Beeeeeeautiful!

Tucsonians look forward to monsoon season all year long! The storms have come a little early this year and it is wonderful! One night I swear it stormed all night long. It seemed that every time I woke up to tinkle, it was raining! I love the sound of those big drops of water beating on the warm earth. I love it as it taps gently at my window. I looked out the window each time I woke and thought that the water was very possibly going to start leaking through my door crack! Luckily not, but in the morning, what a glorious sight to take in! I went on a morning walk around the apartment complex and marveled at the beauty of the desert after her long awaited drink. To many it may not seem that wonderful, but after living here a while, the "greens" have actually begun to look green to me! I now see several of the shades. And oh the smell of the desert after a monsoon...! Behold, the desert! (Okay so our apartment complex may cheat a little, but still!)

Oh, it's Normal

Don't worry, anything on this list (or more) that you experience during pregnancy is completely normal!

Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Pelvic pressure
Weight gain
Waddling
Super sensitive sense of smell
Bleeding gums
Carpal tunnel
Clumsiness
Constipation
Dizziness and fainting
Excessive salivation
Cravings
Fatigue
Forgetfulnes
Frequent urination
Gas and bloating
Hair and nail changes
Headaches
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids
Itchy skin
Leg cramps
Lower back pain
Nosebleeds
Cramped insides
Kicked in the ribs
Round ligament pain
Shortness of breath
Skin darkening
Stuffy nose
Swollen extremities
Sleepless nights
Varicose veins
Vision changes
Foot growth
Development or growth of moles
Braxton-Hicks contracions
Pre-eclampsia
Diabetes
Anemia
Postpartum depression

Well it's a good thing we don't have to experience ALL of those things. Count all that have applied to you! Let me know how many of these pregnancy symptoms you experienced! My count is 27! I'm sure there are many more that I didn't really want to add to this list...self-explanatory.

Top 10 Most Boring Updates in the History of the World Ever

1. I am not dilated at all. Aargh.
2. I am 50% effaced. Better!
3. My doctor will be out of town on my due date and after. Rude!
4. Richie's sliced finger from a can of Spaghettio's is practically healed.
5. We qualify for a little moola in Food Stamps. Awesome!
6. Richie has not beat Zelda or Super Mario Galaxy yet. Ha ha!
7. We qualify for Medicaid. Woo hoo!
8. I beat Richie in Yahtzee the majority of the time. Sweet.
9. Tucson is really, really, really hot. For real.
10. We are naming our baby Mylie Joleen. Awww!

Project Nursery

Well I have finished a few of my projects. The dresser turned out cute but I'm still deciding whether or not to add some black designs on the drawers. I made the boxes with flowers and the frames on the walls to match the crib bedding. I had a friend Devin paint me the adorable pictures on the frames. Check 'em out!



























Here are a few shots of the bedroom in it's almost complete edition. When my mom comes out, she is going to make some matching curtains. (How I wish I could sew!) My friend's mother is going to give me an adorable vinyl sticker to put on my wall as well...(she sells the cutest vinyl lettering and designs I have EVER seen!) http://www.uppercaseliving.com
Then it will be complete. So fun!

Some Summer Goals

Angie
Paint the baby's dresser
Learn to make bows
Make a baby book
Keep the house clean
Finish the nursery
Write thank you cards
Read some books

Richie
Beat Zelda on Nintendo Wii
Beat Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii
Watch old BYU football games

God Be With You Kolby, Till We Meet Again

Do You Remember?

I remember the day you told me you were going to have a baby. The joy in your voice was so contagious! I was so excited to have my first little niece or nephew!
I remember how sick you felt, but it didn’t matter! You were fulfilling a dream! Having a baby and being a mommy.
I remember your tummy growing rounder and rounder, a little baby growing right inside you!
I remember the day you found out your baby was going to be a little boy. I secretly cried in my heart for happiness!
I remember you placing my hand on your stomach so I could feel the little fellow moving all around. You loved that part, I remember.
I remember your shower, how we all squished in my little apartment and showered you with gifts in anticipation of your new arrival!

I remember when you had early contractions and I got to take you to the hospital. I knew he needed more time for development, but I really wanted him to be born right then! It’s a good thing he waited until he was ready.
I remember your scheduled day of c-section. I couldn’t describe how ecstatic I was to see the newest member of our family!
I remember rushing to the hospital on little Kolby’s arrival. I couldn’t wait to see him and hold him.
I remember walking into your hospital room. You had the biggest smile on your face! Your joy radiated and lit up the entire place!

I remember holding Kolby for the first time and almost crying.
I remember you trying to breast feed Kolby. It was so hard for you, but you knew it was the best thing you could do for him, so you struggled through it!
I remember how much pain you were in from the c-section. But in your eyes, it was worth the pain to bring Kolby into the world and give him life!

I remember watching you care for Kolby and was so impressed with what a natural nurturer you were.
I remember when Kolby got really sick and had to spend a few days in the hospital. We were all so frightened, but I tried to act like everything was going to be okay. You were always there for him.
I remember having to go teach everyday, but wishing that I could baby-sit Kolby instead!

I remember how hard it was for you to attend church without your husband, but you took your little boy anyway, you knew it was right.
I remember how I just wanted to cuddle Kolby all throughout church! But when he started crying I could just give him to you, and you had the magic touch.
I remember Kolby’s blessing day. All our relatives showed up and we were all so proud to show off your little boy.
I remember Kolby’s adorable chubby cheeks. I just wanted to kiss them all the time!
I remember seeing Kolby smile for the first time. I couldn’t stop giggling!
I remember when I had to move away from Utah and you guys. I was so sad to have to leave my sister and only blood nephew behind!
I remember when your family drove to Arizona to visit us. I couldn’t wait to see Kolby!
I remember how Kolby had such a pleasant personality, and only cried when he was hungry, poopy, or tired.
I remember how you would roll around on the floor and Kolby would copy and roll right along with you!
I remember being so excited to see him crawl and lift himself up. He was quite the mover!

I remember Kolby’s giggle. You just wanted to keep making him laugh because it filled your own soul with glee.
I remember talking to you on the phone and asking you to have Kolby “talk” to me. I loved all the little noises he would make!
I remember you telling me that it was the most wonderful thing in the world to have a baby and be a mommy.
I remember thinking that you were the best mom.

I remember everyone telling me what a good little mom you were too.
I remember when you took Kolby to Oklahoma to visit and made him the cutest crib bedding!

I remember when your family moved to Oklahoma with Mom and Dad after Bryon’s factory blew up—everyone was so excited to have little Kolby living there!
I remember visiting Oklahoma for Christmas, and one of the things I was most excited for was to see Kolby!


I remember how Kolby was learning to walk. All he ever wanted to do was hold onto somebody’s fingers and walk, walk, walk! We had to take turns.
I remember that one of Kolby’s first words was “hot!” We’d all say “hot!” to him, trying to get him to talk to us.
I remember putting Kolby in the middle of the round table at Mom and Dad’s house, with all of us sitting around him fighting for his attention.
I remember everyone hitting the table with their hands and Kolby smiling, turning ‘round and ‘round to see everyone doing the same thing.
I remember using that same table, putting Kolby on his tummy, holding onto his feet and sliding him back and forth across the slippery surface. Boy did he love that!
I remember when Kolby finally got his first “walker.” Right when you set it up, he knew what to do with it! He walked and walked all around the house! It took him a while to figure out how to actually guide the thing! We would all just sit around watching, giggling, giggling, and giggling!
I remember how much Kolby loved to be read too. That was one way to get him to sit still on your lap and cuddle up!

I remember how Bryon would be lying down on the ground, and Kolby would run over and wrestle with him!
I remember the day we went to get family pictures. Kolby was the little prince. We each wanted an individual picture with him! He was our pride and joy!

I remember Kolby’s first birthday! You planned it a little early so we could all be there to celebrate his life!
I remember you putting the cake in front of Kolby and letting him dig in! At first, he didn’t know what to do! But then he sure had fun getting his hands in the sticky frosting!

I remember that whenever you were in the room, Kolby only wanted you. He was quite the Mama’s boy.
I remember how sweet I thought it was how he would lie his little head on your shoulder and pat your back!

I remember the dreadful phone call I got about Kolby’s accident. I cried and cried.
I remember wishing I could suck all the pain out of you and the family and put it in myself.
I remember praying and praying for a miracle, but letting Heavenly Father know that I knew it was His will, not ours.
I remember having great hope that Kolby would make it.
I remember the second phone call that Kolby had passed away. My heart bled and bled and I just wanted to be there to hold and hug you and help you know everything would be okay.

I know the pain seems unbearable and is unbearable right now. Only time can heal, but Kolby will remain in our minds and hearts in spirit forever. And I know without a doubt, that we will all see him again. I know that he had a wonderful life on earth with a loving and caring family, but also that he is now in a far better place than we could ever imagine! He has our own family members and ancestors with him, so happy that he is back with them! He will surely watch over his Mommy, Daddy, and big brother, and look forward to the day when they join him in the eternities. Until then, he’ll do the work he was meant to do, and take joy in watching his family choose the right and grow in their testimonies, so that he can be with them again, united as a family, for all eternity.

Surprise!

Surprise! I am finally showing you a picture of my very unattractive self. All y'all have been so impatient about this! Like 7 months impatient! So I decided before your patience got the best of you, I had better get a picture on here.










But that's not the only surprise! My students threw me a surprise Baby Shower the day before school got out. Even the boys were saying "Oh!" and "Aw!" to the cute little girly gifts I received. It was so sweet!




Now that school is out, I need something to do! Like projects! I've got a few in mind so far. I am going to paint an old dresser for the baby's room. I want to find some material for curtains that matches the crib bedding. (But my mom will have to do the sewing 'cause I have no idea how to do that!) I want to learn how to make those cute little bows that can attach to headbands. I want to work on my Ecuador scrapbook from years ago. Last, I want to help Richie organize all his thousands of loose papers from school. (They're just in stacks right now, randomly lying around the apartment.) But I'd like some more ideas for fun little projects to do! So I know you all are very talented and have great ideas for me! Please, pass them on! I'd love to hear what you like to do with your free time! (Those of you who actually get it once in a while.) =)

Happy Birthday!

We celebrated Richie's 25th birthday on May 17! He knew everything he was getting for his birthday and kept talking about it--he was very excited. Hmmm...I wonder why? Oh, because his gifts had to do with two of the only four things he likes--BYU football and music. So let's check it out. Look how excited he was!











1. BYU Football DVD--Tradition, Spirit, Honor
2. BYU Football Highlight DVD 2007
3. He also got the newest Gnarls Barkley CD!

In the evening we met some friends for dinner at Texas Roadhouse. Richie even got to sit on the saddle and get a Texas "YEEEEE HA!" from the whole restaurant. What a good sport!





















After the delicious meal we had dessert at our place and Richie got some more fabulous gifts!



An awesome candy gram card, more candy, and a DVD player! Wow! Happy Birthday Richie! What a great birthday, only the BEST ever!

For Me?

Richie may say that he has no artistic talent, but he is sure creative when it comes to anything else! This is what Richie's Mother's Day card to me said,

"Dear Sweetie,
As a new mother I figure you'll be doing a lot of rocking as you rock the baby to sleep. I also believe you'll be doing a lot of rolling as you push the stroller along. So for Mother's Day, I figured I'd get you something with a little bit of rock and roll. I hope you enjoy! Happy Mother's Day!
Love,
Richie
(Go check the baby's room)

I'm thinking "Hu? We've got a rocking chair, and what in the world does this mean?"
Any guesses?
It's something I've been wanting for a long time...
That's right folks,
GUITAR HERO!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to the best two mothers in the world!
We love you so much and couldn't be more grateful
for your continued love and support toward the two of us.

100 Things About Me (Richie)

I am writing this only because my mom and Angie requested it.  So here goes nothin'.

1. I only like 4 things: Religion, Family, BYU Football, and music

2. In high school my two favorite kinds of music were rap and classical

3. I never thought that I'd marry a white girl

4. I am 4 years younger than Angie

5. Of all the dates I ever went on, I was younger than the girl on all but two

6. I love teaching Gospel Doctrine in our ward

7. I love studying the scriptures

8. I love reading articles on farms.byu.edu

9. I read cougarboard almost every day

10. I think I am more obsessed with BYU football than anyone else in the world

11. I graduated from BYU

12. I am going to graduate school at the University of Arizona

13. I really don't like school

14. I like trying to be funny

15. I am really shy around people I don't know but then I'm crazy around people I'm comfortable with

16. I worked in the Wymount Family Housing Office for 2 and a half years

17. I was a secretary at Wymount but I made everyone call me a desk attendant because I didn't want to feel like a girl

18. When I was a secretary at Wymount I was also the secretary in our Elders Quorum and wanted people to give me presents on Secretary's Day

19. I used to have a gap in my front teeth so I'd never show my teeth when I'd smile.  

20. My dentist once told me to push my teeth together with my fingers every day to fix the gap. My brother-in-law Matt is a dentist and told me not to do that

21. The eye doctor once told me I was red-green color blind but I don't believe it

22. I draw pictures at a 1st grade level

23. I'm really excited to be a dad

24. I love playing with little kids because I act like them anyway

25. I love Angie Whitaker

26. I've always felt like I'm a lot dumber than my brother Ryan

27. I once had a dream where Angie let me in on a secret that everyone thought I was really ugly

28. I burned a rap CD with songs I wrote from junior high up until my freshman year of college

29. I've always felt that I make friends easily

30. I feel like the dumbest person in my class of 10 at the U of A

31. I feel like the other students all like Audiology a whole lot more than me

32. I've always felt very close to my dad even after he died of cancer when I was 8

33. I sometimes dance like a little kid to get Angie's attention

34. Angie tells me to "stop it" a lot

35. I went on my mission to Curitiba, Brazil

36. My favorite number is 36

37. My least favorite number is 7

38. My two least favorite movies are Beethoven and God's Army II

39. My two least favorite songs are Cotton Eye Joe and Mr. Jones

40. I have never seen the movie Titanic

41. I had never eaten a Pop Tart until I married Angie

42. My biggest fear is failure

43. I hate playing baseball/softball but Angie loves it

44. I used to be really fast

45. When I was 9 I honestly thought that I would win the Heisman Trophy some day

46. One time I tried to fake sick to stay home from school.  My mom gave me a thermometer to check my temperature and when she left the room I put the thermometer up to a light bulb to make it hot and it exploded.  I went to school that day.

47. I have never broken a bone (except for maybe toes, I don't know)

48. I try to avoid eye contact with Angie when she flosses at night because I'm afraid she'll make me floss too

49. The image I have of myself in my mind is a lot more handsome than the one in the mirror

50. I like to call my classmates in class to try to make their cell phones go off

51. I used to work at Orange Julius in high school

52. That was my least favorite job ever

53. Sometimes I wish I never would have learned how to walk because then people could just do stuff for me

54. I like to ask people who they think is better looking between Brad Pitt and Denzel Washington and then call them racist no matter who they say

55. I could put ranch dressing on almost everything I eat

56. I used to call myself Asian by Association because I had so many asian friends

57. My favorite video game of all time is Tecmo Super Bowl

58. My mom used to call me Pooder when I was little but now denies that she ever did

59. Indiana Jones/Han Solo were my childhood heroes 

60. In my school picture for kindergarten I tried to do a little half smile to look like Indiana Jones but I really just ended up looking weird

61. Europe is the continent I would least like to visit

62. My favorite home cooked meal is chicken and rice

63. I also love cheeseburgers but only fast food ones, restaurant cheeseburgers are gross

64. I am very sensitive to other people's feelings

65. I worry about stuff a lot on the inside but I almost always act calm on the outside

66. When I was a kid I thought that I didn't like corn on the cob and would complain to my mom when we'd have it.  When I tried it however, I really liked it so I told my mom that I would just eat it to make her happy because I was too proud to admit that I'd changed my mind

67. I don't believe that salmonella exists because I've never met anyone thats ever had it

68. I might like cookie dough better than the actual cookies so that might be why I refuse to believe in salmonella

69. In general, I think that guys are funnier than girls

70. There is a little boy somewhere in Brazil named after me

71. My favorite state is Maryland

72. I've only been to Maryland once

73. I am the youngest grandchild on the Whitaker side of my family

74. I can't eat breakfast right when I wake up because it makes me sick

75. I've had the same hair cut since 1998

76. I gained 15 pounds on the honeymoon (1 week)

77. I've lost 10 pounds since moving to Tucson due to stress, heat, and starvation

78. I think I'll probably die from cancer

79. I hate swimming, ice skating, bowling, and roller skating, all things that most people like

80. One time I bowled a 36 

81. I like to call my brother-in-law Troy and say mean things to him

82. I once made a New Year's resolution to not yawn for the whole year.  I yawned about half an hour after midnight

83. I performed in the Stadium of Fire in 2006

84. When I was a little kid I used to go hiking in the foot hills next to my house and collect animal bones.  I would bring the bones home and put them in my closet.  So my closet was full of dead animal bones until my mom told me to get rid of them because it wasn't sanitary

85. My sister Patrice used to call me Cardboard Brainless Wonder

86. I can watch old BYU football games over and over and never get bored of them

87. I am really good at doing nothing

88. I can do a really good gorilla impression

89. I tried to run for Student Body President as a high school senior, which you can't do because you have to be a junior to run.  I was planning on winning and then respectfully declining because I had to move on to college.  I would have won but then I got kicked out of the election

90. I have sniffed pepper up my nose twice just to make people laugh

91. I used to go kick a school trailer every Saturday night at Orem Junior High with my friends

92. I can Russian Dance really well but one time I possibly broke my toe doing it after my friend Steve beat Street Fighter with the Russian guy

93. When I was a kid I refused to dress up for Halloween after about age 9

94. I would save all of my Halloween candy because I didn't want to waste it so quick.  Then I'd never end up eating it and would end up throwing it away

95. I save up money and don't like to spend it, possibly related to how I would save my Halloween candy.  However, I will not be throwing away my money

96. I've told Angie that when I die I am giving all of my money to BYU football

97. One time the FBI came in to Wymount and interviewed me.  I told them my title was President Desk Attendant

98. When my boss Kecia would start to ask me to do something at work I would pick up the phone and pretend like I was helping someone.  She could see on her phone that no one was on the line

99. When I was in 6th grade I waited for hours to meet Michelle Pfeifer and then when she came out from filming she hid behind someone and got in a car and drove away

100. Little kids love me

100 Things You Don't Really Need to Know About Me!

It has been very fun to read some of my friends 100 things about them. I hope I can entertain you with at least one of the things the way I have been entertained to tears with some of yours!

1. I love Richie Whitaker.
2. I floss my teeth every day.
3. I love having girlfriends.
4. A student at my school found out I was pregnant. He told his mother he thought I was just getting fat.
5. I like my feet but Richie makes fun of one of my toes. He says it's flat on top.
6. I want to get my ears stapled to my head so they don't stick out.
7. I am crazy about my nieces and nephews!
8. I don't have a middle name.
9. I love music that my parents listened to.
10. I never want to have a pet.
11. Actually I would want fish, but wouldn't ever want to clean the tank out.
12. I had a hamster when I was younger. I went on vacation and forgot to get somebody to take care of it. When I got home, it was dead.
13. I have a long board that is almost as tall as me!
14. I love to do anything outdoors except rock climb. (I went once and couldn't do it. I have NO upper body strength.)
15. I am really close to my grandparents and relatives.
16. I went to Ricks College, BYU-Hawaii, and UVSC.
17. I wish I could dance.
18. I wish I could write.
19. I love to put Vasaline in my nostrils before I go to bed.
20. When I move to a different home, I can't "rest" until everything is unpacked and in its place.
21. I love shopping so much. I can't go into stores anymore because I can't say no to something I want.
22. I hate when anything touches my nose!
23. The freckles on my face have faded since I was a kid, but now I'm already getting aging marks on my skin!!!
24. I love to read but never do.
25. When I was little, I found a large, flattened, dried, dead toad in the middle of the road in front of my house. I decoratively put toilet paper in the bottom of a box, placed the road kill neatly in it, wrapped the box, and gave it to my mom for Mother's Day!
26.This is a short story I dictated for my mom to write when I was 4 years old. "There was once this man and he was poor. He was sad and lonely. But one thing he couldn't wait until his wife could have a baby. And one more thing, he couldn't wait. It was a boy and he was so happy about that and he wasn't poor anymore. And he had a horse and he was so happy. But one thing he hated and he hated the scissors. The end."
27. I am scared to break rules.
26. Besides Christmas, my favorite holiday is the 4th of July. (In Utah).
27. I love chick flicks.
28. Actually I love pretty much every movie I see.
29. I love having people over but I always feel like I am a horrible entertainer/hostess!
30. I absolutely HATE drains.
31. Some of my favorite places in the world are: Lake Powell, Havasupai Falls--Grand Canyon, Switzerland, Italy, Ecuador, home, and my parents' home.
32. I love to ride my bike.
33. I took skiing classes during college at Grand Targhee.
34. I lived in Ecuador for about 6 months total and still stink at Spanish.
35. I don't think I am smart at all.
36. I am very self-conscious about my unsmartness. (See, that's not even a word...)
37. I can sleep any time, anywhere.
38. I once fell asleep on a plane before takeoff and didn't even realize we took off!
39. I fell asleep in front of my departure gate at the airport another time. I didn't wake up when everyone got on the plane. After everyone had boarded, somebody tapped me and asked if I was supposed to be getting on that plane.
40. I went skydiving, and it wasn't even scary, but I thought my ears were going to explode!
41. I have to use the restroom more than anybody I have ever met. (Even before I was pregnant!)
42. I want to name my daughter Mylie Joleen.
43. I took many types of lessons and sports growing up--piano lessons, singing lessons, guitar lessons, clarinet lessons, ballet lessons, jazz lessons, tap lessons, swimming lessons, soccer, softball, and volleyball.
44. If I could be anything besides a teacher, I would want to be a guitarist/singer, an artist, or a photographer.
45. I can't really decide what my favorite color is.
46. I wish I could sew.
47. I "ran" track in high school for social reasons. I tried hurdles. After my first meet, my coaches never made me compete in a meet again, (that's how good I was) but I continued to practice and work out with the team so I could socialize!
48. I've never had a bloody nose.
49. I've broken my collar bone 3 times, my arm, and my ankle.
50. I got a skin graft when I was 4. The docs took skin off my bum and stitched it onto my ankle.
51. My favorite sports to play are soccer, volleyball, and softball.
52. I didn't watch any tv from Junior High until I met Richie. Now I'm addicted!
53. My favorite tv shows are: So You Think You Can Dance and The Office. My fave used to be Full House.
54. A few people have told me I look like Kristen Johnson from 3rd Rock from the Sun. The sad part is I think she is very unattractive.
55. Two of my favorite movies are foreign films.
56. I've been to 21 states.
57. I don't wear my seat belt in the back seat.
58. I put the shoulder strap of my seat belt under my armpit.
59. I put my metal eyelash curler under my armpit to warm it up before I use it.
60. I check my friends' blogs every day.
61. I got married in the Manti, Utah Temple.
62. I'm usually photogenic in my face, but not my body. =)
63. I eat chocolate every day.
64. I love to eat.
65. I often feel guilty eating.
66. This is my last year teaching--5 years down!
67. I've had the nicknames Angelina, Angelina Concertina, Angie Baby, AJ, Angelica Divine, Ang and Little Sh_ _!
68. I like to feel in control without looking like I am.
69. I used to play with worms and cut them in half with safety pins.
70. I always had a trampoline in the backyard growing up. I can do front and back flips and hand springs on the tramp!
71. I want to live in California.
72. I am a Gospel Doctrine teacher in my ward.
73. I've never disliked a calling until now.
74. I love camping.
75. I call Richie "Stinky Boy" and he calls me "Sweetie." (He's nice even when I'm not!)
76. I'm the meaner one in our marriage.
77. I am very feeling oriented, but often feel awkward expressing my feelings--especially to the people closest to me.
78. I'm very sensitive to smells.
79. Richie thinks I am overly sensitive to sound as well.
80. The sun makes me sneeze and my eyes water.
81. Black licorice, even the smell, could possibly make me throw up.
82. I'm usually kind of cold.
83. I love to wear makeup and jewelry.
84. I experienced culture shock moving fro Tucson, Arizona to Oklahoma.
85. I'm scared of breast feeding...it seems so WIERD!
86. When kids or my siblings express their talents, it usually makes me cry.
87. I've never had braces.
88. I've recently become more conscious of our earth. I've started with recycling plastic bags.
89. I get startled easily.
90. When people try to scare me it always works. Then it makes me mad.
91. I am a horrible back seat driver.
92. Growing up I always thought I would be married by 19. Thank goodness that thought didn't work!
93. If I married Richie at 19, he would have only been 15.
94. I think it would be nice to adopt a kid or two from another country.
95. I need to go visiting teaching in 30 minutes.
96. I'm terrible at recapping experiences or retelling something somebody has told me.
97. I want to own a scooter to ride around town and the mountains.
98. I have a lot of clothes in my closet that don't fit me anymore, yet I continue to hold on to them in hopes that I will lose weight!
99. It bothers me when people breath loudly--unless they are sleeping.
100. I'm done! Tag, you're it!

Gratitude

Thank you, muchas gracias, obrigada, merci, danke, mahalo, grazie, arigato, sha ja! I am not normally outwardly very sentimental, however as I am feeling very blessed, I feel it is quite appropriate that I share my thoughts and feelings. As many of you may know, we are expecting a baby in July. And as many of you may NOT know, we are also expecting a lot of debt due to student loans, as we have decided that I will stay home with our baby instead of being the breadwinner of the family. On that note, stress levels in our home have reached an all time high, money has become a serious issue, but our belief in our decision remains to be what we feel is the right thing for us to do.
So why all the gratitude? I tell you what, when you're striving to do what's right, the Lord really looks out for you. The way He is blessing us at this time is through others' love, generosity, kindness, and Christ-like characters.
At the beginning of our pregnancy, reality began to set in. We'd have a lot we needed to get, and with what money? A crib, mattress, bedding, bassinet, baby tub, car seat, stroller, bouncer, clothes, bottles, pump, dresser, etc, etc, etc.
Blessings have been poured upon us. Truly! My parents purchased us a crib. Richie's sister Rachel and brother-in-law Troy have given us a crib mattress, bassinet, and clothing galore! My sister Cassie has given us a tub and a baby bouncer! My Aunt Maxine made us a darling blanket and burp cloth. A lady in my ward offered us a brand new stroller she said they never used. A man I work with donated a dresser to us. Richie's brother Ryan helped us by picking it up in his truck. A grandmother of one of my students offered us a wonderful slider/rocking chair. Richie's classmates gave us a couple gift certificates, baby clothes, and wash cloths. One of my students gave us a gift bag full of baby necessities and fun things. My sister-in-law Schuyler's mother Deniece made us a darling blanket. We have been blessed. And I don't even think this is the end of it.
I have no doubt in my mind that if you are truly striving to do what's right, the Lord will bless you. He wants to. I realize I often don't give as much recognition in this fact as I should, but the truth remains. He loves me. He loves you. He loves us. And for that knowledge I am incredibly grateful. So again, Thank you, muchas gracias, obrigada, merci, danke, mahalo, grazie, arigato, sha ja! I love you all!

HAPPY SPRING!!!

Spring in Chicago--2005

I LOVE spring!!! Some of you may be thinking it's not spring yet...you've still got snow on the ground don't you? And cold weather. And disappointing clouds. Well I don't really know when the first official day of spring is, but with Easter approaching, it is spring to me! And not to mention the beautiful weather here in Tucson. Something I will thoroughly enjoy before June, July, August, and September hit. That's when it's unbearably hot and completely miserable. Hope spring springs for you soon!


Spring at Thanksgiving Point in Utah--2007

The Best Day Ever!

You may think this is a random time for a wedding day blog, considering it's not our anniversary or even Valentines Day. Well you're right. It is a random time. However you can never talk about the best day ever too much. Who wouldn't love the memory of a mariachi band playng in your grandparents' backyard while eating taquitos, churros, and sipping on a virgin margarita? Since it is already so warm here in Tucson, and Richie's latest talent has been to imitate excellent Mexican trumpet songs with his lips, I can't help but think of the best day ever--our wedding day. So my friends, if you missed our wedding day, shame on you. You missed the best wedding reception ever created by man. Actually mostly women. We'll give credit to my parents, my mother-in-law, my grandmother, my Aunt Donna and Uncle Darryl, my sister-in-law Rachel, my long-time friend Mariah, and of course myself.

Our Wedding Day