My bro is going to Mexico!!

My brother, Stefen, just got his mission call this past week to Guadalajara Mexico! He is leaving on August 27th. He was in Moab last week when it came, and because the rest of us were going to be in Orderville when he got home my mom hid it. We got together last night when everyone got home and had dinner for my sister's birthday and when we finished eating my mom gave him his call. He was mad that we didn't tell him it came so he went in the other room and opened it and then came back in and told us where he was going. I think he was a little bit shocked that he was going to a Spanish speaking mission because he took Spanish in High School and wasn't a big fan of it. He will be great and I am excited for him to serve, but sad he will be gone for 2 years. It has been so awesome to see him get closer to the spirit and to be so excited about going out into the mission field. He has gone out on his own and bought shoes and a whole bunch of other stuff he will need. I think he's amazing and I know he will be a good example to others as he serves.

We went to Orderville this past weekend for Memorial Day for the first time with Aniston. For those of you who don't know where it is, it's right in the middle of Bryce Canyon and Zions National Park on Highway 89. My Grandpa grew up there, and that's where he met my Grandma. We still have the house he grew up in, and I have been going there since I can remember. We usually go out 4wheeling with our Jeep and the other 4 wheel drive vehicles we have, but this trip we needed to do some major cleaning and throwing away! It was fun, and although the weather was crummy, it was good to clean things up and reminisce about all the fun we have had there. Aniston had a great time seeing the horses, ridding on the Hawgty motorcycle with Dad and, taking a bath in the kitchen sink. Chris and I had fun on the bicycle built for two and riding the Hawgty. It was so good to get back there and relax with family!

Aniston loves her swimming pool! She sits and splashes the whole time and usually empties all the water that way.

Aniston Rae... Where has the time gone

Our little girl is 9 months old, and we're amazed at how fast the past months have gone. We can both remember very well the day she was born, and the rest is a blur it's gone by so fast!! She had an appointment for her 9 month check up on Monday, and I was so sad that I wasn't able to take her to Dr. Thompson who was her doctor in St. George. I did find a new guy that is very good and Aniston seems to like him too. She weighs 20.9 pounds and is 27.6 inches (once again I don't think the nurse got her stretched out). She is now out of the 90th percentile for both weight and height and is in the 76th for height and 42nd for weight. She still has her rolls and chubs but it's slowly going away. She's such a happy girl and we love her to pieces!! She's getting the moving thing down slowly... she does the "Tigger Bounce" to get where she wants to go. She'll sit up and bounce on her bottom to get herself places. It's hysterical to watch and we're glad she moving around a little bit. She's still pulling crazy faces that crack us up, and her latest thing is popping her tongue on the roof of her mouth LOUDLY. We're loving life with our little A-Rae Bug!!

Good Night ZZZZ...

I officially completed my first night shift of my life! The only other time I stayed awake all night long was when I was in labor with Aniston, so I guess you could say that I only stay awake all night when babies come into the world. I LOVE my new job, and being with all those new moms and there sweet little bundles of joy is so awesome! It DOESN'T make me want to have another baby though, because it's definitely hard work and reminds me just how demanding those little ones are. Right now I just work in postpartum with the moms that have just delivered and the babies. I get the moms drinks and help them with whatever they need. I take LOTS of vitals on the babies and thank goodness only once on the poor moms that are SOO tired. I would have to say that the worst part is waking them up at 6am and taking their vitals. I give the babies baths at 2am (wierd, but they need their baths), and weigh them and take vitals. Some of them stay in the nursery all night, so I feed them bottles every 2 hours. When the babies are in the nursery, I get to do whatever care they need. If they stink I change them, if they cry I hold them- it's the best job EVER!! I am looking forward to my next shift, and to be honest I am doing well considering I have only had about 4 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours (I hope this post makes sense, and if it doesn't I'm blaming it on lack of sleep). Aniston did really well last night without her Mom and Chris survived too. Chris is just grateful that I came home NOT wanting another one any time soon!!

Robeez on sale!!

Hey for all of you that love these shoes like I do, they are on sale at babycenter.com!! I know I will be stocking up cuz these shoes aren't cheep or on sale very often.

A great weekend!!

Aniston got to go swimming for the first time this past weekend. We were able to get away for a quick vacation to St. George to celebrate a Birthday for one of our friends and Mother's Day with Chris' mom. Aniston LOVES to swim, even in cold water. Chris and I got in and froze, but Aniston sat and splashed in her floaty and kicked around. I talked Chris into helping me while I dunked her, I know I'm kind of a rude Mom at times. Aniston cried at first, but she was fine 2 seconds later and was kicking her legs again and having a GREAT time. I had a great Mother's Day, and I am so thankful to be a Mother. I cannot think of ANYTHING else I would rather do. I have been blessed with such a sweet daughter who makes me so happy. I am thankful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity and privilege of having her as my own here on this earth. I am also grateful to my mother and mother in-law. They are great mothers, and I have a lot of respect and love for both of them. My favorite book is called I Am A Mother by Jane Clayson Johnson; get it, and read it!! I am not kidding, it's AMAZING. It gave me so much confidence and reassurance that Motherhood and being a Mother is a divine calling. Even if no one else praises you, respects your choice to be a Mother, or appreciates your hard work as a Mother, the Lord does. Happy Mother's Day to all mothers!!

Our new news

We have a few "news" to let everyone know about and we are so excited for this new news! We will have a NEW address starting June 16th! We will send everyone our new address once we move into our apartment at the University of Utah. We decided to take the leep and go out on our own, and although we are a bit hesitant we can't wait. I got a NEW job at the Alta View hospital in Labor and Delivery as a nurse's aid. I couldn't be happier as this job is my dream. I will start work the end of the month. It's 2 nights a week, so although it will require an adjustment we are thankful that Ansiton won't have to go to a babysitter. Chris decided to go with a NEW major, so instead of Biology he will be getting his Bachelors of Exercise Physiology. He will be able to do more with it, and it's also A LOT more interesting. Aniston has a NEW funny face she likes to pull. That's the face in this picture we have posted, and it's hysterical. She brings us so much happiness, and we are truly happy for all the fun NEW things we will be embarking on!

WILD THING

Aniston has always had some wild hair, and just this past week it's been a blast trying new things with her hair. I have been making clips for her hair because she now has enough to slide one in. Last week I tried a pony tail for the first time, and although it's VERY thin I think it's spunky so we've been pulling her hair up into a pony tail a lot. Sunday she had one in and when I took it out to go to bed her hair stuck straight up and I could not get it to go down. Then yesterday morning after her bath it was still sticking up, so we went with the spiked look becuase there was no choice. She doesn't really like to get her hair done, and she's always pulling headbands and clips out, so most of my day is spent doing her hair because I want her to get used to them and like to have her hair all done up. She's a stubborn little thing, so this has been a challenge. But I'm grateful for the challenge; it could be so much worse.