First Sleep Over

Ariana had her first sleep over the night before we moved back down to phoenix. I know that three is a little young, but her room was all packed up, and she was sleeping over at my good friend Audrey's house. Her daughter and my little girl have so much fun together. And I was so sad that they were not going to get to play together every week. So I let her sleep over. Can you tell that she had no problem with leaving us. She is so independent. She didn't even cry when it was time for bed or anything. I don't know where she gets all her confidence from, it must be from by husbands side of the family. Because, as a little girl I can remember not wanting to got to nursery, and my little girl was like "see ya mom". I am so lucky to have her. She is such a joy.

Pencils, books, and Throw Up oh my!!

Ariana's Second year of preschool. So I think I have mentioned it before but I was in a group of mom's where we each took turns teaching our kids preschool material. This is the picture for her second day of preschool, because I hosted the first day of preschool, and with getting everything ready, I did not have time to get a pic of her.

Her second day of preschool is a memorable one for me. About a week before this I found out that my family and I had to move back down to phoenix, and we had to do it in two weeks. I usually handle stress pretty well but did not expect how difficult it would be to pack with two kids running around. While getting everything ready for the move, Ariana had preschool and I didn't notice that she wasn't feeling well. All week she had been asking me if she was going to make new friends, and if her new primary teacher would like her. So this morning when she was acting funny I thought it was because she was dealing with the move.

Now that I look back at these pictures I can't believe that I couldn't tell that she physically was not feeling well. When we got to Alicia's house as soon as she stepped into her home, Ariana threw up all over her floor :/ Oh I felt so bad. I felt bad because my little girl didn't even cry. She is such a good girl. And then I felt bad for Alicia because well my girl just threw up on her floor. I got her home and within the next hours she was running around again. So I thought maybe she just got car sick. Well, then two day later Viggo was throwing up. Then I felt sick a day later. I didn't throw up but felt nauseous, and one of those days my body ached so bad that I had to stay in bed for a couple of hours. Great time to get sick right? When I only had two weeks to find a house, and get my house all packed and ready to go.

Anyways I just wanted to blog about Ariana's preschool group. We had such a great group of kids and mom's. I am really going to miss it. I think I may try and start one up here in phoenix. I guess we will see :0)

How do I walk in these?

Yup that's my baby. I can't believe how he is starting to not look so babyish anymore. I had to take a picture of him on Sunday, because it was his first Sunday with real church shoes on. I usually had him in roobeez or in soft soled stride rites. You should have seen his face when I put these shoes on. He was not having it. He was afraid to walk in them lol. It wasn't until he saw that his dad had them too, that he decided that it was okay. We call him happy feet around the home, because he literally walks like the penguin from happy feet when he is excited. But this Sunday he was so confused with the shoes, that he stomped around all day, because I think he thought that if he didn't pick his feet up high that he would trip. It looked hilarious. And just so that I remember whenever Viggo doesn't want to do something I just need to show him that his dad does it too, and then he dosen't mind doing what I ask him to do. Like put on a tie on Sunday. I know it seems likes it too early for him to have an opinion but he already does.

Stars

Every time my family gets ready to move I try and take everything in. I will be driving and I try to remember all the beautiful trees on the two lane rd. into town. I try and remember how the trees begin to change color. I roll down the windows on my way to the gym, so that I can smell the clean fresh crisp smell of the breeze as the sun begins to rise. I try and remember how excited we were to move up to cottonwood. When I went to church on Sunday I try to imprint permanently the faces of all the little ones I have been teaching for the last year. I look at the teachers and go one by one, and try to make sure to remember what I have learned from each and every one of them. Driving back home today I noticed that the sound of the locusts were getting louder. My friend Cindy who happens to be the best Primary President ever told me that when the locusts come out it is a sign that cooler weather is on its way. And sure enough it has been cooler, and I noticed that the tree by my house is looking a little less leafy. So many things to take in.

And then tonight I stepped outside looked up at the sky and was left in awe as I always am, when I looked at the vast array of stars. What I love about where I live is that the city is so small that not a lot of light is reflected into the sky and in my neighborhood there are hardly any street lamps, and people don't bother to turn on their outside home lights. This allows one to truly appreciate the brilliance of the stars. I don't have to go camping to really see the stars shine. I just have to step outside. But tonight was different. As I looked up, I realized I have been living here for about a year and a half, and there have been countless nights when I have ignored their beauty which is just a few steps out my door. Every night I am presented with their beauty yet, somehow I fail to recognize them most nights. Just like I am now trying to take everything in, right before I leave. This just made me realize how important it is to live in the present. I believe we should have goals, and be excited about the future, but to live in the present is like no other experience. It has made me realize that I don't want to take in and appreciate every second of my kids, right before they take off for college, mission, or get married. And the same with family, and my husband. You never know what is in store tomorrow, but today..... we know that we have today and we should make the most of it. So here is to not only living in the present, but learning to recognize and appreciate the present that presents itself to us each and everyday.

Hit a Wall

So much has happened in just a couple of weeks. Last week David is asked to work at a new job. David tells them we will only move under these conditions. We totally thought they would come back and say no, and it would make our job of saying no so easy.

Well they came back and said yes. So then we had a lot of thinking to do. We finally decided the offer was to good to resist. So we are leaving beautiful Northern Arizona to go back to Phoenix. He is going to run the hearing center in the Sam's Club. They offered us a raise and health insurance. We have been praying for health insurance and now we got it. How could we have said no.

So we have to be down there in two weeks. I am a little stressed about packing, I was stressed about David giving his two weeks notice. We did not want to put the partners in a hard spot. And we have been stressed about finding a home. And I am feeling a little emotional. I get so sad when my kids have to leave friends, and wonderful teachers. I know they will be fine, but questions coming from my little three little girl like will I have friends? Will my new sunbeam teacher like me? Will I still get to come up and see my friends? But I am going to miss my babysitters mom. I love Lexi, Ashley, and Karen. All these cause me to tear up.

Today I woke up thinking we had preschool. Got Ariana all ready. We were running late, because we both were having a hard morning. I think she senses the change. Anyways she was throwing tantrums all day. One tantrum she had was about her shoes, then she threw a fit about how here shoes were on the wrong feet. I insisted they weren't. Well I got to Alicia's house and realized I did put them on the wrong feet. I felt so horrible. Then I know on Alicia's door and I find out today is Monday not Tuesday. I arrived a whole day early. Seriously I think I hit my wall. I started to tear up, and was so embarrassed. She was so nice. I love having such wonderful people around me. Well to say the least I am grateful I showed up even though there was no preschool today, it gave me a good laugh and cry. Oh and to make things worse, today is gorgeous. There is a wonderful cool breeze. I have all my windows open, and no air conditioning. Yes, August in Arizona and no need for air conditioning today. Yup, I hit my wall today. So here is to two weeks of absolute caious.

This is my Fairy Tale

You married me six years ago!!!! Despite me being me.......

You married me even though I was a stinker on our first date. Who am I kidding I was a stinker for quite a few of our first dates. Here David took me out with family and friends, and everyone was asking me if I was his girlfriend. All I could do was laugh nervously. I must have seemed so immature.

This was our first picture ever. David thank you for wanting to marry me even though I looked like a skunk most of the time. I use to love highlighting my hair, but I should have been more timely about my touch ups. But he still wanted to date me :0)

Thank you for taking me to the temple!!! And thank you for still marrying me after I came into the temple looking like I had just seen a ghost. My morning was crazy. I slept like a baby which I didn't expect. I was so calm the night before, and so excited especially after my future hubby came to my parents house to wish me goodnight and gave me our last kiss as girlfriend and boyfriend. Well my morning would not be reflective of the peaceful nights rest I got. I showed up to the hair salon, and my hairstylist and the person who was suppose to do my makeup where no where. When they finally came in I had ten minutes before I had to leave to get to the temple on time. Oh how I wish that I had just left and did my hair and makeup myself. I got in the car, and panic began to ensue. I got so nervous. As you know David I am a creature of habit. And I started to wonder if you would be able to love me for eternity. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to protect and care for my siblings the way I use to. And I was nervous about being a wife. As sad as this is, all I knew how to cook were scrambled eggs, and grilled cheese. And I had never washed a load of laundry before. I was worried I would not be a good wife. I bet you were worried too for the first two years lol. With school and work I was not able to really develop my wife skills. I bet you were relieved when you found that I could cook, and in fact I have come to see it as a form of art. I love all the colors, and flavors, I guess I am a foodee :0). And I love to keep my house clean and organized, and I even have come to love to sew, and do crafts. I know this coming from the girl who told here young women's leader after sewing the sleeves to a shirt shut 20 times over, that I had no need to sew because I would just buy some. She quickly said, "we will see how you feel about sewing when you are first married with no money and wanting to decorate your house with curtains." She was right! :/




After six years you would think that my scary smile which always showcases vains in the neck and forehead, with a jokerish smile would have faded away..... but nope its still here. Thank you for loving my imperfections.


After two years of being married, you gave me a beautiful little girl!! Our kids are a product of our love. And I hope that they will always reflect to the world the love that is felt in our home. Thank you for being so wonderful during my first pregnancy. You were so patient. So patient with me being sick, being obsessed with the different places that weight gain could appear, my mood swings, and for loving when I cry even though I try and act like a tough girl right after. I blame my first pregnancy with why I am now a cry baby. Not that I am crying because I am sad, but simply because I feel so much. Like a commercial, or finding that a family of children from primary are moving out of the ward. I know pathetic right.....luckily I can hide it pretty well, I just tear up a little.

Then there was our second child. I was so nervous to have a boy. Here I was about two months into our second pregnancy. As always you were so carrying and protective of me. You assured me that I would be able to handle this little bundle of boy. And sure enough we have. He has brought so much life into our home. Thank you for giving me the confidence to raise our beautiful little boy. And letting me eat all that I wanted, even though you know as well as I did that me blaming my cravings on having a boy, was just an excuse for me to eat more ice cream and McDonalds french fries.

Even after six years, you still support me in all my goals and aspirations. Even sit and just listen to me dream. Like when I tell you how I would like to be a baker that makes beautiful wedding cakes, or dream of being a dance, or dream of becoming a photographer, a fitness instructor, a professor, an activist, a jewlery designer. Hmmmm the list goes on I think the whole "what do I want to be" hit me late in life. lol Here I am six months pregnant getting ready to bring Arianita into this world. I could not have finished school without you!!! I hope that you feel that I support you in your goals and aspirations. I think you and I together could do and achieve anything that we desire. I love that after six years, we can still dream together and actually think that there is someway that we can achieve our goals, as silly as they may seem at times.

Thank you for always making me feel beautiful. I could be 40 pounds over weight, 30, 20 , 25, 15, 10 or 0....... and it never seems to matter to you. I feel as though you are truly in love with me. And I feel the same about you. You get better and better looking to me everyday, no matter how in shape you think you may or may not be!!!

I know we are not old yet. But I look forward to it. I am not scared, as long as I have you by my side. As we gain lines by our smiles, and eyes, I know that my eyes will always just see you as the love of my life. I think we are going to be such great gradparents. Visiting all our grandkids, and me making flour tortillas, and gallords of Mexican food, making all my inlaws to take seconds. And you sitting with the grandkids, just making them laugh. You are so good at making our kids laugh. And not any laugh the laugh that comes from the belly. Our grandkids are going to love you!!

No matter what changes your hug and kisses never do. This is so comforting to me. I love your hugs and kisses and I can never get enough of them. I am sorry I am not more publicly affectionate. I do love it when you are. My heart feels so happy when you just give me the tightest squeeze. I have made the decision that I am not going to let anything stop me from just loving you!!!! I don't want to look back, and think I should have loved you more. I want you to never question how much I love you. I want you to know the love that I feel for you from the tips of your toes to the top your head.

I love how you look at me. I hope that when are time in this life is done, that I will have dozens of pictures with this exact same look. Proving to the world that our love was real and wonderful. I hope my kids find the same kind of love that we have been so lucky to find with each other.

I love you David!!! Happy 6th Anniversary!!! I am so lucky to have you in my life!!!

David's B-lated Birthday!!

So this year we went to Palm Springs for David's sister's wedding. It was so much fun, and Sara the bride looked absolutely stunning. The day we had to travel back home landed on my David's b-day. So there was no celebration or cake on July 11, 2010.


So once we got back and got things back into place we celebrated his birthday. I really wanted to make it special since we celebrated his birthday three day's late. So I decided to make him gnocchies. Its this dish that is made in Argentina. It is just potato that is mashed and sifted with flour to make make like a pasta/dumpling. It sounds so easy, yet I have struggled to make this dish. So I tried to make it again, after my disastrous attempt three years ago. And to my surprise they came out!!! Then I made this sage sauce to go over it, with homemade french bread, a salad, and of course his homemade cake. I don't know why but he always prefers having my scary looking decorated cakes, rather than the beautiful pieces of art that come from the bakery.


I really think he liked it!!! At least that's what he lead me to believe. He makes me feel like I am the best wife ever, and I feel so undeserving of such attention. He is the reason why I am a better mom and wife. So David Happy B-lated birthday and here are just a few reasons why I love you even that much more now that you are 29.

- When we met you were 22, and now you are 29 and you are now finally starting to speak and understand the female language. I hope that one day you will be fluent!! ;)
- You have always been handsome, but I don't know what it is but with age you become so much more handsome to me. I love being taken aback by the simple moments like you playing with the kids and just having my breath be taken away by how handsome you are.
- I love that no matter what changes, your love for family dosen't. I love how excited you get to be able to hang out with your brother's sisters.
- I love how you get a little sad to be getting older. Seriously you don't have an insecure bone in your body, this makes me feel like I am normal.
- I love that you have an unwavering testimony. It makes me strive to make mine stronger so that I will always be worthy of standing at your side.
- I love that you are older than me, even if its only by one and a half years. It makes me feel like no matter how handsome and successful you become you will never wish to have a young thing, because lol I am younger than you ;)
- I love how affectionate you are. I never feel a lack of warmth of love in my home, as long as you are around.

I love you David Ettinger!!! I am so excited to grow old and gray with you!!!