2010 House Chores

Here is a list that sits on our fridge....

right where you can see it every time you walk by it, open it or glance at it. It is the list a made in January of things I wanted to get done around the house.

When I presented it to Nick in January the first thing he said, "So these things don't have to be done till December?"

"Yeah, it's for the whole year"
he pauses, "Well then I will look at it later."
Great.

The first thing I wanted to tackle was the lawn... it was real, real bad. Not only did I realize this, but my mom would make 'subtle' hints whenever she would come over like:

"You know... when you drive up to your house, it kinda looks like a foreclosure"

or

"I bet your neighbors hate how you and Nick take care of your yard."

Thanks Mom!!!
It has been a work in progress for 2 years now- here is the beginning:

This is right before hurricane Ike, the first summer we moved in.

both trees were rotting (as you can see the massive holes the friendly woodpecker put in the sides) so we had to get rid of those.

Nick and his Dad tackled cutting down both trees & grinding down the roots the 2nd summer we lived here (last year). Here is the mess...

don't you love Nick's car?! My mom also makes lots of 'subtle' comments about that too. My husband just chooses a golf membership over a car payment. Priorities.

that was a long day for those men. So for a whole year we had ugly beds and no trees, even prettier!!

Fast forward to this April and we started checking off things on my fridge list.

My mom and I power washed all the sidewalks and driveway

(our neighbor's sidewalk and then ours)

we re-did all the flower beds and planted a new baby tree! Here is the whole after picture....

we planted everything a few months ago, but I wanted to wait until it all grew in

our shrubs in the back are still growing in, I think I want to let them grow at least another foot taller. My Dad went crazy with the chainsaw and cut everything to a nub. I asked him if he was sure it would look okay...

My mom responded in her sweet voice, "Well, I mean it couldn't look much worse than it did."

My mom really is the greatest. She spent her whole day picking out the flowers with me and then the whole evening at the house with my Dad transforming our yard. I am very grateful for their hard work.

the next weekend, Nick went and picked out this tree with his Dad and then planted it. Poor guy- that was hard work digging the hole and getting the tree in. Austin and I sat on the bags of mulch and watched, while eating mandarin oranges.

Three goals checked off the list... lots more to go!

A Sneeze....

isn't just a sneeze these days, if ya know what I mean. Just like a good laugh, isn't just a laugh anymore.

(this isn't me by the way..)

I'm thinking it is a little too early in this pregnancy to be having this problem but I will just have to deal for the next 5 months.

I remember experiencing all these little things with Austin and thinking, "why didn't anyone ever tell me!?" So now I am going to document this pregnancy with all the good funnies you have to go through. (Most of the real yucky ones when you actual have the baby and I think I know why people don't share those!!!)

I also drink lots of water.

And then have to run to the potty every 30 mins- already!

My nighttime potty average is at least once a night. Nothing compared to 3 times a night at 9 months.

2 more weeks till I find out when my baby is going to be!

Nick's 28!

My sweet husband turned 28 on Sunday. I think it felt pretty weird for him. I told him 30 will be worse & we should ease the pain by taking a trip to Hawaii that year :) A girls gotta work it where she can, right!

I feel so lucky to have a husband like Nick and know that sometimes I don’t deserve him! My favorite things about him are:

- He loves his family more than anything. And that doesn’t just go for Austin & I, Nick is very protective, loyal & loving to all his family. He gets truly upset whenever something happens to anyone and would do anything for us.

- He is sensitive & never wants to hurt anyone’s feelings

- He helps smooth out my rough edges

- He has put effort into relationships with my side of the family & now considers himself ‘the favorite child’

- He is a hard worker & takes pride in planning/saving for his families future

- He always gives me a kiss before he leaves for work, even if I am sleeping & don’t remember

- He calls Austin to tell him he loves him

-He is passionate about golf & enjoys it even more when he is with his brothers

- He was raised in a good family with high standards & has the highest respect for their opinion

- He supports & encourages me whenever I need it

- He always looks for the best in everyone

- He pretends to be excited when I buy new stuff, even though he only wants to know how much it costed

- Most importantly, he has a strong testimony, is a worthy priesthood holder and focuses our family around the church.

I had the whole weekend planned out to make his birthday extra special. We started with a date Saturday night- we went to Texas Road House and then met people at the movies to see Robin Hood (Nick’s choice).

It was long, confusing and pretty much really bad. But the pain was eased with Nick’s favorite treats I snuck in my purse & my popcorn with Diet Coke.

Sunday morning I surprised Nick with these for breakfast

 

I bought them at our YW auction awhile ago and was waiting to redeem them for his birthday. They were delish & he was excited.

My mom started this tradition all growing up to decorate the house for our birthdays and I want to carry it for my family.. here is some of Nick's birthday decor

 

he spent the afternoon doing this with Austin

we had his favorite dinner & then got ready for a little party at the house with our families.

Here is another surprise I had for him...

My mom & I worked on it all Saturday morning while he was busy. The graham cracker sand traps were my favorite part.

 

Nick isn't a big fan of cake so I also made a peach-blueberry cobbler for birthday dessert.

Happy Birthday!!!

opening presents, he received lots of help!

Thanks for the shirt Houston & Cristina!

and 2 new gloves from Nate & Chelsea, Forrest & Sarah

new golf shoes from both parents. Can you tell he is gearing up for the Utah golf trip?

Last were wedges that I surprised him with. I gave him the first one with my gift & he was thrilled. Then I had him open another Father's Day card from Austin because he is going to be gone on Father's day. While he was reading it, Austin walked out with wedge #2

Happy Birthday Nick!!!

Birthday & Mother's Day Weekend

I'm back and rested from our crazy weekend and Mother's Day all in one. We had such a great time and I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends, not to mention an amazing husband that made the whole weekend happen. Here is the weekend in pictures:

Did I find my Pottery Barn dream nursery chair?? No. It was quite depressing but I soothed my pain with clothes, Williams Sonoma kitchen accessories and new pairs of heels from Nine West... and it worked!

We went to Pottery Barn first and they didn't even have 1 nursery chair in stock, or a cute rug for Austin's room. Then we went into Restoration Hardware right next door and what do I see right next to the front door???

my nursery chair. I got so excited and then I looked at the price tag...$1300 with no matching ottoman. I tried to talk the guy into giving me his friends and family discount and he kindly reminded me that we weren't friends. Oh well, worth a try. Cristina took a picture of me in mourning.

Here are the girls at Johnny Rockets for lunch

our damage right after lunch- we had to made a stop at the car to drop it off and then continued until 8:30 that night.

We spent much of the weekend in dressing rooms....

I think here we were at Banana in the room across from Kelly waiting for her to model.

That night we drove into Austin for dinner at Trudy's- so good, I want to go back. Make sure to get the fried stuft avocado!

We didn't leave till after 10pm to go eat and walked into the restaurant full of college students. I think the modestly dressed, married girls with 2 pregnant ones stuck out a little.

We had so much fun, laughing so loud that a group of girls told us on the way out, "Don't get too drunk, or they will kick you out." Nope- just water and Diet Coke people.

pregnant friends! Chelsea is 20 weeks and I am 16 weeks

Day 2 we hit up everything we missed and headed home by 3ish to spend time with our hubbies.

pimped out at JCrew. I actually wish I had bought that hat....

our truck going home. All the trash bags are stuff full of shopping stuff and the suitcases are busting open.

When I got home Nick surprised me and had cleaned the whole house, set up babysitting and told me to get dressed to go out.

Birthday dinner at the Grand Lux in the galleria.

The next day we celebrated Mother's Day with the family and my Dad spoiled the girls with a fabulous fajita dinner.

Here is the cute birthday cake my mom made.

Thanks mom for sharing your day with me- I don't know what I would do without you.

It was such a great weekend and Nick was so sweet to me. I am so blessed to have him. He ended the weekend by giving my a joint Mother's Day/birthday gift.

This monster of a food processor. I am scared of it but really excited to learn how to use it!

Birthday Weekend

I am officially 23...on Saturday!! This year for my birthday present I talked my husband into getting me a hotel room in San Marcos, TX- he willingly agreed (didn't even have to come up with a present!).

The plan is to leave Friday morning with a group of fun girls and head to San Marcos for the weekend.

No husbands allowed!!!!!!! That way we have free shopping reign, and believe me, we will need it. San Marcos has 2 huge outlets malls right across the street from eachother.

They have EVERYTHING!! From the usual favorites like Gap, Banana or Nine West to the amazing ones like Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel and Williams Sonoma.

Nick and I checked out the outlets on our anniversary and as I walked into the Pottery Barn outlet I almost stopped breathing. One huge warehouse full of pottery barn stuff, with an adorable kids/nursery section... for super cheap (compared to the real store).

I am really hoping to find a nursery chair for the new baby

or maybe a cute rug for Austin's new room

a few topiaries for my bare mantel

and possible a few cute prego outfits that hide the bulges everywhere BUT my belly :)

.........Nick might regret this birthday present.