What's in a Decade!? Here's To 2010.

2000

* Got My Braces Off *
* Dance Team *
* Finding New High School Friends *


2001

* First Job at Red Lobster *
* In the Musical Once Upon a Mattress *
* Learning how to drive *
* Learned what the Trade Center was *
* Varsity Cheerleading (what made me most happy) *


2002

* First Kiss *
* Mother Goose in Nutcracker *
* Drivers License *
* Sweet 16 *
* Parents got Divorced *
* First Boyfriend experience *


2003

* First Concert on my own Good Charlotte/New Found Glory *
* Moved to Pensacola, FL for 2 months *
* Graduated High School *
* Moved to Tampa, FL *
* Worked at Steak-n- Shake *
* Started College at University of South Florida *
* Joined Kappa Delta Sorority *


2004

* Became active in THE Church *
* Moved to Mountain View, CA for the summer *
* Worked for Recruiting Station (fav job) *
* Went to San Francisco *
* Moved to Orem, UT *
* Worked at Famous Footwear *


2005

* Attended College at Utah Valley State College *
* Worked at Ken Garff Nissan *
* Bought First Car *
* Went to Las Vegas *
* Obsessed with Institute & Institute dances *


2006

* Prep for Mission *
* Started Elementary Education Program *
* Moved to Provo, UT*
* Met A *
* Received Mission Call to Fresno, CA *
* Got Engaged ...oops! *


2007

* Mom moved back from Cuba *
* Got Married *
* Got Pregnant *


2008

* Student Taught 4th Grade *
* Had a Baby *
* Graduated College *
* Mom fought Cancer *
* Moved to Olive Branch, MS *


2009
* Moved to Branson, MO *
* A totaled car *
* Got Pregnant, Again *

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

H A P P Y N E W Y E A R 2010

Kisses to El Iguana

HOORAY!!!!

Adam and I love to eat at mini Mexican places. It's our thing to go and see what is being offered around town and compare. HOWEVER- all the places we've been here in Branson and even our disaster in Springfield was yuck yuck awful!! UNTIL TODAY!!!!!

While driving around last night I saw a little place that said California Mexican Food. I figured thats closer than this Missouri Yuck we've been offered. Today for lunch we slipped over to LA IGUANA and it was WONDERFUL!!!!! It has only been open for 3 months and it only offers burritos and tacos but the meat choice is out of this world and they have all the right toppings: cilantro, onions, lime, green sauce, white cheese, great looking peco, real guacamole!! The burritos were stuffed with pinto beans and rice. I had my mine with Carne Asada. I LOVE authentic Mexican or close too and this was so great for me! My fat FRESH burrito reminded me of a mixture of Beto's & Cafe Rio- it was just more traditional! (which I LOVE!) I can't wait to eat my corn tortilla tacos next time with Carnitas! YUM!! It was the best and is going to be my favorite place to eat in town!! Gotta love the whole in the walls!! Did I mention it was on the cheap side!!?? Another PLUS! Tell your friends, I know I will!

Nesting.

I came home after our trip and was sick for 3 days. J too. We are slowly getting better but after 2 days in bed and the dishes piling up I got to work yesterday. I probably shouldn't have gone none stop for 10 hours or moved all that heavy furniture because I am feeling the pain today but my house feels fresh and clean again. Well- At least the living/dining room area! Someone told me today that I am nesting too early. I beg to differ! I have a ga-jillion things on my list and although it may look like a sparkly clean room, the other rooms are being destroyed with all the stuff I don't know where to put!

I have 10 more weeks until this baby is due. So- I'm saying a round 2 more months!! I think thats a great time to get out the baby things, make some more room, and get things a ready! Then I can just pile new things up and stare at it for 5 weeks!! lol.

My Personal To-Do List:
(outside of the everyday routine)
Front:
Re-arrange Living room with Rocker
Re-Organize DVD's & CD's
Re-Organize Games
Wash Living Room Walls
Wash Dining Room Walls
Wash Kitchen Walls
Re-hang pictures
Wash Washer and Dryer Room
Re-Organize Wash Room
Organize Coat Closet
Organize Kitchen Cupboards
Clean Fridge
Organize Can Cupboard w/ new system
J's:
Make Room in Js Drawers
Re-Organize Js Bookshelf
Re-Arrange J's Closet
Sort through Baby Boxes, pick out neutral things
Pull Out Bouncer & Car Seat, Wash
Gather GoodWill Bags
Clean Fans
Back Room:
Put Christmas Stuff Back into Boxes
Re-Organize BookShelves
File
Put things away in my closet
Bathrooms:
Wash Walls
Re-Do Under the Sinks
Re-Organize linen closet with blankets from Js drawers
Buy New Shower Curtain Liner
Change Shower Curtains
BedRoom:
Wash Curtains
Re- Organize Dresser Drawers
Re-Organize Jewerly Box
Sort Through Makeup & Toiletries
Set Up Pack-n-Play Bassinet
Move Bed
Find Place for Circle Table
Find Place for things from night stand
Wash and Pile New Baby things
Pack Hospital Bag

Ok- That's a start! I'm getting tired writing it!! Wish me luck! I think I'll go join Jo during NAP time!! What's your plans for the New Year!?!

Left Adam at Home.

Ok, so I suck and I left Adam at home to work while I went and visited my family in Florida. It was a super short visit and he could have come but I guess I was paranoid and felt totally crummy most of the time until I found out he was having a great time reading all day long and leaving all his things all over the place because he could. It all worked out I guess.

HOwever- we did take "family pic's" without him. How rude is that?? I know!! Hopefully one day Adam and I will take our own family pic's together. Its been almost 3 years. I am totally sad he wasn't in them but they still came out pretty nice!!

Liz & Nate



She has got the best hair in this pic!!


Mommy & JoJO

Over Half Way.

Not by much but lets make it clear.. It's over half way!!lol

24 WEEKS




..and Isn't he the best thing int he whole world?! I'm so lucky to get hugs and kisses from this everyday!!

Happy Today.

I always say we have happy moments and they only lasts a little bit and then our world crumbles. It's kind of horrible, because I know there is a plan of happiness and I should rejoice about that always. However, I realize to be happy I have to know sorrow.
I am happy to report we are having a happy moment! We are seeing the blessings of following the commandment poured upon us. I feel so blessed and loved. I know the commandment of tithing is real! We have also been trying really hard to save and it is changing our focus on money and financial security! It's not impressive but it feels good the baby steps we are taking. I just feel overwhelmed with love and I want to share my gratitude for all things good!!

So, yes! We are in a good moment. I'll complain later!!
(I'm sure of it!)

Super Excited

Adam is starting school up again in January. I'm a little bummed because I'll never have the car, schools 45 minutes away. We will see how this semester goes, we might need to move closer.
He is really excited which makes me feel really good. I've been helping him set up scheduling and counseling. I feel like a PRO and I really like doing it. Too bad the school's classes they offer don't always work so well with his work schedule and it is causing a little problem! I had every semester with 3-4 classes and a max of 12 credits. It was wonderful. We had to switch spanish for math because the upper level spanish class is already full!! It was so sad. Adam will have more credits to take and I guess he could take out his history class but it will just make us more behind. If we can register for these classes tomorrow he will be set! It's going to be so hard, but its just a jump start to what lies ahead! I am really recording this publicly so I can remember and we can have in stone some future plans!!

This is the rest of his under-grad career plan! You may notice there's not that much generals or spanish left.
Generals
Creative Writing, Fitness for Life, Intro. to Psychology
Spanish Degree
Translation, Business & Professional Spanish, Advanced Conversation/Composition
Individualized Minor
(required for major & future schooling)
Biology II, Genetics, Calculus, Chemistry II, Physics I, Micro-Biology, Organic Chem I, Statistics, Organic Chem II, Anatomy, Bio-Chemistry, Physiology, Physics II
* He doesn't actually need them all, but you have to take some to take the others and if he does take them all he has more options in the schools he applies to*

If you are intrigued to find out what our poor Adam has decided to to with his life you can give him a call and maybe he will let you know!! By the looks of things we'll be here for 3 more years and he's gonna need all the prayers WE can get!!

No More Paper Problems.

Today was Adams last day on the paper route.

When he lost his job and other job all the same week, we kind of stressed out and quickly picked up this paper route that would save our butts. What a bunch of bologna! It helped a little (got a head by half a month) but wasn't worth the added stress. I guess I am glad we did it so we can say " When times got tough we did this".... and no one can say we didn't try.

However, when half the pay was used in gasoline, 15% saved away for taxes, and having to replace TWO brand new tires was in the deal. We knew it was over the top. Adams arm is about to fall off and even with the flu all week he could never have a break. He missed going to Ben's wedding because we he couldn't take off for even 4 hours in fear he wouldn't get any sleep. He's had to reschedule many appointment and survive on a ridged sleep schedule. Oh, and we could NEVER take temple trips.

Did I mention he hit a freakin' DEAR in our brand new car we had for a month! We didn't even pay our first payment and we have a HUGE dent in the drivers front corner and door. It is so embarrassing. I hate driving around all beat up! Anyways- We did it, we are done, and we don't envy the people who have to do it. So, I think it hurt more than it helped.

It doesn't really help our vacation plans any-
Being in this lovely city we so willingly moved ourselves too. Its kind of Christmas -Mania.
We can't leave for Thanksgiving because he might have to work, and they are open two hours later the day before, of, and after.. the same goes for Christmas. So- Its gonna be a cozy Christmas to ourselves. We are excited to have our own little things going. I gotta get stockings and it will be nice with a small amount of gifts to worry about. For Thanksgiving, Adam's parents might come down to hangout. I'm not sure they are super excited that Adam might be working the whole time but maybe they will bring me company anyways!! I've spent Thanksgiving alone before when I was in Utah a couple times so I know I can handle it, but that's no fun! and its sometimes odd hanging out with other peoples family. Sometimes its fun but its always nice to be with your own!

Look-A- Like

My Daddy would have turned 50 years old this last summer. I can't believe I have already spent more of my life without him than I did with him. It is just going to get worse from here. Either way he is always in my heart and I just wonder what he is doing these days.
Anyways- I have been uploading a bunch of his pics and awards on to my ancestry.com account and I ran across this picture in my file. It is of my daddy as a chunky baby. I think he resembles Jo in many ways. My grandma and I were talking about it once, she hasn't seen J in person yet but she is kind of scared because she's afraid he will look so much like Bobby.

My Dad


My Baby

Lesson 38: The Wentworth Letter

If you don't know me yet, I'm a little over and beyond. Tomorrow is my first day teaching Relief Society. I know I may be over the top and these ladies are gonna think I'm crazy but I just like to teach nontraditional, i guess. Any who- I am trying to focus my teaching for the chicas (the newbies to R.S.). I am gonna do an FHE approach. Fun, (I haven't thought of an H word), and Energized. Then I hope to have some type of idea they can take to FHE to their kids, husbands, friends, or siblings that week.
So, this week we are memorizing the 13 articles of faith. I am sure everyone knows them but like our little kid-a-dees where they can recite word for word, do they know what they mean, to them?! That's my goal tomorrow, along with reviewing the history of the church through Joseph Smith's example when he was asked about the church in The Wentworth Letter.

*When I say "A" what object comes to mind?? an apple perhaps. What about "B".. a banana. As babies we learn facts by pairing them to something else and making worldly connections. That is the technique I am going to use. It works. It took me 3 weeks and I know the articles of faith. Yes, I was familiar with them and that is very important but now I know which is which and what it really means in my own words.

The idea is to pair the article to a simple drawing. This is the TV I will pass out tomorrow and then we will fill in the pictures as we read through the Letter and pause to fill in the incidence proving each article of faith (5-12) . The object is to make a picture that comes to you when you read the article you're trying to remember. I hope it works!!



WE BELIEVE:
1. 3- The God Head; God, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost
2. A man (Adam) crossed out- Reminds me that we will be punished for our own sins not for Adams transgressions
3. An Angel- Reminds me that only through Jesus Christs Atonement can I be saved and receive salvation.
4. FiRst BeLieve- Reminds me of the FIRST ordinances of the gospel are; Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the Laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. Phone- Reminds me that men are called of God and then set apart by the laying on of hands to preach the gospel.
6. Chapel with an A for the roof, P's for the door, E for the stairs and T for the chapel cross- Reminds me that the church is organized the way the first church Christ organized was with Apostles, Prophets, Priests, Teaches, Evangelist, etc.
7. An Eye and Tongue- Reminds me that we believe in the gift of tonges, and interpretation of tongues, in visions, in revelations, etc.
8. A book with 2 B's and writing on one side- tells me we believe in the Bible as long as it is translated correctly to be the word of God and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
9. WOW with 10 cents in the O- Reminds me of the Word of Wisdom and the Law of tithing which were revealed to Joseph Smith; so we believe that God has relieved and will revile many things to build the kingdom of God.
10. A world with 10 people around it- Reminds me of the literal gathering of the 10 tribes of Israel, that Christ will come to rule the earth and the earth will receive its glory.
11. A brain inside a heart ( did you get that one LOL!)- Remind me that we love people so much that we allow and respect everyone to worship God with their own conscience, however and wherever they want to.
12. A crown- Reminds me that we believe in kings, presidents, majesties, and rulers and that we will obey the law of the land.
13. The TV entitled- Paul's All things HCB TV; We want to be honest, chaste, benevolent, trustworthy, and virtuous. We follow the admonition of Paul to believe in all things, hope in all things, to endure many things, and hope to endure all things. That we want do things of good report which include the things inside the TV.

So, what do you think? Will I be the laugh of the Relief Society? I hope it works and we all learn. I want to teach a new technique to the sisters that they can use many times in memorization. My goal is during time Christmas when they see an angel they are reminded that Jesus Christ died for them so they can receive Salvation as long as they live in accordance of the gospel!!

Wish me luck, its a tuff crowd! It's really a review day but I hope the spirit allows there to be truth heard in the hearts of every sister and that my approach never takes away any of that.

Tell me what you think?

New Fav's

Check Out More of Baby J!! here

Shampoo distress.

In February the haircut lady sold me on buying some shampoo from her! It actually worked wonders.(left) It moisturized and my hair was so healthy. The ginormous bottle lasted about 6 months and I started to feel like I needed a change, you know when your hair gets use to stuff. Anyways.

I tried to do the same kind of thing and I love the smell of bialoge and there was kind of a sale on this huge bottle. The thing is I HATE it! It leaves me hair dry and nasty and maybe I just need a hair cut to freshen up a bit but I'm so bummed because now I've got a big bottle to use up and suffer with for the next who knows how long. I'm going back to my trusty cheapy shampoo (right) or if I can't get back to a Fantastic Sam's.

What's your favorite shampoo?? Wanna trade??

Playing Catch Up.

I took a blog break. The computer makes me dizzy and headachy. Plus, I found myself writing and worrying about everyone else and not focusing on myself and my family. It almost makes me want to go private so my personal junk can stay personal and only the ones who love me love me will care to read. BUT then I figured not many people will see this anyways...

So, Here is July in a flash! I'll get back to journal writing and doing the stuff I wanna do no matter how dumb-ish. Enjoy!!

ADAM
...got in a car wreck picking my up from the temple in St. Louis.
It was raining and although he was going 10 miles under the speed limit the corner he took was unsafe. We know this because the place he was hydroplaning towards already had a car in the ditch. Two girls were getting out of the car and running away from the crazed Impala. Adam hit the railing and flipped upside down landing on top of the other car. Yea. It's not gonna help our insurance rate. Then we didn't do super wise car shopping and have a new lovely car payment to deal with. GREAT!!

...got a job at Shorty Small's a local restaurant.
He's great server and it is blessing us tremendously. He is working day and night and wasting away because he never eats, but as long as he's doing his part we're all happy right!


GLORIA
... is a new Relief Society Teacher and super excited to tackle her new calling!
Watch out ladies!! We're getting busy and active plus a little spark of energy! I'm really hoping the youngies realize how great the sisterhood of Relief Society is. I am most excited that I get to pay attention to a lesson at least once a month! Can October come any faster!?! I'm dropping the boy in nursery and not looking back!!

.. is crazy about the Bible.
I guess I was never taught the stories but I am engulfed in whose kid is who and how the families connect and reading the stories. I can read it for an hour and not know where the time went. Hopefully, I'll find the same love for the Book of Mormon. Don't think I'm too amazing. I am just finishing Genesis.. But I love it!! Who knew all these crazy things?

...is NINE weeks pregnant
Yep! and we are so excited! The estimated due date is March 13eth. This time around I haven't been as toilet sick but I have had headaches beyond anything. I get SO dizzy and I am ready for this too pass. It probably doesn't help that JoJO yells at the top of his lungs all day. I'm trying not to think about it too much. Everything is changing so fast and I don't want to have to remember I'm gonna be pregnant for another 200 days so something crazy like that!!

J
... might be the cutest toddler boy in the whole world!!




I know right!!??!!

... is getting tubes next MONDAY!
Darn those ear Infections. They won't leave my poor baby and his monster teething away! It hasn't effected his hearing. We're hoping he stops screaming so loud! and that he feels better!!

... Is an awesome BIG BOY BED sleeper!


My family is the BEST!!
Loves...