Just some more fun in the sun!

Or cloudy evening...but we still had fun! It was Mike's birthday and since we're broke we decided to enjoy living in Florida.

My two favorite boys:

Not the most flattering picture...but it's us!

And fine - a picture of me, since I've been told that I don't post enough. There you go.

And another.

5 Years!

We had no idea. We had no clue what having a mortgage meant. How easy it is to get into debt. We were so naïve and blissfully unaware of what life was really all about. We were happy-go-lucky and very young…not prepared in the slightest for the road ahead. What on earth were we getting ourselves into?

We got ourselves into constant companionship. We got ourselves into one another’s arms when we had nothing else. We’ve laughed together, cried together and while life may not be easy…it’s totally worth it. We got ourselves in pretty deep. Deeply in love, that is.

Happy Five Years, Honey! I'm looking forward to many more!

A public thanks...

...to my friend Timi. She is seriously one of the greatest women I have ever had the privilege of interacting with. Whenever a friend, or anyone for that matter, is in need, she is the first to offer help. Today I had the opportunity to pick up a short shift at work and Mike needed to go job hunting. Timi was kind enough to keep Hayden for us even though her husband had worked the night shift and was sleeping all day. She had no other choice than to let them run around outside in the hot June sun. I’m so grateful for her in my life…she is a true woman of God and gives much more than she receives in return. If you are reading this, just know that I love you and am so thankful for you.

Best Buds

Jace and Hayden enjoying ice cream on a hot June day...aren't they adorable???

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

I suppose the purpose of keeping a journal is to not only record the happy and wonderful things that happen in your life, but also to record the bad. Nephi kept a record of his life, including the times his brothers repeatedly tried to kill him. Ammon recorded about preaching repentance and about his people trying to shoot him down from the city wall. Alma the younger didn’t exactly have the most uplifting track record to begin with. Abinidi being burned to death was also recorded in the most precious journal we have available, The Book of Mormon. I’m not comparing my little mundane blog to the scriptures, but here is my bummer entry:

My husband lost his job today. It seems as though one of the head honchos at the dealership has a personal vendetta against Michael and has been looking for any reason possible to get rid of him. Today was the day. I guess the thing that upsets me the most is that he wasted the gas to get out there, only to be told to go home and never come back.

I’m so grateful that I have a job, albeit part time. I’m grateful that I have spent the last few months obsessing over my couponing habit and now have quite the food storage.

I suppose now is as good a time as any to let everyone know that Mike is planning to start the Police Academy in August. He had planned on working full time and going part time for eleven months. We may take this opportunity for him to go full time and be finished in five months. It is going to mean a lot of sacrifice and a lot of patience, but it just may work.

Please try to remember us in your prayers…right now we can use all the help we can get.

In two years...

In two years, I have changed over three thousand diapers, I have been peed on, pooped on, puked on, and slobbered on. I have been used as a Kleenex, and a Jungle Gym. I have spent countless hours at the zoo, admiring elephants, giraffes, monkeys and lions. I have gone to the park and pushed the swings until my arms could push no more. I have filled my days with bubbles, books, the Backyardigans, and Baby Einsteins. I have learned to enjoy hot dogs, chicken nuggets, and macaroni and cheese. I have realized that no matter how careful I am, it is always foolish to wear dry clean items anywhere with a toddler.

In two years I have learned a new kind of love. I have experienced feelings incapable of describing in words. I have learned that my heart aches when another little person gets hurt. I have been cuddled and kissed by the sweetest little boy alive. I have had the opportunity to watch a tiny little man burst with excitement when Daddy comes home. I have learned the power of a kiss on a boo-boo. I will forever be amazed by the fact that a big hug from a little guy is sometimes all I need to make my day.

It hasn’t been an easy two years, but it’s been two of the best years of my life.

Happy Birthday, Hayden! I love you!

We got a Webcam!

Hooray! Thanks to Mr. Joshy for Mr. Hayden's webcam! We've been having way too much fun already...now all of you need to get one, too so we can see your smiling faces!

They say if you want something done...

Then give it to a busy person...guess I'll be the go-to gal this week!

Monday – I work 9-4
Tuesday – I work 9-4, Ward Counsel 7-9
Wednesday – Visiting new sisters in the ward in the morning, work 6-10pm
Thursday – Visiting Teaching, work 6-10pm
Friday – Blowing up 100 balloons and decorating for Hayden’s birthday party. 7ish going to see Prince Caspian.
Saturday – Hayden’s birthday party!

Not to mention that I’ve got to fit in grocery shopping for Hayden’s party, as well as birthday shopping, but I’ve got to go to the dry cleaners, the post office, list about 10 things on eBay, get Hayden's hair cut, prepare a lesson for Sunday, as well as get the Relief Society newsletter done for June!

Look Out, HERE WE COME!!!

It’s official! My oldest friend, Kelly is coming to Florida! We haven’t seen each other in almost two years, and that is just far too long to be without some Kelly love. We are on the phone for literally hours a day, and I still can’t get enough of her! I can’t even handle it…two years worth of not seeing each other, bottled up into one long weekend. We’re looking forward to a weekend filled with COUPONING, pedicures, chick flicks, Martinelli’s, all night laughter, and painting the town RED!

Jacksonville's not gonna know what hit 'em!

Back from the hospital...

Thank you all so much for your kind words of concern and prayers.

We left for the hospital this morning at about 6:45. His surgery was scheduled for 9:15 and we needed to be there a couple hours early for anesthesia.

When they brought us back they handed me two tiny little hospital gowns for me to put him in. Let me tell you - no mother should ever have to do that. I swear that was the hardest thing for me to do this far in his little life. Seeing him in the gowns was my breaking point.

After that we went into the 'holding room' where he played with lots of fun toys. The nurse came in and gave him some 'happy juice'. If you ever have the chance to see a drunk two year old, I highly recommend it. I laughed harder in those few minutes than I have in a long time.

Then they took him back. Through those awful double doors and around the corner. I lost it. Mike just wrapped me in his arms and comforted me. We hadn't eaten so we went upstairs to get some food. I don't know who's idea it was to put the cafe on the top floor overlooking the river, but it was a brilliant idea. There isn't a whole lot that is more serine then eating biscuits and gravy overlooking the water.

The second we got back downstairs the doctor came out to let us know that everything went well. We had to wait a few minutes before we could come back and see him. We went into a small area where they wheeled him in on a tiny hospital bed with tubes sticking out of him. This was the most difficult part.

I've heard that waking up from anesthesia is like waking up to the worst headache you've ever had...so needless to say, he was grumpy. I think the recovery took longer than the actual surgery. Once they took the IV out of his arm he was much happier.

Now we're home and he is blissfully drugged up and sleeping away in his crib.