Happy 5 Years!

5 years ago today....this happened:)

In the Summer of 2004 I decided to move to Guatemala to teach English. I had just gotten my associates degree at Snow College and needed an adventure. Doing this, would cause me to miss out on Fall semester and start a little late going back to school, but I didn't care. I needed a change. Towards the end of my adventure....I was getting everything ready to start school at SUU in Cedar City. I had a friend that I was moving in with and was getting all my classes situated. Well....evidently the Lord had other plans for me, because a couple weeks before school started, I felt like I should look at USU in Logan. I changed all my plans and luckily had a couple of friends living in Logan and one was getting married, so I was able to by her apartment contract. Little did I know that this move would change my life:)

Patrick had gotten back from his mission in June 2004 and thought about going to BYU Idaho....but at the last minute decided that USU felt right. He started school in the fall. I happened to move in to the same apartment complex and we ran into each other a couple of times, but we were both dating other people, so didn't twice about it.

I had been dating the same guy for a couple of years and when we broke up didn't really know what to do with myself. I made my roommates promise to make me get out and meet people so I wasn't just moping all the time:) Patrick was good friends with my roommates and had just broken up with his girlfriend...and decided that he wanted to get to know my roommate a little better. When he came over the first time, I have to say I probably wasn't very nice.....no good reason for that. The next week a bunch of people were going to play mud football. I had absolutely no interest in this, but my wonderful roommates pushed and pushed. They even had Patrick come and try to convince me to go. I made every excuse possible, and he always had a come back, even saying he would find me clothes and shoes because I didn't want to 'ruin' mine:) I ended up going and had a great time. We hung out all day, swimming after and then a movie the next night. It was the very end of the semester and I was thinking about what to do for the summer. I thought it would be fun to go and live with my sister for a bit, but I had just met this great guy and wondered where it would go. I was not looking to get married at all, but felt I should stay in Logan....Lets just say the Lord had his hand in all of this. We were engaged In October and married 5 years ago today!

I am so lucky to be married to Patrick! He is so much fun and can always make me laugh. I found a cd of pictures from when we were dating. Here are a few of my favorites. Reading Harry Potter. I was so against starting these books, but the 5th one had just come out and Patrick was spending all his time reading! He convinced me to read the first one while he was reading the 5th....I love them. Cooking! Well, making a mess. we had lots of fun making dinner/lunches together. Boating Carving pumpkins-he gave these to me when he proposed.The day after we got engaged. The last 5 years have been so amazing.

• I got my degree in Family Consumer Human Development
• I worked at Lewiston State Bank for a few years
• Patrick got his Bachelors degree in Computer Information Systems
• He started his masters program in Instructional Technology
• We went to Los AngelesYellowstoneJenny Lake Oklahoma Illinois Lava Hot SpringsWashington DC St George and Wyoming
• We got 2 new cars
• We moved into a bigger apartment, not too far away from our first, but definitely an upgrade:)
• We have made a ton a really good friends
• We had our first baby girl!

We have had some hard times too of course, but overall it has been great. I love my life and can't wait for what is to come next. I love you babe! Happy Anniversary!

Merry Christmas!

First Visit to see Santa

We took Ellie to see Santa today. I thought she would for sure cry, but she was very interested in the fur on his suit:) Here she is.

Traditions

I know everybody has some really fun family traditions they do each year. I would love to hear about what you all do for traditions....especially around Christmas. Here is one thing that we do!

Patrick grew up doing these advent calendars. I really like the idea that each kid gets there own and gets to be creative about what they put on it. Then....before you can get your candy each day....you have to have done a certain chore....or read your scriptures....etc. I think its a fun tradition we will keep up for years to come.

Another thing we would like to start is to read a Christmas story each day in December. We were going to do it this year, but don't have enough stories....if anyone has any good stories they would recommend, let me know.

And....here's a cute picture of Santa Ellie!

December 12, 2010________________________________________________

Ellie has started to roll over in her crib. She just loves sleeping on her tummy. The first time I found her(December 1)....I sort of freaked out. She was up against the corner and she didn't move at all. Then when I picked her up she just looked at me like what did you wake me up for....Well, after rolling her over many times a night for the next few days, I finally just let her sleep on her tummy if she decides to. Most mornings I find her on her tummy. Here is a funny picture. She had her arm up the side when I went in. Such a crazy little girl!

December 5, 2010 Ellie is also sitting up really good now by herself. She face plants it every now and then, but that's to be expected....right? She was so proud of herself at first and wouldn't stop grinning.

December 3, 2010

Look and Feel!

We spent Thanksgiving with my family this year. It is always fun to be with family during the holidays. We had a yummy dinner, and a good time being together. When I was little, I had a look and feel book that my mom had made.

This was always my favorite page....Just so funny!

It was the coolest book every!!! So, I wanted to make one for Ellie....or have my mom make one:) She found the pattern a couple months ago and when we got down there, she had a bunch of the supplies to make it. I love doing crafts with my mom! We got to work and didn't think we would finish....but we made it! Here are the pages. We looked for this hairy fabric everywhere, they only had brown and black....yuck! Luckily my mom and all her fun stuff from years of crafts, we found pink....yeah! Sandpaper!

My mom found these feathers...they are spotted. Really fun!You can actually put your little hand in this mitten!We couldn't find squishy stuff anywhere....we ended up buying a think car washing sponge and using an electric knife to cut it! I think it turned out pretty great!I had so much fun making this with my mom. I think it turned out great and I can't wait for Ellie to really get into it. Memories!We drove home Sunday morning....here is what our car looked like after....can you believe the gunk? Yuck!Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Can't wait for Christmas!

Ready or Not Here It Comes

I haven't been looking forward to the snow this year. It just seems more of a hassle with a baby. I have to worry about bundling up, getting places in the snow....etc...Well, this is how it looked outside this morning and I have to say it is just so beautiful.

I really love the snow. It has also made it feel more like Christmas is coming and holidays wouldn't be the same without it:) What makes it even better, Ellie is fascinated by it. Yesterday, as we got out of church, it was snowing. As we carried Ellie out to the car, she wasn't quite sure what to think, it was colder than usual. She just looked at it. When we went into the house, she had a look on her face that was so fun. We stayed outside for a few minutes and she was so excited. I held some snow up to her and put a little in her mouth. She didn't really want to touch it, but having in her mouth was something pretty cool to her:) She smacked her lips and grinned. So, even though I have been dreading the snow, I now remember how much I love it. It is so much fun to see Ellie experience things for the first time.

We tried peas last night, and by we, I mean WE! I made Patrick try them and I tried them too:) We decided to try peas first cause we both thought they would be gross and don't want Ellie to only eat the good tasting stuff....well, I guess we were wrong, because she LOVED them. She ate half a jar. She is doing extremely good with eating....so far at least. She opens right up and keeps most of it down.

Ellie is rolling over really good now. She has rolled to her side for so long, but just couldn't quite make it all the way over. Saturday she made it over all by herself. I figured it would take her a while to 'remember' how to do it again. Not so....she kept doing it all day yesterday. She started on her back and rolls to her tummy, and she even rolled back to her back once yesterday. So proud of her and she is so happy with herself too.(By the way, she isn't always in just a diaper, but trying peas....we didn't want them all over her cute dress...and this was shortly after. She does love being in only a diaper though....little nudest)

I had to post these pictures....Last night we went to check on her and she was sideways. She hasn't done this for awhile, and we usually hear her moving....screaming....not last night. I had to get a picture this morning. She is so happy in the mornings. I love the smiles. I couldn't choose which picture....so you get both:) Also, don't mind the black socks....we did that in honor of Grandpa Cassity. Ellie also loves to fall asleep with her face covered...either with a blanket or burp cloth. Does anyone else's kids do that? She gets so annoyed when I take it off, but I want her to be able to breath too:)

I have been trying to do something different with Ellie's hair....rather than just a headband and bow. It is pretty hard with a very wiggle girl, but I managed to get these the other day. I usually just do one little pony on the side....that's the way her hair goes, so it's easiest...but I had to try pigtails. They are pretty stinkin' cute! In the first picture she has her monkey's tail in her mouth. She loves this monkey-Patrick got it for her when we found out we were having a little girl-she especially loves the tail lately. She always finds it.

I tried a couple of new recipes last night and they both turned out pretty good, so I thought I would share. I always love a good new recipe.

Minestrone

Saute 1 lb hamburger with 2 diced onions and 1 clove minced garlic.

Add 1 large can crushed(or diced) tomatoes and 3 large cans of water. Mix together.

Add 1 pkg Frozen chopped spinach, 1 pkg frozen french cute green beans, 5 stalks chopped celery, 5 chopped carrots, 1 sliced zucchini.(I didn't have zucchini or spinach or green beans...so I added a can of french cut green beans, drained and a can of garbanzo beans drained and rinsed. As I was looking through recipes, you can pretty much add whatever you want....black beans, kidney beans, corn...etc)

Add 1 Tbls salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 can tomato sauce and one handful of noodles(not cooked, they cook in the soup)

Simmer until tender

FYI: I cut the recipe in half, and it made a huge pot.

Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate Chunk Cookies(yes that is the entire name)

2/3 Cup butter or margarine, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1-1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1-1/4 cups dried cranberries

2/3 cut white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour baking soda and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add to butter mixture in several additions mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Makes approximately 3 dozen cookies

Family Pictures

We had these taken at the end of September, and I keep meaning to post them, but haven't gotten around to it. Our friend Jenny took them. She did a great job and has many other great pictures on her website. I like so many of them, there will be a lot of pictures!