Family

So I have to brag and say that I have some of the CUTEST nieces and nephews on the planet. I don't have recent pictures of Scott's kids to post, but I do have some of Ryan's. I'm so sad now that they live in NY but Ryan sent me some pictures today and I just had to share . . . So sorry Des if I spoil you posting these pictures on your blog. Soon I'll have my own kid to brag about, but in the mean time I get to brag about yours!

Messy faced little girl!

Looking good on her bike! Penelepe inherited Oliver's old bike when he got this one . . .


And I absolutely love this cake! I have to learn how to make these. Des always throws the best parties for her kids!


PS- baby is doing good. Still sick unless stuffing my face. :) Oh, and nothing fits! This sucks, but is so worth it.

My Happy Place

Recently I was asked to go to my 'happy place.' This place could be anywhere in the world, anywhere in nature, I could pick my favorite spot and build me a beautiful little retreat there (this was all in my head, of course). So I sat there for a second trying to picture my favorite place in nature. Was it a beautiful sandy beach with palm trees and the ocean? Was it high in the mountains with lots of trees and plants and waterfalls? Was it a shoppig mall filled with my favorite stores and price tags didn't exist?
No.
It was my home. I suddenly pictured myself in my backyard. When I pictured the perfect structure there I pictured my home, exactly the way it is right now (you know, cause Josh cleaned it this weekend;o). I would not change a single thing about my home. And it truly is my happy place. It is where I feel the best, where anyone and everyone is always welcome. A place that is always filled with love and peace and beauty.
I'm sure I sound like a total loon to you all right now, but if you get a minute, picture your happy place. What is it like? Where is it? Who do you want to join you in your happy place? I just want you all to know that if you are ever feeling sad or lonely and can't find your happy place, you are always welcome in mine!

Smoosh

I am so happy to finally be able to post this on my blog . . . I'M HAVING A BABY! I had my first appointment today with the doctor and everything checks out well. Here are the first ultrasound photos of our little person . . .




We've decided to nickname it "Smoosh" because right now it's just a little smooshed up thing but it will keep on growing. We will find out what the sex is, but I have to be a little more patient for that. Thank you to all of you that kept your fingers crossed for us and kept on praying- we really appreciate it! We are so excited to be parents!!! My due date is November 27th. Yep, Thanksgiving Day! I can't think of more of a reason to be thankful any day of the year!!!

I love spring!!!

This time of year is absolutely the best! As most of you know, we bought our house a little over a year ago and it came with this awesome and beautiful yard. Well after this long winter we've already forgotten what our yard looked like all last year! So I am determined to take more pictures of it this year. Here is another one I took of a beautiful plant blooming in the front. I have no idea what it is called, so any of you green thumbs out there, if you can tell me what it is, you win a prize!

(As you can see, I'm still working on my photoshop skills. I hope to add that to my resume some day! I am all for taking lessons if anyone wants to provide them!)
There will be many more garden pictures to come . . . Josh sort of went nuts on QVC.com and ordered over 150 plants!!! A lot of them are individual bulbs, but still! I'm not sure where we are going to put them all, but we'll find a place I'm sure. It's going to be a busy week getting them all planted before they die.
As we speak Josh's dad is out planting our garden so I'm sure we will have lots of good veggies to share again this year. Don't worry, we placed a limit of only 4 tomato plants. (Last year we had 12 and we were SICK with tomatoes!!!) So more variety this year, but we'll be sharing!

I am also loving this time of year because I am feeling very, very blessed. I spent a good couple of hours browsing through people's blogs, mostly on the BHS class of '99 blog. It's great to go through and get a look into peoples lives that I went to school with. In looking at other people's lives I sometimes find myself envious. Thankfully that only lasts a second and I realize what a great life I have had. Sure, I've had my hard times and my struggles, but it has all been so worth it. I don't think I would change a single thing about my life. I love my friends, I love my family, I love the Lord and the lessons he has taught me (even when I didn't want to learn them). So for those of you that have ever said a prayer for us- THANK YOU! We couldn't be where we are today without our friends and family and everything they have done for us. I'm so glad that I believe in gospel that is so centered on family. I just couldn't believe in it if it wasn't. There is nothing more important to me in the world than my family and the close friends that I have. I know all of you would drop everything and run to help me if I ever called and I hope you all know that I would do the same for you in a heartbeat! It's a good day to be thankful!

Monster Name

So, I'm chillin' here with my brother Chris and we were taking some of those goofy quizzes just for the heck of it . . . here are our monster names!

CHRIS:

Your Monster Profile

Twisted Butcher You Feast On: Peanut Butter You Lurk Around In: Nude Beaches You Especially Like to Torment: Lawyers

What's Your Monster Name?

LINDSAY:

Your Monster Profile

Brutal Ogre You Feast On: Pie You Lurk Around In: The Hearts of Men You Especially Like to Torment: Pop Stars

What's Your Monster Name?

JOSH:

Your Monster Profile

Merciless Nightmare You Feast On: Fingernails You Lurk Around In: Closets You Especially Like to Torment: Lawyers

What's Your Monster Name?

DeETTE:

Your Monster Profile

Shadow Midget You Feast On: Bananas You Lurk Around In: Corn Fields You Especially Like to Torment: Pop Stars

What's Your Monster Name?

DON:

Your Monster Profile

Creepy Hunter You Feast On: Power Bars You Lurk Around In: Closets You Especially Like to Torment: British People

What's Your Monster Name?

OLIVER:

Your Monster Profile

Evil Nightmare You Feast On: Pickles You Lurk Around In: Swingers Clubs You Especially Like to Torment: Hippies

What's Your Monster Name?

PENELEPE:

Your Monster Profile

Wild Claw You Feast On: Beer You Lurk Around In: Corn Fields You Especially Like to Torment: Hairdressers

What's Your Monster Name?

SHAELYN:

Your Monster Profile

Wild Enigma You Feast On: Hot Dogs You Lurk Around In: Nude Beaches You Especially Like to Torment: Priests

What's Your Monster Name?

HALEY:

Your Monster Profile

Evil Hunter You Feast On: Power Bars You Lurk Around In: Flocks of Freshmen You Especially Like to Torment: Hairdressers

What's Your Monster Name?

NOLAN:

Your Monster Profile

Death Cannibal You Feast On: Fingernails You Lurk Around In: Swingers Clubs You Especially Like to Torment: Your Evil Twin

What's Your Monster Name?

Okay, so we were a little bored, but it was fun to see some of the monsters in our family!!!