Grocery Shopping. Never Again!

I debated about the title of this post for a long time. I thought about using: "A Belated Christmas Gift", or "The 4th Most Happy Day of My Life!". I finally settled on the one you see.

Obviously, something has me pretty excited!

So, Nick, Reagan and I went to Red Mango last week for some delicious frozen yogurt. As we were exiting the parking lot, something caught my eye and I screamed for Nick to "STOP"! Nick already thinks I am crazy sometimes, so this is nothing new. I made him do a U-Turn in the car to head back to the shining commercial building that had absorbed my attention.

That's right! Davis County, UT has acquired a CAFE ZUPAS!

Jeanne may be the only other person who appreciates this as much as I do. After all, we are both addicted to Zupas.
I am highly encouraging other UT residents to seek our Zupas and give it a try. They will never have a better salad for as long as they live. The Yucatan Chicken Tortilla Soup is heavenly. And don't even get me started on the desserts.

We have eaten there every day since I found out that they opened one two miles from my house. I am not lying. I could probably keep the Layton location in business single-handedly (thank you Nick, for going to work every day so that we can afford to eat there). But I am sure I won't end up being the only patron. Give it a try, I promise: you will not be disappointed! AND, if you want someone to accompany you to Zupas please call me. I am up for it, any day, any time!

Too bad they don't serve breakfast. It looks like I will be venturing to the shopping market occasionally, at least to get ceral and milk.

Which do I hate more?

Words cannot describe my absolute loathing for the tile on our kitchen floor. Truth be told, the entire kitchen could use a renovation. Our appliances are quality/modern stainless steel. But the countertops, cabinets, sink and especially flooring have got to be updated.

That being said.... The heating situation in our basement is also in dire need of fixing. Our furnace is in the attic. Upstairs, the ductwork and returns are all in the ceiling (this is actually pretty nice, because I don't have to strategically place furniture- the way you need to when you don't want to cover up the heating returns when they are in the floor). However, for some reason they did not run any ductwork from the furnace to the basement?

Our basement is 100% finished, but since the winter cold has struck our basement might as well be 0% finished. Spending any amount of time down there turns one in to a Popsicle. It is so cold! They do have the baseboard heaters in each room. But for some unknown reason they are affixed to the wall near the ceiling, not the baseboards????

Anyway, they are an eyesore, they don't heat properly, and they cost a fortune to run.

My conundrum is that I may only have enough money from our 2009 income tax return to change one of these situations.

Pragmatism will probably win out, and we'll end up updating the heating downstairs. After all, my kitchen functions just fine (I do hate to think about how much time I have spent planning all of the changes I would make to the kitchen. I have spent countless hours on the internet researching and know what I would do, down to the last detail. However, most of this planning was done prior to the onset of winter, before I realized what a immediate situation we had going on downstairs. At least that fact makes me feel a little less sheepish and like I wasted my time).

It sounds like the decision has already been made. Yes, we will probably put heat downstairs. So, does anyone have any suggestions? IE- forms of heating that are affordable, and heat well? HVAC companies that are affordable and do a good job? If anyone has had any experience in this arena I'd love to hear the assessment.

Playtime

Why has it been so difficult to blog lately? Maybe because we have had the throw-up flu at our house? Maybe because I have been pulling my hair out dealing with: #1 A refund in the amount of $430 from the billing office of Reagan's pediatrician- it's going on six months now! I have heard every excuse in the book about where the check is. I am guessing someones dog ate it. Or, at least that will be the latest reason they give me for the delay. #2 I am still being "patient" with the IRS when it comes to our new-home-buyer credit. They received the paperwork for this on May 11th. I don't even want to think about how many of my cellular phone minutes have been wasted while I have been on hold (the usual wait is 15-30 minutes) with the IRS. I have called at least once a month, every month for the past 9 months. #3 The HR dept. with Nick's former employer. Apparently, no one ever filled out the paperwork for his departure. They still believe he works there (he hasn't been there for 5 weeks). It has been causing all sorts of headaches for me; and yesterday I had an HR lady arguing with me for a good 10 minutes, trying to tell me that my husband still works there. Um, OK? Whatever you say, "all knowing" HR lady. I'll just ignore the fact that I launder my husband's white labcoat that says "Walgreen's Pharmacist" on the front so that he can wear it to work 4-5 days a week. And that the direct deposit paycheck that has been showing up in our checking account says it is from Walgreen's. Grrrrr.....

As you can see, not a lot of time to blog.

I do have a few minutes this morning, however. And I wanted to post something fun. Reagan is getting pretty good at playing by herself for a few minutes at a time.

She got an Elmo Microwave for Christmas. She loves it! She can play with it, and her little play kitchen for an extended amount of time (at least enough time for me able to do a load of laundry, or do my hair).

These toys may "take some of you back".

The My Little Pony Castle (along with some of the vintage ponies!), and Peaches and Cream Barbie!

And finally....... I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and when I came out I found that Reagan had decided to play "dress up". She picked out this little number all on her own, and put it on herself. I was laughing so hard, it was difficult for me to take a picture.

Yes, the article of clothing, is what you think it is. I should have let her wear it to nursery class on Sunday. She's got a reputation as a rebel, to keep up! Kidding.

The Evolution of Beer

I want to recount an event that happened just this past Sunday. We were at church, and Reagan was in her nursery class. At one point during the worship service I was standing out in the hall near Reagan's class. One of the teachers from Reagan's class came out and had this to say to me: "We took the kids on a little walk around the building, and ever since we arrived back at the classroom Reagan keeps asking for something, and it sounds like the word: "BEER".
BUSTED!
You read correctly, and the teacher heard correctly.

Before any readers get ready to dial DCFS and report me, let me explain:

When I was pregnant with Reagan the only thing I craved was Root Beer. Given the opportunity, I would have gladly stuck my head under a tap of Root Beer and guzzled away.
When Reagan was just a few months old I was eating a Root Beer flavored Popsicle, and figured I'd let her have a taste. She loved it! Nick, ever the responsible parent, didn't approve. And still hates it when I give Reagan Root Beer.
By having a love of Root Beer since before she was born, naturally Reagan had an extra incentive to learn how to ask for it by name.
The only problem turned out to be that it is much easier for her to just say "Beer", rather than "Root Beer".
At first Nick and I thought it was pretty funny to hear Reagan ask for Beer, so we didn't attempt to correct her. I guess we created a monster.

In "Reagan's world" there are two types of beverages: Milk and Beer (every other type of liquid, besides is milk has been dubbed Beer).

My guess is that during her little walk at Nursery class, Reagan walked past the drinking fountain in the church and wanted a drink. The only way she knows how to ask for Water, is by saying "Beer".

And, there you go. That is how Reagan asking for Beer came to be.
The fact that we are LDS, and NEVER have beer in the house makes this even funnier, and finally, that Reagan would ask for it at church makes it downright hilarious!

It is going to be even more interesting to see what kind of things come out of Reagan's mouth as she develops an even more extensive vocabulary.