Welcoming 2010

(30 weeks pregnant, banging pots and pans to welcome the new year)

This is the "white house". We lived here for the first 2 years of our marriage. This house holds a very special place in our hearts. It was here that we began our lives together. We moved in because of the charm that a house build in 1890 has, but loved it because of the memories made here. We weren't initially aware that the three other couples that shared the house would become lifelong friends, the kind that you can't find just anywhere.

For the third year in a row, we reunited the white house gang for a New Years Eve party. Although we live across the country from eachother now, it is always just like the good old days when we get together.

Chase, "Boonie" and Jordan are the biggest goofballs


Jenny and Jude, me and baby boy, Jenn and Carter

This is the first time we've gotten together that kids were in the picture!

I wish that my computer wasn't packed up in storage because I would love to put up a bunch of pictures of the white house gang over the years. The only couple that is missing is Chelsi and Dave Firmage who were in Disney Land during this party. We really missed you guys!!



Driving home from Logan on Saturday, I got teary eyed as Chase and I talked about how special these friends are. We shared such a special time of life together and had so much fun over the years. We love you guys!

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

Does anyone else find this yucky pressure to make sure your posts are captivating, well written, not too self-centered, and full of cute pictures? I don't like it. I'm pretty sure my posts are normally none of those things, but I still put off updating for too long and then I end up throwing something up so I can keep a record of it. I'm going to try harder not to care. Anyway, back to business :)

Christmas

This was the first year where our families (most of them) were close enough together that we could split up the holiday. We still missed Kyle, Jade, Tayler, Bri, Matt, and Dara, but at least we were able to have some Taylor and Enzler flavor at the same time.

Christmas eve was spent with the Taylors eating a delicious fondue buffet. ...delicous and so much fun! In the evening we cuddled up around the tree in our matching PJ's and each shared something we love about our Savior. It was the perfect way to keep ourselves focused on what Christmas is really all about.

After exchanging gifts in the morning and feeling so spoiled and loved by the Taylors, we drove to Park City to spend the rest of the day at the INCREDIBLE condo that Tiffini and John rented. Mom, Dad, and Kaela were already there waiting for us to join the party. We sat around the fire and read Santa's letter to the Enzler's family and exchanged gifts lovingly picked out for eachother.

There is something so special about Christmas and how it brings family's closer together. Even when you can't be with all of those that you love in person, you can still strenthen the bonds with eachother as you talk on the phone. Hopefully next year it will be in person!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas-these monks are awesome.

White Christmas

27 weeks pregnant

Life around here has been as busy as ever (story of everyone's life, right?) Chase and I are both enjoying our jobs, although we're still trying to get used to getting to work by 6:50 am with all of the surprise overnight snowstorms. Add 6 inches of freshly packed snow, an unplowed freeway, and the normal "Utah drivers" together and it makes for a big adventure getting to work most mornings...and a stressed out Leah.

Our baby boy is just as busy as ever in my growing belly. Watching my belly roll around as he moves never gets old for Chase and me. Chase loves to talk to my stomach and get a little kick in return. (Chase doesn't have to know that he is pretty much kicking all of the time whether we're talking to him or not)

It makes me so happy to see how excited Chase is about our future addition. We went to Target the other day to pick out some presents for friends who were expecting. Of course we couldn't help stopping at the baby boy section, and of course we couldn't resist picking out some cute outfits. We decided that we would each pick out one outfit. Needless to say, we ended up leaving with 8. 1 nighty picked out by me, and the other 7 outfits were chosen by Chase who just couldn't possibly narrow it down more than that. Any of you who know Chase wouldn't be surprised that every single one said something written on it like:

"Future quarterback" or "Sports Star-just like Daddy"

As of today I am 27 weeks, 3 days pregnant. I can't believe in 3 months he'll be due! The second trimester has completely flown by. I have been feeling great, thanks to my friends:

Tums (for heartburn)

the three pillows I sleep with at night, and

hand sanitizer that I carry around to keep sicky germs away.

I'm determined not to get sick during this crazy flu season.

and we might as well add ice cream to that list.

But lets face it, when has ice cream not been my best friend?

24 weeks. Kind of old I know, but its fun to see the contrast-if you can.

Can you believe Christmas is here in two weeks? WOW! Time is flying by. I think I need to savour the Christmas spirit a little more before it passes me by. Today in Relief Society our teacher challenged us to spend at least a few minutes a day pondering Christ and what Christmas really means. I can't think of a better way to get into the Christmas spirit.

moments of THANKS

personally, I DO think we look alike

Love these three

missing a few, but loving who was there

grateful for a husband that loves kids

twitterpation during our rousing game of "werewolf"

Thanksgiving is such a good reminder. It is a good reminder that there is always so much to be thankful for. I know I should be going through my days thinking of what I am grateful for all the time, but it is easy to get caught up in our lives and forget to get on our knees and really thank our Father in heaven for what we are blessed with. Today I'm not going to make a list of all of the things I am grateful for for the world to see, but I am going to take some time to ponder what that list would have-and I'm going to ponder how I can live my life to be more deserving of those blessings. And then after I ponder what I can do, I'm going to DO it.
So, thanks for the reminder Thanksgiving.

Chase bragging about Leah and Life...Post #1

Chase was here!!

First time writing on this blog; Leah is so much better at writing than me, so I usually leave it up to her.

I just wanted to write a little about how much I love Leah...She is my angel of hope and I am very blessed to have her as my wife. She doesn't believe me when I tell her, but she truly does always look beautiful. She has that natural beauty that is rare.

She has always been so excited to have a baby. Her little belly is showing and she looks so dang cute. I love how excited she gets when our little boy kicks and is moving around. She is going to be such a great mother! Leah is always a cheery person, and she makes me happy!! I adore my wife.

My life is very blessed. My job is great; I work at NAI Utah Commercial Real Estate. I am an Industrial Researcher/Analyst. I have not been there long, but I have really enjoyed it so far. I have a wonderful, beautiful, and fun wife. I have the gospel in my life, and a great future ahead of me. Great life!!

Expect another post from me in a year or two...Chao

October 21, 2009

Have you ever woken up one morning and just felt something different in the air?

We had been married three years. Three wonderful, happy, capacity expanding years.

I first sensed it when our baby boy patted me good morning from the inside. I realized that this would be our last anniversary as just "us". ...a little bitter sweet, but mostly sweet.

Then I felt it again when I was driving to work-and this is what I saw.

I could feel it. With this sunrise came change.

I thought I was going to another day of work, and then we'd go to California to celebrate a sunrise in my sister's life, and we'd come back and I'd go to work again and Chase and I would keep living our lives...and it would change day by day, bit by bit.

I like change, I really do. But I like to anticipate it.

I like to ponder it, prepare for it, ready myself.

Then let the change ease itself in...

and its always a little hard leaving the old behind,

but the new is so exciting...a new adventure that brings more growth.

Sometimes it doesn't happen that way though.

Sometimes its sudden, and shocking, and it feels like you've got no control.

That kind of change is a lot harder to deal with.

But then you realize that you have a Heavenly Father who has a plan.

Not just for all of his children. for MY family. for ME.

He knows what is in store for us. And it is always wonderful-

better than we could choose for ourselves. Better than we can imagine.

But it is hard to give up that control sometimes. At least for me.

Sometimes we have to take a step forward.

into the shadows,

knowing that I don't have to see what is ahead

if I step in the direction Heavenly Father wants me to step.

So we did. Chase and I decided that it was time to be willing to do what Heavenly Father wanted...which we were always willing to do.

BUT we had to be willing to follow Him without seeing how it would work out.

Where will we live?

Where will Chase work?

What about the wonderful family we have in Boise?

What about the job/internship we have here?

What about our apartment in Boise?

Health insurance?

and on and on and on.

So we gave up trying to answer all of those questions before making a decision.

We had to excersise FAITH

and it was scary.

One day I was sitting in my office in Kyle's garage,

thinking of the redbox we'd pick up that night and what groceries I would buy for lunch.

The next day I was in Salt Lake City with no idea what we were doing or how it would work out.

But I knew that it would.

And it did.

Within three days I got a well paying job in Salt Lake that couldn't be more perfect,

we worked the details of leaving our Boise job with our wonderful boss (my brother),

Chase got hired at a Commercial Real Estate firm with salary and benefits (YAY!)

we've got a roof over our heads,

all the bills got paid,

and lots of family who love us.

But most of all, a Heavenly Father who blesses us

with more than we could even think to ask for

Life is good. Change is scary...

but so worth it.

Goodbye to our happy six months in Boise.

We loved living by and working with family

We loved the late, light summer evenings playing softball

We loved dinner and football at Mom and Dad's

We loved ditching work to swim in the pool

and watching Penny and Bear wrestle all day.

We loved watching Tayler grow and being around to help her do it.

We loved learning what we learned.

We'll be back to visit soon.

Thanks for everything Mom, Dad, Kaela, Kyle, Jade, and Tayler.

Love you, miss you.

Goodnight to yesterday,

Good morning to the sunrise

and a new day.