A Haircut...

Of course this is a bit redundant to those of you who have seen my pictures on Facebook. Since this is kind like my journal, I'm posting them here too.  Saturday, we had scheduled to do family portraits, but the weather wasn't being so nice. We ended up rescheduling till this Saturday. Joe being the sweet and awesome husband he is had set up an appointment for me to have my hair done for our pictures. He had set it up with the intent of having a cut, highlight and style.  So I did all three, though I forgot to get pictures of it on Saturday when it had been styled curly cause that was what I was going for for the pictures. I'll have to style it myself this coming Saturday which will probably end up being straight cause I suck at curling my hair. I ended up having 12 inches cut off. Just barely enough to donate to Lock of Love. I have always wanted to donate but haven't ever had my hair long enough to do it. So, it was pretty neat being able to do it this time around. Plus, I now know it take about 1 1/2 years to get it that long cause that was when I last had a major hair cut. Well, enough blabbering from me.

Picture time:

I kind of suck at the self portrait thing, so ignore the horribleness of it and just enjoy the cute hair. They highlight are just a bronze color. I'm not into the bright and flashy highlights.

Day 1 Workout

I did it! I found some motivation! Jillian Michaels kicked my butt today! Having a wide selection of Fitness videos right on my TV is AWESOME! I'm ready for more butt kicking, tomorrow!

That is all! Happy Tuesday!

The Story of Our New Bed (Warning: Long Post)

For our Valentine's/Very Early Anniversary gift, we decided to get a bed. It was very much needed as our old bed was very uncomfortable and too small. We have been sleeping on a full, yes a full size bed, for four years. It was definitely time for an upgrade. I convinced Joe that since we were upgrading we should just upgrade all the way to a King. We want a king any way, so it just made more sense to buy it now instead of later. Of course I didn't really have to do much convincing since that is what he was thinking too. So, the quest for the perfect bed began.

It started by finding online this perfect bed for a perfect price (Clearance 60% off).

Store Trip #1: Off to the store to pick out a mattress and to order this bed. We didn't want to order a mattress online with out trying it out first. Found out the mattress we liked best was $100 off, plus came with a 10 year warranty. The sales person thought that it was a platform bed, so we didn't need a box spring unless we really wanted. We decided not to get a box spring because we didn't want the mattress to go above the foot board. Delivery date was set, paid for bed (thanks to tax returns) and I was practically skipping out of the store.

Delivery #1: Then delivery day came, the parts for the bed started to come in and I noticed that the under storage wasn't right. The one they had just had two drawers and it only came with one for one side only. I was upset, the drivers were confused since the item numbers on the parts matched my receipt. Plus it wasn't a plat form bed and so we were going to need a box springs or some sort of foundation. I sent back the storage boxes and kept the foot board, head board, (since they were right) and of course the mattress (we had to sleep on something). 

Phone Call #1: Called costumer service and they said they would have to talk to the sales person that sold us the bed and I should expect a call back from him.

Phone Call #2: Sales person calls back. Talked to him about why it wasn't what we thought it was going to be. I guess the manufacture provided them a picture that differed from the actual product they received. I'll admit I was in tears at this point. I decided to wait till Joe came home and see what he wanted to do. (At a later time I saw online where it said actual product may differ from picture.)

Store Trip #2: Found our sales guy told him we were going to stick with what we ordered even though it was different then the picture online. Plus we wanted to purchase a second set of drawers so we'd have some on both sides of the bed. Instead of getting a box spring he suggested buying a bunkette board, which basically is a really thin box spring. So we got a second delivery date for the parts I sent back, plus the new stuff we ordered and headed out the store again.

Delivery #2: Same delivery guys as before, brought in the parts and then noticed they were missing the bed slats that support the foundation/mattress. Without them the foundation/mattress would sit on the storage boxes and sag in the middle, just not going to fly. Drivers tell me I'm going to have to call the my sales person  and see if they can get a them on the afternoon truck.

Phone Call #3: Called sales person directly, got voice mail, left message.

Phone Call #4: Sales person on vacation, talked to person filling in. He doesn't quite understand what I'm talking about. Me breaking down into tears (I'm an emotional person). He finially says he'll talk to a manager and see what he can do.

Phone Call #5: Sales person says my bed slats will be delivered that day between 4:30-7:30. (Sigh of relief)

Delivery #3: Bed slats come. Delivery guys assemble the bed and I'm one very happy camper once again.

The minute they leave I'm remaking our bed with the new bedding we purchased and it all looks so great together. If I didn't have responsibilities, I'd just stay in bed all day and all night! I'm loving it! 

It was totally worth the hassle, don't you think?

It's so big it almost takes up the whole room

Under bed storage

James' Party

Saturday was James' birthday party. We did a little pizza party, had a slide show of James' first year, presents, and of course cake and ice cream (homemade by his grandparents). He wasn't that interested in opening presents or eating the cake. We had a great time and James got a little more spoiled. Thanks to all who came!

The candle says "Fun to be one"

Food table

Presents

Slide show and ballons

Birthday boy and I

Opening presents, didn't quite understand

Now he can stay warm and look cool

After opening these he just wanted to play with them

Close up

New seat

Birthday loot

After party blanket snuggles and cheerios

Salt Flats

On the fifth, we took a little trip to the Salt Flats. We had never been, only have driven through, so it was a fun new adventure. We even kidnapped my little sister Kandace. It was a fun day of driving, spilling my drink on myself, trying to do parkour off rocks, writing our names in the muddy Salt Flats, trying to slide on the mud (it was slippery, but then not because of the salt), Wendover's historic airfield, getting lost in a Casino, getting lost in another Casino, and having a great time at the Oceano  Buffet.

A Year Ago

 

A year ago, we welcomed James

A baby of our own.

Nervously and sleepily,

We took him to our home.

We figured out the nursing.

This goes how? and where?

We were told there would be crying,

And how to show we care.

A year has gone so quickly,

Yet we have learned so much.

We've felt a love so strongly,

In a baby's gentle touch.

His laughs and smiles. His pouts and tears.

Wow! He can get so mad!

But we wouldn't trade a minute,

As a thankful mom and dad.

February!

It's month #2. Time to look back at my new years resolution and see how I've been doing.

My New Year resolutions:

• Make and follow through with New Year resolutions I give myself a pass/fail on this one. I've obviously made resolutions, just haven't followed through with all of them yet.
• Be better at keeping my house clean and organized Pass! I don't have any before/after pictures, but my house has never been cleaner.
• Spending less time playing meaningless computer games and more time on things I really love (i.e. sewing, reading, drawing). Pass. I've been reading a great book called YOU: Raising Your Child and working on a sewing project that I started probably 10 years ago.
• Go to church every Sunday. Pass.
• Work on a monthly budget and stick with it. Fail. Haven't even started. Kind of forgot I even made this one...
• Read scriptures and pray more regularly Fail. Definitely could do better on this one.
• Exercise 2-3 times a week. Fail. Though I do manage a few exercise type things through out the day (jumping jacks, abs, running around after James), just not a major sweat your heart out/feel wonderful afterwards workout yet.
• Hang out with friends more, especially with Angie and Shauna. Fail. Though I did have some friends stop by a few weeks ago for a visit.

That's a 45% on my resolutions. I fail...

As for an update on the rest of our going ons. We really haven't been doing much. Tracy is busy being a TA for 2 classes (World of Dinosaurs & Paleobiology). Plus, tutoring for the Athletic department Tuesday nights. He's getting closer every day to submit his research project to a journal. That's a chore of its self; getting the paper formated and the figures all to the journals specification. Hopefully soon he'll be done and onto his next project.  He's also taking an online geography class. Little by little he's getting closer to that Bachelor degree.

The first of the month is always an exciting time for me with rent payments, processing move outs and cleaning those newly vacant apartments. The later is my least favorite. Some people just don't know how to clean. I even give them a check list so they don't miss anything, but they always seem to ignore the spot under the fridge and stove or even the stove all together. It is my job and I do get to stay home and be with James, so really not too bad.

James loves to get into everything and I mean everything.  He tries really hard to say kitty. Probably will be his first word. Doesn't really work on mama or dada. He is so much fun and such a cutie. I forgive him for getting into things I don't want him to. His newest thing is letting me know he wants a nap. If we're in his room he'll just keep pointing to his bed. If we're in the living room he'll point towards his room till we get there then point to his bed. Then he'll just talk to him self for a few minutes and out he goes. He's even back to falling asleep on his own at night.  He's just become more and more an independent person. Before I know it he'll be saying "I do it."

That's about all. Happy February 1st!


If you're interested in attending a party for James' first birthday, see this link for details.