Jones Family Penguins

Sunday, April 25, 2010

566 Days

Yep.  I did the calculation.  Yep, I know I’m lame!  Yep, I’m TOTALLY okay with it.  Okay, so what’s with the title?  566 days…that’s how long it HAD been since I had had a night away from all 3 of my children.  Pathetic, isn’t it? 

Funny thing happens when you’re a stay-at-home mom and dad’s gone a lot and you don’t get a sitter often, you’re kids really like you, especially the babies.  I mean really like you and like being your shadow.  Thus, I don’t know if people have been scared to take my children or just me scared to ask. (For the record, I’m truly horrible about asking for help…I mean really bad. I usually only ask when there is NO other option).  So yes, partially my fault.  This one I can blame on, or thank rather, my wonderful husband for making the count stop at 566. 

April 21 was our 10-year anniversary and for the second year in a row, we spent it in different cities (different states last year).  When he told me he was taking me out for dinner, I assumed dinner it was.  It was dinner and more.  Since I had to get the kids and their stuff ready, he finally told me yesterday that he was taking me away for the night and that his mom was going to watch all the kids, to which I asked, “Is she crazy?” The answer just might be yes!  (love you debby!)

We drove up to Park City and pulled up to this: 

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Justin said, “I hope this is the right place.  Did that say “Waldorf Astoria?”  I was thinking, “Oh no!  We’re in the wrong place” as they were opening our doors and getting our luggage out of the truck.  Turn out, we were in the right place and it was AMAZING.  First off, I have never been to a hotel where there were chairs at the reservation desk and they introduced you, “Mr. and Mrs. Jones are here to check in.”  Cool. 

Then we went to our room.  I seriously could go ON and ON about this room: 

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The living room.  I seriously wanted those pillows on the couch!

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The kitchen, which is amazing and had Viking Professional appliances.  Way nice.  The door on the left led to our bedroom, while to hall on the right led to a separate entrance, laundry room, and guest bathroom. 

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On the bed was the SOFTEST blanket I have ever felt.  Seriously soft.  I was glad Emma was not there because she totally would have wanted that and for a mere $75, we could have taken it home.  Alas, it’s home remains at the Dakota. 

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Just look at the detailing of everything, the moulding, the doors, everything.  Loving this distressed work.  It is so me.

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The bathroom.  Awesome toe light under the cabinet.  The shower was awesome, but the best is right around the corner:

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Why yes, that is a jetted tub you see.  But I’m talking about the TV… in the BATHROOM.  I never thought I needed a TV in the bathroom, but now I’m thinking I do!  I just took a few extra minutes brushing my teeth, showering, etc. because I had to make sure there was something good on the TV first.  I mean, I should use it if it’s there, right?  That’s what I thought!

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Just a page out of the spa menu.  No, I didn’t try any of these.  We were only here overnight.  But read the “Shirodhara” if you can.  Hmmm, which prompted the question of what exactly is the “third eye?” and why exactly would I want warm oil flowing into it? 

According to Wikipedia, “the third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. In New Age spirituality, the third eye may alternately symbolize a state of enlightenment or the evocation of mental images having deeply personal spiritual or psychological significance. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance (which includes the ability to observe chakras and auras),[1] precognition, and out-of-body experiences, and people who have allegedly developed the capacity to utilize their third eyes are sometimes known as seers.”

Yeah, I still don’t know…

I didn’t bring a camera to dinner, but I should have.  We ate at the restaurant in the hotel and it was AMAZING.  I mean simply incredible.  It was expensive, but it was a special occasion.  So yummy.  I’m hoping to get back there sometime before out 20-year anniversary.   If you head up there, I’ll give you some awesome recommendations. 

After dinner we went back to our room for some amazing… get your minds out of the gutter people, I was going to say fresh baked cookies.  I mean fresh.  Fresh like you place your order and 12 minutes later you have 3 yummy cookies!  Mmmmmmm….

The kids had a great time.  Emma and Austin were so happy at grandma J’s house .  Emma, in fact, said she didn’t even miss me and didn’t even want to come home.  She wanted to move in, but she would miss her turtles.  Thanks, Em! 

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Austin not missing us at all at Grandma’s!

Tyson ended up staying at Jared and ShaRee’s house with some of the other boy cousins.  Tyson went out to Sizzler with them and tried steak, fried shrimp, cheese bread, sautéed mushroom, and Jell-O and today at pulled pork sandwich at their house.  If you know Tyson, you KNOW this is amazing.  He played with the boys all day today and came home sunburned and ready for bed!  Woo Hoo! 

Thanks to those brave enough to take my kids, Debby, Marishia, and ShaRee.  I’ll never be able to express to you how much I needed this and how wonderful it felt to know my kids were in loving hands.

I had an incredible time.  I had a taste of how the “other half” lives and man, I liked it!  My wonderful husband was so thoughtful and amazing.  It made me feel like a wife and a girl first because now I’m back to being a mom first and while I LOVE that, it was a nice break!  Thank you, Justin, for knowing me well enough to know.

P.S. Just in case you’re interested, visit http://www.parkcitywaldorfastoria.com/  to check out the place

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Happy Anniversary

Ten years ago today, I was kneeling across the altar in the Las Vegas temple getting married to my perfect match!  I thought I was so in love with him (and I truly was), but 10 years later, my love for Justin doesn’t even compare.  We’ve had three kids, moved maybe five times, endured 6 surgeries between the two of us, changed jobs (me), and here we are…

I love you, Justin!  Thank you for loving me and thank you for marrying me!  You are my favorite!

Tyson is a huge Phineas and Ferb fan and every time he hears this song, he tells me that I needed to play it at our wedding.  This will have to do! 

Monday, April 19, 2010

53 Mondays – Week 16

What’s “53 Mondays” about?  See here:  "53 Mondays"

week 16 - Tomato and egg fried Rice

I made this for dinner Friday night, because Justin wasn’t back yet and I wasn’t sure how he’d feel about it.  He gave me “that look” when I told him what I had made, but left it up to him.  He later said, “That stuff you made was good!”  Those of you who know my beloved, the fact that he was even somewhat excited about something really means something! 

Once I had all the ingredients out and ready, this was so easy to make and really a great meal!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Monday, April 12, 2010

I’m Such a Baby…..

I had my annual “women’s” appointment today.  Really, it isn’t annually for me, since I haven’t been since my six-week followup after Austin was born.  Since I don’t have a uterus, I figured I probably didn’t need to go yearly.  But today was the day…and I went. 

My doctor walked into the room and commented that it had been awhile and asked how I had been in the last 19 months.  I started telling her the craziness that my life has been and, seriously to my surprise, I started crying.  I HATE crying in front of people.  Hate it! Hate it! Hate it!  But here I was crying to my gynecologist about all that last year was, and I have to admit it was quite a doozy. 

I can’t complain too much about Justin working away, be it out of state or out of town because we did choose it.  Not that we planned it this way or even wanted it this way, but when the choice came up and the alternative was not good, we did make the choice.   True, after last year with him in Texas so much, I told myself this year would be better; it would be different, but here we are again…

I do believe I can complain about my Achilles tendon.  I think I’ve earned that.  The last 18 months has seen two more surgeries to hopefully get it back to normal with no pain (no pain = good). 

I shouldn’t really complain about my job.  I mean…I am very lucky to have a job that I can do while being at home with my little penguins.  True, it’s so hard sometimes when Austin just wants to play “bball” with me or when Tyson and Emma are just dying to go to the park and I can’t because I’m working, it’s not ideal, but I am thankful for my job.  It’s not permanent, but it is good for right now. 

I certainly think I can complain that I’m so stinking tired all the time.  On the nights when the baby sleeps great, why in the world can I not sleep for longer than 30 minutes?  I mean seriously?  I am really that used to having Justin here that I can’t sleep when I’m so completely exhausted?  Apparently so. 

If I can’t/shouldn’t complain about my life, then why on earth am I crying to Dr. Moreland, who I really like and who just sits and talks to me while I’m freezing in the poor excuse for a “gown” that I was in?  Who knows…

I held my head down and walked to the truck and tried to evaluate why I was so emotional today. I didn’t think I was.  I didn’t start out that way.  Apparently, I needed the cry, at least that’s what I was telling myself as the tears continued to flow from my bloodshot eyes on the way home. 

I told myself that I needed the cry.  It was okay.  I’ll give myself this day to reflect, to allow myself to feel, to remember that I am still a girl, a girl with emotions, even though I try desperately to hide them a lot.  So, I’ll give myself this day, this night and tomorrow? 

Well, tomorrow I’ll get up and get the kids off to school and then I’ll be right back at the computer typing away for work.  All will be normal, all will be good!

53 Weeks - Week 15

Austin 20 months