The Quin"ski"'s

Boat Show 2012 and Our Trip to Vegas

2012-02-16T08:37:00.000-08:00

Last week we made our annual trip to the Boat Show. This was the first year Josh didn't go with friends, instead he got stuck with his wife and baby. :) I think it was ok. We weren't sure if Elliott would remember the boat, so we put her in one just like ours to make sure. Yep, she remembered, especially the drivers seat where all the buttons are. She thought it was great, and seemed at home. I take this as a good sign. Another reason to look forward to Summer! We found out at the Boat Show that there is going to be a ski lake community about 2 miles from our house. It would be an absolute dream for us to live on a lake, especially a ski lake. We got the info, but I think this will continue to be a dream...home lots are a little out of our price range. :) Maybe one day.

Friday we packed up and headed to Sunny Las Vegas. We had planned going to visit the Johnson's President's Day Weekend, but Jill called and needed a babysitter for the weekend before. We obliged, and went a week early. To start off, I don't know how Jill does it! 5 kids was enough to put me in the crazy house! The weekend was sure busy, but we had a lot of fun. I wish we could have stayed a little longer, and maybe got to spend some time with Jill and Aaron. Thanks for letting us visit, Jill! Now Josh and I get a weekend away while you watch 6 kids, right? :)

Elliott did great on the drive. She loved playing with all the kids. and was in Heaven with Gracie at her beck and call.

Here is Elsie screaming "Elliott". They all swear she doesn't normally do this, but I think Aaron taught her this on purpose. :)

Here is Elliott on a trampoline for the first time. Elliott LOVED to be outside. It was like 70 degrees.

Elliott is 1!

2012-02-02T08:57:00.000-08:00

I know I'm like a month late, but oh well. Things at our house have been crazy! Elliott is trying to walk, and climbing on everything! We got new furniture a few weeks ago, and Elliott loves it! She loves she can crawl from one end all the way to other and has to play with the pillows along the way.

Besides learning to walk, Elliott is getting bigger. Not in weight so much. At her 1 year appointment, she was in the 1%. The Dr. was a little concerned, due to the fact that she has been consistently about 3%, and this dip worried her a little. We are doing monthly weight checks until we can her weight back up. Until then, Elliott is on a High Fat diet, which is great for Elliott, but so great for mom, considering I have to finish whatever she doesn't...

Our Ward recently split, and we are so sad! We lost of bunch of good friends, but I am sure will gain a whole bunch more. Josh got called as the new Young Men's President. He will do a wonderful job, I know it. Josh is great with the youth.

I am extremely busy with work, housework and Elliott, but I love every minute of it. Hopefully I will start to slow down at work a little.

Elliott had a wonderful birthday, and got really spoiled from everyone. Thank you all for coming up and spending the evening with E on her big day. We love you all so much!

We had a Poop/tub incident. One of the funniest and most disgusting moments of my life, and Josh too. He was so grossed out, and couldn't believe his life had to come to straining poop out of the the bathtub. We laughed so hard the whole time, and hours after. Elliott didn't care, she got to play in the sink!

Elliott's FIrst Christmas

2012-01-03T15:51:00.000-08:00

Elliott didn't have the best Christmas...the poor thing caught the flu on Christmas Eve morning. Thankfully she was still her happy self, just minus any food or drink. :(

Chrstimas Eve jammies:

Santa made it to our house, and brought Elliott this wonderful piano. She LOVES it!

Here is Elliott in action on the piano:

My kind of Breakfast

2011-12-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

This is how I found Elliott this morning, no hands and all. She found the leftover Halloween candy (It is a Hershey Bar). Her Nunn would be so proud.

Hi Baby!

2011-11-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

10 Months Old and Broken Bones

2011-11-10T14:14:00.000-08:00

Elliott is 10 Months Old! She is getting so big, I can't even believe it. She is pulling herself up on EVERYTHING! She will even walk behind some things. I am not ready for walking yet! :) She is an absolute joy and we love every minute of her. She has been talking and jabbering a lot more lately too and I love it. She can even say "hi". I think she is just coping us, bit it is so cute!

Josh decided to go out for a Mountain Bike ride this morning, and he came home wearing a jersey as a sling. Bad sign. Fractured Collarbone. He is out of commission for a month. Too bad, cause he has gotten really into CrossFit. Now, he has to take it easy for awhile. Poor guy. He is miserable.

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T09:37:00.000-07:00

We had a great Halloween. Elloitt wasn't thrilled with her costume, but once she was distracted by all the Trick - or Treaters, she didn't mind.

Josh and I (and Elliott) did Pumpkins Sunday night. Here are some photos:

Elliott tasting the pumpkin. She liked it!

Josh getting serious

Mom and Elliott taking a break

Josh's finished Product

My finished Project

Look what we can do!

2011-10-27T09:14:00.000-07:00

Started doing this last night. Time to move the crib mattress down!

All of a sudden she has started climbing everything. I can't believe how she learns so quickly. I thought walking was far off, but now I'm reconsidering. Uh oh.

It's Fall!

2011-10-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

Elliott and I went to Black Island Farms last week with some friends from the neighborhood. I, being the great mom I am, didn't take my camera. Thank goodness for camera phones! :) We went on a hayride to the pumpkin patch. Elliott loved all the kids, and just clapped the whole ride.

She liked the pumpkins, but only after they were picked and on my lap. She just liked to pat them. She is really into patting things lately.

Sunday, we had some leaves fall off our trees in the backyard. We decided it was time for Elliott to play in them. She loved it!

We are mobile!

2011-10-13T09:53:00.000-07:00

Still scooting, but once in a while she gets up on her knees.

Elliott and her Peach

2011-10-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

This girl loves Peaches!

A lot of catching up!

2011-09-13T12:21:00.001-07:00

Wow, it has been a while.

Things have changed around our house, Elliott is rolling ALL OVER, and should be crawling soon. She can go from sitting to her tummy, gets frustrated, and rolls over. She has discovered she can roll herself anywhere she wants to go. My favorite is when she is on her back and pushes herself with her legs. It's hilarious. She turned 8 months last Friday. I can't believe it. Time flies. AND, she has two teeth!

We just returned from a Quincy family reunion in San Antonio. We had a great time! Elliott started to not feel well on the plane on the way there, and had a temp of 103 while we were there. We found a clinic, took her in, only for them to tell us it is a virus. She continued with the fever until Saturday night, and is still a little out of sorts. I did take my camera, only to find the battery was dead. Darn. We saw the Alamo, visited Sea World, went to Schlitterbahn Waterpark (well, everyone but me, E and Grandma Jones) and had an all around awesome time together. It was wonderful. Thanks to Chris and Richard for everything!

Silly Dad

2011-08-04T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yuba Lake

2011-07-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

We went to Yuba a couple weekends ago with some of Josh's work friends. We were the only ones without a trailer, and Yuba is always super hot, so Josh rented us a trailer from base. It was SOOOO nice to have air conditioning. The baby and I were especially grateful. :)

We had a fun time, except, notice every picture of the baby is in the trailer... that's because we couldn't go outside. It was so horribly WINDY the WHOLE TIME! It even blew our boat loose in the middle of the night, so Josh had to go rescue it in the dark!

The trip only got better on our way home. Braden (Josh's cousin) towed our boat down so Josh could tow the trailer. As we were coming home, we waved goodbye to Braden as he exited the freeway in Riverton, and about 106th South, some very nice people were waving and pointing at our trailer. Josh suspected it to be just a cap that had come loose, and was surprised to find it wasn't as we were stopped on the side of the freeway at 90th South. Somehow, the Entire fresh water tank, yes, we made sure it was FRESH water, had come loose, and was dragging underneath the trailer on the freeway. We had spilled roughly 30 gallons of water on the freeway! Awesome. Thankfully I am married to the smartest fellow I know, who fixed it up nice, and away we went. We decided we are not the trailering type, and will just stick to the boat for a while. :)

Cousin Elsie comes to visit

2011-07-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks back, Jill went to Girls Camp. She divided up her kids between the Noorda's, Johnson's, Leyba's and a Church History Trip. At one point, her kids were spread across the United States! Lucky for us, we got to have Elsie come stay for a couple days. That was after we had to pry her out of Troy's hands. :)

It was so much fun to have two babies! They definitely kept me on my toes, but they are both so well behaved that really it wasn't that bad. Summer, you are my hero. These two are only 4 months apart, so they are so close, but at this age, so different!

Elsie REALLY liked Elliott's face and eyes. She tried to grab them at every chance. She also really liked her binkies since they are different than hers. In fact, we had to give her her own while she was here, and we had to share the binky leash.

Elliott REALLY liked Elsie, and wanted to be around her at all times. Elsie didn't think this was too cool at first, but slowly warmed up to her.

Elsie taught Elliott how to do "Biggest Girl" (sort of) and Elliott taught Elsie how to successfully poo out of every possible diaper. :)

We had so much fun, and can't wait to get to watch her again, or at least play with her again soon!

6 months!

2011-07-12T08:49:00.000-07:00

Elliott turned 6 months on Saturday! I can't believe it. 6 months of baby is WAY better (and faster) than 6 months of pregnancy!

Elliott is sitting up really well. We still have the occasional tip over, which usually leads to a whimper or two.

She is getting really interested in things like remote, phones, ipods, other electronic devices we don't want her to have.

She is sucking on EVERYTHING! No teeth yet, but I am sure they are on the way.

She got a cold a few weeks back, and just hasn't been able to kick this cough, so, the dr. thinks she has the remnants of a sinus infection. She is on antibiotics (you know moms, the yummy bubble gum flavored stuff) and she LOVES it! In fact, she gets mad when it is all gone.

She is eating solids. Rice, Oatmeal and fruits and veggies. Everything I have given her she has inhaled. She loves to eat, that's my girl!

6 Month Stats:

25.20 Inches 32%

13 pounds 15 ounces 14%

42cm head 38%

A Day at the Lake

2011-07-02T19:56:00.000-07:00

We spent a few hours at the ski lake today. I got some shots. Thought I would share.

Isn't she cute in her swimsuit?!

Josh hates my hat. What's the verdict?

Milk (wo) man

2011-06-27T21:18:00.000-07:00

We are the best parents ever.

Monkeys and sitting up

2011-06-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

Things have been a little rough around here the last few weeks. Elliott got a little cold, and we just can't seem to kick it. I think we might be on the downhill slope, but I think she might be trying to get some teeth too. Who knows. Thankfully she is back to sleeping through the night. :)

Elliott sits! She has started sitting up really well. Still a little wobbly, but sitting for the most part. Both of us are much happier now that she can sit and look around.

We went to the Zoo last weekend when Jill and her family was here. We weren't the only ones with that great idea, the zoo was a ZOO! Elliott & Elsie loved the monkeys. They could follow them as they ran from one side of the cage to the other. It was hilarious.

We had such a fun time when Jill was here. She came and stayed with us one night, and we had so much fun. We went to Pizza Factory, and watched the new Narnia movie. The kids played outside, and we got to visit. Thanks Jill for coming to visit! Jill goes to Girls Camp next week, so we get to have a little visitor for a few days. Yay!

Calls Fort Triathlon - June 2011

2011-06-14T07:26:00.000-07:00

Josh decided a couple weeks ago he would do a Sprint Triathlon at the ski lake. Some friends of his from work were doing it, so he decided to give it a try.

Of course he did great. He is so athlete it makes me sick. He has mentioned how much faster of a runner he used to be, that always makes me feel a little bit better. :)

We bought Troy's old bike and borrowed a tri wet suit, so we was outfitted like the pros!

Josh loves to have his picture taken

Our attempt at getting a picture of all three of us

The support team

Ready and waiting with The Parks

Josh KILLING everyone on the swim - He came out of the water almost 4 minutes ahead of anyone else. His swim time was a little over 12 minutes!

Coming in from the swim - nice wet suit, eh?

Finishing the bike (was in 4th place at this point)

Taking off on the run

Finishing 2nd Overall!

He finished in 76 minutes. His goal was 80 minutes, so he did awesome! Now, he is planning another in July and is trying to hit 70 minutes. He is also trying to talk me into doing it. I think the later will be the hardest. :)

Good job Josh! We are so proud of you. No only did he do a triathlon in the morning, but water skied after, and them played softball that night. He is an animal.

June

2011-06-09T07:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe summer is almost here! It seems from now until September, time flies.

Some exciting things that have happened to us this month:

Jane Lily Kendall was born to James and Jenny Kendall (Josh's sister, and she was born in late May)

Elliott is 5 months old today!

Josh and I were invited to be members of a private ski lake in Honeyville, UT. We LOVE it! It is such a fun little place, with sandy beaches, a pavilion and very nice flushable restrooms. I can't wait until Elliott gets a little older, because I think she will really love it.

Lots of Quincy visitors! Jessica and Jason and their families were here over Memorial Day weekend, and we got to spend lots of time with them. So fun to get all the cute cousins together.

Josh has been training for a Triathlon, which is this weekend. He decided he would do it about two weeks ago. He's crazy. :)

Auntie Keli has been the babysitter this week while Grandma Chris has been in Houston taking care of Jane Lily. Thanks, Keli! We sure do love you!

Got some FANTASTIC news from a good friend. I am so excited for her! - More to come

I just work and spend time with my cute little family. I love being a mom so much, I never knew I could love something so much!

Happy Birthday to Olivia (7th), Jill (8th) and Richard (9th). We love you all so much!

As you can tell, I am terrible with picture taking. I will make a concentrated effort to be better, I promise. However, I am really good at taking snapshots of this little one.

Elliott got some new jammies. I love the two-piece tight ones, and she is big enough now to fit in them. Josh made me get the boy ones because it is a surfing croc. Good thing it is just jammies. :)

Elliott's newest trick. She thinks she old enough to sit up where ever she is placed. This girl has the strongest abs I have ever seen! She is also eating EVERYTHING! Including the toys on her swing. It's hilarious.

Dr Visit

2011-05-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Elliott had her 4 month Well Child Visit on Thursday. Here are her stats:

24.72 Inches - 59%
12.7 Pounds - 18%
40.7 Head - 35%

She is kinda shrimpy. Tall and Skinny, like her mom USED TO BE, which brings me to my next point.

I went shopping Thursday. Ugh. I used to love shopping, couldn't get enough of it actually. That was back when I was a size 2, and could wear anything I wanted.

Now, I am NOT a size 2, and have to worry about things hiding my muffin top, and making sure shirts can fit over this chest of mine (not that I am complaining about that) :)

I shopped, and bought a few things, none of which were from Banana Republic. It is the end of an era, my friends. I bought a few items at a fun, young, hip store, which I will be taking back because even a few sizes bigger still didn't fit. I have graduated to the Ladies Department, congrats to me. Ugh.

Lake Mead

2011-05-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

We survived.

We had a great time.

We are glad to be home.

Day 1 - Absolutely perfect weather. Elliott fought her life jacket a bit, but after just a few minutes she would fall asleep. Josh skied first thing, and hurt his ankle again. He skied a few more times and convinced himself it felt better and better. Elliott and I mostly stayed on the beach under the shade. E didn't have to wait long for
someone to come play with her.

Day 2 - HOT HOT HOT. So hot, Elliott was miserable most the day. We stripped her down to her onesie and she even got a little dip. She was such a funny napper. She would nap completely spread eagle on the blanket and didn't want to move for anything. We stayed in the shade on the beach the whole day, and when we got home, E had a very red face. It couldn't possibly have been a sunburn, so it must have been a heat rash or something. Whatever it was, it was sure cute. :) Our Sweet hotel had a sweet Seafood buffet. Josh and Dave ate their weight in mussels and clams. Poor Dave paid for it all night, while the Quincy's slept through it all.

Day 3 - Jill brought Carter and Kinney out and took E and me back. It was a horribly windy day, and I wasn't about to do another day on the hot beach with the baby. Thanks to Jill we had a great day, and even got some Father's Day shopping done. :) Later that night the brave boaters came home to Jill's for some Buffalo Wild Wings and Olivia's first ever homemade brownies. They were delicious; Nunn would be proud!

We really had a good time, and I am glad to have the first ever boat trip under my belt. I was really nervous on how it would go, and we did just fine. I will be forever grateful to my mom who did this all the time. I sure wish she was here to tell me how she did it! :)

4 Months

2011-05-09T19:35:00.000-07:00

My baby is 4 Months old today. I can't believe it.

Updates:

Elliott Rolls! She rolled for the first time Friday hanging out with her dad. To see video, link here http://mommaquincy.blogspot.com/

Meg is CRAZY busy at work, and did a 60 mile bike ride Saturday. It was the Goldilocks ride, and it was so much fun. Hard, cause I am totally out of shape, but I am so glad Kwlli and Jill pushed me to finish with them. It was worth it.

Josh got to waterski for the first time this season

We got the boat out last week for the first time. We are headed to Lake Mead on Wednesday, so Josh wanted to make sure everything was ok first. We had so much fun! We went with some of our friends (yes, we actually have Davis County friends) and then had some yummy tacos to celebrate Cindo De Mayo.

Now, we are off to Lake Mead on Wednesday for the rest of the week. Hope the baby likes it! :)

This is why she likes dad so much

2011-04-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

P.S. Elliott slept in her crib last night. She was up at 5am for a binky, but went back to sleep until 7am. I was dreading doing this, because she looks so little in that big crib, but now that I did it, I realize how nice it is to get my room back. :)

Some room to grow

2011-04-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

This little thing needs to grow! This is the smallest jacket we could find. She didn't seem to hate it too much, she did smile.

She loves to play with her dad. When he gets home from work, she is always happy to see him. She laughs the loudest for him.

Here are some more for your viewing pleasure.

Can you tell we don't like her at all?

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter! Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

We did here, and woke up to a visit from the Easter Bunny. Elliott got some fun toys to take in the boat for Lake Mead. She also got a really cute Easter dress. Isn't she adorable?? :)

We have been good around here. We are all anticipating Spring, like the rest of everyone else, and can't wait to get the boat out. Both Josh and I had an early end to our waterski season last year, so we are both anxious. I get to try out the dry suit this year, wahoo!!

We had a little scare a couple weeks ago with the whole Government shutdown thing. We were first notified Josh wouldn't be affected, but then at the last minute he was told he would be furloughed. Ugh! Thank goodness they got it all figured out, and we don't have to worry again for another 6 months. In February his position changes, so this won't be the case anymore. We are looking forward to that.

I have been doing well. Work is going good. Busy. Chris is still an amazing Grandma to Elliott and mother in law to me. I love her dearly! I got eyelash extensions a few weeks back and LOVE them, until now that they are starting to fall out. :) It was a fun little experiment, but I think I will give them one more try, and then I might be eyelash-less.

Elliott found her voice

2011-04-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

E has recently found her voice. She uses it whenever possible, whether that be to scream for more bites, or to talk to her mom. She is also very giggly and smiley lately. I love it!

Josh's Boat Baby

2011-04-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

We got the boat back yesterday. It got some new seats, for the baby, of course. :) When Josh brought it home, we decided to let Elliott check it out. She seemed to think it was pretty cool.

Sunny St. George

2011-04-06T21:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took a road trip and spent the weekend in St George. Sunday night we got a wild hair, and decided last minute to go down with my family. Luckily, my entire family (minus Aaron) was able to make it! We had a really great time, and got to spend some well deserved relaxation by the pool. Thanks to Keli's negotiation skills, we got a 5 bedroom house with a pool at the 4 bedroom house with no pool price. The pool even came heated! Thankfully we didn't need much heat because the weather was beautiful! Elliott got her first taste of the sun, and was a little skeptical at first. She also got her feet wet in the pool and she screamed. :) Not a good sign, since we are going to Lake Mead in a month.

Here she is in her swimsuit Nunn Jill brought for her. She looks so fat!

Josh did some golfing with my dad, Leon and Sean, while we hung out by the pool, and then when they got back, Kelli, Jill and I went for a bike ride. It felt so good to get outside on the bike. I feel pretty out of shape, but do feel some progress. I better, since my 60 miler is in a month!

Now, Josh is in Atlanta, and E and I are on our own for a couple days. We miss him!!

Happy Spring!

2011-03-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring everyone! I have decided January is the best time to have a baby... By the time you wake up from that New Baby Haze, it's Spring! Sorry future Quincy children, you are all going to have birthdays in the winter.

Elliott has recently found her voice. She is giggling, which is so fun! I caught this video, but she isn't performing at her full potential. Every time I get the camera out, she freezes up!

Her latest outfit. I am an addict. I love to buy this little girl clothes. She is like a Barbie doll, only better! This skirt came from her Aunt Kelli. Doesn't she have good taste?

Quincy Happenings

2011-03-16T18:55:00.000-07:00

Things are going well with work and the baby. I have finally nailed down a schedule, and so far it is working out very nicely. I am in the office Monday and Wednesday and working from home Tuesday and Thursday with Friday off, then the next week I work Monday, Wednesday and Friday in the office, Tuesday at home, and off Thursday. These are the weeks Josh has Friday off so he can stay home with the baby. Did you get all that??

Grandma is still an AWESOME baby sitter! We are getting into a routine, and Elliott seems to really like spending time with Grandma. She comes home happy as can be.

Last week I took Elliott to the Dr for your 2 month visit. She got 3 shots (ouch) and was NOT happy about them. She cried and cried that evening until I could give her more Tylenol. Shots are the pits, for mom too! She weighs 10.1 Pounds (47%), she is 23 inches long (67%) and has a teeny tiny head (33%). My baby is growing!

This was before her shots, she was so happy! Little did she know what was coming...

Blessing Day

2011-03-06T18:20:00.000-08:00

Elliott was blessed today. Her dad gave her such a beautiful blessing.

Thank you to all our family and friends for supporting us. We had a wonderful get together after, and had lots of yummy food! Thanks everyone for coming!!

Now, back to work for the week. Ugh.

Big Week

2011-03-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Elliott and I had a big week this week. First week back to work. Ugh. Thanks to Grandma Chris, who is the best grandma EVER, we made it through with flying colors! Chris watched Elliott Monday and Wednesday and I worked from home Tuesday and Thursday. Friday was my day off. I am only going back 4 days a week. It worked out so well! Elliott did so well for Grandma, at least that is what she tells me, and she did so good while I was working from home. She just sits in her little seat next to me, and just hangs out. She is such a good baby!!

Here are a few pictures. She is getting so big. I can't believe how much she has changed in such a short time! She will two months this week. She goes to the doctor Thursday, so we will see how much the chunker weighs.

Could she get any cuter??

I thought this was such a sweet picture of her.

Spit Up

2011-02-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

Watch out, she spits! Somehow, every video I take I get her spitting up.

The new 'do

2011-02-22T18:51:00.000-08:00

I decided to mix things up a little, ok, A LOT!

I went dark. Honestly, what do you think?

I like it. I have always wanted to do something like this, but have always been too scared. I have been blond my entire life, thanks to bleach and a sister who is a killer stylist. :) I almost feel like my blond hair was my signature, not anymore! Believe it or not, this is pretty dang close to my roots, just a little more red. Now, I just need a tan.

Elliott and I got to go visit Josh at his office today. I finally got my spouse pass so I can get on base to use the gym. Unfortunately, I got it just in time to go back to work. :(

Because I can't go a day without taking pictures of my little girl, here are some more.

She is such a crazy sleeper!

This is one of the only things I have from my mom. We found this little sweater in her closet after she died. I love it, being a knitter myself. Thanks to my good friend Chelsea, she has a skirt that matches it great!

Gas Relief

2011-02-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

This one had gas SO bad, that she did this all day.

Until her dad came home, and then this happened.

I swear, he is the poop whisperer. Every time he holds her, she passes gas. Like father, like daughter, I guess.

Happy Valentines Day, a couple days late

2011-02-16T19:03:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentines Day!! I know I am late, but better late than never, right? Josh and I celebrated Saturday night, and went out to dinner. We left E with Grandma Chris, and she did great. She got her bottle, and everyone was happy. We were gone about two hours, and it actually felt good getting out with just Josh. He even opened the car door for me. :) He said he was being romantic. Isn't he a great husband?! On a more serious note, he really is a great husband. I sure love him a lot, and am thankful everyday we have each other. He gave me a Gift Certificate for a massage for V day. I can't wait! He got a roast for dinner, with frozen corn (his favorite) and hot, homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies. Aren't I such a good wife? :)

Elliott started sleeping through the night!! Wahoo!! She is sleeping until about 5am, give or take. I consider that sleeping through the night, and I will take it!

Here are some more pics of the babe. She is so cute!

This outfit is from Auntie Shayna (that is what I am calling you now, Shayna. YES, we need to play very soon!) Isn't it so cute?

First day of church. We sat in the VERY back, away from everyone with the car seat completely covered. Right after this photo was taken, she spit up all over her dress just in time to leave. Ugh.

This outfit is from her Aunt Keli. The hat didn't last all day, but it was sure cute while it lasted! You can see how thrilled she is about it.

First bottle and some tongue action

2011-02-11T18:05:00.001-08:00

Elliott had her first try at a bottle this week. I have to return to work (boo!) in two weeks from Monday, so I figured now was as good of time as any to introduce a bottle. I made Josh give it to her. It was hard giving up that special bond her and I have. She picked it up like a pro and now Grandma gets to watch her while Josh and I go to dinner for Valentines Day!

E has found her tongue recently. She loves to stick it out as far as it will go. She even did a little curl with it the other day. It is so funny to see the little things they pick up everyday.

She is still cute, one month later

2011-02-09T15:28:00.000-08:00

It is Elliott's one month birthday today. I can't believe she has been here a month!

She is still cute, and sleeping nicely. Last night she slept from 8:30pm to 3:30am! I woke up in a panic wondering what was wrong. :)

Here are some recent shots I have snapped over the past couple weeks. I love this little thing so much!

She looks like her dad!

She loves gazing at the ceiling fan, especially when it isn't on

She is all smiles when she doesn't have clothes on

Waking up is so hard to do

She has finally arrived!

2011-01-25T10:49:00.000-08:00

So, I am finally back, and am writing while I watch my sweet baby girl sleeping soundly next to me. She is so cute!! I just can't stand it!

Elliott P. Quincy arrived January 9, 2011. Just one day early. So much for going THAT early, huh? She weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces, and was 19 inches long. She has long arms, much to her dad's chagrin, and big feet. We think she was absolutely beautiful, but we are pretty biased. :)

My water broke about 1:30am, January 9, while sleeping in bed. Thanks to a late night phone call to Jill (little did she know this would be the first of MANY), I knew what to wear to the hospital. :) Josh was on his game, and took everything we needed except anything for him. He even had the car sear all ready to go! We drove to Salt Lake on the snow packed roads in one of our worst snow storms this season, of course. Thankfully, I wasn't having any pain until we got into SLC. We arrived and waited around until about 5am for my epidural. The nurse finally checked me about 8am, and I was at 9 centimeters! Finally, about 11am, the Dr (not my dr, she was on vacation) arrived, and Elliott was born at 11:54am.

The first week was rough for both Elliott and I. Little did I know, this motherhood thing is HARD work!! I don't think anyone could have prepared me for the life changing event having a baby is. I love every minute of it, but man, it is tough. Elliott didn't know which was day and night, and kept us up a few nights, but has successfully figured it out now. Thank goodness! In fact, she is figuring out how much mom doesn't like to get up in the middle of the night, and has started going between 4-5 hours between feedings at night. All of you who have a baby who slept through the night at 2 weeks can shove it. :) (JILL!)

Elliott went to the Dr. yesterday for her 2 week check up, and gained almost a pound! She now weighs 8 pounds 6 ounces! The Dr. was very impressed, considering they just want babies to be back up to birth weight at 2 weeks. Not our kid, apparently. She is going to be a chunk!

Thanks to Momma Quincy!

2010-11-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Chris, we have pictures!

Man, I look huge.

No more boot for Josh, just a brace (which most of the time he doesn't wear) Physical Therapist says recovery should be "fast". That was great news, considering the boat isn't winterized yet. :)

Ankle Update - Happy Birthday Mom

2010-10-05T15:40:00.000-07:00

Turns out, the ankle isn't broken. Yippee! That still doesn't mean he didn't do a whole lot of damage though. He tore a bunch of ligaments, which will still take some time to heal.

No cast though, that is the best news of all. He has to wear his Air Cast/boot thingy for 4 weeks, and then a brace with Physical Therapy for a couple more. Hopefully by Thanksgiving he will be in mostly working condition. I think he still is determined to ski one last time this year....

So, it is my mom's birthday today. She would have been 62 today. This day still means so much to me. I was so lucky to have a birthday close to my mom, so we always got to celebrate them together. I miss celebrating with her. I think that is one of the hardest parts about her being gone, I don't get birthday wishes from the woman who gave birth, raised and taught me all that I know. Does that sound so selfish? I miss that so much. However, I know she is still with me celebrating my birthday every year, and especially this year, she is playing with her newest granddaughter. Teaching her all good habits, I'm sure. :)

Josh's poor ankle and his Wonderful parents!

2010-09-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Sounds more and more like Josh's ankle/foot is broken. Friday he went water skiing with some friends, and crashed, like always, but not like always, his foot got stuck in his boot. Ouch! The thing swelled up twice the size of his skinny little ankles, and after a Dr. visit yesterday, we are pretty sure he will have to be in a cast for 6 weeks. He is less than thrilled about that. Thursday we will know more after he has an MRI.

Since Josh isn't walking very well, his dad came out last night to mow our lawn. How nice is he? I told him I was fully capable of walking behind a mower, but obviously he felt differently. :) I have to admit, it was so nice to have him come take care of us, but it was also nice to have some company! We love visitors! Thank you again Richard and Chris, for all you two do for us. We are so blessed to have you as parents. We love you!

Countdown

2010-09-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

I only have 16 more weeks to go.

That's 112 days.

That's 2,784 hours.

I'm not excited (ready to not be prego) or anything.

Nursery and the infamous Pregnacy Photos

2010-09-13T10:09:00.000-07:00

We finally got the nursery painted, and I LOVE it. This is before (the purple is cute, but I wanted something a little less girlie. Also, sorry for the rotated picture, it wasn't cooperating)

This is After:

These are for Summer. Notice the total amusement on my face. This is 22 weeks - 18 more to go.

The Verdict

2010-08-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

After some coaxing, the baby cooperated and let us take a look.

It's a GIRL!

The ultrasound tech said right off, "You have one Photogenic baby" until it came time to check between her legs. She had them crossed just like a little lady. She had her knees in her chest, and was moving her little mouth like crazy. Looks like we might have a talker on our hands. :)

Everything looked normal and healthy (thank goodness) and I was told the placenta is in front of the baby, so that is the reason I haven't felt a lot of movement. That was reassuring. Hopefully in a couple weeks I will be able to feel her moving and shaking around in there.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes and congrats!

Boy or Girl??

2010-08-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Ok people, time to guess. The big day is tomorrow, considering this baby will cooperate, we find out the sex.

Pink or Blue?

Today I am 20 weeks. Exactly half way (if I go the entire 40 weeks) Which is so weird to think about. I sure am showing, and will post pics soon (I promise Summer!)

Did you notice?

2010-06-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

The baby ticker on my sidebar?

Our baby is due 1/11/2011. Pretty cool, huh?

Also, did you notice my HUGE belly forming? I did, and I am reminded each day as I try to squeeze into my pants. Am I really supposed to be gaining this much weight this early??

I also have other body parts getting bigger, and now I feel I know how my sister Keli lives....well, a few letters of the alphabet smaller, but I still get an idea. :)

It is amazing how the body changes and adapts so quickly.

Now, if I could just find my motivation....I know I left it around here someplace.

It's been awhile

2010-06-02T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess it has been awhile, AND, I am SUPER busy at work, AND I have no Internet at home, AND, I have been really lazy. :)

Things are good. House is wonderful, now if we could just move it about 20 miles south.... It is a little far away, and my commute has caused a few swear words to fly, but I am trying to maintain a good attitude and suck it up. My 10 minute commute, and being able to run home at lunch days are over. Too bad.

We do have great friends and family who all have packed a lunch and made the drive to come out and see the place. Thanks you all, and all of you who haven't, give me a call, I'm open anytime.

BOATING!!

2010-05-10T11:52:00.001-07:00

It has come time, no matter the weather, that we FINALLY get the boat out.

Here is Josh and I ready for our first trip of the season!

We got to bring our boat "home" for the first time Saturday too. It was like bringing home a new baby (I think) and it even has it's very own, TIGHT, garage. Here is a picture so you can see how close it is.

Here is Josh acting SO proud of his mad backing up skills. Man, it is a tight fit, but totally worth it. Now our whole garage smells like Boat. We love it!

We had a wonderful time, and I think I might have even gotten a little sun. Man, we sure miss the boat all winter, and can't wait to start getting it out weekly. This week, we are leaving the rain and the cold, and heading to Lake Mead. I can't wait! Sun, warm, boat, water and family. Does it get any better??

Homeowners - almost

2010-04-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

We close on our house in less than a week! I can't believe it. I don't think it has hit me yet..

Here are some pictures of the house, currently. Obviously some things are going to change as soon as I can get my grubby hands on it. :)

We are doing our final walk through Saturday, after I take part in the MS Walk. I should be able to get some more pictures then. I am trying to talk Josh into doing some painting before we move in. I hate the thought of moving into someone else's house. Does that make sense? I also want to change out the toilet seats first thing.... Josh thinks I am a germ-a-phobe.

Little by little - WARNING

2010-04-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

I really hoping to be in just a bandaid by today, but I guess this will due.

Much better than having my whole hand wrapped.

Ok, this next one is not for the Sqeamish. I'm warning you, it is not pretty.....

Oops

2010-04-12T15:49:00.000-07:00

So, I am (kinda "used to be") a cyclist. I used to have the occasional bumps and bruise from falling off the bike, or rubbing my calf against my chain ring, etc.

I am a water skier. Summertime brings lots of bruises and cuts on my legs. I bruise easily, what can I say.

However, my newest found hobby has proven to be the most dangerous....

Who would have thought that a morning sewing a baby shower gift among other things could turn into this:

Yep, a sewing injury, worse than all the cycling, water skiing, running, swimming, and all active sports I have taken part in my life, injuries. Rotary cutters are sharp!

Good thing we have a trained nurse next door, so I didn't have to fork over my other arm & leg for a visit to the ER.

No stitches, cause there wasn't anything left to stitch up. Just LOTS of blood, bandages, and ouches, and actually a lot of laughs. Words of advice, don't cut fabric with the shower running, a cake in the oven, and in your underwear. :)

Happy Easter, Bake Sale, and House Inspection

2010-04-06T11:01:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter, and I hope everyone also did! We had yummy turkey dinner at Kelli's, an Easter Candy hunt, and then another dinner at Josh's Grandparent's house. It was a great day!

Here is the only picture I got from Easter. Gretta had stamps on the bottoms of her feet, and they crept up from there. I had a great idea to put one on her forehead, then she wantd Mimi to have one too.... We both had Easter stamps on our face until the next day!

We had a fundraising bake sale at work last week. I signed up to make cupcakes. Thanks to Martha Stewart, this is what I came up with.

Josh did our house inspection on Friday. Everything seems to be in order, so we are just waiting for news from the loan on Thursday, and then we should be already to close at the end of the month. YAY!!!

New News!

2010-03-29T06:21:00.000-07:00

We bought a house! Yay!

I know everyone is wondering what happened with the building idea. It just wasn't the right thing for us right now. We decided, (we being mostly ME) that it might be best for us just to buy something, get the $8,000 tax credit, live in it a few years, and then build. It took Josh a day or two, but once he fell in the love with the third car garage of the house we bought, he saw my way. :)

So, we bought a cute rambler on the border of Clearfield and Layton. I say the border, because it is! We put an offer on a house two blocks away, and it was Layton. This house is actually in Clearfield (which I am a little nervous about). Anyone from Davis County, your comments are welcome. I am new to the Davis County area, so fill me in! It seems to be a great neighborhood, and the houses are fairly new and updated. We will see. Anyway, the house is awesome! It is a rambler, with a mostly finished basement, a third car garage, and LOTS of grass! It has a little garden area in the backyard, and even came with a swing set! Bring on the kids! :)

Anyway, so that's the story. We are really excited! Both Josh and I have worked so hard for this, and can't wait to get out of Carl's basement. We love Carl, and will miss him, but it is time.

Thanks to everyone who has helped us with this decision. If anyone needs an awesome Realtor, let me know!

Good news!

2010-03-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

I got some good news this morning, I was asked to accept a job offer within my company, but with higher pay and more opportunity! I decided to turn it down....no way! I accepted, and I start immediately. I'm excited to have more responsibility and to work on some new accounts, however, I am also sad to be leaving some GREAT people I worked with. Guess the good comes with the bad. The good thing though, I will continue to see those people almost everyday.

House Update: Plans are to the bank with cost breakdown from CSM Construction. Appraisal will be done today, and to us by Wednesday, so we can hopefully close on our lot on Friday. Plans should be picked up and ready to go this week, and we will get them off to Layton City for permits.

Angela, Ashlyn and Bonnie Hill met us out at our lot yesterday. This was the first time I have seen our lot without a foot of snow. It was exciting. We also broke into the house next door, and realized they have very good taste. Their floor plan is almost identical to ours! What are the odds when we all have different architects and builders? Anyway, we have yet to meet them, but I am sure they will be totally awesome. :)

Thanks again Ang for coming out. It really meant a lot to Josh and I to have you be so excited for us! I'm so happy Layton will be a lot closer to Clinton!

If I can't build a house, I will sew

2010-03-01T11:13:00.000-08:00

I made this. From a pattern I got free online. Once i figure out where I got it, I will link it.

This is a little dress for a little someone who's bday I missed in February. Good thing we are visiting Las Vegas this weekend so I can give it to her! I can't wait! I think I might need a Meg sized one. :)

(If anyone is wondering, this is from Heather Bailey's, Nicey Jane fabric line. Oh how I love Heather Bailey! Also, I got a super good deal on this fabric off eBay, which makes it even sweeter!)

This is not from a free pattern online, but a free book I borrow from Mary Yang. He is missing his tongue, but it won't be long until he is done. This one might be for one of the MANY of my friends who are prego. There are like a hundred of you, seriously. :)

Just an update on the house. Still waiting on plans. Hopefully they will be to engineering this week, and we can start all the bank stuff. We had to extend our contract on the land since we don't have our funding yet. We are working as fast as we can though, too bad we just have to wait on other people. Anyhow, once we get the plans done, I will post pics. I am getting more and more excited with each little step!

We will soon have a new address

2010-02-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

We finally did it. We purchased .27 acres of dirt in East Layton. :) We are so excited!!! It didn't quite seem real, until I called to get our loan, and I realized we have A MILLION things to get done all at the same time! Speaking of, off to the architect we go today to get our plans drawn up. So fun!

Disco Fever

2010-02-01T11:06:00.000-08:00

Josh and I were lucky enough to be asked to Chaperon the Sadie Hawkins dance at East High on Friday. K, I was dreading it a little, because I am old, and have been out of high school 10 years!

As you can see, we had a blast!! We have the BEST youth in our ward. Seriously, I love these girls so much!!

This is Danielle, Me, Anna, and Bethanie. Bethanie was the one who conned us into doing this because she is on Student Government and is only 14. That means, no date for her. :) Again, these girls are the greatest girls in the world. I LOVE them so much!

Some projects...

2010-01-26T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is what I have been working on the last few weeks.

This was my very first project I started. It will be a lap quilt, once I get the motivation to put the back on, and learn how to bind.

This is a from a bunch of Orange fabric I was collecting. I thought it turned out pretty cute. Pretty bright. I was thinking a cute bright green fabric for the back, but I haven't found anything I can't live without yet.

This I finished last night. I am SUPER happy with it. It started out a quilt top, then pillows, and finally, a table runner. I really really love it. It is Sonnet, by Moda, and I can't wait to put the back on.

Totally off the project subject, we got to celebrate Gretta's 3rd birthday with her at Classic Skating. Thanks to me, she finally got her jump on, and then wouldn't get off the scooter. :) It as so fun to spend time with the kids. I just love them!

To build or not build?

2010-01-25T15:13:00.000-08:00

We want a house. We are tired Carl's basement, although I love Carl, I just don't love that which is his basement.

So, since Josh has recently finished school, and has joined the ranks of the full time employed, we have decided to get a move on.

We first looked at existing homes. A LOT. A lot of short sales and foreclosures. (since that is about all that is available these days) We saw lots of "Fixer-uppers" and some that only needed minimal work, BUT, we decided, hey, if we are going to do work, we might as well do the whole enchilada!

So, we have enlisted the help of a VERY well qualified, and gifted home builder, and are trying to get things started.

First on the list, Lot. We have two picked out. One in Syracuse, which is actually a really nice neighborhood. Not super far west (that was one of my stipulations) and not within miles of power lines. Will someone from Davis County please tell me the need for SO many power lines??? About half the lots we have looked at have a gigantic power station in the yard. What is the deal? Anyway, the other lot is in East Layton. A little far North, but BEAUTIFUL! Just west of Hwy 89, it has great views, and a 20 minute commute to Pineview. If you haven't already figured it out, this one is by far Josh's favorite...

It is so much fun to think about building our "own" house, but as soon as I think how fun it is, I think how freaking scary it is! I may like to spend a few $$ at Banana Republic here and there, but forking out the $$$$$$$ it takes to buy a lot, build a house, and pay your monthly Mortgage is another thing entirely!

Thanks to my very awesome brother for being so willing to help. Thanks also to my sisters who have to listen to me whine and have to keep reassuring me everything is going to be alright. :) Thankfully, they are all seasoned pros at this house building/buying thing. Although they are wonderful substitutes, I do still wish my mom was here to walk me through this.

We're Back!

2010-01-10T16:23:00.000-08:00

We survived. Barely.

The cruise was wonderful, a little cold, and a little uneventful, but still had a lot of fun.

Day 1:

After our three, yes, 3 connecting flights, we and our baggage made it. It was a REALLY long day. We finally got to our hotel about 2am. Whew!

Day 2:

Sleep, South Beach, and boarding the ship.

Day 3:

Freeport/Grand Bahama Island. COLD COLD COLD! It was WINDY, and COLD, so no water fun for us this day. We took a cab to the local marketplace, walked through some random hotel and found the beach. Only to dare put our feet in. Hey, I thought we were in the Bahamas???

Day 4:

Nassau/Paradise Island. This was supposed to be the day to swim with the sting-rays, but again, TOO COLD. Darn. So, we gave in and took a glass bottom boat. It was the closest to snorkeling without actually having to get in the water! After a few short minutes looking at the bottom of the ocean, we headed over to Paradise Island and visited the Atlantis. What a cool resort! We went to the aquarium and did a little exploring of the place. Pretty cool. After, we walked over to Nassau and tasted the local fare of Conch salad. Weird. I opted for some fried shrimp, and they were De-Licous!

Day 5:

Great Stirrup Cay. Our Best weather day by far. 70, and that felt warm. In fact, I even got away with a little sunburn on my chest and nose, which are now both peeling. Love the arid, dryness that is Utah. We snorkeled and saw some Lion Fish, Star Fish and even a Jelly Fish! Thanks to some good advise from one of the cruise crew members, we missed out on having to pay the $30 snorkel fee by hiking a half a mile to the "nude" beach. :)

Day 6:

We got off the boat early, rented a car, and drove down to the Everglades. We visited the Everglades Alligator Farm, and it was great! We rode in an airboat, got soaked, I held a baby alligator, etc. This was probably one of our most fun days, and we didn't even have to leave the country for it!

Day 7:

We made it home, but our luggage did not. Not until 1:30am the next morning, thanks to United Airlines, and their speed recovery services.

I am glad to be back, I know, crazy, but really! Keli and Sean and the kids picked us up from the airport, and it just reminded me of how glad I am they are back! It is so nice to have my family close. Now, If we can just convince Jill..... :)

Happy Bday, Josh!

2009-12-22T15:07:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to Josh!

I tried serenading him at 5:45 in the am, but apparently my voice isn't warmed up that early. Or, I think I fell asleep halfway through, nonetheless, Happy Birthday!

I am so thankful to have Josh in my life. I love him so much! He always makes me laugh, even on those FEW occasions I am mad at him..... He is such a good example to me always, he honors his priesthood and his temple covenants. He always reminds me of what's important (boating) and what isn't (worrying). I am so glad I get to spend eternity with him! (insert "Ah" here)

P.S. If at all possible, try not to marry anyone who has a birthday a few days before Christmas, and have Christmas a few days before your anniversary.....and you thought your December was crazy! :)

Some Updates

2009-12-21T08:11:00.001-08:00

So, I got some grief on Saturday about not being a very good poster.... So, here are some updates:

Josh turns the big 28 tomorrow. He is so old. :) He wants a $400 Subaru for his birthday, but he isn't getting one.

Josh defended his thesis two weeks ago. He did a really great job. Now, it's off to the Thesis editor for some revisions.

Two weeks from yesterday, Josh and I will be on a cruise to the Bahamas! Happy First Anniversary on Dec. 30th to us!

My sister Keli is coming home! I am so excited to have her back!

I have been tinkering with the sewing machine, and finished one quilt and one other quilt top. harder than I thought, but enjoyable. I have also been doing some more knitting, and am currently working on some slippers. They are so cute!

Little Ava got sealed to Adam and Summer on Saturday. It was such a wonderful experience for us to take part in. Thanks again Wilson's for inviting us!!

We are hoping for a job offer this week or next for Josh. It is almost a done deal, other than waiting on a few school things to get finished up. I can't believe we are here. It seems like we have been waiting for the end for so long, that now it is almost unreal. I am excited to see what the next few months hold for us!

Girl's Trip Chicago 2009 (minus a few girls)

2009-12-07T11:17:00.000-08:00

Since I don't have to keep it a secret any longer.....here are our pictures from our Chicago trip. Jill got a wild hair, and decided we needed to fly to Chicago and surprise our sister Keli for Christmas, so we did! AND, we (along with many other of you) kept it a secret the whole time.

Unfortunately we didn't get a picture of the look on her face when we showed up at the restaurant, but the cost of the plane tickets were totally worth it! That look was completely priceless!
Driving into Chicago Saturday morning. This is such a cool city. This was before Jill almost ran a red light and almost hit some Pedestrians.

Beside to see Keli and her family, this is the whole reason we came to Chicago. This was the restaurant we ate at with my mom 2 years ago when we came to see Wicked. There may have been only three of us this time, but mom was with us, because we sat at the EXACT same table, and after 2 years, had the EXACT same waiter! It brought tears to our eyes.

Michigan Avenue at night, and Christmas time. It was fabulous!

Me, in front of the Chicago River. It was so cold! (Notice the nice scarf. It was Keli's Christmas present to me, but I forgot mine. I just broke it in for her. :) )

The 3 girls. We had to get at least one picture of the 3 of us together. Thanks to Keli's white coat, we were never separated.

Jill and I with the kids. They were so excited to see us, but I think Jill and I were more excited to see them. They have grown up SOOOO much!

Us again. This was just before leaving so our eyes aren't red and puffy yet. It is so fun to go, but the worst part is that we have to leave! I miss The Clayton's SO much! Sean was so sweet to be with us with our little plan, and even went a little further, and planned us a night in the city. We stayed in a beautiful hotel, and Sean made sure we were taken care of. We even crashed HIS birthday dinner, so, thanks again, Sean, you are the best!

No girl's trip will ever be complete without our sister Kelli. I say sister, cause she might as well be! She is just as much family as we are, and there is never a time I can remember being without her. We missed her so much, but know that this will not be the last of our trips. Kelli, you were definitely with us in spirit, and we talked about you all the time. Good things, of course. :)

This was the first trip without my mom. It was hard. We talked about her so much, and reminisced about all the good times we had. We are so lucky to have been blessed with her, even if it was for the short time we had her. It was so great to be together and see how much each one of us is like her in different ways. We know she was watching out for us, and smiling that we were spending time all together. That was the one thing she loved more than anything else, spending time with her family. She taught us well.

We had a wonderful time, and I can't wait for the next one! Love you guys SO much. Thanks again for being my sisters.

Thanksgiving

2009-12-01T07:46:00.000-08:00

We had a great Thanksgiving. I hope you all did as well.

Since I am a little short on time, I will bring you bullets!

Made a turkey AND a turkey breast, and didn't poison anyone, well, that I know of anyway
Saw Christmas Carol. Eli wasn't the only one who was scared.
Shopped and shopped and shopped. Up at 3:45am!
Put up my Christmas tree. LOVE IT
Christmas shopping, and Josh's birthday shopping, DONE
Got through one more Holiday without my mom. This year we decided it is time to start some new traditions.
Josh got peed on. No, not by me!
Played with lots of babies!

This time of year is always so crazy, but I love it. Not only is it the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season, but also time for Josh and I to celebrate. A year ago Thanksgiving week, I went to the temple. I can't believe it has been a whole year! Josh asked me the other day if I even remembered the days of wearing normal underwear. I said, "Yes, every single day". :)

Meg Q, the artist

2009-11-13T08:56:00.000-08:00

I took an art class. Yes, I know, ME?

Some background. I have NO artistic ability. I mean, seriously, I couldn't draw a non-stick figured person if my life depended on it. Really, ask any kid who has ever asked me to draw something for them. They turn out terrible.

I have a really good friend at work who is an amazing artist. She does it all. Paints, draws, oils, watercolors, chalk, you name it. So, she talked me into going to her art class with her. I was terrified. Seriously, sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, all of it.

Turns out, with some determination, and a REALLY great teacher, I can do it! (Well, sort of) This is my masterpiece.

The top is the photograph, then the sketch, which I did, and then the watercolor painting.

The best part of the whole thing, since I was a new person in class, I got the teachers original painting. According to my friend, is worth some Dough. I feel so.....cultured! :)

We have Babies!

2009-11-11T09:43:00.000-08:00

Well, not me, but everyone I know! :)

First, Jenny and James (Josh's sister and hubby) had little Dean Thomas Kendall last week. He is so sweet. Too bad they live in Houston, so we don't get to see him for a little while.

Second, Adam & Summer Wilson (Josh's cousins) had a beautiful baby boy yesterday. Grant Thomas Wilson was born last night, weighing in at 6lbs 11oz. He weighs almost as much as his baby sister who is 5 months!

Third, Jason and Nicole Quincy are expecting a little girl almost any day, it sounds like. Wish she would hurry, because the sooner she comes, the more chances we have of seeing them at Christmas!

It is so fun to be able to be around all these babies. I love to think that they are so perfect, and have just come here from Heaven. I can't wait for my babies to come straight from their Nunn's arms to me. :)

The Pink/Brown Quilt Top

2009-11-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

I don't know how well you can see it, but this is my latest project. A baby quilt, no everybody, not for me.... :)

It's pink and brown, and boy do I have a lot of ideas for this one! As soon as it is finished, I will take a better picture.

I love love love it!

My new best friend

2009-10-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

This was my bday present.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

I have already started my first project, and have plans for many many others.

Why didn't I learn to do this years ago??

Our last ski trip of the year.

2009-10-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Go here, to check it out. Thanks Chris for helping is out!

My Happy Birthday gone

2009-10-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe another year has gone past. So crazy how time flies. Seems like just yesterday I was blogging about my birthday, and what I got for my birthday. Josh has a lot to live up to after last year. :) With that being said, he did a wonderful job this year, and I couldn't be more excited!

Anyway, before the birthday presents, we spent the weekend at Lake Mead. We met Bob & Pam and fam down there Thursday night/Friday morning. We didn't get in until after 2am, and even though the hotel was less than desirable ($25 a night, what did I expect) we didn't care.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect Friday. High 80's, not a breath of wind (unusual for Lake Mead) water temperature about 74, and glass almost all day. We all skied our guts out! We also got some surfing in, and even got Pam (who's bday was Friday) up, after a few failed attempts. Don't worry though, once she got up, she was a pro!

Saturday was the exact opposite of Friday, we woke up to wind, ate breakfast in the wind, unloaded the boat in the wind, surfed in the wind, got yelled at by a wake boarder for tubing in the CRAPPIEST water possible. WTH? Got to witness SpeedoFest 2009, pictures coming, and lots of other mayhem in the wind. However, the best part of the day was not only was it my bday, but I loaded the boat, in the wind, PERFECTLY. Yes, my friends, Perfect. It was a little bday luck I am sure. :)

After we had enough wind we headed to the Johnson's, and I was greeted by lots of hugs and Gracie saying. "Mimi, panties", pulling up her shirt to show me her new panties. I love this little girl!!

Josh and Dave headed to the Priesthood Session, I got showered, played with kids, and then it was off to Cheesecake Factory with my two dates, and in Jill's "bling-bling" ride. Thanks to the Nav, we found Summerlin just fine. Thanks, Jill.

After dinner, we stayed up talking almost all night. In fact, the boys couldn't take it, so they were asleep long before our conversation ended. I love those good, long talks with Jill and Aaron. They always make things seem so much easier.

We arrived home Sunday, and were sad to find the weather here much colder than when we left. This is always such a hard time of year.....only a few more boating trips left.

Thanks again to all those who wished me Birthday wishes. I had a wonderful PROLONGED bday, and it was fantastic! I have a few pictures coming that will show the fruits of my labor and my bday present.... Stay tuned.

Take a Moment

2009-09-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

If you can, please take a moment to sign the attached petition. This is to get 8,120 signatures by the end of November to fight Pancreatic Cancer. In one day alone, 116 people are diagnosed with this horrible disease. The 8,120 signatures are representing the 8,120 people that will be diagnosed from September 22 through the end of November (Pancreatic Cancer awareness month).

Please help any of those 8,120 people know that there are at least 8,120 of us supporting them.

http://www.knowitfightitendit.org/

Thank you so much!

Our Special Employee

2009-09-28T08:37:00.000-07:00

I received this picture message from a friend and co-worker. Yes, that is me, with a helmet on, sitting at my desk.....

Look above, and you can see why I was wearing a helmet.

Thanks Jenny, for looking out for me! :)

My Bravest Moment, but not Cameron's

2009-09-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

So here is the ONE video I got with both Josh and I in it.

Josh had to man the boat (good excuse) so he didn't jump. I'll tell you what, this may not seem very high on film, but it scared the pee right out of me!

Lake Powell

2009-09-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

Is there ever a bad day at Lake Powell? According to our recent trip, the answer is no. We got to spend 4 days doing what we love most, BOATING!

We got the opportunity to go with some friends and family on a brand new houseboat. It was fantastic! Lake Powell will never be the same. :) We had air conditioning, an ice maker (that was found on the last day of the trip, after Bob & Pam's two trips to the marina) showers, hot tub, wave runners, and bedrooms to go around.

We also had some of the best company. Not only did Josh's uncle Bob and family go, but we also got to spend time with the Behuinin's, and also some of the Devey's! It is crazy how Josh and my family are all connected somehow, and we aren't even from the South! :)

We had great weather, other than a little wind on Saturday, and some short lived sprinkles Saturday night. It was just enough to calm the lake down for one last short blast. Blake and Sherry and Josh all tore it up!

We also got to try the Air Chair. Dang, that is hard! Both Josh and I weren't totally uncoordinated, but we both need a little more practice. Guess we will have to go with Blake and Sherry again!

Of course I only took a few pictures, and will post them and some videos of some serious surfing, and my bravest moment, so stay tuned!

This was one vacation I was not ready to come home from. We had such a great time, and it was so nice waking up on the water and with the sun every morning. Hopefully this will not be our last real skiing trip of the year. Lake Mead in October? Maybe?

This is the reason he married me, though

2009-08-31T12:37:00.000-07:00

Josh and I have been doing a lot of skiing lately (duh) This was the conversation we had Saturday night after we got home from a weekend at Utah Lake.

Josh: (While watching the above video) Man, I look terrible! (About a 30 second pause) Oh, that's because it's you!

I know he loves me, even though I am a terrible water skier. :)

Below is the real video of Josh, and he ISN'T terrible.

Bullets!

2009-08-19T13:34:00.000-07:00

K, here are a few things that are new with me. Since I am rushed for time, you get Bullets! My favorite things.

Have had a crappy rental car for two weeks. I have never appreciated my car more
Lost a very good friend to a layoff. Dang economy
Took the Young Women water skiing. Had a BLAST!
Mistook the rental car for a rally car, and tried to take a corner too fast, with the YW in the backseat! Don't worry, I told them to never do anything like that! :)
Spend a glorious Sunday at the Quincy's cabin and rode the Honda Passport. I want a scooter
Took the dirt rode home from the cabin. I was having flashbacks of the Ibapah Pony Express Route trip, but this dirt road only lasted about 10 miles.
Found out some disheartening news about a friend who has Cancer. I HATE cancer!
Spent a lot of time with Family the last couple weeks. It was heaven. I miss you all already
Spent a lot of time at The Gathering Place for two weddings in two weeks
Got the privilege to attend a sealing in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple

It has been a busy last couple weeks. A girl I work with said today, "I wish I was on an extended vacation." Amen. I wish I was too!

Happy Birthday, Sister!

2009-08-06T10:47:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday to my sister, Keli!

I miss you so much already!

I love my sister Keli because:

she always has a way to make me laugh, even during the roughest and toughest of times
she is a fabulous shopping partner
she drives a minivan, and totally owns up to it
she isn't afraid of what other people think of her
she is always up for an adventure with me
she is a GREAT mom, and wonderful wife
she makes killer chocolate chip cookies
plus many many other reasons

I don't love that my sister Keli:

Lives so damn far away

I am so lucky to have such a wonderful sister and friend. She has always been one of the biggest influences in my life. She has taught me a lot, doesn't judge me, always has a good explanation, and always sticks up for me. Thanks for being such a great big sis! Love you tons!

It's been a while....

2009-08-03T12:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a REALLY long time, I know... Things have been crazy at the Quincy house.

We hit the big year mark, July 26. I can't believe it has been a whole year. I know I have said this before, but it seems like just yesterday, and a lifetime all at the same time. I sure do miss her a lot, though. We spent the day mostly with the Quincy's, but we did also go over to the cemetery. The flowers we planted on Mother's Day are flourishing, and I am so glad! They look so great! We also stopped by my Dad's to say hi. All in all, it was a nice day. I think I made it harder on myself than I should have, but I guess I am entitled to one of those, aren't I? :)

We have been water skiing A LOT, and we have been having a great time. Josh had some family in town a couple weekends ago, so we loaded the boat up with about 13 of us, and had a blast!! Everyone got to do something, either, surf, tube, ski or just swim. It was so fun being able to have so many loved ones on our boat. We love our new boat for that very reason!

Thursday was my work Lagoon party. It as a great time. Keli and Sean and the girls, plus a few extra came along. Mckinley is by far the bravest! She went on almost every ride! It was her first time on the Rocket, and she had to hold my hand. I hated every minute of it! :) I sure love spending time with my family!!

Saturday, we got the boat out again, and got loads of people again! This time Keli and Sean and their family and some friends joined us. Again, it is so fun to be able to spend time with our families on the boat. We met up with Josh's uncle, so Keli, Maggie, Emma and I swam over so we could do some tubing, and the cousins could do some surfing with Josh. Maggie was so brave, and wanted to go on the tube, but ONLY with her Aunt Mimi!! Again, I hated every minute of it!

Today is a big day for my dad and Noma. They are exchanging their vows tonight, and come 7pm they will officially be married. Again, it is amazing how much has changed in such a short time. I am glad they are happy, and I wish them the best!

Here she is!

2009-07-17T09:18:00.001-07:00

Ok, here it is, the new addition to the Quincy family. We are so excited!!

Adam, Summer and Noah came over to check it out. Ok, they came Outside to check it out..... Noah found his spot right away. Madison had to help each time though, just he just isn't big enough yet to take the cushions off.

Here is Josh. In the "New Boat Daze"

Troy's Kids. I think they liked it the best!

Josh bought a life jacket that fit Eli perfect. So, he told us all that this was his life jacket, but that he had to keep it in the boat. Don't worry, he took that tag/booklet off and told his mom to keep it safe for him. That had all he needed to know to go in the boat. It was darling.

We are so excited for our new toy, but I have come to find out that with a new toy such as this, comes more and more new toys.....surfboards, life jackets, ski boots, travel cover, etc...and with all these comes more spending $$$$! :)

Burley, Idaho and a lot of miscommunication

2009-07-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

So, we didn't get the boat, not yet anyway... Some things still have to be worked out, and with the weekend, it really screwed things up. But alas, we still had a great time.

We got to spend some time with Ang and her wonderful family, in their beautiful home. It is so fun to spend time with good old friends, and be able to catch up. I love that she has horses, and LAND, and even a half a cow. Here is a conversation we had. Proves things are a little different in Burley/Declo/Sprinville, or where ever it is you live. :)

Meg: Where's Nate?

Ang: Out moving the Handlines

Meg: Oh, where are THEY moving to?

Ang: You don't know what those are, do you?

Meg: Oh, guess not. I thought they were your neighbors.

Ang: No Meg, they are sprinklers.

Nate was out rocking the rubber boots and moving the sprinklers in their "pasture", and loving every minute of it. I am so glad Ang and Nate are so happy. They are such wonderful people. Thanks again for letting us crash on your air mattress for the night. :)

We did finally get to drive the boat, and we loved every single thing about it. Hopefully sometime this week we will have a new addition.

6 WHOLE months

2009-06-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

That's HALF a year, my friends.

6 months ago today, Josh and I were married. I always promised myself I wouldn't be one of those "obsessed with being married types", but come on, 6 months!

Amid the trails that Josh and I have had to face over the last 6 months, we have continued to stay married, and actually still love each other. Probably even more than the day we got married, believe it or not.

Things I have gotten used to since being married:

Laundry, laundry and MORE laundry
Cooking. I didn't know I had so much culinary talent....neither did Josh, and if he did, he probably wouldn't have married me!
Sleeping with someone in your bed, and someone who you can kick in the middle of the night
Always having someone to come home to, or being someones someone to come home to ( I like this one)
Ice Cream before bed, but not alone
Shopping at Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target, all with gift cards - in fact, I think we STILL have some
Grocery shopping....ick!
Having someones shoulder to cry on. Even if he doesn't know why
AWESOME in-laws!

I am really thankful to be married to Josh. I love him so much, and am so grateful for him, and the things he does for me. I can't imagine my life without him.

Roughin' It

2009-06-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

I'm off to Girls Camp this week....

I am actually really excited! We have great girls, and they are all a lot of fun!

I am sure I will return with a few mosquito bites, and lots of fun stories and pictures.

In fact, getting ready to go has made me think of my years at Girls Camp. I don't think there is one bad memory from camp. We always had SO much fun.

My favorite story though, has to do with my mom. She was in the Stake YW when I was about 16. She was going around visiting each wards Testimony meeting, so she came to ours last. She came and sat down in a lawn chair while the spirit was so strong. Just as she sat down, her chair folded up, with her in it, and boy did she scream!

At that moment, I was so happy that she was my mom. She always had such a great spirit with her, regardless if she was listening to our testimonies, or rolling down the hill in a lawn chair.

I hope that this year at Girls Camp I can be as good of leader, as my mom was. Wish me luck!

My head hurts

2009-06-17T15:51:00.001-07:00

I have a headache. That has lasted for 3 days! What is the deal?

Maybe it is swine flu, or maybe it's just because I am Vitamin D deficient because all this blasted rain.

Either way, I am heading home to load up on the Advil, and try to talk my husband out of buying a new boat.

I guess if it keeps raining, an extra boat laying around won't be such a bad idea....

Another milestone down

2009-06-16T08:13:00.000-07:00

A year ago yesterday, I found out my life was going to dramatically change.

I don't have the words to express, but Keli does. I am so thankful for my sisters and brother.

EscarGO!

2009-06-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

I have snails.

I HATE snails. I would like to know a snails purpose in life, beside making mine a living Hell.

They are slimy, basically homeless, leave a trail where ever they go, and not the good kind like Hansel and Gretel, and they eat my plants. My peas are destroyed, and my Dahlia's are next on their list.

A few have taken flight over the fence into the College boy's yard, one went for a ride on Carl's windshield, three have found their untimely deaths by table salt, and a couple have had the pleasure of seeing the bottom of my shoe.

I can't believe people actually eat these things. I want to eat one, just to feel it's bones crush through my teeth.

*ok, really I am lying, I don't want to eat one, and do nails actually have bones???

Thank goodness my husband can fix things

2009-06-04T07:58:00.000-07:00

Our toilet is broken. It wasn't because of either of us. I swear.

The pump thingy (yes, this is a technical term) broke, so after you flush, the tank won't fill up with water. So, this is what we have had to use:

It takes about six refills to finally fill the thing up.

Estes Park, CO

2009-06-01T15:53:00.000-07:00

What a spectacular place! Honestly, the scenery was completely breathtaking!

We had such a fun time at the Quincy Family Reunion. We packed in about as much as possible in the 4 days we were there. Lots of playing with Sophie and Tessa, lots of catching up and chatting, lots of EATING, of course, and lots and lots of fun!

We hiked, kayaked, went sightseeing in Rocky Mountain National Park, swam, ate, bbq-ed, napped, mini golfed, go-karted, and even threw in a little shopping, without the boys, of course.

Thanks to Sophie (and possibly James) there was no sleeping in to be had, so our days started off early, and ended early because of complete exhaustion.

We took LOTS of pictures, well, Jessica took lots of pictures, and we even got a few family pictures in without TOO much complaining. I even got a photo of Josh and I that is NOT from our wedding!

We sadly said goodbye, especially to our Houston-ites who we won't see until they have their bundles of Joy in the winter. Others we should see before then, and some we will see very shortly. Anyhow, I can't wait to see you all again! Thanks for such a wonderful time!

The new Do' and "Memories Flooding Remembering"

2009-05-26T14:25:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day was so nice! It was such a fun weekend. I don't think Josh I spent more than 5 minutes at our apartment all weekend! When we FINALLY got home last night, we crashed. We were exhausted!

Since I LOVE LOVE LOVE bullets, so here goes nothing:

Got to spend most of the day Saturday with my sister Jill and the kids. This always makes for a great day!

Kelli's yummy Homemade pizza Saturday night. Mmmmm....Feta and Artichokes

Terminator! Friday night. Josh owes me for that one. One chick flick please.

Bday party for Olivia, Carter, Jill, Noma and some leftovers for Gabe and Eli. LOTS of FOOD and cake-including Kelli's salad I so love!

Lasagna at the Quincy's, Josh's fav

Bike ride Monday morning, after some coaxing, and got my butt handed to me....man, I am out of shape!

Jello, of course! Would a weekend be complete without my Pretzel Jello Salad? I don't think so.... It was a hit, by the way.

Got a haircut. 5 inches long gone, but I Love it!

Some chilly waterskiing and BIG waves Monday afternoon

A GREAT Memorial day with lots of family and friends. I love this day. I love that the kick off to summer is spent remembering those who have passed on, and spending time with those you love. I missed my mom so much yesterday, but it was ok. I knew she was with us, and I knew she was proud of us all, with the exception of the Chicagohans, making to the cemetery, almost on time.
Late to cemetery because of slight clothing mishap. I forgot my bra. I know, I know, for us small chested gals it ain't so bad. Good thing my shirt was baggy.

Here is a photo of the new do'

One Memorial Day behind us. That was another one of those "firsts" I was really worried about. It was nice to know that I have the support of so many loved ones. I have always taken my extended family for granted, until now. I appreciate them all so much!

Now, it is time for Josh and me to pack our bags for some more family togetherness, this time, we get to spend the next 5 days in Estes Park, CO with the Quincy family! I am so excited!

Mother's Day

2009-05-17T12:10:00.000-07:00

I know I am a week late, but I wanted to post the pictures from Mother's Day.

It was a hard day, but it was a good day.

We went to the cemetary and planted some of her favorite flowers. She would always tell me not to plant flowers until after Mother's day, so, that is just what we did.

Jill sent some beautiful flowers

The day was actually a good day. We got to spend a lot of time with lots of people who are like moms to me. Love you all!

My Quote for Life

2009-05-13T15:49:00.000-07:00

"Life is like riding a bicycle

To keep your balance, you have to keep moving"

-Albert Einstein

I would rather it be Valentines Day again...

2009-05-08T15:04:00.000-07:00

I am completely and utterly dreading Sunday.

I wish I could just embrace it, but I can't.

I miss her so much, that every time I even think about a Mother's Day without a mom, tears come to my eyes. I still can't believe last year at this time, we were all healthy and happy and not mom-less.

I know the rest of my siblings feel the same way. I miss you all, and wish more than anything I could give you lots of hugs and shed lots of tears together.

To make matters worse, I have to teach YW Sunday. I'm sure I will be a blubbering mess the whole time, but I know my wonderful girls will understand.

The Search is finally over

2009-05-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

You are going to love this.

Josh is soon to be the proud new owner of a 2002 Ford F150, King Ranch Edition, equipped with cowhide leather seats, and bullet holes.

Yes, I said cowhide leather seats.

Josh is so proud

The Bullet Holes

The Seats. That's Gen-u-ine Leather!

I totally married up

2009-04-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am so proud of my husband. Who is such a smarty pants.

Can I just brag for a moment?

Josh is the most educated person I know. Not only does he have a Bachelors Degree in Bio-Medical Engineering, but he is ALMOST finished with his Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Funny that he married a girl with no more than a high school diploma, and a couple years of "college" at Dixie State. He is so helping our kids with their homework.

So, after all this schooling, it has finally paid off. Josh was offered a position at Hill Air Force Base, and he has accepted it. He starts May 11, just in time to get done with finals. It is a part time position for now, until he graduates at the end of the year.

In the meantime, he will still be part time in the lab at the U, and writing a thesis, AND let's not forget, water skiing as much as humanly possible.

Fun Family Times

2009-04-20T16:01:00.000-07:00

We went to Las Vegas this weekend, and had a great time! Keli came into town Friday, and we got to spend the whole weekend with her. It was so fun!

Josh and I headed down Friday night, to make it just in time to play with Gracie before she went to bed.

Saturday it as Brighton's wedding, and it was beautiful. We got to go to the Las Vegas Temple, which ended up being quite the drive. Thank goodness for the McDonalds on the way home.

Sunday rolled around, and we had to head home.

Here are some puctures from the chaos

Old Faithful

2009-04-14T15:49:00.001-07:00

I woke up Saturday with purpose. Josh and I were out of underwear, the bathroom was growing who knows what, and the dishes were overflowing. Wow, I sound like a terrible housekeeper.... Hey, give me a break. This house work stuff is new to me. I grew up with a housekeeper and a mom who loved dishes!

As I was putting laundry in the washer, I realize we have stalactites hanging from the shelf in the closet, that have dripped forming stalactites on one of my dresses, and puddling on the floor. Awesome. Old Man Carl's Laundry Detergent is a little old, don't you think? The bottom had burst open and leaked everywhere!

So, I get to work, and have to basically hose down the place. Once everything is cleaned up, and if you have ever cleaned up a half a bottle of laundry detergent, you know it gets soapy, and very very very very bubbly. So, I throw the stuff covered in detergent in the laundry, and head to clean the bathroom. While scrubbing the sink, I can hear the washer draining, and some "glub glub glub" sounds. Uh Oh. Next thing I know, there is water shooting out of the toilet, and water bubbling (LOTS of bubbles, which I attribute to the soapiness of the laundry) up from the drain in the shower! AH! I have a geyser!

Turns out, we have a blockage. DUH. Great. So, Wednesday night at 9:30PM, the rooter man shows up with his snake thingy, and gets down and dirty. This made Old Man Carl's day, or night, whatever. He hasn't this much action in years. He even got the energy to make it down the stairs to check it out. Bless his heart. No, really.

I may possibly be killed for posting this

2009-04-09T14:39:00.001-07:00

Seriously, I might.

This is Josh Hula Hooping on Wii Fit.

He is right, I can't do it to save my life.

DWTS

2009-04-08T15:52:00.001-07:00

Did anyone out there watch Dancing with the Stars? If you did, give me the scoop. Who got the boot?

I love this show. So much. Why? I have no idea.