It's fall already?

When I last posted the weather was nice, the sun was shining and we were wearing shorts. Well how time flies, I have now had to turn the heater on for a bit in the mornings and we are wearing coats. As much as I don't enjoy the cold weather I do enjoy the events of fall.

I love Halloween so I had to change the background of the blog...I could not resist! Micaela is so excited for Halloween as well she plans to be Tinker Bell and has told many people of her plans, the story-time teacher at the library, my friend, my stylist, ok just about anyone who will listen she has told, it is the funniest thing. Good thing she hasn't told them I am going to be a dinosaur (that is what she wants me to be, it won't be happening).

A hallmark of Fall (and Spring) is General Conference. I love to sit and listen to the prophet and apostles speak. We were reminded more than once that we need to love. I know I need to work on this. We were even able to get Micaela to listen to bits here and there. At times she was listening and we didn't even realize it, she would say "hey, he just said Holy Ghost!" or "she said Jesus, mom!" Because Micaela has learned well who President Monson is she remembers what he said; in her words he said "we need to be nice." I love to watch my daughter learn about the gospel! It is so amazing to hear the things she remembers from primary, family home evening, and conference.

After listening to conference I have made it my goal to read the Book of Mormon from front to back before the end of the year. There are a little less than 90 days left in the year so I think I can rise to the challenge and reread it. I started today by reading 1 Nephi 1 with Micaela. Micaela has her own Book of Mormon and loves when I read to her from it or when we use her scriptures for Family Home Evening. I plan to read a few more chapters before heading to bed tonight. I believe that this endeavor will help me in my journey to love more and to love better.

Zoo and Golf

Because we did not officially have a vacation this year we have done things here and there. We bought a zoo membership which allows to go to the zoo for free whenever we want. We also thought we would try a little miniture golfing. Micaela is the biggest golfing cheater I have ever played with!!! James and I would try to explain the rules to her and James would try and help her but she was having none of it. She would hit her ball softly once or twice, pick it up, walk to the hole and set the ball down just an inch or two from the hole and tap it in. After "making her shot" she would cheer "I'm free, I'm free, I'm free". I am really not sure what that was suppose to mean but it was so funny! Micaela had the best time. And we had lots of fun as a family.

Happy 7th Anniversary to us

Wow I cannot believe it has been seven years since I married the love of my life. Our life has been an adventure that I know will never be forgotten. Some parts of that adventure not so great but other parts of it I would not trade for anything ever. I am so blessed to have James as my eternal companion.

Here are just a few things we've caught on camera (ignore the fact that there are no pics from 03 or 04, we didn't own a digital camera until 05).

July 27, 2002
May 2005

January 2006

July 2007

October 2008

May 2009Here's to having many more wonderful years together!

Things I love to hate...

1.) Most disgusting candy or candy flavor: Licorice or cinnamon flavored anything.
2.) Song you turn off every time you hear it: I really can't think off one.
3.) Ordinary smell that makes you gag: Lake stink
4.) Movie you have walked out of: Never walked out of one, but it should have been PUSH.
5.) Ordinary sound that makes you cringe: A fork scratching a plate
6.) Band/singer you feel is highly overrated: Jessica Simpson
7.)What happened to number 7?I don't know.
8.) Worst subject in school: MATH
9.) Sport you've tried where you seriously lack talent: I am not really good at any but especially Basketball.
10.) Type/style of clothing you don't find flattering: Too short shorts. You know the but cleavage kind.
11.) Place you have no desire to go on vacation: Winnemucca NV.
12.) Color that does nothing for you: Orange
13.) Least favorite job you've ever had: Telemarketing, I hate it when they call me why would I like doing it to other people.
14.) Career you feel it would be a mistake for you to pursue: Accountant: that's why I married one.
15.) Board/card game you play poorly: Any word game (ie: boggle, scrabble).
16.) Least favorite genre of movie: SciFi
17.) Least favorite genre of music: Rap
18.) A book you've read that you feel was lame: The Other Boleyn Girl
19.) Least favorite insect/arachnid: Mosquitoes (I hate them)
20.) Worst place to buy clothing: I really don't like Wal-mart for clothing
21.) Worst date ever: Senior Cotillion
22.) Food you really dislike: Frozen Meat Pies
23.) Least favorite holiday: Columbus Day (James doesn't have it off anymore)
24.) Most obnoxious pet you've ever had: Cats
25.) Least favorite style of home decoration: Plain

New Car

I have wanted a Hyundai Santa Fe for quite a while. We really didn't think it would be so soon, and we didn't think we would buy new again. But back in June we bought a brand New 2008 Santa Fe, with all the bells and whistles. Really we didn't need all the bells and whistles but we wanted the third row seat and they are hard to come by.

We were only going to be able to get $500 on a trade for my Elantra. We felt $500 was a slap in the face so, we proceeded to sell it ourselves. It was actually was not as stressful as we first thought it would be. We were able to sell it in less than a week for only $100 less than we were asking (the guy had cash on him). Micaela loves the car, and thinks she will drive it when she is old enough. It is also very popular among Micaela's friends. I know you're thinking "It's popular with 3 and 4 year olds, yeah right?" but it really is. If I have Micaela's friends in the car they act as if it is a roller coaster, complete with Wees!! It is a lot of fun!

INTRODUCING!!!

We have all heard of a back pack, but may I introduce to you one of many creative inventions by Micaela...the bum pack. Instead of putting the straps around her arms she placed her legs inside and pulled it up. She was so proud of her new invention.

Quite the "yogi"

Micaela loves to exercise like mom her favorite is the wii fit. She really enjoys pulling out the yoga mat and doing all the yoga poses on her own. She says "I do it myself." This particular day she just pulled out the mat and stated "I need to exercise." So without further ado I give you...Micaela the Yoga Master

This my friends is Downward Dog and Tree Pose.

See she is a natural.

New Floor

In our home (for those who have never seen it) our kitchen and dining room are the same room. But the kitchen had linoleum and the dining room was carpeted, I guess to make it be 2 rooms.When we purchased our home in April of 2007 we dreamed of one day putting a new wood looking floor in. That dream has now come to fruition. Last weekend James picked up all the materials needed to transform our rooms into one big room. James has a 2-door coupe so fitting all the materials in his car was a great accomplishment! Thursday, March 5 James with the smallest bit of help from me tore all the baseboards off in preparation for tearing out the floor. Friday I took Micaela with me to the gym while James proceeded with the project of ripping out the linoleum and carpeting. This part took up half the day, there was linoleum under carpet in some places. Then James (again with the smallest bit of help from me) started putting in the new laminate flooring. We opted for the lock into place type as opposed to the glue type. We started on the open end of the room and moved our way over. As we moved more into the kitchen there were things that had to be moved (ie: the refrigerator, the stove, the dining table and the dishwasher). Half the floor was done by Friday night. Saturday we finished laying the floor. So for two days my dining table and stove sat in my living room, my dishwasher in the hall and the refrigerator in the middle of the kitchen. It seem liked utter chaos, but it was well worth it. Saturday night we put on enough of the baseboards on so that the essentials could be put back. By the middle of the week we were able to find sometime between work and other activities to get all the baseboards back on so now our kitchen/dining room are complete. This room seems so much bigger than it was

I had never thought of how grateful I am for home organization, but since my kitchen appliances were in my living room, organization is something I am very grateful for.

Silly Girl!

Micaela is such a silly girl, she picks up just about everything. She certainly is her daddy's girl. Anyway last night I walked outside to throw out some recyclables when I came back in Micaela greeted me at the door with a curtsy and a "You're Majesty." All I could do was stand there and laugh. That is a line from Cinderella 3 and many other princess movies I am sure. Micaela hasn't watched that movie in a few weeks. She has the best memory. She talks about places she's been and things she did last summer. I love listening to her recall stories, it is absolutely fascinating.

Happiness

This weekend and past week have been so nice. The weather has been beautiful. I went out on Friday and cut back my daisies and noticed that my tulips have started sticking up. I love spring, after a cold dark winter I love to see green and see the flowers (at least the stems) growing. It just makes me happy to see new life "spring" up all around me. Micaela has enjoyed it too she will say "Mom, I want to go run." Earlier today it was pretty nice and we were talking about going to the park and flying a kite. The weather has turned and has been trying to rain. I don't think we need to tempt fate and put a kite in the sky. Micaela is going to be crushed for sure.

Micaela loves being outside, rain or shine it doesn't bother her. I love watching her when she is outside, she doesn't have a care in the world, unless of course she steps on a thorn weed. She loves to do anything outside. Last summer she planted a tree with James. It was so cute she got her little shovel out and "helped" dig out the hole. She loves to plant things. I cannot wait until we can plant our garden and watch it grow, I know she will be fascinated. It might even excite her into eating veggies, sneaky huh? A mom's got to do what a mom's got to do!!!

She is Three!!!

I can't believe my baby is 3. Okay so Micaela is no longer a baby but she is mine. Saturday we had a party for her. For two weeks before she would go lie down for her nap and say "After I wake up we'll go to my party!"(big emphasis on party) She could not contain her excitement. Of course the theme of her party was Disney Princesses. Micaela dressed up as Cinderella and her friends came dressed as princesses as well.

For months she had been telling us she wanted a princess cake, it wasn't the most beautiful cake but it had princesses on it and that is all that mattered to Micaela.

These princess on the cake were kind of cool they came with a light to put under your favorite princess, Micaela chose Cinderella. She did think about putting it under Belle. Right now Micaela has two favorite movies: Beauty and the Beast Enchanted Christmas and Cinderella 3 A Twist in Time.

Micaela was surprised by Grandma and Grandpa Adams, and first she was so sure about that idea (she was expecting her friends) but she warmed up quickly and couldn't have been happier! We decorated door hangers and played "pin the princess in the window" opened presents and ate cake. Micaela had a great time and it was fun to just watch her having fun!

Family (away from) Home Morning

Yesterday we had the opportunity to attend the Draper temple open house. Micaela was so excited to go inside a temple, she didn't mind me waking her up at 6:30AM to get ready. It was set up so that you park at a church building near by, watch a 12 minute movie and then take a tour bus to the temple. Micaela was impressed with her first bus ride in the "blue bus" they have color coded each parking lot so you get on a specific bus. Our bus really did have blue seats.

The temple majestically sits in the corner of the canyon and towers over the neighboring homes(or motels, as they are quite large). The view from the temple into the Salt Lake Valley will be beautiful when you can actually see it (too much haze).

As you walk through the temple there are so many people in a group and in other groups that you are walking by but the reverence is still amazing. Really the only sounds that you can hear are foot steps and small whispers of oohs and aahs as you go through the beautifully painted ordinance rooms. The brides room was of course one of my favorites, it is a reverently fun room. You'll see what I mean if you check out the pictures on the following link.
http://www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/news-releases-stories/draper-utah-temple-opens-its-doors-to-the-public
The one sealing room we were able to sit in for a few minutes is the largest sealing room in the temple and we were told it is the largest sealing room of all the temples.
It was so great to have my little family inside taking in the beauty of the temple together.

Makes you think!

My brother saw this quote on a marquee (God board as it is called in my family) at another church and I thought it is very appropriate.

"Have nothing to be thankful for? Check your pulse."