Rewind

Let's back up to May, shall we?

On May 4th, my beloved brother returned home from a 2 year mission for our church in Brazil. When he left, Marlee was still in the womb. ( As you can see there was another one in the womb for his return.)

He left with two suitcases (the same ones I used in Argentina) and, after being moved around a lot, came back with one very tattered piece of luggage.

We ate "nacks" (Marlee's word for snacks) while we waited, thanks to GG, and as we were entertaining ourselves, Zack decided to make his appearance a few minutes early. He was 3/4 of the way down the escalator before anyone noticed him coming! What kind of fan club are we?

Of course my mom was as happy as could be to have her boy back.

Justin couldn't make it to the airport, but he made it to the welcome home party, and I am happy to have this boy back with me every chance I get.

Straight is Great

Occasionally.

(I am now the proud owner of a straightener. There's a first time for everything.)

Sunday Inspiration

Lead, kindly Light, amid th'encircling gloom;
Lead thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home;
Lead thou me on!
Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene--one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that thou
Shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now,
Lead thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will. Remember not past years.

So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost a while!

Text: John Henry Newman, 1801-1890

SeaWorld Adventure

I've come to the realization that if I don't have any pictures to add to blog posts, I simply won't post. Guess what, I finally took some pictures! And here are some ramblings to go with them.

So remember back in middle school or high school when all of the girls wanted to be marine biologists so they could grow up and train the dolphins? I'm pretty sure I used to be one of those girls. And I'll be honest, our little SeaWorld trip had part of me wishing that I were in the water like these two:

But then I thought about jumping in a cold tank of salt water on a cold, cloudy day and I changed my mind. But you gotta admit, dolphins are cool. 

They're just so fun and playful and energetic.

That is probably the best show SeaWorld has going on right now. The Shamu show is a work in progress since the trainers don't get in the water any more. . . and I don't blame them.

The rest of our visit included but was not limited to:

Some more dolphins. . . up close and personal

Some big turtles

A romantic ride over the bay

And these guys who were cracking me up. This one was waving its flippers and barking so loud in an effort to get a couple of little fish thrown his way. Bless his heart.

And that was SeaWorld. Well, that's all that I have captured in pixels anyway. Until the next time I break out the camera. . . 

Happy New Year

. . . and what a year it has been!

Here are a few highlights somewhat in chronological order for your reminiscing pleasure:

• Justin got in to medical school
• We celebrated our one year anniversary
• We read the Fablehaven series 1-4 (we have yet to get a hold of book 5)
• We moved to California
• We found out we were expecting
• We read/listened to Harry Potter 1-4 (Justin read though 6 but I only made it part way before school started)
• Justin did an intensive summer anatomy program
• I got a job teaching with my mom
• Justin got called to the Young Men's Presidency
• The boys love him and affectionately call him Brother Dr. Delatore, or just Brother Dr. D.
• I was called to the primary presidency
• We completed a 2000 piece puzzle of da Vinci's "The Last Supper"
• We moved again (to the building next door) for an extra bedroom
• I carried our baby for approximately 4 months
• Justin finished his first semester of school and did well
• We are both healthy
• We exercised 12 days in December (if you count New Years Day). It was a goal I set. (Justin actually did more. . . he always has to one-up me like that)
• Two of my "workouts" were snowboarding in Big Bear
• We bought a Christmas tree (fake, to be used for many years to come)
• We had a wonderful, relaxing Christmas break
• We chaperoned the youth New Year's Eve dance (I'm not sure if that was a highlight or not, but it definitely was a feat to stay out so late. We are old.)

Gramma Gramma's Family

Here's to 2011

For an inspirational thought on the new year and moving forward click here.

'Tis the Season

One more day of school until 

Christmas break.

What a blessed, blessed holiday season!

Go here if you need help getting into the 

Christmas Spirit.

Thanksgiving

A Little Bit Stronger

I like country music. I like the tunes and I like the stories that go along with them. Usually I think it's the words that get me hooked though and the more they relate to my life the better. In fact, that is what I like most about any kind of music. I like listening to the lyrics and relating them to my life. I've even been known to rewrite lyrics to better fit my story. I know it's cheesy, girly even. I don't really care, I still like it.

So I was driving to work the other day and a new one hit me--some of it. It doesn't really fit because it's a getting-over-a-boyfriend type song and I didn't lose a boyfriend. I did lose a boy though, and it really did break my heart.

Woke up late today,
and I could still feel the sting of pain,
but I brushed my teeth anyway.
Got dressed through the mess, and
put a smile on my face.
I got a little bit stronger.

...

I know my heart will never be the same. 
But I'm telling myself I'll be OK,
even on my weakest day.
I get a little bit stronger.

Here's to getting a little bit stronger, and becoming a little bit better.

I Knew It

It's a boy! 

I knew it was a boy. I could feel it in my bones. No, maybe more in my gut. Uterus even?

Isn't he so cute?

We are EX-CI-TED.

All I've got

Growing a baby is hard work.
So is teaching.

Put 'em together and what have you got?
Nothing.
As in nothing left.
I am spent.

Ultrasound on Friday.
I'll keep you posted.

Justin is out for his weekly activity with the youth in our ward.
And I just got too tired to write any more.

Good night.

The Car Wash

Post Edit: I just want to clarify that this is in fact an automatic car wash we are talking about here. Read on.

Let me set the stage for the story I am about to tell that took place last Thursday evening:

As you can see from my last post we are already out one car (which is currently being fixed and that is another story of it's own).

I am pregnant.

It was late.
I was tired.
And my car was dirty.

Got it?

I was just getting ready to drive home from a long, particularly challenging day of teaching (teaching is hard). I got to my car and realized that I still hadn't made time to drive through the 5 minute car wash. Every night that week I had left work too late to even take an extra 5 minutes to get home! Terrible. Thursday night however, I was determined to make time. I thought that if nothing else positive came out of that day, at least I would go home with a clean car.

I pulled up to the machine.
I rolled down my window.
I paid my 5 dollars.
I pulled forward.

But as I pushed the button to roll up the window all I heard instead was a very disconcerting grinding noise. I tried again. The window was absolutely not rolling back up. In fact it was sinking farther down!

My mind raced to solve this problem, but after a few short seconds (and after the window sank all the way down into the door) I gave up. I could come up with no way to fix the situation and was too tired to do anything but wait to be rescued. I hung my head in defeat as I sat there pointed toward the car wash with my window down.

Then came the car wash man. Noting my distress and with a hint of concern he asked, "Are you okay?" With a shaky voice trying to keep myself somewhat composed I told him that my window was stuck. He tried a few car wash man tricks like having me turn the car off and back on a couple of times, but it was all to no avail. He too had to admit defeat and moved a cone so I could turn out of the car wash lane and get a refund for the car wash I never got.

Funny? Yes.

Hysterical even. I was honestly chuckling to myself on the inside, but all that came out was a day worth of bottled up emotion in the form of unstoppable tears.

As I drove away I called Justin and immediately lost what composure I had. I sobbed the whole way home with the wind blowing in my face and five extra one dollar bills in my purse.

Ups and Downs

Life is like a roller coaster.

Justin had a pretty wild ride this week. Luckily he was kept from all harm. For that I am so grateful. I feel sick to my stomach any time I think about how much worse things could have been. Ugh. No. Stop.

Luckily all we have to deal with is a broken car. That we can handle.

In other news, school starts on Monday. . .
for both of us.

It is going to be BUSY.

Life is good.

I can't keep a secret.

That's not true.

I can keep a secret.

I would even go so far as to consider myself very trustworthy if it is an important or confidential matter.

But when it comes to surprises--those kind of secrets--I'm not so good. I think it has to do with not being able to contain the joy or excitement or anticipation within my one little self. I just have to share it. And the bigger the surprise, the harder it is.

That being said, we have a surprise. . .

And if all goes well it should be here around March.

On Beauty and Cars

"You're like a Lamborghini," Justin said when I randomly asked him if he thought I was still pretty.

I honestly didn't see how he could see any trace of beauty in me that night and was amazed as he assured me that he did. I had been sick for days, was wearying dirty sweats and a baggy T-shirt that clashed terribly, didn't have a trace of make-up left on (which I desperately need if I want to hide my pale, uneven complexion, pimples, and dark circles), and hadn't done my hair which also needs a lot of lovin' to look like anything but an unattractive, flattened, wad of frizz. Needless to say I was definitely not looking very pretty. Like at all. Seriously.

His reasoning was this: Lamborghini cars are BEAUTIFUL (to him). Even if they are painted a funny color, they are still beautiful. While I am "green" and sick now, all he sees is the beautiful car underneath.

"My husband just compared me to a Lamborghini." I thought out loud. Despite how it sounds, I secretly loved it.

This morning I was feeling a lot better and was showing it. While we were getting ready to have breakfast he mentioned something about how now I'm like a Ferrari.

"What about that whole bit about me being a Lamborghini and beautiful no matter what!" I scolded, remembering the nice things he said the night before and not wanting him to go back on his word.

Realizing he had spoke too soon and fishing for a way out of his blunder he carefully explained, "You're still beautiful, but now your just better for racing."

I love that man.

P.S. Don't tell Justin, but now I think I like Lamborghini and Ferrari cars a little bit more too.

Farewell Idaho

See ya in Californa!

An Ode to Rexburg

These photos were taken in April, on two separate but equally snowy mornings. (Notice how on one day my car is still caked with ice and snow even though it is parked under the carport.)

I'm so glad we're past THAT.

And on to warmer and sunnier events in a place that looks a little something like this.

(Real pictures not stolen off the Internet coming soon.)

But despite the cold weather, don't think I hate Rexburg. I am actually quite fond of this town. We got to do things like go shooting and wear cowboy boots while walking around the farmer's market.

 

And, since Justin was pretty much done with school in December, we were able to spend a lot of time together. We went to the Temple regularly, watched a lot of Red Box movies, read books and of course did a puzzle. We even got to cook together. (Let's be honest, if Justin didn't help, dinner might not have happened quite so often.)

Classic Spaghetti Dinner

All in all, it's been a great nine months.

Now where did we leave that Budget truck. . .

1 Year (and one week) ago. . .

. . . looked like this.

What a blissful day it was.

The perfect date.

April 25th.

Since I never really posted any pictures from that day in history, here are a few more.

For our big one year celebration we did several celebratory activities. Justin took me shopping in the morning (which is a big deal because he hates shopping), and while we were out we went to lunch at Cafe Rio. Afterwards we came home and decided to catch a chick flick at the cheap theater (I know we really spared no expense). Then Justin cooked a really nice dinner that we even dressed up for. We dined, we danced, we made merry. It was the best anniversary.

Here's to many more to come.

A Blessing

This was Justin two weeks ago at my parents house  

after his interview at Western University in Pomona 

(thanks for the picture Dad):

This was justin one week and five days later 

when he got the acceptance letter:

Actually that last one was a reenactment depicting what he was feeling on the inside. What really happened was this. I was sitting at my computer and Justin was gone running an erand for me. Then all of a sudden I hear the door open and extreemly determined footsteps thumping down the hall. Before he got to me he called my name in the most serious voice I have ever heard leave his toung. I was somewhat worried by his tone and hurried walk until he got to me and shoved the letter in my face. I scanned as fast as I could to see what school had sent it. 

Unless divinely guided in another direction, we are going to Pomona! 

He's on a special North West track, which means that we will spend 

the first two years in California, and the last two in Oregon.

He will also be doing an intensive summer anatomy course, (kind of to get ahead) 

so his first day of class will be June 14!

Any one know of a good place to rent?

Guess Who's Back!

(That's Justin if you can't tell)

And I am oh so glad.

Now all we can do is wait,

and interview some more,

and then probably wait some more.

Tonight, while we were waiting (while Justin was studying for a test), I decided to put some of these pictures in a photo album that we got while we on the scene. . .

. . . in Hawaii

. . . 11 months ago.

I know, I'm an over achiever.

Missing

I'm flying solo this whole entire week while Justin is away checking out some schools. I miss! It is so lonely. I'm trying to stay busy to make the time pass as fast as possible.

Where will we end up? No body knows. But at least I can find comfort in the fact that wherever we go we will still be flossing together at night and occasionally wearing matching pajamas.