Easter Weekend

We were lucky enough to have our friends from up north come down for a visit! We went to pizza and just caught up and talked for a couple of hours.


Jarad & I at the pizza place- Borriello Brother's Pizza


Aaron & Diana~ so good to see you guys!!

Then for Easter, we hung out with some other friends from our ward. Thanks to Reid & Rebecca for inviting us over for dinner and Easter egg fun!


We brought Kate (their youngest) some bunny ears!

After a delicious dinner, we died Easter eggs- although it was meant for Genna- I think the adults enjoyed it the most. :)


Jar & I- crazy as usual!


Jarad making his creations.


I'm trying to do a double-sided dye job.


Genna was very excited and wanted to try lots of colors.


Reid- very focused on his eggs.


Rebecca and Kate


Two of our creations- my favorite was Jarad's Humpty Dumpty egg!


Jarad & I- we had so much fun!

The Last Birthday

This year I had my last birthday! I turned 29 and truthfully, wasn't very excited about it. Oh well...another year older!

Two of my gal pals from work had their birthdays the same week as mine. So we all went out to the Melting Pot for dinner. It was delicious!!!


Lindsey & Amber (the other birthday girls!) enjoying some fondue goodness!


Megan & I- so full from all the yummyness!

We were also on spring break around our birthdays so...


we got birthday pedicures! One of my favorite indulgences.

Jarad and I decided to go away for the weekend of my birthday as well. We didn't have much time or $$ to spend so we went up into the mountains to Buena Vista, Colorado.

This is what we saw as we pulled up to the motel~


a deer! Buena Vista is the tiniest town in the middle of no-where!

Our motel was....well...lets say old school! It was clean and friendly but just a bit older. We arrived a little late and decided to just relax, play games, watch some TV and enjoy a night away.


Jar & I- getting ready to play games and chill for the night.


I even made some chocolate strawberries for a snack. YUM!!!

We woke up the next morning to...


Snow! Luckily it wasn't much and melted away pretty quickly.

We packed up and headed out to get some breakfast before our day's adventures. We found a local joint~


Bongo Billy's- and had some yummy breakfast burritos.

In planning our weekend away- we decided to book a trail ride! It was so much fun and the scenery was BEAUTIFUL! It turned out to be a sunny day, still a little chilly, but very nice and relaxing.


Self-portrait while riding (Jarad and I were at the end of the pack since we had the most riding experience.)


Jarad and our guide at the end of our ride.

After our ride, we headed to the Mt. Princeton Hot Springs and got some lunch.


We were so hungry!! And a tad sore and definitely ready to sit in the hot springs!


There were two huge hot springs pools as well as a river that the hot springs ran into. It was relaxing and super HOT!! But a perfect end to a quick, weekend get-away!

On my actual birthday-the 27th (also a Sunday), my family had us over for dinner (haystacks-super good!) and cake (thanks Lori!).


Kev & the YUMMMMY cake- chocolate with strawberries!

Thanks to my family and friends for such a great birthday!

Just the Same

Yesterday, I was reading the Ensign and came across this poem after reading an article on infertility and faith. I was already in tears from the article then after reading this I needed a box of tissues! I really hope that our child is on his/her way "through the hills and valleys" to our arms.

Just the Same by Diana Lynn Lacey

Sometimes-
God sends rain
Straight from the sky
To nourish the young flower
and it grow.

Sometimes-
God sends rain from the sky
To the mountaintops,
Then over hills and through valleys
Until it reaches the flower
and it grows, just the same.

Sometimes-
God sends a child
Straight from Hi realm
Into a mother's arms
and love grows.

Sometimes-
God sends a child
From heaven to another's arms,
Then over hills and through valleys
Until he reaches the arms of his mother
and love grows, just the same.

(And my slight apologies for so many non-picture posts and for being so sappy recently.)

Special Find

I can and will fully and openly admit it- I am a huge blog STALKER!! I stalk my friends, their friends, other adoptive couples- both the ones I actually know and random ones that I find via adoption blogs or friends, etc. It is a sickness really....many hours reading about other people's lives and journeys. Many times I find funny stories, things that make me cry, things that I can relate to, things that make me feel better about my journey/thought processes and things that just hit me to the core. Today, whilst stalking away...I came upon this blog post of another hopeful adoptive mom. I just read it over and over again and truly feel just as she does (minus the part about already having children but still knowing that I will feel that way about the children I will have someday). I hope that our birthmoms, their families and our future children know the pure love, true heartache and never-ending prayers that I feel/say for them! And I hope to soon be able to meet my "kindred-spirit" and experience the miracle of adoption.

Waiting is Hard...

But hopefully it will be worth it- I found this quote recently and really like it.

"Everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting. We want things a long time before we get them, and the fact that we want them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come."

~Joseph F. Smith

Triple Love

I have the best and funniest husband!! He had to be in class yesterday on Valentine's, so I saw him all of maybe an hour late last night. However, he was super sweet and brought these home for me....

(advanced apology for the grainy photos- they're from my phone)


They are beautiful and with a little dessert together, that was enough Valentine's-ness for me! Plus, we had already decided not to do much for Valentine's this year and to keep things simple.

However, today at work in the middle of teaching the letter Q and singing Who Let the Letters Out to my little students and much to my surprise- these arrived!


Even more beautiful! And I L.O.V.E. getting surprise flowers at work (and I did not care what-so-ever that they came the day after!).

So my kids all smelled them and loved the balloon! But in the effort to not totally disrupt the day, we continued on with the letter Q, then went outside (A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. 60 degree weather in Feb!) to play. Upon returning to my classroom, I also found these beauties on my desk. Two surprises?!


Apparently, these were actually the flowers Jarad ordered for me as a surprise, day-after, Valentine's gift. Something must have happened at the florist and they brought me two arrangements. I'm not complaining!! I love flowers! Plus, now I have some at home and some at work to look at and enjoy.

Thank you to my sweetie for the triple-dose of floral love!! Happy Valentine's Day to all!!

It's Not Everyday...

...you turn 85!! But Grandma Pat did just that! So we all HAD to celebrate! We met up in Denver with Jar's family at Cinzetti's for brunch.


The view from our end of the table... Jar & I, Deahna & Sienna, Ambar & Marina, Grandma...


And the view from the other end- Stephanie & Scott (Jar's cousins) and their boys- Boone & Indy, Steve and Grandma again. Lin, Jar's mom was taking the pics.


Grandma kept being surprised all afternoon! The get-together was a surprise, the presents, Scott & Stephanie and she was just so happy!


Jar & I

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!!!

Utah Mom's Special Day

When I was in college, I was lucky enough to have one of my friend's Mom take me in and become my "Utah Mom." She fed me, let me live with her, and loved me as her own! I just love her and when she called a few months ago to tell us she had met someone and they were getting married, we couldn't be more excited for her! She deserves happiness and love more than anyone! So, of course, we booked tickets as soon as possible and used it as an excuse to have a long weekend in Utah!

We got in late Thursday night, and when we got to the house, MJ had to tell us all about her fiance, Mike! The next day, we all got ready, had a nice lunch at The Garden on the top of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Then it was wedding time! It was so great to see them be sealed and see such pure joy and happiness on MJ's face! We're so glad that we could be there for their special day.


MJ & Mike- the happy couple


Jarad & I, MJ & Mike, and my parents, Mary & Dave

The ring ceremony, and reception were exhausting but fun and the whole day turned out so wonderfully!

Saturday, we had a great breakfast at Cracker Barrel and also got to eat at one of our favorite places, Cafe Rio, with my parents and my uncle and his wife. My parents and Jarad and I also went to the new family history library across from Temple Square and found some pictures of my Dad's family that they were able to get copies of.


Jarad & I on Temple Square


Mom & Dad on Temple Square

Sadly, my parents had to head home Saturday afternoon. But that evening, we were able to get together with our dear friends, Cole & Maura and their little man, Crew. We hit up In & Out and Iceburg (we seriously ate so much food while we were there!) and then played a crazy game called Quelf. It is a seriously weird/crazy game! We laughed so hard at each other at the ridiculous things we had to do!


Cole had to be a mummy...


Maura had to stay under a blanket...


I had to do some sweet yoga moves...and Jarad lucked out with no picture of his craziness.


Cole & Maura and Jarad & I- so fun to hang with such good friends!

Sunday, we went to see Jarad's grandparents for a little while and return their slug-bug (Thank you Grandma & Grandpa!!).


Jarad sitting in his favorite chair at his grandparent's house. He really hopes to inherit it in the future. ;)


Grandma, Grandpa (with his Reverence Ranger badge!) and Jarad

Sunday night, we were able to spend the evening with some of my girls! Thanks Chrissy for hosting and it was so good to catch up and chat with my girls. Miss them!!


Mellie, Chrissy (holding Mr. Theo) and I

Monday, we had brunch with our pals Jenn & Ben at IHOP (more eating!). Thanks for making time for us- miss ya'll!


Jenn, myself & Jarad (Ben hates pictures so he quickly offered to be the photographer.)

The rest of the day was spent just hanging out with Tarina & Chris & Kate- we went to look at puppies and hit up Costco too.


Jarad, Kate & I- she was so silly all afternoon and we loved getting in some Kate-time!


Cole & Maura were able to come by and see us for a bit again before sadly, we had to get to the airport to come home. We had a great weekend and always L.O.V.E. being able to be in Salt Lake (it will always be one of our favorite places) and being able to spend time with some of our greatest friends and family! Hope to see you all soon!

January Happenings

January came and went entirely too fast! Craziness! But we had alot of fun in the first month of 2011! Here is a few of the random things we've been up to.


Sadie is still the most adorable puppy and still is my snuggle buddy!


My Auntie Ida (my dad's sister) & Uncle Gary came through town and we were able to go out to dinner with them and my parents and catch up! I've been close to them my whole life- so great to see them!!


I also got a stellar (well, I think so) hair cut and think I may have found a good stylist (finally! 3rd times the charm!)

We also got to go see Allegria- one of Cirque du Soleil's shows. I gave Jarad tickets for Christmas and it was A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!!


A quick bite to eat before the show- yummy Arby's (yeah we're high class around here!)


Us before the show- sorry it's blurry, they were very strict about pictures, so we had to sneak one without a flash.