40 years

My parents just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary! I made this video that was shown at an adult only surprise dinner for them when they returned from an overseas trip. The invite list? All of my siblings, their spouses and my parents, everyone but us :(

For those of you who will be looking for me in the photos, there are seven kids and three sisters in my family, and I am the very youngest of all, so I am only in a few of the last full family pictures.

Also, one of my dad's jokes is to say, "I can't believe 60 years ago I was three." You'll get why I added that when you see the video :)

We left our hearts

Apparently we are big city people. We absolutely loved Chicago. I thought we would be mugged and/or murdered on every street corner, didn't happen, not even once. We even took the subway and walked with the boys through the city at night.

It was a seven hour drive, and more than that with the stops for the boys. All in all they were good, 4 stars each.
Okay, now for the reason you're all reading this. Let me tell you first that I signed a contract to NEVER blog about my experience. But I will tell you that the tv personality I may have seen was fabulous! Just as "she" appears on tv. "She" stayed after to talk to the audience and was oh so nice.

Heather and I, reunited for about 24 hours. We went out to eat, slept (she shared with me and Oliver), may or may not have been to a recording of some kind, went to lunch, shopped on the magnificent mile and back to the airport!

FAQ's. *If* I was at a certain show...

-No, I didn't win anything. There was a book, and "she" said "she" didn't

know why we weren't getting it, "she" said "she" missed that meeting or we would have.
-It was a sad show. One about women being abused around the world.

-I don't know the airdate. We may possibly be on the show with Mariah Carey,

too much to explain, which is Sept 18th. Also I will post

when I see *my* show airing.

Okay, our hotel was amazing. We were within walking distance of everything. They upgraded us to have a view, the best view I've ever had, the Chicago River winding through the city. We were 23 floors up at the Sheraton.

I'm no geography buff, so imagine my surprise to realize we were right on a lake. I know, bless my heart.

The boys did really well. Oliver did have to be held about 90% of his waking hours. *please say it's a phase, please say it's a phase*

We were pretty beat by the end of the day. Me from my television debut *duh*, and E from watching the rugrats a good part of the day. That evening we enjoyed some classic stuffed pan pizza at Giordano's. It was delicious.

Well I have one more day to tell you about on our amazing trip, so keep posted :)

And to all my Kville friends, if you haven't been there yet, YOU MUST while you're here!!! Seriously, I loved it. It was EXPENSIVE, but talk to me, I'll give you some tips ;) Especially on how to get the hottest ticket in town!

They say it's windy

They also say that you can see Oprah there, I'm talking Chicago. And shut the door, in fact, slam it. I got tickets to see Oprah. You don't have to read that again, I got tickets to see Oprah!!!!!

I haven't worked out the last two days, not necessary, my heart rate is through the roof.

The best part? My sister is flying for the day to come with me!!

The worst part? I have to get my outfit to the best dressed audience on TV at JCPenny.

I'm spending my days daydreaming of Oprah inviting us up after for tea with her and Gayle. Maybe Stedman too. I'll fill you all in on the details and let you know when you may catch the back of my head on TV.

6 years ago today

August 15, 2003 we were married in American Fork Utah, Mt Timpanogas Temple.

Right after we were married a lady called me Sister Jimenez, but pronouncing the hard "J" sound. I corrected her and she told me that's not how they'd say it in California.

I was 3 months 20 and E was 22.

I vividly remember the next morning we were sitting on the plane to Florida. We were holding hands, sitting in first class, and I was so giddy to be his WIFE. I thought I wanted to freeze that moment forever.

It's also my brothers' birthday today, but they don't read my blog so I won't wish them a happy birthday.

E, I love you. The first thing that attracted me to you was your smile and your sense of humor. They're still my favorite, even though I have to tell people when you're joking.
You're the best :)

Brothers? I think so...

Many people ask whether we think the boys look alike, and from others feedback it seems as though a lot of people don't think they do. When Sawyer was a baby he was very serious, much like he is now, and he would give little smiles. Occasionally he would give a ginormo smile, and I only got ONE on camera. I LOVE this photo because it was his happiest face and didn't happen too often. Switch to Oliver, and he smiles the EXACT SAME WAY, just all the time. At us, strangers, animals...he is just a very smiley and happy baby.

Sawyer:

Oliver:

So, in my opinion, the only thing different really is their eyes. Ollie is more almond shaped with arched eyebrows like me. Sawyer has bigger rounder eyes and straight eyebrows like E :) Oh, and of course lil Soy's ears stick out like his papa!

We've moved Sawyer to a big boy bed. The transition was really easy, as he was able to get out of his crib anyway. Well, the other night we thought he was asleep but found his bed like this at 10 pm:

E said as they were cleaning up the books, Sawyer would pick one up, flip through it really fast, ya know to get one last good read, and then hand it to E and do the same thing over again.

Here he is snoozin' like he should be:
Other than our boys, we are really good! It's HUMID which kills me sometimes, especially when we go outside to play. E is doing really well in school , and at the end of August he will officially be a second year at which point we get a week long break! Wahoo and we are probably going on a fabulous vacation...

Back Home

We're back to Missouri from Utah. Bittersweet. Getting the kids back on schedule, sweet. Leaving family and not meeting my adorable new nephew Weston, bitter. Coming cross-country in a minivan, bittersweet :)

The first few days home were awful! Craziness of schedule, and the house was a MESS like we just moved in. But now I feel like I'm back into the regular swing of things. I must say I quite miss my mommy making us dinner every night and the delicious lunches she does, I've already been making the salad she made all last summer and this summer for lunch.

The last few days whenever I'm on the computer I've been editing photos from our photo shoot and Utah to put all over the house and send to great-grandma's. Here are a few that I'm loving.

A funny: Sawyer talks a lot more these days, so I told him to say, "Soy loco" which he says quite regularly. For those of you who don't speak Spanish, it's doubly cute because not only do we call him Soy as a nickname, but Soy in Espanol means "I am".

PS We ended up with a Honda Odyssey and love it.

BFFAEAEAE

I'd make these two best friends forever and ever and ever and ever bracelets if E would let me :) I had no idea how much these two would adore each other already, awe! Sawyer calls him "Ah-ye" for Ollie and "Er" for Oliver and still calls him baby. Sawyer will sit on the ground by us and say "Hold it hold it hold it" until we give him Oliver. Ollie absolutely LOVES to watch Sawyer play and gives him huge grins whenever he sees him. Sawyer loves to get in Oliver's face and talk baby to him, gives him kisses all the time, and he even tries to rough house. I told E last night I never pictured myself with my first two as little boys, but I am so happy and adore them, now I can't imagine having a girl...don't worry I still want one :)

We are doing well. E's hand is still quite sensitive, but it will heal. Still no car, boo to USAA big time. They better redeem themselves. Today they totally gave us a low offer and I was shocked, and starting to get into it about how the car was worth so much more, so I say, "Our car only had 40k" and she says, "No it says it had 160k"! SERIOUSLY after 3 weeks!?! What a joke. But we're getting a car this week, it's time to head home, so we're on the hunt for a mini van *GaSP*

I am off to knit with my sister. E is playing XBOX with our bro in law Dallan, Ollie is snug in his lap, and Sawyer is snug with his cousins watching Bolt with popcorn. Can't everyday be summer vacation?