Bridal Photo Shoot!

On Thursday, my mom & I got to do Niki's hair and make-up then take her to get her Bridal Pictures taken. It was completely snowy in the morning, but by 3:00pm it was B-e-a-utiful. What a miracle!!! We went and met her photographer in downtown SLC at an old mansion (now a business) that was gorgeous. But as soon as we started taking pictures, the people who owned it came out and said we couldn't take pictures there...bummer:( So we just walked a couple blocks up the street and found a few places that turned out WAY better! She looked unbelievable, inconceivably, out-of-control, breath-takingly, ridiculously GORGEOUS!!!!! It was honestly mind boggling how fabulous she was! (and is:) But in a simple, not trying to hard kind of way. Her dress is very classy, no beading, sequens, frill...just simple but CLASSY. She was glowing. The photographers were so creative and caught her personality so well. We are DYING to "study" each picture when they give us the proofs. I will be sure to post some, you will die. I can't believe my baby sister is getting married! What a trip...

Red Pants

This is really random, but I can't forget this one...Jax and I love getting in the "bastub" together...Usually I like the water really hot. When he was younger, he used to say, "Oh Mama is too hot!" To which I would say, "It's not hot, it feels goooood." So the other day I had turned on the water and gone to do something else quickly before I got in. I came back into the bathroom and he was already in playing in the tub. He stood up to get some toys and he had "red pants" on. (a really red bum and legs up to where the water stopped on his tummy) I asked him, "Oh, hunny isn't that too hot?" and he said, "Oh no, Mama, Its feews SO gooood." That's MY boy.

Jaxon & Sophia

We got to go stay at James' sister's house for a few days and watch their kids while they went to England...Jaxon had the time of his life! He LOVES his cousin, Sophia. And it was the best weather so we got to play outside lots. Tuesday afternoon, I was casually watching them play and I had one of those "moments" where you realize you are a mom, and the little boy jumping on the tramp is your son!!!!! It was incredible...In this moment, watching him with his white shirt, wearing the first pair of jeans he actually wore out before he grew out of them, with no shoes, shaggy auburn hair, that grin & giggle in the warm sunshine, It was bliss. I couldn't possible capture the moment on camera, but I will always remember this moment!

It's Easter Time

One of our traditions since James and I were first married is to get what we call in a funny voice, "Easta shets" (Easter shirts)...Which are just casual bright shirts that are happy colors and springy!!! I didn't wear mine in these pics, I was freezing, but the boys have theirs on.

My little man, ooh I love when he wraps his little arms around me and gives me an "anaconda squeeze" (Nacho Libre:)
My hot boyz
Jax wanted a turn to take a picture, so we followed the camera! :)

*A Fun Weekend*

We went to see, "Horton Hears A Who" Jaxon was enthrawled the whole time. However, during the previews he kept pulling my arm over his face because it was a, "BIIIIG movie." He got SO excited to see that another Ice Age is coming out!!

On our way to the movie...James is diggin this picture, poor guy puts up with lotsa pictures.
The Saturday before Easter-- we were heading down to the community Easter egg hunt...We got there five minutes after it was supposed to start and it was over!! Jax didn't care, we went to the park and played with Sebastian! We heard the "hunt" lasted thirty seconds...yowza.



Inside the "swide."

OOOPS!!!

So this morning Jaxon and I had quite the conversation...It went something like this.

Jax: "Mama, mama you gotta come see dis (this)!! Snow, its snow!! It's ova da houses! (on the houses--as we were looking out the window onto lots of homes' roofs)"

Mama: "Yeah, it's on all the houses..(as I looked closer I realized it really was a lot of snow and I wasn't excited about it!) What in the world?"

Jax: "It's ova da houses, but why?"

Mama: (trying to simplify, hm) "Cuz it comes out of the clouds."

Jax: "But why?"

Mama: "Because it falls from the sky."

Jax: "OH Meeean, what da hay-oh. OOOOOH Meeean, what da hay-oh!" (Oh man, what the hell!)

I am finally caught...I have really been surprised he hasn't caught on sooner...Everyone who knows me knows I have "explosive bursts" (in love of course) for my little man. Usually when I get one, Jaxon gets a big squeeze and a bite and I can't help but saying, with my teeth clenched "Oh, you cute little shit!" My Mom keeps telling me I will be sorry when it comes out of his mouth one of these days, but I guess my "what the hell" caught on first. OOOPS... You know what though, I know I shouldn't, but it's just so dang cute coming out of his little lispy mouth, I can't help but love it! Mom of the year strikes again!

"Ah Meee-ann"

Today Jaxon came up with this one. No clue where it came from! It's pretty hilarious coming out of such a little person with so much feeling... translation: "Ah, man!"

Yoga

Lately James and I have been doing Yoga every night...James is determined to get really flexible. When he was in high school at parties his friends would gather around and ask him to try to sit indian style. Apparently he was so un-flexible that it was a hilarious sight!!! Not anymore!!! He would gladly show off his moves these days, funny boy, I love it. :)

"We're buddies!"

So we have had this tradition since I can remember...We put our faces really close together and say, "WEEEEEEEE'RE BUUUUUUUUDIES!" My mom says my brother Andy came up with the idea when he was tiny. Jaxon loves to do this. Last night we were all just chillin, cleaning, laundry etc. Jax was watching "Wiw (little) chef" (Ratatouille). He started screaming, "Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Daddy come snuggow (snuggle). So James and I came over and he situated us right where he wanted us...spooning with him right on top of us!!! He loves when we are all together. He especially loves having both of our full attention and the same time. I love that he wants us!!! I pray that never changes...

Novel

So "Epiphane @ Subway" is very long!!!! But I think you might get something from it...It's a concept that I have been dying to spill out of my heart onto the page, so I feel great! Hope you enjoy it too.

Epiphane @ Subway

So yesterday I was feeling so great!! Just coming home from an extremely successful meeting in Provo but feeling starving ( it was three and I hadn't eaten for the day yet, duh). The problem was, NOTHING sounded good. They had tons of pizza, pop, chips and salsa at the meeting, but that sounded repulsive to me, ah! Not even my fire-grilled steak-Cafe Rio salad with extra sauce sounded good. Then, a few minutes later, I saw it. Subway stood gleaming in the sunshine. OH yes!! Perfect!! I got my regular sandwich and got back in my car. This beautiful scrumptious sandwich was honestly a little slice a heaven. I was totally engulfed in the texture, smell, warmth, and combination of wonderful flavors all coming together to create this masterpiece. If you've ever seen Ratatouille, you can picture me and Remi eating together while fireworks crackled above our heads...if you haven't seen it, you need to. I think the only word that just might catch my passion for this sandwich would have to be purely 100% orgasmic! Sorry!!!

Here's the epiphane...If the Subway worker would have asked me three years ago, "What would you like on your sandwich?" here's what I would say, "White bread, turkey, no cheese, lettuce, PICKLES like you can't believe how many pickles are on it. Keep going. Even more. Okay I guess that's good. Mayo. TONS of mustard. That pretty much does it." Wow. Ever since I can remember I have liked "pickle sandwiches with a little meat." I rarely felt satisfied with the amount of pickles I was given. One time, however, I got what I wanted on a big mac at Burger King. We took pictures--it was that momentous! Yesterday when the cute burnett asked me, "What sandwich can I make for you?" Here was my response, "Wheat bread. Turkey and ham. Pepper jack cheese. Toasted. Little lettuce. Tomatoes with lots of salt and pepper right on them. Banana peppers. Spinach. Oil and vinegar. That looks wonderful!!! Oh baby!" ( I really said that to her, ha ha:) So I began thinking...What has changed my mind? NOT ONE PICKLE OR DROP OF MUSTARD?!?!? What is responsible for this?

And here is the epiphane, really this time... I got married 5 years ago to a very sweet man. James Jex. One trait I love and admire in him is his complete acceptance of me- all my quirks, faults, OCD isms, craziness still his quiet strength and confidence and love for me is all I ever hear and feel from him. He never picks me apart or criticizes me or even questions my ways. (although he probably should) Over the years while eating food together, I would non-assumingly as part of a casual conversation ask questions once in a while, like, "OOOh don't you love your sandwich. MMM! Mine is SO good, you wannna taste it?" So he would politely say after taking a bite, "Yeah thats good." I asked,"You like all the pickles?" He would respond after being pressed for a real answer, "Well yeah, but I like tasting a lot of flavors not just one on a sandwich." Hm. What a concept. I had never considered that.

So gradually I would add a couple different veggies or meats on our visits to Subway to test out his gentle suggestion. And over time I found a whole new world and I found what I religiously ordered without fail was actually not as tastey as my new creations. I know this might a bit over stated and you might be asking yourself, "What's the big deal??? Why did crazy Christy spend all this time and write a NOVEL about a sandwich?"

Really my purpose is to recognize this as a symbol for a whole plethera of aspects of my life that have been enriched and magnified by being married to this wonderful guy. And also to notice and celebrate the joy of gradual improvements that bring so much light, joy, epiphanes, and good energy the soul! Not only have I found a whole new world of food, but gradually my stubborn mindset has been pried open and I have discovered there is a lot to learn and appreciate in this world!!! Not just in my way, but there are countless perspectives and endless possibilities in this massive world!! Which now reveals my passionate intrigue with people in general. Once James' influence helped me see that there is another vantage point besides my own that sometimes feels better than my original perspective, I can't get enough discovering new people, perspectives, cultures, etc...I feel SO liberated! Even still, I will be the first to admit that we have had our share of hard times. In marriage, life, parenting, death, all of the struggles we can encounter in this world. But gratefully I declare today that I feel I have lived in the palm of my Heavenly Father's had through it all and I continue to do so. I really haven't ever loved James as much as I do today. We have learned so much from each other and from the truly seemingly overewhelming challenges we have faced together. I used to resent our differences and try to force change in issues that are impossible to change in a person.

Now I try to embrace and appreciate our differences and have experienced a blossoming in our relationship that is truly UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I love my sweetheart and honestly can say I enjoy a friendship with him that feeds my soul. Alelujah! Not something that came without some effort, but so rewarding after a few years of "adjusting" :) I look SO forward to our years to come. My best buddy! I can't wait to see what else I learn from a seemingly insignificant occurance. And to think, all of this sprung from a Subway sandwich that hit the spot.

Stephanie Sant

Oh how I ADORE this woman...I swear I could spend hours on end talking, laughing, sometimes snorting with this girl-- We spent hours tonight doing just that! I am SO grateful I have gotten to know you, Steph. GEESE!!!! I couldn't love hanging with you more....you wanna get some serious "flashback friday" going?!?!? Can't wait:)

Wedding time

What an excititng time...My baby sister, Niki is getting married in a few weeks! My Mom, Niki, Jax and I went tonight to design and buy all the "centerpiece" materials for her reception. It's so crazy that she is 18 and getting married!! Even being as protective as I am, and "Mama bear-ish" as I am when it comes to her and the boys she dates, I couldn't be more thrilled with the sweet man she has found. Nick Hendershot. He is the PERFECT guy for her, I love him like my own little bro. Honestly. I definitely can't say that about all the boys she dated, as a matter of fact I can actually say I haven't really "loved" any of her ex-boys!!! See, I toldja I am protective!!! Which makes the way Nick fits with our family mean that much more! Precious huh, Nick and Niki :) They chose to do their colors dark, rich plum purple and sage green. It looks really classy! It will be fabuloso. So it's 3:20 am...Steph and I were "scrapbooking" (I finished up mileage for taxes and such) till a few minutes ago, and at 9 tonight I sucked back a Rockstar to bring on some energy to make it through the night, I think worked~ ha ha:)

SMILE!

So I have been waiting for a good time to share this interesting experience. Brace yourselves... James, Niki (my sister), and Syd (Niki's BFF) and I were driving down to Phoenix a few weeks ago. We were passing the Glen Canyon Dam. So we decided to stop and take a look. We got out of the car and walked toward the dam. The closer we got, the more I realized I was NOT excited to get any closer. But everyone else seemed completely comfortable skipping over to the dam where there was an extremely EXTREMELY high drop off to everything below. Literally the closer I got, the more my legs would lock up... It was unbelievable! I was clinging to the pole that lined the HUGE bridge-like dam and I had to pull myself along!!!!! Everyone else was freely jumping around on this structure like they were in a wide open meadow in the middle of June. They thought I was pretty hilarious......I didn't find any of this funny. So James coaxed me a few feet onto this thing and pulled out the camera to snap a shot of us on the Glen Canyon Dam, pretty cool huh! So I am trying to pull myself together for one picture. In my mind I was convinced I had done a pretty good job of "pasting" a happy face on, fully thought I was smiling normal.......... I guess moral of this story is, even when you think you're smiling, and fooling the world, sometimes YOU'RE NOT!

Change Of Heart

So I was honestly resisting having a blog for a long time. But I have talked to a lot of people I love who helped me see the beauty in it. The kicker for me was looking at it like a way to journal, print, backup and save forever! I am SUCH a journal girl!!!! So here we go!