My Day

Today is my Birthday. I turned 24. Not so exciting, I know. To celebrate, we're going to Chili's with friends and family tonight. I'm such a high-roller!

P.S. For Christmas and my Birthday, Matthew got me the entire set of Harry Potter books. I think it was a double-sided gift, being that I recently read him the 1st one and now he's addicted. We're going to read the whole series together, and I'm really excited about that!

Maybe I'll post some pictures of dinner later. Not that, that's a thrilling post for you all...

Update in Pictures

Wow, I've got a lot to do to update this blog! I'm going to do it mostly in pictures, because that will be easiest. I hope you enjoy this little mini-album!

In November we took Leslie to Disneyland. It was so much fun! Matthew and I also used our birthdays as an excuse to celebrate. Leslie got to eat her first churro, got her first set of ears and (to her excitement) got to meet Mickey Mouse for the first time! (We've pic of that last one, but she did do it!

For Matthew's birthday this year, we went to the Grand Canyon. Matthew had never "officially" been there, so we took the opportunity to spend some time in nature and play in the snow. We took along some friends, and stopped in Flagstaff for lunch and cupcakes at the local Wendy's. We're such nerds! It was a lot of fun, pretty cold, and totally worth it!

And then we have Christmas. First we spent some time with the Ingebrigtsen's. We had our family get-together and a gift exchange. The kids had fun playing in the park across the street from Aunt Karin's house.

Christmas morning we opened presents at home before heading over the my parents house for breakfast and more unwrapping. We had another fun day with family. Leslie got a Talking Teapot from Auntie Pamber. She absolutely loves it! I'm going to add a video of her dancing to the music, we'll see if it works.

It's a no go on the video, but I hope you enjoyed our last few months in picture recap. Happy Holidays!

Leslie's First Trick-or-Treat!

Here are some pics of Leslie's first Trick-or-Treating. We went to Matthew's work for their first annual Fall Festival and got some candy there. It was several hours of walking around and asking for more, so we figured that was good for her first time. It was a lot of fun and Leslie is an adorable kitty.



Her version of "Trick-or-Treat"? "Gickle Geat!" I Love it. She said thank you each time and asked for more everytime. She always took a double-fisted handful of candy and especially likes smarties and suckers. What a goof!

Earn a Free Handbag!

Come check out the launch of this brand new website! To get their name out there, they are giving away a FREE handbag every hour for 24 hours! Amazing!

Check it out: Handbag Planet

Stock Program Continues...

4 dinners down,
26 to go.

WHO'S NEXT??

Holey Moley, a New Update!

I just realized it's been over a month since I last blogged. SO much has gone on since my last one. We've moved, gone to Utah, celebrated our anniversary, and got our Saladmaster business on a roll!

We were able to find a place in the ward. Which I think was a HUGE relief for us. One less change that could have happened in a two week period. Leslie started nursery and we are so excited for her. She loves going in and seeing other kids, playing, having snack, reading, and she loves to do singing time. I am the nursery "Song Lady" for our ward's three different nurseries. I go around each week and sing, occasionally dance, and always have stickers to hand out to the kiddos. I'm rowing to love this calling even though I don't know very many songs! Each week as the kids remember my name, or their parents tell me how much they love singing with me, or their excitement for songs time every time, reminds me why Heavenly Father places into the positions that does. I love being relied on to know these songs and I love that Leslie and I sing them at home. my faves to sing with her are the ones where there are some kind of motions. She's so smart and remembers things so well! She even pretends to "sign" when we sing the alphabet! But, back to the point, I love our ward and am so grateful to be a part of it!

When went to Utah in mid-August for an early anniversary trip. The whole trip was arranged by Matthew. I had no part in it because it was his gift to me for our anniversary. I knew we were going but, all of the other details were secret. We stayed at his sister, Katrina's house. And had a blast playing Rockband with the whole family. Leslie loved getting to meet her cousins and we loved the fresh air! My "gift" part, which was kept secret from me until just before we went, was concert tickets to JACK JOHNSON! Now, those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE JJ. He's my hero and his music ALWAYS makes me happy. When it's sad, bad or stressful times,I can always pop in some JJ and chill. His music connects to my soul and reminds me of better times, past and future. OK, back to the concert, we had lawn seats and weren't to close, but that didn't matter. Matthew and I were able to spend some time without the baby and do something that meant so much to me! The concert AWESOME and JJ is AMAZING live. He never disappoints me! Ever! Hooray JJ!

For our actual anniversary on Sept 10th, my best friend, Shelly, came and babysat for us as our gift. What a gift! A night out as adults is always appreciated! First we went to the temple to do some Sealings. We thought that was a perfect way to celebrate! Besides I can only do those like once a year anyway, because all that kneeling hurts my knees so much! After the temple we went to dinner. We went to the Texas Roadhouse, as usual, but we tried different menu items this time. We got a coupon for our anniversary for a free appetizer and we tried the onion blossom. It was ok, but would have been way better if it had been cooked all the way. Yuck, raw onions! After dinner we decided to go to the movies. We went to see a Matthew movie, I figured it was only fair since I got JJ last month. We saw Babylon AD. It was a very interesting movie. Not something that I really, really needed to see, but I was a cool concept and was pretty well done. The special effects and fights scenes were pretty well done. And I actually do like Vin Diesel so, it worked out. When we came out of the restaurant, we could feel the rain coming. The temperature dropped and it got real quiet. We parked at the theater just as it started to rain. and not teeny tiny sprinkle rain, these were like big mondo drops. And it came FAST! by the time we got to the door of the theater, we were drenched to the core. AND to top it off, we missed the showtime, so we had to go to a different theater! So, we had to venture back into the rain and drive somewhere else! When we got to the other theater, it hadn't rained there at all and didn't until we left. I think we were just cursed by the rain gods or something! It was alot of fun and reminded me of our high school days, when we wouldn't let anything top our date nights!

And lastly, one of the biggest things in our lives right now, is my Saladmaster business. I've officially completely my training phases and am now a consultant. I'm doing solo dinners and have started my Stock Program. We are going to earn our set for free! My goal is to beat the office record for completed stock program. The current record is 65 days. I am going to set a new record and complete it in 50 days! So, I am really going to need the help of all my friends and family to make this happen! Host a dinner for me, help me out and earn free stuff for you too! As of today, I have 1 show down and 29 to go. I have three on the books for next week. If you are interested, I can send you my calendar!

Well, I'm signing off for now, but promise to come back with updates on my Stock Program and more Leslie anecdotes!

Ta Ta for Now!

Blessings

Well, it's official. Matthew and I are now and forever (with a 3 generation Lifetime Warranty) the owner's of a new 316Ti Titanium Cookware set. Life is GREAT! We can now start eating healthier, cooking healthier and living healthier! We are so excited.

I picked my cookware set up today after my first training day at the Quality Health Systems headquarters. I am SO excited to be a part of this team! WE CHANGE LIVES! It's our motto and I know it to be true. I am so very thankful to have Heavenly Father in my life, shepherding me through the hard times. We were struggling there for a little while, not sure where we were going to live, how we were going to afford something right, and trying to find some supplemental income. Matthew's best friend and his wife invited us over a couple of weeks ago, and everything has just been progressively spiraling forward since then! We've found a place to live and we found a way to afford it, with my newly income-supplemental career.

We have been blessed in so many ways these last few years. First, being brought into this ward by family. What a blessing all by itself, this community family is awesome! Then came our sweet little Leslie. We can't even begin to describe the life-altering Joy that comes from having a baby! And, now, SaladMaster. It probably sounds silly to think that a cookware system can be a blessing. But, it will be in so many ways! It's such and amazing investment. Not only with our health increase tenfold, but our children will be healthier, and we are going to be able to use it to supplement our needs just by cooking dinner and sharing the benefits with friends, family, and others!

I know that Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. He loves us and wants us to be happy and healthy and to feel complete. As I strive to be a better wife, mother and woman, I know He will continue to bless me and help me grow in those areas. I am eternally indebted to Him for delivering me unto this Gospel. For showing me the truth. For bringing friends into my life that were able to help guide me to a better plan. It has been such a blessing to have a man as supportive, loving and spiritually passionate as Matthew in my life. He has helped bring me to the place that I am in today and I know that as we continue to reach for exaltation that we grow as friends, companions, parents, and people.

A New Adventure

This weekend Matthew, Leslie and I went and toured the apartments in our ward. I don't know why it's taken us so long to get over there. I think we were holding out for a house or something. But, it is official. We waited and fasted yesterday, and today, we've called and gave them the go ahead to process our info. So unless they find some random reason to not accept our application we've finally got a place to call home at the end of this month! Hooray!

The layout is pretty nice and it has all upgraded appliances including a washer and dryer! So that is great. We will still have to down-size our amount of furniture and stuff, but at least we're staying in the area we love! So far the only things we're having a really hard time figuring out what do with, are our extra fridge and our work bench for the garage. Who would want to store those for an entire year for us? That's a long time.

But on a Toddler note: Leslie is getting bigger and funnier everyday! It boggles my mind how fast she actually grows. It could just be that she has a huge belly, but I can already put her in 2T size clothes and she's not even 18 months until next Tuesday!

We are constantly trying to teach her new and funny ways to be entertaining. Right now, she can flap her arms and "bock" like a chicken, she can bark, she says "see you later" (well at least some form of those words) when someone leaves the house, and we've started teaching her to shake hands and say "nice to meet you". She also says "thank you" for everything. When you hand her something she says "thank you", as is appropriate, but she also says it when you say thank you to her, instead of saying "your welcome". She'll say it back and forth about twelve times before she's satisfied that you are welcome and she is appreciative. It's great. She's also learned "ew", "ow", and "who-ray" (that's how she says it: with a pause between the syllables). She sings along with Diego still and is always repeating what she hears! So be careful when you're around, she's a smart little cookie!

That's all for now, but I know there will be more to come! Our world and hers are constantly changing. Plus, nursery is coming in a few weeks! Woohoo!

Fast Sunday

This is an especially important Fast SUnday for us. We've found a place we love and can't wait to be 100% sure it is the "one". So today, we are fasting for that. Join us if you'd like, we could use all the help we could get! It's here in our ward so let's hope Heavenly Father agrees that it's perfect!

Busy Busy Bees!

Wow, it's been a long time since my last post. I told you I get bad at this kind of task!

A lot has gone on this last week and a half. On Friday the 18th, Matthew and I went to the temple to support our friends Spencer and Jessica. It was great, and if you've yet to have had a chance to go, you should go someday! That was fun and great, but since we had a babysitter already arranged, we decided to abuse them and go out after that early evening session. We went to dinner with a group of friends; Bryant and Andie Cherry, and Mike and Erica Glover. I think it's the first time we've gone out with an all married group! It was fun to catch up and be silly! Then we went and saw the Dark Knight! Oh man, I've said it once, I'll say it again; Christian Bale and Heath Ledger in the same movie? SWEET! It was awesome and Heath Ledger was spectacular as the Joker! It was a really long movie though, every time you thought it was over, it kept going! We needless to say, we were out until 2:30/3:00! Yikes! We haven't done that in years! It was fun though!

We still have not found a place to live and are really starting to feel the stress. It's just so hard to pick the right place. We have so many more factors now; you know, with me and Leslie at home during the day and wanting to stay in a semi-safe community, there's just not very many options. We're still hoping that a miracle will happen and we can stay in the ward. I don't know, maybe Heavenly Father has different plans for us.

My sister, Amber, is turning 20 on Thursday, and I'm very excited for her! She's finally not a teenager anymore! I'm not sure if we're doing anything, but I'm happy for her nonetheless!

Leslie continues to make us all laugh with her happy little self. She's almost always dancing, singing or talking. And it gets 10x worse when there are other kids around! Our niece and nephews were here last Wednesday and she had a hay-day! She ran back and forth, back and forth; screaming, smiling, giggling and laughing. It was nonstop pandemonium! She loves to talk to my parents dog. Her latest endeavor is the word "no". I know, it's a little early, but it's very cute. Mostly she yells it at Matthew when he's tickling her. She has her own version of "Daddy" for Matthew: "Dah-doh". Of course, I think this is the cutest thing ever, Matthew just tries to get her to say "Dah-dee, Dah-dee, DEE DEE" It never works. But when they get going in a tickle and giggle fest, she yells "Dah-doh, doh! Which means "Daddy, No". It makes me smile every time she speaks now, just hoping for the next new word she'll discover. My other favorite for now? She sings along with the Diego theme song. She'll sing his name at the right spot in the song and she always tries to make the animal sound when slides down the zip line! I crave this kind of goofiness on a regular basis, and am SO glad she's finally starting to use her words to interact with everything around her!

That's all for now, more Leslie anecdotes to come soon!

Summer Showers

Today I went to my friend, (soon-to-be WIFE of friend Spencer Drew) Jessica Whaley's, Bridal Shower. I was a little apprehensive at first since the only person I knew that was going was my friend Andie, who I also know through her husband. But despite that fat that all of her Highland High friends were there and tons of family, I had a great time.

I thought it was really funny that two different ladies from my home ward were there. Best part of that? They're related sorta and didn't even know it! One is the wife of the bride's dad's brother; and the other is the daughter of the bride's mother's sister. Did you get that? We all got a kick out of it anyway!

The best part was that Andie Cherry, Erica Glover, and myself all got a chance to get to know each other a little better and catch up. It was a regular old girlie chat-fest. I got to meet the wife of a friend from high school and visit with the groom, Spencer.

Even better than that? I get to go to the temple on Friday when Jess gets her endowment. Andie and Erica are going too and I am SO excited to have a group of girlfriends that are able to go to the temple! Jess, Andie and I decided we're going to have a regular girl's temple night. I get all girlie and excited about going to the temple when a friend gets their endowments. It's such a blessing to have been one of the first to have gone through the temple. I love sharing that moment with them!

Here's to Temple's, friends, and time and all eternity!

Baby Feet are Fun!

Today Leslie got her first "big scratch". She was trying to wear one of Matthew's flip flops (one of her latest obsessions) and it slipped out from under her. She fell face first onto the corner of a box of books and bam! scratched her face. It broke the skin a little and definitely broke the capillaries, because she's got a pretty good looking bruise! I picked her up, hugged on her, and gave her her Binky. She cried for all of two or three minutes and was done. That's my little trooper. What can you do, right? You can't protect them every second of the day!

On a lighter note, and on her obsession with shoes, I caught Leslie with both of her feet in one of her Daddy's church shoes today! She was trying to stand, but her feet were too close together, so she had to take one out! Her little feet aren't strong enough to carry the shoe while wearing it, so she had to take it off to carry it back to the basket! Ah, life's little moments are what make it great!

Also, I think one of her feet is crooked. Is that something I should worry about? Should I be sure to ask the doc about it next month at her well-baby? She also grips the floor with every step she takes, it's really fun to watch!

A Place to Live

Matthew and I went apartment hunting today. We officially cannot afford to buy a house, and we'ce come to accept that we have to downgrade back to an apartment. It's kind of depressing, especially because we have to leave our ward. I think that's the worst part for me. Since joining the church, this is the longest I've been in one place. And I'm finally comfortable and completely in love with the people and community here. It makes me really sad to think that Leslie isn't going to get to be in nursery with all of those really cute kiddos. And having to face new calling and all new RS sister again. I hate having to start over.

So unless you friends and ladies out there can help us figure something great out, I'm afraid we're going to have to move away. Sad, sad day for us.

P.S. I wish there was a way for me to make some extra money so we could stay here in the ward. But alas, not one person has been able to suggest something legitimate to help out. Sad day, again.

SaladMasters

So we went to a presentaton for Saladmasters tonight. There are some pretty interesting things to learn about health, nutrition and cooking from this class-type setting! Don't be surprised if I invite you to a class of my own, you'll be amazed at the things you never knew!

Leslie was goofy as ever; she played most of the time with Bryant Cherry. Maybe she likes him so much because he and Matthew are so similar in shape and size. It makes me smile that she'll sit in the lap of another guy and not even think twice about it! She also had her first bite of fish sticks. She seemed to really like it, but it's not something I'll be cooking at home. YUCK!

Overall, it was a pretty good day. I was going to have yard sale tomorrow morning, but with the unpredictable weather this week, I'm going to hold off until next weekend. So come if you dare! Instead we're going to start apartment/townhouse/condo hunting early. I hope it all goes well, we really need a place to live - and soon; August is fast approaching!

Wish us luck!

Global Chess

So yesterday, Matthew's Dad, Rich came over for dinner. He brought Papa John's, mmm yummy! He wanted to visit Leslie and play this new game he has called Global Chess. First off, I can't even play regular chess, let alone some fancy schmancy version of chess. Matthew and Tamra seemed to enjoy the concept though. Basically, it's chess on two round boards that rotate against each other. Leslie just wanted to watch them play and steal the game box and carry it around.

I watched So You Thin You CanDance during all of this and generally tried to avoid the mass competition going on behind me. I missed part of the show because Leslie and I were dancing to the music instead of watching. She likes to spin and throw her arms from side to side. It's pretty funny. Her latest move discovery? She puts her head on the floor, her butt in the air, and sways from side to side! I love it! She's going to be our little dancer I think. She picked all of her dance moves on her own - ok, maybe a little from the "we did it" dance on Dora. But she's great none the less!

New to This

So I've officially decided to start an actual blog. I'm not quite sure how dedicated I can be, but I will try. Mostly it will probably be me ranting about something, but hopefully I can keep everyone updated on our little family and upcoming events! Wish me luck!