Some People Do...Why Can't I?

 Some people make a living out of doing what they love...why can't I?  Don't get me wrong I'm not a great sewer but, I can sew a straight line and piece things together and I could get better with practice.  But, I've been so busy that I haven't had very much time to do the things that I really enjoy like sewing and digital scrap booking.  I can be very crafty and I feel I do a good job at it, I feel creative and happy.  Now, why can't I make a career of this and feel creative and happy instead of having such a time consuming, stressful job?
 Enough babbling! 
I starting thinking about this because over the weekend I made my sister this car seat cover.  She is expecting her first little baby boy in the next couple weeks. 

I thought it turned out so freaking cute!  I don't mean to toot my own horn but I really don't sew much and my experience is all from my 7th grade sewing class.  Yes, since then I've done quite a few things but, I've had to teach myself.  So, sometimes I end up impress myself as well! :)  I went to Swiss days and thought about getting her one there just because I thought I wouldn't have the time but decided against it because I couldn't find one that I liked so I went to the fabric mill in Orem and found this fabric that I fell in love with and set off to make the cover.  It turned out so much better

 than I thought it would and cuter than anything I saw at Swiss days. 

I loved the colors of the fabric and the big red buttons!  I especially loved the gray poke a dot fabric on the back and straps.  Oh, and the green Ric rack around the edges, how cute is that?  I know humility is a virtue but I feel like tooting my own horn!  :)

I loved doing it too.  It felt good to actually take time to do something that I enjoyed.  I love creating things.

So, I'm telling you...I can be for hire! I can do car seat covers, invitations, and/or announcements. :)

Here are the invitations I made for her shower.  I used the frog one because it seemed more "baby shower" but i loved the colors of the other one too! :)  I also made matching return address labels with the little frogs, dragon flies, turtles, and bugs. 

How time flies...

I know it's been forever since I last posted. Believe me it feels like forever! Work has been stressful and I usually get home and do nothing but unwind watching TV and play with Wes. Even dinners have reverted to Mac & Cheese and cheese sandwiches!!! I need a break...and there's one coming!

Rachel, Wes' birth mother, is coming to town on Thursday for a week. She's here for Wes' birthday and I took 4 day...FOUR DAYS off work. I know I will hate myself the day I go back but I'm going to take full advantage of my vacation by spending time with my family, throwing a birthday party, and getting back to making some yummy food! My stress relief is cooking and I have been doing so little of it lately and it's something I enjoy so much.
Anyway, here are a bunch of pictures of who might just be the cutest kid in America...just in case you've missed him! :)

I don't know if I will ever get over pictures of him sleeping. He looks so vulnerable and like a... baby.When I'm getting ready in the mornings he likes to open every cabinet and pull everything out on the floor and crawl over and throw it in the tub! After each item he looks over and smiles at me. It's pretty funny but other times I don't want him crawling around in the bathroom so I just stick him in the sink...he likes to be where the action is. :)My goodness...the boy LOVES powdered donuts just about as much as I love taking pictures of him eating them! Hilarious! Especially when a nice string of white, powdery spit rolls down his face as he's laughing!He's started doing this new thing when he smiles where he scrunches up his face and squints his eyes. The only reason I can think of why he does this is that when he sees his mom smile her eyes turn into little slits...I have very small eyes! :) He just wants to be like his mom, of course! :) But, it's stinkin cute, is what it is!Wes' birthday party is going to be this Saturday! You're all invited. If you'd like to come please let me know so we can make sure we have enough food. :)

Can you say AWKWARD!!!

So, I have decided that since I moved back to the same county in which I went to high school I need to review my year book. I have the worst memory of who people are from high school...the worst! This is what happened yesterday at Walmart...

The names have not been changed just so that anyone who reads this and knows the people I'm talking about will understand how BAD this situation really was!

The scene starts out with me waiting in line at check out. There was this beautiful, Asian woman in front of me turns around and says...

girl: "Nici Back!"

me: "Hey...(awkward pause)...Erica?"

girl: "Sarah"

me: "Namba?"

girl: "Trump."

Somethings that come out of my mouth I wish I could just UNDO, unfortunately this was one of those situations!

Needless to say the rest of the conversation was totally awkward as we pretended to catch up on each others lives!

AWKWARD!!! I guess if I'm going to live here I might want to brush up on the people who I went to high school with and might run into randomly at Walmart! Because it seems like every time I go I see someone who I once knew but usually I just turn around and go the other way...horrible I know!!!

But can you say AWKWARD!!! Just writing about it makes me feel awkward.

So, just in case, Sarah Trump, you one day find this blog and read this post I apologize for what might be the most awkward moment in my life! And you really don't look like Erica Namba...I just have a very bad memory! :)

The answer is YES...

If you asked me if I was up at 1:00am this morning to order myself the iphone from Verizon your answer would be yes! (1:00am is when you could start ordering)

2/10/11 can't come quick enough till it gets delivered. I have been obsessed with the iphone forever and soon I will have one! :)

Ryan wasn't due for an upgrade and will have to wait till June...this is a very sore spot for him and I don't recommend bringing it up.

In fact, I may be in the dog house till June just for getting one before him.

CALLING ALL SHOPPERS...

I'm outing myself for even writing this post but I NEED HELP!!!

If you really knew me...you'd know that I HATE shopping!!! Sorry, all girls who loves it but, I don't. I rarely go and when I do it is to the two stores I buy things from and if I don't find what I'm looking for...I GO HOME!!! I'm not good at finding deals, sales, or that one item "I've been looking for". So, this is where I am asking for HELP!!!!

Wes's blessing is 3 weeks away and I need a white outfit. Now, the fact that is will be 7 months does not scream white knit like most baby blessing clothes are made of. He needs a little boy outfit. I have been trying to look for a white sweater or v neck sweater vest (is that what it's called?) to wear with white slacks or white jeans. But, as luck would have it I can't find any of those items. So, here is your task... Find these items or tell me where to go to find them.

There may even be a little surprise for the one who find the winning pieces :)

Or if you can find anything that a little man like Wes would wear all decked out in white please, please let me know! THANK YOU!!!

Anybody out there?

Blogging world I miss you...

We are still getting settled in our new place and SUPER busy at work but I promise one day...one day I swear I'm coming back to you!

In the words of Whitney Houston...

I'M EVERY WOMAN!

That is how I feel at the present moment anyway!

I feel pulled in so many direction and have so many people relying on me...I'm thin as paper (unfortunately not physically).

I have been trying to find a new place to live up north, because we are moving at the end of August...

In the past week I accepted a promotion, which is in Bountiful. So, I have been commuting there just about everyday. They have not filled my old position so basically I am running a Day Program for 66 individuals who are developmentally disabled and managing the staff there (my old job) and running a residential facility for 12 people with disabilities and managing the staff there (the new job).

The lady who had my old job destroyed the office and basically any system of organization that ever existed there...so the past couple of days I have been going through PILES AND PILES of papers!!! I'm pretty sure she never filed one thing as long as she worked there!

On one hand this is VERY VERY frustrating and on the other I love it because I LOVE ORGANIZING!!! :) (I know sick! :))

I am trying to raise a 4 month (on Thursday) old.

Take care of my sweet husband and have a life with him.

And be the camp director for our ward, which is next week.

I am physically exhausted just writing all that stuff!!!

Something had to eventually give and that was the camp director calling...the young women's president saw that it was KILLING me and basically delegated ALL my responsibilities. So, I have tried to help here and there but I feel like an utter failure at my calling.

This past could of weeks has just been exhausting and it won't stop for a couple more!!!

Loss of Reality!

This is the conversation that took place approximately 5:45 am, just after my alarm went off Friday morning:

Nici: (rolls over and wakes Ryan up) "Go over there and answer those questions about Glee!"

Ryan: (just waking up) "WHAT?!?"

Nici: "Over to the left, go over there and answer the questions about Glee."

Ryan: (obviously more with it than I am) "I think you're not awake."

Nici: (Getting upset!!!) "NO, YOU"RE NOT AWAKE!!!!"

END OF SCENE

Later that day when Ryan reminded me of this conversation I had completely forgotten about it. But, as he told me about it, it all started coming back to me and the feelings I felt that went along with it. I remember feeling that I was making complete sense and the fact that he wasn't just doing what I asked made him the crazy one not me!!!!! :)

This whole thing was too funny and conversations like this one (half asleep) happen way too often at our house! :)

Oh the stories we could tell...

You May Ask...

You may ask, "Nici, where will you be tomorrow night (TUESDAY) at 8:00pm?"

Well, here is my response...

Although, unlike this SNL clip...I'm undecided! You've got to watch this! :)

Random, Random, Random

Ok, so this post is all about RANDOM pictures!!!

This is Wes smiling...

This is Wes smiling while spitting up! :)

Wes has started holding onto toys and this one he loves because he likes the soft blanket part rubbed on his face when he's tired.

Thanks GRAMMY and GRAMPY! He loves it! :)

This photo is not staged...I looked over and he was sleep holding it! SO CUTE!!!

When Rachel was here we went to the fair in Orem and we got two dwarf frogs...they are so cute. We bought them a bowl and a fish friend. Don't worry the Walmart $2.08 fish has passed away...poor Sparky!

Ryan had his first Father's Day and I have to say I ROCK!!! He had a great day full of surprises. Including this little collage framed.

Father's Day morning!!! :) A smile and loves for Daddy!

The boys just waking up...check out that bed head! :)

Last week we went to the Bee's Game.... We had a good time. This is what Wes did most the game!

This was his cute outfit that Grandpa Back bought him!!! He's a baseball fan already!

This is old but for Memorial Day I wanted to do something different so I moved our dining room OUTSIDE! Yes, that is our dining room table and chairs! :) It was great weather and we sat out there and talked all evening. Ryan's mom and brother came over.

We BBQ'ed hamburgers...I had to take a picture! And YES...I tasted as good as it looks!!!! :)

Anyway, here are the RANDOM things that have been happening around the Jones House!

Super Cougar!

Ok, I have decided I was born in the wrong generation! The past couple years my "Celebrity Crushes" have consisted of: ZACH EFRON, TAYLOR LAUTNER, and now...JUSTIN BIEBER!!!! It is so many levels of wrong but I am a Super Cougar Fan!

I feel this video describes our relationship...I am played my Tina Fey and Justin plays a character named Jason (but it is really himself). :) I think this summarized the messed up nature of the whole thing!!!! :)

Just Putting it Out There...

I know I am in no position to be wanting things but I just have to put it out there...

I am obsessed with this wallet. Not particularly this color but I just love the wallet!

I want one...I'm just sayin' :)

And, I want one of these too...it would make my sewing hobby so much easier and better!

I want one...I'm just sayin! :)

I girl can want, can't she?

Baby On The Brain...PART TWO!!!

This needs to end soon I am starting to miss fun, important things...

I am sitting here all ready to go to a party that we have tonight. All week I kept reminding Ryan about it every time he thought he was going to be able to study tonight. So, we got all ready and I had Ryan look up the exact time on Facebook (where I had the information) and I was right...the party is at 7:00pm. The problem is that it was at 7:00pm LAST NIGHT!!!

We are super bummed we missed the party and now we have to think of new Valentine's Day Plans.

Papa Murphy's HEART shaped pizza isn't looking too bad right about now! :)

SORRY Megan...We are sorry we missed the party and missing out on a chance to see everyone!

When is the next get together Indiana Peps?

Baby on the Brain!

Ok, is this normal? I can think of nothing but BABY!!!! Here are some examples...

Story #1: I am the camp director in our ward and this past Thursday we had a big stake "kick off" meeting. We also had a meeting Wednesday night and talked about camp. I was well aware of the meeting but, I also told the assistants that I may not be there because the first Thursday of every month there is an adoption class through LDS services. They are required but we have finished our required 6 classes but I wanted to keep going to review all the info. So, Thursday night I had a camp meeting that I knew about and an adoption class that I wanted to attend. Sunday morning I woke up and realized that I missed the camp meeting. Thinking back to Thursday night I tried to remember what I did...yeah I got home from work, cooked dinner and sat down to watch our Thursday night shows with Ryan!

NO CAMP MEETING AND NO ADOPTION MEETING!!!!

All I think about is baby and there is no space for other things in my brain!

Story #2: I praise myself on being a good employee and doing things right the first time. Well, in the last monthly meeting with all the Director's and Administrator's my boss mentioned that, "Nici never has anything returned from the "main office" and gets things right the first time" Well, this past week I had THREE things returned!!!!! One of them the only thing that was wrong was that I forgot to SIGN MY NAME!!!! I think I am going crazy!

It's kind of funny but is it normal? I constantly think about the birth mother, the adoption, and the baby!!! I even dream baby! :)

So, Crazy or Normal?

Although, we did wear ourselves out on baby. Saturday we went and registered at Babies R Us and by the time we were done I was worn out!!! After thinking of every little thing we might need and scanning so many bar codes--my brain was fried! :) Registering is a work out! :)

Big Baby!

I have been such a BIG BABY lately. Do you ever get emotional so easily and you are not even really sure why? Well, that is me lately. I watched the Biggest Loser the other day and pretty much cried the entire time. Then, I one second I am fine and the next I this State Farm Insurance commercial comes on and I take one look at Ryan and say, "I have been so emotional lately," then just start crying! I don't know what it is...maybe it is time for a good cry! :)

But, WHAT A BABY!

Doesn't He Know Me AT ALL?

You would think that after 6 years of marriage Ryan would know me...well, today we figured out that this is not the case. I waited in the car as he ran into the gas station to get a soda (none for me, thanks! 2010 is going to be "SODA FREE") anyway, I told him to get me a treat. Although, he did ask I replied; "Surprise Me!" Well, after a few minutes he came out with what I thought was a joke! Sour Gummy Worms! This might not seem weird but I absolutely DO NOT LIKE sour gummy worms! In fact, I kind of hate anything sour! I had to laugh and kept waiting for him to pull out something that I really like but, he never did. When he finally realized that I really wasn't going to eat them he said, "But, you love sour patch kids!" (I am actually laughing as I am writing this!) I HATE SOUR PATCH KIDS! Nothing against kids but the sour kind are the worst! :) I NEVER eat them but as we fought in the car about it he is convinced that I have had them several times in our marriage and thought I liked them. He is CRAZY (sorry honey) but, you are CRAZY! I have never bought nor eaten Sour Patch kids since we have been married!! Anyway, I guess my likes and dislikes are not as clear cut to him as I thought they might be.

But, then as we talked about Sour Patch Kids the conversation turned into remembering the "Garbage Pail Kids"

Good Times!

This one's for You, Sammie...

And anyone else who wants to try some YUMMY new recipes:

Homemade BAKED Taquitos:
8 oz. Cream cheese, softened
1.2 cup green salsa or regular salsa
1 Tbs. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. garlic powder
3 Tbs. chopped cilantro
1 green onion, chopped finely (white & green part; about 2 Tbs.)
2 cups shredded chicken or steak (grilled, sauteed, or cooked in crock pot)
1 cup shredded cheese
corn or flour tortillas
Kosher salt
Cooking spray

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with coking spray.
In med. bowl mix first 7 ingredients. Then add cilantro and green onions. Add meat & cheese and combine well. Heat tortillas in micro before rolling to prevent cracking. Place 2-3 Tbs. of mixture in the center of tortilla (keeping it about a 1/2 inch away from the edges. Roll tightly! You may need to stab them with toothpicks to prevent them from rolling open.

Place them seam side on the foiled cooking sheet. Do not let them touch. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt. Place pan in oven and bake about 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown. ENJOY!

YUMMY, YUMMY Philly Cheese Sandwiches:
Cook a beef roast in crock pot with 3 cups water and 1 pack of Au Jus sauce for about 8 hours. Make sure to flavor the roast with salt, pepper, steak seasoning, or anything you want.
When it is easy to shred remove from crock pot and shred roast. Remove any fat from the juices that are in the crock pot and put the shredded meat back in the juices for another hour.

About 15 minutes before meat is done: Slice green peppers, onions, and mushrooms (if you want them) and saute them in about a 1 1/2 tsp. of cooking oil.

Fill buns with meat, top with provolone cheese, and pepper mixture. Enjoy! We like these with Sweet Potato fries.

I hope you enjoy! I love sharing recipes.

Ryan Would LOVE This!

BLOG STALKING!

So, I haven;t done this in a long time but I thought I would give it a go....
CONCLUSION: I really enjoyed it! Many of your friends and family have really cute blogs. I know this is a bit creepy but i was board and just did it!

I also messed around with Photo shop earlier today and here are the results: Nothing mind blowing--I just changed the look of the whole picture as I was experimenting with changing the layers of the photo!

THE ORIGINAL

Anyone out there with mad Photo shop skills? I want to learn...TEACH ME!

Oh, by the way, thanks for commenting when I asked for it...at least I know people are out there.

More New Moon...

So, here is the fam and a couple of young women in my ward. They are the skinny ones...NO OFFENSE FAMILY MEMBERS! :) We just need to accept who we are! :) LOVE YOU ALL!

For some reason none of us wore matching socks! :)

This is Heather & Becky...they are HILARIOUS!

We got VAMPIRE teeth as door prizes!

And I am on my way to see it again tonight with Ryan...he is a good sport! Gotta love him!