eight.four.zero.FIVE.seven.

That's right! We're changing zip codes. 
     But don't worry, we aren't going TOO far!

Come May 1, 2013,

We'll be out on our own.

So excuse me if I don't make an appearance for a while... 

I'll be 
     painting, 
          garage sale-ing, 
               Ikea-ing, 
                    painting, 
                         Packing, 
                              Cleaning, 
                                   Shoping,
                                        painting, 
                                             crafting, 
                                                  decorating, 
                                                       starting another job,
                                                       painting, 
                                                            and 
                                                       moving. 

Whew! Here's to a busy, new, hectic, changing, exciting month!

Just thirty six days, until we'll be all nestled in on Monterey Drive.

Pictures to come :)

xoxo

-O

ps I just realized I never posted any pictures of our place right now. 

I'll make sure to do that. I have loved the way we set it up! :)

"Parent Camp 101" part uno

So this week we have been taking part of this...

When we pulled up at 5 am Saturday morning so Jason and Karen could go to the airport, we saw this sign on the door that Summer made for us. "Welcome 2 Parent Camp! 101" "May the force be with you, and the pranks be little!" "This better go on Insta". Right then and there we knew it would be a great week! And it sure has been!

This week has been full of....

1)Winning 1000 tickets, and many Merry-Go-Round rides at nickel city. 

(We won the jackpot 4 times on separate games)

2) Jacob and the girls making a HUGE fort that all of us could fit under 

to watch a movie before bed.

(it looked super cool with the lights off and the TV on)

3) Yummy treats.

(NOT pictured: mini doughnuts, red velvet cake cookies, and scotcheroo's)

4) LOTS of dishes, laundry, and bath time. 

Which surprisingly I have really enjoyed doing.

5)Easter crafts, Summer came up with the Bunny made out of eggs, 

I came up with the decorated Egg idea.

6) Grocery Shopping with the 2 little ones.

 (I let them get in the "car" cart, which was kinda hard to push around)

While we were at the store this really cute old man walked by and asked if I could help. He needed to use his cell phone to call home, and couldn't figure out how to call someone from his contacts. 

 It was pretty cute.

7) LOTS of Dora, and playing outside. (It's been beautiful weather this week!)

8) Yummy lunches and dinners.

9) Lots of fun, pretty hairstyles. (I love their hair, it is so long and pretty!)

I wish I had taken more pictures of the styles we've done. It's been so fun!

10) Tumbling, Soccer Practice, and Soccer games.

This is Taya and the cutest little boy she found to play with while we were at the other three's 

tumbling lesson.

11) And lots and lots of laughs from this little one, and the rest of the girls.

There have been so many funny moments that we have had, but most of them you kind of had to be there. Like Taya singing "Girl on Fire" at the top of her lungs, or mostly anything Taya's done. 

But this week especially I have seen my husband in a whole different way. He LOVES kids! It is so cute to watch. There was a day that he watched them for me while I went to BYU Nationals, and I came back to find him cuddling with them watching Tangled/listening to Taya quote the entire show, instead of doing homework. He also played twister with them, and had them tidy up the house a bit. What a good boy!

Sunday night as we were going to bed he said. "I won't be here to tuck the girls in this week." (He works until about 10 or later every night) Thinking he was saying that as a relief, I said, "You're probably happy about that". Then in the saddest voice he said, "No, I love telling them stories and acting like a Dad". 

Melted my heart. These girls LOVE his stories. (He makes them up, he's awesome like that) The last two days he's been home just after nine and been able to go in and tell Ember and Summer a story before they fall asleep. Last night he came home exhausted because they just switched him to the busiest trailer. He loaded more packages than he ever has, even more than Christmas time. When he walked in Malia and I could just see how burnt out he was. BUT without fail, he walked right into Summer and Ember's room and told them a story. It's been so cute to see him interact with these girls. I think they even like him more than me. Ha ha.

One night as I was tucking Taya in, she said, "Where's Jacob?" "He's at work." "Oh, when will he be home?" "Later tonight, I'll have him come say good night if you're still awake when he gets back". "Okay, cause I need him to come home and tickle me, and then I will be SOOOO happy."

It has been SUCH a fun week, and it's not over yet! We've still got 2 more days! We have absolutely LOVED watching and taking care of them this week. It has been a blast.

We love these super silly girls.

xoxo

-O & a little bit from J

Oh, and of course I've been driving this. 

And... maybe I've secretly been loving it. 

Shhh... it's a secret. 

Don't tell, Okay?

Thanks.

only one-twelfth

I have the most amazing visiting teachers. They never miss a month. In November, the lesson was on M. Russell Ballards talk from October 2012 General Conference. 

It one of those eye opening talks, give it a 

read, 

you won't be disappointed.

Anyway, after the reminder I decided to create a printable to hang up in our home so I can constantly be reminded to do my own one- twelfth of a teaspoon each day.

If you find this talk as wonderful as I did and you feel that you need a constant reminder as well, go ahead and download my printable. I won't be mad. :)

xoxo
-O

Busy, Stressful, Grateful, Wonderful, 3 Day Weekend.

WHERE DID IT GO?!

This was one of the most craziest weekends of our lives. But it was oh so wonderful.

It started out on a bit of a wrong foot with one of my arch enemies Mr. Migraine, but luckily I got control of it before Saturday afternoon.

J and I have been called to help with Youth Conference in our ward and it is on the 3rd of February. So  on Saturday's we usually have tasks that we need to do for that, plus clean the entire house because we hate doing dishes and Saturday is just national cleaning day for everyone, I swear.

But it was particularly busy because, both of our parents spoiled us and we got to see a play AND a musical! It started with a matinee at the Hale Center Theater with my parents, to see "Lend Me a Tenor" which was hilarious. Then we went down to cougar town and saw "Phantom of the Opera" courtesy of J's parents. It. was. a. mazing. (We both love the music and story of this show and have never seen it on stage) Spectacular. -THANK YOU PARENTS!-

Waiting for Phantom to start, we were a lot early

By the time all of that was over, we realized how much we hadn't done in the morning and still had to do before the next day, i.e.. plan a primary lesson, actually learn the song we were singing in sacrament meeting, create posters for YC, copy music for YC, etc.

So needless to say, we had a late/semi stressful night.

Then on Sunday we woke up early, got ready, went to a YC meeting, and headed to the church to practice with our pianist. Can I just tell you how WONDERFUL it is to be married to a man who sings so well? After we sang I realized once again, how much I LOVE being able to sing and do duets with J. He makes singing in church so much easier, and it's so much fun to be able to do that together. :) I just love it. Then after helping the YM/YW learn the theme song, and teaching primary, we went home and were finally able to relax.

THEN! Right as I settled in to the couch, J told me to pack an over night bag because we were going somewhere. On Friday he hinted at us going some where for the night because of MLK day, so I kind of had a hunch this was coming. So while he did some last minute homework I quickly got a bag together and by 4pm we were out the door and I had NO idea where we were going, just a map and directions.

Look at my handsome spontaneous man focusing on the road

As we pulled up I saw this.

CRACKA' WHAT!? Who knew there was a Castle in Sandy?! Not I! I was SO excited!

Castle Creek Inn. Such a Dream. It was SO cozy, and had complimentary drinks, warm goodies, a huge movie/games selection, and it felt so homey. I was in love with it from the minute we checked in.

Then when I didn't think it possible to fall more in love with this place, I saw the room.

I mean rose petals? The bath tub? The fire place? Martinelle's? Hershey's Kisses? The way too comfortable bed? I mean, COME ON! A girl can only take so much!

Boy did my hubby spoil me. 

We had a wonderful night. Full of 5 crowns, Phase 10, Blink, sneaking to the lobby for free food and bevies, Once Upon a Time, WAY too many Castle episodes, and the best cuddling session ever. We were in heaven. It was wonderful to just be with J and have no interruptions or stress. Even if just for one night. We made it a goal to stay there once a year and stay at least once in every room.
They're themed.
It's awesome.

Then this morning we went to "Da Vinci the Genius" up in SLC and it was so cool to learn more about him and see how incredible his brain really was. He seriously was a genius, I had no clue. Sorry 'bout it!

Jacob's awesome attempt at recycle book art

And just when we thought the weekend couldn't get any better, we got the best surprise in the world.

OUR WEDDING VIDEO!!!!!!!!!!! 
WOOHOO!!! 
Wanna see? 

Click 

HERE 

I've already watched it 3 times. It's a little on the longer side, but I absolutely love it.

Hope you all had a weekend as wonderful as ours! I wish I could do it all over again.

xoxo
-O

Moments...

I still have those moments
       splendid moments, actually.
              moments full of complete, utter bliss.
       when I can be doing absolutely nothing
              and it hits me. 

                                   I really did marry the man of my dreams, and my best friend. :)

december 2008

sadies, october 2008

mission farewell, october 2009

december 2010

picking me up from idaho, december 2010

welcome home, july 2012

first date july 2012

How in the world did I get so gosh darn lucky.

"Timing is absolutely everything"

It only took 4 years... but I couldn't be happier. 

xoxo

-O

There are great people in this world.

I've had a very humbling holiday season this year. I don't write this post to complain, but to share our first Christmas miracle as a married couple.

You always hear about those strangers who do insanely wonderful good things for people, but I've never heard of it happening to someone close to me. That was until, this Christmas season.

It all started when my best friend shared this story on Facebook:
"I am so completely overwhelmed by the kindness I was shown tonight. Jake & I went to buy a few groceries and at the checkout, realized we were missing a debit card. My card was denied so we started to take some things out of our bags. The stranger behind us stepped up, put her arm around me and said she was going to "give us a merry Christmas" and paid for our groceries. She then gave me a big hug. This simple act of kindness overwhelmed me with joy and love. I realized I want to make other people feel that way too, by being selfless."

Can you believe that? I think that is the kindest thing.

Then earlier this week Jacob and I were hit hard by finances while grocery shopping, when we realized just how much we didn't have to get us through to the end of the year. After a few tears, my best friend's story popped in my head and I have to admit, that I had the selfish thought, 

"Why can't anything like that happen to us!" 

(you know, the common phrase that comes out of all of our mouths when we're going through a trial)

It was then that brought on my last post. J and I reevaluated and concluded that we may not have any money, but we've got our love to pay the bills, we've got each other, and that is all that matters. 

Then tonight happened. 

It started this morning when I felt a bit of a Christmas cold coming on. J went to work early since it's Christmas season, and I was left at home. With his Christmas hours starting at 4, it's hard to make a big meal so close to lunch that will fill him until he's home around midnight so he ends up having 4.5 meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, late night dinner, and numerous snacks. I felt bad that I wasn't able to make him a big meal today because I had fallen asleep. 

Then tonight, my parents got tickets to a week early showing of a movie I have been dying to see since I heard it was coming out. But since J had work, I gave my ticket away so that I could see it with him. My parents called me after they had gone to see it because they had left the tickets at home and asked if I would take them to them. And of course with not feeling too hot, and not being able to see the show, it just added to the emotions. 

After getting home I came down stairs to our apartment and was laying on the couch ready to just call it a day, when I got a text from one of the Sisters in our ward saying:

"Hi Olivia, I rang the doorbell but didn't get an answer--didn't know if you have a separate entrance. I can pick up the soup pot tomorrow. Hope you have a great night!"

I walked up the stairs and was close to tears. As I opened the door and saw a pot of homemade soup, a bag of homemade rolls, and a Christmas card on the step. I couldn't help but cry. 

She didn't know I had been feeling sick, or that we don't have much to get us to the end of the year, or that my husband would be home in a few hours starving and cold from being outside lifting boxes for the past 7 hours. She was just doing a kind act, and listening to the {Christmas} spirit. What a selfless thing to do.

My heart is full. We are ALL so blessed. I am now going to try and do something for someone else this Christmas, just as this Sister has done for us, and like the stranger in the grocery store did for my friend.

In fact I invite all of you to do it. Pass it on, make this holiday season a memorable one. 

I will definitely remember this Christmas. 

Thank you thank you Sister, and all those who are doing things like this out in this cruel world. 

Your kindness means SO much more than you will ever know. We are ever so grateful.

xoxo

-O

Reasons, 1,322-1,324 why I love my husband

I know, I'm probably the worlds most horrible blogger out there. But I have a few moments that happened this last week that I would like to had documented. 

Here they are:

REASON 1,322

I was in the bathroom getting ready, while J was out in the kitchen. We had kind of been having a conversation on and off about our busy day, things that bugged us, you know, the usual conversation that makes you feel like there is chaos about. But we had been silent for a good 45 seconds when I quietly hear J singing the song, "have I told you lately that I love you..."and peace was swept over our home.

Melts my heart, that boy does. 

(and hey, his voice ain't that bad either)

REASON 1,323

I can't say that EVERY day is like this, but lately it has felt like pure euphoria around here. 

We are always so happy and constantly laughing and smiling. Which makes the words "I love you" come out of our mouths more frequently, and creates just an all around happy feeling in our home. And I have to admit that I think it's mainly because J doesn't have class/stress anymore, which has been absolutely wonderful!

REASON 1,324

While we were engaged, we got in a car accident. It was my first accident so I was a bit shaken up and was so grateful to have him in the car with me. Today while stopped at a stop light on 8th east, we got rear ended. (J was driving) And rather than having a panic attack and being totally terrified, we both laughed. 

Out loud. 

There was no stress, no worrying, no nothing. 

We were just happy. In fact, I could tell that the 911 dispatcher was a little surprised at how happy I sounded. Ha ha. And as it turned out, the guy who rear ended us, ended up being our neighbor so it was just a funny situation. But had J not been there, it probably would have been more like the last time we were in an accident. He keeps me calm, and HAPPY. :)

Are you recognizing a theme of this blog post?

 Or a frequently written word?

 Maybe... 

Happy??

Life is great right now folks! 

We've learned that the saying, "Happy Wife, Happy Life" is not entirely true.

 It must always be, "Happy HUSBAND, Happy WIFE, to achieve a Happy Life". 

We may be poor, poor newly weds (who don't blog much) but we aren't letting anything get us down as of lately and it's been wonderful. 

Tis the season! 

We have each other, and that is 

TRULY, 

all that matters. 

Happy Holidays!

xoxo

-O