Six years baby!

Today Kendall and I are celebrating our sixth anniversary.  I can't believe it has been that long.  I have to say it has been the best time of my life.  I am so glad that I married my best friend.  We have been through a lot together and I can't think of a person I would rather be with through it all.  I love you babe!

Yesterday

Yesterday we decorated for Christmas and had friends over for dinner and a movie.  We also had a snow storm on our basement.  It was pretty quiet downstairs and we didn't check on them until we heard one of the kids scream and this is what we found.  A bean bag that was half full and a floor covered in cotton.    This was after we cleaned up a good chunk of it.  

I love our house at Christmas.  It is my favorite time of year.  Our home just feels so cozy and warm.  

I did it...

So I did it...for the first time I was one of those crazy people that got up in the middle of the night and hit the stores on BLACK Friday.   My friend called and asked me to go with her and I figured why not there is a first time for everything.  I didn't realize how many people actually did this.   In fact it turned out that I knew a lot of them.  Hit the stores on Black Friday to see friends you haven't seen in a while.  The store was crazy, people really need to apply traffic laws when shopping.  Let people pass, don't abandon your cart in the middle of the row, four way stop rules should be in place, don't tail end people, etc.   I succeeded in getting Madeline's Christmas finished.  I got up at 4:30 and was home by 6:30...not bad.   Just need to find something for Kendall.  Any guys out there with any ideas on what to get the man?  He is SO hard to shop for.   Girls...what are you planning to get your husbands for Christmas?  

St. George

We went to St. George, Utah this week and had a blast!  We loved the warm weather and wished that we lived there all winter long.   

Here is Madeline and me on our Rhino trip just outside of Hurricane.  It was an awesome ride and we saw some incredible views.  

Kendall called the spa and scheduled some manicures and pedicures for Madeline and I.  It was so fun watching Madeline experience her first day at the spa.  She loved it and picked this awesome red color and added Christmas stickers.  Hopefully it lasts until Christmas.  

Here is Madeline relaxing in the waiting room.  

We had to go swimming.   I just laid out in the sun soaking it all up.  

We also got to spend some time with Kendall's grandparents who live there.  They invited us to a potluck dinner and it was awesome.   Madeline was the hit of the party...probably because she was about 70 years younger than everybody.   We had a great time and are busy thinking of a job we can do so we can live there in the winter!

Waiting

I have to say waiting is one of the hardest things!  This post is just to vent a little bit.  We have been "paper pregnant" for two months now.  Meaning we have been approved for our adoption.  I keep finding all of these stories of families that post their info on an adoption site and two weeks later they are picked.  I would love that!  I keep hoping and praying that it won't be too much longer.  I am not the most patient person and I feel like I am being pushed to my limits here but our family is learning some amazing things and my relationship with my Heavenly Father has gotten stronger.  We will keep waiting and trying to be patient. We would like to ask all of you to keep us and our birth mother in your prayers!  

Things I am grateful for

I saw this on Sara's blog and I thought it was a great idea!  We need to count the things we are grateful for more often.  

I am going to do one for each day in November.  

1-Kendall, my wonderful husband, my best friend, and the love of my life!

2- Madeline, my super awesome daughter, who is about the cutest thing ever!  (I am her mom and am allowed to say these things.)

3-My parents-who are always there for me and are awesome grandparents.

4-My brothers and sisters-  We all get along great and I am glad we are able to have such a great relationship.  They are so fun and they handle my teasing so well.  ;-)

5- Kendall's parents- they are super supportive and because of them we have been able to pursue many of our dreams.  Thanks!  

6-Kendall's brothers and sisters- We usually always have a great time with them.  We have had some great family get togethers.  

7-Melissa- My best friend in grade school, we always told everybody we were cousins. She always a blast to hang out with and we never had a dull moment.  Do you remember the roof incident and the fire works?  Good times!

8-Doranna-  We had some great laughs.  Doranna was always one that could get me giggling so hard I would get a side ache.  She is always willing to try something adventurous.  I remember many walks back and forth from her house and  phone calls from her mom wondering where she was at.  

9-Sara-I couldn't have asked for  a sweeter friend.  Sara always had something to smile or laugh about and I have to say she has the best laugh ever.  She is my hero in many ways and is such a cute mom!

10-Courtney- We met at work and we ended up being pretty close.  We always had great girls nights!  She has helped my with many of my adoption questions.  

11-Alanna- She was the one I would pal around with at high school events.  She always fun to talk to and had great advice.  Alanna is always happy!  

12-Candice-  She is one of my closest friends.  She is actually the reason I have my family.  She hired me to work for Kendall's mom almost 10 years ago and that is where I met Kendall.  She always has great advice and is so fun to be with.  She is the most amazing mother and homemaker.  

13-Linz-  We both worked for Kendall's mom and I am so glad I got to know her.  She now lives far away but she has endured some of the hardest trials ever in my opinion.  When ever I get down on my situation she gives me hope.  And she is the cutest person ever!

14-All my friends at church.  I would name them all but there are too many and I might run out of room.   I am so glad to be in the ward I am in and have gotten to know so many new people. 

15-Christine-She is one of the first I got to know after we moved into our new house.  We have a lot in common and she is an inspiration to me.

 16-Athena- She is the best neighbor ever!  We are always borrowing something from each other when we are in a bind.    She is a blast to be with and we have a great time.

17- Megan- What a beautiful person inside and out.  She is so strong and has endured so much.  I look up to her.  

18-The young women I teach.  They are so strong and have to deal with so much.  

19- My home- I am so grateful that Kendall sacrificed so much to build us this home.  It has been a blessing in more ways than I could have imagined.  

20- The gospel. It has gotten my through some very tough times.  It has given me hope when  I have felt no hope.  

21-Priesthood blessings. They have given me the strength to go on and the faith that all will be okay.  

22-The temple- How great it is to know that I can be with my family forever.  I love how close to heaven I feel when I am there.  

23-My grandparents-  They are so supportive and know so much.

24-   Books- I love to read!

25-My walk in closet- I can always shut the door when I don't want to see clothes on the floor.  How nice is that!

26-Internet- so many things you can learn.  If you have a question just google it.  

27-My december angels ladies!!  You guys are the best! 

28-Adoption- What an awesome way to see God's hand in your family.  

29-Birth mothers-  They are the most incredible mothers ever, hands down the best!  How many mothers can place their child in another's arms and trust that they will take care of their baby?  What an ultimate gift they give!  

30-My family's health- I think we take that for granted a lot of times.  

Life is tough sometimes

I have had a rough couple of days, years actually.    I feel so helpless and frustrated.    My world is out of my control.  It is completely and utterly controlled by my Heavenly Father.    Now I think it great to have Heavenly Father in control, I mean who better to have controlling your world.  It is just that sometimes I have to ask how much longer can I take this?  When will Heavenly Father say "okay that is enough, time to send in the sunshine".    I feel like I am being stretched to my limits waiting until I am about to break and I have to ask why, what is the point of this?  What is it I am supposed to learn from all of this and haven't I learned it already?    

Tap dance and gymnastics

My little girl started tap dance this year as well as continuing gymnastics.  She loves gymnastics and can bend like a pretzel.  She is learning so much and I think it will be good to have something to help build some muscle on those scrawny limbs.  

Here she is practicing her tap dance.  She will be in the Christmas program and she is so excited to perform in front of people.  I hope she doesn't get scared and back out.  Oh my she is growing so fast.  

Halloween

This year for Halloween we had a work party and everybody at the shop dressed up.  We had a witch, an old hag, static cling (my personal favorite), the devil, a rock star, a bunny, a dead person, and pirates.  

Kendall even got arrested for impersonating a pirate with a bad haircut.  

We were the pirate family and Madeline was the captured princess.  (That is our mean look.)

After the lunch party Madeline and I went to Grandma's house and made cookies.  

Later that night we went to a party at our church and ate yummy food, had fun with all of our friends, and went trick or treating.  Here is Madeline as the Island Princess and her friend Batman.  

Halloween

Halloween