The George: Day 3

Our last day of our little getaway was spent with just the 3 of us.

We did a couple of hikes up Snow Canyon.

It was so warm, and we had fun just bumming around as a little family.

We also discovered that I am a really skilled hiker. mmmmm

We had all sorts of a good time climbing around the rocks and caves.

Jack was in heaven.

I'm pretty sure that Jack's face in this picture may be the funniest thing I've ever seen.

I'm also pretty sure Jack could've played around this little cave for the entire day.

And yet another picture of Jack entirely sacked out.

As you can tell, he had a really hard time sleeping.

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On our way home, we were able to stop at one of my best friend, Lou's, house in St. George.

Not only was I ecstatic to see her and her new house,

but our little boys definitely needed to become acquainted now that they're a little older.

These little mugs couldn't have been cuter.

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We stayed just long enough for me to cry from laughing so hard...

and then we were on our way home.

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The drive was a piece of cake, with Jack sleeping 3/4 of it.

This trip was a much needed break from the day to day, and so nice to have Brett all to ourselves for 3 whole days!

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If you need somewhere to go....head down south!

It's not very far, and it's the PERFECT time of year.

I'm ready to turn right around and do it all over again.

The George: Day 2

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Day 2 of our little getaway was spent at Zions.

It is truly one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen.

Don't believe me?

Told you so.

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We spent the entire day in the park.

We went on several hikes that were absolutely gorgeous.

(almost as gorgeous as my post winter tan...in shorts)

The day's starting to take it's toll....

Yep. Toll taken.

After a full day in the park, we met up with Michelle and her family as they got into town and went to dinner at Brick Oven.

Our poor poor waitress. 8 adults and 10 children later, we definitely left a mark!

It was another great day!

I'm 100% motivated to spend more time in Zions.

The George: Day 1

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We headed down to St. George this weekend to meet up with a couple of Brett's sisters as they were on route to Disneyland.

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My #1 goal of the trip was to take lots of pictures.

277 later, I think I accomplished that goal.

All while having an absolute blast.

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It was such a great weekend with Brett & Jack.

I'm sure you'll die of shock to hear this...but Jack was... in a word... a dream.

Good sleeping. Good traveling. Good sport all around.

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Since breaking down 277 photos is a bit overwhelming, I'll split up the trip over the span of a few posts.

Day #1:

Travel Day & Snow Canyon Sand Dunes

We found Jack like this approximately 10 minutes into the drive.

Out.

We took a brief look around my old stomping grounds at the SUU campus.

We ate our lunch here on the grass and let Jack get his crawl on.

This creepy (tickle tickle face) picture of me is for my old roomies...just inside that building lives our good friend Sharwan!

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We got into St. George in the late afternoon.

Let me take this chance to sincerely thank my awesome cousin Jessie and her husband for letting us stay in their amazing house down there.

It was so nice to be able to avoid a hotel, and to have a place for Jack to crawl freely (without contracting a disease), and to sleep soundly.

You guys are the best!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

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After we got into St. George, we met up with the Jones' for a dinner picnic and endless fun at some sand dunes up Snow Canyon.

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It was an absolutely beautiful evening.

Great company in a gorgeous setting made it just perfect.

In case you were wondering, Craig and I are trying to be twins

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Jack couldn't have had more fun rummaging through the sand.

Brett was thoroughly entertained as well.

It really was a perfect start to the weekend!

click collage to see it in all it's glory

Friday Night Fail

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Last night, in a last ditch effort to make something of a Friday night, I had the brilliant idea to go out and get some ice cream. Considering our child goes to bed before the sun sets, it is rare to go anywhere past 7:00. However, Jack took a late nap, had just been bathed and pj’d, and we had about a half hour before he needed to enter into dreamland.

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Being the cheapskate I am, I dug through my wallet for some washed up gift cards some students had given me. Red Mango & Maggie Moo’s…those were our choices.

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Since Brett insists that making the effort to go get ice cream was not worth a “healthy treat,” we decided on Maggie Moos, although I don’t think we have ever in our lives been there. It’s about 2 minutes from our house, so that added to its appeal.

In and out, lickety split.

That was the deal.

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I jumped into the driver’s seat, so that I didn’t have to be the one to load Jack in his carseat for the 99^th time of the day. Brett stayed back with Jack and we were off.

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As we pulled into the parking lot, I was feeling so free and easy, that I decided there was no need to bring in the diaper bag. No need for my wallet since we had a gift card. No need for anything. Just me, jack, and a towering cup of ice cream….tra la la! Brett gets out with Jack, sockless, too small pajama Jack, while I threw caution to the wind, tossed my keys on the passenger seat, responsibly pushed the lock button and closed my door.

Zippidie doo da…we were on our way….Then, I realized what I had done.

FAIL #1.

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I tried desperately to pin it on Brett, “Did you lock the car?!?” No matter that it’s not physically possible to lock the car from the back seat. There had to have been more to this mistake. It was so blatantly stupid.

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It took one glance in the window to see my keys…taunting me from inside.

I’ve locked my keys in my car probably over 20 times. (Honestly)

Why don’t I have a spare? (I don’t want to talk about it)

We walk into Maggie Moos to get our poor blanketless, sockless child in from the cold, and always-sensible Brett says, “I’ll run home. Then I’ll drive back and get you.”

That’s when rational Sarah says, “You can’t run. Who do you think you are?”

Fail #2.

Then there may have been an exchange of words about how mean I am.

Sorry 'bout that one, Brett.

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Putting the running home idea to rest, we decide to call my mom to come get us.

Sarah: “Give me your phone”

Brett: “I left it home, use yours.”

Sarah: Ok…oh wait, it’s in the car…I’ll go get it …DOH!

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So there we are sockless, blanketless, bagless, carless, and now phoneless.

Awesome.

Brett asked the gangly teenager behind the counter for their phone and lucky for us, Jackie trusted that when her caller ID said Maggie Moo’s it must've meant EMERGENCY.

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Suddenly my worry changed from the keys to the fact that my child had bare feet. My mom is practically the face of undershirts and socks. She was going to kill me.

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Brett decided to make this whole circus worth it and got us some ice cream. The good news is he forgot to use the gift card.

Fail #3.

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As soon as my mom’s little mug peeked in, we were saved.

The first words out of her mouth? “Where are Jack’s socks?”

She wasn't the slightest bit surprised by my locked out shinanigans.

I took the element of surprise out of these mistakes long ago.

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We got in my mom's car...she immediately blasted the heater, because Jack was hypothermic from the whole sock thing, afterall.

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Because Jack's carseat was in my locked car, we had to pull a Britney and buckle Jack in with me.

Fail #4.

hero of the night..

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When we got home, I got Brett the number for our roadside service that my oh so wise insurance agent felt would be a must to include in our policy.

(I told you I’ve done this lots of times).

After Brett dialed the number, he instantly held the phone to my ear. I’ll keep my blog G rated, but it was definitely one friendly roadside company or..I don’t know…a sex hotline.

We checked the number.

A 4 instead of a 9.

Fail #5.

The rest of the night, Brett got racy texts sent to his phone from the number.

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In the end, we go the car unlocked. No real harm done.

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Except it’s just another bullet point in a long list of things in my absent-minded resume.

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I’ve contributed quite a lot to that resume this week.

Lost camera at aquarium, CHECK!

Lost debit card? CHECK!

Keys locked in car? CHECK!

Sarah learns to make a collage...

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Did you know I am an art teacher?

Well, I am.

And by the looks of my collage below... a really good one.

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I know.

I know.

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Be impressed.

(except it may or may not have taken me 2 hours to figure out how to make it)

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Here is a bit of what Jack

(have I mentioned him before?)

has been up to this week.

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Easter

(please take a moment to admire his Easter duds)

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Visit to the Aquarium & Park

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Turning 10 Months Old

...& strolling around shirtless to celebrate!

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(you know, the basics)

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Mama, this one's for you.

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..Happy Birthday

to

My One and Only

MOM!

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She's like 43 (or something) today.

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If you know me, then you know my mom.

And you know that I am one lucky sap.

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You see, I might die without my mom.

(see here, I've said this before)

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Writing a post about her is like writing her a "Thank You" note.

Impossible to cover it all.

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u But, here's a start.

A list of all things Jackie.

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If you want the funniest texting sequence of your life...text my mom.

Bar none the. funniest. texter. ever.

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My mom can rock it with the best of them.

Bet if you've ever driven with her, it hasn't been a quiet ride.

I can't even get started on her love for Tom Petty.

(hence the song tribute on the blog today)

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No matter the occasion, or even if there is no real occasion, I'd like to clone whatever my mom is wearing and replace my rags for it.

Consider it a daily prayer to look like her when I'm her age.

Or now.

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She has the most wicked sense of humor.

The fact that she uses the word "Tits" as an adjective to describe things that are awesome pretty much says it all.

How many text replies do I get a week from her with that simple 4 letter word?

8.

I just counted.

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Growing up, she had a cut out picture of John Black from Days of Our Lives hanging in the spice cupboard.

Genius.

We still talk pretty much daily about the happenings on the show like the people are part of our family.

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My mom is the eternal optimist.

Always looks on the bright side.

Never dwells on the negative.

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She deserves the Grandma of the Year Award.

Can't even explain all that she does for her grandkids.

Just trust me.

You'd be more than impressed.

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She has an obsession with white t-shirts.

She might own like 298,493 of them.

I could be wearing a brand new one and hers would still look more perfectly crisp and white.

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She is the epitome of class and style.

Not only the way she presents herself, but in the way she keeps her house, and the way she throws a party.

Always put together, perfectly.

Sisters, has she ever worn anything with a wrinkle?

Didn't think so.

It really is a gift.

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Growing up, she was always friends with our friends.

She made our house the house everyone wanted to hang out at.

She wrote Brett every week on his mission for heaven's sake.

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She is the most selfless person I know.

Add thoughtful to that, too.

Oh, and generous.

Quite the combo.

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Now that I have Jack, I find myself trying to be the mom she was to me.

Everything down to the way I rock him and pat his back.

Rub. Rub. Pat. Pat.

I want to sound like her when I sing to him.

Rock-a-bye- don't- you-cry.

I'm sure when he can sit in the front seat with me, I'll always reach my hand over to block him when I come to a quick stop.

She still does that to me, even now.

(this picture is too classic not to post again)

When we go to Disneyland, I'll be the one to hold the tickets, chapstick, and bandaids.

Anything he needs. I'll have it.

Just like she always did.

Just like she always does.

.. No one on this planet could replace her.

She's my mom.

And she's perfect.

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I can only hope Jack feels about me the way I feel about her.

Complete adoration.

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I love you, mom.

(even in 1988 in a sweet neon blue and black one piece ski suit!)

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I couldn't ask for a better mom or friend.

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Happy Birthday!

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Wait!

Jack says it better...

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xoxoxoxo

Jack Meets the Fire Department

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I apologize if you were in Lehi today and were in need of a fireman.

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They were busy.

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Being entertained by my son.

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We were checking out at the grocery store, and behind us in line appeared to be every firefighter in the city. I was unloading the cart, while Jack sat in the front. By the time I got a few items on the counter, I could see Jack bouncing, waving his arms, and laughing hysterically. ...

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Apparently he digs firemen....

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I watched while 8 or so grown men fell apart while they watched and played with him.

Jack was gut laughing so hard, I swear he had tears.

This went on for at least 5 minutes.

At one point I heard one shout,

"Hey Jim, you've got to get over here and see this kid!"

I'm pretty sure I caught one of them with their cell phone camera out.

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We were starting to make a real scene.

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I went to pay and left Jack with his new pals, and I swear they were practically discussing being Facebook friends. Jack's new posse put a "Future Fireman Badge" sticker on his shirt, and he sauntered out of the place with a cool high five to the guys like he owned the place.

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Between this, the fact that Jack had to be taken out of church yesterday due to his uncontrollable case of the giggles, and these pictures I caught Jack taking of himself on my laptop self timer this afternoon... this kid's a total party!

Such a happy, hilarious little pup.

And in case you were wondering...the Lehi Fire Department will be cooking a turkey tonight and will be using the leftovers for sandwiches tomorrow.

Jack told me so.

Talk To You Later (or in 5 minutes)

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42:37

23:56

15:11

24:31

19:10

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The length of each phone call between me and Annie today.

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Yes, that's a total of nearly 2 1/2 hours.

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What?

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2 kid-watching senoritas without husbands home this evening, that's what.

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I'm not needy.

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I swear.

(or bored)

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this is the face I make the whole time we talk

A Heartfelt Thank You

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I just want to personally thank all of you who have not recently updated your blog.

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Until you do, I feel off the hook.

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So, until I get my act together....

(or something eventful to blog about)

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stare into this face.