Happy Graduation Day!

Missouri State University
Degree: Spanish- Minor:Latin American Studies

Hurray!! We are so happy you did it!You did it!!!!!!

Now, A gets to STUDY!!!! He's applying for Optometry school and prepping for the OAT!

Happy Birthday Pop!

We'll the hubs had another birthday! I was looking back and I can't believe how much he has grown! :)
Sadly, this was the first year that I didn't make him his favorite German Chocolate Cake. I was just not in the baking mood.

Yum! Pop!!

 I did steal this cute idea for his gift. A loves to study and drink pop. It's like his energy booster! I thought getting them in all different shapes and styles was super cute! I would have changed the root beer phrase to " I'm always Root-in' for you!" So, they are all about him! But either way check them out on her page, stinkin' cute!

Nail It!

When my husband was really searching into what he wanted to study and what he was interested in his brother told him he needed to hammer a nail on the wall, and once he decides which path he wants to take keep going and don't let anything stop you. Anytime there is a rejection in life, a bad grade, or anything that could discourage him and his career path his is suppose to is to stick it on the nail, and forget about it.

I made this for him a few months back! If you look closely the bulls-eye has his nail in it! It's perfect and all since he wants to study Optometry! :) He decided to hang it on the wall, although I think it would work great on the desk if more things keep piling up! He has managed to not have much to stick on it.

In a couple months he will have one huge step down and accomplish several more steps just by the end of the year! Go A!! You're doing amazing! I'm excited for you, I love your enthusiasm, and I'm proud of what you've been able to accomplish so far!

Huge XoXo!!!

Our 'stolen' Father's Day Gifts!!

 This year I finally took time to do something crafty for Adam, instead of our homemade cards which usually get broken, forgotten, and tossed. I had quick inspiration from strangers I sneak in on! Plus, I got my $5 gift from Kohls, and knew I needed to get Adam a small new pocket wallet!! Along with his new bank cards which were ruined from the heat, in his car! He will probably love that the best!

stolen idea from My Computer is My Canvas

Stolen Idea from No Time for FlashCards

 This bookmark is perfect for him! I chose to do a bookmark, a big one for school books because when school comes around we all get stressed out from over studying, time away, and procrastination!! (atleast thats how I see it! shh!!) The house just falls apart. I have to remember only 6 more years to go, it won't last forever, although it feels like it!!
I wish it didn't have to be so stressful, sometimes I don't think it should make him crazy like it does, but we all deal with things differently! This reminds him why he works so hard, and that it is all worth it!! The poem makes me cry about every time I read it!

Shrinky Dink is so much fun!

Dad, We Love You!!

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!

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...

Quart Life Crisis.

Happy 25th Birthday

Day on the Lake.

Memorial Weekend was our first trip out on the lake here in Branson. It was very beautiful! There was a bit of over cast which turned into a horrible freezing cold, fast as lightening, hard as rocks rain storm. It pretty much crashed the party. However, before the rain came it was nice being out on the lake. Adam got me into the lake. I am terrified of merky waters.

When I lived in Florida I would cross a huge lake everyday on the school bus. I would look over and I would see tons of allegator bodies just floating on top. So, I associate lakes to alligators which is probably so far from the truth here in the Table Rock Lake. The last time I was out in a lake was at the filthy Utah lake. While waiting for the boat to start & hooked up to the wake board I had a mini panic attack. Trying to talk myself out of the scariness of where I was.

Anyways- Adam got me in to the lake and he put me in the middle of the tube. Then he was going to sit or lay on the side with me. While he was getting in he tipped me over! I got so freaked out, I feel like a horrible example of braveness to the little kiddies on board. After a few seconds it wasn't as bad I just still wanted to get out.I did how ever get back on to the tube as long at Adam came too. I layed this time and he hung on over the edge. Adam worked really hard to stay on and I am grateful he stuck around to protect me!

I'm excited to go back out this summer.. I'm really just looking forward to a sun tan!

Change & Challenge

Ok, I am ready to talk about it.

Adam enlisted in the Navy this past January. He has a ship date set in September. Adam choose his #2 job choice just to get in so he could take a test to get the language job he wants. We are still waiting for the other job so we can switch. We kind of felt abandoned, and set aside on the switch. Our 1st choice isn't as important to them as it is to us. Already feeling the effects of the Navy running and choosing our live style. I am not talking bad about our choice because we are very excited! We planned to do something. This was a big step and it is filled with security and stability. Enlisting was plan C, all of the other plans fell through and we kind of settled on this because he wants to please me and give me stability, give me some road to the future. We have been pumping ourselves up for this step and then... PLAN D comes along. Since plan D has booted up the Navy has been a little more persistent. Weird how that happens.

Maybe plan A & B didn't work out because Heavenly Father doesn't want us on the military path. Military is hard on the family and we really have a very different view on how we want to spend our lives together. Plan D: We are moving to MISSOURI in less than a month. Adams best friend invited him to be a partner in his new growing company. Yes, that sounds a little nuts, especially in the time we live in right now. Yes, we have prayed about it and will continue to pray about it. We truly want to follow the path that Heavenly Father wants for us. We know that these big decisions are so hard. It's the "both are good, one is better" fork in the road decision. There is a particular job right now in the business that we are hoping to get and that everything will turns out right. We have faith and a warming feeling that if we don't get IT something else will come but we'd really like it to happen sooner than later. We would love it if you could pray for this and for us.

Adam finishes school May 7th and we are going house shopping that following week. We are going to give this a try for the summer and we still have to option to ship out in September if our feelings change. Like I said we have faith and a comfortable feeling about this move. We are very excited and we need warm fuzzies sent our way for such a big change and challenge!!

I'll keep you posted. Hopefully, I will get back to my blogging self. I needed a little break! Lots on my to-do list.

How Can I Live Without You?

I get anxiety pretty easily. It keeps me up at night the day before anything BIG is going to happen. I always have to wait for Adam to come home from work before I can feel comfortable going to sleep. If he is running late I begin to freak out. I start worrying about which hospital I have to go to because of his horrible car accident. Then that leads to how I will survive without him? Where will we burry him, where will I live afterwards? How will I be a single mother and will I ever get remarried?

Any time we are apart I have these horrible feelings. We've been married two years since yesterday MARCH 16th! When does this go away!? I think I could do it. I believe I have a great privilege of knowing and understanding death. Sure, it would feel sad and alone but I received my education and I could provide for my family.

When I was in Utah I met a woman who had been married for a couple of years and had just had her second baby when her husband got into a horrible accident and died. The family had money and she was able to stay with her children while they were young and then taught school afterwards. At 50 something she still never re-married. I know that it is not good to be alone, but I think I could wait for my sweetheart. Earth time isn't really that long. ( Adam says he'll get remarried). Adam makes me a better person, I don't know how I could live without him.

I am hoping these feelings are normal. However, these attacks need to calm down a little bit in case he has a career which takes him away for a long period of time. I need to find comfort knowing he will not leave me. How grateful we are to live in a time with the technology we have to stay connected!

Yesterday was our SECOND anniversary. Although it felt like a LOT of things have happened it wasn't that long ago when I was sealed to my loving husband for time and all eternity! I truly belong in his family. We belong together.. Whenever I question or get mad at him, my soul reminds me that she NEEDS his soul. Our spirits are much more connected then any part of us. How grateful I am to have met the one who my soul loves the most. Kisses to Adam for being a great husband even with ALL the grief I give him day in and day out! Thanks for sticking to your deal and loving me more than anyone actually needs to be loved. I came with quite the challenge.. keep up the good work! I love you!!

Here is to the first two years of our AMAZING journey ahead!

Washing Machine Oops!

It was done with good intentions!
I was not trying to be malicious.

*My great husband worked in mud and gunk all summer and now works in grease and oils. He needs his clothes washed about every other day.We have a little "stinky storage box" near his closet to store his clothes until he needs to wash it in the morning. He doesn't want to mix them with our other laundry, which is such a generous thought!

However- For some reason there is ALWAYS clothes in places that he doesn't want to mix in. He just makes stacks of clothes and when I am cleaning up at night I just transfer those random stacks to the hamper. I don't care if there clean or not, they get placed somewhere so there not everywhere.

Well, twice in 6 months I thought I would be a nice wife and do his work laundry so they would be ready for him when he needed to go to work. This would be such a wonderful surprise for him and he won't have to feel rushed to get them clean.

Last time I did this he left his work phone in the pocket and it was completely ruined. You'd think I would check for these things, but I didn't. Today his stinky clothes was not in his "stinky box" it was just thrown all around it, and I didn't want J playing in it, or around it, so I just picked everything (including his coat) and hauled it down to the laundry room. I thought it would be so nice to get his coat washed and nice and warm because it has been so dreadfully cold lately. So, I dropped all his stinky clothes in the washer and I took off a belt I saw on one of the pants, and got them started.

I told Adam he needed to switch his laundry over and I have never seen him this mad before. He freaked out! HIs paycheck and W2 was in his coat pocket, and another pair of pants had a belt on it still. I didn't care to check, I figured you don't keep those things laying around everything has a place and this time it was the washer. Maybe its my fault I didn't check and I don't wash my clothes all flipped right side out. (another dumb thing). You just don't leave important things laying around in stinkiness. Dang- Its not like I did it on purpose!

What is your worse washing machine story??!?

Top Tier

We finally got back to St. Louis and REMEMBERED to get our cake out of someone's freezer. We were in Utah for our first anniversary and while our cake defrosted on the drive home we decided it probably couldn't & shouldn't last for two years. So, here it is, OUR WEDDING CAKE TOP! "Almost" two years! Adam says it tastes like new! mMMm.. Good thing I'm on a diet, a bite was good enough for me!


Save the date: March 16, 2009 will be our 2nd anniversary!

I LOVE YA BABE!

2:00 Today

He is out the door and ready for his interview! This is a big step for us and we need lots of prayers and good luck wishes! Atleast Adam does.. Good Luck Babe!!




NO wonder so many people mistake him as a girl.. Look at his eyes, he's just so pretty!

"L" is for the way you look at me...

I love my husband and he loves me. He works so hard to make me happy! Everyday he is always so excited to see me and he can't wait to hold me or talk to me. I am really blessed. I have decided that I have been going at this being poor thing all wrong. I can't want everything RIGHT NOW! Getting there is half the fun and these will truly be the best days!

We sure can LOVE each other when we try.

This has been the hardest month of our marriage. Money has been SO tight, ok non- exsitent. Which really makes things difficult. I have been trying really hard to make little sacrifices. I really hope my efforts are being noticed. Once Adam returned to the resturant after quiting his "dream job" (which turned out to be a nighmare). He was recommmended for the opening management position. Five people were interview the same day. Then the husband talks to his wife and they pray about it. Later that day Adam found out he got the job. It was really exciting!! I really hope he loves it. It will help us tons with baby and schooling. Anyways- You can't help but grown closer to one another when you don't have anything else. Adam loves me and I love him. That's the ONLY thing that matters, I guess.
Money is so yucky. However, this experience HAS made us stronger. I really got into a good habit of reading my scripture, which i needed badly. I've love reading them and i just got to 2nd Nephi, YIKES. Never give UP, right??!!
One a side note: I have complained about our neighbor's smoking for months. It seeps into our house. I can't even walk into the kitchen it gets so bad. The management told me they were getting an eviction notice last weekend and all week they have smoked us out. We can't take it anymore, it's not fair. I don't know else I can do. I don't mind my apartment, I know they are old and cheap but the smoke smell is a problem. I hope it gets solved fast.

Question: Is it neccessary to take a pre-labor class?? Can I learn all I need to know some other way, and is it ok to just swing it?? I need some advice and quick tips.

Our First Valentine

Valentines Day in elementary school is so much fun! I came home with lots of goodies! Then my mom gave us a little gift of money to go out to a special dinner. THANKYOU MOMMA!! So, Adam and I went to RED LOBSTER. I was CRAVING crab legs. I told him we should have left at 4, not 5. He bought dollar movie tickets for 7:30 and we waited for a hour and a half before we got sat. It was worth every second. We shared coconut shrimp, walts shrimp, brocolli, and crab legs!!! YUMM-O. I really showed my east coast skills at dinner. I broke that crab up, and didn't leave a single scrap of meat. Adam was so cute and clueless on what to do first! So, I helped him out some. Just talking about it makes me salavate for lemon and butter. Needless to say, we missed the movie. However, we were able to return the tickets and get some for the 10:30 showing. We went home and fell asleep. OOPS!!! Maybe it's not too late to return those too.
For Christmas my grandma gave us a Wal-Mart gift card so we bought our gifts with that. I made Adam a cute pop-up valentine. The princess kisses the frog and they spend their lives in the pond on a heart shaped lily. It was cute. I bought him an Almond Joy, Airheads, a planner for his NEW JOB!!!!, and black ankle socks. This boy loves to wear his white socks with his dress up shoes to work and church. So, I tried to help him out some! In return, I got a rose, a huge chocolate bar ( I don't do the mystery stuff), and a fancy bubbly drink. It was sweet, but to fall asleep on your first Valentines together--SAD!!