My Motivators

Sometimes in life, it is hard to get out of bed and get started. Sometimes it is easy to just quit and be lazy. I recently joined the gym ( a long overdue challenge of mine). It has been so wonderful and painful and all of the above. There are times when I just want to quite, or sleep. Then, I think of what makes me tick. I think of how I want to be around for a long time and what I really have as my motivation. So, more for my own motivation than anything--here is a few things that motivate me:

1. My husband- He has never ending faith in me and always makes me want to do my best. He truly is what I live for and all my dreams come true. I would do anything to make him happy. He truly is there for me through it all, and knows just what I need, even when I don't realize it.2. My baby- I just look at her and melt and want to be a good mommy for her. Thinking of how I want to be around for every second of her life is sheer motivation. She is MY little gal and I just want to teach her all she needs to know.3. My Sisters-There truly is nothing in the world like a sister, no one who can relate to you more and talk some sense into you more. No one who can be silly with you and just make you smile like your sisters (and no one to pretend they are better at piano than you)...4. My Brothers-Each one of them is so talented and amazing in so many ways. They all have this drive inside of them that just is fire. They know how to have a good time, and it is hard not to when you are around them. They are true examples, driving me to a better one myself.

5. My parents- I couldn't ask for better parents. They always expected the best out of me and didn't settle for anything less. They know just how to lend a hand and be supportive. They are people that when I am truly down, I know they will be there, armed and ready to listen.
6. All of my family- I have very close family from aunts and uncles to cousins and nieces and nephews. I really feel a closeness to them. I feel like they are all rooting for me--cheering me on in life.










7. My dearest friends--We live not so close to family, and it would be that much harder without the help of true friends. Friends who have been examples for me and stood by me not because they HAD to, but because of their true friendship.

8. My leaders--I have had so many amazing leaders and examples in my life. People who went out of their way to make me feel like an important person, and that amidst their busy life and all the people they had to help, I was important enough to be one of them.

9. All of my motivators are dear friends and people who will forever be a part of my life. My most important motivator would have to be the Savior. He is my friend, my rock, my REDEEMER. He is the true example, leader, brother, friend. He has ALWAYS been there for me no matter what. I appreciate all of my Christlike motivators in my life and only pray I could be a Christlike motivator in some small way as well....

A scary night= Big Wakeup Call!--BE PREPARED!!

Tonight I deem the "scary scary night that turned into a wakeup call." My visiting teacher was visiting me, being her amazing self bringing a meal and doing my dishes, while I was playing with the little gal.
Our lights all of a sudden flicked off and on about 2 or three times with the power out....a little freaky!!!

After Genevieve left was when the real power outage happened. I was on the home phone with Steve, and in mid sentence everything went black. I seriously got freaked immediately. Different story if you don't have a baby. I grabbed her, then felt around for my cell to call Steve (the only light was that of the cell). I called Steve who didn't have long to talk.

When he hung up, I felt hopeless. I just sat there in the dark, trying to keep calm for the baby...when I looked out and saw everyone else's lights out. We sat for about five minutes when I realized we could have a real crisis on our hands.

My mind immediately thought the worst---what if this lasts long? What will I do with Andy? I feel so alone, what if my cell phone dies ( since I can't plug in and charge it), who can I call? So, I called my family in Oregon who of course were no help ( what can they do, they are in Oregon) and made fun of me....thanks for that fam!

My mind raced to the crazy. I thought of the end of the world...of a natural disaster. I thought of how truly unprepared I was. I have nothing ready, not even light. What do i do when the heat goes out? Again, thinking of all this while I am rocking my baby to keep her calm.

I walked outside to find our elders quorum president. He had one of those flashlights with no batteries and willingly offered it to us...What a relief! I saw him and the bishop going door to door to help people out. He asked if we had plenty of blankets as the heat would be out. We were fine on that end (at least).

I was overwhelmed with gratitude and happiness to be a member of the church. I felt looked after and protected ( and undeserving of it). I had been given a literal "light in the dark." When all was gone, a member of the church arrived to give me that light.

I suddenly had this new zeal to BE PREPARED!

What would I do in a real disaster? We need food, shelter, how would my diabetes go? I could not contact those I love. I wanted to call everyone and tell them at the top of my lungs to BE PREPARED! Your cell phone won't always work. You can't have someone there always if they are helping millions of others if it was a true disaster.

I guess, in a way, it is good to have little wake up calls. It makes us realize what we really need to do, how we need to prepare in several ways: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. We need to let those around us know what our plan is as well, have a meeting spot. I thought of Steve and how, in a real disaster, if we could not get a hold of each other, what would happen? How could we reach each other.

I need to be spiritually prepared. I know that would be the number one thing to do.

Shrine the Shoes!!

For those of you who know my husband well, you know that he is the BEST person to give a reaction. Which, makes him the best person to tell surprises to, give presents, and just someone whom you love sharing good news.

On Valentine's day I decided he really could use some b ball shoes (after some serious hinting from him--he loves b ball and is taking a class). He apparently has never had b ball shoes.

When he opened his gift, he , of course, freaked out! He made me feel truly spectacular for the thought. He said" I am going to be amazing, no one will stop me." The shrining already beginning--(he didn't even want me to post a pic of them because he wanted them in the exact right light---so silly)

So, his first day of b-ball he came home all excited and told me that the shoes KNOW their master and that he was unstoppable! He eyes were on fire. He said everyone made a comment about his incredible shoes (that is really believable babe).

Steve wanted to play b ball with his bro, so he had to bring his shoes home...It was a rainy, snowy, cold day. Steve walks in all red in the face--WITHOUT HIS COAT ON.

The goof WRAPPED HIS SHOES IN HIS COAT. You heard me right. He sacrificed his warmth for his shoes...he said he needed to protect them. I busted, and still am busting. I have never seen anyone so obsessed with shoes. WAY TO SHRINE THOSE SHOES BABE (he claims that the SHOES are unstoppable.)

My husband makes gift giving so much fun...I can't wait for his next gift.........

This one's for you Spence--Healthy Insanity!

My brother, Spencer, posted this a while ago on his blog. I thought it was so funny! (exactly the kind of thing I LOVE!) Steve and I just laughed and laughed and were determined to be a little obnoxious with the whole thing. So, sorry Spence, I stole it from you. I needed something positive and fun today, so I decided to write this today!

We tried numbers 3 and 7 on each other immediately ...and , as far as 8 goes, I am so bad at punctuation anyway. Let's just say asking "if you want fries with that" doesn't get annoying at all (note the sarcasm!)

My favorite, thus far, that I have done would have to be numbers 10 and 11. Right after we read it, Steve and I decided we wanted to go get fast food. We did...and, I can't believe it took me this long to post about it. At the Wendy's drive through we asked for the "diet Water" and "if we could please have that TO GO" the guy just said "huh...What?'

We had to explain it more than twice...the whole time I was holding back my giggles. When we drove up to get our food...well, they gave us a tray (not our food in a bag, but on a tray--picture it!)

I responded, "huh... What?" The guy laughed and said "this is to go, if you had it to stay we would have given you a bag!" Hilarius,absolutely hilarious is all I have to say. How can you not bust after that?

Needless to say, we continue asking for a diet water and I am truly going to try out the rest sometime soon. I recommend it.1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.

2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.

3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries with that.

4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."

5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch to Espresso.

6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write " For Smuggling Diamonds"

7. Finish All Your sentences with "In Accordance With The Prophecy."

8. Dont use any punctuation

9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.

10. Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.

11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."

12. Sing Along At The Opera.

13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme?

14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play tropical Sounds All Day.

15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.

16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, Rock Bottom.

17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"

18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking lot, Yelling
"Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!" (Not funny anymore)

19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To Have To Let One Of You Go."

Sick Days...

I just don't know what to think. Steve and I FINALLY have a night (and day and then some) on the town, taking the baby with us everywhere but the temple...then we get home and BAM! She is instantaneously sick. I literally don't believe it! (Maybe it is from those kids when I took her to the library for reading time--hmmm)

It is simply amazing how fast little ones get sick. She was perfect one day. Then we wake up and she is a completely different baby; coughing as if she were choking, throwing up, runny nose and a fever.

I called her doctor and he was very worried. RSV is in a rampage along with the pneumonia.
We went to the doc, and she isn't as bad as that. He said she has a case of the flu. We were told to do the ibuprofen, humidifier, saline solution little remedies (as babies can't really have much of anything).


Those are my little MIRACLES OF THE DAY---Ms Pamela introduced us to those saline drops a while ago. I haven't been using them as regularly and let me tell you, THEY MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Thank you Sara for your humidifier and thinking you wouldn't need it in Texas. I know you do, but we have very much appreciated it. I am still not exactly sure how it helps, but somehow, I know it really does. I finally figured out how to use it.

I really really truly hate sick days so much. I get too emotional when it comes to my baby. She has had an already crazy run of a life, poor little thing.

The doc recommended that we stay away from other kids for the next little while (not only cause her immune system is down and she could catch anything, but because she can give stuff to other kids).

Which, leads me to my next subject. I really think people should not only think about their children but other children when outside. If your kid is sick, think of how they can get all the other children sick if they are around them.

Needless to say, I have a little cabin fever and will be grateful to have a re checkup with the doc tomorrow so that I can get out of the house. Wish us luck and say a prayer for our little gal. She still isn't doing too hot and could sure use it!

My Perfect Valentines!!! DIA DE AMOR!!!

A VALENTINE'S DAY TO REMEMBER!

What a truly wonderful adventure filled day! So much happened this past Valentine's day, I don't know where to begin...I guess at beginning, that is always a very good place to start. The Eve before Valentine's was horrific. The worst weather ever! The news said that it has NEVER been that bad on the roads. Aunt Bev was going to drive from Provo to Centerville, but only made it to Alpine...horrific and so many accidents... I digress.

I was watching the news and seeing all of this, PULLING A MOM and thinking of everything that could happen to Steve on his way home from work ( I forgot to mention that he took a very fickle car that hasn't been working too well , and that, of course, he had not charged his cell phone).

Needless to say, My hubby was not home at his regular hour...So, I panicked. I paced and went through every option possible. Which hospitals would I call? Who could come and help with the baby? What would I do if something unthinkable happened? Where would I go?

All of a sudden, my sweetheart came walking through the door. My heart lept and I barely noticed all of the surprises in his hands (flowers being one of them). I RUINED THE SURPRISE!!! We decided I needed to go to bed and we would reenact what should have happened.


Steve came in the room and brought me a single white rose and a balloon (our very first dating valentine's was very similar). I then went out and he had kisses in the shape of a heart (when we were dating, he put kisses on my bed in a heart).
He is so thoughtful with how he remembers things, and brings back the love. This year, I got a dozen roses instead! I love it!

The Plan for the DAY

Our dear cousin Alex, and her hubby Sam were going to be sealed in the Salt Lake Temple this day so Steve and I arranged to have our momma (his mom) babysit while we participated in the sealing. We have not been to the temple in over 6 months, so I was REALLY looking forward to it.

I am not going to go into too many details (it was very sweet and I do not feel the need to share everything that went on), but I will say when Alex walked in with her pregnant belly, I almost lost it! She was so beautiful and happy. Sam was just wonderful. I kept thinking about my little gal and my husband and the promises we have made. There was very tender feelings, and I just was so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude and happiness.

THE PERFECT WAY TO SPEND VALENTINE'S DAY

I am so grateful that Alex and Sam let us be a part of their special day! Going to the temple on Valentine's day is the Best way to Celebrate!

You really can never go wrong with a trip to the temple! You guys are wonderful and we love you so much and are so excited for your little baby to be with you! What a beautiful family!

Out to Eat...and MORE.....Momma and Dad just loving their little gal all in red!

Steve and I had decided that we would try to venture out to Cheesecake Factory on the premise that we were not only celebrating V-Day, but his new schedule, the insurance we received, and a birthday or two, AND--we aren't going out to eat for a very very long time.!!! We went with a determination that we WOULD GO SIMPLY FOR THE EXPERIENCE (knowing full well there would be a wait, as I had called previously to find you cannot reserve). We arrive at 5:30 to find there is a 3 1/2 hour wait. NO JOKE! Determined, we put our names down and decide we would try a movie.

We knew that we were going out to eat all day, so hadn't eaten much. I told Steve I WOULD NOT last until 8:30. So we had to pull over to Arby's to get some relief. WE were searching and searching and searching for a theatre! Needless to say, we found it and changed our minds.

I was in no mood to go wondering the mall. So, we found a NickelCade (which I have NEVER been to before) and decided to just see what the deal was. They gave us a deal since we would not be there long. It actually was quite fun. There was this punching game that Steve and I both enjoyed. The only problem is that Andy did not appreciate the noise, so we did not stay there long!

We decided it was about time to return to our reservations (whatever you call it) anyway...Steve went inside, I stayed in the car and "fed" the little gal.

Finally we were there at the INFAMOUS CHEESECAKE FACTORY! It delivered! Andrea was quite a hoot. Our waitress (and everyone around her) loved her and her little red). She was on the table for a while, then the waitress brought us a highchair and a banana (she has never been in one).

I am so glad I brought a little spoon. Andy was amazing. She was eating it all up, loving every second of it, making everything so much more exciting and fun. Thanks, little gal, for giving us the perfect ending to the PERFECT DAY!

Thanks for all you do....

You don't need valentine's day to appreciate the one you love!

My husband truly is an amazing person! He is my perfect match in every way shape and form of the word!

He sacrifices so much of himself and his time, just so his family can be happy and have the things they need. A typical day for my sweet Steve is him waking up going to school around nine. Then he gets home around 6 ish and eats dinner in five minutes, where after that he rushes to work (if school ends earlier he goes to work earlier). He works all night long and then comes home, goes to sleep and repeats the day!
I wish I was a poet and could adequately describe just how wonderful he is. He is so kind and gracious and giving. He always opens the door for me. He really is always smiling and happy. He loves his family more than anything and would do anything to make them happy. He truly is a brilliant person with so many talents with singing , dancing ,sports, academics, and loving life and everyone around him. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for this amazing person in my life. There was a time where I wondered if it would ever happen for me. The dream of marrying someone in the temple and having a family. The wait was well worth it. My family is even more than I ever dreamed I could have, more amazing than I dreamed up for myself. I am so grateful for the wonderful miracle of my family. I am grateful for the "broken road" that lead me to them. It was this broken road that made my love even deeper for them. And to my sweet amor, thank you for being you and making me a better me. We aren't perfect, but I feel I am in a perfect life.

I LOVE YOU!

Teeth Time!

"I am not sure what to think....Just chillin. Why is mom pulling that funny looking object out all the time, and flashing it at me?"

So, lately our little darling angel has been not her happy self. She has been crying alot and just a little moody. I was worried that she might be a little sick. After some fretting and extensive worrying, I found the culprit: She has two teeth on the bottom growing in! My little baby is really growing up. I can only imagine what this feels like for her. Let me just simply say that it makes momma feeding her a little more on the painful side---especially when she likes to play around...What a silly goose!

Speaking of being a silly goose-that is my new name for her. Goose! She is really just a big tease, I don't even know how she does it.

See, little Andrea has learned that her momma will come running if she thinks something is wrong. If she is coughing, for example I freak out.

So now, dear baby has developed what we lovingly refer to as a "fake cough". I wish I knew just how to describe it. She really just does the little Umbridge "humm uh uh hmm."

It is one of those things where you know, it is definitely fake and wonder how she came up with it. Steve just laughs and laughs at her when she does it. He encourages her to do it and says that it is a new form of communication. I, however, laugh as I may, am still a little bit skeptical. I would rather have her forming syllables. Once she gets going however, she starts laughing with us and giving us this grin as if to say "SEE, I GOT YOU. I RULE THE HOUSE...AND DON'T YOU FORGET IT."


I am so grateful for her little spirit and the joy she brings to both Steve and I and all those around her. What a little tease, or silly goose as I like to say (maybe even goof ball or goose goose, depends on how silly she gets!)

TRUE DEDICATION: SUPER TUESDAY!

The moment we all have been waiting for has arrived: UTAH GETS TO VOTE IN THE PRIMARIES!


Being married to Yankee Doodle myself (yes, he WAS born on the 4th of JULY) we needed to do whatever was necessary to have our voices be heard and vote on Super Tuesday. Steve is registered in Layton. So, yes folks--we drove an hour and a half just so he could vote with the other 89 percent in UTAH. I am so proud and glad that we did it.

( I am so excited that my daddy voted)

I will say that I am disappointed, to say the least, in America. I am ashamed of our ignorance and how easy we fall for scams. We have taken reality TV way too seriously. Choosing the President of the United States is not a game of survivor where we make alliances and then break them to get ahead and just "vote someone off the island because they are not popular." This is our lives we are playing with. It should not be defined by party lines. It should not be defined because I am a POW or a woman or anything like that. The president should be able to make the necessary changes and know how to make AMERICA a better place.

Now that I have ranted about that I want to say I am proud of all of you that made the effort to vote. If we can drive and take almost five hours (that includes the wait in line to vote and the ride back home) out of our day to vote, then anyone can drive the five minutes to do it. There are no excuses! There are still some of you who will get that chance. Take it. Use your voice!

We have a WINNER: CARROTS

I have shown pictures of Andy and solid food before. This, however, is much different. Before, it was our ATTEMPTS at eating. She would usually just spit the food out at me and look at me like I was torturing her.

(IF IT DOESN'T GET ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT DOESN'T BELONG IN YOUR FACE!)

Now...I think we have a winner. I am not sure if it was because she was starving, or she actually liked it. But , Carrots my friends...Carrots! She kept eating it and opening up for more. This was the first time she has ever done that. She loved it so much she just kept grabbing the spoon from me and , as you can see, getting it EVERYWHERE!I have been struggling with what felt like forever for her to eat and it has arrived. WE LOVE THOSE CARROTS!

Strike on Superbowl--or maybe supermarket

I wish I had the words to adequately describe my frustration yesterday which lead to my strike on superbowl today.

Let it be said that I hate shopping! I hate malls. I am not one of those girls that gets a high from doing things like that.

We were out of milk ( had been for days) and practically any food yesterday, so I had no choice but to go to the store. I know Saturdays are bad days to go...but yesterday was a completely new dilemma I have never seen.

I usually get my cart from the parking lot and push it inside, but I must have missed them (or so I thought). So I thought I would get my cart inside.

As I went inside Maceys I came to find there were NO CARTS ANYWHERE! In fact, there was a line to get carts. I wish you could have been there to actually believe this. It was THAT CROWDED! I hate shopping in crowds even more than I hate shopping.

I waited 10 minutes to get a cart to even start shopping. I talked to some workers and asked what was going on---I had NEVER seen anything quite like this. They told me that this day is second busiest only to the day after Christmas. I was confused. "Why?"

"Superbowl is tomorrow."

Again, "why?"

"Superbowl is tomorrow?"

Ok, so I am getting nowhere. All I know is that they just told me it was because of the superbowl. I am a fan of the game...LOVE IT. But when I heard that one of my least favorite experiences turned to an even worse one is because of the game....I just said, "I guess I need to strike the superbowl. This is ridiculous."

So, out of spite, I will not be allowing the superbowl on in my house today. I am not going to the store for a VERY long time. Steve can do the shopping---

On a better note., when I got home, Steve knew I was upset. So he brought in all the groceries and just cheered me up. Thanks sweetie, still no SUPERBOWL around me today!

Ok, maybe I am being a little too harsh...maybe I will watch a little of it. Ok, I will admit that I watched the last 10 minutes of the game...BUT I AM NOT GOING TO THE STORE FOR A LONG TIME!!!

THANKS FOR NOTHING!

Seth Mark Probert has been called to serve in the Florida Jacksonville Mission!
He arrives at the MTC May 7!

I am so proud of you Seth. I cannot believe how excited I am for you. Stateside missions--like I keep saying, are the absolute best missions!. They are hard in ways you will never dream of. All I can say is expect the unexpected. You are going to get loads of advice in different directions. Just know all your presumptions and notions are going to completely change once you are out there. And it always changes when you change your area. Be prepared for the ride of your life! This next little while before you go might be difficult. Someone is always trying to stop you from doing what is right!

Again, I love you and am so proud of you! To quote you:
THANKS FLORIDA, THANKS FOR NOTHING! (ok an inside joke)