The bronze medal from jason kitchen.

It is always good to know you were missed!

We started our vacation at the red iguana and ended at the blue iguana. It was better but still not like california.

I can not believe there are parking spots here for pregnant women and new mothers. Only in utah!

Dave and Rory are currently playing disc golf. After confirming that i have no athletic ability i quit. I didnt even make it to the first hole.

After temple square we went back to Rory and Raphelle's place and played some fun games. The picture above is of a game called fearsome floors. I won! But i came in last playing the other game so it all evened out.

Today we spent part of the day in temple square with Dave's friend Rory and his wife Raphelle. We walked around and looked at a bunch of neat buildings and took a tour of the conference center. It was amazing! This is a picture of the salt lake temple.

We just saw a movie

We just saw a movie in the theatre for 75 cents! Gotta love utah!

Our first night in utah we went out to dinner with the former laura knudsen and her husband we went to what we all heard was the best mexican restaurant in utah... It definitely made us appreciate california! It was fun though.

It's all over

Well, I finished the seventh and final Harry Potter book (I stayed up until about 2 in the morning on Sunday night and finished) and I have to say that I am pleased. There were of course things I was not fond of but all in all it did the series justice. I can't say anymore because David is sitting right next to me reading the book and he doesn't want me to spoil it!
Vacation is going great. We are enjoying seeing all my family and today we are going to see Jeff and Jonathan Peirce in Provo. My favorite part so far is seeing all the old pictures of my family and reading some of the stories about my great grand parents. I am excited to see my great grandpa on Friday and also the rest of the family.
Having a blast!

Sleeping in the Mcdonald's parking lot

Well, the drive was long, but we made it. We did however have to stop for about an hour and take a little nap in the Mcdonald'd parking lot.

Waiting for the end

Waiting in line for harry potter! We are at borders right now waiting 2 pick up our reserved copy of the 7th harry potter book! I am glad to report that we are definitely not the only ones dressed up. It is crazy here and there are tons of people here! We are so excited to get our book and i know we will not fall asleep!

Starting a mobile blog.

Starting a mobile blog. I decided it would be good if i could blog from my phone so that people could see pics of where we are when we are gone.

Hopefully I can keep up with it and just do short updates from Utah.

Birthday extravaganza

Yesterday (as most of you know) was Dave's birthday. We decided we would go over to the park and throw around our "disc golf" discs and play Bocce. It was fun once I got the hang of it. I'm not the most athletic person in the world so it takes me a while to get even ok at something, but I did manage to beat the birthday boy on a couple rounds of Bocce and hit him in the stomach with the disc when he wasn't looking so I guess my aim is improving! When we had just gotten to the park a guy and his son pulled up and brought out these large suitcases onto the lawn. Come to find out they brought 4 very large snakes to play in the grass. Now, I personally am not super afraid of snakes. I wouldn't want to wake up next to one, but I don't freak out when ever they are around and I may even touch or hold one occasionally.... but what I don't get is why you need to bring 4 HUGE snakes to the park with little kids everywhere! If I had kids there I would NOT have let them go hang out with this strange guy and his snakes but for some reason the other parents did not feel the same way! The kids were all over there holding snakes bigger than them some with no parents in sight while this guy and his son are loving that all the little kids think they are super cool. I don't know, maybe I'm just a skeptical person, but seriously... why would a grown man need to bring 4 snakes to a park! Needless to say we moved away from them and just went about our own fun being careful, of course, not to accidentally stumble across one of the creatures by accident. The snakes or the guy.

I'm a disappointment!

While over at my Mom's last night I asked her if she had checked my blog lately. She told me she checks it everyday and that lately she's been very disappointed...
So, this is my vow that I will try not to disappoint our fans any more and will do my best to write more often!
We've been pretty busy as you can see by all the pictures in the 2 posts below this one. Baseball games, midnight movie releases, trips to the beach and more! Not to mention getting ready for our trip, the midnight release of the 7th Harry Potter book and BOTH of our birthdays... By the way HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVID!!!! Luckily we've still found time to laze around and watch a bunch of movies.
We subscribed to the Blockbuster Total Access thing and we love it. We are watching movies that we would not have seen otherwise. We just finished James and the Giant Peach and Freedom Writers (Both good movies) and next up are The Birds and Say Anything.
We've also decided we are going to teach ourselves sign language (even though I took a semester of it at the JC) by learning a new phrase every day. We've gotten a bit too eager to learn and last night we learned a whole bunch of phrases that I will hopefully not forget due to overload. Last night we learned "Happy Birthday husband" "It is my Birthday""I want a dog/cat for my birthday" and other such phrases. It's really fun and there are worse things we could be doing with our time.
Well we are really excited for our trip and to listen to Harry Potter on CD the whole way there. We will blog about our trip when we get back. Wouldn't want to disappoint!

A castle made of sand

The month to end all months!

Things are going good

I'm at the point where I love my job, I get time with my husband and eating good food while sticking to my diet and feeling healthy! I know life is full of ups and downs, but it's the ups that keep you going.
I am looking forward to the coming month:
July 4th Both Dave and I have a day off and will no doubt be doing something spectacular
July 11th 12:00AM Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix comes out and we've already got our tickets
July 19th Dave turns 27!!!
July 21 12:00AM Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out and we've already pre-ordered our copies
July 22nd-29th UTAH!!!!
July 23rd Vince turns... 27!!!
July 30th I turn 23!!!!

So, it's a busy month, but all really good things. We will not be doing IUI in July since we will be in Utah when it is due to happen. I'm ok with that... I could use a little time to recover from the stress before trying again. We will plan on August and hope for the best.

As of now, Things are good.

Plans change.

We have definitely been busy: Amanda and Nathan's wedding, a baseball game, watching an entire season of Project Runway in 3 days. It's been busy, but it's been nice to be doing all this together. With Dave out of school we've been able to enjoy each other and finally just be married. It's a nice feeling to know you get to actually do stuff together.
We recently attended an infertility seminar/workshop and it was great! We both came out of it very glad we had gone although we were the only people under the age of 37! It was nice to hear other people's experiences and how they coped with the heartache of it all and it got us talking more about options down the road. It's nice to know there are ways to get a family if you have trouble getting there yourselves.
We also made the decision not to do IUI this month like we had planned. We were having trouble interpreting my ovulation kit and it was putting too much stress on the already stressful situation so we decided to spend the money we would be spending on the IUI on a fertility monitor instead. We are hoping the this will not only benefit us now, but in trying to conceive our future kids as well. It was more of an investment, so we are hoping it is worth it. And of course, as I had predicted, a few hours after we bought the monitor my kit changed. I'm still glad we made this decision and I am not discouraged for this month or any month to come. It will happen.
We also changed our vacation plans this year from girl's camp to Utah for a week. We went on the overnight hike up in Mount Hood and I had an epiphany. It is going to be extremely expensive and just an all around pain in the butt for me to take all of my own food up to camp and prepare it all myself. There were several factors that went into this decision and I'm sad that I won't get to enjoy the camp experience and spend a week with Karen acting completely stupid, but I know this is the right decision and I am very relieved. It will also be nice to see all my family and David's friends in Utah.
Needless to say we change our plans quite often. Hey plans change... get used to it!

We're still here...

I had hoped that Dave would be the one to write this blog, thus the reason for my absence from the blogging world, but I have had several requests for an update and... well... he's taking too long (sorry honey, love you!)
If you haven't heard already our first attempt at the IUI was a failure. We had thought that we would not be able to try it again this month due to money issues so when we found out I was really upset. I went into this hermit-like state that I am still not completely out of (sorry if I have not returned your calls...) The good news: We have both been working 10 hour days and have decided to go ahead with it again this month. We know it is right and that's all that matters. I still have hope that it will be successful and I ask all of you to pray for us and/or send good thoughts our way. The most probable date of the procedure will be the 23rd of June.

Good news: I'm on clomid and have little to no side effects. I've been drowsy, but that could also be from the 10 hour days. We are going on an over night hike tomorrow night for camp (Dave is going as the one priesthood holder.) I am excited, but I am worried about the drowsiness. At least he will be there to watch out for me.
We've had lots of stuff going on and I will blog more about it all later, I just wanted to let everyone know that we are doing alright and have hope for this month.
Love you all.

Sitting, waiting, wishing...

Dave did such a good job telling the events of this weekend that I don't really even have to say anything! (Truthfully I made him blog about it so it wouldn't just be me ranting about the rudeness and incompetence of one scheduling girl who shall remain nameless mostly because she never mentioned her name!)

And now we wait... If you think I am impatient at Christmas time (ahem...) you ain't seen nothing yet! We have to wait at least 2 weeks to find out if the IUI was a success and it is slowly driving me mad. I say slowly because I have been able to function better than I thought I would have. Luckily we also get to look forward to Amanda's wedding which is June 9th so that is keeping my mind slightly occupied. But pretty much every third thought is regarding what's going on in my body right now.

Other than that life is rolling along. Dave has the week off work and has been doing a fabulous job of cleaning our house even though he's been sick for about a week. Our 2 year anniversary is coming up next Monday and no, not the anniversary of our first kiss, the first time he called me on the phone or anything lame like that, this is the real deal! 2 whole years since we got married. It does not seem like it at all, but it has been great and everyday I think I am luckier and luckier for having such a great guy.

Well, anyone is welcome to send good thoughts our way and hopefully we will get good news in the near future but until then, enjoy Google's how to of the day: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Office-Darts

I know I did!

Another busy weekend for the Menn

Friday: Today was the day that Brook and I had been waiting for. IUI is all about timing, from figuring out the day of ovulation, making the appointment for the doctors, making a "deposit/withdrawal" at the lab, and going through with the procedure, all in a matter of two days. Sound fun? Brook was able to talk to a wonderful lady and scheduled the appointment without any problems...wait...reverse that. Brook actually had to beg and plead for us to get an appointment that would work with our tight schedule, while at the same time she was treated like gum on the bottom of the appointment scheduler's shoe. I was fortunate to be able to do my part with a minimal amount of problems or humiliation. When the appointment drew near, we picked up the sample and went to the doctors, only to find that our doctor was in surgery until the afternoon. They tried to call and inform us in every way except by calling Brook's cellphone, which would have been the most helpful. So, once again, we were reduced to groveling in order for the IUI process to continue. We were lucky to get the doctor in between surgeries and get the whole stressful ordeal over with. I guess trials can be looked at as blessings, so I hope these "blessings" will translate into a different kind of blessing.

Saturday: Graduation day!!! Dressed in my black robes and cute, little hat, I participated in the 88th graduation of Santa Rosa Junior College. I was one of over 1100 graduates ranging in age from 16 to 73. It didn't feel real and it still doesn't, but hopefully that will change when i get my actual diploma in the mail. The real fun was the party afterwards, with lots of family and friends. I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who came to the graduation, the party, those that made food, and for all the great presents. A special thank you goes out to Nancy and Vince and their willingness to come over the night before and help clean the apartment. Anyone else who would like to clean our apartment another time can call us and schedule an appointment. Here is a picture of the wonderful event.

Sunday: We were sick, so we took it easy. I guess that part isn't too busy.

Monday: Brook and I went down to San Jose to visit some friends that Brook grew up with. We spent most of the day with Becca and her boyfriend Fernando in Santa Cruz at the boardwalk. We all kinda forgot that it was Memorial Day and that the place would be super crowded. The weather was pretty nice for the beach in May and overall we had a good time. Once again, pictures speak louder than words, so enjoy the optical display.

It's time.

Well, looks like tomorrow is the big day! We have our appointment with the doctor at 11:50 so please have us in your prayers. I will write more about the stress of making the appointment later I just wanted to let everyone know the news.

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

Yesterday I went to baby Emanuel's first birthday party. I cannot believe he is already a year old!!!! Random picture of the Pele. He was not at the party, but I had to post it.
Me and Kaisa.
Baby E enjoying his cake! Very much.
Looking happy.

Laughing so hard I could cry...

Have you ever laughed so hard that your eyes started to tear up? I have. On Friday night we were at John and Noelle's just sitting around talking and David decides to spit out a bit of his nerdy anthropology talk and says the word "brachiate." All of the sudden I start laughing hysterically (keep in mind that I'm not a laugher so this story is even better!!!) and I can barely get out the lamest joke in the world "Will brachiate for animals." Why was this so funny? No one including myself really knows... but it was. I just could NOT stop laughing and I'm sure everyone was looking at me like some sort of freak. Then all of the sudden I realized I was no longer laughing but instead was sobbing uncontrollably! It still felt like I was laughing and I still thought my dumb joke was the funniest thing ever, but I was actually sitting there crying on the couch!!! At least I was able to laugh at myself, but it was definitly a strange experience and I'm going to make sure not to laugh at all at work today.
Gotta love that Clomid!

Sooner than expected!

Well, it looks like the IUI process is going to be sooner than expected! I start Clomid on Saturday!!!! I'm very nervous just because I don't know what it will do to me, but I know it will be fine and we will look back at this time and laugh. Life is just stressful when you are actually living it!
More on this topic to come I'm sure...

I've outsmarted the human race!

For the past 2 years on the Saturday before Mother's day we have been trapped in our apartment by the thousands of participants of the Human Race, a race to benefit non profit organizations in Sonoma County. While I do realize this is a very worthy cause and a great benefit to our community you can imagine my frustration to not be able to exit our apartment when we have to get to work or various other places for HOURS! They do not even give us a warning! It was not until last year's race that I even figured out the fact that it was always held on the Saturday before Mother's day (thank you Nancy for that information.)
This year we will be taking steps to ensure that this will not interfere with our lives by informing our neighbors and parking our cars elsewhere in order to escape.
Fool me once, shame on you...
Fool me twice, shame on me...
Fool me three times, not a chance sucker!

In other news: I got really sick all the sudden yesterday. I left work at 3:45 and went home and slept, waking only to take a bath and get a blessing. I took my temperature and it was 101.9 so I'm thinking it wasn't allergies. I slept through the night and woke up all the sudden covered it sweat and really hot and uncomfortable at what felt like about 1am and the weird thing was... I felt amazingly better! My nose isn't running half as much as it was yesterday and I'm not as drowsy. I still don't feel 100%, but I'm getting there and I feel a heck of a lot better than I did yesterday!

If any of you are interested in learning more about the Human Race besides the fact that they trap me in my apartment here is a link for you: http://humanrace.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=187170

I'd love to remove my nose right about now!

Oh my gosh if my nose doesn't stop running I'm am going in to get a nose job (Yes I do know this won't stop the problem... but it will at least punish my stupid nose for all the trouble it is causing me.) I don't know if it is a cold or allergies, but I have taken medication for both and nothing helps! I CANNOT get sick right now! I need to be healthy. This blows... no pun intended.

NO MORE FREEZE TAG!!!!! I give up!

I'm sure all of you have figured out by now that this has not been the most exciting week for us. I really haven't had anything to write about. Let's see... Monday David and I went to Windsor hoping to have dinner on the "Green" but everything was closed for some reason. So we ended up driving to Johnny Garlics and having dinner there. On Tuesday we drove out to Healdsburg so Hailey and Alexa could bring cookies to their friend and we drove around town to give them a little time to hang out before we took them home and then I went to Sherry's for American Idol. On Wednesday we had the relief society service auction and while I didn't have enough points to win anything that I wanted, I did donate a home made apron and some home made cards that both went for a good amount of points. Thursday we didn't have anything planned except cleaning the house but at the last minute got called to babysit the Sullivans. I regret to inform all of you (and if I don't inform you someone else will) that I am still amazingly horrible at freeze tag. Not only that... but I also am no good at duck duck goose. I hope to improve these important skills in the coming year. And today is Friday. We will be attending the SRHS choir concert to support our own little Milli Vanilli, Hailey, who is not feeling well enough to sing but will be mouthing all the words!
We don't really have anything thrilling going on this weekend. Both of us have to work tomorrow and then the missionaries will be coming over for dinner. Sunday I have to teach in Young Women's, but I am actually really looking forward to it because it is a great lesson.

In other news... Dave's coworker may be staying with us for a few weeks, but I will let Dave blog about that.

Twins??

So I've been doing a little research on IUI and what could possibly happen as a result... Turns out it increases our chances of multiples by a whole lot. Someone Noelle knows did IUI (they did it 2 days in a row and we are starting with 1) and are now pregnant with triplets! What if we did have more than one baby? Would it be so bad? I think I would be extremely happy considering we've been having so much trouble.
Now here's the funny thing, it's most likely just coincidence, but it's fun to think it could be a sign. Yesterday I sat next to 2 pregnant women, one was having twins. And today (this is really a stretch... but just humor me) I did a submission at work for a business called "Twins Auto Repair." Yes, I know I am absolutely just looking for things to be signs, but it is a possibility and it would be great if it happened.
For now maybe I will just hope for 1 baby because even that's not guaranteed.