I hate Yellow Jackets

While going to get the mail yesterday, I got stung by a yellow jacket. It hurt instantly. Now I was stung by a normal bee when I was about 8. I remember it hurting, but not that much (and as a kid, you tend to over analyze things). Yesterday the sting hurt for a long time. The redness of the sting area was about 2 inches in diameter.

I later was talking to my neighbor, and she asked if the yellow jacket's nest was still under our mailbox. I told her I had not even noticed it, and that I had gotten stung about an hour before. I told her I would have Jason take care of it.

As soon as Jason heard that we had a nest, he said he would take care of it when he got home. Jason came home from work, took off his work shoes, put on some other shoes, and went outside to make sure that his wife would not be stung again. I am so glad that I am married to a husband who is not one of those guys who gets afraid around bugs/spiders.

Our not so uneventful night

So tonight Jason and I found ourselves using the following "tools" for the same task.

Notice from top to bottom there is a piece of 1x4, a butter knife, a screwdriver, a crowbar, and pruning shears. Now what might all these have to do with accomplishing the same task. Well, look at the picture below.

This is a picture of our office door (I am standing inside the office taking the picture). On the left is the entrance to the hallway, on the right is the wall where I thought it would be convenient to store our folding chairs. Well, Jason and I hear a big crash tonight and went to see where the noise came from. We found the office door shut. We tried opening it, but we could not because a chair had fallen, causing the door to close, and creating a wedge that would not allow the door to move at all. Jason thought that there was no way we would be able to open it, and we would have to knock down the door. Now I am stubborn, but I like to think that I am the good kind of stubborn (most of the time). I said no. We can do this. I was able to get my fingers underneath the door and pushed the chair up a few inches, but this did nothing. Then I grabbed a screwdriver. This just got lost underneath the door within seconds. I then went for the butter knife (don't ask, I was thinking of everything). I needed something that could fit underneath the door and that I could use as leverage the lift the chair a few more inches so the the door could open some, and when the door would open, it would cause the chair the lift back up.
Jason then came in with the crowbar. This did make some headway. We were able to push the chair over some with it, but it was not the winning tool. Jason then appeared with the pruning shears. These were longer and easier to grip. They fit underneath the door, but the fit was too snug so he did not get too far with it. I then tried the broom handle. This last only seconds also because the handle bent (I had to go to Wal-Mart tonight to buy another broom).

Below is the aftermath.

And the winning tool is.....

Jason and a 1x4. He got the 1x4 under the door and repeatedly smacked the chair until the chair was not longer a wedge and out of the way. In the mean time, another chair had fallen on top of the wedged chair. Surprisingly, the door and the wall have no damage, but when you put my 4 black folding chairs together, it takes only a microsecond to find the one that was violated by many tools.

During this whole situation, Jason was of course frustrated and still thought after trying many different tools, that we would still have to break down the door. I do not know why, but for some reason I know that would not have to happen, and I would rather replace a chair (or a broom) than a door. I knew that it would be a great story to tell.

Our fun weekend

My mom flew in to Oklahoma last week so we spent the weekend in Tulsa visiting. I was able to take Monday off so it made for a nice long weekend.

Jason and I ate at Dave & Busters on Saturday night (not something to write home about this time, unlike our first time eating there in February), and then we went over to my sister's.

When we got there on Saturday it was after 6, and Andrew was still sleeping. Erica said he needed to wake-up. Jason offered to wake him up. Jason could not get him to wake-up. I said, "Andrew, Aunt Kristen has some marshmellows," and he woke-up. Jason said, "Are you kidding me?!"

We just hung low on Saturday since we got there after dinner.

We of course played Ticket to Ride. On Sunday, we went to church, played again, ate dinner, went on a walk, and played some more until 1:30.

Eliza kept us busy on the slide. She loved going down it. She would squawk if you took too long.

On Monday, my mom took everyone to see Up. Such a good movie. I think we might have to buy that one.

We then went to eat at Cheddar's for lunch.

Eliza did pretty good during the movie, but by lunch, she was beyond ready for bed.

We stayed up late again on Monday night (I went to bed earlier than everyone else since I had to be in to work at 8 the next morning. It was a great weekend and it was good to see my mom again. Now we just need to get my mom and my dad out here at the same time. Thanks Mom and Erica for everything; we had a lot of fun.

Our New Addiction

Jason and I were introduced to a fun game a few years ago, and we finally bought it. It is called Ticket to Ride. You have to build railroads to certain destinations. We got it a week and a half ago, and we have played it everyday since except for two.

We played it with my mom and my sister this past weekend when we went to visit. Every night we stayed up past midnight playing. No one was interested in playing any other game. It any one is up for a night of fun, just let us know.

S'more Fun

This is just a fun picture of Andrew "sweeping."

I had an appointment with my allergist on Tuesday in Tulsa. I talked Jason into coming with me since he had the day off. After my appointment, we went to my sister's to visit because my mom is in town of 10 days! I brought stuff for S'mores and the following pictures will show you how we enjoyed them.

I made a S'more for my mom and once I handed her the S'more, Eliza could not take her eyes off of it. My mom started feeding her some of the roasted marshmellow. It was a lot of fun to watch. As soon as the she finished off the marshmellow, she started whining for me. Erica, my sister, quickly roasted some more marshmellows for Eliza.

Madilyn enjoyed roasting the marshmellows. She was a big help. She started to eat her S'more and decided she would rather just help...and eat chocolate...and some marshmellows.

All Andrew wanted was the unroasted marshmellows. His sneaky little hands kept on finding their way back into the marshmellow bag.

So next time all I need to do is:

• Roast marshmellows for Eliza


• Give Andrew unroasted marshmellows


• Give Madi chocolate, unroasted marshmellows, and a stick to help roast


• And real S'mores for the adults

Movie Theatre Ironies

Last night Jason and I had a great date of washing and vacuuming our car (okay, this does not sound like fun, but it need to be done and with two, it does not take that long), eating at Palomino's, and then going to see My Sister's Keeper. I read this book and really wanted to see the movie.



As usual, Hollywood has to change some things that just bug me. I will not give any details, but of course, they had to sexualize the movie. I am young (only 24), but I do not wish at all to go back to my high school years. I thought we had it bad. I just feel you all the youth out there today. Saving yourself for marriage is a wonderful thing, but unfortunately our world does not see it that way.


Other that so many things being sexualized now, the true meaning of this post is to vent about a few observations Jason and I made last night while at the theatre.

• Why cannot the movies start on time? Before, the previews would start right at the start time. Now at the start time, you are still watching commercials and all the other stupid stuff. Our movie was at 7:10. It finally started at 7:30.
• Why do people pay to go to the movies if they are going to text the entire time?
• Why do people go to the movies to leave and come back a million times?
• Why do people go to the movies to get out of their seat DURING a movie and go talk to someone in another row?
• Why do people talk during the entire movie? Last time I checked, the only people you wanted to hear talk were the actors and actresses.

I think I am almost to the point where I do not want to even go anymore. You would think with all these things I have listed above that the theatre was packed. IT WAS NOT! Anyways, now that I have vented, it was still a good movie and made me cry. I just know that when you go see a movie made from a book, you just have to go in with zero expectations.

Granola bars + cereal bars + beef jerky + bananas + apples + fruit snacks +water = Hiking

While in Virginia, we drove down to the Shenandoah National Park. We were worried about it raining (go figure). Once we arrived at the park, we still had to drive in about 20 miles, and there was lots of fog. I was extremely nervous. Well, it was all worth it in the end (the pictures can do the talking).

This is Jason with his three siblings.


I believe it did start raining while we were on our hike but because of all the trees, we had a natural umbrella. It was absolutely gorgeous. Green everywhere!

This is what we were hiking to see: a 93' waterfall. Absolutely breathtaking and the pictures do it no justice. I would love to go back when there is no fog.

Jason's sister, Jessica

Jason's sister, Jennifer

Jason's brother, Andrew

On the way back, we took a different route and had to cross over this creek or stream, whatever you want to call it.

During the last 20 minutes or so of our hike, we were on a service road. It started to pour. Fortunately, we had ponchos. We had a lot of fun, drenched and all. I guess this is a Night at the Museum 2 thing.

Jessica's Graduation

This high school graduation was a different experience for me. All high school graduations that I had been to were outside. This one was inside the gym. It was nice to be inside an air conditioned building. Jessica will be attending Mary Baldwin College. We are proud of her and her decision to go on and receive a higher education.

Jessica and her mom, Alison


Jennifer, Jessica, and Alison

Jennifer, grumpy Jason (because I had him take off his sunglasses), Jessica, and Alison

Jason, Jessica, and I

Jessica in her "cute little black dress" that one of her friends sent her because "Every girl needs a little black dress." I agree. I just wish I could fit into my black dress.

The Burp Monster

This is Jason being a "Burp Monster." He gave us lots of laughs.


This is Jason with his sister who graduated this year.