SURPRISE Shower!

Last Wednesday when I showed up at my friend Britni's house for our ward playgroup, SURPRISE...instead of playgroup, it was a shower for my friend Alissa and myself! No one breathed a word about it and I LOVE surprises! The food was great and Alissa and I got so many cute things for our little boys (who will be about 7 weeks apart). What an awesome ward we have here in AZ!! Thanks so much for planning it, Britni, and thanks everyone for all the cute things! I loved it!

We got matching onesies with little "ties" and "missionary tags" on them from our sweet R.S. Pres. I LOVE them!

The counselor in the R.S. that I work with on the Enrichment Board, gave me this darling set of "baby scrubs"--aren't they the cutest thing?! Now our baby can match his daddy!

Here are my preggo friends in order of when we're due (and that's not all of them either...)
Alissa, Kristy, me, Natalie, Liz, and Britni. It's so funny--most everyone in our ward (and that I know for that matter), is having a boy!

The amazing ladies (and kids) that we get to hang out with here in AZ! I'm so grateful for their friendship.

Isn't this the cutest diaper cake my friend Alissa made me? Thanks, Alissa!

Tagged again!

My friend Britni tagged me a while ago. (Thanks Britni! Sorry it's taken me so long!) I need to tell 6 quirky things about myself, so here goes:

1. I hate watching movies again and again. Unless I absolutely LOVED the movie the first time, then I just feel like if I've already seen it once, I'm wasting my time by watching it again. (There are some exceptions, and these movies I can watch over and over and never be sick of them: Pride and Prejudice, Charley, The Ultimate Gift, The Other Side of Heaven, etc.)

2. I like things to be "in their specific place". My mom raised me with the mantra, "a place for everything and everything in it's place." I hope to be able to teach this to Caysja as well. (I'm like you, Britni), before I can go to bed, I like to have the dishes in the dish washer, the toys picked up, the laundry folded, the house clean. I hate waking up to a dirty house!

3. I hate having left-overs in my fridge. Actually I love having them because that means less cooking for me but since Caleb doesn't like eating them, then having them there bugs me. SO, I try really hard to make just the right amount of food for three people (and believe me, it doesn't always happen!).

4. I really don't like to go grocery shopping. I don't know why exactly, except that it's pretty hard with a toddler who is either climbing all over the food in the cart, wants to get down and run around, OR wants every package of cookies she sees on the shelf! As a result I really try to empty out our fridge COMPLETELY before I go shopping. This drives Caleb crazy! We'll be out of most everything before I will go!

5. I like to have things match. I know it doesn't really matter that much (and some might say it's better if everything DOESN'T match perfectly) but it sure bugs me when things don't match. For instance, I have several different shades of wood furniture in my house right now (you take what you can get when you're poor!) but it really bugs me that they don't all match! And I like colors to match too--esp. in clothing/decor.

6. I don't know if this is quirky or not...but, since I can't think of anything else, I guess I will put it down. I don't really love eating breakfast. Even to this day I don't wake up that hungry in the morning (even being pregnant!) and if I do eat it's not much, like a banana or a little bit of granola or something. I like eating pancakes or french toast every once in a while, but it's got to be a special occasion and then if I eat a big breakfast I don't really want to each lunch! I know, weird, huh!

*I tag anyone who wants to share 6 quirky things about themselves!*

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY!!!

Today is my wonderful husband's 26th B-day!!! I just wanted to give him a big shout out for being the very best husband, father, and best friend that a girl could want! In honor of his day, I decided to post 26 things I love most about Caleb.



1. He is very romantic. Some may not believe this, but he is! For our first Anniversary, he surprised me with rose petals all around our apt., a homemade dinner by candlelight (soft music in the background), and a beautiful statue of the Savior.
2. He loves the Lord and he serves valiantly in his calling or anything he is asked to do. When we were first married, we got called to be nursery leaders. Well, I don't think he thought he was going to like that calling too well, but he did a great job and there was one little girl that wouldn't go to anyone but Caleb!
3. His is SO HOT!! Seriously, sometimes when I look at him, I think, "how did YOU marry little ol' ME?!"
4. I love his blue, blue eyes. They were the first thing that attracted me to him and they are so beautiful! Luckily Caysja inherited them and she gets compliments on them wherever we go. (I hope our little boy gets them too!)
5. He is SO talented athletically speaking--esp. in Basketball. He got several scholarships in high school to go play college ball, but he turned them all down to go to BYU-I, where he met me! =) He is good at just about every sport for that matter, and I love that. I am always finding out about a new sport he excels at.
6. He loves kids and they love him! When we were dating, we took a trip to see his two brothers in Utah, and while we were there, he really impressed me by how he would get right down on the floor and tickle them, play hide 'n seek, etc. He plays with Caysja after dinner every single night, no matter how much studying he has to do.
7. He is very handy around the house. He can fix most anything (which is great when you're poor) including fixing our car several times--which has saved us a LOT of money!
8. He is so good at handling stress. Seriously, if I were the one going to med school, I know I would be a basket case most of the time! But Caleb is great at coming home for dinner and leaving all his "school worries" at the door and not letting them bother him when he is home with us. When he is home, he is home.
9. I love his muscles! I know he wishes he could work out more, but I still think he's toned!
10. He knows the scriptures so well--much better than I do, that's for sure. He can quote things left and right and that's always impressed me.
11. He is worthy to hold the Priesthood and give Priesthood blessings. He has given me some beautiful blessings in the four years we've been married. I remember the night we took Caysja to the emergency room (for what we thought was a seizure) and he gave her such a wonderful blessing that really calmed me down.
12. He appreciates my talents in music and always supports me by coming to anything I'm performing in.
13. I love it when he tries to sing! Lately for FHE, we've been singing the two-part primary songs and that's pretty hard to do, but he's come a long way.
14. I love how good he is with people. He is very friendly, out-going and fun to be around. In high school he was voted "most out-going" of his entire senior class.
15. I love how he'll help me around the house. He always does the vacuuming for me, takes out the garbage, helps clear the table, and will even help with the dishes or laundry sometimes.
16. I love it when he cooks for me. When we were first married, he asked me to make homemade bread since that's what he grew up on and he loves it. Well, after a while I was so busy student teaching I couldn't do it anymore, so HE did it! And it turned out better than mine!
17. I love how hard working he is. I know med school has been a lot harder than he ever thought possible, but he studies for hours and hours at a time (til 3 AM!) with never a complaint.
18. I love his laugh. If any of you have heard Caleb REALLY laugh, then you know what I mean! In high school he was also voted, "funniest laugh".
19. I love how smart he is about technology. He is always there to help me out of the messes I make since I am so "computer illiterate".
20. He is so good about putting up with my many faults. He doesn't criticize me for the many mistakes I make.
21. He will eat anything I make for him (and considering I'm not the most amazing cook in the world, that's saying a lot)!
22. He is very frugal with money, which is great when you're poor! But seriously, he will hardly EVER spend money on himself, even for things that he really needs like new socks or shoes.
23. He likes vegetables and salad and I LOVE that about him since I try to eat healthy myself.
24. He will take me to dances, even though he really doesn't like dancing, just because he knows how much I like it!
25. He is GREAT at surprising me and I LOVE to be surprised! He buys me the BEST gifts and I never have a clue! (I wish I could surprise him with something for once...)
26. I love how competitive he is. If any of you have every played games with him, it is a riot just to watch him get so "into it" and want to win sooooo bad! I have often had friends tell me after playing games together, "I saw another side of Caleb tonight".

KIKI and I LOVE YOU SO MUCH HONEY!! HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!!

Music Makers

I have to give a big shout out to my good friend, Alissa, who volunteered to put together this super fun little music class for moms and kids (ages 1-3) at our ward bldg. every Friday morning. It's called "Music Makers" and the kids LOVE it! Caysja will ask me "is moosic maka day?" Alissa has the kids sing songs, play instruments, tap rhythm sticks, march around, run/skip/jump, play with "egg shakers", dance with scarves, and she even has a huge parachute the the kids get to lie on while the moms pull them around the gym floor, or lie underneath while the moms "fan" them. And she heads all this up at nearly 9 months preggo! Way to go, Alissa, and thanks so much for doing it! (Unfortunately the ONE day I remembered to bring my camera, the battery died before I got any pics of the instruments, or parachute!)

Shakin' those eggs! (Miah, Caysja, Gunner)

Tappin' our sticks

Dancing with scarves

Singing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" with actions

Three dollar Deals

I used to think I wasn't much of a garage "saler". (Let's be honest, they're really not that great in Idaho.) But then we moved to AZ...I'll always remember the first community garage sale I went to with my friend Marcie, last Fall. I found SO much great stuff and I was hooked for good! I can't tell you how long I've been looking forward to Oct. just for this reason. Anyway, I've been out bright and early the past two Saturdays and I found some awesome things...

I got all this "play food" for only $3!

I got this scooter for $3 as well--and it's in GREAT shape!

And, you guessed it--this little truck was also $3. It doesn't get much better than that! And that's not all I got. I also picked up some clothes for our baby boy and Caysja, some brand new baby shoes, and a string of Halloween pumpkin lights for only $1! I was pretty happy. Getting good deals seriously gives me a "high". It's a cheap way to get my "shopping fix".

Caysja's 1st Haircut!

So I know I probably should have cut Caysja's hair long before now (she's 28 months!) but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. She hasn't had much hair until recently and I just couldn't cut it off. Well, for FHE last Monday night, after our lesson I cut Caleb's hair--and then figured I might as well cut Caysja's too. I really didn't cut much--maybe an inch or so on the bottom to even it out, but the "mullet" is finally gone (well, sort of--she still needs to get more hair on the sides)! She was really good all through it and the next day she gave her dolly a "hair cut" several times. (Luckily her doll doesn't have any hair to cut off so she could only pretend!)

And here's a picture of my latest 'do in her hair. She was actually fairly patient while I did it, but I had to really bribe her and I don't know if I'll be doing it again anytime soon...

Tagged!

Steph, sorry this has taken me so long...I actually took the pictures right after reading your post, but then I forgot to post them until now. My bad!

You have to stop what you are doing and take the following pictures NOW. No excuses! If you don't have time to blog just take the pictures NOW and blog when you can!! No cleaning, re-arranging, just have fun taking the pics!

1. Kitchen Sink 2. Favorite room 3. Fridge 4. Closet 5. Laundry room 6.Self Portrait 7. Kids are doing, or what you are doing 8. Dream Vacation 9.Favorite Shoes 10.bathroom

I tag Alissa M., Emily M., Heather I., Alaina C., Katie G.

I promise that this it NOT what my kitchen sink normally looks like! Luckily I'd just cleaned it the day before.

My favorite room at the moment is my living room. I love to decorate and I feel like this is the one room that I've spent the most time (and money) on. Plus, I love my couch! My favorite color is green and I looked long and hard for the perfect couch.


I'd just gone grocery shopping. (We don't normally have this much food, believe me!)

As you can see, I could probably do a little more organizing in here...

The laundry room. We'd gone swimming that day...(my swimsuit was still drying...)

Who likes self-portraits, anyway?! (The day I took this, I'd hardly done my hair or my make-up, ha ha!)
Sorry, Caysja's asleep at the moment and there's NO WAY I'm going to go in her room to take a picture of her, so here's a picture of what she was doing earlier today. (I got that scooter for her at a garage sale yesterday for $3 and she loves it!)
My dream vacation would be to go to Hawaii. I've wanted to go there for as long as I can remember. (Well, that and a cruise...)

So these aren't really my most favorite shoes. I like these, but my favorite pair of flip flops (SUPER comfy and I wore them everywhere) just died last week! Sad day for me...

My bathroom. (Do you like the pink potty training chair?)

I "heart" General Conference!

I really love General Conference and this year was no different. I really needed it. I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and sealed to my family for all eternity. I love to hear our leaders speak to us and it makes me renewed to be a better person, wife, mother, friend, neighbor, daughter, etc.

I think the talk that really hit home for me this time was President Monson's talk in today's morning session. It really made me cry (okay, maybe some of that was pregnancy hormones--I feel like I've cried a lot lately) but it was seriously meant for me. Sometimes I get so caught up in all the things I think I "should" be doing that I know I forget about the most important things--the eternal ones! He talked about finding "Joy in the Journey" and not getting caught up in all the little things that don't really matter. We don't want to end up with a lot of "empty yesterdays" because time moves too quickly and our children are grown and gone before we know it. We need to do things TODAY. I need to play with my little girl more today and not worry if the dishes don't get done right then, or my apartment isn't "spotless"all the time, or the laundry doesn't get folded immediately.

I really liked the quote he mentioned from Shakespeare, (something to the effect), "he who does not express love has never really loved". How often do I just assume that my husband/child/family know I love them without me telling them frequently? I know I can do better at this and I will try to for sure. I have to add that my other favorite talk was Elder Holland's on Angels. He is a great speaker and the story he told about the little boy who was lost made me cry! I have certainly had many angels in my life. What was your favorite talk?

VOTE for Prop 102!

I have to admit that I can't take credit for this post since I stole it from my friend Kandis' blog. (Thanks for posting, Kandis!) I am a part of the Family Research Council and I believe they are doing some great things in fighting for the family so this caught my attention.

Take time to watch this short video clip done by the President of FRC, Tony Perkins. He talks about how we all need to fight for the marriage amendments that will be voted on here in AZ (prop 102), CA (prop 8), and FL and then we need to pray hard that they pass! We may think that our little vote doesn't make a difference, but it does!

I personally believe that marriage between a man and woman is the ONLY way God intended it to be and though I don't judge others for feeling otherwise, I feel that this traditional family structure is the core of our society. To quote FRC's website, "A large and still growing body of research shows that children do best when raised by their own biological mother and father who are committed to one another in a lifelong marriage, and that adults also thrive when in such a marriage....If marriage loses, religious liberty is next."

"LaLaGlendooza" and other fun pics

It's been a great week! I think we have done something fun every single day.

Here is a picture Caleb took of Caysja today before church. She was in the "dress up" mode and was playing with the fake flowers I used at my sister's wedding a year ago. Doesn't she look like a little flower girl?

Caysja is SO into babies lately! It is so cute! She will feed her baby, rock it, put it to sleep, change its diapers, talk to it, etc. I love it. I hope she keeps it up til our baby gets here...

More dress up pics

I still can't believe (even though this is our second year here--you'd think I'd learn!) that it's averaging 102+ degrees here every day and it's almost OCTOBER!! I can't WAIT for it to cool off! We go to the pool every day after naptime.

Right across the street from our apt. complex is a Pet Co and so we go there quite often to look at the fish, turtles, birds, cats, hamsters, mice, etc. Caysja LOVES animals and would take one home if we could have one. (I only got a couple of pics there before the manager told me you're not allowed to take pictures in the store--oops!)

On Friday we went to "LaLaGlendooza", a super fun FREE event put on by the city of Glendale. The theme was "Old McDonald Had a Farm" and the kids were supposed to come dressed in "cowboy/cowgirl" outfits. They had all kinds of things for the kids to do. There were cows to pet, tractors to ride, games to play (Caysja won the cake walk!), crafts to do (hence the kitty mask), and lots more. It was great--(aside from the 104+ heat...)

goin' fishin' with Miah

Kiki and Halle--"best friends forever"

We had a little pic-nic lunch afterwards at Sahuaro Ranch Park. "Cowgirls" (Stephanie, Miah, Caysja, Halle)

We started a "date rotation" group with some of our friends this week. There are three couples and we each take a turn every Friday night watching all our kids so the other couples can go out. It's great! The girls are all the same age and they play so well together. Here they are watching "Finding Nemo" together. Caysja loved having everyone over to play! (We are actually looking for one more couple to join us, so if anyone is interested, let me know.)

Last but not least...a couple weeks ago, my friend taught me how to make these super cute hair barrettes! They are so easy and fun to make. You can never have enough things to put in a little girl's hair. Thanks, Brenda, I love them!

This is the BEST poem!

This is seriously one of the BEST poems and you have to read it! It will make your day! I'd read it before, but one of my friends just posted it on her blog and I had to steal it (thanks, Liz) so all of you can read it too. It reminded me of the GREAT talk that Elder Uchtdorf gave Sat. evening at the General Relief Society broadcast. We, as women, are too hard on ourselves sometimes. Being the perfectionist I am, I know I struggle with this. But really, all we can do is our best and it WILL be good enough.

The Girl in a Whirl
by 'Dr. Sue" (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day.
I bake and I garden. I scrub and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely.
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms! I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice! I cut all their hair!

I memorize talks by the General Authorities.
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I keep our home organized, clean and attractive.
I drop by with goodies and see the less-active.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle! My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date.
I attend all my meetings (On time! Never late!)

I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh no. That is not all...

I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished.
I floss everyday! And my toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful.
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake.
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children! I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I write in my Journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank yous" to those I admire.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet.
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
I love filling in for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal.
I see each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I bottle our produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, No. That is not all...

I went back to school to update my degree.
My studying earned me a new PhD
I split with the Sisters who cover our ward
To spread the glad truth that the Gospel's restored.

I go to the temple at least once a week.
I make my girls' prom dresses--modest, yet chic.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!

I have my own business to help earn some money.
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread.
I plan our nutritious meals six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-year’s supply.
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
(It's out of the way early on for a reason.
I then can prepare for the real Christmas season.)

These things are not hard. It's good if you do them.
You can if you try! Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all too!

"It's easy!" she said...
... and then,
she dropped dead.

Another tag...

Sorry, Melinda. I knew someone else had tagged me but since I didn't do it right away, for the life of me I could NOT remember who it was! I finally found it posted on your blog so here you go... (I have actually done this one before, so if you read it and it doesn't sound too interesting, I'm sorry to repeat myself. Guess I wasn't creative enough to think of new answers.)

How To Play This Game of Tag: Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names.

3 Joys:
My Husband
My little girl (and soon-to-be baby boy)
The Gospel of Jesus Christ

3 Fears:
Never getting out of debt (stole from Melinda)
Caleb dying and having to go to work with little kids still at home
SPIDERS! (Seriously, I am soooo scared of them--and scorpions too!)

3 Goals:
Get Caysja potty trained at bedtime and naptime BEFORE our baby comes!
Get more private music students
Teach Caysja her ABC's

3 Obsessions/Collections:
blogging (well, reading everyone else's blog that is...)
scrapbooking (right now I'm WAY behind so maybe that one doesn't count)
garage sales! (you can find the BEST deals)


3 Facts:
I play in a flute quartet here in AZ called "Flutasia"
I grind my own flour and make my own whole wheat bread every week
I love the color green!


I tag: Sara Fulkerson, Heather Inns, Liz C., Shawna, Shiela

Update from C^3

Sorry I've been so bad about posting pictures lately. I guess a result of that is a "picture overload" so here you go...

I just LOVE having a little girl! Isn't this the cutest picture? Caysja is really getting into playing dress-up lately. After she completed her "sticker chart" for potty training this week, we picked out a reward (boa, purse, shoes) at the dollar store for her to play dress up with. She loves to hold my cell phone and walk around the house pretending to "talk" on it--(guess she's seen her mom do that a lot or something??).

Here's my little grown up girl sittin' on the potty! (The past two days we haven't had any accidents, knock on wood!)

We completed the "sticker chart" for potty training last week-(please excuse Caysja's cheesy smile). I'm so proud of her!
I have some wonderful girlfriends here in AZ! They are my support group. Last weekend we went out to dinner together at Bajio. It was so fun--and yummy too! (Sara F., Alissa, Kristy, Kim P. me, Becky)

Another "dress up picture". Caysja found Caleb's old bike helmet and this is how she put it on. I had to take a picture!

More dress up...I'm not sure what she is here, but it sure made me laugh!
We make fruit smoothies every night with dinner and one night Caleb and Caysja decided to "share" one.

While we've potty training there are periods in the day where Caysja doesn't wear a whole lot of clothes...(i.e. after an accident usually)...so anyway, excuse my "nakey" girl. She loves doing somersaults these days (with mommy's shoes on).

Peek-a-boo! Caysja loves to climb into our hall closet and sit by the toilet paper and then call for me to come "look" for her.

Here is my little princess with all her "little people" lined up on her favorite blanket. I believe they were having a pic-nic.

Caysja is really into playing dolls lately and will just beg me every day, "pay dollies, Mommy"! (Notice the three pairs of upside down shoes on the doll's legs...)Last but not least, my friend told me about a cool blog called "She does hair" and I've had lots of fun looking at it. I tried a couple of new things in Caysja's hair this week and they turned out so cute! I love it that her hair is FINALLY getting a little longer. My friend Michelle makes and sells these cute flower hair barrettes!