'Tis the Season...

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!!! I can't believe it's this time of year already...but I sure am excited about it!!! This year, we decided we have NO room in our house...and Klous would just pull the tree over on top of him...so we opted for a small tree this year!!! I think it turned out cute...and now I don't have to worry about little fingers and hands ruining the thing!!! Klous does enjoy looking at it...seeing the cute ornaments we picked out...and talking about baby Jesus!!! I love Snowmen too if you can't tell!! They're all just so cute!! I hope that you are all as excited about this time of year as I am!! I'm excited to see how Klous will react this year compared to last year...and I'm excited to just be with Ryan & Klous...and I'm sad I can't be home in Minnesota for it, but happy that I can be in Utah with family too!! I'm grateful for all that our Savior has done for us, and for His amazing birth and life!! I'm grateful to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and for the knowledge I have because of it!! I'm grateful for all the many blessings I've received this year, and all the years before...for my amazing family...my husband...my baby boy...I couldn't ask for more!! I hope you are all filled with Joy, Peace, and Happiness this Christmas Season...and I hope that we will all REMEMBER the "Reason for the Season"!!!

P.S...don't mind the pine cones...our amazing home teacher brought them over for us to help with the smell in here!! They're cinnamon scented!! Yummy!!! :)

Tag I'm it...again :)

Ok...so I got tagged on my friend Morgan's blog...so here I go again!! I have to list 6 facts, hobbies, things about me...I'm not really that interesting...so I don't know what I'll write??

Here's the rules:

List 6 interesting facts, hobbies, or info about you...at the end of the blog tag 6 of your friends to have them be the next to do it!!

1. I got married 4 months after graduating high school...I was only 18 years old, and a LOT of people told me it was the biggest mistake ever. They gave me a maximum of 4 years, then I'd be divorced?!?! Well...Ryan & I just celebrated our 6th anniversary...and are shooting for a LOT more!!! Couldn't be happier with the decision I made!!

2. Ryan and I tried for 4 1/2 years to have a baby...things just weren't working the way WE wanted...but finally after a lot of struggles, hard times, tears, and blessings...we got our beautiful little boy Klous!! Now we'll see what it takes for the rest of them to come!!

3. I was accepted into a college program just after graduation, but with getting married and all, I didn't stick with it. I have a dream of being an elementary teacher someday...and SOMEDAY it will happen!! Just not right now :( :) :(

4. I grew up all my life thinking I would NEVER live in Utah...and that I wouldn't enjoy it out here...now I've lived here twice...for 3 1/2 years total...I can't say I LOVE it...but it's really not that bad!! We'll see where we actually end up in our life!!

5. I've always been obsessed with thinking I'm WAY overweight...and tried a lot of different things to lose the weight I don't want. I've never really done GREAT at keeping it off...and the only thing that worked GREAT, was having a baby and nursing!! ha ha :) Then I watch shows like The Biggest Loser...and I think, well maybe I'm not that "ginormous"!!! :) Not that I don't have things to work on...we'll keep it up and see what happens!!

6. I took French classes for 3 years in high school...in the summer of 2000 I was able to go to France for 2 weeks...it was a FABULOUS experience...and someday I'd like to take Ryan there!! As well as other places I've had the opportunity to visit!!

I tag...Brecken, Krista, Lisa, Quinci, and JJ...

Noisy Life :)

Well, as you all know we're back in our house. However, it's a very NOISY and COLD house at time. :( It kinda sucks...but at least it's a place for us!! The electricians have been working on the other side...so they're not exactly quiet, which is why Klous is sleeping in the BIG COMFY chair, instead of his crib!! Also, the two bedrooms are the connecting wall for the other side...and since there is NO insulation or anything over there...the piece of sheet rock up on our side doesn't really keep us warm!! It's COLD...we'll see what our utility bills are like this month...we may be talking to the landlord if they're real high!!Other then that...we're enjoying being back home...we still have CRAP everywhere...and I'm sick of it...but now that we all got a cold...and I have NO desire to do anything...here it sits!! Hopefully I'll be over this soon, and be able to get our house together!! Had to share these pictures of Klous enjoying the CHRISTMAS Oreo's!!! He sure does love his cookies!!! Hope you like the cute smiles he's sharing!! :) CHEESE :)

Ho Ho Ho!!!

Here is a video from before the big fire interruption!!! After Halloween...we were hanging out the next night, and talking about Christmas!! Klous is just as excited as I am I think!! I said, "Klous...HO HO HO..." and now you can see how he reacted!!! It's too cute!! :) Enjoy!!

HoMe :)

Ok...so I promised I'd put some pictures on here...so here you go!! These first two are of ALL the laundry we have piled up. It's ridiculous!!! I'm taking a break right now from cleaning, organizing, washing, drying, dishes, EVERYTHING!!! I just need some ME time!! :) So anyways...it's REAL nice to be home...even though there's LOTS to do...I'm happy to be back in our place!!Yep....more clothes...those garbage bags are from the floor up that high...crazy huh!! That's a LOT of clothes!!! :) Woo hoo :)
This morning, Klous was just relaxing and happy to be home...sitting on the couch...watching his shows again!! I thought these were cute pictures, so I had to share them!!!
He's a boy that's for sure!! Put him on the couch with the remote, and he's happy!! He tries so hard to say "CHEESE" when I take his picture...it's so cute!! :)
Now he's hiding!! :) I love this kid!!!

Let's Have Some Fun...

Okay so here are the weird but fun questions. If you have been tagged, copy and paste the questions post them on your blog and then tag 6 more people. Go to their blog and notify them that they have been tagged and tell them to go to your blog for details.

Someone gives you money and sends you into the grocery store to pick up 4 items. You can only pick one thing from the following departments.. what is it?

1. Produce: Grapes

2. Bakery: Donuts

3. Meat: Chicken

4. Frozen: Tony's Supreme Pizza

Let's say we're heading out for a weekend getaway. You're only allowed to bring 3 articles of clothing with you. So, what's in your bag?

1. uh...clean underwear

2. shirt

3. Comfy pants

If I was to listen in on one of your conversations throughout the day, what 5 phrases or words would I be most likely to hear?

1. Klous, NO

2. I love you baby
3. Get down bud...

4. EWWWWWWWW....poopy

5. Did you have a good nap???

So, what 3 things do you find yourself doing every single day, and if you didn't get to do, you probably wouldn't be in the best mood?

1. Check e-mail

2. Watch General Hospital at 2:00...during naptime

3. Be alone for a bit...even if it's just a shower...

Sweet, you just scored a whole afternoon to yourself. We're talking a 3 hour block with nobody around. What 5 activities might we find you doing?

1. Sleeping

2. Checking e-mail, facebook, and myspace

3. Going to a movie

4. Blogging

5. Wandering the mall or wal-mart

We're going to the zoo. But, it looks like it could start storming, so it'll have to be a quick visit. What 3 exhibits do we have to get to?

1. Bears

2. Tigers

3. Monkeys

You just scored tickets to the taping of any show that comes on t.v. of your choice. You can pick between 4, so what are you deciding between?

1. Oprah

2. Ellen

3. Dr. Phil

4. Price is Right (preferably with Bob Barker though)

You're hungry for ice cream. I'll give you a triple dipper ice cream cone. What 3 flavors can I pile on for ya?

1. Mint Chocolate Chip

2. Chocolate Marshmallow

3. Snicker's Flavor :)

Somebody stole your purse/wallet…in order to get it back, you have to name 5 things you know are inside to claim it. So, what's in there?

1. Brown Wallet

2. 3 Pampers Diapers

3. Wal-Mart brand wipes

4. Car Keys

5. bag of "girl" things :)

You are at a job fair, and asked what areas you are interested in pursuing a career in. Let's pretend you have every talent and ability to be whatever you wanted, so what 4 careers would be fun for you?

1. Elementary Teacher

2. Getting paid to take care of my kids.

3. Taking Pictures

4. Getting paid to breathe

If you could go back and talk to the old you, when you were in high school, and inform yourself of 4 things, what would you say?

1. Who cares what people think...they won't be around in 2 years

2. Don't worry about boys...they're not great, because someone WAY better will be coming along

3. Be honest, and be yourself

4. Keep your good friends close...but always be an example

I tag Brecken, Lisa, Krista, JJ, Quinci, and Justin

We're IN :)

Hey everyone...just wanted to let you all know that we're actually staying in our place tonight!! WOO HOO!!! It's exciting and a little overwhelming all at the same time!!! I'll get pictures soon to show you the amount of laundry we have laying around our place...as well as all the other CRAP here!!! Time to "de-junk" I guess!!! We will be sending quite a bit to D.I I think!!! YEAH!!! I'm a little nervous about how Klous will do tonight...I hope he just sleeps in his bed just great, and has no problems...but I don't know??? Keep your fingers crossed for us!!! He's been a little sick too, so that's an issue as well!!! I'm also gonna miss having Zack-a-roni around all the time...him & Klous had a LOT of fun together all day, every day...so it's sad to not have them so close, (as in the same house), we'll just have to go there or he'll have to come here now!!! Anyways...enough blabbing...I need to get to bed...it's been a LONG day...and two weeks!!! BUT...we're HOME!!!! Oh yeah...we also got a check back from our landlords...we got 1/2 of our rent back!! WOO HOO!!! That was a nice blessing!!! :)

Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner :)

Ok...I know you are all just wanting to see pictures...and I'm sorry we haven't taken more...but things are crazy lately!!! Anyways...I finally took some tonight...and so I thought I better post them!! Thank goodness for Ryan's laptop that allows me to put the memory card in!! So, I've been REAL hungry for Turkey Dinner...and I didn't want to wait until next week!!! Plus I didn't know if I'd get everything I'm used to and really like...so I decided to make it today!!! We're still at Ryan's parents house...so I made it for everyone!!! It was kind of a "mini turkey dinner"...I didn't do EVERYTHING...cuz we already had a LOT of food!!! So I just made some of my favorites!!! Klous was a tiny baby last year...so he didn't get to enjoy the food...well...kind of, just 2nd hand from me!! BLAH :D...so tonight I got a couple pictures of him checking out the turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and pink salad!! YUMMY!!! I think he likes it!!! Hope he's ready for next week too :)

Still not in... :(

Hello again...still can't put pictures on, because we're not at home...and honestly I haven't really take any pictures in the last week!! Been a little preoccupied with other things!!! They came and did the "ozone bomb" on Thursday...when I went up to the house on Friday to open the windows and doors...the house didn't smell like smoke anymore...just some YUCKY, musty smell kind of. And Klous' balloon was still floating...(which the lady said all the oxygen would be sucked out of it)...so we're not sure if it worked right or not?? The lady in charge of it all was, of course, out of the office on Friday...so now we have to wait until tomorrow. :( It sucks...but what can we do??? Still living with Ryan's family...and just making the best of everything I guess!!! That's the update for now...we'll let you know whatelse happens, and when we actually get to move home...that'll be another whole project!!! :) The house is a DISASTER...and we have TONS of laundry to do!! WOO HOO :)

Dealing with it...

Sorry no pictures again...we're still not home, and I can't get any put on this computer...I can on the laptop, but that's usually with Ryan at work and school. I just thought I'd post an update...so people knew what was going on...we're not home yet. :( We're staying with Ryan's parents until we can get back into our apartment. We're hoping that the restoration company is going to "Ozone Bomb" our side by the end of this week. It's something that will basically mask the smell...but it also will suck the life out of any living thing during it's process. Which is why we have to take out all the plants...animals...and people!!! Not that we have any animals!! It will also make some foods real yucky...like breads, crackers, chips, and other things. So it's quite the process...we're still waiting to hear for sure when that will be scheduled to happen. The other side is scheduled to just be completely gutted and redone. They think it will be about a 3 month process from start to finish...so maybe we'll be moving into the other side when it's all BRAND NEW :)...we'll see!!! So this is what's happening...we're dealing with it all...just waiting to hear more. We appreciate everyone's offers to help and offer support...if there was more we knew and could do, we'd take you all up on it!!! We're just very grateful for all we still have...and trying to get through not having our house for a week!! It'll be fine!!

A Few FIRE pictures...

Here are a few pictures that Ryan's sister Jessica took with her pictures, as well as a picture I got of ONE of the fire trucks!!! Our neighbors were taking pictures of things before we got there...so we'll wait to see what they got!!

Jess was nice enough to take Zack & Klous on a walk to get them out of the way...they thought it was fun to play with the water trickling out of the hydrant!!! The firemen were using this one!!!
Here's the fire truck right in front of our house...they're just putting the hoses away now...
This is the neighbors smoke detector...looks like taffy huh!!! See the wall and ceiling...the ENTIRE place is like that :(...so sad...Ryan looked...and there wasn't a battery in there...wonder if they ever considered putting one in???
This is what the neighbor guy ran in to grab WHILE THE FIRE WAS BURNING!!! His "prized" possessions!!! This is the neighbor that has the BAND...that has driven me nuts since they moved in!!! Oh well...at least we're all safe!!! The guitars were hanging on he wall under the smoke detector...they're melted and ruined...Ryan said there was even a pick melted onto one...it was HOT!!!

Fire...

This isn't a real exciting post...no pictures yet, because we're not at our house. Ryan was at the BYU game yesterday afternoon, and Klous & I were out running errands...Ryan got a call from our neighbor, and then called to inform me that our HOUSE WAS ON FIRE. We were both freaking out, didn't know what to do, and rushed home as quick as we could. When I got there, I pulled around the corner to see 4 firetrucks, 4 ambulances, and 3 police cars!!! I grabbed Klous out of the car, and was welcomed, hugged, supported, and helped by AMAZING friends, neighbors, and ward members. Come to find out the fire started on the other side of our duplex...when I got there, they had it all under control and out. The fire fighters asked for my keys, and to check our side and make sure things were alright. We have smoke damage, and our place is REAL stinky...but that's all. The other side however is a total loss...it's so sad and gross. It started from a tea candle in the bathroom, that either started the medicine cabinet on fire or dripped into the garbage can. The bathroom looks nothing like a bathroom, it's just a black hole. All the walls and rooms are all black and it got so hot it melted EVERYTHING. Neither of us had renter's insurance...which sucks for us, but not nearly as much as it sucks for the neighbors, considering they've lost a LOT. There were 3 or 4 firemen that told us we were VERY lucky, because they've never seen a fire like that, in a duplex like ours, that didn't destroy the entire building. The neighbors walls are completely black, and ours are completely white...it's truly amazing how things worked out. We're all safe and okay, our things stink, but that's something we can deal with or take care of. I'll post more and update you all when we know more. We're not real sure what needs to be done, or how to deal with all of the things we need to do. Stay tuned for pictures and more info...but as of now we're all just fine!!! Very grateful and happy that no one was home, and we still have each other!!

One more...

Here's one more picture that Auntie Jessica got of Klous yesterday...these are some AWESOME glasses she got for the boys...and I think it's hilarious!! Hope you like it too!! LOL :D