Buzz off!!!!

We have a beautiful inviting trail with stairs just off of our front entry that isn't frequented much since we are usually too bees-y to stop and smell the roses. But my adventure seeking toddler deviated from the normal routine and decided to explore this tempting path with his buddy Berkley. About 45 seconds into this mini-adventure he was interrupted by a most unpleasant pest that was not excited to see a couple of toddler's in it's territory. The little pest gathered about 100 of it's buddies and declared war.....in clearer terms, Jesse got swarmed by hornets. Jesse's battle wounds consisted of 8 stings, mostly all on his head since he was wearing adventure-appropriate head gear (a bicycle helmet). Jesse's younger counterpart, Berkley, unfortunately did not escape unscathed and was also stung twice. But the hero of the story was Amanda, who was quick enough and strong enough to grab and run both kids down the stairs and into the house...all while being chased by the swarm. She was rewarded with only one sting for her bravery but being a mom, experienced the most pain, by seeing her cute son (Berkley) and his buddy Jesse in tears while she stripped them of their battle gear and gave them a cold path to help ease the pain.

3 things (+1) I am thankful for:
1. Amanda for being a hero and for providing Jesse TLC until I could come home. (I left work as soon as I heard but it took me approximately 30 minutes to get home. I don't love my commute right now.)
2. Grandpa Don for finding the hive originally, (he was also a victim of the ornery pests), and warning us to take care of it. Obviously we didn't heed his wisdom in a timely manner and the guilt will stay with us for a long long time.
3. Lastly, and most importantly, I'm thankful that Jesse, Berkley, and Amanda didn't experience an allergic reaction. All had a rough day but were 95% better the next morning. Chris (yes, Chris was also a victim - he got stung once on the eyebrow when trying to eliminate the hive), on the other hand, didn't fair as well. Imagine Sloth from the Goonies, but again, luckily, only for a day.
+1. mamabeehoney, my bee-keeper buddy at work, for letting me borrow her bee suit.

Jesse is 1, 2, 3!!!!

I can't believe my baby is 3. We had a fun birthday party at the house with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Everyone was there, well almost everyone; Jesse & Lydia were stranded in Australia on an unexpected extension to Jess' project. Jesse got a new plastic pool that he and his cousins played in. As always he got spoiled by his family with fun dinosaurs, tractors, coloring books, clothes and other crazy things but his favorite present had to be his batman pajamas (pictured) from grandma Pat; he wore them day and night for a week straight.

Jesse loves to play with his cars, climb and jump "to infinity and beyond", watch movies, visit grandma & grandpa, play with his cousins, play with his friends in the circle (Jake, Max & Isabel, Erin & Libby), go to church, run "I am speed", torment his sister, make his sister laugh, have his back tickled "ah, that feels good", and go anywhere and everywhere with "daddy".

The last thing I want to post regarding Jesse's birthday is that although we started using pull-ups several months ago and failed at a few attempts to get him potty trained, I am happy to report that Jesse is a big boy now. I explained to him that once he ran out of diapers that I wasn't going to buy them anymore. Even though he said he liked to go pee in his diaper he transitioned to underwear with relative ease. He especially enjoys the part about watering trees.

Our New Home?

Still weighing our options but absolutely considering a move to Baltimore.

These are all pictures from my trip earlier this month when I got the opportunity to interview with a huge, reputable, extremely "nice" investment management firm.

Jorja's Blessing

A beautiful day for a beautiful baby girl to get a special blessing. We chose July 7th for Jorja's blessing day in memory of my father; July 7th was his birthday. Although he couldn't be there in person, he was definitely there in spirit and actually had a significant part in her blessing: During the blessing Jorja was wide a wake and staring at the elders while they were unconsciously doing the "elder bounce" when about a 1/2 way through my sweet baby girl decided she wanted to sit up. Well being a 5 month old spirited little girl she knows how to throw her weight around and well, she, threw off the elders and started to slip and slide her way through 14 hands but thankfully due to some promptings by my dad she was caught and the prayer proceeded as if nothing had happened and this little "ride" that Jorja went on didn't seem to upset her one bit, in fact, she seemed to be in on it and just smiled the rest of the time. I also found it quite significant that this episode took place just as the bishop was addressing "the parents". So, yes dad, we heard you and yes dad, we will take very good care of your sweet baby grand daughter.

Memorial Day Tradition

Each year we have the pleasure of joining Chris' family in Wales, Utah for some SanPete County fun. Some of my favorite things: camping in a trailer, pa Jess & ma Lyd, gathering around the fire, playing softball in a freshly mowed field, taking Jesse on a walk up to the well and then continuing the walk with Aunt Elaine to the cemetery, the tree swing, Jesse making friends with his 2nd cousins, meeting new cousins, reconnecting with relatives that we haven't seen for a year, pa Jess & ma Lyd, visiting the Mt. Pleasant cemetery to visit Chris' grandpa, lying in bed and listening to rain on the trailer in the middle of the night, surving a WWF smackdown when tagging a 2nd base run, my husband running to the store to buy diapers, Levi tormenting Lynsie to take a swing ride, Jesse tormenting everyone else, grandma Lucille, and did I mention how great Lyd & Jess are?

Love Is In the Air

One of the most exciting and memorable moments in a person's life is the day the love of your life proposes to you. Well for two people I love and adore, today was that day for them. First, my brother-in-law, Levi, proposed to Lynsie Montague at Niagara Falls and second, my dear brother, Steven, proposed to Ashley Gressman in the same place they met and have shared many memories together. I am so excited to gain two sister-in-laws and Jesse & Jorja both love their new aunts.

But with all of this love in the air, I couldn't help but reflect on my "happiest day" which was September 22, 1996...oh, so long ago yet it feels like yesterday. :) Chris called me and asked if I'd like to go hiking with him in the Uintahs and of course my answer was, yes. I left my parents a note that my mom has saved for me. On the drive up, we stopped at a gas station where while pumping fuel I proceeded to wrap my boot laces around a cememt barrier and fell flat on my back, and on our way to the trail head I'm pretty sure I asked Chris if he thought we would ever get married (probably the 5th time that month I had "discreetly" hinted of my preferences). Well Chris was kind enough to proceed to the Ruth Lake trailhead even though I had made a fool of myself twice already. When we got to the lake he dumped his back pack and emptied the contents; one of which was a blanket for a picnic - oh how sweet I thought, and then he turned his back toward me to and rummage through his bag and then, surprise, he proposed. Oh what a moment. It was perfect.

Jorja - 3 months

Jorja
Mesmerized but not totally in love with her mobile and fish swing. She has definitely discovered her hands and likes to suck on as many fingers at a time as possible. I love the slurping noise she makes when sucking on a finger or two or four. She always has a smile ready especially first thing in the morning or after a nap.

Jesse
I really thought we had made significant strides on potty training but the last two weeks Jesse has reverted back to messing in his pants and not being too interested. I guess it’s time to truly commit and put on the underwear. As soon as I get down to my last pack of pull-ups we are going to jump in with both feet.

Since the last milestone update I’ve returned to work. I’m a mixed bag of emotions. I was a wreck the first morning but then found my stride and was actually impressed with my abilities to get it all done…well almost all of it. But now, I’m back to doubting whether or not I can do it all. I am absolutely grateful to have a husband that lends a helping hand but I still feel like I’m drowning. So…now it’s time to focus on all the good things:

Jorja survived my dumb mistake of putting her boppie on the coach with her feet headed in the wrong direction : needless to say she fell off the coach, luckily it was low to the ground, and landed on her face; scratching her nose and giving her a big gooseegg. Which reminds me, Jesse was quite accident prone this week as well. First day in shorts outside resulted in 5 bandaids (2 of them were consoling aids only).
Chris did really well last semester and is currently experiencing a well deserved 2 week reprieve.
My mom and I took a trip down memory lane….attended Viewmont High’s spring dance concert. It was especially heart wrenching during the daddy-daughter dance; I just sobbed. I miss my dad.
I discovered 2 of my favorite cousins, who live in St. George, have blogs.
Lastly, we are so lucky to have Brittany, another favorite cousin, watching Jesse & Jorja 2x a week. She is the best and Jesse adores her.