Sunday in Vegas

Before we headed down to Arizona for Spring Break, we stopped in Vegas and stayed with my older bro for a night. They just built this beautiful new home (jealous!!) and it was a blast to be able to spend some time with them talking and eating lots of good food!
Church on Sunday morning was at 8:30- but we hurried and snapped some pictures before heading out and listening to my brother speak :) So glad we got to hear him speak- he is such a great guy :)

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

I am not usually one that takes the time to get some thoughts down, but it is time.  I love pictures of my family, so that is what you will mostly see on here, but I hope to get a few more words down more...not just captions :) 

I do not consider myself someone that has really ever had any major struggles in life.  I have had hard times making decisions (big and little), I find myself struggling with jealousy, I find myself regreting things that I have said and done...but major trials in life? I haven't had...YET. 
This picture was taken the day or so after Christmas in 2015.  I had just gotten Paisley down for a nap and was sitting on the counter drinking hot chocolate, soaking in the last little bits of Christmas in my little home. 
I sat there thinking about how great life was. I took this picture of myself because I wanted to capture that little memory forever!  I thought about writing a blog post about happy I was with myself and where this life was taking me.  Now, I hope this doesn't sound like..."Oh look at me..." because that is actually quite the opposite. 
I think during that little month (and probably in the past also) I was getting down.  You know how you have those little ups and downs in life? Ya, one of those :) But this day, I was HAPPY.  That blog post that I planned in my head (or journal entry, if you will) was going to be great :) It was going to remind me of all of the good things I had going and would be there to tell me not to envy others and the materialistic things or happiness-es that they have.  Because I really did have all I ever wanted. 
But, you guessed it...that blog post never happened!
Instead, Christmas got put away and I spent time caring for my family. Before I knew it, another new (very full) semester had started again and that was again going to have to be a big focus of mine.  Working out was not happening anymore and I became unhappy or discontent with myself.  Let me just say that it really was JUST me.  I wasn't unhappy with Craig or Paisley, but me. 
I felt like I was focusing on the wrong things. I would sit in Sacrament meeting each Sunday and realize AGAIN that I had not opened my scriptures that week. I had failed at remembering (or pushed aside) Family Home Evening, and prayers were very sparse. 
Disconcerting? Ya, quite a lot.  Now this is just me. We all are different and we all go through the roller coasters of life.  But I KNEW that is what I needed to be doing to be happy. 
I needed to workout when I could because I WANTED to, not because I felt like I HAD to.  I needed to put my phone away and my computer down, unless I was doing good!! I needed to take time to look at others needs.  I needed to read my scriptures with intent and learn the stories of my ancestors.  I needed to remind my family on a daily basis of how much I love them...and remind them by showing them.  I needed to make time for my honey- because those husband are pretty darn important. 
Now, I am still not doing all of those things. But I felt like today I could write this post because I did take time for my Heavenly Father when I read the BoM. Did I forget my morning prayers today? Ya...when your husband runs in to the bedroom where you are sleeping with a baby girl that has poop up her back, you don't kneel down and say..."Just a minute honey!" ha But hey, isn't it great that there is still room for improvement!  I worked out today also. It felt good to know that I took care of myself. 
I hope that I (and maybe whoever else reads this little space) can remember that we don't need to be perfect to be happy. We just need to give a good effort every day!  And remember, that we are still going to mess up. 
It's why we are here.
So smile! Think of Christmas, if that helps :)
Happy Monday <3

Cake #3

Ok, try not to throw up from these pictures..haha!! Since starting to make cakes every once in a while, I have really enjoyed it. They are never perfect, but this one was very...very far from!!!

 #1. Frosting Color

BAD. Craig and I decided to experiment with the dyes and lets just say...Craiger got a little excited with the red...

 #2- Frosting Pattern

Ya...Let's just say that I ran out of frosting and had to make it look really bad just to cover the whole thing! ba!!

 #3- It TASTED great :)

So, despite the look, it was still yum! ha...cake #3...maybe a tiny fail.

Cake #2

Ok, Cake #2.
So this one was not my favorite...but the idea was great and the cake def has potential. 
(Forgive the pictures because they really are seriously awful. I was in a rush and took pictures right before we cut into it...bad :/ sorry!)

So this was a two layer, 6'' chocolate cake.  I had heard this was a great chocolate cake recipe- but I have definitely had better, so I will be using my own next time. I made a raspberry filling to put in the middle which was certainly the best part of the whole cake!  The frosting was a chocolate buttercream- do I hate chocolate buttercream or did I just hate this one...that is the question.  On the top was crushed chocolate and toffee with fresh raspberries on the edges. 
Next cake...bring it on :)

Dancember

Usually every December is full of Drill Team stuff/ Dance Team stuff...that is how my life has been ever since I was a Sophomore in high school. I have always loved it, but this December was a little different. Since I am no longer coaching, I did not have a competition every Saturday or anything! Good and bad...Good because I felt like I would actually have time to celebrate the Christmas season, but bad because I knew I would miss it.
Well, I couldn't live without :) As soon as I found out that Craig had a Saturday off (even if it was the Saturday before Finals week :/) I decided that since he could watch Paiz all day, that I would take the Saturday to do what I wanted.  I woke up at 4 in the morning and headed off to Lone Peak to surprise my girls and spend their whole competition day with them! I am so grateful that I was able to do this, and even though I was exhausted the rest of the weekend, it was so worth it to see all of them again and see them do such a great job at their first comp :)

 I love each of these ladies! 

 Early morning bus rides!

 Many a selfie was sent to my hubs that day :)

 I designed their dance costumes and those were very fun to see come to life :)

Sad that I won't be part of the dance world for a while, but maybe an opportunity will present itself where ever we move :)

Baker Lady

I have recently had this obsession with wanting to become a cake lady :) The kind that makes these incredible cakes for her kids birthdays and who the other moms hire to make their own kids birthday cakes! I want to be seen in my kitchen with flour on the counters and a frosting squeezer thing in my hands...oh and a cute apron :) 
So, I started to do some research, went to the store...and decided I would give it a go!
Well, the first cake was a (little) success! It was very tasty, pretty, and I had a FUN (and stressful) time making it :) 

 There was no time for pictures before the party, so car pics will have to do!

But, let it be known!!

One day I will be very famous (even if it is just with my husband :))

(2 Layer- 6" cake. Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese filling and frosting w/ chopped pecans sprinkled on the top!) YUM!

Needed Change

I did it!  After growing out my hair for two years, I CHOPPED it off :) I took the dive and I am SO glad I did :)  

Change is good for the soul...at least this kind :)