Brownies

When growing up Chris' family had a tradition of making brownies every Sunday with their dad. This is a picture of Chris and Jared making their first batch of brownies together, although not homemade like Grandpa Meservy did they did cook them.

Fall Colors at Law School Dutch Oven

Friday we headed up to Spanish Fork canyon and enjoyed dutch oven barbeque chicken, potatoes, cobbler, and smores! It was beautiful and nice to talk to other students. Many first year law students were talking amongst themselves. It made me remember the stress of Chris' first year and all that went with it. It's crazy that we're in our last year. How the time flies.

My Deal of the Week/Month/Year

So if you really know me than you know how I love good deals, and this week I got a deal that I've never gotten and will never get again... Smith's had a sale for Post cereals for 8 for $8. I went and picked up 8 cereals but they didn't have one of the kind I really wanted. The guy stacking the boxes told me when they'd be in and then said, "You want to know a secret, you really only need to buy 4 not 8." I thought great cause I didn't want another 8 anyway. After checking out I received a coupon of my next purchase and also if I bought additional post cereals I could receive another coupon. To shorten the story up I ended up buying two more purchases of 4 cereals and getting these coupons so I ended up getting 16 boxes of cereal for $8 after I used the coupons! Only 50 cents a box!

So now I have 16 boxes to place around the house, 4 of which are under our bed:) I told Chris and he shook his head. I asked him if he was glad that I could get a good deal and save money. He said yes but he wanted me to remember where we were, in a small apartment. But I couldn't pass up that deal, like I said I'll never find it again!

Jared Loves Nursery!

Thank goodness for good nursery leaders! Today they made little head bands that said, "I can be a good example. They said Jared hurried and colored his then quickly wanted it cut out and taped so he could wear it. At the end of the class only Jared and another boy made it wearing the headbands (Jared wore it for as long as he could through sacrament meeting until the tape came off and wouldn't stick).

BYU Homecoming!!!

Saturday was homecoming for BYU and we started our morning off with blue pancakes by the duck pond just south of campus at 8:00. We then played around the area until the parade came.

Jared really liked the parade except for Cosmo's loud bike and the storm trooper. On the way home we let him have a sucker and when I turned to look at him he had gotten it all over his face. Don't know how he accomplished that but he did a good job of making a mess.

At the game the weather was perfect until around the third quarter when it started to rain. I usually am so overly prepared with armloads of "protection" but this time I had only grabbed a blanket as an afterthought. Thank goodness for it or we would have had to leave early. It got a little hard because I had to hold Jared part of the third quarter and all of the fourth and then I held him for our walk to the car. I held him for mainly two reasons: 1. Chris was soaked and it wouldn't be very comfortable for Jared 2. I didn't want to have to give up my cover and warmth of Jared and the blanket so I ended up sticking it out and relieved my back later with a nice bath.

At the beginning of the game Jared was all hyped up! He cheered with everyone and clapped. When we sat down for timeouts he'd often holler at us to stand up when everyone else started to. He took a little nap and after his nap he wasn't as excited but still did well considering our weather conditions. Below is a clip of Jared doing the fight song. He's alot more vocal at home but here's a glimpse.

Petting Zoo and Pretty Pretty Princess

This last Tuesday Jared and I went to the petting zoo at Thanksgiving Point. Jared really enjoyed all the animals especially riding the little ponies!!!


Then on Wednesday Jared found our Pretty Pretty Princess game. I thought, "what harm could a little jewelry do?" So I decked him out with all the necklaces and three earings per ear along with the crown. He wore his treasures around proudly and little by little I had to sneak them away when he wasn't noticing.

Although I do think Jared is cute I think he is much cuter without the accessories. I bet he'll be a good sport though when someday he gets a little sister!

Jared's First Ice Cream Cone

A couple weeks ago we had a high school friend come over with his new wife. (Ben and Brooke Newman)

While they were there we wanted to play a game but Jared wouldn't exactly allow that. To solve the problem we gave him his first ice cream cone and he thoroughly enjoyed it!

Potty Training Update

I decided to give an update and not leave you hanging on Jared's progress.

After the few days of frustration Jared turned it around and has made me quite proud. I thought it'd be forever before I'd take him anywhere in underwear or even let him wear it around the house, but after a week we tried it and he's done wonderful. I've been on several outings with him in his underwear (he did wet his pants once:( but not too bad!) Occasionally he forgets to tell me and I don't ask in time and he wets them but really not that much (3 times last week he wet them without telling me he had to go).

I've figured I still need to ask him and not depend alone on him telling me, and sometimes I have to sit him on the potty even if he says no because it's been a long time, but I think we're making a good team. I'm still too nervous to take him to church especially during nursery, I just don't think it's fair to make someone else deal with it, but maybe someday...

So in regards to potty training, I feel really lucky! Too bad I couldn't guarantee every one of my children would be this way. Till then I'll just be hoping!

My Man... Chris!!!

Thanks for the Tag Ali, I'm excited to fill it out and see what Chris has to say when he visits our blog...

1. Who is your man? Christopher Verne, he really likes his middle name

2. How long have you been together? Married since 2003 but started liking each other... hmm was it the fall of 1998 or '99

3. How long did you date? Dated for maybe a year and a half before his mission and then 4 months after his mission then an additional 4 for engagement (he didn't like me on his mission so I can't count that time)

4. How old is your man? 25

5. Who eats more? Chris but I definitely come close when I have this big belly of mine!

6. Who said "I love you" first? Sad but I don't remember the first time, I would guess Chris though

7. Who is taller? Chris by only 2 inches

8. Who sings better? Hands down me! I can't even get him to sing for me, I have to strain to hear him in church and he's not bad but I'd say I'm better:)

9. Who is smarter? In common sense of scholastically, Ok Chris is! But not at everything and he knows it.

10. Whose temper is worse? By far me! He's very mild and if he does get mad (once in a blue moon) it makes me feel so bad that he is very quick to undo any harm.

11. Who does the laundry? I'm trying to remember when or if Chris ever did it on his own, he does help though if he's home when I'm doing it but I mainly do it when he's at work/school.

12. Who does the dishes? I do them 80% of the time if not more, but he does them when I ask.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Right side when you are laying on it facing up? (Me) Right side when you are facing it at the foot of the bed? (Chris) But if I were to rearrange the room I'd be on the side that's closest to the door regardless of left and right.

14. Who pays the bills? Me

15. Who is better at the computer? Definitely Chris

16. Who mows the lawn? What lawn!? I foresee it as equal with the edge given to me. I have a feeling he'll be too busy and I'll do it because I can't stand it any longer

17. Who cooks dinner? Chris is a more exotic cook and loves doing it but doesn't have the time so I mainly cook.

18. Who drives when you are together? Chris does the majority of the time but if I want to listen to the stations I want to then I'll drive.

19. Who pays when you go out? Chris, I hate carrying a purse or wallet.

20. Who is more stubborn? I'd say me, but he's very convincing to get me to budge.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Chris hands down says sorry first but if he's wrong and he knows it, like in a debate, he will fight to the end to try and explain and reason his view... that's the lawyer in him and he is only persistent on being right with me because he knows it bugs me.

22. Whose parents do you see most? equal

23. Who kissed who first? Chris went in for it and in fact I don't know if I kissed him back the first time.

24. Who asked who out? Chris asked me.

25. Who proposed first? Chris did the proposing but I don't remember who brought marriage up first.

26. Who is more sensitive? We are both sensitive in our own ways, I love Chris' sensitivity to others especially me.

27. Who has more friends? ???? Good question.

28. Who has more siblings? I do 6 girls in the family with 1 boy. Chris' family is 3 boys, 3 girls

29. Who wears the pants in your family? If Chris could go to work in shorts and a tee shirt he'd do it all year round so technically I wear more pants throughout the year then he does, but as far as running the family, we're pretty equal and thankfully we respect each other's roles.

So now I would like to pass this tag along, and ask Lindsey, Heather, and Wendy (if Wendy and Heather ever update their blogs that is!!!) the same questions. (Pass it along too!)

Potty Training Woes

So potty training started off great and I had a couple sisters saying how lucky I was. Well I'd just like to inform everyone that Jared is indeed human! He started off telling me he had to go with only a few mess ups. Our second day in fact he only missed telling me twice, pretty good. Well the next day he failed to tell me all but three times. Luckily he redeemed himself the third time by going by himself and going #2. The most frustrating part of all of it was I would ask him if he had to go and he'd say no and then minutes later be going!!! And I don't think I'd be so frustrated except for I know he can do it! Today was a little better but I don't think he told me very many times that he had to go; instead I would ask him and instead of taking no for an answer every now and then I'd take him to the bathroom even if he said no and have him try (often he would go).

So still I don't want to discredit him but he started off soooooo good that it's frustrating to deal with the regression. I'll keep at it but it does get wearing at times. Currently my strategy is to go diaper/underwear less until he tells me almost all the times he needs to go and then I'll try the underwear. I'm holding off on the underwear because he doesn't get it yet and treats it like a diaper (I think he doesn't get the concept of underwear when I try to explain it to him).

So if anyone has suggestions let me know, I'm totally open to any success stories!

Dinner with the Hallstroms

When you're invited to the Hallstroms for dinner you know you're in for a treat. This Wednesday we got a gourmet meal that centered around Asparagus-Mandarin Chicken. YUM! Check out for yourself!

It's also fun to go to the Hallstroms because they love Jared. Often it takes Jared awhile to warm up but it didn't take him long this time. He loved playing with a weighted six pound ball with Ali and having Ali chase him. When Ali would rest he'd keep calling for her (he learned her name quickly!) Jared even got so attached that when we thought he'd pooped his diaper (I don't know how long it'll be before I take him out with underwear on! he doesn't even wear it right now in our potty training phase) we asked him if he wanted mommy or daddy and he said ALI!!! Ali and Jeff are definitely going to make GREAT parents!

The next picture is a random addition and off topic of Hallstroms but I thought it was cute. I've been getting out baby clothes for our new baby and Jared's been in the middle of it. One pair of sandals had a soccer and basketball on it and he really wanted to wear them. They are a size two and he's a six to give you an idea. He was so persistent that I put them on him. He walked around for only a little bit the whole time saying ow, ow, ow! and finally asked me to take them off.

Weekend with Meservys and Binghams

This past week we got to have both our families down. Chris was called last week to be second councelor in the bishopric and the stake didn't set him apart until this past Sunday to allow family to be part of it if they could. And it ended up that both our families could come down. The first Sunday when they read his name in and asked him to join him on the stand Jared lost it! I think the hardest thing won't be time constraints the calling might have but not having dad sit with us during sacrament meeting. I thought this past Sunday would be better since we had two sets of grandparents down and aunts and an uncle but no way! Jared still wanted his dad just as bad. I hope it gets easier with time and thank goodness for friends that are willing to help and I'm banking on having friends (aka Lindsey and Wendy) to love our baby when he comes so I can focus more on Jared if need be.

But besides church we were also able to purchase enough tickets for everyone to go to the BYU v. Arizona game. I didn't have my camera for the game but below is a picture of us at the restaraunt after the game.

Jared did really well at the game. I think he'll be a sports fan like his dad. He was pretty attentive and did a lot of cheering (loves shouting BYU and Go COUGARS!!!) At home Jared's Uncle Jordan had fun doing his onsie up over his shorts. I don't think they got enough laughs out of Jared's "super hero" look.

This next clip is kind of out of place but it shows the beginning process of going to bed for Jared. We say prayers, read a story, and then sing a song.

Potty Training

After two attempts at potty training I am now bound and determined to make it work this time... (my first two efforts were more trials to see how Jared did and if he was even close to ready... he wasn't!) I made up my mind we would start training again after labor day and I had no idea what to expect. But when we came home from a movie on Monday and got Jared ready for bed he ran around our front room without his diaper on and ran to his little toilet and said, "Potty" and sat on it and went! Chris and I looked at each other in surprise and I decided my timing would be perfect!

So as we started on Tuesday with this adventure I let Jared go around the house with just a shirt and nothing else on. I tried to keep him confined to the kitchen where clean-ups were more manageable but soon learned I would drive Jared and myself insane by staying in the kitchen all day. Jared right away told me when he had to go and in fact his first time going he went number 2!!! So all morning Jared would tell me when he needed to go and we'd run to the bathroom where he'd successfully go about 95% of the time. One time he brought me a diaper and wanted me to put it on. I instead tried big boy underwear. Well as soon as I put it on he wet his pants. I guess he doesn't really get the idea behind underwear and even if I explained it I don't think he'll get it. So for now I'll keep to the bare bum.

After his nap we didn't have as much success though. Jared first off didn't want me to take his diaper off and then for the first few hours he'd start going and then by reaction I'd yell his name he'd stop going look at me and then run to the restroom. By the time Chris got home Jared was back to telling me by himself when he needed to go. Then for about 30 mins he was telling me every 5 mins that he needed to poop. I'd run to the bathroom with him and he'd sit down and fart and say, "All done!" Not exactly productive but I guess he's getting the idea of holding back till he sits...

Today when he woke up he didn't want me to take off his diaper again. I had to distract him for awhile but he eventually forgot about it. For the first two hours he didn't do anything. I was getting really nervous and kept asking him if he had to go. I've learned not to push him and he'll let me know when he's ready, but I was nervous cause this was a new day and maybe he'd forget. Eventually I convinced him to try and he went. Feeewww. And later in the morning I heard him yell something and run away. I didn't think much of it but noticed he wasn't coming back so I went back to the bathroom and he was coming out. I asked him if he went potty and he said Yep! And he didn't just do number 1 but number 2 too!!! The only bad thing is as soon as he's done he jumps up from the potty and this time he hadn't quite deposited all of his droppings. Unfortunately I didn't realize he'd gone number 2 so I stepped in his little surprise, thank goodness only a little didn't land in the potty.

All in all I have to say I'm pretty proud of our little guy. Now I'm just wondering when I'll be able to take him out with underwear and not be worried. I think that will be a long time but I'm not sure how to go out with a diaper and still encourage him not to go in it. Hopefully we'll gradually adjust and hopefully we'll be able to get far enough along before the baby comes so he won't regress too much. If there's suggestions out there, I'm open to them!