My Kimberly has moved home!!!!!

After Christmas was done be thoroughly celebrated, December 26th came, and Kimberly moved home.  I know that it is the right time for her to move home, and I know it is where she belongs, but I don't have to like it! I walk past her room and get sad, so finally I finally closed the door. Ross is sad too, because he no longer has his video game buddy. So I thought I would just put up so pictures of the amazing Kimberly....

 

Kim with the book she wrote.

Ross, Kim, and I at celebrating my birthday.

The day Kyle got his transplant!

Snuggling with Sandy. Even Sandy is sad!

On Halloween.

Ross and Kim.

Matching coats!

Us being silly.

Christmas!!

Me Loving Christmas!

So, I love Christmas! I have loved Christmas since I was a child. When I was 4 years old, my mother left a horrible relationship, and moved to where my family now lives. So every year at Christmas, I think about how that one move changed our lives and how blessed my family is, and each year the blessing just continue to multiply.

I think that this years great blessing is that Kyle was here to celebrate! This year we celebrated in Utah, originally Kyle wasn't going to come, because he has traveled so much the last few months, for his biopsies that he just wanted so time at home. I was so bummed about this cause Kyle and I have been good friends since forever. At the last minute Kyle decided to come!!! I was so surprised and him being here was the best thing about Christmas!

This is Kyle and me. 

 

 

 

 As I mentioned earlier I love Christmas, so this year in May I started the count down till Christmas, this drives my husband insane. One night I tried to set up the Christmas tree early, like the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and he wasn't having it. So I took it down to wait until after Thanksgiving. As soon as it was truly the Christmas time, boy did I deck the halls! I went crazy with Christmas decorating. Ross finally was able to admit that he also is kind of fond of Christmas.

Ross loving Christmas with me.

So between Kyle coming and Ross liking Christmas with me, I would say it was a great Christmas this year! 

Family Photos!

So when my was here, we took some family pictures and here are just some of my favorites!

Craving Pumpkins!

Last night we had a Halloween Blast, we carved our pumpkins! I haven't craved a pumpkin since I lived with my mom, which has been years. Ross hasn't craved a pumpkin since before his mission. We enjoyed it a lot. We are thankful that Kimmie made us buy pumpkins.

Kimberly craving her pumpkin.

 

Ross working hard.

My pumpkin, Ross made the middle one, and the last is Kimberly.

 

 

Ross made his pumpkin and entered it in a contest at work, and he didn't win. I was sad for him. The one that won was this bloody gory one. Kinda Lame...Oh well next year we will buy lots of fake blood and we will win!

Halloween Parade!

If you have ever had a school age child or been in an Elementary school, then you already know that Halloween is where it is at. This last Thursday we had our Halloween Parade. The parade was great. We had lots of parents come out to support their little one, and we probably won't see many of them again for the rest of the year.

Kimberly and I.

 

 

 

 

Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach

My scary class!

 

 

 

 

 

We had a first grade party where we made popcorn witch hands, cupcakes, bracelets, and read spooky stories. I am so lucky to have great Room Parents, thank you, Melody, Sheri, Ellen, and Claudia. Thanks for support my class when you don't even have kids in it.

Let the Fall Festivities Begin...

Fall is one of my favorite seasons, mainly because I think that the candle scents are the best during fall. I love the smells of fall, recently I went to Bath and Body Works to purchase my fall scents for my home. They have amazing scents, my three favorite this year are Leaves, Autumn, and Pumpkin Patch.While I was at the store I couldn't wait to partake in some fall festivities. This last weekend was UEA, and I took the time to enjoy fall with my family. My little brother Kyle is doing great. He is home and getting back to a normal life filled with less doctors and with more girls, just the way he likes it. Well my mom was able to come visit Kimberly, Ross and me. Our first fall festivity activity was coat shopping. I love coats! We went to Burlington Coat Factory, I had never been there until the other day, this is a great store.
Yesterday, was my mom's last day in Utah, and we went out for dinner at Macaroni Grill. Then last night my mom had some quality alone time with Kim, and Ross and I went on a ghost hunt tour with some of our friends. The tour took place at Baron's Woolen Mill in Brigham City and we it was hosted by Wasatch Paranormal Investigators.

 This was so much fun, and got me excited for Halloween. We began the tour at 10:00 p.m. With the investigators telling us about some of there experiences they have had at this site. This got us all really excited to hopefully have some of our own.

We were so excited to ghost hunt. I think ghost hunting makes my face look fat.

We were there until like two in the morning. I never thought wandering around in a dirty mill could be so much fun. I did however catch a cold being out all night and today I have sat in my pj's with a fever. When it was time to go home we were super sleepy.

Ross and I feeling exhausted at the end of the night.

I am so glad I went to Bath and Body Works to get excited for Fall. Keep reading to find out what else we will do with Fall 2010, I guarantee it will be epic, well more like just fun filled.

Mission Reunion

I have known Ross since I was fourteen, we started dating when I was 17 and after dating for 3 weeks I was madly in love with him. After three weeks of dating I asked Ross what he wanted from this relationship. He said that he wanted to serve a mission and then come home an marry me. I was so happy and relieved. I come from a great family, I have three brothers, that never had a real example in the home of what a righteous priesthood holder is and what they should be doing. I knew from the time I was eleven, that my kids would have that example in my home and I wouldn't settle for anything less. To hear that Ross wanted to serve a mission, it told me here was a young man that was willing to sacrifice two years of his life and wanted to honor his priesthood. I was also excited because I told myself I would only marry a returned missionary. I knew then that our relationship would end in an eternal marriage.

On November 5, 2003, Ross entered the MTC, and was called to serve in  the Johannesburg, South Africa mission. There is no doubt in my mind that Ross didn't love his mission. Friday night we went to a mission reunion. He was able to see the mission president and an old companion. I really enjoyed going for me to see and hear about his mission made me feel like I was part of it.

We moved and Kim's Birthday

So I haven't posted anything is awhile and so much has happened. First, we all started school. Ross has started to school at the local university getting his masters. Kimberly has started fifth grade, and I teach first grade. Then within the same week we moved.
We moved into a different apartment in a different complex. We moved out of the Millcreek area and back into Murray. We moved to Murray right after we were married and we loved it there, the moment we could, we came back to Murray. We have lived in our new apartment now for three weeks and we love it. We live on the third floor and no one is walking on our heads, and there isn't the upstairs neighbor's dinner on our balcony. I hope we are here for a long time.

Kimberly's fancy cake.

Then,we with much anticipation we celebrated Kimberly's 11th bithday. We all dressed up and went to the Olive Garden. Kim loves Italian food. We celebrated with Nich and Halley. She says it must have been a good birthday because she was so spoiled this year. This year she decided she had to have a fancy cake. We shopped around and bought one.

Making a wish.

From the ground to 200 feet in 2 seconds!!

Yesterday, was my last Friday of summer. I am excited to be going back to school, but would love a longer summer. Kimberly has been eager to go to Lagoon all summer since she drove past it at camp. Every time she has seen a sign or even heard the name she would beg and beg to go. We finally did it! We spent the day at Lagoon.
We started the day at the waterpark speeding down slides and lathering on sunscreen. Then we went to the ride side. Kimberly was super excited to ride we very first rollercoaster. We rode the wooden rollercoaster, and she decided she didn't like them. She didn't like how they threw her around, the thing with Kim is that she is tall enough, but so skinny that she does get thrown around a little bit. Next year I think she will like it better. Ross and I are planning to use our Bounceback, for a date next week, and go on some of the bigger rides. So, I need a babysitter if anyone is interested.

The ride Kimberly loved was The Rocket, Lagoons version of the Tower of Terror. Where they launch you 200 feet in the air in 2 seconds. She didn't like rollercoasters but she could do that over and over.

Kimberly and I on The Rocket!

We ended the day by eating hamburgers at Five Guys. We had so much fun that last night none of us could sleep, we were all still too excited to sleep.

Kimberly gets her very own scriptures!

Kimberly with her scriptures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ross and I still don't have any children, but we have a the opportunity to have Kim live with us. We have said from the beginning that we wanted the gospel to be important to our family. So when Kim moved in, we started having FHE, we started having family prayer, and now we want to start a family scripture study. So in order to do this Kim needed her very own scriptures. 

Today, while she was at a friends house, we went into town and purchased a navy blue set, and her name Kimberly Kay, done in silver.  When she came home we gave them to her, and she couldn't believe that they were in fact her very own scriptures, until she saw her name. She was even impressed that they are in her favorite color. Once she got over how pretty they were she had to go figure out what outfit she would match them the best. 

A great outfit that goes with her scriptures.

Ross and I love having Kimberly with us. We love the joy and excitement she bring to each day. Having Kim with us, has made us really want to have children, and I am positive they will be as cool as Kimberly. So I can't wait till we have children of our own!

We are kinda like Ghostbusters...except not really.

Ross and I looking for ghosts to bust.

Ross works downtown for a retail software developing company, and supposedly the building he works in is haunted. His work building use to be a meat packing business, then it was gutted an turn into a candy factory, currently it just a office building.  Scary huh? Not really. Last night Ross and some of the people he works with decided to investigate the building to see if it truly is haunted.  Some of the claims is that someone died there, someone has died everywhere. So I am a skeptic. Also when it was a candy factory a girl was severely burn there and then and died a week later. There is no evidence this true.

This is me...really looking deeply.

We went anyway. Ross was able debunk a lot what people were claiming was paranormal activity. It is a good thing my husband is a scientist and loves experiments. One of claims of paranormal activity was a woman who he works with would hear whistling in the ladies locker room.  Ross was able to go into the mens locker room. He stood in there an whistled and I could hear it in the ladies.

 I don't know if where Ross works is haunted or not, cause it was never proved or disproved, but we had a lot of fun searching.

The Zoo!!

So as many of you may know, my brother got a heart. As family we are truly blessed. Kyle has been out of the hospital six days, and today to celebrate we went to the Denver Zoo and Olive Garden. The only thing that would have made today better is if Ross were here. It was a great day, it is nice to stop and just realize how far we have come both as individuals and as a family. One day, I know we will be an eternal family. Love you guys!

Kyle Gets a Heart!!

Yesterday morning Kyle got the call. he was called at 1:30 a.m. and was told that there was a heart available for him. He went into surgery at 9:45 p.m.

Kyle after surgery.

I drove up today to be with Kyle and rescue him from my mom, and her from him. Kyle gets grumpy when my mom does everything for him, and my mom gets grumpy when Kyle won't let her do everything for him. I saw him tonight for maybe maybe 20 minutes, but he looks better. The Doctors tell my mom that maybe in August, he could go to his real home. Which is awesome!! We still have the concern of him rejecting his heart and making sure that there is the blood he needs for the blood transfusion. He has some antegens in his blood that is making it hard for him to get receive blood.
While we are very blessed today that Kyle was able to get a heart, our hearts go out the family who lost a loved one. You are in our prayers, and thank you.

Happy Birthday Ross!!

Today, Ross turned 27! I think he had a great Birthday. He started his day at the DMV, getting his Utah driver license. Doesn't everybody love going to the DMV? He seemed upset with his picture, but I assured him that is what the DMV does, they take horrible pictures. If they took great pictures, then they would be super busy taking pictures of people family reunions, weddings, prom, and the occasional baby birth. Then, it would take even longer to waiting line for you number to be called.

Then, he went to work, also something everyone loves to do on their birthday. Lucky, for him Skype told his whole office it was his birthday, so he got lots of birthday wishes! He did eat at his favorite sandwich shop, Jade Market, he had the cold cuts.

He came home to a super clean house and his favorite dinner. BBQ pork roast with sweet potatoes french fries. Kimberly and I did make him a carrot cake with cream cheese icing. 

We played his favorite nerdy game, Magic. We gave him two expansions packs for his Magic card deck.

I think he had a fun day. I know that Kimberly had a great day planning his birthday and enjoying his cake with him! I love you, Ross, I hope today was great and I hope you have many more to come!!

Be a Donor!!!

There are almost 80,000 patients waiting for organ donations for transplantation in the United States at any one time. My brother is one of them. He is 20 years old and awesome. He needs a heart. I never understood just how important it was to be a donor until March. I love my brother dearly. Someday, he will get a heart, and to the person and their family, Thank you. You are truly his and my family's angel. 

You never know when of those 80,000 patients might be your family member. I would love to encourage everybody to join up and be someone's angel. Here is the link to become a donorhttp://organdonor.gov/. 

Healthy Kyle

Kyle that needs a heart 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday,was my mom's birthday, and of course I called her. Today, as I reflect on that phone call I feel really blessed to have such an amazing mom. I called her yesterday, and told her Happy Birthday, and then she asked me how I was. That is what moms do, they want to know all about their kids, even on their birthday. 
We have had quite the last few months, and we make jokes about how this going to look in the family Christmas newsletter. I know that we would be a complete mess, if my mother wasn't somehow holding us all together, like she always does. My mom is my example for strength. When it is time for, "...the tough to get going", somehow my mom's already beat the tough there and is giving them directions on what to do next. 
For the last year, my mom has been working in Mental Health, helping people take care of themselves. She gave of herself all day, and then came home and gave some more. Since, Kyle has been hospital, she has been by his side 100%. She even lost her job, after her extended family medical leave was over. She didn't even blink an eye. She loved her job, but she loves her kids more. My mom is a great mom, and she deserve more....

 So mom, thank you for being amazing and helping us through all of this, one day either Kyle or Ross and I will build you a apartment, and we'll take care of you.

"I think I'm turning 25, I think I'm turning 25. I really think so..."

Wow! I am 25, I remember when I was nine and I thought that 25 was super old. Now, that I am 25, I think, "What am I doing with my life?", I am still just a kid. For me having a birthday, is just like the second New Year's holiday. I sit around and I ponder my life, what things I like about it, what I don't like about it, and what I am going to do with my next year to improve myself. 
WHAT I LIKE:
1. I LOVE my husband.
2. The kitchen in our apartment.
3. My job.
4.Living with my sister.
5.My brother is still alive
WHAT I DON'T LIKE:
1. My apartment complex.
2.Wrecking the car over Christmas.
3.The lack of Coach handbag sales.
4. Spencer and Heidi
5.Paying for my ESL class.
WHAT I AM GOING TO DO BEFORE I TURN 26:
1. Continue to improve our marriage.
2.Become a amateur scrapbooker.
3.Learn to swim.
4. Organize my Guided Reading library at school.
5. Dress as Ms. Frizzle for Halloween


This year I had a great birthday. My husband who loves me very much got me a new ring for both my birthday and our anniversary. My brother Kyle went active on the transplant list. He is now number 1.  At school I had a great pizza party with my class. Tonight, I had a good dinner with great friends, we ate at Macaroni Grill. My husband, sister, Halley and her husband Nich were there. My friend Jenna drove down from New Mexico to celebrate!!

 I just want to thank everyone for making this birthday a great one!!!