My ultrasound is just over 2 weeks away, on Thursday April 16th! I added a poll to my blog, over on the right. Vote now on whether you think I'm going to have a girl or a boy! I can assure you it's NOT twins. I will post the results of the ultrasound shortly after I find out! Woo Hoo!

10 years!

Exactly 10 years ago today at about this time, I was emerging from the Idaho Falls temple hand in hand with my new husband as a married couple, sealed forever! It was a day like today, there was a little snow on the ground but the sun was shining. It was a little chilly but bearable.

As I sit here I think of myself that day as a young new bride. What I had planned, where I thought I was headed, what I expected life to become. Then I think of how things have unfolded. Certainly, we've been thrown some curve balls that we could never have expected. Like everyone, we've endured trials and still do. Sometimes life has been chilly with a little snow.

But on the other hand, the sun is always shining making it bearable! I am so blessed! I have 3 almost 4 beautiful, healthy, smart, dynamic children that I could've only hoped for but never imagined! Jon has always been able to work hard and provide for us so that I can stay home and raise these gems! I live in a fantastic corner of the world in a warm, lovely home. I am surrounded by dear and loyal friends, loving in-laws, and an amazing extended family.

Ten years ago I started down a path, although sometimes bumpy , that brought me here. And because of that, I wouldn't change a thing!

Here's a look back.
This is a cruise we took with a big group of friends in college while we were dating.
Here is one from our wedding day. Actually it was the next day at our 2nd reception in Utah. Looking back I would NOT have had 2 receptions!
This is when Paige was 6 weeks old. The first baby was the hardest adjustment for me, but the joy was unimaginable. Becoming a mom was my life-long dream come true!
Haily is 10 months old here. She and Paige are 19 months apart so they are the best of friends and the worst enemies! Hopefully it will shift more to friendship as they grow. This was on a trip to Hawaii with my family in April of '04. I miss Hawaii!
Here we are in Idaho Falls for the 4th of July! This is the best place to be on the 4th!
This is on the front porch of a house that we designed and built. We loved that house and still miss it. Jon has a love and fascination with the building process and has had some great opportunities with it over the years. Hopefully he will have the chance to do it again.
This is a family picture taken in St. George while we were there for Thanksgiving in '05.

Here is the day we brought Charlie home from the hospital. It was fun to have a boy.
Here we are in Idaho visiting my Great Grandparents.
We love Disneyland! I had never been until after I got married and now I've been 4 times! This time was a trip with my family in March of '08.
This is at the finish of the Top of Utah Marathon in Logan. My cute family brought me to tears as I crossed. It was amazing.
Halloween '08. Party at a friend's house. Dressed as "Twitchington" from so you think you can dance.
Us after the Coldplay concert Nov. of '08. Music is one of Jon's passions and he really enjoys concerts.
We took the family to the Draper Temple open house in January this year. It was so beautiful and a great time to teach the children about eternal families, which is the reason for the temple.
So, today after 10 years, I celebrate the priceless memories we have created as a couple. I celebrate the trials we have overcome, and still are working through, because of the things we have learned and the way they have molded us as individuals and a family. I celebrate the fact that we get to continue this journey together for a long time to come, eternity in fact. And that even if one of us died tomorrow it would only be a brief separation until we would be reunited and continue on our way.

We're off to a great start. It's been difficult and thrilling at the same time. And look how far we've come!

Good Recipes

I recently tried out two new recipes that were worth passing along. The first is a simple, quick, easy, yummy breadsticks recipe which is also a pizza crust recipe.


1 1/2 cups warm water 1/2 tsp salt
1 Tb yeast 3 cups flour (white, wheat, or combo)
2 Tb sugar
2 Tb olive oil

Dissolve yeast in water. Add sugar, salt, and oil. Mix in flour. Knead for 3 mins. Let dough rest for 10 mins. Roll flat and cut into sticks. Melt some butter on a cookie sheet and dip dough in as you lay them out on the sheet. Can top with seasonings or cheese. Bake at 400 for 20 mins.


The next recipe was passed along by my sister in law Ericka. It is a copy cat of Cafe Rio's pork salad, including the dressing! Now, if someone could only reproduce the tortillas we'd be set! By the way, I've had another recipe for sweet pork but this new one is much better!

PORK (do the night before)
3 1/2 - 4 lb roast
2 T brown sugar
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt

Mix sugar and spices together and rub on pork. Put in crock pot, fat side up, on LOW. (My crock pot seems to cook a little on the hot side so I turned it down to "Keep warm" for a few hours here and there throughout the process to keep it from drying out.)

The next morning add:
1 can coke
1 cup chicken broth
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped

About an hour before serving shred roast and add:
1 1/2 cups brown sugar

RICE
2 cups rice
4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1 lime squeezed for juice (can add more to taste)

Cook all together (rice cooker works well)

DRESSING
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing mix
8 oz salsa verde
2 medium garlic cloves
3/4 cup mayo
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 tsp tabasco sauce
1/4 - 1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Mix in blender. Squeeze in lime juice to taste. Chill for several hours.

Assemble on top of a tortilla (the ones you bake yourself are obviously best) with beans, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, cilantro, cheese, and sour cream.

ENJOY!!

Cupcake Cousins Cooking Club

Trying to entertain my kids while they are off track can present a bit of a challenge, especially when the weather is not conducive to outside play for hours on end. So, I came up with a little idea for this time around. My girls love to cook, or "make experiments" in the kitchen. So, we invited our cousin, Addy, to join us for a cooking club which they titled "The Cupcake Cousins Cooking Club". The first one was last Wednesday at Allie's house where they made chocolate covered marshmallows. I'm still waiting for the pictures from that event.

This week we hosted it at our house and made Berry Bars. The girls sure enjoy it and have their heart sets on being discovered by the Food Network.

Growing Bellly

I've decided to take a picture of my growing belly every few weeks as a way to document my pregnancy. I've never done this before but since maybe I'm kinda hoping this is the last one...

Anyway, after it's all over I'll post them all back to back. Here is the first one at just over 13 weeks.

I also found some pictures of the kids from their recent trip to St. George.

A special treat

OK ladies. Turn off my blog music, turn up your sound, get comfy and ENJOY!!!

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Joey, I miss you. I want this distance between us to be over. I haven't seen you since that dream when I peed in your tub. I know, a little awkward. Let's move past it and work it out. I'll be loving you forever.
XOXOXO
Amy