We are the Searles, and we have a problem....

 We eat a lot of tomatoes around here. 

We eat them in salad, spaghetti, sliced with salt and pepper, or any other way we can think of to work it into our meal.

 It has become excessive to the point that we are consciously trying to cut back on our tomato intake. 

We tried only buying 3 tomatoes on Saturday instead of the usual 5 for the week. 

I broke down on Tuesday and bought 3 more. 

We're addicts!

I told Clayson I was blogging about our excessive tomato intake and he said "What do you mean? I only got 7 this time!"
He was dead serious. 

Our addiction is getting worse! 

Don't they have a Tomatoes Anonymous we could attend?

Missin' Him Like Crazy

Wednesday afternoon, I came home from work early so I could drop Clayson off at the airport.
He is in Chicago until tomorrow night. I knew I would miss him, but I would be fine.... 

I seriously over estimated myself.

I never knew I was so needy!
I've never liked being alone, but even I had no idea how much I really need people in order to function.
I really just fall apart. I'm not handling it very well.

It doesn't help that I have somehow convinced myself that Clayson is going to die and will never return home. 

I told this to Jana and she said it was sweet. 

I think it's pathetic. And kind of embarrassing.  

I have a whole new respect for military wives or who have husbands that travel.

Thankfully, I have been blessed with amazing friends who take such good care of me!

Wednesday night, Jana took me to the store (which was so good, because I was just sitting at home thinking about horrible plane crashes and shootings in the big scary city of Chicago) When I came home for lunch on Thursday, I immediately realized it was not a good idea for me to be home alone. I called Jana and she was at my house in 5 minutes to eat lunch with me. We went to the Parade of Homes! I hung out at my old apartment and pretended to be single again  :)  Tomorrow, I'm meeting up with Krisann for lunch and I am so excited!

I really have the best friends ever!

Thanks for putting up with me, even when I'm a baby and can't handle being alone for 4 days.

The good news is I think I've gotten significantly better since the first night.... although I still have a long way to go 

This song sums up my thoughts perfectly:

The moral of the story: Next time Clayson goes to Chicago I'm going with him
so I can hold his hand when he crosses the street and dive in front of any stray bullets that are flying at his head. 

(Clayson says by the time he leaves next year I'll be pushing him out the door. I don't believe it.)

Sorry if this is overly mushy, but I can't wait to see him tomorrow night!

Mark Your Calendar!

I found this website today.

It tells you when you are going to die.

I am proud to report that I will be living a very long, healthy, and happy life!

I think I'll have a living funeral this August 21st so I can hear all the nice things people have to say about me before I actually die. 

If you are reading this, consider yourself invited!

I'm giving you advanced notice so you can have you speeches on how wonderful I am perfected by August. 

I can't wait to hear how much you all love me  :)

In Loving Memory

The 24th of July started out like any other day. I had decided to float the Oneida River with some friends. 

the group

I had been hearing about floating the Oneida since I moved here, and I was finally going to get the chance to experience it for myself!

the tubes
(mine in the cute one - it was on sale!)

I was afraid of being left alone on the river, so a group of us (probably about 8ish) tied our tubes together as we floated down. 

I was put in charge of keeping the sunflower seeds dry. It was an excellent job with great benefits
(i.e. no one would flip me over and I had free snacks whenever I wanted)

With Tyler and Jordan who put me in charge of the sunflower seeds
(Heidi should be in this picture too, but she opted to take it instead)

Everything was going along smoothly, until we realized we were heading straight for a rock!
The current was faster than anticipated, and we were suddenly on top of it (literally). 

Actually, Heidi was on top of the rock. My tube went on top of Heidi's and before I knew it, I was in the water.
(Somehow, Heidi managed not to flip!)

my lonely sandal

My first thought (after realizing I was in the water) was for the sunflower seeds. I had failed! My second thought was for my beloved sandals, which had been loose in the tube. I found one in the water, but alas, the other was lost forever.

in mourning

I was pretty devastated.

I wore black to the fireworks that night, in mourning for my lost sandal.

At the fireworks - Kalli, Jana, me & Carlie
This picture is mainly in here so that Kalli can be officially represented on my blog!

On the bright side, it made a nice object lesson for my Gospel Doctrine class on Sunday!

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

I have been through a lot with those sandals.

They are my go-to shoes, and have been on adventures of all kinds, big and small - rivers, hiking, camping, traveling, work, and even church!
They pretty much work for any and all occasions.

- England -
top left is the St Pauls Cathedral ("feed the birds" steps)
bottom left is the London Bridge

- France -
bottom middle is Mt Saint Michel

- Italy -
Venice!

- Austria -
The crazy house that I don't remember the name to, but it's cool

- Spain -
most of these are at the Alhambra
also, the top left is the best kebab (the only food I had twice while in Europe. i still crave it on occasion)

bike ride!

riding horses!

swimming!

rafting!

fun times with friends - shoe stealing wars!
(they are the ones still on my feet, in case you were confused) 

more fun times with friends - four wheeling (or at least pretending)

hiking!

redwoods!

my sandals

So long sandals.

You are missed.

<3