Ryan's New Look

So haircut time is not a happy time in our household. I have to beg Ryan for weeks to cut his hair and then when I finally corner him and force him into a chair he requires me to rent him a movie or he will not sit still, but I must say that even with a movie running, I have about 10 minutes before Ryan starts to squirm. I have never seen anyone hate getting their hair cut so much. Well, in the beginning of June it was hair cut time again and Ryan thought it would be a good idea to cut a mohawk. I of course said no, but he pleaded. I told him that he could have a mohawk for a week, since we were going up to Utah that weekend to go camping, but he had to shave it off when we got home. So the clippers came out. Ryan was so excited. It was like watching a kid on Christmas morning. He has never sat so still for a hair cut. I think Ryan was happier after getting his mohawk than he was the day we got married.


Well, the next day we got a call from the Stake presidency at church saying they wanted to meet with Ryan that night. Of course Ryan couldn't go meet with the Stake presidency with a mohawk. He made all efforts to comb it down to make it look normal, but there was no way he could fool them. We had to shave it off. I think Ryan was the saddest I had ever seen him. He was utterly depressed. The mohawk that he was to have for a week (which was already far to short of a time in his eyes) was now cut down to 24hrs. Well at least we got some great pictures. Ryan is now sporting the buzz cut.

I'm Almost Professional

So for my birthday I talked my loving husband into getting me the a digital SLR camera, a Canon xti. I am rather thrilled about it. It has been a little frustrating though since my knowledge of photography is about equal with my knowledge of nuclear physics, but I now have a lot of books on photography so hopefully I can figure it out. So far the only difference between my pictures and regular snap shots are that my pictures cost more money to take.

45th Annual Lakeside Rodeo

Want a sure way to become paralyzed? Well I have got just the ticket. Sign up for next years Annual Lakeside Rodeo, or any rodeo for that matter. Ryan and I were lucky enough to spend last night in Lakeside (a piece of Oklahoma dropped in the middle of the Eastern part San Diego), at the 45th Annual Lakeside Rodeo. It was fun to watch the different events throughout the nigh; the barrel racing, the hog tie, the steer wrestling, etc. You've got to be pretty brave and stupid to attempt most of the rodeo events, but the one that leaves me in awe is the bull ride. You get more whiplash from the 8 seconds (if you're good) that you are on the bull than you would from a head on collision. And then once those 8 seconds are up, you have to run for your life away from the animal of death in hopes of not getting trampled or having any major organ pierced with their spear-like horns. Boy does that sound like fun! And on top of that, I hope you are not planning on producing any offspring because once you jump on the back of one of those wild breasts you can kiss your baby making days good-bye. Wow and all of that in a days work. I did however notice a larger than usual handicap section at the rodeo... ex-rodeo stars perhaps? Best of luck to you cowboys out there. Our hats are off to you!

Walk Like the Animals, Talk Like the Animals

As Ryan and I are not big pet people; however, we do love going to the zoo. They are our perfect pets. We get to see them only when we want, we don't have to feed them or walk them, and most importantly we don't have to clean up after them (I have seen an elephant doing his business and it is not a pretty sight). After many visits we have grown quite fond of our furry friends.

One of our favorites being the baby panda. You can see his fluffy butt wedged up in the tree between me and Ryan.


Our animal friends are starting to rub off on us. We are even developing animal like attributes. See if you can figure out which one is the real hyena.

Lovely Lavender

Ryan came across a beautiful sight while running along the coast between Torrey Pines and Del Mar a few weeks ago. It was so gorgeous that Ryan had to bring me back to share in the beauty. Here is a picture of us in the sea of lavender.



Aren't our Lord's creations just breath taking? (I know you are confused as to what I am referring to here, but it is the scenery, not Ryan and I)

The Darby's Love the Coast

You might think that we have a personal photographer follow us everywhere we go, but shockingly no. Ryan bought me the greatest contraption for Christmas (really it was a present for himself, but he put my name on it). It is a little mini camera tripod (see the bottom picture). It has bendy legs so you can attach it to anything; trees, rocks, street signs. Ryan even got it to grasp onto an air condition vent on the side of a wall. It is one of our favorite inventions. So if you are tired of the arm stretch shot, and are narcissistic and like taking pictures of yourself like we do, this is a must have.

What Cute Kids

We are related to some of the cutest kids around and we have proof! These pictures of our nieces and nephew attest that we are going to have cute kids (well that is if the Lillenberg and Darby genes dont collide and morph into some hideous monster).

My in-laws hate me

Just when I thought I was winning them over too. Last weekend Sarah and I went up to her parents house to spend a lovely Easter...or so I thought. We got there Saturday night and spent a nice evening talking, it wasn't until Sarah and I went to bed that I found out their true feelings for me. I woke up in the middle of the night with a million "bug bites." They itched like crazy!!! It got so bad that I had to go in to the urgent care. The doctor there said that I have contact dermatitis. The only way I could have gotten it is coming in contact with some poisen ivy on Saturday. Since I spent the whole day in a suit UNTIL I went to bed, the only way it could have gotten on my legs is if someone planted poisen ivy in my bed. I'm not going to point fingers, but Mark is going to get it.

Here's a couple pictures of what he did to me for your viewing pleasure. The first is tuesday in urgent care and the bottom picture is today after almost a week.

Oh, one more thing. Don't throw away your wife's wedding ring. Not only does she not like it, but you have to go dumpster diving to get it back.

Our First Rescinded Blog

On behalf of the Darby Family, I have been informed that we are really sorry about the last blog that was posted on our website. I have been informed that it is not funny and there is no way that I am going to be allowed to wear the same shirt for eternity. We would like to deny any fore-knowledge of this post and do not officially know how it came to be posted on our sight. Please accept our deepest apologies and fervent denials.

Something Stable in an Unstable World

John Antonio Mikaelovich once said "Today ain't the same as yesterday." I'm hearing ya John. I'm hearing you. We are all changing and the world is in constant motion. Just yesterday I heard that my brother Matthew turned 19. Nineteen, can you believe it? I even heard he washes his own clothes now! My little bro is all grown up. My heart echos the immortal words of Ralph Waldo Christoferson "Where did all the leaves around my pond go?" Where did all the leaves go? That's why, Sarah and I have decided to do something about it. In a world of constant change, constant motion, we've committed to bringing you something stable, something immovable. I'm not going to change my clothes. The shirt and sweatshirt I present you today are the same shirt and sweatshirt that, according the the photo log that Sarah has presented you on this blog, I have been wearing consistently for the past 2 years and we're not going to change it! From here on out, I'm green or maroon. And that is something you can depend on.