"Nesting" for people with OCD!

"Nesting" -- for those of you unfamiliar with this term, it is the 'motherly instinct' to get everything ready for her upcoming child...in our case it is also a fatherly instinct!

We have officially taken "Nesting" to a whole new level! About two weeks ago we decided to do a few things around the house that we have been wanting to get done...however we needed to act quick before the baby! We put granite in the kitchen...the only 'minor inconvenience' was that we had to go an entire week without the plumbing hooked up in the kitchen (no sink or dishwasher), annoying but nothing to put you over the edge. Then we painted (I say "we" but this really means Chris) the Kitchen, family room, hall and entry (for the second time in a year)...then things really got out of control and Chris tore out all the base boards upstairs and replaced them. Tonight he moved all the furniture out of the bedrooms and tore out the carpet because the carpet layers are coming on Thursday! Are we crazy? Then, Thursday night we have to move everything back to the bedrooms because they are coming Friday to do the Family room! Who does this a week before their baby is due? I don't think I really thought this all through when I suggested we do the carpet...I forgot we'd have to move EVERYTHING, including all the stuff in the closets --- this time when I say 'we,' I am included...so are my parents and brother in law, Ben! Thanks for the help guys! Now I'm exhausted and huge!

People keep asking me if I am ready to have this baby....I feel like screaming "Are you kidding me?" It looks like 'Hurricane Dean' hit our house! I can't have the baby until at least this weekend!

Hey Baby Lets Go To Vegas!

Last weekend we decided to do something crazy...take a trip without Brielle. We went with our friends, Brittany and Mackay (who were fantastic trip partners!), to Las Vegas. We were only there for 3 days...but it was just enough time to relax a little. I was a little nervous about traveling, considering I was 3 weeks from my due date, but luckily Chris did not have to deliver the baby on I-15 and we had a wonderful trip! We stayed at Ceasers Palace (where they upgraded our rooms to 'mini-suites' just because I was pregnant), they had 3 great pools and we had a great time sitting by the pool sipping our virgin daiquiris! We also did lots of shopping...and when I say lots I am talking about six or more hours a day! The boys were fantastic shoppers, in fact sometimes Brittany and I found ourselves waiting around for them because they were so into it! Food, Food, Food...Vegas is famous for food...we ate at The Cheese Cake Factory three times in three days, obviously we are not very adventurous--but it was great food! We also went to see the Cirque de Soleil Show "O", it was entertaining and we were on the second row, so we saw everything really well...but there were these WEIRD clowns and it was a little to long --we went to the 10:30 show and by the end I was ready to go to sleep! My only complaint about our trip was that it was 110 degrees! Are you kidding me? How do people live in a city that hot? Oh yes, and my other complaint is that my daughter could have cared less that we were gone. She had LOTS of fun with my parents, probably because they catered to her every demand...especially my dad! My mom said that she came home one night to find Brielle on their King size bed with a tray of crackers, cheese, juice etc... watching cartoons! No wonder she loves her Bobpa so much, he takes very good care of her. Our first trip alone since Brielle was born was a HUGE SUCCESS, thanks to my parents taking Brielle and Britt and Mackay being such fun travel friends!

We've been tagged three times...

Chris

Places I've worked
1- The Rock Landscaping (Maryland)
2- Sports Nutrition Gurus -- Golds Gym
3- Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center -- Park City
4 - Dewalt/Black & Decker -- Los Angeles

Movies I can watch over and over:
1-Goonies
2-The Burbs
3-Point Break

4-Step into Liquid

Places I've lived:
1- Nurenburg, Germany
2-Bel Air, Maryland
3-Canary Islands, Spain
4-Pasadena, California

and the highlight..PROVO/OREM

Favorite t.v. shows:
1-The Office
2-American Idol
3-Sunset Tan
4-Dr. 90210

Places I've been:
1- Malmo, Sweden
2- Frankfurt, Germany
3- Cancun, Mexico
4- Copenhagen, Denmark

Favorite foods:
1-My mom's ANYTHING
2-Sushi
3-Maryland Blue Crabs with Old Bay
4-Steak & Everything at The Italian Place

Majors I had considered:
1-Sports Medicine
2-Economics
3-Gym
4-Girls

Places I'd rather be:
1-Surfing in San Clemente, CA
2-Wake Surfing in Lake Powell
3-Bicycling to a windmill in Sweden
4-The Jungle

Weird things about me: (Tiff is answering these...)
1-He leaves his clothes all over the floor of our bedroom
2-He likes nasty salty Swedish licorice
3-He is afraid of my HUGE stomach and the baby moving inside of it
4-He eats ice cream or Oreo's every night and never gains any weight and has not been to the Gym in at least 4 years...disgusting!

Tiff

Places I've worked:

1 - Viva Spaghetti

2 - Mullboons -- for 1 hour...I went home with the uniform and then went back b/c I did not want to wear the nickers, knee socks & dorky hat!
3 - Home -- Piano Teacher
4 - Gap, Gap, Gap

Movies I can watch over and over:
1-Cinderella
2-Pride and Prejudice
3-One Fine Day

4-Breakfast at Tiffanys

Places I've lived:
1-Provo/Orem, Utah
2-Pasadena, California
3-Aix en Provence, Tarbes, Montpeiller & Toulon, France
4-Santa Clarita, California

Favorite t.v. shows:
1-Anything on HGTV
2-E News! (It is very informative)
3-CSI
4-Hannah Montana (Brielle and I watch this together...it is better then having to watch Mickey or JoJo)!

Places I've been:
1-England
2- Swiss & Italian Alps
3- Mexico
4- Paris

Favorite foods:
1-Bajio Flauta Salad
2-Waldorf Salad at CPK
3-Anything Chocolate
4-Halibut at Maglebys

Majors I had considered:
1-Special Education
2-Social Science - Social Work
3-Music
4-Physical Science---some of you may get this joke!\

Places I'd rather be:
1-anywhere that I was not pregnant
2-the Hospital -- having the baby
3-Disneyland
4-Aix en Provence, France

Weird things about me:
1-I am afraid of birds, I will cross the street to avoid walking past them!
2-I do not think that Dessert should have any Fruit in it
3-I am totally obsessed with Antibacterial Windex and hand sanatizer
4-I always sleep with my feet out of the covers, they are always hot at night

Friends We'd like to tag:

Nobody!!!

111 miles of Spandex!

Today Chris and my dad did a 111 mile bike ride/race -- Utah Lake Century Epic Ride. Doesn't he look cute in his spandex outfit! It started at Thanksgiving point and went around the lake, to Springville, then to Goshen and up the west side of the Lake and back to Thanksgiving Point. Their were a bunch of 'teams' that entered the race and then lots of 'regular people' who do it as a ride. My dad really wanted to do it, so he convinced Chris to do it with him (I don't think my mom was crazy about the idea of him doing it alone). He was supposed to draft for my dad...but my dad needed a few extra and longer stops then Chris needed and they ended up separated. They had a good time...considering it was hot and exhausting and they both finished!

...one last present!

Brielle was THRILLED to get gifts on Tuesday from her Aunt Amanda, Grandpa, Grandma and Mor mor! She misses you so much!

She loves the idea of streching out the birthday celebration for 4 days!

Princess Mahem...

...and the birthday continues. Brielle invited Ella, Savannah and Amar (her friends from our neighborhood) over to celebrate like Princesses! We made 'bibbity boppity boo wands,' played a few games, opened presents, ate cupcakes and most importantly dressed up like Princesses. We gave them each little crowns and Brielle shared her princess shoes. I also had sparkles to spray in their hair and on their arms...because what kind of Princess does not have sparkles! Brielle had a wonderful time...I am completely exhausted and very glad that we have another year to get ready for the next party and that I will not be pregnant next year!

Happy Birthday Brielle!

Recently we had Brielle's 3rd birthday. It was quite the day! We took her to Build-a-Bear (because she asks me EVERY time we pass it at the mall and I've been saying 'Maybe for your b.day' for months), and she made a Hello Kitty named Hello Kitty (what else?). She loved the whole process, especially because her daddy helped her!




After her 3 hour nap (build-a-bear was pretty exciting) we gave her our present... a bike. Chris is really in to cycling lately (I'll have to snap a picture of him in his spandex outfit and post it!) and has spent a lot of time at a bike shop called 'Mad Dog,' Brielle has spent her fair share of time there lately and the first thing she said when she saw the bike was "Did you get this Bike at Mad Dog?" What kind of 3 year old asks where you bought the bike? You may notice the bike is black and white...and could pass for a boy bike or girl bike if you switch out the bell, tassles and basket...Chris insisted that she needed a "nice" bike from 'Mad Dog' (not just a cheap bike), so I insisted it be as unisex as possible. It is such a cute bike and she loves it! The only problem is that she is convinced it is just from her daddy!




Brielle's Nana, Bobpa, Aunt Nat and Uncle Tyler spoiled her to death by giving her a Celtic Harp...the consequences of being an only grandchild. Bri LOVES playing Nat's harp and is super excited to start taking Harp lessons from her. Several times today she has sat down at her harp, plucked a few strings and then told me "mommy, it is so fun having my own harp."

In the evening we had a party...with mostly adults, but Brielle did not mind because she was the star of the show! My sister made the most amazing cake you have ever seen...a Princess Castle Cake! Brielle has the present thing down this year...she loved opening her gifts!