Incredible

Yesterday afternoon Sawyer went to Brinley's Birthday party at a Princess place. Of course they had to accommodate the boys too, but I definitely didn't expect to see Sawyer come home like this. Looking like a character from The Incredible's.
The whole situation was heaven... it was Sawyer's first party where you just drop of the kids, so I was so excited to have almost 2 hours to myself. Then about 2 hours before the party I was informed that it wasn't at her house like I thought it was, and that it was clear across town. Karley offered to drive the kids and Tara was picking up...so all of the sudden I had 3 hours to myself on a Saturday afternoon. It's amazing how much you can get done in 3 hours without children.
The best part really was going to answer the door and seeing Sawyer all decked out like this. It was so cute. He ran straight to the mirror and thought he never looked better. He even had his nails painted blue, because he's a boy.
So fun! I totally want to have his party there next year.

my LOVES, or at least some of them

Most importantly:

~my husband, mainly for loving me. Last night we saw Valentines Day, and in the beginning Ashton says something about the best advice he ever got was to marry the person you date that is better than you...I feel like I got lucky and married up!


~my sweet son. How did I get so lucky to have a 3 year old that tells me multiple times a day how much he loves me and how beautiful I am, or how beautiful something on me is. He is the almost perfect child. Sometimes we have our moments, but mainly he is so well behaved I worry about my next one.


~my family. I don't think a day goes by that I don't talk to my Mom on the phone. I love that I have such a good relationship with both my parents and siblings. My favorite times are when I can be with all of my family.


~the gospel. I have always been grateful to be a member of the church...but I feel like the older I get the more I love the life that I live, and the choices I make usually stem from my testimony. I can't imagine not having Christ in my life with all of the little daily struggles.


A few other Randoms, in no particular order:

~Diet coke
~Cinnamon Bears, or any cinnamon candy
~Shoes
~Baking
~Girls nights during the week, and Date nights on the weekends
~Holidays
~When Katie does my hair
~Cafe Rio
~TV, there are too many shows to act like I just love one
~Nail Polish
~Laying out
~Anything Coconut
~Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
~Christmas Music
~Trips where I pack a bathingsuit
and obviously many more...these are just the first that came to my head.

Sawyers Valentine

If Sawyer was old enough to really understand this whole Valentines Day thing I am sure that he would be out trying to romance Mila. Maybe in a few years when he is like 8 he will be like Manny from Modern Family and do something romantic or funny. But, for now he just wants to play with Mila all day everyday, and she is basically always the topic of conversation if it isn't about Scooby Doo. I don't know if it is that she is a year younger than him and will therefor do about anything he asks, but either way I love it and think its really cute.

a sneaky peak

Last week my amazing Mom came out to help me paint Magnolia's room, and she didn't come empty handed. She brought out all of my bedding that she made for me. I LOVE it! Thank goodness for a Mom that knows how to do everything and anything. When will I learn to be a little more like her?

So we painted the room in 4 hours, because yes its small. In the pictures it looks really "orangey", but its not. Its the prefect pink that I copied from Nicole. And I had gotten those flower decals so that I could put them up right when I was done painting. Of course the instructions had to come with a warning to not apply to wet walls. I was supposed to wait 30 days. Well obviously that was not going to happen...but I did wait patiently for a whole week. I figure I live in a desert and so the walls dry quicker here.

More pictures to come when the room is finished, but I still have a bright blue lamp shade in the room, and a wall that needs something...so stay tuned for the rest.

today.

Since I woke up this morning I have baked/made:
50 Chocolate Caramel Pretzels, and a broken one for Tyson, 2 Coconut Cakes, a Red Velvet Cake, a big pan of Brownies, and a pan of Pecan Bars. I still have to make 50 more pretzels, but they don't have to be done until tomorrow so I think I will take the rest of the day off.

And all the while Sawyer has been enjoying his time on the couch watching the same 2 episodes of Scooby-Doo over and over again. I know, I am a bad Mom, but what else I am supposed to do when I have to be in the kitchen ALL day.

Tonight I have book club...we read the Lovely Bones. I read it again because I hadn't since college. I loved it so much more the second time. But I am mostly excited to get out of my house in something other than a juicy suit, and have girl conversation all evening.
Oh, the joys of being a stay at home MOM!

31 weeks

I was a little disappointed today when I went to the Dr. thinking I was 32 weeks, and found out I am not as good at math as I thought...I am only 31. It really doesn't seem fair that I just got another week tacked onto my pregnancy when you already like to tell yourself 9 months, and its really more like 10. I guess I can't complain when I still get to sleep through the night for like 2 more months.
At this point I have gained 22 pounds. I am finally feeling pretty good, except wanting to go to bed earlier than I would like to. I now feel like I have no time to watch all my TV shows that I used to get in during Sawyers nap...not happening anymore, or after everyone else goes to bed...but now I am tired at like 10.
Everyday I think about being not pregnant anymore so that I can start to work out again, I know I could now...but I don't! I want to wear normal clothes again and feel like I could maybe wear a bathing suit by the time summer comes, which is in like a month for me.
I can't wait to have a girl...I can finally start shopping for girl clothes, now that everything isn't coats and sweaters...that just really isn't practical for us, at least not for a long while. The stores are starting to have the Spring line's out and so I can start indulging...Yeah!
Excuse that I made the picture sepia, but I am feeling a little self conscious about the paleness of my skin.

The rest of Christmas

Christmas Morning. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but I was also busy using the video camera. Sawyer loved all of his gifts. Mainly the Glo Magnadoodle, the electric guitar for Rockband, and the Lakers basketball hoop and ball from uncle Collins. We aren't sure how much Benton loved his new bouncer toy.

Christmas night we tried to take a few pictures, but I think we all just get doing things and forget.

The day after Christmas the boys had to get their wing fix from Santoro's!

And then Jared, Jessica, and Ryder came to stay for a few days before they headed back to London. Sawyer was loving having both Benton and Ryder around. My child is weirdly obsessed with babies.

Some other things that we enjoyed while down there that I don't want to forget:
Kim, my Mom and I doing are usual craft projects. I am ok if I don't do any now for a long while.
Sawyer making up a "naked" dance for us. I am not sure where he learned or created such a dance, but it was the funniest thing we have ever seen.
Benton's gassy night.
Watching Jesus Camp...funniest/weirdest movie ever.
Eating and eating and eating.
Being with all of my family, there could be nothing better!

Christmas at Carolyn's

My favorite night of the year...Aunt Carolyn's Christmas party! I look forward to it for many months, even though I am sick the majority of the time. I think it is a running joke in my family, but not this year. I was well, and enjoying every minute of it. We always start with Las Golindrinas appetizers...yummy, then have prime rib and crab legs for dinner...not my favorite, but I love my Moms rolls and the salad.

Then we do the very anticipated poppers! Aunt Carolyn fills them with money and fun things and we all get to pop one and see whats inside. Sawyer got 10 ones and was so excited...He is used to collecting his quarters and other change. Dollars rarely get in the mix.



Then this year we mixed it up a bit. Carolyn put on an amazing race for the family. It was so fun. We started with a puzzle, then when that was complete we got our next clue which was to go to the san juan train station. Then we got on the train and rode to San Clemente. I was so excited for Sawyer to ride the train for the first time. Too bad we had a task of putting together a gingerbread house on the train so there wasn't time to enjoy the ride. Next we had to go shopping and get a long list of toys and essentials to send to the troops. After that we met at Park and ride to wrap the gifts, it was definitely not my best wrapping job. Then on to the Mission where we had to sing Christmas songs and yell Happy New Year a bunch of times. Next to the fire station to drop off some of the toys, and last to the big Christmas tree in down town San Juan. It was such a creative race. We all loved it! And, we each had to wear this Santa suit costume at a different time during the race.


Afterward we went back to Carolyn's to read the Polar Express, the Scriptures, and then on to the annual tie exchange and opening gifts. I am already excited for next year!

Holiday happenings

We have had lots of fun these past 2 weekends with lots of family in town. Two weekends ago we had Trent's family here, and Tyson's Mom. I only got pictures when we went and got Hot Chocolate at Starbucks one night...but it was a fun weekend of eating, taking Sawyer to see the Princess and the Frog, Sawyer getting to open some early Christmas presents, and walking around El Paseo.

Sawyer is loving Starbucks these days... he wants to go almost every day!

Then this last weekend Tyler and Kim came to town for a few glorious days. I wish they lived closer, I love spending time with them. Maybe one day? When they got here we went over to Costco and had enough samples to last us for the whole day. There are amazing samples on Saturdays. Then Lillie took their family pictures that afternoon so Sawyer and I tagged along and made weird noises and faces to make Benton smiley. That night we went to El Gaitto for dinner and then over to Candy Cane lane to see all the lights.

I just can't say enough about the Holidays. I love having family around, making and eating treats galore, singing only Christmas songs during sacrament meeting, and all the other festivities that go on this time of year...I hope these next 2 weeks go slow!

Gingerbread Train

Sawyer made this cute Gingerbread Train at school. It was one of the boys in his class, Logan's, birthday and so his Mom and Ms. Karley made these with the kids because Logan is obsessed with Thomas the Train. How cute! Maybe one day I can get a little more creative like that, since I know those are the things that kids love to do. And, Yum...it smells like heaven. If it wasn't quite so hard I think part of the caboose would be missing already. We had planned on making a house this year to start that tradition, but I decided he could start this year without me.

Christmas Tree Lighting

We went to a tree lighting in Old Town last weekend with some friends. It was a perfect night with a little chill in the air, just enough to be able to enjoy our Hot Chocolate. Sawyer got to sit on Santa's lap to tell him that he wants:
a sword
scoob stuff (scooby doo)
and sometimes he wants a Dog too...not gonna happen!

I can't wait for Christmas...It is starting to really feel like Holiday time. I just know I am going to be sweating in 100 degree weather before I know it.

Thanksgiving

It was nice to have a 2 day trip to Orange County as a family because I don't feel like we ever get to drive together and have Tyson stay when we go. We headed down on Wednesday morning and stopped to eat yummy hamburgers at TK Burger. Since I have been pregnant this time I have had major heartburn when I eat anything fried and bad for you so it's a rare occasion that its worth it...but it was for these! Then we did a little shopping at the mall with my family and just hung around the house.

For actual Thanksgiving dinner this year we did something very out of the norm for my family, eat out. The only other time I have eaten out on Thanksgiving was when we were in Maui and it was the greatest meal ever. So needless to say I was very excited to find out we would be enjoying our dinner at the Ritz this year.

We got there about 4:30 so we were able to watch the sunset and walk around the hotel to see all the amazing decorations. Sawyer loved the gingerbread castle that was like a sandcastle.

Then onto dinner which is a post in itself. It was a set menu, but they let you choose which of 3 entrees you wanted...turkey, a filet, or seabass. Of course there was no choosing for me, but everyone else had a hard time deciding between them. The pumpkin soup was my favorite part of the dinner...but all of it was so fun and beautiful! I would be more happy if this was a new tradition!

Vegas trip

Last week we got to go to the IAAPA convention, or fun center convention in normal language. Growing up I have some of the best memories of going to these conventions every year with my Dad and Tyler...but I haven't been in probably 15 years. This year when we found out it would be in Vegas, we decided we would have to go, and Sawyer would have to come too. We only got to spend one day there because of it being such a busy week, but it was well worth it. It was also so nice to spend a couple of nights with Tyler, Kim and Baby Benton.
Sawyer called the convention the other Disneyland! He played mini-bowling, on bumper boats, saw fake snow, played air hockey, in jungle gyms, and we ate and ate. Icee's, Dippin Dots, Pizza, Crepes, Potato Chips, Cotton Candy and all those other junk foods that were so fun that day.
Thanks Dad for having such a fun job that all of us can take part in!

22 weeks...

and 2 days, but who's counting? I swore I'd never take pictures of myself pregnant, so I didn't with Sawyer. But now I sit here wishing I could compare myself to my last pregnancy and I have no idea what I ever looked like, and how much I ever weighed. I only know that my nurse told me I'm off to a great start, sarcastically, because I have already gained 13 pounds. I am sorry if I gain weight when I am pregnant, but at least we know this girl is getting her nutrients...and plenty of extra things too. The one thing I do remember about my pregnancy with Sawyer is that I lost weight in the end, so my nurse has nothing to worry about.
As for the sickness...will it ever end? I thought so about 2 weeks ago, and then I threw up 5 times again this week. And, I think I might be a little moody too. You'd have to check with Tyson and Sawyer for sure on that one, but I'm pretty sure I already know the answer.
18 more weeks...let the Holidays begin so I can somewhat forget I am pregnant, and have a better excuse for eating!

Trick or Treat

Its so fun having Sawyer's birthday and Halloween in a row because the past 2 years we have been able to have Tyson's Mom and Charles here to celebrate. It was also fun having Sawyer old enough this year to really be excited about trick or treating, and dressing up. He chose to be Harry Potter months ago, and to be honest this is the last time I get a costume more than a month in advance because this past month he has been obsessed with Monsters vs. Aliens and so he really wanted to be a Monster. I promised him he could next year.

my cute Harry Potter

all of us trick or treating

sawyer and his BFF Mila

some pictures in action

ALL the loot. He was ao good about sharing, every time he ate one he'd give all of us one. I am loving the new chewy fireballs...it really took me back to jr. high!