5 Years and Counting!

Today is Wes and my 5 year Anniversary! 

I knew the instant I met Wes that he was someone that I wanted to be with. After our very first date, we were inseparable! He has been my very best friend, my example, my hero and most of all, the love of my life! After all these years, I can still glance over at him and feel the butterflies in my stomach start to dance. How I love spending each today and all my tomorrows with this amazing man! I am the luckiest!

Amy and Wes, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

First comes love....

Then comes marriage...

Then comes baby in a baby carriage!

Happy Anniversary to the one I love. Thank you for continuing to make me laugh, for your continuous hard work to provide for our little family, for each memory and for loving me. You are my favorite!

Let's Talk About Me!

My sister, Colett, did a tag that I thought was pretty cool. She also put a hex on anyone who doesn't do it, and that is the last thing I need right now! It's a good "get to know you" questionnaire. It asks different questions than one's I have seen in the past. I'm a pretty open book so it will be interesting to see how well you know me and if you learn anything new about me. Tag you're it!

1. Do you like Blue Cheese? Blue cheese. Just say it a few times out loud and you get the picture.

2. Have you ever smoked? I tried it in high school once to see what all the hype was about. It made me cough up a lung and then sent me into vertigo and I nearly puked. Why do people do this and make it a habit? Nasty.

3. Do you own a gun? Not me, but Wes has one. It kind of freaks me out, but at the same time it's nice to know it's around in case of emergency...or, if I just loose it one day and decide to go track down all those people who have pissed me off. (just kidding!)

4. What do you think of hot dogs? They are pretty gross but every now and then one just hits the spot. The spot is right in the middle of my stomach that bulges out over my jeans.

5. Favorite Christmas movie? Serendipity. It's not necessarily a Christmas movie but the first few minutes and last minutes of the movie take place at Christmas. It was the movie Wes and I watched on our first date!

6. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? A huge glass of 2% milk. I like to dump about a pound of Carnation Instant Breakfast into, too!

7. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I made a bracelet out of some antique buttons from my grandmother's collection and a few I bought at antique stores. I lost it and it makes me sick to my stomach to think about it. Thanks for bringing it up.

8. Favorite hobby? It's a 3 way tie between sewing, crafting and decorating. I could spend hours each day doing these things. The possibilities are endless if I only had the time and money!

9. Do you have A.D.D? No way. I'm polar opposite. I love to just sit and daydream and have absolutely nothing to do. It also drives me nuts to start a project and walk away from it unfinished. 

10. What's one trait you hate about yourself? I have a hard time letting go of grudges and I have a really easy time just writing people off. If they have made me mad they are pretty much non-existent to me. I don't even think twice about it and even consider my life being better off without them.

11. Middle name? Lee. Like the jeans only not as cool.

12. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment: 

1) I'm getting mad thinking about the people from question #10. 

2) I'm so excited for the fall season to start! 

3) A bowl of ice cream sure sounds good right now...at 10:00 p.m.!

13. Name 3 drinks you drink regularly. Well, we already discussed the milk issue. Love it! I also love lemonade and Vitamin Water by the caseloads at Costco. The XXX flavor is where it's at!

14. Current worry? Will all the things that need to get done on our house be finished before the snow falls? 

15. Current hate right now? Gas prices

16. Favorite place to be? The Bighorn Mountains. It is where I can find peace, happiness and myself.

17. How did you bring in the new year? I honestly can't remember!? It must have been real spectacular!

18. Where would you like to go? Greece and Italy. I love that Wes will retire young and we can go travel the world together!

19. What shirt are you wearing right now? One from Urban Outfitters that Wes bought me a few years ago.

20. Do you like sleeping in satin sheets? Can't say that I have ever done it but it sounds a little creepy and porn-ish.

21. Can you whistle? Yes, while I work.

22. Favorite color? Brown. Especially in fashion and decor.

23. Would you be a pirate? I have mixed feelings about this one. I like that they are so free and nomadic - but at the same time I would feel bad stealing from people and never getting a shower.

24. What songs do you sing in the shower? I always forget to sing in the shower. I also don't know any songs by heart. Is that weird?

25. Favorite girl's name? It's a secret and if our next child is a girl than you will all find out what it is.

26. Last thing that made you laugh? Another thing I have mixed feelings about. I watched a mentally handicapped kid try to rollerblade today. In my head I was totally cheering him on and thinking, "That is so awesome...way to go!" but then it made me giggle when I heard him say over and over, "crap..oh-no, whoa, oh crap...oh-no, whoa, oh crap!" It was really pretty cute!

27. Worst injury you ever had? I was biking the Wasatch Crest trail when I hit a tree root at 20 mph and endo'd. I flew about 15 feet and cut up the whole left side of my body. 

28. Do you love where you live? Utah, yes. It is absolutely beautiful here. Actual street? Let's just say we're working on it.

29. What's your favorite book(s)? To Kill a Mockingbird

30. What is your favorite candy? Rollos, Milky Way, and Starburst

31. Favorite sports team? Absolutley none of them. Luckily I married a man that shares the same thought.

32. What song do you want played at your funeral? You're listening to it: "Death Came and Got Me" by Rosie Thomas

Surf's Up!

You would think things like choppy water, the boat breaking down and cool, cloudy skies would keep this group of men out of the water, but NO! Saturday afternoon was spent on Utah Lake and despite a few minor setbacks, it was well enjoyed! We always love an afternoon on the boat with good friends and Reese's Pieces!

Once we got about a mile out in the water, the boat decided to break down. And what does "boat" stand for? "Bill-On-Another-Thousand"! These things are so fickle! We breathed in a lot of exhaust fumes trying to figure it out, but with a view like this...who can complain!?

The clouds began to seperate and the sun shone through when Wes came to the rescue and got the boat started! Not having to swim back to shore is a very good thing! You are our hero! 

Riding the waves! The water was too crazy for 

Wes to let go of the rope. He does a wicked awesome ride though!

Seperated at birth: Wes and Andrew

Holly and I really want to try it but on that day, 

reading magazines and staying dry and warm is much more important.

Bitchin' wave brah'! Just like a pro!

The gang watching Stu Doane getting ready to take off.

Just another day in paradise!

Taken from a scene in the movie Titanic. "I'm King of the world!!"

At the end of the day, the men worked hard scrubbing down the boat, putting all the gear away and cleaning up the garbage....while Holly and I made faces in the side of their Escalade! We do what we can to pitch in and do our part!

On Thursday I had the opportunity to attend my Aunt Margaret's retirement ceremony and luncheon at the state capitol building. This incredible woman has worked for the Utah Highway Patrol for 24 years! She has done everything from vice work to fraud investigations. Her resume' is quite impressive to say the least! Margaret had no intentions of becoming an officer of the law until one day when she turned on the TV and watched the Cagney and Lacey show. Margaret was completely inspired! She made one call to find out how she could become an investigator and this once aspiring actress and model's life took a major detour. She was one of 5 women and several dozen men in the police academy. Her odds were very much against her but she remained strong and dedicated! She put her whole heart and soul into her career and Utah is a better place because of all her hard work to keep us safe for so many years. Congratulations Aunt Margaret!

Who can resist a women in uniform!

Certifiably over it!

Do you think we are related?

Shaking hands with the peeps before she says a few words

A nice turnout of family and friends

Cousin Jason and Margaret showing how official she is....or was.

After the ceremony Margaret took all the ladies and kids on a tour of the capitol 

building. It is in the last stages of renovation and it looks incredible! 

I was amazed by all the intricate (and expensive) details!

Is it inappropriate to let your child have a go at the stairs leading the to Supreme Court? 

The artwork on the rotunda depicts stories about Utah's history. The chandelier is approximately 12 feet in diameter! That is the size of my bedroom!

Can you imagine some guy standing on a ladder day after day with a chisel carving the details into the marble. I am sure he needed some serious meds before the task was complete!

A quiet and spectacular building!

Zoo-tastic

We made our annual visit to Hogle Zoo today!

I am an animal lover through and through so being able to see these amazing creatures is very exciting to me! I frequently tell Wes how death doesn't really scare me because I know that my ancestors are not the only ones who are going to be there to welcome me in. I have big plans for when I enter the Pearly Gates! There will be giant grizzly bears that need there bellies scratched, lions that need to be wrestled and gorillas that need a high-5! Can you just imagine how great it will be?!  The zoo is the closest thing I have until my time is up! I know there are a lot of other animal lovers out there who think that zoos are cruel and seeing the animals in cages is too depressing. But, as much as I love God's furry and feathered creatures, I still enjoy a nice bloody steak, a tall glass of milk, Thanksgiving dinner and visits to the local zoo! While there, I couldn't help but wonder which of the animals Heavenly Father created and which ones Heavenly Mother had a hand in. I have a feeling man was in charge of this one while woman was in charge of this one.  It was fun to watch Emerson marvel at all the different animals and see his attention span lasting more than 2 minutes at the elephants and the giraffes. We look forward to next year when he is big enough to ride the carousel! Our front row parking spot and the overcast skies made it a perfect day to watch some animals do their thing....literally. We watched two tortoise's mate! 

Wes is not a fan of getting his picture taken!

Feeling the spray of the waterfall 

Please endure a few more pictures, honey!

Apparently we need to go that-a-way!

Wes and the gorilla are on the same "I hate pictures" team.

So close Emerson, so close!

I don't know why the camera freaked out and made us look like ghosts in this picture? 

Freaky!

No trip to the zoo is complete without a sip from the germ infested drinking fountains!

Goooooaaaal!

E. and daddy watching the 9,000 lb. elephants

Reflection

No one can tell you all that parenting entails. They may try, but thankfully most fail. They say it will be hard at times, they say that it will turn your world upside down, or they may say that life as you know it will be over. What they forget to mention is how everyday is a grand adventure for your curious child and that you are the lucky one to be a witness to it all and on occasion even find yourself a student by simply observing their unblemished lives! The innocence of a young child is astounding to me. If we could only see ourselves and others the way children do, I believe this world would be a much better place. What joy it must be to accidentally happen upon your reflection and have rapture in what you see instead of find fault and be quick to critique! Maybe we could all learn a lesson from the population that exists at under 3 ft. tall!