One year old shots

It is hard to imagine how much this 23 pounds has changed my life. And the best thing about him is that he is all smiles and so happy! Sorry they are almost 2 months late, but better late than never. Thanks again to Mellor Photography for doing such a great job at capturing his cute personality!

The BIG one!

Four days old

Happy birthday (last week) to my little guy! He has made my life so happy and keeps me laughing even more than usual (maybe it is all the faces he pulls, like the one he pulled after he didn't want his cupcake when he touched the sticky frosting. The frosting on his face is from when he started rubbing his eyes after he was 'finished' with not eating his cupcake.). How did one person change this much in just a few short months? Crazy!!!!! 367 days old

Happy Birthday, Soder!

Top Pots

My Soder turned the big 30 this Friday the 13th! We had a great time sightseeing with Traci and Matt, who are visiting from NE. The best part of the day, (not taking away from any of the beautiful sights or the great weather) was the party hat that I made Soder wear for the day. Space Needle

He was a good sport until we noticed that it was dying his head red from the sparkly stuff around the bottom. (I guess you don't get as good of quality as you used to from a $4 hat!) I loved that complete strangers were telling him happy birthday! It was way more entertaining for me than I think it was for him. Even with red dye around his head, I think it was a great day for everyone. Happy Birthday, Soder! Kerry Park

The Big Day

My birthday came and went without any real excitement. I survived. On Saturday night, my sister was nice enough to babysit my sweet baby. We went to a wonderful restaurant, JaKs in Issaquah, where we had a lovely, grown-up meal. On Sunday, my sister cooked me a lovely salmon dinner with a delicious ice cream cake. It was a perfect weekend. Thanks to my family and friends for the wonderful presents and well wishes.

Goodbye 20's

Tomorrow is the big day! I will leave behind my 20's and move on into my 30's. During the last decade, I have learned and experienced many things. Here are some highlights from the last 10. (in no particular order)

• Living (for 2 summers) in a tent in Glacier Nat'l Park
• Going to Weber State
• My Coffee Guys
  
• Soder
  
• Getting married
  
• Moving from Utah to Seattle
• Having Baby
• Adopting Thing One
• Adopting Thing Two
• Working at Snappy Cafe and the people I met
  
• Working at the Gap and the people I met
• Working at Weber County and the people I met
• Working at JW and the people I met

I think the thing that has made the last ten years so great has of course been the people. I love all the new people and relationships that have been created over the last decade. I can't wait for the next ten! I bet they are only going to get better.

Let the record state

I am the party planner in the family. I try to make sure that when it is your special day, that everything is ready to celebrate. In the past, when I was in Utah, I would make sure you had a special cake (Like a Star Trek one for my husband or a Bejeweled one for my dad), and a special meal with the menu being completely your choice.(anything from a complete Thanksgiving meal for my nephew, to chicken enchiladas for my mother)
So my birthday is coming up... not just any birthday, but a big one. My 30th.
It is a mere two months away. (You hear that, Travis, two months.) Here is my hint about what I would really like for a present. (Travis, I am looking at you!) Or this. Or this. (ok, that last one is a joke, unless there is someone out there that would like to pay for it!)

As for a cake, any cake will do, I love all desserts equally. (Travis, so pretty much anything sweet that you put a candle in and light.) (Oh and just so you know, Travis, we already have candles... they are in the cupboard with all my spices.) :)

This may seem like a bit selfish of me to be listing off what I would like for my celebration. I am merely giving my husband clear requests of what I would be happy with. (no, mixed signals here) I am not expecting a big ta-doo, (I don't need to be carried into my party on a camel or anything exotic) but just a nice quaint chorus of 'happy birthday' and a present. So no pressure, and I am sure that anything that happens will be created out of love, just like this would be. :)

Happy Birthday to ME

Today is my birthday. As I have blogged about, many changes this year. I have moved up to Seattle (because this is where we want to be), started a new job, and am looking for an apartment. Good times. Looking back this year has been great. Last year at this time, I was just starting my receptionist job, starting school at a technical college, and just enjoying being on our own again (we lived with my in-laws for about 2 years while my hubby was in school.) Apparently I like to start new things around my birthday! This year I think we have started the mother of all things I think. Moving, while exciting and admirable, is definetly not for the faint at heart. I have been more stressed out about everything than I ever imagined. I am still so happy that the parts are falling into place, but why can't it be easier. I know the answer to that... it can't be easier because anything we, Sodermoto's, touch instantly becomes more complicated, more difficult, more stressful. It has been proven to us many times over, I do think that we have just come to expect the difficulties.
I guess I should actually look at the time frame that all the work has been accomplished in. On the first was my last day (18 days ago.) of my old job. On the 6th I moved up here (13 days ago). On the 9th I got my first job offer, which I accepted(10 days ago). On the 15th I started said job (4 days ago). And yesterday was my husbands last day at his job.
Ok when I break it down like it has been that bad. We have actually accomplished so much in two and a half weeks. But seriously I know we couldn't have done it without the help of our parents, who have taken turns watching our animals, and helping with the move. Especially my dad, who always always always is so great in helping us move. He is the King of logistics and this time has even built an enclosed trailer on his car trailer. Thanks, Dad You are the absolute best! Also thanks to Travis for wrapping up everything in Utah! I love ya! And I don't know when this turned into an acceptance speech, but thank you to the academy and God bless! ;) Here is to hoping that this year is even better than the last!

Birthday Pedicure

In preparation for my birthday next weekend, my sister Amy got me a pedicure from her regular lady. (I can't remember her name, but she is very talented.) They are called crazy dots... and I love it. :) I hope you can see the detail because it is way more creative than any other pedicure I have ever had. :) Thanks Amy, I love my new nails!

Travis' Birthday Bonanza!

For Travis' Birthday I made him a USS Enterprise cake. The entire construction took me about 3 hours to get it all cut and frosted.  This was my Everest!  While it wasn't very big, it was the end-alls of end-alls.   (this was definitely the most technical of the cakes I have made for him, some of which include a Mushroom from Mario Brothers Video Games, the scene from Star Wars where ObiWan is fighting with Aniken in the Lava and also a Batman cake with the emblem in Black and yellow frosting. (getting a real black frosting is another trial)) 

We had a nice birthday party with Trav and our family.  We went to 5 Guys Burgers and Fries for dinner than back to our house for cake and ice cream. It was way fun! :) Thanks to everyone who came. 

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary! :)

Luck for me my husbands birthday is today and our anniversary is on Saturday.  It hits at once. I am a big supporter of videos ever since I learned how to make them on my laptop. (Thank you apple!) I hope it isn't too long and is at least a little entertaining.  

Thanks Travis for putting up with me!  Love ya.  Happy Birthday (pictures to come of my USS Enterprise cake for his party on Friday) and Happy Anniversary!   

Happy Birthday, TABOR!!

This Tax day also marked the birthday of a great little guy, Tabor!  This kid is the smartest ten year old ever! He knows everything about dinosaurs (including their scientific name).  Thanks for always teaching me about the different species! We love ya! :) 

Happy Birthday Jan!

Tomorrow is my best friends birthday!  I hope you have a great day.  Here is an updated memory page (a far cry from the notes that we wrote while waiting for our high school classes to get out) Scotsdale* Girls Weekends* L.A.* Sprinkles cupcakes* El Matador* Waffles* First Apartment in Redmond* Moving out of state* Road Trip back to Utah* Talking about everything* Wicked* Montana* Denver* Being my Maid of Honor.

Thanks for being so great!  Where would I be without ya! 

Happy Birthday to Kaiyu!

Happy late Birthday, Kaiyu!  On Sunday, we had a great day celebrating his birthday.   The boys have such a great time with Travis.  They all just rough house and goof off. They were all just laughing while they were playing. Trav is such a great uncle!  Happy Birthday again, Kaiyu.  We love you and can't wait for our fun Sleepover this weekend! 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday, Dad.  Thanks for all that you do for us through the year! I hope you have a great day. Thanks for always making us laugh and keeping us in line at the same time!  We love you! :) 

Shout Out to JT!

I just want to wish one of our favorite cousin's a Happy Birthday! Jt you have always been so much fun to go with on trips (it was his idea to go to Jay Leno's show, and we went to a 311 concert in Vegas a few years ago). Thanks for coming over and having the WWE nights and keeping us laughing around the campfire when we are up at the Dam.  Also thanks for always showing Kimi the love! Hope you have a great year! We love ya! 

Happy Birthday to me!

Thanks to all my wonderful friends and family who have sent me birthday greetings!  You guys are all the best and I hope you know how important you are in my lives. :)  I know I am sarcastic and make a lot of jokes, but on a serious note (which don't happen all the time) I really am blessed to have you all in my life. 

My day was pretty mellow (which seems to happen the older you get, I think.) I went to school till noon then Trav picked me up and we went to lunch. We ate at this trendy burger joint, Acme Burger in SLC. It was pretty good. The fries were thin little shoestring-cut and they were the best. I would go back just for that. :) After lunch we went shopping. I didn't get anything, but that was ok because it was fun anyways. I love looking at clothes. I can't wait until Travis makes it big so I can just go shopping everyday! :) (right, honey? ;) Right!) 

It was a really quiet day, which is fine by me because I don't need a big tadoo.  I enjoy celebrating all my families birthdays. If I can make sure they have a good day, with their favorite meal and a cake or brownies or whatever, than I have done my job.  I have a hard time getting excited about mine anymore. It just kinda started being like that about 7 or 8 years ago. To me it just became another day (but with the bonus of presents and my choice for dinner) I actually get kinda down around the date because it makes me think of all that has happened in my life. (don't feel bad for me though, because without all my trials and adventures I wouldn't be the person I am today)  I am really thankful for all that I have now and am excited for what is to come!  :) Thanks again for all the well wishes and sorry I kinda rambled on a bit. I guess you get that way when you get older! 

I'll Get You My Pretty.....

Salt and Pepper Shakers

Wicked Witch Mug

Flying Monkey Gun

Today, my parents and sister Megan, came down to meet me for lunch.  We went out to Cafe Rio in Bountiful. It was way delicious. (thanks for the lunch, Dad)  My sister Meg and her family, gave me my birthday present early.  It had a theme to it that included monkeys and a wicked witch of the west.  I don't know if I should be taking this personally.  The present included some salt and pepper shakers, a wicked witch mug and a flying monkey gun.   I know I have laid down the law with my nephews a few times, but I had no idea that they thought of me as the Wicked Witch.  After seeing Wicked, I know that I must just be misunderstood in my family. :) That is the spin I am going to put on it. 

Really I love the present and think the salt and pepper shakers are a hoot!  Love it, and thanks!  :) (also thanks to Amy and Co for the great care package and cookbook (Trav is going to get fat) and My parents for the singing monkeys.  Apparently, the theme of my 28th year is starting out as the Year of the monkeys) :) Thanks Family, You guys are all the best! 

Sean's Birthday!

 On Sunday ,we celebrated Sean's (my brother-in-law's) Birthday.  It was a nice Tsukamoto Sunday.  I made Chicken Salad sandwiches and it was very relaxing. Kaiyu has started to take Kimi on walks. She is such a good dog and he seems to enjoy spending time with her.  

Most of the day we all sat around and talked. We haven't been able to have very many Sunday Dinners since we moved and it has been summer. I hope we get to have them a little more often

 now that summer is almost over.  

Also this week, we got my Dad his first cell phone.  :) This is a big step for my dad. He totally thought we were putting him on a leash.  (it is totally not true, but he will believe what he wants to believe)  I hope he uses it and realizes that it isn't the end of the world if he has a little technology in his life! :) Love ya, Dad and hope you learn to love your new cell phone.  Also one more Happy Birthday, Sean!   You are getting old!  Just kidding.