The Howard Family

2012-01-30T15:26:00.000-08:00

Look at that face! I could just smooch on it all day!

Every day this past week one of the kids wakes up literally once the clock strikes 5am.
And I have not been to bed before 11pm all week.
So to say I am ehausted is an understatement.
Cason usually sleeps from 8:30pm-8:00am. So when he woke up last Tuesday at 5am I just figured he was hungry and it was a one day thing. We have also had the flu in our house so I figure he might not be feeling well. Well it has now been a week.
so last night I told Nate to grab the ear plugs, Cause I was going to let him cry so he can get back on schedule.
So I go to bed early... (sort of) and I finally fall asleep(it takes me a while) and then we hear a scream... I look up at the clock and its only 11pm. OH MY GOSH!!! I need my sleep!! Nate knows I do so he gets up. Riley somehow had banged her eye and took a huge chunk of skin off. It looked pretty bad. So Nate stayed up with her and tried to put her back to bed! I guess it took till 1:30!
Then Cason woke up at 5:00. We let him cry. He only whined for about 15 minutes. Then slept till 8!
As I layed there while he was whining I just kept thinking about how I feel like it just never ends.
Being a mom is a non stop job! You NEVER get a brake.
you go to bed late cause that is the only time you get to spend with your husband.
You wake up early cause the kids are sick.
You then get sick! And you still have to watch kids.
Its difficult! But its ok! Cause we love them.
I found this on Pinterest though.. It makes me laugh! And it is so true!

Having Nate makes the hard times a lot easier!
I love him
I love all he does for me
I love that he doesn't make me feel like a crazy person even though sometimes I am
I love that sometimes when he comes home to a messy house and no dinner, he doesn't say anything or get upset.
I love my man!

1/29/11: Nate and I were wrestling on the couch! One of our past times... haha But Nate kept pushing the pillow in my face so I finally punched him in the leg (this is all fun.. just fyi) and Riley sees me do it and she says "HEY!!! Stop that!!" and then she said, word for word, "You say sorry to daddy mommy!" Hahaha most hilarious thing I think I have ever heard come out of her mouth!!

2012-01-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

I know I always talk about how I love being a mom on here, so I'm sorry. But someday I would like to look back at this blog and remember all the fun times I had being a mom to babies! Cause its no secret that being a mom is tough... really tough. Most of the time it is hard and stressful! But during those hard and stressful times its nice to kinda look at my life and realize what I am blessed with!
So the other day I was sick as a dog... don't really understand that expression, but I was REALLY sick! I had the worst migraine and was soooo nauseous. But Cason was off schedule )since it was sunday and we have 11 oclock church) so he wasn't having it with naptime... he layed in his crib talking to himself for about an hour, until I finally went and got him. I decided to let him sleep with me and I would nurse him to sleep. He fell asleep after about 5 secs. (He is my little cuddle bug... that kid will cuddle with you anytime of the day... and if he is tired and you are cuddling with him.. he will go to sleep so peacefully, and you can tell he just loves it) so anyway here I am sick as a dog, and here I have this beautiful little boy next to me sleeping so soundly, and even though I was so sick and just wanted to rest, I could not take my eyes off of him. I just layed there for about two hours just cuddling with him, and staring at his perfect face, thinking about how much I absolutely LOVE this little boy. he seriously steals my heart away EVERYTIME I look at him. I love him more than I ever thought I could love anything. He is my little mamma's boy! I seriously, no joke, cry probably once a week when I am looking at his sweet face and he is looking at me, because I know that in a very short amount of time he will be as big as his big sister, and will not just lay there in my arms, and let me kiss him for the hundredth millionth time that day. he wont need me as much as he needs me now. It breaks my heart to see him grow so fast! I wish that I could just press pause on the clock and have him like this for a long time!
And then I have this other little sweet baby. well sweet toddler. She loves to push my buttons, but I love everything about her sweet sassy personality! She has a mind of her own! She can be the sweetest most loving little girl. Probably about ten times a day, she tells me "I love you" it is usually when she has done something that she knows I am upset about and she is trying to lighten the mood. But I love it when she says it anways!
I truly love my kids with all of my heart! I didn't know a love could be so strong. I thought before I had Cason that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to love him as much as I loved Riley.. and I was really afraid. But now that he is here I am amazed at how much my heart is capable of loving. My love has only grown EVEN MORE for Nate, for Riley, and now for my Cason! I love my family.
The other day on skype I was telling my mother-in-law!! (most awesome mom in law ever) all the funny things Riley says! And she suggested that I write them down cause I will forget them. So I really hope that a couple times a week I can sit down between nursing, cleaning, feeding, and kids napping, to write down some memories! And hopefully get my dang camera out every now and then and snap a few pictures.. poor Cason is going to be mad when he sees a million pictures of his older sister and only a few of him! Better get on that!!

2011-11-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE MY LITTLE CHUNK!!!!!!!
My last post, life was pretty hard! Well, I guess having a newborn baby was hard! Cason has graduated into the fun, perfect, easiest baby in the world stage! I am seriously in love with him! He makes my day every time I look at him! I swear Heavenly Father knew that I needed an easy baby so that I could have time to deal with a sassy 2 year old! Riley is the funniest, most independent little girl you will meet. She could talk your ear off for hours! Everything, and I mean everything she sees now she apparently loves. The other day she was in the bedroom asking "Whats that?" I would answer..."That is a book." and her reply would be " I LOVE IT" it is hilarious! She has also been getting a regular dose of Tabasco sauce! Yes, she has got some lungs! And she definitely knows how to use them! I'm sorry for my lack of pictures. Our memory card just got full, and I haven't had the time to go get a new one, so i have been taking pictures on my phone!

2011-10-26T09:14:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was one of those days where I couldn't help but think, is this really my life? I was sitting there covered in spit up, Cason was screaming cause he was so tired and kept fighting his naps, and Riley was standing there in a poopy diaper that had been needed changed for far too long, hitting me because she wanted ANOTHER fruit snack that I kept giving her because I just needed her to be quite long enough for Cason to just fall asleep! I haven't slept more than 5 hours a night since Cason was born and Im sick! I just wanted to cry! I feel like if I could just go into my room maybe three times a day and cry for just 10 minutes, then I would feel better! I want to give up on nursing because I feel like it rules my life, and Im just tired! I want to be able to take a shower at LEAST every other day. I cant even get a second to take a 5 minute shower! I want to take a relaxing shower! I can't seem to even get in a shower unless Riley is with me, asking me to give her soap every 5 seconds and tripping over her and her yelling at me cause Im in her way!
Even when I actually get out, or me and Nate get to go on a date, I sometimes don't even enjoy it cause I am constantly worrying about the kids, and if Cason is crying for who is watching him. Or if he is asleep I can't help but get upset that I am out, while he is sleeping perfectly in his bed, which is my only time for sleep and now I am missing out on my oppurtunity to actually get some rest. I just keep telling myself its all worth it. And I know that it is, its just hard sometimes. Last night, Riley wanted me to read her a story before she went to bed, so I read her a story while she laughed at the way I read it. Then as I brushed her teeth she wanted me to give her a hug after ever brush. So I would brush a little and then she would hug me, and brush then hug. We were both laughing. Then we said prayers and she sat there and hugged me as I said the prayer. She went to bed perfectly, as she always does. But as I closed the door, she said: "Mommy!!! I wanna Kiss" so I go back to kiss her for the hundredth time and she smiles and then snuggles up and gets all comfy to fall asleep. I go and feed Cason. While Im feeding him I just kept thinking I cant wait till he is done and asleep so I can just lay down my achy body. and then I realize the sheets are still in the washer, not even dry yet. Then Nate comes home early from school! I was so happy to see his face! He starts cleaning up the hundreds of diapers all over the place and cleans everything spottless. I'm sure he doesn't know what it meant to me, but it meant a lot. Then I finally got the baby to sleep and we went to grab a quick bite to eat, while my mom watched the kids. We laughed a lot. It was good for me. I Love him. He is seriously my best friend. I love spending time with him. I love how goofy he is and he doesn't even know it. I love when he comes into a room I'm in and he will just give me a touch on the back to know that he loves me. I love how I get to sleep next to him every night, and feel safe. I love his cute face! I just love him more and more every time I see him! And I love knowing that he loves me just the same! Even though he comes home to me with spit up and poop stains on my shirt, and I am in my sweats for the hundredth time with my hair a mess and sometimes my makeup on and smeared from the day before!
When we went to bed and we gave each other a good night kiss I couldn't help but get little butterfly's that I am going to be with this man for the rest of eternity!

And then Cason woke up for his feeding about 4am. I love this baby more than I can even describe. He woke up to eat, and halfway through I notice through my sleepy eyes that he is just starring at me. when he was finally done, he just layed there smiling and gigging at me. Even though it was 4 in the morning, I couldnt put him back in his bed. Even though I was so tired that my eyes were stinging and my head was spinning, I just layed there next to him whispering to him and kissing him. And he just kept smiling at me until he finally fell asleep.

I know that most days are not easy. But I love every second I get to be there with my kids and they get to be here with me. I love being their mom. I love teaching Riley, even though it results in putting her in timeout a minimum of probably 10 times a day, but I know that she is learning. I see it everyday. I love being there for Cason, and I love knowing that he needs his mommy. And although sometimes its not the funnest job in the world, I love it. I wouldn't do it any other way!

In church on Sunday we had the BEST lesson in relief society about the second coming. I was sitting there thinking about the judgment day and thinking what do I even do now to be a good person and go the extra mile to help or serve someone. But I started thinking about 2 little people that I serve all day long. It made me start to cry. Because I got this overwhelming feeling that I am taking care of Heavenly Father's babies! And that I was entrusted with these sweetest spirits to teach and to raise and to comfort when they are sad or hurt, (or hungry:)) I want to do the best job that I can, because I know that I am doing it for Him. The scripture that says, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." And I know that this applies to me as well being a mom. I love my family and I love Savior. I am grateful for the blessings I have been given in my life, and even though my life is not easy, I do know that it is all worth every second of hearing a baby cry, or changing a poopy diaper.

Sorry this is probably a long post, I just wanted to write down how I was feeling.

2011-10-07T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updating this!! We had our little boy, Cason C Howard... he is wonderful! The best little boy I could have asked for!!! I will try to get pictures up soon! But this will have to do for now!!

2011-04-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

So mothers day looked a lot like this for me:

Riley was sick for like a week straight! Was not fun at all! I feel so bad for her when she gets sick! But Nate did surprise me with this!

All the things meant something. The bath salt meant he was going to give me a massage, cause I LOVE getting them and he doesn't like giving them, so it was a good present. The cards meant he was going to play a game with me.... hahah sounds dumb, but I always beg him to play games, and if anyone knows Nate, you know he hate's games (even though i secretly know he likes them once he's playing he just wont admit it) and the "sugar mommies" was just cause! He was quite creative! It was cute! And the card was from Riley aka Nate haha!
Oh and Nate stayed home with Riley so I could go to church! And let me tell ya, it felt so good to be able to sit through an entire sacrament meeting! I have learned that that is one of the greatest things once you have kids, is actually being able to go to church and enjoy it! So enjoy it all you with out kids! Don't take it for granted!
Anyways Riley is now feeling better (FINALLY!!!) and so we've been able to do some fun things! We pretty much go swimming everyday once I'm done working! Its nice now that its getting hot enough to swim! And its nice swimming when your hot and pregnant! This pregnancy is going by so fast! The other day I was sitting in the car and I was like man, why am I already so big, and so uncomfortable, Im just barely pregnant and I feel SO huge! And my friend said, "you know your like 6 months along and your due in like 3 1/2 months!" I sorta freaked out thinking holy cow, am I seriously already that far already! Im not sure if Im ready for this! But ready or not, here come September, we are going to have 2!
Here is a pic of Riley cause its pretty much the only one I have taken in like months, but this is what you can find her doing EVERY minute of EVERYDAY (that we are home that is)

Reading her new favorite "buggies book" as she calls it from Nate's mom!

And to continue on with the blog challenge:
Day #5
5. engagement/bridal pictures: let's see em!

2011-04-29T14:03:00.000-07:00

Day #4

4. The ring: tell us about it! did you pick it out? did he? pictures! tell us about his ring too!

The ring! The most important part of the wedding right? Hahah just kidding! But VERY important to a girl!

Well, I know lots of girls want to be surprised by the ring, and have their fiance pick it out for them and everything, but not me!!! I am a pretty picky girl. I'm not like a snobby picky, (don't want to make that impression by this post) I just have always had a vision of what I wanted my ring to look like. So Nate was totally cool with that, so we went ring shopping, and I remember feeling so weird, and so young. People who worked at the jewelry stores would look at us twice to see if it was a joke! Haha But it was fun!

So I totally had in my mind what I wanted but then we went to a jewelry store and I fell in love with this band! So me and Nate sorta both designed my ring off this band that I loved! And we were talking to the guy that worked there and he was saying he could do it, but it was going to be really pricey! Well we went home, not making a commitment b/c of the price. But a few days later, kinda weird that this happened at this exact time, my mom was in the bank and this guy was in there and they struck up a conversation, and guess what??? He is an lds guy who designs and custom makes rings! Guess what else??? he did the ring for us for like 1/3 of the price of JUST THE BAND at the other store with out all the extra stuff we were going to do to it! I was so happy! So he made the ring for us and it was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL and even better than I imagined!!

I don't have a picture from when I first got it, so this picture taken from my phone, with my swollen pregnant fingers will have to do :)

2011-04-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

Day 3:
Proposal: how it happened, how long were you engaged for? was it a total surprise? pictures of that... etc

Ummmm.... hahaha the proposal was nothing big at all. I feel bad saying that cause I feel bad for Nate, cause I am a really hard girl to surprise!
But... we were already technically engaged when we got engaged! B/c I am a picky girl I was picky on my ring. So we got it custom made which took forever!!! So we had already been telling people we were engaged for months when he "officially" proposed! So for a few nights I guess he kept trying to surprise me, but I always knew he was up to something, so I was all nosey and trying to figure everything out! So I guess I ruined the FUN proposal! And Nate knew I was really anxious to get the ring, just decided to propose!
So one morning, I woke up about 6am to a light shining in my face, and Nate saying "look at it, look at it". He said I looked like a zombie waking up, but my excuse is that you cant be woken up with a light shining in your face! I couldn't even see anything! So after a few seconds of getting my vision back! There was Nate kneeling next to me, with the ring in the box(with a light, hence the light) and him saying over and over, "look at it!" So i looked at the ring, and it was more beautiful than I could have imagined! So Nate told me to put it on, so I did, but you know how your fingers are swollen in the morning?? Ya well it didn't fit! He started freaking out and I was trying to calm him down while happy freaking out that I got the ring! And I could wear it now! (not yet since my fingers needed to unswell) Ha so there is Nate laying on the ground all mad that he finally gets me the ring and it doesn't fit! And then he stops, and says, "Oh ya, will you marry me?" Hahah and we both just laughed! So that's our proposal story!

Oh and we were engaged for 4 months! Longest engagement EVER!!! Don't recommend a long engagement to anyone! Not fun! I just wanted to be married! My mom suggested that we get married a month and a half earlier than our set date, but I was a little nervous, cause I guess people were gonna think I was crazy and I guess I thought b/c we didn't date long at all, that I needed to have a longer engagement. She told me I was going to regret it! And boy oh boy did I regret it when that time came around!!!

I don't have any pictures of the proposal, but I have this picture from when we were engaged, and Ill post it, Cause this was a fun day!! Haha love our purple wet suits!

2011-04-22T07:36:00.000-07:00

Day #2:

When you knew he was the one: self explanatory.. but how and when did you know?

This is actually a really hard question for me, cause I don't to sound dumb and be like 'it was love at first sight'! But honestly for me, even when Nate was on his mission, I always felt something different towards him than I have ever felt before. I think that it was Heavenly father telling me that something was really special about this boy. And if I wouldn't have done certain things, like run to my mom and rush her to invite them over when Nate came back to visit, or go to California when he invited me, even though it scared me to death to go somewhere I don't know and spend an a week with people I don't know (B/c under normal circumstances I would NEVER do anything like that!!) But if I wouldn't have done all those things I don't think me and Nate would have ever gotten married.

But then when I went out to California, the feeling I had when I was with him, just talking about life, and talking about what I want out of life, and what he wanted, I felt so right about him! And I came home seriously thinking that it was going to work out. When it didn't at first, it was actually really hard for me! I know that sounds so dumb! Like I was just some young girl with a big crush thinking 'OH I am going to marry him!' But as time went on, he was ALWAYS in the back of my head!

After he came down to visit for a week and then moved back and that first night he took me out and pretty much proposed to me. I remember sitting there, sorta like I was in this dream, and the man who I wanted to marry was now professing his love to me! I just remember feeling so special, and I was just imagining every day of the rest of my life with Nate, and as he sat there telling me he wanted to marry me, I knew that he was the one! Ha I dont know why I said the things I did after he told me he wanted to marry me. I was honestly just so scared. I dont know why I was so scared! I was just terrified that I knew now who I was going to marry and that it was happening so fast! But I would say that that was the night that I knew with everything in me that he was the one!

2011-04-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Day#1 (see post below)
1. how it all began: how you met, first date, first kiss, how long did you date? first picture together.....etc.

How we met:
Nate served his mission here in good ole Mesa! The first time I saw him was when he came over with his companion Elder Walz for dinner and a family missionary message!(I was a junior in highschool) I remember right when I saw him I had a MAJOR crush! Then he started talking out of the side of his mouth and in a "California surfer" accent (he is from California, and is a surfer) and I seriously was IN LOVE!!!! Seriously Ask all the girls in my ward, I always talked about him:)
Kinda embarassing to admit, but I knew where the missionaries lived, so I would go out of my way on my way home from almost anything, to drive past their house in the hopes of catching them outside so I could admire Elder Howard!!!
And just in case anyone is wondering, NOTHING happend ever on his mission, no flirting, hardly any talking, unless he was asking me question about the gospel or asking me to invite someone to listen to the discussions and it was always in front of my family! So just to clear that up:)
But luckily my parents are into missionary work and my mom sometimes does missionaries hair, so I did get to see him quite frequently! And he was in our stake for 9 months, which is like 3-4 transfers straight! And that doesn't ever really happen! I could go on and on about little encounters but they are probably only fun to me!
One TOTALLY weird side note: that 1st night they came over, I said to my family as they shut the door to leave, "welp, I just met my future husband"! Little did I know, I really had!!!

First date:
Well it was more like a first REALLY LONG date! what happened was, well let me give you a little side preview. After 'Elder Howard' went home in February of 2007, he came back to visit in March! And luckily he came to our ward to visit! And I happened to spot him by the bishops office when I got out of Young Womens! I seriously booked it into Relief Society to grab my mom so she could tell them to come over to our house to visit! They ended up coming over that night & stayed awhile! I seriously was smitten by him! There was just something about him that I LOVED!! His whole countenance was just like, I dont even know how to describe it! But I was just totally head over heels for this guy! Anyways so they left, but he left his cell # with my mom so they could stay in touch! If you know my mom she is friends with everyone and loves to talk to people (more like talk their ear off) but it doesn't sound weird that she got his number if you knew my mom! So they talked a few times and my mom mentioned to him that if he ever came back to mesa for a visit that he should take me out (THANKS MOM!!!) So he said "well hey, my family goes to a lake house every memorial weekend! Why dont you send her out!" So he called me and asked me to come out to California to spend almost and ENTIRE week with his family at a lake house! Well it happened to be the day after I graduated that i would leave! So I spent 5 days with him and his family & I loved EVERYTHING about him and his family, and I know this sounds weird considering how long I knew him, but it was like I knew I was supposed to be there and I felt so comfortable and I seriously thought I am meant to marry this person! Well I came home from that trip telling my mom we better start planning my wedding ASAP! Cause I KNEW Nate Howard was the man I wanted and was supposed to marry!!:)

How long did you date?:
Well lets just say coming home from that trip, I didnt start planning my wedding! Basically long story short, Nate met someone a week before I went out there, and then they started dating sometime after I left. And so pretty much almost a year goes by, here I am moving on with my life without him :( and then all the sudden he calls me and tells me he is coming in town. I was sorta dating someone else at this point but it wasnt official, So i went out with him a couple times while he was down, and though I will say they were the best dates in my life, I pretty much went into it with a closed heart because I didnt want to fall madly in love with him again for him just to leave and not call me again! Well I guess this time he had the experience I had had the first time! Cause he called me 5 days after he had gone home and told me he was moving to Mesa in 2 days, and he was moving there becuase of me! So the day he got down here he took me to Tempe Town lakes and got takeout from Outback and we went and ate and sat along the lake and here is the gist of what he said to me, "I know that I am supposed to marry you, and I want to marry you, I have never felt like this in my life, and if you say yes, I will marry you tomorrow!!" Now just think, we had spent, up until this time a total of 8 dates/days together!!! Well here is what I said back to him, "Im not sure what I want, and I sort of want to date around!!" He said it was like someone kicked him in the gut! Now what I was thinking: I knew I wanted and was supposed to marry him! But I was FREAKED out! When getting married is all the sudden a reality it really scared me, and I was still a little hurt when he hadnt called me for almost an entire year after I had fallen madly in love with him! Well long story short the whole dating other people thing went like this, go out with Nate, every single night, because I couldnt stand not to, and then go out with that other guy I was dating on the side after I would come home from being with Nate! Hahah I know i was dumb! But It went on for a week and a half until I finally told the other guy I was gonna marry Nate and I told Nate I wanted to be exclusive! So we became bf/gf on a Tuesday! That weekend we went to six flags where I fell more in love with him, and now had no doubt in my mind I was supposed to marry him! So that Monday (6 days later) Me and him were sitting on my couch and we decided to get married! Basically just told each other we wanted to marry each other and thats when we started telling people we were engaged!!! So from the time he moved down there to the time we got engaged was I think 2 weeks and 5 days!!!

First Kiss:
I know people are going to think we are crazy! but our first kiss was the night we got engaged! So this is how it happened! After we decided to get married we were cuddling on the couch and we were talking about it and I said, "well now that we are getting married, we should probably kiss!!" Ya think? haha so us both being too shy we let the whole night go on getting a couple times close to kissing but didnt, so as I walked him out to his car I was like "Ok seriously we have to kiss!!" so Nate was like ok lets kiss! And we would almost kiss but then he would get all awkward and would be like "well what kind of kiss are you expecting, are you expecting just a kiss or tongue or like a peck??" So I was just like "just let whatever happen!" So he was like "ok on the count of three lets kiss!" So he held my face with his two hands and said "one, two, three!" and then leaned his head in with his lips pouched and his eyes closed! But didnt go all the way! So I laughed a little with him and his pouched lips and eyes shut, holding my face, and had to lean in the rest of the way for the kiss! And let me tell you, It was the best kiss EVER!!!!!

First picture together:
This picture was about a week after he moved down to mesa, it was General Conference and we were eating lunch between sessions!

2011-04-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

So I never blog right? And I want to start because I want a place to come back to with fun memories of our family! So i saw this cute blog challenge on a friends blog, and I am going to copy her and do it here! And hopefully (fingers crossed) it will get me in the habit of blogging!

So here is the challenge: (its about me and my favorite person in the world!!)

1. how it all began: how you met, first date, first kiss, how long did you date? first picture together.....etc.
2. when you knew he was the one: self explanatory.. but how and when did you know?
3. proposal: how it happened, how long were you engaged for? was it a total surprise? pictures of that... etc.
4. the ring: tell us about it! did you pick it out? did he? pictures! tell us about his ring too!
5. engagement/bridal pictures: let's see em!
6. the colors: show some of the flower and colors you used
7. the dress: was it what you always imagined? did you have it made for you? white or ivory?
8. the little accessories: you know, veil? shoes? jewelry? what did your bridesmaids wear?
9. the reception: where was it at? show us some pictures! what day did you get married?
10. the cake/food: i love food. so tell me about what you had at your wedding!
11. your song and/or the first song you danced to at your wedding: share a music video or lyrics if you can!
12. favorite part of the day and least favorite part of the day: can be anything.
13. honeymoon: where did you go? was it good? ;) haha...jk.
14. thoughts on marriage: what is the easiest/hardest part? if you could change anything, what would it be?
15. first place that you lived together: pics if you have them!
16. kids: do you have any yet? if not, when do you plan on it? how many do you want? any tips on good/bad birth control?
17. most recent picture of you and your significant other and what you love most about them :) and any other thoughts.

BOY!!

2011-04-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

We found out we are having a boy!!!

Nate really wanted a girl, but i had a feeling this one was going to be a boy! And I have been really excited!

Nate says now that we are going to have a boy and girl that he is fine if thats all we have. I just laugh! Hahaha

I am still nervous about having another baby, and all the things that come along with a newborn. I guess Im mostly scared about the lack of sleep Im about to have! And now that I already have one this time around, there will be no napping while the baby naps! But hopefully this one will be a sleeper:)

Riley now thinks that her tummy is called baby! We show her where "baby brother" is but she thinks she has a baby too!

New Post??

2011-03-15T14:18:00.000-07:00

I think Im long overdue for a new post! Sorry... still not a lot of pictures but here's whats been going on around here:

Christmas in Cali:

Nate's mom made these pajama bottoms..... SOOOO CUTE!!!

Came home Jan 2nd: Found out I was pregnant!!!!!

Jan-March: Felt really sick..... being pregnant is not fun! well at least not right now!

Feb: Riley and I went to texas to visit my sister and her new baby!! (and 2 other kids and husband)

And last but not least!! Watching Riley grow up before my eyes!!

She says lots of new words like:
drink
please
more
hi
baby
book
car
bye
shoe
outside
puppy
orange
apple
juice
ummm... thats all i can think of right now I know there is more but i cant remember
most of the time me and Nate are the only ones that can understand her though. but it is cute! sometimes she will say a phrase and I like stop what im doing and think "did you really just say that" I think she talks alot more than we know we just dont understand her! She is very smart and it makes me sad (but excited) that she is growing up so fast!!
I have been trying to savor every moment I have until the new baby comes (September 8th) while it is just me and her! Im scared that having a new baby is going to take my attention away from her, I know it will all work out and everything will be ok but it still makes me a little sad that its not just gonna be me and my little girl anymore, all to ourselves! But dont get me wrong!!! I am SOOOO excited to have another baby! I am starting to get really baby hungry everytime I see a new baby!

Nate is still working and going to school, and doing a fantastic job and being a wonderful father, provider, and husband! Esp dealing with me being sick and coming home (most days) to a messy house and no food :( I feel bad for the guy! But now that I am starting to feel better I am keeping (trying) the house spotless (as much as i can with a toddler) and cooking dinner! Infact, got some steak marinating in the fridge!!! (ha this is the first night I have actually prepared something in a looong time)!!!

But hopefully I will keep updating this blog so that everyone can see how we are doing! But for now, we are doing fantastic!!!

Yes, its a rat!

2010-12-16T09:53:00.001-08:00

Do you see that???? Yes that is a RAT!!!!! Last night we were at Nate's work christmas party and we played white elephant!! Well guess what we opened up when it was our turn??? Yes thats right, a RAT!!! in a cage!!!!! I was pretty much freaking out, but Nate was so excited and praying no one would steal it! and they didnt! so we went home with it! When Riley woke up I showed her the rat, I thought she was gonna freak out!!! Did she?? NO!!! She is IN LOVE with it!!!! She has been playing with it all morning!! She sticks her fingers in the cage & it will nibble on her fingers and she just giggles!!! And she pushes the cage around the living room like a baby in a stroller!! She has the time of her life with that rat!!! I hope she wont be too heart broken when we get rid of it :(

One down..... many more to come!

2010-11-08T07:02:00.000-08:00

Riley had her first birthday party this past Saturday! It was a lot of fun! And so much fun to see Riley having fun! Here are some pics! Enjoy!!!

First I do have to post what her birthday attire was! B/C I worked hard on it (not really) but she was so stinkin cute!!!

The Guests....

The Cake eating.... (and the many kisses I got!!!)

And the presents....

The end!

Why why why????

2010-11-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

Why does my baby have to be a girl now? Why did the time have to go by SOOO Fast! Why didn't I take more time to slow down and eat up all the precious moments of my baby just being a baby??

I miss my baby!!!

Im not ready for her to be a little girl.....

I feel like it was just yesterday that I first saw her looking up at me for the first time......

Now, she is turning ONE years old on wednesday!! and I am so not ready for it!!!!

Its FINALLY Finished!!!

2010-09-15T08:12:00.000-07:00

So I have been working on my bed for a couple weeks now! And I am so relieved to say it is finally finished!! Of course I couldn't have done it with out my mom who has taught me everything I know about sewing and helped me with this project! And of course my little sewing adventure with Beth! Ha we tried having a sewing (craft) day like back in the old days! But quickly realized that when you each have a baby, things don't go as planned! I think we got the material for one pillow cut out in about three hours!!!! Yes! I could have had this done in about two or three days before I had Riley but it has taken me about two weeks with her!!! Not that I mind, I just have tot take lots of breaks from sewing when she is crying at my feet, or pulling the material away from the sewing machine that I am trying to push into the sewing machine to sew, or spreading the pillow stuffing all through my apartment, or trying to grap scissors and needles from me, etc. (You get the point) But I am so so excited it is finished! I keep going in my bedroom to look at it! I really do appreciate and like things more when I know that I put my sweat and hard work into it! And I think it turned out great! What do you think??? (I did not, however, make the small pillow in the middle, that I bought from Target b/c it went perfectly with everything!!!!)

Now all I need to do is decorate!! Me and Nate are going to make a headboard for the bed, but need to save up a little extra for that, and then do some decorating!!!!

Family Photo's

2010-08-30T15:28:00.001-07:00

The real meaning

2010-08-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

I went to visit one of my best friends Beth today who just had a baby. He is absolutely adorable. I brought back all these feelings of right after I had Riley. All those pure love and innocent feelings you have when you have a baby.
After I had Riley I had never felt so close to the spirit before, or felt the spirit so strong in my life. She brings so much pure joy into my heart every second of every day. As I was driving home, she kept blabbing on and on, so I looked over at her and she just kept giving me these huge smiles. So I started singing to her a little bit cause I could tell she was tired, and her eyes kept getting heavier and heavier until she fell asleep. So since I was driving a single cab truck and she was sitting right next to me I was rubbing her soft cheeks as she layed there asleep and content. I had this just overwhelming feeling of so much love, and the pure love of Christ. So once i got home i pulled her out of the car seat and carried into her bed.

Ive been sitting here on the computer since she has been asleep and I stumbled across THIS post that just broke my heart, but made me feel that same feeling again.

After I cried for a while I just sat here thinking. And thinking about this mom who had lost her husband in a tragic accident. And how strong and happy she still looked. It made me feel so grateful to know that if anything happened to my family, I know that I am going to be with them again. And that they are in a happy place. That Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know all things, and that I am never going to be handed something in life that I cannot bear. Because with their help and my faith I can endure anything. I am so grateful for the wonderful man that I am married to. He is such a strong person, who works hard and who is so loving to me and our daughter. I am so lucky to have my beautiful Riley, and for the way she can look at me and just melt my heart, and how just one happy face, or one beatiful sleeping girl can put my life back into perspective. I feel like I get so distracted by life and stress and money and cleaning and cooking, that sometimes I forget the real meaning of life. We are all here for a certain reason, to get a body, to live Christ like, and to share the gospel (and then all the things that fall in between) So that we can return to Christ one day! And I cannot wait for that day! To be with all of my family for the rest of eternity!

I have to come clean

2010-08-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

I have to come clean that I honestly do not like bloggging. Its so hard to find the time to sit down and write about whats going on in our lives, cause its pretty much the same old story everytime! So sorry family! I will honestly try harder to blog for those who are in different states so that they can see whats going on and how Riley is growing!

And once again, I have not taken a single picture in the last couple months so I have no evidence to prove of Riley's growth! But I will try and take some pictures! Maybe even today! But then again that probably means that by the time i post them it will be a couple months too late!

But lets see, Riley is starting to walk! She will now pretty much walk across the entire room without falling, I say give it another four days and she will be full on walking! Everyday its like she walks a million times better, I mean just like three days ago she could only take about three steps then stumble a litle, now she can take about 20 steps and then stumble! But most times she doesn't even stumble! Its kinda freaking me out. I mean I thought when she started crawling I was like Oh GREAT she is going to get into EVERYTHING! And she did! But now that she is walking Im realizing, there is more than everything! Haha i know that doesnt make sense, but seriously, there is not a thing in our house that she does not try to pull out of cupboards, off of tables, out of her diaper bag, you cant leave anything down or close to the edge of surfaces! And our apartment is CONSTANTLY messy! And im the type of person that cannot stand messes! Like i will deep clean our house a couple times a week! but now, im lucky if i just get the house straightened when Riley goes down for a nap! And then when she wakes up, after about five min it looks exactly how it looked when i started cleaning it! Messy!!! (and nate doesnt help either, but shhhhh don't tell him that!!!)

Nate starts school next week! He is so ready and excited to move on and get things going! He has been gaining residency here this whole year we have been here and he finally is a resident! Yay!!!! He also got a new job that he is enjoying so far and I am enjoying, because he comes home for lunch and gets off at a decent time, where we can all spend time together!

Well my sister just got into town, so I am very very excited to hang out with her and brock and their kids! I just wish Brock was done with school so they could come back to Arizona already! I miss them!

I promise I will try to take some pictures this week and post them! You might even see that riley is actually starting to grow hair!!! yay! i mean its probably only and inch long and very very very very thin, but at least its something:)

Stinky Face

2010-05-06T12:21:00.000-07:00

So Riley does this new "stinky face"... and she does it all the time! Its so funny! Here is a video of her doing it when i was feeding her. (It looks like im shoving the food in her mouth but im not, she likes to close her mouth before the spoon goes in so i have to hurry and get it in there!)

There's a first time for everything...

2010-04-12T21:18:00.000-07:00

1st time for ACTUALLY bringing the camera... MiRAcLe!
1st time for Riley's first train ride...
1st time for her first carousel ride... she didnt know quite what to do... I think it was overstimulation for her with the lights, the spinning, and the horse moving up and down hahah

All tuckered out from all the fun... snuggled up on grandpa's tummy! She sure loved that! She wasn't to thrilled when we pulled her from grandpa's arms...

Oh my goodness......

2010-04-09T12:56:00.000-07:00

Im sorry... I know everyone has probably heard this from every new mom! But I have THE Cutest stinkin baby in the WHOLE UniVeRSe!!!!! I can't get enough of her! I got bored the today so I took some pictures so that the family could see how cute she is growing up to be!

Riley is growing so fast! she can sit up on her own but only for like 30 seconds max! She likes to "talk" all the time! And when I say talk I really mean scream! she is trying really hard to crawl... so not too much longer we are going to have to baby proof our house from a little girl on the move!

I know I say it all the time! But I love being a mom! I honestly don't think that there is any greater joy than that that comes from being a mom! I was cleaning my moms house yesterday and I was washing down the bathroom counter when I started thinking I should go check on Riley who was sleeping at the time! And then I thought, wait... do I really have a baby??? that is mine all mine!!??? I like had this flash back of being in Junior high and high school and all the saturdays I would spend cleaning my (parents) house and I would just think about being married and being a mom and having my own baby, and how I couldn't wait for it all to happen. All I have EVER wanted and dreamed of is marrying the perfect guy and especially being a mom!! I would always day dream about what it would be like! And how much fun I was going to have!! And then as I thought about checking on Riley I just got this huge smile from inside that I had a better life than I used to day dream about. I love my husband more than I could have dreamed about and I love being a mom to the most adorable little girl... I couldn't even make up in my mind when I was a teenager a baby that is as cute and wonderful as Riley!

Its a funny thing they say about Love.... And they all say, I'm sure you have all heard it... They say when your engaged.... "You are going to love your spouse more than life itself, more than anything!" and you always are like Ya i know!! And you think you know the kind of love they are talking about.... and then you get married, and you go through situations and disagreements and fun memories and EVERYTHING that goes along with marriage... and I think... MAN!! I really had no clue what people were talking about when they said that because I love Nate more than I could ever expain to him or myself! Its like the most perfect love you can imagine!! And then........ you find out your pregnant! AND EVERYONE tells you... "You think you know what love is now, but wait till you see that baby for the first time, your heart is going to grow a million times bigger, and you are going to love that baby SOOOOO much" And yet again, I would say " I totally know what you mean and I can't wait!!!" And then the day comes, after 9 months of discomfort, and you see that baby! and automatically your heart aches of love, becuase its almost so much love that its emotional, and spiritual, and pure. Its the greatest Love of all. Its so pure and so real. Ha im making myself cry here just thinking about all the love I have in my heart!! I love my little family with my whole being. And I can't wait till it gets bigger and bigger, so my love can just get that much bigger!!!

Spring Break

2010-03-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

So Im pretty much the worst blogger and the worst picture taker ever! But anyways we went to California this past week for Spring Break! It was a ton of fun seeing the family and friends we havent seen for a LONG time! Riley was so good through the whole 12 hour drive there and the whole week and the whole drive back home! I know all new moms say it, but seriously I have the best baby in the entire world! She is SO easy! She makes being a mom a piece of cake! Literally! She honestly never cries, she sleeps through the night. She is always happy. If its her nap time or bed time I just stick her in her bed wide eyed and all and she will just lay there until she falls asleep! Everyone tells me to soak it all in because my next one won't be like this! If all my kids were like this, i would literally have like 12! Anyways back to California, while we were up there we visited Nate's school and the kids he used to work with! We hung out with the family, which was so much fun! we saw our friends, and I have no pictures to prove it! We did however go to six flags marine world on sat and I do have like 3 lame pictures to prove that!

Last night our friends came over for dinner and games with Riley's future husband! Ha they had their baby a month before us! So they are destined to be together! (they have already had their first kiss) And if they do end up together we have the funniest pictures and video's to show them haha! Riley was like spazzing out everytime she saw Gavin last night! I dont know what she was doing but she would like start shaking her body and she screamed once! Haha it was so funny! I dont know if she thought he was cute or she was just excited to see another little person! We tried to get a video of her freaking out but we pulled it out to late! But we have one with a part where she has a mild little spazm when she looks at him! And he was just having fun rubbing her feet!

But Riley is getting so big every day! I feel like I wake up each morning and she is a different little girl! She is so fun! and laughs and plays all the time! I LOVE being her mother!

I love when she looks up at me like that! I can't help but kiss her when she does!

Hopefully I will start taking more pictures so I can show you how dang cute she is!

sleepy....

2010-03-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

Valentine's weekend

2010-02-17T08:24:00.000-08:00

This weekend, me and Riley went up to the snow for 2 days with my parents. Nate could't go cause he had work... which was not fun! But here are some pics from the snow...

She got a little tired or maybe too comfy on grandma's lap...

When we FINALLY got home (it felt like we had been gone forever cause we both have never left Nate) I walked in the door and found this on the table! I love him!!!

2010-02-11T08:08:00.000-08:00

What I get to wake up to...

2010-02-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up, tired as can be, to Riley fussing of hunger. (I say fussing, because she honestly does not really ever cry... she just fusses so cute!!) So I get up, make her a bottle, put her next to me in bed and start feeding it to her. then I look at her, and I just see this little baby girl who is so perfect in every single way. She was looking up at the light, and as tired as I was, and as badly as I wanted to just fall asleep feeding her, I could't stop staring at her. I just looked at her, with my brain racing of all the things she makes me want to be. And of how this little girl, who I have only known for three month, makes so much of who I am. I can't get over how in love with her I am. And how much she makes my life complete. I never could have imagined the way being a mother would have been. I did think of it, honestly probably every single day since I was 12, and I thought that it was going to be the best thing in the world. I did not know, however, and I could not comprehend how much I would love my baby though. And how spiritual as well as wonderful it is being a mom.

And then she pops the bottle out and looks at me with her perfect face. And I can't help but think I have the most beautiful mornings every day, because this is what I get every morning!

Our family's Journal Blog

2010-02-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

I have never been good at keeping a journal, even though I would love to. So I have decided that I am going to use our blog as sort of a journal of our lives. So that as our kids grow up they can see it and look at the things that have happened in our lives. and the funny things that they do and say and things like that.

Ha I am also not good a blogging so this might be tough to do, but I would like to remember all the memories that we make, esp. now that we have started our family. So this could be fun for me! I just hope that I actually keep up with it, and remember to take pictures during the week!

So today I begin my attempt at journaling/blogging of our little family!

Family

2010-01-13T11:43:00.000-08:00

We had an awesome first christmas together! We went up to California and had a BLAST hanging out with the whole family! Life has been good! Riley is THE SWEETEST baby in the entire world... she is so good for us! She already sleeps through the night and is SO happy during the day! We couldn't be more blessed! I love her so much, and I have so much fun playing with her everyday! She is starting to laugh a lot! and her personality comes out more and more each day! AHHH I just love her so much! I don't think that there are words to describe a mother's love! I just can't even stand it, I love her so much! Its kinda making me sad that she is growing up so fast! But it makes me so excited as well because she becomes so much more fun every single day! So we are just enjoying being a family!

My beautiful girly

2009-11-20T12:09:00.001-08:00

PICTURE MASS OVERLOAD!!!!

2009-11-20T10:45:00.000-08:00

So for some reason I cant stop think about this...

Two and a half weeks ago I looked like this: (sorry for the gross pictures but they are infact real hahaha)

Notice how ginormeous my tummy is.. im standing in the back (I always used to lift up my shirt cause it felt so good to relieve the tightness of clothes when i got home)

Then all of the sudden I go in on Tuesday and out comes this beautiful little girl, at 7 pounds 10 ounces! I just can't stop looking at her and wondering how the heck she fit in me! And how she became such a perfect little beautiful baby while inside of me! The Lord really does work in mysterious ways cause this is a mystery to me! hahaha.... more just like bewildering!

Im so greatful for the whole process though because all the hard work makes me love Riley so much more! I can't even describe how much I lover her! She has changed mine and Nate's whole life and out look on life! She is absolutley my whole world now and I don't know how I ever lived with out her! I feel like I have known her my whole life! I just love hanging out with her all day! I can just sit there and stare at her and kiss her till she gets really frustrated with me cause I keep kissing her whole body! But I just can't help it, and neither can Nate! The minute he comes home he goes straight to her (gives me a kiss first though of course) and then he sits and holds her until its time to go to bed! (which feels about 6pm these days ahhaha) I LOVE being a mom!

Introducing Riley Cait Howard

2009-11-13T20:33:00.000-08:00

Riley Cait is here!!

7 lbs 10 oz

11-03-09

more postings on her to come as we already have HUNDREDS of pictures!!!

Finally a new post!

2009-09-14T14:24:00.000-07:00

I know I havent posted in forever!! Life has been crazy with moving back to Arizona and being pregnant and all. Me and Nate are doing really good though! We've been very busy with life it seems since we'ved moved, but its fun! The pregnancy is still going well and we are only 7 weeks away now!!! I am so excited to be a mom that words dont even do it justice. I can not wait to hold my little baby and know that she is mine!

I will try and update more frequently maybe it will be easier once I have the baby cause then I will actually probably take pictures and stuff!

We Are Having A GIRL!!!!

2009-06-04T13:52:00.001-07:00

(Baby's profile of her face)

We are having a Girl! I was completely convince my WHOLE pregnancy so far that I was having a Boy! There was absolutely no doubt in my mind what I was having! So when we went to the doctor yesterday, I wanted to be confirmed that I was right that it was a boy! But when he said that it was a female, I was in shock! Nate's face immediately lit up, it was so cute! I kept asking, "Now are you sure its a girl?" And the doctor just kept saying, yes, im 90% sure its a girl, you can never be 100% sure! But I seriously am so so so so extremely excited I can hardly stand it! I wanted a little baby girl so bad! and so did Nate! We couldnt be happier! Nate seriously could not stop smiling all night, it seriously was the sweetest thing! He now calls me his girls, since his other little girl is inside me:) Im so excited to have our baby girl! YAY!!!

Memorial Weekend

2009-05-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

So this weekend we went to Nate's close family friends lake house. Actually the same family we went with when he invited me out two years ago, to go with to their lake house, for our first blind/kinda not blind date! So it was like our 1st date, 2 year anniversary! We had a lot of fun! I got burned the first day... not used to being so sensitive to the sun since I've been pregnant! And I obviously am not a good picture taker. If I EVER do take pictures there are only like 5 that I take and they are very bad ones too! hahaha but here are some from the weekend!

Anyways, so ya we had a lot of fun! Its crazy to think we are moving back to Mesa in about 3 weeks. I love California and being here with Nate's family. Its going to be really hard to leave... its sorta a bitter sweet feeling! Cause I am really excited also to be in Mesa! We also find out in a week what we are having... Nate's hoping for a girl, and I sorta am too... but I just have a feeling its a boy! But I will love if its a boy or girl!

WESTON'S COMING HOME!!!!

2009-03-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

I Cannot Wait! for my older brother Weston to come home!!! Its been crazy how fast it is going by, but so long all at the same time! I miss him so much! And its going to suck being in California now that he will actually be home! But i guess its life! But he is such a good example to me and always has been all growing up. He was always my BEST friend all growing up and we had so much fun together! He was always so nice to me, and stuck up for me all the time! He is so funny and goofy! this next picture says it all....

Im so happy for him and know that he was the Best missionary that he could be, and tried his hardest, because i know thats how his personality is! I cant wait to see him in TEN DAYS!!!!

How well do you know your husband??

2009-03-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

1) He's sitting in front of the tv. What is on the screen? LOST!!! (we just bought the seasons and its ALL we both watch now!)

2) You're out to eat...what kind of dressing does he get on his salad? Ranch

3) What's one food he doesn't like? Mushrooms... he will eat anything but mushrooms... he says he had a bad experience with them on his mission

4) You go out to eat...what does he order to drink? Moutain Dew or Dr. Pepper

5) Where did he go to High School? California High, and also Venture

6) What size shoe does he wear? Eleven

7) If he was to collect anything, what would it be? Well we started a new thing since we got married to collect clocks from places we travel to so we could have a wall of clocks.. so i guess clocks

8) What's his favorite type of sandwich? He doesnt really eat them, but if he did it would be a PB&J

9) What would he eat every day if he could? Probably BBQ Ribbs

10) What's his favorite cereal? He likes the healthy kind of cereal, pretty much any of those kinds

11) What would he never wear? a button up, plaid, collared shirt. Tried to get those for him and he'll never wear them.

12) What's his favorite sports team? Um actually not quite sure. He hasn't been to big into sports since we have been married! I was suprised! But Happy :) :)

13) Who did he vote for? McCain

14) Who is his best friend? ME :) :)

15) What's something you do that he wishes you didn't do? Um he doesnt really like anything on his body rubbed or tickled. He has sensitive skin he says and it bugs him. but i love rubbing his arms and stomach cause he has the softest skin, but he doesnt really like it (he says it feels like his skin is getting rubbed raw... weird I know cause i LOVE it)

16) What is his heritage? I believe Swedish just like me, and also English maybe

17) You bake him a cake for his bday...what kind of cake is it? I dont think he likes cake too much! mostly icecream and brownies

18) Did he play sports in high school? If there was a sport for bullying... hahah no but I believe he did football for a year

19) What could he spend hours doing? GOING TO THE GYM.... he could spend four hours a day if i let him! :)

20) What's one unique talent he has? He can look like he's pro at anthing he tries. Even if he has never done it before he makes it look so EASY... no matter if its wakeboarding or fixing something.

Goofy Nate

2009-02-24T15:41:00.001-08:00

Ha so the other night, it was really late and Nate wanted to go to the gas station to get a mountain dew. so i told him only if he did whatever I told him! So he said fine! So I started dressing him up with some of my accesories like a hat and scarf and belt, and made him put on long wool socks and a pair of hiking boots. and then said that i would only go to the gas station if he wore this in there while I waited in the car. So sure enough he walks into the gas station wearing exactly that and EVERYONE in there is looking at him so weird and laughing and thinking he was a total homo. I was laughing so hard watching him from the car! I love him so much! I love that we still goof around and act like kids even though we were married. I always thought that I would have to mature once i got married but I just realize that I still have fun goofing around! And it makes it even funner that I have someone who I love with all my heart to goof around with and laugh with! Life is so much funner that way!

2008-11-07T09:30:00.000-08:00

(These pictures are from when we were engaged.. the first one is when we went to Cali after we first got engaged, for me to meet all of his family, and the second one is when we were still in Cali and his mom threw me a bridal shower so I could meet everyone there. I felt really awkward so when i saw Nate was about to head to the gym I ran over to talk to him as long as I could before someone noticed I was gone from my own shower :) and his sister snapped a pic of us before he left.)

So ever since we moved to Cali, I've pretty much been out of a job! But I just got one! Im so excited! But when Nate is at work I just sit around and think about him ALL DAY!!! So when he come's home I seriously get so excited I want to jump up and down for joy! Yesterday I was thinking back to when we were engaged and how I just knew right away that i was supposed to spend the rest of my life with him! I love Nate so much! He is such a good person and makes me want to be a better person! He always does little things to show me that he loves me... like he rubbs my feet when we are sitting on the couch! (cause he know's i love that), and if we are watching tv he will give me a kiss everyonce in a while ( like on a commercial or something) or he does things like makes sure I get what I want, like he always asks me first what i want to do or where I want to go eat. And i always say I dont care, and he doesnt like that too much:) haha The perfect example is one day, after me and Nate had gotten into a little argument the night before, he came home from work and I was lying on the bed and he came and gave me a huge kiss and told me he was sorry. He was hiding something behind his back, and he pulled it out and said i got you something. I opened it and it was two new jacket/sweaters that i had said when we went to the mall the week before that i thought were cute! He totally remember each one and bought them for me. I was kinda nervous and i said, But these are really expensive and we dont have the money... and he just said, with a little grin on his face, that ever since our wedding he had been taking little checks out of the present pile, or hiding checks he had been getting from little side jobs, so that he could save up and buy me something nice because he felt bad we didnt have too much money, but he really wanted to buy me something. So NO I wasnt mad he was hiding money from me, I actually thought it was really cute and very thoughtful! I do keep a little better tabs on the money now... hahah just kidding! But I just love him SOOOOO INCREDIBLY much! I love being married to him! I know we've only been married for about three months but these have been the best three months in my life! And I can honestly say that i love him more and more each day! So just to let you know... I LOVE YOU BABE!!!!

2008-11-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

So one of Nate's best friends, John, came back home a while ago to visit his family with his NEW fiance Becky. We hung out with them a couple nights and had a blast! Becky is SO nice and way fun! They are moving back here to Cali after they get married in Salt Lake in December! I am so excited for them to move here! I can finally have a friend!!! I seriously CAN'T WAIT!!!!

Here is all four of us in a shady limo. We were trying to catch the bus in San Francisco but the bus was packed full by the time it finally came! So we decided to take some guy up on his offer to drive us to the Cheese Cake factory for 5$ a person. The limo was packed full so we had to sit on laps.!

Me and Becky

Nate and John hanging off the cable car

Me and Nate on the cable car. As we were going up a hill, my leg hit a car on the side of the road!

Weddding!!

2008-11-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

We were married on August 15, 2008

and here are some of the pictures.

Well as soon as we came back from the honey-moon we packed up our things

and moved to California. It has actually been a lot harder on me than i thought.

I guess I didnt think that i would miss my family as much as i do. I miss my parents

incredibly, and definately my neice and nephew. Everytime i see pictures of them

I just want to cry. I think that moving away has been good for me though, and for mine and

Nate's relationship. I think that I have relied on him more and we have grown a lot closer

than if we would have stayed in Arizona, cause then I could run to my mom everytime things

got a little hard. So I think that the move was good for us (even though I still do call my mom;))

We are probably going to be in California for a long time though... Nate is planning on attending

a four year college here and then going to apply to medical schools here in Cali, we probably

still might apply in Arizona, the only thing is that the only medical school there is in Tucson,

and we both dont want to live there. But the plan right now is to try and stay here for medical

school so we dont have to go to a state where we have NO family! My sister is moving to

Texas in December to go to chiropractic school with her husband. I am going to miss her so

much! I hope that we will have enough money for us to fly and see eachother every so often,

because I dont know if i can go a whole year with out seeing her beautiful babies. And

I miss my sister. But I cant wait to see her at Christmas Time!!!!!

2008-11-05T13:26:00.000-08:00

So I'm trying to blog, but somehow deleted my blog that I just created yesterday, so now I have to start over! But I'm starting to get a hang of it! This is harder that I thought!