Yes Mr. Schwarzenegger, I'm back!

I could go on and on about how bad I feel that it has taken me a few months to get back into the life of a blogger but I won't. What I will do is give you a short explanation as to why you have had to fill the "i am the luckiest" void (you have most likely been feeling) elsewhere. :)

After the haze of "computer problems" had lifted a bit I was feeling the pressure of posting all about our happenings. Well, then I let the pressure increase to the point where my stubborn self took over and said "I'm am not going to be pressured into posting, I am not, I am not, I AM NOT! (Yes I really can be this stubborn) So now, my somewhat rational side has kicked in and has decided to re-join the blogging world.

I have decided not to backtrack the past few months with words but I will post a few pictures for you, so you can see what we have been doing. (or should I say, what Emma has been doing)

The pumpkin farm

Our little Ladybug

The Ashland Halloween Parade with Nana

Picking out a Christmas Tree with Nana & Papa

Celebrating the December Birthdays

Opening presents

Our little angel girl has been busy, busy, busy. She is 11 months and a bit and she has so much personality and loves to talk to everyone and anyone. (well at least she thinks she can talk) When we are at the store she will be sitting in the cart and she will point or reach out to someone and kind of shout out to them until they look at her. Then she will start laughing and doing any trick she can think of to make them laugh back at her. She also thinks she can sing. At church when the choir gets up she can be heard "singing" throughout the chapel. If we go anywhere with accoustics (bathrooms, the foyar at church, the public library) she will shout ah ah ah ah!!! so that she can hear her echo. She is a very vocal little girl and Mark and I aren't sure what we are going to do when she's old enough to really talk.

Mark and I have been busily getting ready for our trip to the UK. We leave Friday and we will be back on New Years day. We are so looking forward to spending time with family and seeing sites. It will be a Christmas to remember.

I will try to keep you posted throughout our holiday.

Hope you all are having a great holiday season!

Happy Christmas!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder......right???

New Computer + Possible Virus = Nightmare!
Hope this explains my sudden absence from posting and from commenting on your blogs. I wish it were something exciting like Mark, Emma and I flew to some exotic paradise for a month where they have no electricity. Alas our reality is NOT exciting and quite frustrating. Fixing our problem will take time, patience & money, three things which are not in abundance in the Spires home at the moment. Please don't give up hope. As the Governator would say, "I'LL BE BACK!"

OK, ok, I've been tagged!

My cousin Jenn tagged me over a week ago and I have been dragging my feet a little to reply to her invitation. I am not a big fan of chain letters, chain posts, or any other type of chain, thus my reluctance. (I actually sent back a quilting square chain that had been sent to me - I know, I am mean!) But being that it is Jenn's birthday today (Happy 28th Jenn!), I have decided to complete the task at hand because I love her and because she's pregnant. And lets face it, who wants to let down a pregnant lady on her birthday? Not me I say, NOT ME!!

8 Random Facts!

1. I LOVE trivia. I am not especially good at it but I love facts of history, cultures, and people. I have recently purchased 5 trivia games from garage sales and I try and get Mark to play any free chance I get!Which leads me to my next fact....

2. I LOVE garage sales. I love going out on a Saturday morning and looking for the bright neon signs with the arrows pointing me to my next "Great Find"! Last Saturday I found a lady selling old toys (like the ones I use to play with as a child) and she gave me a box full for $1. And they were in Great condition!! It's treasures like this that keep me excited for Saturdays.

3. I am a scary movie watcher wanna be. I say I like scary movies until the scary part of the movie and then I think to myself "This isn't fun, why am I watching this?"

4. I like healthy cereals. You know the ones that most people add sugar to. I like to eat them plain. I like Raisin Bran, Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat! Yum!!

5. When I was little I tried to trick the tooth fairy with 2 dried up peas!

6. I love music. I have played the piano, the violin, the drums, the guitar, and soon the ukulele. (I wish I could still play them all) I have always been really good at remembering the lyrics to songs too. I can hear a song once or twice and know the words the next time I hear it months later. Sometimes I will hear an old song and start singing along to it and then I think "how do i know this song?"

7. I had my own radio show when I was little. Sure my guests were my sisters and baby brother, and my studio was my bedroom with a toy tape recorder and microphone, and my song breaks included me singing a song that I made up on the spot, but I was a HIT! I actually have a tape of it somewhere. Which will remain hidden!

8... is my lucky number!

Hope you enjoyed!

Hope you have a great day Jenn!

We've got tickets!

It's official!

I just called Mark at work to find out that he's scored

free tickets to see this band

next Tuesday night! Any guesses which band it is?

hint: According to Billboard chart statistics, this band is second only to the Beach Boys as the most successful American rock band of all time

Thoughts of a "wanna be" runner...

Ok so I have started running. I'm crazy, I don't even like running! But some things must be done and so here I am, a wanna be runner. (but lets face the facts, my out of shape body can really only muster up a slow jog!)
As I was running, eh um ... jogging... this morning I thought about all the random thoughts I have while trying to keep my mind off the fact that my legs feel like lead. So, I have decided to share with you all my random thoughts. Here we go...
Why do people litter? I am disgusted by those who can throw a piece of garbage on the ground without thought. We should all be more aware of keeping the world we've been blessed to live in clean and trash free. Kudos to the sweet lady I saw with her 2 children picking up trash around a neighborhood playground this morning. And at 6:45 in the morning too!!! What a great example she is setting for them! Maybe I should bring a rubbish bag with me when I take Emma on walks and pick up trash too! (with some hand sanitizer - I am still my mothers daughter ;)
So pick up your rubbish!

Happy International Friendship Week!

When I was younger I really, REALLY wanted to have a best friend. I wanted one girl who I could share all my secrets, have sleepovers with, and wear the ever famous necklace with. But I never really had just one friend that I felt especially close to. I felt sad when I would see other girls with their "bosom buddies" as Anne of Green Gables would put it. I felt a little left out. Although, as a young girl I did have many good friends that I spent many hours with playing barbies (Anne do you think my barbie can live in the mansion with you and Ken now? :), giggling, and jumping on the trampoline.


As I grew a little older the need for just one friend lessened and I felt lucky to have a group of friends to hang out with talking about boys, having sleepovers, going to Stake dances then watching SNL (back when it was good), and going to girls camp. At times some of us would be closer than others. We would fight about things that seemed really important at that ever fragile High School stage, and then months later we were great friends again. We all became each others "best friends" I think.





When we grew up a little more we were roommates at college. I have heard many people suggest not to room with your friends because it will ruin your friendship. I'd like to say to those people that they never had the opportunity to live with MY friends. Sure we got on each others nerves, but we could laugh about it later. We stayed up late talking about boys, had weekend visits with Kate from Rexburg, woke up early to Danielle playing G Love and Special Sauce, watching "Bring it on" and "Drive me Crazy" till Anne knew every line word for word, throwing parties where we would sport our roommate matching t-shirts, going to BYU games, trying to ambush our friends in the middle of the night with a water fight and Emily nearly getting pnemonia as our plan backfired. Good times!

We were each others chefs, maids, chauffeurs, answering service, confidantes, therapists, mentors, accomplices, supporters, listening ears, and sisters.
And in most of these cases we still are!

Sometimes months pass without speaking with them but when I need to chat I know they are just a phone call away. And when we talk it's as if we could just start right back up where we left off.

I look back at my youth and (what I call ) pre-adulthood, and think how I was blessed by having not "a best friend" but having many best friends. I could easily share by best friends necklace with each of them. I have been blessed by each of their friendships for different reasons. I believe I am who I am because of these girls. And now as I see their lives and the women they have become, they inspire me still. They are mothers, mother-to-be, future mother, writer, teacher, nurse, decorators, bloggers, bargain shoppers, supportive, understanding, passionate, witty, daring, articulate, funny, BEAUTIFUL, and my best friends!


Mark and Kate Butler

Taylor, Anne & Blaine Cropper

Travis & Danielle Wilson

Nate, Emily & Henry Williams

I miss you all and love you MORE!

p.s. I feel the need to explain that although I have picked these 4 lovely ladies to highlight, I want you all to know that I am thinking of all of you out there whom I call friends during this week o' friendship.

Update!

Ok so we've been back for two weeks. (Yikes has it really been that long?) And I am sorry that I have failed to give you an update of Emma's first plane ride, and our trip. Here are just some of our plane trip highlights:

Arriving at our one hall, 1-4 gate (that they might as well call 1), 3 airline airport, 1 hour before takeoff. Checking in and getting a little bit of a talking to by the male receptionist about how I need to plan better and get there earlier. (HELLO did you see the baby on my hip?) The female receptionist next to him overhearing what he was saying to me and rolling her eyes gave me a "I understand" look.

Having an empty seat next to us on our Medford to SLC flight. Emma did SO well and before we knew it, we were in Salt Lake.

Walking through the airport with Emma talking so much she was attracting a crowd. (seriously, people would purposely walk at our pace so they could watch Emma in her stroller)

Sitting next to the nicest guy (so nice that I could let slide the fact that he was toting his own spittoon along with him - YUCK) on a full plane from SLC to Phoenix. Him playing with her and letting us use his seat as a changing table after the stewardess said "I wouldn't use those bathrooms, let alone bring my child into one of them". Him saying as we landed "Now if you need help getting you bags when we land, just let me know".

Finally arriving at our destination, Phoenix, and Emma FINALLY cracking while her mother is grabbing: one HUGE hiking backpack, one portable crib, one car seat base (yes I decided to bring it), all while pushing her stroller out to the 100+ degree weather. Can you blame her?

Our trip (which you can see full detail of on our family blog here.)

Getting to the airport a couple hours early for our flight home and after talking to a very accommodating stewardess, getting a whole row of seats to ourselves and Emma sleeping the whole trip while her mom played on board trivia with other passengers through the seat console. (I LOVE trivia, so how could I have passed that up?)

Our final leg of the trip Emma being exhausted screamed the whole way up and the whole way down. But not to worry, her making faces and talking to everyone and anyone that would listen the rest of the trip helped our chances of still being liked after the place landed. And the sweetest lady turned to me during the flight and whispered, "you're a good mamma" while patting my shoulder.

Thanks so much for all of your advice. It really helped me feel a lot more confident going into the trip. I have some great friends and they give GREAT advice!

My words of advice now having gone through it, "You can make it through, but when you have the choice, don't travel without your husband!"

Thanks again!!
p.s. sorry I didn't take any pictures, you will have to use your imagination :) But here is a recent one of Emma just for fun.

To Mark on our Anniversary!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Flying with Emma

That's right Emma takes her first flight this weekend! We are headed to Arizona to visit some friends from Hawaii and for a family reunion. As I am preparing for the journey I have done some research and talked to a few friends on how to fly with a baby. I still feel a little anxious as to how Emma is going to react to the sounds and feelings of flying. I am also anticipating the amount of luggage I am going to have and how much harder it is going to check-in, go through security, board, de-board, and get our luggage. And all by my self!!!! (Mark is taking a later flight)

This is where you come in. I am turning to you my blogging buddies. I need some help - and maybe a little encouragement! What experiences have you had with flying with a baby or what advice have you heard or used that might be helpful? Anything would be GREAT!

Here are a few details and things that I have already planned on:

1. Emma is 7 months old and will not have her own seat (does anyone buy a seat for children under 2?)

2. She is really active and vocal ( I am a little worried that her talking will bother others).

3. I am planning on checking in her car seat and base and just taking her stroller ( don't they let you just put it at the door of the plane before you board and then they give it to you after you land?)

4. We are flying out at 6:30 (she is normally up at 7) and we have a 2 hour layover in SLC, then we arrive at 11:30 (2 hours past her nap time) . I am just hoping she will nap or just be so curious about her surroundings that she will make it through :)

5. We are flying out of Medford so it's going to be a turbo-prop plane until we reach SLC.

Ok I think that's it.... HELP!

Then & Now

This first picture was taken right before Mark and I were married.

This second picture was taken yesterday nearly 3 years later in the same spot.

(please disregard that I am still wearing the same sweatshirt 3 years later - I need a wardrobe makeover!!! )

Besides our cute addition, we have grown so much these past few years. Life hasn't always been easy, and it doesn't always go according to our plan. We get thrown trials that we wish that we could just pick up and throw back, but we have been blessed more than we ever could have imagined.

I know that my Heavenly Father's hand is guiding me in everything I do. And where ever we may go in this life, he will always be there as he has promised.

I am feeling like i am the luckiest today as I see a loving husband and father playing with his daughter. I love him more today than ever!!

Let Freedom Ring

I know that it is nearly a week overdue but I can't get this song out of my head! So I guess I figured that meant I needed to share what we did on Independence Day. When you are in Southern Oregon on the 4th of July there is no greater entertainment then the Ashland Parade. It was a hot day but we weren't going to let Emma (or Mark) miss out on their first 4th of July....shall we say... "Cultural Experience"!

Poor Emma was so tired and Hot! She was a good trooper though, she loved watching all the floats and she kicked her legs to the music.

You also wouldn't believe who came out for the festivities

enough said!

We were happy to see shortly after, the Missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They sang "Called to Serve" as they walked through the streets of Ashland. I have to say this gave me goosebumps. It helped remind me how blessed I am as a member of the church to have religious freedom. I was proud to see the white shirts and black name tags.

Then if there is ever a place to protest something, this would be the venue. A HUGE group of people holding signs stopped in the middle of the road, faced the library, and proceded to bow before it! They were protesting the recent closure of all the Southern Oregon Libraries. Parade watches cheered with support! To read more about said closures click here.

What a great parade! We love Ashland and we love their parade!

I feel so blessed to live in a country where we are free. So if I can't get this song out of my head thats fine..... LET FREEDOM RING!!

My tough little girl!

I dread Well Baby Check-ups! Today was Emmas 6 month check-up which meant another round of shots. It has been harder and harder each time. As she gets older and more aware, I feel worse about subjecting her to pain. Even though I know it's for her benefit. I realize that this way of thinking is something that I have to look forward to the rest of my life, as it is part of motherhood and parenting. I just need to buck up and be tough like my little Emma was when she got her shots today. She did really well! When the nurse was done she cryed a little, then whimpered a little, and by the time we were out making her next appointment she was laughing at her Nana again. (Who, by the way, has been so great to come to all Emmas check-ups to lend her support). I was so proud of my tough little baby girl!

Just a tip: My sister Carrie said give Emma tylonol before her appointment to help with the pain and that has made such a difference. Although she is a little loopy when we take her in, it has been a life saver and Emma recovers SOO much faster.

p.s. please sign in on the guest book I just installed below! Super fun!

IT'S FINALLY HERE.....

That's right! Today was the first official day of summer. Emma and I just had to get outside and enjoy the day. Although, she was a little sleepy and wasn't in a real summer'y mood (it was probably the heat).

Even though she wasn't her chipper self, we (ok..I) sang our favorite summertime primary song as we walked around the track at the nearby elementary school.

Oh, what do you do in the sumertime, when all the world is green?Do you fish in the stream, or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by? Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool, or swing in a tree up high? Is that what you do? So do I!
Oh, what do you do in the summertime, when all the world is green? Do you march in parades, or drink lemonades, or count all the stars in the sky? Is that what you do? So do I!

Well, we didn't do any of those things on this 1st day of summer but it's only just begun, Right?

What do you do in the summertime?

It's been awhile

My blog has been a little neglected these past two weeks. I am sorry for my absence and I will hopefully begin to make it up to you all with these.......

We went for a little picnic today and these are a few of the pictures we took.

If you haven't noticed, my blog looks a little different too! Well, I am making some changes but it's taking me a while. I will be done soon enough. So please come back!!!!

Out of touch

After recently reading my friends blogs and seeing there home makeovers and new hair cuts, I decided that it was time to reconnect myself with the world of fashion.

I have never really been known for my unique style or for being trendy or "in the know" when it comes to fashion. But I've always viewed myself as someone who is very observant and interested in what the latest trends are for those around me. In college I had roommates who were great examples of what to wear and where to shop. (although looking back at pictures I really should have taken a little more advice!) Then I moved to Hawaii where what you wear are mumus!

just kidding, (this is one of the only times I wore one) but really, you wear board shorts and t-shirts, and if you are wearing something nice you were most likely a "Summer Term Student" from Utah or Southern California who didn't understand the local style. (no offense)

When we moved back to the mainland I was pregnant and I couldn't fit into anything cute. Now here I am a (still out of shape, but working on it) mom who is too busy to think about what is cute to wear, and frankly goes days without wearing anything more than pj's with a pony tail holding back my recently, "unsuccessfully" highlighted, super long, washed if I am lucky, hair.

HELP!!!

I am taking suggestions on the following topics:

1. What should I do with my hair? (I have had it long since high school and I like it that way, I just need something different.)

this is what it has basically looked like for the past 10 years!

2. I know long tops are in style, but where do I get them, and what is a cute way to wear them?

3. I am in desperate need of a tan! What tanning products are good, or how can I get some sun without exposing Emma to the heat?

These are just a few things that have been on my mind, but I am
Open to Suggestions!

I would love to know what is in style!

I know I am in good hands!!

What have I done this week?

So I finally have a second to write something on my blog. What do I write about? I know, I will write about what I have done this week. Great Idea.......but what have I done this week?

I have killed 1 Giant Cricket:
I am sorry to admit that I am a bug killer. I hate admitting this, especially to my mother-in-law who is so kind to all living creatures. And I know that I should have compassion and just pick them up and move them outside to roam free but my fear gets the better of me and I have to take immediate action. Monday, as I was putting Emma down for her nap, I saw a HUGE bug on the recliner chair in her room. Not wanting it to get near Emma I quickly grabbed a shoe and slammed the shoe down on top of the creature. Now obviously I wasn't thinking clearly or I would have remembered that good ole' Newton teaches, "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." And that reaction being that if you throw something down on something padded, it bownces! So as the shoe and cricket came flying towards me I screamed and I mean SCREAMED (like a little girl, as Mark would say). And then Emma screamed. And then I laughed. And then Emma didn't know what to do. Needless to say, the cricket passed and all is right again.

I took Emma to the Doctor to find she had gained 2 pounds:

Emma has had a little trouble gaining weight lately. In our series of doctors appointments a decision was finally made to start her on formula. A decision that was extremely difficult for me as I wanted to nurse her exclusively for a year. After a few days of formula Emmas mood changed dramatically. She has been happier, more socialable, and a lot easier to soothe. I have felt such a calming feeling that this change although very difficult for me was one that was necessary and most beneficial for Emma. When we went to her appointement this week the doctor came in and couldn't believe that she had gained 2 lbs in just one week. She insisted that the nurse re-weigh her. She is still (as our friend Roger Hall says) a "dainty girl" but now she's got a little meat on her.
I went to WINCO 3 times:

I don't know what my deal was this week with the grocery store but we have become very close. First, I walked from our house to the store for milk on Monday, then on Thursday I made two trips, once for cheese and once for bread. I really do need to get better about making a shopping list.

I gave Emma 4 baths:

I know there have been 5 days this week (according to my calender that starts on Monday), so yes she was a little stinky for a day. I have actually thought a lot about how much you are suppose to bathe your child. My mom thinks that a child shouldn't go a day without a bath and she faithful washed all her kids everyday. I on the other hand try very hard but somedays the forces are against me.

So for your blogging pleasure, those are a few things that I DID do this week.

You know, since Emma was born I have not been able to accomplish my usual daily tasks and therefore I have been defining my days as unproductive. But from now on I am going to try my darndest to take note of what has been done and remember to recognize the product of my labors no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time.

Let me explain...

I try very hard not to be the boastful type, but my expressive side that needs to explain everything in great detail sometimes gets in the way. So I am sorry if this sounds braggy but I feel like I should explain a few reasons why

I AM THE LUCKIEST,

I truely have been blessed in my life. This is our little family. We are few in numbers, but not in personality. (Although Emma has most of it!)

I'm lucky enough to be married to the most handsome, compassionate, adventurous,

did I mention HOT,

patient, kind, understanding, funny,

sweet, and devoted man.

He is a great husband and father

and I am the luckiest girl to be sealed to him for time and all eternity.

I get to be the mother of a happy, passionate, smart little girl who I am certain will be teaching me more than I could ever teach her.
She has many faces,

Happy

Curious

Serious

Mad

Silly

and just dang Cute!

Before you have a baby you hear many people say how hard motherhood is, but that it is even more rewarding. Well, by golly they are right! I couldn't have imagined the struggles, but I couldn't have imagined the joy that I feel when I squeeze her or hear her laugh. I am the luckiest because I get to wake up to this little girl every morning!

I use to live in Hawaii. HELLO! How lucky was I to live in paradise?

Not only did I have a tan year round for three years, man do I miss that, but Mark and I met there and I am and the luckiest that it will always be home to us.

I have travelled to many exciting places!

Cape Town, South Africa

London, England

Maui, Hawaii


Just to name a few! I am the luckiest to have had these opportunities of a lifetime.



I grew up in a loving home with parents who loved me and taught me the right way. And with siblings who were a great example to me.
(sorry this is the most recent and complete family pic I have)

I also grew up a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In which I have been blessed to know who I am, where I came from and where I am going, it's a knowledge that blesses my life everyday!

I am the luckiest!