Babies, Babies, Babies

First, came Ethan James Houghton

This little guy was in a hurry to get here! He is one cute blondie. His mom, Megan, and I were roommates a few years ago and still remain great friends. The day before Ethan was born, we went out to dinner and Megan was having, what WE thought "small" contractions. Come to find out later that it was the real thing! I got a text at about 2:00 AM saying they were on their way to the hospital! I had to be to work the next morning at 6:30 for graduation, and I was done for the day at 10. I called Megan to see if i could come see the new babe at the hospital, but when i called, she was JUST starting to push. They had me come up to take pictures, and I barely had enough time to turn on the camera when he started to come. It was such a cool experience to see this little miracle. We're pretty good buddies.

Next, came our little Remmy Pearl Aponte! 

Weighing in at a whopping 6 lbs. She is teeny tiny with the darkest, softest hair. She took her SWEET time coming into this world. OOh our family is in love with this little girl. Livv and Easty are the best big sister and brother. Livvie thinks Remmy drinks milk from her mom's tummy, haha. She says the funniest things. It was so cute to watch her stare at her new little look-a-like. Jill even used the fabric bunting I made for Remm's newborn pics!

I can't wait to head back north to see my fav nieces and nephew!

Then came Little Miss Adley's blessing! She is Jaren's cousin and oh so cute! I have the best second family in the whole world. We're a proud uncle and aunt... JK --- just cousins. But we'll claim her!

NEXT up -- a new little baby for Tina and Jon Daniels! 

Tina and I were roommates a LONG time ago at BYU-Idaho our freshmen year of college. We were soo poor and still joke about how we used to pay our groceries in couch money. We were so cute back in 2007!

After struggling with infertility, they have finally decided to adopt and I could not be more happy for them! Today is the big Adoption Yard Sale to help raise money, since adopting is extremely expensive. Jaren and I were up at 5:30 AM to help set up. These two people are some of our dearest friends and would make the best parents. Go to their website if you'd like to donate to their adoption fund: http://jtdaniels.com/events/

I'll be sure to let you know of any other baby announcements ;) None from us yet! ;) As you can see... I'm definitely baby hungry, but that's been going on since I was 12. 

H o m e

Home. There's definitely no place like it! Jaren was on a sales crusade and couldn't make it to provo last weekend, so I headed north. I'm pretty sure I could do that drive in my sleep by now! Thank goodness for chelz for tagging along. I stopped by her place and picked her up and we were off!

We spent most of the weekend hanging out with my cuties patooties, Easty and Livvers, and my sisters and mom. Jill's looking nice and plump and I CANNOT wait for the little princess to arrive. Its time for our family to get another teeny tiny babe, so thanks for supplying, jiller :) On Sunday we made it to Grandma B's for the best dinner. I sure miss sunday visits with the extended fam. Jaren was so jealous when I told him we had homemade fried chicken and oreo ice cream dessert. He "died inside" when I told him - his words, not mine! Poor guy. We missed him! 

One thing I love about home: my bed. It's extremely comfortable, and I can't figure out why! I'm pretty sure its the flannel sheets. Jaren isn't all that impressed, but I am. I think its just one more thing that I relate to HOME. 

Home. Now that I'm a married woman, I have a new home. I love cleaning and decorating how I want, without calling a roommate meeting just to move furniture around. LUCKILY, Jaren trusts my taste :) After living in Vegas for a month, and coming back to provo, it was such a relief to step into our little apartment. The smell alone made me sooo happy. I dropped my luggage and sat down on the couch, just taking it in. Suddenly, I realized I was HOME. For the first time in my post-high school life, I felt like I was home other than in Rigby, ID. This four letter word has finally come full circle in our cozy little apartment. 

Summertime

July 24th weekend, the mister came home and we had a blast with the fam. We celebrated Janna's bday with a fun day at Seven Peaks in SLC. The Lazy River couldn't get enough of us. I think we circled that thing a bajillion times, it was heavenly! As the day was winding down, we were some of the last people still there and got to ride our favorite purple tube slide without waiting in line! The day was perfect. I love when Jaren comes home. Hope he'll forgive me for those awesome sunburn-lines on his shoulders from my perfectly shaped finger prints :)

His side of the family is at such a fun stage right now - three couples + jentry. Since he's on the mission, the 6 of us triple date and have tons of fun every time we get together. I truly feel so blessed to have landed such incredible in-laws! and if you count the pups, that makes eight. Oscar and Tanner are the cutest couple ;) ;) Life is so good. 

Forehead results

Looks good! :)

the love bikes

Best husband. I hope he knows how much his wifey loves him. As a wedding present, we were given a little green "love journal" with a note taped to the inside explaining the gift. You write a message to your spouse, then leave it by their bedside; so simple. It's really exciting to walk into the room to see the journal on MY nightstand! Jaren is really good at this, and I miss him.

It's been a long summer. Between the 344 miles apart, cars breaking down, and skin cancer, we are ready for summer to be over. Naturally, I live for those little love notes from the Mister. I prayed long and hard for him to come into my life, and he has made a dramatic entrance. It's been 9 months since we were sealed for eternity. Trials have come our way. But Jaren as been a constant, and I'm so grateful. 

What he doesn't know, is that I took a picture of HIS love note to me :)

Great news - he's coming this weekend! To stay for a few short days. I've been staying busy: more sewing, working, primary singing, and recently - bike riding! What's better than collecting an old student bike from an apt complex about to donate it? Twice?! I paid $10 total for two bike locks so that jar and I could go for a sunday bike ride when he gets home. Big thanks to my friend meg and her handy husband for greasing them up and transporting them for us :) Both bikes are girl-bikes. At least his isn't the shiney purple beach cruiser :) I sent him a picture and he said, "You're gonna eat my dust on that thing." He's probably right :) These bikes were meant for each other ;)

My Sweetheart is the sweetest :) (by Jaren)

So since Day 1 of the creation of this blog, I have been continually reminded that I can also update and post things on here. Today seems to be a good day to put my two cents into our little family's blog.  These past few weeks have been great having my darling wife in Vegas with me. Coming home to her, along with wonderful, home cooked meals made by my Kass has been so fun. I think that she has really liked having the time to go to her favorite classes at the gym, experimenting with new recipes, and sewing.

One thing that we have not really been able to experience in our relationship is having a summer together. Last summer I was in Sacramento and we were only able to enjoy a few weekends together. This year, Kassie was able to get a month off of work to come down and be with me. These past few weeks have been great having my darling wife in Vegas. Coming home to her, along with wonderful, home cooked meals made by my Kass has been so fun. I think that she has really liked having the time to go to her favorite classes at the gym, experimenting with new recipes, doing some reading, and breaking out the sewing machine (I still haven't succeeded in convincing her to make me a 'onesie'... maybe for Christmas). We have enjoyed going to the strip for some shopping, a surprise concert to see Celine Dion, going out on the strip or watching movies when I get home, and having yummy Otter Pops. We have gotten really good at some of our favorite card games which include Phase 10 Masters, Golf, and Five Crowns. Bottom line, it has been so much fun having her with me.

But, like all other good thing, they must eventually come to an end. Today, my sweetheart had to drive back to Provo to be back for work. The picture above is a little note she wrote for me that I found on Thursday after getting back from work. The top "thanks" was written right before she left I'm guessing because I saw it after she had already headed for home. She is such a doll and truly is a queen in my eyes. I love her so much and cannot wait to see and be with her again!!!

Surprise!

Our first July 4th was so fun! That morning, we found an awesome mall about 3 miles from us called Town Square. It reminded me of Riverwoods in Provo - nice and clean!! Rare for Vegas. I'll definitely be back :) Jaren even let me get some great sale stuff at H&M and picked out a way cute shirt for me, haha. He's so fun to take shopping. He must have been feeling guilty for his big golf clubs purchase last week...

Then we grabbed a bite to eat at Chile's and decided we would just head over to the strip and try to find something to do that night. LITTLE DID I KNOW that Jaren already had plans of his own. We have been talking about going to a show all month, but we didn't want to see a Cirque De Soleil because we've seen something like that just last year along with the Donnie and Marie show with my family. They were incredible shows and definitely my favorite part about Las Vegas. If I had it my way, every LV vacation would be spent in the theaters. The Cirque shows are AMAZING, but expensive, and really.. once you see one, you've seen 'em all.

I've had my eyes on ONE billboard for past 4 weeks: Celine.

Jaren knew it. With our final days together coming to a close, I was trying not to get my hopes up. I was just happy to be here and would follow jaren anywhere. So that night, he suggested we park at Caesar's Palace and walk around and maybe catch a water show at the Bellagio nearby (our make-shift fireworks). We walked into Ceasar's right next to the box office, so we decided to go take a look just to see how much tickets were for Celine. It looked like a show was about to start! I was soo jealous of all the people going into the Colosseum theatre. I was daydreaming so much I didn't even notice jar walking up to the ticket-takers. He was like... "let's just go in here and see how much tickets are."I was pulling his arm and telling him that there was no way they'd let us through without tickets. DUH. He didn't listen to me and we went through security. I was getting worried they'd kick us out so I just tried to be discrete. 

Then BAM. He whips two tickets out of his wallet.

My eyes opened so wide and my jaw, even wider. I just stared at jaren, then I started laughing so hard. Then I cried. Then we went up a *few* escalators to our seats, haha. They weren't the closest, but it was just right! I kept asking him how much he spent and how he did this and when he bought them. I was in heaven. I had absolutely no idea this was coming!!! He is getting soo good at surprising me. I was grinning from ear to ear the whole show. She is such a strong, amazing singer!!! She did all my favorites: I'm Your Lady, Beauty and the Beast, even Open Arms and that one by Adel, Rollin' in the Deep (which was WAY better when she sang it). She did that thing that happens at every concert when the performers leave and it stays dark, and everyone chants ENCORE! Jaren leaned over to me and said, "She better come back and sing Titanic. That's the only one I know!" hahaha. Sure enough.... he was right! It was so cool. SO COOL. 

We made a few stops on the way back to our car... (notice he's "playing" all by himself). And I had to get a pic with Tiffany's! We matched. 

Jaren is so thoughtful and LIVES for surprising me. I'm so lucky to have him. He spoils me rotten! 

Better watch out, jar. I'm gonna get you back! ;)

We're in VEGAS, Baby!!

I know you're all dying to know what I do all day... 

OH WOW, where do I START!?!

Well, I've read a few books - for work and for fun. I LOVE going to workout classes at the gym, too. My favorite right now is body pump and turbo kick. I'm so tough, I know. 

Plus, Jaren is dang lucky to come home to a full course dinner every night and clean laundry in his closet. I kinda like being a full-time house wife! I've also packed along my mom's old sewing machine and made a few little goodies...

Homemade mermaid tail. I mean, maxi skirt. It is soo comfy. Fabric bunting! Now these are fun to make. and way easy! Yes, I forgot my iron so I'll have to finish it when I get home. This is for Jill - I owe her my life for doing all my wedding pics so I made her some photog props. I hung it up in the kitchen and jaren came home and said, "what is that thing?" ..Doesn't he have pinterest?!

One afternoon, I even went out on the doors with Jaren! I put on one of his polos and hats and lathered up in SPF. I don't know how Jaren does this for 9 hours in the heat everyday. It was hard work! Some people were even kinda rude to us. And everyone had dogs that barked... I hated that part! We also like to check out the Outlet Malls. 

One night, we went out to the strip and had dinner at PF Changs. Got the best/most accurate fortune! I do love being down here with my hubby :)

I also stamp all his flyers for him... and work on my wedding book write up. 

Plus, Jaren is addicted to Otterpops...I am not kidding. He eats them by the dozen. (okay, okay I help him) The truth is, I love this guy. And its been tons of fun being out here with him for a few weeks! I'll be sad to go back to Provo next monday, but will be happy to get back to work :)

Jaren practicing his daddy skills (to use WAY in the future)

It was so nice outside the day before we came to Vegas. We were driveway-dwelling (ya, I made that up) at the Aponte's watching our cutiepies with their stylin' sunglasses ride bikes up and down the street. Easton was lovin livver's new pink/blue bike! Livvers was not happy. She fell somehow and hurt her knee and refused to play. Our sweet little 3 yr old niece has developed a little tude lately! She is still so stinkin adorable. I just love that lip she gives when she's pouting. I used to have one just like it as a little girl... Jaren wanted to make her happy.... (he actually just REALLY wanted to go for a bike ride!) so he offered to take her around the block on the bike! We had just come my friend's wedding; oooooh those argyle socks. We couldn't convince Livv to go. And so he went alone. He looks gooooood riding that bike with a baby carrier, yeah!?

Temporarily moving..

I get to see my jar-bear tomorrow! and be with him for a WHOLE 4 weeks :) suppperr excited!

I kinda like him.I'm moving to be with him in Viva Las Vegas while he sells pest control, and I lounge all day long. How do I do that?? I've never NOT been in school or at work, so this will be fun! I'll think I'll get bored, though (my plans WERE to lay out by the pool all day and damage my skin.... but now that's out). So I might go knock with him out on the doors wearing a huge wide-brimmed hat with "Proguard" embroidered on it Jaren thinks it'll be easier to make a sale with a pretty face next to him on the stoop ;)