Puzzle Mania!!

Carter and I have discovered a past time we enjoy doing together. We have done about 3 puzzles since last Tuesday. Carter is actually quite good. He was able to find where certain pieces went that I gave up on.

It usually starts like this.



And ends like this.

Emiko & Yuitchi

My dear friend Emiko came to Salt Lake City to visit for a week from Japan. She got married last year and this is the first time we met her husband, Yuitchi.

Have you ever just met someone and you have just felt such a goodness about that person?

I felt that when I first met Emiko over 6 years ago. I felt that again when I met Yuitchi. They were a joy to watch together. They were kind, loving and playful. I am so happy she met an amazing man and that she is so happy... And they look adorable in their matching coats!

They skiied at Snowbasin for a few days and had a great time. We went to dinner at Red Robin (Naturally, Emiko's favorite American restaurant, known for the Banzai Burger) and talked and laughed for hours.

Emiko and Yuitchi adored Carter and although he was shy around them, it was all he could talk about for days after. He wanted to go to Japan to see Emiko and Yuitchi. We are planning in the next couple years to either go to Japan or to meet up in Hawaii.

Emiko, I miss you already and I can't wait to see you again! Yuitchi, thank you for being so good to my dear friend and thank you for putting up with our crazy American ways!

A traumatic experience...

So it happened. It finally happened. I have been dreading this day and it took me by complete surprise. I thought that I would have a choice but it hit us unexpectedly. Well it hit one of us unexpectedly.

Carter cut his own hair.

He walked out of the bathroom from going potty and he quietly said, "Ma, I cut my hair." I took one look at the big chunk missing from the front of his once gorgeous golden locks and I burst into tears. I think he was completely shocked by my reaction and he started to cry. I held him and stroked what remained of his hair.





"Mama, I will never do it again. I promise."

I tried to gather my composure as I dialed Andrea at 10:30 at night. She answered and I lost it. She asked over and over again what was happening and I managed to choke out the words, "This is really stupid that I am crying but Carter cut his hair."

I had no idea I was sooo attached. The next night we made an emergency trip to Andrea's salon. She cut and sheared away and suddenly revealed a boy. Where did my baby go?

Carter's grandma has not forgiven me for cutting all of his locks off but there was NO way to salvage his hair.

The new 'do is cute but I miss waking Carter up and only being able to see a mound of hair and just being able to run my fingers through his hair.

Christmas 2008

I haven't posted in a while now and I have lots of pictures to share- I will start with Christmas!

Christmas Eve, Carter and I rode TRAX train downtown and went to Temple Sqaure! It was sooo fun and really cold! Carter loved the lights and we talked a lot about the temple. We also watched the Nativity presentation. Carter was fascinated! It was a great way to be reminded of the purpose of the Holiday season. I think this will become a Christmas Eve tradition for years to come!




We headed home and picked up some Chinese takeout for our Christmas Eve dinner. This is a tradition we did for a couple years when I was a child and I loved it! Carter doesn't really love Chinese but he really enjoyed the Sweet & Sour Chicken and Fried Rice. I had the Kung Pao Tofu and Potstickers! Yum!





We had a great Christmas morning; The highlights? Carter got a Leapster2 (a educational hand-held gaming system) and I got from Carter a Sonicare toothbrush! What a thoughtful boy, huh? (Thanks Ma!) We went and visited Nana and Papa, then Carter went to his dad's for a couple days. That weekend, we went to visit Carter's Grandma and Grandpa at their cabin. It was beautiful with fresh snow! We had good food, good conversation and a great snowshoe outing! Carter was absolutely spoiled rotten and we had to fill an entire duffel bag chuck-full of gifts! Oh, and Carter got to go on lots of rides on the snowmobile and snowcat with Grandpa!






All in all, Christmas was a happy and memorable time for us!

Imagination

I just told Carter he had to go potty and his exact words to me were:

"I caaaan't. You will flush me down the toilet! And that would not be good!"

Christmas Surprise

My former MIL and FIL surprised me with a GORGEOUS, brand new, shiny washer and dryer. That's right my friends- a high-efficiency, front-loading washer and dryer. I cannot even begin to express my love for these things. It was only a week ago that my one day off was devoted entirely to doing laundry at Mom's house. Not anymore. I can throw one load in at night and wake up to clean clothes. I no longer have loads and loads to do at one time. It is a beautiful thing!

Jim & Carol, Thank you a THOUSAND times! I LOVE them!

Breakthrough!

So, I finally did it. I asked a man out. Ok, I kind of asked a man out. Really, I did not ask him out, but I left him my number so he could hopefully ask me out. I will update as soon as I something to update about!

Frugile, Frugile, Frugile and PROUD!

I have a new obsession. It is online shopping. Yes, I can lie in my bed in my pajamas AND SHOP! I discovered this recently (even though I have been working for an online skincare retailer for almost a year now-hmmm, go figure!) and it gets even better!

You can google coupon codes for bukoo savings!! Yes siree!

I came across this website (you can find in my list of favorite websites) called Couponseven.com. Holy smokes! I found a coupon code for 30% OFF my purchase... That's right THIRTY PERCENT OFF!! I got Carter a hand-held educational gaming system and I saved like 50 bucks! Oh I am so stoked! Michael, I am sure you are just beaming right now with my Frugality!!