House Hunters Hindsight

Our episode of House Hunters premiered on Thursday -- what a weird experience to actually see yourself on one of your favorite shows (and to hear the narrator with the cool voice talking about you)! We had such a fun time watching the show at my parent's with family friends and really enjoyed hearing from you during and after the show!

My Costco snack haul

I found a Family Feud app that shows clips of the show.. he was wanting my phone so he could watch.. 

My honorary aunt didn't want her picture taken.. 

As I mentioned last week, Brandon and I hadn't seen the episode before it aired, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, Brandon and I were both really happy with the way the episode turned out, but I do have a few takeaways:

~I have never in my life used the term "digging", so I'm not sure why I felt the need to say it so much on the show ("I'm definitely not digging this," "I'm digging this paint color," etc.).

~Yes; we are Catholic.

~Carpet for Jackson seriously wasn't as vital as it sounded on the show.

~One person on Twitter commented that we had the biggest couch they had ever seen in their life.. that's because it is the largest couch ever made (it's no longer ours, by the way -- we sold it months ago)! 

~

She followed it up with some spiel about not posting things about people on TV because they made read it, tweet you back, and make you feel like a horrible person.. #truth. My takeaway from this tweet is that I also need to be kinder on social media.. in the past, I have tweeted about celebrity fashion choices, people on reality shows, etc., and now know how it feels. 

~My friends are hilarious:

~Jackson wasn't sure what to think of the show -- at first he was really excited because he heard Brandon's and my voices (he was standing there smiling at the TV) -- but before long, he was fighting me for my phone so he could watch more Family Feud clips. 

~I don't remember Jax ever being so tiny!!! 

~We absolutely love our home -- a few of the rooms are still a work in progress, but I'm hoping to have them finished soon! When I do, I will most definitely be sharing pictures :) 

Thank you to everyone who watched (including Courtney) -- we really appreciate everyone's support and kind words! It was such a fun and unique experience and we feel truly blessed to have been able to participate. Thank you also to my girl Ruthie for helping us get in contact with the show -- she helped us fast track the entire process, and for that we are very grateful! 

I leave you with a few screenshots that were taken by friends:

Weekap*

*Week+Recap=Weekap

Wow, what a crazy, crazy week this has been. We leave for our vacation next week (can't wait!) and have been busy trying to get things squared away before we go. We are so looking forward to visiting family, witnessing the marriage of one of my dearest friends, celebrating my parents 25th wedding anniversary, and just getting away from it all for a couple of days! I'm hoping to be back to a somewhat normal posting schedule once we're back from vaca so stay tuned for lots and lots of pictures and stories.

In the meantime, follow me on Instagram and Twitter for lots of vacation updates & pictures (because who doesn't like looking at other people's vacation pictures?)!

Annieway, here's what we've been up to this week:

• If you read my post on Tuesday, you know that Jackson fought his first ever cold :(. After writing that post, we went for a long, long walk and instead of shading his (sleeping) face when we walked away from the sun, I let him soak it up.
  
  Folks; Vitamin D is an amazing thing. He was virtually snot free by Tuesday night and only occasionally coughs now--hopefully he'll be 100% again by the end of this weekend!

Tuesday afternoon tummy time at the park!

Before

Monday morning

After

Tuesday evening

• My best friend moved 12 hours away.. something about her husband finding a really good job and the town they are moving to is really nice, blah, blah, blah.. :) I'm so excited for Jen and Ryan and their new adventures but boy am I going to miss them! Jen and I have been best friends since 7th grade, were each others maids of honor, and lived together during college--she's the closest thing I have to a sister and I'm going to miss her terribly!

Our families.. when did we grow up?!

Gotta do a throwback pic for fun (this is before I had my back surgery)!

• Regular and Fun Size Brandon make my heart so happy! This isn't really new news--just needs to be said again :D

• A few weeks ago, I got the new iPhone 5S and was instantly smitten--it runs SO much better than my old iPhone 4 did, has Siri, and takes great pictures. I absolutely love it, bought a cute case for it, and decided we'd be together forever.. and then it fell out of my pocket while Jax and I were running errands on Wednesday and the screen completely shattered. I. Wanted. To. Cry. (Major first world problems, right?) Anyway, I found somebody who would fix it for me that same day (for a pretty penny) and my beloved 5S and I were once again reunited! The place that fixed it threw in a free knock off Otterbox so hopefully it doesn't happen again.
  
  

  

  It was definitely cracked.

• Jackson loves Bits and Bitsy is starting to warm up to Jax--it warms this cat/human mamma's heart!

In addition to all of this goodness, I have been getting ahead on my work so I don't have to worry about it on vacation--it's been a chaotic mess but it's all coming together and I'm almost finished! Speaking of which, I better get back to it--have a wonderful weekend!

Reunited (and it feels so good)!

Last Thursday was a total Monday..

..I woke up, began making my coffee in the Keurig, walked off to do something else, and suddenly realized that I forgot to put a cup under the spout..

Huge mess.

Then, Mr. Jax had the blowout of the century all over our clean, Egyptian cotton sheets..

..yuck.

Makeshift sheets during Thursday's nap time (he was so happy when I took him out of his clothes so I let him nap in just his diaper).

Anyway, it was just one of those days until I received a text from my dear friend Abby seeing what we were up to and if we were up for a visit from her and Ben (her adorable little boy) on Friday.

Umm, yes!!

Abby and Ben live 5 hours away so it was such a treat--and surprise!--to hear they were coming to visit! They arrived in Denver at around 11 on Friday morning and we spent the afternoon shopping, catching up, and eating delicious Red Lobster. It was a perfect day!

We didn't get too many pictures because these two little tykes were tired and grumpy (though you wouldn't know it by looking at them--cuties!).

I have to include a few throwback pics..

The Roomies (FREs), circa 2010--this was actually the night that Brandon and I first met.

Oktoberfest 2011 (why are our lips white?)

Abby's graduation day (with Mal Pal!), 2012

Abby's bachelorette party in Downtown Wichita, 2012

My bachelorette party in Downtown Denver, 2012

Abby's wedding day, 2012

My wedding day, 2013

As you can see, we've been through a lot together in the four short years we've know each other and it's been weird not seeing each other on a regular basis since moving.. hopefully we'll get to catch up again in June when we (plan) to visit Hays!

In other weekend news:

• We got Brandon some new tires on Saturday morning/afternoon.
• Burger Saturday at Giant Burger. 
  
  
• Jax now has pink eye in his right eye (ugggggh).
• Family pictures in south Denver.
  

  

  Don't adjust your screens, folks--this picture is super blurry! Brandon found a great Groupon for pictures in Littleton (which is why we had them taken in the first place) and the proofs they sent us are all really tiny and of poor quality so we can't steal them.. we have a viewing next Saturday and will buy the rights to all of them then so check back next week for all of our pics!

• Swim suit, capri, & shorts shopping at Kohls and Gordmans--I'm now summer ready! 
• I took my first baby less nap since having Jax (it was lovely.. we're going to begin crib training next weekend).
• Nice visit with Ryan (one of Brandon's best friends and best man at our wedding) and his girlfriend, Allison.

Have a great Monday, everyone! 

Easter 2014

Sunday was Jackson's first ever Easter and it couldn't have been better!

I absolutely love Easter--it's such a joyous time of the year and I'm so happy that we were able to share it with such wonderful family and church community! Jax was spoiled rotten by his extended family and by the Easter Bunny which was really fun for us, but I'm looking forward to when he gets a little older and can comprehend the true meaning of Easter season and why it's so special (though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't excited to see him Easter morning when he finds his basket--seeing that joy is always fun).

Here's a recap of our Easter weekend!

Thursday

• Brandon, Jax, and I woke up early to go to the DMV to get our Colorado plates and tags--I figured it'd be a really unpleasant experience and that we'd be waiting forever but we didn't have to wait at all to talk to someone and were in and out within a half hour (when we left, the waiting room was packed)! 
• Jax and I headed to my parents early in the afternoon so we could go to Holy Thursday mass with my family. 
• Dinner, visiting, and relaxing before church. 
• Church. 
• Greeted Brandon a little after 9pm (he gets off work at 7 and left right after).
• Bed.

Friday

• Brandon and I woke up and headed to my hometown DMV to get our driver's licenses (the place we'd gone the previous day only did tags and plates, not licenses) while Mimi Carol babysat Jax.
• Rested and kicked back.
• Enjoyed seeing my dad's side of the family at my Grandpa Julius' 92nd birthday party.
• Back to my parents to watch the end of the Rockies game.
• Bed. 

Nana (Brandon's mom or "Mamma Nancy") sent Jackson three new shirts for Easter!

Jax and I sat in the car and nursed, played, and Snapchat'd while daddy and Mimi Carol picked up a few things at Walmart.

More on my Grandpa's birthday dinner tomorrow.

Dad is so much fun to play with!

Saturday

• Slept in, played, and watched cartoons.
• Met the Easter Bunny (Jax was not amused)! 
• Had lunch at a benefit for my parent's neighbor (she's a really neat lady who was diagnosed with terminal cancer--the thing I love about small towns is how tight knit everyone is and how the community comes together to help their neighbor and friend. Please pray for Laurie and her family!). 
• Naps. 
• Holy Saturday mass.
• Chinese dinner with my family and Auntie Sharon, Ross, Turin (one of my besties & Jax's godmother), Peter (her fiance), and Reid--can't wait for the big wedding in June!! It'll be our first road trip as a family of three! 
• Bed. 

All smiles before meeting the Easter Bunny!

The face of pure terror.

My gang before church.

Sunday

• Woke up early to help my mom with last minute Easter preparations (which included making my famous fruit pizza). 
• Visited, ate hors d'oeuvres, and drank wine (on my folks' gorgeous patio) with my family, Aunt Nancy, Uncle Rolf, and family friends Jim & Ilsa. 
• Delicious dinner of steak and chicken kabobs, rice, grilled pineapple & veggies, deviled eggs, and homemade rolls.
• Fruit pizza, lemon bars, and coffee on the patio. 
• Long country walk with my mom and Jax (thank you, Ergo!). 
• Call the Midwife.
• Bed.

Jack's basket from the Easter Bunny (the three books were from Papa Tony & Mimi Carol--Jax also received three new outfits from his Nana, a radio & stuffed bunny from Papa Bryan & Gramma, a knitted bunny from Great Aunt Nancy, and two cute outfits from Ilsa)--such a blessed boy!

Pretty table with Jax's Easter goodies, chips & salsa, and flowers.

My bunny and me.

Since I haven't blogged about it yet.. I got Jax's Easter outfit at Kohls for $.83 (I had a $10 gift card that came in the mail and then I got an additional 20% for starting a charge card)!

Good food..

..good company..

..and good desserts!

Brandon headed home after the Rockies game on Sunday night and Jax and I left first thing Monday morning (Jax travels much better in the morning). We had such a wonderful weekend and will always remember this beautiful Easter--we are so blessed to have a Father who loves us so much and to have such wonderful family and friends (on both Brandon's and my sides).

I hope all of your Easter's were just as blessed!

Birthday Week Recap!

Last Wednesday was my 24th birthday and I was blessed enough to spend it with so many of the people I love--here's a quick birthday week recap!

Wednesday (Birthday)

• Went to lunch at Olive Garden with my parents, brother, and Jax (Brandon was working and couldn't go :/).
• Shopped at Kohls for my Easter/friends wedding rehearsal dress (gift from my mom)--my dad pushed Jax around the store the entire time so I was actually able to shop and try on a bunch of dresses.. I forgot what that's like!
• Home for naps. 
• Pizza, wings, cheese bread, and wine for supper with my boys. 
• White chocolate raspberry and red velvet mini bundt cakes for dessert.
• Watched Thelma & Louise (it was on TV which was extremely ironic because I was just telling my best friend how I wanted to watch it again). 
• Bed.. for about 10 minutes until Jax wouldn't settle down.. So we played, took a second bath, read, rocked, and sang until 1am. 
• Bed. For real.

Does this shirt make me look big? (Side note: we changed shortly after taking this picture.. 3 month clothes can't contain that belly!)

I know this is a terrible picture but I had to share the card my brother gave me.. he nailed it.

My little tiramisu dessert

Best birthday ever!

Thursday

• Slept in (thank you, Jack!).
• Walked over to and shopped at Gordmans & Ross with my brother and Jack.
• Costco.
• Costco smoothies and Monsters University with Joey (my bro) & Jax.
• Nap. 
• Leftovers for supper. 
• Early to bed. 

Jackie in the Ergo at Costco.. he loves to grocery shop!

Friday

• Denver Museum of Nature & Science with Joey, Aunt Brigette, Cousins Gabby & Roni, and Jax.
• Lunch at Cinzetti's (super yummy Italian buffet) with the museum crew + Aunt Millie. 
• Naps and lots of cuddling w/ tired, teething boy. 
• Cheese tortellini in a Vodka sauce and spinach salad for supper. 
• Dateline, Shark Tank, 20/20, bed. 

I made them pose..

Saturday

• Watched cartoons (Jax likes watching TV already.. ugh).
• Met my parents and brother at Aunt Nancy & Uncle Rolf's. 
• Visited, ate, and had afternoon tea with the family before Brandon and I left for a birthday date (they watched Jax for us!). 
• Burger Saturday at Ted's Montana Grill.. here's my quick review:
  I didn't like it. I got a Bison burger (which might have been the problem) and it tasted like the burgers my Grandpa (bless his heart) used to make where he'd slap some beef together, put it in a bowl, and pop it in the microwave--Brandon said his burger was pretty good though so I'm probably just not a buffalo girl..
• The Grand Budapest Hotel. I loved it, Brandon didn't ("That was definitely an Annie movie." -Brandon).
• Dinner and dessert back at Aunt Nancy's. 
• Home for SNL and bed. 

"Pick me up, sweetheart.. I <3 older chicks"

Our burgers at "Ted's"

Pre-movie selfie.

My mom and aunt sent me this picture of Jackson on their walk.

If my birthday week is any indication of how this year is going to be, it's going to be wonderful! Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to call, text, FB, email, and visit me for my birthday--God has blessed me tremendously with wonderful family and friends!

Cheers to 24!