we love RMs!!

Last week, Nathan's little brother Jeremy got back from his 2 year LDS mission in Ogden, Utah!

It's not easy to leave everything behind for 2 whole years to go spread the gospel, but it's a great and important work and we are so proud of Jeremy and the choice that he made to do so.

He has changed so much! He came back thinner, maybe a little taller, more mature, and without a doubt- with a stronger testimony. So much happened while he was away! 2 weddings, a new baby, a nephew that got baptized, 7 new dogs, 2 new houses, a new business, a niece that went into young womens, and niece that went into primary... the list goes on and on! He's got a lot of catching up to do!

I only knew Jeremy for a little bit before he left (he headed out a month before Nathan and I got married.) I am excited that he's home now and that I will get the chance to get to know, yet another family member! Welcome home, Jeremy!!

To see more pictures of his home coming and read all about his mission- check out Jeremy's Mission Blog!

we love our nieces and nephews!

Even though they can be little stinkers some times- we still love ALL of our nieces and nephews. They are all so different and unique and AWESOME! We love getting together with them and reading Amy, Sarah, and Jessica's blogs and hearing about all amazing and hilarious things they do on a daily basis. They definitely bring smiles to our faces and we are blessed to have them in our lives. I am so happy that even though we don't have kids of our own at the moment that we still get to have the joy of having children in our lives- they are so fun!


Madison

Garrett

Carson

Sydni

Melody & Bethany

Marley

What a beautiful bunch, huh? With nieces and nephews as cute as these, how could Nathan and I not wind up with absolutely adorable kids, right? ;)

i have the weirdest dreams

Here are some hi-lights from last night's dream:

- being stuck on a military island with food beginning to run out
-a naval ship that was also somehow Seattle Grace Hospital (the set of Grey's Anatomy)
-a very dangerous elevator (that winds up crashing) where people express their feeling through belting out Mika songs....
-a crazy guy stalking my best friend using a GPS type devise that is located in his CTR ring
-the reason he is stalking her: she stole 2 of his rings in high school that double as pet grooming tool that I then offer to hide on my keys so he can't find them.
-something shady going on in the government
-a phone conversation about missing a job interview and the boss needing to know what I had learned about government crop control in beauty school.
-my former supervisor having another child and being pregnant again.
-randomly pushing around a wheel barrow.
-eating cheez its
-leaving the military island on a ship just a hurricane start to blow.

This dream was a little more random and strange than usual, so I decided to write bits of it down before I forgot. It seemed really realistic too- weird! =/

what happens when you give kids stickers?

...Of course, they will stick them all over their bodies!



I love my silly nieces! I can't wait to have kids of my own one day! =D

i love valentines day!

Yes, I know... I am a slacker and this post is like a week over due! Better late than never though I guess (I am sure I have said that like a million times since I started this blog!)

Here are some of our Valentines Day happenings:

Not only did Nathan buy me flowers (not roses- he knows I am not huge fan of roses,) but he also painted the vase that he put them in. I think it turned out pretty cute!

He also painted me a flower pot and some heart add-ons letting me know what was inside! "Hugs & Kisses!" Too cute. Hershey Hugs are my favorite!!! Nathan has been helping me them all up though, since I am trying to be healthier.

I made him something special too! Chocolate dipped pretzels! I made a variety- peanut butter and chocolate, caramel and chocolate, caramel rice crispy and chocolate, oreo sprinkled over the chocolate, sprinkles- all kinds! Here's a close up of one:


Our big Valentines Day treat was a stay-cation at a hotel in Tempe. It was a little place across from Arizona Mills mall- so while we were there, we took a little trip to the mall and walked around- and in our wanderings we came across a claw machine with these inside:


A JUMBO rainbow slinky. Who doesn't need one of those, right? So Nathan put a $5 bill into the machine, thinking we would try a couple times and it would give us change.... but it did not give us change and the claw wasn't really strong enough to grab the jumbo slinky-- but we had a good time trying over and over again, attempting to figure out a way to grab one at just the right angle. No luck though. As we were walking away Nathan asked "What would we have even done with it if we had won?" Good question.....

Back at the hotel we decided to save some money on going out and just stay in the room and hang out- so we brought dinner. I made some chicken pillows and brought some sun chips- and a romantic bottle of sparkling cider to drink. We also a special Valentines giant red velvet cupcake that I had bought, but I forgot to take a picture of that. We wound up eating it with our fingers because I forgot to bring eating utensils! That didn't make any less delicious though!


We also brought along a portable dvd player and got the movie "Easy A" from Redbox. It was a pretty funny flick! We may not have had a lot to spend- and it wasn't anything elaborate- but it was a fun and memorable Valentines Day! I love being able to spend quality time with my hubby! =)

i love my best friend!!!

(Since I deleted my facebook for the time being, I had to steal pictures from Kassi's facebook! Thanks for being a great picture taker Kassi!!)

I heart my BFF, Kassi! She is simply marvelous!

We have have had many fantastical adventures together.

We both have excellent taste too- notice the top Kassi is wearing above and the one I am wearing below? Yep- we bought the same shirt without even talking to each other because we are both so in sync and AWESOME! lol

She threw me a rockin' bachelorette party and help save my bridal shower.

AND she was my maid of honor! Yes, she put up with all my wedding craziness!

She is always there when I need her no matter what! Whether it's a late night trip to Denny's for some much needed girl talk, someone to whine to about my bad day, someone to watch the chick flicks that my husband won't see with me, or even picking paint out of my hair when I am a messy painter!

She is one of the coolest, sweetest, and as I mentioned before- most AWESOME people I know.

We have known each other since junior high! We used to pass notes in seminary and even had a huge crush on the same guy! (Don't worry, that never came between us- we just both really appreciated the extreme hotness of the guy.) We have seen each other through some really good times and some really rough times.

We have even gone out in public together dressed like cows. Yeah, that's true friendship right there ladies and gentlemen!

And you know what else? Today is her birthday!!! Have been planning all along to do this post on this day? Of course!! Yep, my love posts wouldn't be complete without a blog about Kassi. I just love her to death- she is the best, best friend that anyone could ask for.



Happy Birthday Kassi!!!!!!!
Have a cookie.

blogging FAIL!

So much for trying to blog every day!! That's what happens when life starts getting in the way I guess.... I will try to do some random catching up over the next few days.


If you enjoy fails though check this out.

i heart greys!

In honor of my middles sister, Jessica, joining Katie and I in our love for Grey's Anatomy, I decided to put some love related clips, and fan created music videos that are all "lovey!" Enjoy!! =D











my favorite "christina & burke" moment. if you don't know the characters and what's going on it's not that great, but if you watch grey's you know what I'm talking about!

you are loved

i joined a gym!

To help me with resolution #2 on my list- I joined a gym!... sorta. One of Nathan's cousins was doing a fundraiser and selling coupon thingies that had a 3 month membership to Fitness Works- so I joined a gym for 3 months.

So far I am undecided on what I really think of this gym- I have my "orientation" or whatever with a trainer tomorrow morning, so maybe once I have a better lay of the land I might like it better. One thing that I do really like is this:

Each piece of cardio equipment has it's own tv that you can plug your head phones in to! I can watch whatever I want and hear it while I work out! (I spent a lot of time reading tv shows that I wasn't really interested in at my last gym.) It makes my cardio time seem to go by a lot faster- I like it.

This gym is a bit of a hike from my house (7 miles- about a 10ish minute drive), but I figure I might as well take advantage of having a full gym's worth of equipment and classes for 3 months- it only cost me $20- which is less than the monthly dues at most clubs. If I am able to stick to it- and go at least 4 times a week, I might be able to convince Nathan into letting me join my old gym, that I know and love, that is a little closer to the house.

I am feeling pretty motivated for the time being and I think the workouts are helping to improve my mood! I will check back here in about a month with an update on my progress. =)

Oh, and p.s.- I deleted my facebook for the time being. It may or may not come back in a few a months- I don't really know at this point. Nathan still has his and I still have a phone or email if you need to get in touch. Bye for now!