again, with the bieber

You GUYS. It happened. I actually heard a Justin Bieber Song on the radio. I believe it was called "Boyfriend". And I wanted to like it. I really, really did. But....It. Was. Awful. The words, the music, and what seems to be some sort of bird of prey calling in the background. No. Just awful. It just makes the phenomenon even worse.

Also, my son has decided to do his own hair, which uncannily looks like the Beibster. Sigh. That's all I got for today. My life is so exciting......

AMERICA!!

The 4th of JULY....I love this holiday. We didn't get many pictures, cuz it was a super busy day. And because I'm tired folks. Super, super tired. 

Celebrating freedom usually involves large quantities of meat (t'was delicious Mom)...

....and fire on a stick.... 

...and terror from said fire on a stick...

...and waiting in a large dark field for super huge fireworks to start. Also, all the other kids waiting had glow sticks, which I wanted to purchase, but Dave made fun of me because "what 4 year olds go to raves?". You should have seen the glow stick pandemonium on that field. Easily 1 million glow sticks. One kid, who was not particularly impressed with PGs flashlight, took pity on our poor Charlie Brown and gave him a glow bracelet... 

...and even more terror when the super huge fireworks started (sorry it's blurry). I should have known better - the birthday cupcake was a good indicator that 4th of July might be with worst day of Ell's life. 

Happy Birthday America!

PS. My dad, bro and Dave were there too. It really was a great day. 

Here's to you Shafers.

A few weeks ago. The Shafers came through town on their way to Portland. Its been what, 4+ years since they moved away? Which is way too long to go without seeing them, let alone meeting their little ones for the first time. We love them so much, we even agreed to spend part of the day on BYU campus...a place the Allers avoid like the plague.

Addy and Ells are a few months apart. I can tell they are going to be best friends, and already planning on rooming together at Taylor Hall. But I'd like to see you try to have a better time than your moms ladies, just try.....(Also - Addy totally stole one of those watches, so BYU may or may not have a place for her in fall 2028).

We purchased some Chocolate Cinnabears, walked around BYU, chatted at our place, then indulged at Cafe Rio. It was blessed, and felt like they never left. And since we didn't get very many pics while they were here, here are a few from back in the day.....

 Extreme Croquette-ing

 Halloween-ing

 Birthday Partying (Doug's, correct? It was probably his sweet 16 or something)

 And visiting us when PG was in the NICU. 

And this was the only pic I could find of just Jack and me (isn't that the name of a movie? It should be. Only I feel like it may involve Robin Williams, which is super annoying).
We were caravanning to go camping in Moab. As you can see, so far, so good.  March 2001, I believe......Oh Dunlop and Doughty - you have no idea.

June 2012

We've come a long ways Jack...Good to have you on the West coast again.

Yo-Yo Ma ain't Yo Mama....

When Dave returned from his travels, we spent a few days in SLC - just the 2 of us. Sounds super romantic right? Whelp, we were both near complete exhaustion.....I kid you not. Here's an example.

For lunch on one of the days, we went here. (It's spectacular, BTW). On the way there was this sign at an intersection.

What did my comatose brain read? (Wait for it....)

Not Yo-Yo Ma's BBQ

As in the famous cellist. Then I spouted off a slur of nonsensical questions to Dave. "Wait, is he too good for BBQ?"...."Or, does he not like it?"...."Is it a cultural thing?"...."Does he suck at cooking BBQ?"...."Do the owners not like Yo-Yo Ma?"...."Such an odd name for a restaurant". So on an so forth.

I'm not joking.

I'd like to point out that Dave is lucky to be married to a girl that can even make such a reference. A girl who's brain simply rejects poor english/grammar/ridiculous restaurant names and instead replaces them with sophisticated cultural references. Just sayin'

The rest of our childless stay was pretty much filled with enough sleep, food and bad movies to get a bear through 2 winters. You may think we're old and boring, and......you're probably right.

This was the only other picture I took all weekend. 

An awesome little breakfast place by Liberty Park. Also - this photo documents that when forced by his pregnant, grumpy wife, Dave will consume breakfast food. Seriously, it's the best genre of foods. Who doesn't like breakfast food?

Viva french toast! And also, Yo-Yo Ma......

Wait. It's June?

I'm not going to lie, the past 2 months have been crazy town. But we're alive and well. There was our 9th Anniversary (NINTH people), the birth of a new niece in May, and new nephew in early June, a trip to LA without children, Dave being gone for a month, then Dave returning from his month of globetrotting (I don't really want to talk about the in-between...ever), my parents visiting twice, a Hoopes family reunion and 2 very dear college friends traveling briefly through town. And I finally shook whatever alien disease that was plaguing my body.

Also, remember when I had 2 kids and am now 7, (SEVEN) months along with the third? That will complicate things a bit. Things like getting anywhere on time, and speaking in coherent sentences.

Also, also. I have pregnancy insomnia. It happened with my other children, and is currently happening with the one that's baking. It's real, and exhausting. 5 or less hours of sleep a night will make you crazy. Or the very least, incredibly cranky. I feel the need to wear a sign to explain my behavior.

So, our house has been a hotel, maybe a Bed and Breakfast is more accurate. But there's been a lot of dinner cooking involved, so maybe its more like a "Dinner and Bed", (cuz we all know I'm not going to get up early and make your sorry a$$ breakfast). But I will say it's been a blast. Happy Wednesday y'all!

catch up. Mother's Day and "The Lou" part deux.

Mother's Day and Ells b-day fell on the same day this year. We already did a family day before Dave left, but you have to do something on the day of...right? Since I knew Dave would be gone, I planned a low key day accordingly. B-day ice cream for Ells (she's not a cake girl) and pre-made meals, so I didn't have to do too much cooking on Mother's Day. I thought it would be a sad day without Dave, but it ended up being really great, and very relaxing with just our little family of 3 (+1 via FaceTime). 

Birthday Pancake. 2!

FaceTiming with Dad over lunch.

Playing with one of her gifts....a bubble machine.

Cuz blowing your own bubbles is for suckers.

We sure do love you Ells! 2 years has gone by fast.

lessons learned.

Zofran (see previous post). You're the first thing I'm looting from a pharmacy when the Zombie apocalypse happens. That, and maybe some Percocet. Yeah, that should do it. 

Bribery. Its definitely growing on me. Mom=1. PG=0

Sleeping in the basement. Fun for kids. Miserable for mom. Luckily it was only for one night. When did I become this old? (again, see previous post).

You know you're seriously exhausted when you plan on spending your free night shoe shopping and instead settle for a Sudoku book and Parks and Rec. Sheesh. 

Preschool graduation: much more satisfying and less tedious when your kid is not the one screaming "MOM I WANT YOU!" from the stage.  

I have spent years avoiding the purchase of this. 

Its dangerous. It got the best of me this week. I'll let you guess about how many day(s) 1 jar lasted.....

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY PEEPS!