favorites, want it and got it

Favorites

(yes, I realize they are mostly food items)

1. strawberry Hagan Daz ice cream.
3. rice crispy treats
4. cold stone ice cream. Vanilla, strawberries, bananas, chocolate fudge, for now.
2. otter pops, less fat, less fulfilling, but tasty.
5. cable t.v. (missed AI this week but got it just in time for Grey's. Oh and I think I will enjoy the new series spin off of Addison's life.)


Want It




1. This is a buggy board that hooks on to the back of your stroller. Ammon doesn't ride in the stroller anymore but sometimes he gets tired. This would be perfect. I first heard about them from Lindsey and then saw a child on one in Central Park.

2. This sectional from Cost Plus World Market. It is a little darker than it looks in the pic. I still need to look around but really like this one.
3. This cute bathing suit from Layers Clothing and adorable shirt. It looks cuter on the model but I couldn't get the picture to download. Check out the site for stylish, reasonably priced clothes.

4. A new table and chairs. Haven't found the one I want yet.

5. Bedroom set. Still looking.

6. Nursery decor for Rylee's room.

7. Trade in my Yukon for a minivan.

Got It

1. These shoes from Aldo. I wanted them in New York but they didn't have my size. Lucky me, I found them here in Santa Rosa.

2. New everyday tennis shoes. The picture makes them look kind of dorky but they are cute in person. More of a cream, beige color.

Inspired by Lindsey.

our life finally begins

We are here. On Sunday we drove to Santa Rosa to begin our new life. It is so strange that this is where I really live now. I keep thinking I am on vacation.

We got good news from our landlords. At the end of the month we can move into the house! I am so happy because it will give me a few weeks to get situated before Rylee comes.

My mom drove down here on Monday to help us get settled in. She probably feels like we really didn't need her but the boys and I really did. It helped me to just have her around while I got somewhat comfortable with my new surroundings. Plus she helped with the kids, bathing and getting them ready for bed which is always a welcome break. Ammon kept asking us if it was Grandpa's turn to come now, because Grandma left today. I'm not sure that he gets this whole moving thing yet.

Yesterday we drove to Vacaville to see Jami and BEAUTIFUL baby Keal. He really is a gorgeous baby. My mom and I couldn't say enough about him on the way home. I am lucky to be near Rona (my wonderful aunt) and her two daughters Jami and Lani (equally wonderful). I hope to see them often.

My mom and I kept talking about how after five years of marriage and almost three kids mine and Jody's life is really finally starting to begin. Having a husband that has to be somewhere all day long is a new thing for me but having a steady pay check is too. This last one I could get use to.

Random stuff

We got Jody's company car, a 2005 Ford Escape, on Monday. The only difference is that it is a charcoal grey color. I have been driving it around because he is out of town and I really like it. The best part is that it is free.

At 30 weeks of pregnancy I finally broke down and bought some seven maternity jeans. My only complaint? Why didn't I do it sooner? They are seriously heavenly. I wear them everyday and I actually feel somewhat "cute" in them. They are so comfortable. I HATE maternity pants because they are always falling down and these don't. Word to the wise, by at least one pair when you are pregnant. They were worth more than the $100 I bought them for on ebay. Also make sure you go up at least two sizes from your pre-pregnancy size. They run small.


I love designer jeans! Even if you aren't pregnant look into getting some. They are my guilty pleasure. You can always get them much cheaper on ebay. But be sure not to get fakes. This ebay store is the best I've found. Happy Shopping!


A few of you have asked about my Oprah Show experience. The second summer we lived in Chicago I vowed to try to go to the show. She normally doesn't shoot during the summer but we got there in May. I kept checking her website for tickets and found a taping that they were still giving tickets for. I had to tell them why I should be chosen to go. So I made up a huge sob story, that was true, about how I was only in Chicago for the summer, 8 months pregnant with my first child and would probably never be back in Chicago. Then forgot about it. A week later I got a call from someone from the show stating that I had been chosen to go! Of course we didn't see any famous stars or get free stuff. The show was about "Amazing Kids." Still a cool experience. I seriously sat about 10 feet away from Oprah. Someday I want to be on the show as a guest!

Five Fabulous Years

Happy fifth Anniversary Jody. I can't believe we have only been married that long, especially because we will have our third child in June. We met in August of 2001. Started dating in February of 2002. Were engaged at the end of that month and married in April of the same year. I got pregnant after a summer of selling alarm systems in Chicago and we moved back to California.

Since then we have:

-Gone back to Chicago for a summer, where Ammon was born.

-Traveled to Hawaii twice, Iowa, Georgia, Arizona, Utah, Mexico, and other places I assume I'm forgetting.

-Laughed together, cried together, danced together and fought together.

-Been on the Oprah Show.

-Bought and fixed up a triplex.

-Bought a piece of property to build an investment home on.

-Eaten lots of warm cookies with milk after the kids have gone to bed and watched numerous reality shows.

We have done much more but with each pregnancy I tend to lose more and more of my memory and creativity.

Most importantly I have learned that my husband is the sweetest, most gentle, kind-hearted man I have ever met. He is a spiritual giant who puts family and church before anything else. I know that everything he does is for me and my children.

Some of my favorite things about Jody:

-He loves to watch chick flicks with me and even the Bachelor.

-He is athletic

-He's cried in movies that I didn't cry in.

-Everyone looks familiar to him.

-He loves shoes.

-If I were stupid, he would let me by anything I wanted. But I'm not, so I won't.

-He still can't stop talking about his mission to Paraguay.

-How sexy he sounds when he speaks Spanish.

-His dimples.

-How he thinks I'm sexy, even when I'm pregnant.

-The homemade cards and notes he writes me.

-The way he loves his boys.

-That he will get up in the night with a crying baby and let me rest.

-I cook dinner, he does the dishes. We are equals.

I don't deserve to have such a wonderful husband but I am so glad that I got him. Happy Anniversary Jody. I miss and love you. I am so excited to start our next adventure together

Relaxing?

I'm pretty sure that's what I thought my trip to Delaware would be like and I may have even uttered those words. Not so much. But it was a great trip none the less.

I flew into the Philadelphia Airport Thursday night. Jody met me at the front of the hotel, we dropped my stuff off in his room and then had a delicious dinner, compliments of his company(one nice perk, we didn't have to pay for food because he gets an allowance each day). Then we rushed back up to the room, no not for you know what, but to catch the new episode of Grey's Anatomy. Then I ordered strawberry ice cream from room service and we went to bed.

He had some training the next day until 3:oo so I took a shuttle to the mall to do some shopping and get a pedicure. Getting back to the hotel was a little scary. I had to take a bus back and sat at a bus stop with some pretty scary looking people. I was suppose to catch a bus at 2:14 but it never came so I had to wait for the next one at 2:45 , that was the longest thirty minutes of my life. Luckily they were harmless, I just felt really out of my element.

That night he had to switch hotels for the last phase of his training so we were shuttled to a hotel in Plymouth Philadelphia. When we got there we ate dinner, went to the mall (because we didn't have transportation to go anywhere else and it was right across the street) and then went to the movie "The Land of Women." I'm not sure what to say about the movie. It was different, strange at times but interesting? I actually want to hear what Lindsey thinks of it because I know she saw it the same night. One thing for sure is that Meg Ryan really messed her face up when she got botox injected into her lips. I just can't take her seriously now.

Saturday we got up at 6:30 to catch a train to New York City. We arrived in Penn Station around 10:00 and spent the whole day seeing everything we could until we had to catch the train back at 9:00. Our agenda:

-Ground Zero
We were both filled with emotion the minute we saw the sight where the twin towers used to stand. What a powerful experience. On the fence Jody noticed a picture of a man and woman and the woman had written how she would always love him and that he was the best daddy in the world. I can only imagine how hard it must be, for these people who lost loved ones, to witness the rebuilding. It truly is a memorial/graveyard of lives who were lost that day.

-Statue of Liberty
We were going to take the ferry out but it was an hour and a half wait. So we took pics of the statue and called it good.

-Brooklyn Bridge
We walked half way up, took pictures and walked back. I didn't enjoy it too much because I had to pee really bad after we began walking.

-Central Park
Wow talk about a busy place. It was a beautiful weekend in New York, first in a long time. So everyone was out. But the park was really cool. I didn't realize how large it was and next time I would like to take a carriage ride through it.

-Trump Tower/ 5th Avenue (shopping)
Cool to see where Apprentice usually takes place (this season in L.A.) and lots of super expensive stores.

-Serendipity
My favorite spot! We enjoyed a light dinner and then indulged in frozzzen hot chocolate and a strawberry cheesecake sunday which were both delicious! We also met a couple sitting next to us who were LDS. So that was kind of fun. I brought home a frozen hot chocolate packet to try.

-Times Square
Another favorite spot. It was so exciting and reminded me of Piccadilly Square in London. Jody would have liked to have spent more time there. We went to Toys 'R Us to find something for Ammon and they had a ferris wheel in it.

-Rockefeller Center
We went by NBC studios to see where the Today Show is broad casted and then to Dean & DeLuca which reminded me of the t.v. show Felicity because she worked there.

-Grand Central Station
Another must see.

Then caught the subway back to Penn Station and got back to our hotel around 11:00. Unfortunately I had to get up at 4:45 a.m. to catch a shuttle to the hotel. I needed one more day to sleep in and really relax but it was a great trip, mostly because I got to spend some time with my wonderful husband.

Notes for next trip to NYC:
-Go for more than one day
-See some shows
-Eat at Serendipity, many times
-Go to the Empire State Building (ran out of time)
-Stay in a hotel in Times Square
-Do more shopping

Finally, thank you mom for watching my kids. I could not have done it with out you! How many times have I said that in my life? I know I will say it many more.

Arizona

Last Friday we flew to Arizona to see Lindsey and her family and my mom's side of the family. My mom stayed with her sister Julie and I stayed with Lindsey at Alan's sister's house. She has a beautiful home and Ammon loved playing with her boys, who gave him plenty of attention. The weather was beautiful. The first day we went to a family picnic at a great park where the kids were able to run around, swing and ride bikes. Sunday we went to church which was interesting for me. Cohen was absolutely insane and wouldn't sit still for five minutes. I ended up spending the last part of church in the nursery with him because he fell apart when I tried to leave. That night we went to Julie's home for a delicious turkey dinner and my cousin heather made a yummy cake similar to Texas sheet cake but white with almond flavoring. I will get the recipe and post it later.

Monday we spent the morning and good part of the afternoon shopping at the Chandler Mall. It has every store you could ever want and more. Tuesday we went to Camel Back Resort in Scottsdale. Ammon swam all over with the new love of his life, Emily. Emily is my 9 year old cousin (Julie's daughter) and Ammon was smitten with her the minute he saw her. All he talked about the WHOLE trip was Emily. He ended up staying with my mom two nights because he wanted to be with her as much as possible. At the resort Cohen wasn't too interested in swimming until 10 minutes before we were about to leave. On the other hand Lindsey had her hands full with Izzy who couldn't get enough of it, and went under the water half of dozen times only to go back for more. She is hilarious.

I didn't get to eat out as much as I wanted because I got a stomach flu Tuesday afternoon but felt better by Wednesday just in time to hit Pei Wei and Cold Stone. We had a great time visiting Lindsey and the rest of the family. I love visiting Arizona but don't know if I could ever live there because it gets too hot in the summer.

Ten minutes before we were about to leave for shopping Cohen was pushing Bella's pram, got inside and fell out. He landed face first on the pavement. His teeth hit his top lip which caused quite a bit of bleeding but it made for a very enjoyable shopping trip. He was an angel in his stroller for three hours because he was exhausted from falling and crying so much.

Ammon with Laura's boys, Jonah and Sam.

Cute little cousins from left: Lacey, Emily, Makenna, and Ellie.

Stay tuned for pictures and commentary on my whirlwind trip to Delaware, Philly, and New York City.

Raphael

Have you read it?

This was a very interesting book. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha you will be fascinated by this book as well. The book tells the life of a Chinese women, telling of Chinese traditions such as foot binding, matchmaking, and a secret way women used to write to each other called Nu Shu. They had some crazy customs. I encourage all to read it!

New York

As many of you are aware, Jody is currently completing his training for AstraZeneca in Delaware. Last week movers came and boxed all of our stuff up and took it to Santa Rosa to sit in storage for a few weeks. What a wonderful way to move. They took way better care of our stuff than we would have. Just one more reason why I love this company, who paid for the move plus gave us a generous amount of relocation money.

The boys and I are staying with my parents. Lindsey, Alan and Izzy are in Arizona for the next few weeks and on Friday my mom, the boys and are going to fly there to visit her for six days. I can't wait to be in warm weather and get started on a tan. My mom has bravely consented to flying home with my boys on Thursday while I fly to Delaware to see Jody for the weekend. Our anniversary is the 26th and we wanted to spend some alone time together before the baby comes.

So back to the title of my post New York. NYC is only an hour train ride from Delaware so we are planning to take the train in on Saturday for the day. I really want to go to Central Park but does anyone know of other places we MUST see while we are there for just one day? (Lindsey should be a big help since Alan took her there for a day a few years back) Oh and what mode of transportation should we take? I am so looking forward to being alone with my husband and going to the big city!

Easter

A few weeks ago I took Ammon to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Tasha and her kids. Ten minutes into the movie he handed me all of his Batman stuff and said, "I'm not Batman anymore. I'm a Ninja Turtle." Hence the reason he got Ninja Turtle stuff for Easter.

We started our Easter weekend off by going to a church breakfast Saturday morning followed by an Easter egg hunt at the shopping center. Ammon was a pro but poor Cohen was so upset because I was holding him back for 15 minutes, waiting for the stupid lady to say go, that he sat there and just cried by the time she finally did! Poor kid. Good thing his mom is a little competitive and grabbed some eggs for him. After the egg hunt we drove to the mall and let Ammon sit on the Easter Bunny's lap. He was so cute about it. Cohen was scared to death of it.

The Easter Bunny had a huge mask on and it's tongue was sticking out. So Ammon began hopping and telling everyone, with his tongue out, "Hello I'm the Easter Bunny." But you really couldn't understand what he was saying. It was hilarious.

Later that night we dyed Easter eggs. Jody dyed my two very favorite ones that I had to get a picture of. Sunday the Easter Bunny left baskets for the kids and after dinner, of ham and scalloped potatoes, we had an egg hunt. It started pouring rain right as my dad began hiding eggs. Fortunately this didn't slow Ammon down! Cohen picked up three and then grabbed his head and said, "It's cold mommy." So we brought him back in and let him find a few inside.

I walked out of the bathroom for two seconds and came back in to this!

29 Weeks

Me at 29 weeks and feeling it. The other day a lady at the grocery store told me I looked like I was about to pop. Well that's good considering I have eleven more weeks left, a 3 and 1 year old, a move to get through and basically no husband. But I'm not complaining. These are all things I wanted: a baby (especially girl), to move, kids close in age and for Jody to get a job. I just have moments of losing it and tend to get emotional lately. I just want to be in the rental house, waiting for Rylee to come!

Last week I had a doctor's appointment and the midwife snuck me into the ultrasound tech to get 4-D pictures of the baby. I had to take pictures of the pictures so they aren't super clear but it made me more anxious to see her, in person. Like my other babies, Rylee is very active. I already have a tub full of baby clothes thanks to her grandmothers. Next week Tasha is throwing a shower for me so I am sure I will be adding to it!

Ammon being silly in his sombrero that Chris and Kalie brought him from Cancun.

P.S. I hope I am just not photogenic because I look hideous in these pictures (Alex we've had these conversations)! Oh and thank goodness for sisters. The maternity shirt is Lindsey's and pants are Kasey's. Thanks girls!

Welcome Home!

Tasha and Makynna got home Tuesday night, just in time for her to celebrate her 27th birthday! I didn't realize how much I missed her until she came home. Tash and I have been best friends since we were babies. My dad used to call me Kelly Jones because I would go on every family vacation with her and would often stay the weekend at her house. When we graduated from high school we roomed together until she married Craig. I was a little sad when she left me alone in Provo but was so happy to live near her again when Jody and I moved back. I will truly miss having such a good friend around when we move next month. She is just one of those people that you always feel comfortable to say or do anything around. I can drop by her house anytime and know that I am welcome. Not only has she been a best friend but like a sister to me. I know that no matter how far away we live we will always stay close.

In other news. I had a garage sale this weekend to get rid of some of our things. I started it Friday morning because the weather forecast showed rain for Saturday. For future reference, never have a garage sale on a Friday! I made a whopping $4! When I told Kasey she almost ran off the road because she was laughing so hard. Luckily Saturday went a lot better. We sold most of our stuff and made about $110. Much better than Friday. Having a garage sale is kind of awkward and humbling. It's weird to watch people go through your things and almost embarrassing when they leave with nothing. I think some people bought something for 50 cents just because they felt sorry for me!

A moving company is coming this weekend to pack and move all of our stuff. They will put it all in storage until we arrive there at the end of April. Jody will be gone for three weeks for more training so we will be staying at my parents house. I will be so happy to be out of our apartment and be done cleaning!

I promise to post pics pronto and hopefully be a better blogger this week.