Date NIght Week #4: Haunted House

On Saturday night, Jess and I went to a haunted house. It's called AZ Scream Park and it has 4 different haunted houses. It's normally about $27 for tickets, but I found them for $13. Yay! For some reason this Halloween season I've been really into the holiday spirit! I want to do all these fun Halloween things that I normally don't fully care for. But I never seem to have the time.

We only did three out of the four houses. The first one was a 3D haunted house which was pretty cool. It was pretty scary. Not super scary...but you could freak yourself out! The second one was Alice in Wonderland themed. It was SO scary! Oh my goodness. I definitely screamed a few times on that one. The last one was mine themed. It wasn't scary at all. It was much too bright to be scary. There were two teenage guys in front of us that were SO scared. If we lagged behind...they would wait for us to catch up. And if we were entering a new room...they would BEG for us to go first. It was SO funny!

We really enjoyed our night!

Be the Best You Can Be Week #23

Personal Goal

Last week: Take more pictures. I think that was a success. **See last post.

This week: Use time wisely. I have a LOT to cram into one week. And there's no telling when Ryan will let me get stuff done :) So what time I get, I need to use well.

Spiritual Goal

Last week: Read scriptures for at least 20 minutes a day. I think I missed one day.

This week: Read scriptures for at least 25 minutes a day.

Health Goal

Last week: Work out for at least three days. I did two days. And abs five days.

This week: Abs every night

Writing Goal

Last week: Polish at least two pieces. Didn't do this. Oops.

This week: Spend some time polishing.

Other Goal

Last week: Family scripture study.

This week: Family scripture study.

House Project

Last week: Start organizing my craft room. I still didn't get around to this.

This week: I'm too busy to do a house project this week. Instead, I'll focus on keeping my house straightened. I usually do this, but with my busy week...I'm hoping to not let this slip through the cracks!

Craft Project

Last week: Finish canvasses. Still didn't do this.

This week: I'm in the ward activities committee for my church. This Saturday we are having our Halloween party. I'm in charge of some crafty things for this.

Weight Loss Goal

Goal: -27 pounds

Last week: 0 pounds

Total Lost: -2 pounds

Ryan

My son is growing up so fast.

He's six weeks old and no longer considered a newborn.

He grew out of his newborn clothes. Now he wears 0-3 months. Problem is...the length on these is perfect...but most of the shorts are too big around for him!

He's sleeping better through the night. He gives us a 4-4 1/2 hour stretch during the night. Usually from 12-4/4:30. If we're lucky, it's five hours. And we've even gotten six twice.

He's starting to talk (babble). Especially first thing in the morning.

He's learned to smile. And LOVES to smile at Mommy. He gives his best smiles between 3:30 AM and 9:30 AM.

He got his first REAL, FULL bath. (Mom was too scared for awhile. So he had only previously gotten sponge baths and wipe baths. How dirty do babies really get ANYWAY?)

He's learned to love his bouncer and the toys hanging from the mobile.

He loves to hang out with Nash, but doesn't like it when he licks his toes.

He demands attention...especially from Mom. He'll cry and cry and the second I pick him up...he's all smiles. I'm getting less and less done during the day...

He still loves music. But he'll let you know when a song comes on he DOESN'T like. He's very particular. But he does love Train!

He went to the full three hours of church for the first time.

He's learned to be a happy morning baby!

(I had world's cutest video to upload here...but it kept saying ERROR. Grr...)

And, as always, he brings so much joy to his mom's life!

Date Night Week #3: Scary Movie Marathon

For date night last weekend, Jess and I watched a whole bunch of scary movies! It was a great way to get us into the Halloween mood! We watched two Friday night and three Saturday night.

Friday consisted of one called Fear of the Dark (or something like that). It wasn't very scary...and yet we somehow managed to freak ourselves out. It's about a boy who is afraid of monsters that has to stay home alone with his brother one rainy night. The power goes out and the two start to hear and see monsters Then, we watched Darkness Falls. I'd never seen it before. Jess had. I actually liked this one. Not so scary you can't sleep...but scary enough to freak yourself out when you watch it! It is all about an evil version of the tooth fairy. Great story idea!

Saturday night we watched three that we had recorded off of t.v. They all had a little too much blood and gore for my liking. But they were good story ideas. Okay...two were good story ideas. One was just kinda lame-o to the max. The first was about a group of misfits in high school that torment the peers that once tormented them. This one was just completely messed up. I thought they idea was good, but they took it a little bit too far. The second was about a group of friends that are staying in a cabin (or rather a second home...) A man kills one of the girls that night and threatens the group saying he will kill anyone who is alive by 6:00 AM. If only one of them remains at 6:00, he will let that person live. In other words, he forces them all to kill each other off and lets the last person standing stay alive. It's pretty horrible. But this one I actually liked. Sadly. And the last was about two sisters that visit this town. While there, they go to a tourist spot that is supposedly an old ghost town. On their tour, they are chased down by a man who is trying to kill them. The whole town is in on it and there is no way out. It also has a supernatural element to it. It was just kinda ridiculous. Plus, it was filmed in AZ on the beeline. They wanted you to feel like the characters were in the middle of nowhere. But Jess and I had a hard time feeling that when we knew exactly where they were. So...that one didn't work so well.

I can't wait to watch more scary movies! And I can't wait for this week's date night!

Be the Best You Can Be Week #22

Personal Goal

Last Week: Relax. I definitely did this. Go me!

This Week: Take more pictures. I want to be documenting my life. And Ryan's life. My camera needs to be my new best friend.

Spiritual Goal

Last Week: Read scriptures for at least 15 minutes a day. I did over half the days...

This Week: Read my scriptures for at least 20 minutes a day. I'm still increasing it this week.

Health Goal

Last Week: Drink more water. I was definitely more aware of how much fluid I was taking in daily. This helped me drink enough!

This Week: Work out at least three days this week. I'm off to a good start. One down...two more to go! It feels so good to work out. Now I just need to get my gym membership and get the cardio started!

Writing Goal

Last Week: Spend some time writing. I did a little revising. No new writing though.

This Week: Polish at least two pieces.

Other Goal

Last Week: Family scripture study. Once again...EPIC FAIL.

This Week: SAME.

House Project

Last Week: Start organizing my craft room. This didn't happen.

This Week: Start organizing my craft room...

Craft Project

Last Week: Canvasses and iron on onesies. Canvasses need about 10 minutes or less. Iron on onesies haven't been started.

This Week: Finish canvasses.

Weight Loss Goal

Goal: -27 pounds

Last Week: -0

Total Lost: -2

A Smile Changes Everything

Waking up in the middle of the night for feedings is hard.

It's monotonous.

It's dark.

Some nights I feel like my body won't let me get up.

Some nights I FIGHT not falling over.

But after the feeding, burping, changing is done...

When I go to lay him back down...

And he gives me the biggest smile EVER...

All the late night feedings are suddenly so worth it.

4AM isn't so bad with his baby smile staring back at me.

Thanks Ry!

Date Night Week #2: Halloween Date and Dinner/Movie Night

On Friday night, Jess and I brainstormed costume ideas for our little family. Then I looked up fun holiday treat recipes. And finally, we settled down to a scary movie. It was actually a really fun night!

Then on Saturday night, my mom watched Ryan so we could get out and do something fun! We decided to be boring and do our usual date, dinner and a movie. So first we went to P.F. Chang's. Jess LOVES that place, but I've never been that big of a fan. So we never go. But this time I really liked it. So I'm sure we'll be going back again soon. After dinner we went and saw Life as we Know it. It was such a cute movie! Check out my review of it this coming Friday on my other blog, Polka Dot Lane.

I'm enjoying this Project 52 thing! And I really need to learn to take pictures of our date nights. I'm so bad at that.

Be the Best You Can Be Week #21

Personal Goal

Last Week: Read more. Check.

This Week: Relax. I'm wearing myself down because I'm not allowing myself to get enough rest. I need to let myself catch up on some sleep.

Spiritual Goal

Last Week: Read my scriptures. I did all but one day. Wooo. At least 10 minutes a day.

This Week: Read my scriptures. At least 15 minutes a day. I'm going to try and increase by 5 minutes a week until I get to 30 minutes.

Health Goal

Last Week: Eat more veggies. I did SO good at this. I'm really proud of myself. Woo!

This Week: Drink more water. I can feel myself slowly getting dehydrated. I'm not drinking nearly enough.

Writing Goal

Last Week: Spend some time writing. I didn't do this. Oops.

This Week: Same.

Other Goal

Last Week: Family scripture study. We STILL need to get good at this one.

This Week: Same. This week is going to be the week. Seriously.

House Project

Last Week: Start organizing my craft room. I didn't get around to this.

This Week: Take two!

Craft Project

Last Week: Ryan's canvasses. Got a good start on them. But they took longer than expected. I'm hoping to finish them tomorrow.

This Week: Canvasses and iron on onesies.

Weight Loss Goal

Goal: -27 pounds

Last week: -2 pounds

Check out my other blog, Polka Dot Lane. I've been posting {almost} daily and I have posts ready to go for this whole week!

Letters

Dear Ryan,

I can't believe you turned one month old on Wednesday. You are getting so big. I'm really enjoying getting to know you. I love all your different cries, especially your frustrated cry. You know, the one you do when your hiccups won't go away or you have gas? It's just so cute. I love the face you make when I give you your medicine. I feel bad for you because I know it tastes nasty...but the look on your face is just so precious! I love all the faces you make. I love the way you calm down when you realize the pacifier is in your mouth. I love that you love music and car rides. So do I. I love the way you slump over when I burp you. But most of all, I love that sometimes you just stare at me and don't look away. I love that you give me that look that you don't give anyone else. The one that says, "Thanks for taking care of me. Thanks for trying to figure out why I'm crying and making it all better. Thanks for holding me. Thanks for loving me. You're my mom, and I love you."

I'm sorry that you have reflux buddy. I know it hurts. It hurts me to watch you in pain. But I'm learning a lot about it and trying to do things to make it better. I think it's helping. But when it hurts, I'll be there. And if I'm not...your daddy, grandma, grandpa, or someone else that loves you will be. We won't leave you alone.

You are such a good baby. Sometimes you have bad afternoons. And you have lots of bad evenings. But thanks for being a good night sleeper. Waking up for late night feedings is much easier when you let me have two and a half hours of sleep in between (sometimes more). So thank you for that. I appreciate it. And thanks for being good about morning naps so I can at least do the dishes, straighten the kitchen, eat something, and get ready for the day. Getting that small amount done everyday is enough for me to feel accomplished.

I love you so much. You're my little prince.

Love,

Mom

Dear Jess,

Thank you for being so helpful with Ryan. You don't know how much it means to me. It's so nice to know that when you get home from work I have help. I need that, especially on days when he's been crying for four hours straight when you get home, like yesterday. You come in and at least relieve my stress.

And thank you for the flowers yesterday. The last thing in the world that I expected was to have flowers delivered to my front door. They made my day and made me cry. Thank you for always making me feel beautiful and talented, even when I'm not so sure myself. It really makes a difference.

Don't go anywhere, okay? I need you in my life. You make it better. I love you.

Love,

Your wife

Dear readers,

I've been feeling a little blah lately. A combination of hardly getting ready, having extra baby weight, feeling out of shape, rarely leaving the house, and desperately needing a mani/pedi.

But I need a change. I've never had long hair, so I decided to grow it out. A few months before I got married I decided this was the time I would really do it. A month and a half later...I've grown about 3 inches. And I've been taking prenatal vitamins for most of that time (they supposedly make your hair grow faster). It's hopeless. My hair doesn't grow. And now I just feel blah. So I need opinions. Should I cut it? Or keep growing it out? Should I add more brown to it? Keep the color the same? Go even blonder? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jesse's Girl

Hair Now

Hair when I started growing it out...

Graduation 2008

Sophomore Year

Senior Year

Dear Grandma,

Happy Birthday! You amaze me in so many ways. I'm so blessed to have you in my life. Thanks for the example that you have given me of service and love. I love you!

Love,

Britney

Date Night Week #1: Errands and Island Date

 This past weekend, we had two date nights--both Friday and Saturday.

Friday's Itinerary

1. Costco

2. Movie (Devil--see my review of this movie on my other blog, Polka Dot Lane, this Friday!)

3. Wal-Mart

So, it wasn't the most entertaining date...but we did do something fun!

Saturday's Itinerary

1. Get Rumbi's Island Grill for take-out (AMAZING food!)

2. Plan out our cruise for summer 2011 (Can't wait!)

3. Watch Couples Retreat (This movie is HILARIOUS...)

We were also going to make pina coladas...but we forgot to get the stuff at Wal-Mart the night before.

Jess actually planned this date. He went with the whole island theme due to planning the cruise. I was impressed!

I'm taking this challenge:

Every Tuesday, I will link my dates up here. The goal is to have one date night every week, even if it's an at home date. I was glad to find this right after Ryan was born. Although it's going to be much harder to have date night now, it's going to be a priority for us!

Be the Best You Can Be Week #20

Personal Goal

Last week: Start to implement a schedule and get things done. I'm actually getting really good at this. At least trying whenever possible. Obviously Ryan takes first priority, and if he needs me, nothing gets done. But if he's doing alright and sleeping, I can get stuff done.

This week: Read more. I miss reading. I want {and need} to do more of it.

Spiritual Goal

Last week: Read my scriptures daily. I didn't do so great with this. Sadly.

This week: Same. I started off the week right and did this earlier today!

Health Goal

Last week: Come up with a healthy eating plan and a workout plan. I did this and began it. Woooo! It feels good to be back.

This week: Eat more veggies. I don't eat nearly enough.

Writing Goal

Last week: Spend some time writing weekly. I did a {VERY} little bit of this last week. But that is enough.

This week. Same. This is all I can really do right now. Spend some time [even if it's really short] writing.

Other Goal

Last week: Family scripture study. Does doing this one day count? Ha.

This week. Same. Speaking of which...

House Project

Last week: Sort through Wii games and DVDs. I did this. It feels SO good to have it done. It's been on my to do list for months and months.

This week: Start organizing my craft room. It won't get all the way done--I know this. But I want to at least get SOMETHING done in there.

Craft Project

Last week: Finish painting Ryan's canvasses. I didn't do this. My mom was going to help me with these but she couldn't this week. So it was postponed. I started another project though. It's almost done. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow.

This week: Ryan's canvasses? Mom? If not, some iron on onesies for the little guy.