Dancing with the Stars!!!

I use to dread Mondays, the weekend was over and the daily grind started all too soon, waking up before the sun was out, and feeling like I could use another full nights' sleep. As hard as a mommy can be some times, there are some awesome pros of being a stay at home mom: I don't have kids in school yet, I get to stay home and bum around the house, cleaning whatever needs attention, and playing with the kiddies and doing fun activities with them.

Now I look forward to Mondays, it no longer is a day that is packed with a busy schedule and responsibilities to attend to. We get to have Family Home Evening, and do something spiritual and something fun. Then the kiddies go down for the night, and that's when I get to kick back for a little bit because my favorite TV shows begin!

I get a total kick out of watching Dancing with the Stars. I secretly wish I could be up there dancing with the professionals! It looks like they are having so much fun. My mom put me in dance when I was 7 years old, so for a long time, that was my life. I went on tours with the dancing group to Hawaii and Japan when I was 9 years old. The dance company we were in took us to San Francisco to perform for the halftime show for the 49ers, and to Los Angeles for the L.A. Lakers. It kept me out of trouble and gave me an opportunity to develop great coordination skills. Anyway, I just love watching other people dance, I want to be the one having to learn a new dance each week and get all dressed up, but not as 'hoochie' as the girls can get (toned down about 100 notches!)




My favorite professional dancer is Julianne Hough, she's been the reigning champ for the past two seasons. Her choreography is phenomenal, she is amazingly talented. I do have to admit though, that last season was WAY better than this one, but I'll take what I can get!! Another fun one to watch right now is Priscilla Presley. I am so fascinated with the fact that she was married to the one and only Elvis, his legacy seems like centuries ago though, which makes it even more interesting that his widow is still alive, and young enough to be dancing still!!!

I think that their are some brilliant TV shows out there right now, and Dancing with the Stars is one of them. Another brilliant one is American Idol, and that will have to be it's own post...can't wait for Tuesdays either!!! But for now, I'm glad its Monday and excited to watch some great dancing tonight!

The Bachelor: London Calling

I must be a sucker or something, but I love watching The Bachelor on Monday nights. Actually I record it half the time and watch it the next day, but I think the girls on the show are mostly ridiculous and make fools of themselves. There seems to be only a few level headed ones, and its so interesting to watch the drama that goes on during the show. In the history of the 10 seasons of The Bachelor, there has only been one marriage, but I get reeled in every season and watch to see if he picks someone in the end. This season, Matt Grant, from the UK, does end up finding 'true love', and I'm just dying to find out who!!! Can't wait for tonight! Does anyone else watch this show?

Chinese Gender Prediction Chart

K, so for those of you who have ever heard of the Chinese Gender Prediction Chart, this is not new to you! But, a while back, I saw this on another blog (thanks Stacie!), and I HAD to post this one on my blog. I had never heard of it before, this is totally crazy, and it was right for both of my kids. I seriously could not believe it. This is about 95% accurate, so beware! For those of you who are trying to get pregnant, or are already pregnant...you will be able to find out the sex of your baby just off of this chart, and you don't have to wait for the ultrasound, which is pretty cool! And, NO, I'm not pregnant, and NO, not trying to get pregnant right now. (We will see AFTER the move, I'm just trying to focus on making the transition as smooth as possible for my kids right now, and I have an IUD in anyway...so for those of you who speculate...) Most likely we will probably start trying towards the end of the year for another baby, if Mark is lucky:)

This is how you do the cross reference: Your age when you got pregnant/the month you conceived.

For example: I was 25 years old when I conceived Bryanna, and she was conceived the month of July...sure enough she was a girl. With Maddox, I was 27 and he was conceived the month of June...sure enough...a boy!
Let me know if this is accurate for you...Wouldn't it just be so much fun to always pick the sex of your baby???

Play time with Annie.

Annie came over to play today, and is was so fun for Bryanna! Watching little girls be themselves was priceless. They played dress up and walked around in high heels. For at least half of the time, the tea set was put to great use, and both had to make two trips to the potty during their playtime, it was quite funny with how much water they ended up drinking! They were being so darn cute, I just had to get the camera out.















I snapped a few shots of Annie pushing Bryanna around the backyard...it was too adorable not to.


Here they are taking turns pouring the water out for each other, clinking their little tea cups together and shouting, "cheers", then gulping down the water, it was SO CUTE!

I had my own porcelain tea set as a little girl, so this brought back memories playing with my sisters doing all these 'girly' girl things. Thanks Janeen for having her come over spur of the moment, letting Bryanna get some time with friends before we are out of the neighborhood !

Yellowstone at Mountain's Edge

This is it! Our new house is as southwest as you can get while still staying in the boundaries of Las Vegas. It's located at the very back corner where one mountain meets the other. We introduced ourselves to some of our new neighbors yesterday, and it just reconfirmed this big decision for us. It's packed with families who have kids Bryanna's age, especially the cute family that live next door to the left, Bryanna and their little girl were already playing like they've been friends for a while. It's comforting to know that my kids will be able to play out front without having to worry about trouble makers roaming the neighborhood. It will be a lot of work, but definitely worth it. We had to decide between this house and one in Rhodes Ranch. There were lots of pros and a few cons to both, but overall, the Lord told us this one was it. We will be in a different stake, but our new ward will still meet at the Warm Springs chapel. Which is nice b/c we will be able to see some of our fantastic friends from the Desert View ward still! Our estimated close date is April 15th, and I think it will come sooner than what I'm prepared for! It doesn't feel real yet!

We are moving!

Well folks, it is official! The bank accepted our offer, and looks like I have to start packing up the house. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. I really want to be in a safer place, a location that's closer to Mark's work and of course, can't forget about being closer to my family. But, after last weeks' shooting in our neighborhood, right behind our house, and then a robbery in broad day light the same day, we have had it with the neighborhood.

We will miss our wonderful friends in the ward, we have really gotten close to some great families. Bryanna has so many fun friends that will be hard to move from! It will be your great examples we learned from each week and your kindness to our family that we will miss most. But, the great thing is, we aren't moving far at all!!! So with just being a hop, skip and a jump away, we hope to still see some of our fantastic friends we've made in the ward!

Happy Easter!!

The Easter Bunny came this morning, and it was so fun to watch Bryanna have a blast with it. I am really loving her at this stage even more because now the holidays actually mean something to her. My mom was such a cute "mimi" (as the grandkids call her) and gave my kids their baskets this year, thanks mom!!

Bryanna loved her new basket and hunting for all the eggs.

Maddox loved it too, and just needed a little help from mommy to get to the eggs!

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter.

Egg Hunt!

We had lots of fun doing an egg hunt at the park today. It took round two for Bryanna to get into it though. She LOVES to play on any type of jungle gym/play-set. She has mastered the climbing part, so I don't have to worry about her too much. Except right when the hunt began, Bryanna was NO WHERE to be found among the kids searching for treasures...I had a split second panic attack thinking someone swiped her from the playground. But go figure, she was on the playground running around. Phew! With the morning I had with her, I couldn't handle another catastrophe! So luckily, there was a second egg hunt for the older kids, and she was able to join in! I love taking my kids to the park, it helps us get out of the house and the kids get some wiggles out and expend some energy. It was perfect weather too!

Oops...I did it again!

Why do I do this to myself? I know better!! Yeah, so this morning, while trying to get ready for our playgroup Easter Egg Hunt, I left out my nail polish on the counter in my bathroom b/c I was painting my toenails. This morning was a full of interruptions. Maddox bonking his head, being really fussy, I lost focus on giving myself a much needed pedicure. Well, when ever mommy loses focus, something ALWAYS backfires! Bryanna ran off while I was changing Maddox and getting him dressed, and we all know how that goes. Then it dawned on me!! She was hiding in the very back of my closet, that's what she does when she's doing something naughty, with the nail polish. When I got her to come out, sure enough, it was my nightmare come true!! I'll just let the pictures tell the rest! She did get a spanking, but now thinking about it, I should have gotten the spanking for leaving it out. Oh well, these things are inevitable!

group effort

K, so I was tagged by a friend last week, and we are just getting around to it! Her hubby piped in on the answers too, so I can't break that chain! My answers are in red and Mark's are in blue.

A- Attached or single: Very happily married/hitched

B- Best Friend: Mark/my wife

C-Cake or Pie: Cake, Nothing Bundt Cakes:)/cheesecake, that's a cake, right?

D- Day of Choice: Friday, I have Mark the next two days!/Saturday

E- Essential Item: bottled water, can't leave the house w/o it!/clothes

F- Favorite Color: purple/baloo

G- Gummy Bears or Worms: neither/bears

H- Hometown: Vegas baby!!/San Jose, CA...go Oakland A's!!

I- Indulgence(s): getting dessert after dinner at a nice restaurant(i.e. cheesecake factory...YUM-O!)/candy or ummm...my wife!

J- January or July: January cause its not 110 outside!/depends on what city I'm in

K-Kids: Bryanna (turns 3 in April) Maddox, just turned one/yes

L-Life is incomplete without: family & church/sports (MLB)

M- Marriage Date: April 22nd, 2004, Las Vegas Temple (which is the same anniversary for both of our parents!! minus the year)/some day in April

N- Number of Siblings: 3, (all girls!!)/too many...(there are 8 of us)

O-Oranges or Apples: its a tie, depending on the season/apples

P-Phobias or Fears: getting in a bad car accident/fear of snakes

Q-Quote(s): "The best thing to spend on your children is time"/when stacy said 'I do'

R-Reason To Smile: Watching Bryanna make Maddox laugh, by then, we're all in stitches/baseball season is almost here!!

S-Season: Fall & Spring (I don't know, they're all good!)/fall

T-Tag Ten: Carmel, Melinda, Dani, Kim, Tara, Christene, Natalie E., Chandra, Danielle, Mona Kay (k, so you've just had a baby like 3 days ago, so whenever you find time!)/ya...tag! you're it!

U-Unknown Fact About Me: I'm afraid of heights, but I'd rather travel on an airplane than drive to get somewhere far/One leg is longer than the other

V- Vegetarian or Oppressor of Animal: Pot roast is a favorite!/I'm a chicken man!

W- Worst Habit: procrastination/cracking my knuckles in bed right in stacy's ear

X- X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Ultrasounds/x-ray

Y- Your Favorite Food: favorite restaurants: Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, TGI Fridays, Nora's, Bajio/french toast

Z-Zodiac: Taurus/virgo

A first for everything...

Lots of work, but LOTS OF FUN!!! I love being able to have family over for special occasions. It makes the set up, cooking and cleaning all so worth the back ache!! I can't remember a bigger crowd singing Happy Birthday, it was great. Although Maddox is just one year old and won't remember a thing, the pictures will tell him the story every time he pulls out the scrap book! I attempted to make his cake this year, even though I prefer a Nothing Bundt Cake over any other cake for a party, I decided I'd try to be creative this time! It was fun to make and even better after it was all eaten up! Mark spent Saturday night smoking the brisket, and it was fantastic! His first attempt at it too! Maddox turned into our little pirate after he scarfed down his cake, all the kids were getting a kick out him making a mess with it. Thanks to our family who made it such a memorable day for Maddox and us!

It's back on!

The power came back on around noon, but go figure, I still haven't gotten in a nice hot shower, so I've been stinken' it all day with lots of deodorant and perfume:)

Power Outtage!

This is SOOOO ANNOYING!! But on the other hand Bryanna is the cutest! When the light or the TV doesn't turn on when she attempts to, she says, "That's ok, Daddy can fix it!" Our Power is still out, but thanks to Mark's handy dandy work laptop, his wireless internet is feeding my blogging habit!

With out power...

~I can't take a hot shower...bummer! (guess I'll just be stinky all day!!)

~No TV, lights, or cable.

~No phone land lines...thank heaven for cell phones! (can't seem to live without them these days!)

~I can't put in the laundry (which I just finished my last load last night, phew! Too bad there is always more tomorrow.)

~Can't run the dishwasher (I was able to run it last night, but it's never ending!)

~Fridge and freezer isn't working...hope the food doesn't spoil.

I guess I don't think about all the modern luxuries until they are gone. Thank goodness its just temporary. I don't think I would have made it as a pioneer. On the bright side, at least we can flush the toilet and wash our hands:)

Happy 1st Birthday Maddox!!!

Exactly one year ago, I was driving around town checking off my 'to do' list to prepare for the arrival of our new baby. I had to get the brakes fixed on my expedition, grocery shop, and get the dog groomed, among other things. I was still two weeks away from my due date, but that day, the weather was so hot, it was in the 90's and I was ready to deliver! I ran into a family friend at Mr. Brake who told me how she went into labor with her last baby. If it worked for her, it could work for me! So I drove straight to the pharmacy and picked up some caster oil. I downed it with some root beer and walked 3 miles! And what do ya know, by midnight, my contractions were 2 minutes apart and we were headed to the hospital. Everything went smooth as glass which I think was a precursor to how the past year with Maddox has gone.




We love Maddox because...

~According to Mark, "He's chill," meaning he balances out his big sister, the Drama Queen!

~He makes everything better, there is never a bad day when our sweet little boy can melt our hearts.

~We received revelation in the Laie, Hawaii temple, that Maddox would enter our family one year prior to his birth, in which it helps us remember how special he is and that his purpose on earth is great.

~For me, I see him as perfect and flawless, which helps me view and mother his older sister in the same light.

~Bryanna has someone to play with, laugh with and boss around besides Mark and I:)

~Maddox will be able to do all the 'guy stuff' with his dad one day, Mark has his heart set on his future golf buddy!

~He's a 'mamma's boy' in which I LOVE b/c there's nothing better than a that strong tie a boy has with his mommy:)

~Watching him grow into the responsibilities of the priesthood will do wonders for our little family.

~He will have an opportunity to serve full-time as a missionary one day, and what wonderful blessings that will come from such devotion to the Lord and his kingdom?

~I don't like talking about him growing up just yet! For now, he is, along with his sister, the best thing that has happened to Mark and me. I can't imagine life without my kids. They teach me so much, no wonder the Lord established families as an essential part of His plan, for us to all learn and grow from each other.

I've been tagged!

10 years ago...

I was finishing up my freshman year in college (USU), running 5 miles everyday, and having lots of fun living in the dorms. I was the Ward Prayer Leader and we gathered as a ward every Sunday night and did lots of fun thing to get to know each other better. We did spotlights on our roommates and had musical numbers and had treats and flirted with the boys who were preparing to leave on their missions...Oh the life of a college student!!!

Snacks I enjoy

1) Cookies from Sam's Club (don't buy them, cause they are addicting!)
2) Fresh Peach pie from Marie Calendar's
3) Costco Vanilla Ice Cream with hot Peach Cobbler
4) perfectly ripe fruit (strawberries, mangoes, oranges, pineapple, papaya, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums and the list goes on!)

5 things on my TO DO list:

1) Get a yummy dinner in the oven b/c missionaries are coming over tonight
2) Tidy up the house
3) Go shopping
4) Read the Book of Mormon (Mark and I made a bet, if he catches up to me in two weeks, I owe him a massage! So I've gotta read!!!)
5) Get ready for the day (yes, I'm still in my robe and its 10am)

What I would do if I became a Billionaire

Invest half of it in Dubai. Retire ourselves, and then retire my parents and Mark's dad! Give some to the church and other charities that need help. Travel the world. Build our dream house, then hire help for around the house. Go shopping without a budget! Buy a brand new car off the lot, one for me, one for Mark! This might be too much money...the possibilities are endless!

3 Bad Habits

1) Groom Mark more than he likes!
2) Procrastinate...I take my time when I shouldn't
3) Blog WAY TOO MUCH!

5 Places I have lived

1) Las Vegas, NV
2) Sapporo, Japan
3) Logan, UT
4) MTC, Provo (for 10 weeks!)
5)

5 Jobs I have had

1) Runner for a communications firm
2) Victoria's Secret Sales Associate, I worked in their Makeup Department
3) Lifeguard
4) Swim Instructor
5) Chiropractic Assistant

Things people don't know about me

I'm a really deep thinker...I analyze everything! I'm a native Las Vegan. I got certified in Scuba Diving, though I haven't done any cool dives. I get stressed a little too easily, esp when my kids are misbehaving. I actually like doing the laundry and love cleaning the house.

I tag Amanda, Kara, Chandra and Stacie Hawley!

March Madness

March is madness for good weather! I love to go outside without a jacket and play! Flip flops are a shoe I can still wear during this month without my toes freezing off, hurray! The past week has been filled with so much outside playtime, my house has actually stayed a little cleaner than usual.

I do have to admit though, that since I've become an addicted blogger, I take more pictures, and clean less often! At least I'll have captured more family memories on film, and hopefully my kids will remember that, and not the unkept house:)

Kids say the darndest things!!!

K, so I have to write some of the funny sayings that came out of Bryanna's mouth on our trip over the past weekend! Mark and I had endless entertainment with our two year old!

Bryanna hugging her 6 yr. old cousin Jonathon, who is very tall for his age: "I love you, Big Boy!"

When she saw a church building (which was like every couple of blocks in UT), she would shout with joy, "I found a church! For ME! For my DRESS!"
[A little background on this one; Bryannna LOVES to get dressed up for anything, but equates it mostly with going to church, so we died laughing after she said that!]

We stayed at the Little America Hotel, and the water made her skin feel funny, so after Bryanna got out of the shower she said, "Mamma, I'm ALL wet! I have to go tell Daddy I'm ALL slippery!"

She replied after realizing her nose was stuffy and couldn't breathe very well out of it, "My nose is sick!"

We had so much fun for such a long drive, but very short stay. Good thing there were plenty of places to stop driving up there, Bryanna had to go potty every 2-3 hours. It took us 9 hours to get up to Salt Lake and 8 hours on the way home. I was about to pull my hair out a few times. We have another good friend getting married in June up there, if I can forget what a long drive it was, he might be lucky to see us then.

Trip Down Memory Lane

My friend, Brittney, got married in the Salt Lake Temple on Saturday. We met while in the singles ward in Las Vegas, and she eventually moved to SLC, for a job offer and where there was a bigger population of LDS guys to choose from. It was raining, which then turned to snow on her wedding day, but she was such a good sport. We had so much fun together when she lived in Vegas. Of course this was all before marriage and kids. We had slumber parties and date nights and shopping excursions and parties with boys we were trying to get dates with...very fun times. It was such a beautiful sealing and nice to be at the temple, the visits there seem to be numbered after having babies.




I was also able to meet up with some very good friends from college. I can't believe its been 11 years since our freshman year at Utah State University in Logan UT. The three of us went on our missions to Japan, different missions within the country, but we were all in the MTC together. It was so cool to write each other and hear about our similar, yet different experiences while serving the people of Japan. After our missions, we went back to USU, and had so many fun times going to the only dance club on Saturday nights for the country line dancing...SO FUN!
These two girls have given me so much strength through the years. Whenever we get together, its like we pick up just where we left off, even if its been a couple of years! I've always looked to them for help and they gave me such good, sound advice, mostly about boys! What would I do without such good girlfriends in my life? I just thank my Father in Heaven for the wonderful friends, new and old, He has blessed me with, who guide and direct me in the way I should go. And not to mention my hubby, (who does read our blog), my best friend, who helps me everyday. Love ya babe! Thanks for such a fun trip.