Mr. and Mrs. Smith

10 Days to go!!!

2011-06-23T22:45:00.000-06:00

So, yes, 10 days until my due date. How crazy is that?!? I can't believe that it's already been 9 months. It wasn't until this past weekend when I was laying in bed with insomnia and killer heartburn that I finally decided I was ready for this baby to come. I've had a great pregnancy and was content with him hanging out in my belly for a few more weeks. Not anymore. Any day baby is fine with me.

We also are in the process of moving. We've been in our new place for almost three weeks now. Here are a few pre-move-in pictures. I'll post lived in pictures once we get the boxes to the basement.

The living room.

This is the kitchen.

This is our patio and me.

Cat-Cat exploring the bathroom cupboard and drawer. She is the most helpful unpacker in the sense that she follows me from room to room and then inspects every box to make sure I didn't miss anything.

Now for baby bump pictures for my sisters.

36 Weeks

38 and a half Weeks!

They say the baby is as long as a leek. If I hadn't worked at a grocery store for 5 years, I don't think I would know how long a leek is. Week 39 is equated with a watermelon and week 40 with a pumpkin. Not the best mental images to help me through the labor and delivery process, but still fun references. Cross your fingers that labor starts in the evening, middle of the night, or on the weekend so Cody's closer than three hours away.

10 more days!! Then we can finally meet Baby.

And Things Keep Moving...

2011-05-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

CODY GRADUATED!!!!

It's been a busy couple of weeks getting things ready to move and finalizing things at school for both of us. As of Saturday at 9:00, Cody is officially done with school. It's a great feeling for both of us knowing what he has accomplished. I am so proud of him.

33 weeks down. 7 more to go. It's been a roller coaster of time. The first 6 months flew by and then just stopped. Now things are starting to pick up speed again, and I don't know how I'm supposed get everything done in the limited time I have left. I'm so excited and can't wait to meet Baby.

Here's my puppy...

This picture about sums up what I put up with every day.

New Home! and 29 Weeks!

2011-04-18T21:07:00.000-06:00

This is our new condo. We will live in the one on the left end. We move in June 1st. It's one of those things that just fell in our laps. And while Cody and I are sad to be leaving our current ward, we are looking forward to the new opportunities that this will bring.

29 Weeks!! 11 to go!! It's crazy just how fast and slow this whole pregnancy thing is going. I can say, "I can't believe that it's only been 29 weeks," and mean it both positively and negatively. Baby has been moving quite a bit now. It's fun to watch my belly move when I lay down at night. I'm so excited for this awesome blessing that I have in my life. My sweet boy I love you and can't wait to meet you!

Hello New Jeep, Goodbye Old Jeep

2011-04-10T21:35:00.000-06:00

So we have been so blessed in the past few weeks. It's been difficult this year turning all my decisions over to the Lord. With Cody graduating and us having a baby there have been a lot of decisions to be made and lots of events to prepare for: Where to work, to accept a job or not, to move or not, how to raise a baby, what to name a baby. The list goes on and on. Through out this whole process I have felt comforted that everything would be taken care of and work out for the best if I just had faith.

That faith proved itself when Cody was offered a job here in Fort Collins. It's not the job that we were expecting, but it's working out best for our family. It proved itself again when I was offered the Math Department Head / Instructional Leader position at my work. It's not a position that I would have ordinarily put myself out there to get, but it's something that I felt very strongly about. But probably most strangely and yet most evident it proved itself in the recent purchase and selling of jeeps. Cody had been on the search for a new "baby friendly" vehicle. Something more reliable than his '89 Jeep Cherokee. (Yes that means I was 4-years old when it was made.)

The Saturday of spring break Cody found a jeep and said "We have to go right now to go look at it." So we did. It was perfect and waaaaayyyy underpriced. Everything about it felt right so we bought it (that's it in the picture). But those blessing didn't stop there. We still needed to sell his Cherokee. Last night we placed an add on Craigslist as 11:45 and at 8:00 the next morning we had an offer. Not only that, but the interested buyer was (is?) currently investigating the church. We were able to answer some questions and help him out with his current situation.

It's amazing to me that as hard as I work to make things happen, all it really takes is Faith and everything just falls together.

Oh... and for my sisters...

28 Weeks!

Third Trimester only 84 more days to go!

Mexico, Fall, Christmas, Baby, Blue Bell

2011-04-03T21:30:00.000-06:00

Other wise known as catch up...

So Cody and I finally went on a honey moon to Mexico four years after we were married. We had a great time and sometimes still wish we were there.

Timing was great though since we found out in October that we are expecting our first baby. February brought news that it was a baby boy.

Since then things have been great. We are nearing the end of the school year for both of us. I am looking forward to summer, and Cody is looking forward to graduating. We are so excited. Best of all Blue Bell Ice Cream has made it's way to Colorado. As you can tell from the pictures, both me and the baby have been greatly enjoying it every chance we get.

February 13, 2011

February 20, 2011

April 3, 2011

On The First Day of Christmas My Good Friend Gave to Me...

2009-12-13T17:34:00.006-07:00

...A pear pie because partridges are too hard to catch.

This year our ward created a service tree and then challenged each family to take a name to surprise during the Christmas Season. My gift was waiting for me when I arrived home from church today with the promise of eleven more to come. I am so excited to give thanks to my wonderful friend this Christmas season, and to pass along the joy I feel in being able to serve others.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-13T17:30:00.002-07:00

Thanksgiving gave us a lot to be grateful for. It was our first Thanksgiving with just us. It's fun to create our own traditions. We are both so grateful for the blessings in our lives. And a day to focus on those blessings.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

2009-11-01T18:50:00.004-07:00

So, I can't take credit for this since Kaiti gave me the recipe, but I can show it off.

Oreo Truffles

Ingredient:
1 pkg regular Oreos
8 oz cream cheese, softened
White almond bark
Chocolate almond bark
Food coloring (optional)

Blend oreos in a bender or food processor until crumbs. Mix with cream cheese until blended thoroughly.Form quarter sized balls and refrigerate for 1-2 hours. (Or freeze for 15-20 minutes).

Melt the white and chocolate almond bark in separate bowls. Roll the oreo balls to coat in chocolate. Drizzle with the opposite chocolate. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm. Tip: Put one brick into a ziploc bag and microwave. Cut the tip off to drizzle.
Variation: Add food coloring to the white chocolate
Mix a few drops of blue food coloring to make the iris, mini chocolate chips for the
pupil, and a toothpick in red food coloring will make the red lines for eye balls.

Happy eating!

Pumpkin Waffles

2009-10-29T18:52:00.005-06:00

(Not my waffles, but close)

These are seriously the best waffles I have ever eaten in my entire life. I am not a breakfast person and would much rather eat a sandwich at 9 in the morning than have breakfast, but I would make an exception for these. These are great with syrup or strawberries and whipped cream. Let me know what you think!

Pumpkin Waffles
(Makes 9 - 5 inch waffles)

1 1/4 C Flour
1/4 C Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ginger
1/8 tsp Nutmeg
2 Eggs, Separated
1 C milk
1/2 C sour cream
1 tsp. Vanilla
5 Tbp. Melted Butter
1-2 c pumpkin (It depends on how pumpkin-y you want it)

Sift together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Whisk together egg yolks, milk, sour cream, vanilla, melted butter, and Pumpkin.
Combine dry and liquid ingredients.
Beat egg whites to soft peaks and fold in.
Follow waffle iron directions to bake.
Keep warm in an oven at 200 degrees.
Serve with syrup.

Happy Waffle Making!!!!

3 Years

2009-10-27T17:55:00.002-06:00

Happy anniversary to my amazing wonderful husband. I cannot get over the fact that it's been three years. It doesn't feel like any time has gone by, but at the same time it feels like we've always been together. It is such a blessing to know that we have that promise to be together forever. Life with Cody just is. I never thought I could be so lucky to have the wonderful husband that I do.

Fall and Catch up!

2009-10-26T21:01:00.004-06:00

So... it's been a while. I know I need to work on this whole blog thing. Things are going well for us here. Cody is in school and working his butt off memorizing all those trees. I'm going crazy with school and doing my job. I also got put in as Young Women Secretary about a month ago. It's been such an awesome experience to work with the youth.

My sister is getting married in January. I'm busy helping with all the fun. I drove out to Utah to help Lisa pick out a dress and to see my mom. I also got to see all my awesome cousins. It's been so long since we have all been together, it was super fun.

Fall is here and it feels like it's already gone. When I went to Utah two weeks ago, we got 3-5 inches of snow in the lovely city of Fort Collins. It killed all the leaves on the trees and now everything is bare. But fall also means pumpkins. I love all things pumpkin and have started a tradition of Pumpkin Waffles for General Conference Sunday. (Recipe to come soon). I love creating traditions with my little family!

Family is great.

My Family

2009-07-11T15:33:00.003-06:00

Andrew, Lisa, Kaiti, Dad, Kristina, Mom, Tyler

So, with Cody being gone, I decided to take a trip home for the 4th of July. This is my family (plus Andrew, Lisa's boy friend) all together and Washington on the Brazos. This was probably one of my more eventful trips to Texas. It was Andrews first time to Texas so, Lisa got him onto Kyle Field.

He's a huge fan of all things sports and asked to get onto Kyle Field. Lisa said it wasn't possible and though the friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, here they are. He was so excited!

Next stop was the Blue Bell Ice Cream Factory. We got a behind the scenes tour and Ice Cream straight off the belt. Who know having a Unit Director of HEB for a Dad would come in so handy.

Kaiti and I were so excited!

It was so good to be home and just be weird with my sisters. It's funny because we are in such different situations. Kaiti is starting her senior year in high school, Lisa is starting her senior year at BYU and seriously dating some one, And I've been married for two and a half years. Yet we all are still just as goofy when we get together as we ever were.

Hooray for visiting Family!

One week down, Four to go

2009-06-21T21:02:00.006-06:00

So Cody's been gone for a week now. Although I did get an unexpected visit on Friday. His jeep is having problems so he decided to bring it home. I was able to take him back up on Saturday and see his campus. It's so beautiful to be completely surrounded by God's creations. I would love to be able to spend some time up there away from all the distractions. I am also grateful that Cody has internet access up there, even as limited as it is. If it were not for that, there would be no communication between us.

My Dad, Lisa, and Tyler were able to come for dinner for Father's Day. It is great to spend time with my family. Especially my dad as I have not seen him in a year. I truly love my dad and appreciate the example he has set for me in my life. Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Catch up

2009-06-14T22:16:00.011-06:00

So I meant to be much better at this, but since my last post was the end of March it's clear that that's not happening. So here are a few updates since then.

Dying Eggs

Easter Family Photo

Estes Park and Wild Animals

School ended two weeks ago and I thought that would mean free time. I was wrong. I am the food coordinator for girls camp and have been spending four to eight hours a day preparing for that. So much for summer, but I'm glad for the work. Cody leaves tomorrow for his five week stay at Pingree. We've been apart before, but this time there is no phone and no internet. It will be fun to write letters and have those to keep. I'm grateful for the opportunity we have to communicate, even through letters, and for a family that is there to support me even from thousands of miles away.

Fort Collins Blizzard of '09

2009-03-29T19:35:00.007-06:00

So it never fails, the trees start getting their leaves and flowering and it actually starts feeling like spring is here and then the blizzard hits. Well, they called it a blizzard. It really wasn't that bad. It was bad enough to get a day and half off school which was great.

Cody and I took advantage of it by breaking in my new boots and snow hiking Horsetooth. I always looked at pictures of people in short sleeves surrounded by snoe and thought they must be crazy, but now I am one of those people. It was great. The snow completely transformed the area. Everything looked new and untouched. It was such an awesome experience to recognize and enjoy the wonder world that has been created for us.

I have never been an outdoors person, but marrying Cody and then moving to a state where it is expected that you become an outdoors person is having a very positive affect on me. I love hiking. I love spring. I love the snow(when I don't have to drive in it). I'm greatful and blessed to have a wonderful husband who pushes me out of my indoor comfort zone to enjoy the wonderful world God created

Spring in Colorado?

2009-03-12T18:18:00.002-06:00

So, here goes. I've been wanting to blog for a while now and am finally managed to drag Cody in with me.

It's March, and what's more, it's Spring Break... well technically that starts tomorrow, but same thing. I grew up in Texas, and when Spring Break hits, it's actually spring. Not that I'm complaining. We have had a very mild winter (to Cody's dismay), and the past few weeks have been very nice; however, it is cold yet again and they are forecasting snow showers. I'm ready for the flowers and the leaves to pop out again. I ready to wear my sandals to the store and not worry about whether or not I need a jacket when I go outside. I'm ready to see if I can actually get a tan for the first time in 10 years. Hopefully spring will come soon.