The Updates

I have decided to start keeping this blog updated - the rest of the blogging I'll be honest, I've lost interest.  But in order to keep family members updated on what's going on now that we've moved to Colorado Springs, I'll make sure to keep this up to date:

The biggest change that has happened to us since my last post is obviously this:

This is the little girl who has taken up residence in my insides and regularly gives me taps and kicks to remind me she's there.

Her due date is December 4th and while we're tossing names around, her official title is still undecided.

So far all we know about her is that she kicks hardest after breakfast and after dinner.  Brett has been able to feel her kicks but is still a little skeptical that it's her kicking and just me doing that.  (I can assure everyone I haven't developed a talent of being able to "thump" from the inside out.)

The second biggest change is that we've moved to Colorado Springs.  We found out about the move about a week after we found out we were having a baby.  Brett left to start working at the end of May, I finished up at work and joined him at the very end of June.  Chad and Katie were very kind of let Brett stay at their house until our rental house was ready and we were able to finally move in on July 7th.

On July 11th we left for Lake Tahoe for 10 days.   So it was a lot to do crammed in a little amount of time!  (Lake Tahoe pictures to come later)

We've now officially been living here in our rental house for a full week.  We were able to attend our new ward yesterday and everyone seems very friendly and welcoming.

We are still unpacking some boxes but the majority of the day-to-day use stuff has been found and put away.  There are a few things missing still but we'll just have to keep unpacking and see where that takes us.

I'll try to keep this blog updated with more and make sure to include pictures of Lake Tahoe and pictures of our house and how we're trying to make it ours while remembering we'll only be here a year...

Until then though - I'm blogging again!

Not dead. Just can't think of anything.

Oh hello.

I haven't blogged in a year, you say?

I know what I think when I haven't seen a post from a "married couple blog" in a long time...

Marital problems? 

Nope. Still married and, in fact, just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. I was a little offended at the jokes we heard from a few people congratulating us and then adding they didn't think it would happen. Thanks for the faith, everyone.

Honestly I just got tired of it. And truthfully I think I had started comparing our life to the idyllic posts of other happy couples and how they were having their third child and life couldn't be more perfect. I know few people post about the day they snapped at their family and grounded themselves to their own rooms. Nobody posts about the day they honestly, genuinely contemplated straight throat punching the love of their life. Nobody wants you to know that even though you tell yourself you are dieting and doing well those three scones yesterday were actually more of a setback than you're willing to admit to yourself. 

You only want to remember and share the good days when you have things under control and you aren't ready to tongue lash strangers for giving you sideways glances. "Try me dude, seriously. I can guarantee a loss on your end." 

And no I haven't been in a bad mood since I stopped blogging. I now have a job I like that keeps me busier than I had anticipated and frowns upon internet use for personal reasons. Unlike my last job, I do not blog while waiting for the phone to ring.

Some highlights from 2013 in no particular order:

A lovely trip to Disneyland and Lake Tahoe where our nephew made up a song consisting of two words and a tongue noise that gets stuck in your head for weeks. "Irish people blblblbl" (your guess is as good as ours.)

A baby nephew born at the end of August with medical problems that seemed insurmountable. He grew with an upside-down heart, fluid build up that made it hard to grow and for my sister-in-law to carry, and a grim prognosis. After what can be described as a miracle, we are all relieved to say he is in perfect health and can scream louder than babies with two full lungs instead of one and a half. That little man is a Viking, and one of the cutest little boys...ever.

We also gained another niece. Who is getting so perfectly plump you could die. Her older sister loves her, adores her even, which is a relief because that girl loves attention.

A promotion for Brett that he worked incredibly hard for.

A weird sudden allergic reaction to my wedding ring that ended with my new knowledge that I'm wildly allergic to nickel.

A lovely surprise weekend in Park City planned by my husband who earned brownie points that weekend.

A new crazed obsession with Downton Abbey. I don't even know guys. I just love it at an unhealthy level.

A 28th birthday that was...we'll 28. I had a small breakdown thinking about how I hadn't met a lot of personal goals by the time I turned 28 but relief came with the realization that Heavenly Father is the one with the plan and frequently reminds me of that fact.

Brett's 31st birthday which was spent in California while we visited his parents and San Francisco.

A less than stellar season for Boise State Football including a few sad and disappointing losses and the loss of the beloved head coach. That one stung, Coach Pete. That one stung.

And a lovely Christmas held once again in Colorado while we watched the magic of Christmas on the faces of our nieces and nephew. I've also enjoyed my husband melt in the face our our newest nephew who smiles and giggles at Brett when he's caught his attention. Even he, the man who does not talk to babies in a stupid voice, danced and made faces at that cute 4 month old. And he held him voluntary, of his own free will. Progress is what that's called. Meanwhile my two year old niece is still a little scared of him. But she did blow him a kiss from across the room right before Christmas which is big.

I have goals but no New Years resolutions. Why? Because I'm not good at them. I make new goals every week, every day even, but I don't want to hold myself to everyone else's resolutions. Also I feel guilty when my goals are along the lines of "quit eating crap" and then I read beautiful goals of service and goodwill and I feel like a self centered cow. I'll keep New Years resolutions my way so I don't feel like a bad person.

Also I feel like saying my hopes out loud or even on paper might jinx me. My hopes for this year is becoming a better person and moving forward with Brett and family. It might not be an easy road ahead but keeping family close is something I'll never take for granted. All else is in Heavenly Father's hands.

That being said...Happy New Year!!

And to all, a good night!

Brett's department at work decided to get a Christmas card out to the rest of the departments.

They were too awesome to keep in the office:

In case you wanted to see them without all the editing (yes you know you do):

And yes, I have asked Brett to never grow a handlebar mustache.

Pictures 2012!

This year it was on Cindy's wish list that everyone get nice pictures taken.  So I called Lindsay Hagblom Photography and she squeezed me in!

The day I picked - it dumped snow all day.  And since a camera likes to focus on snow falling instead of a subject, it wasn't a good choice so we waited it out and tried the next day after the snow had fallen.  And it was beautiful outside - cold, but beautiful!  We loved how they turned out:

We took these in the middle of Daybreak, actually. I would have never thought about it, but it was a great spot!  We're pretty pleased with the outcome.  So now our parents will be happy campers!

Prayers.

My Mom, Jan, has been diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, which is cancer of the lymph nodes.  Unfortunately this is a cancer this family has seen before as my Grandma passed away in 1996 of the same cancer and my Uncle Jeff, (one of my Mom's brothers) has battled it himself.

Even though it would seem that it runs in the family, Non Hodgkins Lymphoma is not supposed to be genetic in any way.  But either way, this has come as a big blow to our family.

All we know right now is that my Mom found a small lump in her neck and since she's weary of cancer, she went in and had it checked.  It was just found out last week that it is cancer.  It was a very small lump, so small that the doctor was shocked my Mom found it in the first place.  We know that it is a slow growing cancer and most likely not curable, but in most cases, treatable.  Because it is a slow growing cancer we know that this could either be very good or very bad.  It would be good if my Mom caught it early, meaning that her treatment would be minimal and she could go on and live a relatively normal life.  However, since slow growing lymphomas often don't have any symptoms, usually when a symptom like a lump is found - it means that it's just the tip of the iceberg because it had been silently growing for a long time.  This was the case with my Grandma.  However, we also know that since my Grandma went through treatment back then, we know cancer treatment has advanced so much that the treatments she went through are deemed archaic.  

Right now we don't know the severity, or really what type of Non Hodgkins Lymphoma, other than the fact that it's slow growing.  There are over 60 types so really, we don't know much.

On Monday, we will find out what stage my Mom's cancer is, and for right now all anyone can do is hope that it was caught really early.  That and ask those of you who would, to keep her in your prayers.

Olivia's First Birthday!

I am really late on posting this but I had to share the pictures.  She's just so crazy-cute!

Her birthday party was held at Aubrey's parents' house in the back yard and it was so cute!  Pink and owls everywhere!  Liv was pretty used to attention, after all she's the first grandchild on both sides, first niece on both sides - she's used to being a big deal.

Here are some of the decorations:

 Adorable banner!

 Collage of cute Livie!

 Owl cupcakes made by Aubrey's good friend, Morgan.  They were delicious too!  I think I had about 5!

 Liv cuddling Grandma Jan - she's snuggly once she gets to know you.

 There's the tongue, it usually makes an appearance.

 Sweet girl!

 Giant bear birthday present.  It scared her at first, but towards the end of the party she was petting it.

 Showing off the too-cute birthday girl sash.  And of course her super cute chubby legs.

 Hanging out with Daddy.

 Giving Grandma Jan a hug.  She knows how to get this woman to give her...everything.

Opening Presents:

 Like most 1 year olds, the tissue paper was entertainment enough.

 But I think she likes the little play cell phone I got her.

 She also liked the wrapping paper.

 And then the cute outifts!  There were so many!

 She cuddled this little Simba toy when she saw it and caused all the ladies there to simultaneously say "Awwww!"

 Fun little wheel car for her to push herself around on.  It lights up and she seemed pretty excited about it.

 Baby. Skinny. Jeans.

Smash cake time!

 How adorable is this little smash cake?!

We stripped her down - after all the cake was chocolate, and started singing "Happy Birthday" to her but...

 It scared her a little bit, so she melted down right in her high chair.  It was pretty stressful for her.

 And the whole cake situation was a little foreign to her.  But soon enough she started poking at it and eventually it found it's way to her mouth and then the fun started.

 She started having a real good time!  The sugar!

 But eventually she lost patience with the rest of us and she was done.

But she did a good job!

Such a cutie!  She was pretty stressed but then she got a bath and a cuddle from her Mom and then she started playing with all her new toys and she was good.

We can't believe she's already one year old!  I can't believe it!

Vacation 2012: San Francisco

San Francisco was a blast.  Our first order of business was to split up once we found a parking spot - the boys went to the Giant's game and the rest of us went to Alcatraz.

The boys were originally supposed to come with us but the schedule was changed at the last minute.  So we headed over to the Ferry to take us out to Alcatraz.

City View:

On our way out to the Rock:

The kids seemed to like the Ferry ride:

Once inside we were given headsets that told us all about Alcatraz and the many escape attempts.  

Here is Brady demonstrating one:

Ella and Katie demonstrating how the visiting worked:

The visiting phones, when picked up tell you a story about an inmate, here is Brady listening to one:

After Alcatraz and some lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe, the kids went back to Rohnert Park with Phil and Cindy while Chad, Katie, Brett & I stayed back to enjoy San Francisco for a while longer:

We decided to head over to Ghirardelli Square to get our chocolate and maybe to have a sundae with our hot chocolate...but after getting there we found a line that was out the door and around the block.  While Brett went to investigate a "to go" option, Katie and I went into the local cupcake shop and bought some for us and for the guys.

We eventually got our hot chocolate even though it nearly burned our hands off!  But it was perfect considering how much the temperatures were dropping.  On our way back to have what would be our last chowder in bread bowls at the Boudin, we tried looking for a sweater for Chad because he left his back at the house.  He couldn't find the right one he was looking for so he froze!  

By the time we got to the Boudin, our feet and legs were pretty sore and we took a tour of the little Boudin museum off of the restaurant where they showed talent with bread sculpting:

After what seemed like forever, we were shown to our table.  We had an weird moment walking up to a full table of people while our host told them that these were by reservation only and told them to leave.  Awkward.

After that we headed back to the car and made the sleepy car ride home.

The next morning was spent packing and getting ready to leave.  Before we loaded up we took a group picture.

And then after that we headed back to the airport to say goodbye to the Colorado Smith's and eventually head home.

Overall it was a great trip and we had a lot of fun!  We can't wait until Vacation 2013: Lake Tahoe!