Our Trip To Ethiopia

Friday night we went and tried out Ethiopian food with the Zirkers. Travis came across this restaurant (which is really hidden), and they were kind enough to invite us to come along. The food was really good (except I didn't like the beet dish, mostly due to my aversion to beets). We ordered a huge platter of food, and it comes with the crepe-like things that you use to scoop the food up. There were no plates. It was a really fun little place. Afterward we headed back to Provo and visited one of Kelly and Travis' favorite gelato places (a place Jason and I have been meaning to try for some time now) called Maestros (it is on Center St in Provo, if you live around here you should try it). It was soooooo good. The gelato was heavenly and they also make delicious crepes and chocolate shot type thingys. In Europe after a meal, most people get a cute little shot of expresso, so it is like that but with REALLY rich delicious chocolate. It was a great evening! We love trying new kinds of food!
Outside the restaurant
The platter of food
Cute little chocolate shot
All of us at Maestros
Which of these pictures doesn't belong? Ok this is a picture of Jason before he attempted to ride on Saturday (the high was only 33 degress, but it was sunny so it was deceiving). His parents got him this sweet cycling jacket, he said that was the only part of his body that wasn't FREEZING!!! I keep assuring Jason we will be in CA soon where he can ride all year long!

Tag I'm It

MY HUSBAND....

what is his name? Jason Stott Miller

how long have you been together? 5 1/2 years

how long did you date? About a year before we got married.

how old his he? 27

who eats more? Probably Jason, he is a major snacker!

who said i love you first? Jason

who is taller? He is.

who can sing better? I can, but I'm not very good so that is not saying much for Jason.

who is smarter? Jason for sure.

who does the laundry? Me.

who pays the bills? Me.

who sleeps on the right side? Me, as a rule, I always sleeps on the side closest to the bathroom when we travel and what not.

who mows the lawn? Someone else who lives in the complex, but when we have a lawn, it will probably be Jason, he did it for other people in High School

who cooks dinner? Me. Although the last 3 months Jason has really been pitching in. And he does the dishes so it is a joint effort.

who drives? Jason.

who is more stubborn? Me

who kissed who first? Jason kissed me.

who asked who out first? Jason asked me, on a blind date.

who proposed? Jason did.

who has more friends? I have more close friends, but the rest of our friends are OUR friends so we are equal.

who is more sensitive? Umm...definitely me.

who has more siblings? Same, we both have 3 siblings and we are both the oldest.

who wears the pants? I would have to say I do.

TAG- YOU'RE IT!! Meriel, Kate, and Marie

Tubing and Dinner

This weekend we went with Jason's sister Jenny and her husband Jeff and their friends Renee and Ollie to Soldier Hollow in Midway and went tubing. I opted against the tubing at first "just to be safe", but after watching them come down a few times I decided me and the baby would like it and the risks of getting hurt were extremely minimal, so I joined them. It was pretty fun. After tubing we met up with a few more of their friends and ate at the Mountain House Grill. The service left something to be desired, but the food was delicious. It was such a fun night.
Jen modeling her one piece snow suit, she was the envy of us all!
Jen and Jason after a run down the hill
Jason with his tube
Jeff, Jen and I, I felt like the little kid on A Christmas Story, "I can't put my arms down", but I was very warm!
Jason and I outside the restaurant

Best Guy Ever

I don't like to brag, but I seriously have the best husband ever. I just read our friend Lance's kind words about his wife Becky and it inspired me. I was in the kitchen listening to Jason on the phone giving someone computer support and I thought "what a great guy". I then thought back on our evening so far. He ran straight home from work, changed his clothes so he could do some church work. When he got home we ate dinner, he cleaned up after dinner, laid down with me and listened about my day, emailed someone else regarding their computer woes and is now on the phone solving someone else's problems. And this is a VERY typical evening for him. His entire evening is often spent helping other people out (me most of the time) and he never complains. Not only all of that but he puts up with a very temperamental pregnant wife without ever complaining. I just thought it was about time he got some recognition. I think there are very few people who know Jason and haven't had some act of kindness done by him. He is really a special guy, and I'm a lucky girl. I love you honey.

P.S. I must be post happy cause this is my 2nd one today, see below for some of our weekend fun.

Car Show 2008

We had another "last" on Monday. Every year we go the the Auto Show at the South Towne Expo Center. Jason is a big car guy so this is really fun for him. They basically have all the new models of cars out on the floor so you can get in them and look around. A perfect thing if you are looking to buy a new car. The first couple times we went with Jason's friend Scott but he moved and the last couple years we have gone with our friends Jared and Shannon. I told everyone to pick their favorite car to get their picture with (see below). It was a really snowy day and I wasn't really in the mood to go but because it was the "last" time we went anyway and I am so glad we did.
They had this cute breast cancer mustang
Me and my Audi A4, this is obviously a dream
Shannon with her Lexus LS...something, this car is only $110,000 we ordered two :)
I would not want to buy a car that has to have the hazard button this big and red, not a good indication of reliability...I believe this was on a Saturn
Jason and Jared with the concept Jeep truck
Jason with is dream car a Mitsubishi Evo...someday honey, someday
Me hugging the gecko from geico
Ok this is just a random picture (that once again proves our nerdiness) but doesn't Jason look like Steve Jobs here??

Sundance 2008

Yesterday we visited the Sundance film festival for probably our last time :( It was really fun. As usually we didn't get into any movies, which is ok, we like to go for the hustle and bustle of the festival. We ate at our favorite restaurant Bankok Thai, which never disappoints. Then we walked around the downtown area. We saw a few celebrities this year including Jack Black, Stanley Tucci, Patricia Clarkson and Perez Hilton. We barely missed seeing Mary Kate Olsen and Colin Farrell. Perez Hilton is a celebrity blogger who I read for all my entertainment needs ( I know, how old am I), I saw he was blogging at a certain lounge so we headed over there and sure enough he was right by the window so I got my picture taken with him. Anyway, it was a beautiful day and I'm so glad we made possibly our last trip up to Park City. It has been one of our favorite places in Utah for sure!! Oh and as a sidenote we are turtle sitting my s-i-l's two little baby turtles this weekend. They are so cute, so I included a picture.
Jason and I
Me and Perez
Patricia Clarkson
Jack Black at Sundance, we didn't take this picture, but this is the day we saw him, Jason actually recognized him before me, he looked different with the blonde hair
Stanley Tucci
The two cute turtles

Heartbeat

So today was my 12 week appointment and we got to hear our little baby's heartbeat. It was so neat! And now everything feels so much more real to me, there is actually a human being with a beating heart growing inside of me...CRAZY! Anyway, I decided to put up some of my progress pictures. I look sick in both of them but oh well. There is one at 5 weeks and another at 11 weeks...nothing too exciting yet, but I'm sure I will be turning into a huge fatty soon :)
5 weeks
11 weeks

Cravings

The only thing that has consistently tasted good to me through this pregnancy. Thank heavens for Gogurts!

Hawaii 2007

In 2005 we went to Kauai so this time the family decided to visit the big island of Hawaii. We stayed on the Kona side of the island but we made a trip into Hilo to see the waterfalls and the town of Hilo. We spent most of the time playing on the beach, but we also swam with Mantarays and sea turtles, snorkeled, boogie-boarded, and hiked around the island. Jason and John rented bikes for the week and went cycling about the island a number times. Kona is the location of the Ironman World Championship and since Jason plans on participating in his first Olympic distance triathlon in June he enjoyed training while on the island. Below is a slideshow of our vacation. And check below for other pics from our trip home to CA for Christmas.

San Rafael

Every year right after Christmas my entire family (aunts, uncles, cousins) take a trip somewhere close to home. This year we went to San Rafael. The first day we went to Muir Woods and saw all the huge redwoods and went on a fun hike. The second day we went to the Point Reyes lighthouse and Drakes beach. My favorite part of these trips is at night in the hotel, we all get together, swim, play games and just have fun together. I can't wait to move closer so these fun times aren't so few and far between!!

Christmas

We had a great time in CA for Christmas. Being there made me even more excited to move back...I just have to get through the next six months!! We spent a lot of time with our families, which was great. And after Christmas we got to spend a few extra days with my family and then an extra week with Jason's (pictures of those trips to come).

I got together with some of my very best friends for dinner and a gift exchange, it was so fun to see everyone.

Jason playing with Alyssa in her new princess tent

Me and my beautiful sisters

The fam and Dave

Michelle, Jake and I

Me, Letty and Jack

Jason + Ginny + Baby = Happy Family

So lots of people know already but I guess it isn't really official until it is on the blog.  Jason and I are expecting our first baby!!  I went in for my first doctors appointment today, and I am 8 weeks along, and the due date is July 30th.  This is seriously going to be the longest pregnancy since we found out pretty early, but we are so excited.  I have been very nausea since about the 6th week.  It is not fun but I am glad to have symptoms, it makes me feel like everything is progressing well.  We probably should have waited until I was a little further along to tell everyone but we are just so excited.  I will keep the blog updated with pictures along the way.  And I would love advice from all you mothers out there, I'm sure going to need it.

Temple Square Lights

Last night we got together with some friends of mine (and now Jason's) from my BYU-Idaho days, Russ and Kim.  It was really fun.  We ate at one of our favorite restaurants Bangkok Thai and then we braved the cold and walked around temple square.  It was so fun to see them and catch up!!

Snow Boots

Something has changed within me, something is not the same (from wicked). I actually like the snow. I attribute this to a few things, for example, I haven't had to drive in it yet, and each day it has snowed I have been able to stay home and relax in my warm, cozy house, but the main reason for this change is my new snow boots. I know it may sound weird that something so small could change my whole perspective on the snow, but pre-boots I HATED walking in the snow, and you can't really be in the snow without walking in it, so that further enhanced my hatred. But now when I walk to Smiths in the snow I can throw on my sweats, put my boots on over my sweats, and my little feet stay warm and cozy plus my pants stay dry. I also used to stress out whenever anyone wanted to go "play" in the snow because I never had proper footwear. It is amazing, if you live in the snow and don't have a pair of snow boots GET SOME NOW!!! The best part is I got them for $8 at DI. Anyway, Provo is a winter wonderland right now. It has snowed all day and is suppose to continue all day tomorrow.
My lovely boots
A couple of pictures showing the snow out our window

Jason enjoying the snow
Ok, I realize I look DISGUSTING but whatever, here is me on the way home from Smiths, yes I actually left the house like that!!
Ok, this picture doesn't really belong on this post but oh well, we had dinner at Jen's the other night with Jason's Grandparents, they were in SL so his Grandpa could get surgery on his eyes, hence the bruising. Jason's Grandpa is so cute, when we first saw the bruising we said oh my goodness, his response "well you should see the other guy"!

Christmas is Coming!!!!

Our four year anniversary was on the 21st of November. Since we were in Pennsylvania we didn't really do anything until we got back. Jason got me two dozen beautiful roses and then took me out to dinner. We tried a local restaurant called Prestwich Farms, it was good. We had a pretty uneventful anniversary, but it was still wonderful. We both feel so blessed to have had such a wonderful four years. I am one seriously lucky girl. This weekend we got our first big snow storm (it is about time), so Jason and I went up the canyon with our b-i-l Jeff and went fishing. It was really fun. Jeff and I both caught little fish, and Jason gave it a really good effort :) That night we went up to into the mountains with Jenny and Jeff and got our Christmas tree. It was a really fun adventure!! I also included some pictures of our tree decorated. I have always love the beautifully decorated Christmas trees, but I really love our not-as-beautiful Christmas tree. It is decorated with ornaments that we get at different places that we visit, so decorating our tree is like a walk down memory lane for us, it is really special.

Me with my beautiful flowers

Jason and his yummy crab legs

Both of us at dinner

The master teaching us how to fish

Jason fishing...try to ignore his outfit

Me and my fish!!!  Don't worry I threw him back, he was just a little guy.

The mountain men, Jeff and Jason

Our beautiful tree
Our stockings and what not
Jason enjoying the Christmas feel of our home!!