Catch up!

Well, I have to play a bit of catch up- because a lot has happened since last weekend! So on Saturday . . . I got up and took Araleigh to the Rigby Parade with my sister. She had SO much fun! I didn't realize how into it she would be. When they would throw candy .. she was running as fast as she could to get it before any other kid. It was pretty funny seeing her all out there by herself . . . fighting over candy. It was a fun time!On Monday my sister and I went to look for new puppies for my niece. Her dog she has had for 5 years was stolen/ran away . . . and she was devastated. So we were running around seeing if we could find something else. My sister said she wanted to buy a Yorkie. But Brynne, my niece wanted a Schnauzer. So we went to my house and I got on KSL.com and started searching. Well, we found a billion puppies that were adorable. So at 9:30 pm my sister calls me and we start looking at puppies together. I found a Schnorkie-(Yorkie/Schnauzer mix) that was SO ADORABLE . . .and Brynne LOVED it! So at 11:30 pm . . we decided to leave at 6 am for a day trip to Utah. We were on a mission! Then all the sudden . . . we were searching for Yorkies too. I absolutely LOVE these dogs. Cory's mom had one and he was the cutest thing EVER! So my sister got really into it and decided that she was going to buy herself a yorkie too! So 6 am rolls around and we take off to Utah. We got there around 10 and went to the place with the Schnorkies. Well, I absolutely fell in LOVE with this one puppy. So of course I get attached and call up Cory- and what does he say. "No way, I will be so mad if you do" . . . pretty much. So I call up my sister and told her that he was the one to buy. (My other sister not with us). After we put a deposit down on those two pups we were off to SLC for some appts to look at Yorkies. Now these puppies are one of the most expensive dogs EVER . . . so we weren't taking this decision lightly. We went to a couple of places and I remembered a cute little pup I'd seen on ksl but didn't tell my sister because she was $1500 so I didn't mention her til later in the car. Well, Sharee wanted to call on her so we did . . . and ended up being that there were options to buying her. So we ended up going to her last- and the breeder brought her out with a shirt, levi skirt, and a bow. We were both so excited. She is the sweetest thing ever! Well, of course we left with her. Not paying $1500 . . . but working out a deal with the breeder. Then it was back to Ogden for the other two pups. So we left Utah after 5 hours of hunting and buying with 3 of the sweetest puppies. Two brother Schnorkies and One Purebred Yorkie. We had so much fun with them and they are so tiny. The grass pretty much eats them. So I decided that next time I find a pup that I want . . I am not going to ask my husband. I am hoping that we will be in a new and bigger house when my sisters pup starts breeding . . . cuz I am going to buy one for sure! They are the cutest things EVER!

I also wanted to mention on here that I have officially lost 17 lbs as of today! Woot Woot! I am now officially only 3 lbs away from my ultimate goal! I have had a hard time keeping on track this week . . because they got rid of my FAVORITE machine at the Apple. But I am really going to try to hit it hard early next week before I leave for Washington to visit Cor's sister. I am also excited because we are FINALLY getting family pictures taken on my side of the family. It has been 9 years since we have had a big family picture. Isn't that INSANE? I am also glad that we are doing it cuz my little family hasn't had updated pictures since Araleigh was a couple months old. So hopefully they turn out okay!
We are leaving next Wednesday for Washington. We are going to spend the week with Cory's sister and her family. We are pretty excited. I am just worried about the 8 hour drive with the munchkin. She can't even stand driving to Rexburg. So I am a bit frantic about it! We will see what happens! I am not sure what we are going to be doing up there . . . a lot of relaxing, swimming in their nice pool . . . and possibly some shopping. Who knows! Hopefully it will be fun for all of us . . . especially Araleigh! As for me . . . I like to go see all the places that Cory grew up and actually see the places that all his childhood horror stories originated from.

Fathers Day . . .

Well, I think we had a great Fathers Day. It was filled with a lot of family and a lot of fun. Araleigh had so much fun with all her cousins yesterday. . on both sides of the family. I just wanted to hurry and write down a bit on the fathers in my life.
First, obviously my own. My dad is the most soft hearted man I know. Although he has a hard shell on the outside- he is sensitive on the inside. For some reason my dad is the only person who can make me cry on command. He has always been sensitive to me and I think we have always had a special bond. I truly don't know how I could get through this life without him there to support me and encourage me. Although sometimes pushy . . . he will always be an example to me in the ways that he loves and cares for others. I have never seen anyone do as much for other people as he has. He is also the most amazing grandfather. It takes courage to take on 12 grandchildren by yourself. But he is never to afraid to load them all up and take them somewhere by himself. He is truly amazing and is loved by all those grandkids. Hopefully someday I will be able to repay him for all the love and support he has given to me and my family.
My Father in Law- Cory and I have so much respect for him. He is the most humble person I have ever met. I have never heard or seen him take on life in a worldly perspective. Everything to him is eternal and we are so fortunate to have him in our lives. We are truly blessed with his guidance and knowledge daily . . . and I personally am grateful to have such a great example in my life. I hope that Cory and I as a couple can someday be half the people that his parents are. Cory looks up to him so much and I know tries to learn from his example.
Lastly, my husband. Ever since the day I shocked him the news that we were finally pregnant I knew that he would be a great father. My pregnancy was the hardest thing I have ever been through and he supported me through the whole thing . . whether it was rushing to the store to get my something for my stomach, doing the dishes because I couldn't handle the smell, or even cleaning up after me when I got sick everywhere. His nurturing through the whole 9 months made is so I wasn't scared to bring a new life into our world. Although it took him 9 months to figure out that she was really coming . . when she did he was so supportive. He took a week off to help me and was so wonderful in helping me through my mental and physical challenges. Now that Araleigh isn't a baby anymore its so fun to watch her mimick him. She has become his permanent shadow. Where he goes . . . she wants to go. If he has a hat on, she has a hat on. And although I am the one who gets all the kisses . . I know that she looks to him as our leader and she follows his example. Although I gripe at him to help me a lot . . he never turns me down. I am grateful for him and the support he gives our family to enable me to raise our children. He is a hard worker and has a brilliant mind and I know that someday he will be great in his endeavors. But for now, we look at him as an example . . especially me. He keeps me balanced and I am grateful to him for that. Happy Fathers Day to all the dads in my life and yours!

*Update*

So I haven't really taken alot of pictures lately . . . and for some reason I feel I shouldn't post without pictures. But I thought I would write down whats been going on in June so far. I am so excited to say that I have officially lost about 13 lbs. Woot woot! I have been working pretty hard and slowly seeing results. Cory has also been trying to lose the lbs too. I have no idea really how much he has lost but he has been really good about getting up and running every morning. Now I just have about 7 more lbs an I will be exactly what my goal weight was. I can't believe it! Hard work really does pay off! Now if I can just get my jello belly to tone up! :)

This last weekend was really fun! I went with my parents and my sisters. NO KIDS! And we went to a cousin's wedding in Utah. It was a good time. It was weird not to have the kids. . . kinda like the old days. But on our way to Utah we stopped an had lunch at Maddox's. YUMMMMMMMMM! They are soooooooooooo good. I had the halibut and it was so yummy. Then we got to the wedding and it was nice to see my cousins and aunts/uncles that I never see. Then we ventured out and got my parents to agree to go to Tepanyaki's Japanese Steak house. Wow. It was really good. Quite spendy . . . but it was yummy. I was SHOCKED because my mom HATES trying new food and she loved it! It was alot of fun. Dad caught a shrimp that they tossed into his mouth . . he was really proud and had a lot of fun. I totally missed when they threw it at me. Anyways, so this is really about all that has been happening this past week. Araleigh is getting so big and her vocabulary is getting huge!! She is really starting to communicate well. . . which is really exciting for us. Its fun to hear all the new words she decides the say everyday. She definitely knows what she wants and understands . . . its just getting her to communicate them with words. I am ecstatic to say she knows where the garbage is and what to do with it. Its pretty funny cuz this isn't one concept that I taught her. But every time she's one eating a snack or something is on the ground she runs and throws it away! Anyways, my goal for this month is to obviously continue to work on my weight loss and to do more scrapbooking. I have fallen behind SO BAD!

Araleigh's Big Toy . . .

Well, Grandma Chrys has REALLY spoiled Araleigh this time! Araleigh was given a brand new swing set last weekend and Cory and I put it up Monday. She was so funny . . . the whole time we were putting it up she tried to help . . . and then not help so much. She would crawl up the slide when we were trying to screw it on (not attached just me holding it up) - then I had to push her on the swings . . though we didn't have a toddler swing yet so it was me just hanging on to her. When the slide was on the ground NOT put together, she'd just go lay in it and yell "weee" even though it was just flat . . it was so funny. I wish I had had my camera when she was doing that. So I went and bought her a toddler swing yesterday and we barbecued some chicken and steaks tonight and of course she saw the swing set. So even though it was raining outside and was cold . . we had to put her in it. She loved it . . I know that now I am going to be spending a whole lot of time outside with her so she can use up this sweet toy from Grandma Chrys as much as possible!!

So Inspirational

I came across this website on someone's blog and would be selfish not to share it. I cannot believe the overwhelming feeling that comes when you watch this. It's truly inspiring!
Click Here to watch the slideshow . . then you can sign up Here and watch how the pictures and show was made. It truly is beautiful portrayal of Christ and his life. I especially love the picture in the Manger and the intense focus on Joseph . . . it reflects him in such a wonderful way . . an new concerned and honored father. Truly is something wonderful. If you get a minute . . . watch it!