I WON!!!

So, I don't mean to brag but...

I can't believe I won! I never win ANYTHING!! But I won I won I won! Sorry, I'm a little giddy at the moment. And I feel like I may have pulled a muscle in my arm from punching the air so may times. But I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! Woot woot!

Okay, calm down. I'm so excited I think I might get sick. My heart is racing so fast, (I wonder if this will count for cardio...) I know this is lame that I am blogging, but I have to tell SOMEONE! Charles is at work and the kids are in bed. I interrupted Kare and Curtis' date to tell her... oops.

So what did I win? I won a coupon for $75 off of a $100 purchase at Old Navy. That's right. $100 worth of merchandise for 25 bucks. I really LOVE Old Navy's clothes (for the boys anyway... not so much for myself) and I wish I could always buy from there... but I seriously can NOT bring myself to shop from there when I can find better deals elewhere. But ever since my cute friend Jamey told me about these weekly coupon hunts (thanks Jamey!) I have been a little obsessed with wanting to win a coupon. I actually was NOT going to hunt for one today because it pretty much kills my entire day... I get nothing done and I never win anyway. BUT at the last minute I happened to look on their website and notice that the hunt would begin any second. These coupons go so fast (I'm talking like seconds and they are gone,) and I still can't believe I found one in time. I will probably never win again, but oh well. I ACTUALLY won! Boo-Yaa!!!

(Congo Line tune)
"I get to go shop-PING! I get to go shop-PING!
The boys will be so sty-LING! The boys will be so sty-LING!"

Oh snap... I'm so pumped right now, I'm not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight. Okay... time to chill...

Thank you for listening. Goodnight.

7 Year Anniversary

So I totally stole this idea off of my friend Katie's blog. I thought it was brilliant. Especially since I have THE worst memory. I thought it would be a fun and free way for us to celebrate our Anniversary, as well as help preserve what little memories I have left! So this is for you, Charles. Happy 7 Years. I love you. :)

1. Where did you and your husband meet?

Well, depending on who you ask, you will get a different answer. I remember meeting, (or at least learning WHO he was) while we were in Junior High. I remember because even though we were on different tracks, he was a drummer in the band, and I was on the drill team and so we had marching practice after school. I remember Charles was the one always snogging his girlfriend on Mrs. Crounse's couch! Gross! But if you were to ask him, he would say our Freshman year of High School. Hmmph! Too cool to notice his future wife in Junior High! :)

2. First things said?

So this may be awkward... and I hope I don't embarrass anyone... but I actually remember talking to him in Junior High. My friend Michelle Rasch, (who was also on the drill team with me) told me she liked him and wanted me to ask him out for her. "Going out." LOL Back then that meant boyfriend/girlfriend status. I remember she said, "That Charles Socci is fiiiiiiiine!" LOL. Remember saying that? "Fine." Now we say "hot." "He's so hot." Anyway, I hope this doesn't embarrass Michelle now, but he said no, and I remember telling her later that he was a jerk. But I guess it all worked out, because he was just the wrong Socci boy for her. She ended up marrying his younger brother Forrest. And so now Michelle is my sister-in-law! (Love you, girl!) Charles, of course, doesn't remember any of this... too popular to remember the little people. :) Just kidding!

3. First Date?

Okay, before I tell you about our first date, I must first give a little background. So Charles and I had like 3 class together our Freshman year, and we liked each other almost the whole time. I invited him to a church dance when I was 14 and that is where he "asked me out." I had to tell him no, because I am LDS, and we don't date until we are 16. (Mom and Dad, be proud.. be very proud. Remember how proud you feel as I tell you the next part.)

Well, we stayed friends, until he decided he needed a girlfriend. Punk. Once that was over we started being friends again.

Just a month before I turned 16, he called me and asked me if I wanted to go to a JetHawks game with him. I was torn. I knew I still had a month to go, but I also didn't want to tell him no, and have him lose interest again. My family and I were supposed to be going to a Galexy game that night... so I played the Homework card. I told my parents I needed to stay home and work on a project. (*cringe*... sorry Mom and Dad!) Charles picked me up in his shiny new blue 1996 Pontiac Grand Am sedan.

We went to the game, then to Tommy's where the have the BEST French Fries, and then he took he home. I got there RIGHT before my family got back. I'm sorry I snuck out, but this was my future husband! The father of my unborn children! Who knows what kind of psycho I might have ended up with? I HAD to!... Right?

4. First Kiss

This happened after we had been dating for about 2 months. I was dropping Charles off at his house in the good ole' Ford Escort. I was telling him goodbye, when he looked at me and then asked me if it would be alright if he kissed me. I got really nervous and said, okay. He gave me a very nice "church kiss," and I was like panicking. Right before he closed the door, I told him to wait. I asked him if I was a bad kisser... He told me it was good, but that we could practice. :)

5. When “I love yous” were first said:

So this would be at 2 different times. I believe he told me after we had been dating for like 6 months or so. When he told me, I remember feeling so awkward. I knew I liked him a lot, but I wasn't sure if I was in love, or what that even was. I didn't want to lie to him by just saying it back, so I said, "thank you." He still won't let me forget that one. He says he had never felt so lame. I think it was another 6 months or so before I said it back.

6. Long or short courtship/engagement?

Definitely a long courtship, and a short engagement. We had a good 3 years from our first date till he left for his mission, plus 2 months afterwards. We had 2 homecoming dances... 2 Proms...

missionary discussions...

3 Christmases together...

his baptism...

our graduation...

then I went to BYU for college and he stayed in Lancaster and went to AVC. But he visited me every chance he got and even took me to my Homecoming game and dance at BYU.

Then he served a mission in Rome...

while I got 2 more years of school under my belt...

then he came home.

Our engagement was significantly shorter. Almost 3 months long.

7. Where did you get engaged?

We got engaged at Julianne and Bryce's house on the morning of April 18, 2002... Exactly 5 years after our first date. Charles had been home from his mission almost 2 months, and he drove up to Utah and stayed with Julianne and Bryce.

One thing I will never hear the end of is... I put the down payment on my own ring. I didn't mean to! Charles asked Julianne to take me looking to try and get an idea of what I liked and what I didn't like. Well I found the perfect one, and the salesman totally took advantage of me! How was I supposed to know? I had never bought anything where the sticker price wasn't actually the price! He told me that if I didn't secure the diamond, that I would never find a better deal... and I thought I would be saving Charles some money... so I did it. My mom was POed. And Charles was also a little frustrated. Oops!

8. Where did you get married?

We were married in the Los Angeles temple on July 27, 2002. Our Luncheon was at the AV Inn, and our Reception was held in my parents' backyard, and it was perfect. Maybe a little crowded, because we didn't really think that so many people would show up, but we were pleasantly surprised. :) I loved everything about that day. Everyone worked so hard to help us have such an amazing day.

9. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Ummm... I know we went to Park City. And I know I got sick. That's about all I remember. Oh! And we shopped the Outlet Mall and I bought 2 skirts. Charles? You may have to fill in here.

10. Where did you make your first home?

Our first home was a one bedroom apartment in south Provo called the Villa Maria. We paid like $470 a month. It had no dishwasher, and no washer/dryer hookups. I guess it wasn't so bad considering it was just the 2 of us... but man, I can't imagine going without those things now! We rode the bus to campus each day, and it was so much fun. We lived there until April 2004 when we had Jaden. After that we lived with my parents in Lancaster for a summer then we moved back to Provo into a 2 bedroom apartment called the Diamar III.

Everybody Was Kung-Fu Fighting!

BIG NEWS, BIG NEWS! After what... 5 or 6 months... Jaden and I are no longer a "bottom of the food chain-- White Belt." Woot-Woot! We were pretty nervous when we were called to test for our yellow belts. We didn't know what to expect, but we drove to Ogden (where everyone from all other Hapkido classes go to test) and did our thing. (Punches, Kicks, Rolls & Jumps) Jaden was the youngest one to test, and I, surprisingly, was NOT the oldest. There were 3 people older than me. Whew!

After we tested in front of Master Lim in Ogden, we finished the rest of our test in our own class. There, we were awarded... Dun da-da DUN!... our Yellow Belts. In case you are wondering, the order of belts goes: White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Red, Red-Black, Black-Red, Black, and then a million more degrees of Black. Jaden has been very anxious since day 1 to "be on the Green Team!" One more belt to go, Jaden. :)

Here we are switching from White to Yellow.

After that we had to lead the class in stretches.

Hmmm... not quite as flexible as I was 10 years ago! But look at Jaden go!

Thank goodness we didn't have to do the Korean counting! Our instructor did that for us. I think it isn't until we get the Green or Blue belts before we are required to do that... yikes... I may have to "resign" before then.

Then we also led the class in a few kicks.

So there you have it... Jaden got his Yellow Belt at age 5, and I got mine at age... 28.

That makes 3 Yellow Belts in the family.....What? You think I miscounted? Well here's the one who started it all. Charles got his at age 12 or 13.

You Look Like a Monkey...

Yes, I realize this is a week old, but... my boys worked hard to celebrate this day with me, so I have to give 'em props!


Well, I caught back up to Charles. I'm 28 years old, but feel like I'm still 21. Alli is 7 years younger than me, and most days I feel like she is the older and wiser one. Well... maybe she really IS the wiser one! Kare is 4 years younger and I have always felt that we were the same age. Okay... maybe this just means that I am immature for my age. Or maybe at some point it's like Alli said... "at some point all siblings just feel the same." Hmmmm... But that doesn't work for Julianne. She will always seem older to me. Well, not "older" ...per say... but more... "advanced in life...?" Okay, whatever... On to the party!

Even though my birthday was Wednesday, we celebrated a few days early so we could do it on Sunday with my family. Charles made me my favorite dish... Lasagna. I would have taken a picture but it was eaten like the second he set it down! He also made Texas Sheet Cake.... another one of my favorites! Have you ever had either of these two things? They are seriously heaven. If heaven doesn't have these, then I'm not interested! And if you ever want to try any of these... be sure to be around for my next birthday. It's a tradition! Thank you Charles!



Well, I got some pretty awesome gifts, but I have to say that my favorite part was the homemade cards. Check them out!


The boys got me the game Rush Hour. (Which if you have never played it, I highly recommend it!) I got the "kids version" for Jaden for his birthday and I played it all the time. "Got anymore braaain...busters?" So now I have the regular version some of those puzzles are hard! Great mind-exercising game.

The boys also got me... in lieu of what they've expressed they really want for Christmas... a new baby sister. I have a new baby doll named Kiki. The boys play with her and feed her, and change her diaper and put her to bed... they say they are ready for a REAL baby sister. HA! Fat chance.


Alli got me a gift card for a "much-needed" Pedicure. Kare and Curtis got me a Southwest Airlines gift card... hmmmm... wonder what they have in mind? :) And my parents gave me "The Gift of Time".... Ahhh.... Can't wait to use that one! Thanks everyone. And thank you to everyone else who called, emailed, facebooked or texted me Happy Birthday wishes! All in all, it was a pretty good birthday. It's kinda weird being only one year younger than Dad... :)

Family Pictures