Family Fun!!

KANGAROO ZOO
Lately we have noticed that Jane gets totally bored at home, so we decided we need to take her on more adventures where she can release some of that energy- which she seems to have an abundance of!! Kangaroo zoo sounded like a perfect solution. Jane absolutely loved it there and had a blast!!! I was also pretty amazed at how brave she was. She flung herself down those slides (that were 12 times as tall as she was) without any inhibitions whatsoever. It may have given me a heart attack but she couldn't have been happier!!! That's my little adventurer...she gets that from her daddy!!

We loved it there and have been back several times since...

SPARK

Ryan and I also tried out that new restaraunt and lounge on University Avenue called Spark a few weeks ago. It was fun to finally have a little date night...a rare treat!! We should probably do that more often- it was borderline awkward due to the fact that our main topic of discussion was at home asleep...

We sat in the lounge, which we had all to ourselves that night, and tried some very delicious food and very creative drinks (no worries, all non alcoholic)! It was quite an experience and we had a great time together!!

I love spending time with my family- I am pretty sure no one can beat the Dicks when it comes to excitement and adventure!!!

Happy Birthday Ryan!!

I have the best husband in the world-who is now 25 years old!! We had a great birthday celebration on Tuesday for him(amidst taking care of the office, Jane and studying)! He got some wonderful presents...I kinda went all out this year :)...which he opened swiftly and crazily like he was 6 years old again...Exaclty three seconds later, he had his toys out and was playing with them excitedly.

It was as if I had a second child. That helipcopter, by the way, was broken 2 hours later...

I made a delicious and gourmet flourless chocolate torte for Ryan's special day. Christina and Terry ate it with us. I was pretty proud of it!!

Despite the few inevitable mishaps, I'd say Ryans birthday went pretty well!! I love you Ry! Happy Birthday!!

Whoever invented keys...sucks!!!!

I am one of those people who should not be allowed to have any set of keys at any time. I am absolutely positive I have set some sort of record for losing keys or locking them in my car or what have you!! I mean lets call the Guiness Book people right now- because NO ONE has had "key mishaps" as often as I have. Today is just one of MANY similar experiences!!

Today, I had just arrived home from "Moms and Tots" and was gleefully humming (I was happy because the morning had gone smoothly so far) as I absently mindedly took the keys out of the ignition, put them in my purse, set it on the seat next to me, got Jane out of the car, locked the car and then closed all doors... But oops...it seems I had forgotton one very vital step...to bring my purse with me! That's right folks- for the 107th time (or something not far from that) I had locked my keys in my car. However this time, I had managed to take it a step farther and lock my house keys, car keys and phone in the car as well. They were all in there having one big party, as I was swiftly losing my cool outside as I gazed desperately through the window.

I began to get frantic as I silently weighed my options and slowly realized...I had none!!! After going to several neighbors houses, a very tired and restless baby in my arms, someone finally opened the door. I called the police on their phone. "Is this an emergency?" the lady asked. YEEEEEEEEES I screamed in my head. While outloud I managed to maintain my calm and collected fisad (is that how that is spelled?-oh well). "No, I just locked my keys in my car." I said, a fake smile printed on my face. "We can't help you was all the answer I got. I wanted to freak out- but there were people watching me...it would have to wait until later...

Finally, I called the park's tow company and 30 minutes later they came to my resucue. And belive it or not Jane is napping right now and all is right with the world- despite that minor glitch. However, life would still be easier if we never had to use keys...EVER!!

Like Mother, Like Daughter

Jane locked herself in the closet today. I have never seen laughter turn into such hysterical crying so quickly...bless her heart! As I was awing over my daughter's crazy "freak out", I realized that I should probably give her a break..she is MY daughter after all. And it is no mystery where she gets her uncanny ability to have one heck of an instantaneous "freak out"...she gets it from ME!!! Yes, I have been known to whip up a rather stunning "freak out" at the drop of a hat. Jane, reminded me of myself far too much today!!

That reminded of a time, several years back when I used to babysit weekly, four VERY energetic boys. These were the type of boys that you couldn't take your eyes off of for one second for fear of something exploding, breaking or dying. On this particular day I had the boys settled down watching a super hero movie (an absolute life saver, when it comes to babysitting boys). I decided I would take that small window of time to go to the bathroom. Knowing my time was limited, I ran to the bathroom and decided I'd better be sure to lock the door- "what if one of the boys walked in on me...what a nightmare that would be" I thought.

Now this bathroom must have been used as a "time-out" spot or a small dungeon by the parents...(I wouldn't put it past them with these boys...)because it only had a lock on the outside of the door. Due to my lack of brain function when I am rushing, I pressed the lock button in and closed the door. After I had finished the job in the bathroom, as quickly as possible, naturally I attempted to exit. This is where I realized that I had locked myself in this tiny bathroom. It was feeling more like a dungeon every minute!

Visions of a destroyed house, a dead toddler, and three boys, high on the forbidden sugar stash hidden away in the kitchen, running up the street like wild animals danced through my head. Here is when the "freak out" came, coupled with cold sweats, short breaths and small black-outs. I knew if I yelled to the boys to come help me because I was locked in the bathroom, letting me out would be the last thing they would do. They would most definitely see this as the opportunity of a life time and commence the chaos immediately. No, I had to think of a better plan. I spent several minutes tinkering with the door handle and looking through cupboards for sharp objects of any kind. Perhaps I could dig my way out?!

Finally, I could see that my attempts were folly and too much time had passed. My only hope was that there was some decency left in the world of little boys, and I yelled for them to come help. I decided to leave out the part where I was locked like a prisoner in the bathroom. To my awe and surprise, one of the boys answered my distress call. Rather impatiently he opened the door (thankfully not realizing it had been locked) and said "what do you want? Gosh, I am missing the best part of the movie." I said "Oh, I forgot" trying to act natural. I didn't want my lack of adult responsibility getting back to their parents. I ran into the room where all four boys were sitting the exact way I had left them...Thank heaven for super hero movies!!!!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the year...

Let the fun begin....

Festival of the Trees!!

Blown Glass tree...Wow!!

Gotta love good ol BYU!!!

Jane and I have already had a chance to do alot of fun stuff this holiday season!! We went to the Festival of the trees not too long ago with a group of fun moms from our ward!! It was so much fun and Jane really had a blast...

She helped mama make some festive reindeer horns to wear. She wore them for exactly 10 seconds, in which time I managed to get a pretty decent picture of her before she ripped them off...a Christmas miracle.

She also got her face painted. She picked out a cute snow flake. Who knew the Festival of the trees was so much fun?!!

However, the best part of this holiday season...so far, is that Jane got to meet the big guy himself...yes, Jane met Santa Clause and loved it!!


She was pretty enamored with his jingle bells...
We also got to ride on a real train around Santa!! It was so much fun. I know you can't tell by her face...but Jane loved it!!So far, this Christmas season is panning out to be a good one!! Merry Christmas everyone!!

3 years already?!!

On November 23rd, 2008, Ryan and I had our third anniversary!! However, we weren't actually able to celebrate until a week later!! We both desperately needed a break so we had an over night stay at the Alaskan Inn in Ogden, went to a movie and ate a VERY nice dinner at the Timbermine Restaraunt. Leaving Jane overnight for the first time was very weird but we managed to get away and Jane had alot of fun with Christina and Terry!! Here are a few fun pics of our get-away!Alaskan Inn up Ogden Canyon

Timbermine Restaraunt

I threw in a picture of Jane playing- just because she is so cute!!

Also, at the Alaskan Inn!!

Tagged...

I was tagged by my friend Melissa!! So here goes:

8 shows I watch:
1. John and Kate plus 8
2. Little People Big World
3. The Hills (I'm a nerd)
4. Law and Order
5. Home Improvement (I'm a really big nerd)
6. Everybody loves Raymond
7. Anything on the Food Network
8. Friends
*OK, so I watch too much tv...

8 Restaraunts I go to:
1. Cafe Rio
2. La Dulce Vida
3. Tarahumara
4. Sensuous Sandwich
5. Red Robin
6. Osaka
7. The Training Table
8. Yoasis (I love them..yummy!!)
*This was way too easy, I eat WAY too much...

8 Thing I did today:
1. Worked in the office and tried to keep Jane away from the computer and phone
2. Played with Jane
3. Picked up after Jane
4. Fed Jane
5. Cleaned up after Jane
6. Wrote more of my book- while Jane napped
7. Changed Jane's poopy diapers
8. I am going to a movie- once Jane is asleep
*Basically I have no life other than Jane...

8 Things I look forward to:
1. Not having to manage Crestline Estates anymore (Don't get me wrong, I am so grateful for our job- but it can be super stressful sometimes :)
2. Ryan to be done with school
3. Buying our first home
4. a white Christmas- Jane will actually sort-of care about it this year!!
5. Thanksgiving break for Ryan- we can actually hang out together!!!
6. Finishing my book!!
7. Jane's bed time- I love her to death but that's my chance to relax!!!
8. Jane waking up in the morning- I am rested and ready to play with my adorable baby!!

8 Things on my wish list:
1. I wish and hope Ryan will get one of the scholarships he is applying for.
2. A comfortable and beautiful home of our own some day
3. Happiness to my family and friends (good one Meliss)
4. I wish I could learn not to stress out so much all the time.
5. My children to grow up to be strong, righteous, successful adults
6. To see my family more, all together(my brothers and sisters I mean)!!
7. More dates and time with Ryan!!!
8. More adventure!!!

People I tag:
1. Jillyn
2. Erica
3. Christina
4. Heather
5.Eve

Do it if you can- if you can't I won't hate you!!! But, I really learned alot about myself from doing this. I discovered that I am a huge nerd, with no life, who eats too much!! So, think hard about doing this- you may learn something awesome about yourself that you didn't know before!! :)