Happy 31st

     Are you as shocked as I am?  Thirty-one years old and I still look 15!  (I wish.)  Let's face it, I'm no spring chicken anymore.

     Since my birthday landed on a Sunday this year, we did most the celebrating on Saturday.  In the morning Mike watched the kids so I could go for a long run.  Afterward I suggested we all go to the Tualatin Hills Nature Park for a walk.  Mike wanted to take me on a hike in Forest Park, but because the weather was unpredictable, and rainy on and off all day, I opted for a hike close to home.  We had a great time!  We saw a lizard and the kids got to hold it.  We saw a nutria looking around for breakfast.  It wasn't afraid of us and let us get real close to it to take pictures.  We saw ducks, fish, and more lizards in the water.  We also found a snail and a slug on our path.  Overall, the kids were pretty excited about all our discoveries.  

     

     For my special day Mike took me out to dinner.  We went to the infamous Toro Bravo restaurant.  But because it's so popular, you can't make reservations, you just have to show up 15-20 minutes before they open just to get a table.  There is usually a line of people already waiting outside the door.  We tried to get there early but our GPS gave us wrong directions (curse you, technology!!!) so we got there about 10 minutes after they opened the doors.  We put our name on the waiting list and it was already and hour and a half wait for a table by then!  We were a bit discouraged but decided to wait anyway.  

     

     So we went upstairs to a small bar called the Secret Society for drinks and appetizers.  We had a yummy cheese board and we were also introduced to ginger beer which is the strongest gingery drink I have ever consumed!  Not too long after, we checked our status at Toro Bravo and they were ready to seat us!  So we didn't have to wait as long after all.  We ordered virgin margaritas and the eight course tasting menu.  Mike learned early on in our relationship that the way to my heart is through good food.  Here is what we had: 

  

Bread with butter & olive oil 

Bacon wrapped dates with warm honey  

Salt cod fritters with aioli

Spring green salad mix with asparagus, chopped eggs, and hazelnuts

Griddled chorizo & eggs with potatoes and buttermilk cheese

Duck liver mousse terrine with morels & house made sidra mustard

Baked polenta with roast beef, peppers, & onions 

Sautéed spinach with pine nuts & golden raisins 

Drunken pork with fresh shell bean stew

     Eight little plates of pure heaven.  Well, except for the liver mousse, which was a new thing for me.  I wasn't a big fan of it.  Not so much the taste as the texture, (and the name was scary, too) but I was adventurous and gave it a try.  Mike didn't have a problem polishing off the rest of it.  Brave boy.  My favorite thing was the polenta.  My belly was so full by the end of our meal...but not too full for Salt & Straw ice cream.  In my opinion, it's the best ice cream in the world!  There is always a line out the door when we go to this place, but it is so worth it.  I got a split scoop of their AMAZING sea salt ice cream with caramel ribbon and a new flavor called "Lumberjack Stack."  It tasted like maple syrup and had bits of baked, blueberry pancakes.  I could've died a happy girl right then and there.  I haven't felt so gluttonous in a very long time.  

     

     This morning Mike let me sleep in.  He got the boys bathed and dressed for church.  He also made breakfast.  He took Haven home early to put him down for a nap so I could go to Sunday school and Relief Society.  While he was at home with the baby he made taco soup for dinner and cake for dessert.  For my birthday I requested a devil's food cake and an angel food cake, and I got both.  Food, food, food.... greatest birthday gifts a girl like me could ask for.  :)  I also got some other fun things which included a neck pillow, a work-out DVD, and a Mani-pedi pass.  Vessel made me a paper airplane and wrapped it up in pretty paper and made me a cute card to go with it.  Gotta love that sweet boy.  I also got cards and money from family, and texts and emails from friends.  I feel so blessed.

I can't forget the Cadbury Mini Eggs and fake booze!  Two of my favorite things!   I'm sad though, because one of the stemmed glasses fell off the table and shattered into a hundred pieces before I even got to use it.  

 

Oh, and the other gift from Mike: Wet Ones!!  Just what I wanted!! ;)

My Love

Grotesque

Here I am with the ugly little up-do I've been sporting lately. Once my hair gets to the point where I can pull it up in a pony tail, that's all I seem to do with it. I need a haircut! Something fresh, something cute, something EASY. Any ideas?

I...

I am: a wife, mother, sister, and daughter.
I think: about every option before making a decision.
I know: my prayers are answered.
I have: a really blessed life.
I hate: hearing sad stories on the news about children being abused.
I miss: the summer of 2003 when Steph and I hung out every day.
I fear: being a bad example to my children.
I feel: really happy lately.
I hear: Mike's crazy cell phone alarm every freaking morning.
I smell: the homemade peppermint conditioner in my hair that I made.
I crave: something sweet after a meal.
I cry: less often now than when I was a teenager. Good gosh, let's never go back...
I want: to be in a rock band.
I usually: laugh at the stupidest things.
I search: for Vessel's pillow every night at bedtime.
I wonder: who will be the next president.
I regret: judging people before I know them.
I care: about being a good wife and mom.
I love: the gospel.
I always: give Mike a kiss and a spankin' when he gets home from work.
I never: get car-sick when I'm the one driving.
I worry: about being prepared for the future.
I remember: lots of things from my childhood.
I forget: what it was like having a newborn.
I believe: there is a purpose for everyone.
I dance: around the house with Mike and Vessel.
I sing: out loud in the car.
I don't always: make a good first impression.
I argue: when I truly believe I'm right.
I write: in my journal regularly.
I win: thumb wars with myself.
I lose: sleep when I'm stressed out.
I wish: I could manage my time better (i.e. not writing random posts about myself when I could be doing something more productive.)
I listen: to those who have something to say worth hearing.
I dream: in color.
I don't understand: everything, and I'm okay with that.
I can usually be found: playing with Vessel.
I need: very little to be satisfied.
I am happy: when I hear my favorite music.
I am not: tired of life. I love it!

I've Been Tagged

I have been tagged by my friend Melissa J. Here we go, I'm suppsose to list:
3 joys, 3 fears, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about myself, 3 goals, and then tag 5 other people. Leave a comment for the people you tag so they know they have been tagged.

Joys: (okay, I'm not going to state the obvious like friends, family, etc.)
1. Cruising on my longboard on a crisp day
2. Anything artsy or crafty
3. Swimming in the ocean and lying on the warm beach afterwards

Fears:
1. Becoming paralyzed from the neck down.
2. Losing my mind.
3. Being buried alive.

Obsessions:
1. Lists. Making them and checking them off.
2. Blogging.
3. Lately, finding the perfect house.

Facts:
1. I gave birth to my son completely unassisted by drugs or epidural.
2. I worry about losing things constantly. Files on the computer, my wallet, my wedding ring, pictures, friends, and just about anything that's important to me I'm scared of losing. (I guess I could've put this in the fear category, but it was already filled up.)
3. I get motion sickness pretty bad.

Goals:
1. Be a better listener.
2. Work on getting my food storage where it needs to be.
3. Follow a schedule so I use my time more wisely.

Tag your it:
1. Bekah
2. Tracy
3. Melissa T.
4. Josie
5. Claire

Anotha Chop

About 3 weeks ago I got a new hair cut. I went to The Living Room Salon. You guys, I can't tell you how much I love going to a salon to get my hair cut. One of the best feelings for me is to have my hair played with. I really enjoy getting it washed and conditioned and getting a scalp massage with oil. I love getting it combed out and just having fingers through it. It is the most relaxing feeling to me! Anyway, I've still got the A-line going on, but a little shorter and more stacked in the back. Yesterday I bought a hair straightener. I know, I know, they've been around for forever, right? And why should I need a straightener when my hair is straight as a board naturally anyway? Well, it made my hair more sleek and I was able to give it a cute flip that I normally can't achieve with a regular curling iron. So hurray for hair straighteners....or something.

Here are some pictures of me with the new chop. I tried real hard to get a good shot of it, but you know how self taken photos usually end up. My head was actually not cut off in these, so there ya go.

Side profile

Memory Lane

This game has been making the rounds and I decided to join in! Anyone who looks at my blog is obligated to participate!

1. Add a comment on my blog. Leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember! (or feel free to leave a memory of Mike, if you'd rather do that!)

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

101 Things You May or May Not Know About Me

Here ya go ladies and germs. Getting to know all about your good pal Jamie. I saw this on Cheri's blog and decided to go for it.

1. I have a photographic memory.

2. I love having a “to do” list and checking off things throughout the day.

3. I’m a very indecisive person.

4. I love music. It has such a powerful impact on my day to day life that without it I would absolutely roll over and die.

5. I love the cello.

6. I tend to hold a grudge.

7. I worry.

8. I love to read, but it takes me a long time to get through books because I’m such a slow reader.

9. I’d rather be hurt than to hurt someone else.

10. I want to go back to school and become a dietician someday.

11. I love to longboard and snowboard.

12. I think I’ve got mild OCD.

13. I love cartoons.

14. I am a sensualist not a hedonist. ;)

15. I’m quiet, but I try hard not to be.

16. My coping strategy is to sleep it off.

17. Yellow looks horrible on me.

18. My ideas are always changing.

19. I’ve been in quite a few fist fights.

20. If I could have a super power I would want to speak and understand every language.

21. I put things off too much. But it’s okay since I work better under pressure. That’s my justification. Pretty lame, eh?

22. Ice cream is my weakness.

23. I love children’s books.

24. My pinky fingers are crooked.

25. I have an eye for detail, unless I’m nervous. What I mean by that is I can remember detailed things about what a person was wearing, how their hair was, or very specific things unless that person makes me nervous and then I just shut down.

26. I wouldn’t call myself a “gamer.”

27. I brush my teeth for a really long time.

28. I’m a collector.

29. I can out-eat you. Just try me.

30. I hold my breath. I unconsciously stop breathing sometimes when I’m really focused on something or incredibly stressed. At times I’ll just be sitting there and realize that I’ve been holding my breath for seconds at a time.

31. I was obsessed with angels and cherubs when I was in junior high. I had cherub posters, calendars, statues, knick knacks, notebooks…anything you could think of.

32. I take too many pictures.

33. I love candles and incense (Nag Champa will always remind me of the summer after I graduated high school.)

34. I have a pretty horrible sense of direction. I use landmarks to help me find my way around.

35. I want to have a garden someday. We always had a garden when I was a child and I’d like my kids to have that experience too.

36. I got my tonsils out when I was 20 years old.

37. I rarely get bored. I always have something to do.

38. I wish I was more like my husband. For instance, he’s the type of person who can just let things go and he goes out of his way to avoid confrontation. And he’ll be nice to someone even if he dislikes them. But I, on the other hand, can’t just “drop it” and if I don’t like you, you’ll definitely know because I’ll make a point of not looking at or talking to you.

39. I could spend hours at an art gallery.

40. Commercials and infomercials are fun to watch.

41. I am easily overwhelmed.

42. I can play the clarinet.

43. I hate my fingernails.

44. I have an oral fixation. Like when I study I’ll chew on my pen, or when I watch a movie I’ll bite my fingernails (which is why #43 exists.). If I’m concentrating it seems like I’ve always got to be chewing on something.

45. I love the smell of sun block.

46. I hate eating in front of people.

47. I like chemistry.

48. I like to dance and watch other people dance.

49. I couldn’t live in a place where it rains constantly. I need sunshine to feel happy.

50. I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars.

51. When loading the dishwasher, I have to place all the silverware (except knives) pointing up in the tray, otherwise it bugs me.

52. I don't necessarily believe in horoscopes (like in the newspaper or whatever) but when it comes to traits and characteristics of astrological signs, the description of my sign (Pisces) fits me to a T.

53. I prefer ballpoint pens to other types of pens.

54. It can take me a long time to do simple tasks.

55. My favorite snack right now is French baguettes with spinach artichoke dip.

56. In 6^th grade, a boy named Shad punched me in the nose at recess when a few of my friends and I were playing boys against girls “keep away.” I probably provoked him, but it didn’t give him the right to hit a girl. Can I get an amen?

57. I have a hard time waking up. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is, waking up is always a struggle for me.

58. If you try to wake me up when I’m not ready to wake up, be in for a sad, sad day my friend. It’s best to just keep your distance.

59. I’ve eaten fried mealworms before. I’ve also eaten alligator and rabbit.

60. I hate it when “customer service” is rude to me before I even say anything. Helloooooo, your job is to serve the customer (me) and not be a douche.

61. I’m a huge believer in “karma” or “what goes around comes around.” So all you lousy customer service reps out there, you’ll get what’s coming to you.

62. I like going to cemeteries. I also like going to scary abandoned haunted houses.

63. Usually I regret not saying what’s on my mind but I suppose I’ve gotta draw the line somewhere, and that means zipping my mouth on a regular basis. But that's not to say I don't ever put my foot in my mouth because it actually happens quite often.

64. I don’t wear glasses or contacts.

65. I don’t ever want to live in the middle of a big city.

66. I’m not afraid of clowns. They’ve never spooked me out. Sorry Tracy.

67. I always wear some type of make up everyday, unless I don’t plan on leaving the house. I don’t like going out of the house without at least a little mascara or lip gloss. My face just feels naked. However, I am trying to go bare faced more often.

68. When I go shopping, I usually don’t get in and out quickly. Even if I make a list, I end up browsing for awhile instead of just getting the stuff & going.

69. My husband hates that about me.

70. Chewing gum makes me gassy.

71. I hate it when people are flaky. Like for instance, it bothers me if people make plans with us a week in advance and then cancel last minute. It makes me mad because I schedule my whole day around that event and then they cancel! Aaaaarrrrgghhh!

72. I want to get acupuncture and a belly massage.

73. The chore I hate most? Washing dishes.

74. Spring is my favorite season.

75. I am putting off packing for our move by writing this little list.

76. I could probably be a vegetarian, but I could never be vegan. I eat too many dairy products.

77. I used to have a crush on Conan O’Brien. What can I say, I like ‘em funny! Lucky for me Mike is funny AND hot.

78. I’ve never broken a bone. Well, I fractured my ankle playing soccer, and cracked my knee roller-skating. But I’ve never had to wear a cast.

79. I can play the piano by ear.

80. I can make a mean jell-o salad.

81. I have really sensitive ears.

82. I love laughter!

83. I ate a lot of deer and elk meat as a kid because my dad liked to hunt. Beef was something our family rarely ate until I got older.

84. I have really great friends. They are the type of friends who’ll listen to me rant if needs be, tell me the truth no matter what, and like me despite all my flaws.

85. I’m going to miss Utah more than I thought.

86. Like Cheri, I have a truly embarrassing moment every week.

87. I love the feeling of clean sheets.

88. I’m not a big fan of watching professional sports on T.V. Like, I don’t have a favorite team or anything. I like to watch the Olympics though. And I enjoy participating in sports.

89. I wish I was more proficient in my computer skills.

90. I am a visual learner. I pick up things 100 percent better when there is a visual aid or some kind of picture or demonstration involved.

91. My favorite toy as a child was a doll I named Shawna Mama.

92. I want our family to celebrate every holiday on the calendar. Like Secretaries Day, Arbor Day, and Flag Day. More excuses to party is fine by me.

93. I would like to live in California or Puerto Rico. I love, love, LOVE the beach.

94. I was always the teacher’s pet during my school days. Yup, a total brown noser all the way.

95. A few years ago some friends and I were canoeing on the Snake River up in Idaho, and as we were turning a sharp corner the canoe tipped. That made for a very cold rest of the day.

96. I can be a sore loser. Especially when Mike beats me at Dr. Mario.

97. I always wanted a tree house.

98. I love wearing pajamas.

99. When I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian when I grew up.

100. I am really digging the band Santogold right now.

101. I’m everything and nothing all at once.

Hair is an Accessory!

Well, I really need a break from studying, so I'm going to post a bunch of crap about myself. :) Most of you know I love scrapbooking. But I'm usually too busy to sit down and make progress on my pages. I've got lots of photos in shoeboxes just waiting to be organized, cropped and labeled. I thought conference would provide a good opportunity to scrapbook. You know, I might as well do something while I'm just sitting there listening right? So anyway, I found a bunch of pictures during the sorting process and thought it would be fun to post them on here.

The name of this post is entitled "Hair is an Accessory" because that's really what I consider it. There are just too many possibilities to choose from. So here are some of the many stages my hair went through growing up. I bet some of my family will appreciate these.

Ah, look #1. Ever since I had hair on my head my mom gave me bangs. Below are a few examples:

Here I am as a kindergartener. Uneven bangs were generally my style.

2nd grade. More bangs, but I've also got some "crimp" going on in the back. And check out that grill! It's a wonder my teeth turned out as well as they did, considering I never had braces. When those adult teeth come in, they seem to take up a kid's entire face, am I right? Eh, I grew into 'em.

3rd grade. Then the "poofy bangs" were in. Oh, and that sweater is just screaming the 80's. Gotta love it.

6th grade. Still haven't lost the bangs. :(

8th grade. Around 7th grade I started growing my bangs out and the summer before 8th grade my hair was all one length. I pretty much wore this exact hairstyle until 10th grade.

Beginning of 11th grade. THE PERM! I have hair that's straight as a board and I always wanted curly hair so I went out and got a perm. But to be honest, it wasn't a favorite of mine.

End of 11th grade. By the end of my junior year I had grown out and cut off all that nasty perm and dyed my hair semi-permanent red.

The summer before my senior year I wanted to look like Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls. She had red hair with blonde strips in the front. Well, I tried using straight bleach on my hair. That didn't work so I used straight peroxide. WHAT WAS I THINKING!? It ate my hair in the front. But as it grew out it was actually lighter, so there you have it. Not exactly what I was trying to accomplish though.

12th grade. A few days before yearbook pictures were taken I chopped all the "red" off. Stupid photographers made all the girls wear this little black top that made us look like we were wearing dresses or something. Gotta be unified, right?

A couple months later I frosted my hair and started using A LOT of hair product. Gel and hairspray were an essential part of my life.

A couple of months after that I got it cut the shortest its ever been and colored it red. It was so short that it literally would not stay down. My mom cried.

Aside from being called a "dyke" by some ignorant school kid, I really liked my hair short and spiky. Very low maintenance. I never got ready for a dance so fast.

At the end of December during my senior year I dyed it pink. It was quite fitting for my personality at the time. My mom still wasn't a fan. :)

By February it was getting long, but I still wanted the crazy, spiky, messy look. I tried to make it as high as I could.

The spring before graduation I got blonde stripes. When my hair was down you could see the stripes, but I usually wore it pinned in the front and crazy in the back like this.

Then I started doing the curly look again. I think my friend Chris mentioned that I looked like an old grandma, so I gave up on the curls.

At the end of my senior year I tried to to tame the mane a bit more.

And then in the summer I started gelling it and flipping it out in the back again.

The fall after graduation I flipped it up on the sides like wings and sported highlights.

My first year of college I began the process of growing it out. Ah, pigtails. Nothing cuter than that.

Growing.....

Growing...... (and the first time my hair was it's natural color in years.)

Still growing.... Long hair has its advantages. You can pull it up in a ponytail, braid it, twist it and curl it. The ringlets were only for special occasions though. And by gosh, there's nothing more special than a Ricks college dance, am I right?

I started to get bored with my hair and needed a new look. After the hard work of growing it out I didn't want to chop it off again, so...I dyed it blonde instead.

I actually sort of liked it. I was more popular with the boys as a blonde. WOOT WOOT.

But then I got the dreaded "roots" syndrome. You know, when your hair starts to grow out and your dark roots begin to show. So much for trying to pass as a natural blonde. Psh.

In an attempt to get my hair back to it's "natural" color, I had to dye it dark, but it ended up looking almost black. It wasn't what I was going for, but I worked it.

This is what I like to call "Madison Schoolgirl Hair." The Rexburg girls just had the curly, poofy, ratted hair going on. Idaho hair and proud!

I went back to the short look for awhile during my time in Japan. Trust me, it was better with all that humidity.
And now 4 years and who knows how many hair styles later, here I am. Rocking the A-line cut and henna colored hairdo.

Well, I hope you've all enjoyed a trip down memory lane with me. Now I really better get back to my homework. psh....

"Get your sexy on"

I've been wanting to cut my hair for awhile, so what better time than the start of a new year? My friend Amelia came by today and gave it a little snip snip. I asked for an A-line cut so its longer in the front and shorter towards the back with some layers. So far I'm really digging it.

***Updated pictures below as requested by the Roes

Pile o' hair

more haircut

"Get your sexy on" continued.....

The Roes requested a better picture of the haircut...so here ya go.

Love

Here is my beautiful wife and awesome son. This picture was taken just before church. I love 'em both so much. Psh, they're the best!

Simple Pleasures

Spending some time with my boy.
 

Vessel enjoying the swing at the park.
 

The sheer joy from playing with an empty box. Who needs toys?

My baby's rad fauxhawk.

Quality Time

Here's Vessel and Jamie taking a Sunday nap. Cutest thing of all time, eh?