Worth losing a little sleep over

Okay... for any of you who know me, you know how much I love my sleep. And, since becoming pregnant, I REALLY love my sleep. -Plus, people usually like being around me a lot more when I've had a good nights rest.

Last night a few friends got together for Bryons birthday. We had a good dinner at Market Street Grill, and then went back to our house for a little Wii Rock Band.

It was worth staying up for. -Even if I was falling asleep during the last couple of songs.

Happy Birthday, Bryon

You're one away from thirty. Is that weird?

Michael Buble he's not...

Justin and I went to an impromptu concert last night. It wasn't so much impromptu for the bands, or probably most of the people there, but it was for us. His mom Lisa had a few extra tickets so we went with them last night. I don't mean to offend any HUGE John Mayer fans out there... I can kind of take him or leave him, but it was a pretty good concert. We were in the seats up front, so I didn't get to see a large number of weirdo's that you normally see on the grass section (see here).

There was one pretty weird girl who REALLY liked the opening band and we were pretty happy to see that she wasn't actually supposed to sitting next to us. She had to move when the people showed up who actually had tickets for those seats. I didn't get any actual pics, didn't bring my camera, but I will say that he is an AMAZING guitar player, I was really impressed.

The best part was we left a little early and actually got out of there without wading through hundreds of people and cars to get home.

Melly

******

The openning was Colbie Caillat and since I was just introduced to her last week (yes, I have been living under some rock) - I have to say I really love her music now. Here's a favorite that is posted on YouTube:

Justin

He's baaaaaaack

After popping out to shortstop in the first inning, Ortiz jumped on a 1-2 fastball by Virgil Vasquez and lined a shot that kissed off the top of the right-field fence and into the visitors' bullpen for a home run.

Random Fun (from Jen)

200 have and have nots

All you have to do is copy the list and bold what you have done. If you want to join in copy this & highlight the ones you've done...200 Have and Have nots!

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty -as far as you can get
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files -do dvd's count?
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater -
55. Done something you should regret
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions-
88. gone back to school
89. Changed your name -just by getting married
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care? -I didn't do it, but many grandparents have been put in hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107.Brought out the best in people
108.Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112.Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114.Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116.Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121.Tutored someone
122.Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125.Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden an giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128.Pieced a quilt
129.Lived in an historic place
130.Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131.Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one -mini golfing
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134.Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking. I looked that up, and I have done that in the literal sense. Apparently there's a slang term that goes along with that, but I have NOT done that one-gross.
144.Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148.Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155.Lied about your weight
156.Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158.Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon
163.Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165.Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177.Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178.Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel-hotel?
184.Been a cashier
185. Seen geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187.Donated blood
188.Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198.Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter--what is that?

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

This post is overdue. A couple weeks ago - the Fourth of July - my brother-in-law and father-in-law hiked Mount Olympus here in the Salt Lake Valley. A great day for a hike with good company.

The hike starts out with moderate steepness - luckily the forrest service helped us out by creating stair-like levels. The temperature was perfect. Though, if you know my father-in-law, that didn't stop the persperation.

About halfway (around a mile and a half or more) we came to a small creek that was not running as strong as I remember it from years past. Nevertheless, the cool air was perfect at this stage and there were trees/shrubs all around. The hiking was a little more labored.

At the saddle we stopped and looked around:

It really was beautiful...

...until we came to the worst part - the last 600 vertical feet - and they really were nearly vertical!

In the end it was well worth it...and then we had to climb DOWN! Matt mentioned that he needed proof that he actually needed to slide down a part of the mountain - here's the evidence!

Thank you for a great hike!

Not our car

This weekend we went to Jackson Hole with Justin's family. They ran the Snake River a few times (Shondel, Laila, and I opted to not go). I got 2 REALLY bad pictures of Dave, Lisa, Dustin, Justin, Sam and Casey on the river. One photo of a surfer (I had NEVER seen that before) and one of a Durango that got a little too close to the creek. We're not sure exactly how the truck tipped in, probably had something do with with at least one idiot and at least a few drinks.

We did learn a few things on the trip.

Just because it's HOT during the day in Salt Lake, doesn't mean you don't have to pack warm clothing when you're camping in Jackson. I was dumb.

And JUST because you're trying to make 'good time' on the way up, you shouldn't limit bathroom breaks for a pregnant lady.

Also, just because it IS so cold at night and you don't want to get up to go to the bathroom (outhouse), pregnant ladies still have to get up.

Last but not least, if you call the dr's near tears and beg for a morning appointment, you WILL get to see a doctor who will give you some antibiotics to clear up the problem that the previous two lessons brought on.

One more thing, Cranberry juice can cause heartburn. A couple of gallons of cranberry juice in a 24 hour period can cause REALLY bad heartburn.

Hope everyone else had a fun weekend.

Bryon

If that's you that keeps voting over and over again on our poll you better stop it. I'll call your cable service and remove all of your shopping channels if you're not careful!

Human Being Found Inside Melanie!

So here he/she is in all his/her glory:

There are other pictures that were printed, but this is all you get for now. We still don't know the gender, but there are some strong opinions. Some things we do know:

• Very active! Moved the whole time, up, down, back, forward, flips included
• Long legs
• Long fingers
• Big Feet
• Calculated due date based on head size: Dec. 3rd (still within the range so official due date remains Nov. 28th)
• Puts fingers in mouth
• Sometimes has hiccups (this is normal, and we watched them happen)
• Will be a singer/talker (we saw mouth moving - very cool)

As always we will update as the information comes down to us :)

History in the making

When I was little I had my pictures taken while sitting in a rocking chair with horrible fabric:

Now that I am older, my great- grandmother (Grandma Purple) has saved that rocking chair for me to have and share with my future children. Even when someone else in the family would try to claim it she stood her ground and said, "No, that's Justin's rocking chair." I love her so much.

Well, Melanie and I stopped by her house on Monday because we were in the area and I took possession of the chair. The next day I went to the fabric store and then to Shondel and Dustin's house to use their sewing machine (yes, I am multi-talented and can use a sewing machine). Today I went over to Home Depot and bought a staple gun, the last tool I needed in my restoration project....

...and voila!

I think it's important to have artifacts and heirlooms because it makes things worth more to a person. At any rate, I'm sure glad my grandma and I think alike because I'm happy to keep this in the family.

Mirror Mirror on the wall

Sorry about not posting for so long. Justin went on a hike on the 4th and I think is still too sore to post all of the pictures.

The home decorating continues.

We now have a mirror for the mirror-less bathroom ("powder-rooms" do not come with mirrors from the builder, so we had to get one).

And, a wedding gift from a friend that never had a home in our apartment is now hung in the entry way. The mirror is the size of a door, so it's not surprising we've had a hard time finding a place for it.

We might even hang a few pictures one of these days.

The first step is the hardest

I think there's a country song with that title... but don't worry I won't try and put it on the blog for you to hear.

For those of you who know (anything about) me... I like to research things. Thanks to the internet, you can research any product, ailment or location with little to no effort. Well... it takes effort, but it's not difficult. I spend a good part of my time doing this. For any 'big ticket' item (which is sometimes as small as $50) or anything I'm going to have to commit to for any length of time (cell phones) I want to be an informed consumer.

This creates many headaches and leads to a fair amount of obsessing.

However... once I've made a purchase, or even a decision about a purchase, watch out, because I can't stop.

This was exactly how planning our wedding went. I searched FOREVER for everything from flowers and reception centers, to food and decorations. It was pathetic. And the problem was, I didn't want to make the first decision, because that would affect every other decision that I had to made. We finally chose a reception room, and then I went to one of the caterer's on my long list and just said yes right then (by myself) and paid the deposit, so there was no turning back. After that, everything got a lot easier.

So... between the new house (which my sister says "needs a women's touch") and the new baby... I have a lot of decisions to make. Therefore a lot of research to do.

I am happy to report that after viewing no less than a couple thousand bedding sets online and in stores... I have made a purchase today. I'm going with this one, and I also bought some 'classic' children books that I'm going to frame and hang in the room.

As if that wasn't enough... I am ALSO happy to report we have 3 nail's on our walls. It's the first thing we've hung since moving in. We now have a clock (1 nail) and our magnet board (2 nails) hanging in the kitchen.

We're on our way!