A Happy Husband is a Deaf Husband...

I'm going to say it. I think contractors or any type of construction people who are working really hard like that should get paid double.  The Thaynster and I have been laying tile, grouting, caulking, sanding, vacuuming, and working our little tails off to get this house of ours on board.  I'll admit it.  Sometime I go psycho and I can't handle one more night covered in cement.  I'm sick of coughing up dust and having white boogers.  The house is coming together beautifully (mostly thanks to our amazing family members who have been helping us out), but sometimes it's just too much...

and I get weird.  Or grumpy.  Usually grumpy and sleepy combo.  My poor, sweet, innocent husband.  All he wants to do it be a construction man and build us a lovely home in which we can live.  But I'll start to mope, or sigh really loud, or force a "deep" conversation with him just so I can feel like a human being again  all disgusting around midnight every night. It's taken a few weeks, but we've found the perfect solution:

Behold! The secret to our marriage.  I say, "Honey, I'm so TIRED and my back hurts from crouching down sanding baseboard and now I'm hungry...do you think I'm fat? How 'bout we take a little break....(sigh), I with this thing was finished already! OO! I found a rug that would be PERFECT in the living room...how do you think our marriage is...my hands HURT, OW a sliver!" And all he hears is the teacher from Charlie Brown. "Wa waa waaa wa waa." Every once in a while he'll throw me a bone. He'll nod, smile, and say "I love you honey and I love working on our house with you."  At just like that, everything is well in the Davis universe.

The Protector...

So the other day I swung by my mom and dad's house to bake some cookies for a baby shower here in the neighborhood (we are officially one month without a functioning kitchen over here).  No one was home, so I went to check things out in my old bedroom (where I sometimes find treasures like old books or clothes).  As I walked past my old bathroom, I heard my 13-year-old sister and her best friend singing while they were getting ready.  Sophie (aforementioned 13-year-old sister) has transformed from my little baby girl into an eye-rolling, "whatever mom"-ing, texting machine.  As I walked past the bathroom, I heard the friend say, "Sophie, someone is in the house".  I closed that bedroom door behind me, locked it, and listened.  I can't resist freaking Sophie out.  I can't.

So I hear them coming up with the plan in hushed tones.  I hear a tentative knock at the door, I don't answer, but I slam a couple of drawers shut to let her know that yes, someone IS in the house.  She waveringly calls, "hello?".  Nothing.  I hear a second knock.  I slowly walk towards the door, rattle the knob, and open the door.

There is my baby sister, in fighter stance, fire in her eyes, all 70 pounds of her, wielding the toilet brush.  Funniest thing I've ever seen. It takes a second, but she recognizes me and jumps, throws the weapon in my direction, and tries to get her best friend to stop laughing at her.  We had a little chat after the "incident" about how if she thinks someone is in the house, the toilet brush probably isn't the best solution.

Good Times...

 Amazing times around here recently.  Here's a little snippet

The cutest baby ever born: Brooklyn Bourne.  We spent a few days with her and the Bourne clan in Sun Valley, ID -our favorite place on earth- catching fishies, driving the jeep, gaining five pounds each, and enjoying each others' company.  

And then it was on to Laguna Beach, CA!  Thirteen hours through the desert of Nevada we went, armed only with our double-checked McDonalds dollar-menu sausage burritos.  We somehow survived through towns with billboards advertising "Asian massage with body shampoo". May we never pass that way again.

Laguna was fabulous, as usual.  The Davis' are always up for a good time.  And what better time could you have than calling Stan the metal detector man to come find your wedding ring that had been lost forever in the sands of Laguna Beach?  Nothing! Amidst the foaming tide, seagulls soaring and pooping overhead, Stan plucked Taylor's wedding ring from the depths, restoring hope once again to all beachgoers everywhere.

Beautiful weather, food, people, tide pools, and good times with the Davis' in Laguna.

 Jackson Browne is my latest music flame.  His latest performance and Red Butte (pronounced "butt") Gardens blew us all away.  We spend a lovely evening with my parents enjoying the summer evening and Jackson's liberal-hippie-tree-hugging-endangered-animals-are-more-important-than-humans musical propaganda. (note: I LOVE Jackson Browne and his music....but I still think he's got an agenda.)

My parents are cute when they hold hands.

 Thayner is cute all the time.

Especially when he is creating the house of my dreams! Grouting was a new and muddy experience for us.  The house is coming along swimmingly.

 My good friend Teef stopped by to Utah before her and her husband's big move to California.  She is amazing. 

You know what else is amazing?  France.  Holy Schmoly.  My above and beyond generous dad took us sisters on a jaunt through Paris and London last week and man, was it a good time.

I'm going to say that Paris is the most beautiful city I've ever been to.  Everything about it is perfect.

 Katie and I hanging out with our good pals Sammy and Mona.

The French were amazing, curt and well-dressed.  I have a theory that they put all of their kindness and sweetness into their pastries and bread.  South Beach dieters beware!  And bless you poor gluten-intolerant peoples' hearts.  The pastries and bread there are made of magic.

 Then it was off to London. Just as amazing as Paris, although we did experience a huge increase in the general friendliness of people.  We had a great time listening to Big Ben, lusting after the crown jewels, and trying to make those guards with the bear hats smile.

I'm going to take a sentimental moment and just say how lovely my little sisters are. Katie, Soph, (dad..even though you aren't a sister)- you guys are the best and I had so much fun being with the three of you! Thanks for making my life so fun.

Whew, sentimental moment over.  Here's my dad REALLY enjoying some modern art:

Quick side-note: we entered the modern art museum, stayed long enough to get this picture, and booked it out of there...because we hate modern art.

Amazing, amazing, amazing.  But you know what?  When all was said and done, my favorite part was coming home to the handsome husband who worked so hard on our house the entire time and showed up at the airport with these puppies:

Almost forgot!  I start my big-girl job with Grant Thornton next week, when means I sadly had to say goodbye to my buddies at OrthoDevelopment.  Jamie and Julie (and Derek)- you are hilarious and I loved working with you!