Tag Archives: family

Blessings on Blessing Day

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We had Avyn Mae blessed over Labor Day weekend at our new ward’s sacrament meeting. Tyler did such an incredible job. It was beautiful. She behaved so well. Didn’t even grunt 🙂

It was so wonderful to have all our family and friends come to be apart of her blessing. We had my dad come to town, Ty’s brother came back and our friends, The Ang’s, came from LA 🙂 Then of course all our awesome family from close by came.

I am being serious when I say my heart was full the whole week leading up to the blessing and continued on after. I think part of that was due to my mom coming to town to help us get our house ready for people to come in. NO LIE – if she wouldn’t have came my house would have been a chaotic mess. She is my angel. Can never thank her enough for her help. It also could be all the rest of my family & friends who offered to help and then came over after to enjoy each other’s company. I just felt Ty & I were so blessed after that weekend. I mean I knew we were but it was just so unavoidably apparent that weekend.

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We kinda like her. a lot. she is my little doll.

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Luckily we got great friends and one of ours – Victoria – brought her camera to take some pics for us. love her. look how great these turned out. glad I got to capture this little sweet girl on her blessing day.

 

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She is seriously a doll. everyone says we should be thanking the heavens because she is an angel child.

6 weeks and she is sleeping anywhere from 5-7 hours at night. she LOVES to stick that tongue out like a lizard. makes the funniest faces. grunts still like it’s her way of communicating {pretty sure it is}. now she likes to coo and caw at us. i love that. we have heard her giggle a few times in her sleep – i die everytime. can’t wait until she does that more. she flails her arms & legs and loves the superman pose. fascinated by light and shapes {i think}. she really likes the water too! {my baby for sure} took her swimming and loved it both times.

can’t wait to see how she continues to grow and change — but I kinda can. Time is flying.

Cancun Life part dos. Thanksgiving 2012

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Tulum was a pretty awesome experience. We had a LDS guide who was very beneficial as we toured the ruins. THEN it was off to the monkey sanctuary. I was nearly in tears when we couldn’t find this place for the life of us because I wanted so badly to play with monkeys (one of my life’s goals/dreams). And I figured this was probably one of few chances this opportunity would arise so THANKFULLY we had Ty turn on his phone to call and get better directions. We arrived and first thing I saw was the woman with an absolutely adorable baby monkey wrapped around her neck. I was SO close to the cute lil guy but we weren’t allowed to play with the baby ones…we had “too many germs”. We were stripped off all possible things the monkeys could snatch from us 🙂 and then the fun began.

We were given snacks to get the monkeys to come to us. Advised that if Luna came for our snacks in our hands that we MUST give it to her. She was a monkey with a tude. Straight up a sassy chunk of a monkey. Took all the food from your hands and went over to her own corner away from everyone to eat it. The rest of the monkeys were fun and playful. Victoria, Mya and Nena were my favorites. I think Nena and I were besties for like 30 minutes. She cuddled up to me and nuzzled me. I was seriously in heaven. Cloud 9 or 10 or 9 ¾. It was so crazy how intelligent and close to human like these creatures were. I loved EVERY moment spent with them. Again I was BEYOND words of gratitude to my in-laws for making this happen.

 

Butt load of pictures to capture this once in a lifetime event 🙂 #happiestgirlever That was me.

Once we left the land of the monkeys, we were going to go to a cenote (natural sink hole). But we wer all starving and since it was really nice out we wanted to get some sun. We went to the local taco shop, El Fogon. Ty and I went there on our honeymoon. It was fun going back. Ty LOVES those places. We went and lounged around at La Haciendas in Playa Del Carmen. Then headed back to the Royal Mayan in Cancun.

The next day was beautiful and was Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, Nolan wasn’t feeling so well. But we all did the same daily events, lay out, volleyball, games, food and play in the ocean. Then we got ready to go to the Marriott for the Thanksgiving buffet (see pictures above) Epic. Meat stations. Crepe station. Salad. Bread. Seafood. Everything. THE only thing it hasn’t got is good desserts. I did miss having pie. I could always go for some pie 🙂 banana cream, chocolate cream, coconut cream, apple pie…okay done sorry. I still loved it immensely. Food comas occurred right after. We had a great family get together after and although we may not say it to one another, I really am grateful for each person in my (relatively) new family. They each bring something great into my life and I am blessed to have them.

Thanks again John & Sue for helping us create great memories that will last forever. We love you!

 

This is my last “November” post. So I am listing the things and people I am grateful for:

-Tyler. There is far too much to write about why I am thankful for him. Married almost 2 years, known each other for almost 4 years and I am happy for each moment I have been given with him.

-My family. Every singe one of them. My mom who I wouldn’t know what to do without. I am thankful for her safety and for her unconditional love for her kids. My dad who is one of the best men I know, he has a heart of gold and I am proud to be his daughter. Sydney, for being such a great wife for my dad and taking on 5 more kids. My lil sis, she has so many great qualities. She is tough but tender (when you catch her in the right moment 😉 ) She is fun and intelligent. She is so many things I aspire to be and so many things I see that we have in common. Sisters really are such a joy. ALL three of my brothers. They are great brothers and I love them dearly. Scott is such a thoughtful, loving guy. Sam is a funny, sweetheart. Chris has my dad’s heart of gold and he is someone I could count on to help me out, no matter what. My sister in law, Lindsey, she is such a doll. I learn new things about her each time we are with them, all of them good! My NEW nephew, Nicholas. I am yet to meet him but I am grateful for him already. He is so freakin cute and I have always wanted to be an auntie! All my step siblings, they all have different qualities that are wonderful and although I don’t see them often, I am grateful for family that I can count on if I ever needed.

-Ty’s family. I already voiced this but I do love each of them. Sue is super mom. She is amazing. Plain and simple. John is a caring, wonderful father, who has far more knowledge than I will ever be able to retain. I have spent a lot of time with Ty’s siblings now and feel like they are almost like my own. All of them awesome in their own ways.

-Being born in this time.

-The life I was blessed with. The knowledge I have obtained thus far.

-The gospel and the strength & assurance it brings into my life

-All my extended family.

-Our friends. From Ty’s friends that have become my friends, their wives & girlfriends, as well as my life-time friends like Devin, Aubrey, Amanda, Danielle, Kezie and all the wonderful girls I have made endless bonds with.

Well this list could go on forever. I am learning gratitude makes life much more enjoyable.

Much to be thankful for. Thanksgiving 2012

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What did the Chicago Bulls do in ’91 and ’92? What did the Green Bay Packers do in ’66 and ’67?

WELL if you can guess that this trivia question was what eventually enlightened us that we were going to Cancun again for Thanksgiving. YOU would be spot on! Like for real, you are a genius if you figured that one out without me saying anything else.

John kept nudging us trying to get us to say back to back AND finally someone did. AND as soon as whoever said that….I KNEW it. We were going to Cancun again! I was stoked. Cancun is a blast. Who can complain about a vacation right near Christmas with sunshine, warmth, family, fun, sand, laying out, reading, eating, happy hour, beach volleyball, sand castles, tennis, card games and much more? NOT I! I am more grateful than words can say to my in-laws for doing this  again this year. It really is a wonderful time for all of us.

Here it is. Cancun Thanksgiving 2012 Part 1.

We played a ton of beach volleyball and tennis. Games were played just as frequently. During lunch, by the pool, waiting for others to get ready. I definitely love it but I find by the end of the week my competition tank is empty.

We found these cute little turtles by the pool that we played with and took some pics with 🙂 You would have thought we all have never seen a live turtle. We are funny.

I took many sky/beach/our view shots. I just get so taken back with the beauty Cancun has. We try to stick around for happy hour which is FREE chips & salsa and half off drinks (strawberry coladas!) We also become ravenous when we get that free chips & salsa. It is a sight 🙂 another thing I love about Cancun trips.

One of the nights we decided to go to the outdoor mall again to see the Dolphin show we went to last year. Yep! It was that good! It was my 3rd time and I still loved it. Johnny and Nolan had never seen it so we thought it was a worthwhile show to go see. It always just leaves me wishing I was a dolphin trainer OR that I could have a dolphin as a pet.

Which brings me to my next post…which will be on our day in Tulum and our epic hours spent in the monkey sanctuary 🙂 hours I will never forget!

Our Weekend

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I am starting this month off with a grateful post:

  • Tyler. I can always count on him for a smile no matter the time or place. He is so hardworking and dedicated. He is very talented and keeps me feeling silly & young 🙂
  • Amazing family, both Tyler and mine.
  • Incredible friends who we love being able to have fun and laugh with.
  • Healthy and {mostly} functional body
  • To be capable of working and for Tyler getting an education
  • All our awesome opportunities and talents we are given
  • The gospel and Jesus Christ’s example of selfless & unconditional love & sacrifice.
  • My future

{Pics from the UVEF Event honoring the Osmonds (George & Olive Osmond). Sushi with friends. Provo Beach Resort surf, bowl & games with Jeff & Victoria. Ty and I being us.}

Why I love STG

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STG. What is that? Nope not a disease. Just my lazy way of saying St. George. Actually it is a lot of people’s lazy way of saying St. George. Most of those people are from STG 🙂 which gives us the right to call our town whatever we want. Kind of like fat people being able to call themselves fat but when other people do it, it is more frowned upon. (Fat Amy from Pitch Perfect comes to mind. Great movie!)

Ty and I went to St. George a weekend ago. Left Friday after work and the adventure began!

Reasons for loving STG:

       

1) Spending time with my fam AKA being spoiled for the weekend 🙂

2) Food. Cookies. Eating. ALL the time.

3) The weather

4) Active Adventures

5) TV and being lazy

I realize that 3 & 4 totally contradict one another but it makes complete sense in my books. It has an easy explanation. We always do something active, whether it be a hike, run, bike, gym or race, THEN we top that off with a movie, games or just lounging around together watching The Real Housewives of Miami. This trip was a MIDNIGHT “spooky” 5K with a pre-game dinner & lounge sesh 🙂

The 5K was actually a lot of fun. I guess I legitimately took first place in female overall? The moral of this story is like that of the tortoise and the hare but a little twisted. So don’t run with the sprinters because they run too fast and loop twice instead of being directed on a different loop. Luckily, my mom and I stuck together and went on the right route. Thus why I won. My husby wasn’t so lucky. He decided he wanted to run this 5K as fast as he could. Then it ended up turning into a 7K for him….it was actually very amusing seeing him look mind boggled as to why he was crossing the finish line after me. You live and you learn. haha

  

      

      

I went to the Nook with my mom and later we all went to see the movie, Fun Size. It was alright. Funny parts but not blog worthy so done with that. Later in the evening, Ty, Sam & I went to my dads to have a Halloween party. We carved pumpkins to enter into their Pumpkin contest (Ty carved ours cuz I am not a legit artist like him). Made caramel apples and had some fun. The contest was judged by one of Sydney’s family friends. Their was awards for the most creative, the spookiest, the most “wicked” BUT the overall winner was……TYLER and I! Whoot whoot! Man it is great having such an artsy husband. Pays off 😉 {He doesn’t cut into the pumpkin as much as he sculpts it into what he wants it to be. This year it was a Shrek/Frankenstein Vampire guy. Shrankenpire 🙂

It really is always so much fun to go down and spend time with my family. Who doesn’t like being spoiled for the weekend. Wish we could stay longer sometimes. (Christmas time we will stay longer!)

 

      

And by the end of this trip, this guy was tuckered out….we love to take pics of each other asleep. For some weird reason we find it hilarious to show the other person. {His pics of me asleep are always better. I sleep like a crazy person. Not even embarrassed}