Adorable Photo Ops

Props to Jer who shot these on a whim. (He even did her hair himself!!!)

This is such a classic almost 2 year old picture to me. She's just so happy with whatever!


Too adorable....my child is just too adorable.

I think my kid looks hilarious in timeout. I'm probably a bad mother for thinking this....

As Always...

...Things have been busy. Not that many of you have cared because I don't think this thing gets checked out as often as I wished it did. But, here's a few fun photos of the kid nonetheless.

"Oh, I'm so cute!"


"I am totally unhappy to be up at this hour just to go to the sitter's. You people suck."


"Wud up, Yo?!"

Enjoy-hope everyone is well.

A Little Inspiration

So, I just finished watching the Alumni celebration broadcast from last week that I recorded. Bronco Mendenhall (whose, for those of you I'm sure TRULY care, mentioned cousin, Buck, I worked for in the physical therapy clinic for the year before we moved back out here to the east coast). As most of you know-I'm a HUGE Cougar fan. True blue through and through, no matter where I may have graduated from. (The important point being that at least it WASN'T the U.;))
I've never been a fan of watching the NFL, but if my Cougars are on the field, (and I have the available network broadcasting it) you can bet I'm watching, or at least keeping score. I have been known to go hoarse from the yelling I do during a Cougar game. Now, unlike other students, I remained faithful despite Crowton's losing seasons. His first was a winning one, thanks to the fact he had some left overs of Edward's. But I backed him, and we have since moved on to Bronco. There are several reasons why my opinion of him is very high, and I thought I'd outline a few here today.

One of the things I know many people despise (okay, maybe just I do...) about NFL players is the fact they get paid a ridiculous sum of money to PLAY A GAME. And then they have the audacity to go off and live the way they do, despite being so many kids' heroes. My last couple of years I spent at the Y, I strongly disliked the fact that so many of the players were looked up to for their skills on the field, but were notorious for not living the standards and the honor code they signed. Kinda like a the-rules-aren't-that-strict-if-you-can-play-football attitude. Almost like you're allowed some pass just because you can play. Bronco has taken the players under him and almost gone old-school (like he did with the uniforms). Remember when football players were looked up to because not only could they play, but they were good students and courteous citizens as well?! Well, he's made the players be that again. At BYU, you can once again respect the players! I find it wonderful that he has embraced the ideals held by the school and made the gospel the most important aspect of the players lives, not just the game. Life isn't all about football-and he helped me remember the feeling that there really is something bigger out there.

My life is something I've complained a lot about lately. Mostly that I didn't know where it was going and I'm frustrated that I'm stuck in the spot that I am. I've viewed my job, wifery (yeah yeah, it's probably not a word that should be associated to humans, but I like the job description), motherhood, and household chores as duties. I should be viewing them as the chance to serve. I've been doing all I have because it's my duty-no wonder I don't find it very fulfilling! So today, thanks to an inspirational time with Bronco, I've matured a little. I have learned that I will find great satisfaction in the things I do if I begin doing them because I love the people I work with/for and I want to serve them and make their lives better.

So thanks Bronco, for making faith and the game work. Thanks for turning our boys back into heroes. Show some respect, people. RISE AND SHOUT THE COUGARS ARE OUT!!!!

I found this on my friend Elan's blog and thought I'd post a little more info about us in celebration of our anniversary.

What is your husband's name? Jerry
How long have you guys been married? 5 YEARS! It's a miracle!
How long did you date? We dated 2 months, then were engaged for 2 months (approximately)
How old is he? 28
Who is taller? Jer
Who can sing the best? Me-but he's not half bad with the radio.;)
Who is smarter? I'd say it's an even playing field-I just have more education.
Who pays the bills? Me
Who does the laundry? Me-though, he does his "work" laundry by himself.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? Jerry, but when we stay in hotels, I often do-I have no idea why. And I did for the first year and a half of our marriage-switched to the left when we moved here to the east coast.
Who mows the lawn? Jerry-but I have been known to do it myself before.
Who cooks dinner? We both do-it depends who wasn't at work that day....or who got home earlier.
Who is the first to admit when they're wrong? Me-mostly because I'm wrong a lot more than he is.
Who kissed who first? I did. He was taking too long.
Who wears the pants? We each wear a leg.

I didn't get officially tagged-so I won't tag anyone else either. But have fun if you want to.

Proof

So, some people have been skeptical (mostly my co-workers) that just three short years ago my hair was only an inch long in the back. So I'm posting a picture as proof. I'll grant you that it's not from the back, but nonetheless, you can tell it's super short.

Back then, Jerry also had hair, and I had hardly any eyebrows. I'm trying to not ever let them get that small again...

Vacation Sum Up.

So, as some of you may have read, Jerry and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on January 6th in the Bahamas! We stayed at Sandals which is along Cable Beach in Nassau. It was a fun, WARM, fantastic trip (minus the sickness), and I thought I'd wrap up the highlights for you here.

We left Monday the 5th, and flew to Nassau via Miami. Here we are looking uber-pale on our first day while we were waiting for our luggage to be taken to our room so we could suit up and hit the beach.

Wow-we're white.



The two dark windows on the right just above where you see the dark striped awning (I know, this picture is REALLY dark) is our room (it looks kinda like two white slits on the side of the building). Not the best view, but hey, who cares? We were in the Bahamas!

This is where we ate breakfast everyday-it's actually called Spices, and they had a buffet every morning-but Sandals likes to put their name on EVERYTHING at the resort....

Down by the beach they had these awesome gas fire pits that they lit up every night. Spots around them were coveted, and we only got to lounge in front of one on our first night. They were nice though-if I ever lived on a beach, I'd have a pit with a big ol' lounge chair in front of it. It's the best combination-listening to the waves and watching the flames.

Our second day there we went snorkeling. It was gorgeous. I enjoyed everything about the experience except the mouthful of sea water I took in about a minute and a half into the water. But once I got the gagging under control, I got to see some beautiful fish. Jerry actually went scuba diving in the same area on Thursday while I was getting a massage, and we're hoping the photos on the underwater camera we purchased come out-we'll post them if they do.

On our 3rd day there, the 7th, Jerry arranged for us to have a private dinner on the beach. (It was all booked for our actual anniversary, but that's okay, it was just as beautiful.)


It was fun. The food was okay. They had only certain select menus, so you couldn't mix and match, but most of my meal was good. I just found out the hard way I don't like lobster tail.:) And please note how SUPER sun-burned Jerry is. Yeah, he didn't reapply the sunblock.:)

Thursday was spent lounging beach side, eating lunch and collecting shells on the resort's private island (Sandal's Cay), attempting wind surfing (WAY harder than it looks), learning to "sail", Jer going scuba diving, and me getting a massage-and not just any massage-it was outside on a special pier. It was nice hearing the waves while I was gettin' my rub down. It ended up a bit windy toward the end, so I was a bit cold, but other than that it was fantastic.

Aside from the stomach flu I came down with late Thursday night (and therefore spending ALL day on Friday in bed) the trip was magnificent. I just wish I had had all day Friday to spend out on the resort's private island which I only got to spend a couple of hours at on Thursday.

We came home Saturday afternoon, and since then Jerry and I won't have a single day at home together for another week and a half! One or the other of us, or both of us, work everyday until the 26th. Glad we got our week in to ourselves!!!

Christmas 2008 Wrap Up. 2008 IS ALMOST OVER!

So, 2008 is finally coming to a close. I don't know about anyone else, but I am ecstatic for this year to end. It's hasn't been the greatest one. Christmas this year was a good one-we've been blessed beyond measure, and love the spirit of service that comes with this time of year. Though I had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year, I did unexpectedly perform a Christmas service and was glad I did-you'll have to ask me about it sometime. So, here's our little 2008 wrap up. I've included our ten things we're grateful for this year at the bottom for those of you that didn't get our Christmas letter.

In November Jer took Misha with him on a much-needed visit to see his family. It was our niec Sophie's birthday while they were there, and I know that they had a blast seeing all of his family. Here's Misha with her Grandma Brown enjoying some birthday cake.
Misha made out like a bandit this year as usual. Thank you to everyone who sent her gifts-we had a hard time devising things to get her this year. Here she is opening a few presents.

I finally got the thing I've wanted for a couple of years now. It makes me happy.:)
Jerry got great gifts too-he's just not pictured here.:)

So, here's our grateful list (in no particular order). We hope all of you had a fantastic Christmas and that 2009 goes better for all of us.

10) Misha finally began walking in June!

9) Jerry finished precepting early in October for his EMT-Intermediate.

8) Hayley got a full-time job with the National Institutes of Health as a Respiratory Therapist-therefore no longer having to work night shifts! (Though, she does miss her co-workers at National Naval Hospital across the street.)

7) Misha has finally begun using WORDS to tell us what she wants. (Sometimes)

6) Hayley and Misha came out (mostly) unscathed after being hit as pedestrians by a truck at the beginning of April.

5) Finally being financially independent (though, maybe it’s our parents that are more grateful for that).

4) NOT having our car stolen, though, the catalytic converter was…

3) Jerry and Hayley BOTH having Thanksgiving and Christmas days off work.

2) Having two wonderful friends (Pam Harmon and Melinda Cole) who have been willing to watch Misha when Jerry and Hayley are both at work. (They are AMAZING.)

1) Our wonderful friends and family who have helped us through the difficult moments.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! (AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR-WE'RE STARTING OURS IN THE BAHAMAS FOR OUR 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!!!!!!)

So, as you can see, we finally can kind-of get Misha's hair in a full ponytail. Sort of.

Thanks to the "Better Mothering Club" (Aka: Melinda Cole and Lis Nelson) for getting my cute daughter prepared for Halloween this year. She was this cute little flower fairy. At least, I'm pretty sure that's what she's supposed to be. Jerry found her at the Cole's house (we both worked!) helping Toddums hand out candy. I wish we had pictures of that! In fact, it was my original intent to get a picture of her helping to hand out candy, but by the time we all got home, there was no one out anymore.

This last picture is for my mom. She had some hopes for me that I think were a bit dashed. Perhaps this will give her greater hopes for her granddaughter.

The oh-so exciting things that happen in Boise.

So here's a little run down of my trip to Boise, ID. My very best friend, Collette, was gracious enough to put me up. It was her youngest sister that got married. So, here we go.


I went to see...

(Congrats Matt & Jill!!)

I drove a brand new...

(Oh my holy sweetness, Batman. This was a TON of fun to drive!!!)


I froze in...

(Yes, that's right-it's snow. And it was 35 degrees outside! I was all too happy to return to D.C.'s 80 degree weather!)


I helped build...

(This was the dance floor canopy. And a pain in the butt to make look like this. I actually left just as we were starting to put the lights on...I missed all the fun with the tulle. And yes, there was work that had to be done before the lights even went on.)


I made...

(I even mixed that periwinkle blue color myself! And I bet you all thought I wasn't one bit crafty.)

I danced with...

(Such a gentleman! Thanks Mitchell! I still can't believe that he's almost 16 and 6'3".)

I helped decorate...

(HAHAHA! It was fun.)


I felt loved by...

(My other two sisters Collette and Kelly. I love you two so much! Thank you for always being who you are with me-it means more than you will ever know.)


I played with...

(This cute thing is just a few months younger than Misha and literally weighs half what she does. She's so tiny and so adorable. The complete opposite of my little one-just like her mother and I are so opposite. Love you Co!)


I felt like I once again belonged to...(LOVE these two people with all my heart. "Oh! I win!")


I glimpsed...

(I had a very short 40 minute layover in SLC. It broke my heart to be there and have to leave and not see anyone. My heart ached to see all of you, and the tears literally fell from my eyes as the wheels left the tarmac. A few minutes into the air I looked out and saw this peak. I'd know it anywhere. Mt. Timpanogos...)


All in all it was a really good trip. Even if I came home with a bad cold, I had so much fun being there. It was a trip I desperately needed, and this family means more to me than they even know. I love you Sotto fam!!!

Conference weekend

We had a good time this conference. My mom and dad came up for a few days away, and it was fun, even from the beginning. Our first hilarious moment happened when they arrived very late Friday night. They brought along a queen size mattress with it's own automatic air pump....when it's charged.:) Needless to say-we took an hour pumping that thing up by hand (or I should say foot) with the pump that came with my exercise ball. Once in a while we got a boost from the automatic pump. It was amusing to say the least.
Misha had lots of fun playing with Oma and Opa. She really preferred Oma (sorry Dad!), but she finally warmed up and was willing to ride horsey on whom became affectionately known as the glue horse.;)
She also had lots of fun horsing around with daddy. Those two are like peas in a pod, and I just love watching them together.
The conference talks were inspiring. It always amazes me how the older I get, the less long conference seems. I get so much out of it, and really feel how important the gospel is. My favorite talk was by...well, I don't remember-there were so many good ones! Elder Holland was wonderful, and I enjoyed so many others. I hope everyone else got something out of it too!