Searching for an Apartment Blues

Home Sweet Home

Are you Kidding me??


These past few days, Matthew and I have been apartment searching. I will be completely honest, nothing has impressed me thus far. Where are we going to live?? Oh, well, with our budget and needs, we are most likely going to live in a cardboard box along I-15. So, please, come and visit anytime. Maybe throw out a banana or two out the window of your car while passing.

Yes, I am exaggerating. But, still... WHY ARE THINGS SO EXPENSIVE?? I have definitely come to the conclusion that I hate money. Well, maybe not money itself, because, boy! wouldn't I LOVE to get my hands on some. But, I hate that it is something that we must rely on to survive. I understand that money doesn't buy happiness, but I think it sure can buy a little stress relief! It seems that it creeps up into every conversation that we have lately. Moving into a cheaper apartment. Buying a new family car -so that the growth of our children's feet are no longer stunted. Finally getting a credit card -YIKES- so we can eventually buy a home. SCHOOL! (Although, I am exceedingly happy that Matthew has been motivated to go back to school, it scares me to death to think about student loans. Yes, we're also trying to get grants, but there is more to that story.) But, maybe it's not all the money's fault. Perhaps, we just need better conversation.

I'm sorry to complain, I think I have just reached a significant milestone in my life. I now realize how much money rules this world. I think I might be sick....

SO Not Photo-Shopped!

Shannon Hale...Yeah, me and Brittany totally met her at her book signing in Salt Lake! She just came out with The Actor and the Housewife, which was a good read. I laughed, I cried, and I was pleased with how it overall turned out. (Jennifer, I think you would really like it.) But, Shannon - yeah, first name basis. We're like best friends now - was EXTREMELY nice and down to earth. She was someone who was very real. It was easy to tell that she writes for entertainment and then she goes back home and becomes Sister Hale calling to see if you got your visiting teaching done this month. It was a BLAST!

One Question...

Why is it that when I don't have them in cute matchy-matchy clothes and the background is bad my children can pose and take a decent picture like this one above? They are both looking at the camera and both smiling! It's a cute picture of both of these two. BUT (and this is a big BUT) when I have them in nice clothes, in a nice setting, my children pull out this gem....
This past week, Matthew and I went to the Jordan River Temple and when we informed our children, they were so excited because they thought they were going, which they didn't. So, yesterday, we put them in their Easter Sunday clothes and took them to see the temple and take some pictures. They loved to see the temple. (Just like in the Primary song.) They were not so excited to take the pictures. I couldn't really get a decent picture of them both together, but I got a few individuals that I thought were cute. So MORE pictures from us, but I hope you still like them.

My fave

Lily was tired of taking pictures. This is her tired of the paparazzi pose.

I hate that the van is in the background of this, but I think Will is so darn cute!

A Month in Review

Our past month has been pretty crazy. This picture of Lily says it all! She got of out bed herself (she is now in a toddler bed!) and went to sleep in the chair in their room. Anyway, I just wanted to update everyone on the brighter side of our life! What better way to talk about my children than to show you?? They are hilarious and here is yet another photo gallery of my favorite pictures from the past month. Beware: there are many many pictures!

I am the camp director in our ward, and was given a lot of supplies. Since I live in an apartment with limited space, we have boxes and such stacked up in our front room! William and Lily LOVE to climb it. One day they sat down and posed and said, "CHEESE!" so I grabbed the camera. Just imagine a different background!

I gave them corn dogs with ketchup. Need I say more?

I love this picture of my William. His smile is genuine and I can't believe how old he looks!

I love her pigtail bed head. Her new nickname: Lily Longstocking.

One day when grandma and "Crap-pa" were here, we went up to Heber City to have a train day! We went to the Dairy Keen, which had train tables for kids, and had a train going around the ceiling. Then we went to the train station and who did we find there??
Only Thomas the Tank Engine! He was there for "A Day Out with Thomas" that was on Memorial Day. We showed up the day after he arrived, but since we didn't pay a billion dollars for tickets to have a day out with Thomas...

...his face was covered. Oh well. We just told the kids he was sleeping.

On the train at Dairy Keen.

Typical Lily.

William and Lily got sidewalk chalk for their birthday. We're pretty happy we have a cement slab as a wall outside now!
Last but not least is this gem. I can't help but laugh at this picture. Will just makes you smile with his cute smile. Lily makes me smile by, well, her face!

I'm really hoping that I can get back on track with blogging. It's something that I love to do, but I feel like I haven't had anything blog-worthy! Things are for sure looking up though, so I hope to have more to come!!

My Three Year Old

My William! Today is my little boy's birthday. Yes, little boy. No longer baby. Merging out of toddler-life onto the highway of boyhood. Where has the time gone? William was surprise number one for Matt and me, but from the moment I found out about him, I loved him. He was our "Baby Will".
William has always been very mild mannered. He's always been a normal kid, going through phases, but Will usually has been eager to do what's right. He's a good kid.

I don't know if it's because he was so young when I became pregnant with Lily, but William has always been one to entertain himself.

William "Bobcat" Townsend has a great talent. I'm not sure when he began, but Will has loved golf since the day it was introduced to him. He's even gotten to the point that he uses both hands. He plays really well and it's one of those things that he can't get enough of. Matt and I have been talking about this and I think in the next year, we'll probably put him in classes.
Will has such a FUN personality. He keeps me laughing, that's for sure. He says and does some of the funniest and cutest things. I love that Will is talking more. It's easy to converse with him.
William and Lily are adorable together. I mentioned in Lily's Birthday Post that they have their moments, but they usually get along. Lately, William has been fulfilling his role as Big Brother. Mmm... more like the role as Lily's Big Brother/Mother. He disciplines her when she does something that he knows she's not supposed to. It's wonderful to have them play together, but it always ends up with a "No ma'am, Lily, we don't hit!" and then a loud, ear piercing scream of "NOOOO!!!" But, all in all, it melts my heart when Will gives Lily a hug simply because he loves her or when we're going somewhere and he holds her hand.

Another thing that William is into is Thomas the Tank Engine. We just recently received a whole set of wooden tracks and trains from Matt's sister, Julie. Will plays with them daily. Some days, the track is more elaborate. Some days, it's just a single track on my bathroom floor. William always likes it more when Matt or I help him make big train tracks. We're working on sharing with Lily. Will can have a hard time with that...

Will is one of the three loves of my life. He can melt my heart with just one single look. William is such a blessing to me and I can't imagine not having him.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WILLIAM!!

We Love you!

Yet another "TWOsday"

Today is my beautiful Lily's birthday! She is two years old and her birthday fell on a Tuesday! Just like William's did. Coincidence? I think not... I just wanted to write a post about Lily and how precious she is to me and to our family. She was a surprise that came to us. When we moved to Tennessee, Matt told me that he had a feeling that something great was going to happen to our family. Lily was that great gift. Heavenly Father saw the greater picture and I'm so happy that He sent her to us.
She is such a fun little person. She has a whole slew of different personalities and they all come out depending on her mood. What can I say? She is such a girl!
Lily has such a fun sense of humor. She makes me laugh just by laughing or smiling like in this picture above. She laughs at the smallest thing. One of the things she laughs at the most is me shaking my head no. I don't know why, but she laughs hysterically.
Hmm.. If Lily ain't happy, you know she isn't. Although she is usually very happy, we have our days.

Lily is sort of my free spirit. Lily has been the one to strip (numerous amounts of times) in the bed. Sometimes she uses the bathroom in her bed... or bathtub. She doesn't mind being naked. Lily is completely different than Will. She is her own person.


Lily has ALWAYS been a great eater. She is my child that eats practically everything I give her. She loves candy and snacks, as well as fruits and vegetables.
Since Lily has been born, she has been attached to a pacifier. As you might have noticed in past pictures, she rarely has it out of her mouth. Well, this is the pivotal year! We have been limiting how often we give it to her. We have pretty much weened her from it. Which is exciting! She's talking more and laughing more. And it's wonderful to see all of her face all the time. Lily's such a pretty girl.


William and Lily are very close in age (as of right now, I have 2 two year olds) and also very close as brother and sister. They do fight (and this is increasing) but, they play together so well. They love each other.

Lily is such a blessing to us. I love her so much. I enjoy spending time with her. We have fun doing hair and she wears my make-up sometimes. Lily loves to wear perfume also. It's so fun to have a girly girl. She's a sweetheart and I can't believe how fast she's growing! She's a light in my life.

Happy Birthday Lily!!
We Love You!