Renn Fest

J took me to the Rennaissance Festival for my birthday and I loved it. I should say we loved it. In fact, we love it so much that we are hauling everyone back (who will come) Thanksgiving weekend. And of course we will dress up though this time in different outfits. I'm so excited and can't wait. We'd probably go again by ourselved before then, but I don't think we could wrangle all day babysitters again.

The two pictures at the top are from one of the gardens on the property. I absolutly love these two pictures, especially the one of Jeff. He's standing by a piece of art called "The tree of Life."

The bottom two pictures are just some of the pictures I took during the Joust. We were sitting in the English's Duke of Kent section. They actually have four parts to the Joust, but we only saw the two in the middle. We missed the last one which is a joust to the death, but I'm sure we'll catch it when we go back.

I've Had Better Days

What a week this is turning out to be. Yesterday, I didn't feel well, but I had chicken in the fridge that needed to get used so I went ahead and made dinner anyway. Jeff was helping, but with 2 little kids running around (yes Finn is included in that) it wasn't easy. Jeff's back was hurting him so he took a small break on the couch and I decided I needed to get the cauliflower taken care of now and not wait for him to come finish. So I proceeded to chop it up and wouldn't you know I cit myself. I sliced open a crecent on the pad of my right index finger and of course we ended up not having any band aids. (You have no idea how hard it is to type while not using your index finger.)
Still I continued to cook with Jeff's help and in all the chaos Finn ended up over by the trash can and managed to get a chunk of cauliflower in his mouth. Jeff got it out. Of course Nadia kept wanting to help but with all the knives and hot stove it wasn't really a good idea and she'd just cry. During all this Jeff realized we were out of milk and so ran to get some. While he was gone I thought I was going to go insane.

This morning I woke up feeling better but when I came out to the living room found Nadia already up with a carton of eggs in the living room. Most of them had little finger holes in them and some were cracked outright. Then I went to change Finn and he decided to wet when I already had his diaper off. Then a few hours later Nadia did something that made me want to scream because it made such a mess and got sent to her room. So if the rest of the day and the week keeps going like this I think I may go insane.

My 20th Birthday

This story is especially for you Traci.

We had only been going out for 2 weeks when my birthday hit. The weekend before we had gone down to watch General Conference at Jeff's grandparents. There I met for the first time Becky and Traci who was there for Traci's birthday. No offense to anyone but it was probably the most uncomfortable weekend of my life. We'd been dating less than a week and I got to meet his Mom and celebrate a triple birthday (because all of our birthday's are so close). If you look at the pictures Becky took of us you will notice that I'm leaning away from him in every one. Meeting his Mom after a week would have been bad enough, but I had spent the entire drive down thinking: What am I doing. I don't even really know him. I'm probably going to break up with when I get back. Yep I was thinking that I shouldn't even be dating him and that it was stupid to be going down. My neighbor, however, had told me before we went down not to break up with him till after my birthday. That just made me feel guilty. It hinted that he had something planned and if I broke up with him he would probably be out time and money, but if I waited till after my birthday I would just be using him. Needless to say I felt pretty bad about myself and the whole situation.

Well we got back and I didn't break up with him (obviously), and my birthday rolled around. I still had to go to school, however, and I am not the kind to skip, so that's what I did. When I got back from my class I opened the door to find a dozen red long stemmed roses on my coffee table. This is not a bad way to make a girl feel good (it didn't hurt that this was the first time I had ever been given flowers). Then my roommate and neighbors sent my on a scavenger hunt about campus collecting simple little gifts. The last clue led me back to my apartment. There in my living room was Jeff all dressed up and waiting to take me on a date. First we went to dinner and then he took me to the mall to pick out a purse. He had heard me say that I wanted a new one, but didn't want to get me one I wouldn't like. (Isn't he sweet?) Then he took me to the River Walk in Idaho Falls. This, of course, scared me silly, because I had an idea about what was going to happen. This was considered the romantic area and many people came down here (because it is right by the temple) to propose. Now I knew he wasn't going to propose, but I was pretty sure he was going to try to have our first kiss. So as we sat on a bench I suddenly stood up and said, "The reflection from the hotel is ruining the view." and started walking. So we walked down crossed a bridge and got to the other side of the water. On the other side part of the walkway jutted out over the river so we went on to it to look at the water. As we stood there I could feel it coming to I turned and ran. Yep ran. Wouldn't you know he chased me down, grabbed me, and "stole" (his word not mine) a kiss. At the time it was really embarrassing and kind of scary but now it makes for one of the best birthday's ever.

My Birthday.

I turned 24 on October 4th, and while not as elaborate as I tend to be Jeff gave me a really great birthday. On Friday, the day before my birthday, Jeff took the kids (and Kevin) and sent me to get my hair done. As a part of his birthday (remember the popping of balloons) he got to choose what color I dyed my hair. He chose blonde. So I got blonde highlights added along with some longer layers and bangs (which I haven't had since sometime in highschool). It turned out wonderful and I love it. The best part is it looks great straight and looks just as great curly.

I woke up the moring of my birthday to breakfast in bed and presents. It's a tradition in Jeff's family so we usually end up doing it on my birthday (because Jeff's in charge) but not on Jeff's birthday (because I'm in charge). I got everything I asked for. Jeff's parents got me a double stroller, which I've really been wanting but really couldn't afford. Yeah! Now we get to go for walks. Finn got me a double DVD set of two of Jane Austin's novels turned movies by BBC. Nadia got me a new camera (you may notice and increase in the number and qualities of my photos). And Jeff is taking me to the Texas Rennaissance Festival. Those of you who know me well know that I love the Rennaissance and the Medival ages and everything fantasy. Well you just have to think back to my wedding dress and wedding reception and maybe it will become a little more obvious. Anyway, not only do I get to go, Jeff says I get to pick out the rest of my presents there. Plus Jeff's parent will be taking the kids for us. All in all it was the best birthday ever (only rivaled by my 20th birthday).

Jeff's Birthday

It's been a while but I thought I'd post the pictures from Jeff's birthday. We had a big surprise waiting for him at home. Nadia and I made him the Happy Birthday sign. Nadia thought it was so cool that she had something so big to color on.

Then Nadia helped me blow up over a hundred balloons. She kept on trying so hard to get them to blow up, but she couldn't quite get them to work. So instead she had a great time spreading them around the house.

Finally, Nadia heard her Daddy at the door and rushed to let him in. Only she can't quite manage the front door yet. (Thank goodness.)

Jeff came in with a smile on his face because there was this waiting for him on the outside of the door.It told him to go to the kitchen table and let him know he was going to have to go on a scavenger hunt.
This is what he found on the kitchen table. (Nadia had made some inroads on the Kisses, but they were mostly all there.)From here he was sent to the freezer where he found Mango sorbet. Yum!
Next he went to Nadia and Finn's closet where he found a card game.


Then he went to our bathroom (after putting Finn down because Finn was getting to be too wiggly) and found Chewy Chips Ahoy.

From there he was sent to the dryer where he found a pack of pens.

Then he went to under the kitchen sink. There he found a dark chocolate bar with almonds, cranberries and blueberries.

After that he went to our dresser where he found the oh so exciting package of white socks.

Next he had to go to Nadia and Finn's bathroom and look under the seat. There he found a brand new reversible black/brown belt. (As you can see Finn convinced his Dad to pick him back up.)

Finn then took him to his own crib where his Daddy found a pair of cargo shorts.

Then it was back to our bedroom to the book shelf which held a nice white long sleeve shirt for church.
(Finn and Nadia both tried to help Dad open this one.)

Then he went back to the kitchen to check the cupboards.
Nadia thought maybe she should help her dad look down at her eye level. (Can you tell she was having a blast with this?)
Finally, after receiving some prompting he checked the right cupboard and found a mini pumpkin pie. It actually tasted really good.

Then it was back to our closet where he got a black socks for church.

Underneath the couch he and Finn found glowing stars to go on the ceiling. We have yet to see if they will go on our ceiling or on Nadia's. She and her daddy are still debating.

Then it was off to the linen closet to receive little wooden animals that are actually for Finn's wall. Nadia really likes them.

Next he was sent to the living room closet where he found a brand new tie.

Finally he was sent to our bed where he found a Legend of Zelda t-shirt.

With the scavenger hunt over he went to blow out the candles in his chocolate mint brownies.

Then it was time to open the presents.
First he got a brand new sword. It has become a tradition that he gets a new one on his birthday. Nadia had to try it out, but it was a little too heavy.
Next Finn got to hold it.

Then since that looked like fun, Nadia tried again.
Then he opened up his next gift. I little USB mouse for his laptop.
Then he got a gift all the way from Hong Kong. Vash the Stampede Sunglasses from the anime TriGun.

Finn gave his Daddy two DVDs.

When it was Nadia's turn to give him presents she thought that "from Nadia" meant "for Nadia." So she ran away from her dad and opened the present for him. She also gave him 2 dvds.


Then Nadia and Finn gave him a set of Fu Dogs. You often see them outside of Chinese restaurants.

It turns out the balloons weren't just balloons. Each and every one of them had something inside. Little coupon like things or endearments from me and the kids. So Jeff got to go around popping them. Surpisingly, Nadia wasn't scared at all. She loved it. She kept punching balloons then saying "I can't do it." Then she'd hand it to her dad and have him pop it with a pin.

So Jeff got a little spoiled this year. Like he does every year. Still he had a blast and the kids had a blast and it made everything worth it.