Summer 2011

Here are some of the things that we did this summer: Bagpiping, stake girls camp, hot air ballooning with crazy client Tim, Courtney and Ted's wedding, trip to the Zoo with Tara and crew, Lake Powell with girlfriends and hubbies, the arrival of football season and consequently season Utes tickets, Call family reunion which we have now changed to Family Festivus, and many other not very exciting things. Below are pictures of just a few of those...

Me and Jeremy in Provo before our balloon flight

Ballooing

Fireworks with Emery

Lake Powell

Family Festivus

WAITING...

We've had a lot of questions about our adoption status lately and although we really appreciate the love and concern, it's kind of irritating. Now let me clarify. It's NOT because we hate answering but because the answer is the same as the last time everyone asked. I've decided that the Lord thinks I need to learn a little more patience. Why I don't know because I am the most patient person in the world! Okay, everyone can stop laughing now. So here's the update.

In December we had our in-home visit and everything went well. At that point we were just waiting for our case worker to get everything typed up and approved. After being informed that we wouldn't be approved till after the first of the year we sat back and enjoyed the holidays. The second week in January we were told that we would need to get new physicals since they expired the first part of January. Here's how that went...

I for one was super excited to be prodded and poked again since I haven't had that done enough in the last 5 years. Jeremy was a little less enthusiastic. After the required 15 phone calls to my doctors office we had our appointments. That day I went with trepidation and irritation to said doctors appointment and quickly realized that the P.A. I was seeing went to high school with me! She is a few years older but I know her sister. After a lengthy discussion as to why I was there, again, she did a few breathing checks, asked general questions about my health and then filled out the needed paperwork. I was ecstatic! No probing, prodding or general uneasiness. Before I left I told her thank you and told her that Jeremy would be coming in to see her the next day. This was the best possible result for having to have a physical again and told Jeremy my experience and that he had nothing to worry about. The next day Jeremy went to his appointment at 3:30 and I didn't hear from him until 5:30. I was confused. What could possibly be taking so long? Oh, don't worry, she not only gave him a COMPLETE physical again (including checking his toenails) but they then spent a solid hour squirting water in his ear to dislodge a small covering on his ear drum. When he told me all of this I laughed almost as hard as the day he went to work with two different shoes on and didn't realize it until I called him at 3:30 in the afternoon! Classic.

After all that we turned our new physical papers in and are waiting. It's crazy how "the first of the year" has turned into near March. There's not a whole lot we can do about it besides be patient and wait so that's what we are doing. Thanks for all your love and support! We really do appreciate it! Hopefully we'll have some good news in the next week or so but until then, we're waiting.....

FAMILY PICTURES 2010

We finally got some new family pictures taken! It took us applying for adoption and needing newer pictures for us to do it. We're so grateful to my client Jen Gibson and her willingness to take these for us. I think the turned out great! Here's a few of my favorites.

5 Year Anniversary - Maui!

For our 5 year anniversary I talked Jeremy into going back to Maui which is where we spent our honeymoon. It was so much fun to take some time off and just hang out with each other. It seems like that doesn't happen a lot lately. We were in Maui for about 4 days and it was fantastic! The weather was awesome, the water was warm, the food was good (mostly) and it was so fun to just be together. When we got there we rented some snorkel gear for the week and spent most of our time doing that and just relaxing. I had a client tell me that there are "vacations" and "sightseeing". This was the definition of a vacation! Loved it all especially my sweet hubby for taking me!

I'm Still Here

It's been a crazy few months but Jeremy and I are still alive. As a little update Jeremy got put in as 1st counc. in the bishopric, I'm still the primary chorister, we went to Maui for our 5 year anniversary in October, we both still work alot and we're a couple of weeks away from having all of our adoption paperwork done and being up online. The last is probably the most exciting news as of late. I'll try to keep everyone more informed as things get rolling. Love you all!

Mary Ann & The Giant Squash

This year we decided to plant a garden. We had a small 8x8 spot in the very corner of our yard that I planted a few tomato plants, cucumbers, pepper and a few squash plants. After planting them I pretty much forgot about them and didn't fertilize, water very much or weed. After a few weeks I noticed that the squash was doing REALLY well despite my neglect. Well, by the middle of July the squash had literally taken over the garden and the surrounding area. It reminds me of Jack and the Bean Stalk! I had my mom come over to look at it and see if we could figure out what kind of squash I bought because it clearly isn't what I thought it was. My mom has had a garden her whole life and grew up on a farm so she is well aquainted with veggies. Well, I wasn't prepared for her amazement at the size of the squash plant. She said, "Oh, my goodness....what did you do?" That's just it. Nothing! Well after multiple people coming over and looking at it we decided I had planted 2 banana squash plants. Banana squash grow to usually 10-20 lbs but can get as big as 70 lbs! Ummm, ya. We will now refer to this summer as the summer of the squash.

What the ???

So Mindy tagged me on her blog to open your first picture folder and find the 10th photo and tell the story behind it. Who comes up with these ideas? Anyway...

Yes, that is me and yes I am holding a shot of some apple liquor. This was from last May when Jeremy and I were in Poland for his MBA trip. A bunch of us went to a local restaurant to eat and most of the group drank so much beer the owners decided to treat us all to free shots. Jeremy and I didn't drink ours (of course) but the others were happy to take them off our hands.