Yes, we are alive

and well! I have SO many pictures that I've been wanting to blog. First there was our Easter camping trip which was cold but wonderful. Then there was our backpacking trip a few weeks ago which was AMAZING as usual. And then there was the U2 concert which was suh-weet. And I have great pictures of them all to prove they really happened and yes, we were there! However, it is all I can do to squeeze in the time to provide even this tiny update. On May 2 I started school, and I am LOVING it. It was rather unexpected, but when the prompting came I followed, and I'm glad I did. I'm taking eighteen credits, which is insanely cramped in a summer semester, and I am still working full time. So we're still here, I usually have some sort of anthology on American literature or some advanced nutrition book in my face but Ben's getting used to the look! So sorry for the no pics, but the semester ends August 5... maybe I can squeeze some on then :)

St. George on St. Patty's

Meagan, you were right! ... I DO have pictures from a trip to St. George that have not yet been blogged about. So here goes! (Thanks for the reminder).

A few weeks back Ben and I and a few couples from our ward drove down to spend St. Patty's day weekend away from work and relaxing in the sun... too bad it was only sunny one day, but we were still not at work so it was ok! We stayed in a beautiful house that someone's parents kindly lent us, spent a day in Vegas, another day shopping in St. George, and another watching my nephew play in his softball tournament. It was nice and relaxing with too little sleep and too much food (as usual).

Jeff and Jori - my sister and her husband. It was a fabulous coincidence that the baseball tourney was that same weekend. So we drove to Mesquite and ate at the seafood buffet with them and then went swimming. Completely wonderful evening

Don't mind that some of these pics are sideways, I forgot to turn them before I uploaded them and, you got it, I'm too lazy to redo. We went shooting one breezy afternoon... Here's my baby shooting to his hearts content.

Seriously the .22 pistol was INSANELY fun. I asked Ben to get me one for our anniversary or my birthday or something... I want one, he can figure out an excusable time to buy it!

At Brayden's game... it was so cold.

Isn't he darling?! I think I embarrassed him. I forget he's 13 now... oops

soaking up the sun... sideways style

Soaking in the shade while his wife soaked in the sun.

Vegas baby :) Breezy here as well.

Love my sweet Hubby, it was an awesome trip. Wish it was time to go again!

surgery

So I'm having surgery.Tomorrow. On an inguinal hernia. And unfortunately this is the only thing in my life right now to blog about :) How sad. According to my doctor it's a rather painful recovery, which I am not looking forward to. HOWEVER, on the upside this does mean that I don't have to work over conference weekend, which we always look forward to at our house... the best two weekends of the year :) So today I'm rushing to get everything done before I veg out on pain meds for a few days. I'll let you know how it goes!

20 minutes you say?

20 minutes for this workout? All I can say is Thank you, Kara, for introducing me. And also thank you Ebay for selling it to me for six dollars and eight cents. I really appreciate it. I can definitely handle 20 minutes. And it's not too shabby that I'm out of breath and sore the next day from these 20 minutes. Well worth my time I'd say.

Meet Max

Say hello and a hearty welcome to the newest addition to the O fam. Max is our darling new baby, and yes he's a puppy! He's a Shih Poo (Which I feel like an idiot saying, obviously. Say it aloud and you'll feel embarrassed too.) He's a mix between a Shih Tzu and Poodle, which apparently is a very popular mix but I'd never heard of it before.

Anyway, he was a spur of the moment idea... I was talking to my sister who had just gotten a puppy and I decided that sounded fun, so I got on KSL, and it just so happened that about 30 seconds before I did, little Max and his brothers were posted. I had to have him, he's so cute, and doesn't shed, so for the next two days I begged Ben INCESSANTLY to let me get him. I even got Ben's sister on my side, who followed my instructions perfectly (which were, of course, to call Ben a few times a day and beg him to let me get Max, and then to send him texts as well.) Looks like it worked, and Ben is wrapped around Max's little paw... as am I. He's darling, he potty trained in about a week, and he doesn't even yap like most small dogs. So here are some pictures... tell me you could resist this 3 pound puffball. Pretty sure you couldn't.

This is his favorite spot...usually on our feet taking a nap, but he'll settle for squished in between them as well

DARLING!

Christmas and babies

It's time to blog because I'm so sick of seeing my Halloween post! I'm sitting in my little house and just LOVING the lights of the Christmas tree and planning out the remainder of my Christmas shopping. I'm almost done, which is extremely unusual for me since I NEVER know what to get Ben and always go to the mall and walk around about a bagazillion times hoping for some inspiration... but this year inspiration struck early and I can't wait to see his face on Christmas morning :)

There truly is something magical about this holiday... there's such a warm aura of family and love and joy and most of all an increased awareness of our Savior. He is so aware of us and gives us so many reasons to be happy!

On a rather personal note, Ben and I have recently hit a new roadblock on our journey to have children. For just under 2 years we've been trying to conceive, although we knew from the start that it would be difficult. After failed attempts on different fertility pills my doctor looked at me a few weeks ago and said "You're over my head now, you're complicated." The entire time we'd been trying there'd been a lot of peace and a complete reassurance that we had no need to worry. However, those words coming from my doctor stopped me in my tracks. I was at work (since I work at L&D I'm able to just pull my doctor aside when I have questions. So we were standing in the hall when he told me the news) and so I hurried into a supply room and called Ben, which is when I started bawling and freaking out. Of course Ben was perfect and comforted me and remained strong even though the news was just as bad for him. A few days later as I was trying to make my appointments with the specialists down at the U we realized how quickly the expenses would add up as we began this new step in the journey. Of course then the anxiety over whether or not we'll be able to have children of our own combined with the stress of the huge financial burden that this presented.

Ben and I talked a lot and yearned for direction and guidance from the Lord. He has given us immense peace through this entire experience and we still feel certain that He is watching over us. We have decided to put the medical procedures at the U on hold for a short while and feel very peaceful about this decision. I love my sweet husband so much and he's been amazing through everything. He is so faithful and calm and rarely gets his feathers ruffled. Because of him and because of our wonderful Savior and our faith in His plan we're able to be grateful for our time together, just the two of us! We hope for children soon but are peaceful and happy in the fact that all is in our loving Heavenly Father's hands, and ultimately everything will work out as it should!

Halloween weekend part one

Halloween is over at last! Once September ends I pull out my few Halloween decorations and the random costume parts and get really happy at what this all means... fall, snow, hot chocolate, and the nearness of the two most wonderful holidays of the year (Thanksgiving and Christmas... NOT Halloween, although it's a fun one!) I enjoy planning Halloween - the costumes, the activities, inviting family and friends, but when it ends I am definitely ready to move on to bigger and better. With that said, I'm sure Christmas decor will be up at our house in no time! (and don't be a hater... I know Thanksgiving comes first. But what's Thanksgiving without a little Christmas cheer?!)

On Friday we went to Frightmares with a few friends. Pics of that will be coming soon. For now, here is what our Saturday consisted of:

Ben and I greeted our guests in this manner (Ben's sister and her cute little family, and my brother with his. Small and cozy, yet enough to make a tight fit in our small and cozy little home!)

And yes, I did get another new hairdo, and if I say so myself I do love it. Real bangs for the first time in my life, it's so exciting! Although it wasn't looking its best under my witches hat.

We had a yummy dinner and then were off to trick or treat, although the kids were only able to make it through about 5 houses. It was a very cold night! Then we were off to Hogwarts! This is Ben's sister and I accompanied by Dumbledore. A tiny witch was meant to be in the picture but her darling head got cut off!

us witches, enjoying ourselves immensely

Hagrid asked the little boys (dressed as bats) if they had escaped from the Forbidden Forest

Luna Lovegood was not thrilled by Ben's costume, it was too scary for her taste.

Moaning Myrtle, complete with her toilet.

The Sorting Hat

Hope you had so much fun as well!!