Christmas Party 2010

We were home just in time for the annual Goodwin Family Christmas Party! It was so much fun- it's one of my favorite parts of the holiday season. I love my family and we all have so much fun- especially when Santa gets there and we get to laugh at all his funny jokes! He's the best Santa and we look forward to him coming all year! :-)

Connor had so much fun on Santa's lap! He wasn't afraid at all and while Santa tried to hide from him so he wouldn't scare him, Connor eventually looked right at him and didn't blink an eye! Reminds me of his one year old doc appointment when he just watched the nurse prick his finger and draw his blood...he never even whimpered! Such a good baby...

Here are some pics of the fun party!

The cream puff tree Ben made from scratch!!! MMMMM....

And with that...I'm all caught up on blogging until tomorrow! :-) Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Cruise!

Wow oh wow did we need a vacation. I can't believe we survived the last semester. It's amazing what you can get done when you just know you have a lot to do! Here is how our typical week went:
Monday, Wednesday- Kirsten at school from 9-2 then Ben at work from 2-5.
Tuesday, Thursday-Ben at class from 8:50-11:20, fast switch off with Connor, Kirsten's class from 11:30-12:50.
Friday- Every other Friday Ben has a class at 9, so grandma Betsy drives up to watch Connor while we are both in school. Otherwise it's just like Mondays and Wednesdays.
Saturday- Family/Study day
Sunday- RELAX DAY NO HOMEWORK!!!

We did this for about 16 weeks...so it's easy to see how exhausted we were. I also had my two online classes with Dixie that I had to maintain. I hate to brag..ok I am happy to brag that I got 7 A's and one B+...with 24 credits. And Ben survived his SICK accounting class...yay us! I've never done so well in school..and I think it's knowing if I'm going to take time away from my baby I'd better make it worth it!

So without further ado...some pics from our cruise!








We had a beautiful ship, with no bells and whistles like a water slide or climbing wall, but it suited us. We splurged a little for a room with a balcony, one of our best splurges since we didn't get to go to one of our ports and had 2 1/2 days straight on the ship. We were sad to not get to go back to Grand Cayman, but if I had to choose I'm glad it was somewhere we'd already been and we still got to go somewhere new. Cozumel was beautiful when we got to the ruins. They were really awesome, and the beach was the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen...aside from Hawaii I suppose.

We had a ton of fun eating our brains out...which also made up for us not getting to go to Grand Cayman. We loved being able to chat with Connor on Ben's ipod. We had service in some crazy places in Mexico and actually got to face chat with him and Desi while we were watching the sun set on the beach in Cozumel. Technology never ceases to amaze me!

The trip was just long enough to be enjoyable, and short en0ugh that we didn't get bored. We were SO ready to come home to our sweet baby though! I never knew I could miss anyone so much!!!

I know I should document more detail about the trip...but it was pretty mellow and not a lot to go into detail about!!! It was just what we needed!!!

Connor's Birthday Party!

I am so behind on blogging..I'm determined to get caught up over the next few weeks of no school! It is so wonderful to just spend time with Ben and Connor without feeling like I need to do homework! Anyway....here are some fun picture collages from the big birthday party! I didn't really want to do a themed party...but if I had to call it anything I'd say the theme WAS party..ha ha. I figured Connor would know something special and exciting was going on when he saw the 24 balloons of red, green, blue and yellow, as well as his special birthday balloons, and streamers. Needless to say it was a PARTY! He was so fascinated with all the decor and it made me excited as his mommy to see his wonderment at all the bright colors and fun decorations. The birthday cake was a little bit stressful for me...it didn't turn out exactly right but they did make some minor corrections after I called and sounded totally frustrated, which I was. All in all it was a perfect, simple and fun party! Connor's grandma and grandpa Woolsey came, as well as his great-great grandma Zina, his aunt Desi and aunt Tasha, great uncle Steven and his kids Kaylee, Lauren and Ryan. Also in attendance were his great-grandma Irene and her husband Jack, his great aunt Jill, my cousin Carli and her three kids McCoy, Daxton and Taytum. Also Marilyn and Zach were there to enjoy the festivities! We watched Connor open his fun presents then undressed him to eat his cake. All my little sisters were nervous about their first cakes, and we had to really urge them to dig in..so that's what I sort of expected. NOT SO! My child is NOT afraid of food....he ate about half of his cake. Gross...lots of sugar...but hey you're only a birthday boy once a year!!! He loved and I mean LOVED all the frosting. He had so much fun and he probably would have kept eating it if we wouldn't have moved him into the bath tub! He had a grand ole time and we all had fun watching him.

He's such a special happy boy. I am proud everyday to be his mother. I love it when we are out and about and people not only comment on how cute he is, but how sweet and mellow he is. He definitely loves people and is rarely shy around strangers.

I love watching the world through his little eyes. I sometimes just watch him for minutes on end, seeing him discover everything around him. He is SO BUSY! He never stays focused on one thing for very long which is so funny...I just love him to bits!

I remember people telling me before I was pregnant, and then even more when I was pregnant how HARD it was going to be....that I'd better be ready for a big change. And yeah it HAS been different...a total adjustment..but WOW it's the BEST thing I've ever done!!! And there were hard times...still are some small hard times...but it sorta makes me wonder why everyone felt the need to say WAIT to have kids. I can't WAIT to have more!!! Connor is the best thing I've ever done and I feel bad for those who choose not to have children. What an awesome blessing they are!!!

Anyway, here are the pictures of the big day! I'll add videos later. :-)

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We did it!!!!

Well I'm posting this from 39,000 feet in the air...weird! We are flying to Florida and our cruise leaves tomorrow! Just happy to report we finished the semester! Ben passed his incredibly hard accounting class among others and I completed 24 credits with almost all A's!!!! Miracle really... And a lot of hard work! Can't wait to re-charge our batteries and then come home to play with Connor for 3 weeks without classes, homework and craziness!!!

Happy December everyone!!!

Free Christmas Cards!

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Happy Birthday Connor!!!

I can't believe he's one. I've been saying this all day, and have been saying it for many days leading up to today. Where did the year go? While it seems like it raced by, it also feels like so long ago that he was first put into my arms. What an amazing blessing and joy he's been in our lives!!! I can't believe it's been a year since I became a mother for the first time. I feel bad that I haven't done a monthly post for Connor in a while...I guess time has gone by a bit TOO fast. But he is doing so many hilarious things lately I have to post before he stops doing them and I forget!

Remember the nose scrunch that started back in July? Somewhere in October or November he started snorting and being a goof ball when he scrunches up his nose. He breathes really heavy through his nose...best I can do at describing it. Maybe someday I'll get a video up here...

He learned a little bit of sign language, he learned the sign for "more"..which confused him with patty cake, so he does a sort of mix between the two. He has also figured out how to "roll it and a roll it" when he does pat a cake, and my favorite- PEEK A BOO. We could play Peek a boo for hours and he wouldn't get bored. It's the cure-all when he's fussy, having a meltdown or tired. He has learned how to be "soft" with the puppies, but sometimes he surprises me with how smart he is, and will give me a look like, "Watch mommy..I don't have to be soft if I don't wanna.." and he'll hit the dog really hard...ha ha. He also has learned to hit me, and loves "messing me up" as I call it. When he gets frustrated he starts fumbling his hands all over, and when I'm holding him he'll fumble them on my shoulder and chest, to show me how made he is. Another lame description...but oh man it cracks us up! How do you teach a one year old how to be nice when it's SO funny when he's mean?! Sometimes I just stare at him when he's having a melt down because I love trying to figure out what could possibly be going on in his mind!

He loves finding things I've hidden from him, like my cell phone or ipod in the morning. He will dig through the covers to find it. He loves, I mean LOVES the dogs. When he gets in bed with us in the morning he immediately looks for the dogs if they're not already on the bed with us as well.

On that note, a few times we have heard him say, "Puh- Pee"...but it's staggered and he doesn't say it often. Mostly he says "Puhp" when he sees the dogs. SO funny and cute! He of course says "mamamamamama" all the time, and I think sometimes he is trying to call out for mommy..but who knows at this point.

He giggles like nobody's business, he is SO busy...which can really be nice because as long as a room is somewhat baby proofed he can play for hours without fussing. Makes it easy for mommy to get stuff done! He also loves to follow me around the house which I LOVE. I could hardly wait for him to crawl so I could call for him and he'd actually respond!

Today I couldn't hear him in any room so I kept calling his name. Nothing. So I started getting nervous, and I ran into the kitchen to find him just standing beside the towel drawer looking at me like, "What mom? I'm just standing here!"

No walking yet, but he has taken a few staggered little steps. He stands up for long periods of time..but I seriously love that he's not walking yet. I hope he waits as long as possible...

For a special birthday surprise I found him swishing his hand in the toilet today. I sound like a mom who never watches her kid...but it was one of those split second moments where he somehow got into the bathroom and decided it'd be fun to play in the toilet. Wow. Happy birthday to you baby! ha ha..

There are so many more things to say, but I'm going to be better about posting so I can get it while it's fresh! I love my baby, I'm so thankful for him and his sweet happy spirit of innocence, trust and complete love. Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Other Skills

Sooooo ever since being in school I have felt SO satisfied with life. I was fulfilled as a mother, I LOVED being home with Connor always, but I couldn't deny the strong prompting to go back to school! And boy am I glad I listened to that prompting. As I stood on the floor of the Centrum Arena tonight taking photos of the volleyball game for an assignment from the University Journal I realized how much I would have missed out on. I have learned so much more than I ever imagined I would. I have loved my major, communications fits me like a glove! I have come to realize what a major nerd I am...I LOVE doing research. Like so much that I don't cringe anymore at the thought of getting a P.H.d!! What? Maybe someday....

One of my favorite classes, and favorite due to the challenges it has provided me with has been photojournalism. I have had my photos published twice, and have been really proud of my work each week. I have been on assignment from the Journal twice now, and tonight's assignment was for the women's volleyball game. It was my biggest challenge yet. I don't play sports, I don't watch sports...I know how to play the game, but WOW is it hard to get a good shot!!! To get a good sports shot you have to get a good facial expression and the ball in the shot...very challenging with a game that moves fast. BUT I DID IT!!! Tonight as I stood there and sang to myself when the cheerleaders were performing a routine I realized that I am finally exploring new talents and abilities that I might have ignored before. The only thing I have ever cared to do is perform and sing..it's been my "thing"...anyone know what that's like? You get labeled early and that's what you focus on???

Anyway, I love taking pictures. I love candid, and I love photojournalism. I want to get my master's degree in it someday...possibly. Here is my top shot from tonight's game...

I love that school has opened my eyes to more possibilities. It has also made me a really good mom...present and future. Through some of my classes I've discovered I really have a desire to home school my children someday...possibly. :)

SO...while I may be tired...and ready for this semester to be over, I am SO thankful I've been able to learn SO much! I have been more involved as a student than I ever was before...and it's awesome. It's hard and I feel that I am spreading myself too thin sometimes...but it always works out! I loved working as a poll worker, being a part of the democratic process, I love attending events and feeling a part of a community.

I'll probably add more to this post later...for now I can't keep my train of thought!!!

Goodnight all.....

Happy Busy Bees!

It makes it hard to breathe when I think about everything that is going on in the next 6 weeks...I have to remember it comes one day at a time!...My mom gets overwhelmed when I spout off my "to do" list, and tells me to stop being so stressed. Mom- I'm not stressed....yet. This semester has gone by so fast it blows my mind...and I can't help but thinking if I were to blink I'd be on my cruise with finals behind me when I open my eyes! Thank heavens that won't happen....

So read if you want...if not, don't.

This weekend- ward Halloween party and studying for 4 exams, and working on a paper.
Next week- parties and more parties- 4 exams, paper due, more assignments...and HALLOWEEN!!!
November 1-2nd- I'm getting my hairs did by the lovely Kensey Sharp, then working for about 16 hours on the second as a poll worker for voting day!
November 12-13th: Great Grandma's 90th birthday party time!
November 18th-19th: Going to Salt Lake with Ben for a work thing- going to go see Drowsy Chaperone and visit with my sis Ashlee at BYU!
November 24th- STUDY DAY
November 25th- THANKSGIVING!
November 26th- Ben's grandparent's 60th anniversary in Arizona...
December 1st- Connor's FIRST Birthday!!! and I'm helping with the President's Gala and the Oakridge Boys concert for my event management class...
December 4th- Connor's PARTY!!!
December 6-10th: FINALS
December 11th: FLY TO MIAMA FOR OUR CRUISE!!!

Granted this is not all happening in one week...but are you tired reading that list? I am...
And I'll have school projects in the midst of all that...I really hope it all falls into place!


By the way---I am SO happy. We all are. We are so blessed...we get to go to Institute and have that little break once a week...my mom helps us out SO much watching Connor once a week! We love having her in our house. Connor loves her so much!

Being busy really motivates me to do MORE and be a good mommy, wife and friend!

Ok...AMEN.

In other news....CONNOR HAS A TOOTH!!!! When did he grow up? I have no idea how that happened....

As evidenced by these photos we DO have time for fun!!!!

HAPPY OCTOBER!!!

Going Private

I mentioned this at the bottom of my last post- but I thought I'd post again to give whoever wants an invite a chance to give me your email address! I'll go private by next weekend. If you already posted your email address on the post below, don't worry about doing so again! I'll get ya!

Thanks guys!

Sickened...

Yeah, I am. I'm sickened by the response to Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk during conference. I shouldn't even look at the comments on Facebook pages that support him, there are so many negative remarks, and it really makes me sick at what some people dare to say about him. Even if they don't believe he has the gift of divine revelation, do they really have to be so harsh to him? How can they accuse him of being a hateful man when their comments are far worse than his were?

I'm really sick to my stomach about the world I have to raise my children in. I'm in mother bear mode, not wanting my little Connor and future babies to be exposed to ANY of the horrific things that are going on in these turbulent times. I don't know if any of my readers are not members of the LDS faith, but I find that its teachings are so wonderful and safe for my children. By living the teachings of the church I can safeguard my home against these outside influences, and raise faithful, strong children.

I have close friends who struggle with homosexuality, and I feel for them. I understand what it is like to suffer from an addiction or temptation that seems so natural. I hope that in light of all of this controversy we can remain close friends...it is getting harder and harder to have different opinions and agree to disagree.

I feel sick still...and I know that many of you have uplifting advice or tips on how you get through this life in spite of the adversary's growing power...so leave a comment. Tell me how you feel, and what you are doing to protect your family.

Oh and P.S..I'm going private. No more people I don't know will be looking at my blog..scares me!

Happy Birthday Benny!

Yesterday was my honey's 29th Birthday! As Lucy Ricardo said "It's my last birthday!" when speaking of her 29th. It's so funny to me that in one more year I'll be married to a man in his 30's! I can still remember when my parents were that young!!! Oh man...and then I realized that in 8 more months I'll be 26. YIKES! 25 I'm ok with...26??? NO THANKS!!!

ANYWAY...it was BEN'S birthday, not mine. It was a really odd day, Ben was under a lot of stress and spent the day at home. I won't go into many details, but he wasn't feeling well and it really wasn't a great day for him. I tried to make it as special as I could...I got him some new shoes and socks, a squishy "stress"ball, and a new sound bar for our TV so we can hear it better when Connor is asleep and we have to turn the volume down!! We can also listen to music through Pandora on our Blu Ray now when the screen is off which is really nice!

We had a nice Cafe Rio lunch which kept us full all day, and my mom sent Ben some carrot cake cupcakes in the mail which constituted as his birthday cake. It was maybe a simple lame birthday, but we did the best we could with what was already a crappy day! We did go to dinner on Friday night at Sulli's Steakhouse and had Prime Rib dinners! Our starving student card had a Buy One Get One Free punch on it...LOVE discounts! Connor squealed the whole time...people around us laughed, and the waitresses were so sweet to him! He ate his puffs and daddy gave him some of his baked potato and roll. I love that we are family of three!!!

Ben is such a good father, husband and man. I'm so happy to be married to him and so proud to call him mine. He is busting his butt right now in school, and I can't believe how hard his school work is. He cares so deeply about his education and future career, and is doing the very best he can! He has also made a really big sacrifice to stay at home with Connor 18 hours a week so I can finish my degree. I appreciate it more than he will ever know!!! He's always so encouraging of my goals and aspirations. He pushes me to do my best, and supports me in all I do. He is my shoulder to cry on and knows the right moment to hug me when I am feeling overwhelmed. He is my best friend, and I've never known anyone as sensitive, caring, selfless and genuine as he is. He's loyal, honest, and someone I'm SO happy I get to spend eternity with!

Happy Birthday my love! I hope it's a good year full of success and adventure!!!

9&10

To begin, here are some fun family pictures we had taken by my BFF Lauren in August!

WE LOVE this face he makes!!! He he...

Yep, we're officially an SUU family. Connor

I feel so behind on blogging. Things are so busy at our house, that it is now a luxury instead of part of my routine to blog. But I haven't posted anything about Connor's progress in a while. Mostly I was waiting to get our family pictures back so I'd have some to post of Connor man. But that's a lame excuse...so I hope I can remember everything..

Connor's first tooth is making it's way through! We can see a little white bump, it'll be here any day!

Connor usually makes a new step in life at the first of every month. It's like he knows that he is a whole month older and has to do something new! Nine months didn't bring anything majorly new. He started finally getting into crawling stance instead of just army crawling, but he still prefers his army crawl on our wood floors...he can slide a lot faster! :) At his doctors appointment he weighed 18 pounds 5 ounces, and was about 28 inches long. He's growing at a steady rate and is finally not in the smallest percentile! He loves his veggies still a LOT more than his fruits, but he is finally eating his pears without me having to hide them in his rice cereal every time! Somewhere in the past few weeks he has adopted this SQUEAL. It is ear piercing, makes your ears ring, and is IMPOSSIBLE to stop. I've tried getting "mad" at him, but he thinks it's funny and just squeals again! Mostly he does it when he's in his high chair and he runs out of "puffs"...so he alerts mommy and daddy to refill his tray. Which reminds me, at about 9 months I started giving him gerber graduate puffs to feed to himself. He loves it and feels so big when he can feed himself! We're also starting to give him little pieces of bread and his daddy loves letting him suck on lemons and limes...so mean! I will say, however, that Connor seems to enjoy the limes, even though his face turns inside out, he'll reach for the wedge and feed it to himself. He cracks me up!

He also does patty cake on cue now, and has started waving bye bye and hi!

Something major that happened when he was 9 1/2 months old is he started standing in his crib!!! I knew it was coming when I went in there and he'd be kneeling by the side, but before we had a chance to lower the crib, he was full on standing, about to topple over the edge. Before I even had Connor, the moment I looked forward to most was the time when I'd walk into his room and he'd be standing in his crib, smiling at me. When that moment finally came I could have exploded with joy! MY BABY!!! I love him SOOOO much, and he melts my heart with everything he does! We went through a week or so when he didn't want to take naps because he was so excited about the fact that he could walk around in his crib and reach toys that mommy and daddy hadn't moved that were right outside the crib. It was a long week......but he's finally napping again!Something I hope he does for a lot longer is give me big sloppy kisses!!! They are the BEST!

At about 10 months Connor started pulling himself up so he could start scaling the furniture and little objects around the house. He likes to pull himself onto small things and crawl all over them. He loves to play with his car seat, he'll climb halfway in and rock in it on his tummy. He pushes that thing all over the place until it gets stuck and won't rock. Then he moves on!!! He is SO busy and we laugh a lot watching the silly things he does and the situations he gets himself into! He falls a lot, but never cries or even whines, he just gets back up and tries again!

The biggest moment was a few days ago, when he stood all by himself for the first time! He likes to stand up at his bouncy chair toy, I think he finds it cool that he can play with the toys on it, but not be stuck, he can walk around it...anyway...he was holding onto it with one arm, and I could tell he wanted to step forward. I saw his little hand start shaking a little, trying to let go and find his balance. He finally stood there for a few seconds without holding on to anything, and then fell forward. IT WAS SO EXCITING!!! For those few seconds we just held our breath and then lurched forward to catch him when he fell. We didn't make it to him in time, but again, he didn't cry. Just kept playing!

Connor's personality emerges more and more everyday. I'm noticing that so far he is a wonderful blend of Ben and I both. He is mellow, easygoing and sweet like Ben, but he is hyper and giggly and silly like his mommy! We laugh together a LOT more than I'd expected to laugh with him being this young. Sometimes he even farts and lets out a little laugh like, "hey mommy did you hear that?" ha ha....kills me! He's smart, funny, adorable, and a total sweetheart. I'm so proud to be his mommy, especially when people everywhere we go comment on how beautiful and funny he is! Yesterday at WalMart he was doing his squeal noise..because mommy forgot to bring a binki. I was frazzled, and could NOT keep him from doing it. I looked around me expecting people to be annoyed at the noise, but what I saw was a lot of people smiling, laughing and giving me encouraging looks. I'm officially THAT mom..haha...but I love it!!!

Congrats if you made it through all of that--this is my only journal and the way I remember everything that is happening to us!

In Memory...

Today marks the 3 year anniversary of the day my Grandma Joan passed away, and the 11 year anniversary of the day my Grandpa Bob passed away. They aren't related, my grandma is my dad's mother, and my grandpa is my mom's father. (confused?)

I think about them often. They are in my dreams often. Once I had a dream in which my grandpa came and asked me how my life was, and what I was up to. It was right before my first wedding, and I excitedly told him about how I got to go to the temple soon to be married! It was a special dream for me. I have since had many dreams, some meaningful, some just weird- but they make me miss him and wish he had lived a little longer. I had fun memories with him from my childhood. He'd chase me around the yard with a tarantula in a jar, and tell me if I was outside with a cough that I would catch pneumonia. He loved to tease me and the other kids- by sticking out his dentures even when we passionately protested. But he loved us all. He was a sweet man. I think I cried harder at his funeral than I've ever cried in my life. It was my first experience with death, and someone I missed so much. I'm grateful that I still get dreams to remind me of him.

My grandma was such a character...she was always asking us the same questions. My frequent question/comment was "You're hair looks so pretty! Did you change your hair???" ha ha..she kept us all entertained. One of my fondest memories of her is when I was going to SUU the first time, and she was so concerned with my well being. She called and asked if she could take me out for a burger. We went to Arby's and got sandwiches and ate them at my uncle Steven's house, then she took me home and gave me $20 and a box of hot chocolate packets. She said something like, "You're in college and I know how hard it is to be a poor college student!". I knew she didn't have a lot of money herself, and this was a sacrifice. I'll never forget it, and I'll always be so grateful for that moment I had with her. My sisters and cousins probably won't remember her the same way I always will.

This next part is hard to write-- I'm getting emotional as I type...
My grandma had finally gotten her life in order, financially and spiritually. She invited everyone over to her new house for a BBQ, but I didn't get to go because I was in California for my first visit to Ben's. I had gotten to tell grandma about Ben before I met him, and told her I knew I was going to marry him. She was excited to meet him. Anyway, I missed the BBQ. And she passed away a few days later. My heart aches to know I missed that event, but I'm SO thankful that the last time I saw her was a good memory for me. She had once again given me money and a new shirt in honor of my starting up college again. We had visited a little and I have no regrets.
Her death was unexpected. She had outpatient surgery and passed away in her sleep that evening in my aunt's home. It was shocking for us all, and the first person I called was Ben, who immediately offered to come out to support me. I initially said no, but then decided it would be very nice to see him again and to have him there to help me. We ended up singing together for the funeral, an event that is in our own personal history book. We fell so deeply in love that weekend, because Ben realized how true my feelings were for him, and I saw him make sacrifices for me for the first of many times.

Right before our wedding, I was driving through the gorge on my way home from a Cali visit. A song came on, I can't remember which, but it reminded me of my grandma and my grandpa. And suddenly the lights shining into the gorge were so beautiful and radiant, that I couldn't help but cry. I missed them SO much but knew their spirits were close by. I felt them in the temple on our wedding day. I feel their love often as I go about life. I dream of them both, and I love and miss them dearly.

I'm so thankful for the plan of salvation and my eternal blessings that will allow me to see my family again someday. It is wonderful to know they are on the Lord's side, fighting valiantly for truth and righteousness, and that they provided strong principles for their posterity to follow and build upon!

I love you grandpa and grandma!!!

My life...

Lately I have been thinking about how deeply I enjoy so many aspects of my life. And how different things are because I am in school now.

For example, there are times when I see things like STUDY ABROAD! and JOIN OUR CLUB!
And I think-- wow I could have done those things if I had finished school before I got married and had Connor. But then I realize I was SUCH a different person back then. I had ambition, but not nearly as much as I have now. And I didn't have the confidence I have now.

I crack myself up because I go to school and I'll carry around my water jug, (it's big) and my diet coke mug, and my backpack and my camera case. Me from 3-4 years ago would feel like a fool. I'd never be caught eating my lunch as I walked from one class to the next. I also would have not come to school wearing some of the things I wear. And sometimes YEAH I'm a little embarrassed that I don't have a cute skinny, pre-pregnancy body like a lot of these girls. But mostly, I have WAY more confidence in myself because I know I have a hubby and an adoring SON at home, who love me no matter what I choose to wear, what I look like on campus, and whatnot.

I realized today that I carry myself totally different than I used to. I walk knowing that I am a successful person, I am a good mom, and I am a pretty dang good wife! I know that I am more than just what I do. I feel that for the first time I am genuinely confident in who I am and who I am becoming.

It's strange how the busier you are, the more you get done, and the more you want to do. Weird right? But awesome nonetheless. For instance, I have been REALLY wanting to cook new recipes. I have been subscribed to the Taste of Home Magazine for almost a year now, and I haven't made a thing. Maybe one or two recipes, but nothing major. This week alone I have tried out two new meals! This is last night's accomplishment:

Grilled Tomatillo Chicken

AND:

Yes. I made a pie. My first pie ever. I know it's rough. But dang it tasted good. P.S. if you've never made a pie I have two tips:
1. If the edges start to burn before the rest is cooked, put foil around the edges or parts that are burning.
2. Put the pie tin on a cookie sheet. Otherwise the juices will drizzle onto the bottom of the oven and cause your house to smell like burning fruit. I learned this the hard way.

I was VERY proud of my hard work. I was EXHAUSTED by the end of the day-- school, grocery shopping, homework, baking and cooking. It was a long day. But a GOOD day!

And I have to post how freakin cute Connor is after his bath.

I laughed so hard when I was taking these pictures. He reminds me of one of those fat canister things that can all be stacked within each other...anyone know what I'm talking about? He he..

Sweet

As I was walking to class today, I was taking a different route. Ben and I drove together since Connor is at his grandparent's house in St. George- so I walked from the top of campus to the bottom. I passed some old ladies who were apparently having some type of yard sale. As I passed one of them said "Hello!" I said hi, but was afraid they were going to try and sell me something...how sad that was my first thought...but instead, they then said "Have a good day at school!" Sweet right? I realized..wow...it's Friday! And it is NOT off to a bad start! YAY! So here's to a good Friday that will be followed by a fantastic weekend! :)

In other news, I am seriously loving ALL of my classes. It's so fun when you are in your major and all of your classes sort of overlap. And things are FINALLY starting to pick up and get busy. Weird to think that in 3 more months this hectic 24 credit semester will be OVER! And guess what we're doing when it's done????

Going here....
That's Cozumel, Mexico...and we're going to check out the ancient ruins. I can't wait for that...

Then we're going to go BACK to:

Grand Cayman- the site of our honeymoon. Yeah I could have gotten a more descriptive picture, but this is SO beautiful, right?

All because we are going to fly here:

Miami--I've never been and we are spending a day there!

Then we are jumping on one of these:

Yep- we're going on a cruise. We've never been on one together--and we are SO excited. Sad that we are leaving our sweet boy for a week--but it will be at the end of a VERY long busy semester and I'm sure even he will be ready for a break. He'll get to play and be spoiled at grandma's! This is our graduation trip--since we could be moving for a job anytime after the new year. You read that right--if Ben gets a good enough job he could finish out school from wherever he gets said amazing job. But more than likely we will be around til at least May.

Yes- you can be jealous. It was a CHEAP trip-and we aren't paying a dime for the airfare or cruise because I'm using my $1000 from the online offer I just finished!!! :)

Oh Fall Television...

So.....we canceled our dish network about 3 months ago, right as summer started. Why? Because we were both enrolled full time in school and didn't have time for t.v. And because we were getting SO sick of being plopped down in front of the t.v. watching STUPID shows! Our favorite show-Ugly Betty, ended in April--and let's be honest. The other shows are getting ridiculous. Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy...starting to get too trashy. Maybe that's just me-but nonetheless I was over it. We were over it.

So now we just have t.v. available through the high def. rabbit ears. We get basic channels, and included is ABC. I have seen the previews for the next season of some of my shows, and honestly I'm having a hard time resisting the urge to watch the premiers. I know if I watch the premiers, I'll be hooked. And I'll somehow not have enough time to do my homework, be a mommy..yadda yadda.

Also, we have been going to institute and our teacher told us he has a daughter in law who doesn't watch any movies that are rated higher than PG. Yeah to some that's extreme...and I'm not quite ready for that point...but Ben and I were talking and realized that some of the t.v. we watch is just BAD. I don't say any of this to be holier than thou, and I certainly don't care what any of my friends watch--but for us--we notice that the spirit can't reside when we have that stuff in our living room. And we are parents now--meaning it's time to start good habits. I don't want to watch anything I wouldn't dare watch with my kids. So there you have it--Goodbye Grey's, Private Practice, (seriously those are the only shows I can remember...and I know I used to watch like 8 shows...) oh yeah..maybe I'll still watch Heroes if it still comes on...but that's the extent of it.

Anyone else feel this way? I get SO much more done without the stupid TV!!!! :)

Happy Wednesday...hope you all survive til the weekend!