I changed my font at Lily Puff

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Oh, Saratoga Springs

Today was day two of Spring Break. We left around 915 and picked up our friend Matt. Then, we picked up our friend Ryan. We dropped Will of at my sister-in-law, Cassie's, house to play with his cousins.

The four of us drove out to Saratoga Springs to go shootin! That's right. Matt brought his hand gun, Ryan brought a shot gun and a rifle, Andy brought his shotgun and we just shot things all day long! I have only been shooting once before, but it is so fun! I love it. Makes me feel like if I really needed to, I could hunt for my food. I forgot how much of a kick a shotgun has. I thought I had it back tight in my shoulder, but my first shot on it totally almost knocked me back! I have a huge bruise in the making. I think my favorite was the handgun! It was so awesome!

Afterward, we all went to In-N-Out burger. Of course, it was great!

Will had a great time with his cousins and we have decided that he needs to be able to play more with them, so I am hoping to get together with my sisters more often!

Tomorrow I think we will have a break day. There is laundry and cleaning to be done. But if something fun comes up, everything else can wait!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Break: Day One

Today is the first day of Andy's Spring Break! I am so excited because not only does he have school off, but he also has work off! (They told him he wouldn't have to work, then a week later they were begging him to work. He loves us so much though, he said NO!)

We decided to start the festivities early. So, Friday, I picked Andy up from school and we went straight to Idaho Falls to visit his sister Nikki and her family! Will was a doll. He slept the entire way! I couldn't even believe it. It was so fun! One of the highlights was Kimmie wanted to take a bath with Will so they could splash each other. They were having a ton of fun, then all of the sudden, Will starts trying to get out the of tub. So, of course, I was standing in the doorway saying "No Will. You have to sit." So, he'd sit. Then try it again. Next thing I know, there is a HUGE turd in the tub and Kimmie is looking up at me saying "What do I do?" Naturally, I said "GET OUT OF THE TUB!) It wasn't the hardest of poos either. Yummmmm-o! It was a fun weekend and we were sad to leave. But we'll see them again soon!

Today, we had our first adventure. We went to Huntsville with our friends, The Thatchers, and went to a Trappist Monastary! I know, we're not Catholic, but who doesn't want to see Monks, right?

Here is a picture of the Abbey of Our Lady of the Holy Trinity:

The left door is the entrance to their gift shop. They sell honey and preserves. It's such a simple place. The Chapel (is that what you would call it?) is just as simple as the outside. (all the buildings kind of look like bomb shelters. Those Catholics gotta watch out for all those Mormons, huh?) We were able to enjoy a prayer service with them and listen to them chant (they sing their prayers) They are all men of course, and they don't have the best of voices, but you can feel that they have devoted their life to God and that is a beautiful thing. The Monks were all kind and we enjoyed it. If you ever go to Huntsville, you should visit them and buy some yummy strawberry honey :)

It is definitely much different then I was thinking. On our road, there is the Cathedral of The Madeline Catholic Church. The bells really do toll on the hour. And it is a HUGE church. Google them and you'll totally notice the difference!

Tomorrow we will have another adventure. I'll tell you all about it then!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Has it really only been TWO years?

Two years ago today, Andy and I were married in the Salt Lake City Temple! We were married as early as possible because, well, we wanted to be married :P


(I just love this picture.)

Throughout the last two years, we have moved 3 times, had a baby, worked on school, started new jobs, had lots of wonderful ups and a few downs.
Andy is the greatest husband I could ever have asked for, and believe me, I wasn't asking at the time. I didn't know I wanted to be married until I met Andy. Maybe that's how it works. You don't want to be married until you meet the one you want to marry. Andy is just that guy. As Claire from Outlander will say: "He's a bloody hero." He answers to the call of duty whenever it calls. He does whatever for his family. He is cuddly and funny. He's kind and sweet. We can lay in bed and talk and laugh. We can tell each other when to chill out and talk about things that bother us. We work well together and we make it work.

I love you, Andy. You make the world a better place!

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Bad Mom

Lately I have been feeling like I am a bad mom. Will used to be such a happy baby, now he throws tantrums, doesn't eat, rarely naps, he will be crying and I will pick him up, only to have him cry and scream harder and want nothing to do with me. He would rather throw himself on the ground then have me hold him. His eating has gotten really, really bad. He doesn't want anything except fruit and hardly NO veggies. Don't even get me started on meats. He'll only eat chicken, sometimes. I try, really hard. I try the choo choo train, I try showing him that it's yummy by me eating it first. I know this doesn't make me a bad mom. What makes me a bad mom is I get so frustrated! I try and then when what I know how to do doesn't work, I shut down. I just wait until he comes to me and try my best to ignore it. I know he needs to get out and be with other kids his age, but who? I don't know if I am just not easy to get along with or I am too brash or whatever, but I just don't feel as though I fit in anywhere really. I have convinced myself that I enjoy being alone. That really, reading all the time is much more fun then how awkward I feel trying to make friends. And in turn for whatever reason it is I can not seem to make/keep friends here in SL, poor Will suffers because all he gets to do is stay at home with Mommy, go on walks with Mommy, play at the park with Mommy. Never playing with kids his own age. He LOVES playing with other kids. Am I really that bad of a person that I just don't fit in anywhere? I just don't know what to do about anything.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Blessings have been poured upon us

Leviticus 27:30 “ ‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."

And it is true. No matter how much of a dire straight we are in, we have always managed to pay our tithing. And we are continually blessed because of it. We have always had just enough to get by. And if we have not had enough, we have family who is always willing to help us. I see the loans and grants we have received as blessings because without them, we would not be able to survive. This past year, we were able to pay off both our car and the scooter, pay off a loan we had to get one year for school. This loan acquired nearly 1300 in interest alone, in only two years. We have been able to put more money in savings then we ever have our entire lives. While we still shop the sales, still eat out only if we have a gift card or coupons, we have been blessed in our efforts. And on top of all things we have, we have been blessed with this job. We have saved so much in working for our rent. We have grown closer as a couple and a family because we are not having to worry as much about making rent, or paying our bills. We are able to go places we would never haven been able to go if we were still living in Student Housing.

This year, we plan:

-Trips to St. George
-Visiting a few Ghost Towns
-Meeting Andy's brother at the Grand Canyon to camp
-Hiking to our little hearts desires
-oh, camping to our little hearts desires
-Plant another garden this year! We'll be doing lots of herbs, onions, garlic, tomatoes, zucchini, pole beans, yellow squash, and strawberries. I love gardening. It really is my favorite thing to do. Remember my dream of having a HUGE garden in my yard? Yeah, it'll happen one day. For now, I am content with my garden plot.
-Did I mention camping?
-Seeing my "not-so-little brother" graduate high school and seeing all my family.
-Spending a week in Asheville with my grandparents
-Having my mom here for 10 days
-Going to Disneyland for the first time AND for the first time as a family

We have so much planned this year, I don't know how we'll fit it all in! I am so excited we will be keeping ourselves busy! I am excited for Will to play outside and start camping at an early age. My family didn't camp very often, but I love it and I am glad we were able to get our lifetime gear so early in our lifetime!

Thursday, March 4, 2010

It's Almost Here!


Are you as mad as the Mad Hatter?

Johnny Depp is my all time favorite actor. I have loved him since the first time I saw "What's Eating Gilbert Grape?" when I was about 6.
One of my all time favorite movies is "The Nightmare Before Christmas" By Tim Burton. Now, you are either a Tim Burton fan, or you aren't. I am. I know, he's kinda weird, but I think him and I would get along just fine. I can't wait to see the new movie by Tim Burton, starring Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland! It just looks so amazing!
We won't get to see it opening weekend, but that's ok, because we are FINALLY going to have our family pictures done! My good friend, Malina is going to be our photographer and we'll be doing them at City Creek Park. I am so excited to finally have a picture of the trio, that will actually look good. I am excited because Malina wants me to be apart of the editing process. Last time I did that, was with our wedding photographer and I loved it. We're gonna play around with our colors because it's going to be still pretty gray out. I will be sure to post some as soon as we have some!
We have lots of fun trips coming up here in the next 3-4 months. In May, my mom is going to be visiting for 10 days. June, we are going to North Carolina for "Grandkids Camp" for about 10 days. We'll also be there for my brothers graduation! I am so happy I get to be with him for that! Then in September, we have our BIG Disneyland trip!

Well, motherly duties call and so do work duties! Hope everyone is well!