Ha ha...joke is on Taylor!!

Ah hahaha...I seriously think this is so funny. So...as I mentioned in the previous post, Friday was our "2 year proposal anniversary." Yes, I know it sounds weird to put it like that..."an anniversary"...but, whatever, that's how it's going to be. So, I leave for work on Friday morning and say good-bye to Taylor and say "guess what today is??" and he, being ever so smart-mouthed says "September 28" knowing full well what I was eluding to. So, I decided to have some fun with this.

I was sitting at work thinking about this and thought--there is NOTHING wrong with wanting to remember the day that we decided to get married. So I went to my co-workers for some ideas. (Ok, interjection...I find nothing wrong with remembering the day...now acting on it is probably a little much) But Taylor was being so stubborn about it when I would mention it that I thought I would make a BIG deal about it. So my co-workers and I came up with an idea--well the best that we could in ten minutes. I went to Albertson's and bought a BIG balloon in the shape of a heart that says "I Love You." And, side note, I make a lunch for Taylor everyday and take it to him at work, so I thought it would be HILARIOUS to tie this big ole balloon onto his brown sack lunch and surprise him. Yes, it was hilarious. Well, hilarious for me, not for him. I walked in and when he saw me he just shook his head, but when it clicked that I was doing it because it was our "2 year..." he about flipped out. I still can't get over the fact that he wouldn't take a picture with the balloon...come on! He was saying things like "You're not leaving that here..." "I'm going to pop it..." "If it happens to blow away, it's not my fault..." It was priceless!!

Taylor sends me an email later saying, "Men are not supposed to get balloons." My response was that it was either a balloon or flowers. Haha...the best part about this whole thing was that I was making a joke about the whole fact that I like to "remember" the day. Now, if Taylor would just go along with remembering the day and not giving me grief about it, he wouldn't have had to have the embarrassing display of receiving a balloon at work. Now, if he does this again next year, I'll have a singing telegram booked. :-)

2 Year Anniversary of our...

Today is our two-year anniversary of when Taylor proposed to me! Ahhh...cute. :-) I think it's fun to remember this day, I can remember it perfectly. And every time I remind Taylor of it he always shakes his head and goes "It must be a girl thing..." But I'll spare you all of the details of the proposal and enjoy it to myself. :-) Just note that today, two years ago, Taylor proposed. Now, two years later, we're preparing to have a baby.

Another bit of information...I came to the realization yesterday that I could never be on the TV show Fear Factor. Never. Before yesterday I thought I could do it, it's all a mind game, but after the incidents of yesterday I admitted to myself that I could never do it. I came home for lunch and there were literally a hundred, if not more, of whats called "Box Elder Bugs." Yuck. They may be harmless, but they are ugly critters. They look like miniature beetles, they're about half an inch long and are black with red on their backs. Yuck. Well, they were seriously plastered all over the front of our house along with the neighbors. ALL OVER. I pulled up and sat in the car looking at them, mustering the courage to go up to the front door. I literally got up half of the stairs and turned around and got back in my car. Laugh all you want but they were all over and they fly too! So, luckily Taylor's work is just down the street so I called him and went and got the garage door opener. Again, laugh all you want. (But to my defense, you weren't there, you didn't see how many there were, you're not pregnant, and it's not your house!! All I could think about was opening the front door and all the bugs coming in...yuck...I'm not as thin as I'd like to be--I can't just slip in through the door!) So, after getting the garage door opener I was able to get inside alright. :-) Taylor got home later and I called to see if the bugs were still there and he goes, "Yeah, and you're a wuss. They fly away when you walk up to them." Rude huh!?!? :-) No, I know I am sounding like a wuss and I probably shouldn't be admitting to all of this, but seriously, how would you react if you drove up and saw hundreds of these little black bugs all over??? When I got home at 5 they were all gone...I don't know what it was due to...we think the construction right next to us is the primary culprit...we'll see how today goes...

But yes, I would never make it on Fear Factor.

Doctor Update

Good news, I'm making progress!! I feel like the "Tortoise and the Hare" and I'm the Tortoise. I'm getting to the end...slowly! :-) I actually went into the doctor expecting no news, but we left with news, so that was pretty exciting. I am currently about 50 percent effaced, which is more than I thought. For those who don't know, you usually soften, efface, and then dilate. I am in the effacement stage and hopefully next week I will be more effaced with perhaps some dilation. The doctor said that being 50 percent effaced at 38 weeks as a first time mom is great. I feel very comforted in knowing that my body is doing what it needs to do all on its own. I am hoping my body will continue making the progress it needs to make so that I don't have to be induced or pushed along to make labor happen. Hopefully, if all goes well with my check up next week, we could be facing any day...meaning, if I am more effaced, starting to dilate and my cervix moves more anterior (I guess right now it is posterior and they want it to move more to the front--completely normal) by next week, then it could be any day...yahoo!!! Get this baby out of me, I am ready for him to be here!

BYU fans all the way

So, Taylor and I are such BYU fans that we went out and bought a digital box just so we could watch the BYU football game on Saturday! And let me tell you, it was SO worth it! We signed up for it and purchased it on Friday so we could watch the game Saturday...we were very excited! I don't know why I have started caring all of a sudden--well, don't get me wrong--I like watching the games but I didn't think I'd care if we couldn't watch it but for the last two games we've had to listen to it on the radio and it is definitely not the same. And for Taylor, he has a really good buddy who is a starter on BYU's defense, so it's extra fun for Taylor to watch the game. It's pretty funny to be sitting there watching and hear Taylor go "That a boy, Brian!"

This was one of our first weekends in a long time that we didn't have any set plans or anywhere we needed to be--it was FABULOUS! Taylor's dad and his wife came up Saturday afternoon and took us to dinner and then we watched a movie--it was a pretty good movie, I even stayed awake for the whole thing! Then it was a good Sunday accompanied with a good nap and Taylor's happy because the Dallas Cowboy's won last night. :-) See, I told you, it was a do-little weekend and it was great!

We did get the pack-n-play all set up--that was a productive moment. It's so nice, I'm almost as excited about the pack-n-play as I am about my diaper bag! :-) I am going to the doctor today...38 weeks and counting...I'll post an update on it later.

Surprise!

Today my office threw me a surprise baby shower. I definitely was not expecting anything--because they definitely didn't need to throw me one--but looking back, it's pretty funny how sneaky they were. Like, "How are you spelling Isaac?" "What else do you need?" "Have you gotten one of these yet?" etc, etc. So, some of the exciting new things included a baby bath tub (or, better put: a chair to place in the tub for bath time), a saucer (I think that's how you spell it--basically allows the baby to stand and be entertained) a high chair, newborn diapers, baby medicine....needless to say, it was great. I feel blessed to be working with such a great office--I've only been at the office for two and a half months, so I really felt undeserving of this surprise.

Another exciting thing going on at work is a new training I am going through. Currently, a loan officer takes an application and then gives it to me to process the loan. I process it and then submit it to underwriters who authorize the loan. A lot of pressure is being put on the underwriters right now given the market and the need to be thorough and not put our company at risk. Well, First Horizon has a program that all processors can go through to be certified as underwriters. There are five levels and I am currently a "Level One Decisioner." I started the training today, which basically included two conference calls, and after I finish a certain amount of files that I personally underwrite, I'll advance to the next level, and so on. I find it fascinating and really enjoy the material. Eventually, I'll be able to process and underwrite my own loans. Right now I can begin underwriting certain loan types, and as I do those well I gain added responsibility and capability of doing other loan types. (I can do the very conventional loans now, like a 30 year fixed loan, as I perform well on those I will be able to underwrite some of the government loan types). I really like the added responsibility this program offers because this is something that a person can advance at as much as they want--so I hope to reach the highest tier that I can to be as marketable as I can. Then, down the road, if I need to transfer to a new location, i.e. we move, I will be able to say that I have the experience of processing and underwriting. I think it's pretty cool. :-)

Never a Dull Weekend for the Housley's

Friday: Our weekend started by going our separate ways...that sounds so much more dramatic than it really is! (Hint, it was intentional!) :-) Taylor went camping with the Elder's Quorum up Mink Creek which is just south of Pocatello. He went with some guys in the ward and had a fabulous time. I tried to convince him to take the camera for blog purposes, but he wasn't having it. As for me, my sister and her husband came up for the night and stayed at my grandparents, so I went up to Blackfoot for a yummy dinner! After dinner I decided to come home (my grandparents tried to convince me to stay the night) but I knew if I stayed in Blackfoot I wouldn't get the things I needed to get done Saturday morning. So, back to Poky for me just to have a very lonely night! This was my first night alone without Taylor in our new house and I HATED it. I had to fall asleep with a CD on because I couldn't stand the quiet. Luckily it was just one night and I survived.

Saturday: Taylor was home around 9:00--I was awake at 8:00 waiting for him...ok, clarification, I wasn't waiting for him, but I was awake in bed wondering when he was going to come home because he didn't take a key with him so I knew I would have to listen for him to let him in. Anyway...random detail I'm sure you didn't care to know. But once Taylor came home he changed and went and helped a family he home teaches move. While he was gone I got some necessary things done around the house. By the time he got home we had to drive up to Idaho Falls to go to a work lunch party...that sounds awkward...basically, my office had a party and we met for lunch in Idaho Falls. They were continuing on with going to the Riot Zone in Rigby (go-karts, mini golf, climbing wall, etc.) but Taylor and I had to hurry back to Blackfoot so Taylor could go golfing with my Nana and Papa. (Have I lost you yet? I warned you...never a dull moment!) When we lived with my Nana and Papa for the month of May, Taylor always talked about how he wanted to go golfing with my grandparents. Well, here we are in September and they finally got out. Can I just tell you how amazing good my grandparents are at golf?? Oh my word, I know I'll probably get in trouble for this, but they are in their 70's (I didn't tell you exactly how old...give me credit) and they were incredible. That's all I'm allowed to say about that..if you can catch my drift. :-) Here are some pictures...I simply went along just so I could drive the golf cart. It was my Nana, Papa, Taylor and my brother-in-law Tyson.

Following golf we went to dinner with my Nana and Papa and Heather and Tyson. It was a fun dinner. I don't know what to tell you about it that was fun, it just was. You'll have to take my word for it. Heather and Tyson had to take off right after dinner but made the sacrifice to stop at our place on their way out of town--it's the first time they've seen it since we moved to Idaho. So it was really fun showing them around--especially the nursery!

We stopped in on our good friends, Heather and Karl, later that night...they are the ones who just had a baby boy four weeks ago who is soooo cute! They seriously are the best friends, you cannot be around them without having a reason to laugh. They are genuinely good, awesome people. We sure like them and have a good time with them. I keep telling Heather that I can't wait to have our boy here so she and I can hang out and have our little boys play. So after being there until about 10:00, I still needed to go to the grocery store, and guess who finally came with me?? Taylor! I got him to go with me...and I think it'll be the last!! I sure love his company but I can do without the side comments of what to buy! :-) Haha...

Sunday: We had a wonderful ward conference. We were blessed to hear from our great leaders in the bishopric and Stake Presidency and learned that we have stake conference in five weeks where Elder Richard G. Scott will be there.

Taylor and I sat down and made some goals together. I'm really glad we did and so far we've stuck to them! :-) (It's been less than 24 hours, but hey! So far so good!) We made some couple goals and individual goals and have placed them in a spot where we see them daily. I think making goals is very important, especially when you can make them as a couple and then as an individual. I look forward to keeping our goals.

And on a side note...I am so excited because I have created a project for myself. I am going to crochet two baby blankets for Isaac! I plan to do a fun one that will be small--perfect size to put over him in the car seat--and then to also crochet a baby blanket for Isaac's blessing. I think doing a blanket for the baby blessing will be a neat thing that we can keep forever that will have some sentimental value because it will be "made with love from MOM."

Pregnancy Update

I had another doctor's appointment today. I had to have the B strep test...? I don't remember what it is called, but about 30 percent of pregnant mom's carry an infection that can be passed onto the baby during delivery if not treated. So, between 35 and 37 weeks they administer this test--which is very easy, no pain, very fast--they simply "take a swab" of you and that's it. In, out, fast, easy, no worries. So, that was pretty much the highlight of my doctor's visit.

I am currently 37 weeks which is considered full term...wahoo!! I keep joking that Taylor and I should go on go-karts or go for a bumpy drive so I can have this baby already! But, last night I was thinking and told Taylor that I really want to carry Isaac full-term...for two very legitimate reasons. But then I had a rough night and a very rough day. I was up for what felt like most of the night, and could not get comfortable, and then I had a full day of pressure!! I had such extreme pressure on my lower abdomen that I thought for sure Isaac had dropped. (For first time mom's it is common to have the baby "drop" into the pelvis area two to four weeks before their due date...however, with subsequent children it doesn't usually happen until right before labor and delivery) So I kept thinking that the doctor better tell me Isaac has dropped because if this is the pressure I am feeling and he hasn't dropped--I am in trouble. Well, I am in trouble. Isaac has not dropped, and according to the doctor "still feels quite high." WHAT!?!?! I'm telling you, if you were there and had seen my face you would have laughed!

Needless to say, the doctor estimates that Isaac weighs around 6.5 pounds right now (which really is probably no indicator of how big he'll be at delivery), that I am dehydrated and need to drink more fluids (a.k.a. more trips to the bathroom), and that my cervix has started to soften--which really is no big deal in the sense that I am not in labor but it is a good sign that my body is doing what it needs to do. (A.ka. there is no indication that I am going to go into labor anytime soon). A part of me really wanted the doctor to tell me to get right over to the hospital because I was in labor...I had it all planned out in my mind--having to call work and tell them I wouldn't be coming back in because I was in labor and phoning my mom and telling her to get on the next flight out...but yeah, at least I was realistic and knew that wasn't going to happen.

As for the pressure, it has subsided throughout the day and I have had many more contractions. Nothing regular, but definitely more activity. I'm feeling great and have less than three weeks to go! My next doctor's appointment will be Monday.

Random 101

Here is a list of random things I bet most people do not know about me....

1. I LOVE watching Judge Judy. No, seriously, I really love it. I TiVo it and watch it all the time. It's on twice a day and I wish it was on more.

2. I eat an entire bag of popcorn to myself almost every night. Gotta problem with that? Stick your hand in my bowl and I'll slap it. And no, I do not inhale the fumes when I open the bag.

3. I am so stinkin excited about carrying and using a diaper bag, you have no idea. I seriously cannot even tell you why that is, or what about it that makes me excited, but I am. And if you think that will change, your wrong. Let that just be an example to you that I am not going to be a certain way when I have children just because that is the norm. (Really, there's more to that last sentence but I won't go into it here).

4. I love being organized. I get excited over office supplies. Office Depot or Office Max or whatever your preference is, is a fun and enjoyable store to me. If you were to give me a gift card to Office Depot, I would seriously like it.

5. I love a clean house.

6. I love walking into the bathroom in the morning after Taylor has gotten ready for school or work because it smells like his cologne. I love it.

7. I hate saying good-bye to my husband.

8. I wish my husband would go to the grocery store with me. (For some reason, he hates grocery shopping, I on the other hand love grocery shopping and would love for him to accompany me....I usually have to bribe him into going with me or promise I will only grab a few things)

9. I love being home. There really is no place like home.

10. I am terrible at knowing phrases. Taylor asked me to finish the sentence: "Between a rock and a......" and I said "log." Yes, laugh all you want, I really didn't know.

11. I love being married.

12. I love decorating. A tie or close second of a gift card to Office Depot would be a gift card to a decorating store. (Ok, that really is pushing it, Office Depot isn't THAT great...)

13. I had a dream about the cereal Captain Crunch and woke up the next morning craving Captain Crunch. (Tells you a little bit about my dreams! :-) )

14. I love Taylor's laugh. I mean, when he gets going and is really laughing, it just makes me happy. It's like the laugh of when you are tickling someone and they can hardly breathe or talk because they are laughing so hard. It's great.

15. The second most watched TV show that I TiVo is Wheel of Fortune.

16. I can't stand cleaning a tub/shower, and I hate taking the trash out.

17. I tell Taylor all the time that I am easy to please...if he could guarantee two things in my life, I would be set. They are: 1) Guaranteed tickets to General Conference, and 2) Guaranteed tickets to the Parade of Homes. Those two things and I am a happy girl.

18. A dream/goal of mine is to go in the underground tunnels in Salt Lake. If I happened to be in them the same time that the Prophet was, that would definitely be an added bonus.

19. I think Idaho drivers are dumb and slow. (Sorry to anyone that I just offended...) :-) But really, do you have to block me in when I'm trying to use my lunch hour productively??

20. I really want to be genuinely surprised. I always seem to know when it's coming or pretend like I didn't know, but I really want to be genuinely surprised by something spontaneous.

And finally, I wish everyone that visited blogs left comments because it's so fun to read people's reactions and thoughts to blogs. That's all for now, more to come if I think of anything else random. :-)

I experienced my first....

CONTRACTION today. Talk about stop-in-your-tracks pain! I was home for lunch, making Taylor a sandwich and talking to my dad and then it came, out of nowhere. I've been asked if it was a Braxton Hicks or a contraction--I don't know, aren't they both a contraction? Obviously it wasn't active labor because I'm still home and not at a hospital and there was only one....so...needless to say, I walked away from this contraction thinking two things...1) how in the world are you supposed to relax when having a contraction?? and 2) if that's what it is going to be like, I am getting an epidural! For those of you who don't know...I am really trying to NOT get an epidural. Yes, yes, let the comments come....but really, (ok, this is the pre-contraction Val talking now) you see the women who have had babies and they're ok--they aren't in pain anymore, the pain is temporary, so why spend the money on an epidural when the pain won't last?? (I told you, this is the PRE-contraction Val talking) But after today--yeah, that has changed. I JUST THINK...if I can do it without an epidural, great, but if labor can't progress because I don't have an epidural a.k.a. I can't relax, then I am getting an epidural. Period.

Taylor started football!

Taylor started intramural football yesterday. He's in heaven! :-) They had their first game last night and won 20-0. I'd like to take a moment to be a proud wife and brag on behalf of my husband because Taylor contributed to that sweet score by scoring a touchdown! Wahoo! It really was a sweet catch...there were about three or four guys guarding him and jumping for the ball but Taylor reached up and grabbed it and brought it in scoring their team a touchdown! It was sweet. I would have gotten a picture of it, but I was too slow getting the camera out. Oops...but here are some other ones that I did take and kind of turned out...

Go #33! Wahoo!! Intramural football has some w-e-i-r-d rules! I don't fully understand the whole flag and touch football thing and the refs are either decent or terrible, but one of the weird rules that I find rather comical is the fact that you can't have any pockets in your shorts. I can understand this in terms of the flag and getting caught or whatnot, but all of Taylor's shorts had pockets in them, so what does he do?? He sewed up the pockets on one of his shorts! The refs said to not even show up to the game if you have pockets...I guess this just went so show how badly Taylor wanted to play! Haha...

They play indoors on turf, and I guess that means you get pretty scrapped up--but it obviously doesn't stop them from playing.

An update on Taylor...he is doing well and kicking butt! However, he is also trying to get over a head cold, but the difference is that he can and does take medicine! School is going well for him, he is keeping up on it and enjoying his classes thus far. He just got called to be an Elders Quorum Teacher, so he is pretty excited about that. He also has a fun camping trip with the Elders Quorum planned for this weekend--which he is looking forward to--and I am excited because that means it is girls night out! Well, really, that just means popcorn and a movie for us wives--a.k.a an excuse to get together!

Pregnancy Update

Less than a month to go!!!! I have officially entered the ninth month and I am officially ready to be done being pregnant!! I am ready for little Isaac to be here!!!!! I am constantly amazed at the changes I am going through--I guess pregnancies never cease to amaze people. Some of the latest things...I can no longer tuck my garment top in--sad day--but, on the bright side, am happy to report that I still do not have any stretch marks...cross your fingers that they don't come now...and, as of late, have developed a head cold, which is NOT fun! I go in for my next doctor's appointment on Monday, and I presume that after this coming appointment I will start going every week until the baby is here! I'm pretty sure Taylor and I are as ready as we're going to get--in terms of getting the necessary accessories and equipment. It was really neat to have our nieces come up this past weekend and see Taylor interact with them. We love our nieces and nephews so much that it's hard to imagine what it is like to have a child of your own--one you love more than anything you could imagine. So, needless to say, we are very very very excited and anxious for Isaac to be here!

Other pictures from the weekend

We had so much fun with our nieces and Heather! Syd, Mo, and Kendra are so loving, adorable and fun--we love them so much! They are walking examples of how remarkable their mother is--thanks for making the drive up to see us Heather! You're the best!! We sure love you and your family! The Housley/Harris family are all so wonderful...now it's someone else's turn to come visit us! :-)

Kendra's 1st Birthday!

Kendra, our niece, turns one on September 14, but since we had them up for the weekend, we couldn't NOT celebrate her first birthday! Because, really--first birthday's are all about the cake all over the table and face and floor...so we really couldn't pass up this opportunity. (At least, I couldn't pass up this opportunity! I may have been more excited about this than anyone else...) Here are some fun pictures....this is the beginning, aka the "before" picture:

She started out staying pretty clean by just picking at the cake...but honestly, I wasn't having it, so I may have egged her on....

Ha haha hahaha hahaha haha...how does that picture not bring a smile to your face?!?! But this wasn't the end of it...

I think it was at this point that my sister-in-law Heather said, "And guess who gets to give Kendra a bath!?!....Aunt Val!" But heck, I was looking forward to that! Check out the frosting on the forehead...hahahaha...I love it!

Happy 1st Birthday Kendra!!

Fun with the Harris Family

Taylor and I were lucky enough to steal Heather (Taylor's sister) and her three girls away for the weekend while Brett (our brother-in-law) started his week-long bird hunt trip in Canada. It was so fun to have them! They arrived Friday evening and stayed until Sunday morning. We ventured over to the Eastern Idaho State Fair Saturday morning, and to start the day the girls got one of those western photos taken...they were "tough cowgirls." It was adorable, and I tried to take some pictures while they were setting up...

Kendra is sucking on her little pistol, and while she was sitting on the barrel she took a dive forward, but luckily the lady at the place was right next to her and caught her! While we were waiting our turn to get the picture taken, Morgan was being shy and a little stinker saying she didn't want to take the picture and was being somewhat reluctant to getting dressed up...but then when her big sister Sydney said that they get to wear cowboy hats and get guns, Morgan's face just lit up and she asked her Heather, "Mom, do I get a gun too?" It was so adorable!

Following the "tough cowgirl" photo we were off to the petting zoo. The best picture is of Kendra in the stroller when a goat came up to her looking for some food...this picture is priceless!

After the petting zoo, we strolled through the stables where both Syd and Mo were in heaven. After we saw at least 15 horses Morgan said, "Can we go see some more?" I told her I didn't think there were any more to see and that I thought we had seen them all. Earlier Morgan told me that she LOVES pinto horses, but if she could have a horse of her own it would be a black horse. I proceeded to ask her what she would name her black horse and she said she would name it Black Beauty, so while we were in the stables, we were looking for "Black Beauty."

And Syd loved the horses too!

Here are the three girls--another priceless picture.

Following the stables it was carnival time! The best story at the carnival was the Fun House. I don't know how many of you know what I am talking about when I say "Fun House" but you begin by walking through a maze--but the walls are not just any ordinary walls--they are clear plastic walls (or at least that's what it looks like). Basically, the whole point of the clear walls is that you can't tell if there is a wall there or not--well, Syd was so excited to start that she walks right up to the wall and "BAM!" face plant into the wall...so we get our giggles watching this, and then they find the entrance (they meaning Syd, Mo, and mom) and they are trying to feel in front of them to avoid any more face plants...well, Taylor and I are watching how careful Heather is going through with her hands out in front of her, and then all of a sudden we hear another "BAM!" and it was Mo--complete face place in the wall! Needless to say, it was extremely entertaining for us to watch. After the maze they climbed up some stairs to the upper floor, and since we couldn't see, I don't really know what they did up there...but they were good enough to stop and pose for a picture!!

The next comical part about this "fun house" was the fact that the only way down and out was by going down the slide...Heather was not too excited about this! Haha...she looked around as if to say "Are you serious? This is the way I have to get out?" But, of course, she was a good sport and went down the slide...this is her saying "Ohhh...that really did hurt!"

The next story to document was Syd's "flying" ride. We saw this ride where you laid on your stomach and then the ride went up and down as if you were really flying like Superman. Well, we saw this ride and thought Syd would love it and at first she was all over it. She ran up to the entrance, climbed into her flying position, even asked me "What if my flip flops come off?" but about 10 seconds in the ride she looked so bored. She put her head to the side as if a nap would be a better use of her time, and then after a little bit she put her head on top of her chin like "Come on already." Later I asked her if she liked the ride and she replied, "Not really, it was pretty boring. And, I don't like laying on my stomach." It was pretty funny.

After a couple rides at the carnival, the girls got their face painted--Syd got a dolphin and Mo got a unicorn.

We definitely all were entertained at the fair, and I'm pretty sure the girls enjoyed it.

Weekend in Colorado

We had a very fun, but very fast, weekend in Colorado for Labor Day. We drove to Salt Lake after work on Friday and arrived in Denver around 10:45 p.m. Once we got our bags and drove home it was after midnight and everyone was pretty tired--so my movie and bag of popcorn was out of the question!

Saturday brought a full day of activities. Of course, my dad can't have any of his son-in-laws come to town and not do any yard work...however, if you're thinking the typical yard work--on your hands and knees picking weeds--you're wrong. Yard work is fun when it comes to my dad...hence the John Deere tractor to mow...

A little instruction....

While I was watching these two little boys and their toys... :-) .... I had an instant reminder of how gorgeous Colorado is...

Following the morning of yard work was a HOT HOT HOT Air Force Football game. Sorry to say, but Taylor and I were just not into this game. I for one was extremely hot in my denim capri's and sweat like I didn't know I could, so I wasn't having it...and Air Force just isn't BYU, so Taylor wasn't into the cheering either. However, when my mom said we'd go as soon as Taylor would start cheering...he was on his feet cheering. :-) We did stay through most of the third quarter, and Air Force did win--I believe the score was 34-3--but we did have to get home in time to see BYU's kickoff. I think the highlight of the game was the sweet parking spot we got, though. I guess it pays to have season tickets for 25 years because you get to park right at the entrance and have your own assigned parking slot...my mom was just happy that they included her name on the plague...

And some pictures at the game...

Following the Air Force game, we watched the BYU game--who also won--and by the way, Utah LOST their game, uh hum, I'm telling you...if you want to be on the winning side, you better see the blue! :-) This weekend was the "and let the football season begin..." for those who don't know, my husband loves football, I enjoy it as well, but....can only take so much of it. Watching game after game, day after day, gets a little old. Taylor isn't that bad, and really is pretty compromising about it--unless BYU or the Cowboy's are playing--so I can't complain.

After our BBQ, my parents gave Taylor and I a very, very, very neat gift. My dad was reading about the Stripling Warriors in the scriptures and had an idea come to him which lead him to approach a family friend that we know who is an amazing artist. Long story short, this artist drew the most AMAZING pencil drawing of a stripling warrior and across the top it says "And they were taught by their mothers" and along the bottom it says "And they doubted it not."

It is the most amazing, detailed pencil drawing you have ever seen! It truly is a prized possession to us and as soon as my mom ships it to us it will go right up in the nursery! This drawing was a great reminder to the responsibility both Taylor and I feel as we approach this parenthood threshold. For me, I have been thinking a lot about my role as mother in our son's life and how I will teach him and how I will live my life to exemplify what we teach...so this drawing really hit home with me personally. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a mother. I have felt so close to Heaven in this process of bringing Isaac into the world and truly look forward to holding Isaac in my arms and loving him and teaching him and raising him and experiencing this life with him. I find comfort knowing Isaac will have a great dad to look to in his life for anything and everything and am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with a wonderful man to take this journey with.

Colorado was great--too short of a trip though. After we were delayed in Denver to fly back to Utah, we did finally land in SLC around 6:00 p.m. If that wasn't enough traveling, Taylor and I drove down to Spanish Fork for a family luau/party/birthday celebration with Taylor's family. It was so fun and I am so glad we drove down for it. However, what we did was blackmail. The Housley family decided it would be fun to break out the karoke and VIDEO TAPE it. (Yes, thanks a lot Heather!) I thought it was brutally rude to tape the 9 month pregnant lady singing karoke. :-)

We finally got on the road from Spanish Fork around 9:00 p.m. and rolled into Pocatello at midnight...it made for a long day, but we are so blessed to have two amazing families. We are constantly reminded of how important our families are in both of our lives, we love them all dearly!

Utah Baby Shower

Last weekend my wonderful in-laws threw me a baby shower in Utah. It was great! They definitely made it a special event for me. Kim, my sister-in-law, is known for her cakes in our family. She always makes a customized cake for every person's birthday and for every big event where she puts a lot of thought and effort into them. So, of course, she made the cutest, and most delicious cake for the baby shower:

Isn't that awesome?? Here's another side...

And the person responsible for this adorable cake...my sister-in-law Kim and her five month old boy, Little Theran:

Here's my sister-in-law Jen on the right and Taylor's cousin Sara on the left:

My sister Heather on the left, my Nana in the middle, and my mom on the right:

Some of my favorite people in the world...the Brady girls:

Catching up with my freshman roommates--Holly on the left and Shaunelle on the right:

And finally, but not least, Jaylynn and I...we met Jaylynn when Taylor and I lived with Taylor's sister, Heather during the beginning of this year. Jaylynn is expecting a girl in December!


All in all, it was a great shower!!! Thank you so much to all who helped and came...and to my sister in laws and mother in law--I love you, you are the greatest in-laws a person could have! And to my mom and nana who made the trip to come, it means a lot to me! Thank you!