Day 3

My Idea of the Perfect First Date

Well, it has been quite some time since I had a first date. It seems that Ben and I's first date worked out really well so I'll just tell about that.

It was my Senior year and a girls choice dance was coming up. My friends and I decided we were not going to ask anyone and take a girls trip to Cedar and watch the football game and stay for a couple nights. Then a few days before the dance my dear friend Alicia, (love you leesh) that was coming with us decided to ask someone. Since we needed to come back for the dance anyway, I decided to ask someone. Ben had just moved to our school and I decided to ask him. We had met previously, but that is a completely different post. Ben said yes and almost 15 years later here we are.

We decided to go up Box Canyon that is in between Moroni and Ftn. Green. A bunch of us went together and had Dutch oven, went 4-wheeling. We had a great time and I actually have a great pic of Ben and I on this date. We then went to the dance and then after went and watched a movie. I think we got home around 3 a.m. My parents were less than thrilled with me and come to find out his aunt and uncle werent very happy either. Ben and I however really hit it off and aside from a little rough patch nearly 2 years later it has been he and I ever since!

My idea of a perfect date now, just spending time together having fun and enjoying each others company. Good food helps too.

Day 2

Well, I already failed for doing this in 30 days. We'll see how it goes.

Day 2: Favorite Movie

I really don't have lots of favorites. I love a lot of movies. One movie I watch almost everytime I go in the hospital and never tire of is 13 going on 30. Who doesn't love Jennifer Garner. I think we could be B.F.F. If she really knew me:).

I also love Disney cartoons. My new favorite is Princess and the Frog. Who knew frogs could be so cute?

What's your favorite?

30 day blogging challenge

I have lots to catch up on, our amazing Christmas, my beautiful kids, I'm now 32. Heck I still haven't posted cambrees first day of school picture. But instead of doing all that I'm going to jump on the 30 day challenge bandwagon. We'll see how this goes, especially since ive been a stellar blogger these days.

Day 1- Your Favorite Song

I love music. I love so many songs I don't think I could pick just one. I go through phases where I get a song that I love and hear it over and over again and then start to get tired of it for example Someone Like You by Adele. Great song, completely overplayed. One song I thought of that has stood the test of time is After All by Cher and Peter Cetera. I still remember watching the movie Chances Are (great older movie by the way if you haven't seen it. 3 words, Robert Downey Jr. I love him!). At the end of the movie this song plays and I have loved it ever since. Its one of those that when it comes on I turn it up as loud as I can and make everyone be quiet. You know you've done it. If you havent, you are missing out. For those that haven't heard my Cher impression well, you probably never will, but it is a treat.

After All
Well, here we are again
I guess it must be fate
We've tried it on our own
But deep inside we've known
We'd be back to set things straight
I still remember when
Your kiss was so brand new
Every memory repeats
Every step I take retreats
Every journey always brings me back to you
chorus:
After all the stops and starts
We keep coming back to these two hearts
Two angels who've been rescued from the fall
After all that we've been through
It all comes down to me and you
I guess it's meant to be
Forever you and me
After all
When love is truly right
It lives from year to year
It changes as it goes
And on the way it grows
But it never disappears
Chorus
Bridge
Always just beyond my touch
You know I needed you so much
After all, what else is living for?
Chorus

Day 1 down, we'll see how the rest go. Come on, take the challenge, it will be fun. Oh and let me know if you do. I'd love to read it.

Here is the list for anyone that wants to try it for themselves.

Day 1 - Your Favorite Song
Day 2 - Your Favorite Movie
Day 3 - Your idea of the perfect first date
Day 4 - Your favorite photograph of your best friend(s)
Day 5 - Talk about your pets
Day 6 - A photo of an animal you'd love to keep as a pet
Day 7 - Your dream wedding
Day 8 - A song to match your mood
Day 9 - A photo of the item you last purchased
Day 10 - A photo of your favorite place to eat
Day 11 - What's in your make-up bag/purse
Day 12 - Your current relationship status
Day 13 - A few of your favorite quotes, mottos, or versus
Day 14 - TV show (or shows) you're currently addicted to
Day 15 - Something you don't leave the house without
Day 16 - Describe a passion you have
Day 17 - How you hope your future will be like
Day 18 - Five things that irritate you
Day 19 - Your reflection in the mirror
Day 20 - The meaning behind your blog name
Day 21 - A photo of something that makes you happy
Day 22 - A letter to someone who has hurt or OR made you happy recently
Day 23 - 15 Facts about you
Day 24 - A photo of something that means a lot to you
Day 25 - 5 of your favorite movies/books
Day 26 - A photo of somewhere you want to go
Day 27 - What kind of person attracts you?
Day 28 - In this past month, what have you learned?
Day 29 - Something you could never get tired of doing
Day 30 - A photo of yourself plus 3 good things that have happened within the last 30 days

Party Time!

 I cant believe the day is here!  It has been one quick year.  We had a fantastic party.  This is one spoiled and loved little boy.  What did we ever do without him?

The party spread minus the ballons.  They showed up at the last minute. We went with the jungle theme.

Heres one with the balloons.

Such a happy boy!  He knows he is loved.

The cake.  It was a little ambitious and at points I wanted to cry and throw my hands in the air.  Thanks to my incredible husband it turned out as amazing as it did.  He did the zebra stripes, tiger stripes, and the grass at the bottom.  I frosted all the cakes, made the fondant and did the top tier of the cake.  The palm trees are my favorite.

The monkey cupcakes Cambree decorated.  I helped with the mouth and nose.

These are out of order.  He loved his cake.

A little timid at first.

What better way to end the night than trying to stand up with dad?

Our family birthday shot!

Pin the trunk on Horton.  Ben drew this and I was so impressed. I married a jack of all trades.

Again out of order.  Waiting for the birthday song.

Opening presents.  He loved this stuffed dinosaur.  It was hilarious.  Thanks Kathryn!

He definitely liked the paper more than the presents.

I did a little photo collage of Lawsons first year on the wall.  It turnd out super cute.

Lawson trying to walk with his new toy from Aunt Whit.

The high chair decor.

Horton in all his glory.

 Its amazing that you can work for 3 days and then have it all be over in a snap.  It was definitely worth it though.  We love our Lawso boy and are so glad we got to celebrate with him and loved ones today.

This is How We Roll...

at the hospital.

I have to not think about all the germs I am exposing my kids to.  Hopefully Im building their immune system.  One can only hope.  But they sure do know how to entertain themselves.

Thank you nurse Todd for hours and hours of entertainment for Miss Cambree:)  She loved that she had a mask in case there was blood splatter.

Our friends Annie and Yonas came to visit.  Isnt he the cutest thing?  He loved Cambree too.

I was so happy how well Lawson did at the hospital.  I have been blessed with some pretty amazing kiddos.

Cambree enjoying having a little buddy that wanted her.

Although I never hope or want to go in the hospital I am grateful for the time that we are able to spend together as a family.  Being cooped up in an 11x12 room with each other makes for either killing each other or some pretty good entertainment.  We like to lean more towards the good entertainment, although we certainly have our moments.  Its such a good time to just have fun with each other and remember why we love each other so much.  The dancing in my room had to be my all time favorite moments of this visit.  Thanks Ben, Cambree and Lawson for making this a special time that we can always look back on and smile.  I love you guys more than I could ever possibly explain.



What would I say?

So forgive me, I'm currently on ambien and should just go to bed. I have all these thoughts running through my mind and I need to get them out. I'm sitting here watching Gene Simmons family jewels (my guilty pleasure). And they are dealing with a lot of hard issues for marriage. Gene had to write shannons eulogy as part of the healing process. Anyway, throughout this day I have thought greatly about all of the family support that I am given, especially when I am in the hospital. I sit and look at the pictures I have of my beautiful family and I wonder how I got to be where I am. I am so very blessed. I sit in this small hospital room left with my thoughts and I pray that my family knows the sheer joy and love that they bring to me. More importantly I hope they know the undescribable love and overwhelming bliss that I have for having each one of them in my life. They make my life bright when I didn't know it was dark.

For Ben, I never believed that true love was possible and that it was only something dreams and fairytales were made of. I never could have imagined how amazing our life would turn out. We are truly blessed. My life is truly enriched because of you. It s because of you that I am able to see the worth that I possess and I am grateful to you for that. Our love continues to grow each day and there are times I look at you when you aren't looking and I smile. That smile represents all that we have been through and the excitement that lies before us. You make every moment more full.

My sweet Cambree, you have given me a gift that I didnt know I needed. The gift of perseverance. I didn't know bringing you here was going to be filled with such trial and triumph. I am so grateful for the experiences I had. Through those trials, they have helped me know my Savior better and trust in Him completely. I'm grateful for your sweet spirit and your bigger than life attitude. The love I have for you makes me weep sometimes for the overabbundance of joy and worry I feel for you. You have had to deal with so much at such a young age, yet you still have such a love and zest for life. The care that i see you give your brother makes my heart happy. I pray that you will always watch out or him. You amaze me everyday and I am so thankful that I get to raise such a bright, loving, caring little munchkin!

Baby boy Lawson, I struggled for many years trying to bring you here and seeing you born was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. It was as if a weight was taken from my shoulder and I knew that you were the missing piece to the puzzle of our family! I often wondered, already having such a beautiful love for your sister if we would be able to make that connection with you. The first time I laid eyes on you I was smitten. Sometimes I feel as if though our souls connect and no words need to be spoken. You are my bubbers and I try to not miss a moment of all the changes that occur daily. Eleven moths have already passed and yet it seems like ive only blinked and suddenly you aren't a baby anymore. I want to capture every moment. Your personality is hilarious and I can't wait to see what awaits you. I pray that both you and your sis will love the lord as your dad and I do and know of the gospels truthfulness for yourself.

Please know as your mother I will always do my best to take care of my health so I can be here for all of you. I do it for each of you. I work hard for you Cambree, Lawson and Ben. Without y'all I would have nothing. I know that my strength comes from each of you and I am so grateful for the support you each give me. I Pray my children will always come to me if questions arise about life, friends, and my health. I'm always here and will always be honest with you. I pray that you all can feel the love that I have bursting from within me for you.

I look at my life, and I want for nothing! I am so blessed.

Measuring

I often wonder, what is so great about me? What do I do that's so special? I find it hard to take a compliment and have been known to criticize myself due to comparisons that I make to others. Through these comparisons I find myself not measuring up, although I'm the only one with the measuring stick (that I often beat myself with). Im no "super mom". My house is often a mess, I have no real crafts that I'm good at, and let's face it, the sewing gene slipped right through my fingers. I think about these things and I see and am in awe of the amazing things others can do and think to myself, if only... Then through an amazing talk given by an incredible man and with a heart yearning to find contentment I found just what I needed to hear.

This October during General Conference I heard a talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf that spoke to my very soul and brought tears of gratitude to my eyes. Gratitude for the feeling that this talk was meant specifically for me. As I read it again today, I felt that same gratitude. One part that struck me the most was this:

"God knows that some of the greatest souls who have ever lived are those who will never appear in the chronicles of history. They are the blessed, humble souls who emulate the Savior’s example and spend the days of their lives doing good."

To read the full talk go here http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/you-matter-to-him?lang=eng

I pray that I can be that example. I know that without God I am nothing, but with him I have everything.