d-day...

i really wish i had a stamp like this right now so that i could plaster it across my forehead. everywhere i go random strangers stop me and ask when i'm due. "today" is kind of a bummer to say over and over again. can't wait till tomorrow at church when i get to say "yesterday."



i know, i know... i haven't posted since wednesday and here it is saturday and some of you may be thinking, "hooray! she's had the baby and been put out of her misery!" sad to say... you are very wrong.
i have been saying "september 22nd" since uh... january now, and here it is september 22nd. just another day. how anti-climactic!

i have not totally lost it yet- yes i have cleaned my house several times (clint thinks i'm "nesting" however i think he is wrong. you see, i am not compelled to clean in the least - i am just hoping the strenuous scrubbing will put me into labor!), yes i have probably walked 15 to 20 miles this week (mind you the most exercise i've done since finding out i was pregnant), i have cried a few times (last night for instance because we didn't go to dinner where i wanted to go even though i didn't tell clint where i wanted to go... i swear- he deserves the purple heart or something), and i have packed and repacked my hospital bag at least 3 times.
yesterday out of sheer boredom i went to the library (i got a card last week another day when i was bored), but since i already have a really long book i'm reading i thought it might be fun to rent a few dvd's (one's that i wouldn't subject anyone else to watch with me, but just to have some noise around the house). turns out the library doesn't have the best selection of movies, so here's what i ended up with:
(don't laugh- i am temporarily insane remember?)

1. Clueless (already watched it yesterday and had major flashbacks)

2. The Lakehouse (yes, i know it has Keanu Reeves in it and that is a major risk, but it's a risk i'm willing to take... i'm bored, remember?)

3. Kramer vs. Kramer (I know NOTHING about this movie except that it won a lot of awards and is rated PG - which nowadays would be nothing short of a miracle)

4. Tootsie (no, i'm not obsessed with Dustin Hoffman in his younger years. when i saw the dvd on the shelf i remembered a friend from middle school that i have not talked to since middle school who always said it was her favorite- and now, 15 years later, i have decided to believe her.)

and last but not least (and this is my favorite to admit here in the public blogging world)

5. YOU GOT SERVED. (yep - you heard me right. clint and i always make fun of this movie even though we've never seen it just because it has possibly the most ridiculous title of all time. so naturally, i had to get it.)

so, movie marathons it is until the little guy comes because i have pretty much run out of things to do (or clean). wish me luck!

tagged...

(pretty cool pic huh? those venezuelans...)

my sister mique tagged me on this one. i guess she thinks i'm a real blogger now that i post more than once every 3 months. i've never done one of these, so here goes...

1.) what i was doing ten years ago: just starting my freshman year at byu and loving every last second of it. it seemed impossible to be bored when living in the dorms and making new friends at every turn (who still happen to be GREAT friends!)

2.) five years ago: i can hardly believe it has been this long, but 5 years ago i had just gotten back from my mission to mendoza argentina and was adjusting to post-mish life. by now i would have again been back at byu living in the enclave trying to figure out how to be normal with my friend lauren who had also just gotten back. (it was sooo weird by the way that instantly when i got home, more than 50% of the guys i knew were younger than me. gross.) i would have just started teaching at the mtc (favorite job EVER) and adjusting to my difficult schedule of 3 religion classes, guitar, and voice, and maybe one spanish class. (i figured it was better to come back to school after the mission than go back to nothing!)

3) one year ago: one year ago we had just moved to san diego after a summer's adventure with the ericksons in wyoming. we were renting in oceanside just a few blocks to the beach - i wasn't working, so i was busy trying to be a vegetarian, taking daily strolls down to the pier and the farmer's market, and entertaining my puppy. i was also still trying to get pregnant and hoping to be a mom anyday. we had a lot of fun in oceanside actually, and i really miss being that close to the ocean. (not that i'm complaining now!)

4.) yesterday: (after another LONG walk in hopes of getting owen here a little quicker) my sweet mom felt sorry for me (thanks mom) and took me out to the movies (nanny diaries- cute) and to lunch (einsteins - yummy). it was nice to get out of the house and socialize (the puppy is cute, but doesn't talk much) and of course always nice to spend mommy daughter time. :)

5.) 5 snacks i enjoy: fruit (any kind - i am obsessed with fruit), ice cream, chips and guacamole, cereal, a new favorite - corn salsa

6.) 5 things i would do if i suddenly had $100 million: wow. it's dangerous to let a girl dream like this... first of course, pay EVERYTHING off and save like half of it. then- buy 2 new cars (only after getting rid of the 3 we currently have) - my choice would be a BMW X5 - and clint can get whatever he wants, buy a bigger house with a yard (still here in carmel valley- we love it here), donate to a few favorite charities (autism speaks and the cystic fibrosis foundation) and then seriously, i don't know... i would want to save it all up so that we could be spoiled all the time and not just all at once!

7.) 5 locations i would like to run away to: ooh... europe first for sure (clint and i have never been together), then hawaii (any island), lake powell, yosemite (never been there- it's a shame), the canadian rockies (never been there either).

8.) 5 bad habits i have: sleeping in (i'm sure this will change soon!), biting my nails, leaving messes, putting off laundry as long as possible, worrying.

9.) 5 things i like doing: reading, sewing, cuddling, going to the beach, being with friends and family, eating

10.) 5 TV shows i like: (we don't have cable, but if we did...) the office, scrubs, anything on hgtv, so you think you can dance, animal planet (yes- i'm a dork)

11.) 5 things i hate doing: cleaning, picking up dog poop, having a confrontation, brushing my teeth (just a pregnancy thing - makes me gag still), waking up to pee every 2 hours (also a pregnancy thing)

12.) 5 biggest joys of the moment: umm.... owen, owen, owen, owen, and let me think... owen. (do ya think i'm a little over-focused?one-track mind maybe?)

now i get tag 5 people!

1. lauren
2. amy and aaron
3. jessy
4. mom
5. t&e

"never turn your back on the ocean" -hawaiian proverb

sometimes it hits me just how lucky i am...

patience...

apparently, i have pregnancy induced schizophrenia. you see, i've had to go back to the post i wrote just a few days ago several times to remind myself that it is ok that this baby isn't here yet. sane jessica knows that he will come when he's ready, that i won't die if i am pregnant another week, that it will all be worth it. however, sometimes crazy jessica creeps in and brings in all the drama humanly possible in being 39 (and a half!) weeks pregnant.
i went to the doctor again yesterday - and yes, still nothing.
and again, totally bummed.
i told clint it would be easier to be patient if being pregnant were more comfortable. (duh.)
so, what did i do? what any normal (when i say normal i mean DESPERATE) mommy-to-be would do. i laced up my tennis shoes (first time i've worn anything but flip flops in more than 2 months by the way), gave my puppy a pep talk, grabbed the ipod, and headed off for a nice long walk in hopes of getting things moving.
since i had done a little research in my spare time on ways to naturally induce labor, i figured this should be the one i try first since it doesn't involve major diarrhea, or other things i am unwilling to try at this point. So, an hour and 3 miles later (yes- i was walking VERY slow - you saw how huge i am these days right?) i realized i was lost in my own neighborhood basically. i did eventually find my way home, but i had visions in my mind of going into labor on the side of the road just a few blocks from my house, yet having no idea where i was, my poor dog wondering what the heck was going on and why i had led him on a death march (but hey- at least i would be in labor, right?)
my favorite part of the walk was the looks from women driving past that (from the looks on their faces) knew EXACTLY what i was up to. that look of, "oh poor girl, she looks really uncomfortable" with a hint of "go for it girl, you get that baby on his way" and of course "oh... i remember that feeling, thank goodness it's her and not me." funny how i could read all of those things in a split second as they drove past.
i did survive and make it home safely - as did the dog. he slept really well last night.
apparently the walk did absolutely nothing except make me go crazy again this morning and lace up those shoes once more for another attempt (this time i made sure i knew where i was going.)
so, yeah- sane jessica can wait a while longer, but crazy jessica just might hurt someone (most likely herself) if things don't get moving a long here pretty quick.
i'll let you know who wins.

39 weeks...

i suppose it could be worse... check this lady out...




OUCH!!!

stay a while longer...

i went to the doctor yesterday. lately appointments have been pretty boring, but this one was the first time the doctor was going to check to see if i was dilated. i didn't think i would be disappointed when she said "you are not dilated at all" - but i totally was. up to this point i'd been totally ok with little owen waiting as long as possible to get here- not that i'm not anxious, i just was feeling overwhelmed with work and getting ready and everything. in my mind, it would be perfect to stop working, have 2 weeks to myself to relax and get last minute things done, and then he could come. right on his due date would be perfect in fact.
yet, sitting at home waiting for the inevitable has made me want him to be here now! i just want to hold him and see who he looks like and kiss those little fingers and toes!
of course i emailed clint right away at work when i got home from the doctor and told him how bummed i was that apparently owen was not in a very big hurry to get here. as he always does (that level headed hubby of mine) - he knew exactly the right thing to say. he reminded me that maybe owen wants a little more time to be extra close to his mom, and maybe Heavenly Father was having a hard time letting him go. of course, the tears started flowing and I started thinking.
wow. what a miracle. this little boy is coming straight from Heavenly Father's arms to ours.
i can't stop thinking about what he must be doing getting ready to come.
i imagine him spending as much time as possible with Heavenly Father trying to soak it all in so he won't forget what that perfect love feels like. i imagine him surrounded by his siblings assuring them that their time would come soon enough and that he'd prepare the way, and each of them begging to give mom and dad a hug for them and encouraging him that he'll do great.
i imagine the last teachings he must be receiving to prepare him for the great journey ahead, and the tender embrace of a loving Father that wants so much for his child to learn and grow, yet has such a hard time seeing them leave His side.
and then i thought, let him stay a little while longer.

sneak peek... owen's room

we've been hard at work getting the nursery all set up for owen's arrival - and those of you who know my husband know that this is no small task. he is the decorator in our family after all. after months of debating colors and themes and whatever else, we came to some compromises and I am really happy with the way things have turned out. here is a little preview, but you may just have to come visit once the heart and soul (owen himself) is here to bring it all to life.


believe it or not, i actually came up with this one and i think it turned out super cute. we were debating whether or not we wanted to paint the walls, and my sheer laziness made that decision super easy. i figured it would be easier to accessorize a really neutral backdrop than to find the perfect shade of paint to go with the bedding to go with everything else. (ask our friends amy and aaron who ended up painting their nursery 3 different shades of green before finally finding one that didn't make them want to gag). so, we kept it really simple - left the walls the taupe-y color they already are, added dark brown furniture, plain white bedding ( I have never been a fan of boys bedding- way too many cheesy toy cars and baby animals for my taste) and then found some cute ways to bring in a little personality. i decided i wanted owen's name on the wall, but wanted it to be cute and unique, and thought of this idea. these letters are just cut out of foamboard and then we sprayed them with spray adhesive and wrapped them in cute coordinating fabrics. then we hung a clothes line up and hung each letter with wooden clothespins. i love the look if i may say so myself. not too much, but just enough detail to be darling.


so, these pictures are the other side of the room - and this was clint's vision... i also think it turned out really cool and definitely something Iive never seen before. since we have a vinyl cutter and i married a graphic designer, we can do cool things like this. the tree is all out of vinyl (drawn by clint) and then we decided we would hang pictures off of it of our family - a family tree of sorts. right now the frames are just full of those lovely pictures that come in them from the store, but soon they will have pictures of our squishy little guy and the rest of the fam. cute, huh?

I LOVE BEING PREGNANT.

so, since i am a first timer and all, the whole pregnancy thing has been quite a trip. i was thrilled in the beginning after waiting what seemed like FOREVER to get pregnant and then as soon as i could start getting really excited about it, i was puking my brains out. i remember thinking how ironic it was that a few months earlier i would have given anything to be pregnant, and then there i was face buried deep in a toilet wishing i could be doing anything but throwing up. lets just say that i became very well acquainted with the toilet.


really, it is pretty cruel. you are so thrilled about this life-changing miraculous thing going on inside you and the only real reminder you have of it every day is how disgusting you feel at all times. anyone who knows me knows how much i hate being sick. the worst thing is that apparently i am a loud puker, and anyone who has ever HEARD me get sick has had a hard time feeling sorry for me and instead finds they can't hold in the giggles. not funny people.
anyways, i wasn't sure how long all that would last, but was so glad when the nausea stopped around 5 months and i could enjoy being pregnant without wanting to die all the time. i was totally one of those who embraced the belly - i wore maternity clothes as soon as humanly possible just so that people would know that i wasn't just getting fatter for no reason. and through the middle, i was blissfully happy to be prego. sure, heartburn got a little annoying, peeing all the time too, but really i felt good.
now here in the last trimester things have gotten interesting. i don't remember the last time i could see my feet (and it shows- i definitely need a pedicure, but since i can't reach my own toes, have yet to talk clint into painting my toenails, and am too cheap to pay someone else to do something i should be able to do myself - i go on with scary looking feet). i can't recall what it is like to sleep for more than 3 hours at a time without waking up to a throbbing bladder, an itchy belly, or aching hips. i know my husband must be entirely sick of me lying around in my underwear all the time - not a beautiful sight, but clothes are so annoying! need i go on? i am assuming that anyone who has been there knows what I am talking about. or am I the only one?
ANYHOW... on with my point. as you can see, the title of this post is "I LOVE BEING PREGNANT." sounds crazy with all of the weird stuff that goes on, but i was reminded this week why it is so dang AWESOME to be pregnant.
picture this: i was enjoying one of my first days off of work, trying to be incredibly productive (since technically, this baby could come any day now). i decided it was a good idea to go to a few stores and get together some shower gifts for 2 of my other friends that are pregnant. i was in target. by this time, i had already spent a few hours wandering around babies r'us with 2 seperate registries in hand, my big giant belly and had never even really gotten ready for the day. i had also been to marshalls in hopes of finding some great deals (you know how long that takes and how much energy is required to sort through all the junk to find the good deals.) target was the last stop on the list. all I wanted was some baskets. some cute baskets to put all the loot in. of course, i can't find anything cute and definitely nothing cheap enough and so i wander up and down the aisles of target hoping to find SOMETHING, ANYTHING to not make the 45 minutes already spent there a total waste.
so, you know how when you drop something and you are 9 months pregnant it is like the death to you? and yet, somehow you can't seem to hold on to anything and it appears that everything just slips right out of your hands and tumbles below to make certain for an incredibly flattering and graceful moment ahead?
well, here's me, in target, bending over to pick something up that i'd already dropped twice. i am exhausted, sweating, feet totally swollen, you get the idea. out of the corner of my eye i see a woman walk past the aisle, stop, and come back to get a good view. i'm thinking, come on... just let me have my privacy while i struggle to bend over.
but then she says this (bless her dear heart)... " you are.... BEAUTIFUL!!!"
i let out a laugh (really i did) because honestly- there is no way that that awkward stooping moment could have been beautiful. but then she repeated herself:
"no, really, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!"
it took me a minute to register - then i thanked her, totally embarrassed by now and realized later that i should have told her what a saint she was!
really, girls- when in your life has ANYONE (let alone a perfect stranger, and another WOMAN at that) stopped dead in their tracks to stop and tell you how beautiful you are? NEVER in my life has that happened until now. and then my mind went over all of my lovely pregnant moments that i have just revisited with you and that's when i thought, " I LOVE BEING PREGNANT."

ok, ok... it's been awhile...

i know i say that everytime... but life has been a little crazy these days! so, now that i'm officially on "maternity leave" yet have no baby to show for it just yet, i figure now is the perfect time to catch up on my blog. i really am envious of all those bloggers that have the discipline to actually update their blogs on a regular basis and apparently don't fall into the same trap that i do - i would much rather read about everyone else's interesting lives than write about my own. but, nonetheless - i suppose my fans do deserve a line or two as I know you are all so desperate to know what could possibly be going on in my world.
so, before life gets completely insane with a newborn around town, here goes.

only in wyoming...

a couple weeks ago clint and i got to go back to lovely wyoming... and this picture pretty much sums it up...

yes, those are sheep in the middle of the road. your eyes are not fooling you. these are the kinds of things you'd think would not surprise me anymore after living in wyoming for whole summer last year, yet somehow i am always shocked and amazed at the total craziness that is so completely opposite of my little california world. this happened to us twice in 2 days - stuck driving through a herd of sheep. by the way- for those of you who ever find yourselves in this position, apparently the thing to do is to just keep driving. obviously not at high speeds, but the sheep tend to kinda get out of the way if you drive slowly at them. smart cookies, those sheep. i guess i'd get out of the way too.
anyhow, the trip in general was fun.
here are some highlights (of course the sheep was at the top of the list)
1.meeting a new nephew - amber and ryan's #3: mason trey young. it was fun to hold a squirmy squishy little one and have him cuddle up on my belly next to his cousin
2. 10 year reunion- yes, since we made it to my reunion, we had to show up to clint's as well - this happened in two parts - first, with his buddies and their families, and then with the actual class reunion (i must say - very different from mine - a picnic at the park with kids and pregnant girls everywhere instead of drunken dancing and watching random classmates hook up and make fools of themselves!)
3. camping-this was part one of the reunion - all of clint's best friends met up in the uinta mountains to go camping with the families - i think i should get a gold medal for this one - i love camping, but at 7 1/2 months pregnant? let's just say i was not too pleased with the number of times i had to use the disgusting latrine bathrooms! at least it was fun to watch clint in his element with his boys. (and i was also glad to not find out any crazy secrets about his past- turns out he was always a good guy:)
4. sulphur creek- this was the family's attempt at taking out the wave-runners - sulphur creek is the lake in evanston, no one likes to go there, and now we know why - cold water, crawdads everywhere, long grass in the water that gets stuck in the intake - it was a good try, but not exactly successful.
5. 4th of july- no fires this year! at least none we were responsible for! it's always a good show in evanston on the 4th of july!
6. amber and ryan's new house- we got a first time look at the new house amber and ryan bought this year and all the hard work they've put into it.
7.kenzie talking - all the kids have grown up so much since we last saw them, but kenzie was the most noticeable. she talks up a storm!!
8. diego and sophie- our puppy diego was so happy to reunite with his first puppy friend, sophie. he was also just thrilled to be able to hang out on the grass in the backyard all day.
9. seeing the addition - after all the work clint put into the erickson's addition to their house last summer, we were finally able to see the fruits of his labors. with wood floors, paint, furniture, etc - it looks absolutely amazing and is the perfect space for the whole family. it was really neat to see it all come together.
10. 16 hour drive home - ok, so not exactly a highlight - we happened to drive home (again- driving for extended periods of time this pregnant is not recommended!) on the worst possible day - the day that the huge fires in utah forced the 15 to be shut down for 100 miles, and the day everyone and their mothers were heading home from vegas after the apparently lucky 7-7-07. i was not exactly a happy camper when our air conditioning stopped working just past vegas in bumper to bumper traffic. clint later commented "you are much nicer when it's cool." yes dear, i am. then i warned him we just may never be able to drive to wyoming again.

Apparently I am cheesecake.... What are you?

You Are Cheesecake Rich, sweet, and simply perfect. You're not boring - you're just the best! What Dessert Are You Most Like?

10 years??

Certain times in my life I have realized, "man... I'm getting old!" I remember feeling that way when my "little" brother turned 25, and when my freshman roommate told me she was pregnant with number 4... Things like this always seem to catch me off guard... So, when talk of our ten year high school reunion came around, I couldn't believe it could possibly be here. Was it really 10 years ago that I put on that lovely green cap and gown? 10 years ago that I got ready to go off to college and thought nothing would ever be as cool as high school? 10 years ago that I was a size 4 and didn't know how great I had it? 10 years ago that I thought I would never make as good of friends as I had then?
Well, 10 years it is.

Some fun facts about 1997... remember this?
*O.J. Simpson was found liable in civil suit
*Heaven's Gate cult members commited mass suicide in California.
*Timothy J. McVeigh was sentenced to death for the Oklahoma City bombing.
*Ellen Degeneres outed herself. She becomes the first openly gay woman to have her own sitcom.

*J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philospher's Stone was published in the U.K. It came to U.S. in 1998 as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
*Titanic crashed into theaters. It was the most expensive film of all time, costing between $250 and $300 million to produce and market.
*A team led by Drs. Ian Wilmut and Keith Campbell (UK) created the first sheep with a human gene in every cell of its body. The genetically engineered lamb is named Dolly.

*Popular music included Mariah Carey, The Spice Girls, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.

*The average cost of a gallon of gas was $1.22 and of a movie ticket was $4.59

*Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris

*The Simpsons became the longest running prime-time animated series.

*Madonna won Best Actress In A Motion Picture, Musical Or Comedy for Evita at the 54th annual Golden Globe Awards.

*The Notorious B.I.G. was shot to death while sitting in the passenger seat of a car after a Soul Train Awards party

*Songs like "Barbie Girl", "Let Me Clear My Throat", "Mmm Bop" and "Da'Dip" were heard all across radios and school gymnasiums.

*Dennis Rodman became the most contraverisal cross-dressing star the NBA had ever seen

*Cell phones and email had not yet reached mass popularity

*Overalls were still cool

*The dancing baby was born on the internet and spread as one of the earliest web trends

*Tickle Me Elmo was the most sought after Christmas present, some parents paying over $100 for the laughing little monster

Well, I'm glad we've moved on...

Most of us at least.

When I decided to go to my 10 year reunion, I had no idea how much I would be stepping back into that crazy time. Sure, no one was wearing overalls, and most had long forgotten Princess Diana and OJ Simpson, but not much else had changed.

I was already a little nervous to show up to the Hard Rock Cafe, La Jolla 7 months pregnant - and I have never felt more out of place in my life as I did walking through those doors. Granted, it was good to see some long lost friends, good to catch up a little, good to take a look at my life and realize how very lucky I am! Unfortunately, many of my classmates are still up to the same partying they were back then... from freaking on the dance floor to drunk boys hitting on me even though I was a) obviously pregnant, b) wearing a wedding ring, c) with my husband, and d) wearing a name tag that said " Jessica Mendioroz Erickson" - it was a pretty good reminder that I am so happy to be here in 2007 and not back in 1997. I felt so blessed to go home with my awesome husband and my big bulging belly to my beautiful condo and sweet little puppy and know that although my life may not be what some may call "successful," that my happiness and my family are what are really important in life.

Overall, it was probably the trippiest night of my life... glad I went... glad it's over...

snakes, snails and puppy dog tails...

For those of you who haven't heard... no surprise to us...
IT'S A BOY!

So, I must confess, we found out over a month ago, but once again I have been lazy in updating this blog. The funny thing is I love reading other people's blogs - I just never find the time to spill my own guts in blog form.

We are so excited that our little "bean" (as my parent's call him) now has a gender... it's amazing how much more real it becomes when I can imagine little boy fingers and little boy toes. Even though we started calling him a him from the beginning, the confirmation is nice.

(By the way - Clint just looked over my shoulder to see what I was writing and said, "No- the title of this entry should be ' A pizzle for shizzle'. Wow. That's all I have to say.)

By now, I am actually enjoying being pregnant. No more puking (hallelujah!) and apparently I'm not so big yet that it's miserable (according to others who've walked the walk). It is so liberating to have a belly (since I've had a belly most of my life) and for once it is CUTE! I love it! I don't care if I look fat! Yippee! To tell the truth, I take pride in showing off the belly. (don't worry- I'm not flashing people my belly or anything - now that would be scary!) But, I want the world to know there's a miracle growing inside there...
I recently started feeling the little kicks too- which I love. I have also been told that those can get annoying - but I just love the reminder that he's in there. Of course, pregnancy isn't all fun and games- I still have crazy weird pains in places I didn't know you could have pains, high heels are officially out of the question, sleeping on my side isn't the grandest thing in the world, and every so often I bust out with the pregnancy waddle when I'm really tired. But for the most part, I am just really enjoying this stage. (Ask me later when I'm ready to pop how much I like being pregnant... pretty sure my opinion will change!)

The update of all updates....

Ok, ok... we know. We lost all of your attention a long time ago when our oh so adventurous life got boring and we stopped posting here. But believe you me, this update of all updates is sure to not disappoint. There has been enough change and excitement around here lately to make up for any boredom from the past. So, hold on to your hats and glasses - 'cuz this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!

We'll go top 5 style...


5. A few months ago Clint and I decided it was time to get a real job. It had been almost a year that we had been experimenting with our little businesses, and even though we still love those, we figured it was time to buckle down. So, I went out and got a job. I was hired back in the beginning of January at the University of Phoenix in San Diego. I work in the finance department and mostly help students get everything in line for their financial aid. I've been there 2 months now and I am enjoying my time there. It is not something I want to do forever, but for now it's perfect.


4. Right around the same time I got hired, Clint found his new job at Chandler Signs. He is so excited to be "drawing for a living" and using his design degree. Chandler does signs for major companies like Hilton Hotels, PF Changs, CVS Pharmacy, etc. Clint works in the art department as a designer. He is already impressing his boss and co-workers with his "amazing (nunchuck) skills."


3. On February 12th, Clint and I became adopted aunt and uncle to a beautiful baby boy... some of you may remember my dear friend Sharlie and her sweet hubby, Ryan. Miracle after miracle, they welcomed little Harrison James Kaltenbach into the world against all odds. We feel so blessed that God has let us be witnesses to his grace and to see a real live miracle yet again. We love you Shar, Ryan, and baby Harrison!


2. On February 28th we were able to realize a dream of our own (thanks to the generosity and help of mom and dad) to become home owners!! We'd been looking for awhile and finally found a place that felt like home. We have been here in Carmel Valley in our beautiful little condo for about 2 weeks now, and we couldn't be happier with our decision. We are so grateful for our little home and feel the privilege and the responsibility that it really is to own everyday.



1. Saving the best for last, of course....




and in case there was any doubt...




It's true!!! We couldn't be happier about a new addition to our family. Timing is kind of crazy (I found out RIGHT after I started my new job) but we are so thrilled to finally be pregnant. I am a little over 3 months now, and the little one will be joining us mid-September. We can't wait! I have been sicker than ever before, but it made it all worth it when we got the hear the heart-beat the other day. (If you ever want any good public puking stories though, just let me know... I got it covered...) Clint's grandma predicted it will be a boy and Grandma Kay has never been wrong - so we'll see. Anyhow, as you can tell our lives are crazy, exciting, and most of all, we have never felt so blessed, humbled, and grateful. What an amazing time!

Stay tuned for more updates... we will sure to be more faithful about filling you in on the never-ending adventures around here!

desertion...

to our faithful readers,

All is not lost, we are alive.

It all started to get a little crazy around here sometime in the middle of Novemeber. We hung christmas lights for money...not a bad little business venture but it was quite time consuming. Waking up early , a long day's work, and crashing into the matress took most of our time during the first couple of weeks of December. So after that, well, we got lazy, plus we saw most of our faithful readers on a daily basis.
Anyway for better or for worse, we are back..
Thought you'd like to see the only documented photo of us doin' a light job.
-peace,love,the gap

USANA.... the love of our LIVES... (well, besides eachother of course!)

A few weeks ago we got the opportunity to attend the USANA International Convention in Salt Lake City. We went knowing that it would be good, but we had no idea that it would be life-changing! We came home with a renewed sense of purpose and the feeling that we are soooo blessed to be involved with such an incredible company!!!

Top 10 reasons we love USANA:
10. We love feeling healthy! We notice such a difference in our energy level and we NEVER get sick!
9. We work with AWESOME people. We get to work with our best friends and even the people we had never met before we had such a connection to because we were all passionate about the same thing.
8. We love helping people and we feel it is a huge responsibility and a privilege to be able to share such VITAL information with our friends, family, and even total strangers if they will listen!
7. We love being part of a cause that gives our lives purpose and direction. From one who has struggled for years trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up, it feels so good to know that I can stand behind a cause that I know will help millions and that will pay the bills too!!
6. We really love being our own bosses! It is so much fun to work together and to work when we want to! This means that we are responsible for our own success and growth - and no one else determines our payscale, our vacation schedule, etc.
5. NUTRIMEAL... mmm... yummy... Clint and I totally look forward to having our Nutrimeal shake every morning. I never thought I would say that. It's just the perfect way to start the day!
4. Dr. Wentz.... wow. At convention I was so impressed by this man's vision, integrity, committment, humility, and generosity. He is so dedicated to relieving the world of pain and suffering and you can feel it in his every word and action.
3. Residual Income!! It is so nice to know that I will be getting paid by USANA as long as I live! And every week!!
2. Personal growth - we have learned so much about ourselves and what we think our limits are. We know the power that comes when we step outside of our comfort zones and really go for our dreams
1. INTEGRITY... I have never had a job where I was surrounded by so many people with so much integrity. NEVER. Every member of the board, every leader in the company, every home office staff person represents a value system that's core foundation is honesty, integrity, and the desire to make other people's lives better. You don't find that in any old company these days!

Anyhow... that is what has taken up most of our time these days. Cool stuff.

O-TOWN

So we are officially settled down in O-town (wow... that rhymes!) and loving our new digs. Honestly, we feel so lucky to have landed where we have. After a long summer away from the ocean and an even longer drive towards the ocean- we are super stoked to be totally awesomely close to the waves dude. I never thought I would end up here in Oceanside. In fact, I would have laughed (or cringed) at the idea in high school. Nevertheless, we really have found a little piece of heaven on earth here. Our apartment is sweet - the perfect size, perfect price, and perfect location. We are literally 5 blocks from the sand - I have never lived so close to the ocean in my life.
The beaches here remind me a lot of Huntington - long wide sandy beaches, a boardwalk (called the Strand), lined with palm trees, and of course- the pier!


We are also within walking distance to the harbor, to downtown, movie theatres, etc. On thursdays there is a farmers marked just 2 blocks from us- and let me tell you - we got the most AMAZING avocados there the other day. Wow- like CANDY! Anyhow, we are right next to the 101, and so far we have yet to witness any crime. ha ha. I was a little nervous about that - this area really is a mixing pot. We have little mexi neighbors but then there are like $2 million houses down the street. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. We feel safe here and it really is a fun town to live in.

We also really like our ward! We were pretty nervous because it is so hard to compare anything to our wonderful ward in Fountain Valley, but so far so good! We have met some really nice people and we feel like we will fit in well here. We just got called to be team teachers in the primary. Cute kids.


There are quite a few military families (Camp Pendelton is technically in our ward boundaries) which brings a really unique perspective. Every prayer that is said mentions the soldiers and it helps to remind us all that freedom is not free. I am so grateful that there are men and women willing to serve our country.


Diego is thrilled to have his own territory where he is allowed to run free (we never let him run around in Clint's parents house). He really thinks he owns the place but he has been really good after a seriously traumatizing trip down here.

We love being close to friends and family and are so excited that we get to see them often. We have already ran into so many people and been able to catch up on life. We are eager to see what else life has for us here in our new little home. And whoever wants to come visit- our door is always open! (Well, not really - but you know what I mean!)

The Most Anticipated...

Its been too long since we've been able to update this blog. By now many of you have probabily heard our story but anyway...

Jess and I have been eagerly waiting for the blessed internet. Seriously, how did we ever survive without that little beauty.


well... where to start?



how about here...















(hopefully you are laughing right now)

Act 1 Scene 1. Evanston Wyoming 4:32pm local time.
Jess and Clint and Diego find themselves blissfully anticipating their new life waiting for them in Oceanside.

For what seemed like smooth sailing and calm seas, we headed for Provo to spend the night with our dear "t&e". Tone-tone and E-train were sure impressed with our wheels and as always we had fun spending time with them. Early that morning (circa 4:00am) the Mayflower set sail once again.
I did most of the driving, apparently jess is not fond of driving small trains. When we reached Fillmore, UT (i think) I noticed that the brakes were acting kinda funny, really-hard-to-push-funny. So I pulled over and checked out the fluid levels and underneath the car, etc. and found nothing. Well we pressed forward intending to skip over the less-than-desirable Las Vegas and get gas in Primm. I believe it was 11:00 or so in the morning and for some reason we hit traffic. Actually its lucky we didn't literally hit traffic cause this boat wasn't stoppin. Due to spiking nerve levels we chose to pull over at the next exit which was in south Las Vegas.

The next scene: Temperature 110 degrees at the back of a truck stop parking lot in a 1971 cadillac with its hood up and uhaul trailer attached, dog tied to the bumber and Clint and Jess eating fast food waiting on a tow truck .

The epitomy of humility.

The tow truck said it would be two hours till they could get to us, so after a few scorching minutes we took matters into our own hands. Figuring out our location in the phone book and calling all the shops we thought were close, we found Sam. Sam is from Lebanon and owns a repair shop in south Las Vegas. He was the the only guy that said he could get the car in that day. We thought we would gone by that evening. Our deluxe accomadations for the rest of the afternoon included a 13inch tv that only showed Judge Judy, Peoples Court, and Judge Joe Brown topped off with a riviting Maury Povich. This room also came with interesting guests including several shuttle drivers, and a big snooring black man. 5:00 rolled around and they said "have a good trip", and we were off. A few blocks down the road I stopped, or attempted to stop, for gas, and nothing, no brakes. Although slightly improved, they had not fixed the problem. We hurried back to the shop and they said there were a few other areas that could be causing the problem. So jess and I were forced to find the nearest (cause we were driving a car with no brakes) hotel. This story could be quite long with full details so we'll just say that the car wasn't completed the next day either. We spent day 2 with our dog on the the strip and in the auto shop. Although dissappointed that we were not in califorina, we did manage to keep the best attitude we could and have some good times. One such time, actually two times, we had these amazing sandwichs from a pizza place acrossed the street from the auto shop. The sandwichs were called "wedgies" and let me tell you, they were the best wedgies we've ever experienced. Day 3 we were really wondering if this was really happening. Would the ericksons ever reach their destination? My dad called me several times and asked if the "pioneers" were still stuck in winter quarters still, and politely and humbly we said yes. Really we had little to complain about, there was no accident, we had a nice place to sleep, all of our belongings were with us (except for the toiletry bag which we left in wyoming...oops) any we ended up leaving just after 12 noon that 3rd day, with brakes that worked great. Sam felt really bad for us and didn't charge us for the work they did that last day. The rest of the trip was great except for the lack of air-conditioning but we got over it. The Pilgrims on the mayflower certainly didnt have A/C.


















so our story ends here...

































...official residents of O-side. Peace.

.

Ode to the Ericksons... and the Klinglers and the Youngs of course!

If someone would have told me 5 years ago that in the summer of 2006 I would choose to live in Evanston, Wyoming for the entire summer I would have laughed. Well, it is still kinda funny. But all in all, I am soo grateful for the chance that Clint and I had to be here in Evanston with the Erickson gang. I don't know that many people really get to know their inlaws like I have gotten to know mine. I don't know that I would have ever understood what draws Clint back to Wyoming if I hadn't seen the Ericksons in full form. Of course, I knew that I was lucky in the in-law department before, but now I realize how truly blessed I am to have another family. The sad thing is that they won't be coming to California with us - some day we will convince them! So, this blog is dedicated to my family here in cowboy country. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from you and to laugh with you (and sometimes at you!)



Dave and Shelly- really, I couldn't be luckier to have such fun, loving, creative, hard-working, and chill in-laws. I have told you before that I am so grateful for the way that you have raised Clint to make him the man that he is today, and after being in close quarters with you over the past few months I now better understand why he is such an amazing man. I am grateful for your examples and for all of the sacrifices that you make for your family. Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting us stay with you this summer, for the boating trips, the endless yummy meals, and for making me feel at home. I love you both!



The Young Family - I am so glad that we got to have so much fun together this summer. I don't know what I will do without Carter's crazy faces and hugs and Zoie's sweet and sassy personality. I really am glad that you all have become such an important part of my life and I will always remember how much fun we had - slippin' slides, shaving on the back of the boat, cliff jumping, the rodeo, good times. I love you all and will miss you tons! I told Carter that he has to promise to talk to me on the phone every once in awhile.









The Klinglers- You have all provided so much entertainment for me ... Dominik just being himself, Kenzie and her little quirks, Randy... well, we all know Randy, and Mal always looking for a good laugh. It really has been fun to feel a part of your family and I can't believe how fast those kids will grow up when we are far away. I may never forget the giant fish that jumped out of the water, pummelling into D-bo on the slip and slide and good old black betty. Love you guys!








Garrett- It sure has been a crazy summer... lots of ups and downs. I really want you to know though that we love you so much and are so anxious to see where life takes you. You have so much potential and I could see so much in you from the minute I met you on my first trip to Evanston. I know that life gets hard, but that is what family is for, and I hope you know that we are here for you. You are more than welcome to come down and surf whenever you want! Be good and don't forget to keep in touch.







Ok, well, I really didn't mean for this to sound like a yearbook or a farewell... I just really wanted to tell all of you thanks for such a fun and memorable summer. How about next summer you all come live with us? It may be a little cramped, but that's alright! We love you and are grateful for you and will miss you sooo much!

The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria...AND my car.

Hi...

This is Cowboy Clint coming to you from the "wild wild west". (you'll be able to tell by the spelling.)

I thoroughly detest the whole "metal militia - bling bling - gangsta thang". All the black clothes, flame tattoos, and acting all tough. I am all tough, so instead of the fake cadillac emblem belt buckle... i just got the cadillac.



"OH YEAH..." (like the Kool-aid man) the rumors are true. I am the proud owner of 20 feet of american sheet metal bliss. It flaunts its size with a 12 foot wing span, endless chrome that can only be measured in acres and a trunk fit for a small vietnamese family. Upon entry you are greeted in the foyer by flowing vinyl and wood-like trim. The main living area features two antique overstuffed couches, one is even powered. Automatic climate control is a must for any voyage and a deluxe built-in 8track stereo can be heard from all corners of the ship. Lighting our way is a Sentinal Automatic Headlight System and the signiture hood ornament points the course. I like to call it the "Mayflower", which will carry my family to the promised land. Jess likes to call it "La Casita".



























































Some of you may be saddened to learn that an official copilot for this vessel has already been selected...you guessed it...Diego. This ship will soon port in Oceanside, CA where she belongs. (I know the real Mayflower landed on the east coast, but just go with me on this one.) Certainly you are all asking "When do I get a ride?" Well, I was going for a strict first come first serve policy, however considering the amount of requests, I think we can all just ride together.