Sunny Florida....maybe

Yea! I'm so excited! We are leaving tomorrow on our trip to Orlando!!! My Dad has been planning this trip for two years (he's pretty much like a big kid.) I can't believe its here! I have been so distracted with everything going on (and getting a nasty cold, boo) that I didn't even notice what the date was. I've had to keep reminding myself that we're going! I'm excited, I've never been to any of the D-lands before and seeing the Atlantic will be pretty nifty I'm sure. All in all I think it will be a nice vacation (even if it is going to rain the whole time we're there.) My dad is kinda making up for lost time I think (the vacations we never took etc) so this should be good healing as well for him. My parents are much better people apart. Weird how that is huh? Any who, wish me a happy toddler on the plane and sunny skies!

Lacey

Well we did it. Our address now says Lacey, WA. It's nice to be done with the move and almost settled. Everyone was such a big help, it went very smoothly. Jim started work today at the Olympia Outback. He's worked there before, so he knows almost all the kitchen staff already. It's hard adjusting to living with your parents again. I'm not very happy with the situation (I miss having my own place) but it will help significantly with us getting out of debt. So, I'll just have to make the best of it and try to be a good tenant. The only thing that has really bugged me so far, is that my Dad has this awful habit of walking into my bedroom unannounced. I haven't said anything yet, I think I'm just going to start locking the door. He's done it twice while Jim and I were asleep, once I wasn't exactly in my jammies. It's not my idea of a good way to start the day. Oh well, I'm sure we'll figure it out. I know it's hard on both ends to adjust. I haven't 'lived' with my Dad for over 8 years, since my parents were divorced. The circumstances are much different now, and we have both changed dramatically, so it's almost like living with complete strangers, theres still alot of growing room for everyone one involved. Wish me luck! I'm sure I'll figure out how to be a Wife, Mother (almost of 2), Daughter and Adult all at once (phew) I think I need prayers...any offers? Love you all.

The date is set...(I wish)

So Friday we dropped Jimmy off at the airport to fly to Arkansas for an Interview for med school (which went VERY well) then Ammon and I went home to catch some Zzzz's (we had to drop daddy off at 3:30am! OUCH!) After a few hours we got to go see the baby! YEA!!! Isn't it cute! We also found out that we have a due date! YEA! We are due August 1st (Jacy, I know you've got to love that!) As exciting as that is, it's a little depressing at the same time, due to the fact that Aug 1st is the 1st day of Med school for Jimmy (YIKES!) We haven't decided exactly what we're going to do, but I'm sure it will work out. The Lord knows what he's doing. Anywho, after the ultrasound Ammon and I went to Olympia to spend the weekend with Grandpa. Ammon had alot of fun, and I was mostly just nauseous. Oh well. We're glad to have Jimmy home now, and today for FHE we started packing! We also had dinner with the Quist's (sniff) they make us sad to leave Seattle. We hope to stay in touch with them!

So, Yea for good news and yea that Christmas is a week away!!! Hope your all ready!!!

The craziness continues...

Well, ok we just found out last week that because of a few problems in our apartment (namely mold) we do not have to "buy out" of our lease. Hmmmmmmmm. So being the totally insane people that we are, we've decided to move to Olympia NOW instead of LATER! Ok, breath *sigh*. This means by the end of the month. Yep, the new year will be in a new place (well, my dad's place) We will be in Lacey 5th ward (yea Sis Burton!) ans be close to family (the extra hands will really help!) I will still be doing Real Estate, and commuting to Seattle (so we may still see each other!) All in all, I'm a little dazed. I'm really sad because I finally have some really good friends in the ward (mall walkers anonymous and play group.) I'm going to miss Seattle more then I thought as well as the LFP ward, as quirky as they are. This was our first apartment together, we had our first child here, we bought our first car together here..and so many more firsts that I didn't realized I'd have a hard time letting go of. I know I'll love living in Oly again, and being close to my Family and old friends, change is just hard (more so cause I'm an emotional pregnant lady) and this change came faster then expected. Thank you Seattle and everyone in it for helping create the person I am after these three years!

24

So the last 24 hours have pretty much been out of control. Allow me to explain. It all started last night. Jimmy was studying for his exam today I was reading (and not feeling so good) when at about midnight Jim says to me "Well, I'm done studying, I'll just check my email and we can go to bed." Sweet, I thought. Next thing I know Jim is practically jumping off the walls. He was invited to interview at University of Arkansas but the craziest part is they want him there a week from Saturday! AHHHH. So we all calmed down, (after an hour or so) and went to bed. Now, a little background here, December 4th is my birthday, we had already celebrated so no big deal. Further background, I have been feeling "ill" for a couple weeks now and was getting quite suspicious, Thus waking up this morning (and it being my birthday) I thought I would confirm my suspicions as a present to myself. Sure enough, I'M PREGNANT!!! Yes after 9 months of trying it's finally happened! Happy Birthday! So I did what any woman should do, called my OBGYN to confirm my confirmation. Well they had a spot open this afternoon, so in I went, yes I'm pregnant. How pregnant you ask??? Well that is the big question isn't it? It could be July 8th (very funny because Ammon was due July 7th) like the nurse speculated or sometime later in July or August. We don't know, I'll let you in on the date when we do. Then the dilemma "who to tell?" I thought we where going to wait till Christmas but I blabbed to Kami this morning waking in the mall, and almost at the same time Jim was telling his mother. So that did it. Everyone had to know and now, you do! So Crazy day of calling really excited friends or, changing the subject, rather dramatically, on birthday phone calls. From 'Happy b-day' to 'Wow your WHAT?'



And yes, for those of you doing mental math at this moment, Medical school does start in July or August (depending on the school) And yes, Jimmy may not be there for the birth, and yes, I will be staying to have the baby in Washington (most likely.) All told, my life just got a lot crazier, but also, much more joyous. (And yes, I know we're crazy)

whaaahoooo!

Jimmy was invited to another interview!!! This one is Jan. 7th at Denver University. So a little shout out to all you intermountain west fans, we might be living close by! We would love to live in Denver, we'd be close to Emily and Sean (Jim's sister and bro-in-law) The only down side is that its not much cheaper to live there then it is here. So we'd still be broke, but there'd be mountains!!!

The day has come!!!

Quick update, Jimmy was invited to interview with Case Western Reserve in Cleveland!!!! (also, if you haven't heard already, he was turned down from UW) Our lease is officially up in March at which point we will be moving (because Seattle is very $$$.) Where we will go until med school starts in August, we have no idea (please share if you do!) If we've been accepted by that point we may just move there and get settled (depending of course on the cost of living) We'd like to move down to Olympia and save some money first and spend a little time with the family. We'll see. Other then that life has been great. We're broke but happy. Grandma Smith flew Ammon and I down to Salt Lake City for a week, that was alot of fun! (and if any of you need pictures take for a special occasion, I know that best photographer in the state of Utah!) We had some pictures of Ammon taken, and the weather was beautiful! I'm excited to see how they turn out. I hope all is well with you and your families! Say hi for us!!!

OK OK OK

So I know I said I would be blogging more, and yes, I'm aware that its taken me almost two weeks to write again. So I'm sorry. Anyway...Conference was AWESOME!!! I'll put links up of my fav talks when they are available online. I can tell you right now that Sister Beck's talk from Sunday morning and Pres Monson's from Saturday Morning are tied for first.

As far as family is concerned I have some news! Jimmy took the MCAT in July (I know, shame on me) and got a whopping 38! (for those like me who had no idea what that meant, its the 99th percentile) So he basically rocks. He's applied to med school and now we are waiting for invitations to interview. He started back at school and has a pretty laid back schedule (for once) Most of it is Lab work though so while he has no homework, he is still gone all day long. But the good news is, this is his last quarter before med school! YEA!!! So we will all be seeing much more of Jimmy after December.

As far as work goes, I sold my first house this summer, which was soooo neat. I have a listing in Lake City (if anyone wants a peek, I'd love to show you!) and I'm taking a listing in Olympia this month. Also, I'm now on the committee for philanthropic spending and activities with my office. I have loved this part of my job more then anything! We will be hosting a 5k in April and all the proceeds will go to Greg Mortensen and the CAI to build schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan! (He's the author of "Three cups of Tea" that we just read for book club.) I'll have more info on the race as we get further in the planning. And if you know anyone who wants to buy sell or know more about the market, PLEASE let me know! Referrals are the best!

Ammon is big and busy! He climbs now, so I'm always on my toes. He has shown his stubborn side alot more lately (I wonder where that came from) But he is still just as sweet and funny. His sense of humor has really taken off and everytime we take his picture its nothin but cheesiness!