Have you ever met me? I love the pumpkin patch!

Allison and Josh picked this "Old Man" pumpkin

Jonathan and I picked this perfect pumpkin specimen!

Celebrations...

October is a busy month of celebrations...I will be spending a lot of time at Hallmark.

1st - Our Anniversary ; Mary and Adam's Anniversary
3rd - Adam Rosenbaum's Birthday
4th - Mychal John Maltbie's Birthday
6th - Josh Tillery's Birthday
9th - Courtney Rutenbar's Birthday
11th - Andrew Jonston's Birthday - not the president, the cousin (notice the "t")
12th - Ryanne Witt's Birthday
14th - Alan Dearden's Birthday
15th - Michele and Kenny's Anniversary
17th - Leighton Sarti's Birthday
23rd - Veronica Mars: Season 3 Comes Out on DVD
24th - Allison Hibbard's Birthday
27th - Josh Treece's Birthday
31st - Jennifer Dearden's Birthday; Chrismalloween

I think I need to get more sleep...

Last night I crawled into bed about 11:45 and chose a show off of our DVR to watch. Jonathan was lying next to me working on his computer. During the first commercial break I started to fast forward.

About a minute and half later I heard Jonathan say, "What exactly are you doing?"
And I opened my eyes.
I looked and him and answered, "Sleeping."
The show was almost fast forwarded to the end.

To the low hum of fast forwarding I had fallen asleep. I think I need to go to bed earlier.

When you're a Witt, you're a Witt all the way...

When you are a Witt woman there are two things that you need to know how to make.
1. Anything with green chile in it - ANYTHING!
2. Really good gravy.

Today was my first time making gravy. I must say it was really easy and pretty freakin' good.

Three reasons making gravy might be my new favorite thing to make:
1. You make it with grease, I made it with bacon grease, so you use one pan for two things - less dishes...so great!
2. You don't have to figure out a place to put the grease. I am never good at getting all the grease in the jar.
3. Everyone loves gravy - lots of it - so you never have to put any food away. Everyone already put it away in their stomach.

I don't know if cooking breakfast for dinner makes me closer to being a Witt - but my breakfast for dinner skills just got so much better.

March of the Penguin

Last week at our first HSM Small Group. My girls and I tossed around the Icebreaker Ball. It is a beach ball that you blow up with "icebreaker" questions written all over it. You throw it around a circle, and whatever question is under your right thumb when you catch it is the question you have have to answer. It is really fun and a great way to get to know each other.

Since Wednesday I have been thinking about icebreaker questions. Like "If you were a super hero what would be your super powers?" One that has been stuck in my head is, "If you were an animal what animal would you be?"

I decided last night while watching TV, that if Jonathan were an animal he would be an Emperor Penguin. If you don't know about the Emperor Penguin you should read about the Emperor Penguin. Basically they walk about 60 miles inland. The females lay eggs and then they leave to feed. The males incubate them while huddled up as closely as they can with other penguins...starving for three months. When you look photos of them and what the males go through - don't you think of Jonathan?

Celebrating One Year!

A year ago on this exact day I became Mrs. Witt.

People always ask "How is married life?" I know they mean well, but I am not always sure how to answer. What a wonderful year it has been! Marriage is so great. Like every relationship there are hard moments. But the good far far outweigh the bad, and there are numerous moments a day where I stop and think, "I can't believe I am married" or "Jonathan is my husband!" or "Isn't it cool that we're married."

I love being a wife. I love being Jonathan's wife.

P.S. Happy Anniversary to Mary and Adam. I love the doing life with you, and I love sharing such a special day with you!

Candy Pie...Learn About It

First you make a graham cracker crust...

Then you take the snickers and peanut M&M's and you crush 'em (you crush 'em)...

Then you take the Nutella and you spread it (you spread it)...

Then you take the crushed up snickers and M&M's and you put them in the graham cracker crust as the filling...

Then you make lattice-work pie crust top...

Bake for 30 minutes...

Drizzle caramel on top...

Then you eat it, and immediately feel sick afterwards.

I heart fall...

I bought some pumpkins today. Who knew a little orange round thing could fill my heart up with so much happiness?

Things my husband loves...

1. His Wife

2. His family

3. Football

4. Fantasy Football

5. Football

6. Pie

7. Steak

8. Settlers

9. Peyton Manning

10. Vacations

11. His NEW Iphone

Things my husband hates...

1. Carson Daly

2. Being Late

3. People who run red lights

4. People who are rude to waiters and waitresses

5. Long car rides

6. When I wear lip gloss

7. His OLD phone

Raisin Bran Crunch

I love these commercials, the third guy gets me every time!

Britney on the VMA's

Really Britney Spears? Really?
You thought your hair looked even ok a little bit before you went on stage? Really?
You thought those blue contacts looked good? Really?
You thought no one would notice you were dancing like you were in a run-through? Really Britney Spears?

Really? You thought that the song was so good that the dancing didn't matter? Really?

Are you ready for some football?

The NFL Season Opener is being played tonight.

When NFL starts it means a whole new world for my household...for seventeen weeks straight.
It means everything stops for seventeen weeks straight on Sundays. Except eating Chipotle for lunch.

Just in case you haven't got word yet...I have given up on the Vikings and I am now a Browns fan. Basically there are two words to explain why - sell out or Brady Quinn. I don't think Brady is a sell out, but I basically have a crush on Brady so I have immediately sold out to routing for the Browns.

I think I have changed my mind...

We ate at B.J.'s for dinner tonight.
I am usually a pretty big fan...but tonight not so much. I have to say I was really not pleased with my experience.
Our waiter was mediocre at best.
One of the bus boys had the F-word on his shirt.
And Jonathan saw a waitress that was carrying two drinks take a sip of one.

Dear B.J.'s,
It is already kind of hard to convince myself to eat in your establishment since you don't serve Coca-cola products...and now I am really not sure how I feel.

A confused customer,
Ryanne

Today was the first time in a REALLY long time that I had absolutely nothing on my calendar. No special occasion lunches or meetings just a blank calendar. So I decided to fill it up with things I needed to do as an experiment.

Here is what it looked like:
8:30 - 9:00 Check emails and voicemails
9:00 - 10:30 Work on curriculum
10:30 - 11:00 Check emails and voicemails
11:00 - 12:00 Settle my credit card statement
12:00 - 1:00 Eat lunch
1:00 - 1:30 Check emails and voicemails
1:30 - 2:30 Work on new leader applications
2:30 - 3:00 Walk down to Katie's office and go over a few things
3:00 - 4:30 Write birthday cards, letters to my small group, and letter to my camp girls
4:30 - 5:00 Check emails and voicemails
5:00 Go Home!




Here is what it really looked like:
8:45 - 9:00 Check emails at home
9:30 Come to work
9:45 Check emails again and read blogs
10:00 - 11:30 Work on curriculum - don't finish
11:30 - 12:00 Get pulled into a meeting about Ensenada 2008
12:00 - 1:30 Eat lunch at Chipotle and listen to an entire hour of conversation about Madden 08
1:30 - 1:45 Talk with a new volunteer
1:45 - 3:45 Talk with Brian Hurst about literature and blind dates in my office...while making several decisions
3:45 - 4:30 Talk to Jana in her office about...probably 11 different topics
4:30 - 5:00 Check emails...look over my schedule for tomorrow...look at my schedule that I didn't follow today
5:00 - 5:15 Talk to Katie in her office
5:15 - 5:30 Talk to Jamie...Jason...Zack
5:30 - 6:20 Finish curriculum

Oh well...the next time I have a free day I will try it again!

I had no idea...

You learn something new everyday...
Did you know that Grenadine is made of pomegranate juice?
Well I had no idea until Alton Brown told me tonight.

I love pomegranates...even better reason to have a cherry diet coke at Ruby's!

If you don't know...now you know.

I don't know if you know but I am a horrible housekeeper. My floors are dirty...I hate doing bathrooms...and my idea of a deep clean is using Clorox Bleach Wipes.

BUT I am a freakin' pro at the Ten Minute Tidy. If at anytime you call me and let me know you are coming over...no matter how much stuff is lying around my house...I can clean it up in about ten minutes. I believe the key to the Ten Minute Tidy is that everything in my house has a place where it lives, and so therefore as soon as I pick it up I know where it goes.

And if you don't know...now you know.

I have said it before and I will say it again.

Free wireless internet at Tully's and there is hardly anybody there.

However, right now I am posting this from Corner Bakery...that also has free wireless internet, and much better food an coffee.

Is it hot in here...or is it just me?

Maybe it is just me, but summer is about a month too long from being over. Summer is definitely not my favorite season. I am much more an autumn girl.

This heat is killing me. It is making everything more difficult to do.
Things that are miserable in the heat:
Putting on make-up, getting dressed, blow drying my hair, cooking, cleaning, driving, sleeping...I'm Hot!

Do you think this is real?

This is my confession...

Jonathan and I just ate KFC for dinner.
I haven't eaten KFC in eight years.

Hey Boo Boo

Dear Sidekick 3,
I love you. I look at you online and dream about the day that I will own you. My husband said when the time is right I can get you. I hope that is sometime soon!
Can't wait to hold you in my hot little hand!
Ryanne

Trying new things...

Jonathan and I met my family for lunch at Joe's Crab Shack. It was Jonathan's first time eating crab legs...Tori's too!

The OC Fair

Something everyone should know about me. One of my favorite parts of summer is going to the fair. I am not sure why, but is just what makes summer...summer.



This year Jonathan made everyone sign a food contract so that everyone would try all the great deep fried things, and other goodies. We had a blast and spent a lot of money on things I would be ok never eating again.

I heart Boardgames

I love boardgames! I LOVE them. If I don't have a game at my house that interests you, and you can make a suggestion...there is a good chance that it will be there the next time you come over. I LOVE them!

Scrabble

Jonathan : 181


Ryanne: 141


Lu: 114

My British Friend

Dear Victoria,
I just wanted to welcome you and David to America. I watched your television show about you moving to the USA. It made me want to talk in an English Accent and wear high heels (Two things that I don't do well).

Just wanted you to know I really like you and we are going to be friends Major!
Your new American Friend (who is way more fun than Katie Holmes),
Ryanne Witt

Some Reasons Why I love My Husband: Number Two

He REALLY loves to play volleyball.

So much so... that he MAKES me play it when I am clearly scared a large creature (something in the mountain lion family) is going to jump out and eat me.

So much so...he cancels our small group and rallies everyone for some sideouts.

So much so...that he ripped his pants from the waistband to the knee and kept playing (with his knickers showing).

"Prove it!" you say? Fine....here is a photo.

This is my friend Allison

This is my friend Allison. She is really cool. She wears her purse while she is driving!

I guess that is more lazy than cool.

What I have been doing instead of Blogging

1. Cleaning out my closet 2. Not making my bed

3. Making Cupcakes

4. Organzing the Witt home office...kind of.

5. Painting

6. Not watering my plants

Things I do in my freetime

Make up dances with my friends.


This time it was a choreographed dance to the Destiny's Child song "Jumpin' Jumpin'". (An oldy...but a goody!!!)


The Warrens just happen to have no furniture in their brand new living room.


Josh just happens to have DJ equipment.


Mary just happened to be the Captain of her cheerleading squad in high school.


Brittany just happened to not want to dance and therefore became DJ Holladay.


And we just happened to have three extra hours of free time while our husband's played FIFA.




After 10 8-counts (that's dancer speak for how many steps you take) we were done with our amazing dance.



A couple of days later I taught the dance to Lu. This is her doing it...yes that is corn in her hand!

Where do you go when you've gotta go?

I have this thing about stalls that are first in line in public bathrooms. Somewhere I developed a theory that they are the most used, and so I never go in them. (You may notice this when I enter the airport bathroom or a bathroom at Disneyland and I walk all the way to the end).

Anyway, in Ministry Office 2 we have been having some issues with our toilets flushing. There is a plunger that has seems to move from stall to stall. All but the first one. So trying to fight the embarrassment of using the plunger (does anyone even like using their plunger at their house?) I have been using the first stall. You know me...just getting braver everyday!

I am not lunch...

Dear Tigers,
PLEASE don't eat me!
Your (non-delicious tasting) friend,
Ryanne

My friend...Leighton

This is Leighton.

He is pretty cute, huh?

Well yesterday I picked him up and immediately he puked on me.

Not just on me...in my mouth and down my shirt.

Don't get me wrong he was still very cute. (I mean imagine how much happier he was once he got all of that out!)

You know who wasn't cute...his mom. Who was laughing so hard she could not take Leighton away from me.

What the heck?

I just took a piece of gum out of purse. I took off the wrapper...threw the gum in the trash...and put the wrapper in my mouth. What the heck?

The Future?

Dear Producers of LOST,
I just read an article that you announced that after three shortened seasons LOST will come to an end. You said in the year 2010 we will find out what is REALLY going on. The thought of LOST being over saddens me greatly. As I read the article some thoughts went through my head.

These are NOT the thoughts that went through my head:
Over so soon?
or
I have to wait that long to know the truth?
or
Shortened seasons...that sucks

Here is the thought that went through my head:
It is so weird that 2010 is close enough that we can talk about it, and really know what is going to happen.

Just wanted to share that with you. Thinking about 2010 is some crazy *stuff!
Well...see you on Wednesday of 2007!
A Loyal Fan,
Ryanne Witt

*the word that really came to my head is not acceptable to type here!