27 hours of driving later...

I made it to TEXAS! Let's just say I will never ever ever drive 1700 miles by myself with a kid in the back. It could have been a lot worse, but it was bad enough. The first day we left Cali around 8 am. Ethan slept off and on all day which was nice. We got caught in some really bad rain/hail storms in the mountains of AZ. I don't think I've ever been so scared in all my life! There were times when I couldn't even see anything and there were cars pulled off to the side of the road. I also saw a car get side swiped by a semi! Too much action for me. We called it a night at 11 pm in Gallup, New Mexico. I was ready to quit by 9, but these guys pushed me a little more. I think the grand total of Ethan's screaming was about 3 hours. We started the next day around 8 am. The moving truck overheated around 11 and Ryan had to be towed into Albuqurque. Come to find out the truck blew a gaskett and we had to be reloaded into another truck. When I think about it, I know some of our stuff probably broke and got ruined with the towing and removing :( I guess we'll just have to see. Aaron and I went on ahead and got to my parent's place around 10:30 Texas time. I will be happy to not set foot in a car for awhile. Ryan made it in around 4 am Texas time. So we made it here safely so thank you for everyone's prayers. I really don't think things would have turned out like they did had you not. Ethan was truly a champ given the circumstances. I would scream too if I had to be strapped down to an uncomfortable, back-facing car seat. Well, I'll post some moving pictures later. I'm going to try to unpack my car. I miss all my friends already. Thanks for all your phonecalls and messages during my trip. They helped me keep going. I love you guys!

Lake Chelan, Washington episode 1

I've called it a night in order to end my packing frenzy. I am so tired and Ethan is tired of me packing. I swear he sits in the floor and cries all day as I walk back and forth, go in and out of rooms, and he has no idea what to do. I feel so bad, but I have to get this stuff done. Anyway...Now that I have a little bit of time, I can start to share my trip to Lake Chelan (pronounced She-lan not She-lon, we found that out the hard way). So for those of you who don't know, the Elmers have a big family reunion bash every 2 years and each family takes a turn planning and carrying out a reunion. So Uncle Jeff and Aunt Peg planned a fun filled event in Washington. Unfortunately they were unable to come since they left to be mission presidents in Peru, we really missed them. So here's a map of Washington so you can see where we vacationed and a beautiful picture overlooking Lake Chelan in the evening. In the next few evenings I'll post some pictures and stories of some of the experiences we had. Enjoy!

Going Away Party at Michelle's

Here are some fun pictures from my little going away lunch that Michelle put on for me. She made a great chicken tortilla soup along with some guacamole (which Ethan loved). I swear my friends are so cute! As I was checking ouot the pictures, I realized...everyone in the pictures have had a baby within the past year or are currently pregnant. I guess it's easy to empathize with each other.

I'm Back!

Well, I have returned from the beloved Elmer Family Reunion aka "EFR" at Lake Chelan, Washington. Don't worry, there will be pictures to follow in a few days. I'm supposed to be packing up my house right now, but I needed a break. I hate coming home from a fun vacation and have to go through the burden of packing, moving, and driving. My house is complete chaos and there are 3 adults and a baby living in it for the next 3 days! Let's just say it's a little tight. Anyway...I had lots of fun at family reunion and we made it through the 17 hour drive without a problem (maybe a fun screaming moments from Ethan, but not too bad). Well, we leave Cali on Friday or Saturday so please pray for us to make it through the 25-28 hour drive to Texas!

Fun Memories

As many of you know, Ryan and I are officially moving to Texas! Now that my friends are planning my going away shindig, I have to come to terms that I'm leaving them. It's been the best and sometimes worst 2 years, but I've had awesome friends to get through it. I can't believe my time with them is ending so soon and I'm trying to get in as much time with them as possible. So here are some funny memories that I have had over these past 2 years. So here's to California and all of you who have made it so special. Feel free to e-mail me any more memories you can think of to add to the list. I'd love to add more!

Settlers of Catan nights at the Nielsen’s, Amy’s chocolate chip cookies, telling everyone “I caught something from work” (pregnancy), bed rest, Hilary’s encouraging phone calls, Emily’s enchiladas, fun chats in the nasty mother’s lounge, making fruit baskets at enrichment, pregnant women (at church and work), “I’ve been bamboozled!” Eric and Amy asking if I had any good “stories” from work, hearing “I’m paining” (in an Indian accent) out of a labor room every night at work, baby showers galore, going out to eat, Becky’s tomato dip, teaching Relief Society, visiting the “newest arrivals” at the hospital, having advice sessions, GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT!, blogging, Eric and Mike “frogging” and doing the worm, celebrating birthdays, List 5 things game, white elephant/ Yankee swap Christmas party, “Can’t get enough Super Golden Crisp…”, working night shift, Live Nativity (Bethlehem), many many trips to Safeway, walking with Hilary, “Can I get a little more cow bell?”, getting makeovers with Angie and Becky, going to the mall with friends, Oakland Temple trips, walking with Janelle to try to get me into labor, Sundays in the Nursery with the twins leaving my class sweating from jumping around, Pounce matches, Wahoo, Train, Kevin Buchannan phone calls, watching BYU football, early early basketball alarm, playgroups, swimming at the pool, Michelle’s boyfriend at Cheesecake, leaving the house at 10:30 almost every night for work and wishing that I was going to bed instead, waiting for HC’s, Andy swearing our child never cried until he actually had to watch him, Bria asking me about my baby before I even knew I was pregnant!, photo shoots with Ethan, hanging out with Carly, Michelle’s chocolate fountain, swelling face and huge “cankles”, pregnancy DDR, Emily’s perfect hospitality, Livy calling Emily “Cinderella”, beach trip with Amy, watching Napoleon, post conference dates at Max’s, hanging out at Janelle’s, all of the fun BBQ’s, Thanksgivings with the Eves’, FHE’s at the Uyleman’s when we first moved in, pregnancy announcements from everyone, my baby shower, “un-holy hot”, back row in Relief Society, blue scrub wardrobe, “my belly button has fallen off” (in an Indian accent), Linger Longers, Murder Mystery dinner at Becky’s the night before I became a mother, Michelle as the “bag lady”, Scum games, Clue night when Becky dressed up all “Flashy” and had crazy amounts of lipstick on, pumpkin belly, Hilary’s birthday party extravaganza, fun friends, the Youth, grossing Andy and Ryan out with “nursing talk”, Giants game with Gilroy garlic fries, watching conference at the Van Dykes, and many many more memories!

Bouncy Seat

This is just a fun little video of Ethan playing with his bouncy seat. He's really too old and too big to sit in it, but he really likes to pull up on it and pat the fish. One day I found him crawling up the back and got in it all by himself. As our pediatrician said today, "He's quite the athlete!"

Dippity Do

Whenever I take Ethan out the tub, I always like to make his hair all spikey or try a new "do." He has quite a bit of hair growing in these days and I love playing around. Well, Ryan HATES it when I spike it and he always mashes it down when he comes home. Boo! "Come on Dad, just a little spike?" And by the way, my child does wear clothes occasionally. He's not a big fan of clothing and it's been so blastin' hot here. To all of you in Dallas, yes, I know it's hotter there, but try living in an upstairs apartment with just a wall unit AC in only your living room and have the sun come directly into your apartment in the afternoon! It was 102 here yesterday and people that have lived in the area their whole lives haven't seen it be this hot, this long in years!

Ethan's Time in the Kitchen

When Ethan's not hanging on to me while I'm making dinner, he's cooking up his own stuff. He loves banging mixing bowls and measuring cups together and making lots of noise. I'm sure our neighbors underneath us are thrilled about it, but they won't have to deal with us much longer. I always remember cooking along side my mom when I was little. I had my own little set of bowls, spoons, lids, everything. She even let me use some of her ingredients to stir around. I hope Ethan can have fun with me in the kitchen as he grows up since that's one of my favorite things.

My Time in the Kitchen

Since Ethan is very mobile now and he has to be wherever I am, he can always be found hanging on to my leg. He especially loves to crawl to the kitchen and grab on while I'm making dinner or baking something fun for an event with friends. Sometimes he'll be distracted with a spoon and a mixing bowl to bang on, but most of the time he's hanging on me.

IT'S A GIRL!!!

No, I'm not having another baby. I scared you, huh? Emily and Mike had their baby girl on Tuesday at 2:08 pm. She was 8 lbs 11 oz and she's beautiful! They haven't finalized the name yet, it's between Olivia and Aliyah (I think that's how it's spelled). Some of us went up to see the proud parents and get a glimpse of what's been baking for the past 9 months. It's amazing for me to think that Ethan was that small since they weighed just about the same at birth. Ethan and Marky enjoyed seeing their newest playmate to join the bunch. So congrats to Mike and Emily, she's so beautiful and so perfect.

Funny Guy

Hey everyone! Sorry about the "lurking" entry. I think I just freaked everyone out instead of being funny and finding out who checks my blog that I don't even know. So thanks to everyone for your comments (even though you guys are the ones that comment usUally). I don't care how often you come, as long as you check out what's going on in our life. Anyway...Here's a little video of Ethan laughing at dinner time. Sorry for all the highchair videos, but that's all i've recorded lately.

Are you "lurking" on my blog?

It's hard to understand when people are being serious or funny so please read this in a humorous light. Okay, I have to address this issue...who is reading my blog? I have a counter on my blog that counts how many people visit, their location, how long they spend on my site, and if they were referred by another site. Now I have an idea of what kind of activity my blog brings and what parts of the country people are from. So here's my issue, if I'm giving you some entertainment of videos, pictures of my family, and funny dialogue then I deserve a little something from you. Is a little comment here or there too much to ask? I just think it's weird that people come "lurk" around my blog and peep into my life, but don't leave anything behind. So if you read my blog, leave a comment. It doesn't have to be every entry, or every day...just a little somethin' somethin' so I know who's checked my blog. I also want to address to all my family. I hate asking, "Have you checked my blog?" I'd like to think of it in this respect, I don't call someone to ask them if they got the e-mail I sent them. That is the whole point of sending an e-mail...so you don't have to call them! So if you leave a comment, then I know you've checked my blog. So all you friends of a friend, husbands of my friends, co-workers of Ryan, and any other "lurkers" out there. Please leave a comment and let me know who you are, what you think, and anything else. And please who is the person checking my blog in San Leandro, reveal yourself! I'm grateful for your visits and I don't want to discourage you from coming. So please continue to check out my blog and enjoy what I have to say.

Babies at the BBQ

Our ward had a little BBQ at the park on Tuesday. Here's a picture of Janelle's little girl, Sydney, Michelle's little boy, Marky, and Ethan. It's very hard to get all the babies to look at the camera at the same time as well as getting them to stay in place for more than 5 seconds. These kids are so cute! I would love to get a picture of all the little babies in the ward. That picture would be a baby wrangling mess!

The Ponder Chair

When Ryan's parents left for Australia we were lucky enough to inherit "the ponder chair" (ie the chair that Ryan's dad would sit in to ponder on the scriptures...and maybe take a little snooze sometimes). I swear it's the most comfortable chair ever!!! Anyway...Ryan does pretty much the same exact thing in "the ponder chair" so I figured we should train Ethan a little early. These pictures are of Ethan ponder the thoughts on "That's Not My Truck?" in Papa John's ponder chair. We'll upgrade to scriptures eventually, don't worry. I'll know his training is complete when Ethan sits in the chair and actually takes a nap in it. That may take awhile.

The Singing Teether

Here's a little video of Ethan singing in his highchair while he's eating some watermelon. He's been doing this singing/screaming thing lately and it's really funny. I went to the grocery store the other day and he was singing up and down the aisles making everyone laugh. In the video you can see how he'll sing for a little bit and then stop and push on his mouth. I think he's starting to get his first set of teeth in so he's been pushing on his cheeks and mouth for the past few days. Enjoy our little singer!

Arrrr, Savvy!

I went to Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest tonight with a group of friends. I actually got the night off to go play. It was sooooo nice! I think it's more fun to go to a movie like Pirates on the first day it's out since everyone is super excited for it. There were tons of people there and a lot of them were dressed up like pirates! Maybe people can be a little too excited...Anyway, it's just fun to be able to experience the joy of cheering with the crowd for Jack Sparrow!

Five Factor Personality Test

I think this whole test sums me up pretty well ( some of them not so much). What od you think?

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have high conscientiousness. Intelligent and reliable, you tend to succeed in life. Most things in your life are organized and planned well. But you borderline on being a total perfectionist. Agreeableness: You have low agreeableness. Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all. In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted. And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is low. You're a pretty conservative person, and you favor what's socially acceptable. You think that change for novelty's sake is a very bad idea. While some may see this as boring, many see you as dependable and wise.

The Five Factor Personality Test

What European City Do I Belong In?

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris. You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

Wow! I would love to got to Paris!
What city do you belong to?

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy

Well, my lovely friends brought me over some salmon since they needed to make room in their freezer for some good meals before their baby arrives. I've never experimented in the fish arena before since I'm not really a big fan of eating fish and it seems a little hard to make. I guess it's all a little foreign to me. So tonight I had no excuse (after all the fish was free). Well, I made a really good rub with all sorts of spices, marinaded it for a couple hours, and broiled it for a little while. You know what...it was really good! I was pretty darn proud of myself! I'm not a big fish fan, but I actually really enjoyed it. Now that I've conquered my fear of making sea food, I would love to try having one of those big crab boils where you just throw out some newspaper, hand everyone a few hammers, cut up some lemon wedges and have at it. I've seen people do it on the food network and it looks like lots of fun. After all, I live in the San Fran Bay area. We're wll known for our awesome crab. I just need to be a little more adventurous with my cooking.

8 Months

I can't believe it's been 8 months since I had Ethan! I'm going to take him to Maternal Connections tomorrow to get him weighed and measured so I'll let you know how the little guy does. Lately he's been in the 25th percentile in his weight and height, but what do you expect when he's got parents like us?

Ethan has been progressing quite well with his milestones. He's been crawling, pulling up to stand, saying "dada", feeding himself, and learning to fall on his bottom when he gets down. He's such a funny kid! He loves to make me laugh and smile and his little grin is infectious. I notice that he loves to make others happy. Whenever we're out whether it's at the store, library, or with friends, he loves to have people smile at him. He's a pretty happy kid and I love that. It's fun to see his sense of humor begin to form and find out what kinds of things make him laugh. I hope you enjoy this picture of our future comedian.