MVHS Class of '94 15 Year High School Reunion and Graduating Class of Lehi '09

I know, I know I don't look my age right!! ;) Right!
Anyway, I was in charge of organizing my 15 year high school reunion this year. I had a hard time believing that I had been out of high school that long and then I started thinking of all the things I have done since high school and then it becomes a bit easier to believe.
A month prior to my reunion I attended my first 6th grade class's high school graduation. I felt honored to be a part of such a major event in my student's lives. As I was sitting there listening to one of my students speak (who happened to be the valedictorian) I realized that that was me 15 years ago, not the valedictorian part, but me graduating with my class as well. We had our graduation in the Marriott Center just as my students were. It was a point to reflect on and how much has changed and what my life has become since then.
What I thought my life would be like back then it nothing of what it has become. I didn't marry the young man I thought I would marry, I served a mission I never thought I would serve, I worked for several years when I never thought I would work, I met loved and served people I never knew I would meet. My life most certainly did not become what I thought it would back then but it has been better than if I could have planned it myself. The people who have come in and out of my life who have helped me become who I am, the opportunities that I have had and embraced. What a blessing my life has been.
I then thought of all my students who were graduating that day and I wonder what they think their lives are going to be like and what will really come to be. I wonder what they will accomplish in the next 15 years. I love them and hope the best for them. I am blessed because of them.
For this reason I have included the pictures of a few of my students at their graduation and my 15 year reunion. I felt it was appropriate.
Congratulations Brady!
These two beauties were not graduating but they were my kids never the less.
Kiahna and Blake! Congrats you two!
Sweet Yvette who will be attending UVU this fall on a full ride scholarship!!
My dear Bethany! I am so proud. You are amazing. She will be attending BYU this fall. Way to go!!!
Another lovely picture with Bethany.
Chelsey Congrats Sweetie!
Ahhh Sydney and Ashley. I love you girls!
My "Hope of America" Carter. He will also be attending BYU this fall. Congrats my valedictorian. You made me proud.

The Class of '94 and their families! Look at that crew!!


Just the Bruins!!


Me, my baby and niece (who was kind enough to come and help).


Bruins having some fun!

Father's Day

VERY Spontaneously Charlie found a sweet ticket to come back to Utah for the weekend of Father's Day. Needless to say I was thrilled. This is Charlie's first Father's Day as a real Father so it was extra special that we could all be together. We spent the afternoon at my sister's for dinner. Thanks Lorie!! Charlie got some one on one time with Abby which she LOVED!!

Lorie LOVES Abby. She has already told me that if anything happens to Charlie and me we are to leave Abby with her. Abby lights up whenever Lorie comes into the room. They definitely love each other. Lorie has six kids of her own. She is a wonderful mom and a great sister I might add.

Quin just loves Abby. I love that she gets to spend time with her cousins.

My niece and I bought the same dress. It was only $11 dollars!! We love it.

My Dad and Charlie...nice.

Happy Father's Day Charlie!!

Abby knows she has a #1 Dad!!! How could she not it is right in front of her face. :)

So much has happened and I have had NO time to post. I will start from the most recent and work my way back. Here we go. We flew to Utah a few weeks ago to buy a car from my dad. Charlie flew back home to start orientation and by a miracle he was able to fly back for my 15 year high school reunion and Father's Day. I felt so blessed. I love Charlie and any time I get to spend with him is a blessing. Especially now when he is starting his residency and will rarely see him. Anyhoo, I will go back in a few weeks after my family reunion. I already miss him.

Falling Water

Okay I know I have been awful at posting lately. Life has been taking me by the horns rather than me taking it by the horns. For those of you who know already you can tune this out. Charlie and I put an offer on a home in Houston a little over a month ago. I was in love with it. It was small but so cute, it was perfect. It was the only home that Charlie and I felt good about. We were pre-approved for our loan so we moved ahead and made an offer. We had the inspection/survey done etc. Meanwhile our incredibly "bright" loan officer (the one who told us we were pre-approved) told us we could not get the morgage because neither Charlie or I would be working at the time of closing. WHAT??!! Why did you not tell us this before?????? We would not have wasted the time or the money to look for homes! Anyway, we checked into other lenders and come to find out Bank of America will approve us but we will still have to wait for a while to receive it. Charlie has to have proof of income. I guess this was not a problem for any residents in the past. They were all able to get a mortgage without a pay stub at closing but because of the economy they have really clamped down hard!!! Any residents coming out of dental or medical who will not be working at the time of closing will have and have had this problem. What joy! Needless to say I am EXTREMELY disappointed. We lost the sweet little home. Someone else made an offer and it is off the market again. So Sad! Since then I have come to the conclusion that it may work out better for us this way anyway. We will be able to take our time finding a home and not feel rushed. I can use this experience to learn from and be more savy about seeking out all the information before I jump head long into something. Well it may not prevent that all the time but hopefully some of the time. :) I will keep you posted on our home findings when we do. The one thing I am not looking forward to is moving twice!
As for picture posting I have too many pictures to post and not enough time. Charlie and I started making a effort to visit places here in the East before we leave and we have a lot to share so I will start with "Falling Water." For those of you who don't know what that place is it is a home designed and built over a natural waterfall by Frank Lloyd Wright. He is a famous american architect who was recognized in 1991 as "the greatest American architect of all time." He used nature to create this home. I wish you could have seen it inside it was so neat. I love stuff like this though. Architects from all over the world visit this home to see his work. It was a fun afternoon.
This is the pool. It is full of spring water so it was really cold. Charlie thought this might be a good time for Abby to take swimming lessons....

This is the walkway from the main house to the guest house. It was built on a slight slant so that when it rains the water pours down on the one side and is as if you are walking past a waterfall. Really cool.
The home was built right on the rock.



"Falling Charlie"

Happy Easter

Abby is so cute in her little Easter crocheted outfit. I wish I could say that I made it but no. My sister sent it to her. :) It was fun trying to get a cute picture of her with her eyes open. Every time the camera flashed she would blink and open her mouth. The open mouth is an Abby "classic." We ended up with a few with her eyes open. :)

Late

Abby on Sunday before St. Patricks! I didn't have time to make a cute bow and I only had this ribbon so I just wound it around her head and tied a bow. She looks a bit like a flapper. :) Enjoy!



Charlie can't help but try out Cheer moves with Abby. She honestly does love all the tricks he tries to get her to do.


Abby looks like she is blowing you a kiss! Happy LATE St Patricks!

I Finally Did It!

Abby is now 6 months old and I finally finished the bumpers for her crib. It was quite a project for a novice seamstress. I found a similar pattern in a magazine and they cost a fortune so my friend Libby and I decided to make our own. Thanks to many tutoring sessions from Libby (Thanks girl) I was able to finish. They are different than the magazine but I think they turned out better than I anticipated.
I also made a nursing cover. I love the fabric. I can't believe how domestic I have become. I don't think I am crafty enough to live in 5th ward but I am enjoying it! ;)