Tuesday, October 26, 2010

27th Birthday

On my birthday I had to work. Joe told me "welcome to an adult birthday" =) ha ha! Believe it or not I have had a job before but I have always requested my birthday off since my mom and I share the same birthday. I knew I always had someone to go shopping and to lunch with and we always had a lot of fun. I missed sharing that day with her this year. When I got home from work Joe surprised me by having some of my family on video chat to wish me a happy birthday. It was so sweet of them to take time to get together and wish me a happy birthday. So fun to see my cute nephews and how big they're getting! After chatting Joe took me to a Japanese Hibachi grill right near our house and had our friends meet us there to surprise me!! We had SO much fun! They are all so fun and hilariously funny! These two girls moved into the ward not too long ago and they have become good friends. I love them!
The meal was complete with the chef throwing food and each of us taking turns trying to catch it! So funny!

The food was so great and the experience was fabulous! Melissa made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting....... my favorite! And they both brought presents and were so sweet. It was so fun to go to dinner with them. I'm so lucky to have a husband that is always thinking about how he can make me happy. Thank you sweetheart! I had a wonderful birthday!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Conference Weekend

This is long overdue but I just haven't had time until now.

Bob and Sharon invited everyone to their house for Conference Weekend and miraculously everyone was able to make it! We had SO much fun playing with our nieces and nephews, talking to the adults, and eating yummy food. Bob and Sharon gave up their bedroom to Anthony and Julie and their kiddos and slept in their library/office on an air mattress so they could all be in the same room. They made up an air mattress for us in their front room and it worked out just fine!

We got there Friday evening and picked up Bob and Sharon and then Anthony and his family met us at one of Joe's favorite restaurants in Palestine for dinner. That night after we got home Joe and I went for a bike ride around their neighborhood after it was already dark. It was really fun, and also a little thrilling because I couldn't see too far ahead of me. Joe assured me there were no pot holes=)

Early Saturday morning Sharon, Julie, and I headed to Canton to go to a big flea market type thing they have there at the beginning of every month. They were both going to look for furniture and other things and I was along for the bonding time.=)We had a really fun morning! They got some really cute stuff and Sharon found a pretty piece to hold her piano music.
We got corndogs for lunch. Yum!
We headed home around noon and got back in time to watch the afternoon session of conference. After conference we had Korean food for dinner. Everyone brought something and it was so good!

After dinner I was starting to do the dishes and Joe came over and told me to sit down and not to worry about the dishes. He pulled me over to the living room and put me in a chair and sat on me so I wouldn't get up. I thought that was weird that he would tell me not to do the dishes but I wasn't sure what was going on. Then, Sharon came walking around the corner with a cake and everyone started singing Happy Birthday!! I was completely surprised! Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting! My favorite! Not sure what I was saying, but this is the best picture we have of it.
Then Joe brought out a present and everyone handed me cards! I was so surprised! The kiddos helped me open it! They were so cute! I had tried on this Jacket with Joe at Costco and loved it.
Reading the sweet cards everyone wrote. Bob told me that he even wrote in their card because of being there for Joe's birthday and seeing how our family does cards=)
After I read the cards Joe brought out another big present. The kids went to town! They loved it! It was a sewing machine!!! Joe had gone through this big ordeal to surprise me. He had gone to Dave's work to get his costco card, bought the jacket and sewing machine, took everything to Serena's to have her wrap it and bring it to Palestine so I wouldn't see them. Joe said he wanted me to be able to celebrate with his family since I wasn't able to be with mine this year for my birthday. So sweet! Thank you Joe and family for the sweet surprise!
Best Husband Ever!=)


That evening while the guys were at the priesthood session, Serena and Julie attempted to make cinnamon rolls.
Serena had gotten the recipe from her friend, and some of the directions were unclear. The recipe made a ton of cinnamon rolls, so when the guys got home everyone was looking over the recipe trying to figure out the measurements to cut the recipe down by a lot, and figure out why they didn't rise. Serena really wanted to make them so everyone helped with round two. We were joking about how many Aggies it took to make cinnamon rolls=) Good times!
They turned out the second time and we ate them for breakfast Sunday morning! They were phenomenal!!
Sunday Morning we took family pictures. This was the first time all the kids had been home since their mom passed away. Joe said it was so nice to be with family because Sun's funeral took place Conference weekend 3 years ago. Looking at this picture, I know she has to be so proud of her family.



Sunday, September 26, 2010

Count Your Blessings

Last night I was able to attend a dinner that the stake provided and then watch the Relief Society Broadcast with a couple of wonderful friends from our ward. I have been thinking last night and today about the feelings I felt during the broadcast and about how grateful I am for the holy ghost. One of the girls I went with was joking and telling us she'd been going through a roller coaster of emotions lately and that we shouldn't be surprised or judge her if she started bawling during the broadcast. I just laughed and thought to myself, well I know I won't cry. As the meeting started though and the choir and congregation started singing "Count Your Blessings" as the opening hymn, I was surprised to feel overcome with emotion. The past 11 months have been both a blessing and a struggle for me. On the one hand, I am married to such a wonderful man and I feel so blessed to have found him. I often recall the feeling of loneliness and hopelessness that I felt so many times before I met him. I went on so many dates and blind dates and I remember hoping before each one that "this would be him!" I often wished that I could just see into the future and know where I would meet him and what he looked like, and just the fact that he did exist. I felt like if I could do that, then I would be able to enjoy life in the present so much more. It all worked out though, and I know it was all for a purpose and on the Lord's timetable and I am so happy to be married! It has been an adventure living here in Texas and it has taught me so much. I'm so thankful that his family lives close and that I get along with and love them all.

On the other hand, it has been very hard for me to be so far from my family. I consider my siblings my closest friends, and I have missed them and their spouses and my parents and new nephews SO much! We are such a tight family and we do so much together and I have just felt like I have been missing out on so much. So, back to the broadcast...... As the camera started panning the audience at the conference center, it made me think of my mom. She and I (and later, my sister) have had the tradition of going to the Conference Center for either the YW General Broadcast, or the Relief Society General Broadcast (depending on our age). So, as they showed everyone there, I thought of all the times I had been a part of the congregation with my mom and my sister by my side. What priceless memories those are for me. I can't say that I remember every talk that was given, but I can distinctly recall the spirit that I felt being in the presence of a living prophet of God. As I sang the words "count your blessings, name them one by one," I thought of what a blessing my mom has been and the example that she has always tried to be. She'll be the first to admit she's not perfect, and that she's made mistakes, but I know she's trying her hardest. She has always made sure that we knew without a doubt that she loves us, and she has always done her best to show it. Thank you mom! The fourth verse really touched me and I felt the spirit testify to me that Heavenly Father loves me and is mindful of me. "So amid the conflict, whether great or small, Do not be discouraged, God is over all. Count your many blessings angels will attend, Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your blessings; see what God hath done. Count your blessings; Name them one by one. Count your many blessings; See what God hath done." So, as I was singing these words with tears running down my cheeks, I reflected over the past year or so and the struggles I have had with missing my family and being in a new place and a new culture and environment. So quickly though, all of the blessings were brought to my mind to replace the struggles; My husband, his family, his wonderful job, the gospel, the ward and the sweet friends I have made, my family and the fact that we are so close, the opportunity that I have had to fly home several times this year, my job, the material things we've been blessed with, and the list goes on and on. There have only been a few days where I have felt really sad, and I know that Heavenly Father has helped me not to feel discouraged or depressed. I know that angels were there in the temple with us when we were married, and I know there have been times since then when my grandma has been my angel. I am SO THANKFUL for eternal families. What a blessing it is that we are born into families and that we have the opportunity to get to know, and grow to love one another and then go out on our own and still cultivate those relationships while also starting our own little families. I feel so happy to know that that love and those relationships will continue forever if we do the things we've been sent to earth to do, and live the way the Savior taught.

I want my family to know how much I love each of you! How grateful I feel that we are so close. I will forever be thankful to mom and dad for instilling in us that "Friends will come and go, but your siblings will always be there." Also, I want my siblings and my parents to know how thankful I am that you never gave up on me! When I was struggling and making poor choices in my life you stood by me and loved me and you helped me realize what I was missing and that I would never truly be happy. I don't know that I have ever formally said thank you! There have been so many times when I have reflected back on conversations we had and the love and concern that was there. I thought about that last night as I listened to President Monson speak. There was a time when I wasn't able to have the spirit with me and I recognized the absence of it. Now I appreciate it SO much more when I am able to feel the spirit. I never want to lose that again! I am so thankful for my testimony and the knowledge that I have of the restoration of the gospel and the truthfulness of it. I knew last night once again, that there is a living prophet. As he spoke the spirit was so strong, and I felt so happy!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Take Me Out To The Ball Game!!!

Last weekend Joe got tickets to the Astros and Dodger baseball game!!! He knows I love the Dodgers and wanted to take me. We went with his friends, Jake and Hillary, and we had so much fun! They were cheering against me, along with a large percentage of the stadium=) I am proud to announce that the Dodgers pulled ahead in the end and WON!!!! Boo Yeah!!! I was so happy! Seeing them play reminded me of all the fun games I went to in LA. Joe tried to keep me from doing the WAVE when it went around, but I could not be held down=) I was having so much fun!
The stadium here has a retractable roof so that during the freaking hot summer months they can close it and run the AC. I wouldn't ever go if it was outdoors!=) We had pretty good seats! Another perk of Joe's job!
Don't ask me what Joe is doing=) I posted this one so maybe next time he'll want to make a normal face!=) ha ha! Gotta love Dodger blue!=)

Joe, Jake and Hillary. They are about to be parents to a sweet baby girl next month!!! We love hanging out with them. Jake is hilarious!
Just in case you can't read the score.....It says Dodgers 6, Astros 3!!! The Dodgers got 3 runs in the top of the 9th!!!! Pretty exciting if you ask me!

Thanks for getting tickets to this game babe! I had a blast!

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Family Fun at the Beach!

A couple weekends ago we went to Surfside Beach with Dave, Serena, and Maggie! It was a perfect day! There was a nice breeze, the waves were decent, and the sun felt good! We were there for hours and had so much fun!
Maggie trusts Joe so much! When we first got there she put her foot in the water and got scared, but Joe took her hand and she walked right out with him!
Serena brought cupcakes and Maggie loved them! She has frosting all over her face and not a care in the world! Being a kid is great!=)
Maggie loved being buried in the sand!
Serena and Maggie out playin' in the water!

Dave played with us, but he also got his tan on!=) Pretty sure he was a lobster the next day=)

We had a blast! I really love the beach now! I have learned to just keep a good piece of gum in my mouth to help get the nasty salt taste out if water goes in my mouth.=) Joe and I went last Saturday again at night and it was so relaxing and so fun to watch the sun set. We're glad we could go with family! It made it so much fun!

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Joe's 27th Birthday


I know it's been a while, but here are some pictures of Joe's birthday.


This is what he woke up to on his birthday. I made sure that since I messed up being Santa at Christmas and filling his stocking, that I had to be sure to wake up in the night to decorate for his birthday. Mission accomplished=)
Joe always likes to guess what his presents are before he opens them. This year he got all three right! Totally not fun for me=) He got a big pack of golf balls from Costco, a bag of almonds,(he's been wanting them for some reason) a new blender (I just bought one cause we needed it and decided to wrap it for his birthday cause he's always complaining about our other one) and if he ever decides what golf clubs he wants then he will also get those. I tried taking him after he opened his presents to buy them, but he said it's a process and he's not sure which ones he wants.=)
For his birthday dinner he just wanted to stay home and requested roast beef with all the fixins. I found a small ice cream cake for that night. It was really yummy!
On Saturday (two days after his birthday) we went out with James, Shelby, Dave, Serena, and Maggie to Red Robin. We had a lot of fun and the food was great!
After dinner James and Shelby came back to the apartment for cake and ice cream..........
.............and some great fun with the wii! We love Mario Kart!=)

He said he had a great birthday! Thanks to all of you who sent cards and gifts or wished him a happy birthday. He's really starting to see how fun birthdays are when you get lots of cards in the mail, and get to celebrate it with family!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Missing Grandma











Today is the one year anniversary of the death of my grandma. I just wanted to take a minute to remember her and what an amazing woman she was. I have thought a lot about her this weekend, and have replayed over and over again in my head this day, a year ago. I will never forget it, or the feelings I had when I woke up that morning in San Antonio to several missed calls and I just knew she was gone.

Zsa was such an incredible woman. She is one of my heros! She has always taken care of others and put them before herself. She was a nurse by profession, and a mother of three. She married an alcoholic and basically raised three children on her own. She was a strong willed woman and didn't let her husband walk all over her. She made sure that the kids had a wonderful childhood and took them on vacations, and to see family, and loved having their friends over to play. If her husband wasn't going to help her, then she decided she would do it on her own. They were later divorced and my grandpa died shortly after I was born. Zsa was always surrounded by friends. She was a true friend to so many people. Even during her last months on earth a friend that she had had while in nursing came out and took care of her for a few weeks.

Zsa was an incredible grandma. She loved her family so much. She moved to Utah from Kentucky in 1998 to be near her two daughters and their children. She made sure she was at every important event of our lives like birthdays, graduations, baptisms, setting apart for callings, weddings, etc. She used to come to my parent's house on Sundays for dinner. We LOVED having her. If she called and said she wasn't going to make it one Sunday, the kids would call and beg her to come. If she'd made up her mind though, she wasn't coming=) My dad would always give her a hard time about the way she would pronounce things with her southern accent. Piana(piano), Winda(window), Mirra(mirror). She would give him a hard time back. I loved hearing them tease each other. I loved going to her house to visit, or to help her. Before my mission I used to go to her house and help her mow the lawn, or trim her rose bushes and pick weeds. Sometimes when I would get there early in the morning and she would still be asleep, I would start the yard work. As soon as she knew I was there she was up and dressed and would come out to help. She wasn't one to just sit by and watch someone else work. She'd sweep up, or hose the grass clippings, help with the roses, or whatever she could find. I loved being with her. She became one of my close friends. When I was having a down day I would go to her house and she would cheer me up. She was always a happy person and she loved to talk. I could listen to her tell stories of her life for hours. The grandkids always loved going to her house to spend the night. Sometimes instead of sleeping in the guest bedrooms, we'd just crawl in bed with her. She loved spending time with us.

Grandma was one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life. I don't think I have laughed as much since she's been gone. She never tried to be funny. It was just the way she said things, and sometimes she would say things you didn't expect her to say but she was just telling it like it was. Her accent made things so much funnier too. Joe and I still joke about when my entire family watched the movie "Bedtime Stories" a few months before she passed away. She was watching it with us for a bit and then she got up out of her chair and said "This is the stupidest movie I have ever seen!" and we all just busted up laughing. She just said what she thought!

This year has been very hard without her. I can't tell you how many times I have thought about or missed her. When someone has always been a part of your life, and then all of the sudden they're gone it's very hard. I think the hardest thing was not having her at my wedding. She was there for all of my sibling's weddings, and when I look at our pictures and she's not in them it breaks my heart. I know she was there in spirit at the temple with us. The sealer told us at the beginning of the ceremony that he could feel the presence of others with us in the room who had passed through the veil. I had been praying that I would be able to know she was there, and that Joe would be able to feel that his mom was there. When the sealer said that, I knew my prayers had been answered. Even though she wasn't physically at our wedding, I feel blessed that she got to meet and get to know Joe. She loved him so much. I feel like she was just hanging on until she knew I had met someone wonderful. She had worried about me and who I had dated before and I knew it was a real concern for her. A couple days before she passed away, I just had the feeling that I needed to go home from work and spend some time with her. Aunt Vicki, and my mom , I think either Emily or Justina, and I were there with her in her room. I laid next to her in her bed and we all just sat there and talked. Joe had already had to leave to go back to Texas and Aunt Vicki asked me how things were going and when we were getting married. Zsa opened her eyes and perked up and said that before he had left that he had told her that he was going to propose. I think that gave her comfort to know that I was in good hands. I feel so blessed to have her has my grandma. I couldn't have asked for a better role model and friend. She served in the temple, volunteered at Red Cross, fulfilled her church callings, attended a FHE group, and she loved the gospel. She was a convert along with my mom and my aunt. My mom joined at 19 and they joined shortly after. She dropped all her bad habits, and never looked back. I know one day we will be reunited. Until then, I hope that as I go through life that I can aspire to be even half the woman she was. I love her and miss her so much. Your legacy will live on Zsa! You won't ever be forgotten!







Sunday, August 8, 2010

My Sister, My Friend


Today is my baby sister's 21st birthday!!! I can't believe it! I wish I were there to celebrate with her, but it's not possible this year. She's an amazing sister, and not only that but she's one of my very best friends! Ever since I can remember, she was my little buddy! When she was born my parents lived in California and were training to become owners of a grocery store. They both worked, and I can remember having to help a lot with my brothers and sister. My mom says I was her second mother. I have always felt the need to watch out for her and protect her, and I have come to realize that I can't just turn that side of me off=) I still feel that way. Even though we're 6 years apart in age, we were always really close friends. Of course we had our fights, and she would steal my clothes, and do the things that little sisters do but I feel like we were always close. Before I left on my mission my parents had moved into the home they live in now but the basement wasn't finished so there were only 3 bedrooms including the master. My brother and I went to live with my grandma for a few months until we left on our missions and Tiffany and Dallin lived with mom and dad. Joseph left on his mission before me, and it was really hard for me to be at my grandma's without him for some reason. So, I would pack up a big bag of all my junk to get ready, and take some clothes and head to my parent's house. I would share a room with my sister, and I think we became even closer. Sometimes she would hear me walking down the hall with my "big bag" (as she called it) and she would tell me to take my big bag and head to grandmas.(jokingly) Growing so close before I left didn't make it any easier to leave on my mission though=)

As a teenager I remember that I could persuade her to hang out with me if none of my friends could hang out. I'd want to go shopping and she wouldn't want to go but if I told her I would buy her a new shirt or something she was totally on board=) I didn't mind, because I liked having her there with me. After my mission our rooms were in the basement next to each other and sometimes at night she would want to talk. I'd be tired and already in bed and before I knew it I could hear my door opening, and Tiff trying to quietly crawl across the floor and over to the other side of my bed. She would try to sneak up in my bed with me and she would just crack up when I asked her what in the heck she thought she was doing!=) There were nights where I can remember us laughing so hard that we were crying! She has always had an amazing sense of humor and has always kept me laughing. Our family always planted a pretty big garden and I can remember being out there with her picking weeds. I'd be on one side and she'd be on the other. Next thing I knew I was hit in the back of the head with a green tomato! Of course she was on the other side cracking up, and it started a tomato war=)

She was my little guinea pig when I went to beauty school. I would drag her into my school to practice on her. I remember having this idea in my head one day at home where I wanted to put all her hair in little twisted buns. I had seen it in a music video or something. Well, I did it! I finished just in time for her to go to piano and she hated it! She was crying to my mom that she had to look like an idiot in front of her piano teacher. I think she wore a hoody to hide it, until her teacher asked her why she had a hood on inside=) Ha ha ha! I put her through a lot with her hair throughout the years, and I can't thank her enough for always putting up with me.
I can remember sitting at the piano with her for hours and playing and singing together. She was the more talented one and always amazed me! I could listen to her play for hours. We both enjoyed music and I remember when I bought her her first concert ticket, she was ecstatic! We've been to several concerts together since then and she always makes it so much fun! She is a very talented woman! She took up cake decorating recently and I can't even believe some of the amazing cakes she can make!

Tiffany has always been a good example to me and the rest of our family. She had a strong testimony as a teenager and I can remember countless times walking past her room and seeing her reading her scriptures or kneeling in prayer. She stood by me through my personal struggles and made me want to be better because I saw how happy she was. She has always been a very loving person. I watched her with my dad's Aunt, Vivian, as she neared the end of her life. She was so patient and loving and took time to visit her in the nursing home. I watched her as my grandma grew older and more weak, and Tiffany would go and spend time with her, and help her with whatever she needed. I know that my grandma loved and appreciated her so much! She has always taken care of those in need. She served in a stake calling as a teenager, working with a special needs group, and I know that she made a difference in those kid's lives. I also know how much she loves her family and would do anything for anyone in need. Joe and I loved having her here in Texas with us for a visit this past year, and in July when we went to Utah she took the entire week off to spend time with us. She was there with us for almost everything we did, and that really meant a lot to us. She is one of the most amazing people I know, and I'm so glad she's my sister.

I have SOOOOO many memories with Tiffany and I will always cherish them. It has been extremely hard being away from her. She's always the hardest one to say goodbye to. I'm so thankful that 21 years ago today, I was blessed with a new baby sister and a best friend for eternity! Tiff, you are an amazing sister and I love you! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!


Joseph Robert Berg


So, I have decided to do something that my sister-in-law (Brittany) has done on her blog. Whenever it's someone's birthday in her family she writes a little bit about that person and why she loves them. Joe's birthday was on August 5th and I know it's a few days late but I wanted to share a few reasons why I love him so much.
There are so many things I love about Joe. I mean just look at that cute little face! What's not to love? He has taught me so many things over the past 18 months that we've known each other. He's the kind of guy I always hoped I would marry, and I can't believe he's really mine! Sometimes I feel like I need to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming=) I love so many things about him, but I will just mention a few.

1) He is always making me laugh! Sometimes after work when we're cuddled up on the couch he will just start doing the most random things to make me laugh. He's been known to act like a puppy, talk in funny voices, pretend my arm is an ear of corn and proceed to pretend to put butter, salt and pepper, and then munch up and down my arm like he would a cob of corn. I mean who does that? =) I can't help but crack up every time! Joe is a little kid at heart and I'm thankful for that.
2) He hates going to bed without me. I think this is so cute! If he's ready to go to bed but I'm not, he will come to wherever I am and sit there and wait for me. He says "I'm not going to bed without my wife." (most of the time I am considerate of him and will head to bed shortly after)
3) He is one of the most selfless people I know. He is always doing sweet things like bringing home flowers, or turning down the bed for me, or helping me with dinner and the dishes. There have been several times where he's done laundry, ironing, and cleaning after he's been at work all day and he'll tell me "now everything's done so that you can enjoy your day off tomorrow." Not many guys would do that!
4)He loves adventure! It's hard sometimes for him to just sit at home. He loves to be out doing things! He loves planning activities or vacations for us. After a while of dating I told him it was getting hard to keep up with him financially because of all the fun things he was planning.=) Snowmobiling, Moab, Jet Skiing, Camping, and the list goes on and on. He would ask me if I'd ever done this, or seen that and if I said no, he was planning when we would do it! I love that he works hard, but he also plays hard!
5)He's so good with children! Sometimes I just watch him in awe when he's around children. He just has a way with them that makes them feel loved. When we go to visit his nieces and nephew or even visiting people in the ward who have children, he loves playing with them and getting them to laugh and have fun. At a primary activity we had, this little boy just clung to him and didn't want anybody else to hold him. When Joe put him down to help pass out cookies he just started bawling! I know he's going to be an amazing father one day.
6)He loves the gospel! Having someone who is by my side at church every Sunday, and who I get to serve in the primary with, and read scriptures with, and go to the temple with, has been such a wonderful blessing for me. Having dated less active or inactive members before and longing to have what I have with Joe, I can honestly say that it's so much better having someone who's on the same page and who helps me want to be a better person.
7)He's so knowledgeable! I am amazed at the things he does for work on a day to day basis. He's juggling all these projects at one time and he's doing a really great job! Not only that, but it seems like he has had every job under the sun and whenever I have questions or something needs to be fixed, he knows what to do or he can figure out what to do! He's my little handy man=) I'm sure one day when we have a home that I will get to see how talented he really is!=)
8)He's an incredible husband! I have never been treated so well, and felt so loved by anyone more than I do with Joe. He is always telling me how much he loves me and how much he appreciates me, and he doesn't just say it, he shows me! He works so hard to provide for us and when he gets home he's always there for me as my husband and friend. I also love that he loves to do things with me and includes me in almost everything!
9)He's a clean, organized person! Joe makes it so easy to live with him=) He keeps things clean and organized and I rarely have to clean up after him. I'm thankful for his parents making him do chores every Saturday, and teaching him to be clean=)
10) He loves his family! I love how much he loves his family. He would do anything for any one of them. He's very supportive and loves to hang out and spend time with them! It's been so good for me to have them, since I'm away from my family. We have had a lot of good times and wonderful memories and there are many more to come.

There are so many more things I could say, but I'll end with ten! The longer we're married the deeper my love and appreciation for my husband grows. I'm so glad that Heavenly Father led him into my life and that Joe never gave up on me. I couldn't have married a more wonderful person! I love you babe, and I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Astros Games with Andrey


A couple Fridays ago Andrey's mom asked if I could stay late because she had a dinner with work that she and her husband needed to go to. Joe had gotten baseball tickets from work and had 4 for that evening, so I told Carol we would just take Andre with us. His sisters had a birthday party to go to, so we just had to take him. It was a lot of fun! He loves Joe and is obsessed with cars and trucks, so it was a blast for him to ride in "my husband's truck"!=) I took his leapster to keep his attention when he got bored. They had fireworks afterwards and he was totally mesmerized! It was a little harder than going with just the two of us, but we took it as a learning experience for when we have kids of our own=) Here are some pictures of the night.
There was a car giveaway and Joe loves the Challenger, and Andre is obsessed with cars so they had to stop to take a look!
He got hungry and got his own personal pan pizza. He cracked me up because he would pick the pepperoni off the pizza, eat the pizza, and then eat the pepperoni. Funny kid!
He likes to pretend he's a car. He puts his hands out like this and pretends they're his side mirrors. He does this all the time!
After the game we stayed to watch the fireworks show that they do on Fridays. He loved the loud noises they made, and loved the lights in the sky.
Joe kept trying to get pictures of him watching the fireworks. Whenever he tried, the flash would distract Andrey. He was getting annoyed so he just put his hand up. It made us laugh!
Outside the baseball park they have these big baseballs along the sidewalk so we put him on one to take a picture. He had such a fun night! It was fun for us to do something together with Andrey.

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

First trip to Utah together since we got married!!


I have been blessed to get to go home several times since we've been married, but this time I got to bring Joe with me! We had a family reunion on my dad's side in Island Park, Idaho that I have been looking forward to for 3 years! After the last reunion I mentioned that by this reunion hopefully my siblings and I would all be married and possibly have a few kids in the family! Who knew it would all come to pass!?=) I think Joe enjoyed the trip more than he anticipated. We did some really fun things, and he really enjoyed my extended family. They didn't hesitate to tell me what a wonderful guy I had married. I must agree with them=) I have posted all of the pictures of the things we did on facebook, but here's a short recap of some of the things we got to do!
We went to Donut Falls with our parents and I think I can say that we all had a blast!
We hauled Joseph and Britt's jet skis to the reunion. We had so much fun with them!
Joe was nice enough to take my little cousin out with him=)
Our family was in charge of making dinner one night for everyone. We made dutch oven enchiladas. We really had fun making it=)
We got to spend time with my new nephew, Korver. ( This was the only picture I have, but I got to play with him lots!)
Joe and Tiff playing with Korver

A few of us from the reunion drove about an hour and a half to Montana to white water raft down the Gallatin River! We had SOOO much fun!
We were so glad we did this! After I told Joe about it, he was so excited to do it. We were excited to get some others to join us! Great memories made!
When we got back from the reunion we had planned to do a lot of fun things in Utah. I have to tell you that before I met Joe there were A LOT of things right near where I lived that I had never taken the time to do! Seeing the Olympic Park from the 2002 Winter Olympics was one of them. Thursday we headed up to Park City with Tiff to the Olympic Park. We just had to get in this bobsled to take a picture=)
One of my favorite things was the coaster! You control how fast or slow you go by the control in the middle.
We rode two ziplines. The longer one is the steepest zipline! We had so much fun! This picture is of Tiff and me riding the shorter zipline.
On Friday we headed down to Provo to kayak(blow up kayaks) down the Provo River. We didn't get enough at the reunion. This river doesn't have the white water that the Gallatin does, but it was fun and relaxing and we got some good laughs out of it!
This is a picture of the group that went after we had gotten out of the river. Mom and michael fell out of their kayak so my mom rode with Joe and Tiff went with Michael. Mom was a good sport about it and we all cracked up together after the fact=)
On Saturday Tiff, Joe and I headed up to the Bingham Copper Mine. I have lived near it for most of my life, my high school was named after it, and I had no idea how incredible it was! We watched a video that they had at the visitors center and we were just fascinated by what goes on here!
This is one of the wheels that they have on the hauler trucks they use! Look at the size of that thing! The trucks are as big as a two story house with 4 bedrooms!
These were the facts about the truck tires but I don't think you can read them.
On our way out of the mine I noticed I had gotten a call from Dallin. When I called him back he excitedly told me that Brittany's water had broke and they were at the hospital. I can't even tell you the feeling that came over me. I have been praying for months that she would have the baby while we were there. We were leaving Sunday evening to head home and her due date wasn't until Monday. I was so sad that I missed Korver's birth and I wanted more than anything to be there for this one. That evening around 6ish little Tate Dallin Griffin came into the world. It was so amazing to be able to be there at the hospital with everyone and to get to hold the little guy for the first time. What a little miracle he is.
We were SO happy!! Another cute nephew!
Tiff made dinner on Sunday! It was delicious! She and Joe were having a contest to see who could eat the most. At least it was healthy=) ha ha! Thanks Tiff for all you did. We had so much fun with you! The trip just wouldn't have been the same without you with us!
Tiff and Joe with their sticks after they were done! You almost won Tiff=)


Our trip was so much fun, and ended in the best way possible. Thanks to everyone that made our trip a success and a blast! We loved spending time with family. Thanks Tiff and mom for taking the week off=) We love you all and can't wait to come back for Christmas!