We're the Wilburs!

Sorry Folks.

2012-02-11T22:31:00.000-07:00

For those of you who hate reading posts women write when they brag about how amazing their husband is, you may as well just call it a night right now and come back in a few days when I return from Cloud 9 and can start complaining about school again.

My husband is the greatest.

Not only is he the greatest daddy :)

He's also the best husband

AND along with that...

(

He is the master of grand gestures and keeping those grand gestures a total surprise!

(Exhibit A: the proposal. Not only was it onstage, but I had NO idea it was coming AND he managed to get it both on tape and in photos. bomb)

For the past four years my sweet man has surprised me for Valentine's Day.

Year 1: We were recently engaged, Cam was then a part of IMPACT (acapella singing group) and with them he rewrote the lyrics to "Cecilia" by Simon & Garfunkel and arranged it to be an a'cappella song. Which they performed for me. During mine and Cam's dinner date at Macaroni Grill.

Year 2: (try ignoring Cam's beard, it was a phase and it's never coming back) I was pregnant with James, Cam blindfolded me, introduced me to Spark - now one of our favorite places - and we enjoyed a ridiculously romantic dinner which ended with the waiter bringing a string of pearls to the table. You know, because Cam dropped them off earlier that afternoon for the waiter to bring in as a special surprise, no big deal.

Year 3: James was around six months old, I was still sleep-deprived and freaking out about trying to survive school, I begged Cam not to make me go out and leave our precious baby. SO instead he surprised me by coming home from work early, redboxing Valentine's Day and taking care of James all the way until bedtime so I could have time to relax and make a yummy dinner.

And he didn't even complain when I forgot to peel the shrimp before putting it in the pasta.

*pause*

Is this man's track record not INCREDIBLE?

Just wait.

THIS YEAR:

Cam told me a week ago not to make plans for Saturday night and that we would need a babysitter for James (who is now totally fine to be left without his mommy for a while)

He informed me we would be going to a semi-formal event.

Which turned out to be the Valentine's Day Ball the Provo Library puts on every year.

Did you know they do that? I didn't.

We met some very nice people at a very fancy table in a very fancy ballroom, ate a delicious meal, had our picture taken (so high school and yet so adorable)

and Cam even took me out on the dance-floor where a live jazz band played all my favorite crooner songs that I know aren't really Cam's favorite.

Did I also mention the beautiful long stemmed rose that is now mine?

Yeah. Another success for his trophy case.

Yes. I can easily assert that my man is the best man for Valentine's Day.

I love that he loves me so much to do these things for me and I can't wait to give him his Valentine's surprise on Tuesday!

(more on that later- I know he's going to really love it. and not just because it includes some yummy food thanks to pinterest).

strange observings in ENG 395

2012-02-04T15:12:00.001-07:00

We're reading Northanger Abbey in Gothic Lit. class. Well, not anymore, but we were this past week which necessitated a quick review of Jane Austen's lifetime in the form of a powerpoint given by our professor.

I envied her pictures of Jane Austen's house and made a mental note that it is not, in fact, easy to find if you don't know where to look and there are no helpful billboards to point you in the right direction. This is good to know, I think - you know, just in case I make it to England someday. And then I stared at Jane Austen's portrait for another half-hour while my professor continued the class discussion on Austen's life and
works. I can't help but stare at a huge picture you project onto a screen, after all.

After five minutes, I realized that Jane Austen's face looked ultra familiar to me....at first I thought it was just because I've seen her picture before but no, that wasn't it....
by the end of class iti had struck me:

Jane Austen

has been reincarnated as

DANIEL RADCLIFFE

You see it right? Tell me you see it. Before I posted this I asked Cameron about five thousand times if he could see it too so you all don't think I'm totally insane.

The eyes...the nose...the mouth...
WEIRD.

"You haven't even seen it yet!"

2012-02-01T21:41:00.000-07:00

Oh.My.Word.
I have found, by far, the most hilarious video ever to be posted on youtube. Ever.

Ever. Ever. Ever. Ever. EVER.

ever.

It was so funny that once I discovered that Seal and Heidi Klum were splitting up, I still laughed so hard my ribs hurt. (sidenote: they were such a beautiful couple! They had four kids! They were so in love! Why Heidi Klum WHYYYY?????!!!!)

*ahem*
here it is, for your viewing pleasure:

Whew

2012-01-31T09:56:00.000-07:00

So I'm not even going to start with the craziness that's been going on in our lives but the point is:

everything will be fine.

I don't really know how but I know that eventually all the wrinkles will smooth out and our life will be ok again.

If you don't see any updates on this blog for a while it's probably because I don't have any great updates yet and I'm kind of weary of listing our misfortunes and trials here. That and we are just super crazy right now.

Also, if you haven't tried the new dulce de leche cheerios. you are missing out. seriously. W-O-W!

sooooooooooooooooooo good!

Wonderful!

2012-01-21T22:22:00.000-07:00

Finally, after all the craziness of Christmas Break, we've had some great experiences!
First, the semester has officially started and I think it will be a good one. :) so long as I do my homework hahahaha.

Second, one of my favorite things about living in this family ward and not a student ward is we actually get to feed the missionaries! I should have taken a picture of them, but I didn't want them to think we were weird. ha. Anyway, Yesterday we were blessed enough to have them over to eat Cam's favorite ravioli dish and some chocolate fondue for dessert. Elder Guzman is from Mexico, did you know in Mexico you can go on your mission at age 18? This boy graduated high school and immediately left on his mission! His mother must worry about him like crazy. Elder Nunez is of Chilean heritage but grew up in Toronto. They are great elders and very hard workers! James loved them and I'm so glad we were able to have them over to make sure they eat well and to set a good example for James who had a great time with the fondue and ended up looking like a junior lumberjack *see below*.

Also: feeding the missionaries brings miracles! Friday afternoon I put the ravioli in the oven and ran out the door with James to pick Cameron up. I don't even remember what happened but somehow I rear-ended someone's car. I have never rear-ended anyone. ever. I was horrified and scared and James was screaming in the backseat and I had no idea how we were going to handle this when I didn't have any of my information on me because I was just running out really fast to go pick up cam! This wasn't supposed to happen!

An older gentleman got out of his car (the one I hit) and I got out of my car and then we had a conversation:

Me: "I am so sorry."

Guy: "Are you ok?"

Me: "yeah. I'm ok but I --"

Guy: "Well, how's the baby? Is he ok?"

Me: "um, yeah. He's just scared."

Guy: "Well, let's just check and make sure that he's ok."

*opens back door and checks on James*

Guy: "alright, he's ok. And you're sure you're ok? What happened?"

Me: "well, he was calling me and I was looking back to check on him and before I knew it I was slamming on the brakes and -- "

Guy: "but you're ok?"

Me:"Yeah"

Guy: "well, I'm ok. So if you're sure you're ok, then I think we can just call this good."

He was so. nice. It's a miracle we encountered him and not somebody who would have made me replace their bumper or something. Both cars were fine, James and I were fine and the nice man was fine so it all worked out and we went on our way and I'm convinced that the only reason things turned out so well is because we have a Heavenly Father watching over us and muttering "Ceci, pay attention next time. But since you're being good and feeding my servants, I'll let you go this once."

*whew*

Also:

We had a housewarming party with some friends tonight! James and I also got to play with our little buddy Johnny this afternoon while his parents were at the temple.

James is going to make a super big brother someday!

The Big Move

2012-01-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

We had so much help with this move, it's unbelievable. and it's wonderful because we were SO. SICK.
New Year's Day I started throwing up and being otherwise explosively ill. It continued until the first day of classes (Wednesday the 4th) when I ended up on an IV drip at the Student Health Center and getting various medicines for an "intestinal infection". Seriously? We moved on the third folks. as in I was ultra dehydrated and sick when we were moving into a new house! ugh. it was ultra-rough. I'm so grateful we had great ward members come and help Cam because all I could do was hide at my friend Leslie's place after boxing most everything up. We also had some terrific help cleaning out our apartment on the fourth (I started feeling loads better after taking my antibiotics). It only took us two hours because we had such great help! :) and what a relief because that night Cam woke up in the middle of the night puking! He stayed home from work but was not even close to as sick as I was. Still, he didn't feel great on Friday. Then, my dad and my brother both got sick with the same thing. It was crazy and gross and not fun but we managed to move! mostly thanks to all the help we had.

James' contribution to the move was keeping himself occupied and texting/facebooking his buddies to come help. ;)

Anyway, after all that, we are officially in a HOUSE! :) It's amazing how great it feels to have our own home-space (even if it's rented) and have the WALLSPACE to decorate! Not only that but not that we're out of Wymount we can:

*burn scented candles

*put pictures up on the wall

*not stare at cinderblock all day

*enjoy the view out of normal-sized windows

It.Is.Fabulous!

Since we're planning on sticking around in this house for a while, I have big plans in terms of decorating! Consider these pictures the *before* pictures and in subsequent months (years?) I will update with after pictures!

The living room wall. This is our view while we sit on our deliciously comfy couch. I'm in love with the tree wall decal (thank you target!) and in love with the storage that cabinet on the left provides but I think it needs to be black and we need a family picture our something above the TV.

If you have any suggestions, please feel free to give them!

Isn't that tree cool? I think it makes us seem more sophisticated.

Living room furniture. And cam playing with his kindle fire.

The kitchen!!!

nothing short of organization need ever be done to this kitchen. I love it. It's perfect. Big heart right around it.

This is the best feature in the entire kitchen. :) I love it. It's perfect. I want it buried with me.

bathroom. Have you ever noticed there's not much to be done about a bathroom?

Our room. This is the one in need of the most work. I'm talking vinyl decals (i have a few VERY COOL ones in mind), de-cluttering, and some absolutely fabulous pinterest ideas! :D It will soon be an oasis of tranquility. and by soon I mean in the next 6 to 12 months.

his and hers closets. I'm thinking cute labeling ideas for the doors?

(this is very much a BEFORE photo!)

I.Love.Our.Bed.

Seriously

Once upon a time we were newlyweds with a king size bed. It had this exact frame from IKEA that we'd strapped to the top of our car and took 2 hours driving home with it from Draper to Provo. It was awesome. I loved it. It screams my style without being too feminine for Cam and is just so wonderfully pretty (plus leaves room for under-the-bed storage).

The bedding is also a huge part of this favorite-ness.

Once upon a time we were desperate for our own bedding (allergy situation, don't ask) and used a gift card to buy a decievingly cheap bedding set in my incredibly misguided phase where our bedroom was going to be themed black and white.

black and white? seriously?

Finally, after years of dealing with a black bedding set that actually managed to tear in the first six months.

We're talking SUPERBLY CHEAP fabric, folks.

We have bedding that is high quality

and us

we are blue and white people.

Anyway, I have a looooong to do list to make this house totally us!

*spray paint the endtables in our room white to match the bed/bedding

*find the perfect wall decoration for our room - possibly this one?

*put up giant pictures using this tutorial in the living room, James' room and our room!

*put up this quote in James' room (big plans for the above his crib space)

*put these decals on our closet doors

*find homes for our framed stuff that's too big for that cute shelf above our kitchen/living room space. (i.e. marriage certificate, family proclamation, Cam's diploma, etc)

*clear out ALL boxes/DI stuff

but one thing that will not change....

...is this gorgeous hardware all throughout the house. It makes me feel vintage-y.

****sidenote*****

if you managed to make it through this whole post guess what?! My favorite cake decorator in the whole world JESSICAKES is doing a give-away!! go check it out!

A Year in Review

2011-12-31T19:50:00.000-07:00

JANUARY:

Mommy gets her gallbladder removed (=losing 15 pounds if only it had stayed off!)

and James stays as cute as ever!

FEBRUARY:

James' first trip to Glorias! :)

MARCH:

Jordan and Kara got married! And we went!

APRIL:

We fell in love all over again :) (ok so this was May)

Cam had a birthday! He is now 26!!

MAY:

We celebrated our second anniversary by going to the U2 concert! WOOOT!

JUNE:

We went to the Owl City concert! (A birthday present for Cam from my parents)

JULY:

Our little man turned one!!!!!

AUGUST:

Josh Groban concert!!! It made our lives :D

SEPTEMBER:

James' first plane ride! Our family vacation with my parentals to New York to see Tio Rafa and the fam!!

We *heart* Hannah and WaWa (and their bros)!

OCTOBER:

We were Peanuts characters for Halloween!

NOVEMBER:

The Lighting of the Riverwoods! :) It was so fun!

We also celebrated Thanksgiving...no picture. sorry.

DECEMBER:

We sent our first family christmas cards and celebrated the Christmas/Ceci's birthday season! It was wonderful and we got SO. SPOILED!(more on that later)

The search has also begun for one of these:

(it's a kidney)

NOT FOR ME

NOT FOR CAM

-just so nobody panics-

but for my dad.

My dad was blessed enough to be the recipient of a kidney transplant about eight or nine years ago and it went wonderfully.

but now it's done and so the search has begun to find a suitable donor.

And yes, Cam and I will both be tested.

So. This years resolutions:

1. successfully move into our new place (Jan. 3rd. be there!)

2. Get in shape

3. Donate a kidney

Here's to a great 2012 filled with miracles! I can't wait to see them.

Love to all of you and here's hoping you have a great new year!

This makes my life

2011-12-30T18:12:00.001-07:00

The Year Christmas Wasn't

2011-12-24T11:10:00.001-07:00

This Christmas....has been postponed.

Wednesday night we went to Temple Square with some friends of ours.

Love James' Magic glowing stroller. bahaha :)

Our friends Juli and Mirgen (aren't they the cutest couple?)

While we were out my mom called me to let me know my dad was flying home early to go to the hospital.

He's still there.We've been staying at my parentals' house while my mom stays with my dad in Salt Lake. Some background info: my dad had a kidney transplant around nine-ish years ago. The thing with transplants is that they're never really done with. My dad's had to take various medications to make sure his body doesn't reject the kidney inside him and even then, this kidney's no guarantee. Now it looks like the kidney isn't very functional anymore and so my dad's body is completely out of whack and he has to be in the hospital.

He'll be there at least until tomorrow and, depending on the biopsy results we're waiting for, he could be there longer. We don't really know.

It's the waiting and not knowing that really kills ya, you know.

I didn't have many things on my Christmas list anyway, but I'll tell you something, having my parents home for a nice Christmas dinner is pretty much the only thing left. It really brings into focus what's important this Christmas and that's family and you never know how important they are to you until you're sitting in your parents' living room on Christmas Eve waiting to find out when your dad can come home.

Have a merry Christmas everyone, and if you get to be with your family tomorrow count your many blessings.

BEST. birthday. EVER!

2011-12-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

I had a birthday, shout hooray! :D

Me on the day I turned 22. The frazzled look in my eyes? I had just finished my finals and had :

1 portfolio to send in

2 sheet cakes to bake and frost

3 tiers of chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream to bake, frost, cover in fondant and decorate.

Oh and stack on top of one another.

Yes. I was a wee bit stressed.

but these two made it much much better!
(hint: the one on the left is my mom)

They made fajitas for dinner. Sorry, the picture isn't loading. :(

Mmmmmmmmm. :) huge cinnamoon roll? I think yes. This was dropped off right before my birthday dinner on Sunday! - Yes, I had two.

My cute boy : )

Yep, I made that!

How cute is this? We were washing up for dinner.

On Sunday, my mom made a pasta bar with fruit salad, green salad and that delicious cinnamon roll!

And now...my birthday present from cam!

(other than the set of Charlie Brown holiday specials on DVD. yeah. he rocks)

wa-BAM!

The MoTab Christmas Concert. It was amazazazing!

We were VERY happy to be there!

Oh Jane Seymour,

Oh Nathan Gunn,

you guys are too great.

My amazing husband on one amazing date!

and now....THE ROOF for dinner!

Mmmm it was delicious.

We had a gorgeous view next to our table...

sha-ZAM!

such a great time! :)

And, if you're wondering...

James had a great time with his grandparents. I don't think he even noticed we were gone.

Holiday-ing!

2011-12-18T17:59:00.000-07:00

Holiday cheer is easy for this family!

So far our celebrating has included:

*Lighting of the Riverwoods - 11.18.11*

*Festival of Lights - 12.5.11*

^James was awed into silence :)

James and Santa are BFFs

Carriage ride at the Riverwoods! :)

and painting at Color Me Mine!

Sorry for the overload of pictures, posting on my birfday will be up soon! :)

Funny Funny James!

2011-12-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of these are pre-haircut James but they were all so cute, despite being outdated, that I had to share!

We use a souffle ramekin for James' dish. Since we're so awesome and we HAVE some souffle ramekins.

favorite

Twenty-two candles...

2011-11-30T22:46:00.000-07:00

I just realized my birthday is exactly two weeks from today.
I only have two weeks to finish being 21!

I feel like turning 21 called for doing something crazy - like a "surprise" mocktail party - but turning 22 calls for something ultra grown up like...becoming a real estate broker or buying a house or something. I can't get married because I've already done that and I've already had 1 baby and am not anywhere near being ready for a second one...
...I need something monumental. Thoughts?

holidays 2011

2011-11-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

The Holiday season is upon us!!

What does that mean for the Wilburs?
1. Christmas cards! - You got a wonderful preview of our christmas card yesterday. If you are lucky enough, we will send you one. :)
2. Along with Christmas cards: Christmas photos!!! They were spectacular. You'll see them at the end of this post. Well, my favorites at least.
3. Christmas decor! Pictures will be up of those eventually.
4. Finals. :( no Christmas cheering for us until finals are over - ha. yeah right! I am sooo done with school right now. So done. Papers, go write yourselves please. I'd rather watch a Charlie Brown Christmas five times.

Now for those photos - buckle up, it'll be a long ride!

These are only a few, of course, if you want to see more then hopefully you're my friend on facebook! Melanie Parry took all of these so let's give her a round of applause! If you're looking for someone to fill your photographic needs, look no further!!!

Stationery card

2011-11-27T18:58:00.001-07:00

Regal Monogram Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly for unique, personalized Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T13:02:00.001-07:00

We didn't take any photos (sorry) but since I've been to my 'rents' place pretty much every day this week, I will probably be there later and then I will upload my mom's photos to her laptop and sneak them onto this blog!

In short, they're coming. Sorry for the photographic failure.

Meanwhile, yesterday was Thanksgiving AND my father-in-law's birthday. all smashed up into one, can you believe it? I'm not telling you how old he is (28, of course) but I WILL tell you what he got.

Aren't you even just the teeeensiest bit jealous?

I've never had ebelskivers but they look AMAZING.

I also made a selection of cupcakes for Thanskgiving dinner with my fambam who all happen to be the bomb.com (enjoying my usage of current colloquialisms?) which included so sah-weet flavors:

1. Chocolate Cherry: a chocolate, chocolate chip cupcake with bits of maraschino cherry baked in topped with a cool-whip cherry flavored topping.

2. Caramel Apple Cupcake: a spice cake with chunks of apple baked in topped with caramel buttercream and a drizzle of caramel ice cream topping

3. Pumpkin Spice: A pumpkin cupcake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting on top

I know, I know. You wish you'd come. well it's alright. Maybe next year, my friends.

Meanwhile, today Cam is working like a maniac (what else is new?) and I am so proud of him.

This Thanksgiving I was overwhelmed with gratitude for life and love. I got to meet a friend's new baby girl and the sight of new life made me tear up a little bit. The potential, the hopefulness, the cute factor of a new baby...oh man, it's killer.

No. I'm not aching for another baby.

maybe a little. but not right now.

Anyway, overwhelmed is the best word for me because I seriously cannot believe how good I have it. My boy is growing up so fast and is the sunshine to my heart. My husband is so hard-working and dedicated to our family and generous with me (believe or not, I am not a perfect wife all the time). His generosity of spirit makes me a better person.

I'm also thankful for the rest of my fambam and friends (you know, the ones who might read this blog). Thanks folks. You are cool. Especially, you, chuck because I know you read this and I forgot to with you a Happy Thanksgiving yesterday so sorry. but you're extra cool and let's do lunch sooooooon.

oh, I'm thankful for the rest of you, too. *ahem*

Now to go decorate for CHRISTMAS

Only 1 more month!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY!

Haircut: the sequel

2011-11-16T21:37:00.000-07:00

So I thought about cutting my hair that short this summer.

BUT I think I want to go this route:

yes, I know that's Selena Gomez. I like to think we have a similar bone structure...except I have more pudge around, well, everywhere.

anyway, comments, complaints, concerns?

I think I'm gonna do it.

Fampics Oct 2011

2011-11-09T18:56:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I married a handsome man and together we made a VERY handsome boy :)

DONE.

2011-11-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

ok. new challenge.

don't laugh. ok?

Source: weheartit.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I'm gonna do it! For 21 days NO JUNK FOOD. also: insanity! yaaay! I've really missed working out but haven't had any time for it. Now that I'm becoming more efficient at homework, I'm going to have time! yay!

This is all in an effort to look GRRRRRREAT for our holiday family shoot during thanksgiving :)

If you feel like joining me in your own challenge to be fit, comment!

*****sidenote******* I had NO idea there was a swear word on the bottom until after I made this post. Please ignore it and don't associate us with that language. Thanks!

EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

2011-11-04T07:50:00.000-06:00

This were posted last night and I JUST. CAN'T. WAIT. to show you!!

The lovely Allison Rex took these for us in downtown Provo and I loved how they turned out!

check out the sneak peeks on her blog!

grrrrrrrr

2011-11-03T17:51:00.001-06:00

Disclaimer: You've heard this argument before so feel free to skip it if you are zero interested in the SAHM (Stay at Home Mom) vs. Mom outside the home debacle.

There's something that makes me truly angry. It's the use of this quote:

"No success can make up for failure in the home" - David O. McKay

to "support" women's decision to stay at home with their families. Let's just put the fact that Pres. McKay wasn't even talking about the SAHM debate when he gave this quote in the first place.
SAHMs I know what you're trying to say. What you're trying to say is "my family is a top priority and to show that I stay at home in the hopes that this will help my family's life run smoother".that's great! but...

By using this quote do you know what you're really saying? You're saying that "no success can make up for failure in the home" so that means that no "success" like a college degree or a career will ever make up for "failure" aka not being at home with my children 1000000%. That all sums up this one point:

Because I'm choosing not to be at home, I am a failure.

Thank you for pointing that out while I juggle school, home, James and the inner conflict I'm already feeling because I wish I could be with him 100% of the time my circumstances just aren't conducive to that. So, hey, thanks for calling me and other moms who for whatever reason decide that being at home 100% of the time isn't for them failures.

In the end, it's none of my business what anyone decides to do. The more I learn from life, the more I realize that I have zero place to tell anyone what their life is. So SAHMs I certainly don't want to dump on your decisions in any way.

I'm just asking you not to dump on mine.

A New System!

2011-11-02T14:20:00.000-06:00

(Pics of Halloween will be up VERY soon, I promise!)

I've discovered a new system for homeworking!
I'm sure it's no secret to anyone that I find this aspect of life incredibly overwhelming
Ready?
Ok!

So what I've discovered is that I get super overwhelmed with everything I have to do and thereby let it kill my motivation to do anything. It was super not ok.
I started making random to-do lists and that made me feel a little better because now I knew exactly what was overwhelming me and when it had to be done.
But THEN I started planning out how much time I had to dedicate to each thing on my list and refusing to spend any more time. In case, you know, I decided to actually do any of it.
and BAM! productivity happened.
So now instead of getting lost on pinterest when I should be researching a paper...I have exactly 30 minutes that MUST be dedicated to that paper and that is my one shot to get it done. Which = pressure. which is good.

Sorry for the happiness about homework but it was a major breakthrough for me and I'm actually getting stuff done!
Be happy for me, friends.

Also: we were going to rent a house in the Tree Streets but after several unanswered emails and a deleted craigslist ad we're guessing the owners must have found someone else. This was something of a bummer but since we never actually saw the place, for all we know it was a dump! That's consolation for you. haha.

Fun Stuff and Crossed Fingers!

2011-10-31T13:08:00.000-06:00

I'm getting better at blogging.

It's because I'm giving up on school *wink* but still want to look productive *double wink*

Sorry if you're disturbed by all my winking at you.

Anyway, we had a trick or treating activity on Saturday with our quad. :) It was great! James loved it.

Snoopy with Charlie Brown and Lucy. ;)

Trick or Treat!

toooooo cute!

This is where we said: Ok everyone, say CHEESE!...hm.

James jumped right into trick or treating.

He even trick-or-treated at Auntie Kara and Uncle Jordo's house! :)

Trick or treat! :)

We also introduced James to his first Charlie Brown holiday special!

THANK YOU hulu!

Also notice our stash of hot cocoa? Yeah. Come party with us all winter long! :)

Tonight we will be trick-or-treating at grandparents' houses and then hitting up the annual StuBackBash

...and celebrating the THIRD anniversary of our first date

which also included the StuBackBash!

Amazing how time flies, huh?

In the space of three years we went from this:

October 31, 2008

TO THIS!

and this!

I'd put up some of our fampics here except we haven't gotten them back yet.

In Family news:

We're playing the waiting game with a whole number of things and refuse to jinx them by telling you anything.

So you will just have to wait and if I let you know yaaaay! we will all celebrate together

but if I don't say anything then nothing happened.

Oh and it has NOTHING to do with an addition to the Wilbur clan.

at all.

not even a puppy.

*end transmission*

:)

2011-10-28T12:56:00.000-06:00

This show is MY show.

As in it is a wonderful representation of my life. Except that I'm a college student, not a TV Producer and I don't know any Oprah equivalents...
...and we don't own a home.

....and Cam isn't a Stay At Home Dad

BUT we definitely do obsess over how to be the "cool" neighbors and try to be all awesome when we know we're dorks.

And that's what makes us awesome, right?

Anyway, watch, laugh, enjoy. :)

Oh man

2011-10-20T13:50:00.000-06:00

This week has been pretty much insane. In fact, this whole semester is pretty much insane. I can't believe that I'm even standing (sitting) here completely intact and still relatively sane. I don't promise to be intact or at all sane by the end. Seriously.

I think it's the 15 credits that's killing me. 12 is bad enough but 15 just puts it over the edge.

It puts ME over the edge. Seriously.

And then I see pictures like this

and my day is immediately better

what's that?

2011-10-17T22:11:00.000-06:00

Hm? what's that? Oh, you remember me saying I wouldn't be posting anything until the end of this up-ended semester and here it is 9:47 PM and I am STILL avoiding my homework?

yes. Yes I am.

And I have no other excuse than I am officially burning out right now. It's so true.

I'm kind of done writing about Persuasion (you see, I told you this would happen) and I'm kind of done pushing myself to do everything I can in school so that nothing gets done anywhere else.

I have a life remember?

Pssshhh...who am I kidding? I don't even remember what my life was before this.

oh help. I'm so done and I don't graduate until August.

So

2011-10-13T21:32:00.000-06:00

Once Upon a Time I neglected this blog.
And then I actually went somewhere with my awesome fambam and had a REASON to blog! (other than forcing you all to read my homework. HA. sorry)

9/11 memorial

double quarter pounder gross!

I know you're dying to know

2011-09-27T13:04:00.000-06:00

Don't deny it. I know you're itching with curiosity as to what I was thinking deeply about for twenty minutes. Yes. I know everyone who follows this blog is just on the edge of their seats for my every word.

Do you sense the sarcasm?

At any rate, I like this little exercise so here it is:

Of Smells

I am obsessed with smelling good and things that smell good and people who smell good. So many times when I went out with a boy in my younger years (younger, ha, I'm twenty-one and saying things like "younger years" that make me sound like I’m forty) I would always comment on their nice-smelling cologne, assuming they were wearing any. That's what I told my husband on our first date anyway, I remember he smelled great. When I was pregnant, I couldn't get enough of the scent from Bath & Body Works called Sea Island Cotton. My mom had the soap in her bathroom. The fun foamy kind, not just a regular bar. I'd hold the blob of foam as close to my nose as I could without getting soap all over me and inhale as deep and long as I could. I don't know if this caused any damage to James who was quietly residing in my womb at the time but as far as I can tell now that he's fourteen months old, nothing happened.

Sometimes I worry about things I'm doing with James in his early years and how that will affect him later in life. I'm pretty sure every young mother's prayer is "please, in the name of all that is good and holy, just don't let me screw anything up." I'm okay if James makes mistakes here and there, he's only human right? But please oh please oh please, Lord, in the name of all that is good don't let me mess him up so much he becomes a criminal or a deadbeat or a republican. My dad already claims that James is a Republican because he loves to watch football. Don't ask me how the two correlate but that's what he says. Every Saturday afternoon James can be found sitting on his Papa's lap watching a football game for at least fifteen minutes which is more like three hours in a one-year-old's sense of time. He sits and watches football and my dad looks at him and says "Don't you listen to what your mama says, James, you're a Republican". I don't think I'll start grieving until James says he wants to vote for John McCain and then maybe even then I won't be concerned until he actually does. If he votes for anyone like Sarah Palin I think I really will sit down and cry and wonder where I failed as a parent.

My parents did that.

Not because I told them I was a Democrat though, I just told them I was getting married. My husband's not a democrat either but he's not a Republican. Maybe if he'd been a Republican my parents would have come to our reception. Maybe if he'd been a member of the Tea Party they would've paid for the wedding. As it is though, he wasn't anything (officially) so they didn't really do anything. I don't know if I blame them for not coming or not paying or whatever.

I really don't know. But then again, I don't know a lot of things. I don't know why people die, I don't know where God lives, I don't know how to bake bread, I don't know how to speak Romanian. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the things I don't know while other times I feel super savvy about everything. I know how to speak Italian (and Spanish in my more brilliant moments), I know how to bake good cakes, I know how to say "I'm Sorry". I think that's especially important. I know how to say "I'm Sorry".

Don't tell anybody...

2011-09-27T10:18:00.001-06:00

I'm blogging in class.
but also taking notes. If I post them here, then I won't lose them. ;)

ESSAYS ARE COOL - Sanders Interview
Essays speak directly about things that move/concern you personally.
Essayists believe things they witness that seem deeply moving/important are worth writing about in a personal way.
Witness to the meaning found outside yourself instead of reporting on things that happen to you.
Pontificating is a cool word. *giggle*...pontificating
"Writing is a process of discovering meaning"
Essays - a writer in the process of thinking, accidentally-on-purpose of course since you have to carefully think about/form writings to feel like that.
Bewilderment is a GOOD emotion. "If it's clear to me, I won't write about it. If it brings up no strong feelings in me, I won't write about it".
A clearing filled with associations, childhood memories, biblical references...writing the essay is how to carry the reader through such a space to be better acquainted with the thread
"Print is linear but the experience of life is, of course, not linear" so gathering material for an essay is not linear.
Written linearly but experienced simultaneously

yes. these make no sense to you, but they make sense to me.
Now I'm supposed to think deeply for twenty minutes.
I love this class.

PS - we're going to Albany in the morning! Will take lots of photos.

So...Cakes?

2011-09-17T21:03:00.000-06:00

Wow.

I know I don't update this but my cake-ing world has kind of exploded. My latest project was a bridal shower cake for my friend Mercedes. She loved it so much she asked me if I would be willing to do a small wedding cake for her in October. I, of course, said yes! :) I also had an "official" tasting for a wedding cake in december for a friend of a friend. WOW. right??

But it gets better!
I sent some scraps from this latest venture with Cameron to work because I simply cannot abide cake in the house anymore. At all. I can hardly even stand the look of cake. Ugh. But other people in enjoy it so that's all that matters, right? In fact, a girl who tasted the cake scraps Cam took to work this morning has asked for a

wedding cake in April. Not only that but it's been suggested by several people that I offer to do cakes for cam's work's corporate events. Seriously? WHOA. I felt really overwhelmed at that idea, especially since I'm still in school like FULL-time and trying to keep my house not a disaster all the time.

Seriously? NOW is the time for things to just blow up? ha. I don't think so.

Cake decorating class and a cake project a month I think is more than enough for me right now. I'm currently going on 4 hours of sleep, still need to go home and clean/do homework before tomorrow, I also have to try and get a handle on my calling I'm kind of a failure in that department right now.
wow. way too much life to live.

Still, 4 hours of sleep to create this? I think it's kinda worth it:

VICTORY!

2011-09-12T13:30:00.000-06:00

So I got added to that class after all!!!!! HOORAY!!!!!!!

Seriously, my heart is full right now. Never have I been more joyful about adding a class!
In the spirit of creative nonfiction, here is my first assignment for this amazing class - rough cut and unedited.
Enjoy!

Bikes are Embarassing

I ride my bike up the hill back to Wymount every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Someone with more perspective would call this experience "humbling". I just call it embarrassing.

Without fail, I start out just fine. Life is good, my legs are pumping, the breeze is blowing and I'm going just fine. But then it gets tougher. I slow down, my chest starts to heave and my legs start to burn. I tell myself to just push through the pain. This is counting as my exercise for the day so I'd better make it count. No matter what happens just keep on pedaling. "Just keep going" is my mantra as my bike slows…slows….and eeks to a stop about three quarters of the way up.

Throat burning, chest heaving, head hanging low, I glance up and see a man across the road still pedaling. He's pedaling slowly but still on his bike. He doesn't look like he's about to die. He's not gasping for breath and holding himself up on the handlebars. What's the deal? I don't know what irks me more: the fact that he's still pedaling while I'm dying or the fact that he's a man still pedaling when I can't. Would I be more upset if it was another girl still upright on her bicycle? What do I care if there's someone who's obviously more in shape than I am on the same road? And, really, how egocentric is it to sit there glaring at an innocent bike-rider across the road who doesn't even care that I'm walking my bike while he's riding it easy as pie?

I have no idea why it's so frustrating but it is. It feels like just about everywhere I go there's someone who is just better at being than I am. The mom who actually keeps her house clean. The student who goes above and beyond all with his assignments. The fact my husband weighs ten pounds less than me. They're all conspiring against me to make me feel like I have a billion details to work on about myself when I can get a handle on even one.

It's a terrible feeling, you know.

I don't like feeling like I’m not good enough or smart enough or in shape enough. My one consolation in all this is the fact that hopefully that man's throat is burning and his heart is pounding in his chest and he's secretly dying inside while to me on the other side of the road it looks like he's doing just fine. The sisters in my Relief Society who run activities, teach their kids to read by age .5 and have a scrumptious dinner on the table every single night hopefully have something wrong with them too. Twenty years from now, I'm hoping my husband will have a nice deposit of pudge in the middle of his person instead of the six pack he has now because this and all these other ideas bring me comfort and help me know I'm not alone in my imperfections. I might have something(s) wrong with me – not being able to ride all the way up the hill just one of a jillion – but hopefully that guy across the road has something wrong with him too.

It's [pretty much] official

2011-09-09T19:29:00.000-06:00

I am now taking 12 credits instead of 15.

You see, the last class I wanted for this semester was "technically" not added to my schedule yet.

Why?
Because there are only 15 spots in the class. It is INSANE to try and get in. You pretty much just have to stay up till midnight, be a senior so you can register first and do a few voodoo tricks to keep other people from signing up before you.
When I got there, the class was full (duh). So I emailed the professor saying "I will bring my own chair. Just PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE let me in your class!"

He wrote back: "I admire your enthusiasm. You're fourth on the waiting list." I rejoiced because everyone who I talked to said "just keep showing up and you'll totally get in!"
Even on the first day of class, that's basically what the professor said! He said that! "Just stick with it".
I did stick with it.
Not only that but I put serious effort into reading carefully and participating in class. I was friendly. I even brought red velvet cake with vanilla buttercream and covered in fondant - all made from scratch!

Can I just break in here to say if it had been down to a class vote, I would totally be in right now. One girl in the class told me a few days later she actually had dreams about that red velvet cake. That's how you know it's good, my friends.

All this I did with a huge hopeful smile. When the other two people who stuck with it got add codes because two people dropped, I smiled. When I was against one other girl (broad journalism major. seriously? go back to the brimhall building. No offense.) for a spot, I just kept smiling - over that luscious red velvet, of course.

And what did all this get me?

Three unanswered emails in two days. And before that this conversation:

Ceci: Professor, is there any chance I can get a spot in your class at all?
Professor: There's a chance. When's the deadline? Tuesday?
Ceci: No it's Monday.
Professor: Ah. [thinks for a moment] send me an email. This afternoon, tonight, now, just send me one today.
Ceci [growing incredibly hopeful]: Okay!

I emailed him at 3 and then 6 and then this morning....with no response.

I think it's time to give up hope. I feel like a dumped girlfriend. What did I do wrong? I tried so hard! Where did it go wrong?!

I thought what we had was special!!!!

*sigh*
If you need me I'll be sniffling over my copy of Gilead.

Let me be frank,

2011-09-06T23:26:00.001-06:00

You won't be hearing from me much - if at all - this semester. 15 credits (PLEASE let it stay 15!! I want to take that class!!!a story for another time) is just far, far too much to even think about blogging for you fine people.

If you want updates. Go ahead and try to get a hold of me! I"ll be on facebook from 9 PM to 1 AM. ;)

So.

2011-09-01T15:04:00.002-06:00

August came and went. Now it's September and all I can really tell you right now since my precious free time has become even more precious is:

Michel Montaigne and I are BFFs.

Exhibit A:
TO THE READER

12th June 1580

Reader, thou hast here an honest book; it doth at the outset forewarn thee that, in contriving the same, I have proposed to myself no other than a domestic and private end: I have had no consideration at all either to thy service or to my glory. My powers are not capable of any such design. I have dedicated it to the particular commodity of my kinsfolk and friends, so that, having lost me (which they must do shortly), they may therein recover some traits of my conditions and humours, and by that means preserve more whole, and more life-like, the knowledge they had of me. Had my intention been to seek the world’s favour, I should surely have adorned myself with borrowed beauties: I desire therein to be viewed as I appear in mine own genuine, simple, and ordinary manner, without study and artifice: for it is myself I paint. My defects are therein to be read to the life, and any imperfections are my natural form, so far as public reverence hath permitted me. If I had lived among those nations, which (they say) yet dwell under the sweet liberty of nature’s primitive laws, I assure thee I would most willingly have painted myself quite fully and quite naked. Thus, reader, myself am the matter of my book: there’s no reason thou shouldst employ thy leisure about so frivolous and vain a subject. Therefore farewell.

I don't really have much else to say. "Therefore farewell".

Stuff

2011-08-08T11:24:00.000-06:00

I haven't posted for August yet.

Sorry

I have posted a bit on my cake blog but I didn't want to inundate this blog with cake because what would be the point of having a whole other blog be?

Exactly.

Anyway...Some things happening lately

*James has had the sniffles and shared them with his betrothed. Oops.
*Cam's supervisor at work hosted us for dinner. Their apartment is gorgeous and I fully burned up with envy.
*We're hosting them this week. I doubt they will burn with envy
*My house is actually getting clean. WOW. ;)

also, our PAZZO challenge died. Remember that? Yeah, it went the way of a bowl of frog-eye salad with marshmallows and cool-whip.

That was a while ago. Like before the 4th of July

Which is why we've regained our footing AND won't be consuming sugar for the whole of fall semester...if not, you know, ever. I've just decided that there's no reason why I shouldn't be healthy and take care of myself.
...the fact that I only have like 6 pounds until I'm the same weight I was when cam and I got engaged is totally a different story....
ok not really.

At any rate, that's us. I will be posting pictures eventually once we have something to photograph.

Like the Josh Groban concert on Saturday :D :D :D :D

James' Birthday Party!

2011-07-28T13:36:00.000-06:00

Well.

It was a smash :)
We had a photo shoot for James before the party started and he was JUST SO CUTE! :D

Are jeans diapers not the cutest things EVER??

Then it was time to party!

This was James' smash cake :)

Our fabulous photographer Melanie Parry of course took care of all the photos!

The slip N Slide was a hit as was the water balloons and the pinata and the pool!

The food was fabulous. Thanks to Sarah Our Catering Friend! Seriously. You should call these girls and have them hook you up with such fabulosity.

Smash.

2011-07-26T10:59:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was a smash hit!

Pictures will be coming soon but to see the amazing-ness brought to you by Sarah, the Caterer, go HERE!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped make our celebration sooo great! :)

Today is James' actual birthday. In fact, as of right now he is one year old!

Pictures of the party will be coming soon :)
but here's a boatload of pictures documenting our first year with the world's most wonderful boy!!

Love at first sight :)

2 weeks :)

Blessing Day!

first open-eyed picture!

First smile for mommy!

On his first vacation - Glacier Nat'l Park!

Some days have been hard. ;)

My favorite picture of these two :)

So sweet and loving!

I'm so glad to have this boy! I"m honored to be his Mommy!

We love you James!!

Sugar Cookie Hater

2011-07-23T16:34:00.000-06:00

Right now I am baking for James' big party on Monday.

They look kind of great :)

but I'm never looking at one every again.

Pictures to come of everything soooon!

James Update

2011-07-13T13:03:00.000-06:00

(for serious James fans only ;) )

so. James has been up to a lot lately! While I give you some random facts about James please enjoy some pictures my dear friend Aubrey took of James with his betrothed, Addi, at 7 peaks. They had such fun!

James will not sit for 30 seconds to watch Baby Einstein or any sort of animated feature.

But the last ten minutes of the first harry potter movie?

done!

It was hilarious. He sat with me on the floor leaning against his giant duck and watched.

He's his daddy's boy for sure.

James shoplifted for the first time last Friday. The place? BYU Bookstore on a trip with Mommy and Grandmama. The item? 1 scripture mastery list card. In spanish. For the Old Testament

Dude's serious about his scripture study.

It's ok though. I went back and paid for it after I discovered he was waving it around for all to see.

James has some new moves which include:

*standing up without holding on to anything/one -- he is sooo close to walking!

*saying "banana" and "down" as well as "mama" and "dadadadadaaaa!"

* "Crazy Baby" is when James shakes his head back and forth insanely rapidly and giggles like mad.

He loves it.

*James now dumps his toys out of their containers and then puts them back. when he feels like it.

*The Growl Game with his Papa. He growls, my dad growls back at him. It's ultra cool/fun according to James.

Isn't that a face that would melt your heart?!

Addi and James love love each other. They are best buddies.

I cannot believe my baby boy is almost one! ACK. can he just stay this way forever?

No?

boo.

Our Fourth of July Adventure

2011-07-07T13:22:00.000-06:00

And so.

We traditionally camp out all night on the street to save a spot for the Freedom Festival parade.

Have you ever tried that?

People get crazy.

Exhibit A:

Brown t-shirt man

(no picture, sorry)

Brown t-shirt man was sitting along an entire row of white lawn chairs when we arrived at our usual spot. He apparently was under the impression he got to save the whole block because his family owned the apartment building behind it.

Silly t-shirt man.

Provo puts out a city ordinance clearely stated that you couldn't start saving a spot until 3 pm the day before.

We showed up at 12:30 to stare at our spot before putting blankets down at 3.

My cousin Dough played PR man and sweet-talked t-shirt man's brothers into letting us have our spot but t-shirt man wasn't having it come 3 o'clock.

My dad, wisened by 30 years of spot-saving experience, immediately planted four chairs on the border of our spot while t-shirt man threw a hissy fit and tried to rope off the boundary of his spot where he "originally" had decided to set it...AKA right through the middle of our spot!

My dad wasn't taking this.

Duh, t-shirt man. He's been saving a spot for longer than you've been alive.

So, of course, he takes that silly rope and tosses it out of his way.

T-shirt man exclaims: "What the heck man?!"

and tries again.

and again.

While my dad keeps tossing it back with a chuckle as if to say:

"baha, stop wasting my time kid. I have lawn chairs to set out"

With another outraged shout the man starts getting in my dad's face.

this skinny 20-something dude wearing a brown t-shirt thinks he can take on my dad. baha.

So what does my dad do?

Takes him by the waist and *fwoom* sweeps him onto his own spot

in the mud

since his fam set the sprinklers off on us twice an hour before.

ha.

Needless to say, we got our spot.

take that t-shirt man.

James enjoyed the parade from his spot. ;)

Jake and James sharing cheetos

James' betrothed, Addi, joined us for the parade.

Spring 2035, be there to see them get married. ;)

CAKE!

2011-07-05T20:39:00.000-06:00

Yes I will post about the fourth of July shortly

but first!

I have a new blog. :)

This one is dedicated to cake decorating. It would be cool to have it be a portfolio of some kind but right now it's just a place to park photos of my cake projects while I do all that fun learnin'!

I really do love cake-ing.

Tune in for all my cake-ing adventures!

NEW CAKE BLOG

Poop

2011-06-28T22:19:00.001-06:00

I have to tell you a story:

Today James and I had a long but fun day watching our little friend Sophie while her Mommy went out and had a job interview. It sounds like it went well which is very happy :)

Anyway, we headed to pick Cam up from work but discovered he was held up for a bit which meant we got to have a walk around the Riverwoods shopping center! Super exciting...

...until I pulled James out of his car seat and stuck my finger right into some poop. Not to be graphic or anything but it was EVERYWHERE. Loads of *ahem* chunky stuff on his car seat and all over his little boy shorts. I had no choice but to stick him in his stroller, clean off my fingers and find a bathroom. We get to the bathroom and - surprise! - no changing table. Not only that but I left the changing pad that came with his diaper bag at home along with his extra outfit. Yeah. This was awesome.

It's times like these where I'm grateful that Cam officially has a decent job where I don't have a heart attack at the thought of cleaning James up, cleaning off his stroller, wheeling him out of the bathroom dressed in a diaper and a pair of sandals and walking right into Gymboree to just buy him a new outfit rather than refusing to spend any money for fear that we won't make rent if I do. It's a blessing to walk into a store, find a little romper on sale for 9 dollars and not even blink while paying for it and explaining to the shop lady who's staring at your son who isn't dressed that you've had a bit of a diaper emergency.

She works in a baby clothes store so obviously she understands.

She's also kind enough to tell you you have a big line of poop on your own shirt.

That's when I looked down and saw she was right and the smell I was smelling was, in fact, not coming from the recently cleaned stroller but from me. Because I had poop on my (Cameron's) shirt.

Once again counting my blessings, I walked on over to a boutique next to Gymboree and bought a shirt for me - on sale, of course. Cam showed up in time to walk with us to the bathroom where I changed and told him the whole story.

If I wasn't busy finding a way to make things better and a lot less smelly and laughing at fate for dealing me such a mean hand on a somewhat challenging day (a speeding ticket and not my usual "me time" because of alternating nap schedules type of day) then I think I may have sat in that bathroom and cried. But I somehow managed to see the humor of the situation enough to laugh, be grateful for the extra cash we had to buy new clothes instead of walking around covered in poop or, in James' case, sitting in a stroller pretty much naked, and look forward to a much better day tomorrow!

even - or is it especially - when it is remarkably inconvenient!

As of today...

2011-06-27T11:24:00.001-06:00

We are going private.

yes, yes I know I promised I never would but I had an interesting encounter last week which made me decided it was time.

No. I am not being stalked by an avid reader of this blog. However, entertaining (NOT) that story might be.

No what happened was I decided those who, for whatever reason, are absolutely not interested in reading this blog but are still following it only have to NOT email me so you are NOT on the reading list. There. Done.

So. after today, please email me at musicgirl101(at)gmail(dot)com so you can be on the reading list for our blogging adventures. Either that or leave a comment on this blog post. :)

In other news:
I have the best husband in the world who signed me up for a cake decorating class! I am ultra excited! I'm hoping to be able to make James' birthday cake. Here are some inspiration pieces:

Obviously, James' cake would NOT be pink but I still loved this one :)

Can you tell I'm excited to get started! With enough practice (and, of course, as much education as I can get) I'm hoping to actually do this...

like make the coolest birthday cakes known to man so everyone will come to my boy's birthday parties. ;)

It's what a mom does right?

Greetings from california!

2011-06-20T12:03:00.001-06:00

Be you thought I was in California for a minute.

Yeah. I wish!

Know who is though? My parentals and the bro.

I saw these shots and smiled.

I also thought: "Oh gee, I come from some great people"

Enjoy

Formerly the only two men in my life. Now they have to share spots with Cam and the Baby. They don't mind though...

...Too much. ;)

He never leaves a friend behind.

I miss my fam-bam when they're gone. Although after two and a half weeks of entertaining the bro at 4:30 am, I can't say I wasn't ridiculously relieved to have the time to just me and my teensy family.

Family is a wonderful thing, no?

List.

2011-06-18T10:30:00.000-06:00

Things I DON'T like:
*People who think it's ok to take advantage of others, especially when they are in a much better position than the ones they are preying on.
*People who complain a lot. yes. I will admit that I complain a lot too. I, however am trying not to complain too much because what would be the point of this blog if all I did was complain to you? There'd be none, that's what!

Which is why there are only two items on the "Things I DON'T Like list" and ten items on the "Things I DO like" list.

Things I DO like :)
*Bowling with my husband and friends :)
*Eating delicious sweet pork enchiladas.
*Naptime
*Cleaning. It's just so satisfying!
*Costco chocolate cake. Seriously. before this "no sugar" thing is over I'll probably start dreaming about it.
*Party planning
*Invitation making
*Baking
*laughing
*Talking with good friends I haven't seen in a long while.

I am ultra excited! James is almost turning one and we are starting on the invitations to his party and planning the menu and all of that! Oh it's going to be awesome! At least, I hope so. I'm also piaring with my dear friend Sarah the Caterer to plan an engagement party sometime in August! I can't wait!

If you are in need of party planning services and/or tips feel free to give me a call because apparently it's my newest obsession. ;)

AT.LAST.

2011-06-10T11:08:00.000-06:00

So.
My parents are coming home this evening!!! AT LONG LAST.

Excuse me while I go kiss the ground and say five thousand Hail Marys that I survived this stint. It was challenging and it was exhausting but I managed! I even managed to clean yesterday can you believe it? And play hostess like three nights in a row.

Also, I said no last night to homemade apple pie and vanilla ice cream. SERIOUSLY. I never thought I could say no to apple pie (from scratch and not even the crust from scratch but like everything even the apples from scratch!) and ice cream when there's whipped cream and maraschino cherries to go with it. My cousins loved it, there were even some left overs and I still managed to say no! I was amazed.

Dear Insanity,

2011-06-09T10:36:00.000-06:00

You're hard and I keep saying I hate you....but I miss you.
Thanks to my son and my brother refusing me the good night's rest I so desperately need and then commanding my attention all day until pretty late at night, I have been unable to visit with you. I am sorry.
Mostly for me, since I don't get to feel like a beast anymore.
Wait for me?
Your frenemy,
Ceci.

in other news, We got to visit with some lovely friends last night! :) I made filet mignon for the first time ever. I felt so fancy announcing proudly that we were having filet mignon wrapped in bacon, steamed broccoli and pasta with red pepper alfredo sauce. I love playing hostess. It's great! :)

Yes. Another post about INSANITY

2011-06-07T11:13:00.000-06:00

So.

Last night was the beginning of month 2 of my INSANITY. It really was crazy. If I thought the first week of the first month was hard boy was I a silly kid then! I worked out for - ready? -

an hour and a half!

For those of you who are crazy about working out that might not seem like a huge deal

Not like I'm even friends with people who love to work out that much

but still

it was A BIG step for me.

I still can't believe I didn't just give up.

Although I came very, very close and said things like:

"This man (Shawn T., host of Insanity) is trying to kill me"

"I had better look like her when I'm done" - indicating the amazon goddess before me on the TV screen.

Overall though?

It seriously was not bad. I mean it was CRAZY and long and hard and I thought I was going to die but I am NOT sore, surprisingly and I am fully going to be doing my 50 minutes tonight because I have an official love/hate relationship with Insanity

I have a love/hate relationship with sweat.

Also, we got to skype with these lovely people:

We like them quite a bit. You should too.

They've officially challenged us to what I am calling "PAZZO - A Companion Challenge to Insanity"

Pazzo is the Italian word for crazy in case you were wondering.

So the Pazzo Challenge is basically a no sugar challenge

So no more treats

Cam even cleared up a very important question about diet soda.

He may have teared up a teensy bit.

And the first ones to cave owe the other couple a steak dinner when we get to our dear friends in July.

Just so you know guys, I like my steak medium-well. ;)

PS - Isn't their boy the (second) cutest?! He's a total cutie patootie and I think he and our boy-o will be very good friends.

Things are about to get PAZZO around here!

Exhausted.

2011-06-06T10:17:00.000-06:00

Wow.
I've survived 11 days so far of a 16 day stint of being Mama Ceci and taking care of a full-size house, my boys - hubby and baby, the other boy in my life, J. and my aging Abuela. It's CRAZY, yo. Not like I'm complaining or anything but whenever anybody (ok, Cam because I haven't really socialized with anybody for a while) asks me how I'm doing, I can only answer: "Great!...well, tired."

and it's true.

I'm exhausted. all the time, practically.

but I'm great! :)

Today I took Baby into J's room to play for a little bit. J was sitting on his bed watching a video after a few minutes he reached out his arms to hold Baby. It was adorable and totally warmed my heart.

So even if it's exhausting, being here and encouraging a relationship between my bro and my boy AND having access to the wii and cable TV is a total plus :)

HELP! ;)

2011-06-02T11:20:00.000-06:00

no emergencies, just a favor!!!

So.
The Dating Divas are holding a "hot hubby contest" asking for photos that show what makes our hubbies so great. I submitted this one:

because it is just PRESH.

So please

please

pleaseohpleaseohplease oh

PRETTY PLEASE

head to

THE DATING DIVAS page on Facebook

then click "like" (that thumbs up button)

then go to their album of the hot hubby contest, Cam is #76

Then click "like" again!

If we win we get free makovers and a free photoshoot!

And I DESPERATELY need a haircut...so give me this one? please?

If we get more than 50 likes I will hold a giveaway on this blog to say thanks! :D

Thanks in advance!!

Silly. otherwise titled "Why I NEED to workout in the mornings"

2011-06-01T13:56:00.000-06:00

So.

my brother J and my baby boy (whose name also starts with a J. ha) have both decided to start waking up at 5 am.

Not Cool.

For a number of reasons:

1. Well, it's 5 am. I haven't seen that time since baby boy was five months old.

2. If they wake up and need me then, I don't have the time to work out and get ready for the day.

Turns out I am very grumpy when I don't workout and take a cold shower in the morning.

Take this morning for example:

J comes in at 4:40 am, "Cec...Home?"

"J, go night-night. It's not time to get up yet."

"Oh! ok." (he thinks that means he gets to stay home from school)

Baby wakes up at 5

"maaaamaaaa. daaaadadadada!"

Me: *sigh*

Cam: *sigh*

we let him talk to us through the baby monitor for a little while and then Cameron drags himself out of bed at my ever-so-gentle *wink* request.

Baby does not go back to sleep like we think he's going to.
more sighing.
I start to get snappy and by the time Cam is ready for work, J's successfully sent off to school and Baby's in his high chair eating some breakfast, I'm a mess. It's really kind of a stressful process you know. J doesn't enjoy going to school and it's pretty much like pulling teeth to get him to even change out of his pajamas. A saint would go crazy on some days.
There were plenty of tears and grumpiness and rantings about how I'm just going to be fat forever because I obviously don't have the time to work out, I'm going to look old forever because I'm exhausted and there are awful bags under my eyes...the list goes on and on.
So Cam goes off to work hoping his crazy wife pulls it together soon, I'm sure.
poor Baby seems to be wondering what on earth is wrong with his smiley mother
and really...
it was all hilarious looking back on it.

Lesson learned: I'm not happy if I don't get decent sleep and my morning workout.
My poor boys all had to learn that the hard way with me this morning.
Gracious.

My Current Addictions:

2011-05-31T13:43:00.000-06:00

1. Clorox Wipes.

I love them. LOVE THEM. Cannot go about thirty minutes without wiping something down with them. They're amazing and I love the way they smell.

2. These pictures.

Well...any pictures of us actually. We JUST took these and yet I want another photo shoot. but seriously, with such a beautiful baby, who can blame me? ;)

3. Real Housewives of New Jersey and Jerseylicious.

No picture included because I'm just too ashamed of myself that I'm actually admitting this to you, the unknown internet audience, to even show you who these people are. Just know it's totally a guilty pleasure. Totally. Guilt-ridden. The end.

4. DIPPIDEE cupcakes! *sigh* you know it's - ahem - "happy week" when all you want to eat is cake. Not like I do, I just want to. gosh. ;)

**please note** there is NO give away on this blog. Unless it is a giveaway from you to me in the form of dippidee deliciousness.

...What? A girl can try can't she?

I hope you enjoyed this small visit to the inside of my brain. Hopefully you weren't too frightened but in case you were: Goodbye forever.

Things that are making my eye twitch today:

2011-05-30T11:40:00.000-06:00

*The fact that I'm trying to make James nap and he seems to want to but every five seconds, J pulls out the headphones of his DVD player thus causing Barney to blast at like 123412341534289534208957234 decibels or someone turns on the water faucet or someone shuts (SLAMS) the microwave door and then I hear James make noise and I know he's not sleeping but he should be because his normal morning nap is two hours and he didn't sleep for even one really.

*The various surfaces in this house that have yet to be wiped down by my clorox wipes.

*James insisting he can walk and then plopping down and then whining

*the weather. Sunny? rainy? dismal? happy?

*the stupid microwave that is constantly beeping, slamming or what have you.

*people trying to tell me what my son needs to "get used to". If I wanted him to be used to a marching band going through the house while he was trying to sleep I'm sure I coulda hired one, thanks. Is it too much to ask that you flipping just SHUT UP for an hour or two while he naps?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!

*this blog post

*life. (read: a number of things I shouldn't tell you about because it's about certain persons who I'm sure read this blog actively even though they haven't said so and I can't even hint at who they actually are because then they would get it -- are you feeling uncomfy yet? ;) )

Weekend Hilariousness/Adorableness

2011-05-29T21:56:00.000-06:00

I just want to tell you what we've been up to this weekend.

It's our first weekend house/brother-sitting while my parents are in Italy.

That's right. Italy.

It's only their third anniversary trip this year. No big deal.

Anyway,
Yesterday we decided to take my brother to IHOP and Target because my dad does that nearly every Saturday morning with him. Well, nearly. When I was in high school we did it a lot more then. Anyway.

Walking out to the car, I asked J (my bro.'s nickname for this blog) "J, do you wanna ride in the front with Cam or in the back with Baby James."
"Back"
"You wanna ride in the back with the baby?"
"yes!"
So they did. They rode in the back and listened to Barney songs.
IHOP was great. delicious as usual. You have not lived until you've tasted their Nutella crepes, I'm just sayin'.

At Target, we let J pick out a video and a toy since that's the usual routine. He's super into the movie Tangled right now because who isn't? And picked out a Rapunzel doll (similar to a barbie only not nearly so disproportional) because he wanted to play out the "princess" movie.

I didn't know how to feel about letting my 16 year-old handicapable brother pick out a disney princess doll but he really really wanted it. I figured if I put it under the baby's seat in the cart, cam could pull it out while I distracted J, he wouldn't miss it if we found him something a little more...male-oriented. (please don't think I'm a sexist. My brother's ridiculed behind his back enough as it is. He didn't need one more thing on that list). Anyway, at first it worked; but then it didn't. We were on our way to the cash registers when J grabbed the car and said: "Wait. Stop. Princess?!"
*awkward pause*
"Hey, J! look at that boat!"
"Princess?!"
J then points directly to the spot where I had moved his rapunzel doll and basically looks at me like "I demand to know where my princess doll is. I left it right here. What did you do with it?"
So we got it for him.
He was happy and that's all that matters.

We also took him to the park to play and had fun playing hide-and-go-seek. our baby pretty much adores his uncle and thinks anything he does is flipping hilarious. We played on the trampoline today and got to visit the homeward a bit and celebrated a family birthday with that delicious Costco cake! MMmmmmm...

I can have an extra piece. I'm still doing Insanity. ;)

Stay tuned for more adventures brother/house-sitting!

No. 32 on Things-to-do-before-I-die

2011-05-26T20:22:00.000-06:00

See U2 play live and worship at the feet of Bono.

Check.

It was the single best concert OF MY LIFE.

Here are about three tons of photos for you to be envious of.

The Fray opened for U2. They were awesome. I loved them.

The lead singer of The Fray.

Bono supports Amnesty International. You should too. ;)

My husband gives me the best anniversary presents.

AT LAST!!!

I couldn't get very many decent close-ups of the band so close-ups of the big screen with their faces on it had to suffice.

The lights were AAAHHHHMAZING!!!

Oh Bono, you radically awesome soul, you.

So Trax was so packed on the way back I was pressed up against the door...you know, the one that opens to let people on and off.

Cameron was on the stair above me.

After such an awesome experience, you can tell we were totally wiped. When a seat finally opened up about halfway back to Sandy, we took it and fell dead asleep until our stop. Whew.

Easily the best concert of my life.

No hands down.

I loved U2 but now I officially love them EVEN. MORE.

and if it hadn't been for the drunk lady smoking and falling all over Cameron, I'd say that night was p.e.r.f.e.c.t.

Here Comes the Bride....

2011-05-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

This girl and this guy are getting married.

As you know, I've blogged about them before.

Of course, getting married means bridal showers and I was lucky enough to get to host Chuck's first bridal shower this past weekend :D (pre-ER visit, of course)

Here's the lovely chuck with her sweet-awesome spread :)

The food was all courtesy of SARAH'S AMAZING CATERING SKILLS

Call her, you know you wanna.

Seriously I should start charging folks to give me fabulous stuff and then advertise for them on my blog. I practically have a whole wedding right here for you: Melanie Parry photographer AND Sarah's delicious catering. What could be better??

I found this confetti at a cute little store next to a delicious bakery :)

See? I could do your decorations, Sarah could cater and Melanie could photograph. I'm feelin' the wedding planning vibe, man!

Seriously. Call me ;)

So game 1 consisted of a hamper (CLEAN) filled with random clothes items. Chuck was then blindfolded and instructed she had two minutes to dress for her wedding luncheon in the dark. bahaha!

Game 2 (no pictures, but it was hilarious) was writing classified ads for used household items and then inserting Scott's name instead of the item: Example: One used SCOTT. Incredibly beat up but still sturdy! May not be attractive but definitely better than nothing.

bahhahahaha

Game 3 was my personal favorite. Scott emailed me a list of random facts about him and we tested Chuck's trivia knowledge about her hubby-to-be. For every wrong answer, she got to put a stick of bubble gum in her mouth.

HA!

Meanwhile, the food was superb. I contributed sparkling raspberry lemonade and raspberry lemonade cheesecake

the rest was all Sarah.

*shameless plug here*

"F" for Chuck's future last name :)

Thanks so much Sarah!!! Chuck positively loved her shower :)

Well. That was an adventure.

2011-05-23T09:07:00.000-06:00

We spent our church block in the ER yesterday.

James was strapped into his stroller at the top of our porch steps in the morning when we were on our way to church and all of a sudden I turned around in time to see the entire stroller bouncing down three concrete steps and capsizing on the ground.

Instant. Panic.

Blood everywhere, screaming child, single most traumatic experience we've had so far with our dear James.

There was so much blood, we took him to the ER.

They check his teeth and nose and everything, even did a CT-Scan.

He's ok. THANK GOODNESS.

He split his frenulum (that stringy thingy that connects your top lip to your gums). But apparently that's no big deal. Most doctors snip a baby's frenulum sooner or later anyway.

So that was our Sunday. We were all exhausted. Bah.

James is going to be the death of me. I'm sure of it.

My poor sweet baby. Thank goodness we had Daddy there to help calm everyone down. I don't know what I would've done without him!

"I hope you feel small right now.."

2011-05-21T19:34:00.000-06:00

So there's this sitcom called "Coach". In one episode the character Coach is kind of a jerk and one of the characters says "I hope you feel really small now, Hayden".

I feel ultra small right now.

Here's what happened:
This girl borrowed my first formal I ever had and lost it.
Yes. She lost an entire dress.
Now, this girl is an international student getting ready to get married. She doesn't have much at all. So, even though I was ultra irritated, I told my mom to let her know I'd accept between $50 and $75 as payment even though the dress retailed for $175. Then I spent a good week telling a whole number of people all about this irresponsible girl who lost a WHOLE DRESS. And even had the audacity to think "She'd better have the money because I really loved that dress"...and things.
So her bridal shower was at my mom's today and I came to visit and my mother handed me a sealed envelope. Inside was a note that said, basically, "I'm really really really sorry I lost your dress. Please forgive me" and...$175. *sigh* I feel like a horrible person talking about this girl as if she were at worst a thief or at best an irresponsible nitwit because obviously she really didn't mean to lose my dress and must have scraped together from some unknown source the retail value of a dress my mom even bought at a discount.

But what's worse?

*ugggh*...I gave about half of it back. What if the poor girl had to sell plasma or something? I mean, seriously? I was expecting $50 and she gave me way too much. BUT now that I've given a wad of cash back to my mother to give to this girl...I'm remembering the unexpected doctor's bill we got in the mail and a whole number of things I could've done with that extra money. Is this considered buyer's remorse?

I feel all small and uncomfy inside.

Thanks for letting me post my confessional all over the internets...try not to judge me k? thanks.

I have decided..

2011-05-16T16:30:00.000-06:00

1. to keep my hair long. It DEFINITELY needs to be trimmed but especially after that photo shoot we had on Saturday I just can't bear to part with it! I'll be changing it up soon though, somehow, so stay tuned!

This haircut will have to wait till I'm pregnant again and want to be rid of all my hair. For now I'm kind of a fan. Actually...a lot of a fan. Is it vain to say I love my hair?

2. BEST TALENT SHOW IDEA EVER: me+cam+another couple or two doing "Peter Rabbit" from You're a Good Man Charlie Brown.

It'd be epic. Epically hilarious and fun! Now we just need singers to join us and a crazy-amazing pianist. Read? GO! ...also, we need a ward talent show. Hm.

3. I have the most wonderful/cutest/most hilarious boy. Today, I let him sit on our bed with my cell phone and he texted "Nfl" to his daddy. total boy thing to do right? :)

He kind of lights up my life.

4. In case you haven't already noticed, I gave our blog a makeover. I felt it was about time plus we had such fabulous photos to work with. *insert shameless plug for Melanie Parry here*

She's just SO. GOOD. actually maybe you guys shouldn't have her do your photos...because that way she can ALWAYS be available for us! ;)

5. Thanksgiving Point Gardens are officially the best place to have a photo scavenger hunt and photo scavenger hunts are officially the best part of any double date. We doubled with my cousin Cristy and her new squeeze, Mitch, this past Friday. I know, an ACTUAL date with ACTUAL people and -get this - My mom watched Baby Boy while we were gone! We didn't even take him!!! It was amazing. I love him you know, just sometimes I want my hubby all to myself. ;)

these two are cute together.

but we're romantic champs. ;)

Our Family Pictures May 2011

2011-05-15T11:42:00.001-06:00

The fabulous Melanie Parry of Flash Infinity Photography, LLC took our family photos yesterday at the Provo library. We had so much fun and think you should call her. We have her contact info. You know you want her to take your photos. She's way fun and obviously has a way to make kids smile because our Baby just LOOOVES her. Call her, you know you wanna.

Thought of You

2011-05-14T18:59:00.000-06:00

Wow I haven't posted since Tuesday. Is that a record? ;) No it's not. I'm sure you've been fine without me. Don't worry though, I'm back!

I am currently waiting in pins and needles for three things:
1. to find my computer cord so I can upload pictures
2. for my cousin to post her pictures of us on FB - we went on a photo scavenger hunt last night which was SUPER fun and beautiful since it was at the Gardens at Thanksgiving Point. Gaaaahhhgeous!
3. For my husband to come home and bring a CD of our family photo shoot with him. Our dear friend Melanie Parry (you should call her) did our photos this afternoon and I know they are fabulous and I want to share them.

Meanwhile remember the awesome google doodle the other day?

Google - Martha Graham from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

It was done by the same guy who did this:

Thought of You from Ryan J Woodward on Vimeo.

ultra fabulous AND from our own BYU! woot woot!

Also, I am spending saturday night all on my onesies tonight as my husband has a mistress.

Her name is film-making.

*sigh* the sacrifices we make...

Mother's Day Take Two!

2011-05-10T10:42:00.000-06:00

It is Mother's Day.

In El Salvador. ;)

And since I've spoken about the mothers in my life already I figured I'd make a mention here about what it's like to actually be a mother.

Hence the picture of my boy up there ^

I am so honored to be his Mama.

We had a great day yesterday where all I could think about was how cute and funny my baby is. He loves to do all sorts of entertaining things right now like:

*Watch his spit go down to the floor from his highchair/crib/any place above the floor

*Jump up and down while holding onto the railing of his crib.

*Learning that he is funny by giving a little nervous laugh every time I laugh at his antics

*Reading stories with Mama and letting her tell him stories even without pictures

*army crawling around the armchair

*Telling stories - he whispers to himself in his carseat all the time.

*overall, being ridiculously social, active and talkative!

It's a privilege to be a witness to this boy's life, really. I am so glad I have this chance and that I'm embracing it rather than stressing about the fact that he might kill himself diving off the chair (well, ok, there's some of that too). Do I still have ambitions and goals for myself as a person? Of course. But right now I'm just basking in the fact that I am certain this boy is the best part of me. :)

I love being a mother! I hope someday he will be able to say what I've said about my own mama: "She's the one who made me who I am and I'm so glad."

Crafting it UP.

2011-05-09T11:07:00.001-06:00

Sometimes...I amaze myself. ;)

I've been uber busy this past week making stuff and now that mother's day has passed and the gifts have been given, I can't wait to show off what I've been up to!

First, a look at my BFF Chuck's bridal shower invite. This is going to be the shower to end all showers. I have my magical friend Sarah helping me and can't wait!

Here's a look at the inside. Yes, that's cogsworth.

This may not have been SUPER ultra crafty but I still love the way our new Ansel Adams collage turned out. I had saved these photos from a calendar I had like three years ago because I love Ansel Adams pictures.

Top it all off with three silhouettes for Mother's Day for the win. By far my favorite. I'm getting one rigged up for myself as well :) I think the goal will be to have one of every child. Probably at various ages and stages. Once James is walking I want to make a full-body one of him standing up. ha. that might be a bit ambitious but still.

Anyway, I don't plan on letting up any time soon so stay tuned!! :)

ALSO
I am thinking of getting my hair cut. A lot.

Yes. I want to be a Disney Princess. ;) any thoughts?

My Mom

2011-05-08T18:32:00.000-06:00

(pictures to come when I'm at my own computer again. sorry)

My mom amazes me daily. I marvel at her life. I stare open-mouthed and wide-eyed at all she has accomplished, the people she has influenced and the family she has held together through thick, thin and grueling family roadtrips. She truly is amazing.

Some words to describe my mother:

No-nonsense
Straightforward
Strong
Fearless
To be respected
Hilarious
Fun
full of life

A funny story about my mom:
Once upon a time my mom drove a carpool of us high school kids to school every morning. One such morning, she was dropping us off when we all spotted a boy and girl...*ahem*....enjoying each other's company out in front of the school. (Don't get the wrong idea, they were just making out like crazy). My mom gasped, shocked, and said, "What is going on? He is choking that poor girl!"
We all then experienced a small awkward pause that was full of mumbles from me and my friends, "Yeah...choking...right..."
Then, a split second later, my mother let out another gasp and said, "Oh wait...I know what they're doing!"
It was hilarious. I love that story.

My mother doesn't follow this blog. Please don't tell her I'm spreading funny stories about her on the internet.
If my mom did read this blog, I'd tell her this:
Mama,
What can I say that won't sound hokey or cheesy? For years, I told people you expected so much of me because you expect so much of yourself. It's true but, contrary to my belief at age fifteen, it is a good thing. I have had far too many moments in my life where I have shamed and disappointed you. I hope that you can look at my life now that I'm a wife and mother myself and be proud of what I've done. I know if I raise James to be the person you raised me to be, I will be proud at the end. I love you very, very much. I can never thank you enough for all that you have done and continue to do for me.
Te amo,
Ceci

Mother's Day Tribute Day Uno

2011-05-06T10:37:00.001-06:00

So.

Mother's Day is Sunday (and this is where at least 40% of all males go "dang it!").

I thought it'd be nice to pay tribute to the mothers in my life. Starting with my Abuela.

A list of words to describe Abuela:

Generous

Loving

No-nonsense

full of grace

regal

incredible

funny

brave

When I'm 80 I hope I've aged as well as she has. Abuela knows who she is and OWNS it. I want to be like that too. She won't see this post (not because she's left us or anything. She just doesn't read my blog) but I if she were to read it, I'd say:

Abuela,

Stories of you never cease to amaze me but they are never a surprise. If I grow to be as wise, brave, caring and selfless as you I will consider myself a lucky person indeed. Thank you for caring for me and thank you for your patience as I grew into my appreciation for you. Know that you are loved, know that you are cherished and remember that you are a large part of who I am now. Your descendants all call you blessed and love you for everything you have given us. Thank you for setting the standard so high and believing that I can reach it.

Love,

Ceci

A funny story about Abuela:

So once upon a time Abuela lived in El Salvador with her family and worked in a butcher shop (or something like that, involving meat and butcher knives). There was a war on and the guerrilla fighters had a nasty habit of coming into shops with their machine guns and demanding money. One day, this very thing happened to Abuela. Instead of crying and giving all her hard-earned money to the thug demanding it, do you know what she did? She poked him with a butcher knife like six inches long and threatened to slice him up if he didn't get lost.

He did.

Wouldn't you?

You'd never guess that Abuela was like this meeting her now and for her sake, in case anybody tells her about this blog, you should all know this was before she was a peace-loving member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and she has since reformed and does not threaten people with knives anymore.

For any of my friends who haven't met Abuela yet, come with me to American Fork sometime to visit. She's certainly one of a kind!

I'm being Crafty!

2011-05-05T20:49:00.001-06:00

But I can't show you yet. pictures to come. Promise.

crrrrreeeeaaaakkkk also Aliens

2011-05-03T10:52:00.000-06:00

Oh my goodness!

INSANITY is just that. INSANE. haha! I wish I could say "I feel great!" or "I've already lost weight!" but 1) I feel great on the inside but on the outside I feel like an 82 year old with creaky joints and sore, sore muscles! Day 2 was just as grueling as day 1 but no worse and I've heard that days 3 & 4 are the worst of any workout program so I'm just gearing up for those! Apparently we're the totally fit family now because I'm working out with friends every morning and Cam has decided to wake up early with me so he can start training for a 10k! Not only that but *excuse me one second*

*ahem*
Dear alien abductors,
The little boy you left to replace my son only resembles him on the outside. One day I put a sweet, mellow, even-tempered little boy to bed and the next morning I found a rambunctious, active, climb on everything, try to crawl every two seconds, cannot sit still little rascal in his place! I'd like to know where my mellow snugglemuffin went, thanks.
Me.

Seriously. I don't know what I fed this child but he has been SO active! He's refusing to nap, even when I KNOW he is tired, and basically just wants to run around all. the. time. I'll probably end up dropping twice the weight because I'm fully getting at least two workouts in a day! haha! I guess there's just too much life for this little guy to live. I love him though. We are having loads and loads of fun! That and he sleeps incredibly deeply now because he just wears himself out partying so hard during the day.
He is adorable.

Also, here is an adorable video of me working on a mother's day present (it's a surprise. SHHHH) that you'll probably find cute.

Uh...also, CELEBRATE!

2011-05-02T08:29:00.000-06:00

Am I the only one in the whole world who is GREATLY disturbed by the "woot woot!" feeling spreading through the facebook world at the news that a certain terrorist is dead? Really?

I mean, I understand why it was NECESSARY to kill him but just because something is rendered necessary through the horrible, inhumane acts of violence by another doesn't mean the action is GOOD. Right? I'm sorry I just can't bring myself to be ultra glad men have to be rendered killers, again, in order to stop a greater evil. I mean, shouldn't we just feel sad that this man is responsible for the death of so many and that it took MORE VIOLENCE to make him stop? You know, man's inhumanity to man is a bad thing, right?

Well, at any rate. Today I am celebrating the fact that I survived the first day of the INSANITY workout with my friends Alex and Kellie! woot woot!!! Go team!

This side of 60 days I'm going to be SO. FIT. ;) Go fitness! yay!

Also, today is a day of celebration for two more reasons

1. My baby brother is 16 todayyy!!!! :) Happy birthday Jake! He's my best buddy (other than Cam, chuck and James, of course. They're all tied)

We're celebrating by having a party today at my parents' house! So exciting!

2) It is my 2nd anniversary with the sweetest man to ever take breath. I love him ever so much. I'm so glad we got married two years ago RIGHT NOW (yes we got married around 8 am) and can't wait to spend the rest of ever with him and our adorable family!

I like to think we're still so in love after 2 years :) Also, I'm so glad Cam has a different, more grown-up watch.

James is NINE months!

2011-04-29T17:36:00.000-06:00

I cannot believe my baby boy, my little snugglemuffin, my teeny tiny cutie-patootie of a boy is NINE. MONTHS. OLD.

We had his 9 month check up today. He is perfectly wonderfully healthy and average :) Nothing to worry about, the doctor, mommy and baby were all smiles as we nodded back and forth at each other.

"Everything's great?"
"everything's great!"
"Great!"
*this was our actual conversation. haha!

He is 19 lbs 11 oz, so basically 20 lbs and though his weight gain has dropped off a bit, it's ok because he's still healthy! He is 27 3/4 inches long! WOW! :) We have a tall boy! Developmentally everything is on track! He loves to scooch on the floor and build with his blocks and say sounds like "mama" and "dada" and "bagamalada". He is adorable and the light of our lives!

Also, he has a cute laugh. As shown in this video.

We love having our bitty boy (not so bitty anymore!) with us and as for us, life is GREAT. Cam's new position is going SO. WELL. and I'm just loving keeping my house clean for ONCE in my LIFE (yeah, I actually vacuum and do the dishes like every day now) and party planning! Stay tuned for more on that one.

All in all, this is totally a "Seriously, So Blessed!" post but it's ok because I'm sure some snarkiness will return sometime...for no I'm enjoying being too blessed to stress! :D

Dear Friends Who Are Twilight Fans,

2011-04-27T10:17:00.001-06:00

I apologize. I love you all dearly because loving somebody means loving all of them, even the silly parts.

Yes. I just called you silly for loving Twilight. But I still love you, remember? And you still love me because loving somebody means loving all of them, even the obnoxious parts.

HP > Twilight.

Always.

Seriously though, if you think about it in terms of messages sent to the young people who gobble up these books. Harry Potter might be about witches & magic and have darkness in it but in that story GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL. Hermione stays herself and becomes more and more secure with herself as the books go on. Bella? Bella becomes a MONSTER to PLEASE A MAN/MONSTER.

How twisted can you get?

Sorry for this short rant on the messages Twilight sends to young people. If I wrote a full post on it, it'd be far too long for anyone to read.

Let's just focus on teaching our girls to stay strong and be comfortable with who they are and to NEVER let any BOY determine their future, shall we?

Remember. You still love me. Right?

Was parenthood a good idea?

2011-04-25T18:08:00.000-06:00

So I know I keep talking about how I like kids. How being a mom is just so great...

...right now I don't like kids.

I'm being a bad person right now. You can judge me, it's ok.

Currently I'm waiting for some very very obnoxious eight-to-ten-year-olds to get out of the way so I can dye eggs with James the way I'd planned when my mom called to say my cousin Wendy was coming with her kids to dye Easter eggs and have a big family FHE. Little did I know My niece Sammy would invite her friends and little did my mother know they'd overstay their welcome so entirely. Not only that but they INVITED ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR FRIENDS TO COME within two seconds of my mom saying "Hey girls, we're going to be having Family Home Evening soon. Let me know when you're going home so I can give you your treat".

I told her to just send them home but she's far too nice for that.

Well, that and she's not irked that they've muscled in on her egg-dyeing time. Seriously. I want to dye eggs, is that so wrong?

*sigh* ok I don't hate kids. I don't even hate these kids. I just want them to go home so I can have an FHE in peace without someone pointing at my stomach and saying "You look like you still have a baby in there".

*grinds teeth*

I love children...I love children...I love children.............

*SMACK*
oops, sorry. ;)

He is risen

2011-04-24T12:23:00.001-06:00

I also know this is true and am delighted to testify of this on this Easter holiday.

Happy Easter everybody!

Hmm.

2011-04-23T21:47:00.001-06:00

So. This blog. I like it but I don't.

I hate things that make stay-at-home moms feel sheepish. I really do because even when "intellectual" women are "defending" stay-at-home moms, they're really putting us down. We all know it, guys, we're not as dumb as you obviously think we are.

but then I read THIS article. And found some great quotes from the actual writer of this blog:

1. Part of being a member of the Church and part of being a person of faith and a follower of Christ is always thinking of how you can get better. With a lot of young American Mormon women that quest can get out of hand quickly.
You know it's true. I'm so glad she identified that because it seems the whole reason for TAMN's existence is to point out the fact that we can't all be that perfect. It's not possible. at all. and instead of making it look like we're perfect, maybe our blogs should be spaces where we can actually show people who we are. I do that...right?

2. Of course I don’t think all Mormon women are like TAMN. In fact, I’d say most Mormon women are wonderfully far from TAMN. I know and respect tons of smart, capable, thoughtful, sharp, strong, non-materialistic, substantive, self-aware, kind, righteous, talented women who are nothing like TAMN. Except
maybe with their Diet Coke addictions and their love of reality TV. But you get my point.

Thanks, author of Seriously So Blessed. I feel A LOT better now because at least I know no real ill-will is meant. If something hurts my feelings, at least I can understand that it wasn't meant to be hurtful.

In the end, I know being a stay-at-home mom is the most important thing I can do after having my children. Why?
"no woman should ever feel the need to apologize or feel that her contribution is less significant because she is devoting her primary efforts to raising and nurturing children. Nothing could be more significant in our Father in Heaven’s plan." -- Quentin L. Cook, "LDS Women are Incredible!", April 2011

On that note, I refuse to apologize to or defend myself against the world. I love my life and I love what I do and I know and Cam knows and my Heavenly Father knows that being a stay-at-home mom was not giving up on my potential. Rather, I seem to be living up to it alright - not to brag or anything.

So. take that. whoever I'm addressing right now.

Also, HAPPY EASTER. :) That post will come soon enough.

BIRTHDAYS!

2011-04-22T11:19:00.000-06:00

Here are some highlights from Cam's birthday dinner at my parents' house with our fam and buds. We're so glad some of our friends could take a break from Provo and come! :) Apologies for: 1) the bad camera-work. I forgot I was drunk when I shot all these videos (JUST KIDDING) 2) the length. We like to pretend you care to watch every single moment of James eating a cupcake for the first time. What? You don't?

Anyhow, Cameron's birthday didn't start until Saturday afternoon because I had a final. We went to Smith's and bought a special birthday treat (5 lbs of gummy bears) and redboxed The Last Aiirbender. Then we had his birthday dinner at home with Kara (Jordan came later), Monica & Ammon and the Jones and Parker families (who happened to be out in the quad where we decided to eat dinner). Cam requested that I make tacos and home-made oreos for his birthday. The man could've had ANYTHING and he requested tacos! ha. He makes me laugh. Anyway, the home-made oreos were vanilla instead of chocolate cookies and strawberry frosting instead of cream cheese. We did a mix of vanilla and strawberry frostings and I think they turned out to be a big hit! Sunday we had a fun time at Church and then went to my parents' house for the BIG birthday dinner. You can see what we ate on the video, the cupcakes were ordered from the Cocoa Bean and were DELICIOUS! and Cam opened his presents while we were there! He got: The Pursuit of Happyness (thanks Sam and Will!) a cute little flowery tool set ;) bahaha, our friends Jessica and Darrell are just hilarious like that; a shirt and a tie from my cousins, some clothes for James. ;) oh parenthood; and I gave him a sticker family to put on our car and a plate with James' footprints on it. We painted it at Color Me Mine while he was at work. (pictures to come) The BIG hit was my parents' gift though: Concert tickets to Owl City! Woot! We saw them last year and Cam is more than a little psyched to see them again in July. Thanks Mama and Papa.

We also had the chance to go to James' first friends birthday party! Benjamin, Luke and Thomas all turn one on the same day so their moms gave them a combined birthday party. It was adorable. We gave them each a book "On the Night You Were Born". Personally, I think this will be the classic birthday gift from us to all our friends who turn 1 because it's a super special book that I think helps commemorate what a big deal being born is! ...That didn't come out right. Basically, this book is a necessity for any children's book, library. I like the idea of giving a first birthday present that won't be put away for years to come because the first birthday is a really big deal for the baby AND the parents.

This is why we gave the mommies something too. To say good job for surviving the first year! :)

Sorry this post was so rambly. Hopefully you get a kick out of SOMETHING on the video and wish me luck because now I am going to do dishes! (and read some more.)

Love to everybody :)

Psssst...

2011-04-21T08:45:00.000-06:00

Have you checked out Ree Drummond - Pioneer Woman?

No?

Well you should. She has a cookbook out. It looks like this:

I waaaaaannnnnnttttttt it sooooooooooooooooooo bad.

She also has a novel out. It looks like this:

Actually it's her own love story about how she fell in love with her husband.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

Am I a poser if I want to try that also?

I think we have a good story.

Obviously not a black heels to tractor wheels type story because, seriously?, I can't see me marrying a cowboy. EVER. but ours is more of a Romeo & Juliet-esque type story only we don't die.

I downloaded this book on my Kindle last night. I LOVE having a kindle. And I definitely needed a pick-me-up after such a rough evening yesterday (bah, don't ask). Hopefully today will be better.

Actually, it will. because I have my Kindle which has this book and James is sleeping in so far.

I'm going to go do dishes now and see how much reading I can get in.

PS - Can somebody come play with me? Two days out of school and I'm already starting my day off with the dread of spending yet. another. day. by myself (with James, the little cuite-patootie) at home.

There are only so many errands to go on during the day!

PPS - Don't get me wrong, I'm HUGELY glad to be done with school for the summer and I will definitely get into a groove as time goes on...I just happen to wanna play today!

OHMYGOSH.

2011-04-20T11:51:00.000-06:00

Sorry about the weird subtitle thing telling you to visit pixtiny.com. Don't do it. Not like i have but I tend to not trust those things. Anyway.

OHMYGOSH. Can please please please pretty please be part of an amazing gosple choir? Please?

What?

I haven't got the soul?

I have no idea what you're talking about. I've got plenty of soul!

*ahem*

meanwhile check this one out - from the same episode

*sigh* so. great.

Meanwhile
SCHOOL IS OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so glad I don't have to think about school for the next few months. It'll be a welcome respite I can tell you! Today we're going to go meet up with Cam for lunch then get some little presents for some friends who are turning 1! It's James' first birthday party! :D Also, I've discovered I lost my camera. :( but we have Cameron's flip camera so hopefully video is okay with everyone.

Also, yay for some sunshine in our lives! Cam has a new position at Vivint, we're hoping it works out well :) and thanks for being followers. I appreciate anybody who reads this today. Hopefully you feel validated.

*sorry for the Youtube craziness. I'm going nuts without any photos to post!*

List

2011-04-18T10:59:00.000-06:00

Some thoughts for today. Videos from Cam's birthday weekend will post soon.

1. I have this friend, Sarah, who wrote an AWESOME BLOG POST. Please don't stalk her ok? I'm sharing the post because I feel like it's super important for every woman to read. Just this morning I was planning to post about my new exercise plan now that school's done and writing about how I hope to be fit and lost some extra material around my belly this summer. Then I read Sarah's post. And since I can't post a comment (dumb internet), I thought I'd list what I'm good at here:

I'm a good cook. :) I'm still learning but I'm working at it!
I'm getting better at organizing
I'm good at making Baby laugh
I'm a good listener
I try to be a good friend

Thanks for the post Sarah! Thanks for the encouragement!

2. Baby said "DaDa" for the first time Saturday morning. Best birthday treat for his proud Daddy! :)

3. My house is a mess but I'm currently working on a plan to get it clean while listening to Teen Mom 2 (don't judge me because I like reality TV)

4. School is pretty much over. I have one final to take today - it'll take probably about 45 minutes, maybe an hour and then I have my 20 minute oral exam for Italian tomorrow. Let life as a stay-at-home mom begin!! [otherwise known as life taking care of James and planning a bridal shower and his first birthday party]

cough

2011-04-17T22:51:00.000-06:00

Ever been in a room of people who are on the opposite side of the political spectrum from you but they don't know you are? They just kinda assume that you agree too because everybody does?

ha. yeah. awkward.

*cough*

WOW.

2011-04-16T15:19:00.000-06:00

I had no idea I could do that.

Ready for my week?

MONDAY: stressstressstressstress and then Stay up until 2:30 am completing homework.

TUESDAY: Wake up at 7 Last day of class! Turn everything in, try to stay hydrated and well-fed but still manage to get a blaring migraine due to the night's struggles. Collapse in a stressed-out exhausted heap at 8:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY: spend all day stressing. Stay up till 12:30 writing papers

THURSDAY: spend all day stressing. field trip with Baby. Stay up till 12:30 writing (again)

FRIDAY: Turn in first final paper. Present said paper while eating breakfast at Prof. Cronin's house. Spend the rest of the day stressing. Ward barbecue. Stay up until 11:30 writing (still)

SATURDAY: wake up at 4:00 am (it was supposed to be 1, then 3, then finally 4). FINISH huge paper. Put together portfolio, email portfolio to self. Get Baby & Cam up and fed breakfast. assemble lunch ingredients for final today. Throw it in the oven. Send Cam to campus to print portfolio. hyperventilate when huge research paper doesn't send the first time. Go to final. Turn in portfolio. eat lunch. store.

Did I mention that today is CAMERON'S BIRTHDAY? Yes The saint I am married to was fully ok with the fact that on his birthday I was a freakazoid stresscase who was already out of bed when he woke up and then abandoned him until about half an hour ago. I love him.

Cam is 26 today and I will report on awesome birthday goings-on later this weekend. We have quite the line-up :D Dinner with some friends & siblings today then tomorrow is the BIG party with family and friends. Plus, his presents rock.

Dear Cam,
I love you. I am so glad you were born 26 years ago today because the world would not be complete without your smile, your eyes and your saintly disposition (ha). ;) You know I love you, I'll never get tired of telling you I love you and thanks ever so much for not getting tired of me. Even when I'm a freakazoid stresscase of a person.

You are wonderful.

Love,
Me

Cam on his birthday at Gloria's last year.

That's it.

2011-04-15T21:02:00.002-06:00

I'm dropping out.

I'm NOT going to finish this paper or show up to my finals.

Nope. I'm not.

Okay not really.

but right now I wish I had the guts to just drop out.

It begins (and ends)

2011-04-11T21:17:00.000-06:00

Tonight is the night.

Tonight is the night where I get most EVERYTHING (except for two major papers) done.

DONE.

Like, for the SEMESTER.

Really, I only have 5 things on my list *wink*

I can do it.

No bed until I'm done! yeah!

Will report again once I am through.

Love,
Me

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

2011-04-11T11:05:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited.

I'm full-on stoked :)

But I can't tell you whyyy-y... :D

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

You'll love it.

I promise.

Okay maybe you won't but I will.

Stay tuned.

When Pigs Fly or otherwise titled Why I Took on My Husband's Name When I Got Married

2011-04-09T15:18:00.000-06:00

I never realized why taking a man's name when you marry him would be a big deal until I actually thought about it. funny how that works.

One of my friends kind of wishes she had figured out a way to keep her maiden name.

One did. Like, actually had the guts to say "I like my name, thanks. Let's get married but I'd rather just keep it."

And get this.

Her husband was okay with that. wow. props to her right?

Another one of my friends has a mom who hyphenated her name. When you say it out loud it sounds super poetic and cool.

I took on my husband's name. It's Wilbur, hence the pig reference in the title of this post. And even after thinking about it I'm going to keep it that way.

Why? Well I have a few reasons.

1. I was not happy with my family when we got married so as soon as I could, I dropped their name in hopes that maybe it would make me feel better. It didn't. But that was a long time ago and things are fine now. This isn't a very good reason but it was one I had about two years back when I changed my name so I figured, in the interest of full disclosure, I would list it here.

2. I don't consider taking my husband's name to equal being taken into his extended family. As far as i'm concerned when I took on the name Wilbur I was saying to Cam, "Hey. We've taken this big step into committing ourselves to each other for, oh I don't know, eternity. We're going to have the same last name to show everybody that we are now on the same team." I feel good about that. The day I became a Wilbur is the day Cameron kind of became a "new Wilbur". No longer a piece of his parent's puzzle but the other half to our very own. So, mercifully, I don't have a problem leaving my own family to dwell with my husband's because that never happened. We both, Cam and I, left our families of origin and made our very own separate entity where we all share the same name because we're all part of the same family. It's not like all people with the last name of Smith have Sunday dinner together. does that make sense? New name, may have been Cam's original one, but I'm in no way an addition to that original family. We're our own separate annex. I feel like I'm rambling here.

3. Some might ask (given #2) "why not hyphenate your name or make a new one for you both?" that's a great question. Also a great option. If that works for you I love it. For me...what on earth was I supposed to do with Sorensen and Wilbur? Hyphenating would be WAY too long and...well once somebody comes up with a pretty combination of those two please let me know. I will gladly take them into consideration.

4. We all know it's pretty much a standard thing here even if the parents have different last names for the child to take on its father's name. I wasn't about to have a different last name than my husband and my kids. Call it personal preference but I just like everything to be uniform, thanks. I have a friend who is the single mom of an 11 year old. She kept her married name. Can you believe it? why did she? Well because if she and Ammon were going to be on their own together they should share a last name. At least, that's what she said when I asked her (note: we are very good friends and I didn't ask this until we knew them really well. Don't think I'm some uncivilized person or anything). I liked that. Once again, we're all on the same team here.

5. When asked his thoughts, Cam said something basically to the effect of "If the woman expects the man to pursue her, take her on dates, ask her parents permission for her hand and then give her a big fat diamond as an enticement to marry him. The least she can do is take his last name." Now before all of my feminist friends go up in arms against my poor dear, I asked him "So what if the woman proposes? Can she keep her last name then?" He thought for a second and said "Sure. Why not? If she's willing to kind of switch roles like that then by all means keep your name." Basically what he's trying to say is if you're going to be a feminist, don't be wishy-washy. If you wanna be equal then don't expect to be treated like a superior. I think that's fair of him because a lot of women gutsy enough and possessing of the chutzpah it takes to keep their maiden names don't expect to be treated with the same chivalry that existed a hundred years ago.

At any rate, do whatever you feel and thanks to those who have discussed this issue and given me an inside look at why keeping your maiden name is a good idea. I hope you are not offended and I hope this has given you further clarity on why some women would just as soon take on their husband's name.

Good night and good luck.

A Story...

2011-04-08T22:45:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time...

I felt like a horrible mother if I ever let Baby cry for more than, oh I don't know, thirty seconds. Cam would try to convince me that crying it out was good for him. My mother would tell me in the oh-so-ominous, "I'm going to say I told you so when you don't listen to me" tone that if he didn't learn to comfort himself now then he never would and if I wasn't training him now then he was training me and what kind of message is that for a kid to learn? And yet I always felt that if I just let him cry then I was teaching him that no one would ever come to his aid. Not Mama, not Daddy, no one. So go ahead and cry little one because nobody's going to help you or hold you and love you. Ever.

And then do you know what happened?

James grew up. And stopped needing to nurse at night because, let's face it, big boys don't require their Mamas rocking them completely to sleep at naptime and nursing them in the middle of the night just because they heard something or twitched enough to wake themselves up. Nope. James decided he was a big boy and all he needed was a blankie or two and he'd be fine.

He also learned to turn over on his tummy which helped the calming down idea a lot.

And so tonight when he randomly woke up three hours into bedtime and was crying and carrying on like Mama had abandoned him I snuck into his room, turned on his lovely little mobile that plays Bach and Mozart (yes, I'm one of THOSE parents) and...walked out, closing the door behind me.

He was asleep in no more than five minutes.

My BFF Chuck

2011-04-07T13:16:00.000-06:00

Today I got to have a nice long visit with this girl

Her name is Chuck and she is my BFF.

We talked about a lot of stuff. Mostly it had to do with GETTING MARRIED because I've done that and Chuck will be doing that this June. She had some questions I had LOTS of answers. ;) Hopefully I was as helpful as I was talkative because I talked a lot.

I've never had a sister but I feel like a couple friends in my life have made up for that.

Chuck is one of them. Obviously. So is my friend Kristina (the one who looks more like me in the photo).

Soon Chuck and I will have a real BFF day in which we watch Elizabethtown and eat yummy things and talk about whatever pops into our head and take funny pictures.

Yes. Funny pictures are a must.

Dear Chuck,

Thanks for being my BFF even after I got married and had a little man. I will still think you are cool even after you are married and (someday, no pressure) have babies too.

And we'll always have the twin red lexuses that say "Chuck and Cindy". ;)

Lovin' Life and Lovin' Each Other 24/7

Now get ready for Chuck and Scott: THE WEDDING!

Oh dear...

2011-04-05T13:26:00.000-06:00

So.

This week is going TONS better than I thought it would!
(see Sarah, no stressing! ;) )

My dear friend, Sarah, who is the nutritious gourmet amazon goddess supreme made us dinner last night to give me "one less thing to worry about" this week. Such a dear! And then I actually sat down and got MORE THAN HALFWAY through that paper. Seriously. I mean, right now we're not focusing on the fact that it's supposed to be 20 pages and I probably have about 15 of material BUT it is MORE than halfway done AND I used (ready for this) zero filler! ZERO! I'm actually, coherently organizing and expressing myself in RESEARCH PAPER FORM.

Not only this but I had a consultation with my professor today. he told me and I quote "This is one fascinating topic. My recommendation is to narrow your focus and plan on doing this on, if not your capstone, a master's thesis. You could do one great thesis on this."

I was elated!

And then I discovered this meant I actually WANT to do a Master's...the main reason why I said no to a master's degree (other than CRAZY life) was that I didn't want to mess with a thesis.

But now I do.

In fact, if there were a way to just do the thesis and not have to do the coursework, I'd FULLY be amenable to that...

oh dear.

It's just so enticing!

Just when I was getting ready to be DONE for GOOD.

I've got a hankering for a thesis.
who's got two thumbs and is a total glutton for punishment?

THIS GIRL!! ;)

anyway, thanks to everyone (Cam, Sarah, James) for putting up with my crazy freaking-out ness this week. I can tell it's going to be so much better and it's only Tuesday!

"No problem...just dial H-E-double hockey sticks and I'll answer!"

2011-04-04T08:44:00.001-06:00

So.
Today is the dawning of the WORST two weeks I will EVER have in LIFE up to this point in terms of paper writing and exam studying. I will basically have no life. Ever. until after 6 pm on the 19th of april. I tried very, very hard not to fall behind.

Guess what?

I am very very very behind.

And it is causing me to freak out. i.e. I woke up this morning ready to hyperventilate, puke and run away all at the same time. This religion paper is messing with my mind, guys. Who needs LSD when you can just have a DEADLINE hanging over your head? Same thing happens: you get paranoid, you go crazy, you hallucinate...etc.
So in this (again) farewell to you, my friends. I have one thing to say:

I. AM. FUH-REAKING OUT.

I'm not even going to list everything I have to do for you. because it'll be too overwhelming and long.
There are at least 15 items on that list. Just fyi.
And this morning when I was ready to run away, puke and faint and cry and run away all at the same time
I watched this

and I stopped wanting to puke.

Maybe I can handle these next two weeks after all.

WTF?!

2011-04-03T13:04:00.000-06:00

That's "What the Frick" to those who are wondering... ;)

Ok seriously. April doesn't equal SNOW, Mother Nature! What on EARTH? I woke up this morning and for a split second I still thought I was dreaming. Boo. Yesterday was AMAZING weather and tomorrow is supposed to be back to 55 so what's with this random reminder that winter still might be lingering? We don't need it. Go away snow!

*I never thought I'd EVER say that, but mark my words: come November I'm going to be begging for the snow to come back. I love snow, but I get tired of it after a while.

Conference has been amazing :) I love it.

*end transmission*

This. Weather.

2011-04-01T14:00:00.001-06:00

Is FAR too lovely to not be enjoyed! Peace out peeps, I'm headed to the sunshine! :D

Hehe

2011-03-31T11:23:00.000-06:00

ohmygoodness. This video will make your day. I know it did for me! I can't help but smile when I watch it.

I also can't help but smile when I look out the window. I am FULLY eating lunch outside today and taking James out as much as possible tomorrow.

The boy next to me in the library must have allergy issues because I can hear him snort/swallowing his snot all the way from here every thirty seconds. Poor soul but...gross.

Please don't think me a horrible person because I judge someone for snort/swallowing their snot.

Also, I've noticed I judge people pretty much all the time. It's an awful habit. I'm hoping I'll grow out of it. ;)

Seriously though. Hypocrite alert today. I realized that I sooo often think to myself "geez, that person is SO close-minded/judgemental/stupid for thinking what they do"...little do I know that just by saying that in my head I am exactly the same way. It stops now! Along with all sugar consumption!

I'm obviously feeling like I can take on the world today. Must be the weather.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T = N-U-T-R-I-T-I-O-N

2011-03-29T21:08:00.000-06:00

So I've decided something.
It happened today when I wore a certain shirt and realized I MUST have gained weight since January. I'm still not to preggo levels but seriously? Embarrassing.
And so, instead of panicking and abstaining from anything or getting depressed and eating my feelings, like I usually do, I'm going to take action in a different way.

No, my goal is not to lose weight. We don't own a scale for a reason here in the Wilbur home. It's called young girls are (I think) 40% more likely to develop an eating disorder if there is a scale present in the home and their moms are freaking out over it. I don't have a daughter but eating disorders are ALSO increasing at alarming rates in young men. No serious body issues here if I can help it!

So here's the plan:
EXERCISE:
I hate the very idea of "working out". Seriously. I think I am the most "work-out"/exercise averse person ever to be born. Therefore, I will NOT "work out" or "exercise". I'm just going to take James out for a walk every day I'm at home. I haven't decided what to do in the event of bad weather but it'll probably just be to stay on my feet for two hours together instead of walking briskly to the temple and back for forty-five minutes every afternoon. Not too hard right? that's what I thought.

NUTRITION:
Here's a list of things we will NOT buy or be making for ourselves: foods with too much saturated/trans fat (i.e. ramen, helpers, etc), baked goods of any kind, anything that requires more than 1 tbsp of butter, foods high in sodium, fruit juice, carbonation, candy, pasta/bread made of white flour

A list of things we will be consuming more of: water, vegetables, fruit (for sweet tooth cravings), one box of mac & cheese on Sundays (it's a tradition), meat as lean as we can find, fish and cheese (in moderation), whole wheat (pasta, bread, etc).

EXCEPTIONS:
are key in making this not feel like a "diet" (ugh, such a horrendously frightening term): birthdays/holidays, I will certainly buy sweet things to give to others, cereal for breakfast, and I certainly won't insult anyone who is kind enough to bring us treats by saying I won't eat it.

So there you have it. I'm making this public just so I can have a place to refer to AND to have a bit of accountability. I'll probably post an update or two in the coming months while I'm at home during the summer so be ready for that. I'm just glad I've found a way to respect my body without feeling like I'm denying it of all tasty treats! This way I'm just being healthy and taking care of myself, not forcing myself to hit a certain weight goal or fit into a certain jean size! not like any of that is bad, I just don't work well that way, personally.

Words of Wisdom from my ENG 396 professor's colleague's office door

2011-03-24T18:19:00.002-06:00

KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.

What I could be doing...

2011-03-22T11:49:00.000-06:00

...what I could be doing right now is scrambling to get 5 pages worth of background info ready to turn in which I forgot to get ready last night. My paper is NOT going where I wanted it to go but I think I have a better thesis so I'm going to just explain things and hope my professor will have mercy on me. But I'm going to fix this. I will. After today, I have a plan. And having a plan is the first step to incredible success!

As such, this blog will be on hiatus for three weeks. I'm sorry. I know you'll miss me terribly. I reserve the right to log on and vent or show off some pictures but for the most part I am breaking myself away from all social media in order to make success out of this semester.

I love you all! see you in three weeks!

Pictures and Prayers

2011-03-20T20:43:00.000-06:00

Our boy is growing up and learning so many new things! I love taking pictures of him and hopefully we'll be able to take family pictures next month for Cam's birthday :)

I'm all about family pics in case you didn't know.

also
FRICKIN FROCKIN CONGRATULATIONS to my dearest friends Chuck and her man (Chuck is my dearest friend...her man so happens to have become part of a double package of awesomeness)

This happy couple is officially ENGAGED! I'm so so so excited to finally have my BFF married!! I'm so glad she has found her true love at last.

...you know, because 21 is SO OLD to be married. ;)

I forget how young we really are sometimes.

Also, nobody panic

but we are requesting your prayers on our behalf

NOTHING IS WRONG

We just applied for a really super fabulous job

and we really

really

really want it!

So maybe if we get a team of folks praying for us, we'll get it? That's how it works, right? ;)

no really though keep fingers crossed and send some good mojo our way!

whew

2011-03-18T18:30:00.000-06:00

I am feeling much less snarkastic today. I appreciate your patience as I battle through my pet peeves with the world. If you feel like it's just too much, I don't blame you. Goodbye forever.

(a picture of Baby for your viewing pleasure)

Meanwhile, I am excited.
1. My BFF Chuck may or may not have great news coming. Which is great news in and of itself.
2. I get to share pictures with you all either later tonight or tomorrow because I FINALLY have my camera and it's upload cord together in the same place!
3. I am feeling much better. Why? BECAUSE I CAN TAKE NYQUIL. James isn't nursing at night anymore and I figure 8 hours is plenty of time for it to exeunt my system before giving him milk so I get to sleep at night even if I might have the sniffles.
4. Baby has the sniffles but they don't seem bad at all which is more than I can say for some neighbor kids. Here's knocking on wood that he's inherited Cam's immune system!
5. Harry Potter weekend on ABC family. 'nuff said.
6. I GET TO SEE TANGLED TONIGHT.

Uber stoked for that last one! I can't wait to be the last person in the universe to see what's supposed to be an awesome movie! That, and we're going with the sibs Kara and Jordan. Here's hoping for some more date nights with our next-door-neighbors/siblings to come!

Ok, You know WHAT?

2011-03-17T12:07:00.001-06:00

I am again feeling snarky today.

I think it's because I'm getting a cold. I always seem to be extra snarky when I'm sick. Anyway, I feel I should give you all fair warning because this post is snarky. And sarcastic.

This post is snarkastic.

Do you know what I am sick, sick, sick (and when I am not sick, TIRED) of? Women deciding it's okay to judge each other or be all snarky at each other for dumb reasons - i.e. the working mom vs. stay-at-home mom debate. I mean, SERIOUSLY? Since when is it ok to make judgment calls on someone else's life choices?!

Dear Stay-at-Home moms,
Please stop being so snarky to the working moms. They are feeling very overwhelmed right now, you should know the feeling, I think. It's not like you've spent decades roaring at the "well, what do YOU do all day?" question or anything. Please, even if you feel like you NEED to validate your existence by shouting in your front yard that you stay at home AND IT'S OKAY. Try to take it down a couple notches. It may be hard, but I know you can do it. You're saints after all, aren't you? Cleaning poop and doing laundry the way you do all day. every day. And I know that you really are an educated human being because you can't go a day without pointing it out, so let's put that degree to work shall we? Let's rise above the petty arguments that you can't do anything better or gave up on your education or some such nonsense, let's be secure with ourselves as women and mothers and know that our work of raising home and children in a chaotic world is one that is ultra important despite what others might think/say!
Love,
Me.
PS - I happen to know that a good 99.9% of you don't actually have a problem with working mothers.

Dear Working Mothers,
Your superior intellect and breeding should show you that arguing with the stay-at-home moms is no good. Let them have their way. Imagine being trapped in a house all day, every day with screaming children and no break. Imagine resorting to things like crafting and baking just to while away the hours! Oh the monotony! Since you are modern women, you should know that every woman can do whatever she pleases. It's what you're doing! You remind us day in and day out that you are still mothers but that you have embraced the modernity of the feminist movement in full! You wear black pumps, you fight for your right to make just as much money as every man in your office AND you come home to make dinner and put the kids to bed at night! Those SAH moms don't know what stress is until they've walked a mile in your shoes! Put women's lib on the map, ladies! It's not like you spend all your spare time on blogs shouting that you are a mom who needs to get out AND IT'S OKAY. Or that you have your own little clubs discussing things like *gasp* having more children or pfffff, imagine giving up GRAD school for kids. You know the women who do that type of thing are beneath you so don't get down on their level. You are a totally fit mother no matter what they think AND you have a life outside of your family! Way to be!
Love,
Me
PS - I happen to know that the majority of you don't really mind that some women stay at home while you do something you love.

So now that both groups have gotten incredibly snarkastic letters, do you feel better ladies? Hm? Don't you feel validated and ready to take on the world and shout I AM A MOTHER AND IT'S OKAY! ?

No?

Ohh....that's right. Because tearing each other down DOESN'T make you feel better does it? Knocking working moms or pressuring women to enter the workforce because you want to feel validated in doing so DOESN'T work, does it? Hm. Interesting...

I am ultra sick and tired of both sides of this argument. I recently read a book where one character says to another: "This is the United States of America, Elizabeth. You can do whatever you damn well please."

that is exactly how I feel.

I go to school and so many people tell me, "Good for you! Way to stick to that!" and I think why on earth WOULDN'T I? My education is important to me and I have felt very strongly about staying in school and getting my degree. It's important to ME and it is great for MY FAMILY. It's what worked out. But then I talk about graduation and people ask me "what about grad school?" or "so what are you going to do?" and I really want to scream at them IS IT SO WRONG FOR ME TO ACTUALLY WANT TO STAY AT HOME? This is how it's worked for me: I'm finishing my university education and am proud to say I pulled the whole full-time Mom AND full-time student gig but after that I actually WANT to be done. Why? Because, personally, I'm not willing to sacrifice time with my kid to pursue anything else. I'll have plenty to keep me busy and anytime I want to go back to school or pursue some kind of career, I probably will but I am NOT staying at home simply because I'm unqualified to do anything else.

This is the United States of America, ladies. You can do whatever you darn well please and you DON'T have to be so vocal about how OKAY your choice is and how lame the other choice is. How about you just go about your lives and let me go about mine?

headdesk

2011-03-15T13:33:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I wish I felt THIS way all the time. Normally I'm right there with ya, NieNie. I love keeping house. I love feeling productive and having a warm, clean and comfy home. I love to cook. Yesterday I made a raspberry lemon cheesecake for our joint FHE with our friends Rob and Nicky and I was very happy with how it turned out. :) I will often catch myself saying things like "I never thought I 'd love keeping house this much".

But on the other hand, I have days like today where my professor very kindly pointed out that my research paper is a blackhole of information not really going anywhere and I'm running late for everything and my eye is doing something funky so I look like I'm high when I most certainly AM NOT and I'm remembering all sorts of house-related things I needed to get done that won't get done until tomorrow and overall I am feeling "blah". I am thinking a citrus-y soda and a rousing period of Women's Lit should put me right. As will reading in the sunshine and letting my hair down.

At least I certainly hope that works because if it doesn't I've got one LONG day ahead of me!

ohmygosh. A girl somewhere in the library just said "I don't even know what time I woke up today, what? like noon? Ugh. I'm still sooo tired." I think I might bean her in the head with my cell phone now. WTH (what. the. heck.) I don't think I've ever slept in till noon...EVER. Cynicism is starting to infect my being. I'd better get that soda now.

Important

2011-03-14T14:44:00.000-06:00

There is nothing better than a Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddle from McDonald's. Don't even try to convince me otherwise.

I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown this morning. My first night ever letting James cry himself to sleep + major homework load + the last 4 weeks of the semester = A desperate run to McDonald's to use a coupon we already had while going grocery shopping. Cam took a half day with some residual PTO (can I just say I LOVE that he has a job that gives him that?!) and went grocery shopping with me and helped me pick our home while James napped when we got home. It was such a relief to just get some things done and know that no matter what happens, there are only 4 weeks left and I can just be a mom for a whole SUMMER before my last year in school.

As for the crying-it-out thing...I'm not sure it's for me. Unless I plug in my iPod and listen to soothing tunes all night plus I'm pretty sure James just gets so worked up he can't sleep when he screams like that. Ugh. Torture. Any tips on dealing with this cry-it-out phase? I know he's not hungry when he wakes up but I can't stand to listen to him scream like he's dying. He might be getting big but he's still my baby! ACK.

In other news, Kaaterskill Falls is a very very good book. If we read that for my Relief Society's book group, I might actually go.

Exhausted

2011-03-12T21:51:00.001-07:00

I didn't take ANY photos.

I'm sorry.

But we saw about a boatload of old friends today at the temple because Kara and Jordan got married! That's right. Married. Hitched. Kissed their single-ness goodbye and made an honest wo/man out of each other! ;)

Congrats to them. Eternity is a wonderful prospect when you're spending it with your true love!

And guess what!

They are moving in next door. To us.

Like, literally next door/across the way from us. We'll be in the same ward and our parking spots are even next to each other. Cam is UBER stoked to have his bro. so close and I'm looking forward to getting to know our new sis-in-law! Cam has his first sister-in-law and the Wilbur fam finally get to claim Kara as their own! I've never had a sister. Kara comes from a family of almost ALL sisters. She may not need another sister but hopefully she's looking forward to having a new good friend. :) We can't wait to spend this fun time of Rabbit Hutches living with our newlywed sibs!

It's also funny to think I'm a year younger than them but have been married for nearly TWO years more. Whoa.

Although I didn't take any photos, Cam shot a few videos so I'll probably post those sometime soon. In the meantime, however, I am exhausted and done with life for now. We're looking forward to spending time with friends/fam tomorrow!

ACK! or otherwise titled Oh Help!

2011-03-10T12:53:00.000-07:00

Cam and I have been discussing our options for the future.

OH HELP!

I am officially graduating August, 2012!! The END is finally not even a year and a half away! And not just "the end" like I'm taking a big long summer break end or "the end" like that's it I'm dropping out because I can't take this anymore end but the "I have a frickin frockin BACHELOR'S DEGREE" end!

AAACK!

Now normally I'm sure you'd all expect me to be BEYOND stoked since I think I spend half of my time on here bragging about my two men and the other half complaining about school but now that the light is at the end of the tunnel, I look past it and see....

NOTHING

It's just like Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride who has no idea what to do with himself once he kills the six fingered man. Now that I've spent these four long (and I mean LONG) years working towards this remarkably expensive piece of paper...what do I do after I get it?The great gaping void of my life after school kind of makes me want to curl up in a corner and whimper "don't make me go out there. Please don't make me go out there". But that would be silly.

The answer to this question, what on earth am I going to do with myself once my education is COMPLETE?! may not be as thought-out as I'd like but I do know a few things:

1. I will be this boy's Mama FULL-TIME. No more leaving him with somebody while I go to class, no more trying to juggle him and housework and homework all at the same time. no. I will just get to be Mama Ceci 24/7 without the adjunct Student Ceci to get in the way.

2. We'll more than likely be staying here. Not like it's any of your business but we have some plans in the works that would probably keep us in the greater metropolitan/suburban area between SLC and Provo for at least two more years after I graduate.

3. It will be exciting. Because life is never boring in the Wilbur home!

and so with that in mind I can securely say that after 1 relaxing summer vacazione, 15 credits in the fall, 12 in the winter, 9 in the spring and 6 in the summer - I, Cecilia Lorena Wilbur, will be GRADUATED with a BACHELOR'S DEGREE in English Lit.

Oh help! I'm GRADUATING?!