Labor Day Campout

Every Labor Day, our family has a traditional campout.  However, ours is a bit different than usual campouts seeing as how we don't leave our backyard.  In keeping with this tradition, Lu and I had our own "Ferguson style" campout.

We began Sunday night with getting our air mattress ready and making some lucious lemon bars.  As Amber would say "Yumm-o!"  Unfortunately, the pump had to charge for 12 hours.  More importantly, however, the lemon bars turned out luciously.

Next, we played the ever classic, Jenga!  Like usual, Luis won.  Someone needs to give me tips on how to beat my husband at games.  He wins EVERYTHING which I find rather annoying.  Look at his concentration.  I just kept laughing and shaking (which, by the way, is not a good move in this game).

Since our pump was unavailable, we decided to leave the campout sleeping for Monday night.  The next morning, we had another Ferguson classic, blueberry pancakes, eggs, and bacon. 

(Oh yeah, the letter thing below is a Luis specialty.  These stand for either Luis & Ashley or Los Angeles.  You pick.)

Unfortunately, Luis had to study most of Labor Day (blah), so I cleaned.  (I must say, there is something strangely satisfying about cleaning out a closet.)  Later in the day, we used our free bowling coupons to pay $8.99 for bowling shoes.  Looking at these pictures, I would say Luis has a lot to learn from my expertise.  Just look at that form!  Look at those scores!  Yep, my business mind is thinking that it's about time to begin advertising bowling lessons.

Finally, we were able to pump up our mattress for our "campout."  I''ll say right now, that these things look a lot more comfortable than they actually are.  Why we thought it was a good idea to trade our fluffy pillowtop bed for this rock is beyond me.  Well, we got ready for bed, turned out the lights, and plopped down for the night.  As innocently as possible, I then did my best to convince Luis that he needed to get a good night's sleep since he had a big test the next day and that I wasn't sure if he would be able to sleep very well on this board.  We then took an anonymous poll and found out that one of us wanted to sleep on it and the other one... not so much.  We decided to stay.  One of us fell asleep right away.  The other one of us woke the sleeping one of us and we traded in for our bed.  Can you guess who did the waking?  That's right!  Poor soft skinned Looie.  After all, he DID have a big test the next day.  (Am I good or what?)

Magicopolis

Last weekend Luis got a school email offering a limited number of free tickets to see Magicopolis in Santa Monica.  Luis responded immediately, and we were some of the lucky few who scored.  We weren't sure what to expect, but were thrilled to go. 

Before we even entered that hallowed hall of magic, we were dazzled when we saw THE magician walking down the sidewalk.  He sauntered right past us!  I can't quite recall his name, but he is the first celebrity I've seen in California!  We should've asked for a picture.  We walked in and saw oddly colored levitating manequin ladies in the lobby - that tipped us off that this would be a grand show. 

The first act was a slam dunk.  To begin, the magician asked for three patrons to volunteer their rings.  Then, he walked right over to us and... picked Lu's ring.  You should've seen us...we tried to play it cool, but I'm sure we fooled no one.  We were giggling through the entire act.  Meanwhile, after obtaining all three rings, the magician proceeded to link them together using magic.  He then approached all three volunteers and asked, "Are these rings hooked?"  (Notice he did NOT ask anything about "Is YOUR ring hooked?")  It must have been extermely powerful magic because not only was Luis's ring linked, but had mysteriously changed colors as well.  No wonder the lights were so dim.  The rest of the show continued to be quite jaw dropping.

We saw other outrageous stunts including, "let me guess your card," "where's the quarter," "sawing you in half," and of course, "levitating ladies."

Later, we found out that Western University students always get free tickets.  Can anyone say Cha-Ching?

We Have A Solution

You know how I've been trying to find ways to keep myself busy lately.  Some of you are in the same pickle.  Isn't that a funny expression?  In a pickle.  It makes me wonder its origin; however, that is another blog post altogether.  Well, we finally have a solution (not to the pickle problem...I'm back to the dilemna about how to spend my waking hours...since I already know what to do about the sleeping hours).  I was talking to my undoubtedly wise 5 year old niece and she pointed out the very obvious solution.  In the middle of our somewhat confusing conversation about doorknobs, she asked, "Can you do a sommersault?"  I replied I that I could.  She said, "You should probably do a sommersault every day in the afternoon."  Of course I should.  Why haven't I been doing a sommersault every day in the afternoon?  If only I could take a picture...

...oh wait, I did!

Differences

I've noticed some definate differences between Lu and I.  Let's take a look shall we?

His computer screen

My computer screen

His workbooks

My workbooks

His homework

My homework

His lunch

My lunch

(Okay, so we're tied on the lunches.)

His outfit


My outfit
(You already know I wear pajamas...sometimes.)

What he does

What I do

Do you see what I mean?

Letting Myself Go

Remember that seminary object lesson about a frog?  You know the one.  Put a frog into boiling water and he'll hop out.  Put a frog into warm water then slowly turn up the heat and he'll boil to death.  Well today I'd like to liken that to my life.  You've all heard the phrase "She's really let herself go."  Some of you have probably said the phrase yourself.  I used to think, how can people do that?  One day trendy.  The next day sweatpants.  And then it hit me.  No one wakes up one day and says, "Yeah, I think  I'll let myself go today."  It just doesn't happen like that.  It's the frog thing.  It's a process that happens gradually and slowly. 

Well, I woke up recently only to find myself on that slippery slope.  Now, please don't go looking for evidence in my blogs.  It's just that...well...I've been telling myself, it's normal not to put on makeup EVERY day.  To tell you the truth, that's been happening more often lately.  To feel better I've been reminding myself of all the money that saves.  I've even been venturing out into PUBLIC without makeup.  Some days, I've found myself wearing pajamas until noon.  One day this week I didn't even get dressed.  Then, a couple of days later I look down to find myself in sweatpants.  When did that happen?  I don't bother with anything more than side ponytails.  I used to hate ponytails.  I stop messing with contacts.  A box of Twinkies are hidden under my bed.  I start buying reaching sticks and frozen dinners at the grocery store.  I STOP grocery shopping and order my food online.  I get a cat.  A little later down the road I stop showering.  And then it happens.  Someone, a close friend probably, sees me and has that thought.  The thought that stereotypes me as THAT girl.  The thought that we've all heard and said.  "Boy, she's really let herself go."  The water is boiling, people.

ENOUGH!  I won't buy frozen dinners.  I will go grocery shopping.  I won't get a cat.  I will keep showering.  I won't buy twinkies...well, at least I won't hide the twinkies.  I won't buy sweatpants.  I will get dressed before noon.  I will wear makeup every day.  I won't be that frog!

Lookin' Good

I made this...I just thought I'd share.

Now We're Cookin'

Luis and I have been bummed for the past few weeks because we haven't been able to barbeque.  Then, Luis made this fantastic discovery at the nearby park.  Grills!  Free ones!  So, Saturday night, we bought some charcoal and lighter fluid, packed up our food, and headed over to the park.  As I began documenting our BBQ, I tried getting a good picture of Luis and the flames.  Don't ask me what Luis was doing with his face...or his hands. 

I tell you people, I married a very strange person. 

Once we got the charcoal briques nice and flamin' hot, we began to grill.

Oddly enough, I was really excited about eating my hot dog (I hate hot dogs).  But this frank had a mind of his own.  Not 5 seconds after this picture was taken, he slid off my plate into the dirt.  Sadly, we only had 3 hot dogs to begin with so...

Luis had to sacrifice.

We ended the night with, well, what else?  S'mores!

Overall, this BBQ was a roarin' success.  And what, may you ask, was the factor that provided this success?

Of course!  Antibacterial Wipes.