If You're Nesting & You Know It...

Clap your hands! So while my entire extended family is in Disneyland and my husband is MIA, I have been listening to Christmas music and getting things ready for this baby to come! Some may say it's a nesting instinct, others boredom. Yesterday I put together the cradle. Today I bought a breastpump (exciting....I know) and put together the stroller. I think that in the end the only thing left for Brian to do is paint the wall if I keep up the pace. I am not counting my chickens (or children) before they hatch though!

Open House

Every year the mansion gets a Christmas makeover and they have an open house. Brian of course got to be there all night for two nights. I just popped in on Wednesday. Everything was decked out and the food was actually good! Although the next day, I got in major trouble from my physical therapist and a stern talking to. I had to swear with my life that I wouldn't wear heels again for Christmas. The havoc of wearing them only 45 minutes could wreck on my body-it was amazing! Do I look like I'm on drugs in this pic, or is it just me?

The Tree

Oh the time of year! Presents, kids caroling in the snow, mistletoe...well actually, none of that YET-but we ventured out and got the tree. I must admit, this is the one time all year that Brian and I get VERY close to having an argument. It consists of him getting frustrated about my version of Christmas and me laughing at his frustration. What can you say, when you grow up a block and a half away from the beach, Christmas is very casual. Those of you that know my mother understand that it was never that way at our house. We got through it without a fight and Brian even did the majority of the decorating. Here are a few pics of the occasion.

Arizona

So we finally got to use the last of the buddy passes and went to visit Mand, Cam, and the kids. Something we've been talking about forever, but saved until the last week I could fly. We had fun, however, it rained for 48 hours straight. The Balls fam can be quoted as "I can not remember this much rain since the year we moved here," that was a while ago. We still found fun things to do like walking around the block to look at Christmas lights, going to Chick-Fil-A where they have TOYS, getting stuck in parking lots, and looking at Cam's new project, a 3 million dollar house for a couple of doctors. Hopefully, next time we can have some sun!

Thanksgiving

We got to have Thanksgiving this year in Idaho with every member of the Roth family, as a last get-together with our dear Grandma. We had a lot of fun. Wow, who knew we could shove so many people into one house? Here are some of the highlights.

Been Tagged

To be tagged is to come up with seven random/interesting facts, and then post them on the blog. Thanks Mand, sorry it took so long to come up with something interesting.

1. I have always loved the thesaurus! When I was in third grade I wrote a story about horses being majestic. I have been teased ever since. I finally got the guts to move forward and now am the proud owner of a horse named Majestic.

2. If I could do it over, I would go to culinary arts school. I love to cook and it is a much better skill to use in the long run than social work. I keep on offering to analyze my family but somehow they always say no. In some wierd way haircuts and massages sound better! I guess I'll just have to stay addicted to the food network.

3. My husband, who is a foot taller than me.....weighs less than I do. Think about the depression that could create. At least I have coping skills! He makes up for it by being one of the most romantic, kind, generous, happy, loving people on earth. OK-sometimes over the top romantic, but I guess he's making up the difference for my deficit. I am NOT really romantic, and I'm a girl-how's that for a declaration! I sure appreciate his efforts though, they make me laugh.

4. I don't really have a food storage room raid story. I would just eat brown sugar straight out of the bag....in the kitchen, so there is no sneakiness involved. I did, however get caught multiple times in my youth reading when I was supposed to be sleeping. I just learned to go off the dim light in the hall. No wonder my eyes are so bad! (I think I just admitted I am a nerd...nope, the thesaurus one probably did it)

5. I think I could make a profession out of traveling and be very satisfied. At this time in my life, I have an obsession with Europe. Mainly with Italy and France. My office at work is decorated with a Paris theme. The first picture you see coming into my house is a photo of the canals in Venice. One day I will actually get there. I promised my mom that I would go with her since my dad isn't really into vacations that don't include a beach or a golf course. Can you imagine him loose in Europe? Our Oregon memories would look like child's play!

6. I am the only person in my family that eats sushi. I haven't had it in a long time now that I am pregnant, but yes-raw fish is delicious!

7. I belong to a cult! One that doesn't have secret handshakes, but it is kind of a secret society....a good one. I'm not sure what I would do without my sisters, cousins, mom, and aunts. We would do anything to protect the others and have all sorts of rituals and routines that we don't even realize! There are certain rules and if someone breaks them-like not telling the other person something that happened...there are consequences-thankfully no shanking! The people in higher positions seem to always know what is going on. I'm sure they could make a movie out of it. I am glad to be a member because someone has always got my back. I wouldn't want to meet Kate in a dark alley! She even offered to kill someone for me once. I however, respectfully declined.

Everyone I know in Bloggerland has already been tagged, so SORRY!

The BIG event

Brian looking daper in the tux....Nik sportin' the bling and the Italian patent leather pumps! It's fun to play dress up-most of the time!

I went to my first black tie event.....7 months pregnant. Most of you can understand that there was more than a little anxiety about the dress fitting. I must say though that the bling made me feel better (yes, it's REAL, the earrings were too). Diamonds are a fat girl's best friend. All in all it was fun. $500 a plate can buy some great food and entertainment. We got to see Jim Gaffigan, a comedian that is on TV all of the time. I laughed for an entire hour and had to catch my breath at points. One of my favorites was when he's talking about how his wife asks why he doesn't make the bed, "for the same reason I don't tie my shoes after I take them off...it just doesn't make sense". I think that I could adopt that philosophy sometimes. I would like to thank Grandma Edna Lou for all of the etiquette lessons, which I actually put to use with all of the forks and glasses in front of me :) I even gave some pointers to our table! Next year I think I'll enjoy myself more.

Summer at a Glance

So because I got on the blogging train a little late, here is our summer (Reader's Digest Version). To tell the truth, we never really stuck in one place too long all summer. Brian was gone for weeks at a time with the wildfires and Crandall Canyon Mine incident. He also got two solid weeks at Lake Powell-rough life. We went to Fourth of July in Rupert, had family reunions, went Sun Valley, St George, and what is a summer without a trip to Oregon! Family came and went from Florida to Iowa. All in all we had a blast-even if there was some nausea along the way.

My Grandma

This lady has got to be one of my most favorite people in the world! I started to call her when I was only 5 or 6 without my parents knowing, just because I missed her. We wrote letters and I always brought her pennies that I had carefully saved to put in her collection. Now I am grown but she still calls me Colie, I still bring her pennies and Tootsie Rolls, and she can still tell me where to go! I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to have her in my life. Our relationship is very special and I am going to miss her like crazy! (Now I'm crying....so it's a good thing these don't have video taps). I love her so much and remind her everyday that I will not forget her. I have no idea why that is one of her fears, because how can you forget someone who is incredible?

Iowa

I'm BACK!

SO-had to take a hiatus from blogging. I have been quite the traveler recently with weeklong adventures to Iowa and St George. Some it good, some of it not so good. Most of you know that my mom and I went to visit Kate and see for ourselves the lifestyle of dental students. We had some of the best hot chocolate ever in the Amana colonies, little villages created by German Inspirationalists. Stopped by Nauvoo, stayed at a bed and breakfast and got to see the annual Pumpkin Festival...the hot chocolate was Swiss Miss-bummer. We even got to see "real" Amish people in buggies! Driving in the Hi-un-Day (no joke, that's how the rental car guy pronounced it) was a blast. Who is the fat girl?

Welcome to our blog!!!

So....after months of getting hasseled for being the ONLY ones not in blogger world, we have decided to give in to peer pressure and join the crowd. Here is our attempt at cyber-scrapbooking. I hope it goes better than the real thing!