Happy weekend!! The warm weekends here in Cali just make summer sound so sweet! I cant wait for summer this year, we have many trips planned and family coming in from Washington!
I especially cant wait because Ill have a lil runt that we can take around and show him what summer is all about : ) Here are some old pics of summers the past couple years! Ah, they make me happy! Cody and I are off to lunch & running around town! Have a good weekend! Xo, Tal

Spring is almost here!

Even though I'm 8 months pregnant, my LOVE for online (clothes) shopping still greatly exists! Spring is in full bloom and I'm lovin the 75 degree weather here in Cali! Cant wait for this baby to pop out so I can get back into some cute clothes! Here are some of my favorite Spring Steals!

Now I'm off to do some Easter Shopping!
Have a Fab day!
xoxo,
Tal

Almost time!

All of the "busyness" of the past couple months has been great! The January Birthday party was great! It was Cody's 25th Birthday and his mom got him a huge basket of 25 things ! Anything to do with 1985, being 25years old, 25th anniversary.. etc.. It was pretty cool : ) I Cant believe he is 25 already. Seems like yesterday we just graduated high school, running around the city, and being youngly engaged. Crazy how time flies! Cant wait for more birthdays, growing old with him. Hes my love <3.>

So February was pretty hectic! With Competitions, to baby showers, to birthdays. Every weekend was filled with some event! My baby showers were amazing! I got so many fabulous gifts! Big thanks to everyone who came and celebrated with me! Cody and I got a chance on Valentines Day for some time to ourselves! We had a lunch date, and went to a movie! Saw Dear John. Good movie,bad ending. Heard the book was way better! But...Any movie with Channing Tatum is a movie worth seeing : ) With the baby showers over, we have organized Brody's room and got everything put together! This kid has so many clothes! I swear he has one onsie for everyday, hes probably not going to wear the same onsie twice. LOL. They are all so cute and I can imagine snuggling him in them I dont want to take any of them back! Oh well, he can be a fashionisto already! haha...

King Shower, Grandma Rube, Mom, Carrie, Shan, Me, Helena & Sister Chantel.

Mama Belly!
Chantel and I ,first shower.

: )

Mom & I.

Ill have to post pictures of his nursery!

February we also celebrated my dads 57th and Levis 14th Birthdays! We hung out at home for my dads birthday and got Mcdonalds for dinner,(hes a home body & MickeyD's is his fav) It was a great way to ring in a new bday! For Levis, we went to D&B and played some games, and ate some dinner! Now that hes 14, no more chuckie cheese, on to bigger and better things like Dave & Busters. Haha, too funny.

Now that March is here we are in full swing baby mode! Ive been having my daily Braxton Hicks and its crazy how the time is almost here. Im anticipating it so much, I just wish he would come now! Everyday I just think what i my water breaks, what if I start bleeding (placenta privia), what if I just start contracting. It seems like my head is going to explode thinking about when this baby is going to actually come! I have an appt. next week and and ultrasound after that. I do have minor placenta privia, so they are checking up with an ultrasound in 2 weeks. If I still have it then I go in the next week for a C-Section! AH 3 weeks, I could be having him! They dont want me going into labor with placenta privia so I would mark in my little black book, having a baby! Haha, so crazy! I really just want him to be here already! But I know I just need to relax and wait and savor this time to myself. : ) But its still hard! lol.

So this weekend was a very fabulous relaxing weekend. We cuddled on the couch last night, eating snacks and watching the Oscars. That's one of my fav things to do with him! Just relax! Cody and I have been picking up everything we need for the baby lately. It seems like we live at Babies R Us and the Bub isn't even here yet. But we finally got everything , so we think, and we are officially ready for him! So this weekend maybe we can not take a trip running around & shopping

and just relax together before he comes. Ah , sounds so nice!

Hopefully I can come on here one more time before he comes! Or maybe my next post he will be here ! : ) Until then....

Much Love,

Tal

Its been awhile...

So I guess the Holidays got a little to busy for me to be on here blogging my life away! Haha. We were definitely busy indeed. When you have a family of 20 and they all are off work for 2 weeks and are all in the same house for 2 weeks, things get a little busy and time consuming! But it is The best kind of time!

So December was mainly spent shopping with my sister everyday until we finished getting ALL of our gifts. It seemed like we were so used to just going out everyday and spending everything that we just started buying everything...stuff people really didn't need. haha... its okay though, splurging is only okay for Christmas right? RIGHT. And of course December was filled with family gatherings!

I also went to my routine doctors appt at the end of December. They say this time it looks like my placenta is too close to my cervix, so I had to have 2 ultrasounds to snap some pics and wont know the results until my January appt. *Keeping fingers crossed* If I do have placenta privia it will be long days and nights of a whole lot of nothing! Boo. : ( Sounds so not fun, but I will definitely do what I gotta do! Praying everything will be okay!

January has been great so far! We had a great new year! My preggo butt fell asleep at 10:30 and Cody had to wake me up to give me my news years kiss. Haha, So sweet. We just hung out at home on new years with the family, ordered pizza , wings and watched movies. It was fab.

We just celebrated my moms 54th Birthday! My sisters and I pitched in and got her practically everything. We got her, HER OWN ipod touch. Everyone in my family has one and she has been addicted to playing games on everyone Else's, so that was a perfect gift for her!

We have a busy month and a busy year this year! Ive never been so excited for a year like this one! 2010 I have high hopes for ya! Ive been getting my baby shower together, getting my girls ready to compete in San Jose next weekend, We have out annual January Birthday dinner coming up with the King family. Theres 4 bdays in one week so we celebrate them with one big dinner! Im so excited for this year mainly because of the baby. I cant wait for this little bun to come! I really think his time to come is the perfect time! My due date is in April, so Ill have enough time to get to the gym to be ready for summer! Haha, is that sad Im already thinking about that..

Im excited to spend summer with our boy, going to the beach, camping trips, then his first holidays will come and he will be somewhat old enough to enjoy them! Ah, I cant wait. I hope everything until then goes Well. Im nervous and really excited at the same time. I just hope everything will go smoothly with delivery!

Ok so, I think Ive blabbed enough. Ill come back soon and update ! Hopefully sooner than later!
Ciao!

Tal

Thankful.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! One of my favorite Holidays! Thanksgiving and Christmas ( the holidays ) is my favorite time of year! Being surrounded by family and loves ones is the ultimate gift. I have so much to be thankful for this year so bare with me as I jot them all down! : )
I am thankful for my husband, not only because he treats me like a Queen but I am so lucky to have him. I am Thankful for our growing love and devotion to one another, and knowing that it will only get stronger.
I am thankful for my family, The craziness, the full house, the kids, the loudness,the love, I wouldn't change it for the world.
I am thankful for my parents, letting Cody and I stay with them while Cody gets going in his business. If it wasn't for them I don't know where we would be.
I am thankful for getting pregnant and having a healthy pregnancy (so far)! I am thankful that it is a BOY! I always wanted a boy first. : )
I am thankful for my spicey girl who never fails to make me smile everyday.
I am thankful for my fellow staff members who make the long nights at the gym always memorable.
I am thankful for the kids I coach, always working hard, wearing their heart on their sleeves.
I am thankful for my angel boy shoogies. This holiday is his day and it will ALWAYS remind me of what he accomplished for Cody and I and always remind me We would not be where we are today without him.
I am thankful for my grandma being in town for thanksgiving. I know shes going through alot with her pain and sickness, but holds it back and still comes down to see her "favorite" grand kids! :)


Okay now some little things I am so thankful for .. ahh.
Caffeine free coke, for my pregnant coke cravings.
Forever21.com
My rebel camera, I can shoot everyday life in style !
headbands.
bobby pins.
Sundays.
cute boots.
stuffing.
lemonade.
Victoria gardens.
Victoria secret sweat outfits.

I hope everyone has a fabulous Thanksgiving!!!
Much love,Tal

Gingerbread men.

Gingerbread men have always been a big part of christmas for me! I remember in elementary school my school would have the annual "find the gingerbread man" game during christmas! It was always my favorite! The little guys always bring me some Christmas spirit! This year I want to start a tradition and spread some christmas cheer to loved ones!

Ingredients [metric]
•3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
•3/4 cup sugar
•3/4 cup unsulphured molasses
•1/4 cup water
•1/2 teaspoon salt
•1/2 teaspoon baking soda
•2 teaspoons ground ginger
•2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
•1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
•1/4 teaspoon allspice
•1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
•3 1/4 cup flour

Royal Icing
•1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
•Either:
◦1 large egg white
◦equivalent meringue powder and water
•1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
•1/4 teaspoon orange extract
•paste or gel food coloring (optional)

Directions
In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until fluffy. Stir in the molasses and water. In a medium bowl whisk together the remaining ingredients. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, stirring constantly. Divide the dough in half and flatten to a round disk. Wrap each disk in plastic wrap and chill overnight. (You can freeze half or all of it if desired for later use.)

The next day
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and lightly grease your cookie sheets. On a lightly floured surface roll out one of the disks, leaving the other chilled. Roll to a 1/4 inch thickness, adding more flour if needed. Cut the cookies into desired shapes and place about an inch apart on the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 6-10 minutes depending on the size of the cookies. Cookies should be firm but not browned. Reroll the scraps and continue to cut and bake until the dough is gone. Cool the cookies on the cookie sheets for three minutes, then remove to wire racks to finish cooling. Frost if desired with royal icing and let dry for 24 hours. Store in airtight containers.

Royal Icing
Traditionally egg whites are used in making royal icing, but because of concerns about salmonella I have switched to using meringue powder. While more expensive than an egg white, the icing comes out perfect every time and there is no need to worry about letting children or the elderly enjoy the cookies. It is very important not to overbeat this icing as it can (and will) break down. You can use the icing white, or tint it using paste or food colors. Liquid food colors will make the icing too watery - unless you are using meringue powder and substitute some of the food coloring for the water.

In a large bowl beat the powdered sugar, egg white, cream of tartar, and orange extract on medium high speed for 5 minutes. Check and see if you can form peaks with a teaspoon. If you cannot, beat at a higher speed for a minute more and check again. Beat and check at thirty second intervals until the peaks will form. Tint icing with food coloring if desired.

18 weeks & catching up!

Haven't been on in quite awhile! Yesterday was my first day @ 18 weeks! I am finally over the nausea, and slowly gaining some weight! I lost 13 pounds and have gained back 2! Yayyyyy, haha. I have been busy hanging out with my Grandma and making my Christmas Cards! Ill post pictures of those bad boys later! My Grandma is in town from Kennewick, WA. She comes down once a year for about a month for Thanksgiving or Christmas! I gotta soak in my yearly time with her! Today she is staying with my sister, so I have some extra time! : )

We find out what we are having on Monday the 23rd. We are so anxious/excited!! I think its a boy.. but my family swears its a girl. They are going to be surprised when its a lil man. Haha. A couple days ago I felt the baby for the first time! It is the craziest feeling. I actually got scared and jumped the first time it popped me in the belly, haha. Now, I wait for those little pops & flutters all day just so I know my little bun is doing okay! : ) Cody has warmed up to me now that Im starting to show and the baby is starting to move. I swear he is just like his dad, he thinks its "alienish" that I have a baby inside me. Its quite hilarious the things he thinks and says. A baby is definitely a new and different experience for him. (Ive been around them with my 3 sisters since i was 9, baby shmayby.) Just glad this one is mine : )

So once I find out what we are having I want to start a project. I want to make the baby some cute baby blankets. I have no idea where to start, but with the help of google and Joann's I'm sure I can figure it out...hopefully.

We have a busy month coming up! Jaydens Birthday party, my doc appt, Thanksgiving, BLACK FRIDAY ( yes!) , Open house (FIERCE), our first competition, thoroughbred, Christmas cookies, Legend in Vegas, Christmas Eve & Christmas! Ah, this is the BEST time of year! I love it. Im so glad we got our tree up 2 weeks ago : ) I can come home after shopping , wrap the presents right away and get the under the tree for as long as possible! I wish it was the Holiday season all year long!

Well I think Ive caught up enough for now, Ill be back Sooner than later !
<3 Tal