Summer Trip to NY #1 - Diana's Wedding

Couldn't Keep This Kids Sitting

Beginning of June we all flew out to NY to see family and to go to Diana's Wedding in PA.  I think I spent two weeks packing for the trip. Not that I packed a lot, but tried to pack enough to entertain the kids of the flights, and to bring just the bare minimum of what we needed. We were of course worried about our little jumping beans making it a really rough flight. We packed snacks, candy, movies, games, binkies, bottles, and even little wrapped presents to give them every 30 min or so. Wow. Flying with two toddlers is no fun!!

We got to Newark and my parents took the kids and Jake and I took the rental car and stayed in Newark for the night. Of course the room I thought I booked wasn't booked. I was able to get on the business center computer at the hotel and book the room really fast with my awesome discount from Kari Dawson! Thanks Kari!

Excited for Take Off!!

Jake and I headed over to PA the next day and made a few stops along the way. We had to hit up Friendly's cause we heard they were going out of business, and because they have awesome ice cream! :o)

We got over to PA and checked into our hotel. Of course I had to book the cheaper hotel cause we had already spent a million dollars on flights. The hotel seemed nice from the outside, but was basically a dump. So much for a romantic wedding weekend! Our room number was written on with permanent marker. Classy.




Friday night was the Welcome Ceremony for Diana's wedding. I haven't seen my girlfriends in so long. It was great to catch up and celebrate with Diana. She looked gorgeous and was just glowing.

The girls minus Liss. :o(

Welcome Reception. 

Cotton Candy Maker At Movies! GENIUS!

On Saturday Jake and I took Pat (Kari's boyfriend) to the movies with us since we had most of the day to kill.  We saw "Snow White and the Huntsman". Jake and I loved it. We had fun taking Pat on a "date". He passes Kari! 

Heading to the Wedding

We all met at the Best Western at 6pm so we could take the bus to Jesse's parent's house where they were having the wedding! Jesse and Diana "revealed" themselves to each other before we headed over on the BUS! Fun right?!

The wedding was gorgeous. The tent, and the yard and all the details were beautifully planned out. A lot of love was put into that wedding. The cocktail hour was before the ceremony. We got to just relax together in the back of the house with Diana. It was nice to spend that time with her.

 The ceremony was after sunset, and the rabbi did an amazing job. It was great to see a traditional jewish wedding. Diana and Jesse looked really natural and happy throughout the ceremony.

The reception had great international station, live band and even a huge ice sculpture of Gus, their sweet dog. I got to be with Liss and Enoch and catch up with them. It kills me that we aren't closer to each other.

Sunday we headed back to Poughkeepsie and spent 3 days with my family.  We got to jetski, and eat lots of bad foods, and just hang out. I would have had pictures of our time together but left my phone and camera at the wedding!

In August we go back for Sarah's wedding! Zoey and I will fly out for an extra week. My mom has the whole week off and has lots of fun stuff planned for us. JAke said that being on the east coast feels like home. I like that he loves it so much, but being here in Utah feels right too. I am glad we get to make so many trips home this summer for all these really special events!!

Picnic at Sugarhouse Park!

We took advantage of a perfect Saturday late April and headed up to Sugarhouse to have a picnic and visit with Jordan. We got KFC and sat by the stream. The kids loved playing in the water! We all decided to head to City Creek in Salt Lake City to show everyone around the new amazing mall.

Zoey Knows How To Eat Fried Chicken!

Yum!

Memorial Day 2012

We had a great memorial day weekend! We started with really no plans at all and the weekend filled up with lots of family things and seeing some friends! We went on bikes rides with the kids, played and jumped around at Kangeroo Zoo, went to Grandma Joy's for a BBQ. It was perfect weather. The kids have been really cute lately. It was just great all around!!! Now in my mind it is officially summer! 

The Happenins

Spring and life are in full bloom here. It is almost hard to miss maryland sometimes. Of course we miss our friends and our house and the trees but we are really doing well.

Jake is doing great at RBS and I love subbing and being with the kids (most days).  Jakes family has been so helpful. I never thought I could call Utah my home. I am a true east coaster at heart, but over time the roof over your head doesn't seem to matter as much as the people you are making a life with.

" It is not the home that I love but the life that I lived there" Elsie De Welfe

Things keep changing so quickly and I never can keep up with this blog! So here are some of my Facebook updates that I've posted recently....

MAY 19th - This was a horrible 4 days with the kids. I was almost in tears everyday!!


"A typical 5 min in my life lately.... Zoey asks 15 times for cereal, all while logan is banging on the piano.I get logan off the piano and sit him next to zoey who is now crying. I get milk for cereal and Logan finds the salt shaker (enough said)...give zoey cereal, start to clean up the mound of salt logan is now pushing around the counter. Cleaning the salt off the floor and Logan takes Zoey's spoon. She hits him. He cries. He pulls 20 hairs out of her head. Both are hysterical. Logan starts taking anything he sees on counter and chucking it across the room. Zoey is on the floor crying. I'm just about there too! 

And so the days seem to continue in that manor."

Look what grandma bought!

MAY 18th - I interviewed and accepted a job!!! Some days I am excited and some days I dread it. We want to badly to get out of debt and feel like 1 year of both of us working will get us in control of our finances!


"Did I mention I am going to be a Middle School teacher next school year?! Well. I am. A little terrified of middle school but the classes are 50 min long. And shorts days every Fri. Oh and when I interviewed there were like 10 kids in line for the principals office! I hope I'm up for the challenge!"

May 17th - These were 4 awesome days when I got to realize how much I love dance and how much I wanted to steal this teacher's job right out from under her! 

"I get to sub for a high school dance class for 4 days! Today it felt so great doing technique and teaching a hip hop combo! The girls loved it! They say their teacher never teaches them anything. Off to think of a good lyrical for tomorrow!"

We can't take credit for this awesome hairstyle Logan sported in church

Zoey Picking Me a Flower after playing at "the gym"

May 8th - Jake and I have decided to step in and join Jake's brother's longboarding business. We gave them a bit of cash and stepped in to help them with some back orders. Now we are well on our way to getting the business going again! Here is something one of Justin's friend posted on my wall. Apparently their followers on Facebook thought I was there mom stepping in to right their wrongs. lol. Not really the case!

"I am finding it so funny that all of these guys keep thinking you're Justin and Jared's mother. You definitely do not look old enough to be their mom, nor, look anything like them. Haha oh silly boys.. Just because you have the same last name, you're automatically their mother. Didn't they see the post Jacob posted saying "brother"..? :)
Anyways. You guys are awesome and it makes me happy that you guys are helping out and pushing them to be the best that they can be and more. And believing that they can. :)
I miss all of you!"

New friends! Zoey and Calvin

Cousins

The Flu

I had the lucky privilege of getting the stomach flu this week! It hit me in the middle night and I basically stayed in the bed from Wednesday to Friday! I had hoped that since the kids had the flu shots (at least I thought they did) that I would only be the one to suffer.

Nope.

The throwing up and diarrhea started Friday night with Logan. And then just a few short hours later Zoey joined the fun.

We were up with Zoey all night catching her throw up in a bucket. She slept on towels in between us in bed. It was a smelly and long night.

The both of them were in good spirits on Sunday. Luckily it was Conference weekend and we were staying home to listen anyway. We changed so many diapers and it seems like everything smelt of vomit.

It was just one of those weekends that one day I will look back and laugh about. It was so miserable going through it and watching them go through it.

Jake escaped it for the most part except for one  day of stomach cramps and throwing up once. I got the worse of it, putting me in bed for almost 3 days. I lost 5 pounds in 3 days from being so dehydrated and not being able to eat anything. I was miserable but still pretty excited about the weight loss, until I gained it all back within a matter of days once I started on regular foods and liquids again. Bummer.

I've never had the flu before. I even tried to go in for my sub job, but after barely being able to drive there and having chills and cold sweats and a fever, I left and didn't get out of bed for 8 hrs.

I think next year I will get everyone the flu shot!

Easter in Pleasant Grove

 We had a perfect Easter week in Pleasant Grove! My parents came out from NY with Charly and we got lots of family time!

They came on Thursday night, and we all met in Salt Lake including Bry, Kristie and Will at Costa Vida (or Cost-a Vida as my mom calls it). We ate and tried to have some convo but the kids were running around like crazy, so we ended up at McDonald's play place. The kids ran around and we got to relax a little.

Saturday we started out the day attempting an easter egg hunt at Thanksgiving Point. It was so expensive and so crowded. After we paid we walked in to hear there was a forever long wait just for the egg hunt. We turned around and got our money back and decided to find something else. We found Hee Haw Farms right in Pleasant Grove. Although we missed the egg hunt, they had tons for the kids to do and on a smaller scale that they were more free to run around. They had a huge slide with potato sacks, a fenced in petting zoo with baby animals out for the kids to chase and pet and kiss and feed. We did the facepainting and the tractor ride, and the pony ride. It was a darling little place! I can't wait to bring Zoey and Logan back again!

Saturday night we did a camp fire with Jake's family up in the canyon. Bry came down and met us after work.  It was a lot colder than expected, but I always love a fire and family.

Sunday we went to church! It was fun getting the kids Easter outfits this year. They always look so cute when they are all dressed up. After church we went up to Mt Timp temple to see the grounds and take some pictures. It was perfect weather and a perfect place to capture the cuteness of our little family. Oh, and Happy 30th Birthday Bry! So glad we got to spend so much time with you!!

Linda and Lloyd made an awesome Easter feast for us and then the kids did an Easter egg hunt in the back yard. Zoey and Logan caught on really fast to the excitement of candy in little eggs that they can have all to themselves! Zoey woke up in the morning wanting "Easter Eggs". Don't worry. We will make sure she understands the Atonement and the true meaning of Easter, but a two year old is only gonna remember the candy at the moment!

 Monday we headed up to Draper and got pictures of all the kids with my parents at FOTOFLY. Amazingly enough the kids actual sat, they actual smiled and they actually got a few shots.

From Draper we went north to meet up with David Jacobs and his family for dinner. I loved seeing David and Heather and their little ones. I can't believe Brody is 8 years old. Hayden is 6 and they have two little boys Logan's age.  Heather and I just chatted all night. I just love her. They are like family. Charly wasn't feeling well, but it didn't stop all the other kids from having a blast jumping off things and being silly!!

Tuesday me, mom and dad picked up Jake in Taylorsville at work and went to City Creek, the new mall in Salt Lake. It is gorgeous and so well done. We did a little shopping and got some lunch and sat outside in the awesome food court. I loved being with my parents and hubby! I rarely get them all to myself! We went to the temple with Linda and Lloyd and my parents and to JCW's for dinner. The boys then had a "meeting" and mom got to see Linda's best friend Sharron's Watermelon Apartment!

Wednesday my parents missed their flight, and came down to spend some time with us during the day. It was sad to say goodbye. I love having my family close by. Hopefully we can get them out here for good!!

Thanks for the great memories fam! It was a great Easter to add to many we've spent together.