BIG TIME UPDATE YO

Wowsah! Gasp! I cant believe its been almost 2 months since my last post! Time to play some big catch-up. We've been some very busy people, Cheeserface and I. Audrey is by far the coolest little sidekick ever. We make a damn good team us two..

Hi Mommy!

Audrey has the finest, wimpiest hair I've ever touched. AKA Cotton Candy Head.  Up in pigtails it just sticks straight up like little horns. If I dont brush it, which it tangles pretty easily, she looks homeless (as pictured below)

When I was her age, I had mounds and mounds of dark thick hair. My mom would just pile it on top of my head like Cindi Lauper. Audrey's hair is, well, a little more difficult to manage

Below is a picture of me at exactly Audreys age...17months old...

I also was also off the charts fat and tall...

Then by age two, I had hair down past my back...I'm also as big as my four year old sister who is in the middle..

We've just been having too much damn fun, hiking almost every single day that I dont work, playing with Audrey, living my life...trying to do the best with what I got.  

So lets go over the past few months, I know I need a recap!

I got to take a month long snowboarding workshop with my girlriend Sharry up at Brighton. We had our very own instructor Gina aka G-String. Pretty sure we gave her lots of entertainment for those few weeks. It was just the two of us in the class, so we learned quite a bit...

Thank you Gina for teaching us our toe edge.  I actually fell so hard on my tail bone so many times that by the last class I was wearing biking shorts in hope that my ass would be spared (no such luck when you have no ass to begin with)...and the  minor whiplash I suffered was also well worth it to get to learn to board in some fresh pow pow...

Moving on...Look how big Audrey is getting!

Okay. She's actually pretty small for her age...(thanks Danni and Adeline for the tutu) 

Audrey loves to give me kisses, (she actually will kiss most things)

She also has mastered feeding me and brushing my teeth. Thanks honey!

We have been going on some awesome dot com snowshoe hikes. I LOVE the mountains. Its a pretty huge obsession right now...even if I'm at work I try to open the blinds to my patients rooms so I can stare at them..Oh Utah, how I love thee...Usually I try and gather some pretty fun groups to go with.   Below is the cave at Doughnut Falls. I didn't even know there was a cave there for the longest time. Its hidden

The hike itself isn't too hard, the last little bit is a climb to the cave. Take note of the picture where I am pointing at my neck warmer, standing right outside the entrance to the cave... I had left that there a few days back...

Below is the same trail, but starting at the Spruces. We went on that with my madre aka cool ass fourty something year old ;) 

My mom freaked out and wouldn't climb in the cave. She totally missed out!

Another hike through the Spruces to Green Basin with some friends. It was such a nice day

Next up, Amy, Jessica, Lucy and I up Mineral Fork in Big Cottonwood. Its one of my favorites. I've done it three times now. Its soo gorgeous.

I dont care what the weather is like. I'll go no matter what. Just dress accordingly if its a blizzard vs a sunny day

Someone needed to remind me to wear a freakin hat ...this is up the Spruces...yet again

You know, I had never been snowshoeing before this year. I love hiking, I love the exercise and I love the mountains. I just knew I would love snowshoeing so I bought my snowshoes before I ever even had gone. I just knew. I like to take people who have never gone so they can experience it and love it too. How could you live here and not take advantage of these mountains?! Baffles my mind how it took me so long.

 Anywhoo..The next picture is from a mommy and me hiking day where I took three other moms and all their kids on a snowshoe to the cave. The kids complained a bit (as they normally would) but once they got to the cave it was pretty much the coolest thing they had ever done. Audrey even got to try out her snowshoes for the first time...

So, my 21st birthday (eh..hem) was on the 31st of January. Of course, Wendolyn and I celebrate our birthdays together. So first we went and ate at Benihanas...

Notice our birthday heart shaped rice? Or the sake that I spilled and couldnt let go to waste..

Then over to the SkyBar for some dancing and Hookah...It was a pretty memorable 21st birthday for the both of us

I was completely sober the entire night...

I got Audrey the absolute CUTEST little snowshoes in the planet at REI...seriously. They're friggin adorable and she loves them. She screams when I take them off. (thats proof right there) They are little tiny Tubbs and they are not intended for use until age three...well, being the overacheiver that she is, she could walk in them immediately

We practiced in the backyard first and she got to decorate them in stickers

And what's a snowshoe without a sled day! I came across an awesome spot to do such a thing up above Alta. Its probably very dangerous, but with the proper equipment it can be a safe, good time. All ya need is a sled, some Tom Collins, good friends, snowshoes, some CT bibs, a headlamp and maybe some goggles if your smart.

This was amazingly fun. So fun that we are on our third time of doing such an activity!

Puerta, my good good friend, is a snow bunny as well. She enjoys hiking around in fluffy white stuff just as much as I do (okay, maybe not just as much) but you get my point. We try out a lot of new spots together and get lost a lot together! Its pretty amazing!

Here we are in Thaynes Canyon up Mill Creek.

So, the pack with everything in it weighs about 40 pounds. Add a sniffly, snorey, sometimes screamy toddler to the mix and you never know what you'll get! All part of the adventure.

Next up, Whoop my Butler Fork in Big Cottonwood. It was very steep at first (hence the 'Whoop my')...and half had to turn around early...but it was such a warm, sunny day, I believe we all enjoyed ourselves

So avalanche danger was way too high in the main canyons one day but Jesica, Sharry, Audrey and I still wanted to get out. We headed over to Ghost Falls in Draper and we didn't even need snowshoes...what a tease for the summer.

Sharry says this trail is good for mountain biking, which I fully intend on getting majorly obsessed with come this spring...

Next up, one of my favoritest trails in the summer, Willow Heights. Its an AWESOME snowshoe too (whoda thunk?) below, right, we are roasting our poles over Audrey's firecracker hairdo...

The Aspens look so amazing in the winter...and Puerta is demonstrating how to get up from a slippage (which is pretty difficult in snowshoes)

Alesha is the wife of my friend at work Ryan. They have an 8 month old, Hunter, and Alesha really wanted to take him out for the first time. Of course, it was a blizzard that day...but both babies did AWESOME. I think Audrey kept staring at him and thinking...'wow, another baby has to go through this too' haha. Its amazing how many other hikers stop to make good comments when you bring a baby...We went up Willow Heights.

 Take note of Jesica. This is exactly how she tripped, fell and landed. I promise, we thought she broke her legs. Good thing she was the one without the baby on her back. Also, take note that I was taking pictures of her in such position and not helping her up. What a good friend I am..

I wont lie. Sunny days are freakin awesome. Havilah, Puerta, Michelle and I took a trip up Desolation trail in Millcreek which leads to Salt Lake Overlook. Havilah brought her doggy Oliver. Let me tell you. Oliver was SO much fun for Audrey. She was screaming 'DOGGY' at the top of her lungs the entire time. It almost got dangerous since she was trying to shake out of the carrier to look at him and every time she saw him she started to dance...all while hiking on the edge of the mountain. It was so fun for her I even asked if I could use Oliver as a surrogate doggy for all our hikes.

Audrey has no problem sleeping at some point most every hike

Next up, my most favoritest holiday! Valentines day! *eye roll*...I actually decided that it is 'Celebrate Audrey Day' since I found out I was pregnant on Valentines Day. So Jessica came over, she gave me a Valentines Day Sucks card, we drank some wine, and made a celebrate Audrey cake.

So, I've never made frosting before. I dont think I ever will again. I made the damn stuff so runny by putting too much strawberries in it. The more powdered sugar I added didnt work. Oh well, Audrey loved it. She even helped stir the batter and put sprinkles on the cake.

Next up, GIRLS NIGHT! I dont get out much. Even if I go to sushi with the girls or go get pedicures, I bring Audrey along. I don't mind that at all, but damnit, when I do get out without her, its a pretty big deal.

We went to a lingerie masquerade ball at the Depot featuring DJ Irene...only my most favoritest (which I know is not a real word) DJ since High School. Of course Jessica is amazing and got us backstage. I had to work the next morning. What was I thinking...

Now for the latest and greatest snowshoe up Emigration Canyon. I'd never hiked there before and shit balls, I am glad Puerta and I found this trail! It was beyond beautiful! I've done it twice now (and suffered only slight sun damage to my retinas...whoops)

The trail is so open, we decided it must be how it feels to be walking on the moon. Great views and also leads to an overlook of Salt Lake. I got to hike in just my purple T...

So, that is a little bit of what we've been up to. I couldn't include pictures from every hike, but I chose my favorites.

Audrey also loves going to the Childrens Museum (she just loves to go and hug all the other kids) and play dates with my friends kids.

We have some fun stuff coming up...two weddings! One for Joelle and Kyle and one for Sharry and John. Audrey and I have the honor to be in them. She is going to make such a cute flower girl...I can hardly wait!!
Audrey and Azalea demonstrating their cute flower girl skills for Joelles wedding

And I am so in shock as I type this...Audrey is 17 months old!! Where is this time going?! Shit balls!

Holy freakin ADDICTION

Hello, I'm Pamela, and I'm a caffeine addict. BIG TIME. Caffeine in coffee, caffeine in tea...sometimes (okay, a lot) I'll take an excedrin...yep, caffeine. Daily amounts of the addicting substance. The other day I had a not-so-brilliant idea to quit the stuff. I mean, all this caffeine cannot be good for ya in the long term. The stuff rots your bones! Plus, when I found out I was pregnant I just stopped cold turkey. It wasn't too bad. I figured all the pounding headaches and chills were due to the first trimester. Um. No. Once I had Audrey, back on it hardcore.

First off, I would like to apologize to all the people I was around yesterday at work, the day I decided to not have any caffeine...I was a raging biotch! I sat in my pod, dreaming about caffeine. My head never hurt worse. My body ached. I felt irritated. Now I feel weak as a person as I sit here and drink my daily pot of good tarry black stuff....MMMM..Okay, I dont feel so bad anymore. I'll never stop. Its a pretty intense addiction. Guess I'll just have to take extra calcium and Vit D to rid myself of osteoporosis. Thats my solution.

Look what I found on Wikipedia about my caffeine disorder...

Caffeine tolerance develops very quickly, especially among heavy coffee and energy drink consumers. Caffeine withdrawal cause the blood vessels of the head to dilate, leading to an excess of blood in the head and causing a headache and nausea. Reduced catecholamine activity may cause feelings of fatigue and drowsiness. A reduction in serotonin levels when caffeine use is stopped can cause anxiety, irritability, inability to concentrate, and diminished motivation to initiate or to complete daily tasks; in extreme cases it may cause mild depression. Together, these effects have come to be known as a "crash".

Withdrawal symptoms — possibly including headache, irritability, an inability to concentrate, drowsiness, insomnia and pain in the stomach, upper body, and joints^[99] — may appear within 12 to 24 hours after discontinuation of caffeine intake, peak at roughly 48 hours, and usually last from one to five days, representing the time required for the number of adenosine receptors in the brain to revert to "normal" levels, uninfluenced by caffeine consumption. Analgesics, such as aspirin, may relieve the pain symptoms, as may a small dose of caffeine

Holy shiz balls! Caffeine is a serious addiction! (okay, not as serious as heroin or alcohol...or meth or nicotine...but you get what I'm sayin)

 Audrey was very very ill last Monday. She required a trip to Primary's with a temp of 105 and severe dehydration. Little peanut butter got better and so on Friday night we had a Mommy and me pedicure night!

Hey mommy! Can I have some french braids and a pedicure?

Some fine looking braids...

And some fine looking blue toes...She picked the blue out of all the colors...I encourage individuality in this household :)

This was after a fun bath of course, complete with her new bath toys she recieved from Santa Mom...

I wish I could blog about all of my snowshoeing experiences. They are pretty bad ass and very very beautiful. I have quite the posse that I go along with as well. We went to Snowbasin last week. It was a blizzard! I was hoping Audrey would sleep on the drive up there...but she was too excited so by the time we got to the spot she was pretty fussy.

The group

So, after listening to Audrey screaming in my ear for eternity, I decided she wasn't having it that day (and neither was I) so we stopped in the lodge for a beer. Look at the little kid eyein my beer...

I haven't seen A Christmas Story, but everytime I take miss Audrey Jade out snowshoeing she gets compared to this Randy character...so I had to look it up...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....I think I peed my pants a lil when I saw that picture.....It reminded me of a picture I have of myself in my snowsuit as a young child...

The best part of my snow suit was my really fashionable blue cap. Thanks mom!

Wanna see some awesomely awesome cute pictures? Okay! Here they are!

Here is another picture that deserves a freakin frame. She loves her mama...

Audrey still loves to brush her teeth. She has about 5 different toothbrushes and she is learning how to actually brush them well. I'm so proud

Audrey loves to hit me in the face. I promptly tell her no..she likes to laugh at my 'no'.

For those of you who don't know...I love Audrey. The end.

Merry Crebsmas!

Merry Crebsmas!

Yes, every year for christmas I decide to dress like a Santa and go caroling for my neighbors

Phew. The holidays are over. Thank god. It ended up being a pretty good time off of work and I got to do all that I needed and wanted to do. I can sense that 2011 is going to be a very busy year for me and Cheeserface.

Keeping the tradition alive, we went Christmas Eve bowling. And guess who was in town???

Uncle Jared!

He comes to town about twice a year so the last time he saw Audrey was August. She loves her Uncle JarJar

Christmas Eve bowling rocks. I think almost half the valley also has the same tradition since the alley is packed. And tell ya what else. Real bowling is harder than Wii bowling. Just sayin...

Somehow my father got out of posing with his ball this year.  

Audrey was fun this year for bowling and christmas festivities. She ran around and had to be constantly entertained.

Kisses for Mommy

I think she was constantly entertaining us and that was the best part. She's so silly, she wakes up every day so happy. Every day is Audreys best day ever. I want my new years resolution to be that. Wake up happy every day like Audrey. Be more like Audrey.

Not only do I hike with Audrey attached to my body, I also bowl with Audrey on my hip. It takes talent I tell ya

We didn't do so bad.

Wanna see what we bowled?

My dad bowled a 246. Yes, a 246. FREAKER! He had 9 strikes in a row or somethin like that. It was nuts.

So after Bowling we had to rush to make it to Childrens mass. Yes, MASS. I havent been to church in...Hmmm....10 years? But Audrey goes every Sunday with Grandma and Grandpa and she had to wear the purty dress I bought her for such the occasion

 The infamous Duck Face

 We of course had to sit up in the balcony. That was Audrey could run around and scream all she wanted

 Singing along with Grandma. I will admit. Church was booooring. Sorry, I was just having such a hard time not falling asleep on the pew. That may have looked bad.

Audrey promptly fell asleep in Grandpa as mass was ending. Everyone in that church absolutely loves Audrey. They were coming up to me like...Oh, so you're the mom...

Christmas day was awesome. We got up early to go open presents at my parents place

I've decided that Christmas is all about Audrey. I never realized how much better holidays are with kids. I just love watching her excitment with her new toys and how much fun she has being with everybody.

The dress Audrey is wearing was my dress when I was her age. I have so many outfits that my mom saved and gave to me when I had her

Out of all of the gifts that Audrey recieved, her dolly and stroller set were by far her favorite. She literally squealed with excitement

 She immediately started kissing and hugging her dolly and feeding it and putting its binky in its mouth. It was so cute I almost cried. Seriously. I'm such a pansy sometimes

kisses for dolly

In a way it kinda made me sad, how much she loved that dolly. Audrey loves babies. I mean, LOVES babies. She hugs and kisses them and I know that one day she will make an awesome older sister. I just dont know when that will be. Thats why it makes me sad.

So, after breakfast Jared and I went on a christmas snowshoe!

 Jared is from the sunny, humid state of Texas and I forgot how he isn't used to the altitude. Oh well, he handled it well

We ventured off into the Spruces up Days Fork Trail

So to end this awesomely awesome Christmas we decided to play some fun family games. One problem. I took all the games to my place so we had to pull out a really old game from the basement that was covered in dust...

Any of ya remember this game from back in the day???

Mouse trap!

Ut Oh!

I don't know if you have ever played Mouse Trap...its confusing as all hell! After reading the 20 pages of directions we sorta kinda figured it out. Sheesh

Well. 2010 was quite the year...Bring on 2011!