Bon and Jon Unedited

Another way to share your "power"...

2010-07-28T13:16:00.003-06:00

It is very apparent these days that we can use Facebook and other social media to not only reconnect with loved ones, but to make a difference in the world. It doesn't take much, just a few seconds and a click or two, and we can all work together for positive change!

I don't know how many people are still reading this blog, because I'm totally a lame blogger in the summer, but if you are reading this, please take a few minutes to vote for the following charities. It won't take much time but can truly help others.

RETT SYNDROME RESEARCH-Vote every day until July 31st! (3 days left!)

SAN MARCOS YSB - through APX ALARM -

Click here - http://apps.facebook.com/apxgivesback/ and the gray button, then click on Central (orange circle) and then vote for San Marcos YSB. You have to like APX alarm at the top of the page, but then after that it's easy!

Thanks so much guys!

Do Some Good...

2010-07-12T15:43:00.003-06:00

I know it's been a million years since I posted, and I'm just taking a break from my summer hiatus to ask for your support... if you're even still reading! :)

Some of the schools I write grants for are entering a Kohl's sweepstakes, which is nationwide, but if they receive the top 12 number of votes on Facebook, they'll win $500,000. So, it only takes a minute, and if you help them by voting, you're helping ME keep my job! :)

So, just click on the link, "Like" Kohl's, and then vote for Hawthorn Academy in West Jordan UT. It gives you 20 votes, but you can only give 5 to each school. So, if you're feeling extra generous with your time, you can also vote for:
-Odyssey Charter School in American Fork, UT
-Early Light Academy in South Jordan, UT
-Excelsior Academy in Tooele, UT

Thanks!

Blah, blah, blog

2010-05-26T16:54:00.003-06:00

So, I'm feeling really indifferent about this blog, and blogs in general. I used to get lost in cyberspace, reading all about my friends and catching up with long lost roomates and such. I still do that occasionally, but I've been too busy and otherwise occupied with darling Ella that I don't make much time for it anymore. And I think it's a good thing.

And while I've never been super inclined to blog on a regular basis, now it is really suffering. And I don't think I really care! I've been working out more, gardening, and working on fun projects - and I like this off-line version of myself. I would rather live my life than take the time to write about it. I don't know if this is a general feeling among folks, or if I'm the only one who is stricken with cyber overload, but I need a break. I will still facebook on a semi-regular basis, only because it is on my phone, but I'm even tempted to delete that app because I just need to be in the moment, in reality, and not constantly checking my wall or blog for comments. (As I write this, cute Ella is pawing at my leg, begging me to play with her... so off I go!)

So, this is a post to make you aware of my cyber sabbatical. Do not worry, I am still alive. And chances are that if you are a part of my regular life, you'll probably see more of me, so this will not be a big loss! I hope you all have a great summer!

Happy Birthday Little Bean!

2010-05-19T14:09:00.003-06:00

Happy First Birthday, sweet Ella Grace! We love you more than words can express. You have learned so much and grown so quickly. Thanks for putting up with us as your parents! Here's to another fun, crazy, exciting year!
Love,

Mommy

Spring Rolls

2010-05-12T12:17:00.004-06:00

A Vietnamese friend of ours taught us how to make spring rolls and they are SO easy and SOOO good! I thought I would share since they were such a fun time!

Here is what I used :
-Round rice paper wrappers
-Lettuce leaves with the tough middle part removed
-Shrimp sauteed in garlic and soy sauce (you can use chicken, tuna, whatever!)
-Shredded carrots and sliced celery (I prefer cucumbers, but we didn't have any)
-Vermicelli rice noodles (you buy them in a package, then soak them in warm water until they soften)
-Peanut dipping sauce (made from peanut butter and Hoisin sauce and water)
-Hot chili and garlic sauce

You need a few things from the Asian market, and if you live in Salt Lake, there's one on 90th south and just east of the freeway. I bought the rice paper wrappers and sauces there, as well as the noodles.

You just soak the rice paper for a few seconds in hot water and put it on your plate. It becomes stretchy like saran wrap. Then layer lettuce, noodles, shrimp, veggies, and sauces, and wrap it up like a burrito. Voila!Ella enjoyed the vermicelli noodles... yum!
(If anyone wants the actual recipe, I can definitely email it to you! Just let me know!)

Garden Update

2010-05-10T11:09:00.002-06:00

Well, our garden box is in place and filled with what is supposedly the best soil for planting a garden... we'll see! Next we need to screw on the pickets and plant some veggies!

A Me Moment

2010-05-09T11:48:00.001-06:00

Today is my first mother's day, so I decided to take a little moment for myself last night and get a pedicure. I was so excited to just sit for a minute with no one climbing on me or crying, but after all the day's adventures and laundry and dishes and yard work, I didn't showered and get out the door until 8 pm. Shoot.

The first place I tried was closed. The second, as well, so I gave up and decided to go grocery shopping at walmart instead. But to my surprise their nail salon was open! It's a mothers day miracle! I asked the girl if they had time to do my toes, and she ushered me back, saying "We never close, never close."

I couldn't tell if she was saying that to assure me it was okay to be there at 8:20 pm, or if she was saying it in a resentful way... So I didn't push the issue, since she was the one with the sharp tools!

I enjoyed a relaxing few moments reading fashion magazines and catching up on facebook, then as she was finishing, the boss lady told me I had to pay in cash, since she just closed the register. What? Who carries cash anymore?!? But I told her I could walk down to the ATM once my toes were dry... No biggie.

Turns out, as usual, that nothing is simple for me! I walked to the ATM and supposedly put in the wrong PIN, and the machine ate my card!! So I tried a different card, and it didn't even let me type anything... It just beeped and told me to contact the bank during normal operating hours. Grrrrrr!

So, I bought my few groceries ad paid with a credit card, hoping they would let me get cash back... But strike three, I'm out. So I headed back to the salon and told her I had no way of paying, fearing I would have to go in the back and sanitize foot tubs or nail implements, but the nice lady said I could bring my money on Monday. I thanked her profusely, thinking the whole time, "this could have all been avoided if you just let me pay with my dang debit card!!"

Oh well, my toes look fabulous and I did get a little me time, so I guess it was all worth it! Happy Mother's Day!

Wealth of knowledge

2010-05-08T00:45:00.001-06:00

Have you ever been to the website wikihow.com? I stumbled across it tonight while trying to figure out how to sew a zipper fly. That proved to be much more difficult than I thought, so instead of continuing my sewing project, I clicked on the "surprise me" button at the top of the page. And who doesn't like a good surprise?!

I was pleasantly "surprised" to find myself perusing pages about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING known to man. In fact, in the last hour, instead of sleeping, I have learned how to avoid fire ant stings, how to do a a correct handstand, how to create a Halo 3 montage, how to create a classic wardrobe, and how to apply goth makeup. (I think the last two go especially well together!) I can't stop myself!

Check it out and share what you learned!

A little progress...

2010-05-04T10:58:00.005-06:00

My dream of a garden is a bit closer this week!

It started as a pile of wood, bolts, and nuts.

Then we cut, screwed, and painted pickets. Jovi is overseeing the demise of her tyrannical reign!Jon cut posts and 2x8s for the box. It is going to be bigger than I thought!
Ella loves being outside! (How toxic is west bench dirt?)

Spring Fever!

2010-04-26T21:38:00.001-06:00

This is my first spring without a "job", so I didn't think I'd get the travel/gardening/play outside bug as bad as I did when I was surrounded by 25 wiggly little kids, but I've been bitten and it looks like another case of the fever.

The past week or so i just haven't been able to stay inside, so i have been busy with gardening chores: fill window wells with rocks, keep Ella out of the mud, scoop poop, redirect the baby away from the dog's bowl, de-grass the flower beds, stop the kid from eating rocks, wash off and arrange patio furniture, give in and let the monkey get muddy, take BBQ outside, hose off the child, mow and edge lawn, play with dog (yes, that's a chore), clean out garage, cheer for slowly budding tulips, etc.

But now I'm ready for some FUN projects, so here is my latest inspiration, taken from DIY magazine:

In spite of the last two failed attempts, I am going to try a garden. I may have a psycho vegetarian dog and the worst soil on the planet, but this year I laugh in the face of my opposition. I WILL HAVE A GARDEN! Unfortunately I didn't take a "before" picture. Just picture a minefield in Bosnia. Give me a week or so and I will have some pics to post of my (hopefully) awesome garden. And if it doesn't turn out, at least I will have gotten a good workout and some extra sun time!

Does anyone have any tips to help me out?

Love

2010-04-25T16:23:00.003-06:00

I just love my Ella girl. I love her so much it makes me want to squish her and love her and hug her every second of every day. I love how she crawls like a maniac and is addicted to her toothbrush. I love how she squishes up her nose and makes the cutest noises and words. She makes my life whole and meaningful and amazing. She is almost one year old and I can't believe it. Thanks, Caity, for the beautiful picture. It's my favorite!

Beautiful Girl

2010-04-21T14:57:00.005-06:00

My sister Candace had her baby today! Her name is Josie Heward, and she was born at 12:02 today. 6 lbs, 8 oz, and 20 in. long. She is absolutely beautiful!! Hold on Candace and Grant, you're in for an exciting ride! You are going to be such good parents!

Frustrated

2010-04-19T08:10:00.001-06:00

So maybe it's because it's Monday. Or maybe it's just "that time of the month." But today I woke up feeling frustrated. I have been fighting a weight-loss battle for 3 and a half months, and I'm at a standstill. I lost the first 20 lbs in the first 2 months, and now for all of March and April so far I have only lost 3 lbs and they yo-yo up 2 down 3, up 3 down 2.

I know I havent been super diligent every day; we traveled a lot and there are always those dang Sunday dinners! (BTW- thanks for the brownie last night, Heather... It was delish!) I just go through these cycles that never end: super good eating on Mon thru Thyrs. Then the weekends get progressively worse.

So, this isn't just a venting session (though I thank you for putting up with it). I am just telling you all that I am recommitting to my awesome habits I know I can maintain. I have just gotten lazy and I'm asking you to help me! If you see me eating a brownie after dinner or trying to be lazy and not cook a good dinner, just remind me that I have 40 lbs left to go...

I can do this (with your help)!!

Spring Breaks 2010!

2010-04-16T10:17:00.014-06:00

We have had a wild spring so far! As noted in the last post, we went down to Moab so Jon could work and we could play. Then we flew to California and drove up to Southern Oregon for a family funeral. Then, last minute, Jon decided that for his actual Spring Break he wanted to go to New York, so off we went! Here are some of the highlights:

Moab

Hiking to Delicate Arch was breathtaking! Definitely one of my favorite Utah hikes!
You can see by Ella's expression how much she LOVES the outdoors... we're working on it!
Our buddies Caity and Bob came with us and we had so much fun! (Thanks Caity, for all the pictures!)

California and Oregon
Jon's aunt, uncle, and grandma live in Vacaville, CA, so we flew in to the Oakland Airport and stayed with them for a couple of nights. They gave us a beautiful tour of Napa Valley and we spent a lot of time just catching up... so fun.

We stopped by the Oakland Temple on the way to Vacaville - it was a beautiful day!

We went to the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield - pretty interesting!
This is what some talented fellow tour-goer took of us in line. Nice... It's one of those awkward times where they're like, "Is it okay?" and you're thinking, "Gee, not really, but if you think it's sort-of okay, then we don't need your help anymore!"

We took a gorgeous drive up to Oregon that included olive tasting and scenic views, and a lot of baby pit stops!Jon's Aunt Jean, Uncle Pat, and Cousin Shawn met up with us for ice cream in Oregon. So fun!Ella loves her Auntie Kim!
Ella and I met Jon's grandpa for the first time - he is so sweet!

This is the cabin that Jon's dad built with his family before he passed away. It was a touching moment to be there and talk about memories of him.

Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon, is one of my new favoritest places in the world. It was absolutely fabulous! We would move there if it wasn't so far away!

These photos are of a roller derby - a full-on Medford, OR, beat down on wheels. Jon's cousin is the star (player?) on her team and she ROCKED. I wish I could be that cool. Even Ella loved hanging out there with Grandma!

New York
I just realized that my photos from NY aren't uploaded yet... oops! Stay tuned!

Fun in Moab

2010-03-17T01:17:00.005-06:00

Jon works in Moab every once in a while, so we took advantage of his time there to play with our friends Caity and Bob. It was a blast! Apparently the only photos I have on my crappy camera are of the pool and how much Ella LOVED it.

The trip also involved many laughs, sketchy eggs, dual queen beds, lots of licorice and taffy, beautiful blue skies and snow, red mud, warm walks down main street, a psycho tree-hugger who I wish I could go back and punch in the teeth, delicious fish tacos, no trespassing signs, a baby who is not so sure about hiking in the rain, a tad bit of racism :), and some absolutely beautiful scenery.

Unfortunately you will have to go to Caity's blog to see the pictures taken at her skilled hand, until I steal them from her...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

2010-03-17T01:11:00.003-06:00

We celebrated one of my favorite holidays a few days early by inviting some neighbors over for traditional Irish fare - Corned beef and cabbage and Irish soda bread. The green sugar cookies were a fun touch, too. Thanks to our buddies for being patient with my Irish-ness... and cooking!

Oh yeah!

2010-03-15T22:40:00.001-06:00

You can tell how awesome your weekend was by the color and amount of dirt on your shoes! Thank you, Moab, for a fabulous weekend! (More pics will follow once I charge my camera!)

What did you just say??!?

2010-03-12T07:26:00.001-07:00

"Screw me once, shame on me. Screw me twice, shame on you..." What???

"The security system is completely ATOMIC of the rest of the school's technology."

Jon has a knack for throwing common sayings and words into his everyday conversations. The only problem is that he sometimes mis-quotes them but has no idea. When I tell him that he's mistaken, It's kind of like finding out that your mom's potato salad (or other family favorite) isn't the only way to make that dish, and in fact is really disgusting compared to other ways people make it.

First, you deny it. Then you cave in and taste the other kind and it blows your mind. Finally, you really have to work hard to change your current way of thinking to make room for this new, fabulous discovery.

In Jon's case, he tells me there's no way I'm right because that's how "EVERYONE" says it... Then we do a random poll or google search and he realizes his error. Then I go into "teacher mode" and help him see how his way doesn't make much sense... And he finally accepts it and changes his mind.

It's at least a weekly occurance... And I think he's getting sick of me! But I know he's not the only one out there! Help him out - what are some common sayings you (or a loved one) messed up until someone helped you out?

(Oh, and by the way... MY mom's potato salad is absolutely the best. No one will ever convince me otherwise!)

Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution

2010-03-10T19:42:00.007-07:00

"This is the first generation of kids expected to live a shorter life than their parents..." Wow. Read it again. Thus begins the trailer for a show on ABC that I'm very excited about. Jamie Oliver, a British chef, and star of the show "The Naked Chef" is doing a very noble and important thing - he's teaching America how to eat.

That first line really hit me, and I think it needs to hit us all. It's pretty sad that we are so far-removed from what healthy eating means, that we need a man from a country known for it's fried fish and chips and greasy "English Breakfasts" to re-educate us how to eat and feed our children well. Not only is his show going to make eating well seem "cool," but he is also forming a petition to take to the White House that will help politicians and industry leaders see the importance of healthy food in schools. Go Jamie!

Click Here to go to Jamie's website and sign the petition yourself. And tune in on March 26 for the show's premiere!

Dress Ups

2010-03-08T10:51:00.000-07:00

Is it Spring yet???

Dreaming

2010-03-03T11:41:00.002-07:00

What would you do with a few extra dollars? (Or a few hundred, or even a few thousand??) Since becoming a mother without a second income, the money situation isn't as easy as it used to be, and given the current economic situation of our country, I have a feeling I'm not the only one. So, the other day Jon and I were daydreaming about how nice it would be to just have a bit of extra money. The problem is, that because we have a family now, all my thoughts for extra money go to practical things like college savings or food storage or diapers. It's actually very difficult for me to dream of something that would truly be a splurge.

I would love to travel. Go to Macchu Pichu and Tonga and Italy and on a Carribbean Cruise. Just disappear for like 3 months. And buy fabulous shoes that are comfortable yet fashionable (I haven't found them yet... maybe I could pay a designer...) And I would decorate my whole house in Ethan Allen and Pottery Barn. I absolutely love those stores.

So, I want to get you all dreaming and hear your ideas. Pretend we don't have a scary economy or bills or disasters to plan for. What would you completely pamper yourself or your family with? It can't be anything practical. Just dive off the selfish and silly deep end and share your thoughts!

Finally!!!

2010-02-27T08:49:00.002-07:00

Well, it's taken about 6 months to lose it, but I've finally broken the 20 pound mark. Man, it feels good!

What do you DO all day?

2010-02-25T14:51:00.008-07:00

Have you ever felt like everything you do in a day doesn't really matter because you just have to do it all over again the next day? (Dishes, laundry, picking up the house, etc.) I guess it didn't really bother me until I became a "stay-at-homer," but I was feeling a little bit like a robot.

So what was my solution? I just stopped doing it. Everything. No laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning up little messes, NOTHING. It wsn't exactly by choice, like I was sitting back eating bon bons and watching the dust bunnies collect under the couch. (What exactly is a bon bon? It sounds good...)

For the last two weeks I've been CRAMMING to get a major grant application done for 3 schools. Lots of phone calls, meetings, emails, interviews ... and not a lot of time to be a housewife. (Or a stellar mommy - you can see how Ella feels about my job.) So what was the result?? Let me put it this way: I took pictures to make this blog post more interesting, and was disgusted by even the pictures, so consider yourself lucky that only the office made the cut.

I really got the hint when my mom came over to visit and just randomly started wiping and scrubbing things... Then I woke up two days ago ready to head down to another morning of work before the baby woke up, and couldn't find ANY clean unders or even see kitchen sink to get a drink. Sick. So, fearing DCFS or the camera crew for Hoarders would show up, I cleaned the house for 2 hours and now I can function like a relatively-normal human being again.

So, what did I learn? No, not that I should keep up on my chores. I realized that, although not very sanitary, doing two hours of cleaning only once every two weeks is sure a lot easier than doing the same things all day everyday to maintain a clean house. Maybe I'll keep this up! (Or, Jon, can you get another wife somewhere??)

The Big Nine Months!

2010-02-19T23:57:00.001-07:00

Little Miss Ella reached a new level of awesome today... She's been around for three-fourths of a year! And every month I can't believe she's grown so much or gotten so dang cute.

This month was a big one. She has two teeth, can now CRAWL, and can say ba-ba when she wants one... A good skill to possess! She also says the word "hi" and waves like a hummingbird on crack, and just today she figured out how to clap, but she turns one hand upside down so it looks like she's slapping the back of her own hand. Gotta give her creative points for that one! She may look just like daddy, but it looks like she inherited her mama's "unique" way of doing things just a little differently than they're normally done. Hopefully she'll learn her lesson before any helmets get involved...

Mission SLIM-Possible

2010-02-17T10:53:00.001-07:00

So my fair city is doing a competition like the Biggest Loser. It's $25 to enter and you weigh in every week, then at the end you could win money. I'm not sure how much, it probably depends on how many people do it. But, do you think I should do it? It's only 25 bucks, and it might motivate me, but I'm just nervous about everyone knowing my weight. Would you do it if you had the chance?

Here's the link: Mission Slim-Possible

(By the way, I've lost 17 pounds and 16 inches ... not too shabby for a month and a half!)

I Love This Girl...

2010-02-14T23:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Anna Howard Shaw Day!

2010-02-14T07:48:00.003-07:00

(card found at modernemotive.etsy.com)

Cars

2010-02-11T17:22:00.011-07:00

You can tell a lot about a person by the car they drive...most of the time. I love driving next to people and figuring out their personalities by the car they drive and the decorations they choose to put on them! I drove past my first car the other day and it made me think about all the fun (and not so fun) cars I've had in my life. Here is my car history... judge for yourselves!

Oh yes... classic 1980s Cabbage Patch BigWheels... had to throw this one in because I loved it so much!

From middle school all the way through college I had a bike like this... actually, mine got stolen, but I "stole" Heather's... Got some good mileage on those tires!

Okay, now for real cars. I LOVED this tomato red Subaru. It's a 1981 and lived until I was 18. This car is the reason I've always wanted a Subaru of my own.
The Gold 'Benz... It ran on diesel and we had to turn it off to go through the drive-thru. It would die all the time! I hated it so much that I would make my mom drop us off away from the school, and I thought that Mercedes Benz was a "poor people" car brand because we had one! When I told my little latino buddies at school that we drove a Mercedes they thought I was so cool and I never understood why!This was the "Shaggin' Wagon" - and I didn't even know what that meant. I thought it referred to the shag carpet and plush velour drapes on the windows! This isn't a picture of our actual van, ours was much "groovier".
Why did they stop making the Aerostar van? I thought this was the sweetest ride ever because it was the "Eddie Bauer Edition" and had pine trees embroidered on the seats. So cute. Too bad it whined like a dying animal any time we turned a corner. I think all Fords eventually have this problem...
The Ford Ranger... the first car I actually drove. Ours was a wonderful brown color that NEVER had to be washed, and it had a shell. The only problem was that the doors didn't open from the inside, and sometimes the battery would die. This wasn't usually an issue, but once I got locked inside right in front of a guy's house that I just doorbell ditched... Good thing his dad was a mechanic.

The Gold Bullet. I loved this car. But then I totalled it. Sorry Staci!

This was the replacement. If I were to ever get a van, it would be the Grand Caravan... posh ride!
My parents finally got "cool" and ditched the minivan idea, so they got a GMC Yukon (but ours has wicked cool detailing that belongs on a ranch in New Mexico...in 1995. You can spot it anywhere!And my dad got a charcoal gray Chevy Tahoe... I loved this car! It had heated seats, which I will someday be able to afford!
The first car I ever purchased... The Nissan Sentra. I didn't love that it had a long front end, but that may have saved my life, or at least my legs, when I ran a red light and met with a semi. Fun story.When Jon and I met, he drove this truck. I think it is so sexy. I remember thinking, "Man, this guy is cool. He drives a truck." Then he sold it right before we got married so he could upgrade to...
The white Tundra. He said he wanted to get the car of his dreams before he had a wife who could tell him what to do. :) Her name was Ali (the truck, not his wife). And it turns out I did tell him what to do, because he sold it for...
A 2004 4Runner. I thought it was much more practical for a family, and the payment was half as much. Very responsible, even though we bought it on eBay. Then six months later sold it because it wasn't a good fit, or something. Now we have one car, our Camry. It's a great car and I hope it lives with us for a long time!
Which cars are lurking in your car history?

Babies!!

2010-02-10T09:53:00.002-07:00

This is Ella with our neighbor Mark and his daughter Italia. Ella and Italia are going to be bestest friends... but they're not quite there yet. :) This week I started watching Italia while her mommy works, and it's been... interesting! I had grand visions of them playing together, eating together, sleeping together, and all the while still working from home. Hmmm. Can you say DELUSIONAL??

Italia is walking (more like wobbling) and Ella still hasn't become motivated enough to crawl, so Italia will come over to "say hi" and end up mauling Ella. Then Ella gets excited and screeches, like she does often, and it scares Italia. So, within 5 minutes of "playing" together, the two are both upset and I have to play referee. It's pretty funny.

Let's just say that once upon a time I thought it would be fun to have twins. Now I hope it's not in the cards for me!

Aha!

2010-01-27T12:01:00.005-07:00

Yesterday we tried naps in her crib... with no success. So I tried something new.
I thought I was so smart... I figured out how to buckle her in her swing around the swaddling...

But that only lasted about 30 minutes, then I heard her struggling... and she unhooked one of them! Rats! Foiled again!
And look how happy she is that she trumped me once again. Back to the drawing board...

Houdini

2010-01-26T22:03:00.004-07:00

(This is only a re-enactment by a professional stunt-baby. No infants were harmed in the creation of this post.)

First the swing, now the bouncer... She did this in about 2 minutes while I was in the shower. The funniest thing is that she doesn't cry or get mad. It's like she works SUPER hard to figure it out, then is so proud when she does it. I love to watch her wiggle and jiggle her way out with that look of determination on her face that I see on myself every once in a while. She's such a rock star!

This is what 29 looks like...

2010-01-25T23:00:00.007-07:00

Mozart was composing by age 5. Picasso showed artistic flair by age 7. Dr. Seuss began writing at age 17. Mother Theresa began her meaningful mission at age 18. And Amelia Earhart knew by age 23 that her calling was to fly. Now that I'm "staring 30 in the face", I wonder what have I done to achieve something great or leave my mark on the world like these influential people? 29 is a daunting age... I suddenly realized I'm an adult. One year until I'm a thirty-something. For some reason that has always been some sort of unspoken deadline for me - IT'S THEN that I will need to have a grasp on my life and a direction to head.

I may not have written a concerto or a best-selling children's book (yet!), but in these 29 years I have learned SO MUCH about myself and tried my best to work hard and better who I am. Today I am genuinely happy, healthy, and living my dream surrounded by those I love. I couldn't ask for anything more!

Some goals for year 29:
-Learn the guitar
-Start teaching piano lessons
-Continue on my new healthy path
-Re-read Mere Christianity and Jesus the Christ
-Run a 10k

Escape Artist

2010-01-25T22:58:00.004-07:00

Today my life just got a bit more complicated...
Ella figured out how to bust out of her nap spot and land on the floor gracefully. I have to give her creative points, but I'm mourning the loss of the 2-3 hour naps she takes in her swing. :( Boo to growing up!

Mistress

2010-01-24T00:13:00.004-07:00

Dear Internet,
Please go away and give me my husband back. I don't appreciate you always breaking down so you can have all of his attention. You are way too needy and I think you have crossed some lines that shouldn't be crossed. You're messin with fire here, so if you keep it up you'll feel my wrath! Just back off and let me see my honey again.
Sincerely,
Bonnie (The Wire Cutter) Hagen

Ps tell your friends PC and Dell that we need to talk as soon as possible ...

8 Months!

2010-01-19T14:03:00.004-07:00

(Thanks to Auntie Kim for doing a little photo shoot in her high school photo class! These are so cute!)

Hey Ella! Happy 8 Monthiversary! You are hilarious and sassy and we love every minute with you! :) Here are some of your favorites right now:
-Your thumb
-Grabbing hair (even your own!)
-Your farm toys
-Your birdie blankie
-Your swing
-Applesauce and carrots
-When we toss you up in the air or tickle you
-Baths in the big-girl bathtub
-Bubbles
-Your new tooth!

Here are some things you DON'T like:
-Socks
-Your coat
-Wiping off your face
-Nap time
-Your new big carseat
-Crawling!

Friday Night Party

2010-01-16T00:43:00.003-07:00

You can tell what I did on Friday night... played on the computer for a bit! This was fun...

Ella's Celebrity Collage

2010-01-16T00:25:00.002-07:00

Looks like she's got a pretty good mix! :) Who is that dude?

Hagen Look-alike Meter

2010-01-16T00:14:00.001-07:00

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Geneology - Family photos

Christmas Gift

2010-01-15T12:47:00.004-07:00

One of my favorite things Jon gave me for Christmas is one of those mirrors that magnifies your face like 1,000 times and helps you see every little crater on your skin. I always wanted one so I cound catch a stray hair or finally get those annoying blemishes by my nose. But NOW it's a complete addiction. I could sit for hours and pick and pluck and scrub. (But I don't... not ALL the time.) So much fun. It must be said, though, that I'm a complete facial hair-phobe, and I am constantly obsessing about whether or not I have any stray eyebrow, mustache, or nose hairs.(come on, you know you do, too, just a little bit.) So, the next time you see me, if I don't have any eyebrows left, you'll know why!

Update

2010-01-13T22:42:00.002-07:00

Yay for new years resolutions and keeping them for 13 days! It has been a tedious week because I've logged everything I put in my mouth, and worked out consistently, and it's paid off because I finally crossed the 10 lb threshold! I've been working at those pounds since may when Ella was born, but now jon and I are on the same page and helping each other stay strong. (and I haven't had a car, so I haven't been able to eat out as much... Whatever it takes, right?) thanks for all your support and well wishes, they mean a lot!

New Year, New Me

2010-01-08T10:39:00.008-07:00

Me in 2006 - At Caity's bridal showerUs in 2009 at Candace's wedding

(Warning: This is going to be really cliche, but I embrace the tacky-ness in my life sometimes!)

Every year I set a goal to lose weight, and every year I feel like I need to, but this year there's an urgency about it that I can't ignore. I put on some serious weight with the baby (as you can see above) and I am super jazzed up about losing it this year. Ella is almost 8 months old and I've lost 15 lbs. since she was born, but it's not nearly enough.

So, the temptation is there to jump on some crazy diet bandwagon, and trust me, I've been there before. For example:
-The cabbage soup diet (effective, but stinky... just ask my sisters. That soup REEKS!)
-The Carbohydrate Addict Diet (Thanks for this one, mom. You eat no carbs all day, but one hour a day you can eat whatever you want. It led to some crazy binging... not fun.)
-The Apple Cider Vinegar Diet (Eat whatever you want, but drink two tablespoons of vinegar before every meal or something like that. Sick. Acid down the throat. Not good. Thanks again, Mom. :) )
-Cactus Shakes (I can thank the latinos on my mission for this one. Cactus isn't so bad once you remove the spines, blend it up, strain off the slobber-like foam, and add a tub of crystal light!)
-The Body for Life approach (probably the most balanced, but still pretty restrictive)
-The Ultra-simple Diet (I did this two years ago with Emily, and it wasn't so simple...also involved a stinky soup, but pretty darn effective.)
-South Beach Diet (Uh, no. Not cool.)

There are probably many more. But I am now leveling with myself and realizing that it isn't going to be a six-week cookie diet type of fix. I need to change my life. And now I'm ready.

Here are some of my inspirations:
-Emily - My bestest friend - she is in a wheelchair, but still managed to lose 100 lbs!

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

-Jen - Another teacher friend who posts about her weight loss here : slimandhealthylife.blogspot.com

Help!

2010-01-07T17:30:00.002-07:00

Ella is learning to eat solids, and I absolutely LOVE letting her play in it when she's done eating (as long as she's still in her jammies or almost ready to go to bed)! She is one funny girl.

But I need some mom advice. What is the best way to get the spoon to the mouth without hands intercepting? I've tried everything short of a straight-jacket, but nothing is working. I've given her two spoons to hold, I've held her hands down with one arm while swooping in with the other... she's just too tricky!

Also, what is your best M.O. for cleaning up? There must be some magical order to do things, but it seems like whatever I try doesn't work. For example, if I wash her face first, she will inevitably wipe carrots all over her mug before I get the hands clean. If I start with the hands, there is still stuff on the tray that she will grab. If I wash the tray first, then she will hit it with her hands while I'm washing, OR if I remove it she will, no doubt, pat her belly with a fist full of peas. I'm about ready to get out the garden hose...

Moms need 2 extra sets of hands to get it all under control. Surely I'm not the only one who has ever faced this circus-like dilemma. Any advice??

#7-Self-Driven

2010-01-04T16:08:00.005-07:00

Another installment in my self-discovery journey My booth at the Bijou Market... a huge success!

I am a hard worker. I have had nearly straight A's from Kindergarten to College and paid most of my way through it. I know what it's like to get up at 4 a.m., go to work , go to school, go back to work, do homework, and go to bed at midnight or later and start over again the next day. And I don't give up. I have loved my teaching career and felt like I was pretty amazing at it while it lasted. I have always felt like a very self-driven, motivated person.

So, when I had Ella and decided to stay home, I knew I'd need something to supplement Jon's income and keep myself sane. So I decided to pursue grant writing. I knew I could do well at it, just like my other jobs because I'm a "hard worker". How hard could it be? Meet with principals, get information, write it up (I love to write!), submit it, get money. Right?
WRONG. Turns out, most of the principals I've met with have never worked with a grant writer, and they're mostly too busy to give me the info I need when I need it. So grant writing has not done too well. I have been pretty darn frustrated with why this isn't going as smoothly as everything else I have tried. And recently it's become very clear to me why. All through school, from Kinder on up, and even through my teaching career, people have told me what to do and how to do it, and I ROCK at meeting expectations. So I did.

But now I am my own boss. I decide my hours. I figure out what steps to do to meet my goals. In fact, I even set the goals myself. And I tell principals what they need and why. Or, I should... in theory.... do those things. Instead I have near anxiety attacks thinking about meeting with them, then find myself cursing these principals for never getting back to me and sitting and waiting and feeling sorry for myself.

I've also tried my hand at sewing baby shoes (as many of you know). It's a lot of fun, but my confidence frequently wanes concerning my creative abilities and whether or not anyone will even want to buy anything I have made. Truly it isn't financially smart to spend my time on shoes that I only sell for $10. But it's fun and exciting for me. And it gives me a creative outlet that gives me so much to look forward to! Unfortunately I often find myself "finding inspiration" or "trying something new" instead of working even harder at what I know will bring in more income. So, what do I do? Do I spend my time doing something that I enjoy, but can't focus on very well, for the sake of income, or do I spend my time doing something I really love but doesn't bring in a lot of money right now? I just hope to make good life choices, and they both seem great, but I can't keep doing both.

Jon is a huge example for me in this. He's so motivated and driven, I swear he thinks of a new business idea every week, AND he gets them going... it's fabulous! So, I always thought I was a driven, independent person, but I am finding now that I really need to work on that trait if I'm ever going to succeed as a writer or shoe designer!

Jackpot!!!

2009-12-29T21:23:00.002-07:00

I have been on the hunt for some good, warm boots to replace my poor old tan ones I got about 5 years ago. I love them so much that I just couldn't part with them until I found a suitable match. I tried Macy's, Dillards, Nordstrom Rack ... and nothing compared (in my very cheap price range). So, one day I was at Costco and saw some tall, fluffy boots for only around $40. I bounded through the crowds and pounced on the last few boxes, but then sadly realized there were none my size. Boo. I resigned myself to waiting until spring when everything goes on clearance...

Then last night, after seeing a movie with my family, I was on my way home and realized I had one more errand on my list. Since Ella wasn't with me, I decided to stop in to Costco and return some lotion right at closing time. The line was short, the people were helpful, and I was on my way in about 5 minutes. Then... out of the corner of my eye... I saw a box of shearling boots tossed in a corner under piles of after-christmas returns. "WAIT!!" I yelled, scaring the little cashier man. "Did someone return those boots? Can I buy them??" He stuttered something about them not being audited yet and how I probably couldn't buy them. But all I said was, "I need a women's 8 or 9... I don't care what color... I just NEED those boots!" Miraculously he unearthed them and they were my size! I quickly tried them on, then practically skipped, hopped, and danced to the register to buy them.

I couldn't even wait to put them on. They felt like they were made for my feet (which is hard because I have very WEIRD feet) and I was walking on clouds! They're so tall that I can even cuff the top or wear them tall. So many options! My feet stayed warm and dry even though it was slushy and cold outside. I'm in heaven.

Thank you, random Costco member, for returning your boots so I can enjoy them until they fall apart!

#6 Dogs

2009-12-28T23:31:00.005-07:00

The cutest new little puppy face ever...

The naughty devil dog after she stole our neighbor's prized antlers out of their yard...
The look of "Oh shoot... I did something bad..."

Jovi helping us make bread... she's a pretty good vacuum!

Growing up we didn't have many pets, or at least conventional ones. We had a sadistic goat named William D. who tried to kill my sister. We had several rabbits who had their feet chewed off by the foxes in our yard. We had goldfish that I only remember floating on the surface of their sad little bowl. We had frogs that we drowned out of their holes so we could dress them up and "marry them" so they would make more frogs. (They all died in the saran wrap covered boxes we made for them.) And we had some wild cats who probably had lice and lived under our house. (Can you tell where I grew up? Not in the suburbs!!) But we never once had a dog.
Oh, wait, I take that back. My grandparents had a dog and while we were living with them she jumped out of the second story window and got arthritis and died. She doesn't count.
I always thought I would prefer dogs to any other animal, and secretly told myself that when I got a house of my own I would get a dog. So, a couple of months after Jon and I moved into our home, he took me to Lowe's where a teenager was selling "purebred" pups out of his truck, and I fell in love with a stinky, poopy puppy named Jovi.
Yes, I did fall in love. In fact, our "relationship" can be easily compared to some courtships I've experienced, where you overlook your "significant other's" smelly habits or quirky quirks, until the "love" runs out and you can't take it anymore and you have to break up with them over a text message. (True story.) But this "significant other" is now a part of our family, according to Jon, and I can't break up with her. Trust me, I've tried. Jovi was a darling puppy that cried all night when she was new to us and I didn't mind cleaning up after her because she was so cute and cuddly and fun. But now she is destructive and smelly and sheds on me if I even look at her. She has completely de-landscaped our backyard (no small feat) and taken over the garage as her own. I find dog hair on a daily basis in food, on Ella, or randomly stuck in some piece of clothing. It's just about all I can handle. It's a good thing Jon loves her, or she'd be LONG gone.
So, short story long, I thought I was a dog person. But I am here to tell you that I am MOST DEFINITELY NOT. I'll take a floating fish, a footless rabbit or a dead toad, but no more dogs.

p.s. - as I read this post I realize how fond I really am of this dog. If you've seen "Marley and Me" you'll understand the love/hate relationship I endure with her. But before you all get gushy and cutesy on me (and act like I'm some dog-killa), let me remind you that this dog is disgusting. Look what she SNEEZED on me!

#5 Design Sense

2009-12-21T14:33:00.003-07:00

In college I was an editor for the newspaper. I loved writing, but editing and laying out pages was a huge challenge for me. Some people seemed to really be able to create greatness on the page out of NOTHING. It took some effort for me to feel comfortable with it. But, eventually, I did. I boldly chose color combinations and design elements like it was a sixth sense. That "sense" spilled over into my (sometimes odd) choices for decorating my apartment and dressing myself. I felt like I had a sense of who I was, and I loved expressing myself visually. (This is where some people are probably saying, "What?? You wore those outfits on purpose??" And my answer is yes... except for the helmet.)
So, now I have a whole house to decorate and design, and I'm drawing up a complete blank. Now that it's "for-reals" and I am an adult with a mortgage and a child to influence, I can't find a single wall color or plant without having a near anxiety attack. Seriously. For some reason I just can't bring myself to say what I like outloud, as if it won't be good enough or something. Because of my lack of confidence in my design sense, we now have a peach-ish tan basement. It's not my style, but it's there because I trusted in the opinion of a friend/co-worker who obviously has different taste than I do.
I just need that old style confidence back. I need to stop caring what other people think, and do what makes me feel good in my own home. Oh, and I guess I should consult Jon on this, too. We'll see!

#4 Nerdiness

2009-12-21T14:27:00.003-07:00

(I apologize to those who I may have incriminated in these photos!)

This part sort of coincides with the athleticism part. Well, try to follow... :) I have always seen myself as a nerd. (See above photos... nerd to the core.) I'm clumsy, accident-prone, and semi-awkward in group situations. That is how my family and many old friends see me as well. That's fine - it's a role I find easy to fill. But recently I've changed that view of myself. I definitely felt nerdy while on the volleyball team because I lacked the coordination and formal training of many of my teammates. One girl, who will remain nameless, stands out to me as my complete opposite. She was gorgeous, fit, graceful, and could really tear it up out on the court. She was nice enough to me, but lots of the other girls opted NOT to eat lunch with me or hang out with me, so she didn't either. (Don't feel bad for me... this is not the point. I had lots of other friends.) Whatever.

So, fast-forward 10 years to my stake volleyball games here in Riverton/Herriman. I was playing a few months ago (feeling quite out of shape right after Ella was born), when this girl walked in with some other "moms" from her ward. I nearly died. Instead of just having fun like I was before, I got nervous and started to revert back to my shy, nerdy self. Would she talk to me? Would she even want to play on the same court as I was? DUH BONNIE. SNAP OUT OF IT. So I did. I pushed that all away and talked to her and even played several weeks in a row on the same team as her. We had a lot of fun together. Man, did that feel good. She probably thought nothing of it. But for me to be able to act like a normal person and play (almost) as good as someone I really idolized 10 years ago was a major breakthrough. And, come to think of it, she was wearing the same nerdy mom-type outfit I was, and had probably put on some pounds, just like I did. (Although she still looked gorgeous!)

All of this made me realize that EVERYONE is worried about what people think about them. We're all so worried about it that we don't have time to think about other people's shortcomings. And gosh-darn-it... I'm pretty awesome. I am a college graduate (which is where I found my now confident self), a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend... and I AM AWESOME. (Even if I am clumsy.)

7 months!

2009-12-19T23:31:00.002-07:00

Happy 7 Monthiversary Ella! You are the light of our lives. By now you can sit up all by yourself, hold your ba-ba all by yourself, and scoot around in a 360 on your tummy (but can't move forward yet!). You're eating some solids - your favorite is pickles! Your hair is crazy and you're absolutely obsessed with pulling mine. We love you!
(photos by caity)

#3-Children

2009-12-19T22:46:00.008-07:00

(I love the looks on our faces in these photos by Caity... they explain everything about how we were feeling...)

I realize that I had a baby only 7 short months ago, so my opinion on this paragraph may change. But right now I am having a bit of a hard time grasping this part of me. Here's why: I come from a large family (6 kids). I loved having a big family. I have always wanted a big family. I felt like a nurturing person in my role as a teacher, so I assumed I would be awesome with my own kids and want a whole brood of at least 5 kids. But now that I have experienced what ONE child has been like, I am changing that opinion of myself. Don't get me wrong... I love Ella so much. She brings a new level of joy and happiness to my life that is indescribable. She is my world and I would have it no other way! I just honestly don't think I could give of myself fairly to a lot of kids. Kids need attention and love and a HECK of a lot of energy. And, at this point in my new motherhood experience, I feel like I might want 3 kids. Maybe. I can't believe I was that wrong about myself!

Ella and Me right after birth... Wow, what a high.

Then reality hit... man, motherhood is tough stuff!
Jon is a cute daddy... He helps me make it through the days.AND so does Ella... she's darling!

Wrong... continued

2009-12-19T22:43:00.006-07:00

#2 - Athleticism
I am tall. Not super tall, but tall. Because I'm tall, I felt like I should play sports. So I did... sort of. I have gravel permanently embedded in my knees from hurdles, my knees are also permanently purplish-red from volleyball injuries... and the list goes on and on. I played a year of high school volleyball, but got cut the next year. But I'm pretty sure I rocked at churchball (every sport but softball). So up until this year I had a pretty good self image about my athletic abilities. But now the veil has been lifted and I realize how freakin' awkward I am. Still. At 28 years old. I still love playing volleyball and I occasionally will enjoy a run, but I am not fooling anyone (especially not myself) into believing that I'm actually good. I have come to grips with this fact. And I will continue to play, not because I think I'm good, but because it's fun. (Thanks to our friends, the Swensons, for helping us pretend we're athletes!)

Wrong

2009-12-19T22:34:00.005-07:00

For most people, I would assume, it's hard to admit they're wrong. Well, at least for most people like me. But I do it, mostly because I'm a "pleaser" and that's the easiest way to placate someone... especially if they're angry. At me.
Anyway, lately I've been doing a lot of self-study since I have extra time to think (while feeding, rocking, changing, or playing with the baby, of course). And I'm realizing that I have a lot of misconceptions about myself, misconceptions that are hard to face because not only do I hate to be wrong, but I REALLY hate to be wrong about the one thing I should probably be an expert - myself.
Some of these misconceptions are funny, some ironic, and some just downright disheartening. I thought I should document them, mostly for my own benefit, but maybe some of you will get a kick out of them, too. (And maybe a few of you will say,"Well, duh, Bonnie... we've known that all along about you. About time you got a clue!" That's fine, too.) Well, here goes...
#1 - Patience
I always thought I was a patient person. I have worked with 25+ kids for most of the day for the better part of 5 years. And I still have hair left. I have 5 younger sisters whom I adore, but when I was younger I felt like I put up with a lot. And I have had some very CHOICE roommates and mission companions (NOT YOU, Brenda... you're a joy!) who tried me to the core. I'm even patient in the Wal-Mart line the Saturday before Christmas when the person in front of me has 3 separate transactions! So I felt like an asset I was bringing to my marriage was patience. Man, was I wrong. Through many different "episodes", I have learned that I leave much to be desired in this department. Jon has to be SO patient with me and my hormones and mood swings and silly demands. And what do I give him in return? Not much. I definitely need to work on this. Jon is a saint, seriously. He is so kind and patient, even on days when everything is his fault and he can't seem to do anything right. I love him. And doesn't he make such a cute daddy?

Bored

2009-12-11T22:05:00.005-07:00

Jon is away on business... and I'm bored. I am surprised if anyone is even reading this anymore. Sorry all I post about are boutiques - that has been a bit of an obsession lately. I promise to post at least once a week now about something more substantial. Starting with today. Right now.

Hmmm... what to write? We have been busy busy busy. The "HOLIDAYS" hit us full force before I was even ready. Halloween was fabulous, Thanksgiving was glorious, and now Christmas is 2 weeks away. Crazy. (I decided to finally post a picture of Ella's Halloween costume - sorry it's so late!)

Our greatest accomplishment lately has been that our basement is about 90% finished. We got all the painting done thanks to our amazing friends, and the carpet was just laid last week. Now Jon has his mancave back and I have my piano studio/craft room - I absolutely love it! (I would post pictures, but in the move back to the offices and such, I lost the cord to upload pics... Oh wait! I found ONE!)

(photo by Caity)

We are so blessed with great friends and family who have sacrificed their time and expertise to help us finish. I am absolutely astonished at Jon's know-how with the framing, wiring, painting, even putting on doorknobs... all of which blows my mind. Good work honey!

So, now we're just finishing up preparations for a fabulous Christmas! Happy Holidays to everyone!

Handmade Holiday Shopping!

2009-12-09T10:46:00.002-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that my shoes will be featured at a local boutique called Patina Market. The wonderful thing about Patina is that, unlike other boutiques, it's an actual store. So you don't have to search for it or wait for it to show up twice a year. It's in Pleasant Grove - very easy to find.

The vendors at Patina Market rotate and my turn is the 9th - 12th of this month. Come check us out!

www.patinamarket.com

Holiday Boutique

2009-12-05T01:27:00.002-07:00

Hey, come hang out with me! Today I'll be manning my booth at a fun boutique in Bluffdale. If you're in the area and feel like shopping (or just keeping me company), come on over. It's on 2431 W. 14755 S. at a home. Catch some great deals from 1-4 p.m.

Here are some other vendors:
www.dressedupaccessories.blogspot.com
www.scentsy.com/ktsmith
www.melindatheclocklady.blogspot.com

See you there!

Bijou Market

2009-11-03T06:49:00.003-07:00

I'm excited to announce that my baby shoes were accepted to be sold at a local artist boutique called Bijou Market. It is a one-day event on November 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Caity and I went last year and fell in love with their offerings. Come on out and support your local artists and get your Christmas shopping all done in one place! (And tell all your friends!) For more info go to www.bijoumarket.com or click on the flier above.

See ya there!

Mindlessness

2009-10-17T21:49:00.002-06:00

Is that a word? Well, it is for me. Do you ever drive somewhere and all of a sudden you realize you're a block away from your destination and you don't remember getting there? That has happened to me THREE times in the last two days. Maybe it's the darling baby in the back seat or the fact that I'm trying to work from home and do way more than I'm used to lately, or the extreme lack of sleep I'm experiencing. But that's no excuse. It freaks me out that my brain goes somewhere else while I'm driving and I am jolted back to reality just as I get to my driveway. It was most startling when I drove from downtown to my house without remembering a thing. That's over 150 utah-sized blocks without a brain. Something's gotta give.... soon.

Costume Idea #4

2009-10-15T09:48:00.002-06:00

I really want this hat... My Ellafish would look so cute!

Costume Idea #3

2009-10-15T09:44:00.000-06:00

Thanks again, Candace!

Costume Idea #2

2009-10-15T09:40:00.001-06:00

My sister Candace colored over the glass on Ella's picture. Freaked me out!

Costume Idea #1

2009-10-14T13:45:00.002-06:00

Bleeech.

2009-10-12T14:10:00.002-06:00

That's how Ella feels about solid foods. Not quite ready, I guess!

Witch-a-palooza

2009-10-12T13:56:00.004-06:00

It was a beautiful fall evening, crisp air, colorful leaves, and the need for a pumpkin or three filled our beings... so Jon and I headed out on the town. But where do we go? We can't get a pumpkin at Wal-Mart or Target. Those are fake. You have to go to a farm and get dirty and fish through all the odd-shaped joys that surround you. So we went to Gardner Village. They probably have pumpkins. Or so we thought.

Gardner Village is a quaint little gathering of shops and farmland where you can get anything from little fancy pieces of fabric to nice pieces of delicious fudge. That is exactly how I talked Jon into going to the "Village". We were envisioning a calm evening of pumpkin hunting and fudge eating, but we were very surprised when we got on the block of the entrance and there were so many people that the police were there directing traffic. Holy cow. No, actually, HOLY WITCHES! We chose the first day of WITCHAPALOOZA to venture out and start our Fall celebrations. It was hilarious - little moms and girls were all dressed to the nines like witches and there were the occasional daddies lugging everything in the stroller looking dazed.

Even funnier - they don't sell pumpkins. We fought the crowds in search of our porch decor, but to no avail. At least we got some fudge and a caramel apple. Yay for Halloween!

Fall Feelings

2009-10-04T08:44:00.003-06:00

Usually I hate Fall. Hate it with a passion. But after a few moments of reflection I realize that I don't hate Fall, I just hate that it's only about 5 minutes long, then Winter sneaks in before we know it. So I've decided instead of complaining about Fall that I'm going to enjoy every little minute of it. That way when Winter rears its ugly head I'll be ready. Maybe. So, here's a little list of things I like about Fall:

1. apple cider
2. rainy mornings and nowhere to be
3. cozy boots
4. no air conditioner or heater, just fresh air
5. pumpkin hunting
6. dinner-in-a-pumpkin
7. costume deciding
8. changing leaves on the mountains
9. UEA weekend
10. witches at Gardner Village
11. the scarecrow festival
12. wreaths and porch decorations
13. going on walks in the middle of the day and not dying of heatstroke
14. caramel apples
15. pumpkin pie (in moderation!)
16. hiding in sweaters and scarves
17. jumping in puddles
18. pre-christmas shopping that I always say I'm going to do, but never do
19. crunchy leaves in the canyons
20. snow only on the mountains, not in my yard

Buy Local

2009-10-01T23:30:00.004-06:00

On my trip to Monterey I found the old candy shop I used to visit as a kid. I have always loved going back there and getting some taffy with that salty sweet flavor of the ocean. So Amelia and I pranced around choosing a few pieces from the many colorful bins and baskets. Then on our walk back to the car we enjoyed the fruits of our search. The humor struck me that I flew two states away to get SALT WATER taffy, something that we here in Utah make for tourists.

I shared this irony with Amelia, but then explained how the taffy from California has a saltier flavor, thicker consistency, blah blah blah. I was so proud to carry my bag of sweets to Jon so he could enjoy this California delicacy.

The first thing he did was peel one open and said, "Hmm... Taffy Town taffy. You know these are made in Utah, right?"

He's right. Duh. Is it still considered buying "local" if you rode on 4 airplanes to do so?

Yawn!

2009-10-01T13:19:00.004-06:00

Ever feel like you need a vacation after your vacation? It doesn't matter how restful and glorious the vacation was, you get home and feel like you could sleep for a week. For me it's the airport and the airplane rides - they're so rushed and stressful. And it seems like entering a war zone or a hurricane every time I land in Salt Lake City. Welcome home, let me shake your brains out and scare you to death. Not to mention the fact that I left 70+ degree weather in California and there's SNOW here. Grrrr...

Anyway, I just got back last night from a fabulous vacation to Capitola, CA with my bestest friend Amelia. We played on the beach, shopped, and got caught up on the last season of Grey's Anatomy - a perfect weekend. Jon was so nice he let me extend my trip a couple of days and we got to go the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Wharf. It took me back to my roots and refreshed my soul.

But I'm so wasted I slept in and didn't get showered or dressed until after noon. And it's now 1:30 and I'm ready for a nap! Luckily, I'm not the only one. Ella slept in as well and has been working her way through a 3 hour nap. I did unpack my suitcase and start laundry. That's enough for today! Yay for getting back to reality.

4 Months!

2009-09-22T09:12:00.004-06:00

Our little Ella Bean is 4 whole months old. This darling pic was taken by our friend Caity at the State Fair (more to come on that). The day of Ella's 4 month "birthday" she reached an exciting milestone - see for yourself! (And ignore the screams of glee from her proud mama!) I was just so shocked that she did it while I was video-taping. What are the chances??

I LOVE DENVER!

2009-09-14T09:48:00.008-06:00

This statement may surprise some of you given my hideous past with the city of Denver. I am shocked at myself as I type those words. But I really do love Denver!

This last week my friend Caity and I fled reality and headed East for a fun girls' trip. She invited me to go to a Killers concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater and (again, shocking) I was able to go! Thanks to my sweet mom who watched Ella, and my sweet husband who let me run wild for a bit, these couple of days were so rejuvenating and exciting!

We took off Wednesday morning and drove through Utah and Colorado and some of the most breathtaking vistas I've ever seen on a road trip. Vail and Georgetown were our favorite towns. SO worth the drive. Then we rolled up to Morrison (Red Rocks Amphitheater) around 7:30 and everyone was having tailgate parties and rockin' out to their car radios right outside the concert! That was something I'd never seen before - so fun!

The concert was amazing. I wouldn't have ever considered myself a huge Killers fan, but the show was so much fun. We danced and sang 'til our voices couldn't cut it, and just enjoyed the beautiful atmosphere. The pictures above are not ours, they're from the web, but they show how gorgeous it is there.

Then Caity and I hung out and shopped a bit in downtown Denver, and hit the road again. (Thanks Caity, for letting me drag you to the antique shop - I love my finds!) There's nothing like road trippin' and girl talking with one of my best friends. When I woke up the next morning I didn't know if my voice was gone because of singing at the concert or because we talked non-stop for nine hours!

This was a wonderful opportunity to take some time for myself, see some sights, and appreciate my husband and daughter even more. Thanks so much Caity!
(Below are a few shots of our trip. Check out Caity's blog for probably a TON more pics and fun stuff about the trip!)Honkin' in the tunnels.
Singing Heart while waiting to leave the parking lot. The best hour of waiting ever!

President Obama's Speech to Students

2009-09-07T22:48:00.005-06:00

Tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday) President Obama is going to be giving a speech to the school children of our country. He is taking time from his packed schedule to address an issue he obviously holds in high priority - the future of our children and their education.

Being a teacher, I admire him and his approach toward the "root" of many problems in our country - our school system. And I love that he is speaking straight to the children to motivate and inspire them to make a difference.

But apparently I'm a radical, left-wing crazy person. Several schools (actually MOST schools) in our area are refusing to show this speech or giving parents the option to not allow their children to watch. I could understand this stance if it were regarding a sex-education video or a controversial campaign by PETA or some other "special-interest group". But this man is the PRESIDENT of our COUNTRY. Not a radical. Our President. I don't care who you voted for or what your political views are. He is OUR President and as such deserves our respect.

What message does that give our students, OUR CHILDREN, the future leaders of our country if our schools are refusing to show a speech by our President? How do we expect to teach children to make a difference or work hard for something we believe in if we refuse to show them someone who is doing so? Just because someone or something is different, does not mean it is bad.

Further, what do the directors of these schools think President Obama is going to say? Is he going to rally the children of our country to rebel against all morality and values of their "forefathers"? Will he spread some bizarre culture that could in some way hinder the progress of our nation? Hardly. He wants to help children broaden their horizons and work harder to make a positive change in their lives, a change that obviously needs to happen since their leaders are too closed-minded to embrace it.

If you have school-aged children, or know some, and they didn't get to see the speech, click here to find it. Or if you're interested in becoming inspired yourself, feel free to do so. I don't remember a President addressing ME as a school child, so I think these kids are pretty lucky that he cares so much to speak to them directly. Here's an excerpt of the transcript that I found amusing and inspiring all at once:

...Today, I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each day reading a book. Maybe you’ll decide to get involved in an extracurricular activity, or volunteer in your community. Maybe you’ll decide to stand up for kids who are being teased or bullied because of who they are or how they look, because you believe, like I do, that all kids deserve a safe environment to study and learn. Maybe you’ll decide to take better care of yourself so you can be more ready to learn. And along those lines, I hope you’ll all wash your hands a lot, and stay home from school when you don’t feel well, so we can keep people from getting the flu this fall and winter.

Whatever you resolve to do, I want you to commit to it. I want you to really work at it.

Good advice for us ALL. (For a full transcript, click here.)

Hallelujah!

2009-09-06T09:17:00.000-06:00

Today was a happy beautiful day because Ella slept from 10 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. Wow. I now remember what sleep feels like! Yay!

Alien Baby

2009-09-04T09:21:00.003-06:00

I've been taking footprints of Ella every month, and up until now she was pretty calm so I could use acrylic paints and wipe them off before a disaster happened. But now she's more stubborn and active, so I decided to use purple ink. Turns out it was a bigger disaster than paint because the ink WILL NOT come off! I've tried soap, hydrogen peroxide, and rubbing alcohol. As you can see, she's thrilled. Hopefully she won't have some foot disease later in life and blame it all on me!

3 Months!

2009-09-01T23:16:00.007-06:00

We had a fun photo shoot on Ella's 3 month "birthday". I am amazed at her facial expressions, her giggles, and her darling personality. My world is a happier, sillier, crazier, BETTER place because of her. What a wonderful 3 months it has been!

The Queen of Clumsy

2009-08-26T09:32:00.004-06:00

I have pieces of Wal-Mart in me.

Yesterday I had a quick stop to make at the Wal-Mart, so I pulled in, grabbed the baby, and hustled to the cart corral to pop her carseat on the cart. But just before I reached the cart, my shoe caught the metal bar that stops the carts from rolling out and I found myself completely sprawled flat on the parking lot. To make matters worse, I was in a skirt that I'm sure was over my head. But what I was most worried about was Ella. She had been sleeping and the 3 foot drop she just took scared her to death. She was screaming, I was bleeding, and no one came to help. Not a soul. You and I both know that there are always people in the Wal-Mart parking lot, but at that moment they all sort of disappeared. Thank goodness for carseats because Ella landed right-side-up and is just fine, but as you can see I'm all scraped up... again.

I hate these kind of boo boos because you have to SCRUB and PEROXIDE the open wound or else you are stuck with that black stuff under your skin forever. I've given birth with no painkillers. I've cut the end of my finger off with a rotary cutter. I've broken my foot in four places. And THIS is a pain I absolutely cannot handle. I can't get myself to do it. So I think I'm stuck with some Wal-Mart becoming part of me. I think that's how Sam Walton wanted it - a little Wal-Mart in everyone.

Spontaneity

2009-08-25T23:19:00.004-06:00

We have been so busy that I haven't had the chance to post about one of the FUNNEST (yes I know it's not a word) weekends I've had in a while. Last Saturday Ella and I were settling in for a lame evening of bread making and Oprah re-runs on the TiVo, when I got a phone call from my friend Caity. First - it was odd that she called my house phone. I don't even know that number. Second - it was odd that after our usual pleasantries she informed me that she and her husband were kidnapping my husband to Wendover and if I ever hoped to see him again I should probably come too. So, though I was elbow deep in yeast and flour, I fed the baby and packed up for the adventure of my life! It may or may not have happened that way...

Since Caity is an Uber-cool blogger, go to her blog to read about the adventures we had. There is no way I could describe it any better.

The Wonderful Wendover Adventure

And for some extra laughs, click here.

photo cred and blog cred - Caity

GIrls' Night

2009-08-13T13:01:00.002-06:00

Wow. I was so excited for last night. I REALLY needed a break. I met my friends Caity, Brenda, Jessica, and Holli for dinner at Paradise Bakery, then we went to see a movie with Alana and Annie. It was so nice to get out of the house and have a reason again to do my hair and makeup. And the best part was that I didn't think about the baby once. Okay, maybe once... or twice. But thanks to my buddies for helping me feel a little bit more like myself again! I love you!

I'm Getting Stupider

2009-08-13T12:53:00.002-06:00

Pregnancy kills brain cells. I am living proof. I thought some of my intellect was coming back in the two and a half months since Ella was born, but today I proved myself wrong. I used to be the "go-to-girl" for computer questions and technology stuff, but now... well, read on.

Today I was bound and determined to email Caity some photos from our "date" last night, expecially since she didn't believe that I would. So I dug the camera cord out of the office (actually Jon did that for me) and figured out how to plug it in the camera. I fiddled with buttons and checked my computer hard drive, but iPhoto would NOT come up and the computer wouldn't recognize my camera. SO FRUSTRATING! I was seconds away from cursing my Mac (blasphemy!) then calling Jon, but when I stood up to get my phone, I realized the OTHER end of the cord wasn't plugged in to the computer. Duh. I want my brain back!

Darling Baby Clothes

2009-08-11T08:00:00.003-06:00

I have been doing more blogging and blog-stalking lately and came across this amazing baby clothing designer, V. Lou Textiles. They're giving away some darling things, so if you want to check it out, go here!

Happy End of Summer!

2009-08-10T16:22:00.004-06:00

For as long as I can remember I have dreaded the end of the summer. DREADED it. The moment school supplies and corduroy pants went on sale I would get a pit in my stomach and an anxious feeling came over me because it meant that school would start soon. From Kindergarten to this last summer I have had to pack a million fun and relaxing things into the 2 1/2 months between the end of one school year to the beginning of another. And once I became a teacher (5 years ago) I really got a bad case of nerves the week before the big first day of school. (And they think only the kids are nervous!)

Don't get me wrong. I loved going back to school and loved being a teacher even more. But I am happy to say that this is the FIRST summer in my entire life that I don't have to freak out. Yesterday I calmly browsed the discounted school supplies without feeling the compulsive need to buy 400 pocket folders or 25 glue sticks. And I bought Ella a "Fall" outfit without feeling a sense of loss for my free time or relaxation. (Yeah... rest and relaxation went out the door on May 19 when she was born!)

I'm proud to say that while my former colleagues are gearing up to return to work I am up to my elbows in dirty diapers and bottles - and I love it! I thought I would feel a bit lost without my main identity being a teacher, but I absolutely am not afraid to say:

I'M A STAY-AT-HOME MOM!
(Thanks Jon for making the sacrifices you have to make this possible. I love you!)

Some people shouldn't...

2009-07-28T23:28:00.004-06:00

I love my family. But one thing about them is that I'm awfully clumsy around them. Those of you who know me well are saying, "You're clumsy around me, too!" Don't deny it. I know the thought crossed your mind! :) But something about my family brings out the worst in my coordination and physical abilities in general. This Sunday was no exception.

We love to play softball and this is the first time I've been able to play because of the pregnancy and recovery and whatnot. So I was the second one up to bat of the whole game, hit a pop fly, and decided to watch it and see if it got caught WHILE running my chubby self to first base. Unfortunately the lovely grass around the path JUMPED in my way and I slid as if sliding into home base. But I was only half way between home and first. My pride was injured and my only saving grace was that EVERYONE else was watching the ball, too, so no one saw me take a flying leap.

It wasn't until I slunk (is that a word) into the dugout that I realized I had this wicked awesome scrape. It hurts like a bugger but if anyone asks, I got it sliding into home and won the game for us all!

Maybe next Sunday we can play a nicer sport like... badminton? Or pillow-fighting?

Poh-TAE-to, Poh-TAH-to

2009-07-19T16:30:00.003-06:00

Take a good look at the picture. What would you call that? Not ice cream, but the other word. Got it in your head? Okay, now read on.
Because of my journalist/teacher background, I tend to be a stickler for spelling and pronunciation perfection. If I read a word and don't know how to say it, it haunts me until I figure it out. Or if I hear a word and can't figure out exactly how to spell it, I go crazy until I find the answer. So I am, you might say, CURSED to no end. Especially if someone around me makes what I would consider a silly mistake, I have to really bite my tongue so as to not appear like the snotty girl in the class. (i.e. - DUH everyone knows how to spell RECEIVE - "I before e except after c." It's easy!) Poor Jon has to put up with me a lot. And poor me has to put up with Jon! (I know... that wasn't grammatically correct.)

So, here is the next debate I place before you. Is this delicious frozen delicacy SHERBET or SHERBERT? I must say I was apalled that Jon and I disagree to the bitter end on this one! I'll bet you can guess who says what. Please help me win this battle!

Debate #3

2009-07-10T11:52:00.003-06:00

What is yuckier? An old lady showing too much cleavage or an old man showing too much in a speedo? (I saw both in LA the other day. Ew.) Sorry to bring up bad memories, Caity!

The Great Debate

2009-07-09T12:54:00.003-06:00

VH1 has started doing a series called "The Great Debate" in which they vote on silly pop culture things, then comedians comment on them. It kept me entertained through 4 flights in two days with an infant. I even laughed out loud a couple of times, then realized that I was on an airplane and getting weird looks from my neighbors. So, I want to start doing it. I thought of lots of things I'd want to vote on, but forgot them all last night. So, here are just a couple. Leave your vote and, if you wish, witty comments so I can laugh aloud again!

#1 - Working out outside or in the gym?

#2 - If in the gym, elliptical or treadmill?

Let the debate begin!

Wipeout Workout

2009-07-04T11:58:00.004-06:00

One of my guilty pleasures is this crazy show - Wipeout. I'm slightly obsessed with this show AND trying to shed the pregnancy pounds, so I'm going to call my exercise regime my "Wipeout Workout". I would LOVE to go on this show, but I'd have to wear a helmet! Come on! Who's with me?

I just hope that if or when I happen to get on the show I can look more like this:than this:

2009-06-24T15:51:00.000-06:00

Happy Summer!

Slingy Thingy

2009-06-20T09:52:00.003-06:00

Thanks to all of you who suggested a sling in my "One Handed Pizza" post. It has been a complete lifesaver! And, you can tell by the absolutely thrilled look on Ella's face that she pretty much loves it too. Yay for slings!

1 month!

2009-06-20T08:15:00.004-06:00

Happy Monthiversary Ella! She's grown and changed so much in such a short time! Thanks to everyone for your help, love, and support. We wouldn't have had such an amazing month without you all!

The fruit of our "labors"

2009-06-19T13:31:00.004-06:00

Last year we planted a SWEET garden with a sprinkling system and everything... and nothing grew. NOTHING. So this year we decided to scale down and plant some tomatoes out on our patio in pots.... and our FIRST tomato graced us with its presence. It was a little guy, but we're hoping that since he was so brave to grow that his friends will soon follow. Yum!

One-Handed Pizza

2009-06-17T21:35:00.002-06:00

So I was feeling very domestic today and decided to make homemade pizza for dinner. All was going well, we ran our errands and even made it home "on schedule" to start making the dough. Then Ella didn't want to be sat down AT ALL. So I made the entire thing with one hand - until Jon got home to rescue me. The only thing that was really tricky was grating the cheese! (I won't horrify you with how I managed...) It just made me realize once again how different things are now with Ella in my life. Even seemingly easy tasks like making dinner take a lot of extra planning and time. We ate later than planned, but at least it was edible! And it was kinda fun to "talk" her through the steps of how to make pizza, even though she probably has no clue what I'm saying. My cute little helper. Sorry, there are no pictures of the ordeal - I had my hands full!

Do you wanna get Frosty with me?

2009-06-13T08:48:00.006-06:00

Since becoming a mom I have watched an embarassing amount of daytime TV. Not much else to do when you're feeding every few hours! Sadly, I can quote a lot of commercials - something that is driving me absolutely nuts. So, last night we went to Wendy's and this annoying commercial came to my mind. I started singing it and dared Jon to order one and sing the song. He's a good sport - but it came out all crazy-like, something like "Uh, yeah... I would like a Soffee Toffee Twisted Strawfee." Oddly enough, the drive-thru guy still knew exactly what Jon was ordering. It was hilarious! I hope you enjoy this commercial and that it gets stuck in your head as badly as it's stuck in mine. (Oh my gosh - the break-dancing portly fellow (Let's do this homies!) and the skinny dude that looks like Beaker from Muppets crack me up! It's amazing what becomes funny when you're practically alone all day!)

BFFs

2009-06-03T21:42:00.003-06:00

This is Ella the day we got home from the hospital.She's already hangin' outwith her best friend Italia from across the street. Italia is about 2 months old - and they're about the same length!Yay for friends!

Sushi

2009-06-02T20:32:00.002-06:00

I get asked a lot by my third graders what my favorite food is. I'm not sure why it's such a must-know topic, but they get really grossed out when I tell them I like sushi. Their curiosity made this school year especially hard because saying I "like" sushi is an understatement. Better said, I LOVE SUSHI! I adore it, crave it, practically live for the stuff. And for nine months I told myself it was worth it to abstain from my one culinary true love (with only a couple of cheats) if it meant we'd have a healthy baby.

The only fantasy that helped me through it was that I was going to send Jon to our favorite sushi bar for celebratory spicy tuna the minute our baby was born. Imagine my utter devastation when the lactation specialist at the hospital told me I ABSOLUTELY could not have sushi while breastfeeding. Other prohibited foods have been found to be myths (chocolate, onions, spicy food) so I asked again, just to be sure, and she looked at me like I wanted to feed my baby arsenic. My question is ... what do women in Japan eat after they give birth? Their babies seem just fine!

So, lately I've been haunted by sushi. I want it so bad I can taste it ... almost. And I can't have it for at least another year. Oh, the cruelty. But I found some alternatives that just might have to do until then:

SUSHI USB drives... pretty funny.

Fruit sushi. Not nearly as good, but might trick my eyes and tummy for a while.

Do you have any ideas?

Oh MY GOSH!

2009-06-01T13:44:00.003-06:00

We are so lucky! Our friends Alana and Caity are VERY talented photographers. I had fun taking the cheesy photos from the last post, but then these two came over and put me to shame! (In a good way!) We had a fun time posing and ooh-ing and aaah-ing about Ella. She is so beautiful, if I don't say so myself. To see some of the results of our fun afternoon, click here:
Alana's blog

Caity's blog

Thanks girls for all your help and attention. We are amazed at all you can do!

Photo Shoot

2009-05-28T12:48:00.002-06:00

This darn baby is so cute I just can't help myself. This may be considered borderline child abuse for how long I made her sit in weird things and wear little outfits, but I just had to try to get some fun shots! Ella loves the sun, but doesn't love the camera, so it's hard to get her to "pose" - I guess I'll cut her some slack for being only 8 days old. :) I promise every post won't be pictures of her, but that's my life right now, so that's what you get!

More Photos

2009-05-26T21:03:00.003-06:00

Wow. I've been a mommy for one week. And what an exhausting week it has been! I've never been so consumed by one single thing - and it's amazing. I love Ella so much it brings me to tears about 20 times a day. The sleepless nights, the endless feedings, the MANY diapers are so worth it to have her cuddle up to me and sleep contentedly. They say the first week of a first child's life is the hardest week of a mother's life, so I'm sure glad I got through it! She's a joy and we're so glad she's joined us! Here are some cute pics our friend Caity took of us on our big day. Enjoy!

And the winner is...

2009-05-21T08:16:00.002-06:00

ELLA GRACE HAGEN!!
My favorite was Lola, Jon's was Ella, and Amelia had such great sentimental backing. I have always loved Stella, for no particular reason, so we had a serious dilemma on our hands. The interesting thing is that when we got serious way back when about naming this child, Ella Grace was the first name we both thought of. Then we let it simmer in the back of our minds, mostly because it is super popular and we didn't want that for our little jelly bean.

So, when we saw her on Tuesday and tried out all the names, Ella fit the best. Lola seemed a bit too sassy, and Stella was a little too strong. When it came to Amelia and Ella, we just had to pick one, and this one seems to fit! So, that was a long story for a very small baby with a pretty small name!

Thanks for your votes and support! We love you all!

Baby Hagen

2009-05-19T21:00:00.002-06:00

Hi, my name is...

Lola Mae
Ella grace
Stella Mae
Amelia Grace

Which one suits her the bestest?

65 Questions You've Probably Never Been Asked

2009-05-17T09:39:00.002-06:00

I got this little quiz from my cute friend Mindy (see her blog link on the right!) We'll see if I can get through all of these!

1. First thing you wash in the shower? face

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?Chocolate brown, it says San Francisco and it's Jon's, so it fits me right now!
3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Oh yeah... you bet I would!
4. Do you plan outfits? Yes... all the time! I have to, or else it might not be clean. :)
5. How are you feeling RIGHT now? Tired, but good... excited for our baby.
6. Whats the closest thing to you that's red? My paper towel holder in my kitchen.
7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having? Oh man, I just woke up. I had a dream I was floating down a river in Brasil and waving at everyone. I've been obsessed with wanting to go swimming lately, so that's probably where it came from.
8. Did you meet anybody new today? Not anyone REAL.
9. What are you craving right now? German pancakes... they're in the oven right now!
10. Do you floss? No because I bleed like crazy. I've never had a cavity, so I think I'm okay.
11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage? Ireland
12. Are you emotional? Yes... very... emotional... poor Jon.
13. Have you ever counted to 1,000? Yes, teachers do weird things sometimes.
14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it? Mostly suck or lick. I have very sensitive teeth.
15. Do you like your hair? Yes - I just got it cut yesterday and it feels sooooo good!
16. Do you like yourself? Generally, unless I make an 8 year old cry or yell at my honey. Then I don't.
17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush? Is Texas barbeque involved? If so... yes!
18. What are you listening to right now? The oven is heating up and someone is mowing their lawn outside.
19. Were your parents strict? More strict on me than my younger sisters... that's why I'm the experimental child!
20. Would you go sky diving? I've always wanted to, but now the looming reality that I'm going to be a mother any minute makes me a bit more hesitant. More to live for and stuff...
21. Do you like cottage cheese? With peaches, but not anything else! Ew. I think some has been living in our fridge for months. Blech.
22. Have you ever met a celebrity? Rulon Gardner... does he count? :)Michael McClean? Ryan Shupe?
23. Do you rent movies often? no.
24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in? My toenails are super sparkly!
25. How many countries have you visited? Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Belgium, England, France, New York... :) Just kidding. So, 7!
26. Have you made a prank phone call? Sadly, yes. Unfortunately they invented caller ID so I can't anymore! (Oh yeah... *69)
27. Ever been on a train? yeah
28. Brown or white eggs? whatever
29.Do you have a cell-phone? Who doesn't? Except my brother in law, Ty! :)
30. Do you use chapstick? I do. Yes. Very addicted.
31. Do you own a gun? Jon has a BB gun and I hate it.
32. Can you use chop sticks? Yesssss... I want SUSHI right now!!
33. Who are you going to be with tonight? Family, Jon, Baby X.
34. Are you too forgiving? Can you be too forgiving? I think I'm not forgiving enough sometimes.
35. Ever been in love? Yes... it's a wonderful thing!
36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow? Um, no idea!
37. Ever have cream puffs? MMmmmm... my work threw me a baby shower last week and a teacher made some. They were INCREDIBLE!
38. Last time you cried? Oh gosh... watching Gray's Anatomy last night. I cry at everything, though!
39. What was the last question you asked? I just asked Jon how he slept last night... he just rolled outta bed!
40. Favorite time of the year? Early summer... June.
41. Do you have any tattoos? No.
42. Are you sarcastic? Unfortunately... I need to tone it down at school!
43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect? Don't even know what that is. So, no.
44. Ever walked into a wall? All the time, every day. Then I always look to see if someone noticed. Usually they don't. At least I don't think they do!
45. Favorite color? Green. All greens. Very calming color.
46. Have you ever slapped someone? Yes.
47. Is your hair curly? Sometimes... with a diffuser.
48. What was the last CD you bought? Oh gosh... I don't buy CDs! But the last CD I downloaded on iTunes was Viva La Vida by Coldplay.
49. Do looks matter? I would like to say no, but I'm afraid that most of the time YES they do. Especially mean looks and dirty looks.
50. Could you ever forgive a cheater? Hmmm... no.
51. Is your phone bill sky high? Sometimes! It's hard to share minutes...
52. Do you like your life right now? Yes. I am so blessed. My life is in balance at the moment.
53. Do you sleep with the TV on? Only if I fall asleep on the couch. No TV in the bedroom!
54. Can you handle the truth? It's hard, but yes.
55. Do you have good vision? No, and it's getting worse.
56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people? Yes! Thermwise, that annoying guy on the Questar commercials, Lloyd Newell, and that Clean House chick with the flower to name a few.
57. How often do you talk on the phone? A lot at night.
58. The last person you held hands with? Johnny Boy... so cute.
59. What are you wearing? A robe.
60.What is your favorite animal? Giraffe
61. Where was your profile picture taken? Do I have one?
62. Can you hula hoop? No. No cartwheels either. Or handstands.
63. Do you have a job? Yes
64. What was the most recent thing you bought? Costco run... including a polish sausage dog. Sick, but so good.
65. Have you ever crawled through a window? Yes! On my mission. In an ugly jumper and knee-highs. So awkward.

Katie's Quilt

2009-05-17T09:12:00.003-06:00

My sister is amazing. Have I mentioned that before? She's in high school and makes these amazing projects. She was kind enough to make our baby's quilt for one of her final projects in quilting class. Here's a ghetto pic I took with my computer's camera until we get our camera back. It's absolutely gorgeous, so I'll get a better picture when I can! (p.s. - the last picture flipped for some reason ... no clue why! Just ignore my lack of technical skills ... it's early)

Our Little Nest!

2009-05-16T22:16:00.006-06:00

I'm not so into the typical pink nursery, so it took me a while to figure out what I wanted for our little girl's room. Here are the beginnings of our little bird-themed nursery. We have a lot more work to do, but I'm so excited for HER to see it! :)
Katie made these cute bumper pads that have a matching quilt ... the next post will be ALL about it!

Here is a bird mobile that my sister Katie, Amelia and I made... lots of fun!

This is the other side of the nursery ... the BORING side so far. Once she has a name we'll hang the letters on that hangy thing. Eventually there will be more color over there. It smells like baby powder and Dreft and all it needs is a little cute bundle of joy!

Freak Out!

2009-05-14T20:11:00.002-06:00

Oh my gosh. Does anyone else get nauseated and excited and extremely scared when they look at the counter in the corner? 13 days? That is definitely NOT enough time to find a name for a baby... or feel completely ready!

Yes, you may be thinking that I have known this day was coming for nine months, so I should be ready... but I'm NOT! Jon and I stay up until all hours of the night talking about the upcoming "BIG DAY" - he's a bit freaked too.

I can't wait to see her and hold her, but ... then what do I do with her? :) The anticipation is kind of like waiting for Christmas morning except that you can actually count down to that big day. Ours could happen any time. Like now. Or in 10 minutes. Or in 10 days! It's killing me!
*On a side note, I'm really going to post about the nursery. I promise. We took down my home office to make the baby room and in the process packed up my iMac with my pics on it. I'll unpack it again and post those soon. Stay tuned...

Mom Update Again

2009-04-24T22:47:00.002-06:00

Sorry I haven't kept up on my mommy update ... I've been super busy and having fun with my family. First of all, Mom is doing really well. She had some difficulty coming home, but now she's been home for just over a week. Her back was hurting because of blood in the spinal fluid that settled in her lower back. She says that's more painful than the actual surgery!

Now her color is coming back, she's out and about, and she's recovering well. I really want to get a picture of her "Halloween" scars (as she calls them) so you can see how cool she is. The staples were taken our a few days ago, so unfortunately I can't show you that. But stay tuned... I'll see what I can talk Mom into! Thanks for your support, everyone. It means a lot.

Mom, we're so proud of you. Your decision to have the surgery was a scary one, but we are so thankful you did it for you, for us, and for everyone who loves you!