Guess Who...

Is a new Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! Me! I decided to make my addiction to scrapbooking even greater by joining the rest of the Stampin' Up crew out there in the world. They really do have the cutest stuff, and I just can't seem to get enough. Of course I have a separate blog for it. Check my side bar...What I Do...all i create. It is a start anyways...

Oh and I had a girl in my ward trim my hair, and I got brave and got me some side bangs. It really has not been as hard to manage as I thought it would be.

Just Like Old Times...

Last week I met up with my old roomies and girlfriends from college. I haven't seen a lot of them since they got married...oh...7 years ago, and now we all have kids! Needless to say there is never enough time to catch up, but hopefully this won't be the first and last time we get together like this. I must say that I do love how when we do get together, it feels like nothing has changed.

Need A Bedtime Story...

Zach and I love going to the library, especially when our favorite Pigeon Series, by Mo Willems, are available for check-out. Zach loves to read them over and over and over again. This one is called, "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late!"



Please tell me everyone's car rides are like this. There is never a dull moment. Yes it is night time, so you won't see anything, but just listen.

A Little Update...

Justin has been in his residency for almost two months now. He has been on call twice since. The first time he was on 2nd call and never was called into the ER, but this last time he was on 1st call and had one emergency...a patient who needed her broken tooth pulled. On a regular day to day basis he has been doing the usual drill and fill, root canal and crown, extractions (one of which the guy's tooth was impacted into the bone, so Justin had to cut away at the bone to get the tooth out, meanwhile the poor man peed in the chair 3 different times), and prophy exams. He has seen many different cases and many different people, even a patient with a severe tourette's disorder, which made for a very interesting visit. On a high note he had his first same day extraction and implant placement last Friday and has a gum graft, which happens to be mine, scheduled for next month. He is getting his hands on anything and everything he can, and loving every bit of it.

The last couple of weeks we have been asking Zach if he will get his teeth cleaned. He is a little over 4 and a half, and still has not seen the dentist until last Thursday! I took the kids over to Justin's work and we persuaded Zach, little by little, to let Justin give him a ride in the cool chair, let daddy check his teeth with his tools, tickle his fingers with the spinning brush, and eventually worked our way into cleaning every tooth with special tooth paste, flossing, and brushing fluoride all over his teeth. We are so proud of Zach and he was proud of himself. Actually he wants to do it all again.

Gateway Discovery...

Last week the kids and I met up with my friends Emily, Denene, Aunt Ashlee and their kids, to play at the Gateway Discovery. I haven't seen Emily or Denene since they both had kids, so it was fun to catch up with them and see how life has been going post kids. I tried to get some pictures of the kids together, but, it being a sort of please touch museum, that became inpossible the minute the kids stepped inside and started to play.

Zach, Kate and Elise

Zach, Kate, and cousin Lexi

Carter

After we were done with the museum we took the kids to the fountain. I think it was a little overwhelming for the smaller kids, but Zach was in heaven!

Zach with the "News Flash"...I love this kid! And the thumbs up at the end, a trademark of his.

"The Robot just got in the whole town, and tried to smash all the people."

The Best "Staycation"...

One of the best things about living in Utah is that you can go up to the mountains, in a matter of minutes, and spend the day playing, and then turn around and come home to sleep in your own bed, and feel like you have been gone for a week! A couple of Saturdays ago we went up to Solitude Resort and went swimming for the day with the cousins. It was Zach and Kate's first experience going down a water slide...needless to say they loved it! And we love it too!

Parker and Kate

Parker and Zach

Meet...

Zach's new BuDdY! Caleb. Last week we went out to our friend's, Heidi and Jon's, house. They have two darling boys Caleb and Dallin. We went to the splash park in their neghborhood for a picnic, and let the kids run around in the 90 degree + heat we have been having here in Utah. Caleb is the furthest on the right. The little boy in the middle, who remains annonymous, insisted he got in on the picture. How do you say "no" to a little kid? So I didn't.

Justin has been working with Zach every night to learn how to read. We like to think that he is pretty darn good for a 4 year old. See for yourself. And as for Kate...well...

Just Can't Get Enough...

For more pitures of our trip to McCall, or if you are curious to see my side of the family go to my brother Andy and his wife Mari's blog. She for as long as I have known her loves taking pictures and is quite talented at it. Check it out. She is located in Portland for those in need of some great pics!

29 Never Felt So Sweet...

Last Friday was my 29th birthday. I never really get excited for my birthday because for as long as I can remember no one is around during the summer to celebrate with me, and hardly anyone ever remembers it because as summers go, everyone is busy vacationing. I have to hand it to Justin though, he really made turning 29 a real treat! In Utah, the 24th of July is a state holiday, which in this case, worked out to my advantage this year. Justin had work off so he could watch the kids while he surprised me with a day at the Sanctuary Day Spa, at the Gateway, in SLC, to get a deep tissue message and a pedicure. What a great gift right? Just picture a black NFL football player giving little old me a deep tissue message. I am serious, my words before we even walked into the room were, "Just don't break me." He laughed, but I wasn't kidding. He was huge. But "Jamicheal", as Justin refers to him, did a fabulous job. I think I could do this every week! And who doesn't like a pedicure? Later that night we got our, get this, first "babysitter", cousin Lauren! We went out to dinner and hit up our first Real Salt Lake soccer game, and watched the fireworks afterward. What a great birthday. I definitely got spoiled! So spoiled, I admitted to Justin that with how great my birthday was that it could count for my birthday and our 7 year anniversary! What was I thinking? I could have really taken advantage here huh? Oh well, not only did I have a great birthday, but I have had great 7 years, as of the 27th of July 2002, being married to Justin. WOW!

On Sunday my brother Jeff, had us over for a BBQ, to celebrate again. I love family... they always make you feel so special! Kate really liked the cake!

Ever since my birthday on Friday Zach has been asking when is it his birthday? If you asked him today when it is he would want it to be tomorrow. Too bad it is in five months. He has not let up, continually asking if we can celebrate his birthday tomorrow, and the next day, and the next, etc. So he doesn't quite understand the whole time thing, but he already knows what he wants...a DS and a head flash light. Luckily Uncle Jeff had one he could play with for awhile, to only peak his interest and want even more. I love this picture though. He is wearing his "Brother Cousin's", Alec's, scout badge sash, and is right down to business with that head flash light. I will be hearing about the camp out he wants to have all week!

Is that...

Really what I think it is?

Oh My...

Seriously?

He really is addicted!

This is what I showered with on my birthday! Anyone who knows Justin knows he loves his DP, but honestly to have to have it in the shower? Come on! I guess he got the idea from his favorite morning radio talk show, MMR, back in Philadelphia. He downloads the podcast and listens to them on his way to and from work. Supposedly one of the radio personalities was raving about how great it was to have a cold one(beer) in the shower, so Justin decided to try it out with his one vice, besides me of course(hee hee), Dr. Pepper.