Summer Vacation Week 8

Sunday, we had dinner with half the family. It was the last time we'd see Steven and his family for a short bit.

Monday was a busy day of researching, making lists, and cleaning. I really didn't get a lot of anything done because Baby Girl isn't feeling well but, I tried. We moved her into her own room finally. 

Tuesday through Thursday were cleaning days, washing days, packing days, and anything else you can think of days.

Friday we left for our vacation. It was a fun adventure. We made several stops but, what really made our 9 hour trip into 12 hours was the traffic delays. Once outside of Las Vegas and once before Salt Lake City. These both delayed us close to 2 hours. However, we made it safe and sound. 

Saturday and Sunday we hung out with family, went to church, and just had a relaxing time before our big day trip the following week.

Pictures will be on a future post.

Updates on Baby Girl:

*She can stand without support for about 3 seconds.

*She stood for a total of 7 seconds once.

* She can handle being in a car as long as it's not stop and go traffic.

Review: Charlie Banana

In case you are wonder who or what Charlie Banana is... Charlie Banana is a reusable cloth diaper company.

So now you may be wondering... Tamra (or even Josh) and reusable diapers? Yes!

When I was pregnant with Baby Girl, my sister-in-law mentioned that a local store carried these reusable diapers and she knew someone from church who uses them and swears by them. I decided to check out the store.

The diapers seemed pricey but, I liked the idea. So, I did some research. I went to the Charlie Banana website, watched YouTube videos, read some reviews and added up estimated costs.

Honestly, I chose Charlie Banana over other brands because of the availability. Ironically by the time I bought them weeks before she was born, no local stores carried anything Charlie Banana. I guess cloth diapering in Las Vegas is not very popular. I had plenty of gift cards so I still made my purchase online.

What convinced my husband? The price. We did the math... Please don't make me do it again! The results were clear: over $8,000 a year for about 2 years consisting of disposable diapers and wipes or $300 to start with the purchase of reusable cloth diapers that if taken care of properly can last more than 2 years and maybe $300 on the bamboo liners/wipes, disposable pads a year and the cost of water and laundry detergent. Reusable diapers were very cost efficient! This was the selling point for both me and my husband! 

How much do I love them? They are an inexpensive alternative that helps take care of the planet. My daughter has never had a rash wearing these diapers. The disposable inserts make going out easy. Once laundering diaper skills have been learned, laundry is a piece of cake! Best part, they are resizeable, so they grow with her no matter how big or small her belly and thighs may be! Customizable sizing is a gigantic plus!!!

What do I hate? Laundering sucks until you figure out what works for you. We went to the Charlie Banana blog to learn some tips and tricks. Some ideas worked and some didn't. We just had to figure out what worked for us. Also, they give my daughter a big booty. Disposables are thin and can be worn with the ever-shrinking clothing. With the bulky diaper, she typically wears one size up (which is okay because my daughter has my husband's heighth, or so it seems, so it evens itself out). 

As a side bonus: I must say, I find reusables easier to use when working than being at home because I'm continually wondering how many diapers she's used, how many are left, and will I need to do laundry tonight? As I list these questions it sounds stressful but, it was just easy breezy. 

Anyway, I will write about our personal tips and tricks later.

I hope my review helps you and if you try them I hope you love them! :)

Summer Reads: Land of the Lone Star series

Most of you have probably never heard of  Land of the Lone Star series. This is a series by Tracie Peterson. I absolutely love almost all books by her! She is a phenomenal writer as her books are filled with such captivating power against the reader, you can't help but fall in love.

I read Chasing the Sun and was not disappointed. It had everything I loved: romance, history, suspense, and most importantly were Christian values!

I read book number two, Touching the Sky. As I began, I was highly disappointed! Usually I'll read her trilogy's because they have a distinct connection and this book in no way seemed to have connected. About halfway through, we reconnect with 2 of the male characters from book one. It was a pleasant surprise! As stated, this book began atypically and the focus was on 4 new characters, not really continuing the story from the first. Of course, this book still had everything I love about Tracie Peterson's books!

Book three, Taming the Wind, picks up shortly after book two and follow a young lad from book one and a southern belle from book two. Peterson combines the two families shared individually and pairs them up wonderfully creating a third family by the end of this series. Again it has everything I love, including the adrineline pumping adventure because of worry for the main character.

Although I was thoroughly saddened by a lack of connection at the beginning of book two, I was ecstatic about the plot twist making the connection!  

I have read at least one series every summer by Tracie Peterson and am rarely disappointed! If you get a chance, go to your local library and check it out.

Summer Vacation Week 7

I can not believe how time is flying by!!! It's hard to believe that I've been out of school for 7 weeks!

This week was another kick-back week. We had our last whole family dinner Monday night with a BBQ. People are going on vacation and then Steven and his family leave for home. Friday night we went to the 51's baseball game. It was awesome! Baby girl seemed to enjoy herself for most of the evening! 

Saturday was my 27th birthday! We slept in, went to the library, got a mani/pedi, had a delicious lunch at Beijing Noodle Cafe, and ice cream from Thrifty's. It was a spectacular day! 

Updates on Baby girl:

She is teething!

She is crawling!

She can roll 360*!

She won't sleep! Lol. 

She is opening everything!

She pulled a shelf full of DVD's to the floor. 

She can pull herself up using a couch or table.

She can scale the couch or table.

Yep. I think that is about it! :)

Summer Vacation Week 6

This week was a blur! There was too much going on and I didn't keep very good track. Josh's brother was in town. One day the whole family went to the Shark Reef. It was a lot of fun! Another day all the kiddos and mommies went swimming. For some reason everyone got sunburned. I cried when I saw Baby Girl got burned! It was a pretty traumatic moment! On Friday, the men had a game night while us women had the kiddos and ate pizza and watched movies. We were in Mesquite on Saturday and Sunday to visit family including great grandpa Pops. When we weren't busy, we pretty much relaxed.  I'll put up pictures when I can! 

Oh... And our a/c went out! It was kind of sucky but, we got it fixed.

Good news: we are planning an adventurous vacation. We are planning on going to Grand Teton National Park. Neither of us have been there and I am super excited because the pictures I've seen are breathe-takingly amazing! 

When we get back, it's high gear into prepping for the new school year! 

Summer Flicks: Blended

As stated on my previous post, Josh and I went to see Blended staring Adam Sandler and Drew Berrymore. 

The movie starts as a disaster, the two going on a blind date. Eventually the two come together in a hilarious, splendid (or should I say "blended") way. We laughed so much! I personally loved the appearance of Tom from 50 First Dates. The movie was totally relatable and minus a few details, was totally family friendly. 

There was one scene with a pole in it, and the boy assumed the hotel had been a firehouse previously. So even though it is pretty family friendly, unless you are ready to explain some adult things like poles and animal mating then keep the movie just for the adults. 

Overall, super cute! I will be buying this movie eventually!

My conversion

I feel compelled to write my conversion story, maybe it will inspire or give hope.

I grew up in an LDS founded town, in fact, a few of my ancestors had helped settle the area I once called home. 

My family has several generations within the church but, with my father and most of his siblings, the generation before mine fell away. (As a side note: my father was born in 1944.)

My dad fell away after he became a deacon. His friends joked with him in his old age that, 'he was the oldest deacon in town'. He never explained much. I'm assuming he didn't want to taint my personal views. 

In elementary school, I sometimes went to the LDS church with my neighborhood friends. Most of the time, I went to church with my mom or other friends which began at a Baptist church and eventually I settled into the Methodist church. Becoming a member of the Methodist church was not an easy decision. It was my freshman year in high school and I was going to seminary with my friends during lunch and on Sunday's I was attending church service at the Methodist church.  Whenever missionaries came to our door, they were never allowed in because of what had happened in my father's past. It was confusing as to which I should become a member of. I had no pressure from either side, nor my family. The decision was all my own. After getting out of town, having alone time, and praying with my Heavenly Father, I felt the best decision was to become a member of the Methodist church. I made the most amazing friends whom I'm still friends with to this day, young and old. It was not the wrong choice. I stayed a member and stayed extremely active until I moved to Las Vegas for school in August 2008.

I tried several Methodist churches in the area and no matter how hard I tried, it didn't feel the same. I stopped going to church altogether unless I was visiting my family back home. That was the same year my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, so I went home a lot on the weekends. That was also the year I met my husband. 

Come 2009, my pastor from back home was called to serve in Henderson, NV and I started to attend there because it was hard to always go home with my new job. When I was back home, the feeling was the same as I felt when I first came to Las Vegas, so I didn't attend church all that much. 

My husband and I started dating in July and I met his family. They are members of the LDS church. My dad passed away in October, my husband and I broke up in April 2010 and by May I had hit rock-bottom. I still tried finding a church home in Las Vegas and couldn't still almost two years later. The Methodist church in Henderson was great, but something still felt missing. I remember my husband's family saying if I wanted to go to church with them that I was more than welcome to. We were still in contact so I asked and I went. I felt whatever it was that I had been missing. 

I sort of began taking missionary lessons but because I was moving in July, we didn't do a whole lot of lessons. Once I moved, I began taking the lessons. Come September, I was baptized and confirmed a member of Christ's holy church.

I've had many highs and many lows since I've become a member of the LDS church. All were meant for a reason!

After our long break-up, during which we both had personal lessons that needed to be given, we got back together May 2012, engaged in September, and married/sealed in December. We had our precious baby girl just shy of our 1 year anniversary. 

I'm eternally grateful to be a member of the LDS church. It was a journey that took 23 years. So do not give up hope on friends and loved ones, or anyone for that matter, because the way you live your life or the things you may discuss can become the building blocks for those who will become members in the future. 

Summer Vacation Week 5

Monday was a kick-back type of day... We had to buy baby food and decided to see if I could find some baby shoes that would fit. Baby girl has thin and long feet so when we were at Meadows Mall a few weeks back, we were unable to find a pair that fit her. When we were at Walmart, we found a pair that fit well! :)

They should match most of her outfits. :)

Tuesday, we went to the library for Baby girl's first storytime. As a former librarian assistant, it is very weird to be on this side of the storytime program as a parent instead of being the librarian teaching and sharing stories. It was kind of cool though because I already knew most of the stories and songs. Anywho, Baby girl wasn't used to seeing so many kids, but she seemed to have enjoyed herself. She even made a little craft. Lol

I didn't get a very good picture. :/ 

Wednesday was another kick-back day. We spent the day at grandma's house playing and napping. We decided to go out and eat for dinner at Jimmy John's. The store echoed very much and once Baby girl discovered it, the noise making was on! She was quite happy with what she heard! 

It rained during the day on Thursday so, we got to play in the rain! 

Daddy made scones for breakfast. It was a great morning!

Friday was our day date time! For the first time in a very long time, I felt like a hubby & wife. We went to the movies and watched Blended. It was an awesome movie! Look for a review in the near future. It was great to have some stress-free alone time! Also Baby girl met cousin G & B for the first time at Grandma's house. It sounded like all the kiddos had fun!

Saturday was great! We went to the library and checked out some books. We did some grocery shopping. Smith's has some decent deals going on until Tuesday, July 15th. We went to a cycling shop, REI, and Target. Baby girl finally has some shades! :) She is going to be rockin' it! 

Updates on Baby girl:

More of her tooth can be seen.

She weighs 19.4 lbs.

She balanced standing up by herself for almost 2 seconds. 

Summer Reads: Hunger Game series

So I have finally read the Hunger Games series! I'm the person who tends to watch the movies first, then read the books. I guess I'm just weird like that! :) 

SPOILER ALERT BELOW!

Anywho, I enjoyed the series... It was heartbreaking to say the least, to have a country so destroyed and the people at continuous war (or so it seems). I thought that it was great that Peeta was the one who ended with Katniss in the end... He was her yang to her yin... His peacefulness calmed her passionate, firery side and even though he may have "deserved better" as both Katniss and Haymitch stated, Gale was not completely right for her. He was too easy to anger and didn't forgive easily. He did usually come around and soften his heart but, in most cases the damage had been done. I am a softy for friendships and I am sad that Gale and Katniss could no longer be friends but with all that had happened, with Prim all the way to the beginning of the series, their friendship seemed toxic in the end. 

It's a decent series... I liked it well enough to have read it once but, I can't say I'd ever read it again. Who knows? 

Summer Vacation Week 4

Monday we went shopping at Babies R Us and bought a walker for Baby Girl. She loves it! She was waving her hands like crazy! 

She also got to spend some quality time with daddy! 

On Tuesday, mommy here accomplished organizing the kitchen so it wasn't full of boxes!

I don't remember much of Wednesday or Thursday. Daddy gave me some me time and took Shi out for a drive. I got to do Zumba for the first time in forever! I went shopping for the fourth too.

Friday was a kick-back day! Mommy made potato salad, daddy slept, Baby girl even helped make potato salad! 

We went to grandma's house and had a BBQ. It sure was yummy! Baby girl got dressed up in her 4th of July outfit that grandma and grandpa bought her. 

She also turned 7 months old! 

Saturday was the usual, errands day. Daddy found a new series to read at the library. Mommy discovered some baby storytimes! :) We went and watched the Tour De France... Baby girl was not interested at all!

Sunday, we had a BBQ with some friends.  

Overall, a successful week full of fun and laughter!