2011

Here are some of things we did/happened in 2011 WARNING: Picture overload.
January:

Broke my toe

Helped in the kitchen

Cried when mama sang

Family photshoot

 February:

Burnt my hand

Started holding his own bottle

Went bowling

Celebrated Valentines day

Celebrated Mack's 11th birthday

March:

Double date with B&J

Played with T-man

Went to the zoo with B&J

Played at the park

Got new couches

Played with cutie cousin

April:

Watched dada bbq

Family portraits by the amazing Morgan 

Went to supecross

Celebrated Rob's 24th birthday

Tried to go blonde

But decided on red ;)

May:

Started sitting up on his own

Celebrated 2 years of marriage

Made gummy faces

Cut T-mans hair

Went to a Mariners game with B&J

Went to family day at Rob's work

Saw the Tulips

Got stuck in his crib

June:

Played with cousins in Utah

More cousin time

Drove up the canyon in Utah

Chilled with Great Grandma and Haylee on the swing

Verrry tired after driving ALL night to Utah

Sprouted some teeth!!

Nannied this little lovebug

Took a bath in the sink

July:

Watched a movie in the bathtub 

Adopted a bunny

Bought a motorcycle 

In Colorado with Rob's fam

Hung out with Grandma

Got kisses from cousin L

Ate a huge pizza

Chilled with Poppa 

August:

Got blocked from the kitchen....

After I climbed into the dishwasher

Pulled things off mamas shelf

Sprouted more teeth!

September:

Took a picture on the kitchen floor

Hung out at target

Had daddy come see us while he was at work

Got into mamas things

October:

Took silly pictures

Went to Utah for Dad's wedding

Enjoyed lots of family time

Dressed up as a doggy for halloween

And a banana

Enjoyed the park

Celebrated Car's first birthday!!

Loved some birthday cake

Celebrated my 22nd birthday

November:

Didn't like his puffy coat

Cut down our Christmas tree

Destroyed his room in about 10 seconds

Showed off his perfect smile :)

December:

Enjoyed some chocolate chips

Thought Santa was a weirdo

Sat on a stretcher at Dada's work

Played Xbox with dada

Tried to climb over the gate

Christmas morning

Merry Christmas!!

2011 was a great year!! We had so much fun! Carson made it so amazing! We are so looking forward to 2012 and the exciting changes it will bring to our family!! Wishing you all a very happy and safe new year!! May 2012 be filled with love and happiness!!

I was completely and utterly in love. It's funny because most people, in most situations fall in love after they start dating. Not us. We obviously couldn't date. We couldn't talk on the phone, we couldn't be alone, we couldn't touch. The only time I really saw him or talked to him was at church or when we had them over for dinner and a spiritual thought. Still, I could see how amazing he was. Everything about him just amazed me. His testimony, his love for the gospel, the love for his family, his interests, his voice, his eyes, everything. The most amazing thing was how strong the spirit was when he was around. Things were constantly confirming that he was the one for me and that I just had to be patient.

 I struggled  with this. Not because I was impatient, but because I honestly didn't believe that some one as incredible and him could every have feelings for me. Little did I know, he was having the same feelings too. He obviously could not act upon those feelings. He is so honest. My missionary went to his mission president and told him that he need to be moved to another area because he was in love with a girl in his ward. His mission president was very understanding and loving and he transferred him 2 weeks later. I was so happy that he did the right thing. The last thing I wanted was for him to get in trouble, especially since we didn't even do anything bad. We developed feelings in the most innocent way. We were both praying about it every night and we were both receiving the same answer. "Everything will work out but you need to finish your mission/school." I was devastated when he moved areas. I would miss seeing him walking around town with his companion, miss hearing him bear his testimony in church, miss how awesome he was with my little brother and really really miss how strongly I felt the spirit around him. The spirit that would tell me that this man was going to be my husband.

I new he was the one for me and I knew that I would wait for him. 

February 18, 2008

That was the day that changed my life. For the better of course. It all started with a knock on the door....
I had just got home from working 7 hours by myself at the preschool I was teaching at. I was starving so I stopped at Micky D's before I went home. I was sitting at the kitchen table, stuffing my face when that knock came. Did I answer the door? No way. I was busy eating. Mom answered it. All of the sudden, I see two missionaries walking down the hallway. The first one I see is crazy tall. Like almost 7 feet and not very cute. The other one I see is absolutely stunning. Can I use that word to describe a man? Anyway, he is so hot and I have a hard time not staring at him. I quickly stand up to meet them, hoping the cute one didn't see me inhaling my artery clogging meal. The first one introduces himself. When the other one introduces himself and shakes my hand I am immediately overcome with such a strong, spiritual feeling. I knew that this was going to be the man I was going to marry. 
 At this point in my life I had been really hurt by men. Men I had dated and also my own father. I remember crying and praying asking Heavenly Father why I had to go through those things and telling him I was afraid it was just going to happen again and that I didn't think I could ever trust again. The feeling I got from that prayer was, "It's all going to be okay, Mandy. Don't worry."  It wasn't long after that I met my future husband. 
 After the missionaries left and I said to my mom "I love him." I remember thinking, what now? What and I supposed to do with this? He is a MISSIONARY! I can't have feelings for a missionary! He is totally off limits for 2 years! 


...Stay tuned for more of the story....

Do you know?

Do you know our love story? You probably know bits and pieces of it. Well, I am going to share it. I am going to tell you about how

This

 Plus this

 Eventually equaled

 This

And then this

And finally THIS!

So stay tuned!!

Happenings lately

We got our Christmas tree. One thing I love about living in Washington is all the u-cut tree farms they have. It is such a fun family tradition. And the smell of fresh cut tree filling the house? Delicious! Carson has been pretty good about not touching it too. He'll go sit in front of it and say, "No no no!" We only have ornaments on the top half to keep him less tempted. I put the left over ornaments in some clear vases and have those sitting on our kitchen table. It looks really cute and festive!  I just love Christmas time. The lights, the smells, the magical feeling of the season, the music, being secretive about gifts, the nutcracker, cuddling up with only the Christmas tree lights on, sipping hot chocolate, giving, remembering Christ and getting chills every time you think of the true meaning of CHRISTmas.

In other news, we're getting a house!! We got the call yesterday that our offer was accepted. This process has taught Rob and I so much. Mainly patience and faith. It gets hard waiting and waiting to hear back and it could be really easy to just give up and think negatively but with faith everything will work out. I am so grateful to have a husband that has the same wants in life as me. As we were out looking for houses our Realtor told us that we are really compatible.  We have the same likes and wants. I think we make a pretty good team too :) We are beyond excited to have our own house. We are so looking forward to making memories there and growing our family. I have visions of Rob and I sitting on a swing on our back deck watching our children playing in the yard, picking up sticks and finding bugs, visions of them waking us up on Christmas morning and   Rob and I making them go potty before they can go see if Santa came. I picture Carson trying to climb up the shelves in the storage room. I can't wait to watch my manly man build shelves for our garage, wearing a tool belt. Yum ;) We are just so grateful. Heavenly Father knows us and he most definitely hears ours prayers.