We are in Cali

So we have arrived without a hitch. We left KCI at 11:30 yesterday. We got in and had a little trouble figuring out where to go for our rental car. We ended up having to call them and ask what pickup shuttle we were supposed to get on. We really didn’t mind though, because it was just GORGEOUS outside. So we just enjoyed waiting. We finally got to our rental car and then grabbed a bite to each. Then we made the drive to Camarillo. This is where James’ grandma lives. She is just the sweetest lady!! We just sat and talked for the evening- catching up, looking at pictures, and relaxing. James’ Aunt Susan stopped by and brought a play yard for us to borrow for Sariah. She lives really close (within walking distance if you don’t mind jumping a fence apparently.) We also got to visit with his Aunt Carin, who lives with his grandma. She and Grandma shared stories about his Grandpa. Telling us how inventive he was. That he was a great mechanic. That when he was 12 he took a car apart and rebuilt it. They have started his personal history story, but it isn’t quite done. They have promised to show it to us though.
Sariah did pretty good. She slept most of the flight and most of the ride to the house. Last night was rough for her. Normally, she is in her own room with no disturbances. Last night we had the porta crib in our room and she woke up when we came in to go to bed (despite our best efforts to be quiet.) So it took a while to get her to go back down. Then she woke up really early this morning. At that point, I just let her stay in bed with me and sleep. Thankfully James was a good sport and took her out this morning so I could snooze in a little longer. I think tonight we will try to put her in a different room. Hopefully that will let her sleep a little better.
So we are getting ready for breakfast with Grandma this morning. Sariah is back down for a nap. We are still planning out our week, but I think we will be going to Santa Barbara today.

So we decided to stop by the Camarillo Premium Outlets. Grandma and Aunt Susan had told us they were a hotspot to visit. James forgot his sunglasses so we decided we would stop by really quick and see what was so nice about it and pick a pair up and then head off to Santa Barbara. This was just after lunch. So about 7:30 PM we finally decide we have done enough shopping to require that we get more luggage to take everything home and that we should really go. It was SO fun! I don’t think James and I have ever shopped that much before. They just had so many stores. And unfortunately I have turned James to the dark side. He is now a bigger clothes hog than me!! So we got clothes and shoes at such good deals!! We just couldn’t resist. James is still talking me into going back and getting a coach bag. I want one but they are expensive. But the coach outlet has them for 40% off so I think I will give in and get one. (I know, I know- twist my arm and make me buy a new cute purse!! Hehehe) One great thing is that James never minds me shopping. Of course he normally sees it as an opportunity for him to justify buying something he wants.

Here is a picture of Sariah with her Great Grandma Ransom:

My Rockstar List

Okay so inspired by my Kiera, here is my list of what makes me a rockstar:

I'm a good listener
I'm a loving wife
I take naps with my baby
I made a beautiful baby- see the many pictures below
I'm crafty
I make my own jewelry
I do lampworking
I'm willing to try anything once
I can sleep anywhere
I do photography
I'm faithful
I belong to the LDS church
I have a testimony of Christ

ETC!!! hehehehe

Let's keep this going! Please make your own list of what makes you awesome! It will be nice to check this list when I'm having a downer day!

My favorite past time

Okay so I'm a sleep aholic. I would be happy to sleep 9 hours every night all the time. I can pretty much sleep anytime and anywhere. My naps are usually at least 2 hours long and I will have no problems sleeping that night. I just love to sleep and my body loves to let me. So I must now admit my latest sleeping weakness. Sariah usually wakes up in the morning and is up for about an hour and then will lay back down. So I love to snuggle up with her on the couch when she does this. It is just so wonderful to sleep with her snuggled in my arms. It does make a later start for the day, but it is usually the best part of my day. I want to be able to enjoy this, because I know soon she will be to big to snuggle nap with mom. For now it is my favorite thing:

Muffins for Dad

So Sariah decided she would make muffins for James for his first Father's Day. Here is the play by play:

It was a great morning. James is a wonderful dad. It was fun to make a special breakfast with Sariah's help to honor all that he does.

Lampworking Rocks!

So I've found the new hobby! This is my thing completely. After my little pity party about my talents, I randomly found a site (http://www.beadingtimes.com/artist0508.htm) that inspired me. It was a women who does lampwork beads. The name lampwork comes from the fact that handmade glass beads used to be made by using a lamp to heat the glass. I started reading about it and just thought it was fascinating. I had seen lampwork beads, but it never really occurred to me that they were handmade and even more that I would be able to do such a thing. So after some investigation, I found an online store with the supplies to get started. I talked James into letting me order them and had them for about a week before I had gone to get the propane and had time where James could watch Sariah for me to get started. Last Saturday began my adventure. It took a while to get everything set up and then of course I couldn't get the torch to light. Then James had to go run an errand. So I got Sariah to sleep and decided to try again. After a bit I got started. It is addicting. I didn't want to stop. I did one set just as a trial. to get used to how it worked. Then Sariah woke up so I took a break. This allowed time for the first beads to cool and let me see how they really turned out. Here are my very first beads:

James came back home and took Sariah, so I started up again. I tried a few more fancy things. Here are my second set:

This last one is a flower bead. It was the one I was the most proud of. So I made it into a necklace and wore it to church on Sunday.
My first beads:

More to come for sure!!

Also if anyone is interested in trying your hand at this, you would be welcome to come over and do it with me. I'm no pro, but I would show you what I know so far. Also there are tons of people on you tube who post how to videos that are pretty awesome. Just search lampwork or lampworking or other things like glass beads, hot head beads, etc.

My pale skin

Ok. So I don't tan. If I'm lucky, I don't burn. But I never really tan, I just get less pale. So I'm thinking maybe this is the summer that I should try some sort of lotion with a toner in it. I'm not really adventurous enough to do a real fake tanner. I don't think I would be able to get it to look natural. As everyone knows that I don't tan. Therefore doing a complete fake tan would really look weird. I'm just looking for something that will give my skin a healthier kind of glow. At one time I had a face lotion like this that I loved. I had gotten it through Avon when my sis in law sold it. And then of course when I went to order more that had stopped making it. I am looking more for something to put on my legs. Our friends now have a pool and I know James loves going to the pool. So he will want to spend lots of time there. And yes he will be forced to bring his ghostly pale wife. At least Sariah seems to have more of his darker complexion so far. So any suggestions? Products that people have used and liked?

Yummy toes

Sariah loves to eat her toes. So much that she will hold her foot with both hands and put it in her mouth. It is just soooo cute.