happy birthday to me!

a big thank you to everyone who wished me well on my birthday friday! i had a great day! jon started it off bright and early with breakfast in bed and then surprised me with this fun present. he is seriously so good with surprises, it amazes me. of course i love trampolines because i love to tumble, but i never expected a tramp right now! :) i can't wait until it's warm!!! and then that night we went to Pictureline (a place that sells photo equip) to look at lenses and then to Flemming's steakhouse for dinner (yum!). we had planned on having a nice romantic getaway at the Hotel Monaco downtown as well, but unfortunately we found out a little "early" that the artificial insemination we tried a couple of weeks ago was not a success. so, unfortunately, aunt flo put a little bit of a damper on the romance, but it was nice to just relax and watch the jazz game with my love.



the next morning i had a photo shoot at the temple shooting candids, so i thought i would include some of my favorite shots. i rented a new lens and it was awesome! i love shooting in black and white! of course you can't tell, but she had on the funnest, sassiest red shoes. oh so cute.

a little Q&A

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9:30 – I heart sleeping in!
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Dreamgirls – unless an IMAX counts, then it was Mystery of the Nile
4. Favorite TV show? Boston Legal, Criminal Minds, House
5. What did you have for breakfast? Blackberry yogurt – I love crunching the seeds in between my teeth
6. What is your middle name? Don’t got it. Fresh out. (that’s for you Jon) my parents didn’t give me one. They’re overrated anyway. ;)
7. What is your favorite cuisine? A good meal of steak and potatoes
8. What food do you dislike? Anything really really spicy
9. Your favorite chip? Anything cheesy
10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? Stadium Arcadium (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Becky’s Favorites compilation from 2004
11. What kind of car do you drive? BMW X5
12. Favorite Sandwich? Turkey, swiss, spinach and sprouts all melted together
13. What are your favorite clothes? Jeans and t-shirts. I’m really trying to change that though, so I can look more professional as a photographer
14. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would it be? New Zealand, Africa, Hawaii, Europe, the Mediterranean, Thailand, Egypt, Antarctica…I could go on and on
15. What color are your eyes? Without contacts they are kind of a grayish blue, with contacts they are bright blue
16. Favorite brand of clothing? I like Abercrombie and Express jeans. I’m not too picky about shirts and shoes. I usually look for the good deals, which is why I end up with t-shirts!!! :(
17. Where would you want to retire? St. George – well, maybe not. I just love it down there. I think Hawaii or New Zealand would be cool. Really I just want to be close to my family
18. Favorite time of day? Crawling into bed with Jon and just snuggling up!
19. Where were you born? Ogden, UT
20. What is your favorite sport to watch? Live: rugby, soccer, pro basketball, football; TV: football, pro basketball, rugby
21. Pepsi or Coke? Pepsi, especially cherry
22. Cats or Dogs? Dogs. I want a great dane or basset hound
23. Are you a morning person or a night owl? NIGHT owl
24. Pedicure or manicure? Pedicure
25. Do you prefer funny or mushy cards? Depends on who it comes from and what it’s for. Usually funny
26. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with everyone? Not yet. Maybe in a week or so :)
27. What did you want to be when you were little? A lawyer or school teacher
28. What do you have in your trunk right now? Ski gear and blankets
29. What is your best childhood memory? Spending time on the farm with dad, playing in soccer tournaments, family get togethers at grandma and grandpa’s house, sleepovers with cousins
30. What are all the different jobs you have had in your life? I started as a legal secretary for my dad, hostess and server at the Oaks, youth worker, after school program coordinator, tutor, and to come this summer, candid photographer
31. What is your favorite Holiday? Christmas
32. What is your favorite dessert? Winger’s asphalt pie, Chili’s chocolate volcano, and a good apple crisp with vanilla ice cream
33. Favorite Get away? Going down to St. George to visit Sara and Wade. I’ll be going to Phoenix to visit Em, Brett and Eden soon too…I’m so excited!
34. Ever been to Africa? No, I want to. Erin and Matt have invited us to go this year, but we can’t make it. I’m sooo bummed!
35. Glasses or Contacts? Both, but mostly contacts
36. Ever been toilet papering? Heck yes I have
37. Been in a car accident? Yep. I pulled in front of a car in an intersection when I was in high school. No injuries, but at the time I had been getting horrible bloody noses and it just so happened that I got one as the police were taking my report so they had to call the paramedics since there was blood involved. It was at the busiest intersection in North Ogden and I was so embarrassed!
38. What is your favorite day of the week? Saturday
39. Favorite restaurant? Hmmm. I’m partial to Ruby River since I worked there. Right now I really like the “nuts about berries” salad at Zupas too
40. Favorite flower? Tulips and hibiscus
41. Favorite movies? Way too many to list. I’m really excited about the rugby movie about highland rugby coming out this year. I hope it kills.
42. Favorite Past time? Photography, reading, sleeping, playing with the nieces and nephews
43. Favorite ice cream? Raspberry sorbet, mango sorbet, and cookie dough and caramel ice creams
44. Favorite fast food restaurant? None. We eat out way too much and I’m sick of it all.
45. From whom did you get your last email? The primary president from our ward (I’m in charge of the ward newsletter)
46. Sandals or tennis shoes? Sandals. Flip flops please! But I really love my puma sneakers.
47. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Hmmm. Not one in particular. I’m pretty picky.
48. If the speed limit is 60 what is the fastest you will drive? 70. unless someone passes me, then I’ll catch up to them and just follow them and wait for them to get the ticket. ;)
49. What is your bedtime? 11:30 – 12:00. It depends on how funny the late night talk show are
50. Last person you went to dinner with? Jon, Mom, Dad, Sara and Wade. California Pizza Kitchen. Yum!
51. What are you listening to right now? A CD Amanda made for Erin’s bridal shower.
52. What is your favorite color? Blue, green, pink, brown
53. How many times did you fail your drivers test? Come on! It’s because I’m blonde, isn’t it? Well, for your information, I passed with flying colors the first time!
54. How many tattoos do you have? You will never know…if I told you, I’d have to kill you.

it seems like forever...

...since i've posted anything. there has been lots going on. jon and i had a great valentine's day...we spent it at a wonderful italian restaurant. there was fine food, a live band, and.....well, it was actually chuck e. cheese's and it was for my niece's birthday. so we had pizza while the puppets sang and then played arcade games with the kids. we really did have a great time. actually, we decided to combine valentine's with my birthday so we'll be spending a romantic weekend together instead. here are my beautiful roses from my love.

these pictures are a few from my photo shoot with alex for his second birthday. they're some of my favorites so far.

something a little more uplifting

i got to babysit little parker and luke last night for a little bit. parker was so happy. he had just finished his bottle and was in his jammies and ready for bed. he just cooed and smiled and gurgled to me. then he would pretend that he was shy. luke was full of energy, as usual. we played with the balloon pretty much all night while watching X-men 3. i'm so glad we get to live close to our nieces and nephews and that their parents trust me with them. i wouldn't change the time i spend with them for anything! (plus, then i get called their favorite aunt!!!)

happy valentine's day!

happy 7th birthday, kika!

tragedy in salt lake city

for those of you outside of utah, we've had a tragedy here and i just want to express my feelings about it. my heart goes out to those people caught up in the shooting and those in Trolley Square caught innocently while shopping, eating and working there. last night on the news they interviewed a family who were waiting to eat at the spaghetti factory who were split up when it happened. the mom was downstairs with her daughter and the dad was upstairs with his two boys, ages 6 and 10, i think. after they interviewed the parents, they panned to the children and the 10 year old was litterally shaking and sobbing and clutching to his dad. i lost it. the tears came freely and i feel so deeply for these victims, especially the kids. it is so sad to live in a world with such hurt and injustice, but i am forever grateful for the gospel and the atonement.

cheese ball!

last night i babysat Alex while Jon, Mike, Becky & Shane went night skiing. he kept pulling this funny face while playing, it was priceless and i finally caught it on camera. see all the silver strings? he tore apart a little pom-pom i had in the toy bucket and thought that was the funnest thing! then we moved into the office for some light reading...notice the book. 30 days to a more powerful vocabulary. (later he moved on to jon's management and motivational books!) i thought it was a hilarious choice since he is very picky about when he'll talk and what he'll say. a few words he will say on command: "baaar-neee, mom, dad, budday (that's mokie, their dog), eee ya (see ya) and bye bye". last night he said 'bye bye dad. eee ya dad.' it's so fun to watch him just play and talk and sing to himself! :)

celebrity not-so-look-alikes

thanks heather, for introducing me to this site! it was so fun!



oddly enough, i also got a lot of teri hatcher, faith hill, and lisa ling (and lots of other asians) matches...it must be the eyes! or maybe i'm the milkman's daughter! jon also matched with tom cruise, jeff daniels, and clint eastwood! hunk-a-hunk-a-burnin' love!

what a weekend!

Happy Birthday to Alex! we started off on Saturday sledding for his birthday at a small hill by their house. thankfully, no injuries to report! (it's common when jon and mike and friends go sledding) I couldn't help but snap a few shots of the majestic mountains and the sunset. with the cruddy inversion we've had here we haven't seen the mountains for a few weeks!

Sunday we enjoyed the super bowl at aunt ruthie's house. with our family get-togethers there is always lots of yummy food and good times! the first group shot is upstairs with all the yummy food in the kitchen (sorry, my grandma's gorgeous white hair absorbed all of the flash! :)) and then second shot is the dark and comfy basement with the HD big screen and comfy comfy couches! and the little snowball at the end is aunt becca's new baby she got for her birthday. i called him Sparky, but i don't think it'll stick!

anyway, we had a great weekend! lots of happy birthdays to aunt becca, uncle lex, curt, blake, alex and my dear dear friend erin!

kid's night out

i should mention that 3 year old luke took the fabulous pictures of jon and i!

we're calling this one 'trax-nastics'

jon and i wanted to go to the utes gymnastics meet, then i thought it would be fun to take little chelsea with us, which turned into also taking jess and luke. and because the girls were having a sleepover with becky and shane, they came too!

it was an adventure! we decided to take trax (the big choo-choo train, as luke called it) up to the U after dinner at chik-fil-a. well, we ended up being an hour and a half late and only caught the last 30 minutes of the meet, but it was fun! we were in such a rush to make the train that we forgot to do a potty break, so half way through our ride both girls started bouncin'! so when we had to switch trains, becky ran the girls to the bathroom and somehow snuck onto the train while we waited with luke on the platform and missed the train 'cause they weren't back (we thought!). then becky called from the train to see if we had made it on, which we hadn't! so that put us even more behind! all in all, it was a fun night. little luke loved the train. he wanted to push every button, especially the big red emergency button! when i told him not to push it, he gave me a daring glance and then instead decided to kiss it. yuck! so when i told him not to do that because there were germs on it that we don't want in our mouths, he made a funny face and said, "yucky sperms". :) nice one, kid!

we love these kids so much! i love watching jon interact with them. he will be such a good daddy someday! it was also a good reminder that going anywhere with kids requires an extra hour to get everything ready, packed, and rolling!

i can't move today!

last night jon and i went night skiing with becky and shane and mike. meterologists suck. instead of being "in the 20's" we got in the car and it was NEGATIVE 2!!! brrr. but we had fun. i'm just so sore! jon really loves skiing moguls so i followed him so i could finally see him...not thinking that i would have to make it down the mountain as well!!! so i tried and fell a few times. i'll just recommend that on your 3rd time skiing you don't try to ski moguls! :)

on to good news...i start school today! i'm enrolled at the University of Phoenix in the educational counseling program. today is just orientation, but i start classes in a couple of weeks! I'm pretty excited about it and can't wait to start learning again!


{i hope everyone is having a great day!}