One more New Year's Resolution

This is only for family btw............no one else is to know, thanks ;)

So last time I wrote about our New Year's Resolutions.............well I need to add one more

• To start a family!

This past weekend my parents were coming down so we thought it would be a great opportunity to get our parents together to share the exciting news. So we called our parents and told one that the other one wanted to get together to catch up. Luckily both sets of parents bought it and we set a time to go out to dinner. Friday night we went and got a cake and had them write on it something simple that would tell our message.

On Saturday, Steve went with his dad to go fishing while I slept in a little and then worked on homework. About 1 pm as it was raining, all of a sudden the power went out. We were going to meet w/ my mission companion Sister Britney McPherron Graham but due to the power outage we had to postpone it. As soon as Steve got home we decided to head up to his parents so I could finish my homework w/ the Internet. A couple hours later I got all my homework done, we were both showered, and of course the power hasn't come back on. We hurried home to meet my parents and get changed quickly (in the dark).

We then headed out to dinner and met Steve's parents there. We decided to eat at Sizzler so my dad could get a steak and we could all get salad or whatnot if we wanted. Steve got the cake out of the fridge and told my dad that it was for my birthday, not showing him the lettering of course. As we were getting out of the car I pretended like I didn't know what was going on and went inside while Steve got the cake and took it inside. While I pretended to not see him, he went and gave it to the waiter and came back as his parents showed up.

We then ordered, got seated and got our salads. As we finished up our meal my dad looked at Steve and winked saying, "I wonder what's for dessert." Steve then excused himself like he had to use the restroom and told the waiter he could bring the cake out. As the cake came out the waiter said, "Happy Birthday." Everyone kinda looked at each other like who's birthday is it? and Dave said he was thinking, "They've got the wrong table." I said, no we actually have a surprise for you and Joann actually looked at the cake and read it and started to tear up. Joann finally had to tell the others to read the cake. After reading what the cake said, it finally clicked. I think my dad said, "I thought you'd never have kids." And Joann was like "You're gonna make me cry." We then cut up the cake and my dad got us all ice cream to go w/ it.

Steve and I w/ our surprise cake

After dessert we decided to go back to Dave and Joann's to play games. Since it was snowing crazy by now AND our power still wasn't on, we decided we'd actually all stay the night at their place also. We went home to grab our bags and PJ's, switched to the Jeep for 4 wheel drive, and made our way up the slipper road. We then talked for a while, then played "Phase 10 w/ a Twist" then went to bed. It was a GREAT night!

The next morning I wasn't feeling well (as I haven't been for the past 4 weeks), so I just stayed in bed for a while as everyone else got up and had breakfast together. Steve then ran home and got me one of my nausea pills to take so it could start working. About 30 minutes later we left back to our place. The power had luckily been turned back on at about 1am. A power-line actually caught on fire and blew up, so they were working on replacing the whole power-line during the crazy snow storm.

Steve and I hurried and changed for church while my parents stayed at our place for a little while before going to my cousin's homecoming. After church I had a home and visiting teaching meeting for a couple hours. Steve couldn't stand it anymore so we went out a quick email w/ pics of the cake to our siblings and grandparents so they would know also. After a quick nap, we then headed out to Rose's place to celebrate Charlotte's birthday. We had dinner and just chatted and played "Apple's to Apple's" together. It was a lot of fun getting together.

Charlotte's turning 4

Let me also just sum of some things about my pregnancy:

• We found out we were prego on December 23rd and tested again on Christmas, both very positive. It was a great Christmas present to each other ;)
  
• I'm due about August 31, 2012, which makes me 8 1/2 weeks right now (it was a little earlier than we had planned to announce it but it worked out perfect so we could tell both parents at the same time).
• My first DR appointment is next Thursday at 10 weeks
  
• I have had morning sickness since week 4, and it comes back at night as well. Thankfully we got the nausea pills at week 5 which has been helping tremendously. With the sickness and the 1/2 hour train ride in the morning, it was just too much for me. This way I have at least been able to go to work.
  
• Like a lot of women, so I hear, I can't stand eating certain things. More so I get nauseated at the sight or smell of certain foods. The curve ball is that it changes just about every day. So, unfortunately we've been eating out a lot this month since I don't like smells in the house and I can't decide what I want to eat until last minute. Steve has been very understanding and patient with me though. He's the best!
• Steve is pretty sure we're going to have a boy. I used to think we were going to have a girl first, but I thinking more boy now.
• We're 6 weeks behind Stacie so we're pretty excited about that!
  
• We're pretty excited and nervous at the same time, but more so excited to add to our family!

Hopefully this helps to answer questions. We'll keep you posted as we go. Thank you everyone for your love and support; we really appreciate it!!! ;)

Happy New Year 2012!!!!!

2012 is officially here! It's actually snowing today. We haven't really had much snow all winter so it's definitely welcomed. We're so excited for this new year and all that awaits us! It's been a great 2 weeks thus far and we can't wait for the rest to come. Here are a couple of our goals that we're working towards for 2012:

• Steve to finish his Bachelors
• Steve to also start taking prereqs to get prepared for PA school
  
• Me to finish my MBA
• Me to get a promotion at work
  
• Go on a family trip, most likely Hawaii
• Continue to serve faithfully in our callings
• Continue to save and add to our emergency funds
• To enjoy more time with family

Besides what we're looking forward to, looks like I need to recap what we've been up to the past couple weeks. After Steve had his knee surgery on the 22nd, we tried to take it pretty easy of course. Unfortunately I caught on a cold on the 23rd, so the next couple days we played it low key since both of us were down a little. Regardless of the fact that we weren't feeling well, I guess we at least got to spend some time together so that was good.

On Christmas morning, Sunday, we opened our gifts, then went to sacrament meeting. Steve couldn't bend his knee at all still at this point, so he just wore his shorts to church, but did manage to put a white shirt and tie on. It was a good sacrament meeting, then we went home. I then made some rolls and we went over to Dave/Joann's for dinner with everyone. It was really nice to spend time with family. I also was able to talk to several of my brothers and sisters which was great. We got a wheat grinder and wheat from my parents which we were so excited to get. I'm loving making the wheat oat bread so I can't wait to use fresh wheat flour.

The next day, on the 26th, I had work off. We took it easy then went to a movie w/ Dave, Joann, and Diane since we got movie tickets and mugs from Christmas we just had to use them ;) . We watched "We bought a Zoo." It was a cute true story; my mom would like it! We got the handicap seats so Steve could keep is leg stretched out. He later got a handicap pass so we can park a little closer at stores and whatnot.

The next day I went back to work. Steve had school off until the 9th so he was able to take it easy. Work wasn't too busy so that was good.

For New Year's Eve we went over to LuDean's house w/ Steve's family to celebrate. We had dinner and played games and of course did the countdown to the New Year. Right before going over I also decided to get my hair cut. I cut of at least 5 inches then got some highlights as well. Here are some pics:

Steve celebrating the New Year

Happy New Year 2012!

Silly Steve

Outside looking at some fireworks

On Monday the 2nd I had work off in observance of the new year, which also just happened to be our anniversary! Though it wasn't something we wanted to do we decided to take the morning to get some things done. We first we went to the dentist in the morning in order to "get it over with for the year." We then came home and took down our Christmas and decorations. We then cleaned up a bit and did laundry to get caught up. I also de-cluttered some of the things in our 2nd bedroom and threw away lots of boxes we had accumulated over the last couple months. I also cleaned out the car on the in and outside, and vacuumed it out. We got a car emergency kit for Christmas so I put that in the car as well. After getting showered and cleaned up, we went out to celebrate. We went over to the Olive Garden for a late lunch, then over to the theater to watch "Sherlock Holmes." It was a fun movie, though a little loud. On the way home we picked up some cheesecake which we celebrated with some sparkling cider.

Steve and I on our 3rd anniversary

Happy Anniversary!!! (my new hair cut also)

After all the celebrating it's back to school for me. I'm taking an online class for an elective. After this class I only have 1 MORE CLASS! I'm getting really excited to be done! Not having homework will be a great relief! Steve on the other hand has several years before he's done, but he's getting closer thank goodness. He'll finish his bachelors this year then 2-3 years for his PA degree. One step at a time.... :) He did get his EMT certification in the mail also so he's officially an EMT in the state of UTAH. Yeah congrats honey!

On Friday January 6th we put on a baby shower for Kim at Joann's house. I think it went really well. We played some games, that I was in charge of, then had some pie and ice cream and had her open her gifts. It was for family mainly so we had a good turn out. Kim ended up having the baby girl, Alexa, the next Friday the 13th. They're both doing well.

On Tuesday the 10th Steve picked up a young man from his mission (Merritt, Canada) who was on his way to the MTC the next day. Steve drove him to pick up a few last minutes items and stayed the night at our place. We just played a couple rounds of "ticket to ride." It was interesting having a missionary with us, no tv or radio and whatnot. We got him to bed by 10:30pm but we had some things to get done before we could go to bed. Never fail though we were up before 6:30am. It was nice for both of us to give him some advice on how to have a successful mission and also reminisce about the "good times" we had on our missions. Steve and I can't wait to serve full time missions again as a senior couple. It's something we both want to do and strive for once we're closer to retirement age. ;)

The battery in the Jeep died again, but luckily it was still under warranty so they replaced it for free. Thank goodness it was during the time the Steve couldn't drive so I took the car while the Jeep just sat there until we could get it fixed. On the 11th we went to Olive Garden again, this time to celebrate one of our friend's birthdays. It was a nice gathering with some of the friends from the branch.

The next day we went to the wedding of Ryan and Camille Millward. Ryan was the one who was baptized last November and then went through the temple this year, the day after Thanksgiving. Steve was the branch mission leader at the time he was baptized and I was a branch missionary, but then got called to be the RS President the same week he was baptized. So, we were both involved with teaching him the lessons which was incredible and really neat to see the change over the past year. His endownment session was really neat, and the sealing was the icing on the cake. Sealings are so amazing; the Spirit is so strong! They were sealed in the SLC temple. Afterwards we went outside for a couple pictures, then Steve and I stayed downtown until the luncheon. We then went to the Joseph Smith Building for their luncheon. It was really neat. The food was yummy and the company was great. Our branch president, President Thorup and his wife were there, along with the stake president, President Moss and his wife. We got to know them all a little better. They're all so amazing and desire to serve the Lord. When the luncheon was over we went home, took a quick nap, then went to the reception. They look so happy. We're excited to have Camille in the branch also!

Friday after work Steve picked me up. We then went to Stacie and Phill's house and went with them to a travel expo in Layton. We're wanting to go to Hawaii so we thought this would be a great opportunity. Unfortunately it wasn't much help, but we did get to spend some time with Stacie, Phill and London so that was good. We're still working on the details of when we're going.

We've had some new sisters move in the branch so we've been trying to visit them and get calling for everyone. I think we're finally making progress. We also had branch conference yesterday the 15th; I think it went really well. We had the new stake RS presidency teach the lesson on "cleaving to our covenants" and President Moss talked about God's love for us and his children in sacrament meeting. We also had a munch and mingle afterwards so the stake members stayed for that as well. After church we went home and I made my mom's cornbread recipe and we went over to LuDean's for dinner w/ the family. We also went over what we'd like to do for the next year for our family get togethers. They should be fun!

We'll we hope all is well with everyone. Keep us posted. I'm also in charge of my high school 10 year reunion so I'm working on that. My family is also in charge of the Hegerhorst reunion so we're looking forward to that as well. 2012 is going to be a great year!! Love you all ;)