CRUISE!

We just booked our first cruise!!  I am so overly ecstatic I just had to share!  We are going to the Bahamas out of Charleston S.C. in September, over the week of our 3rd anniversary!  The last two anniversaries we have gone to Midway because it's like my favorite place in Utah but now we live 5 minutes away so that would just be strange. So we decided to go big this year!  Woody's brother, Ryan and his family live in Georgia so we are going out a couple days early to spend some time with them before the cruise which makes the trip even more exciting! EEEKK!! I CAN'T WAIT!

Shout out to the Hubs

If you don't want to hear about how much I love my husband then back away NOW!  Just kidding.  But seriously.  I just want to give a shout out to husbands and how much they put up with being married to our kind.  I seriously don't know how they do it sometimes...we be cray cray! (That was for you Hol) But you probably aren't reading this because of my disclosure ;).  I feel out of control blessed to have such a patient, understanding, helpful, entertaining, hard working, loving husband.  I feel like it is so important to remember that a marriage should be equal and I am so glad that Woody and I walk side by side instead of one in front of the other.  He is so supportive of me and loves me even when I am being ridiculous or crying for no dang reason.  He is more than I ever thought a husband could/should be and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for him.  I am a big fan of my marriage and the joys it brings to my life.  I was so happy to hear such an amazing talk about marriage in General Conference last week.  If you didn't get to hear it, or if you did... here it is!  Watch and Learn.  And remember to go home and hug your husband and tell him how much he means to you!

Love Your Life and it will Love You Back!

I don't have any idea why I think I should only blog when big, awesome things happen in my life.  Those big awesome things usually are not the things that make me the most happy.  Although, moving back to Utah, getting a new dog that I adore, moving to Heber for my job, and having a new neice are four things that actually make me VERY happy! I am in love with my own life and I decided I don't need to wait until something monumental happens to write about that love.  So here is to a new year and celebrating the small things that really do in fact, mean the most.  Here is a little bit about the last six months of our lives.

The hubs and I moved back to Utah at the end of August for multiple reasons but the number one being that we are happier here.  Our lives are here and even though we loved Colorado and could see us moving there again some day, we felt like it was the right thing to do at this time, and now we KNOW it was the right thing to do.

Stella is the Shiz.  She is a total mut...we adopted her in the fall and they think she is a pug/dauchund mix which is pretty obvious when you see how long she is...and then she looks up at you and her awesome underbite tells all.  She was a street dog before she was rescued by lost paws so she totally holds her own with the big boys.  She is seriously is the bomb.  Woody's dog, Coda had been living with his parents since forever because Woody was moving around so much.  He is a nine year old black lab and we love him.  Stella and him became best of friends within five minutes of meeting each other.  She is a definetly a little thing that makes me so happy!

In November, we found out that Wasatch Mental Health was going to be expanding to Heber City, Utah at the beginning of 2013. In December, I was asked to go up for 3-6 months to help get it up and running.  We had been living at my in-laws since we moved back from Colorado and we were starting to decide where to go from there.  When this opprotunity came up, we took it and ran with it.  We found a house for rent and moved up the week before Christmas and thus far have not one complaint about this fabulous valley.  We LOVE it!  Woody isn't the biggest fan of Utah living but I think this place may have changed his mind a little.  It is so nice to be away from the hussle and bussle but also to be able to get to the hussle and bussel in 30 minutes if we need to or want to.  It is just delightful! 

One HUGE but little tiny reason I am so glad we moved back to Utah is IVY JO!  She is the best thing EVER!  I seriously can't get enough of her and I can't imagine not being around for this first month of her life.  She has brought so much joy to all of us!  She is so lucky to have the parents she has who love her to a million billion pieces!  They are such wonderful, patient, loving parents!  And just around the corner is Mister Hunter James!  He is going to be here before we know it and we are just as excited for his grand enterance! 

We went on our first real trip alone!  We went to Catalina Island and California adventure for a weekend and it was just what we needed.  We both started eating healthier and exercising more.  Woody bought me an aquarium as an early birthday present!  It was such an awesome surprise after I fell in love with snorkeling.  Woody took up a new hobby called Aquaponics...look it up...it's pretty cool. 

We are just surrounded by so much happiness it almost doesn't seem fair.  2013 has already been a great year and we are only 2 1/2 months into it.  I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who blesses us so imensly. 

Love your life and it will love you back. 

Thanksgiving!

I know I have a lot to catch up on since we moved back to Utah, I will get to those, I promise!
Today I just wanted to count my blessings.  I am so grateful for the life I live and wouldn't trade it for ANYTHING!  Some things that make me smile and help me realize that I have nothing to complain about and have so much to be grateful for... First and foremost, the Gospel of Jesus Christ because I know I am only this blessed because I have a Heavenly Father who LOVES me!  Secondly, My amazingly kind, generous, loyal, trusting, bestie-handyman-IT guy-confidant husband, Jason Woodruff! Our Families...Greggy, Jo Jo, Em, Micah, Baby Girl, Ben, Carly, Baby Boy, Holly, Ike.  Rick, LeeAnn, Ryan, Jessie, Eliza, Lilly, Brad, Kenzie, Brit, Michael, Katie, Jessica, David. Our dogs, Stella and Coda.  My car, Gwen. Our amazing Grandparents and other extended family. Our fantastic friends that we are so lucky to have so many of that I can't start to name everyone. A roof over our heads.  Jobs that we love. Food in our bellies. Laughter. Mountains. Road Trips. Snow. Christmas Music.  Swiffers. Thunder storms. Babies.  Chocolate.  Healthy bodies. Water. Warm clothes. Fires. Cell phones. Crafts. Ipad. Ibuprophen. Hand sanatizer. Pants. Camera. A sense of humor. Tears. My perfectly imperfect body. Sports.  Mac and Cheese.  Holidays. Hobby Lobby. Movies. KSL Classifieds. Life long friendships. Airplanes. The beach. Crock pots. Glitter. How I met your mother. Turkey. Golf. America. Money. Music. Make-up. Education. Amazon. People magazine. Costa Vida. Costco. Bikes. Skype. Books. Tithing. Bras. Insurance. Technology. The great outdoors. Air conditioning. Trials. Seasons. Weather. Tampons. Heaters. Diet Coke. Nail polish. Stars. Sunshine. Hot tubs. My five senses. My bed. And PAID HOLIDAY! Here's to a weekend full of family, food, friends, shopping, eating, shopping, eating, and sleeping in! Have a great Thanksgiving!
Happy Slapsgiving Everyone!

Summer is Funner!

This summer has been a dang BLAST!  Especially with the couple trips to Utah and Brittney living with us for a couple months.  Here's a little bit of our summer!
Brittney's boyfriend, Travis came out for a weekend so we cowboy'd up! We went horse back riding at a beautiful state park.  Brit wanted Travis to face his fear and get back on the horse since he was bucked off years ago.  It was my first time and I loved it!

 Later that day we went to the Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney concert at the Mile High Stadium!

All of us...not looking at the camera...

Brit and Travis

Me and my handsome husband! So happy at his first country concert!

Yes, we do in fact have matching hats that we found at good will!

This is the lovely Tim McGraw commemorating the victims of the Theater Shooting.  This concert was the day after the shooting so it was a great little pick me up for Colorado.

It was really cool to see the stadium that the Broncos play at, since we won't be around for any games.  It was a great weekend! 
The next week I flew to Utah to babysit David and Jessica while my mother in law went on Trek with Katie and Michael.  We swam at the Lindon pool and the pool at our condo.  Those kids are fish!  We were there over the 24th of July so we went up the canyon a couple of times.  Once with their family (forgot my camera of course) and once with my family to cascade springs.  Needless to say.... we had a great time!

And a big bonus of the trip.. Mike and Amanda had their baby while I was there!!  I was SO happy he came early so I could see him before he was a month old!  Here he is!

ISN'T HE THE CUTEST!?!  

I love him already and I am so glad Amanda had such a good experience and that they are both healthy and happy! And I love his red hair!

I flew home on Saturday morning and then the following Thursday the three of us drove to Utah for Jessica's baptism and Michael's ordination to a Priest.  It was so great to be with the WHOLE family for the first time since Lilly was born (pictures to come).  We are so proud of Jessica's decision to be baptized!

THERE'S MORE!

After Michael's ordination on Sunday, we were planning on just leaving straight from the church to drive back to Denver.  Brittney only had 4 days of work left so she was going to be driving home alone that Friday.  She asked Katie if she wanted to come to Denver for the week so she wouldn't have to drive home by herself but Katie couldn't because of band camp.  So Brit asked Jessica if she would want to come with us.  After much deliberation and weighing the pros and cons (missing a birthday party) she decided to come!  It was a great opportunity for her to have a little vacation and to be able to see a new place.  We had so much fun all week, she wasn't ready to leave on Friday. 

The long car ride to Colorado!

Jessica and I went to Water World and she got her first cup of dippin dots!

We have a big resevoir and beach near our house so we took the kids on Brittney's last day.  This is Jessica's troll trap. She is running from the trolls I think.

 Thursday night, we all went to Dave and Busters for Brittney's going away party.  

It was a great end to the summer!

Yesterday was quite the sobering day.  I really want to thank our friends and family who checked in on us to make sure we were okay.  The theater shooting took place about 8 miles from our home in the city we live in.  It is comforting to know that we never have and probably never would go to a movie at that theater but it was still close to home. 
My sister in law, Brittney has been living with us this summer and went with some friends to the midnight showing of Batman.  Her friends were buying the tickets in advance and were going to buy tickets to the Century 16 theater because the tickets were about five dollars cheaper there.  For some reason, one friend said he thought they should go to a different theater because he heard it was a really cool.  I can't even describe the terror that went through mine and Woody's heads when we woke up to a text from his dad about what had happened.  Thankfully Brittney was asleep in her bed. 
Two things have been running through my mind all day.  Number one, I am SO grateful for the Spirit that spoke to one person who was in tune, and changed the fate of a whole group of friends, including Brittney.  Number two, tell the people in your life that you love them.  Life is short and we need to spend less time fighting, gossiping, and holding grudges, and more time laughing, playing, trusting, mending broken relationships, and making all sorts of amazing memories with the ones we love.
My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the shooting.  Watching the news this morning and seeing faces and hearing names and stories makes this whole thing so much more real. They were moms, dads, brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, and friends who loved and were loved.  It really makes you step back a little and appreciate everything you have.  I can't even describe how grateful I feel right now.
Please keep the families of the victims and everyone who witnessed this horrific act in your thoughts and prayers.  I know everyone will make it through this tragedy like the ones in the past and be stronger from it, but they need a lot of prayers.

Shout out to the sisters!

I felt the need to give a big ole shout out to my sisters who also happen to be my very best friends in the whole entire universe!  I have no idea what I would do without them.  I can't even almost imagine life without these two fools.
First of all, my big sister Emily Jo.  She is THE big sister.  I feel bad for people like her who don't have big sisters like her.  She is the first born and couldn't be a better example to ALL of her siblings.  She is happy, spontaneous, very loving, super smart, driven, sarcastic, and hilarious!  I have very few memories of her ever being rude to me (besides when I did weird things in my sleep and she would laugh and me and make me furious).  She always took me under her wing, let me hang out with her and her friends, and taught me a lot.  I used to not like being the kid after her because she did everything so well.  But really, being the kid after her taught me how to be my own person and that everyone is good at different things and everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.  We are a lot a like and a lot different at the same time.  I couldn't ask for a better person to look to as an example throughout my whole life. 

Then there is the little sister of all little sisters!  Holly Rebecca!  For those of you who know her, know how amazingly creative and hilarious she is.  Although she is my little sister I still look up to her in so many ways.  She, also has taught me how to be your own person. She really doesn't care what people think and is so comfortable with who she is.  She is always laughing and having the time of her life no matter what she is doing.  When we were younger I was easily annoyed by her (probably how Emily felt about me but she was WAY more patient than I was).  She acted like a normal, annoying little sister but I wasn't as tolerant as I should have been.   The summer of 2007 I moved to Alaska for 5 months and when I got back I had a different sister.  I don't know what in the world happened over those 5 months but when I got home we became best friends.  She is 5 years younger than me but if you saw us together you would never know. 

I have learned so much from these two.  We have cried til we laughed and laughed til we cried (and peed a little).  They are the best friends I could ask for and I feel sad for anyone who hasn't had the opportunity to meet them because everyone who knows them, loves them.  I think moving away from them was one of the hardest things I've done but it has made me realize how much I love and appreciate them.  I am certain that no matter where life takes us and what life throws at us, we will be there for each other through anything and everything.