As of recent...

We are currently the proud owners of a new home! We finally closed on the 2nd of December and have spent the last week moving in and getting settled. We've been having fun setting up house and decorating for Christmas. Elena loves her new room and any time we go somewhere she asks when we're going home. Luckily the transition was very easy for her. We had a great Thanksgiving, getting to spend time with both of our familes. Also, on the 4th of December, Austin and I celebrated our 5th anniversary!!! It's really been 5 years, wow, time flies:o) It really has been the best 5 years, how can it not be when you spend it with your best friend. We didn't do anything specific to mark the event since we were still moving into our house, but it was great anyway. Love you Gust!! Well I don't quite have pics of the finished house but will post some soon.

Disney on Ice - Princesses

Saturday night we suprised Elena by taking her to Disney on Ice - Princesses. She was really excited once we got there and found out why we made her wear her crown and walk a block in the freezing cold.

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Almost Done!!!

Just adding a few finishing touches and getting ready to move in!!!(These are just a few quick pics I snapped today with my phone...more to come when completed:o)

Name Suggestions?

We are right back where we started when we were trying to name Elena. Once again, nothing seems to work. We settled on Elena cause that was the only name we both agreed on. Now we have no idea what to name baby girl #2. We're looking for something elegant and poised like Elena but not too old fashioned or too common. Any suggestions? Anything and everything will help!

-Halloween Fun-

For months Elena has been telling everyone that she wanted to be a "tiger for a king" for Halloween(who know what she meant by that...so we just assumed she meant a tiger:o) But I couldn't find a Tiger costume that I liked and was willing to pay for, so I convinced her to be a kitty. While we were shopping for cat ears and a tail, she saw a set of tiger ears, tail, and bowtie and remembered how bad she wanted to be a tiger. Needless to say, she went as a tiger with a bowtie:o)We went with our friends to Jordan Landing for some early trick-or-treating since Austin had to be to work by 630. Here is our tiger and her friend, Kaden the monkey. She kept asking him if he was going to eat his banana:)
Friday, Elena went to a costume party at school and had fun with all of her friends in their costumes!

Witches Night Out

A few weekends ago we went to Gardner Village to Witches Night Out. It was so much fun to see all the women and men who went all out and dressed up for this occasion. While we were there Elena got her picture taken with one of the celebrity witches:) She was so scared of some of the witches than when we told her to stand by one, she refused. That is until one of them personally asked her to pose for a picture. Elena didn't dare tell a witch no! So that is why Elena looks scared to death standing next to this witch:o) It was so funny!!! We also had Elena ride one of the ponies at the petting zoo. This was her first time on one and she LOVED it!

More House Pics

Front Entrance

Kitchen


Living Room


Nursery



Elena's Room

Master Suite

In case you were wondering...

Change

Most of the time I hate it. It causes stress, takes time to adjust, and makes you miss those good old days. It's denfinately been happening at our house.

Austin:

A recent promotion had us all thrilled when we learned of the awesome pay raise, benefits, and a pretty decent looking schedule when he would be working 3 out of the 4 weeks of the month and have a whole week off. That was until we experienced his turn on the night shift. Seriously thought I was more independant than I really am. Even though it's just a few nights in a row I have to sleep by myself, it's harder than I thought it would be. You see, Aus and I are still in a relationship where the only thing that gets us through a work day is that we get to be together in the evenings, cheesy I know, but it's true. Needless to say when Austin isn't with me at night I can't sleep, I hear EVERYTHING, and I end up calling him at 3am just so we can talk for a bit. This change is definately going to take some getting used to.

Kara:

This is how I feet right now...

When we first got pregnant I thought it was going to be a lot like my first pregnancy with Elena. Not a chance. First of all my immune system is pretty weak right now. I seem to be catching whatever is going around! I feel exhausted all the time and can't wait until I don't have to get up for work anymore. And I seemed to have ballooned out just in the last week. Nothing fits!!! It's not a good day when even your fat pants don't fit. In the end though this type of change will be worth it!!!(fingers crossed)

Elena:

She has recently been having a hard time at school lately with bullying. Meaning, she's the bully!!! It doesn't make it any easier that I was her teacher and she thought she could get away with it. We changed that. She has a new teacher now thats trying to crack down on her and get it under control. Elena definately doesn't look like the type to just randomly walk up to the biggest kid in the class and deck him for no reason! But that's her. She really is a good girl at home but the class brat at school. Isn't is supposed to be the other way around? Any suggestions to tame her rough behavior? Hopefully this baby will be rough and tough with her so she has someone to wrestle and can take it!

House Update

Now that things are rolling along it seems like it's going so fast!(Definately a good thing:) The roof is on and windows in, just in time for the bad weather, with plumbing and electrical on it's way. Before you know it, we'll have insulation and dry wall up! Yay!!!

First Photo

First photo, 12 wksSecond photo, 14 wks

Our house

The foundation has been set. Nestled in the foothills of the Oquirrhs. Scheduled to be fininshed begining of November...Can't wait!!!

End of Summer

Onion days...

The time has come...

...to let you all in on our little secret...

We're having

a

Baby!!!

I am 12 weeks and due on March 11, 2010. We can't wait and Elena is so excited to be a big sister!

Sweet child 'o mine

Seriously, so cute! Just can't get enough of this:o)

A bit of humor...

Craziness!!!

Wow, so much going on there is hardly time to blog about it...But here we go:) Our 4th weekend was celebrated in Nephi with family and friends. It started Friday at the Payson pool which was pretty fun except Austin jumped off the diving board and snagged his toe on the bottom of it which cut out a huge chunk of skin(I have pics but it's pretty gross so I don't plan to post 'em) then later that night with a birthday party for Aus (whose b-day is actually the 4th of July!) We just bbq'd and hung out. Saturday the 4th we ended up at the gun range shooting at clay pigeons...I was pretty good if I do say so myself! Everyone was hitting pretty good once we got the hang of it:o) Then that night we sat in the car up on the hill for an hour waiting for fireworks, only to find out they're canceled last minute because of the rain and lightning...Boo, we were totally bumed.

Then this past weekend we ended up in Nephi again for the UTE STAMPEDE! It was so much fun...it seems the rodeo gets better every year. Elena loved watching the riders and horses and all the stunt acts!

Next weekend...LAMB DAYS!!!!