Breadsticks and Soup

Last night was a ... well ... let's just say it was not something I really want to repeat!

I haven't been feeling very good since Saturday night. As some of you know, I have had stomach and back pains (GI track problems) for the past few years. Right before Ryan and I got married, I had a colonoscopy done (while I still had good insurance) but they didn't really find anything. Good--but I was still in pain. They told me maybe it was IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) and that I should just be cautious and careful with what I eat and how stressed I get. And that was that.
For the last 2 years I have had dull achy pains that sometimes flare up more and make eating not fun or moving at all not really a good thing. This hasn't happened for a while-- but this past month I've been having more trouble with it. A few episodes of greater pain here and there, but I just can't track what is causing it. Then this last weekend, almost every time I ate, my whole abdomen would just throb. Everything makes me nauseous and my appetite has somewhat diminished, but then I hurt when I'm hungry as well! (A very vicious cycle of the human body!) Anyway, long story short, I finally went to see the doctor today (after ignoring it ... well not ignoring but just dealing with it... for the last 2 years) and he was a little overwhelmed I think! He decided to get some blood work done and an ultrasound to just generally look at everything and then hopefully we will get a lead in a direction somewhere. But, for the first time, I felt like I was speaking to a doctor that was genuinely concerned, even though all my descriptions of my symptoms were somewhat vague. (Last few times I complained to a doctor, they just kind of gave up on me). I'll be updating on what results we get from all the tests. I'm determined to find some answer this time around!

Well, as if that wasn't enough for our household to deal with...
Yesterday Ryan worked about a 12 hour day. Some of it was at home yesterday morning but he was at work from 11:00 to about 7:00. I wasn't feeling very good all day yesterday so he came home knowing I might need a little more help. He helped me finish bathing the baby and warmed up dinner for himself, and then went out to deliver flyers to our residents here at our apartment complex that I couldn't do earlier that day. When he got back, we decided to get ready for bed and start a movie. (He let me choose a chick flick!) We were watching the movie in our bed and suddenly he RAN/DARTED to the bathroom. He had lost his dinner. (Luckily in the toilet and not on me!) But I felt so bad for him! I HATE throwing up! I always cry when it happens to me...but Ryan was so good about it. He was there in the bathroom for about 20 minutes, then he jumped in the shower and we got the bathroom all cleaned up. We decided to go to sleep at that point.
BUT that didn't last long---I was up feeling nauseous most of the night and Ryan spent the night running to the bathroom. I'm just SO SO SO glad Kamryn has her own room and SLEEPS through the night!
But unfortunately, she doesn't sleep past 8.

Anyway, not a night we want to repeat. This afternoon, after the doctor appointment, Ryan and I both were still feeling somewhat queezy but didn't want to try to find anything in our apartment to eat, so we decided to go out to eat. (something light on our poor tummies).

Olive Garden Breadsticks and Zupas Soup and Salad
seemed just the thing to make our day better!
(and it did!)

Change of Plans!

I'm going to Disneyland next week! Yay! Kamryn and I are going to go down with my aunt and uncle and cousins and my sister and my mom. It is going to be great! :) I'm excited to just have a vacation! It's summer...that's what I like to do! I'm sad Ryan won't be there...but he says he has plenty of work to keep him occupied right now so I think he'll be okay!

So...anyway, I'll be gone the 6th through the 14th...so probably not much blogging during that week but I'll see what I can do! :)

This weekend

Thursday night my sister, Kylie, and Ryan's brother, Eric, graduated from High School! Congrats you two! It was fun to be there with you and spend the day with you.

Ryan's family had a little open house celebration for Eric. A bunch of people stopped by to say hello and congrats. It was good to see some family again as well as ward members of Ryan's parents that we don't see often. AND Kamryn had a great day! She was willing to explore and go to a lot of strangers she would normally shy away from! We were proud of her! :)


Walking with Great-grandpa Seamons

Kamryn LOVES balloons right now AND she's letting Great-Grandpa Seamons hold her!

Linda (Ryan's mom) always has the house so decorated for any event! I love it!

This is a MASSIVE cake she got for the open house! It took up half the counter and literally could've fed over 100 people! Everyone who came in commented on how big the cake was! But...it was VERY good! :)

Kamryn with Grandma Linda!

Kamryn with Aunt Darla

Kamryn with Grandpa Kent

See...she made her way around pretty good! :)

We also went to Tucanos for lunch that day with Ryan's immediate family, and 3 of his aunts. We love Tucanos! It was fun to spend some time with Ryan's Aunt Barbara, Darla and Laurie. Laurie flew out from Ohio for the graduation and it was so fun to see her again. We were sad that she couldn't stay longer, but that's how life is sometimes!

We went to see 'Angels and Demons' on Friday night with Laurie and Ryan's parents and sister. I've been excited to see it because I liked the book a lot. I forgot how violent it was! lol I enjoyed the movie, even though my face was in Ryan's shoulder the whole time! (I hate intense movies!) No, it really was well made and they simplified the book well, but I probably won't watch it ever again because of how intense and suspenseful it was!

After all the graduation stuff, we've kinda just been taking it easy this weekend. Not much happened. Sunday was a friend's homecoming talk. He just returned from his LDS mission in Korea. It was very cool to hear him speak (although, I can't say I got much out of it because I was chasing Kamryn everywhere and trying to keep her quiet!!) Zac is a friend of Kelsey's (my sister) and now that he is home, they are dating! So.... maybe in the near future we'll hear wedding bells?!?!! :) (lol...don't tell her I said that!) :)

Disneyland Call

So for those of you who check my blog semi-frequently, you'll notice that my countdown to my next Disney vacation is now even longer than it was before. This is because Ryan and I talked and with his new job, we don't think we are going to be able to go down this summer. In fact, we're probably only going to be able to go one more time before our passes expire in December (and I would like that trip to be on my birthday because then I get to take part of Disney's Promotion this year!)

BUT, because Ryan can't go, we've also agreed that maybe I could go without him. Not ideal in my mind, that is for sure, but I feel bad that we bought these passes and we're not going to use them ALL summer! (We've already used them enough to make up for the money... but I feel bad just because I have it and I'm not taking advantage of it!)
But, as wonderful as Disneyland is, it's not fun by yourself!

SO...if anyone out there is a Disney lover or is wanting to go to Disneyland this summer and needs someone to accompany them, let me know!! I'd be happy to fill in your vacancy on your vacation! :) (haha!) You know you want to!! :)

Memorial Day Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend was great! I look back at all my pictures and I can't believe so much happened in just a few short days!

Friday, the 22nd, was Kylie's Birthday! She turned 18! Hard to believe! She and her friend, Stephen, Kelsey and Zac, Ryan, Kamryn and I went out to Tucanos (a Brazilian grill here in Provo---SOOOOOO yummy!!) :) because Kelsey and Kylie both had Birthday coupons to use. It was way fun! Ryan and I love spending time with my sisters, and this time was even better because Zac and Stephen are so fun and easy to get along with! It was just a good group!








The Birthday Girls and Kamryn eyeing their ice cream!


After Tucanos, we all went back to our place and played a couple of games. We played Taboo and just talked for a while.




Kelsey and Zac, texting!


Kylie reading Taboo cards!

Then Kylie and Stephen had to leave and Ryan had to run to work for a few minutes, and I was left home with Kamryn sleeping and Zac and Kelsey were there flirting on the couch... now ...this could become an awkward situation...but I avoided that one! I had my camera in my hand and I decided to just start taking pictures of them! I think I took probably 70 or 80 pictures! It was so funny! Most of them didn't turn out great but some of them did! (I told Zac I wouldn't post them anywhere, however, so I'll just have to hold onto them just in case they are needed in the future! ;) lol)

Here's a good one though:


They're so cute together!

Saturday, Ryan had the day off of work. We stayed home most of the day and then decided to go up to parents' houses for the afternoon and evening. Ryan got to help his dad out in the yard while Kamryn and I stayed inside and played with Grandma and Aunt Sara. Then we went to my parents' house and put Kamryn to bed, and played a game with my family. Ryan took me out on a date: We went shopping for a few necessities at Walmart and then went to get a Roxberry smoothie! (soooo yummy! Kinda like Jamba Juice--but thanks to Ryan's mom, we have coupons from Valentine's Day that we can still use there! They are so good!!) It was fun to have a date night! SO important in a marriage! (especially when you have children!)
We debated sleeping up there, but I love my bed at home so we drove home around midnight and went to bed.

Sunday, we slept in a bit and went to church at 11. (This was our second week in the family ward. We decided a few weeks ago that because we both graduated, we should transition now (with this open window) to the family ward. It felt right, even though we were sad to leave some really great people in our student ward!) Anyway, after church we spent some more time with family.

Monday was Memorial Day and Ryan didn't have to work again! (yay!) Ryan got up with Kamryn at about 8 and I didn't even hear them I was so tired! He let me sleep in till 9:30 and by then Kamryn was already down for her morning nap! We got ready for the day and decided to go do a little shopping! We went to Kohls and found some good deals for him and I... Then we went over to the mall and found a couple more things we needed. Then my mom called and told us that they were going to go to my grandpa's gravesite. We decided to meet them there. It was really nice too. We all sat down and ate Rocky Road Ice Cream (it was his FAVORITE) and talked about what we remember about my Grandpa. It was fun to hear the different memories from Grandma (his wife), my mom and aunt (his daughters) and then my siblings and I (the grandchildren). I remember the summer he passed away, right after I graduated, and it is weird that so much time has passed already, but I still remember a lot about him.

Grandpa loved Rocky Road Ice Cream, Idaho Spuds, Root Beer, Tricks (the card game), and Honey Bunches of Oats With Almonds. He always sang "Who's that knocking at my door" or "Rock a bye baby" when we were over there. He loved to watch old movies. He video recorded almost EVERY movie that was ever on TV! (His huge collection is still sitting at my parents' house...hardly ever touched!!) :) He always wore flip flops around the house. He always put ice cubes in his milk and in his cereal because it just was never cold enough! :) He never served in a war because during WWII he was a chemist and they needed him here, but it was wonderful to still go and remember him and honor him yesterday!

The Grandchildren (and Great-grandchild) with Grandma

The Moes/Seamons with Grandma


Kamryn--not liking grass! But this is a big step for her...not screaming when put down on the grass! She just couldn't let that left foot of hers touch it though! It was so cute! :)

After visiting Grandpa's grave, we went to my parents house to get ready for the Graduation/Memorial Day BBQ. On the way there, Brandon (my little brother) came with us and was entertaining Kamryn in the back! It was so cute! She was giggling and smiling so big. She's never bad in the car, but she loved the company that Brandon provided!!

Brandon reading a story to her.

Kamryn just loving it!

Anyway, the BBQ was really fun. Both Ryan's and my families were there and then my extended family and other friends of my siblings. It was a FULL HOUSE!! I love big parties like that though! So fun!


LOTS OF PEOPLE!!

The foot game!


The cousins (and other friends) were all out in the yard playing the foot game. It was entertaining to watch (even though I have never played and don't really know what is going on!) Kamryn was passed around to practically everyone!

Ryan and I didn't get home until after midnight last night so we're a little tired today, but it was a wonderful event-filled weekend! I wish every weekend could be like that! :)

Ryan's New Job!!

This is probably THE MOST IMPORTANT POST OF THE ENTIRE MONTH and I'm just BARELY getting to it! I'm horrible!! Here goes!

Ryan is now the Managing Director of the Telefund (Student Call Center) at LDS Philanthropies! He began on May 11, 2009 and after two weeks he can truly say that he loves it and this is where he supposed to be. We are all so proud of him!

What is this job exactly, you might say? Well, it is the director of the student call center where Ryan has worked for the past two years (with a little break last semester). This call center is part of the annual giving team for BYU. They call BYU Alumni to update them on what is going on at BYU and then ask for donations back to BYU. This money is raised for Scholarships and other things for individual departments at BYU. Ryan was a caller when he returned home from his mission, thanks to his Aunt Darla who suggested the job. Then last year he became part of student leadership at the call center. This gave him more experience with how it all works and he really enjoyed doing that as well. Then this last semester, when I was student teaching, Ryan decided to quit at the Telefund because we wanted to be able to see eachother during the semester! But as graduation came closer and closer, Ryan started looking for jobs and his old Director and the Telefund came to him and told Ryan he should apply. Ryan got excited about the idea and decided to go for it. No, it's not in his field that he graduated in (Bioinformatics) but it was a good opportunity for what he wants to do later with life (get an MBA). We researched what it takes to get into most MBA programs, and most require 2-5 years of experience. Well, this could really be a help for that! So, after weeks of waiting for a few things to go through, and then a couple of weeks of interviews, Ryan was offered the position! We prayed and thought about it a lot but decided it would be a good thing to do. So Ryan took it.

Ryan has now been working there for 2 weeks and he just LOVES it! It just fits him so well! He loves leading. He loves BYU. He loves the church. He loves the people he works with (loved them when he worked there before too). I'm so thrilled that he comes home everyday just pumped and excited about work and life in general!

We thank God for this blessing everyday. We know many who are struggling to find work and it has been a blessing to not only be handed a job, but to be handed one that he loves so much!

Here's Ryan by his new office! (It's kinda exciting just that he has an office! We feel all grown-up now!) :) haha

Parents of 6!

May 6-13th Ryan and I went from parents of 1 to parents of 6! We've done it before, so it wasn't THAT big of a deal, but it was a little stressful this time just because only 5 days before I had finished student teaching and was just getting used to being home with Kamryn, and then we left again! We stayed at our friends' house and watched their 5 kids while they went away for her birthday! Here's some fun moments from our week with them!

They have a 4 year old who LOVES going to McDonalds. We went twice while I was staying with them. It was fun to take her and Kamryn, even though Kamryn isn't quite old enough to get the "playplace" concept, she still enjoyed it! (And Kamryn LOVES McDonalds french fries...just like her mommy!) :)




(PS. see the big scratch on Kamryn's cheek...that also happened while we were up there. One of the girls (age 15) took her into the other room to play with her and then suddenly we heard Kamryn screaming. It wasn't the girl's fault...Kamryn had just fallen on a toy while reaching for it, but I know she kinda felt bad! It was alright though!)

Another thing we did was make sugar cookies. My friend, Leanne, is a HUGE disney fan (imagine me in 20 years!! haha!) :) and I found some new Mickey Mouse head cookie cutters and some Mickey mouse sprinkles! So I made cookies! :) This is one of the kid's cookies: a little overboard on the sprinkles!! I made fun of her for that!

Here's my cookie! (well one of the ones I decorated!)

I thought they turned out cute!

Another cute thing that happened during the week was this. They have a bell in their front room that looks like this:

Ryan was holding Kamryn near it one day and Ryan rang it. Kamryn was suddenly interested. She started grabbing for the chain and ringing the bell.

She would ring it, and then lay her head on Ryan's shoulder!

It was so cute to watch and even funnier because the sign next to the bell says "Ring if you need a hug!" It's like Kamryn knew what it said! :) haha

Kamryn really enjoyed having other kids around! She was a little scared of their oldest (who is a boy and because of the stranger anxiety toward men recently, that made sense) but she got used to him even. She loved their 4-year-old though! Kamryn would laugh and laugh everytime the 4 year old would. Kamryn LOVED watching her move around so fast, and talk so fast, and laugh all of the time! It was fun to see them interact!

Overall it was a good week. Good experience and good memories! I'm glad to be home again! :)