Maddie's Treatment...

Today Maddie wasn't feeling the greatest...

so she got a "cheatment."

Two for Tuesday...

My favorite thing for the week...

Chocolate Chex

a.k.a. Deliciousness in a Box

Leash got me hooked on these suckers and now I crave them constantly.  On nights that Tony works late and I don't feel like cooking...I reach for this chocolatey goodness.  

I even had a bowl sans milk the other night, that's right, I actually poured the cereal in a bowl and ate it with a spoon completely dry, it's that good.  

Ton is even getting down on it and he doesn't even like chocolate.  That is the best part, some pieces are evenly coated in cocoa and some are plain so you get a perfect blend.  And for all you dieters out there it is a great source of whole grain, so there you go, they're even healthy. 

Give them a whirl and let me know what you think.

Indie's bedroom...

Here is a look at our little princess' room...

The changing area.

The quote reads, "Sometimes, the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."

The rocking/reading/singing area.

The sleeping area.

The vinyl above her closet reads, "Worth the wait!"

Here are some items on her shelf that I love.

Indie Marie

Chillin' in her cribby with her buddy.

Friday Feature...

Today I would like to feature Tony's mom...

Kim Smith

Kim grew up in Bountiful and now lives in Sandy.  She works at St. Mark's Hospital as a Cardiology Technician.  Kim is artistic, musically talented, creative and classy.  Her house is beautifully decorated with wonderful works of art.  She can play the piano like Mozart and encouraged her children to learn the violin and cello.  She raised two stellar sons and one of which I was lucky enough to snag.  I feel I am a blessed person to be a part of this wonderful family.

Kim is the type of mother-in-law that every girl dreams of.  You know those nightmare stories about MIL's, yeah I don't have any of those.  Kim is as good to me as my own mom.  She spoils us like nobody's business.  She drives all the way from Sandy every Wednesday to watch Ind while I go to work, and loves it so much that she has dubbed that day "Indieday" instead of Wednesday.  One time she even cleaned my bathrooms while she was there, it was great.  Kim takes us on trips, makes us dinner every other Sunday and just makes us feel loved whenever we are near her. 

Here are Tony's thoughts...

"Mom, as you know, I think the world of you... you are the most inspirational person that I have ever known.  Your capacity to love unconditionally is a wonder to all who meet you and is felt by so many, me especially.  I have always admired you and your strength.  You have been my greatest champion throughout my life and I owe much of who I am today to your wonderful example.  You have been given many talents in your life and shared them with many people, however, the greatest talent that you have ever been given and possessed, is your ability to be a Mother (and now Grandmother...).  In my short time as a Dad, I have come to know a love that is deeper and more complete than I have ever known, for my own child... and it amazes me that I never knew or understood, until now, just how much that is, and that you have loved me that much for my whole life.  Knowing that, I feel closer to you now than I ever have before and I am so grateful that we have such a great relationship.  I love you so much, and will always need you..."

Here's proof that Kim was just a little more than excited to be getting two grandbabies...

This is what her Christmas tree looked like in 2006.

She made all of the adorable decorations,

and wrapped every gift to perfection.

Kim we are so grateful for you in our lives and we love you more than tongue can tell.

Am I a good mom or what...

Tony was on call for CT at the hospital last night and was called in from 12:30 to 2:30 a.m.  So this morning I was trying to let him sleep in while I got ready for work.  I put the baby in her bouncer in the doorway of the bathroom while I jumped through the shower.  Halfway through my shower I hear a loud crash and I think, "hmm I didn't give her a toy big enough to make that noise if she dropped it."  I peek out through the crack in the door to see only her little legs laying on the floor.  I start screaming for Tony, jump out of the shower that is still running, buck naked and soaking wet.  Indie is just laying on the floor with her bouncer still around her.  Poor Tony is awakened from a dead sleep by my screaming and comes tearing into the bathroom.  I ask if she is okay through tears, she doesn't even cry or make a peep so I guess she didn't get hurt too bad.

Indie had been bouncing so much that the bouncers strap had come undone.  Luckily it wasn't the whole thing that fell on her or it could've been a lot worse.

Here is the scene of the crime...toys strewn all over and what you can't see is the water on the floor from me dripping all over.  It really scared me but when I realized she was okay it was kind of funny to think of her just laying there.  She probably didn't know what was going on, one second she is bouncing away the next she is on the floor with me screaming.  It was crazy.

Temple trip #2

I know it is technically March already but the Temples were closed during the last week of February when we were going to go so we counted today's visit for February.  We went to the Ogden Temple and did initiatories.  It was really nice.

We left Indie with her first babysitter, that's right, she is almost one year old and we have never left her with anyone besides parents, grandparents or siblings.  Katy babysat her which I guess doesn't really count either because she is practically family.  We love her and trust her with our little Indie Boo.  Thanks Katy!

Post Script:

Sadly our friend Rob Epperson, the one I wrote about on Monday, passed away today.  I put their families name in at the Temple but please keep them in your prayers.

Technical Difficulties...

Last night we were experiencing some technical difficulties and by technical difficulties I mean I didn't pay the bill and they disconnected our internet.

When Tony set up the account I just figured he gave them our credit card number so they could automatically take money out every month.  I finally got around to opening our bill that was in our huge mail pile and found that we hadn't paid for three months and they were threatening to disconnect.  Yeah I wish I would've opened that piece of mail about a day sooner.  So when I couldn't connect to the internet yesterday I put two and two together and realized they had cut the cord...my cord...cord to the outside world.  It is funny how dependent I am upon something I lived without for so long.

I paid the bill, they got us reconnected and now I can have my fix.

Here is what would've been posted last night had I been able to post...

Titled

Music To My Ears

Together Forever...

In September I went to Washington for my cousin Brind's wedding.  While I was there I met a pretty great family.  Now this is normal considering my cousins always introduce us to great people (best example: Brandon Smith) but since September that family has gone from great to absolutely amazing in my book.

This is Rob and Patti Epperson.  They are truly hilarious and as nice as can be.  From the first time we met we were talking and joking like we had known each other forever.  In December I found out that Rob had been diagnosed with cancer.  One night he is playing indoor soccer and scoring all the points and the next night he is throwing up so much they take him to the hospital only to find out he has cancer.  It has all happened in a flash.

Since the very moment they heard this news they have not complained.  They have put their trust in the Lord and have had a great attitude.  You can follow their story by clicking on the Rob Epperson link on the side of my blog.  

In December we found out that Tony's cousins who had tried for a long time to have a baby were finally pregnant.  They went in to be induced and found that the baby had passed away.  The girls body went into labor and she had to deliver the poor little baby and they discovered that the cord was wrapped around her neck.  I cannot think of many things that would be harder then this situation.  I look back on how excited Tony and I were going in to have Indie; the nursery was ready, all of her clothes were hanging in the closet, we had packed a bag for the hospital with little baby clothes, etc. etc. and then to think of coming home empty handed...it honestly breaks my heart.  That little sweet heart must have been a chosen daughter of our Heavenly Father who needed a body for but a moment.

I wanted to tell these two stories to show just how precious life is.  I am so grateful that I have the beliefs I do and I know that there is life after death.  I think both of these families are amazing, they are great examples of strength, hope, and love.  My heart aches for them to be happy despite their situations.  I know that eventually their families will be...

together forever.