A Shady Deal

So we needed to fill up the other day and we found a gas station who's sign said $4.15 a gallon. This is not a spectacular price but we were on empty and the other gas stations around it had the same price so we pulled in and filled up the tank. When it was done pumping and the reciept printed, Trent noticed that we had paid $4.20 a gallon instead. He went into the cashier to explain the over charge and the cashier told him to look closer at the sign. in tiny little letters, only legible if you are feet from the sign, it read "cash". So you only got that gas at $4.15 a gallon if you paid in cash. RIP OFF!!! I think that is so shady especially in a time where gas prices are outrageous and hurting everyone to advertise like that. And who has over $50 in cash off hand to get gas? Blah. I need a bike.

And for all you Twilight fans out there, I hope Jocob gets the girl! :) Can't wait for the new book! Happy Reading.

Happy 3 Years!

Trent and I have been married for three years now! It's our Anniversary today! We met through a very blind date through the Institute in October 2004 and were married 9 months later. We have had such a wonderful 3 years with my graduation, moving to student housing, vacations, holidays, Trent getting into nursing school, having a sweet little girl, and making wonderful friends. Thanks to everyone who has made these years so fun and enjoyable! We look forward to many, many more and are excited to see what they will bring.

Pearls and Pregos

On our recent trip to the pier at Redondo Beach we went to a little pearl shop where they let you pic an oyster from a tank and they open it and you get the pearl inside. Sometimes they are big, sometimes small, sometimes black, sometimes white, sometimes there are two or three instead of the usual one. And what's interesting is that you can't tell what size/shape/color of pearl you are going to get by looking at the outside of the oyster. Some big ones have small pearls; some small ones have big pearls. And thinking about how pearls come to be: a very small particle of sand gets into the oyster and it irritates it, and the oyster coats the sand over and over with its "saliva" and over time you get a beautiful, one of a kind, pearl.

I have had the privilege of being around some beautiful pregnant women lately. And I think that they are like Oysters making pearls. Hear me out. It all starts with a small little "particle" and the mothers body makes it into a beautiful baby. Sometimes that little "particle" irritates/makes the mother sick/uncomfortable. And when I look at these wonderful pregnant women, I think, "I wonder what their pearl will look like?" You can't tell by looking at the outside of the woman how big the baby is (most of the time. . I was HUGE and Jane was small.) or the shape or the unique characteristics that the baby will have. But each woman produces their own beautiful, one of a kind, pearl. So long story short. . .that's what I think about now when I see a pregnant woman waddling around: what will her pearl look like? I love the way that God works!


Oh, and if you are wondering. . . .I am NOT pregnant, just admiring those that are :)

California Vacation! Whoo Hoo!

Hello all, we just got home from our weeklong family vacation in California and it was a blast! We left last Saturday night and drove straight through to L.A. My Grandma lives in LA county about a 1/2 mile from the beach so we were able to stay with her. Trent's birthday was on Monday so we celebrated at the beach. He rented a surf board and Jane and I dug holes in the sand. It was a marvelous way to spend his Birthday :) The rest of the week we went to the beach (almost every single day), strolled the baordwalk at Venice Beach observing the strange folks, bought bamboo in Chinatown, and cut open an oyster for a pearl at the pier at Redondo Beach. Jane loved the beach--digging in the sand, squashing Trent's castles, and yelling at the waves. She even started walking more and more as the week went on. Trent did go to the beach everyday (sometimes while Jane and I were taking a nap) and got to be quite the surfer/skim-boarder/body-surfer. The guy is part fish, I'm convinced. And I loved shopping at the little trinket shops in Venice and Chinatown and soaking up the sun. It was a wonderful visit and we already miss the care-free atmosphere. Darn that reality and responsibility! :) Here are some pictures from the week

Jane's first view of the beach. . .at 5:30 am after driving all night

Trent the surfer-bum Bassett enjoying his birthday! Happy Brithday, Love!

Jane and Trent making a sandy creature. . .yikes!

Sand-Baby Jane noticing that she may be bit dirty. . .

Picking oranges from Great Grandma's tree. They are the juiciest oranges I have ever tasted!

Venice Beach. What a crazy place!

Chinatown. . .the food there is GREAT and the shopping is a blast but the traffic getting to/from there is a nightmare!

Jane and Great-Grandma Larsen. Two happy girls!

Walking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane is starting to really walk!! She has been standing up on her own for a while now but she will either just stand there or take a step and fall down. Today, for reasons unknown to both Trent and I, she jsut started walking! She would pull a magnetic letter off the fridge and then walk across the kitchen with it until she fell. Then she'd get back up and go for another letter. She was going strong there for a while and as soon as I got the camera (it was temporarily lost) she stopped. But we were still able to catch a bit of it on film. Go Jane!! We are so proud of you!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!

Here's hoping that everyone had a great 4th of July! We had a blast this year. It started with a bang the night before when our bro-in-law accidentally ran a motorcycle into the side of a blazer. He went to the ER and found out that he'd broken his collar bone. Poor guy! the next morning we went with Trent's family to Utah lake for a day of swimming, jet skiing, and boating. Jane loved the water except when we made her wear a life jacket. Trent spent very little time on land affirming to us that he is indeed part fish. And I tried wake boarding!! I didn't make it up, but at least I tried. Then when we got back to the boat dock, I was trying to step from the boat to the dock and the boat moved a bit and I totally biffed it!! I have bruises up and down my leg and on my hip. Ahh, good times! Later that night Trent, Jane, and I went to Sugarhouse park to watch the fireworks. They were beautiful but we left before the grand finale to beat traffic and get to bed. What a wonderful holiday!

Jane and I swimming in the water

Trent wake boarding. He does tricks!

I almost got up. . .just not quite there.Jane enjoying fireworks at the park!