Amen.

I've been moved by reading a little of this sweet family's blog this morning...this post in particular.

I really needed a little perspective right now. This is so me some days!! I mean really...who skips pages in their three year olds bedtime story!?! What is that saving me, like 2 minutes? *lame*

I'm so blessed with two amazing, healthy children and this mom helped me remember that.

Say a prayer for them and one for you thanking god for how blessed you are.

http://aniandmatttaylor.blogspot.com/

Tour de Utah: Slab Pizza

Coach and I (and a few choice friends) have started a eating tour of Utah.

This started a while back as a result of gathering to visit one of our recent favorite finds.

Slab Pizza

We started thinking we should pick places around the valley, lesser known, (preferably cheap) rare find kind of joints, try them together and rate them accordingly.

We've been to a few now and I feel like I need to start documenting my thoughts to share with all of you.

So starting with our first stop...Slab Pizza.

How I love thee, let me count the ways.

There's been a lot of hype about Pizzeria 712, and as much as I love the Heirloom Family of Eateries I haven't been blown away by much of anything but the price at 712.

If you know me you know that I love good food and know good food.

I will never steer you wrong.

So the name Slab refers to the way it's served in slabs instead of slices. They only come in one gigantic size which equals a quarter of the pizza. Mmmm...so take a posse and share a variety of flavors amongst the group.

Slab has a diverse menu of classic favorites and funky new combos.

I of coarse was loving me some Veggie/Pepp/Sausage and the Hawaiian (which you can get with SPAM btw, not that I would...yuck) but that's boring so here's what you really need to try...

Rosemary, Potato, + Bacon, Pulled Pork, or maybe some Buffalo Wing Pizza (a favorite among the men).

You won't be sorry.

Their chill atmosphere, fresh local fare, good prices, ever changing specials menu, and quite possibly the best pizza crust I've ever had will get you returning again and again.

They are located at 669 East 800 North in Provo just east of the duck ponds tucked down and around the corner from JDawgs (another cult provo fav).

So check it out and check back for our next stop of the Tour de Utah.

Come join us or post where you think we should go...

Mommy Maven:Strolling in Style

Ahhh! Just talking about this and I'm so excited.

So I don't know how many times I've had a conversation about the fact that bugaboo has gotten a little behind the eight ball, no double stroller? I mean come on....and...

Bada boom bada bing, they deliver!

This has been rumored for over a year now and it's finally here.

May I present The Donkey

So get this, it expands from a single stroller with a storage case to a double complete with bassinets and toddler seats and all the other goodies we are accustomed to.

Is this totally awesome or a completely unnecessary nonfunctional doing it simply for the need to be new and different sort of thing?

I'm leaning towards totally awesome.

There are certainly times when I have my double and Etta ends up not wanting to ride in it and I end up pushing my monster Limo everywhere unnecessarily and vise versa.

If any of you know me you know I love LOVE my single bugaboo and though have toyed with the idea of selling it (now that we are a bit larger of a crew) but just can't bring myself to do it.

So I don't know about you but I might be a little to anxious to try this ASAP and not so anxious to find out the price tag.

I'm hearing $1200-2000 range talk...yikes!

I'm hoping I can find another half off killer steal of a deal like I did with my Cameleon.

Anyway, whether I just end up dreaming and drooling or if someday I really take the plunge I'll keep you posted.

For now check it out (I love all the videos they do) and tell me what you think about the donkey....btw donkey? Really? What were they thinking...

Bipolar Me

I am so excited!

I am following Coach to California this weekend sans my tiny humans!

Is it bad that I'm this excited to ditch them with their Nana?

The whole thing about it is that I'm quite sure the second I leave them I'll feel pangs of regret at not packing them along and miss them horribly.

I just have to remind myself that I've done that many times before and I'm nooot quite ready to do it again yet.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Maybe after missing me for a few days they won't sling food at me and pull my hair.

But then what would make me smile at the end of the day?

I am so bummed!

This weekend is The Bijou Market Handmade Event!

It's Fri & Sat 10-8/10-5pm in Provo and I'm missing it!

It is most assuredly going to have more adorable local crafty little nuggets than you can even wrap your head around.

I'm talking clothes, decor, hair accessories, prints, paintings, jewelry, kiddo goodies and more.

Please go for me...

Etta Too!

So Etta's just been so funny lately, she cracks me up all day long. So I wanted to sit and remember some of the cute Etta-isms she comes up with. (the outfits are pretty funny too)

-Her big things now is "too." Etta too, etta too! She's started saying for everyone now though. She's eating chicken...brother too! She's washing her hair...mama poo too! That's sham-poo.

-She loves ring around the rosy and wants everyone in on it. "Rosy, rosy...gogo too, daddy too, brother too, dolly too!

-She's started collecting things and hiding them all together. The other night in bed she was asking for water. I said I didn't have any and she'd have to drink milk instead. She got up and started saying, "fine da oowa, fine da oowa," walks into her closet behind her small dresser and comes back with two sippys she's been hiding back there.

-We were reading a magazine the other day and came across a cover girl ad with eva longoria looking radiantly beautiful and she started pointing and saying mommy mommy! Bless her.

-She'll go over to Liam and tickle his toes which she thinks is fall down hilarious.

-When your cooking her food she'll tell you..."fine da bol, where da poon, nee da cup, mama...straw, straw peas, straw peas!"

-When you change her diaper she says eww, poo poos, gross, gross etta...yucky.

-She will very purposefully drop, throw, or spill something then look at you all sad and say, "uh-oh, oh no, oh noooo!" When she genuinely has an accident she will say whoops!

-Instead of keeping her clips in her hair she's now constantly blowing her hair out of her face.

-We have a book of temples that she loves to read all the time and the other day we were driving down university ave and she started saying, "mornmy, mornmy!" I was so confused. I realized after a while that she was saying moroni but I couldn't figure out how she knew where the temple was because you can't see it from there...but upon driving back that way I found out you can see moroni just barely peeking over the trees. Amazing.

-She absolutely loses her mind over fruit snacks.

-She still loves putting on shoes although she mostly moved on from her patent mary janes to her sparkly jellies as a favorite. Yesterday she brought my shoes out which she usually puts on and prances around in happily, but this time she was getting so upset handing me the shoes. I asked what she wanted and she said mommy too! So I put them on, she looked at me satisfied, and just turned and walked away.

-She loves her friends! Even when you hear a bump from our neighbors wall she'll start screaming addy addy addy!

-She loves, "faces!" Which of coarse means funny faces. She pulls her lips to the sides and sticks out her tongue and anything you do will receive roaring laughter but if you make a face and cross your eyes she will totally lose it.

-She thinks she's invisible when she closes her eyes.

-Etta is actually a really good hider. She'll go in the closet behind our clothes or under her covers and wait there completely still and quiet until you come get her, no matter how long!

-Every morning she pulls down the blanket over her blinds and sits in her bed and reads or plays with her "toy" which isn't all toys but one very specific one from Ikea (just like snacks can't be just anything, snack only means fruit snack) when you walk in she just looks up and says, "Hi mommy...where's daddy?" If it gets really late she'll bang on the door to be released. :)

-Etta always wants to try it try it anytime you're eating anything. When she likes it she'll say mooor peas. If she doesn't she'll say yike it (like it) while she shaking her head no.

-Speaking of the l's that are y's, one of her favorite things is "yips." Which is chapstick.

I'm sure there's more but they'll have to wait seeing as this is already way too long. So until later these our some of our favorite recent things about Etta. We love you bug!

Mad Skills Yo....

I have this little friend Julie.

She's wildly talented and has impeccable taste.

She makes bibs, burp cloths, wipe cases, onesies, headbands, hair clips, and more.

AND she's doing a giveaway right now on her blog!

Check out her Sprinkles On Top store on Etsy.

I think she will customize any flowers you like into clips or headbands depending on the age of your little one.
For some reason I can't load any pics of her bibs and burps...so you must go look for yourself!!

Epicurean Elation

Epicurean: fond of or adapted to luxury or indulgence in senual pleasures; having luxurious tastes or habits, esp. in eating and drinking.

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Have you seen this show? I love it. I watch and feel like these people really understand good food and being abnormally moved by it. :)

So this bakery was featured on their episode titled Salty Goodness...a sweet pastry that can be labeled as salty goodness? This is right up my alley. It's called Les Madeleines and it's right here in Salt Lake! Their claim to fame is the Kouing Aman. It's a crunchy salted carmel baked on the outside of a flaky, gooey, croissant like pastry and apparently it's heaven.

At $6 dollars a piece for this glorified muffin I'd say it fits the definition of food luxuries. Is it worth it? Anyone wanna take a day trip with me to find out?

Dancey Dance Time

Etta loves Yo Gabba Gabba. I can't really even describe how much. It's the only show beside her reading videos she gets to watch so it's the only thing she associates with the TV. So any where we go she points to the TV and says gabba gabba gabba, yooooooo gabba!

Watching this show has made her love for dancing grow seeing as they do tons of singing and dancing. One of her favorite things is she goes over to my guitar and says dance, dance, dance! I play random chords over and over really loud and she goes nuts doing her prancy dance and spinning around.

Funny Story:

So I left Etta with her sitter Betty last week and reminded her if she's asking for "gogo" she wants her dog "Hugo." Upon returning Betty told me she had a hard time figuring out what she meant when she was shouting "gogo rina gogo rina!" Eventually she saw that elizabeth has a tutu in her room and that she wanted Hugo to be a ballerina. He's very skinny so dressing him is hard and she gets very very frustrated when his cloths fall off. So the tutu ended up on her, which was ok. :) This is a new thing. She likes to cloth him, brush his teeth, clip his nails, and just baby him in every way. She'll be such a good big sister, as long as she doesn't try "brother rina."

Some of her favorite songs these days are:

Five Little Monkeys

Wheels on the Bus

Kookaburra

Down by the Bay

Five Little Ducks

Don't Worry Be Happy

Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee

If You're Happy and You Know It

Shake You're Sillies Out

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

and anything from Yo Gabba Gabba

Love you Etta rina!

How we do...

So apparently the word is out on some of our favorite activities. We've been doing this since the fall and recently every where is getting more and more crowded with moms and their tots! I'm happy for these moms because I understand how much we need these things to get us out of the house, but it's getting crazy! So I figured since the word is out anyway, I'd invite you all too!

So here's what our weekly plan roughly looks like.

On Mondays...

Monday is usually our free day where we participate in unscheduled activities. These include:

The Living Planet Aquarium, The Bean Museum at BYU, and the mall tree house playground.

The Aquarium is $18 for an adult yearly pass and $14 for kids over 2...a whole year!

The others are FREE (click links for hours)

On Tuesdays...

We love to go to Story/Lap Time at the Orem Library from 10-10:30AM.

We do lap games, songs, and stories and Etta just loves it.

FREE

On Wednesdays and Thursdays...

Etta and I love to go to Jump On It! They have a mommy and me time from 10-11AM on both these days for kids 5 and under. The first kid is $3, each additional kid is $2, and moms are free. She loves being around all the kids and it tires her out big time!

On Fridays...

We go to Provo Library Mother Goose Time from 11AM-12PM. We love Orem story time but this one at Provo is so fun so we never miss it. It's a whole production with songs, dancing, stories, puppet shows, and more. We love it!

FREE

When there's other free time we take lunch to dad and watch the volleyball players practice, have play dates with friends, dance to our favorite songs, watch YBCR, go on nature walks collecting different items, and do our "Slow and Steady Get Me Ready". All FREE!

Anyway, I just thought I'd share so whenever you all want to join us you can and know that there are things to get you of the house in the winter that don't cost and arm and a leg. I really feel so strongly that it's important for our children's development to get out and do stimulating activities and important for our sanity. Comment or call me if you have any questions, want to come, or have other fun things you all do!

Budding Beckham

Ok, so this isn't my belly but I thought it was pretty much the best, weirdest, and most disturbing thing I've ever seen. Seriously what we go through in the child bearing process is so bizarre. Have you seen the movie alien? Not a far stretch my friends. I have spent many a night thinking this little guy was going to find some way to bust out before his time. No joke, had I had a camera on hand I'm sure there are a few times my belly has looked just like this. 

With Etta I had to do "kick counts" because she was so chill in there we were constantly worried if she was OK. Well this little Juninho wannabe leaves nothing to be concerned about. There's no question that he is one healthy boy. I actually asked the doctor if something could be wrong...if he's trying to tell me something with all the crazy movement. I'm telling you since like 5 months it's been 24/7 kicking, rolling, punching, stretching, spasming, flipping insanity. This boy just might be more than I can handle. 

So if you can see my stomach bubbling, mutating, and morphing into strange shapes from across the room, don't be alarmed...apparently every thing's fine. This baby just floats like a butterfly and stings like a bee.

Babies and Volleyball

As many of you know Volleyball season has started. Which means my husband is at work until seven o'clock everyday and is gone or working every weekend. He also coaches a club team so on Tuesdays and Thursday he's not home until 10:30. Hmmm...yikes! Another bummer is that normally I would go on at least one trip with the team but seeing how pregnant I am I don't think they'll let me! So I can't complain too much though because really it's only for a few months and the rest of the year is so flexible and fun. However it is particularly complicated this year because, hello...we're having a baby in like 6 weeks! 

So last time I was at the doctor I asked his advice on my delivery. I'm due on March 5th and with Elizabeth I was five days late. Rob goes out of town on the 10th. Do you see the dilemma? So the doctor suggested that with my routine pregnancies and labor coupled with this being my second child that they'd have no problems inducing me up to a week early. Honestly I'm a lot more keen on letting the baby naturally run it's coarse and come on it's own but having Rob there trumps those feelings. So I think we will actually be having this baby on March 1st! Considering I was thinking I would have him almost a week late this seems so much sooner! 

Anyway so we're getting pretty excited and I really have to get moving to have everything ready for this baby! So anyone who wants to go to Volleyball games let me know, the time is here and I won't even be able to go to half of them! And get ready to come help me with my craziness because this baby is coming ready or not and my husband is going to be MIA! Lots of love to all of our family and friends and I promise I'll be back blogging soon.

Sick :(

So Etta and I got colds last week. I thought we were getting better on Friday so we emerged out a bit Friday and Saturday but were we getting better? No, the tiny, ugly germs were yet to descend and they did Saturday night. We took Etta in on Sunday and they told us she had croup so she had to get a steroid shot to open up her throat. Then I took a dive that day and we've been pretty sick since then. The worst part being that we're bored out of our minds! We can't go anywhere, we can't hang out with anyone, and I don't even feel like doing the normal fun activities we do daily around the house. I don't even feel like blogging! So my triumphant return to blogging has yet to happen...again. But really...I haven't had a cold like this in years!! Blah. Anyway so Etta and I take 2 or 3 showers/baths a day to do something, watch lots of YBCR and Yo Gabba Gabba, and look at lots of books. Note I say look at them...I can't even read to Etta, one of her favorite activities, because I have no voice! Anyway, I was really really grateful to find out there are actually a couple cold medicines you can take when your pregnant. I thought it was all taboo, so that's been helpful. Also I just had my 32 week appointment and as my doctor pointed out that although I feel totally awful it's something that doesn't affect my sweet healthy baby boy which I am eternally grateful for. We feel very very blessed that he's growing well and everything seems to be on track. So hopefully we'll feel better soon and we can get back to having a life that includes leaving our home!!

Glorious Sabbath

Having my child in nursery for the first time...Pros and Cons.

Pros:

We're all so excited to go in the morning.

She made new friends.

She had fun and loved church.

We remembered why we loved church.

We learned something in church.

She spent all her energy and passed out for her nap afterwards.

We were both able to teach our lesson.

My purse isn't bulging with three hours worth of distractions.

We have pictures she "draws" to put on the frig.

She's learning to play with others.

We were able to sit next to each other.

She didn't disrupt anyone's class with the infamous squealing.

She has time without us.

We have time without her.

Cons:

...?...hmmm...?...

Nope, can't think of one.

Cornbelly's Flop

It's fall, Halloween time, the slight chill in the air...does it ever make you nostalgic for bad food, over priced admissions, crap attractions, and horrible attempts at entertaining performances?

Hmmm, yeah...me neither.

I'm sorry, but you've gotta be kidding me. We walk into a complete mess of "attractions" not labeled well and not enticing. Perhaps Elizabeth was just a little young to appreciate it or perhaps it was completely trashy. I'm thinking it's both. I suppose I just expected a little more from thanksgiving point (and a little more for our $22 dollars, yeah...seriously). The info about it touts fun rides, entertainment, good food, and animals.

Rides: slides, stuff to jump on, swings, open fields to run around in...does this sound like a park to anyone else? Oh yeah you're right it is different, a park is free.

Entertainment: people attempting to recreate Thriller with animal costumes and an inaudible boom box, grown men making fools of themselves for the so called "pig race" featuring rat sized pigs for 2 minutes of the hour long show...yikes.

Food: Admittedly delicious corn chowder served in an unfortunately frozen bread bowl, oh yeah, greasy limp fries, sub sub par burgers, and fried PB&J...people don't really eat those do they?

Animals: For a mere $7 more dollars on top of our $22 that you thought included seeing farm animals you can walk over to farm country, a completely separate attraction!

Well, despite all this we thought we'd try to make the most of it so we walked around, played on the swings, took the kiddies through the mini corn maze, ate, checked out their actually impressive display of carved pumpkins, and watched a pig race!

Classic comments from Rob through out the night like:

"Next time we're getting food and going to the park."
"This is the first time we've ever done anything really stereotypical of the Utah hick."

So cute! Etta would have a blast anywhere she could watch kids run around.

Kennedy lovin the swings.

Me ruining the picture...not sure what I'm doing.

The Shaners with their cute smiling baby.

All in all it definitely flopped in my books. Maybe the haunted maze is fun and the jury is out on Farm Country which we will be trying soon...but my suggestion, especially for little ones, would be to go to Hee Haw's. Just as ghetto but more for little babies to do and $3.

Hope you all had as much fun this Halloween as we did...pictures coming soon!

Buy Low

So I happened into Buy Low today down in Provo. I had to go by Wilson Diamonds and I thought hmmm, I should pick up some baby food and milk. So I walk in and find myself in the middle of the tornado that was Wednesday produce sales. Now I had no previous knowledge of said sale so I was a bit taken back by the grandmas with their game faces on ready to pounce. I thought I may as well get some fruit while I was there and as I started checking prices I realized what all the frenzy was about. I got 2lbs of strawberries, 4.5 lbs of Fuji apples, 2lbs of Bananas, 2.5lbs of cherries, 3 lbs of peaches, 2 lbs of zucchini, and a pineapple for $12. I repeat $12. That's like an average of like $0.63 a pound! Maybe this isn't a steal for all you coupon clipping fools out there but for me who has tried but will have none of it, it was a great deal. So next Wednesday if you're free head down to buy low. Well I suppose I ought to try the produce and tell you if it's any good first...check back with me later for that one.

Life as of Lately

We are tired over here at the Neilson house. So very very tired. I've been exhausted lately! Little Etta is being so cute but so crazy! Something happened when she turned one. She has turned into a crazy zombie banshee baby. She'll be the most adorable thing then at the flip of coin she's a crying mess.

I've just been having a really hard time figuring out the new schedule she's on. We were such clockwork before and now it's changed, which is totally OK but I just need to figure out what it changed to. We're on totally different frequencies. So basically days are just really long with my new hyper active non napping super adorable child. Any suggestions? Did any of you notice a big change in you babies at one?

So that's our problem, but then rob is tired too. Normally when I'm feeling extra tired I use a lot of help from Rob. And although he has still been really helpful, he's so tired! I almost feel bad asking because he seems just as tired as me. With all his volleyball camps ALL day and traveling here and there and everywhere he's just wiped. So basically what I'm asking is does anyone want to take Elizabeth so we can sleep for like three days straight?

A Model Child.

Okay Etta give me...coy, a little shy.

Good. Know let me see something more organic, very earthy, sort of found.

Yes. Yes. I love it. Now I need some happy. Gimme happy, something fresh...like a spring chicken. Go.

Eyebrows, I need more eyebrows. I'm missing that tension in your face. Smile with your eyes.


Good good. Perfect.

Yes. Very easy going, girl next door I like it.

Ok ok, showing your goofy side...a little spacey. Show another side now, really dig deep.

Thought provoking, but let's go even deeper.

Ok, so you're not that deep yet. Let's just finish it off with something flirty and girly.

Beautiful. You have a certain "je ne sais quoi." Its been a pleasure working with you.

To Grandmother's House We Go...

So a couple weeks ago we got the chance to go see my family in Colorado while Rob was away. It was soooo fun and we were so excited. I had never taken Etta on a plane before so I wasn't sure what to expect.

At first it appeared to be a total plus, I was escorted to the front of every line! Everyone was so eager to help. If you know SLC airport well you'll understand what went wrong. They told me my gate was E64. Let's call E "Alaska". So I double checked on the TV screens after security and I was indeed suppose to go to "Alaska." This seemed odd for Delta but I trucked all my stuff up there. Being the frugal woman I am I'd decided to carry on. So I had my small duffel, large diaper bag, and Elizabeth in her car seat in tow (they charge $15 bucks each way for one bag now!).

I stopped to get a snack because I was famished after a full morning of skiing then straight to the airport sans lunch. I get to my crowded gate and plant so I can eat my delicious parfait. After 10 minutes or so I realize I haven't heard anything about my flight which should be boarding soon. So I figure it's going to be late and lug all my stuff up to the counter to inquire what's going on. He proceeds to tell me my flight moved to B12. Let's call B "Brazil." "How am I suppose to get from "Alaska" to "Brazil" in time with all this stuff I ask him! It's impossible, will you call and tell them I'm coming?" He proceeds to tell me that they won't wait for anyone. Comforting, thank you. "Will you just tell them?"

I grab everything and start on my way down towards "Brazil" in a frenzy. Every corner I turned that revealed yet another walking (running at this point) escalator and not my concourse was painful. I felt like my arms were going to break. Where were all those golf carts you ask? I have no idea! Suddenly not one was any where to be seen.

Needless to say after much ado I finally arrived in "Brazil" to find a very sweet man waiting for me. He informed me that I wouldn't have to check my car seat because they got me my own row and he apologized for the confusion. Thank you! We got to Colorado all in one happy piece to an airport with trains to get you where you need to go, thank goodness.

We waited for my parents in this fun all glass waiting area where baby had a blast talking to her friend who looked mysteriously like her twin.

We had so much fun with grandma in her big bath and were so excited to where new PJ's!

Elizabeth loved Bear. I can't say the same for him but he put on a brave face and let her climb all over him.

She actually really loved riding on the plane!
And loved exploring every nook and cranny of the airport.

Thanks Mom, Dad, and Julia for a very fun, relaxing weekend of shopping during the day and Mexican train into the wee hours of the morning! We love you guys!

Finally!

So this is what our living room has looked like for the past month or two and it's driving me crazy!!!

I was ecstatic when my sister called and offered her piano for a time until she is more stable. Unfortunately we hadn't finished our basement yet so our small living room was the only place to put it. The room already over crowded with two couches, an end table, a coffee table, a 6 ft lovesac and entertainment system (one for us and one for baby), has now become unbearably claustrophobic. This is what it looks like on a clean day with the excersaucer pushed up next to the TV, the couches in one long strange configuration, and the lovesac in the the walkway/kitchen. Yikes! So it's no surprise that I'm so happy to announce the commencement of our basement! No longer will it be an obstacle course to get from front door to back. We will move the TV and lovesac downstairs to make a suitable place for the beloved piano. So wish us luck as we embark on our huge headache...I'm sure we'll need it!

And the winner is...

Adam Lambert. Hmm. I hated it. I loved it. You're skills baffle me. "It left me confused...and sort of happy." I had to watch it 10 times to decide it was sick.