More on Dallas

Peter drove me around to look at the amazing houses in Dallas. Every street is lined with little Mc Mansions. Here are my top favorites. Peter was embarrassed that I was taking pictures of them, but why not? At one of the houses I was pointing my camera at the wife pulled into the drive way in her white Range Rover. She saw me so I shouted, "You have a beautiful house." She replied, Thank you" with a big smile. Then I completely mortified Peter when I asked the women, "What do you do for living?". Peter GASP in horror. She said, " My husband is retired and I am in medical products." Not the answer I was look for. I wanted her to say I am a college professor teaching three classes a week and my husband has a Speech Language Pathology clinic that is very successful. It was fun looking at the home. My favorite is the last picture of the colonial.

Visiting Peter and Will

Last week Savannah and I went to Dallas. As a gift Peter flew us out to visit him. It was perfect timing since Will (Peter's Fiance) was there that weekend too. On the way to Dallas they lost my umbrella stroller. They got it to me the next day, and they also gave me $50 toward another flight. On the first day Peter took Savannah and I to the Dallas Arboretum. It was incredible. I felt like it was The Secret Garden meets Narnia meets Alice in Wonderland. Peter prepared a fun picnic and then afterward we drove around Dallas to look as houses. Peter has done reporting in front of President Bush's house so I had him drive over... because I am so nosey.

Palm Springs Weekend

We went to Palm Springs for the 3-day weekend. My parents are traveling so it's just the three of us. We have just been relaxing and swimming. Today, we got all ready for church, and Savannah was in the cutest new dress from Grandma. Brian had checked online to see what time the ward new here meets. When we pulled into the parking lot at the church building it was completely empty. It was so weird. We had a list of funny reasons why the place was vacant, but as I thought about it more I had this strange feeling it might be Saturday. That's when you know you are on vacation... when you don't even know what day of the week it is!

Haiti Earthquake

For the past three days it has been painful to watch the news. A major earthquake hit Haiti. A country already plagued by horrible living conditions, poor health of their citizens and unemployment about 70-80%. I try to watch news clips of the updates of what is happening, but it is too difficult to watch. Tonight on Anderson Cooper he reported on specific stories of people dying. They sat with one 11-year old girl with her right leg trapped. She seemed like she was going to make it if they could free her leg. Finally after hours of people helping her she was free, but because there wasn't medical care she died from internal bleeding. The other story (which made me run to Brian crying my eyes out) was about an 18-month old little girl. A camera crew was filming and heard a baby crying. They followed the crying and realized a baby was trapped under the rubble they were standing on. One of the crew members started digging and moving rubble. As they filmed you could hear her sad little cry. He had to crawl over her dead parents to get to her. He pulled her out and they immediately started giving her water. She looked terrified, dirty and her onies was dirty from having to use the same diaper for 3 days.

I feel so sad for Haiti. My heart aches for the people there and I feel useless that I cannot help them. I hope Haiti is able to rebuild and create a much better country then it was. A better government and better living conditions.

Happy 1st Birthday Savannah!

Savannah had an AMAZING birthday party. Approximately 20 people came an help celebrate Savannah's 1st Birthday. The theme was CUPCAKES! The party was 2-4 at our condo. Space was tight but overall a great time.

I made all the decorations, including the invitations. I bought a ton of really cute paper from the craft store and made this sign. It took forever, but I loved the way it turned out.

I also made the triangle handing banners. They turned out really cute as well. The colors of the party was pink and lavender. About 15 into the party Emily (friend that is so close she is like a sister) called me and ask if I bought balloons for the party. It was one of those AAAAA moments when you realized you forgot to pick up the specialty order of balloons you already paid for. Emily just happened to be there and saw a set of balloons in pink and lavender with a mylar balloon saying Happy 1st Birthday. Totally being Emily she had the woman check the name on the purchase and it was ours. She brought them over. Emily is that type of friend that always helps out when you really need it or didn't even think you needed it.

We had snacks like chips/salsa, cannelloni bites, meatballs, chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate dipped blackberries, vege and fruit trays. Savannah loves fruit and I gave her some of the pizza.

I was planning on making a 2-3 minute video summary of her life and play it for everyone at the party, but as I started to make it I had way too many cute pictures just to limit it to 30-40 pictures. The video ended up having 500 pictures and was 40 minutes. There was no way I was going to make everyone sit down and watch the whole thing. That would be torture for everyone else be me and my Mom! So it worked out playing it in the background while we opened up gifts.

I had this dress made for Savannah.

It was Savannah's first time eating sugar. She loved it, and then go really hyper. I also had a birthday bib made for her with her name on it.

Happy 1st Birthday Savannah!

She loves Teeth!

Savannah uses a program called, "My Baby Can Read" and she loves it. I can see that it is helping her, but even if it didn't she absolutely loves it. She could be crying her eyes out (which is rare) and if the DVD came one she would stop instantaneously. In addition to the DVDs there are books and flash cards. The other day after the DVD showed a picture of keys she actually said keys. It soon became a fun game for us to say the word and she would proudly repeat it. Then when we were using flash cards I showed and read the word teeth and she repeated it. Then I tried to associated pointing to my teeth with the word. Now when I point to my teeth she says it. It is such an amazing thing to be able to help Savannah learn. It's a feeling that is hard to describe.

During bath time she says TEETH over and over again as I get her tooth brush ready. She loves brushing her teeth. I scrub them at first, but then I give her the brush to try herself. When I hand it over her arms and legs get shoot out straight and stiff and she clamps down on her teeth with a big smile and give a high pitch squeal. (I tried to capture the excitment with the camera).

More Christmas Stuff

Savannah did so well when we went to see Santa. Brian's parents were there, but Brian ran to the car to grab the diaper bag and missed it. We were waiting in line when Savannah had one stinky diaper. Of ALL the times, but I was not willing to get out of line. Santa would just have to deal with it. Brian felt bad and ran to the car, but came back just as they were printing the picture. Savannah didn't cry, but started to get a little worried toward the end. The picture turned out great. You can even see a little bit of her pig tales (her hair was just barely long enough for them).



This was a Christmas card for 2009. We took the picture in my parents back yard on Thanksgiving. I think Palm Springs is one of the most beautiful areas ever. I love the green green grass, mountain scenery and blue sky.

The Mustard Colored Sweater

(Note: The picture is blurry in the bottom right hand corner because Savannah put it in her mouth. We're looking for a new camera... our price range... zero dollars.)

Today I wore a mustard color sweater to church, and as I normally do I asked Brian's opinion. First he said, "eeeeee, It's not my favorite sweater". I finished getting ready (deciding to wear the Mustard colored sweater) and when Brian saw me he said, "Really, your going to go with it then? I guess I should be more clear... I hate that sweater. You shouldn't wear that sweater". I replied, "but I like it, and it goes with my skirt." Brian's quick response was, "No, nothing matches with that sweater. Absolutely nothing. Well, maybe ketchup." So, he told me that as long as I wore the sweater he would make fun of it. Being stubborn I wore it. So, all the way to church, during church and after church I heard:

Brian's response to taking a picture of me and Savannah before church, "Oh, it didn't work. The camera refuses to take a picture of your sweater."

Brian's response to me spilling something on my white shirt, "Oh, you stained your pretty white shirt but you somehow were able to miss the sweater. Really?"

"Hey, here's an idea, you could use the sweater as a bib, or use it to wash the cars."

Brian's response to telling him no one said anything about my sweater at church, "Oooo, ya, actually they told me about how horrible it is." When I asked what they said Brian replied, "I was really offended. I don't want to get into it makes me too upset."

My favorite thing he said was... "You are so confident. I mean if you told me that you thought my shirt was just alright I would run, not walk, to change it. But you, when you are told a sweater is absolutely awful, you still wear it. A very good level of self esteem you have."