Happy Birthday to Me

This year I got the best present for my birthday, a trip to Mexico with my husband and our friends. Ok, so the trip wasn't specifically for my birthday but it was included in our "celebration" trip. Two years ago before we started graduate school we made plans to go on vacation after graduation to celebrate and it just happened to be planned two days after my birthday. We left Em behind with grandpa and grandma so that we could truly relax and have some alone time. Turns out she had more fun without us be around; she made it clear that she didn't miss us when we asked her. Mexico was great. It was everything that we wanted in this trip; to do nothing but relax and hangout with our good friends. We laid on the beach, drank our fruit smoothies, swam in the pool and ocean, kayaked, played beach volleyball, played games, watched movies and I actually read an entire book in 4 days (over 500 pages). The only time we got away from the resort was to take a trip to the Tulum Mayan ruins; it was so beautiful there. I couldn't believe how many of the buildings were still intact. I felt like I was on site of a Hollywood movie like Indiana Jones; it was incredible. The only thing that I didn't enjoy was the heat and humidity. My hair was a puff ball after the tour and I felt like I had taken a bath in my own sweat. Gross, I know. This trip made me realize that it is important to take time for myself every once in awhile and how wonderful it is to get to spend some romantic alone time with my husband. We held hands, cuddled on the beach while listening to the waves hit the beach, gazed at the stars, and danced the night away with a local band. We are already planning our next vacation, is it going to be Hawaii or Europe?

A Chapter Ends, A New One Begins

Yesterday was a big day for all of us. Joey graduated with his MBA!!!! Although the ceremony was a little too long for Em I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I am so proud of my husband for all that he has accomplished and love that I was able to be by his side supporting him the whole time. I didn't think I would be as emotional as I was; I started crying while taking pictures before the ceremony even started. And the tears didn't stop then. They flowed when all of the spouses and children of graduating students were asked to stand. It was a long road for all of us with many things sacrificed but it was worth it and I love him all the more for his dedication and all that he was able to achieve.
I know what I am about to write will be hard for some of you to believe/understand but here I go. I can't believe I am actually going to say this, but I am going to miss Provo. I know it is crazy to hear that from me especially if you go back to the post I wrote two years ago when we started our grad school adventure. I will miss Provo for these few reasons; I loved the townhome and community we lived in and my neighbor, you know who you are, as well as the BYU MBA program that provided my husband an all around education and opportunity to succeed in his career, and lastly I will miss Provo because of the MBASA (Spouse Association). This association saved me during the two years my husband was MIA. Although I didn't go to every activity and become best friends with everyone, I did get involved as much as I wanted to and made several really good friends that I will remember always and hopefully keep in touch with. I feel like I am leaving my family and going far, far, away. Wait, I am leaving my MBASA family, my immediate family and moving far, far, away. However, I am looking forward to it and I am getting excited about the idea of visiting so many beautiful and historical places.

BBQ with friends to celebrate the end of two wonderful years

Before graduation at the Marriott Center

Where has the time gone?

This past month has probably been one of the craziest months we have experienced. It started with the loss of my amazing grandmother at the age of 94. I could probably write a whole post dedicated to her but I will save that for my personal journal. I will say though that I have a lot to live up to and a great example to follow. If I ever start thinking that life is too hard and that I have had to face unbearable challanges I just think of my grandmother who has endured everything from a mother who tried to drown her in a river when she was just a baby, getting married at age 15, and losing several children and a husband (my father's father who died while my father was in the womb). Although she had to go through these trials you would never know it; she was the happiest, most optimistic person I ever met. I will miss her beautiful face but will cherish the memories that I have and always keep her in my heart. Love you grandma.

We returned from the funeral on a Tuesday evening and flew to CO the following afternoon. We were welcomed by a typical March snow storm. After spending about a week in CO I met Joey at the airport, leaving our beautiful daughter with grandma and grandpa, to fly to CT to search for a place for us to live. We spent one full day looking at places and felt really good about a home in the town of Ellington. We haven't signed a lease yet, we are still waiting for our application to be approved, but we sure hope everything falls into place because we love everything about it. The best part of our trip to CT was meeting up with our good friends Dan, Anne and Beckett for dinner at a "Food Network" recommended restaurant in Manchester called Shady Glen (great idea Dan). It was a delicious meal but even better company. I sure miss my little Beckett, the moment I saw him he ran up to me and gave me a huge hug which made me feel so special. I look forward to many more dinners and get together's...next one is on us!! The next morning we flew back to CO and only stopped for a moment to see our baby and grab a bite to eat before heading to the car dealership where we finally got ourselves a four-door/second vehicle. My two-door isn't cutting it these days and well, we need a second car. It felt good to wrap up a few of the tasks on our To Do list as we close out the end of grad school and head back to the real world. It is a bittersweet time for us. I have really enjoyed the two years we have been at BYU and will miss all of our friends but I am looking forward to a new adventure and meeting new people in a place I never imagined living. Connecticut is a beautiful place and I know we will love it once we get settled in. Plus I am looking forward to all of our family and friends who have promised to come visit us. I promise we will invest in a really good air mattress!

To wrap up our crazy month/trip we were able to celebrate Easter with my family by watching the LDS General Conference and enjoying a delicious meal before once again heading to the airport. We are so grateful for our Savior and the life he lived and the gift of the Resurrection that he has given to each of us. The gospel has blessed our lives in so many ways; knowing that we will be a family forever gives me joy beyond description, knowing that there is a living prophet on the earth to guide us during these latter days gives me hope and knowing that I am daughter of divine heritage gives me comfort and confidence in who I am.

Here are a few snapshots of CO with my family Spending time with grandpa at the zooLoving the elephants but distracted by something else

Grabbing first Easter egg to dye

So excited to be holding an egg but not quite sure what to do next

She chose blue as her first color and loved holding onto the wire egg holder

Snuggies

I've decided to blog about something besides my family so I have chosen a "popular" topic to blog about; the Snuggies blanket. That is right, the oh so funny One Size Fits All, sleeved blanket for people or dogs that I am sure many of you have seen advertised on TV and in stores especially around Christmas time, but if you don't know what I am talking about just take a look at the pictures below which say it all. For Christmas this year my younger sister and husband had the idea to purchase the Snuggies blanket for both my mom and dad as a gag gift from the kids. The funniest part about it was the morning before Christmas the topic of the Snuggies blanket came up (I don't remember why) but my dad was totally making fun of it and threatened us if we ever bought one for him. That is when we knew that it was the perfect gift for him. Watching both of them open their Snuggies Christmas Day was hilarious; we made them put them on right then and there and I think a dance of some sort followed along with the wave; I think my brother-in-law videotaped it all. Although I think that the commercials are ridiculous and I can't see any normal person wearing their Snuggie out in public, I really enjoyed wearing one in the comfort of my parent's house. I think my sister and I wore the Snuggies more than my parents did during Christmas break. I'd have to say that they are fabulous to have on while napping, watching a movie or reading a book. You can have your hands free to do whatever and they are really warm and soft. I've teased my husband about buying one for him because he reads so much and gets cold and tries to wear a blanket but I think that it could threaten our marriage. Not really, but he did say he would NOT wear it. For all of you who have laughed at the commercials and think they are ridiculous, don't dog it until you try one in the comfort of your own home or somewhere where nobody else can see you. That is all I have to say about Snuggies...

My Baby Is All Grown Up

Emmalyn on her second day in this world; look at all that dark hair

Emmalyn as an adorable one-year old; quite the facial expression!

Like most mothers I can't believe that my baby is a year old already. This year has flown by so fast but we have had a wonderful year together. I am in awe every day as I watch her grow and develop into a little girl. She makes my heart swell when she looks at me and calls me mama, when she runs to me when she is scared or sad, when she gets so excited to see me when I've been away and lately when she gives me hugs and kisses without even asking. It is amazing how much love I have for her and how close we have become as a family. My life will never be the same because of her and for that I am truly grateful to my Heavenly Father.

Temple Square Lights

I love Christmas time. Last year one of the items on my "to do before the baby comes" list was to go to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It is quite the site and it gets me even more into the spirit of Christmas. Unfortunately, but fortunately, Emmalyn decided to come two weeks early and we were unable to see the lights. This year we made it downtown to see the lights. It was so much fun, we made it a double date night with my sister and went out to eat at the Blue Iguana, a lot like the Red Iguana, but not as good and then we walked around Temple Square very quickly because it was one of the coldest nights ever and our little girls were freezing!! Emmalyn loved the lights. She would point at them and then say, "Ohhhh". I wish we could have spent more time walking around but at least we made it there and were able to take a few pictures to capture the moment.