Monday, October 31, 2011

Daddy's girl

Remember how I told you baby girl is absolutely a daddy's girl? She definitely has him wrapped around her finger. Well lately my wonderful husband has been watching baby girl when we get home from work so that I can finish my homework without any disturbance. This babysitting usually consists of taking Kenzi outside to work in the garage with him. Let me tell you, she absolutely loves it! She is so content to sit out there with him and watch him do whatever he is doing. Well today I went out to check on them when I was done with my homework and here is what I found:










She is so content outside with her dad. She is definitely gonna be an outside girl! We love our Kenzi girl!

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sparks Definitely Flew


Guess who got to see this amazing, talented, lovely person in concert last Saturday?




Yep, you guess right! ME!!! (and my best friend Carissa Townsend, my two brothers Skyler and Chris, my soon to be sis-in-law Jordan Ottley, and my lovely husband!)






This is my second time seeing T-Swift in concert and let me tell you, she never disappoints! She is simply amazing! I think she puts on the best performance. Her concert is always moving, even when she is not on stage (because of outfit changes, etc.) there is always someone on the stage performing and keeping you entertained! Sparks definitely flew that night!

Another thing I love about Taylor Swift is she is so personable. I feel like she could be everyone's best friend and get along great with anyone. She never fails to thank her fans and always makes an effort to move around so that no matter where you are sitting, you get a good glimpse of her. This was a time during the show where she moved from the end of the stage she was performing on, to the opposite side, so that the fans on the opposite end could see her a little bit closer. As you can see in the picture above (sorry it's blurry) she also makes a point to go in the crowd and meet fans during the concert! One of these days I WILL be on the floor, so I can simply shake her hand!



If you ever get a chance to see Taylor Swift in concert I would highly suggest you do it!

*Thanks to Carissa Townsend for all the fabulous pictures!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Transitions

For those of you that know me well, you know that I am a creature of habit. I HATE change, and think if somethings working why change it. Obviously I can't live by this theory all the time, although I would like to. Sometimes things change because they have to, and sometimes by choice. But change is inevitable. One famous philosopher once said, "The only thing constant is change itself." Well Sunday night was a big night in our house. Yes, baby girl slept in her own room, for the first time in her life. I know she is 7 months old, don't judge me. :) I told you I don't like change.
While she slept like a champ, and I knew she would, I did not sleep at all. I have this irrational fear of not being able to hear her breathe when she is in another room, which is silly because I can't hear her breathing when she is in my room either. And I have watched too many news stories, TV shows (Criminal Minds, CSI, Law and Order etc.) and have this fear of someone breaking in her window and stealing her while I sleep through the whole thing. While I know the chances of these things happening are slim, I cannot seem to shake the images from my mind. Anyways I will get over my irrational fears and accept the change that is inevitable.


Here is baby girl sleeping in her own bed for the first night in her life. :)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Fall


Since everyone is else doing a "what I love about fall" post I decided I would do one too. Here are things I love about fall, in no particular order.

High School Football
More specifically, Chandler High School football, where my brother is on the varsity team. (You can pick your jaws up off the floor now.) I know, who would have thought I would enjoy football. Well, the only football I enjoy is high school, maybe because I know the people playing, maybe because it's on a smaller scale, I don't know, but I enjoy going to his weekly games. I love the atmosphere of high school games, there is just something about them that puts a smile on my face.

Hot Chocolate
More specifically, QT hot chocolate. They have perfected the art of making hot chocolate. I have
yet to find one that is as good as theirs. Trust me, I am the expert of hot chocolate, I have tried every hot chocolate around. I love QT hot chocolate, and fall gives me a reason to drink it every day. (well almost)

Cooler Weather
More specifically, being able to open the doors and windows. Hang out outside without sweating. Driving with my windows down and my music up loud. Cooler weather. Since Arizona really only has two seasons, I feel the need to soak up the "sweatshirt" weather.



Halloween and Christmas
(I know the pictures are out of order but I couldn't get them to cooperate)
More specifically, watching children enjoy these holidays. I love to sit out on the front porch, or at a trunk or treat and watch all the cute kids dressed up in their costumes. I love seeing the excitement on their faces when they are given candy. I love watching children open up presents and seeing the joy that comes from it. I love the spirit of Christmas and everything is stands for. I love rereading the birth of Christ in His humble circumstances, and I love seeing the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple, it is something I recommend for everyone, whether you are LDS or not.

and last but not least...
Grandma
More specifically, I love that this wonderful lady is a little bit closer for a few months. My grandma lives in Utah, but is a snowbird. So in the winter months her and her husband come down to Yuma, to avoid the cold winters in Utah. This makes her only 3 hours away instead of 12. I enjoy that. I love that she is here for Christmas and Thanksgiving, because I feel like I don't get the chance to see her much. And I want Kenzi to know my grandma, she is such a sweet and kind lady. We have lots to learn from her and I want to soak it all in. I love having Grandma close for a while.

It is the simple things in life that I love about Fall. Nothing elaborate, but all these things bring a smile to my face, and that is why I can't wait for fall every year.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

I'm so glad when daddy comes home...




There is a song often sung in our primary (children's classes) at church that goes like this, "I'm so glad when daddy comes home, glad as I can be. Clap my hands and shout for joy and climb up on his knee, put my arms around his neck, hug him tight like this. Pat his cheeks and give him what...a great big kiss!" When my aunt was living with me it was a song she used to sing to Kenzi to get her to sleep. Of course she didn't understand the song or what it means, but man does it ring true today. This little girl LOVES her dad!


When he walks in the room after not seeing her for the day, she lights up. If he walks by without picking her up, she cries. He even takes her outside with him, as he cleans the garage, messes with the car, whatever it may be and she is completely content. Many nights they fall asleep together, in fact I can't put her to sleep, her dad has too.



Many nights and afternoons you will find them like this:




They definitely have a bond that is unbreakable. I know that they will be best friends throughout their lives. She is a daddy's girl and there is no doubt about it. I am glad that he only missed the first 3 months of her life. She will never remember him being gone and they still bonded greatly.


At 4 months old they had their first dance...

And I am sure that this is just the first of many.
I cannot wait to see this relationship grow. It is so sweet to see your tough guy husband (kinda) melt at the sight of his beautiful little girl. He is not so tough anymore. He is a great father to her, and I know she is blessed by his love.





Sunday, October 9, 2011

Pay Your Tithing!

Let me start this out by saying, we are not rich, by any means. If I budget well enough, we have enough money to live comfortably. I have always had a testimony of tithing. At a young age. You always hear those people in church say..."one month I only had enough money to either eat or pay my tithing, it was a hard decision but I decided to pay my tithing, and then they go on to state something happened in which they had just enough money to eat, or pay the bill that was due, etc." Well I have one of those stories too. There have been months that I have been short and I get a check in the mail for the exact amount I was needing. Or I find money hidden somewhere that I forgot I have. These past couple weeks, money has been extra tight for us, and I could not figure out why. Neither of us was bringing in less money, we didn't have tons of added expenses that I didn't know about. I was racking my brain and just could not figure out why I felt our money was so tight. Well today while we are sitting in church Kenny pulled out our tithing envelope (with the check from 2 weeks ago still in it) that he had yet to turn in to the bishop. And at that very moment, I realized, no wonder we have been so tight on money. We were behind on our tithing, not by choice, just because my sweet husband forgot. But it still made a difference in our monthly budget. Paying my tithing regularly has definitely blessed my life. I know that if I did not follow that commandment, my life would be very hard.

*For those of you who don't know what I mean by tithing. We have been commanded by the Lord to give 10% of our earnings to the church in order to be used for many things in the church. Our money is used to build churches, temples, provide landscaping, supporting missionaries, helping those in need and so much more. In Malachi 3:10 we learn " Bring ye all the atithes into the storehouse, that there may bebmeat in mine house, and cprove me now herewith, saith the Lordof hosts, if I will not dopen you the ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. "
You may find out more about tithing and other blessings of our church at www.mormon.org