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."

New Year's Eve

Tonight Brian and I are planning on watching the ball drop from our couch in our most comfortable pjs. We also have a tradition of getting a unhealthy amount of fast food and just pigging out as we ring in the New Year. Then at 12:01 we start a diet! Hmmm... I love New Year's Eve.

Brian and I worked a half day (I brought Savannah with me) and then by noon we went to Tri-City park. We had Pepe's for lunch and played on the swings. Savannah loves the swings and kind of cries when we take her off.

Savannah ate dinner before us since we are planning on eating late. I guess the park (or most likely her antibiotics) took a lot out of her- as evident in the video clip.

Wall Street Journal

I was quoted in the Journal on December 28th. The article is called Beyond the Mortgage Payment and is located in the Real Estate section. Here is the link.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703278604574624424273068790.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_realestate#articleTabs%3Dcomments

Christmas Part 2

Savannah's first time with pig tails.

Christmas Part 1

This year for Christmas we went to Seattle for 8 days. We rented a car and drove from Seattle over the pass to Ellensburg, Yakima and Leavenworth to visit family and play in the snow. Savannah had a difficult time adjusting to sleeping in a new place, but we quickly learned that on vacation she likes to sleep in between Brian and I (side note: she was able to adjust back to sleeping in a crib very easily when we got home).

Some pictures from Yakima in the SNOW!

Tanner was standing across the street...

Because he had uncles that were trying to tag him with snowballs.

Savannah's first time in the snow!

Home from the Holidays...

We just got home last night. As we were excitedly walking from our garage and rounded the corner to our condo we saw a gangster-looking man with a white shirt, long black shorts, tall white socks and a "13" tattoo on his forehead standing on the wall next to the row of dumpsters. We don't know why he was there or what he was planning on doing. All Brian and I know is that we NEED to move. Period.

I LOVE DECEMBER!

Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love baking, shopping, wrapping, decorating, eating, listening to Christmas music and seeing family.

As our little family is settling into our first Christmas with Savannah we are creating some new traditions. Something we have done in the past that continued this year is having Aron come to visit. He flew in on Saturday and left Sunday (so a pretty short visit) but we had a full agenda. We had a small Christmas party, went to Disneyland, Savannah and I went over to my Aunts house to visit for a little while, then the three adults went out that night. We napped, watched a Christmas movie and ate lots of cookies.

Our trip to Disneyland was very wet. Our friends generously GAVE us tickets to go on Saturday, but it was pouring. As soon as we started driving over the ran stopped. It was perfect at first, but as we made our way over to It's a Small World it starting raining again. Savannah was all bundled up (trying out her new hat and mittens for the snowy weather in Leavenworth for next week) and had rain gear for her stroller. The three of us figured out that our jackets weren't as rain proof as we thought, but Savannah was perfectly dry and EVEN slept!

Here is a picture of our tree. I love decorating. Our tree tends to look the same every year, but we are really adding new decorations to represent things that are going on in our lives (as long as they match the color scheme!).

It's looks so much more beautiful with the lights dimmed, the fireplace on and the red, cream and white pearl lights on the tree. It seems even better with Christmas music and the smell of cookies baking!

Brian was covered in sap. I had him pick up at least 30 trees before I found the one I liked.

This is not the tree we choose- we almost did, but then I saw the picture and we started looking again.

On Friday we are off to Seattle, Leavenworth, Yakima and Ellensburg! Right now I get to do my favorite part of traveling... MAKING A PACKING LIST. I am very particular about making sure everything is packed perfect and that we don't forget anything. I like to be prepared. Everything goes in zip-locks. This year I am even making a zip-lock for each outfit for each day. This is because Savannah clothes are so small everything tends to disappear in the suitcase when you are looking for it.

There is just a bad feeling when you get an envelope in the mail that has a return address from the IRS. I have been filing my own taxes for 6 years with the exception of 1 year! I think it is silly to pay someone to file your taxes when there are such great programs and resources to do it yourself. In 2007 I was just WAY to busy to even utter the words "Itemization". This was when I was finishing my bachelors and just didn't have time. Of course the ONE time we went to H&R Block we WERE AUDITED!!!!!!!!!!!!! I immediately pulled out my tax returns for that year and saw the error almost right away. They tax preparer doubled our mortgage interest tax deduction from 14,000 to 28,000! So, we don't have to go through real audit since it was one error, but that error is costing us $2,000 by December 30th. When I called H&R Block and gave them a piece of my mind they said they only pay the penalties and interest, and even then I have to fill out a ton of paperwork. The part that sucks is the penalties and interest is only $164 of the $2,000.

On another thought... I WANT A KINDLE!

So far in the Ph.D. program I have print more than 10 reams of paper for articles that I have to read, highlight and take notes- besides taking down the APA citation for the literature. Plus I have to lug all those thick documents around in heavy bags. The Kindle would solve ALL of these issues. (Brian, hint hint!... my birthday's in February)

"When it rains it Pours"

My boss called me into his office today. He has been on vacation for two weeks. As I walked done the hall to his office I was scanning my brain thinking what went wrong that I overlooked while he was gone? There is so much to do when my boss comes back from a long trip. He usually has a laundry list of items that I have to take care of as well as pointing out things that went wrong while he was away. When I sat down he handed me some paperwork and I looked more closely and YES! I got another grant. This time it was for 20,000. Everything seems so small compared to the B of A 200,000, but it is still a BIG deal. My boss was so happy on his first day back, and so was I- this is a statement I have never said in the last four years at CCCS.

When I was walking out of his office he said, "Well, when it rains it pours." Isn't that a phase used to describe a series of negative events? Oh, well. I'm just happy I have another grant to put on my CV and I can actually hire another part-time educator.