skip to main |
skip to sidebar
August 15, 2009
After a week of searching for the perfect outfits, trying to convince Jeff that this would be a fun family activity, and dreaming about the cutest family pictures on the planet (seriously, I've been dreaming about this for weeks), I woke up to a downpour of rain, wind, and fall-like temperatures. Don't get me wrong, not having the heat was nice but the rain! Honestly!!! Did it have to rain on the ONE, SINGLE day that I've been looking forward to for a month now? Oh and did I mention that we drove to Logan just for this, spending the night in a trailer with Pearl kicking Jeff and smashing my face so Jeff's lungs and eyes didn't swell shut from cat allergies at my parent's house? And to make it even more disappointing, well infuriating really, by the time we would have finished our family pictures the clouds had parted and the sun was coming out. We drove home to absolutely gorgeous weather and not a cloud in the sky. So much for ironing Jeff's shirt the day before.
But I'm not bitter or anything.
Ok, maybe a little bitter since I'm cheating on the picture today and using one that I took last night instead. I just couldn't bring myself to take a picture today of a cloudless and gorgeous blue sky after the storm. The one good thing about this whole weekend was that we got to visit with all the grandparents... my parents, my Grandpa J, Jeff's parents, and my Grandma & Grandma A. It's been awhile since we've seen my Grandpa J, plus we had to get Pearl's gun from the Peacock Reunion repaired. And my Grandma A turned 75 today so we dropped by for a birthday visit. Luckily the gun repair shop was open and we even came home with a new toy... a top! We spent a good hour playing with all the tops in my Grandpa's kitchen, testing them out to find the perfect spinner. I wish we lived just a little closer so we could see all the grandparents more often, and help them out more. So even with the rainout we had a few silver linings in the clouds... now if we can just find a time to reschedule without the rain AND more importantly, convince Jeff to drive all the way to Logan again just to smile for the camera.
August 14, 2009
Pearl and I went to visit my best friend from high school, Becky, and her newest addition David. I was excited to hold a new baby, since mine has suddenly turned into a 30 lb. squirmy and talkative toddler, and I don't really remember just how tiny newborns are. Was Pearl really this tiny at one time? Pearl on the other hand, was more interested in the Frontrunner Trains, airplanes buzzing overhead, and the Mr. Potato Head toys. She was pretty bummed that Becky's other three boys were visiting Grandma so she could get some much needed rest and time with just the new baby. I still can't believe Becky has four kids and I'm still on one! But after figuring out that it wasn't nearly as fun when you're the only one around, Pearl decided she wanted to hold the baby. She was so excited but as soon as you put David in her arms she would say "all done" and try to give him back. But then as soon as you picked him back up she wanted to hold him again. We did this for a few minutes until she got the idea that she was supposed to hold him for longer than 3 seconds... and look at what a great shot I got! She was seriously so excited to play with him and laughed and laughed when he sneezed It almost made me want another baby... until he pooped (which Pearl found even funnier than the sneeze) and we high-tailed it out of there!
August 13, 2009
Fear no longer! I have my cookie baking groove back! No one can possibly know the excitement I am feeling now that I successfully baked an entire batch of chocolate chip cookies worthy of my previous single days! Oh the joy! Apparently the trick is to actually let Pearl help with the baking or screw all conventional baking wisdom and just measure the flour my way. I realized it would be an easier clean up to just let Pearl help instead of giving her some miscellaneous supplies. So I put her in charge of pouring each of the ingredients into the mixing bowl. She thought it was awesome, especially when we turned the mixer on and she could see it turning everything around and around. Oh and then her favorite part? Putting in the "chocolates," and sneaking in a quick lick of one before putting it in the bowl. When Jeff came in the house Pearl started to shout with pure excitement "Daddy I make cookies!" Seriously, so cute. What wasn't quite so cute was when she found her little rolling pin and starting smashing my perfect cookies on the cooling racks. Good thing she only got to one of them before I nabbed the rolling pin and distracted her with the idea of having a tea party instead.
August 12, 2009
Not to get too preachy, but today's picture was taken because of a press conference I attended. With Utah's new texting law in affect, the Zero Fatalities campaign held a press conference to show just how dangerous texting while driving is, and that no texting while driving WILL be enforced. Reggie Shaw was 19 when he hit and killed two men while texting and driving. The effect of this horrific crash affected many more lives than the families who lost a father, husband, brother, and friend. A video of this story was released today at the event - please take 15 mintues of your time to watch it! Reggie spoke at the event and shared how this has changed his life forever. The widows who lost their husbands were sitting right behind me just sobbing. I was amazed at the courage Reggie and these women must have to share their story in the hope that it will prevent another tragic event like this. Personally I have enough distractions while I'm driving (namely a screaming two year old in the back seat) to not add one more thing to the list like texting. Plus, since Jeff and I are still living in the cellphone dinosaur era (surprised we don't have the mega cellphones from the Saved by the Bell days), we don't even have texting! Shock and awe I know. Ok, so we're really just too cheap to pay for it but at least we aren't tempted to text and drive.
If you're intersted, here are a few news stories of the event and video:
August 11, 2009
It seems like I've been working way too much lately, even though my paycheck doesn't show it. Pearl and I just take too long getting ready in the morning, lounging around, watching cartoons, not getting dressed or eating breakfast or combing our hair... oh wait that's just Pearl! By the time we roll into work and I get my hours in, it seems like it's time for dinner. Then because I've usually stayed up late the night before enjoying the quiet of the house, I'm cranky and tired and not really in the mood to do much. It's a vicious cycle that I can't seem to find the motivation to stop. It dawned on me tonight, as I again left Pearl to go shopping for picture-worthy outfits alone, that I haven't been able to play much with Pearl. We wake up, go to work/school where she usually clings to my legs and begs me to stay and play with her and the big kids, go home, eat, clean, then go to bed. When I got home tonight, Pearl was already in the tub. Another long day and not more than a few hours spent with just her. When this precious little face looks at me and says "Mom guess what?" or "Mom listen" or "Mom hold you" I just melt. How do I find that balance in life with working and being a mom? Guess it's just been on my mind lately and one of those times when you feel like whatever you're doing, whether it's working or staying home, is wrong. But oh this little face just makes me smile and is the best reminder of what is truly important in life.
August 10, 2009
With only five days left until our family pictures, courtesy of Brooke Snow Photography, I drug Jeff and Pearl to the Gateway with one mission in mind... find new outfits. The trick to this task is that one, whatever I wear can't make me look any fatter than I really am, two, Jeff and I disagree on what's considered "nice casual" (I think this means NO shorts or tee-shirt like tops), and three, trying to keep Pearl happy as I peruse every single rack in a desperate attempt to find coordinating outfits is a monumental task. Where we went wrong in this plan I'm not sure but we walked out of there with the realization that our kid is the only child on this planet who is afraid of the water fountains but who enjoys a nice round of golf (and yes, she is wearing pajamas and no shoes), a new tent, sexy-beast golfing shorts for Jeff (really, only he can pull these off and they do look good), and some new pants for Pearl (none of which she's going to wear for pictures). Apparently I know what I'll be doing tomorrow... by myself!
August 9, 2009
My friend Brooke suckered me into joining a dinner group. I was a little hesitant at first about actually stepping out of my comfort zone and not only let other people eat what I cook (scary!), but socializing more with girls in the neighborhood. But how could I turn down three free meals a week? Seriously, with only a week under our belts this has been the best decision I think I've made in a LONG time! I am loving it! Coming home from work isn't nearly as dreadful now because I know a hot meal will be waiting for us when we get home. The extra time it might take to make double for four families is well worth it in exchange for the worry-free nights we now have because we don't have to try and decide what to cook for dinner (and actually eating before Pearl has a total meltdown from hunger). Even Jeff is excited about this whole thing. I have an entire list of recipes to try and my only worry now is when the group will decide to give me the boot for my horrible cooking! The hot sandwiches I made for week one were a hit so here's hoping my lasagna (with some hidden squash from the garden) tastes as yummy as it looks.
August 15, 2009
