A 37 Month Celebration

I am a big believer that husbands and wives should take some time to their selves at least once a year.  No matter the excuse: we have kids, we don't have kids, we have money, we don't have money, we have time, we don't have time...

Ok you get the point.

But I think it's very important to have those moments where it is just the two of you.

We happened to decide to get married on Dec 27th, aka the busiest time of year, so we had to postpone the anniversary get-a-way for a month and celebrate it on Jan 27th instead.

So 37 months of marriage was our magic number:)

It started out with a nap.

How lovely is that!

It wasn't supposed to be that way, but when you're 35 weeks pregnant I say that naps are mandatory.

After my little snooze we headed up to the place where it all started.

The beautiful Bountiful Temple. 

I've always felt that sealings are very appropriate for celebrating an anniversary, but in my current condition, kneeling for long periods of time was probably not the best choice.

I was a little bummed knowing that I wouldn't be able to sit and hold my hubby for our entire temple experience that day, but accepted the facts.

When we got to the recommend desk of course there was a sign informing us that sealing participants were needed.  I thought "Thanks, way to rub it in!"

Then the sweet man at the counter asked if we'd like to do sealings.  Targhee explained that I was large with child and it probably wasn't the best idea.

The man said, "Well, just have them move a chair up for you to sit down!  You don't have to kneel."

What?

This I did not know.  

How perfect!

See the Lord even cares about petty little things like holding your husband's hand on your anniversary celebration:)

We had a lovely session and then headed north to the Ogden Canyon.

We had dinner reservations at the Grey Cliff Lodge.

Such a cute little place and so yummy!

I picture it a little like coming home to grandma's house. (I've never had a grandma, but if I did, that's how I imagine it being).

Awkward shot of us trying to hold the camera and pose across the table.

Desert is included with your dinner.  

(Why haven't other restaurants caught on to this fantasticness yet?)

They put candles in our pies and said "Happy Anniversary!"

(It reminded me a little of our honeymoon cruise ship experience where they gave us a desert lit with candles and sang "Happy Honeymoon to you!  Kissy! Kissy!" and made us hide behind our menus so that we could smooch- lol)

Anyway, we laughed and blew out the candles.

I started pulling mine out and then it lit up again.

Oh great!

They actually gave us trick candles!! lol

I didn't know people still did that.

After a few pitiful attempts, I finally doused them in water so I could scarf down my pie. 

(As if I was even hungry!)

We stayed the night at the Alaskan Inn.

The rooms are all themed and we happened to be staying in "The Alaskan."

We're dorks and like to have fun with pictures and the decor in our hotel rooms.

Yes, it even comes with a life sized bear.

My personal favorite...Every room has a Jacuzzi!

We were just getting settled and I went into the bathroom,

(surprise surprise, I have to go about every 10 seconds)

and the toilet wouldn't flush.

Just what I've always wanted on our anniversary... my husband plunging a toilet that doesn't even belong to us!

I said, this is stupid we didn't pay to plunge toilets all night.

I went to the front desk to let them know and the only thing they could do was put us in another room, luckily, they had ONE that was not taken that night (I know she wasn't lying because the keys were displayed right in front of me.)

So we moved to the "MOTHER LODE" lol

I don't know if you can tell from this picture but it is decorated like a mine shaft and the bed is actually stuffed back into the mine.  Not to mention how high it was because it was supposed to be a mine cart.  There was no way I could jump into it so I had to have Targhee heft me up lol and then realized that wasn't really practical and used a chair the rest of the time:)

We thought it was comical.

Yes, there were even bunches of dynamite. 

We enjoyed our stay and the complimentary movie supply in the lobby.

I made Targhee watch a family favorite, "The Cutting Edge" :)  and then I fell alseep while he watched "Air Force One."

They serve breakfast in bed, so our wake up call was a delicious hot breakfast right to our door.

Pretty Fantastic!

The "waterfall" coming out of Ogden Canyon.

We stopped at Fat Cats and played a few rounds of pool.

Targhee took a billiards class last semester so he was looking forward to showing me his newly acquired mad skills.

Too bad I beat him the first game:) 

(and no, it wasn't by default of the 8 ball or anything like that, it was true and legit!)

He was pretty annoyed by that and had to royally kick my trash the rest of the time.

Warning: Random Side Note

Leilani is in this funny shark phase.  

Anything that is scary to her is a "sharky."  

So if Targhee growls at her, which he often does, she'll say, "No Sharky!" or if she goes into a room without any lights she'll run out and say, "No Sharky!"

Anyway, Targhee thought it would be funny to traumatize our child into thinking that a shark was going to eat him.  She was a little concerned about the picture, but got over it much more quickly than I had anticipated:)

We walked by a photo booth and decided that we had never actually had our picture taken together in one before, so...What the heck!

We ended our event at the movie theater with 

(can you tell we like movies:) 

and headed back home to our beautiful little girl.

Thanks Targhee for a wonderful weekend!

I look forward to many many many more!!

Skinny Jeans

These are my feelings on the matter

'Nough said.

I'm just looking forward for this particular fashion trend to move on:)

A Pregnant Woman's Best Friend

My life has been changed!

If any of you are anything like me, you get acid reflux the second you begin to "show."

Oh the joys.

I have guzzled Maalox and munched on Tums to no avail.

Each night is the same story.

Seriously, when the Sam's Club sized bottle of Tums is coming to an end, that can't be a good sign.

Also, if you're anything like me... you just kinda suffer through it, without searching for a better option.

I don't know if it's pride or stupidity.

My Mom always says, "You don't win any awards for suffering."

And yet, I still prolong the doctor's visit or the change of routine for as long as possible.

But, 

I finally made the switch!

Ta Da!!!

Hallelujah!

I have been able to sleep* for the last two nights!

(*about as good of sleep as you can when you are sharing a body with another person)

Thank you, Pepcid, Thank you!

"I love having parented"

This woman speaks words of truth that come from my own heart and apparently the hearts of many other mothers/parents:)

Enjoy!

Don't Carpe Diem

(My sister sent this to me, I loved it, so of course I had to share it too:)

2 Year Stats

Height: 36 inches, 95%

Weight: 30.1 lbs, 90%

Head Circumference: 48 cm, 75%

They tried to check her hearing...Yeah right!  Like she was going to let them keep anything in her ears.  What two year old would?  Then she started talking and the nurse finally said, "Well, if she's talking like that there probably isn't anything to be worried about" :)  Yup, that's my girl!

It has come to my attention in the past few months that I am not very happy with my pediatrician.

Leilani screams every time the nurse comes in even to measure her head.  It's ridiculous!  But when other doctors or nurses have come in, she's fine. 

Plus, Leilani has a little bathroom trouble.  She has been on Miralax for a year now and I don't feel like the doctor has really addressed the situation or given us anything to make this better.

I have my Labor and Delivery registration sheet all filled out and ready to turn in except one FLASHING blank spot is keeping me from mailing it.

Child's Pediatrician_____________.

I know I want to switch to a new one but, nothing seems more overwhelming to me than picking a new doctor. How on earth am I supposed to know who is a good one or not by looking at a name and every so often a picture?  

Word of mouth is the only thing I know of that works, but then again every one has different opinions.  Then there's the issue with EVERYONE loves this doctor so good luck getting in, or ya, it's just a 30 minute drive every time you go to the clinic, that's fine...No!

One of my biggest fears is calling people.  

Weird, I know!

When I was growing up my friends knew never to have me call the pizza man.  It scared the heck out of me.

One of my friends even forced me to go to the drive thru to try to help me overcome my fears:)

(And then I got called to a Visitor's Center mission where calling people was part of my every day routine...lol)

Anyway, so calling the doctor's office and asking them if they accept my insurance and are taking new patients is one of my least favorite things to do.

I know! I know! Suck it up Monica!

Any suggestions?

Not to mention I have to find a dentist too- lol

Our Version of The Polar Bear

We ventured into the 20* weather today.

Making snow smiley faces.

I've become quite the lame mommy lately.  

I wasn't about to get on the ground and show her how to do a snow angel...

I'd never get back up!

Our pathetic little snowman.

The snow wouldn't pack so I had to use my bare hands and this is as far as I got.

Even in it's sad state, she carefully carried it around and kissed it singing, "Once there was a snowman."

Rite of Passage

The Princess's Throne

"My Potty!!"

"It's just my size!"

Today she had fun playing with it.

She loved sitting and "wiping" and "flushing."

We'll see how long that lasts.

She still denies it when she is in fact poopy, soo...

Let the games begin.

My Big Two Year Old

Leilani finally turned 2 yesterday!

I say finally because I've been calling her a two year old for almost 6 months now:)

She just seems so big to me.

We had family over Sunday night to celebrate.

Her cake

Who else but Cinderella of course:)

I had fun making it even though the finished product is never as grand as I have planned out in my mind.

The first time she saw it she said, "I can't have two Cinderellas!  That one is too big."

So in her little mind, this one was for mommy and the Cinderella piggy bank she got for Christmas was hers:)

After we explained that it was a cake so we get to eat it, she felt better about the whole situation and now carries around the Cinderella barbie everywhere.

She was already broken in during Christmas about present opening so as soon as she saw the big pile of gifts she exclaimed, "I want to rip it!"

Then with each gift she would say, "I want to wear it!" or "I want to open it!"

She was quite happy with her loot and a very grateful, congenial gift receiver.

She loved being in the spot light.

I love that everyone else is also puckering up to blow out the candles:)

She picked out her princess outfit for the occasion.

I also made a video of her second year of life that we played while everyone ate their cake and ice cream but I can't get it to load right now so...some other time:)

Then on Monday, her actual birthday, Mom and Dad made her pancakes and eggs for breakfast and played with her all morning.

That night we went to Chuck-E-Cheese with Gramma and Papa Bishop. 

(I told her to cheese it like Chucky would)

There was no way she was going near this thing, but she waved from afar.

The only ride she actually sat on.

She did this practically the whole time because she's afraid of moving objects.  All she wanted to do was play in the jungle gym, but the steps were too tall for her to climb up by herself.  SOoo- Gramma came to the rescue and got in the tube to push her up:)

There she is finally enjoying the event:)

Happy Birthday Leilani!!

You are very loved by all who know you.

You bring a ray of sunshine where ever you go...even on your grumpy days you still make us laugh.

We are so glad you are a part of our family.

Thank you for teaching us so much.

We love you!!

Now What?

Today I'm feeling slightly lost and overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed? You ask!  How on earth could you be overwhelmed?

You just finished school.  You are staying home with your daughter patiently awaiting the 9 more weeks until your new little boy comes and you live with your mom.  How much more UNDERWHELMED could you be?

Well...
I've just entered into a completely new stage of life today and I'm not quite sure what to do with it or where to start.

My strongest emotion right now is that I miss my sweet little girl.
She has been a mean mean two year old monster machine lately and I really would like to have my easy going, fun loving girl back.
I am making her another video for her two year birthday and watching all of her sweetness from the past year which is probably the main reason why I'm feeling this way right now.
I know it's a stage, and this too shall pass, but I am feeling slightly out of the driver's seat.  I'm not quite sure what to do or how to help her return to happiness.
Even in her sleep she will yell profanities of "Noo!  Don't take it!!" and "Don't touch me!!"
You all may laugh and say, "Been there. Done that."  But it makes me a little sad and I am trying to be patient as we work through the terribly-independent-possessive-non-sharing-temper-tantrum twos.
p.s. she doesn't even turn two until next Monday so hopefully she'll move through this quickly:)

My next feeling can best be explained by this...


I have just completed a goal I've been working on almost my whole life.
It's a wonderful feeling, but now I need to make new goals, plan new schedules, and organize what I would like to do from here.
AND
if you have just seen the last few posts you can see that it has been pretty busy around here so there hasn't been a lot of time to think about it.
Well, today it's quiet.
So it's time for the thinking to begin.
I just need a minute to regroup as I transition into full time motherhood.
Disclaimer:  I may not feel like this tomorrow.  A mixture of lack of sleep, sinus infection, pregnancy hormones, and my family leaving all at the same time may contribute to my current thought processes.

Yew Years

Friday was Temple Day

We went to the Logan Temple and then ate at the Blue Bird.

It's very comforting to know that we can all gather at the temple.  A true blessing.

When we have a large group for New Years Eve we rent out the church and party til we drop:)    

Volleyball

  

Dodge Ball 

Balloon Relay Races

Basketball

Apparently Targhee was feeling pretty good about his basketball skills. 

And of course Dance Parties!

Oh dear!  Another Snow White dress:)

We had the Wii set up with the projector in one room and another projector for movies in another room.

You know it's a true party when you walk in to your mom groovin to "California Girls":)

And don't forget the mounds and mounds of FOOD!!!

Sadly I didn't get a picture of the bar mitzvah, but it truly is a sight to behold.

Cousin love:)

The little ones that can't stay up that late get booted to their very own private room to snooze the night away while the older ones (who can but probably shouldn't stay up that late:) get booted to a movie in hopes that they will fall asleep.  

We play a grueling round of jeopardy, written by my brother-in-law, and when the clock finally strikes 12:00am we shout a slightly lame "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" before we start the mad rush of cleaning up:) 

I love it when my family comes to town!!