I am...an idiot.

Okay, so in case some of you haven't heard the story before. When I was a senior in high school, my friend Charlotte and I were driving home one night. It was quite late...probably around one or two in the morning. We were in my brother's truck. We stopped to get gas, then went to my house. Charlotte got in her car and drove home. I went inside, told my mom I was home, and went to bed. The next morning, my brother Aaron came in my room and asked "Tessa, did you get gas last night?" I was a little annoyed because it was fairly early...earlier than I would have been waking up. Why would he come in my room, wake me up, and ask if I put gas in his truck...go look at the gas gauge! Come to find out...
I had driven away with the gas nozzle and hose from the gas station still in the truck. I had forgotten to take it out before I drove away, and didn't notice it hanging out of the truck on my way home. Aaron had gone out to go to work, and found a lovely little surprise. He still makes fun of me too. Charlotte insisted that I keep the nozzle and hose for a souvenir. I felt so embarrassed. I also knew that at gas stations, they keep recordings of people who fill their tanks. Holy crap, they have me on tape! I then became worried. Worried that the police would show up one day and arrest me (okay, maybe not THAT worried). So, I called the gas station to see what I needed to do, and they laughed at me...out loud.
Not only do they not look back on their videos, but apparently, people don't usually call the gas station because they are too humiliated. Tell me about it. They asked me to bring it back to them, so I did. Lucky for me, there wasn't anybody there but the person working behind the counter. As a result of my humiliation, I vowed that I would never again drive off with the nozzle still in my car. I know what you're thinking, 'how stupid can you get'...right? Well, I guess I can be pretty stupid. Today as I was on my way to the softball game, (which we won!) I stopped to get gas. I started pumping the gas and ran inside to get the boys some Bug Juice. When I came out, I had forgotten that the nozzle was still in the Suburban, and drove off. There is good and bad to this story. The good...I heard the popping sound that it makes when the hose detaches from the top. When I did this the first time, they said that people did this so much that they had to make it so that when some idiot drives off with it still in their car, it just detaches at the top of the hose, and gasoline doesn't squirt everywhere. SO, I didn't drive all over with a hose waving around on the side of the car...that's good. The bad...unlike last time, I don't think there could have been more people at the gas station. Every parking space was filled, every gas pump was filled with cars filling up their tanks, and there must have been twenty people inside. This time, I wasn't AS embarrassed, because I had gone through it all once before. I just figured that everyone would get a good laugh from my stupidity. So, I pulled into the one parking space that had just become empty, (the lady in the car that pulled out of that spot gave me a nice smile, like she felt bad for me...it made me feel a little better) got out, and proceeded to pull the nozzle and the very long hose inside. And wouldn't ya know...everyone started laughing. Just a little laugh, they were at least trying to be nice. Then I said, "The most embarrassing part is that I've done this once before." Then they all laughed at me out loud. The girl thanked me for bringing it back, and away I went...feeling like an idiot. I guess I'm glad I made some people smile. I'm sure they had a fun time telling people their story of the crazy lady driving off with the gas hose.

Nice and Warm

Here is the picture of Simon, Nolan and Collin at the ball park. So cute.

Softball Season Begins

Last night was the first game of the new softball season with the family co-ed team! Hooray! Actually, I have to be honest, I was dreading this day. Last year Nolan was so difficult at the games. I could hardly stand him! He was just old enough to want to do everything Collin and Simon were doing, but not old enough to be trusted to run off and play. And Frankly, Collin and Simon would never have kept an eye on him last year. I love to go watch the games, but that hasn't really happened in the past. I usually end up running around after kids making sure they stay within the given boundaries. This year, I was willing to try again. I'm not pregnant this time, maybe I'd have more patience.It was so cold last night at the game. Lucky for me Ben's mom doesn't do cold weather so she stayed home with Bauer and Bella, in the nice warm house. (Lucky for me because I didn't have to have Bella in the cold, not because Ben's mom wasn't there...let's get that straight) So, I had Collin, Simon, and Nolan. They were angels! Nolan was even good, if you can believe that! My two friends Shara and Amber came to play, and Shara's husband Nick came along to watch. Collin, Simon and Nolan LOVED Nick. He was so nice to play with them! They threw the ball to each other and rolled it along the bleachers. All three of them had a great time! Toward the end of the game, it was so cold. All the kids wanted to do was wrap up in blankets and get warm. Nick took a couple pictures of the boys in their blankets for me, but it's not letting me add them. I'll have to post them later! I'll put the schedule on here too, just in case anyone decides they want to come watch. Anyway, in true Bliss fashion, we won the game. In true Tessa fashion, I don't remember the score. It was 20-1 or something close to it. Could you expect anything less for the first game of the season? I'm actually looking forward to going to the games this year. They are really quite good! I also don't think Nolan will be such a minion of Satan this year. Nick, thanks for the help. You can come entertain the boys any time you want! Good luck team!!

Our brush with fame...sort of...

Ben and I went to the jazz game on Saturday. (Go Jazz!) It was so much fun. Every once-in-a-while, Ben gets tickets to the Wells Fargo suite. They always have yummy food and the best warm apple pie a la mode. So good. We went with Brian, one of Ben's client's, and his wife, Kim. They were very nice.
A few minutes after we sat down, Ben turned to me and said "There's Thomas S. Monson". I looked over and sure enough, he was sitting about ten people away from us. It was so neat to be that close to a prophet. There was a piece of glass in between us because he was in the suite next door, but still!! I couldn't stop looking over at him. I wanted to go over to say "hi" and shake his hand, so bad. However, you're not supposed to go around and help yourself to different suites. I was okay with it because I have met him once before. Obviously, he wasn't the prophet when I met him though.
I used to work at Popcorn Cottage when I was in high school. President Monson comes in to get popcorn every year at Christmas time. He and the owner of Popcorn Cottage have some connection from a mission, I don't remember exactly what that connection was. Anyway, I saw him walk into the mall, and pointed him out to the girl I was working with. When we saw that he was coming to our store, we had a coin toss to see who got to help him. I have only won a coin toss once in my life, and this was the one time. Lucky me! He was so nice. I just love him. He always has a smile on his face, and is just a warm, kind man. The spirit is so strong around the general authorities. You can't help but smile when you see them.
A couple years ago, Ben and I were out buying some suits and shirts, and as we walked out to our car, Ben saw Henry B. Eyring and his wife walking toward the same store we were just in.
By the way, Eyring is Ben's favorite apostle. We got in our car, and Ben just sat there and looked at him. I told him that he should just go say hi. After debating whether or not to go back in, he finally built up enough courage and we went back, introduced ourselves and talked for a minute or two. It was strange, each time Ben and I have met or seen an apostle, it was like we were in awe...star stuck.
I'm not sure if I'll ever be that close to a prophet again. Ben said that he goes to about half of the home games. Hopefully we get to see him at another Jazz game. I have decided that if I do see him in the suite again, I will either toss all unwritten rules aside, not worry about being kosher, and go in to shake his hand, or I'll go outside and wait for him to come out! Forget about the game!!

Tagged...again

I've been ABC tagged by Shara. This is about Tessa. You won't find Ben sitting down to fill out any of these things! Enjoy...

A - Attached or Single: Technically we aren't attached...we are our own separate individuals, but I'm married.
B - Best Friend: Ben
C - Cake or Pie: Definitely cheesecake.
D - Day of Choice: Saturday and Sunday because Ben doesn't have to go to work.
E - Essential Item: wipes (isn't that pathetic?)
F - Favorite Color: Green and maybe pink.
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Well, I'm not a huge fan of either. If I had to pick one, then it would be gummy worms I guess. I'd much rather have sour patch watermelons.
H - Hometown: West Valley City, UT
I- Indulgence(s): Sushi (don't pass judgement, it really is quite good!)
J - January or July: They are both horrible...January is too cold and July is too hot!
K - Kids: Three, Simon is four, Nolan is two and Isabella is eight months.
L - Life is incomplete without: Ben and my babies
M - Marriage Date: May 31, 2002
N - Number of Siblings: 7-Craig, Armand, Aaron, Del, Ryan, Kyle, Tara
O - Oranges or Apples: oranges. Or apples if they are peeled and sliced.
P- Phobias or Fears: Spiders...however, I am getting used to them now that I have to be the one that kills them if they are in my house. I'm fine with them as long as I can't see them. I figure that if a spider comes out and lets me see it, it just commited suicide!
Q - Quote: I don't think I have a favorite quote, but I do like this one..."Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." -Albert Einstein
R- Ring size: Size 6?
S - Season: I like spring and fall
T- Tag 3 Friends: Katie, Rae, Angela.
U - Unknown fact about Me: I'm not sure that I have one...
V - Very favorite stores: Inkley's, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Kohls, Walmart
W - Worst Habit: Biting my nails and popping my knuckles
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Well the only times I have had an ultrasound was when I've been pregnant, and that meant I would be having a baby soon...I'll pick that.
Y - Your Favorite Food: If it's homemade I like my dad's steak, biscuits and gravy. If it's a restaurant I like Olive Garden, Tepanyaki, Taiphoon, Famous Dave's...I guess I like all kinds of food. :)
Z - Zodiac: Pisces.

Simon's Fourth Birthday

Well, I think Simon had a great birthday! The celebration lasted practically all weekend. On Friday, Grandpa and Lita came over and took all of us out to "North Carolina" (That's what Buddy calls Carl's Jr. I'm not really sure why) Then they took him home and he got to have a sleep over. On Saturday Ben took all of the grandparents, Simon, Nolan and myself to Tepanyaki. Simon and Nolan had a lot of fun. Besides the cool fire tricks and throwing eggs around, they make these cool little chopsticks that are easy for kids to use. They thought it was the coolest thing to be able to pick up their food with sticks!



Today, we went to our weekly dinner at Grandpa and Lita's house. I made some cupcakes and we had a little party. He sure was excited about all of the presents he received from everyone.
We are so blessed to have Simon in our family. He is such a sweet boy, and he is so smart. We just can't believe he's four! It doesn't seem like it's been that long. Happy Birthday Buddy! We love you!!

I got tagged!!

How long have you been together? Does that include dating and a mission? With dating and a mission-nine years. We have been married for almost six years.
How long did you date? We dated for about ten months before his mission and five months after he came home.
How old is he? Ben is turning 28 soon!
Who eats more?...Candy? Tessa. Food? Ben.
Who said I Love You First? Ben
Who is taller? Ben at a whopping 5'10''
Who sings better? Tessa
Who is smarter? What a silly question for us...of course Ben is!
Who does the laundry? Tessa
Who does the dishes? Tessa, however, Ben did load the dishwasher the other day...without even being asked...I know you don't believe me, but really, he did!
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?...Looking at the bed or laying in the bed? looking at it-Tessa. So obviously, laying in it would be Ben
Who pays the bills? Ben makes the money to pay the bills, but Tessa writes the check.
Who mows the lawn? Ben mows our tiny little front yard. We are getting a back yard soon though! YAY!
Who cooks dinner? When we actually have a cooked meal, Tessa does.
Who is more stubborn? Hard to say...we are both pretty stubborn.
Who kissed who first? Ben kissed first.
Who asked who out? Ben kind of stole me away from his friend that I was dating.
Who proposed? Ben
Who is more sensitive? Tessa, definitely.
Who has more friends? I think we have the same friends...our friends from school that we still see and talk to are now friends with both of us.
Who has more siblings? Tessa with six older brothers and one younger sister.

I'm sure you will hate me...but I have to pass it on I guess. I tag Shara and Julianne!

Easter Festivities

I'm a little late on the Easter report. Sorry about that! We had such a great Easter! On Saturday we went to Grandpa & Grandma Drummond's house for a party. We had a yummy turkey dinner and an easter egg hunt for all of the grandkids. Simon and Nolan just loved looking for the eggs! To keep things fair, each kid got ten eggs. Come to find out, when the hunt was over, we had to give a few of Simon's eggs to people who didn't find their ten. He got a little excited and just kept looking. They loved playing with their cousins. On Sunday the easter bunny came, we went to church, (which was great because Ben took Bella and I got to go to relief society for once!!) then we went to Grandpa Bliss and Kai's house. She made some yummy chicken for dinner, and then we had an easter egg hunt.
Each kid had their own color of eggs to find. Of course, Simon got green Rollie color (Why he calls it that is a long story) He wanted to pick up any egg that he found! It took a little while to sink in that he only got to find the green eggs. He also had to open every single egg when he found it, just to see what treat was inside. So cute.
Ben went around with Nolan. He kept saying "eeeeeegg, w-are you?" (where are you) He's such a cute little toad.As soon as he was done he sat down and started eating his chocolate bunny. In Nolan's world, that is the most important thing, candy.
Bella, of course, had the pink eggs. Tia took her to find her eggs. She didn't care what was inside of them, she just wanted to stick the egg in her mouth. She sure did have a good time with her tia. When the egg hunt was over, she just sat by herself on the grass with her basket, her eggs, and her little beany baby doll, happy as could be. She even got her chocolate bunny open, and man oh man was she loving life! Then some mean lady came and took it away before she could even get a good bite! Those darn moms.

Doesn't she look so pretty in her easter dress?! I love holidays. They are even more fun for me now that I have kids. I love being with family too. Ben and I are so lucky that we get along with, and love being around both sides of the family. I hope everyone had a great Easter!

Bittersweet Birthday

My birthday was bittersweet this year. Sweet just because it was my birthday. We went to Ben's parents house for dinner, played pinochle and the wii and had a good time. Bitter because one of my best friends died yesterday. Tanya had been in the hospital since last Wednesday due to some complication of a disease she was battling. Yesterday, they took her off of life support and she left us. For the last five days all I have been able to think about is her family that she has left behind and the memories that I have of her. She moved into our neighborhood when I was in elementary. However, I don't recall her ever not being my friend. Shara, Amber, Tanya and myself were always together. Even after we would get in a fight, it wasn't long before we were calling each other to see if they wanted to play. We used to play tetherball in her yard, and make up dances in her living room. I read Shara's blog post about her and it was funny to me. Shara remembered Tanya's hairspray. It may seem silly to most of you, but I was just thinking on Saturday how I remember that same hairspray and how we all wanted it because Tanya had it. I remember sitting in her room listening to the song 'Don't go chasing waterfalls' by TLC. We had a HUGE crush on Jonathan Brandis and watched 'Ladybugs' over and over just to look at him. I will miss Tanya so much. I loved her and will always remember all the good times we had together. I am so grateful for the knowledge of the plan of salvation. To know that we can see Tanya again is a comforting thought with all of the sadness around us. I know that Tanya is with our Heavenly Father smiling at all of us. She is happy and doesn't have to fight with disease or worldly problems. My love and my prayers go out to her poor little family. I can't imagine what they must be going through. I have included a picture of Tanya. Please keep her family in your prayers. They need the strength that comes from our Heavenly Father as we pray for them.

Open For Business!

It's official! I have started my business, Mirror Images! I have been working on the details, i.e getting flyers, figuring out pricing, etc., for almost a month now. I hope that I have it all worked out! Ben has been so good to help me. He's such a great guy. I will have a website sometime in the near future, but for now, I have started a blog so people can see some of my work. You can find the link in my list of family and friends. Please, take a look!