Day 8: A place you've traveled to

I love to travel. Love, love love it. Jed, however, doesn't like to travel. Luckily, this is one disagreement that I usually always win. So we travel. But, hey, we eat mac & cheese for dinner- so we compromise.

A few places I've been:

Bear Lake

The water here is so beautiful. I loved being here- luckily this is the location for Jed's HS friends annual 24th of July trip. 


San Diego

This picture looks a lot like the beach we went to. It might be the same one-- I remember there were dogs and those big rocks. It was warm, loud, and salty- and I want to go back.

Byron, Illinois

Byron- my hometown. Born and raised. I miss the town and the cornfields. 


My two favorite places:

Nauvoo, Illinois

Adam-ondi-ahman

For more information on what this place is, go here.

But I am most excited to go somewhere I've never been. Actually, somewhere I have never met a single person that has been. But I will get there. Soon. More on this to follow.

Day 7: Favorite Movies

Really? 7 is my lucky number, and all I get to chat about is movies... ugh.

I am not really a movie person. I don't know why not, but they're not for me. I have a few movies that I really like, some that I'm willing to watch, but more often then not I watch movies to take a nap.

So here goes I guess:  (I decided to post pictures from scenes in the movies... to jazz it up a bit)

This comes from my favorite movie. Which I posted in the "introduction" day one post. But here it is again:

Thirteen going on 30

"razzle red" anyone? 

I have also mentioned I am not much of a dog person. Actually to be more accurate: I am not a dog person. I dunno- they smell, okay?

But when I watched this movie, and for the first time- I considered getting a dog. WHOA. That's how good this movie is.

What is it? 

Marley and Me

greatest dog movie ever. 

Well, this (these) movies don't need much of an introduction- they are what they are. 

Amazing. 

Yes, of course, they stray from the book- occasionally adding ridiculous scenes- but the true HP fans know what really happens, and that's what matters most. 

So far Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is my favorite HP movie- while I like all of the HP books- with the last one being my favorite. :) 

Then a few of my other "favorites:"

Rush Hour(s)

August Rush

The Best 2 Years

Charly

The Ultimate Gift

Pay it Forward

the Bourne series

Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy

Of course there are tonsss of other {way more important} things that make me happy, but honestly Studio 5 is high up on my list.

I wouldn't say that I am against TV, yeah, I have the shows that I like to watch-- but I never thought I would be one of "these" people. A day without Studio 5 for me is a sad day. Honestly.

This is a show that reminds me there are good people trying to do good things and share them with others. They're my friends. Or at least that's what I tell myself as I get ready to watch them at 11 AM M-F in my joggers.

It technically is a "lifestyle" show aired by KSL. (Another thing that is AMAZING. Classifieds Tutorial to follow) Most of the people, I'm pretty sure, on this show are LDS- but either way, they are good, wholesome people.

They have chefs and bakers (who I get recipes all the time-- including a supper YUMMY Lion House cheesecake recipe that I took to Thanksgiving)

They have relationship coach Matt Townsend (love him and his advice!) that gives me cheap date ideas, topics to talk about with Jed, as well as ways to show Jed that I love him (something I struggle with)

They have a Health and Fitness contributor Melanie Douglass (my BFF) who teaches about healthier ways to live life- without giving up everything!! (and she has helped me to get back to pre-prego weight and I'm still goin'!)

{and tons of other contributors! (crafters, psychologists, librarians, politicians, this couple that gives great parenting advice ETC,  ETC,  ETC.)

Not to mention Brooke and Darin (the hosts) whom I love!  They both have great personalities and I feel like if  when I meet them- we will have SOOO much to catch up on :)

Okay, so I'm a little obsessed... but it really does make me happy. It teaches me things, and really does encourage me to be better.

So there for rationalization :)

Day 5: A song to match your mood

I love music. But I wouldn't consider myself a music guru. I really just listen to music to avoid silence-- something I really don't like.

I listen to music while I'm cleaning, dancing with Jed and Parker, in the car etc. but still- whatever is on the radio is what I listen to.

And since this post was supposed to be on {Saturday} this is the song that I think described my mood best.

{Marry Me: Train}

After Valentine's Day: best ever!!, and an awesome party at our house on Friday full of yummy food, tons of people, and great games- I woke up on Saturday realizing how lucky I am to have Jed. He let me sleep in on Saturday while he got up and started on the mound of dishes that we had left the previous night. Then he took me to a few thrift stores just to look around {boy does he get bored} but he pushed Parker around while I looked at everything.

Then to finish off an amazing week, I got to read a book while taking a warm bath. Come on. Does life get better than that?

Anyways, this is a great song. Really. One of the best.

Day 4: Your parents

My parents are John Lucas and Darlene Winter. 

 {I searched for a picture- none to be found :/ }

I grew up living with my mom after my parents split up. My mom is now a CNA and has been taking care of elderly women.  She is very talented. It's interesting how similar old people and babies are. That's why I tell my mom- she will be going straight to a home as soon as she needs that kind of help! 

My dad has been a taxi driver most recently, and he is an avid ping pong player.  He has had back and other physical problems, but he says that ping pong has helped him feel a lot better. I think it's kind of cool, and it keeps him busy and healthy- so the more ping pong the merrier.  He loves to golf, hates the cold weather {enter over-sized hat and coat} and listens to talk radio.

I didn't really get a chance to know my dad that well growing up. But I know that he loves me, and that's a lot more than most people have- so really, I'm lucky. I'm excited for him to meet his little grandson in March!

My mom recently got remarried; so Robert Winter has now joined our big, happy family. I don't know him very well, but he makes my mom happy. After seeing her alone for awhile, I'm glad she has someone (mainly to get stuff off the top shelf!) Robert has a quirky sense of humor and is pretty relaxed, so he fits pretty well in our posse.

When my parents were together they both worked long hours to support all 6 kids. We lived in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment (girls in 1 room, boys in another, parents in the living room). While they were gone, I was taken care from a young age by mainly my older sister. She did a great job taking care of me, and we still have a special bond because of that.

I also know that it really takes a village to raise a child. From my experience growing up, as well as from being a mother- there are a lot of outside people that play an important role in raising a child (church leaders, extended family/siblings, friends etc). I know that the Lord has put some pretty amazing people in my path to help me on my journey. They're awesome. 

So let's all go be great parents (whether you have kids or not).

Day 3: Your first love

Growing up in Illinois, there weren't that many LDS boys to date.  Even then, most of the youth in my branch had grown up together.  We did get together on the weekends, and of course we had "crushes" on other people, be we never got exclusive.  Honestly, I am so grateful for this. I learned a lot about myself, about how men should treat women, and about the type of person I wanted to marry. That group of friends will always hold a special place in my heart- we had {a lot} of good times. We all had similar standards, and we got along really well.

Since this question says, "your first love" that is exactly what I am going to answer. No need to bring up all the crushes. Cuz yeah, there were TONSSS. 

With that said, my first true love was Jed.

{cue the choir of awwwwwww's}

Because of my experience growing up, I was pretty sure what I wanted/didn't want in a husband.  I have often said that Jed is the summation of 3 guys that I had crushes on, plus way more I didn't even know to look for.

Those 3 characteristics would be

1. LDS/sensitive
Marrying someone that was LDS, that could hold the Priesthood, be sealed to me in the temple, and share a life trusting in the Lord was my priority. The sensitive part was also pretty important to me. I have been around tough guys- and they are just not appealing to me. I am a relatively sensitive person, and I knew that I needed to be with someone who understood that. And yes, Jed had that... {check}

2. Musically talented/passionate/tall
HAHAHA.
It's funny to me that this was even on my "list," but it really has always been. I love it when guys can be passionate about something- that isn't sports (typical). Not to say that sports are bad, but I needed someone who didn't live their life for the next game.  Also- he had to be taller than me. Preferably a lot taller. And yes, Jed had that... {check}

3. Good Listener/different
I like to talk. A lot. Something about getting the thoughts out of my head and into the world really helps me to figure stuff out.  And sometimes I can be funny, sooo.... BONUS!  I am also different.  I think everyone has their own way of being different, but sometimes my way is a little bit more... {noticeable} So I really wanted to be with someone that at least understood my weirdness and possibly enjoyed it. And yes, Jed had that... {check}

Jed really was an all around catch. Obviously the first day that I met him I didn't realize that, but there was just something about him that made me want to hang out with him.  {Jed and I met at a Marriott Center fireside, when Elder Holland was speaking-- the place was packed [22,000 ppl] and we happened to sit by each other}  I have often wondered what it was about Jed that first made me want to get to know him better- because even though he was sexy  that isn't usually a reason to give someone your number. 

While I was thinking about this post- I figured it out. After the fireside was all over, Jed and I stayed there (with my friend and my date... LONG STORY) and we talked. For a LONG time. We didn't even do that much small talk either. It was about stuff that we both really cared about- and we had only just met. Looking back, it was because Jed and I could have an honest conversation- he listened but also contributed to the convo- that was why I was so interested in this guy. I mean- I was a FRESHMAN. No one cares about freshman. But he did. He cared. And that has made all the difference in the {world}.

                                                                            4 Dec 2008 


Who was my first love? Jedediah Benson Alvey.

{forever and always, yeah.}

Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name...

                           {Just the Three of Us}

Well, I think it's pretty obvious what my blog name is referring to- but here's some pics to indulge your curiosity :)

I really like to blog about my life- pretty much like a journal (minus the long lists of what I ate that day... I dunno why I used to do that in my journal??) so of course the main topic of my life would be my family.

Jed and Parker are my main priority- but not in the {ugh} way. More the {really, me?} way. I love being a wife and mother. Yes, my life has gone a different way than I thought growing up- but I would NOT change a thing. I love getting to be Parker's momma- I love the look that he makes when I come to pick him up after a nap. I love giving Jed a big hug after his long day at school/work, and I love how he thanks me for the yummy dinner I made.

My life is grrrrr-eat! So yeah, that's what I like to blog about. I'm a Mormon Mommy blogger, are you? :)