Happy Birthday Sam!

Today is Sam's 35th birthday and he has promised to leave me if I do another blog post about him. So I won't say anything nice about him. I will simply say that I am leaving him with the kids today, on his birthday, to go down and visit my sister in California. It was the only weekend that worked for both of us and he encouraged me to go. I don't think I would have been quite as nice if the tables were turned. (Kind of reminds me or when I turned 30 and he took me to NYC for my birthday and while there, we reflected that when he turned 30, I took him to Chili's.)

Anyway, I have a really good track record for making gorgeous cakes. See here. I'm kind of a one-trick pony so it will not surprise you that this was Sam's birthday cake:


This cake topper reminded me of a very funny picture I have of Sam from our newlywed days. I won't embarrass him or I by posting it--this is a family blog after all--but I do think it looks like Sam. When Ryan saw the cake this afternoon, he kept pointing at it and saying "Dada." So I guess I did well.

Sam also threatened me to not put a picture of him on the blog--but this one really doesn't count:


Yes, the cake has a large portion with no nuts--that is for Luke. We are fancy like that.

So as I said, I'm leaving today for a little slice of paradise. Ashley and I are going to eat and shop our way across the bay area. If you want to read more about our plans--go here. I'll be sure to give you a full report when I return. We will definitely be slumming at all of our favorite chain restaurants that our husbands are too good for.

I'm hoping that by leaving for the weekend, I'll actually be excited to see these three when I return!


Happy Birthday Sam--muscle man! (If the rest of you really want to know more about Sam--go to my birthday tribute post to him from last year.)

There for the Wrong Reasons

Let's get right down to business. Is anyone surprised that Rozlyn turned out to be the one having the inappropriate relationship with the staffer? I didn't think so. Could she have been more transparent the night of the group date when she came bouncing into the cabana wearing nothing but a wet string bikini and begging for one-on-one time with Jake. Her voice-overs were all about how competitive she is and how once she gets that rose, she was just going to sit back and play hard to get.

I really hoped Jake would see through it but of course, he was sucked in by that nasty forced kiss and even gave her the rose that night. I don't feel sorry for him. She was a floozy and he fell for her just like every other guy would. Good riddance.


I know so many of you love Elizabeth. I just don't see it. Yes, she's pretty but she drives me crazy. She reads him that dumb little note about how he can't kiss her until he knows she is the last girl standing (implying she has such high morals) and then later that evening she completely taunts him during the fireworks--"you want to kiss me don't you? giggle giggle....so manipulative. Does anyone else want to smack her?

And Michelle--Cookoo for cocoa puffs. I'm sure the producers have told Jake he has to keep her around at least a couple more shows for entertainment value.

Finally, the bikinis--when Ashleigh H. changed into a bikini to break into Gia's alone time, I just cringed. Speaking of bikinis, did anyone else notice when Jake came to pick up the first group of women for the group date, how three of the women who were staying back were wearing bikinis just sitting on the couch. Could you be a little more obvious girls? As I write this, I can hear my husband saying "Hate the game, not the player" but these women need to learn how to hold a little something back.

I love Ali. I love Tenley. I'm guessing they will be the final two. They are both classy and cute. I can't wait for next week when the girls start attacking each other! Stay tuned.

Playing Cupid

Sam and I rarely go on dates. We just go out and sometimes we go out with other couples. But last night, we went on a "double date." What made it a date? The other couple was not married and it was a blind date for them. Sam set it up all on his own.

Sam knew the girl, Jessica through work--she is an attorney at another firm and we've known the guy, Brady forever. Brady was Sam's roommate while Sam and I were dating and he would put up with us in all of our mushy, romantic glory. Brady is one of the cutest guys ever and it is a mystery to me why he is still single. Jessica is darling too and we had a great time. I promised them I would embarrass them by doing a post about our date.


We started the evening at Goodwood BBQ (I know--Sam and I have an addiction to the place) and then went bowling! I suggested a movie but Sam insisted that was no way for them to get to know each other. With our luck, it turned out to be Disco Night...which really brought in a classy crowd. I came in with the low score both games but I was less concerned about that than I was with how chubby I looked wielding the ball.

Was it a love connection? Time will tell. I haven't set people up in awhile but I used to do it all the time. Why do I do it when it rarely works? Because I believe in love, and I love the idea of getting people together. Sam and I were set up by one of our good friends--Amy Bagley and we will love her forever. In fact, we told her we would name a child after her--but since we're having another boy--it doesn't look good.

Don't forget to watch Bachelor tomorrow night when they reveal which trampy girl is sleeping with a member of the film crew. I can't wait.

2009--The Year in Pictures

Wow. I can't believe how many kind comments I got about my new dark hair. I can never predict which posts will generate a lot of comments but so far it seems my hair, my pregnancy and the Bachelor are all hot topics! I have such an awesome group of women (and a few men) who read my blog.

Last night, I spent two hours online making a Snapfish photo book. Have I told you how much I love Snapfish? In two hours, I can make a bound book of the highlights of our year--so much easier than scrapbooking.

The funny thing was, as I was uploading my photos into this book, I was just overwhelmed with what a great year we had--and really it was just an average year for us. In fact, we seemed to have more disappointments and financial stress this year than in years past and yet, seeing the year in pictures, made me realize how blessed I am. Maybe I'm just getting older and starting to appreciate what I have more.

It was also a year of great sadness as our good friends lost their baby girl. Watching them go through that really put a lot of things in perspective for me.

So I wanted to share with you a snapshot of our year.

January came and I was in a funk. Only now a year later, I understand what was darkening my life but I didn't when I was living it. I'm so glad things are better this January (even fat and with bad hair--I'm once again walking in the light!)


February was still a downer but Valentines always helps. Sammie was in a Fashion show at La Caille and also did a princess day with Grandma and her cousin Kate.


In March, things began to look up. I had my birthday and accompanied Sam on a work trip to Washington D.C.


March was also girl scout cookie season and oh how I love the thin mints. Once again, Sam got carried away and ordered an entire case and we are still eating them.

April brought Easter with the famous matching sweater vests.


Also in April, Sam and his dad built this bad boy in the backyard.


In May, Sam and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in Kauai. It was such a fun trip and so good for us to get away without the kids.


June was full of swimming lessons, BBQs, and all the things that makes summer great.


In July, my mom built a float for my kids and their cousins to ride on in a Fourth of July parade (yes, she is the energizer bunny!)


Also in July, we took our annual trip to Sun Valley, ID.


August was family pictures in the blazing heat. Sam was in a worse mood than the kids. He doesn't do well with heat.


We also took our kids to Lagoon for the first time in August.


September was back to school and all of the newness that goes with it. I love September.


October was the Halloween season and we did a bazillion activities to celebrate Halloween! These are Ashley's cute boys in their "Where the Wild Things Are" costumes.


November was Thanksgiving and we announced I was pregnant with baby #4. It was also when Sam started a new job that he loves.


Finally, December was Christmas craziness and we found out #4 is a boy.


I'm excited to see what 2010 brings--a new baby, decent health insurance (and dental!) some exciting home improvement projects (stay tuned!) and hopefully more of the same.

I've Joined the Dark Side

Note to self: Next time you decide to put on 15 pounds in two months (pregnant or not), don't also decide it is the perfect time to experiment with your hair.

Let me back up. Sam has been begging me since we got married to dye my hair back to its original color--red. He wanted all the blond out.

I finally decided to throw him a bone and just do it--how bad could it be? Apparently, really bad. It is sooooo dark, way darker than the red I used to be. All of a sudden, my skin looks so weird. I have to wear way more make-up and darken my eyebrows even more. I can't wear pink or pastels and it's kind of ruining my life. I know I'm being dramatic but it totally sucks. Wanna know the worst part? Sam doesn't even like it. Except that he thinks it's kind of cool that there is a strange woman in his bed.

The truth is, I try not to look in the mirror during the day and just forget that my hair is terrible. Have you all been there? The worst part is I paid good money to look like this. I keep telling myself I will start highlighting again in 6 weeks but I have to just deal with it until then. But even still, it's going to be a long road back to the blond.

I know you all are going to demand a picture so here it is. You don't have to comment and tell me it's not that bad but you can if you want to. I promise the photo doesn't do it justice--It is even more red and dark in real life.

On the Wings of Love

I have such a love-hate relationship with this show. It is a train wreck and I can't look away. The parlor tricks, the cheesiness, the freaking nod to Top Gun with Jake riding next to the beach on a motorcycle with the aviator shades, it is almost too much. Almost, but apparently not quite because I watched the full two hours.

Do the producers tell these women to bring something when they get out of the limo? This is the part of the show that I literally cringe and hide my face in a pillow. The double-sided coin, the peacock feather, the girl acting like a plane, etc. It kills me. I wish each of these girls could read "A Little Advice for the Ladies" that I wrote before they come on the show.

Jake has a great body, no doubt about it. But he is just so wholesome. Does that make me evil? I can't get past his good boy image. Even when he showers, I feel nothing. It is like watching the seminary president pretend to be sexy.

Let's talk turkey. The most annoying girls--First: Michelle. What the? She got a rose? Does anyone else think it is a little disturbing how she is the female equivalent of Jake and he is turned off by her? That girl is unstable. He just feels bad for her:

Second: Vienna Sausage aka. Paris Hilton jr. aka Dumbo. I have all kinds of nicknames for her. Poor thing:


Third: Christina. She does the freakin airplane with Jake during the party--you know--for those who didn't see it--like I do with my toddler when I lay on the floor and he flies in the air on my legs. Yeah--it was really romantic. She also brought parting gifts for all the girls. That went over well. Even Jake looked unimpressed with that move:

Fourth: Ashley--the girl in the pilot uniform. I hate that stuff. Jake seemed to love it and I think I would have liked her otherwise but c'mon:

Fifth: Channy. I actually loved her. She provided the funniest moment of the show when she translated her romantic Cambodian message to Jake--"I would love to have you land your plane on my landing strip." I am still giggling as I type this. There is a chance that with the language barrier she just thought she was using the flying analogy for love and not in the literal bikini wax sort of way. But maybe I'm giving her too much credit:

Finally: Roslyn--the model. (There were like five models on the show this time including a spokesmodel and a fit model.) 10 bucks says Roslyn is the one who ends up sleeping with a member of the film crew:


There you have it--as much as I love the bag on the show--I love the drama. Monday nights are fun again! I'm rooting for Ali. She reminds me of someone I would be friends with in real life:


I also liked Tenley even though she is a divorcee and was forward enough to kiss Jake, I think she's sweet and there for the right reasons!:


Who are your early favorites? Did you like that Jill and Ed came back? I didn't mind it. How do we feel about Jake this time around? Discuss.

I Have a New Lease on Life

Ryan looking dapper in his new doggie sweater

Dear 12:30 church,

I love you, love you, love you. I know everyone is complaining about you and I know it means no nap for Ryan every Sunday for the rest of the year but you have changed my life. No more getting up early, no more scrambling to get three kids and myself bathed and out the door by 9:00 a.m., no more interminable Sunday afternoons. Now, let's talk about what we can do about the middle hour.

Sincerely,

Brooke