My birthday present from Danny was a digital scrapbooking program (My Memories Suite by Polaroid) and I LOVE it!  My in-laws are very much into scrapbooking and though I had tried to like it, I just thought it wasn't my thing.  I was so wrong!  I can put together a page in minutes. And I don't have to spend any extra money, or buy any tools or paper.  I don't have to store anything or go anywhere special to do this.  In fact, I did the pages below today with Eva sitting in my lap.  And I've used the program to make handouts and inserts for YW and I can even blog my pages.  I'm in heaven!

Family Outing

(Photo Courtesy of LDS.org)

This coming January the Draper, Utah Temple will be open to the public for tours. And we, as a family, will be a part of it all. Although I have been to a couple of open houses (Denver, Bountiful, Las Vegas) I have not gone to one since I took out my own endowments and am very excited to go. I'm very much looking forward to sharing this experience with Wyatt, even if he probably won't remember it. I think we are so lucky to have temples near us and to be able to partake in the ordinances that are performed inside each one.

To reserve your tickets for the Open House, go here.

To learn more about Temples and what I believe, go here.

Please

Hey, for those of you that have links to my blog on your blog, could you please remove my last name? I don't want to go private (such a hassle) but I would like to keep this blog somewhat anonymous. Mmmkay? Thanks!

Oh No

Notice anything wrong with these pictures? For those of you that know me, you know why I am so against what is going on in these pictures!

Lazy Afternoons

This last Saturday we took my parents to the city for some amazing Italian pizza at Settebello's.  It was so good!  We also had some gelato, which was also very delicious.  Afterword my parents hung out at our house and watched Wall-E (which I loved).  There's nothing like an afternoon nap as exampled by Grampa, Gramma and Wyatt.

The Big 1-0-0

I've reached a milestone in blogging today! This is my 100^th post. And to commemorate this momentous occasion, I'm going to use my sister Jen's idea and tell you 100 random things about myself. Here's to blogging!

1. I believe in God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost.
   
2. My favorite food has been and always will be my mom's homemade pizza.
   
3. When I eat Lucky Charms cereal, I always save all the marshmallows to eat last. Started when I was a kid and I've never been able to do it any other way.
   
4. I learned Pig Latin when I was young because my older siblings would use it as code to ditch me.
   
5. I took German for 4 years in school and the only things I can say are "Hello" and "excuse me."
   
6. I hate cleaning toilets.
   
7. I find vacuuming relaxing.
   
8. I sucked my thumb until I was about 12.
   
9. Until Danny came along, I refused to share a blanket with anyone, even family.
   
10. I'm still a little bit scared of lighting storms at night.
    
11. I think skinny-dipping is scandalous, which is probably why I've done it.
    
12. I hate the word "testy."
    
13. I've read all the Nancy Drew books.
    
14. My favorite color is red.
    
15. I hate when people use up a whole text for just one word.
    
16. I prefer my hair long.
    
17. I have a serious sweet tooth.
    
18. I never can remember how to hard boil an egg. I always end up calling my mom. Is it 20 minutes from the time you put the egg in or 20 minutes from when the water is boiling?
    
19. I'm registered as an independent voter.
    
20. I like to go swimming in a pool but don't like to swim in bodies of water.
    
21. Someday I would like to own a high-end pastry shop.
    
22. Whenever I watch Gilmore Girls I want to drink coffee.
    
23. I also wish I was as smart and witty as Lorelei Gilmore.
    
24. If I leave the house without my cell phone I feel panicked.
    
25. The summer I was 15, Julie and I watched Newsies on a daily basis. I can still sing all the songs word for word.
    
26. I think I ate my weight in Junior Mints when I was pregnant with Eva.
    
27. I won the badminton intramurals tournament in 8^th grade.
    
28. I used to think golf was the most boring sport created, but because of Danny I actually like to watch it now.
    
29. I HATE scary movies.
    
30. I've never been west of Colorado.
    
31. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
    
32. I'm a very light sleeper.
    
33. The first time I saw the ocean I was 18.
    
34. I went to four different elementary schools, three of which were in the same town.
    
35. Return to Me (the movie) will always make cry.
    
36. When I was in 8^th grade I was doing a group project with 3 (very cute) boys when I thought I felt a dryer sheet in my sleeve. I pulled it out to find that it was actually a bra. I've never been more embarrassed.
    
37. After watching The Grudge I slept with a lamp on, and checked the shower before entering for like 3 weeks.
    
38. Until I was 17, I thought that the "sleep bumps" on the side of road had weight sensors.
    
39. I can eat homemade chocolate chip cookies at any time of the day or night.
    
40. I gained about 60 pounds when I was pregnant with Wyatt.
    
41. I don't like the smell of hospitals, because it reminds me of the last day with Gaea.
    
42. I love to read.
    
43. I wear a size 7 ½ shoe.
    
44. I don't like to wear any jewelry except my wedding ring.
    
45. I've died my hair twice and both times it was only semi-permanent.
    
46. I would like to have a library in my house someday.
    
47. My favorite season is Spring.
    
48. I was supposed to be born around Halloween but came a month early.
    
49. Although I've never said no to a church calling, the one I have now is the first one I've really felt comfortable doing.
    
50. Until I got married, I couldn't sleep without the patchwork quilt my mom made me when I was 7.
    
51. Since last April, I've worn the exact same pair of flip flops for probably 5 days out of every week.
    
52. I didn't wear any make-up until I was a senior in high school.
    
53. When I was 14 I got my first job working at Big D's bakery with my brother Jake. I think I got paid like 2 dollars an hour.
    
54. I love Christmas music but refuse to listen to it until the day after Thanksgiving.
    
55. During the winter I like to have hot chocolate and toast for breakfast.
    
56. I've only used the excuse of having a migraine once when I didn't really have one. It was to get out of work when everyone was at M & D's the week of Matt and Burke's weddings.
    
57. When I was little my brother Jake would tease me by calling me "Bellabottoms" and it would always make cry, but now I thinks it's funny.
    
58. I find that I parent and discipline a lot like my parents did and hope that my kids love me as much as I love my Mom and Dad.
    
59. I'm very good at movie and music trivia.
    
60. I'm a tummy sleeper.
    
61. I went to Disneyland for the first time about 2 years ago and I was disappointed.
    
62. If I like a book I can read it multiple times.
    
63. I love to bake.
    
64. I can only sleep for about 30 minutes at a time if I'm not next to Danny.
    
65. I don't snore.
    
66. I get hay fever really bad.
    
67. I love to play the piano and dream of being able to buy one someday.
    
68. I have a hard time going to bed if there are any dishes in the sink.
    
69. I reorganize my closets on a monthly (sometimes weekly) basis.
    
70. I can't tan and I hate when people tell me I just need to get a good sunburn first and then I will tan. I've had the same skin since I was born so I think I know better than you!
    
71. I like to fold laundry but hate to put it away.
    
72. I've cooked a crockpot roast 4 times since we got married and it's never been as good as my mom's.
    
73. The first car I ever owned was a 1993 gold Saturn SL2.
    
74. I watched half of I Am Legend when I was pregnant with Eva but I got so tense it was making me have braxton hicks and I've never finished it.
    
75. I'm a home-body.
    
76. I don't like giving foot rubs but I like to get them.
    
77. I've had 13 different jobs since I turned 16.
    
78. My mom's Swedish pancakes are my favorite breakfast food. I can eat like 5 of them.
    
79. If I know I'm not leaving the house I prefer to wear gym pants and zip-up hoodies.
    
80. I own over 300 cd's, but no longer use them.
    
81. I love the smell of rain.
    
82. Wearing lip gloss makes me feel pretty.
    
83. I feel like a klutz when I wear heels.
    
84. I count stairs when I go up them.
    
85. I try to clean my house every Friday.
    
86. I can roll my tongue.
    
87. I've never been able to touch my toes without bending my knees.
    
88. I have naturally curly hair that has gotten less curly with each pregnancy.
    
89. I've never been to a flea market but have always wanted to.
    
90. I graduated from high school early.
    
91. If left alone, I can an entire book in one day or less.
    
92. I've never been to a comedy club because I'm afraid the jokes will be dirty and there will be swearing.
    
93. I'm allergic to animal hair dander.
    
94. I eat my food slowly.
    
95. I LOVE Oreos and milk.
    
96. I can wiggle my ears.
    
97. I don't have any scars.
    
98. I don't have many regrets because I believe that if we learn from our mistakes then we have nothing to regret.
    
99. I want to get a passport and then have it stamped from Italy.
    
100. I found it very hard to think of 100 things to put on this list!

Obedience

We did it!

We finally stopped making excuses (no need, no space, no budget) and are now obeying the guidance from numerous prophets and apostles.  It may not be much now, but it's a start!  

About a month ago we decided that we needed to be more prepared.  We realized that in an emergency the first people in our family to run out of food would actually be Wyatt and Eva.  

We DO have a need.

So we laid out a plan.  

I started by cleaning out and organizing all the closets and the storage space outside.  In doing this, I freed up 2 entire shelves (only half of each shelf is pictured above).  

We DO have space. 

A while ago my mom and my mother-in-law started doing a program called Savvy Shopping.  It's a system that matches coupons with sales so that you get the best deal.  I decided that I would also start doing it and, with my moms help, have already found some really good deals. 

We DO have a budget.

It turns out obedience isn't hard at all as long as we're willing to find a way.

6 Months

Time flies!  I feel like it was just barely that I was complaining about braxton hicks, constant bathroom breaks, massive amounts of weight gain, and ill-fitting clothes and now here we are!  Eva is such an amazing baby.  She's so chill and even tempered that sometimes I forget she's awake!  Isn't she adorable?

Sunshine and Runny Noses

On Tuesday morning we (meaning me, the kids, and Shan) left to visit my sis in the southern part of our beautiful state.  For some reason when ever us sisters (all or just some) get together we get a little silly.  This trip was no exception, which should explain why we can now all add "The Prince and Me 3: A Royal Honeymoon" to our list of Movies We've Seen.  The acting was terrible, the chemistry between the main characters was definitely lacking and there was no plot to speak of.  Plus, the prince was completely unattractive.  The rest (and best) of our vacay was spent frolicking in the sun at some very cool parks.  Since the weather was "cold" there (I think it was like 70 with a slight breeze) the parks were mostly empty and we got to play with the kids on all the toys.  Now that I'm putting my trip into words, it seems like we didn't do much but it was a relaxing trip and we missed all the storming and snow here at home so it was totally worth it.  Our last morning both of my kids woke up with slightly runny noses (which I think were in the making before we even left) that have now, this morning, turned into full on runny noses, complete with whining, crying and tantrums.  I've wiped both kids noses more times that I can count.  Which is very sad since I ran out of puffs plus lotion sometime last night.  I've been putting vaseline on Wyatt's nose all day.  And to top it all off, I've gotten a sore throat and lost my voice. But now, thankfully, both kids are drugged and sleeping and I will shortly be doing the same.  (Not the drug part, sadly, just the sleeping part.)

p.s. Pictures of our trip will be coming soon, I think.  And they will be good since I didn't take them, my amazing sis, Meggan, did.  You can see examples of her work here.

The Aftermath

The Haul (mostly thanks to Daddy's work.)

Introducing Sweet Tarts and Pop Rocks