My obsession

I'm having trouble formatting this post, and the best way seemed to make bullets...sorry I know that's kind of weird. :)

I sit down to right this post as sort of a confession. For the past 6 days, I've been totally and undeniably addicted...addicted to a world of vampires and werewolves. All because of this simple book: twilight, by Stephenie Meyer.

• It seemed innocent enough at first. I had read on a lot of other blogs and heard from friends that this book was very good. So, when I was spending a gift card at Deseret Book and saw this book was on sale, without thinking much about it, I decided to get it. I was excited to read the book, but not to the point that I started it right away. It just sat in the bag for a couple days.

• When I finally did begin the book...I was immediately hooked. The tale that Stephenie Meyer weaves is suspenseful, not necessarily because of the fantasy element, but because the characters are so real, it just feels like they are my friends, or even that it is me. Does this make sense? It didn't help that I immediately fell in love with the vampire. :) Not the kind of love that would get me in trouble with my husband...just the type that leaves you intrigued and wanting everything to work out for him.

• I have to admit that when I am not reading, I'm often thinking about what has just happened in the book. This is not the first time that I've been hooked on a series...it happened with Work and the Glory, and it also happened with Harry Potter. This is the first time that I've been a mom and been obsessed. I love Mason and make sure that he gets the things that he needs, I feed him, change him, bathe him and play with him. I make sure that we get out. I still do make time to read when he is playing...he usually notices that I'm reading, and he comes up and throws his board books at me until I read them to him. I have to remind myself who the most important one is...and then it's easy to put down my book and read to him. I'm glad that he's getting an early love for reading!

• I recognized my addiction early on and made rules...I can't read if there are too many dirty dishes, or if the house is too messy. I find myself hurrrying through these menial tasks so that I can get back into the world that seems so much more interesting than anything else right now.

• After I finished the first book, I couldn't restrain myself from going and getting the second one...the first book leads into the second and I couldn't bear not knowing what was going to happen next. So...if any of you remember the Barnes and Nobel gift card that I found...it was put to good use this week! Mason was sleeping by the time my errands brought me to the bookstore, I should have just gone home and put him down for his nap...but I couldn't resist. I carried my sleeping angel into the store and asked where to find the next book. I was slightly embarassed, I don't really know why, when I was led towards the Teen section.

• I wasn't under the impression that this book was for teenagers...I know that people of all ages will love it.

• Anyways, right now I am on book number three, and trying hard to pace myself. (hence this blog, it was one of the things I had to do before I could pick up the book again). I do this because I know that when I am done with this book, I will not be able to rush to the bookstore and pick up the the 4th volume...it is still in the works. So I am trying to savor my time with these characters as much as possible.

I know that I am obsessed...but it's well worth it. Anyone who hasn't read this series...give it a try and let me know what you think!!

My turn

Well, since I was the only one that Katie mentioned specifically by name, I figured I should probably fulfill my duty and post this. :) I always mean to do things like this, I just never get around to it. Here ya go:


4 jobs I've had:
1) Chick-fil-A team leader...and I still think back to the days when I got to have CFA 5-6 times a week. :)
2) BYU QA lab tech-tested food for the Church Welfare System and developed food storage recipes for the Provident Living website (I feel like I'm writing a resume). :)
3) Severn Trent Labs-prepared soil and water samples for chemical testing
4) Leprino-Product Development Specialist


4 movies I can watch over and over again:
(I always have a hard time with this one, I can never remember what movies I like...)
1) Clue
2) Independence Day
3) Harry Potter movies
4) Remember the Titans

4 favorite tv shows:
1) House!!!
2) TLC shows ie: Little People, Big World; John and Kate plus 8
3) Criminal Minds
4) Food Network...especially Alton Brown!

4 favorite hobbies:
1) working out/jogging
2) reading
3) hiking/camping
4) teaching Mason


4 Places I have lived:
1) Littleton, CO
2) Provo, UT
3) Armenia
4) Lakewood, CO


4 places I have been on holiday:
1) London
2) Costa Rica
3) Niagara Falls
4) Disneyland

4 favorite dishes/ foods:
1) Chick-fil-A!!!
2) Salmon (has to be cooked just right)
3) Ice cream with hot caramel on it
4) anything that I didn't make (I'm stealing that phrase from my mom...but it's true!)

4 websites I check daily:
1) Blogs
2) Facebook
3) Career Step Login and Forum
4) Google...just googling random questions that I have or random things that I want to know more about

4 places I would rather be right now:
1) Camping
2) In Utah visiting with friends and family
3) Hawaii
4) Chick-fil-A (do you see a theme for this blog?? :)...I'm just never sick of it!)


Ok-anyone that has a blog and reads this, you're tagged...but especially: Diana, Cindy and Beth! :)

Daniel's Homecoming :)

On July 24th, the much awaited homecoming of my brother, Daniel, finally came! He had been serving the past two years in Bolivia and it was quite the anticipated event to have him come home.

It was also fun because Cindy and AJ traveled from Salt Lake and were able to spend almost a week here!

Since Daniel's flight wasn't due to come in until 8:30 at night, we figured that we should do something fun that day. We decided to go to the zoo. As always, Mason totally loved it! We always have a great time when we are spending time with family!

As many of you know from experience, a fun day in the sun almost always translates to a very tired evening. Because of the exciting nature of our evening trip to the airport, most of the adults were able to stay energetic on pure adrenaline. Poor Mason was pretty exhausted, as these pictures will attest. He did very well though, all things considered.

It helped that there was a water fountain close to where we were waiting, Katie is always such a nice aunt, and the kids flocked to her!

And finally...after two years....the whole family was together. Daniel was able to meet a brother-in-law and two nephews that were not part of the family when he left. It was so great to see him again and to have his fun personality around! We only get to enjoy his continual presence for a few weeks, and then he will head off to BYU. I know that he'll have a blast out there, but it is sad to see him go again so soon!

My parents very generously had us over for dinner every night that week, so we were able to spend a lot of time together. Here is a typical evening scene:

The boys always enjoy watching movies or tv while the girls get to chat away and watch the little ones.

On Saturday, we went and had a family picture taken. The most difficult part was getting the two one-year-olds, Levi and Mason, to sit still and look happy. In the cousin picture, Mason kept running off, or had a very sour look on his face, so the photographer offered this selection: I think it is really cute, and it will always remind me what an energetic boy I have (haha like I really need reminding of that!). Aren't they all so photogenic?

Here is the group family picture of all of us: Aren't we a fun looking bunch? I feel so lucky to have such a great family!

Later that night, my parents took us all to see a Rockies game. I grew up watching baseball and attending many games, so it was fun for me to start Mason enjoying the same tradition!

Teaching him early...

Mason is such a big help around the house! He loves to learn all about the things that I do, and then he wants to do them himself!

Laundary is a never ending task, as I'm sure most of you will agree! It is much better when you have a little helper, though! As soon as I start filling the washing machine, Mason gets sooo excited, and just has to watch the water fill it up, and open and close the lid a few times. When it is time to fold the clothes, he is always there to help, as well. Often, I'll be bringing a pile of laundary upstairs, and I'll come down to see that he has started bringing a couple things up the stairs, too! :) These pictures were actually taken quite a few months ago, but they fit so well with this subject, so I put them in.

Mason does such a thorough job of making sure that we didn't miss anything, he always wants to get into the hamper to check!! (this picture is just a couple weeks ago).

Another way that Mason helps is to make sure that he doesn't get any cavities! This is very helpful, since new teeth have been appearing weekly lately...I think his total count is up to 15 now! :)

I would have to say that Mason's favorite task would be stirring things. Each and everytime that he sees me at the stove, he has to get up and watch. He's never happier than when I give him his own spoon and let him help stir. He enjoys this so much, that he practices this skill every chance that he gets, using clean pots and utensils, and toys or clothes that he has access to.

Here he is stirring around his magnetic cow...isn't he so smart to choose something that could actually be food if it were real?

Our little boy is very strong and never hesitates to help move boxes that don't belong in the kitchen. I see a future for him in helping the Elder's Quorum move people in and out! :)

Whenever I fill the sink to wash dishes, Mason loves to see the bubbles that result. I started skimming the bubbles off of the top and letting him play with them on the ground, while I actually cleaned the dishes. Soon, he decided to start cleaning other areas of the house, and toddled into the living room and started scrubbing the piano bench. :)

I have soon learned that it's best to keep Mason out of the kitchen while I'm trying to sweep and mop the floor. This is kind of hard, so I've resorted to just strapping him into his chair and letting him watch me. Of course, as soon as he sees what I'm doing, he wants to help. It's our tradition that when I'm done with the broom, he gets to use it to sweep to his heart's content. :)

Breakfast with Cat

A couple weeks ago, my friend from college, Cat, and I met for breakfast. Even though we live relatively close to each other, we live at opposite sides of the city, so we don't get together as often as we should. Life is busy for both of us, and it was so fun to catch up and chat about old times! My friends and life that I had when I lived at the Colony was such a big part of shaping who I am now, and I'm always grateful for any chance to reminisce!

Mason was pretty good and let us talk for awhile before trying to climb out. Then, we just let him play under our table. :)

The worth of a blog....

Today, as I was sitting at a table at my cousin's wedding reception, eating different kinds of cheeses and crackers and enjoying the delicious punch, the subject of blogs came up. I have to admit that when my sisters and mom and I get together, that topic comes up quite frequently, we are all professed addicts. Anyways, I can't remember why Diana and I started talking about them, but David was in between us and, of course, had to put in his two cents.



Now David is a very supportive husband of most of my endeavors. He looks at the pictures that I take; he doesn't complain when I practice the piano, even though it's in the same room as our tv; he happily watches Mason so I can persue my love of running; and he attends the many family gatherings that my family has and enjoys them!

But my recent hobby of blogging/facebook is not something that he has caught the vision of, yet. So, of course, when Diana and I started telling each other that it's been awhile since the other one had put up a post, and that we were getting tired of checking the blog every day with no update, David had to say something. He said something to the effect that I spend too much time on the computer and he always sees me looking at people's pages that I don't know.

Well, that is partly true, sometimes I do look at people's page with whom the only connection that I have is that their friend wrote a comment on my old roommate's cousin's page. I have been trying to make an effort recently to not surf so much, and just concentrate on people that I know directly. Somehow that has expanded to include a variety of people that are only "once removed" from me, whom I have come to know and enjoy reading about, even though I'm sure that they have no idea who I am.

Anyways, David's comments led me to return to the post that I have mentally been composing for the last couple weeks or so:

I've just been thinking about how grateful I am for technology, and the ability that it has given us to stay in touch. My mom often mentions that she is jealous that we have email and blogs to keep in touch with people that once were a big presence in our lives, but because of distance, we no longer get to see very often, if at all. I think about it, and I agree, if I had to rely on "real" letters and phone calls, I definitely would have lost touch with many people already. I haven't even sent out any Christmas cards yet!

Even with the ease of email, the correspondences have become less and less frequent. Then, I discovered blogging. Now, I feel much more in touch with so many more people who are so important to me.

Because of blogs, digital photography and email, I am not only able to hear about the antics of my old roommates' children, but I get to see the pictures of their mischieviousness. I get to read about the lives of friends that still live close, but not as close, and remember that it's time to arrange a get together. I am reminded about how much I enjoy old mission companions' and roommates' wit and outlook on life. I get to see pictures and get to read about the milestones of my cousin's baby, whom I would otherwise only get to see about once a year very briefly. I even get a front row seat in the adventures of my sister's first few months of marriage, and get to laugh about and marvel at the things that my nieces and nephews do that might not make it into my conversations with my other sister.

As I mentioned, besides peeking into my friends' lives, I am also slowly adding a list of perfect strangers to my list of blogs to check. I find encouragement through reading about other people's struggles and views, it validates some of my own struggles and thoughts as well.

Through the pictures and stories, I feel like I am once again apart of these people's lives who are so dear to me. I find myself thinking about them throughout the course of the day and wondering how things are going for them. This correspondence has made my life richer as I've remembered the great blessings of friendship and love that I have enjoyed in my life.

So...what is the conclusion of this long and rambling post? Despite what my wonderful husband thinks, there is value to blogging and I'm not about to quit!

Zoo Days, Round Two

A couple weeks ago, our friends Melody and Camden invited us to go to the zoo. They were meeting up with a group of people from their old ward, which so happens to be our old ward, as well. It was a lot of fun to spend time there. Once again, even though Mason had maybe a 20 minute nap in the car ride over, he was wide awake and happy the whole time. He loves looking at all of the animals. Because we had a bird's nest with baby birds outside of our door, I was teaching him the sign for bird. He would do that sign whenever he saw an animal. I love exposing Mason to new and different things!

He was so excited to see the elephant that we couldn't get him to turn away from it, even to pose for a picture. :)

It was fun to be with other moms who are at the same stage in raising kids. What would we do without strollers? I don't want to think about, I'm just grateful that someone invented them way back when...

Mason and Camden always seem to enjoy each other's company. Here they are catching each other up on the happenings of the day.

Mason doesn't look very happy on the train ride, but it's because he wanted to be jumping off the train and exploring all of the cool nature out side.

After a long day, these cute boys were ready for a much deserved nap!