Anniversary--Twelve Years!

On June 21st was our twelfth anniversary.  We were in California staying with Corey's mom, so we left the kids with her and took off to a movie "Man of Steel" and dinner at Outback.  It was nice to have an evening out without the kids and to have an actual babysitter on hand!

A look at the last twelve years in a nutshell:

2013--Sixth child born in March
2012--Traveled to Northern California, Southern California, Arizona, and back to Utah.  Paid off the Ford Focus
2011--Fifth child born in March; Corey becomes a store manager; molar pregnancy in November
2010--Purchased our Utah home
2009--Corey becomes a second manager and graduates with bachelor's degree; moved to Utah
2008--Traveled to Texas; first child starts kindergarten
2007--Fourth child born in December; Corey goes back to school at ASU
2006--Third child born in September
2005--Corey becomes a third manager, purchased our Queen Creek home
2004--Corey becomes a fourth manager, moved to Arizona, second child born in October
2003--Moved to California, first child born in May, Jenna quits teaching, Corey returns to In-N-Out
2002--Moved to Idaho, Jenna teaches bilingual kindergarten, Corey quits In-N-Out
2001--Married!!

It's been a great ride and hope it continues to be great!

Family Trip 2013

This year's trip started with a drive to Arizona.  We visited with family there, including Grandpa and Grandma, Uncle Aaron and Aunt Kaori and their kids, Uncle Austin and Aunt Paige, and Andrea and the kids who were passing through on their way to Texas.  We also went over to visit Uncle Toby and Aunt Jenny and their kids.  We spent several days in Arizona, swimming and visiting friends and family.  Then Corey and Caleb flew to San Diego where they met Aunt Jamie and went to Sea World.  I drove out to California two days later and met up with them in Apple Valley at Nana's house.  Then we spent time with the King side, were able to visit with two of Corey's aunts, and also visited the ghost town of Calico.  We enjoyed our little trip.  I couldn't get the pictures to load in any particular order and don't want to spend the time ordering them, so I will just label them.

Hannah and Annmarie

The kids at Calico ghost town, in the jail

Maggie and Eliza

Westley, Toby, and Travis

Peter and Travis

A.J., one of the twins (not sure which), and Leah

Caitlin paints Eliza's nails 

Westley, A.J., a twin, Leah (Hannah in background carrying Annmarie)

Nana and Annmarie

Travis, Thomas, Savannah, Felicity

Travis and Savannah

Jonah and Sadie

The King cousins, minus Toby's family, in height order, not age order

Thomas and Caleb jumping on Uncle Zach and Aunt Leslie's trampoline

Eliza and Sadie

Calico

Sakura, Eliza and Annmarie

Eliza's Dance Recital

Eliza had her final dance recital the second weekend in June, right before we left on our trip to Arizona.  She seems to really enjoy dancing and has enjoyed her dance studio this year as it has been a much more relaxed and fun environment than last year's.  I have enjoyed that it is so close by and we've even been able to carpool.  She was in ballet only (last year was tap and ballet). 

Three Months Old

Annmarie at three months old...

Stats
Weight: 10.8 lbs
Length:  22.7 inches

She is so smiley and already starting to roll over.  She sleeps all night and eats well. 

New Hairdo

After having a baby, I always seem to want a change.  Most of the time, I cut my hair short because I feel like I look better with short hair.  However, short hair on me requires doing--blowing it dry, curling it, etc.  After having Annmarie, I just didn't have time to get ready for the day for the first few months.  She wanted to be held constantly, so getting ready meant listening to her scream while I hurried as fast as I could.  Because of that, I needed to simplify.  I don't like how I look when I just wash my hair and let it air-dry because then it is limp and blah, so I always end up with it in a pony tail and the limper it gets, the tighter the pony tail gets, which is yet another look I don't like.  So I decided to get a perm.

Perms are a bit out-of-fashion--the lady who did it said she only gets requests for perms about once a month.  But I feel like I look better with a perm when I have long hair because it gives my super-fine, super-thin hair some body and volume.   It makes it look thicker.  Plus, with a perm, in the summer, I don't have to do anything.  I can wash my hair, put in some mousse and scrunch it up with my hands, and then let it air-dry and it looks good all day.  So I got a perm.

I really like it.  I'm pleased with my decision.  In trying to choose between a perm and short hair, I figured that if I hated the perm or it didn't hold, I could always just cut it later, whereas if I'd cut it short, I couldn't then change to a perm without it looking frizzy. 

I think from now on if I have long hair, I will keep it permed.