Love It, Hate It, 2008 It.

Happy New Year's Eve, folks! On this, the last day of 2008, I'd like to share with you some highlights and...anti-highlights (does that make sense?) from this year. I'll veer from the obvious as much as possible, but some were too monumental (or controversial) to exclude from the list. Heeeeeeeeere we go!

HATE IT!
10. Tyra Banks.
I cannot believe anyone can be so self-absorbed and not recognize it. Or can she?
9. Flakiness.
"We should get together sometime!" "Let's get together soon!" "We really need to catch up!" "I'll give you a call!" I can only do so much. Call me when you're serious.
8. Dairy Products
Okay, with the exception of milk, I LOVE most dairy products. But after discovering my stomach pain is directly correlated to dairy consumption, I've discovered I'm lactose intolerant. This has MAJORLY cramped my style at the Starbucks counter, but I suppose it's better than a cramped tummy!
7. The Happening.
This is the stupidest movie of all time. Yep, I said all time. It's The Crappening, and I'm thinking about calling M. Night Shamamama for my money back.
6. Things brushing against my fingernails.
Difficult to explain, but interesting nonetheless. It's the feeling of a sheet (or something) squeaking across the nail. This has NEVER bothered me before this year- why does that happen?!
5. Substitute Teaching
I wouldn't say I HATE it, but it has much more negative pressing against it at this point in time. I miss having colleagues, routine, and a place to put my stuff down.
4. Dogs
I'll say little about this, other than "I'm TRYING!!!"
3. MTV
I'll qualify that by saying I'm disappointed with the depravedness of television in general. MTV just happens to SCREAM disgustingness all the time. How did we let this happen?? I shudder to think of how much farther they'll let it go...
2. Cold Weather
Suiting up, freezing nostrils, numb appendages, watery eyes, icy roads....overrated.
1. Being away from friends and family.
You know who you are.

LOVE IT!
10. Guacamole
2008 was the YEAR of guacamole for me. I was making it and eating it like it was my job. But I soon moved on to other dipping delicacies...Parmesian Artichoke, Garlic Aioli, Nacho Cheese, Peanut Butter Carmel...what can I say? I'm a dipper.
9. Fleece
That's right- I'm throwing fashion to the wind. It's like wearing a blanket, and I'm okay with that.
8. Marley & Me
Adorable movie! Chris and I BOTH enjoyed it- and that's pretty rare. SEE...I TOLD you I'm trying!!!
7. Lincoln Aviator
We're both having a bit of a love affair with the new car, but Chris gets REALLY excited when the Navigation "lady" talks to him. I'm beginning to feel threatened.
6. The People's Court
Ah, back in my unemployed days, Judge Milian kept me good company.
5. Hillsong United
We love blasting anthems like "The Stand,""Mighty to Save," and "Inside Out" on our premium sound system. Did I mention we got a new car? ;)
4. Facebook
SO much better than hours on the phone. Love it or hate it, it's still a convenient way to keep in touch. AND, I've converted almost all my friends! Only one more hanging on to myspace, but she's losing her grip...
3. Vineyard Church, Duluth
After months of church hunting, we finally landed on one that feels like home. Chris and I are really excited about getting involved and meeting new people as 2009 rolls in.
2. Family
I speak of new and old. It's true that absence makes the heart grow fonder. I miss hugs from mommy and daddy very much. I'm extra thankful for the Stavengers, who continue to make me feel like part of the family. There's lots of love everywhere, and I'm grateful!
1. Marriage
It's absolutely the biggest blessing in my life. I can't even imagine my life without Chris. Fortunately, I don't have to! 2009 will be another exciting adventure.

Happy New Year to you, and thank you for your faithful readership!

Anatomy of the Double Date

For a while now, we've been hoping to meet some young couples that are fun to hang out with. Since moving here, I've felt like my current friends are more like CHRIS' friends with whom I tag along. It would be really nice to find some neutral friends that can get to know us as a couple. Our church's associate pastor and wife were very kind to invite us over for a yummy steak dinner, and we're excited to meet more people at their New Year's get-together. We've been playing in sports leagues with Chris' colleague, Josh, and I got talking with his wife at his Christmas party- so we planned a double date! We had an awesome time bowling and dining this week.

It's interesting doing date night with another couple. It's kinda like going on a date with them. Will it click? Will it be awkward? Would we want to repeat the experience? And at the end of the night, you find yourselves saying "we had a great time...let's do it again soon! We'll call ya." Having no history with anyone here is a little weird, but we're making it work. The potential is exciting!

I looked up some other fun double date ideas:

*Go on a digital photography spree downtown (especially fun when holiday decor is up). Each person can take artsy pictures, and you can sit down at a cafe with some hot chocolate to view the others' pictures.

*Take a drive out of town. Find a place to hike or picnic.

*Try a restaurant with a very different cuisine. Order family style.

*Dinner and a movie with a twist: make dinner or appetizers that relate to the movie. If it's a french film, make french food. If food is part of a scene in a movie, replicate it.

Are you a double dater? If so, share your ideas!

What To Do, What To Do....

The days are cold.
The schools are out, which means no work for me.
The laundry is done.
The cleaning is done.
This is a time for....

NETFLIX!

Stephen and Stephanie hooked us up with this thoughtful gift for Christmas, and our first movie arrived today! I'm really excited about having this service- now I don't have to the jenky tanning salon/video store! And, though there is a RedBox location at our grocery store, the stupid machine has screwed us in the past by being "too full" to return our movie. Anyway, Netflix was a welcomed surprise.

First up on the list...The Illusionist.
Thank you, Stephen and Steph! We will enjoy our "breaks from all the lovin' during these crazy cold months!"

Mission Accomplished.

I caved. We opened gifts on Christmas Eve. It was weird. Thankfully, Santa visited during the night, so this morning we had plenty to open and enjoy. Last night, though, was what I had been waiting for...I got Chris a Wii system that I KNEW he would LOVE. We also had many gifts to unwrap from California- lots of snuggly treats! THANK YOU!

It won't be in the box for long...guaranteed!

I LOVE my new robe and Seatbelt Bag!

Chris quickly wrapped up in his new robe and pajamas.

Apparently, it's exhausting opening gifts. This one was so tuckered out, he fell asleep on the couch.

When Traditions Collide.

Merry Christmas! I hope that you've had a wonderful day, celebrating the birth of the Savior with those you love. We are so grateful for all He has provided for us and the way that He is governing our lives. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Since we weren't able to travel this Christmas, we're enjoying the day together. It's our first Christmas MARRIED, and our first Christmas TOGETHER...ever! And, we've been reminded that we may never be able to enjoy Christmas ALONE again, so we're savoring the holiday.

With that being said, we discovered that our families have very different Christmas traditions. Now comes the joy of figuring out which will work best for our family. Here are the options:

Stavenger Christmas:
*Attend Christmas Eve candlelight service
*Read Christmas story from Scriptures
*Open all gifts in the evening
*Open "Santa" gifts Christmas morning
*Enjoy Christmas day family feast

Petersen Christmas:
*Christmas Eve caroling
*Christmas Eve party at friends' house
*Attend 11 p.m. "midnight" service at Church
*Gift exchange with friends
*Open ALL gifts Christmas morning, including Santa's
*Enjoy Christmas day family feast

So the major question seems to be...when should we open presents? When it's DARK out or when it's LIGHT out?

Out with the Old, In with the NEW!

We recently sold Chris' car, which enabled us to purchase a 4-wheel drive vehicle that we desperately needed! So, after months of perusing auto malls and listings, we found ONE that we both REALLY loved- a Lincoln Aviator. This one was a pre-owned 2005 model with less than 30,000 miles on it...and it was TRICKED OUT! With the navigation system appealing to Chris, and the heated seats appealing to ME, we kept our fingers crossed that it would still be on the lot when we traveled to Minneapolis last weekend. It was a terrible day to car hunt, and we could barely recognize it under a thick layer of snow, but it was there waiting for us! Now, we're having LOTS of fun playing with our new "toy"!

Giant Singing Mice and Cardboard Pizza.

Have you figured out what I'm talking about yet? That's right...I forgot to mention that we also paid a visit to Chuck E. Cheese- per Marcus' request. Ah, one can never get sick of feeding tickets into the ticket-counting machine (remember the days when we actually had to COUNT them?) and picking out a new piece of crap to cherish for about half an hour.

Can't you just feel the love?

Obviously, 4-year-olds aren't the ONLY ones having fun at "the Cheese"!

A Bit of Stavenger Christmas

We had a wonderful trip back to Moorhead last weekend to celebrate an "early" Christmas with Chris' family. While in town, we enjoyed a hockey game, dinner with friends, a big 'ol family feast, and a gift exchange. We didn't venture out of the house much because the weather was, well- for lack of a better term- FREEZING! But that was fine with us...time for some R&R and family fun. Here are a few glimpses into Christmas with the Stavengers, 2008:

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

Mallory gets her first piano lesson, along with "pony," of course.

Quickly becoming a ritual, Marcus inquires about EVERY present.

The whole family together. Obviously, there is some funny business going on between my husband and Eric- would either of you like to comment on that?

It's Too Late to Appeal to Santa...

...but this ottoman coffee table is making me salivate. Pottery Barn clearance catalogs are VERY dangerous!

I'm Proud of All My Friends Today.

Hello, friends.

I bring you tidings of great joy. If you are an avid T.V. viewer, you might happen to stumble across some of my good friends gracing your tube in the coming days. I thought I'd give you a "heads-up" so you can feel connected to the entertainment world as well!

First, for you "The Hills" fans, my dear friend and songbird, Shannon Curtis, has a beautiful song featured during the "farewell Whitney" scene on this weeks episode. So, when you feel abnormally moved as Whitney is saying goodbye to Lauren as she moves to New York, it's probably because of the background music. (If you miss the original airing, don't worry. MTV will re-run it 24 hours a day for the next week.)

Secondly- on a more obscure program- my friend and drummer extraordinaire, Blake Paulson, will be playing with his band, Porcelain. It's a new reality show on TLC called "Get Your Face On/Napoleon Perdis," and it's about make-up artists competing to be Napoleon's protege. This episode airs Wed, December 17th- check your local listings for the time.

Finally, I have to give throw-back props to my friends Keith and Liana Dickson, who ROCKED on TLC's "Over Our Heads" a couple weeks ago. Liana looked "cute" and Keith was impressive as a carpenter/designer.

YOU...
Have your "15 minutes of fame" come and gone?
Do tell!

'Tis the Season for Good Movies

There are SO many movies opening Christmas day, but none that I want to see more than THIS one:

Yes, yes...if you've been following along, "Marley and Me" is another installment in the "change Jamie's affinity for dogs" saga. So far, I've been to visit puppies, read books, heard testimonials...and I'm still stuck on odor and licking. Anyway, before you start hating me again, I'll stop talking about it.

Other movies premiering on Christmas:
Valkyrie
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Bedtime Stories
Seven Pounds
The Spirit

I'd really like to see the first three.
How about you?

Jr. Highers are Stupid, #2

I took this note from a boy who had been working on it about half the period- obviously, he failed to complete his assignment. After class, he came up to me and said very casually, "I'm gonna need that note back." "Why?" I asked. "I need it for the bus." "Like, they won't let you on the bus without it?" "Yeah," he replied. "Tell you what," I said, "You give me the assignment you owe me, and I'll give you the note I owe you." He quickly realized I was business and threw in the towel. After school, I read it and realized why it was so "important"....

I know I have my flause and that I'm not perfect. But I hope that you can look past that and give me one chance to be your boyfriend.
Check one: Yes ____ No ______

Oh dear...I may have ruined his love life 4EVER!!!

Jr. Highers are Stupid, #1

Most of the sub jobs I've had recently have been as a Jr. High note confiscator. Unfortunately for them, they don't know that I come prepared with eight eyes and quick hands. Some are amusing, some are disturbing. Either way, they thought they could slip that little paper across the room, and they were OWNED by Mrs. Stavenger.

Since I'm currently having some "creative blockage", I decided I'd share some of the gems with you and let the blogs write themselves. I'll type them just as they're written, though I've omitted some of the names.

Student A: What's wrong with _______ looking like that? lol
Student B: I think ______ is an imo kid, but idk
Student A: imo kid? lol
Student B: maybe he got rejected by somone I know ____ likes ______.
Student A: hmm...maybe. Isn't ______ going out with ______though?
Student B: Ya...maybe he asked somone else out ______ look sad. :( NOT
Student A: Whaaa? lol who looked sad?
Student B: _________. Maybe he as a hangover, ha. Maybe _____ is haveing a crash after getting high...idk...lol.
Student A: maybe...meth and vodka can do that too ya.
Student B: Its for sure, its a hangover I agree! ...you would know wouldn't you!
Student A: Ya...I got drunk too but it was his first time doing it so I'am used to it, but he...he is really screwed the rest of the. day.
Student B: Yea. I read about that...ya gota eat some food to make the high go away. They yerrr gunna crash and sleep 4EVER!

Ughh.
Watch out parents...this is Jr. High today.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

You know, I still have pictures yet to blog from Thanksgiving, but I'm feeling a little overwhelmed...so I think I'm going to move on to the Christmas season (if you're on Facebook, you can check out the Stavenger Thanksgiving festivities there!). First, I got a great idea from my friend Christopher, and added a cool feature to my blog page. That inspired me to make a few more changes and, well, the result is very Christmas-y! (If you're reading on a blog reader, be sure to stop by the real blog and check it out!)

Our Christmas tree and lights are now up, and I LOVE it. Now, if only we had a fireplace to make it REALLY cozy!

Advent Conspiracy

I'm sure many of you have already seen this video, as it's been making the rounds in many churches. For those who haven't, here is your chance! It's a powerful commentary on Christmas consumerism...check it out:


Which part is most powerful to you?

This May Be the Stupidest Thing I've Ever Done.

Hi folks! It's not Thanksgiving anymore?? I didn't get the memo! (nervous blush) It's FULL-THROTTLE winter here now- Chris is out with the snow-blower as I type. It's beautiful, but I'm a VERY nervous driver in the snow and ice. Sometimes I feel like I'm riding "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" (you Disneyland frequent-ers will know what I'm talking about), the way my car jerks back and forth on the snow. And, of course, it takes me 20 minutes to "suit-up", just to go out and get my mail. Freaking cold.

As a former Californian, you can imagine that I don't carry the fondest affections for the chilly weather. That's why I'm wondering if signing up for a winter BROOMBALL league was a bad idea. Maybe I just want to prove that I'm not so sissy. I don't know. In retrospect, it probably wasn't my brightest idea. Our annual Crosswalk Broomball games didn't go so well for me. Not only did I NEVER score, but I walked away with some pretty hardcore bruises. (In the words of Ross Gellar, "I bruise like a peach!")

For those of you not familiar with the sport of broomball, I included a picture for you above. I made the following observations about this picture:
1) It shows off the fancy helmet/faceguard that will save me from permanent brain damage.
2) Like our league, it is outside. The difference is: we'LL be playing at night. EVEN &$%#* COLDER!!
3) The boys in the picture are wearing very expensive broomball shoes. Chris and I aren't THAT committed- I'll be sliding around on UGGS that I hope to get for Christmas (hint, hint...), which also means that
4) This is probably the position I'll be in for most of the game (that is, when I'm not hiding inside by the fireplace).

You think my griping about playing volleyball in the rain was bad?
Just wait.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Drinking From My Saucer
by John Paul Moore

I've never made a fortune, and it's probably too late now.
But I don't worry about that much, I'm happy anyhow.
And as I go along life's way, I'm reaping better than I sowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

I haven't got a lot of riches, and sometimes the going's tough,
But I've got loved ones around me, and that makes riches enough.
I thank God for His blessings and the mercies He's bestowed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

I remember times when things went wrong; my faith wore somewhat thin.
But, all at once the black clouds broke, and the sun peeped through again.
So, God, help me not to gripe about the tough rows I've hoed.
I'm drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

If God gives me strength and courage when the way grows steep and rough,
I'll not ask for other blessings; I'm already blessed enough.
And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads.
I'll keep drinking from my saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed.

Someone Get The Balloons!

It's a beautiful Friday, and a beautiful day for my 500th blog post! 500 is a beautiful number, isn't it? I'd like 500 dollars. I'd also like 500 eyelashes...that would make mascara unnecessary! I'd like 500 hours of free time. You get the idea.

I wouldn't have made it this far if it were not for YOU, beautiful reader! Your participation in this crazy journey has made it fun to share. I would love it if you would tell me how you stumbled upon my blog and where you are located! I'm pretty sure that you are tuning in from all corners of the country- REPRESENT!

Who knows...maybe I'll reach 500 comments?
Yeah, right. ;)

Tips for Cold Weather

Believe me, I've had to learn the hard way! Having been through a partial winter here in Duluth, I've picked up some tips that help ME stay sane in this crazy climate (it's 16 degrees outside as I type). This may be old news for you seasoned northerners, and may be totally irrelevant to you sunny Californians, so I suppose it's just a "note to self".

*When leaving in the morning, get in your car BEFORE opening the garage door. This will help you to avoid unkind, frigid morning drafts.

*Take the time to button or zip the jacket. Your neck and tummy will thank you for it.

*Cozy up with a blanket through which the T.V. remote will work. That way you can change the channel without removing your hands from the warm covering.

*SPACE-HEATER.

*Light a candle. At least it will SMELL warm!

*Wait a few minutes before turning on the car heater. The car has to warm up, too!

(By the way, since we don't have a fireplace, the picture above is wishful thinking. If only it were that easy...)

To Be A Fly On The Wall...

Aren't there some conversations you wish you could have witnessed in person? I often think- GOSH! I wish I could be a fly on the wall for THAT one! Like Jesus discussing his impending time on earth with God the Father, or Adam and Eve figuring things out in the garden, and many others on a much less significant scale.

Thanks to the medium of social networking, conversations can be saved indefinitely. So I chose to look up a conversation that began exactly two years ago on MySpace- and now I'm sitting next to the man who became my husband. It's humorous to go back and watch our relationship escalate! I've included the very first communication between Chris and I here- excuse the shallowness, but we were total strangers :)

Nov 19, 2006 7:38 PM
Jamiebella: STAV! The man...the legend...and my new friend! Any friend of Jack Bauer is a friend of mine. Duluth? How are things in Duluth?

Nov 19, 2006 10:09 PM
Stav: The Man, the Legend?? What did Cheri tell you about me? I'd have to say those titles belong to the one and only Jack Bauer. Only a few weeks till he hopefully saves the world once again. I can't wait. Duluth is awesome. No snow and not too cold, yet...... So Cheri sure does talk up Long Beach, is it really as cool as she says? Have a good week!

There you have it. Romantic, isn't it?

DON'T DO THAT!

I freak out every time Chris does it.
He does it a LOT.
And every time, I find myself cringing and whining about how it's going to stick to his intestines, or stay in his tummy for 7 years, or cause some weird blockage...none of which are true, and all of which I'm pretty sure I learned in first grade.
I haven't heard any medical evidence that I can use to deter my husband from this disgusting act, which is frustrating!
Regardless, if swallowing gum is proven 100% safe, I'm still abstaining.
It's. Just. Gross.

Please tell me YOU don't swallow your gum...

Short and Sweet

I hate it when you can't shut your brain off long enough to sleep. Such was the case last night. Now I have a sleep deficit of 8 hours and don't know if I should take a mega-nap today or just plow through.

I have been studying all week for an exam that I'm taking on Saturday. I'm feeling pretty good about the exam, just brushing up on some of my mathematical formulas. I took the equivalent of this exam years ago for my credential in California...but this state doesn't accept out-of-state exam scores. Just their way of getting another $400 bucks from me, I suppose. Sigh.

So, all extracurricular activities have been curbed for the moment (like searching Google images for a picture to put on this post!). I hope to be back in the blogging swing of things next week. Thanks for sticking with me!

And, if you get a couple extra ticks on Saturday morning, say a little prayer for me!

I Woke Up This Morning...

...and saw THIS out our kitchen window...



You can tell it's hunting season, because they're hiding out in our backyard! (I know you deer hunters are salivating over those antlers right now...) Fortunately, it's Chris' day off, so he got to witness it, too! There were two of them...one buck, and one doe- who was VERY well hidden in our leaves. They stayed for quite some time while we did our morning chores. Yet another reminder that I'm not in California anymore.

Bright Lights, Big City: Part 2

We made the trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower on Day 2- an amazing view of the whole valley.

Chris was in heaven...it was like Google Earth, but up close and personal!

And, of course, it's the BEST place to watch the Bellagio fountain show!

I'm telling you...these boys are inseparable!

We visited the MGM Lion Exhibit for a while, and watched the lions play until they were pooped! We also ran into Chris' brother and sister-in-law while there!

Our trip ended much too quickly, and we were quite sad to leave the warm weather behind. As we flew into Minneapolis, it was snowing- and it made a spectacular sight from above the clouds.

Bright Lights, Big City: Part 1.

It's about time I posted some pictures from our Vegas Vacation, so without further ado...

Our first stop was dinner at the Planet Hollywood casino.

The pu-pu platter was a real treat...complete with fire!

Coincidentally, Planet Hollywood was the site of the SAW 5 world premiere. So, we hung out by the red carpet for a while and caught a glimpse of a few "stars". (I say that loosely because we really didn't know they were.) Yes, that IS Luke from the Gilmore girls.

Then, the Corns arrived. I was super happy to see Steph again...

...and Chris was elated to see Stephen.

Our first stop was the Venetian, home of the Vegas Blue Man Group.

We really enjoyed having my family along for the adventure, too!

Being in St. Marks Square just inspires love, don't you think?

We took a gondola ride through the canals...so great!

Our very entertaining gondolier had the hots for my mom (taking the picture), and proceeded to serenade us with "Stacy's Mom".

Because this was Chris' first visit to Vegas, I wanted to hit up as many hotels as possible. Here, we check out the Luxor with Stephen and Steph.

Then we got ready for the big show of the weekend...the Beatle's "LOVE" at the Mirage.

As Vegas nightlife heated up, there was the usual display of skanky girls and shady guys...here, Stephen demonstrates the "popped collar, lots of chest hair look," which is alive and well in sin city.

We ended Day 1 with a spectacular view of the Bellagio fountain. Always beautiful to behold.