I suppose it's about time I wrote something new on here. Unfortunately I don't have many new photos. My camera recently died on me and I'm a bit discouraged about that but I may get the ones I have up soon. I apologize for my absence on blogging. I've been feeling...well, pregnant, but it's getting better and so I'm making an attempt to get back on track. We are excited for this Holiday season and all that it may hold.

Birthday #2

My little girl turned TWO on Saturday. I can't believe how the time has flown by. I remember the first time I held her in the hospital; that sweet spirit. There is Nothing like it. I couldn't stop starring at her. I didn't want to miss a single movement; a spit bubble or a blink of an eye. But it seems as though the last two years have gone by in just a blink of an eye. Where did my baby girl go? 

She is my little "Big" girl now. How did that happen? I keep asking myself where the time went...it went into first smiles, first time she rolled over, the first time she held her head up, or crawled, her first step, the first time she said "dada or mama". 

Her life, the time, was clocked by her achievements, progress, and growth. It was when she graduated from a bottle to sippee. It was when she got her first tooth, second tooth, third tooth, etc. Her personality shined through as well as her spirit. The time is still clicking and there is something else to clock her next step in life- Potty-Training?, Learn to swim?, Ride a bike?. 

I consider myself the luckiest person. I get to see all of this and I love it. I just wouldn't be the same without my Lizzie and I'm so happy to have her in my life.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!

I love you.

Now for some fun birthday pictures. Elizabeth has been watching Wall.E just about every day for the last month. It's her new favorite movie. The way her sweet little voice speaks "Wall.E" makes me smile. So, that is what inspired the theme of Elizabeth's Birthday. She got a home-made Wall.E toy from her daddy. Rick impressed me with his creative, wood- working talent.

We Put Wall.E on top of our trash stack sky-scraper. It was made of Rice Krispie treats.

Then I made a Eve cake for Lizzie to dig into after blowing out the candles.

That's Wall.E's cockroach friend on top of Eve's head, if you were wondering.

It was the perfect day!

Just me again

I honestly don't know what to write right now but I did tell a good friend I would write soon. So here you have it. Me, feeling my worst but wanting so deeply to feel the best. Therefore, I will say nothing more of negativity but only of hope, happiness and love. A little update, Rick has completed his first class much earlier than the rest of the class. They gave the class until September to complete the course and well...Rick completed it a few weeks ago. He started in June. He had worked out something with the teacher and once he completed the course, he no longer had to go back to the class. Now he's on to the next and flying through it as well. In fact, he finished it today. Yes, He just started that course a couple of weeks ago. Just a little story...When Rick had started the second class, he showed up and asked the teacher for the syllabus and his teacher chuckled to himself and said, "I can only give you maybe half the syllabus, seeing as I haven't finished it yet." So, there you have it, Rick actually caught up to his teacher and was waiting to hear from him for the rest of the syllabus. 

I am most definitely bragging about my incredible husband!! How can I not? He's freaking awesome!! Mostly, I am just incredibly proud of him. I always knew I married a smart man, but not a genius! He he!! I just wish he didn't push himself so hard sometimes. I don't think there are too many women who could say that about their men...but I most definitely can. Three cheers for Rick!!! He makes me happy as usual and I just love talking him Up!

As for me, I am surviving. I am adjusting constantly. Lizzie is a bit of a mystery, even to herself right now. She doesn't even seem to know what she wants half the time and I'm... well, I'm having a GRAND old time trying to figure it out for her. It keeps me learning and trying new learning techniques and disciplinary techniques... constantly. I wish I could say it's refreshing and exhilarating, but I think I would have to use the words...exhausting and trying, some days. 

But to go along with that.. I can't help LOVING being mommy. I do love it! It's fulfilling and gratifying in ways that only other mommy's can understand. I have the greatest opportunities now to teach her the right things. It's those things that will shape her and prepare her for the harder decisions she will have to face someday. Just saying that brings tears to my eyes. The last thing I want is for my, not so baby girl, to have to make big tough decisions that may cause her heart break and sorrow but I have to remember that she can learn from those things as well and be stronger because of them. Oh boy!!! Am I in for a lot of heart-wrenching agony as I am forced to watch and cheer from the sidelines. So, now is critical and I fear I am falling short of my mothering responsibilities. It's nice to know that Faith and Trust in the Lord can go a long way.

There is not a single doubt in my mind that He is making up for when we do fall short. If we are believing of it, He most definitely Is. I also know that there are angels watching over each one of us and they are most definitely cheering from the sidelines. What a relief!
 

The End :)

A Bunch of Jumble!! Updated just for you Jade.

Okay, I figured it's about time I post something besides "Happy Easter". I was starting to get very disgusted with the same title that popped up on the screen every time I checked my blog. So I honestly haven't the slightest clue as to what I should post now but anything would be better than that. I figure I could always post more pictures of our sweet Lizzie and her new doings or I could update everyone on the latest news but to be completely honest ...I wouldn't even know where to start! So here's a bunch of jumble and you can all decipher whatever the heck is going on in our lives right now!! Big Smiles! Enjoy!

Okay, I'm going to do my darndest to explain whats been happening in the following pictures. This is per Jack's request ;)

This beautiful baby belongs to Tara Cappo Stanley, for those of you who know her. I babysit from time to time and I just love Little Rylie! She is a sweet heart! No, I'm not baby-hungry ;)

This is us crazy kids trying to create some fun for our kids. Yes, we tied the kids jeep up to the four-wheeler and pulled them around for a bit. They Loved it!! Especially Lizzie. She can't get enough of the "Beep" (her words)

Rick rescued a bunny that was caught by our old cat. It wasn't hurt YET. Rick released it quite a ways away from the house but i don't know that it helped. He sure was cute though!

This is our Crazy Weston pulling faces!

 

This is Lizzie singing and making the actions to "Itsy, Bitsy Spider"

 

Here we all are working hard in the yard. We are building a drinking fountain for all the little kids who spend their day outside, hard at play.

 

 Okay, I don't quite know how to explain....My mom and I were talking in the kitchen one day when Weston comes walking in and declares, "Grandma, I'm a princess!" Lizzie and Brooklynne had dressed up along with him. He sure made the sweetest little princess I've ever seen though. Yes, his top is stuffed with kleenex's :)

 

Here is Brooklynne dressed up in one of her costumes for the "Alice in Wonderland" play that she performed in. She played a few parts and she did an excellent job.

And Rick is doing push-ups in this other picture. I wish I could say that he's getting "buff" for me but he just wanted to get stronger for his work. He has to tackle some kids on occasion and he's being a boy scout in "being prepared" :) Elizabeth loves to ride on dad's back while hes doing his push-ups. Rick on the other hand prefers to do them without her ;) She weighs like 35 lbs.

This is the Orem volleyball tournament I played in just this last weekend. We placed fourth out of 14 teams in the Womens B division. It was an excellent tournament! We played very well and made some friends while we were there :)

 

Happy Easter!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter! We did. We went to the traditional white sand dunes to roll our colored eggs. 

For any of you who know and understand my family, it won't surprise you that we took snowboards and sleds too.

We rolled our eggs down the sand and JD won for the second year in a row.

The kids had so much fun, whether they were riding on backs, shoulders, or sleds....

Or just eating the sand itself seemed to be a treat!

That's Our Lizzie!

(We had my aunt Laura and Uncle James and the cousins visiting this year- it was a blast!)

And this is the family!

Every Hope

"Knowing what we know and living as we are supposed to live, there really is no place, no excuse for pessimism and despair...I promise you in the name of the Lord, whose servant I am, that God will always protect and care for His people. We will have our difficulties the way every generation and people have had difficulties but with the gospel of Jesus Christ you have every hope and promise and reassurance. The Lord has power over His saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense and safety for His people. When we have faith in God we can hope for a better world for us personally and for all mankind."
                                                              -Howard W. Hunter-

I read this in the Ensign the other day and it has given me every hope in the world. Thank you all for your prayers! 
For those of you who don't know yet. Rick lost his job. They closed the business here in St. George. The good news is, we see it as a huge blessing. Rick will be going back to school and is working on finding a job that will allow him to work and go to school. Of course, it will be rough at moments and just waiting is torture, but we are ready to take on any challenge that comes our way. I thank my Heavenly Father that I have this gospel to help us through these times. He has already brought me to my knees on several occasions and I'm realizing slowly that we can't do this on our own. My stubbornness gets the best of me from time to time. But  God is humbling me one step at a time and I'm fully aware of it. We will be fine. I know it. But again, Thank you for all your prayers.

Moments of Strength

I've just spent some time starring at the blank screen in front of me, partly because I wasn't sure what to write and partly because there is so much I could write. I've been thinking about my family and friends all over and the obstacles we are all facing in life and I thank God that we have each other. 

The smallest of things is where I find my strength most often. A smile, a hug, a compliment, an opportunity to help someone else...It could go on forever.  I know that without my moments of weakness, I couldn't have found my moments of strength. I am thankful for my tests and trials in life.

Those moments that made me, ...Me. It was those tough times that forced me to make a decision, encouraged me to turn to God, and ultimately changed my life forever; I wouldn't change one thing.

At the worst and hardest of times, I find myself feeling the strongest, thanks to my Heavenly Father. He buoys me up when everything else seems to be pulling me under. How blessed are we? To know that He will ALWAYS be there for us. And to know that I have the support of my family and friends as well is.... well....I have no words. Thank you.

The Duck Pond!

Elizabeth

I thought I would update all those who don't get the chance to see Elizabeth  on a more regular basis. Lizzie is such a big girl and continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Her favorite movie is Enchanted but has recently expanded to The Bee Movie and a few others. She takes after her dad in most ways. She is our little social butterfly. She loves greeting people everywhere we go. We went to see the Princess and the Frog at the theaters the other day. The first half of the movie, she watched and the other half she spent talking to the girls sitting next to us. 

She loves loves loves nursery! When it comes time for nursery, she flings the door open and raises her hands in the air like, "Here I am"! Shes not shy at all and she can definitely hold her own. Shes had lots of practice from her cousins. She loves to help me clean. She puts the dishes away for me and tries to help me sweep the floors. I've caught her cleaning up her messes on several occasions and she always shuts the door on her way out of any room. 

Elizabeth has a pet fish that daddy won for her in a game. She spends about 5-10 minutes talking to her fish every day. She hasn't named him yet but maybe soon. Lizzie loves the ducks at the duck pond a mile from home. We like to walk over and feed them. She's not scared of them at all even after one of them tried to eat her thumb. St. George weather is looking nice these days which is even more reason to visit the ducks and the park more often.

She weighs about 30 pounds and she hasn't come across a taller 18 month old yet. 

Elizabeth loves to drive cars and ride in the bike, wagon, or anything that moves. She is also my little dancer girl and she is better at it than I am. I'm a little jealous :)

All the time, including public places, she'll grab my hands and say, " DANCE"! She's made me step out of my comfort zone on several occasions and I love it. She is putting words together now and understands so much. Her more frequently used phrases are, "whatcha doin'", "Here it is", " found it", "all done", and "what's this?".

I love my Lizzie with all my heart and I just thought you all might like to know what she's been up to.

The closer it gets, the more excited I get

Valentines Day? I was wondering what Valentines day was all about and I decided to do a little researching. I just love the mystery of it all. The stories are heartbreaking, fascinating, and wonderful. There couldn't be any greater, bitter-sweet tales to go with a more bitter-sweet holiday. Saint Valentine risking his life for those who were in love and wanted nothing more than to marry, solidifying their choice in one another. 

Or Valentine being thrown into prison, only to fall in love with the jailers daughter. In his last attempts to share his true feelings to the woman he loved, before execution, he writes a letter and signs, From your Valentine. *sigh*  Saint Valentine must had been courageous, heroic and romantic and therefore I will continue to celebrate Valentines day, if not for the boxes of chocolates and bundles of flowers, than for LOVE itself.

Most of my friends despised and dreaded Valentines day in our single days, but for me, I never got the chance to wallow in self pity and feel the sting of desolation. I only seemed to feel the sting of Cupid's arrow. I always seemed to have a guy show up on my door step when Valentines day rolled around whether I was hoping for it or not. 

First, there was Travis T. The whole first valentines was awkward and honestly, dreaded. Its something I'd much rather forget. Then there was Travis V. (what with the Travis', you say? I don't know) This Travis was cute and sweet enough to steal my first kiss. On VALENTINES day, nonetheless:)

Now I'll skip over a year or so and tell you of when I meet my true Valentine. Rick and I had our first date in February. I didn't know at the time that he would become my one true love so I agreed to have Valentines dinner with Luke, only to have Rick in the back of mind the entire night. Now I have Rick on my mind always. So I can't complain about Cupid. He eventually got it right. It just took him a few tries:)

I am very much in love with Rick and happy to be. He is my Valentine for years to come and he is my best friend, quite literally the man of my dreams and the love of my life. I'm so happy to have him by my side for all eternity. There is no better gift than to know that that will never change.

Sisters

Yay! I got to talk to Cami today. She flew out to Argentina today and had some time to call us while waiting for her next flight. I forgot how much I really missed her until I heard her voice. I'd probably be better off not having talked to her at all but I don't mind hurting for her. It was worth it. I'm so excited for Cami and a little jealous. I love my sisters so very much. I'm so grateful to have married into such a wonderful family and even more excited about having more sisters. All of them have a special place in my heart and that can never change. I would do anything for any of them. well, enough of the mushy stuff!

Love You Girls!

M.I.A.

Well, Lizzie went to nursery for the first time yesterday, which was bitter-sweet for me but just sweet for Rick of course. She did so good and she had so much fun.Rick stayed with her the whole time but there was no need. It was purely for his own enjoyment. She watched all the other kids so closely and she loved the play kitchen set they had there. She would fill up her pan under the facet and then pretend to take a big Gulp and say, "AHH!", after wards as if she just received the most refreshing drink ever. I can't believe my baby girl is growing up so fast.

Not only did she go to Nursery for the first time but she got her first hair cut as well. I just trimmed her bangs a little. The poor girl kept blinking and rubbing her eyes because she had some random long hairs that were just long enough to curl up and stick her right in the eyes from time to time. Besides that, no other hairs were touched.

There has also been a few occasions where me and Rick have had objects go M.I.A. I spent a few hours looking for my tennis shoes the other day and finally gave up and wore a different pair. The next day I went to pull a pan out of my cupboard and found both tennis shoes sitting there.

Then Rick's phone goes M.I.A. and a couple days later. I find it in the dryer with our mail. Do we have a ghost? No. We have a Lizzie. And we couldn't love her more.

Just Thinking

I've had a couple of days now where I just can't stop thinking about friends that inspired me to live they way I do or that took me in a direction in life that brought me to where I am today. I was so blessed to have such wonderful friends when I was younger. I learned so much from all of them and now I see myself traveling on a journey through life that continues to fill with so many new and wonderful friends. I wouldn't be the person I am if it weren't for them and I just can't help but appreciate their friendship. Thanks to all my friends.

Twice in 2 days

For those of you who noticed my post on facebook; I felt I needed to explain myself-I'm not a bad person. Although being pulled over twice in two days makes me feel like a criminal of some sort. First off, my car needed to be reregistered since November and believe me I've been trying to but they had some mix up with the address change and I didn't get the paper in the mail and its just such an incovenience to drive out to the DMV. So I was waiting, which I explained to the first cute cop that pulled me over last night. He was forgiving and let me go after asking me to take care of that asap, even if it meant going to the DMV. So I promised him I would for sure right after giving him a big kiss (okay, I didn't really give him a kiss) No man is worth kissing if he's not cuter than Rick. Don't get me wrong, he was cute just not cuter than Rick- blondes really aren't my type. So, I take my car and get the oil change and safety inspection this morning and they were able to register my car there which was a plus. So, I'm feeling good right about then. My car is vaccumed out. I had a nice chat with the cute guy at the auto shop (I love that I'm surrounded by cute guys- I should go out more) FYI- Brittany, that make 2 guys I have lined up for you when your ready. Then Lizzies favorite song comes on the radio and we both get excited. I crank that baby up and were jamming out in the car, and UH-OH! (Lizzie's words) I didn't see the school zone lights flashing. I was going the speed limit just not the speed limit when the lights are flashing. When I did see the lights flashing because they have two of them. It was too late. This cop was not so cute, the handle bar mustache just doesn't do it for me. So we had a nice chat about this being the second time I was pulled over and I had all my information for him sitting on my front seat and he was kind enough to let me off with a written warning. I apologized and thanked over and over again. And if it wasn't totally inappropriate I would've given him a hug. I think it helped that Lizzie was being totally cute in the back seat.
Okay, just so you all know I am not lucky! If I had been pulled over in 2009, I would be paying money for two blasted tickets that I felt sick over. But it's 2010 and I think this is going to be a very good year for me.

The Gathering or the Nuts!

The gathering of the nuts was today. Actually, we just got back and cleaned up. The gathering of the nuts is something we do every year. My grandpa has everyone over to his house to shake his trees and gather as many nuts as we can. Although, when my dad's side of the family gets together, it just as well be a gathering of a bunch of "Nuts".

 

If you look closely, Rick is in the tree. He was one of our monkeys.

Elizabeth loved playing with her cousins and in the dirt. She was covered with dust from head to toe but I would have to say that her most favorite part was when she got to drive the tractor with great grandpa. The look of excitement in her eyes and glow of desire to man the big round steering wheel; she was in heaven. It was just about the cutest thing I've seen. Now I can look forward to shelling a lot of nuts. What a fun day its been!

 

Too much Fun.

The Latest News!

The latest news is Rick still has his job and it continues to hang in there, which is fine by me. I found out that my Grandpa Sanchez has a twenty percent chance of living. I don't think any of us really understood the seriousness of the situation until now.  For those of you who don't know, my grandpa has cancer. They found a tumor the size of a golf ball on his heart and soon discovered many more lumps on the inside of his body and they will start him on a low dose of Chemo tomorrow. They say surgery is not an option and the full dose of chemo will be sure to kill him. I've been wondering more and more lately whether I'll get a chance to see him again. Thankfully I know I will some day no matter what. I would like him to know that I'm thinking of him and praying for him. My visits with my grandpa have been few and far between but I would still like him to know that I love him. This year so far as been filled with, already so many different emotions and turns of events, But I am thrilled to see what this year has in store for me and my family. I am looking forward with a full heart and an open mind.

On a more humorous note, Elizabeth has been coming up with new ways of doing just about everything. I'm going to call it her "experimental stage".

She trys puting things on herself and in different ways.

This is her LEGO box

Which can be used as a hat.

Or a chair. But NOT a trampoline, which she discovered after bouncing her cute little bum on it until it POPPED! With some shock and surprise, Lizzie found she would never try that again.

She would however try out the basketball...

and Yes, the box of tampons.

She loves to try on mommy's clothes. This is my tank top, the second one she's tried on. we had to tie it behind her neck to fit.

Now, I know this may seem a tad weird (this next picture) only because they are my underwear, but I couldn't resist. She makes me laugh on a daily basis.

She's crying in the picture because after trying on the underwear she had locked herself in our bedroom and this is how we had found her.

The End!

P.S. Elizabeth said her own prayer yesterday. Now, to me it was just gibberish, but I'm betting Heavenly Father heard every word.

Happy New Year!

This new years eve we spent it together just the three of us and we had a blast. We did our favorite things- watched a movie then some shark week and dirty jobs combined with some of the office. We had some ice cream, chips and dip and the goodies. Rick and I have become puzzle addicts. We did one 750 piece puzzle that took us into the next day and since then we've done three more. I have to admit its not easy doing a puzzle with a little Lizzie starving for attention. She can't stand it when mom and dad are so focused on tiny pieces of cardboard. She would come steal a few pieces off the table and run away with them like it was a game to get us to leave the table and chase after her. So much fun! I love my family.

Aren't they cute?! Happy New Year Everyone!

P.S. I want to hear eveyone's new years resolutions.