Phoenix

On April 7th, we found out that instead of moving to Seattle we were being assigned to Phoenix for our first Amazon rotation.
This news came as a major smack in the face to be perfectly honest. Well actually in my heart of hearts, I knew that this was going to happen. There were 7 positions to apply for and he put Phoenix as number 4, but told them in a survey that we were willing to move outside of Seattle. I think I was being prepared, even though it was still hard, to move to Phoenix. As we have been looking for houses and condos in Seattle it just never felt right. We always felt like we were wasting our time.
When Ethan came home and told me that Phoenix was real, I burst into tears. I'm not sad to move to Phoenix but I felt like in a way I was letting my parents down. I hate giving anyone bad news and we were all getting so excited to move closer together, so it was really hard to tell them otherwise.
Once I let out a few good tears, told my parents, and went on a run, I was start to accept the fact that this was happening. That night I prayed that I would be okay with this and by day two of the change I can say that I was honestly excited.
Phoenix will absolutely kill me in the summer but everything about it I am so so excited about. It is going to be so much better for our family all around. We are going to be able to save more money, have a shorter commute, not have to deal with traffic, have sunny winters, Ethan will be able to learn a vital skill in his field that he couldn't in Seattle, we will be close to family, and will be able to live in a bigger more affordable home. Its going to be awesome if I just can get through the summer which I am honestly nervous about.
I think the other hard thing about Phoenix was/is that we know for a fact that we have another short term living situation. We are so sick of moving and so sick of only living places for a year of less. We just want to move and live somewhere for a chunk of time. Since we have been married in 2009, looking only at calendar years, we have been in two wards every year except 2012. We have moved 7 times in the last 5.5 years. Its like we are in the military and we aren't! Don't get me wrong, I don't mind moving, I don't mind meeting new places, and I really don't mind seeing new things, but it would just be nice to stop for a season. Alas we are not and so it is now time to press forward. We will live there about 15 months and then got to Seattle for 15 months and then from there maybe we can finally buy a house and establish some roots. If not, it is  making us better people.
We know we are in the Lords hands, we feel completely confident and calm about this move, and are really getting excited for our next adventure. Next stop Phoenix!

Tulip Festival

On April 11th we took advantage of the warm weather and went to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point. We were able to beat the lines and got in really quick because of our annual passes. Those have been the best purchase we have ever made. Totally worth the money!
Because of the large amounts of people we had to shuttle over on a charter bus and Kelsey literally thought we were at Disneyland. She was so excited! to her after the bus ride, the rest of the day was kind of a let down.

 While I was feeding Madison, Kelsey and Ethan ran around a took pictures. I think there was more running around than pictures, but can you blame her! Look at all that grass!!!

Madison was asleep for most of the event but she did make an appearance after our picnic for just a brief moment. We'll take all we can get!

 

 

I have never been to the Tulip Festival so it was an exciting day.  By the waterfall portion of the gardens they had a stage with music and a couple of food trucks.  We brought our own picnic so we didn't hang out by the waterfalls for every long but it reminded me of Chicago in a way.

This cracked me up. The gardens are divided into smaller gardens within the park. In one of the gardens dedicated to couples, there was a single seat. I just thought it was so random so I made Ethan sit there and take a picture.

We asked Kelsey to smile and we got this.  I wish I could remember what she was saying!!

 

Ethan and I wanted to get a few pictures of us together but were too lazy to ask anyone so we got a bunch of selfies where I am Squinty McGee! Can't help it. The curse of my life.

We did get one good one though

Beautiful weather, beautiful day!

Happy Girls

My girls are some of the happiest people I know. They have made me a better person. I love being a mom so much!!!  I hope that I can develop myself and my home in such a way that we have a place full of love and happiness their whole lives. They love to smile, they love to laugh, and they love to be happy. Why I ever get mad when they are around, I'll never know.

Madison's Blessing

On March 29th Madison was blessed in our Provo 9th ward in Provo Utah. It was very simple but very special occasion for our family. Several family members were able to attend from both sides of the family: one of the many beauties of living in Utah.

Rich and Shara
Andrea and Jed
Christine and Hailey (Whitley said the drive to Provo was too taxing on her :)
Robert and Diana
Uncle Kelly and Aunt Debbie

Rich, Jed, Robert, Uncle Kelly, and Bishop Johnson participated in the circle.
Ethan gave Madison such a wonderful blessing. Without taking away from the sacredness of the blessing, there are a few things that I hope to remember as her mother. Those few things include:

Having a kind heart and being willing to do the things that others wont
Wanting to have the faith to trust in our Heavenly Father
Wanting to have the faith to grow closer to our Savior

I am so grateful that we get to have Maidson in our family. She is so special to me. I fall in love with her everyday. I was so nervous to have two kids because I just could not understand how you could possible share your heart with more than one person. Now that I have Madison in my life I realize how ridiculous that thought is. Madison has come to our family at the perfect time. She is such a perfect little spirit, as is Kelsey, which reminds me every day just how much our Father loves and cares for each of us. We are not as far from Him as we feel.

The whole blessing was beautiful but those sentences really struck me. I am so grateful to live in a home and a family where the power of the priesthood is so real and something we can turn to everyday. I know that this church is true and that the blessings we receive can become real if we do what we are supposed to. I am so grateful to have been raised in a home that helped me develop this testimony and to have found someone who was also raised to know and love the same things that I do. I don't know how I would be raising these precious children without the constant companion of the Holy Ghost. I pray everyday, multiple times a day for the help I need to be a worth mother to these perfect little people. I am so grateful that I get to be a mother and pray that my children will be patient as I too learn and make mistakes. I love my family so much, extended and close. I love my Savior and know that he lives and we can live with him again if only we turn to him and let him heal our lives. The atonement is real and I have seen it work in my life countless times. We can be a family forever because of the wonderful power of the temple. I feel so blessed everyday that I get to call Ethan husband and Kelsey and Madison daughters. I love our family. It is so perfect to me in every way.

MBASA

With the end of the year comes the end of MBASA. Right now I am ready for things to wrap up and be done, but I know that in a few months when I am all alone with no friends and not activities I am going to be missing these ladies like crazy. MBASA has really been a lifesaver for me in this MBA experience. It was a great chance to be involved in something outside of the home that still involves my family. It was  an automatic way for me to make best friends and a way for Kelsey to interact with other kids that required virtually zero effort on my part. We have been so blessed because of MBASA and it will be greatly missed.

It was fun this second year to be able to share my MBASA experience with Elisa. Nothing like having your best friend around all the time. I'm really going to miss this girl.

My Big Girl

I don't know when, but all of a sudden Kelsey is acting like a little girl. I don't think it has to do with Madison either. She is just getting to that point in life where she's not a baby and not a toddler. She is  a little girl. It really makes me sad, but really happy too. She is so fun to talk to and is fun to be around. Its hard not to laugh and be happy when you are with Kelsey. She has the best personality. She is so caring of everyone around her and so obedient. Although stubborn at times (like her mom) she really is a sweet heart. Kelsey is such a kind person. Without prompting she will give me a hug or tell Madison that she loves her or say how cute Ethan and I look. Kelsey loves to sing and dance, loves to play with her toys and books, loves to dress up, and loves to cook. I haven't made dinner by myself in weeks. I am so grateful that I get to spend my days with Kelsey. It really makes me look forward to the years to come.

Spring Fever

Madison is so squishy and adorable. She is already in 3 month clothes. I get asked all the time if she is 3 months old. People are shocked when they find out she is only 6 weeks. I LOVE it. I couldn't have ordered my babies any cuter. How did I luck out with those cheeks!

 

Along with the Minnie Mouse ears came a cowgirl princess fairy! 

 

I needed new shoes so we went to Payless and oh my goodness. Kelsey was in Heaven! She tried on so many shoes and every pair would ask if I thought they were cute. It was hilarious!

My dad turned 63 on March 26th and went to Texas Road House. I love this picture because he is super fun, but not normally one to put on a ten gallon hat and sit on a saddle! I guess you get funner as you age.

My cute activity days girls made conference journals with me. I love this calling so much and have learned so much especially from Lisa Morrse. There is nothing she can't do and no one she can't love.