Anyone wanna be a huge nerd with me?

When Twilight came out I acted too cool for school and didn't go to see it for like two weeks or something. Like I was above all the screaming hormonal fans and/or bored Mormon moms. Well I'm not. And I am really excited for New Moon. Call me easily entertained if you will, it's certainly true, but I really, RE-HEHE-LLY want to go to a midnight screening on Thursday the 19th. Thing is that they're getting close to selling out, and I'm not about to go by my onesie. So who wants in? Let me know soooon! I'll love you forever.
UPDATE: uh, upon further inspection, the only midnight show with more than one seat left is at thanksgiving point and they are all on the front two rows. The 3:00am shows are even filling up. Let me know.


- Posted from my iPhone

is there a doctor in the house?

sooo, I'm switching docs. I hate doing this type of thing. My other one was in Bountiful, and that gets a bit tedious when you reach the part of pregnancy where you're going every week, so I switched OB/GYNs, but my new one (LOVE her!) is just an OB/GYN, and now I find myself without a family doctor. I am hoping to find someone great at the Intermountain Layton Clinic, you know, the one just east off the Antelope Drive Exit. The only reason I say that is because that's where Dr. Wood is, and it's right next to my gym, but I'm open to anyone near Layton that takes my insurance. Any suggestions? Do you have a doctor that you love? Let me know, por favor. Oh! And a pediatric dentist too.

Two things...

First and foremost: What freaking type of crack were they smoking when they came up with the children's television abomination known as Yo Gabba Gabba? It frightens me more than I can express. Thoughts?
Item #2: Crowfield.
They only have one album. Download it now. Last night Matt & I went to the Rusted Root concert and fell in love with the opening band. AMAZING. Do not be fooled by their hillbilly appearance. Like so many things it is not what is outside, but what is inside that counts. (yeah, I'm busting out Aladin quotes.). It's gotta be an awesome feeling for a band when the crowd that was initially very quiet & skeptical is, by the end of your set, out on the floor jammin' and clapping and giving you all kindsa love. There is just sooo much undiscovered musical talent out there that it KILLS me! This is why I love live music!


- Posted from my iPhone

SYTYCD anyone?

Extra ticket up for grabs. Saturday November 7th. 7:30 pm. Only catch: $70.
Bonuses include spending the evening with myself, Lola, my amazing madre-in-law Susie, and darling niece Caroline.
Interested? Comment please. Good time guaranteed. I went last year and seriously, if you like the show at all, you will not regret going. Remember Jason & Janine doing the Jason Mraz song "if it kills me"? Ugh. Freaking hot. Oh my gosh, and the breast cancer dance? And Phillip Chebeb's dance with Janine where they fight & end up on the floor. That one was so cute! I hope they have Phil just freestyle for like three hours. Oh my stars, I'm sooo excited!


- Posted from my iPhone

I {heart} the entire blog-world

Every morning I wake up about 7:30, roll over, snag my iphone. I have promised myself that before I would check email or blogs in the morning, I will read scriptures, which frankly are delightful on the iphone, it's a great way to wake up. Then once all the spiritual crap is out of the way, I delve right into the blog-worldly crap. Matt is still sleeping beside me, so he can't even give me any lip about how addicted I am to reading about my friends whether they be pseudo-friends or real live in the flesh ones. Its really a lovely way to start the day. Especially today. Seriously here is what I woke up to:
a) four comments on my blog from peeps I love being proud of my uterus for keeping the kid around this long
b) grocery store musical improv. Are you kidding? I don't even remember how I stumbled upon a "freelance photographer/street performer living in Brooklyn", but I am ever so glad I did. Color Me Katie is usually delightful, but today I about peed myself watching this clip. Trust me, you want to go to there.
c) The Utah blog world is very small, and apparently it extends to Sparks, Nevada. A ton on my friends have links to Meg's well-written blog, and I (gladly) followed the crowd across the stateline. She's just so witty. But today's remarks were particularly touching & a good reminder of how awesome our female heritage is. If you have breasts and the other parts that go along with them, read this. (actually no, I shouldn't' say that, I'd be fine if you had had a hysterectomy or even a double mastectomy. Women should read it. Now.)
d) Then we have Lola. I've linked to her many a time, she's my concert buddy, my most down for anything friend, my sista in our single childness in a world of moms with four kids. I ADORE this woman. She is quite the writer herself, not even kidding. (Hey! We forgot to have me read your opening paragraph this weekend, you hooker!) Her posts generally leave me in tears, either from laughing at her huge long rant about Kanye West, or bawling about the retardedly gut-wrenching fertility problems her family has experienced. Then you have her photography skills, and her BEAUTIFUL son Kortland who really sucks at having his picture taken as you'll see here. Reading Lola is exactly like talking to Laura, and due to the fact that she lives waaaay too far away from me, that is a good thing. Oh, and then there are the dogs, particularly Bubbuh who I would, not even kidding, commit grand theft canine in a minute just to have a few hours of his love.
Sure, blogs can set us up for some serious comparing & competing issues. It can allow us to see everyone's best self, and put it up against our worst selves, but that is dumb. Cut it out. The blogs I adore and that make my day are the ones that are real and honest. I'm having mine made into a blurb book, and though there are some things I'd like to edit, I have forbidden myself from doing so. That was how I felt then. I don't want to forget the crappy times and the dumb things. A life glossed over with rainbows and butterflies isn't what I want to read about. Heck, I don't even want to live it. Ewww.

The Dude Abides

So, we've made it past the danger zone with this kid. YAY!!! Yesterday we went for a little check up & got some delightful pictures, it actually looks like a person now, not just a peanut. I love it!
If it's a boy, I'm for sure getting this shirt I found in some random hippie catalog that got sent to me. I'm just happy to announce that the freaking kid has some staying power. Finally.

puppy play-date anyone?

I'm looking for someone who has a full-size poodle so that I can see if Sawyer reacts to them. I am seriously dying without a dog. There is still the matter of Matt not at all being a fan of this idea. In fact somedays I'm not so sure about it either. But I really can't imagine us going the rest of our lives without a dog. Not that I could ever replace Charlie, but I hope that I will be able to stop my biweekly bawl-fests at some point. I've been doing a ton of research & it actually sounds like a poodle would be a great match for our family. Which is weird because I've always kinda hated them. Without knowing a single one. Judgemental, much?

Anyway, do you know anyone?

She's kinda killin me

Kirsten and Laura and cousin Brooke and I are at a mothers retreat in Idaho. There is a beautiful vizsla involved. She's my new lust object. Even Kirsten is snuggling her. Such a lover.


- Posted from my iPhone

Seriously? At ten weeks?

When I was pregnant with Sawyer I think I didn't start pooching out until well into my second trimester. The times I miscarried at 12 weeks, I don't remember really feeling like I was showing at all. I guess I should take it as I good sign that yesterday when I woke up, my abs had gone completley to hell. Not that they were much to speak of to begin with, but....
I'm a whoping ten weeks, people.



please disregard any stretch marks. they are a figment of your imagaination.

- Posted from my iPhone

why oh why didn't you come out ten years ago when I could have been a groupie?

Remember this post? Well, last month Laura & I saw them in concert & I am still freaking out about it. The more I learn about The Airborne Toxic Event, the more I like them. The lead singer/writer used to be a music journalist writing for Filter Magazine. In one week his mom found out she had pancreatic cancer, he had an autoimmune disease of some sort & his long term relationship hit the skids. So where do you go from there? You write a bunch of amazing songs & then form an amazing band. I swear each of the members play about three different instruments. Plus there's violin. Yeah, I know. It's beautiful, heart-wrenching, relate-able lyrics plus beautiful amazing, melodic/rockin', music. With violin. Plus I think Mikel is one of the top ten hottest lead singers. What is it about lead singers? I adore them beyond all reason. He is a perfect mix of Don Draper and Adam Levine with even a bit of Sylar from Heroes thrown in for fun. And that voice..... wow. Anyway, I highly recommend.

I'm getting dumber by the trimester

k, so do you remember that incredibly fun clutzy part of pregnancy? it hit me hard today. I'm choosing to look at it as a joyful omen that this pregnancy is here to stay, but for real? I have dropped everything I've touched today. If I spill one more thing I think I will scream. I was loading new gallons of milk into the fridge & somehow, I don't even know how, I dropped one of them & it exploded onto the floor. Quicker than you can say shitdamnhell I had it up off the floor & in the sink, but managed to lose a full half gallon anyway. Apparentley my kitchen floor slopes a bit to the west, and it all went right under my kitchen island. Lovely.
Any suggestions as to how I can avoid having my house smell like rotten milk short of ripping apart my cabinets (again).

State Fairapalooza

Sawyer & I on the Ferris wheel.

Sawyer & Daddy on the Octopus-leggy-kinda ride.

Let me just begin by stating that the State Fair (Utah or otherwise) is unequivocally the greatest place for people watching. The airport has NOTHING on State Fair. The mall? Chopped liver. It is worth the six buck admission for the entertainment value of the...um... diverse crowd it draws. Wow. And I am only slightly ashamed to admit that I was extremely tempted to pay the measly dollar to view the snake-woman. Extremely. Anyway, we were really glad Ry & Stacey invited us; we'd been meaning to go, but just hadn't gotten around to it. Sawyer loved it, the kiddy rides and weird food, fried everything and funnel cakes. I am very sad that I was feeling icky that night, I couldn't take the rare & undervalued opportunity to have myself a funnel cake. I always see those funnel cake makers at Bed, Bath & Beyond and carry them around in my cart for a few until I come to my senses.
And as an added bonus for those who still check in on my blog in all it's recent suckiness... this is Ryan & Stacey's baby girl, Hanne, (that's "Hannah" for those who don't know this cool spelling.) probably one of the top ten cutest babies currently on the planet. Sorry, these pictures are from my phone, and kinda blow.

iPhone's newest cult member

I just figured out how to post from my iPhone! Yeah, that's right, my iPhone. I have joined the ranks of the elite. At least I like to think so. But how do I add a picture? Do I have to upload the picture to flickr or something first? Anyway I just need to report on my niece Sarah's most recent surgery; she went in Thursday for her fourth open heart surgery ( yeah, she's four) and everything went better than they dared hope! She was born with her heart and other organs upside-down and backward, and is just the sweetest thing ever. She is six months older than Sawyer, and they are great friends. I wish I could add a picture.
Also good news; my small baby-type person is still growing and hungry. I swear I could out eat the BYU O-line. I occasionally get a bit nauseated, but not too bad, which I think is a good sign. Hopefully. I feel pretty good right now, but I am worried that the closer we get to 12 weeks, the more nervous I'll be. Keep praying for us.

Sandpoint for Labor Day

Our good friends Danny & Jess invited us up to Sandpoint, Idaho for an adults-only Labor Day getaway. It is such an honor to even be invited to this place, it is SICK! Sick like amazing, like crazy, and ridiculous. Sick like every few minutes you have to stop & look around & remind yourself that you are not in fact guest staring on The Hills. There's the main house, the cottage and the tree house. Yes, the tree house. I know, right? All right right on Lake Pend Oreille. The actual town of Sandpoint is beyond darling. Lots of good antique stores, mom & pop diners and a surprising amount of hippies for Idaho. On the (incredibly long) drive up, (yes, I flew home. That's how spoiled I am.) we stopped in Anaconda Montana so the boys could do some once in a lifetime golfing. Kiesha & Donna & I wasted our time while they golfed at one of the more ghetto spas I've ever been to. But I did receive without a doubt the BEST massage ever.in.my.whole.life.

We went to Joel's for some breakfast burritos, enjoyed the farmer's market (how awesome is it that they still have a copy of the ten commandments in a public place?) got some flowersate like gourmands at each mealdid a bunch of hot tubbing roasted s'mores by the lakeroasted each other by the lake the boys played lots of bocce ball the girls sat around & talked
went out on the boat & jet ski and Becky (Jessica's mom & probably one of my top 10 favorite people on the entire freaking planet) made THE BEST cinnamon rolls ever, sorry, Mom. (among other amazing things. can you say Next Food Network Star?)

oh! and we also, on our last night took the boat over to the other side of the lake & went to dinner at a restaurant called 41 South. It has a dock you park your boat at then eat out on the patio wrapped up in blankets & the food is... holy cow... where to even start? Let's just say Lobster Crepes, amazing Crab Cakes, Lobster Bisque, fall off the bone ribs, asparagus, smashed idaho potatoes, holy crow. You want to go to there.

We had so much fun getting to know Nick & Keisha and Jerry & Donna. We of course already knew & loved Caroline & Clint (and Nora!) and Joe & Brittany. Thank you guys sooo much. Let's make it an annual event, mmmkay?

1st Day of Preschool!!!!!

I'm not one of those moms who freaks out at each new milestone their child hits. I love-double-love watching Sawyer grow up & into an amazingly cool little person. I so enjoy seeing the world all new through her eyes. So please don't judge me that I didn't shed a tear when I ushered her into the public education system at the tender age of 3. I was freaking excited. For one, there's back to school clothes shopping. Hello. We both enjoyed that immensely. It doesn't hurt that Mrs. Cynthia at Cuddlebugs Preschool is a complete doll. There are only 8 kids total & one of them is Taylee, Sawyer's bestest friend.
The first day was exciting in more ways than one though. For some reason, (probably over-excitement) Sawyer came into our bed at about 4:30 am. She was snuggled all close to me & I realized that it was... um... a bit uncomfortable & tender to have her nestled in my bosoms all tight like that. That got me thinking at 4:30 am that I might be overdue for a visit from Aunt Flo. huh. Back to sleep. In the morning, once I had got her started in her bath, I did a little bathroom break of my own... and what do you know? We're pregnant! Please, please, please pray that this one sticks, because, like I said I don't think I can handle another miscarriage now that Charlie isn't here for me. I'm due at the beginning of May. I cannot think of a better time to have a baby. You're not fat during the summer, you don't have to worry about RSV, you've got a great motivation to lose the baby weight, you can actually get out of the house. Delightful! (and yes, Becky, by all accounts this baby was conceived in your bed. Sorry. Maybe we'll name it after one of you.)
Anyway, back to preschool.
Here is the outfit she picked out.Next order of business.Then the obligatory first day of school photo-op.Dollar Tree backpack. (hey, I'm not paying $15 for an unnecessary preschool backpack for goodness sake.) Check out those calves. It pays to walk around on your tiptoes all day.With Taylee waiting to go home.

Happy Birthday to me! 29 on the 29th of 2009

I am almost 30 now....
who cares? I'm healthy. I have a great family. A happy marriage. And these amazing girlfriends. Jill & I share the same birthday & we went to Yogurt Stop for a quick little girls night. It was just what I needed, and we so need to get together more often! Then on my actual birthday weekend, Matt, Sawyer, Ryan, Stacey, Hanne, Ben, Kim, Liam & Eliza went to the cabin! It was so fun to be spoiled all weekend & sleep in & not have to do much but read & sleep. And watch SNL Best of Tracy Morgan. Check this out.

Matt got me a delicious ice cream cake. Apparently he thinks I'm a member of Twilight Moms or something. The best part was having these two short-bus riders sing happy birthday to me. No just kidding, the best part was going for an awesome trail run with my ipod & Lando. I think that I would rather be around a good dog than about 90% of humans. I still miss Charlie sooo much but it was really good to hang out with Lando. He'd get a bit ahead of me, then wait up and when I'd get about 20 feet away, he'd sprint toward me and body slam me. It was hilarious!
Matt made me an adorable choose your own adventure birthday card. I love that he never buys store cards, always makes the most darling, creative cards. He is awesome. Literally. AWEsome; as in I am filled with awe that he is mine. Thanks for a great birthday, baby.

Cedar City

My parents, Sawyer & I went down to Cedar City to pay my brother a little visit at the end of August. Doug took us to the most awesome park. Swinging was definitely the highpoint. Parks don't have swings anymore. It's like they're too much of a liability for these lawsuit-paranoid days. Stupid. FYI: the only way to improve upon swings is to have your crazy uncle sneak underneath you & grab your legs until you about pee your pants from laughing. Then when he went away, and Grandma tried to fill in, Sawyer wasn't very happy. Check out that face, have you ever seen so much attitude. She's all "NO! DOUG!!"
Then we played hide & seek & no one could find Doug. Sawyer thought it was HILARIOUS that he was up in the roof of this little parapet. I absolutely adore my big brother. You know how some people are beloved by animals & children alike? They kinda flock to them like the pied-piper? That's Doug. I always think that those people have something extra good inside them. He is no exception.

The 24th of July

We went to B-town for their 24th of July carnival this year. It was nice to just have it be our own little family & just enjoy each other.
Sawyer's first item of business was decidedly the bounce house; which she thoroughly enjoyed for about 60 seconds, when she was distracted by someone with a cotton candy. Then Mom decided it would be a great idea to take a pony ride, allergies be damned!
Not my finest hour, but she survived. And stopped itching enough to hold still to have her face painted. The finished product.

The first of a billion summer re-cap posts

The garden. My garden. My dad said that out off all his kids, I was the last person he thought would have a decent garden. Whatever that means, but I'm choosing to take it as a compliment. Sawyer & I had fun going out every morning & picking the 3 or 4 strawberries that had ripened overnight for our breakfast dessert.Then there are the peppers. I haven't figured out what to do with these as I am the only one who likes them and I only like a slice or two plain. I guess I should do fajitas, huh? Problem solved.Lettuce was awesome. Yay for picking as much as you need & not having the rest rot in your fridge drawer only to be forgotten about until it turns into a smelly liquidy thing. Also awesome was cilantro. Every time I would go out to weed, I'd sit there & nibble on cilantro. I swear that stuff is AMAZING!!! But what do you do with it when it stops growing nummy leaves & starts growing coriander seeds? I also had corn, ridiculous amounts of tomatoes, carrots, freakishly large cucumbers, spinach, watermelon & pumpkin. Next year, maybe only 2 tomato plants, more herbs, more berries, more spinach (a better variety, anyone?), plant corn in clusters, not a single straight line. I think I'd like to try peas & broccoli too.

my husband thinks I don't take criticism well.

okay, as soon as I posted that I realized that of course, Scotland is actually the the birthplace of golf. I was just testing you guys on golf history. Yay for you if you chastised me on my own blog. Oh, and p.s..... you aren't invited on our trip anymore. :P
so there.