It's a girl! ...and a house!

I am so bad at updating this! My cute friend Marie called me today and reminded me that I haven't updated it in a while... :)

So... IT'S A GIRL!!! Her name will be Annabella Capri. She's been kicking a lot and even Jason has been able to feel her moving - it's been so much fun! My mom is super excited since this will be her first granddaughter. This photo is how we announced it to her and my dad:



Other than a killer stuffy nose (caused by being pregnant) I am really starting to enjoy pregnancy! It's just really cool. I have to admit that I was pretty freaked out by finding out it was a girl - I was totally expecting it to be a boy! I have no idea what to do with a girl! I guess I'll figure it out!! :)

So, a few weeks ago, Marie's dad took Jason and I to a new development in West Jordan and showed us the model homes that were being built. Now, we are currently building a new home! We are so excited! We have been able to go to the design center and pick out everything from the outside color to kitchen cabinets and carpet. What a blast! But, quite overwhelming when you have a million choices and make decisions like I do...




This is what we were down to at the end... from 10,000,000 other choices!

They say the house will be finished in August, but until then we are moving out of our apartment in a couple of weeks and in with my parents until it's completed. That way we can save up some money to help out at closing. Fun, fun!

We're Expecting!!

So, now that I am 16 weeks pregnant, we have finally decided to announce it on our blog! :) Hooray! We find out what we are having in about 2 weeks, so that will make it even more fun to start planning! :)

C, D & E

Well, C and D weekend was a bust. A bunch of miscommunication, then Jason ended up working the ENTIRE weekend! So, instead of Clark Planetarium and a Drive-in, it became "C"atastrophe and "D"isaster weekend! Ha! Take that! :)

Life has been a bit slow since then. Jason was home the following week with a real bad cold, which I got (of course), and am still trying to get over! It's been really yucky. Jason is still getting better, but at least he has been able to get back to work.

E is for "E"aster. We decided that would be best since we're both still sick. So, when we figure out the details of "F", we will post it!

Alphabet Weekend "C" & "D"

So, Alphabet Weekend "C" was scheduled to be this past weekend, but, due to some miscommunication, it was moved to this coming weekend (and is now something new & improve"d"!):

On this weeks episode (March the 28th) we will be watching as our fun and lovable friends enjoy the atmosphere of the "C"lark Planetarium and the relaxation of a "D"ouble feature at the "D"rive in! Oh yeah, its open now, well the 27th, BUT STILL!!!

Come join us, as we travel first through the galaxy and then to the back seat! Gather your biggest cars, blankets and pillows to conserve body heat and humor this Saturday.

The fun begins at 4 PM at the Clark Planetarium (we can make arrangements for carpooling), afterwhich we will hunt down some food (ideas welcome) and then conclude at the Redwood Drive-in theater at 8 pm, at which time we can all decide what to see.

Come one, come all! Please call or email to join us!

Operation Kids and Collin Raye Join Forces

This is the big project I have been working on and it just launched yesterday. I am the webmaster for Operation Kids, a local non-profit that focuses on all charities and projects for kids around the nation, and eventually internationally. They give 100% of all donations to specified charities or a project they get involved with. It is always specified by the donor where the funds should go.



Recently, they have teamed up with Collin Raye (who sang at their annual gala last October) to reach out to the public for $5 donations to help families who are dealing with enormous medical expenses. You actually get something in return for this! A free download of a song he wrote for his granddaughter, who has a regressive neurological disease that has yet to be diagnosed after 6 years. The song is beautiful and inspiring. I've heard it.

I helped the project come to light in that I created the flash banner on Collin's site and the donation process you would go through to donate on Operation Kid's site. (If you click on the banner below, it will take you to Operation Kid's website.)

I support the cause and encourage all to consider donating. Look at the websites, read about the cause and make a decision. It's a wonderful cause by wonderful people who want to make a difference to families around the nation.

Alphabet Weekend "B" and the upcoming "C"

So, it wasn't really done on a weekend, but this past Monday, Jason and I joined our bestest of friends (except Tyler and Destiny.... :( ) and had a "Beauty Night" for the girls and the boys just did "Boys' Night." We really had a blast, but didn't take our camera for proof of the fun.

Us ladies, thank you to the magical and talented Katrina, gave ourselves facials and other girl stuff, topped off with eyebrow waxing. I left feeling like a princess with super smooth skin - which looks even better today!

Da boys, played around with some martial arts and on the Wii. They seemed to have a lot of fun.... I was too busy having my own fun! :)

So, that's "B." Huge "Thank You" to Katrina for hosting and giving us TONS of samples! Now for "C"...

"Couples Cookoff." This is, for now, to be hosted by Kellie. We are each planning on preparing one portion of a meal: Appetizer, Main, Dessert, etc. as a couple while we are all together at Kellie's house. This gives us time to hang out while the food is cooking and getting prepared and will challenge our couple cohesiveness....

I know this was supposed to be an activity for a bunch of people to join, but Kellie offered to host it and I can't invite people to her house.... Next time, guys!

"A"n Evening of "A"mor

Ok, so I should have posted this blog a while ago... but I have a great excuse why I am just getting to it now! Ha!

So, 5 couples met on the evening of Friday the 13th - the night before Valentine's Day. We had a great time together - so great, in fact, that we forgot to take pictures! We had heart-shaped pizza, which was excellent - along with a divine homemade chocolate mousse (courtesy of Katrina) that was actually made with avocados! Then we had chocolate fondue for dessert (as if we needed more chocolate, huh!) with all the trimmings - strawberries, marshmallows, cinnamon bears, bananas, oreos and a bunch of other stuff. While we sat around the warm fondue pots, we played "Loaded Questions" - which was a load of fun and trouble!

So, anyway, for those who missed.... your loss! Just kidding. We have planned our activity for "B", but because Katrina is our private esthetician and has offered to host it, we have to keep this one a bit private. But, I promise "C" will be open to all and tons of fun!!! It will be planned within the next week so we can give everyone fair notice. Have a great St. Patrick's Day!

Alphabet Weekends are about to Begin!

Dearest family and friends,

This year (now it's gotten started), we decided that everybody needs more adventure in their lives! So, what better way to plan adventures than... ALPHABET WEEKENDS! What does that mean? That means that every few weekends, we will do an activity that will take us through the alphabet. That's 26 weekends of fun! We will give a couple of weeks notice to help everyone prepare (aka: budget and plan). If, for whatever reason you are unable to join us, come up with your very own special alphabet weekend! Some activities may require short travel, others may be concocted in our kitchens!

From Aquariums (though, that's not the first activity... it was our 2nd choice) to Zion's National Park, it's sure to be a wonderfully, unexpected, fantastic voyage of fun through the ABC's.

To catapult us into the beginnings of our on-going adventure, we would like to announce our first activity: "A"n Evening of "A"mor - just for St. Valentine's Day!

Look for our next post, which will include pictures for "A"!

Etsy Shop & MORE!

So I decided to open an Etsy shop. I am pretty excited about it, but I still have to get a few more things put into it. So far, it's just a few scrapbooking things. I am hoping that it will inspire me to broaded my design skills. Feel free to check it out: aimcreative.etsy.com.

Also, for those people who actually read our blog, I have added a whole bunch of images and stuff from the past year - so you will have to scroll down and see them if you are really interested. :) Cabo, Halloween, St. George - and more!

New Year's Resolutions

Ok, Ok, I know that it is the 12th of January... not the first. But, I have been taking this New Year's Resolutions thing seriously. I would like to think that this year will be a better year and that I will be able to end 2009 a better person. I have been thinking about my own goals and what motivates me and I have tried to use those things to make a list of things I want to accomplish THIS year (not in 20 years), and how I want to start directing my life.

Goals I have set for myself:

1) I am dedicating myself more whole-heartedly to working out and improving my body and overall health. This includes running 5-6 days a week, toning my muscles, and doing yoga regularly. Oh, and eating a better diet... no more cookies and brownies for breakfast! Think oatmeal and blueberries...

2) I am striving to improve my mind and spirit. I write in my journal almost daily (at least weekly), read my scriptures daily, and I am going to start reading books again - like one a month. No more Women's Health magazine and SELF - I need real reading material!

3) I am starting to draw and paint again. This really fits under "improving mind and spirit," but it is important enough that I have to list it separately.

4) I am more dedicated to my work and being more creative. I have a bunch of websites on the table and in my head that I need to finish and execute! I have the talent, I am striving for the motivation. I am blessed that I really do have a good spread of genres for my portfolio, as it stands now.

Those are the big ones. The others are big too, but they are more personal. I hope I become a better person (especially a better wife). I hope it shows, too.