"Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain."

Life has definitely had us going this past week.

#1- We had something going on every day/night this week! Which was nice for me because it went by quickly and was a lot of fun! (FHE, missionaries, playgroup, yard work, watching 24, and helping friends move across town)

#2- Tuesday evening after we fed the missionaries, Jason and I went for our nightly run! ( I am training for a 5k we have coming up (my 1st one), so Jason is kind enough to run with me even though I'm a snail) After we got home and were ready to take showers, we discovered that we had no water!!! After trying every faucet in the house we decided to go check our line outside.
{of course since we are first time home-owners we have no idea what we are really looking for...except like someone digging up our yard where our pipeline is or something} Thankfully the neighbor was out checking her mail and told us what was going on. *Someone had hit a pipeline for the parish and lost 18 feet of pipe!! Thus the water shortage. It happened as we were feeding the missionaries apparently...less than an hour before our neighbor told us what was going on. Since that time...people dashed to Walmart, Winn Dixie, etc. and bought all the bottled water and jug water in Laplace!!! I had to go to Kenner the next day to get water. Thankfully we had some water the next morning for showers, dishes, and laundry, but we were under a boil water notice until last night!!!

#3- Thursday there was a shooting in our parish at a parking lot that was used to commute Valero plant workers back and forth to the job site. This parking lot is next to a HUGE trailer park where the shooters lived. They have 7 suspects arrested in this shooting. There is still speculation and no real reason stated in the news about the cause, but 4 police officers were shot and 3 of them passed away. One of the officers was not even on duty, but was close by so responded to the call.

*It makes me so sad and so confused at how someone/ some people can do things like this. I don't understand in your mind, how you could do something so awful and just know "hey I'm taking a life, I will probably go to jail for this or get the death penalty, but I am ok with it". I don't understand how someone can justify their actions enough to do something so terrible.

#4- On a happier note! This weekend has been so nice and relaxing and we have had a wonderful rain storm! I love it when it rains all day! I know we have needed it too since we are in the middle of a "drought" here in Louisiana hahaha. And, we broke our "piggy- bank" today. We decided to go out to Walmart and buy "The Hunger Games" movie (and Jason hasn't seen it yet), "The Lorax", and Keaton a spiderman comfy chair. He loves it! He has seen that his friend's Ben and Beth have them and he loves them so much we gave in and got him one. :) It looks like this rain won't keep us down! Movie weekend!!!

Olympics, Goodbye-birthday-FHE, Friends

Our fantastic new friends Aly and Michael Davis are so fun! We love hanging out with them. For the start of the Olympics, Aly and I decided like 3 hours before opening ceremony that we would get together and do an olympic party. I quickly used a table cloth and streamer that we used at Keaton's birthday party, and painted paper plates to look like the Olympic rings. We decided it would be fun to have an Olympic Country themed potluck. Aly and Michael brought Korea and American (watermelon), and Jason and I did France (french bread and cheese), and Mexico (flautas). Kinda silly, but it turned out fun!

Then, we had our own Olympics in teams on the xbox kinect :) It was fun and we are tied 1-1. We will have to have a re-match before the Olympics are over haha.

Then, during the opening ceremonies we had ice cream cones for dessert since they look like the Olympic torch.

The next biggest event that has gone one recently was Mica's birthday/farewell/FHE party with the Davis and Hall families. It was a surprise and Mica still had no idea...even with the birthday decorations...and people showing up telling her happy birthday...hahaha. I finally said "surprise!!!", and she responded "Oh! This is for me?!?!". "yes Mica, this is for you!". blahahaha

We have such fantastic friends! They came over and had FHE with us and celebrated Mica's birthday with yummy chocolate coma cake, played games, and said farewell. I know it meant so much to her and we had a good time! 

I gave the lesson for FHE and it was on Emergency Preparedness...both temporally and spiritually. It came from August's Ensign. Right as I was telling them how easy it was to have 72 hour kits and food storage, and how I for some reason in the past had always been like.. "food storage...whatever...i don't need that"...right as I said that a huge thunder shook the house and lightning struck right across the "lake" in our back yard! Haha! It definitely struck fear in our hearts and I know we will all think of food storage and emergency preparedness a little differently. We then had cake! And then played a couple rounds of Mafia (the card-ish game). So fun! I know Mica was so grateful! 

I miss all of our Jefferson ward friends. I am so glad that Robyn Loader came to visit me and catch up the other day. I am so glad she got  to go to Utah for a month long vacation in July, but I definitely missed her haha and am glad she is back !! I have to admit I have been in a sort of funk about going out and seeing people. I need to get out of my pitty party and set up some play dates! I love our new ward and my friends that I am making here. I am so grateful for all the wonderful people there are in the world! 

Sad... that is pretty much all that has been going on. Little things have been going on. Like Keaton's ear infection, and having to go see the nutritionist (on the 20th), rain, birthday party here for a friend, that is about it! haha 

Hardwick-Rich Reunion

So this weekend, we were originally supposed to be going to Colorado for my mom's family reunion. We were all so looking forward to it, but it all fell through....is it bad to say I'm kinda glad it did.....I had the best time with my family here this weekend!

They got here Friday morning-ish and we played outside, then Mica went back to Ashley's house with the kids she is nannying for the summer. While she was gone we watched a movie, hung out, sewed, made tie-dye t-shirts (for cheesy family reunion shirts), and made dinner. For dinner we had BBQ pork chops, pasta salad, and garlic bread; with devils food cake rolo cookies for dessert. Then Saturday...we headed out in our awesome tie-dye!!

We went to Gonzales, Louisiana to the Cajun Village, Outlet Malls, and Cabellas. The Cajun Village was fun....a little less fun and exciting in the pouring rain, but we had a good time. And...we saw us a gator!. We then, left to hit up some good sales at the Tanger Outlet Malls...and to eat at Sonic :)
                          {Poor Keaton on the way to the cajun village took a nap and woke up screaming!! We                       couldn't get him to calm down...we still don't know what was wrong. He is such a sweet baby and we can usually console him and make him happy quickly. This was a nightmare! We fought with him til bedtime that night!}
We all found great deals and great finds there :) Then, we went off to Cabellas.

This was my first experience at Cabellas. It is like a Bass Pro type shop on steroids! This is the Mall for hunters, fishers, campers, etc.! It was amazing! (Now I know why little 4 year old MaKayla Loader loves it so much!)......let me also say that our other plan was to do the whole zoo and aquarium new orleans thing, but with the rain we chose this plan....that didn't stop us from seeing a zoo and aquarium though...who knew Cabellas had one. We went in their aquarium and saw catfish as tall as Mica! We saw snapping turtles, other types of catfish, etc. Keaton loved it!! Then, we went to Cabella's "zoo" we saw tons of taxidermy animals....goats, bears, polar bears, mountain lions, mountain goats, prairie dogs, beavers, nutria, gators, deer, elk, moose, etc!! WOW!!!  Keaton, Lee Lee, and I did all this while the boys did their thing. It was great! And calmed Keaton down for a little while.

Then, we went back home for dinner. We had yummy bread mom brought down, along with alfredo for Amanda and Mica, and seafood pasta for me, mom (Lee Lee), dad (Pops), and Jason.  Yum!

Then, Sunday, Jason and I spoke. It went well and church was good. Everyone loved that our family was there and hopes they visit again soon...so do I.

We came home, took a family pic, ate yummy chicken spaghetti mom made, and then headed out to the French Market in downtown Nola. It was nice! We got some good sight seeing in, saw the cathedral, spiderman, and street dancers! We got to watch a street dancer show...they were pretty legit! And they were like comedians :) We saw a lady on stilts, a dude with a parrot, a live statue civil war-ish dude, spiderman (keaton got a pic with him :) )................

, how to make bengiets, and lots of colorful people. It was good. Then, we came back home and mom, dad, and Amanda had to leave. :( I miss them already!



THEN.... Mica, Jason, Aly and Michael Davis, and I watched the season finale of the Bachelorette!! And Jeff "won"!!! YAY!!! He is so great and I am so happy for them! This was my first Bachelorette season...and I think I'm hooked! haha

Birthday, House Warming, Life in LaPlace

This past week has been a blurr! I know when I was pregnant, I had an excuse for not remembering things and life being foggy (and I don't think my brain has come back), but I don't have much of an excuse for not remembering things anymore. I am going to do my best to cover everything. There were some pretty hilarious things that happened this weekend!

1) Keaton had his 1st birthday party! I can't believe he is already 1 :) He is so grown up now-so he thinks-by the way he pushes me away when I try to kiss him or help him hahaha. Anyways! His party was wonderful! The decorations turned out great, the food was good, almost all of his little friends were there, the games and pinata turned out well, and I think everyone had a pretty good time. Pinterest definitely made this day a success, along with Jason, and all of our friends!! Thanks everyone! I think our pictures say it all...

So the funny stories: a) Keaton picked all his gummies off his turtle cupcake very daintily and ate them first, then swiped the icing off with his hand and licked it all off, and then finally dug into the cupcake haha

 b) the pinata was a pull string pinata (which I made (it's supposed to be a squid), and had never really heard of before). Lets just say that...it was indestructible...we all pulled the ribbon and the whole thing fell down off the hook. Then we flipped it upside down and tried to pull the ribbon in all different directions to rip it apart. Then, when that didn't work...the kids started beating it and ripping it open. Hahaha Jason got it on video and I can't wait to see it. 

c) Keaton got this awesome bath-time basketball set..little squirter basketballs that you shoot into the net that is suctioned to the tub. Poor guy didn't even get to play with it, much less open it, before the big kids got to it....

....big kids meaning daddy, david, and michael!!! Poor kid just stood and watched. blahahaha

ooooohhh...I would say it was all a success though! We then even went out to eat at New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood for dinner. Here we got good food, Keaton got his own ice cream cone, we learned that there is "mario cart" race car events, and that women who compete in the "Women's Crossfit Games"...really look like men. Hard to take your eyes off that.....

Our "House-Warming" party went well too. We had wonderful friends and neighbors who stopped by and took the grand tour of the house and had some dessert. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends!!! 

Blogging Day 3:

It has definitely been an eventful 48 hours. Not super eventful, but I do have more to blog about than I did Tuesday.

Tuesday, July 3rd, we just hung out at home until we went to Metairie for fireworks at Lafreniere Park. We decided to go to town a little early and go to walmart in Kenner since our walmart here did not have any pools (we wanted to get a kiddie pool for Keaton's birthday party). Got a pool and a sprinkler after contemplating in walmart for about an hour. (haha) Then, we went to eat at my favorite fastfoodish place...Raising Canes!! It was so delicious and our child picked up some new girlfriends there, so I say it was a success. Then, we went on to the fireworks at the park. We took a side street into a neighborhood, which we later named "little Cuba", and found a perfect curbside parking space right at an entrance to the park. The park was great! Not too hot, not too crowded, there was music, and it was still light outside. We met the Holmes, Van Wynens, and the Manueles there, along with Mary Veazy. It was fun getting to chat with Angie about her pregnancy and answer baby questions that she had. Then, the fireworks were AMAZING!!! Some of the best that I have ever seen!!! They had different types that I have never seen before, and the finale was wonderful! I wish I had taken video of it. Keaton didn't like the fireworks at first, but then later enjoyed them more from the safety of mommy's arms and lap. He was so tired when they were through though that he laid down on the grass (after we folded up our blanket) and about fell asleep. Our parking spot turned out to be the best in getting us out quickly also. We didn't have to wait at all...unlike last night!!!

So, Wednesday (4th of July), we just hung out around the house, went for a walk around the neighborhood, met our neighbors, went to Aly and Michael Davis's house (our new buddies)...with Mica too :)...and played clue before heading to the Hall's house for a BBQ. Clue was fun. I totally ruined the game! I was halfway playing because Keaton was screaming his little head off the whole time (he has decided since we moved in that he only 'needs' 1 nap a day....he is sadly mistaking!), so I wasn't paying much attention and definitely ruined the game. I didn't speak up saying that I had a card to disprove the accusation and well...people were upset when their accusation wasn't correct haha. Sorry Aly, Michael, Jason, and Mica hahaha Then, we went over to the Hall's for some excellent BBQ!! I mean they went all out on meat! It was sooooo good!!!! And then the fireworks weren't too bad either. We did have to wait 45 min to get out of the parking lot though and that was a nightmare!!!

And then, last night Jason got sick...all night! Poor guy has the flu I think. So, he has been quarantined to the bedroom for the day. Keaton and I feel fine..and Mica too...and I hope it stays that way!

I did make a trip to walmart this morning...definitely used the men's restroom and didn't realize it til I left and walked past the urinals. Then my next thought wasn't "I'm so embarrassed...I just used the men's restroom", it was "Why are there unirnals in here? I must be using a 'family' restroom". As I left the restroom I heard people laughing so I looked at the sign and there was for sure a man on it. I used the men's restroom....oh well.... haha Then, as I was leaving the store, I totally got checked out....by a girl! I didn't think I looked that manly today...ugh....blahahah

Blogging Day 2:

So, I am still not sure how to do this blog thing, so I just posted my link to my facebook. Hopefully now people will be able to see it, read it, and help me hahaha!

Today not too much is happening. We are just unpacking, babysitting, and hanging out. We will go to a park tonight to watch fireworks and hang out with friends from church. I am going to create my invitations to Keaton's birthday party, and our housewarming party today! :) so excited! I can't wait to post my ideas on here :)

So, I started watching the Bachelorette this season with the girls at church. Last night was so intense with the "homecoming dates". I feel bad for Chris, but I am so glad he is going home! I know it is just going to get more intense from here hahah and I can only hope that Jeff pulls out in the end. I am rooting for him!!!

That is really all that I have for today. Kind of pitiful I know...hopefully I will get more exciting!

Figuring out how to blog

Hello Everyone!


So I am completely new and oblivious on how to blog! I have had the hardest time getting this set up haha (I definitely need advice and a tutor haha)! I started this blog to be able to keep up with...life! I want to use it like a journal. I have read some of my friends blogs that are hilarious! I can only hope that I can mike mine somewhat interesting and enjoyable. 


Here it goes.....


Our little family just moved in to our first home this past weekend! I was very proud and impressed that we loaded the truck, moved, and unloaded within 3 and a half hours! It is all thanks to the missionaries from Jefferson Ward and La Place Ward, my parents, Olaniyi (Jason's intern), and Mo! Thank yall soooo much for all of your help! We are now getting settled in and trying to unpack! Thankfully Jason has taken the whole week off to help me get everything taken care of. We are so excited to be home-owners! 


We did have our first house warming "incident" this morning when we woke up. Apparently, when I went to the bathroom at like 5:15 this morning after nursing Keaton, the "return water valve" in our toilet somehow came out of the pipe and was spraying out. We woke up to a soaked bathroom floor! Our bath mat, and carpet leading into the walk in closet was soaked! Youtube saved the day and let us know what we needed to do to fix it, and handy man Jason did the repairs! So proud of him!! 


I am also starting to babysit sweet baby Logan Scott this week. I will have him until around December. He is 6 weeks old and about 12 lbs of cuteness! Keaton has been napping or gone with Jason the whole time Logan has been here today, so I haven't seen how he will react to my attention having to be divided. 


That is about all that is going on today. Much more will be happening this week that I can post about later! We will have 4th of July BBQs, sending out Keaton birthday party invitations and House Warming party invitations, hopefully some family fun, and of course more unpacking!


(I hope my first blog post was a success!)


Jaime