I was lying to myself, and to you.

Those boots were torture. I returned them. I had a moment in the car where my feet hurt so bad because of them that I thought I might crack. I was driving, my dogs were barking (I had to say it), and I literally could NOT spread my toes apart. I don't know why this was so troublesome, but the fact that my toes were all bound together and I couldn't spread them out in that moment almost caused me to scream (I might have if Maizey hadn't been in the car). Those boots were foot straight jackets.

So now, I've decided to embrace NW Casual and all that that implies. North Face coats (I have 4) and Danskos (also 4) or running shoes and jeans or cords. There is nothing wrong with this. It's easy, comfortable, and makes you look intelligent and environmentally conscientious. More importantly, I can spread my toes apart with ease in my Danskos.

Here are the shoes in heaviest rotation. I know it seems sad, but I'm okay with it. And, my brown Danskos just look like that because I wore them to a farm yesterday. This photo might give my sister nightmares.

I know you're thinking "weird that Lana lined up her 4 shoes on her coffee table" but I always keep them there so it's not really weird after all.

I'm not saying that it doesn't make me kind of sad to throw in the proverbial towel. I have visions of skinny jeans and edgy boots just like the next girl. But, I also have visions of bunioned feet and muffin tops. Somethings gotta give.

Okay, moving on. Ryan gets annoyed when I do posts like this. Probably because A. it makes me sound ridiculously stupid and narcissistic and B. because he calls this the "family" blog not just my personal blog. But, I take issue with that. It's true that I document Maizey comings and goings here, but, this. is. my. blog.

On that note, today is HALLOWEEN! Yay! We have a big day planned. We're headed down to W.Sea to T or T in the junction (where they are doing something kid oriented--I don't know, Erika told me about it). Then we're going to Hiawatha Community Center to see the world-famous (that's a lie) doggy costume contest and parade. I'm pretty sure that will be the highlight of Maizey's day. Then my parents are coming up and we're headed over to Ry's parent's house for dinner and to open the door for trick or treaters! Fun fun! Maizey is being a casual, comfy pumpkin (her choice for comfort over style reminds me of someone I know). Last year she wore a peapod costume that was so cute for all of about 5 mins. I decided that this year I wouldn't torture her. She has many years of Halloween costume torture in her future, I figured I'd give her a break this year.

Yesterday we did Remlinger Farms with Bethie and Harper and my mom. We had such a good time. I LOVE that place! The rides and the petting zoo and the kid-sized haymaze and the steam train and the pumpkin patch, they all give rise to the quintessential fall destination. What gave rise to the quintessential car ride with a toddler on the way to the quintessential fall destination was when Maizey (who has made a habit of gagging herself for fun) stuck her fingers so far back in her mouth that she barfed all over herself, her clothes, my in-laws new car (my car was getting new tires put on), and my in-laws carseat. It was AWESOME! I had to pull over on the side of the Hwy and get Maizey changed. I thank Allah that I happend to have brought my carseat with us and had a bag of clothes since Maizey was going to my mom's afterward to spend the night. So, I traded out the carseat and got Maizey changed. She wasn't the slightest bit shaken by the fact that she had just puked up breakfast, nor did she seem to care that this technically, meant that she was bulimic. She just played happily in the front seat while I worked tirelessly to clean up puke from the seats of my in-laws car with the 10 wipes I had with me. The rest of the ride in the vomit stenched vehicle was almost equally as awesome. But we shook it off and had a great time.

I'm not going to post photos. I'm too lazy, but I'm going to provide you with a viable alternative. Look to the right of the screen. See where there is a link that says "Zarling Wonderland of Fun: Remlinger Farms" and has a picture of two little girls in a wagon below it? Go there. You can see photos of our day there. But, here is one photo that you won't find there that I HAVE to share since it's officially my new favorite of Maizey. We took it as we were getting ready to leave Remlinger Farms and she was crawling on my mom's car. It's so cute. Happy Halloween!!!!

I just want to let you know

that I'm thinking about doing a new blog post. It will probably happen very soon. I'm thinking it will be Sunday. I'm at my parents' house this weekend and therefore without photos. And, let's be honest--what's a blog post without photos anyway? So, I will be home Sunday and try to post then. I do have a very silly and cute video of Maizey and Jack to share. And, I have very cute new boots to talk about. I know most people don't share new boots news, but since I'm a student and we're now on one income new boots are hard to come by. Not anymore since I just got my first student loan! What what!?! Time to shop! The big Nordstrom half-yearly sale is just around the corner and I just got their MOD card! Woohoo!*

*I'm really just saying this to piss off my far-away hubby. Who, btw, won't be home until December 1stish. Poo. But, actually, Ryan, if you're reading this. I did get a MOD card, but it's not what you think. It's good. Trust me. My poor frugal husband with his crazy, clothes obsessed, irresponsible wife. He's just lucky I wear Danskos. Not fashion forward, but sturdy, reliable clogs that will probably last the rest of my life. They just don't look good with leggings (at all even sort of, a few unfortunate souls have tried and failed miserably) which is why we have the boots. Oh, and, I re-discovered Abercrombie. I braved the cologne and loud music and half-naked models and found cute jeans. Unfortunately it was just in time to find out they reported major losses this quarter and will probably go bu-bye. Maybe if they didn't systematically alienate the people with money (adults) from their stores they wouldn't be in this position. Maybe if they didn't need a crane to get jeans above a size 6 more people would want to shop there. Even if there clothes are over-priced and usually quite worn-in/a-transient-had-this-before-me looking, they're actually pretty cute.

And, I'm done. This non-post turned out to pretty much be a post. But, don't worry, a real post is around the corner. And I won't make you feel uncomfortable by bringing up my finances in the next one. I promise.

Here's my boot for you to admire--and if you don't, well then you aren't fashion forward and I will just put up pics of my Dansko clogs for you to look at. If you don't admire those, that's where I stop. I won't be putting up photos of Easy Spirits--ever...

The difference

between babies and toddlers is this: when babies get bored, they cry. when toddlers get bored, they get creative. this was a night when maizey was really tired. ryan is still gone, so when i make dinner at night it's up to maizey to keep herself entertained. here's what she came up with...

of course, i never quite captured the moment exactly, but you get the idea...

i had to attach the videos separately, but they were from this same night. she learned to spin herself around and around and then tries to walk, and she throws a blankie over her head and walks all over the house running into walls. it's all really safe stuff.

also, these videos were meant for far away daddy, so that's why i'm bugging her all the time to say "hi" to daddy. but, they're too cute to keep to ourselves.

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i'm too busy for this

i know it's been a long time since i've blogged. here i am though. blogging. i figured this was the only way to stop the heckling. but, seriously, i am crazy-ass busy these days. literally, i get almost no free time. as most of you have heard, ryan ran to dubai on 24hrs notice. leaving me alone to raise our child and apply for the nursing program. luckily, this should be a pretty short trip--just 3 weeks. there will probably be a longer trip in the very near future, maybe just a few weeks after he gets back. i'm not actually sure i'll let him go so easily this time. this single mom in school stuff is h-a-r-d! but, i'm pretty lucky because i've had the help of my mom and my in-laws. i doubt if will be alone much through this time, but it's different having the help of close family vs. your husband , i'm realizing how much i take my hubby for granted. i'm wearing one of his ripened shirts that he left for me. he wore it to bed before he left and i love having something around that smells like him, although in 2 days it'll just smell like me. and, he's going to miss his 30th birthday, and we had to cancel his party. pooh.

anyhoo, yes. i've turned in all the bits and pieces for my nursing school application. it's been a long 3 years, but i am so elated to finally be here. it's out of my hands now. i should know sometime in early-mid december. if i don't bring it up again it's because i didn't get in, so don't ask me about it ;-) we have a good plan b though. if i don't get in, we are going to sell our house and go live abroad for a year or two. ryan can easily secure british citizenship, and if you are a citizen of gb, you can work anywhere in europe without a visa. um, yes please! so it's a good alternative. time will tell...

i have the cutest, silliest daughter in the world. period.

what else? i don't know. i'm busy. this is eating into my quiet time so i'm going to wrap it up here. wrapping it up now. wrapped up.

lots and lots of fotos (in no particular order)....

so adorable. at the cabin with ry's fam.

gram jan reading to maize.

a water tour of tahuya.

she loves her animals!

this is what happens right after little gym but right before nap. passed out eating lunch watching "bob" (spongebob).

Our last drive-in of the year. so fun!

maizey looks soso cute in this photo!a walk in the woods at my favorite park in snoco: mccollum park

peek-a-boo with grammy

eating dirt and lookin' good! nick and jilly at josh's 30th!

the birthday boy...

andy and jamie.

we finally got to see josh perform with his band and they were SO good, even if it was little loud in there! andy getting a bit of bad news :-(

alicia servin' it up!

L-O-V-Esalmon days 2009. so fun! maizey was mostly just interested in all the dogs.

although the alpaca did get her attention!

the fam.

omg, this was the cutest thing ever. maizey LOVED the pony rides. she just got this air about her when she was on the pony like "i'm pretty awesome, and we both know it." it was over the top. the best $5 of my life--and hers so far.

seriously. i know. she was a natural.

applauding at the dock dogs show.

waiting for the bubba to jump...
there he goes!

um, a chocolate covered dingleberry? no, thanks. i thought ours was the home of the dingleberry. the worlds fattest cat has less than stellar hygiene.

more doggies!

the salmon trying to make it past the ladder! she was totes mcgotes into this.

with grammy and grampy or "mum-mum" and "pah-pah"

i would like to take a moment to say that since maize has been alive, i've been to my fair share of festivals. without a doubt salmon days is the best. all the kiddie stuff is free (bouncy houses etc), it's free to go, the hatchery and stream are so cool to see packed with salmon, and cheap pony rides. i can't believe i ever paid to go to taste of edmonds, without a doubt it's the WORST festival i've ever been to.

this last photo here is a little frightening. it's of maizey's baby stroller (one that she can put her dollies in and push around), but instead of putting dollies in it, she just fills it with crap. notice cans of soup and random wrapper garbarge. she looks a little like a bag lady living on the streets. it's a little weird and hopefully not a sign of things to come. i guess i just though of one thing that i'd want her to be less than an engineer--bag lady.

oh, okay, i guess this is the last photo. here is maizey--fresh outta the shower. helping daddy pack. the flashlight is so he can clean out the giant holes where his wisdom teeth once resided. i miss him so much. blergh.

wow! you're up to date. and i'm off the hook for a little while...

here is a long but super cute video of my fun little baby. she loves to dance. i don't have any idea where she gets it?????
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