Merry Christmas 2013

PS - I went to the Ellen Show

 

Hallalujah and happy day!  My friend, Stefanie, and I went to LA to the Ellen Show.  I couldn't believe we were actually there and she gave away an awesome PINK Kitchen-aid Blender and Fall Out Boy CD.  Her guests were Patrick Dempsy (McDreamy) and Mike O'Malley + Fall Out Boy

 

We had so much fun and I'm so glad we got to go... Thank you for inviting me, Stefanie! It was a blast! (Minus the creepy guy at the Greek Restaurant)

Kind of a Big Deal

Someone at our house is turning 5 tomorrow and it's kind of a big deal.  Part of me is freaking out that Sara will be 5 and part of me is so excited for her.  The part of me freaking out is the part that's realizing if she's 5, I'm going to be 33 soon and that just sounds weird.  I still feel like I'm 22 and if I were, I could have been a star on Teen Mom.  But since I'm not actually 22, but 32....

 I feel like the luckiest mom alive to have this 5 year old as part of me.

This past fall, Sara started in a Montessori Kindergarten program set up for kids with birthdays in the 'too young for kindergarten, but too old for preschool' group.  She had completed 2 years of preschool prior and loved it, but she was ready for something more.

She started in a half day program and begged to be put in full-day.  After a couple of weeks, we decided to make the switch.  I was really nervous about it for many reasons, but have since felt like it was the right decision for her and for us. 

The same day she started all day school is the same day I went back to work.  I am working around 25 hours a week for a Commercial Leasing company leasing retail and office space at 7 centers all over the Phoenix area.  I really love it.  There are days when I wish I could be doing the whole 'stay at home mom' thing full-time, but I am excited about my opportunity to use my brain for more than memorizing the lyrics to the Doc McStuffins theme song or coloring inside the lines.  Not that those things aren't important too, I mean, who doesn't love to sing, "Check your ears, check your eyes, find out how much you've grown.  Time for your check-up!"  

C also got a new job recently and is really excited about it.  He is currently in the training process, but very impressed with the company and the people he gets to work with.  He will be the Director of Business Development for a Property Management company in Gilbert.  They are brand new to the area from Texas and C is excited about getting on board with their growth.

Back to the little one... I love spending afternoons with her riding bikes, playing games, and making treats.  She has grown up so much in the last few months and has been learning a lot at school.  I am so proud of the little person she is and so excited about the big person she will become.  She is so smart, caring, thoughtful, active, friendly, and curious.  She asks me the most amazing questions and I am constantly in awe at the way she processes information and creates new ideas. 

She loves to read and she recently started sewing.  She has been making lots of little pillows for her dolls.  She is still a mother hen and loves being around babies.  She has a great memory and loves to learn how to do new things.  She is also very independent and determined to do things on her own, which makes sense given who her mother is.  We have so much fun together watching movies, playing ladder golf, soccer, painting, shopping, eating, and coloring.  She loves to travel and calls herself a 'beach baby'.  Sara really does love the beach and everything about it from the sand to the creepy crawlies to the waves... she really is a beach baby.

My treasure Sara girl is my favorite and I am so happy to be her mom. 

Summer of...

The Summer of 2013 has been the summer of many things.  It's been a summer of traveling to Utah, Oregon, and California.  A summer of swimming at the pool, a summer of baking cookies in the car (yes, Cameron actually did this), a summer of spending time with family and friends, a summer of dance, a summer of fun and a summer of loss - for friends and family. 

As I reflect back on the memories of this summer, it's been an emotional one.  There are a lot of things that have happened that have caused me to reflect on what's really important, why I'm here, what my purpose is a wife, mother, daughter, child of God.  I've thought a lot of about how to express and how much to share about the last few months.  I'll do my best.

Some of you may know that earlier this year I was diagnosed with PCOS (Polytheistic Ovarian Syndrome)  I do not have cysts on my ovaries, although that is common with this disease.  I started noticing shortly after Sara was born that something felt different with my body.  Some women with this disease suffer agonizing pain, physical deformations, and other extreme symptoms.  I am fortunate to have had small physical changes.  One of those changes is alopecia, in which my hair comes out in large clumps at a time.  Another one of those physical effects has been my inability to stay pregnant.  In the last 3 years, we have experienced the loss of 3 embryos.  Although it's been hard to accept, I know that those little bodies were not ready to come to Earth and that Heavenly Father's plan is much bigger than ours.  We may not be able to have another baby and if we do, that will be amazing and we will love him/her as much as we love our treasure girl, Sara.  And if we don't, that is okay too. 

It's taken me a long time to say that is okay too.  Because I really believe it is.  And I'm not sure why this has happened or what we need to learn from this, but what I do know is that we have one amazing little girl who lights up our life.  She brings more joy than I could ever imagine.  I call her my treasure girl, because she is that.  And I treasure every moment of every day with her.

Early in the summer we went to visit my parents in Utah.  While we were there, my dad was called as a Stake Patriarch for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  With this calling comes great responsibility,  But my dad is the most wise, humble, and Christlike man I know and he will do all he can to fulfill his duties and more. 

My parents also announced that they received a call to serve as the MTC President of the Madrid, Spain Missionary Training Center.  My dad will serve as President of the MTC and my mom will be the Relief Society President - the women's organization of the church.  This is a most perfect calling for them both.  My parents are passionate about missionary work and serving our Heavenly Father.  I have had friends say, "Aren't you disappointed they're going to be leaving again?"  No.  Not even a little.  I will miss them, yes, but I am so grateful they will have this opportunity to serve.  Even more so, I am so excited for the hundreds of young men and young women from all over the world that will have the chance to meet them, be with them, learn from them, feel their Spirit, and feel the love of our Heavenly Father through their love.


After our visit to Utah, we received word that Cameron's Grandpa Bunt passed away.  We traveled up to Oregon to be a part of his services.  It was great to be there and I am glad Cameron had a chance to spend that time with his family that we don't see often.  The services were sweet and it was great to share that time with Sara, as well.


We then traveled to San Francisco and spent a few days before heading down to Santa Barbara to see my dear Aunt Alisa.  She is so much fun and we had a great time visiting the beach, eating yummy food, totally taking over her cute little bungalow apartment, and exploring SB.

Following our month of travel, we stayed close to home and spent time at the pool and with friends.  Although I don't necessarily feel my feet firmly rooted here in Mesa, we have made some of the dearest friends.  We are so lucky to have an amazing ward family, dear neighbors, and sweet friends.  Sara loves to play with the girls all around us and is so lucky to have friends from such wonderful families. 

Some other friends of our have experienced other great losses these past few months, as well.  My heart breaks for them.  It aches for them to feel peace and comfort, but I know they will in due time.  I am so grateful to know of a God who loves us, each individually and as a whole.  I truly believe that He wants us to be happy.  He blesses us with people in our lives and experiences to teach us about this incredible love.  I know He lives. 

As we come to an end of this amazing summer and I reflect on the life lessons I learn every day,  I am happy to be a mom to an amazing girl, wife to a good man, and the daughter of righteous parents. I am happy to be me.

Happy Easter!

I don't even remember what we have done for Easter since... ever.  So I decided I would document this one...  We had a fun, busy weekend.  Saturday morning was the ward Easter Egg Hunt and breakfast.  Sunday morning, Sara woke up to find her basket with a towel wrap, book on temples, color/sticker book for church, some lotion, fingernail polish and a few pieces of candy.  We always end up with SO much candy at Easter time, that part I do remember.  ;)  So we went super low key on candy from the Easter Bunny this year.  Sunday afternoon we went to have dinner with our friends, the Broadbents.  They were with us in Nebraska for law school and their youngest is just a few days older than Sara.  Plus, they are going to the same Montessori school this fall and I'm so excited! 

Here are a few pics we've taken over the last few days...

Cameron's parents sent Sara a little Easter package and she was so excited!!  Each holiday, my Mom sends a craft for Sara and I to do together.  This year was an Easter garland hanging on our front door.  Sara loves crafts and could do them all day/every day.  It's one of our favorite things to do together. 

This was Sara's loot after the ward Easter Egg Hunt.  She had a blast and it was a beautiful day.  Cameron was hiding some eggs in his shirt for himself... sneaky!

We took a picture after church to show Sara in her beautiful Easter dress that is her new favorite colors - dark pink and light purple.  She looked so pretty and grown up.  I can't believe she's 4 1/2.

We went with our friends, the Broadbents, to see some horses and donkeys in true Oklahoma fashion around the corner from where they live.  Sara was a little nervous at first, but you can see she got more comfortable.  They were beautiful horses!

 

We had a great Easter weekend and fun with good friends.  It's already getting really hot down here, so we are looking forward to getting away for a few little trips this summer.  Only a few more weeks of school and on to summer break!

Visitors in March

We've had a great March with lots of visitors!  First, my parents came and stayed for a few days and then some of our great friends, Chris and Leah Pobanz from Nebraska came and stayed for a week.  They brought their 2 daughters, Kate and Becca.  Sara loved having friends to play with every day.  The weather was so nice and warm we went to the pool a few times.  The water was freezing cold, but the girls didn't seem to mind.  Here are a few pictures from the last several weeks...

 Sara loves her Nana and Papa!

 My dad brought Sara this beautiful blue dress.  It was the perfect color for her. 

 And my mom found matching blue shoes.  She looks like a doll!

 Sara loves to play school and she was writing her alphabet.  My mom wanted to 

take a picture, but as you can see, she is clearly not impressed with her own skills.

 We had a great time walking around the temple grounds while my parents attending the sealing of one of their missionaries.  Sara loved talking with the sister missionaries and they gave her some pictures that she wanted to show you.

 Sara takes a ballet/tumbling class that she absolutely loves!  Nana got to watch her 

practice when she was visiting.  It was a fun treat for her to see this little dancer in action.

 Fun in the sun with our friends from Nebraska.  We had such a great time and can't wait for them to come again next year.  We spent 3 years in Lincoln, Nebraska and part of what made it so great were our friends.  We love the Pobanz's and all the other lifelong friends we made while we were there.  Anytime we get together, it's a good time... for sure!

New Year and Emmy's baptism

We decided after spending the holidays at home, we would venture up North to Utah for the New Year and to celebrate with Sara's oldest cousin, Emmy, as she decided to get baptized.  (more information)  We spent the first few days with Cameron's family playing in the snow and then headed up to Heber to spend a few days with my family.  It was bitter cold, but we had a blast.  It was especially sweet to be there to support Miss Emmy and fun to see everyone.  

 Sara absolutely LOVED playing in the snow.  She loved eating it, throwing it, stomping in it.  When I asked her if she'd rather live in some place warm like Arizona or cold like Utah she said, "by the beach".  So we're still a long ways off, but she is definitely my sunshine girl.

 We all went bowling because it was just so cold outside and we had fun.  Sara loves to bowl and even decided to bowl like a big girl this time without the ramp.  Luckily we didn't drop the ball on any toes!

 We love the Dairy Keen in Heber City, Utah.  It has a fun train table, legos, and delicious ice cream! It's always a stop on our to do list when we visit my parents.

 I went to a BYU basketball game with my Dad.  The Cougars won and it was fun to spend the evening with my Daddy-O.  I remember watching the BYU games at church when I was little because they had a huge satellite in back.  We got to the game extra early just to watch them warm up.  It was a great night and I'm glad I got to go.  Thanks for sharing your  ticket with me, Mom.

 Darin and her kids were there when we visited, so Sara and Carly were inseparable.  They played so well together and just love each other.  They're only 3 months apart and Sara's got about an inch on Carly in height, but Carly's feet are about 2 sizes bigger.  I'm excited to see these girls grow up together and stay the best of friends.

 We had a great family picture taken at Emmy's baptism. It was so nice to be there and my brother did a great job baptizing his little girl.  Emmy is the oldest grand child and first one to be baptized.  It was a really special day.  And Sara even said in the car on the way home after, "Wasn't that just the best day?  I'm glad I got to see Emmy be baptismed."

And here is our final family pictures taken outside (as you can tell, we're all freezing)!  After this, some of the kids, Aaron, and Nana ran out on to the lake.  It was frozen over and covered in snow.