Gift #8--open Wednesday morning when you wake up

There was an envelope and a box.  Inside the envelope I found this newspaper article--- :) It said:

"LYING LOVER CAUGHT: MONKEY MUST PAY!
Today, the day of his anniversary, the lie must finally come out!  How he's kept it a secret so long we will never know.  It sadly started as a plan for a gift ... an innocent gift for his amazingly hot wife.  In the end, however, it escalated into full blown fradulence.
"I just can't believe he would do such a thing," the monkey, an undercover agent, told The Associated Press.  Because of the monkey's good conscience, as well as a bribe in the form of monkey chow, the world now knows of this prevarication.
The first obvious question is, "how is his wife dealing with this fabrication?"  Our sources say that she is completely unaware, not even on the trail.  While the said lover is now in prison, on the way there he was heard saying, "It wasn't a complete lie! I gave her enough chance to find out!  She asked for clues and I gave her one - something mint, something pink, and something silver!!" while the color statement is being verified we believe we have uncovered some information.  The wife will receive a nice, new ... (continue on A2)"

Then another card said " Go open the box for gift #8 to find out what the lie is about!"

So I opened the box and I found:

"Gift #8- You'll just have to go outside and see for yourself.

Like any good book, the climax isn't on the very last page ... so I didn't save the best gift for last.  This is the gift I've been more excited about than any other.  I love you and hope that this makes your life a little easier.  Happy Anniversary."

Yes! That's right!  Keys to my new (used) Toyota Highlander!! :)

(Disclaimer: Ryan and I have been talking about getting a bigger car for a while now--we had plans to go look at this one in St. George this upcoming weekend...but now I don't have to anymore!  :) yay!)

Sorry they aren't GREAT pictures! Ryan also took a video of me loving it and being so excited about it! :) 
What a wonderful surprise! :)  He not only got the car, but it is already registered and insured too! :)  You really outdid yourself this time, hunny! :)  I love you! 

(Disclaimer #2: I did suspect this a little bit over the weekend while I was gone---however, Ryan is such a GREAT liar that he had me questioning myself in the past couple of days! ... I was DYING to know if I was right or not! :) I don't know how he ever kept a straight face in so many of our conversations! lol)

5, 6, and 7

Gift 5 and 6:

Candles and pretty candle holders.  All Lavender scent! :)  I LOVE Lavender.  Ryan knows me so well!

Gift 7: Time for Ryan and I to reminisce and look through old high school memories! :) So excited to dig them up from the basement this weekend! :)

Tomorrow is our actual anniversary... I'm so grateful to be married to the love of my life.  Good night!

Our 3rd Anniversary

Ryan and I were married June 30, 2007 in the Mount Timpanogos Temple at 1:00 in the afternoon.  Now...3 years later...we:

-have lived in 5 different apartments.

-have both graduated with our Bachelor's degrees.

-have worked at a full time job for over a year now.

-have had 2 children.

-have had a few disagreements but even more laughs together!

-have gained greater perspective of life.

-have grown in our love and are excited for the future!

So, to celebrate this anniversary, Ryan and I decided that with two kids, it is just a little too difficult to get away for a night (like we have in the past!) mostly because I am nursing Kyler still.  So, Ryan decided  to "relive the past" a little for me.

Ryan and I liked eachother since 9th grade, and he and I always planned on him taking me out for my first date! (after I turned 16 of course). I turned 16 at the beginning of our Junior year--one week before the Homecoming dance.  So--Ryan went all out to ask me to this dance.  and I mean ALL OUT! 
He gave me the 12 days of homecoming -- 12 gifts on 12 different days:

1-lawn of forks

2-Dozen hugs

3-fried chickens

4-yummy nerds

5-a five-lettered hat (Said "flirt" on it)

6-geese a shedding (feathered my entire room!)

7-phishes swimming (phish food icecream)

8-chocolate Milk-balls (Milk duds)

9-Bears a bearing (gummy bears)

10-Dum-dums a dumming

11-bags of paper (papered my entire room!)

12-Bright Red Roses

Very creative!  Of course, after all that, I had to say yes! :)

Since then, however, I have often teased him about how he won't ever be able to live up to that level of creativity in surprising me! (I'm a sucker for surprises!) :)  But I think he is trying this week:

I got home from my vacation last night and got this envelope:

Inside was a letter telling me about our upcoming "Anniversary Week"!  I was to expect 12 gifts this week to celebrate our anniversary! :)

Gift 1: Ryan gave me his schedule for the week.  We always tell ourselves we are going to be consistent with his work schedule every week, but then other things come up and then every day I have to ask him when he is going to go to work and when he is going to be home--instead of just knowing in advance. So this week he told me his schedule IN ADVANCE! :)

Gift 2: A clean house with a promise to help unpack!   What a cutie.  I walked in and it really was spotless. Dishes done. Laundry done. Floors vacuumed. Bathrooms cleaned. Etc.  It was wonderful!  (I'm only sorry that it is already a bit cluttered from the kids just a few short hours later!) :)

Gift 3: Movie week!  A basket full of chick-flicks was waiting- just for me.  What better way to celebrate our anniversary than a bunch of sappy romances (that I LOVE) :)  and movie theater popcorn and candy.  So, last night we started our movie-thon with Runaway bride.  Love it! :)

He also found a new nightshirt for me!  What do you think?  Is it "me" or what?! :)

AND I found my lotions nicely set out.  I have a problem with my back tightening too often--so Ryan is an excellent masseur.  He was prepared after my weekend away without a good massage! :)

I also found the rest of the gifts sitting out---taunting me with their instructions on when to open! ahhhh! :)

Gift 4 envelope: Open Tuesday when you wake up -- it was an invitation to go out to dinner tomorrow night without the kids! :)  wonder where we will go! :)

Gift 5 and 6 box: Open Tuesday at naptime -- almost time! :)

Gift 7: (hiding under the box?!) 5:00pm on Tuesday

Gift 8: Open when you wake up on Wednesday

Gift 9, 10 and 11: 9-After a package arrives, 10-naptime on Wednesday, 11-5:00pm

Gift 12: open on Thursday!

I wanted to blog to not only have others to be excited in anticipation with me ( haha ) but also to show the world what a wonderful guy I have married! (and not just because of this cute setup!) To let him know that I love him and appreciate him. I really don't expect this elaborate of a surprise! But every once in a while it is nice to get a little something! :)  I'm so grateful we have been friends for so long and I'm grateful I never have to live a day without him! :)  I love you, Ryan!

What will gift 5 and 6 and 7 be?!  stay tuned for later tonight! :)   (Looks like you may be able to pass up the 12 days of homecoming creativity after all!!) ;)

Visiting Grandma and Papa

My Grandparents live in northern Idaho.  I have always Loved going up there to visit for many reasons.  At Grandma's house we get to see:

1.Grandma and Papa (of course!)

2. Yummy food

3. Beautiful country

4. Beautiful quilts and trinkets

5. Pretty flowers

And this trip was especially fun because the kids and I went up with my sister, Kelsey, and her husband, Zac.

 I couldn't have done it without them!  Kamryn is already entering the "2-year-old" phase and Kyler is still pretty little.  Both kids can be very difficult--but it was possible to go on vacation because Kels and Zac were so willing to help.   I'm so glad Kamryn loves them so much and that they like being around her.  I'm very grateful we live so close to them and get to see them often.  While we were up there, Kamryn's language really picked up faster than it has ever thus far--I think a lot of it was because Kelsey and Zac were there to encourage her and to help build her vocabulary.  She now says "Zac, Kels, Tree, Duck, Quack, Pink, Blue, Whereareyou?, water, Papa, and baby" on top of everything else she already had. 

AND to top it all off, my Uncle Gary and Aunt Nicole were also there this same weekend with their boys.  It was a very filled couple of days--but very fun.

In the car: driving once again! My kids are such good travelers! (for the most part!) :)

The first day we went up to the property that my dad and his siblings each own a portion of.  Kamryn really enjoyed it up there--especially because Kelsey and Zac made it fun for her!  (Thanks guys!) :)

Uncle Zac is Kamryn's favorite! :)  During this trip she began saying "Zac. Zac. Zac." over and over like she used to say "Mama Mama Mama"!  

Zac let Kamryn "Drive" with him...ever since then she wants to "drive" when she gets in the car now! Silly girl!

Funny story that day:  So before we went I knew my allergies would bother me up in the woods, so I decided to take an allergy pill.  A generic brand--over the counter--mild pill.  (or so I thought).  Throughout the day I found that Kyler was VERY cranky and that I just was feeling lightheaded all afternoon.  It was awful.  Water didn't help. Food didn't help.  I finally asked Kelsey and Zac to watch my kids for me and I took a nap in my uncle's car.  I felt a ltitle better afterwards...but I was still "off".  The next morning, Kelsey's allergies were bugging her and she went to take one of my pills and realized that it said "May cause drowsiness" on the side.  Oops!  That would explain why yesterday was tough on me and Kyler!  I really thought they were non-drowsy pills...but apparently I was remembering some other bottle and not these! :) Good thing I didn't drive! :)

The next day Kels, Zac and I took the kids to the Boardwalk.  I've done this many many times in my life--but it was fun to see Kamryn just LOVE the water!  "water, water" she kept saying over and over and over again! :)

Kyler slept in the sling the whole time.  Kamryn loved it so much that she would sit by the edge to see the water closer (when we let her out of hte stroller).  One time she didn't realize the water had splashed all over and sat down in a giant puddle!  oops!  Wet Bum!

My cute cute kids!  (Love my "Moby Wrap" to carry Kyler in...it's SO easy!  Thanks Kami for the idea!)

The rest of the trip was spent playing and talking and relaxing at Grandma and Papa's house. 

One of the days--Gram was cooking and found this onion in the back of her cupboard!  Oops!  It was completely "grown" out of its skin!

Kyler spent a lot of time on his tummy (thanks to Aunt Kelsey who helped me remember to put him on his tummy lots!) :)  At his two month appointment the Dr. told me to put him on his tummy in 10-15 minute increments for a total of 1 hour/day.  That is a lot of time--but I'm seeing results already! :)  So I'm trying to keep it up! (we aren't quite to an hour yet...but that's the goal!)

We played outside--it was GORGEOUS weather while we were there.

Papa taught the guys about surveying (He was a mapmaker for many years)

Kamryn enjoyed the toys that I played with when I was her age!

And of course we introduced "the cow" to her. (Little does she know that we actually own a cow pitcher now at our house because of Grandma last Christmas!)  Kamryn loved it! :) 

Funny story: We were sitting at the dinner table on our last night there and Kamryn pointed up to the ceiling and said "Bee".  We all looked up and sure enough--there was a bee in the house!  What a smarty pants! :)

Grandma made Kyler this fun Noah's Ark quilt. It's so cute! I love it! I layed him on the floor one night all wrapped up--he laid there awake for quite sometime and then next thing I knew he was asleep.  too too cute!

Some pictures of the kids with Grandma and Papa.  (their GREAT grandma and Papa)

We had a WONDERFUL time!  Thanks for letting us tag along, Kelsey and Zac!  And thanks for letting us come, Grandma and Papa!  We love you!