I know I'm supposed to be way ahead of Day 4...But I'm not. I'll make up for it though.
My parents are amazing people. I could get really emotional and crying and oh yeah they are the best people in the world (which they are), but I think I'll just talk about them.
My dad is an amazing cook. He makes the best food in his giant dutch oven. And he makes the best food out of this giant dutch oven. Not only yummy, but in huge quantities.
Like maybe not feed an entire army quantities, but pretty close. He's also extremely smart. When I was in 8th grade I was talking to Kevin Tiedemann about whose dad was smarter, and he asked if my dad knew about nuclear something or other. I told him I didn't know, but I'd ask my dad. So one day I asked my dad and he just went all out on the subject, talking all about it. I didn't stop him to say, "I really didn't want to know about it...Just wanted to know if YOU knew about it." I later told Kevin, yes, my dad definitely knows all about that.
My friend, Michelle, and I went camping with my dad in Turkey Run when we were probably in 8th grade. It was raining a LOT there and we were trying to build a fire. My dad asked us where we could find dry wood for the fire since it was raining so much and of course we didn't know. He told us, inside the wet wood! He cut the outside off of all our wood in our woodpile to reveal dry wood, ready for our fire. He also cut his finger while he was chopping wood and Michelle and I were freaking out telling him he at least needed a band aide or something on it. He just ignored our attempts at nursing his hand and kept chopping wood. He's pretty tough, too.
My mom is also amazing. She is kind and thoughtful. She really loves. You know? Like some people are kind and thoughtful but my mom puts her whole heart into it. Into caring for others and being there. Especially for her kids and grand kids.
When Chloe broke her finger, she told me she was trying to figure out how she could get out here to be with Chloe. Even though it really turned out to not be a huge deal. She really loves all of her kids-in-law, too, just like they're her own kids. She has taught me how to be a great mom. So many times when I lived in IL with them last year people would say, "Stacey, you are just like your mom." We talk alike, we laugh alike, we are alike!! My mom has always been there for me anytime I need someone to talk to, ask advice from or have a question about anything.
There were a lot of times growing up I'd go into my mom's room when she was saying her prayers. It was such an example to me of the kind of person I wanted to be someday. She is so strong in the gospel and her love for the Savior is apparent to everyone. But make no mistake, she's also a huge party girl. :) She travels to basically everywhere tropical and warm and always has the time of her life there and makes it wonderful and fabulous for everyone else, too (which is usually just my dad because they never let us tag along) :)!!!
I am always in awe of my parents and all that they know and do. They are some of the best people I know! (And Happy Anniversary last week!!! 37 Years is quite the accomplishment!!!)
This year I didn't think much about Valentine's Day. I had asked Cody if we were going to be giving gifts and he said no, in a way that was like-why would we even do that? Which I was totally ok with because I couldn't really think of anything cool anyway.
I decided he needed to have SOMETHING, so I ordered some pictures of our family and some of just me, 4x6 and wallet size, for him to take with him when he goes on business trips. I also got him some licorice. I thought about making him a big basket of goodies, but Valentine's Day is like right after resolution time...(Also, Girl Scout Cookie time is right after resolution time. Why would they do this? Why don't they do it in like August? Every time I go to the store I have to exit as far away from the girl scouts as possible because I may or may not have been very tempted to spend $20-50 on cookies. Who does that?!?!)
Anyway.
On Valentine's Day I was getting ready for the day when I decided to use the full-body mirror to do my makeup in instead of the regular mirror. I never do that. When I took it off, I saw a heart taped on the back of it!!! I looked at it and realized, Cody had made me a Valentine's Scavenger Hunt! I was SO excited, but I didn't think that was the first clue, so I decided to wait and ask him about it. He was already at work, so I texted him and he called me about 5 minutes later, wanting to know if I had done anything and kinda freaking out that I ruined the surprise. After I told him I hadn't done anything and hadn't gone looking for any more clues, he told me where the first clue was. I was SO excited!!!
On the back on this super sweet, very wonderful letter to me was my first clue.
I could not stop laughing when I read this! Yes, I am glad no one farted at our wedding :)
That clue led me here, a picture of the San Diego Temple.
See the clue on the back??
A couple weeks ago we made some new art for our apartment. Like the green birds?
Another clue!!!
Here's the clue I found first on the back of the mirror
Cody's beloved RC car :)
Ok, so apparently I didn't take a picture of what this clue said, but it led me to the clock in the kitchen...which doesn't work. (Which was part of the clue.)
My favorite book is The Giver! I know it's like 4th grade reading level...But I love it.
I couldn't find this clue for a long time...I actually thought he didn't remember my favorite book and started looking in all the Harry Potter books. He told me to just keep looking and then I found it lodged in the pages!
On the back of the clue...
I ran to his bottom drawer, and guess what I found!!! Oh, Hello, Mrs. See. Nice to finally be with you again. Not only was it See's, but when I opened it, it was my three favorite kinds. Over and over and over. So I wouldn't have to deal with the biting in and discovering you don't like it. I got chocolate buttercream, the thin caramels, and bordeaux. YUMMMM.
Yeah, there might be some missing. I won't tell you what time it was when I took this picture. Don't judge.
What a perfect Valentine's day surprise. It was WONDERFUL and I loved every second. I love you, Cody! You're the best husband EVER!!!
I've actually talked about this before, since I just changed it. So...I will just copy part of that post.
We moved away from Rexburg in April, 2010. Since then I've been trying to think of a new name for our blog. It's a long process trying to think of a perfect name!
Yesterday I stumbled across this quote:
"The things we hope in sustain us during our daily walk. They uphold us through trials, temptations, and sorrow. Everyone has experienced discouragement and difficulty. Indeed, there are times when the darkness may seem unbearable. It is in these times that the divine principles of the restored gospel we hope in can uphold us and carry us until, once again, we walk in the light." -President Uchtdorf
It came to me - Our Daily Walk!
There ya go :)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts
My name is Stacey.
Hi, Stacey.
I look like this.
Really. I usually have a child attached to me in one way or another.
And I love it.
I've been thinking about these 15 interesting facts all day...Ok, really like twice today for like 5 minutes each time. But. It's hard to come up with 15 things that are interesting about me. Some of the things I list might not be so interesting. Sorry.
1. I love previews before movies. I don't care if I don't get to watch them, but if I'm by myself, watching a dvd, I'll go to the set up part and watch all the previews. And I especially love it if the movie I'm about to watch has a preview. It helps me get excited to watch the movie.
2. I hate when people touch my nose. I'm becoming more ok with it now because Chloe does it a lot, and I know she's not doing it meanly...and I don't want to yell at her to stop. That would be traumatizing for both of us. When I was growing up, I remember my brother, Noah (he doesn't remember this), saying to me, "Stacey, don't you hate it when people do this?" And squeezing my nose. Not only squeezing it, but like sliding his fingers down it. While I had a cold. It wasn't fun. So now, I can't handle people touching my nose. Cody tries to do it sometimes - like holding it closed- and I kinda freak out like I can't breathe. It's interesting.
3. I was Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz in 7th grade. I know a lot of people were Dorothy growing up in their school plays. But like, I WAS Dorothy. I rocked the house.
4. I am almost constantly afraid of something terrible happening to me or my girls. Things like that are on my mind most of the day. It's hard for me to stop thinking about them. I have to sing to myself or think of things like the first time I saw Cody inside the temple right before we got married. But I also think that if something terrible happened to me, I'd totally fight back. Awhile ago there was this guy on the news that was going around and grabbing women, they called him "The Groper." Gross, I know. Anyway, I always thought to myself that if he did that to me I'd totally go after him. Then sometimes I think about how I'd totally end up on Oprah, telling my story about how I'm such a strong woman and we all need to stand up to the sicko-weirdo-horribleo- people out there.
5. I love country music. But I usually only listen to it in the summer, in my car, with the windows down. I feel like it's the kind of music that you need to pretend you really are in the country, in a little sundress, driving to the creek to go swimming. Or something like that.
6. The first time I went fishing, I caught a fish. After like 10 minutes. The second time I went fishing, I caught my finger on my hook. No fish that day.
7. I love American Idol, but only the auditions. I will watch into Hollywood week, but after that it gets boring and I never watch it anymore.
8. I met David Archulleta in a church parking lot. He was in a car with his aunt, pretending like he wasn't who he is. But I knew. I might not watch American Idol, but I'm up on who is who.
9. I used to LOVE celebrities and everything that came with them. I wanted to be a host on Entertainment Tonight. Not lying. Then I had kids, and realized caring about celebrities was probably one of the dumbest things ever. The other day, Cody and I saw this thing on tv talking about some guy "being spotted walking in the street wearing blue sunglasses." Seriously?! Seriously?!!? Come on. People MUST have better lives than this.
10. I only have 8 classes left to get my bachelors in Communications. I had a minor in psychology and was one semester away from graduating. Then I found out I was having baby girl #2 and graduated with my general associates degree. Not shabby, but I still want to get my bachelors. When I was 22 I made a goal that I'd have my bachelors by the time I was 25...Now I'm 24 and it seems like 25 isn't too far away....I might need to make another goal.
11. Seriously? I'm only at 11?
12. When I grow up, I want to be one of those women that people say, "Stacey? She's SO nice. She's SO nice to EVERYONE." I love ladies like that.
13. I'm basically intimidated by everyone. I don't really believe in self-esteem, but I feel like I'm probably lowest on the totem pole as far as "things" go. Like, I don't really have a "thing." I don't sew really well, I don't bake really well, I don't craft really well....I don't have a "thing." I wish I had a thing, but I don't know what that is. And I feel like EVERYONE else has a thing. And when I hear that someone is intimidated by me (which I actually don't know if that's ever happened) I kinda think they're lying because how would that be possible?
14. K, I had totally written a whole thing about if I ever were on a show like American Idol I'd play up the whole, "I'm doing this for my sister who passed away and it was terrible and heartbreaking and tragic" angle because it was. And I think doing that is totally ok to get on a tv show like that. To win a recording contract? Yeah, I think it's ok. Anyway. It was more than that, but then it somehow got erased. I'm sure you're glad. :)
15. Sometimes when Cody and I go out on dates I say, "Lets pretend like this is our first date. So...tell me about your family." And he says, "Nooooooo." I think it's hilarious.
I don't believe anyone will read this far. But if you did, congratulations. You win the prize.
For Valentine's Day this year, Cody and I went out of Friday to beat the holiday crowds. Tami babysat for us; (again! Thanks, Tami!) I LOVE living by family! It's a lifesaver! We spent all day Friday trying to decide where to go and finally decided on Prado. It's in Balboa Park and was perfect. It was not crowded, we got to sit on the heated patio, it was so romantic and so, so yummy and the company was fabulous. :)
Cody and me before dinner
Our Appetizer - Grilled Skewers Trio - Beef and Chipotle Honey (top left), Chicken and Cashew Curry (bottom middle) and Shrimp and Mango Ginger (top right)
OH my YUM! It was SO good. The beef, honestly, melted. I've said that before about beef, but I don't think I ever really knew what it meant until I ate this. All three were amaaaazing.
Our Entree - Pan Roasted Sea Bass -See the slice of bacon on top? Ohhh baby. It also had cauliflower, forest mushrooms, sea beans and red wine jus. (I don't really know what red wine jus means...but I didn't even realize there was wine in this until just now when I looked up the menu to write about it. Promise. I don't break commandments on purpose.)
Cody and I decided to share an entree, and the awesome thing about Prado is that they split it for you (so you don't have to have the whole awkward "Can we have an extra plate?" thing going on), and they charge $3 extra, but they give both the same size of side portions. So we only really split the sea bass. We both had the same amount (which was a pretty good size) of veggies, and apparently, red wine.
After dinner. We were full and happy :) PS Cody looks so so cute in this picture. I love it!
Again, amazing. Seriously, amazing. I haven't ever had sea bass before, I'm a salmon girl, and it actually tasted a lot like salmon. It was just really yummy. And even though we split it, we were both stuffed by the time we were done. Yum. Cody, lets go back. Tomorrow. :)
After dinner we walked around Balboa Park. The park has tons of gardens and museums and even the San Diego Zoo is there. It's super big and super awesome.
Walking around after dinner
K, Seriously, is this not amazing? SO beautiful
If I hadn't gotten married in one of the prettiest, most amazing places in all the land, I would've wanted to get married here. Well, I didn't see what was inside, so I really don't know if that last statement is true. However. Wouldn't it be awesome to open those doors to reveal you as a bride? If it was me, I'd do this (look at said picture) when they opened the door. :)
After we had walked around for an hour or more, we decided we were ready for dessert. I wanted to go to a place that had been featured on The Food Network, called Extraordinary Desserts. It was on "The Best Thing I Ever Ate." Love that show. This was the cake that was featured. It was the Dulce de Leche and was probably one of the top 10 moments in my life.
See my hands in the background? Patiently waiting to dig in???
Yeah, that's gold leaf on the roses. No big.
And about 2 minutes later.....
Oh yum. We definitely liked that. :)
I'm not done with Valentine's Day posts, so don't worry your pretty little head. (Who says that?!?)
I had SO much fun with my Valentine. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time and it is now a perfect memory. I love you, Cody! Happy Valentine's Day!
So I've seen a lot of these 30 day challenges out in blogland recently. Remember when I tried to blog every day for a month? I did well for about 2 weeks and then didn't really have anything left to say. So I thought I would try this instead. This way I'll at least have an idea of what to say, even if I don't really have anything else going on. I've seen a lot of different versions, but decided I like this one best.
Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description Day 1: Introduce, recent picture of yourself, 15 interesting facts Day 2: Meaning behind your blog name Day 3: Your first love Day 4: Your parents Day 5: A song to match your mood Day 6: A picture of something that makes you happy Day 7: Favorite movies Day 8: A place you've traveled to Day 9: A favorite picture of your best friend Day 10: Something you're afraid of Day 11: Favorite tv shows Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without Day 13: Goals Day 14: A picture of you last year - how have you changed? Day 15: Bible verse Day 16: Dream house Day 17: Something you're looking forward to Day 18: Favorite Place to Eat Day 19: Something you miss Day 20: Nicknames Day 21: Favorite Picture of yourself ALL TIME Why? Day 22: What's in your purse? Day 23: Favorite Movie Day 24: Something you've learned Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, first 10 songs Day 26: Your Dream Wedding Day 27: Original Photo of the city you live in Day 28: Something that stresses you out Day 29: 3 Wishes Day 30: a picture of yourself this day and 5 good things that happened since you started the challenge
Today is a wonderful day. I personally think we should celebrate love every day. We don't need a "valentine" or a "special someone," although that is nice. I just think we should celebrate love. There's nothing better. What if, everyday, everyone was just a little more loving? A little more patient, a little more willing to go out of their way to write a nice note, to give a little gift or to say a few sweet words. I can't wait for the world to be like that. Someday.
It's been hard lately. Life. Life has been hard. Often times I see people and think, "They are perfect. Perfect hair, perfect clothes, perfect family, perfect kids. Why can't I be like them?"
"In the quiet heart is hidden sorrow that the eye can't see."
I think of that a lot. A lot, a lot.
"I won’t even begin to try and enumerate the myriad things that may come our way – or what may
have already caused a deep wound in your heart. You know the landscape of your own heart – with all
its peaks and valleys – and maybe some of the valleys are also known only to the Lord, never having
been whispered to another earthly soul. I am certain the Savior knows
however, that while it may be a small moment to Him, some days on this earth seem to last for eternity,
and some moments are so painful our hearts threaten to literally break. I am certain because He has
comforted me in those quiet, painful moments that only He and I know about."
-Amy Springer
Sometimes life is hard. Sometimes its hard to remember the eternal picture. But it is there.
I can do hard things.
One more quote from Amy.
"I have always remembered a talk given by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone while I was a student
at BYU. He said, “There is a verse that all of you have heard: Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty
Dumpty had a great fall; All the king's horses And all the king's men Couldn't put Humpty together
again. But the king could, and the king can, and the king will if we will but come unto him.” Whatever
it is that has pushed us off the wall of hope into a broken state of despair or heartache – The King knows
exactly how to succor and heal each one of us. He is the “God of all comfort” because, after all, He is
