Nothing but a Morning Star

Day(s) of love

2012-02-15T10:18:00.002-07:00

This year for Valentine's day Buck had lots of homework and stuff. Plus, who wants to babysit someone else's baby on Valentines day? Exactly. So instead we did a little celebrating on Saturday. Nothing too sappy- we went ice skating and then used our other gift card at Texas Road house, where my sister and June met us for dinner. (And June was a little road house angel.) It was a fun little date. Buck and I realized that we have never ice skated together. So maybe I was the one who fell on the ice (and maybe it was because I was trying to bust out a dance move- Bad. Idea.) But we got to spin around together and successfully avoid the group of high schoolers who kept stopping and congregating on the ice to hang out like they were standing by their lockers.

Watch out Olympics

My "Buck" necklace. Love.

Afterwards we talked about all the things that we still get to experience together. Somethings that neither of us have done and other things that we've done without the other. Like go to an art museum. Like the MOMA or something. I can't wait. There is so much to do together in this life!

Then yesterday Buck woke me up with a rose and some rock candy.

And then he was gone most of the day. Hence my previous two posts- lots of time to take lots of June pictures and then make a singing Valentine for my darling. And make a feast for when he got home.

We had time only for dinner together. So it was a lot like every night. I needed to make it special somehow. So aside from a candle lit dinner (which I do sometimes anyways for the heck of it) I bought CRAB LEGS. Oh glorious crab legs! And then we also had asparagus and Fettichini Alfredo. And for dessert I made strawberry short cake parfaits. We also put our little candy presents to each other on our chairs- as is a Pew family tradition. (only it normally would happen at breakfast. But Buck had to leave to early for me to want to get out of bed for that...)

And anyway. We were able to spend a little bit of time together at night. So it was good day. But everyday is really. But I'm thankful for holidays and the excuse they give us to do things like wear more pink and eat chocolate. Or be extra romantic.

Dear Buck,

2012-02-14T17:17:00.001-07:00

Yeah you. Just wanted to say HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! I know that this year we aren't on the news in Nebraska or buying a pet triop, but I love this Valentines day just as much. (well, okay, that's kind of a lie. I really liked our first one in Valentine Nebraska. That and I really wish that you were home right now.)

But since you're not home right now, I needed a way to reach you. And I know you check my blog everyday. So I thought I'd write you here. And embarrass myself a bit. And I do so taking a risk. I know your computer is dead right now and you will only check this on your phone but I'm hoping this little video clip will still work...

So here I am singing you a little love song. There are so many I could sing but I really like this one- we both know it fits. So the video clip isn't exactly taken in the most romantic room of the house (June's room) but I only had a small moment she would let me take this. You know how she is. But she's in the video too so that you (or anyone else who decides to) will have someone more entertaining to watch. And just wait and see- praises be! She let me record this whole song! A Valentines day miracle indeed. Also, I didn't have time to memorize the song so I'm looking at the words the whole time... which is better than making awkward eye contact with the camera anyways. So it is what it is, you know?

And it's all to say I LOVE YOU. I can't wait till you're home. And I really can't wait for you to be done with school. As in graduate.

I had serious issues uploading this video. Just click here to see it.

We love you!

Love,
your little Valentines

Happy Valentines Day

2012-02-14T15:26:00.001-07:00

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

Hope your day looks just as sweet as ours does.

Last year I was more on top of things and sent out some Valentines and such. So dear family, just know that we love you and hope that you know that and have a beautiful day.

Celebrations

2012-02-13T16:48:00.001-07:00

So far I'm liking this February. First of all, it's the warmest one I've participated in in a long time. Second, there are lots of little holidays. Like groundhog's day. To celebrate that I made "dirt"(pudding with crushed oreos. I'm soo creative...) with a ground hog and NO shadow. I don't care what his forecast is this year. And anyway, these ground hogs are awesome/terrifying- no?

Then yesterday we celebrated Abraham Lincoln's birthday! To do this I researched and found an interesting site that listed his favorite dinner and the recipes. Erin and Ben came over to feast. We had chicken fricassee, oyster soup, homemade biscuits, and apple pie. It was so good! Cooking meals from the 1800's is a lot more of an involved process than our quick meals these days, but man alive it's worth it.

We made sure to have good old Abe's photo hanging up.

Here is a photo of our apple pie. True story.

And I thought about leaving it at that- letting you all think that I made this pie. But alas- my sister Erin made this masterpiece. And it tasted as good as it looked!

Here are a couple more photos from the night:

Dressed in her Sunday best

Rice cereal kisses for her uncle Ben

The onesie says it all (this goes for both of her Aunts. :) )

And now tomorrow is Valentines Day and I am so excited! Not even because we are doing anything epic but I just really like holidays (obviously), and I've always loved Valentines Day. Even when I didn't "have someone to spend it with." In my family it was about love for everyone and we all felt special! And WHO CARES if it's commercialized? I personally love the aisles full of pink sparkly things. Holiday cynics get to me.

Oh! And this month we get to celebrate Leap Year! And of course President's day. In case you were wondering.

February is good.

Sliver of Moonlight

2012-02-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Once I was traveling alone somewhere. I had a long layover in the Denver airport. As I wandered around I found a little art exhibit they put up temporary. On one of the walls there was a long stream of words, spanning the entire side of the hall. It was filled with various poems. I carefully read them all and wrote down a few that stood out to me. I found this the other day and the poems were now much more significant.

You squat on the sidewalk under the oak,

small fingers dismembering a rose, face smeared

with cherry juice.

Over our heads a toy jet pulls a white thread

across a shout of blue sky.

Sun. Cloud. Tree. Flower.

Simple things you can't even name.

Behind my eyes, certain knowledge your life

will be touched by sorrows and losses I can't even name.

Against these debits we enter the credits of unhurried days,

the concentrated pleasures of your first summer-

each day a green bead on a green string.

At night when you lie suspended in the small death that nourishes life,

I lean my cheek against the closed door:

I need to hear you breathe.

Once I was a mother to a sliver of moonlight I tucked into a crib and kissed at day's end.

Tonight I am the drowsy child and she, a sprite returning late who leans down out of the thunder moon to place a kiss on my brow.

And the night flows through her, a stream of secrets.

My daughter-mother wrapped in a cloak of cool air, pockets lined with outgrown fears,

dreams caught like brambles in her bright hair.

The night becomes her as she becomes the night, bristling with stars.

I remember when I chose these ones. I knew/hoped I would understand them one day.

And now here I am.

Granted, I am not yet to the second one but I know I will be one day! And maybe my own mother can relate. Either way I like thinking of June as my sliver of moonlight that I tuck into bed.

2012-02-01T21:35:00.002-07:00

You are the trip I did not take

You are the pearls I cannot buy

You are my blue Italian Lake

You are my piece of foreign sky

(Not sure who wrote this lovely little poem. But I love it.)

Laos

2012-01-31T09:42:00.001-07:00

Remember the holidays I invented? Well, January started things out right with "Celebrate a Country day" (I really need a better title...) Last year we remembered last minute and threw together a night featuring Italy, because, well, pasta was easy and quick to make. This year was much better though!

We celebrated Laos. For dinner we had some Laotian shish-ka-bobs, lemon grass soup, coconut milk, and for dessert- mangoes and sticky rice (more a Thai dish but close enough) and a rice and banana type sushi. It was great!

Scott gave us a brief history lesson and Buck gave a language thought. I shared some photos and fun facts. Then Alyse, who has been to Laos, shared her photos, facts, experiences, AND southeast Asian outfit. Oh and I got to use my Thai table cloth my friend Leah got me!
(don't mind the poor point and shoot camera photos.)

Don't know anything about Laos? Go look it up! It deserves to be known about.

Oh. You thought this post was over? Well, it was but I just decided to keep writing. I was thinking back to why I love cultures and countries so much. Felt like sharing. See, one day when I was, I don't know, maybe 14 years old or something (?) I was looking at a map. I looked closely- looked past China and Brazil. Past Russia and France and North America. You know, the regulars. And then I saw them.

Kazakhstan.

Turkmenistan.

Tajikistan.

Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan.

What.

The.

Random?!

Had those countries always been there? Why hadn't I ever heard of them?! Who lived there?! What were they doing?! How could there be countries that existed that I didn't know about- that nobody seems to know about? I became obsessed. I wanted (and still do) to go meet these people. I needed to see them, to know them. It became unacceptable to me to not know about these other children of God.

And thus was born my love of culture and people of the world. This love has grown and morphed over the years and has somehow landed me in my home, knowing that I'm not going to meet anyone outside of American Fork Utah for a while. And that's okay. But still. I dream of going to these places. And until then, I'll continue to learn about them ALL and have a day to celebrate the random places of this earth. I was thinking that next year we should celebrate Belarus. You know what I'm saying? And if I had more money and energy I would celebrate a different country every month. But either way.

Here's to Laos.

Running away

2012-01-30T09:22:00.001-07:00

I dream about it often. Getting in our little car together and running away somewhere together. Even just for a night. I love spending time with my best friend and lover. I need it. I've always known that this would be important to me in a marriage. Getaways. Who June is and what she has added to our life is remarkable. But it's nice to give all our attention to just the two of us sometimes too.

And this is why Buck got me the best Christmas present.

A one night stay at an Inn at Bear Lake.

We were able to sneak away Friday night. One of the only reasons we were able to do this and were able to enjoy our time was because we had great friends whom we trust fully watching our little June Bug. They helped us to relax knowing she was probably getting better care with them than when she's with us! ;)

So we got to steal away that day. Thanks to those same friends who let us borrow their snow shoes, we were able to stop in the canyon on the way there and go snow shoeing for a little bit. Which was fun. I mean, as fun as it gets in the snow and winter...

And we laid there a bit. . .

And talked about this

Once we got to Bear Lake we found the busy summer lake-side town to be dead and silent. It was perfect! The deep teal water against the white mountains was reverent and we enjoyed talking as we drove along the shore.

We ate some pizza at the one restaurant open in town.

And other than that we took the night off- relaxing. We watched a movie, sat in the hot tub, ate snacks, played air hockey, and read from some journals together. It was perfect. PERFECT. Buck even left me a love letter. (last week we somehow got distracted reading through all of our old love letters we wrote to each other while dating and being engaged. It crazy how love feels now. It's fun to see the difference from those letters to ones we write now. I can't wait for the next 50-something years)

And the place we stayed was awesome! (and 50% off! Go! This lasts until the end of April!) The owners were super friendly. It was like a bed and breakfast more than anything. They had snacks for free and games and movies to borrow. The place was pretty new and felt clean and nice but cozy. The rooms had mild themes. We got the bohemian room and I loved it. Big pillows and sheer curtains with rich, thick colors.

The only complaint I have about the whole thing is that it didn't last longer! :) But even so- I am so grateful for the time we had. What a blessing. And then what a blessing to be able to come home and see our smiley baby girl. How did we get so lucky?

Leggings

2012-01-26T12:33:00.002-07:00

Don't worry- I'm not becoming a fashion blogger. (haha yeah right) But I'm posting this to let those who care in on the secret.

The secret of shopping in Korea...

After I "pinned" these suckers, June (buck) got them for me for Christmas.

They were $5! And then shipping was only a few dollars! Cheaper than our stores here!

You better believe that one day I WILL purchase this beauty:

And there are so many cute things!

Okay now CLICK HERE for the website and enjoy!

(and don't even ask me what that face is that I'm making in this photo. Buck just snapped it and walked inside before I even knew what was happening...)

Book of Mormon Stories

2012-01-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

I hope that as June hears us reading from this book *everyday that she will come to love it the way we do. I can't wait to teach her the stories. I can't wait for her to ask questions. I can't wait for the day when she decides if she believes it's true or not. I hope she'll always know what I believe and know.

I love reading the Bible. Especially the New Testament, feeling like I get to walk along with Christ.
The Book of Mormon is special to me in a different way. For me it is more than a wild story, it is more that scripture- it really is another testimony of Jesus Christ- it is proof.

I don't have to read much to know that there is NO WAY that Joseph Smith made this book up. I know he translated it. I believe these ancient voices. I know that they were real- their stories are true. Which means that when they write about Christ coming to visit them after he was crucified- when they describe him coming down from heaven, through the clouds, lighting up the darkness and calming the chaos- when they say that they saw Him and touched His hands and feet- I believe them. And if I believe them, if that really happened then do you know what that means?

That He lives.

That Jesus Christ is real! He lives and He is our savior! All of this is true! Our whole purpose on this earth, all the answers I have found in Him, they are all real.

I believe that you can determine the good or bad of a tree by the fruit it gives. And so it is with Joseph Smith- having translated this testament of Jesus, knowing that it's true- that can only mean one thing. that He WAS a prophet of God. He saw Them. He restored that same church and gospel that was of Moses and Noah and Adam and Christ Himself. But this isn't all so much about Joseph Smith, the Book of Mormon, or other prophets- what the point to all these people and words are is that we can know that God lives. That is the reason for it all.

I know this is true.
And nobody has been able to change my mind yet. And it's because of the Book of Mormon and the witness it gives of Christ and its companionship with the Bible. Whenever a doubt is in my mind I think back to this book and those doubts flee.

And besides, even if this wasn't all true I don't even care because this life has made me so happy. Others find members of this church "restricted." But those of us who live it feel so FREE. I will die happy no matter what. I haven't missed a thing worth having.

Anyway, I'll end my little rant here. I don't normally get like this on my blog, and honestly, I don't know why. Why not? I guess I figure the few people reading already know my thoughts on this or don't want to hear it. ha. But this is something that shapes my whole life, why not talk about it more?

But okay, I need to go now anyways. June Bug is awake.
and she wants to type something now too...bnv n bh , k b lzxd k bvmmfguugvhh cvhxs l opn o
or in other words- We love you all and we hope you're having a happy day! :)

*So we try and read everyday but we're not perfect people.
Also, aren't these photos of June to die for? I love them!

6 Months!

2012-01-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

Today is June's six month birthday!

From day one:

5.7 lbs, 18 inches long

To today:
13.9 lbs, 25 inches long

We are proud parents. She started out beautiful and somehow grows more and more beautiful every day. And this is only at 6 months. To think what the rest of her sweet life will bring!

Doctor says she is doing great, following along in the 10th percentile! He thinks she'll start getting teeth in the next couple weeks! Ahh! I'm not sure I'm ready for that. And she is beyond her age in sitting and standing. (forgive me for the silly proud mom moment. In reality none of this stuff matters when we're adults. We don't sit around asking who did what first, now do we? I get it. But still, I was proud of her anyways. ) :)

This whole baby/parent thing has been hard. But it's easy to find the words for that. Hard, draining, confusing. Whatever. But it's more difficult to find all the right words for how heavenly it has all been. I'd try and use words like rewarding, fun, and sacred- but even then, there's something missing, some word that doesn't exist to describe it all. I suppose I'll spend my whole life trying to find it. But for now, as far as I'm concerned, the best word would be June. Our little everything. Now we've just got to survive another one of these 6-month things and we'll be to the first year! Crazy!!

We love you June bug.

The Un-Birthday Strikes Again!

2012-01-19T12:21:00.001-07:00

This time we got my sister!

And so, okay, this happened almost a week ago.

The un-birthday girl

The presentation:

Now, you're probably wondering "what kind of a bizarre set up is this?"

Well. I tried to make brownies, which I did, but they were so good that the pan I baked them in tried to eat them and I was forced to claw it out from its metal jaw... So I give you:

The brownie... mound...

And pretty colored Jello. . .

And these are the reasons why I will never have some popular blog that shows up on Pinterest. All those fancy parties and creative ideas. Over here all I've got up my sleeve is a baked mess and lots of Jello.

Thankfully we made up for the randomness with a grilled pork dinner with a side of grilled and glazed and caramelized (and majestic) pineapple. (Go Buck.) Ooo, it was good. At least the table cloth is cool too (because it's from Armenia.)

Well- till the next Un-birthday! Watch out- it could happen to YOU.

5 Years (part II)

2012-01-14T16:02:00.003-07:00

As you may have observed on this blog, Tuesday was our 5 year mark of when we met. And you know us, (me) we had to celebrate somehow. To do this, Buck came home and surprised me with flowers (one of my favorite things) and then we went out to eat.

It was really nice because I had a friend over that day and she just volunteered to watch June while we were gone (Her son is basically June's little boyfriend so I'm sure she had fun over there anyways. ha)

We went and used a gift card at Texas Road house. It turned out better than I thought it would. We ended up asking each other "first date questions" the whole time. Things like "what's your favorite music and movies?" and such. It sounds weird since we already know those things about each other but we know them just because we know each other, not because we ever really had to ask. By the time we ever went on a first date, after our missions of course, we already knew each other and had a friendship so we never had to ask. (Our first date, we consider, was during a mission reunion weekend. A group of us went out to eat at Denny's and Buck bought me the sausages I ordered. haha) . . . (SO I have weird cravings sometimes...)

Anyway, it was fun because for some reason answering those questions, the way we would have had it been a first date, made us feel a little awkward and silly. It was strange but it made me feel closer to him. I felt like had that been our first date I would have started falling in love that day. Buck is a dream boat I tell you.

It's always going to be funny to look back on how things started. I always wonder what I would have thought if somebody told me back on my mission that Elder Harrison was my future husband. I just always thought about the shock value this news would have brought but really? I think I would have been so happy, even then with what I knew about him as a fellow missionary and friend.

I always say that Buck is nothing like who I thought I'd end up with BUT that somehow he is everything I ever could have wanted.

A Very Merry Un-Birthday

2012-01-13T08:15:00.000-07:00

Monday night Buck was surprised when he got home from school. As he walked into a crepe paper and Kung Fu Panda balloon kitchen he was greeted with a "Very Merry Unbirthday" song clip from Alice in Wonderland as I danced around like a savage. Why? Because it was his unbirthday, and had been for quite some time now, and it needed to be celebrated.

He even got presents, that lucky son-of-a-gun.

The confused (and very handsome) un-birthday boy

So for dinner I made cake batter pancakes with sprinkles and a glaze. And this Jello masterpiece.

haha

So here's to us all! I think it's basically everyone's unbirthday today. (that I know)

So...

!!!

5 Years

2012-01-10T18:01:00.001-07:00

Today is the anniversary of two big things:

#1) The day I went into the Missionary Training Center to begin my mission that I served in Armenia

so therefore

#2) The day I met Buck, or as he was called then- Elder Harrison.

I guess you never know what day you will meet your future spouse. I, for one, had no idea on this day, five years ago, that he was sitting next to me learning Armenian in the same room. Haha Oh looking back at the photos from the MTC and our missions make me laugh. I still can't believe how things worked out. But I'm glad they did!

Here are some gems I found while looking through the MTC photos. (For the first time, released to the public.... dun dun dun!)

Group photo

Yep. My future husband.

I seriously wore this bright pink dress?

"Cereal Week."

A live action shot in the Armenian room

Day before we left the MTC for Armenia!

We were told the Armenians squatted like this on the streets (and they do) so we were... trying to be like them...?

HAPPY FIVE YEARS!!!

On Trees and Winter

2012-01-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

I was thinking towards the end of this fall that once the leaves fell off our trees how there would probably be more sunlight in our house through the windows. That's when I realized it. It is so obvious, I know. But how nice is God? He gives us green leaves to shade us from the hot summer heat and bare branches that let in that very sunlight to warm us in the winter.

Oh LIFE! During the "summers" or good times of our lives everything is warm and alive and green. God gives us leaves even for shade. Life is good. But then, in winter, it gets cold and the leaves fall and we ALWAYS remark about how dead the earth looks, naked trees, grey skeletons. But I realzed that God takes each leaf away for a purpose- to let sun light in. We see it as ugly but there is an actual purpose from a loving God. He is giving us more light and warmth in the cold. Do trees have to be full of color to be beautiful?

And so it is with the "winters" of our lives. Hard things happen- whether it be big events or a whole theme of "life sucks right now" and amid all the "cold" and "winter" we just see "dead trees" as further proof that all beauty is gone, but really, God is just trying to give us more light and warmth.

I think that to find WHAT the dead trees are in the first place can be hard- it will take a lot of thought and soul searching but once we find them we can see them for what they really are.

Maybe you can try and identify the "dead trees" and then you'll understand the ways that God is actually helping you out.

And I don't mean the "warm coats" and the "hot chocolates" either- but the things in life that seems to add to the misery that maybe actually aren't.

Just a thought.

And here's what the bare trees revealed to us the other morning. True story.

2012

2012-01-06T00:21:00.001-07:00

I can't get this year change out of my mind.

It’s crazy that it’s a new year. Idon’t think I’ve ever thought so much about what the beginning of a new yearhas meant to me. But this is different.When I look back on last year there is this old piece of me that thinks “thatwas the most boring year yet! You never even left Idaho or Utah!” You see, this old pieceof me measured her years in fiascos, heartbreak, adventures, and spontaneity.And my years held much of those things. Every time.

But then the new me looks back on my year. Wow. I have settled and calmed down.My husband got accepted into and started grad school. We bought our first hometogether. I did a TON of personal self improvement and hard work on myself. We had a BABY. I had a baby. A family. I packed in somuch love and meaning into this year it’s unreal.

Maybe I didn’t leave the country orsee the beach but there has never been a more important year yet.

When I look into 2012 it’s also adrastically different view than I’ve had before. I have no plans. No semesterof school, no mission, no job, no solid trips, no new baby- nothing. All I can seeis wondering how I can get June to sleep better. All I want is as many hours aday with Buck as I can get. I want to see our families. I want good things tohappen for my sister. Buck’s siblings too.

It’s time I started measuring myyears with different words.

Love

Service

Progress

and

Sacrifice.

So here’s to 2012. May your difference shineand further shape me into a better me.

And about those New Year's resolutions. I've actually never made them before. See, I have a large list of Life Goals that I actively work on accomplishing (there's like 263 or something and I'm happy to report that I've done a good 60 of them.) But I see that doing my New Year's resolutions as a life goal. I need to join the masses at least once. Make some work-out and eat-better goals that don't last until February. Make some actual goals that DO stick like spiritual ones. Make some personal ones that spill over from last year. Why not? I've been looking forward to this and actually made my list last month. So I'm ready and have already begun. And watch out because when I make goals that matter to me I do them! (I don't know what you need to "watch out" for, it just seemed like the right thing to write you know?) (Also, I really want to be asleep right now but there's no point because lately June's sleep habits... well, never mind, I wont bother going into those...)

At any rate, I guess over all I am so happy with life and where I am at. How could I not be? I have SO MANYblessings. So many that I should spell that word with more S’s. Blesssssssings.It could go on. Buck and I don’t have much money, but yet somehow every night as I go to sleep (when I get to that is) I canonly think that I am the richest woman in the world. I feel like I haveeverything. I realized the other day that that is because I DO have it all. Ihave true love. Fancy cars and large houses mean nothing to me. I have greatfamily and friends. Then I found Buck and I learned how choosing love leads to livingit, breathing it. And just when I didn’t think I could love anymore, my littleJune Bug came into my life and I found a new love I didn’t even know I had. AndI learned that there is always room for more love.

And I don't say any of that to brag or something. Nor am I saying that you have to be married and have a baby to experience all this love. Everyone can experience peace in their own ways. This just happens to be what's current in my life. But I don't want to make anyone feel bad.

Also, it bothers me when others make fun of happy people. You can't win, I tell you. Either you're negative and people tell you to be more positive- or you're positive and people tell you to stop being fake and "tell the truth." Good heavens. Blogs.

ACK! I am tired and rambling. This is never a good combination. Like marshmallows and barbeque sauce. Bad. So I am going to go read this book called "Solve your Child's Sleep Problems" before June's next cry. Peace out- A town.

New Years!

2012-01-04T16:30:00.002-07:00

Pretty New Years flowers from my mom and sister!

June's New Years Eve party outfit!

Just a couple days before Buck's parents had to leave, my parents came down. So we spend our New Year's Eve festivities with them and my other relatives. It was perfect! We started out the night by eating dinner at our house. Everyone had Chinese food, except Buck, his sister, her friend, and me. We had crab legs and sushi and shrimp! (Pretty sure crab legs are my favorite food)

After that we all went to a deserted shore off Utah Lake and set off sky lanterns! It was amazing and we have some left over! I also decided that we will start a tradition with our kids that on their birthdays they will get to set off how ever many lanterns as age they are turning. (that was the best I could word that sentence for some reason.)

Moon flare! Clearest night

After that we all went to my aunt and uncle's house ad played the Wii and other games and then watched the ball drop- at which point we pulled our party poppers, drank cider, and everyone went nuts. Happy 2012.

Past our bedtime

Sparkling cider gone wrong

New Year's kiss!

Before...

After! haha

New Year's day

so yeah... got this dress as a gift... Decided to wear it for this photo- rawr

Happy New Years!

Christmas Break

2012-01-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm baaack! I'm sure everyone is just dying to hear my update.... ha. But nonetheless, an update is needed. My blog, at least, is feeling lonely and outdated. It hasn't even been decorated yet for 2012.

Basically, Buck's first semester of grad school ended (and he got all A's!!) and we set off that weekend with a billion things to do. We went up to Kaysville and spent the night at my cousin Alyse's new house with her and her new husband. June doesn't like slumber parties, however, and it was a long night. But while we were up north we decided to make a day of it. So after spending time with Alyse we went down to Salt Lake and spent time with Carrie and Scott and baby Georgia. We all went to the Grand America hotel and went on this cookie treasure hunt they had. After we got that we went and asked for a tour of some rooms and after some fancy talking we got a tour of their most exclusive and expensive suite! ($5,000 a night!!) (which, it actually didn't seem to be worth that much, but then again, where would it EVER be worth it to spend that much for one night? [Aside from in a space rocket orbiting earth...]) Anyway, after we did that we went and met some friends at our Armenian friend's house and had a dinner party. After that June had had enough and we called it a night.

Grand America Hotel. I belong.

Grand America Hotel. We belong.

June being loved by her Armenian grandparents

I think it was Tuesday night that we trekked up to Temple Square to see the lights. ALSO my friend Leah came and we did a little singing on the sidewalk. You see, the other week Leah and I went to Salt Lake on a Saturday morning and street preformed at the Gateway mall. We earned a total of six-smack-a-roos. So we thought we should try it at night by the lights at Temple Square. But apparently everyone else had that idea too. It was insane. Bagpipes took over the front entrance, a quartet of TUBAS (Tubas! Seriously?!) took over a corner lot, and some guy playing a little weird flute from the Zelda video game was by the conference center. So Leah and I, with her violin and our voices, stood by a professional beggar and attempted to create music. (Side study- The ONLY people who gave money to the beggar woman where Polynesians. Not even the same people from one group, but three different occasions. Study shows: Polynesians are nice. And nobody else is.) All in all it was a bust. There were about a billion people, it was mad. We didn't last long and instead took in the lights and beauty like the rest of the music-less people. But don't you worry- Leah has her accordion here now and we are going to go back on some inconsequential day and blast the streets. Why not?

Saturday morning

Then, Wednesday Buck's parents arrived and were finally reunited with their baby granddaughter. Over the course of time that they were here we:

Went to see a play at Desert Star Theater

Went shopping

Went to Park City

Ate lots of food

Had Christmas Eve at our house and had a great fondue dinner. (And made Chocolate ice cream bowls and ice candle holders)

Spent Christmas day (after opening presents at our home) at Buck's aunt's house and played games

We went to the traditional movie the day after Christmas (and they got Chinese food but we missed that)

Had a reunion dinner with Buck's dad's family

And we did a lot of hanging out and playing games.

And June had her first bananas and she made the sourest face in the world and refused more (haha we have it on video!) But don't worry, she LOVES the limeade popsicles I made. So weird.

Also- Just a couple days after June turned five months she started sitting up! And Christmas day she just sat there Skyping my family. Now she can sit as long as she wants! So fun! (and her claim to fame since she may never really roll over... she still hates being on her tummy for more than three minutes...)

And for some reason I didn't get a lot of photos taken at all these events- especially Christmas eve! I don't even know what I was thinking! I guess I was just busy with everything else. Who knows? But here are some more! (and, okay, so they're mostly photos of June... or other people with June. Okay, so all of them are)

Uncle Ben

Aunt Jade

True story. We have matching slippers.

Next up- New Years post!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T23:43:00.002-07:00

I know, a lot of photo posts, but who cares?! Hope you all had a great day!

(wanna see more photos? ;) check out facebook...)

Plaid Tidings

2011-12-22T15:36:00.001-07:00

Plaid Tidings!!!

Winter Wonderland

2011-12-18T11:16:00.001-07:00

Snow has never looked so cute.

Baby June's first snow!

Christmas Time

2011-12-14T15:14:00.001-07:00

Yay for Christmas decorations. (thanks to my family.) I was worried about Christmas this year because last year during the season I was newly pregnant and super nauseous. So this whole year when I thought about Christmas it made me actually feel sick again. I wasn't looking forward to it.

But then there was baby June.
And even though she will only be five months once the big day hits, it has been so fun to have a holiday with her and she has added magic somehow. We can't wait to keep going with life and holidays and all the fantastic celebrations on earth.

Happy June Bug Holidays

2011-12-12T15:22:00.001-07:00

I can't help it. She's just so dang cute.

Hope your Decembers are going well!

Lunarious

2011-12-11T14:39:00.001-07:00

I woke up right after the first bite had been taken. I wasexcited to see my first lunar eclipse. As the earth’s shadow devoured the lightI realized that my heart was pounding hard and I could feel the pulse in myears. I was nervous. It was as if God Himself was erasing the moon from Hisholy canvas. What if He chose not to draw it back again? What would we dowithout our silver sentinel each night?

And with that- it was gone. A small chorus of morning starsrushed the empty stage as the denim sky sunk the invisible moon. Somehow I feltapart of the alignment, sandwiched in. From the sun to the earth to me up tothe moon.

Taken when the last sliver of moon was left, right before it all disappeared.

Remembering

2011-12-07T15:55:00.001-07:00

Today is a day to remember. First of all it's the memorial day for the Pearl Harbor attacks, which is where my Grandpa Dabel served during WWII. He survived but of course many did not. I have also been able to visit the memorial site in Hawaii. It was crazy to be there and to see and know that one of the ships was just below my feet. War is crazy.

Today is also important to me because it is the memorial day of the major earthquake that hit Armenia in 1988. I served in the main city up north that was hit by it. 25,000 people died. (which you've read a lot about by now from me.) I know that I have been writing a lot about Armenia lately it seems, but for some reason it's been on my mind more than ever. I think it's because I am finally ready to face it and everything that happened there. So forgive me as I go back there again in my head.... (although you really don't have to read this, of course.)

Our last day together, my temporary Armenian companion, Sister Helelyan, and I had had an unusual day. We wereserving up in the country’s second largest city Gyumri. In 1988 Gyumri wasdevastated by a massive earthquake, killing thousands and it had never beenable to rebuild.

Thepeople talked about the earthquake everyday. It was still so fresh for them,even though it had been 19 years. I couldn’t blame them though, the fallen citystill looked like it recently shook. Just around the corner of the city squarestill laid the massive crumbled church. Grass now grew in its cracks, the blackstones lifelessly scattered around as if the earthquake had happened yesterday.Many of the people still lived in their “temporary” homes called “domiks.” Whatthey really were, were decaying box cars without wheels. And they were nottemporary.

Sometimeswhen we would walk by a heap of mangled concrete, I wondered if there werestill bodies buried underneath.

Ineach home the family would have a photo on the wall of each loved one who had died,many of those victims of the earthquake. They took the deceased person’s passport photo, had it enlarged, andthen framed it. It was always a faded blue tinted photo with the personfrowning or straight faced at best. It was depressing.

Somehomes had many of these photos up. Every home had at least one. Once I met aman who lost his wife and children in the earthquake. He spent his daysdrinking.

Andall of this in the middle of a freezing cold and miserable winter.

Ithappened on December 7^th, 1988.

Fastforward 19 years and there we were. Sister Helelyan and I. December 7^th,2007. We didn’t get many verbal lessons taught that day to people investigatingthe church. Instead we wandered to the graveyard like everyone else. Peopleplayed sad and melancholy duduk music from the stores and speakers on thestreet, haunting us everywhere we went.

Itwas snowing.

Wehelped an old woman walk up to her son’s grave and put the two flowers down shehad brought. To give someone an even number of flowers represents death and anodd number is life. (So it’s not very nice to give a living person an evennumber of flowers.) Everyone had brooms and were sweeping all the snow off thetombstones. We brushed at the woman’s son’s grave with our gloves. That day wetaught missionary discussions with our actions and reverence alone.

Sometimesit’s hard for me to believe that I saw the things that I did and lived the wayI did. Being in Armenia is like going back in time- a real way to time travel.It was encapsulated in gray colors and dust, hidden away from the rest of thisworld. It was sad and forgotten.

Andit was magnificent.

That night as I laid in bed I thought about all the gravestones and snow.

And tonight, December 7, 2011, I will think of it again.

I will never forget.

I Love You to Mars and Back

2011-12-06T15:59:00.001-07:00

I'll admit it right now. I'm a believer in dreams. Not ALL dreams, but some. Some of my dreams are clearly nothing more than a sign that I drank too much milk before bed, perhaps. They are random and disconnected and quite frankly, like a Lewis Carroll novel. (Alice in Wonderland. Yeah, he wrote that sucker under the influence of drugs. I'm also a believer in that.) BUT then there are other dreams. Stuffed full of symbolism. I've had some super spiritual dreams, too personal to write here. I've had other morbid and terrifying ones, reoccurring at that. I've had weather dreams. Like when I was engaged and then when I was pregnant I had all sorts of terrifying tsunami dreams. Or later in pregnancy I had some really scary dreams of being attacked and abused. When I was a child I often dreamed of tornadoes. I could go on about what these dreams meant for me, but I'll spare you. But just know that people who do not believe in dreams will never get answers or insights from them.

So why am I rambling about dreams? Well, because. I've had two, count em TWO dreams now within a month of each other about going to MARS. The first one I chalked it up to the milk before bed theory but now two?

And they're not just any Mars dreams. Both times I get stuck up there and it turns out a lot of other people have too and there is a city there. And we are all trapped. Like the first time I was on a space mission (hahahahaha) and once we got to Mars we had to run from the cold, dark side of the planet to the warm and super bright side. Once we got there we realized it had all been a trap and we were now stuck in a city on Mars with many other people. The city was kind of cool but I end up having a few run ins with the evil man who has done all of this. In the end, though, I meet Buck and we fall in love. It is also in this dream that I have another baby girl and we name her Hazel. (and, true story, now we plan to name our next girl, on EARTH, Hazel.)

Then the one two nights ago- I get captured this time and taken to Mars where there are many other people. We are all stuck. Only this time people keep dying and it's really eerie. We later find out that they are killing the dumber people and keeping the smarter ones to turn them into Nazis so something like that. Somehow I escape back to Earth and then I'm in a car with random people I know, like my uncle Hans and my friend Carrie's mom. June is there too. We are driving down a long road in the middle of nowhere and the clouds are the darkest black and blue. All of the sudden there is a swirling opening in the clouds and giant semi trucks come flying out, crashing towards us. I think this is where I woke up.

I looked up online, haha, which can be a joke, but it said: (and yes, they had Mars on the list. Guess I'm not the only one...)

To see Mars in your dream symbolizes energy, drive, passion, fearlessness and ambition. It also represents war, violence and masculine power.

Wow. Thanks for that enlightening description. Well, which one is it?!

Or it said this about planets in general:

To see a planet in your dream signifies creativity, exploration, and new adventures. You are trying to align yourself with untapped energies that you never knew you had. Alternatively, to dream of planets suggests that you are trying to escape from your own waking reality

Why is Mars in my dreams?! Any thoughts?

2011-12-05T11:11:00.001-07:00

It was a busy weekend, despite Buck's massive pile of homework. Who thought it was a good idea to put the end of semester at Christmas time?

So Friday night we went to good old Nickel City.

And June was in heaven. A room full of things that light up and make noise and lots of bright colors. Are you kidding me? I need one of these in my house!

She was enthralled the whole time.

As for Buck and me? Well, we decided that I may be blessed, but I'm not very lucky.

Buck, on the other hand, won us most of our tickets.

And what did we "purchase" with our tickets?

A blow up monkey head, a fortune telling fish, a plastic shark, two drink umbrellas and ONE warhead candy.

Afterwards we got dinner at "The Awful Waffle." Which was really tasty, but awful because it was OUTSIDE. Psychos.

Saturday was our ward Christmas party/breakfast.

June went as "baby Santa Claus" (I corrected the child who called her this to
"baby Ms. Claus." Hi, she's in a dress.)

After that we went to my cousin Zane's baptism. Such a great thing to watch every time.

And here's June the celebrity. All the cousins love her and always surround her like this.

Her great grandparents entertain her.

haha her face. Grandpa was making Donald Duck noises.

Then that night we went to see "White Christmas" at BYU. (birthday present from the folks) And it was FANTASTIC! Tap dancing and all. So much talent! I recommend it to everyone!

And here's a real great picture of Buck and me....

And here it looks like I got beat up by a rainbow.

Fhew! And somehow in there Buck did homework and I finished my grocery shopping. (yet somehow I still managed to forget the bacon...)

I LOVE SPENDING TIME WITH BUCK AND BABY JUNE!!!!

More Advice

2011-12-03T12:55:00.001-07:00

I'm telling you, these things are showing up everywhere here in American Fork UT.

(scroll down to see the other two)

Thanksgiving

2011-12-02T12:34:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's December. But I'm actually glad. Let's get this winter business started and over with! (But I'll have you know that I am going to try and embrace it as much as I can. I have igloo building plans, dog sledding dreams, and a warm fireplace. Good right?) So anyway, before it gets too far into the Christmas madness, let us talk about Thanksgiving.

We went to Boise for a week, which was both relaxing and super stressful. Relaxing to be home, sit in the hot tub, see, a movie, eat good food, go out to eat, see old friends, watch my dad play Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, go to the festival of trees and of course having Thanksgiving dinner. Stressful because of, well, June.

She screamed all week. It was hard to tell if she was hurting or just angry at the world because she wasn't in her familiar home. Either way, it made for a long week. Guess my baby girl isn't the most adaptable of the bunch. It's okay though, we still love her. ;) And she would only calm down for Buck or my dad. But us women? We might as well have been holding her with spurs.

But enough of that. We're just happy to have her. And you'll be surprised to know that I didn't take a TON of pictures (but my small amount is still probably larger than a normal person's large amount) but here they are!

I think everyone had these turkey treats this year.

"feed meeeee!"

our cat, Chewbaca

Uh oh! ..... Thanksgiving food belly ;)

Rice cereal! (not going so well...)

Guess where that drool landed?

Festival of trees. This was a Hawaiian themed tree

My dad as Scrooge

2011-11-28T12:18:00.001-07:00

On my birthday we did a little photo shoot with the babe.

Isn't she the cutest? (and Buck too, I dare say.)

Birthday Extravaganza

2011-11-28T10:14:00.001-07:00

For my birthday Buck gave me a treasure hunt of sorts. All day I received little note cards with clues on them that led me to the next thing or event. The short version is this:

Clues leading me to:

-Breakfast of eggs benedict and coffee cake (a Harrison family tradition)
-A warm birthday bath
-and massage
-A gift! : a set of paper lanterns like the ones in Tangled! (we are thinking of setting them off on Christmas day) and a book called "She" it's kind of like a poem book of sorts with phrases such as:

She realized that she was missing a great deal by being sensible.

Celebrate her spirit.

She added so much beauty to being human.

Celebrate her presence.

She decided to enjoy more and endure less.

Celebrate her choices.

and

She made the world a better place.

Celebrate her.

I think every great woman needs this book. Pages full of appreciation.

Anyway.

-Then Buck also led me around to find a rose just for me.

And a homemade coupon book- the gift that keeps giving- with coupons for things such as him taking a day off to watch June for me and dinner and stuff.

-Then we ended up at the Village Inn for Lunch.

- Then he really surprised me and took me to this Indian temple that I've been wanting to go to for a long time. It was fun to explore and take photos.

knock knock

-Then he took me to get hot chocolate.

-Then we came home and he made me some of my favorite foods-mac &cheese and mashed potatoes.

-Then he made me a hot air balloon cake and some friends and family came over!

And the last treasure of the day was a hand written love note from Buck.

It was a great way to ring in 26 years of life.

Some Good Advice

2011-11-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

Who knew that stop signs provided such great advice and wisdom? Well here in American Fork Utah, our stop signs have something to say to us.

First up:

Good idea. I've been meaning to do this.

And in case you were wondering:

That's right folks. You can't stop the cavemen. Especially on Caveman Blvd.

You've been warned.

{I know, these photos are crappy snapshots. I can't win them all. And my birthday on Saturday was awesome. Can't wait to tell you about it, because I know you're just dying to know.}

my birthday!

2011-11-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to me!

Can I say that? Well, I just did.

So I used this photo/s last time on my birthday post (because doesn't every girl deserve a birthday post?) and today I thought, what the heck? I'll use it again. And by-jove, I'll use it every birthday.

Here's to 26! (years old)

(this time last year I was newly pregnant with June, but didn't know it. I sure hope there are none of those birthday surprises this year...haha)

Warm Water

2011-11-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

That afternoon we came home and flicked on the light switch. Nothing.

Getting your power randomly turned off in Armenia is no surprise. I mean, we only had running water for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. And that was if we were lucky. Some days there wasn’t any water at all.

But it was the middle of January. And it was COLD. The only heater we had was thankfully a gas one, but it sat out in the long lonely hall and only heated that and a little bit of our bedroom. Cooking and eating didn’t seem worth it. Eating anything amid frozen breath forming in the icy air caused a loss of appetite. We would use the kitchen table as a shelf for our food that needed refrigerating. The bathroom was like a freezer. And sitting on that toilet was like ice blocking with your pants off. If we wanted to be warm we had to spoon with the gas heater in the hall. Or sleep with hot water in plastic bottles in our beds. And yet, we were better off than most people.

With no power, however, it felt colder. We went that day and paid our electric bill, thinking maybe we had been late. But yet, four days later we still had nothing. It was dark all morning and all evening when we were home. We tried to read our scriptures and do our make up by candle light but it was a bust. It was just so black all the time. And cold. It was always cold.

And we didn’t shower that week. Being dirty was much more appealing than an ice bath. So instead we went to a salon and had them wash our hair and blow dry it, despite the risk of lice. We felt like hair shampoo commercial models walking out of there after three days of no shower.

In the end we had to get an Armenian to go and threaten them to turn our power back on. For some reason they wouldn’t turn it back on when we asked.

Whatever.

That weekend we were visiting a member from the branch. We told her of our hardship. That we survived without power for four days. I’m not sure exactly what we expected her to say to us, but we surely weren’t expecting:

“Oh. We didn’t have any power for four years one time.”

I felt like thick molasses was being poured down my face, pulling every muscle down.

I felt. So. Stupid. What did I even know about life?

Four days without electricity and I went to a salon and had my hair washed and dried. Really?

There was so much these people knew that I didn’t. So much pain they had seen and felt. Here I am. In America. I have three grocery stores to choose from within a few miles of each other- each the size of a small Armenian village. I have 15 options of milk. Clean white eggs. And isle of cereals bigger than an Armenian home.

One day a man looked me deep in the eyes and said, “You will never understand. You come here for a short time and leave. But we are trapped here. This is our life.”

There hasn’t been a day that I don’t think about that place and those people and wonder if I learned what I was really suppose to. If I gave all that I could/should have.

And then yesterday. After weeks of wanting a hot bath I finally found the time and planned my day round it. I had been waiting for my birthday to indulge but there were three days still to go and I was antsy. I wanted that bath.

So imagine my dismay when I realized that half way through filling up the tub there was cold water coming out.

My bath didn’t last long.

During the next couple hours I realized that I wasn’t getting any hot water from anything. And so it continued on for the rest of the day. It got colder and colder.

After Buck came home he examined the water heater. After some rummaging, a series of clicks, and a loud BOOM he declared that it was broken. We still don’t know what we’re going to do. He’s tried fixing it and researched it online. We can’t afford the plumber (bummer.)

Memories of Armenia and cold water or no water came flooding back into my mind, freezing my neurons and frontal cortex. I knew what I had to do. I mean, a girls gotta shave her legs you know? And besides, I knew better. I knew that complaining was selfish. I was lucky to even have water.

And I was lucky to have a gas stove to heat water on. So six large pots later I had some water to clean my dishes, an inch in the tub to shave my legs, a bowl to dunk my hair in, and a side of the sink filled to bathe June in. I was on a roll, so much so that I was offended when Buck refused to use my method. He refused cleaning at all. (I can’t blame him.)

This Thanksgiving I’m grateful that I used to have hot water. Even if I don’t have it for a few days (or the rest of the winter if Buck can’t figure it out.) Whatever, It’s an adventure.

And more than that I’m grateful for Armenia. For everything it taught me. And not just how to get along without conveniences but how to see life for what it really is and keep perspective. We are blessed beyond our eligibility. Warm birthday bubble bath or no warm birthday bubble bath.

American Fork and Photography

2011-11-16T22:30:00.000-07:00

Last Week Buck, June, and I went on a walk down Main Street in American Fork. I've been fascinated with it. It has such a small town feel but it's surrounded by urban/suburb sprawl. I've been wanting to take pictures of it for a while now.

Also I have been re-thinking my photography. I started out with so many dreams. None of them really lead to where I ended up. I dreamed of travel and candid photos of things and people. I wanted to work hand in hand with God in showing people why this world is beautiful. I loved showing others how I saw things, my perspective. My testimony. And where did it end up? Taking photos of weddings and engaged people. WHICH ended up being a lot of fun as well. But I started getting lost in just taking a portrait and not telling a story. I've been trying to find that again. Bring the two together. I've been searching for my inner story-teller. Anyone can learn to take a good photograph. But not everyone can make art. I want to make art.

And like anything, it takes practice. Like in dance. Did you know I danced for 13 years? Haha, well, you wouldn't be able to tell now. But that's not the point. The point is that while I danced I got to the point where I was flexible enough to do the splits. A month after I quit I couldn't do the splits anymore because I also quit stretching or practicing. Now, to get back to that point I would have to stretch a certain way everyday for who knows how long. I can't just decide and go do the splits again.

And so it is with my photography. My photos may not be the best in the world but I am working hard and I feel like I am getting better. But it will take time.

Did you know that the word "photography" means "light writing?" Awesome, right? I am writing and telling my story with light. And colors! I use the sun's rays as paint brushes. I think that something that deflated my passion for a while was that everyone suddenly decided they were photographers as well. It's become some new trend. Or maybe that's just a thing here in Utah where everyone does everything. It's overwhelming and hard to find my place.

So anyway, here are some of my American Fork photos. If anyone even cares. :) (I know you care Grandma) ;)

Disney On Ice

2011-11-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Yep. Disney on Ice. I wanted to go the past two years. And when I heard it was coming again I begged. And somehow Buck's parents heard my plea and got me tickets to go see the show for my birthday! (which is on Saturday. woohoo) They also gave us money to go out to eat before the performance. Of course I chose sushi. (I'm seriously addicted) And it was a wonderful date night! And whenever Disney is involved it's magical. Throw in an ice skating rink and you've got yourself a winner. But let's let the pictures do the talking shall we?

Tah-dah!

Thanks for the awesome birthday present Jan and Dennis!

On Veterans

2011-11-12T15:11:00.000-07:00

I know this is a day late but it is still worth posting. Both of my grandfathers served. My Grandpa Pew and Buck's grandpa John served in the Korean War and my Grandpa Dabel served during WWII in the Navy at Pearl Harbor. (There are other relatives we have who have served/do serve but I am focusing on the grandpas here.)

Before my grandpa Dabel passed away, my mom interviewed him (and my grandma) and asked them questions about their lives. While I was still pregnant I began to read my Grandpa Dabel's story. He died when I was 14 years old, so I knew him, but never as an adult. He was a simple man from Wyoming of a German father. He played the saw with a violin bow and painted the buildings of his town. I've loved getting to know him through his own words and the stories of his life. Some of the most crazy stories come from his time at Pearl Harbor. So I thought that I would share one of those here. You wont regret reading this!

-----------------------------

"At this one particular time I felt like something was really going to happen. I was sitting there with my earphones on, with the ceiling about 5 feet above my head. I was cramped up in kind of a small area . . . [from there] in the corners you would see guys in there you know. So I felt like something was going to happen and I went out there and talked to these guys a minute. They were talking about keeping their minds off the war. You can’t blame them and they were talking about things that happened to them when they’d go downtown on liberty. I said I don’t think I’ll talk to these guys, they weren’t talking very nice stuff, so I felt like I should move away so I moved away another 6 or 8 or 10 feet to a little narrow opening to some bunk beds in there laying on the wall. It was kind of a narrow room. There were bunk beds in there for people that stayed there, and there was about 4 or 5 in there on top of each other. Then at the end of the deck there was a steel hatch down below that was sealed in from the people below it.

"Just as I went and turned and left these fellows there and went in that room there, I laid on this bed with my earphones on and I still had my cord, then a Japanese suicide plane hit us and through the air vents that I was under. You were suppose to get smoke coming through so bad that it would burn you and scorch you, but the vents in my room stopped and I didn’t get any scratches from it at all, but when I come off of the bed with my earphones on I was trapped in there because there was a ﬁre on this little opening. . .

"For about a minute there I had planned that I wasn’t going to come out of it alive, I planned on dying really, so frantically I went down to the other end of the room there hoping I could get through the hatch there and realized I couldn’t do that so I let that go. Then all of a sudden something just told me to start using my head a little bit. You can get out of there. I said, why not, so I just decided I was going through where that ﬁre was and pushed all that back and got through. It didn’t hurt me.

"The ﬁrst thing I saw was that these fellows I had been talking to, 6 or 8 of them, were all scorched. Their faces were burned and some of their skin was pretty bad. They looked terrible. Some of them could be taken care of with medical treatment.

"Then I looked in the little corner where I had been sitting before talking to the guys, and there was a little space above my head there, opened up about 4" opening in a cross shape.

"I never realized what went through there, but the next day after we got out of there they told the fellows upstairs the explosion on the ship caused all that steel to bulge until when it breaks loose a person can go through a little hole within a matter of seconds like that. It opens up and then it closes again. We were told that.

"When I got back to my battle station after this happened, they were all running around in there trying to ﬁnd their masks. The water was in there, we didn’t know if it was ocean water or not. I didn’t even know if I was going to come out alive then. They were all hunting for their masks and I could never ﬁnd my mask because another guy had it on. The ﬁrst man I saw was a fellow sitting right where my battle station was. It is terrible to have say this but it really happened, he was cut right in two. His body was cut right in two. He had the parts there left, but he was cut in two and he had enough sense to ask me if I could help him. What could I do? I couldn’t do nothing. I just sit and watched him, so I went over to where these other fellows were where these guys weren’t hurt too much. This is where the dentist was sent to his battle station. I ran into him and he was looking pretty bad. We were told to stay there, we weren’t going to be ﬂooded out and we didn’t need our masks anymore.

"Another hour later they cut us out through a hatch door up in front. They let us through when it was secured. We went up in there and there was some guys all over up in there with cuts and bruises all over. Some of them had cuts in their sides and holes all over. They were sitting there laughing it off, even if they were in serious condition, the best they could. I went in there and saw all that, and another half an hour later or something like that they let us go up through the hatch that we come on through in the ﬁrst place, out. I can remember going on top side. It was dark up there. Ooh it was dark. I’ll tell ya. I was really happy to be in fresh air and to see the sky even if it was black."

--------------------------------------------

There are several stories he tells about times he should have died, like this one. Isn't this story insane? I'm so glad my Grandpa didn't want to talk about dirty things. I know God protected him. If He didn't then my mom wouldn't be here. I wouldn't be here. My little June bug wouldn't be here.

I'm thankful God protected him. And I'm thankful for all those who fight for freedom, many who were not saved. War is such a terrible thing to even think about. But I know that every person who desires will have rest after this life.

Happy Veteran's Day! (yesterday...)

Leaf Attack

2011-11-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I forced Buck to go take classic leaf-toss-in-the-air photos with me. I thought things were going well.

Things started getting edgy. He didn't want to but he let me take a picture of him throwing leaves up too. (Of course, he had his mocking-face on.)

And before I knew it, I was being attacked! Ambushed with leaves! But I'm such a hard core photographer that I kept shooting. ;)

Crazy boy.

Girl wants cute autumn photos.

Boy wants a leaf war.

Typical.

Crystal Clear

2011-11-10T14:34:00.001-07:00

Tuesday night was a different temple attendance night for us. Our closest temple, Timpanogos, is closed for two weeks for cleaning and we were able to help out. We heard rumors about people getting to help clean the Celestial room (most peaceful room on this earth, representing the highest of heaven) and the chandeliers! But we also knew the reality was that we would most likely be vacuuming a locker room or cleaning toilets. Either way, we went to serve, whatever our lot may be.

And guess where we ended up? yep. The Celestial room!

Not the one we were in but a celestial room

Not only that, but we were given the job of taking apart all the chandeliers on the walls so that the crystal could be polished. So Buck and I got to hang out together in our favorite place, climbing on ladders and passing around crystal.

No but really, they are this big. This one is in another temple but it was the only photo I could find. Either way- wow!

And as I stood there dismembering the wall sconce, I thought about how heaven wont always consist of us all sitting around pondering life, but full of life and working together. Forever. I'm so thankful to know that I can spend eternity with Buck and June and our families in endless peace.

It wasn't some earth shattering thought or anything new for that matter, but a reminder how wonderful God is. It's all so crystal clear. ;)

2011-11-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

The other day I found an innocent kitten in my backyard with my monster cat nearby wanting to kill it. At the time I was in a rush and so to protect it I put it in the bathroom and left. Buck got home before I did and found a little surprise.

Hello!

That night our cat, Miso, learned of the small intruder and sat by the bathroom door all night, growling. I tried to teach him that it's not nice to try and kill baby cats but unfortunately- he doesn't speak human.

So the next day I went around asking everyone on our street if it was theirs. So far we have yet to find the owner.

But whoever they are- the poor thing was starving and had its whiskers cut off! I didn't really want to find who did that.

So for now it's living with my friend Alicia till we find it a home because she can't keep it. :(

Any takers? (it's the sweetest little thing! So loving and pretty calm for a kitten. And totally potty trained. I'm just saying)

Dance the night away

2011-11-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

Yay date night! Going out alone together is hard to come by these days. "Dates" now usually mean watching 5 episodes in a row of The Wonder Years- which IS fun and we're just happy to be together in any way, but you know me. I like to get out every now and then.

So Friday night we went and had an hour of private ballroom dance lessons.

It was awesome. It was one of those dates where it felt like maybe it was our first date. I think it's because we were doing something totally new together. It's a whole new geting-to-know-you experience all over again. I loved it. And we kind of want to keep going and get good at it. Wouldn't that be great? I'd have my own Fred Astaire.

Either way, we've got a ways to go. But Buck seems to have a talent for it. (Because he's one of those people that is good at everything he tries) So we'll see.

Buck said that his favorite part about dancing was getting to look at my face the whole time. *sigh. What a dream boat. I love him.

Happy Breakfast

2011-11-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday breakfast was majestic.

{photos by BUCK}

Rainbow pancakes with vanilla sauce and sprinkles.

See? Good things happen to people who come and visit us.

2011-11-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

I love surprises

Especially ones from Buck

The photo shoot

2011-11-03T11:57:00.000-06:00

Well hello. I've kind of been on a blog strike because it seemed like nobody was reading it anymore. But I've regrouped and reminded myself why I do this and now I am back, readers or no readers.

For Halloween this year we decided to make a tradition out of what we did last year. A photo shoot with friends. Dinner at Denny's. And then a little after party watching Hocus Pocus back home. It was a barrel of fun. Yep. A barrel. So here are some of the photos! To see them all, check out facebook.

Leah- The unicorn

Anna. Little Red Riding Hood

Buck. the big bad wolf

June. A dinosaur

Carrie

A "ceiling fan"

Georgia. A "dust bunny" (Her ears needed to be up for full bunny effect.)

Erin and Josh. Marry Poppins and Bert.

Kenzi and Tannon. Monsters Inc.

Things... got a little jumbled...

Denny's

The "after party"

Candles in apples!

Hope everyone else had an awesome Halloween. We can't wait for next year already!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T11:34:00.000-06:00

Last Year:

This year:

Last Year:

This year:

And Last Year.......

....And This Year....

Happy Halloween!

The Wedding Singer

2011-10-25T11:42:00.001-06:00

As some of you may know, I had the chance to sing at my cousin's Alyse's wedding reception. They had live music the whole time, thanks to her large and musical family. And I was also asked to sing a few songs. I sang "Funny Valentine," "As Time Goes By," and "Can't help Loving That Man." THEN, for some bizarre reason, she also asked me to sing their "first dance" song- "At Last."

Now, I'm not going to flatter myself into thinking that anyone really cares to hear me sing but for the few family members who do I thought I'd add a clip. It's the first dance song. The other songs there are a bunch of reception guests talking so they are hard to hear.

So, I wouldn't consider this my best performance, but then again, I'm not so sure that I have a "best" performance yet in my life. And as much as I love to sing jazz I have a hard time stylizing because I was taught more classically. But here is me trying anyways... channeling my inner lounge singer....(and yes, I mess up the words once but I don't think anyone noticed...) (and Buck was suppose to get video of the new bride and groom dancing but that little rascal kept the video on my basically the whole time. Guess I had him spell bound.) ;)

I've had a hard time knowing how to watch these videos on blogs but I think space bar just did the trick. (click on the video then hit the space bar. This may only be necessary for Mac users) But then again, I pressed a hundred buttons at once... If it doesn't work let me know please!!

Apple Peel Secrets

2011-10-22T21:57:00.000-06:00

So I got a little distracted the other day while making my apple muffins.

Falling for Fall

2011-10-17T18:06:00.000-06:00

Sunday we went for a drive, our little family did. The mountains were calling to us, all lit up on fire. I'm sure New England is a must see this time of year, but why isn't Utah on the list as well? Mountains candied with yellow, orange, and red- seems like a top choice. People, these photographs you're about to see were not color-photo-shopped. In fact, I took them as we were driving, a "drive by shooting" I'd like to call it. (well, except for the obvious ones when we left the car to explore for a minute.) And, as always, there are a million photos, but I don't think you can blame me. Good company, crazy-colorful scenery- shoot, I don't even feel bad for being late to church. ;)

ENJOY!

Ivory June

2011-10-17T10:15:00.000-06:00

Really? I know. I have a billion photos of June. But look at this face! How could I not?! And these ones are definitely going on the wall.

Swinging!

2011-10-13T11:47:00.000-06:00

The swing that Buck got me for our anniversary present finally came in the mail! And Buck set it up on our tree and now I get to swing everyday! And besides, the swing itself is beautiful. Check it out. And are you ready? Because here come a billion photos. I don't know why except that Buck and I had a fun time last night swinging and taking photos. So here they are in all their raw, unedited glory.

Emo Swinging

Twist!

My parents are crazy!

Life is good.

Paranoid

2011-10-12T10:51:00.000-06:00

Straddling the line between being aware and paranoid is a tiring life. I should know, I'm always dancing back and forth. It comes with the territory I suppose- the one of a degree in Sociology, working at a juvenile corrections center, treatment center and with foster kids (usually the stories of what they grew up with in their families are far worse than anything they've ever done). The one of the blond sister missionary and her "encounters" in Armenia (seriously mom, don't worry about it...) ;) The one of a girl who has studied many social problems and dealt with a lot. The one of a volunteer with the Rape Crisis team (this one made staying on team aware really difficult for me.) I don't know. Blame it on all of that.

Either way.

WHY has there been TWO different black vehicles now that have stopped purposefully and quickly in front of my house to take a picture of it only to race off, taking no note of the other houses? Huh? And
WHY, then, did the most recent person have sunglasses on in a rain storm and take the photo with his CELL PHONE? WHY did he know exactly where he was going? WHY?

Ask any man and they will give me a lot of logical explanations. The one that makes the most sense is that it could be real estate agents for various purposes. Okay then. Fine. But with their cell phone? Really? REALLY?!

Actually, to help myself not be so paranoid, I have to carefully pick and choose what news articles I read. I actually can't handle most of it. It makes me feel too dark and scared of the world. I really have to be careful. It messes with my head.

So I don't know why I thought I could handle the news clip on the baby that was stolen from her crib in the middle of the night by strangers!

Seriously.
I watched it and then 30 minutes later the man in the black car drove by, deliberately stopped and quickly took a cell phone photo of my little house.

So guess what I'm paranoid of now? Yep, that people in black cars are plotting to come kidnap my baby. I even called the police station to ask them if the "paparazzi" attention I was getting was weird. They confirmed that it was, although, of course, there could be "explainations." Either way there's nothing they can do about it unless I get more info NEXT TIME it HAPPENS.

Great.

Since then I've been too scared to walk outside with June. Good heavens.
Last night, in the middle of it, our carport and backyard motion sensor lights turned on. I about had a heart attack. I tried to wake up Buck but he is impossible to wake up!!!
This morning I heard some banging around in the house while I was in the shower. Logically I knew it was my cat doing something savage, but still, I got scared.

And each time I start planning how I will kill whoever tries anything. Is it bad that I know that if anyone ever tries to hurt my baby (or my family) I would kill them? I know that I could do it. Does that make me a crazy person or is it just self defense? Because I am a mamma bear at her worst and NOBODY is going to take my baby or hurt her!

*Sigh*

Well. Looks like I'm siding with paranoia for a time. But all I'm doing is trapping myself in some horrific mental hell AND in my house.

Help

June Bug

2011-10-09T19:30:00.001-06:00

A Few of My Favorite Things

2011-10-06T09:49:00.000-06:00

Really? How am I not suppose to be convinced that my baby is the cutest of all babies? Everyone else seems to agree as well. ;) ...Anyway, these are some of my favorite recent photos, but those of you on facebook probably already saw them. But whatever. I love them. And I love taking photos of my June bug.

On Luck

2011-09-29T11:03:00.000-06:00

The other day I was wandering around the park with my little June Bug. We came upon a patch of clovers and so I started searching for that rascally 4-leaf clover. Naturally. Of course I couldn't find one. And I got bothered. So I picked two 3-leaf clovers and came home and ripped of one of the petals and proceeded to glue it to the other one to transform it into a 4-leaf clover. "Ha-ha!" I thought, "Oh the cleverness of me! I'm making my own luck!" I even thought about the poetic and inspiring blog post I could write about it. (Yes, I just admitted that.)

And while I thought all this, I accidentally glued my index finger and thumb together.

Has anyone ever used Crazy Glue before? Yeah. Bonds the flesh rather tightly.

Moral of the story? (aside from the fact that I'm ridiculous?)

Well, I'll let you decide.

But I'll tell you one thing- that's the last time I try and "make my own luck." Or at least with crazy glue...

Tah-Dah!

Boise!

2011-09-27T10:42:00.000-06:00

This weekend we were able to go to Boise for a little trip. It was fun to have my friends meet our June bug. It was warm and we also got to go swimming. And June's grandma was able to take us shopping to spoil her granddaughter. Plus, I was able to show Buck some very embarrassing home videos of myself from 7th grade. Why Alyse and I thought it was a good idea to dance like savages in front of the camera for a good five songs straight is beyond me. But. Although shameful, it is rather entertaining.

Both car rides there and back went great. We only had to stop once for June going there and twice coming back. Not bad. Other than that she slept the whole way. And we actually stopped to wake her up and feed her. I'm pretty sure she would have slept the whole time if we let her. (but then the nighttime would've been hell) Car rides really put a spell over her. Dang, I wish we lived in a motor home so during all the rough times I could just start driving. And then we would hire someone to drive us around all night. Yes. An excellent plan.

But I digress.

Car rides with Buck are my favorite. We didn't listen to music the whole time except towards the end of the journey coming home when I decided it was time to re-enact my home video dancing for him. Other than that we just talked the whole time and goofed off. If we ever die in a car accident it will probably be because one of us is tickling the other. (What? He's such an easy target when he's stuck there driving...) I sit there sometimes and hope that everyone is this happy in marriage. It's the good life.

But enough of this writing thing. On to some photos. Your favorite right?

(I also did a photo shoot for a friend and her roommate. Check them out on my photo blog HERE. I really would appreciate your feedback on my photos actually. I've been working hard and building that little blog and nobody really knows about it. But I'm starting to feel much more confident. So leave some comments if you love me and let me know what you think. There's not even that many posts so look through it! Let me know! It means a lot!) (and you can see my progress through the years.)

Anyway...

Lazy bones

Baby's first swim! (don't worry the water was like 90 degrees)

haha. what is that face?!

Friends!

Amber- friends since first grade! and Amanda- friends since high school. It's crazy where life takes you.

Pit stop

Food Fight

2011-09-22T10:59:00.000-06:00

Just when I thought that life was about to settle down for once, that there was going to be a moment to breathe, something else came along. Yet another huge decision is now in front of us. I've been stressed about it and therefore exhibiting my avoidance behaviors. Sometimes I like to ignore hard things until I absolutely have to face them. A procrastinator at her finest.

So there we were the other night, Buck talking away about this new choice we need to make, and suddenly I took some mashed potatoes and threw them at his face. *splat!* It landed right in his left eye. He got quiet and we both starred at each other. At first he thought I was mad at him. But I started laughing, knowing exactly what was going to happen next. My husband, the retaliater, grabbed a hand full of "hamburger pie" and smeared it on me. We fought for a minute or two, June got upset by her psychotic parents, and then we stopped.

Happy Food Fight Day!

I exclaimed.

Oh yes. It was. And for any of you who have been reading for a good year, you may remember this post- when I declared I was inventing three holidays. Honestly, their first year of existence has been kind of a bust. I mean, in January we did "Celebrate a Country Day" and did Italy. But it was last minute and the drinks ended up being electric purple colored. Then in June it was suppose to be "Celebrate a Color Day" and I totally forgot amiss all the moving and pregnant hoopla. (which was a bummer because this was the one I looked forward to the most.) And then this September I realized a week before that "Food Fight Day" was fast approaching. The only friends we have who would really celebrate this moved away. :( Or everyone is too busy. I don't know. So I decided to just surprise Buck and throw food at him. So that's what I did.

Whatever. Next year. Watch out holidays, here I come.

And I'll count on them then too for a stress breaker because I'm sure we'll be in the middle of some other life changing event or decision as well. Maybe I'll make a holiday for that. Or the lack of. Yeah! A day where NO big things can happen! A day to BREATHE. I'm just not sure yet when that day will be... but I'll let you know.

This is Buck's food fighting face

yep. looks like someone threw up in my hair. Thanks darling.

Library!

2011-09-21T15:24:00.000-06:00

I almost forgot. This past weekend we also took a little family walk over to the library and got library cards! This is exciting because I haven't had a library card since I was a kid. That, and after college I had a bad taste in my mouth for libraries. Library=study & projects & obnoxiousness. But now? Library= free books and movies! And family walks. And this is why I can now read The Great Gatsby. And all the other books I need to read...

Don't mind my cave woman hair

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

2011-09-21T12:28:00.000-06:00

This is how I tried to spell it:

Supercalifragleisticexpealidocious

which I think was pretty close to the actual word:

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

And why am I spelling this? I just wanted to tell you all how great the Mary Poppins play was that we went to this past Saturday. Yes, while everyone watched BYU get creamed by the U, we were at a Broadway play. (Thanks to my parents buying us tickets! Thanks again!)

It was wonderful, as always, to go on a date with my best friend, and the play was fantastic!

Today

2011-09-19T21:11:00.000-06:00

A little bit of what I saw and did today.

Little Known Facts

2011-09-16T16:39:00.001-06:00

I gave birth wearing pearl earrings.

And pigtail braids.

Whenever I'm not sure how long to heat something up in the microwave, I put an off number like 37 seconds or 53.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when there's no hook to hang my coat or purse on in the bathroom stales. Do I look like I want to put my stuff on the public bathroom floor or hope that it will not fall off the narrow toilet paper dispenser?

I keep my toe nails painted year round.

And I kept them painted my whole mission. Color: Black.

I have a problem when I'm in art museums. I really want to touch the paintings. It seems that if I can feel the texture and paint strokes then I will feel the emotion and purpose of it all the better. (I know, I know, it ruins the paint and stuff. This is why I usually refrain.). . . .

. . . . . . . . .

I've touched a real Van Gogh painting.

I distinctly remember in preschool when they asked me if I wanted to learn how to tie my shoe, button a coat, or zip a zipper that I picked the zipper because it seemed like the easiest and least time consuming. Which, I'm afraid, speaks volumes about me.

I hate yellow gummy bears, starbursts, and well, most any other lemon flavored candy. But I LOVE Lemon heads.

From the age of roughly 5 to adulthood I was always very sensitive and aware of the adults that didn't like me. (I was a hyper child, and odd kid, and a rude teenager. Either you loved me (my parents) or you hated me (basically every other adult...) The first time I really remember this and the feelings was with my kindergarten teacher. She didn't like me, and I knew it. My first grade teacher? Loved me. And so it went.

I've never read The Hobbit, Grapes of Wrath, or The Great Gatsby.

When I go into the dentist for a cleaning I don't try and floss and clean my teeth all perfectly to make some good impression. I figure if I'm going in for a cleaning I might as well get my money's worth.

I can't listen to my iPod when I'm traveling in public, like on an airplane, because I can't help but sing along. Out LOUD.

I have therefore become well acquainted with silence and being consumed in thoughts. There's maybe been four days out of this year that I've put music on in my house during the day while I'm home alone. Usually I'm just quiet and thinking. (okay, with the exceptions of playing the piano or my ukulele.) (my poor deprived child. I've been trying to play more music for her.)

I used to collect hotel shampoo and lotion bottles.

I wanted to be a marine biologist for years when I was younger.

And... I regret quitting piano lessons when I was a kid. (There. I said it.)

Peaches!

2011-09-15T15:22:00.000-06:00

Look at our massive peach tree! It's just been here, growing all on its own. We didn't have to do anything for it (except buy a house...) I think it's almost time to pick some fruit! The branches are sagging with the weight.

My Neighbors

2011-09-14T16:40:00.000-06:00

This is what I see on either side of me when I'm in my backyard:

Neighbor ONE

Neighbor TWO

And neighbor two always brings us veggies from his massive garden. Isn't that great?!

Berry Picking

2011-09-13T11:20:00.000-06:00

This past weekend we went on a little family date to pick raspberries at a pick-your-own farm. I've been waiting almost a year to do this. You see, last year I discovered this right after the raspberry season had ended. And raspberries just happen to be my favorite fruit. So here are the pictures from the event. There's a good amount of photos but I can't help myself! Taking pictures is too much fun for me and with this new camera comes a new spark in me. So here is my photographic study/story of berry picking.

I Spy

2011-09-12T08:42:00.000-06:00

Here's a little game for your Monday afternoon.

Tell me then, what's wrong with THIS picture I took of my phone?

Answer:

I am not nor was I in Duvno, despite what my phone and GPS told me this day. A former city in Yugoslavia/ now called Tomislavgrad in Bosnia & Herzegovina? hmmm. Do you think my phone is a communist? Maybe from a previous decade? Maybe not since it's also reported me somewhere in the middle of Africa as well. Glad my phone is traveling, even if I'm not.

Next photo:

Answer:

Yes. This is my car. But now there are UTAH plates attached to it. :( (And yes, I spazed out the numbers so they weren't readable.) My ties to Idaho are now down to one last ember- my Idaho phone number. Sad, sad day. But at least I'll soon be getting vanity plates so I can maintain some unique identity.

A New Life for the Cat

2011-09-11T21:23:00.000-06:00

We got Miso a collar so I would feel better about his outdoor adventures. It helps anyways. And there was no way to avoid it anymore the way he kept bolting for any open door. We couldn't live that way any longer. At least his collar is hard core.

And I'm happy to report that his first venture alone was a success and he came home happy.

Socially Unacceptable

2011-09-10T09:10:00.000-06:00

The other night was a welcome dinner at BYU for the new grad students.

creative title for the night eh?

It was this night that I was reminded how out of place I always am, but even more so around a bunch of smart people getting higher degrees than me. And in more substantial areas than Sociology. They probably wouldn't have to spell check the word "substantial" either like I just did. Yeah, that's embarrassing to admit, but whatever. There it is.

We started the night out with name tags. Buck's had a lengthy title under his name and mine was blank. Just white paper. They even printed my name at the top of the tag as if to show that there was an empty space below it. Don't worry, I filled it in myself.

And how did the rest of the night end up? Oh, you know.

-The girl to my right was getting her doctorate in Law. She laughed at me when I asked what the "JD" stood for on her name tag. "Jurist doctor. A doctor of law." Oh yes. Silly me.

-I never understood why people are afraid to eat the bread ON the table. Is it not there as something to munch on before the meal begins? Why else would they put it there? (It's like how people say it's "rude" to walk on grass. Well then why the devil is it there? It's grass, not roses.) Out of a good thousand people in that room I was the first to eat it. Before any prayer, before any speaker, before dessert even. I'm a wild woman, let me tell you. The guy next to Buck was relieved that I had broken the barrier of manners and before I knew it everyone at the table had a roll and butter. Who needs a master's degree anyway when you can feed people by breaking social norms? (The only thing my degree is good for it seems.)

(Also, I love to start clapping at silent times during plays. The whole audience always follows and soon everyone is clapping. Brilliant. haha. *sigh. okay, moving on.)

- I also used my fingers to pick up my chicken. Because it was stuck to a thigh bone.

- Miss Doctor of Law stared at me, appalled, as I salted my meal. (So I like a lot of salt... sue me)

- AND The room was so cold that I put the cloth napkins over my arms to try and keep in some heat. I looked ridiculous. (but not as ridiculous as this)

These are the reasons Buck can't/shouldn't take me anywhere. But these are the reasons he says he does.

Anna.

Entertaining or a menace to society?

Sleeping Beauty

2011-09-09T15:16:00.000-06:00

First nap in her crib.

Success.

Story of Miso

2011-09-09T13:46:00.000-06:00

My little bebe cat, Miso, seems to be all grown up these days. And with his age has come the dawn of a new era- being an outside cat. Now this is not my choice, but a daily plea from him. He. will. NOT. stop meowing at the door, begging to be released.

Boo.

I worry too much. I have been taking him out in the backyard and letting him play but letting him out alone? Seems too drastic. How will he know that cars can run him over and that dogs kill? There are two cats that peruse though our yard daily- what if they fight? And then there's the savage kids two houses down that stuck their kitten up our tree and tried throwing rocks at her. What if they get a hold of my kitty? They are young and have mo-hawks and steal shopping carts and drop the f-bomb. (oh they things I see and hear from my living room window) Not the kids I want my cat crossing paths with. They are like Sid off of Toy Story. You know what I'm saying?

Am I going to be an over-protective mom like I am an over-protective cat owner?

You bet.

But in the mean time- here are Miso's latest head shots. ;)

Surprise!

2011-09-08T10:17:00.000-06:00

So I debated whether or not to make this post because I don't want to be a bragger... but what can I do when my husband really really is so wonderful to me? So, bragging or not, I blog on.

You see, last week Buck came home from work and said that I needed to hurry and take a nice picture of him and June together for his boss. Weird right? But I guess I'd believe anything he says because I came out and proceeded to get my camera.

Inside the bag I found a post-it note with an inside joke on it and then below that?

There it sat.

A NEW camera.

Wow.

So let's back it up real quick and let me explain. My digital SLR camera has been slowing dying, a long, painful death. Most of the photo shoots I've done in the past year have been with a borrowed camera. My camera is a good 6 or 7 years old, which in the world of DSLR's is ancient. Hence the dying.

I was extra surprised to see the new camera because I know our budget and I know that is not in it. But I guess that Buck has been saving his personal money on the side for quite some time now. (and he found an AMAZING deal on it)

But really, it's not about the price of gifts AT ALL, what is so special to me about this was the thought. Photography has been a part of me for almost 12 years now. (holy cow, that was longer than I thought) Sure, we've had some fights over the years but photography and me have stayed together through it all. I don't photograph now because it is so trendy in today's world, I do it because of a passion I found when I was 14. I'm glad Buck wants to help me continue in this!

So, anyway.

I should also give a big THANKS to my dad, who got the first camera. It's been a solider. And it's taken thousands of photos. May it rest in peace.

Poision

2011-09-07T15:52:00.000-06:00

So. Pretty sure we need to call pest control. I almost ran right into this web the other day in my yard.

We had to kill the spider since it is most likely poisonous ( is that weird that I feel bad still? I mean this spider made this beautiful web and was enjoying its life.) And then today I about ran into ANOTHER masterpiece web on the same tree! This spider was hiding but I know it's there somewhere. Yikes! I don't care how bad I feel, I wont be having poisonous spiders around my baby! And soon the weather will chill and they'll all want to move into our house.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

Anyone know of any good, affordable companies that know how to get rid of these suckers?

June's Blessing Day

2011-09-07T11:29:00.000-06:00

This past Sunday baby June was blessed at church. The whole event turned out to be more epic than I imagined with family members and friends galore. We ended up with 60 people in attendance! We are so grateful for all the love and support that we get from everyone! After church everyone came back to our house and we had food and got to hang out. Also worth noting is that not only did my parents drive down from Boise but Buck's parents were able to fly out from North Carolina for a couple days. So it was a busy but fantastic weekend. We loved seeing everyone! So now, here are the photos.

So my mom totally MADE this amazing blessing dress for June! It is so beautiful it needed a little photo shoot for itself.

And my sister made the blanket for her and her blessing! So beautiful!

And I of course think my baby is the cutest and so I had to add all her photos of her in her dress. :)

This is her in her "after the blessing" blessing dress, purchased by her grandma Harrison with love

The blessing was special and I can't wait to see all that June will accomplish and become here on this earth! She sure was anxious to get here FAST. ;) I love her more and more everyday.

Photo Booth!

2011-09-05T18:52:00.000-06:00

Got this on our anniversary :)

Family Picnic

2011-09-05T18:50:00.000-06:00

Miso

2011-08-31T13:21:00.000-06:00

This is the kind of lighting I wish I got with all my photos. I wish that I was good enough to achieve this, like, right now. But here is one photo that proves that I CAN do it. At least someday. There are other photos too but this one is probably my favorite. Here's hoping there will be more mastering of light for this little blond photographer.

And, yes, I still love my cat the same as I always did, even though I have a baby now. ;)

June Bug

2011-08-28T15:59:00.000-06:00

Playing peek-a-boo already...?

My napping buddies- cute baby and pretzel cat

I know right?! I totally got a big smile out of her!

mommy lounge chair (and punching bag...?)

Crab rump! I think this is my favorite outfit of hers

One Year Celebration

2011-08-24T10:37:00.000-06:00

Well. We finally made it to a year. After a year of doing things that people should really do over the course of five years. Which makes me kind of nervous/excited for year two. What can we cram into these next 365 days? Oh yeah. Grad school, grad school, grad school. Work, work, work. Baby, baby, baby. Survive, survive, survive. Be grateful, be grateful, be grateful. Are you sick of my three-in-one sentences? Okay, okay, okay. Moving on.

You know what you really came here for. PICTURES. ;)

So for our one year anniversary we went to Lagoon for a day and stayed the night in Salt Lake City. How did we go to Lagoon with a month old baby? Well, here's the thing- we didn't. Now call us crazy but we left her with family and went off together. Does this make us bad new parents? I'm not sure yet.... but I read somewhere that to be good parents comes from having a good marriage. SO with that justification, off we went. And just so you know, everything went great for the babysitters! June was happy as a plumb and everyone that watched her loved it. It was a lot of milk for me to pump before hand (too much information? Too bad...) but it was worth it. (and yes, we missed her.)

So, now that that disclosure is out there, let me continue.

So. Lagoon. We got there around when it opened, rode the rides we wanted without having to wait very long in any lines, walked around, ate dippin dots (my favorite) and then left around 4:00. It was fun to just relax and go on rides or not- it was whatever we felt like. And we were tired so we didn't care what happened much as long as we were there and together.

Ferris Wheel kiss, of course

hahaha this photo makes me laugh a lot

We also found this cool window there. Because Lagoon is random. What amusement park has goats and tigers, a water park, rides, and a small church history tour?

(almost looks like it says "have flan" not "fun" well, either way.)


Thanks Lagoon. We did.

Then we went and checked into our hotel at the Radisson. It was pretty rad because we were on the 12th floor! Great view of the city and temple square.

And we had one of those groupon things and so it included cider and chocolates. Which was also rad.

For dinner we went and got our favorite food- Sushi. Only we found a restaurant that was made in an old church with stained glass windows and everything. This was poetic because on that same evening last year we were having our wedding dinner the night before the wedding at a restaurant in an old church with stained glass windows and everything. Perfect? Incredibly.

And we took some ridiculous photos with their fish tank. Could I look anymore awkward? Like a lanky hunch back yellow fish. haha

And then. Sunday morning, the morning of our one year, we woke up and had breakfast at the buffet in the hotel restaurant- which was also poetic seeing as we had a breakfast buffet at our wedding reception. (~~I'm~~ We're incredibly nostalgic)

And then we went back and did something special. I'll let you in on something a little personal. The night before we got married we gave each other wedding gifts. For me Buck gave me two different fancy notebooks. He said that one was mine and the other was his. Then he told me that these were special notebooks and that we each had one to write about the other person as we desired- to write about what we loved about the other or what made them special or about the silly things they did. (and this was the perfect gift for me because I love writing and journaling and I love Buck! Plus he knows me and knows how much I value finding the good in each other and getting to know one another as much as possible.) And anyway, we decided that we would read them to each other each year on our anniversary. So that's what we did. I loved reading to him about how amazing he is. And as I read what he wrote about me I felt like I wanted to be the girl he was describing. I felt jealous of her and that she was so loved. It was crazy to remember that that girl was me. I simply do not deserve him.

On the way home I read him my journal from the wedding day and we reminisced about how perfect it was.

And then we spent to actual anniversary day at home with our little June bug, as a family.

And to end it all, we slow danced to our wedding song, Moonlight Serenade, in our living room lit by our dim amber-glowing lamp.

It really has been the best year of my life because it's been filled with all of my favorite days. :)

AND

One last thing for those of you actually reading this- THIS is what Buck got me for my gift!

It's a swing to go on our giant tree in the backyard! Isn't it lovely?

Okay. That's all. :)

The Weeping Willow

2011-08-22T14:03:00.000-06:00

The sky around her was yellow as she wept, crying her branches down to the earth. Through her curtain of sorrow, thick as it was, a lean trunk stood crooked but firm. And while it grew towards the sky her tears weighed heavy on the earth, though alive and green- she never knew. She wore her sadness as a gown. One layered and thick and weepy gown.

Next to her stood tall trees, aiming high and their branches up right. They did not droop. They did not cry. They were open and free and exposed.

And so the willow wept.

She never could see the beauty she was. She never knew that it was elegant to cry. To sob and to feel.

And the willow grew old.

Still unaware.

That the tragedy was not found in her tears.

But in the curtain that blocked her view.

{I wrote this and THEN found this painting. It is perfect for this.}

{painting: Weeping Willow- Claude Monet}

One Year

2011-08-21T19:00:00.000-06:00

On this very day last year I got married to the love of my life. To me that's something worth celebrating. What's more is that I have many more years left to celebrate- forever even. Really, what more could I ask for? It's been the best year of my life- thanks to the best decision I've ever made. Thanks to the most amazing man I know. And thanks to the marriage covenant we made with God that binds us together forever. The concept of forever used to scare me but now I simply find peace and comfort in this promise. So here's to the first year! It really has been amazing!

Soon I'll tell you about our amazing weekend of celebration!