My lifesavers

I live 30 minutes from my nearest family member and there are times when I just need that someone that is 2 minutes away that I can turn to for help.
It seems that in every ward I have lived in there has been that one or two people that I always feel comfortable just reaching out and asking for anything and they are totally willing to help.  In my first ward it was Valerie and Amanda.  Amanda would come over and make me dinner and just spend time with me when I was pregnant and sick with Levi and Rick worked full time and was a class all night.  She would watch Levi when I went visiting teaching.  She would go on walks with me and just cheer me up.  I could always call Valerie and just talk and ask advice.  She was my true friend when at first I knew no one.  She also helped with Levi at a moments notice.
In my second ward it was Joann and MaryAnn.  They were both mothers of older children and they were always genuinely willing to help me with anything.  I even remember when I was so sick with Ally in my first trimester the only thing that sounded good was Ramen noodles.  Yuck right?! ha ha.  Well I called Joann and she had her daughter run over a bag FULL of them.  That saved my life.  MaryAnn would watch Levi many times when I had RS Presidency meetings or just errands.  Joann would share the things she baked.  Rolls, bread, cookies, brownies.  She was always dropping off a bit of whatever treat she was making.  It always warmed my tummy and my heart.  I still see here every now and then and no matter how long it has been we can hug and it's like no time had passed. 
In my current ward I have so many people that look out for me and support me.  April... what can I not say about April?  She is kind, graceful, generous, positive.  My sister called me first thing this morning and asked if I could take a turn caring for my mother who is sick and is dealing with family things.  I got up and started getting ready.  Rick is switching jobs and HAD to be at work today, thus the question:  What is the world am I going to do with my two kids all day?  April came to mind.  She is one of my visiting teachers.  I remember when I first met my two visiting teachers, April and Annie, they said that if I ever needed anything to just ask.  Many people say that to you over the course of your life, but it is rare when you truely feel the love behind it and the sincerity of it.   Annie has watched the kids when I needed my hair done or took Levi a couple times when Ally was just born to give me a chance to take a nap.  April has been my last minute lifesaver.  Today I called her at 7am after I talked to my sister and asked if she could take just one of the kids.  I was going to ask another friend to take the other one (Jacquie is also a lifesaver for me).  She said she wanted to take BOTH!  I dropped them off half an hour later and with a huge smile on her face and a reassuring voice she brought them in and told me not to worry.  Now, here I sit.  I did the dishes and cleaned up the house.  I am just waiting for my mom to wake up to get her some breakfast and help her with whatever she needs and the best part... I know the kids are in good hands and that I don't have to worry.
Vicky is my backdoor neighbor and has two small children around Levi's age.  Since the very day we moved in she has ALWAYS been there for me.  She is also a very positive and generous person.  She and her husband, Josh, have helped us with sprinkler problems, house fixes, pest control, the kids, and everything else under the sun.  Both her and her husband are selfless and helping people.  There have been times I will be trying to do something myself that Rick really should be doing but he is at work and I am stubborn and I end up having Josh help me. ha ha.  I just laugh looking back at the last year and all the things he has helped us with because I was so naive. They are amazing and I am so glad to have neighbors like them. 
There are so many other people that I want to express my gratitude for because of all the things they have helped me with but there isn't enough time or room on this entire website to hold those thoughts and words.  Every single one of you, friends and family, know that each night I get on my knees and thank Heavenly Father for all the angels he has put in my life to guide and direct me and give me peace and comfort.  You have all been tools in His hands to bless my life.  I love you.

Last year at a glance

Hey everyone,
So it seems that people still read this thing!  That makes me happy and I need to get better at reading blogs again.  There is something therapeutic in putting more into writing than just, "Hey fb friends, what are your potty training tips?" ha ha.  You know what I mean.
Quick update on our lives this last year since we bought our house.
-Ally (Alexandra) was born on International Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day.  Sept 19th.  The next four to five months were the hardest and darkest of my entire life, but thankfully the sun shines on our home and in my outlook again!  She is a ball of smiles and wiggles.  She will be 9 months in 7 days and isn't even trying to crawl or doing anything remotely close to crawling attempts.  She is so content to just sit where she is and cry until I pick her up and take her with me from room to room. She sleeps great at night and Levi and her get along SO great!
-Rick graduated from Weber with his Masters in  Business Administration. I couldn't be more proud of my husband.  Every time we are making moves in his job or with our house or kids he is always asking me if I am happy.  He puts my happiness and opinions first, ALWAYS.  He fights so hard to be a hardworking husband and wants me to have anything I want.  He is currently in the middle of negotiating for a new job.  More on that when it is finalized.  He is beginning his CPA testing in just a few weeks.  4 tests total and a whole lot of studying.  He was the ward mission leader for about a year and now he is the 2nd counselor in the Elders Quorum.  He is such an amazing man.  Every year I am married to him just gets better and better.
-Levi is crazy and so hyper all the time.  Sadly he is JUST like me!! ha ha.  Anyone that knew me as a youngster is laughing at this right now!  He is talking like crazy.  He loves to sing and dance to music.  He LOVES hitting things and last weekend we learned that he is GREAT at baseball.  The most boring sport.  ugh! Just my luck.  He is almost ready to potty train.  We have tried here and there but I feel like it is going to happen just around the corner!
-I feel like lately I am always re-doing something.  My next project is my grandmother's old desk.  She passed away back in 2006 and my sister has been using it since.  It has seen a beating so I am so excited to give it some new life!  I'll post on that when I finish it.  I am training for a half marathon.  I am running the Hardcart Days Half on July 21st here in Bountiful.  I am thinking of doing two this summer.  I am considering another one in August or September.  After July 21st I am going to start the P90X training.  I am nervous because it seems like not many people can make it through the whole 3 months.  My sister-in-law, Kelsy, did it and she looks AMAZING!! Granted she was already tiny, but now she is super buff.  Shout out to you, Kelsy! :D  I am also the new primary chorister.  I LOVE that calling so much and it has only been a few weeks.
Welp, that is pretty much our last year in a glance.  Here are some picture for your viewing pleasure.  Most of these are on Facebook so I am sure most of you have already seen them, but oh well.... here we go again...

Ally and Levi

Ally and I

Such a cute pictures! I can't believe how tiny Levi was when I had Ally!  Never doing that again, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

Look at those eyes! She was just under 2 weeks old here.

Just home from the hospital.  So tiny.  She was 18.5 inches (which I don't think was very accurate) and 6.12lbs.

In the carseat in the stroller going for a walk.  Approx 3 months here.

7 months old.  I made those sandal thingies... aren't they adorable!?

Levi on his frog potty.  He loves it!  He looks a little silly trying to figure out the double thumbs up! ha ha

Working in the yard.  He loves when I push him in the wheelbarrow.

He loves balloons.  I just love this picture.  His face is precious.

Family picture in a tree!

Awww... smooches!

Blue blue eyes.

Swimming just a couple weeks ago.  I love Ally's swimsuit.

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Is anybody out there?

I have had a couple comments from friends asking why I don't keep up this blog.  I am wondering if anyone even reads this thing.  Leave a comment if you would like me to get this up to date and keep it maintained.  :D

A lesson from my dad...

When I was a teenager I had some problems with depression and my father gave me the best advice ever. He said, "When you are down and feeling sorry for yourself look for someone to serve." I have used that advice many times in my life. Today being one of them. I was super overwhelmed thinking about all the stuff that needed to be done around the house and Rick's super busy schedule and then I realized I should do something for someone else. Not having much energy and Levi tying me to the house all I could think of was to followup on the ladies I visit teach. That was enough. I instantly felt better just by making a phone call and showing concern for someone else.

Growing up!

Levi started nursery this last Sunday. He didn't even care that I wasn't there. He did great. Ran right in and played to his heart's content for 2 hours! It helps that Sister Hatch, the nursery leader, is the sweetest lady in the world. I would love to hang out with her for 2 hours! I just can't believe how big Levi is getting. He uses more and more words each day and is always running and laughing and yelling about something. He is the happiest kid. I love that he still gets attention for being adorable. I got comments all the time when he was a baby. People loved to stop and look at him and his olive skin and dark hair and the stares and oooing just continued. Well just the other day I was stopped twice by people telling me what a cute little boy I have within 5 minutes of each other. One was an old man driving by us in the parking lot. It is still nice to hear my kid is stinkin' cute. I just love Levi.

We finally finished the basement apartment downstairs and we have rented it. What a relief to have all of that done. So exciting!! During all the construction we found ways to keep Levi entertained. He loved daddy's tools, especially the dangerous ones! yikes. But he LOVED his little cardboard fort I made him out of the dishwasher box! He just laughed and kept running in and out of it all night. He is bored with it now unfortunately. He does not eat anything anymore. We can always get him to drink things though so I started juicing fresh fruits and veggies. Look at him go! He just guzzles that stuff. So he is still getting healthy things in his tummy, just not as easily as I would like.
He has also started doing these random acts of love. Like this one while I was cooking. He wouldn't let go for a full 3 minutes or so. I am glad he stayed put long enough for me to snap a picture. Can you see my big pregnant belly? He sleeps like his dad; all over the place! I worry about him when he gets his face covered up, but he always wakes up just fine.

He crawled up on the couch the other day and laid in my lap up against my tummy and just cuddled with me and Ally while he wound down for his nap. So precious.

His favorite spot to watch TV in in our ottomans. Perfect little chair for him aye? My neighbor had this old superman costume and she heard about Rick's love of superheros so she told me to use it for Levi. I put it on him and he was not happy. I think it is because it was a little too small. Rick came home from work and started laughing so hard when he saw Levi in it. They played for a second and then Levi ripped that thing off! It was worth it though, doesn't he look funny!? I love Levi's face in this picture. I don't think he gets that from me! lol

Just being silly with daddy and the hamper.

Levi loves watching people come and go out our kitchen window. He comes and points to that stool and makes some gibberish, but I always know he wants me to go put it at the window and help him up on it. I think he was watching Rick leave for work in this picture. He even knocks on the window to get people's attention as they pass to wave at them. Too bad his chubby little hand can't knock very loudly. No one hears it.