Glorious Winter Day

Today felt like a winter day straight out of my youth growing up in So. California. It's days like today that I think, "yeah, winters in Colorado aren't that bad." Tomorrow is supposed to reach 70 degrees!!! But, this IS Colorado and Sunday is supposed to be in the 30s with snow flurries. So, today I took the kids to the park for a picnic. It was so fun. Then, to top it off, I came home and noticed that our bank account was looking a little padded. Yep, we got our tax return today, too. Sunshine and unexpected funds...what could top that for a glorious winter day?

Here are some pics from today...


Bella took this one of Ez an I...not bad for a 3 year old.


And here are some cute pics from the last week or so...

I laughed so hard when I saw this. I checked on Bella the other night after she was asleep and I noticed that she had laid clothes out for the next day. She didn't miss any details as she even laid out her Cinderella underwear and her socks. She has been doing this almost every night now. She is such a girly girl!
Sweet, cute, adorable, baby boy.
Our first walk in the double stroller. For some reason, this totally made me go, "Wow...we have 2 kids!"
Reading books with Daddy.

Back in the saddle

O.K. After a month of slacking, struggling, and sliding, I am happy to report that I am back in the saddle and I have renewed my commitment and effort at this weight loss thing. Thanks for all of your encouraging comments. I still have a vision of my goal and only 5 months left to achieve it so I am going to keep on keeping on. Blaine and Bella are great at eating whatever I put in front of them be it low carb, healthy carb, or no carb. They just roll with my dieting punches and are great sports about it. In fact, Bella loves to eat her vegetables and salad before anything else on her plate.
Any yummy meal or snack ideas that keep you on track with your healthy lifestyle?

Answers to movie quotes

Thanks for humoring us and playing along. Here are the answers:

1) "Blaine? His name is Blaine? That's a major appliance that's not a name!" Pretty in Pink

2) "Stop that rhyming. I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?" The Princess Bride

3) (You have to say this in a Mexican accent to get the full effect) "I sleep in a bed by myself every night. It's FANTASTIC!" Nacho Libre

4) "Knock me a little kiss". Clueless

5) (Sniff, Sniff) "What's that smell? It's you! Did you just take a bath 'cause you smell so good today. Or do you smell this good all the time?" Bear in the Big Blue House

6) (With a Boston accent) "Do you like apples?" "Yeah". "Well, I got her numba! How do you like them apples?" Good Will Hunting

7) (While smelling for BO) "Do I offend?" Pretty in Pink

8) (In a Chinese accent) "She at the church getting mawried". "Married?" "Yeah, mawried." "Married?" "YEAH, MAWRIED! Sheesh!" Sixteen Candles

9) "Wuv. Twue Wuv." Princess Bride

10) "Hey howlie." "Hey howlie to you, too." "He's so howlie he don't even know he's howlie." The North Shore

11) "Just keepin it real, baby. Just keepin it real." Clueless

12) "As if!" Clueless (I'm pretty sure I could have quoted this whole movie.)

13) "Make yourself a dang quesadila." Napolean Dynamite

14) "It's just a flesh wound." Monte Python Search for the Holy Grail

15) "If that were true we'd be having this conversation face to face." Bourne Ultimatum

16) "For those of you just tuning in, today we are teaching poodles how to fly." UHF

17) "Woman...Woe-man...Whoooa-man. She was a thief, you gotta believe, she stole my heart and my cat." So I Married an Axe Murderer

18) "Jake Ryan??? He doesn't even know you exist!" Sixteen Candles

19) "I'm late. I gotta bolt." Can't Buy Me Love

20) "Lot's of people go to school for 7 years." "Yeah, they're called doctors." Tommy Boy

21) "Not a lot of men in your profession, are there?" (Blaine suggested this one...) Meet the Parents

22) "You can't handle the truth!" A Few Good Men

And here are a few bonus quotes that we thought of after our post:

23) If she were a president she'd be called Baberham Lincoln Wayne's World

24) Surely you can't be serious. I am serious and don't call me Shirley. Airplane

What kind of punctuation are you? I'm a colon.

You Are a Colon

You are very orderly and fact driven. You aren't concerned much with theories or dreams... only what's true or untrue. You are brilliant and incredibly learned. Anything you know is well researched. You like to make lists and sort through things step by step. You aren't subject to whim or emotions. Your friends see you as a constant source of knowledge and advice. (But they are a little sick of you being right all of the time!) You excel in: Leadership positions You get along best with: The Semi-Colon

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

Well, I saw this on Amy's blog and decided to do it for myself. I agree that I like facts, lists, and I do well in leadership positions. I guess in my profession I am seen as someone to seek advice from. But, I don't think I am that orderly, brilliant, or a constant source of knowledge. It was fun to play the punctuation game though. I'm curious to know who the semi-colons are out there?

Favorite Movie Quotes

Do you find yourself quoting movie lines in your everyday conversations? We do so we thought it would be fun to create a movie quote quiz. These are oft quoted lines in our house...Leave your answers in our comments and also let us know your favorite movie lines. We'll post all the answers in a week.

*Disclaimer: These are according to our memory so if we didn't get it exactly right, sorry!

*There are a few movies that are used more than once.

1) "(Name)? His name is (Name)? That's a major appliance that's not a name!"

2) "Stop that rhyming. I mean it!" "Anybody want a peanut?"

3) (You have to say this in a Mexican accent to get the full effect) "I sleep in a bed by myself every night. It's FANTASTIC!"

4) "Knock me a little kiss".

5) (Sniff, Sniff) "What's that smell? It's you! Did you just take a bath 'cause you smell so good today. Or do you smell this good all the time?"

6) (With a Boston accent) "Do you like apples?" "Yeah". "Well, I got her numba! How do you like them apples?"

7) (While smelling for BO) "Do I offend?"

8) (In a Chinese accent) "She at the church getting mawried". "Married?" "Yeah, mawried." "Married?" "YEAH, MAWRIED! Sheesh!"

9) "Wuv. Twue Wuv."

10) "Hey howlie." "Hey howlie to you, too." "He's so howlie he don't even know he's howlie."

11) "Just keepin it real, baby. Just keepin it real."

12) "As if!"

13) "Make yourself a dang quesadila."

14) "It's just a flesh wound."

15) "If that were true we'd be having this conversation face to face."

16) "For those of you just tuning in, today we are teaching poodles how to fly."

17) "Woman...Woe-man...Whoooa-man. She was a thief, you gotta believe, she stole my heart and my cat."

18) "(Name)??? He doesn't even know you exist!"

19) "I'm late. I gotta bolt."

20) "Lot's of people go to school for 7 years." "Yeah, they're called doctors."

21) "Not a lot of men in your profession, are there?" (Blaine suggested this one...)

22) "You can't handle the truth!"

The Loves of My Life

I have more pictures of Blaine asleep than awake...but that is because he works so hard and falls asleep anytime he sits down for a minute. This year he surprised me with Valentine's WEEK...he gave me a present every day for the past week. It was so very sweet! Love you, Babe!


I love the light and sparkle in Bella's beautiful eyes. She is such a sweet girl and so much fun. She has got a great sense of style, don't you think? :) Even though the laundry situation drives me crazy, it is great to watch her use her imagination and play dress up. I love this age...she is so funny with the things she says and does. One of my favorite things that we do together is dance around the house to whatever music is on the radio. The girl has got some moves...

And my sweet, baby Ez...He's been cranky lately because he has a little cold and fever...cranky baby usually equates to cranky Mommy. But, this past month he has been so much fun...so smiley and such a flirt. He coos and goos and melts my heart every day. Yesterday he had a doctor's appt. and he weighed in at 9 pounds 7 ounces, which is actually pretty good for him. He has made serious improvement in eating, vomiting, and sleeping over the past month and he just lights up my world.

And, now a word on me...I have been Struggling (with a capital S) this past week or so with the whole weight loss thing. I have continued to exercise (although not as intensely) but the eating thing has just been a killer. Last night Blaine and I were watching the last hour of the Biggest Loser that I had recorded from the other night. I had watched the first hour in the morning while using the eliptical machine but when we sat down to unwind and finish the show off, I told Blaine that I really wanted a milk shake. "Can I do that? Can I eat a milk shake AND watch the Biggest Loser at the same time?" He said, "That's like reading the scriptures and smoking at the same time." Well, that made me laugh and boy did I enjoy that milk shake...

I guess I am feeling a little rebellious...it won't last forever and I'll be back on track shortly. Any suggestions on how you get back on when your weight loss efforts have been derailed?

Video clip of Ez at 4 months

Ez at 4 months- Sorry about my baby talk. :)

100 things

If you are sick of reading about me...don't read on. I have enjoyed reading everyone's 100 things list so I thought I'd give it a whirl...

1. Blogging is one of my escapes
2. Blaine is my best friend
3. I love the way Ez stares at me all day and tracks my every move
4. I hope Heavenly Father is preparing 2-3 more babies for me
5. I love the baby stage
6. I can't wait until my kids are teenagers and I hope they will want to hang out with me every once in awhile (am I delusional?)
7. I am not a good housekeeper nor do I think I am very creative
8. I am very responsible and a woman of my word
9. I don't do well with flakey people
10. I prefer email to telephone calls
11. My children's birthparents are my greatest heroes
12. I was somewhat of a gypsy during my college years and I had 41 roommates before I got married. This is including my missionary companions and this is only counting my repeat roommates (like Jenn and Kristi) one time each.
13. Going on a full-time mission for the church was one of the best decisions I ever made.
14. I have lived with a lot of "psycho" roommates (of course, that isn't the clinical term for them but I wasn't a therapist when they were my roommates and so the only term I could come up with back then was "psycho".) So, even though I now have some ideas as to the mental illnesses they may have had, "psycho" remains the way I remember them.
15. I played soccer in high school
16. I was voted most talkative and class clown in 6th grade
17. Apparently I turned in my quick wit and incessant talking for hairspray and make-up the next year because I was voted most attractive in 7th grade (I still laugh about that one)
18. I love Blaine's surfer/skater/don't-care-about-how-other-men-my-age-are-dressing style
19. Having been inside many people's heads, homes, and marriages through my various work, I am grateful to know that I have a solid, healthy marriage
20. I used to be more adventurous than I am now
21. I didn't start eating my vegetables until I got married
22. I LOVE vegetables
23. I enjoy baking and feel the desire to do it most on Sundays and rainy days
24. Even though I always have to correct the pronunciation and spelling of my name, I love having a unique first name
25. I had a major crush on the Blaine character in the movie Pretty in Pink
26. I love to travel but I equally love being home
27. I am not high maintenance
28. I enjoy connecting with old friends
29. I love being in my 30's
30. I love being a part of the adoption community and feel a connection with other adoptive families
31. The scariest and most dreaded church calling for me became my absolute favorite calling I've ever had (Gospel Doctrine
Teacher)
32. I love Mac computers
33. I think Bella has the most beautiful, red hair
34. Certain noises can really set me off (ice chomping and loud eating are the top 2)
35. This is a lot harder than I thought it would be
36. I didn't really think I was that smart in college and so I surprised myself when I decided to pursue a Master's degree
37. My perfect day would be on a beach, sipping a virgin pina colada, soaking in the rays with my family
38. I love the conversations Blaine and I have when we have time to really talk like in the car on a road trip or at dinner
39. I love Blaine's family and feel blessed to have such great in-laws
40. I support my parent's decision to build a house in Chile and am happy they are enjoying their retirement
41. I binge on chocolate much more than I'd like to admit
42. I hope that when I die people will remember me as being a genuinely good person
43. I think I have a nice smile
44. I had braces on and off 3 times from the 3rd to the 8th grade
45. I was boy crazy growing up
46. I thought Michael Jackson was totally hot when he was young and black
47. I'd like to take guitar lessons someday
48. I am a loyal friend
49. I don't initiate many phone calls but I always appreciate a phone call from a friend
50. I become emotional quite easily with movies and books
51. Blaine and I applied to be contestants on the Amazing Race when we were first married
52. I don't like relationships that seem to require a lot of work. I really enjoy my friendships that just naturally fall into place with out a whole lot of work.
53. I don't like the whole "keeping up with the Jones'" mentality and I try not to fall prey to it
54. I like straightforward, genuine people. Blaine is definitely one of those people. He is with out pretense.
55. I hope to raise my children in a way that they will be grateful for all that they have and have compassion for those who have less.
56. I want my kids to be nice to everyone. Blaine and I always say that if we hear our kids are the ones teasing others at school or what not, we will definitely not be o.k. with that. They don't have to be best friends with everyone but I do want them to be nice to everyone.
57. I would like to read more books
58. I am not very technologically savvy but I get by
59. I do not look forward to helping kids with homework
60. I am grateful that my parents encouraged me to travel and see the world before I settled down
61. I have a serious weakness for diet dr. pepper and coke zero
62. I miss living in California but I think we will most likely stay in Colorado forever
63. I am amazed at how much Blaine does on such little sleep
64. I love watching Blaine and Bella play together
65. I would eat out at Cafe Rio every day if I could. Since there isn't one in Colorado, I guess I can't. But, Costa Vida is the next best thing and we go there every first Tuesday of the month!
66. I often feel so overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessings in my life such as being born in the United States and having the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. With those two things alone, I know I have lived a privileged life.
67. I love to laugh until I cry
68. I love to snuggle with B, B, and E.
69. I love to win at bunco
70. I love taking walks in the spring, summer, and fall (I am sooo missing my walks right now)
71. I love reality shows but I try to only watch one or two a season.
72. I don't watch any t.v. that is violent, and only watch the occasional movie with violence such as The Bourne Identity series
73. I love watching my kids interact and have fun with their cousins
74. I think I got a good married last name and I feel bad for my friends who got, shall we say, unfortunate last names when they tied the knot
75. I would love to bungee jump someday
76. I get totally freaked out under water, such as snorkeling
77. I convinced Blaine to go to a Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift concert with me this summer (that is a big accomplishment)
78. I have gone to alot of concerts in my life even though I don't go to them very often anymore
79. I am very rarely surprised by things but I wish I were more
80. I hate wasting food but I'm trying not to "waist" my food, too
81. I don't really understand blogger etiquette. When someone asks me a question on my blog, am I supposed to answer back on my blog or go to theirs and answer back?
82. I try to be an easy person to get along with
83. I enjoy quiet nights at home watching a movie and eating popcorn
84. I really like dark chocolate
85. I enjoy shopping for Christmas presents and I get started very early and am usually finished by December 1.
86. I love the excitement of Christmas and I enjoy decorating the house. But, I strongly dislike putting everything away after Christmas is over and I always want it done by January 2.
87. I learned very important things from my boyfriends before I was married and I believe that I am a better wife because of previous relationships.
88. I get embarrassed when I cry in front of people
89. I fell head over heels for Blaine when he came to pick me up for our 5th date and I opened up the door and saw him standing there. Prior to that, I just thought he was o.k.
90. I feel so appreciative when someone has been kind and thoughtful towards me and my family
91. I think Blaine looks hot in his scrubs
92. We have no medical explanation for our infertility
93. I don't understand how anyone could say that they could never love an adopted child "like their own"
94. I hope to go on a mission again someday with Blaine and I really hope that it is Spanish speaking again. I also have nightmares every once in awhile that I am back on a mission.
95. I love the Spanish language and I love Hispanic cultures.
96. I enjoy keeping in contact with my Chilean friends and I consider Sonia to be one of my very best friends
97. I haven't scrapbooked in about 6 years. The thought of it actually totally overwhelms me.
98. It is really late
99. I should really be in bed
100. Good-night

Have you made someone's bed today?

O.K. I have to admit...making beds seems like such a pointless chore to me. I mean, come on, I'm just going to get right back into it in 15-16 hours. (Pathetic, I know!) Well, Bella was upstairs messing around in my room while I was downstairs working out and she came running up to me all excited saying, "Mom. I made your bed! Come and see!" So, I went upstairs and sure enough, the bed was made. And, she did a really great job. What a sweetie! And, the thought also occurred to me, "I'm going to have to put this girl to work".

Why not?

O.K. So, everybody's doing it...Here is my list.

4 Jobs I've had

1) Hostess at Red Lobster (all the free, yummy, garlic, cheese biscuits. Thankfully my 16-year-old body had decent metabolism back then).
2) I can't remember the title but I worked in lots of different group homes while in college. Usually they were group homes for people with disabilities. I LOVED this job! I also worked in a youth shelter and I loved that, too.
3) Therapist
4) Adoption Social Worker

5) Bonus Round: MOM!!!

Movies I've watched over and over

1) Clueless
2) Music and Lyrics
3) Bourne Identity Series
4) Good Will Hunting (I only watch the t.v. version that we taped because all of the swearing is taken out. This is a great movie, especially for a social worker!)

Places I've lived (I only get 4 slots for THIS one??? I'll choose my favorites...Note: Utah did not make the list! Sorry all my Utah friends...I still love you.)

1) California
2) Hawaii
3) Jerusalem
4) Chile

Shows I watch

1) Biggest Loser
2) Amazing Race
3) 20/20
4) The Office

Favorite Things to Eat (On or off a diet because the list really changes?!?)

1) Roasted Almonds
2) Cafe Rio or Costa Vida
3) Chocolate Chip Cookies
4) Panda Express orange chicken and noodles

Places I'd rather be

1) On a beach in Mexico
2) On a beach in California
3) On a beach in Hawaii
4) On a beach in Chile

Things I look forward to this year

1) Taking Ez to the temple to be sealed to us
2) Going to Mexico
3) Going to Chile
4) Warmer weather

Memories of President Monson

Bella and I met and shook President Monson's hand at the Aspen Grove family camp near Sundance, Utah a few years ago. Apparently President Monson's extended family goes to Aspen Grove one week out of every summer and when they are there, he comes up to be the speaker at the outdoor fireside. Interestingly enough, my family has only gone to Aspen Grove twice...once in 2002 and once in 2005 and both times, we happened to be there the week President Monson's family was there and so both times, our fireside speaker was President Monson. It was such a neat experience both times because it was such an intimate setting in the small, outdoor arena and instead of a well prepared talk, he basically told stories. He is a great story teller and has an incredible memory. His stories always seem to be about following the spirit and helping people in miraculous ways.

Another memory I have of him is from before I was married. I was attending college in Utah and was going home to California for the weekend. The airplane that I was to fly on was just arriving with passengers and so I was going to have to wait until all of the passengers got off before I could board. I was just standing around when I see President Monson (and a few other people, probably security guards) come walking towards my gate. (This was before 9/11 when anyone could come to the gates to greet arriving passengers). Apparently he had family arriving on the plane that I was going to board. I stood there beaming as I saw him coming towards me and I noticed that it didn't seem like very many people knew who he was. I was surprised since afterall, this was the Salt Lake City airport. Anyway, I just stood back smiling as he approached and he looked at me and said, "What a beautiful smile you have!" It was such a small thing but I think that is characteristic of him..taking note of the bystander and trying to lift them in any way that he can as his path crosses with theirs. Anyway, I look forward to all that he has to teach and offer as the newly appointed president of the church and prophet of God. I pray for him as this must be a huge and daunting responsibility to bare.

Thanks for letting me take a trip down memory lane...

Farewell to a Prophet of God

Today I took Bella and Ez to the stake center to watch President Hinckley's funeral. I remember when I was a young girl and my Mom took me to the church to watch President Kimball's funeral. I remember feeling so reverent and humbled during that experience. I don't remember much about President Benson's and President Hunter's passing and funerals but I knew that President Hinckley's was a funeral I didn't want to miss. Anyway, although I felt sad at the news of President Hinckley's passing last Sunday, I hadn't shed a tear. But, I immediately started crying today as they showed the empty seat in between President Monson and President Eyering. I felt a wave of sadness and loss wash over me as the reality of President Hinckley's passing really hit. I also felt happiness and joy as I thought about all that he stood for and taught and that I was able to learn from him over the years. And, I am so happy that he is once again reunited with his beloved wife of 67 years.

My testimony of prophets has grown over the years, largely in part to President Hinckley. He was the modern day prophet that I testified of on a daily basis as a missionary of the church from 1997-1999. I was able to see him speak in person and by television on a number of occasions throughout the years and I always felt the spirit witness to me that he was the prophet of God on the earth in this day. Today I felt like I was saying good-bye not only to the prophet of God, but to a Grandpa. I think most of us have felt a special fondness towards him because of his contagious laughter, humor, and amazing ability to connect to people. I am grateful for his example of Christ-like living and love and I hope that I "stand a little taller" because I learned from him over the years. I am grateful that God continues to speak to his people, just as He did in the days of Moses, Abraham, Peter, and countless other ancient prophets of God. I know that God does not want us to be confused and so He continues to guide His church through modern day prophets. Although I will miss President Hinckley, I know that I will love and honor and learn from our next prophet of God.