Exciting News!!!!

First Comes Love...

Then Comes Marriage...

Then Comes BABY #1...


We are so excited and happy! We are due June 21!!

Where has the time gone??

Oops, I am way behind on updating this! So sorry! I'll start back in August-Mark and I traveled to Maryland for a week and it was so good! I love going back. There were 2 things that made this trip extra special. The first, I got to see one of my favorite people that had recently moved out there while her husband did some training for the Army...NICHOLE!! It was so fun catching up with her and Devin. We went to the zoo, which lets just say Im glad we made it there (via the metro). Poor Mark got too hot and got sick on the way down, which made the people around us look disgustingly at us. But all in all it was a lot of fun. Below are some pictures from that day...




We were also able to drive to South Carolina with my family to see my brother Grant graduate from Marine boot camp! It was such a neat ceremony. It made me think back to Marks basic graduation. You really cant leave those type of things and not feel proud of our Country, the men and women who fight for our freedom, despite everything going on in the world. Way to go little bro, Im so proud of you!!!


Mark and I also planted some flowers in our front "area" to make it feel a little more homey-which I think it did just that, and looked pretty too!! We also bought a deep freezer, we got a really good deal on it and its a good thing we bought it because in just a couple weeks we will be getting a 150 pounds of cow :-)


Now last, but certainly not least!! We celebrated our one year anniversary at the end of August. Mark planned the whole thing, and he did a fabulous job!! We spent the night at the Anniversary Inn in the Mississippi Serenade room. It was so romantic and amazing!!!




We enjoyed a nice dinner at the Roof Top in Salt Lake-so fancy and again romantic!!




All in all it was a great summer! I promise there will be more to come soon!!

I promise I will update soon, there is tons to share! But for now, I'd like your help, click on the red right button and vote me as a Military Spouse.

Mark has been in the Army National Guard just over 2 years
His branch is the Army... (National Guard)
His base is the National Guard Base (their not stationed on a particular base)
and his command is also National Guard
and dont be fooled about the questions,they dont have to be long, just put in something nice :)

Oops...again

Alright, when I have (which will hopefully be soon) I will update this thing with pictures. We recently went to Maryland for a little vacation (it was so nice and enjoyable!) We then drove to South Carolina with my family to attend my brothers, Grant, Marine boot camp graduation. (It is so incredibly humid there!) It was really nice to see him. I am so proud of him and all the other men and women who sacrifice so much for my freedom.
We're celebrating our one year anniversary by going to Utah. Saturday we plan on going to 7 Peaks and then staying the night at the Anniversary Inn-I dont have many details because Mark booked it all and is trying to suprise me.
Lots of pictures and more details to come!!
Also, I want to go back to a public blog just because some people dont like all the logging in/missed some people/etc. However, with Mark facing deployment within the next year I think I woul feel more comfortable knowing exactly who was looking at this. Again, Im gonna ask for your opinions.
Hope everyone is having a good summer :-)

Going Private

Alright, since I apparently have some stalkers out there (California, again?!) Im going private in one week! Leave a comment with your email address please

Who are you?

A while back I saw a map counter on a friends blog and I was intrigued. I wanted to know who was looking at our blog-but really what citys/states/countries were looking at my blog. I looked at it today. Idaho Falls and Texas (if Im correct about where Haley is) didn't really surprise me. However, Canada did! I don't think I know anyone there. And to get more specific, Rio Linda CALIFORNIA and Laramie, WYOMING. So, speak up. Who are you? Do I know you and just don't realize where you are? Or are you a creep looking at our blog?
Going back to my earlier post about going private, I think there may be something to it if people don't step up and introduce themselves :-)

Oops

Ok, Im here, we're alive. Sorry for not posting! Nothing too exciting has been happening though-At work, I am now back up to full time (40 hours a week vs. the 30 hours a week I was working due to budget cuts). Its so nice! Mark has been participating in lots of funerals as part of Honor Guard. He leaves for gun training in a week and then 3 weeks later he goes to AT. What else can I say? My mother and sister in-laws just got back from Europe. We are thinking about going on a cruise with some good friends (Steph, what did Jeff say?!). It would all depend on how much time I could take off from work, schedules, etc. We'll see. Hope life is going well for you all, I'll try to keep this up to date a little better :-P

Fancy Schmancy Design

I saw this on Allys blog and thought it was cute and a "why not" moment. I wish I could be more crafty. Oh well, I guess thats one reason you have cute crafty friends :-)

Just a quick note

Im thinking about going private with the blog-I know, something I said I would probably not do. I havent decided anything for sure yet, but to be safe, leave a comment with your email address...

Playing catch up!

Looks like its been a while since I've updated this. These first pictures are from way back in January when we were in Disney World!


I absolutely loved spending time with Marks family! Some day we'll have a sweet car like the one above.
Next up is Easter. It was Mark and I's first Easter really together. I was a little nervous because I was going to be making Easter dinner. But I'm happy to report it turned out absolutely amazing!! Thanks to all those who provided recipes (Mom, Charly...)


And last but certainly not least was Steph and Jeffs wedding in Salt Lake. It was nice to get away for a little vacation. It was a beautiful ceremony. Congrats you two!

Loving married life!

I know this late, but I've been busy. Mark made Valentine's Day very special for me and for us as a couple! It all started on Friday while I was at work. I was doing an intake and went to get the equipment for the patient. When I came back to my desk, I found this:

A dozen roses! 6 red, and of course 6 purple roses! It absolutely made my day-and made my desk smell and look gorgeous!! I thought things couldnt get better. Well, I was wrong. I came home and found this:

Deliscous chocolate covered strawberries! Oh they were good! While I was enjoying them up in the clouds, oblivious to anything going on around, Mark was busy setting this up:

Valentines day was absolutely perfect!! We went to the Temple and then enjoyed a yummy lunch at Olive Garden. All in all, I could not ask for a more perfect husband than Mark!!

Yummy Pancakes

Ok, first, dont worry, Mark made Valentines day absolutely wonderful (full story coming next post.) Until then, if you want a simple, but delicious pancake recipe, try this. Yummy! Thats all I have time for now...

Snow!

I use to like snow. Snow in Maryland meant no school, sledding, hot chocolate, fun times equals good times/memories. Oh the good times. However, now that I am living in Idaho, I despise snow! Once it starts, it doesn't stop for months. Granted, snow is not the real problem; the roads are not PROPERLY plowed. I know we live in a farming community, however, roads are not farm land and therefore should be plowed with the proper equipment. Next, because the roads are not cleared well, it turns to ice and therefore makes it extremely slippery, which then makes difficult to drive on and therefore makes me sad/scared/frustrated. And last, but certainly not least, the oh so freezing...or should I say below freezing temperatures. This morning when Mark went to work out with the Army ROTC group it was -32!!! That is just wrong. But none the less, I am here and will be here for one more winter after this, then onto new adventures.
Ok. thats all for now. Sorry to be so down, I do like Rexburg most of the time :-) I am grateful though to be here with Mark and to have him in my life as my husband. Im also grateful for my job during our economys hard time. Alright, its bed time...5:30 comes early.

I've been tagged...

Crazy 8's

I was tagged by my friend Ally:

My 8 Favorite Restaurants:

1-Applebee's
2-Craigo's
3-Olive Garden
4-Cheesecake Factory
5-Phillips Crabhouse
6-Silver Diner
7-Thai House
8-Red Lobster

My 8 Favorite T.V. shows:
1-Law and Order SVU
2-NCIS
3-The Bachelor
4-The Bachelorette (Im running low...)
5-Gilmore Girls
6- Jon and Kate Plus 8
7- Amry Wives
8- Wedding Story

8 things I did yesterday:
1-Worked out
2-Went to work
3-Shopping
4-Watched a movie
5-Made cookies with my husband
6-Showered
7-Relaxed after work with Mark (so nice after a crazy week!)
8-Made breakfast


8 Things I am looking forward to:
1-Going shooting with the Richters
2-Adopting a kitten
3-Seeing my family
4-Seeing Marks family
5-Mark graduating
6-Mark going active duty
7-Relaxing this weekend
8-Winter being over

8 wishes:
1-I wish that my house would clean it self
2-I wish money wasn't so important
3-I wish I could see family more often
4-I wish that everything didn't cost money
(I know that goes with wish 2 but I still wish it)
5-I wish for good health all the time for me and my family
6-To have a home where love and Christ are ever present
7-For people in this world to be more understanding
8-Mark to be safe while being in the army

People I tag:
1. Bethany 2. Jessica P 3. Lindsay 4. Teresa 5. Amanda 6. and new to the blogging world, Catherine

wow wow wow

I dont know where the time has gown, but as a good friend so kindly mentioned, I need to update my blog (Thanks Teresa!) We'll start with our move. We have moved into a bigger apartment...and love it! (Once things are completely organized, we'll post pictures.) We have great neighbors and am glad about that! Because Mark has training today, I go to church by myself. But, my great neighbors upstairs knocked on my door and sat by me in church. They are super nice!
Christmas, After about a 2 hour delay we made it to Maryland with my family. Things were a little crazy, but it was nice to be there. My mom is fostering this dog who use to be abused. He and I did not hit off well. He bit me (after I had put on a brand new shirt that I bought the day before!) and then ate part of the heel off a pair of shoes. Cole (the dog) and I were beginning to be friends about 2 days before I left. We then headed off to Florida on New Years Day. A little family reunion was held at Disney World. It was beautiful-80 degrees and sunny everyday! On the 5 we headed back to Rexburg, only to be stopped by a snow storm, 3 dozen accidents, and taking way too long (2+ hours to get from SLC to Bountiful). We stayed the night in Utah and Tuesday morning we were able to make back.