Peeps

This Easter I tried to enter this peep display contest posted here. For some strange reason I guess they didn't post my entry. I didn't get an email reply telling me why my entry wasn't considered. I think that it was because I just did mine in Photoshop rather than in a shoe box. I am rather proud of my display so I figured I'd share it with you.

Are you as quiet at home?

Twice in the last couple of months, two different co-workers have asked me the same question: "Are you as quiet at home as you are here at work?"

The answer to that question is NO and this post is proof!
Wednesday night one of our neighbors stopped by and gave us 2 tickets to the BYU vs Utah basketball game that night. We both are BYU fans and we both really enjoy basketball (and the tickets were free) so we decided to go. It was a very exciting game. The score was really close up until the very end. Quiet me with Brian at the beginning of the game.
(Just one quick little insert. After one of the exciting BYU plays I heard a cute, little voice in the row behind me say, "Dad, I'm going to go to BYU when I grow up." I thought that was so cute!)Cheering (slightly hoarse me) with Brian just after BYU beat Utah. The final score!
And just in case you were wondering, I'm sure the lady I was sitting next to during the game was NOT wondering if I'm as "quiet" at home!

Roller Coaster Ride

Sometimes I wish that my life wasn't so much like a roller coaster ride-especially during the down times! This last downward turn about jolted me out of the car, but I'm clinging on tight and hopefully things will start to turn upwards again-soon. I guess if life was always a smooth ride, it would get really boring and we probably wouldn't learn anything. Don't get me wrong, the uphill part of the ride is great, it's the going down part that I have a harder time with. The thing that has kept me clinging on tightly rather than just letting go and giving up is knowing that someone (my Heavenly Father) can see the bigger picture of my life and continually gives me strength and courage and blesses me with His love. For now I'm trusting in Him that my life long dream of becoming a mother will be realized-I just have to be patient in the meantime (that's the hard part!)
Anyway, thank you to everyone for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement during this time.

The weekend wasn't all stress and heartbreak, though. We were able to visit with 4 of Brian's siblings and their families. Unfortunately, we only have pictures of one, though. Probably because we have a new nephew in the family and we want to show him off.Here is cute, "little" John and his daddy-Robert

Big sister Tori with Uncle Brian

What's New

Wow, I can't believe that it's been a month since I've posted anything.

We have experienced a lot of change the past month-
so I thought I'd share a little of what's been happening.

1) Brian graduated from BYU (wahoo!) and started work in Salt Lake.

The hour long commute twice a day is getting old pretty quick,
so that brings me to the next new thing...

2) We put an offer on a home in Salt Lake County.
We won't know for awhile if they accept it.
We've been looking for awhile and have found it somewhat difficult to find something that is livable and within our budget, let alone something we really like.
We'll have to see what happens.
3) I started my last semester of school (Ok, so I've been going to school for awhile so that isn't really new, but the almost done thing is and I'm so excited!)
If only I can survive my nursing research class!
4) My little sister is 16! I can't believe it!
Mom, Brandon, Emilee (Birthday girl) Katie, Aaron, Matthew,
Me, and Brian Celebrating Emilee's birthday.
5) President Gordon B. Hinkley (a man I truly admire and look up to) died. I will miss his enthusiasm for the gospel and his never ending energy. Thomas S. Monson is now prophet and president of the church.
AND Last but definitely not Least
6) A very sweet and special friend of ours is due in a little less than 2 weeks.
We admire her strength and courage and hope that she knows that she has a very special place within our hearts.
We are excited and hopeful...

Christmas

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
(sorry it's a little late)
Brian and I spent Christmas with my family this year. It was so much fun! All of my brothers and sisters and their families were there. It reminded me of Christmases of my youth when everyone was home, except with the addition of wonderful in-laws and nieces and nephews.
The Sunday before Christmas, my niece Eliza was blessed.
Isn't she beautiful?

My whole family after Eliza's blessing.
Back row: Grandpa, Tyson, Aaron (engaged to Katie), Matt and Brian
Second row: Grandma, Becca, Katie, Matthew, Amy, Zachary, Emilee, Me
First row: Mom, Bennet, Ethan, Chloe, Jamian, Eliza and Troy

Christmas Morning What's in our stockings?
Elmo is almost as tall as Bennet!
Brian with cute Zachary (yep even got the drool)
Bennet giving Uncle B hugs.
It was a wonderful Christmas! We are looking forward to a new year, although it brings with it many changes. Brian starts his new job tomorrow, and I start my last semester of classes on Wednesday. We are also in the process of trying to find a house. Other exciting changes are possible, so we will keep you posted.

Reminiscing

Yeah! I am done with school-for this semester at least. Yes, there was a bit of cramming at the end; but I am finished and ready for the Christmas break.

My Christmas break to do list:
1) Deep clean our apartment
2) Read a book just for fun (Does anyone have any suggestions?)
3) Go Christmas shopping (I'm not even close to being done. Actually, I haven't really started.)
4) Look for a house
5) Start writing papers for my Nursing Seminars class that I am taking next semester (I think this is probably a little optimistic.)

A little while ago I was emailing a friend about how fun it is to reminisce about the past with family. We shared experiences that we have had while camping in different national parks. Brian and I promised her that we would post a few pictures of us at Yellowstone National Park about 3 years ago.

The beautiful Grand Tetons

Matthew and Brian with a buffalo in the background

Some people we don't know, but they are getting pretty close to those elk.

Yes, this picture is a little blurry; but the lines are hail. We got caught in a hail storm in the middle of one of our hikes. This picture is of Brandon, Amy and Mat trying to find shelter during the storm. After the hail stopped, it continued to rain which turned the trail into a stream. We were all soaked by the time we got to the car. BUT it was so much fun and so memorable!

Christmas Fun!

I got an email from my brother-in-law (Tyson) showing some of us as elfs (http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1219515507). So I couldn't resist trying it out with my brothers and I http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1236395958

Thanksgiving Fun!

Sorry that this post is about a week late, but as they say, "Better late than never" AND I had too much fun over Thanksgiving not to share some of the excitement.
There are 2 reasons why I love Thanksgiving
#1 Spending time with family and
#2 The wonderful and extremely yummy food
(I had to work until 2:30 pm this year so it was about 7:00 by the time we got to Brian's parent's house. Thankfully Thanksgiving leftovers are just about as good as the actual meal.)

Friday all of Brian's family (one nephew and his wife are the only ones missing) got together for pictures. It was a little chaotic with that many people in such a small area, but everyone cooperated and the pictures turned out really well (sorry but none of those pictures are posted). I took advantage of everyone being together and took some pictures of some of Brian's nephews and nieces.

Tyler and Mckenzi (siblings) , Stephani, Ashli, Canon and Tani (siblings)Brothers: Fraser, Jason and Spencer
Cousins: Tori and Stephani

Cousins: Brennan and Spencer

Brian's parents with all of their grandchildren

Friday we also visited my brother, Troy and his family. I was hoping to get a picture of all 4 siblings together as promised in a previous post, but it didn't work out. We had a lot of fun hanging out with my nieces and nephews. We took Troy and the 3 oldest out to dinner to hopefully give Jamian and little Eliza a little bit of a rest. On the way we unexpectedly ran into Santa Claus.

Ethan, Chloe and Bennet with Santa Claus

We also had a lot of fun reading books together. There are a lot of really cute children's books.
Two of my favorites that we read are "Where's My Teddy?" by Jez Alborough and "Cinder the Bubble-Blowing Dragon" by Jessica Anderson.
Ethan, Bennett, Brian, Chloe and Me
(Bennet broke his arm falling off a chair while eating at Costco.
Hopefully he isn't going to take after his rather klutzy aunt-ME.)

We also got a few minutes to hold cute little Eliza. Brian holding Eliza

I really enjoyed spending time with both of our families this year. I am so thankful for family. I have felt their support and love too many times to count. Thank you, each and every one of you.
And for those of you reading this blog who might be thinking that you are not in my "family" classification, I have also been helped and uplifted by many friends and acquaintances over the years. Thanks to each of you as well.