happy birthday mom!

April 19th was my mom's 57th birthday!! Unfortunately she and my dad went to Arizona to visit my Aunt Julie and Uncle Jerry for a week so we didn't really get to celebrate it with her!! But here are 57 reasons why we love you:

1. Because You gave birth to me.
2. Because you kept all our baby blankets and outfits that we came home in from the hospital in.
3. Because you didn't put me in time out when I was 1 and told you to, "Shut up, Be quiet" when you asked if I wanted a cracker.
4. Because you would put me and Kari on the counter when you would cook and to this day we both sit on the side counter when we are in the kitchen cooking.
5. Because you and dad took us on lots of trips, bless your hearts.
6. Because you would go and buy us coke if we were sick in the middle of the night.
7. Because when we were scared or sick you made us sleep on the floor next to you and never let us in your bed... smart parenting :)
8. Because you would pay us a couple dollars if we found your cell phone or glasses for you.
9. Because you use to have like 10 Guinea pigs at a time.  
10. Because you took A LOT of home videos when we were little and now we all treasure them!
11. Because you didn't make me go to young womens when they did personal progress when I finished it when I was 14.
12. Because you are the only mom I know of that would tell their child they need to work less when they are in high school... even though I didn't listen :)
13. Because you say that's silly.
14. Because you say, "Well goody goody for them"
15. Because you say, "How rude" all the time from the show full house.
16. Because you would accidentally lock the door before I was home, so when I would come home at 3am I would crawl through the doggy door.
17. Because you let me get married at 18 ;)
18. Because You love us enough to let Hunter and I live with you.
19. Because we go grocery shopping together.
20. Because you love Hunter more than me.. its sad, but true.
21. Because your house is always clean!
22. Because you taught me how to cook.
23. Because some people call you Barbie and you named me Kelli... coincidence?
24. Because you watch t.v. shows with me when hunter is in school.
25. Because you always make sunday dinners... EVERY sunday.
26. Because you support me in everything I've done.
27. Because you support hunter in everything he does.
28. Because you tell me Hunter and I should go on more trips.
29. Because you tell me I need to learn how to spend money.
30. Because you go to Hunter's softball games and cheer for him.
31. Because you give us treat bags for every holiday.
32. Because you and Dad take us out to dinner for our birthdays.
33. Because you give us a variety of gift cards for Christmas!!
34. Because you always sing all the songs during general conference and try and make everyone else sing it too..
35. Because you want me to have a baby... as does everyone else :)
36. Because you always make the best meals ever!!
37. Because you almost always burn rolls.. and its too funny not to laugh about it.
38. Because you gave us your washer and dryer and entertainment center and tv when we got married.
39. Because you invite us to go on trips with you guys all the time.
40. Because you are always trying to help everyone with anything they need.
41. Because you are Grandma Barbara to anyone with little children.
42. Because you are the reason I've wanted a baby since I was 5.
43. Because I learned from the best.
44. Because you buy us random treats and drinks when you leave us and go on vacation.
45. Because you are the best mom ever!
46. Because if I were to repeat any of these twice you probably wouldn't notice :)
47. Because you always talk with me after work and we just talk for hours.
48. Because you leave a list of chores for me and hunter to do sometimes ;)
49. Because you have a strong testimony.
50. Because you always took us to church.. even if the boys weren't dressed you would put their clothes in a bag and make them change in the car in the parking lot.
51. Because when I tell you I love you, you say "I love you more!" But in reality I love YOU most!
52. Because you love Dennis Quaid.
53. Because you'll be the best grandma ever!!
54. Because you might still be reading this list...
55. Because I'm your favorite child!! (just kidding)
56. Because you let me teach you how to use facebook and now you are a pro!!
57. Because its your birthday!!!

Happy Birthday mom!! We love you SOOO much! Thank you for supporting us in everything we do!!

Another new job!

So back in October I wrote this post HERE cause everything seemed to be going wrong. Everything had been going so good and then everything changed. Well the day after I posted that I went to work and at lunch the pulled me into a room and told me I was being laid off. They laid off one other girl and explained it was nothing personal but it was just so slow they couldn't afford to have us all there. They told me if they  had days that were busier and once they got full time busy they would call me back. After that I waited all till Hunter got home from work and school to tell him. It was so hard keeping it from him when we had already had a rough couple days and this just made it 1,000 times worse. It was so hard cause They had already docked my pay to $8 dollars cause they couldn't afford to pay me more so I felt like I wasn't worth anything and wasn't appreciated. I had spent a year and half after Dental assisting school to find a job and finally got one and accepted it and a week later had 3 offers that I turned down cause at the time I was getting 40 hours a week and getting paid well. After turning the other offers down I just wished I could have gone back and accepted one cause it was so perfect. After everyone found out I was laid off we went and spoke with grams and she told me over and over don't worry about it, you will get another chance at that job. You'll get another chance.

So I started at hunter's work again ((hardest thing going from something you love back to a call center)) and began applying for jobs all day long. I was able to get SO many interviews but of course with my luck this... always happens.

I had a couple GREAT interviews at a few different places and they loved me! I even had one that I worked for 4 days as interviewing and they said I would for sure have the job. Only to call me a month later and say they hired someone else. Another interview I had they offered me the job on the spot and told me how much they would pay me, when I would start and different areas of training they would like to do. After leaving I called hunter and told him and he was excited but I told him not to get his or my hopes up cause I've had the same thing happen multiple times. She was suppose to call me Monday to finalized everything but never did. So I called Tuesday and she said she'd call me Friday and never did so I called Monday and she told me she'd call me back but never did. This went on for 2 weeks and I just stopped. I was so frustrated! Why would they tell me how much they'd pay me and train me on and when I started and then never talk to me again?

The day after Grams funeral I saw an add for an office in Lehi that I had interviewed for before and offered the job there but turned it down since I already worked at TMJ Therapy. I immediately applied and a few days later went in for an interview. Luckily they remembered me and told me how much they loved me and were SO glad I came back. They didn't even ask me any interview questions, they just told me to come back the following Monday for a working interview. After the working interview they offered me a job on the spot and said how they just felt like I was meant to be there for some reason. I know for a fact that Grams had something to do with me getting this job. She always told me I'd get another  chance for the job at this office and then they even told me they felt like I was meant to be there for some reason. It was too good to be true!!

I started the job a week and a half later and have been there 4 months now and I absolutely love it!! I love everything about it and am so grateful to have a job that I look forward to going to everyday!

Grams

On December 20th we got a call from Hunter's mom saying that Grams (Hunter's Grandma ) cancer came back and it was spread everywhere; lungs, brain, blood, everything. We were devastated. I had work off until the first of the year and Hunter took a day off so we could spend her last few days with her. We spent everyday from early in the morning till past midnight staying, visiting with family and holding grams hand and speaking with her and we never knew if it would be the last time. The day before Christmas eve we spoke with her for a minute and they brought our nephew carter in and then she fell asleep. After that she didn't wake up and we just waited for 2 days and watched her breath while sitting on the edge of our seats. On December 23rd Hunter and I didn't want to leave but decided to go home and shower and get up early to be at the house early... those plans changed when Hunter's mom called us at 4:30 in the morning on Christmas Eve. Hunter got up and drove to the house to say goodbye one last time and I stayed home and just cried. But its amazing how everyday up until the funeral I've never felt so calm and so at peace about everything. It felt like I was sitting in the celestial room in the temple every day and felt like grams was hugging me all day long. Christmas Eve my parents took us to a movie and out to eat to get our minds off of everything and then the Funeral wasn't Until January 2. (read her obituary HERE)

 

The funeral was amazing. We had the viewing the night before the funeral and it was amazing to see how many lives grams had touched. Especially all the flowers different friends sent her. My favorite was the flowers from BYU which is where she worked for many years. The day of the funeral Hunters dad spoke and told so many great stories I had never heard and Hunter spoke along with his sisters Nicole and Hailey. It was a rough day but I was glad to have it over so we could all heal as a family. I miss Grams more than anything. I am so grateful I was able to get so close with her from the moment that Hunter and I met. We went over there every Monday night and she would cook us dinner or we would take her dinner and we would watch the bachelor. There were a lot of weeks where we went over every single day to help her set up her Ipad and teach her how to play angry birds. She LOVED thai food so we went to thai drift and she loved it. We were always hoping she could go with us one last time. But the last year of her life the most she ate was jello or water. I miss her so much but I can't wait to be with her again one day!!

 I love you grams.

Car Accident

On December 27th, 2012 I was driving to work at 6:15 in the morning to our American Fork office  to meet the Dr. there by 6:45 to drive up to the North Ogden office. I got on the freeway and only the far right lane was covered with a few inches of snow but all the other lanes were fine. I was merging on the freeway and was still in the far right lane trying to merge into another lane so I wasn't forced to get off the exit but there were so many cars going by. I was going about 15 mph... and finally there was an opening so I merged. Without any fishtailing or anything as a warning that simple turn of the steering wheel sent me spinning three times accross all the lanes of the freeway as I was staring at cars coming head on and switching lanes to miss me.. and then a semi coming straight at me. As soon as my car stopped I got in the far right lane and put my flashers on and just started bawling trying to call Hunter to tel him I couldn't drive any more and for him to come and pick me up. He didn't answer his phone so I started driving again going about 25-30mph.. it was snowing :) Hunter finally called me and I told him what had happen and he talked to me for awhile and then we hung up and he told me to call him when I got to work. A few minutes after we hung up my exit was coming up and the car in front of me merged into the right lane to get off the exit and for some reason I felt like I should try and get in front of her but instead didn't want to try cause I didn't want to spin out again so I just followed behind her.. Right after I got behind her she started swerving all over the place and slammed on her brakes and kept sliding all over... Now i'm not one to follow close and am VERY paranoid about being really far away from cars when following them. So I slammed on my brakes and if there wasn't snow I would have been stopped but with all the snow my brakes locked and I just slid straight for 40-50 feet and then her car slid to the left and back to the right and we both did a half spin and were parellel right next to each other blocking 2 lanes. I immediately called Hunter and then a girl from work who then called the Dr. to let him know I would be late if I would be there at all. I thought that the other driver had called 911 but she didn't ..... so Hunter called since I was just bawling and didn't know what to do.. (Don't worry.. I learned my lesson.. call 911 when you get in an accident and are blocking lanes :)) about 5-10 minutes later a highway patrol man came and helped us pull into a gas station and had us both fill out paperwork and write our statements down on what happened. After that we were both able to drive away and go to work.. it was a long hard day and now a month later I am still trying to get my car fixed... it is definitely something I NEVER want to happen again. Having to call multiple insurance companies and wait for them to call me back when the driver of the other car won't answer any calls or return them. But I'll stick it out since it wasn't my fault and it should be covered by her insurance :)

I'm just exremely grateful that neither of us were  hurt and both cars are drivable because it could have been SO much worse!

A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas Day was amazing.... Everything before and after.... Not so much.

On December 20th we got a call from Hunter's mom saying that Grams (Hunter's Grandma ) cancer came back and it was spread everywhere; lungs, brain, blood, everything. We were devastated. She died on December 24th, 2012 at 4:30 ish in the morning. (POST coming soon with more details!)

On Christmas Eve Hunter and I opened our gifts to each other. I gave hunter a shop vac, which he was very excited about and Hunter gave me ALL 8 seasons of House! I was beyond excited :)

 

 

Then We went to Hunter's parents house and just talked and played with our nephew carter and watched 4 christmases. Then we went to Hailey and Austins and slept over and then got up at 7 in the morning and were at Hunter's parents at 8 and ate yummy breakfast casseroles and began opening presents. They spoiled us and gave all the kids a grill!! We are so excited to use it! We also got all the different scrapers and things for the grill and also some candy and some kitchen things for me and some stuff for hunters truck... and my personal favorite... a pregnancy test. haha :) I think the funniest moment was when Hunter's mom was opening her gift from hunter and I and it was a gift card to red robin and I wrapped it in a small box so it was really light. She shook the box and then looked at Hunter and I with tears in her eyes and said, "are you pregnant?"

 

 This is the face of a woman who thought she got duck decoys for Christmas :) Hunter's dad just used the duck decoy box to wrap the present in.

 

We have never laughed so hard in our lives. We have no idea why she thought it was but it was hilarious... and then right after I opened my present and it was a pregnancy test and that just made it even better :)

Then after that we went up to Papa's (Hunter's great grandpa) house and just visited for an hour and then headed up to my parents. When we got to my parents we ate a delicious turkey dinner and then all went down to open presents. Our main present was we got ALL of our home videos on DVD! We were all so excited that we have our own copies and that my mom and dad went through the trouble of getting them converted. We also got candy and a sleeping bag and a few other things.

Then we went back to Papa's house and spent some more time just visiting with family and then headed to Hunter's grandmas house. We just picked at a few casseroles and ham and then all sat down and Hunter's grandpa and grandma both talked for awhile and then we opened presents. All of the great grandkids got pajamas/clothes/games and all the married grandkids got a steamer pot (which works AMAZING!) and then their children got either vacuums or a car battery charger thing. :)

After staying at Hunter's grandparents for a few hours we went back up to my parents house to play games with the family. But right when we got there Brian and Makenzie had already left and Kari said she was going to leave. So I forced my parents and Kyle to play a few rounds of yahtzee and Mexican train with me and then we left to go home and organized all of our presents and then watched a few episodes of House :)

School's out!

Hunter is FINALLY out of school!! It was so much fun having a few weeks, and we went out and celebrated by going out to los hermanos for a nice dinner. It was the first time we've gone out for a nice dinner in over a year (we are penny pinchers) and it was so nice!

 

I made this for Hunter when he was taking his finals :)

 

Hunter has a Los Hermanos shirt so whenever we go he wears it and gets a free specialty drink :) It definitely comes in handy!!

The next night my parents took us to the Traverse Mountain outlets and to Johnny Rockets for dinner! It was sooo delicious!

Those were really the only fun things we did since Hunter's grandma was given a week to live and I was in a car accident and then Hunter was in the hospital for a day.. christmas break wasn't much of a break :)

Thanksgiving

This year on Thanksgiving our plan was to spend it with my family since last year we spent it with Hunter's family... but everything seemed to work out so we could spend time with both!! Hunter's mom's side of the family said they were meeting at 11 for dinner at his grandma's church and my family was meeting at 1 so it was perfect! We headed to the church on Thanksgiving morning and Hunter's Uncle and Cousin were there and we all started setting up.. 1230 comes and still no one is there.. we were kind of expecting it. Everything always starts 1-2 hours after it was really suppose to :) So we headed up to my parents saying Good-bye to everyone that was just arriving. We got to my parents and Everyone was there including my Uncle Kurt and Aunt Lisa and cousins McKay and Eli. We went straight to eating and then after that just visited and played a few different games and then ate yummy pies! Once it was dark we started our drive to go see the Spanish Fork festival of Lights!! (we go EVERY year on thanksgiving :))

 

 

When we got back to my parents house after the lights Kari decided she wanted to go do some black Friday shopping at Walmart!! So me my mom and Kari went and stood in line for about 45 minutes and then at 7:55 they let us go to the movies! Every one was running and pushing and we were just grabbing movies we wanted and would go through them later if we didn't want them. I got a ton of movies and so did Kari, My mom however wasn't as lucky. She stood in line on the side that only had blu-ray movies. She was stuck in the middle of a hundred people and couldn't find her way out and was upset at not being able to get any movies. Luckily Hunter was there and he saw her and she was almost in tears gasping for every breath (we forgot she is REALLY claustrophobic) and hunter was able to get her out. The police officers that were in control of the movies were really rude and were swearing at everyone and saying make room I'm coming through and at one point people were pushing me into the Police officer  and I just kept saying, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry " (I'm not your typical black Friday shopper, I know :) ) and then he just grabbed my shoulders lifted me off the ground and moved me over on the other side. I was grateful cause I was trying to get out.

Overall it was a really fun Thanksgiving break! And I will keep working on taking more pictures!