Back Posting

For those who actually come to the blog page. There are 4 + 3 new back posts before the "Wedding Pics?" post.

We've had a busy week and will try to get caught up next week, with a few more posts.

Elder Kolb, you will probably need to print them off to be able to read them all. . .sorry it took so long to post. I hope you are getting over the flu quickly! We love you!!

Wedding Pics?

I am taking a break in the chronology here. I have like 6 posts waiting, the pictures are uploaded i just need to write.

So this Saturday Jon and I got dressed up in our wedding attire and had the funnest time getting some Bride and Groom shots! Seriously, it was sooo fun! Way more fun than the first time! And I love the pictures!! My friend Raquel took them. She also did Rachel's wedding pictures. Here are a few that she posted on her blog. And her website: Remember When by Raquel. She has a vintage feel to her photos, it is awesome!

Thanks again, Raquel!!

Before and After

This has been a fairly productive summer for improving things around the house. Although, there is still much to do!

This was in our laundry room around the ceiling . . .

Before:

Since it was done with a stencil I knew if I painted over it the shape would still show through, so I went and scraped all the edges of the the stars and primed them. Also notice all the storage: baby, Christmas and craft stuff.



Its hard to tell in these pictures, but this is the new paint. Its the same color as most of the rest of the house (that we already painted last summer, here, here, and here). It is a lighter color so the room doesn't feel so small.

And all the storage made its way into the new attic storage space.

After:

Then a couple weeks ago, while I was at Home Depot getting a few things to finish up decorating Zac's room (which probably won't be done for another month or so . . .) I decided I was going to get some light fixtures. We have been wanting to replace them since we moved in, and just kept putting it off. The dining room fixture was especially outdated (I couldn't thing of another word that wasn't so . . .rude).

Before:


After:

The best part about this is I surprised Jon! He didn't even know I was buying it. I installed it all by myself!! It took me about 2 hrs and a bit of stress praying that I had turned off the right breaker! He was so excited about it! And I am sure the best part for him was that he didn't have to install it! (Sorry about all the "!" it was just so awesome.)

Then I replaced the one over the kitchen. It had a dome on it, but I forgot to take a picture, so this is half way through



After:

This is a bigger fixture too, so it has another light bulb. The lighting is sooooo much better in these 2 rooms! Although the family room is still pretty bad . . .still trying to figure out what to do there. . .

Then I replace the one in the guest bathroom. I don't have a before pic of these either. But it was bad too!! This one was more tricky because the previous fixture was a large wooden rectangle. So I had to paint under the old fixture. And notice the stripes? That is different paint, same color, different sheen. And then the hole for the wiring was not centered so that was a trick to mount the fixture-but it all worked out. Again, I did this while Jon was at work and surprised him again. He was pretty impressed. It was something he was definitely NOT looking forward to having to do.

After:


Then I stained and water sealed the picnic table that my dad made for us when we moved in.

Before:


After:
It looks sooo much better!!

I did all those light fixtures and table in one week. I was on a roll and it felt so good to accomplish all that! And since it was "out of my realm" it felt even better!

Last weekend we did even more improvement . . .which I will include on a different post.

Tailoring My Wedding Dress

In order to get our Bride and Groom shots I had to tailor my wedding dress-It has an empire waist and is pretty figure friendly. I have lost all my baby weight, but my ribs have expanded a couple inches, so the zipper would only go half way up.

(Jon has his own tux, from high school when he sang with the A Cappella and Madrigals, and he STILL fits it perfectly!)

I didn't have much time and didn't know what to do. Luckily, my dress was simple. I asked some friends and my mom for advice on what to do. My mom suggested a lace up back. So I went and bought materials, and then looked online to see how in the heck I would actually do it.

I found this blog that made things so easy: http://couturesmith.blogspot.com/2007_06_01_archive.html
Inspired by this picture, I knew exactly what I would do:


This is what she did, so I followed her:
Draw a grid (2 cm wide, 1 cm high) to keep all the loops uniform and pin the cord.



This becomes my work space,until my craft room gets finished. Zac is playing "Playhouse Disney" computer games with headphones on, while max naps and I listen to pandora

Then fold back the extra fabric and sew the loops to the only workspace on the dress, the back of the invisible zipper. (I wasn't going to deal with taking the zipper out and putting lace up in its place, plus it was easier to use the zipper for as far as it would go and then just put the lace up in where I needed-did I mention I had very little time, and skill . . .this is just a makeshift way to fix it without it looking horrendous!)



And WAH LA! It really was that easy. Then I stitched a modesty panel on to the interfacing and re-basted the interfacing to the zipper.


The hardest part is lacing it up!

This was initially laced up too tight so the ribbon doesn't look very pretty, and I didn't have time to fix it. But this is basically the effect. What do ya think?




A sufficient fix for a non-seamstress, with very little time, and my husband making the measurements while I was wearing the dress . . .

The Owlz Game

Jon has started to take the boys on father/son outings and he was going to take Zac to the Orem Owlz game, but I was so jealous that he let me and Max come along. It was a really good time. This was the first time we took the boys to a non-youth sporting event. It was fun to teach Zac about baseball and the different things on the field.

He got to take his mitt and ball. But of course he was more excited about eating popcorn.

The boys (Zac didn't want to be in the picture)



Zac got to high-five the Owl and thought he was pretty cool!



We had a hot dog, popcorn, frozen strawberry lemonade, and 2 churros-gotta love game food! We even stayed til the 8th inning! Way to go boys. The Owlz won. It was a shut out-but I have to admit I go for the environment, not so much the game. I don't even remember who they were playing, but I do know the other team wore blue . . .

My Birthday, 27

Jon was awesome as usual and hosted a family party.

He got me these beautiful red roses. Roses are my favorite.


And he made his own concoction of jambalaya. It is really good. My parents and Lexie and Adam came over.


Made a yummy chocolate-chocolate cake-my favorite!

He got me this printer, scanner, copier too. I have been wanting one of these for years. We haven't had a printer for probably 4 years. It is so frustrating when I need copies of SS cards, to print tickets, confirmation records, to prepare primary lessons, and especially to do crafty things that I like to do so much. Me heavily complaining about having to prepare part of my lesson in the library using their copier and paper cutter, between all the other patrons, and having to hand write word strips is what convinced him to get this for my birthday. And I love it! I have already got to use it and enjoy it for fun things.


And a couple months ago I got to buy all these containers when they were on sale, 40% off, to organize and store all my craft and sewing stuff.


Then a couple days later, Jon took me on a date to a new italian restaurant, that was pretty good, and we window shopped at the mall. I love going on dates. It is so relaxing and carefree. I love going out with my best friend, and with no interruptions!

Backyard Fun

The first fruits of our garden


The boys willingly getting ready for the tickle monster



Now the boys trying to get daddy


Daddy's in control again

Had to get one of Max mowing with daddy

Whipped Cream Sensory Activity

Max is in an early education program, to help improve his muscle tone, and one of the people we met with encouraged us/me to help Max experiment with textures more. As doing that will help him be more open to trying to eat different textures...which is currently an issue.

We had some whipping cream in the fridge and I decided to whip it up, and make 3 colors.

Max was a little unsure, but jump right in. He had a really good time.


He is "cleaning the car". The whipping cream sure looks sudsy . . .but boy is it greasy!

(Notice Zac? He is in time out on the picnic table, probably for hitting.
It worked out pretty good though, it gave Max a chance to try it out first before Zac used it all :)

Zac was humming with his tongue between his lips while "washing" the car. It was pretty funny!



Since everything was so greasy I decided I would just fill up the kiddie pool with soapy water to clean everything. If I had realized the clean up involved...I might not have done this. But the boys loved it, so it was worth it!



Zac washing dishes-awesome!!



Then on to the bath, both had greasy arms and tummies. I love to see their tan lines!

California Trip

*Warning: You are about to see an Epic Post*

About a month ago I we took a trip to Southern California. Most of my extended family lives out there. I hadn't been there for 4 or 5 years. Lack of money, babies, the long trip, and the prospect of going without Jon have kept me away. But finally this year things seemed to come together, and I really felt and urgency to go. I had to start the trek without Jon (he couldn't take time off), which for me was extremely daunting. I know other women who do trips like this with no help and they do great-go them! I was pretty worried about it, so I recruited my Mom, Lexie and Adam to come with me.

We headed down at 5:30a on a Sunday morning. I drove most of the way and I really like that. It makes the trip seem soooo much more progressive! I have never actually driven on a road trip and now I prefer to drive, rather than ride. It took us 12 hrs, as we stopped twice to eat and let the kids play at the play place and we hit traffic outside of Vegas, and some around San Bernardino. Adam was a huge help keeping the boys entertained. And it was so nice to not be alone with the kiddos.

We stayed at my Nana and Papa's (My Mom's parents, since teenagehood) house in Temecula. When we got there she had a yummy dinner ready for us. And I am so so sad that I didn't take ANY pictures while we were with them!! :( :(

On Monday, after the Max regretfully woke up at 5:30a Utah time, for the 3rd day in a row and woke up Zac, Adam and me-I should have brought the portacrib-we got ready for the day and headed toward San Diego to visit Grandma Edie (My Mom's biological Mom) at her rest home. We stopped at Ross to get her a few gifts and ate at Rubio's for lunch. It was so good to see Grandma. It was a little hard to talk to her because I didn't know if she was understanding. My mom was a good example to help me feel more comfortable talking to her. My grandma's health is ok. She can't hear very well and can't see out of one eye. She didn't have very much emotion and barely talked. But I am so so so glad she got to meet the boys. They are the only great grandkids for her and this was the first time she got to meet them. The boys were so good and were glad to meet her too.


Even after Max spilled her denture solution all over, she gave him this little stuffed animal that he grew very attached to.


Max was exhausted and would just not sleep. Even in the car, he only slept maybe 15 mins. After stressing to the point of tears with 2 pre-teens relentlessly, loudly, messing around in the back seat, hitting my seat and me trying to talk on the phone, and wishing Max would sleep and eat more, I called walmart and target to see if they had a cheap portacrib. We headed to target before we got home so I could get a portacrib.

When we got to Nana's I fed Max and put him to bed at 6p. Then Lexie was a gem and stayed to babysit while Mom, Adam, Zac and I went to Uncle Tad's (mom's bro) to swim and get dinner. He has a cool pool with the dark floor. Zac walked off the large step without knowing and gave us a little scare trying to unsuccessfully keep himself afloat. As he got more confident he would jump in the pool to me, and loved to use his new goggles to see under the water. It was a relaxing evening, and then we grabbed some In and Out for dinner. I liked it more than I remembered.

Then the next day, Tuesday, we headed to San Elijo Beach. To meet up with my Dad's side of the family. My Grandparents' ward was camping there for the week. So my the Kolb's had a site and who ever was around would come and go as they could. It was so fun. Becky and Darren and their family, and a few of Tim's kids were camping too. We met up with Aunt Lori and my cousin Lindsay and her kids and headed to the beach for the day.

This was our spot.


Then we had lunch, and surprisingly Max ate...not that it was healthy, but it was calories.

The Beach

Gotta love eating with sand

He discovered Cheetos on this trip!

Max also LOVES to play in the sand and get it all over. He puts it in and out and on and wet and dry.



Max hated the water and waves. He thought it was pretty cool at first, but I think once I let go of his hand to walk in the half inch water that was pulling sand away from his feet, he fell and would not get near the water happily. Even when I was holding him and in 6 inch water was clinging to me.

Max was pretty tired and after we washed all the sand off he took a nap for a couple hours-awesome! Zac wanted to rest with him . . . for 2 mins, then went to play.



Grandpa also got a nap :)

Looking for the Cheetos




Found them!
The bigger cousins played with him for 2 mins and the disappeared around the cove.

Zac thought it was fun to be buried


The neighbors included him and let him help build a castle



a little bit of crack


On the way home Lori took us to dinner at Oscar's and . . . or Something and Oscar's (...? don't remember) to avoid the traffic. It was sooo good and fun to visit some more with Lindsay and her kids. Then we took a dip in the hot tub to de-sand. Max was even scared of water in the hot tub.

The next day, Wednesday, we went to my Aunt Lori's in Fallbrook (15-20 mins from Temecula) and hung out with my cousin Lindsay and her kiddos. It was fun to just relax at the pool-no sand.

Lexie got so burned from the beach and felt sick so she stayed at Nana's. Mom hung out with Nana that day. So we and the boys went to hang out.


Then my Dad flew in to visit family and my Mom and the siblings went to stay at my Aunt Lori's for the rest of the trip.

The next day, Thursday, we hung out at Nana's and took it easy and visited. That was so fun. It was been years and years since I just chatted with her. I wish I could go and shoot the breeze more with her. I really miss her. My family used to live in CA til I was 7 and we got to see Nana and Papa all the time!

Then Jon flew into San Diego at 5p (didn't think about traffic when I booked the flight... :P). I easily found the airport and the tiny cell phone lot, and made good time. Driving in southern California wasn't as bad as I thought, but we were far from LA. And I tried to avoid rush hour(s), and I never got lost! It was so fun to see Jon! We were all excited for him to join us. Then we headed to Lori and Ray's for a BBQ and swimming.

Zac loves this little fish. Its "Nemo" and swims on its own. Its pretty cool!


This was all the adults that were there: L-R, Mom, dad, becky, darren, me, jon, gma, gpa, viri, chris, kim, ray, lori, kay, and farron. It was so good to see the family. Still there were A LOT missing. Jon hadn't met 6 of these family members, and there are still more to go. But it was nice for him to finally meet them after 6 years of being in the family.


These are the older teens: L-R, Savannah, Lexie, and Jeff

The younger teens: L-R, Sydney, Meghan
The adolencents: Parker, Adam, and Logan

The toddlers: Zac, Abigail, Max. Abigail is my cousin...so my kids and Abigail are 2nd cousins . . . once removed...I think.

We ate some good food, played a game and charades and enjoyed getting reaquainted.

The next day, Friday, we went to the beach again. Jon hit the waves and boogie boarded with some cousins.

Its always nice to see the boys playing together


Such a cutie! He loves to be at the beach, just not too close to the water


It was fun to bury Adam.



Uncle Darren gave Jon some pointers on how to boogie board and let him borrow some flippers, which helped a lot.


Playing bocce ball on the beach, more hazards than the back yard. Check out all the seaweed!



Papi keeping Max warm, after getting washed off in the waves. Looks like Papi helped him change mood pretty quick.



Then the next day, Saturday, we went to the San Diego Zoo. First Nana and Papa took us to the IHOP. Again, I wish I had pictures with Nana and Papa! :( We couldn't decide what to do, the Wild Animal Park, SeaWorld, the Pier, or the Zoo. The Zoo won out since it wasn't so pricey or hot and the kids had never been to a zoo yet.

Nana suggested we ride the tour bus first to see what we wanted to look at rather than aimless wandering around the huge park.

We chose to sit on the bottom level of the bus. Good choice, its out of the sun and you can see the exhibits better, contrary to popular belief, as shown by the huge line for the upper level and small line for the lower level.

Waiting for the bus


(Notice Max's feet? No shoes. I cannot get him to keep shoes on. One problem is his feet are SO narrow, nothing fits him. They fall off him or give him blisters. All the shoes we can find are made for little kiddies with chubby feet which are 90% of wearers-which are adorable don't get me wrong. But what about Max? Anything stylish for narrow feet kids?? Plus he takes them off any chance he gets anyway. So I have basically given up and I let him walk around barefoot much of the time.)


Zac and a snake

Max eating more Cheetos, this time they are puffed


This is a really pretty zoo. This is a little waterfall and stream that are at the tram line.


Lots of greenery! And they grow plants and trees that are native to where the animals are from. They grow some of the food that the animals eat.





Zac on this chrome Polar Bear structure. We went under to see the polar bears in the water and they put on a great 5 min show for us. We have video, but have yet to upload it. Maybe I will later. Its pretty cool!

Then we went to see the Panda Bear. You have to be very quiet when you go in and they only want a certain number to go in at a time. So there was a 15 min line.

But it was so cool to see. The black and white is so striking.


Zac was pretty whiny the whole time. So we would bribe him with different things along the way. After the bus we will get a snack, after the reptiles we will ride the tram, after the polar bear we will get a churro, after the elephants and panda we will get your face painted... so while Daddy and Max waited in line to see the panda. I took Zac to get his face painted as Alex the lion.


I am AMAZED at his scary growl!


Then we grabbed the moving sidewalk to go see the gorillas which were MIA, and the monkeys.


Then we stopped for a while to see the flamingos. I don't know why but they were facinating to just stare at up close-balancing on one leg constantly, backward bending knees, funky curly necks.




Then I took the boys to get souvenirs, another bribe. Jon watched a live band that did a hula hoop contest and the winner was this 3 yr old little girl. She was amazing and hula hooped for like 20 mins straight without messing up!

Then on the way out there were these "tree dancers" it was pretty mesmerizing to watch them. They were on stilts and were almost completely covered in leaves.



We were all tired and hungry. Zac with his jumbo animal tube and Max with his stuffed polar bear, fell asleep in the car as we got on the freeway, during traffic, with the gas light on. It was pretty nerve racking. We got off a near exit and drove for 5-10 miles looking for a gas station. Luckily, we found one and headed home.

The next day, Sunday, we went back to Utah. It was gratefully uneventful and very smooth. We had a lot of food left over from the beach days. So we only had to stop for gas twice and the potty once. We stopped 3 times probably for a total of 30 mins. And we got home in 9.5 hrs. Amazing with our 2 small children, especially because neither slept much.

Overall, it was a good trip. Very busy and very fun-no regrets. I even think I want to do it again next year!