Wednesday, April 20, 2011

So Proud


We're so proud of Buck.  This week he is graduating from BYU with both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Accounting.

He's worked really hard, and managed a nearly perfect GPA (darn A- 's).

He's a loving husband:

One of about 3 pictures I have of myself pregnant...though I didn't even know yet in this picture.


He's fun:

Riding our tandem with my Cousin, Lucy.
He's a loving father: 



One of my all time favorite pictures of them.




Did I mention he loves his family?


Buck's parents, grandparents, and Aunt Christie get here today to kick off the graduation festivities.  Hopefully I'll get to sneak in a graduation picture before we hit the road on Monday, but no promises.

We don't have fancy Internet phones (I don't even have a cell phone), so you may not hear from us until we've stepped foot in South Carolina.  Maybe not though.  I'm planning a sure-to-be-fun graduation party for shortly after we get there, so who knows?

Now I'm just off topic.

Hooray, Buck!  We're so proud of you.

Friday, April 15, 2011

The View From Down Here





I think all this packing has got the best of us.
Millie thoroughly enjoyed making this mess.
Judging by the fact I took these pictures, I thoroughly enjoyed watching her.
These were Buck's papers anyway.

Hope everyone else is enjoying staying put for now, you lucky dogs.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Had A Bad Day

Ever had one of those?

Well when it involves WalMart, doesn't that just amplify things?

Buck asked us to go get the oil changed yesterday.  I usually opt for WalMart so I can walk around the store instead of sitting in one of those stinky waiting rooms wrestling Millie.  We got to WalMart and we were the only people there to get our oil changed.  That doesn't happen often, and honestly I was a tiny bit sad that I wouldn't get to look through the fabric quite as thoroughly as I'd hoped.

One side note.  They give you these cool stickers with a bar code on them now.  You can just scan the bar code under any "find the price here" scanner around the store to check the progress of your car.  So awesome.

So I wandered around the store, picking up a few necessities along the way.  I scanned my code and saw my car was done so Millie and I made our way to the auto department.  I was greeted by a less than friendly cashier wondering what I wanted (they are trying to do inventory, so everyone is less than friendly right now).  I just told her I needed to check out and that my car was done.  She rang me up (and totally forgot to compliment me on how cute Millie was...rude) I scanned my credit card and guess what.  I was declined.  I made her try it two more times to be sure.  Yep, definitely declined.  I tried my secret stash bank account and that was declined, too.  I usually keep a debit card as well, but I let Buck borrow it to get gas at Costco so it wasn't in my wallet.

So what's a girl to do in this pickle?  Well, if you keep up with me at all you know I don't have a cell phone right now.  Luckily I had written my home phone number down and put it in my wallet (why bother memorizing it?).  I called, crossing my fingers that Buck would answer.  He didn't.  I knew he was in class anyways, but you have to look like you're trying, right?  I would have called his cell but they wouldn't let me make any long distance phone calls on their phone.  He still has a South Carolina number, dang it.

I felt like I had exhausted all of my options except one.  That's right.  I played that card.  I cried.  I mean really cried.  I had to stop and catch my breath even.  The cashier got the manager who approved me leaving (and chancing me not coming back) to go get some money.  With red, wet eyes I made the walk of shame through the garage out to my car.  Bless Millie's heart, she was being good this whole time.

So that, my friends, is how you get a free oil change.

Ok fine.  I went back, of course.  Thankfully I had cash at home to cover it all so I didn't have to waste time looking for our debit card.  Within 20 mins my debt was paid off, and I no longer wanted to kill my husband and Costco for the utter humiliation I just went through.

Just so you know, the credit card we use still has a very low limit on it since I got it when I was a Freshmen in college.  I've since had a "real" job and just keep forgetting to ask them to up the limit.  We also pay our gas, groceries, and rent on that same credit card (except when we go to Costco, obviously) so it's not hard to reach the limit.  Buck set an ultra secure password on our credit card online thingy.  It's so secure I can't memorize it.  I rely completely on him checking the balance.  That's where my extreme anger toward him came from, but has since passed.  I promise.

So next time you're having a bad day, just ask yourself "is this worse than crying my eyes out in WalMart?" and you may just feel better.  Of course, there are much worse things.  Like having your child throw up all over you (and others) on an airplane, for example.

Friday, April 8, 2011

It's THAT Day


One year ago today we finished our journey from this:
Newborn Millie
to this:
Millie making her great escape after 135 days in the hospital.
Poor girl was probably a little scared.
Having Millie home with us is pure joy.

We get to see this: 

Getting dressed for Aqua Therapy
and this everyday

Just polished off some chocolate chip cookies for snack
If you followed her story closely, you might remember I didn't give much warning before we took her home.  That was because I was surprised I was convincing enough (maybe too much whining?) to have Dr. Later approve her going home.  He visited us around 8 AM and said Millie still needed more time.  By lunch she was eating pretty good (not by the book amazing yet), and by late afternoon he reluctantly said "okay."  I was very pushy.  I'm not normally like that with doctors (family?  maybe) but we were all so tired of being there.  You do strange things when your name becomes Mom.

I really wish we took a better family picture of us leaving the NICU, but honestly I ran out of there as fast as I could.  I was genuinely scared something would come up, or someone would decide Millie wasn't quite ready.  Our sweet nurse let us prance around the NICU (nursery A, with the less healthy babies) to tell all of our favorite NICU staff goodbye.  I didn't know her that well, but I will always be thankful for that little parade.  After being there so long and gaining this new "family" I felt like we deserved a special goodbye.

It was a hassle having to move her around the house attached to oxygen and a monitor when we got home, but it was so much better than visiting her at the hospital.  Carting her and all of that to visit Dr. Later was a nightmare, but still a bazillion times better than having her in the hospital.

I love having Millie home.  She might drive me crazy with pulling the DVD's off the shelf constantly, finding a way to get into the toilet, always wanting me to hold her, and managing to get food in her hair at every feeding, but I love it.  I wouldn't trade this time with her for anything.  I love her.  Her personality is contagious, and I miss her even during her naps.

So today we're celebrating Millie's Homecoming.  That yucky April evening one year ago today when I snuck her out of the hospital.  And we've never looked back.

If you're feeling nostalgic, feel free to read 135 Days Later again.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Beautiful Weekend

Blog or pack?  Clearly I'd rather blog.  Really I'd rather do anything.
Well, I'd rather pack than try and grocery shop with Millie.  But anything else.

Friday was beautiful.  We tried to picnic but...

I think Millie thinks "picnic" means run around like a crazy person.  Without shoes on.

We were joined by sweet friends.  Sure wish I could have enjoyed their company more, but like I said, crazy person.  I actually know crazy people don't all run around, so excuse the expression.

We got to house and dog sit for some friends.  Millie loved it.


She's trying to persuade them to play with her.

She's very convincing.

When we got home, we had an Easter package from G-Viv!  Millie loves the cute little Hello Kitty Easter Bunnies.  She'll love them all over again in her Easter basket.

She is so funny.  All of the sudden this girl loves to lay around.  Please excuse the creative P-jams.  We're desperate for a laundry day.  Someday we'll have a washer and dryer in our very own place.
So really, that's it.  Just a few fun pictures and a recap of what we did this weekend.  We also spent 8-10 hours watching General Conference, which was awesome.  I especially loved watching it while house sitting.  Millie could roam around, play with the dogs, or take a nap and we didn't get in her way.  I feel like a better wife, mother, and child of God just from watching it.

I did get bit by the craft bug though.  I think it's from trying to avoid packing.  Maybe it's from taking a trip to a wonderful fabric store (The Cotton Shop).  Who knows.  Really though, I bought some Amy Butler fabric 50% off this weekend.  My heart nearly beat out of my chest from walking around this store (for an entire hour, Millie on her best behavior) taking in all of the spring fabrics.  If only I had money to buy it all and projects to make.  It didn't help that the lady we were house sitting for is a quilter so I got to peek at some of her quilting fabrics.  Now I want to quilt.  Shucks.  And get good at embroidery (my new love).  Darn.  I guess I should finish what I already have going first.  I should probably learn to use my sewing machine too.  Then can I ask for a silhouette?  I guess I'll need a craft room too.  Yikes.

One last thing.  I'm 99% sure Millie told the dogs "bye" and waved when we left the house.  I can't wait to tell her speech therapist.

You'll hear from me later this week.  We're celebrating something special, and of course I'll want to talk about it.  You know me well.  Plus I can avoid packing.