bReTT . RaCHeL . WeSToN

Say Cheese

2012-02-12T16:22:00.001-07:00

Back in NOVEMBER we had some family pics taken by this amazing man. He also took some solo pics of Weston for his one yr pics. The end results were...well...amazing. Take a look if you don't believe me. Here's just a SLIGHT GLIMPSE into the limitless cuteness...

So many THANKS go out to Ace Fanning, the mastermind behind the camera.

January is over...

2012-02-08T23:11:00.001-07:00

...and I am back. This year January seemed to be just as, or even MORE, busy than December! Which means the blog gets put on the back burner...even though one of my New Year Resolutions was to blog more. Ironic, no? Nonetheless, February is here, so lets get back to blogging!

First up in the list of updates...Christmas (two months later)!

We had a wonderful warm Arizona Christmas this year. We enjoyed Brett's two days off of work for Christmas Eve and Christmas, but missed our usual trip to Utah for skiing and Blaser Family fun.

Weston started to grasp the whole present concept, except despite all of the sweet new things he received, his two FAVORITE presents turned out to be... a package of Teddy Grahams from his stocking... and Uncle Garrett's new basketball. Hmmm...

We spent our morning...

...showing off the new goods...

...hammering out some pretty sweet tunes...

...trying out Grandpa's new hammock...

...enjoying some new books...

...lounging in style...

(btw, check out my two little clones. LOVE that they are seriously making the exact same faces in the first two pics!)

...and basically having a blast!

There really is nothing as magical as Christmas morning.

Only 320 days to go till next year...

Merry Christmas!! (in February)

"Happy" List

2012-01-08T23:42:00.002-07:00

This article was on the front page of one of the sections of the newspaper on New Year's Day. I LOVE it! Like, really REALLY love it. So much so that I've decided that one of my New Year's Resolutions should be to do all of the things on this list (well MOST of them anyway, 'cause let's be honest, I'm probably not going to adopt a dog or cat from a shelter, or buy a turntable when I don't own any vinyl records).
Let the New Year begin...

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No-guilt New Year's resolutions
by Diane Porter - 1.1.2012
The Arizona Republic

ENOUGH ALREADY WITH the guilt-ridden, I'm-so-fat, I'm-so-lazy, I-must-fix-my-life NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. We're over it. They don't help. Get a grip! THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU. You're fine. Sure, pick a goal. Do it. You're capable. But NO MORE BEATING YOURSELF UP. The phrase is not "Have a Guilty New Year." Take a breath. SEE THE GOOD IN YOURSELF. If you must make a resolution, start with one of these. Because the biggest word in "Happy New Year" should be HAPPY.

Leave your change in the vending machine for someone else to find.
Send a handwritten letter to a child. With a stamp. Write their name on the envelope. They should know the thrill.
Kiss someone as if you mean it.
Get 10 things out of your closet that make you feel bad. Take them to Goodwill.
Frame a piece of art.
Thank someone in uniform.
Adopt a dog or cat from a rescue organization.
Go 24 hours without the Internet.
Dissect the junk drawer.
Find a new recipe. No, a new one.
When a friend or co-worker loses a loved one, mark it on the calendar. Ask how he or she is doing in six months.
See a late movie.
Wear your seat belt, and make others do it, too.
Do one thing you keep putting off.
Laugh out loud in real life.
Download music in another language.
Get to know the benefit of the doubt.
Take your child out of school one day and go play.
Leave a wildly inappropriate tip.
Take a leap of faith.
Put a plant on your desk. Something else should be alive in your cubicle.
Change the radio station.
Stop feeling guilty unless you really are.
Get a physical
Buy something in a new color.
Eat somewhere across town.
Notice someone.
Come up with a new, satisfying cuss word.
Sign your organ-donation card.
Write a manifesto.
Watch an old movie.
Pay anonymously for the person behind you in the drive-through lane at the coffee shop.
Buy flowers for no reason.
Eat on the patio in January. Call a friend in the Northeast as you do.
Find an old friend.
Pick up a rock that catches your eye. Carry it around in your pocket.
Make a CD or playlist of the music you loved in high school. Play it to distraction.
Spend one day by yourself.
Deal with you photos. (You know you want to.)
Make an appointment with yourself at 3 each day to walk around the block. Yes, while you're at work.
Get a library card.
Who was your teenage pop crush? Find a photo and print it.
Put the Christmas lights away right.
Pick one thing you don't understand and learn about it.
Throw out the old ketchup packets in your desk drawer.
Stop texting while driving.
Buy new music. And not just the top-selling hit on iTunes.
Pick one negative thing your brain tells you and set it straight.
Talk to the person in the corner.
Put folded-up dollar bills in a spot in your car so you can easily give one to someone on the corner.
Learn the art of deep breathing.
Watch cartoons on Saturday morning.
Stop using made-up words.
Take old towels to a vet or pet shelter.
Write a fan letter.
Vow to stop dressing up your pets.
Register to vote.
Actually vote.
Make a list of you 10 favorite books and re-read them.
Pay attention to a child who isn't yours.
Vow to look at the cellphone bill and figure out why it costs that much.
Walk up one flight of stairs a day. When you can do that, make it two.
Mute the commercials.
Are you a birthday slacker? Vow not to miss one all year.
Ask doctors hard questions. They work for you.
Deal with what holds you back.
Buy a turntable at a garage sale and play your vinyl records.
Smile at someone cute in a car.
Put an old leash in your car in case you see a lost dog.
If you never apologize, learn to do it well. If you apologize too often, learn to stop.
Buy ribbon.
If you're in a rut, get out.
Send a thank-you note to a teacher who made a difference in your life.
Take a different way to work.
Remember that dream? Take a baby step. Just one.
Stop for a doughnut. Just one.
Write a love letter.
And OK, sure: Eat well, exercise more, quit smoking. (No lecture. We just like having you around.)

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Messy Fun

2012-01-08T23:00:00.000-07:00

Weston's motto:

more mess=more fun

Can you blame him?!

Merry Wishes

2011-12-26T09:14:00.002-07:00

Ho! Ho! NO!!

2011-12-22T12:07:00.003-07:00

Dear Santa,

You scare me.

Please, just hand over the candy.

Thanks.

- Weston

P.S. I really REALLY like your reindeer.

Family & Turkey & a Decathlon?... Oh My!

2011-12-15T12:43:00.007-07:00

This Thanksgiving was probably one of the funnest I can remember. We spent Thanksgiving in Mesa with my family, but we had a great assortments of things to spice it up.

First, FAMILY...
In addition to my parents, siblings, and Grandma, we had several visitors to share the fun with.
- My cousin Paige and her family (husband Robert and two kids Reagan and Max), who came down from Las Vegas for a medical residency interview at Mayo Clinic and decided to stay through Thanksgiving
- My sister's friend from Utah, Misha, who decided to ditch her family and come enjoy a warm thanksgiving in AZ
- My dad's friend, Dallas, who didn't have any family to spend Thanksgiving with
It was so much fun to have all the extra friends and family, especially since they all made UH-MAZ-ING food!!

Robert and Reagan on the tramp

Reagan was a GREAT source of entertainment for Weston. They had so much fun chasing each other around the house and yard, and Weston seriously thought he was so cool playing with big 3 yr old Reagan. :)

Next, TURKEY...
I can't do a Thanksgiving post without talking about the meal!! In one word. DIVINE.

Taylor and Misha whipping up the most delicious sweet potato pie you've EVER tasted!

Martha Stewart...watch out!!

Oh how I LOVE eating Thanksgiving outside! I hope we always live somewhere where the weather will allow this. Best tradition EVER!

Finally, THE DECATHLON...
This year we started a new tradition... "The Annual Jones Family Thanksgiving Decathlon." We had 10 different events to challenge our brains, balance, athletic ability, and overall awesomeness. With the addition of Paige, Robert, Misha, and Dallas, there were 10 competitors.

The gamemaster and brains behind the entire operation....

Brett came up with most of the events and the scoring system to make it all fair

THE EVENTS...

1. A Badminton tournament...played over a volleyball net.

We like to mix things up a bit. :)

Weston REALLY thought he was supposed to be in on the action.

2. Frisbee Golf...a par 3 course.

3. Ladderball...

Again, Weston really likes to get in the way.

4. "Minute to Win It" Cereal Box Puzzle...

I ended up with the quickest time for this event. Wahoo!

5. "Minute to Win It" Dice Balancing Game...
5 dice stacked on a popsicle stick held in your mouth

6. Around the World Ping Pong...

Double elimination

7. Pool Competition...
Apparently we're all bad!

8. Basketball...
Kind of a weighted event since my Dad and Garrett are basketball pros!

9. A Foosball Tournament...

played in randomly drawn pairs

10. Wii Archery...

Score the most points in 3 rounds

We had such a BLAST competing in our Decathlon and it was a great way to help burn off just enough of our amazing dinner to make room for pie! YUM.

After all the points were tallied, the overall winner... BRETT!!!

Kinda iffy that the guy keeping score wins, right?! Actually, Brett totally rocked it! We had 10 different prizes that everyone got to choose from in order, and Brett got to sign our new "Annual Thanksgiving Decathlon" Trophy!

To sum up our totally awesome Thanksgiving...

Family and Turkey and a Decathlon...OH MY!

Since I haven't posted about Weston in a while...

2011-12-07T11:20:00.002-07:00

...here's what he's been up to lately...

...helping me with laundry...

...taking his BFF on car rides...

...and working on his gardening skills.

All I can say, is it's a good thing I love this mischievous little boy!

Dead

2011-12-07T09:39:00.001-07:00

Yesterday our trusty desktop died. It croaked. It gave up the ghost...and possibly/probably all our video of Weston's life thus far. :( We have an external hard drive that has all our music and pictures (whew!!), but we realized all too late that none of our video and most of our documents were never backed up. We have one last ditch effort up our sleeves to retrieve the lost data from our dead drive. If not, they will be gone forever. Keep your fingers crossed for us. And also...go back up your computer.

UPDATE: Using a USB hard drive adapter that we borrowed from a computer tech in our Ward, Brett was able to recover ALL the data from our dead hard drive! HOORAY!!! We were able to transfer all our desired files to our laptop, and our new replacement computer just arrived today. Yay!

S'more Please!!

2011-11-30T00:09:00.005-07:00

When: back in October (yes I realize it's almost December)

What: a S'mores roast!!

Why: mostly because I LOVE Fall and any excuse for a party, but also to quietly celebrate two very important birthday's - Brett's 30th and Weston's 1st

To me, Fall and parties just go together, so when the weather starts to cool, I start to get the party itch! Since we were celebrating two milestone birthdays this year, I was dying to throw one big combined birthday fall bash. My unpretentious husband shot that down real quick. :) Instead, Brett allowed me a low-key s'mores roast to celebrate the fall season, where the only mention of my husband's looming oldness was a vague banner hung in the background. Good enough for me!

The invite...

The set up...

We munched on...

...s'more popcorn,

...s'more pops,

...and s'more goldfish.

Seriously, what doesn't taste good with a little chocolate, marshmallow, and graham?!

For roasting we had...

...marshmallows: strawberry, toasted coconut, chocolate-vanilla, mint chocolate, regular, and jumbo;

...chocolate: Hershey's, Reese's, and Cookies and Cream;

...and graham crackers: regular and chocolate.

Talk about YUM!!

Then we got our roast on... :)

Overall, we had about 40 friends and family that came to help us enjoy the beautiful night, great weather, and yummy treats. Thanks to everyone for such a fun night! I think I see a new fall tradition brewing. :)

Some "Corny" Fun

2011-11-19T10:38:00.001-07:00

Last weekend we got a group of friends together and headed to a local corn maze for a GREAT date night out. Have you ever been to a corn maze AFTER Halloween??? DO IT! We had the ENTIRE corn maze to ourselves. Seriously. In November they normally close at 8:00pm, but stayed open till almost 11:00 just for us. Talk about AWESOME! We had such a fun time racing through the maze and *almost not* finding our way out. Since when did corn mazes become SO HARD?! 6 acres of corn = one SERIOUSLY confusing maze!

The Whole Gang: Us, Romneys, Piepers, Ashtons, Walkers, Forreys, Starrs, and Demases

Getting our gab on around the fire after our very competitive race

We had SUCH a fun night and are planning on making these big group dates a regular occurrence. HOORAY for babysitters!!

THRILL the World!!

2011-11-14T10:33:00.004-07:00

Is there anything better then dressing up in costume and getting totally into character???
How 'bout dressing up in costume, dancing "Thriller" with a few hundred other people locally and tens of thousands all over the World, and attempting to set a new World Record?!!

On Saturday, October 29th, Brett, my sister Taylor, and I participated in "Thrill the World", an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" to earn money for charities and attempt to set a World Record for the “Largest Simultaneous Thriller Dance."

For weeks prior, we studied and learned every move to the 6 minute routine. Then Saturday morning we got together early to "zombify" ourselves. I think we did a pretty good job...

(please don't mention my totally out-of-character sandals. i have a split toenail and i seriously tried every other option. these were the only shoes that didn't send shooting pain up my toe. yes, i realize they look horrible.)

Once we were looking the part, we headed out to the Arizona State Fair, where our "Thrill the World" event was being held. We made a few pit stops along the way, and got some very fun reactions. :)

We got to the fair around 3:00pm and then spent a lot of time waiting, finding our dance spots, waiting, watching the sun go down, waiting, touching up makeup, waiting, rehearsing as a group, and waiting some more.
We had plenty of time to pose for more pics...

...and visit with our fans. :)

Then finally...the official dance!

We did a world-wide synchronized countdown with 226 other "Thrill the World" events located all around the World, and then at exactly 7:00pm we all danced "Thriller" simultaneously! Our Arizona group had 236 dancers!!

Here's the "official HD video" for Guinness World Records. It is taken from very far away so it's sometimes hard to tell what we're doing.

Here's an "unofficial" video closer up.

Once the dancing was over, we were finally able to enjoy all the exhibits, rides, and fried food the State Fair has to offer. Yum.

To say we had a BLAST would be a COMPLETE understatement! The official head count is still underway, so we won't know if we set a World Record for awhile still. Either way, it was SO MUCH FUN, and we are already planning our outfits for next year!

" 'Cause this is thriller, thriller night

And no one's gonna save you from the beast about strike

You know it's thriller, thriller night

You're fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller tonight"

My Little Monster

2011-11-06T23:37:00.011-07:00

Oh how I love my little monster!

Before suiting up, we spent a little time getting our jump on...

...getting our "cheese" on...

...and getting our fight on (apparently it's *hilarious* to hit Grandma in the face. who knew?).

Then we shed a few tears...

...gave a few snuggles...

...and got ready to pArTY!!

Oh, how I love my little monster!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Painkillers

2011-11-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

When FOUR big new MOLARS are popping through and you don't feel good, sometimes it's just best to cuddle up with a blanket and watch cartoons...

...or play video games...

...or watch more cartoons.

Hmmm... does anyone else see a VERY bad trend starting?! :)

26.2

2011-11-02T15:37:00.008-07:00

26.2 miles. 46,112 yards. 138,336 feet. 1,660,032 inches!
On Saturday, October 1st, Brett ran the St. George Marathon! I still can hardly believe it!! Considering that the furthest distance I have ever run is 7 miles, 26.2 seems almost impossible. Even more unbelievable, he did VERY LITTLE training for it!!! Brett started running only a few months before the race, and ran only one 16-mile and one 20-mile training run before the race! Seriously, who does that??!! Brett does. He has more mental strength than ANYONE I know. (And I'm not just saying that because I'm his wife. He also ran a triathlon a few years ago with NO training whatsoever!)

Weston and I drove up through Snow Canyon to cheer him on with hugs and kisses at mile marker 16. Then we headed back into town to claim our spot at the finish line.

After watching runner after runner get hauled off in ambulances, I literally burst into tears when I finally saw Brett turn the corner heading for the finish line. I have never been so happy to see him safe and still in one piece, and never been so PROUD of anyone. Ever.

Who looks this good just SECONDS after crossing the finish line??!! Seriously.

Brett's final chip time was 5:03:41. With the amount of training he put in (or lack there of :]) I can't believe he was able to finish in that amount of time! He even said that he never felt winded, but that he felt like his legs literally couldn't hold up his body another second. Apparently his mental strength won over, because he finished his last mile in 7:30! Seriously amazing!

His #1 fan is very happy to see him. :)

Brett's brother-in-law Gabe ran the marathon as well. We had fun seeing Brett's sister Bobbie, Gabe, and their kids for the few days.

While in St. George, we were able to stay with Brett's best friend John and his family. It was so fun to spend time with their cute family, and so nice to not have to pay for a hotel! While at their house we played games, watched General Conference, and enjoyed some absolutely uh-maz-ing meals!! They even took us to visit their neighbor's brand new baby pigs. SO fun!

Thank you thank you to the Leavitts for letting us invade your house for 3 days!

And thank you thank you to Brett for surviving the 26.2 miles and not making me a widow.

Uno

2011-10-28T16:20:00.004-07:00

Wow, has it seriously been a month since I've blogged??!! This is a new record that I am NOT proud of. But, we are back in town, and I am realizing that my small "things to blog" list has now become a VERY large "things to blog" novel. So, be prepared for a slew of updates. But for now, we'll start back almost a month ago now, (gulp!) with the most important event in the last month - Weston's BIRTHDAY!!

Weston turned one on Tuesday, October 4th!

It absolutely AMAZES me that a year (plus a month now :]) has already gone by since we welcomed our new little boy into this world. It is so true: time really does FLY!

It took him about two seconds to figure out how to hold down the button and make this thing light up. His words every time it turns on, "OOOOoooooo!" :)

Don't even TRY to make him get out of his car!

Look at that face!! This boy is ready for some CAKE!

When you can't shove it in your mouth fast enough, forgo the hands and go for the direct shot!

I think he liked it. :) What do you think?!

Every day is such an adventure with Weston, and I feel SO blessed to be his mom.

At one year old Weston LOVES...
...dogs! Especially his dog, but any dog will do. He recently got bulldozed by a large bulldog - he came up laughing hysterically!
...to walk on the treadmill. I'm not sure if he's excited to copy mom and dad, or if he's just really into fitness. :)
...to eat! His favs include scrambled eggs, ice cream, any and all fruit, and Squeez applesauce. The only food he has EVER turned down is avocados (which means more for me! YAY!).
...to play dirty-sock tug-of-war with Kenzie. He usually wins. :)
...anything with buttons, i.e. cell phones, computers, house alarms, stereos, tvs, cameras, etc. Basically anything that can be broken.
...to wrestle. If mom or dad are not available, the next best thing is his 4.5 foot teddy bear. He is a boy through and though!
...to be outdoors. Don't try to bring him inside unless you are prepared to deal with the consequences :)
...to have his picture taken. Seriously. He gets the biggest cheesiest grin every time I bust out the camera.
...water! Anything that creates a splash, including the toilet and the dog's water bowl (ugh!), are great fun to Weston. :( We're working on this.
...to read books. His current favs: "I Love You Through and Through", "Brown Bear Brown Bear", and "Good Night Moon".
...to give head butts... to people, to walls, to toys, and even to the dog. Again, he is SUCH a boy!

We feel so blessed to have such a happy, healthy boy. Happy Birthday Weston!!

Baby Steps

2011-09-25T22:27:00.001-07:00

11 months. 2 weeks. 5 days. Today was the day. Weston is WALKING! AGH!!!

He's been toying with the idea for several weeks, but today it suddenly clicked. The light bulb went on, and BOY, was he proud of himself. :)

My feelings on the matter...I can't decide. I'm not sure if I'm excited or terrified, filled with pride or dread. Maybe a little of both. Regardless, he is walking. Let the journey begin!

Splashin'

2011-08-27T20:26:00.003-07:00

Weston kinda likes water. ALOT.

HOO-RAY for neighborhood splash pads.

Look at that *cheesiest* grin ever!

Nothing like some high-pressure water straight to the face...

...or right up the bum! Whatever keeps you cool, right?! :)

Oh, how we LOVE a day at the splash pad!

I Wanna Catch Your Wave

2011-08-14T22:42:00.003-07:00

Recipe for a wonderfully fantastic, uber amazing, extraordinarily fun FHE night...

Combine:

2 parents

1 sister

2 friends

and 1 visiting from out-of-town brother

Add:

A birthday celebration for Dad

and 2 hours of wet fun at the new Mesa Flowrider

Results:

A happy, wet, exhausted family

the greatest FHE ever

and one slap-happy way-past-his-bedtime baby

Taylor, Haleigh, Haleigh (yes, two Haleighs!), Dad, and Garrett

My boys

Sibs!

Flowrider Love :)

We are a Flowrider family, through and through!

Thanks to my parents for SUCH a fun night!

Happy Birthday DAD!!

Garrett, we miss you already!!

Catch Up

2011-08-03T21:34:00.004-07:00

We're back!! What we've been up to for the last month and a half...

...battling havoc...

...soaking up sunshine...

...celebrating 7 years...

...and fighting allergies.

If you are one of the few people that care, check out the following several posts for more details on any of the above.

Busybody

2011-08-03T21:30:00.001-07:00

Oh what do you do in the Summer time, when all the world is HOT?! ... Create your own fun inside! That's what Weston does, at least.

Try as I might, Weston somehow seems to find new things to get into on a DAILY basis. Here's just a FEW of his recent escapades...

decorating the bathroom

emptying the shredder (i promise the shredder is powered off AND unplugged!)

scaling the luggage

reorganizing the pantry (how does he know he's supposed to drink the soda?! :) )

rummaging through the ads

saving the ads from the recycle man

Do you notice his mischievous grin in each scenario, once he realizes he's been caught. How can I get mad at that?!

A few regular occurrences that I don't have pics of yet: pulling the laundry out of the laundry basket, climbing up onto the treadmill, pulling the silverware out of the dishwasher, eating the dog food (he likes it!, this is a BIG problem), and chewing the computer cords.

Ugh, he wears me out! I promise, I DO watch my child, he's just very fast at getting into mischief!

(Notice the bruise on his forehead. It's from climbing over and diving head first in to the empty tub. Just another one of his adventures. :) )

Beach Babe

2011-08-03T21:29:00.001-07:00

The annual Blaser Family 4th of July week in Carlsbad was a success! Perfect sunny mid-70's weather. Lots of beach and pool time. Tonz of fun with family. And a boy who could seriously not be any happier playing on the beach. BTW, he REALLY loves his cousins!

Weston is a SERIOUS beach baby! From the moment he woke up, he would crawl to the door and pound to be let outside. The sight of the beach brought an instant smile to his face. He crawled up and down the beach all day, and would only sit still long enough to investigate some seaweed or run sand through his fingers.

He was VERY helpful when the big kids needed sand pulled out of their buckets. He's really good at pulling things out from where they're supposed to be. :)

A break from the fun for some family pics - Weston is currently the youngest of 23 grand kids!!

Apparently Tessa decided that Weston was missing out on the cake and ice cream and decided to share hers! Thanks cousin Tessa! :) So glad I caught some pics of this!

No California trip would be complete without a visit to see our BFF's the Binghams. We were EXTRA excited this time to meet their new baby Wesley. I'm sure he and Weston are going to be future partners-in-crime!

Towards the end of the week the waves got so big that we couldn't let some the kids out into the water. I should have taken the same advice. The last day I got racked so hard by a wave that I came up bleeding!

The only thing better than being on the beach... is ICE CREAM on the beach!!

We love California, we love the beach, and we LOVE being with family! Couldn't have asked for a better week!

2,555 Days

2011-08-03T21:24:00.000-07:00

Lucky Number S-E-V-E-N!!!

Yep, last month Brett and I celebrated our SEVENTH anniversary! Can you believe it?! It's amazing how time flies! We took a quick escape to Sedona to enjoy the beautiful scenery and slightly cooler weather.

We went on a Jeep tour, got massages, slept in, and R-E-L-A-X-E-D! Thanks SO much to my parents for keeping Weston for us, and to Brett who planned the whole thing...as a SURPRISE! What a great hubby I have!

Lunch on the patio with a beautiful view

Enjoying the rocks from our open air Jeep

Admiring the beautiful surroundings of Tlaquepaque Village

Here's to a wonderful seven years, and many more to come!

No Soup For You

2011-08-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Weston had a fight with a veggie burger. The veggie burger won. It looks like it will be all-beef burgers from now on for our little man.

BTW, almost two months later we still don't know what ingredient in the veggie burger caused the reaction. He has not had an allergy to any other food since. Thank goodness!

thirteen THOUSAND feet!

2011-06-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

Best. Memorial. Day. EVER!

To help my sister Taylor celebrate her 19th birthday (and to have some serious fun!), Brett and I joined up with my parents, my brother Garrett, and Taylor's friend Angela for a par-tay in the SKY!

I can't think of a better way to celebrate Memorial Day, and Taylor's birthday, than jumping from an airplane at 13,000 feet and free-falling for an entire MINUTE! It had been several years since either Brett or I went skydiving, so we were pretty stoked to be joining her!

gearing up...

the birthday girl

ready to go!!

our group: Garrett, Taylor, Me, Angela, Brett, Mom, Dad

Since it was Taylor's first time skydiving (and her birthday), she got a photographer to document. I've decided I'm going to steal these pics and pretend they are of me. :)

coming in for our landing

safe and sound. what an ADVENTURE!!

So so so SO FUN! Taylor, I wish you would have a birthday EVERY day! :)

"I wish that I could fly

Into the sky

So very high

Just like a dragonfly

I'd fly above the trees

Over the seas in all degrees

To anywhere I please

Oh I want to get away

I want to fly away

Yeah yeah yeah"

-Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away"

Man's Boy's Best Friend

2011-06-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

5 Reasons Every Kid Needs a Dog
1.)  Dogs are a great motivation (and example) to crawl.
2.) Dogs are great tug-of-war partners, especially when tempted with stuffed animals.
3.)  Dogs will clean up EVERY dropped strawberry, noodle, pea, and Cheerio.
4.)  Dogs will also clean up EVERY ounce of vomit before you can even grab a burp cloth.

5.) Dogs are great at pulling strollers.

Weston LOVES his dogs. He thinks they are absolutely hilarious, and they instantly put a smile on his face, regardless of his mood. He is honestly just as excited to see the dogs in the morning, as he is to see us!

12 days old - snuggling with Kenzie

6 1/2 months old - playing with Tucker

7 weeks old

6 1/2 months old

5 months old

Unfortunately a few weeks ago we had to say goodbye to our dog Tucker. He was getting too old and his back legs only worked about half the time. Tucker LOVED Weston, so it was very sad to see him go.

We still have Kenzie, and we're hoping she'll be around for a long time, but either way, I think we'll probably always have a dog, because I'm completely convinced...every kid needs a dog!

Namaste

2011-06-07T09:03:00.003-07:00

Weston likes to start his mornings off with a little yoga.

With a little determination he quickly gets his routine in for the day.

He starts out with a Cobra Pose...

...gives his core a good workout with the Plank...

...moves on to a little Downward Dog action...

...makes some transitions between the Cat and Cow stretches...

...and finishes up with a seated Easy Pose.

After a little meditation, he is oh so happy and ready to face the day!

Namaste!

Family Rules

2011-06-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

My most recent project...

...a Family Rules subway art design.

These signs are really in right now, and combining several different ideas from MANY different websites including here, here, here, and here, I came up with my own version.

It took MUCH longer than planned (what project doesn't?!), but I'm pleased with the results. I also made one for my mom and my mom-in-law for Mother's Day.

Now that they're finished, I have definitely satisfied my creative itch and will be taking a craft leave for QUITE a while.

#1 Doc

2011-06-01T14:16:00.002-07:00

Brett would never share this, but as his proud wife, I feel I have the right to brag.

Brett is a GREAT doctor.

Why, you ask, is he so great?

Brett is congenial, patient, compassionate, cheerful, and sympathetic.

All these traits make a good person, but they make an outstanding doctor.

Since he started working at St. Joseph's Hospital almost a year ago, I regularly get reports of a patient who has referred all of their family and friends to him, or of a patient who has refused to see any other doctor. This could not make me happier or more proud. It is great to know that other people recognize what a wonderful person he is, and to know that his time away from our family is spent caring for and improving other people's lives. I am so thankful for all of his hard work and dedication.

Brett sampling a DELICIOUS cake pop that one of his sweet patients brought him as a thank you gift.

"Land of the Saints" to "Sin City"

2011-06-01T14:10:00.002-07:00

Oh happy day! It's VACATION time!!

Brett's one week scheduled vacation time somehow got booked wrong, and he ended up with a week-and-a-half off of work! SCORE! We took advantage and jumped on a plane to Utah to visit the Blaser Fam.
While we were there we...

...played LOTS of cards
...did some surfing at the Flowrider in Ogden (of course! a trip to UT is not complete with a visit to the Flowrider)
...cheered on Colby at his baseball game

...got a great workout at Bobbie and Brittany's Zumba class

...took many rides in the golf cart

...went to the movies (I'm convinced Chris Hemsworth really is a God :) )
...had a picnic at the park

...met up with our buddies Kalie and Isaac Chamberlain for some scrumptious frozen yogurt (we missed you Kevin!)

...went on a FOUR hour hike with a four-yr-old boy in forty degree weather (NOT recommended :) )

...and survived SNOW in May (this is why we live in AZ!).

In one week we experienced all four seasons! Blasers had so many fun activities planned, and we had an absolute blast, but were slightly exhausted when we left.

To help us wind down from our crazy week, we made a stop in Vegas for two days on our way home.
We did ALOT of walking so it wasn't as relaxing as we were initially thinking, but we were still able to...

...visit with my cousin Paige and her family
...make a pit stop at Serendipity for some frozen hot chocolate

...enjoy the many sights of the strip

...go to our first Cirque du Soleil show (Weston was ENTHRALLED!)

...and spend a day in the pool swimming with Paige, Robert, and their two cute kiddos.

Unfortunately, this past year Brett hasn't had too much time to spend with Weston and I, so we were so happy to have a week-and-a-half to enjoy with one another. Ahhh, we love vacation!

WARRIORS Are We!!

2011-05-03T08:48:00.003-07:00

The Warrior Dash slogan is pretty accurate! Saturday was one of "the craziest frickin' days of our lives!"

Saturday morning Brett and I suited up in our thrift-store warrior duds and headed out to Florence, AZ (home of the AZ State Prison) to participate in the Warrior Dash, a 3.4 mile obstacle run.

From their website: "Warrior Dash is a mud-crawling, fire-leaping, extreme run from hell. Warriors conquer extreme obstacles, push their limits, and celebrate with kick-a** music, beer, and warrior helmets."
Although we chose not to celebrate with beer, we did conquer extreme obstacles, enjoy some great music, sport some sweet warrior helmets, and devour a delicious turkey leg.

Some great "before and after" pics! A preview of what's to come. :)

...And we're off! About .2 miles into the race looking excited, energetic, and CLEAN!

Let the warrior obstacles begin!
Barricade Breakdown - Hurdle over the barricades and under the barbed wire. Don't get caught on the barbed wire!

Hell's Hills - Race up and down a series of 7 foot dirt mounds. They were much steeper than they look!

Knee-high Hell and Junkyard Jump - Speed step through hundreds of tires and up and over the junk cars

Cliffhanger - Rappel down the steep drop-off

Slithering Swamp - Trudge through the knee-high sludge, then attempt to run the rest of the race with mud-filled (and now extremely heavy!) shoes.

Hay Fever - Hustle (or LEAP, if you are Brett) up and over giant straw bales

Cargo Climb - Scale the giant cargo nets. One of our favs!

Teetering Traverse - Balance across the raised track

Great Warrior Wall - Scale the massive wooden wall

Arachnophobia - Maneuver through the tangled ropes

Chaotic Crossover - Crawl across (and don't fall through) the elevated ropes. Much harder than it looks.

Warrior Roast - Leap over the rows of Warrior fires. Brett's shorts were already flaming, so we weren't too worried about them igniting further. :)

And finally, Muddy Mayhem, a great way to end any race - Scramble beneath barbed wire through a deep pit of mud. Brett decided to make his entrance into the mud by way of cannonball!

It was more of a swim than a crawl.

We made it!! We can now call ourselves WARRIORS!

Real Warriors...

...eat meat off the bone...

...donate their shoes...

...and forgo the spray-down to drive home dirty.

Although we are still finding mud in odd places, we had an absolute BLAST and are already contemplating our outfits and strategies for next year. CAN'T WAIT!!

Happy Easter!!

2011-04-24T14:43:00.000-07:00

Homage

2011-04-20T12:39:00.002-07:00

I purposely have tried NOT to make my blog a shrine to my baby, but I've recently been told by a few different people that I need to post more pics of Weston. So here you go. Ask and ye shall receive. Proof that although I don't post pics of him daily, I still take enough to fill up my 8 GB memory card on a regular basis.

Warning: Below is a RIDICULOUS amount of pics of one little boy.

I can hardly believe it's been 6 1/2 months since this little man took over our lives!

He is such a happy boy and loves to laugh and smile, especially at strangers!

At Weston's six month checkup he was...

45%ile for weight - 17 lbs. 3.5 oz.

95%ile for height - 28.25 in.

50%ile for head - 17.25 in.

We're thinking he's going to be a TALL boy!

I get asked pretty regularly what color his eyes are. They are light blue around the edges with a yellow-brown in the middle. We're still not quite sure how they're going to end up.

Weston is a lover of almost everything...but definitely not grass! It is a rare occurrence for him to be sitting in the grass without screaming. We're working on this.

Weston is DEFINITELY a morning boy. Seriously, who wakes up this happy?! Not me.

He LOVES his baths, but I think it's time to move him to the bathroom tub. I'm tired of mopping up the entire kitchen after every bath. :)

I'm also thinking about doing his "swim lessons" in the bath tub now that his free lessons at the pool are over. Swimming was his favorite time of the whole week!

Weston also LOVES the swings, and would seriously spend the entire day swinging if I wasn't so worried about burning his soft baby skin.

We feel so blessed to have such a sweet little boy in our lives and are so thankful for his healthy happy self. We love you Weston!

Visitors...AGAIN!

2011-04-20T09:14:00.001-07:00

Redondos left Monday night, and Wednesday morning I took another trip to the airport, this time to pick up Brett's sister Bridget and her son Jaxon. Jaxon was born eight days before Weston, so it's always fun to get the two babies together. Fortunately for us, the two boys were on basically the same nap schedule, so we were able to have a little fun while they slept.
Our four days included...

...lots of time outside soaking up the sun...

Notice Weston's face in most of these pics. He HATES the grass! We're working on it.

Check out the color difference between these boys! You would never guess that Jaxon has an Italian dad...and that Weston does not!

...getting our craft on making these spring signs for our homes and these bowties for our little men...

...dressing our boys in matching outfits (thanks Grandma Blaser and Aunt Jen!)...

...getting pedicures (on our feet, not the babies'; thanks to Brett for watching them while we went)...

...taking walks around the neighboorhood...

...taking walks around the H&M kids section...

...and taking the boys to the indoor pool.

It was so much fun to have Bridget and Jaxon here for a few days and we were sad to see them go.

We feel so blessed to have had both the Redondos and the Parrys here recently, and only wish it happened more frequently! Our house feels so empty now. We miss you!! Hint hint. :)

Visitors!

2011-04-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we had the great fun of playing host to Brett's sister Bobbie Jo, her husband Gabe, and their two little munchkins Jake and Tessa. We were planning on having them for two days, but at the last minute they surprised us with the fun news they'd be staying for five! Hooray!

So what did we do...

...took many trips to the parks to swing on the swings, climb up the jungle gyms, play some tennis, feed the ducks, and run through the splash pads...

...roasted hot dogs and s'mores in the backyard...

...swam, splashed, and floated on noodles in our inflatable pool in the backyard...

...watched General Conference with a Rock Band intermission...

...spent a day at Wet 'n Wild waterpark (yes it is open, and yes the adults had more fun than the kids)...

...shopped at the outlet malls...

...and spent lots of time in our PJ's relaxing and playing with the kids.

(Please compare. Tessa is two, runs around, and talks in complete sentences. Weston is six months and just figured out how to sit up on his own. Notice that he already comes up to her eyes! And yes, they wear the same size diaper! :) )

Thanks so much to the Redondos for coming to visit and making it feel like we were on vacation too. We miss you already!

It's A Date!

2011-03-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

I am a firm believer in date nights. Don't get me wrong, I love my son, but I strongly believe that a little time away from him now and then helps me to not only strengthen my relationship with Brett, but to be a better mom when I'm home. We are very fortunate to have my parents only an hour away and some trustworthy girls in our ward who we feel confidant leaving him with. We've tried to take advantage of Brett's few days off of work to have some real fun. Here's a few of the ubber-fun dates we've had the last few months.
Please note: Most of our dates are no where NEAR this elaborate.

In February my parents took Weston for a day so we could make the 2 hour drive to Flagstaff for some spring skiing. The sun was shining and the slopes were empty. It was a GREAT day!

We're looking tough (Kind of!)

LOVE that view!

Several months ago we took advantage of a great deal on a sunset hot air balloon ride. It was one of our first times leaving Weston, I think he was about 8 weeks old, and it was a great escape.

Our captain started up the flames...

and we were up, up, and away!

It was very calm and peaceful and we saw quite a different view of Phoenix than we are used to.

Most recently, Brett signed us up for an hour-and-a-half pottery class. Apparently it's something he's always wanted to do. Who knew?! We made four not-so-impressive pots each, and both ended up covered in clay!

I am so grateful for the quality time Brett and I are able to spend with one another, and even more grateful for a baby who cooperates when he's left behind. No one wants to babysit a cranky boy!

Bon Appetit!

2011-03-17T15:44:00.003-07:00

My little boy is definitely a BOY.

He has sweaty, smelly feet...

he thinks farts are funny...

and he LOVES to EAT!

So far, his cuisine includes rice cereal, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, and rice crackers. Let's just say, he can't get enough!

And when we decide that he's downed enough grub for one sitting, he repeatedly lets us know how he feels about the situation.

I'm already getting concerned about my future grocery bills.

SURPRISE!!

2011-03-17T15:40:00.001-07:00

Brett was pretty irked last month when I told him he had to figure out a way to get February 15th off of work because I had a surprise planned. He repeatedly told me that he couldn't take a day off of work just because he wanted too, but he was eventually able to schedule it so he could leave the hospital at noon that day.

Soon after he got home from work there was a knock at the door, and imagine his surprise when he opened it to find 5 of his brothers and brother-in-laws standing at the door! SURPRISE!! The Blaser Boys (minus Brett's dad and two brother-in-laws who couldn't make it) flew in from Utah and Texas to surprise Brett for the day!

They hung out at the house just long enough to say hi to Weston and me, and for me to get a pic of the group, and then headed out the door for some quality male bonding.

First stop: Brett's favorite Barro's Pizza for lunch.

Next up: K1 Speed for some high-speed racing (and crashing). Fortunately no one lost their lunch during their 42 laps of racing!

Next stop: US Airways Center to watch the Phoenix Suns take on the Utah Jazz (the real reason for the trip).

The boys were able to score a sweet suite to enjoy the game and a catered dinner from. Brett did have to endure a little heckling from the boys for cheering for the Suns instead of the Jazz. What can I say?! Once you go Orange, you never go back. :) [BTW, the Suns won 102-101. :)]

And finally: Back to a downtown Phoenix hotel for an all-brother sleepover. Fortunately Brett had packed scrubs and went straight to work from the hotel the next morning.

The boys had a great (and somewhat wild) time, and managed to only end up in the back of a cop car once the entire night. ;)

End result: Even though it was a very quick one-day visit, they all had a blast, and Brett quickly got over having to get time off of work.

Little Minnow

2011-03-17T15:39:00.001-07:00

I am pleased to announce that Weston is currently in training for the 2028 Summer Olympics!

Not really, but thanks to Hubbard Family Swim School we've been enjoying free swimming once a week since he was 6 weeks old! They have a free swim class for babies 4 weeks to 6 months of age and their parents. It's been a great opportunity for Weston and I to get out of the house, socialize with other moms and babies, enjoy a heated indoor pool during the winter, and expose Weston to a different environment and situation than he is used to.

The result: he LOVES it! He's very comfortable with the water already and loves to kick and splash. He even started going under at 3 1/2 months! (Don't worry. He doesn't come up screaming or choking. :] )

Since Dad isn't able to come to our lessons during the week, we went to the pool one evening a few months ago for an open swim night so he could share in the fun with us.

I can't wait for the summer when we'll be able to spend much more time in the pool. Plus, I'll finally be able to get a tan while we're at it. Bonus!

Family, Friends, and Fake Nails

2011-02-22T00:12:00.002-07:00

I must start by saying that I LOVE my in-laws (all 38 of them!), and I am SO SO blessed to be part of such a wonderful family!

That being said, since most of the Blaser clan resides in Utah, we don't get to see them as often as we'd like. To remedy this, a few weeks ago Weston and I took a quick trip to Utah to soak up some much needed family time. (Yes, Weston and I went to visit Brett's family without Brett. He was working. What's new?)

Our few action-packed days included a trip to Logan to visit Brett's aunt, a trip to Provo to see my brother and sister, an evening spent with our wonderful friends the Chamberlains, and an all-girl Valentine's spa party. SO much fun for only a few days!

After an hour's drive to see my bro and sis at BYU, these are the dumb faces they give me. Wouldn't have it any other way! LOVE THEM! :)

The Blaser all-girl party was absolutely uh-mazing, complete with delicious food, acrylic nail manicures, eyebrow waxing, and lots of chit chat.

My sis-in-law Bridget prepared all the food and decorations for the party as a project for a local news show. Didn't she do a great job?!

Thanks so much to my mom-in-laws friend who ended up doing TWELVE sets of nails! Whew!

All the meanwhile, Weston and Jaxon enjoyed crashing their first ever "girls only" party.

They weren't that impressed. :)

And of course, we had to get a pic with Christie, Bridget, and I all sporting our animal print. Totally not planned, but oh so rad!

Weston and I had such a fun time seeing so many friends and family in such a short time, and hopefully next time we'll get to see those we missed. Thanks so much to the Blasers for being such great hosts. We can't wait to see you again soon! Hint hint. :)

What's That Smell?!

2011-02-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

*** I've just found this post that was written awhile back, but never posted. I think I wrote it, and then, having a moment of clarity, decided it was WAY too weird to post. After finding it and re-reading it, it is VERY random, but it made me laugh, which is always a good thing, so I've decided to post it. Here's a little glimpse into my random quirkiness. Don't judge. Or do. Apparently, I don't care.

Also, if you're wondering, I did get a new garbage disposal RIGHT AWAY. The stench (and the mess) is long gone. Hooray.
-------------

What IS that smell?!
It's not the trashcans. They just got emptied.

It's not the dogs' breath. Their teeth were just cleaned.

It's not the baby. He was just changed.

What is that smell, you ask?!

It's dirty, moldy water that has been (unknowingly to us) leaking out of the garbage disposal and pooling under the sink!

Dear Santa Baby, since I've been an angel all year, please forgo the '54 light blue convertible and yacht to bring me a new garbage disposal!

Things to Love

2011-02-15T22:56:00.001-07:00

Although Valentine's Day is meant to focus on the people we love, I decided for some odd reason to make a list of things I love. (Don't worry. The people I love are each more important than all these things combined.)

100 Things that I LOVE: (in no particular order)

Old signs
Chewing gum
Hot pink nail polish
Sunsets
Subway trains
Baby shoes
Lemonade
Gel pens
Skyscrapers
Chocolate-covered strawberries
Gerber daisies
Black furniture
Fortune cookies
Christmas cards
Chewy ice
Polka dots
Ocean waves
S'mores
Patterned tights
White tigers
Blackberries
Ferris wheels
Rotary phones
Hats
Stainless steel
Hot chocolate
Boots
Sunshine
Sweatsuits
Scented soap
Mint ice cream
Funky socks
Photo booths
Fondue
Roller coasters
Fountain drinks
Giant stuffed animals
Orange roses
Scarves
Palm trees
White chocolate
Gossip magazines
Hot air balloons
Costumes
Ladybugs
Deep dish pizza
Rain boots
Drive-in movies
Skinny jeans
Sports cars
Big sunglasses
Fresh-cut grass
Fireplaces
Pedicures
Cookies
Bridges
Cute umbrellas
Road trips
Swings
Huge purses
Watermelon
Mexican food
Gel eyeliner
Cable cars
Flip flops
Photographs
Hula hoops
Zebra print
Kettle corn
Tulips
Gummy worms
Water balloons
Cinnamon
Peep toe shoes
Giant clocks
Slumber parties
Fedoras
Coupons
Giraffes
The moon
Fireworks
Sock monkeys
Phone booths
Headbands
Houseboats
Pecan pie
Slippers
Scented lotion
Long necklaces
Pretty books
Waterfalls
Hugs
Cookie dough
Scooters
Zip-lines
Street fairs
Sharpies
Hammocks
Hoop earrings
Cartwheels

There are so many things to love in this world. What do you love?
Happy Valentine's Day!!

All I Want for New Years...

2011-01-31T14:17:00.006-07:00

...is my SIX front teeth!

Yes, believe it or not, my ALMOST four-month-old baby is currently battling the eruption of SIX new teeth!

Thus, this...

has been turning into this...

VERY quickly lately!

Don't believe me...here's the proof!

Considering he's not even four months and has six teeth coming in at once, I think he's handling the whole situation pretty well: a little more crying and fussiness; a lot more drooling, gnawing, and snuggling; a lot LESS napping.

I'm not sure yet what will be worse: a teething four-month-old OR a four-month-old with teeth! YIKES!

Beach Baby

2011-01-25T13:38:00.002-07:00

Last weekend we took a quick trip to one of our favorite places

to see some of our favorite people

and do one of our favorite things.

It was our first trip to the beach toting our little man along, and although things were a little different, we still had a blast.

Most of the time Weston did this

while his parents read about kids,

played with kids,

and ACTED like kids.

When Weston was awake, he played in the sand

and chilled with his BCF (best cousin friend) Jaxon.

And when the day was through, we'd go inside, play some games, and enjoy the view!

Hooray for Brett's two days off and the 45 minute flight to San Diego!

Blessed

2011-01-20T10:12:00.005-07:00

On Sunday, January 2nd, this little boy was blessed by his father.

We were happy to have several friends and family members there to share the special day with us. Standing in the circle were Weston's Grandpa Jones and Grandpa Blaser, his Uncle Garrett and Uncle Spencer, and several friends.

Brett gave a very sweet and beautiful blessing, and Weston was happy and content through it all.

Weston was blessed in the same blanket that all my siblings and I were blessed in. We thought he looked pretty handsome, but I think we're probably slightly biased.

And when the day was all over, Weston decided to bust out a little Tom Cruise "Risky Business" action!

How we love this little man!

Glitter and Glow

2011-01-20T10:11:00.000-07:00

1.5 million lights

+ dozens of unique hot air balloons

+ 75,000 people

+ several live bands

+ one ubber delicious funnel cake

+ a content sleeping baby

= a great night out to the Glendale Glitter and Glow Block Party!

I Went To Work Today

2011-01-17T21:37:00.012-07:00

It was weird.

Usually my days consist of nursing, housework, diaper changes, dishes, tummy time, laundry, yard work, and baths. Today my day consisted of periodontal chartings, sterilizing, flossing instructions, xrays, polishing, instrument sharpening, and patient notes.

Before I left for work, I felt like I was abandoning my child. Once I got there, it felt like a day off. I worked hard. I got caught up on the office gossip. It felt like a glimpse into my former life. But then I would think about my little man at home and remember that my life is completely different now. I care more about how many dirty diapers he has during the day than about one patient's upcoming retirement or another patient's newly torn ACL. How things have changed!

It was great to have a day to myself, to communicate with other adults and think about things besides Weston's feeding schedule. But at the same time, it is even greater that I have the ability to stay home and care for him on a daily basis. To raise him and watch him grow, instead of leaving that responsibility to someone else.

I am grateful that I have a skill I could support us with, but I am more grateful that I don't have to use it.

BIG thanks to my hardworking hubby who makes my ability to stay home possible, and to my mom who took care of Weston so that I could fill in at my office for the day.

Planet Orange

2011-01-10T11:48:00.007-07:00

We like to start 'em out young here in Phoenix. It builds true loyalty. :)

Weston at his very first Phoenix Suns game at 8 1/2 weeks old.

He actually LOVED it! He stayed awake for the ENTIRE game, soaking in all the action.

Thanks to Grandpa Jones for his sweet Suns hookups. He got my mom and I seats in the wheelchair section so we could stand up and walk around with Weston without hindering anyone's views. Fortunately, the game kept Weston entertained so we were off the hook. Brett and my dad enjoyed the game a little closer to the action, from my dad's regular season seats.

We're just doing our part to help build a new generation of Suns fans!

A True Fortune

2011-01-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

LOVE THIS.

Fat ✔

Bald ✔

Toothless ✔

Poops in his pants ✔

Can't speak a word of English ✔

Head over heels in love ✔!✔!✔!✔!!!!

Search Results

2011-01-10T11:42:00.005-07:00

I don't remember what I was originally searching for, but I ended up typing Brett's name into google. This was one of the results that popped up. It made me smile. SO PROUD!

2010 Countdown

2011-01-05T18:18:00.001-07:00

A quick Top 10 to remember the year of 2010...

10. This year I had TEN sunbeams in my class, the most yet! I loved teaching the 3-year-old sunbeam class for the past three years and it was a bitter-sweet moment when I was finally released in October.

9. We were so blessed to be able to escape from home for NINE different vacations this year, including 2 trips to Carlsbad, a quick escape to Disneyland with friends, a few different all-girls and all-boys trips, and some trips to Utah.

8. After surviving EIGHT years of college, in June Brett graduated from medical school and earned his physician's license. Congrats Brett! I couldn't be prouder!

7. My love of softball continues, and I was able to play in a women's fast pitch league until I was SEVEN-teen weeks pregnant. Hopefully now that Weston has arrived I'll be able to start back up real soon!

6. Can it really be six-and-a-half years since we tied the knot?! In July we celebrated our SIX year anniversary! How time flies!

5. Brett is now working as a Family Medicine Resident at St. Joseph's Hospital. He has extremely long hours and his typical day starts around FIVE am! We enjoy every minute that he is home.

4. After working as a Dental Hygienist for FOUR years, I took a break in October to stay home and take care of Weston. So far it's been pretty enjoyable and I haven't been too tempted to go back to work. :)

3. It took us THREE weeks of extremely hard work, but in June we were able to completely redo almost all the flooring in our house. We put hardwood floor in our living room and hallways and new carpet in our family room and bedrooms. We almost feel like we're living in a new house!

2. We are still enjoying life with our TWO dogs Kenzie and Tucker, but they've definitely been downgraded on the priority list since Weston came along. I think they might be a little jealous. :)

1. Of course, our #1 of 2010 had to be the arrival of our number ONE son Weston born on October 4th! We have been so blessed to have a happy, healthy baby and can't imagine life without him.

Here's to a great 2010 and hopes that 2011 will be just as wonderful!

Holly and Jolly

2011-01-05T18:13:00.001-07:00

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We knew our Christmas would be great even before it began with the news that Brett would have Christmas day off of work! Hooray!! It just so happened that his ONE day off happened to fall on Christmas Day! Imagine the luck! He had to work Christmas Eve and the day after, but we felt so blessed to have him home for Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve we celebrated the birth of Christ by enjoying the beautiful light displays and an amazing vocal performance at the Mesa Temple.

Weston was ENTHRALLED with all the bright lights! He was not so thrilled with the cold weather, however.

After enjoying the lights, we went to my parents and busted out the original Nintendo for some riotous boys vs. girls games of Wheel of Fortune! Yes, my parents do still own the old school system, and yes it still works!

Christmas morning we woke to find that Santa had indeed found us in Mesa. :) He had even brought Weston his very own stocking! (Thanks so much to his Great-grandma Mardell for the super cute stocking.)

Weston didn't really seem to care. He slept through ALL of Christmas morning and woke just in time for the last two presents to be opened. In the mean time, we all had fun acting like little kids - shaking and opening each others' presents.

Weston woke up just in time to try on his new fur ugg boots. I think he likes them. :)

Christmas night we took advantage of the brand new law and shot off some fireworks for the first time EVER in Arizona.

We had a great day and can't wait till next year when our little boy will be a little more interested. :) Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!

Two and a Half Months Later

2010-12-17T12:23:00.002-07:00

...Weston's announcement finally goes out. Oh well. It's done.

Giving Thanks

2010-12-17T12:14:00.002-07:00

A Few Things to Be Thankful For This Thanksgiving:

1.) Brett getting the ENTIRE week of Thanksgiving off of work. Wahoo!! (Too bad, so sad for Christmas.)
2.) A totally content sleeping baby during the 1 1/2 hour flight to Utah.

3.) Having ALL SEVEN of Brett's siblings together for a few days to bless Baby Jaxon.

4.) Weston meeting most of his Blaser aunts, uncles, and cousins including his future partner-in-crime, cousin Jaxon, born only 8 days before him.

5.) Tons of fun family activities including some riveting games of tennis, two trips to the movies (Weston did great in both!), and an amazing day at the Flowrider.

6.) The opportunity to meet up with some of our BFF's, the Chamberlains, for some of the most delicious hot chocolate EVER from Hunts Family Chocolates, aka "The Little Chocolatiers"! Also, getting to see their handsomest little man Isaac again.

7.) TWO Thanksgiving meals, one with each family, especially since Brett was incapacitated during the first one with the stomach flu.

8.) Brett getting over his stomach flu BEFORE we had to fly back home at Arizona. PHEW!!

9.) My brother and sister arriving safely home to Arizona from BYU after flying thru a "record-setting" blizzard, and them FINALLY getting to meet Weston.

10.) A competitive game of Tripoley complete with some amazing, and not so amazing, dollar prizes!

11.) The fact that there is only ONE baby in the Jones family right now, because getting a family pic was hard enough. Yes, this pic is doctored. :)

WE ARE SO BLESSED AND HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR! HOPE YOUR THANKSGIVING WAS AS GREAT AS OURS! HAPPY LATE THANKSGIVING!

Baby Terrorist

2010-12-01T22:20:00.005-07:00

I can officially say...TSA does NOT discriminate or profile. While stumbling through security on our way to Utah, the TSA agent kindly reminded me, "You need to remove those shoes." I looked down at my sock-cladden feet... and then realized he was talking about Weston's 2 inch newborn shoes. Go figure. I guess he might try to take over the cockpit. You never know.

Weston's Newborns

2010-12-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

I guess when your baby is two months old, it's about time to post his newborn photos. Thanks so much to Libby who captured these amazing photos when he was 8 days old. BTW, be on the lookout for his announcement. It's coming soon. I promise! :)

Visitors

2010-12-01T22:09:00.002-07:00

How pathetic is it that I'm just now posting about a visit from the Willms that occurred over a MONTH ago?! Pretty pathetic.
That aside, we were SOOO lucky to have a quick visit from Jon, Mandy, and Maddy last month. We've been missing ALL our medical school friends like CRAZY, so there was nothing like a ritualistic night out to Cafe Rumba and Juju Berri to raise the spirits and subdue the nostalgia. There was also nothing crazier than seeing baby Maddy running around and talking. How time flies!! Thanks so much to the Willms for taking some time to come visit us during your vacation. We miss you guys!

Newborn No More

2010-11-15T17:01:00.003-07:00

Sniff sniff.
Apparently my newborn is no longer a newborn. Today, at 6 weeks old, we upgraded Weston from Newborn to Size 1 diapers. I know there's not THAT much size difference between the two, but to me the Size 1's look H-U-G-E, too huge to fit my little newborn, but alas, they are not. Sniff sniff.

It is SO true that they grow and change so fast. I can't believe he is 6 weeks today! The other day I asked Brett why baby fingernails grow so quick. His quick and all too simple answer: "Because their whole bodies grow so quick." Duh!!

Weston's "stats" from his last apt. at 5 weeks:

Height: 22 1/2 in. (80th %ile)

Weight: 10 lbs. 0 oz. (50th %ile)

Head Cir.: 14 1/4 in. (30th %ile)

Weston's pediatrician was VERY happy with his rapid weight gain because at his last appointment only a few weeks before this one, he was measuring 80th %ile for height, but only 15th %ile for weight! LONG and LEAN! He's definitely figured out how to eat since then and is now putting on weight like a champ, jumping up 35%ile in a matter of a few weeks! This could partially due to the fact that he's also developed some colicky gas issues in the last few weeks, and feeding him more often keeps him happier. As a result, he's recently developed his first thigh creases and some chubby cheeks that chipmunks would be envious of. :)

A few things Weston likes:

bath time, his swing/bouncer, his Mylicon drops (thankfully!), being swaddled, his car seat, sucking his thumb (we will quickly be putting an end to this), and cuddling

A few things Weston does NOT like:

tummy time, cold hands, having his clothes changed, being set down or ignored, his sling, and church

Political

2010-11-02T17:16:00.001-07:00

Weston rocked the vote! The volunteers got a look at this face and couldn't help making an exception to the voting age.

Partyin' 'Till the Cows Come In

2010-11-02T12:58:00.002-07:00

How is it that now that I am home all day long I have less time to blog than ever before? Pathetic, I know. I'm making a resolution to be better again.

Some friends from our ward threw a fantastic Halloween couples costume party a few weekends ago. Brett had to work (as usual) so I wasn't planning on going and didn't plan a costume. Well, most of you know I HATE to miss out on a party, so a few hours before the party started I decided to pack Weston up and take him as my date! I wasn't about to suffocate my 3 week old baby in a huge fluffy Halloween costume, so I decided this cow onesie would work. I scoured around my house for something that goes with a cow, and in about 5 minutes pulled together this farmer outfit for myself. Not one of my better Halloween costumes, but it worked. We had such a good time, and it was a great excuse to get out of the house. Thanks so much to the Davises for a great night!

There were SO many amazing costumes! By the time we decided to get a group pic, about half of the couples had already left :( , but here's a pic with some of the gals who were still there.

So funny that both the Pages and the Ashtons dressed up like old folks!

And the winners of the costume party and $100 prize... the Piepers as Kanye and Taylor Swift. They looked great!

Weston Jones Blaser

2010-10-18T00:43:00.008-07:00

Sorry again for the following major ONSLAUGHT of posts. ENJOY!! :)

Introducing: Weston Jones Blaser

Born: Monday, October 4, 2010 at 10:17 am

Weight: 7 1bs. 4 oz.

Length: 21 in.

3 days old

Things went smoothly, and everyone is healthy and happy.

I've obviously been completely distracted by and utterly infatuated with this little boy, so much so that it took me TWO whole WEEKS to post any pics of him. Sorry. :)
If you are interested in the labor and delivery details or what we've been up to the last few weeks (which isn't much besides eating and sleeping), feel free to scroll through the many following posts.

Keeping Busy

2010-10-18T00:39:00.001-07:00

What have we been doing the last two weeks, instead of blogging? Taking a ridiculous amount of pics, and doing the following...

...keeping Weston smelling so fresh and so clean

...enjoying a very quick afternoon visit from Grandpa and Grandma Blaser

...taking naps

...cheering on the Cards

...attempting to take some fun baby Weston photos

...and just being cute.

The Big Event

2010-10-18T00:33:00.000-07:00

Although my actual due date was set for Saturday, October 9th, we had opted to induce early if Baby Blaser was not born by Monday, October 4th, so that Brett's only week off work would not be waisted waiting for his arrival. We had originally scheduled the induction for Monday, but plans were changed when the hospital told us they were full Monday and we would have to schedule it for Tuesday. We scheduled the induction for Tuesday the 5th, so we were TOTALLY caught off guard when Sunday night, October 3rd, we received a phone call at 5:30 pm asking if I wanted to come in at 8:30 pm THAT NIGHT to be induced! AHHH!!! We said yes, packed our bags, and headed to the hospital.

Because I was already so far progressed upon arrival, they didn't end up starting my induction with Pitocin until 5:00 am Monday morning. I received my epidural at 6:45, water broke at 8:30, started pushing at 9:50, and Weston was born at 10:17 am! Short and sweet!

Ready to head to the hospital. Sunday, October 3rd - 39 wks and 1 day

We feel so lucky that Brett was able to deliver Weston. It was an amazing experience for both of us.

Our new family

Meeting his Uncle Spencer and Grandpa and Grandma Jones

Ready to head home one day later

I can not put into words the love I have for this little boy, but I'm sure every mother knows the feeling. We feel so blessed that the delivery went well and that Weston is completely healthy. I am overwhelmed with gratitude that my Heavenly Father would bestow such a sweet innocent spirit to me. We are completely smitten with him. Our lives are forever changed for the better.

Happy Birthday Brett!

2010-10-18T00:25:00.000-07:00

"Brett Luck": a new term recently coined by family and friends referring to Brett's seemingly innate ability to acquire easier rotations/shorter hours/extra time off work/etc.

Somehow, throughout med school and now residency, Brett has continually been exceptionally lucky with his work schedules and time off. So imagine our excitement, once again, when one of Brett's two days off the whole month just happened to fall on this last Saturday, his birthday! Can you say best birthday present of all?! So what did we do to celebrate? Not much of anything! Brett was happy to just stay home, relax, and catch up on some much needed sleep with his dog and his new son. Oh, and we devoured an ENORMOUS white chocolate macadamia nut cookie from Paradise Bakery. YUM!

Happy Birthday to my sweetest hubby. I love you SO much and am so grateful for all your hard work. Happy day off!!

Showered

2010-10-18T00:21:00.003-07:00

In response to my extreme inability to make decisions and my tendency toward procrastination, many of you truly came to our rescue in helping us get prepared for the arrival of our baby boy. We were very blessed to have so many supportive family and friends help supply us with many of the necessities to care for this baby.

Some of our dearest family friends, the Francoms, threw me an absolutely beautiful shower over in Mesa, complete with adorable invitations, a diaper cake, and Gloria's ever-so-scrumptious, famous cupcakes. It was fun to reconnect with many family and friends I hadn't seen in a while.

Some friends from our ward also threw me the cutest red and blue automobile-themed shower that featured Nicole's cutest Pottery Barn-esqe decorating, and Erna and Heidi's Celebrity Chef-like cooking and baking. Talk about the most delicious carrot cake and cream cheese frosting EVER!

Thank you SO MUCH to Gloria, Katie, Nicole, and Erna, and to EVERYONE that came to the showers and helped subdue my anxiety about my total lack of preparation. What would I have done without you all? Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In LOVE

2010-09-29T22:19:00.001-07:00

I know, with a title like that, this should probably be a post about how much in love I am with my new son. But, since he's still not here, I will instead tell you how much IN LOVE I am with his crib bedding! Materialistic, probably, but justifiable, MOST DEFINITELY!! After months of unsuccessful searching for nursery bedding I liked, my dear mother agreed to sew it for me. We spent hours at the fabric store debating between different styles, colors, and designs, and ultimately decided on a select few. Then, after countless hours (I am sure) of figuring out measurements and patterns (all without ever having a crib to test it on!), my uber-talented mother created this...

Yes, she made the bumper, the skirt, and the sheets! I cannot even SAY how much I love it! It is JUST my style and fits the crib perfectly! THANK YOU MOM SO MUCH!! It is PERFECT!!

P.S. Stay tuned. Eventually, some day, the rest of his room will be finished as well, and I will post some more pics. Till then.

"Reflections of Motherhood" Advice

2010-09-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

Any day, any minute now, this little boy will decide to make his appearance, and then I will forever more be a mother. I saw this video on a friend's blog, and was completely overwhelmed by how applicable it is to me at this EXACT moment. Nummies.com asked mothers, if they could go back to right before they had their first child, what would they tell themselves? These are their answers...

So, to all you experienced super moms, what would your sign say?

Birth Date!

2010-09-18T23:07:00.013-07:00

Caution: BEWARE of the ONSLAUGHT of posts below!

With less than three weeks left till my actual due date, our boy now has a scheduled birth day! If he has not arrived by then, our little guy will be born on Monday, October 4th! My actual due date is Saturday the 9th, but unfortunately the week Brett was given off work was the 4th - 9th. We DO NOT want to spend Brett's only week home waiting for our baby to make his grand entrance, hence we'll be inducing Monday morning if he has not arrived by then. We're somewhat doubting that I will make it to my induction date on the 4th, but even if I do, that only gives me TWO more weeks! CRAZY!!!!

37 weeks

9/21/10 Update: After having scheduled my induction a week ago, the hospital called today to say they are full on the 4th. So... I will now be delivering on Tuesday, the 5th... if all goes according to plans. :)

Some Recent Faves

2010-09-18T22:58:00.010-07:00

In the midst of unprepared baby madness, I've had little time for most other things (blogging included, obviously!). Here's my list of a few new treasures getting me thru these last few weeks.

Neon Trees

Oh, how do I love these folks?! They get me going when all I really want to do is settle down on the couch and clear out my tivo list.

Leggings

Refreshingly cool + uber-comfortable = the BEST way to get thru an Arizona summer while pregnant

Blue Bunny Mint Grasshopper Ice Cream Sandwiches

A newly discovered HEAVEN on Earth. For real.

MAC Fluidline Eye Liner Gel

To quote from MAC's website: "the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish" "goes on foolproof" Love it!

"These is My Words" by Nancy Turner

Not done yet, but could very possibly end up being one of my new faves

Amazon

Not the rain forest, the website. Thank you Amazon for free 2-day shipping on any item I could ever want, for not charging tax, and for somehow amazingly getting my purchases to my doorstep the morning after I've ordered them.

Watermelon

I can't even begin to count the number of watermelons I've single-handedly consumed over the past month.

High-waist belts

Fitting right above my belly bump, I can still feel slightly fashionable while this boy rolls around inside me.

Hoover WindTunnel U6485900 Self-propelled Vacuum

A quick shout-out to the best vacuum EVER. My most dreaded chore has instantly become my most favorite. Seriously. But with my new vacuum's self-propulsion, dirty carpet light indicator, and superior edge suction, how could vacuuming NOT become my most favorite chore?!

A HUGE thanks to this random list of items for making my day. What are your recent faves?

Got Belly?

2010-09-18T22:52:00.001-07:00

Much thanks to my cousin's wife Libby who snapped these maternity photos for us. She's super talented and did a great job, especially considering the circumstances. FYI: we'd been running errands all day long so our clothes/hair/makeup/etc. were beyond haggard, it ended up being one of the hottest days of the summer so we were dripping sweat, and we were interrupted mid-shoot by a monsoon so the second half of the pics were taken while hiding under shelter from the pouring rain. Heat, wind, and rain do not make up ideal circumstances, but she did a great job of making due. Thanks again Libby!

*Photos at 33 1/2 wks*

Changes

2010-09-18T22:45:00.002-07:00

And so it begins.

Last Sunday, in preparation for our new arrival, I was released from Primary where I've taught the Sunbeam class for the last THREE years. I've been in Primary so long I actually had no clue where our Gospel Doctrine class is taught and mistakenly ended up in the new member and investigator Gospel Principles class for Sunday School. Oh well! When I went to say goodbye to my class, they asked why I wasn't going to be their teacher anymore. I explained I had to start taking care of my own baby now. They didn't seem too thrilled. Oh how I love those kids! Teaching the Sunbeams has been one of the funnest callings I've ever had. Challenging and exhausting at times? Yes. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I've learned so much more from these children and their pure sweet testimonies than they could have possibly learned from me. I really will miss it. So now I transition to Gospel Doctrine and Relief Society, where it's fun to socialize with adults again, but where it seems unbearably quiet and where we don't ever get to sing "Popcorn Popping."

My Three Sunbeam Classes (missing several absent kids)

2008

2009

2010

Another change: Friday was my last day of work, and it could not have come soon enough! My initial plan was to work up until the baby was born, but as my due date got closer, and my nerves grew more shot I realized a change of plans was in order. I decided to set my final day as the 17th, giving me two weeks before my induction date to prepare, relax, and recharge. I'm now wishing I gave myself even more time because I still have so much to do in such little time. As of now, I don't have any set plans for if/when I'll be going back to work. My plans are to "wait and see." I will definitely not be going back full time, but if I feel a day away would be a good thing I might consider going back 1 or 2 days a week. Only time will tell. For now I am concentrating on all the other changes and adjustments that are headed my way with the arrival of our little boy. Can't wait!!

Oldies But Goodies

2010-08-29T17:29:00.004-07:00

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend." - John Leonard

It is so fun when friends can go many years apart, and yet re-connect in a matter of minutes. Last week I was able to meet up with some of my best friends from high school at a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our friend Sarah's little boy. It's been six years since we were all together, and it was so fun to catch up with each other. Definitely brought back alot of memories!

With Morgan Peterson, Savannah McCoy, and Sarah Cali

What a coincidence that Sarah, Morgan, and I are all due within 3 weeks of each other! Definitely NOT planned. Even more fun, we are all pregnant with our first and are all having boys!

Me at 33 wks 0 days, Sarah at 33 wks 3 days, and Morgan at 35 wks 6 days

Thanks girls for a great time! It was so fun to see you all again. I've missed you!

"Friends are always friends no matter how far you have to travel back in time. If you have memories together, there is always a piece of your friendship inside your heart." - Kellie O'Connor

B is for...

2010-08-29T16:54:00.003-07:00

...babies, boys, and boats.

I feel so blessed to have such amazing in-laws that truly are my second family. Being in Arizona, we really miss them all and look for every opportunity to catch a quick visit. Brett was busy busy busy with work, so I took a solo trip to Utah for a combined family shower with Bridget and a family reunion/bbq out by the pool. Although I was only there for under 48 hours it was still so fun to be with the family again.

Brett's cousin Sarah is starting her own party planning business and did all the decorations for the shower. Bridget and I are both having boys, so Sarah did the whole thing nautical themed. She is so talented and everything turned out A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Thanks Sarah for such a cute shower!

No pics of the family reunion except this one. I couldn't resist sharing it, because I thought it was absolutely ADORABLE. To say my nephew LOVES swimming would be an understatement. Look at that face!

Thanks again to the Blasers for such a fun short weekend. LOVE YOU ALL!!!