Memorial Day Weekend

Before I post the pictures that I promised at the end of last post, I must comment on some funny things from the last couple days:

1. I came home from work on Tuesday and told Scott I posted on my blog and he should read it.
He asked me what it was about.
          "YOU!" I said to him. (Same answer I gave him the last time I posted and a few times before too).
          "Oh my gosh. You've gotta stop writing blog posts about me; It's so embarrassing! I'm going to stop doing  nice things for you so you can't blog about them."
I started laughing.
          "It's not funny, it's the truth! You can't reveal all my secrets!"

2. I learned a valuable life lesson while jogging yesterday morning. Never give your kid blueberries in the stroller...especially when they have white pants on.

3. After our run, Sydney decided she should wear my shoes and I should wear hers. It was cute to begin with; I even humored her and stuck what I could of my foot into one of her tiny silver sandals. She tried desperately to get the ankle straps to cross over my foot let alone strap them together and started freaking out when they wouldn't. I tried to explain to her in baby language the best I could that they won't fit but she just kept chasing me around the kitchen in my big floppy tennis shoes, holding her sandals at me and screaming so loud so that I would somehow make her tiny sandals fit my big, adult-sized, Cinderella's step sister foot for like 10 minutes straight! Funny baby. I love her. :)

Here are pictures from the BBQ-filled weekend. Not shown is the family BBQ at Mel's house and the pool party BBQ. These below are mostly from the block party BBQ.

He fits the part well, doesn't he?!

Time to crash this party!!

"Oh my goodness; Can you believe this?!"

 

"Time to take matters into my own hands. Outta the way, fake cop car!"

"Um...daddy!!! DADDY!!!!

The firemen let Mel climb to the top of their ladder and get some sweet shots.

There she is! Don't worry, she's only 8 months pregnant and super uncoordinated and unbalanced. 

Aunt Shell

Fully clothed...

Might as well not be clothed...

aaaaaand NAKED BABY!!!! with a diaper

Sooo much fattness aaalll weekend loooong

Remembering Aunt Jennifer and G-ma Welling on Memorial Day

Pre Ring-Around-The-Rosie warm-ups

I've never seen so many American flags in one place. This was very cool to see! It was right off the highway.

Flag pictures courtesy of Melissa

Grandpa tellin' a lil' bit about the past

Cute cousins! They are friends :)

Later in the evening when it was absolutely PERFECT outside we all went blueberry picking in a friends blueberry field...It was so fun!!

Reminded me of when we were kids ourselves...

You Are Cordially Invited...

...To the Rest Of Our Lives

Scott and I aren't perfect. If you want to think that we are perfect, then jump down to where the pictures in this post start, or click here or here for something similar. If you wanna know the truth, keep reading.

Let's think of the most recent imperfection in our relationship... Hmm..Oh, yes. It was yesterday (Memorial Day), at the pool. We took Syd swimming for the first time since it's been open. Most of my side of the family was there, and for some reason, when we first arrived I kept getting snippy at Scott. I think I even hit him (hardly..) with the pink pool noodle I begged him for from Walmart earlier that day. I honestly don't remember what the little trivial matters were that made me be a brat. I usually don't remember them, but they do happen (naturally), more often than I will remember. 

That being said, and having only been married a short 3.5 years, we have many more years to experience several more trivial as well as more significant issues, problems and trials that will teach us how to truly become that "perfect" that we aren't right now. Hitting people with noodles and being a brat is not a way to get there. BUT, Scott's way is. That's why I look up to him so much and why I'm learning so much from him,   literally every day, from one trivial matter to the next.

Scott's Way

Even before we were married, he told me he had the goal to be the best husband. A perfect husband. That's a little extreme and seemingly impossible, and I'm sure there are a lot of guys who say that, but even a midst our very obvious weaknesses, we still view each other as "perfect" because we see each other for who we are and what our potential is. We strive to help each other increase our potential and become a better husband, wife, and person.

Scott doesn't let my sometimes bratty behavior be a barrier in our progression together as a couple. And I stand in awe at his humility, forgiveness and his own daily repentance...even with the smallest matters. And more than just getting past the problems and issues of life, he creates the good things that happen. They don't just happen, people. 

Whenever we hear a sad story about a friend or a loved one's marriage gone sour or broken, he has this one  thing he always says to me, as if it's advice for our own relationship:

"You gotta keep the love alive!"

And so he does....even when I'm a brat...

  Need I say more?!

Speaking of weddings, Sydney loves to go into our closet and pick out my red wedding shoes and wear them. She's actually way good at walking in them. 

 She got to this point on the stairs before one finally fell off :)

She also tries to put her own pants on nowadays. She can't get past putting both legs through one hole, though. After this picture she wanted to try on more, which Scott ended up taking off before we left the house. He said he removed 7 pairs of pants, shorts, skirts and leggings. :) 

I have a few pictures on my phone from this past, very eventful Memorial Day weekend, but the majority of them I'll have to get from my sisters after work today, WHICH I am about to leave for the last time at this particular location. Until next time, when I have more pictures and stories from the holiday weekend!

In the meantime, here's a sneak preview. And please don't be shy! Please leave a comment! I'd love to to hear from anyone and everyone! :)

 

Happy Memorial Day!

Some Thoughts On The Future

Thursday May 24, 2012
I thought when Scott and I did summer sales together for APX (now Vivint) 3 summers ago that that was the last time we’d get to be employees together. It was kinda sad because we really enjoyed working together. Many husbands and wives don’t ever get to be co-workers (at least in the professional world). But Nope! We also served food together at the MTC cafeteria until he became a Spanish teacher there (promoted! haha) and I had a baby. I thought for sure that was it, but nope! It’s been a luxury for us both to be done with school (at least our undergrad), because it’s given us the opportunity to work together again as well as both be there for Syd. I know that spending time with Sydney is so important to Scott, he absolutely loves and enjoys it, and I know that once he’s in medical school, he will have a lot less time to spend at home with us. So that’s why with this job we share, he only works 3 days a week and I work the other 2 so that he can spend time with Sydney before the next 4, 12, 25+ years hit. 
Next Thursday and Friday are our last days at this job. Potentially, it could be my last day ever in the workforce. I thought I’d had my last day of work before Sydney was born, so I guess you never know. It kind of feels like I’m waiting to get out of school for summer break- although, once "the break" is here, I have a feeling it’ll be busier than it has been while working because days at home are always busier than days at work. I’d still rather be at home. Over the next couple of months we will have no obligations that will pull us apart as there typically and always are in real life, like school or work, and we are willing to forego a month and a half of work to have that break with each other. Money isn't everything; and even now when we could use it most, we could use each other more.

Scott found out on Monday that he got selected for the HPSP army scholarship to put him through medical school, should we choose to accept it. I think we already know that we are going to take it, but we aren’t admitting that 100% yet because once we actually commit, that means a big change in future for us. That decision has been a long time coming, too. Depending on how you look at it, though, the 4 years of active duty paying back the military after residency is small in the grand scheme of things, and we are excited for the adventure.

WHY I LOVE SCOTT :)

On Monday, Scott sent me a short email that was very simple but almost made me cry because it reminded me of his constant goal to be a better husband, father and person and how he's always willing to do the work it takes to become better. In that moment, I felt extremely grateful and blessed to have such a great person as my lifelong and eternal companion.

He sent me two links. A link to this short video clip: http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#love-her-mother

 ...and a link to this talk, which is what the video is based on.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/love-her-mother?lang=eng

Then he wrote:

"I want to listen to the talk for FHE and then do something to love Sydney's mother like go somewhere or do something. Think of something you want me to do to show my love for you that would be fun for our family!"

(FHE = Family Home Evening - designated time we spend together as a family each week)

My response:

"That made me tear up. That is why I love you! You are always trying to be the best husband, father and person you can be and willing to do the actions that get you there. Thank you for doing this tonight I'm excited! Let's go to Shawnee mission park and have a picnic!!"

It was absolutely PERFECT outside and the wise counsel given in that talk and video seemed to prove worthwhile as Sydney, who is very independent and not the most cuddly baby ever, could clearly feel the love and kept coming up to us, one and then the other, to give daddy a kiss, then mommy a kiss; Daddy a hug, then mommy a hug. She did this several times at random throughout the evening. She's a happy girl because she has a daddy who knows how to love her mother. :)

Scott, who is training for a 100-mile bike ride with my dad in a week, brought his bike in the car and rode home from the park so he could get in some miles before the sun set. It was a beautiful evening.  

ME ON THE NEWS

Here are the 2 clips-

1st one (before lunch with KCTV 5-aired at 5pm on Tuesday):

Wanna know what I was "busy" typing in that footage of me at my computer? I was in a Google document so what I was typing randomly in the middle of my scripture study got saved. Here it is haha. Please ignore all the errors- I was trying to appear professional ;).


"Right now there is a news footage guy filmine me about the breakin that happened last night and it is very intersting because usually I am the one that is doing the interviewing. When the lady bput the nmicrophone in my face I wanted to grab it from her because I am used to hoding the microp

• There is another guy filming me this time---this time it’s channel 9. I just got lunch at chick fil a and when I came back channel 9 wanted to interview me ha! funny funny"

2nd one (after lunch with KMBC 9 News-aired at 6pm on Tuesday):
Band Of Thieves Hits OP Office Park - Kansas City News Story - KMBC Kansas City

Oh, and a friend asked me who made me smile at the end of the ch. 9 interview (if you noticed the random cheesy smile..)
It was the short, cute old lawyer who I work with that wouldn't interview with the news but wanted in on all the action so he was thoroughly enjoying himself watching in the background and when I caught a glimpse of him behind the reporter he had the funniest smile of enjoyment on his face and it made me smile. hah :)

RANSACKED at work

I woke up to a phone call from the office manager where Scott and I work at 7am before my alarm even went off telling me what to expect when I got to work this morning. Scott and I were like- "It's probably not even that  bad...psh." But I got to work and it was as bad as she described it. 

This is my desk at this work location

I work in a 4-story building and every floor and office was broken into and ransacked for all electronics. Each office door was pried open with a double crowbar or something and they rummaged through every drawer and took every laptop, flat screen TV and valuable electronic (mostly apple) devices. There must have been quite the crew here because just on our floor there are about 20 locked offices. They hit every floor as well as the office building across the parking lot.

I made a comment to Scott last night when he told me he left our precious crumbled up, paper lunch bag of $100 worth of Chick-Fil A calendar coupons on the desk at work. I said: "What if someone steals them?!!!!" He just laughed at my sincere worry.
Besides feeling bad for everyone at work's loss and feeling bad for my boss, my only personal belongings left at work were those coupons- but never fear! I found them when I got out of bed and checked Scott's work bag. He had brought them home after all. :) Whew! That would have been quite the loss. Just kidding.

one of the offices-ransacked

A couple police cars in view from the 2nd floor

TV in the Conference Room

I'M ON THE NEWS! haha

I was about to go use some of those coupons for lunch when the KCTV 5 news reporter lady came back up front telling me that the tenants told her to go interview me instead. Thanks guys. After graduating from one of the top programs in the country with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, I finally got to experience what it's like to be the one interviewed instead of being the interviewer. It's much more fun to be the interviewer. I even gave them advice on some B-Roll (background footage) they should get and they were impressed with my broadcast knowledge. I left for lunch and got a pic of their van parked right infront of my car. 

When I got back from lunch, the KCTV 5 van was gone and this one replaced it a few spots over. I just KNEW what was coming for me, again. 

I was a lot more natural for the 2nd interview, with KMBC 9 News- so if you are going to watch in 20 minutes at 5 and/or 6pm (Kansas City time), then watch channel 9. I'll be leaving work around then so I won't get to make fun of myself on TV. Dang it!! 

I'll try and find the footage on the news websites later and post it in my next blog. haha so funny that I'm on the news tonight. It just cracks me up for some reason. Pretty much everyone is upset that it happened but have good attitudes about the whole situation. So unfortunate! Anyways, I'm about to leave work. Later!!

Kansas City, Missouri LDS Temple Opening!!

I'm so excited to have a new temple near my hometown! It's been very neat to be a part of all the opening events of the Kansas City, Missouri LDS Temple, and share it with many others. It made me so happy that my 2 best friends from high school/growing up came with me to the open house tour and got to see/experience one of my favorite places on earth! Thanks for coming Heather and Mel!













I went up to Liberty, Mo to help volunteer as an usher for the public open house for the temple and also got to help serve 3000 youth snacks/lunch that performed at the cultural celebration the night before the dedication of the temple. It was fun! They let us take some of the snack surplus home with us, too. I wish I had taken more than just 6 of those jumbo cookies!

At our stations...It only took 5 hours to hand this and more out

There were over 3000 of these staring back at me for hours

Pro cookie hander-outer. Michelle did Slim Jims and Mel did granola bars. 

Part of the youth in the background, practicing for that night's "Cultural Celebration."
We were proud to be on the "Food Crew."

Excerpt from my personal journal--
"The Kansas City, Missiouri temple cultural celebration and dedication was this weekend. We volunteered Saturday Morning to serve food/snacks to the 3000 youth and got tickets to see the performance Saturday night. It was a great experience! So fun to be a part of. President Monson was there and we Sat 6 rows in front of him! He was so cute and funny. 


Scott changed Sydney’s diaper in the car after the celebration and shut the trunk with the keys in it so we all jammed into Melissa and Mike’s van on the way home. There were 11 of us in a 7 passenger van. It was pretty funny. Scott and I went back to downtown KC (my 3rd time in one day) to pick up the car once we got home and got another key and made a date out of it, just walking the streets and seeing which skyscraper hotel was the nicest and had the best view from it’s top floor. It’s a tradition we started on one of our first dates while exploring downtown Dallas."

A few of us at the Cultural Celebration.

Good 'ol President Monson. Funny, funny!

At the Municipal Auditorium, Downtown KC

Great job guys! They worked for months and came from all over to do this!

Jamming in on the ride home

What is UP with us jamming too many people in the car lately??? 

(Is it legal to buddy buckle
 with a baby? ;))

(Jamming in from the recent
sister trip, trees and all)

We all stopped for some ice cream and a burger or two on our way home. Then Scott and I headed right back downtown for our unplanned date to get our other car. :) 

I took Syd's idea and sat while we waited for our ice cream

Great timing for Scott and I to move here! It's been awesome to be a part of all of it. Before we move away again in 2 months we are making it our goal to go the 40 min. to Liberty once every week or two to attend the temple. It's so beautiful there. We are excited to go again and again!