Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Baby Shower for Tiff

I haven't updated our blog for a while and a lot has happened so I have A LOT of catching up to do. First up...... Tiff's Baby Shower. I got to fly to Utah on May 26th and stay for the weekend. It was one of the busiest trips I have taken so far. My cousin Jordan returned home from his mission about a week earlier and was having his homecoming over Memorial Day Weekend. When I knew the date of his homecoming, my mom and I decided that while I was there it would also be a good time to throw Tiff a shower. I was so excited, I started planning immediately. I asked Tiff what she wanted the theme of the shower to be and she said she wanted it to be up to me. To just do what I wanted since I was planning it. I decided to go with the theme of her nursery, which was Safari. I didn't really have a plan but as I was out at different stores looking at things, I would see something and get an idea and then just build upon it. Joe was so sweet to help me when I would come to him with an idea. He would listen and then help me come up with a way to execute it. I didn't want to be stressed once I got to Utah so I worked really hard to get all my decorations done before I left so that I could decorate the night before the shower and then just have to purchase balloons and make a salad the day of the shower. I think being married to Joe has helped me not to procrastinate as much and it really has made life more pleasant=)

Tiffany's close friend, Jonelle, is an awesome cake maker/decorator and made an awesome Safari Themed cake for the shower. She brought it the day before so that's why the tree isn't in it.
This was the table all decorated. The red round dishes on each side are butter dishes and weren't part of the deco=) The pictures don't really do it justice. I loved how the table turned out!
I took pictures before everyone got there so I didn't get all the yummy food in the picture. Mom and The Brittanys made yummy salads and mom made some fabulous rolls. We had such a fun time.
Jonelle gave her the Braden made out of rod iron on the mantel. SO CUTE!


My cousin took pictures on her camera of Tiff opening her presents. This is the only one I have. The ward pitched in and got her this glider/ottoman and she was SO thrilled!

I had so much fun doing this shower. There was such a great turn out and it was so fun to see so many people show their love and support. I can't believe my baby sister is about to have a baby of her own!!!! I still feel like the mother-hen that I was growing up.=) I just want to take care of her and give her the best. She and I are so close and I couldn't ask for a better sister. I'm so excited for her and Michael. Love you TIFF!


Thursday, June 2, 2011

Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, OH MY!

I have lived here for about a year and half and have never been to the Houston Zoo..... until a couple of weeks ago! The weather was awesome several weeks ago on a Saturday so we decided it was a good day to check that off of our "to do list in Houston." I think everyone decided it was a good day for the zoo because it was packed!! Parking was a joke. We had to drive around forever and I told Joe to just forget it, but he stuck it out. He almost got in a fight with some jerk over a parking spot that we clearly were close to and had a signal on before he did. Luckily it just came down to Joe laying on the horn, pulling up so close I thought he was going to hit him, and giving the dude the "stare down"=) ha ha! Situations like that always make me nervous=) Luckily they don't happen too often.

I always love watching Joe freak out when he sees a snake! He HATES them! I was shocked that he actually went in this exhibit. If we ever have a live encounter with any sort of snake, you can bet that before I know it, Joe will be off running in the opposite direction. Possibly screaming like a woman=)
We saw this cool white alligator. Joe loves the show Swamp People and loves "gators"
Gotta love the Rhinos
I don't think Joe was too enthused about me taking this picture! Ha ha! At least he was a good sport=)
One of my favorites!... The giraffe! I could watch them for hours. While we were watching them I noticed a board they had with information about giraffes and would say to Joe "do you know why the giraffe's tongue is black?" "No" "So it doesn't get sunburned." After a few like that he said "Are you reading this stuff from somewhere?!" I guess he knew I didn't really know all those facts about giraffes=)

Little Chicks that were hatching. So Cute!
You know you're in Texas when the sign says "Y'all"

I've always like the flamingos for some reason. They intrigue me.
Not sure what animal this was.

After the zoo we walked over to this little lake they have at Hermann Park and took a ride on the paddle boats! Pretty fun! I love this picture with the waterfall and skyscraper in the background. That park is so pretty!


We had a really fun day! Thanks to a wonderful husband and some great weather!