HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Well, I have officially dropped the ball on the blogging thing. But, I am experiencing a rare night without "morning sickness" (who named that anyway?) and thought I'd take a quick minute to say Happy New Year! I am in shock that this year is over already, but I'm really excited that a new one is coming. I hope you all had a great holiday and have a great New Year!

Absentee

I'm so sorry that I have become an absentee on this blog. For those who don't know (and if you are still checking this blog for updates) I am pregnant and feeling lousy. I have only the mornings to get things accomplished because once afternoon hits, I'm down and out and have no energy and feel just plain yucky, so the last thing I want to do is blog. Anyhow, once I am past this whole first tri-mester, I'll try hard to get back on the horse with this thing. My due date, for those of you who don't know, is July 4th. I'll try harder to keep you all posted!

A call for help!

Hello, hello. Remember me? I know I don't post often, but I am sending a call for help. I am in the midst of helping to plan my high school 10 year reunion. I'm very excited, but am requesting any pointers, tips, info, etc. you can give me on what you did/didn't like, what you would/ wouldn't like, and so on to take place at a reunion. Also, if you are in contact with anyone from Mountain View High School, class of 1998, could you please refer them to the blog site we have set up for the reunion: http://toros98.blogspot.com/2007/05/10-year-reunion.html. Thanks for your input!

Busiest Time of the Year

Ok, so I have really been slacking on this whole blogging experience. But to be honest, life has been so busy in our house this month, that even if I had WANTED to blog, there would have been no time. What with soccer four days a week, Young Womens Activities, Mommy Preschool, October Break, elemetry school early release week, parent teacher conference, three little boys and one husband, there simply hasn't been any time. Everyone tells me how the bigger your kids get, the crazier your life gets. Some days I really don't believe that is possible. Still life is good and we are all well and happy, so I'm not complaining.

For Family Home Evening last night our treat was yummy carmel apples. The boys were in Heaven and we took some pictures to show their glee. They all have different ways of eating their apples:

Sawyer likes his on the stick and he slowly works his way around the carmel, never touching the apple.

Jackson, on the other hand, peels the carmel off his apple and digs right into it, also never touching the apple.



Cooper, our sensible little boy, holds the carmel on and tries to keep the apple connected to the candy.

New Blogging Background

Ok, so if you haven't noticed, I've been changing my background alot. Well, to be honest it's not just me. Jeramy and I seem to have different ideas about what is "acceptable" for a blogging background, and he keeps sneaking behind my back and changing it. (Really, what husband cares about this stuff?) Anyway, I finally found one that we can agree on for the time being. I lost alot of my links in all the switching, so if I have forgotten yours, could you please comment and let me know what it is! Thanks so much!

Click to play | Make your own Smilebox

Follow Up on the "Worlds Best Boss"

So, I put my kids to bed tonight feeling guilty and yucky for the amount of times I lost my temper over things that don't really matter. (Yes, I did apologize multiple times, but you other mom's know about the guilt that inevitably follows the outbursts). Any way, I came down stairs dreading the mountain of dishes and piles of clutter that is filling my floors, and decided to post-pone my stinky work. I went to check my email and was surprised at the amount of responses to the post about "The Office". Hoping to lift my spirits and find something to laugh about before I began the inevitable list of chores, I went to the NBC web page to see if there was anything about "The Office."

Now, (I'm coming to the point), I don't know how many of you have checked out that web page, but there is a link on there called "Creed Thoughts". For those of you who aren't faithful fans, Creed is a very strange man on the sitcom. He is the one who, in any real office situation, you stay far away from because you never can tell what's going down with him.

On one episode, he let known that he had a blog. Well, low and behold, they have posted several different "post's" that he has made on his "blog". Holy SMOKES! I have been laughing so hard that I actually wiped my eyes once or twice. Here's just a little sample of some of the funnies posted:

May 31, 06:06 PM

Creed Thoughts

Where’s Thousand Island? I’ve got some vacation time saved up and it sounds like a delicious place to visit.

Root beer floats. It does. I’ve tested it.

There’s a fat man that sits by me. He has some sort of jar of multi-colored power beans. I need those beans, man.

The last thing I want to deal with at work is people.

I’m thinking about buying a horse. Great for transportation and once you’re done with it, you’ve got about seven days worth of meals.

Never trust mailmen.

Reminder: Michael’s safe combo: 20-22-36.

That's just one entry. There's at least a dozen. If you need a good laugh, I highly recommend it. Sure cure for the "Guilty Mom Blues". Click Here to check it out.

Worlds Best Boss

Ok, so Jeramy and I are super fans of NBC's "The Office".

2 weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, Jeramy disappeared at 8:00 a.m. A half hour later he returned and handed me the Third Season of "The Office". We have finally got through watching all those episodes and I LOVE that show! It makes us laugh so hard!

We are both super excited for the Series Premiere which starts next Thursday, the 27th. Can't wait!

Changing Times

Hip, Hip, Hooray! I am so excited! We are finally out of the three digit weather! It feels as if this were the longest and hottest summer I can remember. (Of course at the end of September every year I feel that way.) Anyway, this week's forcast has me very extremely excited! (Geeze, I'm watching too much Disney Channel with my kids. I'm starting to talk like Lola.) Hope all of you are enjoying your weather wherever you are!

TODAY: 91°FClearWind: N at 5 mphHumidity: 22%
Tuesday: 89°F 59°F
Wednesday: 91°F 60°F
Thursday: 88°F 60°F
Friday: 85°F 59°F

True Landscape Architecture

Most of you know that I'm a Landscape Architect in training and Becky posted some images of some projects that I was working on in Mexico. But I also do other work besides deciding where people should plant their grass. Last week one of the projects I had the opportunity to work on opened. Becky and I got to go to the opening party and have cocktails and dinner with the whos who of Phoenix. It was 2 years behind schedule and way over budget but it turned out awesome. Tempe Center for the Arts (TCA) in on the south bank of the Rio Salado next to the west dam.

It was a great learning experience working on a such a huge public project with so many consultants. It is amazing that any public project gets built with all the politics involved. If you have a chance to go down to Tempe Beach Park make sure you keep heading west to check out the 17 acre park attached to TCA and the 18,000 sq ft reflection pool with a negative edge that wraps around the art center. There is a mound of gray/blue river rock that is in the reflection pool. When it rains the roof drains to the point of the mount.

Also if you haven't been to the Mesa Arts Center in Downtown Mesa you should check that out. It has an artificial a arroyo that fills up with water and drains that runs through the middle of the project. A great place to take the kids and let them splash around. There are also some really cool water tables and the Architecture is probably the best there is in Mesa. I was able to work on this project when I first got out of school.

Some New Favorite Recipes

Breakfasts are really hard for me. I hate to wake up in the morning, so I usually crawl out of bed too late to make anything REAL from scratch. So , I was delighted when I came across this recipe for my own "instant pancake" mix. My family absolutely loved it (and they are pretty finicky when it comes to breakfast foods--especially Jeramy). And, while personally I'm not a fan of buttermilk pancakes, I like that I really am making them from scratch! The ingredients stay fresh for 3 months and its as easy as using Bisquick. Check it out!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_13660,00.html?rsrc=search

For those of you who know me, I love to cook. There are maybe 7 recipes that I reuse over and over. Every other recipe is usually a "new" one. Anyway, I am getting this new magazine and I love it. Not only does each issue give the recipes, but they also includes an explanation of how they figured out how to make it perfect. The last issue gave the recipe for the worlds juiciest (well done) cheeseburger. And believe me, there is NOTHING in this world that in better tasting than Cheeseburgers. But it also gives a whole bunch of weeknight 30 minute dishes. Everything I have made is super tasty and fairly simple. Here is just one recipe that was easy and good enough for even my picky children to enjoy:

BLT Salad

¾ c. Mayonnaise
4 (1-inch-thick) slices Italian Bread
12 slices thick-cut bacon, chopped
3-4 cups grape or cherry tomatoes (halved)
3 Tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
1 (10 ounce) bag chopped romaine lettuce (or one head romaine lettuce chopped)
Salt and Pepper

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 475 degrees. Spread ¼ cup mayonnaise over both sides of bread and transfer to baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, 8-10 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes, and then cut into 1 inch croutons.

2. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate. Discard drippings.

3. Whisk remaining mayonnaise and vinegar in large bowl. Add bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and croutons and toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper. Serve.

Labor Day Weekend

We decided at the last minute to spend Labor Day weekend up in Flagstaff. Jeramy's step-grandmother (Grandma Fran) has some property up there and we decided to take advantage of the weekend. The weather in Flag was absolutely perfect. We took the boys to the Trout farm in Sedona and they all got to experience catching their first fishes. They were absolutely terrified of their fish once they left the water. Cooper's immediate reaction to the fish being pulled out of the water was to plug his ears. Funny kid.

We took the fish back to the house and grilled it. The boys loved it.

It was such beautiful weather that we were outside most of the time. Jeramy took the boys a little way off into the forest and they found a dead tree. They eagerly tore pieces of it off and collected them for firewood.

Jeramy and I sat on the porch watching Sawyer hunt for bugs, Cooper and Jackson hunt for fire wood and enjoyed reading our books. It was wonderful.

It was sad to have to return to they heat, but we made it home safely and I've finally caught up on all my house work. So, now we go back to normal. It really was fun while it lasted, though.

The Signing

Thanks to Sarah, Brandi, Lyndsey, Tiffany and Tiffany for accompanying me to this fun event!


Ok, it finally came. My friends and I finally got to attend the "Stephanie Meyer" book signing. We were very relieved at how many people "our age" were there. It was held at Marcos De Niza high school and the auditorum completely filled up with women (and a couple guys.) There were some very.... uhhh..... 'devoted' fans who came out. (see picture below. They are cloaked like the Volturi in the books.)

Stephanie Meyer answered all sorts of questions about the books. One that was interesting to me was when someone asked her exactly how many more books she was going to write. She responded that she hadn't made up her mind yet. Could be one, could be a few more. I'm just relieved to hear there are more coming. She also said she is publishing her first book that is marketed to adults in the spring. She directed people to go to her website to learn more about that series.

There were people there who made their own shirts, hats, etc. Some had serious opinions about Edward and Jacob and were vocal about it. Next to them, I didn't look like much of a fan. (But I really think I'm ok with that, having seen the alternative.) There were fans who new trivia from the books that only someone who has read them 15 times and memoried full sections could know about. (See picture below). That part was entertaining.

"Preschool is real school too!"

Jackson started "mommy preschool" yesterday. I'm doing preschool with 5 other women in my ward. Super easy. We basically are just having school twice a week, and rotating weeks at different homes. We each pick a book to read to the kids each "class", then do a craft, game, activity and snack to go with it. Jackson loved his first day. He took it very seriously and made sure we took his picture for his "first day of school, because preschool is real school, too!"

Do you like Hot Pockets?

Becky and I watch this when we need a good laugh.

Which side do you think?

As I was looking at Coopers picture yesterday from his first day at school, I started thinking about who the boys really look like. I got out Jeramy's and my kindergarten pictures to compare and I really can't tell. They are all so different, yet they've all got so much of both of us in them. What do you think?

The First Day of School

Well, it's finally here. My baby is at his first day of all-day kindergarten. I can't believe I am old enough to have a kid in school ALL DAY!! It's nuts. He was so terribly excited for this day to come. Yesterday he wanted to make his lunch, and he let me know he wants bologna sandwiches every day this year. (We'll see if he really can stomach that.) Then this morning, he got up at 5:45 a.m. At 6 a.m. he came down stairs and said, "OK, Mom, I've brushed my teeth and said my prayers and gotten dressed and my backpack is all ready. So, all I need to do is eat breakfast and have you comb my hair." Then every 10 minutes after that for the next hour and a half he asked if it was time to go yet. Poor kid is going to be exhausted when he gets home. Still, I'm going to enjoy this whole "excited about going to school" phase he is going through. Who knows how long it will last.

I've been tagged...

Ok, Sarah, I'll play this game. I've been so caught up with reading Harry Potter, the Uglies, the Pretties, and finally ECLIPSE that I really haven't had any time to do any creative blogging. I had nothing to write, but since Sarah passed this to me, here it is:

Jobs I've Had:
1. Ned's Crazy Sub (yes, I was one of those girls.)
2. Hogi Yogi
3. Front desk at Brimhall Chiropractic
4. Telephone credit card collector at Chase Bank

Movies I can watch over and over again:
1. Serendipity
2. Return to Me
3. Pride and Prejudice ( the 6 hour long version)
4. The Nightmare Before Christmas

Places I've lived:
1. Mesa, Arizona 85203
2. Mesa, Arizona 85213
3. Mesa, Arizona 85204
4. That's really it, pretty boring!

My favorite TV shows:
1. The Office
2. Scrubs
3. Uhhh...I think those complete the list.

Places I have been on holiday:
1. Rocky Point, Mexico
2. Utah (does that really count?)
3. Niagara Falls
4. Church history tour in a large extended van with 7 other family members (I was a teenager and that one was forced upon me. At the time it was torture, pretty cool to look back on.)

Favorite Dishes:
1. CHEESEBURGERS!!!!! (anytime or anywhere)
2. Rosa's Stuffed Quesedilla (sp?)
3. Almost anything inspired by Rachel Ray
4. Home Made Pizza

Websites I visit daily:
1. Email
2. Blog sites of friends
3. Food Network
4. Desert Schools

Places I would rather be right now:
1. Curled up with a really good and ROMANTIC book
2. Getting a manicure or pedicure
3. The beach
4. Out on a date with Jeramy

The last category is people I'm tagging now, but most people I know are already tagged. So, if you are reading this and have NOT been tagged, I am now tagging you. Keep the fun going!

The Great Storm

Every year at the end of July or beginning of August, Mesa seems to get one or two rain storms that bring a lot of rain (by Arizona standards) in a very short amount of time. Today was that rain. In less than an hour, we got enough rain to completely fill our little back yard. Now, granted, our backyard is REALLY small, and the soil is extremely dense, but it rained enough to fill the yard so our boys could put on their swimming suits and go play in the "pool" that it created. They splashed and dug and made a complete mess of themselves, and loved every minute of it.

(Jeramy thinks that these pictures look like our kids are playing in the sewers in some third-world country.)

One-Eyed-Jack

Yesterday, Cooper thought it would be fun to poke Jackson in the eyes. (Three Stooges style). What goes through kids heads? "This will be SO funny! I wonder what will happen?" Anyway, he ended up pushing so hard that he really hurt Jackson and he wouldn't stop crying. After he woke up several times in the night, we decided to take him to the doctor's office this morning. He has a scratched cornea and has to wear an eye patch until late tomorrow afternoon. He follows his mom when it comes to pain tolerance ( and I have NONE), so he's spent most of today on the couch yelling out in pain and crying. Poor kid.

My pretty little garden.

When I was a kid, every Saturday at the crack of dawn, My mom would make the kids get out of bed and go out back to pull weeds in her garden. I remember complaining and vowing that I would never ever in my LIFE have a little garden of my own.





Then I grew up.





I'm sure my memories are tainted a bit with exaggeration, but the torture wasn't enough to make me keep my promise to myself. We have a very little garden in our back yard now, and I am so extremely proud of it. We have many kinds of peppers growing, along with some watermelon, cantalope and (my pride and Favorite) beautiful sunflowers.

Jeramys Job

A lot of people have been asking us what it is exactly that Jeramy does for a living. Some people think he just installs sprinklers and puts a few plants here and there. It shows in some peoples faces that they are thinking "you went to school and got a degree to do that?" I'm really proud of my husband and the talent he has at his job, so I'm taking this opportunity to brag about him. (I don't think he'll like it, but I didn't appreciate the Birthday post, so there.)

Jeramy is a Landscape Architect in Training. He is working toward getting his state liscence and then he will be a certified Landscape Architect. He got a Bachelors of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Arizona State University. He made the Dean's list every year he was in school, was one of the top in his class and he won an international internship competition from a large Landscape Architecture Firm. I am always amazed at the creativity and talent he has when he shows me his drawings and designs. He is currently working at Ten Eyck Landscape Architects full time and on the side a group of custom homes in Mexico. I'm posting a couple of pictures that he has drawn and I hope he doesn't get mad at me.
Just thought maybe some people would like to know!

Utah Trip

We had a lot of fun visiting family while we were in Utah. It was a nice trip, busy but nice. Jeramy's step-sister got married in the SLC Temple and the grounds were beautiful. It got very hot and as you can see, Jackson ran out of patience and decided to be extremely grouchy until we left.