Introducing...

Curious George, no Cailou, no Hamster. Actually his name is Jack! We made a deal with Carter that once he was fully potty trained he could pick out a hamster. Yesterday was the day. He was so excited to pick him out and the cage. Hopefully, his full potty training lasts as long as his excitement! (and longer even)

Home Cookin'

Tonight I cooked dinner, like really cooked a meal, for the first time in 6 months. I tried a new recipe in the crock pot. The grub was good and so was the company. (Sean is working in Phoenix this week so we get to see him each night!)

Machaca Burritos

1 chuck roast

1 can diced green chilies

3 Tbsp garlic (I didn't have any so I left it out)

1 1/2 tsp onion powder  (I only had onion flakes so I used those instead)

1 tsp garlic powder

1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbs water

Put the roast and the green chilies in the crock pot on high for 3 hours. Combine the rest of the ingredients and cook on low for 7-9 hours. Serve with tortillas, cheese, sour cream, and homemade salsa that you canned a few weeks ago (Delish!), and whatever else you want. 

The fun details

 

Here are some more pictures from my trip to see Emily. She already posted about my trip on her blog, and I've gotta say, I feel the same way! We both said at the end of the week that we had been a little nervous at the beginning of the week that we might run out of things to talk about. But we never did. It really was like old times living in the dorms or our crappy apartments! I miss that girl already! The best part was that our kids played SO WELL together! I loved it! On our last day, Carter asked if Noah and Isaac could come home with us. 

1. Emily and her kids, the Becars with Cannon (such a cute kid!), and Carter and I

2. Carter, Isaac, Em, and Noah walking to the Gateway Museum

3. Carter loving the train park

4. Isaac, Noah, and Carter playing on Isaac's bed that Carter asked if we could bring home. 

5. Our visit with Grandma Grace who just moved to South Jordan. Much closer than Seattle!

6. The boys knocked out after a hard day of playing in Draper

7. Carter filling up the truck at the museum

8. Carter loved the water feature at the museum

9. The girls! Em, me, and Ellen reunited again!!!

10. Isaac and Carter playing board games

Thanks for the fun trip Emily and letting us take over your house!! You definitely have to come to Phoenix next! 

Happy Father's Day!

"Daddy said I could get a hamster!" 

what my child was crying this morning as I was explaining that we couldn't get a hamster today. Thanks, Daddy...we sure do LOVE you. YOU are the best! 

Sense of...

Excitement!! We went to Utah this last week to visit my best friend from BYU, Emily. It had been almost 5 years since we had seen each other! Carter was so excited to ride the airplane and be "up in the sky like Daddy." His sense of wonder throughout the flight was very cute. I brought all kinds of "secret weapons" for the flight and didn't even need them because this is what he did most of the time (see below). 
Lots more fun details to follow...

Happy Birthday Kid!

A few months ago I was teaching my niece Carley how to sew a quilt for personal progress in Young Womens. While doing this, my nephew Cameron (aka Kid), asked me to make him a quilt for his birthday. He wanted to redo his room in ASU colors so this is how I did the quilt. In order to repaint his room we had to first organize it. While organizing his room we found lots of ticket stubs from different sporting events. I borrowed them from him and framed some of them for his "new" room. I gave the quilt and the frame to him on Sunday and he loved them. They look great in his room. We are almost finished decorating it--pictures to come soon!

Stuck (4)

*for a refresher on where we last left off read here.

So I was pretty mad that Sean was apparently back on with this other girl. I went to FHE the following week and was a few minutes late. We were playing softball. I walked up to the field and walked right past Sean (remember, play on playa, right). As I walk past him, he calls out to me and says, "you're late."
me: had to make my grand appearance i guess
him: you're so stuck up
me: and you're so stuck on yourself so i guess we're even (good one, i know)

i walk away. i play 3rd base one inning and catch a line drive that was hit super hard. i'll be honest, people were impressed. especially, sean. i hope. he didn't talk to me the rest of the game. i was still mad at him. i left thinking, he really is stuck up. why wouldn't he talk to a superstar like me, right?

The results

Here are the new curtains for my office. I LOVE them. What do you think?This clock was on the wall and I can't paint it since our name is burned in it on the top so I moved it to the other side of the room with my typewriter. It's a little blurry, but I love how it looks together. 
I decided not to reupholster the chair that was in the room and moved it out instead. I have been wanting to make the office an office/playroom so I painted the toy shelf my sister Wendy gave me after organizing/painting her daughter's room last week. Now I am wondering if I should replace the non-red buckets with red buckets to better match the curtains? Or does it not matter? Carter told me last night that he loves his new playroom. His toys were stuffed in 3 baskets in his closet prior to this and it was a hassle to get them out/put them away. Now he can see them and put them away much easier. 
Since Sean graduated I have been looking for frames to hang our diplomas in. I found these at Wal-mart and am loving how they look! 
Now onto the next project...

Potty training experiences...

We went to the store yesterday to pick out his own potty. Today he's: had 1 accident, went on his own and was then cleaning it out with his toothbrush (so helpful!), brought the bowl out to me to show me he went potty. I was excited! Hopefully, the people who were standing in my family room with me looking at my house were just as excited and didn't mind while I excused myself to give Carter a sticker for his chart and his treat. And last but not least, I just asked him to go potty and when he walked in the bathroom, he shut the door and asked me not to come in. Oh great. But he came out showing me that he went to the bathroom. That's good news.

My Dad's song

My Dad was recently released from being the Stake President and a reception was held for him this last week. Interestingly enough, my brother Keith replaced my Dad as the new Stake President. So to surprise my Dad, my brother asked a member of the stake to write a song about my dad.

(thanks for posting it Katie!)

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?