Jingle All the Way

Ryan is quite a music aficionado. I don't know if this is why he is so anti Christmas music or if it is just some strange fluke, but Ryan really hates Christmas music. In fact, to even get him to listen to Christmas music it has to be some cool indie rock guy singing it, like Sufjan Stevens. Anyway, I love Christmas music. Not the cheesy stuff, but I like the really pretty classical stuff like Handel's Messiah and I like the really festive classics like Let it Snow or The Christmas Song. I am glad to see that maybe Sadie is taking after me in the Christmas music department. Here is a little Holiday cheer. Merry Christmas!

Potty Training...

Attempts at Potty Training: 3
Days since the commencement of the third attempt: 2
Number of extra loads of laundry this week: 3
Books borrowed from the library about the potty: 6
Number of times I had to yell, "Malley! Don't step in that!!!": 4
Successful attempts at using the potty: 1/2
Number of complete and total meltdowns: 2 (for Sadie) 4 (for me)

HELP!!!!

Many times as a parent I have felt completely at a loss as to how I should handle certain situations, but somehow I have always just faked it and gotten through. Not this time. I need some advice from anyone and everyone that has done the potty training thing. What am I doing wrong? How can I do this better?

Here is my process:

1. Barricade Myself and Sadie in the house for the entire day. We don't venture out

2. Let Sadie run around with no pants on

(I don't want to use pull ups because I can never tell when she needs to go and she treats pull ups and under wear just like a diaper and just goes in them without telling me)

3. Feed her lots of popcorn and water (he he)

4. Ask her if she wants to sit on her potty every hour or so. She happily complies when she doesn't need to go. She is rewarded with a sticker for trying. (She has a chart which she earns stickers for trying and a treat for success. And she gets to go to a movie when she fills up the chart. We call it her special reward. She talks about her special reward all day long. she is excited)

5. Sadie never actually goes to the bathroom when I have her try hourly. She holds it until she cannot possibly stand it any longer (we are talking many hours here)

6. She starts doing the potty dance and telling me she wants her diaper changed.

7. I calmly tell her that she needs to sit on the potty. The potty is where she goes to the bathroom now. Diapers are for little babies and she is a big girl.

8. She refuses to sit or even go near the potty. She kicks the potty. And refuses to even enter the bathroom. Sadie has a complete and total meltdown. She sobs hysterically while peeing all over the floor.

Today I tried to put a diaper on her potty and have her sit in the diaper while on the potty. That worked to get her to sit down, but she still got really upset when she started to pee. Then the next time I put a diaper on her and just had her come and sit on my lap in the bathroom. Still she got upset.

I think she is ready. She knows when she is going and can tell me when she wants her diaper changed. She can hold it for hours and hours when she knows she doesn't have a diaper on. She isn't afraid of the toilet itself because she sits on it just fine when she doesn't actually have to go. She just gets really upset when she knows she needs to go but thinks the only place she can go is in a diaper.

Once I actually got her to sit down on the potty when she needed to go and she went a little in the potty, but when she felt it come out she jumped up off the potty and got really upset. That made it run down her legs which made her even more upset. Ryan and I tried to be really positive when she did get it in the potty with cheers and hugs and candy and telling her that was a good job, but again, that made her even more upset.

Please, if you have any advice, please share! I am sssooooooo done with diapers, but I don't want to traumatize my kid either. What do I do?

We Are Christmasing

With 60 degree weather and no snow it just doesn't seem like Christmas time here in Denver. It took going to Seattle, where they do have snow, and looking at the Christmas Village at Seattle Center to convince me it really is Christmas time.

So now we are officially in full swing Christmas mode. We have Christmas treed, we have Christmas cookied and I am in the middle of Christmas carding. So fun!

At the tree lot, picking out the perfect tree



Got it! We are ready to go




Sadie got to help decorate this year




Making us some cookies




Decor



Tomorrow I am off to the library to get some books about Christmas so we can try to teach Sadie what this special and crazy holiday is all about. Cheers!  

We Grew a Thanks Tree

My blog buddy Abbie posted this on her site and because I think that she and it are totally fabulous I copied her.

For FHE this week we planted a tree. A tree of thankfulness. Sadie and I gathered the leaves. I got my craft on. Ryan got doused in glue (what a good sport for putting up with my crazy ideas, because who ever thinks it is a good idea to give your 2 year old a bottle of glue and a paint brush?) Here is the finished product:

We glued the leaves to the paper, wrote our names next to the leaf and then on the back made a list of things we are thankful for.

This is what Sadie is thankful for:
Binkies
Juice & Milk
Toys
Tinkerbell on the TV
Slides
Bubbles
By the way, she is not thankful for the park or the dog. She made that very clear while we were giving her ideas

I am thankful for:
Babysitters (I am dying without one right now!)
Good friends
comfortable beds
a warm house
good hugs

Ryan is thankful for:
Families
computers
work
play time
Fun movies

I displayed our finished product on our kitchen table so that every time we see it we can remember how much we have to be thankful for. We are truly blessed.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Welcome

A photo tour. (a.k.a. trying to entice you to come visit)

We got a house. Yipee!!!!

When you walk in the front door and look to the left you will see our living room, which currently has no furniture. So, it has become our stacking place for boxes.

In front of you is the hallway that leads to a bathroom (on the left), the kitchen is at the end of the hall on your left and leads into the dining room.
The dining room is also still furnitureless...but we have an awesome chandelier.

If you were to turn right from the hallway the stairs to our creepy basement and laundry room would be on your right.

If you skipped the creepy stairs (good choice) and continued you would turn into our family room (forgot to take pics of the family room opps! It is where I am currently blogging from).

Ok, let's head back to the front door and head upstairs.

If you turn left at the top of the stairs, Sadie's room is the first door on your left. Most of the furniture in the house is being rented so we wouldn't have to move all of our stuff here. Be sure to check out the awesome art work!

If you continue down the hall Sadie's bathroom is on your right

Followed by our two extra bedrooms. Come visit us!!!!!!

Ok, back down the hall and to the top of the stairs again. If you were to turn right you would go into the master bedroom & bath.


Gotta love the closet space!





I just realized I also forgot to take pics of the backyard...to come soon.

So that is the casa. We are loving it!

Time to Explore

We decided that since we are going to be in Denver for such a short time, we would spend the weekends doing as much exploring as we could.

Today we took Sadie to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. It was so much fun. She spent the entire time starring in awe and then running to the next exhibit.

My favorite was in the animal exhibit she would say "shhh, listen" and try to hear the animals.

Great Saturday afternoon.

I also ventured out for my first run in Colorado. We have a trail that runs right by our house so I was excited to try it out. I haven't had time or been brave enough to take Malley out yet and decided it would be good to get him out for some exercise and to learn his new surrounds.

Stupid mistake! The dumb dog started limping again after only 1 mile (if you want to read a similar story into how good my dog is at faking injury click here) Of course, once we got home he was running around the backyard like a maniac. I guess he just doesn't like running on a leash...or something...I don't know. I do know for sure that my next run will be dog free.

In other exploring news, I have come to discover that driving in Denver is a much more time consuming activity than it was in Utah.

Before I leave the house I have to do a google map search and write down every direction to make sure that I can get to where I am going and then home again. Then, of course, there are the 10 times I have to turn around because

• I turned on the wrong Jamison Street (I have seen about 10 different Jamison Streets in Littleton alone.) Last week in church I was so excited to meet one of my neighbors who also lived on Jamison. Come to find out she lived on the other Jamison that is 2 blocks away ... Seriously, whoever names the streets in Colorado has very little imagination because they name them the same names over and over again. The other day when I was looking for the Library I came to the cross section of Easter Street and Easter Street... It is a problem.
• I missed the street I was supposed to turn on or I took the right exit off the freeway, but headed in the wrong direction.
• The google map was wrong and now I am stuck in the parking lot of a Starbucks and not at the library like I intended. So, I have to call Ryan and have him do a different map search and give me the actual directions.
• or, all of the above.

Yes, I think a GPS will be on my Christmas list.

However, I was so awesomely surprised when I was driving on the freeway the other day. I needed to get over to exit and I put on my blinker. People actually let me in!!!

You cannot understand my excitement if you have never driven in Utah before. But all you Utahans, you know what I mean. You put your blinker on in Utah and the drivers next to you either

• ignore you and go the exact same speed, so you have to drastically slow down and hinder traffic in your lane (I once witnessed a lady at a dead stop on the freeway with her blinker on trying to get over to the exit) or you have to step on the gas and cut the guy off, which inevitably makes them mad so they tail you for the next mile,
• or they purposely speed up and glare at you, because heaven forbid a car gets in front of them!

Yes, I may be pitifully lost, but at least the drivers around me are polite.

Yeah, so that's our activities in Denver so far. 1 week down. 49 to go :)

I'm Tasty

** I know I have so many moving posts to write, but I am still de-stressing and trying to get unpacked. I am hoping to at least get pics of the new house up by Sunday...(famous last words) I just thought I would share a funny story while it is fresh in my mind**

Sadie and I were reading stories this afternoon after her nap. On one of the pages there was a bowl full of berries and Sadie started to pretend to eat them. I played along and took a bite when she offered me some and declared that they were officially yummy! Sadie agreed. She said, "Yes, Mommy, They aw tasty!" I almost peed my pants laughing because what 2 year old says that food is tasty?

Sadie stared at me confused as to why I was laughing so hard, but then started smiling and said, "Mommy, I am tasty too!"

I have given Sadie plenty of kisses and I would have to agree that yes, she is very tasty!

Other funny things Sadie is saying these days:

"Yes you do!" In the cutest sing song voice. So, I will say "Sadie do you want some cheese?" and she responds with, "Yes you do, mommy!"

"HayyyyyUp!" "HayyyyUP, Mommy!" That is help. Usually with something she shouldn't be doing. The other day I found her, fully clothed, in the bathtub, bottle of bubbles almost completely emptied into the tub (and all over herself) and she wanted "hayyyyup" turning on the water.

"Yeee Hawwww! Wide um cowboy!" which is exclaimed whenever she is doing something fun. i.e. swinging on a swing, riding her rocking horse, or jumping on the couch.

I could go on for hours. I am always just so surprised at how much she comprehends and how many words she knows and how well she is starting to be able to pronounce them.

Do I like being a mommy?

"Yes you do!"

Amazed

Right now I am sitting at my computer blogging while my husband is in the bathroom scrubbing the hard water deposits off of the shower door. I am just feeling really thankful. Thankful that I am not the one that has to do that awful job. But also thankful for all of the help everyone has given me as we try to prepare for this sudden move.

I am thankful to Ryan for helping out as much as he can despite not having any time off work to prepare for the move. I am thankful for him listening to me patiently while I go through a variety of emotions relating to the move, ranging from anger, to sadness, to nostalgia, to excited and back again.

I am thankful to my parents and family. Who gets this stuff done without family close by? I seriously don't know how we are going to do this the next time around without our family. My parents have been over at my house non-stop cleaning and fixing and helping to watch Sadie. My little brother has been my own personal slave. And my brother-in-law even flew in from Washington to help with some repair projects. I couldn't be more thankful for my family than I am right now.

I am so thankful for awesome neighbors. There has been no shortage of offers to help us pack and clean. And even more offers to watch Sadie. I have had neighbors completely rearrange their day to take care of Sadie, others have just showed up on my doorstep asking if Sadie could come play and still others have planned super fun activities and taken Sadie along. I am so extremely grateful for great neighbors. I hope that I have been as good to them as they have been to me.

I am also grateful for awesome friends. For listening to me. For teaching me how to de-stress with deep breathing (a life-saver!) and for bringing over yummy food for us to eat because I have been too stressed and too busy to even think about cooking meals.

Yes, I am amazed at how generous people have been to us. I am extremely thankful and grateful to call such great people my friends.

Did I Mention...

that we are moving?

It is consuming my every waking hour. And those hours are many because the stress of trying to get out and get the house ready to sell in minus 2 weeks and counting is causing sleep depriving anxiety attacks. AAHHH!

Ryan's work is going to get us a place in Denver for the 6 months or so that we will be there, but they haven't told us where yet. The stress of not knowing where I am going to be living in 2 weeks is probably going to kill me. Although, I do know that we have been approved for a house instead of an apartment so that is a HUGE sigh of relief. I was not looking forward to spending the winter trapped in an apartment with a dog and a toddler. One of us would not have survived. I am sure of it.

Anyway, in anxiety and anticipation for finding out where we are going to be living I did a little research of my own and found the most perfect house for us. It has 4 bedrooms so there would be plenty of space for people to come and visit. It has a dog run on the side of the house for Malley. And a big fenced backyard that Sadie can play in and I can be worry free. It even is fully furnished so we wouldn't have to worry about moving all of our stuff (which is currently planned to go into storage). There is a gym 6 minutes away so I can get a little me time. And it is only a 15 minute commute to Ryan's work. It is perfect!

Now we are just waiting to see if Ryan's company will approve it, or if we are going to have to stay in a house of their choosing. If you love me at all, please pray we are approved for this house!!!

Endure to the End

It sounds easy, but don't let that step fool you. It is harder than it sounds.

A few weeks ago I heard a story about a man, who in his 80th year of life decided to have an affair with an old (and when I say old, I mean old!) girl friend and eventually decided to leave his wife of 50+ years. Shortly after leaving, his (ex)wife was diagnosed with cancer. She died a mere 3 weeks later. It begs the questions, "Couldn't he have waited a few more weeks?"

That's the question I asked myself this afternoon as I turned on my kitchen faucet and watched water flood into my cabinets while not a drop came out of the faucet. 3 weeks. My house only needs to stay intact for 3 more weeks.

We have been expecting to get a transfer notice from Ryan's job any day for the past 2 years. But it didn't come and it didn't come. But our house held out great! ...until about 6 months ago.

In the past 6 months we have:

replaced the motor on the garage door, replaced the springs and rebalanced the door: $700
installed a new furnace: $5,000
replaced the coolant in the air conditioner: $400
cleaned the air vents: $200
built a square foot garden: $200

Well, the transfer notice came. So, as we put our house up for sale and prepare to move to Denver in 3 weeks, you can add $188 (plus whatever it will cost to get it installed) to the list of repairs we have made on our house that we will not be around to enjoy.

Can you endure to the end? If you are my house, then the answer is NO!

(On the plus side, if you are in the market for a house. Come and check out ours! You can be confident nothing will break for a long, long time. We have replaced it all!)

"Do You Know What You Are Having?"

That is what the dental hygienist asked me last week while she was cleaning my teeth.

I started racking my brain trying to think what in the world she was talking about. "Like for lunch?" I thought: "I am not really sure. Perhaps a turkey sandwich... or maybe some soup... I am not really sure cause lunch is like 3 hours away. Besides, why are we talking about what I am having for lunch when you should be xraying my teeth. Yeah, why have you not xrayed my teeth? Usually that is first thing that happens when I get to the dentist."

I decided to just answer, "Nope, not yet!"

She continued with some miscellaneous chit chat. A little about her daughter who is a cheerleader at BYU. A little about her son with the job as a janitor at a gym.

Then she asked, "So, when are you due?" And I was all like, "Lady, you ask strange questions. Obviously I am due for my teeth cleaning now because here I am sitting in this chair letting you stab my gums with your little torture tools. This is not a place I would choose to be if it wasn't good for my health!"

Instead, I decided to show my good dental hygiene. "In about 6 months from
now."

That is when another dental hygienist walked into the room and asked why I hadn't been xrayed? And I was all like, "Yeah! why haven't I been xrayed?" And my cleaning lady said, "Because she is pregnant!"

WHAT???!!!??? (Is this what an accidental pregnancy feels like?...P.S. That diet you have been trying is NOT working!!!)

Other dental hygienist: "Oh, how exciting. Congratulations!"

Ok, at this point I had a mini freak out. Do I correct my hygientist and make her and me feel stupid? (I had, after all, already told her that I do not know what I was having but that I was due in 6 months...) Oh, crap! Too late to back out now! So I offered her a heart felt, "Thank you very much!"

As gossip will, the news spread through the office like wild fire and I was offered a handful of other congratulatory remarks. FYI, I am not feeling sick, nor have I had any weird food cravings, but I am feeling tired and we do have a name picked out if it is a boy...(?!? I decided if I was going to do it, I was going for an academy award).

I am not sure I was reallying lying because nobody ever asked me outright if I was pregnant. However, when the dentist came in he said, "So, the last time I saw you, you had just had your little baby girl." And I was like, "yep, she is two now!" And then he asked THE QUESTION. "So, any plans for any more?" I decided now was my time to tell the truth, "Nope! Not for right now!"

HA! He had an uber-confused look on his face. Ha, Ha! But I offered him no explanation. I just opened my mouth wide so he could see my beautiful, glistening clean pearly whites.
I was expecting to maybe leave the dentist office with a cavity or two. Luckily, I am cavity free. I was NOT, however, expecting to leave the dentist office with a baby!

To The Husbands

Over the past couple of months I have had conversations with a couple of friends that have just left me feeling sad.

The conversations have centered around their husband's attitudes and their husband's thoughts about their roles, responsibilities and duties within the home. Basically these men feel that their role is solely to provide financially for the family and therefore they:
A. have the right to be absent from participation in housework, childcare, and, ultimately, their wives and families lives
or
B. have the right to demean or belittle their wives for what hasn't happened during the day

First, let me say Thank You! Shouldering the burden of providing financially for a family is not easy. I appreciate that fact. I am grateful for the men that go out everyday and work so very hard for their families.

Second, I realize I am so totally spoiled in the husband department. But that is another post entirely.

That being said, I have major issues with these mindsets.

Let's talk about husband A. We will call him John. John works a grueling work week that is stressful with long hours. But he feels that because he provides this service to his family that when he isn't at work, all of his time is his time to spend in whatever manner he feels is best for him. And so, he has the right to spend countless hours relaxing with his xbox, hunting, watching sports [insert whatever the chosen hobby is]. Never mind that the dinner dishes need to be done, the sick kids need to be looked after or the fact that his wife just really wants to spend some quality time together.

Husband B, let's call him Steve. Steve is the man who works very, very hard. He goes to the job. He puts in the hours. He is dedicated. He feels that he has worked hard all day long. and he expects the same of his wife (which I would argue that he should). When he walks in the door at night he expects the dishes to be done, dinner to be made, the house to be picked up and the kids to be clean and happy. When this doesn't happen, Steve feels resentful and angry. "I just worked All. Day. Long. I should not have to do the dishes too!" Then angry, hurtful and rude comments fly in the direction of his wife...never mind that the only time she got to sit down during the day was when she peed, and she didn't even get to do that alone.

I just want to shake these guys, slap them in the face and say "WAKE UP!" Can they not see what this is doing to their wives? Can they not see the opportunities to strengthen their relationships that they are losing out on? Can they not see their wives working hard all day (and often all night)? I just don't get it.

I am a wife, a mother, the housekeeper, these are my roles. So my view is biased. It can't be any other way. I see the world through my own perspective, but that doesn't mean that my perspective is wrong, or that it can't be appreciated by the male gender.

Here is how I see it, there are 3 full time jobs that every family must fulfill
1. Financial security
2. Caring for the home and yard
3. Caring for, watching, teaching, etc. the kids
The problem is that there are only 2 people! There must be some compromise!!!

The last time I checked, it took two people to create a marriage, and, yes, it still takes two people to have a baby. And, I am willing to guess you decided together what kind of home you would have. Men, I know you work hard from 8 to 5. But, what are you doing with the other 15 hours of your day?

In your defense, Yes! you DO need some relaxation time. and Yes! You do have to get up and go to work early in the morning so, absolutely, you should get your sleep. I understand that cleaning up the kid's puke and folding the laundry is NOT what you want to be doing in your time off. And while you are at work the wife should be working just as hard as she can at nurturing the children and caring for the family and home. But, in defense of women and mothers everywhere, do we not deserve a little relaxation time too? Do we not have duties and responsibilities that we have to wake up for in the morning? Do you think that we WANT to change all of the diapers?

Oh, how I would love for my day to have a certain and determined beginning time. And, it would be so completely fantastic to leave it all behind at 5PM. I wish my job didn't come calling (OK, if we are being honest, it usually comes screaming) at 4AM. I wish I got vacation days and sick leave, a lunch break and I even long for a potty break once in a while. Some stimulating adult interaction would be nice. And, I am not even going to mention the reward of a pay check, promotion and a feeling of accomplishment and fulfillment.

Unfortunately, a wife and mother's job isn't an 8 to 5 kind of thing. But, I think that some men out there need to start realizing that being a HUSBAND and a FATHER is not an 8 to 5 either!

So, here is what I am asking for:
In addition to providing for the material needs of your family and home,
1. provide the spiritual leadership in the home.
2. love your wife

to expound:
1. Providing spiritual leadership in the home means that you work to foster a spirit of peace and love.
"The Apostle Paul points out that “the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church” . That is the model we are to follow in our role of presiding in the home. We do not find the Savior leading the Church with a harsh or unkind hand. We do not find the Savior treating His Church with disrespect or neglect. We do not find the Savior using force or coercion to accomplish His purposes. Nowhere do we find the Savior doing anything but that which edifies, uplifts, comforts, and exalts the Church. Brethren, I say to you with all soberness, He is the model we must follow as we take the spiritual lead in our families." -L. Tom Perry
How do you expect to be the spiritual leader of your home if you are constantly neglecting your family in favor of your hobbies or creating an argumentative atmosphere by blaming your wife for everything she didn't accomplish?

2. Love your wife means that nothing except God Himself takes priority over your wife in your life—not work, not recreation, not hobbies.

"What does it mean to love someone with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion. Surely when you love your wife with all your heart, you cannot demean her, criticize her, find fault with her, or abuse her by words, sullen behavior, or actions. ...

Love means being sensitive to her feelings and needs. She wants to be noticed and treasured. She wants to be told that you view her as lovely and attractive and important to you. Love means putting her welfare and self-esteem as a high priority in your life.

Remember, brethren, love can be nurtured and nourished by little tokens. Flowers on special occasions are wonderful, but so is your willingness to help with the dishes, change diapers, get up with a crying child in the night, and leave the television or the newspaper to help with the dinner. Those are the quiet ways we say “I love you” with our actions. They bring rich dividends for such little effort." -L. Tom Perry

Men, I am not asking that you sacrifice all of your time and energy. I am just asking that you take a step out of your workday dress shoes for a minute and put on your wife's rubber gloves and see the world as she sees it. If you take the opportunity to give the kids a bath you might find you enjoy spending time with them. If you take the opportunity to do the dishes side by side with your wife you might find you enjoy the conversation. If you take the opportunity to overlook the messy house and instead compliment what has been accomplished that day you might find a thankful smile on the other end. And if you put down the game controller and take your wife out on a date you just might find a little romance with the girl you fell in love with.

Just a suggestion...

Sometimes...

...it is just easier to contain the chaos into one small space.

Tru Wuv & Merwage

Ryan and I passed our 6th year of marriage this last May 7th. I choose the word "passed" instead of celebrated because it kinda got buried amidst our mad rush to get to Florida on the 8th. (Surprising how co-workers and anniversaries don't mesh very well.)

I honestly don't remember what we did to celebrate, except for the fact that we spent way too much money on each other's gifts.

I had been scouring the classifieds for a patio set and I was getting extremely irritated that Ryan was not enthusiastic about any of the sets I found and was always coming up with an excuse for why a particular set wouldn't work. It never even crossed my mind that he might be getting me a new patio set for our anniversary. It finally made sense when I opened my present. I HEART my patio set. I love summer evenings!If you have noticed that Ryan has been looking especially cool these last few months it is because I got him an awesome new pair of sunglasses. They even have his prescription in the lenses. If I do say so myself, he looks pretty hot.

So we are spending our 7th year of marriage happy, yet poor : ) I guess next year we need to coordinate the spending of the dollars...


Anyway, I started this post thinking that I was going to rant and rave about what a good husband I have and how much I love him (I have a GREAT husband and I love him mucho mucho, and I find new reasons to love him a little bit more almost every day). But I think this poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning pretty much sums it up (and it's not embarrassingly mushy so I don't think you will suffer too much)

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.
I love you not only for what you have made of yourself, but for what you are making of me.
I love you for the part of me that you bring out.”



I think we were pretty successful and happy for the first 6 years. So, Ryan, what do you say? You want to try for 6(0) more?

Marco Island, FL

Every year Ryan's work hosts an Annual General Meeting, in which they fly all of their employees (& families, yea!) to a resort and have lots of meetings (parties & fun). This year we went to Marco Island, FL from May 8th to May 11th.

Sadie, being the big, grown up girl that she is, was left at home for the very first time! I thought that it would be really hard and that I would worry lots, but, surprisingly, I really didn't worry at all. And although I love her dearly and I did miss seeing her, I have to admit that it took me a day or two... or all of the days we were gone... to want to come back. It was a much needed couples only vacation. Although, not so romantical seeing as we were surrounded by all of Ryan's co-workers. Thank you to my friend, Heidi, & my mom and dad for watching Sadie. I didn't have to worry while we were gone because I knew she was getting the best care possible. If I worried at all it was because I wasn't 100% sure that she was being on her best behavior...

We spent our days lounging pool side or strolling the white sand beaches. I even got in a beach run (I love beach runs!!!) And we spent our evenings partying it up with all the Fasties (this is what the employees of Ryan's work have named themselves...they work for Fast Enterprises...)


The first night is always just a meet and greet where you can catch up with old friends that work on other projects. This is the first year that we actually knew people that had been transferred. It was so fun to see all of the ex-Utahans. (It is scary to think that in not the too far future we will be the ex-Utahans!!!)


Day 2 we spent pool side, and it just happened to be mothers day. I can't ask for a better mothers day gift than being able to spend the whole day by the pool reading a good book! That night was the big formal dinner. My date was so hot!


The last day is the big family event. This year it was a big carnival down on the beach. They even had jet skiing and sailing available. The party wasn't much fun because Ryan and I spent the whole time standing in line waiting to ride the jet skis, but it was so worth it! We got to see dolphins pretty close up, ride some wild waves and see the beauty of the 10,000 islands.

All in all a fabulous first trip away from the Sades. A wonderful time with Ryan. Lots of sun, way too much food and a good time seeing all of our friends! Can't wait until next year.


We only took our camera to the formal event, so that is what all the pics are of. Kinda sad, because it was a beautiful beach and resort. I wish I wasn't so terrible at remembering!

All of the Utah project in their awesome green attire!

My hot date!

And we aren't the drunk ones.... Every one should try sitting our table and then they will know how much fun you can have even when you aren't drinking!

Fieldtrip Friday: Gym Cats

April 30th... I know, I know! I have seriously been slacking in the blogging, which means all you all are going to get a whole bunch of post dated blogs. So don't read 'em if it bugs you.

Anywhoo! April 30th the Sades and I headed on over to Gym Cats for a gymnastics class. We started in a small room and walked on the balance beam, hung on the uneven bars and flipped into a foam-filled pit. Good times!

After this room we went into the big gymnastics room and did trampolines and mats. This room was so big it was a little overwhelming to Sadie. She had a hard time staying focused on the group activity and wanted to go play with the other groups.

Still, lots of fun!