tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66512717647024038532024-03-12T21:26:43.455-07:00Gracey's AdventuresThe Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-10679982907470378542013-10-18T10:50:00.000-07:002013-10-18T10:50:00.124-07:00November 2012Again I wasn't very good at documenting things this month. Obviously I haven't gotten any better at documenting things either since I'm having to back an entire year to catch up. Maybe I will get better, maybe I won't. But for now I'm happy with the attempts to catch up.<br />
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In terms of Gus, he CAN roll over. But he won't. He has done it several times but absolutely detests being on his tummy. He started eating solids this month and LOVES food. He has baby oatmeal with a tiny bit of apple sauce or baby apple juice and he just goes nuts for it. He has gotten even more giggly and just seems to always have a big dimply smile ready for you. He has also started getting rather fond of his Daddy. When he hears his Daddy's voice his attention is immediately drawn to it and he starts looking around the room for him. Grace is...well she's crazy with him, but for the most part he doesn't seem to mind too much. She tries very hard to make him laugh and she usually succeeds, but his giggles also frequently turn into cries because she just gets too rough. He can sit up with just a little bit of help and doesn't really enjoy being made to snuggle anymore. :( so sad!!!<br />
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Grace is doing really well in Pre-School and she also finds funny ways to try and get our attention. She loves Fancy Nancy books and this video is one night at dinner. She was just a hoot. I have caught her walk by some men in our ward and tell them with a big smile that they look "quite dapper" and then run off giggling. She loves her "fancy" words. :)<br />
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This was a video I got of Gus giggling. Yes, I look nasty, and yes, the beginning is slow, but if you skip forward a bit he starts giggling and smiling so so cute!!!</div>
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Love his little face so much! I am constantly having to refrain from just eating him. I love his big beautiful eyes, his soft squishy cheeks and his perfect nose and smile. When I'm nursing him, he'll just stare up at me with his eyes wide open like he is looking into my soul and I just want to melt! I love him so much. But, look at this face. Who wouldn't love this??!<br />
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One day during the month the weather was really nice and so we decided to pack some snacks and go for a walk to the park to play. Half way to the park the clouds started to look ominous but we kept going. About 5 minutes into playing it started to rain. About 6 minutes into playing it started to pour. One more minute and we basically felt like we were in a bath tub we were getting SOAKED. We threw Grace in the stroller, tried to cover it, but failed, hid Gus under my sweater and bolted for home, laughing hysterically that our pants, shirts and hair were dripping and Grace was crying her little eyes out that this was "seriously no fun!". Topher and I disagreed and thought it was rather a hoot.<br />
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Grace's Pre-school had a fun Thanksgiving Feast and she had a blast. We made her a shirt with "indian" symbols on it. We found leaves from outside and traced them, then put her and Gus' hand prints on it and basically just let Grace go to town on it. I had been so proud of myself for letting her do what she wanted with it and not insisting it be done a certain way. Then we got to the feast and it was SO OBVIOUS that all the other parents had basically done the shirts for their kids. They were cut and tied and had pony beads and intricate patterns and designs...and Grace's was huge still because we hadn't cut or tied anything and looked like we had smeared paint covered sponges all over it. :( Luckily she didn't seem to notice too much. </div>
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Mom and Sam were supposed to come for Thanksgiving and then they got rear ended in Provo the day before their trip was supposed to commence. I had planned on having a full house and had a 20 lb. turkey so I started putting my name on every list they passed around at church to feed people...missionaries, single sailors, anyone that needed food. Two days or so before Thanksgiving I was slated to have about 14 people to feed...and they all basically didn't pan out. Somehow, we still managed to feed 1 sailor, a family from Topher's work and some neighbor friends and it was still fun. However, I don't think I need to do it quite the same way next year. :/ I didn't love having random children in my house that I had never met before along with their parents whom I had never met and who after about an hour it was very obvious our parenting styles were....opposites. :) But, I was glad we had mouths to feed and I actually had a BLAST making all the food. I had Emily type up a plan for me of what food I would prepare what day in advanced of Thanksgiving. So I had 3 different pies, green bean casserole, rolls, a turkey, mashed potatoes, home made cranberry sauce, stuffing, and mandarin orange jello salad. It was SO SO yummy. Needless to say, I was very pleased with myself. And very grateful to a sister that got me organized and told me what to do and when. :)</div>
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After Thanksgiving I did a Reindeer Run at the very end of the month and that was a lot of fun for me. It was a run that went through the really pretty and historic parts of Downtown Charleston and everyone was dressed up really fun. Everyone had their dogs dressed up as reindeers and there was fun Christmas music playing loud throughout the streets. </div>
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Topher had brought the kids and taken them to a little park while I ran and then he had them meet up with me at the end. Grace was so cute when she saw me and she ran up to finish the race with me. </div>
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I just love this picture of Grace. She looks so beautiful. Those moments when she is really lost in playing and being so imaginative and you catch that natural, beautiful smile. OH. I just love it. </div>
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She had collected a bunch of sticks and then very lovingly given them to me while I was running. Not perhaps the most helpful thing, but she is cute. :)</div>
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Anyway, that was November for us!</div>
The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-13602332822841510042013-10-14T11:35:00.000-07:002013-10-15T14:33:44.457-07:00October 2012October...sadly I don't have much written down about this month. Luckily I have some pictures...but as for documenting things, I blew it this month. whoops!<br />
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Topher's family was in town at the beginning of the month. They actually came with his Grandparents and we had a lot of fun. They stayed at our house for a couple of nights, and then we also stayed at the beach for a night or two. We went to Cypress Gardens, Middleton Plantation, and I believe we may have gone to Boone Hall as well, but I'm not sure. Grandma Atkinson was as usual a total hoot. She played in the sand with Grace and built sand castles and was just awesome. Grandpa was in a wheel chair which was really sad, but he was still himself with lots of fun comments and antics, including sitting in front of a gift shop with a sign he made saying he needed money and food. :) He's funny.<br />
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But, I really don't remember a lot of specifics from their trip!! Dangit! This is why I need to do better at writing things down WHEN they happen instead of months or a year later. Part of the problem is also in the fact that I don't seem to have a single picture of their visit, and pictures help jolt my memory a lot.</div>
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<br />In the middle of the month Topher did a Triathlon down at Folly Beach and that was really neat. It was a cool type of triathlon where instead of an open water swim, it was actually an open water kayak or paddle board segment. Topher and I took the kayak down to Folly Beach and I helped him put it in and he got to kayak from the inlet around a little island and back. After that segment he then did a bike segment along the beach and then finished with the run portion. He did such a great job! Not that that's not important, but more important is that he had a really great time doing it. He really enjoyed it, especially that it was primarily on the beach and he ended up placing too. He's such a stud. :) Gracey, Gus and I went out and hung out to try and catch glimpses of him. Grace and I would cheer him on really loud when we saw him and then we'd just play in the sand while we waited for him to come back between segments. Gus was pretty well behaved, he nursed and cuddled on me and Topher was really happy to have both his kiddos at the finish line to love on.<br />
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In terms of Gus happenings during the month, we got his first real giggles, and he started being much more smiley this month. I took a lot of cute videos of him smiling, cooing and giggling and his laugh is just the sweetest sound in the world. His neck control was basically fool proof by this point and so we started putting him in the bumbo and he loved being able to sit up and look around.<br />
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At the end of the month my sister and her family came also. We were able to do a lot of fun things with them despite them being sick basically 7 out of the 8 days they were with us. They all caught a flu bug while they were here and all took turns throwing up. :(<br />
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But we still got to the beach, Cypress Gardens, Downtown to eat at TOAST and Hominy Grill, the Childrens Museum and Patriots Point. All in all I was so happy they came and loved having them, and cried when they left. But, I'm not sure they will ever make the trip again or that they'll even remember their trip very fondly because they really were just that sick.<br />
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There were a few issues while they were here, mostly revolving around Grace and that she morphs into a somewhat aggressive and overly active/energetic mode when she's around her cousins. It's strange because she doesn't have issues playing with friends here really, but she always seems to have issues with her younger cousins. Dacia is my best friend and I had been so excited for us to have kids together, but I frequently worry that us having kids is actually not very good for our friendship. :( We are both protective of our kiddos and so when they hurt one another or don't get along, it rubs off on us. I hope someday Grace and Ellie can be the best of friends and that they'll grow out of the labels we've unwittingly put on them and that we've trained them to act in and react to. But only time will tell! Like I said, their trip was mostly a fun one and they were all troopers despite being sick.<br />
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It was Halloween time after they left though and that's always fun!</div>
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Grace's pre-school did a fun field trip to a really neat pumpkin patch that we had a blast at together. <br />
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She got to paint her own pumpkin, we went on a "wagon" ride through the farms, she played in the corn box and in the hay bale maze, pet and fed some farm animals, and played on their makeshift playground. </div>
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For Halloween Grace had originally wanted to be Willy Wonka...I had been a bit bothered by the idea of her being a boy and so I had discouraged her from that...later I felt really guilty about discouraging it because it is so her and she would have made a great Willy Wonka, but oh well...another screw-up of mine to add to the books.</div>
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She ended up being Cinderella because she liked the idea of Auguste being her little Gus-Gus mouse. They made such a cute pair and I don't know if those costumes together can ever be topped in my book! I loved them so much!<br />
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We yet again procrastinated doing pumpkins until Hallow's eve and so I remember being stressed and frazzled that we were trying to cram too many things in before bedtime. But Grace and Daddy had fun carving pumpkins while Gus watched. When I say Grace had fun carving, I should really say that she just used it as an opportunity to stab something with a miniature saw. That girl had so much aggression! It cracked me up! And frightened me....But she had a lot of fun and Topher is very patient with her. </div>
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I made a really yummy and fun Franken-Pizza for Dinner that Grace got a kick out of and after we ate and got her ready, she went Trick or treating with me and some friends from the neighborhood. She complained that she was cold and tired after about 15 minutes. I was shocked!! She was getting candy, for free! All she had to do was walk up to a door and say trick or treat and it was hers! And she was complaining??! I was a meanie and made her go for about 30 minutes...because hey, its candy for me too ya know?? ;) </div>
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Our ward also had a trunk-or-treat that was really fun. But mostly because I think its fun to decorate the trunk of your car and sit there looking at cute costumes and passing out candy to children that then adore you because you gave them treats. :)<br />
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Anyway, it was a pretty fun October for us and I thoroughly enjoyed having lots of family in town and dressing my kiddos up in fun costumes. Might I also mention that I totally made Gus' hat and ears myself? I was very proud of myself at the time. I bought a super cheap sweatshirt at Wal-Mart and cut the sleeve off, then I made that into the hat for Gus. I cut out semi-circles out of cardboard and then sewed brown minky around them and attached them as the ears to make the mousey hat look. Then I found a yellow shirt online and used a longsleeved onesie I had and long brown pants. It was pretty easy and I had fun doing it too! </div>
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The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-7250401676182290232013-09-18T18:10:00.001-07:002013-09-18T18:10:56.390-07:00August/September 2012Gus was only a couple of months old and was an angel. We did have many sleepless nights, but not from him crying all night, he never had a single night like that. He just would wake up every 2 hours like a normal baby to eat. However, unlike a normal baby, he also had LOTS of nights where I had to wake HIM up to feed him, because he would sleep for 5-6 hour stretches at night! I really like these nights, but his Pediatrician said I should wake him. :( darn!<br />
Since I had never done the newborn baby and nursing thing, I had quite a few new experiences those first few months. I have never experienced such extreme exhaustion where I am basically hallucinating that I have done something, only to discover that I really hadn't. I lost track of how many times I would wake up to Gus whimpering, believe I had fed him, and then an hour later, really wake up and wonder why he was upset, only to realize I had been dreaming of feeding him and he was still patiently waiting to nurse. I also had lots of nights of falling asleep while nursing him, and then waking up wondering why he was still hungry, I just fed him!...only to realize it had been 2 hours since I fed him and he was hungry again. :)<br />
Around mid September is when I got my first giggle out of him. It was the sweetest noise I had ever heard! He was such a chill lil guy. Really never made a fuss. Was just content and happy. :)<br />
I recall one night where Topher said I should wake him up when I did Gus' 3 a.m. feeding and we would have ourselves a 3 a.m. "date". I woke him up and he decided that would be a great time for him to iron his uniform in our room while I nursed Gus. He stayed up with me for an hour or so just talking with me and snuggling with me and Gus. It was so wonderful and I remember being so grateful to have such a wonderful hubby that valued our relationship much more than a good night's sleep.<br />
From what I have heard most newborns are like, Gus slept ridiculously well for me. I would say he ate well too, but he enjoyed eating way too much and would fall asleep constantly while eating. Nursing him usually took me around 45 minutes to sometimes even an hour and a half. I tried really hard to sleep train him and so I would feed him as soon as he woke up, play with him for about an hour and a half or so and then lay him down for a nap. He always went down really really well for me and would sleep for 2 or more hours at a time. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Gracey loved him to pieces and I was actually pleasantly surprised by how good she was with him. She wasn't crazy or intense, but just absolutely enamored with him. </span><br />
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During those first couple months Grace also was a total champ. Each night before I went to bed, I would set out cereal for Grace and then in the fridge I would put a small cup of milk. She would wake up, get dressed, get her milk and make her cereal, eat and then entertain herself until I could get out of bed with Gus, which was usually around 9 or 10. She was so patient with me. <br />
We did Grace's first swim lessons ever, just a few weeks after Gus was born. I was nervous about this at first, but it turned out to be fine. Her lessons were the first of the morning before the sun was high and hot, and so it was comfortable and Gus would sleep the whole time. Grace loved swim lessons and progressed really quickly throughout the 3 weeks of class.<br />
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I had really wanted to do professional pictures of Gus, but they are so outrageously expensive! Topher instead let us buy a new lens for the camera and even okayed me buying some fabrics for back drops and "fake floor" paper. I tried my best to get some good shots, I even ventured out into the almost 100 degree humid outdoors and tried to shoot some out by the pond down the street. Each time I tried I would feel fairly confident I got something, and then when I would upload the pictures, the large majority of them were out of focus. :( Out of probably more than 200 pictures, I may have gotten about 5 that I actually liked. Oh well! I got 5 right? and at least I didn't have to pay $1,000 for them.<br />
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In late August, we had a big milestone occur with Grace. Her first day of real Pre school! We had done a Community Center pre school the year before, but it was sort of a joke. I mean, she enjoyed herself and her teacher was a sweet heart....but she didn't learn a thing. It was a class of almost 30 kids and I felt like it was definitely more of a glorified day care than a pre school. <br />
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So the next year we went to St. Timothy's. It's a little Lutheran Church, which seemed really weird to me at first, but I ended up loving it. It was really pricey, but Grace learned a LOT. Her teacher also I think helped prepare Grace quite a bit for Kindergarten and what would be expected of her.<br />
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When Gus was about a month and a half old we made our trip out to Utah for his baby blessing and for the family to all meet him. <br />
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Emily and I decided to do a combined baby blessing for Sadie and Gus. It was so great! We did it at Topher's parent's house and so we had a great dinner with tons of family and friends and then people could swim and play, and it was just awesome! I loved getting to do the blessing with Emily. That was something I loved so much about having our babies right next to each other. I haven't gotten to experience that before and it is so fun to have a sister with a baby that is developing at the same rate as mine. I felt like it was such a neat thing to always be able to bond over our babies. :)<br />
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While we were out there we did some biking with Dac and Dad and their families up to Bridal Veil Falls. It was a bit interesting seeing as how Gus was too little to go in a biking stroller...we attempted to put him in a baby carrier on me but that didn't work so great either. Perhaps not the most successful biking adventure, but fun none the less.<br />
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We also did the super fun, (and now annual) Cousins Carnival. <br />
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Dacia planned this great day full of activities and we all tried to play a small role in pulling it off. My favorite was the obstacle course and the coloring faces. I seem to recall Grace throwing a temper tantrum because all she wanted to do was color faces. She didn't have much interest in all the other activities. I think Dacia may have even taken a few tickets away from her for her bad attitude. :) The activities I was in charge of were the ring toss, the balloon noodle dash, and then I contributed a bunch of prizes. So fun to buy prizes!!<br />
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It was a huge success and everyone had a blast. We did several other different carnival type games, including a "gypsy" face painting station, had a great lunch with fun "fair" food and even had tickets and a prize table at the end.<br />
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Other than those few big things we did we mostly just played and enjoyed family for a couple weeks.<br />
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While we were in Utah for the baby blessing Dacia took some family photos for us out at Wheeler Farm and they turned out so so great. Grace was difficult because well she's Grace. She is just so short on focus and is SO energetic and easily distracted, but somehow Dacia got some adorable shots of her. Gus sadly was asleep in basically all the pictures, so that was a little bit of a bummer but I was really really pleased with how well they all turned out. Dacia was so patient with us and has gotten so talented it's insane. <br />
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When we came back Gus was so sweet and such a good baby and Grace was loving pre school and being quite the helper.<br />
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That was August and September!<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rI652dRAGE/UjpDmgEL-EI/AAAAAAAAAk4/KTPKtTbbhoY/s1600/graceattitude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6rI652dRAGE/UjpDmgEL-EI/AAAAAAAAAk4/KTPKtTbbhoY/s320/graceattitude.jpg" width="320" /></a>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-11128675851007192922012-08-01T11:33:00.000-07:002012-08-01T11:33:23.219-07:00The story of July 1stSo as I mentioned in previous posts, we were expecting. Yay! Well, we had our sweet baby boy on July 1, but I still haven't blogged about it at all. So, I'm going to back track a month and write down the story of his arrival. :)<br />
Just as a heads up, this post is long. And I mean really long. It's my journal after all and I want to remember everything. So, it's detailed, and did I mention long??<br />
First, so that I don't forget I have to mention that throughout this pregnancy Topher and I talked a lot about if we thought this baby was going to come on time, early or late. When I was about 5 months pregnant, we both were in agreement that we felt like he was going to come early. <br />
There was even a specific experience where we were booking camping reservations and one of them was going to be the last weekend in June, leading into July 1st. I had booked the dates, entered in our credit card information and asked Topher if he was good with all the dates and if I should click the "confirm" button, and he stopped me. He said, "No, maybe not. Maybe we shouldn't do that weekend.". When I asked why, he said he wasn't sure, he just didn't feel good about it. I remember gasping and saying, "Does that mean that's when the baby is coming?!!" He played it off and said it didn't necessarily mean any such thing and that and I shouldn't put so much stock in his thoughts. But from that moment on, I was 99% convinced this baby was coming early and might even be there that specific weekend. <br />
Another reason I felt like he'd come before his due date was because I'd had contractions fairly early on with him, he seemed to be growing faster and a bit bigger than Grace had and I just was impatient, and so my wishful thinking led me to think he was coming earlier.<br />
However, Grace on the other hand...she DID "know" he was coming early. AND, not only did she KNOW he was coming early, but she knew the exact. day.<br />
Let me explain. Ever since we told her we were pregnant, we had been telling her the baby was due in July. Well, July was so far away for her, and she didn't understand dates and such so for 8 months, I just told her July, over, and over, and over again. "Your baby brother is coming in July Grace, in July." Well about a week or so before July, someone said, "Wow, it's almost July!" Well to Grace that translated as "Wow, it's almost the day your baby brother is coming!". She asked me each day, "How many days til' July?" And when I would respond with "5" or "4" or "3", she would respond with "Only 5 (4, 3,) more days til baby brother comes!!!" We tried so hard to explain to her that he wasn't due until July 11th. We didn't want her to get her hopes up and then be disappointed for 11 days that he hadn't made his appearance yet. But, no matter what we said, she didn't believe us. She was convinced he was coming on July 1st. Even on the night before he was born, she went to bed and told us "Tomorrow baby brother is coming!!!!" I remember just sighing and saying "uh-huh" to appease her and make her go to bed. <br />
Well, the next morning, July 1st, I woke up to contractions. I immediately knew something was up, because each time I had had contractions throughout my pregnancy, going to bed had always made them go away. I had never had contractions in the middle of the night or while I was sleeping, and here I was waking up to them. I had an inkling, I'll admit, that maybe "this was the day"...but I'm much too proud to voice that out loud and then be wrong and be embarrassed. So when I mentioned it to Topher and he gave me "the look", I just tried to brush it off like it wasn't a big deal. The contractions were definitely uncomfortable but I was able to shower and get ready for church. In the hour and a half I was getting ready however they did get progressively more uncomfortable, to the point of painful, and about 15 minutes before we left I asked Topher to start timing them. They were regular and consistent and getting closer together and more intense. Hm. Topher asked me if I thought we should still go to church or if we should just go to the hospital. I played it cool again and said, "No, I'm sure it's nothing. I don't want to go all the way to the hospital just for them to tell me its false labor and to go home. Besides, our back up sitters for Grace aren't even home, they're going to church now too! Let's just go to church and If I'm still having contractions when church is over, we'll go in." At about this time, I had a very distinct impression that I should pack my overnight bag, (I should also mention I had had this impression EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. for the past week and a half. I ignored it and didn't pack it). Well, I mentioned this to Topher and he felt like even if I was in labor, we could come back home and get an overnight bag after church. <br />
SO...off to church we went. <br />
We got there a couple of minutes late, but could have slipped in to the chapel, but as we got there my contractions got a little stronger and I didn't think I wanted to go in to the chapel after all. We sat in the foyer instead and I sat next to Topher, gripping his arm something fierce for every contraction. It was actually a good system. I didn't need to say a word for him to know when to start timing them or when they were over. He knew. He could tell when they were done because feeling would start returning back into his hand. <br />
I remember a couple came into church and sat down on the couch next to us. They had their brand new baby with them, only 6 days old. I said congratulations, and they asked when we were due. I said July 11th, and Topher looked at me with a look like, "Really? You're still going with that??" I just smiled and knew that was a load of beans. After Sacrament meeting, (the first 1/3 of church) Topher asked me if we should go to the hospital, but I said we should wait until Church was over to see if the contractions really lasted that long or if they went away and it was a false alarm. I did mention to the Primary President that I thought I might be in labor though and so I was sorry if I wasn't very helpful getting everything ready in Primary. She looked at me sort of in shock and asked why I was there at all and I just said I wasn't sure it was true labor and didn't want to get sent home, and even if it was labor, I could labor at church just as easily as at home.<br />
This was my first Sunday being in Primary and they sang the "welcome" song to me. Sister Young (Primary Pres.) wouldn't let me come up to the front because she could see I was gripping my seat with a pained look on my face. She told the Primary "This is Sister Andersen! She's our new first counselor, let's sing to her, but she's gonna stay where she is, because she's in labor!! We probably won't see her for several weeks, because I think she'll be having her baby pretty soon!" The Primary laughed and all looked at me excitedly and I just sat there gripping my chair and smiling back. <br />
I made it until there was only about 20 minutes left of Church before the contractions were getting so intense I couldn't sit down anymore. I went to the restroom and saw I was bleeding a lot and decided it was time to go. I grabbed Topher, had a mild panic attack trying to think what to do with Grace, but her back up sitters were so sweet and said to just leave her car seat there and they'd take her home and we could bring her overnight things as soon as it was convenient. <br />
Topher and I got in the car and started to head home to pack an overnight bag, but as I got more and more of a pained look on my face Topher got more and more convinced that there wasn't time to go pack our bags after all.<br />
He headed for the hospital instead. We didn't have phones, lap top, ipad, camera, clothes...NOTHING! I couldn't fathom going into labor and not having anyone in our families know about it! But, that's what happened. :) <br />
We got to the hospital, checked in and got put into a room. Topher was going to go home and get our bags, but the Nurse said maybe he should wait and see where I was at in terms of dilation and such. I was at an 8. Sooooo Topher decided to stick around. I was also in a lot a lot a lot of pain the likes of which I was NOT familiar. I asked the nurse if I could get an epidural, and her answer?...That there might not be time. WHAT?!! She said it would take about an hour for my OB to put in the order for it and for the Anesthesiologist to get there. I say again, WHAT?!! At this point I went into the bathroom and cried. I did NOT think I could have this baby natural. No matter the fact that I had WANTED to try and have him natural, now that I was faced with it, I didn't think I could do it. Topher came in and comforted me and got me out of the bathroom and I started to calm down...but not really. I squeezed Topher's hand even more and even harder, paced the room and said "ow" a lot. :) Luckily the OB got the order in and the anesthesiologist got there a bit quicker than anticipated and I got an epidural, which was surprisingly a lot more unenjoyable than when I had one with Grace. The guy was mean, abrasive and threatened me more than once that If I moved I could be paralyzed. Um...thanks. But its really hard to hold completely still in the middle of a ridiculously painful contraction!! Ugh. <br />
One good thing about the epidural was that i asked them to do a smaller dose. I wanted to still be able to feel when I was having the contractions, just not so much of the pain associated with them, and it worked! I could still tell when I was having contractions and if they were strong or not, but no pain. Ahhh it was nice. :)<br />
The epidural seemed to slow me down a bit, but I didn't mind. By 4:00 I could tell it was time for me to push and so my sweet Dr. came in. I asked her if Topher could help with anything and she said of course, and we got to be pretty involved. Topher watched the whole thing again and I got to feel the baby with my hands a bit before he came out, (I know, kinda gross, but it was also super cool). I pushed only a couple of times and he was out, screaming a quivering little cry and Topher quick snipped his umbilical cord. They held him up a little for me to see and I was immediately in awe. It was the "birth" experience I had always heard about but didn't think really existed. They wiped him off just a little bit and immediately put him on me. I had previously thought this sounded disgusting, but I loved it. He was crying and as soon as they laid him on me he immediately quieted, opened his eyes and tried to find me. Topher was right next to me and we both just stared at this perfect little being and cried. It was such a sweet sweet experience and I loved every minute of it.<br />
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In hindsight, Topher and I decided we liked not having our phones. It was so nice to relax and to just be the three of us enjoying each other. It was quiet and peaceful and we got to just sit and stare at our new little guy and stare at each other and grin from ear to ear. We didn't have to worry about calling 30 different people to give them a status update, we just got to relax and be in the moment. I think we'll be leaving our phones at home or off for all future babies from now on. :)<br />
I should point out that several hours after his arrival we still hadn't named our little man. His name was quite the dilemma for us. We had had our list of favorites which was the following: Max, Thomas, Samuel. We also had our list of backups: Dex, Oliver, and I don't even remember the other 2. haha. But we had had those names for months and none of them seemed to fit as perfectly as we were expecting them to. Grace's name had just fit and we didn't feel like we even needed to see her to know that was her name. But with this pregnancy we had really felt like we just didn't know and we'd have to get a good look at him.<br />
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A name I had liked a few months back had been August. I had liked this name and thought Augie and Gus were adorable nicknames, but when I had mentioned it to Topher he had shot it down. He did not like Augie as a nickname at all. Ok, ok. So, I forgot about it and didn't mention it again...until the day before he was born. Saturday afternoon Topher and I were again discussing names and I threw August out there again. I said "are you sure you don't like the name August? I think it's really really cute." This time Topher surprised me. He sat and mulled it over for a few minutes and said that he didn't mind it so much anymore and that actually he thought it was pretty cute too. So, it became a "back up" name. :)<br />
Anyway, I'm getting side tracked. At about 7:30ish Topher finally pried himself away from me and our new baby and left to fetch our overnight things and the big sister. :) <br />
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Grace was overjoyed to meet her baby brother and it was a really sweet time to have her come and see him and hold him for the first time. She was very gentle with him, and yet still her very eager, and energetic self. It was really nice to see her and have us all together but she very quickly got rowdy, hyper, restless and bored and wanted to play with all the Dr. things in the room and get into all the cupboards and drawers and finally just wanted to sit and play the iPad. Topher decided she was probably good for the night and so he took her back to the sitter's before we all got annoyed at each other. :)<br />
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Just as a place to have his stats, baby brother was born at 4:15p.m. he was 7 lbs. 9 oz. and 19 inches. He was a lb. heavier than Grace had been and an inch longer, but he still seemed so tiny to me!<br />
Anyway...The next day we still hadn't named him. However we had eliminated all our back up names except August, and also eliminated Samuel. He just didn't look like a Sam. So we were at a crossroads with Max, Thomas and August. I liked Max, Topher liked Thomas and we both liked August. But it was such a different name and we had only been considering it since the day before!!<br />
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Anyway, Topher went into work for a few hours that day and afterwards he went and picked Grace up for a Daddy daughter date. They went and saw Brave together, got food, and went shopping together. She got a new doll and was very excited. Then he brought her back to the hospital for a little more sibling bonding time and that was again fairly short, but fun. :)<br />
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Those two days at the hospital were really special days for me. It was so quiet, and peaceful and I just got to snuggle my little bundle all day long and I was in Heaven. I was also exhausted...they didn't mention that the two pain medications they had me on BOTH had a severe side effect of making someone drowsy. But for some reason, despite that side effect I just couldn't sleep. I think that in 48 hours I got less than 8 hr. of sleep because I just couldn't make myself sleep. Too many sisters and parents to talk to and tell about our sweet new boy and too much snuggling to do. I think part of the reason I never slept was because they said I couldn't sleep with him in my bed, so I never slept because that involved putting him down. :)<br />
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The food at the hospital was terrible, lol, but the nurses, staff and pediatricians were really really sweet and I hope we can have our next baby there as well.<br />
The day we left the hospital was July 3rd and we only decided on the name Auguste about an hour before we checked out. Topher said he really liked the 'e' on the end, and I wasn't really swayed one way or another so I said ok. So we left the hospital with his name officially as Auguste Christopher Andersen. <br />
I'm still not sold on the 'e' on the end. But, I figure I ought to let Topher win a battle occasionally right? ;)<br />
So, we brought our Auguste Christopher home and have been in love with him ever since!!<br />
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<br />Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-14700632703468560442012-05-11T06:58:00.001-07:002012-05-11T06:58:27.466-07:00Quick Random Tid-bitsSo, I had to write these down before I forget them because they seriously cracked me up.<br />
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The other day Grace was playing in her kitchen and acting very theatrical. She was making dinner for her husband and herself and making such classic faces, it was too cute. But when Topher got home from work, she was telling him about her husband and how she was making him dinner and then she stopped and told us, (with a big smile on her face) "I have some bad news. Something really sad happened". So I responded, "Then why are you smiling?" "Mom! Mom. Seriously. It's really sad. (still with a big smile on her face) My husband...DIED." "Grace, that's really sad, why are you smiling???" "Well. Mom, I'm just excited to get a new one."<br />
Um. SERIOUSLY?!!! Topher and I laughed so loud and hard, and then we both stopped and stared at eachother, like, "did she really just SAY that?!!" Topher says that whoever she marries is going to need some fair warning. <br />
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The next day Grace and I were sitting on the patio and she was telling me that she thought I was pretty. She climbed up on my lap, brushed my hair from my face and told me how pretty my hair was. Then she said "'member when you went to the ball?? and you had really pretty hair? and pretty things in your hair?? Mom you were so pretty. Did everyone tell you you were just so pretty?? Did all the boys want to dance with you?" HA!!! Cracked me up. I told her I only danced with Daddy and she was a bit disappointed. Lol. But I thought that was so sweet. She has been telling me frequently lately that she things I'm pretty, which is nice to hear when I feel like a whale. :)<br />
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Anyway, this little girl just cracks me up and I feel like she does pretty hysterical things on a routine basis, but I forget them because I don't write them down. So, maybe I could try to be a little better about recording those moments that make me laugh so hard with her.<br />
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Also, random side note, that was also really funny...Topher seems to really like the name Max for our little guy, but doesn't really like any of the add-ons we know are commonly used. Example: Max<i>well </i>or Max<i>imilien </i>or Max<i>imus</i>. So, last night we stayed up way too late trying to make up our own add-ons. It was really, really, <i>REALLY </i>entertaining. <br />
Here are some of the highlights: heheh<br />
Maxle<br />
Maxeph<br />
Maxtopher<br />
Maxiah<br />
Maxuchi<br />
Maxdom<br />
Maxpert<br />
Maxter<br />
iMax (this is my personal favotite...but it might be bcuz it was really late and I loved the thought of how he would introduce himself. I laughed for a long time)<br />
Maxula<br />
McMax<br />
Maxoid<br />
Maxtron<br />
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Anyway. We laughed so much over our list. <br />
Then Topher thought about how in his family, his parents named his little sister AnnaLina, and how that is a combination of both of his Grandma's names. So he said, maybe we could try to do something combining your and my Dad's names. Ok, I said. So, we have Carl and Curtis. So he can be Cartis. Or Curl. Hehhehhehheh. Then Topher tried to incorporate Max and we got Curmax...but he thought we'd might as well include Kermit since Topher loves the Muppets...so maybe Kermax would be good. Then he tried to incorporate his Dad's family name which is Muir..so to combine Carl, Curtis and Muir We settled on Curliur. <br />
So, our little guy's name, had he been born last night, might have been Curliur Maxtopher Andersen. Don't you think he'd be a lucky little guy???!<br />
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Ok. Maybe not.<br />
The only add-ons that <i>really </i>worked that we kinda liked were Maxden (Maxton), Maxon, and maybe Maxler.<br />
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You have any thoughts? Suggestions? :) We might not name him Max anymore simply because we can't think of a way to lengthen it that we both really like. So, suggestions are welcome. :) Even if they're just to make us laugh.<br />
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<br />Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-72373617567207685442012-05-08T06:41:00.001-07:002012-05-08T09:25:16.169-07:00Happy Birthday to My Gracey 3-18-2012<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c41OFN5QYrA/T6kfBbrTswI/AAAAAAAAAgA/0ZcZwGcZQNM/s1600/gracebday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c41OFN5QYrA/T6kfBbrTswI/AAAAAAAAAgA/0ZcZwGcZQNM/s400/gracebday1.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small;"><strong>Height and Weight</strong>: 41 inches and 33 lbs.</span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small;"><strong>Fave Color</strong>: Pink, I mean Blue. Blue. (She loves both of these)<br /><strong>Fave Movie:</strong> George of the Jungle. Kung Fu Panda. Barbie Musketeers. Parent Trap.<br /><strong>Fave TV Show</strong>: Angelina Ballerina. Curious George. <br /><strong>Fave Food</strong>: COOKIES! apple juice. pancakes. doritos. cracker cereal (this is graham crackers and milk) </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small;"><strong>Fave Treat</strong>: Oreos and milk.<br /><strong>Fave restaurant</strong>: Hominy Grill! Chick-fil-a<br /><strong>Something you hate to eat</strong>: tobacco sauce. bugs. and poop. (I certainly hope she's never tried that last one)<br /><strong>Fave Book</strong>: What are you so Grumpy About? Fancy Nancy<br /><strong>Fave Toy</strong>: my Barbies. my wedding barbies.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; font-size: small;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UoPaP0HkxBM/T1bQAtM4FNI/AAAAAAAADAI/i1MBMvSWYG0/s1600/IMG_1248edit.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #422b3a; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">Fave Outfit</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: Dresses. My Zora Dress from Oma and my new dress from Aunt Jen that is long and I trip over.</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">Fave Activity</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: Playing in my playroom. Playing in the mud and dirt. I like to do art.</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">Fave School Subject</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: Playtime</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">What do you want to be when you grow up</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: A Princess. A Horsey rider first. actually, a musketeer first. Then a horsey rider. Then a Princess.</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">What is something that makes you happy</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: When you nuggle me and cuddle me. and when you love me all over and tickle me and make me nort. </span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">What is something that makes you sad</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: When you pank me. When you get angry at me.</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">Best Friend (s):</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;"> Braden. (I don't even know who this is!!--she says he plays husband and wife with him in Pre-school, yikes) Hannah and Parker.</span><br /><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">One Wish or Dream you have for yourself</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: "That my cousins don't forget about me. I wish that I can be a REAL musketeer and look like a musketeer."</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">How would YOU describe yourself</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: "I like vegetables and cookies. I love my friends. I'm a silly girl. "</span></span></span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiQUpTUrTF8/T6kfCG5HUgI/AAAAAAAAAgI/Bysb0vB1CI0/s1600/gracebday2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TiQUpTUrTF8/T6kfCG5HUgI/AAAAAAAAAgI/Bysb0vB1CI0/s400/gracebday2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><strong style="color: #422b3a; font-size: medium;">How do OTHERS describe you</strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">: "That I'm cute". - I asked her what other people think of her and that's what she said. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">If I were to describe you I would say you are </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: cyan;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ENERGETIC</span>,</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: small;"><b>silly</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">, random, easily distracted, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><b style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;"><i>clever</i></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: small;"><b>emotional</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">, <b>sensitive</b>, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange; font-size: small;"><b>dramatic</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">, overly affectionate, imaginative, curious,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: small;"><i><b> playful</b></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">, inclusive, <b>eager</b>, attentive (to teachers and anyone but me), family oriented, adventurous, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">SASSY</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;">, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">cautious and</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><i><b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">food oriented</span></b></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You are happiest and the most well behaved when you are </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: small;"><i>outside exploring</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;"> your forest or playing with Mommy and Daddy. </span></span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hezuz-_Ra18/T6kfC3DNLfI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/KXybe0gV6nM/s1600/gracebday3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hezuz-_Ra18/T6kfC3DNLfI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/KXybe0gV6nM/s400/gracebday3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You are SUPER excited to be a big sister. You talk about the baby all the time and about how "helpful" you are going to be...I can't wait. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a;">You love your </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d85c6;">family</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a;">, and your </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #f1c232;">friends</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a;">. You love and adore your cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents and get homesick for them quite often. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a;">You are a </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">drama queen</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a;">. You throw fits and tantrums like no one's business and talk to me like a 16 yr. old firecracker quite frequently. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You hate to clean up even though one of your biggest talents is making messes. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You love to help me and do favors for me, I hope this is something that continues. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You will try any type of food and tell me at almost every meal how good it is and what a good "cooker" I am. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You love to do art. You love to paint, play with clay, playdoh, play in the mud "making soup", make birds nests, do crafts. You tell us all the time that you're such a good "arter". </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-size: small;">You love stories and love to be read to at night.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSmtj3ROka4/T6kXoW8MBMI/AAAAAAAAAfE/u8XtDBgiwVI/s1600/IMG_3573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kSmtj3ROka4/T6kXoW8MBMI/AAAAAAAAAfE/u8XtDBgiwVI/s200/IMG_3573.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">Topher says you are full of life, energy, drama and love. And although that's a much shorter description of you than what <i style="font-size: medium;">I </i>said, it's quite accurate. :)<br /><strong style="font-size: medium;">Thoughts on you from the past year</strong>: I thought that it was supposed to be the "terrible twos", but the threes ended up being so <b>SO<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> SO</span></b> much worse. I'm not going to lie, you get harder and harder as you get older. You're just too darn smart for your own good and you have enough energy to spread out among 5 people and have them all be in the average range of human energy. You are a very dramatic girl and very loud and emotional. You are so communicative, but sometimes that just means yelling, screaming and crying at me to communicate what you want. Although you have gotten harder in so many ways, you have also gotten smarter, even more curious, even more imaginative, more thoughtful AND more fun. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">You drive me crazy on a <i>daily basis</i>, but you also have the ability to really make me smile. You say and do some of the FUNNIEST things, sometimes they're funny right then, and sometimes I have to calm down first, and then they're funny later. ;) </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">I love your giggle and when you <i style="font-size: medium;">really</i> laugh. There are times when we get a huge, genuine giggle out of you and it brightens your whole face and I can't help but laugh as well. I love how joyous you can be. </span></span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKs6HDxPoxA/T6kfDZYJ9iI/AAAAAAAAAgY/4lTupScm3yA/s1600/gracebday4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FKs6HDxPoxA/T6kfDZYJ9iI/AAAAAAAAAgY/4lTupScm3yA/s400/gracebday4.jpg" width="300" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'times new roman';">You are a miracle, and when I take the time to remember how lucky we are and how lucky you are, I can't believe how full of life, laughter, energy, joy and SPUNK you are. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;">You have enjoyed learning this year and going to pre-school. You have enjoyed exploring Charleston. You love going to the beach, the aquarium, downtown, playgroup, the children's museum and anywhere else to explore with me. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;">You have developed a lot intellectually, and I can't believe the expanse of your vocabulary sometimes. You have also started to really learn some scripture stories and to enjoy being in Sunbeams. You came home last week after Easter Sunday and told me "Some people loved Jesus. Some people didn't like Jesus. The people that didn't like him were mean to him and put nails in him hands and in him sides and killed him. His Mommy was really sad and cried. But he came back to life! We're all going to come back to life Mommy, when we're resurrected!" -Wow! That impressed me. You also gave a talk in Sunbeams about prophets and it made me cry. You were so innocent and sweet and happy to be there and sharing your thoughts with everyone.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #422b3a; font-family: 'times new roman'; line-height: 18px;">You are a rollercoaster ride Gracey. Sometimes, I'm not sure I can handle the ride, but, I'm staying on anyway, no matter how many loops, drops, spins and tumbles you take me for, I will hang in there. Because no one has ever had the capacity to make me feel as strongly as you do; love, anger, frustration, adoration, admiration, awe<i>. I love you. </i> You are my sweet, feisty little girl and I love you more than I thought I could love a little person. You drive me to my wits end, but I love you for it. No one could "refine" me better than you. :) Thanks for coming down here, and sticking with me to make me a better person. I love you and I'm excited..and nervous ;) , for another year with you. :)</span></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-29554285137390508982012-04-16T08:16:00.000-07:002012-04-16T08:16:00.131-07:00My HubbyThe hubby's birthday was on February 3rd and he turned a big ol' 28. He's getting so old. ;) Anyway, I get to write a blog now about how much I LOVE him!!! And yes, siblings, that is EXACTLY what this blog is: A sappy love fest! So if you don't want to "gag" and are going to make fun, then don't read it! MY journal. MY blog. I get to write what I want about my husband, albeit sappy, gooey, mushy and emotional.<div>First, I will give a little reminder for myself what we did on his special day. I was a big lame-o to begin with and didn't make him a cake or a special dinner or anything. I know. I suck. :( But I did take him <i>out </i>for dinner and dessert at a yummy steakhouse. So that's not <i>too</i> pathetic. Next year I will have a lot to make up for, its true, but being the amazing hubby he is he never once complained about the lack of a homemade meal or dessert. He was just the happiest boy to get presents and a yummy steak dinner. For his Birthday he got the Harry Potter series and an MCAT study guide, (I know! what a nerd! ;) ) and some notebooks to write down notes from his Medical School studyings. It was a more simple Birthday than we usually do, but he was so grateful and appreciative and acted like it was the best Birthday in the whole world. He's too good to me. I know.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mK1mn5eAB94/T4oPowHk2kI/AAAAAAAAAdg/Lb1Svhy9Myk/s1600/tophbirthday.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mK1mn5eAB94/T4oPowHk2kI/AAAAAAAAAdg/Lb1Svhy9Myk/s400/tophbirthday.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731410668568238658" /></a>The reasons I love my husband are many. So many in fact, that I could probably come back on here and update this blog every day for a month because I will have thought of something else I love about him that I'll forget to mention in my first attempt. But I'm going to do my best to put down my admiration for him this first go around.</div><div>Topher is kind and giving. He will do just about anything for anyone and go to the largest extent he can to do the most for them. This is even more so true with his wife and little girl. I don't think there is a thing in the world I couldn't ask him for.</div><div>Topher is Dedicated. He is dedicated in everything he does. Whether it is his family, his church calling, his work or his schooling. He puts his full self into everything he does. He will not settle for anything less than his best effort and in the moments when he feels he hasn't met his expectations he is ridiculously hard on himself. He wants to be the best he can, and he has the courage to get up every day and try again.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z918QckAQY/T4oPoHo16PI/AAAAAAAAAdY/7aA5gZmx74k/s1600/topher4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z918QckAQY/T4oPoHo16PI/AAAAAAAAAdY/7aA5gZmx74k/s400/topher4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731410657701914866" /></a>He is Playful. He likes to have fun. I love that he is almost like a little boy stuck in a 28 yr. old body. He loves to play with legos, sand, cars. He will play hide and seek with Gracey continuously. He loves to fly his kites, whether its a small one for Grace to enjoy or one of his huge ones that will drag him along the beach and hold him up on a kiteboard. He loves the beach and to build tunnels and sand castles with and for Grace. He loves to go out with his brother and Dad and go shooting and wishes he had more opportunities to do things like that with them. He loves being in Cub Scouts and doing fun things with his boys every week.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y9xdUbY4Y0/T4oPnts1DXI/AAAAAAAAAdI/mcTot7deHm0/s1600/toph3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4Y9xdUbY4Y0/T4oPnts1DXI/AAAAAAAAAdI/mcTot7deHm0/s400/toph3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731410650739314034" /></a>He is athletic and loves the outdoors. He loves to Kiteboard, boogie board, skimboard, kayak, bike, hike, camp, play soccer, badminton, basketball or anything else anyone could be up for doing. He bikes to and from work every day and has never once complained. In fact, he doesn't want to drive. When I offer him the car, he'd rather bike.</div><div>He loves to be outside, and what I love about this is that he has made it a priority to instill this love of being active and being outside in Gracey as well. He takes her outside to go biking or on a walk to the park, and takes me for walks or bike rides as well. He takes us camping and to the beach regularly. He appreciates this beautiful world we've been blessed with and helps our family enjoy it at every opportunity possible.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuhZFa9BgU0/T4oPnUB3M5I/AAAAAAAAAc8/iMdt57jhchU/s1600/toph2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XuhZFa9BgU0/T4oPnUB3M5I/AAAAAAAAAc8/iMdt57jhchU/s400/toph2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731410643848213394" /></a>He is smart. I love being married to someone that is so knowledgeable and that has such a thirst for more knowledge. Topher is continually trying to enlarge his "horizons" and learn everything he can. He is always reading some historical documentary, or Doctoral study and I love watching how easily all this information is absorbed. He also has such a solid foundation of knowledge about the Church and the scriptures. This is sadly something that I'm lacking in the extremes, and I love that I can ask him question after question about things I don't understand or know and he will almost always have an answer. In the rare occasion he doesn't have an answer though, he knows what book to look in to find one for me.</div><div>I love that he enjoys learning and wants to further his education as much as he can. He wants to get a Master's still and possibly go to medical school, and I love that he doesn't think that now that he has a job, school is no longer necessary. He also encourages Grace and I to learn as much as we can and gives us all the opportunities he can for furthered learning.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSrTACl4WZU/T4oPnFZOfuI/AAAAAAAAAc0/uLUZ1_AVUjc/s1600/toph1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSrTACl4WZU/T4oPnFZOfuI/AAAAAAAAAc0/uLUZ1_AVUjc/s400/toph1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731410639919677154" /></a>He is silly. He may be shy, sweet, gentle and smart, but he will be silly with me too. I have to admit I have definitely brought out the "freak" in him since we started dating and got married. I think his family was pretty surprised by some of the things he would do and say around me that he hadn't done before, but I love so so much that he can set aside his serious, contemplative demeanor and just be goofy with me.</div><div>He is gentle. He is never abrasive, harsh, loud or impatient. He is a gentle friend, neighbor, Dad and Husband. But my favorite time to see how gentle he is is with other kids. We have a church calling to serve in our Ward Nursery and he is easily better with the kids than I am. He has such a sweet way with them and talks to them each so kindly that they all love to be around him. He makes even the most difficult kids in our nursery feel comfortable there and knows how to reach out to each of them. He is also a sweet Uncle and Big brother and is just very loving and thoughtful of his family. </div><div>I think what I love about him the very most though is how much of a family man he is. He is an amazing Father and Husband. He is so loyal, affectionate and gentle with us and I couldn't be more grateful, not to mention undeserving. Grace and I are so loud and at times abrasive and emotional and Topher manages to love us each exactly how we need to be loved. He has a calming influence on both of us and is so good at showing us he cares about us. I love watching him do art with Grace or read her a story. I love that he takes time to have Daddy Daughter dates with her where they cuddle upstairs on the couch, watching movies together and eating popcorn. He adores his little girl and is constantly worrying about her happiness and well being.</div><div>As a husband...well. I don't really think there are words to describe how wonderful he is. In fact, I can barely think about him as my husband without being brought to tears. He is the most perfect husband I know or have ever personally known. I know anyone that reads that will think to themselves, "well, you're biased." But, he really is perfect for me. I know lots of people's husbands, and hear about and see the "inner-workings" of their marriages, and I have <i>never once</i> thought to myself, "I wish Topher did that". On the contrary, I frequently feel bad for other women that their husbands don't do for them what Topher does for me. I don't say that to brag or be mean or cocky. But because I don't ever want to forget how blessed I am in my eternal companion. He <i>truly does</i> treat me like a princess. And ANYONE that has seen him with me, especially when I'm sick, can attest to that. He will wait on me hand and foot and pamper me from head to toe. He will compliment me up and down and offer me support, encouragement and love in and out of every day. He has never once been disappointed in me, even when he had every right to be, and instead tells me how much he admires me and how wonderful he thinks I am, even on my worst days. </div><div>I am so grateful for him and I don't know if I will every be worthy of him as my spouse. But, I know I will spend the rest of my life trying to keep up with him and trying to be worthy of his love. I really do thank my Heavenly Father for him in every prayer I utter, because he truly is my greatest blessing.</div><div>I love you Christopher Curtis Andersen. Thank you for marrying me. I don't know why you did! But I'm so grateful that you did. :) Thank you for being an amazing person, Father, best friend and Husband. I love you so much! </div><div>I hope this year is even better than the last.</div><div>I can't wait to see you with another baby of ours in your arms, and see all the new adventures we will have with a mini-Topher in our midst. :)</div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-84127185789110316622012-04-15T10:00:00.004-07:002012-04-15T10:53:52.084-07:00January- Hawaii<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeznouviLSw/T4r71thsm0I/AAAAAAAABoE/PI8Qjnzfif4/s1600/airporthawaii.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>My family has started a new tradition within the past probably 5 or 6 years where we try to have our own family reunion every other summer. Our first official one I think would probably be considered Lake Powell in 2006, but, maybe that isn't what all my siblings would consider the first one. <div>Regardless, our most recent one was to Hawaii!! My Dad had convinced us all two years ago that we could all save up the required sums and then bribed us with one free air fare per family if his "kids" ran a half marathon during the trip. I think all of us were a little star struck by the idea of Hawaii, and so we all a bit naively made the commitment to save the money and go to Hawaii two years from then.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GUMAoNvfiYk/T4oHSzUR0iI/AAAAAAAAAco/SAxiLtl21xI/s1600/familyhawaiicollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GUMAoNvfiYk/T4oHSzUR0iI/AAAAAAAAAco/SAxiLtl21xI/s400/familyhawaiicollage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731401495376679458" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Siblings, you can correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure none of us started training for the Half Marathon OR saving money for the trip until a year or less was left until the race. HA! whoops. </div><div>Anyway, all the time leading up to the trip I had a very grumpy hubby because he just couldn't believe how expensive this trip was turning out to be and he didn't want me training for the Half marathon. In my defense, I did start training for the Half in the Spring of the year, but then about a month or so after I started training I got pregnant, and then miscarried. When I felt back up to it, I started training again, and again miscarried. For the third time I started training and then got pregnant again and was capable of not much other than feeling sorry for myself in my sick-o state. Because of how sweet my hubby is, he didn't want me training, and because I'm such a good wife and wanted to support him, I went along with it. ;) hehe. Cuz y'know, I REALLY wanted to train to run 13 miles feeling sick and sore and gross.</div><div>Did any of these reasons stop my family from giving me a hard time though? NO! They did NOT! My dad probably wanted me to run the race with a throw up bag, but, too bad for him, my husband is way too sweet and chivalrous. So, he ran the race in my place. :) But, I'm getting ahead of myself.</div><div>The week or so before the trip I tried my darn-dest to get my husband on board with Hawaii fever. He was killing my buzz and so I had to give him a piece of my mind a time or two to get him excited. After all, how many times does a person get to go Hawaii in their life?! Exactly. Not many. So I told him to GET EXCITED! He obliged. Slowly, but surely.</div><div>Our flight there was pretty rotten, ain't gonna lie. It was over 12 hours of air travel with a lot of lay overs and NO sleep. Very exhausting. But my goodness, stepping off the plane in Honolulu, and seeing the green and smelling the green...*groan*. It was AMAZING. Hawaii is so so beautiful. The airport was an open-air airport where they had little mini gardens growing in the center of it that you could go sit and relax in. </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeznouviLSw/T4r71thsm0I/AAAAAAAABoE/PI8Qjnzfif4/s1600/airporthawaii.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeznouviLSw/T4r71thsm0I/AAAAAAAABoE/PI8Qjnzfif4/s400/airporthawaii.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731670375954946882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>We got to Maui, which was our first island destination, and met up with Dacia and Joe in their ridiculously nice condo. It was seriously amazing. The whole back wall of the condo was basically a sliding glass door from floor to ceiling and opened to a glorious view of a carmel colored sandy beach and gorgeous ocean. Topher and I immediately felt like we were in Heaven and were ready to vegg and relax on the beach.</div><div>But, did I mention this was Johnson family vacation? So, because of that, the "relaxation" part of the trip never really happened. Our family needs to work on that. Part of what makes a vacation wonderful is RELAXING. </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0Ugg--b7Q/T4oAFq7J0UI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/_aOcVCOQnZ4/s1600/condobeach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>But, even without a relaxing moment, it was beautiful, and amazing. We saw and did so many gorgeous things. Rainforests, waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches, flowers, sea turtles, fish, snorkeling, hiking, driving, vine-swinging, black sand, green sand, jeep off-roading, kayaking, paddle-boarding...we did it all. :) And we definitely loved every moment of it, even if we did come back more tired than when we left. :)</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zpHW2udhWs/T4oAGAwu8LI/AAAAAAAAAbg/a2baDwZAek8/s1600/hana.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>The half marathon was in Maui and I think every adult except Joe and myself ran it. They all did such a great job and are seriously troopers. Emily was quite pregnant by this point yet she did it and did a great job. Dacia was having serious issues with both her knees and did it and I think even Alan and Jen were having some leg issues too. But they all did it and did awesome! This concluded Dad and Karen's goal of a half marathon in every state and we were all really happy for them and their really neat achievement.</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqaKdSvsht4/T4oF-xnC83I/AAAAAAAAAcc/TA3SjTHDgpA/s1600/halfmarathoncollage.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UqaKdSvsht4/T4oF-xnC83I/AAAAAAAAAcc/TA3SjTHDgpA/s400/halfmarathoncollage.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731400051809514354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Not to downplay that achievement, but, uh, since this is my journal, I'm totally not going to downplay what in my mind was the COOLEST part of the half marathon...my husband. He kicked its butt!!! Like I said, he ran it in my place. But I didn't say yet, that he didn't train. Not even a little bit. And he hasn't run 13 miles since High School. But he just up and did it, and he KICKED. BUTT. He got 2nd place in his age group and 22nd overall for the Men...and, if that weren't cool enough, he was his humble self when my Dad presented him with the challenge, that he didn't think Topher could beat him. Well, Topher was sweet and just said he would do his best to finish the race as well as he could, but the rest of my family said, "Topher, do it!! You gotta beat him! He challenged you!!". And so Topher did just that, he BEAT MY DAD! :) Which, kinda was freaking awesome. :)</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tOerSlQiQ/T4oAGvTa2nI/AAAAAAAAAbs/EHT99GY4KqY/s1600/hawaii2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>Some of the really memorable things for me from Hawaii were:</div><div>Eating all the really good food, especially the really yummy spaghetti that I ate for breakfast on the morning of the race. :)</div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewZCG2WehU8/T4oAFc36VzI/AAAAAAAAAbI/iZ837lG_mB8/s1600/hawaiiday1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewZCG2WehU8/T4oAFc36VzI/AAAAAAAAAbI/iZ837lG_mB8/s400/hawaiiday1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731393569432426290" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div>Haleakala Sunrise, where we woke up way too early to be considered healthy and drove to the top of Mt. Haleakala to watch the Sunrise. It was beautiful, and freezing cold. And Dacia didn't pack warm clothes for her children. Smarty pants. After the sunrise the boys all mountain biked down and the girls went to a really pretty grove of trees to have a picnic and go on a nature trail, then we all went to a really pretty nature garden and Jen went to the Doctor for a severe infection! Not so fun for her. :(</div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zpHW2udhWs/T4oAGAwu8LI/AAAAAAAAAbg/a2baDwZAek8/s1600/hana.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zpHW2udhWs/T4oAGAwu8LI/AAAAAAAAAbg/a2baDwZAek8/s400/hana.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731393579065995442" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0Ugg--b7Q/T4oAFq7J0UI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/_aOcVCOQnZ4/s1600/condobeach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div></div><div>The Road to Hana, where we all packed into our vehicles and drove a road that goes around part of the island of Maui. It is speckled with waterfalls, covered in lush green rainforests and is just a beautiful drive. We were with Dacia and Joe and their family and had so much fun with them. Joe is very adventurous and did some crazy stunts! We had yummy snacks and cute girls to love on, the views were breathtaking and I wouldn't trade the company for anything.</div><div>Fish Tacos. Wow. I had never had fish tacos before, nor had I ever wanted to have fish tacos. But, those fish tacos we had were amazing. I don't remember the name of the Beach we were at right off, but they were "What About Bob" groan-worthy fish tacos.</div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tOerSlQiQ/T4oAGvTa2nI/AAAAAAAAAbs/EHT99GY4KqY/s1600/hawaii2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tOerSlQiQ/T4oAGvTa2nI/AAAAAAAAAbs/EHT99GY4KqY/s400/hawaii2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731393591559510642" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0zpHW2udhWs/T4oAGAwu8LI/AAAAAAAAAbg/a2baDwZAek8/s1600/hana.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div></div><div>Snorkeling with Topher. Topher took me out snorkeling at one of the many beaches we went to and held my hand while we swam around and pointed out fish to each other. He found a sea turtle for me and we followed it around and I about hyperventilated I was so excited. The fish were colorful and beautiful and the sea turtle was just awesome.</div><div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0Ugg--b7Q/T4oAFq7J0UI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/_aOcVCOQnZ4/s1600/condobeach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Jj0Ugg--b7Q/T4oAFq7J0UI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/_aOcVCOQnZ4/s400/condobeach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731393573204119874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div>Kayaking and Paddle boarding with Topher and Joe. Topher and I managed to lose my glasses while kayaking. Topher managed to severely damage a paddle board. I managed to get UP on a paddle board and it was just fun to play on the beach at Dacia and Joe's condo.</div><div>Flying on a TINY little commuter plane from Maui to Hawaii. It literally sat only 9 people including the pilot and we were each weighed individually and assigned seats based on our weights and how the plane would be best balanced!! It was VERY nerve-wracking, but also a really neat experience. Since it was such a small plane, we flew really close to the ground and water, so we could actually see whales in the ocean from our plane and our pilot was pointing out sharks and everything!</div><div>Seeing whales from Dacia and Joe's condo. They had binoculars and you could spot so many whales that were breaching and that was really neat.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeCd-vNxvFs/T4oCJRAe0HI/AAAAAAAAAcM/qxNYVhxxL6Y/s1600/waterfalls.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PeCd-vNxvFs/T4oCJRAe0HI/AAAAAAAAAcM/qxNYVhxxL6Y/s400/waterfalls.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731395833989877874" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>One of the beautiful waterfalls that we walked to had a plethora of rocks to hop on, over and around and skip to and from to find yet more waterfalls. Jaxon and I were the only unlucky ones to take a spill off the rocks! Then on the way back to the cars, finding the rainforest covered with hanging vines, that believe it or not were strong enough to hold a person. We all took turns swinging from the vines. My favorite was Grace swinging from the vine, hollering like George of the Jungle, her vine snapping, her falling on the ground face first and all of us gasping, then her lifting her head and saying "George don't feel so good!!" and breaking out into giggles. </div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RE2o8qZI9uA/T4oAHQ94wAI/AAAAAAAAAb4/Vy7MWp6sM0g/s1600/volcanocrater.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RE2o8qZI9uA/T4oAHQ94wAI/AAAAAAAAAb4/Vy7MWp6sM0g/s400/volcanocrater.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731393600596000770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s-tOerSlQiQ/T4oAGvTa2nI/AAAAAAAAAbs/EHT99GY4KqY/s1600/hawaii2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The red glow you could see driving up to the volcano that was just an eery red light you could see from miles away. Hiking into the volcanic crater and standing in all the "heat vents" where hot sulfur air was blowing out and into the open. Then just enjoying standing there while it started to rain and made the heat vents feel like humid saunas.</div><div>Jared's steak dinner. Mmmmmm. Soooooo good. I love good food, but not as much as I LOVE good steaks.</div><div>Jeep off-roading to the Green Sand Beach with a fevered Gracey in my arms telling Uncle Alan he was a crazy driver. </div><div>Taking pictures on the Black Sand Beach. </div><div>Having my family there to talk to, play games with, be silly with and enjoy. I loved getting to see my siblings each day and enjoy their company.</div><div>I loved seeing my nieces and nephews and watching them play. </div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHgVntdm13s/T4oCJIbzUvI/AAAAAAAAAcE/luHlr85ic0I/s1600/blacksand.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vHgVntdm13s/T4oCJIbzUvI/AAAAAAAAAcE/luHlr85ic0I/s400/blacksand.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731395831688549106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RE2o8qZI9uA/T4oAHQ94wAI/AAAAAAAAAb4/Vy7MWp6sM0g/s1600/volcanocrater.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>These are the things that stand out the most to me.</div><div>It was such a fun trip and I'm so grateful that we were able to go. Thanks Dad for all your extensive planning and for your financial aid in our being able to go. Thanks family for all going and making it such an amazing trip for me. :)</div><div>Grace's favorite parts that she talked about for WEEKS afterwards were swinging from the vines and off roading with Alan. Which is funny, because at the time she kept telling me how crazy Uncle Alan was. ;)</div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-74351631444743076402012-04-13T12:00:00.000-07:002012-04-14T14:02:10.941-07:00December<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VaHDoKnrJh4/T4WftAEuwvI/AAAAAAAAAa0/CGmmzZgQEo8/s1600/elf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">December....I was still sick, Topher was still taking care of EVERYTHING, and Grace was still being a pretty good girl for her sick-o mom.</div><div style="text-align: left;">My sisters and Mom and I did a Nikolaus swap (german tradition) and my sister Emily sent us this cute little "Elf on the Shelf" thing for Grace. I had never heard of this little "elf on the shelf" tradition that so many people do, but after reading the little book that came with the elf, getting a couple pointers from my sister and then doing extensive research online, Topher and I concluded that it was a tradition we could totally have a LOT of fun with and that Grace would really enjoy. Grace named her elf Oscar and he was a very fun Elf. He became her buddy from the beginning of December through Christmas Day. Some of his more memorable adventures were when he discovered Grace's barbies, took one unlucky barbie for a ride in her convertible, crashed it on Grace's little people car course and left barbie being doctored by Rex. He wrote Grace a mini note, assuring her that Barbie would be fine, and that sorry he had wrecked her Barbie car. He made her Elf pancakes one morning that were itty bitty. He tried to fly Topher's kites and got himself stuck up on the ceiling with all his Barbie fans watching. He hung her underwear up all over the Christmas Tree and hid all the stockings. He made Elf donuts for him and her Barbies to eat. He also hid away in her suitcase when we went out of town and helped with the Christmas eve festivities at her Grandparent's house. He was a fun little elf to have around and we're excited to see him again next December.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VaHDoKnrJh4/T4WftAEuwvI/AAAAAAAAAa0/CGmmzZgQEo8/s1600/elf.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VaHDoKnrJh4/T4WftAEuwvI/AAAAAAAAAa0/CGmmzZgQEo8/s400/elf.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730161696361595634" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Even with fun Nikolaus stuff and Elf magic, Topher and I both got really homesick this month. We calculated several options to get us home for Christmas, but we just couldn't it afford it no matter what option we looked at.</div><div>Then one night we were talking on Skype with his family and his Dad asked us if we were coming home for the holidays, we told him no, we weren't, we were just going to spend the holidays at home and try to enjoy our first Christmas in our pretty new house. Well, his Dad saw right through us and asked if we wanted to come home for Christmas. Well, of course we do we said, we just couldn't afford it, maybe next year. Well, being his assertive, and overly generous self, he straight up said "No. You're coming home for Christmas. Alysia, find some flights, book it all, and here is my credit card info." My and Topher's jaws both dropped and then we laughed thinking he must be teasing. "No", he said, "we want you for Christmas. Get those flights, I don't care how much they are, come home and see us for Christmas." </div><div>Have I said lately how generous Topher's parents are? It's really ridiculous how kind they are to us. I'm so grateful for them.</div><div>So. We booked our flights and were set to be in Utah over Christmas and New Years. It was very exciting!! But the funnest part was that I decided to keep it a secret from my family. With the exception of my Mom and Emily because I needed some people on the inside keeping me updated on plans and where people would be and what not.</div><div>Topher's work had "Christmas stand down" for two weeks and so we were gone perfectly over those two weeks so he didn't miss teaching any classes or any other duties, so that was a huge blessing. And I was feeling a little bit better thanks to some heavy nausea medication my OBGYN prescribed for me. They didn't like that I was losing so much weight and couldn't keep anything down, so I got drugs! They helped a lot with the throwing up, but not with the just crummy feeling and exhaustion. But hey, I was thrilled to be a bit more functional.</div><div>We forgot our camera when we went to Utah, which is TOTALLY pathetic, I know, but we did. So the few pictures I have are when we remembered to use the camera Dacia lent us for the trip. </div><div>We got home to Utah on the 21st with 7 suitcases and arrived at Curtis and Venice's where we had been shipping all of our Christmas gifts for Grace and family, and found that we'd filled almost their whole bedroom with packages from Amazon. Ha!! Good times.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4f546tIEr38/T4WfssxLA7I/AAAAAAAAAao/EAL_YiSRg-o/s1600/xmaszoo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4f546tIEr38/T4WfssxLA7I/AAAAAAAAAao/EAL_YiSRg-o/s400/xmaszoo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730161691179287474" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Some of the fun things we did while we were there were meet Topher's little brother's fiancee, go to the Zoo with Topher's family, have a Christmas potluck with my siblings, a bridal shower for our soon to be Sister-in-law, a big Christmas party with Topher's extended family, an awesome Christmas Eve and Christmas morning with Topher's family, New Year's Eve at my sister's with Ovaltine Shakes, and lots and lots of family time!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-17lFBGZYTBU/T4WfsQElCSI/AAAAAAAAAag/d2JBLU8P1cs/s400/xmasmorn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730161683476056354" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>It was so fun to be with Topher's family and see everyone. My favorite part of the whole 2 weeks though was surprising my family. I think I actually brought everyone, including myself to tears!! I felt so loved and like people actually missed me and wanted me there, and I of course had missed everyone so much I cried about it all the time. So seeing everyone in my family that first time and them being so excited to see us was just really really special to me.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQa9PoM1Tls/T4WfsKbwntI/AAAAAAAAAaY/5tK1U2HKVLo/s1600/cousins.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQa9PoM1Tls/T4WfsKbwntI/AAAAAAAAAaY/5tK1U2HKVLo/s400/cousins.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730161681962671826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>We were all over with different family festivities the whole two weeks and just drove back and forth nearly every couple days between the Provo area and Kaysville, but it was so so wonderful to be with our families for Christmas and we will be forever grateful to Topher's family for making that possible. Thank you, thank you again!</div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-68172894077859734412012-04-12T12:00:00.000-07:002012-04-12T12:00:05.817-07:00November<div style="text-align: left;">Upfront, I'm going to tell you that this blog is long. And very "rambly". AND...there are not enough pictures documenting all the events. :( So, read on having been forewarned so you can't complain to me how long it is or how there's not enough pictures! You were warned! :)</div><div>It was in October that I discovered I was expecting, and by November that I felt ridiculously, hopelessly ILL. I was once again very sick with this pregnancy like I was with Grace, but the sickness for this pregnancy started about 3 weeks earlier, and I can say in hindsight now, the sickness lasted about 6 weeks LONGER as well. Lucky me. :) <div>So from November through about January I was completely dysfunctional. I could not do ANYTHING. I literally brought Grace to pre-school in my pajamas each day, went home, and passed out. I did not enter a grocery store even one time for over 2 months. Topher did all my grocery shopping, cooking, laundry, cleaning, dishes, and taking care of both myself and Grace. He was amazing. He really is like a super hero. I couldn't do anything but throw up, lie around feeling like I was going to throw up, and sleep. Then in swooshed my amazing husband and saved our house from complete disarray and Grace from insanity caused by boredom and my lack of attention. I am so so grateful for him.</div><div>Also, in hindsight I think that I was really blessed with Grace too. She let me sleep, A LOT. And although at the time I probably thought she was a little pest and still getting into too many things, it definitely could have been much much worse. She really was a trooper about being set up with a movie for basically the entire day, and living off of Chef Boyardee, Mac'n Cheese, Top Ramen and snacks for two months. Poor girl. :( But she was a sweet heart about it. She would bring me water, and play with my hair and pat my head, and very rarely did she tell me to get up and play with her. She really just told me how sorry she was that I was sick for the majority of the time. I should thank her for that and give her some hugs and kisses.</div><div>So, with Topher being my first life saver, and Grace being less of a nuisance, those first few months were much better than they could have been. But, what really saved me was my Mom. She came in right before Thanksgiving and she took care of me like only a Mommy can. I seriously adore that woman more than anyone else I know. She cleaned my house from TOP TO BOTTOM, and I mean that in the literal sense. Not ONE room was left untouched. She cleaned EVERYTHING. It was because of her that Topher was able to maintain a gorgeous house the rest of the time I was sick. Thanks to my mom, Topher didn't have any huge cleaning obstacles to tackle, which for us is REALLY saying something. </div><div>Not only did she take care of me and baby and coddle me, but she took care of Grace and actually fed my husband some real food. I'm not gonna lie, Topher lost about as much weight as I did those first few months because the poor boy was just not eating. :( So my mom reminded him what good food tastes like and loved on all of us. She is so wonderful. </div><div>If that wasn't enough, she also decorated my house for the holidays for me. She took down all of my Fall decor, and then put up my Christmas tree and all my Christmas decorations. She was so so so wonderful! And I was so grateful to have her.</div><div>I also have to mention so I don't forget, how sweet my siblings were as well. They called to check in on me on a daily basis, and both my sisters sent me care packages. They were so thoughtful and really tried to lighten my spirits as much as they could from across the country. </div><div>Sorry, that was a LOT of rambling. But, I want to remember how wonderful my little family was while I was sick. :)</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5N9rpS8rBg/T4WWZr_3MzI/AAAAAAAAAZc/ITkyEm8mX0Q/s1600/cruiseformal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a></div><div>So my Mom and Sam were here for about 5 or so days before Thanksgiving, and then started the real trial - a week long cruise with Topher's family over Thanksgiving. I KNOW! It's a cruise! It should be wonderful and relaxing and so much fun!! But, as much as I wanted to have a blast, I was so so sick, that it was nearly impossible to do anything except lay in our gorgeous cabin and whine. :( So so sad. Topher's family didn't know that I was pregnant at the beginning, so the first night we were all together Topher let his parents in on the news so they wouldn't think I was the biggest lame-o in the whole world! They were so excited and so so sweet to me, I just love his parents. Originally I had not wanted to tell his siblings yet, just because I was so nervous about losing another pregnancy and I didn't want to bust everyone's bubbles again. But, about halfway through the cruise we let everyone in on the secret. They were all really excited and much more understanding about my super lame-ness after that. :)</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQGKI1f8hy8/T4WWaIexzRI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Mu56TnnUMek/s1600/cruise.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DQGKI1f8hy8/T4WWaIexzRI/AAAAAAAAAZk/Mu56TnnUMek/s400/cruise.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730151476596165906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>The cruise stopped at Jamaica, Grand Cayman and I think Puerta Maya was what the last place was called? I'm not positive. It was beautiful and Topher and I were royally spoiled by his much too generous parents, but I was definitely sick, sick and more sick for just about every moment on that boat. It is the first vacation of my life where I actually lost weight!</div><div>But, sickness aside, it was still beautiful, and there were moments, some long, some short, that I really felt ok and was able to enjoy myself.</div><div>Topher's siblings were really sweet to me, playing with Grace, coming in our cabin and watching movies with me and my sick butt and just being really sweet to me. I got to spend more time with his siblings and talk with them more than before and it was fun to be with them. Thanks guys for being so nice to me and taking care of Grace and making sure Topher had fun!</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxb-wF4OB7Q/T4WWakl3qfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/oDPfZU17RGA/s1600/grandcayman.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bxb-wF4OB7Q/T4WWakl3qfI/AAAAAAAAAZw/oDPfZU17RGA/s400/grandcayman.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730151484142103026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>Some of the highlights for me were going to a Turtle Farm in Grand Cayman. Curtis took us to this little Turtle farm where there are tons and tons and TONS of sea turtles, in varying stages of life and size. Not only do you get to see them all, which would be cool in and of itself, but you got to HOLD them! And, to make it EVEN better, there were itty bitty baby sea turtles that fit in the palm of your hand and you could hold them!! Oh, it was so fun and they were so cute! Grace had one in each hand and would kiss them each in turn, then put them down and pick up new ones and coo at each of them. Yeah, I know, not very sanitary, but she was in Heaven and I couldn't blame her.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3KRXTX9uN-A/T4WWcU8qEsI/AAAAAAAAAaM/oqaJJdlCKq0/s400/turtle%2Bfarm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730151514302452418" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>I also really really enjoyed one of the beaches we went to that I believe was also in Grand Cayman. The water was just crystal turquoise and so beautiful and the sand was this soft white fluff and it was just gorgeous to look at. Sadly, I was also very emotional so my happy moments sometimes smacked right into a crying fit, but, oh well! What can ya do?! Poor Topher had to put up with me and try to determine what my mood was before he ever approached me. :)</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zH-U0zev2-Y/T4WWbLTkIdI/AAAAAAAAAaE/4O5O4BcpgEc/s1600/puertamaya.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zH-U0zev2-Y/T4WWbLTkIdI/AAAAAAAAAaE/4O5O4BcpgEc/s400/puertamaya.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730151494534308306" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>I couldn't do the excursion in Jamaica because of my pregnancy, so Curtis and Venice again spoiled me and made me go to the Spa. They refused to rub anything on my entire body except my face though, so instead of a massage I got an hour long facial. It. Was. AMAZING. Who woulda thought having your face rubbed for an hour could be so heavenly?? I had no idea.</div><div>We actually had a balcony cabin, (drool!) and so we slept with our balcony door open so we could hear the ocean every night and as much as the rocking made me sick, the fresh air and soothing sound was really nice. </div><div>The food was an interesting thing. I never knew what was going to make me sick so I would order almost everything on the menu and then try a bite of this and a bite of that and see what it did to my stomach. One night Anni and I got adventurous and had lobster. She looks a little nervous, I know, but Im not sure if she was nervous because of me or the lobster...hmmm.</div><div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5N9rpS8rBg/T4WWZr_3MzI/AAAAAAAAAZc/ITkyEm8mX0Q/s1600/cruiseformal.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5N9rpS8rBg/T4WWZr_3MzI/AAAAAAAAAZc/ITkyEm8mX0Q/s400/cruiseformal.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730151468950303538" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div></div><div>I also really enjoyed New Orleans on the end side of our trip. Curtis took us on a walking tour of the area during the day and I really enjoyed seeing the different sights. I'm not gonna lie though, I might have enjoyed the amazing beignets and hot chocolate more than anything else in New Orleans. But only because they were seriously just THAT GOOD! Love them beignets! :) Sadly, I have no pictures of the fun in New Orleans or the yummy beignets.</div><div>In case I didn't say it enough at the time Curtis and Venice, I did love going on the cruise with you guys and I did have fun! And I'm sorry I was so sick and lame. :( Thanks for putting up with me, playing with Topher and Grace, spoiling us all rotten and loving on me despite my being a lame-o!!</div><div>When we came back from the cruise my mom came back for another 4 or 5 days and continued taking care of me and my little family.</div><div>It was a tumultuous month with all the being sick, but It was made so much better by loving family and friends that were kind and sweet to us. Thank you thank you for again showing me how blessed a family can be!</div></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-17363907831500133902012-04-10T06:48:00.000-07:002012-04-14T14:02:57.277-07:00October 2011<div style="text-align: left;">October for us was a fun month also. About 6 months previously I made us camping reservations on Edisto Beach State Park. I made the reservations 6 months in advanced so we could actually get a "beach site" camp spot. We were not literally on the sandy beach, but all there was dividing us from the sandy beach was a little fence made of beach reeds and sticks. We could see the ocean from our table and hear it while we were sleeping and see Grace playing on the beach from our site as well. </div><div style="text-align: left;">I have never seen so many seashells! Edisto is known for the seashells, but there really were just tons everywhere you looked! We woke up early and watched the sunrise, and then Grace and I went to town collecting seashells. Later on, Topher dug his requisite tunnel. It seems we can't go to the beach anymore without him building some sort of tunnel. This one was pretty cool I thought. I don't know if you can tell but he built it up on a ledge of sand, and down onto the next level of sand, so it was almost like a slide/tunnel. You can see his legs hanging out up top and Grace sitting at the bottom. </div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a lot of fun, and the only regret we had was that we didn't make the reservation for 2 nights instead of 1.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YLU1Z2dAeJU/T4WCb-cnLaI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/NGRGL50TkMg/s320/campedisto.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730129518029909410" /></div><div><div>The only other thing of note for the month was all the Halloween festivities. We went to Boone Hall Plantation to go to their pumpkin patch. Let's just say it was probably the most pathetic pumpkin patch we have ever seen. Evidently, pumpkins don't grow very well in South Carolina. The vast majority of the pumpkins were small, green and pretty soft. They told us that any pumpkins that looked good hadn't been grown there but imported from Virginia! Not only was their selection just sad, but it started to rain while we were there, and within 15 minutes of our arrival it was a complete downpour. We got soaked! But, at the least, it was very memorable and we all still had a ton of fun. Well, at least Grace and I did, after all, we were the ones with umbrellas. Topher was the one hauling Grace and the pumpkins around the field getting wet. :) </div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QY7BZD1bVPM/T4V_UuFd7MI/AAAAAAAAAZE/hPw6FU6vmsY/s320/halloween2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730126094843899074" /></div><div>Aside from pumpkins, Grace was still in gymnastics at the time as well as a pre-school swap in our ward and her regular pre-school, so she got a lot of opportunities to dress up once it was Halloween time. We also had a ward trunk or treat, a neighbor had a Halloween party and then she went trick or treating with Topher around the neighborhood! So much candy! Well, we had so many dress up outfits that she liked wearing and so she wore a different costume for every event. I thought that made for a lot of fun! The only costume I didn't get a picture of was her costume for Gymnastics. I had wanted to put her in one of her cute costumes, but she wanted to be Vector, from Despicable Me. So, she wore her 'warm up suit', and went in to gymnastics telling everyone she was "committing crimes! wis bof direcson and mag-itude!". Too funny.</div><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9MgK7TOyZl8/T4V9CJxp0bI/AAAAAAAAAY4/4tYAxFB_SSc/s320/halloween.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5730123576836215218" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-84005764904507834882012-02-06T17:22:00.000-08:002012-02-06T17:59:30.531-08:00September 2011<div style="text-align: left;">In October of 2009 Topher's awesome little brother embarked on a 2 yr. service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is a great little brother and he made an amazing missionary, teaching and serving those in and out of the Church and bringing the gospel to the people of Quartz Hill, California. We wrote him letters, he wrote us more, and we missed him like crazy. But the person that I'm pretty sure missed him the most, and hey, I think he missed her the most too, is my little Gracey. ;)</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-03DDVXZJrik/TzCBwpQSHVI/AAAAAAAABnU/2gBYJ0cjH8M/s320/IMG_2426.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706203400586272082" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">From the moment Grace first was held by Austin he has had a special bond with her and she just adores her Uncle Austin. He was always one of her preferred people to be with, play with and cuddle with and when he left I was so so sad that he wouldn't get to see her change throughout the next 2 yrs. But, we sent him pictures and updates and I think they both survived just fine. However, when it was time for him to come home, I made sure he knew that we expected him on our doorstep STAT! So, shortly after he returned home, he made his plans and was on his way!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGXw1zola4Y/TzCBwP-P9bI/AAAAAAAABnI/r8r6qcYPVo8/s1600/IMG_2490.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UGXw1zola4Y/TzCBwP-P9bI/AAAAAAAABnI/r8r6qcYPVo8/s320/IMG_2490.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706203393799746994" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v56ctVvGfJs/TzCAjsAZX6I/AAAAAAAABms/HNbdCg8So50/s320/IMG_2429.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706202078475018146" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">We had such a great time with him too!! We took him to the beach, out to eat some good southern BBQ, took him Downtown to see some sights, but mostly we just hung out at home. We all missed just chilling, sleeping in, eating good food, watching movies way too late into the night and playing games together. So, we did a lot of hanging out. His Dad would have gone crazy!!! :) But, we loved it.</span></span></div><div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d1XEdkSC2Js/TzB_e4PTnnI/AAAAAAAABmU/0I-bS-USeJ8/s320/IMG_2397.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706200896347807346" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yd1uirH5a4U/TzCAjNeVdEI/AAAAAAAABmg/0_KMnPzBOhI/s320/IMG_2421.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706202070279091266" /></div><div>His visit was a week, but still too short for our taste! He claimed he had to hurry home to his new flame. Psh! Ridiculous. Especially since now she's his wife! Obviously he could've stayed longer, she wasn't going anywhere. ;)</div><div>I'll forgive him for leaving so soon since he and his new wife Mrs. Elise L'Don Andersen are coming back to visit next month.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4MnykHCWsbc/TzCAlrRUV6I/AAAAAAAABm4/oLybYXYUTm0/s320/IMG_2478.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706202112637294498" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></span></div><div>In September I also got Grace into a community Gymnastics class and that was a lot of fun. It was nice for her to have an opportunity to get some wiggles out and I really enjoyed just watching her be involved in something and be so happy doing it. Later when my Mom came to visit in November she even brought some leotards she had made for Grace that were ADORABLE, and Grace's gym teacher tried to convince my Mom to sell them through the Gym! I can't find a picture of her in gymnastics...Hm. I'm a bad mom. My mom took some though, so If I get my hands on those I'll put those up here, because she really is a cutie in those leotards!</div><div>We still have our dog...September was not a good month for our dog...I think I wanted to kill her at least once a week. Hm. More on that later maybe. :)</div></div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WZd-z8nF5U/TzCCrfLdigI/AAAAAAAABng/ulXSPd2Ciaw/s1600/IMG_2688.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6WZd-z8nF5U/TzCCrfLdigI/AAAAAAAABng/ulXSPd2Ciaw/s320/IMG_2688.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706204411493976578" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px; " /></a></div><div>But, that is the synopsis of September. :)</div>The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-1772352770482971422012-02-06T17:13:00.001-08:002012-02-06T17:22:30.122-08:00Possibly a hopeless attempt?So, I have not blogged in a while. In a really <i>loooong</i> while. But, I'm going to <i>attempt</i> to play catch up. This is sort of how I "scrap book" or journal, and basically if I don't review the past few months, there won't be record of them anywhere. So, I'm going to try....<div>To put my own thoughts in order let me start by saying that September brought us a visit from Topher's little brother, Austin, who had just gotten back from serving an amazing 2 yr. mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. That was the highlight of our September for sure!</div><div>October was of course Halloween, and we had some fun times with the week or so leading up to it with lots of Halloween parties and opportunities for Grace to dress up.</div><div>November brought my Mom and Sam visiting from Idaho and I was SOOO excited and relieved to have them and their help, (more on that later).</div><div>We also were lucky to go on a cruise with Topher's family over Thanksgiving.</div><div>In December we took a long 2 wk. hiatus and went to Utah for the Holidays. We were there over Christmas as well as New Years.</div><div>If that is not enough, in January we headed to the islands of Hawaii with most of my family for a mini family reunion, and as soon as we returned we did a 360 and went straight back to Utah for Austin's wedding!!</div><div>So...ALLL of <i>THAT</i> is what I'm going to try and detail more in the next several posts. It may take me a while. :) But, my memory is so bad, I've gotta do it or I won't remember anything a year from now!! Hopefully...it doesn't take me a year to do this. Hm. Yikes!</div><div>Anyway, don't feel compelled to follow along with my ramblings, but if you do, go you! :) </div>The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-72788171813260310352011-08-29T12:08:00.001-07:002011-08-29T12:29:22.974-07:00Role Reversal<div style="text-align: left;">I remember growing up and always wanting two things: 1.) A baby brother, or 2.) a dog. My parents never gave me either and I think I've always had a desire for both of them throughout the rest of my growing up years. When my Dad and Karen had a little girl, I'm not gonna lie, I think I was more excited than anyone, (excepting of course Karen...and no I'm leaving out my Dad on purpose. I was that excited.) No, Rachel wasn't a little brother, but she was a little half-sister and I was ridiculously excited. So, that basically put to rest my desire for a baby sibling. Onto #2, I still had an unfulfilled want there. Every time I see puppies in a box for free or adoption day at a local petstore or see someone with a puppy I am just in love. So of course I have been hinting at the idea of getting a dog ever since Topher and I got out here to S.C. and had our own house with no "No Pet" regulations.</div><div>That all aside, won't you be surprised then when I tell you that yes, we got a dog, on Saturday, HOWEVER, it is definitely not my dog, nor was she my choice. No, no, no. TOPHER, who does not like dogs, did not really want a dog and certainly wouldn't ever hold a single cute puppy I thrust in his face...yes, TOPHER, chose our dog, and she is most definitely his dog.</div><div>Quite randomly too I might add. As of about a week ago, I had finally found the perfect litter of puppies. It was the breed I had been looking for, (Brittany Spaniel) and since it was mixed with a labrador retriever (also family friendly), and about $775 cheaper than purebred Britanny's, I had chosen my puppy. I was going to call this week and see about putting down a deposit, and I was going to drive out there in 6 weeks when the puppy was ready to leave its mommy and take it home with me. :) </div><div>But Topher, was still really hesitant. They were expensive, a big commitment and he just wasn't sure. </div><div>So, on Saturday afternoon we were running errands and there was a PetCo. I suggested we go in just to price out supplies and things we would need so he could put his mind at ease about the price of a dog.</div><div>We went in and it was Adoption day. I fell in love with the puppies, (not because I wanted to buy one, just because they're puppies, and I have to hold puppies when I see them) and Topher, fell in love with a sweet Gordon Setter/Retriever Mix. She was full grown (45 lbs., so small), 2 yrs. old, sweet and affectionate as can be, and Topher had to have her.</div><div>I mentioned about 3 times, that we could leave, that we could go price things out, but Topher was stuck on this dog. He took her out to walk her around twice and at one point just said he really had a connection with this dog, and later told me he couldn't imagine anyone else taking her home. </div><div>Well. I'd say that settles it. If Topher is ever that certain of something, I don't question it. I trust his gut more than anything.</div><div>So, about 3 hours later, we were out the door with a new dog and $165 worth of supplies for her.</div><div>Yeah, I think we were both a little in shock.</div><div>In fact, I'm still in shock. I have discovered that I am NOT dog person like I had anticipated I would be, and instead TOPHER is the dog person. He and Grace love her, and I'm....well...I'll get there. :) Like Topher told me last night, we can give her a good home, and I would rather she is here than on Death Row at a shelter. Did you know that dogs at a shelter can be there between 1-7 days and then they get put down?? So so sad. :(</div><div>She was on death row and this Kennel/foster care program rescued her from death row hoping she could get adopted. I'm glad she did.</div><div>We have named her Willow, because it's my favorite movie ever and let's face it "Sorsha" is a bit dramatic and Madmortigan didn't fit a girl dog. :)</div><div>Willow is already housetrained, she is obedient, loyal, sweet, gentle, quiet and just the best first dog a person could want.</div><div>Topher told me he thinks it's a blessing we got her, because if we hadn't, we would have gotten the puppy I had found, and it would have been SO MUCH WORK. Work that I wouldn't have been able to handle, and that Topher would have resented. Instead, Willow is easy, sweet, Topher enjoys taking care of her, and I'm realizing how wrong I was about a puppy. :)</div><div>Oh, and Grace loves her. I think it will be good practice for when we finally have a baby, not to mention a distraction for her. :)</div><div>So, without further ado, here is Willow. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrHBV7TkVqA/TlvnU9GYeDI/AAAAAAAAAYw/C7xvXla7mkE/s400/willow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646360905023780914" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-59322279124943459442011-08-21T07:45:00.000-07:002011-08-22T08:34:28.190-07:003 years with a Miracle<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIwEVKezZU8/TlJz4hEgZmI/AAAAAAAAAYo/fs8cLEhe1Ak/s1600/%253CBday6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: left;">Anyone that knows Grace, knows that she is energetic. They can see that she is happy, care-free, sometimes crazy, and frequently sassy. They'll find that she is almost always tough, rarely gentle, fairly loud, aggressively affectionate, quite witty, and that she is almost always trying to love something or someone. All of these traits are things you would imagine in a healthy, vibrant, full of life little girl. They make you think of resilience, and spunk and of a little kid whose spirit is unbreakable. Isn't ironic then, that all of these qualities are seen in a little girl, who by all outward appearances is strong, and tough, and yet at the heart, she is quite a contradiction to all of those qualities.</div><div>I was putting little Grace to bed the other night and laying next to her. We had just sad prayers and she had thanked Heavenly Father for her heart. I sang her a lullaby, like I usually do, and it was the Primary tune that says "He gave me my life, my mind, my heart"...After I sang this to her, she fell asleep and I just laid next to her and watched her breathe. Once upon a time, saying something that cliche would be ridiculous to me, but, being around little kids now for a while, I find it a perfectly normal thing for a parent to do. In fact, it is so so comforting and relaxing to watch my little one sleep and watch the rise and fall of her chest. I rarely am at as much peace anywhere else, as I am laying next to Grace just watching her sleep. </div><div>Well, I was lying there and I put my hand over heart, just to feel the steady, rapid little "thump thump" and I immediately started to cry! I don't know that I had ever really comprehended how fragile my spunky little girl is. But it truly hit me that she is a small, fragile little thing on the inside. That her heart is easily weakened, and that it is her spirit that is so resilient. What a miraculous contradiction. She is so strong and vibrant, and yet there is every reason in the world for her not to be so. </div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIwEVKezZU8/TlJz4hEgZmI/AAAAAAAAAYo/fs8cLEhe1Ak/s1600/%253CBday6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIwEVKezZU8/TlJz4hEgZmI/AAAAAAAAAYo/fs8cLEhe1Ak/s400/%253CBday6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643700697835791970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div>I'm so grateful for her, and the blessing she is in my life. I'm so grateful that she was given the gift of a new heart from some kind, and generous family. I'm so grateful that her spirit is such that she could take such a small, tiny little organ and give it new life. I'm so grateful that she is so strong, and that even though she <i>could</i> be weak, and sickly, she isn't! She has beaten all the odds and has always overrun any and all expectations with her health.</div><div>But, being reminded of the fragile nature of her heart and health is good for me, it is a good reminder to me to cherish her. I think I forget how special she is sometimes. Which, may sound bad to people that would never dream of being angry with her, ;)...but as her mommy, I do frequently forget what a miracle she is. It's hard to remember when she is yelling, or screaming at me, or kicking or throwing things, or throwing a tantrum on the floor, giving me the silent treatment, or when she has once again gotten into my craft room :). But, all of those things aside, the rotten truth of the matter is that at some point in her life, she will need another heart. I don't know when. But, I know it is lurking in our future somewhere. I try not to think about it, because I can't bear the thought of having to go through it again and having her aware of it all. I think it will be much harder when she is older and she will be scared. I would rather have her be unaware and to just have me hold her through it all. When she is older, it won't just be her family's trial anymore, it will be her's, and I can hardly bare that thought. </div><div>But, when I look at her and see her fiery spirit, I know that that is why she has so <i>much</i> spirit. She could never handle the future that's ahead of her if she were fragile and weak. </div><div>So, I will try to appreciate her spunk more. I will try to cherish my time with her more and to cut her more slack. After all, she is a miracle, just like every baby out there, and she's not perfect. Nor is her mommy. So, we will just keep chugging along day after day, and hope that Grace can keep beating the odds.</div><div>Gracey I love you. I'm so grateful for you, and your strong, fighting spirit. I love you just the way you are. I love you even when you yell at me, and throw things at me, when you slam doors in my face and when you sneak into the cookies. I love you I love you I love you. Please stay strong. :)</div><div>I wanted to post this so we have a record of what we did on her 3 yr. Heart Birthday, but, after my emotional ramblings up above, this will all seem rather mundane...oh well.</div><div>For Grace's Heart Birthday we took her to the bookstore to pick out a new book, and let her choose the restaurant for dinner. We gave her numerous options, like Outback, Olive Garden, Applebees, and Wild Wings, and despite every option we gave at her, she was adamant she wanted Chick Fil A. (I even threw Hooters in the mix to see if that would catch her interest! But nope. Chick fil A it was) So we got her Chick Fil A, took her to the park to run around and play and had a really fun time. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iwjjn7Zzt_0/TlJz4A92mPI/AAAAAAAAAYY/p9jYUy85OLI/s400/%253CBday3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643700689217951986" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>That night after Grace went to sleep, Topher and I decorated the house with hearts and red and white balloons and streamers. When Grace woke up she was so excited! It was really cute. I made her pink heart pancakes for breakfast with pink whip cream even. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNDTql2ijIo/TlJz3_b42qI/AAAAAAAAAYQ/KkTbFwk_DDs/s400/%253CBday2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643700688807058082" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3Hgkz5BiwUU/TlJz3ut45CI/AAAAAAAAAYI/6A89UmrAMyQ/s400/%253CBday1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643700684319155234" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>At church she whispered to her nursery leader that it was her "heart's birthday" and then for dinner she really wanted to have our neighbors over. So we had a yummy dinner with our sweet neighbors and sang Happy Heart Birthday to her over a heart shaped Red Velvet cake. We had a really nice night and I was reminded how special Grace is and how blessed we are. I had to laugh out loud several times, because it just amazes me how much energy she has. I think I counted over 11 laps around the main floor and she was giggling the whole time. She ran into things and kept on going and kept on laughing, and it's that resilience that just astounds me. How many of us would run around in circles for 15 minutes, giggling all the way, run into a refrigerator, laugh hysterically and keep going? Well, Grace does. :) She just keeps going every day and I think she picks up speed as she goes! :)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QZJLu3aZ70I/TlJz4UN_3VI/AAAAAAAAAYg/wK8cwRG2Sjk/s400/%253CBday5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643700694385941842" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></span></div><div>We love you Grace and we are so grateful for you. Thank you Heavenly Father for answering all our prayers, some when we wanted, others when we needed them and didn't even know it. Thank you for knowing what we needed and when, and for knowing we needed Grace in our lives. I know now that she would be a force for good wherever she is, but I'm grateful we got to keep her here and have her mold us into better people for the next little while. Thank you for giving her a new heart and a new life. Happy Birthday Gracey's Heart.</div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-47315215773428445562011-08-15T05:23:00.000-07:002011-08-20T09:47:13.295-07:00As of late...<div style="text-align: left;">So we are doing pretty well here in Goose Creek. As of about 2 weeks ago Topher passed off all of the tests and requirements to start teaching. So his first full week of teaching was just this last week. He seemed to really enjoy it and I think he perhaps enjoyed the "discipline" side of things a lot more than anyone would have thought he would. ;) He I guess gave his class a quiz EVERY DAY! And when a student didn't turn in his homework for the 2nd time in a week Topher made him stay after school, ON A FRIDAY and do quizzes for an hour and a half!!! Haha!! Serious. Who woulda thought Topher would enjoy disciplining so much?! Must be because these guys <i>have</i> to listen to him and Gracey...well, we all know Gracey doesn't listen to much of anyone. So, I guess Toph gets it where he can! Just kidding. Maybe. :)</div>Anyway, he's teaching and he seems to enjoy it.
<br />We also sold our Honda Accord, don't ASK me why!! Toph's idea. So, we only have one vehicle, which I get to drive, and Topher rides his bike to work! FYI it's 10 miles. FYI there's no shoulder. FYI for the first 5 or so miles, it's not a paved road. It's a dirt, pot holed, non-lit, swampy road. Oi. Topher is crazy. Especially because he actually seems excited to head out on his bike every morning. Silly boy. Oh, and if he wasn't skinny enough to begin with, biking and PT with his division seems to be making him lose more weight! What in the?!! Not fair.
<br />Grace is...Grace. She is ridiculously energetic, very strong willed and stubborn, she loves to push ALL her limits and her mommy's, and she is hilarious. She is of course still talking off anyone's ear that will listen to her. I'm convinced that she really does talk about nothing sometimes, just to hear herself talk. She has a wild imagination. We cleaned her play room spic and span, no boxes in there anymore! And her playroom looks awesome now. She played in there and Topher and I just sat and chuckled at the stories she was making up and how she talks to her babydolls in such a condescending "I'm your mommy and youre gonna LISTEN to me!" sort of way. She sighs and groans and gets frustrated with her dolls for not going potty before they left and threatens "sassy sauce" to them if they talk back to her. Its a hoot. Until of course I realize that her sassy ridiculous attitude is indicative of how she perceives ME! haha. Oh well.
<br />I'm enjoying being out here as well. My close friend Martha from Bountiful came out to visit a couple weeks ago and we LOVED having her. Such a ridiculously awesome houseguest! She was so patient with us and our hectic little family. She was so so wonderful! I was not ready for her to leave and Grace cried for 2 days afterwards because she missed her so much.<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q7f29LarLYQ/Tk_kW79hKxI/AAAAAAAAAYA/WZuqpSP7kY0/s400/marthatrip.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642979940822493970" style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">We try to get out and explore and are seeing lots of new things frequently. It has been a bit hot lately. About 100 to occasionally 105 with humidity between 80-90%. Yeah, it's a bit warm. But we've been really grateful for the pool, the beach and air conditioned buildings. :)</div>The frogs are everywhere!! We had 10 of them on a 4ft. wide space of our house the other night. They're everywhere! But they're also really cute. If they were big ugly toads I would not be so thrilled. But when they're tiny bright green tree frogs, I don't mind at all.
<br />When we first moved Grace didn't really realize that we were away from all of our family. She would mention them occasionally, but not much. (Sorry family! no offense! she does love you!) But I was surprised that she didn't seem to miss them. However, it turned out to be not that she doesn't miss them, but that she really just didn't comprehend everything. As of last week, she has cried to me several times, especially at night, that we don't live in Bountiful anymore. She says that she misses her cousins, and aunts and uncles, and Gamma and Gampas, and that we can't see them because we moved to "Sow Cawoyina". It makes her really sad and she is constantly asking me when we are going to back to Bountiful or when people are going to come stay with us. So, to all of you family out there I say, COME VISIT US! If not for me, than for a spunky, energetic, affectionate little Gracey that misses you all terribly. :)
<br />Well, we love you all, and miss you TONS. You can always call us, or Skype with us, we LOVE it, (Grace especially does).
<br /></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-24891151112219909752011-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:002011-08-20T09:26:30.027-07:00111th Submariner Birthday Ball....and more<div style="text-align: left;">So...I could have sworn I had already posted this blog...but it was showing up as only a 'draft', so I am re-posting it. :)</div><div style="text-align: left;">I remember when I was little watching my mom and dad go to military balls. I would watch my mom get ready and I specifically remember thinking that she looked as close to a princess as we could get in our day. Im sure she wore several different dresses over the years but the only one i remember her wearing was a pink one with gems all over the bodice and a long train and a jacket. Maybe this isn't even what it really looked like, but thats how i remember it. Well, I won't hide the fact that when Topher got into the Navy, the thought of maybe going to a Ball in the future did indeed cross my mind. I thought it would be pretty amazing if I could go to the same extravagant type of affair my parents had gone to years ago. So, when a friend of mine here mentioned that yes, there are indeed Navy Balls, I came home and demanded of Topher that he find out when the next one is. He looked sheepish. It was the following weekend. My eyes probably bulged right out of my head when he said this. What?! This weekend?! You're taking me, right?!!! I mean....um, could we maybe, please, please go?</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w3C67-JQbEw/Tk_fEyJpIhI/AAAAAAAAAX4/6XtmwXnw5oI/s400/birthdayball.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642974131393208850" />So Topher bought tickets to the Ball for me instead of a lawn mower. HaHa! Whoops. I bought a pretty, modest and inexpensive dress at Ross, we got a babysitter and went to the Ball!
<br />It was definitely fancy, not complete with the chandeliers I had always assumed were there, but still very nice. There were important military personnel there that Topher told me all by name, and there were even retired WWII veterans present. The food was really nice and the speeches were really interesting. Everything was perfect except the music. Can I just say I found it totally inappropriate that at a Formal Navy Ball, they were playing Hip Hop music???!!! Because I do. Find it totally inappropriate. Not that I don't like to dance to silly hip hop songs, because I do. But thats at my house, when I'm by myself and in pajamas. Not when Im in a formal gown at a Ball with retired military. All i could keep thinking was that if my parents had gone to a ball like this they would have been sorely disappointed because they loved to dance and were dang good at it too.
<br />So after 15+ minters of ridiculous music that only the extremely drunk couple was dancing to, I approached the DJ to ask that he play something classy that everyone would want to dance to. He told me that the current song was the last song and he wasnt taking any requests. Yeah, I don't think so!!!! I begged, and demanded that he play something appropriate for the occasion, and he complied. :) heheh. He played one slow song for me and almost EVERYONE danced. Obviously had he taken that kind of advice for the whole dance portion of the night a lot of people would have danced. However, then the drunk couple wouldn't have as easily been captured on video by over five people for YouTube purposes later.
<br />Anyway, it was a fun night. I loved dressing up and seeing Topher in his dress whites. Have I mentioned before how much I love that boy in uniform??? Because i do.
<br />Im putting in these last two collages just because they are so cute. This little dress Grace is wearing was actually mine when i was little. Its a German dundel(spelling?? Sorry mom!). Anyway, Grace wore it the other day and i was in love with how adorable she was in the dress! So cute!<div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1KA_9COKVyg/Tk_fEtMfwbI/AAAAAAAAAXw/SN7XFHVjiXo/s400/germandress.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642974130062999986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;">The next collage i have fondly named Gracey's Sassy Series. She is such a Spit fire, and a drama queen to boot.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5eI9zXdCt7c/Tk_fESroMLI/AAAAAAAAAXo/x2wyg2jb3pE/s400/sassygrace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642974122945818802" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; ">
<br /></span></div></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-50667461568021331352011-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:002011-06-11T15:43:01.039-07:00Lots of Pictures and A Little Bit of Lately...<div style="text-align: center;">The past few weeks have been filled with a little bit of everything. We have been getting a feel for the hot that is coming in the next several months. About 2 weeks ago we started hitting 95 or higher every day. In the evenings it doesn't get cooler than about 75...and from what we've heard, in the heat of Summer it won't cool down much more than about 85 in the evenings. Yikes!We have discovered lots of frogs. We had one in our mailbox of all places the other day. Since then they are basically a daily sighting. In our driveway, on our patio, on the side of our house. They are always little and are either bright green or a dirty brown/green color. I like the bright green ones best.We also have massive bees here and huge moths. This moth was literally as big as my face! We of course have alligators as well, but those aren't as frequent a sighting. I spotted one at the pond across the street from our backyard last week that was about 4 ft. But as soon as it spotted me and my daughter running full speed in it's direction it dove back in the water. We also saw one that was at least a 7 or 8 footer in the pond down at Crowfield Plantation, and that was a little intimidating!! It was so big and just swimming around! Sadly, I haven't gotten pictures of the gators yet. But hey, I still have a few years to get em'. :)</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0z5O3s54Ow4/TfGIAXkAWGI/AAAAAAAABi0/FwgHxkphbK4/s1600/frog.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0z5O3s54Ow4/TfGIAXkAWGI/AAAAAAAABi0/FwgHxkphbK4/s400/frog.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616419750214129762" /></a>We have found a couple good camping locations. We went camping on the Edisto River, the longest "black water river" in N. America. It really is black too! Something about the plants that grow along side the river puts a mineral or something in the water that turns it this dark black color! You really can't see anything under the surface at all, its really neat. We kayaked there and had a really nice and cool evening thanks to the rain earlier in the day. We couldn't find Grace's life vest anywhere so she wore one of ours. It was a bit big maybe? Oh, and she</div><div>couldn't bend to sit down. But hey, it worked!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NaAzxl28qrQ/TfGGxw1Jb9I/AAAAAAAABis/OHFl95aLc-Q/s1600/givahns%2Bferry.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NaAzxl28qrQ/TfGGxw1Jb9I/AAAAAAAABis/OHFl95aLc-Q/s400/givahns%2Bferry.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418399787249618" /></a>We have explored Downtown Charleston enough now that we can actually find free parking along the battery and we don't get lost anymore! We know exactly where we want to go and what we want to see and can get there in no time flat! The Hydrangeas and Crab Myrtle trees</div><div>have been in bloom lately and they are so beautiful.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUawuN0d55o/TfGGnxYibdI/AAAAAAAABik/JxTyvy6zI_k/s1600/dwtncharleston.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iUawuN0d55o/TfGGnxYibdI/AAAAAAAABik/JxTyvy6zI_k/s400/dwtncharleston.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418228136996306" /></a>We have taken a little excursion to see Charlestown Landing, followed by Waterfront Park right on the Harbor in Downtown. Grace loves the Pineapple Fountain that you can walk around and splash in.<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JONqrrS9Dhk/TfGGnY6IkcI/AAAAAAAABic/sgNZYqNadRs/s1600/charlestown%2Blanding.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JONqrrS9Dhk/TfGGnY6IkcI/AAAAAAAABic/sgNZYqNadRs/s400/charlestown%2Blanding.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418221567021506" /></a>We were able to make it to our Ward's Ice Cream and Kite Social. Other than all the ice cream making big puddles around their cooler in the sand, it was a fun day. It was the day they were holding the Piccolo Spoletto (sp.?) contest which is a really neat Sand Building contest. The entries were really impressive!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PiEonVwlYZ8/TfGGmnxh0iI/AAAAAAAABiU/UE-H2op0CVc/s1600/beach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PiEonVwlYZ8/TfGGmnxh0iI/AAAAAAAABiU/UE-H2op0CVc/s400/beach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418208377590306" /></a>In response to the heat, Grace & I have tried to take advantage of opportunities to get out of the heat! We play at the local County park and Splash pad once a week, go swimming at our community pool <i>across the street (YAY!)</i> & try to find fun things to do inside. Finger painting</div><div>was our latest venture. She seemed to like it a LOT. Me, not so much...clean up was a bummer.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_i2hcF9CTw/TfGGmcjq-kI/AAAAAAAABiM/QM_8oBsAYE0/s1600/at%2Bhome.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_i2hcF9CTw/TfGGmcjq-kI/AAAAAAAABiM/QM_8oBsAYE0/s400/at%2Bhome.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418205366680130" /></a>When Topher's parents visited us, they helped us out tremendously in getting us an Aquarium membership. We have been able to go almost on a weekly basis for Grace to see fish, alligators, turtles, sting rays, sharks and otters. It has been a lot of fun and Grace is slowly getting more and more brave each time we visit. Last time she actually TOUCHED a snake! I mean, really, just touched it. Not pet it, just kind of poked it, then buried herself in my shoulder. Silly girl.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3mjJVCS5Mw/TfGGlxYdINI/AAAAAAAABiE/Vs-3lFTyGjc/s1600/aquarium.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u3mjJVCS5Mw/TfGGlxYdINI/AAAAAAAABiE/Vs-3lFTyGjc/s400/aquarium.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616418193776910546" /></a>We also had the opportunity to go the Temple with our Ward last weekend. It was so neat to have the Ward put together rides, babysitting, food, and everything else we could need. I guess this was the Ward's first time having a really organized Temple trip like this where there was babysitting provided right next door to the temple and having Vans transport people...but It was such a success I hope they do it again! The temple is beautiful of course, but much smaller than any of those I have visited in Utah. It was neat to see that no matter the size of the Temple or the amount of workers, the Temple functions in the same way, doing just as much good here as in any other place in the World.</div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTaTs-eXTGs/TfPueIoJbMI/AAAAAAAABkk/Rgf0S3iKzSk/s400/s.c.randoms.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617095361740500162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " />We've also gone blueberry picking, watered the lawn once, sometimes twice a day, (it is so hot!!) colored on sidewalks, and yes on Topher's face too (he shouldn't have fallen asleep!).<div><div>We are enjoying our time here, trying to stay busy and get organized. We miss our families, but are trying to get out there and make friends. Not sure if we're seeing progress there or not, but we'll keep at it!</div><div>To say that we are anxious for our trip to Utah in less than 2 weeks would be an understatement, but we are definitely counting down the days to visit family!! I know I'll miss Topher like crazy and it will be weird to experience the "home sick" feeling for S. Carolina, but I know that I will experience it all the same, because this is where my beautiful house is and my wonderful husband. Slowly, I am realizing that wherever my husband is, that's where my home is. It's just a little empty feeling without the rest of my family. But that's ok! We are happy and doing well. Thanks for checking in!</div></div>The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-37994293322529031812011-05-04T07:35:00.000-07:002011-05-04T08:46:44.368-07:00Visit with the Johnson Family<div>So as I mentioned before, our next set of visitors was my Dad, Karen and their little girl Rachel. The first couple of days they visited we did things like take them around downtown Charleston to see the historic district, walk along Market Street, that sort of thing. They enjoyed the atmosphere of downtown, and how can you not, really? Charleston is Great. :)</div><div>Although they SAY their primary goal of coming to S.C. was to visit us...I'm not so sure. ;) I think they're PRIMARY goal may have been going to Spain. Since my dad is retired Military, Lieutenant Colonel by the way, not to brag, but my Dad is AWESOME....they can get Military hops to a lot of different tourist destinations for the price of a inflight meal and movie. The flights are sort of random, sometimes you can catch one sometimes you can't, sometimes you wait forever, sometimes you get right on. Sometimes you get right on, and then they kick you off! Ha! (Yes, that happened to them this time around). Anyway, they really wanted to try and get to Spain while they were visiting. So, they tried for a day, caught a flight, but then before take off they had to get off the plane because of a malfunction. But they did manage to catch one a couple days later. They spent a week in Spain, and came back and had about 2 days with us. So, the 2 days after their trip we went to Magnolia Gardens. These are historical gardens back from Civil War Era and are beautiful. They aren't your typical castle manicured lawns and gardens, but more a etherial Lord of the Rings-esque design. Lots of ponds, with beautiful bridges, a bamboo garden, paths that follow the Ashley River, beautiful and very old Oak Trees, and lots of blooming Azalea bushes.</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mBLjGrnekzM/TcFkpxCZ2fI/AAAAAAAAAXY/l0ue7fYkHEY/s1600/magnolia3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mBLjGrnekzM/TcFkpxCZ2fI/AAAAAAAAAXY/l0ue7fYkHEY/s400/magnolia3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602870080126441970" /></a>We took a tram ride that took us through and around the perimeter of the gardens. We even spotted some alligators and lots of little turltes! Grace and Rachel were pretty entertained, but my dad caught a few zzzzs.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAS7m4OJwKo/TcFkpmf4JYI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/PbTCGIn_r3E/s1600/magnolia2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAS7m4OJwKo/TcFkpmf4JYI/AAAAAAAAAXQ/PbTCGIn_r3E/s400/magnolia2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602870077297272194" /></a>After the Tram ride Topher joined us from work and we went in their little petting zoo where there were billy goats, peacocks, bunnies, snakes, and a really really cute cat of some sort. Like a jaguar only much much smaller and supposedly native to South Carolina the way it was hundreds of years ago.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0cRtBAES1E/TcFkpk0g5JI/AAAAAAAAAXI/UDwJejcMmY0/s1600/magnolia1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v0cRtBAES1E/TcFkpk0g5JI/AAAAAAAAAXI/UDwJejcMmY0/s400/magnolia1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602870076846957714" /></a>The gardens were so so beautiful to stroll through. It was relaxing, beautiful and just a lot of fun. <div>We had to leave the gardens in rather a hurry though because we were trying to catch a ferry to Fort Sumter. We BARELY made it on too! But that little excursion was really neat because their visit was in close proximity to the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War. Because of this the Fort was doing some really neat commemorative things. They had people dressed up as military personnel of that era and doing demonstrations of musket and cannon firings. It was really neat. :)<br /><div>While they were here we also had to take them to Hominy Grill. We've decided its a must with everyone that visits us. They loved it just as much as us! So, I'm telling you! Even if Southern food doesn't sound like its up your alley...there IS something for YOU. Truly. There is. It is so good. :)</div><div>On our last or 2nd to last day, I don't remember, bad memory...Dad was a sweetheart and took the little girls to the Wannamaker County Park. There is a great big playground (several actually), a splash pad, a Lagoon and paved trails. The girls had a blast and Karen and I did too!! Dad was kind enough to take kid detail and Karen and I went shopping! yay!! Topher even let me transfer money over my budget to get some things for the house. I got the rug for our living room and our new bed set, and then just shopped because its so much more fun without kidlets!! It was super fun.</div><div>Anyway, our time with them was short, but we were so grateful to have them and had a lot of fun! Thanks so much for everything Dad and Karen! Bring my siblings with you next time! hehe</div><div>Thanks for checking in. </div><div>Love the Andersens<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-10891100334011655142011-04-28T07:10:00.000-07:002011-04-28T13:18:12.269-07:00Visit with AndersensA couple of weeks ago Topher's family came to visit us. We had a very busy, fun filled week! Curtis found a 10k that is a pretty big deal here in Charleston, it's called the Cooper River Bridge Run. It literally has 40,000 runners and walkers and is the single largest 1 day event in all of Charleston. It starts in Mt. Pleasant, runs across the 2 mile Ravenel Bridge and ends going through historic Downtown Charleston. He signed us all up for it too! Which is funny seeing as how really only Topher and Anni are runners. But, you give this family a challenge and it will meet it. So, Venice, Curtis and Meg all got to training, (me, not so much) and we all managed to run it start to finish, (again, me not so much. I did have a stroller...and am in no shape at all). It was so neat to run and to be in that super charged atmosphere. Everyone was so friendly and you could just tell that everyone was running with their own personal motivations, and it just made it feel like you were doing something really worthwhile. The weather was great, the views were beautiful and the energy was just really neat.<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uSVpppfyjW8/Tbl1oG9MvFI/AAAAAAAABhw/nxH9DE75MOI/s400/andersenrace.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600636943534439506" />To reward everyone for their efforts Curtis and Venice got us all a beachfront hotel room on Isle of Palms. The plan was to just play at the beach for 3 days...but after everyone got sunburned on Day 1, people weren't quite as eager Day 2 or 3. Not to mention Curtis was bored by the late afternoon Day 1. Ha!! I guess it also posed a problem that on the morning of Day 2 we woke up to an absolute down pour. Not really the best beach weather. But, for the first day at the beach we really had a blast. Topher and his sisters skim boarded and boogie boarded. We built a sand castle...sorta. Made Gracey and Meg Mermaid tails. We had a lot of fun.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC8sVSexwEM/Tbl1oRoklTI/AAAAAAAABh4/6Mm1GioIA98/s1600/andersenbeach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BC8sVSexwEM/Tbl1oRoklTI/AAAAAAAABh4/6Mm1GioIA98/s400/andersenbeach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600636946400711986" /></a>So when there was the rotten weather we instead went to the Aquarium and played downtown. We also went to the U.S.S. Yorktown over on Mt. Pleasant and while they were here we enjoyed some awesome food! We went to a place called Hominy Grill where their slogan is "Grits are Good for ya!". The atmosphere, food and service were all awesome! I had fried green tomatoes, shrimp bignets, fried okra, deep fried cheese grits and shrimp bog!! What a southern feast eh?! So yummy though. We also went to, what in my mind, was the equivalent of a Southern Baptist Church Picnic type restaurant. The decor was ceramic pigs and the tables were of the picnic variety. We had styrofoam plates and there was an entire lunch cart just for coleslaw and pickles. :) Again, so so fun. <div>All together the trip was a huge success, and we all had a lot of fun. Come again soon Andersen family!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udyuNFUHVpk/Tbl1oNH9ajI/AAAAAAAABho/Q0PCQL3dtvo/s1600/andersenyorktown.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-udyuNFUHVpk/Tbl1oNH9ajI/AAAAAAAABho/Q0PCQL3dtvo/s400/andersenyorktown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600636945190185522" /></a></div>After Topher's family left we had a grand total of 4 days before our next set of visitors! My Dad and his wife and daughter came to visit us next. I will post about that next. But in the meantime, thanks for checking in on us!</div>The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-44878211407845442772011-04-12T07:46:00.000-07:002011-04-12T08:19:25.208-07:00Bugs are RidiculousI have to write this down before I forget because it was seriously one of the funniest conversations I have EVER had with Grace. And that, if you know Grace, is truly saying something.<br />Gracey and I were eating breakfast this morning on our screened patio. Grace was looking at my legs and found a bug bite. She asked me, "Mommy, is that a bug bite?"<br />"Yes", I said.<br />"Ugh! Mommy! Those bugs bite me all over. When I was at the park they was like biting me all over! And, and, and they didn't even say sorry! And, Daddy says its because they don't have mouths. But, they do. They have mouths. Mommy...they just, those bugs are just, uhhh, they are just RIDICULOUS! Uhh! Mommy, they just, seriously, I don't like bugs! I HATE bugs!"<br />I should mention that that ENTIRE paragraph was spoken with me only occasionally nodding and "mmm" ing and looking at her sympathetically. <br />At this point I just told her I was sorry. But, she was not done. <br />"Well, why there all those bugs anyway? (She has her hand out by the way, with the palm up, and one hand on her hip too) There were no bugs in South CaroLINA. Why there bugs here? What they DOING here? Bugs are just creepy...Seriously. (she tilts her head down and raises her eyebrows and looks at me very seriously) I hate bugs."<br />Now maybe none of that sounds as funny as it really was. But if you had heard the tone of her voice, seen her facial expressions as she raises and lowers her eyebrows, or when she juts her hip out with a hand on it and has the other hand out in the air with her palm up, like she just can't believe what a crazy world she lives in. She was so ridiculously cute and I was repressing laughter so that she would just keep talking because it was so so funny and was just making my day.<br />Anyway. That's all for now. :)The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-15139194323144973022011-03-28T14:55:00.000-07:002011-03-28T18:48:09.495-07:00Day #7- Arrival in Goose, Creek SC<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iePE5_tTFNU/TZE482JzvyI/AAAAAAAAAVo/6gYcfZ0t8ec/s1600/DSC_0246.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_5z4K3AjBU/TZENDgygOWI/AAAAAAAAATY/MwazTDnFJr0/s1600/DSC_0438.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_5z4K3AjBU/TZENDgygOWI/AAAAAAAAATY/MwazTDnFJr0/s320/DSC_0438.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589262966536026466" /></a>As I said in my previous post, on the eve of the 6th day of our travels we stayed in Columbia, so when we woke up on day 7 we had about an hour and a half drive to Goose Creek. We got there around 8:30a.m. so we could do our "final walk-thru" with the builder and this was the first time Topher had seen the house with all the upgrades and options I had chosen! In case you weren't aware, I flew out to Charleston in November to select all our options for the house. Topher couldn't take off any school at the time so I had to come by myself, and have crossed my fingers ever since that I didn't pick out the wrong thing! <div>We got to the house and both of us loved it. It just felt so good to finally be there and to see how everything had come together.<div>After checking out the house we went to breakfast, and then headed to the Law Office for Closing.</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9U2RRrPoOo/TZENDgqTQ4I/AAAAAAAAATg/X5XPdb9pMk4/s320/DSC_0435.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589262966501622658" /><div>Everything went smoothly and the only anxiety I had was over signing away our money for the next 30 years! It's sort of a relief to know that we don't have to stay there and be in debt for 30 yrs, month after month after month. Instead, we can move, have a moment of relief with no debt, and then go into debt again with a <i>different </i>Mortgage company!! Ahhhh...so nice. NOT! Oh well. It's a beautiful house, neighborhood and area and so we're happy.</div><div>We got our house keys and headed to our new house! Topher was the most excited about our Garage door opener. He was so excited to open our garage, and park <i>inside it!!</i> And then to not have to carry our luggage up a flight of stairs! Oh. Wait. We did have to carry them up a flight of stairs. Hmmm... At least it was inside the house? :)</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I745sRWa0Zk/TZENEgjqjcI/AAAAAAAAAT4/sNivMB2IgEY/s320/DSC_0445.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589262983653658050" /><div>So, at this point of the story I should probably fill in what happened between breakfast and the Law Office. Well, we got a phone call from the moving company, saying that their driver was in the <i>South Carolina</i> area. Not in the <i>Charleston</i> area, but the <i>South Carolina</i> area. Well, in our heads that meant we still had a couple hours. They asked if they could deliver in the next little bit, and I said that at the very moment it wouldn't work because we didn't have our keys yet. I said that we would be in the house by about 2:00 or 3:00 and would that please work? She said she would call the driver and then call me back and let me know and we could go from there. </div><div>Well, about an hour later, she hadn't called back yet. In that hour, I had also learned that we would be in the house by 1:30 or 2:00 instead of 2:00 or 3:00. So, I called her back and told her this and asked for an update, only to be told, "Oh, sorry. We already put ALL YOUR STUFF IN STORAGE!!!!!!" Saying that I was annoyed, is a massive understatement. I was miffed. Mostly, my miffed-ness stemmed from their estimated delivery date - 8 DAYS LATER. What?! You want us to live in an EMPTY house for 8 DAYS!!? </div><div>*sigh*</div><div>Topher and I both took our turn, calling them and politely asking if there was ANY way to get our things sooner, Topher was of course a lot <i>more</i> polite than me...but we both got the same answer - "NO". </div><div>So, we went to the grocery store, got lots of frozen dinners, and unpacked our sleeping bags (I knew they would come in handy!!).</div><div>For the next 4 or 5 days we basically just shopped all day for furniture. We knew we needed mattresses, a kitchen table, barstools, living room furniture, sprinklers, ceiling fans etc...and so we would head out in the morning, shop practically all day and then come home to a yummy t.v. dinner which we would eat on the floor in the kitchen or outside on the ground in our screened porch. We would then put Grace to bed on her makeshift sleeping bag bed in her room, and then put ourselves to bed in our makeshift bed out of sleeping bag pads and a sleeping bag.</div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-egAW1VD_qm4/TZENEAXrJPI/AAAAAAAAATw/zc7fpsIH7po/s320/DSC_0464.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589262975013430514" /><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-alb35fMJnfU/TZEND7NdzWI/AAAAAAAAATo/cWnPOGaQlaI/s320/DSC_0462.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589262973628435810" /><div> Let's just say sleeping on the floor SUCKS. Topher and I woke up every single morning sore as can possibly be, and not wanting to move. So one of the first purchases we made were mattresses. A Queen for us and a Twin for Grace. UPGRADES! yay!! They came on about day 4. :) Also on day 4 in our new house, I was out at Target getting some groceries and some tools for Toph to install the ceiling fans, and someone said that it was the 17th. The 17th, the 17th...why should that date be important to me....what IS IT?!! - - -oh yeah. It's the DAY BEFORE MY KID'S BIRTHDAY! Can we just say that I'm a bad Mom right now, and get it over with? I'm a bad Mom!! I had completely forgotten about her Birthday up until the night before. I hadn't shopped, gotten a cake, decorations...nothing. If you remember my post for her 2nd Birthday, birthdays are kinda a big deal to me darnitall! And I forgot my own kid's! So, I stayed out shopping until 10:30 getting her a few things I knew she would like, an ice cream cake, a balloon and Tangled paper plates and napkins.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jx9L6_6Xv-s/TZE2u_YHGfI/AAAAAAAAAUw/MGaLAG4VYMw/s320/DSC_0071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589308793457940978" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qVi6Vjv0Rp8/TZE1inlgccI/AAAAAAAAAUA/loVpd0kvJxM/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589307481401618882" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUa4yCKoQWA/TZE1jeoVkaI/AAAAAAAAAUg/xNML-xPs130/s320/DSC_0051.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589307496177439138" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VY9zg3fBGXs/TZE2uzOSxZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/qSSkU7ACclQ/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589308790195537298" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>Then Topher and I stayed up past midnight wrapping the couple of presents I had gotten for her, along with the presents our family had sent with us (the wrapping jobs hadn't made it across the country) and assembling the pink tricycle we had gotten for her.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n5zyEOk4Q9o/TZE1i7WFRtI/AAAAAAAAAUI/Gd8WMa-bfAY/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589307486705632978" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div>We woke her up singing to her that it was her Birthday and, to say that she was thrilled doesn't do her smile justice. She was so so happy. She came into our room where we had her presents laid out and was so excited and happy! She loved it. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Topher spent the morning pushing her around the hall in her tricycle and she carried her Belle doll from Aunt Dacia </div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LVpHYajMsMQ/TZE1jHVSnfI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/2Qfqv4L5clk/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589307489923538418" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px; " />EVERYWHERE. It was really sweet.<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GTojwopUYUM/TZE1jTlddYI/AAAAAAAAAUY/MyW9GHxX90w/s320/DSC_0046.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589307493212583298" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><div>But I think the BEST present we got that day was an OMA!!! Mom had gotten into the area a couple days before and had been in Georgia with Sam's sweet daughter Kim. They decided we would meet half way in Augusta, GA and so Topher and I started the 2 1/2 hr.- 3 hr. drive there. We took a really beautiful scenic route there and had dinner at what, in my opinion, is the World's Largest Golden Corral. It was massive!! We had dinner with everyone, and Gracey got MORE presents, and then we took Mami home with us! YAY!!!! A whole week with my mommy all to myself!!. It doesn't really get better than that. I know that I was the envy of both my sisters. And rightly so. Mommy time is highly coveted time. </div><div>Mom helped us shop for barstools and outdoor furniture, install ceiling fans and just keep us company. She also went to our first week of Church in our new ward and I held her hand and even cried before we went in, cuz I'm a big baby like that. I miss my ward, and my neighbor who went to Church with me! I miss home! I tried not to hold her hand when anyone was around. Then I'd REALLY be a big baby. But I couldn't help it! She was there! And that brought out my instinct to cling to her! *sigh*</div><div>Well, on Tuesday we received our household goods and what a happy day it was!! The movers were great, very careful and attentive to me and where I wanted things. They delivered everything, and then they left the whole big mess in my house. Even worse, was that everything came out of the boxes just as dirty as I had put it <i>into</i> the boxes. What's up with that?! I thought things would come out brand new, like Christmas! Not greasy and dirty, like when I never cleaned them! It seriously made me not want to unpack anything. I did not want to put all this dirty junk in my brand new, shiny clean house. </div><div>Mami was so great to be there and be helpful. If it had been me by myself I would have sat in the middle of the room, on the floor and hyperventilated. But my Mom proceeded to put my house in order one box at a time, one room at a time, all the while encouraging me to get off my rear and do something productive.</div><div>She was so great!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vm1qPBsyd8k/TZE2wO-K5CI/AAAAAAAAAU4/C4dHeWV7a1s/s320/DSC_0088.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589308814823973922" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span><div>After a few days of hard work, we decided to go to the Beach! It was a nice break and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWLDVy0-VFg/TZE2wTFucII/AAAAAAAAAVA/i5QmWAowxSc/s320/DSC_0130.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589308815929405570" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span><div>Topher's friends came a few days later to go house hunting in the area, and that was fun as well. But not as great as having Mommy!! She was the best ever.</div><div>Sam joined us on Thursday and made Mommy much happier and then we went into town on Friday. We walked along Market street, took a Carriage Tour of historic downtown, toured the U.S.S. Yorktown and had a nice dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant downtown as well. Such a fun day it was!</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kmaWJf9weZ4/TZE474lg3LI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/C9_PCfFmAkE/s320/DSC_0201.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589311213996661938" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PKoq4FT7l-U/TZE2whzR_NI/AAAAAAAAAVI/oSo25PVgHIo/s320/DSC_0188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589308819878575314" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div>They proceeded to leave at 4 a.m. the next day and I cried like a baby for a while. I'm such a mama's girl it's ridiculous. But. In all honesty, I'm just a 'family' girl. I miss my family so much while I'm out here. I can't think on it too long or I just start crying again. I am happy, and I am doing well. I love my house, I love our neighborhood and the scenery here in the South really is beautiful. It's green and lush and I do like it here. But it is most definitely not yet Home. Home is where the majority of my family is. And that is, and will for who knows how long, be in Utah. I miss my siblings and parents so so much. But I am grateful to be here, in a beautiful place, with my sweet Husband and crazy cute daughter. I know we are where we are supposed to be, and I hope my heart catches up with that thought soon, because being heartsick is no fun.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-07M_8AcX2hg/TZE48PiTGsI/AAAAAAAAAVY/-vMzNJnFFF0/s320/DSC_0230.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589311220157192898" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /><div>On a little bit more interesting note, it has been raining on and off, HEAVILY, for the past 2 1/2 days or so. It rains so much here when it rains! It does not rain the Utah way, no sir. It POURS. I took these pictures to show my very watered lawn. We even have a mini river in our backyard! </div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CP5INL-kAUc/TZE48V7lFbI/AAAAAAAAAVg/XTEqpbdrNSg/s320/DSC_0241.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589311221873841586" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iePE5_tTFNU/TZE482JzvyI/AAAAAAAAAVo/6gYcfZ0t8ec/s320/DSC_0246.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589311230523457314" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px; " /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I left the front door unlocked when I went out to take pictures, and I when I came back, this is what I found...a Gracey, wearing my shoes, still in her pajamas and determined to come outside in the rain. Later on in the day, she escaped again, only this time in her rain boots, and very determined to find some puddles to jump in. Speaking of her rain boots...did you notice the picture up above a bit with her in her princess dress? She isn't wearing ballet slippers, or dainty church shoes. She's wearing her rain boots...per her request.</div><div>Anyway. Thanks for checking in! I will try to post again as we make </div><div>more progress on our house and unpacking. Hopefully things will start to fall into place a little more each day, and in the process we can start to build a new 'home' here in beautiful South Carolina.</div><div>Love you family!</div><div><br /></div></div>Alysiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08555552398929633991noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-65905642466053546442011-03-20T18:46:00.001-07:002011-03-20T19:06:09.224-07:00Day #6- Chattanooga!!On Day #6 we left Manchester and drove about an hour and a half to Chattanooga, Tennessee. This very quickly became our most favorite day and destination of our entire "cross-country" road trip. Our primary sub-destination inside of Chattanooga was actually Lookout Mountain. A very large mountain that rises up in the corner of the Chattanooga Valley, half of the mountain is in Georgia and the other half of the mountain is in Tennessee. On this mountain were several different things to do and see, and we wanted to try just about all of them. Our first stop was Ruby Falls, <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343026350964898'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatYn8hQKI/AAAAAAAABf4/NVOoMJC8lsE/s288/0.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br />A 145ft. tall waterfall that is 1,120ft. underground. I know! Cool, huh?! An underground waterfall?! That is just awesome. So, we went there and got a military discount, (yay!) and took about a mile long tour inside these underground cave systems that led to, finally, the beautiful Ruby Falls. This was so much fun to explore and we really loved it. Grace seemed to really enjoy everything as well, until we got to the waterfall and the way it works is that the lights are off around the waterfall and then they turn them on for 7 minutes per tour group. They also turn on some loud, but pretty, music as the lights are on. I guess this thoroughly creeped her out so she screamed and cried for the whole walk around the path surrounding the actual waterfall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343043579438690'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatZoIG5mI/AAAAAAAABf8/_RIwl7o29xA/s288/2.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343059751113650'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatakXvE7I/AAAAAAAABgA/B9MSyqStomk/s288/1.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343078393374418'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatbp0ZZtI/AAAAAAAABgE/wcdCbjBeipk/s288/7.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343099627425618'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatc46_T1I/AAAAAAAABgI/0i_f4NSIaiM/s288/8.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />After the cave tour and pretty Ruby Falls, the tour spit you out at their Gift Shop of course, to get you to spend even MORE money! haha. So, we bypassed the gift shop, but did head out to the exclusive and very large playground that is only accessible to those who go on the tour. :) To say the least, Grace LOVED it. It didn't hurt that a sweet little southern belle named Kaylee took it upon herself to play with and take care of Grace either. She adopted Grace for about 35-45 minutes and just played with her all over the playground. Carried her, held her, spun her in circles, lifted her up to the top of the slides and then caught her at the bottom, scooping her up and talking to her. How adorable, right?! Grace loved it, because hey, any mommy other than her own is top notch in her book! This sweet little girl couldn't have been older than about 9 or 10 and she was just such a sweetie! Grace STILL talks about her. I went and told the mom what a sweet daughter she had, and that whatever she was doing, she was doing it right, because she had one sweet, maternal and friendly daughter on her hands. She was shocked, because I guess Kaylee is the 'bossy one' in their family. Well, this made me feel slightly better. If that is how bossy little girls turn out, then maybe I can stop worrying about Grace. :) Maybe someday she will make a great big sister.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343120639454962'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYateHMpbvI/AAAAAAAABgM/7yEzzoEzHD0/s288/12.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343150643441730'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatf2-J8EI/AAAAAAAABgQ/MDNnjM3_d3k/s288/9.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343174354306770'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYathPTRBtI/AAAAAAAABgU/481Q2CPKmbc/s288/14.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='right' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br />After Ruby Falls, we continued up the Mountain to a Civil War sight. In the Civil war there were several battles fought in the Chattanooga area, and so there is now a National town park, and a little museum and gift shop all teaching about the battles fought for Chattanooga. This, obviously was Topher's favorite thing on our entire trip. Watching the little mini diorama drama was thrilling for him, don't ask me why, but it was. They had a little mini theater with pictures displayed on a projector screen, and then narrated description of the battles fought, and where they were and how they plotted their strategies and all the battle outcomes. All the while, you are looking at the diorama that has all the miniature men in uniform and the rivers, and mountains, horses, camps, and everything is lighting up with miniature light bulbs as they become part of the narrative.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343190812896898'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatiMnTLoI/AAAAAAAABgY/b1uhUss_bHg/s288/13.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343213670048402'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatjhw3opI/AAAAAAAABgc/A8GLekSuFBg/s288/15.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />I don't know if that makes any sense at all. But, it was Topher's favorite! He even bought himself a Navy Sailor hat back from the Civil War era and authentic Civil War bullets found in the Chattanooga Valley.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343235233739362'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatkyGDcmI/AAAAAAAABgg/hzoQtBFvpV4/s288/16.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343259676640418'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatmNJshKI/AAAAAAAABgk/EKuSGeTRh4s/s288/17.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343279202630578'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatnV5De7I/AAAAAAAABgo/aeHdTGSiQlk/s288/18.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />When we left the Battles for Chattanooga we thought it was only about 2:00 or 3:00. Well, little did we know that we had lost an hour, and then to top it off, it was Daylight Savings! So, we lost 2 HOURS!! This was not cool!! So when we got in the car to head to Rock City, (also on Lookout Mountain) It was 5:30! We got to Rock City, they informed us that they sell the last ticket at 6:00 and that the park is only open until dark. So, Topher and I proceeded to try and race through it as quickly as possible! After a while, we realized that really we had plenty of time to just enjoy the scenery, and luckily, it had started sprinkling before we got there, so everyone left!! We had the whole park/garden to ourselves!!! Boo-yah! <br />Rock City is just like a giant landscaped rock garden. It starts on one walking path and continues through a huge maze of rocks, little cliffs, bridges that overlap one another and then just beautiful trees, flowers, fountains, ponds. It was a lot of fun, and ended up being my favorite of the whole trip. <br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343304500888514'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYato0IoQ8I/AAAAAAAABgs/DHZKThS5b_0/s288/19.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343332379631458'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatqb_cH2I/AAAAAAAABgw/GhmO1AgpVfI/s288/20.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343356723901026'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatr2rkMmI/AAAAAAAABg0/Z2RK0US8XQk/s288/21.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343374337487618'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYats4S-MwI/AAAAAAAABg4/_Xx8j6rZgWU/s288/22.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='right' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br />There is a spot in Rock City, where they have 7 state flags displayed. The reason for this is that they have found a spot where you can see 7 states at once. There is a plaque pointing in each of the 7 directions and telling you how many miles to that state border. This was our first view of South Carolina!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343385630499538'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYattiXb4tI/AAAAAAAABg8/BXv9880ld94/s288/23.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343396505080466'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatuK4I0pI/AAAAAAAABhA/-R3egkEl56I/s288/24.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />Like I said, it had sprinkled a little bit just before we got there, and a little bit while we were there, so were probably 3 of the 10 total people visiting the garden. So, no lines for Funnel Cake! yay!!!! (Dacia, I missed you! You needed to be there to eat funnel cake with me.)<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343422458896514'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatvrkAoII/AAAAAAAABhE/VR2a-wEnWq0/s288/25.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343435046294930'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatwadFFZI/AAAAAAAABhI/a4biYVISSd8/s288/26.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343446090109730'><img src='http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatxDmIUyI/AAAAAAAABhM/Rv7JnRsrN3k/s288/27.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />There is one spot at Rock City that I had seen pictures of and was the most excited to see and that was Lovers Leap. Legend has it that 2 enemy Indian Tribes lived close by. The daughter of one and the son of another fell in love, and when they were forbidden to be together, the boy was put to death on this cliff, and then the girl jumped to her death to be with him. Not a very happy story. But romantic, in that sick sort of way. Haha. Anyway, this is the supposed cliff, and its really beautiful. If you are wondering why the water is green...they dyed it for St. Patrick's day. Lol.<br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343460491466962'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatx5PrmNI/AAAAAAAABhQ/64snoj6pbVE/s288/29.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='186' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343487878553794'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYatzfRRYMI/AAAAAAAABhU/aPhq8PqJoO8/s288/28.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343512257329506'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYat06Fn-WI/AAAAAAAABhY/QFujEPEZ_nE/s288/30.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='right' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343535039315474'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYat2O9RfhI/AAAAAAAABhc/5Cbq5RksdY4/s288/31.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='left' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343551615748834'><img src='http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYat3MtZyuI/AAAAAAAABhg/u1fxHQahCPg/s288/32.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' align='right' style='margin:5px'></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5586343574452611538'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYat4hyIqdI/AAAAAAAABhk/-aOqsvjaKa4/s288/33.jpg' border='0' width='186' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br /><br />We left Rock City around 7:30 or 8:00 and drove to Augusta, Georgia. The plan had been to actually make it to Goose Creek, but because we had such a fun day, and we lost 2 hours, we didn't think we'd make it there at a reasonable time, so we instead just drove to Augusta and got there at about midnight. :)<br />Stay tuned! Day #7 we close on our house!<br />Miles today: 392 miles<br />Total Mileage: 2,176 miles<br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad<br /><br />The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-84914634015170804132011-03-17T12:04:00.001-07:002011-03-17T12:11:09.142-07:00Road Trip Day #5On day #5 we crossed over the Mississippi River to go from Arkansas to Tennessee and decided to check out Elvis Presley's "Graceland". <br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126564079943346"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbBM2VPrI/AAAAAAAABfU/gaTkoT1qo0Y/s288/0.jpg" border="0" width="186" height="281" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126580661759618"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbCKnvroI/AAAAAAAABfY/EfVZkiPXwWI/s288/1.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />I did a famous person report on him when I was in 8th grade and so I have always had some interest in him. Topher, well, he just went because he loves me and is a good sport. So, we got there, neither of us knowing what to expect in relation to prices, tours, what there was to see or do, etc... So, Topher went to the ticket booth, and assumed that this was important to me because I hadn't really considered NOT going, and so, the sweet boy paid $60 to get us both in to see Graceland. Well, I didn't have my glasses on, so I thought the tickets were $13 a person, not $31!! So of course i didn't say anything because I thought $13 was reasonable! Let's just say that Topher was a little confused when I was extremely upset that we had to pay so much! He thought he was going out on a limb and getting something special for me, and really I thought it was a ridiculous rip off and would never have paid that much to see Elvis Presley's living room!<br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126602569034642"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbDcO2K5I/AAAAAAAABfc/KqDqkyqHmc0/s288/2.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />But because Topher is a sweetheart he told me that it was already done, we couldnt change it, and so we had might as well enjoy it since we had to pay so much to get in. Well, it took a while to convince me to do that, but I eventually got there.<br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126631796031458"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbFJHGv-I/AAAAAAAABfg/Yy927eg55kk/s288/7.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />I still would say that it is a rip off, and not worth the money at all, but, we still had fun, and now I can say I took the Elvis Presley Tour.<br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126660722873682"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbG03zVVI/AAAAAAAABfk/cJgWqONl5UU/s288/8.jpg" border="0" width="186" height="281" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126687562653074"><img src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbIY253ZI/AAAAAAAABfo/V8xGB1cMGCU/s288/9.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />Something else that bummed me out about Graceland though, was that we had only been thinking of spending 30 min. to an hour there, but because we paid so much for the tickets, AND they made us wait in line for an hour to get on the tour bus, we ended up being there for over half the day. This was disappointing to me because our next stop was going to be Nashville, and I had had a lot of things I wanted us to see and do there. But, no such luck when you get there at 7:00 p.m.<br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126711032823426"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbJwSoPoI/AAAAAAAABfs/G8U2aNDwXmQ/s288/10.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />Needless to say, we got there really late, probably around 7:00 so it was too dark to see or do anything anymore. :( Next time hopefully.<br />We did stop at the true to size replica of the Grecian Parthenon, and that was really neat, but because it was so late, we couldn't take the tour inside or anything. <br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126731686967810"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbK9O9egI/AAAAAAAABfw/rSmosFF9ZlE/s288/12.jpg" border="0" width="281" height="186" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />We then stopped at a White Castle to get some sliders, (that was our shout out to you, Karen!) and then we continued driving to Manchester, Tennessee.<br />Sadly, because I am writing this so behind schedule, i don't really remember any cute stories from the day.<br /><center><a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/102604541986490303410/GraceySAdventures03?authkey=Gv1sRgCID1z4y35bPzcw#5585126749199592434"><img src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_w51JeHJJztw/TYJbL-eS6_I/AAAAAAAABf0/FN8c1iza1-U/s288/13.jpg" border="0" width="186" height="281" style="margin:5px" /></a></center><br />The only thing I remember that was sort of cute is this: Before we left Utah, Dacia and I went shopping together. I picked up some Barbie movies for Grace for in the car because, to my dismay, she absolutely loves them. One of them especially, became her favorite for the trip and was probably watched on average between 2-3 times a day. By day #5 she had the songs almost completely memorized. When we were at the Parthenon, she kept running ahead of us and singing, and putting herself high up on the stairs, or anything that was set higher than us, and just singing. She would sit there, singing and twirling and with the biggest smile on her face, singing all the words to Barbie, The Swan Princess. It really was so very cute. I loved just watching her; that sweet, exuberant smile on her face, singing, and if she caught me looking at her, she would get bashful and smile even bigger, but in turn sing quieter. Such a sweet girl she was.<br />Every night she would ask us, "We going to nuddah howtail?" No fail, every night she asked that question, and then would ask if we could go swimming.<br />I just loved the way she said hotel.<br />Anywho...that was day #5.<br />Miles Today: 283<br />Total Mileage: 1,784<br /><br /><br /><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPadThe Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6651271764702403853.post-9857767971889797902011-03-12T19:28:00.001-08:002011-03-12T21:09:26.365-08:00Road Trip Day #4<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq1LRfO_DPg/TXxNpkpNfaI/AAAAAAAABfI/00b9YydRU6Q/s1600/DSC_0110.JPG"></a><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rwF1xma8G7I/TXw7YrvJVYI/AAAAAAAABeA/Prw9QJPMQ_A/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583402933275940226" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px; " /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bf1VRhIwpE/TXw7YqkF1EI/AAAAAAAABeI/LxvvyHCaSII/s1600/DSC_0019.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3bf1VRhIwpE/TXw7YqkF1EI/AAAAAAAABeI/LxvvyHCaSII/s320/DSC_0019.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583402932961137730" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rwF1xma8G7I/TXw7YrvJVYI/AAAAAAAABeA/Prw9QJPMQ_A/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG"></a><div><div style="text-align: left;">On Day #4 we started out in Oklahoma. Per recommendation of Dad and Karen we stopped in Oklahoma City to visit the Alfred P. Murrah Memorial. I had vaguely heard of the Oklahoma City Bombing before, but really didn't know much about it. Afterall, I was only 7 when it</div><div>happened, and really my memory doesn't go back that far. </div><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3H0Xhc0avRk/TXw6nOMi57I/AAAAAAAABdo/ej2TVcWRc4Y/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583402083532597170" /></div><div>The attack happened on April 19, 1995 and was an act by a former U.S. Army soldier. He was angry at the government for the handling of certain things and took it out on this Federal building by putting together 7,000 lbs. of explosives. He wanted to send a message. His 'message' killed 168 people, 19 of which were children ranging from 3 months to 6 years old. </div><div>I can't imagine what could ever possess a human being to do such a thing to another human being, to children. I can only hope that he wasn't sane. And that people like that are few, and are hopefully stopped before they do similar acts of evil.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The memorial built to remember the victims of the bombing is beautiful. It is very thought provoking, serene and peaceful. </div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ptIw_a0cLg/TXxHxOmhEZI/AAAAAAAABeY/geUITH5n4q8/s320/OKC%2BMemorial%2Breflections.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583416549091381650" /><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>(Photo from "Travel & Photography" by Jim Nix)</div><div>The memorial has two large 'gates' that enclose a reflecting pool. One gate has 9:01 engraved at the top, and the other has 9:03, the reflecting pool is inbetween them to signify the time of the bombing.</div><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KmDvmdR7750/TXw7BJbp-UI/AAAAAAAABd4/Ai7REw2pEqg/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583402528930396482" /><div>The field of chairs is to symbolize the 168 empty chairs around people's dinner tables, that now sit empty. 19 of them are smaller for the 19 children that were killed. </div><div>The tree I photographed up above is actually called the Survivor Tree because it survived the explosion as well as the fires that followed. It has been left in the exact same place, and as it blossoms every spring it is meant to encourage young people in the city that growth is still possible, and that their future is still bright. </div><div>Being at the Memorial, walking along the sidewalks and reading the names of the lives lost was a very sobering experience. But it made me very grateful for some things. It made me grateful for my family. It made me grateful for the gospel. It made me grateful for people that pull together to lift each other up. It made me happy to know that, no matter how many people are out there that have hatred in their hearts; for every 1 with hatred, there are at least 100 with love instead of hate. Good truly does outweigh bad. People are mostly good, kind and encouraging, and that is a comfort to me, to know that most people still have the light of Christ, and if we are hurt by an act comitted by someone who has lost that light, that those of us with it still intact will pull together, to raise one another up in faith and love. So, even though I left with a prayer in my heart for all the people affected by the bombing, I also left with a renewed gratitude for my many blessings.</div><div>OKAY...so. I am going to kind of switch directions now. I apologize if that was a bit dramatic, but, as I have said several times before, this is my journal, so I may be a bit too open for the public eye sometimes. If that is the case with this entry.....sorry. :/</div><div>After visiting the memorial we headed to a "must-see" which is the Bricktown District, and the Bricktown Canal.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GCRmUTKIqok/TXxI_oOVimI/AAAAAAAABeg/DrQGzsjidI0/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583417895999081058" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mq1LRfO_DPg/TXxNpkpNfaI/AAAAAAAABfI/00b9YydRU6Q/s320/DSC_0110.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583423014639074722" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /><div>There is a lot of shopping and restaurants here, and they all surround a canal with several bridges and water taxis. The weather was beautiful and so was the scenery. Topher and I both were smitten with the city and esp. this area. It was so fun and had a bit of southern charm, we really loved just strolling up and down the sidewalks, eating frozen yogurt and enjoying the sunshine.</div><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m91cidizYrE/TXxJN2wBPDI/AAAAAAAABeo/9xFbulN3R6s/s320/DSC_0028.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583418140416621618" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /><div>So while we were walking along the canal, there were some ducks. Well, Grace decided she wanted to see these ducks. She walked up to the water's edge and in her most sing-songy doting voice said "Come hewe duckies. I won huwt you. Come heeee-ewwe." </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1ThkllAndA/TXxMpqkBD0I/AAAAAAAABe4/aBjZQGHABXc/s320/DSC_0056.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583421916716273474" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span><div>When the ducks didn't come, she continued "Duckies....come hee-ewee! Come hewe...now, or I wiw pank yo butt. If you come hewe, I be nice and just pet you, come hewe!" I should note, that while she was bossing the ducks around threatening spanked bottoms, she had her hands on her hips in the most perfect 'bossy mommy' pose I have ever seen. It was hilarious, to say the least. I was laughing so hard listening to my Gracey talk in this sweet, loving mommy-esque voice, and then threatening spankings, to DUCKS no less! Hah! That girl cracks me up so much.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9QrMdrFrIvA/TXxM7TXdv6I/AAAAAAAABfA/GxhP00l2Bcg/s320/DSC_0097.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583422219727257506" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_eRklVsRL38/TXxKN8wRe5I/AAAAAAAABew/6pq2l3Coq9A/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583419241539926930" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 212px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " /></span><div style="text-align: left;">I also wanted to mention, Oklahoma is where Topher's Dad served his mission, so we wanted to give a 'shout out!' to Curtis and say that we <i>thoroughly</i> enjoyed Oklahoma City! It was a really endearing and charming city and we very much want to go back someday. Only, next time maybe we could have Curtis be our personal tour guide? :) That would probably make the visit even better.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;">We set off from Oklahoma City a bit after the Canal and continued on through Arkansas, (which was also beautiful) and stopped in West Memphis, AK. Originally we had thought we'd made it to Tennessee for the evening but soon realized that West Memphis is actually on the West side of the Mississippi river, and until we crossed over to the East side of the River, we were officially in Arkansas. :) So we stayed the night there and planned to cross the Mississippi the next morning and explore Memphis.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Check back tomorrow for an update on Day #5- Graceland!</div><div style="text-align: left;">Thanks for checking in! We love and miss our families so so much! I esp. am missing my family and just playing games and eating dinner together. I miss you family! You are all in my prayers each night and I hope you are all well. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Mileage Today: 527 Miles</div><div style="text-align: left;">Total Mileage: 1,501 Miles</div>The Andersenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08621562383017445842noreply@blogger.com7