My Early Christmas gift

Curtains
I have searched for a long time for Dining room curtains that I liked. Over the summer, my poor dining room was adorned with blankets (blinds just don't keep out enough heat here in Arizona!). When I finally found ones that I liked at IKEA, we didn't have the money- those darn new babies... just take all your money : ) I received a little birthday money in Sept, and so I went to IKEA to get them, but my luck, they were out. So I kept checking online, every week, but still not in stock. They finally got them in stock around the beginning of November, but wouldn't you know my luck, we didn't have any extra money to be buying curtains. (Such a sad tale, I know!!!) Well, Miah finally sent me yesterday to go get the curtains I have been wanting for half a year now ("Merry Christmas!" he said), and I am so pleased with the way my dining room looks now- I love it!closer up
Beanie Project
One of the young men in our ward wanted to make hats for the Phoenix Children's hospital for his eagle project. They asked him to make 300, so he enlisted the help of the ward! I picked up some girly yarn, and started crocheting away (I was in the mood for something other than blue). Since I have been gone most of the month though, I have only been able to make a couple, but I am so glad that I have been able to help out a little bit!
Seattle Trip
Unfortunately, I don't have many pictures to share of our trip, but Adin and I just got back a couple of days ago from Seattle. (Adin was pretty uncooperative for photos, so even the ones I have aren't so great) It has been a long three years since I have been there. I have not only missed the beautiful green landscape and the constant nearness to the ocean, but mostly I missed family. The first couple of days we were there, Adin and I stayed with the Croziers (might as well be family!!). Adin absolutely LOVED their dogs, Charlie and Chet. I was able to get a pic of him with one of the dogs, but Adin stopped laughing andsmiling when I caught it, in fact he almost looks mad! Then we went over to Paul and Kerri's for a few days. It was so much fun spending time with them. It felt to me like old times when I used to live with them. Kerri sewed like crazy for Maria's wedding- I tried to help as much as I could with cutting and stuff. Kerri did an amazing job on the bridesmaid sashes, Savannah's flower girl jacket, and the baby boys' "ties". We also got to go shopping for dresses for Maya and Savannah- we found the perfect dresses, and I think they looked absolutely beautiful! I think Adin enjoyed his cousins as well.

Savannah holding Adin- he started crying the second I got the camera out... lil' stinker!
After the wedding, I went over to Pete and Tasha's. It was so nice and relaxing, since all the wedding stuff was finished. Poor kids, had to listen to Adin scream and cry the ENTIRE car ride home from the rehearsal dinner (about 45 min or an hour... I don't know, it felt like forever to me!!!). The boys still loved Adin, and I think he really enjoyed them too. It is amazing to me how much all the boys have grown up, it was so fun to spend time with them. Of course, they were all hoping that my plane would get snowed in, and that I would have to spend more time with them!

Taylor and Austin with Adin
Right before I left, the boys came in from the snow for a picWe miss all of you up there!!!!!! Thanks for letting us come and spend time with you!

Our BIG news!!!
I know that I mentioned this when we were up in Seattle, but it looks like it is going to become a reality... we are going to move back!!!! We are shooting for this Summer, October at the very latest. I missed family so much, and Miah really wants to get his Masters at UW, so it looks like it is really going to happen. I am so excited!!! After getting to spend a little time with you all, I knew that I couldn't wait so long to see family again. I am terrible at keeping up communication... being close just seems the easiest way. So I hope you guys weren't kidding when you said you wished you could see me more often!! I love you all!!!!!

Utah Trip

Last Wednesday, we received a call from Miah's mom. She was in the hospital with heart problems. We wanted so bad to come up to support her, but money was definitely a hindrance. Well, Miah is fortunate enough to work for a wonderful company, with extremely compasionate owners, and well, his boss bought both of us tickets to fly up to Utah for her. I am so thankful for their generosity and kindness!!! Once we arrived, we found out that she definitely needed to have open-heart surgery. The surgeon felt she could wait it out through the Thanksgiving weekend, so we were able to spend some quality time with her before the surgery.

Because of the short notice, none of us were prepared for Thanksgiving. We were just planning on grilling some Salmon that she had on hand, but when her home-teacher came over in the morning to assist Miah in giving a blessing, he insisted that his family bring some food over for us. We were able to enjoy a delicious traditional Thanksgiving dinner... pumpkin pie and all!!! Despite the terrible circumstances of us being there, we had SOOOOO much to be thankful for! Since she was under strict orders to take it easy on her body, I went and picked up a 1000-piece puzzle. It was pretty difficult- took us two days to complete, but it was a lot of fun!

Saturday night, we wanted to go up to Temple Square to see the temple lights. Miah called ahead and found out they did have wheelchairs that we could rent, so we could all go. There were so many people there, it was almost too hard to enjoy, but it was still fun and beautiful! We have a few pics, but they did not turn out very well. We really need a new digital camera, but that will have a wait a little while. Here are some of the pictures anyways.

Adin, Grammy, and Katrina in front of Floating manger

Grammy, Miah, and Adin

Adin and Me

Adin

Our family in front of the Joseph Smith Memorial tree.

Grammy, Katrina, and Adin

Me and Adin

We spent most of Monday at the hospital, running around doing all the pre-surgery junk they make you do... like answer the same questions 4,000 times, fill out the same paperwork for 20 different people, etc, etc! We had to be in the hospital at 6am on Tues morning. We were all up until about 12:30 that night, and then when Barbara couldn't sleep, then Miah stayed up with her until about 2:30. So, we were all pretty tired the day of the surgery. They actually started the surgery around 7:30am, and they were done around 12:30. It was a long time in the waiting room, but thankfully, the surgery went well. She is doing so well now, that the doctor said she might be able to come home today! (That is excellent, since the hospital stay for this surgery is usually at least 4-7 days!)

We had to leave on Wednesday, but were able to meet her other daughter, Rachel, at the airport. Then, I had to turn around and repack to head to Washington... which is where I am now! Adin and I are a little tired from traveling (he is quickly becoming a professional traveler!), but are SUPER excited to be here. We will be sure to update the blog with pics of Adin with his Aunts and Uncles and cousins... I am so excited for him to meet them!

Splish - Splash Adin's takin a bath!

Adin really loves taking a bath. He loves kicking and splashing. Most recently, he has begun to enjoy his bath toys as well. Miah called me in the other day to show me that he had managed to grab onto two at the same time... I just couldn't resist a picture. He wouldn't take his eyes off his ducky, which is just as cute!! I had to throw in a picture of Adin in his bathrobe, just because I love it too!!

The Wedding Planner

As most of you know, Maria is getting married here in less than one month... holy moley, I know, its crazy!! I am super excited, and super busy at the same time! Although I am living in a totally different state, I have been busy helping Maria get everything planned and put together. It is pretty fun and exciting... especially since for my own wedding I was so blissfully in love, that I was pretty oblivious to everything that was going on (thank goodness for wonderful family members who put a lot of time and energy into pulling everything off beautifully!!!) I am so excited for her - being in love is probably the most wonderful feeling in the world!
Just to give you a little taste of what is to come, I created a little mosaic (yes, my first...thanks Kerri and Tasha for the inspiration, and the know-how), featuring the cute couple (picture taken and edited by Tasha), and a sampling of the ideas we are working on! It should be a beautiful wedding.PS I can't wait to see all of you in Seattle... so soon!!!!

Adin's Nursery

We are loving the extra bedroom in our apartment! Room 2 doubles as Adin's nursery and our desk/work area. It was so fun to finally put up his crib, along with the crib set we got for him. I haven't really done much else in terms of decorating the nursery, but this alone has been pretty exciting for me! Right now, his stuff only takes up a small corner of the room, but I know as he gets bigger/older, he will take up more space.What's amazing to me, is how well the crib and changing table match... both were given to us... by two different people! We really lucked out, and I couldn't be more grateful for their generosity!!!
Here is a closer up pic of the crib, although I am just realizing that I didn't even get the matching quilt in the picture... oh well, you get the idea - it is all boy!!

Baby Hippopotamus

Adin is such a big baby (as mentioned many times before), that about a month or so ago, Miah started calling him our baby hippopotamus, and the name has really stuck! The great thing was when I was getting him dressed last week, I noticed that a friend in the ward, who had made a few onesies for us, made one with a hippo on it. How perfectly appropriate!

Just yesterday, Adin started blowing raspberries! He is pretty excited about it, because for the past 24 hours, it is pretty much all he does! It is so fun to see him grow and learn new things... I love it!!!!

Adin's First Halloween

Adin dressed as a Bandito! Ariba! Ariba!
To celebrate Halloween, we went to Miah's sister, Shawna, in Glendale, for her ward's Trunk-or-treat. In order to get there on time, Adin and I met Miah at his work, which was fun, because his coworkers were able to see him all dressed up (which, mostly being Mexicans, they LOVED it!).
Adin with his cousin Jonathon.
Shawna gave him a baby-sized pumpkin bucket!!
Adin even helped me pass out candy!
And Adin did a little Trunk-or-treating!
All Done!!!