Family Pics

On March 31, 2012 my side of the family came together for family pictures! I can't even remember the last time we had a real family picture that included everyone. This family picture does actually include my father's mother and my mother's sister and daughter so I guess it's a mixed family picture. These are the people I consider my closest on my side of the family. 

My brother Brett married Melanie a year ago and we had a small family picture done but Riley (his daughter) was ill and couldn't make it. So this is the first time with her in the pictures. In 2009 we were in Maui and set up a self portrait that had most of us in it. So now in 2012 here is my beautiful and wild family!

From left to right: Janna, Janet, Melanie, Brett Riley, Mom, Dad, Grandma, me and Steve. And not to forget Wilson the dog. 

Finally a post!

So I have finally updated our blog....there are multiple titles in 3 different posts! Enjoy!

May 2011

Mother's Day 2012

We decided not to tell our family yet since Mother's Day was right around the corner. We wanted to surprise them with the news. Both sides of the family knew we were finally going to try for kids. We ordered little onesies that said "I love my grandma" on them and wrapped them up in a box for each mother. 

The morning of Mother's Day we went to my brother's house for breakfast with the family. I had already been making my mother a ceramic bowl at Color Me Mine....infusing it with a little Hawaiian flowers and my signature. After breakfast we had my mom start opening the gifts, she started with the bowl then moved on to the little box. Let's just say she was incredibly happy!!! She started to cry she was so happy. My dad was thrilled to hear we were finally having a baby. 

In the evening we headed up to Madre's house to celebrate Mother's Day with Steve's family. All the kids pitched in to buy Sue a pass to go on a hot air balloon ride. Before we got there we created a little basket out of paper and bought a helium balloon which we taped to the basket with ribbon...in it was the certificate. When we arrived at Madre's house, Robyn and Rinda had the same brilliant idea for the gift. So we used both of them and placed a toy troll and dinosaur in the other one. Sue was incredibly surprised and delighted with the gift! It was something she had on her bucket list to do. 

After we gave the group gift, Steve and I gave Sue our gift. She opened it up and held up the onesie and everyone was so surprised and happy! Hugs were all around and the congratulations were endless. 

May 6, 2011

We found out the morning that we were moving the rest of our belongings into the new house! We were very excited and shocked! I felt like it was never going to happen. We had gone off birth control back at the end of October and finally let mother nature take its course in February. Unfortunately my cycles were so irregular that I couldn't calculate when I would be ovulating. They ranged from 5 weeks to 7 weeks long and with no rhyme or reason to the lengths. So back to the morning of May 6th, my breasts hurt and they hurt like no other time. I really didn't feel any different otherwise but Steve swore up and down that I was pregnant. I took a test and our results showed that I was. We are absolutely elated!!! It worked out great moving into our new house and finding out the news!

Sold our House

2698 Beverly St House

At the end of March we sold our house in Sugarhouse. It was very bittersweet feeling. We had finally finished remodeling the house but really wanted to move to a bigger house that was not on a busy street. We also wanted a house that had a 2 car garage. It was a crazy month in March packing everything up and getting it out of the house. One week before we were supposed to sign the papers the buyers backed out of the deal. Our house was half packed away in a storage unit and the other half in boxes still. It was a crushing to have that happen. Then 3 days later the real estate agent contacted ours and said they still want to buy the house....we believe that they came out again looking for a house but couldn't find anything like ours and for the price we were selling it for. We extended the date that we had to move out by but kept the closing date the same. We spent our last night at Beverly St on April 5th, 2011. Then next day we finished moving at around 10pm that night. As we drove away from the house, the tears started coming. I was so sad to leave that house!!! Steve had owned that house since 1999 and I had lived there since 2004....it was really hard to realize that we wouldn't be coming back to the house. Everything we put into that remodel was perfect. We loved the way we did the kitchen, the bathrooms and the colors in the house! That house will always have a special place in my heart!! It was my first home I shared with my husband.

We spent a month living with Steve's Grandma while we found a house and put an offer in. We closed at the end of April and started moving in May 1st. Our new place is almost twice as large as the last home, has a 2 car garage, a beautiful backyard, a swimming pool, quiet neighborhood and no backyard neighbors. It's a great home but needs a little of our magic touch! We are adding color and hardwood flooring to the house.

December 2011

Christmas 2011

In the morning we headed to Steve's Dad's house for breakfast, games and presents. Lots of food was cooking and smelt delicious. We hung out there and played with the kids and opened presents. 

Claire got a bridal dress as a present. She was very happy to dress up! 

In the afternoon we headed to my parents for drinks and good food to munch on. My family keeps the gift exchange quite small. Steve received a Jack Skellington zip up hoodie and I received Mickey Mouse shoes. Fun and unique gifts. 

Girls Lunch 2011

I really wanted to have all my girlfriends over to my house for a big lunch. It ended up being a pot luck of soups and salads which were super delicious! I am very happy with the way it turned out and with everyone that came. Thanks to Shirley who helped me set lots of it up!!! We also did an ornament exchange which I love. I absolutely love ornaments and every year search out unique beautiful ornaments. This year I gave and bought myself this Li Bien ornament (top right). 

Riley's 7th Birthday

My sweet niece Riley turned 7 on December 14th. My brother Brett held a birthday party for her at his place. Our family gathered to spoil her with gifts....she is the only grandchild and niece on our side. She was opening presents one right after another....too many to count. We had a slice of pink and purple ice cream cake that left our lips purple. I love that little girl so much!!! She is a wild child with a huge imagination. She loves to play play play! Her energy is exhausting! I love you Riley!