{Mrs}adventures

4 Months!

2012-01-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

Jayna is four months old today, and cute as can be. We're so glad that she's ours!

Fun as a Family

2012-01-03T15:06:00.002-07:00

The weather has been so warm and nice that we couldn't resist going out and enjoying it as a family! We went on a little hike near our home. The baby loved almost all of it. If we ever stopped walking, she got a little annoyed (click HERE to see video). We sure do have a particular little baby on our hands!

We ended our fun family day by getting a treat. What a great day to spend together before Steven went back to work. I love my little family!

Doctor's Visit

2011-12-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

While waiting for our pediatrician to come and check out the baby, we placed her on the examination table which was covered in that white crinkly paper. It took her all of half a second to realize that when she moved her body, a fun noise was made! She had more fun wiggling and kicking her feet, and I'm glad I had a camera on me to capture the moment. Sadly, the doctor then came in a ruined it all by making Jayna scream and scream.

Go HERE to see her kicking away!

Christmas Wrap-up

2011-12-28T11:03:00.001-07:00

Christmas this year was wonderful, as was expected! We stayed home in California, and 'merried and jollied' with our family. There was much to-ing and fro-ing between our home and my in-laws, and we spent Christmas eve at my in-laws home, so we could wake up Christmas morning and share in that special time with everyone!

There was tons of cooking and baking, game playing, present opening, baby jostling, and laughing. It seemed like Jayna had a good time watching all the excitement on Christmas morning, up until nap time hit, and then she was ready to sleep! She gets over stimulated easily, and had a little bit of a hard time with all the people, but I still think she had a pretty fun first Christmas. I know we sure did!

We tried cornish hens instead of turkey for our Christmas eve meal. It was kind of weird having a whole bird on my plate, but Steven thought it was awesome!

Baby's first Christmas morning! We snapped these right before the masses came to take us to the Christmas morning extravaganza. As always, Jayna was bright eyed (or deer in the headlights eyed) and ready to party!

All dressed up in her Christmas outfit for church!

Meeting Milestones!

2011-12-13T21:42:00.001-07:00

As first time parents everything our baby does is the best. No baby has ever met their milestones as quickly as ours does, no baby is as cute as ours is, etc. etc. Every parent feels the same way about their children, but I'm gonna let you in on a little secret...our baby really is the best!

Baby J is now 3 1/2 months old, and she is our bright eyed, curious, and happy baby! Everyone always comments on how alert she is, and it really is true. She just can't take in this world fast enough! She is now really fun to play with, and her own little personality is definitely starting to shine through. One of her favorite things to do is use her legs to stand up, then jump! She just squeals every time. She is fascinated with standing and kicking sand at the park, but grass tends to puzzle her. She has a love hate relationship with the texture of grass, but then again, don't we all? I love watching this tiny human being learning about the world, and being with her has given me a new perspective on this life as well.

Working on her push ups :)

She enjoys grabbing and shaking her toys, but has discovered that it's hard to suck your thumb while holding a toy!

Jayna LOVES looking at her books.

This is how she sucks her thumb most of the time. Actually, she gnaws her thumb more than sucks it...

J as rolled over about 5 times, but is still working on getting it down. She's a professional at rolling to her side though!

This is a screen shot from our baby monitor one night. I thought that it was really funny, but she moved her hand away from her face pretty soon after I captured this. Love this baby of mine!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-28T15:06:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving 2011 is one to be remembered! It was the Mustard's turn this year to spend thanksgiving with, so we made the 10 hour car trip to Utah to be with them! 10 hours in a car with a baby who does not like her car seat (or the car for that matter) was not very fun. Fast forward to driving home from Utah, and we got caught in two hours of traffic... we are glad that the driving aspect of thanksgiving is over!

There was tons of cooking and eating, laughter, video game playing, walks, seeing friends, and passing around the baby! Steven and I even got to go on a date,what a treat! I loved seeing my family and catching up on everyone's lives. I especially loved introducing our baby to everyone, and seeing how much love everyone has for her. All in all, I'd call this a successful thanksgiving. Now, on to Christmas!

Hanging Up the Horns

2011-11-16T10:39:00.001-07:00

I mentioned previously that Jayna and I have had some struggles with nursing. I am very happy to say that after 7 weeks and 6 days of a lot of hard work on both Jayna's and my part, and of being hooked up to a breast pump, we are full time nursing!

The hospital took back the pump last week, and my heart jumped a little when it happened. The pump was almost like a crutch, and I had a love/hate relationship with it (more hate than love I think, ha). That pump has been a part of my life, and it has provided me with the ability to breastfeed my baby when I wasn't able to nurse her. I love it for that, but I hate it because of the time it took, the pain it caused, the 'failure' that is represented to me. It was a constant reminder, 8 times a day, that I wasn't nursing. I wanted so badly to nurse Jayna, because I had seen my mom and sisters do it, and it was just so natural. I felt like such a failure that I wasn't able to nurse my baby. I wasn't able to do what Heavenly Father created my body to do, and I had a hard time with that. A lot of those feelings were made worse because of some postpartum depression, and the 'newness' of being a mom. Thankfully I was able to come to terms with it all for the most part, and I figured out how to incorporate pumping with being a mom.

That being said, here is the breakdown of how much time pumping took. I pumped 8 times a day for 30 minutes each session (20 pumping, 10 cleaning parts). 30x8= 240 minutes a day. 240x7 days a week=1680 minutes a week. 1680x 7 weeks=11,760. 11,760 + 1440 (6 days worth of pumping) = 13200 total minutes pumping. That is 220 hours, or 9.16 days. 9.16 total days pumping! It has really given me an appreciation for those women who have had to pump for longer amounts of time for whatever reasons.

Why did I have to pump for those weeks? Jayna didn't latch on, she had an extremely weak suck, she had silicone nipple preference, and breast aversion. I had a few things wrong as well, including low milk supply, and inefficient let-down amongst other things. The combination of these things just worked against us, and made nursing get off to a rough start. We spent every week meeting with a lactation nurse, and trying new tricks. I would just tackle one problem at a time, and finally we got to the point where there was only one issue left...how to get the baby to actually eat once she was latched on. This really was up to her, and one day she just did it. Ever since then, she has been a happily nursing baby!

I love nursing. I love the cuddles and bonding, I love the looks my baby gives me, and how happy it makes her. This isn't to say that once we got started nursing has been a piece of cake. There has been pain-lots and lots of pain. Thankfully that is mainly gone now. I also am pretty paranoid that she is getting enough to eat. My nurse assures me that she is (based off of weight measurements), and that paranoia is very common after having a tough start. I am glad for the many hours that I now have back, and the ability to nurse laying down at night, which helps me to sleep more. I love sleeping more :)

I feel like this challenge has made me so much stronger. It has made me appreciate the ability to nurse so much more, and it has created an extremely deep love for my daughter because I spent so much time sacrificing and serving, all for her. There are many challenges ahead of us, but I know that we will be able to tackle those as well, and as a result of our trials we will only be made stronger.

P.S. I have read so much literature on nursing that I believe that I could easily pass the IBLCE to become a lactation nurse. And fFYI, when you say you've 'hung up the horns', it means that you are no longer pumping.

Baby

2011-10-30T20:46:00.002-06:00

Passed out before the party has even begun!

Baby daddy.

"sometimes I go cross-eyed when I'm trying to focus!"

Just hanging out at the corner of awesome and adorable.

Chilling on the changing table!

J has learned that her parents will forgive her anything if she smiles.

Guess who is hiding under that lump? Hint: it's not me or a baby...

Here is a video of me playing a 'stick out your tongue and make weird noises' game with the baby. It's her favorite game so far!

7 Weeks!

2011-10-22T15:57:00.001-06:00

Today my baby is 7 weeks old.

7 weeks!

She is starting to smile, but she makes Steven and I work pretty hard for those smiles. The best is when I pick her up in the morning, and she always has the biggest, brightest smile for me! It melts my heart every time.
Jayna is also much more interactive, and quite the wiggler! If you can catch and hold her attention, she will wiggle with delight.
She loves to look around and see everything, and sometimes she just can't take it all in fast enough! She will frantically be looking every which way, trying to see as much as she can.
We have had a 7 week battle with nursing, but I think she is finally starting to get it! More on that one later.
Last week Jayna decided to only cat nap, and take 15 minute naps. This one has been tough, and going from 2+ hour long naps to 15 is a killer for both of us, but hopefully this is just a phase...
Jayna is getting a little better at being on her own, and can last about 7-8 minutes in her car seat before starting to scream bloody murder. This is a great improvement from not being able to last 2 seconds in her car seat.
The baby is now sleeping in 4 hour stretches at night! The day after she first did this I felt like an entirely new woman, and promptly smothered her face in kisses.
Jayna is just getting out of her newborn clothes, but still doesn't quite fit into 0-3 months. She now weighs 10.5lbs!

I shot a video of her saying hi to everybody! Go here to see it. And please don't judge me for the noises I make, it's what I do all day long to entertain her :)

My wide eyed little lady.

This WAS a smile, I just took the picture a little too early, before she fully reached it. Still cute to her mama though!

Sometimes she's grumpy. And sometimes I laugh at her when she's grumpy.

Baby Blessing

2011-10-09T20:41:00.000-06:00

Today was Jayna's baby blessing, and what a special day it was! Steven gave her the sweetest blessing, and after church I had many other mom's comment to me how they never cry during baby blessings, but they balled during hers! I was so proud to see my wonderful husband blessing our sweet daughter.

Afterwards we invited Steven's family over to our home for lunch. It was so fun to be with them and share in their good company. They even so sweetly complemented a dry lasagna...sorry!

Mimi (grandma cole) and Jayna

Grandpa Cole and Jayna

Great Grandma and Jayna (thanks for coming!)

J and Lola, her first cousin once removed, and also her youngest friend on Steven's side of the family! Lets get some more babies on his side, okay?

There were lots of people in our small home! We loved it all.

Our Little Grunter

2011-10-08T21:26:00.001-06:00

Our baby is a talker! Or should I say, a grunter. She spends most of her day grunting her little heart away, and it cracks Steven and I up. She even grunts quite a bit in her sleep! Al l night my heart is reassured as I hear her grunts, sighs, and random shouts. I never really worry about whether or not she's breathing while she sleeps because I can hear her talking all night long. My favorite noise she makes (but she doesn't make it as much anymore as she used to) is this little yelp, and it is only ever in her sleep. It actually sounds a little bit like a puppy...

Click here to see a video of J waking up, and making some of her little noises.

And of course, some more photos!

She's not really smiling yet, but we can pretend like this little smile is her practicing.

Eskimo baby!

One day J was refusing to sleep for her nap, even though she was so tired and kept falling asleep in my arms. I was super busy that day, so I stuck her in the carrier. She was mad that she couldn't see, so I turned her around to face out ( I know, you're not supposed to wear them this way. I made sure she was safe.) and as soon as she turned around she fell asleep in this position! I guess she likes to sleep in positions that make you feel like you are in a perpetual dive.

Who doesn't love a sleeping baby?!

Some Favorites

2011-09-28T15:12:00.000-06:00

"why I outta!" (grumpy old man photo!)

Three Cheers

2011-09-27T14:55:00.001-06:00

These past three weeks have transformed the way I see Steven. I never thought I could love him more than on the day we got married, but the past (almost) two years I've found that love multiplied by a thousand as I've served him and he I. Seeing him as a father and caring for our baby has almost made my heart burst! I love watching him coo, cuddle, and play with Jayna.

Steven has been such a great help these past few weeks. It was so wonderful being able to spend two whole weeks together as a family while he was on leave. When he comes home from work he so willingly jumps right into father mode and helps calm and soothe Jayna back to sleep, or help with dinner so I can take a little break. The weekends are wonderful, and Steven just wants to hold Jayna the entire time because he missed her so much while gone during the week.

Steven does such a great job at reassuring me as a mother and wife, and making me feel so loved and appreciated all the time. The first week postpartum was wonderful and hard in so many ways, but he was right there by my side the whole time, always eager to give a hug and build me up. He works so hard every day, which has allowed me to be a stay at home mom to raise our children. This is such a huge blessing and gift that he is giving me and our children, and I love him all the more for it!

Thank you Steven for being my mister wonderful! You make my life better and better by the minute. I'm so happy that you're my husband and the father of our baby.

Motherhood

2011-09-17T21:15:00.002-06:00

Today we have had our precious baby for two weeks.

Two weeks!

I can hardly even begin to express all of the emotions that I have felt these past two weeks. They have ranged from sheer wonder, panic, calm, unworthiness, failure, overwhelming love, confusion, and honestly, a little disenchantment.

Tonight as I was feeding Jayna, her little eyes were wide eyed and staring straight up into mine. This happens during all of our feedings, but tonight as we gazed at each other I was so overcome with emotion. This baby is mine. She knows my voice, and can pick it out in a crowd. She also can do this with Steven. She knows my face and my touch. This little girl needs me for everything, and I have never been needed like this in my entire life.

And then it hit me. Someone feels this way about me. I was once a helpless newborn, and my mom gazed into my eyes as we fed and smothered me with kisses too. But I also realized that my mom still feels this way about me. I think if she could, she'd still cuddle me up in her arms and rock me, and smother me in kisses. Because she is a mom, she is my mom, and she sacrificed so much for me, and all those sacrifices increased her love for not just me, but all her children.

For the first time in my life, I'm beginning to understand the deep love my parents have for me. To tell you the truth, I'm so happy that I have a little girl, because someday when she is gazing into her child's eyes at 3am as she feeds her, she will finally understand the love that I have for her, and that her father has for her as well.

I know that it has only been two weeks, but I have grown more spiritually and emotionally in these past two weeks than I ever could have imagined. I am praying constantly for guidance and direction, and I have battled (and won!) some fierce postpartum demons. I have never felt so low in my entire life, which is hard to believe that after really having never felt depression I would would feel so sad and inadequate now. I fully recognize that it is all hormonal, and I also feel like it has lifted. I know that there will continue to be really really hard days and even months, but I think (and pray and hope) that the worst is over.

The past couple of days have been so good. I finally feel like Steven and I are are 'getting it' a little bit more (just in time for her to throw us a curve ball I bet!). Jayna has settled down into a good schedule, and she is much happier. She is so sweet, and her little coos, facial expressions, and interactions with me make everything so worth it.

I wouldn't trade this experience, the good, the bad, and the ugly, for anything. I feel like each step is helping to shape me into a better mother, teaching me more patience, but most importantly, more love. I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father allowed this perfect child of His to come to Steven and I, imperfect people. We are trying our hardest to do what is right, and while each new day poses a new challenge, we are up for it!

And because I can't make a post now without a photo of my baby, here are two.

Our resident ninja. (P.S. That's the receiving blanket I was sent home from the hospital in!)

Mid sneeze!

Welcome to the World

2011-09-10T21:38:00.001-06:00

We welcomed our sweet Jayna to the world on September 3, 2011. She weighed 7lbs 10oz, and immediately brought more joy into Steven and I's life than we have ever known.

CAUTION: There are gross references in this. I had a baby. Having a baby has lots of gross things attached to it. I am not ashamed of what I accomplished, and this is how it happened. Also, this is a long winded post.

We were admitted to the hospital around 2pm on saturday the 3rd with light contractions every 5 minutes or so. I was dilated to about 4.5cm and 90% effaced, so the doctor kept us even though my contractions were not that strong. After settling in to our room and getting hooked up to an IV, we went and walked the hospital halls for one hour. After walking I was checked again, and not much progress had been made. The doctor then decided to break my water to help speed labor along. About 10 seconds after my water was broken the contractions began...oh how they began!

For reasons that are my own I really wanted to have as natural a child birth as possible- no pain medication, no episiotomy, nothing. After the first real contraction I thought to myself 'wow, I don't know if I can do this!' Steven kept encouraging me and telling me that I could. He was such a huge help, and was right there with every contraction massaging my lower back, and that helped so much! I had wondered how I would react to that amount of pain, whether I'd stay silent or be loud.

It turns out that when I'm in that amount of pain, I become verbal. I didn't scream ever, but I moaned and groaned, I hummed, I even sang the chorus of 'camp town races'. I have no idea where these songs and words were coming from, they just came out! Steven said that some of the things I said were pretty funny. All I know is that it helped me cope with the contractions.

The doctor came in an hour and a half after my heavy labor began, telling me that my contractions still weren't hard enough (yea right doc!) and that he'd need to give me pytocin to get them stronger. My wonderful labor nurse (I will love her til the day I die) suggested that he check me first, because she had seen me going through some strong contractions. He agreed, and lo and behold I was dilated to 8.5cm! He said that I was going strong enough to keep it up on my own. During that discussion I had another contraction and apparently I made the 'bearing down/ pushing' noise ( I coudn't help it!) and my labor nurse said 'don't do that!' The doctor then asked about pain relief and I began to consider it, but said to give me a little more time, because I really wanted to do this medication free. He said he'd check me again in 2 hours, and my nurse whispered 'I think we'll see you sooner!'

They walked out the door, and about 5 minutes later I began the grunting and bearing down, and I had this uncontrollable desire to push. I informed Steven that I had to poop really really bad, and he said he was calling the nurse back. I said 'no! I just have to poop!" Good thing he ended up calling her, because she rushed in, checked me, and called the midwife ASAP. I was fully dilated and this baby was coming!

1.5 hours of labor and we were ready to have a baby!

But then the pushing began, and if I thought labor was hard, pushing was worse than labor for me. We pushed for 42 minutes, and it hurt so bad. I would push with each contraction, and I kept saying 'I can't do this!"

But I had no choice. I knew that pushing brought me extreme pain, but the only way to get rid of the pain was to push her out! So push I did. My midwife knew that something was stalling Jayna, so she began to snip me-and snip-and snip. I didn't want an episiotomy, but by that point I could've cared less. I just wanted her out! After some more snipping, I gave a final push, and out came my sweet baby, and the pain was immediately gone! It turns out that what was halting Jayna's birth was her fist! She had it right next to her head, so instead of just pushing out her head, I had to push out her head AND fist at the same time, and my body wasn't capable of doing that. (side note: Jayna's favorite place for her hand is still next to her face!)

They placed my baby on my chest, and it was so surreal.

I had a baby. She was MY baby. She came from me. I was a mother.

I was overwhelmed with love for her.

Lots of other things were happening while I met my baby, like sewing me up (16 stitches folks!), but none of it mattered. I had my husband and baby. I had my family.

They cleaned her up in time, and they allowed Steven to hold her. I remember looking at him meeting her for the first time and just feeling my heart almost literally burst with love for my husband, the father of our child.

Jayna was born at 6:42 pm, and that night was one of the best of my life. My body was achy and exhausted, I was shaking all over from shock, and I was scared. But I would just look at my baby and feel such peace. I had her brought to me to sleep by my side, but I couldn't sleep. I just stared at her and listened to her sweet coo's all night.

This past week has been so amazing, hard, scary, wonderful, and exhausting! I was so nervous of recovery, but it has been so great. I was up and able to walk right after birth, and my healing has been so smooth. I have so much energy compared to when I was pregnant, and I have been loving it!

My sweet mom arrived the day after we were released, and thank goodness for her!

She was such a calming presence, and kept encouraging Steven and I. She had so much great advice that we have applied, and guess what? All of her advice has worked! I guess that's what happens after you have 7 children- you become a pro. She was so helpful around the house, cooking meals, cleaning up, giving me hope and love. My mom has had an exhausting month of traveling all over the country for her own mother's death and funeral, a wedding, and Jayna's birth. All at the same time! She is so tired, but I am so thankful that she made the effort to be here with us.

Jayna did not nurse, and we are still struggling with it. We are working on it though, and things are looking better each day. It has been frustrating, but I have learned so many things from this aspect of motherhood. I am able to pump, and my days feel like all I do is feed and pump, but it is so worth it, and I will do it forever if I have to, because I am doing it for my baby.

Like every parent, we already have hundreds of pictures of our baby. In fact, this blog will probably now turn in to being almost solely about Jayna, but that's okay, because she is now my life. I am a wife and mother before all else, and this blog is about my life. My life is my family.

Steven and I are so in love with our baby. We just stare at her all day long. Steven loves to be with her, cuddle her, and he is so great to change her, play with her, and be such a great father. This week home with her has been so great. She is sleeping so well, and allowing Steven and I to get plenty of rest. Jayna has such a sweet spirit, and you can already tell that she has a desire to do right. We love her so much, and are so excited to begin this chapter in our lives!

Her first bath! She loves bath time.

Jayna's first outing to see the pediatrician.

Daddy teaching her about BYU football!

Maternity Shoot

2011-08-29T16:20:00.000-06:00

Steven has a co-worker.

Steven's co-worker has a wife.

Steven's co-worker's wife is trying to learn photography.

Steven's co-worker's wife who is trying to learn photography found out I was pregnant and wanted to add some maternity photos to her portfolio, and asked us if she could shoot some maternity photos of us.

I said yes.

After receiving the photos, I realized that the last thing any pregnant woman needs to see is photos of herself in a blimp like state. I'm sure that when I'm pregnant with my last child I will look at these photos and reminisce about how good I looked in my first pregnancy, but right now I'm not feeling the love.

So for your entertainment, here are the better photos of Heather, the almost beached whale.

Oh the lovely camp chairs! I will be cropping those out...

Colorado Vacation

2011-08-01T16:54:00.000-06:00

As our last 'huzzah' of the summer Steven and I jaunted off to Durango, Colorado to spend a week with the Mustard family. It was a much needed vacation for both of us, and we came back feeling the most relaxed we have all year! Spending time with my parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews is always the best medicine. We golfed many many times, hiked, played/tubed on the river, swam in the pool, talked, watched movies, and ate and ate and ate. This mama and baby were well taken care of, and we didn't want to leave. We can't wait to visit again in a few months, but next time with our baby!

26!

2011-07-15T08:17:00.017-06:00

Steve-o recently had a birthday! What a big year this has been for him. He has graduated with his masters in accounting, moved from Utah to California, cruised to Mexico, started an auditing career, survived/still surviving a busy audit season (curses!), and found out he was going to be a dad! I wonder what this year will bring him?

He is the most handsome, loving, patient, caring man that I know, and I can't wait to spend another 26 years and beyond celebrating his birthday with him. Happy birthday ol' chap!

I think Steven secretly likes it when I wrap his gifts in pink bags.

Pumpkin!

2011-07-15T08:08:00.000-06:00

We have been enjoying vegetables from our garden for a few months now, and the garden is still producing! I think this is the greatest perk of southern california-a year round garden!

I had planted some pumpkins in January (don't ask me why I planted them so early...I wasn't thinking!) but so far all we have seen is a large vine with fruit that never fertilized.

The other day I was working outside, and something caught my attention. It was yellowish and large, and nestled in a large rosemary bush!

A surprise pumpkin! I was tickled pink to find it, and have been avidly watching and admiring its growth over the past week or so. We are letting it stay in the rosemary, because that's the spot it obviously wanted to be! We may have a nice and ripe pumpkin 2 months early this year, but we'll enjoy it all the same.

Pregnancy Update

2011-07-14T20:40:00.000-06:00

This pregnancy has been very easy, and I am so blessed to be able to say that! However, it seems like every time I visit the doctor's office there is another concern that they need to check me out for. One week it was gestational diabetes, and after the failing the first test I had to take the awful and dreaded 3 hour test. Thankfully my body handled the sugar perfectly. One crises averted!

The next visit we had a preeclampsia scare. Thankfully my doctors have come to realize that I do not have preeclampsia, and that all is well with me and the baby.

This weeks visit to the doctors of course had another curve ball thrown at us. Each visit my belly gets measured to make sure that the baby is growing at a proper rate. This is done using a typical measuring tape from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. I should be measuring at 31 weeks, but instead measured at 28 weeks. This concerned the doctor because it means the baby might have stopped growing inside of me, and would need intervention. So an ultrasound was called for to measure and check up on our girl.

After all the measurements were gathered, it turns out that our baby girl not only is in perfect health, but is actually measuring a week larger (so 32 weeks instead of 31). She is also a whopping 4.15lbs right now...to me, this sounds like she might be a large baby. I am hoping their weight measurements are not accurate, ha. I just have a long torso and more room for the baby to hide inside of me.

For comparison purposes, here are some photos.

22 weeks

31 weeks

We are anxious and ready to meet our daughter, and as her arrival comes ever closer it's getting clearer and clearer that our lives will be forever changed, but we wouldn't have it any other way!

Las Vegas

2011-07-14T20:07:00.000-06:00

We finally made it to Las Vegas in June! Despite some disappointments and a break down of tears at the Bellagio, it was a great way to get a change of scene, see a good show, and enjoy each others company. Maybe we'll give it a try again someday!

Baby Shower

2011-07-14T19:58:00.000-06:00

At the end of May Steven and I were able to make a quick escape up to the land of Zion. My awesome sisters were aware that this was going to be the only time we'd be in Utah before the baby comes, so they planned a baby shower for us! Thank you to all who came and so generously have helped us on our way to parenthood. A special thank you to my wonderful mom and sisters, and sister in law, who all care so much for Steven and I and worked so hard to give us a special day!

To Portland!

2011-05-19T22:56:00.000-06:00

After years of planning and promising to fly out to Portland to visit my sister Cristy and her family, I finally did it! It was so nice to have a change of scene, and to spend time with one of my very best friends. It is always nice to have someone else taking care of me :) Thanks Cristy for making it so much fun, and for listening to all of my crazy talk. I think I'll come back next week!

Exploring some of the beautiful beaches in Tillamook.

William, captain of the high seas!

Mmm, look at all of that cheese! The Tillamook factory was the yummiest tour I've ever been on!

While looking through my photos I found some that Natalie and Hailey of themselves. Silly girls!

This is apparently Natalie being silly :)

It's not a trip to Portland without stopping at the famous Voodoo donuts!

A morning spent at the beautiful rhododendron gardens with this lady is time well spent.

We had so many fun adventures, and I hardly took any photos! Sad day. I did take a few videos of the kids while we were dancing and playing with the Kinect. Here is Hailey dancing, and actually 'following' along to the dancer most of the time! This is Will showing off his favorite dance moves, and here is Natalie and Will doing hurdles. I sure do love this family, and I can't wait to visit next time with Steven and our baby. We are very blessed to have such wonderful family all around! Thanks again Cristy, love you!

Being Tourists

2011-05-10T14:56:00.001-06:00

Steven has been in the depths of busy season on one particular client. He was supposed to be done in March, but they scheduled him on the devil client until May 6th. He immediately scheduled 2 days off for the monday and tuesday after he was 'done' with busy season, but of course, they company ended up scheduling Steven even longer until the beginning of June. Steven is pretty burned out from busy season, as am I for that matter, so we feel really lucky that his manager allowed him to actually keep his days off! In celebration of finally getting to see one another, we decided to be tourists in Los Angeles!

We went and walked around Hollywood. We had fun, but it was also a little disappointing. I mean, who wants to just look at a bunch of stars in the ground?! Nevertheless, it was fun seeing the crazy people dressed up like Zorro and gazing at all of the gaudiness in our world. Our pasty white skin was in desperate need of some sun, so we then took off for a picnic and afternoon at the beach in Santa Monica.

He won an Oscar for best accountant!

You can't see what my Oscar says, but if you haven't guessed it already, it's for Best Person. Duh.

Random over sized plastic chaise lounge? Why yes please.

We'd heard about this famous cream puff place, so we shared one, and it did not disappoint!

Nick and I on a date. He was a little waxy, so I left him for Steven.

The obligatory star shot with a cheesy smile. The Carpenter's are my fave.

The water was a little cold!

Picnics at the beach are the bomb.com

This is Steven practicing to be the next American Ninja Warrior.

The perfect ending to our perfect day- dinner at our local french bistro!

I sure love that Steven, and I have been ecstatic to be able to spend time with him this past weekend. It's amazing to me how just spending a fun day together can help ease the hardships of the past few months for both of us. I can't wait to be able to spend more time together this summer!

Half Way There

2011-04-27T00:07:00.005-06:00

We are 50% done with this pregnancy! People keep asking me how I feel and what I look like, so here is 'half way' update.

I noticed my belly growing around week 10, but it was so minimal that only Steven and I noticed. Around week 16 is when others began commenting, and it hasn't been until this week that I feel like I look a little more pregnant.

17 Weeks

20 Weeks. Sorry for the awful snapshot.

I'm still not feeling very well in the mornings. Every morning I get a few good vomits in (too much information?) and am feeling better by around noon. I am actually starting to think that milk may be making me feel sick. I've been reassured that in the next week or so I should feel a drastic change, so here's to hoping!

Here are two ultrasound photos from our last visit. One is the profile, the other is a creepy skeletal photo of her face! When the nurse showed us that view, both Steven and I were a little horrified and creeped out. I guess we prefer to see her with her skin on.

Ah, cute baby profile!

Skeletor!

Easter Feaster

2011-04-25T12:07:00.001-06:00

Steven and I enjoyed a quiet Easter together this year. I had prepped almost all of the food on Saturday, so Sunday dinner was cinch! I always love Easter and thinking about our resurrected Savior, and how blessed we all truly are.

P.S. notice the difference between my plate and steven's. I like to have everything on at once, while Steven must have NOTHING touching each other, and he will eat each side, then add something new. It's amazing that with a difference like this that we ever got married :)

Girl!

2011-04-25T11:56:00.000-06:00

Almost all of you are now aware that we found out we are having a girl! I couldn't stop smiling all day, dreaming about my girl growing inside of me, and knowing that those little kicks no longer belong to this alien inside of me, but to a person! All of it suddenly became very real.

Today I pulled out a bag of baby clothes that my mom had saved for me. There were a handul of outfits and heirlooms that reminded my mother of me when I was a baby. It hit me pretty hard while holding these tiny outfits that only 21 years ago I had worn them, and now my baby is going to wear them. 21 years is not that long ago in retrospect, and it's hard to imagine that maybe in 21-22 years this little girl might be having a child of her own, dressing her baby in some of these exact same clothes that I'll save for her. But for right now she's my little precious baby girl, and nothing will ever stop me from trying to be the best mother to her.

Tomato Tamato

2011-04-08T14:20:00.000-06:00

I planted our summer garden at the end of January. Did you hear me?

The end of January.

I guess southern California has its occasional perks. I was so excited to begin sinking my teeth into delicious garden tomatoes, beans, squash, beets, and carrots. Every day after I planted I watched my garden, I squealed when the seeds sprouted, and I lovingly talked to my plants. My garden grew, and is looking quite lush. As I was making my daily garden check up I noticed something wonderful-a small green tomato. I almost wet myself.

A month later, and there was still only that one tomato, which is ever growing larger.

why, Why, WHY?!

Suddenly my dreams of canning tomatoes and making sauces, purees, salads, and sandwiches were dashed. Maybe my green thumb was actually a little...well, not green. However, I knew that it wasn't the area, because just down the street my in-laws had recently had a tomato laden plant!

Off to google I went, and I discovered that bees were important.

DUH! We have zero bees in our yard. My dad told me about a 'self pollination' method to be used in the absence of bees that he swore didn't work.

It doesn't work.

So I planted some flowers to attract bees, but I also was determined to self pollinate all of the flowers. I was telling Steven about my tomato problem and he made a suggestion. "Why don't you use the hot chocolate frother to simulate the buzzing of a bee?"

It was such a crazy idea that I thought it might work. So out I went once more, to buzz those tomato buds to death.

I buzzed and buzzed and buzzed some more, then waited and watched. Two mornings later I checked on my tomatoes and I had SEVEN small tomatoes growing!

SEVEN!

Needless to say, I immediately brought that frother out again and went to town. The frother is my new best friend, and we will have tomatoes yet!

Perks

2011-03-18T13:40:00.000-06:00

There are days when I miss the worry free existence of being a child, but then I have to remind myself that being an adult really does have its perks. Like when you come home from the grocery store and your chocolate ice cream is in that perfectly melty state, and I can just run a spoon around the entire rim and just...indulge (it also helps that I'm the only chocolate lover in the house right now. It's a blessing and a curse). I'd like to see a 5 year old try that and not get in trouble. I just need my 5 year old metabolism back and I'd be set for life!

M&M Child

2011-03-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Image via google images

This baby has its mommas genes. While getting an ultrasound a few weeks ago my baby was sound asleep but the mean ol' technician said I had to wake the baby up so he/she would change positions for her to get the proper measurements. So I began doing jumping jacks and toe touches for 10 minutes, and then we checked again.

Baby was still asleep (give the kid a break, he had just grown a face! I'd be tired too. In fact, I am).

I was then asked to go on a 10 minute walk to wake the child up, so off I went. After 10 minutes, the baby was still passed out in the same position. The technician left the room for a minute and I began to think about what wakes me up.

Chocolate.

Luckily I had a teeny bag of peanut M&M's in my purse (thanks Steven!) and I ate two. We tried one more time and this kid was doing back flips in me! Obviously it was too soon for the chocolate to reach the baby (if at all) but my dad made the very astute observation that like all Mustard children, all he/she needed was just the crunch and the possibility of an M&M to be wide awake.

Well baby, all I have to say to you about having this stellar gene is "You're welcome".

Who Am I?

2011-03-01T18:56:00.001-07:00

Lately I feel like I don't know myself at all. I've turned into 'raging hormonal wife of doom'. I never realized how much women go through, and that someone did all of this for me! Thanks mom, I owe you. (for repayment you may come and live with me and take care of my babies for the rest of our lives. Fair?) So for now, here are a few changes that I've noticed:

- I am constantly tired. Granted, I was tired before baby came along, but now all you have to do is mention sleep and I'm out. I feel bad for Steven because we get in to bed at night and read for a few minutes, and I usually open my book, read a page, and then I'm a goner.
- Morning sickness. I thought that I was over it about two weeks ago, and I lucked out because it was only ever mild to begin with. Well, it came back. And meaner than ever. I fear the mornings and evenings now. I actually threw up at work, and that's never happened. However, Steven and I are figuring out ways to combat it.
- Tears. The other night I took a nap before going to bed (see comment one). Steven came to wake me up once he was done reading, and I immediately began to sob uncontrollably. He looked horrified and I kept telling him 'I don't know why I'm crying!' It stopped pretty soon, and I happily went to bed. Poor Steven.
- Cravings. Has anyone ever wanted a donut as bad as I do? Too bad that all donut shops near us are not that good. And I always want peanut butter, and I have never been pb's biggest fan.
- Baby obsession/aversion. I watch "A Baby Story" religiously, but for some reason the thought of buying anything baby related makes me cringe right now. It's probably because I still don't think it's happening.
- Fear/worry. Every morning I think I've miscarried in the night. Steven and I have also been looking at life insurance, which has prompted a 'what would you do if I died?' conversation. I'm always in tears at the end of those. I just plan on never letting us die. I've also been worrying some about saving for baby's college/mission, and thinking of savings plans. Then I start thinking about my baby going away to school, and 18 years is not that long of a time! I hate college.
- Happiness. I daydream every day about the disproportionate babe inside me. I love this baby so much already, I can't imagine what it will be like to hold him/her.
- I am a stomach sleeper, and I really have a hard time falling asleep in any other position. This is hard with an ever increasing abdomen, and while I've been able to get away with stomach sleeping for 12 weeks, I think it has to stop. Today I threw in the towel and purchased a body pillow.

While there are lots of changes and while everything is so scary, new, and exciting to me, it is all so worth it! It amazes me how much both Steven and I love this child already, and we barely even know him/her! I can't wait to actually hold my baby!

Love

2011-02-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

This Valentine's day my heart is bursting with love.

It might have something to do with these cards that I found on our table this morning. (Also, check out that rose that came from our yard!)

September can't come soon enough, I'm ready to meet my baby!

Tooting my own horn: Look at the great pancakes I made :)

Long Time No Blog

2011-02-03T21:26:00.000-07:00

I admit that my blogging of late has been sporadic, lame, and downright dispicable. A better person would apologize and offer up sugar coated promises that it will never happen again, but alas, you will hear no guarantees or apologies from me. I know that you are all dying to know what we ate for dinner last Tuesday,
*what famous celebrity I unabashedly gawked and waved at as he drove to the horse race track, and what Steven and I spend our days saying to each other. I will now let you in on a secret.

Are you listening?

Our life is quite mundane, full of daily patterns, and down right uneventful. Are you ready for another secret?

I kind of like life that way. It helps me to appreciate the more 'exciting' times a little bit more, and to look forward to the exciting times as well. I also love coming back to my schedules and patterns after traveling and what not. What can I say, I'm a homebody.

Now after that rather scintillating discourse, I will tell you two facts about our life right now.

1. Steven is always at work, for you see, it's busy season for all members of the audit world. He is holding up really well, and really learning which areas he might like to specialize in.

2. I currently have a love/hate relationship with toast and honey.

And to end this scintillating post, I will leave you, my adoring audience, with a completely random photo.

*for the record, it was Samuel L. Jackson.

A Surprise on My Camera

2011-01-15T10:42:00.000-07:00

When I was uploading my photos from Christmas I got a pleasant surprise! Jacie had gone around and asked everyone to make a funny face, and here are the results. (Also, I guess Chad didn't participate? Every party's got a pooper...)

One

2010-12-30T05:00:00.029-07:00

We did it. We've been married for one year, and I still remember our wedding like it was yesterday. We have gone through so much together this year, and I can not think of a person who I would've rather had by my side. I love you Steven, and I look forward to sharing all of the many adventures that are coming our way. Happy Anniversary to us!

The Week Before Christmas

2010-12-28T19:26:00.002-07:00

Twas the week before Christmas

the time was well spent,

between laughing and eating,

don't know where that time went!

The baking commenced

at stupendous speed,

and help abounded-

including one known as Steve. (but lets not get confused. Call him Steve and die.)

On a wintery day,

the gang bundled plenty,

to ski and board down the mountain,

Chad fell... but how many?

Christmas eve, the power went out,

threatening our dinner, and making me mad.

But one Christmas miracle, and a walk later,

the power came on, and I was glad.

All through the days

a common theme we saw,

of epic games board and video,

that left us in awe.

The turkey was devoured

our bellies were stuffed,

but still there awaited

an evening not to be fluffed. (I know, it's a stretch)

The talents did not dissapoint,

and to name them all,

an oreo race, singing, cooking,

a tribute, a tale, and a claw.

I awoke on the day,

hungry like a comet,

caught creeping up,

announcing "eat now or I vomit".

The piles were large,

the cheer was far spread,

love and joy was felt by us all,

"Merry Christmas!" we said.

Let us not forget

the true meaning of the season,

the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ,

who gave our living a reason.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-30T11:44:00.001-07:00

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and I am heaving a sigh. What a busy week, full of wonderful family, good food, and even better memories. I was worried about balancing all of the Cole's in town, as well as a couple Mustard's, being able to divide our time up among everyone in a satisfactory way, and thanks to some jetlag, I believe that we pulled it off succesfully.

The week started with a bang, where all of the men trooped off to the annual turkey bowl, the most anticipated football game of the year!

I had spent the previous day cooking cooking cooking in preparation for our big feast, so on Thursday I was able to just hang out with the Cole family and enjoy our day together.

Peeling potatoes while watching football!

Zak is in deep thought about turkey.

The next morning I drove out to LAX to pick up our weary New Zealand travelers. We came home, where I immediately began cooking second thanksgiving for them! Oh my, as relatively 'easy' a meal as it is, I was plum tuckered out by 2pm! The boys were exhausted as well, as was evidence by their slurred speech and confusion of the seasons. Hilarity ensued.

A lot of this went on. All they wanted to do was be bums! Sign me up.

A lot of this went on too! For the record, I handily won this round. Geremy won the next :)

I am so thankful for my loving family, who all are so caring, loving, and dear to me. I'm thankful that Steven and I live near his family, and for the bonds which I am forming with them. I am also thankful that I live in a city where the Mustard's travel often, because it eases the pain of missing out on their adventures. I am so thankful for Steven, who helps me all the time, and who so readily always pitches in. He is the most wonderful man and husband for me. Right now, I am thankful that it is Christmas!

Waiting for Friday

2010-11-16T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have been abandoned.

Metaphorically speaking that is. Since July, Steven has spent his nights holed up with his computer, slowly being turned into a drone. He'll emerge periodically if he hears the magic word: food. He then returns to continue being turned into a zombie. He'll then disappear for a day at a time to take a long test, and then continue studying the next day.

On Friday night, it will all be over. He'd passed his tests so far, and has one more. ONE MORE. The past two weeks we haven't seen each other that much. When my brother Chad was here for a day I saw the most of Steven in one sitting that I have in a while. Now throw in his rigorous work schedule (darn those single workaholics), my work, and new callings, it gets easy to resent not being able to spend time together. But then I have to do a reality check, and am so grateful that Steven is working so hard to earn his CPA, and to get some of the highest scores! We both have had to get some perspective at times, and realize that there is an end in sight...and it's this Friday!

On Saturday, we're gonna party hard. We'll probably watch a movie, pop popcorn, and hit the sack at 9:30. Because that's how we party now. I think that we are both ready to enjoy our nights again, and to just...be. No more deadlines, no more tests, just the next adventure...I wonder what that will be :)

Our Halloween

2010-11-05T15:43:00.002-06:00

This past Halloween was spent very relaxed. I went with my in laws to their ward party, where the notorious in and out truck came, and where I met a gangster.

I invited him to the house after the hopping party, where we thought we would carve pumpkins and take blurry pictures. We succeeded on both accounts.

Spooky Tales for Halloween

2010-10-28T10:22:00.001-06:00

A man died in our current home.

Let me rephrase that,he was almost dead. Apparently he was very old, had lost many of his loved ones, and only had tons of cats left to live for. He began to just, disintegrate basically, and one day he was found, sitting in his chair in the livingroom, basically dead. They took him to the hospital.

And then he died.

But for all intents and purposes, his life as he knew it became tainted. In our home!

His name was Arthur, and his name is still on our mailbox. When I get the mail, I always briefly wonder about him, and hope he's happier in the next life. I digress.

Early this morning,at 5:07am, my printer lit up and began to print...then stopped. I was already sleeping fitfully, as Steven was gone last night. I was then wide awake.

My heart beat went down a little as I realized it was just the printer, when all of a sudden the light above me flickered.

I grabbed the knife that was hidding under my bed.

All was calm, and I realized that we probably have a ghost named Arthur.

For clarification purposes, I really don't believe in ghosts, however, it was a little spooky. I am now operating off of very little sleep, and tonight I will have two knives under the bed.

Arthur's of the world, beware.

Don't You Hate It

2010-10-27T10:21:00.001-06:00

I had that dream last night where I had about 3 extremely big school projects all due in 10 minutes, and I was in a dead panic, rushing around like crazy.

I woke up in a deep sweat, and panting!

Oh goodness, I'm so glad I'm done with those school days, but I despise it when those days still haunt me.

Sometimes

2010-10-23T21:05:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I tell Steven to show me why someone would ever want to live in Los Angeles.

Sometimes he likes to show me why, and takes me to what is promised to be an awesome waterfall.

This was the awesome waterfall...

Sometimes he feels silly, and makes up for it by taking me to another waterfall, despite my doubt in his description of waterfalls. My faith in him was restored, and it was really nice to get outside and enjoy the outdoors.


Image via Google Search. All of our photos are on Steven's phone.

But sometimes Steven takes me to one the most beautiful places on earth, and when I'm with him there I can't help but feel overwhelmed with more love for him, and peace. And we all know that peace is a good thing.

We really need to try and get photos of us together. We'll add that to our list of 'things to work on'.

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

2010-10-16T11:59:00.000-06:00

Steven and I think that this video is cute. Enjoy!

MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON from Dean Fleischer-Camp on Vimeo.

Adventures in Medical Land!

2010-10-11T09:09:00.002-06:00

I'm quite a healthy person. Did you know that? I mean, I get a cold about twice a year, and maybe occasionally I'll get the stomach flu, but nothing serious. However, the past few weeks have broken my health run.

Steven had left for a week to go to training in Arizona. While he was gone I got a stomach flu like bug/cold. Never fun. Then he gets back and all is well for a couple of weeks. Until last Sunday...

I began to have the most entirely odd cramps in my abdomen region. They weren't very painful, but quite noticeable. You may be saying "oh, she's just starting her period", but no, I had just finished a few days previous. Too much information? My bad. They lasted for about 3 days, then went away.

As soon as the cramps abated, I woke up with the worst thing ever...a UTI. Trust me my friends, these little guys are 100% not fun, and have a sneaky way of ruining all adventures and outings while you have one. Therefore, we just didn't have very many outings.

On Friday, I was just minding my own business doing something on the computer, when all of sudden I had a hard time breathing! I soon regained my breath, but there was a bad pain in my chest, and it didn't go away. It pained when I laughed, coughed, and moved. Just before bed I told Steve-O about it (mistake) and then promptly went to sleep. Like the loving husband he is, he was worried, and didn't sleep very well because he thought I was having a heart attack or something serious. I woke up alive!

The next day the pain lingered and would get better and worse at times, and of course I had been talking to mom about it. My mom, who is visiting my sister in Portland, logically informed her. They then did some sleuthing, and found that the birth control I had just stopped using has some serious side effects, and I had all the symptoms of the worst...blood clotting. They then called and left a voicemail, which I didn't notice until going to bed around 10:30 (we're obviously late night partiers). I then started to worry a little, and Steven worried a lot more. We did some internet research, and despite me feeling in my heart of hearts that everything was fine, we decided to head off the ER.

What an adventure! I have never ever been, and it was all quite fun! I got my heart monitored, I got a really really mean nurse, and a really nice one too! I felt like a kid in a candy store, wondering what they would do to me next. I got poked and prodded, IV's and the like. While I was lying there the most concerning thing was my blood pressure kept dropping pretty low. It was kind of exciting. All the results came in AND!

I am the epitome of perfect health! (save my little UTI darn it)

We happily went home around 2 am, Steven a reassured man who could finally sleep, and me none the worse for an adventure which I quite enjoyed. They gave me an anti inflammatory which has helped greatly, because the chest pain was caused from some torn cartiladge in my chest. Don't know how or why, but it's there and getting better.

So that my friends, is the tale of my first, and probably not last, ER visit. Mom said it stop being fun pretty fast...I'm sure she's right.

Happy October!

2010-10-03T18:13:00.002-06:00

Happy Fall!

Brought to you by the seasonally confused residents of Los Angeles county.

Three Things

2010-09-30T22:29:00.000-06:00

1. I think I compared prices of bacon next to a Harlem Globetrotter at the grocery store today.
2. Steven is the most incredibly weird person that I have ever met.

3. I did my first non wifey thing today since moving to LA: I went to the Americana with my aunt in law and my mother in law, who has made this move about a bajillion times easier for me.

Small Hands

2010-09-29T17:18:00.001-06:00

I love the piano. At one point in hgih school I was pretty good, but alas, years of inconsistent playing has left my piano playing skills wanting.

But I'm still better than you. (joking, joking)

Anyways, I was sitting at the piano the other day and this exactly how I felt.

(If you get a chance, watch a few of the other video clips by these guys. I actually thoroughly enjoyed them all, but maybe that's because I'm a piano nerd with a deep love of classical music. Thanks mom. I recommend these Mozart numbers they do)

True Story

2010-09-28T11:27:00.000-06:00

At 4:07am, about two nights ago, Steven and I both literally came leaping out of bed in response to a huge crash somewhere in our house. Instinct overcame us, as thoughts of an intruder were inevitably crossing both of our minds. Steven and I ended up at the bathroom door around the same time, but somehow I had a hammer in my hand. I was prepared to battle.

After checking around we discovered that the shower caddy had slipped off of the shower head, bringing down all of our shampoos, etc with it. I then promptly fell back asleep, but apparently it wound Steven up a bit.

Later on we were talking about this, and Steven asked me where in the world I got a hammer, and so quickly? Beats me, I think it was on the dresser, but not positive. He told me that my first reaction should be to call the police while Steven battles someone...with his hands...but apparently my first reaction is to grab a weapon.

Good to know.

Honeymoon

2010-09-20T19:30:00.000-06:00

8 months later and we finally took our honeymoon, and I do not regret the wait one single minute. I am going to recommend to every single engaged couple that I meet to wait and take their honeymoon a couple months post-wedding. Why? No awkwardness. Nuff said.

We had an absolute blast cruising to Mexico, and eating, eating, watching performances, eating, eating, eating, walking around Mexico, eating, eating, laying in the sun, all topped off with more eating. Really, it was quite wonderful. So now, a tale in pictures.

This was in Puerto Vallarta, the most beautiful area we went to. Here we did our awesome excursion and had a grand ol' time. Here we are with our cruise ship!

We loved dinner every single night, and would order everything on the menu, but our favorite time was dessert when we would order the same thing everynight...the Carnival Classic molten chocoalte cake. I gained 4 pounds, and it was solely from these bad boys. Worth every bite, every night.

Eating escargot...shockingly, it was not as bad as my face indicates...

Steven made us famous ship wide, by winning the hula hoop contest!

One Last Jaunt

2010-08-30T18:25:00.000-06:00

To Durango! It was full of fun activities, laughter, love, great food, and studying! Yes, studying! Steven took part 1 of 4 of the CPA exams while in Durango, so he spent the first three or so days cramming at full speed. Thankfully that part of the test is over and done with, and now he's madly studying for the next section! He arrived home to a big banner, which I had been informed more than once was generally necessary upon completion of CPA sections. I was happy to oblige.

We had so much fun, and enjoyed being with our family for a little longer than a weekend. We went tubing down the river, zipped down the alpine slide, and ate lots of great food! Bike rides, walks around the beautiful neighborhood, and lots of reading and piano playing were also daily activities. However, with lots of playing there is always the risk of injury, and we were no exception!

After awhile on the river Steven got burned to a crisp...sadly this made studying a little uncomfortable for him, and it was not uncommon to see him walking around with his shirt off. SCANDAL!

Some of us at the alpine slide decided to go a little too fast on the turns, so that plus a wet track, plus physics, ended up throwing Steven, my dad (twice!) and I off. We all came out of it with some good road rash, and wondering how after hundreds of times of alpine sliding it, I'd never fallen off until now! Of course, my wounds were on my face, which made some nosey church members ask if I had an abusive husband. Really?!

We also jumped on a bungee trampoline thing, and went in a vomit inducing whirl-a-gig. For a video of Steven jumping click here , and for me in the whirling thing, click here. It was nice to have an adoring audience as well!

Steven really got into sling shotting the deer, and he actually came close to hitting one a couple of times!

It wouldn't have been such a grand trip without coming home to download various photos taken mysteriously by someone...I wonder who it was?

I had a hard time saying goodbye, because it was THE goodbye. I love Durango and everything about it, but I especially love my family, and the warmth, love, and the spirit that resides in our home. I'll miss being so close, so now they just have to come and visit me...all the time!

Keeping Busy!

2010-08-16T20:00:00.000-06:00

I knew that August would be our hardest month yet, and it has. Surpirisingly, I've been extrememly lonely, despite the constant goings on of our days. Even though Steven is always home studying for his exams, I feel like I haven't seen him in, well, a long time. I guess the honeymoon stage of our marriage ended a few weeks ago, and I kind of miss it.

Despite this, we've been trying to have a little fun in between.

We enjoyed a quick weekend in Idaho with Steven's family, four wheeling, playing volleyball, and feeding and catching fish!

I made donuts from scratch! They were really fun to make, and they were so yummy!

We've been going to the farmer's market, and one day we watched the local Shakespeare in the Park put on the play Romeo and Juliet. It was surprisingly really good!

Of course, we've been doing lots of things with my family as well. Steven is always so good to play with the kids and take their abuse :)

It's nice to have bursts of fun in between the stress, but we're surviving, and I'm so proud of Steven for working so hard to pass his exams. Next up it's just a million other things, and it's right about now that I'm wishing that magic fairy who lived in my house for 18 years would magically show up again and do it all for me. (I'm looking at you mom!)

Confession

2010-08-05T09:17:00.000-06:00

I am a pathological illegal parker.

My college career was marked by green ticket stubs flapping underneath my wiper blades, telling me that once again I had been caught. The traffic office in charge of collections and I know each other by name, and I have spent many minutes there trying to argue my way out of a ticket. My success rate was about 50%.

When we are trying to park somewhere that is packed, I can often be found suggesting that we park somewhere illegal, and noting that the chances of being caught are slim. Steven never does it because he is a good person.

Apparently, I am not.

Because of Steven's good influence, and because $10 has suddenly become more precious to me, I have not illegally parked since the day we were married (also because I've hit my parking ticket limit for the year. One more and I can't park on campus anymore...).

I digress. Today it was raining, and the thought of walking to work in my nice dress in all that rain, sans umbrella, made me shudder. So I made an executive decision and pulled right up in front of my building, knowing it'd only be for an hour until I had to go to my other job, where I could park legally.

All was well in my world.

At the appropriate time I went out to my car and suddenly saw the traffic police a few cars away from mine! I rushed over, hopped in my currently green ticketless car, and drove away cackling.

And that my friends, is my confession.

Utah Perks

2010-08-02T20:31:00.000-06:00

Living in Utah has its perks at times, and one of those perks is the 24th of July, or Pioneer Day. I've never done much to celebrate, other than bask in the sun by the pool, enjoying my day off. This year we not only lazied it by the pool, but we also ventured out to the Provo pioneer festival.

I shopped for various glass paraphernalia...

While Steven went back to school to learn how to draw monkeys and spell Bob.

Fear of Change

2010-07-26T14:14:00.000-06:00

Do you ever fear change? Today I looked out of my office, from the desk of a job that I love, and I think that I saw the mountains for the first time. I noticed the wide streets, the friendly smiles, the small town feel.

For the first time I saw Utah, and I realized that I've come to love it in a way that even I can't explain. As soon as I've recognized my love for it, I remembered that now I have to leave it. All of sudden it was just too much for me to think about...old apartments, CPA tests, careers, safety, money, standards of living, etc. There have been too many negatives in my mind associated with LA, and only three positives: my in laws are there, Disneyland is there, and Steven's career is there. I've been to LA twice now, which I recognize is not enough to make a sound judgement off of, but I have. I only like it...minimally. And yet that's where I'm going, so I've tried to have a good attitude about it, for Steven's sake.

You see, I'm a lot more fearful about all of this than I ever expected. I'm trying to embrace some changes, but it's hard. A lot harder than I expected. The thing that's been the hardest is that every time I visit LA, I come home appreciating little old Provo that much more. At heart, I'm a small town girl, who loves the bubble that Utah has provided. I have my security blanket, and I'm reluctant to give it up.

Tomorrow things will be well again, and I'll wake up once more determined to give LA a fighting chance and force myself to like it. But today, all I want is to keep my Provo bubble with the extra wide streets, friendly people, and the mountains.

Car Jinx

2010-07-25T17:49:00.000-06:00

Last week we got back from a quick visit to our Los Angeles family, and it was so great to see them all! Somehow, no pictures were taken...I assume full responsibility for that blunder. Much time was spent by the pool (on my part) and playing and talking sports on Steven's part. A very nice weekend was had UNTIL the drive home.

That was when Hell was literally leashed upon us...and it happened in Sin City. Coincidence? I think not.

Right smack dab in the middle of Las Vegas our A/C died. We stopped and were informed that on the hottest day of the year so far, our A/C would cost $1300 to repair, and two days to do it. We decided to just drive home and deal with the heat...and then our kindness was promptly robbed of $5 at a gas station. But that's a story for another time.

Three hours and a couple dry heaves later, we stopped in St. George for some smoothies and a break, and we eventually made it home. We took the car in to get fixed, and when we went out to pick up the car the next day, this is what we found.

Sometimes, I feel like we just can't catch a break. Also, this was our third flat tire, and fifth wheel replacement/repair in the past three months! The tire people even recognized us... I married a car jinx, which Steven openly admits.

Happily, both cars are currently performing beautifully...until next week.

July 10

2010-07-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! He is super rad, and I happen to be head over heals in love with him. Huzzah!

Six Months

2010-06-29T21:46:00.004-06:00

There's been ups.

There's been downs. (More ups than downs though!)

There's been lots and lots of learning.

We've given.

We've taken.

We've laughed together.

We've literally cried together.

We've both burned dinner.

We've tried new things.

We've put each other first.

We tell each other our deepest secrets, our highest highs, our lowest lows.

We've been mad at each other.

We've forgiven each other.

I love how he subconsciously drifts to my side of the bed in the middle of the night and cuddles me.

I love that we can't sleep very well unless the other one is there.

I love that he has been singing a very famous song off tune his whole life, and had no clue that it was wrong.

I love that he is silly in a way that I never even saw when we were dating, or when we are around anyone else.

I love hearing him pray.

I love serving him.

I love loving him.

Here's to eternity!

My No Good Day

2010-06-28T09:34:00.001-06:00

Today has been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

And it's only 9:33am.

Our Weekend in Durango

2010-06-22T21:39:00.003-06:00

We just spent a much needed weekend in Durango, relaxing, being fed, and going non-stop! It's amazing how worn out I get after going home, especially when two of my rambunctious nephews are there as well! We had so much fun, and left feeling ready to take on the world once more. Thanks mom and dad for giving us such a fun weekend!

Poor Steven watched his soccer game mostly alone the whole time...everyone else was either at work, or on a hike!

Sneaking some delicious lemon poppy seed cake...good job making the cake Jacie!

I whole heartedly endorse child labor to help wash the car

I volunteered Steven to mow the lawn :)

We enjoyed a series of plays by the kiddos

We caught a squirrel!

I enjoyed helping to make father's day special not only for my dad, but for my very special husband and FFA (future father of America) as well. There was lots of chocolate all around!

We had a nice accidental detour when we missed a turn, and I didn't realize that we were in the wrong spot until 20 minutes later ( I was engrossed in a very good book, so sue me). It ended up being a beautiful detour!

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-01T19:56:00.003-06:00

What a weekend this has been! Parties, parties, and more parties!

My family all treked to Provo from across the country to celebrate various things this weekend, and from temple sessions to baby showers, I'm worn out! And can believe it, but the one time I remembered to bring my camera it only had enough batteries for a few pictures. Typical!

My wonderful sister in law Laura is having her first baby! In true form a baby shower was planned and pulled off. Thanks to mom and Cristy for helping me do it! Food was devoured, and there was lots and lots of female talk! I loved it!

Much family time was spent, and lots of food consumed. My family threw Steven and I a graduation/ birthday party, and I left feeling like I have the best family in the entire world. After presents were opened, cake was eaten, and lively/boisterous/ loud conversations were had (in true Mustard style), I was pooped and ready for bed...and it was only 9 o'clock.

Yep, 21 years old and an old fogey, and wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you to all of my family on both sides, who made my birthday so wonderful, and who went to so much effort to come from near and far (from Portland to Colorado) to have a great weekend!

After the Mustard's all left, off we went to the Payne's to have another graduation party! Thank you for the fun games and carne asada! Delicious :)

(These are the graduation presents from mom and dad...golf clubs and an assortment of other goodies for Steven, and the traditional locket for me. Grandma Mustard gave my mother a beautiful locket to her when she graduated, and mom loved it so much that she decided to give all her daughters a pretty one when we graduated college! I love it so much!)

There's a First Time for Everything

2010-06-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

I am determined to cut my children and husbands hair. The hair cutting skills that both my mother and Steven's mother have has saved both families hundreds of dollars monthly, and I can say that to this day, no one has cut my hair better than my mom. The one time I had someone else cut it turned out to be a DISASTER. I learned my lesson, and thanked my lucky stars that mom could cut my hair.

So seeing the benefit of having this skill, I have been determined to learn. I purchased some clippers, 'watched' others cut hair, and then the day came when I had to give Steven a hair cut.

I began, rather timidly I'll admit, but I just went at it! And I have to say, the back of his hair was very well cut and blended. In fact, 98% of his hair looked fabulous! Steven said it looked great, and that I passed the test. However, 2% of his hair did not look good. I blame the weird ear attachment, which buzzed a perfect crescent moon into the side of his head. I learned my lesson, and on the other ear did not use the attachment.

Behold! The bad ear of Steven! The ear and crescent moon turned out awful on this side (I still blame that dang ear 'guide'/'hair trimmer of doom'), but the other side that I did on my own looks fabulous! I laughed...and laughed...and laughed! Thankfully boy hair grows out super fast, so after about five days you could hardly even notice it. However, we went to a family event the next day, and not one person even noticed! Oh well, better luck next time I guess!

Picnicing in the Park

2010-05-25T20:15:00.003-06:00

I can barely stand to be inside when the weather is so nice. One of the best things I can think of doing to celebrate a beautiful day is going on a picnic!

We headed to rock canyon park, lunch and books in tow. We were ready for a lazy afternoon.

We spent our afternoon stuffing our faces with hoagies made by moi, strawberries, and homemade chocolate chocolate chip cookies. We people watched, and thanked the powers that be that we're not single anymore, as we watched girls and boys act, well, ridiculous. We then read to our hearts content.

There's nothing quite like a picnic in the park to rejuvenate you for the rest of the week!

"It's a Very Merry Un-Birthday..."

2010-05-25T20:01:00.002-06:00

This past Saturday I awoke to Steven announcing that it was my birthday.

I beg your pardon?

Since all of my family will be in town during my real birthday (yay!) he wanted to give me a special day for just us. He knows that I love to go out to eat for breakfast, so we immediately hopped out of bed and made our way over to Kneaders.

It began as very gloomy day, but in the afternoon turned bright and sunny, much to Steven's dismay (you see, he had planned this wonderful outdoor adventure, but it had to be postponed due to the threatening weather...which turned perfect. Whoops!)

We then began digging into our unlimited french toast (which is really a hoax, because who can even finish the first two?!) which left us in a sugar coma. Delicious. However, the sugar nausea which I had afterwards was not fun...but worth it.

Because I love flowers of all kinds, and I love bringing the outdoors in, Steven can never do wrong when he gives me flowers. This time he looked for the most 'wild flower' looking flowers from the store that he could, because for mothers day...well, lets just say that most hand picked flowers need water.

Steven informed that I could have ANYTHING that I wanted for dinner, and that he would do a good job making it. In the end a giant salad was made, and it was delicious! With tons of veggies, plus all the bad stuff like cheese and croutons. But man, do they taste good! (the best part was when Steven asked me how to make a salad...) For dessert he also made me a homemade cake!

What a great day it was, spent with my best friend who worked so hard to make me feel so special. And even though not everything turned out as he would've liked, it was nice to be appreciated and to feel like someone cared and loved me. I'm a pretty lucky gal to have a guy like him.

Have You Seen These?

2010-05-23T18:47:00.000-06:00

Ah YouTube. I have a love/hate relationship with it, and try to mostly avoid it, but there are some clips just so darn cute that they need to be shared. And so now I will begin to waste five minutes of your time.

This clip was posted on my cousin Hope's blog, and I thought that it was really cute.

This next one is a five year old on a ukulele, 'singing' Jason Mraz's 'I'm Yours'. Listen closely to the words...and don't admit that you never sing like this as well!

And finally, Star Wars through the eyes of a little girl. "It really is an exciting movie!"

p.s. I promise that a few real posts are coming!

Avatar Fail

2010-05-10T08:17:00.000-06:00

Most people have heard my gripes about the movie Avatar. Today I read something that basically summed up my thoughts on the completely unoriginal plot line of this movie. I will share, but despite all of my gripes about James Cameron's "twelve year baby", I will admit that there were stunning visuals which helped to save the all but wonderful plot for me and help me to justify the $11 bucks spent on seeing it. Really, the graphics were quite amazing.

*Warning*: There are 'plot' spoilers, but if you've seen Pocahontas, then the movie has already been ruined for you anyways. So really you have nothing to lose.

Tennis Time!

2010-05-06T09:46:00.002-06:00

I have never been the 'sporty' girl. In fact, I'd go as far to say that I'm down right semi-uncoordinated. I can run and do sit ups, amongst various other exercising (does anyone else have a hard time spelling exercise!?) ventures, but I don't have the natural ability to excel in the world of sports. I was/am the girl who played piano and had her nose stuck in a book. (although my piano playing is atrocious by the third straight year of having hardly ever touched one. Tear.) Also, I tend to fall down stairs. A lot.

On the other hand, Steven adores sports and is good at a number of them. This has created a desire in me to share in some of the things he loves, and learn to enjoy and 'play' on the basest of levels some of these sports.

For graduation Steven gave me a tennis racket and some tennis balls. I was very thankful, but in my mind I kept seeing flash backs from the time he taught me to play racquetball, and the disaster that turned into. I felt like such an idiot after that experience, to later realize that I was only supposed to hit the ball off of the end wall...not ALL of the walls. When someone tells you to hit the ball against the wall, and you're in a small space with 4 walls, I assume it to mean all walls, not just one.

I was wrong.

Despite my fear of embarrassment, we took off to 'play' tennis. Before we left I informed Steven that I now needed a cute white tennis skirt and polo, along with a matching sweat band. He agreed. What?! I then had to be the voice of reason and tell him we couldn't afford it. Dang you reason!

So we played...I hit some balls, I missed some more balls, and I looked like a complete lunatic. All of this means that I had a great time! I think Steven did a significant amount more running than I did, but I genuinely had a good time, and am anxious to try it again.

Shocking, I know.

Steven said that I was one of the best beginners he's ever seen. My feathers got all puffed up at that statement, yet I kept saying "me?! No. I was awful..." yet inside I felt quite good about myself.

You have to keep up the appearance of being humble though. It's the law.

I now feel like I have something else I can relate to Steve-O with, and that makes me happy. Now if only he'd start to enjoy watching the food network more often...

p.s. I forgot the camera. Shame on me. Also, I think this must be the scariest place in the world. *Shudder*

September 13.

2010-05-05T08:41:00.007-06:00

Last night Steven found out that he will be starting his job in Los Angeles on September 13...the day after we get back from our cruise. I guess it's good to start life out with a bang, eh?

September 13.

This has become a daunting date in my mind. It's the beginning of adult life, our life. It's the end of an era, our schooling era. The time of our lives that lasted so long for us, that we worked so hard to achieve.

We are now formally educated. Can you believe it? This also means that we are poor, and society tells us that in order to be a success in life, we need to earn our own way. No more parents. No more teachers.

Just us.

And yet I'll only be alone if I allow myself to be. Steven will always be by my side, there to comfort me even if he thinks my aching heart for a home I haven't left yet is irrational. There will still always be mom and dad on the other end of the phone, there to calm my soul, to offer hope and love. I will always have teachers, because you can never be done learning. They'll just be in the form of family, friends, church leaders, co-workers, and children. And I'll always have a Heavenly Father, who will never desert me.

And so I hesitantly look towards September 13 with a shiver down my spine and a gleam in my eye, because I know that this will become my home, the city that I will come to love, same as I love Texas, Colorado, and Utah. This will become a part of my history, where I will bear and raise children, where maybe one day we can have a home.

And then maybe someday we'll move, and I'll go through this all over again, as I leave a city I've come to love, but more importantly, as I leave the people I've come to love, and the memories I've had.

Yes, September 13, I'm scared of you and all that you mean, yet I'm also excited for all that you will bring into my life...but please, don't come too soon. I need a few more months to enjoy being near my family and here in Utah. But I promise, I'll be ready.

P.S. Please LA, do not have murderous aliens attack you and catastrophic natural disasters occur all the time, like the movies say they will. Okay okay, the aliens can attack, but only after we buy a very large alien repelling gun. Thanks.

Conundrum

2010-04-30T09:41:00.005-06:00

As pointed out, it's time to change the name of my blog. I've been mulling this over for a few days, even to the point of informing Steven in a sleep induced stupor that "I haven't thought of a name for my blog yet...mumble, mumble, snore".

Apparently I then elbowed him in the face. I digress.

My problem is this. The creative juices just aren't flowing right now. I feel burned out, tired, and willing to let myself turn into a vegetable. This is not the best condition for doing creative things, like titling a blog.

I've vetoed any number of ideas, from 'The Cole Chronicles', to 'A Slap to Quell the Hysteria'. I vetoed Cole Chronicles because this isn't a family blog. This is my blog, and while the majority of the posts will be about family, it's still my life, my thoughts, my joys and sorrows. That's how it began and will remain. This is my place to download my thoughts.

'A Slap to Quell the Hysteria' has been a long time personal favorite of mine. It's so frazzled, random, and completely me. I might come back to it, but it doesn't quite capture the essence of what I'm trying to convey.

I've thought of a ton of names that would work great for when I'm a mother, but at this point those names seem a little out of place.

So for right now, this little blog o' mine shall become 'Untitled" until I can think of a replacement name.

Maybe that will be tomorrow...or maybe never.

Dun dun dun!

P.S. Does anyone know why my blog is randomly adding Spanish/Portuguese words? Like 'Leia' at the bottom of each post. Steven says that it means 'read/continue', and then when you click on it, it says 'Posts Relacianados'. What the?! I've searched the HTML backwards and forwards, and have no idea, but it's bugging me folks. Real bad.

We Did It!

2010-04-25T11:21:00.005-06:00

This Friday we officially graduated! Steven earned his Master's of Accountancy (and he graduated cum laude!) and I earned my bachelor's of Political Science. The ceremony was long, especially since Steven was a master's student, placing us at the start! We listened to J.W. Marriott speak, and then we walked. It's such a relatively short experience, but when you have thousands of kids walking, it turns into a couple hours.

This is a picture of someone walking. It's not Steven or I, but lets pretend that it is.

I look like an elf in this photo, and one eye is all scatty waggled. That's right, scatty waggled.

Here I am, trying to be artsy with the camera. Steven was getting dressed, I was being annoying and snapping photos like crazy.

This is the view we had of Steven's family. Look, my mother in law is waving! It was fun to have them in town to share in our joy, and to eat delicious cafe rio with! I'm glad I have such great in laws!

This is the entire family, minus one (who is serving a mission in Houston. Yay for Houston! Yay for missions!) Steven's eyes are closed, like always. His brother, Christopher, also graduated with his Master's in Information Technology. What a smart group!

I still can't believe we're done! This was a life time goal of both Steven and I, and now here we are, done. This year has been quite monumental for us, having accomplished almost all of our major life goals up to this point. This year we got married, graduated from college, and Steven is starting a great job. Friday was the day we started the rest of our life.

That's kind of scary. The rest of our life! What more do I have to work towards? Yes I know, we'll have children for me to work on, but where will Heather exist? I guess that is what I'll now have to work on, feeling like I exist as a person, instead of just as my roles of wife, mother, maid, comforter, etc. I think that it's easier for women to get lost in their roles, and not remember that they are a person with a name. This scares me, as I know that this will inevitably happen to me, and since I know this, I need to work on defeating it.

Attending BYU has been one of the greatest blessings of my life. I have loved every minute, and have grown in so many ways. I have made life long friends, who love me and who I love in return, I have learned to think in different ways, I have experiences I never would have had. I met my husband, who has infuriated me like no other, and loved me more than I could ever imagine. I learned about the annoyingness of BYUSA, the secret spots on campus, baking cookies on the bell tower lights, hiking the Y, staying up to absurd hours in the night, sleeping in to even more absurd hours in the morning, flirting with boys and getting butterflies when your crush talked to you, having random 'made up' callings in church, and the list goes on.

BYU has been good to both Steven and I, and it's no lie at all when I say that I'm going to miss it dearly. The 'bubble' of BYU has been lovely, serving me well. I will always look back on these years with fondness, as years when my family all lived near each other, spending many days together, as years of happiness.

We have graduated. We have both accomplished one of our biggest lifetime goals. Now it's time to grow up, enter the real world, and work on the rest of our life.

Warning!

2010-04-22T09:03:00.000-06:00

Make sure you read the fine print folks.

Frisbee Golfing

2010-04-18T17:05:00.004-06:00

This weekend has been so beautiful, and being inside most of our day going to work and studying for finals was almost making us go crazy. So Steven suggested that we go frisbee golfing! I had never been, but it sounded like fun to me!

I'm sure I'm not the best partner to play with, since intermittently I'd stop and shout "look at the pretty purple flowers!" When I should have been commenting on some frisbee thing. I love love love it when the grass starts to grow the purple flowers. I think they are so dainty and perfect.

Afterward we went to get some ice cream, and we were both severely disappointed. We went to this place where they make the ice cream by freezing it with liquid nitrogen after you tell them what you want in it. Last time we went it was fine, but this time it actually verged on disgusting, especially Steven's mint brownie. We think a new girl might have made them and got the proportions entirely wrong, but who knows?

I think that Steven has introduced me to a new activity that I really enjoy, especially on beautiful evenings! I think the best part was just being with my best friend, you can't ever go wrong there.

2010-04-13T14:28:00.013-06:00

Steven and I have been keeping pretty busy, most of which is good, some of which is not good. I'll start off with the bad news, so that your tears will be done flowing by the time the post is over.

Bad News

Steven's car started smoking bad. Real bad. Then it died. Dead, dead, dead. Then he locked his keys in the car on accident. One phone call to campus police later and the keys were back in possession.

Steven's laptop died right after the car did. Dead, dead, dead.

I had a bad sunburn. I didn't sleep well because it was itching SO BAD. Itch, itch, itch.

Good News

Steven's brother Christopher helped us tow Steve-O's car to the mechanics. (insert bad news: the cable they were using to tow it with got stuck under one of the tires...and got ripped to shreds...) Now we are waiting to see if the mechanic is going to give us a good news bill or a bad news bill. (note: it was a very very bad news bill)

Steven discovered the cause of the dead laptop. It magically came back alive!

Steven took me on an amazing race date, where we 'traveled' all over the world and had to complete various challenges. Along the way I went to...

Mexico, and I met a Mexican named Juan Pablo. I challenged him to a game of Uno. (we also were in a Mexican restaurant...I thought he was going to get shot because of his outfit and the accent he was using. He's still alive folks.)

We then made it to Scotland, where I met a highlander and an epic game of chess was played. I lost. Boo. Here's a picture of 'Scotland'. Sorry, it was really dark outside, and my flash isn't that strong :)

Russia was next, and I was forced to check ice cream for nuclear waste or something like that. I also don't remember the Russian's name, probably Vladimir... and my Russian looks more like a Thug.

We woke up to an Easter egg hunt! Wait, rewind. Steven woke up to an Easter egg hunt. I told him I didn't need one, so I forced him to awkwardly hunt alone. Heh. (p.s., doesn't Steven look so cute in this picture? I told him it was my favorite one of him ever)

Here's one of the 'stashes' I hid. It took him forever to find it. Our blender is up above viewing range, and I kept taunting him with "you still haven't found some eggs/stashes!" He finally found it when I narrowed the rooms down for him :)

We dyed eggs! My family is also not huge hard boiled egg fans, so growing up my mom would always make the most delicious concoction of tuna buns! They sound disgusting, they don't look too appetizing either, but man, they are delish. So I made them. Upon first looking at them Steven seemed doubtful, and then he took a bite...and was converted.

Steven only has one more final ever and I only have one more class ever! In order to celebrate, we went to the 'Senior Celebration' which BYU threw for us. For all of our hard work we got nasty pizza and creamery ice cream. But hey, it was one dinner I didn't have to cook, so I was pleased.

At the par-tay we had our caricatures drawn by this kindly old man. We both thought that ours did not look like us, but I guess that's kind of the point. It was fun, and now we have been cartooned! We also saw, and talked to, the infamous Desiree, Steven's premi love who he thought he was going to marry. Long story short, I married him instead. The end. She was always the 'other woman' in my head, but after meeting her I realized that she was actually quite nice, and that if Steven liked her I'm sure she was a fine specimen. And the other thing that made me feel better (here's my vain side coming out!)...I'm prettier. But don't tell her I said that.

Bitter Sweet News

It's only 4.5 months until we move to L.A. Huzzah for all the new adventures, but negative huzzah for all the good memories and people we are leaving behind. I guess you all will just have to visit, and if you don't, I will hold it against you for ever.

Oh Well.

2010-04-07T14:07:00.005-06:00

I've been a lame blogger.

Oh well.

Finals begin next week, and after a visit from the in-laws, trips up and down to Salt Lake, and an ever growing list of demands for work, school assignments have not been getting done this week. And they are all due on Monday.

Oh well.

I will now procrastinate by thinking about all the things I need to do... and then I'll start them tomorrow.

Oh well.

Laughter: The Miracle Medicine

2010-04-01T13:14:00.003-06:00

My work place just had ‘training’ on laughter, and how it is a needed part of our lives. This is something that I’ve actually been pondering off and on lately, in terms of children and raising them. I want our home to be a home of silliness, laughter, and love. I want us to create a home that is more ‘fun’ for my family than any other place they could be. This is what my parents did, and I distinctly remember that ‘going out with my friends’ was more often than not a trial, because I’d rather be at home with my family. Going home was always like escaping into a refuge of peace, it was beautiful, smelled good, great music always was playing (or not so great depending on what was being played over and over and over again on the piano…) and all my best friends lived there. And we laughed. A lot.

I think that laughter is more important than anything else we can physically do in this life. The feeling that we get from laughing generally lasts for hours, if not overnight. Being happy means making the most of everyday, and finding those moments which bring joy. I also think that people don’t play enough anymore, especially with their kids. I know that it’s impossible to play all day long, and I also think that it’s wrong to spoil children with their parents complete attention all day, but how hard is it to sit down for a few minutes and play make believe, to sing a song and dance with your kids as you dust the house, or to give your child a piggy back ride as you make your way to and from various rooms in the house. I think it’s those simple memories that last the longest. I remember lots of times doing really special vacations, ‘parent dates’, and all sorts of things that take time, planning, and money…and I have fond memories of those. But the things that I think built my character the most were the times like I mentioned above.

I think we should all try and laugh a little more. Some things take time to make them funny, but hey, it’s better to laugh about it later than cry about it. Marjorie Pay Hinckley said that “the only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it.” Granted, sometimes you just have to cry. Trust me, I understand, as I’ve spent many nights (and days) crying over something that just seemed so heart breaking, or it was just a crummy day. I’ve spent a significant amount of time lately being distressed and crying about moving to LA. And I’ll cry even as I’m driving to LA the day we move. And I’ll cry when it’s Christmas and I’m not with my family, and I’ll cry on lonely days. You know why? Because I’m human and I’m female. And I just so happen to be best friends with my family. But then at night, Steven will come home, say or do something outrageous, and I’ll laugh. And laugh. And laugh. And I’ll feel better. Because laughing seems to make things right.

Let’s all laugh a little more folks, ‘cause I think it’d make this world a lot better of a place if we did.

Conversing with S&H

2010-03-24T09:02:00.010-06:00

Today we have been married for three months, nothing monumental at all. It feels like its been forever. Steven summed it up nicely as few weeks ago as we were driving by the Timpanogos temple, and I pointed and shouted with glee, "that's where we got married!", followed by how that seems so long ago. Steven agreed, then said that it was because it's right. He said something to the effect of "this is how it's supposed to be. Me and you".

To celebrate this oh-so-momentous occasion, here is a glimpse into some of the conversations which we have daily.

Me: You aren't even listening. *pout*

Steven: I am, but when you talk all I hear is 'wah wah, wah wah wah wah'

Me: That's not true.

Steven: What? I couldn't understand you.

Me: sigh...

Steven: What are you doing?

Me: Staring into your soul.

Steven: oh. okay.

Me: Guess what's for dinner...

Steven: Ponce de Leon?

Me:...yes, we're going to eat a famous explorer for dinner...

Steven: Well you said to guess! What are we having?

Me: A huge salad!

Steven: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

*note: I happen to love love love salad. After eating all that salad, he said that he was full and liked it. Thankfully he has a wife that will only do that to him occasionally, and thankfully I have a husband who will tolerate it.

Steven: Do Cadbury eggs have a hard shell?

Me:...Seriously?

Steven: I must not have ever had one.

Me: (I immediately opened up a bag from my stash of Easter/conference candy)

Me: Here, try one.

Steven: It tastes just like a big M&M!

Me: What?! You're not eating it right! (I then taught him how to eat them properly)

Steven: eh, it's fine, but not great.

Me: Well then, what's your preferred Easter candy?

Steven: I like fancy chocolate, like toblerone and lindt truffles.

Me: So do I, I'd always rather have chocolate like that, but it's too expensive.

Conclusion: Steven's ideal Easter hunt would be to have Toblerones hidden all over the house. He has lofty visions of what this easter will end up like... He ended up telling me that maybe if I put the Cadbury eggs in a nice bowl on his desk, he'd occasionally eat one. For some bizarre reason, I did it! After a few days of us both snitching them, he announced that they actually were quite good. It was then that I realized he had tricked me into moving the precious candy closer to him! Instead of capitalizing on his aloofness towards one of my favorite treats, I instead made him like them, ruining all chances of selfishly eating them all myself. I think this proves I've gone crazy.

Tour

2010-03-19T16:53:00.006-06:00

Today is Friday, the 'get everything done day'. When I finished cleaning our apartment I realized what a really cozy and fun little place it is. It's not my style by any means, considering we furnished the place for $50, but it works. And when we move to LA the real decorating will begin. But for now, our first little (and I mean little) apartment works. So here's a quick tour.

This is our kitchen. I really like the white cabinets, it makes the kitchen so cheery. I wish there was more storage space though. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers!

Here's another kitchen shot. Cristy, do you recognize the message board?

Here is our living room. At first Steven tried to convince me that a full size couch would fit in here...sadly, one wouldn't, but we do have a nice and comfy love seat, and a great recliner, once again courtesy of Cristy. Thanks!

This is the heater that I hate. It is ugly. Dear heater, I can't wait until I never have to see you again.

This is one of my favorite pitchers (with some nice vitamins by it...) that fits perfectly in our kitchens little hutch. Yay for cute pitchers!

This is our bedroom...literally. It fits our bed, and nothing else. I purchased a down comforter to go under a white quilt, but haven't been able to find a white quilt I like yet. There's just something so clean and sophisticated about white that I love. However, I get mad at Steven if he sits on it. It's not hard to pull it down and sit on the blanket underneath it if you want to read a book or something. It wont stay clean if someone is always sitting on it! He thinks I'm picky because it's white, but really, I'd be the same way with any comforter. I want our adult bed to stay looking nice.

Here is the room I don't really like to go in, hence the doorway picture. It's the 'study/steven's closet/storage room'. For some reason I don't like this room though...it's just cluttered, and that bother's me.

Easter has made an appearance at our home! This is another pitcher I love, and it sits on our dining table. I also like to decorate for holidays, and easter is no exception! (hmm...it looks like I need to recenter the pitcher and eggs)

And that's it! All 400 or so square feet of our first place. Small and cozy, but it works, and we call it home.

Shocking News

2010-03-18T12:32:00.002-06:00

I just did a blind side by side taste test of the new Dominos pizza and Papa Johns, my former favorite store bought pizza. After picking the winner I looked at the pizza that won and it was Dominos!!! Dominos ended up winning 3 to 1 all around. This was very shocking to me, and I felt a tad guilty..."dominos?" I thought in dismay. But my taste buds don't lie, so from now on, I think I may get dominos, because they are also half the price of Papa John's. If I was just eating one or the other without the side by side test, I might think in my head that Papa John's is still better, but doing it side by side there was no doubt. I never thought I'd ever say this, but bring on the dominos baby.

Real Life

2010-03-09T12:16:00.004-07:00

Today I am going to venture into the realm of real life, which isn't necessarily always butterflies and dew drops. While my days are just full of joy and happiness like I never could have imagined, night time has begun to bring darkness. Over the past couple of weeks I've started to kind of fear going to bed, because I knew that when all was said and done, I'd start to feel uncontrollably sad. There was absolutely no reason, I just would start to feel pangs of sadness, which then turned into dark thoughts about my many imperfections, about things that scared me about the future, etc. I hid the nightly tears for a little while, until one night Steven heard me, and after reassuring him that there's absolutely nothing he's doing wrong, he said something to the effect of, 'well it looks like this is just something you need to get over'. Yep.

Talking it out didn't change much, but Sunday brought some realizations to me, and Steven for that matter. Sunday's are always busy for me, from church callings, to making dinner, to more church callings. When you have three to four hours of church on Sunday, it always seems like your day is gone. In the evening when all was done and we could relax, we turned on the Amazing Race, followed by the Oscars. Don't get me started on the Oscars...it always disgusts me, but this year I watched a good portion of it. Anyways, by the time we went to bed the t.v. has been on for some time that evening. I'd say three or so hours. And apparently we both felt disgusting and lazy.

Monday I informed Steven that I think I realized why I had been feeling so sad at night. (Note: thankfully I have never ever ever been a depressed person, so this was all new to me) It's because I haven't been getting outside and have too much 'screen time'. Such a simple answer to a frustrating issue for me. The weather has been lovely, my favorite kind of weather to be exact, and I'm cooped up in school and work all day, in front of a screen, then come home to our basement apartment with no natural light and low ceilings. I just feel really contained. So Monday I spent my day outside. I did any school work I could outside, and ran as many errands for work that I could. Steven also said that he hasn't liked having the tv on and doing work on a computer all day either. It's all just too much. We both don't read novels during the semester, but I think we're going to try and read a little more at night, whether it be the Ensign or a novel. It's more thought provoking, and we don't feel like it wastes our day.

For the first time in a few weeks, I slept soundly last night.

What a learning experience this has been for me. I don't think that t.v. and computers are bad by any means, they are very good for the purposes they serve. But t.v. and computer time in excess is what I think is not good, and we've both realized this. Now there are some things I can't control. I have to use a computer at work and in some of my classes, but I don't have to watch tv at night. I like to for an hour or so, but then afterwards I can read! Or clean! Or draw, scrapbook, listen to music, dance, jog, etc. There's so much to do if we only turn off the noise and let our imaginations run. So this is my new goal, to not have to constantly be entertained by other things all the time, and to start quietly entertaining ourselves. The key to happiness is being productive, and choosing to be happy. Life isn't always perfect, but we can choose to make it better than it was before.

What I Came Home To

2010-03-03T18:04:00.006-07:00

Generally I'm the first one to leave and last one to come home, but today I was the first home, and this is what I came home to.

The freezer door has been ajar since Steven left mid-morning. I quickly assessed the situation and after realizing that there was nothing dripping on the floor, I closed the door. And then thought better. I then reopened the door and took out the ice cream, just to see what shape it was in. This is what I found.

Perfectly softened ice cream (brownie moose tracks to be exact. There was also double chocolate cookie crumble in the exact same condition...heaven help me). There is only one solution in this type of situation. Grab a spoon...pronto! And I did. It didn't even phase me that dinner was in twenty minutes, all I could think about was the soft, delicious ice cream. And I ate two bites. Because dinner was in twenty minutes and sometimes I'm a little sane. Sometimes.

Quickly after my first discovery I ventured into the bathroom, to find this.
If you can't tell, there is water on the tile. It was actually a rather significant amount, with more pooled in a corner, as someone had left the shower at a constant drip on all day. It splashed out of the shower and onto the floor. Oh well, at least we don't pay for water!

Basement Living

2010-03-01T17:41:00.006-07:00

Update: It's not really all so bad. At the time I wrote this I was really mad at the people upstairs. I fixed it by shaking my fist and then slamming our door about three times. Now everything is better and I like our apartment again.

I really like our little apartment. It's little (really little) but cozy and cute. It's home for now, and our first one together. But I have to tell you, cuteness will only go so far. This place is not very sound proof for starters, meaning that we can hear everything. Everything folks. Currently we are witnesses to a marriage falling apart, so we are subject to parents screaming at their little kids, little kids wailing in return, and parents arguing. All the time. The other night it was literally breaking my heart listening to one of their babies cry. It was one of those hard cries, where you know the kid is making himself sick by crying so hard. I had to turn on a box fan to block out the noise. There was a big fight the other day, and the mom stormed out with a suitcase...but she came back I think. Anyways, it's all very sad and tends to cast a sad light on my day sometimes.

Our landlord isn't very well, good. I just don't like him, and he creeps me out.

Right now I think the kids are beating very hard things on the floor. It's been happening for 7 minutes non stop as of now. I've been timing it.

This place is really nice for the rent we pay, and it was just remodeled as well. I guess my real beef is the family upstairs. Man, sometimes they drive me nuts.

OH! And my other issue is that I don't like smells. I'm sensitive to a lot of smells, and they make me feel sick easily (pray for me when I get pregnant). I like smelling dinner while it cooks, but that's it, and when it's done I want my home to smell, well, smell-less again. But in a small place it tends to retain dinner unless the windows are open all the time...which is fine with me, but I happen to live with a man who detests the cold. Oh well, I open the windows anyway :) We've talked about moving for the summer, but at the same time the thought of packing makes me sigh. I really hate packing more than anything else in this world. And I know I'll be the one doing most of it for the rest of my life. Bring on the duct tape baby.

Forts, War Dancing, and Flipping Crepes!

2010-02-22T14:34:00.013-07:00

Whenever I give the 'weekly Sunday recap' to Mom and Dad on the phone, I always think that all we did was school and work. And watch the olympics. But then as soon as I hang up the phone I remember everything else we did...

So mom and dad, this post is for you.

A few weeks ago I was feeling quite French...so we had a crepe day! The crepes were delicious, despite our full tummies, and I got pretty dang good at flipping those bad boys.

I made monkey bread. I have never done this before, and as I was making it I found myself being transported to another time, to a wonderful place called...Christmas! And I started to kick myself for even making this dumb thing when I could have been making homemade cinnamon rolls and enjoying those 100 times more. Now, this isn't to say that the monkey bread wasn't delicious...it was, and I enjoyed making it. But but but...if I'm wasting my calories on something cinnamony then it better well be my moms cinnamon rolls. Steven says that his mom puts some caramel and walnuts on her monkey bread and that it's really good, so maybe I'll try that too...but still. Monkey bread or cinnamon rolls. Not a hard choice folks.

Also, I think I've now made every cinnamon roll in the book except for moms. I'm a little scared to make hers, because it would be like ruining heaven if I messed up at all. So I've now effectively made many sub par cinnamon rolls, solidifying my opinion that mom's are far superior. I can't avoid the truth anymore.

We had an indoor camping date, with hamburgers, s'mores, and living room forts! I was going to tell a creepy story about the tree falling on our garage with us in it (that's as creepy as I get folks) but I forgot, and we talked about other things in our 'tent' instead. Like the use of diaper genies (I despise those things), spitting bees out of the air (prove it steven!), stepping on bees (story of my life), and the lone ranger. There's always scintillating conversation when I'm around...but we didn't sleep in our tent. Steven's a camper akin to my father, who would always prefer to stay in a Marriott Hotel, so we crashed in our bed instead. After watching Up that is (the kid's a boy scout, so it counts as a camping movie for me...and they hike!)

I was in charge of activity for home evening this week, and I figured that it was about time Steven learned the art of playing beam flash and the moves to our Mauri war dance. It's a legit dance folks, one that my grandpa Holmes taught his kids when he got back from living with the Mauri's in New Zealand. The moves have probably been skewed a bit from the original dance, but it's always entertaining...especially w hen Steven does it :) I'll also note that he was being a bum about the whole thing and did not want to dance. This is serious business folks, there's no joking when it comes to war dancing. He also didn't appreciate my 'sneak' videoing attack. So here's what I have, but what you don't see is me yelling 'a takka tu a takka tu!' over and over at him. Heh.

And there we go! A list of some things we've done. There's lots more, but these one's had pictures with it, so I figured they'd be more entertaining. Some other one's are: Steven's been playing on his soccer team, passing his insurance test, and learning that women cry. Sometimes a lot. I've been enjoying LOST, not having an extremely hard scholastic semester, and being in my new calling in the primary presidency (guess what...our primary has 3 kids. 3! Needless to say, we're a little unconventional), and not crying as much as I could. Trust me. We're having fun and enjoying this stage of our life...and I'm trying to savor every moment, because I know that life can and will change so quickly!

All You Need is Love

2010-02-15T14:42:00.005-07:00

I love Valentines Day because I love to love.

I love my husband who makes me feel so special, who loves me even when I get mad at the laundry and subsequently end up getting mad at him for looking at me, because he takes out the gross coffee and cherry flavored chocolates from the heart and puts in butterfingers instead and because he leaves me cute valentines...amongst all the other reasons for loving him.

I love my mom and dad who call us every week just to say 'hi', who send us love notes in the mail, and who always love me unconditionally.

I love my brothers and sisters because they are examples of how I need to be, and who are my best friends. And they are weird. I love them because they are weird.

I love my in-laws because they welcomed me into their family, and because they raised a good son.

I occasionally love the government when they give us a fat tax return which will pay for us to take a honeymoon. Yay for honeymoons!

I love chocolate cake because it's chocolatey.

I love butterfingers. And kit kats. (see love #1)

I love my Heavenly Father because I make mistakes and I feel better knowing that I can be forgiven of those mistakes.

But really, I just love life, and all the good people and things that there are in this life.

Huzzah for love and being madly in it!

(Boo for taking bad pictures of myself)

Limbo

2010-02-10T12:30:00.003-07:00

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been facing a conundrum. I don’t know what my name is. According to my social security card and the bank it’s one thing, with the DMV and BYU it’s another. These places take significantly longer to change names I suppose. I found it hard one day when I was dealing with a frustrating situation: apparently there is no record of me existing anywhere in the financial world. So now I have to prove my identity. I was on the phone with a financial company trying to sort this all out, and they asked for my name…”Well, uh, it’s (insert new name here). But if that doesn’t work try (insert new name here).”

“Excuse me?” replied the Indian man who I could barely understand.

“I just got married…” Thinking this perfectly explains it all.

“Just tell me your name ma’am” He frustratingly replied

“I don’t know what my name is!!!”

I felt like crying. I didn’t know who I was, and years of being a (old name) was no longer good enough. People call me Sister (new name)at church, and sometimes I don’t respond until after a few minutes because, well, I’m just not used to it. Pretty soon I’ll be able to say what my name is and not have use two last names every time I do something. Hopefully pretty soon is less than a year…

Wedding Pictures!

2010-02-07T20:21:00.012-07:00

And Now...

2010-02-01T10:20:00.007-07:00

We're done.

The wedding is finally over, after a month of celebrating and traveling. This last weekend we drove to Durango for our final open house, and I remembered the camera this time! (Even though I didn't take many pictures...not even at the open house! I'll 'borrow' some from mom later) Steven, being as awesome as he is, realized how much I wanted an early start, so we were on the road by 7:5o am! This was quite the feat. In the middle of Price canyon I frantically began looking in my purse...to realize that I had left all of my makeup at home. Refusing to turn around and waste an hour of time, we trudged forward, knowing that mom would have the necessaries for me. After one more missed turn that only put us out 5 minutes, we made it home rather uneventfully.

Once home we introduced Steven to the glory of Durango: Snowdown! This is our town's tradition of calling in the snow, and celebrating winter with various fun activities, with the highlight being a 'big' parade. We went out to dinner before (during which Steven overcame quite the barrier: he called my parents mom and dad! I haven't even crossed that yet...), then began watching the parade.

Afterwards Steven thanked me for taking him to the most 'inappropriate parade' ever. It was a little racy this year...but that's Durango! Liberal, very 'open minded', and fun.

We attempted sledding, which was the logical thing to do because of the huge piles of snow everywhere, but it turned out that Dad sent us on a wild goose chase. He said this one area would be fantastic, so we hiked up there, only to be met by too many feet of untouched, icy snow that we had to hike through. But never fear! We continued up the hill, each sinking, tiring, trudging step of the way. We made it to the top, threw our sleds down, and AND...didn't move. We went the whole way down using our arms, not unlike gorillas, to thrust our way down. We then had to walk all the way back home. I was tired, and vehemently vowed to take dad out of our will.

The open house was very lovely, with beautiful flowers, good food, and even better friends. But after all of these things are over, I always feel...relieved. I love the moment, but now we can 'relax' and focus on school and work. We had so much fun, albeit a short stay. I wish that we could've stayed a little longer...I didn't have enough time at home with my family. But I'm so happy that we were able to even go and spend our weekend with them. Thanks mom and dad for such a wonderful weekend!

He Dug His Own Grave

2010-01-22T14:34:00.004-07:00

I just had this conversation with Steven via text:

Steven: Where did the brownies go?*

*Note: I freeze everything to keep it fresh. I had made brownies several weeks ago, and since we can't eat them too fast, I froze them all. It's been handy to pack some in our lunches and have them for dessert. I also had choc. choc. chip cookies frozen and just made regular choc. chip ones this week. TOO MANY SWEETS!

Heather: Umm...I ate the last one last night :/ but I thought there was a whole bag left and then discovered that there was only one left! Hmm?

Steven: I thought there was a whole bag left too. And African cookies. There is a goodie thief!

This conversation has informed me that I have made entirely too many baked things and set an awfully high standard for myself. In order to lower Steve-O's expectations, I will now stop baking. We'll see if that really happens.

Living it Up in Los Angeles

2010-01-19T13:51:00.006-07:00

This weekend Steven and I swapped the bitter cold of Utah for the balmy weather of Los Angeles! I wanted to make an early start to our 10 hour drive, so of course, we started off late. (Steven is the slowest eater I know. Besides Geremy) After a bit on our way I realized that I had forgotten the most important item...the camera! I had this mad desire to document every step of my first foray to California, but now it wasn't possible. So sadly there are no pictures. Maybe I'll post some if my mother in law will send me some (hint hint)... We arrived in good time on Friday evening and went with Steven's family to the Taco Truck! My oh my, was it ever delicious. Steven and I will frequenting that place often. My mother in law had been baking all sorts of cupcakes like a mad woman in preparation for the open house on Saturday. We finished frosting all of them, and it was hard to not eat them all as well!

Friday we had fun setting up for the open house, then enjoying a lazy afternoon, followed by putting the ol' wedding dress back on. That felt weird, because I feel like I've been married for awhile now...even though its only been a few weeks. And I have to do it one more time! The open house was a success! It looked beautiful, everything tasted great, and I had fun meeting all of the people who love Steven. Then it was cleanup and home!

Sunday we attend Stake conference, then it was football! My team didn't do too well this week. Dang you cowboys. We left early Monday morning so I could get home and grocery shop and do laundry...however, I forgot that we lost an hour getting back, so laundry got chopped. Which means I have to do it today...sigh. Back to the scary laundromat.

We both had so much fun this weekend, and I'm so glad that I was able to see where Steven grew up! I just love the Cole family so much, they are so much fun and have really helped me to feel like a daughter and sister. (Thanks you guys for such a great weekend and for all the help!) I also feel a tiny bit better about moving to LA. There were so many beautiful and huge trees, and I think that trees make a neighborhood look so great. It was also nice having the warmth, compared to the cold, which I'm already sick of. I loved walking outside with a t-shirt on. I also loved watching the rain. It reminded me a lot of Houston (save the humidity) and you know what? The feeling of Houston helped me to really feel like I could call LA home. At least for awhile :) As my mother in law would say, this weekend was 'fabulous!'

Making Each Week Count

2010-01-11T19:24:00.006-07:00

It was really important to me that our marriage started off right. I understood that the traditions and practices which we implemented now would set the precedent and carry on into our future. Almost from day one we have had family prayer together each night, we sit and eat our meals together, we have family home evening together, and we are starting to read scriptures daily together. I really feel that these things are fundamental to not only obeying our church leaders, but to having a stronger marriage and eventually happier children.

This week for home evening Steven gave a lesson about consecrating our efforts, and I was on activity. We played a homemade version of 'the newlywed game' where we had to answer the same questions for each other. Out of ten questions I got three right, and Steven got four. However, I think that we'd both argue and say that the other person cheated on at least one of them. Each correct response earned that person a topping on an ice cream sunday. I coded the names of the toppings though so Steven wouldn't try and pull a fast one on me. For example, 'racial compromise' was oreos, etc.

I am also determined to have food storage, even if it is only one can. I have a very strong testimony of the benefits of not only following the prophet, but of having food storage...and a useful one at that. We'll use our 'food storage' so it stays fresh, but my rule is to always replace what we've used. I plan on buying one extra can of food each week, and I'm saving up for some big bags of wheat now. But once I buy wheat that means...I have to start making bread to use up the wheat.
And here is a picture of the ridiculous rolls which I made the other week. While they looked really bad, Steven said they were his favorite rolls and ate all of them. And that's one of the reasons why I love him.

2010-01-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

Why are laundromats always so scary?

Burned Toast

2010-01-07T11:52:00.004-07:00

On Sunday I wanted to make the perfect dinner... but then I realized that there were too many onions in it for Steven, it overcooked while we were at church, it was cold because we had to set it back and hour for Steven to help at the church, the brownies weren't made from scratch, and the rolls were the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in my life.

On Monday I fed my husband leftovers from the weekend. Our fridge was then back to empty.

On Tuesday I realized that I'll always get home from my day at 6. At 6 I'm starving and don't have time to make glamorous meals. I also had no idea what to make for dinner, but I had to put something in front of Steven so he wouldn't starve. Quesadillas it was. I didn't burn Steven's (phew!) but I got distracted and burned mine utterly and completely. It was nothing that couldn't be masked with a little ketchup!

On Wednesday I was exhausted and had no idea what I was going to prepare for dinner. Spaghetti it was. I chopped, sautéed, and simmered. I boiled the noodles and made the salad. The peas were warming up and it was coming together. But the garlic toast did me in. After half an hour of stabbing cans with knives to open them because we don't have a can opener and dripping out tomato sauce drip by drip, slowly peeling each vegetable with a knife (which I am not good at), and feeling starving myself, it was the toast that finally got to me. I made the garlic toast, placed it in the over, and then went to stir the peas. I turned around and they were black. Burned folks, completely burned! That was it! I angrily threw the pan with the toast on it into the sink and then do you know what I did?! I placed my head in my hands and bawled my eyes out. Obviously I was a failure as a wife, and the entire week had proven that to me. I absolutely love to cook, but this week took all that love away, and it hurt. Steven immediately came into the kitchen when he heard the pan crash. He had no idea what was going on, but he said something to the effect of, "so you burned the garlic toast?" I wanted to glare at him and say, "yes, I burned your freaking garlic toast. Don't touch me or look at me ever again." But I bit my tongue and sent him to finish his homework. I threw the bowls of food on the table and said, "dinner's read. I'm not hungry" and then sent myself to our room...where I cried some more. And then you know what? I got over myself, realized that there's more to being a good wife than burning the garlic toast, and tried to get up. But I didn't want to see Steven. I was ashamed of my hissy fit, but there was no avoiding it. And then all was well again. I was so hungry by that point, so I ate dinner (which Steven had so kindly cleaned up for me), and then we had some leftover brownies.

On Thursday...who knows what's going to happen. But I'll tell you this...I AM GOING TO BUY A CAN OPENER.

Wedded Bliss

2010-01-03T11:49:00.004-07:00

December 30th 2009 marked the beginning of Steven and I's new life together. I was so nervous that everything would not go perfectly, but in the end, it was just what we wanted. However, the wedding week was not without its challenges. We had...

1 completely broken car, which happened to break as Steven drove from LA to Provo for the wedding. But he made it!
2 flat tires
1 car crash
1 not starting truck (lots of car trouble it seems)
1 big snow storm
5 missing guests
2 siblings sick with strep throat
7 misplaced centerpieces
4 hours of clear weather between the beginning and end of the storm. Just enough time for marriage and pictures!
1 beautiful and tearful ceremony
1 beautiful song by my mother
2 kind toasts to the happy couple
And 1 very happy couple!

The list could go on and on about the many miracles and joys which we had on our wedding week. I really feel so blessed to have had our loving family come out and spend this special time with us.

The morning of was spent at hair appointments, getting nails done, and then realizing that I had 45 minutes left til I got married and I had no make-up on! So then it was off to Donald's to finish my make-up and then to make it to the temple on time. The temple ceremony was so beautiful and just perfect. I cried through the whole thing! It didn't help that dad was sitting right across from me just smiling at me the whole time. Dang him, why didn't he grimace instead?! As we left the room to get ready for photos, I noted to Steven that I didn't feel any different. Well the truth is, I still don't. I'm still me, he's still Steven, and now we just revolve around each other. Its been really nice.

Afterwards we headed out to take pictures with our family and friends, and then to freeze for the next hour and a half as we took photos around the temple. It was comical to me because we'd be walking and shivering, not wanting to act romantic and hold hands or gaze lovingly into each others faces. Nope, about the most we could muster was some smiles while the photos were being shot, and then we turned back into popsicles as we walked to a new photo spot. I'm really interested to see the photos, because I'm sure I was red, purple, and teeth chattering in most of them.

After the pictures we had about an hour and a half until we had to be at our wedding dinner/reception. We weren't quite sure what to do, so we filled up the car, then drove around for a bit, and then just parked and talked about the day. It was so nice to just sit together and talk, and take a few minutes out of what had been a crazy week to see each other. You see, that was first time I'd really seen him since we left for Christmas. Sure, I saw him the day before, but I couldn't really talk to the man I love. It was so nice.

We then headed up to the Skyroom to party! The room looked beautiful, despite everything being opposite of what I thought was going to happen :) But it was all still so beautiful and I loved it. We mingled for a bit, but I was starving, so we got dinner rolling. We ate and talked and ate and talked, and then cut the cake. What an awkward cake cut that we had. We weren't quite sure how to do it, and then we ended up cutting this tiny piece that we couldn't get out (my fault) so then we ended up just kind of getting a small chunk out and placing icing in each other's mouth. Afterwards we ate dessert and then the dads got up to say some wonderful things that I wish I recorded! I remember some of it, but not all. My mom then sang the song, "when I fall in love", which was so beautiful and made me cry some more. We danced during the song, and then said our thank yous and goodbyes. I was rushed out of the room by Steven, pulling me out before all the goodbyes could be said...which resulted in a frantic phone call in the car to my sister. Later on she pointed out that it was all very father-of-the-bride esque.

So now we're married! I'm so happy, I'm married to one of the most considerate and loving men, who puts me first and tries so hard to make me happy. There will be tough times, but I know that with him by my side we'll make it through them, and grow closer together as we work together. There are many more hurdles to tackle, but we'll do it. And do it happily.

*I'll post pictures when I get them back!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T11:53:00.009-07:00

Merry Christmas everyone! This year did not fail to live up to Christmases past. "Christmas Day" actually tends to last from 3:30pm Christmas eve to all day Christmas, so it's extra long for us :) My favorite is Christmas eve when we do most of our family traditions, but Christmas day is always special too!

This year was weird in one way though...it was 7:20am before Jacie woke me up. 7:20 folks! We really got to sleep in! I think that my parents were up and ready to go before the kids were. We gathered, said prayer, then all moved on up the stairs to view the loot...and Santa sure came! Around the age of 13, it seems like each kid really has stopped caring about what they got, and were more excited about sharing the joy with everyone else and seeing what they got. So we all mulled about everyone else's piles as well as our own, exclaiming and thanking and having fun together. By the time we were done with piles and stockings, I had already eaten four cinnamon rolls. That was the sign of a great morning to me. Then we moved on to the unwrapping, which is always fun, taking turns and being so excited to give your gift to the person you had 'drawn' that year.

One of the funniest parts of Christmas was a gift that everyone knew about...except mom. My dad quickly stole away into their room and set up a new tv, and then we waited. I swear, my mom must have walked in and out of their room at least a dozen times and didn't notice a thing. It wasn't until she was talking to Ashley and mulling around while doing so that she notices and says, "OH!" we all had a good laugh :)

After the presents we all moved into the tv room where we set up a video chat with all my siblings across the country. It was fun to be able to see and hear them and their children and share in the Christmas joy with them, see the kids gifts, and to hear about new additions to the family!

We then spent the day assembling bionicles, talking to Ashley, stuffing our faces (I gave my hips a Christmas present in the form of 8 cinnamon rolls before noon...), and going to our Christmas movie! We saw "The Princess and the Frog", and I loved it. It was so good...everyone should go and see it!

I love Christmas and everything that it brings, from the smells, the decorations, the lights, etc., to the most important thing of Christ, family, and love. I've never felt it all quite so much as I have this year, with a family who never fails to shower me with love, a fiance who loves me, and a Savior who has redeemed me. We are all truly so blessed by our Lord, who has given us everything we could ever want and need. I'm so thankful for all that I have. I'm the luckiest and happiest woman in the world right now!

(this picture needs a caption: all of the 'striker' stuff on the box of matches had been worn off, so Geremy had to light the match for the candles on his zipper...the candles eventually got lit!)

Here we are racing on sleds and toboggans

Christmas 2009

2009-12-24T10:40:00.005-07:00

Christmas eve. I can't believe that it's already here! It seems like it was only yesterday that grandkids were running around our home in anticipation of Santa Clause coming, being so cute and adding that 'excitement' that children bring to any holiday. And now here we are again, bereft of cute nieces and nephews this year, but surrounded by my 'single' siblings and young sister. Oh, and stuffing my face full of delicious food...like I said I wouldn't do. I don't really need to fit into that wedding dress anyways...

Yesterday was spent making all sorts of goodies for Christmas. From fudge, rocky road, 7 layer bars (yes!!! not too many people to share them with this year!) to the plethora of other goodies, I'd say we're set for the next year. Yep, I love Christmas. Today mom's been baking the turkey (and everything else), I made the cranberry sauce (mmmboy), and the cinnamon rolls will magically appear after dinner. I'll post pictures later about our festivities, because right now I'm just enjoying being in our cozy home with many of my best friends, reading a book, and trying to ignore the pressures of life all around me. Today's going to be a good day!

Two Weeks

2009-12-17T14:19:00.003-07:00

When I was little and would play with my barbies, they would always be married to each to each other. When I was in elementary school and grownup’s would ask what I wanted to be when I was older I would say that I wanted to be a mom. When I was in high school I asked my mom to help me learn how to cook things, how to mend, and how to play piano all in an attempt to learn how to be a good wife and mother. And then in college I became focused on school and a career and then all of a sudden being a wife and mother didn’t seem as…glamorous. I still greatly desired being a wife and mother, but not so soon. By golly, I had a life to live and I wasn’t going to end up being cornered away in a house nursing babes for the rest of my life. I got selfish.

After I knew that Steven and I were getting married, December seemed so far away. I had plenty of time to prepare, to become better, to truly desire marriage. Honestly, it’s been a trial for me. Not the marrying Steven part, he makes that decision easy, but the ‘not- getting- my- masters- degree- and- becoming- an- ambassador-to- the- US’ part was hard. You see, I had lofty aspirations. As I struggled I started to look at two of the greatest women ever: my mom and sister. My mom was (and is) an opera singer, and a good one to boot. She gave up a not-so-glamorous life on the stage, but performing, which she loved. Yet, she didn’t give it up. She still did opera’s while her family was young (but had to drop that once more babies came) and she still sings in church, in choirs, and at home. She still finds time to be Claire. Cristy is a filmmaker and photographer. She was well on her way to having an exciting career in the entertainment industry, and then the next thing you know she was married and having kids…and filming the lives of her kids, not the next blockbuster. Yet she is still using her talents by having amazing pictures of her kids and giving her sister some rocking engagement photos. I look at how these two have ‘given up their lives’ for something so much better, and I don’t think they regret it at all. Watching them has helped me to be able to move on with the next step in life, and realize that it really IS what I want.

I’m sitting here, looking at my calendar and realizing that it’s less than 2 weeks until I get married and start the next chapter. It seems like my whole school life I’ve worked towards graduating from college, and my whole personal life I’ve essentially focused on marriage. In the next four months I’ll accomplish both, and that’s weird to me. My major life goals will be complete and then…who knows what happens then. The beginning of the rest of my life starts in two weeks…and that’s pretty exciting. All I can say is, “bring it”.