Our dining room

Ok, so here is our dining room, that is connected to our living room.  I took pictures while we had the table set for guests.  

Our house

So a lot of people have asked us what our house looks like, so I figured that I would spotlight a room with pictures each day.  I have wanted to wait until the rooms are actually finished, but I decided "screw it" lets just post them as the house looks now.  When I finish a room, I will just show you the updates then.   

(I don't know why this is underlined, I apologize)  So anyway, this is our front room ... toys and all!  I love our little palm tree and my spider plant that goes a long way back (Jen do you still have  yours?)  My favorite part of the room is our beautiful picture of a Gainesville Oak after one of the hurricanes that went through while we still lived there.  I also love my fire place!  

Boys, Boys, Boys

I have never seen a sky like this in all of my life!!!!  I took this picture from my in-laws (Brian and Lori) porch.  Honestly I did nothing to alter this picture.  This is exactly what the sky looked like tonight .... isn't it the most stunning thing you have ever seen?  Wow, God is an amazing artist! 

Boys, Boys, and more Boys!

The whole family got together tonight, which was awesome!  Everyone was there including both sets of parents.  All 14 of us sat down to dinner and just played and talked afterwards.  Chelsea is up visiting with her new baby, Austin Meyer.  It is so fun to have all of the boys together!  I LOVE the fact that we have so many boys in the family ... how wonderful!  Here is an awesome picture of them all.  Left to right is Logan(5), Austin(2 months), Evan (15 months), Carter (4 months), and Michael(6).  Aren't we lucky? 

It has been nice to meet Austin, and to see Chelsea again.  We love babies!  

Austin

I AM

I AM:
-a guidance counselor
-a personal shopper
-a magician
-a stylist
-a photographer
-a house keeper
-a chef
-a child care worker
-a nurse
-a coach
-a cheerleader
-a laundress
-a teacher
-a cop
-a taxi driver
-an ATM machine
-a comedian
-a weight-lifter
-an entertainer
I AM A MOTHER!!!!!!!

Pictures for my dad

Ok, so these pictures are up for my dad.  He is writing his autobiography, and asked for some pictures that I took at the family reunion this summer.  These are all places that he grew up.  I was unsuccessful at e-mailing them, so I am posting them instead ... why not share my thoughts on it? 

As far as journaling goes, I am trying out digital scrapbooking.  So far I like it, I will let you know in the future how I feel about it.  

Evan and I posing in front of Mt. Vimy (Justin's favorite) at Waterton

At the top of Bears Hump

The red roofs belong to the hotel that my grandpa and dad built and lived at.

The town of Waterton ... you can even see the Palmer cabin

Vimy again

The hotel

Old Chief mountain ... my daddy's favorite.

My Aunts and Uncles in front of the old family farm

random survey

Ok, so my friend Kathy did this on her blog and really wanted me to fill it out ... so this one is for you Kathy :-) 

1. Do you like blue cheese?  Yes, thank you Dad

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?  I think this is a dumb question, but no

3. Do you own a gun?  No, but I would love to own a hand gun. 

4. Wax or Shave your body parts?  I have done both ... don't forget plucking ;-)

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments?  Depends what they are going to do to me.  If it has to do with getting punctured by any sharp objects ... yes.  

6. Real or Fake nails? Real, and I LOVE them. 

7. Favorite Christmas song?  Any ... seriously, I find the Christmas station on the radio and that is all I listen to from November to January. 

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?  Water ... it is my favorite. 

9. Can you do push ups? I wish, but have you seen the size of my arms? 

10. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?  My wedding ring, and the mother's day necklace that Justin got me. 

11. Favorite hobby? oboe-ing

12. Do you have A.D.D? No

13. What's one trait that you hate about yourself?  It will sound cliche, but I do try really hard not to think about the negative things about myself.  

14. Middle name? Anne

15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?  Why is Justin home so early?  My head hurts, it is probably my head band.  I wish I had a gym membership. 

16.Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Water, Juice (100%), and Milk

17. Current worry right now? I hope Justin passes his test in December

18. Current hate right now?  Well, it isn't so much a hate, but I really wish I could go out and do stuff with friends and family more.  

19. Favorite place to be?  Florida would be my superficial answer.  Hanging out with Justin would be my deeper answer

20. How did you bring in the New Year? Somewhere over the continental United States in a plane with my husband and baby. 

21. Like to go? To the real beach. 

22. Name three people who will complete this? honestly?  Probably nobody, although I would like to know what Irene, Lacy, and Mandy say.

23. Do you own slippers?  Yes, my leopard print slippers, but I really want some Hot Pink fuzzy slippers

24.  What color shirt are you wearing? Green, which is strange because I'm usually in pink. 

25. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets?  I have always wanted to.  I laid in my friends bed once that had satin sheets on it, and I liked that!  I never got to sleep there though.  Right now I have Flannel sheets on my bed that Mandy gave me for our wedding, and they are saving my life!!!

26. Can you whistle?  Kind of, and that only happened when I turned 18 

27. Favorite color?  Ummm ... PINK

28. Would you be a pirate?  I am a pirate ... read the title of our blog

29. What songs to you sing in the shower?  Anything that I had just heard.  

30. Favorite girls name?  Hailey

31. Favorite Boys name?  It is a toss up between Justin and Evan ;-) 

32. whats in your pocket right now? nothing

33. Last thing that made you laugh?  Evan

34. Worst injury you've ever had?  My highschool boyfriend and I would swing dance all the time (we were really good).  Our specialty was the candle stick (I do a hand stand on his shoulders) and one time during a youth dance we were doing the candle stick.  It was really hot in the gym and he passed out while I was in the air.  The doctor was amazed that I didn't break my ankle, and my poor boyfriend felt awful!

35. Do you love where you live? Honestly?  Not yet

36. How many TV's do you have in your house? One

37. Who is your loudest friend? Justin or Brandon, I'm not sure 

38. How many pets do you have? Two cats, and my turtles that are being cared for by my sister until we can afford to import them.  As soon as we can afford them, we will be setting up a fish tank or two, and there will be a dog or two sometime in the future as well. 

39. Does someone have a crush on you? I think Justin does. 

40. What is your favorite book?  Twilight series, Harry Potter series

41.  What is your favorite lollie?  Anything sugar

42. Favorite sports team?  GO GATORS!!!!!!!

43. What were you doing 12am last night?  Reading

44. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? I'm warm, do I have to get up? 

45. Worst habit? stacking

46. Do you play an instrument? Oh yeah ... a couple.  I kind of like it!

47. How long does it take you to get to work? 30 min.

48. Plans for the weekend?  Work, work, work.

49.If you could eat anything in the world right this second?  Anything Rodrigos

50. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Nobody sent it to me, but Kathy told me to do it so ... yes I like Kathy!  She is my friend.  

Crazy weather in one day

and now it is warm enough to just have on a sweater.  I don't get this weather! 

SNOW

Its snowing outside right now.  Crazy! 

Swimming lessons and Work

Hi Daddy! 

Since early September Evan has been taking swimming lessons (thank you GG!!) Justin has always had to be at the restaurant to open for lunch, so it has just been Mama/Evan time.  Today Justin didn't work until the evening with me, so he was able to come and watch.  He brought his camera, and snapped some pictures.  

So we finally remembered to bring the camera to work with us so we could get a picture.  The evening started with a funny scenario.  The dessert and salad chef, Oliver, called the restaurant from his cell phone.  This might sound normal, but the reason he called is because he was stuck in the bathroom at the restaurant.  It took Mark 10 minutes trying to open the door, when he finally just removed the handle.  We were all just thanking our lucky stars that it was Oliver that was trapped while we were closed, and not a trapped customer while we were open.     

It was a fun night at work, but for some reason, I am soo tired!  It wasn't really that late for me when I started this post (11:00) and I felt like passing out.  Blogger took forever to load some of the pictures and now it is way past midnight.  I have an early morning meeting tomorrow for church.  Now I will really pass out.  I am going to bed!  Goodnight! 

Mark trying to save Oliver

Finally ... Freedom!!!!

Canadian Thanksgiving and the first snow

Yup, that's right, you heard me say it. We had the first snow ... but I get ahead of myself.

Yesterday was Canadian Thanksgiving. Justin and I worked two weddings at the restaurant this weekend, and since everyone was gathering at Mark and Lanny's for Thanksgiving we stayed there the whole weekend.

Thanksgiving was relaxing (which is always the best) and Jared made this INCREDIBLE pumpkin cake. I was worried that i was missing out on Bum Pie (Pumpkin Pie), but I was pleasantly surprised. :-) We watched a happy movie called Ballet Slippers and talked.

Then this morning I woke up to snow. I was kind of excited, kind of in awe, and nervous about what is to come. It was a very light snow and fortunately it mostly melted by late afternoon. I did take a picture of it, but it is on my mother-in-law's camera so I don't have it to post. Oh well.

It's Great to Be a Florida Gator!

Oh yeah, we were able to watch the game last night after working a beautiful wedding at the restaurant.  I love being a Gator ... and those of you who know me know that I am in love with Tim Tebow!  I will say it again "I'M IN LOVE WITH TIM TEBOW".  Never fear, Justin's love for him runs just as deep as mine.  The game was thrilling to watch, and even though I am so jealous that I am not watching it from the swamp, at least I am able to see it from here (wrapped in two heavy blankets, because it is toooo cold)!  I love that my Timmy is such a great example to everyone, and I love that us parents have a figure like him for our children to look up to, or me for that matter.  He does so much good in anyway that he can, and man is he a good quarter back! UF is definitely the best!  We wamped LSU, and it was such beautiful payback from last years game.  :-)  

ps  I can't believe that I got to touch him:)

My Best Friend

Unfortunately with our situation as it is I am alone ALOT!  I rarely see my husband and it is sometimes tricky to see friends.  This is the first time that this kind of thing has happened to me before.  Mostly it sucks, but I can tell you something that I think is pretty cool.  

Evan is my BEST friend.  Seriously he is my little Buddy, and now that he is more expressive and vocal I just have a great time with him.  Don't get me wrong, I adore newborns and I have been in nothing less than heaven since we got Evan, but there is something to his being older now.  He wants to be with me, and hugs me all the time (not just laying his head on my shoulder, but grabbing onto me), he initiates our kisses, and he gets excited when I talk and play with him.  The list goes on and on.  Evan truly is my best friend.  

Everyone tells you that there is no love stronger than the love you have for your child.  I felt it the day he was placed in my arms, but I had no idea that it could grow even more.  If it continues like this ... WOW!  

Calgary is in a crisis.  We have been looking for a family doctor the whole time that we have lived here, and been unsuccessful as of yet.  As an adult I don't mind going into a walk in clinic, but I have been stressed and worried about Evan not having a doctor.  Great news to report: Evan now has a doctor thanks to his Granny Lanny, who pulled in some favors.  I am so relieved!!!!!  

Calgary Temple

As many of you know from yesterdays General Conference the church is going to be building a temple in Calgary!!!  We are soo excited for this announcement.  Even though Florida's temple is not too far away, we always found it harder to go, because it was definitely a day trip.  Once we had a baby, it got even harder.  Then we moved here and the temple is even farther away, and gas is so expensive.  We have wanted to be more diligent in our temple attendance and now it is going to be so much easier.  We are so blessed to benefit from this announcement.  

It is funny though.  In August 3 general authorities came to Calgary.  President Eyring, Elder Holland, and Elder Anderson.  Everyone was expecting major changes to be made, but they said they had just come to send the prophets love.  Now we know it was probably also to buy land. 

:-)

I tried to upload this picture of Evan earlier in the week, and it never worked, so here it is now. My in-laws got baby chicks last week, and they are the cutest things ever!!!  I love animals, and we just thought that this picture of Evan was too cute not to share.  He was a little afraid of the chicks at first (we put him in the pen with corn on his lap and he was bombarded by hungry birds) but soon thought they were pretty cute.  Poor guy has had a rough week of dealing with his vaccinations.  He seems to be on the mend though, which makes mama very happy.     

another version

Ok, here is the farther away picture zoomed in.  Now which picture does everyone like?  

Poll

These are the two family pictures that we are trying to decide between.  They are taken out on my in-laws ranch (isn't it beautiful?)  Our dilemma is that we love the close up, but Evan's eyes are closed, and the other one is gorgeous landscaping, but we are a little farther away.  I look forward to everyone else's opinions.