Christmas at Baba's

This Christmas was one I will never forget. All of my siblings were able to come home for Christmas this year, which was so amazing! It was a crazy full house. We were all on top of each other and in each other's space, but we loved it! It was the last Christmas at my mom's, as she will be selling the house to come and move into the walk-out basement at our house. It was crazy to think that this Christmas was the last we all will spend in that house. I have grown up in that house and have many incredible memories there. However, I am excited for the new adventures ahead! Jordan out did himself this year. Not only did he get me a beautiful turquoise blue KitchenAid, which I desperately wanted, but he also had a turquoise ring specially made for me. Since loosing my engagement ring in Utah lake this past summer, I have been wanting something to wear on my lonely finger. When I opened it on Christmas day, I was so happy. It was gorgeous and designed by Jordan. I'll never forget it. Jordan also made a 2 hour video of Kaya. It compiled all of the videos we had of her into one big movie. We watched it together shortly after Christmas, and it really was so fun! It is crazy to see how fast she has grown! I absolutely love it! Another incredible part of this Christmas was that Kaya and Arden were both there together. Jenn and Stephen, and Jordan and I played "Santa" on Christmas Eve and set up the girls toys. It was so fun to finally do this for my kids, as my mom has done for me so many years. Arden and Kaya got matching wooden baby doll beds, which they loved. We had them sitting out from Santa since Baba gave them both Cabbage Patch Babies on Christmas Eve. Kaya opened her baby and immediately kissed the baby. She seriously LOVED it! My mom made them cute little dresses and matching blankets. It made me so happy, and a bit teary eyed, to see my little girl open her first baby, from my mom. Overall, Christmas was amazing. From eating way to much sugar, made by my mom, to the Charlie Brown Christmas tree, it was an incredible Christmas! I loved being able to spend so much time with all of my siblings and just laugh so hard! I never laugh so hard then when I am with my siblings. Great holiday!

An Adobe Halloween

Jordan no longer works for Adobe but we were lucky enough to still be able to attend the Adobe Halloween Bash, thanks to a good friend. The Adobe Halloween party is much more than a party. From the Jazz cheerleaders, acrobatics, hay rides, animals, free popcorn, churros, drinks, and ice cream, it is quite the event. I honestly have never seen anything quite like it. We went last year, when Kaya was only a few months old. This year was a blast because she walked through the entire thing with us. She looked around at everything in amazement and excitement. When we got to the Disney portion of the party she got so excited! She gave Pluto the sweetest kiss on the nose you ever saw! It was so fun to be able to walk through with her! This Halloween has been a blast already and it hasn't even really begun. Thanks Adobe! You really know how to throw a party!

Nana and the Colonel

Kaya and I went to St. George two weekends ago to see Molly's incredible work at Tuachan Theatre.  My grandparents, Nana and the Colonel, came up from Las Vegas, which made for one incredible weekend.  Every time I spend time with Nana and the Colonel I am dumbfounded at how incredible they are.  They are always thinking about their grand kids and how to make us happy!  The entire weekend was focused on us.  From taking us to dinner, getting an extra hotel room (just in case), making sure we have directions, etc., everything is out of pure kindness of who they are.  My grandparents are kindness.  They are everything that grandparents should be and more.  I can't even imagine my life without them.  They are so much a part of who I am and who I want to be.  I am so grateful for such great grandparents, great people!

New Little One

Found out a few weeks ago that our second little baby is on the way.  I must admit that I was a little taken back...it was a bit of a surprise.  But the more I have thought about it the more I have realized how blessed I really am.  I have an incredible husband, who works so hard while doing an MBA, who loves me more than anything.  I have a beautiful little girl who really is the best thing in my life.  And now, I get to have another one.  She is what matters.  This new baby is what matters.  Yes, I love my job, I love to run, I love me time, but I love my family.  I love my family!

The Ice Cream Man

I made a memory today with Kaya that I have been thinking about for years and years.  When I was little my mom loved the ice cream man, well she still does. :)  She would hear the ice cream man and would get just as excited as us, if not more excited.  I loved her love for ice cream.  She knew the ice cream was over priced but it was the memory that mattered.

Today I heard the ice cream man on our street.  My heart immediately started beating with excitement!  I grabbed Kaya and a five dollar bill and bolted out the door.  It sounds cheezy, but running down the street with Kaya in my arms, her laughing, was a moment I have been waiting for for a long time.  Time really did stop and I was SO happy.  Me and my little girl were running to the ice cream man.....life was good.

We got to the truck and the ice cream was still over priced.  It's nothing special.  But it's the memory.  Kaya got her ice cream and I got mine.  We then walked home, with smiles on our faces.  Kaya was covered in ice cream and I loved it!

Okay ice cream, great memory, great life!

Taking a Risk

Just recently Jordan left Adobe, and switched jobs.  I must admit that when we were thinking about it I was really nervous.  Adobe was safe, reliable, comfortable, and we had a good salary and great benefits.  But when your husband is given the opportunity to do what he really loves you really think about it.  So, we thought and prayed, thought, pondered, analyzed, prayed some more and finally came to a decision.  Let's make the jump.  Let's take a risk.  We feel good about it, let's do it!

Kaya waiting for Jordan at the Provo airport, to get back from Denver

I am a very organized, like having my ducks in a row, kind of person.  So, taking this kind of a jump was hard for me.  But it helped me to remember that life is about doing what you feel is right and being happy.  I don't want my husband going to work everyday, hating it.  He really wanted to take this new job.  It was his dream.   So, even though it is scary, it is worth the jump.

So far, the jump has been good.  Jordan is happy and excited about his new position.  He works from home, so we get to have lunch with him!  And he travels once a month for a few days.  Last month he was in Denver and this month we are all going to NYC!  Yay!  Which means.......we get to see Kiki, Stephen, and cute Arden!

Nana and the Colonel

Nana and the Colonel, my grandparents, have come up to Utah two weekends in a row, which has been quite a treat!  They live out in Las Vegas but come up quite often.  Nana and the Colonel have a special place in my heart.

Since I was born they have cared for me so deeply.  They call frequently just to check in and see how I am doing.  They send emails, packages, money, etc.  They have been to countless soccer games, dance recitals, etc.  They always know what is going on in my life, and my family's, and genuinely care about what I am doing.

Kaya and the Colonel having donuts together

Whenever they are down grandpa, the Colonel, takes my car and gets it checked out from head to toe.  He cleans it, fills it with gas, gets anything fixed on it that may need fixing, the works.  Money is no obstacle for his granddaughter's safety.  They take us to dinner, buy us prizes, but most of all they listen.  They talk with me and want to hear about everything going on in my life.  I love to talk with them!

And man do they love Kaya, their great-granddaughter!  One day grandpa came home with two donuts, one for him and one for Kaya.  ha ha  He sat down, cut it into little pieces, picked Kaya up and put her on his knee and they ate donuts.  He would do just about anything for that girl!

Overall, I am so blessed to have such incredible grandparents.

Starting to Build

So we have decided to build a home in Elk Ridge and I am so excited!  Of course I am excited for the new home, the awesome layout, the space, the new neighborhood.  But even more, I am excited to settle down, raise our family, and make memories.

We are building our new home with a walk-out basement for my mom and I can't express into words how happy that makes me.  I am very close to my mom and love every moment that I get to spend with her.  She has been sick most of my life and it is comforting to know she will be with us if anything were to happen.

I was thinking last night about God's timing, once again.  If you know me, you know God's timing is something I have a strong belief in and constantly ponder.  My life really has been all about timing.  My mission, Jordan and I, Kaya, our home, my job, school, everything.  This house is just another block, placed at the right time.  It just feels right.  That is why I am so excited....because whenever I have had a good, "just feels right" feeling, great things follow!

Growing Up Too Fast

Yesterday we were with family, enjoying a warm Sunday afternoon and I realized how fast time has flown by.  I looked at little Kaya, who really isn't that little anymore, and was shocked at how fast she has grown up.  She is going to be a year old next month and I really can't believe it!  She is standing and we swear she is going to start walking any day now.  She baby babbles just about all day, talking with me about her day.  I love talking with her and watching her learn new things.  So even though time is going by so fast, I really em enjoying every minute!

Kaya at 9 1/2 Months

Kaya at 10 Months

Easter at Baba's

We spend Easter again at my mom's, minus Jordan due to his trip to India. :(  Easter is a big deal in my family and we take it very seriously.  Most people love Easter because of the great spiritual focus of Christ's resurrection.  Please don't get me wrong, we do.  Easter is a special holiday focused on the life of Christ.  However, we also have a HUGE easter egg hunt.  It is so insane that we have contemplated doing it on Saturday, as to not take away from the true focus of Easter.

My mom puts on the easter egg hunt every year and I swear it gets more intense and crazy every year.  My siblings and I look forward to easter more than Christmas!  We have so much fun!  The Hunt, as we call it, has everything from eggs, giftcards, a raffle, prize bags, a bronze, silver, and gold egg, and much much more.

Every year The Hunt has a theme.  This year the theme was "may the odds be ever in your favor", focused on the Hunger Games. We were each given a number before going out into the backyard.  We were told to touch nothing but to find the circle with our number on it and stand on it.  We each found our number and waited, eyeing all the prizes, bags, tickets, etc displayed all over the lawn.  Mom then handed us colored dots, explaining that when she said "go", we were to run to the cornucopia to retrieve a basket, which we would use to gather eggs later.  We could use the dots, while trying to get a basket, to stick on others, which would "injure" them. 

Mom said "go" and it was a full out brawl for a good basket at the cornucopia.  There was a basket for every person, but some were larger than others.  There were baskets as big as a laundry basket and as small as a plate.  It was seriously hilarious!  After getting our baskets we all were sent back to our numbered circles, to assess who had been "injured" by stickers.  Most of us had one, maybe 2 stickers. However poor Mark, the newest married-in addition to the family, was completely plastered with stickers!  :)

By this point we were all laughing hysterically.  Looking around, James, the biggest man in the family, was holding the tiniest little easter basket you have ever seen.  Jake, my 18 year old brother, was holding an egg tray, used to hold deviled eggs.  Bubba, my 16 year old brother had a laundry basket that was seriously huge, and ridiculous to carry around.  The rest of us made out with pretty normal sized bags and baskets.

After composing ourselves, Mom said "go" and the Hunt was on!  Everyone was running, scooping, hunting.  There were eggs everywhere!  However, while trying to get eggs you have to be aware of other events going on.  This year there was the Lollipop Pick a Lilly, the Marvelous Magnetic Mansion, and the Robot Zone.  It would take a lot of time to explain each section and the true intensity of the Hunt, but I think you get the basic idea.......it's insane!

Overall, the reason I love The Hunt is not because of the insane prizes, it is because of my mom.  She puts so much work, for months, into The Hunt.  She spends so much time preparing for The Hunt because she loves us.  She loves to watch us and loves how much we love it!  She loves the memories!  Some of my best, most favorite memories growing up are of The Hunt, and they are all thanks to my mom.

Jordan's Stop in Thailand

On the way to India Jordan made a pit stop in Thailand.  You can see he had a great time!  This is such a classic Jordan picture! :)