Mike (A.K.A. The brother-in-law)

Okay, Dan and I actually adore Mike. Mike is Dan's younger brother and is a pretty funny kid. He is serving a mission for our church in Samoa and well -- we love him for that too! Dan and I (which is really me, forwarding e-mails to Dan and signing both of our names) try to write Mike every week or two because well, we like him. Last week our e-mail consisted of ultrasound and belly pictures and this is what I got back...

"I enjoyed the picture of the baby but I must say my stomach looks about the same as Amanda's right now! haha no im not that fat."

I just hope I remember this when Mike's wife gets pregant... Here's to hoping!




P.S. I'm not mad -- I really did laugh.... Today must have been a good day! :)

Baby Claire

My sister-in-law and her family have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of their (second) sweet baby girl! She finally decided to face this crazy world -- and her older sister yesterday, November 4th around 2:00 p.m. She weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 20 inches long.

The report I got from my mother-in-law was that she had hair like Audrey (the older sister) a prominent nose, big upper lip and a round head.... I don't know if I agree with all of that but, she's cute.

Here are some pictures (because we all love babies...right?)....

Oh... But, the sad thing is Dan and I probably wont actually see baby Claire until July. :(

Happy - "Late" - Birthday

Dan and I went to Raleigh this weekend to celebrate my dad's 52nd birthday. We had a good time - hung out, went to dinner with some family and came back to the house for cake and ice cream. Here is a picture. I made cake.

It has been a while since a "real" post. Why? For several reasons. First of all, the big things going on in Dan and I's life are not really things that we are ready to open up to the world and post about and the second is because I have been super busy! But, even that being said, there isn't to much going on.





Dan and I are getting ready to go on a Pioneer Trek with the Raleigh (NC) Stake which we are both a little too excited about it. I have amazing endurance and love doing things like this (as does Dan but, apparently, I am only talking about myself today... HA).




Also, I let my mother cut my hair... I wouldn't mention this if it weren't a significant event in my life. My mom always cuts Dan hair -- and even my younger sister's and does a great job. However, I was not as lucky and have an appointment to day to get it "fixed". Fixing it will require a great amount of the length the be gone but, Dan is sure it will look cute. I am hoping (at this point that is really the only option I have) that I look adorable with short hair. BOO!

I'll post more after the Trek -- I am sure.

Sometimes, there is nothing you can do.

Just a little bit of this....

A lot of this....

And Finally....

...AGAIN!

It was....

my mother-in-laws birthday ... and that, is funny.


Let me explain. Dan is wonderful. He is smart and helpful and just an all around stud -- but, he is horrible at remembering birthdays.

When Dan and I got married we put all the birthdays/anniversaries on our calender and in our address book so we didn't forget*. I love sending cards and wish I could get paid to send cards and write letters. Anyhow, so Dan, Annika (the cute girl I nanny) and I went strawberry picking with Dan's mom, (from this point on -- she will be referred to as Mom) just for fun because I wanted to make Jam and needed her help.

We arrive at the house with a post dated Mother's Day present in hand and give it to mom. She smiles and says thank you as she opens it. Within the hour we are all in the car on our way to pick strawberries. I am in the front seat because of course, Annika, just as all the little girls we watch, has to sit by Dan, and the phone ring. YAY, it is Aunt Shelly - Or Mom's sister. I answer and here is our conversation.

Shelly: Is Stephanie there?

Me: Yeah, this is Amanda! How are you?

Shelly: Good. I was just calling to talk to the Birthday girl.

Me: Speechless (with a look to kill on my face as I turn around to Dan)

Me: Hands the phone to mom

Me: (To Dan) Today is your Mother's Birthday

Dan: (Looks at watch at bit confused) The 21st?

Me: Yeah, Today.

You see, Dan told me that her birthday was the 24th. We didn't mention her birthday. Not once, I mean really.... we had no idea.

Moral of the story -- send birthday cards in the mail. (Ha)

Anyhow, we had a lot of fun picking strawberries. Dan and I alone picked almost 19 lbs of those beautiful red beast. I was awesome. Then we took mom to lunch, because that is what you do when you forget it is someones birthday, and made jam until 4:30.

Here are some pictures from the extravaganza.

BEST STRAWBERRY PICKER EVER

CUTEST STRAWBERRY JAM MAKERS EVER

BEST STRAWBERRY EATER EVER

BEST KEEPER OF OLD THINGS* EVER

*Interesting -- Dan found the Fruit Pectin in the garage -- It expired in 1987. I found this milk in the fridge, it expired on May 4th. Today was May 21st, mom's birthday.... ... I'll let you decide on what has aged the best.

This is for you....

Yes, I am posting an anonymous post in my own blog.... because I love being your friend and you will appreciate this.

Just look. Yesterday, May 4th, was apparently National Infertility Survival Day, a national day... to celebrate as the website says...but Read on... It gets better.

Interesting facts -- in case you don't go to the link...

• Just like Mother’s Day, when all the hard work that goes into motherhood is celebrated, on National Infertility Survival Day, we celebrate and honor couples who are desperately trying to become parents.
• The holiday was founded in 2004 by Beverly Barna, author of Infertility Sucks! Keeping it All Together When Sperm and Egg Stubbornly Remain Apart

Also, for those of you who are not burdened with the pains of infertility -- here are some heart breaking facts.

• One in six couples (17%) trying to get pregnant will experience some degree of infertility
• Infertility affects 6.1 million American women and their partners
• Approximately 30 percent of couples who have a complete assessment are diagnosed with unexplained infertility because no specific cause is identified.
• More than 70,000 babies have been born in the U.S. as a result of all assisted reproductive technologies, including 45,000 as a result of in vitro fertilization.

* Dan and I are not infertile... (Not that we know of anyway... but, I do understand the feelings associated with infertility.)

Over Due?

Yes, long over due. That is exactly what this entry is.

An interesting fact about Dan and I -- we really want kids. I like that. I mean, I like that Dan and I are on the same page when it comes to our family. Anyhow, that is just a little tangential and irrelevant.

I'm excited. I have one on-line exam left and them I will be done with classes for a few months. I feel like I haven't had a break in... forever! We have a lot of things coming up this summer. I think the schedule goes something like a week trip to Florida (with work) wedding, trek, wedding, moving, wedding, wedding... and then school starts. Gotta love those weddings. However, Dan and I did get Carowinds passes so, if anyone ever wants to go then we are totally up for the fun.

Besides the typical stress of life - we are really happy. I love being able to say that because for some reason people get married and seem like it is terrible. I reject all of those negative feelings and enjoy being with Dan... I mean, we have our moments but, typically end up laughing about them a few minutes later.

I have a confession....

I buy... baby clothes....

We aren't pregnant -- but, one day we hope to be.

Now, our children are "just a twinkle in our eye"....

Dan is very supportive of my "habit". It is probably because buying the baby clothes gives me enough satisfaction to postpone the "baby urges"....

I don't spend a lot of money on the clothes I buy... I actually only buy them off the clearance rack at Target... and for some reason, I only have girls clothes.

What does this all mean? Probably when we have kids - we will have all boys.

That is all.

It's an update... but, it's boring!

After stalking people on thier blogs for some time now, I've decided to take it upon myself to entertain the world.... or at least a small portion of it!

So here is an over due update....Dan is still working at UPS, I am still a nanny -- and we still never see each other.

I will finish my A.A. at Wake Tech this semester and recently got accepted to UNC Charlotte. Dan and I will definatly be moving in August however, we are still waiting to find out if Dan gets accepted to the school.

Dan teaches the 11 years in Primary and I am with the Mia Maids in Young Women's. They are awesome... and if they put as much energy into the gospel as they did with boys, they'd be on fire.... Alright, the first entry is always -- boring.... but, the ones to come will be better... Much Better! I promise!