I Met Sabrina Soto!!!!!

I was coming home from Utah last week, walking through the RDU airport when I saw a woman talking on her cellphone. At first I thought she looked like someone I knew, but then the closer I looked, I realized that I didn't know her, but I knew who she was:  It was Sabrina Soto!

My feet slowed down of their own accord, and I couldn't help it, I was just staring.  Sabrina ( I feel like I can call her that, since I have met her) started to grin and said, speaking to the person on her phone, "Mom...can I call you back?" -- cause she knew where this was going.

I said (sounding like a total idiot, I'm sure), "Are you Sabrina Soto?", just to be absolutely positive it was her.  She kind of laughed, and said that she was, and then we actually had a conversation!  She told me that she was coming back from filming an episode of something (HGTV'd?  I'm honestly not sure because I was really kind of star struck) down in Fayetteville. 

I finally remembered to introduce myself, and she asked where we were coming from, and then I told her how much I love "Get it Sold", her old show, and how I was so sad that it wasn't on any more.  She told me that she's going to start another show soon called "High/Low", I think, and she said it was going to be even better than "Get it Sold."

Then I told her how great all her tips were, and that I used them all when we were selling our house.  I even printed out her checklist, and that because of all her staging helps we were able to sell our house in under a month.  (All true!)

She actually seemed touched, and said how happy she was to hear that.  The kids were getting antsy, and I didn't want to take up too much of her time, so I just told her how nice it was to meet her, and then said goodbye.

After we walked away I actually had a hard time getting my breathing back to normal, and I was seriously star struck, but you know, the overwhelming thing about it all was that she was so nice.  She didn't have to stop her conversation, she could have just ignored me, or she could have just said hi, gladhanding the fans, and then gotten back to whatever she was doing, but instead, she took the time to really talk with me. She always seemed so nice and funny on her shows, and it's wonderful to know that that's exactly how she is in regular life.

She was wearing this way cute green and navy diagonal stripe dress with ballet flats, with that gorgeous hair, so she even looked like you would think she should!  :o)

It's funny, if you had asked me before this happened who I would have wanted to meet from HGTV, which I watch all the time, I totally would have chosen Sabrina Soto.  She's been my hero for years, not only because I love her organization, and I love how she decorates, but I also love how she helps the people on her shows realize the kind of house that they could have.

I met Sabrina Soto!!!  AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!   :o)

Funny Kid Quote of the Day

We just got back from a wonderful 2 weeks in Utah, and I will post lots of pictures soon, never fear, but until then I thought I would post something cute to tide you over.  Since I am sure that you are hanging on to my every word.  Right? 

Anyway, so we were watching a movie with the kids Monday night (Despicable Me--I can recommend it with ClearPlay, otherwise, not so much), that they had seen before, but a while ago, and, as the teaser starts, Jarom intones in a voice just meant for a dramatic movie trailer:

"Oh, yeah. 
The beginning. . .This is where it all starts."

Jeff and I just started to bust up, and the kids all got the giggles.  It was one of those fun family moments that you hope you can always remember.  My kids are the best!  :o)

Nothing Monumental

I don't have anything earth-shattering to report, but I realized that I haven't posted in a little while, so I thought I would at least put up an update for ya'll.

At the beginning of the month we celebrated Jarom's birthday by going to a baseball game.  Unfortunately it was also the night we had a really big summer storm in our area.  I could have just kicked myself, because we couldn't have done it worse if we had actually sat down and planned it.

The minor league team that we love to go to is the Carolina Mudcats (I believe they are a farm team for the Cincinnati Reds, but don't quote me on that.  Jeff would know for sure.)  Anyway, they have a nice park, the games are a lot of fun, and the seats are cheap ($6 for general admission, $10 for front box seats).  Plus, on Fridays (like the one we went to) they always have fireworks at the end of the game.  It's one of our family's favorite fun things to do.

The game started at 7:15, but since our kids don't have the attention span to sit through an entire game, we decided to go a little late so that they would still have enough energy to stay for the fireworks.  We went to McDonalds (Jarom's special birthday dinner request) and got to the park about 8:15.  The skies had been getting darker, but there was only 30% chance of rain, and it was supposed to rain all week, but it never had, so we figured, same thing this time, right?  Oh, so wrong!!!

We parked (and paid $5 for it too, which really irritates me) and walked to the entrance---all the while the wind is starting to pick up, and we're feeling little sprinkles, but we keep telling the kids (and ourselves) that it's not going to rain hard, and that we'll still have a fun time even if it does rain.  Well, then the thunder started, with flashes of lighting in the distance. 

I took Kelcey to the bathroom, while Jeff headed up to our seats.  In the 3 1/2 minutes that it took us to be out of the bathroom, the storm just exploded, with rain and wind so strong that it was horizontal, with lightning and thunder that were practically on top of each other.  Jeff said that they were only able to watch 2 pitches before it started raining, and then it was all over.  Everyone in the stands rushed down, and with the rain blowing all over the place we all just huddled in the back by the concession stands, trying to stay as dry as possible.  Unsuccessfully, I might add.

It was a little scary for everyone, but Kelcey is really, really, really scared of thunderstorms anyways, even in the house, so she was seriously freaking out.  She finally just buried her head into Jeff's chest, put her arms around his neck, and held on for dear life.  She didn't make a peep, or even move for the rest of the time we were there, waiting out the storm.  We kind of thought she was asleep, but she never was.  Actually, it was almost like she was in a self-induced coma---if she pretended that she wasn't there, then maybe it wasn't so bad.

Finally, after about an hour, the storm lightened up enough so that we could make a run for it.  We made it to the car, and decided to take everyone for ice cream to make up for what Jarom kept wailing was his "worst birthday ever!"  I tried to get him to realize that it would be an exciting memory, but I guess it's just too hard to have a long term perspective when you're barely nine.

The next night we had cake and presents, and that went better.  (It could hardly have been worse.) 

Jarom got his first actual Sunday suit,

and then we had a treasure hunt for his big present: a mountain bike!! 

I'm kind of lame (no big surprise!), so I don't have any pictures of him actually riding it, but I'll get to that and post a couple soon.

Weight Watchers update

145!!!! 

That's right, I said 145, people!!!  I am now the same wieght that I was before I got pregnant with Ben!  Not that I'm going to throw caution to the wind and stop tracking, but I am so excited to be my pre-pregnancy wieght!  I only have 2 lbs to go before I meet my goal, technically, but I am thrilled with meeting this mental goal first. 

Now, I just need to continue like I have been doing, and see where it takes me.  :o)

May the Force Be With You . . . Sort of

In general, I am not one of those moms that waxes poetic about the totally cute things that her kids say, or do (although they do cute things quite often), or posts lots of random cute pictures (although there is a lot of random cuteness happening), but I just couldn't stop myself from posting this. 

The other day Ben was wearing my Emerald Isle sweatshirt, that happens to be green, and when he put the hood up, he looked just like Yoda.  Or maybe a miniature Obi Wan Kanobi.  Either way, what's a mom to do?  Give him Jarom's light-saber and take pictures, of course! 

Oh, and he's grinning because he did the zipper himself, sort of.  He's completely obsessed with doing things by himself.  As a matter of fact, his favorite word right now is, "Self!".  I know he's two and all, but I just don't remember quite the same level of needing to be independent in my other kids.

Anyway, here's a few so that you can enjoy the cuteness at random.

Don't worry, I don't think this will become a habit.  I'm honestly not that on the ball.  :o)

How awesome is my Mom?

My mom and dad got to come for a wonderful visit last week.  I think we ran them ragged, but they were good sports about it, starting with the school carnival Friday night, planting flowers and spreading mulch on Saturday, plus going to the temple,

had a yummy Mother's Day dinner (that me and my mom cooked---yeah, I know, but Jeff helped),

and a fantastic FHE lesson about the plan of salvation (we went through different parts of the house as we went through different parts of the plan--so cool!) by my parents on Sunday, and then berry picking on Monday, before my dad left on Tuesday. 

They really were such good sports about everything, especially since my fantastic memory-making trip to the berry farm was tragically canceled because I didn't actually know where the berry farm was.  But again, they took it in stride, and instead took the kids to Hill Ridge Farms (there was almost no one there, so it was way fun).

Turns out that Hill Ridge Farms is fairly close to our neighborhood.  Ah, the things you learn while driving about aimlessly, looking for the berry farm that you're almost sure is around here somewhere.

We also had Kelcey's birthday celebration Monday night ( I can't believe she's 5!), with cake and presents,

and then brought birthday cupcakes to her preschool Tuesday morning, my mom cheerfully in tow. 

On Tuesday we also took a quick trip to the State Farmer's Market where I picked up 2 flats of strawberries for 18 bucks a piece.  I hope that was a good price--don't tell me if I got hosed.

Then, on Wednesday, the plan was to make the bread for the week, and make freezer jam with all of the strawberries that we got.  I was very excited for this plan, and was thrilled to be a part of it (name that movie quote, anyone?) but I didn't quite realize how much focus the bread making would require.

SO, the question is, how awesome is my mom?  She is so awesome, that while I was making bread, she made all of the jam herself!  10 batches of it!!  And she even made me go take a nap while she finished the last batch!  So awesome!  I mean, just look at all that jam!!

I seriously can't believe how incredible my mom is, and that I get to be her daughter for forever!  How amazing is the gospel, huh?  And when I think about my blessings, in every single aspect of my life, I truly get blown away.  Especially when I don't really deserve most of them.  Heck, I don't think I can 'deserve' any of them.  But I am so, so grateful, more than words can say.

Our Fabulous New Guest Room

A month, or so, ago I decided to turn Benjamin's old nursery into a fabulous guest room.   What prompted the decision, you may ask?  Well, my sister and her husband came to visit, my parents came a couple weeks after that, Jeff's mom is coming in September, and I am really trying to figure out a way to convince my fantastic Aunt Chris who lives in Atlanta to come up and visit. 

Plus, Benjamin has been on the bottom bunk in Jarom's room since Christmas, so it was just wasted real estate, something I really can't stand.

Unfortunately, we didn't exactly have a fabulous budget to go with the fabulous guest room, so I have spent many a day shopping at Ross, low budget furniture stores, and various thrift stores to get our guest room into "fabulous shape." 

Oh, and as I tell you my saga, I am including prices so that you can either marvel at my shopping prowess, or smack your forehead as you think to yourself, "I could have done so much better!."  I am all about the entertainment value here, people.

First, I found a knotty pine sleigh-bed headboard and footboard ($125) at a secondhand furniture store that needed some cleaning up, but turned out to be a very good piece of furniture--solid wood and all that. 

HOWEVER (and I didn't understand how big that "however" was going to be), it didn't come with the side rails.  This wouldn't be such a problem, you would think (I thought!), but I found out after buying universal metal side rails ($59), that the metal dowels that held the side rails into the footboard and headboard were too far in for the rails to slide over them, and lock into place. 

So we returned the first set of rails, went to several other furniture stores, and bought some wooden rails ($99), which didn't even match, because they were all that was available.  

I call this the color of desperation, because I was so desperate to find something that worked, that I didn't even care about how they looked.  But I also knew that a bed skirt can hide a multitude of sins.  :o)

Luckily, there is this guy in our ward who is a genius with wood, and, by witchcraft of some kind, he was able to fix the rails so they could work, the night before my sister and her husband arrived.  David Fisher, you rock!

Oh, and also, the luxury pillow-top mattress set that we got at BJ's for a steal ($399 after a $100-off coupon!) were really, really high, so they had a sort of princess-and-the-pea kind of feeling, which also made it impossible to use a conventional Queen-size comforter, as I found out later.  But I ended up getting a king size Laura Ashley quilt that worked great.  (And, yes, those are hospital corners, thank you very much.)

The week before my mom came I was a Ross shopping demon, trying to pull together a coordinated look with all the disparate pieces that reside at a Ross store, which I think of as kind of a Goodwill where everything is (relatively) new. 

It took about 3 trips, and a couple of failed tries (because of the size of the mattresses), but after a bed-skirt from Target ($17.99) plus curtains ($10.99 each), a curtain rod ($7.99), quilt ($44.99), and throw pillow ($9.99),  it finally all came together like this:

You like?

I still need to get a lamp for the table, and a couple of other little things, but I'm calling it good for now.  And, just so you know, we would love to have guests!  :o)