Off to Vegas

The last time we went to Vegas Josh won a ton of money! KIDDING, this is from the Holiday party in January for Grant Thornton, SF. We had no idea how to even play this game. Josh actually won about $15,000 in fake money, but we would never gamble our real money away. We just wouldn't have that good of luck with the real thing, plus we "aren't supposed to". I just thought that this picture would be funny and it fit the title with where we are going this weekend.

Josh has been out of town pretty much all month. He was home for a week between the Dominican Republic and Death Valley, but while he was home he was still working so much. He did the most amazing thing by planning a short trip for just him and I, without me even knowing it! He is awesome about surprising me with little get-aways. Since we don't get a lot of one-on-one time at home, it is so much fun to have a 3-day date every once in a while.

I also have to give a "shout-out" to my mama! She is the one volunteering, or should I say who Josh volunteered to watch the girlies. Seriously mom, you are the best! Because of your generosity and devotion to your granddaughters, we are happily married! We both appreciate it and love you so much! Thank you mamacita!

The Translation of the Language of Laney

I have had this on the side of my blog, but it was lost when I changed my background and all. So...I thought I would post it so that I won't lose it again, and because it is so funny. :) It is the funniest if you actually try to say the word yourself. This is her language as of 2 years old.

"blune" - Look! There is a Balloon!

"Shekawee" (shek-a-wee) - Will you please put Shrek on the TV?

"popune" - Will you make me some popcorn? (usually followed by "Shekawee")

"Ah-rah" - I think I hear a monster!

"fafurs, mmmmm" - Let's smell the flowers!

"Pih-eee" - That is very pretty.

"boin" (boy-n) - Let's sing "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam"!

"Daddy bup" - Daddy burped. Only Laney says this when anyone burps, or if she hears something that sounds like a burp.

"tutes" - I tooted, you tooted, someone tooted! (Said with a big smile of course)

"i-a-weeen" - I win! (hands up in the air).

"vroom" - Look there's a car!

"peese" - Please (get me something).

"neaow" - There is a kitty.

"dee dee" - Let's go get Kadie from preschool.

"chi chi's" - It just means "I want some chicken nuggets". I know what you were thinking.

"go-guck" - Please get me some yogurt.

"bubose" - Let's blow bubbles, of if she is taking a bath, make it a bubble bath!

"tub beeeee" - Let's go fill up the bath tub and splash until the floor is soaking wet!

"fok" - There is a frog...and yes it really sounds like it is spelled. It is really embarassing sometimes!

The San Francisco Treat?!?!?!?

Okay, well maybe not in this instance. It has been quite a month. With Josh gone so much I was beginning to think that I was losing my mind. This little side dish of blackened rice-a-roni confirmed that thought.

Kadie, Laney and I were getting ready to eat. I kept thinking..."man our neighbors are really burning something". As I walk into the kitchen I see smoke everywhere. I realized that Kadie had asked me to make rice-a-roni (her new favorite) along with the chicken and I totally forgot about it! I had to grab the pan and throw it on our balcony and close all of the windows that I had left open with the wonderful rain gone outside. I think my house still smells a little "burned".

Tag I'm it!

I've been tagged by my friend, and sister-in-law Debbie, and here is how this one works.

A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.

B. Each player answers the question about themselves.

C. At the end of the post, the player then tags 3 other people and posts there names.And then leaves a message on their blog letting them know they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog to get the directions.

What I was doing 10 years ago?

I was a 16 and a junior in high school, "dating", going to seminary, drawing up a storm thinking I would be a famous artist, taking pictures for the ASB (historian), babysitting my twin 2 year old brothers, writing a missionary (or two), taking piano lessons, and working out in gymnastics and on the tennis team. Whew! I am glad those years are over.

Things on my "To-Do" List for Today:

Well it is 6:56 p.m. so the day is almost over. So far...I got up, checked my email, made breakfast, got the girls dressed, brushed the girls teeth, then brushed my teeth and got myself ready, got Kadie's preschool snack ready and took Kadie to preschool.

While she was there, I met two friends and their kids for breakfast. After pulling Laney off of the middle of a table for the 10th time I decided to needed to leave. I then went to Costco to "grab" a few things and then rushed over to pick Kadie up from preschool. We swung on over to a friends house to drop something off, then back home for lunch.

After a wonderful lunch of cheese quesadilla and diet coke (for me)...I tried to put Laney down for a nap. Kadie and I put some stickers in a book and played with her new "imaginery friend" that suddenly showed up today. Then I went into Laney's room and told her to stop hitting her sippy cup on the wall, got her a little more "juice" (which means anything liquid) and told her to try to go to sleep.

I watch a little boy and girl on Thursdays and Fridays, so they came over today. When Dylan and Maddy got here, we played a fishing game for a little while and Kadie gawked over the little baby Maddy. Then Laney started hitting her wall again, so I let her out sadly thinking that maybe she is done taking naps. wwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaa!

Dylan and Maddy stayed for a few hours in which we watched Mickey Mouse Club House, played cars, blew bubbles, made dinner, ate dinner, and then their Dad came to pick them up!

So now I am finishing up my tag (thanks Debberz! :) )

The girls are running around using up their energy before bedtime routine because it is rainy here and we have been inside all week long...and Josh is singing some country songs while he works from home tonight! I will probably watch some TV and eat some ice cream later on too. That sounds good. :)

Places I have Lived:

-Auburn, Danville, Moreno Valley, and San Ramon, CA. Chicago, IL. Rexburg, ID. Lehi, Alpine, Highland, Pleasant Grove, UT. Out of those 11 places I have actually moved more than 20 times. Oye!

Things most people don't know about me:

-My favorite foods are bread, cheese and chocolate, Salsa is a close match. It is really hard for me to have a balanced diet for myself...but I try hard.

-I am pregnant...KIDDING Maybe sometime in the next couple of years

-I dye and cut my own hair. Especially when I am stressed out, which is pretty much all of the time with a hubby who is always gone and 2 crazy kids. (Laney should have been born as twin boys) About 75% of the time I love it, and the other 25% of the time I figure - oh well hair grows back.

- I have a jewelry business. http://www.thesilverloft.com/

-I never win anything...and I am always prone to the longest wait at the grocery store or in line at In-n-Out.

-I have a ridiculous amount of lingerie

- I LOVE living in California, and although I am albino...when weather permitting I am outside as much as possible.

I tag Kylie, Melissa, and Cathy :) Have fun!!!

Together Again...for a little while

After being gone for 12 days, (which actually seemed like a month) Josh is finally home, safe and sound from Santo Domingo. Here is a play-by-play of the things that he got to do on his ONE day off from working 16 hour days, on top of being jet-lagged.

Catedral Primada de America

After a little digging to find out more than what Josh told me about this "really old church" I found out that this cathedral was the first in the New World! It is also the most important monument in Santo Domingo. It was constructed from 1514 to 1546. The complete translation of its name is "The Holy Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of our Lady Holy Mary of the Incarnation". The main building was built out of coral rock, and the chapels were built later. Until 1992 one chapel housed the remains of Christopher Columbus, which are now in the Columbus Lighthouse. To enter inside, you must be appropriately dressed.

Here is Josh (above) by a 150-foot statue of Fray Antón de Montesinos, the priest who protested Spanish treatment of the natives.

Guns N Drivers

I said earlier that the first day in Santo Domingo, when he arrived at the hotel, Josh's driver (see photo at left) had a gun in the front seat. His driver was nice enough to let Josh take some pictures wearing his shotgun and his pistol. I was just glad Josh didn't bring any home for souvenirs!

Hard Rock Cafe' Santo Domingo

Josh pretty much ate rice and beans the entire trip. That is not a stereotype, he really did! While he enjoyed the culture, it was nice for him to be able to eat somewhere semi-familiar! Hard Rock Cafe baby! And although he was still afraid to drink the water...he tried to enjoy the meal the best he could! In case you are wondering...the man to right in the Hard Rock photo is just someone who followed Josh trying to shine his shoes. It is so sad how poor some people are there, they will do anything for money.

Josh's driver was definitely not the only man "packing" in the DR. Everywhere Josh went there were security guards with shot guns. Lots and lots of shot guns! The Senior Manager on the engagement thought Josh was crazy to get a picture with one of the security guards (at right)...but this guy was excited about it! He even suggested that him and Josh do "thumbs up"!




Just a street shot of the city! It was quite a trip...and Josh was excited to finally get a stamp on his passport. But I think all of us were so happy to have him home. He is off to another client next week. Crystal Geiser...right smack between L.A. and Las Vegas. Then we hope Josh is home for good for a while!

Happy Valentines Day!

Almost 3,000 miles away, and Josh still is giving gifts! I just wanted to brag a little because having him gone for two weeks has really made me realize how AMAZING he is! He is always thinking about me and the girls, and always letting us know that he loves us. I was so excited to open the front door to a Fedex box full of 3 dozen roses! I mean woah...he outdid himself. Unfortunately Kadie didn't think that roses were that cool of a present. But she did think that they smelled good, and of course the pink ones are her favorite.

We love you Daddy Josh! Happy Valentines Day to you too!

The Swish Ka-bob!

Swish Ka-bob; a.k.a. Kadie's bob that she is constantly swishing in the air! Kadie wanted a haircut and so finally I decided to cut it. It was so long and shiny it was a hard decision to make, and I ended up cutting off 5 inches! Next time I thought maybe we will grow it long enough to donate to that fund "Locks of Love".


Anyway, I was planning on cutting it shoulder length. However, 15 seconds into the haircut I realized Kadie had her head cocked to the side. So...it ended up a little shorter than we wanted, but really cute. She keeps swishing it with her hand up in the air, like she is fluffing it up. I always thought that her long hair made her look older - in pictures especially. Her short hair makes her look just her age! 5 years old...and I am happy to keep her looking 5 a little longer. They really do grow up too fast!

Elegant Flair

It had been so so so long since I had painted something, and I was feeling the "itch" to get going again. I finished this painting in only 3 days! I was so excited, and I think that it looks great in our room. It really pulled everything together and it just pops out. I decided to call it "Elegant Flair" because the contrast will be timeless (and I really love the word flair). I haven't put it on my art blog yet, but will update that soon too!

Gordon B. Hinckley

I know that I am about 2 weeks late on commenting about this, but I didn't have a blog when he passed away, and I just thought it was more than appropriate to mention his amazing life.

January 27th, 2008, Gordon B Hinckley passed away. He was 97 years old. I don't really remember many other prophets in my lifetime than Gordon B. Hinckley. I really have such a place in my heart for him...he is the man who was prophet when I recieved my patriarchal blessing, when I got married, and through the births and lives so far of our daughters. He was so full of life, full of love, and even full of humor - and I know that he will be missed by many...but I also know that he is probably still working just as hard in heaven as he did down here on Earth!

For any of you interested in reading about all of the amazing things that he spent his life doing, click here.

Santo Domingo

COME HOME DADDY!!!

Josh is far far away. He is in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic as I am writing. He has been gone for 5 days and it seems like a whole month! He is training GT employees in US standards, and they don't speak fluent English. Josh doesn't speak great Spanish either, although he seems to be picking it up. So, there is quite a language barrier.

(Kadie thought we were taking a "silly" picture, instead of a sad one).

The night he flew in, a Dominican driver came to pick him up at the airport. He was holding a sign that said "JOSH WALDRON". When they finally got to the hotel (see picture at left) and the man got Josh's bags out Josh noticed a handgun in the front seat. Yikes!

The next morning, his driver didn't show up, so he started walking to the client which was supposedly close by. After 1 1/2 hours, dodging cars (no one obeys traffic laws), avoiding more people waving their SHOTGUNS at him, he finally found where he was supposed to be. He was told NEVER to go out alone again by the partner and staff.

He is staying in a hotel right on the beautiful ocean, but was told don't drink the water, don't swim in the water, don't even brush your teeth in the water. That way he will avoid contracting any parasites. Yikes again!

We can't wait until he is home! We miss you Joshy/Dad!

Tae Kwon Do

Kadie decided that gymnastics was getting old. She came up with the idea of starting Tae Kwon Do all by herself! This is her first class, can you believe it? She looks like a pro!

"Hyah!"

Another Year

February 3rd. Just another day? No way! Laney Elise Waldron turned 2 on February 3rd, 2008! We celebrated at SUPERFRANKS the day before. Laney ate Pizza, played ski-ball, and even scared us all to death when she ran off and we had to put together a search! She even got a new dollhouse for being such a spunky and energetic little toddler!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANEY!