Cakes and Dinosaurs

This past week we had the opportunity to head out to my parent's house in Price, UT. They are planning on selling their house, and I agreed to take some nice photos of the house. It is almost a shame they have to leave the home. It is by far the largest home they have ever been in, and I know they really liked the area. However, since they are moving closer to us, I don't feel too bad about it:-)

Since this past weekend was also the birthdays of my sister Amanda (who turned 15) and my dad (who's age I will not disclose), I also decided to bake them a cake. The specifications were that it must be a chocolate cake with chocolate icing. I decided to add some strawberries for a little color and flavor. This was a pretty simple cake, but it was really yummy.

My sister took one look at the cake, declared she hated homemade icing, and refused to even try the cake. Sad. Who would not love to eat this cake? So delicious and moist.

On Friday we decided to visit the Dinosaur museum. Cameron loved looking at all the big skeletons and watching the live alligator. My favorite was the phosphorescent rocks seen under a black light. So cool! And for those of you wondering, yes, Craig STILL remembers most of the dinosaur names, even the really long, hard to pronounce ones.

The Things He Says

We are constantly amazed by the words that come out of Cameron's mouth. Some are sweet, others hilarious, and others, well, we just don't know what to think, lol.

We recently had the opportunity to visit the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house. the lines were VERY long, and it was late. We finally made it in to the Celestial Room, which was quite beautiful. As we were leaving, Cameron turned and said, "I want to be in that room." We had been through MANY rooms, but it was that room he loved most. Even so young, he feels the Spirit.

Tonight, at dinner, Cameron said the prayer:

"Thank thee for all my books that I can read, Thank thee for my games that I can play, bless the food, In the name . . .What's my line?"

Cameron repeats game quotes frequently. Right now, he is big into Strong Bad. His favorite quote - "Oh, crapsicles!" Other phrases include, "I hope it's not. . .dangeresque." On the phone: "Hello, Commissioner? What? No, I'm not in that business anymore. Stupid telemarketers." This last phrase he says while wearing his Dangeresque sunglasses and talking into a cell phone - he's very authentic:-) I'm not going to repeat the whole thing here, but he knows the "200 Sbemails" song by heart. And the Trogdor song. And all the other songs on that site.

Independence Day Celebrations

We had so much fun this Independence Day! The morning started out with the Layton Independence Day parade. We were exited because the parade was passing about 50 yards from our house! That was good, because traffic and parking looked pretty bad. I could see some people eye-ing our driveway, lol.

At first, we were disappointed with the parade. I had been watching for days as people were coming to save the best spots. So we were a little surprised and annoyed when the parade seemed to end only 15 minutes after it had started. Nothing really exciting had even come by yet, except for some cool old cars. We went back to the house, but after a few minutes I heard a band playing. I looked outside and it looked like the parade had resumed. Craig and Cameron decided they didn't want to go back, so I decided to take Orion. I'm glad we went because we got to see some really cool stuff. Orion's favorite were the Humane Society walking some dogs:-) He wasn't too sure about the horses though.

In the evening we got to watch the big fireworks show - from our backyard:-) They do the show from Layton High School, which is practically next door to us. The only thing obstructing our view was the house right behind ours, but we were so close to the action that it really didn't matter.

Craig and I both agreed that it is going to take a lot for us to every leave the house on the 4th. We are thinking of having a BBQ next year and inviting friends and family over.

You are probably all wondering how our puppy handled the fireworks, with them being so close. Shortly before nightfall I took Orion out for a nice long walk, just to get out any extra energy. When we got back, we lit our own little fireworks, and Orion snoozed peaceably in my lap. There was a band in the park that was lighting cannons, which were quite loud, but they hardly fazed the dog. When the big fireworks started he started getting excited and barked at them, so we put him in the house. We did not know that Cameron had left the font door wide open (we were in the back), and Orion had plenty of opportunity to run off. Instead, he just ran right around to where we were. He's such a good dog! We found the cat hiding under our bed, lol.

I took LOTS of pictures, and the only way I could think of to share them with you is in a slideshow. So, enjoy!

Orion & Lily

I just had to post a little video of our dog and duck together:-) Although they seem to get along well, I still have to keep an eye on them. Orion likes to try and pick her up in his mouth, like a mommy dog would pick up her puppies. Lily does not like that so much. But it IS cute to watch her follow him wherever he goes. With Orion as her protector, I am sure she will do just fine:-)

And now Feathers!

As if our home wasn't already a menagerie, lol

I was out walking Orion a couple nights ago, and we found a little orphaned duckling running around in the street. Of course I could not just leave her there! I brought her home, and have been taking care of her since. We name her Lily (and yes, she is a girl!).

This is not my first experience raising a duckling. Some of you may remember my beloved little duck, Mira (MY-RA), who was my little miracle, sent from my Heavenly Father to save my life. Long story.

Anyway, the big difference with raising this duckling is that now I have a cat, a dog, and a little boy. Cameron just wants to hold the duckling all the time, but the cat and dog would rather just have her as a snack.

I spent the better part of yesterday with Orion and Lily together in the same room. My goal is to completely suppress Orion's natural instinct to attack the duckling. It has actually been going quite well. They were to the point yesterday where they were napping together side-by-side. At one point Lily even hopped up Orion's nose! But I have to keep at it every day, so that Orion always knows that he is NOT allowed to go into predator mode.

The cat is a little harder to work with, but we have been making progress with him, too.

Okay, I know you are all just dying to see some pics of her!

Fathers, Fur, and Friends

As it has been a little while since I last posted, I will have to play a little catch-up.

First, let's talk about Fathers, and how Craig is a good one:-) Cameron REALLY loves his dad. Craig can often be seen playing video games with his boy, or playing Magic: TG (their own special version), or just hanging out together. They have a very special bond, and it is great to see the two of them together.

In honor of such a wonderful dad, I baked a wonderful cake! It has been a while since I last did a cake. This one was only a 6in, but by the end of decorating my hands were almost numb with pain, and I could barely move my fingers. In case you all were wondering, that is why you do not see very many cakes from me anymore! But I was happy to do this one, and even happier to see that I had not lost the old skills:-)



Here is a Cameron funny. As we were getting ready to cut into the cake, Cameron said, "We already had Mother's Day, and now it is Father's Day." There was a little pause, and then he asked, "When is Little Boy's Day?" So, we decided we would have to put together an "unofficial" Little Boy's Day. Stay tuned for that!

Things have been going very well with our puppy, Orion. I am happy to report that he very rarely pees in the house anymore. However, he still has the habit of pooping on the carpet. Yuck! Just yesterday Orion pooped in the living room. Craig was the one who found it (I was downstairs) and I had assumed he had cleaned it up. Nope. He waited for me to get it. Next thing we know, Cameron had JUMPED in the poop, and SMEARED it across the carpet. it was really ground in there! Fortunately, I have a special enzyme cleaner that took care of it - no stain, no smell.

Of course, Cameron went to time out. I told him he needed to think about what he had done. Through his tears, he proclaimed, "I think I need a nap. I need some quiet time." I could not agree more!

Orion is still a great motivator for exercising. We still go on two walks a day, and I am now in my third week of jogging. I can now jog about 1/3 mi. Still not much, but baby steps, right? I am also keeping up with my pilates. And all this exercise has made a noticeable difference. I think I have probably lost at least an inch off my waist, and my whole body feels leaner and firmer. I am feeling really good! I am not sure if it is due to the exercise, but I have also had FAR fewer migraines this month. It may still be too soon to tell, but I am hoping that this good be what my body has really needed all along.

Another good thing has come from my new exercise regime, and that is that Craig has now taken up running and other exercise again! I think he has seen how much it has benefited me, and it motivated him to do likewise.

The exercising has been great for Orion, too. He is well on his way to becoming a very healthy and balanced dog! But I was feeling a little guilty for spending so much time with my dog, and not as much time with my son. So now Craig and I have committed to taking Cameron to the park every day so that he can run and release his own energy.

Hmm, can one little dog really help a whole family get in shape? Stay tuned!

This past Saturday we met with Craig's cousin Jessie and her family, as well as Clin and his family down in Salt Lake. It was a gorgeous day as we toured Temple Square. I have been there quite a bit lately for photoshoots, but it was nice to just wander around leisurely, and it was nice to see family.

My favorite part was when we saw the Joseph Smith movie. SO AMAZING! If you have not had the chance to see it, GO SEE IT! It was just incredibly powerful, and only served to reinforce in my mind that I know Joseph Smith to be a true prophet of God. He did more for us than can be imagined, and sacrificed even more to make those things happen. He was truly inspired, and loved by so many. I realized later that we actually saw the movie on the anniversary date of Joseph's martyrdom - June 27, 1844. Coincidence?

And finally (I know this is getting long, just bare with me), Saturday night was our Ward party. We went to the Layton Surf n Swim, which is a bog wave pool located in the park next to us. We had not been there before, but we had a lot of fun! The food was great, and Cameron LOVED the wave pool! It was pretty shallow for the most part, and he could walk out pretty far, but mostly he enjoyed sitting in the inner tube and riding the waves:-) We decided we will need to go back again when we get the chance.

Well, that is all for now. There are a few other things, but I will cover those in another post later.

Adventures at Wheeler Farm

Cameron and I were invited to go to Wheeler Farm in SLC with some friends. Cameron was soo excited! He has not seen his friend Ethan since we moved more than 6 months ago, so this was a very special treat. And I was happy to see Ethan's mom, Veronica again:-)Veronica

Ethan and Cameron

For those that have not been to Wheeler Farm, it is a great place. There are lots of animals - horses, cows, chicken, rabbits, geese - as well as other fun things. It is also very scenic, and a popular spot for photographers.

Veronica had brought along another friend, Brandy, and her children. It was so much fun for the kids to run around, and such a beautiful day. I think their favorite was playing in the tree house and on the old tractor. Cameron enjoyed riding the little pony:-)
Yes, he STILL has that old sword! A hero is only as good as his sword, after all:-)

We did have one scary moment. We decided to have a little lunch, and Brandy headed to her car to get some food, while Veronica and I watched the kids and found a place to sit. After a few minutes, Veronica suddenly realized that one of the children was missing! I told her I thought I saw him following his mom to the parking lot, but when Brandy returned, little Andrew was not with her.

A frantic search for the little boy ensued. It was very busy, with many families and children around, making the search a little more challenging, but what really had everyone worried is that the river that runs though the farm was running very high and fast due to all the rain we have had. Andrew had been playing near the water earlier, and everyone's first thought was that he had fallen in.

Within moments, other moms had stopped what they were doing to join in the search. Farm helpers went into action, and everyone rallied to find the lost boy. Fortunately, he was found soon after, wandering the parking lot. As I had thought, he had followed his mom out to the parking lot, but she never noticed he was there.

Afterward, many moms came to share their relief that he had been found. Many had tears in their eyes. Even though they did not know the child, they still felt the sense of dread of losing a child, and the ultimate relief of finding him again. Moms can be very protective of their own children, but can also be very protective of other children as well. It is God's gift to us to feel so much empathy towards others, one I am very grateful for.

The funny thing is that Andrew really had no idea what all the fuss was about! All he knew is that his mom and every other woman on the farm was crying and making a fuss over him, which I think scared him more than anything else. It was good I was there, as well, to help keep the other kids calm and their minds preoccupied with other random things. They had started to pick up on the sense of panic, and were very worried, so I helped to calm them down.

Aside from that harrowing experience, i think we all enjoyed ourselves. The kids had fun running around and playing, and us women enjoyed chatting. It was something we all needed. By the time I got home, the day had definitely caught up to me, and I completely crashed. I slept for several hours! An exhausting day, indeed!

Snake in the Grass

I am outside a lot, and particularly in my garden. I love digging in the dirt and helping things grow. Of course, there is a lot more than just plants and soil in my garden. For one thing, there are bugs. Lots of them. I am a little miffed about this, as they are eating up my plants. This is particularly annoying in the vegetable garden. I have yet to be able to pick any edible strawberries. As soon as they start to ripen the bugs get in them. Very annoying. I was hoping to grow things organically, but we have such a nasty bug problem that I don't think I have any other choice than to spray.

Another thing I have a lot of in my garden are spiders. Spiders everywhere! Normally, I am okay with these 8-legged critters. I leave them be, and hope they make a dent in the bug population (it doesn't seem to be working yet). But seriously, I there are times when I feel like I have come across every spider known to mankind! I have seen tiny spiders so small that I can just barely see them. Others are fairly large. Some have fancy markings, and others have no markings at all.

Again, I normally just leave them alone. But we have a major outbreak of Huntsman spiders (daddy long legs). While not dangerous to humans, there are just so many of them, that I end up squashing a few. There is one spider that I don't like. It is a fairly large spider, about the size of a penny, and has a very fat abdomen. The unusual thing is that it is all white - no markings that I can see at all. I have also not noticed any hairs. In essence, it is a naked spider, lol Kind of pretty to look at, but that is where the fun stops. The other day while I was out weeding, I cam across a good size specimen. Not wanting to kill it, I decided to pick it up on the end of my shovel (the big kind, not a little trowel) and set it out of the way. Well, I thought I had moved it, but it just seemed to have totally disappeared. I could not find it anywhere. I went about weeding again, and a few minutes later, I found it ON MY LEG!! I have no idea how it even got there. I brushed it off, and it disappeared again. Could not find it anywhere.

Just yesterday I found another one in a different area. it was pretty close to the house, so I decided it HAD to go (sorry folks, no spiders in the house. Except for Sheila, but she never comes out of her cage). I aimed carefully with my trowel and smashed it into the rock it was sitting on. But when I removed the trowel, it was gone! Completely disappeared. Again. I find it incredibely creepy for a spider to keep disappearing. Like it is invisible. Gives me the willies.

There is one critter that I always look for, and that I absolutely love. And that is the garter snake! I had no idea we even had any until I scared one out of my mulch pile. I love snakes. All snakes. I think they are beautiful and just cool little animals.

As I was letting the dog out a little bit ago, I happened to look down by my porch stoop and spotted a little garter snake sunning itself in an old seed tray. I quickly caught it (and it peed on me, lol), but I was excited to show Craig and Cameron. It was just a little guy, but so cute! Orion was not at all interested in it, thank goodness. But of course, I had to get some pictures! I promise this little guy was completely harmless to humans, and was not very big, so I felt safe in handling it.

I'm a Jogger

Yeah, did I just write that title? So here's the thing. I am OUT OF SHAPE. I may look nice and trim on the outside, but on the inside I am a pile of mush. And even on the outside the mush is starting to spill over a bit.

Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, says that dogs need LOTS of exercise to help them stay healthy and balanced. A dog with too much pent up energy can quickly develop psychological issues. I didn't want that to happen. Nearly every day for the last month I have been taking my new puppy, Orion, on two walks a day.

We started out simple, just walking around the block. Then I started taking him around two blocks. Then I started taking him on the trail near our house, and then around our block. Then we took the long trail and walked even further, so that the walks would generally last about 30-40 minutes. Twice a day. I could tell this was good for both of us.

Not only were we BOTH getting some good exercise, but I was also helping to establish my role as "pack leader" for Orion. Orion has a few anxiety issues that we are trying to resolve, and taking him on long walks really helps put him in a calm-submissive state of mind.

But I felt like this was still not enough. It was time to step it up once again. So, we started going on shot jogs along the trail. Maybe 100 yards. I am not sure how Orion really felt, but even going that short little distance was like torture for me. Now I know some of you runners out there are probably rolling you eyes. I told you, I am out of shape. But I am working on it.

Now I am working on a new morning routine:

First thing, I let the dog out (because he is still a puppy and will poop or pee on my carpet if I wait to long to let him out). Then I do 20 min of pilates. This helps warm me up and stretch me out. Immediately after I take Orion out for our walk/jog. When we get back, we take a few moments to cool down, and then we can eat our breakfast.

The evenings are simpler. We do not run on our evening walk. It is more a chance to release a little more energy from the day and just relax a little. It is a very calming time for both of us, and we both go to bed tired and wake up refreshed.

For a long time I have been struggling to get into a fitness routine, but I would always start strong and peeter out fairly quickly. This time I took it slowly, and I still am. Baby steps. But I think my real motivation is having a companion to do this with. It would be next to impossible for Craig and I to run together. Aside from the issue of what to do with Cameron, Craig's legs are WAAAY longer than mine. Just walking together I practically have to jog just to keep up with his stride. But Orion is perfect. He is a little dog with short legs and probably only a little more stamina than I have right now. We easily keep pace together, and somehow running with him has given me new purpose. It makes what I normally consider I tedious task into something far more enjoyable for both of us.

Moral of the story? Get a dog, get in shape!

PS. In case you have not seen them, check out Orion's latest photoshoot on my photography blog!

We've adopted!!

Okay, I know everyone is hoping for a human baby, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. So we got a new puppy! Truthfully, Craig is not overly thrilled with having a dog. But then, he didn't really want our cat at first, either, but now he is pretty attached:-)

Orion (the puppy) is a pure bred miniature dachshund. My sister breeds them, and had a couple left from her December litter. He just turned five months old, and is as sweet as can be:-) he follows me everywhere, which is cute sometimes, but kind of annoying at others. Like bed time. Craig does not want him in the room as night, but he is not fully potty trained yet so we can't just let him wander around the house unsupervised. So, he goes in a crate. Which he hates. He will literally bark ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Fortunately, he is kept downstairs, so his barks are fairly muffled.

Here are a couple pics of him.

This first is when he was five weeks old. I took pics of all the pups at this age. Anyone who adopted one got a free print of their puppy in the "newborn" stage. I don't know about anyone else, but I love having his baby photo:-)

And these were from just the other day. Our lawn was a bit overgrown, and he was practically lost in all the tall grass and dandelions, lol. To get around he had to leap like a little deer, and when he held still all you could see was his tail and the tip of his nose sticking up. I mowed the lawn this morning, and he seems much more comfortable now.

Our House

Since we moved I have not shown any pics of our new house. Well, that was partly because it was buried in snow and was rather blah. Now, with spring here in full force, everything is green (even though the lawn is more weeds than grass, lol), and the flowers are bursting. Actually, that was a very pleasant surprise. We had no idea we had so many tulips. They are EVERYWHERE. Sometimes in odd places. We think the seeds must have been spread. It is so much fun to see all that color.

We will likely be changing the garden quite a bit next year. I want lots of purple and gold tulips, irises, daffodils, daisies, lavender, and maybe some pansies or violas. I am a big fan of flowers:-) We are also putting in a vegetable garden in the back. The plot is already there, although it is very weedy. We are going to extend it out a little further. I plan on putting in raspberries along the back fence, and then the garden itself will have strawberries, bell peppers, jalapenos, carrots, onions, cucumbers and maybe a few other things.

Some people love cooking. I love digging in the dirt. For me, it is sooo therapeutic. I love being out in nature, seeing all that it has to offer. I love the smell of freshly turned dirt, and newly mown grass. You can never find those as candle scents, lol. The best smell? The smell of the earth right after it rains. Mmmmmm.

So, a few more changes you might see in the future: We are taking out the tall aspen in the front. It is already half dead due to bug damage, and I do not want it falling on my house. We are also taking out a bunch of trees in the back because they are interfering with the power lines.

We do plan on replacing some of the trees (because a yard without trees is just boring). I really wanted to put in a weeping willow. I have always LOVED those trees. But even though we have a large yard, those trees can get enormous, both in heighth and width. So, I am considering a weeping dogwood instead. Not quite the same, but still pretty. We want to add some cherry trees, and a blue spruce or two, and possibly some lilac. I would love to have some Texas Mountain Laurel, but not sure how it would fair up here. The blossoms look like bright hanging grapes (they are purple), and they smell like candy:-)

Yup, lots of plans for our yard. In a couple of years, it will be transformed into an oasis of color and peacefulness:-)
We don't have a lawnmower yet, so our yard was very ovegrown. It is mostly various weeds, most of which are dandelions. LOTS of dandelions. We did borrow a lawnmower today, so it is not quite so bad looking now, but still not great. The lawn we are saving to work on next year. It needs so much work, we just can't do what we want to do with it this year. Still, even dandelions can be pretty in their own way.

Nieces and Nephews

I have a new nephew! Baby Austin was born on April 17, weighing only a sleight 6 lbs 12 oz. That's kind of funny, considering that his big sister, who was born a whole month early, weighed nearly that much when she was born. We expected Austin to be a bit bigger. But tiny is cute:-)

Austin is the spitting image of his daddy, just like Aubrey was. Guess he's got some good genes:-) I love his great big eyes.

Here's a couple pics of the newest member of the family.


We also have a new little cousin, Chloe, who was born on the 14th. She lives down in Vegas, though, so no pics of her.

And here are a couple of cute ones of Madison, our "niece". She is really a cousin, but we think of her as our niece, and we are Uncle Craig and Aunt Sarah to her. And we call her parents Aunt and Uncle to Cameron as well. We are pretty close with them.

Madison is so cute with her great big eyes and her adorable curls. She is talking more and more, and is so expressive. We love spending time with her and her family.

Infertility Breakthrough!

As you know, I have been diagnosed with Unexplained Secondary Infertility. In almost three years of trying, I have not been able to get pregnant even once, even though by all accounts Craig and I are "super" fertile. In my doc's own words, "All the tests indicate that you and your husband are both so fertile you should have been able to get pregnant on the first try." No one could tell us what was wrong, and the only "advice" we have gotten is "Just relax and keep trying." That is terrible, unprofessional advice in my opinion. I mean, it's not like you would tell a cancer patient to "just relax" and then they will magically get all better!

We were thinking very seriously about adoption, but when my Craig lost his job, that dream got put on hold. We can't adopt until he has good job security.

So, I have been doing some research, and came a across a book by Dr. Alan Beer called "Is Your Body Baby-Friendly?" It talks about how our immune systems play a significant and even vital role in our fertility. Women who have any autoimmune diseases, or have a family history of them, are at risk for infertility. Basically, an autoimmune disease puts the immune system out of whack. In some cases, the immune system could be acting so aggressively so as to prevent a pregnancy from ever happening, or attacking the embryo, so it dies before it has the chance to implant. That totally blows my mind, thinking that I could be conceiving over and over, and yet my body is attacking the embryos.

I know I am at risk for this, because autoimmune diseases run in my family. A lot. In fact, I am beginning to develop arthritis in my hands and knees, and arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Believe it or not, there is a connection between that and infertility. Almost all autoimmune disease start the same way from the same cells, they just attack different parts of the body. People who have one type of autoimmune disease are at risk for developing other types. Thus is the case with infertility.

This is not to say that ALL infertility issues stem from an autoimmune disease, but many do, and I would not be at all surprised if such were the case for me. The great news is that it is treatable. I can undergo immunotherapy to help me conceive and bear a child. The clinics that do this say that a general success rate is to get pg within 3 cycles of starting the therapy. The down side is that the clinics are in California and Chicago - not exactly nearby.

I am not sure when exactly we would be able to get testing done and possibly start treatment. Craig just barely got a new job (yay!) so we will need to save for a bit. But I am hoping that by this time next year I can be pregnant:-) It is such an exciting thought! Finally, I may have found an answer, and a solution to go with it!

Update on Craig & Sarah, too

As some of you are aware, I recently lost my job at Lifetouch National School Studios. While I was sad to leave, I was also a little bit happy at the thought of not having to get up so ridiculously early in the morning, and also having my car to myself again (as it was previously loaded with all my equipment). Things were tight for a little while, and then I got a new job. With Lifetouch Preschool Studios. The irony is killing me. Now I am back to early mornings and car full of equipment. But so far I like it. Working with little ones is lots of fun (usually). And I get paid more, which makes me plenty happy.

So, we thought we were going to be doing pretty well, when out of now where, Craig lost his job, too. It came as a completely unexpected shock, and a heavy blow. They closed his whole branch. He is currently looking for new work, and hopefully he will be able to find something that will be right for us.

In the meantime, he is starting training to become and actuary. I am not exactly sure what that is, but I know it has something to do with economics and statistics, which is what he really likes to do. Once he gets a job, it pays quite well, with the potential to earn more if you take certain tests. We are really excited about it!

I am also continuing to work on building my photography business. I am doing everything I can to get my name out there. New clients are rare right now, due to the economy, but when it turns again, I want people to remember me first when it comes to finding a photographer.

We love living in our new house. Having a house is soooo much better than an apartment. Now that the weather is warming up, we are noticing flowers coming up in our yard. There is a little plot in the backyard that I plan to put a garden in. Garden fresh veggies - yum! Cameron loves visiting the park and the library, which are both next door to us, and I love having the mall and shopping centers close by. Seriously, I think we are in the best location ever!

Well, that's the news. Wasn't all great, but we are hanging in there. Times are tough for a lot of people, but it just makes you stop and realize what is really important in your life.