Houston, TX

Cute Miss Elizabeth


Mister Carson - who is so funny


Noah who was SOOO proud of those things on his face
and the fact that his jersey is REVERSE-ABLE! No
greater magic on Earth could've topped that discovery!

I was in Houston for work 2 weekends ago. And in between my classes that I was teaching I got a chance to visit my friend Sarah who just moved from TN, to TX. It was a very lucky thing! Although I would've loved to stay longer I was only in town and had the afternoon free. We got to go to Noah's football game and run around their house like crazy people! It was a fun day with my fun friend! I just wish the picture of us had turned out better! haha. I guess it goes to show you don't let the 5 year old take the picture! :)


Jamie & Sarah. Great Friends!


Some of my favourite kiddos!

**Sarah, I'll email you a link to the videos of Noah's game so you can show Jason**

A very funny little girl

My good friend Laurel text me tonight after my Irish Dancing class to see if I could come and watch her daughter Rachel and son Quin. Of course I agreed! Rachel is like the funniest little girl ever. When I got there she was already in her PJ's and running around singing and dancing with Go Diego and Little Einstein. After Laurel and Aaron left for their concert and Quin was already in bed, Rachel told me that she needed to change her baby. She went into Quin's room and got a diaper and wipes and proceeded to change her baby. She looks over and me and says, "Jamie, my baby is a poopin' machine!" She was TOTALLY serious! She also proceeded to wipe up her chair that apparently the poopin' machine had gotten poop on. She's also the girl who breast-feeds here baby and then says "EW!" drops the baby and then says "she spit up all over me. DISGUSTING!" I love hearing Laurel phrases come out of her daughter's mouth. Kids crack me up lately - but especially that one! After I left Laurel text me and said "Rachel just said 'I can't wait to see Jamie again' ". Awwwww! How can you not love this face?

For Kristi

I'm sorry that it's sideways....



This was the video we made you on the way down - and then didn't take another picture all weekend! haha. SORRY! Hope this makes you feel like you were sorely missed.

Jig-a-Jig-ahhhh

I hope you all have the Spice Girls song in your head now! HAHA.

I'm all about the Jig lately with my latest continuing education class of Irish Dance! It's soooo totally fun. And my legs/calves are loving me (NOT) for jumping around and constantly having to be on my toes the whole hour class. It's a total fun time! Seriously if they gave out degrees for random continuing education classes that would get you nowhere in life - I would totally have my PHD! Why do I have to only love FUN classes?! It used to be the family joke that my dad's sister majored in Bird Watching and Badminton (I'm not entirely sure that's true) But now at least I see where I get it!

We're to have a recital on the last day of class in October. You can be sure there will be video of that!

Surgery

I had surgery on Friday and have been recooperating all weekend. I sucked it up today and went into work for 3 hours because I'm just tired of being home. And my doctor told me I could do whatever I wanted...(so there!) Actually he told me I could do whatever I felt like I could do - I just used a little exaggeration, as I so often like to, to get my way! SO THERE!

Surgery was fine. It was weird because my arrival time was noon - but they called at 10:30 to say my doctor was running EARLY so could I just come now? Yes please! Although it took us forever to get there because my mom has no idea where she's going so we had to take the easiest (read: LONGEST) way there. But we made it and they rushed us through like a V.I.P. Hey - even if it's just for surgery, I'll take it. The nurse who started my IV was nice, but creeped me out because she didn't wear a glove on one hand. Of course my blood got everywhere and she just looks at me and goes "oh - you're healthy right?" I wanted to say - no I've got the HIV...good luck with that. But my mom sitting next to me (equally horrified I might add) kept my sarcastic comments to a minimum. Seriously...UTAH!?!?!

My surgeon came in and was like "okay questions"? So I'm like sure whattya got? He's like - no do you have questions for me? HAHA. I'm retarded and not even drugged at this point. The O.R. Nurse Molly was super nice and chatted me about how great my Anesthesiologist was (of course I asked her if she says that about everyone. She says no. And I believe her! haha). The Anethesiologist came out - talked to me for a second, drugged me and that's about all I remember. I woke up in recovery.

Surgery took longer than expected, not sure why and my top "hole" they made in my chest is bigger than they said it was going to be - but whatever. My mom was waiting in the waiting room with all the other families and said that doctors would come in and say "everything went great...blah blah" and then the lady at the desk told her my doctor wanted to see her in a consult room (this is after my surgery was already taking way longer than they said). She was freaking out. Finally the guy decides to join her in the consult room and basically says "she did great". I think my mom wanted to come across the table and kick his face in. haha GO CHERYL!

It's been funny to me how totally small things have become giant steps for man-kind. They wouldn't discharge me from the hospital until I could pee. Who knew that a 32 year old woman going pee in the toilet was cause for celebration!?! But it is! Also, the IV was on my right hand, and it's really hard to "wipe" with your wrong hand. Seriously try it out.

I got home that afternoon and my great friend Samantha had sent flowers to my house! She's so nice. Melissa came over the next day and brought me magazines, a book and some candy (because it's fat free haha). Thanks girls! It definitely made my weekend.

Privacy

Yes - I've gone "private" with my blog. I'm just trying it out really. I had it linked on my Facebook and then sooo many work people kept adding me that I was like - hmmmm...where to vent everything I want without worrying the wrong people are reading this. Plus there are just some people I don't want reading my blog.

I feel like I've been a grouchy version of myself lately. Partly because I haven't felt well for like a month. Hopefully soon to be resolved by a quick surgery on Friday! YOW! The gall bladder must come out apparently. Crazy intense pain and not sleeping all that well, but I feel like my life is in a rut.

Melissa and I have been walking lately. It's fun to just walk around talking and catching up. That's what I love about my close friends is that we don't have to re-hash the glory days. Although they were great....friendship to me has to move on. I can talk to her about anything, and while we're in very different places in our lives - we're still just great friends. I like that. We go through our phases of more talking and less talking, and that's totally fine. We can pick up, catch up on what we've missed and move on. It used to bug me that sometimes we wouldn't talk for long periods and I felt like I always had to make the effort to keep the contact (sorry Melis if you're reading this..haha) - but I realize that's just who she is. I've gotten over my insecurities with our friendship - know it will always be there - and just enjoy the times together when they happen. And sometimes I'm total crap about keeping in touch with people too! So I probably have no room to talk.

So welcome to my private blog. Hope you're enjoying yourself. Can I get you anything?

Death Cab for Cutie Concert

Last night Hayley, Garrett, and my friend Matt went to see Death Cab at Red Butte Gardens. I want to take up residence at this place for shows - seriously..(except when it gets SUPER cold after the sun goes down). But I still love it.

The opening acts Ra-Ra-Riot...not loving them.
Andrew Bird....I liked him except all his GD whistling! Seriously every song! (and trust me...we kept track).
And then the "cuties" came on - and it was FANTASTIC.

They opened with a fav which always sets the mood off well.



I told Matt I was kind of hoping they wouldn't play this next song kind of as a "suck it", to all the people who ONLY KNOW THIS SONG!! But...it is a good one :) (also loved that just as I stopped taping...the girl next to me said to her friend "this song is totally about world peace". Ahhh i love the cheesy sap that comes out of people at concerts! Especially when they're wrong.



My fav part of the night was when Ben Gibbard (lead singer also engaged to Zooey Dachanel-there's a little fun fact for ya!) made fun of all the cheap bastards that didn't pay for tickets but sit on top of the hill on the backside of the ampitheatre. He's a funny guy that one.

All in all - another lovely summer night full of good music, good friends, and AMAZING people watching! haha.