Stuff

The only reason I'm doing this post is because I'm bored and don't feel like cleaning the kitchen. So here we go:

In the past couple of months this is whats been going down:

1- I was offered a job by my old boss. I worked as a receptionist/administrative assistant for him for a good 5 years (with a short leave of absence when we moved to Alaska). The offer was actually very timely because we have been playing with the idea of me working full-time and Nick stay home with Toby so he can focus more on his studies for his last year. I haven't told very many people about his job offer, but to make a long story short: I turned it down. It was a tough decision because those of you who know him, know he is the worlds greatest boss. Who knows though, down the road it may work out. But for now, I know in my heart I made the right decision. If you want further details: call me, email me, Facebook me.

2- Toby is slowly weaning himself from his one and only nap. It has its pro's and cons. The days he doesn't nap he sleeps in until about 8:30 or 9 and then goes to bed at around 7. Those days are nice when I have a lot of stuff planned and a nap would interfere. But when I am home all day with no car, yeah I pretty much go insane. Which leads me into my next happening....

3 - Nick sold his green Saturn aka "old reliable" so that he could have a truck. I was sad to see it go because of its fantastic gas mileage (35 MPG!) but I feel Nick deserves his truck. Especially with how hard he works. He hasn't found his truck yet, or it hasn't found him, however you want to look at it. But its been about a month since I have had no car and it sucks. We went the first two years of our marriage on one car, and it was tough but doable. But back then I wasn't a stay-at-home mom with an extremely, active toddler. Not to mention it's SUMMER and I want to be out and about enjoying the heat while I can. So yes, it's been a long 4 weeks.

4- Nick and I decided to do separate vacations this summer. No, there is not trouble in paradise. We both just needed time away where we could get in a little R & R before the crazy school year starts up again. And we've planned a ton of "stay-cations" with the T-man. So...I went to Alaska for 4.5 days and Nick went camping in Eastern Oregon with his Dad for 4.5 days. Although it was a much needed break for both of us, I think we both appreciated each other a little bit more after our time away from each other. :) Holy cow, how do single moms and military mom's do it?

5- I am ecstatic about my upcoming John Mayer concert. This is my 6th time seeing him and this time we are going with our friends Jessie and Dave. Can't wait! My family makes fun of me because I have sort of a love/hate relationship with him. I am completely infatuated with his music, but I can't stand him as a person. I cringe watching an interview with him because he is basically an ego-maniac who loves to hear himself talk. BUT...he puts on such an amazing concert. He is arguably one of the few artists who sound as good or better than their album. Pure, unbridled talent. Yeah, I'm obsessed.

6- Still nothing happening in the pregnancy department. It's only been about 6 months since I had my IUD removed so I shouldn't be too heart broken, right?

I won't lie, its disappointing. Especially since it took us only 1 month to get prego with Toby. I'm wondering if it has something to do with Mirena - the devil birth control that I will NEVER go on again. See this post for more details. Anyway, I digress. I'm seeing my doc on Monday for my wonderful annual womanly exam, so hopefully they can provide some clarity or guidance. But in the mean time, I'm just putting my trust in the Lord that it'll happen when its suppose to. It's all I can do.

That pretty much covers it. I guess I will stop procrastinating those dishes now. :)

My Alaska Excursion

This was my 3rd trip back to "The Last Frontier" since living there for the first 1.5 years of our marriage. I must say I was very surprised how nostalgic being there was for me. The first two visits weren't quite as enjoyable because one of them of I was pregnant and SICK, and the second one Toby was 3 months old and far from being an easy, portable, baby. So this time I think being so independent and free (I even used my own skymiles to pay for the ticket) definitely contributed to the melancholy and general "aw...I forgot about that" feeling while I was there.

Not only that, I forgot how much I love hanging out with my sister Beckie. We never ran out of things to talk about - or laugh about. It had been a while since I had laughed so hard that my stomach felt like it was going to implode. It was awesome. It was wonderful sister time.

My sister Beckie, adorable niece Addison, and me waiting to be seated at my most favorite pizza place of all time: MOOSE'S TOOTH! Words can't even begin describe how delicious their pizza is. My mouth waters just thinking about it. This place was definitely a favorite of mine and Nick's. Oh and the beer is good too.
So I hear. :)

Another place Nick and I use to go almost every weekend: Totem Movie Theater. It's a ghetto little movie house equivalent to Movies 8 in Provo. But it was just down the road from where we use to live in Anchorage (which was also very ghetto). Since then it has become a $3 theater. That's right, that wasn't a typo - a $3 NOT a $1 theater. Another thing about Alaska: everything costs more.

So Beck and I saw "Robin Hood" at this theater and "Eclipse" at another.

We also got pedicures together, which I was way past due for. And my sister made a new friend there too. I think the guy doing her pedi had a foot fetish or something because she got an extra 20 minutes of foot rubbing - which creeped her out but sure made me laugh. :)

Many Alaskan's have nick-named their state "God's Country." And for good reason: it's absolutely breathtaking. My pictures below won't do it justice, but it gives you an idea of how green and beautiful everything is. To me it's like taking Utah's mountains and mixing it with the green, foresty areas of Seattle, WA.

Mine and Nick's favorite place to take walks and rollerblade was the coastal trail. Isn't it gorgeous? We have seen our share of wildlife on this path: moose, fox, bald eagle, and wild rabbits. Oh I miss that trail.

It's also right next to the airport so the picture below is something you see about every 10 minutes or so. It's such a rush to have the planes fly right over your head!

This is my dramatic and intense "Eclipse" stare. I was getting tired of the same old "stand there and smile pictures." :)

Me saying my goodbyes to Addy. She was so much fun and so big! I don't get to see her very often so it was definitely a treat to spend that much time with my cute niece.

While I was there I made a mental notes of the little things that I miss about living there:

- I miss how nice everyone is. Everyone talks to each other in public places and I swear they are one of the most considerate drivers on earth. It's like night and day compare to our road raged Utahns. I really hate Utah drivers.

- I miss the "come as you are" disposition. The general fashion sense in Alaska is that there is none. Most women don't put on gobs of make-up to go to the store (like they do here). Everyone is real and natural and just themselves. Also, there is definitely a shortage on women so I definitely get a few looks from guys there (which I must admit at times really creeped me out). In Utah, I feel frumpy. In Alaska, I feel pretty being myself and I don't feel like I am constantly being sized up for my comfortable, laid-back fashion sense.

- I miss the delicious seafood restaurants. Although in general Utah's got WAY more selection for eating out, I miss the FRESH halibut, salmon, and sushi on the dinner menus. Yum.

- I definitely miss the beauty. Though I did have a funny, total Utah pride moment during Sunday School. There were talking about "barren wastelands" and someone raised their hand and said that pretty much the entire area between Idaho and Arizona was considered ugly (meaning Utah). It's funny how things like that put me in hyper protection mode over my home state. I sat there for the next 5 minutes listing to my sister all the places that are not only pretty but unique to Utah alone - as if somehow it would make a difference. And since no one knew I was visiting from Utah, in Relief Society my sister introduced me as her sister visiting from the "ugly region between Idaho and Arizona." I got a few sheepish smiles. :)

- In a weird way I miss being the minority, as far as religion goes.

- I miss seeing my sister and my niece and nephews. It's hard living 3,100 miles away from them. :(


As perfect and relaxing as the trip was, I relished being welcomed home with 80 degree weather and lots of hugs from both Toby and Nick. Toby melted my heart with his exuberant smiles and squealing "momma!" over and over again.
There is definitely no place like home.

4th of July quotes

John Adams has said: “Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible as their only law book and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited. Every member would be obligated in conscience to temperance and frugality and industry, to justice and kindness and charity toward his fellowmen, and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God. In this commonwealth no man would impair his health with gluttony, drunkenness or lust. No man would sacrifice his precious time to cards or trifling with other mean amusements. No man would steal or lie or in any way defraud his neighbor, but would live in peace and good will toward all men. No man would blaspheme his Maker or profane his worship, but a rational and manly, a sincere and unaffected devotion would reign in the hearts of all men. What a utopia, what a paradise this region would be."

L. Tom Perry: "No constitution on earth has endured longer than ours. We seek and usually find the answers to today’s hardest legal questions within this document of yesterday. The Constitution was and is a miracle. Both Washington and Madison referred to it as such. It was an inspired document, written under the divine guidance of the Lord. James Madison, commonly called the Father of the Constitution, recognized this inspiration and gave the credit to 'the guardianship and guidance of the Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations whose blessings have been so conspicuously displayed to the rising of this republic.'(Prologue, p. 95.)

I want to issue you a challenge. I want you[...]who have been given these great advantages here in America to literally become the conscience of America and the molders of its destiny and future. With your knowledge, your training, your understanding of how God works in the hearts of his children here on earth, let us obligate ourselves to temperance, to frugality, and to industry. Let us show justice, kindness, and charity toward our fellowmen. Let us demonstrate the love and reverence we should exhibit toward our Almighty God. Let us not trifle with the things that are holy to God.

Fifty-six men represented 2.5 million in 1776 to bring about a new nation that has literally blessed the whole world. That was one man to every 45,000. This is the time for you to be bold enough to stand up for what you believe, to let the world know that God still blesses this great land of America—if we will live righteously, according to that which he has commanded." (L. Tom Perry, “God’s Hand in the Founding of America,” New Era, Jul 1976, 45)