Photo Session Take 1

Okay, so remember how I said Jenni was an AMAZING photographer? I'm here to prove it! She posted some of the photo's from out photo shoot on her blog, and I YOINKED them off to share :) She even said there would be more! YEAH!!! Thanks Jenni!!!

Little Lion hat, Jenni MADE this cute hat...I love it!

Seriously...now it's time to do some printing and framing...so hard to pick, but the first pic in his blessing outfit (made by Grandma LeAnn) is my FAVORITE, I adore that smile! Thanks again Jenni, and stay tuned for more!

Hey girlfriend!

Okay, this post is about the Lance side of the family SUPER FUN VISIT!!!

Among the SUPER FUN things we did, one was introduce Everett and Charlotte (My sister Steph's husband Jarom's sister Jessica's sweet baby girl who was born 2 1/2 weeks before Everett)

He's all like "Heeeey girlfriend!" we hope they will be bff's :) Maybe get married one day!

They are SOOO cute, no??? We had to take every opportunity for a photo...awe...

LOL!!!! Hahahahaaaaaa, this one cracks me up, They both look a little unsure of the situation...

And Charlotte is telling Everett a very juicy bit of gossip, or secrety-secret...

Here they are in a chair (I scored for FREE NINETY NINE off of KSL, I was going to dedicate a post to the chair...but never got around to it, it's in PRISTINE condish, someday I will attempt to recover it, because the colors aren't stellar, but for now....it will await it's transformation, but not bad for FREE right?) And the bambino's look pretty cute in it!

Okay the rest of these dazzling pics are in random orders, but the fun weekend included a LOT of DELICIOUS FOOD, a wedding reception (Congrats Cody and Joanna, love you!), a birthday Party (Yay Phillip, he turned 1), Blessing Everett (LOADS more photo's and details about that forthcoming, when I get some photo's from JENNI, the greatest photographer EVER!)holding lots of babies, telling LOTS of stories! It was SO fun to have California Lances here, and Lane (aka "The Colonel" visiting from Jordan), the Call's from Nebraska, and all the regulars from right here in Utah :)

I have to laugh at these two almost identical photo's...we are nerds, BUT I have to give a shout out to my sistee, being in the same family on BOTH sides totally ROCKS, that means DOUBLE the fun reunions, and parties and I am sure every sister wishes they could share families like we do! YEAH!!!

Um, okay I know you are OOH-ing and especially "Awe"-ing over the outfit Everett is wearing, am I right? Well, the hat I got at a yard sale for .25 cents, the shirt was given to me by my SIL Meikka (LOVE YOU) she totally found it at the DI for a buck, I sewed a onesie to the bottom of it so it would stay tucked in, but wait! I also made the bow tie and suspenders!!! AND the pants were hand-me-downs from Meikka! A totally thrown-together-and-fantastically-adorable-outfit!!! I think I'll show details in another post, in case any of you have little boys you want to duplicate this for :) But for now, just enjoy the CUTENESS!

A total Menagerie of photo's from a barbecue held at our house, SO much fun, the best part was when everyone took turns telling a story, some were spiritual, some scary, but mostly just funny! It was SO fun to share! ...and eat...

I had to post this pic of my B-I-L Justin and his boy Phillip, because in all photo's he looks TICKED (am I right Jenni?) He's not actually ticked, he just doesn't usually smile, and I caught this one of him that is SO CUTE, had to share :)

Grandpa Lane with the two baby boys

A couple cuties of the boy...

He LOVES his Aunt Steph...a LOT!

And, as if that wasn't enough photo torture, hahahahaa...a little something to leave you with till next time...I was trying to snatch the boogers from Everett's nose, and I got a lot, but he still was having trouble breathing, till he sneezed, and this ATOMIC MONSTER blew out...wowsa.

ewe....gross!

Nate's Visit, CUTE pictures ;)

So, Nate's family came to visit from Arizona, and I miss them so so much! I love their kids like they're my own, and I adore Nate and Amy. On sunday evening we went on a walk on the Jordan River trail, to throw rocks, and walk, and get some energy out ;)

Do you remember being little and wanting to keep every rock you ever found? I did :) I love when William and Lily find treasures, ah childhood!!!

A little cliche, but I really do love these boys!

John cannot WAIT till Everett us big enough to play with...it's pretty cute watching him try to play, John took him down the twirly slide too...lol

First Family photo :)

"I can hold up my head SO well! And I am good at blowing bubbles!"

Everett is starting to smile more and more...ahhh, I LOVE this face!!!

Well, not much else going on, just enjoying the little prince, looking forward to seeing more family this week, we're blessing Everett this Sunday :)

Jack Johnson Concert

That's right folks, we went to the Jack Johnson concert last night!

The best pic I got of the stage, it was at USANA Amphitheater, and we sat on the lawn, the weather was perfect, it was so nice!
LOL...The opening band was really LOUD, and I got worried about the babies ears...so I swaddled a blanket around them ...he went right to sleep (when Jack came on, it wasn't nearly so loud)




WE went with our good friends Mike and Amy (not to be confused with Amy and Mike, our Oregon friends ;)---we always have to specify when we're talking about Mike and Amy, or Amy and Mike) They are super fun and cool...like us :)


It was really fun, and as you can imagine, lots of free loving, no bra wearing (and sometimes no undies...gross) typical crowd, there was a really entertaining man in front of us, whose girlfriend/wife/significant lady friend had to be a good 20 years older than him, he was dancing, singing along, thoroughly enjoying every bit of everything, course I might have been as free spirited had I burned one down as soon as the first song of the opening band played! At one point he turned around and saw that we had Everett with us, and he says "F-- Yeah! bring your baby to Jack Johnson! Start him young, YEAH!" It was pretty funny (there were lots of kids and babies there...)

This was supposed to be a surprise date, but I overheard ON ACCIDENT John telling his brother about it...DOH! It was so fun, good music, good company, good weather...so nice. My favorite songs were "upside-down", "bubbly toes" and "banana pancakes"

yeah for summer, and dates, and friends, and music, and Jack Johnson!!!

video, five weeks old

Some video of the baby, sorry you have to listen to my annoying voice throughout...wish I could delete that part out, but I love to hear the little sounds he makes. The cutest segment is at the end, the middle one is dark, sorry, but it's SO cute!

Freezer Meals...your thoughts?

Okay, ever since we've been married, John does more cooking than I do. There, I said it. Whew. the reason is (Are)

1-he was home more/earlier than me

2-he likes to cook (lucky me)

3-He's better at it than me

4-I used to cook lots of things, then I was diagnosed as a CELIAC (lame) and all my favorite recipes went out the door because they were loaded with gluten

5-I am more lazy than he is, I would be content having sandwiches or nachos, while he prefers fancy things like Curry (any kind) and trying new recipes, especially middle eastern, or manly (meaty) recipes.

6-We share a kitchen with John's family right now, and some of the time Debbie cooks dinner.

So, now that I have joined the ranks of stay at home moms, (and John is SO excited to come home from work and have dinner taken care of...it's pretty funny, he mentions it all the time, like "Honey, won't it be so fun when I have a regular job (not school) and you stay at home with the baby (kids) and I come home from work and you already have dinner ready?!" LOL..so I am entertaining the idea of doing something like the cook once a month all day long, and freeze a months worth of meals.

So the basic concept is...you buy your months worth of groceries, plan your meals that relate to each other (like make your spaghetti sauce that you can also use for lasagna, and chicken parmesan, and you know, whatever else). Then you spend an entire day cooking and preparing, and then assembling and freezing-- and you end up with a months worth of dinner entree's!

So the Pro's that I have found so far from reviews etc...

-COST, buying in bulk saves tons of money, not to mention not as many wasted left-overs, AND preparing meals according to what's on sale/ in season saves money.

-EFFORT...Once in awhile I get super motivated to cook something, but not usually. With this method, you know what you're having, and you have it mostly prepared, and you don't even have to think about it, I can't count how many conversations John and I have had that start at 5:30, and we're both like, "what do you feel like having for dinner?" "I don't know/care, what do you feel like?" "Well, its too late to start something that takes very long, let's just have _____" (And it's usually something that's not that healthy)

Con's:

-It takes a lot of coordination and planning and effort

-Mood, sometime's you're just not in the mood for _____, or sometimes our really in the mood for ________.

So, I want to try it... I remember that the Arnold's did this (Sharon and Rebecca), and so I know you ladies at least have some input to offer/advice, favorite stand by recipes etc. Growing up (and still) my mom makes casseroles in two's or three's, and freezes the extra's (it's just as easy to make three as it is to make one). I am looking forward to having the kitchen to myself, and being able to make dinner for the Hub-nugget and be a good for something wife :)

Alright, so what are your thoughts, experiences, ideas, recommendations, qualms, do's and don'ts??? Let me know, especially if you have some favorite recipes that are freezer friendly!

One Month Already?

Woah...it's been a whole month since Everett was born. Woah. It's so weird to think that four short weeks ago he was inside me, and now he's here, in my arms, and yet I really can't imagine life without him. I really love being a mom. I love having a baby. He is so snuggly, I love when he falls asleep in my arms, and I could stay in bed all day and just look at him, and snuggle him. I am often tempted to because I know he won't always snuggle me how he does now. I do manage to get a few things done around the house, I keep up with the laundry, and...get ready to be impressed, I have only gone one day without a shower since he's been born! Pat on the back and a gold star for me :)

And this is the sweet face I get to stare at every day...

We took him to church for the first time this Sunday, we live in a ward where there aren't tons of kids, and only 2 other babies, who are both a little over a year, and our ward loves us, everyone wants to be honorary grandparents...it's pretty cute, and it was fun to show off our handsome man--hr looked So Dapper!

John bore his Testimony (He didn't think I could hear because I was in the Mothers Nursing room) about how Heavenly Father prepares us for things, but we can't know what it's like until we actually experience it ourselves. He said that becoming a parent is like when on "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," when the Grinch takes Christmas back to the Who's, his Heart grew ten times that day. He said the day Everett was born, his heart grew at least ten times. It was such a sweet and true statement. Of course it made me weepy...I love John. Anyway...