MICHAEL BUBLE!!

I am not a concert girl. I do like going to them but I am just as good watching music videos or listening to a CD at home. However I have always wanted to see Michael Buble. He is by far my favorite artist. Well Jason came home the other day and said he had the best surprise for me...Yep Michael Buble tickets. His podiatrist from his work had a suite and had tickets he gave to us! Score!! There were 3 tickets so my Dad was happy to tag along and we were happy to have him. The suite was awesome but kind of weird not being in the "sweat " of the concert. I loved it and loved the company even more. Michael Buble was great (he has a potty mouth though:( ). I love sad soft melancholy songs ( don't ask me why) so I missed hearing his softer songs because he really just did his big band songs. My favorite part was when he danced and sang a Michael Jackson song, he was so good at it! He had a very fun personality too. Loved it all and would see him again anytime. Thanks honey!!!

I didn't take my camera so these are the only pics I took with my itouch.

First Tooth

Our little man is breaking his first tooth. He has had a fever and a super snotty nose but he is still smiling and happy.

I want it short like Brooklyn...

Brooke kept telling me over the last week that she wanted short hair like her friend Brooklyn. Well we drove by a Cutz for Kids today and I asked her if she wanted her hair short and she said yes. Here are the results. I think it looks very cute and she loved feeling pampered while we were there. When did a kids haircut start costing $20? That's what Jason pays...I better learn how to cut hair!

By the way she remembered that she got a sucker when Ashley cut her hair last time, and it seems the whole thing happened just because she wanted the sucker. That's all she cared about the whole time.

Before

During

After

Let's try this again...

I don't know why none of my links are working to my new blog but I will try again. Fingers crossed! Tips from a Homemaker .

We need rain boots!

Brooke's new favorite thing is to play in the rain. On days when it is not too cold and raining I will let her go outside. She is so fun to watch and has way too much fun! Preston and I usually stay dry inside, and just watch Brooke have fun. Of course we always follow up this ritual with a warm bubble bath and some hot cocoa. Oh to be little again.

Florida trip

In the early part of last month I was able to go on a sister vacation with 3 of my sisters to Orlando, Florida. We had a great time and it was so nice to hang out with these cool chicks! Here is a quick recap.

Day 1 flight, getting lost driving for 3 hours just trying to go to Wal-Mart 1.5 miles away from our hotel at 10 PM. Crazy! Day 2 = taking it easy. Pedicures, eating at the grossest Mexican restaurant, and eating at the most delicious Japanese steakhouse. The guy who was cooking our food was so funny because he only had two jokes that he told over and over. He kept calling soy sauce Chinese coca cola and every time he would clean the grill he would say Chinese exercise. Weren't we at a Japanese restaurant? Good times!

Day 3 was The Kennedy Space Center. It was so amazing to realize how so , much of what we have and use everyday came from the space program. There space ship launch experience was awesome too! It simulates a real launch for you. It is also on a beautiful island and was so gorgeous to look around. We got to touch a moon rock that is older than 99.9% of earths surface, so cool! i made Preston touch it too. Love those cute sisters of mine! They are such awesome ladies. That night we went to a Sleuth's Dinner mystery show. It was so fun and had surprisingly good food.

Day 4 was Epcot. We ate at every single food cart in all the countries and we each spent about $80 on food alone. Way worth it and so fun to find out what food you like from all over the world. I liked Canada, Greece, Italian, Mexican. Morocco, and a few more the best. Preston was so cute trying on all the different hats from the different countries. The best part of the day for me was a concert from Hanson who I loved growing up and had no idea they were going to be playing. We even got to hear "MMM bop."

Day 5 was Gatorland. I highly recommend this if you ever go to Orlando.

I even sat on a real alligator! He was little but I was still scared to sit on his body. Plus there were other alligators with there mouth not taped right next to us. Scary!!That night my sister took me to my favorite Italian restaurant "Bucca Di Beppo" and My sister April and I went to the Temple while the two other sisters watched Preston for me. It was an awesome trip and the best part was just hanging out with these awesome ladies! Love you all!

7 months old

Preston is the sweetest best baby ever! Every day I look at him I know Heavenly Father loves me so much because he gave me such a little sweetie! He is eating lots of solid foods and loves everything I have given to him. He can sit up all by himself, and loves to play with paper. he still will not bear any weight on his legs and seems quite content to never try to crawl or scoot. He just likes to relax and look at his surroundings. We love you Preston!!

I started a new blog! Sneak Peak...

Dear Family and Friends,

I started a new blog about projects I have been doing around the house. Feel free to check it out. I have a lot more to come, but I would love to share it with you.

Tips from a Homemaker (just click on the link) Thanks and look often!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Hope you all have a great one!

Brooke and I did a quick photo shoot in her Minnie Costume. So cute! She calls herself Minnie Brookie.

I never got a good picture of Preston in his Mickey mouse costume. These were as close as I got.

This is after our trunk or treat. Brooke is quite a candy monster, and we have had quite a fun time with all the crying and fits it has created already. I am learning that Halloween + 2.5 year old + candy= a very cranky kid (and mommy.)

Can you tell what Jason and I were this year? Jason was an email (get it "E" male.) and I was his attachment (I.E - paperclip.)

6 Months

Preston is 6 months old today. It seems like he has always been in our family, and seems to fit just right. I haven't taken him to the Dr. since he was 2 months old (I know I'm a slacker!) so I don't know what he weighs or how tall he is. He is pretty small though. Preston has the sweetest best personality ever. He is very relaxed and just goes with the flow. He is sweet and loves to smile all the time. He has a hard time sleeping during the day or at night. He wants to nurse all night long because he won't take a binky, but he thinks I am his human pacifier. He is very content, and seems to be okay with just about everything, even all the crazy stuff his sister does. We love him so much and are so glad he is in our family. He is getting close to sitting up and he makes funny little noises but is pretty quite compared to our super loud little girl. We love you preston and can't wait to see you grow in the next 6 months. ( Just don't do it too fast!)

adventures in 1-800-free-411

Trying to call Tio's mexican food on our way home from Disneyland. This is already after a hard time getting the number from lame Free 411 for about 5 mins.

Guy on phone - "Good evening this is Ryan, how can I help you?"

Jason - "Hi Ryan, I would like to place an order for pick up."

Ryan - After a pause he responded "What would you like to pick up?"

Jason - "I would like a beef taco and chili relleno combination."

Ryan - After an even longer pause "Uh, This is T-Mobile."

Oh good times! You might have had to be there, but it was pretty darn funny. Go ahead try free 411 and see who you end up calling.

Stu Miller's Pumpkin Patch

I took Brooke to Stu Miller's Pumpkin Patch for the second time this year today. I forgot the camera the first time, so I made sure I snapped a few this time. Brooke loves this place almost as much as Disneyland! They have 2 huge slides, and obstacle course, swings, a bounce house, a petting zoo, and a few other rides. She had a great time, and she is one fearless girl. She will go on anything and is never really scared or shy about doing it. So fun! Preston just hung out in his stroller and enjoyed all his surroundings.

Before Brooke went to play I tried to take some pics of her and Preston. As you can see my efforts were fruitless.

Brooke had a blast. The slide is her favorite. She also loves the swings but we didn't get to ride them today. Such a cute girl!

Oh my delicious little guy. Doesn't he just melt your heart? He sure melts mine! Happy First Halloween Bubba!

Glee

I have recently started to watch Glee because I love the music. I watched this last weeks episode that they did about God. Part of me loved some of the music but the other part of me just felt sad. Growing up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, I have always known that there is a God. I have always had the big picture questions answered. I have always known that I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father. I have known that there is a life after death, and I have always understood what this life is all about.

I know that there are so many out there who struggle with these questions every day. I am so grateful that I was taught at a young age these important principles. More than anything though, I'm grateful to know with a surety that the things that I learned are true.

On Glee they kept bringing up how you can't really know if there is a God and how you can't believe in something as mystical as God. To that I say God is not mystical he is our Father in Heaven who is willing to let us know who he is, if we are willing to ask and pray for that experience. To anyone who is struggling with these questions I invite you to read the scriptures. To read the Bible and The Book of Mormon which is another Testament of Jesus Christ, and do as it says in Moroni 10:4 "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have done this for myself and have had the Holy Ghost manifest that very thing to me. Once it has happened it is undeniable. You will know for sure where you came from, who you are, where you are going, and that there is a God who created you and loves you and knows you by name here on this earth.

If anyone has any questions about the things that I have written please fell free to call me, or you can go onto mormon.org and you can start learning for yourself these few basic truths.

We're settled.

Because of the move and a lot of craziness, I have become a terrible blogger. However now that we are settled I can get back to blogging. This past month was just filled with a lot of home projects and packing and a lot of Disneyland. After I packed Brooke's toys she had to get creative and so pushing Preston in her baby stroller became the activity of choice. Lucky for her Preston is pretty chill with everything and didn't mind so much.

Brooke loves Buzz lightyear and so we got her Buzz Jammie's which she wants to wear every night. She wanted to be Buzz for Halloween but Jason didn't want her to be a boy thing so she is going to be Minnie Mouse instead. Brooke went through quite a hard adjustment period after Preston was born but has just come out of it, and is such a sweet and caring sister. She is 2 and 7 months old tomorrow and she has such a fun and energetic personality. She is very sweet when she wants to be but also very sassy too, and she tells me that she is the Boss. I am in big trouble!! Her favorite things are playing outside, going to Disneyland, and playing with all those tiny plastic figurines from the Disney Store. She also loves to draw and has started to put eyes, nose, mouth, hands, legs, arms and feet on her drawings. They are so cute to look at. She loves nursery and had no problem adjusting to her new ward nursery this past Sunday. She is so much fun but also very demanding at this point in her life. We love her so very very much!

Preston is so super sweet and calm, and couldn't get any more opposite of Brooke. He is quite and doesn't really coo or talk to much. When he does it sounds like dinosaur sounds because they are so high pitched. He smiles all the time and is super happy. He loves to just look around and be held. He doesn't really enjoy tummy time but if Brooke and I get down and play with him he doesn't mind it too much. He can roll from his tummy to his back super easy but has only ever rolled the other way once. (off the bed:( ) He is starting to be able to sit up on his own for a few seconds before falling over. He doesn't like to stand and lock out his legs at all and never wants to do it. He eats all the time but is still skinny. Auntie Lana finally got him to take a bottle again, so I am looking forward to some much needed kidless dates with my hubby soon. I just started him on rice cereal and he loves to eat it. He is super fun and sweet and I could just kiss and hold him all day long. Oh yes and he is now 5 months old. I haven't taken my kids to the Dr. in a really long time so I have no idea how much either of them weigh. That's the update for now.

Packing

Packing is a lot more fun then we ever anticipated!...So is this little girl!

My first homemade bread

My friend Maria taught everyone in relief Society how to make light and fluffy bread. Unfortunately while we were making it at relief society nobodies bread ever worked out because the yeast had gone bad. It was still such a fun night and it gave me the confidence to try the bread myself at home. So here are the results from the first loaf of homemade bread I have ever made. It was pretty darn delicious. I normally hate homemade bread because I don't like how dense and dry most recipes are. This recipe is perfect though because it comes out light and fluffy. I still think with a little more practice I could get it even fluffier. After making it I decided to make some grilled cheese and tomato soup for dinner. It was delicious and I am now no longer scared of making bread. Thanks Maria!!!

Life moves on

Well I have been super bad about blogging lately. I missed all of our summer fun that we had in San Diego and at Disneyland.I didn't post Jason's Birthday. I didn't post any of the kids monthly updates this month. I missed Brooke turning 29 months and Preston turning 4 months.

I actually enjoyed the break from getting everything into a post. I know I will look back at my (journal) blog and wonder why I missed those certain events but the truth is I have just been enjoying my kids and everything we have been doing. (And enjoying to much reality tv during the short nap that Brooke takes everyday. MasterChef is a new favorite because I am in love with Gordon Ramsy and everything he is in.)

I have been busy packing for our move at the end of this month and busy with some projects that I have been working on for the house. (More to come on that later.) So I'll let this be my short little Month of August Post.

5 Years

Today is our 5th year Anniversary. It seems that every year just gets better and better! I know that when I married Jason I had found my best friend, the man of my dreams, and the future father of our kids. However I didn't know that every year we would grow closer and closer and fall more in love with each other. We have been through 5 years of fun, growing, learning, and lots of tribulations but we have always come out on top and have learned and grown together through everything. I love marriage, it is such an awesome opportunity to better yourself!

Jason I am so grateful to be your wife. Every day is sweeter because you are mine! Thanks for these first 5 wonderful years. I can't wait to see what is to come and how much we will have grown together in the next 5 years. You are my sweetheart! Happy Anniversary!

Blessings

Life is not meant to be easy. It is a test for us to learn and grow and it enables us to become better people. I have had a lot of trials and tribulations in my life. Some were brought on because of choices that I made and others just happen because life is life. However through every hard thing I have ever had to go through I have known and felt the love and support of My Heavenly Father. I know He is present in my life. I know that He is mindful of me and knows me better than anyone else. I have always been able to come out of a bad experience or trial with more love and gratitude in my heart because Heavenly Father constantly blesses me. How grateful I am to understand the plan of happiness that our Father in heaven has set up for us. I am overwhelmed by all the blessings He continuously gives and grateful that he is my advocate no matter what I am going through. It sure makes life so much easier to live even when it does get hard!

3 months old

Preston turned 3 months old on July 30th. He has such a sweet, quite, dignified old spirit about him. He is such a good baby and loves to just look around and observe. He rarely ever cries and just does "warning barks" as I call them when he needs or wants something. He is such a happy baby and loves to sing songs and thinks it is so funny when mommy claps his hands. He does the cutest cooing sounds and is so fun to talk to. He is such a blessing in our lives and we love every minute of every day with him.

Changes...

Well after 5 years of living in our home, we will be leaving it and moving somewhere else. Right now the uncertainty of life is both exciting and confusing. I am looking forward to a new chapter of our life, and a new area to start over. However I am sad to leave my home that has been such a comforting place and has so many amazing memories. Not to mention leaving a ward that I love. We have no idea where we will be heading. We have been looking like crazy near Jason's work but every area near his work is a scary place to live. Once we find a nice area we like, we realize that it is still about a 45 to 1 hour min drive each way. We want to rent a nice house that is bigger but not too much money ( I am so excited to leave my 1100 sq ft home) with a yard but we want it to be in a nice area close to Jason's work...this is proving impossible to do. Hopefully we will be able to find what is right for our family and still be able to stay close to our friends.

Idaho day 6

Day 6 we just played and hung around the house making a ton of hair flowers for our girls. It was so much fun! I had such a great time and really loved the time I got to spend with my sister Amy. I think from the crazy background that our family has, it was so nice to really connect and completely enjoy my sister. She definitely became a role model to me during the trip and I am so amazed at the great mother and person she is.

Brooke was still not feeling that great and needed a lot of Auntie loving. I think I made around 30 hair flowers in 2 days.

Day 5 Idaho

On day 5 all 4 of us sisters got together. I am so terrible because I didn't get 1 picture of any of us!! So sad. We hung out and made bows and crafts during the day. Brooke had been up all the previous night with a super high fever. She does have 4 teeth coming in, so I don't know if it is teething or if she was sick, but she wanted a lot of love and was super whiny all day long. That night I put on a Minute To Win It family night and we all had a great time. The pictures are super dark because I wasn't using a flash for some reason.

Idaho Days 3 & 4

Days 3 and 4 of our trip were pretty laid back. We went to church and hung out on Sunday and then on Monday we all hung out and went to the park. It was filled with races, rolling down hills, cartwheels, and lots of swinging. It was so nice. On Monday night my sister and brother in law went on a date with friends so I hung out with the kids and we put on a talent show. It was so fun to see some of there talents! Some were silly and some were amazing and we all just had a great time being with each other. How I wish I lived closer to them!

Idaho Day 2

Day 2 of our trip consisted of playing with cousins a lot! Brooke loving the freedom of a backyard. (oh how I want a backyard now!) Lots of cooking (my sister Amy has 4 boys and 1 girl = tons of cooking and lots of yummy food!) And me getting to spend a ton of time with my family. I love love love them!

Later in the afternoon we headed to a man made lake and played for a few hours. It was fun and Brooke loved the rocks everywhere. I thought it was beautiful but was terrified of the broken glass that was everywhere. Brooke really wanted to go to the diving platform and jump off. Nice Aunt Amy was happy to oblige her. Brock is my oldest nephew at 16 years old, however he looks like a man! I teased him that when he was holding the baby everyone probably thought he was my husband. He was so good with Brooke and loved walking with her through the water.

Idaho Trip Day 1

I decided last minute to take the kiddies up to Idaho because Jason had a lot of work to get done last week. I called my sister Amy and she was so excited to have us come up and stay with her. I woke up on Friday at 5 am and drove straigt through the 14 hour drive to Idaho. Crazy...Yes! Worth it...even more so! Brooke didn't sleep at all even though she woke up at 5! She is such a crazy and strong willed child. We stopped once in Saint George to eat at Nielson's (one of my favorites.) We got a grinder and a super yummy custard ice cream. Brooke ate more than I did. We did make a total of about 15 stops up there but they we very quick potty and nursing trips. My secret to traveling with a toddler and a baby? A port a potty in your car. Yep we stopped in the middle of nowhere everytime, and just pulled off the freeway ramp did a quick nurse and a potty break and we were off again. Brooke did pretty good on the drive but kept asking "did we find Aunt Amy yet?" It was so cute but also very annoying to hear every few minutes. Brooke loved to look out the window and ask me what things were. When we passed Las Vegas she said "Oh my what a beautiful castle!" She is so funny! Once we got to my sister's house at 8:30 PM we sat on the lawn and let everyone get aquainted. Brooke was so happy to get out of the car and be with her cousins. She was moving so much I couldn't even snap a photo of her. Preston was a super champ and slept the whole way, aside from a few diaper changes and nursing breaks. He did cry the last 20 mins of the trip...he was just sick of the car.

The Drive

Once we arrived in Idaho.

Happy baby Bumbo

Seriously?? Is that not the cutest baby boy ever?? We sat him in his Bumbo seat for the first time last night and as you can tell he LOVES it. I love his sweet smile and just want to eat him!! I love all the different smiles he does.