birthday shebang and visitors

October was stuffed to the brim with visitors and birthday celebrations (basically it was awesome. Top it off with Halloween and it's a pretty good contender for the best month of the year!) Also yes, I'm just now writing about October. oops.

It's midnight and I was doing some late night web surfing, then thought "what are you doing! You have at least five blog posts that need to be written! So I'm going to try and condense at least two of them into one here.

 My dad surprised my mom with a ticket out to visit us for her birthday! Of course with a sweet little babe she'd barely gotten to meet (between the NICU and short trip at his birth) there was nothing she wanted more. I'd heard really good things about The Coffee Shop and its right near the airport. So as soon as I picked her up we headed straight over! It may be one of my favorite places here so far. It's totally my kind of place - similar to Kneaders but more of a hipster/urban feel to it. Very coffee shop-esque. A coffee shop/bakery/grill. They serve gourmet sandwiches, wraps, and do breakfast too. Afterward we walked around the grounds - it's out in a cool farm area called Agritopia.

The following day was my moms birthday and we made sure to pack it full. We started it off with the firefighters breakfast and then came home for a bit, headed to Oregano's for lunch (and a free birthday pazookie of course!), then were off the Phoenix zoo!

This guy was a favorite

But after seeing him yawn, we quickly decided we wouldn't want to get on his bad side.

Right?!?!

Emmett got to have lots of time playing with Gramby in his playroom, and we made sure to hit up the hot tub a couple times. When it was time to say goodbye, we were all sad. We sure love Gramby and are so happy we got to spend her birthday with her!

The next weekend was MY birthday, and it just so happened it was the weekend of a cheap flight for my sister Kirsten! The coffee shop was such a success the first time, we (I) couldn't help making a pit stop on the way home again. Well actually The Coffee Shop is in the same place as Joe's Farm Grill (another delicious place that was on Food Network's Diners, Drive ins, and Dives). And Joes Farm Grill gives you a whole free meal on your birthday. So we went there first and split my birthday meal then walked over to the Coffee Shop for dessert.

This burger may look ordinary but it was topped with sauteed mushrooms and fresh blue cheese crumbles... it was delish.

Good thing we split our cupcake, cause when Jared come home from work he surprised me with this torte from Wildflower Bakery -which I'd never been to but am now a big fan!

Love this boy!!

Here's what the inside looked like... Yum. The bottom layer was like a soft homemade english toffee. And all that thick cream on top was heavenly. Almost cheesecake-ish

Oh and I forgot to mention that we went to Verizon the night before and picked out my birthday present!!

That's right, I joined the modern world and FINALLY got a smart phone!!! Ive been waiting for so long! And just like everyone says, I now don't know how I used to do without it! (Not sure that that's a good thing) Anyhow, I was beyond excited and love the cute buttercup yellow color!

That night we got MORE free food at Joe's Real BBQ (yes its the same Joe as Joe's Farm Grill. He does real well around these parts. And for good reason. His food is ahhhmazing). Gee on this post I'm realizing it seems like we just ate and ate and ate the entire day long... which I guess we did! 

Kris and I got up early on Saturday and headed out to Nordstrom Last Chance where we cleaned up with my birthday money! We then headed over to Scottsdale to Sprinkles Cupcakes which I've always wanted to try! 

I don't know if I can say it was without a doubt the best cupcake I've ever put in my mouth... but it was pretty darn good! You can tell its made with much finer ingredients than the average cupcake. 

That evening we went to my ward halloween party, but I'm saving that for the next post :)

I was so lucky to have family here on/around my birthday, cause really that was the best gift I could have asked for! I love them and miss them so much and had the best time partying it up and eating ourselves sick. haha what are birthdays for?! Emmett was beyond thrilled as well. Thanks to everyone who called, texted or left a facebook message for me - you all added to the wonderful day! 

our first visitors!

Okay I'm way behind on my blogging... but who are kidding?? I'm 30 weeks pregnant. I can't even keep up with my house. More truthfully, I can't even keep up with my KITCHEN. Or my toddler for that matter.

BUT I don't think it's going to get any easier in the coming weeks so I better catch up! We were so lucky to have my Mom and little brother Caysen visit for a week and check out our new home. Emmett LOOOOVES his Uncle Caysen and was in seventh heaven every day.

It was already heating up outside so it was hard to do a lot, but we managed to squeeze in some fun things!

We went and saw the temple (which Caysen wasn't thrilled about haha). "Its VACATION, isn't there something better to do than the TEMPLE?" Gotta love kids minds! He was a trooper and braved the 108 degree heat to check it out though.

 I also got to paint the dark red wall in our place that bothered me everytime I looked at it! What started out looking out like this...

Went through a transformation to this

The rest of our walls are kind of an apricot shade, and I painted the accent wall a light blue-grey shade. Now it has a much lighter, airy-er, coastal feel. I've already painted a large frame for the wall white, and I plan to eventually give the desk a fresh coat of white paint as well. Someday I'll update a complete picture of the office/loft.

They tried to catch fish in the lake by our house. Unsuccessful... maybe we need some fishing poles??

They got to watch one of Emmett's Pee Wee PE classes (so funny!)

and of course we spent lots of time at the pool!

We also went to the Phoenix Zoo which was really cool! I got season passes so I'm excited to go back again and again. It's so big there are whole areas we didn't even make it to (and we even did a little tram tour).

Okay, this animal (which I don't remember the name of... something from Africa) can supposedly detect movement with their peripheral vision up to 3 miles away. 3 MILES!! How crazy it that?! I can't even SEE for three miles, let alone tell you if something is moving. That's basically super power status.

We petted AND fed the stringrays! Not going to lie, it was a little bit scary! They had these little sardines frozen and chopped and half, and you had to hold them deep down in the water UNDER the stingray (their mouths are on the bottom). Then it swam up to you and sucked it up like a vacuum!

And here's me in all my pregnant glory posing with the giraffes.... I DO exist! Even though I spend most of my time hiding behind the camera these days.

I was so sad the day my mom and Caysen left! There really is nothing like family. It breaks my heart when Emmett tells me he wants to go over to their house (which is like every other day).
 Thank goodness this baby is coming soon so we'll be getting lots more visitors!!! Next on the roster Kaity and Kirsten are coming out (in a couple weeks) and are going to throw me my first official baby shower! Woot woot! (Fingers crossed!)

Thanks for coming out guys, we love you so much and miss you!!

Adventures at Hogle Zoo

Or as my mom called it - the "HOG-le Zoo". Hahaha sorry mom, I couldn't help it!

A couple weeks ago Jared had a 5 day weekend (gotta love Pioneer Day in Utah!) and we finally went to the zoo! I've been wanting to take Emmett all summer. It was a lot of fun. It maybe wasn't the BEST day considering it was packed because of Pioneer weekend and about 90 degrees, but that didn't stop us from having a good time!


Checkin out the ostrich with Gamby

 I invited my parents to bring Caysen and come with us too. Emmett loves Gamby and Gampy!

Twinners in their bucket hats and cheeser faces

                                                                                                

                                Taking a rest in the shade

Shooting the breeze with Uncle Caysen

                  "You guys go on ahead without me, I'm just gonna kick it here in the shade for a little while"

Cute little pygmy kangaroo things?....



He insisted on getting dangerously close to this bird





  

                                                                                                    

It is so much fun to take Em places now that he's getting old enough to enjoy them! On a somewhat related note, Emmett has gotten good at making his animal noises! His favorite is dog (woof woof) hands down, but he also likes sheep, cow, duck, monkey, bird, tiger, horse, and owl. He can also do the signs for dog and bird. Animals have become a pretty big deal in our house lately! Now we just need a pet.... :-)

Brusha Brusha Brusha

Most people that know me well, know that I am a stickler for teeth. I brush multiple times a day and my Sonicare toothbrush is one of my favorite possessions. I can't stand to be awake for more than 15 minutes without having my teeth brushed, and won't even kiss my own husband before my pearly whites are fresh and clean!

Jared will attest that I am the teeth nazi. I harp on him morning and night making sure he remembered to brush (sometimes he forgets), and I call him out when I can tell he ended the 2 minute cycle prematurely on the Sonicare I bought him.

So while looking through an old picture album this morning, I couldn't help but laugh when I came across this

and this

                                        Apparently my obsession started at a very young age.

I think a little bit of divine intervention came into play when I was born with that trait, because God knew that I would also be the world's biggest sweet tooth.

Guilty.

Funny how things work out, huh?

In Honor of Mothers Day

For all you Moms out there that sometimes feel discouraged, inferior, or even ashamed because you're not out there in the working world, gaining status and "success", or being a wonder woman juggling kids and a full-time job (which I often feel, it's hard not to feel that pressure), this is for you:

"For Satan has declared war on motherhood and on the family. He does everything he can to dishonor and devalue both womanhood and motherhood. This fact is more apparent with every passing day. He well knows that those who rock the cradle are perhaps in the best possible position to rock his diabolical earthly empire. He knows that none of us could progess without receiving bodies and experiencing our second estate. He understands that without mothers who are willing to bear children, our Father's plan would be completely frustrated. He knows that without righteous mothers loving and leading the rising generation, the kingdom of god will fail." - Sheri Dew "Are We Not All Mothers?"

Without US the plan of salvation will fail. The most important thing, the reason we are here on this earth, is basically entrusted to us. Our purpose is to come to this earth, receive a physical body, have our faith and integrity tested, and return to our Heavenly parents. None of this would be possible without a strong, faithful woman - willing to endure childbirth to allow a sweet young spirit to come down to this earth, and then to rear them with love, nurturing, and spiritual strength.

This is another quote from her talk that just brings a warmth of confirmation to my heart.

"As Mothers in Israel, we are the Lord's secret weapon.Our influence comes from a divine endowment that has been in place from the beginning. In the premortal world, when our Father described our role, I wonder if we didn't stand in wide-eyed wonder that He would bless us with a sacred trust so central to His plan and that He would endow us with gifts so vital to the loving and leading of His children. I wonder if we shouted for joy at least in part because of the ennobling stature He gave us in His kingdom. The world won't tell you that, but the Spirit will." - Sheri Dew

I hope that the spirit testifies to all you Mothers reading this and lets you know what a great and noble role you play on the earth. Your calling is more important than any worldly occupation could ever be. I am  so grateful for my mother, the opportunity I have to be a mother on this earth, and all other women, whether they have the chance to physically bear a child or not- for we are all doing the Lord's work.

Happy Mother's Day :-)

Travelin' Fools

I know, I know, I missed this Wednesday's Confessional. I already feel guilty. But the post you're about to read is so amazing you'll forget all about it...
***
Last weekend I took Emmett on his first REAL roadtrip. 10 hours. And Jared didn't even come (Poor guy had to stick around for class and a test). I was so brave!! Luckily I had my mom, my sister Kendall, and my little bro Caysen to help me. Emmett did incredibly well, and had a blast finally meeting my side of the family! I have been wanting to introduce him to his great grandparents for the past 9 months, so I finally bit the bullet and got it in before winter hits.
I am so happy I did because it was really nice being "home". It made me realize how grown up I've become while visiting my grandparents. Their homes hold so many memories, items of my past, and experiences I'll keep with me for the rest of my life. It's been a long time since I've visited their houses, and to return for a visit that was not for myself but for my son, really put things into perspective. I'm not the little grandbaby coming to visit anymore, I'm bringing over their great-grandbaby. It's a funny feeling, I felt more like their peer rather than the grandchild they were watching this trip, and we had a wonderful time.

Warning: Lots of Pictures to come, but I want them all in there for my own memories :-)



Great Grandma Roe



Great Grandpa Roe

Great Grandma Whittaker "Lola Whittaker"

Great Grandpa Whittaker "Lolo Whittaker"

While we were there we visited a Halloween store to get ideas...

...but none of these made the cut, believe it or not. Hahaha. I know, right? [Stay tuned to see the ADORABLE costume that won out for Emmett]

We enjoyed each others company...

Above with Great Grandpa Whittaker and Uncle Caysen, Aunt Kendall, (Great?)Aunt Erin, my cousins Mark, Matthew, and Alyssa, and (Great?)Uncle Todd

...Said Goodbye :-(

  

  ...And had two very tired little boys on the drive home



Thanks to all our family for giving us such a great weekend, and to my Mom, Kendall, and Caysen for putting up with a six month old baby [and his frazzled, sleep deprived mommy] on our first road trip adventure! It was quite the ride (a 6-year-old and a 6-month-old sitting next to eachother for 10+ hours = a little crazy), but we had so much fun!! We love you guys!



PS-I swear my mom was on the trip, but she has a way of hiding from the cameras...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

Today is my mom’s birthday. It has made me think about the huge role that mothers play in our lives, even when they don’t even consciously realize they’re doing it. For example, lately I have found myself wanting to do things a certain way simply because it’s how I have watched my mom do it all my life. It’s just been ingrained into me to follow my mom’s lead.

It’s weird how no matter your age, Mom’s always seem to be able to “fix” everything. I still call my mom when there’s something I need taken care of, or if I have some random question. Pregnancy has made me have a new question for my mom almost daily! Whether it’s “I just went for a run, and now I have cramps in my stomach! Do you think everything’s okay?” to “I just read you’re not supposed to have too much vitamin C, what’s that all about?”, mom always seems to have an answer.

Moms are that best friend you call even when you feel like there is no one else. When you’re feeling low they’re guaranteed to make you feel good about yourself or brighten your day. They know you better than anyone else, and always know the right thing to do. They’re the only people that will give you truly honest advice, and the advice that’s best for you because they care about you more than more than anybody else.

I hope that I will be able to be as good of a mom as my mom has always been to us.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!