Projects

In the past few weeks, since I'm finally feeling better and have more energy, I have been working on some new projects. 

Project #1- Collage Wall

After MUCH deliberation on which color frames to use, I got a bunch of white frames and mapped out a photo wall in our front room. That was followed by A LOT of deliberating again to decide on what pictures should go in them. Finally- it is finished and makes the room look so much better. 

Project #2- Valentine's Day Runner and 6 Placemats 

I have been wanting a sewing machine for a long time, so I finally purchased one that I found on clearance at Target. It was only $65 but has everything that I will ever need in a sewing machine. I don't think I'm ever going to get super fancy when it comes to sewing. Once I got the sewing machine, I starting thinking, "What did I want one for? What can I make?" Since I don't have very many Valentine's Day decorations, I decided on a runner and placemats for our dining room table. I picked out some really cute fabric, asked my Mom for some advice as to how to go about making them, and just started sewing. They turned out really cute! The sewing isn't perfectly straight, and I'm sure I did things that aren't the "right" way of doing them, but it was fun, and I am happy with the finished products, especially for them being my first sewing projects.

The placemats just have plain red on the back, but the runner is reversible.

January 2012

          We started the year off in Salt Lake City with Ryan's family, and sadly, we didn't even stay up until midnight. I was still feeling sick and wiped out from being pregnant, and staying up late just because you're supposed to just didn't hold enough weight for me this year. We headed back to Roseville on New Year's Day so that we'd be back on the 2nd for all the big football games and enjoyed a couple relaxing days at home, getting things unpacked, etc. before getting back to the grind of everyday life.

Justin sure loves his Daddy! If Dad is doing something, Justin wants to be right there doing it too. Luckily, Ryan is very patient and never gets upset when things take a little bit longer because of Justin's desire to "help."

 Around the whole parameter of the yard there are railroad ties, and one of Justin's favorite activities is to balance on them and walk around the yard. He thinks it is even more fun when he gets to follow Dad or Mom. Consequently, we often hear the request,"Mommy, Daddy, follow?" Needless to say, it's a hard request to turn down!

This kid loves to get into anything!

 Ryan turned 32 on January 13th. We celebrated with a yummy dinner at home and some presents. Justin was great at reminding us what day it was with enthusiastic shouts of, "Happy bird-day Daddy!" One of Ryan's favorite gifts was a shake maker. I might have given him that for myself too! (We both love ice cream shakes!)

The first time we have every bowled together! {You can see I have a little baby bump...I'm not just chubby!}

 Bowling is an activity that most couple do while they're dating, at least a couple times, but somehow Ryan and I had never gone bowling together up until the end of January. We got to go out for a date night with one of my best friends from college, Leah. One of the perks of being back in northern California is that the Bonners are only an hour away. We met in the middle and had a great time bowling and going to dinner without any kids. Ryan was the champion- turns out he is quite the bowler!

Christmas 2011

      I love Christmas time. As Justin gets older though, I think I will love it more and more. It was so fun watching him open presents and get so excited at every Christmas tree and all the Christmas lights. He was a big fan of Santa and the idea of sitting on his lap right up until it was his turn to actually do it! Pretty typical though of kids his age. We had a little pre-Christmas celebration at our house with Maime and Pop-Pop, Luke, Max and Emily. A couple days before Christmas, we loaded up into the car and made the 10 hour trek to UT to stay with Ryan's parents for about 12 days. Justin did great on the car ride, and we had a great time in Salt Lake. Justin and his cousin Addy were great pals and had fun playing together.

Opening his Thomas set from Maime and Pop-pop. He started crying when he realized what it was because he couldn't get it opened fast enough! He has NEVER cared so much about any toy before, but of course it made my Mom happy that she picked such a great gift!

Went to the Grand America Hotel for Breakfast with Santa.

 

Justin and Addy reading stories together

One of Justin's favorite toys- Rock 'n Roll Elmo!

The hit Santa gift- an Elmo guitar. Once Justin opened it, he would not let it go for more than a minute. It was the one toy that he was not okay sharing.

 

His own suitcase! He loved wheeling it around and even better being wheeled around in it!

Papa loved taking Justin on walks with Cole.

Making treats with Grandma BB- so fun!

Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Grand America in Salt Lake City

 

NYC Trip

At the beginning of December, Ryan and I took a weekend and went to NYC to see everything decorated for Christmas. It was so much fun! I should have kept count of all the Christmas trees we saw in store windows and lit up around the city. There is definitely something magical about the Big Apple during the holidays. We stayed with some good family friends, the Montgomery's, who live right across the bay in Jersey City. It was great to have a place to stay so close to the city for FREE! Can't beat that. Plus, we love the Montgomery's, so it was fun to be able to catch up with them. My parents were nice enough to take Justin for the weekend (thanks Mom and Dad), so it was just me and Ryan. I was worried about the flight there and back with being sick from pregnancy, but I managed to make it until the moment we pulled back into our driveway before actually getting sick. The flight there was okay, it was the flight home that just about did me in. While we were there, I managed okay for the most part, but I definitely wore myself out. I don't think I've ever been so tired from a vacation as I was from our whirl wind weekend. But, it was still well worth it, we had a great time!

A spice stand at an outdoor market at Columbus Square. We got some peppermint hot chocolate and a spiced apple cider and strolled around the holiday boutique. SO fun!

One of our favorite memories ever. A carriage ride through Central Park!

 We were able to go to a couple of shows. Loved them both!

Times Square is ALWAYS so packed. It always seemed to amaze us just how many people there were in such a small area.

We couldn't go to NYC without seeing one of my best friends, Laurel, and her husband Brad. They showed us a couple of the local spots for good eats. It was great to spend time with good friends.

This is the oldest running hotel in NYC and is where my Grandpa Bob and Nana used to meet up for drinks before going out on the town for dates back in the late 1930's. They have preserved most of the natural charm it had back in it's hay day, so it was fun to imagine them there. I called Nana from a table inside, and she told me to have a drink for her!

The most famous Christmas Tree in the world. (I think!) Rockefeller Center of course!

Our last morning there we were able to go visit the 9/11 Memorial. So glad we fit it in. It was absolutely beautiful and such a nice tribute to the many people who were lost in the tragedy. It definitely made you stop and think about how lucky we are to live in this country where we are not accustomed to having war on our own soil. Hopefully we never will. It is going to be an amazing site when the museum and everything in the plans is completed.

We took the PATH train in and out of the city everyday, and even so, we never got used to the huge crowds and frenzied pace of all the people in NYC. We must have taken this picture at an unusually slow time of day for there not to be hundreds of people on the escalators.