Look! It's a Teenage Mutant "Injured" Turtle

See my Bandaid? I scraped my forehead and needed my first bandaid.

See, I'm a cute turtle

Not to be confused with Ray, who is a tortoise

See my cool shell?

My friends Lori and Avery

Isn't this the cutest elephant in the world? This is Jax's friend Ashley. Adorable.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Love the Leaves

Well, I wanted to get some pictures of some really bright leaves, but they didn't stay colorful for very long this year. Jax had fun playing in the big pile of leaves in our backyard. I just love taking walks during this time of year and hearing the leaves crunch under my feet. Don't you just love that?

duct tape

I love that Jax enjoys books so much. He can sit for such a long time just turning the pages and feeling the textures, and he especially loves lift and flap books.

Sometimes, however, he can be a little rough on his books

Take "Goodnight Moon" for example. He loves this book and we've read it together every night for 13 months. So, he was a little perplexed to find that the first few pages mysteriously fell off while he was turning a page. "no problem" I thought.....

I've got duct tape

It may look a little sad, but as you can see he still wants to read it. I guess I could just buy him a new copy, but this one has charm, don't you think?

I tried it!

I don't own this book yet, but I borrowed a few recipes from it and gave it a try.
Lately Jax seems to be on a food strike. He seems uninterested in food and it's really starting to concern me. He loves 4 foods and that's about it; smashed bananas, french toast, mac & cheese and buttered toast. He won't really touch anything else. So the other day I decided to "sneak" some pureed carrots and cauliflower into his mac & cheese, and guess what? He gobbled it up. I simply steamed the veggies , threw them in the food processor, and mixed it in with the mac & cheese. It was really simple. So now I'm going to see what I can sneak into his french toast. Hopefully this food strike will pass once his sore teething gums are feeling better.

It's Raining Pumpkins

Gotta love the Fall!

My Guy

I've been tagged to share some info on my guy so here goes:


1. Who is your guy? Jared

2. How long have you been married? 6 &1/2 years

3. Where did you two meet? In therapy.....................Oh, you might be wondering what kind?
Physical therapy. He was the PT assistant and I was the patient.

4. What did you do on your first date? He picked me up in his cool black Acura, wearing a very hot black leather jacket and wearing Swiss Army cologne. Yummy. We went and saw "Meet the Parents" and had a good laugh, then we talked all night. I just realized something. He no longer has his Acura, no longer wears that cool leather jacket and hasn't worn cologne since our wedding. hmmmmm interesting.

5. Who made the first move? Me. I leaned. (name that movie) I leaned and he liked it.

6. What do you admire most about him? He has so many amazing qualities. I guess to name a few: He would do anything for anyone. He really cares about people and cares about keeping real close friendships strong. He loves Jax and I so much and it really shows. He can be really funny and charming when he wants to be :) He is brilliant. He seriously knows so much it's amazing. If anyone needs a lifeline or shout out someday call him up.

7. Do you like to travel together? We travelled like maniacs before we had our sweet little guy. We've been to Budapest Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Canada, the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, and lots of places in the good old USA. We love San Fransisco, Boston, NYC, Washington DC, Maine, Pittsburgh, Jackson Hole, Lake Powell, Moab, Niagra Falls, Mountain Green, you name it. Can you tell we love getting out of town?


8. Favorite foods? He loves anything healthy and not fried. He won't eat red meat. He loves my brownies and Chocolate chip cookies. If those were the only two treat options for the rest of his life he'd be happy. He also loves Carrabbas and Mama Mimis's pizza.

9. What's his favorite TV show? Well, he doesn't have much time for TV, but he is pretty addicted to LOST. I had a hand in that. He also thinks Dwight is hillarious on the OFFICE and occassionally watches that. He also loves ESPN, the Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

10. Favorite Music? country, classic rock.

11. Favorite recreation activity? He loves to be outside. Hiking, water skiing, road biking, golfing, running, snow skiing, scuba diving. You name it he's done it.

12. What is his dream job? Well, I'd like to think it would be in medicine, but it's not. He wants to be a farmer. Next question :)

13. What are his idiosyncrasies? Um, too many. Next question :)

14. What does he do that makes you laugh? Oh lots of things. He does one amazing Golam impression (Lord of the Rings) and it scares me so bad it makes me laugh. He also does the childhood game where he copies everything I say. He usually does this if I'm getting bugged over something small and meaningless. I start laughing and then it gets worse because he then copies my laugh to a T and I just end up laughing so hard my stomach hurts. Then there's always the chicken dance. Funny stuff. He also makes Jax laugh all the time and I love that.

15. If you could tell him one thing it would be? That he is my best friend, and an amazing father. I love him and I will forever.

Oh What Fun to Be a Witch!

A big thanks to my crafty friend Stephanie for hosting such a fun and creative evening. Everyone came decked out in their own creative witches hats. I decorated mine with colorful flowers. I am standing next to the winner of the creative hat contest. Liz's hat sparked with lights and fun ribbons. Oh the creativity. I wish I could catch a little of that this season. This was a very fun night filled with fun friends, great Halloween decorations and a carmel apple bar. Need I say more?
FUN

Why can't money really grow on trees????

Jared and I are flying home to Utah for Christmas because his brother is getting married on the 27th. Definitely happy news.
The bummer news is that we can't find any flights for less than $480 a piece, and that is with one layover. This is crazy! Is anyone else traveling for Christmas? Any luck out there with fares? Jared thought about driving, but then we decided that may feel like cruel and unusual punishment. Oh, the holidays.

Good Stuff.

Sometimes I go through periods where I feel pretty confident in my small talk abilities. Other times I feel like my tongue and brain just aren't working right and I can't think of anything to say, or I just stumble and blabber on and on which is worse. Can anyone relate?

Stephen Covey would say to "sharpen the saw" so I decided to try it. These are a couple great books on sharpening conversation skills. Give it a try.

Someone's being quiet in the kitchen.....

Oh, well that explains it. Maybe there is something to the claim that Tryptophan in turkey makes us sleepy.

Random 63

1. My favorite treat is pumpkin pie. Costco makes a great one.

2. I have 5 brothers and no sisters. My mom and I are "tight" (as my little brothers would say)

3. My dad has an amazing heart and there is no better Dad out there. Period.

4. I have many mean thoughts about Hillary Clinton.

5. In my opinion she's just not right in the head

6. I get into politics big time, and I love talking with my mom about the issues

7. I hope Jax is a Republican

8. Although that word these days doesn't mean what it used to

9. I desperately need new jeans but I don't like to shop, so I've been avoiding it. I need my mom's inspiration in the retail department.

10. I miss her

11. I can hit my driver 280 yards.

12. But I have the yips with my putter. My brother Preston calls me "3-putt"

13. I played college golf

14. I loved every minute of it

15. Except the time I fell in the lake..... humiliation

16. Pop rocks, you know the candy....those were pretty fun when I was younger

17. I wanted to be Punky Brewster when I was 11. Boy, she was the coolest.

18. I am addicted to LOST, the OFFICE and Glen Beck. That's about it TV wise.

20. I could watch Sound of Music over and over again

21. And the Burbs. Funny stuff

22. I love to road bike in Ohio

23. I haven't been on my mountain bike since my sophomore year of college

34. When I was in Moab Utah

35. And almost died. Yep, 2 more feet off that ledge and I would have plummeted 400 feet into the Colorado River. YIKES!!!! Beware of the single track on Porcupine Trail and don't brake too hard.

36. I've had 3 colonoscopies. Enough said

37. I've had 3 knee surgeries.

38. I've had 3 fainting episodes

39. Did anyone notice I jumped from 23 to 34, I just realized it myself :)

40. Jared wanted to spell Jax's name with 2 x's. Jaxx.

41. I thought that was lame

42. His name is spelled with only 1 x because I insisted and threw a slight fit. Sweet victory.

43. I LOVE Christmas time and absolutely love Christmas music.

44. Especially from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. I get goose bumps

45. I've only had my nails done twice in my life.

46. Once for my wedding

47. And the other just before my first interview with Novartis

48. I should get my hair done more, but I get lazy. I average once every 6 months or so.

49. I am low maintenance

50. Jared doesn't realize how good he's got it :)

51. We budget every penny

52. This is mostly good and sometimes it's pull- my -hair -out annoying

53. I love being a mom and it's the most important job there is.

54. I should feel proud to spend each day rearing my son to be an honest, loving and proud Republican.

55. Sorry all my Democrat friends :)

56. I love the smell of of my kitchen after I've disinfected it and used Ajax in the sink.

57. I like to vacuum strangely enough, it makes those fun lines through the carpet.

58. I also enjoyed mowing the lawn when I was younger.

59. Same reason, fun straight lines ( and getting a good tan)

60. In high school, I was burned so bad in a tanning bed I won't ever use one again.

61. I was a dumb teenager and decided my pure white skin needed 30 solid minutes

62. My skin peeled off in sheets. It was agony.

63. I guess I'd better go and cook dinner. Maybe chicken and smashed bean burritos. So Yummy

Easy Flannel Board Project

Jax loves the flannel board activities during story time at the library, so I decided to make him one. It's as simple as:

1. Buy an art canvas, or plywood in desired size. I bought this art canvas at Joann's for $5

2. Staple flannel to the canvas. There are probably other ways to attach the flannel but this one worked great for me.

3. Cut out some fun felt shapes, letters, etc. Sky's the limit.

4. Put in front of a sweet and adorable baby :)

5. And have fun. Easy does it.

Happiness is.....

Goofing off with daddy...

Reading "10 little ladybugs" with mom.

and laughing because she looks so funny when we play airplane

Fun at the Phoenix Zoo

My cousin Erica and I took our kids to the Phoenix Zoo and had a blast. Every good zoo should have giraffes am I right? Come on Columbus zoo get some big giraffes :)

Howdy folks I think I'll be a farmer when I grow up. Daddy sure is proud.

Here's my curious little guy. Isn't he adorable?

I think I'll feed this cow.

A few books I've read recently

I loved this book. It opens your eyes to the science and "practice"of medicine.

This book is well-written and fair balanced. I recommend it.

I could read this over and over again. It's a classic

Every mom should read this. Motherhood is amazing

Edward, and Bella, and Jacob....I am addicted to this series

Absolutely LOVED it!!!

A few numbers

11- hours Jax sleeps at night......hooray!!
15- typical hours a day Jared works during this rotation......bummer
3- # of times I've cleaned off the high chair today....it never ends
6- years I've been married..sometimes it feels like 25....kidding...sort of:)
30- miles I rode on my bike the other day...I love Ohio during the Fall.
1- OSU football ranking......go Bucks!!
7- Bon Jovi CD's I own.....and love!
150- dollars I spent on my new Taylor Made driver......worth every penny
2- pets in our house. Ray (the tortoise) and Gil (our new fish)
millions- # of kisses planted on Jax's cheeks
4- Jax's current tooth count...Cutest smile in the world!
3- times I've watched Carrie Underwood's new video "so small" today on YouTube. Love it.
5- minutes until I start dinner. Until next time...

Nuts Over Socks

I must say that these are such CUTE stockings. I had so much fun making these with my Grandma and I am excited about getting crafty and starting some fun projects this winter.