Arizona

Last weekend Aric and I went to Phoenix, Arizona. Neither one of us had been to Arizona before. It was only three days and it wasn't warm but we had business to do and we accomplished it.

Although I was looking forward to the trip for lots of reasons...alone time with Aric, sunshine, good food etc... the thing I was most excited about was hanging out with my friend Natalie and her husband Ryan.

See Natalie and I have been friends for over two years now. She has been with me through the ups and downs of C's adoption. She offered words of encouragement and comfort. Over the past two years she has become one of my dearest friends but we had never actually met in real life. How is this possible, to develop that kind of love for someone through emails, phone calls, facebook and blog comments?

I will answer my own question...

I believe it is divine intervention...Heavenly Father. He puts people in our lives at particular times for specific reasons. Think of all the millions of people that cross our paths in life, but only a handful actually find themselves into our hearts. Some are only in our lives for a moment, other for years but they leave such an impression that they literally become part of you, not just a memory. I am so grateful that Natalie and I found each other and that now she is part of me. (I just reread that and it sounds like a love story...funny) 

(Believe it or not we had the yogurt lady take three pictures and this was the best one!...After I cropped the heck out of it! My camera was on the wrong setting but still...why is it so hard to take a decent picture...fyi...if someone asks you to take a picture for them, make sure there is more of them in the picture than the wall and ceiling behind them.)

Although the weather wasn't all that fabulous, Arizona made up for it by having so many frozen yogurt bars. I couldn't get enough of them...speaking of things I couldn't get enough of...Natalie's sweet baby, Major! He is the sweetest, cutest, yummiest baby ever!

I also got to meet the lovely Christy, another blog friend who has stolen my heart. We had the best time...at least I did. Our time together was way too short and I can't wait to do it again! (Can you believe Natalie had a baby ten days before!? Yeah, totally not fair to be hanging out with such gorgeous ladies.)

Aric and I got to have lunch with a missionary that served in Liberty Lake. Elder Abaroa...or Jordan, which we get to call him now. He's been home for a couple of years and it was so great to catch with him. We love him to pieces and look forward to seeing him when he comes to visit us this summer. BTW...he is available and awesome, any single ladies out there...I can hook you up!

We were only there for barely three days. It went by soooo fast. The only bad part was our creepy hotel that I booked through travelocity. The pictures and descriptions weren't exactly accurate. I got over my disappointment, but I will be sure to do a lot more research the next time I book a hotel!

Thanks for the fun times AZ. I will try not to be offended by the weather you gave us while we were there. You have so many other amazing qualities that I will forgive you. I am crossing my fingers that our investment property will turn out to be everything that we hoped it to be...xoxo ~j

Because it's still February...

I have to document Valentine's Day while it is still February...

The Boxes...

I love how it is totally obvious which box belongs to who. Their personalities are so different and I love that about them.

The Partays...

Eden had one with some friends after school.

Camden didn't realize that he wasn't invited to the party...

C and I "helped" out at the school parties. 

Camden and Eden doing the cupcake walk.

Camden getting his fill of grapes and cookies at Maya's party.

I love how he is a little celebrity every time we go to school. All the kids run up to him to get fist bumps and chest bumps.

The Dinner...

We had our homemade heart pizza that I lovingly made thank you very much.

The Gifts...

Maya got the Converse shoes she had been waiting her whole life for!

 (thank you Fred Meyer for having them on clearance.)

Eden got a very "Eden" shirt with a scarf. She too was over the moon with her gift. I thought I took a picture of it. I may take one tomorrow...or maybe not?

Camden got washable markers. No picture of this but here are some of his drawings with his new markers...he calls them "pizza".

I asked for an orbital sander for V-day but instead Aric got me this....

...A NEW PHONE!!!!

I am beyond thrilled with this gift. Let's be honest, this is not the fanciest phone on the planet but it doesn't need to be an iphone or a droid to win for the best phone ever, and this is why....

Five years ago I got this lovely phone for v-day. 

It wasn't anything special back then either but it was a giant step up from what I had before. 

And honestly, besides it's ugly factor and broken thingy, it worked just fine for talking to people but texting was ridiculous. It got to the point that if I texted I would only use 3 to 5 words because it took so long to type anything.

Not anymore!!!! I have a keypad so now I can type novels if I want. I love it and I am so happy. The only downside was that it took a week to get it working properly...but that is a story for another day.

Aric got a trip to Arizona with me and that, I will blog about next...

With Much Love...

Happy Valentine's Day!

There are some blogs out there that did love week, where they posted something everyday that they loved. I wanted to do it but felt too much pressure to do something everyday. Not because I couldn't think of something to post but because a post everyday would push me over the edge. So here is one post about some of my loves...they aren't the obvious...God, Christ, Family, Friends, Freedom...because those go without saying. These are my random loves...

1. I love sugar cookies...soft with cherry almond frosting please.

2. I love watching tv shows with Aric. We have a date every night at 9pm.

3. I love the way my kids smell after showers/baths.

4. I love getting a good deal. I got a dress for $7.00 that was originally $82.50! 

5. I love my ipod touch. It is always playing my favorite tunes and makes my mundane chores go by faster. 

6. I love my eliptical. Thank you Nordic Track for making an awesome one, and thank you to the ever so kind Michael Sampson for getting us one real cheap.

7. I love my MacBook Pro. I am still a little intimidated by this machine. And I hate that I can't use live writer, but I love the freedom that it gives me.

8. I love these shoes. I bought them like three years ago, but I still smile every time I wear them.

9. I love to run outside when the sun is out but the air is still chilly.

10. I love a clean sink. No dishes. No toothpaste leftovers.

There are lots of other things I love too. I will save them for next year.

xoxo

Oh and I love Guster too.

First Friday 2011

Okay so First Friday is no longer the first friday after New Years Eve. January is too crazy of a month for me so I decided that First Friday would be on the first friday that is was convenient for me to do it. I'm really liking the First Friday in Feb. We'll see if it works out for next year....

(We started First Friday eight years ago. Go HERE for a history lesson. Go HERE for FF 2009. Go HERE for FF 2010)

Okay, now, are you ready for this?! Do not continue reading this post unless you are ready for some serious hilariousness!!!!

This years theme......da dada da!!!!!
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SUPER HEROS!
(Original or Real)

Latin Spice and Mustache Man hosted this super party.

Latin Spice was kicked out of the Spice Girls group because she was too spicy. She was so upset she decided to take her special abilities and super powers else where. Her powers...she can talk anyone into doing anything. She can talk evil doers to their death or burn them with her insults. Her weakness...Kitchens and Libraries. Her enemies never know when to attack because she is always late. Her theme song...Livin' La Vida Loca - Ricky Martin 

Mustache Man wanted to look like Magnum PI so he grew out a mustache. As soon as it was nice and full he realized it gave him super powers. He realized he could control ladies with his dashing looks and smooth talking ways. His weakness...Razors and Scissors. Theme song...Cooler Than Me

Zak and Jayna the Wonder Twins showed up. (Romneys)

Theme Song...My Life Would Suck Without You - Kelly Clarkson

Batman and Batgirl came. (Youngs)

Kiss From A Rose - Seal

We also had Super Mom and Superman...(Hansens)

Theme Song...I'm Every Woman- Whitney Houston and Superman - Moi

Close up of Super Mom...

Eyes on the back of her head...Awesome!

Syndrome and Edna Mode....(Chambers)

Theme Songs....Bulletproof by La Roux and Supermodel Ru Paul

Super Jess S and Batman....(Shenemans)

Theme Songs...Jessica and well Damon changed his costume at the last minute so the Despicable Me song no longer worked but oh well.

Super Jess S was Jess A and Jess R's real life super powers combined. She wore an apron and cooking utensils for Jess R. She wore my headband and paint brush for me. Then she wore my half/full marathon medals and exercise pants to represent both of us.

Super Mom and Tort Man....(Halls)

Theme Songs...Who's that Lady - Isley Bros and For the Love of Money - The OJays

Brown Hornet and Stinger...(Beykirchs)

Theme Song...Got to be startin' something - Michael Jackson

Sooooooo Hilarious!

Before the party I sent out an email that asked what their super heros name is. What are their special powers and abilities. What are their weaknesses and what is their theme song.  I'm too lazy to write everyone's super powers and weaknesses. They were all so funny. We played a couple of games. First game was a Super Hero match up. I made a list of Super Hero Names that I would give each of them, as their real selves. They had to figure out which hero went to each person. The next game was a song match up. No one tells anyone who they are going to be....except me of course. I put everyone's theme songs on a playlist, then we played a game where they had to guess who's theme song belonged to who. Each couple got a CD with all the songs.

After the games we played our traditional Sing Star. We played Guys vs. Girls and the names were randomly drawn. Oh this was fun times...BTW Girls won.

This Batman was for real. He even performed in his mask.

Ryan rocked it in his purple tights and pointed ears. No one paid attention to his singing, we were all too distracted by his awesome purpleness.

Me and Damon R.O.C.K.I.N. it!

Aric was in RARE form...notice Christine in the background...DYING!

Yes, I married up ladies...don't EVEN be jealous!

THe SuPeR LAdiEs

THe SuPer MeN

SoMe of My FaVoriTe MomEntS...

* My first glimpse of Ryan in purple tights and ladies boots.

* Noticing Ashley's shape ups.

* Me and Jess R back up dancing to REM Stand.

* Damon's serious dance moves being compared to Rachel's dad's dance moves.

* Listening to Garrett and Kevin B singing in the background, they knew all the words to the rap songs.

* Cami's dirty dancing moves.

* Every time I looked at the Beykirchs was a favorite moment. I couldn't stop laughing. 

* Christine's laugh. Every performance was hilarious so she was laughing a lot.

It was a SUPER fun night. Can't wait until next year...not sure what the theme will be, but I know it will be awesome.

First Friday Left Overs...MmmMmm Good!

So I have had a couple people actually ask permission to use our idea and start their own "First Friday" tradition. Of course we said yes, but there are a couple rules if you plan to host your own First Friday, first, you must display a picture of Aric and I in one of our FF bests. Easy to do, just grab a photo from one of my FF posts. Second, you have to put a picture of you in your FF best with our picture and then put it on your blog, facebook or email it to me.

Happy Partying!

Camden's Lunch Prayer

Dear Hebany Fader,

Danks for......Dispick-ble Me.

Aaaaaaaaand danks for bananas.

Danks for Jesus and da sacrament and uhhhhhh Jesus.

Peas bess my pood and my dad.

Aaaaaaaaand...uhhhhhhh da name a Jesus Chist AHMEN.