Best Ever!

Do you know what the best feeling in the world is??



When you feel your baby move for the first time! I absolutely love it! I am soooo excited to be a mom!!

Prego: Not the spagetti sauce.

(Not our actual baby...but you get the idea)

Ha ha ha Clayton cleverly made up the title. I am so proud of my soon to be daddy for a husband. Yes you heard that right we are officially announcing that our baby will be due March 8, 2010!
It has definitely been a roller coaster ride for the first three months but things are starting to finally calm down so we thought we would let everyone in on the BIG news. There will of course be more updates to come but we are so excited and just wanted to let everyone know:)

The Moment That Changed My Entire Life.....

It was August 28, 2008 I was kneeling over an alter looking at a man that I loved. I knew what I was about to do. I was going to promise my eternity to a man that had walked into my life only a few short months ago. I was giving all of myself in hopes that he would do the same. It was a forever changing moment. No matter which way I looked at him or this moment I knew one thing for sure: He is the love of my life. I knew that for eternity we would be together, and that made me cry. I am the luckiest girl in the world I thought.

Now fast forward exactly one year later. Do I still feel the same way? ABSOLUTELY. This past year has been the most incredible year of my life. Everyone says that the first year is the hardest, well if that is true than our life and eternity together is going to be amazing. I have never thought that I could so deeply and intimately love someone as I do my husband. He is the most incredible person I have ever known, and he is going to be the most amazing father;)

There have been many moments in my life that have changed my life. The greatest being when my best friend, the love of my life promised to be with me for eternity. We get to celebrate that moment today.

Happy Anniversary Babe! I love you!!!

The Time Traveler's Wife

I absolutely love this book and I cannot wait till the movie comes out. I am not afraid to admit that when I saw the preview on Saturday night (we saw The Proposal- loved it!) that I pretty much bawled the entire preview. It is an incredible book. However it does have some language and a few scenes but if you can get past that I promise it will be a favorite.

Audrey Niffenegger is an incredible author and she absolutely brings the characters to life. They become real people with real emotions. With every page you can feel the emotion the love, the hate, and especially the sorrow. I am definitely planning on re-reading the book before the movie comes out!

It comes to theaters August 14, 2009 I will be waiting first in line.

Romania Needs YOU!

As most of you already know I spent a semester in Iasi, Romania. It was one of the most amazing, sacred, and unbelievable experiences of my entire life. The program just had to cancel its Fall 2009 semester because of lack of volunteers. If you have ever had a desire to serve, to do something to change a life, please consider serving in Romania. These children are incredible. Please give of your time and give them a better life. I know I definitely sound a little intense but I know, I have been there, the effects that not having the interns in the orphanage will have on the children.

Please help. PS you dont have to go to BYU to go to Romania.

Here is some info on the program:
http://kennedy.byu.edu/isp/isp.php?id=230

There will also be having info meetings on June 3 at 4 p.m. and June 4 ant 11 a.m. in 257 HRCB (the Kennedy Center)

T.I.A.

This is AFRICA or wait AMERICA!!!

One of my best friends in the entire world just finished up a long 6 months in Africa. She flies in tonight at 9:30 pm. I cannot wait.
She has been such an inspiration to me and I am so proud of her for going to Africa and sacrificing so much of her life to help. She truly is amazing and I love her so much!

Welcome Home Lees!

*** Read about all of her amazing adventures at: http://leahsamazingadventures.blogspot.com/*******

Black Susan is for SALE, to a good home:(

My 2001 Hyndai Elantra is for sale. Also called Black Susan. I know many of you are thinking, "WHAT!". Well Black Susan is my pride and joy. She was my first child. Yet I must put her up for adoption. Clayton and I are planning on buying a house and we need to free up some funds.

For those interested she is currently listed on KSL:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=&nid=443&tab=list/view&ad=1235096


P.S. I had an amazing Birthday. Post to come:)

Conference

I love CONFERENCE! I love that I was able to stay home ALL day and just lounge around listening to the speakers.

However I am not home alone......I am a Priesthood session widow.






I miss Clayton.

I DETEST the snow.

You would think that by March 23, 2009 we would be home free. I mean where are you summer??? Your warm rays and BBQed nights. I have missed you.

Please come back soon.

The 7 day forecast.....if you dare.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=88

Dani'loco

So I have a confession to make. My last entry titled "Danilicious" wasn't a secret to Dani in that she knew I was posting, but didn't know what I was writing about.

I'm still new to this whole "blogging" idea and to be completely honest, I wanted nothing to do with it! Having said that, I find it very therapeutic as well as great practice for my horrible typing skill..........s(found it).

Dani really now has no idea that I am posting this blog entry and it will be a great surprise to her when she wakes up this morning with her blue eyes a blazin'.

I have very mixed emotions right now. I love Dani more than I ever thought possible but yet I am frustrated at the same time. Guys and Girls are so different, as cliche as that sounds, and you don't really understand that until you live with the other. My mom always used to say to us(I never believed her) "When Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." No we didn't grow up in the south and yes I thought she was crazy and ignored her when she said that. I now realize that that phrase is soo true! When Dani is hurting, I hurt. When Dani is happy, I'm happy. When Dani is upset, I'm scratching my head wondering what the heck I said or did.;) I never realized how much my state of mind depended on hers and I'm sure vice versa. That can either make it at times very frustrating or incredible at the same time. When everything is running smoothly it's amazing how in tune we are to each other. We think the same and we will even act the same. Its like we are thinking together. That's how I imagine our Heavenly Father has it planned to be. We become so close that we know we would both make the same decision but yet still both bring different personalities to the table.

I guess the point of me writing this was to vent a little on how hard it can be some times to always be so sensitive to someone else' feelings. I can't imagine my life now without Dani and refuse to entertain the idea. I am grateful for her wise and calming presense that she adds to the relationship, and LOVE her quirky and adorable personality. I love that I can be myself and she will watch me make a fool of myself and think I am the hottest thing alive. She will lie to me about my weight and will take any comment about her weight as a lie. I love how she wakes up in the morning and how she makes me feel that she needs me. That she can't go to sleep with out me there. That she is scared to speak up and ask an employee of a grocery or convenient store where something is if she can't find it. I can't imagine how she got along with out me and don't know how she does with me. I'm sorry I don't always say or do the right things. I am learning. I love you Hun and love you more than you will ever love me! Sleep tight!

HBO and "Big Love"

Honestly it has been a long time since I have been so emotionally distraught as I was today. I received and email and a Facebook invite regarding HBO and their series "Big Love". I have always believed in the freedom of speech and expression. However I would never believe that a company could go as far as to make a mockery of what I along with millions of others hold sacerd. Whether they believe what I do or not is not the issue, it is an issue of respect. I believe that we are in a day in age where personal liberties and choices are highly respected and yet there seems to be a growing trend for persecution of differences in regards to religion. Honestly it seems as if we are in the midst of a modern day Holocaust.

So I keep asking myself, what can I do, what am I going to do, how should I react? I was certainly upset, I was in tears at the thought of what I hold so sacred could be broadcast like the morning news, scrutinized for all those who neither understand and those who choose not to understand to dictate how they feel regarding my personal beliefs. So what am I choosing to do? Pray. I am praying for strength. I am praying for the excommunicated members who are making known every detail. I am praying for my family. I am praying that as we are in the very thick of a modern day Saddam and Gomorrah that we too can stand strong in our faith. That the Lord will help us and save us from the persecution of this world. That as members we can stand strong in the midst of turmoil. That is what I am going to do, I hope you all do the same.

Danilicious

Dani doesn't know that I am blogging about her but she will soon enough. This posting is for those who don't know the Dani that I do.

There are a couple things that everyone needs to know about her. The first thing is she has an amazing ability to make a thousand faces. Name a situation and she has the most adorable face that would fit perfectly. Those faces have the ability to make my heart melt and want to do anything for her. I think if Dani had a super power that's what it would be. She would be able to control you with her beautiful and some times "scary" facial expression. I also want to point out that although she has beautiful facial expressions, some of them scare me. If I were in a dark ally and didn't know her and if she were to give one of her 30 scowls I would probably be more scared of her than Mike Tyson, who by the way bites ears off!

Another thing that we should all know about her is that she has an amazing voice. Every time we watch American Idol it is hard for me to focus because I know that she would blow them away. I love it when she sings her heart out when it's just her and me knowing she can cause no one else can hear her. She doesn't want anyone else to hear but I'm sure they would all buy tickets to hear her sing. She absolutely will not sing in front of a crowd by herself. She is horrified to sing by herself but sings like an angel thus denying the world of her amazing voice. I hope she doesn't lose her talent because she doesn't use it. If you really want to know something crazy but extremely cute then have her sing in Chinese for you some day.

I will make another posting another day. Let Dani know you love her when you read this. She is an amazing person and has more compassion for others than I have ever seen. She is a great influence in my life and a great support. I love you hun!

25 Things You Didn't Know About Me

1. I am completely and unbelievably in love with my husband.

2. I am an Ebay addict.....really just ask my husband.

3. I love to cook and to try new recipes. I especially love Indian food.

4. I want to have twins, a boy and a girl.

5. I have a heart defect and will be having surgery in a few weeks.

6. When I am having a bad day I am instantly in a good mood when I go shopping.

7. I living in Romania for 4 months working in an orphanage and a hospital. Check out
my blog about all my adventures wakingupinromania.blogspot.com

8. I tend to have OCD habits.....ask Karlie.

9. Wish my hair was long, If I could change anything about the way I looked I would want long think beautiful hair.

10. I have a weird ability to feel others pain, literally. I become very emotionally involved without even knowing the person.

11. I love babies, especially my nephew Dyson.

12. I love everything gold. I have been looking for the perfect gold watch since May....any ideas?

13. I secretly wish I could be a model, alas I am not tall enough.

14. I love to create and to sew, I dream of becoming a fashion designer one day.

15. My entire life I have wanted to be a pediatric oncologist, I gave it up to
something better one day.... a mother.

16. I found a love I NEVER had before in Chicago. I love Portillo's Hot Dog's. MMmmmmm they are delicious. and ps I hated hot dogs before Chicago.

17. I have decided just barely that I hate winter. I am all for the whole 4 season thing, but once you get past Christmas I am totally over the terrible weather.

18. I really really want a puppy or a kitten. I think I might just bring one home one day. Clayton might return it though. He keeps telling me that they aren't allowed in our condo complex...I think he is lying to me.

19. I absolutely love to travel. It is so amazing learning about different cultures and people. I find it completely enlightening.

20. I have always been friends with boys way more than girls, weird I know because I am a total girly girl but I just connect with boys so much better. I am totally not
into drama.

21. I really enjoy being in musicals and plays. I love to dance and I love the release that the stage provides from the real world. I can become some one completely different just for a few hours.

22. I consider Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Ross, Phoebe and Joey to be my actual Friends. really.

23. I go to pageants and pretend I am a judge. I rate every girl in every category and pick my winners. I usually am right too.

24. I crave Little Ceaser's crazy bead and sauce....like all the time.

25. I love art. I could stay in an art museum all day. I am most inspired my modern and impressionistic art. I would love to be a curator or in art restoration.

Movie of the Year? or NOT

This past weekend a long awaited movie came out. From the moment I saw my first preview, I was in love. It looked so charming and cute. An all star cast with some of my favorite actresses, it was a must see.

After much convincing on my part I got Clayton to take me to "He's just not that into you" this past Friday night. Well a BIG thank you goes out to the Directors/Producers/Writers you have now made me BANNED by Clayton from picking the movies.

I honestly was in awe at how far off based this movie was. It taught that marriage and the uplifting and honoring of that union was not important, that men can lie, sleep and serenade their way out of adultery, and that women like to be domineered and left helpless. This movie fell incredibly short. I was extremely disappointed. It taught to question your marriage, to find that person who is "hot" at the time; needless of the vows and promises behind your marriage.

The only redeeming quality and relationship I found in the movie was the ending. I was able to smile and I did feel content that the flick did end happily. However the two hours previous was something I would never inflict upon any couple.

Going to this film did help me realize how wonderful of a life I really do have. I am so grateful that I never had to struggle with many of the same problems that these women had to deal with. I am so happy, Clayton is incredible and I truly am blessed.

So "Am I the exception or the rule?" I am definitely the exception.

Spring Cleaning

Clayton and I, well mostly just me, have decided to start our spring cleaning early. In the past I have been known to keep, and keep and store and collect. When we got married I was forced to purge and then purge some more. Clayton on the other hand has had a little bit harder time getting rid of it. He is so funny. I stumbled upon this list that has definitely helped us shed a few extra storage pounds.

The Top 100 Reasons to Get Rid of It:

Because You Have Too Much Stuff
1. 1.4 million Americans suffer from chronic hoarding & clutter.
2. People burn 55 minutes a day looking for things.
3. 80 percent of what we own we never use.
4. 1800GotJunk.com
Pay someone else to take out the (big, cumbersome) trash.
5. Publicstorage.com
Lock it up in more than 2,100 locations around the U.S.
6. redshield.org
Schedule a pickup with your local Salvation Army.
7. earth911.org
Find local recycling and reuse programs for all kinds of household items.

Because It's Fun
8. 127sale.com
Set up shop at the World's Longest Yard Sale, August 2-5, along 450 miles of Highway 127 in the southeastern U.S.
9. Or peddle your wares in your own front yard on National Garage Sale Day, August 10.
10. Swaporamarama.org
Attend nationwide clothing exchanges and do-it-yourself alteration workshops.
11. Wildzipper.com
Watch as a pile of your favorite old T-shirts is converted into a quilt.

Because Someone Else Needs It
Cell Phones
12. Verizonwireless.com
Put a refurbished phone (of any brand) into the hands of a domestic violence victim.
13. Eco-cell.com
Or let its sale benefit an environmental charity.
14. Care.org
Send a phone to the field staff of a poverty-fighting mission.

Digital Cameras
15. Operationhomefront.net
Help keep service members in touch with their families.

All Technology
16. Rethink.Ebay.com
Work with charities to find homes for consumer electronics.
17. youthfortechnology.org
Put scanners, computers, and cameras in the hands of deserving, impoverished kids around the world.

Air Miles
18. Redcross.org
For Red Cross staff and volunteers
19. Heromiles.com
For deployed soldiers
20. Marrow.org
For transplant patients
21. Childrenscancerassociation.org
For terminally ill kids

Furniture & Appliances
22. excessaccess.org
Match your household items with a local non-profit's wish list.
23. help1up.org
Furnish homes for disaster victims.
24. dressforsuccess.org
Give interview and work clothing to disadvantaged women.
25. makingmemories.org
Donate a wedding gown to benefit breast-cancer patients.
26. www.operationfairydust.org
Send formal wear to teenage girls who need help getting to the prom.
27. onewarmcoat.org
A free coat to anyone who needs one.
28. boulderrunning.com
Ship shoes and sportswear to struggling athletes around the world.

Other
29. Suitcasesforkids.org
Supply children in foster care with luggage.
30. Uniteforsight.org & givethegiftofsight.org
Send eyewear to men and women in underdeveloped countries.
31. Savethechildren.org
Convert American Express credit card points to cash donations.
32. Cartalk.com
Donate a used vehicle to support your local public radio station.
33. Booksforafrica.org
Give everything from storybooks to encyclopedias.
34. Cap4pets.org
Send towels and newspapers to animal shelters.
35. Goodwill.org
Fund job training programs and social services.
36. Freecycle.org
Post donations for charities (and regular folks) to claim.
37. Habitat.org
Donate leftover building supplies to Habitat for Humanity's ReStores.

Computers
38. Cristina.org
Technology and training for the disabled and disadvantaged.
39. Sharetechnology.org
Connecting donations with charities across the U.S.
40. Worldcomputerexchange.org
Send computers to more than 50 developing countries.

Because It Can Be Turned Into Something Else
41. Nikereuseashoe.com
Recycled footwear materials become sports and playground surfaces.
42. Patagonia.com
Donated Capilene base layers become polyester fibers for new Capilene garments.
43. Pangea organics' packaging becomes an herb garden when planted in soil.
44. Cargo cosmetics' PlantLove lipstick tubes come in plantable boxes that sprout wildflowers.
45. Pencilthings.com
Old newspapers become colored pencils.
46. Vivaterra.com
Rubber tires become sleek purses...
47. Passchal.com
...or rugged iPod covers.
48. Gaiam.com
Plastic soda bottles become durable hammocks.
49. Recycline.com
Yogurt containers become colorful plates, flatware, toothbrushes, and razors.

Because It Will Make Your Life Better
50. Getting rid of clutter will reduce housework by 40 percent.
51. Erase a $10K credit card debt (with an average interest rate) 65 percent faster -- and pay 75 percent less total interest -- when you pay double the typical minimum monthly payment.
52. Download security software like Stopzilla to keep a lid on computer pop-ups.
53. Around 23 percent of people pay late fees on bills they cannot find.

Because You Can Get Something Back
54. Return six MAC Cosmetics containers to any MAC store and receive a free lipstick.
55. Trade in an old iPod and receive a 10 percent discount on a new one.
56. Coinstar.com
Easily convert spare change into "real" money.
57. Craigslist.org
Sell it to your neighbors.
58. ebay.com
Sell it to anyone.
59. giftcardbuyback.com.
Get cash for gift cards you'll never use.
60 Paperbackswap.com
Trade the books you have for the ones you want.
61. Peerflix.com
Trade the DVDs you've seen for the ones you haven't.
62. Spun.com
Clear off your CD shelves, and make money in the process.
63. Titletrader.com
The great entertainment exchange: books, music, movies, and games, all swapped in one place.

Because It's Old/Expired
64. energystar.gov
Replacing old appliances with new, energy-efficient ones saves money and fuel.
65. Running shoes should be retired after 300 to 500 miles in order to prevent injuries.
66. Deep-six your toothbrush every three to four months.
67. Swap your pitcher's water filter every two months (or as directed).
68. Change out disposable air conditioner filters once a month during cooling season.
69 Replace the batteries in your smoke detector at least once a year.
70. foodsafety.gov
Find the USDA's recommended storage limits for refrigerated and frozen food.
71. Throw out mascara and moisturizer after three months.
72. Discard foundation and sunscreen after six months to a year.
73. Keep concealer, lipstick, eye- and lip liners, fragrances, powders, blushes, and shadows for only a year and a half to two years.
74.-76. Say goodbye to the dried-out remnants of your favorite no-longer-available lipstick, and check out threecustom.com, T.J.Maxx stores, or Lancome's beauty bye-bye program for replacements or duplicates of discontinued cosmetics.

Because You Don't Want to Suffer from "Stuck Song Syndrome"
77. And these five tunes are among the most persistent: Chili's "Baby Back Ribs" jingle, "We Will Rock You," the "Mission Impossible" theme, "YMCA," and "It's a Small World After All." (Tip: Try drowning them out with classical music, which is less likely to haunt you after it's turned off.)

Because the Last Thing You Need Is More Paper Lying Around
78. File your taxes through an authorized IRS e-file provider.
79. Eliminate paper statements by banking and paying bills online.
80. Call 1-888-567-8688 to stop unwanted credit card solicitations.
81. Opt out of mailing and telemarketing lists by logging on to dmaconsumers.org.

Because There's a Better Option
82. Search for phone numbers online instead of storing bulky Yellow and White Pages volumes.
83. Lose the road maps and get a GPS system to download up-to-date travel guides.
84. Read "Dating Up: Dump the Schlump and Find a Quality Man," by J. Courtney Sullivan (Warner Books, $14, 2007).

Because You Don't Want to End Up Like Them
85. Miss Havisham in "Great Expectations"
86. Big Edie and Little Edie Bouvier Beale in "Grey Gardens"
87. Oscar Madison in "The Odd Couple"
88. The family in the documentary "Packrat" (packratthemovie.com)
89. The Bronx, New York, man who, in 2003, was trapped in his home under an avalanche of books and newspapers for two days before being rescued.

Because If They Said It, It's Probably True
90. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." -Leonardo da Vinci
91. "Less is more." -Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
92. "Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." -William Morris
93. "You've got to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative." -Johnny Mercer
94. "The joy of giving is indeed a pleasure, especially when you get rid of something you don't want." -Frank Butler and Frank Cavett, "Going My Way"

Or Just Because...
95. It has no value, sentimental or monetary.
96. It hasn't been used in over a year.
97. There is no logical place to keep it.
98. It doesn't work.
99. An ex gave it to you.
100. And what's the worst that can happen if you throw it out?

Thanks Martha!!

Happy New Year!

Clayton and I celebrated our first New Year together! It was so much fun. Yesterday we went sledding with Clayton's family, his brothers and his mom and step dad. It was FREEZING. Clayton tried several times to kill me on the sled, I was not very happy. But it turned out to be a fun filled family day:)

Our new favorite game is Ticket To Ride. We play it everyday and I am proud to say that 3/4 of the time I win. Poor Clayton.

Wedding Pictures

Here is a link to our wedding pics on Facebook. I was going to reupload them all but this is definitely easier!

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=47720&l=6744b&id=520694626

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=32713&l=38de2&id=520694626

Enjoy!