We're Not So Different, You and Me

Back to School

2011-08-20T17:05:00.004-05:00

I love back to school! I get so excited about all the school supplies and snacks. You can just feel the excitement. It seems like school starts earlier every year, but maybe the summers are just going by faster and faster.

Sara started preschool this fall at the Busy Bee Preschool. She loves her teacher, Mrs. Nicole. She goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-11:30. It's perfect for us. She was a little nervous at first, but she is loving it. Here are a few pictures of her back to school:

The night before her first day, I gave her a pedicure and manicure.

She picked out her skirt and I found a shirt to match. She insisted on wearing a 'dress' for her first day, but she wasn't interested in posing for pictures because it was 'too bright outside'.

I can't believe Sara is in preschool. She will be 3 in October and is growing up so fast. I am so lucky to be her mom. We have so much fun together and she is just my 'treasure girl'. She tells me all the time I'm her friend and I love it. Lately she has been obsessed with watching Tangled, eating cherries, playing with her baby, talking like crazy, and asking a million questions. She's so smart and inquisitive. It's amazing what she is able to understand. I think preschool will be perfect for her and she will love it.

2011: A Summer to Remember

2011-08-20T16:36:00.006-05:00

This summer was especially special because my parents came home from serving their 3 year mission in Chile. It was so great to see them. We stayed with them for almost a month at their home in Heber City, Utah. I loved that Sara had a chance to see her cousins and grandparents. I loved being able to send time with my family again. We had such a blast! Here are some picture of our visit:

Before my parents got home, Sara and I got to spend some time with one of my best friends in the whole world Cori, and her little girl, Merika.

My sister made all the grandkids shirts with their birth order number on the back and names on the front.
Sara is #5.
Order from left to right: Eve, Sara, Carly, Alison, Katie, Emmy (Will is with his Momma)

My favorite picture of the whole trip - Sara getting to see her Papa. She sure loves him!

Such a great reunion!

All the kids loved to climb on Papa. Sara, Katie, and Carly

The only boy grandchild - Will (Darin's youngest)

Sara loves the train park in Heber and the views are amazing!

The girls loved playing in the pool on the driveway and then drying out in the sun. Carly, Katie, and Sara

All the grandkids together on the front porch. Such a cute and silly bunch! L to R: Eve, Emmy, Katie, Will, Sara, Alison, Carly

Sara had cotton candy for the first time and she loved it!

We are excited for 'Nana and Papa' to come visit us this fall and again during the winter. And we're also looking forward to our trip together as a family to Disneyland in November. So many great times again and we can't wait! We love you and are so glad you're home, Nana and Papa. Thanks so much for your service. We are so blessed.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-19T14:21:00.002-05:00

I used the internet for good this week and posted a question on my Facebook page. I asked, “If you could use 1 word to describe what it means to be a father, what would you say?” I got many responses, some of which said: provider, dependable, strength, example, warrior, blessed, exhausting, protector, priesthood, noble, teacher, love, diligence, time, courage, generoso (this one came in Spanish from a friend in Spain, but I think it means generous), unconditional, expensive, sacrifice and lifesaver. My mom said, “forgiving” and my dad replied, “shepherd” followed by, “I’m not sure what your mom is talking about.”

I am blessed in my life to have the most wonderful father I could ever ask for. I know he is not perfect, but he has been everything I have ever needed him to be. He has all of those qualities that I just listed in addition to a listening ear, patience, and a sense of humor – all of which were essential in being a father to a daughter like me.

I want to focus my thoughts on the one word I feel the Spirit has guided my preparations for: Shepherd. What is a shepherd and how does a Father become the best shepherd his sheep could require?

In the scriptures, the Lord refers to himself as the good shepherd. In John 10:11, he says, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” In the Savior’s time and place, a shepherd who was the owner of the sheep not only loved them, but would risk his life for them. Which He did.

President Faust shares a lesson in which he learned what it means to be a shepherd:

As a small boy he forgot to put his pet lamb in the barn one night when a storm arose.

“I knew that I should help my pet, but I wanted to stay safe, warm, and dry in my bed. I didn’t get up as I should have done,” he recalled during a priesthood session of general conference. “The next morning I went out to find my lamb dead.”

“My heart was broken,” he said. He realized that he had not been a good shepherd. His father’s loving rebuke hurt him even more: “Son, couldn’t I trust you to take care of just one lamb?”

That day, the young James resolved that he would try his best to never neglect his stewardship should he have the opportunity again to be a shepherd. To the end of his ministry, President Faust remained devoted to the Lord’s admonition: “Feed my lambs”

As fathers, each of you has sheep to nourish, encourage, and serve. Each is called by the Lord. Each is accountable to the Lord for his or her stewardship as a shepherd.

In the Proclamation to the World, it reads ““… By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.

Elder L. Tom Perry says, “Fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so. Father, with the assistance and counsel and encouragement of your eternal companion, you preside in the home. It is not a matter of whether you are most worthy or best qualified, but it is a matter of [divine] appointment.”

“Fatherhood is not a matter of station or wealth; it is a matter of desire, diligence, and determination to see one’s family exalted in the celestial kingdom. If that prize is lost, nothing else really matters”

“Take an active part in establishing family rules and discipline. As a leader in your home you plan and sacrifice to achieve the blessing of a unified and happy family. To do all of this requires that you live a family-centered life.”

As President Joseph F. Smith counseled: “Brethren, there is too little religious devotion, love, and fear of God, in the home; too much worldliness, selfishness, indifference, and lack of reverence in the family, or it never would exist so abundantly on the outside. Then, the home is what needs reforming. Try today, and tomorrow, to make a change in your home.”

“When you recognize the importance of teaching your children, you become humble. You cannot be one thing and effectively teach another. You must live and study and pray for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. You must purify and organize your life so that your example and leadership reflect the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“You must plan your day as guided by the Spirit of the Lord, earnestly seeking your own welfare and the welfare of your family before other cares blind you. As we have been taught by living prophets, ‘No other success in life can compensate for failure in the home’

Growing up, my father was always very busy with work or in his church callings. He spent many hours away from our home for various responsibilities, however... when he was home, he was truly at home. And the time that he spent with us individually or as a family was his focus and his priority. I remember a few times he would come home late at night from his church meetings, which were often hours away. He would sit at the foot of my bed and ask me about my life. He took a genuine interest in who I was and what I needed. He would hold family counsel and give us the opportunity to talk about concerns. Most of the time it was just that my brother was bugging me or my sister was borrowing my clothes, again. But when it really mattered, he was there.

I remember attending a baptism with him when I was about 9 years old. As we sang, “Families Can Be Together Forever” I was overcome with emotion and didn’t understand why. In the car on the way home, he testified to me that was the Spirit of the Holy Ghost teaching me that what I was singing is true.

I remember I was going through a particularly difficult time in 6th grade. He sensed there was something wrong and asked me to go get ice cream with him. We talked about how I was feeling and he gave me some much needed advice.

When I was in High School, I skipped school when my parents were out of town. He found out about it and asked me what happened. I lied about it, but I knew that he knew I was lying. I’ll never forget what he said. “Karen, you have always made really good decisions in your life and I know that if you keep making good choices, you will have more blessings than you can even comprehend. But as you begin to make poor choices, while in and of themselves, may not seem like a big deal... overtime, you will find yourself on a path you never intended to be.”

As a true shepherd, to a sometimes wayward sheep, he believed in the person I could become. He saw in myself what I didn’t see. He saw the Lord’s love for me even if I didn’t know it was there. He loved me unconditionally. He helped me to believe what he believed I was truly capable of. In spite of my stubbornness, or unwillingness to listen, he watched over me. And I know that as a father, it is because of his love that I have felt the love of my Savior like I never imagined. I cannot wait to see my parents return from their mission in less than 2 weeks. It has been a long 3 years and I am so grateful for their service.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Fathers, by divine decree, you are to preside over your family units. This is a sobering responsibility and the most important one you will ever assume, for it is an eternal responsibility. You place the family in its proper priority. It’s the part of your life that will endure beyond the grave.”

The Savior was the perfect Shepherd. In John 10:2-5

“But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

“To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

“And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers”

Do you know your sheep? Do they know your voice, or must they hearken unto the voices of strangers? Do they know you as true shepherds who loves them, who willingly and freely gives time and attention to their needs, and, in that marvelous process, instills the confidence and security so greatly needed? Are you then able to lead them to immortality and eternal life? Do you go before them, constantly reassuring and building confidence because they know your voice?

California Dreamin'

2011-04-20T14:48:00.005-05:00

We just got back from a really fun vacation to So Cal. It's our first vacation with just the 3 of us since Sara was born and we had such a blast! We stayed in a condo right on the beach in Capistrano, CA. It was beautiful! Here are a few pictures highlighting our trip:

There was this amazing helium balloon at the "Great Park" in Irvine, CA that goes 500ft in the air. It was a little bit scary, but Sara loved it. And the best part - it was free!

We spent an afternoon at a beach in Laguna. Cameron's grandparents, Don and Eleanor, came to visit from Hemet, CA for the afternoon.

We went to stay with our friends, Tim and Katie, the last day we were there. Sara had a blast with her little 'buddy', as she called him. Zac is such a cute boy and I'm glad they were friends. They loved to wrestle and dance in their diapers together.

Sara was a little nervous about the waves at first, but then she kept saying, "I go back in the waves Daddy!" She loved it.

Now hopefully we won't wait another 2 1/2 years until our next family vacation.

Such a Gift

2011-04-01T15:21:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine drew this picture of Sara. It looks just like her, I love it!

My Beautiful Girl

2011-03-27T19:22:00.002-05:00

Some recent pictures

2011-03-03T15:56:00.002-06:00

Sara playing on the tractor at the zoo.

Sara planted a seed in nursery and she is so proud of how it's growing. Here is after about 5 days. She remembers to water it every day.

Here is her seed after 2 weeks. I have no idea what to do now that it is almost grown out of it's little cup, but she would be devastated to lose it.

Visiting an Elder from my parents mission and his family in Gilbert, AZ. (Scott Bigelow)

Sara's little boyfriend, Carter.

Let's EAT!

2011-03-03T10:30:00.002-06:00

Sorry this is a few days late, but hopefully it will give you some good meal ideas for the next couple of weeks.

2/28 Chicken, rice, broccoli casserole
3/1 Spaghetti/Salad
3/2 Breakfast
3/3 Shepards Pie
3/4 Mac n' Cheese
3/5 out
3/6 Cranberry Chicken
3/7 Tacos
3/8 Hot Dogs and Tator Tots, Salad
3/9 BBQ Chicken Biscuits
3/10 left overs
3/11 Breaded chicken tenders w/ Tortellini Salad
3/12 out
3/13 Stir Fry w/ Rice

Here's to another great week! I'm uploading some new pics later, so check back!

For Dinner this Week

2011-02-13T19:12:00.002-06:00

This week for dinner:

2/14 BBQ Chicken
Baked Potatoes
Salad

2/15 Tortellini w/ Sausage
Steamed Carrots

2/16 Omelets
Hash browns

2/17 Shredded Chicken Tacos

2/18 Sloppy Joes
Salad

2/19 out

2/20 Taco Soup

To my sister:

2011-02-11T08:30:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday, Darin. Wish I could be there to celebrate with you, but I'm sure M and the girls & Will have something great planned. We could get a baby-sitter and go shopping to our hearts content with money from that money tree in your backyard.

For those of you that don't know my sister, let me just tell you a little bit about her. First of all, she's perfect. Not in like the never makes a mistake, although she may be that kind of perfect too, but she is just perfect. She has 3 adorable kiddos, never says bad things about anyone, makes everyone around her feel good about themselves, is such a great example, only watches reality TV while her kids are asleep, loves music, likes to go thrift store shopping, mowed her own lawn 9 months pregnant, has amazing skin, looks cute in anything, is so unselfish, not to mention soo soo pretty. And if that wasn't enough, she makes homemade bread and can sew. If I didn't love her so much, she would be the perfect person to really dislike. But you just can't, because she's so great!

So Happy Birthday to my little sister. I hope I can be like you when I grow up!

the BAR

2011-02-10T14:09:00.002-06:00

In less than 2 weeks from today, C will be done with the Arizona bar exam. I cannot wait for this day to come and go flying by. The bar and I have not been friends for a while now and I don't suppose we'll ever be friends. But I sure am ready for it to be out of my life.

Dinner Ideas

2011-01-31T13:04:00.002-06:00

I haven't made my menu yet for this week because we still have a few things we didn't get to last week. But here are some suggestions if you're looking for ideas:

Chicken Stir Fry w/ Rice
Meatball Sandwiches
Loaded Baked Potatoes w/ Chili
Hawaiian Haystacks
Chicken Salad Sandwiches (with left over shredded chicken from haystacks)
Nachos
Baked Ziti

Let me know if you are interested in any of the recipes. Hope you have a great week!

A Great Start to 2011

2011-01-27T09:14:00.003-06:00

Here are some pictures of Sara, she is getting so big and even more beautiful every day. We just love having her. We have so much fun doing some of her favorite things: going to the mall, the park, on walks, to the library, throwing pennies in the fountains, playing play-doh, making cookies and going on pretend trips. She is talking all the time and amazes me with the things she comes up with. My favorites are, "Hold you please, Mommy" and "I do it myself, I know how."

Sara loves strawberries. And we add a little powdered sugar!

Sara is going on a pretend trip with daddy to a football game.

This is Sara chewing gum - not the best timing for the picture.

She looks so beautiful in yellow.

And here she is just being Sara. I love those big beautiful blue eyes.

A Friend's Journey

2011-01-27T09:06:00.003-06:00

This is a story about a dear friend of mine, Tara, and her journey to Sudan. Thanks for sharing your experience in such a real way, Tara!

e3 Film Festival - Tara

Go Dogs Go!

2011-01-24T09:19:00.003-06:00

Dinner this Week

2011-01-24T08:57:00.002-06:00

Monday 1/24: Chicken Noodle Soup w/ Rolls

Tuesday 1/25: Shredded Chicken Enchiladas

Wednesday 1/26: Breakfast for Dinner (pancakes, bacon, fruit)

Thursday 1/27: Chicken, Rice and Brocolli Casserole

Friday/Saturday: 4-Way (Pasta, Chili, Cheese, Pineapple)

Sunday 1/30: Baked Potato Soup w/ Rolls

Monday /31: Sloppy Joes and Salad

What's For Dinner?

2011-01-15T17:36:00.003-06:00

We have a pretty tight food budget (about $100 every 2 weeks including diapers) and I'm always looking for inexpensive meal ideas. I've put together a list of the meals we rotate. I make a menu about every 7-10 days and grocery shop based on my menu. I also shop using coupons and price-matching.

Wal-Mart will price match everything except buy one get one free offers. Some cashiers require you to have the ads in hand, but I never do and it always works. I use a web-site called mygrocerydeals that categorizes each item and gives you the best prices. I make my shopping list and write down where things are the cheapest. When I get to the register, I tell the cashier which items I want to price match and that's it!

Several people have asked for my weekly menu, so here it is:

Sunday: Roast (purchased a few weeks ago for $2.99/lb - price match)
Red Potatoes ($ .99/5lbs - price match)
Baby Carrots ($ .99/lb - price match)
*I put it all in the crock-pot with some sliced yellow onion, garlic salt, and salt and pepper in about 2 inches of water. Cook on Low for 6-8hrs or High for 4 or until meat is cooked through.

Monday: Tortellini (Frozen Cheese Tortellini about $2.99/bag and I use half the bag)
Sliced Sausage ($1.49 price match)
Frozen Peas
Sliced Red Pepper (price match this week for $ .20ea)
*Boil tortellini as instructed, saute sausage frozen peas and red pepper. Combine cooked tortellini to sausage mixture and toss in Italian dressing. Can be served cold or warm.

Tuesday: BBQ Chicken Mini Pizzas on Biscuits
*Put 6 or 7 frozen chicken breasts in crockpot. Cover with can of Coke or Dr. Pepper, 1/4 cup brown sugar, garlic salt and onion salt or diced onion. Cook on high for 4-5 hrs or until chicken is fully cooked. Drain fluid. Separate half the chicken to a Ziploc bag and refrigerate. Put other half back in crockpot. Add 1/4 cup brown sugar, BBQ sauce, and half can of Coke or Dr. Pepper (the other half is left to drink. YES!) Cook on low for 1 hr. Bake Pillsbury biscuits (I buy the store brand unless I have a coupon). Cut biscuits in half. Top with BBQ Chicken, cheddar cheese and purple or green onion.

Wednesday: Chicken Tacos (I buy Wal-Mart brand tortillas which are very inexpensive)
Refried or Pinto beans (Usually around $ .80/can)
Cilantro Lime Rice (Limes and Cilantro are price matched)
*Cook white rice as directed. Once cooked, add chopped white onion and cilantro and mix together. Heat left over shredded chicken from yesterday, but add a little taco seasoning and water first. Cut red/yellow pepper and chop lettuce for tacos. Heat refried or pinto beans and serve over rice.

Thursday: Hot Dogs (Hebrew National price matched around $2/6)
Steamed Veggies (Price match cauliflower and broccoli for $ .99)
*I like Hebrew National Hot Dogs the best, but they can be pricey. Bar S Beef Franks go on sale every now and then too. I usually buy a few when they are on sale and freeze them. Buns I buy from the bakery on the 'day old' shelf for a discount. I freeze them until the day I need them.

Friday/Saturday: Shepards Pie (My favorite thing!)
*Brown Meat w/ diced onion while boiling potatoes. (93% Lean Ground Beef price matched $1.99/lb and yellow potatoes price matched 3lbs for $ .99) Once meat is browned, add can of tomato soup. Once potatoes are soft - drain and mash. Add butter and milk to taste. Put ground beef mixture in casserole dish, top with mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. Put in microwave for a few minutes to melt the cheese.

Sunday: Tortilla Soup w/ or w/o Meat
Black Beans (store brand is about $ .69/can)
Canned Corn (price match for $ .49/can)
Diced Tomatoes (store brand is about $ .99/can)
Chicken Stock ($ .49/can price match at Thanksgiving, so I bought a few)
*If you are using meat, cook as desired. In pot, put in all cans undrained. Add taco seasoning and 1 cup chicken stock. Heat until warm. Serve over tortilla chips w/cheese.

A few things I've learned along the way:

-Stocking up can be great, but if you're already on a tight monthly budget, it may not allow for it. So plan your menu according to what you already have or what is on sale.

-Salad is always a great thing to add to a meal, but buying all the ingredients and making it from scratch can get expensive. Costco sells ready to go salads in a bag including toppings and dressing for $3.49. This salad will last us at least 2 meals.

- Just about anything meat can be cooked and then frozen, so having cooked chicken breasts or left over shredded chicken can be a great way to save time.

- I am a big snacker, so I try to snack on inexpensive things like produce or crackers and cheese that have all been price matched.

- Some people can plan meals farther in advance, but when I have to run to the grocery store for milk or bread, I feel like I might as well get what I need for the week. I prefer to do my menu in 7-10 day increments.

-I am no expert, so any ideas or suggestions you have would be greatly appreciated!!

To a New Year...

2010-12-29T21:05:00.000-06:00

We are just days away from celebrating the close to 2010 and welcome to 2011. This is a great time to set New Years Resolutions. Personally, New Years is a really over rated holiday. Maybe it has something to do with not being able to stay awake past 10:30pm and not drinking alcohol. But, I do like to set resolutions. It is a great time for me to prioritize my life and decide how I want things to be different in the New Year. And since I'm posting my resolutions on my blog, you're all going to hold me accountable right?

My New Years Resolutions for 2011:
1) Really utilize my gym membership by going at least 4 times per week
2) Shop wisely using coupons and price matching and STICK TO MY BUDGET
3) Spend more time at home giving Sara the time to develop her imagination
4) Read as often as I can, especially my scriptures!!
5) Watch less TV

Okay, let's start with those. I'm sure there are many more things I need to be doing better, but I don't want to overwhelm myself. What are your New Years Resolutions for 2011?

Merry Christmas 2010

2010-12-25T21:59:00.004-06:00

(Please excuse my greasy face and bed head - it was Christmas morning!)

Project Runway CopyCat

2010-12-20T12:19:00.000-06:00

So this year, I was absolutely in love with Mondo's everything on Project Runway. So much so, that I decided to copy his look for the Jackie O challenge. This is my copy of Mondo's design. The striped black shirt is actually a skirt (hence the cardigan). And I apologize for cutting my head off. I was trying to take these pictures myself and I set the camera on the table. But you get the idea.

Happy 30th!

2010-12-10T08:09:00.000-06:00

I'm Turning 30

2010-12-08T12:21:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow, I am turning 30. I know it's not really a big deal, but I guess I am a little bit sad to leave my 20s. I have had some of my best years in my 20s and I'm hoping for even better ones in my 30s. Looking back, I thought of 29 things I did in my 29th year. Here it is in no particular order:

1) Joined a gym
2) Survived another year of Girls Camp
3) Made new friends
4) Tasted guacamole (didn't like it)
5) Refinished our dining room table
6) Broke 3 cell phones (technically Sara did, but it was my fault for letting her play w/ it)
7) Went home to Tulsa and loved it!
8) Started a new blog
9) Bought designer jeans (at a fraction of the regular price, but still way too expensive)
10) Lost a baby
11) Played on a volleyball team
12) Watched way, way too much reality TV
13) Read some incredible books
14) Hosted a really fun GNO
15) Sewed a new skirt for myself
16) Had surgery
17) Spent many many hours at the park with my treasure girl, Sara
18) Got my eye brows waxed (yes, my first time ever)
19) Missed my Mom and Dad in Chile
20) Fell off the step in Body Step at the gym
21) Had 2 black toenails, one of which had to be removed
22) Painted the bathroom
23) Let Cameron watch a ridiculous amount of football
24) Shopped at thrift stores - and got some really cool stuff
25) Made lots of yummy cookies and ate many of them
26) Drove to Utah with my cousin
27) Finally found something to clear up my skin
28) Danced to the "Single Ladies" video countless time with Sara
29) Started working on my family history

There are many things I'm looking forward to in the next year. So here's to the last day in my 20s. Cheers!

The Zoo

2010-11-20T16:57:00.002-06:00

We took Sara to the zoo today. Here are a few of our favorite moments:

October 2010

2010-11-04T09:13:00.005-05:00

Hope everyone had a great October. Ours was full of fun. Hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving. This year has flown by. Here are some highlights from October:

Even though we left Nebraska, we still managed to find some corn stalks. We took Sara to the Pumpkin Patch and she had a great time!

I don't get Sara to sit still and take a picture with me very often, so here is one I actually got with her looking at the camera!

My cousin just moved to a town a few hours North of Mesa. Sara and I went to visit for a weekend. She had a blast playing with her triplet cousins!

My sister, Darin, had baby #3. Finally a boy in the family. Sara and I went to Tulsa to visit them for a few days. The girls had so much fun playing and being silly together.

Sara was very curious about her baby cousin, Will

Happy Halloween! Sara was a Chilean Princess. Thanks, Nana for sending the beautiful dress from Chile. She looked so beautiful and grown up. And of course she LOVED the trunk-or-treat and all the candy.

2 years later

2010-10-23T23:01:00.004-05:00

It was almost exactly 2 years ago that I sat down and wrote a letter to my unborn baby girl. Little did I know she would arrive the very next day. I was so nervous and excited awaiting her arrival. Of course, the last 2 years has been nothing but bliss with my treasure girl. ;) She is turning 2 tomorrow. Sometimes it seems like I've had her forever and my time as a career girl was in a different life. Other days, it feels like she just arrived and I still have no idea what I'm doing (Okay, so I feel this way a lot more often). But whatever it is, the last 2 years has been an adventure to say the least.

To my sweet Sara,

I love the way you smile and laugh.
I love that you wish everything were pink or yellow.
I love the way you say 'dangerous' and 'princess'.
I love that you repeat everything I say and that you are learning new words every day.
I love that you were patient with me when you had colic and ear infections, and then RSV and didn't sleep through the night until you were 15 months old.
I love that you reminded me with your sweet screaming cry that you were hungry, or tired, or hot, or cold. And that you wouldn't sleep unless I was holding you for the first 6 weeks of your life.
I love that you prefer to throw your food on the floor instead of putting it in your mouth or think the vacuum is a toy when I seem to be 'playing' with it daily.
I love that you ask me for hugs and kisses and say you "love Momma little" even though I know you mean BIG.
I love that you want to do everything by yourself even if it makes us late everywhere we go.
I love that you like candy and say "treat" to me with the most innocent expression at least 10 times a day.
I love that you are friendly, but cautious.
I love the way you like to swing and go on walks and kick the ball.
I love that you remember Target is where you bumped your nose and Wal-Mart is where you get a cookie.
I love that you ask me for gum and then say, "chew" as you swallow it.
I love that you know me by name, by sight, by sound, and by smell.
I love that you want me to love you and be with you forever.
I love being your Mommy and couldn't imagine a life without you in it.
I love that you refer to your Nike's as "high tops" and sandals as "fip fops".
I love that you like to "go go go" run errands with me, go to the gym with me, and ride the carousel with me.
I love that you want to sing songs all day and the way you make your 'diamond in the sky'.
I love everything there is to love about you and even the things that aren't so easy to love because they are you.

Thanks for choosing to be my treasure girl and for never giving up on me just like I'll never give up on you.

"Oh Toodles"

2010-10-10T22:25:00.003-05:00

What's for Dinner?

2010-10-01T13:40:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I get in to a routine of cooking the same 5 or 6 things over and over again. I put together a list of things I can make in less than 30 minutes with ingredients I usually have or just need 1 or 2 things for. So I am sharing my list with you.

Please feel free to respond with dishes of your own that you regularly fix for your family. Also, one thing that really helped me was to put together what ingredients I would need for each meal. That way, when I'm making my grocery list, I can make sure I get what I need. It has really helped to plan a menu for about 10 days and shop accordingly. I do buy produce or things like milk and bread more often, but that way, I only have 2 major shopping trips a month.

It's definitely cutting back the food expenses and helping me be a little more organized. So, here is the list:

4 Way (Chili, Pasta Noodles, Cheese, and Pineapple)

Baked Ziti

BBQ Chicken

Beans and Rice

Breakfast

Chicken Chili

Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Chicken, Rice, Brocolli Casserole

Chili

Cranberry Chicken

Enchiladas

Hawaiian Haystacks

Hearty Salad

Lasagna

Macaroni and Cheese

Meatballs

Nachos

Pizza

Pork Chops

Pot Roast

Shepherd’s Pie

Sloppy Joes

Spaghetti

Steak

Stir Fry

Sweet Pulled Pork

Taco Soup

Tacos

Growing Up So Fast

2010-09-11T23:43:00.000-05:00

This is Sara a few weeks ago in a dress from her Great Grandma. She is looking more and more like a little girl every day!

She's 10!!

2010-09-01T09:46:00.000-05:00

Swim Day!

2010-08-01T11:41:00.000-05:00

Summer Sundays

2010-08-01T11:36:00.000-05:00

We miss you!

2010-06-29T14:21:00.004-05:00

To Nana and Papa in Chile:

Happy 80th Birthday

2010-06-09T15:37:00.002-05:00

Earlier this year, C and I took Sara to California to celebrate C's Grandfather's 80th birthday. We had a great time. Here are a few pictures from the trip:

New Blog

2010-06-03T23:29:00.003-05:00

I started my new blog today... Quiet Sold Separately

(Thanks Aaron for your input on the name). I'll answer my first question tomorrow. See ya then!

Beautiful Sara

2010-06-03T14:37:00.000-05:00

Calling all moms...

2010-06-02T14:36:00.001-05:00

Okay, so I've been thinking for the last several weeks about starting a new blog dedicated to the simple, every day questions that new moms have like... will my baby ever sleep through the night and pacifiers: yes or no. What do you guys think? I know there are a million mom blogs and web-sites out there, but it seems hard to find answers to the simplest questions, or maybe even the not so simple ones. Let me know what you guys think and if you'd be on board. If there is anyone interested in becoming a contributor, let me know!

Vegas!

2010-06-01T15:08:00.003-05:00

C and I just celebrated our 6 year anniversary. I can't believe it's gone by so quickly. Then again, there are those days when it seems like it's been forever... ;)

We decided to take a quick trip to Las Vegas and stayed with our friends, the Fultons. Thanks so much Adam and Ady for letting us crash at your awesome new house! It was so fun to see you guys and meet little Jack.

Here are some pictures from our trip...

Zoom! Zoom!

2010-05-25T17:05:00.002-05:00

May Pictures

2010-05-16T17:11:00.002-05:00

It's May!

2010-05-15T17:09:00.002-05:00

Well, it's actually half way through May, but who's counting? I just wanted to give you an update and will hopefully post some new pictures soon.

Sara turned 18 months old and started nursery. The first week she cried for the first hour, next week she cried until music time, and last week she cried when C dropped her off and then was okay. Hopefully tomorrow she'll be just as excited as ever. I think she's just going through a bit of an attachment phase. She thinks I need to hold her ALL the time or sit on my lap or hold my hand. I definitely don't mind the holding her hand part except when I'm doing it in the car and my arm starts to fall asleep and tingle. Oh well, I guess there could be worse things. ;)

At her 18 month check up, she was in the 96% for height and 56% for weight, so the Dr. said she'll be tall and thin. Her hair is getting so long and is so curly. Every Thursday we go to the mall for Kids Club and she rides the carousel. It is the highlight of her day. She loves to ride the zebra and wave at everyone as we go by. Right now, her favorite things are noodles, black olives, Go-Gurts, string cheese, and french fries. She is saying all kinds of words now. She loves to point at something and tell me what it is like: light, pants, shoes, water, cup, book, puppy, duck, snack, milk, keys... It's amazing how much she is learning and growing. I just love spending every day with my treasure girl!

I've started going to the gym this week and it's been great. I took a step class on Friday which was fun. I really don't like exercise, in fact, I highly dislike it. However, it is nice to be really active (if you can count riding a stationary bike while reading a book active) and doing something for my overall health. Sara goes to the gym day care and plays with the other kids. This is another great way for her to get comfortable with nursery and just being with other people.

We went to a friends birthday party last night (thanks B&J Hadlock) where they had some Hawaiian dancers. Sara loves music and danced to every single song. She got to excited and clapped her hands. She was pretty proud of herself shaking her booty. We all had so much fun watching her.

Girls Camp is coming up in a few weeks and I am SOOO excited!! I am the ward assistant camp director and the theme this year is, "Be Strong and of Good Courage". We have such amazing young women and I am really looking forward to camp. Of course, camping here in AZ is much different than in OK. First of all, can you believe they have cabins? Can you really call that camping? And I know one thing I won't have to worry about this year is tornadoes. Whew! If any of you have any amazing craft, skit, or treat ideas for camp... let me know! I am really good at copying other peoples ideas, just not great at coming up with them on my own. My mom is so creative and fun - that gene just skipped me, I guess.

As for my parents, they have been on their mission 2 years this July. I can't believe how quickly it has gone by. They are doing so well and love being in Chile. We miss them so much and are anxious for them to come home and spend some time with us. But I will say, them being on a mission has brought so many blessings to our lives and we couldn't be more proud or grateful for their service.

That's just a little summary of what we've been up to lately. We'd love to hear from all of you and I promise to have new pictures up soon.

Family Pictures 2010

2010-04-26T14:05:00.008-05:00

Trip to Utah

2010-04-15T14:58:00.004-05:00

Sara and I just got back from a trip to Utah. We stayed with my brother and his wife and their 3 little girls for the first couple of days. Then we all headed up to Heber to stay with my sister, brother in law, and their 2 girls (with 1 on the way). We had a great time seeing my brother and sister and it was so fun having all the baby girls together. 6 girls under the age of 5 - what a blast! Here are some pictures of our trip:

Quick stop at Grandma and Grandpa Sydenham's in Lehi

All 6 girls in their Sunday best.

Hanging out in Nana and Papa's bed

All 6 girls in the big tub

Swinging with Sara and Carly

Sara sitting in her Papa's office chair

Playing outside - it was COLD!

Sara needs a diaper change

These are my mom's old glasses from the early 90s

Sara is a pretty pretty princess!

Sara's Sundays

2010-03-28T18:37:00.003-05:00

This is a pretty typical Sunday at our house. I can usually get a pretty good idea of how things are going to be at church by how things are going at home. Today was no exception. Here is just a little of what Miss Sara had in store for us today:

Getting in to everything we're not supposed to get in to...

Uh, oh. Sleepy already!

"No, I'm not sitting still for a picture or for church!"

"Let's dance by flailing our arms about to every song we sing." (the dancing I actually LOVE and it entertains the sleepers around us)

And don't I look so pretty too!!

Sara's Collage of Fun

2010-03-23T21:37:00.001-05:00

A Work in Progress

2010-03-23T16:32:00.003-05:00

Like most things in my life, I am a "work in progress". I am currently refinishing our dining room table and so far it looks amazing! I can't wait until it's finished and I will post pictures to show you all. Our house is great and I just love it, but it is certainly is also a "work in progress". Not as far as the house itself goes, but what's on the inside. We have furniture we are storing for some friends, the couches we bought before we got married, our new bed, a few dressers I bought on craigslist, this table I am working on we inherited from C's family, Sara's crib that was so generously donated to us by a friend from Oklahoma.... and that's about it. Furniture can be so fun and I love looking at it, but it's very expensive. We haven't been in a position to just go out and buy enough to fill up our house, but every now 'n then I come across something that I just love and put on my "someday I need to buy that" list. So... this is what I found today:I know it looks a little bright, but it would look perfect in our formal living room with the couch that is also on my "someday I need to buy that" list along with our dining room table that is currently a "work in progress".

Our New Bed

2010-03-19T15:58:00.003-05:00

C and I recently bought a new mattress and we are LOVING it. Of course, with buying a new mattress came new bedding. We found the bedding set online, but I wanted to make some fun pillows to add a little COLOR. I've always loved the fabrics used in Anthropolgie bedding, but it is so expensive. I found some table napkins at the local store and used them to make my pillows - a must more cost effective way of decorating. I used extra fabric I had left over from another project for the backs of the pillows and another small throw pillow.

"Ta Da"

Here is the finished product:

Beautiful Sunny Days!

2010-03-18T21:35:00.001-05:00

We have really loved the past few months in Arizona. Sara loves to play outside, collect rocks, swing at the park, go down the slide and put her feet in the pool. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to spend every day outside. Of course, that will all change come July... but for now, we are loving it! Here are some recent pictures of Sara (now 17 months old) doing her favorite things:

Sara on the Carousel

2010-02-18T20:12:00.000-06:00

Every Thursday, Sara and I go to the mall for kids day. They have all kinds of fun activities, but Sara's favorite is to ride the carousel. The first couple of times she wouldn't sit on the horse and we sat on the bench instead, but now she LOVES it. She is so cute and waves at everyone as we go by like she's in a parade. She is going to be 16 months next week and we are just having a blast.

Currently we are in transition from 2 naps to 1 and it's going pretty well, so far. I knew she was ready when she started to wake up in the middle of the night from getting too much sleep during the day. The late evenings are a little rough right now because she starts to get pretty tired by 5 o'clock or so, but we push her bedtime to 7. She is such a great little girl and we are loving every minute. Her vocabulary is definitely improving and we practice every day. She loves to say 'thanks' (which sounds a little more like 'dots') to everything I give her or do, even when we pick up toys together. She is so happy all the time and everyone loves her big smile and bright blue eyes. Her blonde curly hair is getting so long, I even had it in pigtails the other day.

As for us... C takes the bar next week and we are both very anxious to have that over with. I think this has seemed like the longest year ever in some ways and we are looking forward to whatever the future may bring. We are getting more familiar and comfortable with Arizona. It sure is nice to go to the park in February. C and I are staying busy with our callings, he is teaching Sunday School to the 12 and 13 year olds and was just called as EQ Secretary. He will do a great job, of course. I am serving as the Beehive Advisor and was recently called as the Assistant Ward Camp Director. The Bishop assures me that Girls Camp is much different here than it was in Oklahoma, so it will be an adventure.

Thanks to all our friends and family that have supported us over this past year. We've endured many changes and are excited to call Arizona home and see what happens from here. Hope you are all having a great 2010 so far!

Dry Shampoo continued...

2010-02-01T11:14:00.002-06:00

Okay, so this is how it works... basically the spray has a bit of a chalky texture. You spray it on your hair and let it sit for a minute, then comb it through. It absorbs the oil and gives you volume at the same time. I usually spray it right around my hairline against, my part, and a little in the back to get rid of the 'bed head'. I just tried it today for the second day in a row. My scalp feels a little bit dry, but my hair looks and feels clean! I also found out that Treseme makes a dry shampoo too and it has great ratings on makeupalley.com It's a little less expensive than the Big Sexy Hair brand. Let me know how it works!!

Dry Shampoo

2010-01-29T12:31:00.002-06:00

So a friend of mine got me some 'dry shampoo' for my birthday this past year. I was a little skeptical at first, but definitely willing to give it a try. I hate washing and blow drying my hair everyday, so sometimes I would put a little baby powder on the oily spots and be good to go. This stuff is WAY better. She bought Big Sexy Hair Dry Shampoo. I use it every other day and it's amazing!! I highly recommend trying dry shampoo if you're lazy like me. (Thanks again, Jen. This stuff is the best!)

Weekend at Nana and Papa's

2010-01-11T14:18:00.004-06:00

We didn't have enough time on our last trip to Utah for us to see my siblings and their families, so Sara and I took a little trip back to visit. We stayed at my parents house in Heber, Utah and got all the baby girls together for the first time: 6 of them under 5. It was a blast! Sara had so much fun with her cousins Emmy, Katie, Alison, Carly, and Eve. Look how cute they look in their pajamas hanging out in Nana and Papa's bed...

And here they are on the stairs... a little more difficult to keep them organized:

Thanks Darin and Mike for having us and thanks Aaron and Annika for coming up. It was so great to see you guys! I just love that Sara has 5 cousins to grow up with. What a great group of little girls!

Christmas!

2009-12-21T10:27:00.007-06:00

About a week ago, C noticed a little scorpion friend sitting on the inside of our window sill. We thought it was dead, so he poked it with a screw driver and the tail went up ready to strike. It was disgusting and scary, but of course he had to get a few pictures before we killed it. Here it is:

Here is another picture of Miss Sara at Thanksgiving. She is just getting so big!

Then, we celebrated Christmas at our house yesterday since we'll be out of town this week. We set up Sara's presents all around the tree. We have some video of her opening her presents that we will upload soon! Thanks Mom and Dad for the Flip! We love it and it's perfect to take videos of Sara. So here is a picture of our tree with all of Sara's presents. Video to come soon...

What to feed a Toddler...

2009-12-17T10:30:00.002-06:00

I've been looking for some new ideas of good meals and snacks for Sara. I found this article at Pampers.com and thought it was very useful. Hopefully you think so too!

Snack Time: Feeding Your Toddler
By: Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H.
Read Biography Learn About The Pampers Parenting Network

Now that your baby is eating solid foods, you're on the spot to come up with healthy meals and snacks. Young children need to eat five or six times a day, so the snacks should really be called mini-meals. This needn't be as hard as it sounds. Healthy snacks are easy to come by once you know what to look for.

Foods to Avoid- Certain foods are notorious choking hazards for children this age. They include:

Hot dogs (unless cut into bits, such as quarters lengthwise before being sliced)
Whole grapes, whole cherry tomatoes
Hard candies, including jelly beans
Nuts
Popcorn
Raw carrots, celery, green beans, or any hard vegetable
Seeds (such as pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds)
Large chunks of any food such as meat or potatoes
Large chunks of peanut butter — always use the creamy kind, and spread it thinly onto a cracker or toast. Offer this food starting at 18 months. Never give a heaping spoonful of peanut butter to a toddler.

Year 1: Your 1-year-old doesn't seem to eat anything anymore, as his appetite and rate of growth have decreased. All the more reason to tempt him with tasty, healthy snacks. Babies this age are ready for "finger foods."

Eggs are a good source of balanced nutrition. Babies can use the extra iron in egg yolks. Some babies may be allergic to egg whites, though, so watch carefully for any reaction. Scrambled eggs are a delicious, non-chokable option all day long. Don't worry about the cholesterol — babies need more than you do. Three or four eggs a week are fine. Mini omelets cut in squares and strips are easy to handle.

Fresh fruits are better than just fruit juice. While fruit juice is mainly sugar, fruits themselves are great sources of vitamins and other nutrients. Give your child small slices of fresh, juicy peach — or delicious, squishy bananas — and see how long he can resist!

Applesauce is another clever way to get fruit into your child. Be ready for a mess, since your child will see it as a finger food.

String cheese or small cubes of cheese are a good way to give your child calcium if he doesn't like milk or even if he does. Cottage cheese is also a favorite; again, be ready for a mess!

Carrots and green beans, cooked and diced, make a tasty snack. No whole peas, please.

Potatoes, cooked and diced, do the trick. Watch out for the French-fry habit — too many, too greasy, and too salty.

18 Months: At his age, your toddler needs two or three nutritious snacks a day in addition to meals. Try these:

Unsalted pretzels

Ripe bananas — either cut into pieces or offered whole (more fun for him, more mess for you.)

Toast — the ultimate toddler food. Try spreading it with a thin coating of creamy peanut butter or cream cheese to give it more nutritional wallop.

String cheese, slices of American cheese, cubes of cheddar — whatever works. If you find a cheese your toddler likes, let him have it.

Smooth peanut butter and crackers are usually a hit. Spread the peanut butter thinly, however, to prevent your child from choking.

Unsweetened cereal bits — stick some in a cup for an afternoon snack. Part of the appeal for a toddler is picking them up one by one.

Unsalted rice cakes — big and fun for little hands to hold. These crunchy snacks melt in his mouth. They're even better if you thinly spread them with cream cheese or creamy peanut butter.

Plain bagels — These are a wonderful vehicle for healthy snacking. Cut them into manageable bits or just in half to gnaw on. Add cream cheese, melted and cooled cheese, or fruit puree.

2 Years: Watch your child's diet to make sure he's getting enough important nutrients such as iron, calcium, B vitamins, and protein. With his picky appetite these days, it's hard to know whether he's getting what he needs every day. Here are some nutrient-packed foods that make great, munchable snacks for your tot.

Scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs — these are a great source of iron and protein. Make mini-omelets and cut them into bite-sized pieces.

String cheese sticks, cheese slices and cubes — a clever way of getting your tot to eat his calcium and protein.

Fish sticks — a dinner favorite and good source of calcium. Combine with yummy mashed potatoes for carbohydrates, and you've got a meal!

Unsalted bread sticks, unsalted rice cakes, toast — any grain product is a good source of B vitamins, and toddlers generally go for their relative blandness. Try spreading half a bagel with a bit of cream cheese for a healthy combination that's high in protein and carbohydrates

Apple slices, peach slices, plums, orange slices — you can't go wrong with fresh fruit

Dried fruit — cut into bits — and raisins. Make sure you remove the pits from any prunes or dates you use. Toddlers will love picking minced dried fruit out of their favorite cup.

"Little trees" — steamed pieces of broccoli and cauliflower, stood upright in mashed potatoes. If introduced early, these can become favorite snacks.

Mini-pizzas — Use half of an English muffin or bagel, spread with tomato sauce, top with cheese, and put it in the oven to melt. Cool and serve, and hear him say "Mama mia!"

3 Years: With his many daytime activities and growing imagination, your 3-year-old is busy around the clock, making good nutrition more important than ever.

Scrambled eggs, hard-boiled eggs — great source of iron and protein. Make mini-omelets and cut them into bite sized pieces.

String cheese sticks, cheese slices and cubes — these are a clever way of getting your tot to eat his calcium and protein.

Mini pizzas — Use half of an English muffin or bagel, spread with tomato sauce, top with cheese, and put it in the oven to melt. Cool and serve.

Fish sticks — a dinner favorite and good source of calcium. Combine with yummy mashed potatoes for carbohydrates, and you've got a meal!

Unsalted bread sticks, unsalted rice cakes, toast — any grain product is a good source of B vitamins, and toddlers generally go for their relative blandness. Try spreading half a bagel with a bit of cream cheese for a healthy combination that's high in protein and carbohydrates.

Apple slices, peach slices, plums, orange slices — you can't go wrong with fresh fruit.

Dried fruit — cut into bits. Make sure you remove the pits from any prunes or dates you use. Toddlers will love picking minced dried fruit out of their favorite cup.

Fruit smoothies are hits at this age. Add a straw, and you've got a soda fountain special.

"Little trees" — steamed pieces of broccoli and cauliflower. If introduced early, these vegetables can become favorite snacks.
Tuna fish and salmon — mix either with yogurt to make it spreadable and create delicious, nutritious sandwiches.

Breads — bran muffins, corn bread, and banana bread, made with honey and whole grain, are healthier than the store-bought kind. Make a batch, freeze, and defrost for a special but quick snack.

Cookies — choose fig-filled or oatmeal varieties rather than the other sugar types.

Now that your child is a pre-schooler, here are some general guidelines for feeding him: Choose snacks that are high in complex carbohydrates, such as bread, breadsticks, bagels, muffins, crackers, and pasta salads. To make them even more nutritious, add a little protein and fat, such as cream cheese or smooth peanut butter

Any snack that your child can help make is much more likely to be consumed. Put him to work!

Avoid the many snacks marketed to kids that are high in salt, fat, and sugar. Carefully read labels on food products, even those made especially for small children. Try to get a sense of how much salt or fat your child consumes in a day. A quarter of his recommended daily intake of salt, for example, is too much for one snack

At 3, your child needs fewer fats and fatty acids than he did before. Ask your health care provider if he is ready to start drinking low-fat milk.
Dairy products are important, but don't overdo it. Your child needs 16 to 24 ounces of milk (or dairy products such as yogurt or cheese) per day for strong bones and growth. But more than 24 ounces could cause your child to lose his appetite for other foods containing important nutrients milk doesn't have.

Breakfast cereal is likely to become a staple. It's a good choice for a meal or a snack as long as you choose a cereal without too much added sugar.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-03T15:24:00.002-06:00

We had such a great Thanskgiving holiday. I loved being at home with my baby girl for 4 whole days!! Here is a picture my Uncle Leatham took at their house. Thanks again Aunt Karen and Uncle Leatham for having us over. We loved it!

Turkey Day!

2009-11-25T09:07:00.002-06:00

This is a year to be thankful for and it's almost over. Here is a list of this years highlights...

Cam's graduation from Law School

Trip to Hawaii

Move to Arizona

Starting my MBA

Sara turns 1

Bought our house

I am turning 29 in 2 weeks and can hardly believe it. I have the best little baby girl in the world, my cute husband who has worn red every day for the past 2 weeks in honor of rivalry week (Blah!), our very own house, new calling, cooler weather... so much to be grateful for. Hope you all enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday and don't have to watch too much football, if you don't want to.

Quick Update

2009-11-01T13:29:00.003-06:00

Sara is officially 1 year old and cruising all over the place. She talks all the time, loves to make lots of noise (like her momma) and is walking so well now. She gets so excited when she sees string cheese or hears the bath start to run. Sara likes to read books and play with her little car. She says 'hi', 'momma' and 'dadda' and she loves to clap and wave. She loves to go on walks and swing on the swing. We are so happy Sara is our baby.

For her birthday, we opened presents (thanks everyone!), had a nap, got some pictures taken at JCPenney, had another nap, and then had cake. I can't believe she is already 1 and just getting so big. She is looking more and more like a little girl each day. (pictures to come...)

We finally closed on our house Friday and should be getting the keys sometime this week. I am so anxious to get moved in and settled. It has been a long time coming and it's finally here. We are really excited and grateful to be able to buy such a great house. It's perfect for us. Please, come to visit anytime!

Sara REALLY Walking

2009-10-16T13:01:00.002-05:00

Sara Walking (sort of)

2009-10-11T18:10:00.003-05:00

Poor girl!

2009-10-05T12:13:00.004-05:00

Her daddy is brainwashing her. Look what happens while mom is at work...

I'd be crying too if my dad made me wear that!

It's a bloggers world!

2009-10-02T17:24:00.002-05:00

What did I do before there were blogs? Seriously, I remember spending hours browsing on the Internet when I worked for D.E, N.T, and W.F, (the abbreviations are just in case they decide to track me down and charge me for misuse of company property and wasting time). I couldn't have possibly be spending thousands of minutes each day shopping online. Right? I mean, what did I do before there were blogs?

I don't have the Internet freedom at my current job as I've had before, so I can only occasionally hop online for recreational purposes and there just aren't enough minutes in the day to read the ever so witty and creative blogs out there.

I can't believe how many amazing, smart, talented people there are that make money actually writing a blog and I am the sucker that reads it! I just love the witty banter on blogs like dooce.com and loraleeslooneytunes.com. Can there just be a little more time in the day for me to waste away surfing the net? I guess it's my own fault. Unless I want to sacrifice my sacred hours of sleep or the time I spend watching really important TV, like Project Runway, ANTM, Real World/Road Rules Challenges (What happened to you Johanna?), the Rachel Zoe Project, Law and Order (all 3 of them), Modern Family (a new and hilarious sitcom), the Office, Survivor: Samoa, Supernanny, everything on HGTV, and whatever else may be on...

Maybe it would be easier to get my employer to loosen up their 'no wasting time on the Internet' policy.

Remember?

2009-09-30T17:46:00.002-05:00

Scarlett Singing

2009-09-17T15:38:00.001-05:00

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid4020141001?bctid=33565520001

Happy Birthday, Dad!

2009-09-16T15:35:00.004-05:00

I know I'm a little late, but my dad turned 55 this month. He is officially a senior citizen. There is a t-shirt I saw while walking around in San Diego that said, "Gimmie my D*$N discount!" (only it really said the bad word) I wish I would have gotten it for him, but I didn't. So since I didn't get him a t-shirt or send him a present, I wanted to share 55 things I love about my dad.

1) His idea of dinner consists of a Diet Coke and a bag of Peanut M&M's - a perfectly balanced meal.

2) He is so wise and always knows the right thing to do

3) He likes to watch shows like "Big Brother" and "Desperate Housewives"

4) He took us to Yellowstone for vacation EVERY SINGLE YEAR - I mean, seriously, how many times can you see Old Faithful! And I loved every single minute of it, even if I didn't act like it.

5) When I was in High School and we didn't see each other much, I would leave notes on the garage door for him to come talk to me at night when he got home, and he always did.

6) Even though I may have caused only a few of the gray hairs, he always believed I would make the right decision

7) My dad seems to find his friend Richard driving in the most random places

8) He would prefer to wear blue jeans any day!

9) My dad played the tuba and thought it was a great idea for me to join band. Even if it's the dorkiest thing in the world, I loved it and am so glad I did it.

10) You could ask my dad to go to Ron's and he would be delighted to take you.

11) Even if we didn't need anything at Sams, we went almost every single Saturday and would get Sonic for lunch after.

12) My dad is the smartest person I know and I know a lot of people.

13) My dad is the most humble person I know and I know a lot of not humble people. (including myself)

14) I made a little note that said, "I love you, Dad" and he kept it in his car for years.

15) I still have his old cell phone number and work number memorized because I knew I could call him anytime.

16) He agreed that an emergency expense included a spontaneous visit home from me while I was a college student in Idaho

17) My dad fully supported my decision to go on a mission

18) And he wrote me a letter every single week

19) Got any good blonde jokes?

20) My dad trusted me. He has always seen more potential in me than I may have seen in myself.

21) He used to weigh himself everyday and write it down on a little yellow legal pad in his bathroom drawer. I liked to sneak in there and see the numbers go up up up... or down down down. (probably due to the stress of me as a teenager)

22) Quick Trip anyone?

23) I can only recall 2 mistakes my dad has ever made. I am sure there are more, but I can only think of 2.

24) He used to have one on one chats with us on Monday nights for Family Home Evening. I remember looking forward to those visits.

25) I remember one time when he answered his cell phone during a meeting at work. I don't know if he was just trying to get out of the meeting or not, but regardless, I appreciated that he took the call.

26) He has always been very supportive of my decisions, even the bad ones. He knew I would come around - and I did.

27) My dad loves football! and BYU, but mostly BYU football

28) My dad is a good friend. He has had many of his friends for over 30 years. He is a good and loyal friend.

29) He has a great sense of humor. You just have to listen carefully.

30) He is currently serving as a mission president in the Chile Osorno Mission

31) I know he is the best mission president those missionaries could possibly have

32) He is the most loving person and non-judgemental person I know, and remember, I know a lot of people.

33) He loves to go for drives in his Jeep

34) My dad is very thoughtful and caring of others.

35) He doesn't like the smell of hospitals, but if you are in one, he will visit you.

36) Sonic Happy Hour is his favorite time of day.

37) He loves to spoil my mom with beautiful dresses and bathrobes, or dresses that look like bathrobes.

38) My dad has great taste in music.

39) My dad picked the best woman in the world to be his wife and she is my best mom.

40) He worked really really hard every day.

41) My dad has always said, "The more you save now, the more you'll have later." Or is it, "The more you buy now, the more you'll have later?"

42) He is patient. And trust me, the people in my family require a lot of patience. (especially me, and my mom, and my sister, and...)

43) His favorite color is Red, I mean Blue.

44) My dad can read and read and read.... he never gets sick of reading. Maybe that is why he's so smart!

45) He takes great pictures, especially of his feet.

46) We could go on a cruise once a month and he would be a happy camper!

47) My dad thinks baby Sara is super cute, and so do I.

48) He allowed my mother to give us rhyming names because she was on drugs and I love it.

49) My dad has a Facebook page

50) He got a special phone set up, so I can talk to them in Chile any time I want.

51) He always says just the right thing at just the right time.

52) When I was a little flustered with Sara one day, he bought her a walker to help keep her busy. (I am so grateful for that little walker)

53) My dad has always put his family first and I never doubted it.

54) Even though I haven't been the easiest child, teenager, and adult to deal with - I know that he loves me and thinks about me and prays for me every day.

55) My dad is perfect. Not in the sense that he is freed from sin, although he may be that, he is perfect because he is my dad and I love him.

So thanks dad for being my dad. And thank you for picking my mom and thank you for loving me.

2009-09-14T18:31:00.001-05:00

2009-09-14T17:50:00.003-05:00

Here are some updated pictures of our little Sara. She is 11 months this month! Almost a year old... I need some ideas for a good Halloween costume. Her birthday falls just a few days before Halloween this year (and every year). I'm thinking sumo wrestler. What do you think?

All Time Favorites

2009-09-08T15:51:00.003-05:00

I was chatting with a friend this weekend and got the idea to post my favorite books. I've really enjoyed reading the last few years and have read many many great books. I wanted to compile a list of my TOP 5 FAVORITES! And keep in mind, this list is subject to change.

1) Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series by Ann Brashares (I was so sad when these books finished. If you've seen the movies and haven't read the books, you've really missed out. The books are SOOOO much better!)

2) The Glass Castle by Jeannette Wells (This book is amazing. It's an autobiography and unbelievable at times.)

3) Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner (It's not as dirty as it sounds, but hilarious! I was laughing out loud so much while reading it. You'll love Cannie)

4) Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (This book is another laugh outloud funny one. I was a little disappointed when I saw the movie because I just loved the book so much. If you haven't seen it, skip it, and read the book instead)

5) Fishbowl by Sarah Mlynowski (The format for this book is a little tricky, but a great one. I just loved it)

If you decide to read any of these books or have already read them, let me know what you think. I'll keep adding or replacing as I see fit. If you are looking for some other great authors to consider, I have never been disappointed by the following:

Jane Green
Meg Cabot
Sophie Kinsella
Jennifer Weiner
Lauren Weisberger
Emily Giffin
Jodi Picoult
Jen Lancaster
Sarah Dessen
Judy Blume
Jerry Spinelli

So... happy reading!

Flag-er-Staff

2009-08-31T17:47:00.004-05:00

We went to Flagstaff, AZ for the weekend with our friends, the Hadlocks, and had a great time. We hiked this area called Walnut Canyon. I was too short to stand up straight in the caves, but it was a blast!

First MBA paper

2009-08-21T12:54:00.002-05:00

I just got my grade back on my very first MBA paper. This is what the professor said, "Your papers read like you talk – they need to be more academic in nature… that is what is going to be expected in the program. " I think it's a compliment that my papers write the way I talk, but I understand what she is saying. I got a 12.5/14 - not bad. Guess next time I need to write more like someone from academia and less like myself.

Haircut!

2009-08-19T10:31:00.007-05:00

So I'm getting my haicut tonight by my beautiful cousin, Melissa. I am really excited because I haven't had a haircut in about 3 months. (Thanks, Ashley!) Right now, I am deciding exactly what kind of 'do' I want. Here are a few options....

I'd love to do something like this, but I'm afraid C wouldn't like it too much. What do you guys think?

Whatever you do...

2009-08-04T09:49:00.003-05:00

DON'T GO TO J.CREW! Oh my, I went in there Saturday with a friend and they have the cutest stuff ever. You will want one of everything - at least I did. I fell in love with this white t-shirt for $45 and this beautiful cardigan for like $98 or something ridiculous. It's a crime to charge that much for absolutley amazing clothes, right? Just save yourself the torture and avoid the store all together. That's my plan. Right, C?

Visit to Heber

2009-08-02T10:44:00.003-05:00

Sara loved playing with her cousins, meeting Nana and Papa, and having lots of attention on our trip to Heber. My dad has recovered well from his operation and will be back to normal if he continues to take it easy (DAD!) We had all the siblings and baby cousins together and it was so much fun. Everyone got to experience Sara's amazingly loud cry, screams, and cute smile. She is just getting so big. We realized after a few leaky diapers that her bum is just too big for a size 3, so we are now on to a size 4 diaper. Here are a few pictures...

Our Family

Sara and Papa

Trying on new shoes

Baby Girl is 9 Months

2009-07-23T17:08:00.003-05:00

This weekend is going to be so exciting! Sara will finally be getting to meet my parents. They are currently serving as missionaries in the Chile, Osorno Mission and have been there for a year. Sara was born after they left and we thought we wouldn't get to see them for 3 years unless we made the trip down to Chile (which we are planning to do later this year). But my dad had to have surgery on Monday and apparently the doctors recommended having the surgery in the US. The operation went well and he is in recovery mode.

So Saturday morning we are flying to Utah to see them. My whole family will be together and I can't wait. My brother, his wife, and their 2 almost 3 daughters will be there along with my sister, her husband, and their 2 little girls. Sara will get to play with all of her cousins and I just know she's going to love it. She loves to play with other kids and can just sit and watch them forever. She is so inquisitive and curious, always looking around and wants to be part of all the action. She has started talking to us in the car. She'll say, 'Ah' and we say 'ah' back. It will go back and forth for quite some time. I think she is going to be saying "momma" in no time.

B-O-R-I-N-G

2009-07-12T10:21:00.002-05:00

I feel so boring. I've been browsing around other people's blogs for a while this morning and you all are so fun and adventurous. I feel like we are just fuddy duddies sitting on our bums here in AZ. Granted, we have a few good excuses like C studying for the bar and me working full-time. But honestly, we need to get out and be more fun. We do fun things on occasion, maybe we just need to be better at documenting it. We will try to do better. I promise - we really can be fun, sometimes.

I am officially working full-time at the University of Phoenix and so far it's going great. I actually enjoy being back to work, but I sure do miss my time with little Sara. She gets so excited when I come in the door. She flails her arms and gets a huge grin on her face. I just love it! I hope she always reacts that way when she sees her momma. I am super excited to be starting my Masters in a few weeks. I've always wanted to go back to school and I'm finally doing it.

Arizona is getting hotter and hotter, but we just stay inside or go to the pool. C has been doing a great job of studying and the bar is finally in 2 weeks. I can't wait until it's over and done with. Then maybe we can have a little more fun around here!

Working Girl

2009-06-12T17:41:00.002-05:00

After several months of searching and one amazing interview - I got a job at the University of Phoenix. I start my job on June 22nd. I certainly have reservations about going back to work, but some excitement as well. I've always enjoyed working even if I haven't always enjoyed my job. But I am feeling nervous about leaving Sara. We found a nanny that is going to help watch her a few days a week, so C has as much time to study for the bar as possible. And luckily, when the bar is over, C will be the one watching her full-time. They will have some great daddy-daughter bonding. I just hope she doesn't forget about her momma.

Sara eating a tasty lemon

2009-06-02T15:19:00.004-05:00

Hawaii

2009-06-02T14:55:00.002-05:00

Unpacked and in Hawaii

2009-05-23T00:01:00.003-05:00

So we got to Mesa safe and sound. Cameron arrived just a day after me (thanks Wes for going along with him). We stayed with our friends, the Hadlocks, for a few days while we got ourselves organized. Thanks J, K, C, and baby for the super comfy bed and crib for little Sara.

Our stuff arrived safe and sound from ABF U-Pack. It is a great way to move, if anyone is looking. We got almost entirely unpacked thanks to my cousin Melissa and her little helper, Sydney. The entire kitchen, baby's room, and master bedroom are all finished. Just a few things to get organized in the living room, office and bathrooms. We only had 2 bedrooms in Nebraska and we have 3 now, but the storage space is filling up fast. Looks like it's time to sell more stuff or maybe I'll have a "Just Moved" sale and invite people over. I am willing to accept any reasonable offers for unpacked boxes. I honestly will probably never miss what's in them anyway and all the ones that say "C's stuff" will be 50% off.

After being in AZ for approximately 4 whole days, we packed up again and headed to Hawaii. We've been staying in O'ahu for the week and it is beautiful! We've had a great time and I'm glad we came. As soon as we get home I'll have tons of super cute pictures of Sara in her swimsuits and us hiking, swimming, and me... SURFING! That's right and I know you won't believe me until you see the pics, so I'll get them posted ASAP. Thanks to Andrea and her ever so patient little Savannah and Brinley, we were able to go surfing at a beautiful beach. Well, I hate to brag but I was the only one that actually CAUGHT a wave (besides Andrea, of course).

But don't worry Nebraska - I still think of you more often than I should. Even in the beautiful green mountains and on the warm sandy beaches of Hawaii, I miss you.

Happy 6 months and Good-bye Nebraska

2009-05-03T18:04:00.003-05:00

Sara is officially 6 months old now and got her shots last week. She is now 18.4lbs and 28.5 inches. We are so happy she is a healthy little girl. I saw her first tooth poking through this morning and she is now sitting up all by herself. It's amazing how much she changes every week. We are excited for our move to Arizona and hope she is patient with us getting settled.

And... this is our last week in Nebraska. We had our going away party Saturday night - Thanks to everyone who made it and we missed those that didn't. We are certainly sad to go, but excited for the new adventures in AZ.

Thank you to all of our friends who have made this truly a great experience for us. You feel like family and we are sad to go, but we are looking forward to a reunion some day.

We will miss you all.

Going Away Party

2009-04-23T13:26:00.002-05:00

Come join us as we say "good-bye" to Nebraska!

Parkers Rib Ranch
6440 O Street
Saturday, May 2, 2009
5:30pm

We'd love to see you all there, just let me know if you are coming so I can give them an accurate seat count. Thanks!

Dear Nebraska,

2009-04-20T16:41:00.003-05:00

My family and I are moving away in just a few short weeks, but before we go - I want to let you know how I feel about you. I love you Nebraska! You have been a great home for us. We found you right off of I-80 and are so happy we did. After driving down 'O' street and realizing this is where we'd spend the next 3 years of our lives, we took a deep breath and made the most of it. You have made it easy for us, Nebraska.

We moved in on your hottest day of the summer in 2006 and C was ready to turn back around, but we stayed. We love our little apartment on Abbey Court and even considered naming our baby after it. We love the great places you have to offer like Runza, Braeda, Culvers, DeLeon's, and the crushed ice machine at 33rd and Holdredge. The Winter Quarters Temple, the Omaha Zoo, Husker Games, the College World Series, the NCAA Gymnastics Championships, and St. Elizabeth's Hospital.

You have endless windy days and icy days and steamy hot days, but you have cheap golf and a nice bike path. You have rows and rows of cornfields that can be beautiful with the right set of eyes. You have the Trendwood Ward and strawberries on sale, and the friendliest grocery stores. You have big tall trees, beautiful flowers, yucky brown lakes, and the West Nile Virus.

I love that people don't care whether you drive a fancy car or a beat up one, wear designer jeans or not, have the latest hairstyles, or a big diamond ring. But if you don't wear red on game day - they know your name and you're "that guy".

To the state who brought us our little cornhusker and the best 3 years of our life so far - Thank you! We love you and we'll miss you Nebraska.

Love,
US

ARIZONA or Bust!

2009-04-20T16:22:00.003-05:00

It's official - we are moving to Mesa, Arizona in just 3 weeks. I can't believe it is time already, but we are very excited. We found a great place to rent (thanks Jared, Kim, Wes, and Ashley) for a while until we decide what our long term plans will be. It's a 3 bedroom, 2 bath townhouse with a 2 car garage. I am so excited about having a garage and a place to store all our stuff! We won't be needing winter coats for a while - that's for sure.

But we will sure miss Nebraska. It has been a great home for us the last 3 years and we are so thankful for our friends and 'family' we've made here. It wouldn't have been the same experience without them.

If you'd like our forwarding contact info and I don't already have your e-mail, post a comment with your e-mail address and I'll get it to you. Thanks!

New Jeans!

2009-04-17T12:56:00.001-05:00

I got these jeans for $23 at TJ Maxx. Love them!

And I love TJ Maxx.

To my sweet lady K,

2009-04-11T15:47:00.002-05:00

I am writing this letter with a sense of obligation, but in no way does that lessen the sincerity of the things I will say. K, my Rooder, I am continually impressed with your skills and abilities which you have developed after your 'retirement'. You have handled the many roles that you have undertaken for the benefit of our family with grace and have excelled at each of them. Your willingness to give up your career path in an indication of your character, as well as your devotion to our child and God's commandments and admonitions of the living prophets.

I love you and I am grateful that I get to watch you share your gifts as you selflessly serve others by using your talents on a daily basis. However, those individuals you serve and befriend are only privy to a glimpse into the depths of who you are and what I love. I look forward to watch you venture in to motherhood, knowing that all of your previous experience has prepared you and in this, the greatest calling of your life, you will only again excel.

Aside from all you do, I love you for who you are and for being a true friend and companion. If I don't let you know these things often enough or fail to in the future, know that they remain true and don't be afraid to offer a gentle reminder.

K, you are the best! I am glad that you are mine and that you chose me. I am reminded why all the time, you will be the greatest mom. I love you, Lady.

C

(This is a letter I found today while cleaning out my nightstand. C wrote it to me while I was pregnant with Sara. It is a good reminder to me of all I have to be grateful for. Oh, and just an FYI... C calls me Rooder)

TooooBs

2009-04-02T15:20:00.005-05:00

Sara is now 5 1/2 months old and 17lbs. Yes, she's quite healthy and we love it! This Monday, Sara will be getting tubes in her little ears. After 3 ear infections, we decided to get the tubes and say 'good-bye' to ear infections for good! (hopefully) I know she'll be a little scared about the operation, but I honestly think the worst part for her will be not eating for 8 hours. If you can't tell, the girl likes to eat. She will do great and we are really happy she will be feeling better.

She is starting to really love rice cereal, take great naps, and laugh so much.

Telling Time

2009-03-20T19:45:00.002-05:00

I added a new clock on the side margin on my blog. This is for 2 reasons:

1) I have a tendency to lose track of time while I'm blogging and I thought maybe others feel the same

2) I really can't tell time without the numbers. I have to count the little dots until I get to the right one. I have a watch with only dots on the 12, 3, 6, and 9. All I can do is tell you it's between 12 and 3 or 3 and 6 or 6 and 9 or 9 and 12. I am not good at telling time. My mission companions were always annoyed with me because I would have to ask them to read my watch. I did finally get a watch with all the numbers on it, but I picked this clock to put on my blog so that I can practice.

One good thing about vacation is that you never really need to know what time it is! Have a great weekend.

Heading to C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A

2009-03-16T03:13:00.002-05:00

Did I spell California right? Yes, I think so. My spell checker wouldn't catch it with all those dashes. Anyway, yep - Sara and I are flying to CA here in a few hours to meet up with C for a week long vacay (as my friend Cori says). We are really exciting for some fun in the sun. However, Sara has decided she wants to fit in with all the other babies in Nebraska and catch RSV. We are working with a nebulizer and hope she is back up and running (not literally, although she did roll over twice yesterday. Woo hoo) soon. It should be a fun trip. After a week in CA, we head to AZ to explore and hopefully find a place to call home for the next little while. I am very anxious to get settled in Mesa. This is certainly an exciting and daring part of our lives, but we are up for the adventure. I will be working for a while so C can study for the bar exam. If anyone has any info on jobs - that would be greatly appreciated.

I won't be posting for a while since I will be basking in the sunny sun sun, but we'll catch up later.

(I just re-read this post and I sound delirious, probably because it's after 3am.)

Spring is Coming!

2009-03-05T10:56:00.002-06:00

I am so ready for some warm weather and it's finally here, for now. I feel so invigorated and energized when I wake up to a warm, sunny, not windy day like today. After a few long and dreary winter months - it's about time. I guess this is getting me all ready to spend the summer in Phoenix.

Yep - that's the plan. We are heading to Phoenix. I have been buying Sara shorts and tank tops. We can't wait to go swimming every day. I say 'we' because I know Sara will just love swimming. It's going to be a great summer - I can tell.

Here is a pic of Sara at 4 months. Unfortunately, she is fighting her second ear infection. The first round of antibiotics didn't work so we'll try again. I'm excited for her to be feeling better soon.

Dumpster Diving

2009-02-12T13:56:00.006-06:00

So I was leaving my apt complex this morning and noticed this sitting by the dumpster:

You better believe I snagged it and washed it down with Clorox.

It's as good as new.

Spelling

2009-02-11T09:28:00.002-06:00

I made it to the school spelling bee in third grade and lost with the word "again". Who knew it wasn't spelled "agaian"? Why not just agen?

Sometimes I wonder why words are spelled the way they are. Like Wednesday, for example. I avoid the word all together because I am never quite sure how to spell it. I just abbreviate with Wed. Why can't it just be spelled the way it sounds... Wensday. No one actually pronounces the d, do they? And exercise... why isn't it just spelled exersize, for crying out loud.

Luckily blogger has spell check and underlines my misspelled words for me, but when I write on my calendar or in my journal... no spell checker there.

What are some other words... okay, the whole "I before E except after C" rule - not always true and Y is sometimes a vowel. What? I get that spelling is important most of the time. Like the time when a friend shared a little kids paper with me about a horse, only he forgot the s. It changed the whole story.

I know - beautiful. How about buteifull? or Wy spelled Why - since when were silent H's important? Dessert and Desert. They say you want more dessert, so it has an extra s. But sometimes I want more desert. Then what? And what about effect and affect. What's the difference anyway?

Okay, I need to stop. I've worked myself up in to a grammar frenzy and for what? Nuthin.

Dear Sara,

2009-02-05T09:57:00.004-06:00

You are now almost 4 months old. Time has gone by so quickly, yet it seems like we've had you forever. You weigh 14lbs and are 25 inches. You seem to get bigger every day. I love to see you smile all the time and even laugh a little now and then. Most people think you look like me now and compared to my baby pictures - you do.

You love to bounce on my knee and ride in your stroller. You fall alseep in the carseat every time and sometimes I drive around the block just to give you a few extra minutes of sleep. You sleep best when I hold you, but I'm trying not to do that so much anymore. I think you'll get used to sleeping on your own more and more.

You don't really cry very much anymore, but you do shout, "Ahhh" when you want my attention. I try to give you a little tummy time every day and you are holding your head up so well. You are learning to sit up and love to stand. So far you only get milk to eat, but I'm excited to introduce you to all the best foods in life.

Your dad and I love you and look forward to each and every day. You have changed so much in just the last couple of weeks and it is wonderful to be a part of your life. I hope you always remember how much we love you.

Love,
Momma

What have you done?

2009-01-05T15:55:00.005-06:00

I copied this from my friend Lori - thanks.

What Have You Done? To participate, just copy and paste in your own blog, and bold all of the things you have done. It's kind of fun!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

After completing this, I realized there are a lot of things I haven't done. Here are few I have that weren't on the list...

102. Served a mission
103. Had an epidural
104. Been an extra in "Touched by an Angel"
105. Ran a stop sign
106. Kept a journal
107. Shopped the Magnificent Mile
108. Watched too much reality TV
109. Closed my eyes during a movie
110. Gone skeet shooting

Sara's Special Day

2009-01-02T12:30:00.002-06:00

With cousins, Alison and Emmy

With Mom and Dad in her beautiful blessing dress (made by my mom)

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-22T19:28:00.001-06:00

http://ourldsfamily.com/docs/ChristmasGreeting.html

Happy Birthday to Me

2008-12-12T14:36:00.003-06:00

Earlier this week we celebrated my 28th birthday. I forget how old I'm getting until I think about my little sister turning 25 next year and then I remember, I'm not 21 anymore. So - for my birthday celebration we went to dinner at the most amazing Greek restaurant: The Parthenon. Little did we know they would have such an exciting performance of belly dancers for our evening entertainment.

The best part was when one of the dancers came right up to C giving him a 'special' dance. Then C got up and proceeded to belly dance with the woman like a real pro. Our friends took pictures and as soon as I get them, they will be posted for proof. I know my law school readers and fans, he will deny this activity ever took place, but the pictures will prove it.

For Christmas...

2008-12-03T16:44:00.001-06:00

The bad thing about having a birthday and Christmas close together is that I have to come up with gift ideas for both occasions. I ordered some boots for my birthday online a few months ago and they are sitting underneath my bed anxiously awaiting December 9th when I can finally pull them out to wear. Now, all I have to do is think of what to ask for from C for Christmas. So... I am asking you for ideas. I don't need clothes, perfume, jewelry, a handbag or any of the other more generic gifts. I don't want a vacuum or kitchen stuff. So - what should I ask for?

Also, as many of you know, our little Sara is going to be 2 months old on Christmas Eve. Another small, yet equally important dilemma, what do you buy a 2 month old for Christmas? She doesn't need clothes or toys. I guess we could always buy her nothing since she won't know the difference, but that's no fun. Any ideas on what to get Sara for Christmas?

Utah vs BYU

2008-11-29T18:58:00.004-06:00

Last weekend was the big Utah vs BYU game. I made a little onsie for Sara so she could watch the game in style. But don't worry, I didn't forget my true loyalty to the Cougars. I hid a Y on the bum.

Here are some pictures of the big day:

All things Sara

2008-11-15T16:46:00.003-06:00

So I needed to post a few new pictures of Sara and thought I would also use this opportunity to tell you about the crazy things C has been doing in his sleep lately. He's always been kind of a crazy sleeper, but lately - it's been especially interesting.

For example, the other night I woke up to him sorting the laundry in our bedroom. The next day, he didn't remember a thing about it. Also, he has been rocking his pillow to sleep in the middle of the night. Strange, yes, I know. But the best was Thursday night. He often says random things in his sleep and I just ignore them, but this was too good. He said to me, "When she's big enough (talking about Sara) we need to enroll her in Jedi training camp." No, I am not making this up. When I asked him about it in the morning he said, "I don't even like Star Wars". But apparently, our kid needs Jedi training camp.

Here are a few recent pictures of our little treasure girl:

She's here!!

2008-10-28T11:03:00.004-05:00

She has officially arrived and we couldn't be happier.

Here are the stats:

Born: October 24, 2008 at 8:00pm
Height: 19.5 inches
Weight: 6.4lbs (teeny tiny)
Hair: Dark Blonde... super short in front, longer in back
Hours in Labor: 5:35am (water broke) to 8:00pm (actual time of delivery) = 14hrs 25mins

Congrats Celeste for having the most accurate estimates. I'll make you a picture in Paint and send it over.

I am feeling sore and really tired, but overall - doing great.

Oh, by the way, her name is: Sara Elizabeth

If you would like all the details of the Labor/Delivery, let me know. I will spare everyone else. Although I have to say, it's the part I was the most nervous about and it went extremely well. And we had a great prize at the end of it all.

Going home from the hospital

To our little girl,

2008-10-23T22:04:00.003-05:00

I am copying the great idea of my friend, PMB, by writing a letter to my soon to be born baby girl on my blog. Someday, I hope she can look at this and see just what I want for her. (No, she doesn't have a name yet and even if she did, we wouldn't tell you)

Dear little girl,

You will be coming to live your daddy and I very soon. We are so excited to meet you. I would love for you to have blonde hair and blue eyes like me, but even if you don't - that's okay because you will be ours. You will have long toes and long fingers like me and your daddy. Maybe someday you'll learn to play the piano, or tennis, or golf. I bet you'll be a little bit serious like your mom and a little bit silly like your dad. And just maybe you'll want to be a mom when you grow up and have kids of your own someday. I wonder if you'll like music or sports or a little bit of both. I wonder if you'll want to be a businesswoman or a teacher or an artist. (Probably not an artist if you really do take after your dad and I) If you like to watch TV, I hope you always pick good things to watch. Maybe you'll love Mexican food like we do and we can have tacos for dinner. And if you decide to drink soda, it's okay because we can drink our Dr. Pepper's together and sit on the couch and talk about our day.

My favorite color is red, so I hope you like red too. But not in the Utah Utes or the Nebraska Cornhuskers sort of way. I just like red because it's strong and bold and maybe that's why you'll like it too. When you are born, you'll have 4 cousins. They are all really fun and I hope that you can be great friends. They will be girls you can look up to and share your secrets with. (But you have to share some of your secrets with me) Maybe someday you'll go to college and go on a mission and fall in love with someone.

And probably someday you'll fall and scrape your knee or lose your favorite doll in the empty lot next door. And maybe be sick, or sad, or hurt by something someone did or said. I wonder if you will ever have a broken heart or just need someone to talk to and I wonder where you will turn.

When all the good and the bad things happen in your life and no matter what you choose to be, I hope you will always know we love you. And no matter what you look like and no matter who hurts you along the way, I hope you know we will always be here for you. And no matter how many friends you have or mistakes you make, I hope you know you can always trust us. And I hope you know that on your best days and even on your worst days, God knows and understands how you feel. And more than anything in all the world, He wants you to be happy - just like your dad and me.

I won't be a perfect mom, and C won't be a perfect dad. But - we will certainly try. Please forgive us when we make mistakes or when we forget something important. Please be patient with us when we don't always know what to do. Please ignore me when I say something bad about someone else or when your dad says a swear word. Know that we were just like you once before and that even when we're not very cool and may be embarrassing sometimes, that we are doing our best to be a good mom and dad. And when I sing "Happy Birthday" to you over the intercom at Wal-Mart or have a cute boy deliver balloons to you in front of the whole school on your birthday, remember that my mom did those things to me one day. And even though I was mad at her for it then, I love her for it now. And when your dad locks his keys in the car for the 50th time or asks you where something is when it's right in his face - just remember those are the things you'll miss when he's gone.

I can't wait to meet you, little girl. We love you and we know that you will be everything we hope you will be because you'll be ours.

37 Weeks and counting...

2008-10-21T20:49:00.001-05:00