Friday, September 10, 2010

LA-bor Day Weekend

We didn't go far for Labor Day, but we didn't have to. With LA and family nearby, we managed to have one fantastic weekend.

It all started on Friday afternoon at
Rest & Relax Bodyworks where Kent and I got a couple's massage. Oolala. Way back in April, our friend let us know about these 80-minute massages for $37.50 each, so I bought two thinking we would use them after our Ragnar Relay. Well, I sort of forgot about them then randomly remembered them. Turned out the vouchers would have expired on October 1st, so we went to LA for a little R & R.

Side note: Massages are great, really, I'm a total sucker for them, but pregnancy massages aren't as good as the real deal. There's nothing like lying on your stomach so the masseuse can dig out the knots in your back, but I had to lie on my side. Like I said, still great, but not the same.


After that, with my greased down, lavender-scented hair, Kent and I decided to find the Kogi truck in Venice.


Kent printed out the schedule before we left home, so we knew where it was, more or less. At first, we didn't see the actual Kogi truck, but we saw several other food trucks. Apparently, Kogi isn't the only truck driving around LA offering sustenance. Everyone has one! Kent and I need to jump on this business opportunity. Anyway, I thought the food was good, but I don't know that it's worth all the hype. I can't say I'll be chasing that truck around in the near future, but I do want to check out the Grilled Cheese truck. Mmm.

After filling up on Korean BBQ and ice cream cookie sandwiches (with Red Velvet ice cream!) we drove to the Griffith Observatory. We've always talked about going there, but never found (or made) the time. Since we were doing a LA half day, it worked out perfectly.


Originally, we were going to listen to a lecture called "All Space Considered", but we were late and the auditorium was full. Full? Yes, full. So instead, we watched an awesome show in "the world's best" planetarium. (Kent said the brochure said something like that. I can't remember the exact wording, but it made it sound like it was the top dog of all planetariums. Unfortunately, I can only compare it to the planetarium in Salt Lake where I would occasionally go to watch laser light shows featuring Pink Floyd or U2. What else do you do when you're at BYU and you want to do something in the big city?) The show was really fantastic, so maybe it IS the best planetarium. Plus, the lighting was cool.


There's nothing like an observatory to get your mind thinking about life and what lies beyond. I definitely want to go again.

Not the best photo in the world, but pretty good for a camera phone. Good times were had on our LA Half Day and although we know we aren't LA Hipsters, it was fun to pretend.

On Saturday, we woke up too early. Kent got his hair cut (which, I must say, grows at an astounding rate) and I cleaned. I've decided it's better to clean every two weeks versus deep clean every month. Took me long enough to figure that one out. Better late than never. We then packed up our bags and three baskets of laundry (no washer and dryer in the apartment...boo) and headed to Claremont to watch the first half of our favorite college football team with Kent's parents. Shanon also let me borrow Mockingjay (thank you!) and I'm almost half way through. I can't get enough of the Hunger Games series.



We left at half time so we could see this little guy blow out his candles at my parents' house.


For McCray's 7th birthday we roasted hot dogs by the swimming pool and enjoyed some Nacogdoches cake. (I think someone told him not to eat the candle and his face sort of shows some confusion. I think he knew he could only lick the frosting, but the comment threw him off.) Kent also got to finish watching the game and we won! Go Cougars.

Sunday was Sunday. We went to church, ate pot roast, sat around the table and talked, played a crazy game of 21 (Ever tried chocolate covered raisins dipped in mayonnaise? Apparently, it's not too good.) and a few rounds of Pounce. Kent introduced that game to my family and I love it. I'm slow, but it's fun.


Monday, like Saturday, we woke up too early, but this time it was for a good cause. As tradition has it, we went to Oak Glen for a breakfast to benefit the local firefighters. The breakfast is good, but it's more fun to be in the little apple-growing community of Oak Glen. Everything is slower and everything literally revolves around apples.


I always stock up on my apple supply, but never finish it. I'm working on the cider and I plan on eating all of the apples whether by themselves or in something. Last night for dessert we had Applesauce Cake and it was pretty good. Thank you, Martha Stewart and Every Day Food.

The rest of the day was great: barbecuing, more talking, holding my sister's baby (he is an ANGEL baby...I want one like him), relaxing, and maybe doing a load of laundry here and there.


All in all, one wonderful weekend and a great last hurrah to summer.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

stretchy pants

Today, I graduated to stretchy pants.


No, I don't mean
those lovelies above, but I am wearing jeans with an elastic waistband.


What?! Who knew I'd be so grateful for such things.

My sister donated 4 bags of maternity clothes to my child-growing cause, so I am set for maybe the rest of my pregnancy. Kent's not too pleased about the new garbage bags littering our already crowded closet, but I am so grateful to have siblings who are done with their child-bearing years. I can't begin to tell you how much money we are saving thanks to their generosity. Maternity clothes? Check. Crib? Check. Rocking chair? Check.We even have a Johnny Jump Up. We feel lucky indeed, and quite prepared.

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy the elasticized freedom while it lasts because unfortunately (and fortunately), it won't last forever.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

grateful heart

Sickness seems to have befallen me as of late. It all started about a week and half ago on our way home from the West family reunion. Practically everyone got food poisoning or the flu of some type, and it didn't pass me by. The night before our 10 hour drive back to California, I spent my time throwing up in a hotel bathroom. Not the most pleasant experience, but we got through it.

Then, at the Sommer reunion, I came down with a cold. My nose was runny and I felt pretty tired-not too tired to enjoy lounging at the beach all day and playing games-but still tired. On Monday, my cold seemed to improve, but my nose felt inflamed and sensitive to the touch. Unfortunately, I recognized these symptoms. After getting a bad cold a few years ago, my nose felt the same way and I ended up getting a crazy staph infection. It was so gross looking. (I have pictures, but I'll spare you.) Turns out, I have the same infection and it kills. I kind of look like Rudolph or Bozo the Clown. Plus, my lymph nodes are swollen and painful with all the infection-fighting they're doing. To add to that, I keep worrying that the infection is going to hurt the baby and I wake up at 3 and 4 in the morning and have a hard time going back to sleep. Poor little baby, it didn't ask for any of this.


Here's where my grateful heart comes in: I was able to see an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor today which in itself was a welcome gift, but as I was waiting to cross the street to go to his office, I looked down beside me and saw a heart-shaped something on the sidewalk. At first glance I thought, "Oh, the aftermath of someone getting heart-attacked...fun." Then I looked closer and saw that it was a leaf that had broken in just the right places to look like a heart. I had to document that simple something. It made me happy, almost as happy as the doctor prescribing me oral and topical antibiotics that I HOPE clear the infection up without harming Baby Sommer.

Today, I am grateful for nature, modern medicine, insurance and hopefully, my health...in a few days. (Fingers-crossed!)

Monday, August 9, 2010

eight-nine-ten

It has been two years today-two years of wedded bliss that is-and I couldn't be happier to be married to Mr. Kent Merrill Sommer. He is such a good man: always constant, kind, deep, loving, forgiving, hilarious, intelligent, adventurous, insightful and of course, good-looking (blue eyes don't get much bluer, trust me). He rarely complains, does the dishes on a regular basis and joins me in watching Project Runway and So You Think You Can Dance. He's almost too good to be true.

The first year, I think we celebrated by doing something fancy, but I can't remember what. Maybe a nice dinner? This year, we're not doing anything too extravagant and my anniversary offering for Kent is under $5, BUT we did spend the morning together at a doctor's office listening to a little something that will make big changes in our lives (and no, it wasn't Kent's other lung collapsing-thank goodness!).

We aren't the best at making announcements, but we're happy to report that there's a Baby Sommer on the way, scheduled to arrive January 31, 2011. It's still unreal to us, but we're 15 weeks in and we heard a healthy heartbeat today so I think we better start believing. I've had some morning sickness, heartburn and other less than desirable pregnancy symptoms, but until my clothes don't fit and my waistline starts bulging more, it's hard to comprehend that we're actually having baby. Maybe a Kent, Jr.? Aww. We shall see.

We may not do the fancy dinner thing this year, but I WILL remember what we did on 8.9.10. Here's to things to come in 2011!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

violent victorians



Dave and friends are INTERNETionally known now. I hope this trailer becomes a real film. I know Kent and I would go see it.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

being two

This is my niece, Malia. She's two and says "no" to almost everything, but she is adorable. She loved spending time at Grandma's house just as much as I did. More summer shots coming soon.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

summer reading

I need a good book to read. Something I can lose myself in (that just reminded me of Eminem). It can be a classic, something modern, a biography...anything that keeps me engaged. Any suggestions? I am completely open.

If YOU happen to be looking for some great summer reading, I suggest the books below:

I recently finished Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games series, and I honestly read it in about 24-48 hours. I think I read the first one in about a day as well. I just couldn't put them down. They have me almost intrigued as the Harry Potter series, but that's tough to top. The third book comes out this summer, but...

I know there's time to squeeze something else in (as long as it's not Les Miserables or something).

Hope you're enjoying the summer weather. June gloom should disappear as of today, right? We'll see.