Correction.

So I was wrong...Heaven is this...Going to the Camelback Inn, with Caitlyn, Carter, Carley (and Sean). Listening to the live band. Enjoying the scenery. 
Eating Pei Wei on the patio. And better yet, watching Carter eat Pei Wei with his chopsticks. He taught the girls how to use them. 
Going swimming at night and then coming to our room to relax. 
Getting a massage + facial + manicure + pedicure + quiet time = HEAVEN!

Heaven is...

Waking up with the husband by my side, the kid on my arm, a toy giraffe between my legs, and a sore body from waterskiing yesterday. Heaven.

Keeping busy

I think I am finding projects to do to help pass the time until Sean gets here. I have organized almost every room at my parent's house and am well on my way at my sister's house. I LOVE to organize. I always have. But the last 5 months has involved some extreme organizing and other various projects. More than I've done in a whole year before, that's for sure. Today Carter and I made our third batch of strawberry jam. It's delish! 
And yes I DID make the apron about 3 weeks ago. I LOVE how it turned out. I have been wanting a new apron for a long time and since 2009 is all about projects for me, I decided to venture out from my typical skirts and pajama pants sewing skills and try something new. I'm pretty impressed with myself. 
This afternoon, we repainted benches in our backyard and one by our front door. I just redid them last year but I guess the way they were positioned, the sprinklers hit them too much so I redid them again and went with a different color. Hopefully, they last forever this time. Carter is such a good helper with all the projects. He definitely loves to be involved in whatever I'm doing. Hopefully, that lasts forever too! 

Don't tell...

I had a business trip this week to Houston, TX. I finished early one afternoon and made a call. Three and a half hours later I met him at his office. My heart skipped a beat as I saw him walk towards me in his jeans and workboots. (a shirt too). He looked good. I met his coworkers and saw the site. His coworkers all said, "you do exist." They knew my name. He talks about me. That's a good sign. We went to his townhouse. I met his roommates. They were nice. We snuck up to his room. I giggled. It felt weird to be in his bachelor pad (and it was a bachelor pad-no sign of a woman's touch, clothes everywhere) but it was exciting at the same time. We went to dinner and then snuck back to his room. I don't think his roommates saw me. I snuck out the next morning at 4 am to get back to my business trip. I felt like I might get in trouble for meeting him there...please don't tell on me, I don't want my mom to be mad at me.

Reason #3 and 4 why I need to live in the same location as my husband

#3: So I can see these two cute faces together more! (picture taken courtesy of my SIL Marlee this weekend at my parents house)

#4: So my lightbulbs that have burned out can get changed. I can't reach them. Even when I stand on my stepstool. So annoying. The few times Sean has been home to visit, I forget to have him change the lightbulbs!

Surprise package...

Sean is home this weekend and has kept asking about the mail. Today I know why. In the mail was a large envelope addressed to ME! In it was a gift certificate to a Spa Day at Camelback Inn! Sean proceeded to tell me, Happy (late) Mother's Day and that he knows how stressed I have been the last 5 months with him being gone and he thought I could use more than a massage. I get to get a manicure, a pedicure, a massage, and a facial! Woo hoo!! The next time he comes home we are going to stay at the Camelback Inn and make a weekend out of it. Carter and Sean will hang out at the pool while I enjoy my Spa Day. This is EXACTLY what I need. Thanks Sean, I love you!

Why did he pick the Camelback Inn, you ask, when there are so many closer Spas that make more sense? The Camelback Inn holds special significance in our lives that you will learn about shortly! Here's is a reminder of our first experience at the Camelback Inn.

Reason #2 why I need to live in the same location as my husband

So I don't have to hear these incredibly sad but cute statements from Carter anymore: (while driving in the car and pointing to the sky)
Carter: hi daddy
Me: where's daddy?
Carter: in the airplane, hi daddy
Me: daddy's in the airplane?
Carter: yes. he's going to work in Louisiana (you gotta hear him say Louisiana!!)
Me: that's right but he'll be home soon
Carter: come home soon daddy, i miss you...don't get lost (as he waves goodbye)

*breaks my heart everytime*

What are the chances?

Carter was so excited for Kaden and Brendon to come over this afternoon! Unfortunately, Carter fell asleep and Kaden and Brendon were asleep when they came over too! And all 3 stayed asleep the entire time Alicia was gone! Carter already told me he wants Kaden to come back!!

Water Aerobics

I'm not gonna lie. I've always thought that water aerobics was for old ladies. I knew it was good for you but thought, "it can't be that hard." Famous last words. I am in Sierra Vista visiting Spencer and Marlee and Marlee teaches a Water Aerobics class. So this morning I went with her. I was feeling the burn man! But that Marlee is a tough teacher! I only wish I lived here so I could go every day. The last time I was here, I went to her medicine ball aerobics class and I was the sorest I have been since two-a-days during volleyball practice in high school!

Some of my favorite lines from Marlee during class were:

*"Move those legs. If you think I can't see them under the water, I can!"
*"Keep those arms up. This should be easy for Jessica." (at the same time I was thinking, man when are we gonna be done, my arms are DYING!)
*"Tuck in your butt and suck in your gut!"
*When Marlee was passing out arm bands and explained that yellow was easiest, purple was medium, and blue was the hardest. I thought, hmm guess I'll take yellow. Right then Marlee throws me a blue one. Awesome.

Decorator's Block

I have been wanting to have black furniture for awhile now. Like for 4 years. I've also been wanting to get rid of this huge desk I got 5 years ago for work. I thought I wanted a corner desk, and it has been really nice with work and with Sean in school to have all the extra desk space, but it is just too big for our small office. But I've lived with it. But I said when Sean was done with school, I was done with the desk. So I took it apart and got rid of it! Here's the before pic of the old office. My mom happened to have an extra desk at her house. Cool. My Great Uncle Johnny actually built it. I was actually very close to his wife, Aunt Alice, and have a few other things that were theirs. Very cool. But remember I have been wanting black furniture? So I got the cool desk from my mom and painted it black. Perfect. I also painted my two filing cabinets black. I love the way it turned out. The room is sooo much bigger now. 
(Ignore the white cable cord behind the chair--I'm working on fixing that problem)
But now the problem is, what should I do for a curtain? I painted the old curtain rod black as well and took down the old curtains. And I need to do something with the chair. I reupholstered the chair when I first got it from my sister. Now it doesn't match the black furniture. I know I want to add some color in there to compliment the black. Maybe some yellow and black fabric? Thoughts?