Birthday Girl!

Last weekend my little girl turned 3! I can't believe how fast time has gone. It seemed like not very long ago I was pregnant and thought that she would never come out. This was her first year celebrating her birthday in Utah surrounded by family. Her birthday was on Saturday so we had planned to go swimming at the indoor Lehi pool. She invited all of her cousins and couldn't wait to have her party. I had asked her what she wanted for her birthday and all she would say was that she wanted a white and purple ball. I don't know why she wanted this but she had seen a white and purple ball at Old Navy a month ago and couldn't get it out of her mind.
We all went swimming and when Belle saw the water she got a little nervous. She doesn't like to get her face wet and she is not the biggest fan of water, but she is the one that wanted to go swimming. She had a fun time after she got in. There was a big bucket that filled with water and then dumped out. As long as we stayed away from the bucket she was alright. All of the other kids had a blast.
She had a Mickey Mouse birthday cake and then opened presents. She got lots of fun games and toys and her white and purple ball! The weekend before we celebrated with the Brown family in Ephraim and we had a party then too. She got a baby that gets sick and a couple more games.We are so grateful for our beautiful little girl and that she is in our family.



She was happy to get out!











Happy Birthday to Isabelle!


This morning when Isabelle woke up she said to me, "Mom, am I still 3?" Wouldn't it be great to be 3 again?

HAPPY VALENTINES!

Another thing I LOVE....is my wonderful husband! We have been married for almost 5 years and I can't remember what it was like to not have him in my life. We have had so much fun together and have been through so much. I LOVE that is he so smart and that he always wants to keep learning. He is so good to me and always supports me in whatever I do or say. I LOVE that he is such a great dad to Isabelle. I LOVE that he works so hard for us and that he works extra so that I don't have to work. I LOVE that I can trust him with anything and that I can tell him anything. I know that 5 years is only the beginning of a marriage but I am so glad that I have been able to spend the last 5 years with him and I look forward to spending the rest of eternity with him. I LOVE you Todd!

I LOVE....Isabelle! She is the light of my life. I LOVE how she makes me laugh, teaches me patience, and is always so loving and forgiving. I LOVE how this morning when I said, " Happy Valentines!" she looked up at me with big blue eyes and said, " I"m so excited!" I LOVE how she thought that my attempt at heart pancakes this morning was the coolest thing ever. And I LOVE how in the middle of the day for no reason she will come up to me and say, " Mom, I Love you!" I LOVE you too, Isabelle!

I LOVE.....my family! I LOVE how my family is close and that we all get along and want to spend time with each other. I LOVE that my parents are not the greatest parents but they are wonderful grandparents too. I LOVE how my parents have always supported me in my life. I LOVE and appreciate them so much! I LOVE my two sisters and brother and their families and the great examples they are to me. I LOVE that we live close to my family so that we can see them often. I LOVE you Mom and Dad!

I LOVE....Todd's family! I LOVE that I have great in-laws. I LOVE that they are always so generous to us and that they support us. I LOVE that they raised a great man that I choose to marry. I LOVE that they are great grandparents. I LOVE their example and am so glad that we get along and that I am comfortable when I am with them. I LOVE that even when life gets tough they are always an example of strength. I LOVE you Steve and Penny!

HAPPY VALENTINES EVERYONE!

I LOVE...

Another thing that I absolutely LOVE is where I live. I LOVE living in Utah. After living out of the state for a few years and then coming back I realize how much I LOVE where we live. I do have to admit that there are other great and beautiful places in the world, but I LOVE it here. Some people would probably want to argue with me but I think this is one of the most beautiful places. I LOVE how we have all four seasons. I LOVE how in the winter it feels so good to stay at home, eat a good bowl of hot soup and relax. I LOVE looking at untouched snow and how it sparkles. I LOVE the spring time when trees are blossoming and new animals are being born. I LOVE how when you can go outside with just a light jacket on. I LOVE summer! I LOVE summer nights and listening to the crickets chirp. I LOVE going camping and doing all the fun things outside. I LOVE to open my windows and feel the summer breeze. I LOVE fall and seeing the rainbow of colors on the mountain side. I LOVE when it is just cold enough that a little bomb fire will keep you warm. I LOVE the smell and sound of leaves falling to the ground. I LOVE having the beautiful majestic mountains that surround us. I LOVE that we have such easy access to the mountains.
I LOVE that I live in a free country and that I am able to live the way that I do. I LOVE that people sacrifice for me everyday so that I can live this way. I LOVE that fact that so many people have fought and are still fighting for our freedom. I LOVE that!
There are a few things that I might complain about every once in a while but I could never say that I don't like living here. I LOVE IT!

A Great Idea!

I got this idea from one of my friends blogs and thought it was a great idea! If any of you want to join in on this idea go right ahead. With it being the week of Valentines Day I am going to blog everyday about something/someone I LOVE.....

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

I have had many great friends in my life and am so grateful to all of them. I don't know what I would do without friends. I am going to list some of my Best Friends and why I LOVE them so much.

Sara and Lisa- My best friends in High School. Although we were involved in many different things and our lives were going in many different directions we always seem to make time for each other. When ever we got together it didn't matter what we were doing we always had a blast. They understood me and accepted me no matter what I did or didn't do. I learned from them to have fun and to just go with the flow. I learned how to be honest and to share my feelings with them. Even now years after High School we keep in touch and see each other often and I LOVE that.

Jana- My best friend and roommate in college. We both came from different places and were thrown into a college apartment. When we both didn't have family around and were in a new situation we became fast friends. I learned how to work hard from her, but that we needed to have fun also. I LOVE how she would always fall asleep in a movie. I LOVE how we both married Ephraim boys. I LOVE how I could tell her anything and she would make me feel better. And I LOVE that I got to spend two years living with her.


Brooke- My best friend in Las Vegas. When we got into pharmacy school I was so nervous to move to Nevada. I prayed every night that I would find just one friend, then I would be okay. Brooke was my friend. I LOVE how nice and welcoming she was to me. I learned how to be a better mom from her. I learned how to be more patient and understanding. I learned how to be more organized because of her. I LOVE how I could walk across the street to her house. I LOVE how I could leave Isabelle with her and I totally trusted her. I LOVE how we scrapbooked, went for a walk, went shopping or just visited. She was definitely an answer to my prayers and I will always LOVE her.


Alice- My best friend in Las Vegas. After Brooke moved I found another great friend. Even though Alice is many years older than me I learned very much from her. She taught me to not be afraid to share my testimony of the gospel with her. She taught me to stand up for what I believed in and to be understanding when someone else had different beliefs. She taught me how to cook better and how to spend little moments with Isabelle. She opened my eyes and made me realize that there are many wonderful people out there that don't belong to our church. I LOVE when Alice would give me a big hug. I LOVE her New York accent. I LOVE how she was so giving to others and never wanted anything in return.

Allen Family/ Wright Family/ Phillapenis Family- Our best friends in our Las Vegas ward. These couples were our family when our families weren't around. I learned dedication from these families. I learned how to have fun as a couple from them. I learned how to lean on each other when we needed to. My testimony grew stronger because of these families. I LOVE all of the fun memories that I have with these families. I LOVE how we would get together often and laugh and have goodies.

Amy- My best friend in Las Vegas and in Utah. I met Amy in Las Vegas but we both moved back to Utah at the same time. I am so grateful for Amy and all she does for me and Isabelle. I learned unselfishness and kindness. I have learned how to be a better mom and wife from Amy. I LOVE how she is always so good with Isabelle. I LOVE how she thinks about me and calls me when she finds a great place to visit or a great sale. I LOVE how we have been in the same situation and we can relate to each other.

Friends in the ward- I am so grateful to all of my friends in the ward. They have all been so welcoming. I have learned to be more accepting from them. I am so grateful to all of them for their great examples. I LOVE that I can go to playgroup and visit and share stories with them. I LOVE seeing familiar faces at church every week. I LOVE how we are women of the church trying to do our best in our own lives.

To all of my other friends out there that I didn't mention. I LOVE you and thank you for your friendship. Like I have said before I am so blessed to have had such great friends in my life. These are just a few of my many best friends. I LOVE my family but I am also so grateful for wonderful friends who have touched my life.