Lost Gamble?

Moving to Utah for me was a huge gamble. I moved here on a whim to work for a company in the middle of bankruptcy. In June a year later when the bankruptcy had been settled, I thought I was in the clear. Six months later in December, our family-oriented company was bought by new investors, and every since the family friendly feeling has disappeared and been replaced by a tension in the air so thick you could cut it with a knife. Earlier this month our CEO stood up in a company wide meeting saying we were in trouble and lay offs were coming, and to use company time to start looking for a new job. You know when that happens trouble is brewing. I went to the temple and had the feeling to wait things out, but today the bomb dropped, and half the company was laid off, myself included.

I guess just as in gambling, you win some and you lose some. Phonex has been a great ride, and there have been many other things that have come from my adventure in Salt Lake--like meeting my wonderful husband! If anyone knows of any good companies hiring, please let me know!

Big Week

Luke and I were excited to spend our first Valentine's Day as a married couple! We started celebrating on Thursday as we completed a secret shopping assignment at the Cheesecake Factory. The food and service were not impressive, but the company was! Valentine's morning he presented me with a bouquet of roses and carnations (which turned out to be the same arrangement that both his mom and sister-in-law received! These Rasmussen men think alike!) and I went the unromantic route and gave him the newest Terminator movie he has been wanting. Why is Valentine's day such a hard one to buy for men? They have it easy--flowers, chocolates and jewelry--straight to our hearts. We women don't have it so easy!

I was a little bummed that day as it was Leslie's farewell in Vegas and we were not able to make it. We decided to spend the day with family and went to church with his parents. I did tear up in sacrament meeting when we sang "Lord, I would Follow Thee" as I thought of Leslie being a missionary. That night we had a steak dinner at their house and watched movies as a family.

Monday evening my family arrived on the long awaited journey to take Leslie to the MTC. We all met for dinner at Texas Roadhouse to celebrate Melissa's landmark birthday, and to enjoy some last moments together before Leslie left. We were sad Lauren an Garn couldn't be with us!

Luckily, Luke and I both had the day off Tuesday for final farewells. We started the day at our second baby doctor appointment where we found out that so far everything in normal, and that I am now in my second trimester. We got to hear the heart beat and I was so emotional that I cried! A few more weeks and we will know if it is a boy or a girl! Stay Tuned...

After that good news we went downtown and met my family at the Salt Lake temple. This was Luke, Leslie and Justin's first experiences with a live session. I hadn't been since right before I entered the MTC (6 1/2 years ago!) it was a great experience for all of us. We left the temple on a spiritual high.

Luke and I continued our good day by having lunch at the Garden in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, and then on to another mystery shop. This time we got to go to a jewelry store and pretend we were shopping for engagement rings! While downtown we dropped by the Apple store and the genius there was able to help me recover all my lost files! All of my pictures, iTunes, files--everything is back! I admit--this time it was due to operator error. I had tried to change the name of the computer and it broke all the links to those items. The genius was able to restore the name and repair the links. He was so nice as to even replace my keyboard cover since it was cracked--for FREE!

While the repairs we being done on Macky, we wandered down to Game Stop to look for some used video games. Luke inquired about guitars for guitar hero and the employee said they no longer did exchanges, but that a customer had gotten mad at him a few weeks ago and left two outside the store. They brought them in thinking he would come back, but the guy never did. The guitars had not been tested to see if they worked, but he gave both of them to us for FREE! We took them home and cleaned them up that night and both work great. Score!

To continue our great day, we were invited to Aunt Marilyn's house in Provo for dinner. Mom, dad, Leslie and Justin we staying with her and it was one last chance to be together. After dinner we played Apples to Apples and had some good laughs. Then the time came to say good bye to Leslie. I can't believe the day came so fast! I know she will be a great missionary and touch the lives of many. I am so excited to hear her stories and adventures as she goes to Illinois. It was weird to think that when I go home next time she won't be there! Mom and dad are empty nesters now.

29 Forever

Melissa hit a special number this year as far as ages go, and her friend Jill and I decided it was time to celebrate! We are probably the two WORST liars on earth, but somehow we managed to pull it off. The party was at Boondocks in Draper--they have go karts, mini golf, bumper boats, a kiddie corner, laser tag, an arcade--lots of fun! I told Melissa I wanted to take her to dinner Saturday before her birthday since Luke had to work--she was expecting a quiet dinner with me and the kids, but little did she know all week Jill and I were keeping secrets and flat out lying to her! I had told her there was a diner in Draper I wanted to take her too-a place I had never tried but when she asked where all I could say is I was not exactly sure, but I knew it was around Boondocks. The day of the party as we are driving to Draper I said I wanted to stop at boondocks to get Luke a gift certificate for the go karts for valentine's day--she didn't question it! When we arrived she said she would just wait in the car, but lucky for me Asher said she wanted to go in, and Jaman started getting out so I said she might as well come too. I walked straight for the grill and she quickly informed me that ticket sales were at the other side. I told her we should check the place out and see if they had anything fun since we were there. She was confused and asked if I no longer wanted to eat at the diner when... SURPRISE!!! Jill and some friends popped out and the party began. We had noise makers and a crown and necklace and a sash for the birthday girl along with cake and some other goodies. We enjoyed dinner and then it was time to play! Melissa and Jaman did laser tag while I took the younger kids to kiddie cove--which turned out to be traumatic! My niece Desiree got separated from the other girls and was lost in the maze so her mom climbed up to get her. A few minutes later, we heard screaming and I saw Asher pointing to something. I went up to her and she was shouting that someone was stuck--Quinn--Jill's little girl had gotten her leg caught in part of the jungle gym and couldn't get out so Jill also got to climb in and get her. That was the end of the kiddie cove for those girls! We returned to the birthday room and unsure if we could light candles thought we would just light one. I have the worst luck with matches and tonight was no different-- I tried to light it and as it sparked it broke and luckily landed on the cake not starting a fire! After that we just pretended to have her blow out candles! All in all I would say the party was a success, and Melissa has officially reached "Forever 29"

Asher on Babies

Melissa brought Asher over Sunday night. She has been asking a lot of questions about babies since Melissa told her I have a baby in my tummy. A couple weeks ago on our way to Gardner Village this was our coversation:

Asher: Kelwy where is that baby in your tummy?
Kelly: You can't see the baby yet, it is too little
Asher: Why?
Kelly: Because babies take time to grow
Asher: When will he come out?
Kelly: Do you know when Jaman's birthday is? Baby will be here about then.
Asher: That's a long time. I want baby now... Kelwy-- How did the baby get in your tummy?
Kelly: Ask your mom.
Asher: I will ask my mom. Kelwy where does the baby come out? Will you burp him out of your mouth?

This week when they came over it was a lot of the same questions. I helped her go to the bathroom and while we were in there she told me my baby must be getting big because my tummy is getting big. Then she asked if it was a boy baby or a girl baby (to which I don't know yet) and said she wanted to see the baby. So I told her I have a picture of the baby and showed her my ultrasound--she dropped the picture and said "Kelwy! There is a monster in your tummy!"