Happy Birthday Stephen!

Dear Stephen,

I wanted to wish you a very happy 33rd Birthday!

I know you're not a fan of birthdays, but here is a reminder of how fun each coming year is and how much fun we have to look forward too! So have a wonderful birthday, eat lots of cake, and enjoy yourself every minute!

Love,

Your Beau

Daddies first moments holding baby Jack and being such a proud Popi!

Michael, Stephen and Bill showing off their real true loves at the shooting range.

Exploring the world with me in Poland, one atrium at a time:)

Awesome canyoneering in Right Fork Canyon, right before we found out we were having Jack

Friday Night Lights

I bought this little toilet for Jack on Saturday, and, proud mommy moment, he went pee-pee in it the very first time we sat him down! Jack ripped his diaper off and Stephen took him to the toilet, he sat him down, pointed to his pee-pee and said go pee-pee Jack, and Jack did! There was lots of cheering, we are so proud of our little smarty pants!

We were able to have a great family outing on Friday night. We first went to feed the ducks, I think it was a little late for the ducks, since they weren't very excited about eating, Jack would hold out bread for them, and then after a few seconds, he would eat it himself.

Next, there was a little playground right close to the duck pond. Jack had a blast climbing up the 'rock walls' and going down the slides. He even started pushing himself off the slides! It was such a fun evening!

Day at the Zoo

Saturday we spent a day at the Zoo with Babunia. It was so much fun! Jack was very interested in everything, and for the most part thought that all the animals should 'moo'. He did learn how to 'who - who' at the owls, and then explored the playground with great interest, and speed, going from one caterpillar, to ladder, to turtle, etc.

We took the choo choo train around the park. Before we started it was very hard to keep Jack still, but once the train got going, Jack had so much fun!

We saw the 'ghost of the bayou' the albino alligator. He always looks like a big glow in the dark gummy bear to me, Jack's favorite part was the spinny wheel outside of the exhibit.

Next we saw the giraffes, and then the carousel. Jack was pretty tired by the time we got to the carousel, but once he saw it, he slithered out of his stroller and went running. After we got done with one ride, he wanted to do it again, it took a lot of manpower to drag him away:)

And finally the elephant exhibit. This huge beast was lots of fun to sit on!

After our super fun day, I thought Jack would be willing to go to sleep. But after 45 minutes of him running up and down on the bed, I put him in his crib. He usually cries in his crib until he is taken out, I can only stand about an hour of that, you'd think he'd fall asleep. Well, this time he lasted a full 3 minutes, when he climbed out! Well, climbed up and fell down. Poor guy was in such shock that he fell asleep fast after that, but now we can no longer use the crib since he's learned how to get out, and it's on it's lowest setting! I've tried putting him in for a few minutes since, but he goes straight up, and that's just to dangerous.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my dad's 54th birthday. I just wanted to take a moment to remember some good times that we had together. Our family is and has always been very close. My parents loved (and love) us so much, they never went on dates or vacations on their own. We always had all our adventures together. We miss you dad!

This first picture is the four of us having dinner with friends while we still lived in Alabama. (Shortly after moving to the states)

This is dad looking ever so handsome on one of his many business trips.

These pictures are dad showing Ada and I butterflys, with our little guinea pig, and caring me on his shoulders (my favorite place:)) in a zoo.

My parents made the best couple ever. They always worked together as a team, and loved each other and us very much.

Jack's First Independent Hike- 7/25

I have to say, I am such a proud mommy! On Friday afternoon, one day before Jack turned 13 months, I decided to see how he would do hiking. So mom and I went on our favorite little walk to the apple tree in her neighborhood. It is a mile round trip, not too far, but for little legs it's quite an adventure. Well, Jack made it all the way to the apple tree by himself! No stroller, no backpack, no carrying! He stopped everyonce in awhile to see the rocks, pick up his adored nuk, and so on, but when mom and I would begin skipping, or pretending to be airplanes he would start laughing and running after us. I carried him home, but he did manage a full 1/2 mile all by himself!

Our lovely dog Chase was able to distroy Jack's swimming pool during this last week, so since the heat of summer is still going strong, I went out and found this adorable froggy. Jack likes it so much more than his old one! Especially because there is this cute spouting system on the front lip that he gets to play with.Here is Jack playing in his TeePee. We like to play peek-a-boo in and out of it.

I have been trying for several months now to get a shot of Jack's teeth. No easy task! All four came in about the same time, and finally I was able to get my shot!

Orem Small Business Development Center

Since I have switched jobs a few months ago I have had many questions as to what I do. This article just came out about our business. I thought it would be a good way to introduce you to my co-workers and what the Small Business Development Center does.

Photo by Michael Rigert The Orem Small Business Development Center, located just west of Utah Valley University, assists startup business owners and entrepreneurs to navigate the often treacherous waters of becoming self employed. Among the center's staff are (left to right) consultant Marynika Miche, managing director Ken Fakler and consultant Laurie Ann Thomas.

With the economic turmoil depleting personal finances, displacing employees and forcing some to seek new career paths, more and more Utah County residents are turning to self-employment to support themselves and their families. Floralyn Martinez, a master hair stylist for 17 years, researched the possibility of opening her own salon last summer. It was at that time that she came into contact with the Orem Small Business Development Center located just west of Utah Valley University. She didn't have a clue about the steps to starting her own business.
"I'm an artist behind the chair, but I'm computer illiterate," she said. "I was either going to start up my own place or go to another salon."
A free resource provided to entrepreneurs, startup businesses and existing merchants, the Orem Small Business Development Center is one in a network of such centers across the state tasked with not only helping the self-employed get into business, but stay in business, said Ken Fakler, the Orem center's managing director.
Funded through the Small Business Administration, the state of Utah and Utah Valley University, the Orem center assists clients in applying for SBA loans, putting together a business plan, doing market research and strategies, and learning the nuts and bolts of business ownership. It serves clients in both Utah and Wasatch counties.
Martinez said Fakler and Orem center consultant Laurie Ann Thomas taught her how to write up a business proposal, where to find resources and apply for funding, and how to navigate the often treacherous waters of self employment.
In October, Martinez and her husband, Marcos, opened Katumba's Day Spa and Salon, 1015 S. State St. in Orem, which offers a wide range of services from hair styling, massage therapy, skin care and aesthetics. Their salon employs a full staff of stylists and therapists, and business is slowly but steadily increasing, she said.
"Ken is absolutely incredible and knows what he's talking about," Martinez said. "It was a huge, huge help. I would say they are a major aspect of getting me started."
With the housing slump and high gas and food prices hurting businesses and residents, Fakler said the center has seen a large influx of clients in recent months. From the newly unemployed to people looking to earn some income on the side, the center's clients come from all walks of life and range from college-age students to people in their 70s.
The center supports clients who own businesses with dozens of employees to stay-at-home moms who want to take their eBay sales to the next level.
The center works with about 35 to 40 new businesses a month, or nearly 500 per year. About 50 percent of the center's clients are women, Thomas said.
"It's really an entrepreneurial area," she said.
Because approximately 80 percent of small businesses go under in the first five years, the center stresses the importance of formulating a strong business plan and funding options as well as forming a long-term relationship with owners to continue to provide advice as their companies grow. The center also offers free classes on a variety of related topics taught by professionals.
"We have very, very few businesses that go broke if they're doing the things we ask them to do," Fakler said.
Just two weeks ago, Martinez said Fakler stopped by her salon to inquire about her business's progress and see if there was anything he could do to help. Without the assistance of resources like the Orem Small Business Development Center, she doubts if she would have taken the risk of living out her dream.
"I would have probably ended up going to another salon," she said. "I wouldn't have had the guts to try to go out on my own."
For more information about the Orem Small Business Development Center and the services it offers, contact the center at (801) 863-8230, send an e-mail to

Pioneer Day

Today we decided to have a bundle of fun! After taking a nice walk with Claudine and Gavin, we all headed up to the Thanksgiving Point Discovery Gardens. The boys had a blast playing in Noah's Arc. Gavin is into a smelling phase and kept wanting to smell all the flowers, which was super sweet, and Jack wanted to hold my hand and drag me around everywhere. I love this phase of total mommy attachment:) After the water section, we decided to see the rest of the gardens, going through the tunnels, climbing up the lighthouse ladder, and greeting the iron ducks. I think we wore both boys out sufficiently well. Jack slept all the way home and is still napping. A very nice way to spend Pioneer Day.

This is a little clip from one of Jack's favorite books, 'Moo, Baa, La La La'. He anticipates one part so much, and reads along with me. Listen closely, I love it!