One Lucky Girl....

So, if you know me really well you know that I have Scoliosis. I have known about my Scoliosis since I was about 12 years old. At around the age of 14 I was also diagnosed with Kyphosis. Scoliosis is where your spine curves too far in one direction. Kyphosis is a curvature in the upper back. I sort of got the double whammy on that one! When I was young my mom took me to a specialist doctor. He took x-rays and stated the obvious, "I indeed had scoliosis". There is really nothing that an M.D. can do for Scoliosis in its early stages besides some exercises. So I did the exercises and nothing really changed. A little later on I was diagnosed with Kyphosis. With this disease, there is nothing that they can really do either. The surgery for Kyphosis was very drastic and very experimental. I know that my mom felt helpless. She wanted to do what was best for me. She asked the doctor if we could try chiropractic. The doctor was very short and very rude {he was not known for his bedside manor}, and told us that chiropractic would only make it worse. Of course, not knowing too much about chiropractic, we took what he said at face value I mean he was a doctor right....he should know everything {ha!} He obviously thought he knew everything! Later he decided to put me in this brace.

How ridiculous does this brace look?

It was even more ridiculous to put it on....and wear it!

I mean, lets be honest......what 14 year old girl is going to wear this? I wore it when I was at home but that was about it. I was supposed to wear it when I went to bed but it would make my asthma worse, so I couldn't wear it. Basically it was a waste...a waste of time and materials...and most of all MONEY. It was also a waste because those were precious years that I could have been getting the help that I needed {eventually he told me that research has found that these braces do nothing for Scoliosis and Kyphosis}. I just wish people weren't so ignorant. I know that ultimately I have no one to blame but myself on this one but still...I feel as though my mom and I were not as educated on the whole chiropractic thing and he could have helped us. If our doctor wasn't so negative and ignorant about it...maybe my mom and I would have tried the chiropractic avenue. But I could play the "what if" game all day. I just have to know that I am one lucky girl because I am married to one...or almost one...well not really....but he is on his way! :) Our Father in Heaven sure knows what he is doing. I have a really bad case of Scoliosis, so bad that I need to be treated at least once a week. I am so excited that my husband is going to be able to treat me! I know that not everybody agrees with the whole chiropractic thing...and that's fine...I am not offended...I just wish people wouldn't judge and be so ignorant about it. For me it works. For me it takes away my pain. It makes my life manageable. I am one lucky girl to have this at my beck and call {eventually :)}

New Years....Finally!

I finally can post about New Years Eve. My mom came down to Texas and brought the memory card with these pictures on it! But I did forget to tell her that I forgot my memory card in Utah, so I am cameraless. :( Unless I want to go buy a new memory card....which I just might do! :)

New Years Eve is always in between for me. I am not like a real fanatic about it but I do like to have fun! My husband HATES games...absolutely refuses to play them {at least the games that rely on chance} so we can't get together with people and play games. So basically he makes his mom throw a party for him and his friends every year! ;) She LOVES it though! This year it was kind of thrown together last minute, so it was just a few of his friends, but it was still fun!

Peyton saw a girl at church playing the cello. He loved it, so he got creative and turned his guitar into a cello and his drumstick into a bow!

My brother brought his Kinect down to Bryan's parents house. So we did a little bowling. Dustin was pretty good! It might have helped that Bryan and Dustin were on a bowling league in high school called the "Tuna Rats". Oh dear, it is a good thing we didn't know each other then! JK!

Kristen and cute little Savvy watching the bowling game!

We then had a kicking competition on the soccer portion of the game. Mark and I went back and forth for the record, but I believe my name is still on top! Thank you very much. I guess I have fast little legs! :)

Megan trying to keep up with Mark and I. She ended up getting "too tired"! We had to tease her about that one!

Corey has a game called "Adventures". Peyton LOVES it! He would always say, "Come on Cor, lets play "Ventures" dude!" It is a game where you have to take this big raft down a river and you have to jump over rocks and logs. This is a picture of Peyton jumping over a log.

Jana and Pey playing "Adventures".

Jana and Wade playing "Adventures". I LOVE Wade's face!

Greg and Lynsey came over! Bryan's parents are doing a little renovating on their house, but Bryan's mom still wanted to party!

Kael didn't make it to midnight!

Neither did Grandpa Ron!

We didn't either! But we gave it a good shot. New Years Eve is a little different when you have children! That's okay though, like I said earlier....I am not a HUGE fan of this holiday! :)

My mom made it to midnight...with a few cat naps in between! :)

Okay so Kael woke up from his little nap and was ready to party. We let him stay up and watch the ball drop! ;)

It was a great New Years Eve!

The Story of Us....

Today we have been married for 6 years! I can't believe it!

This is a picture of us at the Jazz game while we were in Utah for Christmas Break! We went with our good friends, Greg and Lynsey! Thanks for taking us!


I wanted to document how Bryan and I met...fell in love...and got married! :)

We met on Saturday, July 3, 2004. I wasn't supposed to be working that Saturday but decided to work to earn money because I was going to college in St. George in the fall. It was so weird that I chose to work that day because I had to miss some of the 4th of July festivities {and if you know me, you know I LOVE the 4th of July! I guess I was just listening to the spirit!}. I worked as an "On-Call Teller" for First National Bank. That means that I would fill in for tellers at various branches who were sick or on vacation. That day I had to work in the Bountiful branch. I was late of course {That was before the overpass on 200 North in Kaysville. Those stupid trains! I haven't missed them!}. Bryan was excited! He thought I stood him up and that meant that he couldn't open the branch...therefore he would get to go home early. Much to his dismay, I peeled around the corner in my Chevy Celebrity {that's right 1987 to be exact!}. I apologized profusely and we opened the branch. He was so fun to talk to! I don't think that I stopped laughing the entire time{and to be honest, I don't think I have stopped laughing the entire 6 years! He is hilarious!}! I was just hoping that he was single. We didn't have very many customers that day but one of the people that did come through was a police officer for Bountiful City. He knew Bryan and was really friendly with him. He asked Bryan, "I heard that you are getting married?" {That sucks! This always happens! The good ones are already taken! :) } But Bryan quickly replied, "No, we are dating other people." The guy looks at me and said, "Are you single?" I gladly said, "Yes!" {Mostly because I had just got out of a CRAZY relationship! And the fact that we were both single!} The guy then replied, "She's cute. You should take her out!" Immediately both of our faces went red and both laughed. Bryan replied, "Well maybe I will." We both smiled at each other! So by the end of the shift "Mister Smooth Mover" had set up a date between my friend Hilary {who also worked at the bank} and his friend Greg....so of course we had to go on a date so it wouldn't be awkward! :) We went out 3 days later to Applebees {not sure why on that one...since we both hate it...he he!} We were together almost everyday until I moved to St. George! {I had already paid my rent and tuition...so I was kind of committed}. All though I did fly home every weekend, with the exception of one of the weekends when Bryan came to St. George! We got engaged on October 30th, which is another story for another day! I moved home on December 18th to plan a wedding! We then got married on Thursday, January 27th, 2005 in the Bountiful, Utah Temple! We didn't have a reception, just a lunch at Joy Luck Restaurant in Woods Cross, Utah. It was the best way to spend the day!
It has been an amazing 6 years! We have gone through a lot together! He has sacrificed so much for me! He put his schooling on hold while I could finish mine! For that I will be forever thankful! We are now on a new adventure, one that I would only want to take with him! He is so smart, a wonderful husband, and a more amazing father! I love him with all of my heart and always will. I am so grateful and excited that he will be by my side for eternity!

Valentine's Day Decorations...

I am so bad. Who decorates for Vanlentine's Day? {no offense if you do} :) I think that you either LOVE Valentine's Day or you HATE it! It may depend on your relationship status at the moment! But even when your married it is just another holiday where you have to think of something to get your spouse {totally looking at it from a man's point of view! :) } I can't lie, I don't really mind getting flowers every once in awhile! {hint, hint...oh who am I kidding...like my husband would ever be reading a blog!} So onto the decorations....I don't have ANY! Besides, I think 90% of them are...oh what's the word? CHEESY! So after searching and getting inspired by other people's blogs....I set out to make my own! Now, I would like to think that I am a crafty person {minus the sewing...really bad at that}...but you don't realize what this crafty achievement means to me. The completion of this project means that my boys cooperated today and allowed me to do something other than attend to their every need! { I didn't say that their weren't any screaming or tears!} I am so proud {mostly of my boys...we may be making progress here people!} and I think that the result was pretty cute too!

Here it is...the finished product!
If you already have the frames. this holiday decorating is super cheap!
I would say I spent less than 7 dollars!
I however didn't have the frames, but luckily this week they were 50% of at Hobby Lobby!
I used 1- 8x10 frame
1-5x7 frame
1-4x6 frame

First, I took out the glass in each of the frames. I then took the scrapbook paper that I was going to use and flipped it over onto its back. I then placed the glass on top of the paper so I could cut it out so the paper would fit exactly! I used a razor blade {i have trouble cutting straight. it drives me crazy.} But you could trace it with a pencil and then cut it!

Sorry about the pictures. I had to use my cell phone because I left both of our memory cards in Utah when we were there for the holidays!

I first started with the 5x7 frame. The 3D paper hearts. I found this idea over at Brassy Apple, a great design blog! All I did was take a piece of red card stock paper and folded it over. I then traced half a heart shape {remember in 1st grade!}. I decided to use 9 of them!

After cutting them out {they were already folded} I then turned them over and placed a glob of hot glue down the center of the folded heart. I then eyeballed the placement of the hearts on the paper! {which sometimes can be scary...i swear sometimes my eyeballs don't see straight. irritating really.}

I don't think my eyeballs did too bad! :)

Side view.

I then started on this little beauty! I learned how to make this felt flower from one of my favorite blogs, All Things Thrifty! If you haven't checked it out...you HAVE to! She is BRILLIANT and so thrifty! :) I loved her tutorial on how to make this flower, so I HAD to try it. Luckily I could adapt it into my Valentine's decorations!

I first started out with 1 piece of red felt. I then traced 1 large circle and 4 small circles. {I used a glass for tracing} Then cut them out!

Take one of the small circles and put a generous dob of glue in the center.

Then pinch the circle together.

I left a flat part on the bottom of my circle so it would lay flat on the big circle. You don't have to though!

I'm a bit of a perfectionist when it comes to these things so I had to manipulate mine to hide the hot glue spots! :)

As soon as I finished pinching and gluing the 4 small flowers I then glued them onto the big circle. I then put a pearl center on the flower.

Tudah!

The last one! For this one I used the 8x10 frame. I also got this idea from Brassy Apple . I got these heart sticks at Hobby Lobby. I loved their shape. But they were tricky to take a part and I destroyed 3 of them! Only 1 of them was salvageable. :(

So I went on over to the dollar store and got a package of smaller hearts.

They were much easier to take a part. I then cut them in half {i found a bread knife worked best}

Then I glued them on! It was as simple as that!

Super cheap...and super cute!

Glitter hearts: Big hearts {$1.79} Little hearts: {$1.00}
Paper: Scrapbook paper {$1.00}
Felt{.25 cents}

Pearl centers {$2.99}

My Boys.....

My boys are random....and when I say random....I mean hilariously unique!

Peyton LOVES to eat "double cheeseburgers"!
{I know that I have already covered this, but seriously...he can't get enough!}

Kael on the other hand, LOVES to eat acorns at the park....and whatever else he can get his hands on. I swear, Kael is on a mission every second to find whatever he can on the floor to put in his mouth. His eyes must be scanning the ground constantly. I know that there is nothing wrong with his eyesight because he can find the smallest piece hidden under the cabinet or in the carpet fibers...seriously...I am stressed out.

I have found the following in Kael's mouth: peanut M & M's {he had sucked all the chocolate off and was trying to spit the peanut out}, pieces of a shattered ornament {that were supposed to be shatterproof...shattered by a 10 month old...glad i caught that one!}, wooden piece of an advent calender, clump of mud {it had fallen off of someone's shoe. he seriously had mud on his tongue and gums for like 20 minutes. i couldn't get it off. gross.}, a piece of old ham, piece of old chicken {luckily neither made him sick}, grass, leaves, an acorn, wood chips, toilet paper, dish washing tablet {luckily we caught that before he could get it out of the package.}, piece of a foam football {he bit the tip right off}, paper, paper, and more paper.

I swear I feed him. The funny thing is, is that he will eat any thing that is not really edible to eat but when it comes to eating food, he only really likes squash and sweet potatoes.

I have to watch him like a hawk. It stresses me out. I have Peyton on the force now, he watches Kael and will say, "Kael has something in his mouth!" And most likely it is something that is not supposed to be there!


We also have a {almost} 3 year old that likes to...

...be a pirate while playing one of his favorite tunes on the guitar. The tune of the week is currently the theme song from Drake and Josh {Nickelodeon}.

He also likes to fall asleep in the middle of Walmart using the Sun Chips as his pillow. {This made Bryan particularly pleased...not!}

He also likes to check his emails. He will go over to the computer, turn it on, and say, "I need to check my emails, Mom!"

Seriously. I don't know where he came from.

I LOVE my boys!

I am pretty sure the state of Texas hates us....

I am pretty sure that the state of Texas HATES us.....either that or Karma is after us
{and not in a good way}!

Now I don't want to sound like I am complaining or anything but I am starting to wonder if there is something in the water down here {I knew that there were more reasons to why I insist that we drink bottled water other than the horrible tin can taste}. Everyone that we have met {on the business level} is dumb and can't do their job! Now I have to admit, the people here are very friendly {I love their Texas accents}, but seriously!

This is what has happened to us since we have moved here...

• Wells Fargo messed up our student loan and sent it through Bryan's school instead of directly to us. This made the process go much slower in getting our money!
• Bryan's school had a computer glitch, where only 5% of the student-body were affected in getting their money. {Which delayed us even further in getting our money!}
• We took our car to get licensed and the guy that passed our emissions gave us the address of the place to get our plates. Wrong place....it was the Drivers License Bureau. Hello!
• The Medicaid office assistant {after Bryan explained his reason for the visit} had him sign the wrong clipboard {clipboards....clipboards people! Really? It's 2011. And maybe the instructions could be in English instead of Spanish. I mean we are in America. Thank you.} After Bryan realizing the mistake after 35 minutes, and having to fix the mistake and being there 3 more hours.
• When we got approved, someone forgot to put Kael on the Medicaid. So after being chewed out by the lady at the Medicaid office {even with her Texas accent, she was still rude} when trying to get the mistake fixed, Bryan had to go down to the yucky office and sit for 3 hours to get the mistake fixed.
• Buying a brand new notebook computer at Sam's Club and getting it home to open the computer and found a sticker on it that said it was a "discounted price" because it had been "repaired". We surely did not pay the "discounted price".
• We took the computer back and the girl tried to tell us that just because it has a sticker on it doesn't really mean that it was "repaired". It could be a brand-new one. Key word "could". Does it look like I was born yesterday? Seriously? I am not paying full price for a broken computer. Thanks though.
• I asked her if she had a brand-new computer in a brand-new box...without a "repaired" sticker on it. { I asked her more nice than that, I promise. That is just what I was thinking!} So she asked the guy that was in charge of the electronic department and in an Oscar the Grouch voice he said, "Nope. We're out. Not going to happen. They're gone. Goodbye" Seriously, this guy was so rude to the poor customer service girl. I asked her to see if they had one at another store and she said it showed that they had one at that store. She went in the back and there they were, sitting on the shelf. {The first person in the world in Texas that followed through for us.} So after a three day process, we got our computer.
• Before we went to Utah, we had the post office forward our mail. They had us fill out a handy little note card stating what day we wanted the forwarding to start and stop and what address we wanted the mail to be forwarded to. Some of our mail made it to Utah....keyword "some". Our apartment complex called us and told us a Bryan Thompson that used to live in the complex a couple of years ago was getting our mail and he brought it in to the office. The lady from our apartment said that she would hold our mail for us until we came back. When we came back and went to our apartment office, they had no idea what we were talking about. Of course they didn't...someone sent it back to the post office. Expecting that the U.S. Postal Service was smart {I heard they have to take a pretty hard competency test to work there....apparently not} and they would heed the request on my "note card" of the end date on my mail forward request, we still had not received mail 5 days after being home. So down to the post office we went and found out that there was a Bryan Thompson living in our exact apartment two years ago and for some reason {ignoring our forward request} they decided to send our mail to him. I mean, what are the chances that another Bryan Thompson {even with a "y"} would live in our exact apartment and leave a forwarding address to Lewisville? And why would they send it to his forwarding address and not the one that we requested? It gets better....for some reason they stamped our mail as a "vacated apartment" and returned all of our mail to the original sender. My GAP package is somewhere floating in the land of mail! I don't think that it will ever find me....and that makes me real sad. Ugh. I hate calling all of these places to fix someone else's mistake!
  

Sorry to bore you with these minuet details of life, but seriously....this is borderline hilarious. I am not sure what we did to Karma but I think we are on her bad side! I just had to document this so one day we could look back and laugh.
We really do LOVE Texas though. Despite it hating us, it is a beautiful place to be!

Somedays....

Some days are hard. I have two young boys under the age of {almost} 3. At first I thought maybe I was getting stressed out too easy. But after we moved here, Bryan was able to spend some quality time with our children and declared that they are "high maintenance". He asked me, "How do you do this every day?" Some days I ask myself the same question.....until I see this.....

Both of their sweet faces sleeping! And to be honest, sometimes it is not just their sweet sleeping faces I love...I love the fact that they are sleeping and not crying or fighting! :) Some days it's hard...but when they look at you with a smile, or run over to give you a hug, it makes the hard days disappear. I feel very blessed to be a mother and especially a mother who can be with her children.

I also feel very blessed to have two boys.....

...who love each other and can be good friends. Peyton is the only person who can make Kael belly laugh. He loves his older brother. Sometimes I look at him and he is looking at Peyton with complete adoration. It is the sweetest thing ever. Peyton LOVES to give Kael hugs after he wakes up from his nap. He has always loved to do this. He has said from the time he was born, "Hello my tiny little baby." It is funny now because Kael isn't so "tiny" anymore {he is three-quarters Peyton's size}. He saw Kael sleeping the other day and went and rubbed his head and sweetly said, "He looks like the baby Jesus." {or not, he is a little big for that} but it was the sweet thought that counts. I can't wait to see how they grow together! I can't wait to see what great friends they will become!

I love them with ALL my heart. I can't imagine what my life would be like without them.
Some days are hard....but they are so worth it!