Joining the communities

So Kev and I have decided to start stretching our networking stuff and now are on classmates.com, facebook.com, and have this blog. I might have us check out reunion.com as well.

Oh, and Kev has started his own blog for his APX office... I haven't linked it on here yet, so until I do, you can read it at http://thebestofficeintheworld.blogspot.com. I forgot he marked it as private, so if you want to be invited to it, just ask!

Okay friends, reach out and find us! See ya!

Our Family

We just took this pic and I LOVE it!!

Happy Birthday My Hubby!

My Man
(Got this from Brooke)



1. Where did you meet?
We met at a fireside, well, after it, actually, at my friend Heidi's brother's house. Kev knew Heidi so he came up to us and introduced himself. After I left he asked her for my phone number and then she called to tell me he asked for it. He called the next day and we went out that week. Been together ever since (four years next month!).
2. How long did you date before you got married? 9 months
3. How long have you been married?
3 years
4. What is your favorite feature of his?
His hands
5. What is your favorite quality of his?
His patience



6. Does he have a nickname for you?
Honeybuns
7. What is his favorite color?
Blue
8. What is his favorite food?
He likes anything, he likes different things every time we go out to "mix it up"



9. What is his favorite sport?
Football
10. When and where was your first kiss?
At the end of our second date, after hanging out together for a week after our first date, my house
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple?
Talk and take walks
12. Do you have any children?
2 girls, Rach and Gabi
13. Does he have a hidden talent?
He can decorate!
14. How old is he?
27
15. Who said "I love you" first?
He did, but I made a CD of songs that hinted at it for Valentine's, which was a couple days before he said it.
16. What is his favorite type of music?
Old school R&B, 80's
17. What do you admire most about him?
I admire that he is so positive and is a hard worker. He totally helps out around the house and is the first to help someone else out, like helping a family move or helping to push someone's car if it ran out of gas on the road.

My husband is so patient, kind, funny, gentle, and giving. He speaks loud and is gregarious, but I love that about him. I love his energy. I love that he has new ideas, and ignites my ideas and we dream big. I love that he makes me not afraid to try things. I love that he tells me daily how wonderful I am, and how happy he is and how I'm beautiful first thing in the morning. I love that he changes the diapers, and plays with the kids, and helps Rach study her spelling and makes math problems for Rach to solve. I love that he is always actively recruiting (haha!) working non-stop. I love that he did awesome this summer for APX and that he is self-motivated and also motivates other people. Kev is a wonderful leader and example. I love that he does his church callings without complaining or bagging on it. I am grateful that he truly cares for whom he Home Teaches. He leads our family in prayer, scripture and FHE, no matter what. I can trust him. I can lean on him. Nothing I say or do or cry about is dumb.

He gives wonderful hugs, says the right things at the right time, never raises his voice, keeps me grounded. I'm so blessed! I have my Mr. Perfect. Happy Birthday, Sweetie! I am grateful that I get to share every year with you for Eternity!! Kisses!!

More Apple Hill

Also at Apple Hill was Grandma Wadell, Uncle Marc and cousins Zak and Kendall. I just love this pic of Zak and Gabs. So cute!

Thanksgiving Week

We had a wonderful week of Thanksgiving. We started out by going to the Ski/Snowboard show at Cal Expo. That was so fun! Here's a pic of us in GorTex in rain and wind and we didn't get wet at all. It was pretty cool. Rach was also had skiing lessons!

Rach told me all the things she is thankful for, like family, friends and her toys. I started thinking about how I am grateful that I am a member of the church. It is such a blessing. The biggest blessing that I notice, especially as a parent, are the guidelines that we can raise our family by and our standards of how to act. The For the Strength of Youth pamphlet is amazing because it helps me know how to teach my child about modesty, about appropriate movies/music/books, friendships, and how to handle alcohol, drugs (not do them). I just read an article about a girl who started drinking at 12 because her parents had wine around the house. I'm so grateful that we have the Word of Wisdom and that we, as parents, don't have that blurry line of "I can drink a little wine, but it's not good for the kids till they are adults". I don't know how that works, but it seems like kids would be curious about it. I like, that for us, it is black or white. We don't drink. I like that we don't want R-rated movies. It never occurred to me that other people may have problems with them. I once read where a man said that his addiction to pornography got started because watching scenes in movies. And so he had to stop watching R-rated movies, and I think he is a non-denom Christian. I was blown away that someone else might put their own control or limit like that. To me, I never thought about something becoming a problem, just that violence and stuff isn't too healthy to watch and so I like that I have the gospel to help me.

So I'm really, really, really grateful for the standards we have in the standard-shifting world. It is so peaceful.

I'm grateful that I'm a mother to two wonderful girls. I'm grateful for all that they teach me. I'm grateful for my husband and the love he gives to me. (I'm going to be writing another blog about him in a min.)

I'm grateful for my parents and grandparents that have lived their lives the best they knew how and how they have done a great job! They have strength, they have compassion, and they are involved. I love them deeply, and I hope they know this!

Last but not least, I am grateful for friends! I'm so grateful for the friends I have met because of my husband, and that these friends have allowed me into their lives and opened their arms and hearts to me. I'm so happy and so filled with excitement about our lives being entertwined and how we will know each other for years and grow old together. I am enjoying the fact of my friends and I watching each other's children grow. Life is so fun and amazing and I'm grateful for friends to share the journey.

One friendship that has bloomed is with Kev's best childhood friend, Dave and his wife Breeanne. I love to talk to Breeanne because she is so passionate about organics and the environment. She teaches me a lot. I love to be around Kev and Dave because they laugh constantly. In fact, Rach and I feel a little down about how she and I can't get Dad to laugh like Dave does. But then Dave is a different breed... :) just jokin! We love you Kellys! Dave, share some of your secrets! This summer is gonna be crazy with both Dave and Kev workin APX together!

Anyway, we had a blast starting an annual tradition of spening Thanksgiving Eve staying the night at Dave and Breeanne's with their children Jaxon and Joelle. The kids played great, we got to play Wii (tennis anyone?) and the kids got to decorate sugar cookies for the homeless, we got some of Breeanne's mom's pumpkin pie, we made a super rich concoction of hot chocolate for them with some of our Leonidas chocolates we had. We played games, ate a yummy dinner and breakfast. (wheat pancakes with berry sauce and whipped cream!!) Thanks for the memories. Same time next year!

Thanksgiving was at Kev's uncle's home, and it turned out really nice. The cousins had bunches of fun playing outside. The weather and the meal were perfect!

Friday, we went to Apple Hill with my parents. We ate apple donuts at High Hill Ranch and got some Christmas gifts and ornaments. I got some Butter Pecan syrup (just like the kind I had at Breeanne's!) and then we went to another ranch and the kids got to horseback ride and then we had In-n-Out burger and came home. Rach stayed the night with the grandparents and Kev and I and Gabs decorated the chocolate shop for the holidays and organized our new chocolate inventory. The shop looks really nice. I love the tree up inside. Ah, Almost Christmas!

Chica and Gabs on Horseback

This is fun. We went to Apple Hill after Turkey Day. I only have enough time to get up these two shots.

I will post about Thanksgiving later. :)