Maywrage.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-04T13:45:00.000-08:00

We had much to be thankful for this year, as we had some special guests come visit us during the week of Thanksgiving: Mark's parents, Jan and Cindie. We spent all week cooking, visiting, and sightseeing around Provo.

Jan and Mark's hike up the Y

Hiking Rock Canyon

Thanksgiving Dinner

Pumpkin Patch at Hee Haw Farms

2008-12-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Hayride

Pumpkin Patch

Haunted House

Petting Zoo

Cowboy Games

Slide

A Whole Year? Really?

2008-10-21T21:14:00.001-07:00

So we had our anniversary on Sunday. I can't believe it's already been a whole year, can you?

Weird.

Anyhow, I just wanted to post some of my favorite pictures of us. Think of this as a Sorenson history in pictures.

Oh, and you need to listen to our songs while watching, please. Thank you.

Here we go:

Stage One:
Something to Prove
(Aka "Umm... You're cool. So am I...see?")

Stage Two:
The Infamous Florida-to-California Road Trip
(Aka, "What am I getting myself into?")

Stage Three:
Getting to Know You
(Aka, Two Peas in a Pod.)

Stage Four
Should We?
(Aka, Wanna Get Hitched?")

Stage Five:
The Christmas Proposal
(Aka, The Old, "Ten Dollar Ring" Trick")

Stage Six
The Wedding
(Aka, FINALLY!!!!)

Stage Seven:
The Honeymoon
(Aka, "Mexico")

Stage Eight:
Marriage
(Aka, "Honey, Where Did You Put My Underwear?")

...And now we get to the best part, which is what's next on the list:

Stage Nine:
Temple Marriage
(Aka, "Eternal Happiness")

Happy Anniversary Honey!

Love,

Angie

Tagged

2008-10-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

So I've been tagged by Katie. According to her post, here are the rules ...
1) Link to the person who “tagged” you.
2) Post the rules on your blog.
3) Write six random things about yourself.
4) Tag six people at the end of your post.
5) Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6) Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

Ok, so here I go.

1. I was attacked by a swarm of wasps as a young child, so now I have a ridiculous phobia of bees and wasps. Seriously, I'm the girl who screams at the top of her lungs and runs around in circles swatting the air.
2. If I could live anywhere, it would be on a tropical island in a tree house. I would eat fish and fruit and nuts and I would hope that vegetables could also be found. It would be just me and Mark and and our kids and we would wear loincloths and coconut shells.
3. I hold a secret wish that my very first cat, Rocky, will be the first to greet me in the Celestial Kingdom. I can just imagine him limping up to me and screeching that old crackly "Meeeooooowww..." I know that we are supposed to have perfected bodies, but, to me at least, my grumpy old disabled cat was perfect.
4. I wore a blue hippie-chic braided string friendship bracelet in my bra on my wedding day that one of my bestest friends in the world, Amy, made for me. She presented it to me minutes before I went down the isle, just as I was trying to decide what my "something blue" would be.
5. In addition to my phobia of bees and wasps, I have a phobia of flying. I read my patriarchal blessing over and over when I fly to remind me that I have life to live yet.
6. I worship writers like some worship musicians.

Ok, I guess I'll tag Molly, Angie, Emily, Erica, Stacy B, and Stacy H. Have fun!

Date Night

2008-08-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

This is what we do on date night these days:

Watch a movie.
Eat.
Clean the house.
Go for a walk around the block.

Or, my favorite, catch bugs and throw them into spider's webs so we can watch the action. We did this last night, as a matter of fact. We rode around on our bikes and discovered a busy little spider weaving her magnificent web. We spent an hour looking for a suitable feast for her, and we finally decided upon a huge mosquito-eater. You know, those flying bugs that look like spiders themselves? Well Mark caught one and ripped off a wing so he couldn't escape. Then he threw it into the web and we watched the spider attack viciously. She was very precise and quick. But afterward I couldn't shake feelings of guilt and sorrow for the victim. I mean, he got eaten alive. Poor guy.

Sadly, we didn't have our camera with us. But these are some pics I took of another spider just like the one last night.

To My Loving Husband.

2008-07-15T17:39:00.001-07:00

Just in case you ever forget, honey.

Say It With Toast

2008-07-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

I haven't written in a while because I've been writing on my own blog, angielikesyou.blogspot.com and really enjoying it.

There hasn't really been much going on around here, or at least nothing blogworthy. Gossipworthy? Sure, but you have to come visit for the good stuff.

But I will share with you a lovely little trinket I picked up that I firmly believe should be an American kitchen staple: the "I Love You" toast stamp.

What better way to tell someone you love them then by stamping it on their toast? It's so easy! Just stamp, toast, and serve!

In other news, well.... I guess that's it. The Toast Stamp is pretty dang exciting if you ask me.

Tomato, Tomapple

2008-06-27T23:30:00.000-07:00

Ummmm.... the last post was embarrassing. Not so much because Mark just let everyone on the web read about our private silly conversations. No, that's not why. It's because Mark couldn't tell the difference between a tomato and an apple. I had clearly drawn an apple that was threatening to turn him into Mark-sauce, not a tomato.

So I'm in Chico right now. If you've been reading the news or if you live in or around California, you probably know that we are on fire. There's something like 30 active fire incidents in California right now, and most of them are in Northern California. Butte County itself has 31 separate fires burning, and as I write this blog there are at least 1200 residences threatened. The fires have already destroyed 11,500 acres. It's a real task just to breath around here, and it looks really eerie due to the blanket of smoke that hovers over everything. The sun looks red, which makes me think of the book of Revelation. And it doesn't help that me and my mom went to go see Wa-lee tonight, which is a movie that shows an abandoned and virtually destroyed earth. Actually, the movie was really cute. What is not cute, however, are the masks that everyone has to wear outside to breath.

Let me demonstrate:

I miss Oregon.

I miss the sun.

I miss being able to jog outside.

I miss Mark!

On another subject, I was trying to post a blog before I left on my trip but something happened to it and it never posted. It might've been something faulty on the computer now that I think of it because our hard drive died that same day, which was such a joy. But the post was about a cute date that me and Mark had. We went camping. On our back porch. We roasted hot dogs and made s'mores on a little gas stove and then we slept in a tent. It was super fun. The funnest part was when a boy walked by us (our back porch faces a walkway that goes through a public park) and we offered him a s'more. He was so excited about it, so we made him a "Grandaddy S'more," which is made with two-times the amount of ingredients. While we were making it, we chatted a bit and found out his name was Shamore.

SHAMORE!

I mean, some things are just meant to be.

Oh, the long distance

2008-06-27T22:56:00.001-07:00

Angie drove to Chico, and I'm here in Portland all alone. Lonely. Before she left, she hid some special little note cards reminding me to do certain things. Like in the fridge it says, "Remember to eat your salad and fruit! And drink plenty of water!" Then the little tomato in the corner says, "Yeah!! Or I'll turn you into Mark-sauce!"

In the bathroom cabinet it says, "Make sure to brush 'em good!" Then, "Happy birthday Mr. Dinosaur!" on the side.

The best one was left in the pantry. That one said, "Mouths are for eating, but they're also for kissing. That was lame. Sorry."

So you see, I have little hidden Angie treasures all over the house for when I get lonely.

The only contact throughout the day is that we get to text each other.Here's what they sound like:

Angie: That's it. We r going to write more songs. and I'm taking singing lessons and buying a bass.

Me: That's it!

Angie: I want to perform with you.

Mark: What makes you say that?

Angie: Just dreamin. And thinkin.

Mark: Oh I love you.

Angie: Oh. Slurp.

(LATER)

Angie: I miss my husband who i love terribly. Do you think I should let him know? Or maybe I should make him think I'm getting along fine without him. Which tactic will make him pay more attention to me?

Angie: Chihuahua!!!!!

Mark: Ruff!!!!! Gimme 30 min

Mark: Oh my honey with love and spice.
You make my heart feel so nice.
I work so hard for your delight.
Then wait until the time is right,
To call my sweetheart where is she?
Too busy for the likes of me.
So to the pantry quick I go.
To find my honey's lips you know.
Then kiss kiss kiss, and one tight squeeze
Please call me back. Please call me. PLEASE!!!!

Angie: in movie

Mark: My poem is better than a movie i think! No?

Angie: Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Old Man Cornelius

2008-06-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

So this will be quick because the clouds of Portland have parted and I want to go out and enjoy the sunshine, which apparently has a time limit here. It's almost like it's set on a timer to go off every time I actually set my foot outside the house. Strange.

Everything has pretty much returned to normal around here. Laura's back in Chico and Old Man Cornelius went back home.

What? I didn't tell you about O.M. Cornelius? Well, shoot. I'll be darned. That was a big deal around here for quite a while. People was talkin' bout him long after he'd gone, even though he was only here one day. Only an hour, actually. But he left quite an impression. He came in town just in time for E-Cash to be introduced to Mark's office. E-Cash is a point system that the company throws out as another way for the reps to earn money this summer. Every point equals a certain amount of money, and the money can go toward all kinds of cool prizes.

Well, O.M. Cornelius done heard about this and came down from his home in the hills to see about it- walkin' stick an all.

I'll tell you what, that O.M. Cornelius is a fine fellow. Fine lookin' too. So fine lookin', in fact, that I done kissed him right on the lips. Mark was sore mad about it, but he understands. He admits that O.M. Cornelius was just too irresistible. He never met him, but he seen pictures. He says that's nuff proof fer him.

Don't spit the seeds

2008-06-24T23:41:00.001-07:00

We're sitting here at Old Chicago Pizza waiting for our large pizza to arrive. All we have to entertain us are two napkin wrapped fork/knife combos and a bowl full of lemons. I have successfully spit most of mine on the table and on Angie's arm. She isn't happy about it. She's threatening to chow down my half of the pizza if I don't stop.

I'll stop.

Portland Fun

2008-06-24T18:33:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I'm not very good at keeping this updated. I promise to do better. I've actually had somewhat of a busy schedule lately, which has been really nice. Mark's brother's girlfriend, Laura, came to visit. I had so much fun having her around to explore Portland with. Here's some of the things we did:

Saturday Market

Portland holds a weekly Saturday market, rain or shine, that takes place under the Burnside Bridge and in Ankeny Park. It's a place for local artists to sell and display their work and talents. Everything sold at the market has to be local and handmade. I think it's such a great idea, but I have to admit that I found myself commenting, "I could totally make that..." several times. I hate to buy things that I feel I could make myself, even though I know deep down somewhere that I'll probably never find the time to do it!

I think my favorite part of the market had to be the street performers. However, there was a magician performing tricks that made me a bit queasy. I attempted to film his tricks, but not only did I film it sideways, I also walked away in horror before the trick was complete. Sorry. But you can view part of what I saw right here. By the way, it never popped. But what if it did!!!

Shopping

Of course. We had to do it. We're women. It's in our blood. But don't worry, we both seem to be gifted with the thrifty gene. We avoided the high-enders and stuck with Buffalo Exchange, a chain thrift store that I first became lawfully wedded to when I lived in Santa Cruz. Since then I've had a series of affairs on the first store- mostly in and around San Francisco. Laura found a great pair of jeans for under $20 I think. I found a pimpin' hat I thought Mark would love, but I didn't buy it. Mark's sorely disappointed.

We visited Nob Hill, which is a bohemian-chic district full of eclectic boutiques and cute cafes. Of course, in true Portland style, the boutiques boasted local designers, many of them eco-friendly. And the cafes served fresh, organic food. We browsed the sale racks all the way down N.W. 23rd Ave, visited an interesting Christmas store called "Christmas at the Zoo," and payed a visit to the Pottery Barn.

We even made a few friends- Scrap-Metal Duck, Dazzle the handicapped art horse, and wild horse with no name which had been tied to a ring on the sidewalk and then abandoned. Has he been trying to escape ever since?

We topped our shopping off by meeting up with Spencer and walking through the always-overpriced-but-worth-looking-anyway Urban Outfitters. I found yet another item that I knew Mark would love. Laura is displaying it below. The shirt says "Gold Teef For Err Body." Mark has pledged to own this shirt in an extra large. He gets paid Wednesday. Spencer preferred the mickey shirt.

The Grotto

The next place we went was the Grotto, otherwise known as "The National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother." Quite a mouthful. It's a Catholic shrine and botanical garden. I love to see other religion's manifestations of their faith. It was beautiful.

The Sorenson Schedule

2008-06-11T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've decided to write a bit this morning to pass some time. The problem is, I'm not really sure what to write about. Our lives are pretty repetitive right now, so there hasn't been a lot of newsworthy happenings as of late. Maybe I'll share our schedule with you, since we just formally solidified it this week:

7:00am- Wake up
7:10am- Read scriptures
7:40am-9:10am Exercise

This is where our schedule begins to split. I then fix breakfast while Mark showers. Then we eat together. Then Mark plans his morning meeting with his reps, which is called "correlation" and starts at 10:30 at our house (it starts in our living room and then moves into the garage). While he does this, I shower and get ready for the day. Then I make his lunch and go downstairs to the garage to catch the last part of the meeting, where Mark and the reps read their goals out loud, gather in a huddle, and then make up a cheer to shout on three. This cheer is usually something really funny. My favorite one has to be "1...2...3... PTERODACTYL POOP!!!" How motivating.

Seriously, though, I just have to interject here and say that I LOVE this part of the day. It's so fun to watch Mark give his motivational talks and teach the reps. He is such a natural public speaker, and I have heard many of the reps thank him for inspiring them to reach their goals. I love my husband!

After the meeting, which is about 12:00pm, Mark comes upstairs and grabs his lunch and leaves for his long workday. Then I go about my day cleaning the house, checking out Portland, running errands, and working on my little projects. I've been doing a lot of baking lately, but I'm trying to quit that little habit due to the 5 extra pounds that have sneaked onto the scale.

This is where the day gets tricky. I can either choose to eat dinner at 5:00pm, like a normal person, or I can wait until Mark gets home and eat then, which usually ends up being 9:30 or 10:00pm. I want Mark to have a nice home-cooked meal after his long day, and I just hate the thought of cooking a fabulous meal that I don't get to eat. So the result of this dilemma is that I usually end up eating with Mark at night. The meal seems to have a unique effect on both of us: while it puts Mark to sleep, it keeps me up and extra hour or so. So I stay up and read for a bit, and then I go to sleep until the alarm sounds for the next day.

Exciting, huh?! About the only thing that changes every day is the correlation cheer. I'll keep you updated on what it is since I know you're just dying to know. Today it was "Tropical Synergy" or something like that. Probably a call to the Heavens to part the clouds of Portland and let the sun shine through. Inspiring for sure.

First Post

2008-06-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

Family blogging is so great. We're so excited about all of our friend's and family's blogs, so we're finally joining the club! Both of us have our own private blogs, but it's definitely not the same as having a joined blog where we post our family updates. We've been slow to start our blog because we don't have children yet, so our family only consists of two. But, don't worry, we'll still post really cute pictures of faces covered in cake and ice cream. They'll just be our faces instead.

Stay tuned...