STINKING AWESOME!!!

So we had a wonderful Christmas, really low key! It was nice to be able to relax and enjoy the season. This year was Christmas at my families so we went and spent the night Christmas Eve. It was so nice to spend some time with my family. No pressure to do much other then enjoy our time together. All in all it was great!

To get to another stinking awesome part, we are having our second child!! Our due date is May 28, 2012 and I am 18 weeks today. Ya we have been keeping it low key only telling our family. So all in all it has been a pretty good year. We have learned a lot, grown a lot, and now I will continue to grow even more until our little peanut graces us! I really don't care what we are having. Jared thinks we will be having a girl since we have all the boy clothes. We will see in 3 weeks at my next checkup, if our babe cooperates ; )! Basically we are very blessed and have had a pretty good year even with our trials!

Christmas!

So we finally decorated for Christmas! It is nice to have it up! We didn't decorate tons but there are a few things we decided to put out. Of course you gotta have a tree, it isn't Christmas without it!

 These stockings I made our first year of marriage. I am planning on making similar ones for all of our kids!

 The penguins are cute, so I had to put them up. I got this Joy sign from my sister in law. Every time we watch her daughter she feels the need to give us something. So sweet of her but you don't need to bribe us to watch Jane! We love her and will watch her any day!

So I ABSOLUTELY love the color brown! Dark, rich, beautiful, brown! So I made this wreath a few years ago! Too bad I didn't get new decorations for my tree! Maybe one day we will do a brown and gold tree!



This might sound funny but this cute present is my night light for the hall way. My bladder is small and I have to go up stairs in the middle of the night. It is much cuter than the night light we had out so I might use it all year long!



I saved the best for last!! My nativity set! I love it! My mom got it for me for my birthday, I picked it out from Deseret Book. I love that it is glossy white and unlike any nativity I have ever seen! My husband likes to say it reminds him of ducks!! I can see how he might think so with a few of the figures but I don't care, I love it!!



So this is our Christmas so far! I have a few presents to wrap and put under the tree, not many! We have been the kind to buy what we want when we want it, so when Christmas rolls around we are unsure what to get each other! I know this will change in the future, but until then I am grateful to be a little spoiled! Hope everyone has enjoyed getting ready for Christmas! This is my favorite time of year!!!

Hair cut!

 So it has been a long time since I drastically cut my hair. A few years ago my lil sis Collette and I grew our hair out twice and chopped it off to donate to locks of love. It takes about 2 years to get my hair long enough again to donate. I decided I was getting sick of my long hair. I don't have much volume and it is pretty straight, and it doesn't hold curl for long, Let me tell you but you already know it is hard to decide what to do with your hair sometimes! You can change your look so much by getting a hair cut. I narrowed it down to cutting some chunky Sandra Bullock bangs, which I haven't had full on bangs since I was a child or chop it off. Ya I chopped it back on November 8th. I got 14 inches cut off to donate to locks of love. I have to admit I have been pretty slow about posting pictures, good pictures and also mailing in my hair!! O well it will get done! So the finished product turned out pretty good!

 I like it a lot! Jared my husband told me that if I go short I need to go red again like this. It is a deep red that is awesome, lots of up keep but I loved it. So maybe that will be my next step!

This was Halloween a few years ago. Jared is a Mario fanatic and I was a flapper from the 20's. I wanted to be Princess Peach but couldn't get a costume together in time. There are other years! We might have to dress up our Great Dane as Yoshi and have our baby as baby Luigi, or Daisy.

This is Lily, she is the best, sweetest, biggest, laziest dog we have ever had. This shouldn't be a big surprise because she if our first dog! I am sure we will have more another Dane eventually!

I like my hair a lot!! Luckily Jared never cares what I do with my hair. He likes it long or short, and he always thinks I am hot, even when I am sick and disgusting! Love ya sugar!!

Macsen Scot Schwartz

Yesterday was our perfect boy's birthday. Last year Macsen was stillborn at 37 weeks. It is weird to think that it was really a year ago. A lot has changed since then. It is obvious to us that there are already blessing that have come from our loss. One of our friends gave us a picture that says, "Sometimes God calms the storm, Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms His child. This is totally true. It is amazing the spirit that comforts you in good and bad times. We love you son and are grateful for our understanding and eternal families!

Somber!

Man how fast things can change! A week ago I couldn't wait for Christmas!! I was thinking about putting up Christmas early this year. Last year we didn't put up decorations because I wasn't in the mood! Me not in the mood ya it was a hard holiday. This one isn't starting off much better! My heart aches for my brother and sister-in-law!!!!! My lovely sis was expecting twins!!! Finally after years of waiting, twins!!! Thursday my sis went into labor, 23 weeks along. Amazingly the babies survived. What strong nephews we have!! Everything was going as good as imagined. The babies organs were functioning and only required oxygen. James Clint, 1Lb 6oz, and Jayden Chad 1Lb 8oz. The survival rate is 25% for the first 7 days then jumps to 95% if they make it passed that. Sadly yesterday both had complications and ended up passing away! Perfect little boys, so small and adorable! We all were hoping for the best! I hoped that they wouldn't have to feel the pain of loosing a child let alone two! It is such a heart breaking, emptiness. Our bodies are amazing though, you go into auto pilot. This numb stage that I like to call survival mode! You basically are functioning and are in this haze not drug induced, but it might be similar. Time does help. Everyone says this, yes it doesn't replace the loss but it does make it more numb over time. Staying close to your spouse is so important! Jared and I grew so much closer together! Then there is the mother of all support systems. No I am not talking about family and friends but they do help. I am talking about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!!! This gospel is unique! We know as members that we can be families forever! Of course there are so many wonderful things about the gospel! Anyone can learn more by going to http://lds.org/. When you do loose a loved one knowing that you can be a forever family and see them again is such a huge comfort! There is a continuation after this life! I know that our son Macsen and brother Clint welcomed James, and Jayden home with open arms! They will be know as the 4 amigos from this point forward. Maybe just by me but I know they are all best buds enjoying each other and helping us through the remainder of our journey! The Jayden and James have completed an important step! Coming to earth and receiving a body is an important process. Having passed before they were 8 years (the year of accountability) means that they are perfect and obviously without sin! So Keith and Natalie you can now join our special club. We should call it the perfect parents club. Jared always says we are perfect parents because we are 100% successful in the fact that our child is without sin. In Doctrine and Covenants we found a scripture that is simple and to the point. Section 137 verse 10 "And I also beheld that all children who die before they arrive at the years of accountability are saved in the celestial kingdom of heaven." This scripture is such a reassurance to what we believe. It is easy to think why, or what if but knowing that our son is perfect and in a wonderful place not only brings comfort but also makes us strive to be better. We want to be united one day and we have to keep on track and do our part to get there! Sure we don't know what was the reasoning behind Macsen, James, Jayden's, or Clint's death but our father in heaven has a wonderful plan for all of us. And one day we will have the answers we were wondering about. Until then we need to keep pressing forward, feel the comfort and peace of the spirit, and watch the blessing unfold! Good comes from everything even if we don't notice it at first! Heavenly Father loves us and gives us trials for a reason, and it isn't to torture us and make us miserable. My trials have honestly made me a stronger person mentally and spiritually and can say if I could change the past I wouldn't!

New Happenings!

So life is CRAZY!!! For the past 2 months I have been living without my husband, Yes I haven's said anything about this. A little background, Jared has been working for Perry Hawker since May. He has decided to become a mortician and Perry owns the Lost River Funeral Chapel in Arco Idaho. So the plan has been for Jared and I to buy it from Perry. Perry sent Jared out here in September, of course we agreed. Jared would do online school and show his face around here again. I decided that I could make some good money if I stayed in Pingree and drove truck for harvest. So from Sept 1st till now Jared and I have seen each other on weekends, and whenever possible. We were rained out some so I came out here, he came up for the week when Clint died, just whenever we get to see each other we are together. Now harvest is over. I will finally be moving out. I might drive tractor for a few days because I wasn't able to earn as much as I thought. Had some set backs, which is always how things happen.
Also today I was released from 2nd counselor in the Young Women's. Before Jared moved out to Moore I told my president that I couldn't come to mutual because I would be driving truck and also that if Jared was unable to come see me on Sunday I would be seeing him instead of fulfilling my calling. I asked her if she wanted to release me then, she said no come when you can. Honestly I haven't been to YW for 2 months. I am sure she thought I would be able to come every other Sunday, but when Jared is on call I am out in Moore. He is on call basically every weekend. So I am have been the biggest Excused SLACKER I know!! Of course all the presidency agreed I should be with Jared, I bet they wish they would have released me earlier. I do miss them all!! I loved being in the YW and even being called an "OW" (old woman)! All the leaders are "OW's". I also am excited for our new adventure. I have had lots and I mean lots of people ask me if I was dreading moving out to Arco. Of course not. It is beautiful out here. They have super sweet people for me to get to know, I am close to my grandma Schwartz, I am with my honey buns : ), and a big thing is it is fall longer so I get to wear my jackets more! I love wearing jackets but on the down side it is colder out here so I AM GOING TO FREEZE during the winter!! I might be wearing all my jackets and coats at once!! So if you come to Arco and see a marshmallow girl walking around don't be frightened it is just me!! Say hi!! I am super friendly! Ignore the frozen smile on my face, that could be pretty frightening! I understand if you run away!

Clint J Mecham

The urgency! I know something isn't right! Finally knowing the numbness sets in. I know this feeling too well, again so soon doesn't seem fare! What next? Auto pilot helps a bit. Everything is a blur, am I sure this isn't a nightmare? Will I wake up tomorrow and find out I had a horrible dream?
How can my little, but taller brother actually be gone? This makes 3 deaths in 10 months for my family. Our son Macsen in November, so sudden and unexpected. 37 weeks and a text book pregnancy. Grandma Mecham in March was expected for years. Such a relief her eyes were bad and Alzheimer's set in. Now Clint my brother in an unexpected car accident. He was only 23. How could he be gone? He had so much more living to do. At least I believe in the church! Encouragement to be better and be an eternal family. Clint is with our son. That is awesome! He definitely is better off, in a much better place! This understanding helps, of course the pain doesn't go away! Loss is hard! Time helps but there is still a hole that nothing will fill. All we can do is remember our loved ones and strive to be better! Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us. We don't know the purpose, or always have a full understanding of our trials but one day we will!
We should have lost Clint 9 years ago. All the Dr's were amazed that he survived his 4 wheeling accident. It was one of the worst skull fractures they have ever seen! He has always been strong willed. We are grateful & will cherish our extra 9 years with him! I LOVE YOU LITTLE BRO!!! Until we meet again!
P.S. Give Macsen a hug for me! XOXOXO

What to do?

The time was here and is now gone. The past few days I got to watch my niece Jane. What can I say about this experience? It was awesome of course!! Now Jane is gone, my house is quiet and I don't know what to do with myself. The last few days has revolved around Jane. When to eat, when to sleep, when to play! Tomorrow morning I am not going to wake up to her sweet smile! I will miss that! I had a great time with her and she is such a great baby! Even when she was a little fussy I couldn't get enough of her! This just means I will have to go see her soon! Thanks again Jeremy and Alisa for going on vaca so I could love on her! I will watch her any time! Tomorrow brings work, then I will be back in the swing of harvest and this feeling will pass. Seriously it is such a weird feeling not knowing what to do! I can't put it into words. I am sure everyone can relate and if not consider yourself well organized and lucky.

Wooohooo the Truck begins!

I am driving truck this fall! Hoping to make the big bucks, ya know. I was planning on driving for spuds and beets but have needed to drive for grain as well. Not a big deal. The grain doesn't bug me. The truck can be a great escape. A time to think, reflect on your life, and jam out to the radio!! It is a nice break from people, not having to carry on a conversation can be so nice. One of the biggest plus, it is protection from the wind (dirt blowing is horrible), rain, snow, hail, basically anything the weather wants to throw at us. The truck can also be a cell of despair. You are always in the beast. Some times you don't get a lot of breaks to be out of the beast. If it is hot out you are hot, if it is cold out you are cold (depending on the truck you are in). If you want to talk to people, you can't. The radio! The radio plays the same crap hour after hour!!! You get sick of it! SICK OF IT!!! Anyways all in all it can be great! I miss harvest when I am not home. I am glad that I have grown up on a farm, moving pipe, working hard, and doing office stuff for dad! It is beautiful!! I love it.

 Seriously GORGEOUS!! I couldn't decide which one I liked better so I posted both!

Of course I have to post a pic of me in the beast!!!

Enough of the back ground. The other night was awesomely crazy. So I am driving along in a truck. I was in 7th gear shifting into 8th when all hell broke loose. (excuse my french) The beast came alive and wanted me dead!! I couldn't shift into 8th gear because the rpms were way to high. The gas pedal was pressed to the floor. I literally had to hold up the gas pedal all the way off the floor with my foot. If I let it go the truck would rev up and the rpms were through the roof. Did I mention it was pitch black out and I was on the highway. Luckily I was in the Pingree town sight and was able to slow down and stop into the gas station. To be honest it really wasn't that scary. The truck wasn't in gear so it was slowing down, just kinda creepy. and I was able to hold the pedal up to make it stop going crazy. Don't get me wrong. If lifting the pedal didn't help it would have been scarier. Plus it being stick and not an automatic made it better. Thanks dad for not owning any automatics! All in all driving truck really is great! I love the fall. I love the chill in the air, and the calm in the day. It just seems so peaceful when you aren't around the craziness of harvest. Going on walks is great! It really is so relaxing even though harvest it super chaotic. We just found out this week that this next Thursday the 25th, we have to start potato harvest! WHAT!! We even have to harvest on Sunday! WHAT!!!! O well Thursday-Sunday I won't be driving! WAHOOOOOOO! Because I will be doing something 100 times better than earning money!!! For real I have been super excited and counting down for a LONG TIME!!! I GET TO WATCH MY NIECE JANE!!! She will just about be 7 months old. Has 2 teeth and is starting to crawl, well arm wiggle it! I am super excited and can't believe it is next week! FINALLY!! Thanks Jeremy and Alisa for going on vaca and letting me watch her! Sam, Kate, Kirsten, Mom, and Grandma Schwartz I thing that we should have another girls night at my house. I will share Jane with you guys! I know I hog her sometimes, but I am trying to be better!

Jeremy and Alisa, don't be upset but I am pretty sure that this will be sitting in your house when you get home from Vegas! Just sayin' it is going to happen and you will love it!!! And you thought the bear we brought you to the hospital was big! Thanks Ted and Kaylee for letting me use this picture!

Young Woman Retreat

This year we didn't have the usual annual girls camp. We had the trek, which I didn't get to go on. I am kind of relieved Jared and I weren't called because they had 13 baby dolls that they had pass away. I don't know exactly how I would have handled that. I probably would have been fine. Everyone said it was amazing and I am glad the girls got to experience it!! Anyways, as leaders we decided last year that we would take the girls to a cabin for a quick, fun trip. Lisa Harral our secretary was kind enough to get her families cabin for us to crash! So August 2nd we journeyed to Island Park for an overnighter. Lisa is super creative and had some fun stuff for us to do as usaul. It was a super chill two days. We all wished we could have stayed longer! It was a super nice gettaway. Let's just say the girls better know how much we love them, cuz it was a lot of work but, of course it was totally worth it!!

 Kira and Alyssa were cold so they were sun bathing in their killer Sponge Bob hats. Some of the sweetest hats EVER!!!

 So from left to right, Kristeena, Megan, Hannah, Ashlyn, Alex, Lexie, and Lisa. Lisa is giving us the low down and putting us in two teams. Cuz ya we compete for who is the most AWESOME!! It gives us total bragging rights. By the way my team (purple) totally won!! I think?!

The cabin is pretty much the best cabin ever! Who needs girls camp. We always stay in tents.

BOOO! My vote is we go the the cabin every year and have power, beds, showers, basically the finer things in life. Left to right, Carolee (Pres), Megan, Kristeena, Lexie, Haley, Kathleen, Hannah.

To fill you in, the cabin in the background istotally mine. Just sayin' don't be jealous!! (I wish)

 This is Hannah jet skiing. Isn't she cute!

 This is one of my awesome friends Kaylee. She use to be my advisor but her husband Ted decided he needed to move to Arizona and stole her from me. Now they are back! I am so glad Kaylee lives in Island Park and was able to come for the day! It was way fun to have her with us!! Megan is in the tube.

This is Megan, she is amazing and is a pro at tubing. Enough said !!

 Alex is the cutest flagger ever!!! Kira is a little stinker and didn't want her picture taken. The back of her head is petty!!

 Stewart was awesome! (Carolee's husband) He not only was willing to come up and spend the whole time with a bunch of crazy girls, (leaders included, we are all teenage girls at heart) he brought Carolee's boat and drove us around until we were all lobsters, needing showers, food, and a long nap! 

 Teresa, Valarie, and Kaylee enjoying the ride. I am pretty sure I should have told them to look so we would have their beautiful faces documented!

 Of course this is me, sporting a big life jacket. The rule was EVERYONE was in life jackets. We didn't want anyone to drowned even if they are swimmers.

 Alex is super cute and is always smiling!

 Kira decided to ignore the life jacket rules. She does have some sweet skills. She actually is going to be a life guard at the Blackfoot pool. It makes me think of highschool when Ashley Scott Willoughby and I were fish, teaching swimming lessons. A LONG time ago!! Good times!

 Kaylee tubing, I went right before her!

Kira knee boarding. She got up on her first try!! Nicely done! Looking through the pictures of the trip I decided I need to take more pictures, or should I say better pictures! We had this sweet relaxation station set up by the dock and the canoes! The girls went canoeing while we had our turn on the boat. Not pictured: Teresa W, Laurie (my new advisor), Teresa M's face, Valaries face, Bishop, and Blair. O well! We all had a good time anyways! Next time I will do better!

5 Year Anniversary!!!

So today is our anniversary! I can't believe that 5 years ago today I married the man of my dreams! It seems like yesterday to be honest. Time has flown by so fast! I was looking at a few of your wedding pics from back then and O' BOY do we look young!! Not that we look old now, but there are totally some differences in size. We have both gained weight since then. Take a look!

 So my husband wants to be an old man immediately! He loves all the old things, fedoras, trying to be grouchy, and much more. Shirt stays are one of those things. We took our pictures before the temple so Jared made sure he had his white ones on. Funny huh!!

 He was sick of waiting, so he threw me over his shoulder and ran for the temple doors!!

 We were both laughing the whole way!

 He always surprises me and makes me laugh!! All in all Jared is my BEST FRIEND!!! Our first year of marriage was super easy. Everyone says the first year is the hardest. Not for us. The next few were much harder years, but he has sure helped make the hard times seem so much easier and we have become so much closer together! I am so grateful for you Jared, and I love you!!!!

One Of My Favorite Things!

So Saturday I went up to Idaho Falls to spend some time with some of my favorite people, who so happen to be my sister-in-law Alisa and my adorable niece Jane!! I just love going and spending time with them! Alisa and I have gotten so close over the years (especially this last year). I just have so much fun going and doing what ever with her, whether it be Zumbaing it up when I am sick, or making potato salad. This time we went out for Amberly's (another sweet friend who happens to be Alisa's cousin) birthday lunch. We went out for sushi. I haven't had too much sushi before. We didn't get anything raw, I warned Amberly I might just through up all over her cute birthday outfit! Last time I had something different, Jared and I were just engaged and were in Boise seeing his sis Kirsten. We went to a place and had some oysters. Of course everyone was watching me when I tried to slurp it down. I sat there for a few minutes with it in my mouth because there was this big chunk of shell I swear, but it could have been a big flat chunk of sand. I was contemplating if I should spit it out or just swallow the bugger. I swallowed it and it wasn't horrible but the chunk really through me off. Anyways Alisa sure knows her stuff. The sushi was really good and I know Jared would love it! I am thinking for our anniversary we will have to go. Thanks Alisa and Amberly for letting me tag along for your birthday! You two are GREAT!

Our Awesome Dog!

So this is our dog Lily! Also my hubby Jared trying to look as much like farmer Joe as possible so his friend Murr can have some sweet pics! To fill you in a little we have been working on the family farm for over 3 years when this pic was taken. Back to my dog. She is BIG and skinny and yes she is wearing a coat. It gets cold in the winter so we try to help her stay warmer. So two days ago we went on a walk to go drop some info off to my neighbor. Lily loves to go on walks and just prances along as happy as a clam. So we get to the house and she is patiently waiting, when they open the door and their 3 little Yorkie's come running out barking up a storm. She loves animals and usually can't wait to play but gets scared when they bark back at her. Seriously she is such a big chicken! The dogs basically come to her back heal whatever that is called. Anyways they run her off. She ran like a little scaredy cat all the way home. Lily thinks her bed is base and she is always safe there. She is such a fun dog and I am so glad we adopted her from some friends who couldn't keep her!! Jared and I are pretty sure she will be our all time favorite!

Finally Starting

So I have finally caved and started on the blogosphere. I figure it is a great way to Journal. My hubby Jared and I have had some pretty interesting experiences through our 5 years of marriage so far,( Aug 5th will be 5 years) and am not so good at writing them down in my journal. So maybe this way I will.
So to start I want to explain the name of our blog. My brother in law a while back told Jared and I that we have become one blob! We have messed together and are now one person in two bodies. I think it is hilarious and true. I love this man more than anything so becoming one with him is wonderful!