Josh and Sam

Blogging from my phone!

2011-12-13T22:06:00.001-08:00

I Tried sending things to my blog from my phone, and it didn't work so well. Good news is... iPhone has an app for blogger!! I like it! And now a cute baby picture!

2011-12-13T21:58:00.001-08:00

2011-12-13T21:56:00.001-08:00

Maternity Photographs!

2011-08-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Having a best friend that is a professional photographer is such a blessing! I can pretty much guarantee that the most important important moments of my life will always be well documented, and I will look amazing! Luckily this summer Kristen and I found a time and a place to take some maternity pictures of me! Yes it may have been 80 degrees, and it might have been a dog park, we also might have had both her kids, Copper, and Josh running around us, but I think they turned out amazing! I couldn't be more happier! Thank you again Kristen! You have such a great talent! Here are a few of my favorites!

Birthday BBQ Burger Bonanza!!!

2011-08-25T12:36:00.000-07:00

For Josh's 24th Birthday we decided to have a BBQ! I didn't want it to be just a plain old BBQ so decided to spice it up! We called it a "Birthday BBQ Buger Bonanza." We had everyone bring their most favorite and crazy burger topping, and we provided a few of our own! Everyone did their best to make the biggest meanest looking burger. I told everyone not to hold anything back, if you wanted two patties and lot's of bacon, then do it!! We also set up a slip-n-slide for the kids to play with! And, when I say kids I mean Josh too! It turned out to be a lot of fun! Everyone had fun creating a burger bonanza, watching Josh show the kids how to work the slip-n-slide, and eating lot's of yummy burgers! Oh and because it was Josh's birthday I got to be the grill master! It was my first time manning the grill and I think I did a pretty good job. I only dropped like four burgers!! We were also blessed to have our best friends and professional photographer there to take some awesome pictures! It was a really fun night, and it was great having everyone there!

We also made these cute mini burgers to go along with the theme!

This wasn't even all of the provided toppings...Like I said it was a total Burger Bonanza!

Josephine was crazy on the slip-n-slide! She kept going and going! Isaac did it a few times, and Emily was a little scared of it!

Josh had a blast! I am glad too, because it was his birthday party! It was funny though because he was super sore for the next week!

Kroten was a little scared too, but luckily Jared was there to help out!

Here are a few shots of some our burger bonanza creations!!

Isaac was clearly a fan of our homemade salsa!

Noel and his Burger!

Jordan getting her Grub on!

My mom! Yum doesn't that look good! I know what you are thinking...You want burgers for dinner tonight!! Me TOO!!!

The Birthday Boy with one of his creations!!!

My Dad with his! Gross! Look at all those ONIONS!!!! I believe all of the men had at least two burgers...

This one is mine! Yes I love FETA!!!

Jared and his first...Grilled mushrooms was the topping they brought! Yum!

Kroten and Kristen!

We also made this crazy chocolate chip cookie/oreo's/brownies dessert for Josh. It was topped with Ice Cream and Hot fudge! Can I just say it was AMAZING!!! Thanks Kim for introducing me to the recipe!!!!!!

And of course it isn't a Birthday party without someone getting to blow out some candles! Happy Birthday Josh! I love you! I hope you had as much fun as we did at your party! I just don't know how we are going to top this next year!!

Thanks again Kristen for all of these awesome pictures!!

Blog Slacker!

2011-08-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have been awful I keeping my blog updated. The really sad thing about it, is that I am the one that will hurt the most from it. So many amazing things are happening in my life now, and I am not keeping track! I try to blame it on that fact that we don't have a camera, but I do have an Iphone that has a camera. I am making another vow to try and keep up! If not for all of my adoring fans, (lol Yeah right!) then for myself and my family!
Today I am 36 weeks and 1 day pregnant! Time has been flying by! I still can't believe we will be having a baby in less than four weeks! We have three names picked out, and no I am not sharing them. Sorry! We are going to take the list with us to the hospital. I have felt pretty good this whole pregnancy, which is a great relief. I was worried about getting Gestational Diabetes, having outrageous pain, high blood pressure, and everything else that could go wrong, but it never did! Don't even have swollen ankles!! (Yet) Spartacus (which is what we call him for now) is doing awesome also. He is growing right on schedule according to the ultra sounds. We had one on Wednesday and he was measuring 6 lbs 5 oz. Which is an estimation. He is still kicking, hitting, and head butting, like crazy! He is currently head down. According to the ultra sound tech he also has HAIR!!! We are already in love with little guy and can't wait to meet him. I feel like I still have tons of things to do though! Here is a side by side of my growth this far in the pregnancy! The color is a little different in each one, but you get the idea! There is definitely a baby growing in there!!

It's a Boy!

2011-04-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen my facebook then you haven't heard! We are having a boy! We are both really excited! Still a little unbelievable too. We were able to have a small gender party with our family and close friends! It was something I had been wanting to do, and it didn't seem like it was going to happen. But, luckily for us it worked out that we were able to have a dessert after Easter dinner on Sunday! As if anyone needed anymore sugar!! LOL!! I made the cake and some cupcakes, and we decorated in pink green and blue, along with a nice Easter theme. It really was fun telling everyone that way. I would love to do it again! My Brother-in-law Tim was able to get a little video of the Grandmas cutting that cake. I am so grateful for this! I didn't even think to ask someone to do it. It nice to have people in your lives that remember things like that! He knew how important it was to us, and helped create something we will have forever! If you haven't seen the clip yet, here it is!

Here is a shot of the goods! It is a picture of a picture so there is some glare. If the tech hadn't pointed it out, we would've had no idea what we were looking at! I am going to try and scan more of the ultra sound pictures and post them.

There ya go!

Pregnancy has been an interesting experience so far. I never really got morning sickness. I just throw up at random times for a few days, then I have a few off, then I throw up for a few more. It is a little strange. I haven't been super tired since the first trimester. We hit 20 weeks last week, so that means we are half way there! As far as food cravings go nothing ever sounds good, even when I am hungry. I will randomly want strange things. Monday night around ten I really wanted a ham and cheese hot-pocket, and then it passed and I didn't want it anymore. I hate Taco Bell! Don't really like chocolate, and I love everything sour and spicy! If it burns going down I want it!

Around 17 weeks I thought I started feeling the baby move. I couldn't really tell if it was him or just gas bubbles. I had been reading online that around this stage of pregnancy, if you shined a light on your belly the baby would move away from it. So josh thought it would cool to try it out. He got a light and started scanning across my belly. Right when he got to just below my belly button I felt a weird little flutter in the same spot. a few seconds later it happened again in a different area. I knew it had to be the baby. Since then I have been able to feel him move. At first it wasn't very frequent maybe a few times a day. Usually a little bit after I ate. In the past week he has been moving like crazy. In the evening especially. It feels like he is doing aerobics or something. Josh got a listening devices from someone at his work. It is built for listening to your baby's heartbeat and movements. You aren't really supposed to try using it until you are in your third trimester, but we have gotten it out a couple times. Last night the baby was especially active, so Josh wanted to try listening. For a while he couldn't hear much. They baby had relaxed a little and hadn't moved around a lot. But, after a little break josh put the device on my belly, and right when he did I felt a big thud and josh heard it. The baby had kicked right where Josh was listening, it was perfect! I was so happy that Josh got to experience it! I think he has been feeling a little left out because he can't feel anything when the baby moves yet. We realized then that he could only be heard if you were listening right where he was moving. So josh would move around, and I would tell him if and when they baby moved. He moved a couple more times after that and Josh got to hear it. He wanted me to listen to see if I could hear so I put the head phones on, and sure enough I was right over him when he did a little wiggle. It sounded like a fish swimming underwater. Like when there are shows about underwater stuff, and you can hear bubbles or fish moving. That is was it sounded like. It was really a neat thing. We got to hear our little guy swimming around! I look forward to hearing and feeling him move more and more as this pregnancy goes on.

Creative Title & 15 weeks

2011-03-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

As you can I see I thought up the most creative title of all time for a blog post! I know I am hilarious! I wanted to post some more pictures of our first two ultra sounds, but with school and and a wedding this month has been too busy! I am hoping to stay more updated. As soon as I can scan the images I will post them.
    On Sunday (going by the latest ultra sound), or Tuesday (going by the first ultra sound) we are (or will be) 15 weeks along!! For the blog and for my personal sanity we are going to go by Sunday. It is much easier to keep track of, and I don't want to be too confusing. So we are 15 weeks and we get to find out what we are having on April 22!!! I am super excited! There are several theories out there as to what it might be, but most of my crazy baby dreams have been about boys! I don't know if that means anything, but we will see!!
   I still can't really believe I am pregnant. It has been an amazing experience so far and we are over joyed! Before we found out I found out I was pregnant the first time I was a little freaked out. ( I am freaked out this time, but that is a different story.) We had just gotten married and I wasn't sure if we were ready. When we finally did get the news that we were indeed pregnant I was so happy. All of the freaky stuff I was worried about went away. I was so excited to be a mom, and for Josh to be a dad. Unfortunately it wasn't really time for us and we lost our first baby. I think I went into a little depression mode, then I went into a "I need to have a baby now crazy lady mode,"then a ok Heavenly Father what is going on mode???, and then I went to a doctor. Basically nothing was really wrong with me. I was ovulating. I just had some weird cycles. So, I started focusing on other things. Josh started going to school I changed my major again and again. We got to know each other better. I stopped focusing on what I couldn't and didn't have and started focusing on the things in my life that I did have. Josh and I had a blast. We were having so much fun, in fact I started being okay with idea of not having kids. We have a bunch of super cute nieces and nephews.Maybe, we weren't meant to have the 14 kids we had planned on. I was happy with where we were, and where we were going.
   In October of '10 I went to a Doctor about my migraines. They had been getting really bad. So bad, that I would have one at least once a week. They did a bunch of blood work, and found out I was really low on Vitamin D. I started taking Vitamin D3 everyday. Then I went to California for a month. I missed Josh dearly. It was the longest we had ever been away from each other. I came how around Dec 2. It was Christmas time, and it was all holly and Jolly! One of my most favorite times of the year! This is where my little "It's a Christmas Miracle" quote comes in. I say that a lot. If I find money somewhere...It's a Christmas Miracle, if something crazy happens...It's a Christmas Miracle. I don't know why I say it, or when I started saying it but I do. Flash forward to the week of my 26th Birthday! For my birthday we had our families up for a dinner on Sunday the 9th of January. The night before we had to go to WINCO and get some supplies. There just happens to be a Dollar Tree right next door. I knew I was a few days late on cycle so I asked Josh if we could get a pee stick. We were both pretty sure it was going to be negative, ( They always were) but they are only a buck each. 99.9% of the time he always says no. It always seemed like a waste because they were always negative. This time though, for my birthday, he said yes. As soon as we got home I ran to the bathroom and tried it out. right away I knew it was negative. I told him and it was no big deal. 30 seconds later I started laughing hysterically and yelling that it was positive. He didn't believe me. He came running into the bathroom, saying "seriously??" I should him and told him it was! He had to check the box to make sure he was reading it right. Then we both started cracking up. We were like crazy people on laughing gas! For the second time in our married lives we were pregnant. We were super excited, but we were also terrified. We called it our Christmas Miracle because he/she was conceived right around Christmas time! We pray to Heavenly Father everyday and thank him for this blessing. We are beyond grateful and take nothing for granted.

It's a Christmas Miracle!

2011-03-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

We are having a Baby!!!!

6 weeks 2 days!

12 Weeks 3 days!

Coming to town on September 13th!!!!!!

Straight From New York!

2011-02-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

Sadly, I have never been to New York. Although I have seen several movies that took place there. One of my most memorable would have to be the Ninja Turtle movies! Mostly they are about fighting the bad guys ( Shredder) and saying stuff like "Cowabunga Dude!" When we were little we played with Ninja Turtles, we pretended to be Ninja Turtles, and we always wanted to eat Ninja Turtle pizza! In the moves they always ordered a lot of weird stuff, but it always looked like cheese with olives. So, we would always ask for Cheese with Olives when we were little! Oh, and biggest thing...It was New York style pizza!! It was these huge slices that you had to fold in half to eat! Living on the west coast ment we would never get to endulge in the true Ninja Turtle pizza. Until Now! A few years ago Josh and I found the coolest pizza ever! It was called, "Straight from New York Pizza." They call them "pies" which I love saying, when we get to order "A Whole Pie," as apposed to a slice! Whenever friends come to visit we like to take them, for a Whole Pie of Ninja Turtle Pizza! Most recently Jordan got to experience it!

Looks Pretty Tasty huh!?

Jordan Really liked it!

Josh too!

Someday we will get to eat the real thing! Not just straight from New York, but in New York!

California, Michael #3, Up to date!

2011-02-14T13:40:00.000-08:00

In November I got to go stay with my brother and sister-in-law for a whole month. My mom, Grandma, and I went down to help them get ready for their new baby! He expected arrival date was Dec first I believe. Although we had a good time, I safely say I wouldn't want to live in 29 palms! I had an awesome time with family, but I missed the trees and the green of Oregon. There were some crazy wind storms and some awesome sunsets, and I got to take some cool pictures of cacti! Michael is stationed there for the Marines. It was the longest time I had ever spent away from Josh. It was hard to leave home, but I knew how important is was for me to be there for Bud and his family. Not only that, it was also the longest my Grandma and my Mom had ever been away from their spouses. Shayna (my cousin) was able to come over from the LA area and spend the day and night with us too. It was a really good time. I did however miss home a lot and when it was time to go I was ready, although I still got sad to be leaving everyone. Baby Bud came into the world on Nov. 29th around 2:45 am. It was a pretty intense ordeal. It started as a pretty normal labor and ended in an e-emergency C-section. Let's just say it made me a little scared to have to go through labor myself someday. No worries though all is well with both baby and Mommy, as most of you can see on facebook. He was a big boy and continues to grow! I hope we will get to see more of him soon!
Our drive home was pretty intense also. It was good at first. I drove from 29 palms to Fresno, then my mom took over from Fresno to Sacramento,(we had a little detour through some cotton fields) at Sacramento I drove till Redding. My mom got to drive through the snow over the mountains. We made it home safely and I was able to surprise Josh. He didn't know I was coming home that day. It was nice! A few weeks later Bud, Gina, and lil' Bud came up for Christmas. It was a really neat Christmas having everyone together for the first time in a while. We played games, danced, and ate a lot of really yummy food. We also got to take family pictures! Of course it is a Jarvis tradition to take pictures whenever Bud is back in town. I love my family and it was great having us all together. Sadly Bud had to leave New Years day because he had to report for deployment. He is on the USS DENVER Somewhere in the ocean. We pray constantly for him to be safe and return home whole and healthy. It makes it really hard to listen to any form of Country music. Through a website called Motomail.us we are able to send him letters as much as we want, and they are delivered to him constantly. We love you Bud and know it is because of your sacrifices and others that stepped before you, that we are blessed with the Freedoms we have today!
a quick update of the last three months. I know, I have been a slacker! In January it was my birthday. It was low key and fun! Josh has been working hard at work and school and I have been working hard at home and school. I have started a few projects... although I haven't finished very many. I am taking a photography class this term and hopefully I will be able to post some of our projects. I am also taking photoshop and had learned some really cool stuff. Other than that life has been pretty laid back for us. My sisters came up for a girls weekend and we had a blast! So much fun in fact, we have another scheduled for next weekend! After that Josh has a field trip to the coast for his Geo class and we are going to stay the weekend! Nothing like the Oregon coast in February! I will make a commitment to stay updated and post more often. Oh, we also bought a new camera and returned it. We having a hard time finding one that really fits us. Soon we will I am hoping! Hope all is well with everyone! Oh and Happy Valentine's Day!

Christmas Tree!

2011-01-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

So, I am really late posting this. I am really late posting anything really... To all of my devoted followers I am really sorry! A lot has happened since I last posted and I will try my best to get caught up and stay caught up. I know that I will be really sad if I don't. I already look back and my blog and ask myself why I didn't post about all the things that were happening in my life. So, I vow to stay updated. For now you get to see our Christmas Tree experience! Getting a tree is a great tradition around Christmas time. Last year we went the weekend of Thanksgiving. This year, however, because I wasn't around then we had to wait a little longer. I was a little worried that we weren't going to have time, because Josh had a really busy work schedule. Fortunately he had a closing shift during the week, and the place we get our tree is open 7 days week, so we were able to go! It was really nice to because there was NO rain! nice and dry and chilly! So here are some pictures of our adventure and of our tree all decorated!

Here we are getting our tree! Pretty crazy our pictures this year look kind of similar to last year!

Can you guess what our theme was!?!?!

It started as pink and green, but I found some really good deals on clearance Christmas stuff so there are few more colors in there. I think this might be my favorite tree so far! It is, so far, the one with the most personality! Oh and still no tree topper...we haven't found one we love yet so we haven't gotten one. But, this is tree number three! That is crazy!

Gratitude Day Three!

2010-11-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

I am grateful for animated movies! We rented how to train your dragon last night, and it was a great movie! I loved it! I laughed and almost cried! I wanted to watch it again, but we were too tired. I think I am adding it to my Christmas wish list! I recommend it! It was a great movie!

Watch the Trailer!

Day Two be Grateful!

2010-11-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

I love music! I love singing and dancing! I might not be that great at either, but they make me feel good! Lately we have been trying to be more active. What better way to be more active than to have dance parties! We dance party laundry, dance party dishes, dance party bathroom cleaning, and dance party everything!

So what am I grateful for?

I am grateful for AOL Radio!

Ha! They have music for everything! want to have romantic dinner music? They have that! Workout Mixes??? OH YEAH! That also happens to be my favorite! So Thank you AOL Radio for making my life a dance party!

Grateful! Day one!

2010-11-02T00:36:00.000-07:00

My Bestest friend has inspired me to be grateful! While I don't have any freakishly cute children, I think I might be able to find a thing or two to be grateful for! So, from today until Thanksgiving I will post everyday about what I am grateful for!

I am grateful for Josh's sense of humor! It is nice to have someone that always laughs at your jokes, even when you totally mess them up!

Knock Knock.....

The Big Island

2010-10-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

For our Christmas presents this year, Josh's Parents, took us to Hawaii! It was the most amazing trip! I am so grateful that they were able to share such a great adventure with us! I hope they understand our grateful we are and how important this trip was to the both of us. I don't think I will ever say enough thank yous!! So here is another! Linden and Denise...THANK YOU!!!

Here are a few from our trip. I am going to make a slide show with all of the pictures so I might post that later. As for now sit back relax..... and be jealous! Just kidding! I mean to say...and enjoy!

I felt like I was taking to many pictures and after we got home I realized I didn't take nearly enough! I guess that means we have to go back!

Two Things!

2010-10-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

First! Kristen Moss Photography is doing a give away! Head over to her blog and check it out! You only have a couple more days!

SECOND!!! We have recently returned from an amazing adventure! Stay tuned for a ginormous post with tons of pictures!

ALOHA and MAHALO!

First Cake!

2010-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is my very first cake for my class. First time ever using this type of frosting. I am not so sure I like the way it taste, but I am hoping to do some of my own flavor modifications. We have to use the recipe that the whole class uses, but we can change it a little. I am really learning a lot. I think I might like working with frosting better than fondant! Although fondant is still really fun. I made my frosting at home and found out I didn't make it stiff enough, so next time hopefully I will master it. As for now, here is how it turned out. I know I might be over killing here, but I like to make collages!!

Faire Du Camping!!

2010-10-06T15:07:00.000-07:00

If I haven't already said this... WE LOVE CAMPING! Lucky for us we found a cool place not too far from our house. Best part is that it is a free campground! It is on the Nestucca river. We are looking forward to spending some more time there! We got to go on a hike and see a pretty neat waterfall, fall asleep to the pitter pattter of rain, and enjoy the great outdoors! We were going to go swimming after our hike, but we took the long way home. By the time we got back it was too cold and we were hungry!

Here are some fun camping shots!

Yeah, I think we eat better when we are camping!

We hiked to Niagara falls!

View from one of the many mountain roads we traveled on. That blur on the photo is rain. If you couldn't tell it rained a lot!

I don't know if you can tell, but this is the river that flowed under our gazebo and through our camp!

Copper liked camping a lot!

He was really excited because he go to wear a glow necklace when it got dark out.

These are our we love camping faces!

And, these are our we are ready to go home faces!

...and our we need to brush our teeth faces!

Yellow hills and blue skies

2010-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

A week or two ago Aunt Sheree and I were driving around south Salem looking for a certain house. We had thought we found it and got out to take a look around. It wasn't in the best shape but it had a nice chunk of land with it. We decided that since no one was around and was completely empty, we would get out and take a look around. We had a nice little adventure and picked some blackberries. Later that day we realized the house we were actually supposed to be looking at was across the street. Now that I have a camera I try to keep it with me. I got to take some cool shots and I think this place would be really neat for a photo shoot. Maybe we will find out who owns it and have Kristen come take our family pictures up there. I am definitely not a professional, but I think I have a pretty good eye as to what might make a good scene for a picture. For the most part is was an over cast day, but the sun did peak out a lot. The sky looked amazing in every direction.

The yellow field behind the house was amazing. I couldn't believe it. I really don't think the pictures do it justice, but oh well.

Sooner or later we will have a nice chunk of land. I think I would like a few more trees though. In the mean time we will enjoy other peoples and dream about where we will put our garden someday.

Dog Park

2010-09-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

In Salem there is a really awesome dog park. It is really big and it has no fences. When I first heard of it, I thought it was a little crazy they didn't have any fences. How did they keep the dogs off the road? I was pretty sure if we ever went it would be super stressful, because I would be worried about Copper getting hit by a car. Well, we have gone many times and it is great. It's like the dogs know where the boundary is. We have been several times and I have never seen any dogs in the street. Even Copper stayed away. I can't say the same about the bike trail at the west end though. He will wander a little to far every once and while, but always comes back. Anyway, the park has a trail you can walk around and a huge field for play fetch, chasing, or any other social activity dogs like. This last time I went with my Aunt Sheree and her new dog. His name is Barley. Him and Copper have become pretty good friends.

Copper hurt his foot this last time we were at the park, but we are pretty sure it is healing. He should be back to normal in no time.

Barley

Sorry about the Dog butts, but it is the only shot I got of them together.

MMmmmmmmmmmMonkey Bread & a gross Spider!

2010-09-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

While we were making our shopping list and menu this month, Josh got really excited about something he wanted to make... Monkey Bread! So while we were shopping he called his dad and got the recipe. We had the Elders for dinner last week, so Josh made them Monkey Bread. He was really excited and it turned out to be really yummy! Thank goodness for secret family recipes that get passed on from generation to generation! One Elder had never had it before and the other was really excited. We had to give it to them to go because it wasn't done in time, but it was worth the wait in my book! Oh and Josh is a pretty good little chef!

Finished product! Not bad!

Half gone in about a tenth of the time it took to make it!

We did share with the Elders...I promise!

Josh was really excited! I told you!

P.S. we know the recipe comes on the cans of biscuits...and so does Josh now too!

And, on a really gross side note...Josh found this spider crawling across the great room floor!

YUCK & YIKES!

I strongly dislike spiders, but couldn't resist taking a picture of this nasty guy!

What's in a Yard?

2010-09-11T15:39:00.000-07:00

Last year our lease was up and we had to move. We had 30 days to find a new place that allowed pets and wasn't outrageously over priced. We lucked out and got a tiny little house in a tiny little neighborhood in Salem. We were excited because it wasn't an apartment, it was a real house. The best part was it had...I will call it a little courtyard. A place where we could plant things and watch them grow. So this last spring we got some seeds, plants, dirt, plant food, and so on. Was our little courtyard worth a $250.00 electricty bill? Probably not, but what can you do?( MOVE!) We are hoping to find a new place before the big winter freeze comes, but until then here are some fruits of our labors.

Courtyard bliss!

Yeah more collages...I don't like waiting for all the pictures to upload. Anyway here we are having a little front yard BBQ. Mom~ Todd really liked your corn!

All of the following flowers we grew from seed!

Camping! Beaches! Crabs!

2010-09-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Camping is one our most favorite things to do! Unfortunately we only got to go camping a few times this summer. This time we got to go with our best friends and family! It was a blast! A little crazy at times, but we all had a great time! We had promised our nieces and nephews that we would take them camping sometime this summer, and I am happy to say we got to keep that promise. I hope they had as much fun as we did!

Kids on the drive over

Emily helping set up camp

The first day at the beach the weather was amazing! We had a blast. I took a bunch of pictures and I couldn't bring myself to delete any of them...so enjoy!

Emily playing in the sand

There was an estuary that the kids loved playing in...

Kemiry loved the beach! She slept the whole time!

When I say kids y'all know Josh is included right?

Sisters!

These few of Kroten are some of my favorite shots! Especially because while I was taking them I was thinking about how Kristen had told me to try and keep him dry...Opps! He had a blast though!

We also got to go to old town in Newport.

Finally... we got crabs!!

Well, we got to go crabbing and we ended up with a few too. I think it is now my favorite thing! Sitting on the dock, hanging out, listening to some music...it was a really great time, and I can't wait till we get to go again.

Again we took a ton of pictures! Even more so because my sd card was in Kristen's camera. So. a lot of these pictures she took, and some I took. I made some collages!

Needless to say we had a blast! I am so glad we got to go have fun with the people we love! I don't have pictures of Noel but he was there too! He was a great help with the little kids and they really loved him. Noel can go on a camping trip with us anytime!

My last picture is of my nieces and nephew. I hope they had as much fun with us as we did with them. I look forward to taking them on camping trips next summer! Thank you Kendra for letting them spend so much time with us! We love it!

Happy Two Years To Us!

2010-08-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our two year anniversary. It was an interesting day to say the least. We had just gotten home from Myrtle Creek late the night before. Josh had to work and I had to teach my lesson at church so Saturday night we crashed. I woke up Sunday morning with a migraine! I hate them more than I could hate anything in the world. That says a lot because I rarely use the "H" word. I had to have Josh call the primary presidency and let them know I was out for the day. This was a pretty bad one. I haven't had one this bad in a while. I could barely talk. I had Josh give me an ice pack, some tylenol, and a bowl before he left. None of that seemed to helped. I flailed about my bed for a couple hours and then finally gave in and took one of my remaining two maxalts! Eeks! Oh, and after all that I finally threw up and then fell asleep. Josh called me around two, too see how I was doing, and I awoke with no pain! That has to be one of greatest feelings ever. Waking up pain free! I was still a little groggy, and every once and a while I would get a sharp pain in my head, but I was okay. After Josh got home from work I relapsed and had to take some advil and cover my face for a few minutes, and then I was okay for the rest of the night. We didn't do much after that. We had a bottle of sparkling cider, made a toast, relaxed, and watched a movie. Low key, but a perfect way to celebrate.( I, however, could have gone without the migraine) I love Josh, and I am grateful for everything he is! He surprised me with roses ( that I can plant!!) and a beautiful card. I didn't get him anything, but said me coming home was his present. Here is a picture of the flowers he got me.

My favorite color Pink!

Here are some shots of us two years ago!

Baby Shower!

2010-08-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had a baby shower for my cousin Denise. She is having a baby boy, and he is due Oct. 17th. We had the party at my Aunt Sheree's house and it was a blast! Kristen came down and did an amazingly wonderful maternity photo shoot! She really needs to update her photo blog so y'all can see them! The party was really fun, and it was great to get everyone together for such a happy occasion! I can't wait to meet little Conner! So, I don't have any pictures of the shower because I was taking them with my mom's camera. But, I do have a couple pictures of the cake and blanket I made.

Me working hard...

Thanks for taking my picture Jordan!

All finished!

Blanket!

I knew my bubble letter writing skills were good for something!

If you know me, you know how I feel about corners and binding! Not bad if I do say so myself.

Complete! First ever applique! I think I like it!

It was a lot of work, and could not have done it without Jordan! She was an amazing helper and did most of the grunt work. She was always ready to help and did a lot of the not so fun jobs, like cleaning up big messes!!! All she wanted to do was read her book, but I made her work, work, work.

Jordan, Thank you!

You were awesome!

Jordan took this picture too!

I hope you get to finish your book!

If you want to see more pictures of the shower check out my mom's facebook.

Beatrix gets a bath!

2010-08-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Since we have had Beatrix and been married, I can count on one hand how many time she has been washed. In fact we have never washed her together. Josh is the only one that has washed her, and it was at his old job. At our first apartment there wasn't a hose and at our new house we don't have a front yard. So, you can see why we a some what of an excuse. Oh, and Josh never wanted to pay someone else to do it either. So, this weekend, while we were in Eugene, I decided we should give her a bath. I was actually really excited about it. What better way to spend your summer morning then out in the driveway with a hose and your honey! We had just gotten our new camera, and it looked like a good photo op also! Thanks Trisha for taking our pictures! So here is a fun little before and after shot!

The difference is amazing! I never realized how dull she looked...and now she is a sparkling beauty! It's like a totally different car! Here is a collage of Josh and I in action!

Birthday!!! oh and a little update!

2010-08-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

Josh's Birthday was on August 15th! He turned 23! He is getting so old! We had planned on going on a little camping trip over his birthday weekend, but things worked out a little different. We stayed in town but were able to spend the whole weekend with people we love! On Saturday my parents, Alex and her husband Jordan, my sister Jordan, Josh's parents, and his sister Trisha were all able to come over to our house for some carne asada! Which by they was amazing and I still crave for it nightly! We got torts from Chevy's and chips and salsa. I also made homemade guac, pico de gallo, and black beans! I marinated the steaks and Josh grilled them. It was a great dinner! We played a little boxers and briefs and laughed a lot! It was such a wonderful dinner and game that we decided to have a gain on Sunday! We invited Kristen, Jared, Kroten, and Kemiry up. They brought their friend Chucky and we had carne asada again! It was just as good the second night! We played boxers or briefs again too! Kroten was a riot too! He is such a funny little guy! Every time an airplane would fly over us he would get really excited and start yelling airplane. It was great because once he was like "Josh...Josh...Josh..." and when josh answered him he said "AIRPLANE!!" and pointed up! He also kept letting us know it was dark out. We get to go camping with the Moss family again soon and I am really excited!
We were able to go down to Eugene for a night a day this past weekend and spend time with the Moss family, Josh's family, and my family. All in all it was nice little visit. We had dinner at the Moss home and then went for a walk and picked black berries, we got to take our nieces and nephew to see Shrek in 3D! (interesting experience, but really good movie!) We played at the yellow park, had dinner with my family and spent some quality family time shopping around Walmart! It was short and sweet, but we were glad we got to do it!

Oh and we acquired a new to us camera from Kristen and Jared. I say acquired because it came with some stipulations...I will have to blog at least once a week now. We haven't been keeping up on our blogging. I said it was because we didn't have a camera, so Kristen and I struck up a deal with the approval of our husbands, and now we have one! I am excited! Although I don't have any pictures to go with this post I will for the next ones! So be prepared!

Weddings and Flowers my second newest hobby!

2010-07-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Alex, my little sister, got married!

It was such a wonderful thing to be a part of. Alex and Jordan Eliason were married in the Portland Oregon LDS Temple! It was beautiful. They are so lucky to have each other. Kristen took all the pictures and they turned out amazing! I made the cake and did all the flowers.

This is not the greatest picture or me! But, here I am bright and early Thursday morning. I had just finished Alex's bouquet and was working on Jordan's boutonniere.

Sisters!!

I had a lot of help from several different people especially my husband and dad. I would also like to give a shout out to Jessie, our little Jodi in disguise, who had all the know how about weddings and flower arrangements! Meryni Hall and her family, the talented Mathews girls, and Eric. All great helpers with such an eye for decor! I basical told them what I had, what I was thinking of doing with it, and where I thought I might want it, and they made Alex's reception a fairy tale. There were several other helpers and I could write pages and pages of how much everyone helped out, but I wont. Thank you again to all those that helped!

Oh, I forgot to mention I actually made 4 cakes! I made a daisy cake for Alex's gardened themed shower!

Cakie Cake!

2010-07-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have two new hobbies! I have to give all the credit to my bestest friend Kristen for the first one. She inspires me to try new things and be proud of my new accomplishments. She is an amazing wife, mother, sewer, cake maker, and best friend! Anyway check her blog out she pretty much rocks! Now, back to me! ha! Here are the second ever cake made and third ever cake made. I unfortunately don't have any pictures of the first. I have three more on my to do list for this summer so far, and two of them for next week! I am super excited to see how they turn out!

Trisha's 15th Birthday cake

Alex's Wedding cake

Adventures with Aunt Shere

2010-07-05T13:31:00.000-07:00

We haven't beem keeping up with our blog...I know I am very sorry. Hopefully I will be able to update y'all on what has been happening over the past two months. Just a little hint... I made three cakes, Alex got married, Josh finished school, a few sewing projects and so much more! So stay tuned to see it all!

As for today...Aunt Sheree invited me over for a swim in the pool and then we went on a mini road trip to a farm and nursery out by Gervais. It was called Bauman Farms and Garden. It was super cool and had some amazing hanging baskets! They were huge. They also had the yummiest strawberries and raspberries! I don't know if the picture does it justice but the petunias in the baskets were ginormous!

What we have been up too!!

2010-03-21T11:17:00.000-07:00

So I have not been keeping up with my blogging. I know that is very lazy of me. It just seems like we aren't really doing anything exciting, and who wants to read about that!
Well, back in January it was my birthday! We didn't have camera but everyone else did, so if you want to see pictures of that tell my mom to update her blog! Valentines Day was pretty awesome. I got flowers, a new mug, and a camera. The Camera was OK but we decided to return it. So here are some pictures of what we have been up too!
Josh has been doing a lot of this...

I got some of these...

And, I tried out a camera...

Oh, I love Carnival glass, really antique or not. No matter if it is real or fake. I got this bowl at the antique mall in Newport. Some told me it was fake and I paid to much, but I don't care it has great memories of a trip to the beach in it. Oh and it is really pretty!

Looking Up

2010-02-16T23:29:00.001-08:00

Every day is a step towards the place I want to be.

Every stride is one more closer to my dreams

I march on

Through every ache

Though the winds hiss,

And the plummeting rain stings my face

I do not look back

I will never slump

I prevail by the simple taking of a footstep

I will endure and I will look up

I will carve my path out of the very stones that stand against me

I will break the tethers that bind and hold me back

I remain true to my quest

And never fear

For with each step I take

I feel your presences at my side

Although my path is rigid and testing

With you, I know I can reach the crown

With you I know I can conquer this summit

At the finish we will embrace,

And look back at the challenges we faced

Remember everything we fought for

Every sacrifice we gave

And everything we achieved.

Happy New Year

2010-01-12T15:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas and New Years was wonderful! We got to spend time with friends and family. We ate and ate and ate and ate some more. My parents gave me their treadmill for Christmas and I am super excited to start using it. I have used it once and it was glorious. Now, I just need to jump back on. We don't have a camera :( so no new pictures. I know that is really the only thing people look at a blog for anyway. Alex, my little sister, got engaged and Is getting married in June. Christmas break was really fun and we enjoyed the time off. We are looking forward to what the new has in store for us. We have a couple big trips planned this year, so we working hard, saving money, and enjoying married life. We are going to update our blog more often so hopefully I will have more exciting adventures of Sam and Josh to share. Oh and if my mom let's me borrow her camera I will have some nice pictures! Happy New Year everyone!

These are a few of My Favorite things!

2009-12-12T20:43:00.000-08:00

First I want to say thank you to Alex and my mom for braving the storm and driving all the way to Salem to spend time with Josh and I! I also want to say thank you mom, for letting me have a nice photo opp with your camera! My blog likes it when I have good pictures! So, Christmas season is here and I love it! While my mom and Alex were here we did some of my favorite things for Christmas time! Making yummy things, playing games, and laughing! Between the Muppet bohemian rhapsody and my mom almost...I don't know what...on the ottoman, she just kept making funny faces and saying she was in pain. Alex was like, "Just stand up real fast you will be fine." My mom yelled back, " You know nothing!!!!!" It was pretty much the funniest thing ever. we were all laughing until we cried! No worries though my mom is fine. She was just having an episode! Anyway, here are some awesome pictures of my favorite things about Christmas time!

Wrapping Presents

Making Goodies

(Josh made the snowman pretzel in the back, and he also made some with our names on them! He is so crafty)

Making Cookies

Ribbon

and one of my NEW Favorites! Homemade Eggnog

Before

And After

Yummy!

Now I am just waiting for Josh to get home so we can do another one of my favorites!! MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL!!
Good night and Merry Christmas!

I Love Love Love Love the Muppets!!!

2009-12-11T00:36:00.000-08:00

Bohemian Rhapsody is one of my most favorite songs! I also am totally in love with the Muppets! I hope you enjoy this as much as Josh and I did!

Christmas Tree

2009-12-07T16:07:00.000-08:00

This year we got our Christmas tree at the same place we did last year. I love it! It is up on a mountain/hill, and you can see the valley from the top. I was a little nervous that they were not going to be open because I could not find any information on them on the internet. Josh asked me what I wanted to do, and I said let's just go and see. So, we drove to Dallas and just as we got close there was a big sign for Bigfoot Christmas trees! I was excited! They were open! We kept driving and then found the little dirt road entrance and started driving up. I am a lot nerdy and a little embarrassed, but as we were driving up I got so excited and happy that we were getting a tree I started crying! I know big dork, but getting a tree is one of my favorite things about Christmas! I especially love getting them at places like Bigfoot. You get to cut it down yourself, and they shake and bale it for you! This year we hung out a little bit,enjoyed yummy hot chocolate, candy canes, sat by the fire listening to Christmas music, and got to watch other families get their trees! I loved it! Josh's camera is not that great, and mine broke so our pictures are a little foggy, but at least we have some! We took a tape measure this year because last year our tree was shorter than it could have been, and I wanted to get the biggest tree we could this year!

Here it is!

Red and white this year! Most of the ornaments and lights we got from my grandma. Thanks grandma! Merry Christmas everyone and have fun getting your tree!

Something I wrote for my Uncle Jimmy...I Remember You

2009-11-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

There are a few curse words in this paper so please don't be offended! It was the only way to really capture my grandma. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think!

I Remember You

    January had come hard, cold, and wet. Oregon has always been known for it’s rainstorms, but on this specific week the rain had pounded steady everyday. The flooding water had spilled over from the road into people’s yards. It destroyed gardens and drowned driveways.
    My grandma was in town because my parents had flown with my brother to Utah to see him into the Missionary Training Center. It was Wednesday and I had no school and no work. My boyfriend, Josh, was coming over to make my grandma and I breakfast. I woke early to find the day creeping in my window. Laying a hand on my pink walls slowly bringing my room to a soft glow. It wasn’t bright because there was no sun, simply winter luminosity. I didn’t want to get out of bed. I find joy in early mornings when you don’t have anywhere to go, no responsibilities, and nothing pressing to do.   I knew my grandma was awake because even though she smoked outside the back door, the cold breeze brought a slight hint of tobacco across the tip of the air. It was an odd smell that brought sweet childhood memories, but at that same instant the realization of an educated mind, “smoking causes cancer.”
    I heard a knock on the door and both dogs went crazy with a barking frenzy. Back in the house now, grandma yelled at them. “Shut the Hell up!” As she slammed the back door. Hell being a “Grandma word“, only to be used by her. It was only Josh, so I waited for him to come find me. He came down the hall calling my name. When he got to my room he kindly informed me it was time to get up. “No it’s not!” I teased back. Shoving the blankets over my head. He went to the foot of my bed and tried to find my feet. “You have to get up! It’s breakfast time.” He said with a huge grin on his face. “And I’ve got something special in mind.” “Special” meaning he had no idea and he wanted me to come help him.
    On any other day my sisters would have the stereo in the bathroom cranked all the way up. The loud music would push a hot messes of pop music and steam throughout the house. Both would be scrambling around getting everything ready for their day. That morning was different. Alex had late start so she was in bed, and Jordan was at the computer playing a game. It was almost peaceful. A loud ring Cut into the calmness of the morning.
“I got it!” Screamed Jordan. Her footsteps echoed down the hall as she ran to get the phone. A few seconds later I heard her say: “Grandma it’s for you” This time much quieter. “Y‘ello” Somewhat cheery. Then: “What?” This single word said any other way would seem totally harmless. The “what” that escaped my grandma’s mouth was different. It held in the space of our house. Like cold chains it froze me. I sat up and listened with every part of me hoping the next words would sound different. Like the cold air brought the aroma of tobacco, the echo of her shaking voice rode on the silence. “What frank?” The same tone. I pulled myself from my bed to go to her. Hesitating with each step, yet determined, I started to walk out. Josh took my hand. The warmth of his hand gave me strength but I told him to wait in my room for me. Before I left my room my mind held a simple image of grandma happy and smiling. I said a small prayer to myself and looked up to see her.
“What are you saying?” She asked, her freckled face has wrinkled into a cold gaze. She was holding the phone tightly with both hands.
“What… what?” Asking again as Her petite hands started to shake.
I could hear my footsteps echo down the hall just as Jordan’s did as I make my way towards her. My grandma barely able to speak anymore said something else to the person on the phone and then just stood there with the gray phone quivering in her hands. Hesitantly I asked her what was wrong.
“Jimmy’s dead” She said almost as if she was asking a question.
“Uncle Jimmy?” I thought out loud.
“He killed Himself.” She said, in pure disbelief answering the question I couldn’t even ask. Spiders crawled over my shoulders and shuddered down my arms. My stomach sank and I started to choke. I took her frail body in my arms and held her. My grandmas voice had woken up Alex and she had come down the hall right behind me. She too wrapped her arms around us. Grandma looked at me and in her eyes I saw truly saw her. Defeated by what she had just been told made her look delicate and childlike. She wasn’t a rude old lady that swore and flipped people off. She wasn’t that person that was always telling me I am too nice, as she told another dirty joke. She was a mother who had just lost a son. She was someone, who was broken, who needed me.


    White roses in glass vases shimmered on top of the piano. I closed my eyes letting the shimmer slide down my cheek. I took a deep breath opened my eyes and looked around. The church we were in was much like one my parents and siblings went to every Sunday. The only true difference was the blue colors of the upholstery and walls. Even with the lights bright and fluorescent, it felt dark. Alex was speaking from the tall wooden podium in front. Her face was optimistic with faith and conviction . The words she spoke left me with a feeling of peace and wonder admits the waves of sadness radiating around me. I remember a quote she read by *Gordon B. Hinckley. It came from the program of his wife’s funeral. “It isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.“ After Alex finished my Dad stood. He was smiling and wearing my Uncle Jimmy’s black leather jacket, clean white shirt, shiny dress shoes, and a tie. He thanked her for her words, then made the announcement that the pulpit would be open for anyone who would like to get up and say something in honor of Jimmy. Looking down for a moment he placed his arms on the stand then asked Joseph, Jimmy’s only son, if he could come up to the front. Joseph shyly got up and walked towards him. My dad asked Joseph if he knew who the leather jacket belonged too. Joseph didn’t talk he just shook his head no. He then took the jacket off and placed it over Joseph’s shoulders and told him that it belonged to his father and Jimmy would want him to have it. He hugged Joseph and they both walked down the steps together and sat down.
    Uncle Shane got up and started to make his way to the front. His bright red hair stood out against the blues of the chapel. He was wearing a simple collard shirt, dark blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. Once he was front and center he began to speak. An expression of guilt shook from him and crashed into the bare walls of the chapel. He finished with a deep hint of blame “ I should have been there,” He said, “ We should have been able to see this coming and stop it.” I watched him as he slowly returned to his spot. Surprised and almost angry at what he had just said I looked at my grandma to see her reaction. She was sitting in the front row between Jordan and my cousin, so short that her small feet almost dangled barely touching the ground. Her face was soft and had puffy round spots around her eyes. The affect of my uncle’s words seemed as if they had crushed her deep into the cushion she was sitting on. She was oblivious to how fragile she appeared, and when she noticed me staring she winked. I smiled, and gave a weak smile back. I looked down and saw my hands, the same fair skin of my grandma’s, begin to tremble against the soft fabric of my skirt. My heart came alive against the walls of my chest. I was moved by a spirit giving me courage. I stood up slowly, yet with determination, and made my way to the front of the chapel. With each fierce step I took choruses of my own voice hummed through my head. The individual voices illuminated something different yet all conveying identical messages. I stepped in front of the podium looked down and saw the microphone, cold and metallic, then I looked up to the moving sea of faces. Most of the people that were there I didn’t know. All at once my voices stopped leaving me in silence. I took hold of the podium to steady myself, looked down at my family and started to speak. “We are here because we loved Uncle Jimmy. He has moved on to a better place now, we can’t blame ourselves for what has happened. No one could have known this was coming. The only thing we can do now is love the people we have here today with all of our hearts. Put petty things a side and be here for each other as friends and family. We can’t change what has happened, but we can change what will happen from now on. Tell the people that are dear to you how much you truly care about them and how important they are to you. Remember Uncle Jimmy for all the good things we know about him. And in his memory we have to remember to love each other, because there will come a time when it is too late.” After I had finished I gradually took my place next to my family.



    The wooden church walls reflect the gold lights from the fixtures above throughout the chapel. The sun reaches between the white curtains that cover the glass doors casting hints of spring across the carpet. Families sit together in the cozy rows of soft pews. There are a few parents busy with toddlers that cheerfully yet earnestly try to make small masterpieces of cheerios and crayons. Other adults are watching and listening intently to the speaker. He is an older man with gray hair peeking out of his nose and off his chin. The warmness of the lights reflect of his thick glasses. His voice is velvety as he shares a story of personal enlightenment. Except for the occasional allusion of different perfumes the air is clean and fresh. My two sisters sit with each other in front of me writing small letters back and forth, every once and a while pausing to listen to the presenter. I look at my dad to see if he is listening. Looking at him I realize that his once dark brown hair is peppered with light gray hairs. The skin around his eyes is cradled with soft lines. I notice him take something out of his scriptures. Instantly I recognize the soft pencil marks on the pale paper. It is the letter that Jimmy left. He slowly unfolds it and begins to read. I have never read the letter completely, for me it is too hard. Bravely I steal a glance and look down to read the last part of his letter. “I am just a person that can’t still the things forever twisting in my heart, mind, and soul. I have decided to sleep. Be happy for me! I am scared but I know this is my path. P.S. I love you.” The Skid Row lyrics from his slide show plays softly in the back of my head. “Remember yesterday walking hand in hand. Love letters in the sand, I remember you. Through the sleepless nights, and every endless day. I’d wanna hear you say I remember you.” There is a picture of him I remember from the funeral that stays in my mind. He is walking down a long path with his back to the camera. Tattoos cover his tan skin and strong muscles. Wind has picked up his long dirt blond hair and fanned it out of either side of his neck. The sky is bright and blue in front of him. Both of his arms extended to each side with open hands reaching out. My dad gentle refolds the letter and slowly slides it back into his scripture case. As the organ begins to play the introduction for the closing hymn he stays at rest staring at the parted curtains and golden sunlight reaching in from outside.

*From the funeral program for Marjorie Pay Hinckley, April 10, 2004; see also “Latter-day Counsel,” Ensign, Oct. 2000, 73.

Halloween 80's style!

2009-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

Since we don't have any little kids in our family we try and find new and exciting ways to celebrate. This year we got dressed up 80's style and went to Izzy's! Don't be Jealous!! Aunt Sheree and Denise Joined us and we had a pretty good time. Josh had some really sweet acid wash jeans and I cut his hair into a mullet! It was great! We partied to the MAX!!

Oh and we laughed really hard and I almost died! My favorite thing about hanging out with my family is, we are always going to laugh really hard and some point in the night!

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Now that my title got you here feel free to look around and say hi!!

School has started, the leaves are starting to turn, and our neighbors already have jack-o-lanterns guarding their porch. I really can't believe how fast time is flying by. It seems like summer should not be over yet, but it is. One of my favorite things about this time of the year, besides how beautiful it is, is the smell! I love that smell right after the sun goes down and the air is crispy and cool. It smells like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas all rolled up into one delicious puff of fresh air. I am truly going to miss the warm sun of summer, but I am excited for the Holiday Seasons approaching!
Over the summer we moved! It was all very last minute and very exciting! Minus the fact that it was over 100 degrees while we were moving, and it was 106 inside our new house! That's right we live in a house, not an apartment. Copper is very happy he has his own yard and about 500 alley cats to bark at all day and night. He has only escaped the fence four times and each time he comes right home. Our neighborhood is very exciting so far we have had the cops over twice! Once they arrested someone, and the second was when a speeding van capsized in the Alley behind our house and had to be pulled out by a tow truck. Once of our neighbors has a 200 lb pitbull and a mullet. I am sure you are all very jealous! On the even better plus side...we have a great room, (actually a garage that was made into a room) so we were able to put up the pool table. It was successfully put up right after Josh's B-day party!
For those of you that don't know Josh started school this fall at Chemeketa Community College. He was really excited to start and a little nervous. Currently he is taking 13 credits and so far he is having a good time. With us both being in school and working life is a little more crazy, but we are enjoying it. I think it will be good for us the start getting more organized. Over the summer we had made a Summers resolution to not watch any TV. Well, we did ok. It isn't that hard for us at home because we don't have a TV but we still do have internet. I am hoping that we can set some Fall resolutions that we help us be more organized!
We are doing good and so far neither of us has gotten sick yet! Knock on wood! Usually I get sick right around this time so we will see what happens! Oh! Some big news!!! We got a bed frame at Value Village!! Yep after one whole year of marriage we have a real bed now! I know our lives are too exciting! No wonder everyone comments our blog sooo much! LoL! Well we hope everyone is doing well and would love for someone to come visit anytime! Happy Fall everyone and go out and enjoy the smells!!

Camping, California, and my Mom's Camera!

2009-09-05T22:05:00.000-07:00

No Internet & Small Update

2009-07-18T12:21:00.000-07:00

We don't have internet anymore! It's not too bad though because if we really need something we can go the the library on Campus. We are busy packing and looking for a new place to live. Our lease is up and we have to be out by the end of July. Josh was sick for a couple days and it looks like I might be getting it now, too. Other than that we are still alive and passing the time with dance parties, having our nieces and nephew up, looking for a new Job, swimming at mill creek, packing, watching movies, planting flowers, and watching our garden grow. We don't have any pictures of all these great things but hopefully we can get our camera going, so we have something to show for it.

Whole Wheat Torts and Brown Rice

2009-06-12T16:25:00.001-07:00

I really enjoy cooking and I love making things that I have never made before. On Wednesday night Josh and I made homemade whole wheat tortillas!!! They were amazingly really good! I didn't know for sure how long to cook them because they look a little different then white flour torts, so the first one was more like a big tortilla chip! Nice and crunchy! After that I got the hang of it! We made brown rice and had black beans too! Pretty cheap, really easy, and yummy!

Over the river and through the woods...

2009-06-12T16:20:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Josh, Jordan, and I got to go to Myrtle Creek! We haven't bee down there in atleast two whole months! We spent the night at my Grandma and Grandpa's house! My Grandma taught me how to crochet a afghan and now I have a project for the long drive to Cali! Grandpa also BBQ'd ribs and they were sooo yummy! My grandparents also have a backyard full of amazing flowers and trees! Everytime we go down I love to walk around and look at everything. I can't wait until we get a yard of our own someday! My grandma is going to give me starts off of everything!!! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for an awesome weekend! Josh also got to enjoy his favorite thing about MC... XL Blizzards from DQ!

Can you see what I see?

2009-05-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

Josh and I were watering the flowers in front today and spotted something!

Can you see anything?

How about now?

Yep! There it is! Crazy huh! I have never seen anything like!

We looked on the internet to find out what kind of spider it was but they were too creepy to look at! They all made my skin crawl. Oh and a spider crawling across someone's face has been know to cause heart attacks in persons over 40! Yikes! But, still pretty cool to see!

Israel Israel God is Calling

2009-05-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

There are some Hymns that really make the spirit warm my soul from within. After I read Teresa's post I started think about Elliot being where he is, my brother where he is now, and where he could be in the next year, and I couldn't help but feel sad and scared. These are scary times in our lives and our young men are facing the scariest parts while we have BBQ's and go to drive-in movies. Even though I am scared I have hope and I know they all know how much we love them and how much their Savior loves them. I know that no matter what happens the Lord will protect them and they will have the Saviors comfort. We must keep our prayers strong and fill our hearts with the love the Savior showed us. We talked about Alma the younger today in institute and if it hadn't been for his father and his people praying for him he might not have ever been born again with spirit of God. It is a work in progress. Never under estimate the power of prayer. I love my family and I love the gospel. I smile now and think to myself , "Come to Zion, Come to Zion..." I know this post might not make very much sense, but I could feel it in my heart and I needed to write down! I love you all!

Little Purple Pansies

2009-05-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Josh brought home a flat of pansies from work the other night and at first I wasn't very excited. I have never really liked pansies. I don't think they have very many pretty colors.. When Josh brought them in they made me smile. I right away found a place to put them on our little back patio. After we planted them I decided to take some pictures. While I was taking the pictures I started to notice how wonderful these little flowers were. Josh asked me if they were perennials. I said I didn't think they were but pansies are tough. They can survive throughout the winter and still bloom nice a bright in the spring. The words to the

children's song from church popped into my head. I never really go it. I never really understood. Looking out my back door now the words mean so much to me. I have little purple, white, red, blue, and even a funky yellow pansies growing in my corner. They make me smile and give me hope. I love them and am so grateful for such a wonderful gift!

Little purple pansies, touched with yellow gold,

Growing in one corner of the garden old;
We are very tiny but must try, try, try

Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

In whatever corner we may chance to grow,
Whether cold or warm the wind may ever blow,
Dark the day or sunny, we must try, try, try
Just one spot to gladden, you and I.

Glacial Erratic Rock

2009-05-16T19:19:00.000-07:00

Josh, Copper, and I went for a little car ride today! Road trips are one of our most favorite things! We found a little state park that was near by and decided to take a little hike. I didn't bring any sunscreen, but lucky for me there was a sombrero in the trunk from Nathan's Fiesta Farewell! Apparently the rock we went and saw floated down here from Canada on an ice berg during a flood! What a crazy little place in the middle of a bunch of farms!

There was also some information about the rock.

Oh and there was this really creepy tree there too!

Here is a shot of the Rock it's self, with Josh on Top!

This is a picture from standing on top of the rock looking out on the valley, kinda feel like I am in Calistoga with the vineyard there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX!

2009-04-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Alex is 19 years old today!!! Wahoo for her! Alex I love you! Have a wonderful birthday!

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Disney Princesses

What eve!

2009-04-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well we still do not have internet working at our apartment! Grrr!! It isn't the internet that actually works fine. It is my laptop! It has some kind of virus that wont let the internet explorer or Mozilla load any of the web pages that I try and view. None of the scans I have done have gotten rid of it either. I guess we are going to move all the pictures and documents onto a removable hard drive and re do the whole thing! YIKES! Wish us luck!

OK for Real!! Let me know what you think!!!

2009-04-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

ok the video quality isn't the best but I will give you copies of the pictures!!!

Update the short version!

2009-04-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

Life has been crazy! Between spring break, Easter, no internet, work, school, work, school, reading, cleaning, and everything else we have not had the chance to post anything. Well, that and we don't really have that exciting of lives to post about. Josh got a promotion at work, he is now a Supervisor! I have started Spring term and started taking classes that pertain to my major! Oh! And we do have some bad news. Someone stole my purse with my wallet and my Social Security Card and is going around town applying for credit! YIKES! I am so mad about it! Sometimes I feel like I am over it, but then I really think about it and I hate it. I have had things happen to me before but this really makes me feel like a victim. I didn't do anything to these people and they are stealing my identity!!! Well enough about that. Summer is just around the corner and the sun is out and the flowers are beautiful! I hope all is well with everyone else. Enjoy the great things we are blessed with! Oh and don't forget to go check out Bud's blog. He has been writing letters from boot camp and Jordan and I are posting them! Happy April!!!

Happy Irishness!

2009-02-20T16:57:00.000-08:00

I have been very sick these past two weeks! I hope I will be getting over it very soon. I hope everyone enjoys our new blog theme. I know that it isn't spring yet but looking at everyone's St. Patrick's Day backgrounds got me thinking of spring, flowers, clovers, rainbows, and everything warm and sunny. Josh and I planted our paper white narcissus a couple weeks ago and they are starting to bloom! I love plants and having blooming flowers in our dining area is wonderful! I haven't taken any pictures of them but here is a picture from the Web of what our flowers will look like.

I bought the bulbs pretty cheap at wal-mart after it was too late to plant them. If you put them in a bag (So it is dark) in the fridge you can trick them into blooming indoors, anytime of the year. Just make sure they are in the fridge for at least a couple weeks. Then you can plant them in soil in a pot, or in a vase with rocks. If you decide to use the vase make sure the water level stays at the bottom of the bulbs. If you have too much water the bulbs with rot out. That is what happened to my Lilies. Once the roots start growing it gets easier to determine where the water level should be. If you try it let me know how it goes! After our flowers really start blooming I will post a picture! So even though it is still winter and February I want to say Happy Spring and Happy St. Patrick's Day! Enjoy the Irish tunes!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

2009-02-14T21:52:00.000-08:00

For Valentine's Day We decided to go to the beach! The weather was amazingly beautiful! It was sunny and there was no wind at all! Too bad for the kite though! We had a great time and got to take some really cool pictures. The waves at this beach were crazy! They were so huge. We have decided that we are going to go to that beach every Valentine's Day and make a heart in the sand! We hope everyone had a great holiday! We love you!
Love Sam, Josh, Copper, and MJ!

Peaceful

2009-02-14T21:46:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day Kisssssssss!!!

2009-02-14T21:46:00.000-08:00

Josh and Copper running away from the huge waves

2009-02-14T21:45:00.000-08:00

Our Valentine's Day Heart of Love...

2009-02-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

I really liked this picture!

2009-02-14T21:43:00.000-08:00

Copper was having a great time chasing the seagulls...

2009-02-14T21:42:00.001-08:00

Look really close and you can see it!

Huge waves and pretty reflection

2009-02-14T21:42:00.000-08:00

Just a pretty picture of the water and the sun.

2009-02-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

Winter Blues

2009-02-12T12:54:00.000-08:00

Josh and I have both been sick! Since we have both been taking vitamins I was hoping we had missed it. It is not fun! When one of us gets better the other starts all over again. Other than that nothing really exciting has happened with us. Isaac our nephew was able to come visit with us for a couple days. It was fun having him here. Sometimes I forget how funny little kids can be! Isaac was pretty much hilarious he had us laughing the whole time he was here.
I started doing some family history, and I am really getting into it. I called my Grandma Pat and she was helping me figure things out. She has a big book with a whole bunch of information in them. It is exciting!
Josh has passed his 90 days mark at work! It isn't his favorite place but he is making the most of it. Josh is starting to work out and get fit because he is going to apply at the Oregon State Police Academy. He wants to be a fish and game warden, and they have a program that he is interested in. He still wants to do Taxidermy too! He is also working on getting his fur bearers license so he is almost official.

This is a picture I took when we drove to Portland to pick up Jordan Eliason.

Uh....a few pictures I never posted!

2009-01-18T00:43:00.000-08:00

It snowed here awhile ago but we just now got some pictures on the computer!

Copper has really large talons and he likes to hold things with them!

Mj kept trying to lick the camera!

We love plants! Here are two of them, they don't have names...One is an umbrella plant and the other one is something else!

New Post New Post La la la la la la

2009-01-14T22:53:00.000-08:00

So my mom likes to point out the fact that I don't take my time and edit my posts...well sorry I was in a hurry that day! ok so like oh my gosh! there are like totally so many like high schoolers in like all my classes! oh my gosh like totally! I guess that is what I get for taking my sweet time doing the college thing! Josh has his new reading glasses! There are so cute! Love it! I think I am going to write a short story and post it on my blog and then I want feed back. I really enjoy writing and I think I might be ok at it...If I can get all the grammer and editing done the right way! Ha Ha Ha! Oh and I found this picture on my computer!!!!! Say Hi Dad!

Winter Term-Souper Trouper-Coast

2009-01-08T13:07:00.000-08:00

Well as for my grades for Fall Term... ABBA! Yes I was very excited especially because at one point during the term I almost dropped all my class and crawled into a cave. I have to say that the A I got in my music class I owe completely to Laura Leon. She helped me Ace my final which is what ultimately sealed the deal on my A in the class. So Thank you again Laura!! Christmas and New Years were amazing! We were able to spend time with friends and family! I started Classes on Monday! I am taking Psychology 202, Math 95, Eng 105, and volleyball. I just got out of my volleyball class and it pretty much kicked my butt. I know I will be sore tomorrow! Josh is still working at Hi- School Pharmacy, he was not able to sign up for any classes this term, but maybe next term. We are having a good time trying to figure out where to put all the stuff we got from everyone during the Holidays. Don't get me wrong we are grateful for everything we got! I just have no idea where we are going to put.

For part of my birthday celebration weekend we drove to the coast! It was a pretty nice day, a little chilly but nice. My mom was able to take some amazing pictures with her cell phone! You can check them out on her facebook. We had dinner at the chalet pie house in New Port ( I wouldn't recommend it! You can ask Alex about that one!) Since we were in Newport we decided to drive back through Corvallis. The first couple minutes of the trip were very nice. Isaac and Jordan fell asleep to classical music in the back seat and josh and I enjoyed the music and the moon shinning high in the sky. As we started getting closer to the mountains we noticed cars coming in the other lane with there hazard lights flashing. I quickly called my mom, who was in the car in front of us, and asked if she knew what was going on. She had I no idea. I asked her if it was icy and she stuck her hand out the window and said no. Well, after a ton of cars driving really slow with flashing lights we came up on a big hill and all the cars a slowed to a crawl. That was when we realized that it was indeed icy. While we were waiting for the cars in front of us to move my dad stuck his foot out the door to feal the ice. Josh and I did the same and so did the car behind us. It was very very icy, pretty much a inch of solid ice. I guess it was so cold out side that the water that was one the road had frozen! It was crazy after that. There were cars trying to come down the mountain that were sliding off the road onto the shoulder. For a while it seemed that no one was going to make it up or down. Our lane finally started moving and my dad tried to go, but everytime him put his foot on the gas the front of the honda would slide down towards the on coming traffic. This happened several times! I was nervous for a while that they weren't going to make it up. Later I found out that they said a prayer and then tried again. While they were trying to go up a huge semi-truck was trying to come down! I thought for sure the semi was going to slide into them and push them off the rail down the Mountain. Eventually my dad was able to control the car enough to make it go forward and he drove on the gravel in the shoulder unitl we were on our way down. We saw what had stopped traffic, there had been a huge accident! Hopefully no one was hurt. We made it down and we were just on the out skirts of phylomath when we tried to slow down and slid again! We all though we were safe, but there was till ice! So the rest of the way into Phylomath we stayed nice a slow. When we finally got there, we stopped at Mc Donalds to use the facilities. Everyone jumped out and started talking about what we had all just gone through. It took us about 3 hours to get home and it was very exciting! A little scary at times but it was fun! Oh and Jordan and Isaac slept through all the scary stuff! To bad for them!

Ok I have to go to math now! Oh and all my homework is done! Oh Yeah!

Good Bye Fall Term Hello Winter Break!

2008-12-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

I have finished Fall Term 08! I know very crazy, I get a nice long break and then back to school on my birthday! Yeah Happy Birthday me I get to go to class for four hours! Well it will be fine! I am really starting to enjoy school. When I find out the final on all my grades I will let you know!

We got our christmas tree on Thursday morning before Josh had to go to work and after I took my Computer Science Final. We had wanted to go up into the woods with a permit, but with our schedules we weren't going to be able to for a while. So, after I finished my 8 am final at 820 Josh picked me up and we drove over to Dallas and found the tree farm. They had grands, nobles, and dougs. The grands were 40 dollars!! I know crazy! Nobles were thirty and Dougs were 20. We went for a doug! It was really fun because they gave us a saw and we got to go pick it out and cut it down! they shook and bailed it and we threw it in the back seat of our car! Sorry no Pictures. :(

Josh was reading online about coon hound dogs. He found some information specifically pertaining to coon hounds and other house pets...ie MJ! Well come to find out you are not supposed to leave your coon hound alone with a cat because he will eat it! GASP! Fortunately for us the only thing copper eats when we leave him and MJ alone together is her poo! I think Josh should send in a couple pictures of what really happens when you leave a coon hound and a cat home alone together...

Really funny because they each took a turn looking at the camer!!

Our Starry....well Cloudy Night!

2008-11-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

So I got my really cool planisphere/Planet locator in the mail a long time ago, and we finally got to go out to the field and look at all of the wonderful constellations. We only had one slight problem...It was cloudy. We saw a total of four stars and we think there were from the Constellation Eridanus. Hopefully the next time we head out we will get to see all of them! On Saturday night I went for a walk out in the field by myself and all of the stars were out, so I know they will be amazing for us when we get the chance to see them. Lucky for all of you we brought the camera a long and got to take some fun pictures in the field! Oh and if anyone is interested in getting their very own free Planisphere/Planet locator Here is the link for the cool website that will send you one for free!

http://www.classusa.org/Free_Planisphere.htm
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Josh flexing!

Josh took this picture of us!

and here I am!

Copper was with us but he would hang out long enough to be in a picture. He loves the field and as soon as we get there and let him off his leash... he is gone!

Guess who is Three years old today...

2008-11-11T19:19:00.000-08:00

Copper! Yay for Copper he is Three and he totally acts like it too! At least we have him potty trained! I don't know how many three year old's still eat food off the floor but Copper does! Here are a couple pictures from his little birthday celebration!

He got to blow the candle out... he used his ear!

Don't worry he didn't get to eat his birthday candle!

Sam's Sharing her feelings

2008-11-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

I know I shouldn't be posting this without Josh here but I think it is time. Before we even got to post that we were having a baby he went back to heaven. It is a strange and sad thing. We were very surprised that we were even pregnant. It was what I called our Happy Surprise. We were excited and scared and happy and nervous. It was something we had wanted but didn't even know we were getting. We found out on Tuesday that we had lost the baby. I wont go into details because it isn't pretty. I now find myself over whelmed with sadness, but at the same time I feel like I don't have time to be sad. I have to go to school I need to go to work. I know that Heavenly Father has reasons for everything and I understand that his will is greater then mine. I am going to be OK. Josh and I are going to be OK. The strange part that I mentioned before is how grief works. I wake up in the morning feeling optimistic or happy. Today is the day I wont be sad, and I wont be for an hour or two, but then it just hits me. Like a punch in the stomach, and I cry and cry. An hour later I am happy again. I am sure Josh is wondering if I will ever stop crying. I will, but then something else will make me cry. It's hard to not cry so much when I used to cry all the time anyways. If any of you know me you would understand. If not I will give a couple examples; When I was a teenager whenever my mom asked me if I was on my period I would cry, When I moved to Utah and had to say good bye to my Family and Kristen I cried all the way to Idaho, I cry every time I share my testimony, I want to cry whenever anyone ask me if "I'm going to eat all that", and I cry whenever my feelings get hurt. So, sadness is all around, but there is still hope. We are hopeful we will have another chance. We still have happy times. I love Josh and he is really good at making me laugh. I love playing volleyball and I was able to pound some really hard serves on Tuesday night. We are sad but we are happy too. We are grateful for all of the kind words people have said to us. We are grateful for the prayers and support. We are grateful for all of our blessings that we have. In prayers last night Josh thanked the Lord for his love. It is a great thing to know our Father in Heaven loves us, and to feel that love is wonderful. Ever since Sunday I have had a Hymn stuck in my head,"Because I have been given much." It keeps repeating over and over. "Because I have been given much I too must give, because of thy great bounty Lord each day I live..." The lord has a plan for all of us. At times we have no Idea what is going on but he does. We are given trials and hard times and bitter moments but these compare to our great Joys and times of laughter. I know He loves us, He gave his only begotten son for us. Each time I read the scriptures I feel his love even stronger. This rocky place will pass and we will be stronger because we endured. The Lord has blessed us and we are grateful. I know now that I must pass my blessings on to those who are in need.

Don't be sad for us we are sad enough already. Be happy and smile and remember all of the blessings the Lord gives us.

2008-10-30T08:21:00.000-07:00

For anyone who doesn't know today is Jordan's 15th birthday. I am pretty confident that if you have even talked to her in the last two months you would know! Jordan is one of the coolest people I know! She is smart and she makes people laugh. I know there is rule about telling stories of your own in our family, but I thought since it is her birthday I could share! So her are 15 fun facts about Jordan!!!!

1. When Jordan was little we used to be able to get her to snort and grunt like a pig.
2. Jordan used to lock herself in the bathroom and play in the sink naked.
3. As a toddler Jordan would sneak into the fridge and eat it butter by the stick.
4. Jordan Loves the color Pink!
5. Jordan wants to go to design school in San Francisco
6. Jordan is the worst person to have to sleep with, because she hits and moves around a lot.
7. When we were younger she would want to sneak out and meet boys.
8. She has gone on three dates with Cameron Glazier.
9. She used to be obsessed with Barney the purple dinosaur.
10. Jordan loves music.
11. She wrote a whole play all by herself.
12. Jordan Loves her best friends!
13. If you sang to Jordan when she was a baby she would cry.
14. Jordan used to put on ballet outfits, or get naked, and sneak out of the house.(I think she was two or three)
15. Jordan has 6 Toes on her left foot! Just kidding!
Jordan is the youngest in the family and totally my Dad's favorite.

Well Jordan this post was all for you! See you at your Birthday Party!!!!

Love Sam & Josh

Turkey Meat Loaf Surprise!!

2008-10-29T21:50:00.000-07:00

Today, was Samantha's and Josh's 2 month Anniversary. It was my second day at my new job at Ace hardware, I did not go in until 3:30. It was a pretty easy day just unloading freight most of the day. Sam had school and work today also, She said she had a pretty easy day too. Copper got to enjoy what the mornings bring for the first time in a while. It was like he had never been out in the mornings before, he was crazy!! The cat just slept all day. Sam had a volleyball game Yesterday she did good, she slammed 5 aces in a row on her serve!! Anyways back to today. When I got home from work about 8:45ish Sam was waiting for me at the door wearing her moose apron. So we had a delightful dessert before the deliciously amazing turkey meat loaf Sam prepared herself. The food was very good, I am full to the max!! What Sam does not know is there is a wonderful surprise dessert waiting for her. Sam just said that she really likes the eggnog and brownies!! Right now we are about to head off to bed and get some rest... we have to get up early so our sink disposal can get replaced. Yep any ways that was our fun filled day in a peanut shell. Loves to our families and friends. Hugs-N-Kisses from Sam and Josh.

Hey everyone!

2008-10-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

So I know that posts aren't very exciting if the don't have pictures...but this post is going to be amazing!

I started volleyball!!!!! Wahoo!!! I am really excited I am playing volleyball on an inter murals team for my school! We aren't that greatest but it is really fun to get together with other college students and play a little V-ball! Josh has finally gotten a Job up here in Monmouth! (I know it was only been two months of driving back and forth and we shouldn't complain because he was working) We are super excited! He is going to be home! Which means more time for him and Copper! We are going to Eugene this weekend for Souper Saturday and to hang out with the Fam! Denise is in the process of moving into her new place, it is really cute I am kind of jealous! It will be sad not having her here everyday and I know Copper is really going to miss her. MJ is crazy and I am so ready for her to be an old fat Cat that doesn't do anything but sleep and eat. Classes are good I'm not taking anything to difficult this term. Oh and biggest news of all! Josh and I got our first family ward calling................ We are on the activities committee! I know crazy! My whole single life I was never on the activities committee. First family ward we move into happens to have a opening just for us! Not much else is going on, we are still trying to get our house all together, hopefully the guest room will be all set in a couple weeks. We are finishing up our paperwork to become foster parents and really looking forward to that. After we complete everything we get to start taking the classes. Well I hope all is well with everyone else!

Sept 29th the great and terrible day

2008-10-11T20:09:00.000-07:00

One month down and eternity to go!

Because of certain circumstance we have a new roommate! Denise has joined our family for about a month or two until she moves into her new place.(which by the way is a really neat little place.) Her first night with us was also our one month anniversary. We didn't really plan any big celebration. Josh was bringing up our wedding cake so we could eat it, and then we were just going to have a relaxing evening. He was also going to bring Frankenstein home too. I was really excited because Frankenstein had been living at my parents house since our wedding. If you don't know Frankenstein is our teddy bear hamster. While Josh was on his way up I called and talked to my mom, she asked me if I had heard the bad news yet from Josh, I hadn't so right away I called Josh. He had wanted to wait and tell me when he got home but because my mom kinda told me, he had too. Frankenstein had died. So, for now I call Sept 29Th the great and terrible day. It was sad that Frankenstein had to leave us, but he is in a better place now. We miss him a lot but we have moved forward with our lives. After Josh got home we opened our cake and had a little celebration. It actually turned out really good to have Denise there because she was able to take pictures for us!

So here we are with our Cake! yummy!

Yeah I was really excited to undo the ribbon...did I mention I got my Hair cut!

Uh... Is that the same face I made at the Reception...YIKES! I must really be excited!

Yeah we are pretty much nerds!

And finally Josh got to do what he had been waiting his whole life to do...Smash wedding cake in his wife's face. If you didn't already know Josh really wanted to do this at the reception but I told him he couldn't, so one month later he finally got too!

Pictures from Josh's Birthday!!!!!

2008-09-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

I got Josh a really cool Stunt Kite!

Bud got him some Yummy Steak!!

THIS IS MY HEAD LAMP! YAY I look like Conan the Barbarien.

Sorry the cake picture is there twice but I couldn't figure out how to get rid of it! Ok more Pictures later!!!

Thank you!

2008-09-11T09:21:00.001-07:00

Since we have been back from our Honeymoon life has been a little crazy. While we are both working hard at getting our thank you cards out I want to drop another thank you!! Thank you for the cards, gifts, crafty things, running around, decorations, car rides, dress fixing, food preparations, clean up, pictures, shoes, make-up, cake, flowers, lighting of the lanterns, and all of the other many many things that were done for us. We are so grateful for all of the people that stepped in and made our Wedding and Reception amazing! I hope everyone that was able to make it had as much fun as we did!

OK updates!
We have officially moved into our apartment, but we are having some issues with the carpet and walls so they have had to come in and repaint and re carpet. Lots of moving the giant couch back and forth. Josh is still working in Eugene, so he is officially a commuter. Even though the drive is a little tough on him we are very grateful that he has a job. I don't start class until Sept. 29Th. Copper is living at Josh's parents. We are waiting until that apartment is really finished before he joins us.
I don't have any pictures to post of the Wedding and Reception yet, but I will after this weekend. Oh yeah and the Honeymoon was great!

Happy Birthday Joshy!

2008-08-15T02:12:00.000-07:00

Today is Josh's 21rst Birthday! I know!! I am so excited for him! Mostly I am excited for the present that I got him! We are going to the beach with our families this weekend to celebrate. I love Josh and I am so grateful to have him in my life! He is way too much fun! I know you are all very Jealous! JK! I had my first Bridal Shower of the season in Myrtle Creek on Tuesday. It was awesome! I just want to say thank you to everyone who was able to come and have a good time with us! I am so glad I was able to spend time with people that have known me since I was a little girl! I loved it! I will soon have pictures up because my new aunt Lorie took a whole bunch! Well I am going to bed! Oh yeah I wanted to say that watching the Olympics this year has been a really cool experience. I guess I have always taken it for granted. It is really cool to be able to watch history making athletics! Well, if you haven't watched anything yet you should!

My Grandma and my Brother

2008-08-12T12:38:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to drop a line. I am at my Grandma's house in Myrtle Creek hanging out with my favorite brother and my Grandma and Grandpa! I can't believe how amazing they are! We are here in MC because I have having my very first Bridal Shower tonight! I am really excited! I know it is going to be a good time! My Grandma and Grandpa are the coolest old people I know! OK! I will keep you updated!!

It's Official!

2008-08-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Well actually it is official in a few days, but we now have our marriage license! It has been a very exciting experience. We made it today by only 5 minutes! We even went for the novelty marriage certificate so we can frame it and put it on our wall when we get married. It was fun being downtown again. This time I didn't get to walk though. Josh picked me up and we took the car. I love putting change in the parking meters! I always make sure we have as much time as we need. Josh had to stop me at the meter in front of the post office. I thought we were going to need like 30 minutes(You never know how long the line will be!) but Josh only let me put 10 cents in it. That gave us 15 minutes. When we were done with the post office we had 8 minutes to spare! I know... our life is way too exciting!

I also wanted to let everyone know not to worry! Josh is doing a really good job helping with the wedding! Victoria, Jordan, Josh, and I were working on the invitations and I just happened to get a great picture of Josh in action! He is doing so good I can't wait to see how well he does on the favors and decorations!

Kristen Will you Please Be my Matron of Honor?

2008-08-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

My Bestest friend Kristen brought up a good point in her comment. I forgot to mention that I walked from my dentist office on 23rd & Willamette all the way to the court house on 8Th and Pearl. It really wasn't that bad except that I was really thirsty so after I got to the court house I walked to the 5Th street public market and had a refreshing cup of ice water. I called Josh and told him to come pick me up there because I didn't want to walk anymore, but after he called and said he was running late I decided to walk back to the courthouse and get started on the paper work. When I go to the court house I thought they might be closed already, but actually they had no power and wouldn't have power until Friday. The woman at the counter said I could get started on the paperwork and if Josh got there in ten minutes then we could finish it. Unfortunately josh didn't get there in ten minutes. They closed early because of the power outage and all of my walking was in vain, except I got a nice workout. We will have to go back today or tomorrow.
OK, back to the main reason why I am posting right now. Kristen has always been kind of a weird person I never really wanted her to be my matron of honor but when we went and visited her in June she said that If I didn't make her my maid of Honor she was going to eat all of my Wedding cake at the reception and she would put really embarrassing pictures of me in the slide show. I know! Raging lunatic. There have been a few rumors going around that I might have asked someone else. I just want to reassure her that I have not. I still tremble in fear at the thought of going against any of Kristen's Ideas. I know what happens when you do.... Black Eye in my junior year of high school...where do you think I got that. Well Let's just say back in high school it wasn't cake destruction or public humiliation...it was a headbutts of rage! I can't even believe I survived High school. Do you know how many times she had to take me to the emergency room? Everyone else better be careful to because I hear she's training kroten to be a biter! Well enough about my Matron of Honor(that's right Kristen you are it!) who I love very much! I know how lucky I am to have a bestest friend that is so amazing! She is the greatest person I have ever known! I have to get back to work so I will post again tomorrow or maybe even tonight it is kind of FUN!

24 Days to go!!

2008-08-05T22:33:00.000-07:00

Yes really!!! Only Twenty four days until we get married!!! Yippee!!!!! Maybe we should do one of those count down things!!! Today we went and got our marriage license but court house was out of power so we have to go back tomorrow. Josh is really excited about going to work tomorrow! He loves his job and his really cool boss! OK well it is late and we are going to bed now... oops I mean Josh is going home and I am going to bed at my house and him at his!

Trisha and Jordan and I made really cool lantern things for our reception, I hope they turn out. My mom keeps getting crazy with me because we have all of these crafts going. I know it is all going to work out in the end and will be so awesome because we created it ourselves. OK now I am really going to bed!!!

Good night!
Hugs-n-Loves!

Our First Blog Officially

2008-08-05T01:03:00.000-07:00

So I guess I can't really call this our first blog because it is just me, Sam, but I couldn't wait any longer! I am really excited to join the world of blogging. First I will tell you a little about Josh and I. We are getting married on August 29th 2008 in the Portland Oregon Temple, we are really excited. We will be living in Monmouth Oregon where I will be attending Western Oregon University. Josh has a dog that will soon be our dog. His name is Copper. Yikes! Main questions most people ask....(well the answers to them) Yes I have my dress, No we don't have a cake yet, no we haven't picked out the flowers yet, no we haven't got our marriage license yet, yes we have a DJ, a bounce house, cotton candy machine, snow cone machine, chocolate fountain, and the rings, Yes I have a Matron of Honor, Yes bud is Josh's best man (Another Yikes), and we are going to Canada for our Honeymoon!!!!
Josh proposed at sweet creek falls, one of the coolest most full of memories for all of us places in Oregon. It was great I laughed at him, and then I said yes. We danced around like dorks and then I cried. I totally knew it was coming though because 5 minutes before he asked me he actually poked me in the finger with the ring. I love Josh he is great. Well I guess we will be writing more later!
Loves-n-Hugs