Josh likes to watch T.V., but more often than not he just likes it on for background noise. Today though he decided to have some quality time with his good friend Elmo. I walked in expecting him to be reading a book or playing with his coloring pad and found this...

He had propped Elmo up using his ball to watch Elmo in Grouchland with him. I just watched him for a little while and pretty soon he started to hold Elmo's hand and talk to him. It was just too cute! I went ahead and got one of him looking too just for fun. I love how imaginative he is. He has such an active mind that I can barely keep up. I count my blessings everyday that I was blessed with such a smart and creative little one to keep me on my toes. He helps me to find the good in everyday. Love you Joshua!

I had a great birthday this year. Cody went above and beyond like he always does. It was a quiet day, but he got the day off so we could celebrate. We opened presents at home, and then we drove down to spend the evening with my Mom and Dad. Birthdays have always been a big deal to my parents, especially my Mom. I always feel very special on my day even now when I am grown up with a family of my own.

As I mentioned before, Cody went way above and beyond and spoiled me rotten. He got me a book from the Percy Jackson series I've been reading, the first half of Glee season one, a new set of headphones, and AN IPOD TOUCH!!! It didn't make it in the mail quite in time to open, so Cody was creative and printed out a picture of one, cut it out, and wrapped it. Cody is the best and I loved all of my gifts.

At my Mom's, we had a lot of fun. My parents are always very generous and I got even more wonderful gifts. I got a cover for my new ipod, some new pj's, a dress for church with matching jewelry and a flower hair clip, and an ipod home! I even got a balloon from Joshua that he wasn't quite ready to give up. They were all awesome! My mom made me a special dinner, and we had birthday cheesecake to finish off the celebrations. Yes, with 26 candles and all.

My In-Laws are also great and made me feel very special on my birthday. They were so sweet and got me two gift cards! One was for itunes to use with my new ipod, and the other was to KOHLS. I had been wanting a new pair of running shoes for a while and I was so excited to use my gift card towards those. I am a really lucky girl to have such a wonderful family on all sides.

It was a great birthday and I am so blessed to have the family that I do. I can't believe that I am 26 and getting older by the minute. I guess we all have to grow up!

For our first anniversary, Cody decided to get red and yellow roses to symbolize our wedding colors. I loved the idea and hoped that he would do that every year. He has stuck with the tradition and this year, he got me some beautiful red and yellow roses after we got back from our mini vacation. Here they are! I loved them and can't wait for many more red and yellow anniversaries.

About a month ago, Cody called on his way home from work and told me that he was going to be out of town for our anniversary on the 31st. I have to admit, I was pretty upset. He had just gone up to Snowflake for work and I didn't think that he would be going away again soon. I think he could tell I wasn't very happy because he said, "Don't worry though! You'll be with me." At this point I was just really confused. I didn't want to spend my anniversary on a work trip, but you do what you have to right? Well Cody went on to tell me that he was told by his boss that he had to take a vacation. Cody's boss really is great and I am thankful that he appreciates him and knows that he needs a break from time to time. He told Cody that he would not work his best if he worked all the time. Well, they are getting ready to make a huge upgrade and implement some new things at work in the IT department. It's a massive project and will take upwards of nine months. It will be starting soon so Cody needed to take his vacation time before then. With other vacations on the schedule and projects already in the works, it worked out that Cody could take the week of our anniversary off. I started to cry when he told me. I don't know what was wrong with me. I think it was the initial shock of hearing Cody was going to be out of town combined with the disappointment that the trip we wanted to take would probably not be possible because it was so close to when the vacation was that there was not time to plan or save for a more extravagant trip. I could tell Cody felt bad, but I got over it quickly and told him I was excited and that we could plan something fun. We decided to just go up to Phoenix and stay at the resort we stayed the night we got married. It worked out perfectly because we were going up to help Shannon move the weekend our vacation started.

The day before Cody left for the week his boss pulled him into his office. Cody was a little worried but he had no reason to be. In fact, it was great news! Something that Cody really wanted. With the new things happening at work, they opened two new positions up in the IT department. One was a position for a specialized programmer, and the other was for a systems administrator two position that will be specialized in the program that they are implementing. I obviously don't understand it in detail. Well they took applications for both and found a programmer right away, but they were not finding anyone to fill the sys admin two position. In fact Cody was the highest qualified based on the applications, and they have come to really like his work ethic and company at work. So.... THEY GAVE CODY THE PROMOTION!!! We are so very excited and realize that this is an enormous blessing. However, it is going to be a lot of work and will require learning and growth. Which is a good thing. In the end, Cody will become a very specialized type of administrator. This confirms for us even further that we made the right decision in moving to Willcox.

A week or so before this all happened, I was contacted about taking over the Executive Directorship for the Miss Graham County Scholarship Pageant. They needed a director to take over for the pageant in August and even though along with everyone else I think I am a little crazy I am very excited about it. Miss Graham is a preliminary in the Miss America Organization and I had the great blessing of being a titleholder in 2005. Graham County's pageant is a little more involved than a lot of pageants in the state so I am going to have my hands full, but I also have a lot of help and support behind me. I had such a great experience that I didn't want to see the pageant stop because they were not able to find a director. Here I am way back in 2005 when I was Miss Graham. It was a lot of fun and I'm sure being the director will be too.

With all of the new things we have taken on, decided that it was important to get away for a few days and just RELAX! So that is what we did. We started off by not relaxing, but still got away a day early. Joshua had a doctors appointment on Friday afternoon and then I had a photoshoot in Tucson that evening. Josh's appointment ended up being cancelled and rescheduled for Thursday of the next week so we just spent the morning getting ready and packing up the car to head out. The photoshoot went well, and then we hung out at Cody's parents' for the night. It was a lot of fun and we were ready to get the relaxation started. We headed up to Phoenix and got Shanny all moved and then she kept Joshua Saturday night for us. It was his first full night away but I was so tired it didn't even phase me. She took him to church with her that afternoon and Cody and I spent the day together which was WONDERFUL!! It's been a very long time since we have had a date that was longer than a two hour movie or dinner. We had lunch together at Sweet Tomatoes, went and saw Iron Man 2, went and did a little shopping for new beach towels, and then got ice cream at Cold Stone. It was so nice to just be together.


We picked Joshua up and then we headed back to our hotel. We stayed at the same resort we stayed at when we got married. We loved it then but only got to stay the one day before we headed to our reception and then to California for the week. It was perfect for relaxing and made our time away even nicer.

We decided to go for a swim after we got back and Joshua LOVED the pool. He wasn't very happy about the cold water at first but he got used to it, and after that it was all we heard about for the next few days. He actually loved the hot tub. We didn't let him stay in very long, but in the evening if he got cold we would let him go in for a few minutes.



Cody and I celebrated our third anniversary on May 31st which was Monday. We have a very relaxing day of swimming, watching movies, and just hanging around the hotel. We did go to Oregano's for lunch where Shannon works and it was very yummy! That afternoon Shannon came over and hung out for a bit and then she took Josh for us that night so we could go out and celebrate. We went to Olive Garden. It was the same one we ate at the night we got married. We have some really fond memories of that meal. We had an awesome server and he and another guy sang their "celebration" song for us. It was AWESOME! It was just the two of them, but we have still never heard anyone do it nearly as much justice and those two. We headed out a little late so we cut dinner short and headed over to the theater. We went to see Robin Hood and even though it was pretty violent we really liked it. It was definitely different than the traditional story of Robin Hood and Maid Marian. We headed home and found a sleeping little boy. It was a great day and I am so very grateful for my husband and our loving relationship. I see so many couples who argue and fight, or lose the friendship that they used to have and I am so thankful that we are not in that situation. Sure we have our moments just like everyone else, but I know that they never last long because we don't want them to. We usually talk about it and it's over in just a few minutes. I'm glad we can still laugh together, be silly, and dream big. I love Cody so very much and I know that he loves me. It's pretty wonderful and I am looking forward to many more years and eternity together.


Here we are at dinner. We didn't take a whole lot of pictures during vacation. I probably should have taken more, but it just got away from me. This is on Cody's iphone like a lot of the other photos we got while we were there.



The next day we decided that we wanted to get out and do something fun, so we thought we would try out Castles and Coasters. We picked Shannon up to go with us and grabbed some lunch at Subway and then headed into the park. It was a lot of fun. They had one big roller coaster, another smaller one, bumper boats, go karts, a free fall, a water ride, tons of other smaller rides, and then the arcade and miniature golf. We bought unlimited passes so we just kept getting in line and we would switch off who would stay and take Joshua on the smaller rides like the Merry-Go-Round. That was his favorite and it got plenty of use from us that day. Joshua's face was priceless on the bumper boats. I was laughing so hard I thought I was going to fall in. He has so much personality and it just makes us happy. It's hard not to smile around him. Here are a few pictures from the day. Again, they are from Cody's phone so they are not the greatest but I figured they were better than not having any at all.






Our last day there was Wednesday. We decided to just stay in again and have fun at the pool. It was a nice ending to our time away and even though I wished we could stay longer, I was also ready to head home. I'm pretty sure Josh was too. It was great to take some time for us and get away.

Thursday we took Joshua to his doctors appointment in Tucson. He is doing great. He is 25-50% for weight at 25 lbs and 75% for height at 32 inches. His doctor raved about his language skills and said that he is WAY ahead of his developmental age. She was very impressed and told us to keep up whatever we were doing, and that we should be very proud of him. It was so funny because she could hardly get a word in. He was talking up a storm, telling her colors that were in the room, naming butterflies and bugs. It was pretty funny. We were happy to hear he didn't need shots for a couple of months so that made the visit a bit more pleasant. Friday we hung out at home and spent some time resting up while we can. That weekend we were did another photoshoot, and caught up on homework. Still when Monday rolled around the next week, we were still not ready to get back to work. We are very grateful for our jobs and the many blessings we've been given. It's still nice to get away once in a while and this mini vacation was definitely much needed and appreciated.

Joshua adores our dog Maddie. She is a sweet puppy and we love her an awful lot. We have another dog for the time being Sadie who is a bit rambunctious and full of energy. And she is a bit bigger than Maddie and she is not even a year old yet. Maddie has been with our family almost as long as we have been a family. Cody and I got her when we had been married for three months and she fit right in. There have been some changes with a new baby (Joshua), a toddler, and a move. She used to sleep in our bed but that just doesn't work anymore. With Sadie being around she has spent a lot of time outside with her and less time inside. We miss having her around at our feet and trying to steal treats. We have started bringing her back in more and I was shocked to find this...

Maddie just fell right back in with the routine of things. As I said, Joshua adores her. She had curled up on the couch after a bath and Joshua climbed up and just found a comfy spot. Maddie didn't mind at all. She just wiggled in even more. They stayed like this for just over an hour. I really thought Joshua was going to fall asleep but he managed to keep his eyes open. Our little Maddie is so patient and sweet. I am glad that Josh can be a boy around her and that she lets him chase and pester her. She's just another one of the family.

While my sister was in town we she came over to Willcox to spend a day with us. It was SOOOO much fun! I decided while she was here I would use her help. I wanted to get some family pictures of us, and even though we have done some in the past I thought it would be much easier with her behind the camera. She has a great eye for photography and has taken a couple of classes so I knew we were in good hands. We helped get the camera set up and she shot away. We only had about 45 minutes to get the shots we needed and I think she did great! She ended up staying the night because it got to be a bit late for her to drive home, but I won't complain! I loved the extra time with her. Thanks for all of your help Shanny!

The picture below was a lot of work, but I wanted one of him by himself and he was done after the first photo. We finally got him to fold his arms in an effort to try and keep him still. It worked for a split second and he just happened to look at the same time. Luckily he will be turning two in a couple of months and it will be time for new photos of him. We'll see if they go any better than these.

May was one crazy, busy, fun, stressful, successful month for us! We started May off with the preparation and then opening of our studio on May 8th. After that we moved on to a whole bunch of family fun and activities.

Cody did a great job of making me feel very special on Mother's Day this year. He was so sweet. He let me sleep in, brought me breakfast in bed with a flower, made me a super cute card, and showered me with gifts. He was so funny because he got me a slotted spoon. I have been needing one forever and I was surprised he even remembered something so silly. But he did! He also got me purple daisies that were so pretty! He did a great job at making my Mother's Day a nice one.

May 13th we made a very unplanned, but necessary decision to move Joshua from his crib to A BIG BOY BED! Joshua had developed a fun new habit of banging his head on the side of his crib. The first time it happened, I noticed a big round bruise on his forehead. I had been at a Relief Society Enrichment activity the night before so I called Cody and asked if Josh had fallen or bumped his head on something while I was gone. He said he hadn't and that he had no idea where Josh got the bruise. So I figured it was one of those toddler bruises that just happened. Well that night, I heard this loud bumping on the monitor so I finally went into his room to see what was going on. Joshua was standing up, holding two slats, and banging his head on the top bar of the crib. I think he may have been asleep or really out of it because he didn't even look up when I came in the room and his bed in right next to his crib. I finally said, "JOSHUA!! What are you doing!?" He slowly looked up at me and just kinda stared. I picked him up and took him in our room. We got him to sleep and then laid him back down. He was fine the rest of the night. The next afternoon, he did the same thing during nap time and I decided that was it. It had been about three days that we figured it had been going on so we decided it was time for a big boy bed. We went down to the local (meaning only) mattress store in Willcox and had him pick out a new bed. We grabbed some sheets and got it all set up. I think he would have done better his first night if he were more prepared. So no, the transition did not go well. He wouldn't stay in his bed, and when Cody finally got him to sleep the poor kid rolled out of bed. Now don't laugh, but they did not have a safety rail anywhere in Willcox. So we laid his crib mattress on the floor with a ton of pillows and blankets to protect him if he did fall out of bed. Well... like I mentioned he did and it did not go as planned. Instead of landing nicely in the bedding he bounced off the mattress and then into the rocking chair near his bed. By then he was so upset there was not much we could do. We tried but it was just not working so when 5:30 am rolled around we decided that the remainder of the morning would have to be spent in his pack and play. We set it up and as hard as he tried to put up a fight he couldn't resist sleeping. He was really tuckered out. The next night went fantastic! Cody laid with him for a little while, he asked for a drink and fell asleep quickly once he got his cup. It was crazy the change from the night before. It didn't stay that easy. He still asks for Cody to lay with him every night and depending on the day he goes to sleep easily or he cries for a little while. He is sleeping through the night in his bed though so I am very happy about that. Now if we can just get him to take naps there we will be in good shape. Here are a few pictures from his first night in the big bed and a couple others from another day. I am excited to get him big boy bedding for his birthday which also means we get to re-decorate (or for this house do it for the first time)!

At the end of the week, we had the chance to head up to Safford to spend the weekend with my family to celebrate my little sister's 21st birthday, go through the Gila Valley Temple open house, and take family pictures for my Mom for her Mother's Day gift. It was a busy weekend, but very special and completely worth all of the chaos. I am very close to my little sister and I miss her so much. Cody and her have become very good friends and I love that they can laugh and joke with each other. Joshua also LOVES his Auntie Shannon. She lived with us for his entire first year of life and this helped them to be even closer. He chose to let her hold him in the temple and didn't want much to do with anyone else. We decided to get a little creative for her present this year. We wanted to give her something she could use, and also something that she would like. So we decided to get her a crockpot and 25 lbs of pinto beans. I thought it would at least be useful and she has really been wanting a crockpot. I think she liked it and she has already used it successfully so I think it worked out well.

The Gila Valley Temple is so very special to me. Every temple is a sacred place, but this temple is very close to my heart. My family were part of the original pioneer members that settled the area and I know they have all waited a long time to see the Valley blessed with a temple. It was beautiful inside. I loved the baptismal font, the ordinance rooms, and the celestial room. The sealing room was another room that just had a special feeling in it. What can I say, the whole place had such a strong feeling of the spirit it couldn't be ignored. We were able to take a few photos afterward outside the temple. We didn't have the best location, but it was very busy that day so we were just happy to grab the few that we did.

That evening we went to a concert that was presented through the LDS Bookstore and it was great! We went as a whole family which made it even better. After the show, Shannon came with us, we grabbed some food and headed back to our hotel. It was so nice getting to spend a little extra time with her, and we always have a good laugh when we are together. It was late and we were tired so we called it an early night. I took her home and then headed to bed for a full day the following day. The next day we did several things to prepare for Shanny's birthday and family pictures. Day passed too quickly and we were off to do family photos for my Mom. We had a lot of fun, but we didn't know that our new camera was not compatible with the remote that we had for our old camera. So we had to them the old fashion way, but I am still really like the way they turned out.

put on her wall. Happy Mother's Day Mom!! We love you and appreciate all you do for us!
The next weekend was a very special one. We came back down to Safford for the temple cultural celebration and dedication. We did not have tickets to be at the actual performance for the celebration but we watched it at the Safford Stake Center with Joshua. It was really an amazing event. They tied a great deal of history into the performance and it was awesome seeing all of the youth participating together. President Thomas S. Monson our prophet and President Henry B. Eyring were both in attendance. They were SO funny! They sang a little song together and told a couple of really funny stories. It was a very special time. The next morning my parents watched Joshua for us while we attended the temple dedication. It was such an amazing and spiritual experience. Having grown up in the Gila Valley, I knew the great desire for a temple in the area. And to see it from start to finish was an experience that I am very grateful for. We were able to attend the ground breaking all the way up to the dedication. Many of those who spoke in the first dedicatory session spoke of President Spencer W. Kimball who lived in Safford/Thatcher all of his life. My granddad did business with him often and spoke very highly of him. It was special to hear stories from the prophet and other leaders about him. Everything about the dedication was perfect. There was such a peaceful feeling that day. I am really looking forward to doing temple work there. It will be nice having a temple so very close. What a blessing!


May was one crazy month, but it was full of blessings and great memories that will be with me for the rest of my life.