A Belated Birthday

I was actually able to plan and pull off a surprise for Jake...well, for the most part. I knew I wanted to do something for Jake to help him celebrate turning into a 'classic' (oh wait, that's car terminology) Being 30 is a good reason to celebrate! About 3 weeks ago I put my plan into action. He would never think a birthday was a good reason to celebrate and was just fine and happy with only the two of us sharing a cake, I couldn't let that be the end of it!
I invited our friends to meet us this past Saturday at a park for a belated Jake is 30 BBQ. It really was more of a reason to get together with some of our friends and enjoy this awesome hot weather. I was so excited that I was able to keep this a secret, until Friday night when Jake got home and told me he had to go in to work the next day - what!? Ahhh - that's not allowed! I had to tell him something was going on at 2:00 and he had to be there. Of course, Jake being Jake couldn't let it drop at that and analyzed every possibility for the rest of the night and pretty much figured it out.
I scrambled to shop and get as much of the prep work done that Friday night so I could go with Jake to work the next morning and just hang out in the area.
My awesome friend Tanya let me hang out at her place (her husband Bryan was working too - how rude!) She helped me finish up all the fruit and vegetable cutting, and even let me fry some onions in her kitchen...I hope the smell didn't linger too long.
I realize Jake would have figured out what was going on anyway since the car wa loaded with a cooler, grill, folding chairs, etc.
I went to pick Jake up and we rushed to the park. It was a rather busy day and we were glad to get a few tables in the shade.
I made Jake do all the grilling work...knew he wouldn't mind. He loves being grill master.
I provided hamburgers, hotdogs, sausages, fruit, vegetables, chips, frog eye salad (if you have to ask then you need to come get some of the leftovers). Our friends brought a few things to throw in and we had a party with way too much food. I don't think anyone went away hungry.
I am so grateful for those who were able to come enjoy this summer day with us. We truly do have the best friends ever, they really are the only reason that CA is an okay place to live.

Claire, Kate, and Eric Thompson

Tiffany and Eric Anderson

Adam and Kevin Low, Sara and Kate Thompson

Kevin is a big fan of watermelon

I truly realized during the BBQ how mild mannered Kaleb is. I had a blanket spread out on the ground. I put down a plate with some food and a few toys. He didn't crawl off that blanket once. For the most part he just sat in the middle munching on a bun or some fruit or holding his toys. It will be interesting to see what personality this next little guy has. I have a feeling he'll be the one to instegate all the trouble "Hey Kaleb, check this out, did you know this does this" or something to that effect. We'll see. I'm excited to watch these brothers grow up together.

Tanya and Bryan Low








Our grill master, don't you love that I made Jake work for his birthday BBQ? I must add, thank you mom and dad Stevens for this grill. It has gotten a lot of well loved use. We haven't once had to use the grill pits provided at parks.
Thank you again to all our friends, those would could make it, and those who were there in spirit. We really are so grateful and blessed to have all of you in our lives. Although Jake had to hurry back to work it was a great day and we both had a lot of fun. We need to get together again real soon, who wants to plan the next party?

A Really Long Week (and post)

This last week seemed really long and busy with things to do at all hours of the day. Now I'm thinking, is Sunday almost over already?
My sister Shawna, her husband Matt and their baby Sabine came for a visit on their way home to Utah from Arizona (CA is on the way, it makes sense, right?)
They got here late Saturday the 2nd and stopped by for a visit before heading to the house they were staying at (guess I would choose a real bed over an air mattress also)
Sunday they came over after we got home from church. We went to a local park and grilled up some stakes and enjoyed the hot, sunny day.

Hey, I do look pregnant! Only 4 months to go!

Sabine discovered the joy of swinging and seemed to enjoy it.










Monday Jake had to work so we had fun without him. We went to the Japanese Gardens, which I've been told is an odd choice for tourists...at least it was inexpensive and not crowded. We all thought it was worth it and are glad we went. We had to wait a bit for the gardens to open so we went shopping...yipee! After shopping we sat out on the grass and ate some lunch. Kaleb was excited when he found a bag of rolls, and managed to get one out. This kid could live on bread and water if I let him. Kaleb, do you have a big enough roll?Any other pictures in the gardens are on Shawna and Matt's camera...which I need to get from them...hint-hint
We wanted some Menchies ice cream afterward and decided on the one in Studio City, it was the most conveniently located, oddly. It worked out because Jake was able to come over after work, he took Kaleb and rode back with Shawna and Matt, I took the car pretty much straight to work (with a bit of a detour for birthday shopping)


The many faces of Kaleb.

This is the face of a boy who really loves his Daddy, Kaleb gets so excited when Jake gets home from work, or even just walks into a room. This was captured just as Jake walked in the door to meet us.

Tuesday we did more shopping while we decided what to do. All the gardens and museums we wanted to visit were closed on Tuesday. We ended up at the Le Brae Tar Pits. It was not only open, but, free on the first Tuesday of the month. Honestly, I don't think the usual $7 or whatever a person would have been worth it. The outside tar pit is more like an open park area so you only have to pay if you want to go inside and see all the bones and fossils (wait, I guess that is the same thing)









Shawna and Matt hung out with Jake while I went to work. Shawna really wanted some good Mexican food so we got some recommendations. They met me in Studio City at a local place. I got there first to put our name on the list - a one hour wait - what!? It was so busy and crowded, why? It's only Tuesday night!? After waiting about 15-20 minutes it dawned on us, oooh, it's May 5Th - guess we really don't want to go to a Mexican restaurant after all. A lot of drunk people and I'm sure a lot of crowded noise. We decided on a local favorite stand-by and went for Thai, Original Thai - one can never go wrong!
Shawna and Matt were leaving super early the next morning so we said our goodbyes - we'll see them in a few weeks and a half.
Wednesday was a long day. I needed the car so I had to take Jake to work at 5:30AM This normally wouldn't be such a big deal (besides the fact that I'm not a morning person) having to wake Kaleb up was hard. Kaleb had his 9 month check-up (at 10 months) He is now 19 LB 12 OZ and 28 inches long - a strong and healthy boy. I made Jake a birthday cake then went to pick up the babysitter. I was so nervous for some reason, this was the first "real" babysitter I've paid and asked to babysit. I've had Kaleb stay for an hour or so at friends houses but never anything official. I figured since he's mobile now it would be better he was confined to getting into things in his own space.
Jake didn't know, but I had asked for the night off work. It felt weird leaving Kaleb, like I was missing something, but so nice. I picked up Jake and we went to eat some of his favorite food, BBQ ribs - we chose a new try for us, Ribs USA - it was very good, a perfect date. I think due to Kaleb having such a long day he was so grumpy and screaming when we got home, he didn't even want me or Jake so it wasn't the babysitters fault...although I felt really bad. I hope she'll still babysit for us again.
Jake opened his birthday presents while Kaleb took a bath. A pepper grinder and salt shaker was all he wanted - well, besides overly expensive things that we can't get at the time anyway. Jake is rather particular about having fresh ground pepper and was devastated when our grinder broke.
I made Jake blow out 30 candles on his Boston Cream Pie (cake) - but assured him I wouldn't sing. He still is full of hot air, wait, um, he still had plenty of lung power to get them all out in one breath.


Here's my boys having their before bedtime milk...what a perfect way to end a day.

Today was an amazing Mother's Day. Last year I may have been carrying Kaleb, but this year, I have been nurturing him. Being a mother made this day that much more special. I finally understand the love of a mother. I mean, how can you not love this face on the right? I may not like him all the time (I'll admit it) but I never knew how much I could love someone...besides Jake of course.
Jake spoke in church, had to ditch his talk with only 2-3 minutes left and he bore an amazing testimony instead.
After Kaleb woke up from his nap we went over to our friends house, the Murray's for a BBQ. I got my favorite steak...Fillet Mignon...yum! Jake was the master of the grill and cooked a perfect steak. Nick made us mojitos to drink (non-alcoholic of course!) and creme brule ice cream for dessert. I also brought a summer favorite of mine, strawberry shortcake. I'm talking about the real thing here, not those foamy fake cakes you buy in the grocery store next to the strawberry display. I really don't recall my mom making this dessert that often but for some reason it always brings back memories of summers at home, swimming in the freezing cold pool - who needs a working water heater?
This is what you get if you try to stretch out on the floor with 4 babies in the area...actually I'm surprised the dog didn't come over to also join the fun.
Kaleb has a tendency to let himself be bullied and doesn't stick up for himself (not that I'm encouraging violence) but come on, you can't just lay there passive! I think a little brother will do him some good! When Sabine was here her and Kaleb took a few of their baths together and she had a lot of fun stealing his toys out of his hands and waving them in his face laughing...a rather funny video actually...I'll have to see if I can get my sister to send that my way and I can post it (another hint-hint). I am grateful though that I have a rather mellow and passive child who is good natured most of the time.










The deeds of a mother may only be know to a few but they make a huge difference in the legacy of our children. Thank you to our mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, and all you other women who touch our lives everyday in so many ways. You are the unsung hero's that make this world go round. I have a deeper, special place in my heart now for mothers that I never quite understood before. After the primary children sang today in church Jake got up to speak and opened by pointing at the children "behold your legacy". I am so grateful to Jake's mom for raising him in the gospel and helping him become the amazing father and husband that he is. I am grateful to my mother for also raising me in this gospel, and for her example of not only the type of life and marriage I wanted, but the kind of mother I still strive to achieve. How patient, loving, and amazing our mothers are. Although it may have seemed at times that your efforts were fruitless, it never was, thank you for all your hard work and effort, I think it paid off in the end...at least from my prospective.