28 weeks and counting

A few weekends ago JD and I invited Karlee and Devrey over for a BBQ and to play games at our house.  Karlee had mentioned that she would like to see our house and it was a good to just get together and hang out without rude waiters trying to push us out the door. ;)
I lost track of time during the day and over scheduled myself so I sent JD to pick them up at their apartment and I tried to finish up what I could for dinner and run through the shower before they got back.  I literally just got dressed when they pulled in the driveway.  I thought it would be at most 30 minutes before we were sitting down to eat dinner but it took over an hour.  I was horrified it took so long and I think Devrey and Karlee were starving so I felt even worse but they were good about the wait.
In reality JD cooked most of the dinner- that guy is really becoming king of the grill.  We had grilled chicken breasts with three cheese potatoes that were cooked in foil on the grill and fresh corn on the cob.  I made a peach cobbler creation using just a bottle of peaches and cake mix and it turned out ok but I'm not sure I will ever use that method again. 

We really enjoyed just hanging out together and talking.  We played one of my favorite board games "The Farming Game" after we ate dinner and it was so fun.  It was interesting to watch who were risk takers and who were more conservative as we played the game and grew our "farms".

Playing The Farming Game

 I also asked Karlee if she was ok with me taking pictures each week as she is progressing to 40 weeks well actually 39 weeks since she is scheduled to be induced a week before her due date.  She liked the idea so I took a few pictures of her and Devrey while they were here.  I haven't had a chance to take a 29 week picture yet and she will be 30 weeks on Thursday...ugh. I should see her tomorrow though so I will have to make sure and snap a quick picture then.

Karlee at 28.2 weeks

Karlee and Devrey at 28.2 weeks

We are looking forward to having them over again and have a trip to Brigham City to participate in the Brigham City LDS Temple open house.  We can't wait!

HaPpY bIrThDaY to Us!

J.D. and I both celebrate our birthdays in April.  J.D. on the 15th and me on the 21st.  We celebrated at home for J.D.'s birthday on April 15 with a classic strawberry cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.  Cheesecake is J.D.'s favorite! We served it at our wedding reception instead of cake because it is his favorite!  We went to a Jazz v. Mavericks game at ESA in Salt Lake on April 16.  We splurged a little bit on the tickets but it was hands down the best basketball game either one of us had ever been to- EVER!!
 

From our corner of the arena- but closer to the floor than our seats were. 

7 periods- that's 3 OT for the Jazz to beat the Mavericks- AMAZING GAME!!

We had to get a picture outside after the game- not a fantastic picture but you can tell we were happy after the WIN!

We celebrated my birthday between April 21 and April 22 because I had to work on my birthday.  J.D. went to Sweet Tooth Fairy in Draper and picked out a tasty selection of cupcakes that we have enjoyed for several days.  He even made dinner on Sunday night for us.  What a good guy!

JD and I met up with my sister and her family and our cousin and his family in Salt Lake for breakfast which just happened to be on my birthday.  This is only the second time I have seen my cousin's little boy (in green).  He was two days old the last time I saw him and he is just as cute as ever.  My sister's little guy "R"(in orange) wasn't so sure he liked his Aunt Miss holding another little person.

Even though I had to work on my birthday the girls I work with helped me celebrate too.  I work on the mom/baby unit at the local hospital so our supplies are limited but I work with incredibly creative women (as you will see below).

This is my birthday crown and sash.  The crown says "B-day girl" and the sash says "Do a jive I'm 35".  I refused to wear the hat while doing rounds but I did wear the sash for one set of rounds luckily my patients had a sense of humor.

We know how to have a good time and if I couldn't be with my family I'm sure glad I got to be with my friends. 

Sunday

I was called to be a primary worker at church today. I will be a teacher for the 4-5 year old class and I couldn't be more excited. I have talked to my team teacher, Heidi, a couple of times and she is just one of the sweetest women I have had the pleasure of meeting...ever! I am so excited!

Last Sunday, JD was called to be the assistant ward clerk over finance. He was so excited to FINALLY have a calling in our ward after living here for nearly 8 months. I am so glad he is going to have an opportunity to get to know more men in the ward. He is so willing to help and serve where needed. Oh how I adore this man!

Last night as we were getting ready to run out the door to see "Charlie St Cloud" at the cheap theater. (AWESOME movie by the way) our home teacher and his wife stopped by with a plate of cookies. As we were getting into the care we were discussing inviting them over for dinner. We hadn't made it to the stop sign by our house before JD's phone rang and they invited us to dinner today.
Ryan and Lindsay have a cute little boy who was such a sweetheart the whole time we were there. They had him right after we moved into the ward. We found out that Lindsay grew up in Idaho Falls and they met on a LDS dating site too. Ryan is also a big football fan, so JD has a buddy to watch football with. We asked them to come over to watch the Bears game tomorrow night for FHE- it counts right?!?

Comfortable

Do you have a friend or friends...  with whom you are always comfortable no matter how long it has been since you last saw them? Who will always love you and cheer you on even when you are more wrapped up in your own life than you should be?  Who is always understanding when life gets in the way and you just can't seem to make a visit possible?  That is thoughtful and a good example?

I have such a friend and I was blessed enough today to get to spend the day with her.  This is my friend Sandi.  We became roommates in 1998 when we were in Boise.  We lived together for a year and had so much fun together.  I swear that was one of the best years of my life. Sandi was a hair stylist and willing to cut, color and style my hair anytime because she loved what she did.  We went to hockey games together because she cut the hair of the guys that played for the Idaho Steelheads and they would give her tickets to pay for the haircuts... how awesome is that?

Well 10 years later and I still consider her my best friend.  She was the person I called when I contemplating breaking of my engagement.  She called me from the hospital in Alaska when she had her first baby, Andrew and 7 months ago from Layton when she had her second baby, Declan.  I trust her completely.  She is one of the few people in my life that I feel like I can trust completely...no matter what I do or the mistakes I make she will be there for me when I need her.  The same is true for her from me.  

I watch her mother her little boys and admire her so much for that.  She has two of the happiest little guys that I know.  I just loved spending the day with her and her little guys while Jeremy her hubby was off on a hunting trip in the mountains. We decided while we were together today that we are going to take a cake decorating class together at Hobby Lobby in Ogden.  I can't wait for that to happen so we can spend more time together since it seems to be so few and far between lately.

I love you San...thanks for everything you do to enrich my life!

Manti Pageant

For several weeks my friend Cassie and I had been planning on attending the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti, UT on the 14th.  Cassie has a great network of friends so I told her to put out the feelers and invite whoever may want to go and we would have a good ol' time and that we did.

We left at 4:30 and drove to Manti in my rockin' rental car.  I drove so we were putting miles on a rental car and not someone personal vehicle AND because I like to be the one driving. (I don't know why but when I'm with friends I like to be the one behind the wheel...kinda weird, I know) We got to Manti about 6:30 and at at Miller's Drive-in and Donut Shop.  The food was good but the company was better.  There were 11 of us and we sat there and laughed for a couple of hours. Then we went and got a funnel cake...YUMMY!  I love carnival and fair food and I'm certain that funnel cake is the ultimate!  I need to figure out the recipe so I can make them at home for parties.

I always giggle about the protesters at these Church events.  One man had a sign that said "Abortion is Murder"...I really wanted to walk up to him and say "WELL DUH!" but I didn't.  There were also a bunch of women with signs around their necks that had Joseph Smith's Wife #1-30 (I think, I wasn't paying that close of attention to that) and "ask me about my life".  I always wonder to myself... do these people really have nothing better to do than hate something they just don't understand.  Oh well, I am just grateful that I know the truth.

I have a couple of pictures that I took of friends and the temple while in Manti that I will post once I have them downloaded from my camera.

Until next time...