Saturday, November 30, 2013

DAY 830... Thankful For #30

Today I am thankful for my amazing and wonderful husband, Spencer. I am sure that I could go on and on about his wonderful qualities and his talents. Seriously, I hit the jackpot. I started to worry when I turned 25 and wasn't even seriously dating anyone, but after being married to this man for 2 years I know that the Lord had something wonderful and great in store for me. I would like to think that my Heavenly Father was just teaching me patience when it came to marriage. Our marriage is not perfect, but we work so hard for it and that makes me love him even more! I know that I can be crazy and wild and do things without thinking and talk without thinking, but he forgives me and helps me to want to be better. He is a great Dad to Aniston! He has supported me and stood by me through many tough times. It has been a crazy 2 years since we were married! But I married an AWESOME man!


I AM THANKFUL FOR MY HUSBAND!

Friday, November 29, 2013

DAY 829... Thankful For #29

Today I am thankful for my family. Being with them all this week has been awesome! We haven't all been together since my wedding over 2 years ago. What a blessing it is to be able to spend time with them. My family is definitely not perfect, but together we are something great. I love my siblings, more now so than when I was younger I think, and spending time with them really does make me happy! I LOVE being an aunt to darling Cortney and to have her a cousin to Aniston. My parents, well... you already know that I think they're the BOMB diggity. These are people who I am glad and thankful to been tied to for eternity. I am so blessed to live 5 minutes away from my wonderful parents and 2 youngest brothers. There are very few people who get my sense of humor and will allow me to entertain them with my hopes and dreams, but my family does that every single day!

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY FAMILY!

Thursday, November 28, 2013

DAY 828... Thankful For #28

Today I am thankful for the Wareham's. This is one of my Mom's younger brother's and his family and we just LOVE them! They are some of the most unselfish and generous people in the world! They gave us so many of their old toys that are in AMAZING condition recently! So many in fact that we probably won't have to spend much money for Aniston for Christmas. They are always willing to let us stay in their home when we visit Utah. Julie, the wife, is one of my closest friends. I know I can tell her anything and that she will not judge me at all... I'm pretty picky about my friends, so that's a big deal. Their children, my cousins, always are willing to play with my Ani and to love on her unconditionally. These people have been there through so much with me! They were AMAZING helping me with my wedding, and they had been there for me through all the breakups before I found the one! They are AMAZING!!!! There are very few families in the world as awesome as this family!

I AM THANKFUL FOR THE WAREHAM'S! 

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

DAY 827... Thankful For #27

I am thankful for Disney. How can I be spending a week in Disney's amazing world and not be thankful for the distraction and the magic that it brings into my life? I have always loved Disney in every single way! I am amazed how one man created such an amazing world for families. I love the music, the rides, and imagination that is involved completely in every way. I appreciate that all things Disney allows me to clean the house and get things done because Aniston LOVES Disney as well. The nice thing is I don't have to worry that she is going to pick up some word or watch something that she shouldn't be watching. Good clean family fun!

I AM THANKFUL FOR DISNEY.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

DAY 826... Thankful For #26

Today I am thankful for my parents. I have a set of great parents! They really did put up with a lot from me as I grew up. I was not a very respectful child. And for those of you wondering, yes, Aniston is payback for how I was as a child. My parents are very spiritual, smart, kind, loving, generous, and thoughtful. We have become better friends the older I get which is nice. I feel as though I can go to them with my concerns and thoughts. They are super supportive! 

My Mom is such a good Mom and grandma! She loves watching Aniston all the time and goes out of her way to play with her and to make sure that she has everything that she needs. I can always count on my Mom to entertain the family and to keep us laughing. She is a pretty good sport about it most of the time, and thank goodness because we hassle her pretty good at some points. My Mom loves everyone, and this is not an exaggeration. She welcomes anyone and everyone into her life without hesitation. She will hug people she doesn't know, listen to people whose problems she doesn't care about and assist those she has never even talked to. I don't know whether or not there is a more spiritual person out there. She has set such a good example for me!

My Dad is such a good guy! Pretty sure the reason I didn't get married until I was 25 was because I couldn't find anyone who was cooler than he was. Also... quick shout out to him, it is his 50th birthday today! All my Dad wanted for his 50th birthday was for his entire family to be at Disneyland together and here we are! What a blessing that we can all be here together and that we can celebrate a man who has loved us conditionally, and I know this because I definitely gave him conditions to not love me, provided for our every needs and went above and beyond in his duty as a Dad. He also has set such a good example for me especially in regards to education. I feel as though he pushes me to be the best that I can be, and that it such a wonderful challenge and opportunity that I have to be better.

I am thankful for the parents that I have, and that I am able to be spending this week with my entire family at Disneyland. Seriously, is there anything better than being with the people who you love most in the world at the happiest place on earth? Definitely not.

I AM THANKFUL FOR MY PARENTS!

Monday, November 25, 2013

DAY 825... Thankful For #25

Today I am thankful for fleece lined leggings. Oh my goodness! They are the best thing ever! Don't even judge me that last week I wore a really long skirt in order to wear them to church. Whoever invented these AMAZING articles of clothing is one of my most favorite people ever!


I AM THANKFUL FOR FLEECE LINED LEGGINGS!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

DAY 824...Thankful For #24

Today I am thankful for talents. But not just my own talents, but the talents of those closest to me in my life, and some who I'm not so close to. In fact I'm not even going to discuss my own talents because that it just weird and I'm not even sure what those talents really are. I have a good idea what I think they are, but my "talents" might just be in my head. Anyway I think that the talents that I am most grateful for are my husband's. Obviously Steve Jobs was talented, and whoever invented Taco Bell has talent that blows my mind, but my husband's talents are something that I get so excited about and I love to brag about! Spencer has a hidden talent of being able to sculpt. Who does that right? But holy cow! When I see what his hands can create out of some clay, it BLOWS MY MIND! So many people have so many talents that have blessed my life. I think that's what talents should be used for. We should try our hardest to use our talents in order to bless the lives of others. My husband doesn't sculpt for himself, he does it for others and to be able to bless the lives of others. What an amazing and dying talent!
 He made this caveman for a project in a sculpting class that he is taking at BYU-Idaho right now.
 Bust of Joseph Smith.
 Bust of his father.
 Side view of his father. I have a fabulous video of him giving this to his Dad, but since I'm on vaca I won't be able to post it until we get home. But be prepared... you may need a tissue!
 Bust of Brigham Young.
Bust of Gordon B. Hinckley.

I AM THANKFUL FOR TALENTS.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

DAY 823... Thankful For #23

Today I am thankful for Spencer's Parents. We are on our way to D-Land and we were blessed to stop and see them in Utah on our way through. They really did an amazing job raising their youngest son. I know this because I am super picky and I would never have married him unless he passed all my tests! I am thankful that they raised a man who is caring, loving, wonderful with children, smart, talented, spiritual... And let's be honest... The list could go on and on honestly. Not only did they raise an amazing son, but they also care so much and show our little family so much love. We are so glad that they have moved so much closer to us and that we can see them much more often! We sure do love them!

I AM THANKFUL FOR SPENCER'S PARENTS.
(Excuse the formatting... We are on the road for the next while and I am blogging from the iPad).

Friday, November 22, 2013

DAY 822... Thankful For #22

Today I am thankful that I am a mom. I always wanted kids growing up... 13 in fact. I had their names picked out (Spencer vetoed most of them. I'm sure it didn't help that the first 7 were named after the 7 dwarfs and also included the name Hyphen), their talents picked out, and I knew that the girls would look like me and the boys would look like my husband. I knew that I wanted to be a mom and that I wanted that to play a big role in my life. I had no idea how awesome it would be. I had no idea how difficult and challenging it would be either. Being a mom is a HUGE blessing! There are many women in my life who want more than anything to be able to have a baby, but they can't. I don't know why they have been dealt this trial, but my heart breaks for them. I'm 100% sure that these amazing women would be 1000 times the mom I am! I am impatient, I am moody, I am annoyed, I am incredibly challenged, I get frustrated easily, and I am no where near close to being the perfect mom. I pray for strength daily to help me parent. Being a mom is hard for me. Being a mom does not come naturally to me like I had hoped. But it is something that I am willing to work hard at. I have watched these women who struggle to have children work with other children and have admired their talents and their amazing abilities with children. Why would The Lord not bless them with children when they seem to be much more capable than I am? Perhaps, while it's their trial to endure the struggle to have children, it is my trial to have children. Being a mom has taught me patience, kindness, unconditional love, unselfishness, empathy and so many more amazing and useful qualities. Qualities that I may never have developed unless I was a mom. But they aren't learned easily. I have been blessed with a super sassy child, and she is an amazing teacher! But learning doesn't come easy to me. Although I struggle daily to become a better mom, I know and understand what a blessing having a child is. Aniston has taught me how to pray for and hope for those who struggle to have kids, that they may someday know of the blessings that motherhood can bring to them. And I do pray daily for them, because I know without a doubt that it is those women who will raise good, productive, talented and amazing children. Something that the world could use more of.

I AM THANKFUL TO BE A MOM!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

DAY 821... Thankful For #21

Today I am thankful for books. For as long as I can remember I have LOVED books! When I was about 11, we would go to the library once a week and I would check out at least 20 chapter books and have them all completely read before we returned the next week. One time, in the 5th grade, I was sent to the principal's office because I punched a girl in the face who claimed to have read more Sweet Valley books than I had. She was lying... obviously. I am so inspired by books. J.K. Rowling is definitely an inspiration to me. To be able to create a world, like she did with Harry Potter, is AMAZING! I love getting lost in a book when I am feeling sad or lonely or depressed. I used to read every night before I would fall asleep, but after becoming a mother, it's all I can do to just get into bed before falling asleep! I am thankful that I had a Mom who would read to me every night before I went to bed. Books inspire me everyday and help me to increase my imagination and allow me to experience so many different worlds. Books are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!


I AM THANKFUL FOR BOOKS!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

DAY 820... Thankful For #20

Today I am thankful for humor. There are so many times when I feel so defeated and low, but I can always seem to find something funny that will lift my spirits. I love laughing so hard I can't breath. I love making other people laugh. I love listening to Aniston laugh at the silliest little things. I love when Aniston makes me laugh. Laughing really does make everything better. I tend to find humor in the most inappropriate situations like in the middle of church or at a funeral. But the thought of just being able to find humor in something that is so small is awesome. I saw this picture on People.com today and found my humor for the day. Please tell me you think that Kate Middleton's right knee looks like a very angry baby...

I AM THANKFUL FOR HUMOR!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

DAY 819... Thankful For #19

Today I am thankful for new recipes. Being a working mom who is also in graduate school, it makes it tough to want to come home and do laundry and cook dinner and clean the house. Because of this I am always on the hunt for easy recipes that are delicious and quick. let me tell you what... I have stumbled upon a keeper. I know this because Spencer (Sometimes I still can't get over the fact that I married a man with the same first name as the world's worst person on The Hills) has requested twice in the past week. We call it Pesto Chicken. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Take a jar of pesto and and cover the bottom of a small baking pan. The one I used was 6x6. Next you sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of 2 chicken breasts. Put the chicken in the pan on top of the pesto and pour the rest of the pesto on top of the chicken. Cover the baking pan with aluminum foil and place into a preheated oven for 25 minutes. During this time I cook pasta, but I'm sure this would also taste amazing on mashed potatoes or you can make it low carb and just eat it plain. After 25 minutes of cooking remove the aluminum foil and cover the chicken and pesto with mozzarella cheese. Cook for 5 more minutes and then you're ready to eat! Seriously super easy and amazingly delicious! Try it and LOVE it!


I AM THANKFUL FOR NEW RECIPES!

Monday, November 18, 2013

DAY 818... Thankful For #18

Today I am thankful for hugs. I used to be anti-hug. I just didn't like the touching and the weirdness of a hug.  I felt like most of the time they came from people who you really didn't know and that shouldn't be hugging you. But since becoming a mother I LOVE hugs! Especially when the hugs come from my cute little baby girl. Who, I guess, is not so little anymore. (tear). Hugs have become a way to show love to my family and daughter and have helped us to express our love without words. There are times at night after Ani has gone to bed when I want to go get her up out of bed and just hold her and hug her forever! A hug makes me feel closer to the people that I love. But I still do feel as though some people hug too frequently and that it still is a violation of privacy. But I am more open to it now. My sister pinned this quote on Pinterest yesterday and when I captured this moment of Aniston saying goodbye to Spencer before he went to class this morning, I knew that they fit together perfectly!

I AM THANKFUL FOR HUGS!

Sunday, November 17, 2013

DAY 817... Thankful For #17

Today I am thankful for Temples. Spencer and I had the opportunity to go to the temple Friday night with my parents and this was the first time I had gone since before Aniston was born. I have a TON of excuses as to why I didn't go during this time, no babysitter, too busy, coaching, working, homework, too tired, etc... But let's be honest. None of those reasons are good enough to put off going to the temple for that long. It was a wonderful experience! It was something that I needed in my life for sure. I have been harvesting some really hard feelings towards several people, feelings that keep me up at night and feelings that are very not so Christlike, but going to the temple helped me deal with those feelings in a better more appropriate manner than how I really wish that I could. I just felt calmer and more at peace. I felt like the little things didn't matter so much and that I had been ignoring the big picture. It definitely reminded me that I am capable and should feel blessed to have a temple so close to my home that I can attend. There are so many members of my church who have to travel hours, some even days in order to attend the temple. It is the place where Spencer and I were married for time and all eternity. It is a place where I can be reminded about the important things and forget about the world. There is no excuse for not going to the temple. And I hope now to be able to go more frequently. I have no excuse not to go.

I AM THANKFUL FOR TEMPLES!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

DAY 816... Thankful for #16

Today I am thankful for Thanksgiving food.We had Thanksgiving dinner tonight with my parents and two youngest brothers because we leave Friday for Disneyland, and we will be there during Thanksgiving. The boys sure do love eating their nasty Turkey legs at the park on Thanksgiving. Which, I actually learned aren't turkey at all but Emu. Even more nasty.... Probably not since I haven't tried it but it's all just very Renaissance. And yes... we do have our obnoxious "highlighter" colored shirts all ready for D-land. Don't judge because we never lose each other and get so many compliments every time from everybody!


But really Thanksgiving food in THE BEST. Especially olives. Olives are my favorite and now they are Ani's favorite too. 

Is it weird to have olives at Thanksgiving? We didn't go around the table and say everything that we're thankful for, I'm sure we will partake in that tradition at Disneyland on the actual day. Super fun tradition. I really feel as though it turns into who can say the most inappropriate thankful for... Usually my brother Jake wins, but I always give him a run for his money. My Dad smoked the turkey and it was DELICIOUS! I just LOVE Thanksgiving dinner. I love the carbs and the rolls. Plus dinner with my family is never a boring thing.


Ani spent most of the time looking at pictures of her Ni-Ni (her cousin Cortney). She misses her and can't wait to play with her at D-Land. Ummm... how cute are her leopard accessories???

I AM THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING FOOD!

Friday, November 15, 2013

DAY 815... Thankful For #15

Today I am thankful for free babysitters. Spencer and I have never really had date nights since we were married because I was always coaching on Friday nights. Now that I am no longer coaching, we are able to have date nights. Tonight we doubled with my parents and headed to the temple. The best part was that my youngest brother Ryan babysat Ani for 2 1/2 hours for free, and she was still alive when we got back! Incredibly poopy, but we don't blame Ryan for not wanting to change that nasty. Since having Aniston we have left her with several babysitters, and payment is always a tricky thing, so whenever we here free babysitting, and especially when it with someone we trust we LOVE it. You don't really realize how much your life really does change until you actually have that baby in your life. Time alone and dates nights become rare and precious time. Thank you Ryan for watching Aniston and keeping her alive for us!
Don't judge Ani's PJ pants... I refused to pay $10 for a set of pj's so I just whipped out 8 pairs of pj pants on my sewing machine the other night out of material I had laying around. She loves them and they cost me $0! Awesomeness!

I AM THANKFUL FOR FREE BABYSITTERS!

Thursday, November 14, 2013

DAY 814... Thankful For #14

Today I am thankful for sight. I think one of the most difficult things in the world would to be a mother and not have the gift of sight. I LOVE looking at Aniston. I could pretty much stare at her 24/7! But even though I'm her mother I'm sure that would still qualify me as a creeper, so I avoid doing so. I have been amazed by many sights in my life. The seasons changing, beautiful mountains, gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. I have seen beautiful works of art and amazing landscapes. But my favorite thing to look at is my daughter. I am still amazed that my husband and I created her and that she looks so much like both of us. Her facial expressions and her smile will melt anyone's heart. To watch her see things for the first time is amazing. It's like seeing something for the first time all over again. Such a big and mostly an unrecognized blessing!


I AM THANKFUL FOR SIGHT!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

DAY 813... Thankful For #13

Today I am thankful for (and don't pretend like you're not thankful for them either) 90's Boy Bands! A friend reminded me of our teenage obsession with O-Town. I'm pretty sure you thought that I was talking NSYNC or Backstreet Boys here, and of course they are awesome and included in this post, but O-Town had my heart. I really think that that is where my reality TV obsession began, watching Making the Band 2000. So maybe not quite the 90's, but the music is all the same, and I was 14 (yes, I am just shy of 28) so it was wonderful. I never missed an epsiode! 5 boys, catchy songs and pure awesomeness. I own many of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC albums, that's right kids, none of this iTunes nonsense (even though I LOVE me some iTunes) but I own every single O-Town CD. All 2 of them!!! Whoop Whoop! On my way home from work today, after my walk down memory lane, I had to blare my O-Town (still know every single word of every single song... true fan). I was really surprised at how dirty their first album was. Maybe I didn't understand the words, but I'm surprised my parents didn't kick my out of the house for some of those songs... it's the title of the songs alone... Liquid Dreams and Every 6 Seconds. Haha! I challenge any person to turn on a 90's boy band song and not dance or sing along. Remember the Asian boys who rocked Backstreet Boys a while ago???? I have it favorited (that's right... made that a verb) on YouTube.
 And I am one of those women who get all emotional during all of these reunions that seem to be happening lately. It's just awesome! Love me some frosted tips and sweet synchronized men dancing.
BACKSTREET BOYS! Digging the overalls... Can we please bring those back?
 O-TOWN! Do you think Trevor (yes I remember his name) just put his hand on the brick wall or did someone tell him to strike that sweet pose?
NSYNC! There are no words for this picture.A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

I AM THANKFUL FOR 90's BOY BANDS!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

DAY 812... Thankful For #12

Today I am thankful for moments before bedtime. I don't get to spend much time with Aniston in the afternoons. Usually I work from noon to about 6 everyday so I have to make the most of my mornings and evenings with her. But those moments after she has taken a bath and smells amazing and is looking cute in her PJ's with her insanely cute wet curls just makes my day. She is absolutely adorable during this time! She always gets to play for a little while, then we read sometimes the same book 5 or 6 times in a row, brush teeth, say prayers and have our big hug. You should hear Ani say "big hug"... super cute! During the play time we always have so much fun. Tonight she wanted to ride her horse, who she calls Wee. I don't know what it is about this pair of pajamas, I'm pretty sure my sister gave them to us, but they are ADORABLE! Then again Aniston looks adorable in just about anything. It's just taking time out of my crazy schedule to play and just to be with Aniston before she goes to sleep that really blesses my life. It's a time where I get to know her better and I get to just be with her without distractions. It's a very sweet time for me.


I AM THANKFUL FOR MOMENTS BEFORE BEDTIME!

Monday, November 11, 2013

DAY 811... Thankful For #11

Today I am thankful for those who are constantly fighting for my freedom. I have had family members, best friends, and so many other people in my life who have fought for our country. It's not something that I could ever do, but I am so thankful for their willingness to sacrifice in order for my freedom. I am one of those people who bawls their eyes out every single time I hear "I'm proud to be an American" and the 4th of July just happens to be my favorite holiday. (Not just because it was the holiday that my husband proposed and the day before my beautiful baby girl was born). I love this country, I may not like the people who run it, but I am so thankful to live in America!
Me and my brother Jason

I AM THANKFUL FOR THOSE FIGHTING FOR MY FREEDOM!

Sunday, November 10, 2013

DAY 810... Thankful For #10

Today I am thankful for beautiful fall days. Rexburg was gorgeous today!  We took a quick walk over to the park right by our house and just played for a while. Aniston had a ball! We didn't even need coats because it was so nice outside. The fall time and the spring time are my absolute favorite times of the year, and days like this really help me to realize how gorgeous this world really is! The world we live in is such a beautiful place! I tend to forget that under 3 feet of snow or the scorching sun, but today I am so thankful!
 Ani wasn't so excited at first...
 Then she saw the boys playing basketball.
 Aniston is going through a stage where she refuses to have her finger nails trimmed. I finally got her left hand cut yesterday, but her right hand did a little work on her face... So sad.
I remember being told a long time ago that when you have those little bubbles in the picture like in the corner above that those are spirits... Kind of creepy kind of cool. Not sure if I believe it. Any thoughts?
 Have I talked about how much I enjoy dressing this little lady?

 Still loves the swings!

 Aniston is pretty independent. She loves to go down the slides now, but all by herself of course.

 One handed pull ups baby.


 Can you see the sassiness in those eyes?

 Sometimes our shoes match...
That face!
So gorgeous!

I AM THANKFUL FOR BEAUTIFUL FALL DAYS!