Parker and Jes

My Little Helper

2011-09-19T12:37:00.001-07:00

Allen is our little mover! He's not quite up to walking yet, but he is a champ at crawling. And man is he fast! The first few weeks in our new house I've spent so much time chasing after him--in a useless attempt to keep him from getting into things. HAH!

I'd like you to know I finally came to my senses. I figured, "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"! Now, for the most part, I let him do all the exploring and investigating he'd like to do. And now I have the greatest little helper! His specialties are loading/unloading the dishwasher, loading/unloading the laundry baskets, and loading/unloading the kitchen drawers. Are you seeing a theme here?

Unloading

(He's definitely more interested in the unloading than he is in the loading. Can ya blame him?)

He certainly keeps me busy playing catch-up but I love watching him learn and figure things out!

We've Moved...Again!

2011-09-19T12:26:00.000-07:00

A few months ago we said a bittersweet goodbye to our first home in Orem: (Our condo was the bottom one on the left)

In August, we officially relocated to our new home in Spanish Fork! We had a pretty crazy summer filled with lots of family time, home improvement projects, packing, cleaning, and moving. I think we are finally feeling settled and are absolutely loving our new home. We are so thankful for our WONDERFUL families that helped us in SO MANY ways this summer! Your constant willing service has been such a blessing--we are so humbled and so grateful. We couldn't have done it without you!

Fun In The Sun

2011-07-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

Last Christmas we got passes to Seven Peaks and we have been putting them to good use this summer. I'm not much of a waterpark fan, but taking Allen to play in the water has been an absolute blast! We pretty much stick to the kiddie pool & the lazy river. Allen couldn't be happier. He splashes and splashes and I'm getting some much needed sun :)

Baby's First Haircut

2011-07-19T14:58:00.001-07:00

We've had quite a few "firsts" around here lately. It has been so fun and exciting watching Allen learn and develop in so many new ways. This "first", however, made me just a little bit sad. I procrastinated as long as I could, but he was long overdue for his very first haircut. Allen wasn't especially pleased with having to sit still for this so we had to get pretty creative trying to entertain him so Grammy could cut his hair. Now my little baby looks more like a little boy (which makes me SO sad), but we love his new haircut! Thanks Grammy!

Part Monkey

2011-06-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Allen has been working his way into the world of solid foods. And man does he love it! Bananas are definitely one of his favorites. I'm starting to wonder if Allen is part monkey...

A New Pair of Specs

2011-04-27T10:32:00.001-07:00

Allen LOVES wearing glasses and hats. He just thinks its so funny. We usually just let him wear our sunglasses, but I found these foam glasses and he had such a great time playing with his Aunt.

Opening Day

2011-03-31T11:21:00.001-07:00

Opening Day! After a long season of basketball (my least favorite of sports), baseball is finally here! I'm not sure what to expect from our Dodgers this summer, but I'm so glad the season is finally here!

Dodgers will be on @6pm tonight.

We've Moved

2011-03-29T10:17:00.001-07:00

Here are my boys helping me pack. Best little helpers ever! Well, let's be honest, they didn't help much but they kept me in good spirits with all the stress of moving and getting our condo rented :)

Over the last year, Parker and I had been discussing what would be best for our little family's future and what steps we'd need to take to get a house. After much discussion and praying we decided to rent our condo and move in with his parents so we could finish saving up for a down payment. We have such wonderful parents and families. We're so thankful for ALL the incredible work and help my family put forth in helping us pack, move, clean, make repairs, and keeping us from going crazy during this process. And we're so thankful for the Ainge's who are welcoming us into their home. Thank you so very much.

We have LOVED our time in our condo. It has been a perfect haven for our family and we will truly miss our first home. It was hard to let go of, but we have some wonderful memories that will always be with us.

7 Months

2011-03-04T09:07:00.001-08:00

My little bug is 7 months old!

Allen wasn't quite able to sit up on his own when he was 6 months so we waited a few weeks and got some photos taken when he was 7 months. My most wonderful friend Valerie gave me a photo session gift certificate as a baby gift when I had Allen. Such a great gift! I was so excited to get some new photos (I just can't seem to get enough of them) and her sister-in-law Brooke did the most FANTASTIC job! I'm going to have the hardest time choosing which ones to get printed. She's posted a few on her blog: http://www.rootedinlovephotography.blogspot.com

I know I'm a little biased but you should seriously stop whatever you're doing and go look at these photos. :)

A few things about Allen @ 7 Months:

He's an ace at sitting up on his own now.
He's rolling over. Mostly back to tummy but he's working on tummy to back as well.
He loves to be tickled and is pretty much ticklish everywhere.
Had his first really tramatic experience at the doctor's office: he had to have his blood drawn and he's so chubby that they couldn't find a vein so they had to keep poking him over and over. (I'm not sure who was more tramatized--me or Allen.)
Loves Krug. He gets so excited whenever he sees him.
He's started on baby food. Peas and squash are his favorite. Hates rice cereal.
Likes all electronic things--specifically tv, remotes, phones and calculators. (I really didn't think I'd have to worry about monitoring tv time for a baby!)
He's really started recognizing people and gets so excited when he sees family members he loves.

Tubby Time

2011-03-01T10:28:00.001-08:00

More tubby photos! Allen continues to LOVE bath time. He's got a few bath toys, but he mostly just likes to splash and talk while he's in there.Each night when we start running the bath water Krug comes running in--he always thinks it's his turn for a tub. Poor guy gets a little neglected. The other night he came running in as usual so I just plopped him in there with Allen. I don't think it's quite what he had in mind but he seemed to enjoy the attention, and Allen always loves having Krug around :)

Check Out This Tushy

2011-02-28T08:03:00.000-08:00

Isn't this the best little tushy you've ever seen?!

Happy 3-Day Weekend!

2011-02-18T08:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T08:24:00.001-08:00

First Sleepover

2011-02-11T11:48:00.001-08:00

Parker and I are constantly talking about how much our families do for us. We have incredible parents and siblings that support us in so many ways. WE ARE SO GRATEFUL. After having Allen, even more blessings began to pour into our lives by way of our families. What would we do without all of you?

Well, the other day my sister was over at our house and she graciously offered to sleep in Allen's room so I could get a full night of rest. I'd completely forgotten what that felt like. I woke up feeling like a new person and I'm pretty sure Allen had a fantastic time having his first "sleepover". :)

For those of you wondering, NO, Allen did not sleep on the floor. He slept in his crib with his auntie on the floor next to him (She claims she likes sleeping on the floor. I'm pretty sure she is lying so I don't have to feel so guilty.) This is how I found the 2 of them the next morning--playing and reading stories together :)

6 Months

2011-02-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

As you can tell, I've gotten a little behind on my postings. There is a perfectly good explanation for this: I am having way too much fun with this little guy!

He is now 6 months old! (Has anyone figured out how I can stop time?!)

Here are a few updates about Allen:

He is ALMOST sleeping through the night. (He gets up at 5am to eat & then goes back to bed for a few hours.)

He loves playing with Krug and Chinghis--he gets so excited when he sees dogs.

Weighs 17 lbs. and 9 oz.

He can pretty much sit up on his own now, but still needs us to sit behind him, "just in case".

Still loves bath time and being outside.

Thinks his dad is HILARIOUS.

He really likes it when you sing to him.

Got his first cold :(

Has started using his highchair.

Peek-a-boo is his favorite game.

He is getting his first 2 teeth! (More on this later.)

And, I've come to the conclusion that he has the MOST adorable smile and laugh.

I am absolutely loving every single moment with my bug!

Disneyland: Part 2

2011-01-21T07:30:00.001-08:00

Ready for more Disneyland? We spent 3 days in Disneyland/California Adventureland. We spent 1 day hanging out at Downtown Disney and 1 day at Universal Studios. It was SO cold the whole week we were there and one of the days it rained. Luckily, that was the same day we opted to relax and just hang out at Downtown Disney. We did some shopping and saw TRON at the theater there. Then we had a super yummy dinner at The Rainforest Cafe. The food was fantastic, but Allen kept getting scared by all the fake storms and animals--poor little guy.
The boys got their picture taken with the crew from Apollo 13.

Me and my wonderful hubby.

We ate at the wharf at California Adventureland a few times. The food was great and it was a little less crowded than Disneyland. Allen got to help Grandpa feed the ducks :)

We spent New Year's Eve at Disneyland and then went over to California Adventure to finish up the day. They had an incredible water/light show that we got to see. (The pictures just don't do it justice!)

Tarzan's Treehouse

Riding the carousel. We thought Allen would really like this, but he didn't pay attention to the ride at all! He was completely mesmermized by the gold bar and looking at his reflection :)

Do these shoes make me look fat?

We saw a bunch of shows at Universal Studios. The Animal Show was one of my favorites. Afterwards, Allen got to pet Boomer the Saint Bernard. I love that he isn't afraid of dogs! He had so much fun petting him.

My two most favorite action figures :)

We decided to be really brave and ride Jurassic Park. It was SO SO SO cold and we were worried about getting wet. Luckily, we stayed pretty dry.

Meeting the Grinch and Max!

We had a fantastic time together. Dad & Mom, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for taking us on such a wonderful vacation. We loved every minute of it!

Disneyland: Part 1

2011-01-19T09:32:00.001-08:00

For Christmas, my parents took us to Disneyland. We had an absolute blast! Spending the week together on vacation was such a wonderful Christmas present. There are LOTS of pictures, so I'll do my best to narrate. Getting packed. In the end, Allen decided he didn't want to ride to California in a suitcase.
He was much more comfortable in his carseat :) For a 5 month old on a road trip, he did pretty good sitting in his seat for all those hours. We took lots of toys and books with us to keep him occupied. He sure loves his books! The "tail" end. Playing with Grandpa while we stopped for lunch. Ready for his first day at Disneyland! He got the stroller for Christmas and it was perfect for our trip. Allen's first ride! He wasn't sure what to think. Throughout the week we took him on every ride he was allowed to go on. Some he liked...others not so much. I think The Tiki Room and Peter Pan were his favorite and he absolutely hated Pinocchio and the Toy Story ride in Adventureland.

The park was REALLY crowded. They actually reached their capacity several of the days we were there and had to close the gates. (We got there early every day to make sure we'd get in.) It was so fun seeing the park decorated for Christmas!

The Haunted Mansion and It's a Small World were completely decorated inside and out for the holiday. So fun!

At night, the castle is "magically" covered with snow.

There were SO many things for Allen to see and experience.

This kid LOVES wearing glasses. He thinks it's so funny anytime we put them on him. It was nice to be able to distract him with them anytime we got stuck waiting in long lines.

Part 2 soon to follow!

Back To School

2011-01-11T08:39:00.000-08:00

I'm SO behind on my posting! Getting caught up is a little harder than a thought. Well...Parker headed back to school this week. He got accepted to the Masters program at the U of U and I'm so proud of him. It's only day 2 of the semester and he's already working so hard and has had to make a lot of sacrifices.

Now, for those of you out there panicking (I won't name any names, ahem), you don't have anything to worry about. We are still true blue cougar fans :) But we're very grateful for the blessing and opportunity that Parker has to continue his education.

Christmas 2010

2011-01-07T09:26:00.000-08:00

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. Crazy. A little chaotic. But wonderful. :) Christmas morning we opened presents and went through our stockings as a little family. Christmas seemed even more special now that we have our little Allen. Parker was so excited to celebrate Christmas with him, that he woke A.P. up a little early :) In these next few photos, you can tell by Allen's bewildered expression that he wasn't quite ready to be awake and experience so much excitement. :)

After going through our stockings and opening presents from one another, we rushed out the door for a fun day of visiting!

Allen with Papa

Allen with Gigi

We open presents with the Ainge's and then head to Grandma Ainge's for lunch and socializing.

Then we went to visit the Sneddon's and spend time with Great Grandma.

Allen with Grandpa and Grammy.

The boys all got remote control helicopters in their stockings. (One of which mysteriously got flown into my head and caught in my hair! Boys!)

Reading with Great Grandma.

Krug got stuck behind the Christmas tree and couldn't figure out how to get back out.

Sitting with Aunt Alicia

Thank you to our incredible families that take such good care of us (and spoiled us totally rotten). We had a great Christmas with all of you--being with you was the best part. We love you so much!

My Little Minion

2011-01-06T11:22:00.000-08:00

I love kids movies. Absolutely just love them. This last year, one of my favorites was Despicable Me. Each time the previews were played during commercials, the little minions totally had me cracking up. I just thought those little guys were so funny! Well, Allen has little rings he plays with and we have discovered a new game that he thinks is hilarious...playing minions!

He just thinks its so funny when we take turns putting the rings over our faces :)

See the resemblance?

Annual Ainge Christmas Party

2011-01-06T09:43:00.001-08:00

Every year Granda Ainge throws a huge Christmas Party. She puts so much work into it, and seems to out-do herself with each new year. And boy, does she spoil everybody rotten! First, we get to enjoy yummy food and chatting with all the family. Then, there is the big white elephant gift exchange. Followed by some caroling and a visit from Santa! It was way past Allen's bedtime and he was a little overwhelmed with all the people but he still had fun being snuggled by Grandma and cousins.
Allen did okay sitting on Santa's lap...until he turned around and saw who was holding him! Then he wasn't sure. Poor little guy :( All the kids got new pajamas and a fun Pillow Pet from Santa Clause. And then Grandma brought out the GIANT stockings for all the grandkids. (These things are HUGE! Seriously, they are so enormous!) I wish I'd gotten a picture of Allen with his, but he was so exhausted that we finally let him go to sleep after sitting on Santa's lap.

We look forward to this party every year and always have such a wonderful time!

New Slippers

2011-01-05T08:29:00.000-08:00

Aunt Alicia got Allen some new slippers and they are awesome! They are his size and fit perfectly but these things are HUGE! We couldn't stop laughing at how enormous they are on him--the pictures just don't do them justice. He was a little mesmermized by the camera in these photos.

My Birthday

2011-01-05T08:20:00.001-08:00

December was one CRAZY month for us! I'm going to do my best to get caught up on blog postings, but we'll see how it goes. Here are some pictures from my birthday. We'd planned to go to Temple Square to see the lights (one of my absolute favorite things to do) but the weather just wasn't cooperating. So...I opted for pizza and bowling and we had a BLAST! Allen's new favorite thing is plastic bottles of any kind. He likes the noise they make when you crinkle them and loves to suck on the cold plastic.
He also thought the presents looked good enough to eat :)

I love my husband and family so much! And I'm so thankful for all they do for me! Thank you for making my birthday so special. Just being together was the best birthday present.

Just a Sip

2010-12-15T08:11:00.000-08:00

Allen thought he'd try to get his hands on my soda last night. Hah! I really think he just liked the can because it was nice and cool. But he sure had a grip and wasn't about to give it back to me without a fight :)

(Now, Grammy and Gigi better not get ANY ideas. Little A.P. can't have anything but his bottle for quite awhile!)

We switched the Pepsi can out for a bottle--which he was more than happy to get in exchange!

Thanksgiving Point

2010-12-14T07:39:00.001-08:00

I was looking for some fun holiday activities and found out Thanksgiving Point has a TON of stuff going on this season. For FHE we trekked up there to see the ice carvers and to see Santa's reindeer. I'm sad to say that things were not quite as advertised. But we still had lots of fun playing around. Since the outdoor activities were a little disappointing, we went inside the emporium and had fun goofing around. :)

Does anyone else know of any other festive activities going on?

Got Milk?

2010-12-13T07:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes Allen gets a little over zealous with his bottles and ends up with "milkface".

You Can't Make Me!

2010-12-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

We had one of those days this week. You know the ones where it's just one thing after another? The ones where your adorable 4 month old manages to go through 4 outfits in the space of one afternoon and ends up needing 2 baths? Yep. That's what I'm talking about. Most of the time we just change Allen on the floor in our front room (because that's where we spend most of our time and I'm a little too lazy to walk to his bedroom to use the changing table every time.) Here's a picture of him as we're getting ready to take him for his 2nd bath. He'd gotten a grip on the leg of his swing and was not about to let go. He was giggling so hard! Which, in turn, had us giggling too.
As a new mom I know I have so much to learn. I love that these experiences that may seem frustrating are really just wonderful moments and learning lessons. My little guy is teaching me so much!

He actually really does love bath time. :)

One Little Thumb

2010-12-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

Allen has figured out how to suck his thumb. He's spent the last several weeks sucking on two or three fingers at a time, and now he finally figured out how to get just his little thumb in. I'm really not looking forward to breaking this habit, but in the meantime, it's just so adorable.

I Believe

2010-12-06T07:36:00.000-08:00

We caught Krug having a conversation with Santa--probably just telling him what he'd like for Christmas this year :)

1st Invite

2010-12-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

Allen got his very first invitation to a birthday party! His little friend Fischer is turning 1 year old and we are so excited to celebrate with him! My friend Valerie is Fischer's Mom and she has been so creative with her planning. She made the cutest invitations. The party theme is shapes and colors and everyone is supposed to wear their favorite color. Such a fun idea!

So glad that Allen already has a little friend :)

The Elf on the Shelf

2010-12-03T07:50:00.000-08:00

Now that we have Allen, Parker and I have been discussing the Christmas traditions we would like to have with our little family. I heard about "The Elf on the Shelf" several weeks ago. I did some investigating and decided that this little guy was just too dang cute to pass up and that he would be a perfect tradition for Christmastime. He comes in a box that includes a story as well as an explanation of the origin of The Elf on the Shelf. You get to name your elf--we named ours Chandler. He is your very own personal connection to Santa Clause. Each day he sits and watches the children and at the end of the day when they go to sleep he makes a quick trip to the North Pole to report to Santa who has been naughty and/or nice. Every morning he returns and watches from a new location. Children can tell him their Christmas wishes to report to Santa as well. How cute is that?! I am really looking forward to getting our elf out each Christmas. And until Allen is old enough to understand, Parker and I will just be on our best behavior while Chandler is watching :)

If anyone has any great Christmas traditions I would love to hear about them!

The Stockings Were Hung...

2010-12-01T07:56:00.001-08:00

Well, we haven't actually hung the stockings yet. BUT, all of our other holiday preparations are complete! Last week my wonderful hubby helped get our tree set-up. I got this little gem off ksl for $15 right after we got married. Every year, after the complete and utter hassle of getting the darn thing put-up, we claim that we will most certainly be purchasing a new tree. But we never seem to get around to it, and I think it's because we are secretly getting attached to this dodgy little tree that seems to suit us so very well.Parker has got to be the most patient man alive. Seriously. He puts up with so much--including my Christmas nerdiness and my need to get decorations put-up before Thanksgiving even gets here. Is there some kind of award for Husband Of The Year? Yes, the tree is totally slanted. We have to battle this sucker every year. Thank goodness for a little creativity, duct tape, and some kitchen towels or the tree would never make it. This is our third year though and I think we're actually getting it down to an art form now.Ta Da! Isn't it just beautiful?! I love my little tree! It's amazing how it can go from being something seemingly inconsequential to something so great. Parker commented that it's sort of a metaphor for ourselves. (See?! He's so wonderful. Always so quick to see the good in everything.)

I was also able to get all my shopping and wrapping done before Thanksgiving too. I got to use my new wrapping paper and I was so excited! Didn't they turn out so cute?! I went with a gingerbread theme so they'd match my tree ornaments. (I told you I was a nerd.) And the snow got here just in time to add to the holiday spirit! I just love winter! Krug had lots of fun bounding around in the snow drifts. He got into the holiday spirit as well. He dragged his stocking around the entire time we were decorating :)
Our little Christmas characters are watching over the presents to make sure there isn't any snooping going on. :)

Now the only thing left to do, is sit back and enjoy this wonderful season.

4 Months Continued

2010-11-30T11:29:00.000-08:00

Isn't this the SADDEST face?! He had just gotten his 4 months immunizations. It just makes my heart break. Thank goodness we have another 2 months before the next round.

All That Jazz

2010-11-30T08:15:00.000-08:00

The Ainge's took us to a Jazz game over Thanksgiving weekend and we had a blast! We got to sit in one of their boxes. It was so great not to have anyone directly in front of us...or behind us (there is nothing worse than being surrounded by obnoxious sports fans, or having someone behind you spill beer on you.)

We got to see a great game and really enjoyed hanging out with everyone.

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-30T07:42:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. We're so blessed to have both our families close by and be able to spend to much time with them. Our week was pretty crazy...Parker and I were both sick, and little A.P. had a rough few days after getting his shots, but we still had a great week together. We saw Harry Potter #7 and Tangled (I'd highly recommend Tangled). We saw The Drowsy Chaperone at the Hale Center Theater (such a great play!) and went to a Jazz game. We ate lots of yummy food and spent lots of time in our pajamas. It was fantastic!Yay for Thanksgiving!Allen is looking forward to having turkey and mashed potatoes next year instead of just a bottle.
Gigi does a nativity with the grandkids every year.
Allen got to be baby Jesus.

Such a great time of year--everything is all about family and we just love it!

Elf In Training

2010-11-29T08:45:00.000-08:00

We get Christmas started early at our house. I am a huge Christmas nerd and I love this season! The tree and decorations get put up by Thanksgiving--at the latest! We get the shopping done and wrap the presents. We've got the holiday music playing. And this year...we have a little

Elf in Training :)

The flash is a little bright Mom.

The fingers taste pretty good, but when can I have a sugar cookie?

Help! I'm being attacked by the giant candy cane!

Being an elf can be exhausting! After helping with all the decorations he needed a nap.

Little elf toes.

Christmas is such a beautiful holiday. I look forward to celebrating the season every year. And even though Allen really has no idea what's going on, he is already making Christmas even more magical for us. Isn't it wonderful how children change things for us?

4 Months

2010-11-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

I'm in denial. He cannot possibly be 4 months old already! Can someone tell me how to stop time? Every moment with our little A.P. is wonderful. I just can't believe it's going by so quickly.

Some things about Allen:

--Weighs 14 lbs and 5 oz.

--Is 26 inches long

--Is always playing with his hands and trying to figure out how to fit his whole hand in his mouth at once.

--Has started sucking his thumb. Sort of. He can't figure out how to get just his thumb in his mouth so he sucks on his thumb and index finger.

--He is such a happy baby. He's laughing and smiling all the time.

--Graduated from the bassinet and has been sleeping in his crib.

--Definitely a morning person. The only thing consistent about his schedule is that he is up every morning at 6:30am.

--Starting to enjoy tummy time (instead of throwing a fit the minute he was placed on the ground)

--Starting to recognize Mom and Dad

--Starting to pay attention to Krug.

--Follows voices, sounds, and objects with his eyes and will turn his head.

--Using his legs and feet to kick-off and push.

--Loves, loves, loves watching lights. The Christmas tree lights have him absolutely mesmerized.

--Has started trying to reach for things.

--Doing much better at holding onto toys and blankets.

--Loves bath time and splashing.

It's Friday, I'm in Love

2010-11-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

(This picture is from a few weeks ago. He already looks so different. I can't believe how fast he is growing and how much he is changing!)

Some things I'm looking forward to this weekend:

1. Date Night with my wonderful hubby! It's my week to plan our Date Night and I thought of something to test our creative and artistic abilities. We'll see if we can rise to the challenge :)

2. Zumba with Valerie. Kicks my butt every single week. Seriously. But SO much fun!

3. Getting my Christmas decorations out. Woohoo! Normally, I don't get things out until the day after Thanksgiving...but this year I just can't wait any longer. And this year I've bribed Alicia into being my accomplice. Mwahaha!

4. Hair Appointment. The roots have got to go!

5. Time with My Boys. Saturday and Sunday are wonderful because I don't have to leave Allen first thing in the morning and go to work. I get to spend the whole weekend with Parker, Allen, & Krug. What more could I ask for?!

Baby It's Cold Outside

2010-11-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

On Sunday we had planned to go on a walk as a family after Church. Well, apparently the weather had other plans for us! What started as a fairly nice November day turned into a wet soggy afternoon--but we persevered! We put on our layers and went for a walk. Allen loves being outside and was bundled up so well that he stayed toasty warm and really enjoyed being outdoors. Parker and I weren't nearly as warm (we'll definitely need more layers next time!). Afterwards we all had fun snuggling on the couch inside our wonderful little house. Looks like winter is officially here!

Rosita

2010-11-08T09:31:00.000-08:00

A friend from work gave Allen a bumbo (see picture below if you have no idea what I'm talking about). It has been so fun and I love this little chair! In honor of Joey Tribbiani we named the little chair Rosita. (I've inlcuded the link to the clip here. It's about 9 minutes long if you want to watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNwXd80mvaY) I'm hoping that having Allen sit in it will not only help him strengthen his back and neck but will also finally help the hair on the back of his head grow-in since he isn't laying down all the time now.

It's the perfect little spot for him to sit while he's watching sports with his Dad :)

Lots and Lots of Halloween

2010-11-04T10:53:00.001-07:00

We had so many fun things going on for Halloween this year. We had our ward party a few weeks ago with a chili cook-off and cupcake contest. My little owl cupcakes are in an earlier post. We had a really good time hanging out with some of our new neighbors and enjoyed eating really yummy chili. One of the sisters in our ward is a photographer and she took everyone's photos. They turned out great! (Allen was ready for bed by then so he wasn't his happiest during the picture taking.)
We got together with the Sneddon's to celebrate Halloween. A few days before Halloween we did dinner and pumpkin carving. We were all feeling pretty ambitious for the carving but by the time we got around to it, it was late and our energy was running out! Mom came up with a great idea that had our pumpkins ready-to-go in less than 20 minutes :)
We ended up having a stormy Halloween evening. I kept thinking about all the little trick-or-treaters being so cold! We kept warm inside playing games and eating LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of goodies.

After MUCH debate, we decided not to get Allen a Halloween costume. Instead, I got him some Halloween pajammies and decided he'd be much more comfortable in those anyway. He looked pretty dang cute to begin with, but his auntie added a little something to his outfit...

Isn't he the cutest?! We couldn't stop laughing. Hope he's not too embarassed when he gets older and sees all the silly things we did to him :)And you just know that if we do things like this to our kid, then we would certainly do something to the dogs as well...

Krug and Chinghis were both pumpkins (it's hard to find things to fit Chinghis). But Krug actually had 2 costumes. He was also the "steed" for the Headless Horseman.

The dogs didn't want to miss out on the good food :)

We had a wonderful time just being together and laughing.

Hope all of you had a fun Halloween as well!

Happy Birthday!

2010-11-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to get the blog caught up with everything that's been going on--my goodness we've been busy! (A key indicator that the holidays have arrived!)

Parker's birthday was October 26th. We had so much fun celebrating! Well, I at least had fun celebrating :) Parker wasn't to keen on being another year older but he had a pretty good time anyway :) I surprised Parker with a few treats throughout the day and decorated his office. And we went to P.F. Chang's with the Ainge's for dinner on his birthday. I took Parker out the following night to our favorite sushi spot and then we had a joint birthday dinner for Parker and Rusty with the Sneddon's at Tucanos. So much fun to be with everyone and so much yummy food! I love you so much honey and hope you had a wonderful birthday!

3 Months

2010-10-29T08:23:00.000-07:00

Time goes by so fast! My little guy is 3 months old! Here is a little update of Allen and all that he is doing.

--Weighs 12lbs. 13 oz.
--Is 25.5 inches long

( Please ignore that the sheet says "footprint". They didn't have any "handprint" forms.)

--He's learning to grab and hold onto things (other than fingers--he's been doing that since day 1)
--He can hold his head up all on his own
--Hates tummy time on the floor or couch. He'll just lay there and lick the couch until he decides he's had enough and then starts crying. But he will tolerate it if you lay him on your stomach
--Learning to kick-off/push-off with his legs
--Getting really good at following things with his eyes and focusing on things
--Is FINALLY starting to get on some sort of sleeping pattern
--He's definitely a morning baby. He loves waking up, but is cranky in the evenings.
--Laughs (especially when hanging out with his Dad)
--Has been learning to make sounds and likes to "talk"
--Loves to be cuddled
--Has started getting scared by things
--Threw his first tantrum (Seriously!)
--Likes watching tv
--Likes sitting in his bumbo, sleeping in his car seat, and really likes to be outside

It's Monday

2010-10-25T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's Monday. And this picture perfectly illustrates how I feel about it.

Hoot Hoot

2010-10-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

Our ward had a chili cook-off and cupcake contest for our Halloween Party this last weekend. My cooking skills are less than mediocre these days so I decided cupcakes would be the safer route. I got together with my Mom to do some decorating (I knew I would need supervision). Allen loved being Mommy's little helper. He held onto his wubby and told stories while we decorated :) These things turned out so cute! But they were SO frustrating. (Nothing ever turns out the way you plan.) Separating the oreos and trying to get all of the frosting on one side of the cookie was the hardest part of this project. We had lots of fun though (Thanks Mom!) and I'm already looking at ideas for next year.

My little owls won the contest--I couldn't believe it! There were so many fun and unique cupcakes at the party--everyone is so talented! I wanted to copy all of their ideas!

Cupcake decorating is hard work. My little helper was exhausted.

The Many Faces of Allen

2010-10-19T08:28:00.000-07:00

Allen already loves playing with his Dad. They have so much fun together! He laughed for the first time this week, and of course it was with Parker :) Here are a few shots of the many faces of Allen. (I love that he and Parker are making the same face in some of these!)

Allen vs. Himself

2010-10-18T09:06:00.001-07:00

Allen's given himself quite a few scratches, but this one is by far the worst! I didn't even get around to taking these pictures until a day after it happened, so it was already starting to

look better.
He doesn't seem to mind at all, but it's so sad! I was really thinking about making him wear his little newborn mittens again...but then I guess he'd never learn :(

It's hard to tell in the picture, but the scratch was deep enough that it bled a little. :( I'm really trying to love and enjoy every phase he goes through, but hopefully there won't be too many more of these little battlewounds.

Are You Ready For Some Football?!

2010-10-18T09:00:00.001-07:00

Football season is in full swing and we've been watching our fair share of games. Parker thinks it's important to get Allen started early :)Here's Parker doing the Heisman pose. I don't think Allen minded being the football.
Poor little guy fell asleep while watching a game with his Dad.

Blessing Day

2010-10-13T07:37:00.001-07:00

On September 26, 2010 Allen Parker Ainge was blessed by his Dad, Parker W. Ainge. It was such a special day for us. Over the last year my testimony of the Priesthood has truly been strengthened through the experiences Parker and I have been through. Little Allen didn't even have to wait for his Blessing Day to receive his first blessing from his Dad. He had his first blessing when he was just a few days old and was struggling with eating and jaundice. I am so thankful for the Lord's power on this earth and even more grateful to have it in my own home. It has been yet another testament in my life that the Lord is truly aware of each of us. Allen didn't have any shoes to go with his blessing clothes, so he wore his little doggie slippers. (If I could get away with it, I would totally wear my slippers to church too!)My wonderful friend Valerie and her husband Karl. (Little Fischer's Parents.) Great Grandma holding Allen. My mom holding Fischer Christensen. Allen's friend :)

Allen being held by GiGi.

Allen's Great Grandma Verla and Aunt Lori.

Parker and Uncle Ulises

Aunt Laura holding Allen and his cousin Presley (Presley is about 4 months older than Allen)

Sitting with his Grandpa

Being held by Uncle Rusty

Great Grandma has been in the hospital and couldn't come to the blessing. We made sure to go visit her so she could be a part of Allen's day.

Aunt Alicia and Alex

We're so thankful to have been blessed with such incredible families and friends. (Wish we could have gotten pictures of everyone!) You guys all mean so much to us! Thank you for sharing this special day with us.

Be Still My Heart

2010-10-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

I am SO in love with this little guy! Who knew your heart could grow so much?

Ruff Day

2010-10-12T07:40:00.001-07:00

Krug had a really rough day yesterday :( Poor little guy was super sick. Here he is cuddling with his bear and resting up after such a long day.

Finally!

2010-10-01T07:53:00.001-07:00

Fall is finally here and I am so excited! Fall brings some of my most favorite things:

1. Cold Weather

2. All kinds of wonderful holiday traditions & get-togethers with family

and...

3. General Conference!

As part of BYU's "Recapturing Beauty" campaign I was lucky enough to be able to go and hear Stephanie Nielson speak last night. (If you don't know who she is, her blog link is in my sidebar: NieNie Dialogues). What an amazing woman! Her message was both humbling and inspiring and has definitely helped me get in the right frame of mind and spirit for General Conference this weekend. If you have a minute or two, click on the link below to watch her Mormon Messages video "My New Life". I've also added the link for BYU's "Recapturing Beauty" campaign if you're interested. (The campaign is being provided by BYU's Women's Services department.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E

http://recapturingbeauty.byu.edu/

Also, just a quick update on our little family...

Allen had his 2 months vaccinations. Poor little guy!

And... Parker took and passed the GMAT!!!

I'm so proud of both my boys :) and am looking forward to spending General Conference weekend with them. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend as well!

Recipes

2010-09-29T10:06:00.000-07:00

My wonderful friend Valerie made super delicious food for my baby shower and I was supposed to get these posted months ago! Sorry about the wait everyone!

Cafe Rio Pork
3 lb. pork roast
2 c. sugar (part brown, part white sugar)
1 can Coke
1-2 c. salsa

Slow cook pork roast in crock pot with a small amount of water added. Cook until the meat shreds easily, about 3 hours. Remove meat from crock pot and drain liquid. Shred meat and put back in the crock pot. Add sugar, coke and salsa. Stir in incorporate. Slow cook for an additional 1-2 hours. Serve in tortillas or on a salad.

Tomatillo Cilantro Dressing
1 pkt. Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. sour cream
1 c. buttermilk
3 tomatillos (These are green tomatoes with husk)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. cilantro chopped
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine ranch, mayo, sour cream and buttermilk in blender. Mix until ingredients are incorporated. Remove husk from tomatillos, quarter and add to blender. Add garlic, cilantro and cayenne. Blend until smooth. Chill before serving. (You may reduce or increase the amount of buttermilk depending on the consistency that you want.)

Mexican Corn
3 cans corn, use white corn if you have it
8 oz. cream cheese
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. milk
3 T. flour
1 small can green chilies, diced

Melt butter, add flour, add milk and thicken. Add cream cheese and melt. Add remaining ingredients and put in casserole dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Truffles
1- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened (not reduced fat)
1 pkg Oreos
1 lb. Dipping Chocolate or Almond Bark (not chocolate chips)

Put entire package of Oreos into a large food processor and pulse until you get fine crumbs. Add softened cream cheese and blend until a ball of dough is formed. Use a small scopp to make truffles, about 1/2"-3/4" in diameter. Roll each truffle into a ball and place on large cookie sheet, lined with wax paper. Chill until truffles are firm.

Melt half of the dipping chocolate in a glass measuring cup. Use a wooden skewer to speak truffle, dip in chocolate, tapping of excess, and then slide truffle off skewer with another skewer, Fill hole. I usually do half of the batch and put them back in the fridge because the truffles will become soft and difficult to dip. When all of the truffles have been dipped, melt a small amount of contrasting color chocolate. Place this chocolate in a small ziploc bag, cut a small corner off of the bag and drizzle over the dipped truffles. If they will be used within 48 hours, truffles can be kept at room temperature, otherwise freeze or chill. Makes approximately 48-50 truffles.

ENJOY!

For Grammy and Gigi

2010-09-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

Splish Splash

2010-09-21T08:11:00.001-07:00

Allen LOVES bath time! He's usually a pretty good baby, but even more so when he gets to have a tub. He's perfectly content to just sit there and soak while being scrubbed.

Look how skinny he was! :( I'm proud to inform you that he has finally been gaining weight these last few weeks and is starting to get fat rolls!

Before he started gaining weight, I had to put a big towel in his tub to add some padding and help support him because he was just so small! (The washcloths in the photos serve a dual function. One, to keep him modest :) and two, to keep him warm.)
The one thing Allen doesn't like about bath time is getting out. He's very quick to let us know he's cold and wants to be put right back into the warm water. He'll only be appeased when bath time is followed by a great deal of cuddling. No problem there!

Sleep Deprived

2010-09-21T07:54:00.000-07:00

As you can probably already guess, we aren't getting much sleep at our house these days. Allen is pretty much nocturnal--he loves being awake at night! Making the rest of our days so sleepy...

Krug has given up trying to sleep in our room. Now he usually goes and hides

once the crying starts.

Now I know why they use sleep deprivation as torture!

Under The Lights

2010-08-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here's Allen sporting his goggles--we thought they looked just like the ones
Willy Wonka wears :)

Parker and I are so grateful that our little guy arrived safely and healthy. There were some minor complications during the delivery but we know we were watched over and are so thankful to have been blessed with such an incredible doctor and hospital staff. We've had a few little health issues to deal with in the last week. First, Allen has really struggled with eating and with gaining weight. :( We are slowly but surely making progress but have needed to use a variety of methods to do so. The pictures below show Allen needing to be finger fed by a syringe.
(I can NOT get over how cute he is!)

Allen also has jaundice. Thank goodness for wonderful doctors and technology! We were able to get him the treatment he needed AT HOME. He had to spend a few days under Bilirubin lights and daily visits to the hospital for lab work. Thankfully his levels dropped low enough that he no longer has to sleep under the lights. I find myself recognizing little miracles in our lives everyday.

As difficult as this process has been, we thought he looked so cute in his little "incubator". He absolutely hated having to wear the goggles and it made the nights especially long, but he looked so cute in his "tanning bed".

Drum Roll Please...

2010-08-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Introducing Allen Parker Ainge!

Born July 29, 2010 @ 3:10pm.
Weight: 7 lbs. 13 oz.
Length: 21 inches

Parker and I are so excited to be able to introduce you to our little Allen. We are so excited and thankful that he is finally here!!!

Thank you to all of our incredible family and friends who have been a source of constant support, comfort, and strength. We are so very grateful for all you have done and all that
you continue to do for us and our little family.

We will get more pictures posted soon!
(Trust me, there are LOTS!)

Getting Ready

2010-07-21T07:57:00.000-07:00

We've spent the last few months getting things "ready" for little Allen's arrival. This last weekend Parker put together the stroller, and then we both made sure we knew how to properly use the car seat. (I couldn't find a doll so the stuffed bear had to substitute as the "baby".) We've tried to include Krug in all the baby preparations in hopes that he'd adjust well to the baby. He's certainly been very interested in all the new things going on and a willing "assistant" in all our preparations.

The only thing we've had trouble with so far, is that Krug thinks all the new toys are for him. He didn't understand why we'd take a perfectly good toy and strap it into a chair instead of letting him play with it.

I'm so glad dogs can't talk! With all that he has been witness to, I'm sure he'd be laughing and mocking me constantly for the many, many mistakes I've been making. Let's just say there have been plenty of "duh" moments these last few months. :) I've got a lot to learn and I'm sure I'll be calling many of you for mommy advice!

The Many Uses...

2010-07-14T10:02:00.001-07:00

Pregnancy certainly has it's many inconveniences. In the last few weeks, however, I've discovered the many uses of the pregnant belly :) Krug was actually the first to recognize the handiness. He's often used it as a head rest/pillow when he sits with me (as pictured below). If I'm doing things around the house, he's also quick to come and use the belly as a stretching post. So glad I could be of assistance...

It's also been a great book rest as I'm reading or even a makeshift portable table as you can see here.

As helpful as the belly can be, I'm certainly looking forward to it's abscence. :)

My Nemesis

2010-06-30T09:09:00.001-07:00

My nemesis.

I would like to start by saying that I blame my sister. Totally and completely. This is all her fault! That being said, let me do a little explaining. My desire and appetite for food finally started to return a few weeks ago. Things can still be iffy depending on the day, but I have been feeling much better. (Finally!) But I have a new problem. Now that I'm feeling better I really want to eat anything and everything that sounds good. I don't think I'd call them cravings so much as addictions. Well, a few days ago Alicia, thinking she was being nice (but in reality totally evil) introduced me to this new flavor of goldfish cracker--Goldfish Cinnamon Grahams.

How can something so small be so devious?! That little guy just sits there with his seemingly innocent (but really totally smug) grin. Don't be fooled! I discovered you can't have just one. You can't even have just a few. After one little graham the rest of the bag practically begs, nay demands to be eaten! I think I need supervision...

Welcome Home!

2010-06-14T11:04:00.001-07:00

WELCOME HOME DAD!!! We're SO glad to have you back!

Baby Showers

2010-06-07T08:41:00.001-07:00

Parker and I have been the recpients of so many acts of service this last year. We have been so blessed to have incredible families and friends who love us so much and do so much for us. And I now have even more reasons to shout their praises. I had 2 Baby Showers this last month and had so much fun! This is just one more example of why I love being a girl! (Poor boys--they miss out on so much. They can't possibly have as much fun as us girls :) Getting together as women--as family and friends--is just wonderful. We had such a good time talking, laughing, and eating. I AM SO BLESSED. Everyone takes such good care of us, and honestly, we are feeling very, very spoiled. I am so thankful for everyone's thoughtful and sweet gifts and for everything that everyone has done to help us prepare for little Allen's arrival.

A very special thank you to Christy, Amber, Valerie, Mom, Alicia, & Laura for throwing these Baby Showers for me. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

We Have a Crib!

2010-05-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

We have finally started getting things ready for little Allen's arrival. Parker, despite already taking care of me constantly and is now sick himself, managed to get our crib put together over the weekend! The reality of Allen's soon-to-be-arrival is starting to really sink in and we are so excited! We've still got a lot of work to do but are having fun with all the preparations.

Krug, of course, has to be with Parker constantly. So he was there "helping" assemble the crib with every step.

We have a crib! YAY!

Simple Pleasures

2010-05-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend I got to enjoy some of life's simple pleasures: date night with my wonderful husband, sleeping in, getting a haircut, planting flowers, getting icecream at yummy Sub Zero, and...going for a car ride. I'd spent Saturday morning at my Mom's house. She'd given me a haircut and had then planted flowers for me in my little flower barrel (and I just LOVE them! Yay for spring!) I'd brought Krug with me so he could play in the yard with my parent's dog Chinghis while we were doing our planting. We'd finished things up and were getting everything loaded in my car. Krug loves going for visits but is always worried about getting left behind. Thus, he makes sure he is the first thing loaded in the car. I'd opened the passenger door for him to jump in, and then proceeded to open the back door so my Mom could put my flower barrel in the back seat. Well, Chinghis saw his moment of opportunity and he took it! Next thing I knew, he had also loaded himself into the car!

What was I going to do with two dogs in my car?!! They were both so excited that I didn't want to disappoint them. So...I took them for a quick little car ride. You would have thought it was Christmas! They were both so excited and it was a really good reminder for me to take better notice of life's simple pleasures.

Beware the Dark Side

2010-04-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

It has taken me forever to get these clips posted! A few months ago Parker & I watched all of the old Star Wars movies. (I think it goes without saying that these movies are pretty dang awesome.) They were playing on some odd cable channel and we had a lot of fun watching them again. Well, I've mentioned before that Krug will often watch tv with us. The weekend we watched these movies was probably the first time we noticed just how much tv he was watching. He was hooked! And I think he may have enjoyed the movies even more than we did.

These clips are little long (about a minute), but are pretty funny. Needless to say, Krug is definitely a Star Wars fan :) This first one just shows him avidly watching a scene with Han Solo and Princess Leia. He was pretty much like this for most of the trilogy.

Krug was quick to recognize the bad guys! He definitely did not like the storm troopers.

This last clip is my favorite. It shows Krug's reaction to the ultimate villain, Darth Vader.

Gifts from Afar

2010-04-12T08:31:00.001-07:00

It certainly hasn't been fun having Dad be gone for so long, but we have really enjoyed hearing about all the experiences he is having in Afghanistan. He sends great pictures and is always sharing information about the culture and the people there. Needless to say, after reading his letters and emails I find myself feeling so grateful for the lives we have here in this country.

Over the weekend we had a fun surprise--Dad had sent a gift home for Parker! He is now the proud owner of a village elder hat. I don't think they'll be coming in style here anytime soon, but what a fun gift! Thanks Dad!

Easter Season

2010-04-07T08:57:00.000-07:00

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following Easter message this weekend:

"At this Easter seaon as we contemplate our own mortality and remember loved ones who have passed from this life, our hearts turn to Him who promised: 'Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.'

"Jesus Christ is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy One of Israel, even the risen Lord, who declared: 'Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world...I am the light and the life of the world.' 'I am the first and the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with the Father.'

"This Easter season, as His witness, we testify that He lives and that through Him, we too shall live."

We had a busy, but wonderful Easter/Conference weekend. We loved being able to spend so much time with family--so thankful these holidays bring us together!

On Saturday we went to Grandma Ainge's Easter Party and has such a good time. And were glad all the accountant's could take a break from work and join us :) It's so much fun watching all of the kids during the easter egg hunt--can't wait until we get to do this with our little guy!

On Sunday, we enjoyed having Easter dinner with Grandma & Joel and had lots of fun teaching them how to play Taboo afterwards (it was the only game we could find in the closet).

Most of all, we just enjoyed being with everyone.

Home Sweet Home

2010-04-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Enjoying our Conference weekend.

Couch Potato

2010-04-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

My dog is a couch potato. I've heard some people describe dogs as "lazy". Honestly, I think they just have a true understanding of how to relax and take life easy. After we first got Krug we quickly learned that whatever we were doing, he wanted to be a part of it. He'd always join us in the front room when we were watching a movie or one of our shows. Once Krug learned that the couch was strictly off-limits he decided to claim the recliner in our front room as his own. He's quick to make himself comfortable (one of the many great dog qualities I've come to admire). But he'll also find other suitable locations (he really likes to sit as close to the couch as possible and then snuggle himself into the blankets that hang over the edge). Shortly after we got him we noticed that he would occasionaly watch tv with us--depending on the show--but he would actually watch tv! He was always extrememly interested when there were dogs on the screen. Sometimes we joke and put on dog shows just so we can watch Krug go crazy and bark at the tv while he's watching. Well, the other day I was trying to fold laundry and Krug kept thinking it was fun to grab the clean clothes and play "keep-away". I finally gave up trying to chase him around (I don't have very much energy these days). I had an epiphany. I went and grabbed my "Snow Dogs" dvd and put it into the computer--within moments Krug had seated himself quite happily at the computer and was watching the movie!

He sat there for an hour and enjoyed his show and I was able to fold the laundry in peace. I was so proud of myself and thought the whole thing was so funny. I promise I won't make a habit of using the television as a babysitter...or a dogsitter.

Baby's First Photos

2010-03-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Once again I find myself feeling so thankful for technology I don't understand. This last week I had an ultrasound for my 5 month appointment. It was amazing for Parker & I to be able to sit in a little room and be able to watch our baby and listen to his heartbeat. It wasn't until I became pregnant that I realized what an incredible blessing good health is. We are feeling so thankful that he is growing and developing well and getting more and more excited for his arrival! (I know, I know. I've still got a long way to go. But that isn't going to keep me from getting excited!)

Parker & I had talked a lot about the types of names we would like to consider and decided that traditional names or family names were very important to us. We had decided from the beginning that if it was a boy we would name him Allen after Parker's Grandpa Ainge. We're so thankful for the blessing of family and the privilege of being able to pass on a special name to our little one.

News Flash!

2010-03-09T12:21:00.000-08:00

News Flash! I just ate a hamburger! This may be a seemingly unimportant and mundane event to most, but for me, it is not an exaggeration whatsover to say that this is TRULY my very own little miracle.

I think I want another one...

NFL Draft

2010-02-17T08:16:00.000-08:00

We've been counting the days to when we could get an ultrasound and find out if we are having a boy or a girl. Parker called me yesterday a few hours before our appointment and said he felt like we were in the NFL draft and wondering which team we were going to be on :) Well, we tried to make lots of phone calls and send lots of texts, but just in case you didn't get the news...we are having a boy!! And we are thrilled!! We'd felt for awhile that it was a boy but we're so excited to know for sure. (And Dad, if you're reading this--sorry we ruined the suprise!)

Happy Saturday

2010-02-13T08:36:00.001-08:00

I'm so glad it's Saturday. Hope everyone has a wonderful 3-day weekend!

Say Cheese!

2010-02-04T10:24:00.000-08:00

I've said it before, but I'd like to say it again. My husband is so wonderful! He's had his hands full taking care of everything in our lives since I've been so sick, but he still manages to make time to be so thoughtful and sweet. For my birthday he gave me the greatest present--a photo session! We contacted our photographer who did our wedding pictures and scheduled a session. We went up to Salt Lake and had a great time getting pictures done together. And Jess, our photographer, is AMAZING. She took so many fantastic pictures that I still can't decide which ones to order! You can go to her blog and check some of them out. Click on the "picturememine" link in my sidebar.

1+1=3

2010-02-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

In school they teach you that 1+1=2. Well, I think we have proven them wrong. We found out that 1+1 actually adds up to 3!

Parker and I have loved being "just the two of us". Just when we thought life couldn't get better and we couldn't possibly be even more blessed than we already are, we found out that I am pregnant. And we are so excited!! We're feeling so blessed to be able to add to our little family. My due date is August 1, 2010. Counting down!

Books of 2009

2010-01-04T08:19:00.000-08:00

Growing up, my Dad taught me to keep track of the books I read. But as I got older I got out of the habit. For whatever reason, the idea came to me last January and throughout 2009 I kept a running list of the books I read. And here they are! If anyone is looking for some good books to read I could certainly suggest a few--and a few not so good ones too. I'm hoping that in 2010 I can make more time for reading and have an even longer list by next year.

The Christmas Sweater--Glenn Beck
Hostile Makeover
Feet First--Leanne Banks
Underfoot--Leanne Banks
Footloose--Leanne Banks
Bachelorette #1
Plum Series. Books 1-14--Janet Evanovich
Twilight Series. Books 1-4--Stephanie Meyer
Midnight Sun Manuscript--Stephanie Meyer
The Host--Stephanie Meyer
Pacific Vortex--Clive Cussler
To Die For--Linda Howard
Drop Dead Gorgeous--Linda Howard
Jane Eyre--Charlotte Bronte

Plum Spooky--Janet Evanovitch
Confessions of a Shopaholic--Sophie Kinsella
Shopaholic Takes Manhatten--Sophie Kinsella
The Mediterranean Caper--Clive Cussler
Shopaholic Ties the Knot--Sophie Kinsella
The Starter Wife--Gigi Levangie Granger
Little Women--Louisa May Alcott
Rhett Butler's People--Donald McCaig
Bet Me--Jennifer Crusie
Thanksgiving--Janet Evanovich
"A" is for Alibi--Sue Grafton
Sense & Sensibility--Jane Austen
"B" is for Burgler--Sue Grafton
"C" is for Corpse--Sue Grafton
Emma--Jane Austen
Hot Stuff--Janet Evanovich
The Work & The Glory 1--Gerald Lund
Foul Play--Janet Evanovich
The Work & The Glory 2--Gerald Lund
The Constant Princess-Philippa Gregory
Sundays at Tiffany's--James Patterson
Iceberg--Clive Cussler
To Die For--Linda Howard ( I read this one twice last year)
Safe at Home--Alyssa Milano
Twenties Girl--Sophie Kinsella
Julie & Julia--Julie Powell
The Mysterious Benedict Society--Trenton Lee Stewart
The Wednesday Letters--Jason F. Wright
The Boleyn Inheritance--Phillipa Gregory
Carpe Demon--Julie Kenner
California Demon--Julie Kenner
Persuasion--Jane Austen
A Christmas Carol--Charles Dickens
Demons are Forever--Julie Kenner
Sister Carrie--Theodore Dreiser
Hunger Games--Suzanne Collins
Something Blue--Emily Giffin

Catching Fire--Suzanne Collins
Deja Demon--Julie Kenner
Phantom--Susan Kay
Mistborn:The Final Empire--Brandon Sanderson

Called To Serve

2009-12-07T08:27:00.000-08:00

D&C 65:2 The Keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.

Last Wednesday, Collin went into the MTC! He is going to be serving in the Japan Fukuoka Mission. We're so proud of him!

Giving Thanks

2009-12-03T07:32:00.000-08:00

D&C 78:19 "And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with my Mom's side of the family. With my Mom & Dad in Europe enjoying Dad's 2 week leave, I got to help Grandma with this year's dinner. I've always helped in years past, but I've never actually been "in charge" and I was worried! But luckily all the food turned out great!

After dinner, everyone claimed that they wanted to watch the football game. In truth, they all just wanted to sit on the couch and take a nap! Grandma & Kaya snuck off to Grandma's comfy bed for a quick nap.

I love that this holiday brings us together as a family and we get to enjoy so much time together.

Throughout the rest of the week we had fun hanging out with Alicia & Rusty. We played lots of video games, watched movies, and

ate lots and lots of yummy food! Most of all, just relaxing and enjoying being together.

We were blessed to be able to have Alicia & Rusty hanging out with us all week long, and had such a wonferul time. Parker and I talk often about how full and blessed our lives are. We are so very thankful for our family and friends--we love all of you so much. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and were able to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for.

A Little Organization

2009-12-02T07:58:00.000-08:00

I have a shelf! This may be mundane news to some of you, but I am SO excited about it! Parker and I have a storage closet on the outside of our condo and for the last year it has been a complete disaster. It didn't matter how I tried to organize it, it was always such a mess. And in order to get the box or item we needed I would have to unload the whole closet. Such a hassle.

Well, not anymore! My super helpful brother Rusty came over during Thanksgiving break and built a shelf in my closet. I can practically hear the Hallelujah chorus! I'm wishing I would have thought to take a "before" picture but here is the "after"!

Isn't it wonderful?!

And of course Krug found a way to include himself. He had fun playing with all the 2x4 scrap pieces.

Thank you so much Rusty!!!

The new shelf is perfect!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

2009-12-01T07:39:00.001-08:00

Have I mentioned that I have the MOST wonderful husband?! He somehow manages to put up with all my craziness--including my need to get my Christmas decorations out as early as possible! I am a complete Christmas nerd and love all things Christmas. The week before Thanksgiving he took the initiative and helped me haul out all the decorations and put up our Christmas Tree (which, if you saw the base close-up, you would realize what a complete and utter hassle that is.) He sang along with me to all our cheesy Christmas albums and helped me make our home look so very festive.

Even Krug enjoyed getting into the holiday spirit with his little doggie candy cane.

And apparently I wasn't supervising Parker's decorating efforts close enough. Can you tell what's wrong with this Nativity scene?

Here's a closer look. Can you see it now?

He put the little snowboarder next to Mary & Joseph! He thought he was so sneaky and funny but luckily I caught him. He was a little disappointed that I noticed so quickly :)

And I even managed to get all our shopping done and all the presents wrapped. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Finding Answers

2009-11-19T16:15:00.000-08:00

The last couple of weeks I've been feeling like I was in a bit of funk. Something was missing and no matter how I searched, thought or prayed, I just couldn't figure it out. Life is really wonderful right now--my blessings far outweighing my trials. But somehow, I was just feeling lost.

During my lunch break today, I was reading through some past posts on a blog I've been following since the beginning of summer. It is written by a woman named Stephanie Nielson. Have you heard of her? I hope you have. Her posts are wonderfully inspiring. Her words change me. Her story has made me think about my own. It's reminded me that my life is my own--to make of it whatever I will. I need and want to make some changes.

I sat at my desk reading one of her posts about her beloved Mr. Nielson...and in that moment I found my answer.

If you haven't read her story, please do. Many times our days are filled with wasted moments. This will not be one of them.

This link provides the short version of her story.

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20090924-tows-stephanie-plane-crash\

The link to her blog (The NieNie Dialogues) is in my sidebar.

Rules

2009-11-16T08:34:00.001-08:00

Rule #1: Projects involving glitter should always be done outside.

Rule #2: You should never wear a brand new expensive white shirt while doing said project.

Rule #3: Do not make the mistake of thinking the project will turn out exactly how you planned.

Needless to say, I broke all three of these rules this last Saturday. My Mom had given me some pumpkins a few weeks ago and after my Jack-o-Lantern disaster (more details on that project below) I decided that I would come up with an alternative to carving. I found a fun example of some pumpkins that had been decorated with glitter and used as Harvest decorations. A little glue and some glitter—how hard could this be? Famous last words!

I won’t go into detail but let’s just say that despite my best efforts glitter got everywhere. And I do mean EVERYWHERE! I also now need to scrub glue and glitter speckles out of a new white shirt (what was I thinking?!) And for some reason the darn red glitter ended up looking like oozing, dribbling blood. Not very Harvest-y if you ask me. But you know what? I actually had a fun time and enjoyed my afternoon glitter disaster. Hopefully I’m learning my lessons and my holiday projects next year will go a little smoother.

Since I didn’t get a chance to post them earlier, here are some of the pictures of my Jack-o-Lanterns from Halloween. I won’t go into details with this little project either. To make a long story short, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my pumpkins and it didn’t turn out. Not One. Single. Bit. Apparently pumpkin carving is not my forte. Or maybe it's just pumpkins in general?

Luckily, I have the BEST sister in the entire world and she took over my pumpkins (with a little help from Krug) and carved my mini Jack-o-Lanterns for me.

The Little Elevator Girl

2009-11-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

The Little Elevator Girl. Doesn’t that sound like a great book title? Maybe someday. But for now, The Little Elevator Girl is one of the greatest highlights of my work week. Are any of you out there People Watchers? As of late, I have become a People Listener of sorts. Before you jump to the conclusion that I am a nosy eaves dropper, let me explain. My office can get pretty dang quiet and my desk is right next our front door which opens into a large inter -office foyer—great echoes, let me tell you! As a result, I can hear pretty much ANYTHING that goes on out there. After a year of listening to “foyer talk” I trained myself to listen for a few of my favorites. (The Whistler is one of my favorites too but I’ll have to tell you about him another time.)

Each week this little girl and her mother come to our building. I assume that they are visiting a spouse or family member on the 2nd floor (see I have to make up stories and assumptions to go along with my characters). This little girl is probably about 3 years old and has so much enthusiasm for life—I just love it! You can hear her chattering as soon as she enters the building. She then quickly jumps to the main topic of their weekly discussion: THE ELEVATOR.

She argues that she is big enough and always wants to ride it by herself. It’s so fun to hear how focused she is and she repeats herself over and over until she gets her point across.
“No, you take the stairs Mom!” (You really need to picture her saying this in her little 3 year old voice. It’s so darn cute!)

Her mother, always patiently responds that she will take the stairs but only after she makes sure her little girl pushes the right button. So trusting! As they walk closer and closer to the waiting elevator the little girl repeats urgently, “No, you take the stairs Mom!”

It seems that every step her Mother takes closer to the elevator is only assuring this little girl that her Mother will not, after all, allow her to ride it alone.

“I will take the stairs, but I need to watch you push the button first. Which button do you push?”
“One!” she responds enthusiastically.

“No, you need to push Two” Mom calmly replies.

“Two!” she shouts out excitedly.

And then comes my favorite part. I hear the elevator door close and moments later I hear the doors open on the 2nd floor and she shouts out, “I beat you!” (Which is so adorable after I have listened to her mother walk slowly up the stairs and even pause once or twice in order to give the elevator time to reach the top.)

And then I wait until the following week so I can hear this sweet little exchange once again.

I’m so thankful for the little things in life that make us smile!

Blessings of the Temple

2009-11-05T09:46:00.000-08:00

“Let us be a temple-attending people. Attend the temple as frequently as personal circumstances allow. Keep a picture of a temple in your home that your children may see it. Teach them about the purposes of the House of the Lord. Have them plan from their earliest years to go there and to remain worthy of that blessing.” –President Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1994, 8

I wanted to take a moment and share how thankful I am for the temple. We had the special privilege of going to the temple the other night with the Ainge’s. Collin was going through the temple for the first time and I can’t even explain how wonderful it was to be there together as a family. I’m so grateful for this Gospel and the purpose it brings to our lives. And so thankful for a Savior who loves us and has made it possible for us to be together as families forever.

Thriller

2009-11-02T08:01:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a fun Halloween weekend! We made another quick trip this weekend and went to St. George with some good friends to see Thriller at the Tuachan Theater. We had a really great time and owe a really big THANK YOU to Grandma Ainge for letting us stay in her condo while we were down there.

We got to be lazy on Saturday (which was WONDERFUL). We had fun playing games with Brad and Jenny. We get together with them and play games quite a bit. They are really good friends and we're so glad they came down with us. The boys are excellent game players and us girls have lost more than our fair share of games, but we're catching on to their tricks and strategies and learning to hold our own!
That night we drove out to the Tuachan Theater to see Thriller. It was A-MAY-ZING! The theater itself is beautiful as it is built right into the red rock mountains. The production was great and very entertaining. We stayed warm with our blankets and Jenny & I were both relieved that none of the zombies wandering through the audience came to bother us. (I love Halloween but absolutely hate to be scared! Ironic?)

They had a costume contest at the very beginning. I had to post this picture because it is the most creative costume I have ever seen! And this couple won, of course!

Annual Ward Cook-off

2009-10-30T07:56:00.000-07:00

Witch and ghost make merry on this last of dear October’s days. ~Author Unknown

About a year ago Parker and I got called to be our Ward's Activity Chairs. It has been quite a calling! This calling definitely has a learning curve but I think we are finally getting the hang of it! I have been super stressed this last week trying to get everything taken care of and ready-to-go, and Parker, being the wonderful guy that he is, reminded me that the nature of our calling is that we don't have much to do for a month and a half and then have one really stressful week. And it was worth it! Our activity this month was our Annual Ward Chili (or Chocolate) Cook-off. Members could bring a chili/soup or chocolate dessert and we had a costume competition as well. I tried really hard to be Betty Crocker and make a soup for this event...but it was somewhat of a disaster. Needless to say, my culinary skills have long way to go. But, I did enjoy everyone else's food!

I am always so impressed with people's creativity and energy for costumes. I LOVE Halloween and all the festivities that go along with it, but I find that my enthusiasm for dressing up is usually lack-luster--As you can tell by Parker and I dressed in our stand-by costumes that we borrowed from our sisters. (By the way, thanks Alicia & Rachelle for helping us out with those!)

Luigi, Princess Peach, & Baby Mario (She HAND-MADE their costumes!)

Teletubby

Nemo

(Isn't she the cutest?! You should have seen her waddling around--ADORABLE!)

We had a really good turn-out and I think everyone had a great time. I'm already thinking about the things I will do differently next year to make the activity even better...

p.s. I have a few BAGS of small pumpkins and gourds that we used for decorating. If anyone would like some for their fall decorating (we still have all of November people!) then PLEASE let me know!

A Quick Trip

2009-10-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took a quick trip to Vegas. Ryan & Amanda live in Henderson and they are always so nice about letting us come visit. Ryan got tickets to the U2 concert (with the Black Eyed Peas!) and invited Parker to join him. From what I heard, the concert was amazing and the guys had a really great time. What did Amanda & I do while they were gone you ask? We ordered super yummy take-out from the Cheesecake Factory and spent the evening in our comfy pajamas having a great time talking and catching up.

Most of the time when we visit we are running from one thing to the next--there is always so much going on. But not this time! It was so nice. We finally had a chance to just hang out. Awhile ago, Ryan & Amanda introduced us to a show on the travel channel called "Man vs. Food". The host travels around the country and goes to great local food stops--NO food chains or big fancy restaurants. Each show he visits a new city and goes to 3 local eateries and showcases what makes them unique. At his 3rd and final stop he always does a food challenge, hence the "Man vs. Food" title. We have really enjoyed watching this show. The host, Adam, has a great sense of humor and watching all the food he gets to try just makes us want to travel for the food! Well, a couple of months ago the show went to Vegas and Parker has wanted to try out those restaurants ever since, and this weekend we finally had the time! We went to Hash House A Go Go and it was fantastic! This place has a unique blend of breakfast and lunch dishes. We got fried chicken and mashed potatoes with bacon (all of it with a maple syrup sauce!). Our huge meal also came with scrambled eggs, fruit, and the best biscuit I have ever had. (Sorry to talk so much about the food...but it was amazing!)

Just in case you're wondering, Hunter's favorite word is "more" :)

The meal was so big that Parker and I shared a plate. And Parker got to get his picture taken next to Adam's "Man vs. Food" photo.

We spent the rest of the afternoon doing some window shopping and then went back to the house for some munchies and a movie. It was a really quick trip but we had such a great time and loved getting to spend time with everyone. Thank you so much Ryan & Amanda!

A Dodger Birthday

2009-10-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Parker's birthday and we had such a fun time celebrating! I didn't plan it this way, but it ended up being a Dodger themed birthday--which Parker loved! (And I'd like to note that this years cake was a vast improvement from last years cake!) We started the day off by opening presents; Parker didn't want to wait until later :) And then, unfortunately we're all grown-ups now and can't spend our days playing like we'd sometimes like to, we had to head off to work. It's days like this that really make me miss being a kid!

We got together later for a yummy dinner with the Ainge's at Tepanyaki's. We are all so busy these days, but we were so grateful that everyone was able to get together for dinner. We got distracted by our entertaining chef and the amazing food and forgot to take some pictures--I will do better next time!

Later at home we were suprised with some Birthday Carolers who came to serenade Parker with a Happy Birthday song :) (I took a 2nd picture so you could see the pumpkin they carved for him.)

I just want to thank everyone for celebrating with us and for making Parker's birthday so special!

And Parker, thank you for being such a wonderful husband and my best friend. You work so hard and set such an incredible example for all of us. I love you so very much and hope you had a very Happy Birthday!

Knock Knock

2009-10-21T13:37:00.001-07:00

Here's a little joke courtesy of my sister Alicia.

WHAT DO ITALIANS EAT ON HALLOWEEN?

FETTUCINE AFRAID-O!

Musings From an Insomniac

2009-10-19T09:31:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one out there having trouble sleeping? Parker is convinced, and I'm fairly inclined to agree with him, that I keep myself up at night tossing and turning because I have too darn much running through my mind. I've always had trouble sleeping--usually going through a cycle of 2-3 weeks of little-to-no sleep and then my body finally exhausts itself to a point that it finally crashes and I get beautiful, wonderful, blissful sleep for about a week before starting the vicious cycle all over again. I'm also a big worrier/stresser. Little things. Big things. Doesn't seem to make much difference but they are ever-present in my mind! Something has to be done!

My wonderful, and may I say brilliant, friend Valerie gave me a fantastic idea. She noticed that after all their long days of work she and her husband were just heading home and crashing on the couch (don't we all?!) and things in their lives continued to pile up and she kept stressing because nothing was getting done. So she decided to take action, which may seem obvious to some of you, but I think it's pure genius. She made herself a To-Do list! And each night they try to get some things done on the list. Now, I'm not sure what the best form is for a To-Do list but I'm determined to try this new tactic--for the sake of sleep! I will report my findings for all of you in 2 weeks and let you know how this experiment goes.

If anyone has suggestions on how they've kept and managed a successful To-Do list, I would love to hear about it!

If Ye Are Prepared...

2009-10-16T08:32:00.000-07:00

If ye are prepared ye shall not fear--D&C 38:30

For months I have been so excited about working on my food storage and emergency preparedness. I did a great deal of research on it earlier this summer. It's a topic that I feel very strongly about and have been making efforts toward our spiritual and temporal preparedness. I am proud to say that last night I finally got our 72 hour emergency kits put together! I had gotten the supplies back in June (I know! I'm such a procrastinator!) and it took me until now to finally drag it all out and assemble our packs. It was a pretty big project and Parker was so wonderful to help me put them together last night. It feels so good to finally have them done! If anyone wants help or suggestions with their emergency preparedness let me know--I would be glad to help!

"We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. … We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments." --President Hinckley

We Love L.A.

2009-10-12T07:29:00.000-07:00

The Dodgers, thought to be the underdog in the playoffs, swept the Cardinals in Game 3 last week! YEAH! This picture shows Dodgers closer Broxton ( a personal favorite) after he pitched the final out in Game 3. Go Dodgers!! I'm not sure what's more impressive--that they came from behind to win or that I can actually watch these games and know what's going on! :)

T.G.I.F.

2009-10-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

Thank. Goodness. It’s. Friday. Has it been a long week for any else? I felt like Friday really took it’s time getting here. I found this picture earlier in the week and it made me laugh so hard! It had me cracking up while I was sitting at my desk and trying to stifle my giggles while I answered the phone. It had me laughing again when I sent it to my sister. And again when I sent it to Parker. So either it’s really that funny or else I’m just delirious from a long week of not enough sleep. Maybe both. Either way I hope it gave you a laugh—even a small one. And I hope that all of you out there have a great weekend ahead of you. I’m realizing more and more that I have the horrible tendency to get way too caught up in life and I forget to enjoy just living it. So here’s my challenge to all of you: Make sure you take time to really enjoy life, even if only for a few moments, before Monday morning dawns and we are back to our routines again.

Girls Night Out

2009-10-07T07:54:00.000-07:00

One of our Fall traditions it a Girls Night during the General Conference Priesthood Session. We squished into a car with our Del Taco take-out and went out for a Girls Night. We stopped at Tai Pan (a really fun home decorating store) and looked at all their holiday decorations and then we went to Gardner Village. There are so many fun things to see and do there! The whole village was decorated for Halloween and it was a Little Witches Night so there were cute little kids everywhere all dressed up. We had fun browsing the shops and, despite the crowds, we really enjoyed the festivities.

Afterwards we went back to my house to have pie and icecream with Parker & Krug. They didn't mind being left out of the shopping but they definitely didn't want to miss the treats! (Krug especially!)

October Eves

2009-10-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

"Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!"- Humbert Wolfe

One of the things I love most about living in Utah is the seasons. There is so much to enjoy every time our weather changes. We just enjoyed a great summer full of trips and outdoor get-togethers and have now really been looking forward to autumn and all the traditions that come with it. Over the weekend Parker & I went for a drive up the canyon, and these pictures just don't do it justice! The leaves were so bright and colorful and the weather was just perfect. We stopped at Sundance and walked around the grounds and had fun taking some pictures and enjoying the outdoors. Afterwards we enjoyed some hot cocoa and even got to watch the sun set. I had made it my goal to get these pictures posted first thing Monday morning and encourage everyone to take the opportunity to go for a drive as well. When I woke up, however, I discovered that there was already snow on the mountains! I'm hoping fall hasn't quickly passed us by...

Mr. Brightside

2009-09-30T07:55:00.001-07:00

Sorry, yet another post with a picture from my crummy camera phone. Over these last couple of weekends we have been really busy but having lots of fun. We've been to a couple of BYU games, and went to see The Scarlett Pimpernel at the West Valley Hale Center Theater (which was AMAZING!) and this last Saturday, Ryan & Amanda took Parker & I to a Killers concert. We were all so tired from running around all weekend but we had a fantastic time at the concert! We had great seats--seriously, front row! (The picture below shows a little bit better how close we were sitting.) It was so fun to see them live and get to hear our favorite songs. Thanks so much Ryan & Amanda!

Pilates Party!

2009-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Let me just start by saying that this was SO much fun! I mentioned in an earlier post that I was getting bored with my regular workouts at the gym. On a whim, I decided to try a pilates class and talked my sister into joining me. It only took us about 10 minutes to realize that we were in for a very serious workout...and I think both of us were wondering if we were up to the task! (Halfway through one of the exercises Alicia accused me of tricking her. She exclaimed "I thought this was going to be like Yoga!" I'm still not sure she has forgiven me.) Despite the whimpering and muscle straining we had a great time and decided to take a closer look at pilates. It's all about core training and involves a focus on breathing, control, and flowing movement. There's some flexibility involved too, but I'm not there yet. :) I've been working on some of the exercises throughout the summer and thought "What could make this even more fun?". Answer: friends! I decided to have a Pilates Party. The instructors came to my house and gave us a private lesson and we had a great time. (My wonderful husband helped move all the furniture out so we could do this!) It was quite the workout but lots of fun and gave us all the extra motivation to keep exercising. Though it can be difficult, it is so worth it! And a very nice break from gasping for air on the treadmill. Thanks for letting me talk you into this girls!

Family Camping Trip

2009-09-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here's another late Labor Day post. With us being able to live so close to both our families, our holidays stay pretty busy...and we love it! Each year the Ainge family has their annual camping trip over Labor Day weekend. We spend the weekend munching on yummy snacks while playing games and relaxing and talking. Each family is in charge of one meal and we get to eat the yummiest food! (Seriously, we are so spoiled. The food is fantastic!) The best thing about the camping trip is that everyone in the family comes. Most don't stay for the whole weekend but somehow with crazy busy lives almost everyone is able to come up at some point. This year Parker and I didn't sleep over but we went up during the days and loved being able to spend time with everyone. We have such a good time laughing and talking with everyone and always look forward to a competitive game of The Great Dalmuti. (For those of you who haven't heard of this game it's really similar to Scum.) This game is definitely a family favorite and a highlight of the camping trip. We camped at a really nice area this year. It was so nice to have an excuse to be outside and enjoy the mountains. And, of course, our camping trip wouldn't be complete without a storm! It seems that part of the camping trip tradition is that we get a big storm every year--but it's all part of the experience, right? :)

Swiss Days 2009

2009-09-18T10:50:00.000-07:00

Every year in the fall, during the Labor Day Weekend, our family would drive up to Midway for Swiss Days. It's a family tradition that I have loved to continue throughout the years as we've all grown older. The boys would head off to the sheep dog competitions while us girls had fun shopping at all the booths. And then we'd all meet up for lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Midway together.

The crowds and the heat get worse every year but it's an event we just can't pass up. This year Dad and Parker couldn't join us but we were able to talk Rusty into coming up. He even tagged along during the shopping and helped carry all our bags :) This is one of those days that really reminds me of why I just love being a girl. The women definitely outnumber the men and we are in groups and lines everywhere. I love the camaraderie you can find with perfect strangers--the women everywhere are showing each other the great purchases they've made and pointing out booths to each other

and finding simple enjoyment in just being

together and talking. (Sometimes I think that Men must have such deprived lives.)

Once we were completely worn out from our shopping extravaganza we headed to the food vendors and a traditional Swiss Days lunch. We get an eclectic lunch of Bratwurst with sauerkraut and dark rye bread, chicken swiss sandwiches, and the highlight of the meal--giant fresh scones with butter and honey! (My mouth starts watering just thinking about those scones!) And the experience would not be complete without the live Yodeling broadcasting over the sound system.