Blogging Again?

It is the end of summer. School has started, Devon FINALLY was hired for a job, and I am 6 weeks away from being induced to have this baby.

Summer went by so fast, I didn't even blink! Our summer, this year, was filled with lots of trips to Salt Lake. Devon interviewed for jobs, like crazy, all summer and was officially offered a job 2 weeks ago. We are so excited to transition from student life to normal life once again. He will start his job Sep. 15th in Chicago for 8 weeks of training and then will resume permanently in Salt Lake once his training is finished.

We have decided I will stay here, with the kids, while he finishes his training and move to Salt Lake once he is done. That way the I have his parents to help me with the kids and with the baby. Hopefully, I don't go into labor before my induction day!

Taylor and Luke are ecstatic to be back in school. It's hard to believe they are both gone all day now. Luke started 1st grade and Taylor is in 3rd. Luke is totally exhausted when he gets home, but loves art and PE and all that good stuff. He just wishes he didn't have to ride the bus home and that I would pick him up every day. Taylor is a happy 3rd grader and knows a lot of kids in her class this year, which helps! She happily watches over Luke at school. She is a little mother hen when it comes to taking care of her brothers and does this regardless of us asking her to.

Here I am, 8 months pregnant, packing up as much as I can before this baby arrives and still teaching Zumba 7 times a week. Zumba is my sanity and I love it! It is the most fun class to teach and the best way (in my opinion) to workout.

We were able to spend the weekend with my family 2 weeks ago. It's amazing how fast our family is growing and it is becoming more rare to have us all in one place at the same time. I love my family and love it when we can be together!

My blogging may be far and a few, but just know that I think of all my little blogging friends and family all of the time and love you all!

Our Newest Addition...

As a young girl, growing up, I always imagined myself being the mother of little girls. Little girls who loved to dance and sing just like me. I never imagined what life would be like having light sabers, legos, and hot wheels around the house. Both have been a joy and I feel been extremely blessed to have a daughter and two sons. After having two boys, I was ready to have another girl....however, Heavenly Father has a different plan for me.

We found out today we are having a BOY! Now I really need to study up on sports and all of the rules that go along with them. One girl and three boys...wow! He's gonna be a heart throb!

Taylor's Baptism

It's hard to believe this little girl is 8! Taylor had been anxiously awaiting her baptism and the arrival of family who would be coming to celebrate with her. It was such a joyous day! She absolutely sparkled. It has been amazing watching her grow, watching her testimony develop, and her love for the Gospel gradually become stronger. We just absolutely love and adore this girl and we are so proud of her and the choices she has made this far in her life.
Pre-baptism pictures...
Luke and Blake couldn't resist checking out the font and ended up getting their pants wet while attempting to swim in the water.
It was so nice having Nanu and Grandpa here...it made the day extra special!
Taylor with both of her Grandpa's
Taylor with both of her Grandma's
All of the men...
All of our family...
The "after" party...Parker and Blake are ready to dive in and open the presents themselves!
A special cake for a special girl!
Oh yeah, Luke lost his first tooth...UNBELIEVABLE...how cute is he?!

Graduation

On, Thursday, Devon's last day of finals, I had spent the entire day rushing around cleaning the house, making beds, folding laundry, etc, etc in preparation for my parents and sister who would be arriving later that night.

The previous week I had spent laid up with the stomach flu and had been in the hospital being pumped with fluids. Needless to say, the house really needed a good cleaning!

When Devon arrived home Thursday afternoon, I was really crabby! I'd been cleaning all day and couldn't get the kids to cooperate and help me out which leaded to more frustration and crabbiness. He had been looking forward to a slightly more upbeat "welcome home, Honey, and congratulations on finishing school."

Needless to say, since I had shown rarely any elated emotion on Thursday, I felt like a complete basket case on Friday! We arrived at the Centrum to await the graduates and I couldn't hold my tears back.

All of a sudden, I couldn't believe we had made it to this point! Two years ago, we were in the process of selling our home in San Diego unsure of what the future would hold and now we were there.

I became even more emotional as I thought about how hard Devon has worked to finish school in a short amount of time. I thought about how much I have worked and worked and worked to earn money to provide for our family so he could focus on school and now he was done! A huge weight had been lifted!
We had such a great time celebrating with both of our families. My sister, Robyn, and my mom and dad came to celebrate with us as well as Devons parents (obviously, since we live with them...ha ha).
This has been an amazing journey! The support from our families has been unbelievable! Devons parents have helped us with our business, taking care of the kids, helping with school projects...it has been a group effort and we could not have done it without them! Thank you to all the family who came and has also encouraged us along the way...we love you all!

He Did It...It's Over!

This weekend was the beginning of a new chapter in our lives. Devon completed a two-year goal of finishing 3 years of college in 2 years...we are so proud of him! We feel so blessed and extremely relieved to have this chapter in our lives close. It was a crazy weekend filled with lots of fun, laughter, and tears....more pictures to follow soon!

Let's BUMP it UP!

Two years ago, I thought my life was over! I know....dramatic, but that is truly how I felt.

We were approaching a move from one of the most beautiful places in the country to podunk-ville and life felt very blah!

The husband was re-starting school and that 2-year time frame seemed VERY long and VERY far, far away.

However, (almost) 2 years later so much has changed and we have so much to look forward to!

After 5 semesters we are excited and thrilled that Devon will be graduating the end of this month with his BFA in Graphic Design...

Yay!

Taylor will be getting baptized the same week of graduation...

Yay!

And, last, but not least...I am PREGNANT! (Thus, the lack of blogging. I am 13.5 weeks and almost through this first trimester) I know...4 kids, wow! We are super excited and can't wait to meet this little one in October!

Yay!

My mom would always say..."When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." I guess she was right and I am so excited to finally get to taste that lemonade!

{{As a funny side note, we recently were asked to make a vinyl wall lettering sign that said 'when life gives you limes, make margaritas' So maybe for graduation we'll be making VIRGIN margaritas...ha ha}}

Luke turns 6!!!

It's hard to believe that 6 years ago, today, I was lying in a hospital bed awaiting the delivery of this sweet little boy. I remember the night before he was born, tucking Taylor into bed and singing to her for the last time, as an only child, and feeling unsure about having two kids and wondering if I would love him as much as I loved her. From the moment he was born, I was in love! Luke has brought so much joy into our home. He is kind, thoughtful, creative, silly, and fun! He loves to play with his legos and creates AMAZING airplanes and ships from his mind. He loves to talk, ask questions, and play Star Wars Wii with his brother. It has been such an amazing year watching him learn how to read, growing up and riding the bus to school, and making new friends. Once you are Lukes friend, you are a friend for life! He keeps his Grandma entertained by all of his creative energy and list of things to do...he is always on the go! His favorite things to eat are Spaghettios, Panda Express, and Ice Cream. Luke, we love you so much and we're so glad it's your birthday! Happy Birthday, Bud!

10 years ago, on January 15th, I married this adorable guy! Life now is so different, yet so full.

Back then it only took me an hour and a half to wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry. Now, I'm lucky if I get it all washed, folded AND put away in the same day.

What was once a bedroom for 2, is now often shared with one extra small one in-between and another one who arrived during the middle of the night to sleep on the floor.

Mornings are filled with laughter, chocolate milks, the sound of toys clanking, and morning cartoons.

Driving in the car consists of buckling seat belts and tons of questions from the back.

A date night now costs $20+ or more than it used to, but now has more meaning and need than it did before.

Although all of these things have changed, for the better, our love for one another has grown. You are still my best friend. The one I still want to talk to about my day, good or bad. The one I still kiss last goodnight. The one who will watch GLEE episodes with me on our Anniversary. Thank you for the best 10 years of my life!

The Story Behind the Picture

Imagine being 5-years old, building Lego Star Wars Battleships, playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii, watching Luke Skywalker discover his father is Darth Vader over and over again, and re-enacting Jedi Knight light saber fight scenes with your 3-year old brother.

Then, one day, your Graphic Design father realizes he has the greatest idea in the world...design a Star Wars family Christmas card. All you can think is...COOL!!!

Now you just have to convince mom...hmmm...

Mom is very skeptical about the idea and not sure if it is "Christmas" appropriate, but is eventually convinced when dad tells her he will do the light saber colors in red and green.

You had always wondered what it would be like to live in space, fight with a real glowing light saber, and be friends with a talking robot.

Once the card is finished, you spend hours looking at the card and imagining your life as a real Jedi Knight.

Mom still can't believe we sent them out to our friends and family, for real, but deep down thinks it's pretty cool too!

You have the coolest dad in the entire world!

Blogging Back To Life

About 4 months ago, I sat down at the computer to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired, 30-Something Birthday Party (courtesy of my adorable hubby). I got distracted, returned to post, and discovered my picture cartridge was missing! It had been sitting right next to the computer and when I returned, it was gone! I figured it would show up and I would post about my birthday when it did. However, it has never re-appeared! So, all I have to show for my birthday are these two pictures taken from my cell phone.

It's really a bummer! You'll have to imagine me decked out and dressed for the 80's in hot pink leopard pants, crimped hair, giant hoop earrings, blue eye shadow, netted gloves, and a shirt that says "Like Fer Shur!"
Besides Edward, we had other special visitors for the occasion....Michael and Anne! I'm sure you can imagine Michael's lovely eye rolls and sarcastic chuckles as we clicked pictures of me next to Edward, listened to the New Moon soundtrack, and ate my delicious Edward cake (courtesy of my wonderful hubby...a.k.a, Devon) and yes, it was delicious!!

Michael enjoys teasing me about my little obsession with the Twilight books. With this in mind, a few weeks ago my cousin Christie posted about a sweet video on YouTube about wives and their obsession with Twilight. Immediately, Michael texted me and asked me if I had read her blog for the day or not. I asked why and he said "because it is soooo you." Automatically I was intrigued and went to view her blog, watched the video, and laughed so hard!

Watching this video made me realize that I needed to get back to blogging. More over, I needed to post about my awesome Edward-Inspired 30-Something Birthday party and share this video with all of you Twilight Junkies too!

So, here's to great birthdays, being 30-something, and enjoying fun little thrills in life!!!