Mom for a week

It worked out perfectly, Dave happened to be going on a business trip the same week that my dad was flying to Utah for a surgery.  My mom was distraught with the idea of her having to stay home and take care of 2 kids while my dad was in another state getting surgery and recovering.  They would never ask me to leave my husband and help, but since he'd be gone anyways I offered to come out and play mom for the week.  My mother literally screamed for joy, I was so happy I could help. Dave and I actually got to sit next to eachother on the plane out to LA where we said our goodbyes for the week and I continued up to Fresno.  

We decided to go to my sisters house and surprise the nieces.  We stargazed in the back while we waited for them to arrive and then snuck up into their 3 beds while they were brushing their teeth.  We didn't get the reaction we were expecting, but once they realized it was just us and not monsters in their beds they smiled and gave us big hugs through all their tears and trembling bodies.

The week was great.  I got up early to make them breakfast and get them out the door by 6:15. First stop, drop Tia off at seminary, then Emily off at school, then go back and pick Tia up again and take her to school.  I took them each out to lunch during the week and then picked up Emily after school and Tia later after practice.  Then there were the evening church activities and dance classes.  I felt like I spent at least half the day in the car.  I also got to sign papers as their parent/guardian and help them with their homework and studying for tests and quizzes. I cannot believe that my mother had 6 kids to drive around back in my day, it was crazy with just 2.

Whenever I had a few hours in a row to spare I went over to my sisters to spend time with her and her kids. 

 We had a great time at the zoo eating snacks and seeing all the animals, including the new sea lion exhibit.

 I also got to babysit these two one day.  We spent the morning at the park climbing, sliding and their favorite...collecting lots of acorns and sliding them all down the slide.

 I did cook during the week, but I made sure to fit in a few of my favorite treats 

 Fresh and delicious maple bars and then a Thrifty ice cream date.

 And an added bonus, I got to eat plenty of fresh oranges off our orange tree and they were delicious!!!  This week was a blast for me and 100 times better than being home by myself while Dave was gone!  My parents came back the night before I left so I got to see them briefly and everything went great with dad's surgery.  I'm glad it worked out and I was able to let my mom go support my dad.  I don't know how my mom does it!

1,000 days

Time is seriously flying...1,000 days of blissful marriage

Dave in his late 20's

Dave turned 28 today!  He's proudly boasting that he's in his upper 20's now and practically 30.

My parents and I got him something he's really been wanting...a nice sleeping bag.  I found a great online deal for an REI 10 degree mummy bag.  It's just in time for his freeze-o-ree camp out with the Scouts.  I made him try it on at work to make sure it fit.

Dave loves those sweet cereals, but I hardly ever buy them.  So I got him his very own box of Reese's Puffs for his breakfast.  Then he chose for us to take a half day at work and go home and play Lego Star Wars on the Wii while eating Reese's Pieces.  He also requested Bratwursts for dinner, which were surprisingly delicious.  Overall I think he had a great birthday, I know I sure did!  

Elder Aswan

We worked it out to land a couple hours before my brother Bryan was coming in after completing a 2 year church mission in Denver.  I have fond memories of landing on Maui and as we were walking up the jetbridge hearing my Grandpa and some of his family or friends singing their hearts out to welcome us.  We were crushed when we weren't allowed to do that anymore, so I wanted to do it for Bryan.  We brought a uke and prepared a song to the tune of the Hawaiian Wedding Song singing, "This is the moment, we've waited for. Bryan you walk as slow as a slug, come give your big sister a hug!"  I did not anticipate how anxious I would get, I was so nervous and excited to see him my heart was pounding out of my chest!  Needless to say, I think we surprised him pretty good (and my Grandma since they connected together in Utah).  He looked great and I loved getting an extra few minutes with him before he was bombarded at the exit by all the family and friends.  Everybody's just so excited to have him back!

We spent the next few days with family, a lot of time over at my sisters house with our cute nieces and nephew.  We also got together a great game of TP dodgeball for all their Fresno friends.  Bryan gave a talk in church on Sunday and my aunt Mimi and all 3 cousins came with their spouses and 2 little kids, it had been so long since all of us cousins had gotten together.  I got to meet little Kirk for the first time and see cute Henry again, we were passing them around all of sacrament.  Grandpa sat next to me and every ten minutes he'd nudge me and ask, "Is that your brother up there?" After I'd tell him yes that it was Bryan he'd ask, "Is he coming or going on his mission?"  I'd explain that he was just returning from Colorado and he would smile so big and so proudly saying his usual, "Ah, he's ok!"  It broke my heart every time he asked, but I loved seeing him so proud of his grandson over and over again.

We went back to the house to have a big family dinner.  Here are some photos of my beautiful family, thanks to Mimi for taking the time to take them! 

A White Christmas

We spent Christmas up in Joshua with the Rodericks. 

We had a blast in the warm weather raking leaves and then letting the kids play in them.  Dave did scare little Caleb pretty good after he took off from across the yard and fell in this pile.  He had leaves everywhere after crawling in them!

We drove into Arlington on Christmas eve to see the famous Interlochen lights.  We had gone before, but this time we put the shell on the pickup and also stuck in a twin mattress.  We rode in the back with Tom & Katie while the kids rode in the truck with Grandma & Grandpa.  It was surprisingly very comfortable back there and what a fun little double date it was looking at all the beautiful houses.  We finished the night with some delicious Braum's ice cream :)

Christmas day we had a feast and enjoyed being together and exchanging gifts.







And mother nature gave us the gift of snow Christmas afternoon, (which I did not ask for)

For my mother-in-law, the day after Christmas is a very important part of the season.  She's taught me the art of hitting up the after-Christmas sales and this year for the first time I really got into it!  I'm sure I doubled our Christmas decor collection, all at 50%-75% off.  I had so much fun with her and I even did a little bit more the next morning back in San Antonio.  She's got me hooked!  

Basketball Shoes

I know it sounds pathetic, but sadly I had to say goodbye to my favorite basketball shoes this past month, our team shoes from my Junior year of high school. I've literally played hundreds of basketball games with them; high school, intramurals at BYU, pick-up games in Utah and Wednesday nights here in San Antonio.  I was crushed when the shoe started separating from the sole and insisted that I tape them instead of buying new ones.  Finally, the whole front of the shoe came up and I had no choice.  After trying on literally every womens and mens basketball shoe in North San Antonio, and despite my left foot being bigger than my right, I found the perfect pair...almost identical to my favorite pair from 9 years ago :)  I love them!

1/2 Birthday

I couldn't be happier with my sweet husband, he makes me so happy!  It's mine own fault for mentioning that the next day I would be exactly 26 and 1/2.  I woke up to half a donut and this cake.  We had a fun day and we love and kind of reason to celebrate.  I can't wait til my full birthday!

Thanksgiving (at our own place)

We kicked off the season by helping put together the Ward Thanksgiving Dinner.  It was a success.  It was a good opportunity serving everybody food, despite how hungry I was.  We decided to have a pie eating contest, the winner's table got to get in line first.  I guess some of our predetermined contestants declined, so I got called out of the serving line by Bishop to be a good sport and do it.  It would've been nice if I liked pumpkin pie or whipped cream!  The competitive side of me went for it and I came in a close 2nd.

(Dave affectionately captions this photo "The Conquistador" and loves my white facial hair)

 The next day my family flew in to visit us for the whole week!  Our new place is right across the street from a big shopping center with a nice hotel, all within a 5 minute walk.  My parents stayed there and my little sisters bunked in our living room (as tradition has it)

Our week was filled with beautiful weather, tennis, racquetball, board games, and shopping to decorate our new apartment. We also showed them our new office, went on a temple date with my parents, played TP dodgeball with some fun familes, decorated the walls of our apartment, took my family to their first horse race, brought them to our amazing race party with our group of friends.

Thank goodness our new place has a much bigger kitchen!  Thanksgiving dinner was delicious and it was so nice having my mom there to help with the cooking.  We all were in charge of a dish.  We have soooo many leftovers to eat now.

My dad was doing his best to contribute.  It's so fun having my family in town, oh how I wish they lived closer!