in your house?
Matt- 0
Cami- 0
How many televisions are in your house?
Matt- 1
Cami- 1
What kitchen appliance do you use the most?
Matt and Cami- Refrigerator.
What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most?
Matt and Cami- Alternative
What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
Cami- eyes
Matt- (Cami thinks it's his eyes too)
Are you right handed or left handed?
Right
Do you like your smile?
sure
And... that's where it ends. I've tried to post this for a while and just can't bring myself to answer all these questions. What's the point. Do people really want to know that much about us. You can go to Corey's blog to read the rest of the questions that he was willing to answer.
now by no one in particular (Corey...cough, cough) that we should probably comply. We wouldn't want any bad kharma to come our way. I'm not sure we can get through both of the tags. We'll see how far I get with the second one (it's a little too long to begin with)
Tag #1
The instructions for this tag--
1. Grab the nearest book.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your LJ/blog along with these instructions.
5. Don't you dare dig for that "cool" or "intellectual" book in your closet! I know you were thinking about it! Just pick up whatever is closest.
6. Tag five people.
Steph -
"Finally the girl said, in that same strange tone, "I see deer--a great herd of deer, and a man among them with his body painted--they put the antlers on him--oh, he is down, they will kill him--" Her voice trembled and again Viviane passed her hand above the surface of the water, and the ripples passed over the surface. "Enough," she commanded.
Erin -
I asked the guard what they were, and he said, "Them's pigs 'n chickens." I was thinking that I'd had the sense to go on living in that old town I might have just met this prison guard in school and married him and had a parcel of little kids by now. It would be nice, living by the sea with piles of little kids and pigs and chickens, wearing what my gradmother called wash dresses, and sitting about in some kitchen with bright linoleum and fat arms, drinking pots of coffee.
Corey -
Those who had a good look at its head usually reported that it looked like that of a wolf or German shepherd, with pointy ears. The most compelling characteristic, though, was the creature's aggresive stare. They said that the beast made eye contact and almost seemed to be sneering at them.
Matt and Cami -
It wasn't a stone at all, it's a sword-hilt. No, by jove, it's a whole sword; what the rust has left of it. It must have lain here for ages.
The tagging part is a little difficult. Reason being the only person with a blog that we know of is the one that tagged us. Sorry tag, you end here with us.
Tag #1...check
Tag #2
What is your salad dressing of choice?
Matt- Ranch
Cami- Ranch
What is your favorite fast food restaurant?
Matt- Street vendors
Cami- Quiznos
What is your favorite sit down restaurant?
Matt- Training Table
Cami- Geckos (mexican restaurant in Utah)
On average, what size tip do you leave at a restaurant?
Matt- 20%
Cami- 15%
What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?
Matt- Pizza
Cami- Italian
Name three foods you detest above all others.
Matt- mushrooms, olives,
Cami- pickles, mustard, and pickles
What is your favorite dish to order in a Chinese restaurant?
Matt- Orange Chicken
Cami- Sesame Chicken
What are your pizza toppings of choice?
Matt- Hawaiian
Cami- Pepperoni
What do you like to put on your toast?
Matt- Butter
Cami- Butter and Jam
What is your favorite type of gum?
Matt- Sugar free
Cami- Spearmint
What is your wallpaper on your computer?
Matt- Buddy (his dog)
Cami- A picture of Parker and Payton
What is your screensaver on your computer?
Matt-
Cami- slide show of pictures
Are there naked pictures saved on your computer?
Matt- Do disected dead people count?
Cami- eeww...gross
How many land line phones do you have in your house?
Matt- 0
Cami- 0
How many televisions are in your house?
Matt- 1
Cami- 1
What kitchen appliance do you use the most?
Matt and Cami- Refrigerator.
What is the format of the radio station you listen to the most?
Matt and Cami- Alternative
What do you consider to be your best physical attribute?
Cami- eyes
Matt- (Cami thinks it's his eyes too)
Are you right handed or left handed?
Right
Do you like your smile?
sure
And... that's where it ends. I've tried to post this for a while and just can't bring myself to answer all these questions. What's the point. Do people really want to know that much about us. You can go to Corey's blog to read the rest of the questions that he was willing to answer.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Weekend with Corey and Jill
Last weekend, Corey and Jill came down to Richmond. On Saturday, we took them to Carytown Burgers and Fries; which has the messiest burgers around. We went down Cary street for a while, doing a little shopping.
Later, we went on a bridge across the James River to Belle Isle and came right back so we could go on a canal cruise. We finally found where the canal boats were and started the cruise.
Our boatman, Cotton, took us slowly across the canal and explained why the canals were built and the history behind the area. He took us on a short ride and headed back to the dock.
Many of us thought that was the end of the ride. Luckily, Cotton drove the boat past the dock and continued on our journey.
On one part of the ride, we saw some turtles sun-bathing and lots of geese on the banks. We learned that the Triple Cross is the only place in the world where three different railroads cross at the same location. That's pretty cool.
After our canal cruise, we stopped at a fruitstand and bought some grapes and a Sugar Baby watermelon that was very good.
We went back to the apartment, chilled, and later played games with Davis and Linda. We played a rousing game of Nerts (which the girls dominated on) and a good game of Sequence.
Sunday, Corey and Jill came to church with us. After church we made chicken cordon bleu calzones (First time we ever tried that recipe, good thing it was good)
We took Corey and Jill disc golfing, which they did very well at.
Thanks, Corey and Jill, for coming down to Richmond. It was a lot of fun. We'll definitely have to come up your way very soon.
Later, we went on a bridge across the James River to Belle Isle and came right back so we could go on a canal cruise. We finally found where the canal boats were and started the cruise.
Our boatman, Cotton, took us slowly across the canal and explained why the canals were built and the history behind the area. He took us on a short ride and headed back to the dock.
Many of us thought that was the end of the ride. Luckily, Cotton drove the boat past the dock and continued on our journey.
On one part of the ride, we saw some turtles sun-bathing and lots of geese on the banks. We learned that the Triple Cross is the only place in the world where three different railroads cross at the same location. That's pretty cool.
After our canal cruise, we stopped at a fruitstand and bought some grapes and a Sugar Baby watermelon that was very good.
We went back to the apartment, chilled, and later played games with Davis and Linda. We played a rousing game of Nerts (which the girls dominated on) and a good game of Sequence.
Sunday, Corey and Jill came to church with us. After church we made chicken cordon bleu calzones (First time we ever tried that recipe, good thing it was good)
We took Corey and Jill disc golfing, which they did very well at.
Thanks, Corey and Jill, for coming down to Richmond. It was a lot of fun. We'll definitely have to come up your way very soon.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Cami's Trip Back to Utah
With Matt well on his way in Dental school, Cami went back to Utah this past week to see all the family and to help Ann and Brian with their cute new baby. She got to Salt Lake Saturday afternoon and got acquainted with Elise, her newest niece. Elise Ann was born on July 22nd and has lots and lots of hair. 
Sunday, the Burk’s gathered for their monthly get-together. We ate barbequed pork sandwiches that were very yummy. There was lots of good food and fun times.
Monday, Cami helped take care of Elise and started a new quilt project thanks to Nina. It is a very cute panel for the 4th of July. It’s never too late (or too early) to get ready for the 4th. She actually got it finished in the time she was in Utah, which she was surprised she could do.
Tuesday, the Chapman’s had dinner. Cami took lots of pictures of the garden. It was good to see everyone. But it was hard to be away from Matt. The guys played Halo 2 with Matt. He was pretty excited.
Wednesday, Cami got to see her kids that she nannied for 5 years. Kylee, Tyson and Shaylee were so excited to see her, and she was excited to see them.
Later that night she saw some old high-school friends. Kim (Packer) Christensen recently had a little boy. Little Toby was born early so the shower came after he was born. Ellie Story and Bethany Hansen were also there.
Cami flew back to Richmond on Thursday. She took some pictures of the cool clouds from the airplane.
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