We have made it a personal goal to celebrate the holidays more, and I think we have done a fairly good job so far. I will probably never be the person who decorates her home for every holiday, but I am working towards being more festive. While Micaela attended a church Halloween party with my grandparents, Caleb and I took the night out to go to a costume party. You can never imagine the struggle it was to convince Caleb that you have to dress in a costume at a costume party. He was so convinced that we would be the only ones in costume...which did cross my mind as well, but thankfully everyone else was dressed up.

I think Caleb makes a convincing Captain Jack Sparrow. He can even do a pretty decent imitation.


The hosts, Susannah and Neil, or Zorro and the wife of Zorro


The costume prize winners, Martin and Chiho, or Dog the bounty hunter and his wife Beth







For Halloween we have also been doing more family things. We followed what appears to be a Utah tradition and went to a pumpkin patch.Micaela enjoyed the outing and was so overwhelmed by the mass quantities of pumpkins.

She was particularly disturbed by the "yucky" pumpkins that were rotting, and decided she would point out every one of them.

We were a little late on getting our pumpkins, but we got them and Caleb even carved them. He was instructed to pick out three, one that represented him, one for me, and one for Micaela

The tall thin one is him, the little baby one is Micaela and I am the short fat one with the sour expression.

Micaela even got to decorate her own pumpkin. Beautiful!

Labels: Friends, The Fam

This last weekend I embarked on a haunted adventure. I went with some friends out to eat and, in an effort to celebrate Halloween we went on a GhostTour. My first clue that something was a little creepy occurred during our wait for the Ghost Tour bus. We were told to wait at the Rio Grande in downtown Salt Lake. Being a bunch of girls who were dressed more for style than weather, we decided to go inside the Rio Grande cafe and wait in the warmth. We ended up in a deserted hallway that leads to the restrooms. Nancy decided to use the restroom, but instantly came back out because it was too creepy. So of course we all decided we had to see this bathroom. It looked like a bathroom in an insane asylum and we agreed that it would be wise to not empty our bladders in such a place.

Fast forward to the bus, which finally came and we loaded quickly.





The very first ghost story we hear is none other than the story of a young woman who was killed by a train at the Rio Grande and reportedly haunts the cafe's bathroom!

It gets worse. We take a pit stop at the Salt Lake cemetery and are told a legend about another ghost. I have my camera and decide to take pictures of the tombstone. Here is the picture.




Now is it just me or is there a white, floaty object in the picture? Apparently it is called an orb, defined as an object not visual to the naked eye, but captured on photos. The creepy photos continue...






To top the night off I had driven there by myself and parked in a deserted parking garage. I made everyone watch me leave the car and start my car, after checking the backseat of course. To help me feel less freaked I sang Brittany Spears all the way home. Of course, that may be even scarier than seeing a ghost.

Labels: Friends, Just Me

I attended a conference this week which was somewhat boring. However, one of the presenters played this song that I had never heard, most likely because it was a country song. I had that moment, which I'm sure most people can relate to, and I felt that these lyrics pretty much summed up my life right now. You can listen to the song here. Here are the lyrics:

The kids screaming, phone ringing
Dog barking at the mailman bringing
That stack of bills - overdue
Good morning baby, how are you?
Got a half hour, quick shower
Take a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour
My funny face makes you laugh
Twist the top on and I put it back
There goes the washing machine
Baby, don't kick it.
I promise I'll fix it
Long about a million other things

Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

Friday, you're late
Guess we'll never make our dinner date
At the restaurant you start to cry
Baby, we'll just improvise
Well, plan B looks like
Dominoes' pizza in the candle light
Then we'll tippy toe to our room
Make a little love that's overdue
But somebody had a bad dream
Mama and daddy
Can me and my teddy
Come in to sleep in between?

Well, it's ok. It's so nice.
It's just another day in paradise.
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the Lord every night
For just another day in paradise

For just another day in paradise
Well, it's the kids screaming. The phone ringing
Just another day
Well, it's Friday. You're late
Oh yeah, it's just another day in paradise

Of course this is the positive spin, which is how I am choosing to view my life right now.

Labels: Just Me, The Fam

Micaela's first Disneyland vacation was an absolute success! We had a blast and both Caleb and I agree that it was one of our best vacations. We were very nervous about bringing a 2-year-old along, but Micaela absolutely loved it. She is still requesting to see "pirates." She was amazingly good too, even though we had her way off her sleep schedule and she had to be pretty overstimulated. She seemed to really enjoy everything from the rides to the decorations to the food (her mother's daughter for sure!) We were fortunate to talk my parents into going with us, and I think they had fun too. They were a great help and Micaela was instantly excited to see them step off the plane. I don't want to bore you all with family pictures, but I have to post them. I noticed two things while reviewing the pictures. One I suck at taking pictures and two my father is truly crazy. See for yourself.



Micaela ready to go!


Micaela's pirates hat. All the other little girls had princess crowns.




Angry that she had to be held.


Her favorite ride was the carousel. Similar to the one in the mall.




Waiting for the roller coaster to shoot off.


The roller coaster shooting off! (No the man next to me is not my husband)




My favorite picture of the bunch.


The haunted house was all decorated for Halloween.




The only character we saw that Micaela really knew. This may be our Christmas card this year:)


Micaela felt the need to hug all of the animals.




Playing poker.


Micaela had to do it too.





Caleb refused to go on the teacups.


We are already planning our next trip back!

Labels: The Fam

Every so often Caleb and I banter, ok so more like every day we do the "back and forth." In the most loving manner we will threaten to do horrible things to each other. Our latest:

Me "I'm moving all your stuff out of the bathroom and into the guest bathroom."

Him "Then I'll move my clothes into your closet."

Me "I will delete your recordings of Shark Week."

Him "I will sell your car and buy you a minivan."

Me "I will delete your computer game."

Him "I will buy Micaela crocs and make her wear them in public."

He wins.

Labels: Just Me, The Fam

I love birthdays. Usually my own the most. I am very curious about the statement I often hear "oh once you become a mom you don't focus on your own birthday anymore..." Yeah, that is not me. Fortunately, I think Caleb agrees with me. We celebrate birthdays "all out." Like we believe it is not just a birthday, but more like a birthweek, or month, or maybe just something to be used in negotiation. For example, "You should have to do the laundry this week because it is my birthday week." Anyways today is Caleb's birthday!



I usually start asking him about two months in advance what he wants/wants to do for his birthday. This is very tricky. Not because he doesn't want anything, but because he only really wants stuff he knows we can't afford. Like my dad's golf clubs or a saleen mustang.



This year all he really wanted was to go to Disneyland. We are trying to do one big vacation every year, and this year our big vacation was to Hawaii (on my birthday actually.) So going to Disneyland wasn't really an option. Somehow over the last two months he figured out a way we could go, and we are set to go next week. I'm sure there will be pictures.



So that is how we are celebrating Caleb's birthday. That's it...but I had to buy him a few presents because you have to open something on your birthday right??



Caleb I wrote down a few funny things/memories about you for your birthday.

1. I'm sick of your batitude!

2. The song naked nudie...it has a ring to it??

3. Code Red, the nectar of the gods

4. The Animal

5. Special K, cereal and street drug!

6. You cannot get Starbucks every time you fly, I will find out!

7. The term Monkey

8. Your imitation of Micaela crying

9. Quick pro quo




10. The fight over who had more shoes

11. The time I cried because I addressed the envelope upside down and you laughed at me, still upset about that

12. Anytime you accidentally drink a diet soda and act like you will die from the horror of the situation, which is the same reaction you produce when someone mentions fruit or mint and chocolate put together

13. Gym? Jim who?

14. "I'm giving up our marriage for lent"

15. Someday you will know what 7am "looks like"

16. Onions do not come on the veggimore pizza!

17. It's ok to be married to a 19-year-old:)




18. WOW, don't care, don't understand

19. Micaela picking out your "clothes" in the morning

20. "We shouldn't tip her very much, she was too nice."

21. Credit card

22. "We can no longer watch football games together because the team we like will lose"

23. Phases of food

24. "Anyways, about that..."

25. "I'm sooo happy"

26. The joke about the gay horse...haaaaayyyyy. OMG. LOL.




Happy Birthday! I love you! Oh and just remember you will always be older than I am!

Labels: The Fam