Inspired

Today I am inspired by light. Usually I keep the curtain closed and enjoy the cave-like gloom of my house, today it was time for a change so I opened all the curtains in every room and Yesterday My bud Tyler and I removed the metal awning covering the kitchen windows. The house is full of light and it feels great, it makes me want to be productive and happy. Plus I feel good about not using any lights.

Time to catch up!

Maddie love's to blog and scrap and does an extremely good job at in but she is tied up with work for the time being. She works so hard for this family full time, and I mean full time. the routine starts at 4:45 where she gets up gets ready and I slip out of my coma for a sweet kiss and to have her tell me something that I wont remember come the afternoon. She spends her day at the Development center in American Fork, her job demands a lot from her which anyone who is a nurse understands that anything and everything happens during a nurses shift. Listening to the stories I can't imagine some of the things she takes care of but am glad she does such a good job at it. After 8 hours she is back home and back into mommy mode, Lilly loves her mommy so much and gets so happy to see Mads when she gets home. Maddie gets to follow Lilly around the house playing with toys, reading etc. She is an amazing mother and gives so much to our family. WIth all of this taking her time and energy blogging comes low on a what seems endless list.

So I Mike have decided i'll attempt to keep up on our blog and let you know how our family is doing. We have quite a bit going on and want to share it with everyone.

It's gotta get better, right?

It seems like we've had an endless streak of rotten luck this year so far....at this point I'm under the impression that things can only get better.....*fingers crossed*

February

It was the first Thursday in February. I had just called Mike as I was getting into the Equinox to head home...calling to let him know I was on my way. However, about 5 minutes later my ride home was extended quite a bit. I was driving my regular route home, on a road that has no stop signs in the direction I was travelling. The stop signs are all at the intersections going perpendicular to the road I was on. Well, I was coming up to one such intersection and noted another small SUV that was approaching the stop sign...well, as I went into the intersection I realized that the other driver was not going to stop and just as I was almost through the intersection (remember that I had no stop sign and the other driver did have one) I saw out of the corner of my eye that the other car was in-fact not stopping or slowing down at all. The back right end of my vehicle was smashed, causing my car to do a complete 360 before stopping. My airbags didn't deploy and I wasn't really jerked around, just scared to death. I know that I didn't even scream though because I wasn't sure what had happened. I did a quick check of myself to see if I was ok and then searched for my phone to call Mike to tell him someone had hit me. He of course drove like a mad man to where I was. Luckily he had Lilly and she wasn't in the car with me. I was totally fine and the paramedics and cops couldn't believe how calm I was. Turns out the other driver hurt her hand. She was 71, on oxygen, driving basically the same car as me, and pulling her rascal scooter behind her car....unfortunately her insurance company was state-farm, who are terrible to work with...mike had to fight them for 24 hours to get us a rental car that wasn't a compact car....they claimed it was the law that they could only provide the bare minimum.....WRONG-O!! and they also said they hadn't talked to their client yet...so mike called the other driver, asked if she'd given a statement to her insurance...and she had...so he had state-farm there......in the end they paid for my car to be repaired, and that's all.....we may still fight for diminuition of value...cause the car was a 2008 Chevy Equinox 2LT with only 35000 miles.....now we will probably loose $6000 if we try to sell it.....not happy!

Then on our anniversary Mike got a call from his commander at ROTC telling him that he did not get a pilot slot, but instead got a CSO slot which is basically what "Goose" on "Top Gun" is....or a navigator for those of you who know my dad. He was extremely heartbroken. He is however on the alternate list and is one of only about 60 people in the nation on the alternate list...we don't know how high up on the list he is, but our fingers are crossed that he will get bumped up to a pilot slot to fulfill his dreams.....talk about putting a damper on our 3rd anniversary.

we made it through february alive and were getting ready for a cruise in march, just mike and me.....

March

The day before our cruise, Mike was running some errands with Lilly. Shortly after I got home from work he called to tell me that he was on his way home....like 3 minutes later he called again....and now his truck was totalled.....GREAT!....Lilly was with him.....luckily the other car was a mustang and mike's truck just pushed it...they didn't get jerked really in the truck but the airbags deployed and the noise woke lilly up and really scared her... my mom was here to watch lilly so we jumped in the car headed down to get mike and lilly.....still working on this fun part of our lives.....we were a one car family for over a week last week when the car we were borrowing from my gpa mark completely lost its suspension.....

and then to top things off...i was called into the director of nursing's office this week and was told that the superintendent of where I work denied myself and the other girl who just got her RN from being promoted to RN wages and an RN position. yeah, pretty much no one likes the superintendent.....and not just for that reason...so i've feverishly been applying anywhere that i hiring RN's...not caring how much experience they want RNs to have.........we're having a fast the week after General Conference in hopes that I get another job. Mike's done at Cabelas because we were told I'd be getting RN pay....then that happened.....

It's gotta get better....right?

on a happier note...our cruise was awesome!!! we will post pictures soon!

Maddie and Mike...sitting in a tree.......

It was recently brought to my attention that I have been slacking in the area pertaining to publicly praising my true love and sharing with the world what wonderful things he does for me.

He truly is an amazing guy. When we first got married he would try to do little things and go buy me a hoodie or something just to suprize me. I always had a hard time with things like that because NO ONE that I ever dated did things like that for me. I never really even got asked to dances in high school, boyfriend or not. I usually had to ask someone or get someone to ask me...anyway...that's not what we're talking about. But I had a hard time because if you know me you know that I hate spending money and I don't think money should be spent on me unless absolutely necessary. But he would do these cute little things like go through his mission journal, figure out what his first day at church was in my Branch in Belgium and he would get me an "anniversary" gift for the first day we met, even though I had no idea when that was.

In October he had been looking online at flights for my grandma and was looking at some of the awesome deals that delta had elsewhere. He found a really inexpensive round trip flight to Colorado from SLC even. I told him it was a bummer that I had to work and so did he or we could fly out to see my family because my dad was going to be going home for a visit from his deployment in Las Vegas. Well, as the week went on I was kinda bummed about it. Mike had been to my parents' house over night the week before or something like that for an ROTC thing. I was really jealous because I miss my family a lot. Well, Friday came and Mike called me at work and said he figured out what we were going to do that evening, but I had to guess. I was asking questions to figure it out and was asking things like "is it in Utah Valley?" "Is it in SLC?" "Do we have to travel to get there?" "are we going camping?"...I found out that part of it was in SLC and that it included travelling but not camping. Eventually I asked if we were flying somewhere....YES! we were going to fly somewhere. Colorado in fact. He had already arranged for my brother, Spencer, to pick us up at the air port. I had to call my dad to get information about his flight because I knew that he and my mom were staying in a hotel in Denver because Chase and Austin (brothers) had a State Marching Band competition up there the next morning so my dad knew about us flying in too. Well we drove up to the competition, just barely missing the performance...we saw part through the fence...but we called my dad and got him to walk to find us and then he took us up to where my mom was helping load the band equipment. He took Lilly and just walked up and said "can you hold this for a second?"....my mom was so suprized she almost started crying!! then we came around the corner and she freaked out. It was such a fun suprize. we spent the whole weekend with them. It was awesome and I'm so greatful to Mike for thinking about it and doing it. It was such a sweet suprize.

(our family, Nov 2009)

I appreciate these things a lot, I really do. I guess in all the hassles of working full time, his school, his part-time job, never seeing each other during the week and having a baby I forget to find ways to truly express my gratitude.

Even when he happens to make the bed since he's the last in it every day or if he decides to do even a few dishes that are in the sink or to clean part of the house or vacuum without being asked...I'm so grateful! I don't know, maybe I thought that since I'm the one that always does these things without being asked because it's in my "job description" as wife a mom, that I didn't need to thank him for doing it....but I am entirely grateful. It really helps me out so much.

I want to be better at telling him thanks not just by saying it but by doing sweet little things for him from time to time. Then maybe I won't be put to shame by some of the other wives whose blogs we read....

so to Mike, my one and only love, my eternal companion, my sweetheart, my other half, the frosting to my cookie....

I love you and am so grateful to have you. You are the best dad I could have asked for my kids. Lilly loves you so much and I love to watch the two of you together. It always puts a smile on my face. I love all of the little things you do for me and I'm sorry that I haven't seemed as grateful as some of the former recipients of your doting. I love you even when you are a gross boy. I love th at you took me to the temple to be sealed for time and all eternity. I love you with all my heart and honestly don't know what I would do if anything happened to you. I have a hard enough time when I can't get ahold of you when we are separated by work and school....thank you for all that you do for me and for the love that you show me. I love when you suprize me with even and sticky note on the mirror for my early morning. I even love you when you have played video games all day instead of spend time with me, as frustrated as I may seem. I always get over it, eventually ;). I love that you are pursuing your dreams of being a pilot and that you're going to take me all over the world. I love that you have a passion for travelling, even when it makes us poor, but that you always want to take me with you. I lovethat you have compassion for others, even when your patience falls short. I love you when you have patience with me and even when you don't. I love you even when I won't talk to you. I love everything about you (except your stinky feet)...basically I am just madly in love with you! ~forever yours, Maddie

(our first date)

(date of our first kiss)

(wedding day)

(engagement pictures)

(time and all eternity)

(Mexico cruise 2007)

(cruise 2007)

(Paris 2008)

(new daddy 2009)

(Lilly's first bath)

(minky snuggles)

(daddy and his girl, Nov 2009)

p.s. I even love you when you won't stop snoring no matter how many times I kick you and when you steal the blankets!!

Just cause I'm a loser

Yup, it's that time again. Time for me to try to catch things up because I'm a slacker not to mention that when I'm home after 8 hours of work each day I just want to relax and play with my girlie. Anyway, here we go....

In October Mike suprised me by flying us all to Denver to suprize my mom. (see above for details)
It's been a busy holiday season starting with Halloween. Lilly was the most adorable Tinker Bell in a dress that her Mimi made. We went to our ward trunk-or-treat/ chili cook off. I won 2nd place in the chili cookoff with my BBQ Black Bean Chili. YUM!!! it was great cause I was able to have chili. Mike hates it so it was nice to be able to have some. I LOVE chili. Mike was a Cabela's customer complete with Billy-Bob teeth and a mullet. SERIOUSLY nasty. I was a cave woman.



In November we drove down to Las Vegas to visit my dad during his "Deployment" there and to go to the Nellis AFB Air Show. Of course Mike had more fun than anyone...it was really windy and Lilly wanted us to hold her hand and walk her all over the place the whole time. We did get some YUMMY kettle corn. Possibly the best ever. Gigi (my gma) went with us. It was a nice little weekened vacation. Mike and I subjected Poppy and Gigi to the wrath of Lilly in the evenings when we went down to the strip with our "should-be-engaged" friends Tyler and Chanelle. Chanelle got kicked out of a casino cause she's only 18, it was all Mike's fault!

November also brought unwanted cold weather, which Mike loves. And of course Thanksgiving. My family was here for the whole week of Thanksgiving. They came the weekend before because BYU was playing Air Force at BYU and they went to the game. We didn't eat with them though. This year was Mike's year for Thanksgiving so we went to his parents and ate with them, his sis Brooke and her kiddos, and his sis Brenda (and her accidental sugar-free pumpkin pie)....haha! love you Brenda! It was fun and full of laughs. After dinner we went back to my family to hang out a bit before we went to see New Moon. I'm totally team Edward in the books but Jacob in the movies. Why couldn't they get a real hearthrob to play Edward? I just don't think Rob is cute! gah!! Mike went shopping on black friday and got some good deals. I worked 8 hours every day, as usual (oh the life of a nurse)....Later we had dinner at my Aunt/Uncle's new AMAZINGLY GORGEOUS, HUMONGOUS, AWESOME house. My cousin Allie took some family pictures which turned out AMAZING, as usual. THANKS ALLIE!!! WE LOVE YOU!

December was a crazy month...SNOW SNOW SNOW!!! It was only a couple degrees for about a week at the beginning of the month. Not fun! We hit 3 extended family parties in a weeks time. My birthday was on the 16th and Mike suprized me again. We left for our vacation to Colorado after work on the 17th and didn't get there until 3am. We spent 10 nice relaxing days in Colorado at my parents house. The fun included the guys skiing one day, girls shopping, the LONGEST game of Settlers of Catan in the history of the world, the movie AVATAR (if you haven't seen it yet you are a loser and need to go see it...in 3D!...Mike has seen it 4 times now), lots of junk food which I gained 0 pounds from...can't say the same for everyone **cough cough**... two short visits from my Uncle Brian's family on their way to and from oregon and texas, and time with Gigi. Lilly sure made bank on Christmas. She's so stinkin spoiled. She got as many presents as everyone else combined I think. Good thing her birthday is less than a month after Christmas.....more presents..yay!haha. We stayed in Colorado for one extra day to be able to go to one of Mike's ROTC buddies wedding receptions that happened to be in my parents' Stake Center...crazy! Gigi rode home with us and we luckily were able to sqeeze everything into the truck and leave Rocky enough room to lay down. It was nice to be back home. After we got home we went to Ikea and bought a table and chairs and a new toy shelf holder thingy for Lilly's room and all her toys. Yay! no more toybox in the living room! and now we can eat in the kitchen at the table! hooooray!

Now we're into 2010. These next few months are probably going to be very stressful but hopefully worth it. We've got a few big things coming our way that we are keeping our fingers crossed for. I'll try to be better at keeping this blog updated on our lives. OH, I almost forgot!!!....here's an update on Lilly....

*** Lilly now has 7 teeth. She's actually had 7 for a couple of months now. She eats whatever we eat.
*** no more nursing. I figured that it would be a good time to stop while I had 10 days off from work. we're trying to ease her into Vit D Milk (whole milk) by mixing with her formula.
*** Walked the night before she turned 10 months and is now into even more trouble than before. She's getting really fast and really curious.
***turning 1 in 17 days!!! ahhhhh!!!!

Look for pictures coming soon....if we can find the other camera (i got a new one for christmas)

photo montage

This year has been crazy busy. Here are some pictures from the second half of our summer and then some. Be prepared for a picture overload.....(Descriptions are below pictures)



We got season passes to Seven Peaks (waterpark in Provo for those who don't know). It took Lilly a few times of going before she was comfortable. She is definitely a water baby now. She loves to take baths and therefore loves the pool.



Loving the water in the baby pool at Seven Peaks.

Thanksgiving Point has a farmland area where they have lots of animals. Lilly loves animals and as you can see she also liked her popsicle.

"Burrito Baby".......enough said

Rocky is one of Lilly's favorite things. They had a whole bin of stuffed Rockys at Ikea, so Daddy threw Lilly into the midst of them. As you can see she thoroughly enjoyed herself.

We went to Lake Powell over Labor Day weekend with both sets of In-Laws....Lilly had a blast but didn't always enjoy the life jacket...

Just before falling asleep on the speed boat

Lilly was introduced to red licorice on the speed boat at Lake Powell...and Mommy made her go without a shirt to eat it.

Whenever we would put Lilly in the lake she would scream and cry at first until mommy got in too. The water was a little brisk when you first got in

Climbing on the floaties

Ah the camping/Lake Powell way to bathe

Like father like daughter. This was not posed at all. I put Lilly down for a nap when Mike was still asleep in the morning (Lilly thought it was time to wake up around 6am when it got light...so that meant I was up too) and they both fell asleep like this.

Daddy made a mud pit and put Lilly in it.

Our little family

We went to the State Fair....our water baby is at it again.

They had baby ice cream cones....so Lilly got her own. She did pretty well but got tired of the cold and Mommy had to finish it off.

COLD!

I let her feed herself for once. Still haven't done that again unless it's solid food

This summer....

People keep telling me to put some pictures up. we've been a bit busy and blogging is never at the top of my list of things to do. however, here are a bunch of pictures from a few things this summer. there are still more pictures on the camera to be loaded, these are what are already on the computer. enjoy!

Fourth of july, the day daddy got home from field training. We went and watched the fireworks at the stadium of fire. we were just across the street. after we finally got lilly to look at them instead of the cars on the street, she was fascinated.
We got passes to seven peaks. lilly loves to stand and splash in the water. daddy goes and plays on the slides and mommy and lilly hang out in the baby and wave pools.
Lilly is started her quest to be a domestic goddess early in life. she loves to help with the laundry...help unfold it mostly.
We hiked stuart falls up at sundance. it was not the funnest thing i've ever done. lilly was a little small for the hiking backpack. she pretty much screamed non stop the whole way. this is the beginning of the hike. she was happy at first.
after screaming for a while, mom took the backpack. lilly liked pulling mommy's ponytail...for a bit.

we went to st. george for a weekend, just to getaway. mike pricelined the hilton garden in...and we got it for $45 a night! it was awesome. a little hot.....as in 107 degrees at 9:30pm!! we mostly hung out at the pool and in our room. we decided that we were cursed having a gorgeous baby...whenever we are out to eat we never get to finish our meal because everyone has to come up to our table and talk to lilly and touch her and talk to us....so annoying!! anyway, lilly liked playing on the big king size bed.
lilly loves to be nakey....don't worry, she's a got a diaper on....still in st. george
i looked over to see if lilly was still taking a nap and she was just laying there looking at me...and she would smile and just kept laying there. sooo stinkin cute!

we did a little shopping at the St. george outlets. including going to the rocky mtn. chocolate factory. lilly LOVED the apple core from our caramel apple. she was very sticky!....now when we go shopping, lilly usually gets a ton and we get nothing....we have no control apparently
playing peekaboo around the couch. she just kept looking at me standing in the door way... this was before she could crawl. she's been crawling for a couple of weeks now. she'll be walking pretty soon.

hanging out after some milk at 7 peaks. mike and my brother spencer and his gf kim were still on the slides.
taking a bath in grammy and poppy's new 5th wheel at tinney's flat at Gigi's family reunion. we made a huge water mess all over the counter....
lilly thought it was lots of fun to play with the drinking water attachment...good thing she wasn't strong enough to really give herself a cold shower!
we went to snowbird for one night and lilly had fun with the shops.
after about 10 tries we finally got a good picture of lilly, but daddy had to be a goofball.....one day we'll get a good family pic!