Big Celebration Weekend!

Red White and Blue Celebration

First off, the 4th was amazing! We had a party all day. We went to the pool, and then to block party, and then to our fireworks party. Neil and Darla Fort staked out an amazing place for us where we had a bunch of amazing food and fun. Joel wore the most ridiculous Billy Ray Cyrus red, white, and blue mullet wig. By the end of the night I was going into convulsions looking at all of that hideousness! There's a great father son mullet picture. It is pretty sad. And funny. Anyways, the fireworks were awesome! It made me feel like I was in I.F. again down on the greenbelt!

P.S. Did I mention that these pictures of Joel are still giving me nightmares? Love you honey, see I knew all of this mullet obsession would come back to get you in the end!

P.S.S. I had to put the Born to be Wild song on here. Can't you imagine Joel w/ his lovely teeth on a big Harley cruising down the highway with his mullet whipping through the wind. It's a beautiful image isn't it....?

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Allegra's B-day

This is a few day's late, but Allegra turned two on Saturday. We did a little spur of the moment b-day party at Bare Branch park. It is an amazing park w/ all sorts of things to play with. She was in hog heaven and running around like a maniac. Our friends Matt and Kristin joined us in the fun. The kids had a great time, and even the parents. It was a nice relaxing evening w/ cup cakes, who could ask for more.

Allegra is now miss independent, stubborn, feisty, and still adorable and sweet as ever. She got Care Bears and a little doll house (thanks Abu Maggie)and a few other little things. She was so happy. It is fun and sad to see her grow up so quick. We love her dearly and so glad she's a part of our family.

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Beach Blues

I admit it... I have the Beach Blues. I miss the ocean. If there were two reasons why I would move back to Tampa in a heartbeat they would be: 1)Joel's family, and 2) Clearwater Beach. My kids loved it, we love it. In fact it is a dream of ours when we strike it rich to buy a beach house there. Aaaahh to dream. But as Cinderella says, "The dream that you wish may come true". So here is a little montage of some of our pictures from the beach. Don't forget to push the pause button on my music, otherwise you won't really hear one of my favorite songs called "Walk on the Ocean" by Toad the Wet Sprocket, coincidentally one of my favorite bands of all time.

I'm also adding a few pictures of Joel's and my getaway. We were able to spend a few days at Joel's parents neighbors, dog's, cousin....condo on the beach. We thoroughly enjoyed every minute of walking on the beach, laying out at the pool, and sleeping in.... I could get used to that kind of life style. One morning Joel and I found 30 sand dollars, 3 sea urchins, two hermit crabs, and an amazing conch shell. It was all in one piece but it had a slug in it. It was like one you would spend lots of money for in the store...one of the most gorgeous things I've ever seen. But we put it back in the ocean. Just to keep it as we found it. As a side note, the sand dollars didn't count as they were dead!


Dinner at our regular anniversary spot... Armani's


The Big 8 Years!


Seriously, best food I've ever had! 5 Star Restaurant.


Our Treasures from the Sea.

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Happy Big 31 B-Day Joel/ Magic Kingdom

The Dude helped make the cake!



Hey well I like to say it's better late than never! So I'm a slacker wife, NOT! Today is Joel's b-day and I've been running around like a chicken w/ my head cut off to pull off his b-day. I first cleaned my disgusting kitchen (that I didn't feel like cleaning last night), ran to Wal-Mart to get b-day cake stuff, came home, got the kids, went to the airport to get Joel's mom, stopped at Sam's club on the way home to get his gift, came home, made his annual carrot cake (from scratch might I add), made a yummy chicken Marsala dinner w/ sparkling cider, and then we reaped the benefits of it all. I normally don't like to toot my own horn, but I must say that is one yummy moist carrot cake! I really am not a carrot cake person, but this... TAKES THE CAKE!!! Ha ha ha. It also has cream cheese frosting. What more need I say. But, I am a slacker in regards to not having done this blog earlier today. I'm sure Joel was checking the blog at work every few minutes just waiting for my profession of undying love for him on his b-day and he got... THE BEST B-DAY PARTY EVER! Okay not really, but hey he has his family here (minus Norby), a rockin b-day feast, and well he is married to yours truly! Wow, I sound conceded. It's just like what Joel McHale from The Soup says about Tyra Banks, she makes everything about herself on her show, and I am making Joel's b-day tribute about me. So let me tell you why I think Joel is the shizzzz...: (p.s. sleep deprivation makes you think you are some white guy trying to be a rapper)

1) Amazing blue eyes... seriously check them out next time you get a chance.
2) Hilarious. That is one quality about Joel that I love and hate. Never knows when to be serious when I'm mad at him!!! But we always have a good laugh.
3) Very caring
4) Genuine
5) Hard worker. Seriously he is sleep deprived (4 hrs/night(yep he's trying to kill himself) and he still goes to work at 5:30AM)
6) He's a big kid and loves to play w/ the kids (when he's not a zombie from #5)
7) Loves nature/ animals (Besides Bella, or bologna as he referred to her)
8) Big Teddy Bear and is not afraid of his softer side.
9)Has big dreams of helping other people in need.
10) Can speak 3 languages... come on that's pretty freaking awesome! Spanish (first language), English, and Italian
11) Knows a bit, or sometimes a lot about tons of things, so he can talk really to anyone.
12) A big people person. He's hard not to like.
13) Very passionate and strong willed..... AND STUBBORN!!! But, so am I.
14) Best speed walker I know.
15) I could go on and on, but really Joel is amazing. I love him. He's my BFF. I'm so happy we get to share this crazy experience called life w/ each other and our beautiful kids!

MAGIC KINGDOM

Really quickly, on our Florida trip we went to the Magic Kingdom and it was a blast! Joel's parents, abulea Hilda, Tia Marilu and cousin Maria Noel and baby Gabby came w/ us. It was so fun. Abuela was in a wheel chair, but that gave us access to all of the fast lines which really was amazing in the heat! Gianluca loved all of the rides especially Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear. Next time we go I'd love to go for a couple of days so we'd have more time. But it was a blast!!!

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Ooops, just a few more

 

 

 

 

Pictures from our favorite beach!

 

 

 

 

Well, we are back from our wonderful trip to Florida! We had an amazing time w/ Joel's family and also took advantage of the free babysitting! Thank you Maggie and Norby for all of your help! I will give you all of the details of our trip in a later blog, but I just was messing around w/ Picasa w/ some of our "family pictures". Why is it always so painful to try to have family pictures taken? First we did it in the morning so the sun was in our eyes the whole time. Allegra only wanted to play w/ the sand, and Gianluca had a lot of painful smiles. And why is it so hard to get people out of the picture when they are wearing unflattering bikini's and speedos!!! Allegra actually ended up soaking wet by the end because she had to get in that beautiful clear blue water! Hence the name of the beach... Clearwater Beach. So anyways, here they are. I'll blog later w/ the rest as I am dying with a nasty cold and I feel like my head is about to explode!!!

Eight Years and Counting...

Happy Anniversary Joel! It is our 8th anniversary. I can't believe how fast time flies! I have to say that I have really loved these years w/ Joel, my best friend. He has always been there for me. We met at Ricks. We went on a camping trip for 5 weeks w/ the college to get science credits. We camped along the Oregon coast, Salmon, ID; Yellowstone National Park, and a few other places. I have to thank Melissa Eagen that I even met Joel because she conned me into this trip when I could have gone to Sydney Australia w/ my parents! Then she backed out the last minute!!!! Thanks a lot Melissa!!! Anyways, I still went and met Joel. He was the hairiest guy I have ever met!!! Okay maybe not, but that was my first impression. Joel was always making people laugh and goofing off, so when we all were having a serious conversation one night, I was surprised at how much more in depth he was. He is so knowledgeable. I love that he can talk to anyone because he knows so much! He's a likeable, loveable teddy bear. What can I say. I didn't think he liked me, he always gave me funny looks, but of course now I know he just always is messing with people. Anyways, after our summer semester roughing it, I didn't stay in touch. Until one afternoon in the fall I saw him on campus and he became our 7th roomey! He was always hanging out and we became best of friends. I had no idea he liked me, and I was head over hills w/ my missionary, so it really surprised me that I was jealous whenever anyone flirted with him. The rest is history. We started dating and got married in the spring.
Now looking back 8 years. We've moved a gazillion times (Utah, Rexburg, St. Anthony, Rigby, Denver, Rexburg, Tampa, Houston). We've been middle class, very lower class, and middle class again. We have had many trials to say the least, but all of them have made us stronger. And last but not least, we have two beautiful children that fill our lives full of love and happiness. I'm so happy I went on that stinking camping trip instead of Australia!!! I love you Joel. You are amazing!!!

Love,
Sid

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Fun in the Sun!

Well, we have really been enjoying our nice weather (besides today, it's pouring rain!) It's been in the mid/high 80's and we have been just soaking it all in. The kids love to help Joel washing the cars. However, Allegra is very scared of the power washer. So when that is turned on, she is hanging on me like no other. We also have been hanging out at Market Street where there are a bunch of fountains that shoot up. The Dude loves them and Allegra is undecided. Last weekend we put up our misters on our terrace out back. It's supposed to cool things down by 30 degrees. I hope so, I'm already being a big wuss w/ the heat!!! Yesterday at Target I bought some lights to hang out there as well. I imagine myself hanging out there at night listening to good music, entertaining friends, or just reading a good book.

Speaking of books, my friends and I went and saw Stephanie Myers last Friday. It was so fun!!! She is the author of the Twilight series. She is actually very funny and down to earth. Like someone I'd hang out with. Very normal. After that we went out to dinner at Chuey's and then called it a night. I love my girlfriends here! They are amazing. I am very lucky to have such good friends all over the country!!!

Not much else is going on here. But we are excited to go to Florida next week!!! I can't wait to hit the beach!!!