The Talbots

It's a Christmas Miracle!

2010-12-30T20:04:00.005-07:00

...that we survived! I absolutely LOVE Christmas! I love the family parties, the amazing food and treats, the anticipation of Christmas morning and relaxing in my new pj's all day with my sweet babies and Chad. But I honestly have got to be the worst ever procrastinator when it comes to getting ready for the Holidays. I did not actually start my Christmas shopping til the Monday before the big day (yes- 5 days before Christmas). I really thought I'd have more time to go, but Ava is getting too old to take shopping for her own presents (she remembers EVERYTHING), and Nixon is at the worst stage ever to take shopping. He won't sit in the cart anymore and 20 pounds in one hand and shopping with the other while I push the cart with my stomach is just way too much for me now! And Chad is so busy with work and school, it just came down to the wire this year. But needless to say, we survived another Christmas. Ava thought it would be a really good idea to get really really sick on Christmas Eve. So we were up at 3 a.m. in the bathroom with her. Sad day..her new Christmas jammies did not make it to Christmas morning. She was so sick! Luckily she was still really excited to see that Santa made it to our house and she perked up for the presents. Nixon got sick the next day right on cue, so our break was not as relaxing as it could have been. But we were able to spend time with both of our families. We went to North Ogden for a day to be with my family and then headed down to Orem for a day to be with Chad's. Both homes were perfect and it felt like Christmas. We played games, watched movies, made DELICIOUS fondue, went shooting and went to Tangeled. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Here's to hoping for a Happy New Year!

Going Private.

2010-12-02T15:21:00.002-07:00

Dear anyone out there who enjoys looking at my blog,
Due to some disturbing occurrences and people with absolutely no boundaries, I am going private. I have always been bugged by private blogs, because it's a little annoying to have to log in. But as of late, I UNDERSTAND. :) So sorry for cursing private bloggers in the past - I'm joining your ranks. I would like to invite you to read my blog in the future. I promise to be better at updating, too!! I'll make it worth having to log in to read! Please just go ahead and leave me your email address if you want to be able to read! Thanks!

Jenn

Who I Am

2010-12-01T11:30:00.000-07:00

I am... Jennilyn Hadley Talbot, a wife and a mother of 2 insanely beautiful babies. I think...my husband is sexy. I really do. I want... to be a good mom. I compare myself way too much to other people. I'm trying to learn that I have strengths where others may have weaknesses, but I'm working on that one.. I have... a lot to be thankful for. I feel fortunate to say that "I have" everything I need- an amazing family (brothers and sisters who are truly my best friends in this world), parents who still love me no matter what, and children who think I can do no wrong. My friends have stuck with me for a long time! Good friends are hard to keep, but for some, it just feels more natural to keep apart of my life than to live without. I wish...on stars..still. I really do. I don't know if it's a little childish or immature, but I call it a habit. I may never stop wishing like that. I hate... contention. I will do anything to avoid it. Anything. But sometimes that's hard for me, considering that there are moments when confrontation needs to happen. I'm working on it. I miss...the "worries" that I used to have in high school. Seriously- if all I had to "worry" about now was who was going to ask me to Prom or what I was doing next Friday night, I'd be sleeping much better at night! I wish that my "big" concerns then were all I had to be concerned about now. Now I worry about where to live, making sure both of my kids are cared for and safe 24 hours a day and paying the bills. Life was a little different then. I fear...a lot of things. I am a scaredy cat, for sure. I'm afraid of heights, spiders, snakes, fast cars, losing a loved one, etc. This list could go on and on. I feel...excited for the Holidays and spending so much time with Chad and our families! I love this time of year!!!
I hear...Nixon breathing in his crib next to me and Handy Manny on the TV. I smell... my delicious Scentsy burning from the kitchen. I LOVE the fall/Christmas scents! I search...for acceptance. Mostly every day. I'm hoping I realize I'm not 16 anymore so I can stop doing this. I don't know why I care, I just do. Wish me luck. I wonder... where we'll be in 5 years. The past few years for us has been insane and I literally could not have imagined things going the way they did. So I'm always curious what lies ahead for our little family. I regret...Cutting my hair. I love...Chad. With everything I am, I love Chad. I also love Ava and Nixon more than I know how to say. They are my entire life now. I care...about the weather. I look on KSL.com's weather a few times a day. I am such a nerd. I always...kiss Chad goodnight. I am not...crafty - at all. I wish I was and I'm super jealous of people that are. I do not have the patience for crafts. I was kicked out of girl scouts for never participating in arts and crafts time when I was 8. This is just the way I have been for years, I guess. I believe... The unplanned life is no less a life. I stole that from T but I truly believe it. I dance...in the kitchen for Ava and Nixon. I'm a terrible dancer and Chad makes fun of me, but my kids think I'm hilarious! They laugh really hard when I dance, so I do it often. I sing...all the time. It's embarrassing because I'm not that great, but in college I would make little spontaneous musicals for everything I was doing. I haven't stopped. Ava does the same thing now, too. I don't...like to lose. Ever. I write...lists. I enjoy checking things off my list. I even write down things I have already done, just so I can check them off. I win...at Scrabble EVERY time! :) Hence, Chad will no longer play with me. I lose...my keys in my purse every day. I need to do something about that. I never...drink diet soda. It's Dr. Pepper, or nothing! I listen...to Christmas music year-round. I love it. I can usually be found....at Target. Another weakness. I am scared of...everything- we already covered that. I read:...not as often as I would like to. I am happy about...the furniture RC Willy's just delivered to my house. Thank you Chad!!

Beautiful Moments with my Babies

2010-11-14T17:51:00.007-07:00

No words needed. I love my babies.

Ava 3.5 Nixon 7 mos.

Unseasonably Warm Fall= Happy Jenn

2010-11-07T08:03:00.003-07:00

Fall has always been my ABSOLUTE favorite season! I love the colors, I love that crisp air, the smell, everything. The hard part about an Autumn in Utah is that it usually lasts about 2 weeks. Fortunately for me and my little family, this Fall has been amazing. The awful summer heat is gone and it has been perfect. This has allowed us to be outside every day. While we are new here in Salt Lake, it's been fun to find new parks, go on long walks and visit the zoo. I hear there is a big storm coming tomorrow which makes me want to cry. So here are some pictures of happy Autumn times this year.

A little witch story.

2010-11-06T20:24:00.000-06:00

Once upon a time there were some really cute girls who all lived together in Logan. Yada yada yada.. we still love each other!! Here are some pictures of our little Girls Night Out at Gardner Village where it was Witch's Night. We had such a good time and ate so much that it felt just like college nights all over again! Thanks for the good times, girls!

Testing, testing

2010-11-06T09:29:00.001-06:00

Trying to figure out what is wrong with my blog. So I have been having a hard time with this blog..On my last post the comments were disabled and I have no idea how or how to fix it. So hopefully I'll get this thing fixed so I can post something!! Has this happened to anyone? If so, how did you fix it?

Hello World.

2010-09-23T21:34:00.009-06:00

It's true. I have taken a break from the blogging world. For some reason, I just go through phases of really loving to blog and then really avoiding the computer all together. We have had such a fun summer! Ava is seriously the funniest little girl to hang out with. She is non-stop. And Nixon has been the most perfect baby any mother could wish for. Since it has been so nice, we have not stayed inside much. We have been so busy the past few months, it's been hard to really keep this blog updated! So finally, after several comments from friends and relatives, I am giving in and posting some pictures and details. Ava is now 3 1/2 and weighs 31 lbs. Ava is just my little helper. I love her! She is already Nixon's second mom. Like today, while I was in the shower Ava was "watching" Nixon for me and decided to help him out by reading a book to him. When I got out Nix had eaten almost an entire page out of the book. Ava was so proud of herself for helping and thought it was hilarious that Nix liked to eat paper. Nixon is just about 6 months and weighs just over 18 lbs...He is just solid! Nixon got his first tooth 2 weeks ago and he started crawling last week. He is growing up SO fast. Am I the only mom who cried when their baby got his first tooth? It is just going way too fast and I want to push the pause button on him.
Chad is currently working in Salt Lake at MindShare Technologies as a Business Consultant. He absolutely loves it and is doing a really incredible job there. He is also doing his MBA at the U of U which keeps him SO busy. We are moving to Salt Lake tomorrow to be a lot closer to him and eliminate his commute and 11:30 p.m. drive home. I'm just doing the same stuff. I've really loved living here in North Ogden. I have some really really good friends here and I love living just down the street from my family, so this move is totally bitter-sweet. But it will be a really good thing to finally settle down somewhere, so I'm really excited for that aspect of this change. Anyway, blah blah blah - here are some pictures!

The Most Kissable Cheeks EVER

2010-06-16T16:41:00.008-06:00

Chubby little boy. I LOVE him...

While I was reading the other night I was just holding Nixon. He quietly sat there and folded his hands while I read. What a reverent little boy! It was so cute!

He always covers his eyes while he eats...so cute

I haven't had the internet for a few weeks now, so my posts have been few and far between. Also, it's just so hard to put this little guy down and get on the computer because he is SO much fun! Seriously- I LOVE this baby boy. Nixon is absolutely a dream baby. Having this baby has changed me in a lot of ways. I don't really know how to describe it, but it feels like I already know Nixon. I look at him and I feel like he has always been with us. He is a tender mercy for me every day. I have never felt so lucky and blessed. There is just something about him. He is the happiest little boy. He talks all the time with this huge smile like he just can't wait to tell us all where he came from and how he is right where he was always meant to be. As his mom, I understand all of this, of course! :) I know I should be blogging about something else other than just how in love I am with my kids, but this is literally all I think about lately. I feel a little out of touch with everything else, but it's all worth it. How can you not love this baby boy?

Look Who Turned 3!

2010-06-03T08:26:00.005-06:00

Ava turned 3 years old last week. This little girl is my very favorite. She has been nothing but sunshine in our family and I have loved every minute of the past three years. Here are a few of my favorite things about Ava:
-Ava is HILARIOUS! If you have had the chance to hang out with this girl, no explanation is necessary. She loves jokes and telling silly secrets and she laughs at EVERYTHING. I love how entertaining Ava has always been. She makes us laugh.
-She is very polite! Ava is always using her manners, which makes it hard to say no to her..
-She loves to sing. Her favorite song right now is I Dreamed a Dream from Les Mis. (she knows all the words) Ava loves watching Glee with me.
-Ava is the best big sister. She is very patient with Nixon and is always so excited to help me change diapers and put in his bink. She is always holding Nixon's hand and kissing him and making sure he is happy.
-She is well-rounded. She is such a girl when it comes to putting on make up, shoe shopping, painting her nails, princess dress up, etc. But Ava LOVES to watch football with Daddy, kick a ball with the best of them, get dirty in the sandbox, play catch with Daddy, and go fishing. I can only hope she keeps this balance throughout her life!
-Ava is a cuddle bear! She loves hugs and loves to be snuggled. I hope she doesn't grow out of this one too soon..I love it!
-Ava loves to go camping, fishing and being in the mountains. She already has an appreciation for nature.
-Ava LOVES Target! Just like her mamma...We could both spend all day at that store..
-Ava is smart. She has always been pretty advanced in her talking and her capability to learn has always amazed me and Chad. She never forgets! Anything! She has a very impressive memory and she retains information like crazy.
-She loves Jesus and going to church and nursery! Ava's prayers are so sweet and sincere. She talks about Jesus a lot and loves singing Primary songs.
I could go on and on about how much I love my little girl. She has made me so happy and has been my little BFF for the past 3 years. I feel truly feel honored to be Ava's mom. What a blessing she is in my life. Ava I love you!
Here are some pictures of her little birthday party with her cousins:

This is what Heaven feels like:

2010-05-13T22:40:00.009-06:00

I cannot even begin to describe how in love I am with this little family of mine. The last 6 weeks have been amazing. Nix is amazing. He is a such a sweet baby and I literally can't get enough of him. Ava loves him and she is such a good helper. The best part of my day comes when Nix is asleep on my chest and Ava comes and snuggles us and we all take a nap together. I have never felt more content than when I am holding both of my babies. Here is a little glimpse of heaven in our home:

Our Nixon is Here

2010-04-05T13:22:00.007-06:00

Nixon Chad Talbot is finally home! He was born on March 30 at 7:08 p.m. weighing 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 inches long. I was in labor for 12 hours, but only had to push for 8 minutes so everything went well. I'll give more details in a later post, but I just wanted to put some pictures up. He is a really amazing baby! He sleeps great, eats great and is so calm. He has brought such an incredible spirit with him in our home. We feel so blessed and grateful Nixon picked us. Ava loves having a baby around and is such a good helper. We are all getting adjusted to new schedules and routines, but we are happy and healthy and tired. But it's the kind of exhaustion that feels rewarding and peaceful. Here is our baby boy:

Just waiting to dilate..

Four Days

2010-03-26T19:45:00.004-06:00

In four days I get to hold my baby and give him tiny kisses.
In four days I will be a little nervous for labor and delivery.
In four days I will not have heartburn or be consuming Tums by the bottle.
In four days Ava gets to meet her little brother and hold his baby hands.
In four days Chad will finally have his little BYU friend who he will take to all the games while Ava and I go shopping.
In four days I will be able to sleep in whatever position I want to.
In four days I will be able to actually sit up to get out of bed instead of rolling out of bed.
In four days I will not have to go to the bathroom every ten minutes.
In four days I will be a little intimidated and overwhelmed with all of the new worries an infant brings with him.
In four days my rib and back pain will be gone.
In four days I will feel a sense of accomplishment over the past year.
But most importantly, in four days my baby boy will be here- making everything in the world seem right and having a family that I know is a forever family.

Hurry home Baby Boy.

Passing the time...

2010-03-23T19:11:00.003-06:00

Every morning I wake up wondering if today will be the day I get to meet my little baby boy. My water broke with Ava just before 39 weeks, so I'm constantly waiting for my water to break wherever I go. I know that that's ridiculous, but being so close to the end, it's all I think about. Ava and I spend our days working on our checklists that I make daily just to pretty much pass the time. (And who doesn't like checklists..especially mine which entail showering, making my bed, brushing my teeth, etc. - simple every-day things that I put on the list just because I like to check them off.. In fact, some days I put things on my checklist that I've already done, just because I like to mark it off) Anyway, on my checklist the other day was to paint my toe nails. Ava and I usually paint our nails about once a week. This little mommy/daughter tradition has been getting more difficult each week with my inability to reach my feet. So this week we included Chad. He was such a good sport. I just love him. He did a really good job and it makes me smile to see him do things just to make me happy. Thanks love!

Awful Winter

2010-03-23T18:43:00.000-06:00

Ava has been sick -literally- all winter. For some reason, she would get over one bug just to get something else. This last week was so sad. She lost a lot of weight from throwing up so much. It was heartbreaking to watch. One night Chad and I were lying in bed watching a show with Ava around 7:30 and Ava got out of bed and walked into her room. She brought in her pillow and some blankets, put them at the foot of our bed and tucked herself in. She was asleep within 60 seconds. She was so tired. This is how you know you have a sick little girl. It was so sad. She likes to sleep in her own bed so for her to come bring her bed to our room, tuck herself in and fall asleep so fast, we knew she was not feeling well. She slept in the next morning til 9:30. All I have to say is that I am SO sick of winter and Ava being sick constantly. I hope since it's feeling more Spring-like outside, things are going to calm down with us taking Ava to insta-care with 104 degree fevers that last for a week. Keep your fingers crossed.

Blessed

2010-03-11T08:57:00.004-07:00

So let me just take a minute and tell you how much reality has set in over the last 24 hours. I went to the doctor yesterday and I am dilated to a 1 and we scheduled to be induced March 30th if he doesn't come sooner. I have made my list of things to get done before he gets here. I have been reviewing my books on labor and delivery. His room is almost ready. His clothes are washed and put away. And physically, I am exhausted and so done being pregnant. It's so funny how I've been so wrapped up in checking things off my to-do list that the reality of having another baby has gotten lost in the chaos. It has been almost overwhelming to stop and think about the magnitude of having a baby - the responsibility of the Lord's trust to raise His son the way He would want me to. Chad and I feel so incredibly blessed to be given a baby and know it is not something to be taken lightly. Nothing in my entire life has made me as happy as I have been with being a mom to Ava. I can't even imagine how much joy another baby will bring into our home. I feel so lucky and truly happy.

The Treehouse

2010-03-08T14:36:00.003-07:00

The other day Corinne and I decided to go to the Treehouse since we'd never been before. The regular admission prices are reasonable, but if you wait to go until after 4:00, it's only $3 for children and $1 for adults. For $4 for both of us, this was well worth the trip! I loved not having to worry about her breaking anything or making a mess because it was made for kids and it was ok if they made a mess. I loved it. One of my favorite features was in the bathroom- they had a little sink and a little toilet, just Ava's size. It was brilliant! I loved it all. Needless to say, we will be returning soon. P.S.- note that Ava is in her pajamas. She is still in that phase where she won't wear clothes. How long does this phase last??

St. George with my Honey

2010-03-08T12:49:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago Chad and I decided we should take a little weekend getaway to St. George before our little baby boy arrives. (In 21 days, but who's counting...?) It was so much fun to just be with Chad for the entire weekend without any distractions. Our room was so nice! It was huge- I should have taken more pictures. We had a lot planned, but it ended up raining the entire time. So we did a little shopping, a lot of eating, and a lot of relaxing. Our friends Leslie and Morgan live in St. George, so we went to lunch with them, did some pedicures (the girls) and the boys watched some basketball. We tried this restaurant called Haven that was FABULOUS!!! Oh my- it was so good I was practically licking my plate clean. For dessert we ordered fried oreos with a chocolate shake. Wow. Seriously- wow. I would recommend Haven to anyone visiting the St. George area! When it came time to go home, there was this massive blizzard the whole way home. We had to pull over in Beaver and wait for it to clear up a bit. I was hoping winter was over after a mild-weathered weekend in St. George. Rain or shine, I had a blast with my hubby. He is so cute and I love falling in love with him all over again.

35 Weeks Pregnant

2010-02-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Here is just a picture of me 35 weeks along with baby boy. I have not been very good at taking regular pregnancy pictures, but here is the latest-

Laundry

2010-02-11T10:49:00.004-07:00

Ava LOVES to help me with the laundry. She likes to put the clothes into the washer, pour in the fabric softener and the detergent and even clean the trap. It doesn't stop there- she loves to help me fold and put away the laundry, too. It's so cute. Ava was putting one of my shirts in my closet and I noticed she'd been in there for a while. So when I went to check on her, she told me she was just doing all the laundry for me. She was taking off every single one of my shirts and putting them in a pile on the floor and then organizing the hangers in my closet. I thought this was cute the first time...but it has now become Ava's favorite hobby around the house. Every time I'm not sure where Ava went, I go straight to my closet to see her "helping me" with the laundry.

This is how she leaves my closet:

Note: Being huge and pregnant does not make for an easy clean-up.

One of those days..

2010-01-27T09:55:00.003-07:00

So it's just one of those days I feel like a terrible mother. I have been sick and have this extreme fatigue thing going on and it's really hampering my mothering skills. We started out our day with Dora and the Snow Princess, then onto Backyardigans, then Diego and now Dora again.. Ava has eaten all of her meals on the couch or on my bed in front of cartoons so I can lay down while she eats. This has been going on for 3 days now. Ava is all too excited she has had so many cartoons, but I'm feeling guilty. Here's to hoping tomorrow will be a better day.

Ava's New Hair (just more pictures)

2010-01-18T16:00:00.006-07:00

Ava wanted me to take her picture (for some reason, she doesn't want to wear clothes today...). She told me she wants to make funny faces and take pictures of her new hair cut. So I did...All I can say is she is truly Chad's daughter.

Ava's First Hair Cut!

2010-01-16T18:22:00.005-07:00

Ava has had really really long hair and I've loved it. The only problem has been, she hates having bows or elastics or clips in her hair. So I will do her hair in the morning and it will look adorable. Then without fail, Ava will rip everything out of her hair, leaving her looking like an orphan. So my friend Stacy cut her hair this morning. I LOVE it! I can't believe it took me so long to do it.

Before her hair cut

One Busy Boy...

2010-01-13T10:28:00.003-07:00

So my husband might just be the hardest worker I know. Yesterday was our 4 year anniversary. Because of Chad's new job, he had to work on New Year's Eve (until 1 a.m.), our anniversary and he will also have to work on Valentine's Day...I'm not complaining. Chad just works really hard. On top of that, he has been studying every single spare second for the GMAT test he will be taking tomorrow so he can apply to some MBA programs by this Friday. Along with studying, he has his applications to do- essays, statements of intent, letters of recommendation, etc. Needless to say, he has been a trooper. Chad is one of those guys that can just handle anything and everything. At a time like this, I am very grateful for his dedication and motivation. He just takes everything in stride. I love him for this! I would be a basket-case. Literally... So honey I love you. Thanks for the funnest and craziest 4 years I have ever had! I can't believe how much I love you and how lucky I am to have found you.

Sugar Cookies with My Sugar

2010-01-13T10:20:00.003-07:00

My Ava might be the most meticulous cookie decorator I've ever met. She spendt so much time putting the "sparkles" (as she calls them) on her cookies. She would pick up one sprinkle and place it on the cookie- one at a time! Then she would take a break and eat one. Ava literally decorated 2 cookies in the amount of time I frosted and decorated the rest of the batch AND cleaned up the mess. I love her. As you can see, she was pleased with the outcome of her carefully decorated cookies.

26 Weeks Pregnant!

2010-01-01T14:19:00.000-07:00

Snow Day

2009-12-30T14:45:00.006-07:00

For Christmas, Ava finally got snow clothes! This is the first time she's had any..I'm pretty sure that makes me a terrible mom.. So when it snowed today, Chad came home for lunch to take his little girl out for her first snow day. She was so excited! She cried when she had to come in because she was just getting the hang of how to make a snow ball. It was really cute to see her try to maneuver in the million layers I put on her. It was worth it. I already promised her we could go out later today...she's my little snow bunny.

Ava fell over and couldn't figure out how to stand back up...so funny!

Christmas '09

2009-12-30T14:30:00.004-07:00

Christmas was amazing this year! We went to the Talbot's house in Orem for a few days to spend the holidays with Chad's family. Jake and Amanda were there. Chad's brother Brett and his wife Marnie were able to fly in from Texas. And as some of you know, Wes (Chad's little brother) is temporarily home from his mission for back surgery. So it was no small feat that the whole Talbot family was together this year for Christmas. We thought Chad would end up having to work on Christmas day, but we got really lucky and he had the whole weekend off. What a fun time. We spent a lot of time with cousins and grandparents and aunts and uncles. We also got together with the Birrells and played a lot of fun games. Pretty sure it's been a while since I've laughed that hard. It was so much fun!
Ava was of course spoiled. Her favorite present she opened Christmas morning was this little guitar. She wears it non-stop and she really loves playing the guitar with Chad. I surprised Chad with a new guitar for Christmas, so he and Ava rocked out all weekend. The most incredible thing is, she actually plays it the right way. Her form is excellent. She has the whole hand-coordination thing right AND she plays in the "power stance" that her daddy and uncles taught her. So cute. So here are some pictures of that. It felt good to be back in Orem. We're kind of in a weird transition where we aren't quite adjusted to Ogden yet, but Orem really isn't home anymore, either. So we're just trying to feel like SOMEWHERE is home... But it was a really great Christmas. I got a sewing machine because I am going to attempt to make my baby's bedding. Wish me luck (if any of you have done that and have cute patterns or advice, please let me know!!). I really hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-01T14:08:00.005-07:00

So the reason that I have been so lame at keeping on top of blogging is that we recently moved to Ogden. It happened really fast and was way unexpected. Chad is considered self-employed being a financial advisor...which means that we have private insurance...which as most of you know is ridiculously expensive. Our monthly premiums and deductible have been so crazy, but we were just dealing with it. So then Chad was offered this job in Ogden where he can still do his financial planning and work for this company that offers full benefits from day 1. So this has been a HUGE blessing for our family! We have been really happy with everything. It just happened so fast, that we're just barely feeling settled. We found out on a Friday that Chad got the job and we moved on Saturday. We feel really lucky to end up where we did and how everything is coming together. I have loved being close to my family. Ava loves it up here with all of her cousins so close, too. So that's the deal- we live in Ogden right by the mouth of the Canyon. Our view is beautiful, our ceilings are vaulted, and my parents are 10 minutes away. I have no complaints. All of our furniture isn't here yet, so I'm going to hold off on pics of the inside until my house is put together.. So here is how it looks from the outside. I am really really really going to miss my family and friends and young women in Orem. A lot... We were down there for 4 years, so it's a huge change not to be right there by them. I loved our ward and being close to Chad's family. I will miss it a lot. We are just going to focus on starting here in Ogden and getting ready for our baby boy!

Update!!

2009-12-01T13:29:00.006-07:00

Ok so here is a much over-due post for Halloween and my birthday and So You Think You Can Dance. Seriously- I'm such a slacker on this blogging thing... But here it goes anyway- My birthday was in October and I turned the big 2-6. It sounds really old. 25 sounded ok, but for some reason, 26 just sounds really close to 30 (which apparently scares me!) And being pregnant and sick, all I wanted for my birthday was a cute and comfy velour suit and FOOD! Lots and lots of good food. So my cute husband took me to the Melting Pot. Oh my word...It was so good. I absolutely love amazing food. The fondue there is amazing and it was everything I wanted and more. Chad also surprised me with these beautiful flowers.

Ava was the most beautiful Cinderella I have ever seen. She wore this costume night and day for weeks. She acted like such a little princess in it, we couldn't help but just humor her and let her wear this dress whenever she wanted. Ava was a little sick over Halloween, so we didn't do much trick-or-treating. We just took her to trunk-or-treat and called it good. She loved all the candy, but was really shy about asking for it. It was fun to finally have a toddler that understood what she was doing on Halloween. She loved it! After taking Ava out for a bit, Chad and I went to Amanda's Halloween Party. We had so much fun. Amanda is SO cute and creative. She went all out and had the cutest treats and drinks. Way to go Amanda!

A few weeks ago, SYTYCD came and toured in Salt Lake. We had awesome tickets on the 3rd row. We also had backstage passes. The dancing was incredible. It's fun to watch on TV, but it was amazing to see it in person. Seriously- amazing! This is really embarrassing to admit, but I'm pregnant so I don't really care, but there were a few dances that seriously made me emotional. They were so fun to watch. But then when it was time to go back stage and meet the dancers, I felt like a 12 year old girl...because that was the majority of the people there screaming and yelling to meet the dancers...That too was a little embarrassing, but it was still fun! Bless Chad's heart...he totally just let me be an idiot and have fun with it and came with me. He is so sweet to just humor me the way he does. (I'm having technical difficulties getting these pics up, so I'll post them as soon as I figure it out!)

Dear Baby Boy:

2009-10-18T20:30:00.004-06:00

My Dear Sweet Baby Boy:

I love you so much, but I'm becoming quite certain that you might be the death of me... You see honey, I'm 16 weeks pregnant with you and I'm still throwing up. Not only am I still throwing up, but you're also making my emotions a little unstable and unpredictable. So your father is beginning to think I'm an emotional basketcase. If you have anything at all to do with any of my crazy hormone levels, will you please give me a little break?! I am so happy you're in my life now and I absolutely love feeling your little kicks and flutters. But your father might start looking into institutions to check me into if things don't start easing up soon... So just keep growing healthy and strong so you can come see me and I can hold you.
I love you always and forever,
Mommy

Home-Made Sushi

2009-10-10T20:40:00.004-06:00

If you have met Chad and the topic of food has ever come up, then you know that he LOVES sushi. We are currently in the middle of a very fun "challenge" we are having with Jake and Amanda. We are all Food Network fanatics and thought we'd get a little creative with our cooking. Each of us will be taking a night and making a completely new meal we've never made and serve the rest of us. Amanda started things out with an awesome meal with these delicious sweet potato fries and black bean burgers. Chad was next. And if you let my husband get a little creative, he'll go nuts. He stinking made sushi. I'm not a sushi-eater myself, but he loved it. It was well-received and Chad did a really great job. I was way impressed he pulled it off. He was also very proud of himself, so we took some pictures to brag. One of the rolls is a Teriyaki chicken roll with avocado and cream cheese. His other roll was crab, avocado, cucumber and cream cheese. They were topped with unagi sauce (whatever that is). Anyway, my turn is next so it's going to be hard to top how gourmet his meal was.

Park City with the Talbots

2009-10-10T20:33:00.006-06:00

A few weeks ago we all went up to Park City for the weekend. We went with Chad's parents and Chad's sister Amanda and her husband Jake. It was so much fun. We went to the Olympic Park, hit the outlet malls, ate lots of yummy food, and watched a great BYU football game. We went to this show at the Olympic Park and watched this awesome show with skiers jumping off these insane jumps into the water. AMAZING! It was really relaxing and we had such a fun time. I love Park City, and I'm pretty sure I could live there one day. It's perfect for me...unfortunately, it's way expensive. So for now, we'll just enjoy a weekend up there every so often.

Potty Training...

2009-10-10T20:26:00.003-06:00

With another baby on the way, we're really trying to get serious about potty training Ava. But with me being so sick still and Chad gone a lot, it hasn't been a huge success, to say the least. But we're trying. So here is just a little moment caught on camera to show how funny our Ava is. When she is sitting on the potty, much like her father, she enjoys reading material or something to entertain her. I'm just going to let the picture do all the talking on this one.

More Love on the Way!

2009-10-02T20:20:00.002-06:00

So all of Chad's dreams are coming true. He is actually breeding Cougar fans. And luckily, there is another fan on the way!!! We are having another baby that will be here April 6th. We couldn't be more excited and can't wait to meet him/her. I'm only 13 weeks, so it's not much, but every day gets us a little closer to meeting our new baby. We've had a few little problems getting to this point, so we're very grateful for this baby. A few months ago I had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. After a very emotional recovery, we really felt like we wanted to continue to grow our little family. It was a little set-back, but we are so happy to have a healthy pregnancy so far. I have been VERY sick...and it doesn't really seem to be letting up yet. Much thanks to Zofran and a very patient husband, we are getting along just fine. Ava is also very excited to have a baby coming. She often talks to my belly and gives her opinions on our name choices. We couldn't be more excited.

Here's for all you single wives

2009-09-08T17:20:00.003-06:00

I know - the term "single wife" makes absolutely no sense...right? Well, for some of us wives, we have come to understand this term very well once football season starts. That's right- to all of us girls who suddenly wonder if you've turned invisible, uninteresting, and less than entertaining, this is for you. I know that my husband tends to be a little extreme with his football passion, but I know there are a lot of us out there who wonder why we are no longer as appealing to our spouses once college football starts. I'm advising you not to take it personally. This is just a side effect of men's one-track minds. Yes- ONE-track mind. Meaning men are completely incapable of giving you all of their time and attention when they are so focused on football (or anything else for that matter). Now in my house, BYU is definitely the team of choice. Chad idolizes them and would secretly give his left arm just to hang out with Bronco Mendenhall or Max Hall (or any other player for that matter) for just one day. He has dreams about playing on their team. Like real dreams- wakes up in the morning and tells me all about how Bronco put him in during the 4th quarter to save the Cougs. Seriously- this is all true. But with my husbands love for the Cougars, he is also obsessed with whoever plays in the same conference so he can eye up his competition. He also watches the teams that are going to play the teams that are going to play the Cougars. Does that make sense? So they don't even have to be playing the Cougars, he just likes to know EVERYTHING about EVERY team. It gets exhausting to try to follow. So here's what I do and I advise you all to do the same- milk it! Milk it for all you can. Let me tell you, it's hard being a wife who suddenly takes a back seat to football, but there is something that we can do to keep ourselves in the game. While Chad is way enthralled in a game, I ask for a back rub, foot rub or he has to play with my hair. Let's face it, he's not going anywhere for a few hours so he can spare the time. Other times I use this time to my shopping advantage. He gets to indulge for 3 plus hours watching a game, I get to indulge in a little retail therapy of my own. It also goes without saying that he gets to spend some quality daddy daughter time with Ava while I enjoy a relaxing shopping trip to the mall. Love it. So while I'm slowly adjusting to being a single wife, it's got its perks. I'd love some input on how you other single wives deal with football season too. We can build a little support group. For all of you wives that don't have this issue, maybe a little advice on what it is you're doing to keep your husband year-round! :) For the record, I absolutely love Chad. I wouldn't change anything about him. He is perfect for me in every way. Go Cougars!

BEAR LAKE!

2009-08-29T09:13:00.008-06:00

Every summer my whole family -minus the ones living out of state :( - goes to Bear Lake. We stay in this huge cabin right on the beach. It is one of my favorite things. I look forward to it every year. There are 4-wheelers, jet skis, beach golf, football, beach toys, delicious food, and even better company. For those of you who have not met my family, they are hilarious. Hilarious and very competitive. We turn everything into a competition. In my family there are trophies for rummy and golf. It's almost ridiculous, but hey, that's my family. We set up a golf course on the beach every year and TYLER (sorry- correction) usually wins... This year my dad took home the golf trophy, but we left Bear Lake as me being the reigning champ of rummy. That is a high honor at the Hadley's! I was so excited! We just have a blast together. So much laughing, so many new jokes, it's just my favorite! So here are some pictures of us enjoying a little family time together in Bear Lake last week.

Just a few more things...

2009-08-29T08:50:00.005-06:00

So I know that my blog entries have been few and far between. So this post is just a filler of all of the little things I haven't really been adding. Our little family has been doing great. Life is still keeping us so busy. Ava is just as sweet as ever. Here are my new favorite things she is saying now- "Mamma you so pretty!" (You'd think I pay my kid to give me compliments, but she just says it on her own. It is so cute. It also means she has an amazing Dad who teaches her ways to be sweet to Mommy) Whenever I get home from work, the grocery store, or even just the bathroom, Ava will run up to me and say "I miss you Mommy!" I love it. It is enough to make any mother's heart smile. She is also speaking in full sentences now. It's so cute. She loves to say, "Look at me, Mommy" and "What happened?" I think the funniest is when she sees me and Chad kissing, she'll say "Whatchya doing?" She's even started asking "Why?" over and over and over again...I didn't think that started so early. So I guess the point I'm trying to make is that she talks NON-STOP and I love every little word that comes out of her mouth. I'm relieved that Fall is coming because it is my FAVORITE season and it's been a really hot summer. But we have had a blast this summer! Here are a few pictures of what we've been up to- camping with our favorites Kevin and Corinne, hiking, and more zoo.

July 2009!

2009-08-01T16:25:00.005-06:00

This month has been crazy. My friends keep politely reminding me that I am such a slacker on my blog...Sorry girls! But here is a little overview of this past month. It has flown by and I can't even believe that it's already August. July began with a little road trip to St. George. My sister Jill who lives in Vegas drove up and met us there. My mom and dad drove and Chad and Ava and I hitched a ride with them. Jill and my mom and I went to the temple and did a session together while the boys took the kids swimming at the hotel. (Thanks Leslie!!) We took the kids swimming and had a blast down there. Tylee and Ava are best friends. They held hands everywhere they went and they cried whenever they weren't together. It was so good to see Jill and her kids. The rest of the month was full of another trip to the zoo, more baseball games, swimming and lots of walks to the park, BBQ's at Becky's and movies and shopping. Jill came up again last week and it was fun to have her here again. Then this past week I was able to go to Girls Camp!!! I'm in the YW presidency in our ward and our girls are amazing. I loved every minute of it! But by the end of the week I was so ready to come home and take a shower. Bless the girls for hanging out with me when I looked like I did... I love them all!

Summertime at the Talbots

2009-07-02T18:21:00.003-06:00

Summertime means barbecues, baseball games, swimming and late nights visiting on the porch with family. Our sweet Ava is loving the summer. She is already more tan than I am. She is dressing herself everyday (mostly in dresses...). She usually doesn't match, but we love her all the same. We just embrace her own little sense of fashion. Here are some cute pictures of a rainy summer here at our house. Note- Ava really does pick out her own clothes- literally!

FLORIDA!!

2009-07-02T17:29:00.004-06:00

Chad and I had one crazy month this June! Every week was just PACKED with so much going on. We LOVE the summer time and are definitely taking advantage of this warm weather. Along with swimming, hiking and playing at the park, Chad and I were able to take a little vacation to Orlando. Chad's really good friend Matt was married in Florida a few weeks ago, so we went to support Matt and Mallary. Of course, the perks of going to Florida were well worth the trip! We had a BLAST! It was an amazing getaway for me and Chad. We started in Orlando and went up the coast. We stopped in Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville. Chad and I traveled pretty chill. We just took it a day at a time and booked our hotels along the way wherever we wanted to stop for a night. Most of our hotels were right on the beach, so we lucked out! We were so happy with everywhere we ended up. We were feeling pretty spontaneous and crazy by our lack of planning but we loved every minute of it.It just added to the excitement! There was plenty of night swimming (the hotel pools were all open 24 hours a day) and amazing sunsets.Florida is beautiful. It was so green and the trees were so dense. We loved it there. Along with all of the beaches and relaxing, the wedding was beautiful and the reception was so much fun! It went way too fast. But we went without Ava, so it was very nice to come home to our baby. We missed her so much! We are grateful for Lisa (Chad's mom) who took really good care of her while we were gone. So here are some pics of our little trip.

A Blog-Worthy Note

2009-06-17T17:44:00.002-06:00

So Ava, being a brand new 2 year old, has to grow out of the baby stage. I think that this was a harder thing for me than for Ava, but we have finally weened her off of her binky. This was a very hard task for me. It was almost hard for me to admit that she isn't a baby anymore. I love that she is growing up and I'm embracing her toddler stage, but she is such a big girl now. I'm learning at a very early age that our babies grow up faster than I'm able to keep up with. I just love her and I'm very proud that she has now been without her binky for one week! Way to go Ava!

Ava Turns Two

2009-06-03T19:46:00.005-06:00

So our little girl turned 2 last week. Wow. Seriously- Two years old?!? We can't believe our little baby is so big now. Here are just a few of her accomplishments she has mastered by age 2 and her favorite things:

*She can say a full prayer all by herself
*She can sing several songs (word for word!!) Her favorites are "I love to see the temple" "Twinkle twinkle little star" "ABC's" every single song from Enchanted, etc.
*She can count to 14 all by herself
*Her favorite food is Macaroni and Cheese (preferably Spongebob shaped)
*Her favorite show to watch is Dora the Explorer
*She loves to hug and kiss
*She LOVES animals
*She loves swimming and being outside
*Her mommy and daddy are wrapped around her finger

For her birthday we went to the zoo and had a little pool party with a few of her friends. Here are some pictures!
Happy Birthday Ava. We love you more than you'll ever know. You make our hearts so happy and we'd be lost without you.

Tulips!

2009-05-01T21:58:00.005-06:00

Jake and Amanda invited us to go with them to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point with them today. I've never been, but I have always wanted to go. Since I've been down here for a good three and half years now, I decided it was time to go check it out. It was well worth the trip. The landscaping and the flowers were amazing! It was so much fun to just go walk around and enjoy the amazing scenery. Ava of course loved being outside and smelling all of the flowers. My favorite part was this "secret garden" area that was so much fun. You had to go through a vine tunnel and through this rustic door into a little secluded garden area. I loved it! The only down-side to the secret garden was that there was a beautiful fountain right in the middle. Ava assumed it was a bath tub and started stripping down begging to get in the tubby....She had her shoes kicked off and her jacket off before Chad and I even realized what she was doing. There was a small scene trying to get her dressed again and out of the secret garden, but it was fun anyway. Here are a few pictures of our little day out!
P.S. Notice Ava's Dora shoes. You will probably not see another picture of her without them. She will not take them off. They are part of the family. When she was looking at these pictures, she pointed out Daddy, Mommy, Ava, Dora and Boots....one happy family. All 5 of us!

Triathlons, Dora and the Croup

2009-04-21T22:54:00.007-06:00

Ok so with this post I'm not even sure where to start. The past week and a half have been completely consumed at our house with a sick little girl, training for a triathlon, and accepting Dora the Explorer into our home. As you can see from the picture posted, Chad competed in his first triathlon!!! I was so proud of him. My dad kind of roped him into doing the Orem City Tri with him so he wouldn't have to do it alone. Chad is pretty athletic, so he rose to the occasion. Although he is naturally active, he has not really worked out or exercised much in the past few years. Needless to say, he had a lot of catching up to do. He was such a trooper. Chad would go running or biking every morning and then go to the gym every night to swim. He did awesome! For having started training just a few weeks before the triathlon even took place, he came in 15th out of 28 in his age group and 107th out of over 300 over all. I was just impressed he finished at all. And not only that, but he beat my dad and his dad (who also decided to join in the exercise fun)! So I'm happy and excited for Chad to get into this. Not only is it a super healthy thing for him to be doing, but he absolutely loved doing it. He's already looking forward to his next tri in June! p.s. I take awful action photos. Sorry Chad!

Ava has had croup for almost two weeks. It has truly been an awful 10 days. I don't mean to complain or sound negative, but I just can't sugar-coat this one. It's been terrible. Ava didn't sleep at all, which means Chad and I didn't sleep at all. Her fever was seldom below 103 degrees and on top of all that, she has been very very fussy. I don't blame her- I know it's not her fault, but it gets very hard to handle for that long. On top of everything, with Chad's busy work schedule and training, we didn't see much of him last week which was hard for me to help Ava by myself. I think I get a little needy when I worry about Ava so much. Anyway, I'm HAPPY to report that she is doing much better. After a few doctor visits and a shot in the back side, Ava is doing well.

My last note really quick is that I completely caved this week. I'm not sure if it was the lack of sleep or I just felt bad for Ava, but she loves Dora the Explorer. LOVES her. I don't really mind her on TV, but I vowed I would never be one of those moms who dressed their kids in SpongeBob or Minnie Mouse or Winnie the Pooh. (No offense to you moms that do, I get it now! And I'm sorry!) I have just always felt that it totally and completely lacks any sense of style or fashion. Needless to say, I get it now. Ava found these pink and purple croc-style shoes with Dora and Boots on top of them. She saw them at Target and wouldn't let them go. She took off her own shoes and put on the Dora shoes. I couldn't get them away from her. So I did what any exhausted, worn out, tired and loving mother would do- I bought her the Dora shoes (which were on clearance for $4). She wears them everywhere- church, around the house and even to bed. I'm just glad it makes her happy!

My 57 Year Old Father

2009-03-31T21:39:00.006-06:00

My dad turned 57 years old in January. For those of you who know him, no preface is needed. But for those of you who don't, my dad is amazing. I know that because he is my father I put him on a pedastool (which Chad, bless his heart, is always trying to measure up to). In my eyes my dad can do no wrong. In fact, I've honestly never met a person that didn't like my dad. I'm not just trying to make him sound good, he just is. I could go on and on about him because enough can't be said to display the kind of man he is. But this post is dedicated to my dad who is always looking for the next challenge to take on. About a year ago Dad started training for triathlons. He's always been an amazing athlete, but with time has lessened his involvement with church and city league sports. The past 5 years my parents served as temple workers before handing in missionary papers to serve at the conference center. So his schedule is less and less permitting of sports, etc. This past weekend there was a triathlon here in American Fork. My dad and Becky decided to do it together, but Becky bailed! So my dad just decided to do it by himself. This was the first race I've seen my dad accomplish. It was so much fun for us to be his cheerleaders. Chad and Ava and I were able to watch the whole thing. Becky and her family were also there to cheer on Dad. And of course my mom was there as his good luck charm! It was so much fun to see him excel at yet another new achievement. Here are just some fun pictures and clips of the race. I love my dad!

Just More Cute Ava

2009-03-30T22:10:00.000-06:00

Ava LOVES her cousin Easton. They get along so well together. It's always fun to go home and visit where Ava can spend time with her cousins. I just wanted to post some cute pictures of Ava hanging out with Easton. Ava has a princess cell phone she carries around in her pocket (she copies how I carry my cell phone in my back pocket) and she will pull her phone out and pretend call Easton. It is the cutest thing. It's amazing how much they learn from us that we don't even realize they're picking up on...

Getting Cozy

2009-03-15T16:54:00.003-06:00

So the other day Chad and I were cleaning out a closet and we had a huge mess in our family room because that is where everything was ending up. Ava has this love for being in baskets, bags, laundry baskets, closets, etc. So while Chad and I were cleaning, she got busy putting on some shoes we pulled out of the closet and my beanie. And to top it all off, she climbed into a basket. She literally sat in the basket for almost an hour while she watched Shrek (which is her new favorite movie). It was so funny.

St. George and Las Vegas

2009-03-15T16:43:00.003-06:00

So this past weekend, our little family went down to St. George for the weekend with some friends. The weather was amazing! I really really want to move there! I don't know if it's my Spring Fever kicking in with all of this lingering snow, or I just really want to move there. We stayed in St. George, but we drove into Vegas for a day. The guys went to the Mountain West Conference basketball games and I went to visit my sister, Jill. She lives in Henderson. I had to give myself props for driving through Vegas (the traffic was insane) and actually finding her house by myself. It was so great to see Jill and spend some time with her!!! I hadn't seen her since last September, so I have really missed her. Plus she has these 2 beautiful kids- Dax and Tylee. Ava had so much fun playing with her cousins! Since we were down there with Chad's friends, us girls mostly just hung out without our husbands. It's a good thing Sarah was there and Leslie lives there! We had a lot of fun taking the kids swimming and going to the park and shopping. Even though I didn't see much of Chad, it was still a nice break!

Custom Signs! So Cute...

2009-03-03T20:55:00.004-07:00

So my sister-in-law Natalie makes these cute signs! You can check out her stuff at rusticsister.blogspot.com She can customize them to say anything you want them to. Anyway, just wanted to share with you if you're looking for a little something to decorate with! Adorable! Thanks Nat!

It's All Good

2009-02-21T20:41:00.006-07:00

So Ava starting giving a thumbs up as her new response to things that she likes. If you ask her if she likes her dinner, she'll give a thumbs up. If she really likes it, she'll use both thumbs! That's when I know she is one happy little girl. And the funny thing is, is if she is doing something naughty that she knows she shouldn't, she will give me a thumbs up to reassure me that she's doing great and I don't need to interfere. She is such a funny girl that is SO full of personality! She makes me and Chad smile and laugh like nothing else.

Another funny thing Ava has started doing is tackling Chad to the ground to give him eskimo kisses and butterfly kisses. And when she's done with that she'll push his face to the ground and say "night night." And when she's ready to play again she'll yell "wake up!"

I just have to express how happy I've been the last few days that it has been warm!!! Finally!!! I'm sure all of you moms completely understand, but trying to keep a toddler happy and entertained all winter inside becomes very hard to do. Ava has been spending every minute outside that she possibly can lately. I'm so happy that Spring feels closer than it did just last week. I feel very grateful for seasons, too! Fall has always been my absolute favorite for some reason...Maybe it's the colors, the rain and the smells and the feeling of a cool breeze relieving some summer heat. But as I get older, I'm learning to love and appreciate each season for something different. Spring definitely brings a feeling of renewal and energy! That's a welcomed feeling after hibernating all winter indoors. Living in Utah definitely has it's advantages with experiencing all 4 seasons. I shouldn't complain as much as I do about the weather... Anyway, here's to some hope that Spring will be here soon and so we can enjoy yet another season!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY JENN...

2009-02-13T12:52:00.010-07:00

..tomorrow! I know I am probably preaching to the choir about how great Jennilyn is, because anyone who has met her feels instantly appreciated and loved. She really has the biggest heart of anyone I know. Her capacity to love and care about others amazes me. One of my favorite parts about her is the way she is a loving, caring, and always FUN Mom for Ava. She gets Ava laughing harder then anyone else can. It makes me jealous sometimes to see how attached Ava is to her, but then I realize I am just as attached to my wife as my daughter is. So, why should I expect anything different. The last 3 years have been quite a roller coaster and I couldn't have found a better mate to travel through the ups and downs with. She expects a lot out of herself and our marriage. I love that she pushes me to be better everyday. She is a great example to everyone around her of a true daughter of God. Through all my imperfections and mistakes, Jennilyn finds a way to forgive me and have faith in our future. I find it difficult sometimes to believe I actually married such a wonderful woman. She is so physically beautiful, yet so spiritually and mentally grounded. Jennilyn IS the complete package all us men dream and hope for in our lives. I feel so blessed and even still a little lucky to have found her and somehow persuaded her to be with me for Eternity. I love my wife with all my heart. She truly is my Soul-Mate. "Not a day less will do,..... From you!"

- Chad

Honey Oat Bread

2009-01-26T14:19:00.003-07:00

There have been so many requests for this bread recipe so I'm finally getting around to posting it! Sorry it took me so long. I've been busy baking bread... :) This is Marnie's (my sister-in-law) recipe so I'm not sure what it's really called. But thanks Marn for the recipe!

MIX:
2 Cups Warm Water
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbs Honey
1 1/2 Tbs Yeast

WHEN IT GETS BUBBLY, ADD:
4 Tbs Melted Butter
2 tsp Salt (Sea or Kosher)
1/4 Cup Milled Flax Seed
4 1/2 Cups Flour (3 Cups White Flour, 1 1/2 Whole Wheat) (Or you could just use all white if you don't have whole wheat)
1/2 Cup Oatmeal
1/4 Cup Dry Milk
2 Tbs Wheat Gluten

RAISE:
Until it has doubled in size. Form in 2 bread pans and let it raise again

BAKE:
@ 350 For 25 Minutes

ENJOY!

The Best Husband Ever

2009-01-21T08:48:00.005-07:00

So for the past 3 years I have wanted a Kitchen Aid. I'll admit that I'm a compulsive Food Network watcher. I know it's pathetic, but I love it! And I'm always wanting to make the breads and rolls and yummy things in a Kitchen Aid. But I have a hard time spending that much money on a mixer, so I've never purchased one. While we were in Texas, Marnie made this incredible honey wheat/oat/flaxseed bread. (I'm not sure what it is called, but it was delicious!) When Chad and I were driving home from the airport we were reminiscing about the bread and I just again mentioned that a Kitchen Aid would be nice to have. Nothing else was even discussed or said about it. On Tuesday while I was at work, Chad called a bunch of stores and did some research on Kitchen Aids. He called his sister Amanda to help him out, too. So they went and picked me out my very own Kitchen Aid. But that's not all! He called Marnie in Texas and got the bread recipe! And then he went to the store and bought all of the ingredients!! (What an amazing man) So when I walked in the door, this is what I saw sitting on my counter in the kitchen.

I was blown away to say the least! I couldn't even say anything. Complete shock! I was so in love with Chad and so impressed by his completely selfless gift to me. It was one of the sweetest things anyone has ever done. So, I got right to work and made some bread!! This was my very first time EVER making bread, so I was really nervous. But I'm very happy to report that it turned out great! It was delicious. Thanks Chaddy! I love you so much!

TEXAS

2009-01-20T21:33:00.008-07:00

So the Talbot clan took a vacation to Houston to visit Brett and Marnie this past week. It was a blast!! We were only there for 5 days, but Houston is HUGE and there was so much to see. We stayed busy! First of all on Friday we took a tour of the University of Houston where Brett goes to school and works. It was really fun for us to see where exactly they will be for the next few years.

After we toured campus, we headed over to Hermann Park. It was this huge beautiful park with animals, a fountain and a little train that goes through the park. So we all took a ride on the train. Ava was terrified of the train.. She no longer likes trains..

On Saturday we went to the beach!! I absolutely love the ocean; the waves, the breeze, the smell, and the sounds... all of it. I miss it so much since I've moved home from Hawaii so it was so incredible to go back to a beach! It was so much fun! The weather was amazing and a nice break from cold and snowy Utah. We also took a ferry ride and saw dolphins and a lot of birds. Ava chirped like a bird most of the ride!

How cute are her little legs? She was so funny to watch as she adjusted to the water on her feet. This was her first trip to the ocean so she didn't really know what was going on. Even though it took her a few minutes to get used to the water, she cried when we took her out. She loved splashing and kicking in the water.

To: Chad Happy Anniversary!

2009-01-09T21:07:00.003-07:00

Almost...On January 12 it is our 3 year anniversary. I can't believe it's been three years already. It's amazing how fast time goes when you're happy and in love. And I am proud to say that after three years of marriage, that's exactly what we are- happy and in love. I just want to express how amazing of a man, husband and father Chad really is. The past three years that I have known Chad have been wonderful, but they were definitely not lacking of trials and discouragements. To my amazement, Chad comes out of each trial a stronger and better person. Not only does he carry himself through hard times with such optimism, but he also helps his wife who, ashamedly enough, does not have near as much faith. Never in my life did I think I could end up with a man who is so Christ-like, dedicated, and hard-working. Ava already knows that her daddy loves her more than anything in the world and what a blessing he is in her life, too. Ava and I are two very lucky ladies. Chaddy I love you so much and thank you for the happiest three years of my life! Not a day less will do....

Adorable Ava

2008-12-28T22:51:00.004-07:00

These are just some fun pictures of Ava this month. She is growing up so fast. She loves to try on our clothes and shoes all of the time. It is so cute! I know that we are probably the only ones who think so, but we can't help but love every little thing that she does!!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-28T22:36:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas everyone! What a crazy time of year! This month has been non-stop but it has been so much fun! Christmas was fun with Ava this year because she loved opening presents and loved all of the excitement. We went up to North Ogden to spend Christmas with my family this year. So before we went up we had our own little early Christmas with Chad's family. It was so much fun to open food sacks and watch Ava open up all of her presents. Santa was really good to us! Then on Christmas Eve we went home to my parents' house. It was just what we hoped it would be. Kristy and Jimmy came up from Arizona this year. It was really good to see them again! Becky and her family all came up and my brothers and their families came too. Needless to say it was constant chaos! But it was SO much fun!! The boys went hunting and the girls had a hair day, thanks to Kristy. We played a lot of golf and rock band on the wii until all hours of the night. We built gingerbread houses (Kristy and I won for the cutest house), we played rummy non-stop and we laughed the entire weekend. It felt good to be home. The best part was having my little family with the rest of my family. I know this sounds cheesey, but that is what Christmas is all about and we really felt that this year. We are blessed to have good families that we love and remind us what's important in this life.

2008-12-20T21:31:00.002-07:00

Because Ava is the center of our lives now, Chad and I don't have too many pictures of us together anymore. So this one is for my Chad. I love you honey!

Baby Chaddy...

2008-12-11T19:22:00.001-07:00

How could you ever say no to this little face? Doesn't she look just like her daddy??

Building Blocks!

2008-12-11T19:20:00.003-07:00

She loves the blocks at Papa and Grandma Hadley's house.

My Little Picasso

2008-12-11T19:16:00.003-07:00

Ava loves coloring! I just thought this was a cute picture of her favorite coloring pose. She lies on the ground next to the paper. She's really intense about her coloring.

The Girls

2008-12-11T18:57:00.002-07:00

So this whole thing started about 4 years ago (is that right, girls?). When I lived in Logan there was this amazing group of girls named the Darwin girls. This is because we lived on Darwin Ave. in the "Coke House" and the "Half-way House." There were about 12 of us all together and most of the time it was chaos, but it was so much fun! A few of our favorite past times were 2-Square, USU basketball games, dances, dessert night after ward prayer, and our Christmas parties. Even though life goes on, we have kept up our Christmas get-together. Once a year a few of us Darwin girls meet in Logan at our favorite restaurant and do a little mini Christmas party. I love it! I miss these girls so much so I look forward to it every year. I love you girls!!

Our Little Monkey

2008-12-02T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is just a fun video of Ava monkeying around. I later learned that she was actually saying "TWWOO." As in One, Two... JUMP! It was really cute so I thought I would share it with you.
- Chad

Just Us

2008-12-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

So Chad and I met during the summer of 2005 on a blind date. We were both skeptical going into it, but ended up pleasantly surprised and pleasantly married just a short time later! We were married in the Timpanogos Temple in January 2006. The surprises just kept coming. We learned we were pregnant in September. Chad graduated from BYU in April of 2007 and just a few weeks later, Ava Ann was born. Chad is now a financial advisor and is loving his job. I am a dental assistant 2 days a week, and really enjoy my job and the girls I work with. But our very favorite thing is just being a parent to Ava. She is amazing and we couldn't imagine a life without her!

Teething Ava

2008-12-01T21:50:00.000-07:00

This is Ava teething... She is 18 months old now and she is just barely breaking through her molars. She now has 6 teeth. It's really crazy, but the doctor just told us that she will be a "late bloomer." Chad was thrilled to hear this! He would love it if Ava didn't really "blossom" until she is about 25.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-12-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Since we are just starting our blog, we wanted to update everyone on our wonderful Fall! Ava loved the leaves and the windy days! She also loved the pumpkin patch. Ava likes to smell and lick everything! Everything! She had a great time licking and smelling all of the pumpkins...and the hay... But you're only a kid once, so have at it, Ava!

OUR FIRST POST!!

2008-11-30T19:14:00.000-07:00

Hola fellow bloggers. I just wanted to write the first sentence on our blog but will now concede the rest to my lovely wife who will do much better at this than I would. ADEU!! - Chad

This really is a milestone for us because I vowed I wouldn't get sucked into the blogging world....needless to say I'm really excited about starting our blog! After looking at many of our cute friends' blogs, you have all inspired me to start one so thank you! This will definitely be more for our little family's "journal keeping" but I really do hope you all enjoy seeing a little bit into the lives of Chad, Ava and myself!