Matt's Birthday

Yesterday was Matt's 29th Birthday! As I was contemplating the gift ideas I thought of doing a little collection of items that relate some of the many reasons why I love my husband. Though the collection did not come to fruition, here were some reasons I thought of:

-He likes to cook with me (and is in fact shopping for stuff to make his famous Mac and Cheese for dinner tomorrow!)

-He will watch Chick Flicks with me (even after I have fallen asleep)

-He indulges my Reality TV obsession by being enough in "the know" to carry on a conversation about a recent ousting on Survivor or who the Bachelor is going to choose (good boy!)

-He puts up with my quirks - like having to own the entire series of a movie....series - even if I don't necessarily like the movies in the series

-He tells me I am beautiful

-He loves our little girls. I just melt when I see the way he looks at Lucy and laughs with Emma.

-He is visionary in the sense that he can see how a house can be made better or the best thing to change on a car to make it better

-He can build ANYTHING - all I have to do is show him a picture

-He will sing with me

and the list goes on. He is fantastic. I love him. I tried to show him - Sarah and I planned an evening out with our men (since Sean's birthday is...well, sort of the same day). Here are some pics from our evening:

You can't go wrong taking your man out to an all-the-meat-you-can-eat kind of place, so we took them to Tucanos. There was a lot of steak and bacon wrapped everything involved. Oh, and they have really good rolls.

So next on the agenda was a good old romp around the go-kart track at Winner's Motorsports Park. If only we'd remembered our head socks, we could have been spared a five dollar per person charge to look like this: We had a great time and I think the boys were pleased. So...Happy Birthday honey - I love you and I hope it showed!

I Know You

I can't get enough of Emma, our little singer. She has been singing this little ditty from Sleeping Beauty since Christmas. My favorite part of this video is when she throws in the "My Finger as My Microphone" trick she has just learned.

Emma the Photographer

Emma figured out how to take pictures yesterday. You can see the progression from "What happens when I push this button?":to "Oh, I think I took a picture!":to "Mom, can I take your picture?!!!":
If she ends up following this passion - you have officially viewed Emma's first attempts at photography. Lucky you!

Splish, Splash

We have really enjoyed living close to an indoor swimming facility! Emma loves to swim and it is fun for us to take her and wear her out!

This was Lucy's second time swimming! She does really well. She is a very content baby and it takes a lot for her to get upset. Anyway, there wasn't much exciting to write about - I just loved these pictures!

Sarah

The Remodel

For those of you who don't know, last year, about this time, Matt got his General Contractor's License and for the past year has been trying to establish his own business. Well, as you can imagine, it hasn't been the best time to get into the industry. With the economy as it is, Matt has been forced to explore a different angle in his approach to his business. He has started to focus more on remodeling and finish work. As of late he has been having success finishing basements and doing small projects for people. This has all lead up to his newest project: The Remodel. (That is it's official title) He has obtained a house built in 1935 that is in need of some TLC. Great bones, just some poor choices in prior remodel attempts. He is really excited about the project and we are looking forward to creating our own version of an HGTV/TLC show. Anyway, here are some pictures: The Front
The Back Anyway, I have some interior shots I'll try to remember to post. If you are a fan of Flip That House....then check back. I'll try and do some before and after action!

Sarah

Lucy Laughs

I have been trying to get Lucy to laugh for a month now! Today she finally did! Remember that we do weird things to amuse babies - hence the weird noises I'm making in the background...

The Whiz Kid

We finally had a successful potty transaction today and I was so happy I nearly cried. Okay, there was one glistening tear. I just had to record that my child actually can go pee-pee in the potty. We have proof today. And I am so proud of her for finally following through and proud of myself for sticking to it. If there is anyone out there who is reading this and distressed, I feel for you, I really really do. And I am aware that the rollercoaster has not come safely into the station. There is definitely still more work. But...she did it. She peed in the potty. Who would have ever thought that those words would bring me so much joy...

Potty Training

All I have to say, after two weeks of intense potty training without a single successful pee from my two year old, is: Potty Training = My personal hell. I am not posting for advice because I have literally tried EVERYTHING there is to try and am thus giving up and letting Emma learn on her own (I have built the foundation). I am writing to share a classic Emma story that needs to be recorded for the annuls.

So, the other morning Emma woke up dry so we immediately went to the potty and sat hoping to hear the happy tinkle. We sat and we sat....and we sat. I knew that she needed to go and I wasn't giving up, but I did need to run into the other room and grab something so I left for a moment. Upon my return I look to find a soaking wet pull-up at my adorable child's feet. Turns out that she did really have to go so she waited until I left, stood up from the potty, pulled on her pull-up, peed, pulled-off her pull-up, and sat back down on the potty.

This is a perfect example of what I am dealing with here people. Laugh. I will join you in a few years when my child finally decides that she will joing the land of the big girls and "put the pee-pee in the potty."

Viva Las Vegas Part 2

Tuesday cont - Well, without the camera we arrived in Vegas. We couldn't check into the hotel until that afternoon so we went straight to the convention. I don't know how many of you have been to the Las Vegas Convention Center, but it is large. When we went to the Sema Show a few years ago we found a great parking lot on the back side of the center. We parked there again for the Builder's Show not realizing that we would have to walk a literal mile and a half to get to where we were to sign in as Attendees. We finally arrived, signed in and began our show experience. There were many classes being offered with topics related to surviving the economic downturn - and we, along with the majority of the show attendees, were very interested in attending those. Let me impart the wisdom that we were given: The economy sucks. It sucks because of builders. There will not be any change to the sucky economy in the near future. Good luck to ya.
With that "wisdom" ringing in our ears, we decided we should pursue obtaining as much free stuff from the vendors as possible since it may well be the only thing that we would walk away from the convention with. We did pretty well for ourselves. If you see us walking around in Home Depot shirts and Lowe's hats it is because the sucky economy has landed us with no income, no hope of income, and we can't afford to buy any clothes.
So - the convention wasn't that helpful - but at least we had the great deal we got on a room at the five star Mandalay Bay. We checked in, exhausted, and went up to our room on the 28th floor. With floor to ceiling windows looking straight out onto the strip it was a breathtakingly classic Las Vegas view in a great room. We were happy and went to sleep contented on our pillow-top mattress.

Wednesday - We left the hotel with cupcakes in our belly's, headed to what we thought was a free breakfast that I scored at the convention. It turns out I was wrong and all that was waiting for us was more classes with instructors waiting to dispense the doom and gloom. Oh, and they really, really wanted us to go green. Wednesday was officially "Green Day" and I swear I haven't heard the word used as often - even on St. Patrick's Day. The only Green Products that I was convinced into using were the water faucet that dispensed hot water in, like, 6 seconds and the double flush toilet - one button for number one, one button for number two. Genius.
After the convention we finally had enough energy to head out onto the strip. It was quite a walk to get to my favorite Vegas attraction, the fountains at Bellagio, but they never fail to impress. Across the street, we then went, to the Paris hotel for dinner at the Italian restaurant in the French hotel with the Spanish waitress. We had hopes of splitting a plate, but with the $8 split plate charge, we decided I would get the $8 salad so we have food for the money. We shared salad, gnocchis, and lots of free bread while we listened to our Opera Singing Waitress. There is always a surprise in Vegas. For dessert we went to the Boulangerie and ordered a French Pastry. I'm not sure if it is a french classic, the key lime tartlet, but Matt was floored with the deliciousness and it comes highly recommended next time you are at the Paris Hotel in Vegas.

Wow - I think I am more bored than you at this point. Thursday we will just do highlights - Convention. More free stuff. Matt trying to get me to try on a $2,000 Gucci dress. Me refusing and looking like a shoplifter as I ran out of the store in fear. Matt dropping a $600 Gucci shoe. Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

Friday - home again, jiggity jig. Of course, this involved picking up the camera in St. George and getting more delicious cupcakes to make addicts of those we left behind. The conclusion I have come to from this trip is that I officially judge the success of a vacation by the food that I eat. This vacation has thus been given a 8.7 on the successful vacation scale because despite the bad news we were continuously fed at the convention our bellies were filled with scrumptious cuisine and that makes me happy.

A special treat:

Matt's favorite Vegas memory: Gnocchi's at the Paris hotel and indulging in the Key Lime Tartlet which he has dubbed his personal ABTS.

Viva Las Vegas

So, last week Matt and I trekked to Vegas for the annual National Associaton of Home Builders Convention. Thanks to my mom, it turned into a getaway for just Matt and I. I was excited for a little break and had all sorts of picture taking plans so that I could do an exciting and lengthy blog describing our week. A small hiccup occurred on day two, however....

Monday - at about 6:30pm we begin the drive down. We decided to break up the four hours to St. George with a short stop in Provo for dinner. My dad and brothers had taken Matt to "The Smokehouse Grill" on their "man-trip" last summer and Matt raved to me about how great the food was so I mentioned that we should eat there. We sat and our order was taken. Matt had been craving the ribs - so ribs it was. Our anticipation increased as the waitress left to place our order. Moments later she returned: "I'm sorry, I totally forgot - we are out of ribs." WHAT! So, sadly we replaced the ribs with brisket. Our pouty faces must have permeated the place because when they found out that we had driven forty-five (or so) miles just for the ribs the owner came out with an apology, peanut butter cheesecake and news that the meal was on the house. All was forgiven and I now send to you my earnest recommendation that you eat there next time you are in happy valley. You will not be disappointed - even if they are out of ribs.

We arrived safely in St. George around 11:30 that evening and scouted out the cheap hotels on the Blv. We chose the quaint Dixie Palms and settled in for some rejuvenating rest.

Tuesday Morning - When I knew that we would be staying in St. George, I immediately began craving the most delicious cupcakes I have ever had in my life from the unique bakery Sarah and I discovered last September called "Twenty-Five on Main." They also serve breakfast so Matt and I stayed and ordered. I was struck with this place from the moment I walked in. It is decorated in a modern motif with pictureless picture frames on the wall and various cukoo clocks painted in my favorite color scheme of teal and brown. The owner of the establishment served us and I raved about the cupcakes. I was also pleased with my breakfast meal - a farmhouse panino served with a breakfast salad.

I didn't know how I felt about salad for breakfast, but the food was fresh and well thought out and I left utterly pleased that the bakery that had won me over with their cupcakes now solidified my adoration by proving they can cook as well. I took a picture to remember my joy and we left to continue the drive. About fifteen minutes outside of Vegas it dawned on me that - I left my camera on the table at my favorite quaint little cafe. Thus, my dreams of a picture documentary of this vacation for the sole purpose of entertaining my faithful blog readers was thwarted and this is all I have to show for the Vegas vaca:

The picture I took right before leaving my camera in St. George:

And the picture we took when we picked the camera up in St. George:

What can I say, I am my mother's daughter.

More of the actual vacation in detail in my next post - but you may not be interested because I have no pics to show for it!

Sarah