Too young

Ryan's parents were over here yesterday.  His mom told me that they had some company for dinner the other night, and the dad commented on mine and Ryan's family picture (the family picture in my header) and commented: "She looks too young to have two kids!"

Glad I still LOOK too young--and I'm not just too young! :)

This made me think==Ryan and I have often found ourselves in situations where we are younger, if not the youngest, of the crowd we are with.  Ryan, at work, has found people who are astonished when he tells them he is only 24.  I have run into it when I'm doing things with our ward.  And we realize that most people our ages aren't even married yet, let alone have 2 kids!


But I feel so blessed to be able to have 2 kids.  To be graduated already. And to be "successful" at this point--even if it isn't at everyone else's "normal" standards for ages.  We are doing what is right for our family.  And I love it!  wouldn't trade it for anything!

The results are in!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support with the GMAT yesterday.  Ryan did well and scored a 710 out of 800.  Here are some stats so you kinda know what that means (and don't quote me exactly on these numbers because I am just remembering what Ryan told me...but you get the jist!):

BYU average this year is about 680.

Harvard has 50% of their class this year has between 680 and 740

Stanford average this year is 730.

Wharton (Philadelphia) has 80% of their class between 680 and 750

And the difference between a 710 and a 740 is really only like 2 questions...so it probably wouldn't be very beneficial to try to test again.  This is an EXCELLENT score! :)  

So, Ryan fits in with all those schools he would like to apply to!  :)  We're excited--probably will be applying to schools next fall!  We'll keep everyone posted! :)

You know you have...

You know you have a 2 year old when:

-EVERYTHING is a big deal.

-She'll talk about EVERYTHING (even when I don't understand exactly what she is saying)

-She has opinions of her own.

-Every little thing is a "discussion"

-She waves to everyone

-she loves to be the center of attention

-she learns something new every day

-she reacts in order to get a reaction

-she recognizes when you are upset and helps to comfort you

-she recognizes what will push your buttons and make you give in

-she can start saying prayers herself

-she will often need a playmate (mom) but sometimes is content to play on her own.

And all these things have already happened this morning in the hour and a half that we have been awake!  

Yep! I have a 2 year old! :) 

(side note: my almost 3 month old will cry and cry and cry until he sees my face and then he will stop.  Interesting how fast they learn.  :)  The downside, however, is that it makes it difficult for him to go to sleep even when he is exhausted!)

Oh!  AND Wish Ryan luck!  He's taking the GMAT as we speak!  He got a good score on the practice tests so he should be fine--but it's still stressful!  Our future decisions rest on this score!  (Kinda weird ... we're growing up so fast ... sniff! jk) :)

Gifts 9-12 -- :)

Sorry this post is a little late--it's been a crazy few days! :)

On Thursday I received the rest of my gifts for our "anniversary week".

(No pictures though..sorry!  They were just as exciting and memorable however!) :)

9- Stick on tattoos---I've been wanting to play with tattoos with Kamryn because they are fun and easier to keep on than stickers!  Kamryn loves loves stickers---but won't keep them on and then gets frustrated.  Tattoos are the perfect answer! :)

10- A mix on the ipod of romantic songs! :) (We had Itunes money to use from gift cards we've received over the past couple of years!) :) So so cute!

11- Look back through wedding pictures and our wedding videos.  Ahh..so many good memories! :)

12- The Conference Ensign from April 2010.  We never bought a copy, but kept meaning to.  And a cute sensitive letter from my ever-loving husband.

What a great way to end a perfect week! Love you sweetie!  Onto another year of fun and memories!

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!!) ;)