What doesn't kill you makes you STRONGER!

Recently while wasting time on the internet and investigating mine and Jordans desire to start a family eventually, I stumbled upon this...

Now, call me naiive and childless, but I cannot fathom that this is perfectly accurate. I know raising children will be expensive, but I like to think Jordan and I will be able to cut corners and trim edges here and there. 

$1780 in transportation? What does that even mean?
Which lead to this conversation via text.... 

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Jordan: That transportation cost can be remedied with a bike! 

Me: Well, I don't know if that was the cost of gas for us driving them to and from school. OR bus fare? Plus, our kid wont take the bus anyway, they'll walk or ride a bike. 

Jordan: Are you anti-bus? I guess everyone I knew who rode the bus was a bit weird. 

Me: Not anti. I just always lived relatively close enough to walk. Besides, walking builds character! And what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... 

Jordan: Plus the bus is where kids meet drug dealers. 

Me:  ..so what if they have to fight off a couple of kidnappers, they'll be stronger for it! 

Jordan: But walking to school is where I almost got kidnapped!! 

Me: Yeah, ALMOST. And aren't you stronger because of it!? 
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I didn't hear from Jordan for about four hours after this conversation...  maybe because he was in class? Or maybe because he knew I was right when I told him not to worry; it would not cost us two hundred fifty grand to have a kid...
    ...because this chart is based off an 18 year life span, which I have clearly demonstrated our child will not last. I think the cost of living is now the least of his worries and the future mother of his children has moved to the top of his list!

What can I say? We're gonna be GREAT horrible parents one day!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Last night we went to a SLC Bee's Minor League Baseball Game. I guess I'd have to say out of all the sports-- baseball is my favorite. Maybe because both my brothers played. I was much too young to take an interest when my older brother played, but when my younger brother started playing my sister and I got really into his games. I was telling Dragon on the way "out the ballgame" that I like baseball because it's easy to follow and doesn't have a lot of stops-and-go's. Like football, for example, is terrible to watch televised because every two seconds the QB gets sacked and you start all over again at the line [don't I sound all sportsy-smart like I know what I'm talking about... "QB" "sacked" I'm so smart!!] And basketball is so back and forth. I mean, we watched a good game once between BYU and SDSU at SDSU turf, before Jimmer-Mania, and that was intense and hence fun. Otherwise it's all boring to me. But I like baseball, so I was happy to go.
As it urns out 'Other Amber' had gotten us box-seats through her work, which kind of takes away from the fun of sitting in the sun and enjoying a luke warm hot dog, but we made it fun! Some others from Other Ambers work were there with their small children and we got a real kick out of playing pranks on them. One boy asked, "Why are you in my suite?" to which I replied, "YOU'RE in MY suite!" "My husband is a player for the Bee's, this is HIS suite." I then pointed to the picture on the wall and said Dragon is 'Rod Carew.'

Just so happens Rod Carew is black; which I couldn't see from the angle of my chair, apparently neither could the kid. Or he's an idiot. My money's on the latter... I mean, he didn't even ask why Dragon wasn't out there playing. Moron! 

We got some good-n-dirty-ball-field-grub for dinner. Everyone ate chilidogs, but me-- I ate a corndog.. because I don't eat hotdogs. Yes, I know.. don't ask. They're totally different. The cornbread coating prevents you from hearing that nasty "snap" each time you bite into the hotdog. It all makes sense in my OCD-food head. Ryan ordered a [never-ending] basket of popcorn for us and you can bet in no time those grubby little kids had their nose-pickin' little fingers all over it. Not a single one of them even asked, which at first you attribute to them being kids and all, but then the dad comes in and pulls out somewhat of a parenting move and tells his little girl that we most likely don't want her dirty hands reaching into our popcorn and so she needs to use the cup to scoop some for herself. He never asks if his kids asked us if they could have any or may have any. =Equals bad parenting. And just general bad manners. Ordinarily none of us would mind sharing with kids [and we really didn't, it was all you can eat popcorn- no harm, no foul], but we're a little heavy into "it's the point..."

The kids started fighting over the remote so when they weren't looking we turned it off and hid it in my purse. Again, we wouldn't typically enjoy so much tormenting small children, but these kids had had it coming! We enjoyed most of the game from inside [making faces and throwing popcorn in the air every time the kids looked our direction from their balcony seats.] Eventually we switched and took the outside balcony seats, giving the others a chance to enjoy the air-conditioning [and smash our popcorn into the carpet!]

When we came back in-- the remote was on the table. [tv still not working... muahhaha!] I repeat, the. remote. was. on. the. table. =Equals bad manners going through other peoples belongings. And why would you even think to look there? I'm not saying we were at all in the right to hide the remote, but if they're not going to discipline their kids as they're screaming, fighting and hitting each other, I'm gonna take action to diffuse the situation. Seriously though-- I don't really care. We each just got a good eye roll and laugh out of 'the others' the whole night. We are a pretty sarcastic group, the four of us, our dry humor may not be the best when involved with kids. [or hillbilly parents] 

The highlight of the night was when an Ewok came out to the field riding a motor cycle! Only, Other Amber said it was the Jazz Bear, but what does she know about Ewoks. Or  bears for that matter. 

Because that my friend... 

...is an Ewok if I ever saw one! 

[And here's just for Dragon because I know of his love of gorilla costumes.] 

SLC won, but by that time the bad mannered hillbillies and their spawn had left, so Jordan and I were back inside watching "Mean Girls."    

"YOU GO GLEN COCO!" 

I probably sound like I didn't enjoy the night at all. I really did though. Because I genuinely enjoy baseball [...and making fun of people] and corndogs. Plus we don't get to see Other Amber and Ryan as much as we'd like and it's good to skip out on work early to spend time with friends. Even if we only really paid attention to  like 15% of the game.  

Dinner Date Night

While at work on Thursday I got a text from my love reading, "If you don't want to cook tonight we can go out to Salt Lake for Panera Bread and spend my $100 gift card on shopping spree!" Um, yes, thank you. I'm in!

Jordan has been helping doing a lot of random "honey-do's" around the office this summer; they've recently relocated and the boss wants everything decorated just so. Jordan has been hanging pictures, wall art, chandeliers and whatever else under the sun they ask him to do, so as a 'thank you' they got him a $100 AMEX gift card! Super nice, huh? Jordan knew I haven't had any luck finding maxi's or boho skirts long enough to fit [not like I'm really that tall-- guess you gotta be 5'4" to find a floor length maxi-dress this season. Ugh.] and being the amazing husband he is-- decided to take his hard earned reward and pamper me! Yay!
We went out to H&M [now two locations in Utah-- hooray!] where we could really get some bang for our buck! I only found one cute summer dress there and Jordan got a few new t-shirts. He told me when he shops now he asks himself, "Would Jef wear this?" Jordan got way into The Bachelorette and was rooting for Jef [Holm] from the beginning-- he idolizes that gorgeous swanky hipster! [I love him too!] ...now if only I could get Jordan to grow his hair like Jef's...

 [This was a size too small, so I couldn't get it, but I covet for it oh so bad!]

We had planned to go to Panera Bread since Jordan had a gift card for them as well [I told you- he's been doing a lot of errands!] Unfortunately the time-space continuum did not allow. iPhone told us there is a Panera Bread in the Midvale shopping center we were in, but it was no where to be found... when we looked at the Panera Bread website is says there aren't even any in Utah. We looked all over, but couldn't find one. So we spent a little time at Ross [okay, a little more than a little-- we were there for 45 minutes!] and I got some really cute outfits for Costa Rica!! Yay! Only 10 days til our trip. Let the countdown begin...

I've been covering for another manager who is out on vacation this week, so I don't have a day off. [Yuck.] And I am totally feeling it, but it was nice to have a little break in the monotony and spend some time with my hubby! Thanks for a great simple date, babe. It is good to just get out of the house and do simple things together sometimes, isn't it? That's why I love being married. Everything is more fun with two!

Trading Places, like in Freaky Friday

So my parents drove back through Utah [from Nebraska on their way home California] and stayed with us one more night. This time they splurged and got a hotel! They had been staying at our house,  i so graciously gave them our bed, since and only since they gave me life and Jordan and I slept on the floor of our living room... in July... in Provo... sans air conditioning! My dad felt bad, so he booked a hotel for the last night which meant-- TV! POOL! SPA!
Anyway, as it turns out; my in-laws were coming into town the very next day. Aaaand since we had so much fun going down the river with my parents we thought we'd take Jordans parents and the kids too! We decided to take tubes down this time since we had just done the kayaks and the tubers looked so relaxed last week. BULL. Oh my gosh! Tubing was ten times more physically demanding than kayaking! I don't know how, but it was. I guess you don't have as much weight in a tube as you do on a kayak plus no oar to guide you. So if you're on the lighter side like we three girls are-- well, you're just at the mercy of the current of the river. We bounced into about every rock and stick there was!
It was still really fun though and the kids, especially the boys, really seemed to enjoy it.

The boys getting ready to head out! 

Cal putting on his best fake smile. He was convinced I was trying to kill him... 

he said he suffered a near death experience on this very same river twice already. 

Listen, Cal, my mom did this river the week prior-- and that's saying a lot!

This is Sadies excited face. I promise.

Jordan and I hittin' the river for Round Two! 

Family photo-op as we rested for a minute after The Bridge of Death! 

Holding hands was a nice idea, but this didn't last long! 

Because soon Jordan got a'hold of Sadie-- and this happened...! 

He pushed her out into the middle of the rapids all alone so he could take a picture of her. I wish this picture was more clear so you could see her face because it is covered with sheer terror! Haha. Poor Sadie. And Natalie probably thought she's be safer with Jordan, the experienced one. My poor twin. 

Just a trace of fear. 

It was a long and bumpy ride, but eventually all us girls caught up with one another and held on for safety's sake. We all made it to the end alive, but not unscathed. Natalie's inner arms were so raw from paddling against the canvas tube jacket. It is fun adventure, but definitely a work out!

We wish we could have had more time with the fam, but they're kind of a big deal around these parts, so we were lucky to snag a day with them! Thanks for visiting. All this family time made for a great start to the summer. 

Cowboy Up!

"Now you're just somebody at the rodeo! Some-bodddddddy, some-boddddddyyy!" --to the tune of Gotye's "Somebody That I Used to Know" 

Grandpa Jerry & Uncle Cameron got us tickets to the RODEO. Unfortunately we didn't get any cool pictures of cowboys being stabbed by bull horns, but we did see this on our way there...!

[...and videos!??]

Right??

My favorite part of the rodeo was the very first event-- the bareback bucking broncos. Those horses were crazy! And the riders were all over the place. Next they did the same thing, but with saddles-- lets just say they probably shouldn't have lead without the saddles if they wanted anyone to actually think the saddled riders were tough. The bulls were cool, but the bucking horses had more agility to twist and buck about. Jord and I were secretly hoping someone would get sphered with a bull horn! Is that terrible? [Oh well.]

The fireworks afterwards more than made up for the ones we missed the night before for the 4th. The whole night was really cool, I just wish they had nachos at concessions. Mmm.

"Dad, I bet if you ask the neighbors they'll let you mow their lawn!"

It's been a busy summer-- lots happening.
My dad hasn't been out to Utah since we moved here-- TWO YEARS AGO!, so my parents came to visit the week before 4th of July. The thing is my dad apparently doesn't know how to vacation. Vacation being a  verb in this scenario. He can't r-e-l-a-x, he always has to be doing something... and reading does not count as "something" in his book. ["in his book," get the play on words, hmm? Ha!] I'm convinced it's because he's Mexican and can't actually read books in English, but he says it's because books are BOOOOOOORING! Okay, am I talking to a 3rd grader?
Well, Jordan and I wound up seeing more of Utah in 4 days than we have in 2 years! I suppose now we're cultured.

Day One: We went to church in the morning. When I say "we" I mean Jordan and I went to sacrament while my parents walked down to Juice n' Java to get their morning coffee and searched for garage sales... on a Sunday... in Utah... Provo, Utah.
Then we hiked to Timpanogos Caves [Like 3.5 miles. No joke]

[Admiring Jordan's utility pack aka 'fanny pack']

Day Two: We kayaked the Provo River with High Country Adventure. We had a Groupon, so it was BOGO! Yay!! Jord and I did singles, but my mom said she's die if she had to do it alone, so my parents did a double. We all tricked my mom into thinking that the person in back does all the work, so she needed to be in front [in plain sight of my dad so he could yell at her when she was lounging and not helping row], none of us had any evidence to back this up, but she fell for it! Really, though, I think back has a lot more work to do! 

[My mom kept asking about the "rapids" it's like a Class II river 

in the roughest spots, ha!]

 [Jordan- always showin' off!]

 [You can see how hard my dad is working in the back! ;) ]

I wish we would have known you could stop on the river for a picnic; we just ended up taking my parents to my work, since my dad has never been to my restaurant. YUM! 

That night we took the old folks laser tagging! Unfortunately no pictures. What was I thinking not bringing the camera!? Someone let me choose the music--so of course I chose the Jurassic Park theme music... well, I'm never allowed to pick laser tag music again. It's boring without the right selection to get you pumped up! 

Day Three: We thought we'd take a nice hike to Bridal Veil Falls and then maybe have some lunch up in Heber... well this day turned out to be the L-O-N-G-E-S-T day evvvvvvvver! We started early, got some breakfast at the new diner in town [the waitress spilled three glasses of water on Jordan's lap!], mini-hiked to the bottom of Bridal Veil Falls [where my parents wanted to spend all day looking around at everything, but we convinced them it was just more of the same old nature-y crap we've already seen the last two days! *sigh, 'old people!'] then headed to Heber to show my dad the street walking signs [no pictures, bummer.]

 [My parents wanted to walk all over Heber and look at Antique Shoppes. *sigh- 'old people,' so Jordan and I lounged in the park until it was time for Dairy Keen.]

[What a babe!]

Theeeennnnnnn... my mom thought it would be cool to go to Olympic Park in Park City. 

 [Just cover the green wall with your hand and it looks like he's really there!] 

[About to go zip-lining!]

[We could tell when they were coming down because they were 

both screaming like little girls! Especially my dad.]

We finally ended the day with a nice dip in Ryans pool... 

...and I had the best steak of my life at GoodWood that night for dinner! Mmmm! Seriously, mouth watering just thinking about it! 

[My dad finally got some relaxation time!]

"No coffee, no beer, no tv? How do these kids live?"

We did so much more inbetween, but these are the highlights. My mom and dad left the next morning to get to Nebraska in time to meet their friends Julie and Jeff for dinner and fireworks. Jordan and I rented a movie, grabbed some Taco Bell, shut the blinds and had a nice 4th of July IN!