Congratulations Bestie!

This adorable little guy is my Bestie's brand new son! He had a lot of people waiting to meet him and cheering on his Mama. Bestie's due date was originally in June, so right from the start (before we knew if baby would be a girl or a boy) I dubbed the cutie "Junebug". Well, he wanted to meet everyone before that, so now he's a little Love Bug.

Huz and I went to the hospital at around 3 in the morning, right after Bestie and the grandma-to-be gave us the call (er... text). Bestie's other family members joined us a little while later. I have to say, I was soooooo impressed with her. She totally rocked and kind of made giving birth look like a piece of cake. She is my hero. And her husband was a total rockstar too. I teased him a little bit and said he should be a professional birthing coach and charge people for staying so level headed. This beautiful little family did so well, and I am so incredibly blessed that I get to be a part of their lives.

Seeing the boys watching the baby was wonderful. Huz and Bestie's husband are good friends, and one of the sweetest moments was when they were both gazing in awe at little Love Bug and Huz said to Bestie's husband "So.... that's the little guy that's been kicking your wife huh?" Bestie's husband was too enamored with his new son to really be able to think of a response. It was so sweet.

So, congratulations to my amazing, strong, inspiring, fabulous Bestie on her sweet little boy. I love your little family so much, and you guys mean the world to me. I am so proud of you!

ps: this picture was shared with Bestie's permission. We all know how I feel about people sharing the birth deets before the parents get a chance to. ::side eye::
pps: In the interest of full disclosure.... I totally swiped it from the new Grandpa's FB page... so Gramps, if you don't like that I have your pic, and you read my blog and see this, let me know.

Special Games

On Friday, my co-workers and I took some of the high schoolers we work with to volunteer at the Kiwanis Club Special Games. At first, I was a little nervous about having our kids (who have issues of their own and often need extra support and guidence when we go out in the community) interact with kids who maybe look different, and face different challenges than them. I reminded them on the way over that they should treat everyone with respect and kindness, and be open to making new friends that day. They all seemed to understand and promised to be on their best behavior.

Those kids seriously blew me away. All of the them! Both our kids and the kids participating in the games... they were all so inspiring and it was such a wonderful day! Our kids were tenderhearted and so encouraging to the little ones we were helping. They held their hands, pushed their wheelchairs during the races, cheered and rooted them on. I got a little misty eyed a few times because I was so overwhelmed by the positivity that was going on around me. Our kids were able to set aside their own issues and really focus on making the athletes feel important and supported. They never once complained about the weather, about being hungry or bored, about being tired... they had such a great attitude and really let themselves enjoy the experience. I was so completely impressed with everyone.

The athletes participating in the games looooooved having our kids to help them. They had their own personal cheering squad, and had tons of people to hug, high five, and show off their ribbons to after they finished their activities. It was so inspiring to see how positive these kids are and how willing they are to face challenges. They were all smiles and I appreciated how willing they were to share their day with us. It was seriously amazing to see two such different sets of kids who face a different set of challenges come and work together and have a fabulous time doing it.

It was such an awesome day. I remember standing in the middle of the field, watching one of our girls holding hands with one of the little athletes, cheering her on as the girl ran with the braces on her legs, and thinking "this is a beautiful day that I know I will remember for a long time". It was such a wonderful reminder that love and acceptance and encouraging others is really what life is all about.

Best day ever

I would just like to go on record saying that today (well, it's now the next day so yesterday- 5/18) was the best day I've had since my wedding I think. It rocked.

I worked at my volunteer job at the pregnancy center (which I completely love!) I'm flying through my training and it just feels so right to be there. I love the girls I work with and love the women I get to help. The time flies when I'm there and I love every minute.

After work, Huz and I had sushi at one of our favorite spots. I got my favorite New Jersey rolls and they were delish. It's always a good day when sushi is involved, but it didn't stop there!

Huz took me to SF to see Wicked again! We saw it last year and I absolutely fell in love. I have the soundtrack memorized and it's one of the first ones I reach for whenever I want to listen to something that makes me happy. I looooooved seeing it again and fell in love all over. I can't believe how talented that cast is, and I love the story. I also got a Wicked charm for my charm bracelet, which I am in love with. Thank you Huz for taking me and spending time with me!

And, finally, I got to watch my ultimate celebrity crush Neil Patrick Harris on Glee. I don't want to spoil it in case you haven't seen it yet, but it was definitely my favorite episode so far. I loved everything about it and could have listened to NPH sing for hours. So fantastic!

So, that was my great day! I got to spend it with my amazing Huz doing all my favorite stuff. What more can a girl ask for?

Hef learned how to get his own treats

I'm just glad he lacks the physical strength and opposable thumbs to open the fridge by himself.

(sorry about the crappy phone video and lack of lighting... we're pretty old school with our technology around here and our new "green" light bulbs take like 10 minutes before I can even see anything.)

30 before the big Three Oh!

So far, I'm really loving 26 (I know it's only been like a week, but it's been a pretty good week!) Recently I was cleaning out my dresser and refolding and organizing my clothes. I came across a memory book I made back when I was in high school that holds tons of pictures and lists and random thoughts I had at 16. One of the lists was of stuff I wanted to do. So, 10 years later, I decided to use some of them (along with others that I have been thinking about for a long time) and make my 30 before 30 list.

In no particular order, my list of 30 things I want to do/try/accomplish before turning 30!

1. celebrate my Huz turning 30!
2.finish training and be the best counselor I can be for the pregnancy center I volunteer at
3. become and stay debt free
4. donate blood (completed on 5/6/10 and will continue to donate regularly!)
5. earn my Bachelor's degree
6. learn to use my sewing machine and make something for each of my godkids
7. knit a full scarf (I finished my very first scarf while in Texas over New Years. It was a pretty purple fluffy one that was a gift for my mom. I also taught my little sister how to knit and encouraged my other younger sister to learn to crochet. We spent the whole visit being crafty little old ladies! My second scarf was started on the flight back home! Woohoo!)
8. travel to Japan
9. Visit Las Vegas
10. bond all three bunnies together!
11. read the entire bible
12. sponsor a second child through World Vision
13. see Prince in concert
14. look into adopting a child to start our family
15. participate in a race/walk/ or run for a cause I believe in
16. declutter my life and house and recycle or donate the things I don't need anymore.
17. take a self defense class
18. make a family tree
19. write our Love Story
20. find a ministry to get involved in at church and let God use me there I am involved in our Young Adults ministry, I was involved in the Christmas Production (so fun!) and am going to be joining a Married Couples Bible Study. I'm loving it!
21. organize my recipes
22. learn Spanish
23. get into Grad school
24. organize a clothing drive for CPC
25. go on a mission trip
26. get in the best shape of my life and feel fabulous in my own skin
27. bake a cake or cupcakes from scratch
28. own my very own gun
29. be in the habit of tithing/donating at least 10% of our income, saving 10%, putting 20% toward retirement and living off only 60%
30. climb Half Dome


So much to do! I better get started! =)

Bootylicious

So, being that I'm a super mature, responsible old lady (in my mid to late 20s! gah!) now, I've been trying to hit the gym more and make being active a bigger part of my lifestyle. I am not a girl who loves to work out. Far from it. When I told my mother in law that I can't stand going to the gym, she said "Well, I saw on some show that you can combine some work out moves with cleaning your house! You can do lunges while you vacuum or do squats and stretches while you dust!"

Really? The two things I hate doing the most in the world? And you want me to do them at the same time (instead of doing my two favorite things- eating ice cream and watching Glee?) Sorry MIL, but that's the worst idea in the history of ever. Thanks though.

But, I do have a two year pre-paid gym membership (what was I smoking again when I thought that was something I'd totally make good use of?) so it would probably be a good idea to get my cute not-so-little buns on a treadmill.

So I went. And it sucked. But not as much as it could have. I have found that being prepared helps. I love drama and playing dress up (after-Thanksgiving-dinner fashion shows were a HUGE part of my and my cousins lives. Just don't ask when the last one we did was... it's probably more recent than you'll feel comfortable knowing about.)

Anyway, I got my iPod ready with music, grabbed my "I totally belong to this gym, I even have a towel with their logo on it" towel, filled my cute water bottle up and climbed on the dreaded elliptical. I'd be a lying liar if I said that the 45 minutes flew by... but having the right music really did help. I'm not a huge fan of Ke-money sign- ha, Beyonce or Lady Gaga during my regularly scheduled activities... but once I am on that machine, it's like I'm channeling them. I'm a fame monster! My body IS too bootylicious! And I totally wake up in the morning feeling like P.Diddy!

Oh, I would like to use this time to scold the girl who was on the machine next to me. Hey you, Smug Jerk In The Tiny Shorts! Yeah, I covered the screen of my machine with my towel, and I hope you didn't like it! Keep your eyes on your own screen sister! It's not a damn race. Yeah, so what you ran harder than the fat girl wearing 2 sports bras struggling to breathe while whispering Destiny's Child songs on the machine next to you.... but that's only because we weren't chasing the paleta man! Pavlov's dogs have nothing on this drooling chica when those bells toll!

I want

this:
I'm sorry Huz, but if I could, I would totally make our kitchen like this. You already know I'm halfway there. Out of my love and devotion to you, I still try to pretend that my kitchen should be suitable for a grown up.... but deep down in my pink little heart, I want this! Pink hair, pink stand mixer, pink tile, pink apron, cupcakes everywhere... I'm in love!

Happy Birthday to the Bunny Lady!

Today is my 26th birthday! Huz and I are going to drive up and see my grandparents and aunt (who is totally my "twin") and the fam and have dinner with them. I'm so excited! I haven't seen my grandparents in what seems like forever, and it's nice to be able to go up there when it's not for a holiday or something.

I'm also excited because I'm picking up some cupcakes from Jen's Cakes. I love Jen's cakes! We first met Jen when we picked her to bake our wedding cake almost 2 years ago. Since then, we've used her for Huz and my birthday cakes, our goddaughter's 1st birthday cake, baby shower cakes, my cousin's birthday and wedding cakes.... and other events that I know I'm forgetting at the moment. Anyway, the point is that I looooove Jen and her fabulous cakes (and so does everyone else who comes to our parties and tries them!) She is sweet, and has the cutest little family! And yummy cakes of course.

So tomorrow we'll pick up cupcakes and go visit the family. And after my birthday.... I'm thinking about making some serious changes. I'm a girl with big dreams you know. I have a lot I want to accomplish, and I know if I set my mind and heart to it I can totally do it. I'm just a total procrastinator and get distracted sooooo easily, that by the time my day ends I'm like "What the heck! Where did the time go? I haven't even started on my list!"

Huz and I really want to make an effort to start living the life we want now. We always say "someday when we get a house" or "In the future when we have the money/time/ finally get around to it". That is just not going to cut it. There is no good reason why we shouldn't start doing some of the stuff we want and accomplishing some of our goals and going after our dreams now. I just need to cut down on or kick my 7th Heaven/ facebook/Mall World/Family Feud/nesting/ vegging in front of the tv/ look up random funny stuff online habit. I'm going to start limiting my time on the computer and in front of the telly (which will be toooootally hard b/c I love to keep up with my friends... both online, IRL, and on my shows)

I still want to blog, and hopefully this change will mean I'll have more interesting stuff to blog about! I want to get better at and spend more time doing the stuff I love (like reading, knitting, gardening, hanging out with the buns, baking, going for walks, volunteering, riding my bike, learning how to use my sewing machine.... see there is sooooo much stuff I'm not doing because I get lazy and sit on my rump! Yikes!)

So, goodbye 25.... it was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it! I won't see you again, but that's okay. I know that I will so totally rock 26!


Love, Crazy (old) Bunny Lady!