Lilly Belle's First!

Our little girl is not a newborn anymore! She is walking and babbling and oh so enjoyable! We planned an Air Balloon theme and was able to gather quite a bit of inspiration. She LOVES Balloons, so it was fitting. Here are some of our displays.

I really wanted an area that highlighted her first year. I love this old window seal that draped pictures of Lilly. We set all her presents on this table and even had a cute guest sign in for anyone to share thoughts and birthday wishes on.

So this is the first time I've piped frosting. And even though my little flowers look droopy, it was a fun experience and I was so happy to have made the cake myself! This is me overcoming hurdles and trying new things... Watch out!

The cupcakes turned out way cute! Thanks to my friend Mindy and my mom! They did a fabulous job! The bubblegum was to represent the air balloon theme as well. Fun, bright and colorful if I do say so myself.

We had fun taking pictures of everyone in our photo booth!

Nate even made a video of her first year that played in the background. Thanks everyone for coming and for all those that have enjoyed our little love bug from day 1.

Like Mother, like daughter. ]

Good times added to a good life!

Amber's 100 Awesome List

1~Being a Mom is Awesome!
2~Having a dedicated, faithful, endearing and absolute joyful husband is Awesome!!
3~Dedicating my life to God is Awesome!
4~Finding the perfect outfit in the morning is Awesome!
5~A garden full of flowers is awesome!
6~baby smiles are awesome
7~Given a friendly greeting is Awesome
8~Walking into my clean home is Awesome!
9~Expressing myself through Art is awesome!
10~Laughing until I cry is AWESOME!!!
11~Vacationing with my family is Awesome!
12~Waking up to the birds chirping is Awesome!
13~Utah Truffles are Awesome
14~Organizing/decluttering is awesome
15~Dancing in the kitchen with my daughter is awesome!
16~Blinds and windows open are awesome!
17~zumba is awesome
18~MY LIFE is Awesome!
19~Getting my family together is awesome!
20~All my Friends are Aaawwwwwessssommmeeee!!
21~Fall Colors are awesome! (even though I'm ready for spring) :)
22~Daily phone calls from my dad are Awesome!
23~scentsy is awesome
24~carrying on traditions of lost loved ones is awesome
25~Happy Tears are awesome!
26~Realizing my trials are perfect for me and priceless, now that is awesome
27~The family piano is awesome!
28~Eating dinner as a family is awesome
29~Riding our bikes is awesome
30~Waterfalls are awesome!
31~Dr. Pepper is awesome!
32~A Massage sounds pretty awesome!!
33~listening to the giggles of little girls is awesome!
34~Creating new friendships is AWEsOME
35~The MOON is Awesome!
36~Green Smoothies can be pretty awesome!
37~Teaching about twenty 10 year old girls to sew is Awe~SOME!
38~A Baby's yawn is awesome!
39~Reconnecting with long lost friends is awesome!
40~My Armada is pretty awesome!
41~Clean sheets are amazingly Awesome!
42~Pontius Art Is Awesome!
43~Serving is Awesome.
44~Big flowers on a babies head is awwwweesome
45~Being positively happy is Awesome!
46~Antiqued walls are awesome.
47~Giving time/donations to charity causes is awesome!
48~Just perfect Yellow bananas are awesome (not too green and not brown!)
49~Flip.flops.Awesome
50~Temples are awesome!
51~Boot, scoot and Boogie! Is awesome!
52~Eating ice cream with a plastic spoon, just simply awesome!
53~RIDING A HORSE, IS AWESOME!
54~Putting makeup on next to my mom is awesome!
55~Sushi!!!! Is awesome.
56~Roasting starbursts over a campfire is awesome!
57~dance recitals are awesome!
58~Budgeting is awesome!
59~My 7 year old singing verbrata= awesomeness!
60~Date nights are awesome!
61~Family pictures, awesome
62~house shopping with no intention of buying, awesome.
63~hugs! {Awesome}
64~Disneyland= magically awesome
65~heart rocks. Awesome.
66~Contacts, so that I can SEE are Awesome!
67~NYC is awesome!
68~Singing in the shower iiiiiissssss awesomeeee! La la la laaaaa!
69~Christmas is awesome!
70~Chick flicks are awesome, alright I like action too!
71~Sunglasses are awesome
72~Food storage is awesome
73~sweet nothings are awesome
74~picnics are awesome
75~Chasing my nephews is awesome.
76~painted toe nails are awesome. Especially on my 3 month old :)
77~Netflix is awesome
78~Running is awesome!
79~BBQ's are awesome!
80~Google is awesome!
81~Earings are awesome
82~sitting on the back of a motorcycle is awesome
83~Having 2 beautiful daughters is AWESOME!
84~Playing mouse trap is awesome!
85~Dr Lund is awesome!
86~Loving people for who they are is the most awesomest!
87~Taking chances is awesome
88~Having a shoulder to cry on is genuinely awesome!
89~Camping on the beach is awesome
90~Tax returns are AwEsOmE!
91~An end to a yucky day is awesome! We all have them :)
92~having the best in-laws ever is awesome!
93~having over 30 neices and nephews is HOLYsmokes- Awesomeness!
94~apologizing first and meaning it is Awesome!
95~LOUD jewelry is awesome!
96~Throwing doubt and fears out the window is amazingly awesome!
97~Turning bad habits into good is divine awesome!
98~Checking off my millions of Checklists is Awesomer!
99~Owning your words and actions is awesome!
100~Giving more and expecting less is awesome!

In our Near Future! Can't Wait! Counting down for Desi's birthday fun!!

What would I do without her?

I have the joy of being apart of Desi's morning each day and oh what joy it brings me. It is the perfect way to start out my day :)

SUPPORT A LOCAL BUSINESS

I absolutely love this idea! Go to www.scentsycontribute.org and pledge to support a local small business on October 12th, 2009!
Pledge to spend $50 at a local small business and Scentsy will send you a free T-Shirt!

Scentsy's goal is to inspire 100,000 people to spend an extra $50 that day to boost the economy ripple effect of $5 Million!

I absolutely can think of at least 5 of my favorite small stores that I would feel so sad if they weren't around anymore. This opportunity could make or break that small business that you have in mind. I think it would be fun to get a group of us and pick a store to go to together and just think of our pledges benefitting that store!

Scentsy owners sparked this desire from this quote,

“Try not to become a man of success. Rather, become a man of value. A successful man takes out of life more than he puts in. A man of value will give more than he receives.”

I love being charitable! and it feels soo dang good afterwards! Don't you notice when you give it always seems that you receive that back 10 fold :)

You are also welcome to buy a Contribute 2009 T-shirt for only $9 and Scentsy will send you a $10 Scentsy gift certificate to cover the cost of the T-shirt! What a sweet deal!

If you do decide to pledge I'd love to hear your story!

Hobbies and more hobbies!

So I have to admit, I really wish I had more time to blog and journal about so much and I try my hardest to make these "blog goals" and well if you are reading this (if there is really anybody out there reading my blog) You've already noticed how guilty I am of not following through with keeping things updated. :)

Life is crazy as usual, with too much to do and not enough time to get it all done in.
Nate and Desi both have started school, which has put us back into routine of things and keeps us focused! School time is good it is a check back into what we want to accomplish and where we are headed. Things take time, but they are worth it if we are patient and stick it out.

There was a point in time a few years ago, when I felt like I had absolutely no hobbies. And believe it or not there was a time I even actually cried about it because I felt like I had no life or something.. I know, pathetic huh? Just be good you're not married to me! :) hee hee, Nate's had an earfull of my emotions I am sure! :)

But I am really excited about the things I have really involved myself in and it amazing how good it feels to accomplish things!
I have recently started Couponing! And believe it or not, I LOVE IT! it is becoming a hobby (almost). I look forward to saving money whenever I can and organizing my HUGE binder, and yes I DO carry that thing with me when I shop! Because I hate the feeling of going to the store to buy something full price when I know darn well I had a stinkin coupon for it at home!

I have so far had great success and found myself hungry to learn more about it because I am actually saving! And can you say, "HELLO FOOD STORAGE!" I have started to build my food storage even! And I have even used the items too!! They have come very handy at a couple of our recent gatherings. And I was even able to give my neighbor a whole loaf of bread, when she only needed a slice! because I got it for so cheap, that I found myself actually being a little charitable! It felt soo good too!

Geneology has been a recent spark that just one day burst from my heart! I can't stop thinking about it! It is almost like old lost treasure or something... We spent some time at Nate's families house reading about his great grandparents and looked through old photos. It was so AWESOME! And fun! and I can't wait to learn more. I will definitely be occupying more time on finding more about my family as well!

Scentsy has been a ton of fun too! I have met so many fun people and have had an opportunity to find something in common with friends and neighbors and it has been a blast to get to know people, besides the fact that I am absolutely obsessed with making my house smell good!!! And it is funny how now I notice the first sniff into others houses too, hee hee. It is funny how everyone smells different and everyone has their own scent. Have you ever noticed that? I wonder what my house smells like? Hopefully good and clean.:)

With all of these fun things to occupying my time, now I am finding I need more space! So, instead of indulging myself into more debt with a new house, We are cleaning out some closets and condensing some of our "junk" to allow ourselves a little more room to grow and enjoy these things! I can't wait to declutter! and get some stuff in a yard sale!

Catch up!!!

So I have been needing/wanting to blog for awhile and really I have quite a bit to journal about here! Or at least share photos!
MY TO DO BLOG LIST...

- The BOBCAT
- Seven Pounds and still counting!
- FANCY NANCY
- Grasshoppers and Bugs!


Keep posted... Can't wait to share what's been going on with us! :)