Happy Birthday Jacob!

Happy Birthday! 

Jacob is a straight up old man these days... turned the big 26 this year! I always remember growing up and thinking 25 was old -- Jacob and I still feel like we are in high school most days -- so boy was I wrong! For Jacob's birthday this year we were able to hang out all day as a family! He had to work in the morning so Claire and I chilled till he got home! We filled the day by a trip to the zoo (told you we still think we are kids)! Claire was in heaven, mesmerized by everything. 

She lasted in the stroller for the first part, thank heavens! 

The zoo is the same every year, but seemed to be more fun this year with Claire running around and getting so excited about everything. 

Making Jacob do this picture was hysterical. He was so embarrassed, which made it entertaining for me. 

After our trip to the zoo we stopped for some Chinese take out, a Redbox and headed home for a night in. My parents were gone for the weekend and Claire went to bed so we had some peace and quiet to enjoy the rest of our night. 

I love celebrating Birthday's! Especially when they are for someone else :) Jacob is such an amazing husband and daddy -- I couldn't ask for better! Happy Birthday Babe!

New Car

Our lease was up on Civic and it was time to get something new. With Baby #2 on the way, we wanted something bigger but that still had good gas mileage. 

We headed over to Nissan with the Rogue in mind and were sold in 2 minutes. We instantly loved it! It had All Wheel Drive, for Jacob, and good gas mileage ( for me) and it just looked sleek gave us a bit more luxury than our civic had to offer. Best part, not having to lean over and kill my back to put Claire in her car seat! 

Bring on Baby #2, now we have plenty of room! :) 

Life at Grandma and Grandpa's

We've been staying at my parents in South Jordan since we moved back up North. Since the transfer happened so fast, we didn't really have time to make other arrangements and decide what we wanted to do; so my parents are letting us stay in their basement while we get it all figured out. 

Claire has loved it here. New toys, new things to destroy, and more people to play with. 

She's fallen in love with Grandma and Grandpa's McDonald's back pack, and usually won't take it off once its on. She loves to fill it with random odds and ends and carry them around with her all day, even at lunch..

We've blown plenty of bubbles....

Played dress up...

And eaten a million otter pops....

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for letting us stay at your house! 

Exciting News!

Before we moved from St. George we found out we were pregnant with Montague Baby #2! Although it was planned, we were shocked with how quickly it happened, but couldn't be more excited at the same time. 

I thought with my 2nd one, things would be more low key and kind of like doing the same thing over again, so maybe not as exciting. But I was more than wrong. When the first test turned over 2 purple lines I freaked out! Screaming, shaking and jumping for joy, Jacob just sat and laughed at me while I did my thing. 

Just like the 1st, I didn't take just 1... I had to do multiples. So off to the store I went to get 2 more just to be sure. Sure enough, all positive. 

We are beyond excited. It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you find out a little bean is growing inside of you. Jacob is positive it's a boy, or perhaps just trying to will it into being a boy, who knows. We are due November 26th! We find out what we are having in late June. 

Once we moved up North, we went and got our first ultrasound, finding out we were indeed pregnant and that I was 8 weeks (at the time). 

Even though it just looks like a blob, its our new little addition to the family, and we can't wait. 

Claire isn't quite sure whats going on yet, but I'm sure by the time we get closer to D-Day, she will hopefully understand more. I keep trying to point to my belly and say baby but every time I do, she just runs and gets her baby. HaHa I'm anxious to see how she is being a big sister. I have a feeling we may have a rough start, but she's so loving and worried about everyone- I'm sure it will be great!

Can't wait till November 26th! 

Ciao St. George!

Sad, but excited, we made the move back to Salt Lake from St. George. We've loved St. George - - the weather has been nothing but perfect, we've met some fun people, and it's really been the first place that's felt like "home". Jacob's job got transferred to West Jordan since the job in St. George had finished up; so we packed up the house and made the move. 

My sister, Missy, and her kids came to St. George the week before we moved for a little vacation and to help me pack. Jacob had already been transferred up North, so I was left to pack up the house by myself. I didn't think we had that much stuff, but I think that's what everyone thinks, till they start packing and then that idea goes right out the window. 

We didn't pack the whole time... we did some playing and let the kids enjoy the nice weather on my back porch. 

While packing up the pantry, a box of Cheerios got dropped and spilled all over the floor. All 3 kids ran and pounced on those Cheerios like they hadn't eaten in weeks. It was like Christmas in cereal. So funny! 

Thanks to Missy who gathered boxes from her WalMart shopping trip and Jacob to going to WalMart to get me more - - we had plenty of boxes. 

Claire was able to play on them and get a little amusement out of them before we had to pack them all up. 

Funny how kids always like the strangest things, especially those that cost nothing. Perhaps for her birthday I'll just collect her a bunch of empty boxes. HaHa

Claire tried to be such a good helper with the packing, making sure every boxes was really, in fact, taped and closed and that they were sturdy enough for her to crawl on. 

During our packing, Jacob came across this beauty...

We bought these onsie pajama's a few years back for Christmas, and he came across it while packing and decided to put it on. He came down wearing it while I was doing homework and I was dying. Makes packing at least some what entertaining to see what you can find that you've forgotten you even had. 

So long Lexington Hills, you've been good to us! 

We hope to be back in St. George soon! Now onto Salt Lake to start a new adventure! 

Easter 2012

Easter happened right in the middle of us moving... so Jacob and I were in St. George and Claire was up in Salt Lake with Grandma and Grandpa. Thank heavens for my sister taking pictures, so I could see how much fun my little munch had searching for eggs. 

Last year she obviously had no idea, but this year she seemed to get a lot more into it. I don't think she understood the concept still that candy was inside the eggs. She was just focused on the gathering part. 

Every year we do a group shot with the adults:

And the egg hunters:

Looks like the helicopter was this years popular spot for the kids. How many grandkids can we fit on Grandma and Grandpa's helicopter at once? HaHa 

Sad we missed Easter, but I'm glad Claire got to enjoy the festivities and be with my family. 

Vegas - March 2012

Before we moved from St. George we wanted to take one last trip to Vegas, since it's only a stones throw away. We've gone a couple other times since we lived down there so we decided we better make a last trip before the move. We decided to go on the first weekend of March and go to the NASCAR races while we were there. 

We stayed on the South end of the strip, at the Mandalay Bay. We LOVED our hotel! Although it was a little out of the way from the shopping and such, it was kinda nice to be out of the hustle and bustle of Vegas; at least most of it. Our room was on the 17th floor so we had an AWESOME view of the strip! 

During the Day... 

And at night! 

Once we got there we got our summer duds on and headed out to explore, walk the strip and do a little shopping. We had tickets for the Qualifying NASCAR race later that night so we were just enjoying ourselves till the race started. 

We left Claire home with Aunt Wendy and Uncle Tony in Cedar so we were able to do some serious relaxing and just enjoying time with us 2. 

I've been to the Vegas NASCAR races a few times but Jacob had never been so I was super excited to see his reaction when we got to the track and have him hear how loud the cars are and all that. As redneck as we (I) may sound, I LOVE going to the NASCAR races. It's seriously so fun. Even if you don't like NASCAR, it's worth going. Qualifying is a little more low key since it's just 1 car at a time but Jacob was still amazed. We've been watching the season, for the most part, on TV, so it was fun to go to a race in person. 

The next day we slept in, if you can call 8 AM sleeping in. We lounged around in bed for awhile enjoying the fact that we could! :) Finally we were famished so we headed across the street for some good ole' fashion McDonald's breakfast. Then it was back to the hotel for some serious pool time. Apparently you have to get to the pool at 8 AM to get a seat, or a decent seat. We finally found 2 chairs, dragged them together and laid out and soaked in some sun. 

Then it was time for more shopping and exploring. Crazy how you can go to Vegas many times but it's still fun to walk around and shop the strip every time you go. 

Somehow we have a million random pictures of me and none of Jacob, not sure how that happened. 

That night we had a delicious dinner at a place in our hotel, can't remember what it was called, but it was yummy! We got to sit out on the deck and have a view of the strip while we ate. It's been so long since we've been out to eat without wrestling Claire it was almost like we didn't know what to do with ourselves. 

Of course, we did a little gambling that night, tried our hand at some slots and a Jacob played a few tables, but of course - - we won.... and then we lost! So we quit and called it good. Can't leave Vegas without playing a few greenbacks. 

Next morning we were up bright and early, our Dale Jr. NASCAR shirts on, ready for the race. We got all checked out and then headed off to the festivities. 

Can't go to NASCAR without having the full experience, so yes we bought our gear so we could blend in with the rest! Ever since I started watching NASCAR, Dale Jr. has been my driver that I've liked. Since Jacob is new to the sport he just followed along and rooted for the same driver. (After the race though, he was on board!)

At the race you rent a thing called a Track Scanner. It muffles the noise, which is insanely loud, and allows you to tune into different drivers radios and here their conversations with the spotters and crew chiefs. It's a definite must have when you go. 

We had AWESOME seats. I had bought them off eBay for an awesome price and was surprised at how good they were. We were right behind the Start/Finish line with a view of all the pits and the entire track. 

Here's the 88 car, Dale Jr, going around the track. He led the first 100 laps or so! 

In the pits....

We had an absolute blast at the race. Jacob is now just as hooked as I am; we hope to be able to go every year. The weather this time was perfect! It was plenty hot but not enough to be miserable! 

Of course we had to bring home the little one a little something from our trip. We looked all around Vegas and couldn't find anything we felt like she had to have. Everything I wanted to get her I probably couldn't have gotten at Walmart and she wouldn't have known the difference. 

So we opted in to getting her something from the Races, since it was the main reason we went. We brought her home this cute Dale Jr. shirt and a car to match. Doesn't she look adorable! Our little Dale Jr. fan, HaHa! 

We had such a fun time. It was great to get away, enjoy some alone time, and do some fun things that were out of the ordinary of our normal day to day. Can't wait till next year! 

(As I'm re-reading this post I am realizing how much of a redneck we (I) sound like. Promise, we aren't! HaHa Going to NASCAR races in person is seriously awesome - almost gives you a rush - seriously, everyone should go. But I even like to watch it on TV, so maybe I really am a redneck at heart. HaHa)