Tasty little fingers

Click on image to enlarge.

Note to self: Things to avoid

do not - I repeat - DO NOT go walking until after you have checked the "feels like temperature."  
Today's temp - 88.  Today's feels like temp - 102. 

do not, DO NOT go walking when the feels like temp is 102 and it is garbage day.
you will never ever think your neighborhood is nice because it will smell soooooooooo bad and you will consider never walking again.

do not, DO NOT subject your super cute 4 month old to super hot, super stinky walks. 
luckily my little man chose to be lethargic instead of angry.  I'm pretty sure I would have picked angry with a side of more angry.

do not, DO NOT leave a bag of super yummy cheese bagels on your counter to tempt you every time you walk by.
this will make you feel like you need to walk on an 88 degree, feels like 102 degree day.

On the bright side - I think I dropped 10 pounds of sweat today.
On the not so bright side - I smell like I dropped about 10 lbs of sweat today.

I married Prince Eric

Well at least the girls in the nursery think so.  Rocky got asked multiple times today to be Prince Eric.  That involved sitting in the grown up big chair and watching the little "Ariels" twirl and sing.  Rocky...I mean Prince Eric heard many beautiful versions of "Ah aaa aaaaaaa, ah ah aaaa aaa aaaaaaaa."  You know, Ariel's voice song from the Little Mermaid.

See a resemblance?  I do.  I won't be surprised if you also start calling Rocky, Prince Eric too.

4 Months

James turns 4 months old today.  He is so much fun (most of the time) to be around.

He loves to give major open mouth kisses - see the top left portion of the picture.  

He loves to stand up.

He wants to be a part of whatever we are doing. So he joins us for dinner every once in a while.  

He learned how to roll over from his stomach to his back, so tummy time is no longer a big deal.

 He LOVES jumping in his jumper.

He is laughing and smiling LOTS

He is definitely missing all of his family in Utah, California, and Michigan and truth is I am too.

Heels

My body is changing......

Today I wore heels to church.  I won't be wearing heels next week.  Right now I'm about 3 hours post heels and I feel like I wore them for DAYS.  Church is three hours long.  The first hour I sat, the next hour I basically sat, and the third hour - well I stood for about 5 minutes to conduct a meeting and sat. Then the heels came off.  So really I was in my heels for a total of about 20 minutes (I'll count the walk to and from the car and the walking to classes with the occasional visit).  That was 20 minutes toooooooooooo long. 

3 years ago I could spent hours, like major hours in heels.  We are talking about a good 8 hours of walking and standing. 

I'm pretty sure that I'll stick to flats.  This post baby, post job, post post body is not ready for heels.


Thank you to the gentleman today that grabbed my baby carrier from me.  It weighed 180 lbs today.  I know it was probably nothing to you, but it meant so much to me.  I'm pretty sure you won't read my blog and see this thank you - but maybe your wife will.  Ally - give your man a major shout out from me.

Pink Journals

I found my other camera and I just had to post about my grandma's pink journals.  She has been working hard on her journals and personal history.  They are amazing to me.  Here is a little glimpse at their beauty.

Well I think they are beautiful and Grandma....I love them.  My wish is that I will get to read them ALL.  Since I was only in Logan for a short time I pulled out what I am sure is her favorite and mine....1980 - The year I was born.  I really enjoyed reading her thoughts and feelings on May 14th.  :)

James also enjoyed his first visit with GREAT Grandpa and Grandma.  Hope to have many more.

Costa Rica!

There were WAY too many pictures to post and choose from...so below is the next best thing.  click to enlarge.

This doesn't cover everything and everyone, but seriously we took over 2000 pictures and well these are some of the ones that I loved - or - in some cases made me laugh.

Recap -

Babies (James and Gage) flew like seasoned travelers.  We were ALL (including all plane passengers) so happy.

First night - Rocky had picked the cheapest hotel for us to stay in.  It was in the ghetto. nuff said.

Next day - Cyndi and Amanda picked us up in the blue bus.  Our luggage took up the entire back row.   We headed for La Fortuna. 

First adventure - Rio Toro, the river run.  I was scared...THE WHOLE TIME.  I was sure that I would fly out of the raft and end up in Nicaragua.  Our Captain was David, he was crazy...but I made it.  PURA VIDA!

The next day I babysat both babies (again scared) while the fam went canyonering.   It looks like they had a blast with their non-certified Guide.  After hearing that I was glad I was home with the babies.

Ok, yes, I'm 100% nervous and scared on the Wright family adventures.  I usually end up loving them....but there have been a few iffy moments.  Those of you who were in Austria at midnight on bikes wondering if our RV had been broken into will understand.  

We went spelunking the next day.  The cave was full of bats - "don't worry," our guide says as bats come flying past our faces, "they only eat fruit and flies."  Whew, my hair was safe.  Lets not even go to the size of the spiders or the size of the cockroaches that looked like spiders.  Yikes!  

Our hotel in La Fortuna was amazing.  It had beautiful gardens, a room with a view, and rocking chairs on our patio (my dad would have been in heaven.)  It also stormed everyday right around 2:30 until about 6:00.  The storms were incredible.  

After a few days in La Fortuna we headed to Nosara to meet up with the rest of the family.  Our driver was awesome.  I think he had eyes on the side of his head.  He would quickly stop the car and point out an animal that was not EASY to spot.  It was fun to see some Costa Rican wild life - a sloth, monkeys, and a Toucan.  Our drive was supposed to take 4 hours but ended up being a little longer.  Lunch and a MAJOR flat tire will do that.  Maybe miles and miles of dirt road added as well.  

Nosara - HELLO beach.  We got to do lots of hanging out.  Some highlights of Nosara; Zips lines, the beach, 4 wheelers in the pouring rain, the pool, minute to win it. speed tourney, butterflies, more major rain storms, chicky's, the same breakfast AND lunch, tons of rice and beans, James naked flight, the Nosara Airport, picking shells on the beach in a storm (not advisable).

All in all we had a WONDERFUL time with family.  We are so thankful for Cyndi and Grandma for taking us on these fun adventures. 

Love this little guy

The SPEED UP signal

Yes, I have been in Utah.  I turns out I had forgotten what signaling meant while driving there.  In most states it means - I am going to change lanes or turn.  In Utah it means - You better speed up because you don't want to be caught behind me.  In my case that is exactly what the other drivers did.  The police in Utah could probably make some good money if they just followed me around.  Guaranteed speeding with the simple flick of my signal. For now I am glad to be back in Ohio where signaling usually accompanies slowing down and a friendly wave. 

Other then driving in Utah we had a fabulous time.
 
James participated in his first 5k, stroller style with Bops (grandpa Sorenson).  He LOVED it, slept through the whole thing.  I actually won something at the raffle after the race.  From my reaction you would have though that I had just won the showcase showdown.  I took home my own 24 piece camping dishware set.  Oh yeah!  Don't be jealous.

After our big 5k my family threw James a baby shower.  It was so much fun to be with family and they were so generous.  Even though James cried for most of the shower he was very thankful.  Thank you!!!!!

James spent a lot of time with Bops in the creaky chair (Rocking chair that creaks).  I think both of them were in creaky chair heaven.

We had lazy days and sewing projects.  Shopping trips to the DI (I LOVE the DI). We had early morning walks, weed pulling, garden veggies, line dried clothes, cousins, haircut, tunnel tours at Temple Square, Grandparents!, great grandparents!, aunties and uncles, rainy trip to Logan - More Grandparents!, carnival, fireworks, friends, Hugs, tears, laughs, more laughs.   It was just what I needed.  It refreshed my soul.

 Clothes on the line

Mom's garden (YUM)

Right before James FIRST flight (scary)

James and his cousin Gage (1 month apart)

Bops, James and the creaky chair

Rocky and James after 10 days of separation

Jamie wearing James sunglasses

James laughing at Jamie

Peggy wearing James sun glasses 

Carnival!

James and Gage on their blessing day

The boys and Grandpa Wright

The Boys and GREAT Grandpa Wright

James and GREAT Grandpa Sorenson

Mom and James

Stay Tuned for Costa Rica - Just as many pictures, just as much fun.

Look Mom - No Hands

James is learning lots of fun new things every day. I can't believe how fast he is growing. Here is his latest trick.

At three months -
-Grabbing toys
-Laughing, cooing, and smiling like crazy
-Napping like a champ and still sleeping through the night
-Loves to stand up on his legs
-Does not like tummy time
-Loves going for walks in the stroller
-Has 7 airplane flights under his belt (traveled like a pro - slept most of the time)
-Loves to be wrapped up tight to sleep
-Likes to be outside
-Likes to watch TV (we try to keep this to a minimum)
-Wants to be held all the time
-Wants to be a part of whatever is going on.
-LOVES his daddy.

Happy 29th Birthday Rock!

30, flirty and thriving

Welcome to my 30ies.

These next ten years I hope to do the following:

Learn to cook and actually enjoy it.
Be a better friend.
Learn how to get stains out of laundry.
Get my home organized and keep it that way (I figure 10 years is a good goal for this one)
Be a better wife.
Learn to be a mom.
Do better at keeping in touch.
Be a better sister.
Learn how to fold a fitted sheet.
Learn how to get rid of junk and not buy any more.
Learn how to apply makeup.
Get rid of clothes that I don't ever wear - same with shoes
Be a better missionary.
Finish a very special person's personal history (hope to finish this year....not in 10)
Run a marathon
Learn to sew well
Learn how to really iron a dress shirt.
Be a better daughter.
Learn how to really lead music.
Travel to some new places.
Be a better visiting teacher.
Learn how to garden.
Become Fabulous. :)

Who do I look like?

I was looking at pictures of Rocky and I, and then James, trying to decide who he most looks like. I will have to go with me. He definitely doesn't get those chunky cheeks from Rocky. What do you think?

Passport Picture

James first Passport picture.

Don't you wish you could pull off such cuteness in all your governmental pictures?

The Day the Doughnut Died

I like to sing the title of this post.  It goes to the tune of American Pie.

You may recall from a previous post where I professed my love of the post-birth doughnut. 

I carried it with me from room to room, to the car, if we had done out to eat I would have taken it with me there too.  It was my constant companion.  One that I truly loved.  It got up with me for the early morning feedings and kept strong through the rest of the day.  If I had known how much I would love and cherish my doughnut I would have taken pictures.

Sadly enough our relationship ended.  I’m not sure if it was me.  Did I give it too much love, did it need more space?  Could I have possibly been too big for my doughnut?  These are questions that I will never have answered.  One because the doughnut has passed on and two because it is plastic. 

The doughnut death came on a cold March evening at dinner time.  Rocky’s mom Cyndi was in town and had made us a wonderful dinner.  We had just sat down to eat.  We said a prayer and then Rocky said “What is that sound?”  We stopped to listen…..a ssssssssssssssssssssss sound was coming from somewhere.  We discuss a few things that it could be.  The stove, possibly the heater.  Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.  My doughnut!?  I sadly stood up and pulled out the doughnut.   Sure enough it was much flatter.  Rocky offered to resuscitate it and fix it up, but I knew in the long run it wouldn’t last and well the truth was as much as I loved it I was beginning to not NEED it. 

I will always have fond memories of the comfort it provided, the funny imprints it left on the couch and the funny looks I received by those who had never used a doughnut.