Short Update

So, I realized that I haven't added anything since November, so I figured a short update was in order. 

We spent a really great Christmas in WA with my family this year. Managed to fly in and out right in between snow storms. We also had a lively adventure trying to catch a flight out of Boise, then had to cancel it and catch a flight from SLC when we got halfway to Boise and the roads were closed. 

The beginning of the year started out fine, but as the economy continued to go downhill Travis' stress levels have skyrocketed, plus he started a new semester of school which hasn't helped. 

On a sad note, Natalie's grandmother in Ogden just passed away, after living for more than 10 years after a debilitating stroke. Most of Natalie's family has come to Utah for this weekend's funeral. This is a hard one because of the lack of good memories from the last 10 years. 

Natalie's class is going well at school and Malia "loves" and I do mean "loves" school. Even when she's sick, she insists on going and is constantly asking if it's time to go catch the bus. She has also lost her sixth tooth and the Christmas song about wanting your two front teeth is very fitting.

Hope that brings you mostly up to date, I need to find some Christmas pics to upload. Hopefully I'll get back to blogging faster this time, November to February is a bit of a break!

Exciting News #3

As they say... a picture is worth a thousand words!

(Can you see the little tiny hole she's pointing at? Boy her teeth are little, lol!) This is the third one on the bottom. None from the top yet. The two middle ones she lost this summer, so this will be the first one she can go to school and talk about! She was eating macaroni for goodness sakes! I never thought macaroni would be tough enough to take out a tooth! She's very excited about the tooth fairy coming tonight!

TAG - again!

I've been tagged again... this one's about Travis not me, so I thought "why not!"

Where we met: at his house, one of his friends invited me over

How long we dated before we got hitched: three weeks to engagement - then eight months later we got married (backwards we know)

How long we have been married: 9 years this last Wednesday (Happy Anniversary to Us)

What's my fav feature about him: His eyebrows!

What's my fav quality about him: his ability to say the right thing at the right time

His nickname for me: Nat

His fav color: I don't know and I don't think he does either

His fav food: Pizza

His fav sport: Nascar

Who said the L word first: I don't remember, I asked neither did he

First kiss: in his truck when he dropped me off one night

Fav couple thing to do: go for drives

How many kids: 1 a daughter - we're registered to adopt through LDSFS and through CASI - Tell all your friends

His hidden talent: running and jumping onto fences like a monkey

His fav pasttime: World of Warcraft

Will he read this: only if I tell him too

I tag... Bree, Heidi and Michelle

TAG

you have to type the first thing that comes to your mind to make it fun:

I am: Natalie

I know: that I don't know a lot of things

I want: a baby

I have: great fingernails

I hate: being without a book!

I miss: my mom

I feel: calm

I hear: Travis playing games on the computer

I smell: red roses (from Travis!)

I crave: salsa

I search: Google

I love: Travis

I care: how others feel

I always: go to ballet on Wednesday

I believe: in the Articles of Faith

I sing: Primary songs

I write: at school

I lose: at cards

I win: when I cheat at cards!

I never: go anywhere without a book

I listen: when you're not whining

I am scared: when it's dark

I need: constant affirmation

I am happy about: lots of things

I tag... you!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken... here's a couple of our favorites!

Funny!

So, this morning as Travis and I were trying to sleep in, we heard a shout from somewhere else in the house. "Mom, I need you, right now!" It was repeated over and over again until I finally kicked Travis out of bed. He headed towards the screams and found Malia perched on the kitchen cabinet with the peanut butter, but she had not moved a chair over before she climbed up, so she was stuck. It was a pretty ridiculous picture!

On a not so funny note, I didn't get to sleep in yesterday either. I'm (well Travis to, but he hasn't helped much) the Emergency Preparedness block captain, in charge of about 8 families, and at 7:30 yesterday morning we had a "mock" earthquake. He said I was supposed to take notes to each house and wake up the families in about 20 minutes, but being half asleep, I heard that it had to be done in the next 20 mins. Then everyone was supposed to grab their 72 hour kits and meet at the church. So, by 8:00 I had everyone up and Malia and I were at the church (Travis was on the freeway on the way to work - long story) where we were told that we weren't supposed to be there yet! I retorted that they better just be grateful I was there and that was the last I heard of that. Anyway, only one family "died" from my group (I think I won!) most of the other groups had several families that "died"! That's only because they were up with their brand new baby all night and slept right through the earthquake. We had the fire department there and they talked about what would happen in an emergency and we passed out tons of information and then we watched a funny video some families in the ward had made. They showed three families, one that had absolutely nothing prepared, one that had 72 hour kits but hadn't looked at them in 5 years so they now had more children then 72 hour kits and one that was so prepared they sang primary songs on the way to the church! It was really funny, but it proved the point. Overall, other than the sleep deprivation, it was a good experience. So, Travis and I are going to spend the next couple family home evenings on the subject!

Children's Garden

My friend "C" just came over and brought her camera, so I could download some pictures from the Children's Garden we visited together in July. So, it's out of order but too adorable not to share.

There was a cave you could walk through that you could hear bear growls echoing around the walls. Then tunnels for the kids to play in! Not to mention the big bear at the entrance to the cave.

Malia with C and her son B.

Malia is getting attacked by the big bug on the wall! Run!

There was also a big Noah's Ark with water squirting all over out of it. So we got soaking wet. Then there were some big hedge mazes, pretty simple, but the kids thought it was a blast.