Just Another Day in Paradise

Evan and Janae's Wedding

2012-01-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

My brother got married January 7, 2012! I am so excited for him and for his new bride, Janae. We love her and are so happy for them! Benjamin is already calling her "Nanae". He doesn't even say Evan's name yet, to his great despair. It was such a great day. Cold, but great!

Here are just a few pictures:

Evan and Janae

Me with my poor sick baby. He had a fever that night and ended up with an ear infection. :(

The fam...

Updated Cakes

2012-01-16T13:53:00.000-07:00

I updated my "Cakes By Me" page with my most recent cake, if you're interested.

Listening, not just hearing.

2011-11-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

I know it shouldn't, but it always surprises me when Lance actually listens to something I've said. It was a completely random incident yesterday that spurs this post. Lance spent most of the day enthralled with the "Cyber Monday" deals. I think he got a little thrill from having to buy something within a certain amount of time, or waiting for the next mystery deal to appear. There was a lot of jewelery and so he asked me if I wanted a heart shaped diamond necklace. Before I could answer he said, "Just kidding. I know you don't like heart shaped jewelery." I tried not to look too shocked, but I couldn't believe that he remembered that. Jewelery is something that just isn't important to Lance, so when I say things like "I don't like heart shaped jewelery." I expect him to hear me, but not actually be listening. He amazes me sometimes. I know none of this is important, really, in the scheme of things, but it just made me wonder what else he is actually listening to and not just hearing?...

Should Everyone Store Food?

2011-11-10T11:57:00.001-07:00

Lance and I have really been trying to get our food storage together. We started down in Arizona and have been trying to build up ever since. We still don't have quite a year supply, but we are getting there.

Lately, Lance has been talking to a guy he works with about food storage and we've found out some pretty disturbing news. This guy has neighbors and people in his ward that have the idea that they don't need to gather food storage because the church will take care of them. When the time comes, they are saying the the Law of Consecration will be enacted and they will be taken care of with what the church and other families have stored. He actually was telling Lance that they had a lesson about food storage on Sunday and this guy is the only one who raised his hand when asked who had food storage. When he said he planned on taking care of his family with it, he said everyone got really upset with him. His response, "You all know better." SO TRUE! This is seriously frustrating! How long has the church been telling members to gather their food storage? To have a year's supply? Um...FOREVER!!! It bugs me a little when I talk to people and they say that their parents have food storage, so they will just go there if something happens. WE are supposed to be prepared as individual families. We should plan to have more to take care of neighbors that are not members that haven't stored anything, but members too? I say no. If the church does enact the Law of Consecration, fine. I'll do what I am commanded to do. If not, no way! Think of how much more food there would be if EVERY member did what they were asked and had at least a year's supply of food for their family. If every member did just a little more than that, think of how much good we could do to take care of those around us! The church has great resources whether you're a member or not with great advice and ideas on how and what to gather for food storage. PLEASE do what you've been asked!

https://lds.org/family/family-well-being/emergency-preparedness?lang=eng

Home Sweet Home

2011-11-08T15:56:00.001-07:00

I've come to the realization lately that I have become a homebody. I never used to be. I used to be out doing something all the time. Work, school, social life, etc. Now, I really just sit home. I do venture out to the store now and again, but that has been the extent of my "social activity" lately. Sure, we go out to SLC a couple times a week to visit with family, but sometimes I would be just as happy to stay at home. I have the feeling that this is going to get worse as the winter progresses. It's an entirely different beast when you have a little one to account for. You have to make sure you have everything that you might need for the day, bundling them up is no easy task, and head out. You also have to account for naps, and sometimes, if he doesn't get one, you wish you would have just stayed home. Also, we have a dog that gets left at home that we have to worry about. Or he comes too and then we have to worry if we have everything we need for him too. And in the winter, its really too hard to take him with us. He LOVES to play outside when the weather is nice, but is kind of a baby when it comes to cold weather. That can be attributed to a combination of factors. First being that he is an Arizona native. Second, we have had him since he was eight weeks old and we lived in an apartment for the first two years of his life, so he's used to being inside most of the time. Third, well, he's kind of attached to us. Living in apartments, he didn't go outside unless Lance or I were with him. So he's weird about being outside without us or someone with him. On top of it, I'm just getting sick of the drive to SLC. It's not that long, I know, but it just gets old after doing it so much. In the winter, going around the point of the mountain can be a bit daunting as well. We got stuck for over an hour in a snow storm last winter. We obviously will still be going to SLC for appointments and things we can't get in good old (crappy) Tooele, but not as much as we do now. I just like being home where I don't have to keep a constant eye on my baby or my dog because I know they are comfortable and that my house is child proof. We have a routine here that we know works for us. It's just nice to know that the day is going to flow. So whether or not I stay home all the time and officially fit the description of "homebody", is not my point. My point is that I like to stay home because it's just nice.

Baby #2

2011-10-21T15:17:00.001-07:00

Well, ready or not, baby number 2 is on the way! I found out I was pregnant again about a month ago. I have to admit, I wasn't thrilled. I really felt like I wasn't ready for another baby again. I still don't feel ready. I know, I know, all of you are thinking "You're never 'ready'." I know that. It's not that Lance and I aren't ready financially, or in a good position in our lives. For me, its emotional. I'm having a really hard time trying to figure out how I'm going to love another little human as much as I love Benjamin? I know it all works out, and your heart just grows, but I'm pregnant, and not being logical at the moment. I have a hard time thinking that I'm going to have to split my time with Benjamin with another baby. I don't want him to feel neglected. I want it to be a smooth adjustment, for everyone. I know nothing is perfect, but that things work out. I know, I know, I know. Other than being ridiculously sick, this is still not real to me. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that I am pregnant. I don't think it will feel real until my belly grows and I can feel it moving. It's not that I don't want to be pregnant or have other kids. I am just having a hard time coming to terms with this for some reason.

Well, there's a glimpse into a crazy, pregnant woman's head for a minute. Welcome to my world.

Marsh Lake

2011-09-06T20:46:00.001-07:00

Lance, Benjamin, and I decided to head up to Marsh Lake this weekend with Lance's family. Other than being car sick and Benjamin not sleeping at night, it was a nice little camping trip. Lance's family is always so good to us. We were fed well and there is always good conversation. Benjamin loved being outside and made it a challenge to keep track of him. I didn't take too many pictures, but these are a few that I got while Lance was fishing.

Benjamin's Birthday Party

2011-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

We threw Benjamin his 1st birthday bash on August 20th. We did it at my parents house because there is more room, and honestly, who wants to drive to Tooele? I think it was a pretty awesome party. Too bad he won't remember any of it.

Lance made his BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, everyone brought a side, and I made the cake. My parents bought a blow-up water slide this summer, so we used that to entertain the kids. Benjamin wasn't a huge fan of the water slide. I think just because the water was from the hose so it was cold.

Benjamin got some awesome toys, but like every one year old, he wanted to play with the first one he opened and didn't really realize that there were so many more. He was spoiled rotten.

I think he enjoyed his cake at least.

Happy birthday my Benjamin!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

2011-08-17T09:48:00.001-07:00

I can't believe my baby is 1 year old today! It seems like it has gone by so fast. He started walking a few weeks ago, which makes him seem like a big kid. I keep thinking back on last year when I was in labor, going in and out of Pitocin, finally getting the epidural, and 13 hours after being induced, getting to hold my sweet baby boy! Only for a minute though, since my body was so in shock I was shaking too bad to hold him. It is AWESOME being a mom and watching your baby grow and develop. Thank you Lance for being such a great dad for Benjamin. And thank you to everyone who has helped along the way.

Here are few pictures to remember his first year.

One day old...

One month...

Two months...

Three months...

Four months...

Five months...

Six months...

7 months...

8 months...

9 months...

10 months...

11 months...

1 year!

What a cute boy!

Lake Powell 2011

2011-08-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Lake Powell was a new adventure for me this year. Taking a baby changes a lot. He did great. He just started walking right before we left, so I wondered how he would do on a rocking houseboat. Didn't even phase him! He had fun playing with his cousins, going on the tube, and going for boat rides. He DID NOT like swimming or his life jacket. He didn't mind sitting on the swim platform and kicking his legs, but all the way in was a challenge. We had to put him in really slow or else he would scream and cry. It made me sad. I hope he likes the water better next year. It was interesting what 3 years and a baby can do to your skiing abilities. It took me 4 tries to get up on the slalom ski! Something I'm not proud of, but I can admit to. It took a few tries to do a 360 on the knee board too, and I still only did one. It was fun though. Skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, tubing, boating in general is awesome! I don't know how I went 3 years without my Lake Powell fix. Thanks mom and dad for always taking us! It is the best vacation EVER!
Here's a few pics:

Love that hair!

And we wonder why he hates his life jacket...

Swimming, screaming, and strolling

2011-07-30T09:11:00.000-07:00

Sorry its sideways. I recorded it on my phone and can't figure out how to rotate it with the programs I have.

Hiking Donut Falls

2011-07-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

I had two friends, Sara and Crystal, come visit from Arizona last weekend. It was so fun to show them around SLC! We took them to Temple Square, Park City, and Big Cottonwood canyon. I don't have many pictures (yet), but these are the ones I took with my phone during our hike up Donut Falls. It was BEAUTIFUL! The water was so high and moving fast, but it just made it that much more spectacular!

Lance carried Benjamin up, but we are thinking about getting a backpack for him.

The beautiful falls.

Lance and Benjamin by the falls.

(Bottom right corner, if you can't find them. It's kind of a "Where's Waldo" thing.)

Sara and I thought that there were lots of bugs getting us on the way down. Turns out it was just a little bug and his dad! Lance gave Benjamin a stick and had him tickling the back of our arms.

He thought he was SOOO funny.

It was AWESOME to get back up in the canyon! It is so gorgeous up there and we missed it when we were in Arizona. I definitely see more hiking in our futures.

Mom's 60th Birthday Surprise!

2011-06-14T08:53:00.001-07:00

My sister and I planned a surprise party for my mom for her 60th birthday this year. She had NO IDEA what was going on. It was perfect! She thought it was just a day like any other day. We went out to dinner as a family, like we always do, and then when back to Andrea's for cake. Little did she know what was waiting with her cake...

It was so much fun! I'm glad it all worked out and that so many people were able to make it. Thanks to everyone who helped pull it off!

Check out my "Cakes By Me" tab for a picture of the cake.

4 Years!

2011-05-15T20:49:00.000-07:00

Happy anniversary to my hubby of 4 years! I can't believe how fast it has gone by! In four years, we've moved four times, out of state and back again, raised a puppy, Lance earned a doctorate degree, and we added the cutest boy in the whole world to our family! It may not be a long list, but it is a substantial one. It's been an amazing time! We truly came to know the wisdom in God's words when he said to rely on each other as husband and wife. To "leave thy father and thy mother" and to "cleave unto...none else". We have both grown and learned so much from each other because of this. We are so grateful for the time we have had together. I'd never do any of it differently. Thanks for 4 great years Lance! Here's to many more!

Scripture references: Doctrine & Covenants 42:22, Moses 3:24 (and many others)

San Diego with the Fam

2011-05-05T09:34:00.000-07:00

My parents were very generous and took us all on an amazing vaca to San Diego!

Our first day was spent at Sea World. It was fun to see the dolphin and orca shows and walk through the shark tunnel. Quick side story about the shark tunnel. Before you get into the tunnel, you go around a corner and some scary music starts playing. Well, Evan and Dylan were a head of the rest of us and started making their way around that corner. Dylan stopped Evan and said, "No Uh Eh. We have to wait for an adult." That kid is so awesome!

My cool little dude

My dad, me, Dylan, and Maisy at the orca show

Lance, Evan, and Ben at the orca show

Lance and Ben at the sea lions/seals (Ben was very curious)

We went to Coronado Island for some breakfast and then to the USS Midway for a tour.

Breakfast in Coronado

Andrea, me, and Dylan on the USS Midway

Benjamin just being cute

Lance, me and Benjamin on the USS Midway

Dylan being a pilot

Benjamin sitting where the engine should be on a jet

We spent a day at San Diego Zoo too. That is one big zoo, with some seriously steep hills! I got my calf work out that day for sure!

Dylan and Benjamin playing on the turtle

Me, in front of the giraffes (It was so humid there, that my hair couldn't decide what to do. Lovely, huh?)

My mom was being silly and took everyone's picture in the caterpillar/butterfly.

Then, we just spent time at the beach. It was too cold to get in, as far as I was concerned, but Lance braved it many times.

Benjamin and Lance

Lance and Benjamin

My cute little family at the beach

Oh. I can't forget about Fight Club! Dylan declared "Fight Club" on Uh Eh, so they went at it for a good 10 minutes or so. It was pretty funny!

Thanks for an awesome trip Mom and Dad!

Styled By 3 - Shoe Giveaway!

2011-04-08T13:52:00.004-07:00

Awesome shoe giveaway at Styled By 3! Click the button for the site, or the link below to go directly to the shoe giveaway!

http://styledby3.blogspot.com/2011/04/happy-fools-day-giveaway-this-is-not.html

Fun at the Zoo

2011-04-03T11:39:00.000-07:00

Ben and I had a fun time going to the zoo with Auntie Andy, Dylan, and Maisy. Well, Ben and Maisy weren't as into it as Dylan, but it was still fun to get out of the house and be outside on such a nice day.

Dylan is a great map reader and was able to navigate us around the zoo.

Watch out Dylan! There's a tiger behind you!!!

Ben chewing on his stroller strap. Pretty much his day.

Dylan on the train.

Dylan is as big as a gorilla! Well, a little gorilla.

Benjamin and me ready to ride the train.

Poor Maisy was not feeling well.

Andrea and the babies.

Dylan snuggling the gorilla.

The whole gang.

Something To Laugh About

2011-03-31T08:05:00.002-07:00

Sorry its so dark.

Going Private

2011-03-13T10:48:00.002-07:00

Unfortunately, this world is becoming a scary place (see link below). I hate to go private, because I worry no one will look at my blog ever again, but to lower the risk to my family makes it worth it. Please email me at huntalayna@yahoo.com with your email address if you would like access to my blog.

My Handsome Kid

2011-03-07T22:31:00.001-07:00

Thanks Jenny! They turned out great!

http://jennyturkphotography.blogspot.com/

Happy 29th!

2011-01-25T13:46:00.010-07:00

Today is Lance's 29th birthday! I can't believe how old he is getting! Lance was 22 (almost 23) when we met, so it is hard for me to think that I have known him for six years. He has grown so much in those six years, but I am glad that he is still the crazy, sweet, supportive, fun, smart, hard-working man I fell in love with back then. In those few years, for me, he's gone from:

The boyfriend...

To the fiance...

To the husband...

To the graduate...

To Benjamin's dad...

Thank you for working so hard to take care of our family and for still having the energy to go out and be fun and crazy! I couldn't ask for more! Happy Birthday Lance! I love you!!

Great-Grandparents and Benjamin

2010-12-01T13:56:00.004-07:00

When we were visiting Lance's Grandma and Grandpa Hunt a couple weeks ago, we decided it would be a good idea to get some pictures of the Benjamin boys together. My little Benjamin was named after Lance's grandpa Hunt.

Benjamin and Great-Grandpa Hunt

We couldn't leave out Great-Grandma.

Then we decided that a multi-generation picture would be cool too. This is Great-Grandpa Hunt, Grandpa Hunt (Lance's dad), Lance, and Benjamin. Kinda cool.

I caught Great-Grandpa Menna and Benjamin asleep on the couch. Great-Grandpa caught me taking the picture...

Benjamin's Blessing and then some

2010-10-03T11:26:00.005-07:00

We were lucky enough to be able to bless Ben in Utah with our family and closest friends. Lance blessed him on Sunday, September 26th. We've had lots of fun showing him off to everyone. I've been taking lots of pictures of how big he is getting and how cute his personality is starting to come out.

The proud dad with friends, Matt and Jake

Great-Grandma Woody holding her 15th (I think) great-grandchild

The blessed boy

Ben and his dad hanging out before dad had to leave for AZ

Ben with his cousin Dylan who isn't to sure about holding him

Cooing and smiles while playing outside at Great-Grandma and Grandpa Menna's

Playing with Grandma Woody and cousin Maisy

Great-Grandma and Grandpa Menna with Ben

Twin-ers

2010-09-12T13:49:00.004-07:00

I walked into The Children's Place before Benjamin was born and saw an outfit that I just had to get because it reminded me of Lance. I dressed Benjamin in it yesterday and snapped a few pics. Its still a bit big on him because it is size 0-3 mo. He'll grow into it though and then it will be super cute. Its hard to take pictures of a one month old, so hopefully you can see the similarities.

Benjamin and his dad (and some random)

2010-08-28T19:06:00.005-07:00

Hangin' out with dad

Ahh...this is the life!

So cute!

Okay mom, that's enough.

Who thinks Benjamin looks like his daddy?

2010-08-23T16:35:00.005-07:00

Benjamin Scott Hunt

2010-08-21T10:07:00.005-07:00

Benjamin is here! He was born 8-17-10 at 8:28 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz and was 19 3/4" long. We came home from the hospital on Thursday and are both doing great. I will post more pics when I have more energy. ;)

This is the amazing crib that my dad built for Benjamin and drove all the way down to Arizona to deliver. I'll tell you the story behind it in another post.

38 Weeks

2010-08-07T12:52:00.002-07:00

Here is an update of how huge I am at 38 weeks. Pretty sure he's ready to come out. Any day baby. Any day.

36 Weeks!

2010-07-26T16:28:00.002-07:00

I had my 36 week check up today. From now on I will go to the doctor once a week to check my progress. After today's visit, we are off to a great start. Yes, I am being sarcastic. I am not dilated at all! Not even 1/2 cm. Nothing. The only plus was that he is for sure head down and everything else is right on track. Of course, I could have told you that two weeks ago. The fact that it feels like someone is constantly pushing on my bladder and the sharp pain I have every once in awhile in my pelvis were dead giveaways for me. Its okay though. He technically still has 4 weeks to make an appearance, so I guess I will try to be patient. I am just so excited (and miserable) that I am ready for this little one to be here!

We still don't have a name, but we are narrowing it down. As soon as Lance takes his national and state board tests, and has time to think about anything else, we should be able to lock in a name.

I am working on a list of people to call/text once he is here. Let me know if you want to be on the list so I don't forget you. If I do forget, don't take it personally. We'll just be a little preoccupied. ;) Wish me better luck next Monday!

3D Baby

2010-06-28T17:07:00.002-07:00

I had a doctor's appointment today and they did another ultrasound. This one was to measure the baby to see how much he weighs. They estimated that he is about 4 pounds right now, which is average. The ultrasound tech worked really hard and even put Lance to work helping to make sure she got a really good picture of the baby's little face. I think he is adorable!

Graduation Day! (weekend)

2010-06-24T21:29:00.014-07:00

Lance officially graduated on Friday, June 18, 2010. Including myself, his grandparents, mom, my parents, my sister, and my nephew and niece were all in attendance for the event. I'll be honest, I cried a lot. You might be thinking, crying at a graduation? Well, it's been a long, hard three years and it just felt like a huge weight lifted from us. Plus, I am 7 months pregnant. Emotions are high. It was awesome! Thank you for all the congratulations and for the support we received throughout the process. Thanks to our families for making the trip down for the event. Here are some photos of the weekend:

Introducing, Lance Tony Hunt, Doctor of Pharmacy

And yes, those are honor cords!

The whole crew at dinner that night at El Encanto (one of Lance's favorites)

My parents made Lance this cool new pharmacist jacket

On Saturday, we did a lot of playing
Dylan loved the pool

He let Grandpa do most the swimming though

However, playing at the pool put Grandpa and Maisy right to sleep

We had lunch with my sister Michelle and my cousins, DeDee, Sandy, and Melissa. They made it a baby shower luncheon, so Lance and I got some much needed baby stuff. Thanks girls! This is my mom, my sisters and me after lunch. I love that I look HUGE next to all of them! I know, I know. I am pregnant. Still...

That night we played some games and just hung out. We started in the hallway of the hotel so it would be quiet while Dylan fell asleep. Lance and Andrea had a little too much sun that day, I think.

Lance got some good practice in with Maisy. She likes to be held that way. Puts her right to sleep.

Dylan was so tired he fell asleep like this

It was a really fun weekend! Thanks again to our families for coming to support Lance on this big day, and for staying to hang out. Most importantly,

CONGRATULATIONS LANCE!!!

Lance is DONE!!!!!

2010-06-10T22:02:00.002-07:00

We thought this day would never come, but Lance is DONE with school! Today was his last day at his last rotation! He got an A, of course, on this one. He officially graduates next Friday, but as far as school everyday, rotations, assignments, etc., he is DONE!!! I am SO proud of him!

28 weeks...and counting!

2010-05-29T18:18:00.003-07:00

This post is for those of you lying awake at night wondering "How big is Alayna's belly now?". Well, look no further. This is it:

The baby and I are both doing great. Nothing really to report. Lance tells me every week that I look so much bigger than the week before, but I don't think so. He always puts it so nice too. Something like, "Your belly is huge!!!" What a sweet guy. ;)

Happy Anniversary!

2010-05-15T19:46:00.003-07:00

I just have to blog really quick to say Happy Anniversary to us! It has been three great years. The good, the bad, all of it. It's crazy to think that three years ago we were looking forward to our move to Arizona three months later to start Lance's schooling. Now we are looking forward to a baby in three months and Lance to graduate in 4 weeks! I couldn't ask for more! It will be a crazy summer, but so worth it! Here's to three awesome years and many more to come!

Then:

Now:

Fun in Utah

2010-05-03T12:33:00.003-07:00

I am so grateful to have such wonderful people in my life! My awesome cousin and sweet grandma threw me a shower while I was in Utah for the weekend. Thank you to all the family and friends that came to support me and gave me such wonderful gifts! It was great to see everyone and catch up a little bit. Here are a few photos that my mom and Rachelle snapped.

Babies!!!

2010-04-08T21:12:00.003-07:00

In case you haven't heard, I have a new nephew and a new niece! Yep. One of each and they only came a week apart! Both my sisters have this amazing gift of being pregnant at the same time. Last time it was 3 months apart. This time it was only a week.

This is Parker J. Michelle, Andy, and Kira welcomed Parker into the world and into their family on March 25. He weighed 7 lb. 11 1/2 oz and was 20 1/2 inches tall. Lance and I were able to go visit them at the hospital.

Next, we have Maisy Dean. Andrea, Wes, and Dylan welcomed Maisy on April 2. Maisy weighed in at a whopping 6 lbs. 11 oz. and was 20 inches long. Of course, we weren't able to be at the hospital for this baby girl, but I do get to see her in a couple weeks! I am so excited!

Congrats you two! They are adorable!

It's a BOY!

2010-04-04T11:11:00.003-07:00

We found out last Tuesday that we are having a little boy in August! I honestly didn't care either way. Lame or not, I just want a healthy baby. Lance on the other hand wanted a boy first. So, needless to say, he is thrilled with the fact that we are having a boy. No names yet. We are still working on that one. Although I appreciate the input, Scavenger and Beau will not make the list.

Woody's Bed

2010-03-09T22:00:00.004-07:00

I know most of you probably don't care about my silly dog stories, but this was pretty cute. I walked in to find Lance studying on Woody's bed and Woody just laying next to the bed staring at Lance. The look was, "I don't get to lay on your bed, so what the heck!?!" Lance has decided that it is the most comfortable place for him to study since I won't let him take out his LoveSac. Woody, as you can see, is not very happy about the arrangement.

Second Trimester

2010-02-21T17:50:00.003-07:00

I am officially in my second trimester! Thank goodness. I am so glad to be feeling much better. I still don't like the idea of red meat, but other than that I am happy to have my appetite back. By that, I don't mean that I am gorging myself, but just eating period. I lost 5 pounds during my first trimester and I still haven't gained even one of them back. My pants are definitely starting to feel tight, but I think I can hold out for a few more weeks.
Lance and I have been trying to reorganize our apartment to see if we can find any hidden space. No such luck. There is NO way we are going to fit another little body in here, no matter how small. So, let the house hunting begin! We have found quite a few that we like, now the trick is looking at the inside. We're hoping to find something before Lance graduates in June. There will be too many things going on this summer to add moving on top of it. We are excited at the idea of getting out of this apartment. Wish us luck!

Announcement

2010-02-02T16:25:00.003-07:00

A few months ago, I posted about how everyone was pregnant around me, but I was not. A list was even started of the people I knew that were not pregnant. Well, I am officially removing my name from the list!

I have been feeling quite sick for the past month, so finally decided to try out a pregnancy test. Low and behold, it was positive! I had my first appointment yesterday and an ultrasound today to determine how far along I am. From the measurements today, they are estimating that I am about 11 weeks and my due date is August 20th! We are really excited, and actually shocked that it happened so fast! The reality of it all is still sinking in, but it is so exciting!

Happy Birthday Lance!

2010-01-26T20:41:00.002-07:00

Yes folks, he is old. Lance turned 28 today. We mostly celebrated on Saturday, since today was so busy. We went to one of Lance's favorite restaurants, Outback Steakhouse (thanks to my mom and dad). I also let him open his presents. My parents sent the gift card for dinner and one for a movie (thanks!), his mom sent us a dinner gift card too, and then I got him a couple books about how to grill. He seemed really excited about the books, which was a huge relief for me. Tonight we were able to get take-out from Macaroni Grill. Very yummy. He just wanted to rest at home, so we just did dinner, but it was nice. Happy birthday!

Happy Birthday Dylan!

2010-01-03T10:29:00.003-07:00

I can't believe that my cutest nephew is already two! He is so dang cute! It was really fun to be able to be there for Christmas and watch him open presents and be excited about his new toys. I wish I could have stayed for his birthday to see it all over again, but I am sure I will get pictures. He is so fun to be with and is learning and growing so fast. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DYLAN!!!

Visits and Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T15:13:00.011-07:00

I haven't posted in awhile! This is a long one, but kind of fun.

Andrea and Dylan's Visit

Andrea and Dylan came to visit me a couple weeks ago. We had a great time! We went straight from the airport to the zoo where I didn't take any pictures. That night, we went to Chandler to look at Gap maternity for Andrea (no announcements here) and go to dinner. Dylan was so cute at dinner! I got some sliders (mini hamburgers) and Dylan thought they looked just his size, so he wanted one. Whenever he took a bite, he opened his mouth as wide as it would go to try to fit the hamburger in. It was so dang cute, but Andrea and I just weren't fast enough to snap a picture. The next morning we went to the Children's Museum in Phoenix. Dylan had lots of fun playing. There were lots of different activities. Here are a few:

Riding around

Practicing for The Price is Right

Letting the car out of the shoot

Racing Cars

Doing some shopping.

Riding a Polar Bear?!?

Playing on the slide

Not so sure about the slide

After the Children's Museum and some much needed naps, we headed down to Queen Creek to see Michelle, and cousins. Dylan had fun playing with his cousin Kira, Andrea and Michelle compared bellies, and of course there was great food.

Dylan and Kira playing on the stairs

The Pregos

Dylan enjoying a pumpkin cookie - Thanks Uncle Andy!

Thanks for coming to visit! It was lots of fun!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year was our first year cooking our own Thanksgiving dinner! Sure, we had lots of invites to go elsewhere, but Lance really wanted to cook our own so that he could enjoy the leftovers for weeks to come. By weeks, I mean WEEKS! We invited one of my friends from work, so there were three of us with enough food for 30! Lance insisted on a 20 pound turkey. That's right folks, I said 20 pounds for 3 people! Also, we couldn't just have one kind of pie, so I made a pumpkin

a dutch apple, which was fabulous, if I do say so myself,

and a chocolate pie that I wasn't too fond of. We also used my mom's homemade roll recepie, jello salad, cranberry sauce, asparagus, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a drink. All in all, I'd say it turned out pretty good. Not bad for our first Thanksgiving cooking experience. Of course, Woody was ready and willing to help with anything that we couldn't eat. ;)

It's that time again...

2009-11-01T17:43:00.003-07:00

Well, its that time of year again when I get crazy ideas to make ridiculous sorts of things. My latest attempt was chocolate covered caramel apples. I LOVE the ones from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, but couldn't justify paying $6+ for one. So, I made them myself. I bought the apples, a couple bags of caramel, and a few boxes of white chocolate, and this is what I came up with:

I think next time I need to do a second layer of chocolate so that it covers better. Other than that, I think they tasted fabulous! If I do say so myself. ;)

Congratulations Lance!

2009-10-01T21:13:00.006-07:00

I believe that congratulations our in order for my awesome husband! This week he finished up the last of his schooling! No more tests every week! He is starting his first rotation(internship)on Monday and will do five more after that until he graduates in June! I just have to say how proud I am of him. It has been a hard road these last two years. Lots of sleepless nights and stress, but he has done an awesome job! Congratulations Lance on all you have accomplished and for being on the downhill stretch!

Announcement

2009-09-24T19:41:00.003-07:00

Lately, there have been many pregnancy announcements. One of my childhood friends just had her baby, both my sisters are pregnant, four of my friends are pregnant, and countless other people that would take too long to list. I would like to add my name to the list of people who are not pregnant. What? You say there is no such list?!? Why not? Now, you may think this is silly, but why should all the pregnant people get all the attention? I mean, those of us that are not pregnant are just as cool. Sure we don't have the radiating glow, a date to look forward to, or something squirming inside us, but I am here to tell you that we are still alive and kickin'!

Congrats to all those pregnant people and the one's who are not!

Another year down

2009-08-14T08:53:00.002-07:00

Well, we've put another year behind us here in Arizona. We've changed a few things, like where we live, but other than that, it is still the same. This time, we have less than a year before we can get out of here! YEAH! Well, I want to get out of here anyway. Lance is open to the idea of staying. I am pushing for the Virgin Islands. I think that sounds like a nice place for a stay at home mom to be, don't you? :) Honestly, we will go where ever he gets a job, so who knows. We are just excited to be on the downhill stretch of Lance's schooling. He is in his last academic quarter right now and then it is just internships until next May. I think he has a six week class in May and then he will graduate next June. We will be looking for jobs starting next March and hopefully houses too. So, keep your eyes peeled for any good deals. It's crazy to have the end in sight! We are excited. Lance especially. He is really getting burned out with school. Understandably so with a test or two every week. I will post pictures of the new place once we have more unpacked.

Moving...

2009-07-28T19:45:00.004-07:00

Well, in case you ever wondered, it takes a strong plastic bag, a vacuum, two people, and 5 1/2 rolls of tape

to get a LoveSac ready to move.

It's still not as small as the bag it came in, but at least it is more manageable. We're hoping it will store well under the bed until we have a house and a place to put it. It's pretty impressive considering it's size. At least I am impressed by our handiwork.

I did get a hair cut...

2009-07-22T11:08:00.002-07:00

I guess I did get a hair cut while I was in Utah. It was kind of a big deal. Almost six inches off! I know pictures of yourself are never flattering (especially since this one is pretty yellow), but it at least gives you an idea of the cut. It's fun to have something different and definitely nice for the Arizona heat!

Trip to Utah...not so successful

2009-07-20T08:55:00.003-07:00

Well, we arrived safe and sound last night around 8:30 pm (AZ time). We honestly have never been so happy to be back in Phoenix. This was a pretty rough trip for us. Lance got Swine Flu a few days into our trip which pretty much grounded us. I was still able to go to Lagoon and boating with my family, but felt horribly guilty the whole time, which made it not as fun. It was sad that we felt more and more relieved the further we got from Salt Lake, but made us feel that we are in the right place right now. I had to drive because Lance is still sick, but it really made the time go by fast. We arrived home, however, to find that the A/C in our apartment was broken. We slept (laid in bed sweating) last night in about 90+ degrees. I couldn't even apply face makeup this morning because I was sweating so bad. I never thought I would enjoy a cold shower so much. I couldn't find Woody this morning either, which got me worried that he was dying from the heat. He usually sneaks up on the bed in the middle of the night or is on the floor right next to us. I went around the whole apartment calling for him, but he wasn't coming. I heard his tags jingle, but still couldn't see him. I finally opened the bathroom door to find that he had shut himself in there. Pretty much the saddest thing I have seen. I have no idea how long he was in there. I felt so bad. Lance is home today waiting for them to come fix the A/C, and because they don't want him at school with Swine Flu.

Sorry for everyone that we missed this last week. We didn't want to spread the disease. Don't feel left out though, we didn't really see anyone. Thanks to family for hosting and feeding us. Needless to say, we probably will not be back anytime soon. We have a bit of a tarnished view after this trip and are quite happy to be back in Phoenix.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T08:38:00.003-07:00

Have a happy and safe 4th everyone!

(I made this for our 4th of July potluck at work yesterday. I think it turned out pretty good!)

10 (or more) Reasons Why I Love My Mom

2009-06-08T13:50:00.011-07:00

First off, Happy Birthday Mom!

Second, here is my Top 10 list for why I love my mom. These are in no particular order, but let's do a top ten count down anyway.

11. For making me do workbooks during the summer
10. For being so fun and spunky
9. For teaching me that there is chocolate, and then there is Cummings.
9a. A bag of chocolate chips will do in a bind.
8. For teaching me that chips and salsa or popcorn CAN be a meal.
7. For teaching me how to care for and serve others.
6. For always being there to talk to, about anything.
5. For teaching me the value of hard work and HOW to do it.
4. For reading to me when I was little.
3. For teaching me the Gospel and always living its standards as an example to me.
2. For making our family close.
1. For always hoping I would "dance" and believing that I could.

YOU ARE THE GREATEST!!!! LOVE YOU MOM!

Curtains and other stuff

2009-05-31T18:37:00.004-07:00

As requested, here are some pictures of the curtains we put up. Yes, we've been here two years and are just now putting up curtains. Lance decided that we needed to cover our windows with plastic to keep down our electricity bill. Another couple in our ward did this and they swear that it cut their bill in half, so we went for it. I wouldn't let him do it in the front room until we got curtains to cover it up. I didn't want people seeing the ugly plastic and tape when they came in. So, if you are wondering what the tan stuff is on top of the window, it's tape. I was waiting to post the pictures too until we got the side holders put up, but then we decided we might be moving, so we stopped at just the rod. Who knows. I am happy with them though. I really like the red in the front room too. It adds a lot of color and ties it in good with our furniture. The red is a lot darker color than it looks in the pictures, but I just happened to take them when the sun was shining through. Thanks for the suggestion Rachelle! And for answering your phone in the middle of a Saturday. ;)

This is a picture from a Daddy/Daughter Luau the Young Women put on. We had a hula hoop contest and this is Lance attempting to hula hoop. He did suprisingly well.

Phoenix Tea Party

2009-04-18T08:44:00.002-07:00

I didn't get a chance to go to the tea party here in Phoenix, but Lance was able to go and represent us. He went with a bunch of friends from school and they all made signs. They all looked up ideas on the internet, but Lance came up with an original. He's pretty proud of it, and I think it's pretty funny.

The Spirit of God

2009-04-10T20:49:00.002-07:00

I had the amazing experience of attending a young woman's baptism tonight. I just have to share that I feel so privileged to have been able to attend. She is a young woman who's boyfriend is in our ward and has shared the Gospel with her. She has been taking the missionary discussions is his family's home for the past 6+ months and made the decision to be baptized. One of the coolest things (I think) is that her boyfriend is a worthy Priest and was able to be the one to baptize her. I share this not just because I think it a such a cool story, but because it really hit home tonight. I've never really been able to attend a baptism that wasn't for an 8 year old. Which is still wonderful, but for some reason has never had the effect on me that I felt tonight. I believe that I caught a glimpse into what a missionary might feel when an investigator is baptized. Although I had nothing to do with her decision, other than maybe teaching a few lessons in Young Women's, I felt so privileged to be there and so proud of the decision she has made. I felt the spirit so strong in that room that I was crying by the opening hymn. Granted the opening hymn was 'The Spirit of God' which is my dad's favorite hymn, which of course made me think of my baptism and how lucky I was to have my dad baptize me. I guess what I am trying to say is that I love this ward and I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have learned so much from my ward family. They are great member missionaries. Not only to those not of our faith, but to some of us that needed that extra push. I know that Lance and I were meant to come to Arizona for this reason and I am so glad that we did. I know that the Lord has blessed us. I know that this young women is starting a journey that will bring her great happiness and it reminds me of how much I have been given and how much more I need to give. I just want to say thank you mom and dad mostly, but also to everyone in my life that has pushed me to be stronger and to choose the right.

Good Morning

2009-04-06T09:57:00.003-07:00

I woke up this morning to find one of the most hilarious things I have ever seen!

If you can't tell, this is Woody wrapped up in a blanket on our bed. He had gotten up on our bed sometime this morning, pulled this blanket off Lance, and wrapped himself up in it. What makes me laugh the hardest is that he is completely covered! He has pulled a blanket on himself before, but never over his head. What a funny puppy!

Speech of the Year

2009-03-31T20:10:00.000-07:00

We need more politicians like this in America.

Transfer!!

2009-03-12T11:08:00.004-07:00

As many of you know, I have been wanting to transfer to a branch closer to my home for work for quite some time. It is a lot of time, miles on my car, gas money, etc. Well, I finally found an opening at a branch close to home!! I interviewed yesterday and got offered the position today! I start there April 6th. So I am going from a 45 minute commute to a 15 minute commute and a 25 mile drive to a 5 mile drive. I am SOOO psyched!

When To Wear White

2009-03-09T10:14:00.002-07:00

This may seem like a silly question, but are we all still following the rule "No white before Memorial Day and after Labor Day"? I've always understood that it is just for bottoms (pants, skirts, shoes, etc). I'm sure that most of you reading this aren't even thinking about it yet, but it has been on my mind lately. My issue is when it is pushin' 90 degrees in March, I want to break out the Spring/Summer clothes. I have a white skirt that I like to wear to Church as well as white shoes and such. I'll be honest, I wore a white skirt to Church in February when is was 80+ degrees out, and I felt incredibly awkward all 3 hours. Hence, the blog post about it. So, I throw this out to all my fashion savvy friends and family to direct my down the correct path.

Ensign

2009-02-26T13:14:00.004-07:00

For the past year or so, Lance and I have subscribed to the Ensign magazine that the Church puts out. And for the past year or so, they have all been collecting dust. This month, I actually tried picking it up to read it. Novel idea, I know. I figured Lance and I could read at least one article a week for FHE. When I started reading through the article titles, trying to decide what article to read, I noticed somewhat of a pattern. There are at least three articles all about self-reliance. Hmm..hint, hint. Plus, a step-by-step guide to understanding the parable of the 10 Virgins. I think that everyone in the USA needs to read the self-reliance articles. Especially with everything that is going on right now. Plus, the fact that they want to clearly lay out the 10 Virgin's parable so that everyone understands, makes me wonder what we should be expecting in the next little while. All I can say is if you haven't read this month's Ensign, I would highly recommend doing so. Also, I'm thinking of blocking out my Saturday for April GC coming up, 'cause I think it's going to be very informative.

*Disclaimer* All information in this post is personal opinion and not to be misconstrued as fact or revelation of events to come.

What a cute husband, awesome family, & great friends!

2009-02-13T10:09:00.004-07:00

Last Thursday was my birthday. Yes, another year gone by and another year older. The day started out pretty much like any other day, but got better when I walked into work. My manager bought me a cake and an amaryllis. My teller friend bought me a bunch of inside joke gifts, a Bath & Body Works gift card, and balloons that she made me keep at my desk all day. Then our PFR bought me lunch! I work with such awesome people!

When I got home, Lance was studying for his Friday test and apologized that we couldn't go out to dinner that night, but promised we would go out Friday. We just grabbed some quick fast food and then I figured he would go back to studying. He disappeared for a minute and then came out with my baby blanket wrapped around something. (This is Lance's version of "wrapping a present") To my surprise, it was Mario Kart for our Wii!

It is SOOOO fun! I talked my family into getting it to so that we can play each other. Then the next morning when I went to take a shower, Lance had another surprise waiting on the bathroom counter. It was a new flat iron!!! I was so impressed that he picked it out himself! He said he did a lot of research on the Internet to find out which ones were the best out there and the best for your hair. He actually opened it for me because he was so excited to show me all the features. It was cute.

My sister sent me some awesome Shade shirts and my parents sent some gift cards, which is always greatly appreciated and so nice to get.

Thank you everyone who made my birthday a great one!

Son of a... That's gonna leave a mark!

2009-02-10T21:33:00.002-07:00

This is one of those classic moments in time that I can't help but share. I just hope I'm not the only one who thinks it's funny.

Lance and I took Woody out walking this afternoon around 5:00, so it was still light outside. We have been working hard on our walks trying to teach him to heal instead of going where ever he wants, when ever he wants, and pulling us all over the place. Towards the end of the walk, Woody was really catching on to the whole thing, so Lance kept telling him he was a good boy and would lean over to scratch his head as a "reward". Woody was very proud of himself and happy that Lance was praising him, instead of yelling at him like how the rest of the walk had gone. So, when Lance reached down to scratch his head while they were walking, Woody turned his head to look up at Lance. You're thinking, "cute", right? Yes it was, until Woody ran right into the bumper of a parked car! It was sad, but hilarious all at the same time. It was one of those classic run into something while your head's turned sort of scenes. I'm still laughing about it now, which is why I am choosing to blog about it.

Just a little comic relief for your day! ;)

United Nations' threat: No more parental rights

2009-02-05T13:05:00.006-07:00

I usually try to keep my posts light and fun, but this is too horrible not to share. We need to figure out how to stop this and pray it NEVER goes through.

www.worldnetdaily.com/?pageId=87929

Clint Eastwood

2009-01-29T17:09:00.004-07:00

So, Lance has been on a big Clint Eastwood kick lately. A while ago he had taken a trip to Wal-Mart and found some of his movies in the $5 bin that had two movies in each. We ended up giving most of them to his dad and grandpa as Christmas presents, so the next time we were at Wal-Mart we had to look in the bins again for his Clint Eastwood movies. We now own four of these movies. I wasn't really excited about it, but Lance insisted that I needed to watch one and I would like it. This was about a week ago. We have watched two now. One, I can't remember the name of, and then we just finished The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. I have to say that I am a fan! They are actually decent movies, and Clint Eastwood was a hottie when he was younger! These pictures don't do him justice, so I recommend watching the movies. At least The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly since it is probably the most famous. Maybe it's just the rugged cowboy look that I like so much, but I think he's a hottie.

Happy Birthday to Lance

2009-01-27T21:23:00.005-07:00

Well, we did end up going out to dinner on Saturday for Lance's birthday. We went to a place called On The Border. It's kind of like a Chili's, but more authentic Mexican food. It is REALLY good. While we were waiting for our food, I gave him his present;
2 tickets to the Suns/Jazz game here in Phoenix. The game's not until March, so we have some time to get all worked up for it. It should be pretty interesting considering we will be the odd balls. Luckily the Suns are doing just about as bad as the Jazz this season, so it should be a pretty even game. Lance is really excited about the tickets, other than he is sure that they cost way too much. I blacked out the price so he wouldn't say anything about it, but he did anyway. Now he is trying to figure out how he can work it so that the tickets count for my birthday too. He may be taking Woody though, since he was excited about the tickets too.

Birthday Weeks

2009-01-24T09:55:00.003-07:00

Some of you may have noticed the "Happy Birthday" background adorning my blog background verses most others who are sporting Valentine's backgrounds. Well, that is because for the next 2 1/2 weeks, the Hunt household is in birthday mode. Lance's birthday is on Monday, January 26th and mine is roughly two weeks later on February 12th. Next week is finals week for the end of Lance's quarter, so we are planning to go to dinner tonight (thanks to my parents and their thoughtful gift) to celebrate. I will let you know what I got him after tonight, just in case he checks the blog. ;) Happy Birthday To US!!!

Shootin' Guns

2009-01-17T21:14:00.003-07:00

Well, I finally did it. I shot a gun. First time EVER in my entire life. Lance and I went shooting out in the desert today with Carlos and Mary, some friends from our ward. Just target practice kind of stuff. Carlos brought his two glock 22's and three of his rifle's. Lance just brought his rifle, deciding to leave the shotgun at home this trip. We don't have any hand guns yet, because Lance can't decide what he wants and well, we're not made of money. ;) Each of us shot three rounds with the glock's. I actually hit the target, and pretty close to the center a couple of times. The shells kept hitting me in the head, so I had to work on holding my wrist tighter so it didn't kick up so much. It took me by surprise every time I shot it, so my eyes would close and I couldn't see where the bullet hit. They had to point it out to me after my round was gone. The grip was a little to big for my hands, and the .40 caliber bullets kicked a lot for me, but I think I did pretty good for my first try. I think my dad and brother would be proud. After the glock rounds, we moved back farther to shoot the rifle's. Mary and I were pretty much done at that point and not very interested in rifle shooting, but the boys were REALLY excited. They each shot a couple rounds and then somehow convinced me I should try one. Well, what I thought would happen, happened. I planted my feet and pushed it back into my shoulder, but it still kicked back hard. It really jammed my shoulder, plus it pushed up into my cheek bone. They told me that they didn't think it kicked very hard and I told them it probably was a lot different for someone 100+ pounds lighter than they were. They felt bad, but at least it didn't knock me on my butt. THAT would have been embarrassing!

Happy Birthday Dylan!

2009-01-03T14:38:00.003-07:00

It is my cutest nephew's 1st birthday today. I can't believe it has already been one year. This time last year, although happy, was also a bit stressful, but we are all SOOOO happy to have little Dylan in our lives. He is such a trooper and definitely SUPER BABY! Happy Birthday Dylan!

Lance's Birthday

2009-01-03T11:58:00.002-07:00

I am not feeling very inspired or creative already this year. After Christmas, it is hard to think of another gift to buy. Lance is turning 27 on the 26th of January and I am at a loss for what to get and/or what to do. I know, I know. Ask him, right? Well, as most of us do, he says not to do or get him anything. Maybe it is my own fault for going so all out for his birthday while we were dating, but I feel like he needs to have a fun birthday this year. He won't tell me anything that he wants, so I turn to you, the blogging audience. Any ideas? Party and/or gift. I am totally open to suggestions.

I DID IT!!!

2008-12-30T20:35:00.002-07:00

HURRAY FOR ME!!! I finally figured out where the music was coming from! I am such an geek sometimes. OBVIOUSLY I put the music with the Thanksgiving pictures because that's when I was feeling homesick. Of course, I have figured all this out after I deleted my other slide show and a bunch of other stuff just trying to get it to stop playing. It was like the song that never ends. That's right. It just goes on and on my friend. I hope you all enjoyed a month of the same song, 'cause those days are now over. Ahhh. Silence is golden.

Christmas Treats

2008-12-21T16:28:00.002-07:00

Well, I got a little creative this year for my neighbor Christmas treats. When I worked for my dad, his insurance guy would bring in these fabulous caramel and chocolate covered pretzels for Christmas. I thought this year I would try to make them myself. From scratch. Yeah, kinda ambitious. So, I bought the rod pretzels and almond bark in milk chocolate and white chocolate, made some caramel, and got to work. Although Lance says that the caramel was too buttery and the overall creation was "too sweet" for him, I think they turned out great for my first try and a made up recipe. I think this could become a regular on my Christmas goodies list.

Music

2008-12-18T21:32:00.002-07:00

Okay, so I tried for a half an hour to change or just plain remove the song that I had put with my slide show on the side bar. Obviously, to no avail. I have deleted it from my slide, re-saved it, and pasted it back into my side bar. NOTHING WORKED!!! Very frustrating. So Andrea, I am sorry, but you will have to either figure out how to fix it, or wait until I figure it out. I put that particular song on there in the first place because it was right after my family had been down for Thanksgiving and I was feeling a little homesick. I agree with Andrea though, it needs to go. It's not helping anyone. Plus, it is a little annoying at this point. So if anyone has any suggestions, I am all ears!

Girl's Night

2008-12-05T07:26:00.005-07:00

I went out last night with some friends from work for a fun girl's night out. We just met at Applebee's and had dinner, but it was really fun to be able to sit down and catch up since two of them left my branch earlier this year. Plus, Lindsey just got engaged last weekend, so it was perfect timing for us to get to hear about it and see her ring. Gorgeous, by the way! It was really fun. Thanks girls!

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-02T11:27:00.004-07:00

So, pretty much I have the coolest family. My mom, dad, brother, sister, and cutest nephew all drove down here to Arizona for Thanksgiving. My mom not only drove down, but also cooked an amazing Thanksgiving dinner in my tiny apartment kitchen. It was SO good. The day after, my mom and sister went to see Twilight with me, since Lance won't go (SOOO GOOD!!), and the boys went shooting out on the desert. Then we all went to the Phoenix Zoo. It was a really fun day. By the time we got back though, we were all worn out. We ended up watching some movies and everyone fell asleep. I think we were all in bed, passed out, by 8:30 that night. Crazy! It was a really fun time though, and I am glad they all came down. THANKS FAMILY!!!!

So angry

2008-11-11T15:21:00.003-07:00

This is Booda. He is Woody's favorite toy. Booda is made of terry cloth, squeaks, and has a silly face. This is actually Booda #2, because the first one was unfortunately used as a chew toy during the teething phase. Booda is kind of Woody's security blanket. He sleeps with him sometimes, and loves to run around the house with him making him squeak like crazy! Well, the other day I was able to get Booda without Woody noticing because I decided it was time that Booda had a bath. After Booda got done in the washer, I squeaked him so that Woody would come running, which he did. When I gave the newly washed Booda to Woody he threw him down. So, I tried to pick him up and make him squeak again to get Woody excited. Well, he snatched Booda up quicker than I could and ran to the other side of the apartment. When I went to see what he was doing, he turned his back to me. When I tried to get closer, Woody moved somewhere else. He kept his back to me the rest of the night and would not let Booda out of his sight. He even wanted to take him outside to go potty with him because he didn't trust me to be alone with Booda. Lance is still making jokes about Woody being so mad at me. I am still surprised that he was so upset that I washed Booda. I guess I learned my lesson. Woody is sleeping on my foot right now though, so I think he has forgiven me.

Trunk-or-Treat

2008-10-25T20:25:00.004-07:00

Lance and I attended our ward's Trunk-or-Treat Halloween party tonight. For those who may not know, this is where the adults decorate the trunks of their cars and then the kids go around to each trunk to trick-or-treat. They had a dinner, games, and the trick-or-treating. There were a TON of people there and some pretty elaborate trunks. I am talking lights, moving parts, and music. Pretty crazy stuff. I did my best, but as most of you know, my creative side isn't my strong point. Here's what I came up with...

Volunteering

2008-10-24T11:56:00.007-07:00

I attended a volunteer event last Saturday for work. We took on 3 houses in a Mesa neighborhood to clean up the yards and the outside of the house. The house that I worked on, we were doing just the front yard. They basically just wanted us to clean it up, but not too much. It kind of bugged me a little because the supervisor for our house kept rushing us and telling us not to do certain things because we needed to hurry and get back to the other house to help out. Then the people that owned the house came out to look at what we had done. The guy was in a wheelchair and a Veteran, his wife is the provider. He broke down into tears over what he saw. It wasn't even that much, but he was SO grateful for us providing that service for him and his wife. It was a very good project to be involved in, even if I was REALLY sore for the next few days. That kind of physical work can really take it out of you if you're not used to it!

This is what the yard looked like before...

And after...

The group...

One of the volunteer's husbands is a professional painter, so he told the home owners that he would go back and paint the front of their house too. Pretty nice, huh?

Ipod Tag

2008-10-12T09:17:00.004-07:00

1. Put your I-Tunes/music player/cd player on shuffle
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER WHAT!!! NO CHEATING!

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY? Best I Ever Had - Gary Allen
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY? Life's a Dance - John Michael Montgomery (Too true, huh mom?)
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL? I Like It, I Love It - Tim McGraw
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? Runaway Love - Chris LeDoux
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? Breathe A Sigh - Def Leppard (That's a good one)
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO? Amy Hit The Atmosphere - Counting Crows (???)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS? Hotel California - Eagles
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.) - Motley Crue (OK, that is sad if that is true :()
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT FREQUENTLY? What I Need To Do - Kenny Chesney (SO TRUE!!)
WHAT IS 2 + 2? Last Kiss - Pearl Jam
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND? Lithium - Nirvana
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LOVE? You Won't Ever Be Lonely - Andy Griggs (That is very true!)
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N' Roses (I just want in! ;))
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Sing Me Home - Tim McGraw
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LOVE? Every Once In A While - Blackhawk (Yeah, that's about how often I see him.)
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? Look What You've Done - Jet (I am sure that is true.)
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Midnight in Montgomery - Alan Jackson (Gosh, I hope not!)
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Separate Ways - Rick Trevino
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST? La Totura (Shaketon Remix) - Shakira Featuring Alejandro Sanz
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? Burnin' for You - Blue Oyster Cult (OOH, good to know!)
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? El Paso City - Marty Robbins

Use the song that comes up no cheating or its no fun!

History Quiz

2008-10-10T10:21:00.002-07:00

In lieu of the upcoming holiday (Columbus Day for those not in school or the banking world), a co-worker and I have been having a debate about the following three questions concerning history. I won't tell you what we think, because I don't want to sway your answers.

Who first discovered the world is not flat, but round?

Who was the first to sail around the world?

What did Columbus actually discover/What is he remembered for?

Happy Columbus Day on Monday!!!

CreatedByMom.com

2008-10-01T22:33:00.002-07:00

So you may have noticed the ad to the right that says "CreatedByMom.com". This is also a link to one of the greatest ideas for a website/business I have ever heard of! It was created by my friend Quinn, who is a stay at home mom. While trying to figure out what she could do to help out with paying the bills and still be able to be home with her kids, she came up with this idea. It is a site totally devoted to stay at home moms that make stuff and sell it to help pay the bills. So, if you want to support stay at home moms, or if you have an idea for something that you could sell as a stay at home mom, check out the site. This is the Grand Opening that runs from October 1-18.

Good Luck Quinn!!!

He's gonna be a soccer player! Yes he is!

2008-09-27T12:07:00.003-07:00

WaMu = JPMorgan Chase

2008-09-25T21:46:00.003-07:00

Well, as some of you may have heard, WaMu was seized by the FDIC as the biggest bank failure in history and then sold to JPMorgan Chase for a killer deal. So, I officially work for Chase...at the moment. For now they are telling us that it is "business as usual" but there will definitely be layoffs and branches closing (over 400) within the next six months. It was just announced tonight, after we had all gone home of course, with no forewarning from WaMu to us as employees. Just today, our CEO sent us a cute little email telling us thanks for doing such a great job reassuring our customers that WaMu is going to be fine. So, tomorrow when all of our customers come in to tell us "I told you so" we get to look like the idiots that had no idea. Although I am grateful to have a job at the moment, I am still angry that WaMu led us all to believe that everything was fine. We just got a new CEO on September 8th that was supposed to have "fresh ideas" to turn the company around. Well, I guess he did. Fresh ideas of how to turn a quick profit for not much work. With a sign on bonus of 18 million for 3 weeks of work, I'd say he made quite a profit. Obviously everything was not fine. Everything is still not fine because none of us know where we stand. "Business as usual" is a pretty easy thing for them to say, but it is a totally different story for those of us that get to deal with customer's face to face for the next little while. Tomorrow especially. I am thinking about calling in sick....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080926/ts_nm/us_washingtonmutual_jpmorgan_news
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080926/washington_mutual_future.html

The Office: Season 5

2008-09-23T20:14:00.002-07:00

So, who's ready for Season 5? I can tell you I am. I am so excited for it to be back on the air. I love this show more than is really healthy probably, but oh well. I look forward to laughing hysterically once a week for a half an hour. That release from reality is much needed most weeks. Plus, it is so politically incorrect and just wrong on so many levels that is makes me realize that we are all getting way too serious about life. I wish I had a boss like Michael Scott. Everyday would be an adventure and so completely entertaining. I might actually like work...

Ankle Bracelets: In or Out?

2008-09-21T13:14:00.004-07:00

Okay, so this is a random thought that has been on my mind for awhile. I still see people wear ankle bracelets, but are they really an acceptable accessory item these days, or more of a fashion faux pas? I remember wearing them back in Jr. High and High School, but I haven't worn one in quite some time. Also, are there certain types that are more acceptable than others? Like hemp over metal (gold or silver) or visa versa? I know that charm bracelets are coming back a little, and it seems that ankle bracelets were kind of in the same time period, so I am just curious. I am not looking to invest in a new one or anything, just mere curiosity.

Rough weekend

2008-09-08T20:33:00.009-07:00

It was a really rough weekend for Woody. Early Friday morning he started throwing up. Either he ate something that didn't agree with him or he got a little 24-hr flu bug. Needless to say, he spent all day Friday and half of Saturday throwing up, dry-heaving, etc. He mostly just laid around and since he felt cold, I covered him in a blanket. I know, I know, it probably didn't make one bit of difference, but it made me feel better.

He seemed to be all better and back to his normal self until Sunday night. We went to a newcomer's ward dinner and were gone for a few hours. When we came home and went to let him out of his crate, he was ducking away from us. After looking at him closer, we honestly thought that someone had broken into our apartment and beaten our dog, for some reason. Yeah, he looked that bad. After I stopped crying hysterically and was able to calm down enough to assess the situation, we were able to look at him a little closer and figured out that something must have bit him that he was allergic to. His mouth, snout, and eyes were swollen to full skin stretching capacity. Plus his bottom left lip was hanging open because it was swollen so bad. I was happy he was still breathing. He was acting mostly normal other than itching really bad. We gave him some benadryl to help with the reaction, and I ended up staying up with him all night to keep supplying the benadryl doses (and 'cause he was scratching and moving around so much I couldn't sleep). The swelling improved immensely over the course of the night, but still not back to 100%, so Lance gave him another dose before he left this morning. When Lance and I got home tonight, the swelling was gone, but he had bumps all over his face, legs, and body. I called the vet and they said if there were bumps that we should take him in. So we ran over there before they closed. After looking him over and listening to us, the vet determined that he actually got bit inside his left cheek (the one that was MEGA swollen) and he was allergic enough that it caused him to breakout into hives. Totally strange! I didn't think that dogs could get hives, but apparently they can! We were actually relieved to find out that it was hives because if not, we thought that what ever bit him had just gone to town on his poor little body! He is on benadryl and steroids now and should make a full recovery in about a week.

Normal Puppy

Poor, swollen, allergic reaction puppy

This is that left lip I was telling you about

It definitely looked a lot worse in person. My eyes were actually a little swollen this morning from crying so much. I cried every time I looked at him last night because I just felt so bad for him. Poor little puppy.

New calling

2008-09-07T12:55:00.003-07:00

Well, it is official, I am no longer a Relief Society teacher. Tuesday I was called to be the Young Women's secretary. I have to say that I am THRILLED to get this calling! I know it will be a lot of work, but I am ready. Just sitting in their class today felt more natural to me than I have ever felt in Relief Society. However, I am going to miss RS. I have really come to know the women in there and have learned so much from them in the short year I have lived in this ward. They are amazing ladies with such kind hearts and love of the Gospel. There wasn't a day in RS that I ever felt like an outcast, to young, or that I didn't belong. I also gained some great knowledge and experience from being a RS teacher. I know I complained about it a lot because it really made me nervous, but it was good for me to have to put myself out there once a month. Young Women's will be great for me though. I have always thought that YW is where I belong. I guess we will find out, huh? Wish me luck!

Trip to Utah

2008-09-03T19:42:00.011-07:00

Well, after a jam packed trip to Utah we are back to the grind in Arizona. It was a fun trip with a long list of events that kept us running from here to there. It was good to see everyone and get to be back in the cool weather. Of course, the cool weather made for a not so warm boating trip on Saturday, but it is always fun. As Woody's, it is expected that we will be on the lake at least every Saturday during the summer, cold or not. It is heavily frowned upon by the WBA (Woody Boating Association) not to take advantage of every opportunity. Okay, so I totally made that up, but I am thinking we could start something and have Evan make shirts. What do you think? Okay, so back to the trip. Sorry for all that we may have missed, but we will catch you next time! Special thank you to Lance's grandparents and my parents for housing us for that week!

We really appreciate it!!! Love ya all!

One Year Later...

2008-08-14T11:44:00.003-07:00

Well...we've made it! One year ago today, we were moving into our new apartment here in Arizona. Looking back, it's gone fast and looking ahead, another year seems like eternity! We are definitely used to it and know our way around quite well. The only redeeming value of Arizona is the Palo Verde ward. We still love our ward, the people, the classes, even having to teach. We hope that they will all agree to move back to Utah with us. ;) Being used to it though, doesn't mean we like it. We can't wait to move back. It is hot, humid, dirty, and dangerous. I like my happy little bubble in Salt Lake. It is funny, because we don't even count down how much longer Lance has in school anymore. We just count down how much longer we have to move back. Our goal is to move back next November, 2009 for Lance to finish his rotations in SLC. So, 1 year and 3 months to go!!!

Celebrity Look Alikes

2008-08-11T19:30:00.003-07:00

I realize that Andrea beat me to this post, but I just had to add it to mine too. I cannot believe how much Michael Phelps looks like my brother Evan. These aren't the greatest "look alike" pictures, but you cannot tell me there isn't a resemblance. The eyes, the smile, the ears, the face shape. It's all the same. Yes mom, Evan is much better looking, but nonetheless, they look a lot alike.

Memory Lane

2008-07-28T14:39:00.005-07:00

Okay...so I am giving in to this one. It is fun to read all of your memories, so I want to know your memories of me...as long as they are nice. ;)

Memory Lane.... the tag that gets everyone involved. Here's how you play:1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember.2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory of you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you.

Little Deuce Coupe

2008-07-23T21:01:00.004-07:00

Well, back in May I traded in my sporty red little deuce coupe for something a little more conservative and reliable. I will admit, there were tears in my eyes when I drove away from my little Sunfire. I even took pictures of it on my phone! It was my first car that I bought about a week before I graduated from high school...seven years ago. My parents co-signed to help me get the loan, but I made all the payments and even paid it off a year early. Okay, so I was really impressed with myself when I did that. Now, I have a new car that I also love, but there really seems to be an attachment to your first car that just never leaves you. I am sure I sound ridiculous to most of you, but I think the rest of you know what I am saying. My new car is a Honda Civic, 4-door. It is white with a tan interior. It gets GREAT gas mileage, which was a huge selling point since I commute 50 miles a day. Here are some pictures of what my new car looks like, except mine is white.

Oh, and dad, so that you don't feel cheated out of constant calls about how to fix something on my car, I will be sure to let you know when I am taking it in for an oil change! ;)

Thanks for all the maintenance work you did on that Sunfire!

Woody update

2008-07-14T11:48:00.008-07:00

Well, our cute little puppy isn't quite so little anymore. He is getting taller everyday and is getting too heavy for me to pick up anymore. After his vet visit today, he is weighing in at 36 1/2 pounds! He is learning really fast. He is totally potty trained and the biting isn't as bad as it has been. He really likes to play fetch and is learning to sit and shake. He has LOTS of energy though. We've found that a nice morning walk helps that. I would say that he's a daddy's boy but I think it is more Lance then him...

Lance is always picking him up and carrying him like a little kid. It's cute, but it makes me laugh too.

He even has him study with him.

Of course, Woody does get tired of all the attention, eventually, and just needs a place to rest.

However, if Lance is tired too, they rest together.

Hangin' out with the fam

2008-07-13T21:07:00.011-07:00

I was lucky enough to be able to spend a week with my fam in Lake Powell at the end of June. My wonderful parents flew me up there just to go with them on the annual family vacation. It was a lot of fun. It was unusual circumstances though since it was the first year that just our family went. When I say just our family, I mean just the original five plus the cutest nephew. Needless to say, there was a lot of free time because our old bodies can only take so much. We still did a lot of skiing and wake boarding though. Here's some pics of the trip.

Hair

2008-06-11T21:24:00.008-07:00

I just had to post these pictures...

This is Lance after about 6+ months of not cutting his hair and probably a week + of not shaving.

This is Lance about an hour later after we got that all cut off and cleaned up.

He almost doesn't look like the same person. I personally prefer the short cut. I have told him this before, but I think his long hair makes his head look big. Take the poll and let me know what you think. (Maybe we can get him to cut his hair again before December!)

Meet Woody

2008-06-01T19:36:00.010-07:00

I just recently realized that after asking for everyone's opinion on what to name our puppy, I never actually posted what we decided. We went with Woody. He is starting to learn his name and come when we call him. He is growing daily in between bouncing off the walls and sleeping. He is really fun and sweet (when he is tired). Here are a couple of pictures of him getting bigger.

Taking a nap with me...

This is what we are calling his "George Washington hat" look. He keeps holding his ears out so it looks like he is wearing one of those funky hats.

Cutest Kids - Yeah, that's us

2008-05-27T20:51:00.013-07:00

My brother, sister, and nephew came down last weekend to visit. It wasn't really warm and there wasn't much to do, but I hope they enjoyed the time away. I sure like having them here!

Does he look like me?...

Yeah, Evan was half asleep most of the time...

He is just the cutest kid!

All the excitement just wore the puppy right out.

My Grandma

2008-05-20T15:27:00.005-07:00

This is my beautiful grandmother who just returned to her sweetheart, my grandpa, on Sunday.

Renetta H. Udy

"Loving Mother"

1924 ~ 2008

Renetta Hopkins Udy, age 83, passed away May 18, 2008 in Provo, UT due to natural causes.Born Dec. 21, 1924 in Olympia, WA to Chester Theodore and Edna Renetta Frisbie Hopkins. Renetta married Mark J. Udy, Jr. on Nov. 8, 1941 in Olympia; later sealed in the SL Temple. She will be remembered for her love of music, dancing, cooking and serving the elderly. Renetta is survived by her eight children, Mark (Lynda), Wayne, Kathleen (Scott) Woody, Charles (Kae), David, Jeffery (Lisa) of Little Falls, MN; Steven (Dawn), and Brett (Lori) of Grove City, PA; 42 grandchildren; and 55 great-grand-children. Preceded in death by her husband, a brother and a sister. Funeral services will be held Wed. May 21st at 10:30 a.m. at the Midvalley 5th Ward, 1280 E. 7800 So. A visitation will be held Tues. evening from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 So. and Wed. morning at the ward from 9:30-10:15 a.m. prior to the services. Interment, Fielding, UT. Online condolences at www.larkincares.com Published in the Deseret News on 5/20/2008.

I LOVE YOU GRANDMA!

1st Anniversary

2008-05-17T07:25:00.003-07:00

My cute husband sent me roses to work with a very sweet note and had Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory waiting for me at home. White chocolate covered strawberries, fudge, and truffles. It was very cute of him.

One of my friends from work made this picture for me while she was bored at work on Thursday. I thought it was cute.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2008-05-14T22:18:00.011-07:00

For those of you that may have forgotten the blessed event...

I couldn't figure out how to get a slide show/video to load on here. If anyone has any suggestions (and wants to see more pictures) let me know.

My Mom...

2008-05-11T16:49:00.007-07:00

My mom is an AMAZING lady! She is the smartest, most talented, beautiful woman I know. She is a great example to me; always has been and always will be. I hope to grow into half the woman she is some day (and look half as good at that age!). Love you Mom!

She will probably kill me for these pictures...