Sacramento

Still Playing catch up on some posts, forgive me.

I went to Sacramento last month to attend an interpreting conference. To maintain your national certification one must attend workshops and other professional development classes for which you are given credit. 

While there two of my friends/co-workers and I presented a workshop about interpreting genetic information. I was really nervous. I've presented quite a few workshops locally but never at this large of a venue.  It was the region V conference (the US is divided into 5 regions). I was unsure of how is would be received because

1. We presented the first day of the conference
2. Not only first day but first time slot- 1:00 pm.  People would still be arriving
   
3. There were other workshops to choose from
4. My co-workers and I are fairly young in the interpreting field.  Having newbies teaching you isn't everybody's cup of tea.
5. When I talk about working on a genetics research team people think I'm involved in creating the perfect baby-so not true.  (that is such a small part of genetics but of course it gets the most attention.  Not wanting to go off on a genetics rant I'll just say this; many of us have had genetic test as part of our medical treatment and just didn't know it.  It's not crazy voo-doo. At least my involvement in it isn't)

Having the above concerns I decided to make my expectations as realistic as possible.  Maybe even a little low to avoid disappointment and humiliation.  So I hoped for 20 participants figuring friends would take pity and come even if the topic wasn't appealing to them.  But being the optimist I am I made 50 copies of our hand out just in case.  

You can imagine how surprised and delighted I was when we not only ran out of hand outs but when every chair was taken and people started sitting on the floor!  It was a wonderful experience personally and professionally. We got a lot of good feedback and are now submitting a proposal to present at the national conference in Philadelphia next August!!! Ahh, I must be crazy.

Yoko, Loriel, and yours truly

These are the lovely ladies I presented with (friends first, co-workers second)  We meant to take a picture of us at the presentation but things were crazy.  This is us in Downtown Sacramento after celebrating Loriel's birthday at a yummy restaurant by the river.

Me & Dallass

While in my workshop I was walking around during a group activity and saw a familiar face.  I covertly signed D-A-L-L-A-S-S?  To which the lovely lady responded yes!  Dallass is a dear friend and my roommate while in the interpreting program I haven't seen her in ....oh forever!  Seriously though it's been like 6 years.  It was so wonderful to visit with her.  I was able to go over to her parents house one night and visit her family and see her two adorable children.  So glad you were there Dallass.

Temple, Tacos, & Tcelebrities ( the T is silent)

My cousin Dustin is leaving on his mission to Tallahasee, FL soon. His non-farewell farewell talk is this Sunday in Utah. I have been looking forward to going up to visit the Wasatch front forever. Sadly we are not going because we have a schedule conflict and will be in the bay area. I had suggested that he come down and go through the LA temple because most of his family is down here and he actually did it! Thank you Dustin for coming down. It was nice to be there with you.

Here's Dustin

Sorry ladies he won't be back for 2 years

The gang outside of the temple

**please notice my new cute dress. I saw it at Target about a month ago but they didn't have my size. Then last week as I was checking out the clearance racks I found it in my size! woot! woot!**

After the temple we were starving and decided to hit up Tito's Taco's. While we were there we saw Julianne Hough country singer/dancer from Dancing with the Stars. My cousin was the one to point it out to us which led to a discussion about how I thought she wasn't on this season because she was doing the country music thing. Her mom who was sitting at our table chimed in and let us know that she is on this season dancing with a Hannah Montana actor. They were both very nice. I left to pick up our food and when I came back someone had grabbed my camera to snap a few photos. I am not a star struck kind of a person but I was happy my grandma was able to meet her. She absolutely loves DWTS.

So I dyed my hair blond and lost 100 lbs.
I didn't know my aunt was taking this picture of me...I wish.

Julianne with Grandma

I haven't seen her this happy since... I don't know when.

J and Aunt Nadette

She was really sweet and beautiful.

Easy Yummy Fall Cookies

If you love pumpkin, these are delicious and EASY!

PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

1 box Spice Cake Mix
1 15 oz. can pumpkin
1 c. chocolate chips ( I add more)

Heat oven to 350.
Mix 3 ingredients.
Spray cookie sheet with Pam and drop dough by spoonfuls.
Bake 12-15 min.

You Gotta Be Prepared

You never know what's gonna happen...Global Warming, the economy, the presidential election etc. Whatever is in store I'm confident I can make it. Not because I have a year supply of food storage (which I don't) but because...
I could survive for 1 minute, 6 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds Pedia

Casper at 23 Weeks

23 weeks

• I can now feel Casper all the time (I know what you're saying, just wait until he's a little bigger and things are little more snug then I'll know what all the time really means.) John has been able to feel him kick/punch too! He is already a very active little guy.


• People are starting to think/notice that I'm pregnant even though I was told by one person that I just look chubby in the abdomen region. **Note to all: Never, NEVER tell a women who is with or without child she looks chubby. I'm having my own issues adjusting to the body expansion without your comments thank you very much.**


• I'm taking a yoga class at UCLA everyday with some co-workers/friends. My teachers have shown me some modified poses that focus on my hip/low back area and they are a heaven sent believe you me.

Our friend Kimmi gave us this adorable baby beanie the other day. She said she saw it and immediately thought of our Casper and couldn't resist. Thanks Kimmi, I may strap it to my belly for Halloween.

• I feel the need to clarify something; we are not naming the baby Casper, it's just been his nickname up until this point.
  
• I feel great! No complaints! Just getting more excited and nervous but mostly excited!

LOA

This post is over a month old. It's been sitting in my blog dashboard as a draft. I finally got around to posting it.

Over labor day we headed out to Loa, Ut to visit the Curtis family. We had a blast touring the small town with no stop lights, where the fire station sirens sound every day at 12:00 pm to let the farmers know it's time to come in for lunch, and where everyone is kept in check by the local law enforcement who is always parked on main street...

On Sunday we took a drive to Fish Lake. It is beautiful and serene.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis

I did a horrible job taking pictures I was too preoccupied with the company I guess. Nevertheless proof that we were there

This is not Fish lake but we stopped by this place on our way home taking the back roads. It's places and scenes like this that make me miss Utah.

A post about the Curtis Clan is not complete with out mention of Simey...

He is getting so big! John worked with him for hours;) on his crawling and he is now a pro because of John's hard work. I hate to break it to you Curtis/Castleton aunts but Simon and I have a connection, I'm just sayin.

We loved playing, talking, and just hanging out with Kevrah and Simes. Thank you for the delicious homemade mac & cheese.

Wordless Wednesday

Good Friday

Friday was such a lovely day. I was able to sleep in a little and wake up slowly instead of rushing to get out the door (deep cleansing breath), hang out with John all day and get some errands done!

Me with my oh so scrumptious Ice Blended Pure Pumpkin from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in the drive through car wash.

If you like pumpkin I strongly encourage you to try one. They also make a hot version of the pure pumkin. It's hot vanilla with pumkin flavor-also very yummy. (don't worry it's coffee-free)

On Friday night some of the Jex clan took G-ma out on a date to the Salt Creek Grille.

The group sans Uncle Steve and Aunt Karyn who came shortly after

Uncle Paul winding down from his week. He said it was "root beer" but have you ever seen someone drinking root beer look THIS happy?

Flashback Friday

This was me in elementary school...it was Wacky Wednesday. Kerilynn (not pictured) and I won for wackiest costumes. As you can see I was as charming back then as I am now.

I'll Post a Title When I Think of One

I'm sitting here at home enjoying my youth group free night (thank you General Conference) thinking about the activities for the rest of the month when I realized I never posted my pictures from our youth activity a few weeks ago.

We went to the Coast Guard air station at LAX. It was so cool and our guide was a hunk.

If you look hard you can see Ashton Kutcher (his back is to us) and Kevin Costner (standing next to Ashton)

Career option?

My rad friend Chelise and I with our guide...he's doing something funky with his mouth and therefor not doing justice to my previous hunk claim, but trust me on this one. We or maybe I shouldn't incriminate Chelise, I was tempted to put my arm around him. Doubt he would have liked that.

They do these guided tours of their facility for free. It was uber cool and apparently "The Guardian" is a fairly accurate representation of their work, I know because I asked:)

What Do You Get When You...

1. Have not slept more than 6 hours for _____ days
2. Are pregnant
3. Walk all around Sacramento in what feels like 90 degree heat
4. Haven't drank your recommend 8-10 glasses of water for two days

Answer: Cankles

Cankle: noun (kang kul)
1: The absence of a defined ankle on a person caused by the calf of the leg merging directly into the foot; the calf appears to replace the ankle.

My cankles at the state capital

(embarrassing I know. I couldn't even wear my cute new ballet flats from my cousin, my feet would only do flip flops)

almost fully recovered (nail polish always helps)

I just got back from being in Sacramento for the past week for an interpreting conference, more to come on that later.

Wordless Wednesday

Half Way

18 weeks

20 weeks

That's not my belly button, it's my pants.

Possible Outcomes

Isn't he dreamy?

I can't wait to have a mini John around

I love this picture of John.

You can see he's had his big smile since the beginning.

(we don't really have any baby pictures so this will have to do)

And I wouldn't mind if there was a little of this added into the mix as well.

I was a cute baby (my apologies if that came off as sounding self absorbed). I admit that had a long streak of bad awkward years, that my friends is a whole other post. However, I was a cute baby chubby cheeks and all.

You Tell Me...

He's gonna hate that we made his privates public

Love this Quote, So I Decided to Share

God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape your future - to love and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities. God is anxiously waiting for the chance to answer your prayers and fulfill your dreams, just as He always has. But He can't if you don't pray, and He can't if you don't dream. In short, He can't if you don't believe.

–Jeffrey R. Holland

Is It Just Me...

..or do these two look alike?

Sarah Palin

Tina Fey

I smell a SNL skit.

It's very a la this post: http://leeelle.blogspot.com/2008/02/easy-on-eyes.html
(sorry I don't know how to do the whole "link" thing)

Casper Part II

14 weeks

18 weeks


We find out what we're having Friday the 19th!

I am over the barfing phase-woo hoo! I feel great! Most of the time I forget I'm pregnant except in the mornings when my unflattering wardrobe reminds me. ( Thank you Chelise and Tanya for making this a little easier:)

I've added a poll on the side bar...check it out.

Loa Here We Come

Leaving to Loa, UT to visit these guys

What you've never heard of Loa?! Maybe this will jog your memory.

The booming metropolis of Loa

Still nothing? Don't worry you're not alone.

According to Wikipedia...

As of the census of 2000, there were 525 people, 165 households, and 134 families residing in the town. The population density was 595.5 people per square mile. There were 203 housing units at an average density of 230.3/sq mi .

I don't know if they'll have room for us. It seems as though every square inch is taken, oh well, we're going!

See ya Monday!

Reunion with an Old Friend

I have always loved Mexican food, especially burritos. Prior to being pregnant I would crave these babies all the time. People are always asking if I'm having cravings. My answer-no, if anything I'm turned off by most foods sadly, even my beloved burritos. I eat because I need to. (That is so no me)

Last week John mentioned going to Chipotle and because the thought didn't make me dry heave I was game. I almost didn't want to order anything for fear of disappointment but I bit the bullet and got my usual chicken burrito with black beans and rice, hot salsa, and cheese.

It was good, not like I remember it but these things take time. I was able to keep it down and am looking forward to my next date to Chipotle or Qdoba. Things are looking up in the food dept.