Aunt Annie

Sid's sister Annie came to town last week and Avery and I got to hang out with her for a few days. We had a really great visit. We went to the Zoo and the highlight for Avery was by far the Carousel that Annie took her on. She LOVED it!

Avery loves Annie, and I think the feeling is mutual!

We love you Annie!!

Bicknell, Utah

I am a little slow on my posts these days. It seems like this summer is just flying right by us!
We took a trip to Bicknell, Utah the weekend of Fathers Day. Sid and I are helping his grandparents install hardwood flooring and we were planning on making it a working weekend - but found out from the manufacturer that we needed the flooring to climatize for a few days before we install it. So, we got a fishing weekend out of it instead.
Sid and I got some fishing polls for Christmas and figured we'd start since we have the lake here in Stansbury within walking distance...and with our hectic schedule, we haven't gotten the chance to go yet. Sid's grandparents took us down to Lower Bowns. It's on Boulder Mountain. I hadn't been there before, but it was really beautiful. I wish I'd have taken more pictures - next time I guess.
Sid was the star of the show (as always - right?) and he caught his limit + 1! He threw one back though, none of us were as lucky.
Avery loved it too. She got to play in the water (which was surprisingly warm) and was sandy from head to toe. I was shocked at how much she loved the water! She would have gotten right in had we not stopped her!

Avery is very observant these days...seems she mimics all that we do. I am not sure she knows what she is doing most the time...she just knows that she wants to do whatever it is that we are doing.
The water and sand were a little odd to her at first, but it didn't take long before she was COVERED in it. I was sad that I hadn't brought more play clothes for her, luckily they cleaned up as good as new!

Sid and one of his many prize fish.

Ewww...This is why I was ok with not catching one. Luckily Sid's grandma has a stronger stomach for these types of things...

Our little family

A couple weeks ago Sid and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary! It's amazing to me all that we have been through and accomplished in this short time. It seems like just yesterday we were returning from our honeymoon to Boise - a new city to us - with no friends, no idea where anything was, and thinking - what do we do now? Looking back, those days were so easy and exciting starting our very own life together as a family.

Now here we are 4 years later. Though things are tough now with a house that won't sell in Boise, a leaking foundation here in Utah, scraping by on one income, and wondering how it all just "works out" each month, there is no doubt in my mind that I will look back in another 4 years and think that we had it easy now. There is no way that I can try to compare the times as newlyweds when Sid and I could do the simple things like sleep in on a Saturday, go to concerts, weekend getaways or a midnight movie to the joy and happiness that Avery brings to our lives each day...I think it's safe to say it's just getting better year after year. I am so blessed to have the life I do and the opportunity to have sweet Avery and Sid who takes care of us.

Thanks Sid for all you do for us and our little family! I love you!! Happy Anniversary!

First Family Vacay - Avery's birthday - and everything else

Whew! Well, seems like May just flew by us! We had a great month, between Avery's birthday, my birthday, Mothers day and our very first family vacation, it feels like we just ran a marathon that lasted all month long!

Avery has cut two more teeth - her top ones - and unfortunately, this started on the day of her birthday party. She was pretty cranky the whole time, but she still didn't pass the cake up. She gobbled the whole thing and was even kind enough to share a little with me and Sid. She got lots of love and attention and we all had a great time. Regardless of her being a little moody, it couldn't have been better really.

Then we left about a week later for our trip to Monterey, CA. It was beautiful, relaxing and fun filled. We spent the first day with a dear friend that I met while I was helping out for Hurricane Katrina/Rita in Louisiana for Red Cross. He is such a great person, and I am so thrilled that we were able to reconnect and spend some time together, meet each others families, and catch up. Thanks for everything Jim!!

While in CA, the weather wasn't as warm as we'd hoped, but I think it was better that way. I am so paranoid about Avery getting sun burnt that I would have been a wreck the whole time had it been hot. Everyday we were out all day seeing the sights. Looking back, it's pretty amazing Avery did as well as she did. We visited Hurst Castle, Monterey Aquarium, Carmel by the Sea, Santa Cruz and even fit San Francisco in too! Avery did great on the plane - flirted with anyone who would make eye contact and chattered and giggled the whole time. It was great. But good to be home too.


While we hung out with Jim, he took us to this really neat Redwood hike/walk.

After breakfast in Capitola.

Sid and Avery at one of the overlooks at Hurst Castle. Notice the one sock?


We rented a paddle boat for about an hour and peddled around. We didn't account for it being Avery's nap time though. It doesn't help that Sid is making fun! I would cry too! Mean dad.

Grandma Norma

My mom has helped so much this past year with me adjusting to be a mom. From the frantic calls about a fever, rash, cough etc. To the excited calls of pride about new teeth, new tricks and just to brag about any new thing Avery has picked up. Sometimes its more odd to me to think that my mom is a grandma than the fact that I am a mom.

I know Mothers Day is past, but I just wanted to say 'Thanks Mom' for being there and sharing all your knowhow. We love you!

*And for all of you who hassle me about not being in any of the pictures...this is where I learn it from! She wouldn't look at the camera!!

Happy Birthday Avery!

I can't believe she's one! Yesterday was her Birthday and as the day went on Sid and I just kept thinking back to that day and how we are so blessed to have such a beautiful, healthy little girl. She is getting so big so fast, and it's such a joy for us to watch her grow. It's amazing to think of how much we have grown too!
We are going to have the official party next week to celebrate her birthday with family but decided to have some fun just the three of us last weekend. We took her to This Is The Place - Heritage Park. We all had a lot of fun. I think she enjoyed the baby chicks the most. We've taken her to Cal Ranch a few times to see the baby ducks and chicks, but she isn't allowed to hold them there - so she was pretty excited that she got to pet them this time. She even got to play with the baby lambs and goats. It was a really good day.

Avery petting a baby chick. She was so excited and didn't really know what to do at first. So she just screamed and yelled excitedly. Directly behind where we were standing is a pen with peacocks in them. When we were looking at them and trying to show Avery they were all sleeping. Well, it didn't take too much of Avery's screaming before the whole pen was awake and squawking and making all kinds of noise!

She wasn't really into the lambs until out time was up. They we couldn't get to her go!

While we were on the Train Ride around the 'city' we were involved in a train robbery! Luckily the Sheriff was on the train and shot the bad guys, saved the loot and we were all safe.

Sid especially liked the wood shop. Of course.

I don't have many pictures of Avery and I. Sid insisted on this one - even though Avery had just about had enough and we couldn't really get her to cooperate.

I don't think this one needs an explanation :)

A Birthday wouldn't be complete without cake and ice cream!

Tag - I'm it!

So, about a month ago Kim - my newest gym buddy- tagged me! (I am so sorry that it took me this long Kim!!) And, yes you read right I am finally getting up and doing something about the baby weight that didn't magically fall off after Avery. I have been trying to go to the 5:30am class (cardio) about three times a week and then attending the 9:00pm class (either pilates or Yoga). So far so good!!
Anyhow...I am new to this blogging thing too - so bear with me!

10 YEARS AGO:

I was a Junior in High School! Seriously? Wow, it's strange to look at Cameron now - who is a Junior and think that's where I was...I think I was still working at Shoney's - I don't think we have those anymore. It's kind of like a JB's... I was working there as the "Salad Bar Attendant" and loved it. My fondest memory of working there, was using cellophane to shrink wrap a co-workers car! It was a great first job. It was the first year that Canyon View High School was open and we were BITTER rivals with Cedar High School. Seems every chance we got we were ditching school to sneak into the Cedar High parking lot and soaping cars...yes, soaping cars in BROAD DAYLIGHT! We loved to prank each other. The worst were the sporting events though...they were pretty intense...but somehow we managed to take State for Basketball - which is pretty amazing for a brand new school. A big group of us drove up to UVSC in Provo to attend the games. We had such a good time and I can still remember the sense of pride as we won State and EVERYONE ran to the center court to celebrate. As much as it was a tough year, we were pretty united.
I will always remember Prom when I won Best Dress and I can't forget my first car I got that summer...my Raspberry colored Chevy Cavalier. I loved that car!

*And although it's only been NINE years since I met Sid, I thought it was worth mentioning here...it and add some fun pics.
Nine years. Whew! I can't believe we have been together that long - and then at the same time, it seems like I have always known him. We have experienced some really special times together and some hard times too. I know that he doesn't believe that people are meant to be together, but how can we NOT be meant for each other! We fit so perfect together.

Christmas 1999
This is one of the first pictures of us as a couple.

August 2002. When Sid was on his mission I moved back to CA. When Angie heard that he was flying home and I wasn't going to be there for it...she just couldn't let that happen! So she drove me to St George after she got out of school, and we made it to the airport an hour before his plane landed! It was so exciting...I think Sid is actually taller than Denny in this picture! And check out Cammie's Sponge Bob shirt!! What a dork.

April 2004
Red Butte Gardens, right after we were engaged

June 2004 This is one of my favorite wedding pictures of us.

June 2004. Burley Falls. We literally fell upon this spot on our honeymoon. We stopped at this little taco stand for a bite and saw all these signs for waterfall. We didn't see it on the map, but instead followed the signs and found it with no problems! It was amazing! We felt like true explorers and we were so proud of ourselves.

April 2006 - Shoshone Falls, Idaho

February 2007 - Seven months preg-o!

Christmas 2007 I can't believe it's almost been 10 years!

FIVE PLACES I HAVE BEEN

1-Rosarito, Mexico: Labor Day trip with my mom, brothers and I. 2-San Fransisco via Salt Lake: For our honey moon, Sid and I were going to go to San Fran. But we were married on a Sat and our flight wasn't until Monday afternoon...we got a wild hair and decided to make it a road trip! I know...we are crazy. But, it ended up being the most amazing trip! We stopped in Reno, Tahoe, San Fran, Napa, a little town in Oregon-Lake Point I think, and then ended up in Boise a week later to a house full of boxes. Sid still had the next day off, so we went to the Zoo and explored Boise a little more before real life began. 3-Lake Powell: We make the annual trek to Lake Powell for the Nixon House Boat trip every year. Last year we missed it because Avery was just born, but we have been preparing her by taking her to the pool to get used to the water...I think she will LOVE it. 4-Vancouver, B.C: Sid had a week long meeting in Vancouver, so we decided to fly me in on the last day and make a little vacation to celebrate our anniversary. It was one of the most stressful trips of my life! I needed my Birth Certificate to travel outside of the US, and so I tried to expedite a copy from Vital Records in San Bernardino...well, needless to say it didn't come in time! So, I had to have them UPS the certificate to Sid and then fly into Seattle. It actually was better this way though, cause I hadn't been to Seattle before. We rented a car and made our way to Vancouver. It was beautiful. 5- Walla Walla Washington: So, as you can tell - Sid and I are a little spontaneous. Well, for New Years one year, we decided to get out of town and jumped in the car with a map and made our way to Walla Walla, Washington. We stayed at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and ate at this cool restaurant that is inside an old train...then watched the ball drop in the hotel room.

(1) Denny and I standing outside the resort we stayed at in Mexico.

(1) While we were in Mexico, we rode horses on the beach right at sunset. It was beautiful. But the real reason I include this one, is because of Denny acting as if he is going to "lasso" something/one. I love it.

(3-Lake Powell) Anyone who knows the Nixon family, knows that Lake Powell is a sacred place and it's traveled to no matter what every summer! This picture is from the summer of '06. We found out we were preg-o right after this trip and are planning on returning with Avery this summer.
The boys think of some sort of theme each year. '06 it was Sombrero Hats, and as the "Three Amigo's" they wake boarded all at once. It was pretty hilarious. (It's Sid, Brad and Todd in the water. Tony was on his mission.)

(4-Vancouver BC) We were aimlessly driving one afternoon and fell upon Lighthouse Park. It was BEAUTIFUL!

Another angle of the lighthouse at Lighthouse Park, Vancouver B.C. Can you believe I took this photo? I was pretty proud of myself - looks like a post card.

(4 -Vancouver BC) Anyone who has the opportunity to go Capilano Bridge to must go! We were there for hours exploring the tree top bridges and all the wildlife. It was a lot of fun. I am a little weird about heights too - so it was challenging trusting the old bridges, and it didn't help that Sid would do what he could to get them to sway back and forth! As you can see in the picture though - he made some good friends along the way...

FIVE THINGS ON MY TO DO LIST:
Only five?? I have so much to do!!
1-Lose the baby weight!! Spring is here and summer around the corner and I am pretty anxious about losing the trusty old bulky sweaters I hide behind!! 2-Sell our house in Boise. Yes, it's still on the market. 3-Go to Manchester England to see where Sid served his mission. He talks about his mission with such joy - that I would LOVE to see where he lived for two years! 4-Temple work for my dad. 5-Be the "perfect" mother and wife. :) It's an endless "to do".


I ENJOY..............Our little family, rain in the summer, a good book, traveling, laughing till I cry, being with friends and family, "ah-ha" moments, tears of joy, seeing old friends, hugs from my mom, when I actually get to shower before 2 in the afternoon, a clean house, bargain hunting, fresh paint, new flip flops, collapsing into bed after chasing Avery all day, seeing Sid come home from work and catching up, sleeping in, hearing my favorite song on the radio, Summer changing to Fall, Winter changing to Spring, freshly cut grass, Avery's snuggles, pedicures (I really need one right now!), chap stick/lip gloss - I will take either one, roller coasters, gardening (not good at it though, I KILL everything I touch), and really anything that involves spending time with Sid and Avery.

I enjoy-my baby! Isn't she adorable??? (October 2007)

THREE BAD HABITS

1- Diet Coke 2- Diet Coke 3- Diet Coke
I have been doing to good at cutting back! I am allowing myself one a week...but it's been rough!
I guess drinking Diet Coke is more like an addiction than a habit, so here are my "real" bad habits:


1-Low self esteem. I don't know if that's a habit or not. But I am working on accepting compliments more and thinking higher of myself. Being a mom now, it's been easy for me to think of all the things I do wrong... I know it drives Sid crazy. 2-'Losing' my shoes. So, this is a big debate in our house. I have a TERRIBLE habit of taking my shoes off in different parts of the house and then forgetting about them. Especially on Sunday after church. I usually go to our room to change and kick off my dress shoes, hurry and change and then take care of Avery and get her all settled. Usually she is tired and needs a nap when we get home, so shes cranky and I just want to hurry and get her situated...so I forget...then I remember at 7am the next morning when I hear Sid muttering under his breath when he steps on the heal of one as he stumbles to the shower...again, it drives Sid nuts-o. 3-Losing my Keys. Ok. So, this one even annoys the crap out of me! I know it's a problem, but I just can't fix it! It's gotten worse now that Avery has come along. I am so scatterbrained now! **I just thought of another one - sticking my debit card in my back pocket and then forgetting about it. Typically when I get gas, cause it's easier to just grab it and go...Sid especially hates that one!
I am seeing a pattern here...

FIVE THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ME
This was a tough one, because how do I know what you may or may not know?? Sid helped me on this one. I will omit the ones that I didn't think were all that true :) So here is Sid's list of 5 things you may not know about me:
1-I was a madrigal. Yes. I know. It's lame, but I loved it and even made it to All State Choir my Senior year in HS and sang in the old Tabernacle with all the schools in Utah. 2-I have never been in primary. Since I am a convert I never got the chance to be in Primary. I don't know any of the songs...we'll I know a couple, but not many, and am TERRIFIED that I may get a calling to be in primary someday - cause I don't really know how it all works. 3-I am a HUGE bookworm. I always have a book that I am reading. It doesn't matter what it is. I can read anything. But I am always reading something, and have this thing about finishing a book. Even if it's terrible, I have to finish it to the end! 4-Sid says I have a temper - but I like to think I am just passionate :) 5-I used to work for a Mortuary and I really enjoyed it. I felt like I really made a difference a lot of the time for people when they really needed it, and it was a rewarding feeling. The people I worked with there were also some of the most kind.

FIVE JOBS I HAVE HAD
1-Top Spot...cashier. 2-Sport Chalet-shoe department 3-Claremont Juice Co-I like sharing this one, cause I only worked there for one day. It was CRAZY! I couldn't deal with the health freaks demanding their wheat grass and organic carrot smoothies and I quit! 4-SCI- I worked for SCI in CA and then later transferred to UT. I started by just filing part time in the evenings while I went to school, then later worked the Deeds desk, A/P, and lastly Markers. 5-American Red Cross. Both Disaster Services as the State Volunteer Coordinator and Blood Services as an Accounting Specialist.

I now tag - Anyone who hasn't been tagged yet!! I know this has made it's rounds so - if you haven't been tagged yet - you are now it!