Andy's Loves

It's Coming....

2010-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

We just ordered more memory for my Mac so I'll finally be able to get all the pictures off of my cameras. Sheesh! The posts, they are a comin'.

My Little Gwynie Gumdrop turns 1

2010-05-26T22:12:00.001-07:00

I know that everyone says that time starts speeding up as you get older, but I really CAN NOT believe that my little Gwyn is one already. She has been such a joy. She is the funnest little baby and we have all had such a great time with her. I'd like to think that I'm her favorite person in the whole world, but "DaDa" was her first real word and, let's be honest, Lucas is her favorite person.

Gwynie is very petite and girly looking, but when she opens her mouth she loves to let out big growls (something that Luke has taught her). It's a little disconcerting at first, but I absolutely love it! She also loves to contort her face. She doesn't have any teeth yet and she loves to suck her mouth in like a denture wearer. She sleeps through the night like a dream and loves to scream in the morning like she's about to die, but when you open the door she greats you with a big smile and jumps around and laughs like it was all a big joke. She currently says "uh oh", "dada", "mama"," wow", and she will also repeat all kinds of other words like "cracker", "book", and "bye-bye". She absolutely loves to shake her head no and say "na, na, na, na, na". She loves her soft purple blanket to go to sleep with and her favorite toy is probably the TV remote and the phone (sorry if you get a call). I just can't get enough of this little girl. I love her so much and I'm so happy to have her as my daughter. Love you little Gwynie Gumdrop!

Gwyn loved her cupcake!

Look at that face!

The girls look so happy with their goofy hats and the boys, not-so-much.

There we go...

The loot
Luke helping Gwynie open her present.

Gwyn is so proud of her new bug.

Denture Face

Luke's 4th Birthday in Disneyland Paris

2010-05-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

This year we were lucky enough to spend some time in Holland and France. While we were there we celebrated Lucas' 4th birthday at Disneyland Paris. It was crazy crowded because it was also Easter Holiday, but Luke LOVED it and so did I. Luke and I are trying to convince Jared that we need to experience the Disneyland in our neck of the woods to truly compare.

Gwynie was a good sport and tolerated it all.

Birthday dinner inside Pirates of the Caribbean

I thought Luke was going to burst a blood vessel. His whole body was shaking so badly. He was convinced he could pull the sword out if we let him try a little longer. Some tears were shed. So cute!

Lucas and the bean stalk

One exhausted Gwyn
One exhausted pirate
The family at the top of the Eiffel Tower.

I really am so proud of this little boy. He has such a sweet little soul and loves his little sister and family intensely. Happy 4th Birthday to my Lucas Bair. I love you more than the mountains and the ocean!

New Family Pics

2010-03-01T12:05:00.000-08:00

We recently spent some time in Santa Monica and I had some family pictures taken on the pier. It was such a fun place to have them done. We only posed for a few and the rest were just us having fun. Here's a few of my favs:

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-12-16T17:19:00.000-08:00

Social Darling Frock GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Santa Baby

2009-12-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

Another successful visit with Santa. I love seeing Christmas through my kids' eyes. I wish I would have waited on printing the Christmas card though; these would have made the card spectacular.

New Digs

2009-12-10T10:13:00.000-08:00

We've officially been in California just over 3 months. For the most part we are settled into our home, with exception to our room, and we're getting into the routine of things.

Jared is working on Sand Hill Road, which is 5 min from home; much better than the weekly commute from Utah. We actually get to see him everyday and it's been SO much nicer than having him gone Tues-Thurs each week.

Lucas is in Preschool two days a week and loves his new friends and teachers. Whenever he does something he shouldn't he asks me not to tell Teacher Lori or Teacher Nancy. I've loved watching Luke's personality emerge as he's gotten older. He's extremely inquisitive and this kid is FUNNY. Two days ago we awoke to find that during the night he had decided to put on his newly purchased underwear. The fun didn't end there; he proceeded to put on every pair he could find....14 pair. He slept the entire night in 14 pair of undies. I wish we had taken a picture, but we only found out when we came running in screaming that he needed to go pee. Jared had to pry those babies off as fast as he could.

Gwynie is a little joy. She is just over 6 months, is the easiest baby and is sleeping great. She gets so excited when anyone talks to her and her whole body wiggles around with joy when I go into pick her up in the morning. She ADORES her big brother and will instantly stop crying if he talks to her. If Gwyn is crying in the back seat I'll ask Luke to sing to her and she is mesmerized by him. I love seeing these two together. She chews and slobbers on everything in sight and is rolling around the room to get to the things she wants.

I'm really enjoying being in California. I'm missing the snow right now, but I REALLY love the fact that I can be outside everyday. Winter is so much easier to get through when your kids can play outside. I've been cooking quite a bit more here and I've been refinishing some furniture in my free time. I have an elliptical machine on the patio that I want to work out on at least 3 times a week, but usually don't. I also have a Zumba class that I want to go to twice a week, but I've been to once so far. Baby steps.

Here are some pics of the new house. For those of you that are clean freaks, look the other way. Sorry this has taken so long Aunt Diane!

We need to plant some flowers- I know.

Kitchen
Dinning Room
Living Room (where's Gwynie?)
Guest Bedroom. Come see me!
Luke's Room
Gwyn's Room

I'm too ashamed to put any pictures of my room right now. I'll try to post some when I have it looking a little better.

We're super excited to see everyone in Utah during the holidays and we're also really excited to have our new friends in California. Thanks for all your support and love.

Best Friends

2009-11-15T23:13:00.000-08:00

I absolutely love seeing how much these two love each other. Gwyn goes crazy when Lucas enters the room and Luke can barely let Gwyn have a nap because he wants to play with her. He is so excited to share all his toys with her right now and is very protective over "our baby." What little cuties.

She's got us all wrapped around her finger.

Here's Luke's first day of preschool. I had a hard time the first day, but we're both really liking the new routine of school. He loves "Teacher Lori" and "Teacher Nancy" at his Preschool and has made some cute little friends. Preschool has really made the transition of the move a lot easier for both of us.

Sheesh!!

2009-09-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

While looking at preschools the other day I asked Luke if he liked the one we just saw. His reply, "It's cute and it smells good." At the next school I introduced him to the director and he said, "pleased to meet you." Perfect! Then he follows it up with, "Do you have a baby in your tummy?" while pointing at her stomach. She DID NOT have a baby in her tummy. I stared at her with no response. Maybe we'll choose the one that smelled good.

And Yesterday:

We are at Walgreen's. Luke is in his Spiderman costume (of course). An Older lady starts to talk to him about how cute he is. Quoth Luke, "You are OLD! Look at those wrinkles on her arms! She is OLD!" Again air just flows our of my mouth and I stare awkwardly. What is my problem?! How do I follow these statements up and where is MY mask??

We tell kids to tell the truth, but how do you teach them the subtle nuances of it???
I think I'm in trouble.

Saying Goodbye to Maple

2009-09-16T23:47:00.000-07:00

We finally did it. We packed it up and made our way to California. I'm pretty sad to leave our little house in Salt Lake. We've basically remodeled the entire inside of the house ourselves and I feel like the house is part of the family now. I've loved living there and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED having my friends and family so close. Well, no more. We're in Menlo Park, California now so plan your vacations accordingly.Our house when we moved in.

Even though I forgot to take a picture of the house before we left, here is basically what it looked like when we pulled away from the house. Imagine a few more flowers added. =)

My cute little kitchen
Dining Room
Luke thought moving day was the funnest day of his life so far.
Gwynie was indifferent about the whole thing.

We've been here almost a month, which is hard to believe. We've still got a lot of unpacking and organizing to do, but I'm starting to fill more situated. We all miss our friends and family a lot, but everyone here has been really friendly. That DOES NOT mean that you're off the hook on visiting though!!

A New Do

2009-08-11T16:06:00.000-07:00

Fresh cut

It might be the new cut or it might be the fact that Luke has discovered a CTR ring that was given to him as a baby, but doesn't he look like he's ready for college now?? So debonair!

Gwyn's Baby Blessing

2009-08-03T15:16:00.000-07:00

We love you so much baby Gwyn. Yesterday was fantastic.

Recap on Summer

2009-08-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

With new baby Gwyn in charge of my schedule for the past few months Jared & Lucas have become even better buddies. Some of the outings Gwyn & I tag along on and some are just for the boys (relaxing day for me). Here's a quick recap on the summer:

Luke's first fishing trip. No luck on the fish but good times had.
Gwyn & Luke getting to know each other a little better.

Fishing attempt #2.....again no luck.
Boy's 1st camping trip.
The Strawberry Day's Rodeo! Do you notice a superman costume theme to the summer? Easy choice for Dad & Luke.
Small fireworks in my parent's field and the Pleasant Grove City fireworks afterward.
The Utah Symphony at Deer Valley.
Camping trip #2. This time with buddy Paxton as well.

24th of July extravaganza. Again with the superman costume. It's hard to even get it washed. Don't judge.Cousin Belle and angel Gwyn.

ATVing in Wyoming at my brother Jim's cabin.
Daxton & Luke watching scary Secret of Nimh at the cabin.

Fishing attempt #3 -SUCCESS !!

Today topped off the summer with Gwyn's baby blessing. It was a great day with lots of family & friends (pictures to follow). Now the packing begins for the big move to California. Gulp!

Two words....LOVE IT!

2009-07-12T14:01:00.000-07:00

I Want to Pinch Them

2009-06-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

We got some pictures taken last week and I'm loving them. Here's a preview:

Introducing Gwyn

2009-05-27T14:33:00.000-07:00

Our little family right before we jumped in the car. If you look closely you can probably see tears in my eyes from all the contractions I'm having.

Dr. Yamashiro & Jared getting ready for the delivery. Dr. Yamashiro had Jared deliver Gwyn with his assistance. Pretty amazing! My normal Dr. was out of town, but I REALLY liked Yamashiro. We lucked out.

Sweet little Gwynie is here!

Gwyn Holland Hutchings was born May 24th at 11:43 p.m. She was 6lbs 10oz and looks like a feminine version of Lucas but with mortal amounts of hair. We are so excited to have her here and I'm feeling great....so much easier than last time. Every time I'm woken up I feel like a kid on Christmas morning when I realize that she's here and I get to hold her. It might be the hormones but I love everything about it. I love to smell her, change her, feed her, EVERYTHING! I'm sure the excitement of changing a poopy diaper will fade quite quickly, but I'm so in love all over again. I'm so excited for everyone to meet her!

Let's Go Fly a Kite

2009-03-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a windy cold day, but Luke and I needed to get out. Luke has been sick , but he loved flying the kite he gave dad for Valentine's Day even though he was coughing and hacking the whole time.

Kind of blurry, but such a cute picture.

Mom helping out.

12 more weeks of that big tummy.

Happy Valentine's!!

2009-02-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

My friend Alisha just posted this on her blog and it was my lucky day to be the first to respond. I'm strangely excited about it so here goes.....

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be photography or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may sew or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your own blog and offer the same deal to 5 of your own luck blog readers. So, the first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they are in win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

2009-02-04T12:43:00.000-08:00

I've been tagged...

and maybe you will be too!

8 THINGS

8 Things I Did Yesterday-

Drove to Utah County with Luke to meet my mom, cousins, and aunts for lunch at Paradise Bakery.
Tried not to take a zofran for my nausea.
Didn't take a zofran- which means I didn't eat a lot yesterday.
Helped Luke go potty at least 4 times.
Talked to 3 friends on the phone.
Stopped by American Fork post office to pick up keys for the Highland House we own and wish we didn't.
Picked up mail from the Highland Home
Let someone into the Highland Home to view it.

8 TV Shows I Watch-

30 Rock

LOST

American Idol

The Office

The Bachelor (Shhhhh!)

I recently watched all online episodes of the Hills when I was stuck in bed sick.

Medium

Grey Anatomy

8 Wish List- I wish for...

Sell the Highland House

For Jared's fund to be phenomenally successful.

Bigger House with lots of land.

Happy healthy kids.

To feel immediately healthy after I have the baby. I'm tired of feeling sick for some or most of the day.

Someone to make me breakfast everyday!!

A perfectly organized house with a place for everything and every toy.

Finish the new girl nursery and finish Luke's "big boy room".

8 Things I Look Forward To-

Having my baby in May.

Luke being completely potty trained.

Feeling cute in clothes.

A warm vacation on the beach.

Not having to be as careful with money.

Green grass and all the spring flowers in bloom.

Luke in preschool....I feel like he's starting to be over me.

Change

8 Favorite Restaurants-

Log Haven -my very favorite up Milcreek Canyon.

Cucina Toscana -amazing Italian.

Tsunami

Red Iguana -best authentic mexican.

Tony Caputo's -amazing sandwiches and great little shop to boot.

Market Street Grill

Este's Pizza -Best pizza in Utah.

Taco Amigo - Not really true mexican , but greasy and fantastic!

8 People To Tag- (no pressure)

Kamille
Terra
Alyssa
Monica
Holly
Kym
Robyn
Tonia

1- Post rules on blog
2-Answer the six "8" items
3-Let each person know by leaving them a comment.

Ski Day

2009-01-24T15:45:00.000-08:00

Today was Luke's first day on the slopes. By the way he's looking so determined I'm predicting a slalom ski career. We're hoping to sign him up for lessons next winter. Look how cute those little boots are!

Adele

2009-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:00

Last night we braved the foggiest night I've seen in years to see the incredible singer Adele. She was fantastic. It's hard to believe that she is only 20. I've never heard a singer in person that has more control of her voice. Incredible! I also like that she is more of a classic singer- which you don't hear that much anymore. Amy brought to my attention that she has the mannerisms of an old school singer. The last bigger concert I went to (Does So You Think You Can Dance Count as a concert?)was Ingrid Michaelson and although Adele lacked the stage presence that Igrid has it was amazing. Two thumbs up!

Time To Change The Name

2009-01-23T15:28:00.000-08:00

The day before New Years Eve we officially found out that we're having a baby girl!!! I'm really excited and a little intimidated by the idea that I'll have to spend more than 5 seconds getting a child ready for the day. I find myself looking at little girls with their hair perfectly done, tights on, and a some type of girly thing in their hair. Sheesh! I absolutely need to start shopping for all things girl. Last Saturday I set out with ambitions to do so and ended up overwhelmed and confused. I ended up coming home with two pairs of shoes for me -nothing for baby girl. Back to the title of the post- I feel I need to change the name of my blog to make room for baby-girl tales as well. Any suggestions???

Best Christmas Moment 2008

2008-12-28T20:21:00.000-08:00

Luke had on his best Christmas day outfit for a day full of parties. He hair was neatly coiffed and his socks matched his ensemble. As he is now rejecting any progress he was making with the potty he proceeded to jam himself behind my aunts couch to hide the fact that he was pooing. As the continued absence of Luke prompted a search party and might mean that he might actually have to sit on the potty, he deciding that jamming himself even further behind the couch might stop this from happening. What happened to his Christmas outfit was an atrocity. All the squishing and wiggling behind the couch led to a sweater full of Christmas joy. Thanks to Jared for hosing him down and changing him. Luke then spent the rest of the day in a 18 months old pajamas that hit him at the shins...just perfect for those Christmas day pictures. =) Here's a pic of the pajamas and Belle gussying up Luke for the big day.

On Christmas Day, On Christmas Day.

2008-12-26T15:44:00.000-08:00

This year's Christmas was my favorite yet with Lucas. He was so excited for Santa to come and even got the idea that Christmas was Jesus' birthday. He keep asking me "Where Jesus' birthday cake?" He also wanted to know if Jesus was going to blow out candles and where his presents were? He asked Santa for a skateboard (a wide scooter) and was completely confident that Santa would deliver.

Luke and his new "skate board."

Mom looking a little tired & Luke helping dad open his presents.

Belle forcing Luke to have a bow in his hair.

Chillin' with the cousins.

Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair

2008-12-26T15:10:00.000-08:00

Last week Luke & I accompanied Jared on one of his trips to San Fran. We stayed with a friend and saw the sights and enjoyed the weather above freezing.

Clothes shopping in Union Square.

Our first time on the Golden Gate Bridge.

On the the not-so-warm beach.
Lucas & Jared very statue like.
The two boys with exactly the same expression.

Christmas Festivities

2008-12-13T20:26:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tree .... Check

Decorations .... Check

Lights Downtown .... Check
Snowman ....Check

Santa's Lap .... Check

Shopping Done ....Yikes!!!

'Tis the Season

2008-12-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

We've slowly been decorating the house for Christmas this year. Even though the morning sickness has eased up a bit, I can't seem to get that umph back to get things done in the day. Well, the other day we hung the stockings on the fireplace and also watched the Grinch on TV. After we were done Luke told me "I get something" and ran into the other room. He came back with a few new pairs of socks I recently got for him and added them to the collection. It makes perfect sense to me. I love watching Luke's train of thought. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head. Ooooooo, I want to squish him!

I Love You Mom!

2008-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, after picking up some oil and a snow brush/scraper from the auto store, I heard a cute little voice in the back seat, "Mom, I wuv you". He said it with so much emotion I was almost brought to tears. I of course said that I loved him too and then felt the warm glow of my little boys love rush over me. Luke had a ninja grip on the snow scraper he had helped me pick out for the winter and asked me "What name is this?"- his way of asking what it is called. After I told him there was a long pause and then he said (with even more emotion than before) "Mom, I wuvvvv the snow scraper.". Hummmmmm. He's got a lot of love to go around.

Help!!

2008-11-06T10:15:00.000-08:00

Since the first wave a nausea hit me with this pregnancy I have yet to really cook a meal. I don't really feel guilty about it, because if I try it usually ends up as a horrible night for the whole family. I do, however, think that I might be able to do something in the morning while I'm feeling my best. I have another friend that is pregnant and she is posting something similar on her blog, so the nutrition of two families rely on your help. So I'm calling out for any good slow cook recipe that you've had success with. The numbers on this blog tell me that I should get some comments. I'm hoping for a lot. I don't care if we're friends or not. I would love to get a recipe from someone I don't know too. A simple cut and paste or a link to another site would be very appreciative. Thanks!!

Vote!

2008-11-04T15:33:00.000-08:00

Just a friendly reminder to cast your ballot today. I really love this country and I'm so excited to watch the polls come in tonight!

This is Halloween, This is Halloween!

2008-11-03T13:38:00.000-08:00

This year was the first year that Luke really got the whole idea of trick-or-treating. Last year we made a trip around the neighborhood with his costume on (more for our sake), but I loved that he was so excited to go this year. I only gave him a tiny bag and we only visited 10 houses, but he loved every minute of it. I think this is the last year I'll be able to get away with that! Luke loved that dad was hiding on the porch scaring the poor trick-or-treaters and either helped in the scaring or looked out the window and laughed while the scene went down.

Later that night we had a few friends over and my dream of seeing a magician on Halloween came true. Jared put on a magic show for us all. A true highlight of Halloween 2008! Well done!

The Cat's Out...

2008-10-31T16:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween News:
Most everyone knows by now that I'm pregnant. It never stays a secret long. People wonder where I am and why I look a little green when I do venture out. We're really excited and as soon as this morning sickness goes away I'll be even more excited.

Speek Back!

2008-10-15T14:02:00.000-07:00

My friends Amy & Kristin have started a new endeavor and I think it's a great idea. Basically you sign up on their website and earn money for the non-profit organization of your choosing. There are many to chose from including Stephanie Nielson's recovery fund. You can read more about it here or here or here. It's gonna be big!!

Curious George Rules The Day

2008-09-30T17:02:00.000-07:00

Curious George is one of our favorite shows at the Hutchings' house. When George builds a boat Luke wants to build a boat. When George makes a bird house* Luke wants to build one. And lastly, when George puts together some dinosaur bones so does Luke. It's a cartoon and activity all in one.

Mom & Luke's "boat". Granted, this is not my best work.

Luke's "dinosaur". Pretty creative if you ask me.

*bird house not pictured.

P.S. I have been known to delete cartoons off the DVR that show an activity I'm not willing to do that day. I'm sneaky like that.

Paul

2008-09-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

My first crush Paul Newman passed away this Friday. I'm not usually gaga over movie stars, but this man has been my crush for a very long time. I've always loved older movies and loved watching his films. Some girls had pictures of New Kids on the Block or Brad Pitt in their rooms. Not me. Who could compare to Paul? Generous, fun & the best looking movie star there has ever been.

Hip Hip Hurray!

2008-09-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Hero's was in top form last night. Two hours, a little gruesome, and fantastic! I'm so excited! I can't really relate to people who don't watch TV.

On the Lookout

2008-09-21T14:03:00.000-07:00

Recently I've become infatuated with the idea of hiring a magician for Halloween. I've really only seen two magicians put on a show. One was a big production (David Copperfield) and the other was a guy (I wish I could remember his name) that was hired for a party at a cabin up Hobble Creek Canyon. I wasn't impressed by Copperfield's big stage tricks, but I was fascinated by the guy at the cabin. So, can anyone recommend a magician in the Salt Lake area? Please leave a comment or email me if you've seen one that is worth a call. Thanks!!

Sick, Sick, Sick

2008-09-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

The last few days I've been down-and-out sick. I'm coming out of my funk as of today..thank the heavens. That's what I get for trying to be more "go with the flow" and not sterilizing the entire area of the plane we sat in on the way home. Dirty rotten germs! Being a germ freak is still the way to go.

He's a Travelin' Man

2008-09-10T15:54:00.000-07:00

Lucas has been fascinated with transportation for awhile now, but after this trip it has become an obsession. He loved the airplane, trains, metro, boats, cabs, and buses that we were on. He didn't really get the idea that after our 10 hour plane ride that we were somewhere else. He keep asking if his cousins Isabelle & Ava were coming. After we got off the plane yesterday we asked him if he wanted to go home and he said "No! More airplane!". Sheesh!
Luke was a great little traveler. I was dreading the traveling part with a 2 year old, but he completely surprised me. We were on an especially turbulent airplane and most people were holding on to their seats and wincing. Luke had both hands in the air and was laughing and saying "woooooo! weeeeeee!". If we could only all enjoy a flight like an amusement park ride. What a cutie.

On the subway in Paris

On the double-decker bus in London

In a black cab in London. They have built in car seats. So great!!

On a row boat at Versailles

Chillin with his hot dog & sippy cup. All he needs is a remote.

One of the great nights we had included a carousel ride under the Eiffel Tower, watching the Tower's flashing lights, and then topping it off with a pistachio gelato (something we all had almost every night).

Another obsession was formed when we visited the Tower of London. On display are quite a few coats of armor & wooden horses. We purchased Luke's Halloween costume for this year in the gift shop. As soon as we got home Luke insisted on a horse for his knight.

Dad obliged.

Thanks for making this trip so fun Luke. You are the greatest little boy. We love your fanastic personality and your spunk. Love you more than the mountains!

What A Kid's Airport Bathroom Should Look Like

2008-09-10T07:07:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I get so tired of finding a decent place to change my child's diaper or, even worse, trying to get him to use a nasty adult toilet. I've been known to encourage Luke to just go in his diaper when the only option is Hepatitis B infested bathroom. I'm also annoyed when, let's say, a resteraunt doesn't offer a place to change a child, but then gives you dirty looks when you change him out side with a blanket on the lawn. No one was born potty trained. And as the book says "Everybody Poops!" I have to control my rage at that point. Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised when we saw this bathroom ajoining the ladies room at the Charles de Gaulle airport. Well done! Luke even decided he wanted to go potty on the mini-toilet while we were there.

New Family Pictures

2008-09-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

We just left London this morning and now we're in Paris.....I'll post some more pics later, but for now I just got an email from Haley Anderson who took our family pics. You can check them out on her website. She took the pictures around my family's farm so they mean a lot. I'm so excited about seeing them. Thanks Haley!

Bernd & Isabelle's Wedding in Germany

2008-09-03T13:16:00.000-07:00

Friday was the beginning of our friends Bernd & Isabelle's wedding. We attended the welcome dinner at the restaurant they met at that night. Most of the events took place in Isabelle's hometown of Landforden. Saturday morning they were married in a beautiful old Catholic church with a reception afterwards at her parents castle called Gut Bamhoff. I can't tell you how beautiful everything was. It was a-mazing! That night there was a formal dinner and reception and then an Oktoberfest luncheon the next day. I've never seen anything like it. I've had so much fun. Congratulations to Bernd & Marie-Isabelle Wendeln!! Thanks for sharing your special day with us!

Gut Bamhoff
Luke playing balloon soccor with a proper German woman. She was a good sport.
They hired a circus to entertain the kids. Not pictured is the guy walking on stilts & the kids tent full of games and food. Crazy!
Jared & me at the formal dinner & dance.

Holland

2008-09-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

We spent 3 days in Holland last week, most of them a blurry fog of jet lag, but amazing none-the-less. We rented bicycles and made our way around the amazing city of Amsterdam. Everyone bikes here! I loved the fact that in the morning you could see men driving their bikes with their suits on with two kids in their bike seats on back. The city is flat and the climate is perfect for riding around. I felt like an awkward American most of the time wobbling around with my bike handlebars. These people have been riding downtown in herds since they were small and they ride inches apart from each other. It reminded me of a flock of birds. We even saw a couple riding together with the boyfriend's hand on his girlfriend's shoulder. Cute. We ended up going to the Van Gogh Museum and riding a boat down to the center of town. I have a lot of Dutch blood in my family and everyone always tells me how "Dutch" I look. It was fun to see where a lot of my ancestors come from. I would love to spend more time in this great city. Thanks to Holly for all the suggestions on what to do. P. S. I still don't like mayo with my fries. =/

Luke hanging tough on the flight. The DVD player made flying a dream!
The big new cheese Luke has been sporting. Notice the stroller in the background. The airport in Amsterdam lost it. It's our last photo of it. If you see it please call.

Does This Dress Make My Butt Look Matronly?

2008-08-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

The last time I had to buy a formal dress was when I was VERY pregnant with Lucas. Obviously I was less that excited about having to buy a somewhat expensive dress while feeling, to put it delicately, puffy. Well, with an upcoming wedding, (that is nothing like I've attended), I've been told to dress for a black tie/white tie occasion. Which means I was a little bit excited to get to buy a fancy dress. Fast forward to this weekend. My friend Heather and I started perusing the internet and local stores only to come up with the likes of the dress that is above. Finding a formal dress that isn't matronly, but not harlot-esque is a hard task. Everything was one extreme or the other! I did end up buying a dress (not the one above or below), but I had to have it altered!!?? Does anyone know of a place that sells dresses for this market? I know there are dress shops like shabbyapple and the like, but I haven't seen the formal thing done yet. I know I won't have the need to buy a dress like this for a loooooog time, but when I do I would appreciate someone starting a company to take care of my needs. Thank you!

I Won't Grow Up!

2008-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Luke is almost 2 1/2 now and I'm starting to think he needs to move to a big-boy bed and a big-boy room. Here's what his room looks like now. I'm still coming up with ideas for the new room, but I think it will be robot themed. I'm sure it won't be done for awhile, but when it is done I'll post the after pics.

Robot Zombie Guy Hits The Big Time

2008-08-15T13:11:00.000-07:00

Robert Muraine's new IKEA commercial.

He's mesmerizing!

Countdown

2008-08-12T15:32:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready for our upcoming trip, or rather, we're thinking about getting ready. If my old luggage were worn out and I had an extra chunk of change, this would be the luggage for me. So much easier to spot on the luggage carousel! If your wallet is feeling a little too heavy you can buy your new luggage here. I know this is the outfit I usually wear to the airport.

A Sight to Behold

2008-08-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

I think I can remember almost every Olympics since I was born. I remember feeling excited when Mary Lou over came her bad ankle. I remember Mo Jo and her multi-colored tights and I remember Ben Johnson running with the flag after he'd won his gold. During the 2002 winter Olympics I worked for Nu Skin, which was a sponser, so I got to be right in the thick of things. For the last summer Olympics Jared & I were traveling through Europe and I remember thinking that we should maybe try to change our travel plans so they wouldn't coincide with the games. It's a minor statement to say that I'm obsessed with them.

Let's start with the opening ceremonies. If you missed it, you should be very, very sad. I can't even describe how excited I was watching that amazing scene. I had the chills and jitters all at the same time. I've never seen anything like it!! The 2008 drummers and 2008 guys in the printing blocks!!! A-mazing! My friend came over the other day and I went on and on in detail about the opening ceremonies and the stories of athletes that were competing that day......I think she was bored to tears, but she was a good sport.

I'm going to watch every minute of the games that I can. I love the sports. I love the athletes. I love thinking that there is probably a sport out there, that I haven't discovered yet, that I might be able to win a gold medal in. Badminton maybe?? It's an official Olympic sport!

I don't do well without sleep.....

2008-08-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

Jared has been gone most of this week and I tend not to sleep well when I'm the sole person that would be defending our house in the event of a break in. I do sleep with the car keys by my bed so that I can press the car alarm if someone has his hand around my throat (a tip from a scare email). Most of my neighbors know that they should come running if they hear it go off at night. (oops - Sorry again about the false alarm last month.) Well, what button do I push when I'm convinced something bad is going to happen, but I don't know what?.....

Last night at around 5 a.m.:

I am sleeping soundly when all of a sudden I am woken abruptly by a teenage boy's voice saying "hey!" really loud. I feel like he is right next to my bed. I wake up startled and check the room to make sure that no one is there. Then I remember that this same thing happened a few weeks ago. Jared was home when it happened and it was a first time happening, so I wasn't as freaked out. Obviously right now I AM freaked out. I am convinced that something bad has happened in our house and there is a ghost in it. Is it a good ghost? Is it a bad ghost? Do I watch Medium too much?

I say a few prayers and panicking I run downstairs to make sure Luke is OK. Luke is fine and is very annoyed with me when I touch his chest to make sure he is still breathing. He mumbles something that sounds like "leave me alone you crazy mom". As I sit in Luke's rocking chair I realize I am being silly and that I just need some sleep. I have the urge to pick Luke up and bring him to bed with me. "No," I tell myself, "he and I both sleep horribly together. I don't want my craziness to ruin his goodnight sleep." I stay downstairs for awhile just to make sure things are normal. Aren't I thorough? I slowly walk back into my room smiling to myself at how dumb I am being. I left the lights on just so slightly and as I walk in, (pause for dramatic effect) I see someone sitting on my bed. Surge of adrenaline! My eyes adjust..... just the pillows piled high in a life-like formation.

My eyes don't close for the next 3 hours.

I wish I could say that this is an isolated incident, that I haven't been convinced at 2 in the morning that I have stomach cancer or that there is mold in the house and we need to evacuate the house at that moment. Things are so dramatic at night, and even more so when you haven't had a lot of sleep leading up to it. Am I alone here?

P.S. If I am awoken by this same ghost boy one more time, I am moving.

Movie's & shows I want to see.....

2008-07-29T16:20:00.000-07:00

1. Terminator Salvation! This is the new Terminator movie staring Christian Bale (who I really like). See the preview here. I really want to see it!

2. The Dark Knight. Eveyone has already seen it, but I haven't yet. Don't talk about it.

3. The X-files movie. I know something happens in the end that I want to happen because my sister updated her status on facebook to read "got what she wanted after 15 years of waiting". Lame Britt! I know you well enough to know you're talking about Scully & Mulder. I avoid all spoilers so I'm not going to go looking for a clip. Go look for it yourself.

4. The So You Think You Can Dance tour. Obviously.

5. The Wade Robson/Chris Angel/Circ De Sole Show in Vegas. Get info here. Yes, Wade Robson is on my Google Reader and yes, I make comments on the blog.

6. Any Deer Valley outdoor concert. We were going to go to Feist, but we ended up leaving town. I just love outdoor concerts.

What do you guys want to see??

We're all pooped

2008-07-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

We just got back from an entire week in Lake Powell. I have a bad ear infection which makes me run into walls and tip over unexpectedly so when the meds kick in and the computer screen stops tilting I'll elaborate. Until then look at that little snuggler. I want to eat him.

Vida Palmer Hutchings

2008-07-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Jared's cute grandma Vida's funeral. She has always been so sweet to all of us and has missed her husband so much. She was the first lady of South Jordan for 12 years and has a huge posterity that gathered together yesterday. Jared especially enjoyed hearing all the stories and seeing everyone yesterday. She was 94 and she could still play the piano like an angel. You can read her obituary here.

Strike a Pose

2008-07-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Many photographers use my family's farm to shoot portraits, but I've really been impressed with Hayley Anderson's work. Yesterday she took some shots of us. Although Luke was kind of a stinker and Jared hadn't really slept in two nights I'm still hoping that she got something magical. Cross your fingers. Check out her work on her website & her blog. I'm hoping ours turn out as good as these pics she did, but a little less wedding.

Taking Applications

2008-07-16T15:11:00.000-07:00

Currently taking applications for the betrothal of Luke to best matched candidate. So far there are a few in the running, but one has recently taken the lead. Luke has played with his buddy Naomi a few times in the last week and I'm trying to convince Alysa that they should go to prom together. I do believe Naomi looks like she's claiming her man in the picture above.

Can the blogosphere sell a house?

2008-07-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

My friends Tiffany & Ryan are moving back east and are selling their beautiful home that I actually sold to them many moons ago. Take a look here. It's beautiful.

We are also selling a house, but in Highland. We were contemplating moving to Utah County and this was the house we were going to move into. Take a look here. 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths, Right next to the mountains. Amazing views from every window. Elegant & large kitchen. I picked out the majority of everything that went into it. We're staying in Salt Lake for now so it needs to sell. I need to take some updated pictures, but here are a few until then. It really is in your best interest to just buy it. Just do it...you know, as a favor to me. =)

The kitchen before appliances.

Travertine medalian in the front entry way.

Summer Lovin'

2008-07-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

If someone were to ask me what my least favorite season was I've always answered summer. Well, this summer I've changed my mind. I'm telling you, Luke has made summer fun again. We play in the sprinklers. We go swimming. We go for bike rides. We run around barefoot. Everything that I gave up as an kid has now returned. If we want to go to Lagoon we can go (I haven't). If we want to go to the park we go. If we want to sleep in we do, (well, if Luke wants to sleep in WE DO). This has been the best summer I've had in years. Thanks Luke!

Red, White, & Blue

2008-07-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

The forth was so fun for us. We started the day with a brunch at Ruth's Diner with Heather & freind, Kamile, Zach, & little cutie Violet. Then down to my parents for food & fun. My cousin brought his miniture ponies for the kids to ride. Luke was really the only one that took full advantage. This added to my dream of him being a cowboy. This year Pleasant Grove moved the fireworks to the Jr. High so we got a prime spot in our field. My family and our cousins and friends all laid out blankets and watched the rockets red glare. I love the 4th!
P.S. The sparkler shown above gave Luke his first burn ever. Grrrrrrrr!

Luke showing Violet his hand licking technique.

Yeeha!

We all love the fireworks!

Happened So Fast

2008-07-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

He's still growing. Recently we went to our friend Sheralyn & Mike's cabin near Heber. We had such a fun time. Monica writes about it here. While we were there Monica took this shot of Luke. Wow! Sometimes I'm still amazed at how beautiful he is and I can't believe how big he's getting. It's fantastic and horrifying at the same time. Thanks so much for the picture Monica! I'm going to blow it up and frame it.

Independence Day!

2008-07-04T09:33:00.000-07:00

Brunch, swimming, BBQ, & fireworks. It doesn't get any better. Happy Independence Day! I'm so grateful for my country.

...because my love is there.

2008-07-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Later this summer we are traveling to Europe to attend our friends Bernd & Isabelle's wedding in Germany. On our way there we'll be hitting some fun spots and I want to get some advice on where to go, what to see, and most importantly, where to eat.

First we'll be hitting Amsterdam. We won't be spending a long time in this city so my list has to be short.We'll be spending 4 days in Germany at the lovely wedding.
Next we'll be in Paris. We'll have 5 days here.

Next, London. Jared will be in meetings for some of the time so Luke and I will be hanging out by ourselves a little. I've done most of the touristy things in London already, but I mostly ate in the hotel. Food suggestions would be great and shopping is always something I like to do, even it is just through the window.
I know a lot of you have been to Europe, so let me know what you like.

A Day at the Zoo with Uncle Rich

2008-06-26T15:09:00.000-07:00

Today my bother Rich came up and went to the zoo with Luke and I. We had such a good day with him. Thanks for hanging with us Rich!

The Farmer's Market

2008-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:00

Today we spent the morning at the Farmer's Market downtown at Pioneer Park. Most of you know that Jared has been very diligent about speaking only Spanish to Lucas and I'm amazed with how fast Luke has picked up on it. He even gets that he should speak Spanish with Dad and that Mom no comprendo. The other day he even got mad when I tried to change the radio station in the car off a Spanish station!!!!????? I digress. At the farmer's market Luke soon became fascinated by the Mexican musicians. I walked around while Dad and Luke sat for an hour and a half.

Completely enthralled.Meanwhile, Luke's cousin Belle and her friend Kai got henna tattoos.
Luke tuckered out after a hard day of jammin' to his Mexican music.
When we got home we had a quick run through the sprinklers.
Luke and I then had a stand-off over nap time. Can you you see the look in his eyes? I won! He did, however, want me to sing him a song that his Mexican friends had sung earlier. It was a mixture of German and some Spanish I know. At that, he was satisfied and he feel asleep dreaming of being a Mexican cowboy.

Strawberry Days!!

2008-06-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time remembering a year that I have missed Pleasant Grove's Strawberry Days. I grew up on a farm and there is something in me that wants to have cows again and ride my horse around a farm. A yearly dose of cowboy is something I love and this years Strawberry Days Rodeo was SO MUCH FUN!! Sure during the calf roping I'm hoping the cowboy's lasso misses the cute little calf and he makes his way across the arena with out getting yanked backwards. Sure the rodeo queens are hilarious as they frantically wave to the crowd while the horse jiggles the crap out of them. But I love every part of it! Is it weird that I have fantasies of Luke growing up to be a cowboy??
This is how excited I was to be there!
Zach, Kamille, and Heather and the infamous strawberries & cream.
Jared, me and the arena. I can't wait to bring Luke next year when going to bed at 8 isn't as essential to his happiness. I need to start looking for his cowboys boots.

Tagged

2008-06-10T14:49:00.000-07:00

I've just been been tagged. (Actually, it was about a month ago. Sorry Alisa!)

1. Typically, what time do you wake up? Embarrassingly enough, I usually get up around 9:00am with the Lukster

2. On a good night what time are your kids in bed? The ritual starts around 8:00 and usually ends around 8:30.

3. How long have you been a mom?
Two years, two months, and 4 days.

4. How old were you when you became a mom?
29

5. What is your favorite kids t.v. show/movie?
Definitely Curious George!

6. What is your least favorite kids show?
Anything in Spanish- sorry Jared.

7. What are your kids favorite chores?
Luke likes to throw his own diaper away. Pretty good, I'd say.

8. What is your favorite meal to cook?
The one I cook on a full stomach. Everyone knows I don't function well on an empty stomach. It can get pretty ugly. I've been known to lay down on the floor in the kitchen.

9. What is the meal you cook most often?
Probably salmon.

10. What is your kids favorite meal?
Luke likes cereal and bread too much.

11. What is your favorite thing your husband does with your kids?
Luke loves to imitate anything Jared is doing so it cute when they fix things together or play soccer together.

12. What are five things that make you smile when being a mom?
1. Luke's sense of humor. Today he learned that it was hilarious to lick me when I tried to kiss him. He tried it over and over for 30 min. I caught on after the first lick and wouldn't let him. We were both laughing so hard.

2. New phrases. Luke is saying "sure" right now for yes. He doesn't understand the subtle difference. When he is upset and wants something it's funny when he is crying/yelling "SURE"!

3. When he goes to sleep at night he likes to talk/sing through his day. i.e. Mom, Dad, park, swing, bike, truck, silly. He usually ends up cracking himself up at some point.

4. I love it when Jared brings Luke upstairs and he will snuggle with me for a few minutes.

5. Watching him learn. (This could also go under new phrases.) For awhile Luke was saying "mine's" for- it's mine. I thought this was brilliant. It makes perfect sense. Mom's, Dad's ....Mine's. He already grasps the concept of possessive form. He's gonna be a smart one!

13. If you could take your kids anywhere where would it be? Probably Hawaii again. Luke would enjoy it more now that he is older.

14. When was the last time you went somewhere without your kids?
Jogging (ok, more like walking) on Saturday.

15. What is your favorite pastime activity to do with your kids?
Riding our bike to the park and letting him play on the wheeeee (the slide).

16. Name one thing you said you’d never do as a mom?
I wrote in my journal I would never swear. I'll leave it at that.

17. What is your favorite quality your mom has?
She's the most kind hearted person I know. Not a titch(sp?) of guile.

.18. What is your advice for new moms?
Just have fun.

19. What is your scariest or most heartbreaking moment as a mom?

While I was getting ice cream from the ice cream man Jared finished his soccer game and grabbed Luke out of the car. He thought I had seen him. I screamed like a mad woman and when I finally realized he was ok I sat down on the pavement and bawled.

20. What is your most joyful moment as a mom?
Hard to say, I really love it.

21. When was the last time you were told “I LOVE YOU” by one of your kids?
About an hour ago when I put Luke down for a nap.

I tag any mom who reads this.

My Birthday

2008-05-31T12:59:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my hubby, my birthday this year was one of the funnest I've ever had. And.... Jared got me the shirt from below. =) Here's my sis Britt, me, and my cousin Melly from the great party.

Caught My Eye On Etsy

2008-05-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

I saw this shirt on Etsy here. I like that it's just a t-shirt really, but the ruffle makes it oh-so-much cuter.
I might end up buying this necklace if no one else does today..
I'm strangely attracted to this octopus necklace although I have no idea when I would wear it. Also, I think I would have to remove the danglies..... and maybe wear a patch?

Bee Ditty Beep

2008-05-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

New Post on A Vivid Grey

Start Stretching

2008-05-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

Even though the finale of American Idol was this week it holds nothing to the excitement I feel inside about the first show of the 2008 season of So You Think You Can Dance. I've always loved dancing even though it's VERY VERY freestyle. Channel 13, 7:00 p.m. I am there!

I Love The Whole World Too!!

2008-05-21T14:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Alisa posted this video on her site and I LOVE IT!! I'm also a fan of the discovery channel and the whole world. I can't seem to paste the video on my site so here's the link.

..and Alisa I know I was tagged, but I'm a procrastinator. =)

Millie's Baby Blessing

2008-05-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday our friends Katie and Jeremy Smith blessed their new daughter Amelia. We started hanging out the the Smiths about 6 years ago and they have become family to us. We're so excited about the new member of their family and the old member Paxton. We love you guys!

Here's the ladybugs that I did for Millie in her nursery.

The End of the Jazz Season

2008-05-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

My heart was pounding last night when the Jazz lost a valiant fight with the Laker's. I was in a bad mood the rest of the night! In tribute to the Jazz here is a tribute to the biggest Jazz fans I know. The Hopkins!!

ChrisShell

Isabelle

Ava

I Want To Be Cowboy And You Can Be My Horse

2008-05-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

Today we spent the day with Naomi & Alysa at Gardner Village. We spent some time at the petting zoo chasing the sheep and goats and then had a pony ride. It was $2 to get in and $3 to ride the pony (it's silly but they make the parents pay too). After the ride we had lunch and stopped by to see Wendi at Posh Frippery. She's got such fun stuff there. You need to go see. Thanks for going with us Naomi & Alysa!

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms. I'm so grateful to my mom this day. I've never met anyone who has a purer heart that my mother Judy. She's been such a great example to me in every way possible. Thank you for making me feel like I was as great as you thought I was. I owe every good part of me to you & Dad. Love you so much! -Andy

A Vivid Grey Update

2008-05-07T14:05:00.000-07:00

I've added a couple of paintings on A Vivid Grey.

Binky rehab??

2008-05-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Since the new findings that some plastics contain a chemical called BPA have been coming out, I've been throwing away all of Luke's sippy cups and all of our tupperware that has the toxic chemical. Well, as I put Luke down for his nap today I started thinking about the binky that he is currently sucking on as I type.... I looked it up here. It's on the list of "bad" plastics!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! We don't let Luke have his binky other than in his bed or car seat, but we haven't taken it away completely. As bad habits go the binky is down on the list for a 2 year old I'd say. Has anyone really seen someone graduate or get married with a binky? No! Yes there may be a few buck tooth kids out there but hey, I had braces and they make for a good smile. So most likely Luke will need braces anyway....right? I really have two options to avoid the most guilt, which is usually what I base most choices on.
1. Get rid of the bink completly- cold turkey style. (This option is not looking good.)
2. Replace the binky with it's non-toxic counterpart and take it away at a later date. (This option is going to win.)

Art Lessons

2008-05-03T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today marks the day of Isabelle's first art lesson. Isabelle has basically been my surrogate daughter since she was born. If I didn't have a date on the weekend I would drive from Pleasant Grove to Salt Lake to hang out with her so her parents could go out. She is now 9 years old and is growing up into a beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful, talented young woman. I'm excited for our up-coming art lessons and love spending one-on-one time with the up and coming artist Isabelle Gwyn Hopkins.
Belle's first piece! She did such a great job!

Baby Steps

2008-05-03T19:57:00.000-07:00

Lucas is just over two, as you well know, and Thursday night was the FIRST night I've ever been away from him. Wow! I can honestly say that both he and I were ready for the big night and everything went without a hitch. Luke stayed with my sister Shell and partied the night away with his cousins Isabelle and Ava. Thanks Shell! Jared & I flew to Minneapolis for a work/fun getaway. It was great to dress up and spend time with just the grown ups. We got home Friday night and this morning we all slept in until 10:30!! De-lightful!

Mother's Day Suggestions- wink, wink!

2008-04-29T12:49:00.000-07:00

For the last several months we've been trying to be a little more conscience of where our money is going so real shopping has turned into window shopping. For each online want I've sent an email to Jared. I'm hoping that by the sheer volume of emails he receives that he can still create a surprise aspect that he claims he needs to give me a present. My family always calls to ask exactly what I want for birthdays, Christmas, etc.. , which Jared mocks. I've decided to start posting some of these fun things on my blog.

I found this fun umbrella via Omiru. You can buy it here.

I want to have a outdoor movie night/bingo party for my upcoming birthday and here's a great deal for a fun old fashion bingo game. Feel free to tell Jared.

Terra on GTU

2008-04-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my sister-in-law Terra was the guest co-host for Good Things Utah. She didn't tell me until a couple of weeks ago and she didn't want a lot of people at the taping, but I didn't comply. Her husband Jonz, my friend Heather, and I were there to support her in the audience. She did such a great job and was a natural at hosting. I'm proud of her for doing something that she's always wanted to do. SUPER STAR!

Ava's Birthday Bash

2008-04-23T11:55:00.000-07:00

My niece Ava's "friend" birthday party was last Saturday at Fat Katz. It was a crazy spectacle of kids, bowling balls, pizza, tokens, and balloons. Everyone loved it. My sister Shell is a great mom and always makes her girls birthdays and holidays so special. Happy Birthday to my favorite 6 year old!
Isabelle showing luke how to get a strike!
STRIKE! Ok, maybe just 4 pins, but look how proud he looks!
"The Boys" going for a ride.

A Vivid Grey

2008-04-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start my own business and I couldn't be more excited. I've always loved drawing and painting and I'm so happy to have a little time to do it each day. I really like to do a range of things, but for now I'm going to focus on children's art specifically for new babies and kid's rooms. I like to take a look at the child's room, the bedding, and the colors. After that I try to create something that will please both mom and myself. Here's a few that I've just finished that will be on my new blog AVividGrey.blogspot.com.
Prices will vary according to size and detail.
The idea for this elephant painting I can't really take full credit for. My sister-in-law Terra took a picture of a painting she really liked and I created one like it. If I knew the artist I would give him/her credit.

These ladybugs have just been sold.

2 Years Old!!

2008-04-10T11:43:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Luke's 2nd Birthday! I can't believe it! My little guy is officially not a baby anymore. I'm kind of bummed. I secretly make fun of people that still call their 5 year olds "baby" so I will just call him baby behind closed doors. He's the best thing that I could ever imagine. Look at that face!!
Here he is at 1 looking longingly out the front door.

Here's my little guy the day after he was born. Look at THAT face! =)

In Like a Lion & Out Like a Lamb

2008-03-12T12:53:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air and it's so nice to be able to do something fun outside everyday!

Here's Katie, Paxton, Luke, and I with the giraffes at the zoo.
Feeding the geese and ducks at Sugarhouse Park.

Soccer Buddies

2008-03-06T14:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Lucas started his new "Soccer Buddies" class. I was a little apprehensive that it might not be legit because it's at Jared's (kind of ghetto) indoor soccer arena. Well, we're three weeks into it now and both mom and Lucas love it. Luke participates with everyone about 3/4's of the time and the rest of the time he is kicking the soccer ball around the arena while saying "fast, fast, fast". The Coach teaches the kids different soccer skills while playing games and also they just play games that, as far as I know, have nothing to do with soccer at all. Jared takes Lucas when he doesn't have a meeting scheduled that day and I take him the other days, which works out to be about 50/50. If you do everything the kids do it's actually a pretty good workout.
Here's Luke showing off his mad skills!

New Book Club

2008-02-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

My friend Kellie just moved back from NY and she invited me to be in a new book club and I'm thrilled about it. It's a great group of girls with a lot of diversity and spunk. Our first book is Moloka'i which was great. I highly recommend it!

Lost Blogs Found

2008-02-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

So, apparently the lost blogs weren't really lost. I had them in my drafts....hehe. So the lost blogs have been found. Even though they are messed up I have posted them. Hopefully I can fix the format and make them look better.

A Reformed Blogger

2008-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:00

So, I've been asked at least ten times this month if I have a blog and in theory I do, but as you can see it's severely lacking. I had a new year's resolution to start blogging and made a huge post with all kinds of pictures. However, when it came time to posting it somehow didn't post and all data was deleted. I was deflated about the idea of blogging again. So here it goes. For now I'm just going to add a few cute pictures of Luke that I love. The first one is Luke on Valentine's Day with his new book and chocolate covered strawberries. The next is Luke in the tub with his "rhinoceros soap". What a cutie. I've never been so in love!

A New Year's Resolution

2007-12-30T21:29:00.000-08:00

So here goes..... My first New Year's Resolution is to start blogging. I'm not sure anyone will even look at this page, but it's a resolution and so I must begin somewhere.

Christmas 2007 was great. The snow has been fantastic and we've had a great time with Luke.

It all begins with cutting down the Christmas tree. We go to a great place in Alpine that we tag way back on Labor day.....

Luke loved decorating the tree. We would put one decoration on and he would say more, more, more, until we handed him another.

A Day at the Zoo!

2007-05-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

We got a pass for the zoo and we've been several times in the past month. Luke loves the Giraffes the most-by far! Here's a pic with Dad and Luke in front of the white alligator. If he opens his blue eyes and looks at you it is said that you'll have good luck. He has looked at us 3 times now!

Lucas' 1st Birthday

2007-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:00

Lucas turned one year old on April 6th. I took a million pictures of him the day before because I was slightly sad to see my little guy grow up. The day of his big boy birthday party he fell and hit his head on the coffee table and came out of it with a shiner on his left eye. SAD!