happy fathers day!

The end of June, my mind is always filled with thoughts and memories of my dad.  Fathers Day and his birthday are less than a week apart.

Happy Fathers Day to my poppa.  I miss you, and I think about you a lot.  Really, everyday.

I think about how you always made sure I knew you loved me.

You were so proud of me, I could see it in your eyes and hear it in your voice.  (maybe I didn't deserve all of the praise, but from you, I was happy to take it.)

When I would get off the airplane, you'd always  hold my hand.  You'd walk with your head held high, like I was the best thing about  your day... and I think you really felt that way.

I love your love of music.  Something about it, whether on the radio, live, or being played by us, would always put a shine in your eye and a huge grin on  your face.

dancey dance

A couple of years ago, I taught a lyrical jazz class at Adult Dance and Fitness in Ogden.  I loved the studio and loved coming up with fun and expressive dances each week.  It didn't matter if you had great technique or years of experience.  You could just come and dance.  Well, we moved away and I had to quit the studio.  I'm not going to lie, I cried driving home after my last class.

Well, one of my students is now the teacher of the new "storybook jazz" class at the same studio.  She was out of town this week and asked if I would be willing to substitute for her.  Of course (even being a month away from having a baby) I said YES!!  I had a blast teaching these fun girls.  Here is a link to the studio website and the dance I taught.

I'm not dancing in the video because I look ridiculous trying to get up and down off the floor... but I walk by the camera with my big belly at the very beginning.  It is weird seeing myself pregnant!

Enjoy!

nikki's storybook jazz routine

our current state

So, its pretty ridiculous trying to keep up with two blogs.  Especially where both are supposed to reflect what is going on in my life, but the most exciting and most important part is our baby boy coming in approximately 5 weeks!  So, the baby blog gets a lot more action than this lovely blog.  After the baby is born, I will be using one blog exclusively again.  It will be handy dandy.

In an earlier post, I'd mentioned Greg was working out of state and we were preparing to move to Nashville for the summer doing alarm sales again...  Well, we didn't end up making the move.  We were super blessed for Greg to find a job in Ogden working for GOOGLE at Marketstar.  It is going really well and we are excited!  I need to brag, right now, he is in the top ten of 120 GOOGLE employees.  I am a proud and beaming wife :)

Also, we're living in a condo near Ogden Canyon.  It is sort of 70's-ish... you know, rad brass fixtures and flowery wall paper.  It is big and nice though.  Plus, its super quiet.  There are mature trees all around and its walking distance to the Ogden River Parkway and five minutes to Greg's workplace.  We have a basement... I only venture down there to do laundry.  The best part is our adorable nursery.  We have been able to set up the cutest room for the little guy.  It is very serene and simple.  It is perfect.

So, that is the latest.  If you are interested, check out the baby blog for more frequent updates.

Oh, and I revamped both blogs... what thinkest thou?

a loser and a winner

UPDATE:  I am totally okay with Ben being sent home... no need to worry about me :)

Okay.  So, I know everyone thinks Bentley is a jerk face.  I agree.  

HOWEVER, I can't let his behavior ruin this week's episode.  We can't forget the best date ever!!  Let me just say... I ADORE Ben C.  The flash mob date totally won my heart.  He is darling, has a great personality, AND is a cute dancer.  love!

roofers

Quick vent session:

Roofers.

I'm talking about guys climbing around on the roof all day for the past three days.  It is day three and they are STILL shoveling shingles off of our building.  I have yet to see any new shingles go up.  In fact, I see this vision of twenty or thirty years of shingles layered on our roof.  fun.  There are shingles all over the patio and my dogs continue to freak out at the different noises.  I feel like a prisoner in my own place.  If I turn on the radio... and the tv... and the computer, it almost feels quiet.

There has been quite the colorful crowd here:  I have overheard conversations about lunch, missing workers and poop...  this is without even trying to eavesdrop.  I don't really want to know what other conversations I'm missing out on.

Now, it isn't only bad coming from this.  Eventually, we will have new shingles... and that will somehow benefit me.  Also, yesterday I overheard a couple of the "ethnic" workers doing their "ethnic" style of laughing/yelping.  It made me laugh because they were being so ridiculously loud and oblivious that anyone might be paying attention to them.

And as I type this, there is a man outside my patio, singing a lovely rendition of a song I've never heard.

Who says I'm not looking on the bright side?