Back to School

For many moms out there the first day of school is a happy day. It is a day that symbolizes a little relief and "me time."
For me, the dreaded day has come again. I am going to have a quick pity party for myself. I am so ready to be done with school. I only have this semester and one more until I graduate. For those of you who don't know I am a Finance major. The only positive thing about this semester is that my schedule isn't too hard because I have to take a few of the classes I have been putting off. I am taking geology, anthropology, sociology, and real estate investment this semester - 13 credits. I am also working about 20-25 hours a week at Silver State Appraisals just to make sure I don't have any free time (a job I have been at for about 3 years now and am lucky enough to get to bring Vance along with me). Chad is also headed back to school this week. He is going to school full-time in addition to working full-time as a mason. We've already made our trip to the bookstore and spent perhaps the least exciting $1,000 ever! Don't even get me started on what a rip-off books are. By the time we both throw family and church into the mix, it seems like we will be doing our best just to survive.

Well, that's enough of that...I am sure that we will survive just fine and in 16 weeks from now (but who's counting?) it won't even seem like it was that bad. Good luck to us!

Life as a Party Planner

This past weekend I planned a bridal shower for one of my best friend's from high school, Brooke Paulson, with another one of my best friend's from high school. It was SO much work, but I couldn't have been more pleased with how everything turned out. We had the shower at night and decided to go for a more formal atmosphere. My friend's wedding colors are black and white with orange accents, so we asked everyone to wear black and white to the shower. I felt like the shower had so many personal touches. I have always loved planning events, but sometimes I find that I try to do so much that I stress myself out. I have to say that I am always glad when the clean-up is done and I get to go home!

Cheeses and Paper Goods

Entry and Chocolate Fountain

Cake and Thank You Gift

I also want to take a second to say how much I LOVE my girlfriends. There is a group of 5 of us girls from high school that have stayed close since graduation. I love to see how even though we have changed so much and have so many different interests - our friendship has remained constant. Sometimes the relationship is a struggle because we live in different states and really have to plan in advance to see each other, but any hassle is always worth it. I would do anything for these girls and I know without a doubt they feel the same. I love you girls and congratulations Brooke - you and Nolan couldn't be better for each other!

Sale at Dillards

I love to shop and sometimes my bad habit gets out of control. Every once in awhile though it pays off. I thought I would let everyone else know that Dillards is having an amazing sale right now in all departments. I bought a pair of Hurley boardshorts, 2 Quiksilver shirts, and 2 hats for Chad. As well as a pair of Hurley plaid shorts with two matching shirts for Vance for $75!!! Everything that is on clearance is 50% and another 40% off that....happy shopping everyone! Jennie and I bought Mason and Vance matching shirts so we thought we'd take a picture of the matching cousins.

Photographer Anyone???

Last Saturday Chad and I had Vance's pictures taken (and a few of the whole family). Meghan Poort, owner and photographer of Poortraits by Meghan Poort, did such a great job of capturing Vance at this age. I couldn't have been more pleased. Below are a few of the great pictures she took. You can see our entire shoot at http://vancewaldron.photoherald.com/ or you can view Meghan's portfolio and learn more about her company at http://poortraitsphotography.com/

Vance's Nursery

In Vance's room, the changing table is next to the window and I have these strings of beads that hang down in front of the window. I think it looks very cute, but I am quickly deciding that it may not have been the most practical idea ever. Lately every time I lay him down to change him, he immediately grabs for the beads. It seems like everyday his goal is to grab the beads faster than the day before. Well, today he was ultra fast and had the beads in his mouth before I had finished getting the diaper and wipes.

I thought I would take this chance to include a few pictures of what his nursery looks like for journaling purposes. Enjoy!

Our Backyard

Chad and I have lived in our house for 2 1/2 years now and until this point our backyard has been nothing but rocks. It seems like another project inside the house is always more important. Now that we have Vance though, we want to make sure we have a backyard for him to play in next summer. In order to let all of the plants have enough time to grow by then, we decided we had better get started.

Once again, my wonderful husband has been hard at work and the results are finally starting to show. At this point Chad has poured the patio, built a wall to cover the A/C unit, built a planter box, raised our block fence, and added some stone work...and he thought summer was going to be relaxing!

Keep checking back to see how the project shapes up.

1st's for Vance

Vance has done a few new things this week, so I just wanted to take a second and write them down.

First, Vance started sitting. Not just sitting for a couple of seconds before he fell over - really sitting! He has been so happy to have a new view of the world. I think he was getting really sick of staring at the ceiling or the floor.

We also went to the lake this past Friday with Grandpa Waldron. It was Vance's first trip to the lake. Chad bought Vance the cutest life vest at Sams Club and has been waiting for a chance for Vance to wear it. Even though it was the smallest vest you could buy, it looked huge on Vance. He rode the tube and went swimming.

My Handy Husband

Chad and I have been wanting to go take pictures of all of the many things Chad has helped build. We were having a hard time getting motivated to spend an entire day (literally) driving all over town to take these pictures, but I knew it would mean a lot to him in the future. So I decided that I would go take all of the pictures. When I had finally finished and was reviewing all of the pictures on my camera, I was so proud of my husband. He has mastered a skill and is leaving his mark on peoples' homes and this valley through his work at Marnell Masonry and his side jobs.

Above I have a collage of some of his side jobs. He did most of these jobs entirely be himself, by hiring a guy or two from or work, or with my dad. The pictures are of stone work he added to the exterior and interior of homes, slate and tile flooring, slate and tile backsplashes, custom tile wainscot for a walk-in shower, slate fireplace, and a very, very long block wall. He has helped beautify our home in so many ways. I hope that I never take for granted how much he is capable of doing. I love you Chad!!!

American Gladiators

Let me start off by sadly admitting that my family watches American Gladiators.

This past weekend I was babysitting my sister's kids, and they wanted to go swimming. I just put Vance in a swim diaper and we headed out to the pool. We had been swimming for awhile when Zachary looked at me and said, "You should call Vance Titan instead." I asked him why and Mason replied, "Because of these things," as he grabbed Vance's thighs. I thought it was so funny! (For those of you smart people who don't watch American Gladiators, I have included a picture of Titan)

This is the best picture I could find of Vance's thighs. What do you think - isn't he too sweet to be called Titan? Sorry Zach and Mason, maybe the next kid can be called Titan.