Things that I love...

I LOVE this time of year. This time of year has been my favorite for as long as I can remember. Although I have to say that I love my Utah Autumns and Winters.

I love the feel and the smell of the leaves that have fallen from the trees. The crunch and crackle under foot, and the sweet smell that they give off when decomposing. The beauty of the trees with the multicolored leaves. The yellows, golds, oranges, and browns. It is a beauty that is there for a short time every year before all the leaves fall on the ground, and you know that if you don't take it all in you will miss it.

I love the snow, the way that it makes the world look so clean and white. I really miss being around the snow for that reason. I remember days in Jr. High and High School when I would be walking around outside. The snow would glisten under foot, and there was fog all around me, I felt totally alone and yet at peace. I love the crisp air that chills your nose and cheeks and the way if feels when you start thawing out. I love how clean the air seems. I love the crunch under foot from stepping on ice and snow.

I love the beautiful Christmas lights, especially at the temples. I love the way that they glisten and add so much color to the otherwise dark and boring night.

I love the tasty dinners that you only get at this time of year. The smells of the turkey in the oven, and the taste of the homemade stuffing. I grew up in a family where we made lots of pies so I love that part the most.

I love the wonderful memories of years past. Memories of my Grandpa that died when I was very young, going to Christmas Village (in Ogden UT), Family,and parades. There are so many memories that add to my love of this season.

I love Christmas music that gets you in the Christmas spirit. The songs that proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ and his mission here on the earth. I love the fact that you can hear it everywhere this time of year, you go to the store and you hear it, its on the radio (or at least on 99.9 KAZ), and you don't feel so guilty pulling out your Christmas CD's.

I love hot chocolate and lazy evenings playing board games with family and friends. Just taking it easy and not worrying about the troubles of the world for a while.

So needless to say, there are many things that I love, and there are more, but I think that I will stop with these ones. I hope that I haven't bored you with this, I just felt a need to get it out.

Adventures in taking pictures....

So this year we really don't have enough money to get our pics taken professionally, so we decided to be cheap and take some pics at home and hope that they turned out good.

We had lots of fun setting up green screen material (that Richard has bought for his web series that he is getting started), lights and getting the kids to stay away from the cords. We have some wonderful friends that came over and took pics of us, along with us taking some to see if we could take some good ones.

I have to say I think that they turned out pretty good, we are hoping to be creative and get a good picture of an outdoor scene or something and we can impose it with the green screen, but even with out it, I have to say that some of the pics (especially the ones with Amanda) turned out with the green.

Any way to save money right?

new hair cut.

so here are the pics that you have all been waiting for. Or at least those of you who are unable to see it in person..... Or maybe just a select few of you...... If you weren't looking forward to these pics..... well thats just to bad that you decided to open up the page.... now you just have to keep reading.










HA fooled you... this is Gabe getting his first hair cut though.....


ok ok keep scrolling down, then you will see my hair cut.

This is before the cut..... dont laugh I know that I look horrible.

And the after photo.

Its cut to be a bob, but I like it much better jelled out and a little funky looking.

ward halloween party....

So this last Saturday was our ward halloween party. It was lots of fun. We ate lots of GREAT chili and hot dogs.

Amanda and Gabe had lots of fun getting dressed up and trunk-or-treating. Richard and I won an award for the best pair, along with another couple that looked way cool too. Unfortunately we didn't get an pics of just the two of us. We did get some family pics, but they didn't turn out. One of the sweet brothers in our ward took some pics of us though (hint hint Brother Johnson).

Amanda in her adorable Tinker Bell costume Grandma made for her.Gabe in his Charlie Brown costume.

All in all it was a great night, we enjoyed it alot, and the kids had a blast.

I love to see the temple.....

I was very blessed last month to be able to take two trips up to Utah... It made a busy month, but it was absolutely wonderful.

Richard and I went on the first trip together. His sister Janet went through the temple for the first time. It was an amazing experience, just as any temple trip is, but as it was Janet's first time it made it that much better. It was nice to go though the Bountiful temple as that is a temple that I have always wanted to go to.

We had quite a few of the family members there. I was the only spouse that was able to go, but it was nice to have as many family members as there were.

(Richards family minus one Brother and one sister)

I forgot about the camera in the car so I was unable to get pictures in front of the Temple like we were hoping for, but we did get a few pictures of the family.

***

One week after the trip for Janet, I was able to go up to Utah again to be there for one of my best friends from High School's wedding.

I was so happy to be able to be able to share in his wonderful day. It was a beautiful experience to be there with him and his new wife. Being there I couldn't help but tear up a bit, remembering our wedding day. I haven't been able to attend any other wedding in the temple since ours so it was nice to remember those things that we covenant with Heavenly Father and each other, as well as to hear wonderful advise on how to strengthen your marriage.

The Draper Utah Temple

My friend Chris and his new Bride.

I also had the opportunity to go to temple square with some of my friends, we were unable to go until later in the day (meaning after dark), but it was still wonderful!

I was able to get some nice pictures of the temple, even though it was dark out. I haven't been able to visit Temple Square for a while so it was so nice to be able to get some pictures to remind me of just how beautiful it is.

Me, Stephanie, and Jen

Standing in front of the conference center.

It was a busy month, but it was so wonderful to be on the temple grounds for 3 different temples in just over a week. I feel so blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To be able to enter the House of the Lord, and to feel of his love and peace while inside.

I love to see the temple, and I hope you do too.

Wedding Rings...

I have to give a BIG thanks to Mom for suggesting this idea.

Since the Government is so willing to give money away right now, And Richard and I qualified to get the "First Time Home Buyers Credit", We figured that we might as well take it, and pay off some bills such as our car. Mom suggested that while we had some money we should use it to buy me the wedding ring that we have been saying that we were gonna buy "someday", knowing that it probably wouldn't happen for quite a while. We thought that it was a wonderful idea. So on top off paying off our car we were going to get me a wedding ring.

I have been waiting patiently for the day that we were going to get the money.... from mid April until last week.

So we found a friend to watch the kids (thank you Kim), and took a trip to Scottsdale to the Shane Company. I was so excited to be able to pick out my ring and build it the way I wanted it.

I think that it looks absolutely beautiful (it looks better in person).

you can click on the picture to get a better view of it (please excuse my hairy fingers)

Oh..... I suppose I should thank the government for giving me the nations tax dollars to pay for this... so thank all of you readers who probably helped pay for it too.

Amanda's Birthday....

Our little Amanda is now 3 years old. It seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital... Well maybe not yesterday, but it doesn't seem like it was a whole 3 years ago.

Amanda the day she was born. isn't she cute.

One of my favorite pictures of Amanda to date. 1 year old and oh so adorable.

Her 2nd Birthday. Wearing her cowboy hat that she loves so much.

While eating her Cake and Ice cream. Yummy.

Our little Tinker Bell. She LOVES Tink.

Opening up the Tinker Bell blanket

And last but not least, the Pink cup cakes she asked for.

It is amazing to see Amanda growing so fast, and to see how she is learning so much. She is such a sweet heart, and I am so grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to give me the opportunity to be her mother. I love her to death and for eternity.

4 wonderful years....

So as of today, at 3:00 pm, Utah time, Richard and I will have been married for 4 wonderful years. It doesn't seem like it has been that long, like time has flown by... But when I look at all that has gone on in that 4 years, 4 moves, 2 children, buying a house, it seems like it has to have been more than that.

When we were at the temple a couple of weeks ago with friends I had to have some pics of the spot where Richard proposed to me.
I have an amazing man as my eternal companion, I am so glad that I can be by his side for that long (if he can stand me that long that is). I am so glad that I found this WONDERFUL MAN, and was able to be married to him in the temple making eternal commitments with him and our Heavenly Father. I am a very lucky girl.

Our visit from Jen and Stephanie

We had some wonderful visitors a couple of weeks ago. My Roommate from College (and adopted sister) Jen, and her sister Stephanie came down from Utah for a little over a week.

We had a fun filled and busy time while they were here, going to the movies (to see a chick flick that Richard refused to see with me), to Arizona Mills mall, and Arrowhead Mall. We were going to go to the zoo, and to Metro Center Mall, to see the places that we spent so much time, and tears during college. I worked at the Chick-fil-A there, and Jen at the pet store. Unfortunately we had to cancel on the zoo, and they had to go with out me to Metro center due to Gabe getting a wonderful childhood illness called Rosiola. We rounded off the week with a trip to the temple.

It was so good to see Jen again, and to get to know Stephanie better. I look forward to many more tips from them in the future (hint hint hint).

A pic of Jen Stephanie, Richard and Gabe,
Andy, Melinda, Me, & Amanda
on our temple trip.

All the nitty gritty about me, I saw this on a friends Facebook and loved it.

***********FOODOLOGY***************
1. What is your salad dressing of choice? Ranch or Italian
2. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? personally I like the spaghetti factory, or the new sushi place that we have found.
3. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of? lasagna (although, I think I would be sick when I looked at the scale)
4. What are your pizza toppings of choice? pepperoni, olives, and mushrooms.
5. What do you like to put on your toast? Jam and honey, I especially like the homemade jams
***********TECHNOLOGY***************
1. How many televisions are in your house? 2, a big thanks to Aunt Jane and Uncle Lucky for letting us have their Big Screen.
2. What color cell phone do you have? red
3. How long would it take you to look up who invented the Rubber Band? a few minutes, however long it takes to google it
4. Have any idea how many Megahertz your computer has? no idea
***************BIOLOGY******************
1. Are you right-handed or left-handed?Right
2. Have you ever had anything removed from your body? 2 babies, if that counts
3. What is the last heavy item you lifted?Amanda
4. Have you ever been knocked unconscious? No and I hope I never will be, it sounds uncomfortable.
************BULLCRAPOLOGY**************
1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? not really, I think I would look to that day too much, and not live enough in the days that I have left.
2. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I think that I would stick with my name that I have, no point in changing it after using it for this long.
3. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? no way, my dad had a co-worker do that (for less $$$) and he didn't come back to work for a week.
************DUMBOLOGY******************
1. How many pairs of flip flops do you own? four
2. Last time you had a run-in with the cops? besides Richard being pulled over a couple of times for speeding, never.
3. Last person you talked to? The kids, asking them to be careful and stop throwing things
**************FAVORITOLOGY****************
1. Season? Winter
2. Holiday? Christmas
3. Day of the week? Sunday
4. Month? December
***********CURRENTOLOGY*****************
1. Missing someone? Family and friends, most in Utah
2. Mood?Tired
3. What are you listening to? Amanda throwing things and laughing because Gabe goes to pick it up to play with.
4. Watching? Children playing, Amanda just got her Tigger toy bouncing and Gabe is trying to imitate it. too cute.
***************RANDOMOLOGY*****************
1. First place you went this morning? Haven't left the house yet.
2. What's the last movie you saw?In a theater, Harry Potter and the half blood prince, in general, The best two years
3. Do you smile often?I try to
4. Sleeping Alone Tonight? nope not since Richard got put on days :)
***************OTHER-OLOGY*****************
1. Do you always answer your phone? I try to, occasionally I forget it at home, or I am busy in another room and don't hear it ringing.
2. It's four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it? I don't know, but there better be a very good reason for it that early.
3. If you could change your eye color what would it be?i like my eye color
4. What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? I don't add flavors, I do like the cranberry limeade and the watermelon slush though.
5. Do you own a digital camera?of course
6. Have you ever had a pet fish? Nope
7. Favorite Christmas song(s): "Do you Hear what I Hear" and "Mary did you know?"
8. What's on your wish list for your birthday? Same thing as every year, I would love a kitchen aid mixer, unfortunately they cost too much.
10. Can you do a chin up? haven't tried in a long time, my guess is NO!
11. Does the future make you more nervous or excited? a bit of both
12. Do you have any saved texts?nope
13. Ever been in a car wreck? a fender bender, that ended up really damaging my dads truck, didn't realise it until the next morning when all the fluids had leaked out of the truck.
14. Do you have an accent? Richard tells me that I have a Utahhhhh accccentttt. I don't see it though.
15. What is the last song to make you cry? The song that was sung for the closing hymn on Sunday, about ancestors. it was beautiful!
16. Plans tonight? Hopefully get the garage cleaned out a bit so it will be ready for when Jen comes out here to visit this week.
17. Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? nope, and I hope I never have to.
18. Name 3 things you bought in the last 3 days. I haven't gone shopping, so nothing.
19. Have you ever been given roses? Richard used to give them to me, He doesn't do it nearly often enough now for my liking.
20. Current worries? Getting the house cleaned up before Jen gets here.
21. Current hate right now? I cant think of one
22. Met someone who changed your life? absolutely, and I thank each and every one of them for it.
23. How will you bring in the New Year? I don't know, I guess it really all depends on if Richard has to work the next day or not. Usually we buy some sparking cider, and play board games, eat popcorn, and other snacks. that kinda thing.
24. What song represents you? cant really think of one, hummmm... I like I am a Child of God.
25. Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? depends on when, I love history, so It would be fun to visit some time periods.
26. Have you ever dated someone longer than a year? Technically Richard was my first boy friend and we were married 5 months after we met, we have been married for almost 4 years now though.
27. Do you have any tattoos/piercings? just ear piercings
28. Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now? I sure hope so
29. Does anyone love you? absolutely
30. Ever had someone sing to you? Richard sings silly songs to me, and Amanda loves to sing I am a Child of God to me.
31. When did you last cry? Sunday during the afore mentioned song.
32. Do you like to cuddle? Yeah with Richard
33. Have you held hands with anyone today? with both Amanda and Gabe
34. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school? Country, and things like Hanson, Spice Girls, Back Street Boys, and all those other boy bands from the time.
35. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?have some of each, mainly new though.

Gabe's Birthday

Gabe turned 1 yesterday. It seems like it was just yesterday that we brought this little bundle of joy in to the world.

This little cutie has gone from staring at you and smiling, to rolling over, to crawling, and now to walking. He is getting so big, and cuter by the day.

Opening presents. The toy cars that Mommy and Daddy gave him was a favorite present.The most favorite present was the football from Grandma and Grandpa Hurst.
Here is the cake. I have to say I am pretty proud of how it turned out (I made it).

And as always every parent has to take a picture of their kid after they eat their Birthday cake and Ice cream. He loved it as you can tell.

All in all it was a great day, now we just have to wait for September to celebrate Amanda's 3rd birthday. Boy does time fly.

long time...

Well its been a while since I blogged last so I will catch everyone up on things that have been going on here in the Wilcox House....

Richard is in scouts now. He is the Weblos leader (I think I spelt it wrong). Here are some pics of some of the boys, it was taken a while ago so some of them are no longer in his group, they are in the 11 year old group now.

Richard loves this calling, and it was great for while he was still working on Sundays.

Amanda and Gabe are loving playing with each other. They have so much fun playing everything with each other, just as long as they don't have to share the toys that is.

We have also been having fun going to the water park for the Mommy's group in our ward.

I couldn't get Amanda to play in the water for a quite a while the first day, but after she went in, there almost wasn't any getting her out.

We had a fun time when Grandma Hurst, Aunt Janet, and Aunt Miki came out here for a week. They came out here for a wedding, which is why we are all dressed up in the pic. Amanda was so happy to see her "Bampa Hust" and "Aunt Miki" and "Aunt Jant" again, and was so sad when they left, she kept asking for them for like a week after they left.Well that is pretty much all that we have been up to besides the normal everyday things. We are looking forward to a visit from a good friend later this month and I will be sure to post about that too. Stay tuned.

woo hoooooo!!!

So Can I brag???

I just mistakenly put on a pair of pants that a friend gave me about a month ago that didn't fit, I couldn't even get the zipper to begin zipping up (I figured that with exercising the way I have been doing I would fit eventually, in a couple of months or so).

I pulled them down off the hanger thinking they were one of my regular pairs of jeans and did them up, I couldn't figure out why they were fitting so tight. I looked closer and realized that they were "the pants".

I cant believe that they fit albeit tightly, but I was able to zip them up and button them!!! This is a major accomplishment!!! All the exercise is worth it when I see things like this.

its been a while....

So its been a while since I last blogged. So here are some updates on what has been going on in the Wilcox House..

Richard now has Sundays off from work!!! I no longer have to do the single mom thing YAY, provided Richard is not busy doing something like he is this week. He had to go to a meeting in LA that just happened to be on a Sunday, stake conference Sunday none the less- as you can see I'm not all that happy with it, but what can you do?

Amanda is saying prayers on her own now, short ones and I don't understand most of what she is saying, but she is saying prayers. She is getting so big.

Gabe is growing and learning like crazy. I am totally thinking that he could be walking in the next couple of weeks. Its hard to believe that he is almost a year old now.

I have been exercising at nap time for almost 3 weeks now, I do a different workout video everyday, and make sure that it is at least 45 minutes or longer. I am seeing a major change in my waist line, and I have muscles growing all over thanks to the variation in videos. I haven't lost any weight, but the inches are a major accomplishment. I haven't measured yet but judging by my pants I am guessing that I have lost at least 2 to 3 inches. I have lost in my legs as well, which is a very hard place for me to loose. I am so excited about the results. I guess the major problem that I am facing is that I have a hard time staying motivated. I pray that I can keep it up. I want to get back to my pre pregnancy body from Amanda. That means that I have like 6 pant sizes to go. its only been 3 weeks and I am seeing big results though so I hope that I can keep it up.

our poor garden died. The heat of the summer got to it, I need to find another way to grow a garden out here that wont kill it.

That is about all that has been going on here for now, we are looking forward to family coming in a couple of weeks, and friends in a little over a month though, so look forward to pics and more blogging.

great blessings....

Well I am officially boot free now (round of applause). I went to the Dr. yesterday, he said that everything looks great, no need for boot, and because it isn't hurting, no need for physical therapy either. I am so happy to be able to wear flip flops again. I hate, no a better word is despise shoes. The last 9 weeks of having to wear something non stop pretty much on my right foot, and a tennis shoe on my other one has been driving me NUTS!!!! Yay for flip flops, especially with it hitting the upper 80's and into the 90's some days out here.

While getting my X-Ray I had a humbling experience. I have had a few pity parties for the bad timing of and hurting my ankle, but I had it good. when I walked into the X-ray place there was a guy that started talking to me, he had a boot on one leg, wrist wraps on both wrists, and scars on both legs and arms. I at some point told him that I had broke my ankle, he told me he had broken his too, along with almost every bone in his body. I asked him what had happened to injure him so much. He told me that he had fallen out of a window 4 stories up. He had to have reconstructive surgery on his face, his legs, and arms, plates and screws galore. I am so grateful that I had a simple injury that didn't almost kill me. There are many people out there with much worse problems than I had.

Gabe had an ear infection, but is now getting over it. I am so grateful for modern science that gives us medication that helps us feel better quickly.

And now for the best news of all.... drum roll please.....

Richard got the news today that starting May 17 he will now have SUNDAY off. I am so happy that we are going to be able to have him at church with us again. He has only been to church with us a handful of times since his work schedule changed Feb. of last year. I am so excited to have him with us once again, Richard cant wait either.

I am so grateful for all those blessings that Heavenly Father has seen fit for our family at the moment.

my love, my heart...

I am hopefully getting permission to go without the boot tomorrow from the Doctor. It has been almost 9 weeks since I hurt myself, and we have had many things going on in that time, a move, many illnesses, and the fact that I couldn't move well.

As I reflect back on the last 9 weeks or so I cant remember a time when my wonderful husband hasn't been there to help me with taking care of the kids, making dinner, cleaning house, and the countless other things that he has done. I am so grateful for all the help he has given me. I have found myself falling for Richard in a whole new way, and more than I ever thought possible. I honestly do not know what I would do if I didn't have him in my life. I hate to think what my
life would be like had I not met him or made some other choices in my life.

I have to explain... When I was growing up I was always friends with guys but never had a real "boy friend". In college being in the Singles Ward, and not getting any interest from the guys, I started to think that I would become an old maid (I know now that it was silly to think that when I was so young). I wanted to have a boy friend so badly that when a classmate started to pay attention to me and asked me to date him, I almost did. I knew that it wouldn't work out, he belonged to a different religion that would have created contention between the two of us. Luckily the Spirit touched me, and Heavenly Father was directing me elsewhere. I found a quote that I had been given in Young Women's that said that you marry who you date, and I wanted a temple marriage. So I told this guy that I couldn't date him, needless to say he was very upset with me. I prayed about it later that night, asking what should I do, and finally told Heavenly Father I was leaving my love life up to him. After the prayer I felt the spirit telling me, "Heather, be patient, you will meet him soon, just be patient". Two weeks later Richard and I met, that is a whole story in and of its own.

I just think, what if I had been dating that guy? Would I have met Richard? Would I have even payed any attention to him if I did? I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father who led me to someone so kind and loving, and that could give me the temple marriage that I wanted, not to mention a worthy priesthood holder.

I am so thankful for a husband that gives so much of himself for our family, those who we call family and friends, and to those whom he sees are in need of help.

Richard, I love you for always!

updates...garden, house, life...

Here's what the garden is looking like. sprouts for everything, although you cant really see the onions yet unless you look really close. We also planted bell pepper, jalapeno, and tomato plants. We are on our way to having a salsa garden. We LOVE salsa in our house. Richard is excited about the tomatoes because he doesn't get raw ones very often (if you didn't know I am allergic to raw tomatoes, but I can eat cooked ones, weird huh). Here are some pics of Amanda's room. We are hoping to make it a Tinker Bell room, she is totally in to Tink and the Disney Princess thing now. I wish that we had painted it a brighter pink though.

Here are some pics from Easter, we hid princess eggs, and did an egg hunt in the house. Amanda had fun getting candy and seeing pics of Jesus (we filled half of the eggs with pictures of Jesus to remind us why we are celebrating Easter).

We are trying the whole potty training thing again, Amanda was so excited to get Princess panties, and will come up to you and lift up her dress or pull her pants down so that she can tell you just who is on her panties at the moment. Cute but frustrating.

As for my ankle, hopefully I will be getting the ok to go without the boot in a week. I guess we will just wait and see.

Oh I almost forgot, we celebrated my birthday a couple of weeks ago. Richard was wonderful, we went to see 2, I repeat 2 movies, in a theater. That is such a luxury to us any more. Then we went to dinner at Macoyos, I hadn't been there yet and really had been wanting to go, so Richard brought me. I love him to death!!! A special thanks to Angelina for watching the munchkins for us.

That is about all we got going on now. We lead some pretty boring lives huh.

Home improvements....

We made a garden... well Richard did, I watched while he did it (that has to count for something right?). Unfortunately we are getting in late in the season and cant plant most of the things we wanted to, but we should be getting some kinds of squash, onions, and radishes. I just hope it grows well, I have never gardened before and neither has Richard.

We also got this little guy's room up finally. It has kinda became the dumping ground for everything that we wanted out of little hands and mouths.

It almost looks like he is trying to wave to the camera. He was just trying to touch it though.

They are having a blast playing in the new room, not to mention all the toys are back after the hit of pinkeye. This is where I hid all the toys after cleaning them.