Camping Fever

With the new addition to our family, we felt we could really benefit from a bigger tent while camping. I wanted something that you could stand up in because I hate getting dressed in a tent while laying down or bending way down. Our old tent was great and lasted us 5 years, but it was time to upgrade. We found a great tent on sale at REI and jumped on the deal. It's a North Face 6 person tent and we already love it. There is enough room for our queen sized blow up mattress, a pack-n-play for the baby, a sleeping bag for Suzy, and all our luggage. It's tall enough for even Jeremy to stand in it. We figured it could be a late birthday present for Jeremy since I was completely laid up with a 2-day old baby on his actual birthday and all he got was a 90 minute bike ride.



We tested it out immediately when we got home by setting it up in the family room where it barely fit. Now I can't WAIT to try it out for real. We're planning our first camping trip the end of June when the girls and I are going up to Logan to support Jeremy in the MS 150 bike ride. It'll be grass camping which will be perfect for the tent's debut campout. BTW - expect an email hitting you up for donations here in another week or so.




My late birthday present was a freezer. We had an extra fridge/freezer downstairs but the fridge was never used and the unit was very old and assumably inefficient. We got a 7 cubic foot freezer to take its place - mostly to be used for storing breastmilk for when I go back to work in August.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Friday the 23rd was my 33rd birthday. The day was off to a great start when Suzy slept in till 8:30 (she is normally up by 7 AM). Anika was awake at 8 and as I held her in my arms smiling at her, she looked right at me and smiled back. I know their smiles aren't supposed to be "real" until they are 5 or 6 weeks old and she isn't quite 4 weeks old, but it was very real to me and I'm counting it as my first birthday present.

It took me 90 minutes to get myself and the girls ready and pack everything in the car and then I was off to IKEA. It was really cool - IKEA was having its first "birthday" since they opened on May 23rd last year so anyone who had a birthday on May 23rd they gave a $10 gift card. I couldn't NOT go and get one!! I just had to show my ID at the door and they gave me the gift card. They also had mini cupcakes for me and Suzy to enjoy. I got a pretty oval mirror for myself for $9.99 - thanks IKEA! I want to send a happy birthday out to my friend Erica whose birthday is the day before mine (we were born on the same year.) She's the one who sent me the info on IKEA.

Then it was over to meet my sister Sherrie at my favorite lunch spot...Rubios!!! She treated me to my usual; a big chicken burrito especial. Then she watched the girls while Jeremy and I went and played frisbee golf at the Creekside course. Jeremy had gone in to work early so he could get off early for my birthday. Unfortunately Aaron got caught up at work and couldn't meet us there. Creekside was perfect! We got there early enough that there was very little waiting. And the overcast skies ended up being great golfing weather.

Jeremy and I then saw a movie and went to my favorite dinner place...Red Rock in downtown Salt Lake. Because it was my birthday, we got the movie tickets and our dessert free! Jer and I both marveled at what it takes just to be able to go out alone together nowadays. We definitely took it for granted before we had kids. At the same time, we appreciate it now all the more. I discovered a few years ago that my favorite birthday activity is spending time with my husband who is also 0my best friend. I can't tell Sherrie thank you enough for babysitting for so long and making it all possible. We were going to have cake and ice cream with the whole family but unfortunately several people were sick. Sherrie still made me a cake though and we ate it after dinner. This chocolate bundt cake was to die for by the way! I'm going to get the recipe and post it if I can.

I enjoyed all the phone calls and emails from everyone who remembered my birthday. I even got to talk to my mom and dad that day. They had tried to get a hold of me all day and on their fifth attempt at 10:30 PM we finally connected.

Overall the best present is just being a mom of two beautiful girls and having such a great husband and little family. Sorry - I realize the cheese factor in this post is a little high.

Here are some pictures. Suzy took the first two pictures of me - not bad for her first time. At the end you can hear Suz sing happy birthday to me.