Just wanted to make sure everyone who was curious knew that NO, I am NOT pregnant! Apparently, my last post including the pregnancy pillow gave a few people the idea that I had that pillow out for a specific reason. Nope. My sis-in-law, Julie, just returned it to me, along with a ton of maternity clothes (some were mine I had loaned her for her last pregnancy) since she will not be needing them anymore. So let's review...am I pregnant? NOOOOOOOO!!!! Thank you.:)
I already know my mom will not be thrilled with this picture. Sorry Mom! It's so great to have a picture of my parents with Haylee (and Buster)! This was taken this morning (Christmas) before any stockings were unloaded or presents open.
Haylee has totally bonded with my dad. It's so cute! And once again, when he pulled out his guitar today and started playing, she just stared and smiled at him! Maybe she'll get his music gene! After all the presents had been opened and put away, my brother and his family came over for a big lunch of ham, potatoes, green bean casserole, fruit salad and the best part: a cheesecake from The Cheesecake Factory (yeah, we do it up right around here!). It was so fun to have everyone here today.:)
And this is Haylee after all the chaos had ended. Cameron took this picture when I was napping and said that she climbed all over my big pregnancy pillow and loved it! I told him that maybe she remembered it from when I used to lay my big 'ol belly on it with her inside! She was a nonstop kicker when I was pregnant and loved to kick that pillow all night long! Haylee is still too young to understand Christmas, so we sorta milked that for another year by not going crazy with gifts for her. Next year will be more fun I think! I sure miss being a kid at Christmas and having it all done for me--decorating, gifts, Santa, great food, etc. I even miss the snow at Christmas (no Sean and Penny, that does not mean we will be moving up there so we can have white Christmases-sorry!). Overall though, this was a wonderful Christmas and I was just happy to have my parents here to celebrate it with us! Hope you all had a great Christmas, too! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a goodnight!!!Unfortunately, this post will not have a picture. But I just wanted everyone to know that my folks got home safely last night around 11:20pm. We picked them up at the airport (thank you soooo much, Cammie, for staying here with sleeping Haylee!) and it was so great to see them again! This morning they got to meet Haylee, who went right to Grandpa! She is very fond of him.:) After my mom played peek a boo with her and chased her around the kitchen, she had a new friend! When my dad pulled his guitar out and started playing, she was in awe! We spent the day at my brother and sister-in-law's house where they got to meet little Addison, my adorable new niece and see Celeste, Clayton and Jonathon again. Then we all went to the Chandler mall so my brother's kids could see Santa. We ordered take-out chinese food and ate dinner at my brother's house and just enjoyed each other. Tonight they took my niece Celeste to see Twilight (they heard all the hype even in the Philippines about Twilight!). I hafta say, it feels so good to have them here to bond with Haylee now. And it feels good to have them see me being a mom--something I thought they may never see. I can't express how happy I am to have them here for Christmas! It's gonna be a great one!
So, anyone who knows Haylee and the happy little baby girl she is, will probably consider this act of sitting on Santa's lap some sort of horrible child abuse and you probably have your phone in your hand just ready to call CPS on me. Haylee really has no "stranger anxiety"...until Santa, that is. Can ya blame her? Big freaky guy with a huge beard??? All I have to say is like mother, like daughter. My mom asked if she'll hate clowns like her mom too. Most likely...
Pretty sure Santa is saying, "Get this kid off my lap right now!" Hey Santa, five words: it comes with the job! Get used to it! Haylee was so freaked out that after I took her back and she calmed down, if I stepped anywhere near Santa, she started climbing right over my shoulder to get away from him! I'm sorry Haylee, that we subjected you to this type of cruelty. Unfortunately, we'll probably do it every year till you're 10 or so!:)
This here is Scott Russo. He is the lead singer of a band called Unwritten Law, who Cameron and I LOVE! And who we got to see tonight (yes, it's 12:30am and I should be in bed!) with our friends Eric and Kami!
Unwritten Law is special to Cam and I cuz they are the first band we saw together after Cam got home from his mission. They ALWAYS put on a great show and we've seen them 6 times now! So worth it every time! And what made tonight special??? At the risk of sounding like a 13 year old...I GOT SCOTT'S GUITAR PICK!!!! Woo hoo!!! It really was a great time and we got introduced to another good band who played before them called This Daily Summer (I hope that's right!). Check them out! I am so happy that Cameron and I still go to these concerts--it keeps us young and is something we love doing together (unlike golf...--sorry honey, never gonna happen!).
I just had to let everyone know how excited I am that one month from yesterday, on December 22nd, this wonderful couple (on the right--although I'm sure the other couple is wonderful, too!) will be home!!! Woo hoo! That's right, my folks will be home just in time for Christmas! How perfect is that??? I just want them to know how proud I am of them for serving. They left at a really hard time, for many reasons, one of them being that I was about 7 months pregnant with Haylee. Of course, every girl wants her mom there when she has her first baby, but I knew that going on their mission was way more important than staying home for me and those other reasons. I have learned over the past few years that TIMING IS EVERYTHING. And not OUR timing, but the Lord's timing. Things have to happen in a particular order and we need to be at the right place at the right time for those things to happen. I am so happy that I was able to let them be where Heavenly Father needed them most. I can't even explain how excited I am to see them and for them to meet Haylee! I am sooooo grateful that Haylee is such a social butterfly and will not hafta warm up to them at all--she goes to complete strangers! I probably shouldn't be totally happy about that fact, but in this case, it's a good thing.:) I am grateful for parents who taught me the importance of the gospel and sacrifice. They are the best examples to me. I love you Mom and Dad and can't wait to see you!!!:) And yes, Mom, a bubble bath will be waiting for you!:)
Oh wow. Memories...Okay, I was tagged and told to go to the fourth picture file I have and then go to the fourth picture in that file and post it. Here it is! This was some of the vinyl lettering that we had in Haylee's bedroom in our old house. This quote was perfect and the story behind it is hilarious! This actually took a few times to get on the wall right! When you have small letters in vinyl lettering, it can take some time to get it all stuck on the wall. I had Cameron helping me and halfway through the project he said, "I believe this is how they decorate in hell. You show up and they just give you a bunch of small words in vinyl and send you to a wall to stick it up." It made me laugh so hard! The other great story is that my friend Kami and I became great friends while trying to get this on the wall! Buster actually jumped on it at one point when we had it laid out. We laughed so hard and have been super close since then! I still hafta get Haylee's room painted in this house so I can get some vinyl on the wall! Slowly but surely...I know Cameron is dying to help me with the vinyl!!! Right honey???:)
I now tag...Julie, April, Kami, Lani, Annie, both Beckys, and Ashley!
Yes, we are still blogging the Ohio trip! This was one of my favorite parts--The Pro Football Hall of Fame! It was so neat to see!
We got some great pics of some great memorabilia.
Gotta pay tribute to Dan Marino. I grew up a Dolphins fan because of my brother. I really had no choice.:)
Being from AZ, I thought this was soooo neat. This is Pat Tillman's jersey. He left the NFL to serve in Iraq where he was killed. How can you not honor a guy like that? Every year they have a Pat Tillman Run that ends in the stadium--pretty neat.:)
And of course, we had to show our Denver pride. Which leads to the next picture...
And yes, Annie and Spencer, if we ever get up there for a game, this IS what I will be wearing--I don't care how cold it is!:) Beauty is pain!:)
We were very lucky to have Cameron's sister, April, come to the valley and take family pics for us! She is soooo talented and sooo fun and patient! Great qualities for a photographer! It was so much fun!
Yes, I was tickling Haylee in this shot! Whatever got her to smile!:)
I absolutely LOOOOOVE this picture! Haylee adores her daddy and she definitely has him wrapped around her finger! I think that's why she's pointing to her finger--she knows she runs the show!
This picture is my favorite. At the risk of sounding corny or mushy or whatever, I gotta say, my hubby looks freakin' hot in this pic!
This is our little blessing, Haylee! She loves to walk when you hold her hand, hence the happy face in this shot! She is just so dang cute and makes us soooo happy.:)
And here's the classic family shot! Thank you, April!!!
I love this idea! It's just vinyl on the glass of a picture frame! That way it takes the guesswork out of choosing a color to match your wall or the wall of a friend or family member's home!
Vinyl can be placed right on the wall and it peels right off when you want to remove it! It is perfect for personalizing an apartment or home!
The coolest new product is their mini burners that plug right into the wall! Perfect for a bathroom or anywhere you don't wanna deal with the cord hanging! Please visit www.scentsy.com/sarah to look at their online catalog!
This is Dan and Roni and their adorable little boy, Ian. Cameron is actually the first missionary that Dan ever met. Cameron and Elder Miller taught Dan the discussions, along with lots of other missionaries!:) Dan didn't get baptized until after Cameron and I were married! I LOVE LOVE LOVE this family! We got to meet up with them at Texas Roadhouse (is there any better place??) and chat! It also just so happened to be Cameron's birthday so we got to celebrate by shouting "Yeehaw!!!" to him! If that doesn't say "Happy Birthday", then I don't know what does!
A good pic of Dan and Cameron. Dan now serves in the bishopric in the Kirtland ward. He is just amazing. I didn't hafta be around him for very long to realize that.:) We went to their ward and during the last hour I was sitting in the foyer with a sleeping Haylee and he came in with a tired Ian. As the kids slept, he and got to chat. And now I'm just a bit grouchy that we live so far apart from them!
After church, they invited us over for an awesome dinner. And the dessert??? Holy crap! AMAZING! That beautiful young lady between Roni and Dan is their daughter Whitley. She is such a great girl--always helping, loves to help out with Ian, etc. I can only hope and pray that Haylee turns out HALF as good as Whitley! Thank you Regovich family for everything! I am so bummed that we don't live right by you.:(
We got to go down to the John Johnson Farm, which was amazing and I think it was all of our favorite place. First of all--it was beautiful! We were able to take lots of great pics there after the tour.
Here's little Haylee after the tour. Just chillin' on the front steps. So dang cute.:)
When Joseph Smith was dragged from his home and tarred and feathered, this was the home he was taken from. The mob said that he wouldn't be preaching the next morning after what they had done to him. These steps are the steps he gave his sermon from the next day.:) There were many who were baptized because of that incident--including some of the mob who attacked him. And Haylee couldn't focus for the picture because she was too busy playing with my curly hair! Gotta love the attention span of a one year old!
This is another room that some amazing spiritual events took place. Joseph Smith translated a lot in this room. The spirit was amazing even to this day as we sat in there after the tour.
This room is a very special room. Joseph and Emma slept in this room with their adopted twin babies. One night, the twins were very sick with the measles, so Emma slept in the big bed with the girl and Joseph slept in the small bed with the boy, trying to comfort them. That was the night that the mob broke in and pulled Joseph from his bed and tarred and feathered him. The little boy twin died five days later due to the exposure of the cold air that was let in when the mob broke in. It was an unreal experience to be in that room and to relive in my mind that story. I hadn't thought too much about that experience since I've had Haylee. But it hit me that much more now that I have a little one to care for who is my whole world. I am completely in awe when I think of what Joseph and especially Emma, as the prophet's wife had to endure. I imagine that night she must have thought they were going to kill her husband and she may never see him alive again. They truly were amazing people who endured so much for the gospel. I doubt I would have the strength or courage or perseverence they had... I should explain a little about the choice of colors in this home. The main colors in those days were red and gray. This guy was obviously more wealthy because he could afford different colors. He did not paint this way to show off, but just had the money to do it, so he did. This was a home that many saints came to so they could meet the prophet, Joseph Smith. They had lots of guest beds for those who traveled to see him. They completely opened their home to Joseph and his family and anyone who needed a place to stay.
Get ready ladies---this room right here is the "birthing room". Guess where it's located??? Right off the great room! Isn't that great?? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be in labor (without an epidural) just a few feet away from the family room?? Ugh! How these women did it, I will never know!
This is the beginning of all the great pics we were able to take with such a beautiful background. I am so happy that April brought her fancy camera!
Still amazed that both kids looked up at the same time!
How beautiful is that background?? I can't even express how beautiful the leaves were while we were there--it definitely felt like fall!
This little guy became my little buddy on the trip! We bonded and it made me feel so good! He is so funny!
Such a cute family pic...:)
Being in Cameron's mission was such a neat experience and gave me so much more respect and love for him. I had heard so many stories through letters during his mission and it was awesome to be able to see things in person finally. I was amazed at all the knowledge of church history that he has. He really IS a smart guy! Who knew! Just teasin', honey!:)
Our little family!
I am so in love with this little gal! She was truly amazing on the trip! I had to laugh as we boarded the plane and I got those looks from other passengers that clearly said, "Oh great. There's the kid that will be screaming for the next three hours. I hope they aren't sitting near me." I know cuz I used to give those looks! But nope, not little Haylee. She was totally content to look out the window as we took off and landed and sit with Grandma Penny and look at books the rest of the flight. We definitely got a good one!:) And I am thankful every day for her!
I can already tell that these two are gonna be close.:)
This was a very common sight on the trip! Haylee was totally in love with Grandma Penny and usually wanted nothin' to do with Cameron or I if she was in sight! Luckily, Grandma Penny feels the same way about Haylee!
Here's all of us in front of the Newell K. Whitney Store. Newell K. Whitney was an amazing man--he was pretty wealthy and was more than willing to help anyone out who needed it. On the mission, this is where Cameron would pick up his mail (including his weekly letter from me!). The home he lived in is right behind the store.
And here's the princess bonding with Grandpa Sean.:) We are all very lucky Haylee is so light cuz we all passed her around during the tours! The funniest part is that Haylee LOVES her voice and LOVES to tell "stories". She jibber-jabbers NONSTOP! We eventually had to give the tour guides a heads up that they would have a little competition while talking.:)
This room is upstairs in the Newell K. Whitney store. It's the School of the Prophets and some really amazing things happened here. I would never be able to describe the spirit felt throughout these sites--especially this room. I am amazed at the things Joseph Smith not only had to endure, but also had the blessings of seeing. I am so grateful for all he did to restore the gospel. I know I take it for granted many days that I have the gospel in my life, but I really don't know where I'd be or what kind of person I would be without the gospel.
This was the actual store part. These are the types of things that were sold here. Basically a little of everything! One thing the tour guide said in this tour really made an impact on me. Many people made the trek to Kirtland and upon arrival, had little or nothing and had to start over. The tour guide explained that the saints that were already there in Kirtland were more than willing to share everything they had with the newcomers. It made me realize how I have been given so much and therefore should have no problem sharing all I have with others. That is my new goal.:) I'm gonna try and keep this in mind daily.
