Wrapping up 2011

We had a fun Christmas week and I have been SO SPOILED! Trevor has been home all day for almost 2 weeks and wont go back to school for another week! Its been SO amazing! 

Here is a recap of our weeks...

We built a fort and played with flashlights! Ryker LOVED hanging out in  his fort.

We had an ugly sweater party with some friends.

Trevors hot turtle neck and cardigan! 

Christmas Eve...opening one present.

Christmas morning...he got a new chair and car track.

Ryker is the official gift hander outer.

Candy!!!

Our Best Bites cookbook! YAY!!

Baby Girls accessories!

Daddy opening his presents

Play with cousin Euan...or UUUUEEEE as Ryker yells.

Grammy got Ryker this awesome coloring easel! 

And a BUUUUZZZ!! 

I came home to this...Trevor showing Ryker how to make a car ramp.

Car ramp in Rykers room

It has been such a fun time having Trevor home!  Trevor has been obsessed with playing cars with Ryker and today Ryker marched into and yelled, "Daddeeeee...Caaaars.  PLAAAY!" as he pointed to his room.  haha.  

He also ran out of his room the other day all frantic and yelled, "Daaaaaad....caaaar...stuck!"  Apparently Ryker's cars were stuck in the ramp and he needed daddy to fix it. 

He has really turned into a jabber mouth.  He has a whole vocabulary of words, although a lot of the sound the same to me and Trevor.

"Suck"=Truck, Sucker, or Stuck.

"Fok"=Fork

"Toes"=Toes or Toast

"Duice"=Juice

"Bank"=Blanket

"Paaaay"=Play

"UUUUEEE"=Nasal yell for Euan

He is learning his colors, "Yewow, Geen, Booo, Puple, Onge"

He uses a lot of other words throughout the day and is quite the sponge.  He loves to explore and be outside, even though its freezing! 

Trevor got a part time job offer to feed the fish over the Christmas break which has been SO fun! Trevor takes Ryker up there about twice a day to feed the fish, and when we tell Ryker he's going to go feed fish he yells, "Socks...Tooshs" (Socks and shoes).  He loves going with his daddy, and I love having a couple minutes to enjoy myself.   Trevor was also offered a Teachers Assistant position for next semester which is such a great opportunity!  Trevor finished his semester strong with all A's again! He did FABULOUS.  I think he has been blessed with the talent of being a student!  He is so dedicated and I am grateful that the Lord has really helped him to focus.  

2012 is an exciting year for us because Trevor will graduate this year!!! YAY! Of course, then it will be on to grad school if he gets accepted...but its exciting to see the end of the tunnel! Lots of changes that will be happening and I know there is a lot to learn this year.

As for the pregnancy...its going well! I'll be 24 weeks in 2 days! I have been getting Braxton Hicks all over the place...its funny now that I notice them and last time I didn't til like 34 weeks or later.  I have officially pulled out my big jeans, I can no longer squeeze my toosh and belly into my skinny jeans. Exciting that I know baby girl is getting bigger and growing well, and I look forward to fitting in my old jeans again someday!

Well, I'm off to enjoy one more week of Trevor! Every one enjoy your New Years!

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21 weeks!

We are in the countdown for Christmas! 11 days til Christmas and I really need to get in the Christmas spirit! Maybe with it snowing now, it'll motivate me to do something.  I have a million projects that I want to do, and with Trevor having 3 weeks off of school, I am hoping he'll help me! I am SO excited for him to finish this semester!!! Which then means he only has 3 semesters left!  Its funny, as a missionary we lived and counted our time as transfers, and now its in semesters...how do normal people count down or classify time? I feel like I haven't lived a normal life in forever without something determining a time period! Well, that's me thinking aloud!

My cute munchkin! Love this little guy!

On to fun things! Me and Trevor finally joined the Apple world!  Our droid phones knew it was time to bite the dust, and we're lucky they lasted us through our 20 months!  We are happy to let Ryker throw those phones as much as he wants because now we don't have to deal with them anymore!!! YAY!   I am in love already, and I barely know how to work the thing!  :) I do know how to use the camera so I snapped a pic of my favorite little man!  He is growing up SO fast and is learning a few new words everyday! Last night we saw a Santa balloon and he yelled out "Saaannnnaa!" How fun!

Did not like the guy in the Santa suit!

The lighting in this pic
makes Trev
look like an alien! haha.

We also went to Hemming Village's Christmas shindig and got to take a sleigh ride...well without snow, it was a carriage ride, but none the less, Ryker enjoyed seeing the horses! We took some pics in the free photo booth and then stopped to visit Santa.  Haha, as you can see, Ryk was less than excited to sit on Santa's lap.  I didn't think about it til after that I probably should've sat with him, but sitting on a weird man's lap would make me squeamish too!   It probably didn't help that this was during his naptime...but we wanted to do something fun with him other than just look at lights through car windows.  We'll have to try again a little later. 

21.5 weeks and counting!

As for me and the pregnancy...its going as expected.  I love feeling baby girl move and I am just EXCITED as ever to make some cute things for her and Ryker. I made these cute skirts and ties for my friend who is having a baby boy about a month before me.

As for names? Well, we've made list and on that list our favorites are Brynlee/Brinlee (we're still not agreeing with the spelling), Emery, and Kalai.  I guess it'll probably change again a few times, but as of now...those are the top picks.  

I feel good.  I'm still trying to deal with migraines and the occasional restless nights.  Its definitely a different pregnancy for me in that she sits A LOT lower than Ryker did.  I've had some weird cravings like chocolate cake and pickles, or sloppy joes with peanut butter.  Although I didn't do the last one cause I didn't want to gross Trevor out, it just sounded good.  I only craved cucumbers with Ryker so this is new thing for me.

Also, Ryker won the Cutest Kid Contest over at Ashley MacKay Photography!  Trevor was so competitive, I've never seen him so excited about it!  I called it his scab cause he just kept at it! (Gross analogy but true!)
We are so excited because now we'll have a free photo shoot for when baby girl gets here!  I regretted not doing it with Ryker last time, so I'm glad we get the chance to do it this time!  Thanks for all your help and votes! We really have such a great group of friends who posted links for us to help us! We definitely couldn't have done it without all the help!

Well, I should probably go work on one of my 10 Christmas projects that I started.  Everyone be careful out there...just witnessed a wreck from my window!

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I am in SOOO much trouble!

So I started writing a post a week ago, and now its outdated. Ha. Life happens so quickly! Kinda like November!

Our Glitter Tree! Still love that glitter!

We had a great November here.  We celebrated Thanksgiving with Trevor's family and tried to hit up some sales Black Friday.  We didn't do too hot since waiting in long lines is just not my thing! :) We did however find a POP UP PRE LIT Christmas tree! It doesn't get much better than that! :) So our tree is up and was up the day after Thanksgiving! We love it!  And then we decorated all weekend, and well, I'm still working on a couple of projects! Good thing I got an early start! :)

My Christmas tree gets redecorated everyday by little man. He loves the bulbs and thinks they are balls, so they are thrown throughout our house! Good thing they're not glass!

My shelves!! With lots of help from Trev, my brother and dad I have them!

Last weekend we got to go see Megan's little guy.  He was born on Thanksgiving! Which is pretty awesome and funny if any of you know Megan! :) Only because she is such an amazing cook and baker that it seemed like a perfect day to become a mom...talk about sacrifice!   Anyway, even though our time was short it was fabulous to get to hold Carter and see Megan and her family.  Just wish we lived closer! One day...until then I guess I'm grateful for technology! :) Unfortunately, I forgot to take pics again!

We also had our ultrasound last week...I guess over a week ago. We found out we're having a GIRL! YAY!! (Thats why I am in trouble!) Trevor and I both are extremely excited to have another baby and to have one of each gender. (Trevor saw a dad holding sitting with his daughter on a swing at Lagoon back in August and he leaned over to me and said, "We need to have a girl!" He really wants a little daddy's girl!) We have started a tradition with Ryker that the day we find out gender of baby, we pick out the first outfits for them.  Lets just say, I was in HEAVEN! It was pretty hard to narrow down what I wanted for little sis. Here is our little collection so far! :)




As for Christmas, we are pretty much done.  I still feel so unprepared, but I think that is because every year I wait til last minute to do my shopping...this year was different and I started early so I'd actually get the things we had wanted to.  I thought this pic was funny, so I had to post it.  Ryker has an obsession with Cars and Buzz.  I was flippin through the Kmart ad and left it on the couch, and Ryker sat down and started flipping though it.  He was pretty excited to see pictures of cars and he loved the ad! haha...so I guess he thinks Santa needs to bring him some Cars. We shall see. (wink wink)

Also...just thought I'd throw this out, as if you all haven't heard it a million times from me yet! We put Ryker in Ashley MacKay's Cutest Kid Contest.  There is some tough competition! :) All the kids are adorable! :) The prize is a free photo session with Ashley, and we'd love to have some new family pictures...so if ya'll can do us a favor and go VOTE! We'd appreciate it!  Also, if you comment on his picture that allows for an extra vote...so how bout it?  You have to "Like" her page on FB, and then "Like" Ryker's pic.  Thanks in advance!

Well, Happy Christmas season!

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Taking it for granted.

I have a lot on my mind and want to share things that remind me daily to be thankful.  I have never really had a strong testimony of Relief Society or ever felt excited to go.  Same thing with visiting teaching, although I know of its importance so I went.  About a month and a half ago our stake boundaries changed and we were moved into a new ward which meant I was released from working in the nursery.  I told Trevor that although I loved working with the special angels, I really felt burned out and felt like I needed to strengthen my testimony.  Trevor and I were called to be Ward Missionaries.  I can't tell you how excited I am because I am very passionate about seeing others progress in the gospel, and I really missed praying for people outside of my family.  I've also started taking a family search class during Sunday school and things were really looking good for me and my little testimony.  I went to RS and had an ok lesson and just left feeling like I needed to have a better attitude and be grateful for the 50 minutes I get to gather with inspiring women.

My visiting teachers came over today and as I tear up writing about it, my heart feels grateful for such an inspired program.  Like I said earlier, my testimony really slacked in the visiting program, but today, when these two sisters showed up I felt grateful to know that Heavenly Father really is aware of me and hears my prayers.  These sisters are a strength and their testimonies radiated of Charity.  I haven't ever had fabulous visiting teachers who I felt like they truly wanted to see me, and wanted to be apart of my life.  So its always seemed cliche to say, "Let me know if you need anything," and really never meant anything to me.

After my sisters left, I had a grateful heart, for one of these sisters has seen more heartache that I only have nightmares about, and she reminded me how to rely on the Lord.  I still thought about her tragic lifestyle and I wanted to call her, but because of the fear of creating an awkward situation I chose to let it go.  Sure enough, she called me and I was able to explain my heartache for her.  She lovingly explained she was ok and for me to not be concerned.  I was grateful at that moment that she was inspired to call.  She was in tune enough with the spirit to know that a crazy lady whom she had stewardship over needed to talk again.

So, as I still struggle in my testimony of the thought of a roomful of crying ladies, I realize that someday, starting today, my testimony will be strengthened.  That I have hope because this amazing sister and friend, understands the concept of visiting teaching.  My hope is that one day, hopefully soon than later, I can exemplify Christ's love like my visiting teachers have to me today.

I am also so grateful for a healthy body, and beautiful little boy, and an incredible husband who I can see everyday.  I am grateful that my son has a chance to have an exceptional father who will take time to play with him and teach him.  I am grateful for the time I can snuggle with him on the couch, or sit across from him at the dinner table.  I am so grateful to be reminded that this life is short, and that everyday I am blessed to wake up to the man I love and the scream of "Mommmmyyy!" I am grateful that I can feel my new little baby move and have a new chamber in my heart added to love each time a new child is added to our family.

That all being said, I did want to share some pictures of our fun weekend.  Trevor and I celebrated my birthday of Friday.  He took me to Johnny Carino's and to the HILARIOUS movie, Jack & Jill.  Then Saturday we headed for the tetons during the beautiful snow storm in search of some rocks. (much more than rocks but to me, rocks.)  Afterward we played in the snow and bundled Ryker up like the little boy off of "A Christmas Story."  And then enjoyed our night in. Sunday was church and then some much needed playtime with Ryker where we all laughed and loved every minute of being together.

All bundled up and ready to help daddy.

Although there is a clear path, we all feel that we need to make our own journey...little monkey.

Snowtime!

Daddy teaching how to make snowballs...

Just like dad.

This little boy will probably never be afraid of heights!

Well, I'm off to go snuggle my Rykee.  Trev's at school late, so that leaves us to pop some popcorn and watch  Buzz.

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Grateful

I am grateful for the sweet little kisses of Ryker.  I love his little words he says and comes up with, and I LOVE trying to figure out what he's saying.  Sometimes I just laugh because he is so close to the word, but slightly off.  Trevor and I were trying to get him to say cup, he knows what it is and how to identify it, but is dyslexic saying it so he says "Puc." Everytime.  He can say "chip" but cup is difficult.

Other favorite words:
"Caaaar!!"-always exclaimed and always dragged out.
"Popcle"-new word, we were introduced to the mighty mini's Popsicles and he is obsessed. (Thanks Linz!)
"Paaeee"-plane. Since we have planes flying over our house hourly he has learned the sound quickly
"Chaaae"-Train...once again always honking? Is that what trains do? Honk?
"Teeee"-Tree
"Wif"-Fish
"Mooooooon"-he loves seeing the moon, anywhere, in books, on tv or obvious places like the sky.
"Hi Daddy"-he LOVES his daddy and when daddy comes home.  Whenever we drop Trev off at school he has a fit and cries and cries! The other day he ran into the office and opened the door and yelled "DAAAD" but Trev was at school.  He came out a little confused.

We are also trying to teach him how to count on his fingers and say I love you with the sign.  His little hands are my favorite and to watch him figure out how to use his hands is HILARIOUS.  He has started pointing with his middle finger and always looks like he is doing "jazz hands."  He loves hide and seek and chasing each other, he loves helping me in the kitchen and is kinda obsessed with starbursts. (my fault!)

I love this little boy and I love holding his little hands.  Everytime I do, I try and remember that feeling of his hands in mine because one day he won't want to hold mine anymore, and I dread it.  I love being a mommy because for the difficult days like today, I can look at him and be grateful that I can love unconditionally.  I am grateful that I can be tried and that I can overcome self doubt! I am grateful for his daddy who loves me unconditionally...and when the day ends, the only thing that matters, is that my family is there to pick me up and love me back.

So thank you hard days, for reminding me life is good.

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I'm Grateful for my little life.

Wow! A week into November?! Really, every month is going by super fast.  Just thought I'd give a quick update on my life and how grateful I am! November, month of gratitude, is also my birthday month! So I am grateful to be where I am in my life.  I feel a great sense of accomplishment and love. I am grateful that Heavenly Father has trusted me to raise Little Man, to be a wife, and to be a daugher, sister, and friend!  I am truly blessed! 

 So here is my picture update...

Getting started early! He loves music and any instrument...especially daddy's guitars!

He LOVES his daddy! 

So tired. Right before I snapped this pic, he had one leg on the couch like he fell asleep climbing up! haha.

I am grateful for his tantrums because one day, I'll miss it.  Little Booger!

Helping mommy make some Nutella Chocolate Cookies!

He got to lick the spoon!

So yummy!

Helping mommy stir...but really I think he was hoping to lick the spatula!

16 week bump.  Takin a pic of myself is hard!

I can't believe I am 16 weeks!  This pregnancy is going by so much quicker and I am feeling better.  I feel blessed to have only headaches to deal with.  And if I don't eat I get super nauseous, but that's occasional since I am ALWAYS hungry and ALWAYS snacking on something!  We find out gender of baby on November 29, which is also my bestie's due date! I am excited to share a "looking forward to date" with her, since I've always wanted to be pregnant at the same time!  Thanks Megs!

Trev is doing fabulous in school, 4.0! He is such a great student and I am thankful that he doesn't have to work so he can really focus on his schoolwork!  We really have been so blessed and I can't say thank you enough for all the support and help we get!  I love living my life and watching miracles unravel everyday!

YAY for November!!!

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Halloween Party

This year our ward had a halloween party.  I think this was in place of the trunk or treat which is fabulous because its SO cold outside! This year Ryker is a mummy.  I am thankful for hand-me-down costumes! I tried making a mummy costume and well, it wasn't so cute, so when my SIL offered to loan us a costume, I took her up on the offer!  

Ryker actually wore the hat for the WHOLE party!  They served some yummy nachos and root beer...they had face painting, cup cake walks, fishing and a fun photo station.  So fun.  Ryker sat so still while they snapped a pic and well, he's just a handsome little boy!  I love him to pieces.

Tomorrow we are going to go see Aunt Lindsay at Melalueca and take a walk through their exhibits.  Saturday, BYUI is having a halloween carnival...and then Sunday, Trevor and I were asked to speak! (woo) And then after church we have a family party luncheon with Trev's fam and a dinner party and pumpking carving with my family.  It will be quite a busy Sunday for us, but thats what holiday's are about!  I just can't believe we are at the end of October! 

Monday I have my 15 week check up.  Yay! I don't know if anyone else feels or felt this way, but I feel like my belly popped out a lot sooner than last time! I swear my body just assumed position of pregnancy.  I'll post some pics when I can remember to ask Trev to take them for me. As for Trevor, he is through mid-terms! YAY!!!! He is of course doing amazing in all his classes and really loves his major. (phew) 

Well, I'm off to go write my talk...on a fabulous topic!

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Witches Night Out

Trevor's sisters and mom started a traditional "Girls Night" at Gardner's Village is SLC.  This was my second year going with them and we had a great time!  It seems like the word got out how fun it is, so the Village was packed FULL of witches.  Its basically a Ladies Night and everyone dresses up as a witch and they have prizes and games and some stores have sales.  We ate dinner at Archibalds and it was a 2.5 hour wait! It is crazy busy.  We had fun just spending time together since we waited in lines EVERYWHERE.  Here is the start of the night. 

After our dinner got some fudge for Grandma, shopped and enjoyed some good crowd watching.  Its always fun making time for family and getting closer to those you love.

Before I went there, I got to meet up with one of my mission comps, Leah, who is hilarious.  We met up at Settebello's and I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't eaten there! Real Italian pizza...with a little shoppe full of great gelato!  It was Leah's first time meeting Ryker and we had a blast watching him run around in circles and giggling.  I am grateful for friends who take the time to visit with us...we are so blessed to have good friends in our life...even if we live a couple hours away.

While I was away at witches night, Trev headed down to Provo.  I was extremely jealous cause he was spending time with some of his mission buds, and just a town away from my bestie who got sick and we couldn't see each other. :(  It was great for Trev to have some time with his friends and he said Ryker had a lot of fun being the center of attention there.

We then stayed the night at Trevor's grandmas.  I don't know her very well, so it was nice to get to know her!  She has so much to offer the world and is a great inspiration to me.  I am glad we took the time to see her, and we will probably stay with her more often because she is such a neat lady.  She sang in the MoTab and traveled all over the world.  She has started taking cello lessons, and picked up water aerobics.  I feel like she taught me that I am never too old to start something I've wanted to do...so thank you grandma for your example.

We also visited with Trevor's grandpa who has been having some health problems the last while.  Although he was in a lot of pain, he looked great!  He isn't much of a talker, but I always feel grateful we stopped by to see him.  It was definitely a "grand" weekend!

We were lucky enough to be in town for our neices and nephews primary program and they did a great job! His sister Crystal is so crafty and I always enjoy spending time with her and soaking in her ideas!  We headed home and then celebrated with my family my big brothers birthday.  He turned 27.  His wife is the cutest thing ever and had some super delicious treats.  It feels weird to think he's 27 and I'll be 26 in less than a month.  I feel so old!  I still feel like I'm 18, how did all these years go so fast?

Anyway, we had a great weekend, but as always, we are glad to be home back on our schedule.  I am truly blessed for the time I could spend with people who mean the world to me.

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Cali Pics

As promised, I FINALLY remembered to get some pics up.

On our way to Califonia!

Trev like a kid in a candy shop

Old Sacramento

Loving the trains!

Train tour

Old Sacramento Downtown "Gold Rush Days"

Mystery Spot

This place is crazy!

Super COLD beach!

This is Kat showing us how windy it was!

Redwoods

Big Ole Redwood

San Francisco Bay Cruise

Playing at Exploratorium

Daddy & Ryk Chairs

Aquarium, This fish was bigger than Ryker!

Touching the starfish

I did the Pearl Factory and my Oyster had 2 pearls!! YAY! 

San Francisco Bay

We had some DELICIOUS food!

Last night in San Fran

Sacramento Temple

Kat & Levi's wedding

Excited to be home to play with toys!

Hopefully I'll get better at posting.  Some of you know, and some of you may not know, that Trevor and I are expecting baby #2 in April! YAY! So thats my excuse why I've been slacking on the blog.  I am just at 12 weeks, so hopefully I'll start feeling more motivated. I've been blessed to not have to much "morning" sickness, but I've had my days.  I just have gotten migraines and insomnia...which is not a good combo for me...but I'll take it over everything else that could be possible. I do love being pregnant, but I just forgot how exhausting the first tri is! 

Well...wish me luck, off to battle my teething toddler. 

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