Bear Lake Part Two July 12, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Family, Little Man Dallin, Photography, Princess Hannah, Trips, Utah , 1 comment so farRemember how I went on vacation and had a million pictures to sort through?
Well . . . here are a few unrelated, pictures from our trip. :)
This was the view of the lake from our beach house. The kids had plenty of grass to roll around on, and there were PLENTY of mosquitos who made it their life’s mission to feed on our blood from every pore on our bodies.
I’m not a fan of bug spray (it’s too sticky and stinky) but I lathered it on like it was Love Spell lotion from Victoria’s Secret to keep the bugs away.
Dallin’s favorite part of the trip was the trampoline. He HATED the sand and cold lake water, so the only real fun he had (besides hanging out with me all the time, which goes without saying, is super fun) was jumping on the tramp.
Gosh, I think of this kid as a baby (because he is!) but dang, he’s looking like a toddler!
The kids loved jumping and seeing me under the tramp. Check out the size of Hannah’s feet!
Brent rented this little number for about an hour, which was probably the greatest hour of Hannah’s vacation. But let’s back up here . . . do kids really know what vacation is? I mean, isn’t her WHOLE life ONE BIG VACATION?
This is my eight year old nephew, Andrew (or as Hannah, refers to him as, “little boy”) demonstrating his mad back flip and back twist skills.
And this is Katie showing off her hand stand trick.
After seeing these tricks, Hannah confidently stated that she was going to demonstrate a back flip, back twist, and hand stand on the tramp all by herself. Then, she looked over at me and said, “Mommy, can you help me?”
Bear Lake Part One July 9, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Family, Parenthood, Photography, Thoughts, Trips, Utah , 2commentsMy extended family had a wonderful vacation together at Bear Lake, which is about four hours away on the border of Utah and Idaho.
We rented an eight bedroom beach house to accommodate seven families which equated to 28 people. It was a lot like being in a nice hotel with lots of common area to move around in, but at the end of the day, you share a room with your kids which is not my favorite way to sleep. I seriously don’t know how kids can share a room. I mean, I shared a room growing up for several years (probably until I was 12, then I got my own room) but I don’t know how anyone gets any sleep when two little people in the same room don’t sleep the exact amount of hours! I know I have great sleepers, and I’m talking about how one child sleeps 11 hours and one sleeps 13 hours, so some of you are throwing eggs at your monitor reading about my sleeping woes while on vacation, but seriously, Dallin really needs his extra two hours of beauty rest!
Hannah LOVED the beach. Why wouldn’t she? She’s from the Caribbean! The water was a nippy 50 degrees (or less!) and the weather only topped 75 degrees (too cold for my blood!) but she loved every minute of it just like she did two years ago when my family went on this very same vacation.
She was very busy making sand castles and watching her uncle Brent go in and out of the water doing various water sports.
Oh. My. Heck. I could just kiss her face off.
Dallin on the other hand . . . hated the sand and the freezing cold water!
Do you see this chair he’s sitting in? He did not get off this chair for SIX HOURS.
Yes. You read that right. SIX WHOLE HOURS. This is where he ate, jumped, socialized, and took a two hour nap on my lap.
Making sure my kid was safe at the beach was a no-brainer for me in this great baby-sitting-chair. :)
This is Katie and Hannah. Hannah thinks she is 12.
This is one of my nephews, Luke.
Brent and his sailboat.
This is another nephew, Aaron.
This is my niece Becky learning how to windsurf.
Hello Brent.
This is Hannah and Becky on their canoe adventure.
David missed this day at the beach, but Hannah sure had fun with her “too many friends” anyway.
Weekend With Some Besties February 3, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Friends, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, Thoughts, Trips, Utah , 4commentsThis last weekend David and I met up with some of our favorite peeps.
David and Brent (who lives in Ohio) were both invited back to Wichita, Kansas to take a second look at a residency program.
That last sentence can be interpreted the following way, “Hey, we like you guys and want you to pick our program. We’ll pay travel expenses for you and your spouse, wine and dine you, and put you in a nice hotel. Pick our program!”
We had a wonderful weekend. Why?
1. Because we spent a WHOLE weekend with some of our best friends WITHOUT ANY KIDS.
Really, do I need to say more than that? Brent and Michelle drove down from Ohio, and picked us up on the way to Wichita at the airport in Kansas City.
2. We stayed in a nice hotel and didn’t foot the bill.
3. The men worked on some hair brained schemes, while Michelle and I worked on our chit chat skills.
Did I mention we had fun?
We also liked the program, (and we’re pretty sure they liked us) so we may just end up in the same city after all! What’s better than getting a residency with your besties?
On a side note, every conversation I had this weekend went something like this:
New Person: So . . . where are you from?
Me: I’m from Utah
New Person: So . . . are you Mormon? (Said with curiosity. Am I intriguing? I’m Mormon so I guess the answer to that is YES.)
Me: Yes. Yes I am.
New Person: Do you know so-and-so (insert name of the only other Utah Mormon they have ever met.)
Me: No. I’m sorry I don’t. (But really, I’m like, HELLO! THERE ARE MORE THAN 12 MILLION MEMBERS WORLDWIDE! Lots of Mormons around!)
New Person: So . . . how long have you and David been married?
Me: It will be 13 years in July. (I know, I don’t think I’m even old enough for that!)
New Person: (SHOCK! DISBELIEF!) Gulp. Did you get married when you were toddlers!? (True story, more than FIVE count them FIVE people asked me if we got married as toddlers.)
Me: Almost! (Wondering if I should tell them I got married at 19, and just turned 32 . . .)
And this conversation happened over, and over, and over. ;)
Needless to say, we had a great weekend. When we returned, people asked us where we went and when I told them, “Wichita,” everyone responded, saying, “Is that in Kansas?” Apparently, it’s not on the map . . . yet.
Oh How I Love Thee February 2, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Little Man Dallin, Parenthood, Princess Hannah, Trips , 5commentsWe are back from our little getaway from this weekend.
It was so nice to have a weekend away.
I’ll post about our trip later, but for now, I thought I’d mention how much I missed my little kidlets.
I mean, I really missed them.
Hannah missed me a lot too.
Dallin on the other hand . . .
Was so busy and important playing with his toys, he didn’t have time to miss me!
Look at Dallin’s cheeks! Do you blame me for missing them?
I also missed kissing his fat little toes!
And LOOK AT THIS FACE!
I can’t help it. I missed him. LOTS.
And you know what? The second I walked in the door he realized I’d been gone and suddenly it hit him, “Oh, that’s what was missing over the last few days . . . MY MOMMY!”
This – This + This = This January 29, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Birthday, Family, Friends, Trips , 6commentsToday is my birthday. I’m turning 29! (Again!)
These are my plans: flying out of town with David – the kids + meeting up with some of our favorite people = AN AWESOME BIRTHDAY WEEKEND!
I love meeting up with good friends. :)
Happy birthday to my twin too! He could pass for 29 and I could pass for 21, right? OK, maybe 25?
I’ll have lots of fun pictures from our fun weekend I’m sure. :)
To jumpstart the fun, I recieved this fun little beauty in the mail:
My sister Jenn sent me white Lustregloss by M.A.C. and I LOVE IT! Apply it over any lipstick to give it just the right umph. Trust me. After you get it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it! (You see, I’m actually wondering how I survived.) I used to use a silver lipstick that I would apply over any shade of lip liner, lipstick, or gloss, but it has been discontinued. (Dang you Trucco, Aveda, and Artistry!)
Jenn first heard about this make-up must have from reading an article on what Victoria Beckham MUST have and this was one of her top picks!
I can see why.
You should too!
Celebrate my birthday by getting yourselves one of these! (Your treat of course.) :)
Cover Worthy January 12, 2010
Posted by Emily in : Family, Islands, Trips , 3commentsA couple of years ago, we spent Christmas on Emerald Isle in North Carolina at David’s brother’s beach house.
It was beautiful.
This is the front of the house.
Here’s a view from the beach of the back of the house. He has since sold this beach house, (above) and had this beauty custom built:
His new sailboat made the January 2010 front cover of Cruising World!
His family starts their sail-around-the-world later this month.
Their first stop will be in the Caribbean. Should I email him this post?
In 2009 I’m Surprised I Didn’t Lose My Mind! December 31, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Asia, Daily Life, Family, Friends, Kansas, Little Man Dallin, Medical School, My Former Dog Children, My Handsome Husband, New York, Photography, Princess Hannah, Saba, Thoughts, Trips, Utah , 5comments2009 sure was a crazy one.
I’d like to say, “It sure was a lot of fun!”
David is a fourth year medical student,
Which means, with his time, he is quite prudent!
I’m a photography student and stay-at-home mom.
I’ve tried to manage everything and stay calm!
In Utah, we started the year.
We lived by family, it was nice to be near.
In February, we made our first move of the year . . . Kansas City!
It was beautiful and really, really pretty!
Living in Kansas, we felt so blessed.
I still can’t believe we moved to the Midwest!
We enjoyed living in Kansas, it’s full of nice folks.
To our surprise, we learned we’d be moving to New York.
Shocked, we thought, “Is this a joke?”
We loaded our car with our kids, Paris, and other good things that we needed.
Pulled a little U-haul and off to New York we proceeded.
The kids traveled well. Paris was fine.
There were only a few times I thought I would lose my mind!
We visited some Saba friends on the way in Ohio.
We ate so much food and had so much fun, Oh my! Oh!
We loved living in Rochester. We loved it so much!
Seven short weeks was not long enough!
On our move back to Kansas, we heard some bad news.
We had to move again. We didn’t get to choose!
School regulations made it impossible to stay,
So we packed up the house much to our dismay.
We found ourselves in Utah once again this time,
David went to North Carolina, oh my! Does this even rhyme?
We are all together as a family as we speak,
Which is great for us because we love to kiss our kids’ cheeks!
Who knows what the future holds for us now.
I just know there are more moves for us, HOLY COW!
All things considered we are doing quite well.
In fact, I think my heart might swell.
Aside from the moves that have made us nomads and gypsy’s,
Other exciting things have happened that made us quite tipsy!
First, Dallin calmed down A LOT.
No more a screaming baby, who’d have thought?
Hannah sings, dances, and entertains.
She’s already worn out her first pair of ballet shoes and has a lot of brains.
David is busy, school is crazy.
Bummer for him, there’s no time to be lazy.
I started school at the Academy of Art.
Mastering photography, I’ve learned a few things to impart.
Paris has done a mighty fine job as our only family pet,
We’re not looking for another dog, at least not yet.
2009 was full of surprises,
Four cross country moves, I said a lot of “goodbyes.”
I say, “Bring on the New Year!”
Heck, I’ll even say it with good cheer!
In 2010 I just ask for one thing,
Please don’t tell me we’re moving to Beijing!
GO! GO! GO! December 16, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Kansas, Little Man Dallin, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, New York, Princess Hannah, Projects, School, Thoughts, Trips, Utah , 5commentsI feel a bit disconnected.
Wait, what? Did you say something? Because there are 400 other thoughts racing through my head right now and I do not have the capability to listen like a normal person.
The end of this week wraps up one crazy semester for me at AAU. (Just for the crazy record, I started out the fall semester living in New York, then we moved back to Kansas City, and then we moved to Utah. TWO OF THE MOVES WERE UNEXPECTED. Nice, huh?) And can I just say, that after all my final projects are turned in I will be able to breath a bit easier?
I have some fun projects in the works as well and I’m excited to focus more attention on them as soon as this week is over.
Deep breath . . .
To top off this craziness, David has been in and out, and back again, over and over to the point that it’s even confusing me. Just last night I ran into some of my cousins (who happen to be deaf) at a concert, (which sounds bizarre after reading the aforementioned bit of info about them) and they were like, “Hey! Where’s Dave?”
And you know, I was frantically signing apologizing for my sloppy and forgetful speech, while trying to remember State signs and grasping for words. I was like, at this moment, he is in Utah, but he’s only been here for 24 hours because he just got back from Denver, and Cheyenne, and tomorrow he will be in New York, but then he’ll be back, and he should be here for a few weeks, but then I don’t know where he will be and did I mention we’ve had FOUR major moves this year?
And it all comes out like a big run-on sentence like that. With no breaths.
It is a bit embarrassing to tell our story because we really are gypsy’s.
He is constantly on the move and it is no wonder why this little guy’s favorite word is “GO!”
What do you call a car? GO. What do you call a ball? GO. What do you call Grandpa? GO. What do you call mommy? GO.
GO. GO. GO.
He has YET to say mommy.
He’s working on it.
I think.
Wish my husband luck at his interview in New York! This is Hannah’s location pick for residency. She asked TWICE this week when we were moving back to New York. Along with the rest of his interviews, I REALLY hope they fall in love with my husband!
Well, not fall in love with him because that would be weird . . . but you know . . . I hope they really, really like him and decide they HAVE TO HAVE him for their program.
Well Traveled November 12, 2009
Posted by Emily in : My Former Dog Children, Trips , 3commentsDear Paris,
Just for the record, you are one spunky old lady.
Nine years ago, you entered this world with zest.
Nine years later, you’re still running, jumping, and stealing everyone’s food.
You’re quite well traveled for a dog. (Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Wyoming, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Indiana, The Four Corners, and The Caribbean, just in the last few years.) In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would think you belonged to some spoiled kids that traveled anywhere and everywhere on a whim. (But we know the truth . . . medical school did this to us.)
Everywhere we take you, heads turn and people ask lots of questions. If it weren’t for you and Hannah and Dallin, I wouldn’t have any “conversations starters.”
Guess what?
The next adventure (meaning our next major move before our final major move in June) is in a few months.
We’re going to take you to all 50 states before you know it.
Looking for New Club Members October 29, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Friends, Kansas, Princess Hannah, Trips , 4commentsWe now live in Utah.
AGAIN.
I am truly a Gypsy mom/wife/woman. I started this blog when we lived on Saba in the Caribbean. This blog then chronicled our very transient life to Utah, then to Kansas, then to New York, and now back to Utah. In eight months, I’ll be blogging from somewhere else.
I am a master at packing, moving, and de-junking. Not because I want to be a master at those things, I’ve just had a lot of experience picking up my life (which includes two little people, a dog, and a spouse) and transplanting it from spot to spot.
After what seemed like an ETERNITY driving through Nebraska (we drove past Cabela’s worldwide headquarters for all you outdoor fans. They have a GINORMOUS water tower out front, so you can’t miss it.) and Wyoming (which, by the way, has got to be the most barren and freezing cold state in the USA) we arrived in Utah after 18 hours of driving. We drove through Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming before we hit Salt Lake Valley.
It was a lot of driving through a lot of states.
Fortunately, the trip was very pleasant thanks to our new dual DVD players.
BRILLIANT. (Dallin even watched Barbie movies. He’s such a good little brother.)
I’m not sure how we EVER traveled without them . . . Oh yeah, both kids cried because they were tired and bored.
We miss our friends in Kansas so much. Many friends brought us dinner or had us over for dinner during the last week we were there.
Hannah misses her “too many friends” already. Who is she going to play sidewalk chalk with now?
Who’s going to blow bubbles with her?
ME? GRANDMA? DALLIN?
I don’t know, but she needs someone to fill the friend void for her.
Here are some pictures of Hannah’s “too many friends” (Who all happen to live on my street in Kansas.)
Hannah doesn’t care if you are a boy or a girl, or like 15 years older than she is. If you can play hide n’ seek, tag, sidewalk chalk, blow bubbles, or ride a bike, you will be counted among her “too many friends.”
Basically, if you have a pulse, you’re in the club.
Looking for new club members . . .
