Da Stash

Now obviously we know the true meaning of Christmas is to remember the birth of our Savior, who lived and died and was resurrected so that we may live again with our Father in Heaven. This has been especially engrained in us since we had little money to really go commercial. However, Ammon and I both just LOVE giving gifts and we LOVE Christmas and even with little income we gave ourselves a budget to get one another presents. Here are some of them including some CD's and DVD's. I also got a fleece blanket from Ammon's mom and we got a portable radio to put in our 72-hour kit from my parent's. (The karaoke system was a gift from our friend Justin Magnusson and if anyone out there wants be invited to our Karaoke party in the next few weeks, let me know.) I am proud to say (with the help of Ammon's brother Landon) we were able to get Ammon a new paintball gun. His old one was more than 12 years old and in desperate need of retirement.

And let's be honest, it's safer than a REAL gun!

Da Ornaments

Another tradition we are forming is getting eachother new ornaments. Here are the three: Ammon's is a Great Dane, Mine is a pair of Dancing Bears, and Ammon even got one for the new Baby: a little Baby Bear coloring.

Da Stockings

Every year we stuff eachother's stockings with goodies and for the longest time, Ammon and I really wanted to get a stocking for the future child/children of the our family. However, we just couldn't agree on any of them. Thankfully, one of the gals I visit-teach makes these little stocking candy-cane holders that are a perfect little addition to our stocking family!!!! I also included all of the fantastic junk that was in our stockings.

Puppy-Sitting

We have some friends in our ward that went out of town for the week of Christmas, so we had the opportunity to puppy-sit their 3-month old blue Great Dane puppy Payton. She is still recovering from a bout with parvo (apparently our neighborhood is just covered in it), so she looks a little skinny in the pictures. However, she is probably the prettiest dog I have ever seen and has overall been a very good puppy (except for that first day she refused to 'go' in the backyard, and that poor garden hose... definitely need to get a new garden hose). She and Bowser have become quick friends!!

New 'Do

So I promised myself I wouldn't cut my freakishly long hair until I got pregnant. Then I got pregnant and it just wasnt much of a priority. Then, after multiple attempts at trying to get all of my hair out from under me while lying in bed with some tired tummy muscles (because for some reason tummy muscles don't like an expanding uterus), I decided I couldn't wait much longer. Here are the before and after pictures. So far, I have gotten good responses, with the only exception being Ammon crying at the salon then staring at me for an hour after to try to remember his 'new wife'. Originally I was planning on donating it to Locks of Love, but I figured with our financial situation I would try to sell it first. So far no takers. If it hasn't sold by the end of January, it will be donated.

Happy Birthday, Ammon!!!

No birthday would be complete without an almost-naked blonde popping out of a cake. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning stages of a princess cake (the bottom half will be decorated to look like a skirt) for our neighbor's 4th birthday. Nevertheless, in some small way, this made Ammon's birthday a few days after just that much more complete!

By Meeka

With all that has been going on (financially, pregnancy and what not), we decided it would be best to try to find new homes for our two 'puppies'. Bowser drew the long straw so he would be the one to keep as long as we could afford him. Well, Meeka because she is just such an awesome and beautiful dog, completely won over the first family she saw. Unfortunately they only wanted one though. Lilu met two families after that and (possibly due to her own stresses of losing her sister or being wary of anything high-activity or whatever) made it very clear she didn't want to go with a family with younger children. Thankfully she showed her true colors before she went home with them (growling and avoiding and what not). Long story short, we (meaning Lindsey) have decided to keep her and see how things go. She has been a good girl overall with us, so we thought maybe give her a chance to redeem herself. So here is a little farewell photo of Meeka a week before we gave her away!

Silly Doggy!!

Third Times a Charm! or is it Three Strikes Your Out!!

Well, since it wasn't enough for Ammon's hours to get cut back and for me to be laid off, our life has really decided to take a nose-dive with Ammon getting laid off on Tuesday!! The week started out fun enough with a Monday migraine and five appointments with the business end of the toilet, but then the real thrills began. NOW we get the total and complete joy of trying to keep ourselves out of poverty as pregnant newlyweds. (SIGH, what raptures!!) SO... needless to say, if you know anyone who's hiring a welder, let us know!!

Da Dr. Seuss Tree

As is tradition we put up Christmas decorations this past weekend... We have my parents old fake tree that is older than me and I must say has seen better days. Last year we bought a star to place on top that unfortunately is not wide enough to fit that top and is too heavy for the tree to support. That as well as the crooked bottom have helped us accept that this is our Dr. Seuss Tree. We are proud of its mis-shapen-ness and will let it shine in the front window, drooping star and all until New Years.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner this year, and I must say it was a complete success. We had it catered by two of my favorite chefs (the two moms) along with some help by the rest of the family. It was a ton of fun, and even though I was completely exhausted by 6pm that evening, I can't wait to do it again next year!

Car Insurance Anyone?

It's the little things in life that make you happy!! This little guy wandered into our humble abode as we were unloading groceries... it's a baby gecko if you can't tell. He made me so happy (I actually couldn't stop my hysterical giggling as he crawled all over my hand) we had to take pictures for the blog.

The Economy Strikes Again!!

Well, it's official! Ammon and I have now both been hit by the infamous Sucky-Economy Bug that has made so many suffer these last few months. I was laid off last week and Ammon's shop has gone down to 40 hours a week (where it's normally 60-72). We've been reduced from our normal $1400 (net)/week to $600 pracitcally overnight, and the panicking has begun. This post is not to declare "Whoa is us!" or to ask for pity (but if you're offering we will take it). This post is only informative and to ask our loved ones for their prayers and open ears for job opportunities. Unemployment documents have been filed, resumes have been sent and our tithing has been paid, so we stand optimistic but preparing (emotionally at least) for the worst.

8 Weeks and Counting

Officially I'm due June 10, 2009. Which sounds so much farther away than saying that I'm 1/5 or 20% of the way done with the pregnancy. I try to be optimistic, which is difficult as your hovering over a toilet. However, I haven't had it too bad and the second trimester is just around the corner. Here I am at 8 weeks, (Sunday, Nov. 2nd) and this is my official starting silhouette starting point.

Da Halloweeners!

Our Halloween costumes were in fact inspired by our always-eye-catching mutt Bowser. I wanted to bring one of our dogs to the ward trunk or treat, but I just couldn't convince myself to dress up as Dorothy again and have 60-pound Toto. Therefore, the creative juices, such as they are, started to flow. Thankfully, some random person a few weeks ago asked me if Bowser was a Dalmation (a 110 pound Dalmation?!?!) and that gave me the firefighter idea. Since I'm a girl and wanted to have a 'family theme', I figured what better costume to represent our fiery relationship than for me to be a walking flame? Thence our costumes were born. We had a lot of fun and Ammon declares that Bowser was the talk of the event.

Da Big News

I have to apologize for two things here: 1-Really sorry the picture is freakishly blurry. 2- This is the one and only time you will see something on my blog that i have peed on. Nevertheless, the big news is we are pregnant!!!! Wahoo! Ammon and I are thrilled and excited (and a little surprised it happened as soon as it did, which is why there are two tests). According to my calculations I'm due mid-June. So thanks for all of your support and suggestions. I'm sure we'll be asking for more as the months go by!

How many 6 ft+, 280 pound+ men can you fit on a couch?

3... Apparently!

Da King's New Throne

GUARANTEED TO FLUSH A BUCKET OF GOLF BALLS, THE CHAMPION 4 IS MASTER OF THE TOILET WORLD AND IS NOW A CHERISHED PART OF OUR HOME!!

Mmmmm... Pie!

It's a Nectarine Pie? Never heard of it? Neither had we, but since Apricots were out of season and Alana and I were determined to have pie... well, there it is!!! And it was dang GOOD!!!

Da Puppies

I was told by my sister that i need to put some updated pictures of "da puppies" on our blog since they've grown quite a bit. Lilu (pink collar) is 60 pounds and Meeka (purple collar) is 66 pounds. They're now right around 11 months and just the sweetest little dogs. They keep us on our toes by finding new and interesting ways to escape from our yard. I would find this less funny if they wandered around more, but usually we find them just sitting outside the fence waiting to be let back in. I thnk for them the challenge is getting out. Once they accomplish that, the games over. Silly Doggy!!

Temporarily Permanent New Rides

Thanks to the warranty on my Highlander I've had the opportunity to test-drive a 2008 Sienna (minivan) and 2008 Rav4. I had the minivan for about a week and a half and it helped me play with the minds of my caring family members (is she pregnant?/didn't they just get two new vehicles and co-sign on Landon's car?/ eeew a minivan!) Long story short, the passenger seat's airbag sensor went on the on the fritz and the only available automatic seat was in O Canada! Then the other day mywhiper blad and passenger rear window decided to qut on me. Thank goodness for small warranties because total repairs would have been over $3500.

Special New Glasses

So the other day, i had my eye appointment to get new glasses and contacts. Normally this would be hardly worth mentioning besides my extreme vanity and cuz i haven't had new glasses or contacts for three years. WELL, I've been wearing the same pair of monthly-disposable contacts now for more than six months... maybe even a full year if i'm being brutally honest. OBVIOUSLY this isn't advisable, but since we didn't have $300 for all that and no eye insurance (until Ammon got his new job), I figured it could wait. NOT SO MUCH!! Turns out the longer you wear your contacts, the stiffer they become. My optometrist said that I suffocated my cornea and have done some major damage!! Well, after a bit of prodding, panicking and some unneccasary suspense caused by the doctor, he told me that I just need to lay off the contacts completely for a month or two and all should be fine. If i had done it much longer, I could have done permanent damage causing constant floaters or even blindness... Well lets just say that I will be heeding the instructions on the box from now one when it says "Dispose after 30 days". These are my new glasses and therefore my new look for the fall. One more blessing we have seen from Ammon's new job!!

The Ammon's New Clothes

With Ammon's new job came a set of all new P&H work shirts, jacket and overalls (or "Bibs" as they call them... very manly). So of course, Ammon came home from work so excited to show me. Well, as the video shows, Ammon couldn't help but emphasize my stubbinees (and his jinourmous-ness) by having me model said new attire. I will apologize for the video... not only my silliness but also the fact that it goes sideways at the end.

Da New Job!!!

Ammon started a new job a few weeks ago with P & H Minepro. The company's one and only job is to build and repair the crane-shovel thingy's pictured above (they are huge-oungous!!!!). It's a well-established corporation and a ten-year contract with the Arizona mines, so needless to say, we are hoping for good job security. By taking this job, Ammon gets $8.50 more an hour and can work up to 72 hours a week with over-time. This means he could earn almost $100,000 in a year!!! We have been praying for months for something like this for Ammon, and we are both so VERY grateful for the work of the Lord in our lives!!!

When it Rains it POURS!!

Well, our house has heard of Ammon's new job and of our extra income and slowly bits of it have started to mutiny on us!!! We had to replace a portion of the roof a few weeks ago and put a ceiling fan in the master bedroom so that Ammon can sleep in the heat of the day. However, we were unprepared for the broken toilet, swollen and collapsing front door or a broken fence. And of course, the other day, I made it worse by smasking the back window a little too hard, and shattering it to bits. We are grateful for the blessing of Ammon's new job and appreciative that everything has held up until now, but SHEESH!!!

Plus we now have an army of cans to finally take over the world!!!

Can-Smashing

You know you've been married awhile when you find smashing cans to be a good date-night activity. Ammon made this can-smasher during a slow day at work. I was very proud of course!!!

Da Loop 202 Opening

Since Ammon's dad is a big-wig at ADOT, we went to the official opening of the last leg of the Loop 202 freeway. It was hot and a lot of walking (about 4 miles total), but we got some awesome pens, a free meal, and the chance to say to our grandchildren, "We were there when..."

Sibling Rivalry

Girl against Boy!

Meeka and Bowser

duke it out to win the

ultimate prize of a

dirty old sock!

Da Boys!

I finally figured out how to download a video!!! Anyway, this is a fun video of Ammon playing with his new buddy! Bowser is about a year and a half, which puts him around a teenager for a dog, so there's still some playfulness in him. This video also shows how big Bowser is as well as how big the two puppies are, now six months!

Bowser

After months of trying, we finally have a boy!! Bowser is now our fourth child, as we always dreamed of having. At 110 pounds, he's no light-weight. Bowser (formerly Boozer) a Harlequin Great Dane (mix-ish) that's fixed, house-trained, and best of all, FREE!! Long story short, it was Ammon's dream to have a Harlequin Great Dane, so we couldn't pass up the opportunity! He's a great dog and has been a ton of fun! Plus, he really scares all of the Mexican kids that seem to think it's fun to wander onto our front yard or kick our back fence. With a bark like his, I don't think we have to worry about ANYBODY!!

Welding Away!

Ammon's co-worker took some photos of him at his shop. I think it's really AWESOME since they don't let visitors in the wherehouse for fear of damaging eyes with the welders. ... I SO PROUD!!

Poker with the Missionaries

We feed the missionaries, and what a bad influence we have become... playing poker...

drinking (root) beer...

the HUMANITY!!!