New Fav for all those desk workers

So my co-worker just introduced me to Pandora. It's so cool. It's an internet radio station that builds "stations" for you based on the type of music you choose. Type in a song or artist you like and voila it will build you a playlist and you'll have great tunes all day long as you tap tap tap on your keyboard.



Try it! Pandora.com

(I may be a late adopter to this cool site, so if this is already passe, just don't tell me...I'd like to think I'm hip anyway.)

Mistletoe

My good friend and co-worker from years back sent us some mistletoe in her Christmas card this year. Cole was ecstatic to open the package. When we explained (and demonstrated) the tradition of the mistletoe, that was all he needed and he was off upstairs digging in my craft closet to find some ribbon to hang it up. He strung ribbon from the top of the stairs all the way down to the kitchen. We hung it up and Greg held Cole up as long as he could while I got the perfect shot...(well, at least one in focus with both the mistletoe and Cole -- or at least part of his head).

Cheers to Mistletoe! May you all find yourself under some this season.

Christmas Kick-off

The day after Thanksgiving we decided to jet to St. George for a day of shopping for ornaments (for my new 9 ft. slim tree - that I love), eating at Pizza Factory and an evening of lights and a live nativity production at Tuachan.

Cole couldn't wait to ride the train. We told him about the trip for a week or so and he'd been dreaming and talking (and asking incessantly) about ridding the train. So, we (Greg and I) were a little disappointed when the train was really a 5 min. trolley ride, but it didn't seem matter to Cole one bit.

I bundled everyone up like we were snow shoeing at the North Pole (as you can see by our very puffy vests...and hats and gloves (a steal of a purchase at Old Navy for a $1 each). Cole loved getting bundled up and wearing his hat and gloves (a novel thing for a desert dweller).


At the live nativity Cole was enamored with the horses (and one that was really a donkey)...and although the mood was quiet, Cole continued on with his loud commentary about the animals and we carried on with our probably even louder "shhhs." Cole's cutest line was when Mary bent down and kissed baby Jesus, he said loudly "Jesus' mommy kissed Jesus." And, we were proud he knew both Jesus and that Mary was his mother.



We sipped hot chocolate and watched a few kids perform in the lobby area and spent some time by the bonfire before we headed home to our beds in LV. We were just a little sad our Thanksgiving wasn't spent with family, but we are so thankful to the Barlow's who adopt us frequently and put on a great spread. (Shout out to Tyler for the best two turkeys we've ever had and Erin for those awesome Pioneer Woman mashed potatoes)

We decided our little trip was the perfect way to kick off the season and are counting the days until we head to UT for a Christmas full of family and more fun.

Happy Holidays!

Celebrity Sighting

Okay, so I was just at Great Harvest Bread Co. picking up a loaf after my doc apt. and I walk into the store and immediately notice the secret service guy standing to my right. He was cute, but the dead giveaway was the dark suit and ear piece and coil going down the back of his shirt collar.

I looked around trying to see who might be there...I see a mom and three kids and the back of a nice looking older couple picking up a pumpkin pie and remarking that they've never seen pumkin pie at Great Harvest before...I get closer and who should it be but Senator Harry Reid and his wife.


Before I knew it he was on his way out, so I didn't get a photo op (to compete with Sarah & Erin's pic at Cafe Rio). I remarked to the teenagers behind the counter, "It's not every day you see a celebrity in the store." To which they replied"who was that?" I said "Harry Reid" and the both said "Who's that?"

Empty Stroller and Wierd Looks

I decided to take a walk to pick up Cole from the baby sitter's on Friday, so I put on my tennis shoes and headed out the door with my empty stroller. The afternoon was beautiful and it felt so good to walk in the crisp air. I plugged in my IPod tunes and was on my way.

I got a few weird looks with the empty stroller, but it was worth it. When I got to April's Cole wasn't there, so I thought I'd take a few laps around the neighborhood. One nice lady asked my where my baby was, so I explained, but on the second lap she stopped me with her grandchild and asked to see my baby. Ha! She must of thought I was a little weird because here I was on my way back with still no kid.

After about an hour and a half I was getting pooped and still no Cole, so when Greg called I agreed to let him pick me up. We headed home with my empty stroller in the back of his truck and waited for April to drop Cole off.

While I was walking I amused myself by thinking of stories about why I might be walking with an empty stroller. It was a fun little break from reality and I got a kick out of the scenarios I made up. Still there is nothing like fresh air and the pavement to get your imagination started. I can only hope that as I age I'll continue to get a few weird looks by the things I do...It keeps life interesting :-).

Introducing Jellybean

Greg and I are excited for baby #2 (affectionately referred to as Jellybean) to join our family. Jellybean is three months along and doing well. I went for my first ultrasound last week and here are some pics:

Jellybean's Profile and Heart Beat

Another Profile Shot

Face Forward

Face Forward
If these pics just look like blobs to you, I can relate. I never used to be able to pick out what I was looking at. Thankfully I've gotten a little better at it, but at this stage Jellybean is so small its hard to see too much.

My ultrasound tech, Lori was very chatty and nice (We had a good chat about jewelry). She was pushing pretty hard to try and get some good shots and at one point Jellybean kicked it's little foot and told her to stop bugging. It was funny to see the little bean bounce up and kick. Spunk is a quality I want all my children to have (I might regret this thought later in my parenting years, but for now I just love kids with a little bit of spunk).

So, now all we have to do is wait and get bigger. My due date is May 27. And, I must say I agree with my dear friend Cate...for the first one you really need all nine months to get ready, but for the rest you kind of just want to get on with the show! So, here's to being patient for the next 7 months. Cheers! :-)

P.S. Thanks to all of my dear friends who have picked up my slack over the last few months without knowing why...with a special shout out to Amy who hosted FHC last minute for me last week. Thank you!

Halloween Firsts

First time:

1. Cole got into it (see action shots below)
2. Cole went trick or treating without us. Yeah, I mean really...he had no desire to go until Karrine Crook invited him to go with her...
3. We decorated our trunk at Trunk or Treat (notice the lights and $2 Ross Halloween discount table cloth, score for me!)
4. I brought Stagg chilli with cream cheese to the potluck and everyone wanted the recipe.
5. I bought a pinata and only stuffed like 5 candies in it because of all that darn paper...no instructions told me to remove the paper stuffing, I mean really, who would know? Poor kids couldn't bust that paper-stuffed pinata open. Bright side: I'll bring the pinata next year (and stuff if correctly).

All in all it was a fun night. We finished it off by heading to the outlet mall to cast our vote.