Wedding Video

So I don't get on and add to this blog very often, or check other people's blogs out very often either because I'm a slacker. (This is Bill by the way) But I finally got around to editing the footage from our wedding for those of you that are interested and actually do check out other people's blogs. Here's the first part with everything outside the temple. So there you go. In my next blog I'll explain who this "Bill" fellow is, or at least the story behind the name change. Until then.....

My Thoughtful Husband...

This actually happened about a week ago, but I wanted to brag a little on how cute Bill is! Last week I was having a day where I was really feeling the "pregnancy blues." I felt big and not very attractive and was just having a very YUCKY day. Well, this was all happening on a Saturday, and the next Monday Bill came home with a dozen roses and reassured me that he still thought I was beautiful. It was just nice to know he was thinking about me during the day and thought to stop and get roses to cheer me up. I know he did a lot of those types of things when we were dating, but its nice to know that he still wants to do those things even when we are married! He is such a good husband!

Getting Ready!

Well... we don't have a separate baby room to get ready, but we do have a corner of our bedroom that we are preparing for our little girl! I don't know how long we will be in this apartment after she is born, but for the time being, this is our plan. We figure we will want her close to us in the beginning anyway!

Bill working hard to put the crib together! ...

Aside from having a place to sleep, our little girl has TONS of clothes, thanks to Bill's family, and especially his sister Becky who gave us several boxes of CUTE hand-me-downs! I think she has more clothes than I do, at least for her first year of life! As you can see, I still have a lot of organizing to do!

There is still a lot that we still need before she gets here, but at least we know she will have a place to sleep and clothes to wear when she arrives! She has a couple other fun things too (also from her Aunt Becky).

We are getting so excited for her to get here! We can't wait to meet her!

A couple ramblings...

So, I have been thinking about some of my greatest blessings lately and decided that it was time for another rambling blog entry. Just realize that you have been warned in advance...

First of all.... I have been very happy to realize that I love teaching! I have had a wonderful year at Snow Canyon Middle School with wonderful students and great fellow teachers. I couldn't have asked for a better first year teaching experience! I am so thankful that Bill has sacrificed to allow me to have this experience before our little girl arrives. I never thought it would be a hard decision, but I have decided that my children are more important to me than a career (no matter how much I enjoy it) right now and I am choosing to stay home with them. Right now, the situation is available where I can, so I will. I hope it remains that way for several years.

One of the main reasons I am so glad I have had this opportunity is to be able to find out that all those years of school were worth it and that I actually can be an effective teacher. I am glad that I have my degree and love being able to see it hanging next to Bill's. I hope seeing them on the wall will help inspire our children to love education.

Another thing I have been grateful for is the wonderful ward we are in right now! They have been so kind and welcoming from the moment we moved in! One of my favorite things has been, of course, working with our beautiful young women! They are so STRONG, and such a good example to me. I feel like they have taught me more about "standing for truth and righteousness" at all times than I have really taught them. I love the young women's program!! Just being involved gives me a boost! I have been really excited for the recent addition to the young women's theme... The General Young Women Presidency along with the First Presidency has added the value of VIRTUE to the end of the list of values. I LOVE IT! I think that the young women of the church are virtuous and can have a great affect on those around them by showing their example. These girls live these values every day, by choice, and they glow because of it! I wish everyone could feel the complete JOY that comes from living the principles found in the Young Women's theme!

Well, I have really rambled this morning haven't I? I warned you ahead of time :) Now I really need to get ready because my mom, sister, and I are leaving to visit family in Las Vegas today! I am so excited to see all the "hens!" I love how close my family is and how much enjoyment we get from each other. Hopefully I will be good and actually snag some pictures of the hens to share on here!

Oh... I can't believe that there are only about 9 weeks left before our little girl arrives... I guess we need to get a name picked out... :)

Ultrasound #2

We were excited to be able to have another ultrasound last Friday and, Bill being the video man that he is, we were able to record a copy. Bill has since edited it and it has been quite fun for us! I don't know if any of you will be that interested in it, but here it is anyway. I hope you enjoy!

Christmas Fun!

Well... we are back in Hurricane after a crazy and fun Holiday up in West Valley! I tell you... the Grants sure know how to party! We have been up to West Valley twice in the last week and, although we were pretty tired when we got home last night, we had a blast!!!

During our first trip, we went to Bill's friend Casey's wedding and had a great time visiting with a lot of his friends. It was crazy cold and snowy though!

The next day we made it up to Logan for a few hours for the famous Mortensen Family Christmas party! I really love these parties! There are so many people there. The highlights of this party was of course the White Elephant gift exchange (where a decapitated panda head and it's body were two separate gifts!), and the ugly Christmas sweater contest! Bill and I were too slow looking for a sweater, so we didn't get to participate in the contest, but we we were sure proud of the winner! Our Brother in Law, Alexander, won the contest with his amazing sequin Santa!

Our second trip was officially for Christmas! We left at about 1:30 Christmas Eve and headed back up to West Valley. Actually, we first stopped at Bill's brother Eric's house in Sandy for a Brazilian Christmas! Eric's wife Tatiana is from Brazil, so they have different traditions that they like to share with the family at Christmas time. We ate a huge meal, sang carols, and waited until midnight to open gifts! We opened some of our gifts that night, and saved some for the next morning as well. I think that my favorite part of the evening was watching little Giovanna! She is at the perfect age for getting thrilled over Christmas (and being able to stay up so late!

Christmas day was very fun and relaxing! Bill and I couldn't sleep past 6am, so we got up and unwrapped the gifts we had saved with just the two of us! It was very quiet and simple, but very fun too. After the gift opening, we spent the day relaxing and really didn't do much at all! It was so nice. Jim fixed us his famous breakfast of hash browns, sausage, and eggs in the morning, and Karla made an amazing Christmas dinner for that night! Katie and Joel arrived from Wyoming just as dinner was getting on the table, so it was fun to have them with us as well. Their little Lizzie is so cute and fun to be around too! I think one of the funnest things for me was being able to talk to my brother Charles on the phone! He is so cute! He is on his mission in Edmonton Canada right now and received special permission from his mission president to call us separately since we were in West Valley this year and not with everyone in Hurricane. It was so fun to get to visit with him! We talked until his phone card ran out!

We spent Friday shopping and visiting friends. Bill got to hang out for a bit with some friends from high school, and we finally took my friend Michael to dinner for giving us such a good deal on our wedding photos. It was fun to visit with them all for a while.

Saturday was a very busy day!!! We started at about 10:30 for the Grant party (Bill's parents, siblings, in-laws, and nieces & nephews). It was fun to watch some of the gift opening and have a good visit. And, of course, a Grant party in the winter would not be complete without a game of dodge ball!

After Dodge Ball, Bill's family threw a baby shower for Lindsey and me, right there at the church. Several people weren't able to make it due to the crazy winter weather, but it was great anyway! It is fun to start getting some baby things, since we really didn't have anything before our winter travels! And, finally, here is a prego picture that some of you have been asking about. I don't have one of just myself, but here is one with my cute sister-in-law Katie, who is also expecting! I think we are pretty cute!

Speaking of pregnancy, no post would be complete without mentioning the fact that this baby is going to be here before we know it. I am in the middle of my 27th week and time is flying by! I think teaching school has been good for me because it keeps me busy while I wait! Next time I probably won't be working, but I will have a little girl that will keep me busy I am sure!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas of your own and that 2009 brings many new and exciting things to you and your family!

Frosty the Spartan!

So, I never thought this would happen with me teaching in St. George, but it has. Today has officially been declared a snow day for all Washington County Schools! It actually has snowed for a couple of days and I guess they take extra precautions for people down here that don't know how to drive on snowy roads! Today was my day off anyway, but it is still fun to think of it as a snow day. I just hope the weather clears a little this evening... Bill and I are heading up to West Valley and Logan this weekend!

Here is a picture of a snowman one of the teachers I work with built outside of our school last night! His name is Frosty the Spartan!