The Chronicles of Bira

New post

2012-01-17T22:22:00.001-08:00

New post here.

New post!

2012-01-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

For a new post, click here.

New Post!

2012-01-01T18:51:00.001-08:00

For a new post, click here.

New Post!

2011-12-28T20:22:00.001-08:00

Click here for a new post!

New post!

2011-11-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

For my new post, click here.

New Post!

2011-10-18T15:46:00.001-07:00

Click here for the new post.

New Posts

2011-05-07T21:54:00.001-07:00

New post here.

New Post

2011-04-30T14:06:00.000-07:00

New post here.

New posts

2011-02-26T12:43:00.001-08:00

New posts here.

New Post

2011-01-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

New posts here.

New Post

2010-11-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

To see new post, click here.

New Post

2010-11-06T17:51:00.001-07:00

To view new post, click here.

New Post

2010-11-05T12:53:00.001-07:00

To view new post, click here.

New Post

2010-11-04T12:53:00.000-07:00

To see our new post, click here.

New Post

2010-11-03T13:00:00.001-07:00

To see my new post, click here.

Going Private

2010-10-20T21:36:00.000-07:00

Okay... We are following the trend of basically everyone else and privatizing our blog. Please send me your e-mail address (you can e-mail me at keralea@hotmail.com if you want) so I can put it on the list.

What I will do is create a different blog name, so whenever I update that one, I will post on THIS blog so it comes up on your feed. Happy blogging everyone!

Nienie - A Must Read

2010-10-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

Does anyone ever struggle to find a blog to read when you're bored? Well, that's the predicament I found myself in tonight. (I know, you are so sad for me) I have been recommended this blog for quite some time, so I finally decided to check it out:

Her name is Stephanie Nielson. She's a Utah native who was in a plane crash with her husband 2 years ago. While rebuilding her life with her four kids and husband from scratch, she has chronicled her ups and downs and it is SO uplifting! So much better than online shopping or reading about celebrity gossip. If you'd like to check her out, click here. She really is amazing, and I assure you you won't regret spending time reading her blog. It makes you appreciate life so much more, appreciate the simple things in life you normally take for granted.

If you like her blog, you will probably like Mindy Gledhill's song dedicated to Stephanie. Click here to listen to it. My favorite line: "It's not about your scars. It's all about your heart."

Tonight I am thankful for each day I have with my husband and baby boy. Life is so fragile. Grateful for each hug, each kiss, every minute with my loved ones. What are YOU grateful for?

Ethan Falling Asleep

2010-10-03T22:48:00.000-07:00

This was a big hit on Facebook, so I figured I'd share it with the Blogging world..

By the way ...NO I don't feed my child soda - I was just trying to get him to stay awake while driving home. As you can see.. that didn't work!

Pumpkin Patch

2010-10-03T22:32:00.000-07:00

Going to the pumpkin patch is something Billy and I just started doing last year, but I really like that we're making it a tradition! I was really excited to go again.

... Ethan wasn't..

Since he didn't enjoy the red wagon, I thought he'd like the pumpkins. That's a negative.

DON'T MAKE ME BE DORA!

Although Brit enjoyed being The Hulk - for obviously reasons.

Our Night Away

2010-10-03T22:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend was so wonderful! My mom in Medford came up to visit with her kids, and treated Billy and me to a hotel night's stay in Newport. It was our first night away from our little man - and it really was much-needed! At first it was really hard to be away from Ethan, but then it was like before we were married. We had a wonderful, care-free night. We were rested and ready to handle parenthood by the time we drove back to Salem. So thankful to my mom for making this possible!

First, we went to The Social Network! One of the best movies I've ever seen. Can't wait to see it again!

How amazing is this lighthouse? It's in Newport, where we stayed. I really can't wait to come back to Newport to explore what it has to offer.

Billy and me before we left our hotel room. There aren't many pictures of our date because we were just having to much fun! Having no dark circles under my eyes has been nice for once!

Gail's B-Day

2010-10-03T22:13:00.000-07:00

This last week, Gail (Billy's mom) celebrated her birthday, and her wish was to have dinner at Moe's in Lincoln City. Of course we were more than happy to take her! Who would pass up a trip to the coast?? Not this girl.

Our view from where we ate. It was truly an amazing day out!

Grandma feeding Ethan. He was in love with the clam chowder! I can't blame him though - it's amazing.

Ethan got antsy in the restaurant after just a few minutes (as always), so I took him for a stroll around the restaurant to the dock/beach. Here he is reaching for the ocean. I think he MAY just be related to me!

This sunset was one of the most gorgeous I've seen - mostly because of the reflection off the ocean.

Icing Gail's cake.

Gail blew them all out! So no boyfriends....right? :)

Music

2010-09-28T22:31:00.000-07:00

I have seen this a bit on Facebook, and thought it would be fun to blog about music that had an impact on me throughout the years! Now, don't make fun. This isn't necessarily a compilation of my all-time favorite music, but more of an example of how music has impacted me in chronological order. The journey starts with:

Jewel: Pieces of Me album. I was 13 when I purchased this at the mall - my VERY first CD purchase. I came home and listened to it over and over and over again. I loved every song on it, and would listen to each repeatedly while typing the lyrics to send to my "boyfriend" from camp. I'm sure he was just as moved by it as I was :) This really was my introduction to how much I loved music, and I started listening to the radio once I bought this CD, which opened up a WORLD of musical possibilities!

Britney Spears: Baby One More Time hit me in 8th grade. How could I not include this in my selection? I loved everything Britney - I wanted to BE Britney! Her "Sometimes" video totally spoke to me! I even watched the video enough to memorize all the dance moves - and then yes, I performed them at church dances. I'm so embarrassed for myself!

I'm sure this might be confusing, as this follows Jewel and Britney Spears, but Dave Matthews' album made me realize there was more to music than pop. Dave has a questionable voice, but his lyrics and use of instruments is moving. My friends and I were obsessed with this album, and it seemed we always had this in the background while hanging out.

This album came out when I was 20, and I was at such a difficult point in my life. This album was all about learning how to stand up for yourself and, more importantly, about hating on men - which I fully supported at the time! It was therapeutic to listen to. Plus, she has a flawless voice. So much fun to sing a long with!

Unlike Kelly's album, I started listen to Fray's How to save a life just as life was looking up for me. I had just started dating Billy again, and I had started to go back to college in Provo. It wasn't so much the lyrics or anything that moved me, but the feel of the music. To this day, I can't listen to it without getting that warm feeling of how every thing's going to be alright!

Billy introduced me to Dave Barnes, and we even had one of his songs as our wedding song. I included him because this is when I learned to love again. Like The Fray, I included Dave because his album brings me back to a pivotal point in my life.

A little out of place maybe? Lady Gaga is an artist that has helped me branch out in my music selection. She's completely weird and out there, not afraid to take risks, which I feel is so important in life. Plus, how can you listen to her and not want to "Just dance?"

I'd love for anyone else to join in on this Music Experiment!

Girls' Night!

2010-09-26T23:32:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love my "sisters" in Salem. Life is so much better with great friends!

We started the night by getting ready together, listening to tunes.

Okay, so going to a club on the East side of town was kind of scary, but soooo worth it!

This pretty much sums up the people who frequent this place of business! Can't believe I didn't find Billy here..

So, Sarah nor I had ever experienced a mechanical bull, so we talked the owner into letting us pay half to ride Black Thunder! It was so worth it. And also, Sarah was amazing.

This was way harder than I thought, but I also think it's probably a lot harder if you're wasted. Mostly, it just really hurt! Glad I did it, but I probably won't be doing it again.

Classy. Christmas lights in September, in the shape of a heart, with a dead animal in the background.

Getting our groove on. Billy asked me if anyone hit on me at the club. I should have shown him this picture as his answer! That's a huge NO.

E's "Gift"

2010-09-26T23:25:00.000-07:00

The other night, we were rushing to get our babysitter (thanks, Gail!) and get ready in time to meet friends for dinner. E had taken a bath, we drained the water, and he still seemed content to play with his toys. I figured that's awesome! Now I can put some makeup on!

What I saw staring at me from the tub. I knew he was being quiet, but he just seemed SO content! Then I looked at his hands...

So. Disgusting. Seriously, I had to keep telling myself over and over again, "This isn't poop. This isn't poop."

I am reminded daily that if a child E's age is quiet. something BAD is going down!

Triathlon

2010-09-26T23:18:00.000-07:00

Our church organized a sprint triathlon for all the women a few months ago, which I was so stoked about! However, we had a wedding to go to in Arizona, so I never signed up. Long story short, we ended up NOT going to the wedding. It was too late for me to sign up for the triathlon, so my friend Ashley and I decided we'd complete one on our own. It really was an amazing experience to set a goal like that and ACTUALLY accomplish it!

Before the race..

AFTER!

This is really something I never thought I'd be able to do. I came to the realization last year that for years I've sold myself short with my health. I decided that since I COULD attain physical goals, that I should. I'm not sure how many more years of good health I have left in me, but living for the moment like this is serving me really well. So so glad for my good fortune, my family, friends, and church for helping me attain my goals!

Portland Zoo

2010-09-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

If you know me well, you know I LOVE the zoo! Oddly enough, I've lived here for 2 years and haven't visited the one in Portland yet. When Mema was in town for Labor Day, we decided it was time.

Us trying to entertain E.. but he was SO BORED!

Group pic with the kids.

Billy trying to entertain E by putting him on his shoulders. Billy in pain from all the pulling and tugging on his hair!

If you read this, you'll learn why I don't go camping.

My absolute favorite part of the zoo! I could've stayed there for hours.

Precious pic of Mema and babes. Mema's smart and always wears necklaces so she can get up close and personal with the E-dawg.

Brookings Beach

2010-09-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

Brookings beach is one of my favorite beaches in Oregon. It brings back so many warm memories, since we visited Brookings every summer since I was 12. I can only hope E grows up to feel the same way I do about the ocean. Now, this trip was a while ago, but I figure better late than never!

Taya is one of E's favorites! She's so good with him, and it's always nice for me to have a break when she's around.

Mema trying to keep E from diving into the ocean. Doesn't matter how cold it is. He doesn't care!

This mom was kind enough to lend me a swim diaper. She also provided us our quote of the day! When her older son hounded her to come help him with something she yelled, "I'm busy burying your brother!"

What E does when we say "Cover yourself!"

Cute sequence of E. He couldn't keep still if you paid him in candy:

And the sand beard. Seems we can't leave the beach without one.

Letter to E

2010-09-21T22:47:00.001-07:00

Dearest E,

You may try my patience at times. Like the one time in Nordstrom when you wouldn't go in your stroller, and you screamed and did that thing where your body bent backwards, and then you bit me, subsequently making me yell, making others stare at me like a crazy person?

Or those times when you act like you want me to hold you and you're all cute, but really you just want candy or something else you can't have that's on my level?

Or when you scream and yank your body back and forth when I hold you, but when Daddy holds you, you calm right down and fall asleep?

How about how you have ESP about when I'm going to change your diaper, and you wait until 30 seconds after I change it to take the biggest dump of your life?

Or when you wait to take that dump while napping, and then it blows out of your pants and gets all over the crib bedding? And it's so bad that I just have to stand back, take a second, and figure out where in the world I start cleaning up that amount of poop?

And how in the world can you take apart your sippy cups full of milk and dump them all over your pillow, bedding, and carpet? I can hardly even figure out how to take those apart to put them in the dishwasher!

Also, why is toilet paper so appealing?

And when I give you a container with goldfish or fruit, is it really necessary to chuck it at me (half full) when you're done?

Yes, you may try my patience, but you are my little boy, and you are so many other things to me! Sweet, compassionate, loving, and there is so much potential I see in you! You may be stubborn, but show me a successful person who doesn't have that trait! You are my most prized possession, I love you Burrito.

Adventures With My Sewing Machine

2010-09-09T00:49:00.000-07:00

I MUST have this apron:

How amazing is this apron? So since I can't afford it, then I must make it! ...even though I don't know how to sew. Some friends and I pulled out our rusty sewing machines tonight and got to work. I might just pull my hair out after my little brush with thread and material. Has anyone else encountered this when trying to learn to sew?? Wow, it's so frustrating! I had to take a break tonight, but I will keep everyone updated as soon as the apron is finished.

In the meantime, click here to check out this girl's website, Jillie Willie. She's a genius with the stuff she's come up with!

Ikea Photo

2010-09-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

I have been eyeing this photo at Ikea for weeks. It's pretty big.. and I'm thinking I will put it in our entryway. I can't get this photo out of my head, which means I need it, right?

New Wall

2010-09-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for my new wall! It took a while to finish, but I'm so happy with how it turned out.

Bookshelf

2010-09-01T22:27:00.001-07:00

We just got a bookshelf from Target, and I'm so excited for Billy to assemble it! I've been trying to figure out how I want it to look, and I'm thinking it might go a little something like this:

Can't wait to get to work!

Miracles

2010-08-30T19:48:00.001-07:00

I have a friend who postedabout miracles on her blog, and I thought it was a marvelous idea! Here are some examples of the miracles in my life:

1. Wonderful parents. Some people only have one, and some people don't have any, but I have TWO sets of parents! What a blessing. There is alwayssomeone to e-mail or call when I need help or reassurance. Did I mention that they are incredibly supportive? I feel love every time I touch base with any one of them, and I am truly grateful for receiving this gift in this life.

2. Not going crazy after high school. Some of you may wonder why I list this as a miracle: Well, basically, I was kind of a crazy teenager, and I could so easily have gone another way in life. After I moved out of the house, I decided to figure out if my religion was true before I went to BYU. I started reading the Book of Mormon everyday, as well as praying to try to figure out if I was living my life the right away. Of course, Mormonism is so strict - I knew if it wasn't true, there was no way I would live it's strict principles for the rest of my life! After several months, I received my answer that the Gospel is real. I haven't looked back since.

3. Marrying my husband. I met Billy my freshmen year in college. We dated for a few weeks, but I decided to kick him to the curb because he was too nice. Seriously, that was my reason. Several years later, I stalked Billy on Facebook, and he was kind enough to forgive me for being such a jerk. We started dating, and the rest is history! Well, not quite. We actually broke up a few more times - mostly because I was a mess from past experiences in relationships. Because he was so patient and so willing to forgive over and over again, we were eventually married June 21st, 2008. Best. Day. Of. My. Life.

4. Our little man. Wow, probably the biggest miracle we've received! He was definitely not planned. In fact, I had very strong feelings about getting pregnant right after getting married. Well, a month later, we were pregnant! Even though being a mother has been a long, hard road, full of struggling to be happy at home and post-partum depression (craziness), I have to say one of the things that gets me through some days is KNOWING that Ethan needed to come to Earth when he did. I know God has a plan for him, and it must be big enough to have him come a few years earlier than expected. The love I feel for my son is like nothing I've ever experienced. I am so so so grateful for the opportunity I have to be a mother when so many women don't have it. All the bad days are made worth it when, while we pray together, he kisses me and smiles, then puts his head on my shoulder. He is such an amazing example of love and perseverance in my life.

Will you take some time out of your day to share the miracles in your life?

Redwoods

2010-08-18T23:13:00.000-07:00

There is something about the Redwoods. I have been so many times, but every time I go, I'm always in awe of how huge these trees are. They're larger than life. Completely majestic. They're so humbling. I'm grateful for things like this in nature that remind me how beautiful this Earth is!

ALMOST all the sibs together (we're missing James). And one super annoying kid in the red shirt. I tried to trick him into standing behind the tree, but I think he was onto me.

Ethan wanted so badly just to walk around!

Ethan found a toy..

Kade being a tortured artist.

Kade was Ethan's favorite on this trip. They were inseparable!

Party Time

2010-08-18T23:09:00.000-07:00

In honor of my graduating, we decided to celebrate!!

LOVE ice cream cake. Mom's homemade cake is way better, but Baskin Robins will have to do :) Also, mom looks like a freak in this picture..

James is one of Ethan's favorite people. He's obsessed.

I'm so glad I have such a supportive husband. Seriously, you have been amazing, and so supportive of my finishing my schooling.

Graduation!!

2010-08-18T23:02:00.000-07:00

Wahoo! I'm finally a college graduate! When I decided to walk for graduation this August, it wasn't that I was excited, but it was because I thought I'd regret it if I didn't. I'm SO glad I decided to walk! It was a great experience, and a milestone I won't soon forget.

I was worried I wouldn't know anyone at graduation, and I didn't, but it all worked out because I made some mini-friends along the way! The 3 girls I stood by in line were all mothers, one from Washington, one from St. Louis, and one from Hawaii. It was great to bond over being moms and students, and made me feel better about being a stay-at-home mom, which is such a struggle at times!

Me right after walking, on a high because I didn't trip and fall.

Can you see Ethan grabbing my hat? Such a fun toy..

My parents might have been more happy than I was!

Rock Canyon Park

2010-08-18T22:54:00.000-07:00

While we were in Utah for graduation, we decided to go on a hike through Rock Canyon Park, which we used to do when we were little tikes. It would have been a lot more fun if Ethan would've been more into it, but it was a blast! Hiking is so amazing!

Someone wrote this on our way up the canyon, and it was a great way to start our hike.

Kenzi licking the ice cream cone. Mmm-mmm. Tastes so good!

Poor Billy was so tired!

We were SO THIRSTY!!!!

Awww.. Daddy-daughter time.

Ethan and his sweet, sweet glasses. You only wish you could be this cool.

Decorating Ideas

2010-08-08T21:23:00.000-07:00

I can't remember if I've mentioned we moved into a 3 bedroom apartment ...but we did! They're the same exact price as the 2 bedroom we were in, so we decided to seize this opportunity! Moving is always super stressful, especially because we moved Billy's mom at the exact same time, but we've gotten through it, and now comes the fun part - I get to decorate a new place!

I stole this idea from a friend's blog, where she posts ideas she would like to implement in her own house. I love looking at her ideas, and I'm excited to explore new ones!

I. LOVE. WALLPAPER.

However, it's hard to decide where it's appropriate ... what a great idea to put it in the kitchen! I'm not sure I love this exact pattern, but I think this will be my next project. Does anyone know good quality wall paper that will come off easily when we move?

Quirks

2010-07-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I don't have anything too exciting to blog about, but I'm feeling chatty tonight (aren't you lucky?). I decided to make a list of my OCD quirks, hoping that maybe YOU decide to do the same!

1. I genuinely feel like my right side is better than my left. Not in a healthy way, but in a superior way.

2. When I walk, I visualize myself breathing in on my right and out on my left. Once again, breathing in is superior to breathing out.

3. When I walk, I try to only step on cracks with my right foot rather than my left. Once again, it's a superior thing.

4. I'm super paranoid about getting enough oxygen. If Billy gets too close to me, I get scared he's depriving me of oxygen, which would lead to me losing brain cells, and subsequently getting stupider.

5. I play music with my teeth.

6. I'm terrified of the dark! Sometimes I can't even turn the bathroom light off at night.

7. I tend to act way too friendly around people I don't know. It's more out of insecurity than anything else, but it always leads to very bad first impressions! Oops.

Hope you enjoyed it, now I choose to tag:

Leanna, Denisha, Kari, Heather, Mary-Anne, Tamara, and anyone else I'm forgetting!

Memories #1

2010-07-20T14:25:00.000-07:00

I decided to start a new piece on my blog, where I write about cute things Ethan does that he won't be doing for long.

1. He says bless you after every cough, sneeze, and yawn.

2. He loves to run up to me, grab my legs, and kiss them, over and over again. It's my favorite!!

Supper at Angie's

2010-07-17T11:51:00.001-07:00

My cousin Angie was kind enough to have us over for supper before we left Utah. She has 2 adorable little girls, and some of my other cousins showed up as well! It was so fun - glad we were able to see them before we left!

I had to post this picture because Ethan was obsessed with this stroller for some reason. He dragged it around the house for the 2 hours we were there. So adorable!

American Fork Carnival

2010-07-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

You know what carnivals mean: Rides you can't trust and COTTON CANDY! Mmm.. I love cotton candy. I'd like to have some more, please. After the wrap party, Billy pansied out and went to bed, SO I called Melissa and James and headed to the carnival.

It's so fluffy..

I'm gonna die!

Melissa. What are you looking at??

We didn't end up riding any rides - mostly because we were scared of rides that get packed up at the end of the night, but the food was really good. I don't care what they put in cotton candy - to me it's just rainbows and heaven!

Wrap Party

2010-07-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Did I mention Billy's been working on a feature for a month down in Utah? I think I forgot to mention that part. His friend was kind enough to hire him on this project, AND awesome enough to let us stay at his house so we'd have our own space! I know Justin won't read this, but I want to thank him for giving us this opportunity to actually put money in the bank. Thank you thank you thank you!

Anyway, here are pictures from their wrap party:

Us beforehand. I've never been to one of those, so I had fun dressing up!

This might be tacky, but I totally had to take pictures of the Producer's house. It was amazing! Here's a picture of his pool and pool house, which might be as big as my apartment. That circle in the pool was a hot tub. How cool is that?!

A picture of the house. I guess if I HAD to, I could live in it :)

Breakfast - I Mean, Visiting St. George

2010-07-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Derek and I decided to spend some time in St. George with our Aunts and Uncles. It wasn't a very long trip, but it was nice to see the Hansens, who were kind enough to let us stay at their place.

Dad - Eat your heart out! Jeff made us breakfast!!

There were other people we'd liked to have seen (the Guerisoli's), but all in all, it was a great trip. Thanks for your hospitality; can't wait to see you guys again!

July 4th

2010-07-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

The 4th of July was always such a big deal in Pierre, that it really doesn't seem the same if I don't spend it with my family! I'm so grateful I was able to spend it at my parents' house on the river. Thanks for the memories!

Just chillin out before the fireworks began..

Our "skyline" in Pierre! So beautiful - can't believe how much I miss it!

Feeding the Fish

2010-07-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

The Crapital, I mean Capital Lake is the only place I know that has fish bigger than the birds! So when we go, it's not so much to feed the birds as it is to feed the gigantic fish.

Ethan doing is thing. Now that he can walk, he is EVERYWHERE!

BEFORE

AFTER! Haha.. Maybe not such a good idea, Derek.

No Ethan, I salute YOU.

The girls with the food!

Ethan posing next to the flaming fountain. I love my little man!

Night with Vampires

2010-07-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Mmm...Eclipse! Give me some of that! We decided to go see the latest installment of the Twilight Series while in South Dakota, and it did NOT disappoint. WAY better than the first 2. Mmm..it was amazing. Can't wait to see it again!

Us afterward, making fun faces. What a blast! I miss those two!

I'm voting for this one as my favorite.

Fun at Nanna Olson's House

2010-07-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

After a couple days, James and Derek, with Cameron, joined us in South Dakota. Wish we could all live in the same place. Miss them like crazy.

Blocks with Nanna! Wahoo!

Okay, I don't even remember what they were doing, BUT James looked hilarious in this picture, so I had to post it.

James and Melissa doing what they do best. Melissa being fun, and James sleeping!

Ethan's First Kiss

2010-07-17T11:07:00.001-07:00

I got to visit one of my old roommates, Shaunna, while in Utah, and we had such a blast! I can't believe we're both married with babies now. So nuts how our lives have changed since getting ready together in the mornings, and planning our weddings before we even had boyfriends :)

Ethan and Lucy - Shaunna's little girl.

Well, apparently Ethan had a crush on Lucy - although you wouldn't have known it. She kept taking his toys, which he definitely isn't use to. Then he'd scream at her and come cry to me! It was so funny. Before we left though, they kissed each other. It was so adorable! Wish I would have caught it on camera!

Farm Island in the SoDak

2010-07-17T11:03:00.000-07:00

We (me and Melissa - James' girlfriend, and Ethan of course) made our way to South Dakota for the 4th of July festivities, and of course we had to hit up the "beach." We promptly headed to the Missouri River to do some swimming. I can't believe I forgot about how strong the wind was! We didn't stay long, but it brought back nostalgia for me. So many summers spent on the river.

Ethan was NOT having it! Haha. I really thought he'd like the water more than this.

Who needs a blow dryer when you have a free one (aka, the wind) in South Dakota?

Water Park with Grandma Boaz

2010-07-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Ethan loves water so much, so I figured he'd love the water park. He really did, but not for the reasons I thought he would. He was just so excited to be able to walk where ever he wanted while getting into other people's purses and whatnot. AND trying to scam snacks off other people! Someday I'll be able to embarrass him the way he can embarrass me. The wheel comes around, my friend!

Grandma Boaz was kind enough to pay admission. Thanks grandma!

Posing with Ethan before getting back in the kiddie pool. Love him!!!

Father's Day

2010-07-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

What a special day! A day to wait on Billy, make sure he's fed and happy, cleaning the house so he doesn't have to - or wait, that's every day. Hmmm...

Well, this is Billy's 2nd Father's Day where he's actually a daddy, but to be honest, I can't even remember last Father's Day! So glad my husband's the father he is. Ethan absolutely adores him, and the feeling is DEFINITELY mutual. Ethan freaks out whenever he hears the door open because he thinks it's Billy!

Our friends were nice enough to let us use their little mini kid chair. Soooo cute!

Us all dressed up for church!

2 Year Anniversary

2010-07-17T10:44:00.001-07:00

I can't belive it's already been 2 years! It feels so good to be where we're at in our relationship. We still stay up 'til all hours of the night talking, I still get butterflies when he comes home, and there's really no one else I'd rather spend my time with! We spent our anniversary in Utah this year, but since Billy was busy working the whole day, we celebrated it the Saturday before.

Billy's chester beard. Ew.

Us before we went on our hot date! Happy Sumo was of course a part of our date, as well as shopping and spending some quality time together.

Playing games with friends (one of my favorite past times). It was so fun!

Thanks to our friends for having fun with us, and to Dawn for watching our little man. A night out ALONE was much needed!

Family Photos

2010-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

Almost exactly a year ago, Kel Ward took Ethan's newborns, and we just had her take his 1 year photos. So excited we found someone so talented! Here is a sneak peek:

Billy's Funeral ...I mean 30th Birthday

2010-05-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Billy's 30th Birthday this last Thursday, and we ended up having a blast! If you ever wonder what it's like to be older than dirt, just ask my husband ;)

I had too much fun at the Party Depot.

Notice the Grim Reeper..

Ethan gets so excited when Daddy comes home!

Ethan loves going to Red Robin. Soo many people to flirt with.

See? Ethan's obsessed with Billy.

The Meyers joined in the festivities, dressed in black in honor of Billy's impending funeral.

This mascot seriously creeps me out.

The servers brought this makeshift balloon hat for Billy to wear. You can't see it in the picture, but it really freaked Ethan out and he started screaming! It was priceless.

Evidence that Ethan ate most of Billy's free sundae.

Posing with his super sweet cake.

Billy didn't make a wish. He's such a guy. Here's to another great 30 years baby!

First Word

2010-05-13T11:05:00.001-07:00

Ethan has said several sounds, including Dada and whatnot, but I'm still not sure he knows what any of them refers to. However, lately he has been saying "Uh-Oh" whenever he drops anything. In fact, he drops things just so he can say it! It's so cute. Very adorable that this is his first word.

1 Year Status

2010-05-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Last week we took Ethan to his 1-year check up. Ethan has always been a little behind on the regular milestones, this time it was walking, pointing, etc. But WE know he's smart ;) I can't believe it's already been a year since we had Ethan. WOW, we had no idea what we were getting into!

His stats were:

Height: 30 inches - 60th percentile
Weight: 22.7 lbs - 45 percentile
Head Circumference: 48 cm - 85th percentile

See? His head is huge, because he has a HUGE brain. He'll be talking in noooo time.

Day at the Beach

2010-05-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

On Grandma Boaz's last day in Oregon, we decided to hit the coast. Who doesn't love a day at the coast?? We had such a blast. We started the day off at Mo's:

Ethan wanted to show everything the food he was enjoying.

Grandma Boaz ate RAW oysters. Yikes.

Ethan loved every minute of the coast. I'm so glad we have this in common.

Buttering Up Grandma

2010-05-06T20:26:00.001-07:00

Ethan's got quite a few Grandma's. And He definitely knows what's up. I think he might just be the sweetest little boy on Earth.

Grandma Boaz

Grandma Barber

Ethan's First Birthday

2010-05-04T21:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my little boy's 1 already. He is truly the best thing that has happened to Billy and me. He has so much personality, and brings so much love into our home. I'm so thankful we've been lucky enough to have him.

Mmmm...the mega huge cupcake!

Special thanks to Leanna for loaning me her cupcake pan!

Ethan's dollar from Grandma Boaz. He made it rain.

Posing with Ethan's favorite blocks.

Freaking out when he realized everyone was hanging on his every movement.

In the bath ready to get clean. Which was hard. He had frosting inside his ears!

Mom's Day at OSU

2010-05-04T21:55:00.000-07:00

My brother had Mom's Day at his school down in Corvallis this past weekend, and I decided to join them in the festivities. Because, of course, it included omelets made by my mom. Who could pass those up?

I couldn't help taking some pictures of this beautiful campus.

Mom making silk screen t-shirts. For some reason Kade didn't want to help with arts and crafts.

Freedom!!

2010-05-04T07:11:00.000-07:00

Billy finished his finals this last Friday, and it was an amazing feeling! A full two weeks of never seeing Billy is exhausting. We are so glad he's done! I told Billy to grow out his white trash beard during finals, and here it is in all its glory:

We decided to celebrate at Red Robin. So glad you work so hard for us Billy.

Healthcare

2010-04-25T20:22:00.000-07:00

Normally I stay out of politics on a public forum because I realize what a sensitive topic it is, but I feel the need to voice my opinion tonight. Last night Billy and I watched a documentary on healthcare, and it really helped open my eyes to what is going on in our country. If you and your family are generally healthy, you probably have never given much though to how good your insurance is, but as someone who lives with MS, this is always in the back of my mind. When will I get sick next, and how much will it cost me?

When someone is handed a diagnosis like this, should monetary consequences bog them down? Should I worry about what will happen to my healthcare when Billy and I are out of school, knowing that insurance companies will not accept me due to my pre-existing condition?

I'm not sure if the bill that was passed will make everything roses in our country. In fact, I'm sure it won't make everything wonderful again. However, I'm glad that someone finally decided something needs to change with our health care system. I live with hope that one day our country will be able to figure out a good system that will benefit the citizens, not just the insurance companies (a billion dollar industry).

2010 MS Walk

2010-04-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

Last weekend some amazing friends and I participated in the annual MS Walk to "Stomp out MS." I was diagnosed at the age of 15, but I'm sad to say this is my first time ever participating in fundraising for this cause. It was amazing, and I plan on doubling the amount for next year. I feel so blessed to have so many amazing friends and family who were willing to donate their time and money.

Included are some pictures of our morning:

Janna, Us, and the Swifts before our 5K walk.

My amazing girlfriends who were willing to donate their Saturday morning. Thank you girls so so much!

This pretty much sums up Ethan's mood all morning. We brought the stroller, but ended up carrying him most of the way.

Us posing for a picture after our walk. Can't wait to do this again next year!

Magnifying Glass

2010-04-17T20:02:00.000-07:00

Remember doing this in grade school? Ever week we would guess what something was based on a snapshot of the item? Well I've decided to bring it back!

Can anyone guess what this is?

Finals.. Bleh

2010-04-17T19:59:00.001-07:00

I hate finals time! Billy is always gone studying, and if he's home, he's just stressed out. I took Ethan out on our balcony to dink around with our new camera. We had a really good time together! Ethan always brightens up when he is in the fresh air. He really is my favorite little person, even if he bugs me sometimes. I'm glad I have him to keep me company during finals!

Our new baby!

2010-04-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's been 7 years since I've had a piano in my home, and I can't even tell you how excited I am to have one again!

Tulip Festival

2010-04-17T11:12:00.000-07:00

My friend and I decided to go to the Tulip Festival up in Woodburn this last week, and I'm so so glad we did. I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything so beautiful. There were flowers everywhere. It was really a girl's dream come true.

Easter 2010

2010-04-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ethan had a great first Easter, and so did Billy and I. We got invited over to someone's house for every meal. How awesome is that??

We started out with and Easter basket for Ethan. I didn't get any candy, because I knew who would end up eating all of it - me.

Ethan had fun with the eggs anyway.

...and he had fun with the grass. Maybe even more fun than the eggs!

He stood up on his own for the first time while we were at the Bingham's house. He was pretty whiny though, so I'm sad to say he didn't really enjoy it.

Special thanks to all our friends who were kind enough to have us over and feed us. The holidays can be hard without family, so it's nice to have ones who will adopt us for the day!

Mmmmm... Chocolate

2010-04-03T19:09:00.000-07:00

Britt got to lick the beaters and it was just too adorable! I had to pull out the camera and catch this beautiful moment.

P.S. I just blew this photo up and noticed Ethan in the background kissing his reflection in the window! Priceless.

Custom Made

2010-04-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Don't you think this sink was just made for my little man?

Craft Day in Medford

2010-04-03T18:56:00.000-07:00

I had a rough week, so instead of sitting around feeling sorry for myself, I decided to pack up the car and head down to Medford for the week! My mom was kind enough to arrange a craft day, which was so so so fun!

This really is just the tip of the ice berg when it comes to my mom's craft supplies.

Another picture of just a TINY BIT of the paper in my mom's craft room. We seem to have the same affinity for paper!

A mini Easter basket I made.

The gorgeous card my mom made. It took forever, but it was so worth it!

Another mini Easter basket. Nothing like doing crafts to lighten my mood!

Snow Storm in March?

2010-04-03T18:50:00.000-07:00

Okay you got me, we didn't have a snow storm, but we DID have a hail storm in March. Billy and I were walking back to our apartment from our car when I heard this roar. I looked and saw this sheet of white coming for us, and I yelled (slow motion) RUUUUUUUUUUUUN!

We barely made it into our stairwell, but I still had worries. If you are from South Dakota, you know what hail means: a tornado. Luckily I had Billy to reassure me that wouldn't happen here in Oregon. One more thing to make me love this state!

Flickr

2010-03-28T20:42:00.001-07:00

So, I was blog-stalking yesterday and found this amazing idea! Basically, you take a subject, like what your name is, then you input it on Flickr and choose one of the pictures that pops up! Here's what I came up with for Billy and I:

Name

Kera

William

Morbid, right?

Favorite Food:

Italian

Pizza

High School Attended

Riggs High School

Ok, this wasn't the high school I went to, but it looks pretty cool!

Greene High School

This obviously isn't Billy's school either, but he said everyone in his small town was a bit weird, and so is this picture.

Favorite Color

Purple

Blue

Celebrity Crush

Eric Dane

Seriously, who wouldn't crush on this guy?

Rachel McAdams

Billy wouldn't admit to crushing on her... but after much provocation, he finally said she's a "good" actress. Whatever. I guess he's smart.

Favorite Disney Princess

Ariel

I was obsessed with this movie as a girl! On that note, I would love to watch this movie again..

Jasmine

Hussie

Favorite Drink

Diet Mountain Dew

On a side note, this wrapper is in the shape of a deer! I guess people have way too much time on their hands.

Coke Zero

Dream Vacation

Italy

How awesome would Venice be?? Can't wait.

Italy

Billy didn't know this was my pick - and I didn't know this was his dream destination either. I guess we are just meant to be :)

Favorite Dessert

Candy!!

Brownies

Dream Career

Social Worker

Attorney

Haha seriously - can you believe this turned up for "attorney?" I had to choose this one!

What do you love most in life?

Family

Again - we are just meant to be on this one - along with this little jack-o-lantern family.

One word to describe you..

Blessed

Stressed

What you dream about..

Toilets

My story is TMI. Just trust me on this one.

Nothing

Billy never remembers his dreams. I've tried to tell him he still has them, but I'm not sure if he believes me.

Flashback Friday

2010-03-26T03:35:00.001-07:00

Well, I decided to take a crack at Flashback Friday. 1) Because I think it's cool. I always enjoy reading other people's flashbacks. 2) I've been up since 1:30am and I'm really really bored.

When I was in 5th grade, I signed up to play Percussion because I had always been drawn to all the different instruments when listening to music. While it never became a huge passion of mine, I had a blast doing it and ended up trying out for drumline my freshman year.

I was so stoked when I made it, even though I had no idea how to play the quads! I remember the bruises on my back every year from my harness, but I still continued to play because I was a huge dork. Man I miss making music!

New Camera!

2010-03-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

Last night Billy and I bought a camera! I can't tell you how excited I am about this. We knew which camera we wanted, a Canon SD780 IS, but didn't know if we could afford it. We stopped into Target and found it. Turns out their display camera was their last one, and they gave us $60 off! Seriously, I don't know what I'll do with the 12.1 mega pixels, I've had only 5 for so long. There will DEFINITELY be better pictures to come!

Day in Portland

2010-03-21T14:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another amazing day in Oregon, so Billy and I decided to spend it up in Portland, which we don't do often enough. We started our day at the Portland Farmer's Market, which I will say, is just like the Salem one. Now I know to just stay in Salem if I want to go the market - there are less people there!

This is just a portion of the market, but you can see how crowded it was. Too many people freaks me out!

Us having a little picnic for Ethan. We decided to fill his tummy before sticking him in the stroller.

We had to make a pit-stop in the parking garage before we made our way downtown. Yes, we WALKED the town, and it was a blast! Except for that weird guy who screamed obscenities, then screamed at me: DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT! I was scared he was going to knife me..

There's this street that has probably 20 vendors along it, all different ethnicities for food. We ended up having incredibly overpriced kabobs. I can't wait to go back and have some Thai food!

Ethan was such a champ. He normally doesn't like his stroller AT ALL, or his teething ring, but he was sooooo good the whole time.

Can you see me holding his hand? He kept tearing off those glasses, but I just wanted one picture!

Can you see the building has windmills on the top of it? Coolest thing I've seen in a while.

We went to Powell's Bookstore, which is supposed to be the biggest bookstore in the nation, and it was pretty cool, but somehow I think it would be more fun without Ethan..

The super ghetto 7-11 downtown. I really am fascinated by how they do everything in big cities. How they don't have real convenience stores, just little convenience apartments. Do you see Ethan has no socks? As soon as we took his socks off, he was the happiest camper - I couldn't put them back on! He sucked his toes the whole way back to the parking garage.

Before going home, we made a stop in Vancouver to get Billy his 12-hour Clariton D, because Oregon doesn't sell it - apparently you can make Meth with it. We just chilled out in McDonald's before driving all the way back to Salem, and Ethan absolutely loved his fries (as you can see).

My men are serious about their food.

Washing the fries down with some milk. Ethan's favorite thing to do.

I'm going to go Coastal!!

2010-03-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Ethan and I have had the BEST week! My friend Leanna was kind enough to invite us to her home at the coast, and I of course jumped at the chance. Really, it was such a wonderful time, and I'm so thankful Leanna thought of us to spend time with. It was great company and amazing scenery!

We first started at Manzanita Beach:

This is probably one of my most favorite pictures of Ethan. But really, any picture at the coast is frame-worthy.

Leanna putting the kite together. The coast is always a great place to have fun with kites.

Leanna doing what she does best! It was great to be with other women who take pictures as much as I do. Well it was great to be with other women in general! I miss Leanna and Melody already.

Again, one of my favorite pictures.

Ethan checking out the sand, trying to decide what to do with it..

MMMMM....sand. Seriously, he ate sand for quite a while. At first I tried to stop him, but figured he's a boy.

Trying to decide if he wants to eat it again, and just so you know, he did.

The next day, we stopped at the Tillamook Cheese factory, and were able to try all different kinds of cheeses. This picture doesn't do it justice, but those cheese blocks were absolutely HUGE!

Leanna was then kind enough to treat us to ice cream, which was AMAZING. Ethan also loved it. He had his first taste of ice cream, and it was truly priceless.

There are more pics to come from Leanna's camera. We later went to their dairy farm, and I'm so excited to blog about it!

Play Date

2010-03-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

Ethan's BFF and future wife came over to play on Wednesday, and it was a blast! They fight over toys, crawl over each other, and hold hands. That are absolutely adorable, and I can't wait to see how their relationship evolves over time.

Ethan putting out the vibe for his crush. Daddy taught him all his moves.

Okay, I had to. Ethan just has so much hair, and I figured he could just borrow Brizzy's bow for a bit.

Leprechaun

2010-03-20T18:02:00.000-07:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I dressed Ethan up in green and did a photoshoot. Really, is there any outfit he doesn't look cute in?

Ethan anticipating the flash. He does this every time he sees the camera.

Ethan LOVING his noodles ..and his new haircut (that I gave him, by the way, it was so much fun!).

Chicken Makhani

2010-03-16T23:09:00.001-07:00

Our current new favorite restaurant is the Star of India, which I would love to have every single night! However, our current finances do not make this possible. So sad. Today, I decided to find a recipe that could come close to the bliss at my favorite restaurant. I'm proud to say that I found a recipe! Of course it's not the real thing, but it definitely satisfies my need for Indian food. Tonight was a good night, but I think my stomach needs a break.... If you'd like to try this recipe, click HERE.

Bed Head

2010-03-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Ethan has some serious bed head in the morning. It really is my favorite! I know I should cut his hair, but I just can't. It's so adorable when it's all messy.

Bonfire

2010-03-07T08:35:00.001-08:00

Some of our friends had the idea to go out to the coast yesterday and have a bonfire. I can't remember the last time I did this, but of course we were game! Also, I can't ever pass up a chance to roast some hot dogs :)

One thing Ethan loved about the beach was the sand. He kept trying to eat it!

Mary-Anne and me as the sun was setting. It doesn't get much better than watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

One thing Ethan loves to do is drink pop. He doesn't ACTUALLY drink it, but he thinks he has if he puts his mouth on the container. It's so cute.

We got this fire blazing as soon as it got cold. It was great, except I swear the smoke followed me where ever I chose to sit. It was a conspiracy.

Kind of a cool shot - Billy and I through the smoke. I'm so glad we have such wonderful friends to make memories with. We will miss you all when you graduate and leave :(

Kera's 25th

2010-03-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

I am now a quarter of a century old, and I have to admit, I DO feel wiser and much more important :) This has been my most memorable birthday yet, and I have my amazing husband, son, and friends to thank for it. The day started off with playing games with my mom, then my friend Mary-Anne stopped by with a gift card to Olive Garden (my favorite) and then my hubby came home EARLY, which was such a treat!

Did I mention Billy got me tulips? They are my favorite flower, and it never gets old when he brings home a bouquet.

Billy and I dropped Ethan off at the Cottles (thank you!) and headed to the Star of India, our new favorite restaurant. We get the BEST service, and the food is absolutely to die for. Never had anything better.

Our friendly waiter took a picture of us eating our tortilla chips. It was so weird to eat dinner without Ethan!

The amazing Makahni and Naan. Mmmm... my mouth is watering just thinking about it. If I could have this for every meal, I would.

Melody made cupcakes for this special occasion. She is one of the best bakers I know, so everyone was fawning over these cupcakes.

Billy bringing in the cake. You can see it took a lot of concentration!

I just realized I forgot to make a wish :(

The Rogers' came over to play games with us!

Normally I edit photos before I post them, but Nick's red-eye was just too good! Our game wouldn't have been the same without Nick and Lexie's answers.

A pic of me opening up the game Melody got, called Loaded Questions. I have to say, it's one of the best games I've ever played. In the background are the Myers' who joined us, and their contribution to the game was PRICELESS.

My day would not have been the same without Billy. Thanks so much for realizing how crazy I am for birthdays.

Out of this World

2010-03-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

Ethan's hair continues to grow longer and longer, and I just don't have the heart to cut the top of it! Also, as many of you know, his hair does one thing: operation mohawk. The other day I decided to put product in his hair and spike it! This was the result:

We had to get Ethan new pajamas - size 18 MONTHS! They're a bit skinny on him, but way too long!

Poop

2010-02-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Ethan ate his poop yesterday. Seriously he did. At first, I looked at him and thought, "Wow, I didn't know vomit could be green." Then I realized the green stuff was all over his hands, face, and legs. Oops, yeah, poop isn't food sweetie. No more to say ...just that he ate his poop.

Superbowl 2010

2010-02-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

Well, if you know me well, you know I am obsessed with football! I have been counting down the HOURS until the Superbowl.

Haha, yeah right. I do however love to socialize, so I was pretty excited to go to a Superbowl party with our friends the Myers. The best part: the food (of course).

The spread. It was seriously amazing. I have a lot of working out to do this week :)

Seriously the biggest fish I've ever seen, in a fish tank. This picture doesn't do it justice, but the owner said it's 5 years old. I didn't even know they lived that long!

Cute family pic ...sorry it's a weird angle, I took it. As you can see, Ethan is staring at the TV. I don't know if it's possible yet, but I think he really likes football.

Ethan Crawled ..Finally!

2010-02-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Last Thursday Ethan finally decided to show me his crawling skills. It was one of the most exciting moments of my life! Sure, it was pretty scrappy - not usual crawling on hands and knees - but I'll take it!

Who knew a little blue ball could be so motivating?

Ethan's face right after he crawled for the first time. He's playing it smooth.

Video of Ethan afterward. SO precious!

This Day is Bananas!

2010-02-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Ethan LOVES his bananas. But does that really surprise anyone that he enjoys his food? I mean, come on.. he's huge.

Ethan enjoying the wonderfulness of fruit..

Lay off me I'm starving!

Ethan spent the morning with Daddy, who let him on the bed. He promptly peed all over it.

Instead of kisses, I get Ethan trying to scratch my eyes out.

Haiti: Children in Need Foundation

2010-01-23T12:58:00.000-08:00

There are few stories in the news that have struck me quite like the Haitian earthquake has. Recently I was in Sacramento where we had a 6.5 magnitude earthquake - it barely made the news. I thought, wow, I thought earthquakes were a big deal, but I guess not. Just a week after I was in California came the 7 magnitude earthquake that has led to complete devastation in Haiti.

I am so grateful to live in the country that I do where we have building codes and plans in action for this sort of thing. The living conditions in Haiti were horrible before the earthquake, which makes it that much more horrible to imagine now.

One issue that has truly touched my heart are the conditions in the orphanages in Haiti. Adoption has always been a topic dear to me, and to think there are children with no caregivers is depressing. Now more than ever, orphanages in Haiti need our help. I have a friend who is part of a local charity down in St. George, Utah who is helping to make a difference for Haitian orphans. Click HERE to watch a video and donate to this charity.

Using My Brain

2010-01-14T20:51:00.001-08:00

I've heard many times that humans use a mere fraction of our brain - even really smart humans. That is really sad for the rest of us who struggle in general! Sometimes I feel like I only use 5% from day-to-day, if that. Evidence of this:

I forgot to change out of my robe before leaving the house
I drove off with the gas pump still in my car
Recently I went to the craft store, spent forever in there picking out paper, only to realize I forgot my wallet
While filling out a form for Ethan's pediatrician, I forgot that ETHAN was the patient, not myself
I had someone recently tell me they were training to be a nursing assistant, and I came back with, "At least you won't be a CNA, that would suck!" ...then I realized that's exactly what she was talking about
I commented to a lady that she had 3 beautiful sons. She didn't have 3 sons, she had 2 - one was a girl

Need I go on? Currently I am applying to grad school *Yay!* ..the only bad news is, applying takes a lot of concentration, and I'm just not down with that. Give me a diaper - wham! I'll have it changed. Give me nasty poop-stained clothes, I've got you covered. Ask me to write a personal statement, I have no idea how to sit down and concentrate long enough to do this. Wish me luck, and pray that I can figure out how to use my brain again!

....Can you tell I'm supposed to be writing it right now? Procrastination - my long lost friend.

Prelay Race

2010-01-13T16:51:00.000-08:00

How many goals/dreams do you think we have in an entire lifetime? I contemplated this after I discovered my friend Lexie was looking for people to run a Prelay race along with her. I've never even HEARD of something like this, but I thought it sounded pretty neat.

When I was a 16, my dream was to have the hottest guy in school :). When I was 17, my dream was to get into the right college. Then several years later it was to marry the right man (I think we can FOR SURE check that one off). I can tell you one thing about my personal goals: I have never once made a goal that had anything to do with physical activity!

Now getting fit enough to run 6 miles for this Prelay in June will be my goal. For those that know me well, you will recall there was a time I could barely walk, let alone run. Completing this will be a huge personal victory for me, and I'm so excited to accomplish this goal!

What are YOUR goals for the new year?

New Year's Eve Bash

2010-01-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

This year we spent New Year's Eve with our friends the Shambaughs and the Kellys. We are early-to-sleep people, so we went over there not expecting to stay up that late - but we ended up having so much fun we actually stayed up to midnight!

Ethan keeping himself busy before we put him to bed. He was such a champ for sleeping at someone else's house!

Billy drank some weird South American drink all night with Jeff Shambaugh...

We are a big deal when it comes to Band Hero - not sure if you were aware of that..

Stephanie showing off her crazy-weird talents. We humored her. She's going to hate me for posting this picture!

Our New Year's kiss. Somehow it got weird.

First Encounter with Snow

2009-12-27T20:33:00.000-08:00

We decided to take advantage of the blizzard and see what Ethan thought of the snow. He actually didn't have much of reaction...which was kind of disappointing. His snow suit sure was adorable, though!

Blizzard '09

2009-12-27T20:21:00.000-08:00

The blizzard this year has been absolutely crazy! All the Interstates, Highways, and airports have been closed for days, and I have to tell you, it's really irritating. We were supposed to leave on Saturday, but will not be able to get home until Tuesday. Thank you, Mom and Dad for living in the middle of nowhere.

Aside from the annoying travel arrangements, it was nice to feel the peace inside a house surrounded by crazy wind and snow. I forgot how much fun storms are. Below are some shots from our house.

Christmas Morning

2009-12-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

Ethan's first Christmas was low-key and so much fun! We didn't even start opening presents until around 10 - which is how it should be. It won't be too long before Ethan gets up at 5am wanting to open gifts.

Ethan couldn't care less about his present.

He didn't mind playing with the wrapping paper though.

Christmas Eve

2009-12-27T20:09:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when I bought Ethan's Christmas Eve pajamas! I decided he should be Santa - you know, since he has the right figure for it. It was so adorable!

I think he looks like a Vegas Santa Claus with the buttons undone.

He was so mad we put his hat on.

He like the wrapping paper hat on his head way better.

Girls' Night

2009-12-27T20:00:00.000-08:00

I have so much fun with my mom and sister. I wish we all lived in the same town...also I wish my parents didn't live out in the middle of nowhere - but that's another post entirely. We took many pictures, but I was told not to post some of them, so I've included just two!

Happy face! I was much happier than they were (obviously).

Angry face! ..Mom just looks like she was squinting.

Dancing with Grandpa

2009-12-23T19:59:00.000-08:00

One of my warmest memories as a child was dancing with my daddy. He would blast Billy Idol or Pat Benatar, take my hands, and dance with me. I felt so special during those moments, and I'm so glad Ethan has that opportunity.

Dad bending down so Ethan can stand up.

Ethan had an absolute blast! - And I think Grandpa did, too.

Life in the SD

2009-12-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

We have had so much fun in South Dakota! Grandma and Grandpa are thrilled to have their children and grandchild for a visit, and we are excited to see them as well. Below is the start of our adventures:

Grandma getting cuddle time in with Ethan. He's very stingy with his hugs, so this is hard to do.

We made coconut kisses which were so good! Let's just say they weren't around the house for very long..

We also dipped chocolates, which was more work than I anticipated. We made orange and mit chocolate, and those too are also not in the house anymore!