BIENVENIDO DE ARGENTINA

Well its about 10:30pm on Thursday June 19, 2008. I am setting in the Lodge of South American Adventure Safaris some 5 hours north of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I will start by saying that I really miss my family and can't wait to get home.

This has a been a trip that really can't be described in words or pictures. We are testing our new Semi-Auto Shotgun which has perform flawlessly. (thank heavens) We are able to hunt several species of birds include, dove, duck, and perdiz (Argentina's quail). The cool thing is the populations are damaging to the farm crops so there are no limits on doves. Needless to say I shot 1000 doves on the first day.

Now for all you animal lovers, let me explain. The government has regulations on the amount of birds that have to be killed. They actually poison more then all the hunters that come down here shoot. Ducks are carefully watch and each hunter is allow 20 a day. This was probably my favorite hunt.

They also poison parakeets, yes folks thats right, parakeets. The country is infested with them and they are actually considered a pest. They are the only bird that instead of just eating the seeds of the crops, they cut the whole stem off, which means they destroy the food crops completely.

I am not a ruthless killer, we pay good money which assists the ranches with their 40% property tax, we have it really good don't we.

Well I can't wait to get home on Sunday. Sarah, Garrett and baby Lily see you soon, you are in my heart and mind, love you more then you will ever know!

I will show pictures later!

MOVING AGAIN!

Everyone must find there place in life, lets just say that in the 5 years that Sarah and I have been married its only taken us 9 times to find it. So here it is. Paso Robles, is our mainstay for a while. We bought a foreclosure that we are in love with. Its 2871 sq. ft. 3 bedroom 3 bath, with a study and two dining areas. Its also on a 1/3 of an acre which Garrett and Lily will enjoy for many years. I can actually say this is pretty close to our dream house.


Its seems that you have to do what the Lord prompts you to do and we just seem to be the moving type. But this is a long term investment, Garrett will be able to walk to school being that is about 3 blocks, I can ride my bike to work and Sarah is going to operate a daycare out of the study room. We are very excited and know this is the house we will grow old together in. I can speak with great confidence that the Lord has blessed us with so much and this is just another blessing that we are able to partake in. See you all soon. I am off to Argentina for a week tomorrow.

New Years Resoluations from 1998

So did I mention that the perpetual movers are moving again? Aaron and I bough a foreclosure house and are moving in two weeks. Needless to say we have been going through old things and reorganizing. While looking through the box my mom brought up for me a year or so ago, I found, along with my old Barbi's and Girl Scout paraphernalia, my...

...New year's resolutions from 1998

1. Better study habits
2. Graduate
3. Turn 18
4. Stay with Adam Packer
5. Go to college anywhere but RCC (Riverside Community College)
6. Don't get fired from Beach Access (my high school job)
7. Work out more
8. Stay vegetarian
9. Find the perfect Mid-Winter dance dressPublish Post
10. Go to prom with Adam Packer

The Golf Pro's

I know, we match and we are dang good looking! Dad, Papa, Chris and I played in a tournament a couple weekends ago to raise money for Tehachapi Main Street projects. As you can see we look good and we played really well. Not quite good enough to win, (We are positive there was some cheating going on) but we had a great time and as a team with a handicap of 3.75 we shot a -14.75 under par at Horse thief Golf course in Tehachapi. All I can say is good thing we had Papa to keep us in the game.

I also won the longest drive contest. +/- 350 yards, pretty good for a lefty. Oh, and the prize was a new driver. You would think that the guy that one the long ball contest wouldn't need a new driver so I sold it in the parking lot for $35, which I think was a good deal for me. Hope all is well. Trying to get home from the TOrnadoes in NE.

More Wedding Pics

At the bridal suite, here I am 20 weeks prego
Garrett and Peyton
The Smith Family
A smaller Smith Family
Shelli and Robert

Shelli and Robert's Wedding

Shelli and Robert at the rehearsal dinner

Wedding party at the salon

Siblings at the rehearsal dinner

Garrett in his tuxedo

On June 7, 2008 Aaron's little sister Shelli was married! She married Robert Garza it was a beautiful wedding at the Seven Oaks Country Club in Bakersfield. We had such a great time spending the weekend with family and preparing for the big day. Mandi and I were her maids-of-honor or it was so fun to be part of the wedding, Garrett was a ring barrier all dressed up in a tuxedo. Garrett and Peyton (the flower girl) walked down the aisle together hand-in-hand, it was serious the cutest thing I have ever seen.

Shelli, of course, look like such a princess. It was a beautiful wedding and we feel so blessed to be apart of their special day! I have no pictures of the actual wedding, since I was in it I couldn't take any pics! I will work on getting some.

Baby Girl Name

After much debate Aaron and I have come to a consensus with choosing a name for our baby girl...

Lily Jane

The name Lily is sentimental for me since (1) The calla lily is my favorite flower, and (2) my grandmother's garden is filled with calla lilies and the name Lily reminds me of her, and she is one of the most amazing women I've ever known.

The middle name Jane is a family name. It is my mom's middle name and my own middle name.

It took Aaron a few days to accept the name, but now he loves it. We are so excited for Miss Lily to come into this world.

Good in Bed

I knew this post would get your attention...
I just got done reading the novel Good In Bed by Jennifer Weiner, this book really has nothing to do with the title. It is a great story and I could hardly put in down. I would highly recommend this book as a fabulous summer read!

Review:
This is the story of a young woman who comes to grips with herself and how she looks. Learning to live with not being the world's ideal woman, Cannie finds, is not the easiest thing to do. The author writes a modern day fairytale with intelligence and sensitivity. She makes you care about Cannie, groan when bad things happen to her (even in fairy tales not all goes the way we would like it to) and cheer when she gets the upper hand. Weiner gives us the woman's point of view without her novel becoming a force for women's rights.

It's a....

GIRL!!!
We are so excited to have a baby girl. The ultrasound went great and she looked healthy. Now the fun part begins...decorating, picking a name, shopping. Oh dear I think this one is going to be spoiled!

INSPIRATION

Sometimes to inspire employees/people you might have to do things a little out of the ordinary. Today was no exception. Hope everyone has a wonderful Memorial weekend.

Girl or Boy?

We have our ultrasound on Friday to determine if the baby is progressing healthy, but most of all if we are having a boy or girl. We are so excited to find out!

What do you think we are having, a boy or a girl?

I LOVE MY WIFE

I am in a hotel room in Louisville, KY, attending the NRA show and was struck. I haven't publicly expressed my love for Sarah in a long time. Believe it or not, I was listening to George Strait and it just hit me. Growing up I got to do some pretty cool stuff and had a great family. But I truly feel that my life didn't start until I met her. The "miss popular", "social butterfly", always trendy and in the know, Sarah Jane Smith, or as many of you might know her as Jonesy.

All I can say is that she is constantly on my mind, and the happiness she has brought me is indescribable. Nothing compares to her love and support. She is my "Best Friend".

Love you Ting!

I know you don't do all if these things but " your my kind of woman"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loQT4mIJ0qU

Mommy and Me

Here are some more pictures of Garrett this year at his Mommy and Me program we attend with the Atascadero School District.

Father and Son's Campout

Aaron, his dad and Garrett all went to Lake Naciemento with our ward for the annual Father and Son's Campout. This is the first year we felt comfortable to have Aaron take Garrett for an overnight camping trip. Aaron was really excited that his dad was able to join the guys for the trip. Mr. G, aka the dirt dog, had a great time playing in the dirt with all the other little boys. It was a great bonding weekend for the family!

27th Birthday!

My 27th birthday was on May 8th! Wow, I can't believe that I'm already 27, I feel like I'm still 22. I remember when my brother turned 27, I was only 18, and I thought, he was so mature and old. Noe that I'm 27, it really doesn't seem that old...sorry brother!

Me and Kiwi, she is already 7 months along!

Garrett and his girlfriend, not friend, girlfriend Eva

Alison's Baby Shower

Walkin' the creek

Two pregnant mommas

Kendra and I headed up (in the Corolla, I was surprised it make it) to Alison's baby shower in Santa Cruz last weekend. These are my close girlfriends from the college days. We have all manged to stay close friends through the years. Alison's mom has this amazing house in Soquel that backs to a creek as to can see in the pictures. It was Alison's great idea to take a creek hike in our nice clothes...that water was fr-ee-zing.

We had a great girls weekend coming out to dinner at Pink Godzilla's, a sushi restaurant, getting ice cream, going out to breakfast at Gayle's Bakery and just catching up on girl time!

Hard at Work

Most people Think that I get to travel and do allot of cool things, which I do. But, I want everyone to know that its not all fun and games. Its hard work. Just take a look at these pictures and you will see the hard work that goes into my job.

Ok ok I am bluffing but hey someone has to do it! I am currently on a site visit for a conference that we hold every year. This is Kessler Canyon Lodge in Colorado. The pictures are of the lakehouse lodge and the master suite that I stayed in for the night. Its a great place! Love you Sarah and Garrett, be home soon, I miss you!

TURKEY ADDICT

For the past 16 years, dad and I have been going to Colorado to chase elk almost every year. These animals weigh about 7oo lbs on the hoof and make a huge amount of noise. Well two years ago I found an animal (actually a bird) that is about 1/25th the size of an elk and make about 3x the noise that an elk does. You guessed it, wild turkeys. I have become addicted to chasing these birds ever since, and until yesterday I was batting 100% on harvesting them. But I guess the excitement was just to much to handle.

Now for all of those thinking that hitting one of these birds is easy with a shotgun, I proved yesterday that even at 10 yards you can miss, over and over and over again. Enjoy the clip, I guess its proof that even the great white hunter is unsuccessful sometimes.

Oh the other reason I like this type hunting is I am the one doing all the calling and setup, unlike most of the hunts I go on with Weatherby, I am the guide, outfitter and hunter. This hunt, was also proof of why I hunt, its for the chase not the killing like some might think!

Can't wait til next spring!

Joys of Pregnancy

I've had this pain in the lower area of my body that the doctors can only describe as pelvic pressure that is causing pelvic discomfort. Their solution is for me to try physical therapy. Then if that doesn't work, we will try bed rest. Oh please not bed rest!

I'm a little worried about the whole physical therapy thing, but it seems pretty non invasive. Well wish me luck, first appointment is on Monday morning. They wanted to be there at 8 a.m., but all that know me well, know that I would never be on time to anything that started at 8 a.m.

I'm rambling on...in the mean time I'm having pain standing or walking, hence the title of the blog "the joys of pregnancy".

The Growing Belly--Week 14

Finally starting to feel the baby move and kick! And only four more weeks until we find out if its a boy or girl!
This picture has nothing to do with the post, I just like this pic of my sweetie and I.

Shelli's Bridal Shower

Last weekend Mandi and I hosted a bridal shower for Shelli (Aaron's youngest sister). We had a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme. It was absolutely fabulous! Everyone dressed up in their black dresses and pearls. Shelli looked like a beautiful bride-to-be! We had chicken salad sandwiches, fruit kabobs and other yummy treats. We had a great time celebrating Shelli. The food, games and company was just perfect! Thanks to the guys for watching the kiddos, so we could just enjoy the shower!

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

TIRED IS AS TIRED DOES

Can you say I am tired. Garrett's actions speak louder then words. We took him to the pool yesterday and after a couple of hours he was just beat. We got home about 4pm and Garrett was sawing logs at 5pm. He was out! He didn't wake up this morning until 7:30. I guess its good to know that we still have enough energy to wear him out.

First Beach Day of the Year

Aaron has Fridays off so we headed to Avila Beach where the weather was 78 degrees, it was a beautiful day for a picnic and playing in the sand!