The Bains

new site!

2011-05-22T17:16:00.002-06:00

my photography has a new blogsite! check it out at justacrushphotography.com (no more blogspot address.)

Can you help?

2011-05-17T21:55:00.000-06:00

Hey guys, some of you may know that i'm dabbling in photography. I want to be able to help capture special moments and especially for families in need. If any of you know a child/baby who has a life threatening illness/sickness, please let them know that I offer free photography. I just want to help families remember the precious smiles, dimples, etc.

You can email me at abongbain@yahoo.com for more info.

Check out my photography page Just A Crush Photography

My little girl is 3 months!

2011-05-05T23:12:00.000-06:00

Check out my photography blog on the right -->

just a link.

2011-04-18T01:06:00.000-06:00

just getting into photography a little. take a gander at my blog here.

thanks!

Just a bunch of pictures.

2011-03-17T03:06:00.000-06:00

here are some photos from when tatum was 1 week. mindy young was the photographer. she is amazing but has decided to put off photography to spend more time with her kids, so sorry folks you can't book with her anymore...

I hate blogging sometimes

2011-02-15T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ok I have NOT been a good blogger. But here goes the recap since June!
1) Started trying for a baby right after our cruise (did I not post pictures of that either? oops). Got my IUD out on May 3rd and got pregnant less than 2 weeks later. Same thing happened with Kyson. Wow, we are amazing breeders :) No, but really, we feel very blessed that we're able to have children without any problems. We know a lot of people struggle to get pregnant and are thankful for our healthy bodies.
2) Very sick with this pregnancy. Felt pretty crappy for a few months, but was feeling good enough to have Kyson's 3rd birthday party at my parents. (oops, forgot to post pictures of that too). Rented a huge jump house/slide thing. It was a blast!
3) Moab trip, Halloween, Thanksgiving, My birthday, Christmas, TJ's birthday.... all were great! And no, I did not post pictures of any of those either. (You just really need to be my friend on facebook.)
4) Opened a new store in Logan that carried formal wear. Stressful. Worth it.
5) Had my little girl on Feb 4th, 2011. Tatum Grace Bain, 5 lb 9 oz. (Yes, she is small.) Yes, Kyson was smaller. And yes they're adorable.

Now you're pretty much going to get a butt load of pics. All the clothes and shoes are ones that I made for her. I was bored sitting around waiting for her to come. And isn't her room the cutest? It's not fully done - I'm still waiting for the perfect mirror to go above her dresser.

i just don't get it!

2010-06-17T23:53:00.000-06:00

Am i just getting old? What is the big deal about Justin Bieber???? Why are all these girls swarming him? He looks like a girl himself!! What the crap is Bieber Fever! And most importantly, who the crap came up with that slogan???? Hmmm..... come to think of it.....

Am I the only one who thinks that Justin looks like a girl who wants to be a boy????? I think that Hilary Swank has been doing some in depth research for her next movie about a little boy who becomes teen sensation. And you know how some actors really get into their roles - well Hilary has had a face lift to look younger, bone reduction to be shorter, and breast reduction for, well, you know, and grown out her hair into the "swoop" that made that Justin Bieber oh so famous. So now you all know, Justin Bieber is really Hilary Swank minus boobs, height, and wrinkly skin.

I think she'll do really well in this next movie. Probably win another Oscar too....

bed & breakfast, biking (and not so biking), eating, and just plain fun

2010-06-10T21:57:00.000-06:00

we just got back from the cutest bed and breakfast in midway called The Johnson Mill. it is beautiful there. they have 25 acres and it's immaculately landscaped. we went with some of our best friends, jim and jessica. no kids. we were excited. i know people don't really read blogs, you just want the pictures. so here they are... but we warned.... i took over 200 pictures in 3 days.... and we had a blast (as you will see)....

the first night we ate at The Stew Pot. the food was delish...

the second day we went biking.... we were told it was a novice trail.... uh, yeah somebody lied. ok, alright i'll admit it. i am out of shape. everyone else was kicking my butt and i actually thought i was going to pass out. i had to stop and lay down for a few times a couple times. the funny part of it all what that i told tj we were going to do all 7.5 miles up the trail and then back. a quarter of a mile into it and i wanted to DIE! i manned up and went another mile or so and finally told tj, jim, and jessica to go ahead without me. i turned around, found a bench and took a twenty minute nap until tj came a woke me up. that being said, the view was beautiful and though i am a total wuss, i did have a lot of fun...

this is me about to die after 1/2 mile. yeah, just cause you're skinny doesn't mean you're in shape.

i may be ready to throw up, but i can always pose like a tiger for the camera.

so what if we said we would bike the whole 15 miles and only did 5 (3 for me)? we were still super proud of ourselves...

after the grueling bike ride, we went back to the b&b. everyone fell asleep except for me. i walked around the trail and took some more pictures of the beautiful place. i got a new camera so i had to test it out... of course. if you don't have an SLR, you have to get one. they are amazing. none of these photos have been retouched or edited...

we stayed in the presidential suite which is the house on the right. it was awesome!

when everyone finally woke up, we took the paddle boats for a little cruise around the pond. then went to dinner at this quaint little italian restaurant.... mamma mia, it was so good!

yes jim was there. he just had to grab the camera for a quick photo...

ok here come the AWESOME pictures you've been waiting for. you know us bains by now. we take some funny pics! we call them our engagement pics...

here are some more dorky pictures of us... let's just say thank goodness for whoever invented the 'timer' mode on the camera...

having someone else make breakfast is the best!

after a while, our husbands got sick of taking pictures so jessica and i decided it was time for OUR engagement pics...

and that was about it for our short 2.5 day trip....

giveaway!

2010-06-05T12:34:00.002-06:00

check out my store's blog at headoverheelsutah.blogspot.com and enter to win this freakin cute graphic tee!!

we just need a few more followers to give away the top!

Memorial Weekend

2010-06-03T10:38:00.000-06:00

We went to Goblin Valley over Memorial weekend. The weather was perfect, but Kyson was not.

Just a random wagon we found and thought we'd have some 'white trash' fun...

yep, that's breanne. we thought it would be cool to pull the wagon with trey's bike. we all look like idiots.

yeah i know you're all jealous! sorry ladies, that's all MINE!

and that's about it for Memorial Weekend! hope yours was great!

I'm a big boy now! and more....

2010-05-31T23:50:00.000-06:00

we moved kyson to a big boy bed a few months ago... it was not a fun week. but he loves it now and goes to bed like a champ and all i can say is 'consistency' is the key! his room isn't entirely done, but i'm not sure what i'm going to do with the last wall...

and then here are some really geeky pictures of tj and me... and naomi.... we were pretending to be models. how did we do?

and last but not least, one of kyson's favorite friends. london, came over to play. i swear she is the only reason he goes to church on sundays! thanks to the barnes for bringing her into this world, so kyson would go to church :)

Our Cruise

2010-05-05T00:01:00.000-06:00

So I'm bad at blogging, I know. I just think there's not much interesting stuff going on in the Bain household. When just got back from a cruise with Jaren and Cortnie. It was a blast, but we missed our little guy sooo much. We will definitely take him next time. Here are just a FEW pictures. Cortnie and I went picture crazy and took and ton. Basically, we had a great time, ate a TON of ice cream cones, pizza, and seafood, and met some CRAZY people.... But that's a story for the next post...

a little late

2009-11-14T18:15:00.000-07:00

yeah i know. its almost thanksgiving and i'm going to post some halloween pictures. what can i say? i don't like to follow the normal crowd. so, we were all ninjas. it was awesome. we are awesome. the notre game was on during trick or treating so tj had to take his costume off and wear his irish gear, of course. so don't mind his non-ninja attire.

Twilight Parody

2009-11-08T01:46:00.002-07:00

OMG! i laughed so friggin' hard when i saw this... hope you enjoy it as much!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Moab with the friends

2009-10-30T13:49:00.003-06:00

Yeah, we got the room with two twin beds. I'm not going to lie, it was kinda nice... for TJ. Apparently I kick him a lot, a foot is always in his butt crack, and I'm a blanket hog. I don't believe him though.

Moab was a blast. I love our friends. They are the best people ever and we all have so much fun together. Not to mention, no kids!!!

win more boots!

2009-09-27T23:17:00.001-06:00

the new giveaway on my store blog is up!

enter to win a stunning pair of boots!

www.headoverheelsutah.blogspot.com

good luck!

who wants free stuff?

2009-09-24T14:35:00.002-06:00

i'm giving away boots, shoes, clothing, and more!!

check out my store blog here

or

www.headoverheelsutah.blogspot.com

help me choose which item to giveaway next!

if you haven't already, please be a follower and you'll get double the chances to win!

we just gave three pairs of boots to some lucky winners!

don't miss out on your chance to win!

What it Takes to be the Best Wife Ever....

2009-09-21T16:47:00.004-06:00

Inside the Golden Dome.

The architecture of the buildings on campus is beautiful.

"Touchdown Jesus"

At the pep rally with ND football players, Armando Allen and Sam Young.

The Golden Dome. The trumpeteers played the ND fight song inside before the game. It was so amazing. Everyone was talking about the chills they got.

On Sunday, I scheduled a tour of the shoreline of Chicago. Our flight was at 7:30 so I figured we could spend some time exploring Chicago.

Don't we look hot in these helmets?

This segway tour was SO much fun - a little embarrassing - but worth it! Chicago is amazing!

So I had this trip planned for over a month. Everyday I wanted to tell TJ - sometimes, I even had to leave the room so I would burst open! For those of you who don't know, TJ is a huge Notre Dame fan. And I mean huge! He had wanted to go out to South Bend, but I told him we couldn't since the tickets to the football game alone were $660 for us both (yeah, talk about completely over-priced, but luckily for TJ, I thought it was worth it). I still had to pay for airfare, hotel, car rental, food, the segway tour, and the $400 in ND gear we had to buy. I think this $2300 3-day trip has been the most expensive gift I've gotten TJ so far (and it's not even a holiday, birthday, or anniversary.) Man, I am an awesome wife!

This is my "hidden camera" attempt. I told TJ on Thursday and we flew out Friday morning. It was such a fun weekend. It made me feel to good to see TJ so excited and giddy like a little school girl. It was cute. We did everything you could possibly do while out there on campus. And to top it off... ND beat Michigan State 33-30! Boo-yah!

(It's a little long, so just watch the first 2 minutes.)

More Pics

2009-09-15T15:32:00.006-06:00

And that's our family...

Preview...

2009-09-13T21:21:00.004-06:00

Here it is. A sneak peek at our pictures... More to come. BTW (By they way, for all you older folks) our photographer is Eva Sessions and she is awesome, beautiful, and fantastic at what she does. And her prices are incredible!!!

This is why....

2009-09-05T21:41:00.005-06:00

This is why I want another kid.......someday.

And this is why I don't........

And that was just the end of the tantrum.

My Addiction...

2009-08-26T16:06:00.003-06:00

So I'm a total night owl.... I always go shopping online for Kyson's clothes. I guess I just don't really like the mall, considering that I'm there all the time. Anyway, The Children's Place was having a super sale and so I bought all these clothes for only.... $50! Everything was $3.99 and then I had a 15% coupon so I got it all for $50! Kyson has enough clothes as it is, so all this stuff is for next Summer. Kids clothing doesn't really get too trendy so I know it will still be cute.

Yes, I'm addicted to shopping. I just went to Children's Place last week and bought a bunch of stuff from their new line and I went to Vegas a couple weekends ago and spent $700 on clothes. But I did get TJ 2 shirts and myself 3 things. Everything was for Kyson. Lucky kid! And no, I would normally not spend that much on clothes for Kyson, but I got $1250 from my Wells Fargo Business card again so I thought I'd spend it. They have stores in Vegas that we don't have here (and probably won't ever get) so I couldn't resist! I was going to buy myself a Louis Vuitton bag (and still want to) but I just felt so guilty. Once you become a mom, it's hard to spend money on yourself, especially when you think about all the things you could buy your kid.

The me from four years ago (before I got married) wouldn't even recognize the me now. Sad.

Kyson's 2nd Birthday and Lake Powell

2009-08-17T15:18:00.004-06:00

The Lake Powell Group

Kyson sharing his sucker with Saylor.

I've never worn a hat so many days in a row!

My two stud muffins!

Kyson and my mom (bad picture of her cause I took it when she was chewing) oops

His favorite uncle, Henri... aka Honey

Best cousins!

New outfit! (one of them anyway) I went to Vegas the weekend before so I bought a ton of clothes. And those of you who know me, know I live for clothes!

July so far...

2009-07-20T21:40:00.003-06:00

My parents bought two four wheelers and Kyson just LOVES them. He usually has this helmet he wears and he freaks out if you try to take it off. It's adorable.

Some of you may think this is gross, but I love smooches on the mouth with my doodle bug!

4th of July pic. I didn't have my camera so didn't to take very many. Kyson liked the fireworks this year. He kept putting his hand out and saying "hottt". It was precious!

Yes, we're still alive...

2009-06-29T22:47:00.002-06:00

I haven't had much to blog about. We finally finished out backyard.....exhale. It took so long because when we decided to start was also when mother nature decided to give us 15 million gallons of rain. And yes, I did measure and yes, it was 15 million gallons. But "supposedly" (and I quote TJ) "it saved us over $2,000." Anyway it felt so good to know that we did it ourselves! And also thanks to a few good friends, and family members who came to help. I've never seen TJ do so much manual labor in the six years I've known him. So it was a shock to me when all the sprinklers worked like they were supposed to. Oh, and I have to brag that he even built me some garden boxes. Yay! So yes, now I have a garden and it's not much but I love it. It's so exciting when you get your first tomato bloom. It's like giving birth, but not as cool and not nearly as painful. (All you gardeners and mothers will agree.)

Hmm, next subject: Can I just say that I think Kyson is so smart. Yeah, I know, I know, every parent says that and now it's MY turn. Since he's been born, he's been around English and Vietnamese so I thought that it would take him a while to talk (since that's what I had heard.) But he has grown so much this year. He is able to say 3-4 word sentences now and I'm so proud of my son. Also, he's at the age where he just copies everything we say. And yes, TJ does teach him to say naughty things. He made him say "peanuts" and to our surprise he said it correctly with the 't' and all. TJ was disappointed ;) Here are the things he can say: (Sorry for the long list, it's mostly for my journal).

English:I want/ I don't want: go, outside, milk, water, eat, shoes, bike, pop pop (grandpa), binky, blanky, Henri (but he says honey), apple (for April and apple), Vi, Breanne (bre-nan), trey, momma, daddy, most of the neighbor kids (jacob, aneesha, aaron), car, book, shoot (his watergun which he loves), hot, cold, Jesus, chocolate, hand, hat, night-night, no, yes, uh-huh, chips, cookie,

Vietnamese: grandma, don't hit (we taught him this because my mom likes to tease him), we have a tradition that we always have to fold our arms and greet the elders when you come or leave and Kyson can do that now too.

Spanish: Adios (it's so freakin adorable hearing Spanish from an Asian baby)!!

Other things he knows: sounds of: cow, horse, dog, kitty, truck, car, location of: eyes, ear, nose, tongue, mouth, ears, belly button, hands (he always says 'hand' when he wants to hold my hand which i love!), feet, shirt, pants, diaper

Sign language: more, milk, hat, shoes, eat

It's just amazing how much they understand. Kyson has become my little maid around the house. Actually I heard that it's good to give your toddler little chores so they get that sense of accomplishment and success. Kyson knows to put garbage in the trash can, clothes in the hamper, shoes in his closet, and toys (well they pretty go anywhere in his room). And what's even better is that he can understand in two languages!! I'm such an awesome mom. LOL.

Kyson loves the neighborhood kids. One of our good friends live two houses down and Kyson always goes there and knocks on the door in search of Isaiah and Isabelle. He loves Isabelle but she doesn't like him at all. He always tries to kiss her but she rejects him all the time so he usually ends up kissing her back. It's adorable. Kyson also always stands on our back porch and will yell "jacob, jacob, aneesha, aneesha" so he can play with them.

Wow, this has been an intensely long post. It's just amazing how smart children are! Man, can you tell I adore this kid or what?

What I've Been Up to Lately...

2009-05-10T00:08:00.002-06:00

Here are few books I've read in the past couple months. They were recommended to me by a friend and so I thought I'd pass on the recommendation. I've named the book and also a synopsis.

"The Time Traveler's Wife" The Time Traveler’s Wife depicts the effects of time travel on Henry and Clare's marriage and their passionate love for each other, as the story unfolds from both points of view. Clare and Henry attempt to live normal lives, pursuing familiar goals -- steady jobs, good friends, children of their own. All of this is threatened by something they can neither prevent nor control, making their story intensely moving and entirely unforgettable.

"Buyology" How much do we know about why we buy? What truly influences our decisions in today’s message-cluttered world? An eye-grabbing advertisement, a catchy slogan, an infectious jingle? Or do our buying decisions take place below the surface, so deep within our subconscious minds, we’re barely aware of them?

"Year of Wonders" In 1665, the north of England remains untouched by the plague that is ravaging London. Confronted with a scourge beyond remedy or understanding, the villagers turn in desperation to sorcery, herb lore, and murderous witch hunting--to no effect. Finally, led by a young and charismatic preacher, they elect to isolate themselves in a quarantine that may only deepen the tragedy. Told through the eyes of hard-working, inquisitive Anna Firth, who at age 18 must contend with the loss of her family and the disintegration of her community, Year of Wonders explores love and learning, fear and fanaticism, and the struggle of science and religion to interpret the world on the cusp of the modern era.

Next, I'm going to read:

The Kite Runner (I heard this one is a tear jerker)
The Red Tent
Sunshine

If you guys have any recommendations for books, please leave a post! Thanks!

Long overdue...

2009-04-27T00:16:00.002-06:00

It's been way too long since my last post. I've been so busy with opening my new store, traveling to buy merchandise, being a wife and mommy (not that I've been doing very well), and everything else. My new University Mall location opened just right before Easter. It is doing fantastic and I feel so lucky to do what I love. I don't even feel like I work at all, it's like I just play with clothes and shoes all day long. And how I love my employees! We are all friends and it makes the workplace more of a fun get together.

TJ has been the most incredible dad I have ever known. He still gets up with Kyson every morning whether I work or not, feeds him and gets him ready for the day. I have never met any dad who spends more time playing and cuddling with his child as much as TJ does. He's a better mom than I am!

I've been a little stressed lately with the overwhelming list of things to do. Sometimes I think my ambitions leave me no time for my family. Then I have to remember that being a mom and wife is more important than anything else I could ever do in this life. It's just hard for me to just be a "stay at home mom." I thrive for that sense of accomplishment and that sense that I am capable and successful as a woman. I've always been a huge advocate of women who find success in their own way. It's a proud feeling to know what I've been able to do with my business and still manage to be a mom and wife too.

On another note, we are finally finishing our backyard. We've had it tilled and leveled twice now thinking we were going to landscape it, but ended never doing it. Now this will be the third and final time...I hope! I'm glad we waited though, because now I know what I want in my backyard. I'm doing a small garden (15 feet by 13 ft) which TJ doesn't think is "small." And I'm buying this swingset for Kyson. I don't think he'll appreciate and enjoy it as much as I will, but our neighborhood is full of kids and I'm sure they get good use out of it. TJ thinks I'm going a little extreme with the swingset since Kyson is only 20 months and probably won't even care it's there, but I really want this swingset.... and we all know that I always get what I want :) We're also doing a huge sandbox that the swingset will be in too. I hope our backyard doesn't cost too much!

If you guys know of anyone who does any of the following, let me know! We would like to do some kind of trade or something to save money! We're looking for: sod, sprinklers, vinyl fencing, curbing, sand, topsoil, pretty much anything to do with yard work.

March Updates

2009-03-18T15:55:00.004-06:00

Well there hasn't been too much going on in the Bain household. TJ has been playing Mr. Mom while I've been traveling to LA and Vegas for work. He calls himself a "glorified babysitter" whatever that means. This is a random picture of Kyson in the tub, but notice that green thing in there with him. That's his blanky and for some reason that night he wanted it in there with him.

I'm opening a new store in the University Mall in Orem next month. I'm really excited for that. TJ is working on his furniture website and I think it's up and running now. It's called BedroomSetsWarehouse.com Check it out! Also, if you guys need furniture or know anyone who does, we are letting our friends buy furniture through us at wholesale price plus $150 charge. The mark up on furniture is unreal so wholesale price is amazing. Everything is our house is from our wholesalers so we know the quality is great!

This is a video of Kyson riding me like a horse. He loves it and always says "please" so he can climb on my back. This is pretty much what we do every day. But I'm definitely not complaining because there is nothing sweeter than his laughter. Once I tried to ride him, but it didn't work out so well.

Oh how I LOVE free stuff...

2009-02-23T19:39:00.002-07:00

Today I got the Apple iPhone for TJ and for me! I got the white one and TJ got the black one. And yes... it was for FREE! ($300 each) I used the money Wells Fargo gave me to buy it. And even better? We sold our old phones and got $300 so in essence, we MADE money getting these new phones! Oh, and by the way, the iPhone is the coolest phone ever made! I love it! If you don't have one, you should really consider buying one.

Book Recommendation

2009-02-17T23:12:00.002-07:00

I just got done reading The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. It was an incredible book about what you can go through in your life and still come out ok and successful. It's an autobiography which makes it even harder to believe that Jeanette really lived through all the things she did. I don't want to spoil it, but if you're looking for a good book, give this one try.

My GQ Model

2009-02-11T16:48:00.003-07:00

He is such a stud! I know, I know, I'm totally biased. But I really do think he is absolutely gorgeous. And can you believe this outfit? Yeah, I'm amazing. Tell me something I don't know. Who would have thought I could put together such a cute outfit? TJ said in this picture, he looks really Asian because his eyes are so squinty, but I just love it!

Got to keep those pearly whites white!

Snow Fun

2009-02-11T16:43:00.003-07:00

Good Tip: Don't eat yellow snow. (Don't worry, he didn't.)

I'm so sad!!!!!

2009-01-27T21:02:00.003-07:00

Why oh why! Why did they have to vote Dan off the Biggest Loser! I love him! I cried like a baby when they announced it. I really like Ron and Mike too but I just loved Danny. He was so adorable. Why did it have to be between them? I hate Joelle and she should have been kicked off two weeks ago. She doesn't even deserve to be on the show!

not to brag...

2009-01-22T16:28:00.002-07:00

So today I got a new vacuum! It's the Dyson mini ball one. And the best part?..... It was for FREE! That's right folks! Wells Fargo (I love them) gave me $1250 to spend! I think I'm spending the rest for our vacation in May! Woo hoo!

Kyson's Closet

2008-12-30T01:10:00.002-07:00

h

Alright, alright... TJ has been telling me that Kyson has way too many clothes, but I don't believe him. Not even now. I was hanging up his new Christmas clothes (bought mostly by me) and realized that there wasn't enough room on his shirt rack. What! So I went through and pulled some that were getting "outdated", but even now it's still snug and if I get one more thing I don't think it will fit. Dang it. What is a mom to do? I even ran out of hangers and had to buy some today. I'm starting to think TJ may be right. But hey, babies need to look good too! Hi, my name is Bong and I'm a shopaholic.

The Bain Fort: Enter If You Dare

2008-12-30T01:06:00.002-07:00

My little brother stayed at our house for a couple nights and we built this fort for Kyson to play in. I had a box of huge safety pins so we pinned everything in its place and used all kinds of blankets. Who said you can't have fun for free?

Christmas Parties, Gifts, and Fun

2008-12-30T00:54:00.006-07:00

Christmas was so fun this year. Even though Kyson didn't know what was really going on, he loved playing with the wrapping paper and boxes. He got toys, clothes, and money. This year we did a sub for santa and it was awesome. TJ and I have decided that every year we are going to teach our kids to do the same. There are so many families who need our help. We want our kids to know what it's like to help someone only in exchange for the way it makes them feel. I hope next year, you all can help out.

2008-12-22T23:46:00.002-07:00

We sincerely want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas! Take the time to enjoy these moments. Don't stress about dinner and presents... Remember what CHRISTmas is really about... We love you all so much... See you in the new year! Hugs and Kisses all around

My Better Half

2008-12-12T23:19:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that my husband is wonderful. No, he didn't do anything 'special' or out of the blue today. He was just himself. TJ is the best dad and husband anyone could ever ask for. He gets up with Kyson every morning, feeds him, and plays with him so I can sleep in. He spends time with us every night after work and really cares about how my day was, even if I was just at home doing nothing. TJ is so sensitive and caring. He gets me cards for no reason, does the dishes, folds the laundry. He takes care of his body so he can stay attractive for me(Sorry for the half naked picture, I just wanted you to see what I meant :). He eats healthy so he can live a long, full life and spend it with his family. He genuinely cares for people and can make friends with anyone anywhere. He can make me laugh like no one else can. He appreciates me and believes in me even when I don't believe in myself. I really feel like I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have everything I could ever want - an amazing husband, a beautiful son, loving family, great friends, and a sense of who I am. My life is so full.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2008-12-05T22:50:00.003-07:00

So here is our tree. It's awesome, I know. Notice how there are no decorations on the 1st foot of the tree. I tried people, but Kyson kept ripping them off and breaking them on our tile. Not cool. I added some "pizazz" like silver twigs and blue sparkles so liven things up a bit. Also, every year I have to have matching wrapping paper and ribbons. (Duh, like that's not a given.) I guess I'm just a little prideful of my tree and that's why I'm doing an entire post dedicated to it... Sue me. (Oh and ps, don't mind the random picture of TJ and Kyson. I just wanted to throw that in there.)

Updates...

2008-11-30T00:18:00.002-07:00

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had any time to blog! I bet you guys all miss me huh? Well, first I opened my new store in Provo Towne Centre. For those of you who don't know, it's called Head Over Heels. And if you've ever wondered why I dress so cute, it's because everything I wear is from there. I freakin love what I do! I love clothes, fashion, shoes! It had been a stressful few weeks trying to get everything ready for the Holiday Season, but now it's all done and I can start makin the dough. Next, my birthday was last week and of course I told TJ not to buy me anything because I seriously have EVERYTHING! Plus, I buy whatever I want throughout the year so my birthday is nothing special. I do have to admit that I was kinda bummed to turn 25. I still feel like I just graduated high school (and apparently I still look like it too.) I can't believe I'm a quarter of a century! I think I might have my mid-life crisis soon. Anyway, to my surprise, TJ bought me something I would have NEVER bought for myself. I used to go shooting all the time with my family and I loved it. Lately, TJ has been on a gun kick and got himself a Glock. (It's a type of gun and that's all I know.) Anyway, I LOVE my present! TJ said I was always complaining that we didn't have a hobby that we did together. So he got me this gun so we could go shooting together on our date nights. That's definitely different, but I like it! I'm so excited to go shooting next week and kick some piece of paper's butt! :)

Shoes, shoes, and more shoes! (yet, never enough shoes)

2008-11-05T12:00:00.005-07:00

Ok so this is kinda a weird post, but I just got back from another buying trip in L.A. and I can't help but buy things for Kyson while I'm gone. This time I got him two pairs of shoes: the brown chucks and the navy Nikes. Ugh, they are to DIE for! Right before I left, I had just barely bought him a new pair of tan suede shoes too. I think I may be obsessed. But what can you expect from a clothing and shoe store owner? Anyway, I think shoes are fabulous and what's even better - little boy shoes. So I took pictures of all the shoes Kyson can wear. (This doesn't include the ones he's grown out of.) He only has 12 pairs of shoes to choose from. Poor kid. There is no way 12 pairs would suffice for me. Not even for 12 days! I was going to take a picture of his closet, but I thought some of you would get jealous! JK. But seriously, this kid is the best dressed kid I know (thanks to yours truly).

Going Private!

2008-11-02T12:09:00.002-07:00

Hey everyone, we've decided to go private with our blog so those crazy psychos out there can't steal our pictures and blog stalk us. Leave me a comment or email me with your email. Thanks! abongbain@yahoo.com

They grow so fast!

2008-10-26T17:15:00.002-06:00

I was just looking at some pictures of when Kyson was a newborn. It was so sweet to see pictures and videos of him before he could sit, crawl, or even hold his own head up by himself. Oh, how I miss those times of cuddling and helplessness, but at the same time I love this age! He can do almost everything himself now and it's just unbelievable that one day he won't need me to change his diaper or dress him. Oh, that will be a sad time! I hope time goes by slow and I hope that I truly enjoy these moments when he still needs me...

Updates...

2008-10-19T20:46:00.003-06:00

Ok so there are a few new things... First, I bought Kyson this new truck. It has a steering wheel that actually turns, buttons for the horn and other sounds, and a working crane. It's pretty freakin cool. I was at ToysRus forever looking for one. I couldn't decide! That place is toy overload! I had to test all the steering wheels to make sure they actually turned. Most of them don't (what is the point in having a steering wheel if it doesn't turn?) Needless to say, he loves this new toy and when we try and take him off, he screams at us. Speaking of scream, Kyson has a major jealousy issue. When TJ and I hug for too long, wrestle on the carpet, or lay on each other on the couch, Kyson freaks out! He'll walk over to where we are and will start yelling at TJ and try to pull him away/off of me. It's so adorable. If TJ doesn't finally move, he'll pull the puppy face and start crying until TJ's off. Sometimes we do it just to see him get jealous. It is the most precious thing ever! And if you ever come over to my house, just ask us and we'll show you!

So whenever I'm folding laundry Kyson likes to come in the room and open and close the dryer door. Then I have to open it again and he closes it again. It gets really old really fast. So one day, I just decided that I would stick him in the dryer and let him play in the clothes. That way, I wouldn't have to keep opening the door over and over. It works! It keeps him occupied until I can finish folding the laundry!

One more thing, we have a small wicker basket that I use to keep all of Kyson's toys in. Lately, he likes to climb into the basket and just sit there. It's cute. Sometimes, his short legs hinder him and he tips over with the basket. That's even more cute!

The Last Lecture

2008-10-11T22:21:00.002-06:00

I never do two posts in one day, but I just feel like I really need to. I started reading "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch this evening and just finished it. I cried like a baby, even to the point where my body was shaking. It's an inspirational and powerful book about a college professor who had cancer and is given 2-6 months to live. He has a wife and three young children and wanted to leave something behind for them when they were older. This book has so many beautiful lessons. If you haven't read it yet, please read it. It will change you.

Kyson's New Toy

2008-10-11T11:47:00.004-06:00

Kyson and I like to build forts and tents with our blankets. I grab all the blankets and set them up using tables, couches, books, or whatever to make little tents for us to play in. Kyson absolutely loves it! So I found this dinosaur tent and thought it was so awesome! It has legs that you can crawl in and out of and everything! It's huge - over 8 feet long and takes up our entire living room. This picture doesn't do it justice! In the stomach, you can fit four people! It's so cool that I can't take it down, not to mention it took forever to put together! So once I had it all set up, I made kyson crawl in with me and we hung out in the "stomach" while Daddy was watching the Presidential Debate. To my surprise, Kyson doesn't love it. But I love it! What's the deal? TJ thinks I should return it since Kyson doesn't play in it, but I like it so much that I'm keeping it. I think he'll enjoy it in a few months (or at least that's what I'm telling myself.) But until then, where do I put it? And that's the million dollar question.

I'm soooo excited!

2008-10-09T23:56:00.000-06:00

I can not wait......

[ SEE THIS VIDEO ON TWILIGHTERSANONYMOUS.COM - FIRST SITE TO PUBLISH IT ]

I hope I never forget...

2008-10-06T22:41:00.000-06:00

General Conference was this weekend. President Monson spoke about change. It was an amazing talk and I hope that I never forget it. He told us not to let the little things in life past us by. He said not to let all the worries of tomorrow give us an empty yesterday. It was such a powerful talk. I was in tears right from the start. I could have sworn he was talking to only me. He mentioned how before we know it, we'll be missing the days of the piles of laundry, fingerprints all over the place, and toys scattered. At that point in the talk, TJ and I looked at each other and smiled. We looked around at our house and had to laugh. Our laundry was waiting to be folded, Kyson's fingerprints were all over our glass coffee table, and his toys were scattered on the carpet. I don't think I'll ever forget that moment.
I hope that I always keep that talk with me. I hope that I remember that a clean house is not as important as I think it is. I hope I remember to tell the people I love how much I love them and not assume that they know. I hope that if I were to die tomorrow, I would not have any regrets about how I lived my life today.
Tonight as I bathed Kyson, I watched him in a different way. I sat on floor and let him splish and splash and play. I watched him with different eyes. I saw the blessing he is to me. I saw this child who can't even say the word "love" teach me what unconditional love is. I hope I never forget tonight.

Food Storage Blog

2008-10-03T22:36:00.001-06:00

Here is a link to an awesome blog with lots of information on food storage. I thought you could all use it. It's call Safely Gathered In.

Got me a little nervous....

2008-10-02T23:31:00.002-06:00

So my friend emailed me this link... It's about this LDS lady who has "visions" about the future. Apparently she's met the apostles and everything and supposedly she is legit. I clicked on the link and read what she had seen. It's gets really specific with the time line and I got really creeped out about the earthquake that's suppose to happen. It's not like I totally believe her because a lot of what she says is obvious, but I still couldn't shake off the creepy feeling. I just really need to get started on mt food storage, but I seriously don't know where to start. It's such an overwhelming task, but it freaks me out to think that we would be screwed if something were to happen. Anyway, here's the link: http://www.greaterthings.com/Visions/Herendair_Sept08.htm Tell me what you think about it. Personally, I think that if the Lord wanted to tell us something he'd tell us through the Prophet right? And yeah, he has been telling us to get our food storage ready for years! I'm not going to take what this lady says as doctrine or anything, but it was good to read and just imagine what the world can become so quickly. We all really need to take heed to the Prophet's words and get our food storage ready. One of my good friends told me this story a couple years ago: A family friend had just gotten done getting married in the Salt Lake Temple and were in the elevator on their way down when the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley stepped in. The couple asked the Prophet if he could give them a piece of advice as they were newly married. President Hinckley replied, "If I were you, I'd take the money I would have spent on my honeymoon and use it to get my food storage stocked." I think that pretty much says it all.

2008-09-24T12:36:00.000-06:00

New York City!

2008-09-24T12:29:00.004-06:00

I just got back from a Girls' Trip to NYC. It was such a blast! I went with my two younger sisters and my two younger cousins from California. You would not believe how many people thought I was Tila Tequila, which really pissed me off because I am way cuter than she is! This one girl freaked out and was screaming thinking I was her. Ugh, it was so annoying! Anyway, we went to The Little Mermaid on Broadway and it was amazing! When we got there, the row behind was so obnoxious; they were singing along loudly! So Vi went and told the management and they moved us up to the VIP box seats. We had the whole thing to ourselves. It was the best view and I swear that "Sebastian" made eye contact with me! JK. Oh, and by the way, King Triton is black and Ariel is white. How does that work?? So we also went to a designer jean show and got lots of cute jeans. We also went shopping of course! It's not a vacation unless I buy lots of clothes! I'm glad TJ wasn't there to restrict my spending! It was awesome... but I got him lots of clothes too so I'm sure he's pretty happy. We took a picture with NY finest... NYPD. Don't even adk about the guys in the wierd outfits... The were Germans - enough said. Overall, it was such a fun trip! It's always nice to spend time with the girls... Next year, I think we'll do Hawaii...

Just So Happy....

2008-09-04T00:15:00.002-06:00

I don't know what it is about Kyson, but he just makes my heart so full. Sometimes when I'm driving with him, I look in my rear view mirror and I just get a huge smile on my face. I can't help it. I just can't explain how happy this kid makes me. What is it about our kids that brings us so much joy? I am so thankful for his spirit and his sweet personality. He has really filled my heart and my life where I didn't even know I was empty. I was never the type of girl who wanted to rush and get married and then pregnant right after, but had I known how happy a child could make me feel, I would have asked for twins :) I'm so glad I know that I am sealed to my family forever and no one can take that away from me. My mom always told me "you'll never know how much I love you until you have your own kids." And now I can finally understand how much she loves me because there's nothing I wouldn't do for my own child. Wow, full circle huh? Mom was right...

2008-08-21T15:48:00.002-06:00

Tagged my one of best friends, Jessica!
Here it goes....

Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!

Joys: Kyson's nerdy laugh, TJ flexing in the mirror (I pretend I don't like it, but I really do), and my best girlfriends in the world (who let me talk and vent about everything, you know who you are)
Fears: Being unsuccessful, Loss of someone I love (eww, I don't even wanna think about that), Getting in a bad car accident and being paralyzed. (Yeah, that would suck)
Goals: I know it's materialistic, but I'd like to be a millionaire :) , buy a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Have more good-looking kids
Obsessions: New clothes (are you surprised?), Edward (Cullen, that is), Purses (expensive ones)
Facts: I was born on a boat, convert to the LDS church, kick-a** mom (LOL)

I'm going to tag: Naomi, Keri, Haylee, Mindy, and Natalie

Kyson's Birthday!!

2008-08-20T12:10:00.004-06:00

Wow... this month and flown by! Kyson turned 1 on the 7th and we had two parties for him - one family one and one friend one.... Thanks to all of you who came and for all the presents!! Here are some pics from the parties... And of course, the cake I made for him to play in... oh and by the way, when I went to order the cake, I told them to do something for a little boy so like trucks and cars... uh, yeah they made one with a teddy bear instead... real manly...

Our kitchen makeover...

2008-07-30T22:45:00.004-06:00

Ok so it's not really a kitchen "makeover" per se'... I just made some curtains for them (yes I actually bought the fabric, cut it, and sewed it and all without any type of pattern). I don't really know what look I was going for, but then T.J. said that he "felt like he was in a French cafe" and then I thought "Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted"... I think. Up next... the living room... But this time I'll take before and after pics.

My Room Makeover

2008-07-30T09:54:00.002-06:00

So I got inspired to re-do my master bedroom. I get really bored of the "neutral" colors. So I decided to go crazy and do blue and brown. I painted the entire room, including the ceiling, all by myself! My arms were freakin exhausted by the end of it... but it sure felt good to know that I did it. Then I made the headboard with the help of my awesome neighborhood girls... you know who you are! It was so much fun! I decided to make the drapes with the same fabric as the headboard. And the sheer fabric for the windows is the same fabric I used to make the buttons for the tufted part of the hb. I also used that sheer striped fabric for the accent pillows on my bed. I painted the 9 squares myself. Don't ask me how. I am NOT an artist by any means. I found the nightstands for $40 bucks, but they were black and not what I wanted. But I loved the style and so I refinished them white. Then the sconces were metal so I painted them brown and stuck some gerber daisies it them... well, what do ya think?

Good Memories....

2008-07-16T11:41:00.000-06:00

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I (or TJ) had together. It doesn't matter if you new me a little or a lot. Anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

Thanks friends! Hope to hear from you!

His favorite bed...

2008-07-12T10:31:00.002-06:00

K so on the 4th we all had a blast, but I won't go into detail. I'm sure you're all sick of reading everyone else's blog on that. But what I DO have to share is that during the BBQ at the in-laws, Kyson fell alseep in a swing that his uncle bought in Mexico. At first, he was just sitting in it just chillin and so we put up the front part so he wouldn't fall out and before we knew it, he fell asleep in it! OMG, it was the cutest this ever so we all took pictures...

2008-07-09T14:36:00.001-06:00

Our Special Day!

2008-07-09T14:23:00.002-06:00

On May 23, TJ, Kyson, and I were finally sealed in the Salt Lake Temple... It's been a long journey and it was such an amazing day. When we arrived at the Temple in the morning, it was raining and wasn't good weather for pictures. But once we were done and went outside, it was perfect weather! All in all, the BEST day ever! Here are some pictures taken by my favorite photographer ever, Brittany G.

Kyson and Mommy Swimming

2008-06-24T14:30:00.002-06:00

Here are some more pics of when we went swimming with the Witchers and Reids...

First Swim!

2008-06-21T12:04:00.002-06:00

On Monday, Kyson and I went to my m.i.l.'s and went swimming in her pool. It was his first time and it was such a blast... Then on Thursday we went again only this time, some one my neighbors came with their kids. It was a ton of fun and we are planning on going again soon.

In the Sink

2008-06-19T10:27:00.004-06:00

So whenever I get ready in the morning, I always stick Kyson in the sink so I can keep my eyes on him... well one eye actually because the other eye is getting eyeliner put on. Here are a few pics of today while I was getting ready...

Getting old....

2008-05-19T18:03:00.004-06:00

Wow... I can't believe that T.J. and I just celebrated our 3rd anniversary! It has gone by so fast, it seems like just a few months ago we got hitched! (I guess that's a good sign that it hasn't dragged on though right?) It's weird to think that one day, we'll be grandparents and Kyson will have kids of his own... I hope I aged gracefully and still look good... And if not, it's nothing a little face lift can't fix :)

still more...

2008-05-10T15:28:00.000-06:00

and more...

2008-05-10T15:23:00.002-06:00

Kyson's "Photo Shoot"

2008-05-10T15:16:00.002-06:00

I know, I know. You are probably getting sick of all these pictures of Kyson... Wait a minute, no you're not cause he's freakin gorgeous! If any of you know a modeling agency for babies, let me know because he seriously needs to be a model... And I know I'm biased but can you really argue that he is the most beautiful baby ever? I didn't think so!!

more to enjoy...

2008-04-30T14:09:00.003-06:00

here some more pictures from our awesome photographer, Brittany Griffiths... I'll put up a link to her site so you guys can check it out!

Our little model

2008-04-30T13:58:00.001-06:00

We just had Kyson's pictures done! He could finally sit and so we couldn't miss the opportunity... We love our photographer too, she is super cute and nice! Anyway, here's a little glimpse at our little model at work...

Long Time No See...

2008-04-29T09:57:00.002-06:00

OK so it's been a while... We have just been so busy with everything! Kyson is finally sitting on his own (and we are SO proud)... It's so funny how proud you can be of your baby with any little thing he does. Also, he had a bottom tooth come out! Yay! I was wondering when that was going to happen!

Our First Posting...

2008-02-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

Wow... our very first posting on our blog. I guess I better write something good huh? Well TJ and I have been married for almost three years. We have a gorgeous son named Kyson whom we absolutely love and adore! He has totally fulfilled our lives and we definitely plan on having more kids... but not for a while! We just built our second home in Uintah and should be moving there in the middle of February. OMG we are sooo excited. It's such a beautiful home and we feel so blessed to be able to call it ours....