Father, Father....

To Daddy/Blake:

I love that Jovie loves guitar...that makes me happy. She loves to spend time with you. I love to spend time with you. I hope she grows up to be as responsible, caring, talented and funny as you are!

I got a little crafty this year. My friend found the idea and I adapted it to your liking. (who can go wrong with Swedish Fish, Pretzels, Peanut Butter M&Ms, Hot Tamales, Milk Duds and Skittles?)

Like father, like daughter. Look at you two. You couldn't look more alike. 

Well, at least she got my nose. ;) 

Happy Fathers Day Daddy/Blake/Honey/Babe

Guilt really gets in the way...

If I have learned anything in my life, it is that guilt really keeps me from doing what I want to do and what I should do. What's my problem? Why do I let it affect me? Well, I am human, for one. And for two, I always kick myself later when I don't succumb to guilt.

For instance, this blog, for all intensive purposes, is my journal. Ever since I was a kid I remember my journals had great (and totally sporadic) entries. I would be really diligent about writing every week for a few months at a time (and sometimes even every day), then I would leave pages blank in between to go back and fill it in when I had time. You ask- Did you go back and fill them in? Like, duh...of course I didn't. Don't you know me at all by now? It's humorous that EVERY one of my journals are like that. It's shameful really. I'm surprised I didn't look at that pattern sooner and see what a waste of trees that was.

It just goes to show how my personality is. I'm really good at starting things- but the finishing part has always been somewhat of a challenge for me. I think if I were to do a poll on all of the projects I've done in my life, only about 30% of them would have actually started and finished within a reasonable amount of time. I don't know if that is a characteristic that can be worked on to improve...but I'd really like to try. Any suggestions on how?

PS- My blog brings TONS of guilt...yet, once I get going on writing I feel a gigantic weight off of my shoulders. I don't know why I drag my feet so much in writing. I do enjoy it- and I know that when my ideas are fresh and the events are in my mind- that it makes this process so much more enjoyable.

Local Natives...

What's hot? These guys...Local Natives- a band from LA... and they are knocking my socks off. You know when you can't listen to anything else, but even when you're listening to nothing the songs are still playing in your head? Yeah, I guess they are stuck in my head for good. Love this video that was done in France. They are bigger overseas than in the US..for now.

Blake and I drove down to Tucson on Tuesday and saw them at this cute little venue- Solar Culture and were just blown away. I may have a little crush. Just a little.

Here's a video I did of the first track "Wide Eyes" on their album Gorilla Manor from the show in Tucson. They put out a great energy and exude the sweetest sense of harmony.

You know when you love a band SO much (Awake & Alert, for instance) and you ONLY want the best for them... success and fulfillment, and you know how awesome it would be for them to get big. But at the same time you hope they never get big- because it changes people.

Well, this is how I feel about them. They seem like really good people.

Georgia, here we come!!!

 

We had the best vacation any family could ask for!! We've come home exhausted, but loved every minute of our time out in Georgia and Florida! This was our "anniversary" and "Blake's Birthday" trip, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. Blake's Grandparents had a timeshare that was soon to expire so we quickly made plans and utilized a weeks stay in Orlando, as well as a few days in Savannah, Georgia (where Blake served part of his mission for the church). First, we went to Savannah and saw all of the touristy things and did lots of walking- and soon realized how tricky it could be traveling with a one and a half year old! Jovie is a great napper, so we did the best we could in getting her in some place to nap! She also loved free reign in running this way and that- and loved all of the "squares" (that were little grassy parks dividing many of the downtown streets) to run in! 

Pushing a stroller on River St cobblestone was quite a challenge!

Loved all the mossy trees and shade!

We ate lunch at this amazing deli called "Larry's Giant Subs" and had the BEST sandwiches! I thought the decor was hilarious! 

We also spent an afternoon at Tybee Island enjoying the beach and water. It was pretty chilly and windy, but Jovie loved digging around in the sand, running into the ocean and chasing the seagulls!!

We also got to meet up with my cousin Helen, who is a student at SCAD (the famous art school). She is majoring in photography- what a beautiful place to take pictures...that is for sure! 

It was so great to catch up with her.

We also got to catch up with one of my long time good friend's, Kent Ringger, who was down in Savannah randomly that weekend for a medical conference. He is currently living in Atlanta, GA with his wife Krista and 3 kids (Corbin, Indi, and Hans) and is going to Emery College to be an Anaesthesiologist Assistant. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of us!

Forsythe Park is another one of our favorite spots in Savannah. It's the most beautiful, spacious park. You can't help but to feel the history and beauty of the city there. 

Mama & Jovie on the same bench she sat on when pregnant with her.

We got to spend an evening with the DiNatalie family (who loved Blake when he was a missionary!) and had dinner and talked. They are just hilarious people. Such a great family.

Overall we had the most fabulous few days in Savannah and look forward to being able to return again there in the near future!

Easter festivities...

This year Easter Sunday was very unique in that it was also General Conference. It was special to be watching conference and getting to reflect on the resurrection of the Savior at the same time...also, getting to eat Cadbury Cream Eggs, cotton candy and Peeps weren't too bad either!

Jovie eating her first Cadbury Cream Egg- she LOVED it!

Jovie loved the bubbles she got in her Easter basket!

Jovie doing her first Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma & Grandpa Kimball's house!

Parker and Jovie love giving each other hugs!! So cute!

Strike a pose, Davis!! My nephew is one photogenic kid!

Sam enjoyed playing with her 2nd cousins!! (This is Blake's cousin Carly's daughter)

Hippity Hoppity Easter's on its way!

Jovie and Parker are inseparable! Playing Grandpa's guitar!

What a goofy face Joves!

Here bunny bunny bunny!!!!

Had to take advantage of a photo opp!!

The Kimball bunnies!

Guess who?? (Jax, of course- the glasses give it away ;)

Jovie with Grandma....she LOOOOOOOVES Grandma!!

Hope ya'll had a great Easter and were able to enjoy listening to General Conference as well. Thank goodness for DVR and the May issue of the Ensign. Watching it is hard with a little one !!

Letting go...

of control...it is hard for me. ahhhhh....breathe. Every day I am more and more amazed at what Jovie is learning and imitating. It's actually kinda scary- she is getting so independent and that is giving me mixed emotions. I am starting to understand why parents make such a big deal out of their kids growing up...it's sad...the feelings of not being needed is hard for me. I LOVE feeling needed. I'm sure we all do to some extent. Maybe it's just today...I don't know. I just love being with her- seeing her smile and giggle...and see the look of accomplishment on her face when she walks across the entire length of the house without falling!

I've never had a problem with getting messy...I just have a hard time when Jovie gets messy. I don't know why. Maybe I just don't like the cleanup part...like it's one extra step. But lately, I'm really just trying to let go of my incessant need for total order and let Jovie just BE A KID! Jovie loves the outdoors (honestly, would that be so strange as she is my child!) and she is finally starting to like sand, dirt and grass (she hasn't liked the feeling of it on her hands from an early age- like 6 months old). Trips to the park are paying off! Well, especially now that she is completely walking- that only took 17 months!! Sheesh. So now she loves digging out in the "yard" (if you could really call a 5'x20' plot of rocks, yard) and playing in the dirt from the garden and planter boxes. I love watching her.

She is so amazed at what she can do with her hands. It's funny. It's funny even when she gets dirt in her hair, on her clothes, and when it sticks to her face.

This would NOT have been funny to me a few months ago. And no, it's not laziness that is plaguing me. I just want her to experience everything that I grew up doing and usually loving. It's only fair. And it's all because I love her.

Busy days... and yet...

Wow...it's February already and I just barely feel like Christmas ended...maybe that's a good thing- I'm not sure yet. Since the beginning of 2010 I've been doing a lot of thinking...which tends to be interrupted thoughts...led to confusion...led to "did I already tell you this?" whenever I have conversations with anyone...and now I'm just feeling like my memory is failing me. Why? Why do I have to go through my days like this? Isn't there some kind of pill I can take? Well, regardless- I'm sorry to those of you who call me your friend and have to hear my constant brainlessness (Is that even a word? See what I mean?)

Anyways...on Dec 31 we decided to spontaneously get an iMac as my laptop was dying a slow death...a virus...H1N1, I think. Regardless, I am doing my very best to rid myself of my PC knowing ways and get used to being utterly confused...and then enlightened. Blake thought it would be a good idea to sign me up for 1-to-1 appointments at the Apple store- since I tend to listen better when someone is speaking to me-myself-and I (split personality, maybe). The biggest headache (that I've been just trying to convince myself isn't that big of a deal) is organizing my previously organized pictures from Windows. I'm not talking about 1000-2000 pics...I'm talking a DAUNTING task...about 26,000 pictures- which, when I put that number down on the screen makes my blood run cold. Ugh. I'm suffocating...Needless to say, picture (re-)organizing has taken the bulk of any free time I've had for the last month.

Jovie has resorted to playing in the newly organized pantry. (Thanks Sar...I NEVER would have gotten it done without your help! We miss you around these parts!) In Jovie's defense- why WOULDN'T you want to wreak havoc on something that is organized and beautiful?

In other news...ya know, I graduated last May with my degree in Education...yet, I was too overwhelmed to get all of the necessary paperwork together to bring to the dept of Ed to get my Teaching Certificate. One of my resolutions this year was to get my butt in gear and finish some things that were left undone. Hence- I spent an afternoon researching online (with little accomplished) then called the DoE to just verify all that I needed to get it done...and with luck I talked with a gal that was AMAZING- all I had to do was send in 3 documents and the rest was history. Two weeks later I had my CERT in hand!! Yippee!!

Another resolution was to get all of my pictures transferred from negative (yes, that's film people- it sounds so ancient!) to disc. I took in 40 rolls of film to Costco last week- and this next week I will probably bring another 50-60 in. Hopefully, this means I can share some great pics from a 35mm (hopefully you are sensing my sarcasm), however they are wonderful memories! P.S.- Costco charges $2.99/40 pictures that they combine and put on a DVD. This is THE best deal I've found- plus they even duplicated all pictures from high quality to email size as well. It is kind of a pain when sorting them, but it allows you to NOT have to shrink pics later if you are going to email them!

The talents of others...

Thanks Kays for making art out of us...we appreciate your eye and talent!

Yes, Jovie loves to rock & roll!

Blake has a grimace on his face- Jovie's got quite the pinchers!!

Squirmy little Jovester... she just wanted to climb up these steps!



Uh, yeah- the ivy is TOTALLY thorny. Ouch. But it does make a nice slanty background.

P.S.- Blake has lost 70 lbs since April- doesn't he look GREAT!! (And all by counting calories!)
I LOVE how hacked Jovie is in this picture...in fairness- I forgot her bottle and all of those steps are WAY too tempting to kiddos!


If I wasn't smiling in this picture (and replaced it with a look of terror) it might look like she is falling! Haha.

Our first official family pics. Overall a success. Even if the top button of my sweater was in the 2nd button hole. Yeah... starting new trends without even trying. Ha.