New Car

I thought once the semester was over, life would get calmer, but we've been incredibly busy! Unfortunately it mostly revolves around preparing for Paul's departure, my new class lecture preparation (I'm teaching a different course in July), & the day-to-day care of Alec & the dogs. Nothing exciting there, but we did get a new car. Let me set the stage with our first car-buying experience (everyone's entitled to one mistake, right?)

It's October 2006 & we're still waiting for Paul's visa, so he flew out for 2 weeks to help me move my things from my parents' home in Vegas to Colorado. While in Colorado we wanted to find a car together BEFORE he left (mistake #1). We'd decided on a Subaru-dependable, great in the snow, etc. But, after test driving one decided it wasn't for us...the problem was we had no back-up choice (mistake #2). So, we got talked into a 2002 Nissan Maxima. A car we didn't want and paid more than we wanted (mistakes 3 & 4). As such, this time I refused to be blindsighted.

After doing our research, we decided on a CR-V. We wanted something the dogs could fit in (though Jordan says I can't say the trunk...that's what it is, right?), something with good gas mileage & 4-wheel drive. (It has a small engine (2.4 L) with over drive, so the mountains won't be fun, but it's mostly for in-town usage and the gas mileage was more important).

Plenty of room for the dogs

We knew how much we wanted to put down and our monthly payments. We looked online and found it right away. They had a 2008 CR-V-it's used, but with only 2,500 miles on it, so it makes the warranty good for 7 years, instead of 3 (since the engine's been 'broken in'). So, Wednesday we go to the Honda dealership and the guy wanted $500 more down and $99 more a month than I want to pay. The only problem? My husband test drove the car and LOVED it. The salesman got it down to $59 more a month than I wanted to pay, so Paul was ready to take the deal. I made him walk out.


Friday morning I get a phone call and he'd reduced the monthly payments to only $25 above what I wanted to pay. So, Saturday morning we check it out again, try the car seat & Paul is completely in love. I still say no. Eventually he knocks it down to $10 above what we wanted to pay monthly. Still not good enough. We say we'll come back if we can't find a better deal elsewhere (it is Memorial Day weekend-loads of sales & promotions going on, plus I had a list of other CR-Vs for sale in Vegas) and the salesman knocks the $500 off the down payment. Paul's about ready to deck me, so I finally agree...pretty happy about it all in the end. It reminded me of haggling in Egypt, it was such a rush!!

Plenty of room for a second car seat and a booster seat. Car rides start out slow...

Then get exciting when the wind blows in our face.

We love driving it and Alec's enjoying the view from a higher perspective. We had also saved enough (since he lowered the down payment) so Paul could get his MacBook. I was going to surprise him with it as his graduation gift, but he could use it before then, so it seemed silly to wait. My head's still reeling from all the money we spent on one day...that or the people at the Blood Drive took too much out of me yesterday...

Weddings, weddings, weddings, weddings!

Well, it's wedding season in our family. Several of my cousins live here in Vegas, so we see each other regularly and there are now 4 engagements in the family.

First was my cousin Colin getting engaged to Sarah. Colin has seemed so relaxed since he and Sarah have become official-they're like an old married couple already. They're having a long engagement-the wedding's not until March of next year! My friend Sabrena & I are making the cake & Alec will be the ring-bearer! Here's Sarah trying on the Hunter family veil:

After that it was my cousin, Ross. He proposed to Jordan outside the Bellagio hotel with roses and both sets of parents watching and he hasn't stopped smiling since. Jordan makes Ross so much more happy and outgoing than I can ever remember seeing him. They'll be married on the 31st...little over a week now!

Then came my sister Kari. Ben proposed to her in a hotel courtyard in California. She thought he'd dropped something and was on the floor trying to help him find it. They live out of each other's pockets-Ben's over before most people wake up and he's still here when we go to bed. He's always willing to help with anything, I think they'll be very happy!

I'm very involved in Kari's wedding. Sabrena's still trying to figure out how we'll manage Kari's 10-layer cake, but it will happen, I've begun bridal shower preparations, and on Monday; grandma, mom, Alec & I went with her to Saint George, Utah to find a modest wedding dress. I think she chose the fifth dress she tried on. She looked fabulous in all of them-little cutie's a size 0 now!! Now, if the dress were the only thing a bride needs it would have been a very quick shopping trip, but we still needed shoes and other girly things...

Alec really enjoyed crawling on the carpeted platforms meant for the brides to stand on. He did so great getting in and out of the car all day in the 100 degree weather (I was prepared with enough juice, string cheese and grapes), but he got tired at the end:

The most recent proposal was my cousin Derek to Kristen. He invited all of us along and proposed on her birthday with a kite. It was really fun to watch, they just kept hugging each other! The story behind the 'ROCK' on the kite is that on Valentine's Day he made her a turtle tank and had written that phrase on her card. She thought it was a hint and he was proposing, so she tore the tank apart looking for a ring (the turtles survived). Needless to say, she was ready for the proposal!

I'm really enjoying having all these wedding plans going on and remembering what it was like when it was my own! I love being married and I think with the companions they've chosen, my cousins and siblings will enjoy it also. I'm getting so sentimental as I get older.

First Haircut

Alec has been sporting a mullet...that's right, a red-neck, disgusting, 'business in the front, party in the back' mullet. With not much hair on top, I was biding my time in giving him his first haircut. But, when my cousin Danny stopped by on his visit from Texas, we decided to chop it off. Danny did the honors with a pair of scissors, then I used Paul's hair trimmer to even it all out. He actually didn't do too bad. Like any red-blooded one year old he hates holding still, so it took about 4 different sessions to even it all out, but the result was worth it!

Not much hair on top.

The 'before' picture-notice the mullet is primarily on the left side of his head.

The 'after' shot

Reflections of Christ

Mark Mabry, a photographer in Mesa, AZ has compiled photos of people wearing the Easter pageant costumes to show parts of the Savior's life. I think they're so beautiful, what a wonderful idea. He even had people jumping on a trampoline to compile the images of the angels looking as though they're flying.

It's displayed at the Visitor's Center at the Mesa Temple and here's a link to the website:

http://www.reflectionsofchrist.org

How cool-a pool!!

Alec is still receiving birthday presents and today was from his Uncle Christopher & Auntie Joleen. Since Alec loves his baths so much, they got him a big inflatable pool (so impressive they got a warranty)! It's perfect for him and even has a giant tree that you can hook to a hose and will sprinkle water down on him. We put a bit of water in and let him crawl around and play. I have a feeling we'll be out in it nearly every day, especially with the impending summer.

Being watched over by Uncle Christopher.


Playing with Auntie Joleen.

Just hanging out.

Fremont Street

One of my high school buddies, Tasha, and her husband, Aaron, were in town for a wedding, so we talked them into staying at our place Saturday night, so we had all Saturday to hang out with them. In the evening we took them to Fremont Street and had fun taking photos of each other.

Who can resist a photo with the Travelocity gnome?

Ah, the famous Fremont Street cowboy...

Bridal showers, birthday parties, beat boxing & babies with no tops

Well, Alec has lost a little weight. He had his 12-month old shots on Friday and weighed in at 20 lbs, 8 oz. Still a happy little guy and very active, so no worries!

Paul and I have become so busy between my lecture preparations and his PhD. research that we've scheduled who gets the laptop at which times, while the other cares for Alec. Crazy for now, but things will eventually settle down and we will have more time together.

Saturday was fun. I got to attend my cousin, Ross's fiancee (Jordan) bridal shower where we enjoyed putting TP on my sister Kari in the traditional 'create a wedding dress' game.

Immediately following that was Cat's first birthday party. Hilary and I decided we need to send in photos of Alec & Cat to Gymboree-they're both so adorable! I will confess I love buying Alec's clothes and 90% of his wardrobe is from a store called Gymboree that I love. We actually budget out money each month for Alec's clothes so I don't worry about going overboard! We had fun catching up with friends from our old ward and Alec was entranced by the bouncy castle.

Cat & Alec-future Gymboree models...

Alec enjoying a walk around with a great view! What a wonderful daddy.

Alec squirming to try and crawl in the dirt.

After the party we went home for about half an hour, before leaving to watch my sister Kari's fiance, Ben, do some beat boxing at their ward talent show. All in all a fun and productive day!

Sunday morning before church we were all hanging around to say goodbye to Kevie before he left for BYU Idaho and Alec was entertaining us. He loves to clap with people and dance (especially to Ben's beat boxing), so I managed to get a short video of him doing a little of both!



It's been warm enough for him to run around in a diaper (his outfit of choice) and he looks so cute! Luckily not so warm yet that we have to put on the skin-drying, energy-draining air conditioning!

Standing up in his car and clearly enjoying himself as he poses for the camera.

Such a cutie!

Alec's First Birthday Party!

After it's week-long postponement, we were able to celebrate Alec's birthday at the park. It turned out to be a beautiful day and everyone gave Alec loads of attention so he was happy as could be. Since 'Finding Nemo' is the only movie he can watch for about 15 minutes before deciding to get into something, we themed his party around it. I was so excited to make his cake (which is funny, since I don't really enjoy eating cake). Friday afternoon I baked, shaped and frosted while Alec happily ate the cut-off bits:











Saturday, it was party time! My cousin Ross and his fiancee Jordan were the first to give Alec some cuddles, they were good sports and wore party hats with Alec and even blew bubbles for him:













Paul did a wonderful job barbecuing burgers for everyone while they all took turns lavishing attention on the birthday boy. Aunt Linda held him and allowed him to eat...whatever he could grab. Then he got some cuddles from his Auntie Kari and her fiance Ben:















We tried to light his birthday candle, but the wind blew the match out before we could even light it...not like he would have known to blow it out, but he enjoyed pulling it off the cake and sucking the icing off. Everyone sang to him and he cheered by clapping for them:














Since we were at the park, his Uncle Derek took him sliding and it made Alec so happy! After they were finished and I was taking some pictures Alec began to bang on Derek's leg to remind him they needed to go down the slide again! Afterwards he opened his presents-he loved the wrapping paper and the noisy toys his Uncle Ross, Aunt Jordan, Great-Aunt Linda & Great-Uncle Daniel specially picked out for him:

















My cousin Colin's fiancee Sarah held him and I liked this picture, the way he's checking her face (possibly trying to pick her nose-he doesn't pick his own, but enjoys others'). Then his Auntie Kelsey took him sliding, on some bouncy toys and walking.

















Alec's friend Caleb is two months younger, but is about the same size and they had a good time poking each other, once they were done examining Alec's new toys. All in all a fun and successful first birthday party!

Alec's First Birthday

We had a BBQ planned with friends and family coming to celebrate Alec's first birthday, but Alec's cold worsened, as did mine and Paul began feeling rough, so we had to postpone it. Hopefully we will all feel well enough to celebrate on the 12th.

We have received some good news-Paul has been able to extend his PhD!! Now we're sorting out his flight dates and waiting to hear when I'll be teaching this summer & fall. Yay for Paul!

Alec's enjoying all the tissue boxes being around during my illness. He likes to pull them out one at a time and hand them to me. I say 'thank you' and he laughs. I guess it helps him learn manners, so it's fun and educational. I feel so bad not being able to play with him, he appeared to be feeling better by Sunday, whereas my cold keeps worsening (my sister keeps telling me to think of it as a great diet-I'd prefer to just exercise!). Luckily he has aunts, uncles and grandparents around who always want to. Once again, Paul proved to be the perfect husband, letting me sleep most of Sunday, he rested when Alec napped.

On his birthday we had Alec wear a birthday hat while we let him open his presents from his Granny, Grandad and Auntie Jennifer because we wanted to do something to celebrate. He really enjoyed it, and we took some videos so I thought I'd share those:

Alec gained some weight!!!

Just a quick note to say we visited the specialist again today and Alec now weighs 20 lbs, 12.5 oz. The doctor was very happy with his 3.5 oz weight gain in one week!

His latest favorite trick is to crawl into his car, even when no one will push him around in it and stare out the window. I thought it was cute, especially since that window looks out at the bleak side yard (and brick wall) reserved for Maggie & Milo to wrestle in.