Mount Timpanogos hike

Blake and I have been so lazy this summer, and we really didn't really get to do much camping or hiking. Our awesome neighbors invited us to hike Mt Timpanogos with them, and since neither Blake nor I had done it before we thought it would be really fun and said yes. We left at 1:30 in the morning, and started the hike around 2 am so that we could be at the top for the sunrise. We really had a great time, but the hike was so much harder than either one of us expected. I have started running and even did a half marathon this summer, so I thought I would be just fine on the hike, but boy was I wrong! It was 14 miles total, and climbs about 4500 feet of hell! Even Blake (usually Mr Optimistic) was complaining at the end. I am so glad that we did it and we had an awesome time getting to know our neighbors even better, but lets just say that I think it'll be a while before we do it again!

Counting On Me: 101 Things To Do With Your Toddler

I always feel like I should do something with Jaya, but I am super non creative so we always end up doing the same things. This is a great idea list full of fun, EASY things to do together! Definitely going to try these soon!

Counting On Me: 101 Things To Do With Your Toddler

Graveyards

Oh the things we do for our children. Because Jaya's awesome babysitter isn't able to watch her anymore I have decided to start working graveyards at my job, instead of finding another babysitter. I am really nervous about the whole thing, but I am also looking forward to actually being home with Jaya, even if that means being totally exhausted 24/7, because believe me I know that's how its going to be. Wish me luck, and if anyone hears of any work from home jobs in the Utah/Salt Lake Valley areas let me know please!!

Happy Birthday Jaya!

I cannot believe that Jaya is already one!!! Holy cow the past year has FLOWN! We had a BBQ/party on her birthday, and I am so thankful to everyone who was able to come, and for the amazing family and friends that we have. My grandpa was able to finally meet Jaya and he was smitten with her for sure! Our friend TJ took these pictures, and they turned out sooo cute. Thanks Teeg!

Jaya and her boyfriend Kohen, so in love ;)

Meeting Great-Grandpa Anderson for the first time

My friend Nicole showed me how to make the tutu, it turned out soooo cute!

Its my birthday and I'll cry if I want to!! 

Frosting up the nose! Delightful!

Showing some attitude in her new camping chair 

Responsibility

Lately I have really been feeling a huge burden knowing that the things that I do, and the decisions that I make will shape Jaya's life. I guess I've never really thought about how much my own parent's decisions effected me, and while I knew that once I became a parent I would have to be really careful about what I choose to do, I found this poem and it really hit home. This was in Elder Richard J. Maynes' talk this April General Conference:

’Twas a sheep not a lamb

That strayed away in the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that strayed away

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And why for the sheep should we seek

And earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger when sheep go wrong:

They lead the lambs astray.

Lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray.

When sheep go wrong,

It won’t take long till the lambs are as wrong as they.

And so with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

For when the sheep are lost

What a terrible cost

The lambs will have to pay

Reading this made made me really stop and think about the things that I am doing, and how they are affecting Jaya. It also made me soo grateful for the gospel in my life, and for the great examples of my parents that taught me to do the right thing, even when it is difficult. And of course I am so thankful for my Savior, and for the opportunity that I have to raise my family in His gospel!!

For Elder Maynes' full talk, you can visit the following link:

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/establishing-a-christ-centered-home?lang=eng

My Growing Girl

I cannot BELIEVE how fast time has flown by since Jaya was born!! She is almost ten months old and is all over the place, and eats everything in sight! I am constantly digging things out of her mouth, and I feel like I have to vacuum like 12 times a day. But, she is SO fun and I love her more every day. She is my little shadow and I hate leaving her to go to work.

In the past few months she has learned a few new tricks...she gives five and she LOVES giving huge (and usually very wet) kisses! It is so fun to watch her little mind working, trying imitate things that Blake and I do. She is so obsessed with Diesel, and she thinks he is the funniest thing in the world. Nothing can get her laughing like Diesel going crazy when we get home after being gone for a while. She also loves music, especially the piano. I am so lucky to have this little angel in my life!