Blog Neglect

I have made a direct link between my belly and this blog. The bigger my belly gets, the more neglected this blog becomes. Mason is at school after a week of spring break. Oliver is happily watching the Backyardigans. I am going to type like mad and try to get all caught up!!
At least I have managed to take a few pictures...

Not what you'd expect...

...from your Mother in Law. This came in the mail yesterday.

The outside of the card:
and the inside:
What more can I say?

Hi, Old Friend

After 1 year, 7 months, and 12 days of living without, yesterday I bought this...



My life will never be the same. And I vow never to go without again.

Tagged...real quick

OK, so I was tagged a couple of weeks ago. Thank heavens it wasn't this tag or we would be here all day!

What is his full name? Mathew Gerald Lyman (spelled with one 'T', although the people at the DMV, Social Security Office and Home Depot have all been nice enough to 'correct' it for him)

How long have we been married? 7 years, this summer

How long did we date? Exactly 10 months from the day we met to the day we got married. Technically we started dating about two weeks after we met.

Who said I love you first? I did.

Who is taller? Matt

Who sings better? Sadly, we are both really bad singers. Our children have no hope whatsoever.

Who is smarter? Matt

Who pays the bills? I do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? We have had to switch recently. Matt will sleep anywhere. I like to sleep closest to the bedroom door and the bathroom. (Especially now)

Who mows the lawn? Lawn. Hmmm. What is that again?

Who cooks dinner? I do. Sometimes.

Who drives? Matt. Whether he is behind the wheel or not.

Who’s more stubborn? Good question. We are both pretty stubborn.

Who kissed who first? Matt kissed me. In his apartment in Denver.

Who asked who out? It was a full six weeks of hanging out and making out before we ever actually 'went out'. I think it was a mutual decision to actually go out somewhere at that point.

Who proposed? Matt, at the Denver Art Museum. Also known as the DAM. Think that is a bad omen?

Who has more siblings? Me: one sister and one brother. Matt has one older brother.

Who wears the pants in the family? Depends on the situation.

So I guess I am supposed to tag some people: so I will tag anyone who needs a topic to update their blog and wants to think about the good ole dating days of their youth :)

Movie Time With A Science Dork

Kristin has officially allowed me to make my own posts on our family blog (I receive privileges with good behavior, not unlike our kids). Even after several years of marriage, my wife still has no idea what I do in the lab. Thus, she has encouraged me to put something on the blog that is an example of my work (share a little piece of Matt if you will). Well, it's close to midnight, the family is in bed, and I'm in the lab doing work. Now is as good a time as any.

I study viruses that infect your nervous system, and move around when they feel the need. See movie below. These are fluorescent virus particles that are moving in living neurons in a culture dish. Neurons have a round cell body, and then axons emanating out from them (in this movie you see 5 axons shooting out from the cell body). The little green dots are actual virus particles moving away from the cell so they can go on to infect another nearby neuron. Imaging technology allows us to watch this happen in "real-time", and we can figure out what controls this process. Okay, there it is in a nutshell. Thank you for letting me share.

By the way, please don't call me if you have a "raging infection" and need advice on a topical ointment. Your MD knows best, not a research scientist :).

Homemade Bread

Today, I baked bread. I was inspired by Lindesy's post on King Arthur flour. Only one problem now...I can't stop eating it.

By the way, if you haven't checked out Cafe Johnsonia (Lindsey's recipe blog) you are missing out. Some of my very favorite recipes have come from there. Also, cool kitchen stuff, great photography and tutorials.

I cant wait to try this Blackberries n Cream Ice Cream.

Mullet Mania

After much deliberation, and lots and lots of giggles, we were forced to choose a winner of the mullet contest. Again, I apologize for the delay, but anyone who has ever moved in the middle of winter, with two small kids, and while seven months pregnant...well, you get the idea! We are now settled and mostly unpacked and getting back to normal life.

So without further ado, I give Mullet Contest Winner 2008:

With this entry, titled the Gag-o-Mullet, the winner is Amy!


I would be remiss if I did not mention some of the other FANTASTIC entries for the contest.

Honorable mention goes to "Mullets: A Family Affair" posted by Jenn.

A few other mullets worth viewing:

"Best Mullet Story about a Family Member" goes to my sister Julie.
" Best Famous Person Mullet" goes to Scott.
"Best Mullet in a Movie" goes to Tyler.
Finally: for what almost was the "Best Live Action Mullet shot from 2008" see Sam & Anya's blog.

thanks everyone!