Best Surprise Party Ever…

I “hosted” my own Surprise party last week. Kind of. 

How to do it?  Plan an event, like watching So You Think You Can Dance, and invite friends, expecting that between book club the previous night and Scrapbooking the following night, that you might have one or two show up. If no one shows up, it is okay because you are packing your house for a big move anyway and don’t mind if you have to watch the show alone.

Yeah, I was planning my typical get together which I have done for the past few years with those who were interested, and thought I would make it an open invitation to any of my Modesto Friends.  Then sneaky Leah and the others decide to make it a surprise party for ME! Complete with a table full of goodies (wish I would have gotten a picture), balloons, a poster and a “we love Heidi song.”  I opened up the door for a COMPLETE surprise, 15 girls lining my front path!! (Then a few others joined later).  I was shocked (2 minutes earlier I was gearing up to start some more packing, thank goodness they freed me from that!)

It was an awesome night. I felt VERY loved and grateful for my time here in Modesto.  The women I have met are amazing. They range from newly married to having kids in college.  Among them are AMAZINGLY creative SAHMs, a caterer, a marketing director, a hairstylist,  a professional ballerina, a school teacher, scrap bookers, book club enthusiasts, Twilight fans, Lawyer, nurse, and decorator, home décor refinisher (cannot think of what else to call her), and many other creative talents. 

I have learned that no matter what age you are, girls nights are fun and very refreshing…and these ladies are the best at planning!  They do once a month scrapbooking, birthday lunches, book clubs, movie nights, dinner nights, and incredible showers (including my own baby shower).  I haven’t laughed so hard in a long time!! I love that I can be myself, show up at 10:00 P.M. in my jammies and laugh the night away.

I will miss my Modesto Women! Thanks again for surprising me and making yet another fun GNO!

  

Big Sis in 2008 and Little Sis in 2011

Yep they are sisters! Can you tell who’s who? The both have their own looks, but definitely some similarities (especially the dress). (:

Both love and hate tummy time. I remember Anna getting stuck in the corners of that thing, Now Maddie does it too!

They both think I am the coolest Mom…. (and enjoy sticking their tongues out)

P.S. Anna has a elephant and Maddie has a giraffe. (:

Maddie Janers at 6 months

Hi, I am the second child and my mommy seems to be a lot busier today than she was when my sister was born.  There are not many posts about ME!  SO I am doing it myself, impressive huh?

I just turned 6 months!!  I am the happiest baby, okay MOST of the time. My smile can make anyone melt!  I am just 14 lbs. 6 oz. and 26 inches long.  My mom was worried about me last week , but as long as I am gaining, as little as I am, the doctor isn’t too concerned.  I am still 15 percentile for weight and 25 for height. I love waking up in the morning and kick like crazy when my family comes to get me.  I have been “snacking” ( obviously I am not a big eater yet) on a little rice cereal and fruit.  So far I think it is a little weird, but I like it when I can hold the spoon and get really messy! Speaking of holding, I grab and grab anything in site and put it in my mouth. I roll all around, I can arch my back up further than seems possible, and I like to sit, but my back gives way most of the time, so I need help.  I can talk up a storm and tell cool stories.  I also LOVE music, I sing along with my sister in the car. I hate taking naps, I usually just get a cat nap and call it good.  But I sleep well at night especially with my pink blanket! I hate bottles for eating, they are much more interesting to chew and my mom’s milk is MUCH better.  I still just play with Binky's as well, I must have my Mom’s strong tongue (like her dentist says).  My thumb and toes taste good a lot of the time as well.  My gums are getting hard, but no teeth yet. My eyes still cannot decide what color they are, they are a hazel green/brown.

 

I love my big sis and think she is the coolest, she can be a little overbearing at times, but that is okay.   I love looking out the window when my diaper is getting changed and I love looking at myself in the mirror.  (I am hilarious! AND cute! ) I love my dog, Mia, and think other animals are funny.  I am a Daddy’s girl and a  flirt.  I am still pretty particular about things, but I am the youngest Princess here so I feel like I am entailed to be!(:  

    

Late Night Frog Adventure

No we don’t live in the Bayou, but some nights it sounds like it.  There is a main street right behind our backyard and along the main street there is a canal.  One in which the frogs like to play, but only at night.  One jumped out in front of me when I came home late one night after a GNO movie night.  And another appeared the other night.  Who knows where they hide during the day?!

After a day of not much attention from us, I went out to throw some toys to our dog, Mia.  I almost stepped on the little guy below.  It was 10:30P.M. Anna had just gotten in bed (we had a fun late night after a LONG nap during the day) and I called her outside. Dave was gone to a meeting and came home to us checking this frog out.   The Frog was scared or stunned, didn’t move until Mia started checking him out.  She was scared.  Anna loved it.

Moving, again.

THREE WEEK COUNTDOWN....YIKES

Craigslist ads

*Selling items

*Looking for homes to rent

*Trying to find renters for our Bountiful home

many boxes - empty and packed

New garage sale/give away pile

Organizing and realizing what I don't need

Taking down a beautiful home

Keeping up with daily tasks

Preparing Anna and answering many questions

Dreams of what is to come

Wishes of what we could have done

Letting go of things

Goodbyes

"Lasts"

Seems like we keep doing all of this every year! Change is hard and enjoyable at the same time.

I continually hope that each time it gets easier, however I find myself remembering, shedding some happy & sad tears, then reminding myself that each moment is an experience and a memory to cherish.

There will be people and things that I will miss and more tears shed.

But there is always something new to look forward to.

At least this move I won't feel physically alone in a foreign place especially in the beginning as I meet people around me.

And thank goodness there is technology to keep in touch with those I have grown to love here in Modesto!

Let the 21 day countdown begin with a sigh... or two.

March of Dimes a Few Weeks ago

I am posting this from the studio's website, we'll see if it works. We had a fun time a couple weeks ago walking for the March of Dimes with Dave's work.

http://www.mmpalstudio.com/events/aprilmod/viewphoto.php?photocode=20464211&TxtFirstName=Dave&TxtLastName=Miner&sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4dd2fb588d2a6159%2C0

My Man and Moving

I tell you I will go anywhere (okay close to it) as long as it is with these people…

Especially that cute high school senior boy on the left… oh wait  it has been 12 years since then…

I guess what I have to say is for 12 years my life as revolved around Dave and I making decisions together and creating experiences out of what life has given us.  We have had some amazing experiences thus far.  Since Anna was born in 2008 we have been in transition stages wondering where we would be heading next.   It has been fun and stressful at the same time.  During the almost 8 years of marriage we have lived in 6, now 7 homes in 5 different cities including 3 different states!

I am so proud of the choices that Dave has made to build his career.  He has worked hard and received lots of positive feedback, things Dave would never gloat about, but I as his wife can be proud of.  He wants to be the best in all he does and manages his time to fit in all that he can.  I know he will be successful in whatever he does.  It has been amazing being a part of it all and being able to make good choices together when the next step came along. 

So drumroll….. the next step HAS come along and we will be MOVING TO UTAH!!!

Long story short: We had 2 options here in Modesto, one was a regional project manager position which seemed okay, but not best for experience Dave needed.  Another was a Manager position which we were a week away from taking.  Then he was recruited to a position in Oakland.  We were bouncing back and forth between that job and the manager position here in Modesto.  We were getting excited to be here in California for years. 

Then, I had a trip planned to Utah, one in which Dave was not going to join me in.  A couple weeks prior, Dave decided to join me.  The day before we were heading to Utah he received an email from a previous employer from his Internship at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden, who said he might have a job for him.  One hour before we left for Utah Dave received a call about a job.  Then the next day he talked to someone else who had more details.  Dave said, “ironically I am in Utah.”  So he went for interviews the next day.  A few days later he had a job offer.  We went back and forth analyzing all the information and accepted the position 2 days ago!!  Dave will be a Director (so he’ll have managers and supervisors reporting to him) responsible for a number of support services at McKay Dee and he’ll also have some regional responsibilities.

We are still in shock, but super excited!  Now we need to find somewhere to live!  Anyone have suggestions for housing near Ogden, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington, etc.?