The Nestman Family

He Did It!

2009-05-22T12:04:00.001-07:00

Last night was Trent's graduation dinner from orthodontic residency. It's hard to believe all these years of hard work and jumping through hoops are coming to an end in just two weeks and we will be moving onto real life! Words cannot express how excited we are and also how proud I am of Trent for all his hard work he has put in to accomplish this goal. Last night was a night for celebration! Dinner was at One Twenty Six in Iowa City and was divine, as usual. Here are all the graduating residents and their spouses (Layne and Kristi, Niles and Sarah, Albert and Rachel, Trent and me, and Nathan and Suzanne): Dr. Karin Southard and Trent. He did orthodontic research with her during dental school and she has been such an amazing support to him. He clicked with her from day one and feels really lucky to have known her:

Dr. Tom Southard (ortho department chair) and Trent:

Don't even ask me what they're doing. It had been a long night!

Trent and Albert:

Tanner (Trent's younger brother in the program) and Trent. Tanner gave a little "roast" to Trent and I had to reflect on how funny it is that all these years later Trent is still being teased for the same things he was roasted for at our wedding dinner (think speeding tickets). It was really cute!

Dr. Southard and all orthodontic residents:

Rachel brought a darling cake for Albert since it was also his 30th birthday! Look how cute!

A rare shot of the two of us:

Congratulations again, Trent! I couldn't be more proud of you!

Jack's Preschool Graduation

2009-05-22T11:46:00.001-07:00

These photos are all out of order, but I don't have the patience to go back and re-do them so bear with me! I just had to post some pictures from Jack's preschool graduation earlier this week. Even though this was just his first year, I'm so proud of him and all that he's learned at school. He has absolutely loved preschool and wishes he could go every day. Here are a couple shots from the night. This is when his teacher was reading what each child said they'd learned that year at school. Jack said he learned that he loves bugs. His 1 year certificate:

Singing The Wheels on the Bus with his class:

Charlie was so happy to clap for all the kids and when they called out Jack's name he yelled, "I see Jack! I see Mrs. Bounds!"

Tuckered out from the big night:

All of us out front:

The after-party:

Congratulations, Jack!

Magic

2009-04-17T08:59:00.001-07:00

I'm watching Rachel and Albert's kids all weekend while they're in Denver, and things can get a little crazy in our two-bedroom apartment with five kids (two of whom are still sick). In a moment of chaos, I popped this bad boy in and enjoyed 30 minutes of peace. Literally every single one of them was glued to it. Rachel, you might want to try it next weekend!

Easter Update

2009-04-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

We've been forced to have a pretty low-key Easter weekend around here. This picture pretty much sums it up. Poor Charlie has a nasty virus and let's just say I've about filled my quota of bodily fluids I'd like to clean up for the next year. He's tired, I'm tired, and I don't think I can bear to hear one more episode of Thomas or Dora. Jack, on the other hand, was all over Easter this year. He was thrilled when the Easter bunny brought him his new favorite show.

He went straight for the big eggs and didn't waste any time with the little chocolate ones. Smart guy!
Honestly, they've logged way too much time watching shows. Sometimes it's the only thing that will take C's mind off his misery. You gotta do what you gotta do. I love how Jack lined up all his lizards he found in his Easter eggs to enjoy the show with them.

Daily Inspiration from Jack

2009-04-02T10:33:00.001-07:00

In case you can't understand the words, he's saying:

"He is alive! God's not dead, no!

He is alive! God's not dead, no!

He is alive! God's not dead, no!"

Aunt Ruby's the Bomb!

2009-04-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

We just dropped Rebecca off at the airport this morning and Jack and Charlie don't quite know what to do with themselves without their latest favorite playmate. She came for a long weekend and we all had so much fun with her! I just loved this picture she took of Charlie settling in with a book at the library.

The main event for the weekend was heading down to Nauvoo and Carthage on Sunday. Surprisingly, Jack and Charlie did really well and we all agreed the day was a success! We didn't get home until almost 8:00 that night and the kids were real troopers. Jack amused himself throughout the day finding as many sticks as he could and tried to throw a few of them into the Mississippi River.

My three favorite boys:

Rebecca peppered our tour guide Kevin with all kinds of questions. I'm sure he was glad to see us drive away at the end of the day! Really though, he was awesome!

It was a nice day, but chilly!

Poor Rebecca endured the two-hour drive each way smashed between the boys. Looks like we may need to look into that minivan!

All of us outside Carthage. Jack was intrigued by the jail inside, but was happier to get outside and run around.

And another stick:

These two cannot sit next to each other without being shoulder to shoulder. They are best buddies and love to do everything together. Jack probably gave Charlie thirty kisses just during this lunch!

Thanks again, Rebecca for coming! We seriously love having family come visit, and have been so thrilled to have so many come recently (and looking forward to Tommy next month)! We miss you already!

Grandma's Visit

2009-04-01T09:48:00.000-07:00

My mom came for one last visit to Iowa a couple weeks ago to help celebrate Jack's birthday and keep me company while Trent was in Denver for the week. We loved having her here and she spoiled us with a night away at the Marriott, delicious meals, and tons and tons of help with the kids. Jack and Charlie just loved having her here (despite Charlie's expression here)!

As if they don't get enough time playing with trains at home, we decided to head to the library for a change of scenery and storytime:

We had the best weather while she was here and spent a lot of time outside playing at the park. I really wanted to sign Jack up for soccer or t-ball this year, but we will be moving half-way through the season. Jack's really getting the hang of it!

And Charlie wasn't too shabby, either!

Charlie's heaven. He could swing and swing and swing all day long.

One of their many creations:

Thanks again for coming, Mom! Can't wait for your next visit to Colorado!

4 Years Old!

2009-03-19T11:01:00.001-07:00

Jack had a couple friends over to help celebrate his big day. I think he was in heaven having all of them here at once!

We hit the lanes and I think the kids really liked it, despite a few smashed fingers. Doesn't Jack look like a little runt in this group?

Nice form!

Charlie pretty much did what he does best: wandering around eating snacks.

Here's Jack on his new ride. He absolutely loves it and is a real natural! We are so proud of him!
Happy 4th Birthday, Jack! We love you!

Boys, Boys, Boys!

2009-03-17T07:28:00.001-07:00

Is anyone really surprised? The big ultrasound was yesterday and I am happy to say that Jack and Charlie will soon have another brother! Man, those Nestman genes are STRONG. Yes, it would have been fun to have a girl but I can honestly say I am really excited to have another little man running around.

And now Trent's golf foursome is complete, so he's happy!

Recipes

2009-03-12T14:04:00.000-07:00

After yesterday's Oprah, I printed out 18 new recipes I cannot wait to try! I'm getting a little bit tired of the same rotation and can't wait to try a few of these! A couple of my favorites are the

Rigatoni with Spicy Italian Salami, Oven-Roasted Tomatoes, Olives and Capers: and Prosciutto and Portobello Mushroom Wheat Pizza with Pesto:

My mouth is watering!

At Last

2009-03-11T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am finally weaning myself off Zofran. Although my doctor keeps assuring me it's perfectly safe, I don't like knowing I'm taking medicine every day. I'm now on my third day in a row without taking any and although I feel worse, I hope I can kick the habit for good!
Trent FINALLY turned in his thesis on Friday! I cannot even tell you how happy this makes me. It's been a long couple months with him going early and staying late to get that bad boy finished up. He defends it on Friday and I'm sure will have a few revisions to be made, but for the most part it is DONE!
The wait is almost over to find out what this little babe is (even though I'd bet my life it's a boy). We have our ultrasound on Monday and I cannot wait!
Also on Monday is Jack's 4th birthday. I think he's most excited about being able to eat off the "special red plate." He's been asking me nonstop for the last few weeks if he can use it and I keep telling him he can on his birthday. We made a chain and are tearing off a link each day.
Everyone in this household is finally healthy. After the last two weeks of pneumonia, double ear infections, fevers, chills, couging, throwing up, and unbelievable sinus pressure, we are all healthy and anxious to take advantage of some warmer weather!
I survived teaching Relief Society on Sunday. So nice just to not have it constantly in the back of my mind. I think it's getting easier each month.
My kids slept in until 7:20 this morning! Nevermind the fact that to them it probably feels like 6:20, but I'll take it!
I've been selling stuff like crazy on Craigs List. Our apartment is looking more and more bare as I prepare for our big move!
I finally bit the bullet and took Jack and Charlie to Great Clips to get their hair cut. I had a coupon and decided to put it to use so they weren't looking like such little homeless boys. It turned out great! A few M&M's go a long way.
The office leases in Denver are signed and we're good to go! Have I mentioned how excited I am to move?
The Bachelor is over. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm really quite sick of Jason/Molly/Melissa drama. I think I finally got burned out this season.
This baby is kicking like crazy. I didn't feel Jack or Charlie until about 20 weeks, but I've been feeling this one for almost a month now. I love it!

Eight is Great!

2009-03-08T15:17:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was our eight year anniversary! I look at pictures from our wedding day and think to myself that we were just kids! Seriously, it's hard to believe it's been eight years, but in a weird way I cannot remember what it was like not to be married to Trent.

I have loved Trent pretty much as long as I can remember and still sometimes cannot believe I'm actually married to him! He makes it really easy to enjoy this ride we're on and I couldn't love him more. Happy Anniversary!

What's Up?

2009-02-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

My dad came into town to help out with the kids while Trent was in Vail a couple weeks ago. They loved having him here all to themselves and I loved having a personal assistant for all I did! Thanks again, Dad. We've been spending lots of time indoors just trying to keep warm. The kids have been loving having playdates and I'm actually surprised how content they have been just hanging out at home. I, on the other hand, cannot wait until spring.

Jack and I built a tent in his bedroom and now he is constantly wanting to eat snacks, play Candyland, watch movies, read, and do just about anything in there. Who knew it could provide so much entertainment?
Trent and I finally got a chance to go out this weeekend to a great concert in Iowa City. We had so much fun and it was so nice to do something together after me feeling sick for so long and him being so busy with his thesis these last couple months. If we can make it through this next month we'll be home free and soon moving on to Denver! We are so excited.

Of course, I am eating up every second of The Bachelor this season. I cannot wait for the dramatic conclusion next week. What will I do without my weekly fix?

An Announcement from Jack and Charlie...

2009-02-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, we are expecting a new addition to our family the beginning of August! We are thrilled and are anxiously awaiting all the changes this summer will bring for us.

Jack couldn't be more excited for his new baby brother/sister and asks me constantly how big the baby is, how the baby is going to come out of my tummy, what the baby likes to eat, what the baby is going to say, why the baby makes me so sick...and on and on and on. He is convinced it is going to be a girl, but I'm not so sure.

Charlie, on the other hand, is clueless and is in for a rude awakening when he is no longer the baby of the family! It will definitely be an adjustment for him, but a good change.

When I first found out I was pregnant I really wanted it to be a girl and contantly had dreams about all things pink, but now I am totally thinking it's a boy and get so excited thinking about having three little men running around my house. My boys are funny, active, crazy, stressful, inquisitive, loud, wild, and I love it. Girl or boy, I cannot wait to have a baby around again!

Charlie is Two!

2009-01-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Charlie turned two a couple weeks ago and I've been wanting to jot down some things that make Charlie so special to us.

He has the funniest personality. Seriously, every night Trent and I talk about how cute he is and how much he makes us laugh.
He is passionate about Thomas trains. It is unlike anything I have ever seen.
He and Trent finally bonded over the last couple months. It is really sweet.
For the last half hour before bed he literally just runs laps around our apartment over and over again. I have no idea what the point is, but he loves it.
When he falls down or gets hurt he says, "I sorry."
He loves music and loves singing songs. He has some pretty sweet dance moves, too.
He is doing so great in nursery without Jack. I was a bit worried about it but it makes me so proud of him that he goes on his own now.
He plays so well by himself. Often times I'll find him just sitting on the floor flipping through books. I love it.
He knows all his letters and colors and can count up to the teens. He is constantly pointing out different letters and shapes while we're driving in the car. It's so fun to see him discovering the world around him.
He is so good about going to bed, as long is Jack is in the room with him. Over Christmas we tried having him in his own room and it did not go over well. Once I finally figured it out and moved Jack into C's room, it was sweet silence.
He has been such a happy little man ever since he had his adenoids removed and tubes re-done. Seriously the best decision ever.
He loves to laugh. Trent often says he thinks Charlie's going to be the kid everyone wants to hang with because he's just so much fun to be around. I agree.
He is so good about clean-up time. He sings the clean-up song and can put away their entire bedroom by himself.
He lets Jack boss him around and totally follows along. I often wonder if this is how I was with Rebecca.
He is a total mama's boy. Love it.

Charlie, we love you so much. Happy Birthday!

A Month In Review

2009-01-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

January has pretty much rocked my world and in an effort to try to feel more like myself, I am updating my blog at long last. Our trip to Utah began by chillin in the Des Moines airport for like six hours, thanks to a delayed and then cancelled flight. Let's just say the boys pretty much had The Grinch memorized by the time we made it to Salt Lake. Trent and I enjoyed our first taste of Rock Band and were immediately hooked! Here we are with my sister Rebecca and cousin Hannah.
The Whitney kids plus Trent:

Jack at his sleepover with my brother and sister. He is so spoiled!

Charlie's tambourine hat he wore while singing Christmas carols:

Jack reading a Christmas story to Charlie on our Christmas Eve:

They opened one present on Christmas Eve and I was shocked at how excited they were to receive matching pajamas!

Trent took the kids to The Polar Express on his own. What a guy!

And, of course, my surprise birthday weekend in Scottsdale with my mom and sister. As Rebecca said many times that weekend, we should be in a recession more often...the deals were unbelievable!

Lounging in our room at the JW Marriott (thanks, Tommy)!

Jack's preschool Christmas program. I loved it so much! It was a definite Christmas highlight for me.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-18T15:11:00.001-08:00

Leaving on a Jet Plane.

2008-12-11T07:59:00.001-08:00

My bag is packed and I am ready to go, but I have no idea where it is I am headed or who I am meeting at my destination. Trent really pulled off a birthday surprise last night when he told me he'd arranged for sitters for the kids today and tomorrow and (bonus): I don't have to teach my lesson on Sunday!

I am super excited and very curious...I have a hunch my mom is in on this, but we'll have to see. This is definitely a memorable 30th birthday.

Thanks to everyone who called, emailed, texted, sang, blogged...I loved hearing from all of you!

A Colorado Thanksgiving

2008-12-05T15:08:00.000-08:00

We packed up the car and made the drive to Colorado for our Thanksgiving break last week. Kind of a different way to spend the holiday, but we had a great time! The kids enjoyed the Children's Museum. Charlie could have stayed at the train table all day long. He wasn't happy when it was time to go!

Mykol and Ramsey were so generous to let us stay at their place. As you can see, the kids loved having just a bit more space.

Watching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving:

Our self-timer shot of the four of us (please ignore Charlie's bare legs and Jack's crusty):

More shots of Charlie and Trent playing their favorite game:

Another self-timer:

Jack and Charlie trying to help Trent fire up the grill.

And, of course, some serious time spent on the Wii. My right tricep was seriously sore after playing tennis! Jack preferred the bowling.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I feel like I have so much to be grateful for. I loved celebrating with my own family but missed the rest of our families and friends. And now it's officially Christmas! Yea!

Wish List.

2008-11-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Since my big 30th birthday is coming up, I've been trying to decide what to suggest for Trent to give me. Rather than a couple small gifts, I think I might combine birthday money from parents and Trent and purchase a pair of boots. I just can't decide which ones!

These black boots I tried on in Chicago about a month ago and LOVED them. Seriously, I feel like we are meant to be together. You can scrunch them down or wear them pulled up and they look darling either way. But they are completely out of my budget and not quite as practical. These next two are super cute and very functional. I think a good pair of boots makes any outfit...I just can't decide which color I prefer, saddle:
or dark brown:

And these are also cute...but I might get sick of the shearling cuffs.

Any recommendations?

Cheap Entertainment

2008-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Final Batch

2008-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

These are my last photos to post from our trip to Utah a couple weeks ago. One of the fun things we did was take the boys up to Snowbird and ride the tram to the top of the mountain. As we passed by each tram tower, Jack got really excited and said, "There's an Eiffel Tower!" I guess those Babar books have made quite an impression. Both Jack and Charlie really liked it! Trying to get a shot with Grandpa Whitney was not easy!
It was chilly on top so we hung out in the warming hut. I thought this shot was so cute of them waving to my dad:

Probably my favorite picture from the trip:

All aboard!

Jack wanted to see if he was smiling in the picture we took to show Daddy our tram ride:

Brrr!

Charlie and me:

I think 5 out of 7 mornings the kids woke up at 5:00 a.m. This is what I had to resort to to keep them quiet so they wouldn't wake everyone else up.

We had a great trip and can't wait to come back for Christmas!

More Utah

2008-11-11T13:41:00.000-08:00

An action shot of Jack enjoying a morning snack of a chocolate doughnut and water at Emigration Market. I loved just being able to walk over there for whatever we needed! My mom, my sister, and me:

Playing in the leaves at my mom's neighbor's house was a definite highlight. This is just one reason why we need a yard!

Liberty Park with Grandpa Whitney:

And a couple more from Gardner Village with the Nestmans:

Charlie's Tubes (Part 2)

2008-11-10T15:15:00.001-08:00

Charlie and I headed back to the hospital this morning to have his adenoids removed and his tubes re-done in his ears. I really hope this time will help! Although I dread having him taken from me, I absolutely love being there waiting for him when he wakes up and being able to hold and rock him for an hour or two with no interruptions. It has been so long since I've been able to just sit and hold one of my kids without them wiggling out of my lap, so I cherished it! So sweet. And this is pre-surgery...back to Charlie's hot rod. He totally remembered it from last time!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will make my (and Charlie's) winter just a bit more bearable.

Utah

2008-11-09T14:53:00.001-08:00

715 is the number of photos taken while we were in Utah for one week. So I am trying to pick and choose a few favorites to keep the blog updated. Here are just a few from Gardner Village with the Nestmans. Jack and Uncle B enjoying the petting zoo: Charlie checking out the goat:

And both boys taking a ride on the ponies. I was shocked Jack agreed to do it!

Aunt Ruby and Jack:

Grandpa Whitney and his grandsons:

Charlie Tuna:

When I asked Jack and the end of the day what his favorite thing we had done was, he said it was the song at the water fountain.

Breakfast time at Grandpa Whitney's:

And, of course, some train time.

I'll have to post some more later...it will probably be several posts!

For Trent

2008-11-02T08:09:00.001-08:00

Trent has been on my case to post some pictures of the boys from Halloween. I finally got some on my dad's computer so here they are! Halloween just wasn't the same without you! Introducing Jack the vampire:

Halloween morning playing in the leaves at Grandma's:

Trick-or-treating in Bountiful:

Uncle Mike and Charlie Tuna:

The Minnie Mice and me:

Just part of the entorage (9 adults for 2 kids):

See you on Tuesday!

What We Did in Chicago...

2008-10-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

Rebecca, Tommy, and Emily

2008-10-16T10:47:00.000-07:00

This weekend is our third annual Whitney Sibling Retreat. This basically means no parents, no spouses, and no kids allowed! I came across this photo in my files and thought it was appopriate to get me excited for hanging out with my sister and brother, two of my very favorite people to spend time with. But what am I most excited about? SLEEPING IN.

Red Soup

2008-10-14T16:28:00.001-07:00

Trent is hands down my harshest food critic. I love trying new recipes and have often found that I'll make something that I consider to be a success, but once I ask Trent what he thinks, he'll respond with, "I'm not sure if it should be moved into the rotation quite yet." However, this recipe for what we call "red soup" is perhaps his favorite thing for me to make, and he is typically not a fan of soup.

Because fall is in the air, I decided to make this tonight...I just love chopping up the vegetables and throwing them all together. My mom made this recipe up many years ago and it is a Whitney family favorite. So, for anyone who's interested, here it is:

2 pounds mild Italian sausage (take out of casing)
1 yellow onion, diced
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 28-ounce cans diced tomatoes
3-4 cans beef broth
1 cup red cooking wine
2 small zuchinni, sliced
2 yellow squash, sliced
1 medium green pepper, diced
3 tablespoons basil
3 tablespoons parsley
8 ounces bowtie pasta

Directions:
Cook onion and garlic in olive oil. Add sausage and cook. All all other ingredients except pasta. Simmer 2 hours. Add pasta 15 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh parmesan cheese and crusty bread.

FYI, this makes a TON of soup. When making it for just our family, I cut it in half and we still have leftovers.

Should I be worried?

2008-10-14T09:26:00.000-07:00

How does he do that?

2008-10-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

I went in to check on the boys before I went to bed last night and this is what I saw:

Seriously, is that really comfortable? How do you get like that?

Wilson's Apple Orchard

2008-09-29T12:06:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things to do during an Iowa harvest is go to Wilson's Apple Orchard. Trent and I took a break from writing our talks for Sunday's meeting and took the kids out for some "family fun," as Trent called it. The main attraction for the boys is the tractor ride Farmer Wilson takes you on all around the apple orchard, through the river, and around the pumpkin patch. It is so much fun! Here's Charlie enjoying the ride. And a decent shot of Jack's chipped tooth. Note how little tooth surface he had to begin with!
Farmer Wilson is the bomb! Seriously, it is so nice of him to drive kids around the orchard day after day.
After the tractor ride we spent some time picking our own apples. Unfortunately, all the honeycrisp apples were gone (my favorite), but we managed to find some good ones. Charlie even decided to take a break from his usual diet of carbs and try a bite.

Jack loved spotting the apples on the trees and choosing where to pick next.
J and C counting how many apples we had so far:

And Jack taking our new baby for a ride. He got a lot of looks from people pushing that bad boy around! It was heavy!

Pajama Day

2008-09-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Today has been one of those days. It is 1:18 p.m. and as we speak, Charlie is trotting around in his diaper while Jack and I remain in our p.j.'s. The blinds are all closed, there are train tracks, blocks, and books all over the floor, and we haven't seen daylight since yesterday afternoon. Jack just asked me when we were going to get dressed, and I told him today was a pajama day. Luckily, he was totally on board and said, "We can have a pajama party, Mommy!" If Trent's lucky, just maybe I'll take a shower before he gets home tonight so we can watch the debate side-by-side.

Charlie.

2008-09-16T09:14:00.001-07:00

Something has happened to Charlie over the last couple months that has made my life so much more enjoyable! As much as I love him, I have to admit that he has been a tricky little guy to figure out. Last winter he was sick 90% of the time and now (thanks to his tubes), he is a new man. Combined with the fact that he is talking more and more every single day...I absolutely cannot get enough of him. He has such a funny, cute personality and every night I rattle off to Trent all the darling things he said or did that day. I don't want to forget these little things, so humor me as I write some of them down:

he loves to sing and has always got some song in his head (just like his dad). Whether it's the Dora or Caillou theme song, Happy Birthday, Jesus Wants me for a Sunbeam, Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes...it is so darling! I love hearing his little voice.
he can stare someone down like no other. When my sister was here a couple weeks ago, fshe said she felt like she was about to crack him...and she finally did when he gave her a high five. You definitely have to work to get him to give you any love. But Trent and I think it's hilarious. Trent thinks he has a dark mind.
When I give him a sandwich, he takes one bite out if each of the four pieces, and then proceeds to eat the rest of it. I'm not kidding...every single time he does this. What's up with that?
He can count to twelve all by himself!
Whenever Trent comes home at the end of the day he says, "Hi, Daddy!" in a VERY animated tone. I think it's so darling because he only does this for Trent.
He has some mean dance skills and doesn't even crack a smile while he's bouncing up and down to the beat...it's serious business!
He savors the alone time we have together on Tuesday and Thursday mornings while Jack is at school. He is so happy and content...it's so quiet around here! But I love it, and he's always really excited to pick Jack up from school. It's a great break for all three of us.
He can sing a great version of the alphabet song!
Whenever I ask him if he wants to do womething, he used to say either "Okay!" or "Oh, boy!" And now it's "Okay, boy!"
His obsession with balls continues. Every morning right when he wakes up he finds a ball and says, "It's a ball! It's a ball! It's a big ball!" Seriously. Trent and I laugh pretty much every time he says it.

I am so grateful to be the mother of these two boys. Last week I pulled Jack's old 18-24 month fall clothes out from the garage and had such a crazy wave of emotions come over me! Just pulling out those clothes of Jack's reminded me how much fun I had with him at that age. I have so many wonderful memories with him and now to have Charlie and Jack both is so much fun. I absolutely love seeing both their unique personalities develop and am so glad I have them in my life.

T-Minus 2 Days

2008-09-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

Stress. I have to fill in and teach Relief Society on Sunday and my palms are starting to sweat just thinking about it. Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely hate speaking in front of a group of people. I have prepared as much as I can on the topic, but cannot stop fearing that I will end with like 20 minutes remaining. I cannot wait until Sunday is over!

The Nestman Men

2008-09-09T12:50:00.000-07:00

I know this picutre is a little dark with shadows, but it is so rare that Trent's dad and brothers are all in the same place at the same time (and are willing to have a picture taken) that I just wanted to post it. They always have such a great time together...I'm so glad the weekend worked out!

30 Big Ones

2008-09-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week when talking about what Trent wanted for his birthday, he asked me not to do a birthday blog post! But since you're gone today, the boys and I just want to wish you a very happy 30th! We miss you and hope you're having a great time. I just love surprises. I seriously think they are so fun to plan and pull off. And this one for Trent worked perfectly! Because he's turning 30 today, I wanted to do something special and memorable for him on his birthday. Thursday night he came home from school and we surprised him with his favorite dinner, cake, and balloons. After dinner I gave him his gift: a trip to the airport (his bags were packed). I just told him his ride would pick him up at baggage claim in Vegas and that he needed to just trust me. He was so surprised and so confused! He kept trying to guess who would be waiting for him, but I would not budge.

I am happy to report he was thrilled to find his dad and all four brothers waiting for him in Vegas for a weekend of golf and tennis...Trent's dream! No wives, kids, or mothers allowed. Thanks again to Randy, Chad, Ryan, Mike, and Brett (and Sandra, Krista, and Nicole) for helping me make this a special day for Trent.
We love you!

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

My sister came into town for the long weekend and Jack was in heaven having a new playmate who gave him tons of attention. Other than the fact that Jack, then Charlie, then I, then Rebecca caught a weird 24-hour long bug of some sort, it was a lot of fun! I have to say, it was awesome for me to have her to come along with me as my own personal assistant with the boys. On Friday we had to settle for some indoor pool time, but the kids loved it.
Jack and Trent went to the ward campout on Friday night, where R and I stayed up way too late talking, eating ice cream, and cruising around Facebook. I don't need one more distraction in my life!
On Saturday we hung out downtown at the ped mall for lunch, ice cream, and watching all the crazy Hawkeye fans get drunk and watch our first home football game.

I got a babysitter one night so we could enjoy a delicious meal at Devotay without the little ones.
Poor Rebecca was a good sport about squeezing into the backseat all weekend!

And we couldn't leave out a trip to the yummy Lincoln Cafe in Mount Vernon. If you haven't been, you should try it. It is darling and delicious!
Thanks again for coming, Rebecca! We loved having you and hope it won't be your last visit to Iowa!

The Red Plate

2008-09-02T19:36:00.001-07:00

In my house growing up, whenever anyone had a day of particular importance (birthday, good report card, cheerleading try-outs, etc.) that person got to eat off "the red plate." So, in keeping with the Whitney family tradition, Jack ate his dinner of choice off our red plate after his first day of preschool today! Jack couldn't have been more excited to start school. I, on the other hand, had a bit of a hard time coming to the realization that the time had arrived when I would not have complete control over what my little man is exposed to. Although he's only going 2 days per week, it's a big step for both of us! Last night as we were getting his backpack ready and trying on his new shoes, he said he was going to "try out" his shoes and began running across the room and jumping. It was so sweet and Trent and I both felt so bummed realizing how old he is getting. Here he is outside our house this morning all ready to go:

His new backpack:
At his darling preschool:
He walked right to his nametag and knew where to put his backpack! It was hard for me to leave him there and the whole way home Charlie kept saying, "bye-bye Gack!"
Trent came with me on his lunch break to pick him up from his big day. He really loved it!
Congratulations on such a big day, Jack! We sure do love you.

Sleepy Head

2008-08-27T15:11:00.000-07:00

I just went to get Jack to tell him it was time to go pick Trent up and this is what I found in the closet! I thought it was pretty cute until I felt him and he was burning up. Poor guy...I guess we'll be laying low for a while.

Our Own Lloyd Christmas

2008-08-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

After an unfortunate incident at the park last night, this is what Jack's front teeth are currently looking like! Poor guy.

Double Birthdays

2008-08-21T05:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my brother-in-law C-Bass
and sister-in-law Krista! Have a great day today!

Seven.

2008-08-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

This is the number of days Trent has been gone and I've been on my own. Just one more to go! We've actually managed to stay really busy and have had a great week, with only one minor meltdown on my part. Here's what the week has included:

storytime at the library (a Monday tradition)
having friends and their kids over for lunch, despite our cramped quarters
getting all my photos organized and put into photo ablums up through 2007 (hooray)!
a much-needed break from my kids while serving free lunch at the Wesley House
re-doing my picture board
settling in each night with Olympics coverage and some Ben & Jerry's
testing out Jack's new red helmet
morning walks to the park
single-handedly eating 12 cobs of Iowa sweet corn...definitely the thing I will miss the most once we move
reading the best book I've read in a while, My Sister's Keeper. I was literally crying at the end...so good.
lots of cereal, pbj's, and mac & cheese (a week off real cooking)
cleaning out closets
teaching Charlie how to sit down all by himself before sliding down the slide at the park
and, best of all, booking tickets home in October for just $125 ROUND TRIP from Cedar Rapids! Boo yah!

A Great Gift Idea

2008-08-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

My sister gave Jack a subscription to this for his third birthday, and it has been such a hit. An issue comes every other month, and is full of games, pictures, mazes, recipes and crafts focusing on a particular animal for each issue. He has enjoyed it so much. We save them in his "magazine box" and lately he has been wanting to make a tent each day and settle in with a snack as we go through his magazines. I have been surprised at how much he's learned about sea otters and lions as he'll bust out with random facts in the middle of lunch or while driving in the car. I really love it and thought I might share such a great gift idea!

Go USA!

2008-08-11T06:40:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone saw the mens 4x100m relay last night to win the gold. It was AWESOME!

Some of my faves

2008-08-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Hope you enjoy! I'm so sad it's over. Can you tell I loved Katee?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ot8jXHqNFEc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSYeU54A1B8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDznXReYqds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_h6bPMJ2OY

Everybody Loves When Grandma Comes to Town...

2008-08-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

My mom came into town last week for a much-needed visit. Despite our water heater breaking for two days, we had a great time and kept very busy. Jack and Charlie loved having someone other than me to play with! One of my favorite things we did was go to this lady's flower farm in Solon and pick our own flowers. It was AWESOME and I cannot believe I've lived here for five years and have never done it. You pay $10.00 and she gives you a gallon-sized bucket to fill up with whatever you want. It was so much fun! After we got it home we had enough flowers to fill 3 large vases...one for each room in my house!

We also went to a blueberry farm and picked our own blueberries for only $2.00 per pound. It almost felt like I was huckleberrying at our cabin in Yellowstone!
My mom also kept Jack very busy playing pirates, making treasure maps, going to the park, children's museum, and going to "Old MacDonald's Market" (a.k.a. the Farmer's Market). Thanks again for coming, Mom and we hope you come back soon!

The Windy City

2008-08-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

While my mom was in town, she offered to watch the boys for us so we could get away for a weekend in Chicago. Trent was able to get off a little bit early Friday afternoon, so we took advantage and made our way to Chicago. We had a great time eating, shopping, going to movies and sleeping in. But I have to say the highlight of the trip for me was our daily treat from the Corner Bakery. Seriously, I don't even like cake very much, but these are the BEST! We were very tempted to buy a full-size cake and bring it home with us, but decided we'd better not. Our only shot of the two of us together:

Thanks again, Mom! You are the best!

Tagged by Mykol...

2008-08-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

Joys:
1. having visitors
2. chunky babies
3. a vase of fresh flowers

Fears:
1. student loan debt
2. that Jack will grow out of his innocent sweetness
3. that the photo albums I recently purchased will be discontinued in the next couple years and they won't all be the same lined up on my shelf (scary, I know)

Current Obsessions/Collections:
1. chocolate baby bundt cakes from Corner Bakery
2. House Hunters (the best show ever)!
3. Looking for job opportunities for Trent

Random Facts:
1. I have been enjoying my kids so much lately. I don't know if it's due to Charlie's tubes or just the fact that they're both getting more and more independent and playing so well together, but I find myself thinking on a regular basis how blessed I am to have such healthy, happy boys. I know that sounds cheesy and cliche, but they bring me so much happiness it's hard to describe. I love them!
2. I was recently looking back on old photos and am wondering what in the world posessed me to dye my hair brown after Jack was born. Seriously.
3. Sunday night Trent and I were watching one of our fave shows and we heard Jack's door open and close. That's usually what he does when he can't sleep. Instead of going and putting him back to bed, we just ignored it and figured he'd come out if he needed something. About an hour later we went to check on him and found him locked inside the bathroom, asleep on the rug in a little ball. Yesterday morning I asked him what he was doing, and he said, "I was just waiting for my daddy to come rest with me." So sad!

Now I'm tagging Rebecca, Tia, Robilyn and Vanessa.

It's over.

2008-07-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Really, is anyone surprised?

Happy Birthday Randy!

2008-07-23T06:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to Randy today! We all love you and hope you have a great one! You're the best dad/father-in-law/grandpa ever!

Thank you, Nicole!

2008-07-21T11:40:00.001-07:00

After a long wait, Charlie got these new kicks from his aunt Nicole today! Thank you so much...he loves walking around in them and keeps coming up to me and saying, "shoes!" while he points to them. They will get a lot of use!

Happy Birthday Tommy!

2008-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to my little brother Tommy! Tommy, I hope you have a great day today. You are the best brother any sister could ask for, and I mean that. Here are some of my favorite things about you:

You passion for all things Batman (can't wait to hear the report tomorrow!)
Your language that only a few people can truly understand
Your new hairdo
Your ability to live life to the fullest and always be looking forward to something fun and new to experience
Your shopping habit (like father, like son)
Your love for fruit punch Gatorade and M&M peanuts
The way you picked up and moved across the country to Washington, D.C. all by yourself three years ago
Your generosity...you are constantly doing nice things for my kids and me
Your yearly "happy birthday" whistling messages for me
Your text messages to Trent and me during a great tennis match
Your collection of Patagonia outerwear
The way you treat women...you really are SUCH a gentleman
Rolling 3-wide in your Tacoma with Rebecca on our first sibling retreat in '06
The time you searched far and wide for a port-a-crib for Jack when I came to visit you for the first time a couple years ago
Working together at Corner
Our shared passion for Banburry Cross
Your loyalty to family
Your sense of direction...I never have to worry about where we're going when I'm travelling with you
Your karaoke skills

And those are just a few off the top of my head! Seriously Tommy, you are the bomb and such a catch! All of us out here in Iowa are wishing you a great day and a fabulous 28th year!

What Jack's been up to...

2008-07-15T18:24:00.001-07:00

riding his new trike and he loves it!

18 Months Old and New Ears

2008-07-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

After a year and a half of misery for both Charlie and myself, he finally got tubes in his ears this morning. I think the mini hospital gowns are almost too much to handle, they're so cute! A few people were giving me some strange looks as I was snapping photo after photo of my little surgical patient, but how could I resist? We had to be at the hospital at 5:30 a.m., so he was a little grumpy until we found this hot rod for him to cruise the halls in. I literally pushed him around the same 100-foot path along the nurse's station for an hour and a half. If I even attempted to take him out of the car, he freaked! They even took him into surgery in the car.
To Charlie, there's only one thing better than one car: two cars!

A Perfect Weekend

2008-07-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

The weekend started off great with Trent surprising us by taking his braces off! Check out those pearly whites! Jack absolutely loved every minute of camping.

They slept like babies in the tent!
Charlie enjoying his breakfast of champions at 5:00 a.m.
The self-timer family shot:
Celebrating the 4th in style at the Coralville parade:
Trent and Charlie showing off their bling:
Later that night at the fireworks show:

Jack FINALLY gave the sparkler a try, after a lot of coaxing from Dad:
The fireworks put C right to sleep:
Soaking up some rays at the pool:

Plus, a date with Trent and Federer coming back to win the 4th set tiebreak...it really was a great weekend!

So Long, Farewell

2008-06-28T14:10:00.001-07:00

Today is moving day for Ramsey, Mykol and Emmi and we are so sad to see them go. We will miss you so much and hope to see you soon in Denver!

Yum!

2008-06-27T10:48:00.001-07:00

I love my Real Simple subscription. My favorite thing about it is trying out new recipes. I've had my eye on this one for a while and finally got around to making it last night. It was a hit! All three of my boys ate it up and it was so quick and easy, so I thought I'd share:

HAM AND CHEESE TURNOVERS:

1 pound package refrigerated pizza dough

8 ounces deli ham, thinly sliced

4 ounces swiss cheese, thinly sliced

1/2 yellow onion, cut into thin rings

2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 small head romaine lettuce, torn into pieces

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll the pizza dough intoa 14-inch circle and cut into 8 triangles. Stack a piece of the ham, cheese, and onion on the bottom of each triangle and roll the dough up around the filling. (Some of the filling will stick out the ends.)

Transfer the rolls to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, about 20 minutes.

Combine the mustard and oil in a medium bowl and toss with the romaine. Serve with the turnovers.

Leona Lover

2008-06-27T10:42:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we were on our way to pick Trent up from school and I had the radio on in the background. I was driving along and Jack said, "Mommy, you have to put that song back on. I love that song." "Which song, Jack?" I asked. "Bleed love, Mommy. I love that song." I found it on my ipod and turned it on to see if he really was requesting Leona Lewis. As soon as the chorus kicked in, he yelled, "Yes, that's it Mommy!" and started head banging to the beat. I guess I never realized how much he listens to the words of the music we listen to...I might have to be a bit more selective about what I listen to around him!

Utah Trip: Part 3

2008-06-24T12:14:00.001-07:00

Sandra really won Jack's heart when she gave him his own pirate costume, complete with an adult-sized hat, scope, and hook. There were many nights where he insisted on sleeping in full pirate attire. The Children's Museum at the Gateway puts ours in Coralville to shame!

Trent got in plenty of golf time with his family and friends. He couldn't have been happier.
Another story from Grandpa:
And a final stop at Ben & Jerry's the night before our drive home, just before our car died in the middle of an intersection and replacing the alternator. What a bust.

Oh, and a blowout tire in the middle of nowheresville, Wyoming. We had to have an emergency maintenance guy come in after hours on Saturday night to help us out. What a BUST!

But even with our car troubles, the drives were very manageable. The boys were so good! Thank heavens for Jack's leapster! He played it nonstop on our drives. I highly recommend it to anyone with kids who travel a lot.
We had a great trip in Utah. Thanks again to our families who took us in for two weeks. We had so much fun and can't wait to see you again soon!

Utah Trip: Part 2

2008-06-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

One of my very favorite treats is a Nielsen's concrete. So Bountiful, but so good! Trent and Jack sawing some logs at my dad's house:
Uncle B playing Charlie's favorite song: Happy Birthday!
We had so much fun going to Park City one afternoon for some entertainment. We told just one white lie to get Charlie up the lift...he looks two years old, doesn't he? The worker was not amused by our efforts to give Charlie some thrills sliding down the mountain and tried to make us feel guilty, saying it was for his own safety. But he loved it! He yelled "Wheee!" all the way down! Jack loved it, too!

This is probably my favorite picture from the whole trip!

Charlie in his favorite element: water!
We had a great Father's Day visit with our dads.
Jack and Uncle Tommy playing their favorite game: catch the goldfish in the mouth!

Utah Trip: Part 1

2008-06-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

We just returned from a long visit to Utah. Thanks to the flooding, our one-week trip turned into a two-week trip and we were thrilled to spend the extra time with our families and friends all while trying to find a place to move next year when Trent finishes his residency. Jack and Charlie logged some serious hours with their grandparents, aunts and uncles. Here's Jack playing aerobie with Randy and Sandra: We were also lucky enough to be in town for little Sid's baby blessing. He is the most chill baby I've ever seen. Here's the proof, and he stayed like this the whole day just chillin in his swing. Neither of my kids have ever spent more than 6 consecutive minutes in a swing.
Don't be fooled by this happy face...Charlie (and Jack) were both in rare form at the blessing. Too many new people all at once, I think.
Monday morning Trent and I left the kids and went to Austin, Texas to check out the area for a potential ortho practice. Although it was a short trip, we had a great time and I loved having Trent all to myself!
A trip to Utah wouldn't be complete without eating at the Mandarin. Jack thought so, too!
Jack showed off his reading skills to anyone who would listen to him read Miss Nelson is Missing, his new favorite book. Here he is in action with Aunt Ruby and Uncle Tommy.

Another trip to the park = another nap for Charlie.

We had so much fun at Liberty Park! Charlie was fearless (as always) and ran from ride to ride, while his older brother took more coaxing. But they had a great time!

That's all for now. More to come later!

Flood 2008

2008-06-24T11:32:00.000-07:00

Even though we were in Utah during the flood, it is still amazing to me to look at these pictures. I've had a lot of people emailing and asking me what it was like, so I thought I'd post these pictures for you guys to see just how bad it was. This is the Coralville strip, which is the main road we take through town to get just about anywhere. In the bottom left you can see the Walgreens right on the corner of Mormon Trek.
Wig and Pen, our favorite pizza place in town.
Here's the water spilling over the dam in to the city.
I'm so glad we were able to make it back home safe and sound. It's really crazy to drive around and see all the disaster relief workers to help get the city up and running again. You can see the water lines on the buildings that shows just how high it was. Crazy!

Cat Nap

2008-05-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

An Oldie But a Goodie

2008-05-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

I've been sorting through all my photos on my computer and came across this gem...I thought Betsy, Vanessa, Veronica and Hayley would like this! It is still one of my favorite pictures ever! Jack misses his old playgroup!

Making Me Happy...

2008-05-28T11:24:00.001-07:00

1. Trent's return from Denver
2. a farewell sleepover with the girls
3. family pictures
4. an upcoming trip to Utah
5. another ear infection overcome
6. Chipotle
7. a Mommy-Jack outing for ice cream
8. The Bachelorette
9. a movie ticket for Friday night
10. a nice dinner out
11. taking stuff to Stuff
12. completing Jack's and Charlie's baby books (finally!)
13. Trent's obsession with Mason Jennings
14. holding a sweet newborn baby girl
15. Memorial Day BBQ
16. peanut butter M&M's

Rocky Mountain Salad

2008-05-26T17:36:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a Memorial Day BBQ with friends and I thought I'd share the recipe for a delicious salad I brought. I love trying out new recipes, and this one didn't disappoint! It's the Rocky Mountain Salad from the Ivory Favorites cookbook (one of my favorite cookbooks)! I should have taken a picture for all you visual people, but oh well. I highly recommend it!

Rocky Mountain Salad

Dressing:
1/4 cup chopped onion
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
3/4 cup olive oil

1 head romaine lettuce, torn into pieces
1 head green leaf lettuce, torn in to pieces
1 (14-ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 large avocado, chopped
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled (I did a little more)
2 tomatoes, chopped
4 ounces fresh grated parmesan cheese (don't use anything but fresh)

Mix onion, vingegar, mustard, sugar, salt and pepper in food processor. Gradually add olive oil and mix well. Set dressing aside.

In large bowl, combine salad ingredients. Add dressing to coat and serve immediately.

Love it!

2008-05-19T20:53:00.001-07:00

Okay, I'm just going to own it and say I loved The Bachelorette tonight! I was eating up every second of the two-hour show. It's probably because Trent wasn't in my ear mocking everything anyone did or said, but I don't care...I am so excited for this season and urge any of you who were unsure about tuning in to reconsider (Rebecca).

I really liked Deanna and thought she did a good job with her choices for the most part. I probably would have given a rose to that skinny, long-haired financial analyst from Chicago, but oh well. She's looking good and I'm pretty sure she's had a nose job since getting the boot from Brad.

Here are my predictions, based on tonight's episode. First, Graham. I loved him and would not be surprised if he's the one.
Second, Jeremy. He seemed very nice and normal. Can't wait to get to know him a little better.
Third, Jason. At first I liked him but now I'm worried he might be a little too sensitive. I love that he loves his little boy, but it kind of creeped me out the way he kept kissing him good-bye on his lips.
And Ron. Also seems pretty down-to-earth, but I had a harder time getting a read on him.

I know this post is beyond lame, but Trent has been gone for four days now and I am so bored!

Check 'Em Out

2008-05-14T11:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this post is basically just a chance for me to plug two great websites you must check out! The first is called http://www.monogramchick.com/. It is full of darling personalized gifts for babies, kids and adults. My friend Sarah started this a couple years ago and I have to say, there are so many fun things you have to check out! Charlie has one of the monkey "lovies" that is so soft and snuggly. It makes a perfect baby gift, and she will personalize it for you! I'm also thinking I might need to get Jack a lunchbox or backpack when he starts preschool next year.

The next is http://www.planetearthgreetings.com/. One of Trent's and my good friends from junior high and high school recently started this business after going to law school and working for a large law firm in Manhattan for a couple years. He decided practicing law was not what he wanted to do with his life and created Planet Earth Greetings! They have unique gifts and greeting cards handmade from small artisan groups around the world, promoting great humanitarian causes. We recently ordered our Mother's Day cards from PEG and I have to say, they were beautiful. And, it's free shipping, no matter how small the order is!

If you have a minute, you should check them out...I'm sure every order (no matter how small) makes a difference!

We Love You, Charlie!!!

2008-05-13T06:19:00.001-07:00

A couple days ago Jack asked me if I wanted to play a new game with him. He led me to his room, instructed me to lie down in his bed with him, and wait for Charlie to enter the room. Once Charlie makes his appearance, we both pop our heads up off the pillow and yell, while clapping, "Yea!!! We love you, Charlie!"

We did this over and over again, and have played this new game many times over the last week. Charlie absolutely loves it and begins giggling even before he's walked through the door. It truly warms my heart to see my kids play together and make each other laugh.

We love you too, Jack!

No Cavities!

2008-05-08T18:50:00.001-07:00

Jack had his first dental appointment today. He started out not wanting to go, but after a week's worth of preparation and telling him it was going to be at Daddy's school, he finally warmed up to the idea. Things started out okay with a new Tigger toothbrush and a lot of Dora talk. He really liked looking at himself in the mirror.
But as soon as she reclined the chair back, he freaked! This shouldn't be any surprise at all...since the day he was born he has HATED being on his back for anything. The light overhead didn't help either and he insisted on wearing his sunglasses. The kid has extremely light-sensitive eyes. Bree promised me that he's not the only child to cry through the appointment.
Next was the fluoride treatment, which went surprisingly well. I think he liked that she was "painting" his teeth. All done! Doesn't he look thrilled?
Here he is outside with his bag of loot from Bree. I think he made it out of there with 9 Dora stickers, 2 new Winnie the Pooh toothbrushes, and a couple tubes of toothpaste. Not too shabby!

Charlie's words: 15 1/2 months

2008-04-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Because I am not into scrapbooking and am seriously slacking off on my kids' baby books, my blog is going to have to cut it in terms of keeping track of the little milestones and happenings of our family. In that spirit, Trent and I have been commenting lately on how quickly C's vocabulary has been expanding. Here's a list of his words to date:

Mommy, bye-bye, ball, cereal, cracker, car, toast, Dada, Jack, Buzz, Woody, yes, no, fishies, baby, Elmo, shoes, watch, fan, go, stop, book, choo-choo, uh-oh, socks, Cheerio, Nestman, thank you, hot, up, "happy birthday to you."

J-A-M...You Know You Love to Jam!

2008-04-25T13:28:00.001-07:00

Strawberries were on sale recently, so I decided to take advantage and make some home-made strawberry freezer jam, since Jack requests to eat PBJ's for lunch every single day. I am generally not a fruit-lover, but these berries were so delicious I could not stop eating them as I stemmed and rinsed them!

Plus, it was pouring rain yesterday so Jack really enjoyed the project. The whole time I was making it, all I could hear in my head was this sweet cheerleading cheer from junior high:

"J-A-M!

Jam! Jam!

J-A-M!

You know you love to jam!"

Utah: Part 1

2008-04-20T19:14:00.001-07:00

Jack, Charlie and I just returned from Utah yesterday. Although we all missed Trent very much, I was very sad to leave. We kept really busy and had so much fun! My kids are definitely not lacking attention when they come to town. My mom and I took them to the Children's Museum, which put ours to shame.

Followed by lunch at CPK with Aunt Ruby. Notice how she's trying to act candid:
I couldn't resist this classic shot!
Jack and Charlie had a sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa Nestman's house. As you can tell, they had so much fun with their uncles!

My dad took us to the zoo on Friday, along with half the state. It was packed!

Followed by dinner at Hire's and more playing with Aunt Ruby. My kids have the best grandparents, aunts and uncles out!

We miss you already!

Utah: Part 2

2008-04-20T19:04:00.000-07:00

I love catching up with my oldest friends whenever I come to Utah. I have been friends with Meghan since first grade! My mom, sister and I joined the Butterfields and Creers for a progressive dinner at the Creer girls' homes. We had appetizers at Angie's house, dinner at Bonnie's, and dessert at Allie's. It was so much fun reminiscing about our childhoods in Chelsea Cove! Here we all are:

Cute Erin invited my boys and me over for her homemade pizza that was to die for! Seriously, it was so good. Jack was very nervous around her dog Lucy at first, but by the end of the night he was running her back and forth down the driveway. We just might need to get a dog someday for my boys to play with!

Utah: Part 3

2008-04-20T18:57:00.000-07:00

While I was in Utah we helped my sister address and stuff her wedding invitations. They turned out beautifully...can't wait for mine to arrive!

Girls Trip '08

2008-04-20T18:20:00.001-07:00

Although it was hard to leave my kids behind, I had so much fun in Vegas and realized yet again how lucky I am to have such wonderful girlfriends. It's amazing how no matter how much time has passed, we always have so much fun together. I honestly don't think I've laughed that much in a long time! Highlights of the trip include:

making it all the way to Chipotle in Sugarhouse before deciding we needed to stop and eat dinner

the softest tootsies ever, courtesy of Amy

gas bill for driving from SLC to Vegas: $30 ($10 each)

reminiscing about the good old days on Douglas Street

And Chi Omega

Amy toting all five of us around Sin City in the Prius

a surprise baby shower for Em and Mandy

french fries

relationships, religion and relocation discussions in the car

laying out under the palm trees

Peter's constant texts to Tia wondering what she ate for each meal, if it was good, and how much it cost

TCF: Tia Certified Facts

mothering stories

Amy's new budget

diet Hershey's Kisses

sleeping on the floor

watching Tia multi-task as she dries her hair

Amy's perfection

the noises from the neighbors

watching Amy get hit on from the guy in line for food at the Paris

Tia forcing Em, Mandy and me to "get out" and watch the Bellagio water show

"pillow fight" texts

listening to T sing Celine Dion

and so much more!

I love you guys! Can't wait until next year!

Barnes & Noble

2008-04-05T13:37:00.000-07:00

Jack received some gift cards for his birthday that have been burning a hole in my pocket. This morning, we finally decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunny day and walked over to Barnes & Noble to redeem them and add a few new reads to our library. It was so much fun looking though all the children's books and seeing so many that brought back such fond memories from my childhood! After much debate we finally decided we could each choose three.

Trent's picks:

And my picks:

I don't know who was more excited...Jack, Trent, or me! Books are the best gift and we're all so excited to enjoy them!

If Snoop Could Hie to Kolob

2008-04-03T18:07:00.001-07:00

A Fish Out of Water

2008-04-03T14:08:00.001-07:00

Jack started swimming lessons a couple weeks ago and it has been quite an experience. Despite having taken swimming lessons every year since he was an infant, to say he was reluctant to enter the swimming pool would be a huge understatement. Week one consisted of him sitting on the side of the pool, refusing to get in, and many tears. At the end of the class, I told him he had to at least try getting in the water. I was very proud of him as he agreed to give it a chance. Watching him cling to his teacher's neck with an iron grip and look up at me with those big brave blue eyes was so sweet! Needless to say, he did it and I was very proud of him for trying something new. He came home and was very excited to tell Trent and Charlie all about it. The next few sessions have progressively gotten better and better. After Tuesday's lesson three different mothers commented to me on his progress, and I have to say it is so much fun to watch him gain more and more confidence and overcome his fear. He still won't go under the water, but we're working on it. Each week before he gets in, he tells his teachers "Jack doesn't go under the water all the way" with a very serious look on his face. His teachers have been awesome and I have been so impressed with the way they handled his initial apprehension.

Here they are doing the "monkey crawl" all around the edge of the pool. Imagine them all chanting "ooh, ooh, ooh, ahh, ahh, ahh" as they scoot by...it is so cute!

His favorite part of the lesson is hands-down the last five mintues, where they get to play in the baby pool with random toys. Jack goes straight for this purple dolphin every time and is seriously in his own world as he pretends the dolphin is swimming and jumping in and out of the water.
I just love that body!
After much coaxing, he finally agreed to get out and dried off so we can go home and get ready for bed. Way to go, Jack!

Mission Accomplished!

2008-04-01T06:11:00.001-07:00

My mom, my sister and I just got back from The Big Apple to find a wedding dress for Rebecca, who is tying the knot late this summer. Even though it was short, we managed to do quite a bit and really enjoyed searching the city for the perfect wedding dress. We spent all day Saturday dress shopping. Our first appointment was at Kleinfeld, where they were filming TLC's Say Yes to the Dress reality show. We made no secret of the fact that we wanted some airtime, so the cameramen threw us a bone and filmed us browsing different bridal gowns while trying to act casual. Rebecca thought she had found her dress, but we wanted to look around at the other appointments we had set up, so we took a break at Starbucks while we waited for the next stop: The Bridal Garden.
The Bridal Garden was a big-time bust. We found ourselves in a warehouse full of random dresses, smashed into small spaces, with the receptionist/seamstress/cashier/consultant running the show. Sketchy. Needless to say, we slipped out while the coast was clear and went to lunch on the Upper East Side while we waited for her next stop.
The third time was the charm! This place was amazing and we felt like we got the full experience, seeing the gorgeous gowns displayed beautifully...Rebecca tried on about 10 dresses and each time she came out of her dressing room, it was so much fun. Absolutely beautiful and such a treat to be there. After much debate between two dresses, she finally made her decision and found "the one!" My mom and I were so excited! She is going to be a beautiful bride. Here are just a few of the gowns she tried on.

After all that shopping we met Mike and his boys at Serendipity for hands-down the best sundae I've ever had in my life. I am still thinking about it! Coffee ice cream with delicious hot fudge on top...YUM!

Rebecca made reservations that night for dinner at Balthazar, a trendy French restaurant in Soho. It was a great way to celebrate Rebecca's big purchase and enjoy a delicious meal with my mom and my sister.

Sunday morning we went to Cafe Habana, a Cuban joint on Tommy's recommendation. We started out with this Mexican grilled corn that was to die for. It sounds weird, but it was divine. It was grilled with lime juice, all different spices, and rolled in parmesan cheese. Mmmm.
Then I topped it off with the best French toast ever. Absolutely delicious. Trent kept making fun of me because every time I called him I was raving about our latest meal. But it was so fun to go to some small local places and really get a sense of what the city has to offer!
After breakfast we were shopping around in SoHo and, if you get out your magnifying glass and look VERY closely behind me walking down the sidewalk, you can see a guy with his little boy on his shoulders:

Turns out it was Kelly Ripa, her husband Mark Consuelos and their kids! They walked toward us and were practically right next to us waiting at the crosswalk! I wanted to see a celebrity over the weekend, and ended up seeing one of my favorites!
The weekend ended in a bust when my flight was delayed several hours out of Newark, causing me to miss my connection in Chicago, which forced me to spend the night and get home yesterday morning. But, while at the airport I got to see her walk right past me at the gate!

Anyway, it was a great treat to be able to spend two days with my mom and sister. It's been a long Iowa winter, so it was so great to have a break and enjoy some "me" time. Thanks again, Trent for watching the boys!

Spring Break '08

2008-03-24T18:24:00.000-07:00

We had a great time in Colorado, despite Charlie coming down with the croup and being pretty much miserable the entire time we were there. Owen and Ashley were great hosts and it was so much fun seeing the Hughes. Jack had the time of his life hanging out with his Iowa peeps after a long 9-month hiatus. Ashley, Vanessa and I had a much-needed ladies' night that included shopping at the Cherry Creek mall, dinner and a movie while the boys watched the kids. We came home to find everyone fast alseep in different "sleeping stations" around the house. It was so nice to have a break!

We made it home safe and sound after a long drive. Thanks again to Owen and Ash for a great time!

Jack's Birthday Bash

2008-03-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

I think Jack had a great birthday! We started things off by taking him to his first movie in the movie theater: Horton Hear a Who! We'd been reading the book to prepare him and although it was a bit over his head at times, he still got the basic plot. It was so fun to be with just him and watch him experience being at the movies for the first time. He was so cute...for a large portion of the show he sat with one hand on Trent's shoulder and the other hand playing with my hair.Another big thanks to Mykol and Ramsey who watched Charlie for us so we could go to the show. We came back to find Ramsey and Charlie sacked out on the Love Sac! He's really got the touch!

Sunday morning Jack woke up and was thrilled to see the balloons and birthday decorations waiting for him. Here are a couple shots from throughout the day. We let him open a couple presents before church and saved some more for later on.

I bought some Buzz Lightyear and Woody action figures yesterday as a last-minute gift and they were a huge hit! He played with them literally all day long.
Reading Ten Apples Up On Top from Grandma and Grandmpa Nestman:

Here's the action shot. He still hasn't mastered the art of blowing out candles, as you can tell by his form:
And here he is enjoying cake and ice cream with the object of his affection, Keira:
Almost falling asleep while reading his new book from Emmi:

It was a great day! Thanks again to everyone who called and remembered him. We wish we could have celebrated with all of you!

For the grandparents, here's a little video clip of him opening some presents yesterday morning. I had a hard time choosing a video clip, because of my buggy voice in the background, so please ingore me!

Three Years Old!

2008-03-16T04:31:00.000-07:00

Three years ago today at 3:48 p.m. Jack joined our family! These have undoubtedly been the happiest three years of my life as I have tried to make my way through all the ups and downs of motherhood. All my life, all I ever wanted was to be a mother and it has been more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. I am very blessed.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Jack, my first baby. I love him so much it hurts when I think about it. He is sweet, curious, imaginative, expressive, silly, bright, intense, repetetive, endearing, inquisitive, wonderful, and I couldn't love him more.

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY, JACK!

The Newest Nestman

2008-03-10T05:32:00.001-07:00

Sidney Sharpe Nestman arrived early yesterday morning, weighing 7 pounds 7 ounces. A great big congratulations to Ryan and Krista! We are so excited for you guys and are anxious for June to meet the handsome little man! Enjoy this time with your little bundle.

Signing Time

2008-03-08T07:03:00.000-08:00

When Jack learned how to sign it was one of my very favorite things to watch. And now Charlie can do it too! It is so cute to see his little hands sign, I can't even stand it! As you can probably tell, my favorite sign he does is "want."

And yes, he has a dirty face, bedhead and the house is a mess...it was a long day yesterday!

Lucky Number Seven

2008-03-07T04:25:00.000-08:00

Seven years ago today Trent and I were married! It's hard to believe it's been that long, but I honestly cannot remember life any other way. In the seven years we've been married, we have:

shared one car
lived in 3 different apartments
supported each other through school
had 2 amazing little boys
managed 14 apartments in Salt Lake City
had 5 different vacuum cleaners
and 4 different dvd players
watched many changes in our families
driven from Iowa City to Salt Lake City straight through the night many times
made each other laugh every single day

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, TRENT! I LOVE YOU!

Garlic Chicken Farfalle

2008-03-04T04:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, I totally stole this picture and recipe from Jen Chandler, but it is way too good not to share with my friends and family! I made it last night and it will be an instant regular in the Nestman family. Charlie even gobbled up every bit of his! Please try it...you will not be disappointed!

Garlie Chicken Farfalle

16 oz. Farfalle pasta
1 cup heavy whipping cream
3-4 chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 T. pepper (this is a lot, but it's REALLY good)
1/2 cup butter
1 lb. bacon, crumpled
1/2 c. shredded parmesan cheese
1 (12 oz.) Lawry's mesquite marinade with lime juice

Crock pot chicken and marinade on low for 6 hours. Pull marinaded chicken out of juices and allow to cool, then shred (or cut). Set this aside. About 1/2 hour before serving, boil pasta. In a small saucepan, melt buttler, add garlic, whipping cream, pepper, parmesan cheese and crumpled bacon. Whisk together on low heat for 3-4 minutes. In a large bowl, pour over cooked, drained pasta. Add chicken and stir through. Sprinkle a little more parmesan cheese on top.

Just the Three of Us

2008-03-01T17:25:00.000-08:00

Trent is out of town for the second weekend in a row right now. Last weekend he was in Utah for his grandmother's funeral and this weekend he is in Tampa for an ortho conference. Normally I would have dreaded being on my own with the boys for two consecutive weekends, but since all three of us are FINALLY well at the same time, we've actually had a lot of fun! Charlie has pretty much mastered the art of walking and spends his days wandering around the apartment, pausing to applaud himself every ten or so steps. Jack spends his time either pretending he's a prince and I'm the princess in his "castle," shouting "To infinity and beyond!" as he dives off the couch, or running around the room, afraid the hyeneas are going to eat him (Toy Story and The Lion King were introduced to him while he was sick).

All in all, I have to say the last couple weeks have been great with just the three of us. But we're anxious for you to come home, Trent!

90210 Trivia

2008-02-26T13:27:00.001-08:00

1. What is the name of the the "cult" Kelly Taylor joins?
2. When is Donna's birthday?
3. What was Val wearing when she played pool in a bar with Dylan?
4. Name David's hit song.
5. Recite Brandon's patented saying to Steve.
6. Name Steve's 3 girlfriends that all begin with the letter C.
7. What is the name of the director of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" in which Brenda played Maggie the Cat?
8. How did Andrea weasel her way into attending West Beverly High?
9. What phrase did Tara scratch into Val's car?
10. Who was Noah's first love interest?
11. Where was Tracy from?
12. What was Brandon's nickname for Susan?
13. Who played the saxophone at Kelly's 21st birthday party?
14. What did Clare say when Ray walked into Kelly's 21st birthday party?
15. What was the name of Steve Sanders' fraternity?
16. What was the name of the West Beverly newspaper?
17. What happened to Kelly when the gang was returning from Hawaii?
18. What is the name of Donna and Kelly's boutique?
19. What are the names of Dylan's parents?
20. Where did Steve propose to Janet?

Friends Again

2008-02-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

I'll be honest...the last couple months with Charlie have been rough. He's been going through that stage when he can't quite get around, but gets very frustrated when I can't hold him on my hip and tote him around like I used to. He's been sick, teething, waking up way too early and just plain clingy. I am happy to say, however, that he has been such a doll the last couple days and we are now friends again! He is still waking up at a time that is beyond ridiculous, but now I think I'm just used to it. He is getting better and better at walking and loves to venture out on his own across the room. He really has such a sweet side and nothing can brighten my day like a smile and a shimmey from my Charlie. Here he is waiting for me to get him after his nap yesterday - I just missed the big smile and squeal, but you get the idea:

This video was this morning. It is almost 9:00 a.m. and Jack is STILL sleeping! I cannot believe it. I've already fed Charlie, changed 2 diapers, showered, dried my hair, emptied the dishwasher, cleaned the bathroom, done a load of laundry, read books with Charlie, gotten Charlie dressed, and am now blogging. I can get so much done with only one baby! Anyway, my favorite new thing Charlie's been doing is growling while he walks around...I LOVE it! Here's a little clip for your enjoyment:

Random 60

2008-02-20T13:58:00.000-08:00

I saw this on a friend's blog and thought it was a fun idea. So here are 60 random things about me:

1. I broke my arm in second grade while swinging on the monkey bars
2. I have never had a cavity
3. To me, there is nothing better than a clean bathroom
4. I love pretty much anything with peanut butter and chocolate in it
5. I talk to someone in my family at least once a day
6. Motherhood is both harder and much more fun than I thought it would be
7. I do not enjoy being prenant
8. I would love to travel with Trent once our kids are older
9. I am good at keeping in touch with friends
10. I prefer small to large groups of people
11. I love golden retrievers
12. But don't know if I'll ever own one because I can't handle the shedding
13. I died my hair brown after Jack was born for about six months...what was I thinking???
14. I don't know how to apply make-up
15. I am a good listener
16. My first kiss was with Trent
17. I cannot wait to have a house
18. I would love to own a flower shop one day
19. I have a M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology
20. I adore coffee ice cream
21. I love going into my kids' room each night and watching them sleep
22. I love surprises
23. My dad calls me "Chum"
24. I want to learn how to make homemade wheat bread
25. I am very afraid of death
26. I love to de-junk just about anything (fridge, itunes, drawers, car, etc.)
27. I hate leftovers of pretty much every kind
28. I cannot sleep with my dresser drawers or bedroom door open
29. One of the only times I ever got in trouble in elementary school was for looking at my Garbage Pail Kids during reading time
30. I love Def Leppard
31. I vacuum at least once a day
32. I want my mom to teach me how to sew
33. I used to watch my sister's cheerleading videos over and over again for fun
34. I am going to be an aunt in a couple weeks
35. I was a huge Babysitters' Club fan
36. I am known to take pictures of my food when it turns out especially well
37. I love to bake
38. I have never missed an episode of The Bachelor
39. I hate making decisions for a group of people
40. I don't like being the center of attention
41. I always wanted a little sister growing up
42. Which is why I dressed my brother up and put make-up on him (sorry, Tommy!)
43. A perfect day for me includes going out to lunch, movie and shopping
44. I usually have a stash of chocolate chip cookie dough on hand in the freezer for a quick treat
45. I need to start exercising
46. I love Andy Roddick
47. I fainted at work when I was 8 months pregnant with Jack
48. I once snuck out of my house to see Trent in high school
49. I would love to be surprised with an impromptu vacation
50. I am a bargain shopper
51. I love giving gifts
52. And celebrating holidays
53. One year my parents gave us real chicks in our Easter baskets
54. I spent my summers of my childhood at Hebgen Lake
55. I was obsessed with Pee-Wee Herman for a solid year or two...scary!
56. Amish people freak me out
57. But I consider myself to be pretty open-minded
58. I worked at a gas station through college
59. My favorite movie is Anne of Green Gables
60. I am a worrier

Sleepyheads

2008-02-17T12:54:00.001-08:00

Church was canceled today because of the weather, and I am BORED! This is what's going on at our house:

Valentine's Day 2008

2008-02-17T12:38:00.001-08:00

After a bit of a rocky start to our Valentine's Day this year, we celebrated yesterday and had a really wonderful day. For Trent, I wrote a poem about our meeting/dating/married lives together and wrote a little bit on each of these hearts that I put up all over the apartment the night before. Jack loved waking up to all the "valentines" in our house! Jack and Charlie each got a new book. Jack has already read his many times.
And Charlie's, too!
Trent let me sleep in and made us a great breakfast of heart-shaped pancakes, of course!

This is Charlie's new favorite spot, as of late. He could rock all day long on his horse!

We took the boys to get their pictures taken yesterday afternoon, and then Trent and I got to go out to my favorite restaurant, Taste on Melrose. It was divine! But the best part was my valentine from Trent: my very own Family Feud trivia game Trent had made, full of trivia questions from our past. It even included a Fast Money round and I rocked it!
Here I am tallying up my total point value, which determined what my gift would be. I loved it...Trent did a great job. I am so glad he is my valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Schnack Attack

2008-02-15T07:10:00.000-08:00

This is our weatherman, Marck Schnackenberg (a.k.a. "Schnack"). If he looks like a tool, it's because he is! For almost five years I've looked to Schnack for the latest tornado warnings, freezing rain warnings, fog alerts and humidity levels. But I have had it with Schnack...this weather is killing me! Our conditions here are currently -4 degrees. Are you kidding me? How much longer can we take being held up in our dumpy 2 bedroom apartment in sub-zero temps? Please, Schnack...show me some love and give us some warmer weather!

Valentine's Day 1991

2008-02-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! I love all holidays, and today I was thinking about my most memorable Valentine's Day from the past. If anyone is around my age, you all should remember the chiffon hair bow craze that hit right in the early 90's.

My most memorable Valentine's Day was when I was in sixth grade at Boulton Elementary. This was a big day for me because it was my first school dance. My mom always gave us a small Valentine's Day present, and I vividly remember going upstairs for breakfast on Valentine's Day and found my Valentine's basket from her...complete with my own chiffon sash to tie in my hair! The perfect accessory for my new floral dress!

I was so excited to finally have a chiffon bow to tie in my hair, but I vividly rememer this first dance mostly because my dad showed up about 30 minutes into the dance to surprise me and take pictures of me dancing the day away with all my classmates! And no, Trent's name was not on my dance card. But he did dance to La Bamba with my good friend Meghan, and I have the photos to prove it! I wish I could scan those pictures in and give you all a good laugh, but they're in Utah.

I remember feeling so special that my dad took the afternoon off from work to come to my first dance. This is a day I will always remember fondly when I think of Valentine's Day...and I even got to dance with my dad once or twice with my new chiffon bow!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wedding Bells

2008-02-08T14:17:00.001-08:00

This post is a little late but I wanted to wish my sister Rebecca a big congratulations on her recent engagement! It was a big surprise to everyone, but I am really happy for her and wish her all the best. Congratulations, Rebec! I love you! You will make a beautiful bride.

A Must-Read

2008-02-07T04:17:00.000-08:00

I realize I'm a little behind in reading this book, but I just could not resist posting about it. Wow. I highly recommend it to anyone. I finished it last night at about 9:00 and basically read it in 24 hours as I devoured each page. I really loved The Kite Runner, but I think this one is even better...one of my very favorite books I've ever read.

I became so enthralled in this story, I literally could not put it down. For me, it was nice to personalize the people in Afghanistan and helped me wrap my brain around what suffering they have gone through. It is amazing to me what people endure through war and hardships. Some of it was very difficult to read, but so powerful. As I read the story, I could not help but feel so guilty for all the luxuries we enjoy and take for granted as Americans. I am so incredibly blessed to have two healthy boys and a wonderful husband. This is coming at a good time for me. I'll be honest, this student lifestyle has gotten to me lately, and I often find myself thinking, "As soon as we're out of school, ..." But I really do have so much to be grateful for. It definitely put things in perspective.

Anyway, please read this book! I cannot stop thinking about it. I promise, it will not disappoint. Does anyone have any suggestions for my next read?

We Love Grandpa!

2008-02-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

My dad went back to Utah yesterday after coming to see us for several days while Trent was gone. He was a real trooper and put up with sleeping on the couch, changing diapers, giving baths, waking up at 5:30 a.m. with Charlie, nursing Jack back to health from a stomach virus and everything else that goes along with having two very energetic boys. We are so glad he came and hope he will be back soon! Thanks again for all your help, Dad! We love you!

Missing My Man

2008-01-28T19:16:00.000-08:00

Trent is in Vail, Colorado this week for an orthodontic conference/ski trip and I am really missing him! The boys and I have stayed quite busy so far and my dad is coming shortly, but it sure is quiet around here at night! Am I actually missing his play-by-play reports to me about his fantasy NBA team, singing wherever he goes, or having picking up after him each morning (he's not the tidiest person in the world)? YES!! We hope you're having fun, Trent but hurry home...we miss you!