A Trip to Idaho

The last week of July Gabie and I went up to Idaho (Erik couldn't make it; he had rotations) to visit family and see my sister Lisa graduate from BYU-I (with a bachelor's degree in marketing). It was so much fun! Gabe had the time of his life-he got to see chickens, pigs, and dogs while we were at Eric's parents house. I've only been to Idaho once (for EFY), but I must say I really like it up in there!


One of the first things we did when we got to Idaho was eat at a place called "Big Juds". They served HUGE hamburgers, big enough to feed 4 people! After we had our fill of hamburger we got some ice cream there. We made the mistake of ordering licorice ice cream and it was disgusting! We took it back and got chocolate.

Me and my sister Cindy

The jumbo burger!

Eric's parent's (Lisa's in-laws). They are very nice!

Gabbers and I stayed at my sister Lisa's house almost all of the trip. Gabe loved it there because there were two kitties to torture! I'm sure they will never be the same...

Cindy, Lisa, and me.

Friday July 23rd was Lisa's graduation. Gabe sat through it okay, I was fine until the musical number started. What an embarrassing performance for a college graduation! The ceremony was held late in the evening and we were all starving but we were also very proud of Lisa!

Eric's very sweet niece who helped watch Gabe a lot of the time.Cindy and Gabe

My dad and I

Lisa's graduation!

Lisa, Gabe, and me

Eric and Lisa


The next day we all celebrated with a trip to Blackfoot Lake. We had lunch there, and those of us who could stand it swam in the freezing cold lake. Gabe was braver than I! Then we went fishing and Lisa and Eric caught a few small fish.

Gabe and my dad. I love this picture. It looks professional!

Gabie in the lake water. He was freezing but so excited to swim!

On the fishing dock. Gabe found the Reeses.



Eric Fishing.

We got to spend time at my grandparent's house in West Valley. I enjoyed seeing so many family member that were willing and able to come to the cousin's party. Wish I had gotten more pics!
The way back from Idaho to West Valley.

Me, Gabe, and my cousin Rachel

My Grandma; Gabeie's great grandma!

The Shettell boys. They are a blast!

We even got to spend some time in Provo. Unfortunately it was only a day so I didn't have time to visit as I would have liked to. Me, Gabe, my sisters, and my mom all went swimming and hung out at Cindy's place. I also got to try a Yoga class with Cindy that was really neat.

Cindy and my mom and BYU.

Gabe was so good on the plane, there and back. He was so excited to be home. I was so tired that when Gabe took his nap, I feel asleep and slept through the doorbell ringing and knocking of a piano student! Whoops. I will never schedule a lesson right after I get back from a trip again!

Happy 5th!!

As of yesterday, July 28th, 2010, Erik and I have been married for 5 wonderful years! Married life has been amazing, thanks to Erik being an amazing husband!

Here's a brief summary of our married life thus far:
We started dating on my birthday weekend (first weekend of November) way back in 2004. I liked him right away. Someday I'll post our entire dating story-maybe next anniversary :) After a 5-month courtship, we got engaged on March 31st 2005 (also Erik's birthday and later Gabriel's birthday!). We were then sealed in the Nauvoo, Illions temple on Wednesday, July 28, 2005 at 10:00 am. We held the Gurnee reception Friday, July 20th. Then we went on a fabulous cruise to the Bahamas and Key West for our honeymoon. We held our second reception in St.George, UT right after we got back. Then the next two years we finished up our schooling at BYU. We graduated together in April 2007, Erik in Biochemistry and me in Humanities/Music. Erik then applied for Med Schools and while we were waiting to hear back from the schools, we both worked. 2008 was an eventful year! Erik worked as a pharmacy tech for IHC and I worked as a CNA at The Courtyard at Jamestown. Erik got accepted into a few med schools but we decided that Midwestern University in AZ was best for us. We went on another fabulous cruise to Jamaica, Mexico, and the Caymen Islands for our 3rd anniversay. I found out the same week we got back (aug. 4th 2008) that I was pregnant! By then we had put an offer in for a house we liked and it was accepted! We moved in our new house in Peoria, AZ the end of August and were welcomed by a wonderful friendly ward and nice neighbors. Erik started his first year of Med school a few weeks later. Then on March 31st, 2009, little Gabriel came into our lives and we couldn't have been happier.
We are looking forward to raising our little family and enjoying not only the rest of our lives together here on this earth, but forever and ever and ever! I love my Erik! He's the best husband ever!

Our very first picture together!

My roomate @BYU put this silly ribbon on Erik

Taken a short time before we got engaged


Nauvoo Temple

Such a happy day!

Our carriage ride

Our honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas

Halloween dress-up time! Oct. 2006

BYU graduation April 2007

Our 3-year anniversary cruise, picture taken in Jamaica

Our first house

Our first baby-Gabriel!

Our little family at Disneyland

Flashback

Here's a video of Gabe on the very day he was born. It was hiding on my sister's laptop so I 'm excited to share it!

Gabe's Book + More Stuff I Made

Here are my latest jewelry creations. They look better in person but here ya go:

Beaded Pearl Necklace.
I made the flower using fabric. It tends to curl up which is annoying.

Earrings I made.
I mainly work with seed beads, so it was exciting to work with this much metal. I tried a few neat techniques I've never used before.

A few days a ago I made Gabie a book. I've been wanting to make him a book for a long time. I am very proud of this book because a) I made it up all myself (including the rhymes), b) I made it all in a day, and c) Gabe LOVES it!

I am not very happy with the way the lettering looks. Sloppy and crooked...I should have known that permanent marker and felt do not get along very well. I would have done a few things differently (like the binding) but as long as Gabe likes it, I'm happy:

Gabe's favorite page. He loves taking off the carrots. I'm thinking of making him a book that just has things for him to pull off.

The airplanes don't really look like airplanes. I should have used a reference when making these! The mirror is Gabe's other favorite page to look at.

I sprayed the flower with some perfume. Unfortunately, it really stinks combined with the scent of glue-gun glue.

Okay...this parrot...AAckk! It looks like it is in the middle of being electrocuted. Maybe I should change "prettiest" to "Ugliest".

The baby under the blanket.

Our Weekend...

Erik gets Fridays off so its a 3-day weekend every week!

Friday we met some friends at Sunrise Mountain pool. Gabie loves swimming. When I can stop being retarded and finally bring my camera , I'll post some pics of Gabe in the pool. It is so cute that he gets so excited to swim. He has NO fear of the water. I'm not so sure that's a good thing!

Later that evening it was cow appreciation day at Chick-fil-A. If you were dressed as a cow, you got free food. I made us all cow "costumes" and we got free meals! It was Gabe's first very-own fast food meal. I think he's still too little for them because he didn't seem to know what to do with it! He was more interested in the balloons they were giving out.

Us as cows

Playing in the play area. Gabe loves his balloon.

Cute Gabie-cow


This is how Erik felt about dressing as a cow.

Saturday I thought it would be fun to go to the Glendale swap meet, since the OC swap meet we always go to in CA was awesome. Man was I wrong. I felt very out of place...it was like walking through a Mexican ghetto. There were very few stands and what was being sold looked like thrift store rejects--the crap of the crap. I was too hot and we even had to pay to get in (only a $1.50...but still). We didn't stay there long but what a waste of time! After that we went to a pizza buffet, where Gabie got yet another balloon.

Gabe is usually a dependable 6:30 alarm clock whether we like it or not, but Sunday he failed us. Usually I would be so happy that he slept in till 8:00, but not when we have 9:00 church! It is impossible to get myself and Gabe ready by 9, so we were the latest we've ever been. Why did you have to pick Sunday to sleep in, Gabe?!?

Erik does not have Monday tests anymore so it was a nice having Erik completely available on the weekends. I love that he has rotations now!

Oh yeah, I buzzed Gabie's head. You can't tell too well from this pic, but it's definitely noticeable in person!

I thought he would freak out when he saw the clippers like he did last time he saw them, but I just put a movie on for him and went a little slower and he didn't mind at all!

4th of July

We had a great 4th of July! Erik's parents came down from St. George. Gabe I think had the most fun out of everyone! He loved chasing the dog around, playing with grandpa, and getting wet out in the backyard. He loved throwing those popper-things but didn't care for the other fireworks too well. I enjoyed the break I got from having to watch Gabie every second.

On Sunday we had chicken teriyaki kabobs, hot dogs, watermelon, and Erik made a fruit salad and a carrot-cake cheesecake. Yum! Then I got to see my friend Elise who I haven't seen in forever! Independence day was also spent playing games and just relaxing.
It was a good weekend! We also got the garage door opener fixed and the water heater fixed. By fixed I mean replaced.
Here are the best pictures (I think) from the holiday:

Gabe enjoyed the slip-n-slide. I wasn't there to see it because Erik and I went out for icecream!

Taking a sip...

This is Gabie's attempt at dressing himself!


Gabbers sporting a tattoo modeling the jeans diapers


Gabe and I having fun at Paradise Bakery

Gabe and his patriotic gear.



Me and Elise

Cutest video ever. Omg I love this kid!!

Warsaw Concerto

If you're interested, here's the video of me playing.  I guess blogger won't upload videos that are more than a few minutes long. 

Click here to view

Warsaw Concerto by Richard Addinsel
Sorry the audio quality is really bad!